decoded_text stringlengths 4.18k 47.6k |
|---|
offensive launched in the early hours of Saturday by Daesh on the Sunni town of Shirqat, south of Mosul, during which 38 military and civilians were killed and about 40 more wounded, security sources said.
Daesh lost 24 fighters in the attack, which ended around midday, the sources said.
About half the dead in the city and its surroundings were civilians and the rest members of the Iraqi armed forces and Sunni tribal fighters.
Read: Iraq official admits to war crimes in Mosul
Authorities declared a curfew in the region between Mosul and the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Daesh lost Shirqat to US-backed Iraqi government forces and tribal fighters last year. Its fall paved the way for the offensive on Mosul, the militants’ de-facto capital in Iraq.
Eight months into the US-backed offensive to take back Mosul, all of the city has been retaken by Iraqi government forces except an enclave by the western bank of the Tigris river.
The militants continue to control pockets south and west of Mosul, as well as swathes of territory near the border with Syria and inside Syria.Underbite Correction – Without Surgery or Braces!
Beyond Veneers and Cosmetic Dentistry - No Drilling, No Surgery Santa Monica • Beverly Hills • Los Angeles
Most people with an underbite have a large lower jaw and a small upper jaw. When they ask their orthodontist, general dentist, or oral surgeon what treatment they recommend they usually get the same answer - orthognathic surgery and braces. What this means is that you will be facing hospitalized to have one or both of your jaws cut, the wiring shut of your jaw during the healing period and then several months but most likely years in braces.
This patient is biting her teeth together in both pictures. You can see in the before picture on the left that her front teeth do not even touch. This makes chewing and talking normally impossible. The future of dentistry is available today using technology to save your teeth and correct an under bite.
The complications and risks of the surgery alone are quite extensive but the seemingly endless amount of time in braces can be exhausting. Fortunately the latest advances in dental medicine have brought us a much safer and non-surgical answer to underbite correction with the creation of VENLAY® restorations.
Porcelain Veneers do not Correct Under Bites!
There are cosmetic dentists out there that are claiming they can correct an under bite with porcelain veneers. This is simply not true! Porcelain veneers are nothing more than a form of cosmetic camouflage that will only visually hide an underbite. Your actual bite position and jaw position is not corrected. So what does this mean for you? Porcelain veneers do not address the actual under bite problem, which is your bite position. As such your profile and protruding lower jaw are the same with porcelain veneers. This means that you will not get the facial results that you are seeing on this page if your choose porcelain veneers.
Video: Fix the Underbite Without Orthognathic Surgery in Two Weeks
The way that this patient and so many others have gotten the facial improvements that you are seeing is by choosing a non-surgical method to correct their underbite problem. Only the Face Lift Dentistry ® method will actually idealize your bite and jaw position to improve not just your smile but your facial proportions as well.
Looking at the images below you will notice that in the left ‘before’ shot her underbite position causes her chin and jaw to protrude. Her upper lip looks small and unsupported and she struggles to chew and speak normally. In her ‘after’ image on the right her treatment is now complete. Her jaw is in a healthier position and this corrected the protruding chin problem. Her upper lip is supported for a fuller appearance and her profile proportions are balanced and feminine.
Hard to Believe? With jaw surgery and without braces the position of her lower jaw is physically improved while her bite is corrected. Her facial profile has improved dramatically as her lower lip and chin no longer sticks out. Her treatment took just two visits about two weeks apart from one another and she had no pain, no shots, and no discomfort. This best part is that by choosing VENLAY® restorations none of her natural teeth had to be ground down or compromised in any way.
Most dentists would find this treatment hard to believe but the photos do not lie. None of the photos have been touched up, altered, or manipulated in any way so you know that you are seeing the true results. These improvements are simply undeniable and she was so excited that she gave Dr. Muslin permission to share her pictures and her story.
At her first consultation it was hard for her to believe that this treatment was really possible. She traveled to Santa Monica, California with her Mother to meet Dr. Muslin after searching for a non-surgical underbite correction option. Despite the recommendations of other doctors to have surgery and braces she simply refused to put her body through such a traumatic and painful experience.
Video: Underbite Correction - No Jaw Surgery or Braces
She quickly realized that Dr. Muslin was delivering these types of results consistently and predictably on a regular basis.
They discussed the extensive technology and skills required by the dentists to actually achieve this type of bite correction; and while the treatment is quite complex behind the scenes it is fairly straightforward for her. Her Mother was shocked at how easy the treatment was for her daughter.
Notice how the shape of her face has been improved. Her lower jaw no longer look so large and her jawline has a finer feminine appearance.
Under Bite Correction with Face Lift Dentistry®
Santa Monica, California dentist Dr. Sam Muslin invented VENLAY® bite correction as a way to correct all different types of bite problems. After treating patients with the traditional method of braces and successfully completing thousands of complex bite reconstructions and bite corrections, he brought all of this experience together to help dentistry take the next quantum leap. Merging together his knowledge from all areas of dentistry he says that he was able to “connect the dots and develop a solution that can correct your bite while idealizing your jaw position”.
The introduction of this method makes it possible to take even the most complex bite conditions or patients that are in need of a full mouth reconstruction and complete their bite correction treatment without grinding down their natural teeth. The older methods of drilling down all your teeth to place crowns are simply obsolete with the new technology. By eliminating the need to grind down teeth, the many risks previously associated with crowns and full mouth reconstructions are gone. No grinding and no drilling also means no shots and no pain.
Finally the VENLAY® restorations are what allows for the dramatic anti-aging facial improvements and the profile re-proportioning which, until now has never been an expectation of a dental procedure.
To learn more about Underbite Correction dentistry with VENLAY® restorations give our office a call at (310) 829-6796 to talk with one of Dr. Muslin’s treatment coordinators or to schedule your consultation today.Every year, Travel + Leisure sifts through tens of thousands of World’s Best Awards surveys to better understand where our readers love to go, and why. Of course, the responses say just as much, if not more, about what our readers don’t like.
We asked readers to rank 266 cities on everything from their access to art and culture to the friendliness of their people: and some cities failed to warm tourists’ hearts. Not surprisingly, many of the cities that found themselves on our 2015 Unfriendliest Cities in America list (based on separate data from our annual America’s Favorite Places survey) were also called out in this census.
Related: America's Rudest Cities
Of course, we’ve all had an unfriendly encounter with a local, or caught a city that’s just woken up on the wrong side of the bed. We know these cities, at their best, can all be inviting, vibrant, and dynamic destinations.
Have something to say? Share your worst city experience—or defend your city’s honor—with us on Facebook and Twitter.Ready 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.
Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue
Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month!
Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter.
Fight Back! Sign up for Take Action Now and we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each 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 we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each week.
Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue
Travel With The Nation Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits.
Sign up for our Wine Club today. Did you know you can support The Nation by drinking wine?
Less than two weeks ago, the Green Bay Packers—the only fan-owned, non-profit franchise in major American sports—won the Super Bowl, bringing the Lombardi trophy back to Wisconsin. But now, past and present members of the “People’s Team” are girding up for one more fight and this time, it’s against their own Governor, Scott Walker. Ad Policy
Walker, after the Super Bowl victory, bathed himself sensuously in the team’s triumph, declaring at a public ceremony that February was now Packers Month. He oozed praise for the franchise named in honor of the state’s packing workers. But just days later, the Governor offered cutbacks, contempt, and even the threat of violence for actual state workers.
Walker has unveiled plans to strip all public workers of collective bargaining rights and dramatically slash the wages and health benefits of every nurse, teacher and state employee. Then, Walker proclaimed that resistance to these moves would be met with a response from the Wisconsin National Guard. Seriously.
Yes, in advance of any debate over his proposal, Governor Walker put the National Guard on alert by saying that the guard is “prepared” for “whatever the governor, their commander-in-chief, might call for.” Considering that the state of Wisconsin hasn’t called in the National Guard since 1886, these bizarre threats did more than raise eyebrows. They provoked rage.
Robin Eckstein, a former Wisconsin National Guard member, told the Huffington Post, “Maybe the new governor doesn’t understand yet—but the National Guard is not his own personal intimidation force to be mobilized to quash political dissent. The Guard is to be used in case of true emergencies and disasters, to help the people of Wisconsin, not to bully political opponents.”
Already this week, as many as 100,000 people have marched at various protests around the state with signs that reflect the current moment like “If Egypt Can Have Democracy, Why Can’t Wisconsin?,” “We Want Governors Not Dictators,” and the pithy “Hosni Walker.”
But also intriguing is the intervention from past and present members of the Super Bowl Champs. Current players Brady Poppinga and Jason Spitz and former Packers Curtis Fuller, Chris Jacke, Charles Jordan, Bob Long and Steve
Okoniewski issued the following statement:
“We know that it is teamwork on and off the field that makes the Packers and Wisconsin great. As a publicly owned team we wouldn’t have been able to win the Super Bowl without the support of our fans. It is the same dedication of our public workers every day that makes Wisconsin run. They are the teachers, nurses and child care workers who take care of us and our families. But now in an unprecedented political attack Governor Walker is trying to take away their right to have a voice and bargain at work. The right to negotiate wages and benefits is a fundamental underpinning of our middle class. When workers join together it serves as a check on corporate power and helps ALL workers by raising community standards. Wisconsin’s long standing tradition of allowing public sector workers to have a voice on the job has worked for the state since the 1930s. It has created greater consistency in the relationship between labor and management and a shared approach to public work. These public workers are Wisconsin’s champions every single day and we urge the Governor and the State Legislature to not take away their rights.”
The players who signed on don’t have quite as high a profile as Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers, but give it time. Rodgers is the Packers’ union representative in negotiations with the NFL, and on Tuesday the players union issued their own statement in support of state workers, writing:
“The NFL Players Association will always support efforts protecting a worker’s right to join a union and collectively bargain. Today, the NFLPA stands in solidarity with its organized labor brothers and sisters in Wisconsin.”
The support of the Packers players hasn’t been lost on those marching in the streets. Aisha Robertson, a public school teacher from Madison, told me, “It’s great to see Packers join the fight against Walker. Their statement of support shows they stand with us. It gives us inspiration and courage to go and fight peacefully for our most basic rights.”
Walker no doubt envisioned conflict when he rolled out his plan to roll over the workers of Wisconsin. But I don’t think he foresaw having to go toe-to-toe with the Green Bay Packers. As we learned in Egypt, envisioning unforeseen consequences is never an autocrat’s strong suit. As we’re learning in Wisconsin, fighting austerity is not an Egyptian issue or a Middle Eastern issue—it’s a political reality of the twenty-first-century world. And as Scott Walker is learning, messing with cheeseheads can be hazardous to your political health.At the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant, a robot sent into the building housing Reactor No. 1 on Saturday detected the highest levels of radiation measured since the crisis began on March 11.
According to the Japan Times, The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) reported that radiation levels in the air around Reactor 1 were at 4000 millisieverts per hour, an exposure level equivalent to approximately 40,000 chest x-rays. TEPCO says it has no plans to send workers into the area because of its dangerously high radioactivity.
On Friday, a spokesman for TEPCO announced that steam was rising from underneath the reactor building. That afternoon, Japanese national television carried blurry footage of smoke rising from an opening in the floor.
Underneath the reactor, an estimated 40,000 tons of “highly contaminated” radioactive water have collected in what is known as the pressure suppression containment vessel, and it’s this water that is believed to be producing the steam. TEPCO officials warn that the water will begin to overflow from the storage vessel by June 20 as it reaches its maximum capacity, sooner if there are heavy rains.
Massive tanks are being sent to contain the water from nearby Tochigi Prefecture. An estimated 370 will be needed for the job, two of which are due to arrive this weekend. The tanks each hold 100 tons of water and will continue to arrive at the plant through August.
Workers have been fighting to keep the crisis from escalating in an ongoing struggle that officials say they hope to have under control by January. Critics of TEPCO and the Japanese government say that this estimate is overly optimistic. A row has erupted in the Japanese government over Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s promise to step down when the crisis is resolved because in truth no one knows exactly when that will be.
At the plant, it’s believed that nuclear fuel rods have melted down to the bottom of three reactors’ containment vessels. Allegedly none have gone into “full meltdown” in which the fuel rods burn through the bottom of the containers.Apple Store is a chain of retail stores owned and operated by Apple Inc. The stores sell Mac personal computers, iPhone smartphones, iPad tablet computers, iPod portable media players, Apple Watch smartwatches, Apple TV digital media players, software, and select third-party accessories.
The first Apple Stores were originally opened as two locations in May 2001 by then-CEO Steve Jobs, after years of attempting but failing store-within-a-store concepts. Seeing a need for improved retail presentation of the company's products, he began an effort in 1997 to revamp the retail program to get an improved relationship to consumers, and hired Ron Johnson in 2000. Jobs relaunched Apple's online store in 1997, and opened the first two physical stores in 2001. Despite initial media speculation that Apple would fail, its stores were highly successful, by passing the sales numbers of competing nearby stores and within three years reached US$1 billion in annual sales, becoming the fastest retailer in history to do so. Over the years, Apple has expanded the number of retail locations and its geographical coverage, with 506 stores across 25 countries worldwide as of 2018.[2] Strong product sales have placed Apple among the top-tier retail stores, with sales over $16 billion globally in 2011.
In May 2016, Angela Ahrendts, Apple's current Senior Vice President of Retail, unveiled a significantly redesigned Apple Store in Union Square, San Francisco, featuring large glass doors for the entry, open spaces, and rebranded rooms. In addition to purchasing products, consumers can get advice and help from "Creative Pros" – individuals with specialized knowledge of creative arts; get product support in a tree-lined Genius Grove; and attend sessions, conferences and community events, with Ahrendts commenting that the goal is to make Apple Stores into "town squares", a place where people naturally meet up and spend time. The new design will be applied to all Apple Stores worldwide, a process that has seen stores temporarily relocate or close.
Many Apple Stores are located inside shopping malls, but Apple has built several stand-alone "flagship" stores in high-profile locations. It has been granted design patents and received architectural awards for its stores' designs and construction, specifically for its use of glass staircases and cubes. The success of Apple Stores have had significant influence over other consumer electronics retailers, who have lost traffic, control and profits due to a perceived higher quality of service and products at Apple Stores. Apple's notable brand loyalty among consumers causes long lines of hundreds of people at new Apple Store openings or product releases. Due to the popularity of the brand, Apple receives a large number of job applications, many of which come from young workers. Although Apple Store employees receive above-average pay, are offered money toward education and health care, and receive product discounts, there are limited or no paths of career advancement. A May 2016 report with an anonymous retail employee highlighted a hostile work environment with harassment from customers, intense internal criticism, and a lack of significant bonuses for securing major business contracts.
Description [ edit ]
Many Apple Stores are located inside shopping malls, but Apple has built several stand-alone "flagship" stores in high-profile locations, such as the one located in Grand Central Terminal in New York City.[3] Several multi-level stores feature glass staircases,[4][5][6] and some also glass bridges.[7] The New York Times wrote in 2011 that these features were part of then-CEO Steve Jobs' extensive attention to detail,[8] and Apple received a design patent in 2002 for its glass staircase design.[9][10][11] Historically, Apple has partnered with architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson in designing and creating its original retail stores, and has in recent years partnered with architectural firm Foster + Partners in designing its newer stores, as well as its corporate Apple Park campus.[12]
Apple has received numerous architectural awards for its store designs,[13][14] and its "iconic" glass cube, designed in part by Peter Bohlin,[15][16] at Apple's Fifth Avenue store in New York City, received a separate design patent in 2014.[17][18][19]
Ron Johnson held the position of Senior Vice President of Retail Operations from 2001 until November 1, 2011.[20][21] During his tenure, it was reported that while Johnson was responsible for site selection, in-store service, and store layout, inventory was controlled by then-COO and now-CEO Tim Cook, who has a background in supply chain management.[22] In January 2012, Apple transferred retail leadership to John Browett.[23] However, after attempts to cut costs, including reducing new hires and limiting staff hours, he was fired after six months, later telling a conference that he "just didn’t fit with the way they ran the business".[24][25] In October 2013, Apple hired Angela Ahrendts from Burberry.[26][27][28]
Work environment [ edit ]
A spiral staircase inside the Apple Store in Boston
Due to the popularity of the brand, applicants for jobs at Apple Stores are numerous, with many young workers applying.[29] The pace of work is high due to the popularity of the iPhone and iPad.[29] Employees typically work for only a few years as career prospects are limited with no path of advancement other than limited retail management slots.[29] Apple Store employees make above-average pay for retail employees and are offered money toward college tuitions, gym memberships, health care, 401(k) plans, product discounts, and reduced price on purchase of stock.[29] The retention rate for the technicians who staff the Genius Bar is over 90%.[29][30]
A May 2016 Business Insider article featured a lengthy interview with an anonymous Apple Store retail worker in the United Kingdom, where the employee highlighted significant dissatisfactions and issues for retail workers, including harassment and death threats from customers, an intense internal criticism policy that feels "like a cult", a lack of any significant bonus if a worker manages to secure a business contract worth "hundreds of thousands", a lack of promotion opportunities, and, despite a "generous" discount on any Apple product or Apple stock, are paid so little that many workers are unable to buy products themselves.[31]
Countries / Regions with Apple Stores [ edit ]
>50 stores 21–50 stores 11–20 stores 6–10 stores 2–5 stores 1 store Under construction/planning
History [ edit ]
Third-party retail [ edit ]
Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, returned as interim CEO in 1997. According to Jobs' biographer Walter Isaacson, Jobs began a concerted campaign to help sales by improving the retail presentation of Macintosh computers. Even with new products launched under Jobs' watch, like the iMac and the PowerBook G3 and an online store, Apple still relied heavily on big box computer and electronics stores for most of their sales. There, customers continued to deal with poorly trained and ill-maintained Mac sections that did not foster customer loyalty to Apple and did not help differentiate the Mac user-experience from Windows.[32][33] In fact, the retailer trend was towards selling their own generic in-house brand PCs which used even cheaper components than those by major PC makers, increasing retailer overall margins by keeping the manufacturing profits. This "provided a powerful profit motive to convert customers interested in buying a Mac into the owners of a new, cheaply assembled, house brand PC".[34]
Tim Cook, who joined Apple in 1998 as Senior Vice President for Worldwide Operations, announced the company would "cut some channel partners that may not be providing the buying experience [Apple expects]. We're not happy with everybody." Jobs severed Apple's ties of every big box retailer, including Sears, Montgomery Ward, Best Buy, Circuit City, Computer City and Office Max to focus its retail efforts with CompUSA. Between 1997 and 2000, the number of Mac authorized resellers dropped from 20,000 to just 11,000. The majority of these were cuts made by Apple itself. Jobs proclaimed that Apple would be targeting Dell, with Cook's mandate to match or exceed Dell's lean inventories and streamlined supply chain, "with our new products and our new store and our new build-to-order, we're coming after you, buddy." While Dell had operated as a direct mail order and online order company, having pulled out of retailers to realize greater profit margins and efficiency, Apple had direct orders with sales handled by its channel partners, other mail order resellers, independent dealerships, and the new relationship with CompUSA to build "stores within a store".[34]
Jobs did a study for stand alone "store within a store" for 34 sites in Japan. These sites were designed by Eight Inc. who was designing the Apple MacWorld and product launch events with Apple. CompUSA was one of the few retailers that kept its Apple contract by agreeing to adopt Apple's "store within a store" concept designed by Eight Inc. This required that approximately 15% of each CompUSA store would be set aside for Mac hardware and software (including non-Apple products) and would play host to a part-time Apple salesperson. However the "store within a store" approach did not meet expectations, in part because the Apple section was in the lowest-traffic area of CompUSA stores. CompUSA president Jim Halpin, who proclaimed that he would make Apple products his top priority, was forced to resign a year later. Also CompUSA had trouble finding well-trained staff, as most store clerks usually steered customers away from Macs and towards Windows PCs. Despite these setbacks, CompUSA sales of Macs had increased. Apple then added Best Buy as a second authorized reseller.[35] Challenges still remained, as resellers' profit margins on selling Macs was only around 9%, and selling Macs was only worthwhile if ongoing service and support contracts were provided, of which retailer experiences were inconsistent.[36]
Online store [ edit ]
In 1997, the year Steve Jobs returned to Apple, Dell founder and CEO Michael Dell was asked how he would fix Apple. Dell responded: "I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders". This angered Jobs, due to Dell's success with its online store originally built by NeXT, Jobs' former business that Apple acquired to bring Jobs back. A team of Apple and NeXT employees spent several months building an online store that would be better than Dell's. On November 10, 1997, Steve Jobs announced the online store at an Apple press event, and during his keynote speech, he said: "I guess what we want to tell you, Michael, is that with our new products and our new store and our new build-to-order manufacturing, we're coming after you, buddy."[37]
In August 2015, Apple revamped the online storefront, removing the dedicated "Store" tab and making the entire website a retail experience.[38][39]
Origins [ edit ]
Jobs believed the Apple retail program needed to fundamentally change the relationship to the customer, and provide more control over the presentation of Apple products and the Apple brand message. Jobs recognized the limitations of third-party retailing and began investigating options to change the model.[3]
In 1999, Jobs personally recruited Millard Drexler, former CEO of Gap Inc., to serve on Apple's board of directors.[3][40][41] In 2000, Jobs hired Ron Johnson from Target. The retail and development teams headed by Allen Moyer from The Walt Disney Company then began a series of mock-ups for the Apple Store inside a warehouse near the company's Cupertino headquarters.[3]
On May 15, 2001, Jobs hosted a press event at Apple's first store, located at the Tysons Corner Center mall in Tysons, Virginia near Washington, D.C.[42] The store officially opened on May 19, along with another store in Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California.[42][3][43] More than 7,700 people visited Apple’s first two stores in the opening weekend, spending a total of US$599,000.[44]
Expansion [ edit ]
Several publications and analysts predicted the failure of Apple Stores. However, the Apple retail program established its merits, bypassing the sales-per-square-foot measurement of competing nearby stores, and in 2004 reached $1 billion in annual sales, the fastest of any retailer in history. Sales continued to grow, reaching $1 billion a quarter by 2006. Then-CEO Steve Jobs said that "People haven't been willing to invest this much time and money or engineering in a store before", adding that "It's not important if the customer knows that. They just feel it. They feel something's a little different."[45] In 2011, Apple Stores in the United States had an average revenue of $473,000 for each employee.[29] According to research firm RetailSails, the Apple Store chain ranked first among U.S. retailers in terms of sales per unit area in 2011, almost doubling Tiffany, the second retailer on the list.[29] On a global level, all Apple Stores had a combined revenue of US$16 billion.[29] Under the leadership of Ron Johnson, the former senior Vice President of Retail Operations, the Apple Stores have, according to an article in The New York Times, been responsible for "[turning] the boring computer sales floor into a sleek playroom filled with gadgets".[46] The Apple Stores have also been credited with raising the company's brand equity, with Scott Galloway, Professor of Marketing at New York University Stern School of Business, stating that the Stores are the "temple to the brand which is this unbelievable experience called an Apple Store, and then you have this very mediocre experience called an AT&T or Verizon connect your phone experience for Samsung and the other Android players".[47]
Apple has since re-established ties with major big box retailers like Best Buy and Staples.[48] Authorized Apple resellers have a dedicated store-within-a-store section, offering a distinctive Apple-style experience to showcase products.[49] The relationship with Best Buy calls for the company to send Apple Solutions Consultants (ASCs) to train Best Buy employees to be familiar with Apple's product lineup.[33][50]
Changes [ edit ]
In May 2011, Apple replaced their paper cards and information displays that were placed next to products with interactive iPad 2 displays, called "Smart Signs". The new displays added more information about the product, and let customers press a button to signal needed assistance.[51] This transition from paper to touch displays was dubbed "Apple Store 2.0" by several online blogs.[52][53]
In November 2011, Apple updated its "Apple Store" iOS app to let U.S. customers use an "EasyPay" feature to buy products through their iPhone. The feature, which lets users choose the specific product model they want and gives users an option for picking up the product at a nearby Apple Store with the product in stock, aims to simplify and speed up shopping. If not immediately in stock, the feature gives users an estimated pick-up time. While inside an Apple Store, customers can also scan product barcodes to find technical specifications, ratings and reviews.[54][55]
In November 2013, 9to5Mac reported that Apple would begin using an "iBeacon" location-based notification technology. The iBeacon functionality, inside the "Apple Store" iOS app, lets consumers inside Apple Stores receive useful notifications about products, pricing and features, in an attempt to improve the shopping experience.[56] Officially confirmed by the Associated Press the following month, the feature rolled out across all of Apple's retail stores in the United States.[57][58]
In May 2014, Apple Store employees started using iPhone 5S for their handheld payments portal, rather than the previous iPod Touch devices. The upgrade lets customers buy products with RFID tags, supports credit card chips and PIN entry, and offers improved support for scanning the Wallet iOS app.[59]
In August 2015, Apple Stores replaced the dedicated Smart Signs displays next to products, by having the products themselves installed with apps that run demos and product information.[60]
In early April 2016, as part of an initiative to become more environmental-friendly, Apple sent an email to employees of Apple Stores that they would begin a transition process with their shopping bags, moving away from the plastic bags that customers get when they buy products in the stores, and switching to paper bags with 80% recyclable materials, with the company expecting the transition to happen on April 15. In the email, Apple also wrote that employees should first ask the customer if they want a bag, rather than giving them one without asking.[61]
In August 2016, Apple announced that it would drop the "Store" branding when referring to individual store locations, such as changing "Apple Store, The Grove" into "Apple The Grove" and "Apple Store, Mayfair" into "Apple Mayfair". The primary areas of the change happened on Apple's website and store pages.[62][63]
In July 2017, Apple added "smart home experiences" to 46 of its retail stores, letting visitors use an Apple device to control smart home appliances in the stores such as light bulbs and ceiling fans, while screens offer a look inside a virtual house that the user can control, such as lowering window shades.[64][65]
Influence [ edit ]
Apple Stores have considerably changed the landscape for consumer electronics retailers and influenced other technological companies to follow suit. According to The Globe and Mail, "Apple’s retail stores have taken traffic, control and profits away from Verizon as well as electronics retailers, such as Best Buy, that once looked at wireless phones as a lucrative profit source".[66] CNET has reported that the "Apple retail experience hurts Best Buy" and noted "Buy a MacBook at the Apple Store and it's hard to go back to the Best Buy Windows laptop buying experience". The publication also wrote that "Apple salespeople are generally more knowledgeable, the products themselves are generally higher quality, and the stores are more appealing, aesthetically and practically."[67]
In October 2009, reports surfaced that Steve Jobs and his retail team would help "drastically overhaul" Disney Stores. Jobs' involvement was described by The New York Times as "particularly notable", given Jobs' work on the "highly successful" Apple Stores and his election to Disney's board of directors in 2006.[68][69]
In August 2009, London Evening Standard reported that Apple's first store in the United Kingdom, at Regent Street, was the most profitable shop of its size in London, with the highest sales per square foot, taking in £60 million a year, or £2,000 per square foot.[70]
Redesign [ edit ]
Apple's Fifth Avenue store relocated for renovations
In May 2016, Apple significantly redesigned its Union Square Apple Store in downtown San Francisco, adding large glass doors for the entry, open spaces with touch-sensitive tables and shelves for product displays, and rebranded rooms for the store. "The Avenue" is the central location for hardware, as well as for receiving advice from salespersons and "Creative Pros" – individuals with specialized knowledge of music, creativity, apps and photography. The "Genius Bar" becomes the "Genius Grove", a tree-lined area for help and support. "The Forum" features a large video screen and offers game nights, sessions with experts in creative arts, and community events. "The Boardroom" lets aspiring developers and entrepreneurs learn how to use their products to their full potential. "The Plaza", while limited to select locations, offers a "park-like" space outside the store featuring free 24/7 Wi-Fi access and will host live concerts on some weekends.[71][72] Designed by Jony Ive and Angela Ahrendts, the idea was to make Apple Stores into "town squares", in which people come naturally to the store as a gathering place,[73] and to "help foster human experiences that draw people out of their digital bubbles".[74] The new design will be adopted to every store Apple has,[75] and while renovation is undergoing, stores are either relocated[76] or temporarily closed.[77] For some locations, including its flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City, the redesign means substantial expansion of space,[78][79] requiring dismantling, and possibly reworking, of its physical properties.[80]
In April 2017, Apple announced that its "Today at Apple" educational sessions, which launched with its Union Square redesign in 2016 and offer more than 60 free hands-on sessions for creative skills, will also be expanded to all of its stores.[81][82]
In May 2017, Apple updated all classic designed stores with new Feature Bays and Avenues, providing better buying experience by adding more interactive product trying tables, drawers for iPhone cases and magnet planks for iPad cases to the accessories wall. Apple also added Forum Displays to all stores to provide better Today at Apple experience. All allows customers to try Apple or third-party products before buying just like they could do in the new design stores.[83]
Before and After Accessories Wall in Apple Jiefangbei and Video Wall in Apple Holiday Plaza Shenzhen
Before
After
"Better Today at Apple experience is coming soon"
After renovation
Starting May 2018, Apple renew its stores in a new way, by adding Video Wall to stores around the world, and upgrade some stores like Apple Palo Alto[84] and Apple Causeway Bay in Hong Kong with Avenue Walls which feature the same design as the new stores ones. Apple closed Apple Regent Street in the UK and Apple Wangfujing in Beijing, China to offer those renovations.[85]
Second Floor of Apple Causeway Bay after renovation
In February 2019, Apple announced that it would close two stores in Frisco and Plano, Texas and replace them with a new location at Galleria Dallas. Apple cited plans to invest in other locations in the region, as well as the new Dallas store, as reasoning. However, it was also noted by media outlets that the two affected stores both reside within the judicial territory of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which is widely known for being favorable towards plaintiffs in patent infringement cases. Although it was ruled in 2017 that for the purpose of venue in patent infringement suits, a domestic corporation "resides" only in its state of incorporation, having retail locations in the district would constitute Apple having a "regular and established place of business" in East Texas.[86][87]
Genius Bar [ edit ]
The Genius Bar at Apple Store Regent Street, London
All Apple Stores feature a Genius Bar, where customers can receive technical advice or set up service and repair for their products. The Genius Bar provides software support for macOS and hardware service on products that are not classified vintage or obsolete.[88] However, in most cases the Geniuses will at least attempt to assist customers with older hardware.[89] Originally, visitors to the Genius Bar were offered free Evian water.[90] Apple dropped this amenity in February 2002.[citation needed]
In May, 2017, Apple launched a new program called “Today At Apple.” Customers can come in and receive free training from a “Creative” in over 60 different sessions. Topics include basic device knowledge, Apple’s professional film and music editing softwares, coding for kids, and tools for using Apple products in classroom based learning. [91]
The largest |
Bears counterpart a fine coach and gentleman. Heck, Sunday's opposing quarterbacks, Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers, regularly exchange texts, and things are so chummy this week you imagine one of them ending a message "XOXO.''
Documented and anecdotal history suggests, beneath the game-day edginess, Halas occasionally showed a soft spot for the Packers going back to the NFL's infancy. Read "Papa Bear," by author Jeff Davis, and it's clear Halas always recognized how both teams needed each other to grow their respective franchises — and the league.
As noted in the Packers media guide, it was Halas who was instrumental in persuading league partners in 1922 to allow Green Bay and Lambeau back in the fold after the Packers were banned for using college players illegally. Though it's interesting to note that it was Halas who originally discovered that the Packers used the players and the Bears signed one of them, Hunk Anderson, after the hubbub.
Still, a mutual respect developed, and the Packers returned the favor during the Great Depression when hard financial times left Halas scrounging for money to meet payroll expenses.
"He had to borrow money from his mother and his mother-in-law, and to me it speaks to his vision that he was able to keep things going," McCaskey said.
Halas also accepted a $1,500 loan from the Packers in 1932, according to Green Bay Press-Gazette archives. Some football historians believe it was that gesture by the Packers that drove Halas to get so involved in 1956 when the NFL deemed old City Stadium and its 24,000-seat capacity too small.
But perhaps Halas' biggest contribution to his football neighbor 185 miles to the north went beyond supporting stadium projects that kept afloat teams in small markets such as Green Bay. When the Packers needed to hire a coach at the end of the 1958 season, team President Dominic Olejniczak sought Halas' opinion.This article is over 2 years old
Laurent Stefanini selected for UN role after resistance against earlier attempts to appoint him as ambassador to Holy See
France has abandoned its attempts to appoint a gay man as ambassador to the Holy See amid resistance from the Vatican, choosing instead to select him for a post at Unesco.
President François Hollande proposed, his head of protocol, for the Vatican position in January last year. Church officials did not confirm the posting for months, a delay French and Italian media attributed to Stefanini’s sexuality.
Paper claims pope rejected gay French diplomat as ambassador to Holy See Read more
On Wednesday, France named Stefanini ambassador to Unesco, the Paris-based UN cultural agency, the minutes of the cabinet’s weekly meeting showed.
Last year, the French Catholic newspaper La Croix cited an unnamed source as saying the Vatican considered it a “provocation” that France’s Socialist government, which in 2013 legalised same-sex marriage, had proposed a gay man for the post.
Pope Francis has maintained Catholic teaching on homosexuality but has struck a more sympathetic personal tone towards gay people. He has said he could not judge gay people of goodwill who were seeking God, and has met members of a Catholic gay rights group in the Vatican.
But the pontiff has shown no sign of easing rules against gay unions or changing the church’s teaching that homosexual acts are sinful, even if homosexuality itself is not.Fantasy of Lights returns to Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos this weekend with two days of walking tours before the popular light show opens to cars next week.
Related Articles San Jose Light Tower documentary sheds light on landmark’s history
How do you move a 95-year-old rail car from a San Jose yard? Very carefully
Massive mural project underway in downtown San Jose
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo ditching State of the City speech
Artistic ‘telephone game’ on view at Los Gatos’ New Museum The walk-through tours take place Saturday and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m., and visitors can get an up-close look at the animated displays featuring playful penguins, blazing cannons, Santa shooting basketballs and a whole bunch of dinosaurs, which have nothing to do with any holiday I’m aware of but are cool nonetheless. A couple of tips from veterans: Dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes for the 3-mile loops. A flashlight’s not a bad idea, either.
While there’s no parking available at the park itself, Netflix will provide parking and a shuttle service for the walk-through weekend at 121 Albright Way in Los Gatos.
Drive-through tours start Dec. 5 through Dec. 30, with the park closed Christmas Day. Remember that you have to buy tickets in advance for the day and time you want to visit. Walk-through tickets are $5-$10 and drive-through tours are $20 for most vehicles. Go to www.parkhere.org for tickets and other information.
MAYOR GOES VIRAL: San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo‘s choice of headwear on Thanksgiving made him a social media sensation over the holiday weekend. The mayor wore a Silicon Valley Turkey Trot race T-shirt as a “do-rag” at the downtown San Jose event Thursday morning, and Los Gatos High grad and UCLA student Emma Shahabi noticed the uncanny resemblance between Liccardo and “Prison Mike,” one of the nutty personas adopted by Steve Carell‘s inept manager on “The Office.”
“Why does san jose mayor look like prison mike at our turkey trot??” she tweeted with a side-by-side photo comparison. The tweet had gotten more than 64,000 likes and 21,000 retweets by Monday afternoon.
Liccardo took the ribbing well — certainly better than a certain other elected official who frequents Twitter would — pinning Shahabi’s tweet to his own timeline and responding “Nailed it.” Looks like potential re-election campaign material to me.
Why does San Jose’s mayor look like prison mike at our turkey trot?? Lmk pic.twitter.com/dqUuMA8Lai — Emma Shahabi (@eshahabz) November 23, 2017
MAGICAL SUPPORT: You could say that Phil Ackerly‘s third annual Night of Comedy & Magic at Rooster T. Feathers last month was an enchanted success. The sold-out show raised $3,471 for the South Bay Blue Star Moms, which is nearly double last year’s total. Ackerly emceed the show, which featured comedian Jeff Applebaum, mentalist David Gerard and comedy juggler Frank Olivier.
Ackerly delivered a check to South Bay Blue Stars Moms President Donna Zolezzi last week that will go toward shopping costs of 600 care packages the Moms and their volunteers will be putting together Dec. 9 at the American Legion Post in Santa Clara.
“I’m still beaming with gratitude for all the support I received from the community to make this event a success,” Ackerly said. “I have a gift to entertain and put smiles on people’s faces, and it feels good to help bring a little ‘home’ to our service men and women during the holidays. That is the real magic”
HOLIDAYS WITH HISTORY: History Park in San Jose is getting gussied up in its Christmas best in time for the Children’s Heritage Holiday event on Saturday. The festivities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be a real step back in time, as visitors can ride a wagon pulled through the park by a pair of Clydesdale horses or see demonstrations on blacksmithing, glass-blowing, woodworking and printing.
Carolers from Carden Academy of Almaden and Holy Spirit School will be roaming the grounds spreading holiday cheer, and Santa will arrive on a historic trolley to take pictures with young fans starting at noon. Admission is $8, with kids 2 and under and History San Jose members free. Get more details at www.historysanjose.org.Varying definitions of violence in state laws have made a federal gun law aimed at wife-beaters less effective
The Supreme Court wrestled Wednesday with how to keep guns out of the hands of domestic violence offenders (Photo11: Alex Brandon, AP) Story Highlights Varying state definitions make federal law less effective
Justices struggle with how to define violence
Decision could help or hinder gun prosecutions
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court struggled Wednesday with how to keep guns away from domestic violence offenders without penalizing those who are not truly violent.
While the key to the debate was guns, the justices spent most of their time trying to define violence and differentiating it from actions that merely cause injury, whether intentional or not.
The differences are important, because a federal law aimed at denying guns to those with misdemeanor convictions of domestic violence relies on definitions within state laws. In 28 states and the District of Columbia, for instance, assault and battery statutes include provisions for mere touching.
That got the justices to wondering what type of domestic violence could lead to a federal conviction for possessing a gun.
"If I punch somebody in the nose, is that violence?" Justice Antonin Scalia asked.
"How about pinching or biting, hair-pulling, shoving, grabbing, hitting, slapping?" asked Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
"If the victim is at the top of the stairwell and you go, 'Boo!' and he or she falls down and is injured, is that physical force?" Chief Justice John Roberts chimed in.
And Justice Anthony Kennedy raised the specter of a photographer who says, "'Back up two steps,' so that the other person falls over the cliff. That's physical force?"
Faced with the barrage of hypothetical questions, assistant solicitor general Melissa Arbus Sherry said the law passed by Congress was intended to go after wife-beaters, not "someone tickling their wife with a feather."
That's the problem, Justice Elena Kagan said, because state laws in 14 of the 28 states don't differentiate between physical force and mere touching.
"Are you going to have a terrible difficulty prosecuting real, you know, punch-in-the-nose kinds of incidents of physical violence, because there are indivisible statutes that apply to both?" she asked.
The case stems from Tennessee, where James Alvin Castleman pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor domestic assault in 2001. Seven years later, he was found in possession of guns and prosecuted under the federal law. But two lower courts threw out his indictment because the state law also includes threats of violence as well as offensive or provocative contact.
By agreeing to hear the case, at least four justices signaled potential objections to those verdicts and a sensitivity to victims of domestic violence. Still, a decision overturning the district and appeals courts may require changes in state laws, so that lesser offenders aren't covered.
On the other hand, a decision in Castleman's favor could mean that truly violence offenders skirt the federal gun law because of the imprecision of state laws.
"I can't work this out," said Justice Stephen Breyer. "On the one hand, you're not really picking up serious domestic violence... or on the other hand, you pick up the offensive touching, too."
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/KjVKayThe platonic ideal of television's future is a la carte consumption: the ability to pay only for the channels you want. It's a dream that everyone from Apple to Intel has reportedly pursued, and one that every half-sentient cable customer desires. But maybe the question isn't can—or will—this happen some day. What we should really be asking is: when it does happen, what will it cost us?
It's tempting to think that we're inching closer to a TV revolution; if recent reports of Intel's internet-TV set-top box are any indication, the technology is certainly in place. But, tellingly, the WSJ reports that Intel's ambitions have been stymied by the same thing that's kept Apple on the sidelines: the inability to cut a deal with the networks.
Advertisement
This is the part where we grumble and stomp our feet about the incalculable greed of Big Cable. If Apple could cut a deal with record labels, the logic goes, why not TV?. But the truth is, there's more than just obstinance at work here. The music industry was dying a slow death when Apple offered a life vest; Time Warner's Networks division alone, meanwhile, posted a $1.2 billion profit just last quarter. Cable companies and content owners aren't damsels in distress; they're dragons stockpiling gold.
Even so, there's almost certainly a price at which networks would license their content on a case-by-case basis. It's just almost certainly not one you're willing to meet.
Advertisement
How Much Would It Cost?
Let's say, hypothetically, that a la carte TV channels suddenly became available today. How much would you expect pay? Time to speculate.
We can start with how much your cable provider pays for access to certain channels. Those numbers aren't widely accessible, but we do know that ESPN—the big dog of pay-TV—costs your cable provider at least $4.69 per subscriber per month. How can one station command such a fee? Because cable channel pricing, like everything else, is based on supply and demand, and ESPN's ratings are nearly twice that of the number two pay cable network.
Advertisement
That's one channel, at its wholesale price. As an individual subscriber, you would end up paying much, much more.
But how much more? Consider that HBO, in less than a third of the number of households as ESPN, costs cable companies a reported $7 per customer per month (you end up paying more than twice that, on top of your regular cable bill). Consider, too, the marketing costs that cable companies cover, the streaming costs of an internet-based package that would be shouldered by the networks. It's not unreasonable to think that ESPN alone would cost upwards of $20 per month as a standalone product. And that's probably a conservative estimate.
So you don't care about ESPN. All you want are a handful of channels, the kind that cable companies typically pay less than a dollar per subscriber per month for. How bad could that be? Actually, in a lot of instances, still pretty bad.
Advertisement
The Ownership Issue
As Gabriel Rossman says so eloquently here, the real reason you can't get HBO Go as a standalone network is that it's owned by Time Warner Inc., which stands to make far more by bundling its networks then letting them go one by one. Even if it made financial sense for HBO to set itself free, it would be absurd for Time Warner to let that happen. Bundles are more profitable than one-offs.
But it's not just an HBO problem. Many, many, many of your favorite cable networks are owned not just by the same parent company, but by cable providers themselves! That's just how the industry works these days. For instance!
Advertisement
Comcast Owns
E!
Style
G4
NBC Sports
NBC
Syfy
USA
Bravo
CNBC
MSNBC
And although Time Warner no longer owns TimeWarner Cable, it does own the following properties, all of which are more profitable when sold as part of a package than alone:
Adult Swim
Boomerang
Cartoon Network
truTV
TBS
TNT
TCM
CNN
HLN
HBO
Cinemax
Even if the fair market, a la carte price of any of these networks turned out to be reasonable—say, four bucks a month?—they would never be untethered by their corporate parents. Why would Comcast give you access to Bravo alone when it can just as easily keep it wrapped up in a $70 per month bundle?
Advertisement
And let's say, miraculously, that these companies feel particularly altruistic. Let's say they give you access to mid-tier channels for $5 each per month, despite the fact that it would potentially cost them billions of dollars over just a few years. Remember that these are the same companies that control your broadband access. And if you debundle your television from your internet, guess what? Your internet costs skyrocket. You just can't win.
So Is There Any Hope At All?
It's an unfortunate fact of life that just because a critical mass of people want something doesn't mean they'll get it. This is especially true when it comes to cable. While other markets are open to disruption—here's that thing you like, but cheaper—cable content and access is so tightly integrated, your choices so limited, that there's next to no chance of an avenging hero rising from the depths.
Advertisement
Still, though, there's a glimmer of hope. Intel has apparently reached at least one content deal (although who knows at what cost). Apple may have set aside its grand designs in favor of a boring set-top box, but it's got enough clout to keep banging on that door. And major content companies might be more open to a la carte deals than your neighborhood ISP.
At the end of the day, though, no revolution ever came cheap. Your living room is no exception.David Heim is a veteran book and magazine editor specializing in woodworking. He has been writing about and teaching SketchUp for more than four years.
Last April, the editor of American Woodturner asked me to do a SketchUp drawing of a unique lathe. Designed by a young Canadian shop teacher named Scott Lewis, the lathe draws its power from a person pedaling bicycle cranks to drive a flywheel. This SketchUp project quickly drew me toward a program that introduces woodturning to less-developed areas worldwide.
It all began with baseball
In 2014, Lewis traveled to a school in the Dominican Republic town of Punta Cana to teach woodworking. “Baseball is religion there,” Lewis told me. He said he thought about bringing bats, but decided to bring a lathe so the kids could make their own. Transporting a full-size lathe—which can weigh more than 400 pounds—was obviously out of the question. So Lewis and two friends, Eric Foster and Chris Darnell, set to work designing a lathe that could be built on-site with a few basic tools and that wouldn’t need electricity.
They first tried a pole lathe and a treadle lathe, centuries-old designs that rely on taut ropes and foot-pumping to turn the wood. Neither worked. “I’m an experienced turner and in good physical shape,” Lewis said. “But running a treadle lathe was just too hard.” That’s when Lewis and friends turned to pedal power. Scott began by cannibalizing a colleague’s donated bike for parts. The rear wheel formed the basis of the flywheel; they cut off the part of the frame holding the pedals and cranks; and the front axle became a tensioning roller. Lewis and his father teamed up on the metalworking.
Scott packed the brackets, bike parts, and woodturning tools in boxes and suitcases for the flight to the Dominican Republic. Once in Punta Cana, they bought the wood they needed and enlisted the schoolkids to build the lathe.
The kids couldn’t wait to begin pedaling and turning. During Lewis’s three-week visit, the kids made spin tops, yo-yos, bowls, and—of course—baseball bats. Here are some highlights of the trip. (The video was done to coincide with Scott’s article in American Woodturner.)
SketchUp and Turners Without Borders
Turners Without Borders, a three-year-old program of the American Association of Woodturners, sponsored Lewis’s trip and wanted to make plans for his lathe available for free online. That’s where I came in.
Modeling the lathe in SketchUp became an exercise in reverse engineering. Scott didn’t create plans when he built the first lathe, but he sent me a simple SketchUp image of the lathe’s frame, with some dimensions. He also shared photos from his trip.
Working with that material and making some educated guesses based on my knowledge of lathes, I began to build the lathe and all its fittings in SketchUp. For some parts, such as the pedals and cranks and the bike wheel for the flywheel, I downloaded models from the 3D Warehouse.
Scott and I traded numerous emails to answer questions and have him approve changes as the plans developed. When I had the model complete, I began to break it down into scenes for the key sub-assemblies.
I used LayOut to arrange and dimension everything. A hidden-line image in the upper corner of each page shows the lathe progressing from basic frame to finished product. And I relied on the Cutlist extension to generate the materials list on the final page.
The finished plans—one version for customary measurements, one for metric—take up nine pages. Each page covers one major sub-assembly, such as the frame, the flywheel, the seat for the pedaler, the metal fittings and bearings, and so on. Take a look at this short video.
I finished the plans in early June. A few weeks later, I was in Pittsburgh for the AAW’s annual convention. Because of the work generating the plans, I wanted to know more about the Turners Without Borders program, so I sat in on one of their meetings.
Turners in less-developed areas may use Lewis’s lathe to set up a small business, becoming self-sufficient by selling the pieces they turn. In the future, TWB may also be involved in initiatives that could put this lathe to good use. It’s very gratifying to know that the SketchUp plans can help these ideas come to pass.In the 1800’s, colonists to North America confronted the “Indian problem” by civilizing Indians and finding ways to legally take their land. As we know, First Nation people were perceived as impediments to the economic development of Canada. The vast territories were recognized by the British Crown as being land owned by the “Indian Nations”—King George III’s words, not ours—and there could not be legal settlement of these lands without treaties being negotiated.
From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Canada negotiated dozens of treaties with First Nation people across the country. These treaties exchanged land for rights given to the people living within the treaty territory. These sacred rights were violated by the creation of the Indian Act and Indian residential schools, which were introduced to either “take the Indian out of the child,” as per the words of John A. Macdonald, or to assimilate the First Nation people into the “Canadian body politic,” as Duncan Campbell Scott said. And when the treaties were drafted, there was significant miscommunication due to issues in both language and interpretation, hindering the possibility of meaningful reconciliation.
This treaty relationship, which has languished for decades, is now being actively talked about in many circles of power throughout Canada as the drive for economic development butts up against First Nation interests. The Supreme Court has ruled on a number of such cases—Delgamuukw, Haida/Takuu and Tsilhqot’in being a few of the important ones—and their rulings have further substantiated the treaty rights First Nations have always claimed they had. In addition, the United Nations has enacted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, putting forth a basic standard for the rights of Indigenous people around the world.
Still, it is unclear: What should First Nations people do when disagreements between parties arise over treaty rights? Should First Nations go through a court process? Although in some cases this is necessary, it is important to keep in mind that many First Nations do not trust Canada’s justice system. So their alternative, should they wish, would be to make use of the provision in many agreements to deploy mediation.
Mediation is a great way to solve problems at a fraction of the cost of a court proceeding and allows parties to be a participant in the resolution of the problem. However, conventional mediation is just that: conventional. Although it is being used as a result of its inclusion in agreement provisions, mediation is yet another colonial approach to resolving disputes with First Nation people. Thus, mediation risks leading to further miscommunication.
A subset of a court room type atmosphere, mediation more often than not has lawyers present. A mediation agreement is the result of having a mediator drive compromises from across the negotiation table. Parties sit across from one another, are asked a series of interest-based questions, and are encouraged to voice their needs and present offers, so as to come to what is ideally a mutually beneficial agreement.
For many reasons, however, this is an uncomfortable setting for First Nation people. The mediation process does not allow for the resolution of a problem in a way that is supported by familiar Indigenous cultural practices. In First Nation culture, resolutions are achieved through a peacemaking process that uses ceremony, medicines, circles and collective decision-making. For this reason, the use of mediation as an approach to First Nation-settler reconciliation needs to be decolonized.
Over the past two years, we have combined our experiences as a former Grand Council chief, a mediator, and a conflict analyst to design a process that combines mediation techniques with First Nation peacemaking practices. We refer to this new approach as a hybrid process—a culturally sensitive team approach that provides a new way forward in support of reconciliation.
A goal of the hybrid process is to create an atmosphere and setting that is culturally appropriate for all of the parties to the dispute. Another goal is to ensure that the dynamics of conflict involved in the dispute are given the space and time needed to be voiced. Conventional mediation cannot achieve these goals because there is a cultural gap that must be bridged, and there are too many layers of conflict that must be addressed before you can begin to problem solve.
While we have been hired by First Nation communities to handle disputes using this method, we cannot discuss past cases due to confidentiality. However, let’s consider a hypothetical case: A First Nation territory in negotiations with a government has asked us to facilitate disagreements between several of the communities within the territory. As a result of there being dozens of unique treaties, different communities or groups are represented at the negotiation table. When their representatives arrive, they often have differing objectives. They are not on the same page as each other, let alone the government. Conventional mediation strategies would take forever to sort through all of the objectives, especially when you consider that the cultural gap is a bar to communication.
The Hybrid Process, which occurs in three stages, listens to the voice of the people from all of the communities before bringing the community representatives and the government representatives together. The first stage of the process begins by observing the communities’ chiefs, council and elders during their meetings in order to learn about the issues and group dynamics. In this stage, we also visit with each of the communities and meet with their members, which allows us to better understand the layers of conflict and the past experiences of the communities.
The second stage begins when key representatives take part in a series of four talking circles. The circles help us to better understand the issues and to formulate strategies to dissect and reconstitute the issues in a way that addresses interests of the parties. The circles start with a prayer and a smudging ceremony followed by a brush off ceremony, where an eagle feather is used to “brush off” the hurt and grudges that may be in the way of resolving the problems. The first circle often ends up being a healing circle, as old angers and set positions are heard by all circle participants. After the four circles, a series of non-prejudicial discussions take place; this is where we are able to delve into the roots of the problems. When the problems are identified and delved into, they can be peeled away like an onion.
In the third stage, the representatives collectively reach a solution that they are comfortable taking back to their communities. The parameters of the solution are collectively written out as “Minutes of Settlement.” A pipe ceremony is then held to honour the solution and achievements of the group.
The second and third stages of the Hybrid Process would be repeated when all of the communities within the First Nation Territory were ready to meet with the government representatives. The combination of First Nation peacemaking practices and mediation techniques allow indigenous and non-indigenous parties to participate in a process that they have some familiarity with. This familiarity sets the stage for respect, trust and rapport to be developed. In addition, we have seen the use of circles, ceremony, medicines and non-prejudicial discussions break down the various perspectives of the conflict, humanize the voices behind the concerns, and allow people to get past intractable positions.
This process provides a road map that enables First Nation people to negotiate with government because the objective of what they wish to achieve has been reduced to a collective understanding set out in writing and agreed to in ceremony. This process also assists First Nations in achieving agreements with corporate Canada. If it is an interest of the communities, they can collaborate on ways to build infrastructure while at the same time preserving their culture, traditions and ultimately, their roots to the land. We have been told by parties that this process has brought long time disputants together, encouraged open dialogue and collaboration, and led to agreements that they never thought would be reached.
Employing the Hybrid Process shifts decision making to the collective, respects the treaties and UNDRIP, and incorporates culturally significant practices. By ensuring that governments and corporate Canada are listening to the voices of First Nation people, we can pave a new way forward in our efforts towards crafting new meaningful and lasting relationships. With a Canada-wide focus on reconciliation efforts, we believe that true Nation-to-Nation building can be achieved if First Nation people are invited to a culturally appropriate process that places consultation and communication at the forefront of the negotiations.
John Beaucage is a former Grand Council Chief of the 42-member First Nations of the Anishinabek Nation. Alicia Kuin is a mediator who specializes in the areas of culture, power and identity and Paul Iacono Q.C., is the President of the YorkStreet Dispute Resolution Group, a Toronto based firm that specializes in conflict analysis, process design and the resolution of complex multi-party disputes.Image caption Activists have been staging protests outside the Chinese embassy in Seoul
South Korea's parliament has passed a resolution demanding that China stops the repatriation of North Korean refugees.
The move follows a string of protests over the fate of some 30 North Koreans who are reportedly facing deportation from China and harsh repercussions.
The resolution was backed by 154 lawmakers on Tuesday.
They also called on the United Nations and other bodies to put pressure on Beijing to follow international law.
It is estimated that more than 20,000 North Koreans have fled to the South since the 1950s. The majority of them escape via China.
China says that the North Koreans are "illegal economic migrants" who must be returned home. Its stand on the North Koreans is not a new policy - it has been sending back those it finds within its borders for many years.
But there is increased concern over the issue since the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
Reports from inside North Korea say the country's new leader has issued a decree pledging to exterminate the families of anyone caught trying to flee, the BBC Lucy Williamson reports from Seoul.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak spoke out on the issue last week.
"When it comes to the North Korean defectors, it is right for the Chinese government to handle them in line with international rules as long as they are not criminals," he said.
South Korea reiterated its message at a meeting of the UN's refugee agency this week, urging all countries to refrain from exposing those in desperate situations to the risk of dire consequences, says our correspondent.
The North Koreans awaiting deportation were reportedly detained by Chinese authorities in separate incidents.
Unconfirmed reports last Friday said at least nine North Koreans had been deported from China. The South Korean foreign ministry, however, has not confirmed the repatriation reports. There was no word from China.ADELAIDE recruit Curtly Hampton's bid to make a fast start at his new club has hit the skids with the running half-back set to be sidelined for up to two months.
Hampton, 23, was a late withdrawal from the Crows' SANFL practice match last week after pulling up sore from training and a stress reaction has been discovered in his foot.
The former Greater Western Sydney defender will be sidelined for up to eight weeks.
"It’s disappointing for both Curtly and the club but fortunately it has been picked up early," general manager of high performance Brett Burton said of the injury.
"Curtly will not require surgery but will wear a moonboot for the next couple of weeks as he begins his rehabilitation."
Hampton was traded to the Crows in exchange for a future second-round pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft after appearing in 51 games over four seasons for the Giants.
The creative backman is looking to reignite his career in Adelaide. He had been a regular starter for GWS until last season when he languished in the NEAFL and only managed five senior games.
Hampton could be the only Crow unavailable when new coach Don Pyke takes the reins for the first time in Adelaide's round one clash with North Melbourne.
Charlie Cameron (knee), Riley Knight (ankle), Andy Otten (knee), Ricky Henderson (back), Mitch Grigg (corked thigh) and Tom Doedee (managed) are all set to be available for the trip to Etihad Stadium.Shares 233 Email
Remember how I told you that London Toy Fair doesn’t usually have much in terms of Sonic? But New York and Germany are the ones to watch out for? Well… told you so. Spielwarenmesse is currently underway and as expected, there was a huge showing of Sonic merch! Someone managed to get inside Tomy’s booth and took photos of everything in sight! Resulting in one epic haul of Sonic merch for 2017 and beyond!
Based on the photos taken, the Sonic Boom toy line continues to be very profitable. Yes it is profitable, because if it wasn’t they wouldn’t keep making them… That’s how making money works, you make more of what is selling!
Anyway, on with the report.
Sonic Boom is set to get a HUGE expansion, starting with the action figure line, more specific figures based on episodes of Sonic Boom are on the way, as reported last week Sonic and Co will be released in space suits, as well as a white variation of those costumes.
Along side action figures, vehicles are set to get a small expansion, Sonic’s “Blue Force One” will get it’s own release.
Green jacket Eggman is still on the way if this picture is anything to go by. Only it would appear that he’s going to be part of a multi pack release.
Moving away from Boom for just a moment, Tomy are also set to expand the classic Sega Sonic toyline with a number of new figures.
Starting off with the new 16bit era/themed figures which we reported on last week. But the line doesn’t end there, Tomy are expanding this line with some very strange figures indeed.
Made of a transparent plastic material, both Sonic and Tails get a… very stealthy look. But would you believe this isn’t the strangest figure planned?
Classic Sonic, meet Classic Sonic! If Sonic were released in the 1930’s, he would look like this! A black and white variation of Classic Sonic is on the way, (as well as a Tails figure too), I’m not sure why this is happening… but I kind like it.
Confirmation of another new comic book pack, sadly no figures to go with this one just yet.
Finally, it looks like we’re also getting some new classic themed plushies, no sign of Tails but you know he’ll be included too.
And that’s about it for Classic Sega Sonic merch, however, as I said at the start, Boom is getting a huge expansion of merchandise… including some very new items.
Belt tags, bag tags, buddy tags, call them what you want but these are something we’ve not yet seen before. They come in a variety of expressions so you can customise your bag or belt to whatever mood you feel like.
If plastic isn’t your thing, there’s a more comfortable option…
Yup, there’s a plush variation too! This is something we have never seen before, be it Boom or Sega Sonic, typically when a plush line is released it’ll be of one expression, yet here we have a variety of expressions. Be very interesting to see how this one does.
And that about wraps things up, but check out Spindash.de for even more pictures from Spielwarnmess.
Source: Spindash.deImage copyright Wiltshire Police Image caption Danielle Carr-Gomm struggled with her diagnosis of diabetes, her family said
A woman who died following a "slapping workshop" was desperate to cure her diabetes, her son has said.
Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, of Lewes, East Sussex, died at Cleeve House in Seend, Wiltshire, on 20 October.
She had taken part in an alternative health session involving paida lajin therapy. She previously said a session had yielded "astonishing" results.
Two men, aged 51 and 53, and a woman, 64, were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released on bail.
Paida lajin involves patients being slapped or vigorously slapping themselves repeatedly as part of a "self-healing" process.
Image caption Hongchi Xiao's books includes details of how to pat and slap joints, armpits, head, and shoulders
Matthew Carr-Gomm said his mother had been seeking alternative treatments after being diagnosed with diabetes in 1999.
He said: "She had a lifelong fear of needles so she struggled with the diagnosis and initially took a course of tablets instead.
"She was always keen to try and find alternative methods of treating and dealing with her diabetes and was very interested in alternative and holistic medicine and therapies.
"I know she was desperate to try and cure herself of this disease. She always maintained a healthy lifestyle and was adamant that nothing would stop her from living a full life."
Image copyright Google Images Image caption Danielle Carr-Gomm died following a therapy session at Cleeve House hotel in Seend, Wiltshire
The week-long course at Cleeve House which Mrs Carr-Gomm attended was run by Hongchi Xiao, originally from Beijing.
Mrs Carr-Gomm, who was originally from Issenheim, in France, wrote a blog post about a previous session she had completed in Bulgaria.
She wrote: "Large areas of my body... bruised and blue which indicated that a lot of'sha' or poisoned blood and toxins had been released".
She described painful seizures and said she vomited "the most horrible syrupy black stuff", but believed it improved her blood sugar readings and she planned to attend more workshops.On September 5, 2016, long before Donald Trump’s shocking election victory—before the Comey letter, before the Billy Bush tape—a lengthy essay was published with minimal fanfare on the Claremont Review of Books’ Web site. Few outside of the solemn world of high conservatism knew of its existence. The majority of political reporters glossed over it. But to the readers of the Review—the right-wing thought leaders, the talk-show hosts, the more erudite Republicans on Capitol Hill—it landed as cacophonously as a jetliner crashing into a Pennsylvania field. The article was written under the nom de plume Publius Decius Mus, but it was notable less for the anonymity of its author than its terrifying thesis. “2016 |
literature (Extended Data Fig. 1) and suggest that such biases have a minor role. Furthermore, approximations of upper and lower estimates for potential vegetation were calculated to determine realistic ranges of global biomass stocks.
Potential biomass stock maps 1 and 2
IPCC-based maps, FRA-adjusted or adjusted to ref. 16; see Extended Data Fig. 4a, b. Two maps were constructed to consistently match the actual biomass stock maps 1 and 2. They build from best-available estimates on potential, landscape-averaged biomass-stock densities for zonal vegetation, mainly from IPCC values51, with the exception of boreal forests. For boreal forests, owing to large uncertainties42,52,53, the maximum values of biome-wide actual biomass stocks per unit area between 1990 and 200716 were used to derive a conservative estimate. Map 1 was subsequently adjusted at the grid level so that potential biomass stock values below actual biomass stock levels matched the actual biomass stocks in the FRA-based map. For map 2, this adjustment was done with the map based on ref. 16.
Potential biomass stock maps 3 and 4
Maps 3 and 4 were based on classic ecological data: cell-based minima and maxima; see Extended Data Fig. 4c, d. Two further maps were calculated by using biomass stock density values3,38,54 for natural, zonal vegetation, from synthesis efforts of site-specific data, for example, from the International Biological Programme55. Similar to maps 1 and 2, these values were allocated to the three biome maps37,38,39, and the cell-based minima (map 3) and maxima (map 4) of all three maps were calculated.
Potential biomass stock map 5
A remote-sensing-based map; see Extended Data Fig. 4e. A fifth map was derived from the remote-sensing maps 3 and 4 on actual biomass stocks. For all 1,303 ecozones that result from the intersection of the three biomes maps37,38,39 mentioned above (see Extended Data Fig. 5e), the 95 percentile biomass stock values of all 30 arc second grid cells (1 × 1 km at the equator) within one ecozone, excluding agricultural lands, derived from the GLC200034, was calculated. For ecozones covered by more than one remote-sensing map, we used the arithmetic mean. This approximation builds on the assumption that in each ecozone, areas of natural vegetation units remain that are representative for the potential biomass-stock densities of the respective ecozone and that the values take natural disturbance into account (owing to the grain size of the input maps and selection procedure). This is confirmed by a cross-check that revealed that the 95 percentile is on average 51% lower than the maximum values found in each ecozone. Using maximum values, the global biomass would be 1.56 times larger than the one estimated here. An upper bias in this map could emerge from the neglect of naturally unfavourable sites within an ecozone (owing to, for example, low water availability or soil fertility); a lower bias could emerge if in an ecozone only disturbed vegetation units prevail, or most of the favourable sites are converted.
Potential biomass stock map 6
An independent sixth map was taken from the literature56; see Extended Data Fig. 4f.
Calculation of the land-use-induced difference in potential–actual biomass stocks
In order to assess the range of the effect of land use on biomass stocks, 42 potential–actual biomass-stock difference maps were calculated by combining the seven actual biomass-stock maps with the six potential biomass-stock maps. In all cases, we adjusted the maps where necessary, so that the actual biomass stocks would not surpass the potential biomass stocks. Increases in actual over-potential biomass stocks could be caused, for instance, by fire prevention. However, the magnitude of this effect is highly uncertain at larger spatial scales, because fire prevention often leads to less frequent, but more damaging fires with larger biomass loads that could compensate for carbon gains57,58 on longer time scales. On unused land (for example, wilderness), no land-use induced biomass-stock reduction was assumed. Unproductive and water areas were excluded from the assessment. Differences in the spatial thematic resolution of potential and actual biomass-stock maps warrant a caveat when interpreting the fine-scale results of the biomass-stock difference.
Attribution to land management and land-cover conversions
For two of the actual biomass stock maps, we could isolate and quantify the impact of individual land-use types, that is, the maps based on consistent, detailed land-use information (actual biomass stock maps 1 and 2). From these maps, land-cover conversion impacts were calculated as the sum of potential–actual biomass-stock differences due to cropland, artificial grassland (that is, grassland on potential forest sites) and infrastructure. The biomass-stock differences of all other land-use types were accounted for as the impact of land management (Extended Data Fig. 2). Forest management was considered to dominate land-management effects in forests, and land-management practices on other used lands were considered as grazing. This approach represents a proxy only. A sharp and unambiguous separation between land-cover conversion and land management would require information on past land uses, which currently is not available, as well as arbitrary decisions on thresholds of change. Examples to illustrate these intricacies are: the biomass stock change on a parcel of land that was cleared from pristine forests to cropland in the past and, after cropland abandonment, is used as forest plantation, would be accounted for as land management, while it would—at least to a certain degree—also represent land-cover conversion if historic uses were to be considered. Similarly, if a forest clear-cut area is used for grazing during the re-growth phase, the biomass-stock difference would be attributed to land-cover conversion, whereas it might also represent land management. If, due to land use, a forest is changed in terms of its species composition, crown closure, stem height and so on, but still remains within key forest parameters (for example, >10% tree cover, stem height >5 m), it is eventually an arbitrary decision whether this change is a land-cover conversion or land management. Additionally, the effects of forest management versus grazing cannot fully be disentangled, because of practices, such as forest grazing and wood extraction for fuel in natural grasslands. Given these practical and theoretical ambiguities, we argue that the simple allocation scheme adopted here is a useful proxy based on transparent considerations, making best use of the available datasets. For preparation of Figs 1c and 2b, we calculated the contributions of land management and conversions separately for the maps based on the data from FRA and ref. 16. The minima of the contribution of each land-use type were used for the attribution. The difference in the sum of all minima to 100% was labelled as ‘ambiguous’, as it is attributed to land management in the map based on FRA15 and land-cover conversion in the map based on ref. 16, or vice-versa (see Extended Data Table 1).
Calculation of the detection limits on the basis of the actual biomass-stock maps
The spatially explicit detection limit for stock changes in actual biomass was estimated from the variation between the seven actual biomass estimates. This assumes that the uncertainty is driven by differences in approaches rather than measurement errors within a single approach and that the seven estimates of the actual biomass stocks are equally likely and, therefore, the main source of uncertainty. For each grid cell we mimicked a stocktaking at present (t) and after 10 years (t + 10) by randomly selecting two biomass stocks from the uncertainty between approaches for that cell. Subsequently, the detected annual change in biomass stock was calculated. A distribution of 1,000 detected annual changes was obtained through resampling. Given that the annual changes were calculated by sampling the same distribution at t and t + 10, there were no underlying changes in biomass stock. The inner 95% of the detected stock changes within each grid cell were assumed to be insignificant. The 5% stock changes that were found to be significant despite the biomass stock being constant between t and t + 10, were used as an estimate for the detection limit in that grid cell. Given present-day uncertainties, a real stock change should thus exceed the detection limit to be correctly classified as a change. At present, evidence is missing to consider one approach as being more precise and accurate than the other approaches9,10,59. Nevertheless, if future advances would enable selecting a single best approach, the uncertainty and detection limit would decrease and in turn enhance the capacity for verification of changes in biomass stocks.
Code availability
Esri ArcGis and MATLAB codes used in the compilation and analysis of results are available upon request from the corresponding author.
Data availability
The data sources for actual and potential biomass-stock estimates are listed above. Source Data for Figs 1b, c, 2a, b, 3a, b and Extended Data Fig. 1 are provided with the online version of the paper. Final results, data and maps are available at http://www.uni-klu.ac.at/socec. Underlying data, for example, data from other sources, which support findings of this study, are available from the corresponding author upon request.2014-01-30 10:14, edited 2014-01-30 13:24 by SlyOkapi
We’ve started rolling out a new Battlefield 4 game update on PC. You may experience some downtime during this rollout, as we are also updating the game servers. As usual, it will take a few hours before the majority of servers are updated.This update is mainly designed to prepare the game for the upcoming release of the expansion pack Battlefield 4 Second Assault. Find out all about the new Mantle renderer in this news post [battlelog.battlefield.com]. We will announce the release date for this expansion pack later.This update also includes the first release of Mantle support for Battlefield 4 on PC. This update also addresses various other items, detailed in the patch notes below.If the game update doesn't start automatically for you, you can trigger it by going into the Origin Client, right clicking Battlefield 4 and selecting "Check for updates".The new Mantle renderer has been added in Battlefield 4. Most players can expect a performance increase by using this new low-level graphics API. Check out this news post [battlelog.battlefield.com] for the full details on Mantle, what the requirements are to run it, and how to enable it.-Tweaked and improved CPU multi-core utilization to try and avoid stuttering and low framerate due to stalls that happened on some CPU and OS configurations.-Users can now configure and control themselves how many CPU cores should be used in the game with the new “Thread.MaxProcessorCount” settings in User.cfg.-“Render.DrawScreenInfo 1” now also shows information about which CPU and GPU is in the system, how many GPUs & CPU cores are used and which renderer (DirectX 11 or Mantle) is active-Added new “PerfOverlay.FrameFileLogEnable” command that records frame times on CPU & GPU and logs out to a.csv file-AMD Catalyst driver 13.12 (or later) is now recommended instead of 13.9-Enabled tile-based compute shader lighting optimization on Nvidia for improved GPU performance (already active on AMD GPUs)-Improved performance with rendering and spotlights for all GPUs, primarily in in-door environments-Increased the damage of all DMRs across all ranges. Specifically, damage has been increased at long ranges to allow three-hit kills against unarmored opponents. Additionally, reduced the penalty to accuracy for sustained DMR fire, allowing more rapid follow up shots in combat. The amount of the damage increase varies from weapon to weapon, according to its intended range, rate of fire, and damage. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of DMRs in combat, and determine if additional action is needed to make DMRs a viable mid to long range weapon.-Significantly reduced the duration of the black screen when spawning in, and fixed the issue with players getting killed before being in-game-Greatly reduced the risk of crosshairs disappearing, which would also result in hit markers disappearing-Added a headshot icon on the killcard. This should help identify instances where players are correctly killed by one shot-Fixed an issue in Squad Deathmatch where the “Win/Lose” text was overlapping-Fixed an issue with players using an exploit for the SOFLAM-Fixed an issue with players using an exploit for the MAV-Fixed the gameplay code to properly track the FOV (Field of View) changes in the options menu-Fixed an issue where chat would break when entering "false" or "true" in the chat window-Fixed an out-of-helicopter glitch in Air Superiority where players could spawn on the ground and play as infantry-Fixed the misaligned crosshairs on the T90 MBT-Added setting to tweak joystick dead zone-Various minor crash fixesSeptember 15-16, 2018, Central Whidbey welcomes the Whidbey Island Kite Festival to the Camp Casey Conference Center, just south of Coupeville.
Set against the majestic backdrop of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, the kite festival features impressive ground and air displays of color and imagination. Activities include kids' kitemaking, beginning sportkite lessons, and sportkite demonstrations.
The highlight of the weekend is the Whidbey Island Sport Kite Championships, one of the premier sportkite competitions in the Pacific Northwest. Competition takes place both Saturday and Sunday. The Whidbey Island Sport Kite Championships is an AKA-sanctioned (www.aka.kite.org) event.
The Whidbey Island Kite Festival is presented by the Whidbey Island Kite Festival Association and the Whidbey Island Kite Fliers (www.whidbeykiteclub.net). It's a wonderful, fun-filled outing for the entire family.
There will be two mass ascensions - one Saturday and one Sunday. A mass ascension is where everyone is invited to fly a kite of the specified style on the field at the same time. The style of kite for Saturday is either delta or cellular and Sunday is flat/bowed or sparless.
There will also be a teddy-bear drop each day at 1:00 for children under 10.
The Central Whidbey Lions Club will have a booth at the field with hot dogs and soda.
For more information e-mail Lisa Root at lroot0208@aol.com.
If you are interested in general visitor information for the area, please contact our local chamber of commerce or by phone (360) 678-5434, or visit WhidbeyLocal.com or WhidbeyIsland.us.Engineered Garments just dropped their F/W 13 lookbook and it straight crushes everything you've ever known about clothing. Catch me out here in extra extra long drug rugs and hoodies and tunics and everything. MY MONEY LONG LIKE MY TUNIC. Daiki Suzuki is seriously one of the best designers out there and, when it comes to the dreaded #menswear scene, probably one of the most influential designers of the last several years. Daiki is like the first rapper to rap about selling cocaine, but in a nuanced way—spitting bars about empty excesses, the highs and lows of a deadly lifestyle, the guilt, the doubt, the paranoia. Fast forward, like, four years and EVERYBODY is doing the exact same shit, but not at as high of a level as the original. For real though, sick layers, amazing details, eleventy billion pockets. I LUH DIS SHIT, MY DUDES. Do yourself a favor and start saving now because, just like cocaine, EG ain’t cheap.
POST CONTINUES BELOWBAGHDAD (Reuters) - At least 77 people were killed and more than 140 wounded by three bombings in Baghdad on Tuesday, extending the deadliest spate of attacks in the Iraqi capital so far this year and driving Shi’ite fighters into the streets to defend some areas.
Powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr blamed the government for failing to provide security and hundreds of militiamen loyal to him deployed in Sadr City and five other mainly Shi’ite areas where the worst of the recent violence has been centered.
Islamic State claimed a suicide bombing which killed 41 people and wounded more than 70 in the northern district of al-Shaab as well as a car bomb in nearby Sadr City that left at least 30 dead and 57 wounded, police and medical sources said.
Another car blew up in al-Rasheed, south of the capital, killing six and wounding 21, the sources said.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the arrest of the official in charge of al-Shaab’s security, his office said in a statement, without giving a reason.
Attacks claimed by Islamic State in and around Baghdad last week killed more than 100 people, the highest death toll in the capital in so few days so far this year.
Security had improved in recent years as sectarian tensions waned and the city’s perimeter was fortified. Islamic State, the ultra-hardline Sunni militants who control parts of northern and western Iraq, have not tried to take the capital but carry out increasingly regular suicide bombings there, hitting Shi’ite areas and government targets.
With the latest death tolls, fears are growing that Baghdad could relapse into the bloodletting of a decade ago when sectarian-motivated suicide bombings killed scores of people every week and set off revenge attacks against Sunnis.
This has cranked up pressure on Abadi who is struggling to solve a political crisis or risk losing control of parts of Baghdad to Islamic State militants. Away from Baghdad, Iraq’s military is waging a counter-offensive against Islamic State.
Abadi has said a political crisis in Baghdad, sparked by his attempt to reshuffle the cabinet in a drive to tackle graft, is hampering the fight against Islamic State and creating space for more insurgent attacks on the civilian population.
People gather at the site of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's mainly Shi'ite district of Sadr City, Iraq, May 17, 2016. REUTERS/Khalid al Mousily
MILITIA DEPLOYS
The bombings also risk adding a dangerous new element to a power struggle within Iraq’s Shi’ite majority, which has intensified in recent weeks as the attempts to form a new government flounder.
In a statement, Sadr called the bombings “the clearest evidence that your government has become incapable of protecting you and providing you with security”.
Camouflaged fighters from his Peace Brigades deployed throughout Sadr City, riding in pickups mounted with machine guns, preventing any cars from stopping and controlling key intersections.
A Reuters witness said they heavily outnumbered government security forces, which maintained a presence only at the main entrances to the neighborhoods.
Sadr’s fighters set up tents outside markets where women were searching female shoppers after initial investigations revealed that the bomber in al-Shaab was a woman.
Slideshow (5 Images)
A spokesman for the Baghdad Operations Command told state television the attacker in al-Shaab had detonated an explosives-filled vest along with a planted bomb.
Police sources said they had defused another car bomb near a popular restaurant in Sadr City. Sadr’s fighters also apprehended a suicide bomber in a crowded market there, but refused to hand him over to the security forces, according to militia and police sources.
Islamic State said in a statement distributed online by supporters that one of its fighters had targeted Shi’ite militiamen with hand grenades and a suicide vest.
It said separately that another fighter had detonated a car bomb amid Shi’ite fighters in Sadr City. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the third bombing.By Whatsupic
According to Turkish Aydinlik daily, ISIS has set up a number of field hospitals in areas under its control in eastern Syrian city of Al-Riqqa and western Iraq is using camouflage to hide them from aerial surveillance.
Photo:Syrianfreepress
Many ISIS former patients whom were treated in those field hospitals and later imprisoned by Iraqi army have confirmed the information indicating the existence of Turkish medical teams in ISIS controlled areas, reported Aydinlik newspaper.
A patient, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that there are many Turkish doctors and nurses are serving in ISIS hospitals.
Meanwhile many Turkish lawmakers accuse the Turkish administration of providing assistance to ISIS in its struggle against the Syrian government of President Assad.
Earlier critics of Turkish government accused AKP administration of then Prime Minister Erdoghan of allowing ISIS militants to find safe havens inside Turkish territories and also there were reports revealing stories about injured ISIS members receiving free medical treatments in in Hatay State Hospital.
You can Also read this article in Spanish
You can Also read this article in FrenchIn a near victory for California sea otters, biologists are cautiously optimistic about the future of the state's southern sea otter population after the annual otter census counted more than 3,000 individuals this year.
Although otter population growth has delighted scientists, however, there are also worrying signs that the population range is contracting, a factor that can restrict long term recovery.
"The population index has exceeded 3,090 for the first time, and that's encouraging," said US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) southern sea otter recovery coordinator Lilian Carswell, "but sustained population growth will require range expansion."
While 3,090 may seem like an odd number, it is a significant one for biologists, since otter censuses must show at least that many individuals in the total population for three years in a row before the USFWS will consider taking the otter off the threatened species list.
Most of the population growth appears to have occurred in the center of the otters' typical range. A greater abundance of sea urchins, a popular otter snack, likely contributed to the surging otter population.
"We believe the high count this year is partly explained by excellent viewing conditions, but it also appears to reflect increased food availability in the range center," said Tim Tinker, a research ecologist who leads the USGS sea otter research program, in a Monterey Aquarium statement. "The boom in sea urchin abundance throughout northern and central California has provided a prey bonanza for sea otters, and that means more pups and juveniles are surviving to adulthood."
Yet although the population in general is expanding, the northern and southern populations are experiencing declines of 2.5 and 0.6 percent respectively, a population trend that worries biologists.
Researchers say that "shark gauntlets" at either end of the otters' current range could be keeping the animals penned in to the center of their population range. Many stranded otters found on either extreme of the otters' usual range are found with lethal shark bites, according to a press release by the Monterey Aquarium.
In the long term, scientists say that they would love to see recolonization of otter habitats on the extremes of the species current range, a population spread that would reduce strain on resources in the center of the otters' current range, and restore traditional ecological relationships
"Once sea otters' range expands, recolonizing historical habitats throughout California, we'll see similar ecosystem benefits that sea otters have brought to kelp forests and estuaries," said Monterey Aquarium Sea Otter program lead manager Andrew Johnson.
Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Sea otters have been in national news lately, after several young otters were found along the California coast, killed by gunshot wounds.
Wildlife officials offered a $10,000 reward for information related to those killings.Relatives of Antonio Zambrano-Montes stand next to his coffin during a funeral mass in Pomaro, in the Mexican state of Michoacan March 7, 2015. Zambrano-Montes, 35, an unemployed orchard worker from Mexico's Michoacan state, was killed in February in Pasco, a city of 68,000 residents in Washington state's agricultural heartland. REUTERS/Alan Ortega (MEXICO - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS OBITUARY) - RTR4SGQK
A boy with an ice-cream cone walks past a memorial to Antonio Zambrano-Montes in Pasco, Washington March 21, 2015. The afternoon before Zambrano-Montes was shot dead by police after he pelted them with rocks, the farmworker had walked out of a Washington state jail a free man. The Feb. 10 killing, about 24 hours after the Mexican immigrant's release, sparked outrage in a Latino majority community that has likened his death to police slayings of unarmed black men in Missouri and New York. A coroner's inquest is to begin in May, after which a prosecutor will decide whether to bring charges against the officers. His family and civil rights groups are calling for a federal probe. To match Feature USA-POLICE/WASHINGTON Picture taken March 21, 2015. REUTERS/Ross Courtney - RTR4UHXK
SEATTLE — One of three police officers who shot dead an unarmed Mexican farmworker in Washington state, triggering protests akin to those after police slayings in other U.S. cities, has resigned from his job amid an investigation into the videotaped struggle.
Pasco Police Department officer Ryan Flanagan was one of three patrolmen who shot and killed farmworker Antonio Zambrano-Montes at a busy intersection in the southeastern agricultural city on Feb. 10 after police said the undocumented immigrant threw rocks at the officers.
In a two-sentence letter to police and city officials, Flanagan said he decided to resign effective July 2, bringing to an end 10 years of service in the department.
His attorney, Scott Johnson, said he accepted a project management job for a home builder in the Pasco area and broader state.
“As a result of going through the whole experience, he and his family decided law enforcement might not be something he wanted to continue on in,” Johnson said. “While they were considering that, this (job) opportunity came up.”
Zambrano-Montes’ death was captured on video and the majority Latino community has likened it to police slayings of unarmed black men in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York. Hundreds took to the streets to demonstrate against policing tactics in the town more than 200 miles (322 km) southeast of Seattle.
Zambrano-Montes’ family and civil rights groups have called for a federal probe, and the U.S. Justice Department said it was providing training to Pasco police.
Flanagan had come under scrutiny for his patrol tactics before. In 2012,Pasco settled a 2012 lawsuit for $100,000 brought by a woman who said Flanagan and another officer shoved her face against a patrol car and twisted her arms behind.
There was no word on the plans of the other officers, one of whom, Adam Wright, came to the immigrant’s aid during a house fire a month earlier.
A coroner’s inquest could begin later this summer, after which a county prosecutor will decide whether to bring charges against the officers.
(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Lisa Lambert in Washington)Image caption Edward Snowden is in Russia, where the government of Vladimir Putin has granted him a year's asylum
A breakdown of US intelligence's multi-billion dollar "black budget" has been revealed in files disclosed by leaker Edward Snowden to the Washington Post.
The CIA's budget is the most expensive, $14.7bn (£9.5bn) out of $52.6bn in total for 16 intelligence agencies, according to the files.
Two of those agencies are also actively hacking into foreign computer networks, reports the Washington Post.
The US has not made public a breakdown of the total intelligence budget.
The newspaper published charts detailing the budget, but did not post all the documents, citing "sensitive details" after US officials expressed concerns about risks to methods and sources.
According to the Washington Post, the CIA's budget has grown more than 50% since 2004.
'Priority' intelligence targets
The files also reportedly show the budget of the National Security Agency (NSA), America's electronic spying organisation - it apparently requested $10.8bn for 2013, making it second only to the CIA.
Nearly $5bn of the CIA's budget is allocated to human intelligence operations, with almost $67m of that total reserved for funding the false identities of its overseas spies, according to the files.
The CIA and the NSA have also launched "offensive cyber operations" to hack into or sabotage enemy computer networks, according to the files.
The documents reportedly refer to China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and Israel as "priority" counterintelligence targets. Israel is an American ally, though it has previously conducted espionage against the US.
The NSA is denying one part of Friday's report - that the agency planned to investigate up to 4,000 cases of possible internal security breaches before Mr Snowden made his disclosures to the media.
Vanee Vines, an agency spokesman, told the Associated Press the effort actually represented a broad reinvestigation of civil personnel to lessen the possibility of security risks.
"Periodic reinvestigations are conducted as one due-diligence component of our multifaceted insider threat programme," he said.
The documents are the latest in a series of leaks by ex-NSA contractor Mr Snowden, who has been charged with espionage in a federal court in the US.
He is currently in Russia, where the government of Vladimir Putin has granted him a year's asylum.Hill, pictured with world record holder Usain Bolt, has run faster than any British female athlete
Sixteen-year-old US high school student Candace Hill has run a time that would have seen her finish seventh in the women's 100m at the 2012 Olympics.
Hill clocked 10.98 seconds at an invitational meet in Seattle to set the women's world youth record.
The time also bettered the British senior women's record of 11.02 set by by Dina Asher-Smith in May.
"I just had a feeling this would be a great race. I'm still speechless and in shock about the moment," said Hill.
"It makes me think differently now that I am running a 10.98. That is among the professional times. It just feels incredible and that I have a bright future in front of me.
"I could go pro at an early age, but who knows?"
Only nine women in the world have run faster than Hill this year, with Olympic and world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica the pacesetter at 10.81. The world record remains the 10.49 run by American Florence Griffiths-Joyner in 1988.
Hill had set her previous best of 11.21 a week earlier and could now try to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio next summer.
"My coach wants me to go to the trials but he doesn't expect me to make the team and neither do I because there are a lot of skilled professionals there and it is a lot for my body," she said.An Israeli air strike killed a Palestinian man and wounded seven others on Sunday, medics said, in the third day following a failure to renew a ceasefire in the more than month-old Gaza conflict.
Israel refused to send back negotiators to Egyptian-brokered peace negotiations in Cairo as long as violence along the Israel-Gaza border continued. The head Palestinian delegate on Saturday threatened to quit the talks unless Israel reversed that stance.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said he saw “very slim” chances of success in efforts to renew a three-day truce that stopped the fighting last Tuesday, only to see the tensions pick up again on Friday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet would likely address the crisis in its weekly session later on Sunday.
“We are at a crossroads and within two or three days we will see whether we are heading left toward an agreement, or right, toward escalation,” Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz, a close ally of Netanyahu, told Israeli Channel 10 television on Saturday.
An Israeli air strike in Jebalya refugee camp before dawn caused the latest casualties in Gaza, killing a man and wounding seven, raising the Palestinian death toll to 1,891 since the July 8 launch of Israel’s offensive into the strip.
Gaza officials said most of the Palestinians killed were civilians, while Israel said 64 of its soldiers and three civilians have died in the fighting.
Israel expanded its air and naval bombardment into a ground offensive on July 17, and pulled its infantry and armor out of the enclave on Tuesday after saying it had destroyed more than 30 infiltration tunnels dug by militants.
Heavy civilian casualties and destruction during Israel’s campaign in packed residential areas of the Gaza Strip have raised international alarm over the past month.
Israel has killed 14 Palestinians in air strikes since the resumption of fighting that followed a three-day truce. Militants have fired more than 100 rockets at Israel, causing no damage or casualties.
Two more children killed in Gaza
Medical officials in Gaza said a 10-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl were among nine Palestinians killed on Saturday. Two others were killed when their motorcycle was bombed, and the bodies of three others were found beneath the rubble of one of three bombed mosques.
Two more Palestinians were killed in an air strike on a car in the southern town of Rafah, Gaza medics said.
Israeli air strikes killed five Palestinians on Friday, among them a 10-year-old boy near a mosque in Gaza City. Two Israelis were hurt by a mortar attack on Friday.
The violence has grown less intense than at the war’s outset, down from more than 100 rocket firings a day including at major cities like Tel Aviv which have not come under attack since Israel withdrew ground troops from Gaza on Tuesday.
But Egypt, backed by American and European mediators, has made no visible progress towards restoring that ceasefire since it expired on Friday.
There was no sign of diplomatic progress in Egypt on Saturday. The head of the Palestinian delegation, Azzam Ahmed said “we will leave Cairo tomorrow if it is confirmed to us they
(Israelis) will not return”.
Egypt is meeting separately with each party. Israel and Hamas deny each other’s legitimacy, with Hamas rejecting Israel’s right to exist and Israel rejecting Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Gaza militants appeared to be trying to ramp up pressure to end a blockade of the coastal Gaza territory both Israel and Egypt have imposed.
A sticking point was Israel’s demand for guarantees that Hamas would not use any reconstruction supplies sent to Gaza to construct more tunnels of the sort that Palestinian fighters have used to infiltrate Israel.
Israel has also resisted easing access to Gaza, suspecting Hamas could restock with weapons from abroad.
Ahead of the truce’s expiration on Friday, Israel said it was ready to agree to an extension. Hamas did not agree.
Abu Zuhri said Israel had rejected most of the group’s demands. The Palestinians want Israel to agree in principle to lift the blockade, release prisoners and permit the opening of a sea port.
“There is no going back and the resistance will continue … there is no retreat from any of our demands,” Abu Zuhri said.
[wpResize]Cards Against Humanity, the party game where players fill in the blanks in sentences with phrases like "my dad's fucking dumb face" and "a big black dick," is threatening to destroy an original Picasso print.
Earlier this month, the game's makers launched a promotion called "Eight Sensible Gifts for Hanukkah." Exactly 150,000 people signed up and paid $15 each to receive eight gifts. Past gifts included multiple days of socks, a donation to public radio, and a week off for employees at the Chinese printing facility that produces Cards Against Humanity's decks.
For the seventh gift, the company is asking its 150,000 subscribers to vote on the fate of an original 1962 Picasso lino-cut called "Tête de Faune."
"Should we donate this work to the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, or should we laser-cut it into 150,000 tiny squares and send everyone their own scrap of a real Picasso?" the company says on the website for the promotion.
The voting starts December 26 and runs until December 31.
Cards Against Humanity claims it used subscriber dollars to buy the print, which may be this one put up for auction on the art site Artsy, which would make it one of 50 linoleum cuts. Cards Against Humanity and the Art Institute of Chicago did not respond to requests for comment.
The choice has already launched a debate.
"This is defacing a beautiful object that will never exist again for shits and giggles. It is far worse than burning books," wrote one commenter on Reddit. "Donating it would be far cooler because the donor gets to decide the credit line for the work of art," another wrote. "They could have a credit line that read something like 'Gift of 150,000 Cards Against Humanity fans,' or whatever." Another wrote simply, "Vulgar and stupid."
And on the other side: "Cut it up Fuck Picasso."
While comparisons have been drawn to Erased de Kooning Drawing, a piece of art by Robert Rauschenberg created when he erased and then framed a drawing by American artist Willem de Kooning, it's helpful to recall that Cards Against Humanity's promotion is also an ad for the company.
The irony of the Picasso experiment—which its creators are well aware of—is that the value of the Picasso is realistically pretty low (around $14,100). While museums collect Picassos of many editions and even his scraps and loose doodles, this piece is no "Guernica." That said, one could argue that the artistic value of the piece may actually be increased by this "social experiment."
Or, as one Redditor wrote about Cards Against Humanity: "Everything they do is gimmicky. They come up with some pretty good gimmicks though."US Secretary of State John Kerry urged the world on Wednesday to condemn rising anti-Semitism and bigotry and unite in the struggle against violent extremism and "terrorist bigots," speaking Wednesday at a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of a UN resolution equating Zionism with racism.
Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter
Kerry called the 1975 resolution ominous because it gave "a global license to hate" the state of Israel, and he called on diplomats and governments to do everything in their power to prevent the United Nations from being hijacked again "for malicious intent."
Kerry speaking at the event (צילום:רויטרס, עריכה:ניתאי לב אורן)
X
Kerry paid tribute to Israel's then UN ambassador Chaim Herzog who told the General Assembly after the resolution's adoption that it was nothing more than "a piece of paper" based "on hatred, falsehood and arrogance." Herzog, who later became Israel's president, then tore it to pieces.
Kerry also paid tribute to then-US ambassdor Daniel Patrick Moynihan who told the assembly "the United States... will never acquiesce in this infamous act."
|
Chicago was just because many thousands of protesters faced off against thousands of police officers. A relatively small segment of society was watching.
Fascinated, I took note of how people in each city reacted differently to the police and how seriously the police took themselves in both situations.
In Chicago — people took the police seriously and the police took themselves seriously.
In Bratislava — no one took the police seriously and the police didn’t really take themselves that seriously.
You can make all kinds of “Yes, but…” statements that mitigate this distinction — such as “Yes, but the Slovaks didn’t want to destroy property,” or “Yes, but the Slovaks are peaceful people” or “Yes, but the the black brigade made very bold threats.” That doesn’t change the fact that this distinction is noticeable and valid.
Americans are increasingly coming to respect their increasingly authoritarian government. The mere fact that I would bother to write in these pages about the tyranny of the TSA tells me that I, instead of laughing at them for the buffoons they are, take seriously the threat of an increasingly authoritarian state on my liberties.
Slovaks, on the other hand are becoming increasingly free with their distance from communism and increasingly disrespectful of governmental authority. Disrespect of the most prominent symbol of government authority could be seen three weeks ago in Bratislava — on Obchodna Street. I can’t imagine a scene like this fifty years ago in Slovakia, nor even ten years ago in Slovakia. Slovakia is a rapidly changing society.
I worry that the same can be said about my own homeland, about America. However, in a different direction than Slovakia. In America, that healthy disrespect for the police seems to be waning. Change in America does not worry me at all. It’s the direction of that change that concerns me. Police and government should be disrespected. That’s part of being a free people — disrespecting those entities that possess the power to make you less free. By maintaining that disrespect, you largely deny anyone the power to make you less free.
While protesters in America took the police very seriously in Chicago during the 2012 NATO summit in May, revelers in Slovakia barely took the police seriously at all. The capital city saw Slovak youth blocking the path of trams and laying down on the hoods of police cars. I know how tame that will sound to a Greek soccer fan or an American NATO activist, but that’s relatively wild for a Slovak. No matter how stern-faced the police are in the video of that happening below, I can promise they laughed inside. It would take a de-Slovakifying (if such a medical procedure were to exist) for a Slovak police officer to take himself 100% seriously. It’s simply part of the nature of any Slovak to laugh at the authority of the government.
That’s why so many Slovaks are scofflaws when no one is looking, why so many Slovak go out of their way to avoid paying a little, some, or any of their taxes, why so many Slovaks laugh at authority, and why so few Slovaks turn out for elections (especially the foolish E.U. parliamentary elections to which Slovakia, for the second election in a row, which also means every E.U. parliamentary election Slovakia has had, had the lowest turnout percentage of voters from any E.U. country). That last point is something I am thrilled about, because while all the world seems to take the European Union seriously, some part of each Slovak realizes that the E.U. is just another government run by fallible people waiting to fail. I don’t say that to be pessimistic, but rather to be realistic about the nature of governments. All governments fail, which means that no government need be worshiped as if it were an eternal entity. Slovaks tend to understand that concept well.
Twenty-five years ago being a smartass to a police officer could earn you a trip to the police station where you might “accidentally” fall down the stairs badly. That’s no longer the case. The police know it and a lot of Slovaks know it. This video below tells me that some segment of Slovak society has moved far beyond communism — even if that segment is simply drunken 19 year old male hockey fans living in Bratislava, it remains telling that a group of Slovaks in a joyous mood behaved this way — not only in public, but in the presence of and in blatant disrespect for a police officer.
The video makes me smile because it is shows youth having fun. But more importantly it shows a significant step post-communism. This is Slovakia, where people have a healthy disrespect of the police, even in the face of a police officer. But today, that disrespect has passed from rolled eyes and comments made around the dinner table, into the public sphere. I know that some level of disrespect of authority is something I admire. I like seeing that experiment taking place — a culture testing its boundaries.
On the left side of the Atlantic, on the left side of Lake Michigan, another group of people were busy testing a different boundary. They were busy allowing an increasingly militarized urban police force to use them for live training. Arguably the protesters were doing the same with the police. What I disliked was how seriously each side took themselves. To some extent the police rightly considered some of the protesters a bunch of bozos. The protesters, wrongly, did not seem to think the same of the police. A wise commenter on this site some months ago encouraged this jovial view of a growing authoritarian state when he called the TSA the Keystone Kop operation that it is. Like any Keystone Kop operation it should be laughed at. Authority is claimed. Respect is given.
The Chicago Police claimed authority. The protesters entered into that game with the police, thereby giving the police respect. As much as I appreciate individuals who I know on both sides of the protest, I am saddened by the misuse of respect.
That’s what I meant earlier by writing: “That’s part of being a free people — disrespecting those entities that possess the power to make you less free. By maintaining that disrespect, you largely deny anyone the power to make you less free.” By giving respect, you legitimize authority that a person claims for himself. You might change the physical landscape around you a little bit with that gift of respect, but you change the psychological landscape in which you live so much more. In the mind, it would seem, a person can be free even in an unfree society.
Perhaps that kept Hungarian poet Gyorgy Faludy free in mind as he wrote poems in his own blood on toilet paper in prison. Perhaps it kept Czech dissidents like Vaclav Havel free in mind. I believe it is a large part of what makes Slovaks feel so free at times — a history of what historians call oppression through which they spent lots of time laughing at what historians call oppressors. It’s hard to oppress someone who laughs at you every time you turn around.
Slovaks have some of their own cultural orthodoxy, but they love to challenge everyone else’s cultural orthodoxy. That challenging of one’s cultural orthodoxy can be good training for someone from outside of Slovakia. Love of a king, and by extension — love of a government, is not part of that Slovak cultural orthodoxy. As a t-shirt sold at a Slovak restaurant reads “1,100 years without a king makes the heart free.” It does make the heart free. You aren’t accepting for yourself respect for the claimed authority of a king, just because he calls himself a member of your tribe. It’s easy to trick a person into feeling respect by convincing that person of ownership. An example of that might go something like this “I am your king; I am one of you, so it’s okay to respect me,” or ” I am your government; you can feel like you can change me any time you want, so it’s okay to respect me.” There’s a lot of fallacy wrapped up in that claim of ownership, however. Who really owns a king? Who really owns a government? Is it ever “we the people,” whatever that statement really means? How easily can a government be changed?
Americans elected a President in 2008 on a platform of change then saw little change. Americans elected a Congress on a platform of change in 2010 then saw little change. Those highly touted elections might be little more than pressure valves. Those elections are ways to feel some ownership over government. If you can superficially change the appearance of the government, you can feel like you’ve changed the government. Refuse to cede respect and those pressure valves are much less necessary. Laugh loud and good at “your” government and you will be automatically a step freer than you were five minutes earlier, because you will have changed the psychological terrain in which you perceive yourself.
Slovaks laugh good at their government each day. For the first time, I am seeing Slovaks laugh loud at their government as well.
This article first appeared at 52 Weeks in Slovakia.
The Best of Allan StevoI hesitate to link this essay of L. Neil Smith because, if it influences you without his consent, you are guilty of stealing from him. Maybe you think that you have his implicit consent because he has posted it online. He doesn’t see it that way.
“There is no discernible difference between physical property and intellectual property,” he writes. “The farmer begins with a tree-covered lot that he must clear and plow and plant, and the writer with a damnedly blank page or screen.”
What is wrong with that analogy? Yes, the farmer owns the land. Yes, the writer owns the page and screen. The farmer, however, does not own the idea of plowing and planting. Nor can the writer prevent others from arranging letters and words in a particular way because he somehow owns the ideas expressed on his paper. Land and paper need economizing. Plowing and writing do not: they are ideas and can be infinitely reproduced without rivalry over the original.
To put it another way, if Crusoe, alone on a island, discovers how to pick berries, he owns all the berries he can pick. No one may steal what he has gathered. If Friday shows up and start to pick berries in the same way, Friday is not thereby a criminal. He is merely learning just as everyone in society learns from others. If Crusoe uses violence to stop him from picking berries on grounds that Crusoe owns the very idea of berry picking, it is Crusoe who is the criminal.
If you are a baker, the cake you make is your own. The idea of baking, and the techniques you use, cannot be claimed as your exclusive possession if you share them with others. If you are a snappy dresser, you own your tie and hat, but if every time you go out in public you are inviting others to share in your ideas of wearing a tie and hat.
I would suggest some charity here for Mr. Smith. He says that he hasn’t thought much about this topic, and that undoubtedly accounts for his errors and wild rhetoric. But truly this is a hard subject for libertarians. They’ve been misled for many years, even decades, by sloppy thinking on the topic. It takes a long time to think through all the implications. The biggest problem for Smith is that he has painted himself into a corner and probably won’t admit error, no matter what.Thank God man-made global warming was proven to be a hoax. Just imagine what the world might have looked like now if those conspiring scientists had been telling the truth. No doubt Nasa would be telling us that this year is now the hottest since humans began keeping records. The weather satellites would show that even when heat from the sun significantly dipped earlier this year, the world still got hotter. Russia's vast forests would be burning to the ground in the fiercest drought they have ever seen, turning the air black in Moscow, killing 15,000 people, and forcing foreign embassies to evacuate. Because warm air holds more water vapour, the world's storms would be hugely increasing in intensity and violence – drowning one fifth of Pakistan, and causing giant mudslides in China.
The world's ice sheets would be sloughing off massive melting chunks four times the size of Manhattan. The cost of bread would be soaring across the world as heat shrivelled the wheat crops. The increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would be fizzing into the oceans, making them more acidic and so killing 40 per cent of the phytoplankton that make up the irreplaceable base of the oceanic food chain. The denialists would be conceding at last that everything the climate scientists said would happen – with their pesky graphs and studies and computers – came to pass.
This is all happening today, except for that final stubborn step. It's hard to pin any one event on man-made global warming: there were occasional freak weather events before we started altering the atmosphere, and on their own, any of these events could be just another example. But they are, cumulatively, part of a plain pattern where extreme weather is occurring "with greater frequency and in many cases with greater intensity" as the temperature soars, as the US National Climatic Data Centre puts it. This is exactly what climate scientists have been warning us man-made global warming will look like, to the letter. Ashen-faced, they add that all this is coming after less than one degree of global warming since the Industrial Revolution. We are revving up for as much as five degrees more this century.
Join Independent Minds For exclusive articles, events and an advertising-free read for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month Get the best of The Independent With an Independent Minds subscription for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month Get the best of The Independent Without the ads – for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month
Yet as the evidence of global warming becomes ever clearer, the momentum to stop it has died. The Copenhagen climate summit evaporated, Barack Obama has given up on passing any climate change legislation, Hu Jintao is heaving even more coal, David Cameron has shot his huskies, and even sweet liberal Canada now has a government determined to pioneer a fuel – tar sands – that causes three times more warming than oil. True, the victims are starting to see the connections. The Russian President, Dmitri Medvedev, had been opposed to meaningful action on global warming until he found the smoke-choked air in the Kremlin hard to breathe. But if we wait until every leader can taste the effects of warming in their mouths, the damage will be irreparable.
Given the stakes, the reasons why so many people still refuse to accept the evidence can seem oddly trivial. A common one is: "It snowed a lot in the US and Britain last year. Where was your warming then, eh?" But scientific theories are based on patterns, not individual events. You might know a 90-year-old woman who has smoked a pack of cigarettes every day of her life, and is totally healthy. (I do.) It doesn't disprove the theory that smoking causes lung cancer. In the same way, one heavy snowfall doesn't prove anything if it is part of a wider overall pattern of dramatic warming. And that snow probably was. While it snowed a lot in a few places, there were at the very same time harsher, more bitter droughts in many more places – making it globally the fifth hottest winter ever recorded, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (All the others were in the past decade). And that winter is your punchline proof that warming isn't happening?
But the broader public mood, smeared like sun-screen over us all, isn't active denial. No – it's the desire to endlessly postpone this issue for another day. In 1848, a 25-year-old man called Phineas Gage was working on constructing the American railroads. It was his job to lay explosives to clear rocks out of the way – but one day his explosive went off too soon, and a huge metal rod went through his skull and out the other side. Amazingly, he survived – but his personality changed. Suddenly, he was incapable of thinking about the future. The idea of restraining himself was impossible to grasp. If he had an urge, he would act on it at once. He could only ever live in an eternal present. As a civilisation, we are beginning to look like Phineas Gage on a planetary scale.
Yet scattered among us there is a fascinating group of people who are offering a path to safety. Every summer since 2006, ordinary British citizens have built impromptu camps next to some of the most environmentally destructive sites in Britain, and taken direct action to shut their pollution down. So far, it has worked: they played a crucial role in the cancellation of the third runway at Heathrow and a big new coal power station at Kingsnorth.
That's how earlier this week I found myself on a high wooden siege tower in a camp in the Scottish hills, staring down across a moat towards the glistening, empty offices of the Royal Bank of Scotland. You own this bank: 84 per cent of it belongs to the taxpayer after the bailouts. Yet it is using your money to endanger you, by financing the most environmentally destructive behaviour on earth, like burning the tar sands. The protesters chose to come here democratically – everything at the climate camps is done by discussion and consensus – because they have a better idea. Why not turn it into a Green Investment Bank, transforming Britain into a global hub for wind, solar and wave power? Why not go from promoting misery across the world to being a beacon of sanity?
So the protesters risked arrest in marching on RBS's offices because they know the stakes. As Professor Tim Flannery, one of the world's leading climate scientists, explains: "My great fear is that within the next few decades – it could be next year, or it could be in 50 years, we don't know exactly when – we will trap enough heat close to the surface to our planet to precipitate a collapse, or partial collapse, of a major ice shelf... I have friends who work on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, and they say [when a collapse happens] you'll hear it in Sydney... Sea levels would rise pretty much instantaneously, certainly over a few months. We don't know how much it would rise. It could be 10 centimeters, or a metre. We will have begun a retreat from our coasts... Once you have started that process, we wouldn't know when the next part of the ice sheet would collapse, we don't know whether sea level will stabilise. There's no point of retreat where you can safely go back to... I doubt whether our global civilisation could survive such a blow, particularly the uncertainty it would bring."
Nature doesn't follow political fashion. Global warming may not be hot today, but the planet is – hotter than ever. When you stare out over the wave of Weather of Mass Destruction we are unleashing, who looks crazy – the protesters, or the people who have yet to join them?
You can follow Johann Hari on Twitter at twitter.com/johannhari101
j.hari@independent.co.uk
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 nowDonald Trump’s election upset a lot of people (Picture: Getty Images)
Couples are getting divorced over the election of Donald Trump as US President.
Gayle McCormick, 73, decided to split up with her husband of 22 years after he voted for the Republican.
Kashmir: Why nuclear-armed India and Pakistan are again at the brink of war
He had announced his intentions at a lunch with friends prior to the election.
‘It totally undid me that he could vote for Trump,’ said McCormick, who identifies as a ‘Democrat leaning toward socialist’.
She added: ‘I felt like I had been fooling myself.
‘It opened up areas between us I had not faced before. I realized how far I had gone in my life to accept things I would have never accepted when I was younger.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
MORE: Appeal to find these men after football fans ‘chanted anti-Semitic slurs on a tram’
Gayle McCormick divorced her husband (Picture: Reuters)
(Click to enlarge) Graph showing Reuters/Ipsos polling results (Picture: Reuters)
Families across the US have been divided by the election according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The number of respondents who argued with family and friends over politics jumped six percentage points from a pre-election poll in October, up to 39% from 33%.
Many people had also stopped talking to their loved ones after the vote, with 22% of Hillary Clinton fans admitting they had ended communication with a relative or close friend.
‘It’s been pretty rough for me,” said Rob Brunello, a truck driver who voted for Trump.
‘People couldn’t believe Trump could beat Hillary. They are having a hard time adjusting to it.’
MORE: Huge chunks of cliffs collapse after heavy rain (taking back gardens with them)
Hillary Clinton fans are still not happy (Picture: AP)
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom with some respondents saying their relationships had not suffered because of the election.
Around 40% had not argued with a family member or friend over the race.
Friendships were also created with 21% saying they become friends with someone they did not know because of the election.
MORE: What is this horrendous object which a man just found in his Co-Op jam?When people think "free and open source software," a lot of different programs come to mind. One may think of Mozilla's popular Firefox browser, which is for many the first free software package they've used. The Linux kernel, which powers everything from phones to the world's fastest supercomputers, may spring to mind. GNU/Linux operating systems such as Fedora, Debian, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux may feature prominently in one's thoughts, or these days, so may Android. However, one class of applications will not immediately come to mind when most folks consider free and open source software—music production software.
Hear Adam Drew in an
Open Your World webcast Date: April 20
Time: 11 a.m. PDT,
2 p.m. EDT (GMT -4)
Register now.
There are many reasons why one may not immediately think "music production" when considering free and open source software. Music recording and engineering is a bit of a niche market, and many people may never have considered recording their own music at home. For those who do, big brand names like Apple and Digidesign have a monopoly on coolness, leading people to those solutions for creative work without ever considering free competitors. And still others harbor the old and rusty meme that free and open source software is only good for "nerdy things" like kernels, servers, and compilers. Whatever their reasons, many people never consider free software for their creative work. Most opt for non-free solutions by default, either not knowing, not caring, or not believing that there is an entire world of free and open source software available for music production that is as good as—or in my experience, better—than the non-free alternatives.
It may come as a surprise to some, but the free and open source music application scene is vibrant and diverse. There are hundreds of packages available that provide everything from MIDI sequencers and virtual instruments, to real time effects, to recording, engineering, and editing. Though these packages all come from different people and projects, they all work seamlessly together through the high-performance JACK audio subsystem. Whatever it is that one wishes to do with audio, one will find an application for. And these are not featureless, immature imitations of non-free products, these are rock-solid and feature-rich applications that stand on their own accord with their own unique technical and creative merits.
If you are someone who records music, either professionally or as a hobby, learning that there's an opportunity to move to free and open source software for your work may pique your interest. However, two questions will invariably spring to mind that cannot be ignored. One should ask, "Even if there are good free and open source audio apps, why should I care? My current software works fine." And following that, the question quickly becomes, "I am proficient with my current software and don't want to have to learn everything all over again. How can I quickly learn about free audio software and get help if I need it?" If you are a dedicated free and open source software user who considers software freedom an automatic "must have," then the question of "why switch" answers itself. However, even if software freedom doesn't factor strongly into your software choices, there are still plenty of reasons to investigate switching.
Advantages over non-free alternatives
Free and open source music production software has some major real-world advantages over non-free solutions. One huge plus is kissing registration keys, dongles, and license activation checks goodbye. Those sorts of hassles are unique to non-free software; you wont ever have to waste a port on a dongle or worry about losing a license key again. Being able to share software with your collaborators is also a major advantage. If you like a plugin or program, you can just give it to a collaborator. With non-free software, all you can say is "this program is cool—but I can't share it with you."
Additionally, free and open source music software is highly interoperable by design. Every program works with every other program with ease. Compare this to monolithic "everything and the kitchen sink" applications like Logic and ProTools that take pains to keep you locked in and don't inter-operate well with software from other vendors. Interoperability doesn't just sound nice—it has real creative implications. You don't have to choose between one piece of software or the other. You can use both together for their relative strengths. There are also the cost and choice factors. Proprietary music software is extremely expensive. It's not uncommon to pay hundreds of dollars for the software itself and then a hundred or more for yearly upgrades. And to add insult to injury, non-free music software is often arbitrarily tied to certain hardware that is itself expensive. Take as examples Digidesign's practice of working only with certain audio interfaces or Apple shipping only Logic for Macs. With the free alternatives, you are free to pick your hardware and software combination. If you've worked with audio for any length of time, some (or likely all) of the above problems have bitten you at some point in time. With free and open source music software, those problems become a thing of the past.
Learning all over again—or maybe not that much
Considering switching to free and open source audio software or incorporating it into your current workflow may sound pretty appealing now that the value proposition has been explained, but what about the problem of getting up to speed? Will it require relearning everything you know from the ground-up? How can you get help and find information to make the switch easier? Making the switch will take work. It will require learning new ways of doing things and working with new software. However, if you already record with computers then most everything you know about recording, editing, and audio will directly translate to the free tools. You'll have to learn the new tools themselves, but the vast majority of your techniques will still apply. Additionally, there are tools out there to help. The Fedora project has put together a great document called the Musicians' Guide if you'd like to use Fedora to record music. There's also Ubuntu Studio, a distribution of Ubuntu that comes already set up for music. Ubuntu Studio also has its own documentation available and a community wiki.
I run a knowledgebase dedicated to helping people with the sorts of questions one is likely to encounter while learning to switch to free tools. I switched from Logic on the Mac and documented what I learned on that knowledgebase as I learned it, hoping that it would help others later. Finally, I will be giving a live webcast here on opensource.com on April 20 showing some of the free tools in action and answering questions.
Music and audio production software are some of the greatest achievements of the free and open source movement, but they aren't well known out in the wider industries and communities that stand to best benefit from it. Free software projects are directly enriched by having more people using, testing, and working with them. More users mean more feedback and contributions, which then directly translate to better software. I hope that after reading this you are excited about the opportunities that lie in free and open source software for music production and are considering investigating it further. I also hope that you will join me here on opensource.com to see the tools in action and get your questions answered.Big Brother is arriving from overseas. In an eerily resonant start to the 2017–2018 season, a stage adaptation of George Orwell’s chilling dystopian novel 1984 will travel from the London stage to Broadway this June — that is, from the land of Brexit to the land of Trump.
Created by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, this new adaptation of 1984 was originally produced in the U.K. by the Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse, and Almeida Theatre. Under producers Sonia Friedman and Scott Rudin, it will arrive in New York with its London creative team intact, adding a new American cast of party members and proles. The limited engagement will open at the Hudson Theatre on Thursday, June 22.
In its four U.K. runs at a series of theaters, 1984 enjoyed warm reviews that praised its immersive sets and multimedia elements. In this dark and retro future, cameras are everywhere, as are Newspeak and propaganda. The Broadway production will also ride a wave of renewed interest in the 1949 novel, sales of which spiked on Amazon and elsewhere after Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway’s recent defense of “alternative facts.” (The star of the 1984 film adaptation of 1984, John Hurt, died just last week.) Critics have brought up Orwell’s dystopia as a way of understanding an increasingly nationalistic, populist, and repressive America, where the president wishes, and has started to demand, that the press act more like the Ministry of Truth (and perhaps provokes a war with Oceania). As the theater, too, has become a subject of the new president’s ire, it’s a neat irony that, with 1984, Broadway will be providing a different kind of propaganda, this time for resistance.Tesla plans to build an electric pickup a few years from now, while Ford will start selling a hybrid F-150 in 2020.
They’ll both have competition when they do.
Commercial truckmaker Workhorse has unveiled a plug-in hybrid pickup that goes on sale in late 2018. The company currently specializes in hybrid and electric step vans, but built an all-new custom chassis for its first pickup offering, the W-15, which has a sci fi movie-style composite and carbon fiber body riding on a traditional steel frame.
Between the rails is a powertrain comprised of a 45 kilowatt battery pack with Panasonic cells that drives a BorgWarner electric motor at each axle to create a combined 460 hp all-wheel-drive system. The full-size crew cab can tow up to 5,000 pounds and carry a 2,200-pound payload capacity, both roughly comparable to a strong V6 truck. An outlet built into the bedside can provide on site power for tools directly from the battery.
The electric range is 80 miles per four- to five-hour charge, but there’s also a gasoline engine onboard that works as a generator for longer trips. Workhorse’s hybrid vans, which are typically used for local routes, have a two-cylinder BMW engine for this purpose, but company CEO Steve Burns says the pickup will feature a more robust three-cylinder so it’s not compromised during highway driving. He hasn’t yet announced what brand is supplying the engine, but BMW makes a three-cylinder that could be up to the task, as does Ford.
Much like a dual motor Tesla Model X SUV, Burns expects the instant electric torque and traction to make it one of the quickest trucks around, with a 0-60 mph time under 5.5 seconds. The low center of gravity provided by the batteries and its four-wheel independent suspension also promise relatively excellent handling, according to Burns.
TOYOTA'S ELECTRIC SEMI IS QUICK AS LIGHTNING:
The truck’s clean, modern interior design includes a digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen on the dashboard that handles most functions and reduces the number of buttons and knobs on the dashboard and steering wheel to just five. The orange trim of the show truck may be toned down for the production version.
The lack of a large internal combustion engine means there’s space for a large front trunk, along with a substantial crumple zone that should help it perform well on federal crash tests. Only one trim level will be offered and come standard with automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist systems for $52,500.
NIKOLA HYDROGEN-POWERED SEMI REVEALED
Workhorse is primarily targeting commercial customers and already has 2,000 pre-orders, but Burns says consumer sales are possible in the future once a large enough distribution and service network is in place. The company’s Loveland, Ohio, factory has the capacity to build up to 60,000 trucks annually, and it will be marketing the trucks through a partnership with Ryder.
With a MPG equivalent of 75 mpg in electric mode, and a combined fuel economy rating of around 30 mpg when the engine is running, Burns says the operational savings over seven to eight years, plus the available green car taxi incentives, should more than offset the added cost over a conventional pickup for many fleet buyers.I asked a few of my friends to share their most traumatizing roommate experiences with me and, along with a few of my own, here’s what came out of those conversations:
1. This girl lived with me for a few months and I always noticed a weird smell coming out of her room. Eventually I found out that it was because she would take a pack of uncooked hot dogs, cut them up into slices, and dump them in a bag of generic bbq chips. She would shake up the bag and start eating them. The worst part is that she didn’t refrigerate them so she would have hot dogs sitting out at room temperature for days.
2. I was fairly certain my roommate wasn’t brushing his teeth because his mouth smelled like an open sewer. I didn’t want to be rude, but it was repulsive and hard to even be in the same room as him. I asked him about it a few times and he would always insist that he regularly brushed them. I know it sounds crazy, but when he was gone I went in his bathroom and positioned his toothbrush at an odd angle that wouldn’t naturally be recreated. Two weeks later it was still in the exact same position. He had gone at least two weeks without brushing his teeth.
3. I came home on multiple occasions and saw my adult male roommate sitting inches away from the television in sweaty, gross clothes eating baked beans out of the can and intently watching episodes of Hannah Montana. What do you possibly say to that?
4. One time I had a roommate named Robin that was repulsive. She used to take a frozen piece of chicken, put it in the microwave for a few minutes, then take it out and start eating it. It would be uncooked in the middle and the sound she made eating it made me nauseous. Honestly I don’t know how it didn’t make her horribly sick.
5. Before everyone had a laptop, I lived with four guys in a house where the only computer was my Gateway desktop. I let everyone use it with the only request being that they don’t download a bunch of junk onto it. Not only did one of my roommates download Kazaa, the old file sharing program, but I found out months later when I moved out that he had created a hidden folder of porn. Not just regular porn, but stuff that had titles suggesting it was underage girls as well as animals. I was beyond horrified.
6. I had a roommate who was very overweight and wasn’t hygienic in the least. Apparently she didn’t wear pads because she got up from the cloth recliner my parents had given me for the apartment and there was a puddle of period blood already soaked into the fabric. I was furious and she refused to acknowledge that it was her. I had to throw it out because for weeks our living room smelled like Captain D’s and a thousand staplers.
7. When I was in college my creepy roommate woke me up on three different occasions crying hysterically and yelling that demons were flying above his bed and laughing at him. What do you say to that?
8. I love my old roommate and she’s still a great friend, but I was mortified the time I walked in her room and saw a cork board with used condoms pinned all over it. They had names written above each one like Dexter’s blood slides. You just can’t unsee some things.
9. I walked in on my roommate having sex in the living room on my couch. All I could see was him naked from behind and covered in sweat. Then the girl turned around and I saw something that will haunt my dreams forever; he was having sex with my sister.
10. I always had a container of Vaseline that I mixed with sugar to use as a lip scrub. If you’ve never tried that, you should. It’s awesome! Anyway, I had a male roommate which had never been a problem until I got off work early one day and caught him masturbating with my Vaseline. He wasn’t scooping it out and using it, he was thrusting into the jar. The same jar that I used daily on my lips.
11. I woke up several times and saw my roommate sitting in the floor staring at me and whispering something I couldn’t understand. The next day when I would ask him about it he would say he didn’t know what I was talking about and I must have dreamed it.
12. After college I lived with a few guys that I was either friends with or we had gotten from Craigslist. One of my roommates named Chris always kept to himself and his room was always closed off. I didn’t think much about it because he always paid his rent on time so that was all I cared about. I got a text from him one day asking if I could please open the window in his room immediately. Since he had never asked me for anything I quickly went into his room. I walked in and the room was completely empty except a mattress lying on the floor, a bunch of dog food, and a camcorder sitting on a tripod. He didn’t have a dog either. I never asked about it because I honestly didn’t want to know the answer.
13. My college roommate played James Blunt’s song “You’re Beautiful” on repeat every morning FOR A YEAR.Until a couple of years ago, I lived one block away from an uncontrolled T-junction. On the other side was a small Co-op supermarket, which was my closest shop. Getting to it was an almost-daily very short journey on foot. I don’t drive |
to pay for the good times.
I still enjoy playin' a guitar in front of a mirror, posin'. (laughs)
Is Philip Lynott an egotist?
No, I have an ego in certain things. Because I'm self-critical, because I'm me own worst critic. I know me good points, so I wouldn't be modest when I know I'm good. For example, if we did a good gig...
From the death of Thin Lizzy to the birth of Grand Slam - what differences will there be, musically?
It's a different mixture... there's old guys like meself, and there's young guys like Laurence Archer. Now, he's very talented musically, but he's not very experienced in goin' on the road or tourin'. It's also different from the personality aspect.
The other thing musically is that we're gonna feature one lead guitar as opposed to two. Also, it's a lot looser. There's no pressure for us to be like anybody else.
Initially, we'll do a few Lizzy songs, but that is just to let us get on our feet. I mean, when Lizzy started, we used to play other people's material, so...
We're goin' to have a much broader outlook in contemporary music, and in music of the past. For instance, we've been dabblin' with 'Like A Rollin' Stone' and 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' and we're stickin' them together. Years ago, they called that a medley. But we're puttin' them together and calling' it a concept.
The contemporary stuff... it's amazin' what you can do with all this technology. That sounds really corn, doesn't it? No, but we'll be usin' Simmonds drums and keyboards. Another thing about Grand Slam, which I think is good, is that rather than just make good demos, and then get a deal, we thought we'd go on the road, warm up, and become a 'live' entity before we signed a deal. And therefore, be able to get more money; there is a business side to it too.
I do think that there's so many bands gettin' deals because of the make-up they use, and how good a demo they make, instead of being a good live act.
What can we expect from Grand Slam?
A good band, good musicians. We'll be goin' for the stars... We're havin' fun experimentin' at the moment. Obviously an amount of ritual has to go into it. We're tryin' to get a deal...
Obviously, everybody is gonna compare Grand Slam to Thin Lizzy, but I don't wanna be dragged into that competition. They're two different bands. I just hope Grand Slam are as successful, without livin' off the Thin Lizzy thing.
At the moment, I'm in a new band, with a chance to write some new songs. We have the freedom of expression to get on with what I do best, which is what I should be doin' now.
I can take a hint... do you want to say anything to your countless legions of fans?>
Look, I hate those guys in interviews that say 'Come and see the band, and buy all the records.' They always sound so insincere.
So I'd like to say, really sincerely, Come and see the band and buy all the records.Last time I talked about a concept I invented, and based on my studies on Markov chains. They are, essentially, "continuous matrices" (a surface on ) with the property that they add to 1 if we take the integral with respect to for any, in analogy to the requirement in the usual Markov matrix treatment. I dubbed such "patches," and explained a way to construct them. In my previous post, I began thinking that patches seem to be very special, in the sense that self patch powers can represent the state of a liquid in time, if we allow ourselves to be a little imaginative. Let's say that we disturb a uniform distributed patch to an initial state, the initial state patch, like this:
It is easy to see that if we integrate with respect to our result is 1, so that it is indeed a patch. (I also constructed this function by letting and calculated that using the technique I talked about here).
Let's say we have depressed the liquid at the four corners and center of the confined space (necessarily a cube of dimensions ), essentially giving it energy. Next calculate the patch powers (as described in my previous posts). Interestingly, if we map the patch powers of such liquid, they will converge to a steady state, just like Markov matrixes would:
The evolution in time of this particular patch is easy to guess (although I should, technically, prove this by induction... I do in my next post):
for, and letting this parameter represent both time and the patch power. Of course, if we integrate with respect to any of these, the result is 1, and so, they are, indeed, patches.
I would like to state in a different post the conditions in which a steady-state is achievable; my suspicion is that, in analogy to Markov chains, steady-state happens if the patch is non-zero for some power (and above) on, a property that is called regularity within that context, and of course, I would like to be able to calculate the steady state as easily as it can be done with discrete Markov chains (I was afraid that, in this particular example, I wouldn't be able to achieve steady state because of the initial patch having zeroes at the corners and center). It's pinned as one of my to-dos. At any rate, the fact that there are patches that converge to a state (a 2D surface), and, specifically, that can converge to the uniform distribution surface, suggests that such systems, from the viewpoint of Physics, must dissipate energy and there is linked the concept of entropy. Of course from a probabilistic point of view, entropy in this sense is non-existent; patches merely describe the probability of movement to another "position" on each fiber.
There are of course patches that do not converge to the uniform surface distribution, but to other types: in my previous post, the patch I constructed converged to a plane that is tilted in the unit cube. I wonder if such cannot have a physical interpretation that relates it to gravity: the liquid experiences a uniform acceleration (gravity) normal to the (converging) plane, which of course says, from a physical interpretation, "the cube is tilted." Again from the probabilistic point of view, the concept of gravity is an explanatory link to Physics, but the end-state arises without its action on the fluid at all!
There are fun topological considerations too: the fact that we can do this on the unit cube does not preclude us from doing it in, for example, a unit cylinder (a cup or mug!), provided we can find the appropriate retract-into-the-square function and vice-versa. This I think might be very interesting to map movement in all kinds of containers.
I have already talked about a couple potential venues in Group Theory, which I really would also like to go into further at some point.
As in other posts, another possible area of investigation is the evolution of the surface in smaller bits of time. I was able to link, in previous Markov treatments, discrete representations of Markov chains to continuous time differential equations. Here is where it would be immensely interesting to see if patches, under this light, do not converge to partial differential equation representations. Which leads me to the last point, regarding Navier-Stokes turbulent flow (which I admit know very little about), and a potential link to its differential equation representation:
Here is why I think that turbulent flow can be explained by generalizing patches a little bit, to "megapatches" (essentially 3d-patches or tensors), since, now we can think not of a 2D surface converging, but a 3D one in time: a water sphere in space (I once saw a cool video on this and was left thoroughly fascinated) or a water balloon being poked could be understood this way, for example, so that the movement of water throughout the flexible container could be similarly traced (by mapping the probability of movement in the container)! I need to flesh this out a little more, but I think it's also very interesting, potentially.
These studies make me ask myself, again: what is the relationship between stochastic processes and deterministic representations? They seem to be too intimately linked to be considered separate.Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre hits a two-run home run for the 1500th and 1501st RBIs of his career during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Park on Saturday, May 28, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)
Miami Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki hit his milestone 3,000th hit on Sunday with a triple off the right-field wall in Coors Field.
Now that Suzuki has achieved that milestone -- which usually means a guaranteed ticket to Cooperstown -- who is the next active player with a chance at reaching 3,000?
The answer lies in the Rangers' clubhouse -- Texas captain and third baseman Adrian Beltre.
Beltre is the active player closest to lucky number 3,000 with 2,878 hits, putting him within 122 hits of the benchmark.
If Beltre continues on his current pace this season, he will add 49 more hits to that total before the end of the season. That would mean he would start next season 73 hits away from 3,000 for his entire career. Considering Beltre has not had less than 119 hits in a season since his rookie year, it seems like a lock that Beltre will reach 3,000 hits next season barring a major injury. That would put an end to any debate over whether or not the Rangers' captain belongs in Cooperstown.
So get ready for Beltre Watch in Arlington during the 2017 season.Hard work beats talent if talent doesn't work hard, so the T-shirts and motivational posters tell us. It’s an inspiring sentiment - we can do this, guys! - and it’s not without its glimmer of truth. Unfortunately, it also calls to mind the scene in “Liar Liar” when Jim Carrey’s son finds out dear ol’ dad can’t lie.
“My teacher tells me real beauty is on the inside,” his son says.
“That’s just something ugly people say,” Carrey responds.
While slightly less crass, the sentiment about hard work really is just something us under-talented people tell each other.
Of course, in sports, that doesn’t mean it’s best to simply not try. We love our Rudys, our valiant underdogs who rise up to vanquish their more talented foes (look around the league - even some General Managers do). These less-skilled heroes accomplish this by pushing themselves to their limits, making life as hard as possible on their opponents and hoping to get them on an off-day, or that a few bounces go their way. It’s a common occurrence in hockey’s regular season, as evidenced by talented teams like the Kings, Sharks and Bruins missing the playoffs.
Also, by the Sabres winning ever.
The problem with building any sort of team identity around the mantra of “outwork the talent” is that no one is out-working anyone in the playoffs, so the whole best-of-seven thing means the better team usually prevails. Expand that to four best-of-sevens, and we see very few under-talented, but “lucky”, Stanley Cup champions. In fact, we’re approaching a decade straight of uber-talented teams taking the title.
This year’s Calgary Flames were a team that built a tremendous regular season on the backs of hard work. They were told they were going to struggle to win games from the preseason on, so they knew their only hope at success was to outwork opponents, which, to Jack Adams nominee Bob Hartley’s credit, the boys in red did.
But that success is really only possible because the best teams genuinely do take nights off in the regular season, as unintentional as they might be.
Spending as much time reading about hockey as I do, I often come across the argument that all professional athletes work hard and that players don’t become pros being lazy, and so on. Which, frankly, is pretty naive.
The regular season is a grind, and many players have long contracts and guaranteed roster spots. Think of it like running from a hungry cheetah: if you’re in a big pack of people, you only need to out-run the slowest in the pack. Those are the people who want your job, your opponents who want to beat you. If you can stay ahead of them without running your fastest, it wouldn’t make sense to run your fastest. You’d just coast in neutral and stay ahead.
Humans do whatever they can to maximize their benefits and minimize their costs (whassup, rational choice theory). In hockey terms, if a talented player can coast his way to a win AND avoid the cost of taking a thundering crunch in the corner, he’s logically going to pull the 'chute on the race for that puck. If a team thinks their opponent isn’t good, they’re more likely to pull said ‘chute more often to minimize their personal damages, which gives our scrappy underdog a better shot at success... in the regular season.
The herd thins as teams move through the playoffs, and the cheetah keeps picking off the teams who can’t run as fast, which means the best of the best need to start pushing the throttle farther and farther down.
Unfortunately for hockey’s “hard work is the key to success” teams, they’re rarely catching anyone sleeping in the playoffs. The most talented runners remain at this point, and buddy, they’re sprinting.
Luck and health and bounces will start to play a larger role as the talent gap narrows. Hard work was a nice concept for about eight months, but surprise it be to no one that it’s the talent left out there working hard.Senior BJP leader and Kanpur MP Murli Manohar Joshi on Friday equated German physicist Werner Heisenberg's principle of uncertainty with the notion of 'Brahma' in the Indian tradition, seeking to invoke county's rich cultural and scientific past.
The veteran leader, who has also been the Head of Physics Department of Allahabad University, said, "We cannot see or understand Brahma just as Heisenberg stated that there was a limit to our sense of understanding of the behaviour of quantum particles". Few days ago, Home Minister Rajnath Singh was reported to have said that fundamentals of Heisenberg's principle of uncertainty were based on the Vedas. Joshi also quoted Heisenberg having said that India could be the "compass" to the modern world that is mired in consumerism.
"Heisenberg once told an Indian that the western world is a ship that has material abundance but it lacks a compass and India could provide that compass that will guide the ship," said the BJP MP while delivering the Dr Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture 2014 on 'Science and Culture' here. Speaking extempore, in a speech stretching about an hour, Joshi also touched upon the issue of the role of President in the Indian constitutional scheme of things.
Citing an instance of Dr Rajendra Prasad's visit to the Somnath Temple despite then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's reluctance, Joshi said that was an act of the President acting on his will. "There was a difference of opinion between Nehru and Dr Prasad regarding the latter visiting the Somnath Temple. Nehru was against his visit and his mingling with religious saints but nevertheless Dr Prasad went ahead," he said, hailing the nation's first President to be "a saint in Indian politics".
Terming the world to be a "family", Joshi said that the world is increasingly being regarded to be a "market", driven solely by commercial interests. "They say the world is a market, I say that the world is a family and India will play the role in bringing a sense of balance in the world," he said. The veteran BJP parliamentarian said that culture is a force of "convergence", while denouncing the oft-repeated notion of "cultural divide".
"We often come across terms such as cultural divide and faultlines arising out of culture but those are outcomes of a lack of understanding of the whole concept. Culture is something that brings people together and the thing that divides should not be termed culture," Joshi said. The lecture series, which is being organised by All India Radio (AIR) since 1969, will be broadcast on December 3 at 9:30 PM as part of the birth anniversary celebrations of the nation's first President.
In his famous uncertainty principle, German physicist Werner Heisenberg had said that there is a fundamental limit to our understanding of the behaviour of quantum particles adding that at most we can calculate probabilities for where things are and how they will behave.4. Ignore everyone (who wants you to shave) Ignore family & friends, they’re the enemy while you’re in beard growing phase & will try to convince you to shave on a regular basis. Stay strong! You also want to take a look at why man with beards look better or 25 reasons why a beard can change everything — Or just forward it to your friends and family.
3. Embrace it! Everyone grows a different beard, some have a fuller beard and some have patches where there is no hair growing at all. If that’s the case, embrace the way YOUR beard is growing. It’s your own style. If you have patches, embrace them and make the look your own! I always hated that I have a slightly red beard as well as that my mustache is completely white/blond compared to the rest of my beard — I always thought it looks bad, now I’m trying to embrace it. Every beard is unique & special on it’s own.
2. Make it through the “I look like shit” phase. Growing a beard is a lot like growing your head hair. If you have short hair and you’re trying to grow it long, there will be a phase where it’s not short enough to look good, but also not long enough as you want it to be. It’s the shitty phase, be strong and make it through it.
1. The first rule is to just leave the fucking beard alone! If you’re planning to grow one, don’t overthink it and just let it go! Don’t shave, don’t do anything. You can’t start maintaining the shit out of your beard if you don’t have one yet.
Friends! I got many questions lately about how to grow & maintain a beard. I’ve been fully growing my beard for about 2 years now with occasionally trimming it every 4 weeks — Let’s talk about what I learned.
Maintaining a beard
1. NO Shampoo
There is a little trick I use since many many years to keep my face/skin clear & clean. I never use soap or any products on my face. I never had any pimples or other problems with my skin & apply the same rules to my beard & head hair. However, I do rinse my hair once a day with clean water — The beard (depending on the weather) every or every second day. The less you wash/treat your beard the better. If you do use shampoo, use it as little as you can and rub it carefully into your beard.
2. NO electric razor
If you plan to trim your beard a bit, please DO NOT use an electric razor, always use scissors. Why? Razors cut the hair in a weird angle which causes split ends. Split ends are single hairs that split up at the end of the hair which makes your beard look fuzzy & out of control. The same happens if you use blunt scissors — Invest in some good hairdressing scissors and you’re good.
3. NO touching
I know, you just got an awesome beard and all you want to do is play and stroke it as much as you can. But you shouldn’t. You know why a lot of girls have split ends and need to get their hair trimmed on a regular basis? Exactly, because they play with their hair all the time. By playing & stroking your hair constantly you physically stress & damage it which causes split ends. Avoiding split ends is one of the most important things when maintaining your beard and depending on the weather condition this can be a difficult task sometimes.
Beard grooming tips
1. YES to beard oil
It’s important to keep your beard & skin underneath moisturized. Your skin and hair will become dry, especially depending on the weather conditions. Beard oil will help protect your beard and even makes him softer, fuller and gives him a healthy shiny look.
You might go all fancy and buy expensive hipster beard oil, or you can go simple with basic coconut oil. It’s essentially the same no matter what people will tell you. However, I recommend using a cheaper oil such as coconut oil for your everyday and some nice scented beard oil for special occasions. Always keep in mind — As nice as scented beard oil is, you have it right under your nose for the rest of your day so make sure to test drive it before you spent your money. (see end of this post for beard oil recommendations)
You can apply about 5–8 drops of oil every second day by softly rubbing it into your beard. You might also use a conditioner of your choice instead, but I prefer clean water & oil.
2. Dealing with bad beard days
I mentioned it to friends so many times already — The same way we have bad hair days we also have bad beard days. Sometimes you can do something about it, sometimes you can’t. If you wake up in the morning and you had a really bad night plus your beard is completely out of control, here is what you can do.
Rinse whole beard carefully with clean water
Carefully dry it with a towel, NO crazy rubbing & NO hairdryer!
(heat is generally bad for your hair)
(heat is generally bad for your hair) Comb beard hair from roots to outside (so you look like a hedgehog)
Use scissors & carefully trim split ends if needed. But wait until your beard is fully dry. It always looks longer when it’s wet.
Softly apply beard oil as mentioned above
Use comb again to put everything back in place
Smile, because that’s all you can do — Tomorrow is another day.
3. Apply mustache wax
Alright, so here it get’s a little more difficult. If you plan to grow a long mustache and style it in a certain way, make sure you have some extra time in the morning. Maintaining a long mustache is a love/hate relationship and can really suck sometimes. With my current mustache length I use two products — First off a more soft matte hair wax as foundation to get it roughly in shape and out of my mouth. Secondly a stronger mustache wax to twist & roll up the ends. If you only use the very strong mustache wax you will get into trouble because it won’t work (unless you use a dryer to heat up the wax). My goal is to have it look as natural as possible, I don’t like it when my mustache looks extra glossy & fake.
The first rule about applying mustache wax is to use it as little as you can — Once you applied it to your mustache, try to keep your mustache clean so you can wear it for as long as you can before you have to wash it out. Especially applying wax to your mustache is stressing your beard hair a lot — The more you apply wax & wash it out again the worse your beard hair will become, use it wisely. PS: You don’t have to style your mustache, I sometimes just comb it into my main beard.
YES! That’s it.
Those are my essential tips unless you have any questions you can put them in the comments below — And again, don’t overthink it and just do it.
I’m still learning too, so let’s see this article as a work in progress. Happy long-bearding!
You should follow me on Instagram or Twitter.
Product Recommendations (what I actually use right now)
- My own BeardOil (launching Spring 2015)
- Bearded Bastard Mustache Wax
- davines Dry Wax for grounding
- I also order from http://www.beardbrand.com/
(Header picture by Unknown photographer)Early mascots Edit
Oregon teams were originally known as Webfoots, possibly as early as the 1890s.[1] The Webfoots name originally applied to a group of fishermen from the coast of Massachusetts who had been heroes during the American Revolutionary War. When their descendants settled in Oregon's Willamette Valley in the 19th century, the name stayed with them.[2] A naming contest in 1926 won by Oregonian sports editor L. H. Gregory made the Webfoots name official, and a subsequent student vote in 1932 affirmed the nickname, chosen over other suggested nicknames such as Pioneers, Trappers, Lumberjacks, Wolves, and Yellow Jackets.[1][3][4] Ducks, with their webbed feet, began to be associated with the team in the 1920s, and a live white duck named "Puddles" began to appear at sports events.[2] Journalists, especially headline writers, also adopted the shorter Duck nickname.[3] In 1978, a student cartoonist came up with a new duck image called Mallard Drake, but students chose Donald as the official mascot by a 2–to–1 margin.[1][2][4]
Relationship with Disney Edit
Beginning in 1940, cartoon drawings of Puddles in student publications began to resemble Donald Duck, and by 1947, Walt Disney was aware of the issue. Capitalizing on his friendship with a Disney cartoonist, Oregon athletic director Leo Harris met Disney and reached an informal handshake agreement that granted the University of Oregon permission to use Donald as its sports mascot, naming him Donald Duck.[1][2][4] When Disney lawyers later questioned the agreement in the 1970s, the university produced a photo showing Harris and Disney wearing matching jackets with an Oregon Donald logo.[2][5] Relying on the photo as evidence of Disney's wishes, in 1973, both parties signed a formal agreement granting the university the right to use Donald's likeness as a symbol for (and restricted to) Oregon sports.[2] The agreement gave Disney control over where the mascot could perform and ensured that the performer inside the costume would "properly represent the Donald Duck character."[6] In 2010, Disney and the university reached an agreement that removed the costumed Oregon Duck mascot from its association with the Donald trademark, and allowed The Duck to make more public appearances, such as at college mascot competitions.[6] The mascot in graphic art, which is more similar to Donald Duck than the rounder head and body of the costume, is still covered by the trademark agreement.[6]
Controversy Edit
The Oregon Duck during a California –Oregon game on November 13, 2011 at Autzen Stadium During the 2007 season opener, The Duck got into a fistfight with Shasta, the mascot for the Houston Cougars, for seemingly mimicking the Duck's routine of doing push-ups after the mascot's team scores. Footage of the attack became very popular on YouTube for several weeks. The Duck was suspended for a game and the student inside the costume received an unspecified punishment.[7] Late in the 2009 season, students of the university created a video, I Love My Ducks, in which The Duck made an appearance. Due to the agreement with Disney in place at the time, the creators had to remove the video from YouTube. However, by that time, the video had "gone viral" and coach Chip Kelly requested the video be played at the Ducks' final game of that season, the Civil War.[8]
Other mascots Edit
A Nike-designed futuristic Spandex-costume-wearing duck called Mandrake (and nicknamed "Duck Vader" and "RoboDuck" by the student body), began appearing at athletic events in 2002,[5] but had disappeared by 2003.[9]
See also Edit
References Edit
Further reading EditA Hole in Ada Type Safety
Ada aims to restrict unsafe language features which break type safety to a set of constructs which can be easily spotted in source case. Examples include unchecked deallocation, unchecked conversion and explicit address handling. This note shows that a combination of safe-looking language features can be used to undermine type safety, too.
The standard way to show that type safety has been broken in a language is to implement a cast function Conversion from any type Source to any type Target :
generic type Source is private; type Target is private; function Conversion (S : Source) return Target;
This generic function can be used like Ada.Unchecked_Conversion :
with Ada.Text_IO; with Ada.Unchecked_Conversion; with Conversion; procedure Convert_Test is type Integer_Access is access all Integer; J : aliased Integer; J_Access : Integer_Access := J'Access; function Convert is new Conversion (Integer_Access, Integer); function Unchecked_Convert is new Ada.Unchecked_Conversion (Integer_Access, Integer); begin Ada.Text_IO.Put_Line (Integer'Image (Convert (J_Access))); Ada.Text_IO.Put_Line (Integer'Image (Unchecked_Convert (J_Access))); end Convert_Test;
How can we implement Conversion? It turns out that discriminant records with defaults combined with aliasing do the trick:
function Conversion (S : Source) return Target is type Source_Wrapper is tagged record S : Source; end record; type Target_Wrapper is tagged record T : Target; end record; type Selector is (Source_Field, Target_Field); type Magic (Sel : Selector := Target_Field) is record case Sel is when Source_Field => S : Source_Wrapper; when Target_Field => T : Target_Wrapper; end case; end record; M : Magic; function Convert (T : Target_Wrapper) return Target is begin M := (Sel => Source_Field, S => (S => S)); return T.T; end Convert; begin return Convert (M.T); end Conversion;
When the inner function Convert is called, the discriminant Sel of M has the value Target_Field, thus the component M.T can be dereferenced. The assignment statement in Convert changes the discriminant and the value. But the source value S is still reachable as an object of type Target because the parameter T aliases the component M.T, so the return statement executes without raising an exception.
The two tagged records are used to force that the inner Convert function receives its parameter by reference. Without them, an implementation would be free to pass the discriminant record Magic by copy, and aliasing would not occur.
Our implementation lacks the full power of Ada.Unchecked_Conversion because it does not support limited or unconstrained types. However, it is sufficient to break type safety.
Addendum: Robert A Duff noted that this was already known in the Ada 83 timeframe. According to paragraph 3.7.2(4) in the standard (Ada 95 Annotated Reference Manual with Technical Corrigendum 1, MITRE Corporation, 2000, retrieved 2011-04-30), the call to Convert is erroneous on its own, and not the return statement which uses the stale reference.
Addendum (2015): A Rust variant (for the unsafe language extension) of this approach has been published as A Type Safety Hole in Unsafe Rust).
Revisions
2011-04-30: published
2011-04-30: Add note that this was already known in the Ada 83 timeframe.
2012-09-11: Minor corrections.
2015-03-22: Add reference to Rust variant.
Florian Weimer
Home Blog (DE) Blog (EN) Impressum RSS FeedsFor those of us missing our daily dose of Western style magic for the past month, we have wonderful news today that cvquake is launching “Destroyer of Ice and Fire”, written by Innocent (无罪)!
cv and I have actually been talking about this novel for a long time, and he’s been stockpiling enough chapters to roll out with a bang. Long time fans, you’re in for a treat and we’ve got a good sum of chapters available off the bat!
If you miss a scamp-like MC like Han Shuo/Bryan of Great Demon King, Ayrin is here to welcome you into his world. Thankfully, he doesn’t get offed in the prologue by an old guy like Han Shuo did. What he does fall into is an initial academy environment, some intrigue, some mystery, and supernatural bloodlines. cvquake’s translations are full of character and life and a real joy to read! A little more about the novel:
Official Summary:
As the era of dragons gradually came to an end, as arcane masters left countless riches and legends under the starry sky, one awakened youngster after another began to set foot on their journey. Translator Notes:
A lighthearted shounen-style story in a western fantasy setting, filled with friends, magic academies, chuckles, hot-blooded youth, and no harem.
The man is doing double releases a day until he reaches chapter 100, then settling in at daily releases. CV won’t be kicking off with donations straight off the bat, so a warm, sparkly welcome for cvquake please!According to new documents provided by Edward Snowden to The Guardian newspaper (but not, as yet, published in full), the British signals intelligence organization, known as the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), has the “ability to tap into and store huge volumes of data drawn from fibre-optic cables for up to 30 days so that it can be sifted and analysed.”
In addition, the newspaper also reported that GCHQ is sharing this information with its American counterpart, the National Security Agency (NSA). The operation, known as “Tempora,” has been running for 18 months. Documents about the program detail GCHQ's goal of "Mastering the Internet." The leak is just the latest in a string of documents disclosed to the paper by Snowden, a former NSA employee now on the lam in Hong Kong.
As The Guardian writes, "The documents appear to suggest the two agencies had come to rely on each other; with Tempora's 'buffering capability,' and Britain's access to the cables that carry Internet traffic in and out of the country, GCHQ has been able to collect and store a huge amount of information... The NSA, however, had provided GCHQ with the tools necessary to sift through the data and get value from it."
"It's not just a US problem. The UK has a huge dog in this fight," Snowden told The Guardian. "They [GCHQ] are worse than the US."
Not surprisingly, some of those in the UK intelligence establishment have a completely different view of the information-sharing that goes on. The Guardian cited a “a source with knowledge of intelligence,” who said that such data was being “collected legally” and was replete with “safeguards.”
Hundreds of GCHQ analysts—and hundreds more from the NSA—have apparently been assigned to work on this flood of data.
As the UK paper noted:MUMBAI (AFP) - A major landslide on Wednesday struck a village in western India following heavy monsoon rains, killing at least 10 people and leaving up to 200 feared trapped, an official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the loss of life as "saddening" on Twitter, while TV footage showed workers carrying a victim on a stretcher towards vehicles, as a crowd watched. Television footage also showed a chunk of hillside dramatically giving way and a cascade of mud, rocks and trees, sparking clouds of dust below.
Emergency forces rushed to a remote village in Pune district of Maharashtra state, where a hill collapsed sending mud and rocks tumbling on to homes in the morning as residents were reportedly sleeping.
"Ten dead bodies have been recovered so far," said Ms Tripti Parule, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority, in an e-mail message to AFP. "Two persons alive have been rescued. According to the district officials, 150 to 200 (are) feared trapped," she said.
Mr Alok Avasthy, regional commandant at the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), said the landslide had damaged about 50 houses in Malin village.
Around 300 rescue workers were deployed to the village, but ongoing rains were hampering operations, officials said.
Heavy machinery has been mobilised to try to rescue those feared trapped, while about 30 ambulances rushed to the scene, local government official Saurav Rao told the Press Trust of India news agency.
"Exact number of casualties is not known as we are moving slowly to ensure that those trapped are removed safely," Mr Rao said.
Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh said the rescue operation was a challenge with the area 15km to 20km from the nearest medical facility, and the NDRF had difficulty reaching the scene because of damage caused to the roads.
Heavy rains have been falling in Maharashtra and other parts of India as a result of the annual monsoon.
Rains have triggered small landslides in the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in recent days, while the authorities are closely watching rising river levels in case of floods.
In Himachal Pradesh's capital of Shimla, rains have uprooted trees, knocked out power and triggered slides, PTI news agency said.
Landslips have blocked roads to popular Hindu pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, which was hit by a landslide and flooding disaster last year that is thought to have killed nearly 6,000 pilgrims, tourists and others.
Raging rivers flattened houses and buildings in the state in last year's floods, when the area was packed with travellers in what was a peak tourist season.
Building collapses are a common occurrence in India, especially during the rainy season, with millions living in dilapidated old structures or newly built but illegal constructions made from substandard materials.
An apartment tower under construction came crashing down in the southern city of Chennai late June following heavy rains, killing 61, mostly labourers.
A similar accident on the outskirts of Mumbai last year left 74 dead.
British daily The Guardian last year gathered statistics showing that 2,651 people were killed across India in 2012 from the collapse of 2,737 structures, including houses and bridges.Anarchism: What It Is and What It Is Not
The following was written by Joseph A. Labadie and reprinted in the dandelion, vol 3, no 12, Winter 1979, from "a pamphlet originally published by the Liberty Club of Detroit".
Anarchism: What It Is and What It Is Not
by Joseph A. Labadie
So you want me to tell you what Anarchism is, do you? I can do no less than make the attempt, and in my own simple |
study does reveal her white blood cells were mutated, leading scientists to wonder if some genetic mutations are actually harmless.And as the International Business Times says, it could mean: "Genetic mutations may hold the key to a long life."The researchers, whose findings were published in the journal Genome Research, say more studies are needed to investigate whether dying stem cells can cause death at extreme ages.Graphene electrodes revolutionize the scaling of piezoelectric NEMS resonators
(Nanowerk Spotlight) Tiny sensors are becoming ubiquitous in an increasing number of applications for smart mobile devices, automotive, healthcare and environmental monitoring. Recent advancements in sensor miniaturization, low power consumption and low cost can be seen as a harbinger for a new era of sensing in which the data collected from multiple individual smart sensor systems are combined to get information about the environment that is more accurate and reliable than the individual sensor data.
By leveraging such sensor 'fusion' it will be possible to acquire accurate, real-time and almost complete information about the environments in which humans live, work and play. This technology provides a huge potential for the development of the Internet of Things in which physical and virtual objects are linked through the application of sensing and communication capabilities.
In this context, micro and nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) are important for several advanced applications for instance in radio frequency (RF) wireless communications, sensors and switches. The two principal components common to most electromechanical systems irrespective of scale are a mechanical element and transducers. The mechanical element either deflects or vibrates in response to an applied force. Depending on their type, the mechanical elements can be used to sense static or time-varying forces. The transducers in MEMS and NEMS convert the mechanical energy into electrical signals and vice versa.
Due to the intrinsically high electromechanical transduction efficiency in piezoelectric materials, many MEMS and NEMS applications are driven by on-chip piezoelectric actuation and sensing of high frequency vibration in miniaturized free-standing micro- and nanomechanical structures.
In conventional piezoelectric MEMS and NEMS resonators, a significant amount of energy is lost due to the damping effect induced by the metal electrodes attached to the resonant body of the device: the metal electrodes, commonly used today, dampen the vibration of the resonators through their mass, as an acoustic guitar mute dampens the vibration (sound) of the guitar strings.
Therefore, designing ideal electrodes that simultaneously guarantee low mechanical damping and electrical loss as well as high electromechanical coupling in ultra-low-volume piezoelectric nanomechanical structures has become an important research goal in the NEMS field.
A team of researchers at Northeastern University, led by Matteo Rinaldi, demonstrated that this fundamental challenge can be addressed by using an atomically thin graphene layer as an electrode.
"The key challenges associated with the development of high performance MEMS and NEMS resonators for RF wireless communication and sensing applications are the isolation of energy-dissipating mechanisms and scaling of the device volume in the nanoscale size-range," Rinaldi, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, tells Nanowerk. "We show that a virtually massless and strainless single-atom-thick sheet of carbon, closely mimics an 'ideal electrode' for piezoelectric nanoelectromechanical resonators. This allows graphene-electrode based piezoelectric NEMS resonators to operate at their theoretical 'unloaded' frequency-limits, with significantly improved electromechanical performance compared to metal-electrode counterparts, despite their reduced volumes."
Rinaldi and his colleagues reported their findings in Nano Letters ("Graphene as a Massless Electrode for Ultrahigh-Frequency Piezoelectric Nanoelectromechanical Systems").
A false-color SEM image of the NEMS resonator. A freestanding aluminum nitride (AlN) nanoplate (the central rectangular green plate), released from the underlying silicon substrate, is supported mechanically at two ends. A bottom metal interdigitated electrode (shown in dark gray underneath the AlN nanoplate), connected to the two electrical terminals of the device, and a top electrically floating graphene electrode (the gray rectangular area on top of AlN nanoplate), are employed for the piezoelectric actuation and sensing of a high frequency lateral-extensional mode of vibration in the nanoplate. The zoomed-in views highlight the boundary of the patterned graphene electrode on the anchor region of the device and the honeycomb lattice of the atomically thin and virtually massless graphene electrode. (Image: Zhenyun Qian)
"While a metal electrode cannot be arbitrarily thinned to reduce its mass and damping, graphene is electrically conductive even as an atomically thin and virtually massless electrode," says graduate student Zhenyun Qian, the lead author on the paper.
"The new electrodes also benefit from the fact that – unlike conventional metal electrodes that form chemical bonds with underlying substrates – the mechanically transferred graphene remains attached through weak van der Waals interactions, and virtually 'floats' over the piezoelectric layer with minimal mechanical interactions," says Swastik Kar, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at Northeastern University, and a collaborator on the project.
This, along with the two-dimensional (2D) massless nature of graphene, creates an effective mechanical isolation of the electrode from the resonator.
"In fact" says Rinaldi, "our experiments indicate that the graphene electrode does not induce any mechanical perturbation to the vibrating piezoelectric aluminum nitride (AIN) nano-plate and in this sense it behaves as a mechanically 'isolated' electrode: the graphene electrode does not change the mass of the resonator and it dissipates less acoustic energy than a conventional metal electrode attached to the resonator."
He points out that, despite this effective mechanical 'isolation' of the graphene electrode, the team's experiments show that the electromechanical coupling of graphene-electrode devices remains similar to that of conventional metal-electrode devices, highlighting the extraordinary result that a single atom sheet of carbon is as effective in confining the radio frequency electric field within the AlN membrane as a 100 nm thick metal film.
The researchers also demonstrate the remarkable way in which the mechanical resonance of these graphene-electrode piezoelectric NEMS devices can be completely quenched by chemical modification of the graphene electrode conductivity – i.e. fluorination – which has great potential for ultra-sensitive molecular detection.
Furthermore, using CVD-grown graphene, they demonstrate scalability at the wafer-level making the technology suitable for mass production.
"Thanks to the unique features demonstrated in our paper, we expect this technology to lead to a new paradigm for high-performance, miniaturized, power efficient sensing and radio frequency wireless communication systems," says Rinaldi.
He gives two potential application examples:
1) Radio frequency filters used in mobile communication devices
Micro acoustic piezoelectric resonators are the dominant technology in the market for RF filters used in mobile communication devices. Multiple wireless communication standards such as WiFi, LTE, GSM, are nowadays used in mobile communication and each of them uses a small section (band) of the spectrum of radio communication frequencies. Therefore, filtering of frequencies is crucial for the functionality of modern multi-band radios.
A micro-acoustic piezoelectric filter uses the mechanical resonance of a vibrating piezoelectric micro-structure to pass a range of signal frequencies, but to block others: thanks to the piezoelectric effect this mechanical vibration is converted into electrical signal and vice versa. Therefore, only the electrical signal matching the mechanical resonance frequency of the micro-structure will pass.
The selectivity of the filter (precision of signal separation) depends on the quality factor, Q, of the resonator which is a measure of the damping acting on the vibrating micro-mechanical structure. High Q means low damping, hence good selectivity.
"We demonstrate that by replacing a conventional metal electrode with a virtually massless graphene electrode, the mechanical quality factor of the vibrating structure is improved without any loss of electromechanical coupling. Therefore, the use of a massless graphene electrode could potentially lead to RF filters with improved signal separation precision," notes Rinaldi.
"Advanced micro-acoustic piezoelectric filter designs could be implemented by staking few layers of heavily doped graphene to form virtually massless electrodes with sheet resistance values reaching ∼1 Ω per square or below," adds Kar.
2) High resolution chemical, physical and biological sensors
The physical and electrical properties of conventional metal electrodes fundamentally limits the volume scaling of piezoelectric resonators which is instead highly desired for multiple sensing applications: reducing the volume of the resonator makes it extremely sensitive to targeted external perturbations (molecules, infrared radiation, magnetic field, depending on the particular design) but typically volume scaling is associated with a deterioration of Q, the electrode damping effect is even more significant at nano scale due to the fact metal electrode cannot be arbitrarily thinned.
"We demonstrate that graphene can address this fundamental issue," notes Rinaldi. "In fact we show that graphene-electrode based piezoelectric nanoelectromechanical resonators can operate at their theoretically 'unloaded' frequency-limits with significantly improved electromechanical performance compared to metal-electrode counterparts, despite their reduced volumes."
He adds that this represents a spectacular trend inversion in the scaling of piezoelectric electromechanical resonators, opening up new possibilities for the implementation of nanoelectromechanical resonant sensors with unprecedented performance.
Going forward, the team's vision is to develop a new class of 2D-materials-coupled NEMS that can potentially have an impact in a variety of advanced sensing, detection, and communication applications.(BREITBART) — Current “anti-Semitic trends in Europe” are a cause for worry, said Pope Francis Monday morning, as are accompanying “acts of hatred and violence.”
In a historic encounter, Francis met in the Vatican with a delegation from the Conference of European Rabbis, the first time a pope has ever met with the Conference.
The Pope underscored that all Christians “must be firm in deploring all forms of anti-Semitism, and in showing their solidarity with the Jewish people.” He also remarked on the recent seventieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the concentration camp “which has come to be synonymous with the great tragedy of the Shoah.”
“The memory of what took place there, in the heart of Europe, is a warning to present and future generations,” he said.MetalSucks recently polled its staff to determine the The Top 25 Modern Metal Frontmen, and after an incredible amount of arguing, name-calling, and physical violence, we have finalized that list! Writers were asked to consider vocal ability, lyrics, and live presence when casting their votes; to be eligible for the list the musician in question had to a) play metal (duh), b) be a frontman or woman (double-duh), and c) have recorded something AND performed live in the past five years. Today we conclude our countdown with Greg Puciato from The Dillinger Escape Plan…
Metal and hardcore, as much as any other offshoot of rock n’ roll, has lost a great deal of its edge, spontaneity, and sense of genuine danger. A feeling that anything could happen at any moment has been replaced by coordinated outfits, choreographed stage moves, and too-perfect homogenized performances. You know you’re in deep shit when the band you’re seeing has a not dissimilar rehearsal routine from One Direction.
Thank whatever deity you worship, then, for Greg Puciato. The man does not have a rehearsed bone in his body.
Never have I seen Greg Puciato perform live and not had the following thought:
Holy shit, what the hell is he doing??? He’s going to die! This is it. I am witnessing the last Greg Puciato performance EVER.
Thankfully, Mr. Puciato has not, as of this writing, actually killed himself while hanging from a not-very-sturdy-looking venue PA system or lighting rig…
…or leaping from something ridiculously high…
…or blowing fire…
…or inviting his often-bloodthirsty audience onto the stage with him…
…but hopefully my concern for his well-being is easily understandable. Puciato brings a punk rock performance ethic that too much of extreme music is sorely missing today to each and every concert. He’s like a living, breathing explosion of barely-controlled chaos. I intend it as high praise when I say that to see the man live is to feel both enthralled and a little bit uneasy.
Of course, if Puciato’s only talent were to jump and climb and make you review your insurance premiums in your head, he’d be sitting atop MetalSucks’ Top 25 Modern Metal Acrobats List, not our Top Modern Metal Frontmen list. But besides being one of the most exciting live performers in metal today, he’s also an amazing lyricist (he pens poetry that washes over you like an emotion — maybe you can’t pinpoint its exact meaning or origin, but you know it’s there, damn it) and vocalist. His desperate, psychotic, surprisingly-well-enunciated screaming is far too full of unmistakable personality to allow Puciato to just blend in with metal’s interchangeable screamers; his clean vocals are rubbery-yet-vulnerable, demonstrate a range that’s rare for this kind of music, and seem to draw on a wider range of influences than one might expect (that harmonizing on “Unretrofied” didn’t come from listening to Metallica). A decade after good cop-bad cop vocals have worn out their welcome and left a stain on the couch to boot, he doesn’t just make them work — he makes them wanted.
In short: THIS is what a metal frontman is supposed to be — the personification of talent and anger and sadness and fuck-youness that draws people to metal and hardcore in the first place, the kind of dude who is going to inspire countless kids to abandon any hope of a normal life in favor trying to be Greg Puciato when they grow up.
Not that anyone besides Greg Puciato can ever be Greg Puciato when they grow up. There’ll never be another just like him. He is the only one.
The Rest of the List:
#2: Valient Himself (Valient Thorr)
#3: Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
#4: Devin Townsend
#5: Randy Blythe (Lamb of God)
#6: Julie Christmas
#7: Frank Mullen (Suffocation)
#8: Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)
#9: Phil Anselmo
#10: Grace Perry (ex-Landmine Marathon)
#11: Guy Kozowyk (The Red Chord)
#12: Trevor Strnad (The Black Dahlia Murder)
#13: George “Corspegrinder” Fisher (Cannibal Corpse)
#14: Chance Garnette (Skeletonwitch)
#15: Vincent Bennet (The Acacia Strain)
#16: Mike Patton
#17: Tony Foresta (Municipal Waste)
#18: Joe Duplantier (Gojira)
#19: Oderus Urungus (Gwar)
#20: Nergal (Behemoth)
#21: Jens Kidman (Meshuggah)
#22: J.R. Hayes (Pig Destroyer)
#23: Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed)
#24: Travis Ryan (Cattle Decapitation, Murder Construct)
#25: Chino Moreno (Deftones)
The Top 25 Modern Metal Frontmen: The Spotify PlaylistPersian Bite has reopened in a new location on Union Street and owner Reza Zand was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by many of his regular costumers.
“We opened on Friday, just for a couple of hours,” Zand said Sunday morning at the restaurant’s newly renovated home at 703 Union St. “I didn’t expect all of the old customers to turn up. That was nice. I didn’t work, I just chatted with them.”
Zand and his brother, Rasoul, opened the restaurant for the first time in eight months after being put out of business by the deadly Jay Street fire in March. Persian Bite’s former location at 96 Jay St. was heavily damaged by water.
The move to Union Street has been a long process with a positive outcome, Zand said. The new location provided the opportunity to expand with more tables, a bigger kitchen and a patio.
“There were only three tables at the old place,” he said. “I always had plans to make it bigger. There, it was only that little spot. It was mostly takeout, especially for lunchtime. There wasn’t enough seating.”
The new and improved Persian Bite has six tables — two with three chairs and four with four chairs. The restaurant also has a small bar that can seat four people.
Zand and his family started doing work on the Union Street building over the summer. The property was handed over by Zand’s brother-in-law, who had planned to open an international cafe there.
“When the place burned I was looking around the same spot,” Zand said. “I didn’t find anything, so he offered it to me. I accepted because I knew the area. He sacrificed himself. He has helped a lot in here for us.”
Early March 6, a massive fire broke out at 104 Jay St., spreading to 100-102 Jay St. and claiming the lives of four people. The apartment buildings have since been demolished, leaving a vacant lot.
While the fire started around 2 a.m., Zand said he didn’t find out until he woke up at 6 a.m. and saw it on the news. Although he was given the opportunity later that day to recover property inside, everything was destroyed.
“There was nothing to take,” he said. “Everything was ruined.”
Zand said he remembered Berenices Suarez, 33, and Jermaine Allen, 37, who both died in the fire. The couple were customers, he said.
“We lost two good friends next door,” he said. “They would come in and chat and have food. Very nice couple. They were nice people.”
The neighboring building at 96 Jay St. sustained significant roof and water damage. Persian Bite and Bel Cibo, another restaurant located there, were forced to shut down.
Persian Bite had been open for 10 months. Bel Cibo had been open for only about three days, after moving from another location on the Jay Street Marketplace.
The building has since been repaired. Jeanette Massaro, owner of Bel Cibo, is expanding into Persian Bite’s old space and preparing to reopen in early December.
“I wish them well and the very best,” Zand said of his former neighbor. “They were only open a couple of days before the fire. I always keep thinking about them.”
Persian Bite’s menu will stay the same, but a few additions are planned in the near future, Zand said. He is also looking to introduce outdoor dining and live entertainment to the restaurant.
“So far, so good,” he said. “The best thing is going back to work because I love cooking. On Friday I was a little bit nervous. I don’t know why. I have been in the business for 12 to 13 years. But I guess I was a little bit nervous because it’s a new place.”
The new space has a warm atmosphere with hardwood floors, red- and gold-colored walls and dark tables and chairs. The restaurant has large windows facing Union Street and a unique granite top bar with a sink.
Persian Bite offers kebab plates, wraps and veggie wraps plus appetizers and side dishes. The restaurant serves herb-infused black tea instead of coffee.
Zand moved to Schenectady about two and a half years ago after previously living in England and managing a large restaurant there. He said he relocated to be closer to family, who all live in the Schenectady area.
“All of us are excited,” he said. “I’m loving this job. I love food. If you look at me I’m tiny and skinny, but I eat a lot. Everybody sees me and is shocked by how much I eat. They say, ‘Do you put it in your pocket or do you eat it?’ ”
Zand said he is getting to know some of his new neighbors, particularly the couple who recently opened Chez Nous, a French restaurant at 707 Union St.
Chez Nous is planning a grand opening 5 p.m. Dec. 15. Persian Bite meanwhile is hosting a grand reopening celebration at 6 p.m. Dec. 9. The fundraising dinner will help offset some costs incurred from the restaurant’s prolonged closure.
Due to limited seating, tickets must be purchased at https://goo.gl/h18uJa.
“I studied business management in England,” Zand said. “The first thing they said in class was it’s all about location, location, location. This is a main road and a good spot for the business. I’m excited. I’m not moving anywhere else.”
Persian Bite is open 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays; and 3 to 9 p.m. Saturdays.By Aaron Kesel
Years of research on mice proves that scientists can weaken or strengthen particular memories from the brain or outright delete inherited memories, the Guardian reported.
Scientists hope that the new discovery could potentially be used to help those with cognitive decline or post-traumatic stress disorder by removing fearful memories.
“We can use the same approach to selectively manipulate only the pathological fear memory while preserving all other adaptive fear memories which are necessary for our daily lives,” Jun-Hyeong Cho, co-author of the research from the University of California said.
The researchers used those mice to examine the pathways between the amygdala area of the brain responsible for emotional memories and the area that produces particular sounds. They played a series of low- and high-pitched tones that shocked the mice’s feet with electrodes on the high-pitched sounds.
“These mice are special in that we can label or tag specific pathways that convey certain signals to the amygdala, so that we can identify which pathways are really modified as the mice learn to fear a particular sound,” Cho said. “It is like a bundle of phone lines,” he added. “Each phone line conveys certain auditory information to the amygdala.”
The team then discovered it was possible to completely erase fearful or unwanted memories using a technique called optogenetics, while medication has been used for this purpose to remove the negative associations of some memories.
This technique involves using a virus to introduce genes into particular neurons in the brains of the mice that were involved in the “high-pitch” pathways.
Once the virus was inside the cells, the genes resulted in the production of proteins which responded to light, allowing researchers to control the activity of the neurons.
Taking mice with the fearful memories, the team exposed the neurons involved in the “high-pitch” pathway to low-frequency light – an approach which weakens the connections between the brain’s neuron transmitters.
“It permanently erases the fear memory,” Cho said. “We no longer see the relapse of fear.”
‘The fact that you can parcel out these memories and manipulate them in a predictable fashion is remarkable,’ Sumantra Chattarji, an expert on memory at the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore, India told New Scientist.
‘This was impossible a few years ago.’
In another study from 2015, MIT scientist found that in animals that developed PTSD symptoms following chronic stress and a traumatic event, serotonin promoted the process of memory consolidation. When the researchers blocked the amygdala cells’ interactions with serotonin after trauma, the stressed animals did not develop PTSD symptoms, while blocking serotonin in unstressed animals after trauma had no effect.
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
Then earlier this year scientist from MIT and a team in Japan discovered how memories were formed simultaneously in the hippocampus and the cortex by watching how memories responded to an electric shock. In other words, one is for the present short-term and the second is for the long-term.
Scientists have also discovered that generations pass on memories to each other.
None of this is new, this is the overt or clear world scientists catching up with the black-budget scientists in bases like s4.
There was a series of CIA mind control programs including BLUEBIRD, ARTICHOKE, MKULTRA, MKSEARCH and MKNAOMI during the ’50s to ’90s. The CIA sought to blank-slate test subjects wiping memories through drugs, electric shock, high-pitched sound and other torture techniques.
Dr. Ewen Cameron was partially backed by the CIA during project MKULTRA and used electrodes to zap the memories from his unwitting patients’ brains during the 1950s. This method of torture was called “psychic driving.”
After horrendous electric shocks, drugs were given to the test subjects to put them into days of prolonged delirious sleep. Cameron would then subject them to audio tapes he made, in which he repeated certain phrases thousands of times, with the hope of producing new personalities within them.
A 2012 lawsuit filed by veterans’ groups, against the CIA and the DOD, refers to Cameron’s methods. The suit also states that two researchers, Dr. Louis West and Dr. Jose Delgado, working together under the early CIA MKULTRA subproject 95, utilized two protocols: brain implants (“stimoceivers”) and RHIC-EDOM (Radio Hypnotic Intracerebral Control-Electronic Dissolution of Memory) to program the minds of victims.Share Who's the fairest of them all?
Who's the fairest of them all? "Fairness" isn’t used, these days, to mean proportionality, merit, equity, desert or even redistribution
"Fairness" isn’t used, these days, to mean proportionality, merit, equity, desert or even redistribution Fairness is a word used by left and right but means nothing
“It’s not fair!” The complaint has been made by children for as long as English has been spoken. Before then, kids were doubtless whining “Yt ys nat mete, forsoþe!” (or whatever the Middle English version was).
But if the phrase is an old one, its growing popularity among adults, especially Leftist politicians, is recent. The graph below, from Google Ngrams, shows the usage of the word “fairness” in British books since 1900. As you can see, the frequency holds pretty steady until around 1980 when it suddenly takes off.
The beauty of the word, from the point of view of pundits and campaigners, is its elasticity. It can be used to denote a number of concepts that are not only different, but fundamentally opposed. Fairness can mean equality (the cake is sliced into identical portions); entitlement (you paid for half the cake, and Jane and I for a quarter each, so we’ll divide it accordingly); or need (Jane hasn’t eaten for two days, so she should get a bigger slice than either of us). Politicians use it to mean all three of these things, sometimes deliberately eliding them.
For example, there is a popular meme on the Left about chief executives paying less tax than their cleaners. Now we can all agree that, if this really does happen, it’s outrageous, but the grounds on which we object may be radically different. If the chief executive is evading tax, he should go to prison: that much, I hope, is common ground to all sides. But what if he is legally minimising his tax bill through some loophole created by a finance minister in pursuit of a good headline? In this instance, I’d say – indeed I did say on CapX last month – that the solution is lower, flatter, simpler taxes. But I don’t think this is what the politicians making a fuss mean. They want the chief executive to be paying a much higher rate than his cleaner. The word “fairness” allows them to conflate two very different positions: that everyone should pay the same rate, which eliminates tax avoidance, and results in the rich paying more; and that the rich should be taxed at a higher rate, which results in more avoidance and in the percentage of taxation paid by the rich falling.
Five years ago, in a paper for Policy Exchange, the economist Andrew Lilico argued that there are, in any case, many circumstances where “fairness” should be trumped by other considerations. He gives the examples of family (you’d save your own child from a burning building first rather than trying to work out whose child was most worthy of rescue); private property (you can buy a magazine from any newsagent you like, it’s not your job to spread your custom evenly); and contract (if you agreed to pay someone for a service, you can’t renege because you later decide she didn’t deserve it).
All this is true and important; but most of it, in our present political discourse, is beside the point. It’s beside the point because “fairness” isn’t really being used, these days, to signify proportionality, merit, equity, desert or even redistribution. It is used, rather, as a way to signal the speaker’s virtue. “I believe in fairness” has come, in politics, to mean “I am a kind and compassionate human being”. Similarly, “It’s not fair!” simply means “I disapprove of this” – as in, for example, the Lily Allen song of that name, where it means, roughly, “you are bad at sex”.
And that’s why, in the end, there is little purpose in free-marketeers trying to reclaim the word. There is no point arguing that it’s “unfair” for 16-year-old school leavers to have to pay taxes to support 23-year-old students; or “unfair” for our generation to sustain its living standard by borrowing from future generations; or “unfair” for people on low incomes to have to subsidise wealthy landowners through alternative energy rackets and the Common Agricultural Policy; or “unfair” for rich Luxembourg to be the single largest per capita net recipient of EU funds.
Because, in truth, “fairness” isn’t about policy at all. Rather, it’s a self-regarding advertisement of virtue, a signifier of narcissism. “Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?”
Daniel Hannan is a Conservative Member of the European Parliament and blogs at www.hannan.co.uk
ShareIf you haven't yet, you need to read Steve Fishman's amazing story in New York about the Alex Rodriguez saga, in which much of the drama takes place at a Miami tanning salon, making it the most Miami story of all time. While writing the story, Fishman got his hands on a series of email exchanges between Rodriguez and Yankees president Randy Levine. They are very, very weird.
You can read all of the emails over at NY Mag—and you very much should, if only for Levine seeming to (jokingly?) suggest that Robinson Cano should start using steroids—but here are a few of our favorites.
Here's one from May 21, 2012, right after the Yankees were shut out by the Royals:
Levine: My friend, I have always believed that in difficult times there r two ways to go. The easy way, which is to make excuses, be defensive, or blame others and shut it down. The better way is to take the challenge, get mad, get determined, and shut everyone up and perform to greater levels. I believe in u. I believe u will hit those levels. It has been a tough year in injuries, tough losses, underperformance, but we need a leader, that is you. Take the lead, get these guys going, put a chip on your shoulder. When u succeed it will be Yankees lore. There is nothing more powerful than that. I am here to support u. Tell us what u need.
Rodriguez: You are 100% correct. This is no time for blame or excuses. Is time for me to be a leader and rally the troops. I feel if I perform at a high level, put a chip on my shoulder and lead the way, then my mates will follow my lead. Is not how you start, but how you finish. Let's get it going tonight. Thanks for the support and stay in touch.
Advertisement
In December of 2012, A-Rod got scolded for having a party:
Levine: Pictures of party at your house circulating all around tonight … Guys in rehab don't do this. This is not the sedate, small party you […] said. You need to focus on getting better. Rodriguez: Been prehabbing every day. Pete [Draovitch, a trainer] arrives in Miami tomorrow. Is nice to disconnect a bit in the off season. But I understand your point. Really looking forward to getting mended. Levine: Just looking out for you.
Things turned really sour in August of this year, with Rodriguez on the verge of getting suspended and waging a passive-aggressive war with the team through the media.
Rodriguez: Can u please stop!! I want to play baseball and I could make a big difference to the game. Steinbrenner would roll in his grave IF he knew what was happening! Stop, Randy, this isn't going to be good for any of us!! You are a businessman and what you are doing is ruining the business of baseball. If u want to meet in person to discuss it, let's do it! Levine: I received your email, the contents of which are a complete shock to me. As I have repeatedly told you, this is an MLB investigation. We had no role in initiating the investigation or assisting in the direction of the investigation. Despite your continued false accusations (which you know are false) we have acted consistently. My focus and direction, as well as that of the entire Yankees organization, has been, and continues to be, to treat you in the same manner as we do all of our players, to have you healthy and ready to play as soon as possible. Good luck.
Advertisement
Sorry, Alex. I don't think Randy believes in u or is very proud of u anymore :(
[NY Mag]Imagine if memory could be tuned in such a way where good memories are enhanced for those suffering from dementia or bad memories are wiped away for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder. A Stony Brook University research team has taken a step toward the possibility of tuning the strength of memory by manipulating one of the brain's natural mechanisms for signaling involved in memory, a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Their findings are published in the journal Neuron.
Brain mechanisms underlying memory are not well understood, but most scientists believe that the region of the brain most involved in emotional memory is the amygdala. Acetylcholine is delivered to the amygdala by cholinergic neurons that reside in the base of the brain. These same neurons appear to be affected early in cognitive decline. Previous research has suggested that cholinergic input to the amygdala appears to strengthen emotional memories.
"Memories of emotionally charged experiences are particularly strong, whether positive or negative experiences, and the goal of our research is to determine the mechanisms underlying the strengthening of memory," said Lorna Role, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and Co-Director of the Neurosciences Institute at Stony Brook Medicine.
In the paper, titled "Cholinergic Signaling Controls Conditioned Fear Behaviors and Enhances Plasticity of Cortical-Amygdala Circuits," Dr. Role and colleagues used a fear-based memory model in mice to test the underlying mechanism of memory because fear is a strong and emotionally charged experience.
The team used opto-genetics, a newer research method using light to control cells in living tissue, to stimulate specific populations of cholinergic neurons during the experiments.
Two of the team's findings stand out. First, when they increased acetylcholine release in the amygdala during the formation of a traumatic memory, it greatly strengthened memory making the memory last more than twice as long as normal. Then, when they decreased acetylcholine signaling in the amygdala during a traumatic experience, one that normally produces a fear response, they could actually wipe out memory.
"This second finding was particularly surprising, as we essentially created fearless mice by manipulating acetylcholine circuits in the brain," explained Dr. Role. "The findings provide the basis for research examining novel approaches to reverse post-traumatic stress disorder."
The challenge of continued research is that cholinergic neurons remain difficult to study because they are intermingled with other types of neurons and are few in number compared to other types of neurons in the brain.
Because acetylcholine is a natural signaling mechanism and seemingly essential for memory, additional research will center on non-pharmacologic ways to manipulate or fine-tune memory.
"The long-term goal of our research is that we would like to find ways -- potentially independent of drug administration -- to enhance or diminish the strength of specific memories, the good ones, and diminish the bad ones," summarized Dr. Role.Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.
June 6, 2016, 11:36 AM GMT / Updated June 6, 2016, 1:08 PM GMT By Alexey Eremenko and Alastair Jamieson
Ukraine's intelligence agency said Monday it had arrested a suspected terrorist with a cache of heavy weapons and explosives who was planning to attack France during the Euro 2016 soccer championship.
“He intended to use weapons and ammunition to simultaneously blow up bridges and highway infrastructure across various regions of France,” Ukraine's security service, SBU, said in a statement.
It added that other targets included a mosque, a synagogue and agencies involved in organizing Euro 2016, which opens Friday in Paris.
Related: France Faces Perfect Storm as Tourist Season, Euro 2016 Loom
"The SBU was able to prevent a series of 15 acts of terror [planned] for the eve and during the Euro soccer championship,” the agency's chief, Vasily Gritsak, told reporters.
A picture of the suspect released by Ukraine's intelligence agency. Handout / Ukrainian intelligence agency
The SBU said the suspect — a 25-year-old French citizen — was detained with rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 275 pounds of TNT, five Kalashnikov machine guns, 100 electric detonators and 20 balaclavas.
"The Frenchman spoke negatively about his government's actions, mass immigration, the spread of Islam and globalization, and also talked about plans to carry out several terrorist attacks," according to Gritsak.
Ukraine's announcement came days after the State Department warned Americans of the threat of terror attacks in Europe and cited the Euro 2016 soccer tournament as a possible target.
Authorities across Europe are on high alert after Islamist militants killed 130 people in Paris last November and suicide bombers killed 32 people at |
pink lining and the colorful Jem logo embroidered on the back and my name on the front. That for sure is a treasure as well as many of my original Jem scripts I kept. The Jem community also gifted me for my Birthday last year one of the beautiful new Jem dolls from Integrity/Hasbro. They are not cheap and the fans took it upon themselves in secret to pool their money together and buy me one and then present it to me – I’m still floored and touched deeply by that amazing gift of kindness.
What are you up to these days–and where can the fans keep updated with your current and upcoming projects?
My schedule is up on my official website and is constantly being updated.
I’m staying pretty busy traveling around the country and internationally to different fan conventions to meet the Truly outrageous Jem and Transformers fans in person. I just finished working on a brand new animated short film called “HG Chicken” by really talented animation master Mike Salva with a cast that includes Bobcat Goldthwait, Jonathan Katz, Maria Bamford & Todd Barry as well as Horror film directors Lloyd Kaufman and Herschell Gordon Lewis and other swell folks.
I’m also performing with the amazingly talented Pink Floyd tribute band Bricks in the Wall. Based in Dallas, It’s an epic production with the whole laser light show and I’m one of 3 female backup singers bringing Great Gig and other iconic tunes to Pink Floyd fans. We tour regionally and it really is the sights and sounds of Pink Floyd we have some big shows coming up this summer.
I’m also working on brand new music for my next solo record with producer Dave Polich so keeping pretty busy but I love it!
A big shout out of thanks to Samantha for taking the time to talk with me about her adventures and behind-the-scenes remembrances of Jem and the Holograms—and to get us all caught up on her current life of music and the fans out there showing their love and supporting her appearances on the con circuit. If there’s the equivalent of a Brony for Jem—I’m it. Show’s over, Uncle Maffy…Democrats suffered their biggest losses last year in blue-collar territory, as Obama's approval ratings with blue-collar white voters plummeted. White voters without a college education voted for Republican House candidates nearly 2 to 1, according to last year's Edison Research exit poll. The party's bulwark of Blue Dog Democrats, many of whom had held onto seats in deeply conservative districts no matter the political climate, collapsed.
While Democrats aren't going to win back many of those seats given the districts' conservative orientation, they're betting that a message decrying income inequality can put some of them in play.
Republicans still hold a healthy edge in support among white voters without a college education--47 percent to 34 percent, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. But their advantage has narrowed significantly since 2010, when they led 63 percent to 33 percent in exit polling. The GOP agenda of spending cuts and entitlement reforms isn't a natural sell with this constituency, which has been hard-hit by the recession.
The Democrats' ability to win back a House majority may well lie with candidates like Brendan Mullen, an Iraq veteran who's running in a working-class, solidly Catholic battleground district in northern Indiana. He's pro-gun and anti-abortion rights, but identifies with the Democratic Party's traditional connection to the working class. Mullen is a convincing representative of the public mood because his biography is authentic to the message he's preaching. He grew up in South Bend and worked for his father's unionized lumberyard, moving Sheetrock and handling deliveries. He attended West Point, went to Army Airborne School and Ranger School, and served in Iraq during the war. He's running for office for the first time.
Mullen is running for the seat being vacated by Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., one of the few targeted Democrats to survive the 2010 wave. Republicans redrew the lines this year to make the district more favorable for them, but Obama still would have narrowly carried it. Mullen is expected to face Donnelly's 2010 Republican challenger, former state representative Jackie Walorski, an outspoken tea party supporter. If the tide has changed in the Democrats' favor, Mullen should have more than a fighting chance.
Even more than the Massachusetts Senate race, the Indiana contest is shaping up to be a referendum of whether working-class voters identify more with the Occupy Wall Street movement or the tea party. Mullen has close ties to labor and said he feels a connection with the protests taking place across the country.
"The middle class are the ones getting left empty-handed as Wall Street and corporations are getting shored up," Mullen said in an interview, echoing Democratic talking points. Mullen isn't the only Democratic recruit preparing an unabashedly populist campaign. Party officials are optimistic about winning a rural, northeastern Arkansas district that Republicans hadn't carried since Reconstruction--until 2010, when now-Rep. Rick Crawford won the open seat. The district is one of the poorest in the country, and it has one of the lowest concentrations of college-educated whites in the country.It's time for the monthly Android-is-killing-iPhone-no-it's-not-you're-an-idiot-no-you-are-fanboy explosion of blog posts, tweets, manifestos, charts, etc.
Yes, Google Android is beating Apple in market share. Yes, even if the iPod touch is included. Yes, it will likely continue to do so.
So here's how mobile developers should think about it.
1) If you are making free mobile apps, make apps for both iOS and Android.
At this point, it makes sense to develop the apps side-by-side, with the same features, available for both iOS and Android at the same time.
Android is too big to ignore completely, but not big enough to be your only platform. You may wish to support multiple Android app stores, such as Amazon's.
There is no reason for your iPhone app to be better than your Android app. There is no reason for your Android app to get more attention than your iPhone app. They should both be good.
2) If you are trying to make money selling apps, prioritize Apple for now.
Yes, Android has more users, but iOS users are more likely to pay for apps and in-app purchases. MLB.com CEO Bob Bowman told us last month that MLB At Bat -- a $15 app -- sells 5 times more iPhone copies than Android. We've heard of 10-to-1 iOS to Android sales ratios for other premium apps.
Part of it is the people who own the phone, part of it is how well Apple runs its app store vs. Google's, etc.
You may want to make an identical version of the paid iOS app for Android, or figure out a way to make a free version for Android, just to be on the platform.
3) If you are designing mobile web sites, make sure they work well on both platforms.
And some of the other platforms, like BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7. It isn't hard.
4) If your mobile apps talk to a server, make sure you can add new app platforms to the server whenever you want.
There's no reason it should only support iOS or Android or anything.
5) For tablets, iPad is your priority.
There's no reason to prioritize Android 3.0 Honeycomb yet, or RIM PlayBook. They aren't selling very many yet. Eventually, they might, so it's not a bad idea to test, and make sure your website works on Honeycomb and PlayBook. You can add apps later.
This could change eventually, but mobile apps generally have a 3-month to 1-year planning cycle, so there's no need to get ahead of yourself. Let us know if there's anything we're missing.
Don't miss: Here's Why I'm Waiting For The iPad 3APRIL 8--A Florida woman is facing a felony animal abuse charge for allegedly killing her boyfriend’s goldfish by pouring bleach into their tank, according to court records.
Angela Garcia, 32, was arrested Saturday after she allegedly trashed beau Norris Johnson’s Orlando-area residence following an argument.
Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the home by the man’s son. He told investigators that his father had gone to work following the argument with Garcia, but had told her to vacate the residence.
As detailed in a police report, Garcia (seen at right) destroyed a flat screen TV, other electronic devices, and furniture in the home, which reeked of bleach when her boyfriend’s son discovered the wreckage.
In addition to causing $1500 in property damage, Garcia also allegedly poured bleach into her boyfriend’s fish tank, killing five goldfish. Johnson’s son told deputies that Garcia was free on bond in another criminal case and that his father allowed her to live with them for a couple of days.
Deputies who subsequently apprehended Garcia near the crime scene reported that she was “visibly intoxicated” and “had the presence of bleach all over her clothing.”
Charged with felony counts of animal cruelty and criminal mischief, Garcia was booked into the county jail, from which she was released Monday after posting $1150 bond. (2 pages)A former Mormon explains what being Catholic means to her.
Last week the Mormon missionaries stopped by looking for me. This hadn’t happened in awhile, but it’s not an unfamiliar experience. Five years ago I formally petitioned to have my name removed from the LDS Church’s membership records, and after that I didn’t hear from them for a while. But eventually the mail started coming again. And now there were these white-shirted 20-year-olds on my doorstep asking for me.
I invited them in. They declined, citing the “three man rule”. (They’re not supposed to be alone with women unless another man is on the premises.) So we stood awkwardly in the doorway while I explained that the reason they never saw me at church was that I had apostatized from the Mormon faith some years before, and was now a practicing Catholic.
They asked why and I briefly explained. (I believe that Rome, not Salt Lake, is rock on which Christ’s Church is resting.) They challenged me to read the Book of Mormon and I cheerfully declined. (I’ve read it twice before, but now I have other reading priorities.) In their final go-for-broke play, they read me a three-verse passage from the Book of Mormon, and urged me to ask God directly about the truth of the Mormon faith. I gently explained that this would not be appropriate, because it isn’t a question that I have anymore. When God has already answered the deepest question of your heart, the correct response is to embrace the truth gratefully. It would just be churlish to keep pestering him about it.
After that I stood patiently and let them have the final word, accepted their phone number (on condition that they wouldn’t return unless I called it), and wished them a pleasant day.
My husband doesn’t understand why I bother talking to missionaries. He just says, “not interested” and closes the door, which is perfectly reasonable. It’s like hanging up on phone solicitors; if you’re not going to buy anything they’d probably rather save the time than listen to the pleasantries.
Still, with several generations’ worth of Mormon ancestors behind me, I feel that Mormons are “my people” in a kind of ethno-cultural sense. I can’t just slam the door on them, and if the local Mormon authorities want an account of me, I’m willing to give it. For all its flaws, Mormonism is the faith of my forefathers. But even beyond familial loyalty, I feel deeply grateful to the LDS Church for its incalculable contribution to my childhood and youth. Mormons taught me my Bible stories and gave me lots of no-nonsense straight talk about chastity. It’s hard to exaggerate the value of that in these confused times. Mormons also gave me a wonderful appreciation for what supportive, functional, family-oriented church communities can do. There’s a lot to be said for them and I would have been happy to stay, but for the inconvenient fact that I wasn’t a believer, and wasn’t willing to pretend.
I’m one of those cautious types who spent quite a number of years flitting on the outskirts of the Church before taking the plunge. Conversion itself, when I finally got around to it, wasn’t a particularly thrilling experience. Swimming the metaphorical Tiber was a lot like (I suspect) swimming the actual Tiber: I felt cold, muddy and rather alone. This is not so uncommon, I have found, among intellectual converts. We gobble the “good stuff” (theology, spirituality) in the safety of our bedrooms, and find that this sweet fruit has a pit in the middle. The intellectual journey is thrilling, but at the time of conversion itself, the unpleasant social components dominate the foreground. As my catechist recognized (he found me puzzling in the extreme), my original “Here I am, Lord,” was not offered with particular enthusiasm or delight.Getty Images
The Saints listed running back Mark Ingram as questionable to play on Thursday night because of the toe injury that kept him from practicing all week, which left open the possibility that their 1-2 punch out of the backfield would be down to just rookie Alvin Kamara.
It looks like that won’t be the case, however. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Ingram is expected to be in the lineup against the Falcons.
What impact the injury will have on Ingram’s usage remains to be seen, but Kamara has played more snaps than his older teammate in the last three games and any accommodation for the toe seems likely to extend that streak to four in a row.
Safety Marcus Williams, cornerback Marcus Lattimore and defensive end Trey Hendrickson are the other questionable players for the Saints. Unlike Ingram, all three were able to get in limited practice sessions the last couple of days.SPRINGFIELD --- Gov. Pat Quinn today called on Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court a court order that requires Illinois to approve legislation this spring that would let citizens carry guns in public.
The governor's move ramps up pressure on Madigan, a potential rival to Quinn in the March 2014 Democratic primary campaign, to keep the court fight alive. The Illinois General Assembly is working on fashioning legislation to put a concealed weapons law in place.
At issue is a December decision by the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled Illinois’ decades-old ban on allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons is unconstitutional. A three-judge appeals court panel gave Illinois until June 9 — about six months from its December decision — to pass legislation that would give citizens the right to carry guns in public with reasonable restrictions. Madigan lost a request for a review by all judges in the federal appeals court.
But Quinn said Madigan should take the issue further. The governor said the “only hope” Illinois has of keeping its ban on carrying concealed weapons intact is to go to the U.S. Supreme Court. “The attorney general ought to take a look at that, and pursue that, and make sure that this is the law of the land,” Quinn said.
Madigan said she is “waiting to see what the legislature is doing.” She maintained there would be no point of appealing the federal court order to allow concealed carry in Illinois if legislation is worked out to before the court’s June 9 deadline for action. She said the U.S. Supreme Court would not consider an appeal of the case that struck down the state’s current ban if it is replaced with a new law soon.
“We’re watching what’s going on, obviously, in the Legislature because, if they pass something…appealing the decision would be moot,” Madigan said.
She also said she does not know what the Supreme Court would “ultimately do” if it considered the case. She noted the federal appeals court order for Illinois to allow concealed weapons had broadened prior U.S. Supreme Court rulings. The Supreme Court has tilted rulings in recent years toward gun owner rights.
Illinois remains the only state that does not allow some form of concealed carry to citizens.
Quinn said the decision on whether to appeal is “up to her. She’s the lawyer for the people of Illinois, and I certainly respect her prerogatives.”
“But I think this is so serious, I believe in gun safety, and I think the people in Illinois believe in gun safety, and to just have a federal court mandate that we should allow loaded weapons, concealed on a person, and allowed in a public place, that’s a pretty, pretty serious matter,” Quinn said.
The attorney general has urged passing a bill in the legislature, where her father, House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, has held debate in the full House. The House is considering legislation that allows concealed weapons as well as many proposals that put restrictions on where they would not be allowed, such as in churches or on public buses and trains.LOS ANGELES—Asserting that he would never venture into the world of prestige film and television, actor Kevin James announced Monday that he is not considering a late-career shift towards more dramatic roles. “I can confirm that I am in no way planning a pivot toward taking on more weighty, serious roles,” said James, who also confirmed he has not spent a moment of free time filming a passion project that would explore darker, more personal themes. “You can expect me to continue making slapstick comedies where I get mad at my wife for losing the remote and occasionally wipe out on a Segway. I have no intention of playing a troubled genius or a controversial historical figure or anything at all that speaks to something deeper about the human condition.” James went on to say, however, he would reconsider if given the opportunity to collaborate with director Lars von Trier.
AdvertisementI recently received comments from two readers (here and here) regarding a 2014 Dutch survey study of 55 young transgender adults (average age 20). The study, which reported overall positive psychological outcomes after medical transition, surveyed youth who had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, after which they had received puberty blockers, then cross-sex hormone treatments, and finally SRS surgery. The average length of time from first pre-treatment assessment to post-surgery was 6 years.
RESULTS: After gender reassignment, in young adulthood, the GD was alleviated and psychological functioning had steadily improved. Well- being was similar to or better than same-age young adults from the general population. Improvements in psychological functioning were positively correlated with postsurgical subjective well-being.
These findings would likely reassure parents and others who have ushered children down the medical transition road. And frankly, anyone who has watched even a few YouTube teen transition vlogs would not find these results particularly surprising. For these kids, it must be an exhilarating experience, to feel they can escape their dissatisfaction with sex-role stereotypes and/or physical characteristics, and embark upon the long-awaited transformation into the opposite sex. The speed with which the metamorphosis happens—with many young people “passing” as the opposite sex after only a few months of hormone treatment–is downright magical.
No doubt, at least some of these people will go on to live happy, long lives with no regrets. But it’s likely some will begin to question (at what age? 30? 40? 50? 60?) whether giving up their fertility; permanently altering their bodies; and facing a lifelong regimen of injections and medical monitoring were ultimately worth the price.
Here is one young woman who has begun to raise a few questions. In a recent video entitled “Gender Troubles” (uploaded 6 years after she first decided to “transition,” and after 4 years of videos on her channel that mostly celebrated that choice), she acknowledges what she values about her “transition,” while sharing her realization that things are not quite as simple as they originally seemed to her younger self:
When I decided to go on hormones…it seemed like the most logical choice for me. I was in a very bad place emotionally…I hated myself a lot. I hated my body. I didn’t identify with it….and I felt very separate from my body. And finding YouTube videos of other people who were transitioning and finding out it was an option to do so kind of deeply affected me. It was very difficult to resist those changes….to resist taking hormones, to see those changes in myself, especially because feeling so disconnected from myself it seemed like the best idea….and you don’t often see other narratives out there, on YouTube, about gender… …. I struggled with the changes, how I felt about them, how it made me feel and why. At first I accepted them. It was exciting. It was euphoric. It was certainly a ride. And I really liked seeing myself with more muscle, I liked my voice deepening, the hair that was growing… … My parents were really cool with it. They were not cool with me being a lesbian at all…. [now] they didn’t have to say “I have a lesbian daughter. I have a son who’s straight”….My family was supportive of my transition, so we became a lot closer because of that… …As time went on, I really felt like…I didn’t identify with the changes I was seeing…I didn’t like the fact that these changes weren’t natural. Part of it felt like I was burying a piece of myself… …The other night, I cried, because I realized I really want to be able to get pregnant. And I really want to be able to breastfeed. … Maybe it’s me getting older, the internal clock…ultimately I don’t regret getting top surgery…but there are elements where I miss having them….only about 15% of the time. But I can’t deny that this happens… …There’s a lot more that happens besides achieving a male body or a more masculine body….a lot of things change and you don’t realize it. I don’t think I realized it as much until … a year or two off hormones. Things started kind of affecting me… …When I was transitioning I was really caught up in the thrill of it, the excitement of it, the endorphins that went along with it…[but now] I’ve been thinking about things I wasn’t before.
Transition regret videos aside, even if we restrict our focus to the 55 subjects in the Dutch research study cited above–young people who (so far) are reporting largely positive benefits from their transition–there is more nuance to this study than first meets the eye. 4thWaveNow contributor fightingunreality delves into some of the study’s unexamined implications in the post below.
As you read fightingunreality’s analysis, consider whether survey studies like this one might be subject to the “interpersonal expectancy ” of researchers and “supportive” parents. The interpersonal expectancy effect is also known as self-fulfilling prophecy, or the Pygmalian effect, extensively studied by preeminent psychological researcher Robert Rosenthal:
…the tendency for experimenters to obtain results they expect, not simply because they have correctly anticipated nature’s response, but rather because they have helped to shape that response through their expectations. When behavioral researchers expect certain results from their human or animal subjects, they appear unwittingly to treat them in such a way as to increase the probability that they will respond as expected… In more recent years….research has been extended from experiments, to teachers, employers, and therapists whose expectations for their…patients might also come to serve as interpersonal self-fulfilling prophecies.
Analysis of the 2014 Dutch study (available in full at the link, and introduced above),
by fightingunreality
Any discussion of the “outcomes” for those children chosen for the experimental use of puberty-blocking drugs would be remiss without first addressing the ethics of what has been done.
First, this study is about young people, many of whom initially presented to the clinic as prepubescent children. Children’s understanding of gender is primarily comprised of the simplistic social stereotypes through which they have learned to perceive the meaning of biological sex, and which they lack the certainty of identity to resist. Developmentally unable to fully comprehend abstract concepts, they have little understanding of the social forces which inform and compel both them and the adults to behave in certain manners deemed to be “appropriate” on the basis of sex. The vast majority of these children were socially transitioned by their parents prior to their arrival at the clinic, thereby disrupting the chance that they may have had to experience a typical childhood.
Because 85% of the fathers and 95% of the mothers were supportive of their children’s desire to live as the other gender, and since virtually all of the children were living for all intents and purposes as socially transitioned, we can assume, with little doubt, that these parents subscribed to the idea of sex-based gender roles for their children akin to those we have seen in the plethora of news stories of (mostly) moms citing wrong toys and early color preferences as indications that their children were different.
Since none of these child-transition studies (this Dutch study being no exception) report the extent to which parents enforce traditional gender roles, we have no real sense of the degree of their influence on these children or how much they might affect the kids’ willingness to defy them in order to express their non-traditional likes and dislikes– without the expressed belief that they are in fact, a different sex. Is it only a coincidence that 94% of the males in this study were either same-sex attracted or bisexual (87.9% SSA, 6.1% BI) or that 100% of the females (89.2 SSA, 10.8% BI) had same sex attractions? Are we really expected to believe that social and parental attitudes in regards to homosexuality play no part in either the formation of the children’s understandings of what constitutes “feeling like the other sex,” or, more importantly, the acceptability to parents of what, in effect, becomes medicalized gay conversion therapy?
Since the stated protocol by these researchers is to provide a six-months to a year “diagnostic phase,” this means that prior to the first assessment for this particular study, they had already been living as cross-gendered for at least that amount of time, plus the previously acknowledged but unspecified duration of social transition. During the actual diagnostic phase, all of them “officially transitioned” –including name changes. Since the youngest, at the time just prior to the administration of hormone blockers, was 11.1 years old, that means this child had been living cross-gendered since a minimum age of 10.6 years old –in addition to the time prior to arriving at the clinic. What can such a child actually know about what it means to live as his or her own natal sex?
Given the willingness, as noted in the study, of peers and parents to promote and solidify by reinforcement these children’s sense of being wrong-bodied, it is hard to see how such children could establish a basis by which they could reasonably fully comprehend–let alone reevaluate–their child-based understanding of gender and gender roles. As has been noted in previous posts on this blog, identity formation throughout childhood and adolescence is both malleable and fluid. It is impossible to believe that the interventions by both the parents and the clinicians did not directly interfere with these children’s identity development. How does a child who has basically reordered their family’s lives by their insistence that they are actually the other sex back down from such claims? How do they tell their friends? We are not talking about adults, here, after all. By the time these children reached the point of choosing to delay their puberty, they had been living as the other gender for years –in some instances possibly half of their young lives. By the time it came to choose whether or not to imbibe cross-sex hormones, it is no surprise that none of these children chose to revert to living as their own sex: they had been socialized trans.
It’s interesting to note from the information in this paper that during the time between starting hormone blockers and their choice to be put on cross-sex hormones, these kids –especially the girls –actually experienced greater levels of “gender dysphoria.” I think it’s important to ask ourselves why that is. These kids were not facing the risk of further development of secondary sexual characteristics. They were living as their chosen gender. Why wouldn’t they be at least somewhat relieved of their dysphoria? Since levels of such dysphoria consist of self-assessment, this worsening could merely reflect the child’s desire to fully transition along with the knowledge that admitting a decreasing level of dysphoria might threaten the willingness of the clinicians to advance their transitions. That is one possibility. The other more likely possibility is that living as fully socially transitioned children, their awareness of not physically “matching” their chosen gender while assuming that role actually worsens the sense of being wrong-bodied. In other words, telling someone that you are actually a boy or a girl when you clearly are not increases self-awareness of and discomfort with your actual sex.
As was articulated in a BBC documentary by a gay Iranian who was pressured into transition, prior to transitioning he often heard, “He’s so girly. He’s so feminine.” After the surgery, whenever [he] wanted to feel like a woman or behave like a woman, everybody would say “look, she’s like a man. She’s manly.” This phenomenon can readily be applied to children who may have been considered like the other sex prior to living akin to that sex, but become seemingly less like the other sex when attempting to assume that role. The very fact that they are attempting to live as the other gender may very well increase the dysphoria that assuming such a role is meant to lessen. Is it a wonder that 100% of the children that comprised this cohort chose to go on to cross-sex hormones?
The gender specialists promoting these studies want us to believe that the use of hormone blockers provides extra time without the stressful development of secondary sexual characteristics. They’d like us to believe that the children are being given a sort of “time-out” to consider their choices and become more mature before committing to irreversible changes, but is that really the case? The hormones required for adolescent brain reorganization and development are not released when a child has received GnRh agonists. Physical development typical for teenagers is prevented, setting the children even farther apart from their peers, and sexual and romantic involvements –a key factor in desistance –are avoided.
Ultimately, 100% of the children who chose to utilize hormone blockers in this study went on to fully transition. In fact, virtually all children inducted for such therapy demonstrate 100% persistence rates despite that fact that even today, major proponents of this therapy (such as Johanna Olson-Kennedy and Robert Garofalo, in their 2016 paper detailing research priorities on gender identity development and biopsychosocial outcomes) acknowledge that “Clinically useful information for predicting individual psychosexual development pathways is lacking.” They do not have reliable information on who will or will not desist. Are we really expected to believe that these hormone blocker advocates are exceptionally lucky in their selection process when they themselves profess such uncertainty and bemoan the lack of adequate research? Or should such absolute rates of persistence be setting off alarm bells to those of us concerned with the practice of funneling children into a pipeline that flows in only one direction: towards lifelong medicalization with unknown long-term consequences?
Because of the extraordinary persistence rates of children infused with hormone blockers, it’s obvious that hormone blockers do not allow these children extra time. The choice to participate in this protocol becomes the decision to transition, because it prevents the aspects of maturation necessary for desistance from ever occurring. The one thing it does do, however, is to make it seem safer to interfere with the children’s natural course of development. Parents are assured that the effects of blockers are reversible, and the moral burden of placing young children in the position of making adult decisions is put aside. As a result, even more children are being swept up by this 21st century version of reparative therapy. Altogether, we will never know the number of children who would have desisted had they been allowed to develop without social and medical intervention. This is a travesty.
As far as the “positive outcomes” this study purports, there are numerous problems. First, in order to understand this study, we must consider the selection process detailed in a previous paper by the same authors. The 70 children chosen for this study were selected from an original cohort of 111 (out of 196 children arriving at the UV hospital seeking treatment for GD) eligible for hormone blockers, after having been “thoroughly screened after a comprehensive psychological evaluation with many sessions over a longer period of time” and found “eligible for puberty suppression and cross-sex hormones.” It was a group chosen on the basis of their likelihood of coping with the transition process. They had “no psychosocial problems interfering with assessment or treatment,” and “adequate” (in the case of this cohort, very high) “family or other support,” and what the researchers described as “good comprehension of the impact of medical interventions.” (We can only guess what that could mean, given the fact that pre-adolescents and adolescents do not have the frontal lobe development to fully project themselves into the future.) Altogether, they seem very unlike the average children and adolescents who are currently being inducted into this process of life-long medicalization either in regard to screening or support and ongoing therapy, which the study notes was provided to them for an average of 6 years “after first presenting at the clinic.”
Fifteen of the cohort of 55 had “some missing data” which we are assured resulted in “no significant differences” on the pre-treatment tests. I think, too, that when considering the outcomes of these children, it would be remiss to ignore the 15 members of the original cohort of 70 who did not participate in follow up: six had not met the one year gender reassignment surgery anniversary for this study and were, therefore, excluded. Two refused to complete the assessment, and two did not return their questionnaires. (Why?) Three had health problems which prevented them from undergoing gender reassignment surgery, one “dropped out of care” (no clarification) and 1 died from complications from surgery. (How does one weigh such a loss against “positive outcomes?”)
Given the fact that all of these children had what is in essence a “gender obsession” since childhood and had been socially transitioned for years, it comes as no surprise that they experienced relief at finally accomplishing their goals. The kids as a whole did overall demonstrate better functioning than at their initial assessment –possibly from the counselling and special attention they were getting –but “it cannot be ruled out that it relates instead or as well to the benefits that accrue from being validated and accepted for treatment.” They were getting what they wanted, after all. Research has shown that gender non-conforming children and adolescents are at higher risk for PTSD due to abuse and bullying because of being different, and the prospect of “fitting in” provided by merely initiating action towards this goal certainly provides a degree of psychological relief- regardless of the actual physical changes that have yet to take place. This is evidenced by the “significant quadratic effect” that commences immediately upon initiation of cross-sex hormones, well before significant physiological effects of the hormones could possibly have occurred.
Would body image and psychological well-being have improved in these children had they been allowed to experience a natural childhood and identity formation without medical intervention? It is well known in the field of child development that children go through a period of significant peer gender enforcement which corresponds with their concrete thinking and familial socialization which certainly affects the self-image of those who fail to conform. This rigidity begins to relax at around 8 to 10 years –after some of the children in this study have already been socially transitioned due to the discomfort this rigidity has created. Would they have come to a more nuanced understanding of gender roles had they made it past this stage? We –and they –will never know. Logically, children have been shown to be more accepted by members of the sex with which they share interests, rather than those whose similarities are based solely on sex, and gender enforcement prior to adolescence tends to be enacted by members of the same sex. Is it any wonder that children tend to “identify” with those who seemingly accept them and share common interests? Would a more mature understanding of abstract concepts assist them in accepting their own bodies without conforming to artificial gender roles as it did for many of us who matured without the alluring possibility of appearing to actually change sex?
As adolescence progresses, criticism is most likely directed by male peers who are not known for impulse control or empathy. Certainly those of us who have been on the receiving end of such mockery can attest to the resulting social stigma and humiliations we suffered in light of it due to our vulnerability at that age and the fact that we were insecure in our own identities and lacking the self-assurance that maturity brings. It has been demonstrated that peer and social disapproval for gender non-conformity peaks in the adolescent years and gradually decreases throughout young adulthood and adulthood. Not only do we mature, but the peers responsible for the harassment mature, as well. The insults decrease. As gay rights activists in the past often said, in an attempt to help bullied gay and lesbian children, “it really does get better.”
Unfortunately, none of the children in this study will ever know whether this would have been the case for them, because they left behind in childhood the bodies which they very well may have come to accept in the absence of such criticism. In a study in which there is no viable way to create a control group with which to compare these children, there’s no way of knowing how well they would have fared with just the extensive psychotherapy alone, nor of desistance which may have taken place without these prolonged social and medical interventions which prevented the maturation and social and sexual experience that would have occurred otherwise.
As a gender non-conforming adult, I am occasionally harassed by what are typically groups of two or three teen boys out to impress their friends. Because I am an adult with a fully-formed sense of self, my identity is not threatened as are those of the children who have not yet discovered, through experience and physical development, who they really are or can be. Sadly, the ultimate result of medicalized disruption of identity formation –which would have included their whole selves, bodies included –creates an identity which is dependent upon exogenous substances, conscious gendered performance, and the willingness of others to deny their own perception in order to validate it. As such, the identity is not sustainable without significant degrees of external support, and remains more highly vulnerable to what are perceived as being threats to self when it is not validated. As a result, they may be “at increased risk for the development of narcissistic disorders…as a consequence of the inevitable difficulties they face in having their cross-gender feelings and identities affirmed by others.” (Note: While the linked study is not specifically of children, it seems to me children subjected to early medical transition would also be at some risk of narcissism, given the confluence of factors brought to bear upon them.)
Perhaps the greatest hindrance to accurately critiquing this study is related to the ages and the timing of this so-called “long-term” study: it was completed after only a minimum of one year after gender reassignment surgery. These now young adults had barely any life-ex |
growing non-default reddit of the day
TREND Jan 14, 2014 /r/OutOfTheLoop is trending – Trend thread
20K Dec 6, 2013 /r/OutOfTheLoop hits 20K subscribers
TOP 1K Nov 21, 2013 /r/OutOfTheLoop enters TOP 1K subreddits
TREND Nov 19, 2013 /r/OutOfTheLoop is trending – Trend thread
10K Sep 5, 2013 /r/OutOfTheLoop hits 10K subscribers
TREND Aug 7, 2013 /r/OutOfTheLoop is trending – Trend thread
5K Jul 21, 2013 /r/OutOfTheLoop hits 5K subscribers
TOP 5K Jun 14, 2013 /r/OutOfTheLoop enters TOP 5K subreddits
TOP 10K Jun 12, 2013 /r/OutOfTheLoop enters TOP 10K subreddits
1K Jun 12, 2013 /r/OutOfTheLoop hits 1K subscribersDashcam Captures Final Moments of Oklahoma Fugitive Copyright 2019 Cable News Network/Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Video Video
Police across Oklahoma searched high and low last week for suspected killer Michael Vance, accused of shooting and wounding two police officers and killing two of his relatives.
Officers cornered, shot and killed their man on Sunday, with much of the drama seen and heard in a dramatic police dashcam video:
The loud steady pop of firearms ringing out along a rural road. A white-knuckle and dogged pursuit of the state's most notorious fugitive. The state troopers and Vance trading fire. A dangerous hunt in a dark, eerie and desolate stretch.
The drama ended a week after a rampage started, a crime spree marked by spurts of shootings, stabbings and carjackings that mobilized police of all levels and put a state on edge.
On Tuesday, police from federal, state, county and local agencies gathered at a press conference to punctuate the pride in their work and cooperation, and display the visual coup de grace to news reporters.
"Michael Vance was our worst-case scenario," said Michael C. Thompson, commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. "It took all of us working together to bring this rampage to an end."
A gunfight caught on a dashcam
As authorities learned of Vance's possible location on Sunday, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Col. Rick Adams, speaking Tuesday before reporters, said police put a plan in place, setting up a command post and contacting local enforcement.
"This was the strongest lead we had at this point. We decided we were going to dig in until we found him or had evidence that he had left," Adams said.
Dewey County Sheriff Clay Sander came across Vance around 9:47 p.m. He had been driving a pickup truck dragging a tow chain. Sander stopped him because he was concerned about sparks possibly causing a grass fire.
Vance shot the sheriff, and Sander was able to call in a description of the truck and get assistance, Adams said.
A helicopter caught sight of Vance's vehicle and a roadblock was set up. Vance barreled through the roadblock and came to a stop, trading fire with three troopers, as seen in a helicopter video.
Troopers pursued him and gunfire was hot and heavy for a time. The dashcam showed the view ahead and the troopers armed with an AR-15-type weapons.
Five troopers engaged Vance after he stopped his truck and used it as cover. Wielding an AK-47, he emptied two 30-round magazines, officials said.
"Vance was a determined, violent criminal with no regard for public safety or human life. He had nothing to lose," Thompson said. "He could have ended this at any time, peacefully, and he chose not to."
Three arrested for aiding Vance
Three people have been arrested and accused of helping Vance. Danny Roach, April Marie Harden and Reginald Moore, each of whom faces two counts of accessory to murder.
Roach told police he let Vance in his house and gave him bandages to treat his wounds, Oklahoma City Sheriff John Whetsel said Monday.
Roach also gave Vance ammunition and traded guns with him, Whetsel said, providing him with an AK-47 with a short barrel to give him a "better tactical advantage."
According to affidavits, Harden provided bandaging for Vance's gunshot wounds, and she and Roach called Moore to seek his permission to give Vance an AK-47. Moore "helped orchestrate and approved the transaction" that equipped Vance with a weapon used in shootings during the reported rampage.
Roach and Moore also face two counts of shooting with intent to kill, and Roach is also charged with possession of a firearm.
Roach was arrested Saturday and charged on Monday, Whetsel said. CNN affiliate KFOR reported that Harden was arrested late Monday and Moore turned himself in.
Police believe the two men worked with Vance on a construction job and the woman was a friend of Vance's, Whetsel said at the Tuesday press conference.
On the run for a week
Vance, 38, had been on the run since October 23, the day he is accused of shooting and wounding two Wellston, Oklahoma, police officers, and killing two relatives -- an uncle and an aunt -- Robert and Valerie Kay Wilkson, in Luther, near Oklahoma City.
The Wilksons were stabbed, and Robert Wilkson was also shot. Based on the stab wounds, the killer is believed to have tried to behead Wilkson and dismember his wife.
He also allegedly shot a woman while trying to steal a Lincoln Town Car. After wounding the officers, Vance appeared on Facebook Live, bragging about his exploits.
During the Tuesday press conference, Wellston Police Chief Tim Estes said one of the two officers, Shawn Stewart, is making a slow recovery; it will be about three months before he gets back. The other, Jim Hampton is making a swift recovery, Estes said.
Roach told police that Vance visited his home after the killings in Luther, Whetsel said. Vance directed Roach to his Facebook page and pointed out his broadcasts.
Vance described cutting the "wrong side" of the female victim's neck, saying he had to cut the other side, Whetsel said. Vance also told Roach that he killed another woman because she lied to him, the sheriff said, without providing further detail.
At one point, a police car drove by Roach's home and he served as lookout for Vance, Whetsel said.
Child sex abuse allegations
Vance was incensed after he was arrested in July on accusations of child sexual assault, another uncle told CNN affiliate KFOR. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said Vance had been recently released from jail. Whetsel said Monday he had "no idea" whether his pending charges had anything to do with the rampage.We're taking the first look at a concept for a customer racing vehicle that complies with the Touringcar Racer International Series. It's based on the production Golf, and although it looks much like the 300 horsepower R model, all the major components have been changed.Under the bonnet is a 2-liter turbo engine with direct fuel injection that delivers 300 hp and 410 Nm of torque. It's been developed with help from SEAT, who had extensive experience from the Leon Cup Racer.Just like on the Golf R, the power is delivered through a 6-speed DSG gearbox. However, only the front wheels benefit from this because that's just how things roll in the TRC. Hiding behind the wider fenders are broad tracks and race-tuned suspension.Extensive changes were also made to the bodywork, including cutting an enormous vent in the hood and installing a wing on the back. The cabin has been stripped out to make room for an OMP racing seat and a roll cage.The yet unnamed Golf racing car will be tested under competitive conditions this weekend in Spielberg, Austria. Volkswagen hopes to have everything ready and FIA-homologated by the 2016 season.Since you've probably never heard of the Touringcar Racer International Series, we thought it would be a good idea to mention what it's like. Currently, the field is made of the SEAT Leon that was created by the SEAT Sport division. There are also some teams that use the Audi TT or the Honda Civic. A Subaru WRX STI is currently under development.CLOSE USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes looks at the three biggest story lines heading into this week's games. USA TODAY Sports
Could QB Sam Bradford be ready to make his Vikings debut Sunday night? (Photo11: Mark Zaleski, AP)
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The questions and answers bounced rapidly between Sam Bradford and Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach Scott Turner on Thursday, walking off the practice field and into the weight room as they crammed in one last lesson before lunch.
Every second counts when you acquire a quarterback in early September to replace your injured starter, then try to accelerate a process that normally takes months to not only learn the offense, but get a feel for operating it and throwing to unfamiliar players. That’s why Bradford is getting in extra throws during special teams periods and after practice. That’s why he’s calling and texting Turner late into the night after another section of the game plan arrives on his iPad.
It’d be a big upset if Bradford’s first start for the Vikings doesn’t come Sunday night against the rival Green Bay Packers. But this is bigger than one game. Bradford has to get prepared to play a season for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, and time isn’t on his side.
“As you’re learning the game plan, he’s also learning the foundation (of the offense),” Turner told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. “I would spend a lot of extra time with him explaining to him exactly what everything was in detail so he understood, ‘Hey, why do we call this this? What’s our read on this? What’s our drop on this?’ And then if you learn it by concept, it can carry over into different plays or different weeks or different formations with the same play.”
Normally, that’s ingrained going back to the early phases of the offseason program, as quarterbacks spend time in the classroom as well as on the field, throwing thousands of balls to different players in various settings. During the regular season, the Vikings only run approximately 40 plays in a team setting on Wednesdays and Thursdays and around 30 on Fridays.
Walkthroughs provide the visual, but not the timing. Throwing against air helps, but it’s nothing like working against a defense. So in Bradford’s situation, Turner acknowledges, “You’ve got to run the plays the way that they’re drawn up.” That's because there aren’t enough reps at this point for a quarterback to know that if he waits a split-second longer, a certain receiver is going to come open on a route they’ve practiced countless times.
“Everyone’s aware of the nuances that we have in this offense,” tight end Kyle Rudolph said. “Not only knowing what a guy has on what play but trusting that that guy is going to win and be in the spot for you — that’s stuff that you develop over the course of years, and we’re trying to do it over a couple weeks.”
The Vikings felt they were building it with third-year pro Teddy Bridgewater, who brought his receivers to Florida for extra work in the offseason. But his major knee injury before the preseason finale triggered the decision to trade a first-round draft pick and change to the Philadelphia Eagles for Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft on Sept. 3.
Turner started that night with the basics — formations, cadence, etc. — and then moved straight to the game plan for the opener against the Tennessee Titans, since Bradford, 28, would be one injury away from ending up on the field.
“You don’t have to teach him every single thing,” said Turner. “If you’re not going to run it, why spend the time on it?”
Shaun Hill, the veteran backup, played well enough for the Vikings to leave Tennessee with a 25-16 win. But they didn’t score an offensive touchdown, and the run game struggled as the Titans predictably stacked the box to stop star tailback Adrian Peterson, knowing Hill’s limitations in downfield passing — two of the reasons to believe Bradford will start in Week 2, even though head coach Mike Zimmer has refused to say so publicly.
This week, all the quarterbacks have been coming early for extra meetings, Turner said. They started at 7 a.m. Thursday, breaking down the Packers’ third-down defense, and Bradford’s work wasn’t expected to be done until well into the evening, after coaches had finalized the red-zone plan they’ll practice Friday.
“To his credit, too, he’s a really smart guy and he’s caught on fast,” said Turner, a former college quarterback and the son of Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner, while praising Bradford.
“He’s spent the extra time. You can tell he’s constantly looking at it even when he’s not here. And you listen to him call the plays — you’d think he’d been here forever.”
It still hasn’t been that long, though, even for a quarterback who has grown as accustomed to changing systems as Bradford over six injury-riddled seasons in St. Louis and Philadelphia.
“Probably where I learned the most was last week on the practice field,” Bradford said Wednesday, “just getting live reps, getting out there, running the plays, calling it in the huddle, getting to the line, going through the calls, hearing the communication.”
By Sunday, Bradford will have had all of 15 days to work on that. But the process will continue far beyond that.
“There’s a fine line, because you want to give him as much information as possible, but you don’t want to overwhelm him, either. He’s got to be able to function,” Turner said.
“We could have a million great ideas, but if he can’t run them, it doesn’t matter.”
Tom's top 10
(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Seattle Seahawks: Earl Thomas’ off game aside, the defense was in midseason form vs. Dolphins.
2. (2) New England Patriots: Beating Arizona said a lot. Now, three straight at home before Brady’s back.
3. (4) Pittsburgh Steelers: They hung 38 on Washington with Le’Veon Bell suspended. So potent.
4. (5) Green Bay Packers: No one's better than Aaron Rodgers, but having Jordy Nelson back helps.
5. (6) Denver Broncos: Don’t overlook the impact a healthy C.J. Anderson makes for that offense.
6. (3) Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton will be fine. Young cornerbacks need to grow up quickly.
7. (8) Cincinnati Bengals: After eating up Darrelle Revis, is A.J. Green headed for a career year?
8. (7) Arizona Cardinals: The sky isn’t falling. But they should be better than they were in the opener.
9. (9) Oakland Raiders: Rousing win at New Orleans covered up uninspiring debut for new-look D.
10. (10) Minnesota Vikings: Run game struggled in opener last year, too. O-line needs time to jell.
***
Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero
PHOTOS: Week 2 watchability rankingsCopyright by KOIN - All rights reserved One person was shot and killed at Holladay Park in Northeast Portland, April 11, 2017. (KOIN)
Copyright by KOIN - All rights reserved One person was shot and killed at Holladay Park in Northeast Portland, April 11, 2017. (KOIN)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – New information about the shooting of a 17-year-old Shawn Scott Jr. in Holladay Park last week is being released after two people involved in his murder appeared in court.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed on Monday, homicide detectives reviewed surveillance video taken from a business near Holladay Park. The video was reported April 11.
The video, according to court records, shows 17-year-old Malique James Kennerly-Hicks "and others" in Holladay Park.
Kennerly-Hicks and the others approached 17-year-old Shawn Scott Jr. inside the park, just north of the westbound TriMet MAX platform, according to court documents and police.
One of the people with Kennerly-Hicks, 18-year-old Kole Tabian Jones, pulled out a gun and pointed it at Scott.
Kennerly-Hicks "puffed up, trying to intimidate the victim," according to court documents. Scott was fatally shot.
Kennerly-Hicks admitted that he was at Holladay Park the day the shooting and told homicide detectives that he "planned to rob the victim of his belt."
Police arrested Kennerly-Hicks on Friday at 16405 East Burnside at the Trymax Apartments. He is charged with one count of first-degree robbery and is being held at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center. KOIN 6 News is identifying him because he is charged as an adult under Ballot Measure 11.
Jones appeared in court on Monday as well. He is charged with one count of murder with a firearm and first-degree robbery with a firearm.
When Jones was arrested on Friday near the intersection of East Burnside and Southeast 165th in Gresham, police recovered a firearm, KOIN 6 News has confirmed.
Jones, who was born in Minnesota, also has a pending case in Multnomah County for second-degree theft. Records show 3 separate warrants were issued for his arrest after he failed to show up for court.
Jones and Kennerly-Hicks are scheduled to appear back in court later this month.
Police tell us their investigation remains ongoing and ask that anyone with information on the case call 503.823.0400.There has been so many things to react to lately that I have not been able to do another one of these articles. This is the third article in the series. For this one I will be explaining our views on war. Note that trade wars are a subset of war and will follow the general views I outline here. I will be devoting another Alt-Right View article to trade wars at a later date.
The Alt-right believes that the general state of things should be peace. War is a terrible thing that must only be entered into as a last resort and only for the national interest. Once war is entered into everything must be done to return things to the state of peace as fast as possible without compromising the national interest. Any deviation from this, no matter how good intentioned, causes wars to last longer than it should and more wars to start.
War For National Interest
Morality has no place in determining whether or not to enter war. If the other regimes are evil then they are and it is the duty of the people of that regime to put a stop to it. Now when they inevitably do things to impact our national interests then that is when we believe that we should enter war. Take North Korea for example. If they want to abuse their own citizens then that is up to them. If they want to threaten some of our protectorates like South Korea then that is when our national interest comes into play.
As long as it serves our national interest then wars for territory are ok. The American Indian war and Mexican American war are both viewed negatively today. Yet if we were to undo those wars and give the states that we took back to their original owners, states like Florida, Texas, and California, the standard of living of all Americans would drop and we would be much weaker as a nation.
Does this create a situation where we have a double standard where we are fine with a war for territory when we do it like when we fought Mexico for Texas and California yet we are not fine when Russia tries to absorb another country? Yes! Things that work out in the national interest of other countries may not work out in ours. The most important thing is to put America first. If we are able to find areas where both our interests are served then that is great.
War Should Be Terrible So We Can Return To Peace
Any attempt to pervert war makes it more frequent and makes it harder for everyone to return to peace. When you place restrictions on war and sanitize it for everyone it makes countries more likely to select war as the first option and it makes it more likely for the beaten side to keep on fighting. War should be horrible. Everyone should be so afraid of war that it should be kept as the last resort. The more that you sanitize war the more it becomes a viable option.
In this case the Geneva convention causes more harm than good. If terrorists know that their homes will not be targeted or they will not be tortured then they are more likely to continue the fight and more likely to take up the fight in the first place. If nations know that their residential districts will not be targeted and the other side will not use chemical weapons then there are less consequences for entering war. The best example of this is the war on terror. America and other countries of the west play by the rules of the Geneva convention and as a result the war against the terrorist organizations has been going on for 15 years. A generation of people would have grown up without knowing a country at peace. What is worse is that there is no end in sight.
We believe that there should be no limits in war. Both sides should bring to bear whatever force it can. When people know that to declare war is to enter an arena where no holds are barred and you can lose your entire country and family then they will be more hesitant to declare it. People would also be more hesitant to stay in a losing battle as they know that the other side will not hesitate to inflict more damage on them. The best example of this is world war 2. A war much much greater in scope than the war against terrorist organizations and it was resolved in 5 years.
The United States as a nation has a much greater capability to inflict pain on its adversaries. We also pay for this ability by our massive defense budget. We should use this to our advantage instead of letting our enemies disarm us with their tears.
AdvertisementsRaheem Sterling says he is only going to get better after signing a new five-year deal at Liverpool.
Sterling, who was previously on a £2,000-per week youth contract, will see his earnings initially jump to around £30,000-per-week.
The 18-year-old won his first England cap this season and established himself in manager Brendan Rodgers's team.
Sterling factfile Born on 8 December 1994 in Kingston, Jamaica
Joins QPR youth academy at the age of 10
Moves to Liverpool in February 2010
Makes his senior debut on 24 March 2012 as a substitute in a league match against Wigan Athletic
Given his first start in the Premier League on 26 August as Liverpool draw 2-2 draw at home to Manchester City
Makes full England debut on 14 November 2012 in friendly against Sweden
"There's a lot more to be done. As the manager has said, I haven't begun yet," Sterling said.
"It's every 18-year-old's dream. I'm just really grateful to be at such a big club like this," he told the club website.
"Hopefully I can kick on after the new year and try to do my best for the team and the football club."
Manager Brendan Rodgers did warn Sterling that he must continue to improve.
"I always congratulate players when they sign a new contract and then I warn them," he said.
"I tell them they need to decide after this contract whether there is going to be another contract at one of the biggest clubs in the world, or whether it will be at a different level.
"There is a lot of development and a lot of nurturing to go yet."
Sterling's earnings will rise over the course of the deal to bring him in line with a number of senior players whose place the teenager has taken.
The former QPR trainee turned 18 earlier this month and Rodgers had repeatedly stressed his fear that too much, too soon might harm the player's development.
His contract situation was complicated by the lucrative salaries earned by Joe Cole, who earns more than £100,000-a-week, and Stewart Downing, who earns about £60,000-per-week, despite not being regulars in the Liverpool first team.The Houston Texans took another step closer to the NFL season with Bill O'Brien and his staff opening up rookie mini-camp. The rookie camp consisted of 34 players under contract with 11 attending under a tryout basis.
Also the Texans are allowed to have 1st year players participate in the camp and currently who are on the roster who include Andy Cruse, Ez Nwachukwu, Toben Opurum and Keith Browner.
The rookies are getting used to their surroundings and all the rookies know exactly what O'Brien wants from them, keep quiet and get to work. That is exactly what the rookies did when they hit the field.
The Rundown
Tom Savage
-Tom Savage took the field with the most anticipation than majority of the rookie class. To be honest the expectations should be tempered regarding Savage, but his first NFL practice was impressive to watch. Savage has the strongest arm that the Texans have seen in a long time and his ability to get to point A to point B with his throwing motion allows him to throw passes with velocity and in a hurry. His ability to drive the ball is impressive and he throws a "heavy" ball. Wide receivers learned the hard way trying to catch the football and there is an audible pop when Savage's passes hit receivers hands.
He is still rough around the edges and there is still a learning curve but he made some NFL type throws today on the field. A deep ball down the left sideline to a streaking wide receiver, a back shoulder throw making the receiver adjust, but most impressive were his throws from the far hash across the field to receivers running out routes to the boundary. There was more good than bad when Savage threw the ball and there were maybe a handful of passes that hit the ground the entire day.
Savage took control of the huddle and was already adjusting his formations on the field and it did not look like it was Savage's first NFL practice. Today was a positive step for the rookie quarterback.
Jadeveon Clowney
- The realization that Jadeveon Clowney is a special player was evident today, and seeing him in person did his college film little justice. Clowney can cover ground in a hurry when he is on the field and his athleticism stands out especially when he was asked to drop into coverage. He is still learning to cover in space, but his closing speed is impressive to watch for his size.
Linebacker Coach Mike Vrabel was constantly working with Clowney at his position and concentrating on the little things to make him a better player. It will be interesting to see him coming off the edge, but Clowney's gifts on the field are not matched by anyone on the roster at the moment, veteran or rookie.
- Tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz looks the part of NFL tightend, especially when you stand next to him. There is no tightened like him on the roster and he makes the position group a diverse one with his combination of size and speed. Fiedorowicz showed some nice pass catching skills despite not being used like that at Iowa.
- The Texans are looking hard at the slot receiver position with three sub 6-0 wide receiver in camp at the moment. Nathan Slaughter (5-10), Anthony McClung (6-0) and Travis Labhart (5-9) are all pushing for a spot on the team and all offer something different in regards to the position.
Labhart was the stand out of the group and despite his small frame, he impressed with his athleticism and movement in traffic. Not to mention he catches the football away from his body as a pure hands catcher. He will make noise when training camp rolls around and a good chance the fan base will get behind the home state kid.
- Inside linebacker Max Bullough seems to have cut some weight from Michigan State and looks much better in terms of movement on the field. It is hard to say how an inside linebacker will be in shorts and shirt without real contact, but he has worked hard during the offseason to be signed by a team. Bullough is in the right spot to make a NFL roster especially with the thin depth at inside linebacker.
Marcus Williams
- Cornerback Marcus Williams is one to watch and it is evident his ability to track the ball in the air. In drills he catches the ball easily at the high point and can move in an instant when he plants and goes. Williams struggles some in coverage but he made up for it with good technique in coverage down the field. He has the overall ability to put his name in the hat to make this team as the summer progresses.
- Tight end Anthony Denham struggled today with the idea on trying to have to block at the NFL level. At Utah he was slot threat and in the NFL his a "tweener" with his 6-4 and 235 lbs. frame. His pass catching ability is his strong point, but finding his true position could be another story.
- New Texans rookie running back Alfred Blue is taller and leaner than we expected. He has better hands out of the backfield than most and catches like a wide receiver. He has a nice one cut and get up field that most are accustomed to here in Houston. Blue is an all around running back which makes him a viable asset moving forward.
- Guard Xavier Su'a-Filo is a mammoth of an offensive lineman especially on his bottom half of his body. He has good feet for his size and he has some nice pop with his hands in pass protection. There was talk about Su'a-Filo on playing tackle, but his frame is all about a guard at the NFL level. He is looking to make his mark to become a starter on the Texans offensive line.
The following players are here on a tryout basis
Doug Peete, OLB, South Dakota State
Lacoltan Bester, WR, Oklahoma
Nick Addison, S, Bethune-Cookman
Jeffery Godfrey, WR, Central Florida
Junior Mertile, CB, Florida International
Ian Thompson, TE, Louisana-Lafayetter
Theo Alexander, S, Southeastern Louisiana
Chris Maikranz, LS, Lamar
Craig Sanders, DE, Auburn
Kjelby Oiland, C, Montana
Julius Warmsley, NT, TulanePhoto provided by venue's Facebook Page
We first told you about Live at The Ludlow Garage back in August. It seems that the iconic venue is set to open on October 29 with Vanessa Carlton!
Scott Crawford is the owner of Live at the Ludlow Garage as well as the restaurant Olives on Ludlow. The restaurant is now closed in order to begin the renovations on the basement space to become Live at the Ludlow Garage. The name comes from the venue ran by the legendary Jim Tarbell back in the late 60’s until the early 70’s. Acts such as Santana and Humble Pie played there. The Allman Brothers Band recorded their album, Live at Ludlow Garage: 1970 there.
The venues capacity is set at 262 according to this Cincinnati Business Courier article. Scott also revealed that the venue will serve drinks/food to concert goers in their seats in this intimate space. The restauraunt upstairs will remain open with a capacity of 80.
Here are the confirmed shows as of this moment:
10/29: Vanessa Carlton
10/30: Matisyahu
11/1: Howie Day
11/28: Lee Dewyze
5/20: Tom Rush
According to the venue's Facebook Page the upstairs of the venue is finished. Below is a photo of the finished upstairs and renderings of what the downstairs will look like:by Don Nicoloff April 2007 Idaho Observer from TheIdahoObserver Website
Part 1 Deathbed confessions photos support claims that George H. Scherf(f), Jr., was the 41st U.S. president According to Otto Skorzeny, pictured is the Scherff family and a few friends (circa 1938). Holding "Mother" Scherff's hand at left is Martin Bormann. In front is Reinhardt Gehlen. In back is Joseph Mengele and to his right is Skorzeny as a young man. At center right (in the German navy uniform) is George H. Scherff, Jr. and his father George H. Scherff, Sr. Bormann became Hitler's second in command. Reinhardt Gehlen was a chief SS officer and assassin who was smuggled out of Germany under Operation Paperclip. Skorzeny was Hitler's bodyguard and SS spy/assassin who came to the U.S. after the war under Project Paperclip. Skorzeny and GHW Bush were instrumental in merging Nazi (SS) intelligence with the OSI to form the CIA with "Wild Bill" Donovan and Allen Dulles. These guys were also part of CIA mind control experiments such as MK-ULTRA. SS officer and physician Joseph Mengele, the notoriously sadistic "Angel of Death" of Auschwitz, escaped Germany to South America after the war. George H. Scherff, Jr., became the 41st President of the United States as GHW Bush and George H. Scherff, Sr., was Nicola Tesla's "trusted assistant." What you are about to read is another step beyond research pioneered in the early 90s by author/historian Webster Tarpley based largely on deathbed "clues" provided by former Hitler bodyguard Otto Skorzeny and his box of photographs. Since Skorzeny's death in 1999, the various leads he provided have been followed up and tend to support what, at first blush, would appear to be the unbelievable rantings of an embittered old man.. What remains constant as we pore through publicly available official records, private correspondence, memoirs, newspaper articles, photos and other "clues" is that Bush family records (the ones that exist) are a puzzle palace of inconsistencies and curiosities. Since it is a congressionally established fact that Prescott Bush was in business with the Nazis during WWII, we can safely say that the Bush/Nazi connection existed. Who are the Bushes?
How did they get connected with the Nazis?
Is the connection still alive through U.S. presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush? The answers are not as literal as we would like them to be. But we have the testimony of Otto Skorzeny and his photos - especially the one above. So, here we go - the first installment of an investigation that points to a curious conclusion: The "Bush" family was created to destroy America.
What we are taught about history in American schools is not history, but a fairy tale. Better yet, it is propaganda designed to hoodwink an unsuspecting society about its true heritage and the treasonous acts and sabotage that were conceived in order to bring about a New World Order. You are about to learn the real identities of those who have infiltrated your nation on behalf of secret societies intent on bringing about the total slavery of mankind. In the past, others have written about the numerous conspiracies to control natural resources, energy, food and our sovereign right to live on planet Earth - not as slaves of a wealthy few - but as free men, women, and children exercising the free will given to them by God.
"Research" is the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. This is important research. Read it carefully, with an open mind. Considering the use of fluorides (sodium fluoride) in drinking water and toothpaste, you may already be in denial. Fluorides (we are told) are for the prevention of tooth decay. You, the reader, can decide if they really work. The real reason they are added to your drinking water and toothpaste is to cause you to become psychologically and physically placid, and therefore, apathetic.
A thought problem
Imagine you were a member of a secret organization whose sole agenda was to control the entire planet. If your plan was to accomplish this goal without being perceived by your intended victims, discretion would be paramount. Your organization would devise a series of historical events that, on the surface, would appear to be everyday, happenstance occurrences (natural disasters, man-made diseases, acts of murder, assassination, terror, manipulation of money and energy supplies, contamination of foods, pollution of natural resources, and war). The timing of these events would require patience, careful planning, cooperation from others in positions of trust, stealth and deceit. In essence, the whole mission must derive its power through deception and concealment and must have a master plan.
Who were the designers of this master plan? Follow along as we connect the dots.
The Master Plan - Arrival of the Bankers
At the turn of the 20th century, a plan to slowly take over the government of the United States began to unfold. Many works have been written about the Nazi machine that instigated two world wars, though few have traced the footsteps of the foreign financiers and the actors we prefer to call "politicians."
A brief glance at shipping records, passenger manifests, and financial transactions on Wall Street indicates a pattern of deception which was masterminded by this same machine. The level of cooperation from government agencies and their elected officials was not only disgraceful, but blatantly treasonous.
In his book, " The Creature From Jekyll Island," [1] author G. Edward Griffin described the secret meetings which created the Federal Reserve in 1913. The architect of the plan, Paul M. Warburg, was a representative of the Rothschild banks in England and France and his brother Felix headed the Warburg banks in Germany and the Netherlands. Of significance is the fact that the first "official" media report about the Federal Reserve occurred three years later. In "Leslie's Weekly," [2] B.C. Forbes described the secret meeting between Republican Senator Nelson W. Aldrich and six of the most powerful bankers in the world. That this meeting had to be conducted in a secret, clandestine island location indicates the level of deception, concealment - and treason - at work.
Paul Warburg
That Paul Warburg, a German national, spoke English well enough to craft a financial document (a volume consisting of 1,750 pages) resulting in the Federal Reserve Act designed to control the finances of the United States (from Europe) was no small feat. Of particular interest was how Warburg was able to establish these important connections prior to his arrival in the U.S. in 1913 and then orchestrate this financial coup. Warburg had to have known his co-conspirators before coming to America.
The first official record of Paul Warburg's trip to the U.S. appeared in the Kaiser Wilhelm II passenger manifest, upon arrival at Ellis Island, October 13, |
has won three World Series this decade suddenly found itself in last place in 2017. The Giants aren't satisfied with that, and they've got some upgrades in mind. More »The qualifiers have come to a close, and we now have a full roster for the ESL One Cologne 2014 CS:GO Championship! Click here to see the full list of participating teams.
Six top European teams qualify
The best European teams emerged from last weekend’s qualifiers. Newcomers London Conspiracy and dAT team are joined by Natus Vincere, Copenhagen Wolves, Titan and Epsilon (formerly Clan-Mystik). Congratulations to Titan and Epsilon for qualifying undefeated.
Wolf to represent India
Also joining us in Cologne: the winners of the Indian qualifier, Wolf. As a team, this will be Wolf’s first entry into a major CS:GO tournament.
With only two weeks until Cologne, these 16 teams will make their final preparations to fight for their share of the $250,000 prize pool. Follow the latest news, read interviews and more on the ESL One website.The news that a popular video game designer had withdrawn her company from the PAX East convention, the giant gathering that is scheduled to begin at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on Friday, due to death threats made against her, and her fear of a lack of adequate security, was disturbing on a number of fronts. For one, death threats are a serious crime — the convention center says it has notified Boston Police. But the threats against the designer, Brianna Wu, of the Boston video game studio Giant Spacekat, are not isolated events. Rather, they are only the latest in a series of specific threats that have been made against women in the gaming community and reflect broader issues regarding diversity in a formerly small subculture of enthusiasts that has now become a broad mainstream phenomenon. As a major force in that culture, PAX East’s organizers need to do more to root out the misogyny that female fans and designers so often encounter.
Gaming is huge — a more than $90-billion industry on a par with TV and movies. PAX East is just one of a several conventions presented by the creators of Penny Arcade, a webcomic that has routinely logged 3.5 million views a day. The first PAX (for Penny Arcade Expo), held in Bellevue, Wash., drew 3,500 people. The events now take place all over the world and draw anywhere from 50,000 to 70,000 participants. PAX East began at the Hynes Convention Center in 2010 before moving to the larger Seaport District venue in 2011. PAX was unique when it began, in that instead of being a trade convention exclusive to video game companies, designers, and the press, it was fan-centered. With attendees costumed as various video game characters, it took on a festival-like atmosphere that was welcoming and inclusive, and there were none of the scantily clad “booth babe” street teams of more mainstream commercial events. For a lot of gamers, as the Boston writer Maddy Myers put it in the Boston Phoenix, “No matter how far outside the norm you were, you could fit in here.” It was true of both the PAX, and the gaming community at large.
But that community has always included a sizable contingent of young men attracted by violent action and buxom female characters. As reported in the Globe by Callum Borchers and Dennis Keohane, gaming culture became a place where many of the male players preferred “a frat-house environment where women appear only as pixelated sex objects.” Writers also began to note that the game designers and developers were mostly white males.
That casual gender bias took an ugly turn in August 2014 amid accusations, later shown to be unfounded, that a game designer had been romantically involved with a journalist who had reviewed her game. The designer received threats of violence, and the incident became known online under the Twitter hashtag Gamergate. Originally presented as a forum for discussions of journalistic ethics, it soon devolved into hate-filled rants directed against female designers and writers, fuelling online threats of rape and murder, with the subject’s home addresses included. Wu was among those threatened, and at one point moved out of her house in fear for her life. Last October, the feminist cultural critic Anita Sarkessian, a frequent writer about gaming culture, cancelled a planned speech at Utah State University because of an e-mail she received that threatened mayhem: “This will be the deadliest school shooting in American history, and I’m giving you a chance to stop it.” In a painfully ironic twist for this moment in American history, as reported in The New York Times, campus police told Sarkessian that, under Utah law, they could not prevent people with guns from attending her talk.
Amid this turmoil, there are some signs that video game culture is changing. This year’s PAX East includes panel discussions on transgender characters and online bullying. And although Wu has withdrawn her company’s exhibit because of fear for the safety of her employees, she herself is appearing on a panel about censorship.
In a statement on her Web site, she said that the event’s staff and unpaid volunteers “are awesome.” And she also said that PAX East, despite the threats, and an incident last year in which one of her staff members was groped, is “a safe event in general for people.”
But she also enumerated scores of threats sent to her over the past five months via e-mail and social media, often targeting her by name: “The most frightening ones say who, what, where, and why I will be murdered.”
The death threats are only the latest in a series of specific threats that have been made against women in the video game community.
Penny Arcade and PAX East have an opportunity to take an important public stand against mistreatment of women in gaming. Thus far, their only public response to Wu’s concerns has been to assure fans that “the safety of our attendees, panelists, and exhibitors is the number one priority for PAX.” And yes, plainclothes and uniformed security will patrol PAX East. But more needs to be done. Video games are now a gargantuan industry with broad cultural influence, and Penny Arcade and PAX are at its epicenter. The organizers can change the tone of that culture and prevent it from being hijacked by a minority of post-adolescent extremists. They can issue a statement of zero tolerance for harassment and threats of any kind and post it online and at the event. The creators of Penny Arcade and organizers of PAX — writer Jerry Holkins and illustrator Mike Krahulik — have to take responsibility for the world they’ve helped create.
Related:NEW YORK (Fortune) -- Rupert Murdoch has made the former owners The Wall Street Journal look foolish.
On Tuesday, a key Murdoch deputy, Robert Thomson, was installed as the Journal's highest-ranking editor - just weeks after his predecessor, Marcus Brauchli, was unceremoniously nudged out.
The moves suggest that Murdoch has failed to live up to a key condition imposed by the Bancroft family, the former controlling shareholders of Journal parent Dow Jones, when it sold him the paper last December for $5 billion: To allow a special committee to help guard the Journal's editorial independence by giving it a voice in the hiring and firing of the paper's top editors.
As the Brauchli-Thomson switch shows, Murdoch has turned that approval process into a farce. No doubt we'll hear shortly from some media watchers, maybe even a Bancroft or two, about how Murdoch has reneged on his promise and how selling the Journal, one of the world's top newspapers, was a mistake.
But don't feel bad for the Bancrofts. They deserve this. Truth is, they were sub-par owners.
The Bancrofts' big mistake is that they liked to promote the Journal's top editors to the job of Dow Jones CEO. This pattern guaranteed that the Journal remained a fine paper, but not a great company. During the 15 year reign of editor-turned-CEO Peter Kann, for instance, Dow Jones' total return to shareholders was 109%. By comparison, the New York Times Co. (NYT) and the Washington Post Co. (WPO) delivered returns of 228% and 368%, respectively. By the time the Bancrofts replaced Kann in 2006 with a business side guy, the damage was done.
Not surprisingly, the Bancrofts were eager sellers when Murdoch came along. But they felt guilty about taking billions from the company that also owns the New York Post. They wanted to look like good people, too. So they made Murdoch agree to create the special committee. It seems obvious now that the News Corp. (NWS, Fortune 500) chief had every intention of putting his own people in place at the Journal.
He didn't have to wait long. He created a small public relations snafu by neglecting to consult the special committee about Brauchli's resignation, which by all accounts was forced, in April. Journalistic watchdogs harrumphed. So did Bancroft family members. On Tuesday, Les Hinton, Dow Jones's CEO, issued an unusual public mea culpa: "In hindsight, we recognize it would have more been appropriate to have advised the Committee in advance of reaching an agreement with Mr. Brauchli. We have apologized to the Committee members."
But Murdoch didn't make the same mistake twice. He kept the committee in the loop about Thomson's promotion. And guess what? The committee gave the former Times of London editor its blessing - and with it, delivered the message that Murdoch's in charge now. The committee itself noted in an op-ed piece in Wednesday's Journal that it "was advised of this choice in the timely fashion, has considered Mr. Thomson's credentials and had voted to approve the appointment."
So Brauchli's out; Thomson's in. Murdoch must be pleased. The Bancrofts probably feel differently. But it's too late for them to complain now. If they didn't want Murdoch to have his way, they never should have parted with Dow Jones.Good news, Internet! Nerds are in charge of everything! And we have been for at least two-thirds of a decade, since one of these headlines is from 2009:
Nerd movies aren't just No. 1 at the box office, they're every movie at the box office. The biggest TV shows in the world are either fantasies or shows about being a nerd. We have a sitting president who got excited about watching Star Wars with us, and presidential candidates who compared their own candidacy to the Rebel Alliance. We are in charge. Everybody high-fi- nah, fuck it. Everybody Vulcan Salute; say, "May the Force be with you"; and then make a Pokemon joke or something, because it's fine to come out of the Nerd-Closet and frolic through the meadows of relevance while bathing yourself in the warm light of cultural acceptance. For now.
Continue Reading Below Advertisement
Because this won't last forever. Soon, some other cultural entity will overtake us, and everything we love -- the superheroes, the movies based on video games, the gritty reboots of cartoons based on our favorite action heroes -- will fall from favor to niche, then from niche to myth, and then finally fade from existence just like Bing Bong does in Inside Out.
Pixar
Sorry to make you cry like that.
Then future generations will look back on us, and what will they say? What will the legacy of the Era of the Nerd be? I don't know, but I know if we want to be remembered fondly, there are a few things we have to realize. Things like...Donald Trump has plenty of critics in the media, but until Aug. 8, he counted New York Post columnist Andrea Peyser as a fan. (Reuters/Harrison McClary)
Andrea Peyser endorsed Donald Trump less than a week into his candidacy and told "haters" to "man up and deal" when he attacked Megyn Kelly, but the irreverent New York Post columnist wrote Monday that "I can no longer justify calling myself a Trumpkin. I'm done with The Donald."
"Here is a guy with the common touch but the attention span of a flea," Peyser wrote. "He's someone voters would enjoy having a beer with, even though he doesn't drink alcohol. Can you imagine the torture of sharing a Bud Light with Democrat Hillary Clinton? But some of us smitten with his shoot-from-the-lip style have reached our limits."
The effects of endorsements (or unendorsements) are always hard to gauge — if they exist at all. How many people will or will not vote for Trump based solely on what Peyser thinks? Probably not a ton.
[The ever-growing list of Republicans endorsing Hillary Clinton]
But Peyser's reversal is notable in this regard: She previously offered a forceful counter to criticism of Trump's attitude toward women. Any voter — especially any male voter — who wanted to dismiss outrage over his alleged sexism as overzealous political correctness needed only to look to Peyser to find a woman who agreed with their way of thinking. How comforting. But Peyser's stance has shifted.
Here's what she wrote about the Republican presidential nominee's memorable "blood coming out of her wherever" shot at Kelly last summer:
Are women so in need of male protection that we can’t take a remark that may (or may not) rip into our delicate sensibilities? Please. When judging Trump, I would suggest we all man up. Look at his record of hiring, and firing, females. I’ve not heard of him called out for underpaying, overworking, failing to promote or laying hands on women in his employ.... Don’t worry about women. We can take anything Trump dishes out.
This was the sticks-and-stones argument we've heard from many a Trump backer. Quit worrying about the mean things he says and focus on the potential benefits of electing a candidate who, as Peyser put it, "is shaking up the political landscape with his brand of straight talk, unfiltered by political correctness or a politician’s need to take an opinion poll before taking a position."
But in renouncing her support for Trump, Peyser suggested words actually do matter:
When I visited about two months after his lovely wife, Melania, now 46, gave birth to the couple’s son, Barron, now 10, the infamous germophobe boasted that after fathering five children, he’d never changed a diaper. I enthused that Melania, who stood quietly nearby aboard 5-inch stilettos, had lost all her baby weight. Trump corrected me: “She’s almost lost all the baby weight.’’ I was embarrassed for the mother of his youngest kid, who ignored the dig.
What's interesting is that this episode is a decade old. Peyser did not credit some recent incident with altering her opinion of Trump. She has known the real estate mogul acts like this for a long time and was willing to look past it. Not anymore.
Why the change? It might be more appropriate to ask whether Peyser really did change.
"Embracing the presidential aspirations of Donald Trump was, from the start, an exercise in magical thinking," she wrote Monday. "In my heart, I wanted the smack-talking, hair-challenged, self-absorbed New York City billionaire Republican to nail down this baby. But in my head? Not so much."
That sure sounds like someone who saw Trump as a protest candidate and cheered his campaign while taking solace in the back-of-mind belief that he wouldn't actually win. But now Trump is one of two people with a real chance to occupy the White House in January, and Peyser is admitting that his victory — something she said she wanted when it seemed impossible — actually alarms her.
Her column could prompt some readers to consider whether they feel the same way.pragma solidity ^0.4.11; library SafeMath { function mul(uint a, uint b) internal returns (uint) { uint c = a * b; assert(a == 0 || c / a == b); return c; } function div(uint a, uint b) internal returns (uint) { // assert(b > 0); // Solidity automatically throws when dividing by 0 uint c = a / b; // assert(a == b * c + a % b); // There is no case in which this doesn't hold return c; } function sub(uint a, uint b) internal returns (uint) { assert(b <= a); return a - b; } function add(uint a, uint b) internal returns (uint) { uint c = a + b; assert(c >= a); return c; } function max64(uint64 a, uint64 b) internal constant returns (uint64) { return a >= b? a : b; } function min64(uint64 a, uint64 b) internal constant returns (uint64) { return a < b? a : b; } function max256(uint256 a, uint256 b) internal constant returns (uint256) { return a >= b? a : b; } function min256(uint256 a, uint256 b) internal constant returns (uint256) { return a < b? a : b; } function assert(bool assertion) internal { if (!assertion) { throw; } } } contract Ownable { /// @dev `owner` is the only address that can call a function with this /// modifier modifier onlyOwner() { require(msg.sender == owner); _; } address public owner; /// @notice The Constructor assigns the message sender to be `owner` function Ownable() { owner = msg.sender; } address public newOwner; /// @notice `owner` can step down and assign some other address to this role /// @param _newOwner The address of the new owner. function changeOwner(address _newOwner) onlyOwner { newOwner = _newOwner; } function acceptOwnership() { if (msg.sender == newOwner) { owner = newOwner; } } } contract Pausable is Ownable { bool public stopped; event onEmergencyChanged(bool isStopped); modifier stopInEmergency { if (stopped) { throw; } _; } modifier onlyInEmergency { if (!stopped) { throw; } _; } // called by the owner on emergency, triggers stopped state function emergencyStop() external onlyOwner { stopped = true; onEmergencyChanged(stopped); } // called by the owner on end of emergency, returns to normal state function release() external onlyOwner onlyInEmergency { stopped = false; onEmergencyChanged(stopped); } } contract ERC20Basic { function totalSupply() constant returns (uint); function balanceOf(address who) constant returns (uint); function transfer(address to, uint value) returns (bool); event Transfer(address indexed from, address indexed to, uint value); } contract ERC20 is ERC20Basic { mapping(address => uint) balances; function allowance(address owner, address spender) constant returns (uint); function transferFrom(address from, address to, uint value) returns (bool); function approve(address spender, uint value) returns (bool); function approveAndCall(address spender, uint256 value, bytes extraData) returns (bool); event Approval(address indexed owner, address indexed spender, uint value); function doTransfer(address _from, address _to, uint _amount) internal returns(bool); } contract GrantsControlled { modifier onlyGrantsController { if (msg.sender!= grantsController) throw; _; } address public grantsController; function GrantsControlled() { grantsController = msg.sender;} function changeGrantsController(address _newController) onlyGrantsController { grantsController = _newController; } } contract LimitedTransferToken is ERC20 { // Checks whether it can transfer or otherwise throws. modifier canTransfer(address _sender, uint _value) { if (_value > transferableTokens(_sender, uint64(now))) throw; _; } // Checks modifier and allows transfer if tokens are not locked. function transfer(address _to, uint _value) canTransfer(msg.sender, _value) returns (bool) { return super.transfer(_to, _value); } // Checks modifier and allows transfer if tokens are not locked. function transferFrom(address _from, address _to, uint _value) canTransfer(_from, _value) returns (bool) { return super.transferFrom(_from, _to, _value); } // Default transferable tokens function returns all tokens for a holder (no limit). function transferableTokens(address holder, uint64 time) constant public returns (uint256) { return balanceOf(holder); } } contract Controlled { /// @notice The address of the controller is the only address that can call /// a function with this modifier modifier onlyController { if (msg.sender!= controller) throw; _; } address public controller; function Controlled() { controller = msg.sender;} /// @notice Changes the controller of the contract /// @param _newController The new controller of the contract function changeController(address _newController) onlyController { controller = _newController; } } contract MiniMeToken is ERC20, Controlled { using SafeMath for uint; string public name; //The Token's name: e.g. DigixDAO Tokens uint8 public decimals; //Number of decimals of the smallest unit string public symbol; //An identifier: e.g. REP string public version = 'MMT_0.1'; //An arbitrary versioning scheme /// @dev `Checkpoint` is the structure that attaches a block number to a /// given value, the block number attached is the one that last changed the /// value struct Checkpoint { // `fromBlock` is the block number that the value was generated from uint128 fromBlock; // `value` is the amount of tokens at a specific block number uint128 value; } // `parentToken` is the Token address that was cloned to produce this token; // it will be 0x0 for a token that was not cloned MiniMeToken public parentToken; // `parentSnapShotBlock` is the block number from the Parent Token that was // used to determine the initial distribution of the Clone Token uint public parentSnapShotBlock; // `creationBlock` is the block number that the Clone Token was created uint public creationBlock; // `balances` is the map that tracks the balance of each address, in this // contract when the balance changes the block number that the change // occurred is also included in the map mapping (address => Checkpoint[]) balances; // `allowed` tracks any extra transfer rights as in all ERC20 tokens mapping (address => mapping (address => uint256)) allowed; // Tracks the history of the `totalSupply` of the token Checkpoint[] totalSupplyHistory; // Flag that determines if the token is transferable or not. bool public transfersEnabled; // The factory used to create new clone tokens MiniMeTokenFactory public tokenFactory; //////////////// // Constructor //////////////// /// @notice Constructor to create a MiniMeToken /// @param _tokenFactory The address of the MiniMeTokenFactory contract that /// will create the Clone token contracts, the token factory needs to be /// deployed first /// @param _parentToken Address of the parent token, set to 0x0 if it is a /// new token /// @param _parentSnapShotBlock Block of the parent token that will /// determine the initial distribution of the clone token, set to 0 if it /// is a new token /// @param _tokenName Name of the new token /// @param _decimalUnits Number of decimals of the new token /// @param _tokenSymbol Token Symbol for the new token /// @param _transfersEnabled If true, tokens will be able to be transferred function MiniMeToken( address _tokenFactory, address _parentToken, uint _parentSnapShotBlock, string _tokenName, uint8 _decimalUnits, string _tokenSymbol, bool _transfersEnabled ) { tokenFactory = MiniMeTokenFactory(_tokenFactory); name = _tokenName; // Set the name decimals = _decimalUnits; // Set the decimals symbol = _tokenSymbol; // Set the symbol parentToken = MiniMeToken(_parentToken); parentSnapShotBlock = _parentSnapShotBlock; transfersEnabled = _transfersEnabled; creationBlock = block.number; } /////////////////// // ERC20 Methods /////////////////// /// @notice Send `_amount` tokens to `_to` from `msg.sender` /// @param _to The address of the recipient /// @param _amount The amount of tokens to be transferred /// @return Whether the transfer was successful or not function transfer(address _to, uint256 _amount) returns (bool success) { if (!transfersEnabled) throw; return doTransfer(msg.sender, _to, _amount); } /// @notice Send `_amount` tokens to `_to` from `_from` on the condition it /// is approved by `_from` /// @param _from The address holding the tokens being transferred /// @param _to The address of the recipient /// @param _amount The amount of tokens to be transferred /// @return True if the transfer was successful function transferFrom(address _from, address _to, uint256 _amount ) returns (bool success) { // The controller of this contract can move tokens around at will, // this is important to recognize! Confirm that you trust the // controller of this contract, which in most situations should be // another open source smart contract or 0x0 if (msg.sender!= controller) { if (!transfersEnabled) throw; // The standard ERC 20 transferFrom functionality if (allowed[_from][msg.sender] < _amount) return false; allowed[_from][msg.sender] = allowed[_from][msg.sender].sub(_amount); } return doTransfer(_from, _to, _amount); } /// @dev This is the actual transfer function in the token contract, it can /// only be called by other functions in this contract. /// @param _from The address holding the tokens being transferred /// @param _to The address of the recipient /// @param _amount The amount of tokens to be transferred /// @return True if the transfer was successful function doTransfer(address _from, address _to, uint _amount ) internal returns(bool) { if (_amount == 0) { return true; } if (parentSnapShotBlock >= block.number) throw; // Do not allow transfer to 0x0 or the token contract itself if ((_to == 0) || (_to == address(this))) throw; // If the amount being transfered is more than the balance of the // account the transfer returns false var previousBalanceFrom = balanceOfAt(_from, block.number); if (previousBalanceFrom < _amount) { return false; } // Alerts the token controller of the transfer if (isContract(controller)) { if (!TokenController(controller).onTransfer(_from, _to, _amount)) throw; } // First update the balance array with the new value for the address // sending the tokens updateValueAtNow(balances[_from], previousBalanceFrom.sub(_amount)); // Then update the balance array with the new value for the address // receiving the tokens var previousBalanceTo = balanceOfAt(_to, block.number); updateValueAtNow(balances[_to], previousBalanceTo.add(_amount)); // An event to make the transfer easy to find on the blockchain Transfer(_from, _to, _amount); return true; } /// @param _owner The address that's balance is being requested /// @return The balance of `_owner` at the current block function balanceOf(address _owner) constant returns (uint256 balance) { return balanceOfAt(_owner, block.number); } /// @notice `msg.sender` approves `_spender` to spend `_amount` tokens on /// its behalf. This is a modified version of the ERC20 approve function /// to be a little bit safer /// @param _spender The address of the account able to transfer the tokens /// @param _amount The amount of tokens to be approved for transfer /// @return True if the approval was successful function approve(address _spender, uint256 _amount) returns (bool success) { if (!transfersEnabled) throw; // To change the approve amount you first have to reduce the addresses` // allowance to zero by calling `approve(_spender,0)` if it is not // already 0 to mitigate the race condition described here: // https://github.com/ethereum/EIPs/issues/20#issuecomment-263524729 if ((_amount!=0) && (allowed[msg.sender][_spender]!=0)) throw; // Alerts the token controller of the approve function call if (isContract(controller)) { if (!TokenController(controller).onApprove(msg.sender, _spender, _amount)) throw; } allowed[msg.sender][_spender] = _amount; Approval(msg.sender, _spender, _amount); return true; } /// @dev This function makes it easy to read the `allowed[]` map /// @param _owner The address of the account that owns the token /// @param _spender The address of the account able to transfer the tokens /// @return Amount of remaining tokens of _owner that _spender is allowed /// to spend function allowance(address _owner, address _spender ) constant returns (uint256 remaining) { return allowed[_owner][_spender]; } /// @notice `msg.sender` approves `_spender` to send `_amount` tokens on /// its behalf, and then a function is triggered in the contract that is /// being approved, `_spender`. This allows users to use their tokens to /// interact with contracts in one function call instead of two /// @param _spender The address of the contract able to transfer the tokens /// @param _amount The amount of tokens to be approved for transfer /// @return True if the function call was successful function approveAndCall(address _spender, uint256 _amount, bytes _extraData ) returns (bool success) { if (!approve(_spender, _amount)) throw; ApproveAndCallFallBack(_spender).receiveApproval( msg.sender, _amount, this, _extraData ); return true; } /// @dev This function makes it easy to get the total number of tokens /// @return The total number of tokens function totalSupply() constant returns (uint) { return totalSupplyAt(block.number); } //////////////// // Query balance and totalSupply in History //////////////// /// @dev Queries the balance of `_owner` at a specific `_blockNumber` /// @param _owner The address from which the balance will be retrieved /// @param _blockNumber The block number when the balance is queried /// @return The balance at `_blockNumber` function balanceOfAt(address _owner, uint _blockNumber) constant returns (uint) { // These next few lines are used when the balance of the token is // requested before a check point was ever created for this token, it // requires that the `parentToken.balanceOfAt` be queried at the // genesis block for that token as this contains initial balance of // this token if ((balances[_owner].length == 0) || (balances[_owner][0].fromBlock > _blockNumber)) { if (address(parentToken)!= 0) { return parentToken.balanceOfAt(_owner, min(_blockNumber, parentSnapShotBlock)); } else { // Has no parent return 0; } // This will return the expected balance during normal situations } else { return getValueAt(balances[_owner], _blockNumber); } } /// @notice Total amount of tokens at a specific `_blockNumber`. /// @param _blockNumber The block number when the totalSupply is queried /// @return The total amount of tokens at `_blockNumber` function totalSupplyAt(uint _blockNumber) constant returns(uint) { // These next few lines are used when the totalSupply of the token is // requested before a check point was ever created for this token, it // requires that the `parentToken.totalSupplyAt` be queried at the // genesis block for this token as that contains totalSupply of this // token at this block number. if ((totalSupplyHistory.length == 0) || (totalSupplyHistory[0].fromBlock > _blockNumber)) { if (address(parentToken)!= 0) { return parentToken.totalSupplyAt(min(_blockNumber, parentSnapShotBlock)); } else { return 0; } // This will return the expected totalSupply during normal situations } else { return getValueAt(totalSupplyHistory, _blockNumber); } } //////////////// // Clone Token Method //////////////// /// @notice Creates a new clone token with the initial distribution being /// this token at `_snapshotBlock` /// @param _cloneTokenName Name of the clone token /// @param _cloneDecimalUnits Number of decimals of the smallest unit /// @param _cloneTokenSymbol Symbol of the clone token /// @param _snapshotBlock Block when the distribution of the parent token is /// copied to set the initial distribution of the new clone token; /// if the block is zero than the actual block, the current block is used /// @param _transfersEnabled True if transfers are allowed in the clone /// @return The address of the new MiniMeToken Contract function createCloneToken( string _cloneTokenName, uint8 _cloneDecimalUnits, string _cloneTokenSymbol, uint _snapshotBlock, bool _transfersEnabled ) returns(address) { if (_snapshotBlock == 0) _snapshotBlock = block.number; MiniMeToken cloneToken = tokenFactory.createCloneToken( this, _snapshotBlock, _cloneTokenName, _cloneDecimalUnits, _cloneTokenSymbol, _transfersEnabled ); cloneToken.changeController(msg.sender); // An event to make the token easy to find on the blockchain NewCloneToken(address(cloneToken), _snapshotBlock); return address(cloneToken); } //////////////// // Generate and destroy tokens //////////////// /// @notice Generates `_amount` tokens that are assigned to `_owner` /// @param _owner The address that will be assigned the new tokens /// @param _amount The quantity of tokens generated /// @return True if the tokens are generated correctly function generateTokens(address _owner, uint _amount ) onlyController returns (bool) { uint curTotalSupply = getValueAt(totalSupplyHistory, block.number); updateValueAtNow(totalSupplyHistory, curTotalSupply.add(_amount)); var previousBalanceTo = balanceOf(_owner); updateValueAtNow(balances[_owner], previousBalanceTo.add(_amount)); Transfer(0, _owner, _amount); return true; } /// @notice Burns `_amount` tokens from `_owner` /// @param _owner The address that will lose the tokens /// @param _amount The quantity of tokens to burn /// @return True if the tokens are burned correctly function destroyTokens(address _owner, uint _amount ) onlyController returns (bool) { uint curTotalSupply = getValueAt(totalSupplyHistory, block.number); if (curTotalSupply < _amount) throw; updateValueAtNow(totalSupplyHistory, curTotalSupply.sub(_amount)); var previousBalanceFrom = balanceOf(_owner); if (previousBalanceFrom < _amount) throw; updateValueAtNow(balances[_owner], previousBalanceFrom.sub(_amount)); Transfer(_owner, 0, _amount); return true; } //////////////// // Enable tokens transfers //////////////// /// @notice Enables token holders to transfer their tokens freely if true /// @param _transfersEnabled True if transfers are allowed in the clone function enableTransfers(bool _transfersEnabled) onlyController { transfersEnabled = _transfersEnabled; } //////////////// // Internal helper functions to query and set a value in a snapshot array //////////////// /// @dev `getValueAt` retrieves the number of tokens at a given block number /// @param checkpoints The history of values being queried /// @param _block The block number to retrieve the value at /// @return The number of tokens being queried function getValueAt(Checkpoint[] storage checkpoints, uint _block ) constant internal returns (uint) { if (checkpoints.length == 0) return 0; // Shortcut for the actual value if (_block >= checkpoints[checkpoints.length-1].fromBlock) return checkpoints[checkpoints.length-1].value; if (_block < checkpoints[0].fromBlock) return 0; // Binary search of the value in the array uint min = 0; uint max = checkpoints.length-1; while (max > min) { uint mid = (max + min + 1)/ 2; if (checkpoints[mid].fromBlock<=_block) { min = mid; } else { max = mid-1; } } return checkpoints[min].value; } /// @dev `updateValueAtNow` used to update the `balances` map and the /// `totalSupplyHistory` /// @param checkpoints The history of data being updated /// @param _value The new number of tokens function updateValueAtNow(Checkpoint[] storage checkpoints, uint _value ) internal { if ((checkpoints.length == 0) || (checkpoints[checkpoints.length -1].fromBlock < block.number)) { Checkpoint newCheckPoint = checkpoints[ checkpoints.length++ ]; newCheckPoint.fromBlock = uint128(block.number); newCheckPoint.value = uint128(_value); } else { Checkpoint oldCheckPoint = checkpoints[checkpoints.length-1]; oldCheckPoint.value = uint128(_value); } } /// @dev Internal function to determine if an address is a contract /// @param _addr The address being queried /// @return True if `_addr` is a contract function isContract(address _addr) constant internal returns(bool) { uint size; if (_addr == 0) return false; assembly { size := extcodesize(_addr) } return size>0; } /// @dev Helper function to return a min betwen the two uints function min(uint a, uint b) internal returns (uint) { return a < b? a : b; } /// @notice The fallback function: If the contract's controller has not been /// set to 0, then the `proxyPayment` method is called which relays the /// ether and creates tokens as described in the token controller contract function () payable { if (isContract(controller)) { if (! TokenController(controller).proxyPayment.value(msg.value)(msg.sender)) throw; } else { throw; } } ////////// // Safety Methods ////////// /// @notice This method can be used by the controller to extract mistakenly /// sent tokens to this contract. /// @param _token The address of the token contract that you want to recover /// set to 0 in case you want to extract ether. /// @param _claimer Address that tokens will be send to function claimTokens(address _token, address _claimer) onlyController { if (_token == 0x0) { _claimer.transfer(this.balance); return; } ERC20Basic token = ERC20Basic(_token); uint balance = token.balanceOf(this); token.transfer(_claimer, balance); ClaimedTokens(_token, _claimer, balance); } //////////////// // Events //////////////// event ClaimedTokens(address indexed _token, address indexed _claimer, uint _amount); event Transfer(address indexed _from, address indexed _to, uint256 _amount); event NewCloneToken(address indexed _cloneToken, uint _snapshotBlock); event Approval( address indexed _owner, address indexed _spender, uint256 _amount ); } //////////////// // MiniMeTokenFactory //////////////// /// @dev This contract is used to generate clone contracts from a contract. /// In solidity this is the way to create a contract from a contract of the /// same |
by Alyssa Evans, Western Washington University
Breaking News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Gonzaga hires recently fired Mizzou professor Melissa Click by Andy Buhler and Kiki Serantes, Gonzaga University
Finalist: Students Protest Sexual Assault Clare Duffy, Hannah Baade University of Portland
Finalist: Gonzaga point guard Josh Perkins arrested on DUI charge, police documents say by Andy Buhler, Gonzaga University
Editorial Writing
Winner: Montana Kaimin editorials by Michael Siebert with the Montana Kaimin editorial board, University of Montana
Finalist: Fall 2016 editorials by The Daily Evergreen Editorial Board, Washington State University
Finalist: Daily Barometer Editorials by The Daily Barometer Editors, Oregon State University
Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: Missoulas meth homes: How a group of UM students discovered Montanas arbitrary toxicity laws by Kasey Bubnash, University of Montana
Finalist: A Better Bee by Russ Walsh, Washington State University
Finalist: Ham radio buffs in Blaine dedicate themselves to community service by Sarah Sharp, Western Washington University
Feature Writing (Small)
Winner: Students dig up America's racist past by Jenna Rossiter, Clare Duffy, University of Portland
Finalist: No, it's not okay to kill your children by Julianna Siemssen, University of Washington Tacoma
Finalist: Johnnie Duguay among women breaking norms of firefighting industry by Kiki Serantes, Gonzaga University
General Column Writing (Large)
Winner: Columns by Darian Dovgan by Darian Dovgan, University of Montana
Finalist: Opinion column award submissions by Tyler Laferriere, Washington State University
General Column Writing (Small)
Winner: Political Comments by Ian Gephart, Seattle Pacific University
Finalist: Common Science by Rachael Snodgrass, Gonzaga University
Finalist: UW Tacoma's Strategic Plan by Angela Suresh, University of Washington Tacoma
General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: A Second Chance by Jonathan Glover, Central Washington University
Finalist: OSU Declared a Sanctuary University by Ellie Magnuson, Lauren Sluss, Amy Schwartz, Oregon State University
Finalist: Candlelight Vigil by Tailyr Irvine, University of Montana
General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Disconnected: Black students on The Bluff feel they don't belong by Malika Andrews, University of Portland
Finalist: Details emerge on multiple campus sexual assaults by Taryn Eastwood, North Idaho College
Finalist: News Voices Act aims at freedom of speech by Judah Breitbach and Giovanni Roverso, Peninsula College
In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: When existence is a misdemeanor by Julia-Grace Sanders, University of Washington
In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: Lawyer: WWU DEFIES LABOR LAW by Kjell Redal, Western Washington University
Finalist: With absence of Hispanic culture at SPU, students seek community by Manola Secaira, Seattle Pacific University
Finalist: Sexual assault case puts student conduct policy, public safety department under scrutiny by Clare Duffy, Malika Andrews, Rachel Rippetoe, Annika Gordon, University of Portland
Sports Column Writing
Winner: Brian Rathbone sports columns by Brian Rathbone, Oregon State University
Finalist: What the Fantasy Football? by Brittney Bulawa, Gonzaga University
Finalist: Views from the 406 by Jackson Wagner, University of Montana
Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: Finding Feller: A family on and off the court by Sojin Josephson, University of Montana
Finalist: Treat it like an injury by Kasey Bubnash, University of Montana
Finalist: From Cuba to Wenatchee by Kelsey Jones, Washington State University
Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: Men's rowing walk-on reawakens competitive spirit on the water by Justin Wiens, Gonzaga University
Finalist: Eric Reveno says goodbye to Pilots basketball by Malika Andrews, University of Portland
Finalist: Family Business: Terry Porter and two sons eye new era of Pilot hoops by Malika Andrews, University of Portland
Online
Best Affiliated Website
Winner: Framing a Movement: The Media at Standing Rock by Montana Journalism Review, University of Montana
Finalist: cwupulse.com by Nicole Trejo-Valli, Mandi Ringgenberg, Bailey Williams, Jack Lambert, Central Washington University
Finalist: The Gonzaga Bulletin by Andy Buhler, Josh Horton and Carley Schmidt, Gonzaga University
Best Digital-Only Student Publication
Winner: The Beacon by The Beacon staff, University of Portland
Finalist: OR Magazine: The Solutions Issue by Staff of OR Magazine, University of Oregon
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Across the Divide: Montanas tribes navigate politics and progress by Staff, University of Montana
Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Engendering Equal Education by Michaela Giunchigliani, Judy Holtz, Delaney Engle, University of Oregon
Finalist: Pastor Adam Phillips by Zach Putnam, David MacKay by University of Oregon
Finalist: River campus: messy history with a bright future by Cheyenne Schoen, Jeff Braccia, University of Portland
Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Against the Grain by Erin Hampton, Angelina Hess, Michaela Giunchigliani, Meerah Powell, University of Oregon
Finalist: Barred By Blood by Hunter Pauli, Jake Green, University of Montana
Finalist: Little Shell: The final throes of seeking Federal Acknowledgement by Christopher Reed, Matt Roberts, University of Montana
Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Framing a Movement: The Media at Standing Rock by Kathleen Stone, Matt Roberts, Olivia Vanni, Kira Vercruyssen, University of Montana
Finalist: Sexual assault case sparks protests and scrutiny by Clare Duffy, Malika Andrews, Rachel Rippetoe, Hannah Baade, Jenna Rossiter, University of Portland
Finalist: The Kenton Lead Blob by Zach Putnam, Richard Percy, David MacKay, University of Oregon
Online News Reporting
Winner: Portland shark attack survivor begins to pick up the pieces by Rachel Rippetoe, University of Portland
Finalist: Students protest sexual assault as guests arrive at donor dinner by Clare Duffy, Hannah Baade University of Portland
Finalist: Election night brings students to protest by Rhiannon Berg, Mast Media Staff, Pacific Lutheran University
Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Running to Rio by Chad Sokol, Washington State University
Finalist: Western Women's Soccer wins National Championship by Evan Elliott (Morgan Stilp-Allen photographs), Western Washington University
Radio
Radio Feature
Winner: Yellow Cedars by Jesse Nichols, Western Washington University
Finalist: Hike it, baby by Matt Blois, University of Montana
Finalist: Pulse Radio - Interview with Vanessa Cruz by Mandi Ringgenberg, Matt Morse, Vanessa Cruz, Bailey Williams, Central Washington University
Radio News Reporting
Winner: Mortality in the Magic Spot by Nora Saks, University of Montana
Finalist: Stream Team by Noah Rott, University of Montana
Finalist: Day of the Dead by Lacey Young, University of Montana
Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Sport Specialization by Maria Anderson, University of Montana
Finalist: Chillin' with the Cougs by Evan Baron, Christopher Kidd, Kolby Crossley, Washington State University
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: The Haunting-Episodes 1-3 by Meri DeMarois, Daylen Turk, University of Montana
Finalist: Where are all the Young Falconers? by Matt Blois, University of Montana
Television
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: UM News 11-4-2016 UM News Class- fall 2016 University of Montana
Finalist: Murrow News 8 12/9/2016 by Producer: Kyle Simchuk Director: Alex Simpson, Washington State University
Finalist: News at Nine - October 19, 2016 by Mast Media Staff, Pacific Lutheran University
Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Trump Wall by Brookelynn Graditi, Washington State University
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Extreme Slacklining by Tasha Cain and Chelsea Reichard, University of Montana
Finalist: SpectrUM Mobile by Jack Ginsburg and Grant Herzog, University of Montana
Finalist: A Day in the Park by Taylor Graham, Washington State University
Television General News Reporting
Winner: WSU Women Harassed via Social Media by Nicole Clements, Washington State University
Finalist: DRA Realty by Taylor Graham, Washington State University
Finalist: Concussion Research by Braly Whisler, University of Montana
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Aging Out: Autism in Montana by 2016 Documentary Unit-School of Journalism-University of Montana, University of Montana
Finalist: Journalism and Trauma by McKayla Fox, Paige Schoengarth, Marc Wai, David Palmer, Washington State University
Finalist: Changing Currents: Protecting North America's Rivers by John Struzenberg, Rachel Lovrovich, Kelly Lavelle, Joshua Wiersma, Pacific Lutheran University
Television News and Feature Photography
Winner: Slacklining Takes Extreme Heights by Chelsea Reichard, Tasha Cain, University of Montana
Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Jasmin Edwards Profile - by Jake Nelson, Central Washington University
Finalist: WSU fencing team by Cody Kallinen, Washington State University
Finalist: Game Attendance by Mast Media staff, Pacific Lutheran University
SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member, give to the Legal Defense Fund, or give to the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation.
-END-Paris St-Germain have signed Kylian Mbappe on a season-long loan from Monaco, with an option to make the deal permanent for a fee of £165.7m.
Should PSG sign the France international on a permanent deal, his contract will run until June 2022.
Any deal for the 18-year-old is likely to be eclipsed only by the 222m euros (£200m) PSG paid for Neymar.
"I really wanted to be a part of the club's project, which is one of the most ambitious in Europe," said Mbappe.
The delay in signing Mbappe permanently is reported to be so PSG can comply with Uefa's Financial Fair Play rules.
The teenager scored his first goal for France in their 4-0 win over the Netherlands in World Cup qualifying on Thursday to become his country's youngest goalscorer since 1963.All the CIA's Lebanon spies wanted was a slice. What they got, allegedly, was a big intelligence failure.
Hezbollah may have just rolled up the CIA's network of spies devoted to cracking the secrets of the Lebanese Shiite extremist group. If so, it's because of one of the stupidest, least secure code words in history.
According to ABC News, Hezbollah operatives figured out that CIA informants who had infiltrated the Iranian proxy group were meeting with their agency handlers at a Beirut Pizza Hut. How could Hezbollah deduce that location? "The CIA used the codeword 'PIZZA' when discussing where to meet with the agents," ABC reports.
The agency is reportedly fearful for the informants' lives. "If they were genuine spies, spying against Hezbollah, I don't think we'll ever see them again," retired CIA officer Robert Baer told ABC.
An anonymous U.S. official denies to ABC that CIA's Hezbollah network actually met in a Pizza Hut. We've reached out to the CIA and will update if they're challenging the story further.
If ABC is correct, though, it's another spy-ring setback against Hezbollah and its Iranian sponsors, who appear devoted to gaining a nuclear weapon. In addition to losing the Lebanon informants, a different operation exposed "a secret internet communication method used by CIA-paid assets in Iran" to Iranian security officials. "Dozens" of assets may have been lost, according to ABC.
It's not like the CIA doesn't have successes against Iran and its allies. It's spent years disrupting Iran's nuclear supply chain through sabotage. The Stuxnet worm that messed with Iran's centrifuge control system may have been a joint U.S.-Israeli homebrew. Iranian nuclear scientists keep dying under mysterious circumstances. Some may have been kidnapped, as well.
But the CIA also has an unfortunate streak of self-pwnage as well. New York Times national security reporter Jim Risen reported that in 2000, the CIA accidently exposed its entire network of Iranian contacts thanks to a boneheaded reply-all mishap.
The successful targeting of Osama bin Laden gave the CIA its biggest success in decades. But that may mask some deeper problems, according to one of ABC's anonymous sources: "Officers take short cuts and no one is held accountable." But now CIA sloppiness even comes with free cheesesticks.Travesty
The very idea of an ‘Islamic state’ – so dear to some Muslims – is totally un-Islamic, argues *Ziauddin Sardar*.
The late Ayatollah Khomeini immortalized on a mural in Qom, Iran. Patrick Brown / PANOS
Picture this scene. Prophet Muhammad has just died.
A crowd gathers outside his house in Medina. His closest companion, Abu Bakr, comes galloping on his horse. He goes inside to confirm the news. After consoling himself, he comes out to address the swelling crowd. ‘O believers,’ Abu Bakr announces. ‘If you worshipped Muhammad, know that Muhammad is dead. But whosoever worshipped God, know that God is alive, for He cannot die.’ Then Abu Bakr recites a verse from the Qur’an: ‘Muhammad is only a messenger before whom many messengers have been and gone.’ (3:144).
What happens next is a defining moment in Islamic history. Those attending the funeral in Medina ask a natural question: who should succeed the Prophet as the ruler of Muslims? The Prophet himself left the question open for his followers to decide.
Advert
A public meeting is organized to discuss the succession. A number of different viewpoints are presented. Some suggest that the Caliph, the successor to the Prophet, should come from the people of Medina who provided him with refuge in his time of need. Others argue that he should be chosen from the people of Mecca, who migrated with the Prophet Muhammad to Medina. There is even a third suggestion: there should be two rulers, one each from Mecca and Medina. Eventually, a consensus emerges, confirmed by a simple show of hands: Abu Bakr should succeed the Prophet as the first Caliph of Islam.
Government by discussion
Many scholars consider this meeting as constituting the basic relationship between Islam and politics. The Qur’an, the sacred text of Islam, does not provide a theory of the State. But it does insist, repeatedly and clearly, that community issues should be decided on the basis of shura, or consultation and discussion. The assembly in Medina established the shura as the general principle of political activity. It also enacted another central tenet of Islam: decisions should reflect an ijma, consensus or the view of the majority.
If democracy is ‘government by discussion’, as John Stuart Mill once said, then both these principles are inherently democratic.
Just before Abu Bakr died, he nominated Umar, another close companion of the Prophet. But he did not impose his nomination. First, he sought approval of all the companions of the Prophet. Then, he introduced a consultative process, involving public discussions and participation of the whole community. Umar’s nomination was confirmed only when everyone agreed.
In his inauguration speech, Umar introduced another key standard of Muslim politics: a ruler can be removed, by force of public opinion, if he fails to perform his duties adequately or ignores the concerns and opinions of the citizens. Obey me, he declared, only as long as I perform my duties. He believed that rulers and the ruled were totally equal. When he heard that one of his governors had built a pulpit for himself in the mosque, he sent a short sharp letter. Remove the pulpit, he wrote, for it is not proper for one man to sit above all others.
Advert
Umar ruled for 20 years, a period in which the Muslim empire expanded as far as Syria, Egypt, Anatolia, Persia and Azerbaijan. It was no longer possible to gather the entire Muslim community in a large mosque and consult them directly. So Umar established an Electoral Council of seven administrators to choose his successor. The Council faced considerable problems; it was not easy for them to consult people who lived in distant places. And Umar died before the councillors could reach a decision.
So its charismatic chair, Abd al-Rahman, declared that as he was not a candidate he would travel to consult people. After many public meetings and discussions, he discovered that the consensus focused on two people: Othman, another companion of the Prophet, and Ali, his cousin and son-in-law. To decide between the two, Abd al-Rahman called a public meeting where candidates were questioned and cross-examined. On the basis of their answers, Abd al-Rahman chose Othman; and the congregation approved his decision.
Islam is uncompromisingly universal; state is unquestionably parochial
But after Othman, dissent within the Muslim community led to subversion of the principles of consultation and consensus. As Islamic monarchies emerged, the democratic spirit was drained from these doctrines. Both shura and ijma were reduced to mean consultation with, and consensus of, political and religious élite rather than the whole Muslim community.
Classical Muslim scholars and thinkers colluded in this process. The influential 10th century scholar al-Mawardi argued that only those living in the capital city should be involved in the election of a ruler. Moreover, it was not necessary to consult everyone. Indeed, a ruler could also be nominated by a widely respected religious scholar – even if the nominee had little qualification or experience of governance! Ibn Taymiyya, the 14th century political thinker and guru of modern Muslim fundamentalists, held that rulers were obliged to consult religious scholars whom they must obey. He described kings as ‘the Shadow of God’, who must be obeyed even if they are unjust. Both of these thinkers insisted that the sharia (Islamic law) should reign supreme in any form of Islamic polity.
Sharia has also been the dominant theme of contemporary Muslim politics. Proponents of ‘political Islam’, who see Islam and politics as one and the same thing, have championed the notion of the ‘Islamic state’. That is a state where Islam is both the sole religion and dominant political ideology; and where the sharia is strictly enforced – on everyone.
The modern idea of the ‘Islamic state’ first emerged in the writings of the Egyptian scholar Rashid Rida. In his 1930 book, The Caliphate and the Great Immamate, Rida argued that the creation of a modern Islamic state was the nearest alternative to the restoration of the classical Caliphate. Rida’s terms for ‘Islamic state’ – ad-dawlah (simply ‘the state’) or al-hukumat al-Islamiyyah (‘Islamic government’) – exist neither in the Qur’an nor in classical Arabic. They are a new creation: Rida was reacting to the Western idea of the secular nation-state. What turned this secular state into an Islamic one, he argued, was the supreme rule of the sharia.
The notion of the Islamic state really took off during the 1950s when many Muslim countries obtained their independence. It became the major objective of the global Islamic movements such as the Jama’t e-Islami of Pakistan and the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt. The Brotherhood collaborated with the military regime in the Sudan. Jama’t e-Islami worked with General Zia ul-Haq to turn Pakistan into an Islamic state during the 1980s. But while Rida believed that the sharia had to be revived and adapted to meet the needs and requirements of modern society, contemporary Islamic movements adhere strictly to an immutable and ossified idea of the sharia. Regimes in such places as Saudi Arabia and Iran have ruthlessly imposed the sharia both to give an Islamic connotation to their respective states and to justify their authoritarianism.
The Iranian ‘Islamic state’ was established after the 1979 Revolution. In his book, Islamic Government,1 Ayatollah Khomeini declares that ‘the Islamic state is neither autocratic nor does it make its head the repository of all powers’; rather it is ‘a constitutional state’ ruled by the sharia.
But when he acquired power, Khomeini turned Iran into a theocracy where the head does indeed have ‘all the powers’ – religious, political and legal. Khomeini introduced the innovative concept of Vilayat-e-Faqih, the Supreme Leader. He has the power to: declare war; appoint the Chief Justice and Prosecutor General; approve and reject presidential elections; and appoint the six jurists of Shura-e-Nigahban, the Guardianship Council that approves all legislation passed by Parliament. It’s a prescription, as has become all too evident, for totalitarianism.
Patrick Brown / PANOS
Shura not sharia
The idea of an ‘Islamic state’ is totally un-lslamic and has no precedence in Islamic history. Indeed, the term itself is self-contradictory: Islam is uncompromisingly universal; state is unquestionably parochial. An Islamic state with fixed boundaries and allegiance to a single, particular interpretation of Islam undermines both the universality of Islam and the diversity of Islam and Muslims. Moreover, by turning religion, politics, law and morality into a single, monolithic entity, the very idea of an Islamic state becomes intrinsically authoritarian. Not surprisingly, wherever an Islamic state has been established, and sharia has been imposed, authoritarianism rules and medieval punishments and social conditions have been the major product.
This is why it is now increasingly rejected by Muslim scholars throughout the world. One of Iran’s most senior clerics, Shi’a scholar Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, regards the Islamic state and Supreme Leader as blasphemous notions. Sunni scholars from Morocco to Indonesia have denounced the whole concoction as totally against the spirit of Islam.
Instead, reform-oriented Muslims are now shaping a new relationship between Islam and politics that returns us to the practice of Abu Bakr and Umar. The Qur’an speaks about community and not state. Therefore all politics in Islam should be about creating a diverse, civic community that is politically alive. This is the stand, for example, of Indonesia’s Liberal Islam Network, which has millions of young followers. The main thrust of forging a political community in the time of Abu Bakr and Umar was voluntary association based on consultation and co-operation. And shura, the network argues, can now simply be interpreted as elections.
Anwar Ibrahim, the reformist opposition leader in Malaysia, points out that the Prophet Muhammad endeavoured to establish a society of free men and women voluntarily holding values like justice, equality, brotherhood and peace. The constitution that he established in Medina acknowledged the religious diversity of the city and was intrinsically pluralistic. Thus, Muslim politics should be about establishing open and accountable democracy and promoting diversity and social justice.
Ziauddin Sardar is a prolific writer and broadcaster based in London. His latest book is Desperately Seeking Paradise: Journeys of a Sceptical Muslim (Granta).
This article is from the October 2009 issue of New Internationalist.
You can access the entire archive of over 500 issues with a digital subscription. Subscribe today »Oh boy here we go.
Disclaimer when I say someone I know it is NOT me I do not pull that crap - I have way too much pride and want to be top dog at the end of EVERY day (although it's not possible I try like hell).
RIP Ted (real name Fred) had commercial and charter fished so long, he was so salty, but yet he was wore out and kinda didn't give a S anymore.
He would keep a case of prune juice (I swear on this) and when someone got seasick he would tell them drink some and they'd feel better. Well people sick enough would drink ANYTHING if they thought it would go away. He called it "seasick out of both ends"!!! lol Ted
He would also chew up his food and then pretend to barf so the crew would be "joiners" when he knew they were close.
He also would tell them to go inside and stare at their feat.
He was messed up but damn was he funny.
I'll think of some more and post them as they come to me, those were always the ones that stuck out to me.
-Rob10,000 Fearless Peacemakers expands in Columbus Copyright by WCMH - All rights reserved Video
COLUMBUS (WCMH) - An organization promoting peace, love and unity is expanding in Columbus during a week when violence is plaguing our nation.
The 10,000 Fearless Peacemakers say their mission to make our communities a decent and safe place to live. The organization began their work here in Columbus back in November of last year.
Minister Donell Muhammad told NBC4 the mission began in the Linden area after several killings and shootings. On Friday, they celebrated the grand opening of their new headquarters at 1062 East Livingston Avenue. He said their goal is to have a chapter on each side of the city.
"We've been working with self-defense, proper handling of people and going out in the community and showing love for our brothers and sisters in the various communities," said Muhammad. "Now we're here dedicating the 10,000 Fearless Peacemakers headquarters right here at Livingston and Champion."
He said the organization has been working with city officials, including Director Speaks and Police Chief Jacobs. Their mission is to make communities safer during a time of increased gun violence and crime by coming together.
"We can't go another day with kids getting murdered," said Christopher Campbell, a community leader and Peacemaker in the Linden area. "We can't go another day with the communities being unsafe. Everybody needs to be involved."
He said instead of reacting to violence, the organization is being proactive in the community.
"We have to change us, meaning ourselves and our community first and then things will get better," he said.
Campbell said the group is not about protesting. They are about being diligent and building confidence in local neighborhoods that have been torn apart.
"Stepping up and taking responsibility instead of blaming," he said.
Leighton Salter stopped by the new Peacemaker headquarters when he saw their sign; he was interested in helping to make a change.
"We can't even trust not only our own police, but our own neighbors sometimes," said Salter. "Now, it just seems like we're all out for ourselves and it's destroying ourselves. Not only is it destroying black lives, but it's destroying all lives."
After speaking with Campbell about the Peacemaker cause, Salter said he wants to be involved.
"When are we going to realize that we're all human beings? And as human beings we need to work together to survive?" said Salter.
The Peacemakers already offer free training every Tuesday in Linden and beginning this Thursday on the east side. Campbell said they train in CPR, self defense and conflict resolution, among other things.
"Squash the beef, before the grief," he said. "Let's use our words. Let's find out where we were wrong so that no one dies, so that no one's murdered, so that the neighborhood can continue to be safe."
"If people are starting to see that people are caring and people are trying to work together to try and make this whole entire thing better then maybe we'll get a better response," Salter said.
Training is held twice each week:On the Wednesday broadcast of his late-night program, Jimmy Kimmel responded to criticism he has received for his controversial monologue Tuesday night where he ripped Republican Senator Bill Cassidy for using his name to push for the Graham-Cassidy Obamacare replacement proposal.
Kimmel, a fierce proponent of the healthcare law, received many rebuttals for his political statement notably FOX & Friends host Brian Kilmeade. Kilmeade called Kimmel a member of the "Hollywood elite" for "pushing" politics. Wednesday night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host set his aim at the FOX host and let loose.
(Kilmeade responds to Kimmel on his radio show Thursday morning)
Kimmel said the FOX host "kisses my ass like a little boy meeting Batman" whenever the two cross paths and claimed he is "dying" to be a member of the "Hollywood elite."
"The reason I'm talking about this is because my son had an open-heart surgery and has to have two more, and because of that I learned there are kids with no insurance in the same situation," he said.
"I don't get anything out of this, Brian, you phony little creep. Oh, I'll pound you when I see you," Kimmel threatened.
Kilmeade responds:
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com
(Full transcript below.)
Kimmel also attacked President Trump for supporting the Cassidy-Graham bill.
"There's no way President Trump read this bill that he says is great," the host said. "He just wants to get rid of it because Obama's name is on it. The Democrats should just rename it Ivankacare, guaranteed he gets on board. Can you imagine Donald Trump actually sitting down to read a health care bill? It's like trying to imagine a dog doing your taxes. It just doesn't compute, you know?"
He also attacked the namesakes of the bill, Sen. Bill Cassidy, again, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, Gov. Chris Christie, and the bill itself.
Conservative tweeter Stephen Miller (not the White House's Stephen Miller) said Kimmel threatened to assault Kilmeade and called on his media brethren to stand up for him.
Kimmel threatens assault at the end there. So this is where journalists all stand up and defend Kilmeade now right? Guys? https://t.co/0OLUSRwq9l — Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) September 21, 2017
I interpreted it the same way you did — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 21, 2017
KIMMEL: So got a lot of nice tweets, words of support today, from a lot of sick and disabled people who are worried about their access to health care being cut off. But I also got words that were not so nice, particularly from our friends at FOX & Friends.
BRIAN KILMEADE: So these politically charged Emmys may have been the lowest rated in history but that's not stopping Hollywood elites like comedian Jimmy Kimmel for pushing their politics on the rest of the country.
KIMMEL: Thanks, Brian. That was Brian Kilmeade. And the reason I found this comment to be particularly annoying is because this is a guy, Brian Kilmeade, who whenever I see him kisses my as like a little boy meeting Batman. Oh, he's such a fan!
He follows me on Twitter. He asked me to write a blurb for his book, which I did. He calls my agent, looking for projects. He's dying to be a member of the Hollywood elite. The only reason he's not a member of the Hollywood elite is because nobody will hire him to be one.
And, you know, the reason I'm talking about this is because my son had an open-heart surgery and has to have two more, and because of that I learned there are kids with no insurance in the same situation.
I don't get anything out of this, Brian, you phony little creep. Oh, I'll pound you when I see you.What was the TRS-80's contribution to personal computing? “ We primed the pump. ” - Steve Leininger,
who built the first TRS-80
book back cover From the Bleeding Edge of Computer History True stories, based on interviews with microcomputer pioneers like Steve Leininger, Don French, Randy Cook, Vern Hester and others
The personal stories of David and Theresa Welsh, whose software products were sold worldwide
The games, the magazines, the scams, and even the robots that were supposed to be in every home by the year 2000
355 pages including an Index
Photos and illustrations of early ads and products 121 illustrations!
The True Story of Microcomputer Pioneers Radio Shack's TRS-80 Launched a Revolution in 1977 Priming the Pump: How TRS-80 Enthusiasts Helped Spark the PC Revolution reveals
the hidden history of personal computing. The authors witnessed the birth of the computer revolution as part of the community of small software entrepreneurs who created the first applications for personal computers. They personally knew many of the principle players whose accomplishments are the stuff of legends. This book is the ONLY BOOK to capture this unique era, the late 1970s and early 1980s, when personal computing was just an idea -- an idea whose time had come! In these pages you will learn how a young engineer named Steve Leininger, working alone, built the first TRS-80. Development costs were less than $150,000. Leininger had to make a product that could be sold for a price Radio Shack customers could afford. Yet no one had ever sold a complete off-the-shelf personal computer before. The TRS-80 was not the first microcomputer. First were the homebuilt models and the kits, starting with the Altair in 1975. You couldn't buy an Altair in a store; it was only available through mail order, and when your kit arrived, you had to put it together yourself. There was no software, so you programmed it yourself by toggling switches on the front panel. Buy Paperback Print Book Save $3.00 off cover price
and get free shipping in the US Paperback $19.95 - - - - - - - - - - - Available as an eBook for $9.95 from: Kindle eBook Apple iTunes Google Play
“...the most accurate history of this "Industry Creating Machine" out there. ” Don French, co-creator of the TRS-80 Other kit computers followed, but none were taken seriously. That changed because of one fateful day when a computer hobbyist at Tandy Corporation (parent of Radio Shack), Don French, suggested to his bosses that they should build and sell a real computer. The Tandy managers weren't sure about this idea, but they decided to investigate and paid a visit to Silicon Valley. There they met and made an offer to Steve Leininger, who siezed an opportunity to do hands-on work with something he loved: the new microchips that hobbyists were using to build their own computers. Carried along by his own enthusiasm for the project, Leininger had few people to assist him; he was doing something no one had ever done before. The result of his efforts was the revolutionary TRS-80 Model I, a product so successful it overwhelmingly exceeded even its most optimistic sales predictions.
PRESENTING... TRS-80!
The first off-the-shelf microcomputer. This is the Model I, as introduced on August 3, 1977 in New York City for a price of $599.95 The tape player was the storage device. There was no hard drive and only 4K of memory. You programmed it with a tiny BASIC built into the machine or with Z80 assembly language. The Real Story, From the People Who Lived It Individual programmers, not giant corporations, created the software business. Before Microsoft was a household word, most business programs and games were created by one person, not, as in later years, by teams of Computer Science graduates. One person, eagerly soaking up information from programming manuals and magazine articles, was capable of creating software... using a computer with a mere 16K of memory and no hard drive. Responding to the lack of software, microcomputer programmers found they could start selling their creations to buyers clamoring for applications. Of course, software already existed. It ran on the expensive IBM mainframes used by Big Business. Left out of this scenario were small businesses, which could not afford computers, and individuals, who had no chance to use or program a computer. But in the late 1970s a revolution began. The personal computer revolution. Those first machines, meant for individuals, were called microcomputers. Introduction of the TRS-80 meant, for the first time, anyone could experiment with software and affordably use word processing, spreadsheets, accounting, database and other kinds of software... as soon as someone wrote programs to perform those functions and made them available. And lots of individuals working in basements and garages did create those programs. Most of them had never done any programming before. By the early 1980s, customers could choose from over 30 word processors. David Welsh, shown above with the TRS-80 Model III, was one of those self-taught programmers. His word processor, Lazy Writer, was sold worldwide and had many enthusiastic fans who were eager to throw away their typewriters.
Steve Leininger, hired away from Silicon Valley by Tandy Corp., worked alone amid the grimy surroundings of an old Fort Worth saddle factory and built the prototype TRS-80; the final development cost was less than $150,000. John Roach, Tandy's product manager, got an agreement from Charles Tandy to build 3500 units after Leininger demonstrated the prototype; this was exactly the number of stores they had -- Roach figured if no one bought the computers, at least the stores could use them. Don French, a true believer, predicted they'd sell 50,000 the first year and urged the company to gear up the factory for mass production. Tandy managers, thinking they could never sell that many, were surprised when, in the weeks after the introduction, the Tandy switchboard was paralyzed with over 15,000 calls from people wanting to order a TRS-80. In the first year, over 250,000 people went on waiting lists to buy a TRS-80! Tandy contracted with Randy Cook to create a Disk |
’d take the landing strip and then write down some thoughts. It’s the initiation into any Jagged Alliance 2 campaign, the first step toward establishing a force in the country and marching on to a terrible defeat.
I ended up going quite a bit further, mostly because it’s Jagged Alliance and I find it hard to walk away, but also because it was harder to tease out the differences than I’d anticipated. It really is weird. I’ve taken control of that first airfield so many times that I can almost do it through muscle memory. Turn off my monitor, give me the keyboard and mouse, and I reckon I could still take it. Don’t even leave the speakers on. I’ll be fine. Sending the same mercs to hide behind the same cover, to kill guards who have taken up the same positions, but in real-time, feels incredibly odd. Mostly because of how little difference the real-time control makes.
The pace is quicker but the tactics haven’t changed that much. One thing that changed my play style is that either the random number gods were playing a consistent game of silly beggars or bullets hurt a lot more. My team and the bad guys alike were dropping like flies. Maybe that’s because it’s harder to keep track of bleeding when it’s a constant flow rather than a sort of tick-tock effect. Whatever the case, the fact that combat feels more immediate and lethal isn’t a bad thing. It may be a necessary brake, preventing a squad from strolling forward, all guns blazing, killing enemies as soon as they come into sight.
Except they don’t come into sight at all. They’re always in sight. You’re God now, you see, or at least the omniscient part of Him. As soon as your squad enters an area, every enemy is marked on the map. You don’t just see their starting locations either, but all the moves they make. That completely removes the possibility of those daredevil raids that lead to a severely outnumbered squad blundering its way into trouble and back out again. Fog of war, or skirmish perhaps, was essential to creating tension and making exploration dangerous and its removal is absolutely baffling.
Being able to see the enemies also shines the world’s biggest torch on the game’s biggest problem and that is the enemy AI. I suspect the goons in almost every game would look pretty silly if their actions were exposed at all times. They’d either stand around waiting to be activated when a player came within an assigned radius, or wander at random. In JA:BIA it’s a combination of the two but with added sensory deprivation.
What’s that? A grenade just went off four feet away? Unless the man who threw it was directly in sight at the time, it probably isn’t worth investigating. Perhaps it was just a gas leak or marsh gas. These things underfoot? The soft, recently-screaming squishy things that are oozing what looks very much like blood all over the show? Probably not the bullet-ridden corpses of former allies. More likely a common form of Arulcan flora best ignored.
The bad guys are dumber than the lead speaker at a convention of the stupidest bricks in idiottown. Maybe they always were – I’ve never felt the tactical AI in Jagged Alliance 2 is one of its strongest points but because enemies were obscured, when you stumbled on a group unprepared it felt as if they had taken up positions. The storytelling inclinations of my player’s brain are more than capable of inferring devious plots into random placements provided maps are designed well and there is sufficient suspense in other areas.
Turn-based movement and fog of war were two curtains, both of which have been pulled back to reveal an emperor baring his bum to the world. The AI could be identical to the thought-pretends in Jagged Alliance 2 but now it’s exposed to greater scrutiny and far too easy to exploit, a reminder that smoke and mirrors are still beautifully effective in these magic tricks that occupy so much of our time.
There’s a new engine as well, with 3D that isn’t necessary or distracting. Everything looks fairly generic but perfectly effective, which is par for the course for the series. It’s a shame that I found myself wishing for the Silent Storm engine – JA:BIA feels like an older game than that. In fact, it doesn’t really feel any more modern than Jagged Alliance 2 and the changes that have a positive impact don’t make as much difference as I thought they would.
It’s not the travesty my pitchfork-waving inner-mob feared it might be, but I’d be hard-pressed to see why anyone would choose it above the game it’s a remake of, especially considering that game is readily available. There will be changes before release and I’ll revisit it to see what effect they have and to take a proper look at the strategic overgame, which feels less than complete at the moment. For now though, stick to 1.13 safe in the knowledge that JA doesn’t need to come back because it never went away.By Elliot Struck
Take a seat. Slip off your flat brim. I come with news. Far more interesting news than anything else you might read today.
Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Durbidge have launched a line of men’s grooming products. The debut item of which, is a cologne.
It’s called Oceans Mist. It is pour homme.
Let’s rewind just one misty moment. Back at the beginning of March, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported that the four surfers had established a new company called Emencee. “It is going to be pretty exciting,” Bede told the GCB. “It is something really cool.”
Obvs Durbo was just being modest.
But while established under Emencee, the name the company’s actually trading under is Surfers 4. Because there’s four of them. And they’re surfers.
But, who on the Good Laird’s blue earth could’ve predicted that it’d be grooming products emerging from the mystery around Surfers 4? Fuck. Not me.
“Stoked to announce a new project I’m working on with 3 of my best mates @joelparko @josh_kerr84 @bededurbo,” said Mick (and Joel) via Instagram this morning. “It’s called Surfers 4 and this is our new cologne Oceans Mist #mensgrooming #thescentofwinners.”
The Scent of Winners. Except, winners don’t always smell so great. They smell like hard work. They smell like pain and sacrifice. I don’t wanna smell like those things. I wanna smell like Danny Fuller. I wanna smell like New York. Not like Coolangatta.
This lands exactly two weeks late. Wake me from this dream I’m in.
Video promo coming soon, hopefully.
Luckily the Internet, in its infinite wisdom, has responded accordingly:Welcome to 3-fins! We create tailor made, durable and 100% functional Mermaid tails.
AS SEEN ON "Good Morning America"
HERE!
SWIM LIKE A MERMAID
These stunningly realistic looking Mermaid Tails were inspired by my 3 daughters and their love of all things Mermaid! They are created to fit your unique size and include a comfortable, durable and sturdy custom made mono-fin. They are made to SWIM IN as the material used is top of the line swimsuit fabric. Colours currently available are: green, red, blue, orange and fushia-pink. Each of the fabrics are very sparkly and reflective, and look beautiful, when worn in and out of the water. Make a girls Mermaid dreams a reality with a gorgeous custom made tail. A special and unique gift that will bring happiness and fun times to all who wear it!As a lifelong atheist I abhor beliefs that are not based on rationality.
John Fowles wrote in Aristos, “I live in hazard and infinity. The cosmos stretches around me, reach on reach of dark space where there is no particular concern or particular mercy.” Some find that picture frightening. Yet I have found grandeur in the rational naturalistic view of life. It has given me no beliefs but it has provided me with rich convictions, understandings that are based on evidence. I see the universe so integrated and complex, so full of realized and unrealized potential, that I am awestruck by its beauty. I am convinced that the world we experience is the only world there is and to learn to understand it is our primary business in the cosmos.
I am convinced that the human intellect is nature’s finest product and the things of the mind like Truth, Goodness, Beauty, Justice and Love come into this world only as we put them there. And although those ideas are never completely realized they are the goals that give direction and meaning to my existence.
I do not believe there is cosmic current guiding us. But we do not drift. The rational mind can perceive the distant good looming larger than the present pleasure and can knowingly alter course. It can steer to a morality based not on fear or reward but based on the knowledge that value resides in the preservation of life in all its forms. I am convinced that a rational morality affirms as right those actions that enhance and enrich life. Knowing that each person I meet faces the same sorrows that have rocked my life I can only summon compassion and sympathetic understanding for my fellow traveler.
The fact that nature makes no special dispensation for humans does not bother me. I would rather have a universe under the rule of natural law than under a changeable governing power that could be persuaded by human supplications. I am pleased to be free of an authority that would command me.
Lastly, I am convinced the good life is not in scattered moments of felt delight nor in the possession of things but in the fullest possible realization of human reason, in feeling the beauty of the whole and seeing in children the flowers of our living. I find the good life entwined within my lover’s arms and in my freedom of thought and choice. I declare that this world is all there is – and it is enough – and it is wonderful.
Donate If you enjoyed this essay, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to This I Believe, Inc.Since she burst onto the comics scene in 2012 with her webcomic Nimona, cartoonist Noelle Stevenson has become one of the fastest rising stars in the industry. Shortly after Nimona’s online debut, book publisher Harper Collins acquired the rights for a high-profile print release, and last year, Stevenson launched the fan-favorite Boom! series Lumberjanes as character designer and co-writer, along with Shannon Watters and Grace Ellis. These two titles have earned the cartoonist multiple 2015 Eisner Award nominations, and her skill for writing teenage characters makes her a great fit for her newest project hitting stands this month: a revival of Marvel’s Runaways as part of the publisher’s Secret Wars summer event. In a recent conversation with The A.V Club, Stevenson talked about the birth of Nimona, the phenomenon of Lumberjanes, and how she’s maintaining the spirit of the classic Runaways run in her new miniseries.
The A.V. Club: What was the first comic that had a big impact on you?
Noelle Stevenson: I’d say it’s probably Calvin And Hobbes or Spider-Man or Tintin or this weird, old graphic novel picture Bible I had. I didn’t have a whole lot of comics as a kid, but, yeah, I had those.
Advertisement
AVC: That sounds like a solid variety, too.
NS: Yeah. I think I only had one trade of Tintin and one trade of Spider-Man and then a couple of Calvin And Hobbes. The newspaper funnies, I loved those.
Advertisement
AVC: When did you start reading comics regularly?
NS: Not too much later. I didn’t get into comics until college and it was sort of an accident. I ended up in a sequential arts class and that’s where I first—I was reading webcomics, but even then, I was very casual about it. But it was around then that I actually started reading comics and seeking out comics. It was an experience for me; I never really saw myself going out of my way to check that out.
AVC: What were the big books for you when you were getting into comics?
NS: Gosh. I still wasn’t reading anything by Marvel or DC at the time, but I did read Sandman. A friend of mine lent me a bunch of Sandman comics. Is that still technically Vertigo or whatever?
Advertisement
AVC: Yeah.
NS: That one was kind of my gateway. It was one of several books that came and introduced comics as a storytelling genre to me, at a point where I could recognize the story that it was telling. So it was that, I was reading a bunch of webcomics—Hark! A Vagrant, Gunnerkrigg Court, just all of the big-name webcomics, I was very interested in that. Those were the kinds of stories I hadn’t seen told before anywhere else so I was very interested. It was like webcomics were the “indie comics” that started to pull me at the beginning there.
Advertisement
AVC: Was that when you started experimenting with sequential art? How soon after taking that class did you start making your own comics?
NS: We started making our own comics for the class, but it was—at the time I was going through a really rough period of my life and I was having a lot of trouble communicating with people. And I was using my art as a way to communicate some of those feelings, but I didn’t necessarily feel like using illustrations was really effective at that or effective in the way that I wanted it to be. So when I took that class and started making comics, something just kind of clicked for me. It was this midpoint, and this marriage of text and illustration was something that was very, very effective for me in communicating and telling stories, and I’d had so much trouble achieving that through other means, through just speech or through just writing or through just illustration and it changed things for me. They were short comics, one- to two-page comics, but it just opened this whole new world of communication for me and I was hooked instantly.
Advertisement
AVC: When did you first get the idea for Nimona?
NS: I was a junior at school and I had just taken my first comics class, and we were doing an exercise for this other class where we had to create our own characters and Nimona just kind of came out of that. I decided that I liked her so much that I wanted to do a comic with her. So I did a two-page comic of her for my final in that class and I took another comics class the next semester and I did a four-page comic with her, then a 10-page comic with the same characters, and then I was like, “I wanna do this.” I know what the ending is, I want to tell the story. So with encouragement from my teacher, who helped a lot with just refining my process, I decided to do a webcomic.
AVC: What did the characters look like in those very first comics, not necessarily just appearance wise? Did their characters change from working on it in class and working on the webcomic?
Advertisement
NS: Well the original two-page comic is the actual first two pages of Nimona. So on the website, that’s how they appeared. I did have to go through a sketch process to edit their characters, but I think they’re all pretty close to original concepts to begin with. Nimona always had a kind of punky hairdo and was this tough figure and she wore this dress. Goldenloin always had this flowing, golden hair. Ballister always had—I don’t know if he always had the goatee—but he always had that swept-back dark hair and dark armor. Yeah, they didn’t change too much.
AVC: How did Nimona end up at Harper Teens for the print version?
NS: I had been posting it online for about a couple of months, I think. It was the summer of 2012, and I was interning at the time in L.A. at Boom! Studios and posting this webcomic at the same time and my agent—the guy who would go on to be my agent—contacted me and he worked at Inkwell Management in New York and had found my webcomic and seen my other work and was interested in representing me and he thought he could sell this. I was very skeptical at first, so I took my parents to go up to New York and visit him in person and make sure that he was the real deal because I figured if anyone was going to be able to tell, it would be my parents. So then I signed with him and I went back to school in the fall and I was still updating my comic and I managed to make it my senior thesis for senior year in school. So I had plenty of time to work on it and while I was doing that, Charlie was laying the groundwork to sell it and we struck a deal with HarperCollins and I think that all happened the first semester of my senior year.
Advertisement
AVC: How did that segue into the creation of Lumberjanes? How did you meet Grace Ellis and Shannon Watters and Brooke Allen?
NS: Well, I mentioned the internship. I was working as a design intern for Boom! Studios and Shannon was my supervisor/mentor and I had a very close relationship with her and with Boom! Studios and with our editor on Lumberjanes, Dafna [Pleban] and I stayed in touch with them and Shannon started sending work my way. So I did a four-page Adventure Time comic for them, I did covers and then I moved back to L.A. after I finished school in 2013 and it was my first day, my first weekend back in L.A., and I met Shannon for brunch and she pitched me this idea over brunch. And she didn’t even get the words out, I think she got five words into the description of the series and I was like, “Yes. I don’t know what you’re going to ask, but, yes, I want to help out on this. I want to be involved.” So at first, they paid me for character designs and I designed the campers and Rosie and Jen and then Shannon asked me if I’d come on as a co-writer and I said yes, of course. Then everything else, we hired the artists and then it just fell into place from there.
Advertisement
AVC: What is the co-writing process like? How do you split the work?
NS: I’m writing with Shannon right now on some of the more recent issues and, generally, one of us will run point on each issue, depending on how we decide to divide that up. [Issues] #10 through #12 are supposed to be Shannon’s because Shannon felt very strongly about the story we were telling, so I did the B-story on that one and punched things up and it’s better and I think it reads more cohesively if one person is holding the reins for a story with support from the other party. Then #14 through #17 are a passion project of mine and then on #13, we workshopped it between the two of us and a lot of the brainstorming for that one took place in person and that’s one of the more important parts of writing.
Advertisement
Most of the important stuff happens when it’s two people sitting down and workshopping it and going over it and figuring it out. So, yeah, it differs between the individual issue and what writer you’re working with and just whatever ends up working best for you. We try to help each other out and play to each other’s strengths as much as possible, so there are definitely things I will turn over to Shannon and say, “I think you should do this part,” or she’ll do the same for me and, yeah, we just try to be a support system for each other.
AVC: You mentioned that when Shannon pitched Lumberjanes to you, you immediately jumped at the opportunity. What was the thing that attracted you to the book?
NS: I think the words that she had said before I said yes were probably, “Girl Scout summer camp supernatural mystery monsters.” Those were probably all in there and that’s all I needed to hear. I really love a good adventure-mystery story, an ensemble cast. I am a huge Scooby-Doo fan and I want to see more ensemble casts of girl characters. Then the whole lumberjack vibe of it was also super appealing visually as an artist. So, yeah, there wasn’t anything really not to like and I knew it was going to be a big deal.
Advertisement
AVC: What are your main priorities when designing a new character? Do those priorities change depending on the project?
NS: Yeah, the process changes for every story because the characters serve different purposes depending on what the story is. So, generally, I have a concept for the character whether I’m designing it for someone else’s concept of a character or building a character of my own. Generally, I start with my own concept, then sketch them out as a way to feel them in a real way. So if I’m doing a team, like in Lumberjanes, I do a lineup to make sure there’s enough variation between characters so that no two characters are running too similar to each other, that they all read separately and strongly. But designing a character for Lumberjanes is going to be different than designing a character for Nimona and is going to be different than designing a character for Runaways.
Advertisement
They’re all different stories and different genres as well and there are certainly design elements I go back to a lot, but it depends on the project. With Runaways, I didn’t design the characters, at least not fully. I gave input to Sanford [Greene], who worked his own magic on them and they came out amazing. But even then, as I was brainstorming, I had to draw the characters so that I could feel them in a real way. It’s hard for me to write in a—I have to be able to visualize it. When I’m just a writer on something, I just like to be able to have a feel for what all those characters look like and how they feel and how they interact with each other, so the sketching process really helps me with that.
AVC: Why do you think Lumberjanes has developed such a loyal, enthusiastic fan base?
Advertisement
NS: Because they’re a really underserved demographic. There aren’t a lot of books out there if you want to read adventure stories. There are more these days than ever before, I think, or at least more visible ones or mainstream ones, but it’s still a very underserved market. Even just the books for kids are underserved as well. There are slim pickings for parents with kids interested in reading stories about girl adventures. There are a few strong contenders, but they’re few and far between and I think that was very clear to us that there was a hole there. So we wanted to help fill that gap. That’s why we’re doing it. We’re writing for and drawing for our younger selves in a lot of ways, the stories that we wished we had at that age. And it’s obviously a passion project and I hope that resonates with readers. I want it to just bring a sense of adventure, and just feeling like the hero in the adventure—the Indiana Jones in your own story, and there’s been so few of those. I think that helps.
AVC: How important is it that Lumberjanes maintains a creative team of women? All the fill-in artists are women, which brings a lot of spotlight to people that don’t get as much attention in the male-dominated mainstream comics climate.
NS: Yeah, and it’s not like male writers or male artists can’t draw or write female characters, because that’s not true, but at the same time, there are plenty of woman writers or artists out there that aren’t getting employed as much as male writers or artists are and so we want to launch people who might not necessarily be discovered yet by the rest of the comic world. We want to be a place that can raise people up and bring them visibility and we want to be a place for women and gender non-performing people to really have that safe space and do what it is we want to do without trying to appeal to something else, some kind of idea of what comics should be or what comics are supposed to be. And that’s what Lumberjanes is; I think that’s important and what this book is. And, again, it’s not that I don’t think men can’t write as well as girls, because I know that’s not true, but that’s not this book.
Advertisement
AVC: You mentioned that you worked out a lot of the flashback issue, #13, in person with Shannon. How much of the girls’ backstories did you know when starting out the book?
NS: I think when we were writing the first eight issues, because we thought it was going to be a miniseries, I don’t know what their backstories were. I don’t know if I was told, if it wasn’t finalized yet, but we had character descriptions and I went to draw the character designs, but aside from that I don’t know how much or if that was even planned yet. In eight issues there is only so much you can put in there and it’s a pretty action-packed story, so there’s not a lot of time to really delve into each girl’s personality or family background. So when we were promoted to ongoing, I really felt like we had to double-down what each girl’s background was, what her motivation was, what her hopes and dreams and what made them unique from the others.
Advertisement
So me and Shannon went up into the woods and up into the mountains and put things out there. I really wanted to do character studies for each character, so we talked about our ideas for what each character was, where they came from, and then we both went off and wrote these one-page character studies of how each girl arrived at camp. So in that issue, Jo arrives with her dad in this fancy car and in the dialogue it sets up a lot about who she is. The way she sits in her seat, that sets up a lot about her character and I really, really wanted to do that and I was like, “Okay, moving forward, as we’re going to start delving more into these characters and what makes them tick, this is what we need to know.” And then me and Shannon, we each wrote our own versions of that and compared notes later to see how many ideas were similar and what were different and if we could merge them into one and that became #13. So those are basically all of our character studies that we had to pull together with the plot and that became the first day of camp issue.
AVC: That was probably my favorite issue. I get such a better idea of who all the characters are just from that little glimpse of the world they’re coming from. And seeing how those first moments of camp are different from the rest of the experience.
Advertisement
NS: Yeah. I was writing a Bravest Warriors episode a couple of years back and I was working with Breehn Burns on that, and he said something that really has stuck with me. My episode was all the characters as children, and he was talking about how sometimes when you watch cartoons they show the characters as babies, but they’re the same person—they’re just smaller versions of their grown-up selves. And he was saying that a lot of kids are completely different as children than they are as even a slightly older version of that child, and I’ve been thinking a lot about that. Ripley wasn’t always this ball of energy we all know her as. Around her own family and siblings, it was completely different for her. She was shy and scared on her first day, which you wouldn’t necessarily think after reading any other issues now. I wanted to see the way that was true, and who they were before they knew each other, and the ways they have kind of helped each other grow.
AVC: Which Lumberjane do you identify with the most? Who would your teenage self identify with the most?
Advertisement
NS: At the beginning, I cited Mal as the one I identified with most, or identified Ripley as the one I wanted most to be like and Mal was the one I actually was. She wants to be tough and wants to be strong and brave, but she’s sensitive and has a lot of fears. So I always kind of felt like I was Mal in that way, I guess I still am. But April has turned into a character that I also identify with a lot, which is weird because she’s very girly and I’m not very girly. But her aggressive nature and competitive side, she’s become so much fun, I think, as the series has gone on—just her bounding with confidence that I think, in a weird way, I relate with her a little bit more than the others. I didn’t really see that one coming, but she’s a little too much, she’s kind of too aggressive sometimes. But all of the characters, I think honestly, if I were there, I’d be Jen, and I think most of the readers would be. [Laughs.]
AVC: A few weeks ago, it was announced that 20th Century Fox has optioned Lumberjanes for a movie. I know you probably have no say in what happens, but do you have any hopes for that project?
NS: Well, I’m not really going to have a whole lot of input in it creatively. I don’t know how much I can say about it right now, but on our side, the most we can hope for is that it is true to the book even if not necessarily every plot point, and also that it just drives a lot of readers to the book. So, yeah, as long as those two things happen, I think we’re good.
Advertisement
AVC: How did you get involved with the new Runaways book?
NS: I’m pretty sure it was Nimona. I had just finished Nimona and Wil Moss reached out to me and he’s the editor of Thor and a bunch of Secret Wars books, so he asked me to do a story for the Thor Annual, which I did and it was really fun. But then he asked me if I wanted to take on this, but it wasn’t originally pitched to me as a Runaways book, it was pitched very vaguely as “Dr. Doom’s Hitler Youth.” [Laughs.] So that’s how it was pitched to me, but I was pretty into it. But other than that, it wasn’t super well defined and the characters hadn’t been hatched. I was really allowed to do whatever I wanted to do with it, so it turned into this school situation, this high-school story of a Breakfast Club kind of situation.
Advertisement
Then the name Runaways was attached later on, but it did match up with a lot of the plot points I had pitched before I was thinking of Runaways as any kind of reference point. And I think in a lot of ways it did make the story stronger. Molly wasn’t a part of the team before and then they were like, “You have to have one Runaway there,” and I was like, “I’ll take Molly.” She’s been such a fun character to write and she’s been so much fun on the team that I’m really glad that happened.
AVC: What is your connection to the original Runaways series? I’m a pretty huge Runaways fanboy, so I’m very excited for the new book. The main thing is that I want a good teen superhero team book, and there are not nearly as many as there could be right now.
NS: I think the connection to Runaways is less “How do I reboot Runaways and do the same thing Runaways did?” That, for obvious reasons, wasn’t on my mind at all at first, because that had not been decided yet. But once that became a part of the process, it was really more about how Runaways really struck a chord, and I think a lot of the reason it did was because it was the stories of these teenagers, but they weren’t all that Marvel-y. They were in the Marvel Universe, but they stood on their own; they were kind of in their own little universe in the Marvel world. And there were cameos from other characters, but it was completely its own thing and the character wasn’t about crossing over with Wolverine—even though some of those crossovers happened—it was their relationship to each other and their relationship to their parents.
Advertisement
It had such a unique voice, so for me, it was less about mimicking that voice and more about how can I use a Marvel event book to reinvent these characters and tell a story of teenagers in a world that they don’t understand and after everything changes and what they thought was true and right wasn’t true and all they had was each other to rely on. So when you boil down Runaways to its very simplest idea, I think that’s what the heart of it is. So if I can get that heart into my series as well even though it’s a miniseries, then I will be proud. [Laughs.]
AVC: How did you pick your group of characters for the book?
NS: I wanted characters that fit certain archetypes, certain high school archetypes because I really like high school stories. That’s something that happened as an adult. I didn’t actually like high school stories as a high schooler, but I was looking at stuff like The Breakfast Club or different high school movies I’d seen as almost a touchstone there to mash up with other influences. So Jubilee was one I wanted right away, because Jubilee is one of my favorite characters ever. But I was also changing a lot of these characters a lot, too. I change my characters more than I think some of the other series are changing theirs. I’m not really sure; there seem to be differing levels of transformation.
Advertisement
But, for example, Cloak and Dagger. I always really liked the look of Cloak and Dagger, so I always wanted them and this duality of that team. But I changed those characters a lot as well. I just switched their powers and made them siblings to see what new things that brought out of them. So, yeah, I kept sending Wil all of these things that I wanted to do. I said, “Could I have Bucky? Could I have Skaar?” I wanted to use these characters and I kept kind of thinking he’d say no, or “You can’t do that” or “That’s too weird,” but he didn’t. [Laughs.] So I just ran with it and tested the limits of what I could actually get away with because it is this kind of event of a story where everything is different. I think I could kind of get away with more things than if it was part of the main canon or anything like that.
AVC: It’s one of the really interesting things about Secret Wars. It’s an event where freedom is encouraged instead of the typical event crossover format that restricts the writers by forcing the books into unnecessary tie-ins. The Secret Wars books I’m enjoying the most are the ones that are really out of left field. How did Sanford Greene get involved with Runaways?
Advertisement
NS: I’m pretty sure Sanford was attached before I was. So yeah, Wil again, reached out to both of us and united both of us. I saw his art and looked at his portfolio to get a feel for what the book would look like and then I chose characters and designed characters to try and play to his strengths as much as possible. He has this really great energetic look to his art and he really brings these teens alive with that kind of dirt-bagginess. They’re all trying to look really cool in these costumes that they made for themselves and I love that. They’re lanky and tumble-y and I just really dig it. It’s been really cool to see what he does and I’ve never actually worked with an artist whose style is so different than mine. I think Brooke [Allen] on Lumberjanes, you can see more of the lines between my style and hers, but it’s been really cool to work with someone whose style is in a different genre and be able to tell a story that’s also in a different genre. That’s been really cool.
AVC: I actually do see some similarities in the body language of your art and Stanford’s. You both are very good with using body language to inform character.
NS: He doesn’t stylize the same way I stylize, but because he is so stylized, there’s a thread there where I kind of know what I’m writing whereas if I was writing for someone who generally did really detailed or epic-looking superhero books like Thor. That’s a little bit harder for me to write for because that’s not a visual language I understand as much.
Advertisement
AVC: So much of Nimona is about teenage identity and the potential for good and evil, and a big part of the original Runaways is that their parents are evil and they know they have that inside them and they don’t want to live that way. Are we going to see that explored in the new Runaways book?
NS: Yeah. The second issue is all that. I think the thing that really sparked my interest from Wil’s pitch at the beginning was that for the kids, they were brainwashed or raised in a certain way to be very cutthroat and aggressive to further the agenda, but they were seeing it, from their perspective, as the ultimate good, the ultimate purpose. For anyone who has been a part of any institution like that—it’s just that second you step outside of something where you thought you knew how things were, and something happens that makes you change your mind and you look around and nothing is the way you thought it was. And that maybe the people that you were viewing as the ultimate authorities, maybe you didn’t believe them anymore.
Advertisement
So that was my touchstone for it in a loose way. For me, it was on a much smaller scale, but for these characters, you were raised this way to be what you see as this highest glory and honor and then you realize it’s actually not good and you’re being trained to be a bad person and you’re not okay with that. And maybe the person you thought was looking out for your best interest actually isn’t. So that was the theme that really kind of pulled me in and I saw in that original pitch. So that’s one of the main things I’m playing with in the series.
AVC: Were there any lessons you learned working on Nimona that specifically informed your work on Lumberjanes and Runaways?
Advertisement
NS: Nimona was basically how I taught myself to do comics. I learned a lot just in the process of making Nimona. In a more specific case, there was a situation where the two lead knights in Nimona, as I was working on it, came to the realization that not only were they former best friends, but they had been romantically involved in the past. And I didn’t really know because I figured that out so |
under the First and Fourteenth Amendment.
Upcoming cases
In the coming days and weeks, the court will deal with two separate cases about partisan gerrymanders. The issue deeply divided them back in 2004 in a case called Vieth v. Jubelirer.
The conservatives on the court felt that the issue should be handled by the political branches. But Kennedy at the time was unwilling to bar all future claims of injury from partisan gerrymanders.
The court recognizes, for instance, that the map-drawing process is political, and that there will always be a certain amount of partisan politics involved. After all, it is politicians drawing political lines.
As Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in Vieth, "Political gerrymanders are not new to the American scene." He even noted there were allegations that Patrick Henry attempted, unsuccessfully, to gerrymander James Madison out of the First Congress.
But, Scalia concluded, "no judicially discernible and manageable standards for adjudicating political gerrymandering claims have emerged."
"The justices have struggled to figure out where to draw the line between acceptable partisan influence and an excessive influence that burdens the right to vote," said Danielle Lang of the Campaign Legal Center.
"Essentially, the court has not yet settled on a rule to determine the 'how much is too much' question," she said.
The 'efficiency gap'
Lang's group is behind one of the cases making its way to the court. She represents Wisconsin Democratic voters who are challenging district maps. Democrats claim that the maps discriminated against Democratic voters by diminishing the strength of their votes.
Last fall, a divided three-judge panel in Wisconsin held that the redistricting plan "was intended to burden the representational rights of Democratic voters throughout the decennial period by impeding their ability to translate their votes into legislative seats."
The court accepted the plaintiffs' standard based in part on the new work of political scientists who used voting data to calculate the amount of bias against one party or another in the maps.
The formula is called the Efficiency Gap.
"We proposed a standard that uses political science quantitative measures -- a new standard that has never been presented to the courts before," said Lang. "The court endorsed the use of those measures as evidence of the harmful effects of partisan gerrymandering."
Wisconsin state Attorney General Brad Schimel blasted the ruling and the standard. "Our maps are lawful and constitutional under any standard," he said in a statement.
Justices are also looking at another challenge to the North Carolina map that alleges an illegal partisan gerrymander.
A lower court denied a partisan gerrymander claim, but left the door open to future claims if plaintiffs did propose a standard. Supreme Court justices discussed the pending case behind closed doors last week.
Marc E. Elias, who served as the general counsel for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, is the lead lawyer in the case.
"Having been told last week that they can't engage in illegal racial gerrymandering, Republican legislators may now face a case in which they can't illegally use partisanship," Elias said in an interview.
"This will hopefully, finally, lead to truly fair redistricting throughout the country," he said.Roy Nelson took to his Twitter account this past Thursday to complain that Cage Fighter athletic brand, sponsor of Daniel Cormier, Kyle Dake and Jordan Burroughs, has outstanding pay that they still owe to fighters and wrestlers they have sponsored. The ensuing exchange between Nelson and Cage Fighter owner Mike DiSabato was...interesting.
Here's a screenshot (via Gareth White on The Underground) of the back and forth, which started with Nelson telling Cormier to get his money up front:
While Nelson doesn't specify to which fighters DiSabato owes money, there is a lengthy history of controversy involving DiSabato.
Dan Henderson sued MMA Authentics in 2008 when DiSabato was the company vice president:
The suit, which seeks both monetary and injunctive relief, claims MMA Authentics owes Henderson $50,000 plus undetermined royalties under a contract he signed with the Ohio-based apparel manufacturer on July 27, 2007. The company sells clothing under the Cage Fighter, MMA Authentics and Familia Gladitoria brands. "I haven’t seen the complaint," MMA Authentics Vice President Michael DiSabato told Sherdog.com Thursday. "I’ve breached nothing." According to the suit, MMA Authentics failed to pay Henderson a second $30,000 guaranteed royalty down payment that was due by May 1, 2008 plus subsequent royalties of 15 percent of the gross proceeds for Henderson licensed products and four percent for non-Henderson licensed merchandise through the Cage Fighter and MMA Authentics brands. The document also states that MMA Authentics failed to "provide adequate quarterly accounting statements as required by the Contract" to determine what said royalties are. The lawsuit also contends that MMA Authentics refused to pay an additional $20,000 sponsorship fee for logo placement Henderson donned on his clothing during his appearance against UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 82 last March.
Chuck Liddell also sued MMA Authentics, his $350,000 suit coming in 2010:
In his complaint, Liddell alleges that MMA Authentics, which was later taken over by Ultimate Brand Management and has also operated under the Cage Fighter, MMA Elite, and Familia Gladitoria brands, breached a 2007 agreement with Liddell that allowed them to make clothing and headwear bearing Liddell’s image, name, and/or signature in exchange for paying him 15 percent of the gross proceeds from the product sales. Liddell also claims that in breaching this contract, MMA Authentics invaded his privacy and engaged in unfair business practices under California law....
The crux of Liddell’s complaint relates to two provisions in the 2007 contract. First, the contract states that MMA Authentics’ use of Liddell’s likeness is for clothing and headwear products only; the agreement does not explicitly give MMA Authentics rights to make and sell any other "Liddell" products. The second critical contract provision obligates MMA Authentics to obtain Liddell’s approval on production samples and/or artwork for the merchandise before selling it. According to the complaint, Liddell discovered in August 2008 that MMA Authentics was selling more than just clothing and headwear -- they were selling "novelty items" with Liddell’s likeness on them as well. He claims that not only were these items never part of the agreement; he also never approved them.
In 2009 DiSabato's prior company Silver Knight lost a court battle with an ex-partner. Globex International Inc. was awarded $4,500,000 after suing Silver Knight and DiSabato:
Globex sued Silver Knight in U.S. District Court in Dallas in 2005. It alleged DiSabato agreed to obtain national license agreements in Globex’s name, but instead used Globex financial backing to get license agreements in Silver Knight’s name. A jury agreed, and on March 10 found in favor of Globex on all counts. DiSabato says the jury was taken in. "Here we have a 72-year-old man worth millions of dollars who claims I formed a partnership with him the first time I met him over a 20-minute conversation," he said. Globex sustained damages of $1.5 million, the jury verdict said. The jury also found Silver Knight should pay exemplary damages of $1 million while DiSabato should pay exemplary damages of $2 million.
Globex then had to go back to court, claiming that DiSabato transferred the Silver Knight business to MMA Authentics. In the end Globex was chasing down DiSabato for $5.3 million after legal fees and interest were added by a judge.
In a strange turn, DiSabato tried to sue Ohio State University because they ended Silver Knight's licensing deal. He claimed the licensing deal was ended after he complained in public about OSU landing a deal with Nike.
In the end, DiSabato and the university were able to reach a settlement that allowed him to sell off his remaining merchandise, but had to pay almost nine percent more in royalty fees than under the normal deal. The money from those sales, of course, was sought by Globex.
DiSabato has also sued other companies he formerly worked for and has been sued by employees as well as defaulting on a loan related to MMA Authentics, resulting in an order to pay Huntington National Bank nearly $1,000,000.
DiSabato hasn't been making fans lately either. When 2012 Olympian Jake Herbert asked wrestling clothing companies to "step up" and help with the cause to save Olympic wrestling, DiSabato responded by calling Herbert "not marketable," "a [sic] arrogant prick" and a "douche bag" as captured in this screenshot from Wrestling Facts 1's call to boycott Cage Fighter:
And, looking around high school wrestling forums reveals stories like this one from Jason Roush, then coach of Glen Este and now head coach at Elder High School in Ohio:
We ordered our team gear through Cage Fighter this year. We know the kids like the look of fight shorts and we loved the fact that Cage Fighter partnered with USA Wrestling. Unfortunately, it has not been a smooth relationship at all. We ordered the gear in October and were told we would have it in time for our first competition. We called the week before our first competition and were told once again that we would have the gear in time. The week of, we called again (about 3 days out) and were told, sorry we are really backed up and we won't be able to get you your gear. Mike DiSabato (the President) gave us his personal contact so we could talk to him about our situation (which we thought was pretty good of a "big wig" to do) and he helped get us the shorts at least before our first tournament, but we did not get our T-Shirt, Sweatpants, Sweatshirts, or bags. We were told once again "you will definitely have the rest of your gear by next Wednesday before you next competition." Wednesday rolled around and nothing. We send MULTIPLE emails asking where our gear was as we had a home dual and all we had was team shorts. Luckily our gear came via UPS late Thursday night. Unfortunately, half the gear was printed differently, some of the logos were on the BACK of the sweatpants, some of the items had stains on them, and still no bags. It is now January and we still have no bags. We contacted Cage Fighter asking about the rest of our order THAT WE PAID FOR IN OCTOBER and we were told NO we were not getting the bags until our athletic director contacted them (which he has tried to do twice - with no answer) because they are upset we have told others the truth on social media. Talking to other local coaches and seeing the posts like the one above, I know we aren't the only ones in this boat, but because we have voiced out displeasure now they are holding our gear we have already paid for. In one email DiSabato said if you have any other complaints (about the crappy product we got) you can come to Columbus and speak to me face to face - like he wants to fight or something. Needless to say, we will never go through this company again. It has been an awful experience - and our kids who have paid for their gear are still waiting on their bags. The last two threads have been shut down - but maybe since someone from Cage Figther started this one, it will stay up.
Again, Nelson was very vague about who he believes Cage Fighter owes money to, but these stories are likely why some were so quick to believe that there was something to Roy's words.
Bloody Elbow has reached out to Nelson to ask for him to explain his allegations as well as reaching out to DiSabato to get comment on Nelson's comments and the other matters covered in this article. We will provide updates if and when they become available.Yet the survey, conducted online during the first week in December, shows how deeply unpopular the plan is among Americans. Of the 2,524 adults in the survey, just 22 percent believe it will actually lower their taxes, while 35 percent said they thought their taxes would stay about the same.
If Congress can meet a Christmas deadline to pass a bill, the president said, “Americans will see lower taxes and bigger paychecks beginning in February.”
Passing the tax bill would give the administration and the Republican-controlled Congress its first big legislative achievement of the year. “A lot of jobs and a lot of money will be created,” President Trump said in a speech at the White House Wednesday.
Republicans are determined to get their tax legislation signed, sealed, and delivered to President Trump’s desk next week, and yet according to a new VICE News/SurveyMonkey online poll, 56 percent of Americans oppose the tax reform proposals.
Read more
Republicans are determined to get their tax legislation signed, sealed, and delivered to President Trump’s desk next week, and yet according to a new VICE News/SurveyMonkey online poll, 56 percent of Americans oppose the tax reform proposals.
Passing the tax bill would give the administration and the Republican-controlled Congress its first big legislative achievement of the year. “A lot of jobs and a lot of money will be created,” President Trump said in a speech at the White House Wednesday.
If Congress can meet a Christmas deadline to pass a bill, the president said, “Americans will see lower taxes and bigger paychecks beginning in February.”
Yet the survey, conducted online during the first week in December, shows how deeply unpopular the plan is among Americans. Of the 2,524 adults in the survey, just 22 percent believe it will actually lower their taxes, while 35 percent said they thought their taxes would stay about the same.
[vn-styled-image attachment="37216" vn-styled-image-size="feed-width" /]
The respondents were taken from a pool of 3 million people who take SurveyMonkey surveys and is weighted for age, race, sex, education, and geography using Census data.
Republicans were only slightly more likely to believe the tax plan would save them money: 36 percent thought they’d pay less in taxes, while 45 percent felt their taxes would be about the same.
Despite that, Republicans overwhelmingly support the overall tax plan, with 82 percent in favor. So Republicans on Capitol Hill and President Trump have the base’s support. By contrast, only 10 percent of Democrats support the bill, showing a deep partisan divide over the proposal.
In his speech Wednesday, the president made his closing argument to the Congress, which is reconciling two versions of the bill, and the American people. “We didn’t become great through massive taxation and regulation,” he said. “This is for the people of middle income and for companies that will create jobs. This is for the people of America.”
[vn-styled-image attachment="37217" vn-styled-image-size="feed-width" /]
The president spoke at the same time when the tax reform conference committee was meeting for the first time to publicly discuss how they'd reconcile the House and Senate versions of the tax reform bill. But that meeting was just for the cameras, because House and Senate Republicans had already made a tentative deal on how to proceed before the show got started.
A Republican source familiar with the negotiations confirmed the deal and that the corporate tax rate would be lowered from 35 percent to 21 percent instead of 20 percent, as was called for in both versions of the reform package, and it will kick in next year.
The corporate alternative minimum tax will be fully repealed, something that big companies will like a lot. Also, the top rate for individual income taxes will be lowered to 37 percent from its current rate of 39.6 percent, which gives Democrats a nice talking point about lowering taxes for the rich.
The VICE News/SurveyMonkey poll and others suggest that this legislation is the least popular tax cut in decades. No poll can quite explain why so many Republicans support the tax proposal, while also believing it won’t help them that much, but the answer may lie in the individual components of the bill.
Republicans like many of the major provisions, such as repealing the mandate to buy health insurance and lowering the corporate tax rate. The change they thought would hurt their families the most was the possible elimination of the state and local tax deduction. The deal made between House and Senate republicans modifies that deduction, making it less valuable, but doesn’t eliminate it altogether.
And when it comes to the increase in the deficit that the bipartisan Joint Committee on Taxation has reported this package will have, the Republican spin seems to be working. Nearly half (48 percent) of Republicans believe the tax cuts will actually reduce the deficit as businesses reinvest capital, and another 27 percent think it will have no impact on the deficit.
And that, in itself, is a win for the GOP.
[arve url="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4328169-SurveyMonkey-VICE-News-Tax-Reform-Poll-Topline.html" /][English | Japanese]
Namazu: a Full-Text Search Engine
What's Namazu
Namazu is a full-text search engine intended for easy use. Not only does it work as a small or medium scale Web search engine, but also as a personal search system for email or other files.
(The Japanese word `Namazu' means `catfish' in English.)
Search:
Table of contents
For searching a great amount of documents quickly, Namazu makes an index in advance. The concept of index is just similar to an index of book.
Namazu is being developed by Namazu Project. Namazu will work on UNIX, Win32 and OS/2 environments. For Win32, you can find Namazu for Win32: a Full-Text Search Engine page. For OS/2, OS/2 port of Namazu a full text retrieval search system is maintained by Shimizu-san. Each page provides binary package also.
Not only with cgi interface of Web, it works on command line as namazu. Other frontends are also available from other sources, such as namazu.el and Wanderlust on Emacs, Tknamazu on X Window System and Search-S on Win32.
Filters enable namazu to index various formats of files. Mail/News filter works with no additives, some other type requires third partie's filter executable although the calling capabilites included in Namazu package.
Namazu is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option) any later version (Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU GPL).
Namazu is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
Distributed files are signed by PGP since Namazu 2.0.13. It is signed by the TADAMASA Teranishi's personal key (ID: 0x10E7D14E, Key fingerprint = 474E 4D93 8E97 11F6 662D 8A42 17F5 52F4 10E7 D. You can get the key from http://www.openpksd.org/, http://pgp.nic.ad.jp/pgp/, http://pgp.mit.edu/ and/or http://pgp.dtype.org/
Distributed files are signed by GnuPG since Namazu 2.0.6. It is signed by the NOKUBI Takatsugu's personal key (ID: C2CE8099, fingerprint = BDD7 23BB B724 1FA2 1BB3 2EC0 2BA8 2602 C2CE 8099). You can get the key from pgp.dtype.org and/or db.debian.org.
Namazu Homepage
Hardware and Network resources are sponsored by OSDN.
Former hardware and Network resources were sponsored by NetVillage Co.,Ltd.
Copyright (C) 2000-2014 Namazu Project. All rights reserved.
$Id: index.html.en,v 1.107 2014-01-25 21:52:10 opengl2772 Exp $
webmaster@namazu.orgYOU may not have noticed but our sun has gone as blank as a cue ball. As in, it’s lost its spots.
According to scientists, this unsettling phenomenon is a sign we are heading for a mini ice age.
Meteorologist and renowned sun-watcher Paul Dorian raised the alarm in his latest report, which has sparked a mild panic about an impending Game of Thrones-style winter not seen since the 17th century.
“For the second time this month, the sun has gone completely blank,” Mr Dorian says.
“The blank sun is a sign that the next solar minimum is approaching and there will be an increasing number of spotless days over the next few years.
“At first, the blankness will stretch for just a few days at a time, then it’ll continue for weeks at a time, and finally it should last for months at a time when the sunspot cycle reaches its nadir. The next solar minimum phase is expected to take place around 2019 or 2020.”
If you’re confused about what a “blank” sun is, below is a picture of what it normally looks like, in all its solar flare-and-blemishes glory.
According to NASA, the sun goes through a natural solar cycle approximately every 11 years. The cycle is marked by the increase and decrease of sunspots — visible as dark blemishes on the sun’s surface, or photosphere. The greatest number of sunspots in any given solar cycle is designated as “solar maximum.” The lowest number is “solar minimum”.
“During Solar Max, huge sunspots and intense solar flares are a daily occurrence. Auroras appear in Florida. Radiation storms knock out satellites. Radio blackouts frustrate CB radio as well. The last such episode took place in the years around 2000-2001,” the space agency’s website
“During solar minimum, the opposite occurs. Solar flares are almost non-existent while whole weeks go by without a single, tiny sunspot to break the monotony of the blank sun. This is what we are experiencing now.”
Given that the sun is the main driver of all weather and climate, the sinister-sounding “blankness” to which Mr Dorian refers has some experts predicting a “Maunder Minimum” phase similar to one which began in 1645 and which is referred to as the “Little Ice Age”.
The Maunder Minimum, named after solar astronomer Edward Maunder, lasted for a brutal 70 years and was so cold the Thames froze over.
A slightly less intense ice age-like period called the Dalton Minimum — after British Meteorologist John Dalton — arrived decades later and lasted from about 1790 to 1830.
“If history is any guide, it is safe to say that weak solar activity for a prolonged period of time can have a cooling impact on global temperatures in the troposphere which is the bottommost layer of Earth’s atmosphere — and where we all live,” Mr Dorian says.
Mr Dorian’s findings back research by professor Valentina Zharkova of Northumbria University, who warned that a predicted sharp decline in solar activity between 2020 and 2050 was a sign another ice age was coming.
“I am absolutely confident in our research,” Prof Zharkova said.
“It has good mathematical background and reliable data, which has been handled correctly. In fact, our results can be repeated by any researchers with the similar data available in many solar observatories, so they can derive their own evidence of upcoming Maunder Minimum in solar magnetic field and activity.”
And there are other consequences of a sun without spots. Not least for astronauts who face the risk of having their DNA “shattered” by cosmic rays, whose potency surges during periods of solar weakness.
According to Mr Dorian, cosmic rays surge into the inner solar system “with relative ease” during periods of solar minimum.
“Solar wind decreases and sun’s magnetic field weakens during solar minimums making it easier for cosmic rays to reach the Earth,” he explains.
“This is a more dangerous time for astronauts as the increase in potent cosmic rays can easily shatter a strand of human DNA. Also, during years of lower sunspot number, the sun’s extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV) drops and the Earth’s upper atmosphere cools and contracts.
“With sharply lower aerodynamic drag, satellites have less trouble staying in orbit — a good thing. On the other hand, space junk tends to accumulate, making the space around Earth a more dangerous place for astronauts.”Verizon Bucks AT&T And Comcast, Supports Utility Pole Reform For Faster Fiber Deployment
from the bureaucratic-bumbling dept
In addition to high costs and the slow pace of digging up streets, one of the reasons Google Fiber is contemplating a pivot from fiber to next-gen wireless broadband is the boring old utility pole. As it stands now, new market competitors often have to navigate an archaic, elaborate and expensive process to attach fiber to poles. Quite often, attaching fiber requires having any other ISPs in the area notified in writing, then waiting for each one to move their own equipment piecemeal, one of several bureaucratic processes incumbents have long abused to slow down the arrival of new competitors.
When Google Fiber began more seriously deploying fiber, it proposed new "one touch make ready rules" in many municipalities. Under these revised rules, a licensed, insured third-party contractor is allowed to move any equipment on utility poles with owner approval. In many instances, these contractors are the very same ones used by large ISPs themselves. The regulatory reform is estimated to streamline the pole attachment process by six months to a year.
But because this regulatory reform would make it easier for broadband competitors to come to market, large ISPs like AT&T, Comcast and Charter (Spectrum) decided to sue cities like Louisville and Nashville for proposing such reforms. Of course these regional mono/duopolies can't admit they're predominately motivated by anti-competitive reasons, so they've tried to argue they're simply worried that the reform will cause rampant outages (again, these are licensed, insured contractors already employed by many ISPs). Charter even tried to claim the reforms violated its First Amendment rights.
But something shifted this week in this long-standing, if under-noticed and important debate. Verizon has decided to buck AT&T and Comcast, and has published a blog post throwing its full-throated support behind Google's one touch utility pole reform (though you'll note they're careful not to mention their arch-nemisis Google by name). Verizon is quick to highlight the often-absurd bureaucracy at the heart of this process:
Under the current system, a new attacher must contact a pole owner to get permission to attach, wait for a survey, and then, wait some more as each existing attacher moves or adjusts their attachments – a process called “make-ready” (literally, making-the-pole-ready for the new attachment). Right now, this often proceeds sequentially, with multiple reviews and truck rolls for each of the providers already attached to the pole. It can take six months to a year – and piles of paperwork – to get a new attachment approved and placed on a pole.
Having deployed $25 billion or so in fiber to the home, the company proceeds to note that it, if anyone, should know a little something about this process. As such, it notes that a streamlined pole attachment process would bring a lot of efficiency to the entire affair, helping to speed up broadband deployment nationwide:
Instead of the current ungainly process, there would be one truck roll to make all of the adjustments to existing attachments and to add the new attachment. Just one disruption to traffic instead of multiple trucks. And to care for legitimate concerns about protecting networks and ensuring safety, the FCC could limit participation to qualified, licensed contractors who are approved by pole-owners, agree to abide by all applicable safety standards, and who, along with the new attacher, will indemnify pole owners and existing attachers if things go wrong.
The question of the hour is: why isn't Verizon siding with AT&T, Comcast and Charter out of a desire to protect itself from added fixed-line broadband competition? Verizon no longer cares about fixed-line broadband competition. As we've long noted, Verizon's FiOS expansion is all but frozen, and it's been selling off its unwanted fixed-line customers and networks piecemeal. Verizon's plan now is to gobble up AOL and Yahoo, and become an advertising and media company like Google -- but one that controls the conduit and the message via its nationwide wireless network.
And most of the current hotbeds for fiber deployment (pretty much everywhere but Verizon's territory in the Northeast) won't impact Verizon's remaining fixed-line infrastructure. But these fiber deployments outside of Verizon's territory will help fuel Verizon's fifth-generation (5G) expansion plans, which is why, for once, Verizon is actually on the right side of the issues -- instead of trying to keep the bureaucratic status quo intact.
Filed Under: broadband, fcc, one touch make ready, otmr, pole attachments
Companies: at&t, comcast, verizon(Oct-16-2018) I bought this used and had it shipped to me in Mexico. It arrived way sooner than expected and in good condition. I could tell it was used by the box because it had been opened and a slight rip to the cardboard. Not a problem at all. The static bags seal was opened so I could see it was used that way also. BUT... to look at the card it looked brand new not one speck of dust or dirt or scratch or even a sign it has been installed. I installed it into my system replacing the two GTX 980s in sli to the GTX 1080 ti. My System specs are:
Windows 10
Monitor ASUS PG278Q ROG Swift 27-Inch,
Samsung SyncMaster TA950 (FOR 3d gaming), and a crummy Asus 27" SonicMaster for cc SECURITY.
Motherboard Asrock Z97 Extreme6
Processor I7-4790K (BX80646I74790K)
Memory Corsair Vengeance Pro Series 16GB (CMY16GX3M2A2400C11A)
Graphics Cards Sli 2-Way GTX 980 SC ACX 2.0
Storage Kingston Digital 240GB SSD OS (SV300S37A/240G)
Storage 4 x Seagate 2TB SSHD RAID 0+1 Storage (ST2000DX001)
Storage backup 4 x 2TB SSHD RAID 5 (ST2000DX001)
Storage 2nd backup 2TB HDD
CPU Cooler Zalman Computer Noise Prevention System (CNPS9500AT)
Case Rosewill Gaming ATX Full Tower THRONE-W
Two NZXT SENTRY 2 fan controllers (for the twelve fans)
Power Supply Enermax MODU87+ 900 W
Keyboard Cyborg V.7
Mouse Cyborg RAT 7
Headset Sennheiser
Logitech Surround Sound Speaker System Z906
Mediasonic HFR2-SU3S2 PRORAID
After installing Geforce and the new drivers I see in device manager that the GTX 1080 ti shows but with Error 43 I do some research and tried "all the fixes" changed PCI slots (even though I know my 980s worked fine in it) uninstalled "All drivers" and reinstalled many times. Go on the phone with Tec support and after about 6 hours me and the Tec come to the conclusion it is a bad card. Amazon is sending me a return label and returning my money. My final thought is this: Knowing it was Sold by: Microcode Electronics and it looked like it never was even used I'm thinking this was bought for stock and put on the shelf. A local customer bought it after the warranty was up and returned it for cash back. Then it was put up for sale on Amazon and sent to me. Now it will be sent back at the loss of a total of $200 bucks for shipping here and back. I'm not sure if the loss if from Amazon or the seller Microcode Electronics. Either way, if this card was good when it left the store it should have been good when it arrived. I'm a little suspect of it ever working at all. Update: I also reinstalled my GTX 980's in SLI and it booted up and works just fine in the same PCI slots I tried the 1080 ti in. No driver problems or board problems. It was/is a bad card being sold as "Like New"
(Oct-17-2018)After finding out I will have to pay $100 dollars shipping and another $100 dollars import fee just to send this back I thought I will try one more time to see if it really is broken. Now, knowing the same driver "PACKAGE" from Geforce has the same drivers "In the package" for the 1080 I first tried just swapping the cards. Error 43 so I uninstalled all existing drivers and reinstalled the drivers for a Zotac 1080 ti Amp. Again in the device manager Error 43. I downloaded the latest Firestorm software and installed it. The first think I tried was to turn the fans on (they do not spin at all) when I adjusted the fan speed to the highest setting I got an error message "No temperature Probe!" also no fan spin. At this point I am convinced this card is #^%@$ed up.
My feeling is that the seller Microcode Electronics knew this was a bad card. That would explain why is was sold as "Like new" condition and when I viewed the card I could tell it had never run at all let alone the fans ever even spinning. I hope Amazon does something about this. The card might have been over clocked and fried or it might have been DOA to Microcode Electronics and then they decided to pass the misfortune on to me. All I know is it will now cost me AT LEAST $200 dollars to send the card back in hopes I get my $749 dollars back!Even if you’re not a chemist, you’ll doubtless remember learning about acids back in school. They’re routinely described as strong or weak, concentrated or dilute. But what’s the difference between a strong acid and a concentrated acid? Explaining that is a little trickier than it sounds; in this graphic, we give it a go!
It’s easy to forget that a large number of the acids we use are solutions – the acid dissolved in water. Though we’ll often use them in this form, acids can come as solids (such as citric acid and tartaric acid), liquids (such as ethanoic acid, the acid in vinegar), and gases. One of the acids we’re most familiar with, hydrochloric acid, is a solution of hydrogen chloride gas in water.
Acid strength is related to how acids behave when they’re in water. When added to water, the acid will react with the water molecules to form ions. The presence of hydrogen ions produced by this reaction (well, technically hydronium ions, H 3 O+) is what causes acidity. Acid strength is related to the degree to which this reaction occurs.
A strong acid will react with water and end up essentially 100% ionised in solution. If you could peer into the solution at the molecular level, you’d see next to no acid molecules remaining; they’d all have split up and formed ions. A weak acid, on the other hand, hardly ionises at all, and you’d still see the acid molecules in their original form if you could look closely enough.
So that chemists can compare the strength of one acid to another, they use the concentrations of the acid and the ions produced by its reaction with water to calculate the acid dissociation constant, K a. This constant then gives a numerical value to the degree to which the acid ionises. The higher the value of K a, the more the acid ionises in water, and the stronger the acid.
Because the K a scale can wind up with some fairly small numbers, it can be tricky to directly compare acid strengths easily using it. For this reason, we can also convert the number to another logarithmic scale, referred to as pK a. This scale churns out much more convenient numbers, though its relation to acid strength is the other way around to that of K a. In pK a ‘s case, the lower its value, the stronger the acid.
How, then, does this relate to the concentration of an acid? Is a strong acid the same as a concentrated one? Well, not quite. In fact, it’s possible to have a concentrated strong acid – but it’s also possible to have a concentrated weak acid. This is because concentration refers simply to how much of the acid is present in a given volume of water, and how much the acid ionises in water is largely irrelevant to this. A concentrated acid contains a large amount of acid in a given volume; a dilute acid contains a small amount of acid in a given volume.
You might recall that the pH scale can be used to gauge the concentration of an acid. This scale is actually directly linked to the amount of hydrogen ions in a solution. The greater the number of hydrogen ions in a given volume, the lower the pH will be (the pH scale typically runs from 0 to 14). Because the scale is logarithmic, for every drop of one whole unit in pH, the hydrogen ion concentration increases tenfold.
In terms of acid safety, both strength and concentration are important, but concentration has greater significance. Strange though it may seem, a concentrated weak acid can actually pose a greater risk than a dilute strong acid, which is why it’s important to be aware of the difference between the two!
If you want to find out more about acids, there’s an older post on the pH scale here, as well as a closer look at some of the acids found in fruits here. Additionally, for chemistry students, there’s also a titrations guide!
Enjoyed this post & graphic? Consider supporting Compound Interest on Patreon, and get previews of upcoming posts & more!
The graphic in this article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. See the site’s content usage guidelines.
References & Further Reading
Share this: Facebook
Twitter
Reddit
LinkedIn
TumblrHouston, Texas, welcomes more than 7 million tourists each year to see the Space Center, the Zoo, or the museums. What patrons won’t see, however, are the stray cats and dogs — an estimated 1.2 million of which live in the metropolis — starving, suffering, and reproducing at an alarming rate.
Houston, we have a problem.
Approximately 400,000 cats and dogs are currently in Houston-area shelters looking for adoptive homes, and this is in addition the million-strong roaming the streets, meaning there is more than one available cat or dog for every two city residents — many of which already have pets. With numbers like this, the problem is not going away any time soon.
Within the city limits, it is legal to sell unvacc |
[ edit ]Hours after announcing the capture of 49 international peacekeepers and three Sudanese, rebels from the Justice and Equality Movement, or JEM, in Sudan's Darfur have released them, according to Reuters.
According to Reuters, the soldiers are members of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID. Most of them are from Senegal, and others from Ghana and Yemen.
More from GlobalPost: Sudan says it killed main rebel leader
"All peacekeepers are free but we are holding three Sudanese accompanying them," a JEM spokesman was quoted as saying.
Earlier on Monday, JEM spokesman Gibreel Adam Bilal had told the news agency: "We are holding the UNAMID soldiers because they entered our territory without permission and because they were accompanied by three Sudanese we suspect work for the security services."
JEM accuses the international force of helping Sudan spy on areas it controls, according to Bilal. If that is found to be the case, the group will demand that the UN fire the head of the UNAMID mission, he said.
A UNAMID spokeswoman was quoted as telling Reuters that, while the peacekeepers had been released, they were not leaving the area while the three civilians remained in captivity.
The BBC noted that relations between JEM and the peacekeeping force had not been particularly good recently.
JEM is one of several rebel groups in the west and south of Sudan fighting against the government. In late December, the Sudanese armed forces announced they had killed JEM's leader, Khalil Ibrahim.
More from GlobalPost: George Clooney's solutions for SudanTeen Wolf‘s fifth season promises to change all the rules for Scott and his pack of supernatural misfits. And after getting a first look at the June 29 premiere (MTV, 10/9c), I can promise it’s worth the wait.
And while I can’t give away any major spoilers — the wrath of MTV is far more terrifying than any “Doctor” in Beacon Hills — I’ve been given the thumbs-up to share some of my first impressions from the episode, five to be exact. Ready? Let’s do this:
* Long-suffering Lydia fans, especially those lamenting the scene-stealer’s lack of meaty material in seasons past, will love what the premiere has in store for everyone’s favorite banshee.
* At least one new ‘ship will likely be born when fans watch the premiere — while another existing ‘ship will get some much needed wind in its sails.
* Derek may be gone, but he’ll never be forgotten. He of the Legendary Eyebrows is mentioned several times throughout the premiere, along with another fallen favorite.
* Cody Christian fits effortlessly into the world of Teen Wolf, though it’s unlikely your final opinion of his new character will be formed by the end of the hour.
* Lastly, as always, pray for Stiles.
OK, that’s all I’ve got for now, but TVLine will have lots of Teen Wolf scoop in the coming weeks. For now, drop a comment with your hopes for Season 5 below.Upland Mom Faces Murder Charges After Baby Found Unresponsive, Toddler Allegedly Dropped From BalconyAn Upland mom threw her one-year-old son from the second story of her apartment where investigators later found her second child unresponsive, police said Tuesday.
LA County-Wide Outbreak Of Whooping Cough Hits Exclusive Harvard-Westlake HardHarvard-Westlake, which has campuses in Studio City and Beverly Crest, was hit particularly hard, with 30 students coming down with whooping cough since November.
Ex-Pasadena Police Lieutenant Gets Prison For Selling Over 100 Off-Roster GunsFederal authorities found more than 60 weapons in his Sierra Madre home during a raid in February of 2017.
Suspect Goes On Stabbing Spree In Huntington BeachA night of fun ended in an emergency room after a man who is believed to be homeless allegedly stabbed two men at a popular bar in Huntington Beach.
Horse Death Toll At Santa Anita Race Track Rises To 19The main track was closed Tuesday for tests and evaluation. A 3-year-old gelding had to be euthanized Monday after suffering an injury during training.The Shin Bet, IDF, and Israel Police arrested in the past two months five suspects, from Jenin and Tulkarm, who planned on committing terror attacks in Tel Aviv and other cities.
Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter
It was released for publication Monday that Yasmin Shaaban, a 31-year-old resident of Jenin was planning to impersonate a pregnant Jewish woman, wearing a suicide vest. The suspects confessed to also planning a shooting attack, attempting to bomb a bus full of soldiers, and even kidnapping a soldier.
Weapons confiscated during investigation
According to the plan, Shaaban was to try to receive an entry permit to Israel, on medical grounds, which she would use to enter the country and commit a suicide bombing. During their interrogation by the Shin Bet, the suspects admitted to planning the suicide attack, as well as several others.
At the time of their arrests, Israeli forces confiscated a customized M-16, a hunting rifle, ammunition, and materials used in bomb-making.
The other members of the cell were 22-year-old Manadel Taqiz, 20-year-old Maatez Taqiz, 22-year-old Abed al-Halek Masimi, and 22-year-old Marwan Tzdeki – all from the small village of Attil, northeast of Tulkarm.
The cell planned to make use of an apartment within Israel, used by unauthorized immigrants, to prepare the suicide bomber for her mission. They confessed to being in contact with an operative in the Gaza Strip, who guided them in preparing the suicide vest.
It was agreed that Hamas and Islamic Jihad would claim responsibility after the attack.
The military court in Samaria received indictments against Manadel Taqiz and Yasmin Shaaban conspiracy to commit murder, membership in an illegal association, as well as other offenses.
Indictments against the other members of the cell were pending.Ontario lawyers recently got an e-mail from the Law Society of Upper Canada reminding them of a new policy. It requires them to write a statement of principles acknowledging their obligation to promote equality, diversity and inclusion. What could be wrong with that? Quite a lot, say opponents of the policy – and they have a point.
The law society is a professional association, not a church. It oversees the conduct of lawyers, not their beliefs.
Many lawyers rightly object to being told what their principles should be or what world view they should promote.
Story continues below advertisement
The statement reads to them like a loyalty oath – take it, or you're a traitor.
One law professor is seeking an injunction to block the rule. Many others have written letters, posts and opinion pieces to object.
Requiring the statement was one of 13 recommendations that came out of a report on barriers faced by non-white lawyers.
The law society's e-mail instructs members: "You will need to create and abide by an individual Statement of Principles that acknowledges your obligation to promote equality, diversity and inclusion generally, and in your behaviour towards colleagues, employees, clients and the public. You will be asked to report on the creation and implementation of a Statement of Principles in your 2017 Annual Report."
The statement is mandatory, although law society leaders have said they won't impose sanctions on holdouts, at least initially.
Those who back the new rule insist it does not limit anyone's right to free speech – heaven forbid.
But if it did, lawyer Jennifer Quito writes in the Law Times, "it would nonetheless comprise a reasonable and demonstrably justified infringement of this right."
Story continues below advertisement
Story continues below advertisement
The good that would come of it would far outweigh any damage.
She says the pushback against the new rule only goes to show that some lawyers don't accept that discrimination exists – why else would they raise such a fuss?
The law society should not count on the "personal opinions of non-experts in the field who state these barriers do not exist simply because they have not personally experienced them."
In other words, it's not that they have legitimate, sincere objections to a mandatory statement of principles.
It is that they don't recognize the reality of racism and the need to fight it. Their opposition to this perfectly reasonable, wonderfully progressive measure proves it.
There it is – the reason, in a nutshell, why opponents of the rule are so worried. Order everyone to swear allegiance to an agreed set of beliefs, however benign, and it is not long before those who object are being denounced as unbelievers.
Story continues below advertisement
If you don't profess undying loyalty to the revolution, you must be a counter-revolutionary.
If you don't renounce communism, you are un-American.
If you don't write a statement on equality, you must be a racist.
In fact, opponents of the law society's rule say they are as committed as anyone to equality and inclusion. They recognize the profession is not as diverse as it should be, a problem highlighted just last week when this paper published a much-discussed article, Black on Bay Street, by a woman who said she felt like an outsider in a big Toronto law firm.
They just don't like being told what to think. It's the principle of the thing – and it's an important one. Even with the best motives, it's not right to force people to recite a set of beliefs. It's a sure way to crush dissent, and no democracy can thrive without dissenters.
Lawyers in particular should be free of such pressure.
Story continues below advertisement
Defendants and other clients count on them to be impartial professionals.
As law professor Arthur Cockfield wrote in The Globe and Mail, accused individuals need "to be able to trust one man or woman, one person who is completely on his side against the vast resources of the state. We call this person a lawyer."
The law society has every right to make sure that lawyers are upholding ethical and legal standards. It has no business telling them what to believe.Businesses built on good values ultimately become the most successful. Think Whole Foods, Starbucks, hospitals built to the highest LEED standards using designs known to uplift spirits and promote healing, high-end event vendors who give back, and (ahem) Make It Better.
As Wharton Business School wunderkind professor Adam Grant demonstrates in his New York Times best-selling book “Give and Take,” the most successful CEOs are givers, not takers. The rising tide of social entrepreneurs and millenials who insist that their work and their consumer dollars do good are further evidence of Grant’s theory.
Now, there’s proof that this may also be true for professional sports teams – as demonstrated by the Chicago Cubs.
As you will learn in this video, the Ricketts family bought the Cubs with three goals – to build a World Series-winning team, to restore Wrigley Field and to “be a good neighbor” by promoting as much good in the community as possible, through Cubs Charities and by underwriting the charitable efforts of players and staff.
As Connie Falcone, VP of development for Cubs Charities, explains, “No other Major League Baseball team offers this kind of comprehensive support of player and staff philanthropy.” The team finds this helps the Cubs recruit big talents who also have big hearts – like Manager Joe Maddon.
Make It Better is delighted that Maddon selected our Philanthropy Award winner Crushers Club to benefit from Main Event, his first major fundraiser with Cubs Charities. We’re also delighted that the team Maddon manages is poised for post-season play.
Shop For Good
Purchase this Vintage Inspired Chicago Cubs Sign from Vintage Nest in our Shop For Good. $42Republican leaders on the Hill were “visibly annoyed” that Ivanka Trump joined an Oval Office meeting to “say hello” during their Wednesday meeting with President Trump on a must-pass spending bill, according to reporters who spoke with an aide.
Democratic and Republican congressional leaders met with Trump on Wednesday to discuss a plan to increase the debt ceiling, prevent a government shutdown and pass a spending package offering aid to victims of Hurricane Harvey.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to multiple reporters, who cited an aide with knowledge of the meeting, the leaders “careened off topic” when the president's daughter entered the president’s office near the end of the meeting.
Aide with knowledge: "Toward the end of the meeting Ivanka Trump entered the Oval Office to'say hello' and the meeting careened off topic." — Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) September 6, 2017
Cong. source to @deirdrewalshcnn on WH meeting: GOP leaders "were visibly annoyed by Ivanka’s presence" at end, said "careened off topic." — Kevin Liptak (@Kevinliptakcnn) September 6, 2017
Aide briefed on WH mtg says @IvankaTrump entered Oval to say hello, and GOP leaders were visibly annoyed by her presence. — Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 6, 2017
Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanBrexit and exit: A transatlantic comparison Five takeaways from McCabe’s allegations against Trump The Hill's 12:30 Report: Sanders set to shake up 2020 race MORE's (R-Wis.) office later pushed back on reports that GOP leaders were visibly annoyed when Ivanka Trump interrupted the meeting, with a spokeswoman for the Speaker calling it "false."
Please stop reporting this. It's false. You have it on the record here. https://t.co/Tvoi5Y4cjG — AshLee Strong (@AshLeeStrong) September 6, 2017
The House passed a $7.85 billion bill for Harvey relief Wednesday, after Democrats vowed to attach language to the relief package that will increase the debt limit and fund the government until mid-December. The move set up an upcoming showdown over whether the Senate would pass a bill to increase the debt limit as part of the legislation.
Democrats coming out of the meeting Wednesday said that Trump agreed to support the Democratic goal of raising the debt limit as part of the bill conservatives fought back on. Ryan had earlier in the day called the Democratic proposal to tie the Harvey aid to a three-month debt-ceiling extension "disgraceful."
Updated: 6:15 p.m.(NaturalNews) A member of the Spokane, Washington, City Council says he was threatened with removal from a health panel if he espoused anything other than the consensus view that vaccines for children should be mandatory.In an interview with local CBS affiliate KREM, Councilman Mike Fagan says other council members called on him to resign from the Board of Health following comments he made about vaccines.His vaccine crime was stating that he did not believe that the "science of vaccinations is not settled yet" regarding vaccines, according to a separate report bySince making his statements, Fagan has clarified them somewhat, but other council members, whose behavior borders on the maniacal, say he needs to clear up the issue altogether -- meaning, he needs to parrot what they believe -- or they will remove him from the board.The fracas comes amid a current outbreak of measles, which has infected both unvaccinated andAmericans, causing debate about just how effective the vaccines really are."I do not get vaccinations, but I'm not going to impose my opinion or my will on anyone else," Fagan said in an interview with KREM.Fagan posted his views on his Facebook page, but fellow council members have called that unacceptable."I don't think he would have been appointed to the board of health by this city council had we known that he had anti-vaccination and anti-science views on this issue," said Ben Stuckart, the Spokane City Council President.Fagan maintains that there are studies that have been conducted questioning the effectiveness and safety of immunizations, adding that some lawsuits are also challenging their efficacy. He also says he is speaking his mind as he is permitted to do under the First Amendment's freedom of speech clause."I believe that the science of vaccinations is not settled yet," said Fagan.Other council members, however, say Fagan ought to be encouraging everyone to get vaccines, even if they don't want them or they haven't been shown to be safe or effective."He bears a big responsibility being on the health board, to promote public health, to preserve life in Spokane County," Jon Snyder, a Spokane City Council member, told the local CBS affiliate.Fagan also told the local news team that, even though he does not believe in vaccines, he would not necessarily vote his point of view as a member of the board of health."It's not about me; it's about everybody else, and if this is the majority that is asking for the vaccinations, that's fine," said Fagan.That rational position is simply not good enough for the very irrational positions of the remaining board members. They believe that even suggesting that immunizations are not necessarily all they are cracked up to be is too dangerous.As further reported by KREM:According to Spokane's posted profile of Fagan, he is a disabled U.S. veteran who served as a contracting officer in the Army and is co-founder and co-director of an organization called "Voters Want More Choices," a political action group advocating lower taxes.Also, according to the site:SomePresident Francois Hollande has said France is intervening to stop al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Mali who have been moving toward the capital, Bamako.
The announcement by the leader of France, the former colonial overseer in West Africa, came on Friday after Mali's interim president Dioncounda Traore appealed for French help in stopping the rebels' advance.
"I have agreed to Mali's demand, which means French forces provided support to Mali this afternoon," Hollande said. "The operation will last as long as is necessary."
The Malian president declared a state of emergency on Friday, and French Foreign minister Laurent Fabius said France's military had already carried out air strikes.
Earlier on Friday, a Mali government official told the AFP news agency that Mali's army was being backed by Western military personnel in a fresh counter-offensive against the fighters.
"European military, including French, are present in Mali to repel any southward advance by the Islamists," the official told AFP on Friday.
"We will not reveal their number, nor where they are based, nor what equipment they have.
"They are here. We thank these countries who have understood that we are dealing with terrorists."
Efforts to retake the central town of Kona were launched from Sevare, a town about 70km to the south, where the Malian army has a command base.
Kona was seized by Islamist armed groups on Thursday and about 1,200 fighters have moved to within 20km of Mopti, a strategically important town on the frontier between rebel-held and government-held territories.
Mopti hosts a key Malian military airstrip, which would be vital for any missions into the north of the country.
Until now, France - like other EU countries - had limited its plans for assistance to training and logistics support for Mali's troubled army, and had deferred to Mali and its African neighbours to resolve the crisis.
"They really needed to be propped up by another force," said Al Jazeera's Rory Challands, reporting from Paris. "It doesn't seem like Mali's government has much time."
As troops from Nigeria and Senegal were already deployed, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara - the chairman of West African bloc ECOWAS - on Friday authorised the immediate sending of soldiers.
"The chairman, after consultations with his peers and conforming to Security Council resolution 2085, is deciding to authorise the immediate sending of troops on the ground under the [African-led International Support Mission in Mali] to help the Malian army defend its territorial integrity," Ouattara said.
The EU will also speed up preparations to send a team to Mali to help train the country's army to fight Islamist rebels, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Friday.
Military solution
France has hundreds of troops across western Africa, with bases or sites in places such as Senegal, Ivory Coast, Chad and Gabon.
The rebels "have even tried to deal a fatal blow to the very existence of Mali", Hollande said in an earlier speech on Friday to the French diplomatic corps.
"France, like its African partners and the entire international community, cannot accept that."
France will act under authority of three recent UN Security Council resolutions that call on member states to help Mali resolve its crisis in the face of a terrorist threat, both through political and military means, French diplomats have said.
Speaking to the AP news agency after the president's speech, a top French diplomat said his country has completed its deployment of two surveillance drones to the region - to help boost reconnaissance of the rebels' movements and activities.
The official said France is now able to deploy military assets "very quickly" and insisted that Hollande's speech was "not just words... When you say that you are ready to intervene, you have to be."
France's position has been complicated because armed groups in northern Mali currently hold seven French hostages.
In an updated travel advisory, the French foreign ministry said on Friday all non-essential French citizens should leave. International aid organisations have begun evacuating staff from the narrow central belt of the country.
For months, Hollande had explicitly said France would not send ground forces into Mali, but the president's speech suggested that French air power would be used - marking a shift from recent public statements from Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian that it would not be.TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry is craftng a plan to offer discounts on public medical insurance premiums as an incentive for scoring higher on screenings.
Officials hope such rewards will keep more people free from Type 2 diabetes and other preventable but costly diseases.
A health ministry council will begin discussing the proposal Friday, with legislation to follow next year. Most insurance programs would likely begin adopting the discounts in fiscal 2016.
Under the incentive scheme, people who show improvement in blood pressure, blood sugar and other metrics would qualify for lower premiums. To do so, they would need to undergo a type of checkup introduced in recent years to fight hypertension, obesity and other conditions that can lead to serious trouble such as heart disease and diabetes.
People who are already in good health may receive cash, fitness club coupons or other perks in lieu of discounts. How about 10,000 yen ($90) for staying out of the hospital for a year?
(Nikkei)Wikidata, a Wikimedia project spearheaded by Wikimedia Deutschland, recently celebrated its third anniversary. The project has a dual purpose: 1. Streamline data housekeeping within Wikipedia. 2. Serve as a data source for re-users on the web; in particular, Wikidata is the designated successor to Google's Freebase, designed to deliver data for the Google Knowledge Graph
Microsoft's Bing search engine has followed much the same path as Google with its "Snapshot" feature drawing on Wikimedia content
Denny Vrandečić, the co-founder of the Semantic MediaWiki project, has to juggle three hats: he is a Google employee as well as a community-elected Wikimedia Foundation board member and the primary Wikidata thought leader
Citations to Wikipedia (blue) outnumber all other sources (red) together (yellow = unreferenced)
The circular reference loop connecting Wikidata and Wikipedia
Citogenesis
Jerusalem —one of the most contested places on earth
Errors can always be fixed
... to rule them all
Andreas Kolbe has been a Wikipedia contributor since 2006. He is a member of the Signpost's editorial board. The views expressed in this editorial are his alone and do not reflect any official opinions of this publication. Responses and critical commentary are invited in the comments section.Getty Images
The Bears spent a big part of their offseason trying to fix their offensive line, but they didn’t touch the most important part of the line.
And for incumbent left tackle Charles Leno, that kind of confidence is something he feels he needs to uphold.
The Bears went out and signed free agent right tackle Bobby Massie, in part because of his own skills but largely to move Kyle Long back inside. They also signed a raft of veteran interior blockers, but they never made a move to upgrade at Leno’s position.
“They believed in me,” Leno said, via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Now I’ve got to repay them.”
The former seventh-round pick fell into the job last year when Jermon Bushrod was injured, and showed well enough to keep the job when Bushrod was well. He also gave the Bears a degree of hope, or at least enough that he didn’t have to be high on the offseason replacement priority list.
“I know if I’m confident in my technical abilities — which I am and I’m still growing — I know I can play against anybody,” Leno said. “I feel like I have the confidence from the [2015 season]. But also I’ve got to go to work every day. I’m not settled in. I’m not just going out there going through the motions.”
He better not be. The Bears invested too much — or rather didn’t invest — for him to not be a trustworthy starter.Valve has released a new update for the games of The Orange Box sans Team Fortress 2, now available for download via Steam for both PC and Mac.
The patch improves performance when using anti-aliasing with ATI video cards across Half Life 2, HL2: Episode One, Episode Two and Portal, as well as a handful of fixes to issues related to the recent release on Mac.
The file can be automatically downloaded via Steam, if you own the game and haven’t received the update just restart the client. From the change log:
Half-Life 2
Fixed crash due to long hud hint messages, seen when playing in French
Fixed Lambda logo at end of credits being cut off (Mac)
Added pre-caching of GLSL shaders on game launch to prevent hitching in game (Mac)
Performance improvements when using anti-aliasing on ATI GPU’s
Half-Life 2: Episode One
Fixed localized content not loading properly resulting in English audio
Added pre-caching of GLSL shaders on game launch to prevent hitching in game (Mac)
Performance improvements when using anti-aliasing on ATI GPU’s
Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Improved frame rate on opening map
Fixed localized content not loading properly resulting in English audio
Added pre-caching of GLSL shaders on game launch to prevent hitching in game (Mac)
Performance improvements when using anti-aliasing on ATI GPU’s
Portal
Added pre-caching of GLSL shaders on game launch to prevent hitching in game (Mac)
Performance improvements when using anti-aliasing on ATI GPU’sNew version of Quotations from Chairman Mao, the world's second most published book, to hit Chinese shelves in November
It will not be especially little, and the cover will be only partly red. But a new version of the world's second most published book is due to appear on Chinese shelves, decades after it fell from favour with the end of Maoism.
The re-emergence of Quotations from Chairman Mao – better known as the Little Red Book – comes amid an official revival of the era's rhetoric. China's leader, Xi Jinping, has embraced Maoist terminology and concepts, launching a "mass line rectification campaign" and this week even presiding over a televised self-criticism session.
Only the Bible has been printed more often than the Quotations, which was a keystone of Mao's personality cult. A billion copies circulated in the Cultural Revolution – the population pored over it in daily study sessions; illiterate farmers memorised chunks by heart. In the west, translations were brandished by radicals.
But the political frenzy ebbed, and production of the Little Red Book had mostly stopped long before Mao's death; afterwards, as China embarked on reform and opening up, officials began to pulp copies. Later, in a more relaxed age, commercial reprints and introductions to his thought appeared, but no new editions of his works: "This has been a very sensitive topic," said Daniel Leese, author of Mao Cult and an expert on the era at the University of Freiburg.
The new version is due for release in November, just before the 120th anniversary of Mao's birth. Its chief editor, Chen Yu – a senior colonel at the Academy of Military Science – describes it as a voluntary initiative. "We just want to edit the book, as other scholars work on the Analects of Confucius… We don't have a complicated political purpose," said Chen.
But Leese suggested it was a "trial balloon" from Maoist sympathisers: "If they hadn't seen how the general tone towards the Maoist heritage had changed, I don't think they would have dared. This is party internal politics popping up in the public sphere."
Chen said his team of 20 had worked for two years on the project, under pressure from left and right. The title may not include the word "quotations", he said, and will be attributed to Mao Zedong instead of Chairman Mao because the former is more neutral.
The best-known editions are the military versions covered in red plastic and shrunk to fit the pocket of an army uniform – hence the book's nickname in the west.
Many knew the text well enough to cite quotes by page number; they became ideological weapons to be wielded in any political struggle. Under siege by Red Guards, the then foreign minister reportedly retorted: "On page [X] it says Comrade Chen Yi is a good cadre …"
But they also coloured even commonplace exchanges, as described by one historian: "Serve the people. Comrade, could I have two pounds of pork, please?"
This time the cover will be at most partially red, said Chen. The new book will draw on other compilations of Mao's sayings and writings, remove quotes wrongly attributed to Mao and correct those which have become distorted.
An "internal reference" version with limited distribution will run to double the length – 240,000 characters – and include "thoughts about the Cultural Revolution and other special events confirmed as wrong by the government", Chen said, so that people could study Mao comprehensively.
Leese noted that unlike other collections of Mao's thought, the Little Red Book covered his later years in power – which saw the purges of the Anti-Rightist Campaign, the Great Famine and Cultural Revolution.
Mao still occupies a place of honour in modern China. His body lies in state in Tiananmen Square; his portrait hangs from its gate; and his face gazes from banknotes. Others have appropriated his heritage in unexpected ways: "There is a whole industry of Mao's thought as managerial wisdom, much as became of Sun Tzu's Art of War," said Jeremy Paltiel, a Carleton University expert on the Communist party.
But the party has drawn a veil over the later years of Mao's rule since its 1981 resolution proclaimed that he was 70% right, 30% incorrect. The return to that period's terminology has confused and in some cases concerned observers.
"[Xi] might not be the initiator, but he certainly endorses it," said Joseph Cheng, a political scientist at the City University of Hong Kong.
Some perceive a tactical manoeuvre, designed to appeal to leftwingers estranged by the trial of Bo Xilai and concerned that financial and economic reforms will be unveiled at a key party meeting in November.
Others see genuine conviction: "Xi believes in Maoism. He wants to completely revive Mao's policy and he has already started it," said political scientist Zhang Ming.
That does not mean a return to class struggle or abandonment of the market. Rather, it is about the Great Helmsman as a guide for party leadership.
"It is not the same era any more," said Beijing-based historian Zhang Lifan. "He will not actually do exactly what Mao did. He just makes a gesture as if he will."DON’T PANIC!
Following-up various discussions we had about the need to provide a guide for people that want to understand our rather complex packaging eco-system, and how they can use it,
I’ve decided to start The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Packaging. The goals are:
consolidate in one single Sphinx-based powered website, tutorials and documentation on how to use the various packaging tools and how to package, release and distribute your Python application.
provide guidelines to the community that are up-to-date with the latest work done in packaging
see if it can be added in the Python documentation itself at some point when its mature, as Georg Brandl suggested.
If you want to join this documentation effort, by adding your existing documentation to this guide, by writing new one, or by helping on copy editing or reviewing, let me know (#distutils on Freenode, or by mail)
The project repository is hosted on bitbucket: http://bitbucket.org/tarek/hitchhiker-guide-packaging/
I’ve also created a google group: http://groups.google.com/group/packaging-guide
AdvertisementsState remits life sentence for 11 out of 13 cops; kin of the murdered to challenge order.The state government, on behalf of the governor, issued an order remitting the life sentences of 11 people who were accused in the 2006 ‘Lakhan Bhaiya’ fake encounter case.Vashi resident Lakhan Bhaiya, 33, whose real name was Ramnarayan Gupta, was branded a gangster and killed in a staged police shooting in Versova on November 11, 2006. The prosecution alleged that the encounter was led by former senior inspector Pradeep Sharma, who conspired with Lakhan Bhaiya's disgruntled business partner to bump him off.Twenty-one people, including 13 policemen, were convicted and awarded life sentences by the Mumbai sessions court in July 2013.Ex-encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, who was also an accused in the case, was acquitted, while three other policemen -- Inspectors Pradeep Suryawanshi, Dilip Palande, and constable Tanaji Desai -- were convicted of murder. The remaining 18 accused were convicted of abetting the encounter.The Home department of the state issued the orders on behalf of the governor, on Wednesday, under Section 432 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which grants discretionary power to the state government to remit sentences of convicts.The order states that those who will be released are Dilip Palande, Nitin Sartape, Ganesh Harpude, Anand Patade, Prakash Kadam, Devidas Sakpal, Pandurang Kokam, Ratnakar Kamble, Sandeep Sardar, Tanaji Desai and Vinayak Shinde.The 11 accused had applied to the state seeking a suspension of their sentence and the government had accordingly sought a say from all the concerned departments regarding the case.The Home department issued orders to this effect after receiving the responses from all the concerned departments. The government has kept 10 conditions for the convicts to adhere to, and if found flouting any, the order will be cancelled with immediate effect.One of the conditions mentioned in the order states that the convicts have been released for a period of six months at present.“It is a general procedure according to which, people are initially released for six months under Section 432 of the CrPC, and then they get an extension on the same once the six month period is over,” said a senior police officer.Other than the 11 who will be released after the order, only one policeman -- Pradeep Suryanwanshi -- will remain behind bars. One out of the convicted 13 had died while serving his sentence in jail after suffering a cardiac arrest. Suryawanshi has also applied for a remission of his sentence but is still awaiting an order on it.Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, the deceased Ramnarayan Gupta’s brother said, “I will challenge the order and see that it is cancelled. Those accused of killing my brother have been sentenced to life by the honourable court. They cannot be free despite that.”Former Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) had some strong words for the National Security Agency last week, arguing that the federal government should abolish it and throw leaker Edward Snowden a celebratory parade.
Kucinich spoke following a Washington screening of "Terms and Conditions May Apply", a documentary film about federal data-mining operations and online privacy. The film's director Cullen Hoback asked Kucinich what he thought should happen to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, who lied to Congress about NSA surveillance.
"Clapper should be held responsible, but he won’t be, because that’s the condition we’re in right now.... In a just world, Snowden, we'd be having ticker-tape parades for him. But that's not what's going to happen," said Kucinich, in remarks flagged by Techdirt. "Frankly -- and I'm saying this with a lifetime's experience in government here -- it's time to punch the NSA's ticket here. They've ruined the brand. They've destroyed the idea of privacy."
Kucinich's comments came amid revelations from an internal audit that the agency has violated privacy rules thousands of times since 2008, when Congress granted it broader powers.
Despite President Barack Obama's vow to increase oversight of the agency, the implications of the information Snowden leaked has many members of Congress concerned.Mike Breen has sneaked up on us — if stealth is possible when you’ve called Knicks games on radio and TV for a quarter-century and been the lead voice of the N.B.A. on ESPN and ABC for a decade.
Breen’s longevity is not a surprise. He is an easy, comfortable presence whose play-by-play is smooth and accurate, who pays attention to small details and engages his analysts — Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy at ESPN and ABC, and Walt Frazier at MSG Network — as if they are carrying on a game-long discussion. He has no shtick — unless you count “Bang!” for critical 3-pointers as one.
The N.B.A. finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers is his record 11th finals, two more than Marv Albert (with NBC) and Dick Stockton (CBS). And he will continue his run with a newly announced contract extension.
“I know this sounds corny and clichéd, but it’s kind of overwhelming to think about it,” he said by telephone Friday between Games 1 and 2 of the finals. “I grew up watching the N.B.A. when Marv was the man — and he’s still the man — and I listened to Stockton call all those Lakers-Celtics matchups. I’ve been blessed to have all these opportunities come my way.”SEASON'S END is a 120 PAGE HORROR/FANTASY hardback book mixing prose with original paintings creating a non-traditional graphic novel unlike anything you've seen before.
"The world has grown dark and magic has become tainted and dangerous. A young man, Mimdal, is the last living priest that can perform the miracles of old. He and his protector, the soldier Adrielle, are enlisted to find out why the gods have fallen silent. Along with the brutish Dunlari and his savage captive, Grib, the dark wizard Falhern, |
The song topped the charts of Australia, Belgium, Italy and the United Kingdom. It peaked within the top 5 of Austria, Canada, France, Ireland, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Netherlands, and Sweden. On the ARIA Singles Chart, "Bring Me to Life" peaked at number one where it stayed for six weeks.[44]
"Bring Me to Life" charted within the top 20 of every other country of its release. In the United Kingdom, the song spent four weeks at the top of the in the UK Singles Chart, which in turn helped Fallen peak at the top of the UK Albums Chart.[45][46] The song also topped the European Hot 100 chart.[47] On June 4, 2011, the song returned to the top of the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart, eight years after its original release, remaining at number one for two weeks, on June 11, 2011 to June 25, 2011. It fell to number two, remaining there for three weeks, and on July 17, 2011, "Bring Me to Life" returned to number one again and remained there for three weeks. The song remained within the top 10 into October 2011.[48] As of June 2018, the song has sold more than 745,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[49]
Music video [ edit ]
The accompanying music video for "Bring Me to Life" was directed by Philipp Stölzl.[50][51] After the success of the video, Lee received some film offers.[52] Talking about the video, Stölzl said: "On the one hand, it brings out the most catchy part of the song, the bridge, the duet with the male and female vocals. On the other hand, it reflects the ['Daredevil'] soundtrack background of the song. I did not know if I would have to use a stunt double for most of the angles, which would have restricted me a lot, but then it turned out that Amy did everything herself, hanging on Paul's arm for hours without getting tired. In the end, she is the one who made that shot strong."[50]
The video begins with Amy Lee dressed in a grey nightgown, barefoot and asleep in a bed within a building, dreaming of falling through the air below a skyscraper. As the chorus begins, the band and Paul McCoy are performing in another room as Lee awakens and makes her way to the window. Lee exits the room out of the window and proceeds to climb up the side of the building with the wind blowing her hair and nightgown until she reaches the window of the room where the band is performing. During the bridge, McCoy notices Lee and opens the window, which causes her to lose her balance, and she grabs the ledge she was previously standing on. Throughout the bridge and final chorus, McCoy unsuccessfully attempts to pull Lee up, and she falls from his grasp down the building. However, she is then shown asleep in her bed again.
Ann Powers from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote: "You might not immediately recognize Amy Lee's name, but you would know her if she plummeted past you from the top floor of a tenement building" and: "That's how anyone with basic cable first saw the singer for the band Evanescence, in the video for the song "Bring Me to Life": falling backward in slow motion, her hair unfolding like a long black veil as she headed for hard pavement below."[14] According to Joe D'Angelo of MTV News, Lee's "...teetering on a ledge" in the video shows a "...distressed and emotionally wrought heroine."[53] Corey Moss of MTV wrote: "...certainly as intense as a superhero movie, the sequence also gives a nice visual to the song's most memorable lyric, 'Save me.'"[50] MTV's Gil Kaufman wrote that "...singer Amy Lee dreams that she has super Spidey powers, climbs up the outside of a building, spies on her creepy neighbors, then plunges into the abyss"[54] and added, "...even if your boyfriend is a buff rap-rocker guy, he might not be able to save you from falling off a 20-story building to your death. And don't play on ledges in a billowy dress on windy days."[54] John Hood of Miami New Times wrote that the "gothopolis backdrop" used in the video "would make Tim Burton green with envy".[30] The music video for "Bring Me to Life" was nominated at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Rock Video.[35]
Live performances [ edit ]
[12][55] During the live performances of "Bring Me to Life", McCoy was replaced by John LeCompt.
Evanescence performed "Bring Me to Life" as part of the set-lists of the Fallen and The Open Door tours. The band performed the song on August 13, 2003 in Chicago during their Nintendo Fusion Tour. During the performance, former Evanescence guitarist John LeCompt replaced McCoy during the song.[12] According to Blair R. Fischer: "The guitarist did an adequate job imitating McCoy while he laid down the song's fiery, Iron Maiden-esque riff."[12] The band performed "Bring Me to Life" in Wantagh, New York on July 23, 2004. According to Joe D'Angelo from MTV News: "the massive popularity of the song was a smart set-list assembly that helped the crowd respond in kind."[56] A live performance from the tour filmed at Le Zénith in Paris is included on the band's live album Anywhere but Home. The live recording contains a piano and vocal solo before the song's intro and features John LeCompt performing guest vocals.[57] The song was performed on November 21, 2007 at WaMu Theater.[58]
Evanescence performed "Bring Me to Life" at the Webster Hall in New York City in September 2003.[26] During the performance, Lee wore an Alice in Wonderland dress covered with scrawled words, including the words Dirty, Useless, Psycho and Slut.[26] She explained her reasons for wearing the dress. On her previous visit to New York City, Lee had met a DJ from the radio station K-Rock, who had made what she called horrible comments about the pleasure he had derived from the picture of her face on the cover of Fallen.[26] She had felt too ashamed to say anything, so she decided to respond through the dress, which represented something innocent that had been tainted.[26] The band performed "Bring Me to Life" during their concert at The Saltair on October 25, 2006. Lee wore red and black, with a skirt.[59] She was called a magnet of the night by the Deseret News' reviewer Larry D. Curtis.[59] Other performances of the song were in Magna, Utah in October 2006,[60] and the Air Canada Centre in January 2007.[61] The band also played the song at a secret gig in New York City on November 4, 2009.[62] During their concert at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on August 17, 2011, Evanescence performed "Bring Me to Life" to promote their third album, Evanescence.[63] They also performed the song during the 2011 Rock in Rio festival on October 2, 2011.[64] While reviewing a concert by the band, Caroline Sullivan wrote "Slowly raising her arms during Bring Me to Life's thunderous, strobe-lit fade-out, she's missing only a chariot."[65]
Christian controversy [ edit ]
Evanescence were promoted in Christian stores until the band made it clear they did not want to be considered part of the Christian rock genre, such as fellow Wind-up Records artists Creed.[66] In April 2003, Wind-up Records chairman, Alan Meltzer, wrote to Christian radio and retail outlets to explain that, despite the "...spiritual underpinning that ignited interest and excitement in the Christian religious community", Evanescence are "...a secular band, and as such view their music as entertainment."[67] Therefore, he wrote, Wind-Up "...strongly feels that they no longer belong in Christian markets."[67] Almost immediately, many Christian radio stations removed "Bring Me to Life" from their playlists.[67] Terry Hemmings, CEO of Christian music distributor Provident, expressed puzzlement at the band's about-face, saying: "They clearly understood the album would be sold in these [Christian music] channels."[68] In 2006, Amy Lee told Billboard that she had always opposed Evanescence being identified as a Christian band.[69] She further added, "Can we please skip the Christian thing? I'm so over it. It's the lamest thing. I fought that from the beginning; I never wanted to be associated with it. It was a Ben thing. It's over. It's a new day."[69]
2017 re-work [ edit ]
"Bring Me to Life (Synthesis)" Single by Evanescence from the album Synthesis Released August 18, 2017 ( ) Format Digital download Genre Orchestral
electronica
In 2017, a rearranged version of the song was recorded for the band's fourth studio album Synthesis. The new version was made available for digital download and streaming on August 18, 2017; it was also made available for instant download for concertgoers who purchased tickets for the band's Synthesis Tour.[70] The Synthesis version of "Bring Me to Life" is a stripped-down one, as it replaces the drums and the guitars from the original version with a strings arrangement accompanied by crashing cymbals, "tension-building" timpani drums and various electronic elements throughout.[71][72] Several critics have described its new arrangement as "dramatic", with Billboard's Sadie Bell calling it "just as rich" as the original and Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos calling it a "cinematic take".[71][73] Lee has described the song as "new" to her again due to the fact that she incorporated musical elements and vocals which she had "heard in [her] head" since its release.[73]
Cover versions and usage in media [ edit ]
Mixtery used up-beat samplings of the song in a hit also titled "Bring Me to Life" featuring Nigerian Eurodance artist Eddy Wata.[74] American pianist John Tesh released an instrumental version of the song on his albums A Deeper Faith, Vol. 2 (2003) and A Passionate Life (2007).[75][76] In 2003, Kidz Bop Kids covered the song on their fourth studio album, Kidz Bop 4. In 2008, black metal band Wykked Wytch covered the song and produced an accompanying music video. Their version was digitally released in October of that year on iTunes Store.[77] In 2010, German band Gregorian released a cover version of the song on their album Dark Side of the Chant.[78] In 2011, the song was featured in the episode "The Inner Circle" of American sitcom The Office's seventh season. In 2016 Chris Daughtry of American rock band Daughtry covered the song for the soundtrack of The Passion: New Orleans.
"Bring Me to Life" was included in the games Rock Band,[79] Rock Band Unplugged, Band Hero, DLC for SingStar,[80] and Fight Girl Battle World.[81] The song was used during the Calgary Flames' run in the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs.[82] The song served as the official theme song of the WWE pay-per-view event No Way Out (2003).
Katherine Jenkins version [ edit ]
Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins recorded a cover version of "Bring Me to Life" on her 2009 album Believe.[83] Jenkins said: "I'd mentioned that I wanted to try Evanescence's Bring Me to Life and David [Foster] said 'you can't sing that'. I came out there questioning my vocal abilities. I'm just not used to being told that. I went home that night and I just thought to myself 'you have to pull yourself together, he's worked with so many incredible artists you have to step up the plate.' I did talk myself round and I went in there the next day on a mission. It's good to be pushed sometimes – and I proved him wrong!"[84] Jenkins decided to change the guitar-led and percussive original version and instead, "make it more orchestral with the percussion coming from the strings."[85] Alfred Hickling of The Guardian gave a mixed review of Jenkins' cover, calling it "histrionic."[86] However, a writer of BBC Online chose her version of the song as a highlight on the album.[85] On October 23, 2009, the song was available for digital download as the second single from Believe.[87] On November 23, 2011, Jenkins sang the song live at the Leicester Square station in London.[88]
Track listing[87]
Digital download No. Title Length 1. "Bring Me to Life" 3:46 2. "Bring Me to Life (Almighty Club Mix)" 7:03 3. "Bring Me to Life (Almighty Club Radio Mix)" 3:07
Weekly charts
Credits and personnel [ edit ]
Credits are adapted from Fallen liner notes.[8]
Track listing [ edit ]
International CD single (April 7, 2003) [91] "Bring Me to Life" – 3:56 "Bring Me to Life" (Bliss Mix) – 3:59 International CD Maxi (April 14, 2003) [91] "Bring Me to Life" – 3:56 "Bring Me to Life" (Bliss Mix) – 3:59 "Farther Away" – 3:58 "Bring Me to Life" (music video) – 4:14 Australian CD Single "Bring Me to Life" – 3:56 "Bring Me to Life" (Bliss Mix) – 3:59 "Farther Away" – 3:58 "Missing" – 4:15 French CD single "Bring Me to Life" – 3:56 "Bring Me to Life" (Bliss Mix) – 3:59 Subsequent pressings single (June 24, 2003) [92] "Bring Me to Life" – 3:56 "Bring Me to Life" (Bliss Mix) – 3:59 "Farther Away" – 3:58 "Bring Me to Life" (music video) – 4:14 International DVD (June 2, 2003) [93] "Bring Me to Life" (video) "Bring Me to Life" "Bring Me to Life" (live acoustic version) "My Immortal" (Live acoustic version) "Interview footage UK cassette single "Bring Me to Life" – 3:56 "Farther Away" – 3:58 "Bring Me to Life" (Bliss Mix) – 3:59
Charts [ edit ]
Certifications [ edit ]
See also [ edit ]Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Momo competed against golden retrievers and German shepherds to win a place as a contract police dog
A chihuahua named Momo (Peach) has passed the exam to become a dog in the police force in western Japan, in what seems to be a first.
The 3kg (6.6lb) dog is set to become part of a search-and-rescue team used for disasters such as earthquakes.
Its small size means it will be able to squeeze into places too narrow for dogs such as German Shepherds.
Chihuahuas, named after a Mexican state, are one of the the smallest breeds of dog.
"It's quite rare for us to have a chihuahua work as a police dog," said a police spokeswoman in Nara, western Japan.
"We would like it to work hard by taking advantage of its small size."
Momo, aged seven, will begin work in January.Honda will release a new CBR1000RR Fireblade for 2017, and these spy shots of a production-ready bike being ridden on track in Croatia last week finally reveal more about how the CBR will look, and the mechanical changes that will underpin its assault on the superbike crown.
The 2016 version of the Fireblade dynasty couldn’t continue into 2017 as the model is not Euro4 compliant, and as one of the very last bastions of relatively technology-free superbikes, the Blade also now looks decidedly out of date against its peers.
Three new Blades
TOP STORIES
Currently available in standard and a higher spec SP form, the 2017 line-up will also boast a customer race-spec version, taking the Fireblade family to three models. It’s unclear how these models will be named beyond CBR1000RR Fireblade, but various leaked documents and insider comments have referred to them as SP-1 and SP-2 for the road models – which might simply be internal codes for the models, but may also make it on to the fairings as a nod to the previous HRC-developed V-twin superbikes from the Noughties.
Electronics revolution
MCN’s research all points to a family of new Fireblades that break with the firm’s historical reluctance to festoon their flagship superbike with electronics. All the evidence points to an extensive electronics package, while the firm also look set to ditch some of their own tech in favour of third-party solutions. Lead amongst the casualties appears to be the C-ABS system, which – while effective – is very heavy, and a step or three behind the systems available from German braking system giants Bosch. So it’s little surprise that our sources suggest the 2017 Fireblade will use the Bosch 9ME Plus system, which delivers combined anti-lock braking with traction control, anti-wheelie, and Motorcycle Stability Control (MSC), all governed by the six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) already being used by the Fireblade’s rivals. It’s also understood some of the electronic controls from the road-legal MotoGP rep RC213V-S will be put in place on the Fireblade. This will include selectable torque control, engine braking control and power modes.
Mass reduction
The retirement of Honda’s C-ABS will contribute to a significant reduction in weight, suggested to be as much as 10kg, making the 2017 model around 5% lighter than the 2016 version – reducing kerb mass to around 200kg.
The bike seen on track in Croatia appears to be the base model – as it boasts none of the high-spec parts that sources suggest will be present on the flagship road version. The biggest visual clue to the spec is the more basic suspension. The top-spec version is expected to boast semi-active Öhlins suspension, while this bike is clearly running a Showa Big Piston Fork, as fitted to the current model. Interestingly, considering the spec of its competitors, Honda
appear not to have opted for the Balance Free Fork fitted to Kawasaki’s ZX-10R – and expected to appear on other 2017 superbikes – which could point to how keenly the base model Fireblade will be priced.
Although many elements of the new bike are instantly recognisable – such as the frame and the identical looking swingarm and wheels, there are many mechanical changes. These include a huge new ram-air system utilising a new headstock intake, a new airbox, a revised fuel injection system and a lot of work undertaken on the engine to reduce internal friction.
Road and race
The airbox modifications are important to the increased performance, which is partly needed to offset the increased tightening of emissions regulations – which are also responsible for the enlarged, reshaped, and repositioned exhaust. It will also benefit from ride-by-wire throttle control, which is a first for Honda on the Fireblade.
These changes have been done with both road and track performance improvements in mind. While the Blade has always been pitched as a road-orientated machine, racing is of crucial importance to the firm.
Aesthetically, the biggest immediate giveaway that this is the new model is the redesigned face of the Blade. Sharper and more focused than the outgoing model, it boasts a clear family resemblance to the CBR250RR Honda unveiled last month. The headlamps comprise a completely new quad-LED lighting system, which appeared to be being used by Honda’s endurance racing teams at Suzuka last month. The bike spied on track has the same headlamp profile, although the headlamp has been carefully taped over, making it impossible to see any detail.
Evolution game
The frame looks far more substantial, but this is in part due to redesigned fairings which expose more of the frame. However, we do expect the frame to be lighter and stronger than the outgoing model’s. Race teams have asked Honda for greater chassis control, and with so much of the bike’s development aimed at race success, it’s unlikely that Honda have failed to deliver on this. The rest of the fairing design appears to follow the outgoing model closely, while sharpening and reducing the bodywork in every area to deliver a more angular, and
European looking stance.
This may be an evolution rather than a revolution, but the ingredients are there for the result to be far greater than the sum of its changes – and the top-spec SP is certain to move the dial far more effectively than the slightly apologetic outgoing model could ever have hoped to.
Both road versions are expected to be officially revealed at this year’s Intermot show in Cologne, Germany – while the customer spec track version will arrive shortly after. We’ll bring you the whole story in the October 5 edition of MCN.
Shock tactics
This appears to be the lower spec base model, with Showa’s Big Piston Fork, and matching shock. Both will be fully adjustable, while the top spec model is expected to gain Öhlins semi-active suspension.
Race ready
While the main frame looks near-identical, we expect it will offer more rigidity, giving race teams more control at the cutting edge of superbike racing.
Sound system
The much-enlarged system allows for a larger catalytic converter, and sound control. It’s very similar in size to the new item featured on Suzuki’s GSX-R1000.
Euro flavor
Sharper, and more minimalist, the fairings feature large cutaways on each flank, exposing much more of the main frame. The fairings and tail unit all appear far more European in taste, which is hardly a shock considering the shift in buyers’ tastes towards European bikes.
Heart of the matter
Not an all-new unit, but the existing motor has been given a thorough overhaul to bring it into line with Euro4 requirements. It will be cleaner, more efficient, and more powerful, while we don’t expect it to match the current class leader’s 200bhp output.
Looking for the perfect two-wheeled companion? Visit MCN Bikes For Sale website or use MCN's Bikes For Sale App.Academy Award-winning director James Cameron (right) inspects engineering model of camera mast for NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover. Cameron is a member of the camera team for the Red Planet mission.
A 3-D zoom camera system developed for NASA's next Mars rover with the help of filmmaker James Cameron has been shelved due to a lack of time to get it ready for the mission's November launch.
The camera builder, Malin Space Science Systems of San Diego, Calif., was hoping to use the 3-D imaging system to replace the main fixed focal-length camera on NASA's new Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity.
That 3-D video capability on Mars was backed by Cameron, director of the 2009 box office smash "Avatar" and other films. Cameron also serves as a public engagement co-investigator for Curiosity, now being prepared for its voyage to the Red Planet.
NASA ordered the Malin-Cameron project to stand down after it became clear that the camera could not be installed on Curiosity in time to meet the mission's Nov. 25 launch date. The mega-rover is now undergoing final checks at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California for delivery to its launch site in Florida.
Time runs out
While development of the new zoom lens hardware was in the final stages, "insufficient time remained to complete the units and integrate them with the rover in time for its scheduled launch in November 2011," Malin officials said in statement released Friday (March 25).
Malin Space Science Systems will continue to pursue the development of these zoom systems, both to prove out the design and to make the hardware available for possible use on future missions, the company said.
Cameron said he is confident the technology will find a home on a future space probe.
"While Curiosity won't benefit from the 3-D motion imaging that the zooms enable, I'm certain that this technology will play an important role in future missions," Cameron said in the Malin statement.
The Curiosity rover now being prepped for sendoff to Mars is loaded with an impressive array of research tasks. Given a successful Mars landing of Curiosity, mission planners promise to provide not only first-rate scientific measurements, but also the most breathtaking images and movies of Mars ever recorded, mission officials have said. [Best (and Worst) Mars Landings]
Technical problems
The image shows Curiosity on a tilt table in the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. (Image: © NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Malin officials said that the company, along with space technology firm MacDonald Dettweiler and Associates, had worked long hours in an effort to complete the systems in time, but encountered a number of technical problems.
"While such problems are typical with spaceflight hardware, in aerospace parlance the zoom schedule was'success-oriented,' and allowed for few deviations," Malin officials explained.
"Although we are very disappointed that the zoom cameras will not fly, we expect the fixed focal length cameras to achieve all of the primary science objectives of the Mastcam investigation," said Michael Malin the camera's principal investigator and chief of Malin Space Science Systems.
"At the end of the day there just wasn't enough time to disassemble the units, make the changes, put them back together, and get the instruments to JPL in time," said Mike Ravine, the Mastcam project manager at MSSS.
Losing the zoom
A saddened Ravine recounted to SPACE.com the history of the on, then off, then on again status of the zoom lens system.
"I've been thinking about the initial zoom descope in 2007. I remember describing to someone what a disappointment it was to have the zooms cut from the mission," Ravine said in an interview. "They were very sympathetic right up to the point that it came out that we were still going to get to fly four cameras on this big rover to Mars, and the sympathy just evaporated. I know how lucky we are. Sometimes, it's a bit more challenging to connect with that knowledge on an emotional level."
The zoom Mastcams on Mars Science Laboratory would have provided improved operational flexibility, much better stereo imaging, and a 3D motion imaging capability that would bring the public along on Mars exploration, Ravine explained.
"All of the capabilities would be of benefit on future surface missions, be they to Mars, the moon or some asteroid," Ravine said. "We want to finish these cameras for some future use, and we're pursuing potential sources of funding to do that."
Leonard David has been reporting on the space industry for more than five decades. He is past editor-in-chief of the National Space Society's Ad Astra and Space World magazines and has written for SPACE.com since 1999.ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- After a long flight and dawn arrival the morning before for the top-ranked Tar Heels, Tyler Zeller made sure North Carolina didn't have a letdown.
Zeller scored 27 points to help North Carolina fight off UNC Asheville 91-75 Sunday in the debut of the Bulldogs' new Kimmel Arena.
Less than 48 hours after beating Michigan State on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego, the Tar Heels (2-0) shot 59 percent from the field and overcame some early turnover troubles to win a rare in-state, nonconference game in coach Roy Williams' hometown.
"We had a tremendous height advantage inside, and we wanted to make sure that was an important factor in the game," Williams said.
J.P. Primm scored 23 points to lead Asheville (0-2) in front of a sellout crowd of 3,200.
The Tar Heels took a 48-39 lead into halftime, then opened the second half with a 13-3 run that put the game out of reach.
"Probably the roughest part was the sleep," Zeller said of the lengthy road trip. "Like last night, you didn't want to go to sleep because you were used to staying up later. But I think everybody did a great job."
UNC arrived in Asheville at 5 a.m. Saturday morning after playing in San Diego and the Tar Heels got off to a sloppy start.
The second time North Carolina tried getting the ball inside to Zeller, UNC Asheville's Quinard Jackson poked it away and started a fast break opportunity that resulted in the Bulldogs' first points.
That was the first of nine first-half turnovers by the Heels, who made up for their sloppiness by outrebounding Asheville 41-27 and shooting well.
"We came out knowing what we had to do," said UNC Asheville's Jaron Lane, who scored a career-high 21 points. "We knew we were going to get our runs, and they were going to get their runs. We had to pull together through that and continue to play hard. That was the main thing: Play hard, play smart and play together."
Zeller was 11-of-13 from the free throw line and added nine rebounds. John Henson had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Harrison Barnes finished with 17 points.
The home team's highlights began when Grammy-winning musician Bruce Hornsby, the father of UNC Asheville freshman Keith Hornsby, played the national anthem on piano before the game.
A pullup by Chris Stephenson gave the Bulldogs a 14-9 advantage less than seven minutes in, but UNC scored the next nine points to take the lead for good then got a pair of thundering dunks by Barnes to squelch potential rallies by the Bulldogs, who won the Big South Conference last year and advanced to the NCAA tournament.Manchester has come a long way from its coal-fired, satanic-mill past: its fifth international arts festival kicks off in June with a new musical from Damon Albarn of Blur. Yet Adam Reid, pale and polite, wears a black apron. Why? Because, he says, of all the fire in his kitchen.
This hotel restaurant bears the signature of Simon Rogan, the chef behind L’Enclume in Cumbria and Fera in London, but Reid, who runs the show, is the man responsible for cooking The French’s big draw. Ox in coal oil: you can eat it only if you upgrade from six courses to ten, but Reid says, because of the ox, most customers do just that.
Like a meaty Picasso, the ox – actually raw, cubed rib-eye of beef – is served on a brick of silky green-grey slate in an oak frame. It glistens with coal oil, made, at fiery risk to the chef’s eyebrows and aprons, by dropping red-hot lumps of charcoal into vats of rapeseed oil. Punctuating the fleshiness are exactly eight balls of whitish kohlrabi and eight blobs of a pale pumpkin mayonnaise. Toasty brown seeds peep from among the dark red cubes; three long sunflower seedlings are laid on top, a giant’s cress.
Once in your mouth, the hit is instant – a strong smokiness, heftier than wood, with some of the blackness of charcoal. There’s a sharp tang of salt, heat from Tabasco, brassica bitterness and crunch from the kohlrabi. It tastes of brasiers, and the beach – the kind where sea-coal washes up on the shingle and a power station hulks in the distance. But the raw beef is satiny and oddly delicate under the brute force of the oil, and the roasted-seed nuttiness is warm, welcoming. It’s a dish that sums up Manchester: industrial, muscular, unafraid, but woven with a thread of sweetness. ~ ISABEL LLOYD
£85 as part of a ten-course menu; the-french.co.ukDave Lansing can walk through his feedlot among his 800 to 900 beef cattle and spot those that are ailing.
The animals bow their heads, pull their ears back and stop eating.
After some of his cattle developed pneumonia recently, he contacted his longtime veterinary provider, Tri-Vet Associates, which has offices in Farley, Dyersville and Holy Cross.
Veterinarian Tim Sprank visited Lansing's Worthington farm to treat the animals and administer routine vaccinations.
Without treatment, cattle "won't last long," Lansing said.
"It's just like a human," he said. "If you're sick, you go to the doctor. Same thing."
While Lansing routinely receives farm calls from a veterinarian, some regions in the tri-states are experiencing a shortage of providers, primarily among those who deal with large animals. In those areas, veterinarians have full caseloads and cannot accept new clients. The problem is exacerbated as the workforce ages and practitioners retire, the Telegraph Herald reported.
Maintaining access to veterinary services is crucial for managing disease, ensuring a stable and safe food supply and keeping the livestock industry profitable, according to Iowa's state veterinarian, David Schmitt.
"We have such large numbers of livestock in our state, and protecting the health of those livestock is invaluable," he said.
Each year, he and other animal health officials around the country nominate locations for federal designation as veterinary shortage situations.
Jones County, Iowa, and the county's contiguous neighbors were designated as critical priority areas in 2017. About 55 mixed animal practitioners serve the region, which includes more than 1.6 million head of livestock.
In 2016, southwest Wisconsin counties, including Crawford and Grant counties, were designated high-priority shortage areas, as were northwest Illinois counties, including Jo Daviess County.
About 114,000 veterinarians were employed in the U.S. in 2016, according to American Veterinary Medical Association. About 75 percent who enter private clinical practice treat companion animals most or all of the time. About 7 percent treat food animals, and 6 percent treat both.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of veterinarians will increase 18 percent from 2016 to 2026. However, practicing in under-served, rural areas might remain out of reach for those who are coping with student debt.
Graduating veterinary students on average carry about $144,000 in debt, according to the AVMA.
"The pay isn't what it used to be," said Lancaster (Wis.) Vet Clinic owner Cari Schaffer, who has practiced for almost 20 years. "To come into a rural area and make $45,000 to $60,000 a year, it's really difficult to do."
Jentry Fane, an associate veterinarian at Risius Family Veterinary Service in Maquoketa, Iowa, graduated from Iowa State University in May with more than $150,000 in debt.
He intends to apply to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. It provides food animal and public health veterinarians up to $75,000 in exchange for serving at least three years in a shortage area. Several veterinarians have been placed in Iowa.
Fane treats both companion and food animals and said his days are full.
"There may be days where you may go on eight or 10 calls, where you go from farm to farm treating sick calves," he said.
Alex Ramirez, Iowa State interim assistant dean of academic and student affairs, said the university provides veterinary students with a strong foundation in all areas of veterinary practice before they specialize during their final year of study.
Shortage or not, tracking students into specific areas too soon could have unintended consequences, he noted.
"It is hard to predict what opportunities are going to be available at the time of graduation," Ramirez said. "Markets change."sombr.com | @shadiradio
Invisigun Heroes is a multiplayer, single-screen stealth battle arena with a twist: everyone’s invisible - including yourself! Predictable grid-based movement ensures that you know where you are, but other players don’t. Vigilance is key as environmental tells such as footprints and other disturbances will point out careless cadets. Using special abilities and firing your Invisigun will also momentarily give you away. Along with items and powerups, these mechanics reward stealth, trickery, reflex, forethought, deception, bluffing, and awareness. A variety of lovingly-made environments, maps, game modes, and abilities combine for high replayability and a deep path to mastery.
Because everyone’s invisible, the environments are highly interactive - so you’ll want to keep your eyes and ears peeled for clues as to where other players are moving about. For example, you can see proximity doors opening and closing, or leaves falling from bumped trees, or footsteps splashing through puddles and leaving tracks in the snow.
Key features:
Compete with up to 4 friends or bots on a single screen
or bots on a single screen Mix and match local and online players
and players Control your hero using gamepads or the keyboard
or the keyboard Enjoy hand-crafted pixel art made with care
made with care Battle your friends using a variety of heroes, each with unique special abilities
, each with unique special abilities Explore 50 maps spread across 5 planets, each with unique interactivity, hazards, and weather effects
spread across, each with unique interactivity, hazards, and weather effects Choose from a variety of game modes playable on every map for deep replayability
playable on every map for deep replayability Customize the game mode conditions with match modifiers
View hilariously revealing instant replays that expose tactics
that expose tactics Share instant replays as animated GIFs
Groove to the custom pulsing, ambient soundtrack composed by Paper Sound
Game modes:
Planned targets:
For the last year and a half I’ve been funding development on my own, and I’m here to ask the community for support in finishing the game!
10 minutes of pre-alpha gameplay:
Here's a bunch of rounds between two players across three planets, showing some typical stealth behavior, prediction, trickery, and replays. Please watch at 60 fps. :)
Invisigun is inspired by the revival of the couch-multiplayer genre, classic party games like Super Bomberman, and Nintendo's focus on cute and fun sensibilities. Most modern multiplayer games are super fast-paced and reflex-based |
under the covers” to address any doubt about whether it was fairly accounting for proprietary software used under any pay-as-you-go deal.
“Don’t kid yourself that we can’t do this thing because we can,” he said, adding that the agency was seeking to build strong partnerships with its information technology suppliers.
“We’re not out there trying to screw you,” Hunt told representatives of the many vendors present. But “you really need to think differently about how we do these things,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Reginald Brothers, deputy assistant secretary of defense for research, told the conference that existing software tools for data analysis, management and interaction lagged the vast amounts of information that drones and other high-tech U.S. military sensors were vacuuming up.
“The big data problem is the analysis of it,” he said. Existing tools “do not aid users... in the mission timelines.”Irish economy disintegrates
By Steve James
19 January 2009
Whether they manufacture personal computers, luxury cut glass and porcelain, or dig precious metals out of the ground, Irish-based corporations have responded to world recession by seeking to offload the consequences onto the working class.
The fate of US PC maker Dell’s Irish production base, Waterford Wedgewood’s historic luxury crystal plant in Waterford, or Tara Mines zinc mine in Navan all express particular forms of the impact of dramatically worsening global conditions on the Irish economy.
Dell’s closure of its Limerick production platform had long been rumoured, before the company finally confirmed earlier this month that 1,900 full-time production jobs would go by the end of 2009. Hundreds of temporary workers have already been laid off. The first tranche of 450 full-time jobs will go in April. Local economists estimate that between 5,000 and 10,000 jobs will directly be affected in the local area as Dell suppliers such as Flextronics, Banta and Sercom lay off workers.
These will join Limerick’s existing 4,000 unemployed, or around 14.6 percent of the workforce. Laura Ryan, an officer for the Limerick Co-ordination Office told the press “I have family working in Dell. Everyone in Limerick knows someone who works there. The Raheen suburb grew up around Dell--people bought houses, restaurants, shops, taxis and pubs [that] are all dependent on those jobs.”
Dell, hitherto Ireland’s largest exporter and responsible for about 5 percent of GDP, is moving its entire PC production operation from Limerick to Lodz in Poland, to take advantage of labour costs of around €3 an hour, one-third of what it pays in Ireland. The move is part of the €3 billion cost cutting drive by the company, which has been badly hit globally by the onset of world recession.
Dell’s departure has also raised fears that an exodus of US-based transnationals from Ireland is imminent. Intel employ 4,500 workers in County Kildare and its chief Paul Otellinni has said he expects sales over the last quarter to be down $10.7 billion in a year.
Writing in the Sunday Business Post, economist David McWilliams speculated, “Imagine the conversations going on now at Intel and Microsoft. We know that multinationals tend to cluster. They hang out together. When one of them bolts, we run the risk that the rest may follow.”
Waterford Wedgewood went into receivership the same week as Dell announced its move. The producer of luxury crystal, porcelain, crockery, cutlery and kitchenware, the group incorporates historic brand names such as Wedgewood. Charles Darwin’s grandfather Josiah Wedgewood and Royal Doulton in Lambeth established it in the 19th century in 1815. Waterford Crystal has its own visitor centre, and is one of the largest tourist attractions in Ireland. Rosenthal AG of Germany has been in existence since 1897. The company employs 800 workers in Waterford, and 6,000 worldwide, including 1,500 at PT Doulton Multifortuna, outside Jakarta, Indonesia. Other outsourced operations are in Brazil, Rumania and Slovenia.
Waterford Wedgewood finally collapsed after the company missed a deadline on its €449 million debt. The company’s bankers, Bank of America offered the board 16 additional days to hand over the company to asset strippers KPS, who the company have been in discussion with for months.
Whoever buys Waterford Wedgewood; the consequences are likely to be devastating for the town, where 800 workers remain. Moreover, the company pension scheme is £111 million in debt and is likely to be wound up. Ireland has no pension protection scheme. Some 367 redundancies have also been confirmed in Staffordshire in the UK, where 1,900 remain employed with the company.
In line with international trends, Waterford Wedgewood management asked for €39 million of Irish government support to defend its operations but was refused. By contrast, the Irish government has offered billions of euros to the banking system.
Tara Mine is the largest zinc mine in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. Located in Navan, County Meath, the mine produced 200,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate and 40,000 tonnes of lead concentrate last year. Six hundred seventy workers bring ore out of the ground at the rate of 570 tonnes an hour.
The mine is owned by Swedish group Boliden, Europe’s largest mining outfit employing 4,500 workers internationally. Tara opened in 1977 and many of the workers have been there for decades. A further 1,700 jobs in the local area are dependent on the mine.
Boliden is threatening to close the mine unless workers accept drastically reduced earnings and altered shift patterns to maintain profitability, caused by the collapse in world zinc prices. Yet, in 2007, Tara Mines Holding Ltd paid a €97 million dividend to Boliden and had a €197 million profit. The annual wage bill is only €52 million.
Navan itself, formerly a boomtown in the Dublin commuter belt, saw its population increase by half in five years. But the mine is the only large local employer, and the town now has the fastest growing dole queues in Ireland as multiple small businesses collapse under pressure from the banks, creditors and collapsing revenues.
Other companies that have recently laid off workers include Hibernia insurance, Howley civil engineering, retail groups such as Zavvi and Chartbusters, along with many smaller and largely unreported closures and redundancies.
Currently unemployment is around 7 percent, but there are predictions that in only a few months 10 or even 12 percent of the workforce will be on the dole. According to the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, some 3,350 redundancies were announced in December 2008, a 94 percent increase on 2007. Over the whole year, redundancies were 60 percent up on 2007, with the building and civil engineering sectors account for 25 percent of job looses. Tourism also recorded record losses--with 12,350 long-term jobs shed. The number of business failures has doubled from 370 company failures in 2007 to 753 in 2008.
Earlier in the week, the Irish government was forced to nationalise the Anglo-Irish Bank, the Republic’s third largest lender, after large-scale withdrawals threatened its collapse. Only in December the government had authorised a bailout worth between €2 billion and €5.5 billion to the three largest banks, including €1.5 billion to Anglo-Irish.
Even before this recent intervention, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan had said he anticipated that national income would shrink by 4.5 percent in 2009, and had demanded corporate “competitiveness” be restored through “collective effort”.
The government has now opened a “discussion” on public sector pay cuts, and €4 billion worth of savings by 2011, €16 billion by 2013. Mary Hanafin, Minister for Social and Family Affairs stated that she believed cost cutting, organised by the government committee, the so-called “An Bord Snip Nua”, would partly come at the expense of recently increased payments to carers and lone parents, while immigrant workers and their families would be particularly targeted by welfare snoopers.
For their part, the Irish trade unions have offered their immediate support to the government’s “collective effort” against the working class.
David Begg, head of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions (ICTU) called for a “sensible compromise” between pay cuts and tax changes.
At the Tara mine, unions have agreed with management to a package of cuts in overtime and a cap on bonuses. Workers are to ballot this week on the package, with the threat of immediate sackings if it is not agreed.
Dan Murphy, head of the Public Service Executive Union (PSEU) has said that the unions would be “constructive provided no unilateral actions are taken that would render our co-operation impossible.” Jack O’Connor, speaking for Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) agreed that the unions “have a responsibility to play our part”. He refused to oppose a suggestion that previously agreed pay increases would be deferred.New Google CEO Larry Page, who stepped into the job this week, believes that Google needs to go "social" to compete.
To that end, he sent out a company-wide memo last Friday, alerting employees that 25% of their annual bonus will be tied to the success or failure of Google's social strategy in 2011.
Click here to see a history of Google's failed attempts at social >>
"This is a joint effort so it's important that we all get behind it," we're told Page writes in the confidential memo, subject-lined "2011 Bonus Multiplier."
Page tells employees that are not directly involved in Google's social efforts that they, too, will be held accountable. He writes that employees must test the products and give feedback.
Page wants these employees to push Google's social products on their "family and friends."
"When we release products, try them and encourage your family and friends to do the same."
Google PR tells us: "We're not going to comment on internal matters."
When Google gave all of its employees a 10% raise and $1,000 bonus last fall, it was part of a move to abolish bonuses that had been based on an annual company multiplier - where employee bonuses were multiplied against some figure correlated to the overall company's performance.
In 2011, the returned company multiplier will be somewhere between.75 and 1.25 - depending on how well Google does in social.
That means employees' bonuses could shrink by 25% if Google doesn't perform. One Googler we talked to was irritated by a new risk being introduced into their compensation package.
And, indeed, there is plenty of risk in betting that Google will suddenly compete in social. It's been trying for years and has mostly failed at every step.
Earlier this month Google launched its latest social effort, called +1. It's a button next to the blue links on Google Search results the users can click on to say, in Google marketing's words, "this is something you should check out."
When you click the button, Google tells your friends, family, and the rest of the world that you recommended the link.
For now, +1 buttons are only in Google search results, but Google says that they'll soon be elsewhere.
We're guessing you'll see them in articles, videos, on ads, and even on Amazon product pages - everywhere you see Facebook "like" buttons and Twitter "re-tweet" buttons today.
Speculating, we assume Google will use all the recommendations to not only improve search results, but also to bring content and URLs into some sort of content stream on Google.com that will look a lot like the Twitter stream and the Facebook News Feed looks now.
Increasingly, people are finding content to consume and things to buy online on Facebook (and to a lesser degree, Twitter) before they ever get a chance to search for it on Google. +1 is Google's effort to get in on that action.
And that's why Google's so paranoid about social that it's tying ALL employee's bonuses to the social strategy's success.Making this response public (I hope you don’t mind!) because we are constantly asked this question and I’m considering having the answer engraved on my tombstone.
Just want to start by saying that we would LOVE to make every size range in the world ever, but it’s pretty much impossible to do that when you are a tiny brand like us. It’s not that we don’t want to, or we aren’t considering it, it’s just that we can’t afford the financial risk.
However, we ARE trialling out some larger cup sizes in January. We will be running two bras (one open cup) in sizes 32A-32F, 34A-34F and 36B-36DD (that’s 4 new sizes of 32E, 32F, 34E and 34F) and seeing how those sell for us. These are the bras in question:
If they sell well, we can start rolling these sizes out across the coming ranges (we don’t restock our old collections so this would only happen on new styles). I think we’ve already got a sample size 32F in this bra, which is coming in AW14, so that’s promising!
These larger cup sizes will not just be graded up; they have been redesigned to give you the support you need with a stronger mesh back and thicker straps. We have experience with designing and manufacturing larger cup sizes (and larger back sizes) so we are not just taking the easy route ;) Also we will be shooting these on a 32F model so you can see how they fit a larger cup size.
I hope that answers your question, and keep an eye out for those Lily bras that will arrive in January!
83 notesby Oscar Montezuma Panez, Google Policy Fellow
We all know that HTML links are the heart of the World Wide Web. What many don’t appreciate is that legal liability for linking varies greatly across countries. Given the importance of linking to the World Wide Web, whether websites can be held liable for copyright infringement for linking to material that is potentially copyright-infringing is a key issue. While US copyright law has a safe harbor for websites that provide location tools, the European framework for e-commerce does not have a specific limitation on liability for websites that provide links. As a result, courts in different EU member states have developed different standards for linking liability. In recent years, Spanish courts have issued several inconsistent rulings on whether websites containing links to potentially copyright-infringing material on peer-to-peer networks violate copyright owners’ exclusive right under Spanish law of making available copyrighted works. But now a recent decision of the influential Court of Appeals of Barcelona (Audiencia Provincial de Barcelona) in the case of Indice-web has clarified that merely providing a link is not "making available" content, and does not infringe copyright.
The case was brought by the Spanish collecting society Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (SGAE), which sued the owner of Indice-web, a website that provided, among other content, links to potentially copyright infringing content that could be downloaded with P2P software. The court at first instance found that Indice-web was not liable for copyright infringement because it did not host any copyright-infringing content and merely operated as an index of websites, providing only links. If viewers chose to click on the links and download particular content, the content would be transmitted by the third party web server and reproduced on the user’s computer, without any involvement of Indice-web. On that basis, the court denied the provisional measures requested by SGAE—an injunction ordering immediate cessation of making available links to musical works in SGAE's repertoire without permission; seizure of all the proceeds earned by the defendant in the marketing of Indice-web; and the suspension of the services provided by the upstream host of Indice-web.
The court noted that Indice-web merely acts as a guide for users by providing a link to works that could later be downloaded or exchanged through P2P programs. The court also noted that Spanish law does not forbid such guidance or orientation. In this case, the court held that "the linking system does not constitute distribution, nor reproduction nor public communication," under Spanish law.
SGAE appealed the ruling, arguing that the first court’s decision only analyzed the defendant’s conduct regarding provision of links to content accessible via P2P networks, but did not consider other possible bases for copyright infringement liability such as providing assistance for direct downloads and unauthorized streaming of copyrighted works hosted on a third party server. The Court of Appeals declined to rule on those questions because they had not been raised by SGAE at first instance. The court clarified that the main issue in question was whether placing a link pointing to content stored on a different server constituted impermissible reproduction, "making available," or communication to the public, under Spain’s copyright law.
The Court of Appeals reaffirmed the reasoning of the previous court and ruled that Indice-web did not violate copyright because it merely provides links and does not participate in hosting or the transmission of potentially copyright-infringing content. It found that: "Providing a link does not imply making available the protected work according to letter i) of article 20.2 of the Intellectual Property Act, and in such sense does not qualify as public communication. Making available the protected work occurs in the computers where the protected work is hosted and where it can be downloaded through P2P networks. In such sense, [it is those] users who make available the protected work." The court also found that Indice-web was not engaged in advertising, or any for profit activities.
Although this ruling is not directly binding outside Spain it is important because it comes from the influential Barcelona Court of Appeals and clarifies the previous inconsistent Spanish rulings. Given the fundamental importance of linking to the World Wide Web, we are heartened to see that the Barcelona Appeals Court and the court of first instance understand Internet architecture and the important policy issues this case raises. We hope other European courts will take a similarly thoughtful approach to these issues going forward.By Matt Becker
Pin Email 46 Shares
A little while back I got a great email from a reader asking where I stood in relation to two seemingly competing financial philosophies:
On the one hand, you have people like Tim Ferris and James Altucher who encourage you to focus on starting businesses and increase your income so that you can enjoy yourself at all stages of life rather than just saving for the future.
On the other hand, you have more traditional financial personalities like Dave Ramsey who encourage you to “skip the latte” and cut expenses in order to pay off debt and save for the future.
I get a lot of emails and this one really made me pause. Because the truth is that I think both perspectives are valuable, both will help you make the most of out your money, AND that either one alone can get you into trouble.
So, where exactly do I stand on these two philosophies? And how can you incorporate the best of both into your financial plan?
Let’s dive in.
The fundamental truth about money
No matter how much money you make, the only way to get ahead is to spend less than you earn and save the difference.
That’s it. That’s the big “secret” of financial success. All the rest is nuance.
Now, if you’re income is high enough, maybe you don’t have to worry about the daily latte. It might be well within your means. But you still can’t spend with complete abandon or you’ll have nothing left over for tomorrow.
And in some cases living within your means might require you to cut back in certain areas, at least temporarily. My wife and I have certainly had to do that as we’ve worked to get our businesses off the ground, especially with two boys in preschool and daycare.
So no matter what, I don’t think that there’s ever a situation in which it makes sense to completely ignore the financial consequences of your decisions. That may be enjoyable in short-term, but there will be a point at which it comes back to bite you.
What YOLO really means to me
With that said, cutting back isn’t the only way to get ahead. And if you only focus on cutting things out of your life, you might be able to build your savings but you aren’t likely to enjoy yourself along the way.
Here are two big pieces of the YOLO philosophy that I really identify with.
1. Earning more
Increasing your income can open up opportunities for you to do more of what you love while also saving for the future. And it has the benefit unlimited upside, as opposed to cutting back which can only go so far.
It doesn’t have to be that complicated either. There are good ways to negotiate a raise in the job you have right now, giving you more disposable income without any significant change in your day-to-day life.
Of course, you can also explore things like starting a business or earning money on the side, both of which might take more time but may also lead to bigger benefits.
Either way, increasing your income might allow you to both buy that latte AND save for the future
2. Living for today
I regularly encourage clients to pursue short-term lifestyle preferences over simply saving as much as they can for the future. Things like:
Switching to a single income
Starting a business
Going back to school
Moving to a new part of the country
Traveling
We always work to find room for these things in tandem with saving for the future. It’s never a matter of completely abandoning their financial responsibilities.
But the truth is that they could save more if they didn’t do these things. It’s also true that that would completely miss the point.
After all, the entire goal of all this personal finance stuff is to create a life that’s BOTH secure AND enjoyable. If you neglect the “enjoyable” part of that goal then you’re doing it wrong.
If something’s important to you, you SHOULD find room to make it happen. You really do only live once and you owe it to yourself to make it a life worth living.
How to find a balance between these two philosophies
Basically, I believe that you should be using your money in a way that allows you to both live for today and save for the future. Both are important and both should be a part of your plan.
Of course, while that sounds nice in theory, it’s not always easy to put into practice when time and resources are limited.
And the truth is that you may not be able to have it all right away. In fact, you’ll almost certainly have to make sacrifices on at least one of those goals, and possibly both, as you start out.
But with time and effort, you can get a lot closer to finding the right balance. Here’s how I would do it.
1. Figure out what you value
Before you can start directing your money towards the things you value most, you need to clearly define what those things are. The more thoughtful you are about this, the more likely you are to actually use your money in a way that makes you happy.
Here’s a process for figuring this out: A life-centered approach to setting financial goals.
2. Track your cash flow
Know how much money you have coming in each month right now, where it’s going, and whether you have a surplus or a deficit.
This is the baseline information you need to start making purposeful decisions going forward. Here’s my process for getting it: How I track my spending.
3. Cut ruthlessly
To borrow from Ramit Sethi, cut back ruthlessly on things you don’t value. Because every dollar you save on something unimportant is a dollar that can now go towards something you truly value.
You can find big savings on big-ticket items like a house, a car, and your investments. Smart decisions in those areas could save you thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars per year.
But you can also find savings in smaller ways like cutting cable, finding a cheaper cell phone plan, or negotiating your monthly bills.
What you want to cut is really up to you. It’s a personal decision based on your personal values. But the real point is that cutting back on the things that don’t matter to you will make it easier to do more of what you want with your life.
4. Purposefully increase income (if necessary)
If cutting out the things you don’t value doesn’t free up enough room in your budget for the things that do, it’s time to look for ways to increase your income.
Just remember that this isn’t really about earning more money. Many people have made a lot of money and led miserable lives with that as their focus.
This is simply about creating the necessary resources for the things you want to do with your life. That means that you only need to increase your income to the point at which it facilitates those things, and no further.
It also means that you should be clear about acceptable and unacceptable ways to get it. For example, if you value having weekends with your family, then it probably doesn’t make sense to do something that takes up your weekends, even if it leads to more money.
5. Live well, responsibly
Things like saving for retirement, building an emergency fund, and getting insurance are important. They should always be a part of your financial plan.
They just shouldn’t be the only part of your financial plan. The lifestyle you want for you and your family is also important, and often time-sensitive. If you want to stay home with your baby, you only have a short window in which you can do that. Other goals like starting a business may be able to happen at any time, but deferral can become a habit that you never break out of.
Do your best to strike a balance between being responsible and creating a life you enjoy living. One approach might be to budget a set amount of money towards each path so that you’re both dedicated to each approach and still living with the limits of your reality.
6. Regularly re-evaluate
Your goals will change over time. Your financial circumstances will change over time. Your daily habits will build slowly over time, in ways that both help and hurt your goals.
Make a point of regularly re-evaluating everything you’re doing here to make sure that you’re still striking the right balance between living for today and saving for the future. And don’t be afraid to change course when you decide that your values have changed.
Every approach is hard work
It’s tempting to look at the traditional approach of cutting back as drudgery and the Ferris/Altucher approach of earning more and living for today as exciting.
But the truth is that both approaches are hard work. Both will take time, effort, and commitment and both will lead to successes and failures.
The key, really, is not to view one approach as better than the other, but to take the best of both approaches and combine them. “Skip the latte” on things you don’t value so that you have room to YOLO on the things that do.
If you do that well, you can build a life that’s enjoyable both today and in the future.Frank Lampard has won virtually every medal a player can in club football and he will now add another one to the collection - the OBE, or Order of the British Empire.
The former England midfielder was honoured for his services to football ahead of his summer move to Major League Soccer club New York City FC.
"I am delighted to receive this huge honour," said Lampard, who won 106 England caps.
"I feel very fortunate to have had such a long and fulfilling career in football. "This is an extremely proud moment for myself and my family."
During his illustrious career, Lampard won the Champions League, Europa League, three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups.
Lampard is currently on holiday in the south of France ahead of his move to NYCFC.
Meanwhile, speculation continues to rage over whether Andrea Pirlo will leave Juventus - and whether he will leave the Champions League finalists for NYCFC.
Gianliugi Buffon, the Juve goalkeeper, indicated on Friday that the playmaker has yet to make up his mind.
"I think Andrea will want to evaluate everything calmly to prepare his future in the best way. He wants to know if he can still ride the wave," Buffon said.
"I speak to Pirlo daily and didn’t get any hints about his future. It’s a decision that needs a few days of meditation."
However, one report in Italy said Pirlo's daughter Angela told her school friends that they were off to New York, that he had bought an apartment in Tribeca and would be offered €12 million a season. A decision, the report says, is expected by June 20.
However, earlier this week Juve's director general Giuseppe Marotta said: "He hasn't expressed a desire to leave, that's important. His contract runs until 2016, and we want him to stay. After he's back from international duty he'll let us know.
"I repeat: he hasn't said he wants to leave."
Elsewhere, a proposal for NYCFC to build a stadium in the Bronx adjacent to Yankee Stadium has hit the buffers, with the franchise looking again at a site in Queens as an option.
New York City face Montreal Impact in MLS on Saturday before playing NYC rivals New York Cosmos in the US Open Cup on Wednesday.
Follow Bob Williams on Twitter
Read more about the MLS
Are MLS summer friendlies more trouble than they are worth?
Premier League friendlies in the United States 2015The French presidential candidate, who has again surged in the polls, hailed the power of nations as she vows to remove France from the bloc. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the Front National leader, said a surge in popularity for ‘national freedom’ was a sign of the rising tide against the EU. She said: “We see the end of empires and the triumph of nation states and how Brexit, the election of Donald Trump and the rise of a Europe against the union which calls itself European opens the 21st century with this insurrection of the people.
FRANCE 24•GETTY Marine Le Pen said nation states were triumphing
We see the end of empires and the triumph of nation states Marine Le Pen
“The current movement of the return of such politics is the result of forces we’ve always seen, the interest of nations and the quest for freedom.” Ms Le Pen has labelled the European Union a “totalitarian institution” and promised to free a “weakened’ France from the burden of EU bureaucracy. Speaking in Paris on Thursday, she said the bureaucracy had left France “enfeebled" and “cut off” from the world.
Topless protester blasts Marine Le Pen Fri, February 24, 2017 A topless protester burst into a hall where French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen was delivering a foreign policy speech chanting 'Marine, pretend feminist' Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 9 Marine Le Pen gestures after a press conference focused on the theme 'France's international policy in a multipolar world'Conservative leadership candidate Tony Clement says he will propose enhanced immigration screening as part of his platform to protect Canadians from potential terrorists.
The Ontario MP plans on pitching the idea, part of his national security plank, at a news conference in Ottawa next week.
"We should be increasing screening to weed out people who have backgrounds that indicate that they have been involved in terrorist organizations or militant organizations that pose a threat to the country," Mr. Clement told The Globe and Mail.
Story continues below advertisement
"That, I think, is where we should provide our resources."
Mr. Clement was responding to fellow candidate Kellie Leitch's idea to screen immigrants for so-called "anti-Canadian values," which includes intolerance towards religions and sexual orientation, as well as misogyny or violent behaviour.
Ms. Leitch told The Globe this week her proposal is about promoting tolerance and equality, and she wants to have a discussion about what constitutes a "unified Canadian identity," which in her eyes is equality of opportunity, hard work, generosity, freedom and tolerance. But her plan has been panned by some of Ms. Leitch's fellow Conservatives, who've called it everything from "dog-whistle politics" to "Orwellian."
A recent Globe and Mail/Nanos survey also found that almost 75 per cent of Canadians support or somewhat support strengthening the screening process for immigrants from regions such as the Middle East.
While Mr. Clement said it's always a good idea to talk about Canadian values, he doesn't think a values test is the right approach.
"The real threat is, of course, people who want to translate their thoughts into violent action against Canadians," he said.
"I also personally think it's impractical and undesirable to spend our time and resources trying to create a super structure of the Canadian government deciding who is and who is not a good Canadian."
Story continues below advertisement
Story continues below advertisement
He added that he believes the Conservative party should be pro-immigration, and his proposal is part of a "multi-faceted" approach to protect Canadians from terrorist threats.
He said his 10-point national security plan will involve giving the RCMP and security agencies more tools to fight terrorism, but declined to go into details.
"Certainly both here at home and at our borders, we should make sure that our security personnel have the tools they need to do their jobs," he said.
Mr. Clement was, at various times, treasury board president, industry minister and health minister under Stephen Harper's government from 2006 to 2015.Christine M. Korsgaard interviewed by Richard Marshall.
Christine M Korsgaard is a kool kandy Kantian who spins heads in the philosophical pool by being a Kantian naturalist. That’s bold. She thinks we are laws to ourselves. She thinks a particular form of self constitution is the source of normativity. She has cool advice for Parfit’s Russian nobleman and his wife. Brian Leiter, Pat Churchland and Alex Rosenberg don’t give her sleepless nights. And in Jimmy Stewart she finds a lightening rod for moral reflection. Which makes her not just our most important contemporary Kantian moral philosopher but the grooviest of philosophical groove sensations.
3:AM: When did you decide to become a philosopher? Was this a surprise to you or to people who knew you?
KK: Philosophy comes naturally to me, in the sense that from an early age, I kept journals in which I would write down my thoughts and the reasons for them, and have arguments with myself about those reasons. But I am a first-generation college student, so no one around me really knew about philosophy, and it wasn’t until something like the end of high school that I learned that this activity had a name and was something you could go into. Even then, though, I had no picture of myself becoming a philosopher, or a philosophy professor. I just wanted to pursue my interest in the subject.
After high school I didn’t go to college right away. I hadn’t liked high school much, and wrongly supposed college would be more of the same. I was a bookish kid, but I thought I could be an autodidact. So while I was working I tried to teach myself philosophy. But it’s too hard, so after a while I decided to go to college to study it. I don’t think I ever exactly decided to be a philosopher. After college I went to graduate school, not so much to become a philosopher, as just to keep on studying philosophy. In the 70s the job market in philosophy was pretty bad, and when you applied to graduate school, you got a letter from the schools you applied to that basically said “Don’t come; we can’t find you employment.” But since I had done office work before college and in the summers, I figured I could always find employment, so I didn’t worry about that. From graduate school of course it was natural to go on the job market, so I became a philosopher. I think I’m still surprised.
3:AM: You are perhaps the most important leading Kantian moral philosopher. In your early book ‘Creating the Kingdom of Ends’ you write: ‘Reflection … commits us to the conception of our humanity as a source of value. This is the basis of Kant’s Formula of Humanity, the principle of treating all human beings as ends-in-themselves.’ This is the core to your approach to morality isn’t it? Can you say what this formula is and whether it came to you as a discovery whilst examining Kant’s arguments, or else as a sort of confirmation of what you were already thinking?
KK: The specific idea of humanity as a source of value comes from Kant, but it represents the kind of idea that attracted me to Kant in the first place. I have always been suspicious of the idea that values simply, and without further explanation, exist; that they are, as people say, part of the fabric of the universe. I am what philosophers call a “naturalistic” philosopher, in the sense that I assume that the universe is basically the one that the physical sciences describe, and that the existence of anything other than basic material things requires an explanation: sometimes a scientific explanation, but sometimes a different kind of explanation altogether. I am not what philosophers call a “reductive” naturalist, because I believe that there are good explanations of the existence of lots of kinds of things that the physical sciences have no truck with – or rather, that the physical sciences can only approach by way of these other explanations.
For example, functional or purposive objects – furniture and tools – exist only in the perspective of beings who have the purposes in question. The physical sciences can explain the matter of a hammer, but to explain its form and function, you have to talk about the way creatures who sometimes have to pound on things look at the world. I think values are like that – they exist because people, and in a certain way the other animals too, have to value things. Ultimately, there are values because of the way people (and the other animals) have to value themselves and each other, if they are going to value anything at all.
Philosophers may be startled when I suggest that Kant is a naturalistic philosopher, because he talks about a distinction between the “noumenal world” and the “phenomenal world,” reality and appearances, that makes it sound like he believes in some realm beyond the natural world. But actually, Kant is the best naturalistic philosopher, because he believes that the existence of pretty much anything that isn’t obviously part of the natural world can be explained in terms of the human perspective and human needs, including our cognitive needs as creatures who try to form a conception of the world. He thinks that even reason itself must be explained in terms of our needs as self-consciously cognitive and active beings. And Kant seeks explanations of these “non-natural” things that aren’t “reductive” in a slightly different sense of the word than the one I mentioned above – explanations that don’t make them turn out to be less deep or important, or in some way cheaper, than we thought they were.
But that answer makes it sound too much as if it is only, so to speak, the metaphysics that attracts me to Kant’s Formula of Humanity, and that isn’t true. I also think Kant gets it right here morally, or almost right. I think Kant was correct in pointing to the idea that people should not use each other as mere means as |
new features! For users of version 1.2 (and higher) this City Car Driving update to version 1.5 is completely free! Added: US traffic rules and signs, Oculus Rift support, traffic cop, broken traffic lights, winter weather, sudden pedestrians, new location, new exercises, etc. You can read more about new features below.
Version 1.5:
General new features and improvements:
● Added an adaptation to US traffic rules. In addition to the traffic rules changed: road signs, markings, traffic lights, as well as virtual speedometer (shows speed in MPH). US traffic rules are available for selection during the profile creation.
● Added support of head-mounted display Oculus Rift!
● Added a traffic cop. If this function is activated traffic cops are being placed on some of road crossings with a probability specified in settings.
● Added a winter mode. Winter is designed not only cosmetically (falling snow, snow textures, etc.), but also physically - a road is more slippery in winter.
● New location! Added the second district of a brand new virtual city:
- 9 highly detailed courtyards;
- 2 major transport interchanges;
- 2 multi level car parks;
- unique infrastructure.
● New defensive (extreme) exercises on the special autodrome:
- Emergency lane changing. In this exercise it's necessary to drive through a corridor and change the lane abruptly in a specified direction;
- Elk test. In this exercise it's necessary to drive through a corridor, change the lane abruptly and then return to the initial lane.
● Added a new function of record/playback. It makes possible to record a driving session - everything is being recorded in a file that can be played back in further. During the playback it's possible to switch the camera view angles as in usual driving session. This feature is useful for better mistakes tracking during the driving.
● Added a new dangerous situation - sudden pedestrians! If this function is activated pedestrians can suddenly cross the road in random places.
● Added a new dangerous situation - broken traffic lights! If this function is activated random traffic lights are being broken during the driving session with a probability specified in settings.
● Improved optimization. Upgraded the multi-threaded rendering mode, that gives a significant increase in FPS on CPU with 4 or more cores.
- Full changelog of version 1.5 - (click to show/hide)
General new features and improvements:
● Added an adaptation to US traffic rules. In addition to the traffic rules changed: road signs, markings, traffic lights, as well as virtual speedometer (shows speed in MPH). US traffic rules are available for selection during the profile creation.
● Added support of head-mounted display Oculus Rift!
● Added a traffic cop. If this function is activated traffic cops are being placed on some of road crossings with a probability specified in settings.
● Added a winter mode. Winter is designed not only cosmetically (falling snow, snow textures, etc.), but also physically - a road is more slippery in winter.
● New location! Added the second district of a brand new virtual city:
- 9 highly detailed courtyards;
- 2 major transport interchanges;
- 2 multi level car parks;
- unique infrastructure.
● New defensive (extreme) exercises on the special autodrome:
- Emergency lane changing. In this exercise it's necessary to drive through a corridor and change the lane abruptly in a specified direction;
- Elk test. In this exercise it's necessary to drive through a corridor, change the lane abruptly and then return to the initial lane.
● Added a new function of record/playback. It makes possible to record a driving session - everything is being recorded in a file that can be played back in further. During the playback it's possible to switch the camera view angles as in usual driving session. This feature is useful for better mistakes tracking during the driving.
● Added a new dangerous situation - sudden pedestrians! If this function is activated pedestrians can suddenly cross the road in random places.
● Added a new dangerous situation - broken traffic lights! If this function is activated random traffic lights are being broken during the driving session with a probability specified in settings.
● Improved optimization. Upgraded the multi-threaded rendering mode, that gives a significant increase in FPS on CPU with 4 or more cores.
Other imporvements:
● Improved an ability to select the range of distance for a randomly generated route.
● Improved the control of lane changing and crossing of a double solid road marking line. Now not only the marking line crossing itself is under control, but also just a touching a marking line.
Attention! Any older version must be uninstalled before installing this new one! Download v1.5 WARNING!!! Now the game requires constant Internet connection for license validation!
Some screenshots from the new addon:
You can find more screenshots on our facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.815495308517311.1073741825.114073985326117&type=3
Subscribe not to miss anything! Your comments, likes and reposts are very appreciated! ;)This week San Francisco International Airport turns over its fabulous new control tower to the Federal Aviation Administration.
But before doing so, the airport gave TravelSkills an exclusive early tour.
The FAA will spend a year outfitting the voluptuous, flared cylinder with its systems, testing them and then training controllers. The new tower is expected to be operational by next summer.
Ready to take a tour? Let’s start at the bottom and move to the top.
In late June, a bright new land side corridor (along the roadway) connecting Terminal 1 with Terminal 2 will open to the public. What’s amazing about the corridor is that it has a glass roof so you can stop and peer up at the new tower. I think they’ll need to install handrails to keep folks from falling over as they crane their necks to view the beautiful new metallic cone. It’s gorgeous, almost hypnotic, and vertigo-inducing to look up at it as the clouds roll by.
Also in June, a new computer controlled display will light up the tower in a variety of colors, which will be seen from miles away after dusk. Like the Empire State Building or San Francisco City Hall, the new “waterfall of lights” will signify special occasions– orange when the Giants win, or red and green for Christmas, etc.
The FAA will have offices in a three-story building at the base of the tower, where the exterior and glass walls have been thickened and hardened to prevent damage from truck bombs on the nearby roadway.
The structure is built on “bay mud” according to project manager Tony Kingsman who said that the tower is supported in bedrock 140 below ground, and is designed to withstand an 8.0 earthquake and still be operational.
This is SFO’s fourth control tower. The current one was built in 1981 atop the current Terminal 2, deemed seismically unstable, so construction began on the new tower three years ago.
It cost about $120 million to build the tower, FAA office building and corridor. The FAA kicked in about 70 million of that– enough for a basic, utilitarian structure, but SFO wanted it to be an iconic, torch-like symbol of the gateway to the Pacific, so it contributed an additional $50 million for aesthetics, as well as additional airport space like the new corridor.
HNTB provided the conceptual design of the new structure and it was designed and built by Hensel Phelps and Fentress Architects.
The new tower should open in July 2016 at which time the old tower will be dismantled quickly so as not to obstruct runway views from the new one. There is talk of the airport adding a outdoor viewing platform, open the the public, in the old tower’s footprint atop T2, but for now, that’s just talk.
Okay then. Let’s crawl up inside this spectacular structure! Watch this video and scroll through the images and video below.
First taking an elevator up about 10 floors and then walking up a spiral staircase, you enter a wonderland of planespotting— a full 270 degrees of unobstructed airport views through 24 giant panes of 1-1/2 inch-thick glass. On the western side of the 650-square-foot “cab” there are a few pillars that hold up the roof. I’ve never seen a view like this one.
Here’s a video watching an Air China 747-8 take off from outside the cab.
-Chris McGinnis
NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Delta’s experiments + Southwest adds Oakland-Atlanta nonstop + More power in your pocket at Marriott + Airline CEO dismissed + Delta’s first class summer salereve-reche:
atheism is shit otaku culture is shit gamer culture is shit cartoon fandom is shit the scientific sphere on the whole is a lot of shit all the things I held hope for to change the world when I was young have proven more human abomination to hurt the oppressed every day I lose a little more hope.
it seemed so simple when any of us were kids and teens.
geeks were supposed to be fun people who, in theory, understood being left out and were supposed to welcome marginalized people.
And the “bad guys” seemed like the ultra-right-wing religious people who just hate diversity and art and fairness
But needlessly cruel people come in every single form and there’s no subculture, philosophy or political slant you can really be safe in. They’re all just different flavors of elitism. Selfish, hateful people end up running things everywhere you go.Bayer 04 Leverkusen midfielder Charles Aranguiz scored his first goal at the Copa America Centenario in a 2-0 win over Colombia to pave the way for Chile to set up a re-match of last year's final against Argentina.
Colombia 0-2 Chile
Goals: 0-1 Aranguiz (7'), 0-2 Fuenzalida (11')
FC Bayern München's Arturo Vidal was suspended for this match but his absence was scarcely noticeable initially as Chile's intensity overpowered Colombia. Aranguiz broke the deadlock early on, volleying in from close range after ghosting in undetected at the back post, before Jose Fuenzailda doubled their lead shortly afterwards with a tap-in after Alexis Sanchez's shot cannoned off the post.
Colombia rallied towards the end of the first half but their momentum was stalled when the match was suspended for around two hours due to severe weather conditions. The waterlogged pitch prevented either team from developing any real rhythm, but the tie swung further in Chile's favour when Colombia's Carlos Sanchez was sent off for a second bookable offence. The title holders subsequently had little trouble protecting their lead and sealing a place in Sunday's final against Argentina.
Watch: Aranguiz - Leverkusen's comeback kid
Click here for a chance to win a match-worn Chicharito jersey
Line-ups
Colombia: Ospina – Arias, Zapata, Murillo, Fabra (Perez 73') – Sanchez, Torres – Cuadrado (Bacca 80'), Rodriguez (c), Cardona (Moreno 46') – R. Martinez
Coach: Jose Pekerman
Chile: Bravo (c) – Isla, Medel, Jara, Beausejour – Aranguiz, Silva, Hernandez (Pulgar 29') – Fuenzalida (Puch 75'), Vargas (Gonzalez 88'), Sanchez
Coach: Juan Antonio PizziAs many as hundreds of thousands of children have been unlawfully denied access to religiously selective state schools in England, almost all of which are failing to comply with the School Admissions Code, a major new report has revealed today.
‘An Unholy Mess: how virtually all religiously selective state schools in England are breaking the law’ has been produced by the British Humanist Association (BHA) on behalf of the Fair Admissions Campaign (FAC). It reveals ‘near-universal noncompliance’ with the School Admissions Code by religiously selective state secondary schools, which together with religiously selective primary schools account for well over a million state school places in England. The report details the rulings of the Schools Adjudicator on the admission arrangements of a sample of such schools, which found widespread violations of the Code in almost every case, confirming public concerns about the way in which religious selection is carried out in ‘faith’ schools.
The School Admissions Code sets out the rules that all state-funded schools in England must legally follow in setting their admission arrangements, and individuals are able to lodge objections with the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) if they believe a school has failed to comply.
In 2014 the BHA and FAC did just that, lodging objections to the arrangements of a representative sample of nearly 50 religiously selective secondary schools. With rulings on all bar one of those objections now completed, the OSA identified well over a thousand Code breaches, with near-universal non-compliance amongst schools. The findings suggest that religiously selective secondary schools across England may be breaking the Admissions Code some 12,000 times between them. Given that 1.2 million school places in England are subject to religious selection criteria, the number of children who are unfairly losing out on places is significant.
The findings reinforce concerns previously raised by both the BHA and the FAC, among others, regarding abuse of the admissions system by religiously selective schools, and point to the pressing need for reform. The report makes a series of recommendations to this effect, including calling for the Code to be revised in a number of areas, and for the establishment of an independent monitoring service to enforce better compliance. Ultimately, however, the report concludes that the system of religious selection must be abandoned altogether.
Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association, said, ‘Over a million state school places in England are subject to religious selection and it’s well known that religious schools have been abusing the admissions system for some time. Even so, no one can have imagined the problem was as widespread as this report shows. Of course, it’s a scandal to begin with that these schools are able by law to discriminate against children on the grounds of their parents’ religious beliefs, but the fact that they’re seeking to find further ways to turn children away is disgraceful. Religious selection by state schools is the archaic practice that allows these abuses and must be brought to an end.’
Professor Ted Cantle, Chair of the Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo) Foundation and author of the Cantle Report into the 2001 race riots, added, ‘The system by which religious schools are able to set their own admissions criteria is clearly not fit for purpose. Not only does it require each school to be incredibly well-versed in the regulations in this area, it also gives cover, as this report illustrates, to those schools that wish to manipulate their intake and discriminate against individual or certain groups of children. This is clearly unacceptable and the system urgently needs to change in order to address it.’
Overview of findings
Particularly notable findings of the report include:
Almost one in five schools were found to require practical or financial support to associated organisations – through voluntary activities such as flower arranging and choir-singing in churches or in the case of two Jewish schools, in requiring membership of synagogues (which costs money).
– through voluntary activities such as flower arranging and choir-singing in churches or in the case of two Jewish schools, in requiring membership of synagogues (which costs money). Over a quarter of schools were found to be religiously selecting in ways not deemed acceptable even by their relevant religious authorities – something which the London Oratory School was also found guilty of earlier this year.
something which the London Oratory School was also found guilty of earlier this year. A number of schools were found to have broken the Equality Act 2010 in directly discriminating on the basis of race or gender, with concerns also raised around discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and socio-economic status.
, with concerns also raised around discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and socio-economic status. A majority of schools were found not to be sufficiently prioritising looked after and previously looked after children (LAC and PLAC) – in most cases discriminating in unlawful ways against LAC and PLAC who were not of the faith of the school, and in a few rare cases not prioritising LAC and PLAC at all. A quarter of schools were also found to not be making clear how children with statements of special educational needs were admitted.
(LAC and PLAC) – in most cases discriminating in unlawful ways against LAC and PLAC who were not of the faith of the school, and in a few rare cases not prioritising LAC and PLAC at all. A quarter of schools were also found to not be making clear how children with statements of were admitted. Almost 90% of schools were found to be asking for information from parents that they do not need. This included asking parents to declare their support for the ethos of the school and even asking for applicants’ countries of origin, whether or not they speak English as an additional language, and if they have any medical issues.
. This included asking parents to declare their support for the ethos of the school and even asking for applicants’ countries of origin, whether or not they speak English as an additional language, and if they have any medical issues. Nearly every school was found to have problems related to the clarity, fairness, and objectivity of their admissions arrangements. This included a lack of clarity about the required frequency of religious worship and asking a religious leader to sign a form confirming religious observance, but not specifying what kind of observance is required.
Notes
For further information, please contact BHA Campaigns Manager Richy Thompson on 07815589636 or email richy@humanism.org.uk.
Read the full report: http://fairadmissions.org.uk/anunholymess/
Read the FAC’s briefing on the report: http://fairadmissions.org.uk/anunholymess-briefing/
The Fair Admissions Campaign wants all state-funded schools in England and Wales to be open equally to all children, without regard to religion or belief. The Campaign is supported by a wide coalition of individuals and national and local organisations. We hold diverse views on whether or not the state should fund faith schools. But we all believe that faith-based discrimination in access to schools that are funded by the taxpayer is wrong in principle and a cause of religious, ethnic, and socio-economic segregation, all of which are harmful to community cohesion. It is time it stopped.
Supporters of the campaign include the Accord Coalition, the British Humanist Association, Professor Ted Cantle and the iCoCo Foundation, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, British Muslims for Secular Democracy, the Campaign for State Education, the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education, the Christian think tank Ekklesia, the Hindu Academy, the Green Party, the Liberal Democrat Education Association, Liberal Youth, the Local Schools Network, Richmond Inclusive Schools Campaign, the Runnymede Trust, the Socialist Educational Association, and the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.That’s a lot of of numbers for a headline. Here are a few more to complete it.
Following an unarmed couple fleeing a routine traffic stop in Cleveland back in December 2012, a total of 104 police officers — that’s right, one hundred and four — joined in a 25-minute pursuit where 13 officers fired a total of 137 bullets at the couple and their car. The driver, Timothy Russell, was shot 23 times and the passenger, Malissa Williams, was shot 24 times. While some speculated that the two may have been armed at the very least to garner such a forceful response, no actual weapons were recovered from either person or the vehicle.
Huffington Post quoted a lawyer representing the Russell family as saying, “You just can’t help but wonder how so many officers were able to shoot so many bullets at these two people in this vehicle,” while a patrolman/criminal justice professor said, “Police officers are authorized to use deadly force to protect themselves and others from great bodily injury or death. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to stand there and let somebody run me over.”
Just as in the recent Washington D.C. car chase that reportedly ended in the death of Miriam Carey, no comment was made on why the couple was shot a combined total of 47 times instead of shooting out the car’s tires to render the vehicle unable to pose a threat or continue the chase.
Now, even though it has been ruled that 75 out of 104 officers broke rules in the chase, only 63 have been suspended (and only for a matter of days each):
With so many suspensions, the Cleveland Police Department must find a way to carry out the disciplinary actions without compromising the city’s safety. District commanders issued suspension letters to patrol officers on Tuesday, police said. While many suspensions are effective immediately, others will wait to ensure there’s no shortage of officers patrolling the streets.
(Because everything about these people patrolling the streets just screams “safety”. Let’s continue…)
“But more importantly, relative to this pursuit, it was the lack of engagement of the supervisors that allowed this pursuit to continue on,” [Cleveland Police Chief Michael] McGrath said at a news conference held by the Cleveland Division of Police. McGrath said 12 police supervisors have undergone disciplinary hearings resulting in nine suspensions, two demotions and one termination. As for the police officers involved in the chase, their actions were not found serious enough to deem termination, McGrath said. The most severe punishment is up to ten days of suspension, with most ranging between one and six days, totaling up to 178 days of suspension amongst the 63 officers. (source)
So many officers have been suspended at this point that the Cleveland Police Chief is concerned about the city’s safety. That punishment averages less than three days suspension per officer punished. At least officers are actually being held accountable in this particular story of police abuse of power (again, even if only for a few days).
If anyone needs any further proof that America has descended into a total police state, this story should be it. The only crime these people allegedly committed was running away unarmed.
What exactly about that requires 104 officers to hunt them down and put nearly 50 bullets into them? The two had minor priors and sure, they could’ve been hiding something illegal in the vehicle, but even if the entire car was filled with crack from roof to road so that the people sitting in it barely had room to fit in the car, would it have been worth the insane police state response that followed?
To get a basic idea, the infamous O.J. Simpson police chase, where he fled from police upon suspicion of murdering his wife and her lover 19 years ago only involved about 20 cop cars, and Simpson was armed with a gun.
Delivered by The Daily Sheeple
We encourage you to share and republish our reports, analyses, breaking news and videos (Click for details).
Contributed by Melissa Dykes of The Daily Sheeple.
Melissa Dykes is a writer, researcher, and analyst for The Daily Sheeple and a co-creator of Truthstream Media with Aaron Dykes, a site that offers teleprompter-free, unscripted analysis of The Matrix we find ourselves living in. Melissa and Aaron also recently launched Revolution of the Method and Informed Dissent. Wake the flock up!Samir Nasri: Manchester City man facing eight weeks out
The France international suffered a partially ruptured knee ligament after a challenge with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa at St James' Park.
The initial fear was that he may be ruled out long-term, possibly even for the rest of the domestic season and the World Cup.
But he is now expected to be back in action by mid-March, with the player himself breaking the news via social media.
"Thank you everyone for your kind words and overwhelming support, I suppose it's kind of good news that I will be out around 8 weeks," he wrote on Twitter.
Nasri looks set to miss a number of key Premier League matches, including the visit of Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium on 3 February and the home derby clash with Manchester United on 1 March.
He is also likely to sit out the first leg of City's UEFA Champions League last 16 tie with Barcelona on 18 February but could return for the second leg at Camp Nou on 12 March.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini was angered by Yanga-Mbiwa's tackle in the 75th minute and felt the player should have been sent off, rather than booked.
"It's very serious. It was a very unfair kick and the player of Newcastle, it was directly a red card. I don't understand why he was not sent off," said Pellegrini.I was repeatedly pressured by the CBO Assistant Director, Deborah Lucas... to not write nor discuss issues in the banking sector and mortgage markets that might suggest weakness in these sectors and their consequences on the economy and households...
...Issues at the heart of the foreclosure problems pertain to securitization....and the Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS), which purports to have legal standing on electronic records of ownership on about 65 million...mortgages... MERS...facilitated Wall Street's ability to expedite the pooling of subprime mortgages into MBSs by bypassing standard ownership transfer procedures as the housing bubble escalated...
The implications have profound financial and economic consequences that would be of compelling interest to Congress and the public, but the CBO sought to silence a discussion of such risks, that in reality have been materializing. These risks put into question the ability of investors or bondholders to make claims on the collateral (the homes) that underlies trillions of dollars in MBSs, the bulk of which are now guaranteed by...Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This affects $10 trillion in residential mortgage debt outstanding, of which $7 trillion in mortgage-backed securities (MBSs)...
The CBO dismissing such issues prevents an analysis of the risks, so that the public may be forced again to shoulder the consequences for which they have not been a given a voice or a choice.
Essentially, the chain of title on securitized mortgages appears broken, whether or not there is a foreclosure. This would pertain to most homebuyers in the past 10 years as most mortgages were securitized by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac providing the guarantees, and the largest banks ("The $7 Trillion MBS Problem - Foreclosure Problems and Buybacks"). Recall that these same entities founded MERS, which expedited securitization and purported to have foreclosure authority from its electronic records of ownership on about 65 million mortgages. "Robo-signing" emerged as fraudulent or defective documents were used or created to establish the legal authority to foreclose as MERS faced legal challenges; as of July 22, 2011, foreclosures could no longer be initiated in MERS' name. At last year's pace, some figures suggest it could take lenders in New York 62 years to clear their foreclosure inventory, 49 years in New Jersey and a decade in Florida, Massachusetts, and Illinois.
It is unclear how the recent State attorney generals' agreement to a proposed yet unpublished terms of the $25 billion robo-signing settlement would repair the chain of title issues that continue to mutate. In January 2011, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court reversed the foreclosure actions of two banks for lacking proof of clear title, followed by a decision in October 2011 that a buyer who purchased a house that was improperly foreclosed upon does not make the buyer the new owner of the house; the sale does not transfer the property.
A striking little mention fact of the Massachusetts foreclosure case was that the lenders could not show that the two mortgages were part of the securitization pool. Let's consider a thought exercise. Others have the raised the question: if the entity that has been taking the homeowners' mortgage payments is not the real owner, what happens when the true owner(s) of the mortgage shows up? Are homeowners on the hook again for those'missed' mortgage payments? It was not uncommon for mortgages to be sold multiple times, and it is my understanding that loans were intentionally not given unique identifiers as it moved from origination or purchase through to securitization.Continuing its tryst with indigenous technology, the Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) will in June test a sophisticated, home-built, multi-object tracking radar (MOTR) on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket flight.
Designed and developed by the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), the radar that can track 10 objects simultaneously can pick objects the size of a football at distances of 800km while slightly bigger objects can be tracked at a slant range of 1,000km.
Just a handful of nations and companies have demonstrated this capability, SDSC director MYS Prasad told reporters at Sriharikota, the satellite launching pad in southern India.
The £45m (Rs 4.5bn) MOTR was made at a quarter of the price as those manufactured abroad.
Even the software for operating the system and analysing the data have been developed in-house.
The real-time data from the radar will provide Isro the capacity to protect its space assets against debris.
It was only the radio frequency transparent radome that houses the radar that was sourced from outside the country.
The radar antenna beam generated by 4,608 radiating elements can be steered across space.
Weighing 35 tonnes, the radar which stands eight metres tall can be turned in different directions and will be handy during rocket launches and atmospheric re-entry.
MOM doing well
India's Mars orbiter meanwhile is doing well with plenty of propellant reserves to last till the end of the year and even beyond. Initially it was launched with a lifetime of six months.
The low-cost indigenously made probe was placed in orbit on 24 September 2014 in a first attempt, winning it a place in last year's top ten inventions listed by TIME. The probe cost a little around £45m compared to the £120m Nasa spent on Maven.
Orbiting the planet in its highly elliptical orbit with the low point at under 400km in altitude, the probe has been returning some stunning images of Mars.
The Methane Sensor data has not yet picked evidence of methane in the atmosphere but is working well. The MSM payload weighs 3.6kg and is designed to measure methane concentrations in the Martian atmosphere with parts per billion accuracy.
Early this year, A S Kiran Kumar, Director, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, assumed the office of the Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman, Space Commission and Chairman, Isro.Using more const and making const more constant
Emil Ong Blocked Unblock Follow Following May 6, 2016
ES6 is becoming more and more widely supported and one of the features I’m most excited about might initially seem to be one of the most boring… const! const is really about not shooting yourself in the foot by reassigning variables on accident. I’d also argue that it may be a nice compromise in thinking more pure functionally without actually being purely functional.
Even if you agree with me, you might find it hard to use const as much as you like however. And even if you do use const, it may not be obvious, but const may not provide the level of immutability that you really want. This post is intended to show you exactly what const does, what it doesn’t do, and give you some tips and tricks to use it more often and more effectively.
What’s const about const?
The const keyword lets you declare a reference to a value with block scope that must be assigned at declaration time and cannot be reassigned. (Notice how I avoided the word, “variable,” there? 😉) Thus you can do things like the following:
const behaves about like you’d think it would behave in these cases, which is awesome. Here’s a bunch of ways that you cannot use const, where the only non-obvious case (IMO) is that declaration and assignment must happen at the same time:
Finally, let me show you a couple of completely legitimate uses of const that might not be obvious and in fact contradict what you might think should happen:
Ironically, more options for const
const is awesome, but as we saw above, it does exactly one thing: it makes a constant reference, not a constant value. It also requires that you assign it immediately upon declaration. Given that, let’s talk about how we can use it in more situations and supplement it with a good ol’ ES5 function to lock down values as well.
One situation where I want to use const a lot is with default values. There are a few old tricks we can use with const and a few new ES6 nuggets that let us assign once, at declaration time:
Now the above works for simple conditional assignment of consts, but what about when we have several options?
The switchExpression and ifExpression examples above probably need slightly more unpacking. We’re basically just creating an anonymous, ephemeral function with some logic, then invoking it immediately and assigning the result to the const. It’s using the ES6 arrow function syntax to make it as “inline” as possible, but you could definitely do it with the function keyword as well. Both are actually pretty much doing what the first helper example is doing, but keeping the logic within the body of the invoking function. You may or may not agree that this makes the assignment logic cleaner, but that logic is not escaping the one place (in this case) where we’re using it.
Locking down values
Immutable.js is awesome. It provides a bunch of very useful data structures and operations on those structures, but sometimes you just need Javascript objects and arrays. You may even need them alongside Immutable.js for interacting with other libraries. As we saw above however, const does not force values to be immutable, simply the reference to those values. For that, we have Object.freeze, which has been around since ES5.
These examples show you how to make your values const as well, though both of these are runtime solutions.
Speaking of runtime solutions…
While const is enforced at runtime, wouldn’t it be better to know ahead of time if something is going to break? const is a good hint to humans that something is not supposed to change, but tools like eslint can help too! Here are a couple of rules that will help you enforce const-ness:But the Chinese representative pointed out Australia was on the end of more questions than any other country. They came not just from China, but also the US, Brazil and South Africa. "I think he's right. We got some 36 questions on notice, so there is substantial interest in Australia's climate change policies," Peter Woolcott, Australia's environment ambassador, later told the meeting. "Particularly since the change of government, and the change in our approach to the Direct Action scheme to address climate change challenges in Australia." While some in Australia make the case that the country is largely irrelevant as a tiny contributor to global emissions – about 1 per cent of the total – the meeting in Bonn, Germany earlier this month suggested the international community thinks otherwise.
To many observers it was clear that other countries are closely watching Australia's climate change debate as work continues on a global treaty due to be signed in Paris late this year. Australia is the 13th biggest emitter in the world. While China and the US are the main players, campaigners make the point that if countries of Australia's size and emissions do nothing, the problem won't be solved. Its emissions per head are among the world's worst. It is through this prism that Australia is viewed in the United Nations climate talks. What it says, and does, matters. Ian Fry, an Australian who represents the tiny island nation of Tuvalu at the talks, says: "The general question I get from others in the negotiations is, 'Does the Australian government really believe in climate change, does Australia's leader really believe in climate change?'"
In response, he tells them: "I have my doubts." Asked if this is an understatement, he laughs, then adds: "I think people in foreign affairs are struggling with the government's position on climate change. "There are clearly people representing Australia who do believe in climate change, but they struggle to defend the indefensible." Cartoon: Matt Golding.
Don Henry, who is the former head of the Australian Conservation Foundation and now works closely with Al Gore, says before arriving in Bonn he was unsure how much focus there really was on Australia's position. He left convinced it was in the international spotlight. "And it's not just small countries, like the island states, that are watching closely," he says. "It's our biggest trading partners. It's countries like the US and China." Earlier this month a report by the Renewable Energy Policy Network found for the first time in 40 years the growth in clean energy has seen emissions from electricity stop rising while economic growth continued. Australia bucked the trend last year, its electricity-sector emissions increasing. It followed the Abbott government making good on its pre-election commitment to abolish the carbon price, making Australia the first country to get rid of this type of scheme. Fergus Green, an Australian working alongside economist Lord Nicholas Stern at the London School of Economics' Grantham Institute, says that sparked global interest.
Ostensibly, the UN does not care how a country meets its targets, as long as it does. The Abbott government has insisted its Direct Action scheme can do the job. Nevertheless, Green says dumping the carbon price "is a badge of honour for the Abbott government, but it was a marker of regress according to the rest of the world". That attention was magnified by early diplomatic missteps by the Abbott government – not sending a minister to some climate talks and, particularly, Tony Abbott's steadfast refusal to put climate change on the agenda of last year's G20 meeting in Brisbane. It is in this context that Australia will, mid next month, announce its next target, the key commitment it will make towards the Paris summit. Europe is among those watching closely.
At the launch of "European Climate Diplomacy Day" in Melbourne last week, German ambassador to Australia Christoph Müller told Fairfax Media that Australia has repeatedly said it wants a strong, meaningful and binding outcome in Paris. "We are all waiting in eager anticipation of the Australian government formulating its goals [for] beyond 2020," he says. While the European Union has a target to cut emissions 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030, Müller says there is recognition Australia's national circumstances differ. For example, Australia's population is still growing rapidly while Europe's has stalled. "We would understand for that reason Australia cannot be as ambitious as we are in terms of absolute figures," Müller says. But he adds Australia was also "wasting a lot of energy" and should also take that into account.
French amabassador Christophe Lecourtier and Greman ambassador Christoph Müller. Picture: Justin McManus. French ambassador Christophe Lecourtier says with the |
“We are excited to offer end to end high quality brewing and packaging services,” added Brewmaster Larry Horwitz who designed the system in 2015.
As more breweries are in planning in the U. S., many are finding that commercial production can be a capital-intensive business. Contract brewing with a partner can help a new company prove itself as a brand before investing large sums of money. It’s also a practical solution for breweries set to expand, but waiting for financing or construction to be completed.
Four String has flexibility with batch sizes ranging from 30 barrels to 120 barrels. There’s a canning line that can package 12oz and 16oz cans in both 4 packs and 6 packs. Draft packaging for ½ and 1/6 barrel kegs is also available. A quality control lab is on site to ensure a premium and consistent product.
About Four String Brewing Company
Dan Cochran founded Four String Brewing Co. in 2011 as an avid homebrewer since 1994. With extensive national touring and recording in the ‘90s and ‘00s, Cochran saw the national trend of craft brewing firsthand, and was inspired. He started planning the brewery in late 2010. With the help of Brewmaster Larry Horwitz, Dan built the original brewery on West 6th Ave in Columbus primarily out of repurposed commercial dairy tanks. The space has been renovated as a larger taproom open several days a week to the public. Four String built a new production facility at 660 North Hague Avenue in 2015, allowing them to distribute beer statewide. Free tours of the production facility on Hague Avenue are available to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. Four String brews three year-round beers, Brass Knuckle Pale Ale, Switchblade IPA and Payback Pilsner as well as seasonal beers available in cans and on draft throughout OhioThe difference between then and now is that Nixon — like most mainstream Republicans — accepted that government had a role to play guaranteeing Americans’ economic well-being. That consensus cracked around the time of Ronald Reagan’s inaugural speech in 1981. “Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem,” the president intoned. And the country’s political center set off on a long rightward migration.
Interestingly, Americans say their political ideology has changed little since the late 1970s. The share of voters who defined themselves as liberal was 20 percent in 2010, up slightly from 19 percent in 1980, according to polls by The New York Times and CBS News. The conservative share over the same time rose to 35 percent, from 30 percent.
But these polls ignore how much the meanings of the terms have changed. The rightward drift in economic thinking becomes apparent in surveys asking about specific issues. In surveys 25 years ago, 71 percent of Americans believed it was the government’s job to take care of those who couldn’t care for themselves, according the Pew Research Center. This year the share is down to 59 percent. And most of the shift reflects a decline among Republicans.
Republicans’ support for labor unions has fallen sharply since the late 1980s, according to Pew’s research, as has their support for protecting the environment. Their drift fits the position of Congressional Republicans, whose views on the economy have been shifting right for the last quarter-century while Democrats’ views have remained roughly still. And as Republicans have moved to the right, economic policy has followed.
Consider what has happened to federal nonmilitary discretionary spending, which pays for housing vouchers and veterans’ health, highway maintenance and the Food and Drug Administration — essentially all the domestic social programs that are not mandatory like Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.
When Nixon resigned from office in 1974, nonmilitary discretionary spending amounted to about 4 percent of the nation’s economy — roughly the same as at the end of the Johnson administration before him. Discretionary spending expanded through the administrations of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, reaching a high in 1980 of 5.2 percent of the nation’s gross output. Then the tide turned: by 2008, before the Great Recession shrank the economy and the fiscal stimulus lifted spending, nonmilitary discretionary spending had fallen to 3.6 percent of national output.
Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content, updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters.
Conservatives will say their ideas won simply because they are better. Social scientists have some alternative hypotheses of our great conservative shift.
The big government strategy from the 1940s through the 1970s produced a spectacular improvement in living standards. But many economists now say they believe the focus on full employment and income redistribution at the expense of everything else also contributed to the strategy’s demise, removing the fear of joblessness and encouraging excessive wage increases.
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
Combined with cheap money printed by the Federal Reserve, it produced a burst of high inflation and high unemployment that bedeviled the 1970s — discrediting government as an economic steward and letting a new belief take hold: the economy should be left to the market, which always knows best. The end of the cold war, which discredited central planning and other left-wing economic theories, probably helped solidify this stance.
Economic philosophies could shift again, of course. Just as the big government policies of the New Deal emerged from the Great Depression and World War II, the financial crisis and recession just past might again persuade Americans of the perils of unfettered capitalism and cause the pendulum to swing back.
Still, the scorched-earth debate over Obamacare underscores how difficult it will be for the American political system to swallow a more activist government than it has today.
Those nostalgic for Johnson’s Great Society programs might remember that they occurred in a kinder, gentler economy in which American companies faced much less competition than they do today. Eastman Kodak could run a mini-welfare state through much of the 20th century —with profit-sharing, health benefits and pension plans — because it had fat monopoly-type profits. Detroit’s Big Three amounted to a cozy oligopoly.
Globalization and its attendant burst of competition put an end to the fairy tale. Companies squeezed costs to stay in the game, zeroing in on wages and working conditions. Unions, once politically powerful institutions fighting for workers’ share, became weaker and weaker.
Half a century ago, American employers might have accepted a higher minimum wage on the ground that they needed American consumers to be able to afford their products. They might have supported public education on the ground that they needed an educated American work force. They might have accepted financial oversight because they raised money from small investors in American markets.
But globalization freed businesses from the limitations of one nation and the clutches of the nation state. As businesses’ footprints extended around the world, these objectives became less important than assuring low taxes. Free to jump borders, businesses became much more difficult to tax or regulate. And in the current dismal economy, they don’t seem too eager for a return of the big government days.
The United States is in ideological flux. The Great Recession has given us both the Tea Party and the Occupy Wall Street movement, and produced perhaps the most polarized government of the modern era. Liberal-leaning Democrats, often disappointed at the president’s compromises, will pine for a more aggressive champion of workers’ rights. But they may want to count their blessings. Americans today might not elect somebody as liberal as Richard Nixon.TEHRAN (Basirat) : Political analyst Abdollah Ganji has, in an article published in the Persian-language Sobeh Sadegh, weighed in on the US officials’ recent warmongering rhetorics to exert multi-sided pressures on Iran, one naturally should expect a tit-for-tat response from the Islamic Republic. Iranian politicians may have a number of responses in the their minds but the invitation extended by President Hassan Rouhani to his French counterpart to visit Iran raises the possibility that one of the options may be a European JCPOA or a JCPOA minus “the chief”, i.e. the US.
Can we translate the JCPOA into an economic progress by relying on the European states without any dependence on the US? To have an in-depth understanding of the issue, we need to have a historical review of Europe’s relations with the Islamic Republic and its approach towards the JCPOA.
1) The 40-year history of the Islamic Republic of Iran shows that the Europeans have never stood by Iran against the US. The materialistic view of the Europe on the one hand and the largeness of the US economy on the other, are two main elements which push the Europeans towards the US. Amid all the tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the US including the Iraqi imposed war, economic siege and human rights disputes, the Europeans have always stood by the US and sometimes even had labour divisions among themselves to exert pressure on Iran.
2) The Europeans maintain that the JCPOA should be preserved but Iran’s regional and missile powers should be limited. This is what the US says. Trump says the JCPOA was expected to harness Iran in all fields but it has failed to put an end to the growing power of Iran in the region. So, the arguments of Trump, Macron, Merkel and May are the same. They just differ in intonation. The Europeans don’t use warmongering rhetoric in public but they are politely pressing ahead with the same goal that Trump is pursing.
3) Now the main question is: What is the difference between the US and the Europeans when it comes to the implementation of the JCPOA over the past two years? Even Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said just recently that Iran has not managed yet to open a bank account in the UK. Today, no major European bank cooperates with Iran. "Total” is the only European company in Iran but the company has said explicitly that if the US pulls out of the JCPOA, it will leave Iran. So, as we see, there is no difference between the US and the Europeans when it comes to the JCPOA. They have even a similar stance towards Iran’s regional and missile power saying that Iran’s power need to be limited. And they have announced their stances explicitly and publicly.
Another option that the Iranian politicians are working on is playing with some concepts like "dialogue” and the differences between dialogue and "negotiation”. In a recent ceremony in Tehran, President Rouhani said no one is allowed to set conditions for Iran’s military power which is based on the country’s Constitution and defence measures and doctrine.
He went on saying that some states are interested in holding talks with Iran. "We welcome dialogue to show who will be the loser.” This is what I call playing with words to confuse public opinion. This means opening a new front under the title of "dialogue” instead of "negotiation”, that is we hold talks but there would be no give-and-take over Iran’s regional and missile power.
The trend can gradually lead to a target which is not predictable. Why should the Europeans listen to you and get convinced? Macron has his own goals in negotiation (in Rouhani’s view, dialogue) before coming to Iran. Is he really after a persuasive and logical debate?
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has lost at least over one thousands of its members in fight against terrorism over the past years. This comes as it is now accused of sponsoring terrorism. Now why on the earth the accusers should be waiting for a logical debate with us? It seems we are back to the first square.
The only way out of the current deadlock is adopting the principle of a resilient economy and conducting a step by step confrontation against nuclear sanctions imposed on the country. A step by step confrontation is neither a pullout of the JCPOA to create a global consensus against Iran nor a passive policy tarnishing our national pride.
So a step by step confrontation means to make up for the retreats made over the JCPOA but the main issue which has gained momentum is that we need not to keep the country in a limbo and pin our hope on the outside world. We should put an end to this strategy.Get the biggest daily news 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 raunchy snap of a brunette in her underwear has sparked a global mystery after it was found in Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s email inbox.
The picture has led to a guessing game about whether the married president has a mistress.
It was discovered after Assad’s emails were hacked into by opposition activists.
They claim the messages show how the president and his cohorts have shown little concern as he continues to slaughter his own people by the thousand.
Two bombs killed at least 27 in the capital Damascus yesterday as Syria teeters on the brink of civil war.
The woman in the picture appears to be her in 20s and, although the email is not signed, insiders say she looks like the woman whose name was on the email address.
Flirty messages from a second address were also found.
On December 1 a woman wrote “Hi” to Assad and 18 minutes later he replied: “Hi and a half.” The couple swapped emails for days and the woman sent Assad an Arabic symbol for love.
The emails also reveal a group of young women around the dictator who advised him on PR.
One, the striking-looking Hadeel al-Ali, sent Assad a picture of himself as a student, calling him a “dude” and adding: “So cute, I miss youuuuuu.”
And in January al-Ali, who met Barack Obama as a student at Montana State University, complimented him on his suit and healthy complexion – telling him she was proud of his “strength, wisdom and charisma”.
The 3,000 messages also show Assad buying tracks on iTunes by Manchester band New Order.
His wife Asama, 36, is revealed as a shopaholic who bought clothes from Harrods and furniture from Britain.Questions about Eddie Lacy and the battle for running back spots in the latest Seahawks mailbag.
Time for another set of Seahawks questions and answers via Twitter.
Q: @Discipleof117 asks: Will Seattle return to power running with Eddie Lacy or continue its balanced approach?
A: Actually, maybe — and ideally — both. What I think the Seahawks would like to do is return to being able to run more consistently — power and otherwise — and in the process become more of what they considered to be as balanced.
Seattle’s biggest issue offensively last season was that it became as unbalanced as it had been in a while, throwing 567 passes while running just 403 times, which is simply not what the Seahawks do when they are at their best.
That was the most passes the Seahawks had thrown in the Pete Carroll era and the fewest rushing attempts since 2010, his first year as coach.
Showing the way the game has changed, the fact that Seattle threw it 59.3 percent of the time ranked the Seahawks just 17th in the NFL last season in pass-run ratio.
But that was Seattle’s highest pass-to-run ratio since 2010, when the Seahawks threw it 61.20 percent of the time.
Starting in 2011 when Marshawn Lynch played his first full season with the Seahawks, Seattle never threw it more than 55 percent of the time, and in 2013 when the team won the Super Bowl, the Seahawks threw it just 47.29 percent of the time, the lowest percentage in the NFL. Seattle actually had thrown it just 45.76 percent of the time in 2012, also the lowest in the NFL, a year spent breaking Russell Wilson into things.
Those numbers began to creep up just a bit in 2014 (48.56, second-lowest in NFL) and then much more so in 2015 when Lynch played just seven games in his final season with the team (53.29, fourth-lowest. All numbers courtesy of teamrankings.com).
That the Seahawks are better equipped to throw it now than they were in 2012 or 13 means I doubt their pass-run ratio would ever dip to those levels again. But somewhere between the 2015 and 2014 percentages would seem ideal.
But Seattle simply had trouble running as effectively last season as in past years due to a variety of factors such as injuries to Wilson and other running backs and the struggles of the offensive line — and I’d caution not to expect that simply adding Lacy will change everything. The line has to get better and Wilson has to stay healthy and get back to running the way he did from 2012-15.
Circumstance also played a role in Seattle throwing it more last season as the Seahawks fell behind more consistently and by bigger margins last year than they had in the 2012-15 era and had to throw more to get back into games.
Consider that in the six games Seattle lost or tied it threw it 62.5 percent of the time (225 passes to 135 runs) while throwing it 56 percent of the time in its 10 wins (342 passes, 268 runs).
The 56 percent number is still obviously higher than usual and shows that there were times last year when Seattle was more effective throwing than running and went that route to get the W — the victory over Buffalo comes to mind.
But Seattle’s M.O. so often under Carroll has also been to do what it takes early and then go to the running game to put games away late.
In other words, a lot goes into determining how the run-pass distribution works out.
But no question, the 2017 season figures to go better for Seattle than 2016 did if that number comes down 5-6 percentage points or so.
Q: @ETalldayBaby asks: Will Tre Madden get a fair shake at the FB competition and is his competition Kyle Coleman related to former Derrick Coleman (irony?)
A: To answer the second question first, Kyle Coleman is not related to Derrick Coleman, who actually was recently signed by Atlanta where former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is now the head coach. But it does figure to confuse some people to see a fullback named Coleman wearing No. 40 running around out there again.
As for Madden, I have no idea why he would not get a fair shot. I think the Seahawks have shown they are pretty amenable to giving off-the-radar guys long looks if they prove deserving of it.
Seattle also has already tried to increase Madden’s options by also having him play some fullback last season something I would imagine it is again toying with this year.
But the Seahawks are more stacked with healthy running backs heading into training camp this year and won’t be easy for the guys at the bottom of the depth chart to break though.
But then Troymaine Pope went from not even on the team to being the breakout star of the preseason in the span of a few weeks last season, ultimately earning a spot on the roster late in the year. So you never know.Offworld Trading Company has shipped! The game has exited Early Access, and the 1.0 version is now live on Steam. We also have some special deal running for the next two weeks:
Regular Edition is 25% off ($29.99)
Deluxe Edition is 33% off ($39.59) and includes Real Mars Map Pack DLC Original Soundtrack DLC Extra Offworld Trading Company key to give to a friend
An early review is up on Quarter to Three:
Not to say Offworld Trading Company is a throwback. It positively glows with the care, attention, and production values you’ll find in a contemporary AAA game. The sharply defined, intricate, and informative graphics. Everything means something. Everything has some visual expression. The buttery — yes, buttery! — rich and smooth interface. Okay, it could use a few more hotkeys, but I’ve never met a game that couldn’t use a few more hotkeys. The unique dynamic single-player campaign, which stacks onto an already great game a great game framework. This is the most indepth and replayable RTS single-player campaign since Rise of Nations and its add-on. The tutorial for maximum information and accessibility. The manual. Oh, wait, there isn’t a manual. Which is as you’d expect from a contemporary AAA game. Like I said, it’s not a throwback. Even the soundtrack. Good lord, the soundtrack. Christopher Tin’s score belongs on my playlist alongside iconic sci-fi scores like Hans Zimmer’s for Interstellar, Clint Mansell’s for Moon, and Vangelis’ for Blade Runner.
I hope I haven’t made it sound boring. Some folks might get the impression it’s boring. A game about an economy in space? All those little buildings and numbers in those screenshots? You have to make oxygen from water? But it’s really not. It’s really, really not. It’s a freakishly smart game design, as if someone made M.U.L.E. back in 1983. It’s got a learning curve because it’s a very particular setting about people living on Mars, provided for by different types of companies (the four companies are as distinct as the factions in Starcraft). You have to understand how the pieces interact before you appreciate how this is so much more than a spreadsheet with pretty graphics in front. But it’s carefully built to get you to where everything clicks.
At which point, it is the exact opposite of boring. It is every bit as thrilling as something with constant explosions. It’s the sort of game you’ll be thinking about at work. It’s the sort of game you just might want to try online. It’s the sort of game with a campaign you can play and replay and replay some more. It’s the sort of game with so many settings and options and variables that you might never need another RTS. Okay, maybe you’ll occasionally need your fix of one of those less interesting RTSs with tanks or a MOBA with fireball spells or whatever. But Offworld Trading Company is the sort of game that isn’t going to let go of you for a long, long time.Black Butler (Japanese: 黒執事, Hepburn: Kuroshitsuji) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yana Toboso. Since its debut on September 16, 2006, it has been serialized in Gangan Comics' shōnen manga magazine Monthly GFantasy. The series follows Ciel Phantomhive, a thirteen-year-old boy head of the Phantomhive household, an aristocratic family known as the Queen's Guarddog. He is tasked with solving crimes in London's underworld. Ciel has formed a contract with Sebastian Michaelis to seek revenge against those who tortured him and murdered his parents. Sebastian is a demon who has taken on the disguise of a butler, and in exchange for his services, he will be allowed to consume Ciel's soul. The series has been licensed by Yen Press in North America and published in Yen Press' August 2009 issue for the magazine's first anniversary.
A 24-episode anime adaption, with 3 seasons, directed by Toshiya Shinohara and produced by A-1 Pictures, aired from October 2008 to March 2009. The second season, Kuroshitsuji II, aired in 2010 spanning 12 episodes with two new main characters, Alois Trancy and Claude Faustus, following the aftermath of the first season. This series had an original storyline and did not feature manga content. A live action film adaptation was released in Japan on January 18, 2014. A third anime series, titled Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus, was broadcast between July 10 and September 12, 2014.[3] A two-part theatrical OVA titled Kuroshitsuji: Book of Murder screened in Japanese theaters on October 25, and November 15, 2014.[4][5] An animated film for the series, titled Kuroshitsuji: Book of the Atlantic, premiered in Japan on January 21, 2017 and in America on the selected dates of June 12th and 14th of 2017.[6]
Plot [ edit ]
In Victorian-Era London lives a thirteen year-old Earl named Ciel Phantomhive who acquired this position after the events of December 14th, 1885 (Ciel's birthday), when the Phantomhive manor was attacked by unidentified perpetrators and was set ablaze. Ciel, amidst of the chaos, discovers his parents, Vincent and Rachel Phantomhive, to be dead along with the family dog, Sebastian. The same night he is kidnapped by the attackers and then sold into slavery, where he ends up in the hands of a sadistic, demon worshiping cult. Ciel then endures endless physical, mental, and sexual abuse at the hands of his captors. Ciel was also heat branded with a mark referred to as the'mark of the beast'. One night, during a sacrificial ceremony to summon a demon, instead of forming a contract with the cult members, the demon states that he was summoned by Ciel, therefore he only agrees to form a contact with him, killing all the cultist members in the process. To show a contract was formed, the demon places a contact symbol referred to as the Faustian contract symbol on Ciel's right eye, giving it a purple hue and his iris and pupil now showcase the symbol of the convent. After the formation of the contract, the demon reveals he will consume Ciel's soul as payment for helping him achieve his goal; revenge on those who brought down The House of Phantomhive. Afterwards Ciel names the demon Sebastian Michaelis,after his deceased pet. The duo then return to society as Ciel takes over his now late father's previous position as the queen's watchdog, a very high profile individual who is tasked with investigating cases that Queen Victoria herself deems especially important or threatening to England and the crown.
Media [ edit ]
Manga [ edit ]
Written and drawn by Yana Toboso, the chapters of Black Butler have been serialized in the shōnen manga magazine Monthly GFantasy since its debut in the October 2006 issue.[8] The chapters are also published in collected volumes by Square Enix. The first volume was released on February 27, 2007 and as of July 27, 2018, twenty-seven volumes have been released.[9] Yen Press licensed the series for an English language release and serialized the manga in Yen Plus' August 2009 issue for the magazine's first anniversary.[10] The publisher released the first volume in January 2010.[11] The second volume was released in May 2010.[12] French publisher Kana licensed the series in under the Dark Kana imprint as Black Butler. The publisher released the first volume in November 2009.[13] Carlsen Comics has licensed the series in Germany as Black Butler, the same title used for the French and English releases. Black Butler have been also published in Italy by Panini Comics.[14] In Poland, Waneko is publishing the manga as original Kuroshitsuji with subtitle Mroczny kamerdyner – as of February 2013, nine volumes have been released.[15] The series has been published in Finland under the original Japanese name Kuroshitsuji by Punainen jättiläinen since July 2012. In Spain, the series has been published in Norma Editorial since November 2011 under the title Black Butler.[16]
Drama CD [ edit ]
On August 10, 2007, a drama CD was released by Frontier Works. It featured many of the characters appearing in volumes one and two.[17] A second drama CD was released on November 26, 2008 under the Aniplex label.[18]
Anime [ edit ]
In July 2008, it was announced that an anime adaption of Black Butler, directed by Toshiya Shinohara and produced by A-1 Pictures, was expected. It premiered in October 2008 and broadcast on MBS as well as the TBS.[19][20][21] On January 1, 2009, a limited edition DVD containing the first episode was released by Aniplex.[22] The next three episodes were released on another DVD on February 25, 2009. On an event on June 14, 2009, it was announced that the anime would be returning for a second series. Japanese voice actor Junichi Suwabe confirmed this news on his official blog later that day.[23][24] The second series, Kuroshitsuji II, premiered in July and follows a butler, Claude Faustus, and his master, Alois Trancy, as well as Sebastian and Ciel. Both new characters were designed by Toboso.[25]
On March 29, 2010, North American anime distributor Funimation announced on their online FuniCon 3.0 panel that they had licensed Black Butler.[26] At Anime Expo 2010, Funimation also announced that they would stream the simulcast series, Black Butler II.[27] Funimation announced on their Facebook page that they had fully licensed the second season. Funimation released Black Butler Combo Pack Blu-ray/DVD first and second season on April 3, 2012. The series made its North American television debut on February 8, 2011 on the Funimation Channel.[28] Funimation lost the rights to the series in 2017.[29] The first season is currently licensed by Aniplex of America and it will be released on a Blu-ray Disc box set on January 29, 2019.[30]
On January 16, 2014, it was announced that Black Butler had been green-lit for another anime adaptation.[31] Unlike most of the previous seasons, the third series was a close adaptation of the original manga storyline, adapting the Noah's Ark Circus arc and titled Kuroshitsuji Book of Circus.[32] The series was directed by Noriyuki Abe at A-1 Pictures, with Hiroyuki Yoshino in charge of scripts, along with Ichiro Okuchi and Yuka Miyata as script writers. The main cast from the previous anime series returned, along with new cast members, and the series aired from July 10, 2014 to September 12, 2014. In addition, a two-part OVA titled the Book of Murder, an adaptation of the Phantomhive Manor Murders arc, was screened in Japanese theatres on October 25, and November 15, 2014. It was directed by Noriyuki Abe.[5]
On August 7, 2014, Funimation announced that they have licensed the third season of the series, Black Butler: Book of Circus, which is based off of chapters 24-37 in the manga,[33] and have streamed it on their simulcast. Funimation released the series on Blu-ray and DVD on April 19, 2016.[34] Additionally, Funimation has licensed a two-part OVA titled Black Butler: Book of Murder, which is based off of chapters 38-50 of the manga, and released it on May 17, 2016.[34]
Musical [ edit ]
That Butler, Friendship (その執事、友好, Sono Shitsuji, Yūkō), a musical adaptation of the manga, had run at the Sunshine Theater in Ikebukuro between May 28, 2009 and June 7, 2009.[35] Yuya Matsushita portrayed Sebastian Michaelis, Shougo Sakamoto played Ciel Phantomhive and Uehara Takuya as Grell Sutcliff.[36]
Musical Black Butler: The Most Beautiful Death in The World – A Thousand Souls and The Fallen Grim Reaper (ミュージカル｢黒執事｣〜ザ・モースト・ビューティフル・デス・イン・ザ・ワールド〜千の魂と堕ちた死神, Miūjikaru Kuroshitsuji – Za Mōsuto Byūtifuru Desu in za Wārudo – Sen no Tamashii to Ochita Shinigami),[37] the second musical adaptation of the manga, ran at Akasaka Act Theater (1300 seats) in Akasaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, between May 3 and May 23, 2010. Yuya Matsushita reprised his role as Sebastian Michaelis, Yukito Nishii played Ciel Phantomhive, and Uehara Takuya reprised his role as Grell Sutcliff. The other two main characters, Eric Slingby and Alan Humphries, were portrayed by Taisuke Saeki and Matsumoto Shinya, respectively. The musical was written by Mari Okada, directed by Sakurako Fukuyama, with music composed by Taku Iwasaki, and lyrics by Yukinojo Mori.
A second run of The Most Beautiful Death in the World was announced in December 2012. It ran between May 17 and June 9, 2013 in the Akasaka ACT Theater (Akasaka, Tokyo) again, and the Umeda Arts Theater in Osaka. It was announced in February 2013 that Yuya Matsushita, Uehara Takuya, and Shuhei Izumi would reprise their roles as Sebastian Michaelis, Grell Sutcliff, and the Undertaker, respectively. The rest of the roles were re-cast, with Taketo Tanaka replacing Yukito Nishii as Ciel Phantomhive, and Shinji Rachi and Masataka Nakagauchi replacing Taisuke Saeki and Matsumoto Shinya in the roles of Eric Slingby and Alan Humphries.[38]
A third musical Lycoris that Blazes the Earth (地に燃えるリコリス, Chi ni Moeru Lycoris) was performed in September 2014. Most of the cast reprised their roles from the re-run of The Most Beautiful Death in the World although Fukuzaki Nayuta replaced Taketo Tanaka as Ciel Phantomhive and Yuka Terasaki replaced Saki Matsuda as Mey-Rin. Akane Liv was introduced as Madam Red, Yuusuke Hirose as Charles Phipps, Oota Motohiro as Charles Grey and Araki Hirofumi as Lau.[39]
A re-run of the third Black Butler musical "Lycoris that Blazes the Earth" was scheduled to perform in November–December 2015.[40] It will premiere in Osaka in November 7 then travel to Miyagi, Tokyo and Fukuoka.[41] The new run of the third musical will also make its first oversea tour in China (Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen) in December 2015.[41] Yuta Furukawa is replacing Yuya Matsushita as Sebastian Michaelis, who had been playing Sebastian since the first musical.[40] Meanwhile, most of the cast from the third musical reprise their roles.
A fourth Black Butler musical, based on the Noah's Ark Circus arc of the manga, ran between November–December 2016. Yuta Furukawa reprised his role as Sebastian Michaelis, with Reo Uchikawa replacing Nayuta Fukuzaki as Ciel. Miura Ryosuke was introduced as Joker, Tano Asami as Beast and Tamaki Yuki as Snake, among others. Notably, Izumi Shuuhei reprised his role as the Undertaker again, making him the only original cast member still performing.[42]
A fifth Black Butler musical, Tango on the Campania, which was based off of the Luxury Liner arc in the manga, ran between December of 2017 to February of 2018. Yuta Furukawa reprised his role as Sebastian Michaelis, with Reo Uchikawa also reprising his role as Ciel Phantomhive. Mikata Ryosuke was introduced as Ronald Knox, Okazaki Momoko as Elizabeth Midford, and others. Other actors from previous performers also reprised their roles, such as Uehara Takuya as Grell Sutcliff, Izumi Shuuhei as the Undertaker, and Sasaki Yoshihide as Viscount Druitt.
Video game [ edit ]
A video game for Nintendo DS, called Kuroshitsuji Phantom & Ghost was developed by Square Enix and was released on March 19, 2009.[43] The game is sold in two versions, a limited first-press edition with a higher price and numerous extra goods, and a regular edition.
On February 27, 2009, the Black Butler Character Book "That Butler, Assembles" (黒執事 キャラクターガイド ｢その執事、集合｣, Kuroshitsuji Character Guide "Sono Shitsuji, Shūgō") was released.[44] The TV Animation Black Butler Black Record (TVアニメーション｢黒執事｣ Black Record) was released on March 27, 2009.[45] An official comics anthology Rainbow Butler (虹執事, Nijishitsuji) was also released on that date.[46]
Films [ edit ]
It was announced in January 18, 2013 that the manga would be made into a live-action film starring Ayame Goriki as Genpou Shiori, Hiro Mizushima as Sebastian Michaelis. Filming began in April 2013 and the film was released on January 18, 2014.[47] However, upon its release, it was met with negative reviews.
On October 10, 2015, it was announced an animated film for the series has been green-lit, and the original anime cast will return to reprise their roles.[6] On February 17, 2016, the film, now titled Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic, was confirmed to be an animated adaptation of the Luxury Liner (豪華客船, Gōka Kyakusen) arc from the original manga. It was released in Japan on January 21, 2017. On April 1, 2017, Funimation announced that they have licensed the animated film and would screen it in a limited theatrical release in North America later in the year.[48] Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic, which was based off of Chapters 51-66 in the manga, premiered in Japan on January 21st, 2017, and in North America on the selected dates of June 12th and 14th, 2017.
Reception [ edit ]
Black Butler has sold over 24 million copies worldwide, 6 million outside Japan.[49] Individual volumes alone have done well in weekly polls in Japan, taking several high spots.[50][51][52][53] Black Butler has a large fan base that is very supportive. Some fans say Ciel Phantomhive is the Archangel Azrael partly because "Azur" was one of the names Yana |
companies. The final inspection ensures that the remediation was done completely and you won’t end up with another mold problem some months/years down the road). Also, thanks to his spotting the mold, they found that the roof had a tiny leak above the water heater so they were able to fix that instead of us finding that nice little suprise a few years down the road when it would have been a major problem instead of this tiny one. Shelley Thousand Oaks, CAThe Alabama State Parks 2012 Geocaching Challenge kicked off April 13, at Lakepoint Resort State Park in Eufaula.
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game in which players hunt for hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices.
Inside the caches are usually log books, trade items and clues to a puzzle cache. Participants sign the log books and place the cache back as it was found.
In the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Geocaching Challenge, each cache also will contain clues to a puzzle cache. Participants who complete successfully open the puzzle cache are rewarded with a specially designed Alabama State Parks geocaching coin. To hit all the parks and caches, you would travel about 1,300 miles. [Earlier on al.com: Geocaching]
Participants must create a free membership on geocaching.com. The Alabama State Parks Geocaching Challenge locations can be found on that site or AlaPark.com. The coordinates can be entered into any handheld GPS-enabled device and then it's all about looking for the containers.
For those who are quick enough, there are "First-to-Find" prizes in each cache.
The game is kid-friendly and includes all of Alabama's 22 State Parks.The Liberals poor showing in the 2016 election came despite many in the party banking on an anti-Labor and anti-light rail sentiment in the ACT community. The opposition instead lost ground on its 2012 result, recording a swing against it of 3.3 per cent as of Sunday night. Canberra Liberals Jeremy Hanson and Alistair Coe on Saturday night. Credit:Jay Cronan A clearly dejected Mr Hanson spoke to the media at his Holder home on Sunday, where a group of family, candidates, and supporters had gathered, including Mr Coe. "I've been reflecting, and I don't think there's much more that we could have done," he said.
"We had a great term in opposition over the four years, we had great candidates out there, we took great policies to the election, and the campaign was fantastic." But one Liberal source told Fairfax some within the party felt Mr Hanson's performance in the campaign was less than convincing. Asked whether there would be questions about his leadership, he replied: "I'd say yeah, absolutely. I don't think anyone was really convinced by him during the campaign." "There were a number of poor strategic calls, which always fall at the feet of the leader."
"I think there will be serious questions about how we managed to spend $500,000 and go backwards." Mr Hanson said there was a lot of soul-searching to come within the Liberal party. He described his concession speech last night as the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. He said his future as leader would be settled in coming weeks. "I'll always do what's best for the Liberal party. We'll wait until we've got a full party room, until we know who's going to be in there," he said. "When we do, it is the protocol, it is the tradition that the leadership will then become vacant and then people will be invited to stand.
"Whether I stand or not is a decision I'm yet to take and it's something that I'll discuss with other members of the Liberal party and my family in the coming weeks." Deputy Coe is the most obvious replacement should a leadership change occur. He is favoured by the Young Liberals and more conservative elements of the party. Mr Hanson said he had "no doubt" that Mr Coe would be leader at some point. "I think he's a fantastic guy, we may end up being rivals for the leadership, but what I would say is there is no question in my mind that Alistair will lead the party some day, and I'm sure he'll lead it to success," he said.
"He will be the next leader of the Liberal Party, whether that is in two weeks time or further down the track, that's just a matter for us to see." Mr Hanson said the Liberals campaign was strong, including in the field, and said they had fielded good candidates and strong policies. He agreed Labor ran a strong campaign, but said there was little the Liberals could have done differently, and remained optimistic about the Liberals' chances at some day forming government. Loading "We've had Liberal governments here before, we will have Liberal governments here again. Not this time," he said.
"If you look at NSW Labor, they went one term too far and it imploded. I think this government is a government that has gone one term too far."Nintendo finally revealed pricing and availability details for its upcoming Switch console at its presentation yesterday. It also showed off the gameplay and teaser trailers for many games that would be making their way to the hybrid console, including Super Mario Odyssey, Sonic Mania, ARMS, 1-2 Switch, Fire Emblem Warriors, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Super Bomberman R, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2.
However, these aren't all the games headed to the console. In fact, Nintendo's own website lists at least 35 confirmed games that are slated for a release on the upcoming console. Below, you can find details including pricing and availability of all the confirmed games for the Nintendo Switch:
Name Price Release date FIFA TBD TBD Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers TBD TBD Super Mario Odyssey TBD Holiday 2017 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim TBD Fall 2017 Splatoon 2 TBD Summer 2017 ARMS $59.99 Spring 2017 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe $59.99 April 28, 2017 Has Been Heroes TBD March 2017 Just Dance 2017 TBD March 2017 Snipperclips - Cut it out, together! $19.99 March 2017 1-2 Switch $49.99 March 3, 2017 Super Bomberman R TBD March 3, 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild $59.99 March 3, 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Master Edition $129.99 March 3, 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Special Edition $99.99 March 3, 2017 Arcade Archives TBD TBD Disgaea 5 Complete TBD TBD Dragon Ball XENOVERSE 2 (Working Title) TBD TBD Farming Simulator TBD TBD Fast RMX TBD TBD Fire Emblem Warriors TBD TBD Minecraft TBD TBD Minecraft: Story Mode - The Complete Adventure TBD TBD Puyo Puyo Tetris TBD TBD Rayman® Legends Definitive Edition TBD TBD RIME TBD TBD Shin Megami Tensei: Brand New Title TBD TBD Syberia 3 TBD TBD Steep TBD TBD Project Sonic 2017 TBD 2017 NBA 2K18 TBD September 2017 LEGO® CITY Undercover TBD Spring 2017 Sonic Mania TBD Spring 2017 I am Setsuna TBD March 2017 SKYLANDERS® IMAGINATORS TBD March 3, 2017
As can be seen, most titles do not have a firm release date and pricing information. However, it certainly is an interesting list - that is likely to expand with time - and it will be intriguing to see how the Nintendo Switch fares against a rather stiff competition.
What do you think of the Nintendo Switch's current gaming lineup? Is it strong enough to hold its own against the competition? Let us know in the comments section below!Germany is to officially pardon 50,000 men convicted under a Nazi-era law criminalising homosexuality that continued to be enforced after the Second World War.
Paragraph 175 was used by Adolf Hitler’s regime to send thousands of people to concentration camps but even after the Holocaust, it was not dropped by the new West German government.
Following decades of work by campaigners, anyone convicted under the law will be pardoned and those living will gain the automatic right to compensation.
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view. From 15p €0.18 $0.18 $0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.
Angela Merkel's cabinet of conservatives and centre-left Social Democrats approved a bill granting the pardons on Wednesday but it still requires parliamentary approval.
It foresees compensation of €3,000 (£2,600) for each conviction, plus €1,500 (£1,300) for every year of jail time that convicted men started.
“The rehabilitation of men who ended up in court purely because of their sexuality is long overdue,” said Heiko Maas, the German justice minister.
“They were persecuted, punished and ostracised by the German state just because of their love for men, because of their sexual identity.”
Mr Maas described past judgements as “blatant injustices”, adding: “We shall never be able to completely atone for the crimes of the judicial system, but we want to rehabilitate the victims.
“Prosecuted gay men should no longer have to live with the stigma of their conviction.
Shape Created with Sketch. Remembering the Holocaust Show all 16 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Remembering the Holocaust 1/16 80,000 shoes line a display case in Auschwitz I. The shoes of those who had been sent to their deaths were transported back to Germany for use of the Third Reich Hannah Bills 2/16 Barracks for prisoners in the vast Auschwitz II (Birkenau) camp. Here slept as many as four per bunk, translating to around one thousand people per barracks. The barracks were never heated in winter, so the living space of inmates would have been the same temperature as outside. Hannah Bills 3/16 Hannah Bills 4/16 Sign for the Auschwitz Museum on the snowy streets of Oswiecim, Poland Hannah Bills 5/16 The Gateway to hell: The Nazi proclamation that work will set you free, displayed on the entrance gate of Auschwitz I Hannah Bills 6/16 A disused watchtower, surveying a stark tree-lined street through Auschwitz I concentration camp Hannah Bills 7/16 Stolen property of the Jews: Numerous spectacles, removed from the possession of their owners when they were selected to die in the gas chambers of Auschwitz Hannah Bills 8/16 A sign bearing a skull and crossbones barks an order to a person to stop beside the once-electrified fences which reinforced the Auschwitz I camp Hannah Bills 9/16 The peace and the evil: Flower tributes line a section of wall which was used for individual and group executions Hannah Bills 10/16 Life behind bars: Nazi traps set to hold the Third Reich’s ‘enemies’. In Auschwitz’s years of operation, there were around three hundred successful escapes. A common punishment for an escape attempt was death by starvation Hannah Bills 11/16 Burying the evidence: Remains of one of the several Auschwitz-Birkenau gas chambers Hannah Bills 12/16 Hannah Bills 13/16 The three-way railway track at the entrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. This was the first sight the new camp arrivals saw upon completion of their journey. Just beside the tracks, husbands and wives, sons and daughters and brothers and sisters were torn from each other. Most never saw their relatives again Hannah Bills 14/16 A group of visitors move through the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Viewed from the main entrance watchtower of Auschwitz-Birkenau Hannah Bills 15/16 "The Final Solution": The scale of the extermination efforts of the Nazis at Auschwitz-Birkenau can be seen by comparing the scale of the two figures at the far left of the image to the size of the figure to the left of the railway tracks' three point split Hannah Bills 16/16 Each cattle car would transport up to one hundred people, who could come from all over Europe, sometimes from as far away as Norway or Greece. Typically, people would have been loaded onto the trucks with around three days food supply. The journey to Auschwitz could sometimes take three weeks. Hannah Bills 1/16 80,000 shoes line a display case in Auschwitz I. The shoes of those who had been sent to their deaths were transported back to Germany for use of the Third Reich Hannah Bills 2/16 Barracks for prisoners in the vast Auschwitz II (Birkenau) camp. Here slept as many as four per bunk, translating to around one thousand people per barracks. The barracks were never heated in winter, so the living space of inmates would have been the same temperature as outside. Hannah Bills 3/16 Hannah Bills 4/16 Sign for the Auschwitz Museum on the snowy streets of Oswiecim, Poland Hannah Bills 5/16 The Gateway to hell: The Nazi proclamation that work will set you free, displayed on the entrance gate of Auschwitz I Hannah Bills 6/16 A disused watchtower, surveying a stark tree-lined street through Auschwitz I concentration camp Hannah Bills 7/16 Stolen property of the Jews: Numerous spectacles, removed from the possession of their owners when they were selected to die in the gas chambers of Auschwitz Hannah Bills 8/16 A sign bearing a skull and crossbones barks an order to a person to stop beside the once-electrified fences which reinforced the Auschwitz I camp Hannah Bills 9/16 The peace and the evil: Flower tributes line a section of wall which was used for individual and group executions Hannah Bills 10/16 Life behind bars: Nazi traps set to hold the Third Reich’s ‘enemies’. In Auschwitz’s years of operation, there were around three hundred successful escapes. A common punishment for an escape attempt was death by starvation Hannah Bills 11/16 Burying the evidence: Remains of one of the several Auschwitz-Birkenau gas chambers Hannah Bills 12/16 Hannah Bills 13/16 The three-way railway track at the entrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. This was the first sight the new camp arrivals saw upon completion of their journey. Just beside the tracks, husbands and wives, sons and daughters and brothers and sisters were torn from each other. Most never saw their relatives again Hannah Bills 14/16 A group of visitors move through the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Viewed from the main entrance watchtower of Auschwitz-Birkenau Hannah Bills 15/16 "The Final Solution": The scale of the extermination efforts of the Nazis at Auschwitz-Birkenau can be seen by comparing the scale of the two figures at the far left of the image to the size of the figure to the left of the railway tracks' three point split Hannah Bills 16/16 Each cattle car would transport up to one hundred people, who could come from all over Europe, sometimes from as far away as Norway or Greece. Typically, people would have been loaded onto the trucks with around three days food supply. The journey to Auschwitz could sometimes take three weeks. Hannah Bills
“Paragraph 175 disrupts professional paths, destroys careers and blights lives.
“The few victims who are still alive today should finally be afforded justice.”
The minister pledged financial support for the Magnus Hirschfeld Foundation, which has documented the persecution and raising awareness of the effects of Paragraph 175.
The group hailed “justice, finally” on Wednesday, saying the draft law was an important step on a long road or rehabilitation for victims.
The Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany “welcomes the fact that, after long decades of ignorance, legal consequences are being drawn from the serious mass human rights violations that were committed against homosexual people by the democratic state,” said its spokesman, Helmut Metzner.
Paragraph 175 was introduced in to Germany’s criminal code in 1871 but was broadened by the Nazis in 1935, with the ensuing prosecutors see thousands of gay men and lesbians sent to concentration camps during the Holocaust.
A Reichstag committee had voted to repeat the law six years before but Adolf Hitler’s government changed it to allow for the persecution of any “lewd act” between men, regardless of physical contact.
Even after concentration camps were liberated, some prisoners were forced to serve out two-year prison sentences under Paragraph 175, while those freed faced stigmatisation.
Although East Germany abolished the Nazi amendments in 1950, West Germany did not and had them confirmed by its constitutional court.
The move caused an estimated 100,000 men to be drawn into legal proceedings between 1949 and 1969, with 50,000 convicted and some taking their own lives.
Homosexuality was decriminalised in Germany 1969 but the legislation was not formally removed until 1994.
Six years later, Germany's parliament approved a resolution regretting the fact that Paragraph 175 was retained after the war and in 2002 it annulled the convictions of gay men under Nazi rule, but not afterwards.
The new law will exclude men who were convicted for homosexual activities with children or for acts that involved violence or threats.
It also will apply to men convicted in communist East Germany, which had a milder version of Paragraph 175 on the books and decriminalised homosexuality in 1968.
A total of around some 68,300 people were convicted under various forms of the law in both German states.
Mr Maas said the strength of a country was marked by the “courage to correct its own mistakes”, adding: “We have not just the right but the duty to act.”
The move comes months after the British government announced that thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted under now abolished sexual offences would be pardoned under the “Alan Turing law”.
It was named after the pioneering mathematician, whose code-breaking skills are said to have shortened the Second World War by years, who killed himself after being chemically castrated as punishment for “gross indecency”.
Several other countries including Canada and New Zealand are considering pardons for those convicted under repealed laws against same-sex relationships.
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 nowWebsocket Hooks
We are happy to introduce a brand new way of sending data to any Hook service endpoint, Websockets!
This new functionality enables a bridge between Websocket connections and Webhook microservices.
Through a standard ws:// connection, you can now connect to any existing hook.io microservice though Websockets.
hook.io will hold the Websocket connection, attempting to parse any incoming messages as JSON and forward them to an existing hook service.
If a string or non-JSON message is received, hook.io will simply pass the data to the hook service as hook.params.body
Any Websocket client will work, including the browser.
Below is an example of using the wscat tool to connect to a hook.io service over Websockets to send and receive data.
Example
wscat -c ws://hook.io/examples/echo
Simple as pie!
Binary Data Support / Websocket Transform Streams
Currently, hook.io Websockets can only receive data as text or JSON messages. In the near future, we will most likely add support for streaming binary data over Websocket with the ability to perform transforms on the data stream.
Remember, you can still perform streaming transforms of binary data using the regular HTTP API:
echo "foo" | curl --header "content-type: application/octet-stream" --data-binary @- http://hook.io/marak/transform
If you are interested in helping with this 100% open-source hook.io project, come join the discussion at: https://github.com/bigcompany/hook.io
Go Websockets!The newly elected prime minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, caused a minor scandal during his electoral campaign earlier this year when he claimed that "1,200 young Spaniards are emigrating to Argentina each month" due to his country's economic crisis.
Rajoy's claim was probably exaggerated, but the mass arrival of young Europeans is nonetheless clearly evident in the streets of Buenos Aires today.
Most of them come from Spain and Italy but some are from Britain.
"There've been evenings in Buenos Aires coming home on the underground where I ride listening to English conversations on the train," says 28-year-old former London stockbroker Jeremy Hanson, who moved here two years ago. "Then I get off at Carranza station and I come up the stairs and there are people ahead of me speaking English and then I'm walking down Campos Avenue to my apartment and there are people walking towards me and as they pass they're English too."
Mixed Italian, Spanish and English accents stand out in colonial San Telmo, middle-class Belgrano or the trendy boutique-lined streets of Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho, the neighbourhoods most favoured by the growing number of young professionals who have come here seeking jobs and a more relaxed lifestyle.
"In Barcelona I didn't even bother looking for a job because there just is no work in Spain," says Montserrat Fabregas, a 30-year-old architect who came here last year to join one of the most important architecture studios in Argentina.
Fabregas is ecstatic at her success in Buenos Aires, where she combines working on projects for the MSGSSS studio with serving as a volunteer for a non-governmental organisation that provides improved homes for poorer areas outside the city. "I have already built my first house, even if it is just a humble nine by 18-feet one in a poor neighbourhood," says Fabregas. Every weekend she climbs the scaffolding with construction workers, building wooden homes to replace the aluminium-siding shacks of shanty-town dwellers.
For Chiara Boschiero, a 33-year-old film producer from Italy, Argentina has provided a similar escape. "In Italy, with the crisis, people my age have closed up inside, you feel there is no more hope," she says sitting at a café near her home in the tree-lined neighbourhood of Belgrano. "Here people are still willing to put their heart into what they do. Italy is a country of old people, it is very difficult for a director under 40 to make a film. But Argentina is young and there are many directors and producers here younger than I am who are very successful."
Two years ago, Hanson decided to leave his job at a London financial services firm to teach English privately to business executives in Buenos Aires. The effects of the crisis on his London firm had become unendurable. "The company was adjusting, making redundancies, tightening everything," he says, relaxing at an ice-cream parlour near his shared Belgrano apartment. "I was completely asphyxiated by ridiculous things like measuring how quickly you responded to phone calls."
Sunny Buenos Aires has proven a welcome change from that stress. "The climate is perfect, getting a job here was pretty easy and the people are great."
The large majority of young Europeans here work under the radar of the Migrations Department, residing as students or travelling back and forth to neighbouring Uruguay to renew their tourist visa every three months. But figures for official residency permits for Europeans have about doubled in the past five years, to a projected 2,000 for this year. The real number of new residents is much higher, with Spaniards leading the wave, followed by Italians, French, Germans and Britons.
Few plan to return home any time soon. "Mine is a lost generation in Spain," says Fabregas. "I had planned to stay two years and go back, but now I realise I won't because the panorama is too bleak. My friends still have no jobs. I am very lucky I moved to Argentina."
Hanson is thinking of buying an apartment to stay permanently. "I've read stories on the internet from people with bad experiences, but I think a lot of it comes down to the effort you're prepared to make on a personal level.
Some people come without learning Spanish and they expect to start a life without knowing the language and when it doesn't work out they go on the internet and they give it a bad press."
Boschiero agrees. "The bureaucracy here is horrendous but if you take the time to sit down and have a coffee with someone then the doors open magically. It's a country with a complicated history so people are used to helping each other out, I do this for you and you do this for me and together we form a human chain to help each other out."
• This article was amended on 23 December 2011. We said 1,200 Spaniards were emigrating to Argentina each year, rather than each month. This has been corrected.UPDATE, Nov. 29: HBO has expanded the reach of Go further in Central Europe, extending its reach to cover Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
HBO has gone direct-to-consumer in four countries in Central Europe. HBO Go has launched in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia and will serve up HBO hits including “Game of Thrones” and “Westworld,” as well as classic series from the premium cabler such as “Sex and the City” and “The Wire.”
Agnieszka Holland’s “Burning Bush” and other local originals will also be on the streaming service.
HBO Go is available via connected devices – each customer can add five – including phones, tablets, Samsung smart TVs and Sony’s PlayStation. In Romania the service is priced at €4.99 per month, and in the other territories it is €6.99.
In addition to the HBO fare there will be third-party programming such as “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Babylon Berlin,” “Billions,” and “Luther.” There will also be movies, with “Beauty and the Beast,” “Trainspotting 2,” and “Assassin’s Creed” among the launch titles. Documentary and kids programming also feature.
HBO runs linear pay-TV channels throughout Central and Eastern Europe but Monday’s launches mark the first time it has gone straight to customers in those countries with a streaming service and launched outside of the pay-TV ecosystem.
“HBO Go via affiliates is already a huge success in Central Europe, but our goal is to make it even easier for the many series lovers in these countries to access HBO’s premium content. The launch of HBO Go direct to consumers in Central Europe is a natural step for us after successful launches of HBO streaming services in Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland,” said Hervé Payan, CEO of HBO Europe.Jai Courtney. Nicholas Hunt/Getty Jai Courtney's rise to fame has gone the express route thanks to being thrust into big franchises opposite even bigger action stars ("Jack Reacher," "A Good Day to Die Hard," "Divergent," "Terminator Genisys").
The Australian actor is the first to admit that not all the movies have been successful, but he's learned the dog-eat-dog reality of the business, which has prepared him for the intense scrutiny surrounding his next film, "Suicide Squad" (in theaters Friday), in which he plays DC Comics' dysfunctional Captain Boomerang.
Business Insider talked to Courtney (who was in a foul-mouthed mood, so be prepared) in New York City about those highly publicized "Suicide Squad" reshoots, if there will ever be another "Terminator" movie, and whispers he's heard about stars of another franchise who can't stand each other. (Is he talking about Marvel?)
Jai Courtney in "Suicide Squad." Clay Enos/Warner Bros Jason Guerrasio: So let's get the whole news of you taking mushrooms while Skyping with director David Ayer out of the way.
Jai Courtney: I've heard so many versions of that story.
Guerrasio: So let's get the real one.
Courtney: It's not even worth getting into because it's f---ing — it's just a silly thing when s--- gets misconstrued.
Guerrasio: It was more you having fun with a reporter?
Courtney: Yeah, I was f---ing around a little. But then that's me having to learn when to put the brakes on because when a conversation turns into print, it's a little harder to grasp the concept.
Guerrasio: So we can we say you did not have to go to such lengths to get the role?
Courtney: No. I would never do that.
Guerrasio: All these stories about how David Ayer prepares his cast — having you box each other and get interrogated — at a certain point do you go, "Enough of this, David, let's just act"?
Courtney: That's the beauty of it. It's not like he's complicating anything with this stuff. It's fueling. It's fanning the fire. It's a really cool way to shake up the usual pattern of preparation for a job. It's good that you never really know what that's going to mean, you know? That's a gift.
Guerrasio: Did doing all that actually help your performance?
Courtney: Yeah, for sure. It kind of feeds into it. You can do whatever work you think is necessary for a job but unless you have a system like this in place, you may not uncover certain things. There's not a right or wrong way to prepare. My approach changes on every job. But I think David having this long preproduction and the physical demands — I think it's all in the luxury of rehearsal. You're only going to go deeper and that's what he's interested in.
Guerrasio: You've done numerous franchises. Is this the most prep you've done out of any of those?
Courtney: Yeah, 100 percent. I mean, I have had to do prep that's heavy on the physical expectations, but never had a rehearsal period like this before.
Guerrasio: The "Justice League" character who shows up in a cameo is in a scene with Boomerang. Did you know that person would be in the scene with you?
Courtney: I didn't f---ing know that was happening when we were filming. That was a surprise for me when I saw the film.
Guerrasio: How was it written originally?
Courtney: It was written like we didn't really know. But it's part of the roundup of the squad, so my interpretation was that he had been taken out by [Rick] Flag's crew. But it's not specified [in the script]. When I saw it, I was like, of course!
"Suicide Squad." David Ayer/Twitter Guerrasio: But that has to be fun because while filming, surrounded by green screens, you're thinking one thing and then when you see it on-screen, it's another.
Courtney: Totally. It was just a nice little thread. That's what's cool about all this. The potential for that to happen over the course of wherever all this goes is there. The relationships between these characters and different characters in other properties, too. The fact that we can all get into bed and mix it up, the future is bright in that sense.
Guerrasio: How much reshooting was there? Set the record straight.
Courtney: I was a little pissed off by all the reports. The rumors around us having to inject levity into it and all this shit. It was silly because the movie already had all that. All we did was shoot a big action sequence that was changing the shape of another one we had already shot.
Guerrasio: The ending?
Courtney: Yeah. We were just doing stuff with Enchantress. We did things that introduced stuff earlier that they wanted to get rid of basically. Changing her ability to engage with the squad, they enhanced that interaction. It was normal. It was strengthening the ending. The original [ending] we shot was dope, it was just adding to it, not doing an alternative.
Guerrasio: So when you see this movie, you like it? There's no feeling that they screwed it up in post?
Courtney: I f---ing love this movie. It's great to see it all come together. I love that about filmmaking and getting to see everyone else that you don't necessarily engage with on set every day and getting them to showcase their talents. Whether it's effects, music, the edit, the rhythm of a film is driven by that, so it's cool to see it come together. It's great to be standing in front of something you're genuinely proud of.
Guerrasio: Are you bummed that, as far as the immediate future, there are no more "Terminator" movies?
Courtney: Um, no. I mean, look, I would like to do more, but that's not a decision that's up to me and so for whatever reason they put it on the back burner for now.
Guerrasio: You have been thrown into a lot of franchises. Do you have to have a short memory and not anticipate the sequels too much?
Courtney: Yeah, I've certainly learned to become unattached to the idea of it having to come around again. And that has been a possibility since, f--- man, like ["A Good Day to] Die Hard." It was like, "Oh, we'll make another one."
"Terminator Genisys." Paramount Pictures Guerrasio: And that was early in your career, so back then were you pumped by the idea of more movies?
Courtney: Totally. I was still f---ing impressionable. [Laughs]
Guerrasio: You didn't have the scars yet.
Courtney: Yeah. I'm jaded as f--- now. But look, you learn to really not listen to it. And look, if it happens, it happens. If it seems like an obvious movie to make then cool. The thing is if they are going to make another one then hopefully it's for the right reasons, and if that's the case then I'm game to do it. But with "Terminator," who knows — it's probably time to leave it where it is. But if they can get back in there and dig around and decide if there is another film to make, well, I'll take the call.
Guerrasio: What franchise are you more happy to see in the rear-view mirror, the "Terminator" franchise or the "Divergent" franchise?
Courtney: Most in the rear-view? "Divergent." Look, "Divergent" did a lot for me and I liked that character, but I'm glad I was in and out of there in a couple of films. I don't think it hurts anyone, but some of those guys have been making that movie since 2013, and I'm glad I had the fun with it that I did and it's not my future.
Guerrasio: You had a little joke when talking to Stephen Colbert the other night, saying you were happy with "Suicide Squad" because at least you guys get along with each other. Was that a hint that on "Divergent" you all weren't friendly with one another?
Courtney: No, I didn't mean that. I think the thing was I was joking about the fact that it's not always the case on movies. I've heard stories from other sets, I won't name names, but another high-profile franchise that was shooting at the same time we were, and individuals don't speak to each other.
Guerrasio: A franchise that might shoot down in Georgia? [Marvel Studios shoots a lot of its films in the Atlanta region.]
Courtney: I don't know, couldn't tell you. But it's a wrestle every day when that happens because they aren't the only people shooting a movie. That energy affects everyone on set. So I was just remarking to the fact that it's cool that was something we didn't have to bull--- about in press. We love each other, you can tell.For the 100th anniversary of America’s national parks, we decided to find out which ones you—the Pop Photo readers—love most. From your responses to our annual reader survey, we highlighted the 25 top parks for getting the widest range of great pictures, along with the top choices from six individual nature specialties: wildlife, forests, meadows and wildflowers, deserts, mountains, and bodies of water. We learned that our readers have explored a wide range of the 59 parks, from the icy fjords of Alaska to the steamy swamps of the Everglades (though none made it to the National Park of American Samoa). We also spoke with a number of well-traveled pro photographers for their perspectives—and, of course, their tips. While specific interests vary, it’s clear that you have a deep appreciation for the iconic landscapes, pristine wildernesses, and incredible wildlife encounters to be found in America’s national parks.
Yellowstone is astounding year-round; Richard Bernabe encountered this Mustard Spring scene in early autumn. Richard Bernabe
1. Yellowstone Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming The world’s first national park won our highest honor because of its wide array of ready opportunities to make great pictures. It was the park our readers have visited most, too: Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of those surveyed traveled to Yellowstone National Park in the past five years. None of this is surprising—the park is an unrivaled natural treasure where an underground super-volcano creates otherworldly geothermal features such as the Old Faithful geyser and the Grand Prismatic Spring. “I came upon Mustard Spring, a small geyser in Yellowstone’s Biscuit Basin, as sunset was approaching and wanted to capture the mysterious and surreal feel of the place,” says landscape and wildlife photographer Richard Bernabe of the picture at left. “I particularly liked how the overflow water reflected the sky. I used that bright circle of reflection as my foreground while choosing a long shutter speed to capture the rising steam as a haunting apparition.” Yellowstone offers incredible encounters with wildlife like bison and bears, which roam these 2.2 million acres of wilderness stretching across Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. It’s also one of the most visited parks in the country, especially during the summer, when popular sights become congested with crowds. 2. Yosemite California Yosemite National Park is where the legendary Ansel Adams honed his craft. Our readers found this park equally inspiring, voting it number two overall. More than 4 million people visited Yosemite last year, and most head for famous viewpoints such as Tunnel View, which overlooks Half Dome and Bridalveil Fall. Yosemite is not a one- or two-day shoot unless you’re happy with the same pictures taken from the road turnouts and trails on the valley floor,” says pro photographer Carol Barrington. “Consider hiking Yosemite’s high country where soul-stirring images abound amid glacial lakes and granite peaks.”
To get a novel view of the Tetons, Tim Fitzharris walked into the Snake River and found a reflection. Tim Fitzharris
Best Park for Photographing Mountains: Grand Teton Wyoming The Grand Tetons are some |
, 15-million Americans suffer from alcohol dependency, and it is responsible for 85,000 American deaths every year on top of 16,000 drunken driving fatalities. Alcohol is also implicated in diseases such as anemia, cancer, cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis, dementia, depression, seizures, gout, high blood pressure, and nerve disease, but it is legal because it is profitable for corporations.
The detrimental effects of marijuana are that it can interfere with attention, judgment, and balance while under its influence, but it has numerous and well-documented medical and health benefits such as smiling, migraine relief, slows Alzheimer’s disease, stops cancer from spreading, prevents blindness from glaucoma, controls epileptic seizures and calms Tourette’s syndrome, treats depression, and many others. There are also no documented cases of death by overdose inherent with alcohol abuse. As an aside, another organic product that does not require a corporation to manufacture, process, distribute, and create profits is psilocybin (magic mushrooms) that has documented mental health benefits including to treat alcoholism that were revealed in a recent 50-year study.
The only reason marijuana is still illegal is two-fold and they both are tied to revenue. First, because any American can grow the weed in their backyard, corporations cannot profit off its recreational use. Second, keeping it as contraband is a major revenue source for law enforcement, drug cartels, and the for-profit prison industry that are interdependent on each other’s continued activities. In California in 2010, Proposition 19 was put on the ballot that legalized recreational marijuana for personal use for people 21 and older, but the measure was defeated in great part due to an influx of cash from the alcohol lobby, California Police Chiefs Association, and the California Narcotics Officers Association. There was also suspected influence by Mexican drug cartels that, like law enforcement and the alcohol lobby, had a financial stake in keeping the backyard plant illegal.
The time to decriminalize marijuana for personal recreational use is long past due in all 50 states and it is one of the reasons law enforcement sent a furious letter to Attorney General Holder condemning him for respecting Colorado and Washington’s new laws. The various law enforcement associations wrote,
“The failure of the Department of Justice to challenge state policies is both unacceptable and unprecedented. The failure of the Federal government to act in this matter is an open invitation to other states to legalize marijuana in defiance of federal law” (bold theirs). It is also an open invitation to allow Americans the freedom to pursue happiness as they see fit, and regardless it affects law enforcement, drug cartels, and alcohol industry’s source of revenue, decriminalizing marijuana for personal use will take the “crime” out of a victimless recreation.
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:Incredibly, Baltimore Advising Police Against Arresting Illegal Immigrant Criminals at All, Lest They Be Subsequently Deported Trump says he's prioritizing illegals who commit other illegal acts for deportation. If a blue city arrests and prosecutes an illegal, then, they make him more readily subject to deportation. If a blue city arrests and prosecutes an illegal, then, they make him more readily subject to deportation. Solution? Solution? Just don't arrest or prosecute illegals for anything other than the most serious violent offenses. Not only do they have immunity from our immigration laws, they'll now have immunity from almost every criminal law. Not only do they have immunity from our immigration laws, they'll now have immunity from almost every criminal law. Amazing. The Baltimore State's Attorney�s Office has instructed prosecutors to think twice before charging illegal immigrants with minor, non-violent crimes in response to stepped up immigration enforcement by the Trump administration. Deputy State�s Attorney Michael Schatzow, in a memo sent to all staff Thursday and obtained by The Sun, wrote that the Justice Department's deportation efforts "have increased the potential collateral consequences to certain immigrants of minor, non-violent criminal conduct." "In considering the appropriate disposition of a minor, non-violent criminal case, please be certain to consider those potential consequences to the victim, witnesses, and the defendant," Schatzow wrote. Although the media tells us illegals don't vote, blue city and state Democrats sure act as if they do, and sure seem to think they have a sizable electoral influence.
Although the media tells us illegals don't vote, blue city and state Democrats sure act as if they do, and sure seem to think they have a sizable electoral influence. Posted by: Ace at 04:00 PM
MuNuvians MeeNuvians Polls! Polls! Polls! Frequently Asked Questions The (Almost) Complete Paul Anka Integrity Kick Top Top Tens Greatest Hitjobs News/ChatDonald Trump has made no secret that he thinks the American media is in the pocket of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
The Guardian of London on Tuesday cited Trump’s statements that the media are part of a “rigged system” that is “trying to undermine his candidacy.”
The sarcastic piece by Ben Jacobs pointed out that Trump said “the press he described as being composed of ‘thieves and crooks,’ may be even more corrupt than the rival whom he has repeatedly derided as ‘Crooked Hillary.'”
It turns out, according to a new study, that whatever ethical lapses may be present in the gamut of media entities, they certainly are one-sided.
In fact, “hostile” to Trump, according to a study by the Media Research Center.
“In the twelve weeks since the party conventions concluded in late July, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has received significantly more broadcast network news coverage than his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, but nearly all of that coverage (91 percent) has been hostile,” the report said.
Sign the precedent-setting petition supporting Trump’s call for an independent prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton!
“In addition, the networks spent far more airtime focusing on the personal controversies involving Trump (440 minutes) than about similar controversies involving Clinton (185 minutes). Donald Trump’s treatment of women was given 102 minutes of evening news airtime, more than that allocated to discussing Clinton’s e-mail scandal (53 minutes) and the Clinton Foundation pay-for-play scandals (40 minutes) combined.”
MRC’s Rich Noyes commented, “Even when they were critical of Hillary Clinton – for concealing her pneumonia, for example, or mischaracterizing the FBI investigation of her email server – network reporters always maintained a respectful tone in their coverage.
“That was not the case with Trump, who was slammed as embodying ‘the politics of fear,’ or ‘dangerous’ and ‘vulgar’ ‘misogynistic bully’ who had insulted vast swaths of the American electorate,” he said.
The bias of the media perhaps shouldn’t surprise anyone.
After all, the Center for Public Integrity recently reported 96 percent of the donations to presidential politics coming from journalists went to Clinton.
For example, Carole Simpson, a former ABC “World News Tonight” anchor, gave Clinton $2,800. And New York Times television critic Emily Nussbaum, who spent the Republican National Convention “pen-pricking presidential nominee Donald Trump as a misogynist shyster,” gave $250 to Clinton.
Nearly 430 reporters gave a total of $400,000 to Clinton, while 50 donated about $14,000 to Trump.
Further, Gateway Pundit pointed out that the WikiLeaks emails reveal that “at least 65 MSM reporters were meeting with and/or coordinating offline with top Hillary advisers.”
“They were invited to top elitist dinners with Hillary campaign chairman John Podesta or chief campaign strategist Joel Benenson,” the report said. “The Clinton campaign sent out invites to New York reporters in April 2015 on their off-the-record meeting on how to sell Hillary Clinton to the public.”
The names include dozens from ABC (Cecilia Vega and David Muir), CBS (Norah O’Donnell and Vicki Gordon), CNN (Brianna Keilar, David Chalian and John Berman) MSNBC (Alex Wagner and Beth Fouhy), the New York Times (Gail Collins and Pat Healy) and many more, including Julie Pace of Associated Press.
MRC analyzed “all 588 evening news stories that either discussed or mentioned the presidential campaign on ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts from July 29 through October 20.”
The report said the networks devoted 1,191 minutes to the campaign, not quite one-third of all coverage.
Trump got 785 minutes and Clinton 478 minutes. The candidates’ controversies consumed 440 minutes for Trump and 185 minutes for Clinton.
The report reveals 623 negative (91 percent) and 63 positive (9 percent) statements about Trump, and 145 negative (79 percent) and 39 positive (21 percent) statements about Clinton.
The MRC’s chart shows the subjects of the comments:
MRC’s Newsbusters report explained: “Our measure of campaign spin was designed to isolate the networks’ own slant, not the back-and-forth of the campaign trail. Thus, our analysts ignored soundbites which merely showcased the traditional party line (Republicans supporting Trump and bashing Clinton, and vice versa), and instead tallied evaluative statements which imparted a clear positive or negative tone to the story. Such statements may have been presented as quotes from non-partisan talking heads such as experts or voters, quotes from partisans who broke ranks (Republicans attacking Trump or Democrats criticizing Clinton), or opinionated statements from the reporter themselves.”
The mask is off, the game over, the pretense all but abandoned. As revealed in October’s stunning pre-election Whistleblower issue – titled “HILLARY’S ULTIMATE WEAPON: America’s biased and abusive news media finally abandon all pretense of fairness” – the mainstream media are now falling over one another in a frenzied campaign to put the Clintons back in the White House.
It continued: “Additionally, we separated personal evaluations of each candidate from statements about their prospects in the campaign horse race (i.e., standings in the polls, chances to win, etc.). While such comments can have an effect on voters (creating a bandwagon effect for those seen as winning, or demoralizing the supports of those portrayed as losing), they are not ‘good press’ or ‘bad press’ as understood by media scholars as far back as Michael Robinson’s groundbreaking research on the 1980 presidential campaign.”
The report pointed out “network reporters went out of their way to hammer Trump day after day, while Clinton was largely out of their line of fire.”
“Network reporters have consistently painted Clinton as the most likely to win, but they have inexplicably spent most of their time trying to dismantle the underdog in the race while giving the frontrunner much lighter scrutiny.”
Sign the precedent-setting petition supporting Trump’s call for an independent prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton!It’s so hard to avoid the outrage. Social media’s default position – even more so with 2016 being an election year. It rears its ugly head on various professed Catholic sites and blogs, too, where Pope Francis’ breathing is declared an act of heresy, or where every bishop is judged an agent of Satan. You’d think outrage was a gift of the Holy Spirit or some corporal work of mercy.
But it’s not. It goes beyond a visceral reaction to perceived injustice or wrong-doing. It’s an often-time uncontrolled response of asshattery and feckwittery, leading to more outrage and worse sins. Hatred is its food, malice its drink, and it is insatiable. And exhausting. It is not the same as righteous anger. Righteous anger is a controlled anger, directed towards specific, Godly ends. Outrage just hates. It mocks, insults, and offends the dignity of the person. Outrage has never converted anybody – except into a fellow outragist. Lord knows we need fewer outragists in the world, not more.
Do something positive about the situation, if you can. Pray, perform a work of mercy, offer up penance. Not only for the circumstances that lead to the outrage – but more so for those who peddle their Outrage Industry wares and market their Perpetually Offended goods – whether religious, political, or social. Stay away from those whose sole mission is to keep your outrage stoked. There’s no room for the peace of the Holy Spirit in your heart, mind, and soul, if outrage occupies a portion. Have you ever known anyone who’s spent time in Adoration emerging feeling more outraged? Have you ever known anyone who’s received absolution from Confession, exiting the confessional saying “I’m on fire for outrage! Praise be Jesus!!”?
Of course not. Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you. Speak the truth in love. And leave the outrage for the demons and devils who thrive upon its unholy power.In a surprising turn of events, Xiaomi is now apparently ranked as the most preferred smartphone brand for Indian Android users looking to upgrade their smartphones in 2017, as per a recent report. Research firm Strategy Analytics notes that Xiaomi topped the preferred brands chart for the next smartphone purchase with 26 percent share, followed by Samsung and Apple.
Samsung and Apple are at par with each other by gaining 12 percent preferred market share. Micromax impressed the least amount of people by gaining only 2 percent of votes. Interestingly, Motorola attracted 7 percent votes, and Lenovo and OnePlus both got 6 percent votes.
These research results are based on questions asked to an Android panel by the analytics firm. The research note also says that the panel preferred network speeds and processor over camera, screen size and resolution as purchase drivers. This is the first time Xiaomi has topped the charts as the most preferred choice for Indians while upgrading. Xiaomi entered India in 2014, and has since then made waves with its unique flash sale models, and competitive prices.
Vendor Share Android Panel % Preferred Brand for Next Smartphone Xiaomi 16% 26% Samsung 18% 12% Lenovo 11% 6% Motorola 11% 7% Micromax 9% 2% Apple ~ 12% OnePlus 2.40% 6% Source: Strategy Analytics Inc.
The firm claims that the company has grown 125 percent year on year, a significant momentum for any smartphone company. This is because Xiaomi mainly made smartphones affordable and qualitative in the country, something that was missing before. The report also notes that the Indian premium smartphone segment (above Rs. 35,000) remains small at only 6 percent of potential buyers with over half of Indian smartphone buyers likely to spend between Rs. 10,000-20,000 only, something that Xiaomi caters to very well.
However, David Kerr, Senior Vice President at Strategy Analytics feels that with Nokia re-entering the market, things may see a shift again. “Clearly a pool of dissatisfaction exist which One Plus, Xiaomi and others are stepping in to address. With Nokia re-entering the market this month, a powerful emotive brand will be added as an option to those dissatisfied with the current status quo. Micromax as well as Sony, LG, Lenovo and Motorola have cause for concern,” Kerr said in a statement. Kerr adds that it is “striking how poorly Micromax is rated in terms of purchase consideration relative to its position in the market.”
Rajeev Nair, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, added, “Xiaomi for the first time since it started operations in the Indian market was ranked among the top three vendors in Q4 2016. The vendor grew a whopping 125 percent YoY and 17 percent QoQ and captured 10 percent of market share in India in the quarter.”
Nokia is said to launch the Nokia 3310 (2017) this month, followed by the Nokia 3, Nokia 5, and Nokia 6. On the other hand, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 4 launched last year has crossed one million in sales in India, and the Redmi 4A launched last month, garnered record numbers in first sale.Apart from my first and last semesters of college, I didn’t socialize much on campus during my years at Brandeis. I didn’t relate to much of what college-age kids were talking about or going through – I wanted out, and I wanted out as quickly as possible. For such a supposedly progressive group of people, so many were so immature. Yet there were glimmers of hope, along with the possibility of friendship in that first semester, so when I started hanging out with my next door dorm mate Tony I thought I might have made a friend.
He was from the south – New Orleans I believe – and he had a smooth Southern drawl and a bit of charm that matched his earnestness. Don’t misunderstand – I did not have a crush, I did not have an infatuation, and it was clear that Tony was very straight. At that time I was still pretending to be too, with a girlfriend from high school still in the picture. Tony didn’t have anyone, and he also wasn’t confident or courageous enough to ask anyone out, even if he was rakishly handsome in his way. So that left us alone, and together.
There’s no set way for how a friendship develops, particularly between two young men. A few shared walks to class, a couple of shared dinners, and the usual freshman dorm ice-breakers and monthly meetings are sometimes enough to spark it if it’s ever going to happen. Living next door aided in that too – so much of life occurs due to sheer proximity. We passed each other first thing in the morning, and last thing in the evening. In boxers and t-shirts, in glasses and mussed hair, in hope and in dread. He also had a dick of a roommate whom we all pretty much disliked, and I had a roommate who was hardly ever there (and whom I loved for it.) In some ways it was only natural that we’d become friends.
He also had a fondness for pop music and for guessing which songs would hit the top of the charts. At the time, Ace of Base was big, but the latest entry from Mariah Carey was also about to begin its Billboard climb. Tony was thrilled with ‘Hero’ and proclaimed it the next big smash. While never a big Mariah fan, I did enjoy the song, though I wondered if it would make it to Number One. Of course, it did. (To this day that and her Christmas song are about all I can stand.) ‘Hero’ brings me instantly back to that late fall at Brandeis, when I was first starting to awaken to the fact that I’d made a new friend. And it was a guy – a straight guy – something rather rare in my female-centric cloistered world.
There’s a hero If you look inside your heart you don’t have to be afraid of what you are…
Now, it sounds like Tony could very well have stood on the gay side of the Kinsey scale (Ace of Base? Mariah Carey?) but believe me, he most certainly was not. There was incessant talk of hot girls and breasts and butts and sometimes it was all I could do to hold my tongue to stop the flow of objectification that spilled from his southern mouth. It was never mean-spirited though, and never degrading – it was simply child-like and unrefined. In short, it was the stuff of straight guys – and it fascinated me. More than that, though, it taught me that I could be friends with someone who didn’t share all my politically-correct beliefs. No one was perfect, as I was finding, and you had to take the bad with the good because sometimes it was worth it. We challenged each other, and those challenges often led right to the verge of real arguments, but in the end we could agree to disagree and still walk back to the dorm together and meet up the next morning. This was new for me.
There’s an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away…
By November of that year, I was finally getting the hang of college life after a couple of questionable months. I’d whittled my class-load down from an initial overly-ambitious schedule to just four courses (one of which was Water Aerobics – much more inviting at the end of August than in the first chill of November). I also had two difficult science courses, the first being Astronomy (which I also took with the hope it would be an easy pass of looking at the stars, not counting on all the physics and equations involved). In addition to the math, however, we did get to go outside and look up at the night sky from the roof of the observatory building.
Around us, the campus laid in quiet wait, and in the distance the glow of Boston once again beckoned to my desire. Above, the sky opened up and revealed more of itself as our eyes adjusted to the darkness. The moon, brilliant if only halfway in light floated in a corner, while the belt and sword of Orion stood at an angle. There was a brisk wind, and we hurriedly plotted things out on paper, took some measurements, and soon were set free by the professor. I walked down the stairs and back to my dorm. The hissing of the radiator was the only thing that greeted me in the darkened room. That hiss could be the loneliest sound in the world. Outside, the branches of a pine tree shifted shadows from a streetlight. I popped down the hall to see if Tony was around. There was no answer to my knock, and I went back to my room. The mark of a friendship is the dejection you feel when they’re not around. I put on the stupid Mariah Carey song and smiled. Maybe a guy could be a friend and a hero and I didn’t have to fall in love with him.
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you’ll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you.
For his part, I’d like to believe that Tony felt similarly about me. Neither of us had a large circle of friends, and his southern friendliness was somewhat shocked by our cold northeastern indifference. We were both outsiders for vastly different reasons. He was on a pre-law track, and I was about to default to a degree in English and American Literature (hence all the science and water aerobics courses [?]) While we didn’t share any classes or interests, we had started sharing dinners at Sherman Hall, and spirited conversations that ranged in topic from Madonna to racial divides. I think each of us thought that he had the upper hand, and when that happens you sometimes create an unintended equality between friends that results in a mutual admiration. It’s so much easier to think better of someone if you actually believe that you’re better than that someone. Yet as misguided as we both may have been, that didn’t mean the burgeoning affection wasn’t real. Of course, I don’t know that for sure. I haven’t seen Tony in about eighteen years. Maybe he just didn’t want to eat dinner alone.
It’s a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold.
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt will disappear.
In the way that it has often happened in my life, all it takes is one person – one friend – to galvanize me into confidence and serenity. Just knowing that another person out there cares, and is willing to come up to you across campus to say hello and have a chat about the day – it eases any loneliness in a way that no other source of strength can match. This was in the time before the bromance was an acknowledged part of life, a time when guys kept their distance for fear of being thought gay. It was only 1993, and it feels like a world away.
As November ripened, and we neared the Thanksgiving break, it was dark when we headed out to dinner. The first brisk days and nights that hint of winter to come are not always unwelcome, and I wrapped my arms around each other, pulling my coat close. We sat down to a warm dinner and talked of holiday plans. My drive in Thanksgiving Eve traffic would likely be just as long as his flight south. I realized then that I might miss him. I was just getting into a new way of life when suddenly I’d be whisked back to Amsterdam, to the past, to the town I’d tried to escape. Tony was excited to be going home, though, and I was happy for him. He missed Louisiana, he said. His friends and family. Even when it’s less than ideal, there’s no place like home. We finished our meal and dropped our trays off near the exit. Pulling our coats on, we met the night and the cold and hurried up the hill back to our dorm.
As we neared Usdan Center, the moon appeared from behind a stand of pine trees. It was glorious, almost full, and I said innocently, my recent Astronomy class still in my mind, “Hey, look at the moon,” as I pointed to the sky.
He paused in his stride and looked at me quizzically, in the way he sometimes cocked his head and questioned something I said. “You’re not going fag on me, are you?” he asked, rather seriously, and without a laugh or a smile.
Somewhere, the joy and hope I’d thought I was finding in another person froze. Something shifted right then for me, not only in our friendship, but in the rest of my world, and for the rest of my life. Something died in me. The little amount of faith I held in humanity diminished just a little bit more. And I felt someone I trusted – someone who was, or had already become, a friend – slip away. I waited for him to qualify the remark, to offer a joke or something to take away the sting of what he had said. I’d been called a fag before, and I would be again, but never by someone I considered a friend. Never someone so close.
I’m not one who usually cries, but at that moment, in the instant the words came out of his mouth, I wanted to cry. I swallowed hard instead, and then insisted of course I was not a fag, even managing to embolden the lie with a convincing laugh. I explained that I was merely commenting on the moon and what I’d learned in Astronomy that week. We were quiet for a few moments, then separated and went our ways. I think we both knew then.
The Lord knows dreams are hard to follow
But don’t let anyone tear them away
Hold on, here will be tomorrow
In time, you’ll find the way.
We had a few more dinners after that, and carried on outwardly in much the same way as before. But after Thanksgiving break, I stopped going to dinner with Tony. I wanted to be alone then anyway. I was coming to terms with the fact that I was gay, and even if I wasn’t, I knew I couldn’t be friends with someone who could use the word ‘fag’ so flippantly even if it he didn’t mean it, even if it didn’t mean anything. Words matter – at least they do to me.
After winter break, when snow was on the ground and trudging through campus proved both depressing and difficult, it would have been nice to have someone to bear the burden, shoulder to shoulder, but when he knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to grab dinner, I repeatedly bowed out. He stopped knocking soon enough. When our first year was over, and my parents had loaded the last of my things into the station wagon for the ride home, I didn’t say good-bye to Tony. I’m not even sure where he was that day, because I had honestly stopped caring.
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you’ll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you.
Somehow, I never saw Tony for the next two years. It’s strange, as Brandeis is a relatively small college, but I was keeping to myself, lying in wait until I could get into Boston and away from college guys who equated looking at the moon with being a fag. He may have nudged my closet door closed completely, but in the ensuing months it only made me want to kick it down more.
In my last semester, I saw him for the last time. It was at this time of the year again – November or December – and I was waiting for the commuter rail to go into Boston – where I had just moved. He was getting off the outgoing train, and I remember watching him walk down the steps and thinking I knew him from somewhere. He flashed the same puzzled recognition before we realized and recognized. We exchanged hurried pleasantries and caught up a bit. I noticed how his eyes traveled down my outfit: a velvet scarf tied around my neck, and a top coat in black wool. His gaze focused on the velvet.
“That’s an interesting… scarf,” he said with the slightest bit of derision. It looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. I wanted to say more too, but I followed his lead. It was almost dark, and the wind was picking up. We said our good-byes, and when the train pulled away I watched him cross the tracks as I stood there waiting for the next train to Boston. The velvet scarf fluttered behind me as I stood facing the wind.
There comes a time when you have to be your own hero.WASHINGTON -- In March, congressional Republicans unveiled a budget that could kick 11 million Americans off food stamps in future years.
On Wednesday, however, Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, invited witnesses to testify about the effectiveness of food stamps. One of the witnesses, Keleigh Green-Patton of South Holland, Illinois, had received SNAP benefits at various times in her life.
"Without this program, I wouldn’t have been able to start my new career," Green-Patton said. "Many people call SNAP a safety net, but for me it was like a trampoline -- bouncing my family back into work and a brighter future."
Republicans are pursuing changes to the program on two separate tracks. The Republican budget bills introduced last month call for a 34 percent SNAP spending reduction over 10 years, but the food stamp cut is tied up with a broader measure that slashes government spending across the board and repeals the Affordable Care Act -- meaning it is unlikely to become law with President Barack Obama in the White House. It's not clear if the budget process will result in any food stamp cuts this year.
Meanwhile, the chairmen of the House and Senate agriculture committees, Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), say they are conducting a long-term review of the program and that they have jettisoned all prior prejudices. Conaway invited Green-Patton to testify because he wants to get as far away as possible from the image of the "Food Stamp Surfer" -- the San Diego SNAP recipient whose lobster-buying habits were held up by Republicans in 2013 as an example of everything wrong with food stamps.
Conaway billed Wednesday's hearing as an opportunity to learn about how federal nutrition assistance works in tandem with private charities. Republicans have long argued that the federal government does too much, and that charitable organizations should have a bigger role relative to government in helping the poor.
"A successful solution for nutrition assistance is the responsibility of government and the charitable sector, a combination of the two working together," Conaway said. "Charitable organizations have greater flexibility to address the needs of their communities in ways the federal government is often not able to do by being accountable to the family in need and not the government program."
The four witnesses besides Green-Patton hailed from nonprofits that help poor people, and each stressed the importance of SNAP. Just to make sure, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), asked: "Nobody here is arguing that we should cut SNAP, am I correct?" The witnesses nodded.
Green-Patton currently works for a company that handles food service in schools. She said she owes her success in her current career to a three-month culinary training program at the Greater Chicago Food Depository 10 years ago. She had no income while enrolled in the program and used food stamps to feed her four kids.Foster Homes, Adoptive Families and Donations Desperately Needed!
120 cats out of a total of 120 in an overcrowded home have been rescued so far. Please consider opening your doors to a cat in desperate need. If you don’t have the space or time to take in one of these cats, donations are also urgently needed to cover the approximately $15,000 in veterinary bills the cats will incur.
You can make a difference today!
On November 16th, four TCR volunteers assessed a very overcrowded, small home. The home is approximately 700 square feet with 120 cats and kittens living inside. The owners have been doing their best to keep the cats fed but there is just not enough to go around and many of the young kittens are severely malnourished.
Despite malnourishment and isolation in a stressful living environment, most of the cats appear quite healthy and social. But there is no doubt that they need loving foster and adoptive families to help them adjust to the trauma of being uprooted from the only existence they have ever known.
If you are able to foster one or more of these cats, even for just 2-3 weeks, please contact us immediately. Foster homes provide TLC, food, socialization, and in some cases, the cats will need medicating. TCR will cover all medical costs.
We appreciate all of the support of new foster families – fill in our foster application today, and a volunteer will get back to you as soon as possible.
To adopt, please call 416-538-8592 press 1, or fill in our online adoption form.
If you cannot open your home to one of these cats, please consider making a donation of $150 to sponsor one of them. This is the average veterinary cost for each cat rescued – bringing our fundraising goal to $15,000. You can make it happen!
Donate Now! Track our progress with us:Inside a warehouse in an industrial Van Nuys neighborhood, thousands of mature crickets engage in uninhibited stridulation as their landlords look on.
For some people, the mating calls may symbolize the sound of summer.
But for the owners of Coalo Valley Farms, each chirp is a leap toward the future of sustainable community food systems.
“We wanted to develop a sustainable source of protein and crickets seemed like the perfect way to do so, “ said co-owner and Coalo Valley Farms founder Peter Markoe. “ Over 2 billion people worldwide include insects in their diets and we want Westerners to realize the nutritional and environmental benefits of doing so.
Markoe and co-owner Elliot Mermel founded Coalo Valley Farms a year ago with a goal to become part of the emerging edible insect market. At the time, their Van Nuys business was the first urban cricket farm for edible consumption in California. A large part of the 7,000 square feet of warehouse space is used to cultivate and process food-grade crickets for sale to consumers, restaurants and food manufacturing companies. They achieved a goal this year when the Burbank based Grain Lab Deli & Kitchen reached out to Coalo Valley Farms to create and serve cricket burgers.
Grain Lab chef Flavi Mancera uses the dry roasted whole body crickets _sans legs_ in a patty made of quinoa and tops it with a horseradish aoili. The cricket burger special will be sold until Friday.
“I thought people would say, ew,” said Grain Lab owner Tim Kang, adding that he reached out to Coalo Valley Farms after he read about them. “Instead, a lot of customers see it on the menu and say, ‘hey that’s good a idea, but I’m not ready to try it yet’.”
And that’s fine with Markoe and Mermel who continue to evolve their products to attract the American palate. Along with partner Lucas Haralson, they’ve started making dark chocolate covered crickets and are experimenting with other flavors.
Since they founded the farm, they have improved how they feed and raise the insects. That includes growing their own sprouts in an in-house aquaponics unit, which involves using the waste from live fish to fertilize plants that also filters the fish water. The plants are then fed to the crickets.
“With land and water resources dwindling, advances in sustainable agriculture are necessary,” Markoe added. “Our goal has been to develop an effective method that will help feed the growing world population.”
The team are primarily focused on sales but it does take time.
It takes a little more than two months for a cricket to mature. Crickets like warmer climates, are omnivorous and eat decaying plant material, fungi and some seedling plants. At Coalo Valley Farms, they are raised in hundreds of open modified bins and fed fresh sprouts. Harvesting involves a freezing method, to slowly get the crickets’ heart rates down.
“We like to say they have lived a full life,” Markoe said. “They’ve reproduced. They have had healthy diets. We harvest them humanely.”
There’s been much trial and error too-from learning the best temperatures to breed the crickets to figuring out how to keep them from hoping out.
“We used to have more escapes, but we figured it out with tape,” Markoe said of using slippery tape along the rims of the bins, which crickets don’t like.
“Our crickets are pretty resilient. We use a different species.”
The demand for cricket flour, for example, has been great, Mermel said. Cricket powder is increasingly becoming an ingredient for everything from protein bars and smoothies, to pizza crust and pancakes.
While Westerners still are somewhat squeamish at the thought of eating insects, some of the best-known Oaxacan restaurants in Los Angeles already serve chapulines or grasshoppers in their dishes, for example.
Cricket farms in the United States are not new. Armstrong Crickets opened in 1947 and was the first in the nation to supply pet stores and bait shops. But the first edible cricket farm opened in Ohio in 2014, and more have followed.
A United Nations report released in 2013 promoted the use of insects for human consumption as a way to help sustain a growing population without causing more problems for the environment.
At Coalo Valley Farms, the team is working on raising meal worms, which also are rich in protein.
“They also don’t hop,” joked Mermel. “That’s the biggest benefit. “Ok, so you got your hands on a not-yet-illegal, mega-effective, pharmaceutical grade benzodiazapine. This stuff is so powerful that it makes you forget you took it so you keep taking it until you black out and lose days |
had suitors this summer among the 10 or so teams that could work their way to max-level cap room, but some of those teams are not in the right evolutionary position to spend that kind of money on a 35-year-old, and others could not have cleared enough space to compete with this L.A. deal. Bryant was not the best player in the league last season, nor was he even really close to it. The Lakers have voluntarily decided to pay him at that level as he enters the twilight of his career, amid unprecedented (for him) health uncertainty.
The deal also kills the Lakers’ dreamy goals of bringing two max-level stars to team with Bryant this summer. The Lakers could have, at most, about $21.5 million in cap space this summer if they retain Steve Nash’s full salary. And even that figure assumes the following:
• L.A. renounces its rights to Pau Gasol, and does not re-sign him;
• The Lakers pick around no. 14 or no. 15 in the draft;
• The Lakers sign zero other players before luring Star Player X in free agency, so that the empty remaining roster spots carry minimum charges of only about $500,000 each.
And even in this scenario, the Lakers could not fit the maximum salary of, say, Carmelo Anthony. Using the stretch provision on Nash could open up about $6 million of cap space, allowing the Lakers to sign that max-level player — and little else. Los Angeles floundered in 2012-13 with Bryant, Gasol, Nash, Dwight Howard, and a bench of minimum-salaried retreads. How do you think they would fare in the ultra-competitive Western Conference in 2014-15 with Bryant, Anthony, Nash (or not), and a bench of minimal-level retreads? They may be better off bringing back Gasol at $10 million or so over two seasons (if he’d take such a deal), finding a couple of other solid mid-priced guys on short-term deals, and seeing how things go from there.
They’ve hung in this season, at 7-7, with a dreary offense and a surprisingly solid defense that has (not surprisingly) improved without Bryant’s irresponsible roaming and declining athleticism. They’ve done so in part because they spent way over the luxury tax to sign and re-sign some useful veterans (Steve Blake, Jordan Hill, Chris Kaman) and hit nicely on some minimum-level contracts (Jordan Farmar, Xavier Henry, Nick Young).
They could use various forms of Bird Rights to re-sign some of those players this summer, going over the cap in the process. But they’ll face competition for guys like Hill, balling out this season now that Mike D’Antoni has finally provided playing time, and Bryant’s new deal is so huge as to hamstring the Lakers’ pursuit of multiple star-level free agents. Remember: Using Bird Rights on Hill (or Nick Young, or Farmar) means leaving those players on your books during free agency via a temporary charge called a cap hold — a charge that eats into that cap space allegedly earmarked for a Carmelo type.
Look, it’s all fine, if you view it through the right lenses. Bryant is a massive star, and the limits on individual maximum salaries ensure that every true franchise player is underpaid (by his team, anyway) for most of his career. Bryant is taking a slight pay cut here, since he’s earning north of $30 million this season, but he did not take a team-friendly discount on the levels of Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and even LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in Miami. That’s cool. Bryant is right to fight for as much dough as possible. The Lakers are right, in their Lakery way, to give him that dough. He’s a drawing card, a guarantee of sellouts amid falling ticket sales, and he has helped the Lakers to five NBA titles.
And Bryant, by the way, remained a phenomenal offensive player last season before his Achilles tear. He hit 51 percent of his 2-point shots, the very best mark of his career, as Kevin Pelton pointed out last week at ESPN.com. Among 106 players to finish at least 75 post-ups with a shot, drawn foul, or turnover, Bryant was the most efficient in the league, per Synergy Sports. The most efficient! At age 34! He hit 55 percent of his post-up shots and produced 1.05 points per possession from the block, per Synergy. Factor in passes from the block, and only one of those 106 players leaps past Kobe in points per possession on post-ups: Kevin Durant.
Bryant still got to the line eight times per game. His footwork remains impeccable, balletic, brilliant. He’s still a fantastic passer when he wants to be, reading the floor three steps ahead like a score-first Jason Kidd. He remained efficient as a scorer and passer in the pick-and-roll. The Lakers scored 107.4 points per 100 possessions with Bryant on the floor last season, and just 99.7 points without him. That’s a huge gap, and an accurate reflection of Bryant’s value on a team that otherwise lacked any perimeter punch.
But every player who has suffered an Achilles tear, even the anomalous All-Star Dominique Wilkins, has suffered a drop-off in play upon returning. And those players were about 29 years old on average, according to Pelton’s work and this study from researchers at Drexel University. Those players came back less efficient overall, and Pelton’s work found a significant decline in most of the stats we associate with athleticism — free throw attempts, steals, blocks, rebounds. Free throws are a hugely valuable part of what Bryant does, especially since he has never been a very good spot-up guy from 3-point range. That could change with more careful shot selection, but he’s never going to be Ray Allen in his old age.
Expecting Bryant to be the same player again is unrealistic, or based upon something other than available precedent. Sometimes precedent is wrong; available precedent suggested that the Spurs would whitewash Oklahoma City in the conference finals two years ago, and the opposite occurred. But if the choice is between age and precedent on one side, and Kobe’s Mambalicious work ethic on the other, I’m sticking my cash on age and precedent. His defense was a massive net-negative for the Lakers already; he was very nearly a one-way player before his injury, though he could still turn up his focus and fundamentals to a useful level during periods of high intensity. But those stretches were brief, and there were not nearly as many of them as there used to be.
Again: The deal makes sense in its own way, and it’s only a two-year extension. The Lakers will have an honest chance at unrestricted free agents that crop up after 2015-16, a group that could include Roy Hibbert, Brook Lopez, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Kevin Love, a long-rumored Laker (and Knick) free-agent target. But Love can opt out of his deal after next season (KAAAHHNNNNN!!!!!!!), and the new CBA makes it so that players should enter free agency at the first possible moment in order to secure a max-level long-term deal right away — before injury, a new and more restrictive CBA, or some other variable can pop up. In that scenario, Love would hit the open market in the summer of 2015, with Bryant still clogging up the Lakers’ books. Hibbert and Lopez can do the same if they decline their own player options. The Lakers will have a hard time signing any big free agents that summer, especially if they give out even one big-money multi-year deal in the interim (i.e., this summer) to Gasol or someone else.
The Lakers could have driven a harder bargain here, insisted that Kobe look in the mirror, accept his hoops mortality, and take a salary commensurate with his age and skill level. They could have thrown the cap sheet in his face and pressured him into a larger pay cut for the good of the team. They could have dared him to enter free agency, a move that would have alienated a fan base that adores Kobe as if he were a deity.
Boston fans have a similar devotion to Paul Pierce, though it is perhaps less fierce than the grip the NBA’s Lord Voldemort has on his Death Eaters. But the Celtics did not flinch when the opportunity arose to deal Pierce and Garnett in exchange for some bad contracts and three plum first-round picks. They let Doc Rivers, the only man to coach them to a title since the mid-1980s, broker his way to the Clippers in exchange for another pick.
There are other ways to handle business, even the business of a legend. Those ways are probably smarter than the route the Lakers took today. The Celtics are now the envy of every front-office executive who craves a rebuilding challenge, provided the challenge comes with some nice resources. The Lakers are an expensive mediocrity overpaying a franchise star in decline.
That’s fine, if that’s what you want. But let’s not pretend anything else is going on here.We love the nighttime views from California Grill high atop Disney’s Contemporary Resort, but the daytime skyline is equally spectacular, with a bird’s-eye view of Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot and Disney’s resort hotels. And now a new Sunday brunch opens the beautiful restaurant for daytime dining for the first time ever.
The new Brunch at the Top is the perfect way to indulge on a leisurely Sunday – not quite breakfast, not quite lunch. Chef Brian Piasecki’s team is excited to launch a whole new menu to showcase their fresh, market-driven cuisine. Of course a glass of bubbly or wine (the restaurant has more than 1,600 bottles on display) pairs nicely. And there’s an over-the-top Bloody Mary Bar as well as cocktails and craft brews, as well as a signature brunch cocktail and faux “mimosas” for kids (though you can also stick with the custom-roast French press coffee).
And here’s the fun part – you get the chance to interact with the culinary team in the open show kitchen while savoring charcuterie, sushi and market-inspired salads. Start the experience with an assortment of house-made breakfast pastries delivered to your table (think caramel apple Monkey bread, Tillamook Cheddar biscuit and cranberry scones pecan) with house-made jam and orange blossom honey butter. Then head to the show kitchen for small tastes such as house smoked orange honey ham, deviled Lake Meadow Naturals eggs, Greek yogurt with vanilla-scented granola and fresh berries, kale and apple salad, baby iceberg wedge with Cherrywood bacon and avocado-buttermilk Ranch dressing, hardwood smoked salmon, California rolls with jumbo lump crabmeat, spicy tuna rolls and shrimp tempura with orange drizzle and mango. (That’s just a sampling.)
Then choose your next course, delivered tableside:
Pan-Fried Buttermilk Organic Chicken Cutlet with Haricots Verts, Toasted Almonds, Frisée, Beurre Noisette;
Sweet Potato Pancakes with Caramelized Heirloom Apples, Dried Cranberry and Raisin Compote, Vanilla
Custard, Warm Canadian Maple Syrup;
Shrimp and Grits, Gulf White Shrimp with Tillamook Cheddar Grits, Spicy Tomato Broth,
Espellette-Spiced Tomato Ragout;
Espellette-Spiced Tomato Ragout; Poached Lobster Benedict with Butter-Poached Tail, Two Soft-Poached Eggs, Honey Ham,
Yuzu Hollandaise, Marble Potato Hash;
Yuzu Hollandaise, Marble Potato Hash; Chef’s Frittata with Three Lake Meadow Farms Eggs, Florida Heirloom Tomatoes, Roasted Poblanos, Chorizo, Creamy Goat Cheese, Marble Potato Hash;
Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Soft Poached Eggs, Chimichurri, Marble Potato Hash and Charred Red Onion.
If there’s room, share sweet mini-desserts, macarons and chocolate truffles while enjoying the beautiful skyline out the floor-to-ceiling windows. The restaurant’s Mid-Century Modern design has a different vibe in the daytime – Disney fans will want to check out the carpet, inspired by artist and Disney Legend Mary Blair’s sketches. Mary created the character designs for iconic Disney attractions such as “it’s a small world” and inspired the colorful mosaic tile art stretching 10 floors high on the fourth floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Fun little detail.
Cost is $80, $48 ages 3 to 11. Reservations open December 16, and can be made by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dine or by calling 407-WDW-DINE.Module addiction. It can happen to anyone! It starts with running Isle of Dread with your friends, and before you know it, your wife catches you at 3 a.m. with Web of Illusion, playing with yourself. It is then that it finally sinks in, you’ve hit rock bottom.
It’s not too late! Anybody can heal from module addiction! You just have to have faith in your abilities and learn how to best manage your time, and then you too will be freed from the money hungry slavers at Wizards of the Coast.
Okay, all kidding aside, modules do serve a purpose; the most important is that they offer a shared experience with everyone in the gaming community. Players who’ve never met before can discuss the Tomb of Horrors. They also serve as teaching points for DMs, and offer maps and ideas that one can drop into their own campaign. We all run them from time to time, but to be honest, I myself spend more time fixing them than I do writing my own stuff!
Not sold yet? Well here is a more startling fact: Groups are more likely to stay together when the DM writes his own stuff.
The most common DM whine about writing is “I don’t have time!” Well, I’m telling you, it takes less time to write then you think. Maybe you tried writing before and found it too time consuming. Maybe that is because you wrote another module! That is why it took so long! We are going to get away from over preparing and recognize over writing as the sin that it is! But how?
We are going to slow everything down. We are going to do just as much as we have to, and no more.
MODULES ARE OVER WRITTEN
They have to be. Modules are expressing ideas that aren’t yours. They are also forcing decisions upon you and your players, if you get frustrated because you put so much work into writing a story, only to feel that the players are screwing it up, then you have to understand one of the great Taos of the game, WE CAN’T CONTROL PEOPLE! We can’t write them in, we can only control ourselves (and our monsters). Once we get that into our heads (and it does take time), we can simplify what we are doing.
SIMPLIFYING YOUR WORK
When we write in general terms, it creates an environment that reacts to what your players are doing instead of the other way around. Instead of having a goblin cooking in a kitchen for all time, like some robot that does nothing until a player opens the door, we can move him around the dungeon, to investigate and make his own decisions. We can do all of this on Gameday. All we need to know is that he is usually there.
Instead of being a control freak, we are going to let our games flow naturally. If we want the party to interact with NPCs, write up a quick list of names with what they do, and a section for what the villagers know. If you want an NPC to know something special, or purposefully misdirect the party, you can write how they’ll try and do just that. DONE!!!! We want to write down stuff that we don’t want to have to come up with on gameday, and that is it.
SETTING REALISTIC GOALS
We aren’t going to be writing entire stories in one shot. When we plan too far ahead we are unintentionally setting limitations on ourselves and our players. We are going to keep things general and let the complete story flow naturally through loosely written scenarios that are designed to accomplish the goals that we set.
What do we think that we can get done? What do we want to do on gameday? Do we want to focus on action, role-playing, puzzle solving, or what? Instead of rushing our players from one scenario to the next, we are going to be slowing them down. If you feel that the pace of the game demands it, you can still have an action scene or two during days you focus on role-play, if we keep the game flow smooth and the PCs involved we are doing it right. We aren’t writing what happens, the players are. We just dangle carrots and answer their questions in mysterious ways that when they ask the right one, only brings about a different set of questions.
Once we have a major goal (something that once accomplished moves the story along), it is nice to know where you are going with this session. We want to know something, but only major details. We also have to make room for failure. We shouldn’t stop that from happening either. Now I’m not talking about TOTAL PARTY KILL! There are little failures that would, under module guidelines, create a major setback. We can anticipate some calamities, such as getting themselves arrested, failing to save an important NPC before they can give them their clue, failures happen, and should happen! That is what makes this game so damned fun!
The less we plan, the more the players get too. They find it more satisfying to purchase a map of a thieves guild, look at it and they can sit there and plan how to get in or out. While they are doing it, listen to them, and figure out how you NPCs will react. We are going to get better ideas from them, then we will when we’re sitting all by ourselves with a keyboard.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO WRITE?
We do want to know a thing or two about the antagonists plan. With the thieves guild above, they are going to have a standard protocol. They know that undesirables are going to find their way in, and they’ll have a system set up which eliminates them quickly and efficiently. If the PC’s try the direct approach, and just walk into the front door, making demands like they own the place, they are going to set off a horrible and deadly chain of events. We need to know what these events are and make sure that they are deadly.
We write important characters, be them antagonists or victims. We can also, once we get going, collect a database. Thinking up names on demand is tough, and can lead to a confusing continuity error later. While initially time consuming, if we write fun characters onto a note-card we can use them again at any time and typically nobody will notice.
I love zombie films! They are a good example of doing only what you need to do. Makeup people don’t give all of the extras awesome make-ups, they just give a few; these are heroes and all of the others are back ground. Write your heroes well, and have just general ideas for people who aren’t. That will also keep gameday fun for you. While we need to know the personality of the hero NPCs, we don’t need to know the personality of the Sword Smith, so we can generate it randomly by using the DMG.
SETTING RESTRICTIONS
Restrictions are necessary, your players know this, but restrictions shouldn’t restrict the story. Restrictions are set by what we are willing to prep for. I like to have things on maps sometimes that I’ll develop later, instead of doing it now, I’ll put a locked door that will only open with a specific key, which the characters will have once I’m ready to develop that area. I’ll be honest with the players about it if they just won’t let the door alone, but for the most part, my restrictions make sense. They serve the story. A restriction usually isn’t, “No, you can’t go there.” Typically it is set by the story itself: A boat at sea is a perfect example. We will have stuff to do on the ship, but nobody is leaving the ship. I can use the restriction to my purposes by putting a killer on the ship. Everybody is contained.
A word of warning, the more restricted a scenario, the more you’ll have to write. If you’ve only got a few NPCs to interact with, you need to know these guys really well, and let them have their own goals which may or may not jive well with the goals of the party.
That is okay! We aren’t wasting our time creating NPCs that the PC is going to ask a question to, and then move on. We are going to need specifics, but we need to know WHEN we need them and why we need them. The more likely the odds of the PC interacting with it, the more we should write.
SPECIFICS
While most of the information in our game scenarios will be generalized, there are things that we will want to be very specific. Key objects, key people, and key places; these are things that we want to be clearly defined so that we can manage them quickly and effectively come gameday.
SETTINGS
Do we need a map? Sure, we may want one, but do we really need one? If we do, this is extra work. Do we need a battlemap? I NEVER go to that unless I really have to. Not that it takes more work, but because my group and I use them so rarely we don’t have those mechanics down yet, and I know as soon as I figure out that I’ve no other choice but to use one, that this is going to slow everything down to a crawl; thus, I have the battlemap represent the smallest area necessary to run the scenario, preferably one room, or a short stretch of road. But I digress, if we need a map, we want it to only be as big as we need it to be.
I also recycle! I never throw maps away. Not ever! Don’t feel like drawing some dungeon up that day? Fine! Go look through your collection of modules, or your stack of old maps and re-key the things. As long as we don’t use Castle Ravenloft for every castle that the PCs go into, then they won’t notice.
When writing your key, let your creativity flow. Don’t just tell the story that your PCs are telling, think about what this place is used for, is there a secondary story that we can tell here? We DON’T want huge description boxes! We just need to write reminders for what we are thinking, such as, “Hall has sculpture of Tempus on a pedestal. Door to area 6 is locked (-15% to pick).” The statue tells us about who lives, or once lived here, and the doorlock is a stat that we don’t want to look up. If a character asks if there are any pictures on the walls, we can answer that on gameday. Don’t do more then you have to. None of that huge half page fluff about some shrine in the house that serves no purpose to the story, just writing a Shrine to Tempus is good enough, chances are the players are going to ignore it anyway and move on. It isn’t hard to come up with specifics that just handle fluff on the fly, who knows, maybe they will move the story into a direction that you never anticipated? That is always fun!
A word of warning in regards to fluff. A player can really ruin your day by collecting all of this stuff. If you have a chalice worth 50gp on the Shrine, you best know about it before hand! Thankfully we have encumbrance rules, and always remember that too much swag makes lots of noise when being quiet is important. Not to say that some player characters aren’t above having a garage sale outside of the Temple of Despair, but I’m sure that you can handle that situation when you get too it. If something is worth money, put it there intentionally and make note of it in your key.
MONSTER!!!!!
Before we go too far into the key, we want to know what lives here. If it is a monster, we need to know everything about it. We like using new monsters, or at least monsters new to us. If you are worried about challenge level and killing your party, AD&D has a fast and easy guide to its monsters. Add up all of the hit dice of the party: for instance, If you’ve got 7 players playing first level characters, they can fight one 7HD monster. They may not come out unscathed! This is the ultimate challenge for them, but I love to do it.
Know your monster! Some monsters will require the dungeon to be built around them. How did this thing get here? Can we tell a secondary story here? What clues would it leave behind? Why did it lair where it is? Is that the best place for it, or is there another spot that might be even better? Is there a defensive advantage to it being there? Is there a defensive disadvantage that it doesn’t know about which might allow a character to kill it with one well-placed hit to the environment? It is okay to put a monster that severely over matches the party, as long as we give them a way to win.
With powerful monsters, we also have treasure to consider.
TREASURE
The Monstrous Manual does most of our work for us; like I said above, we want to be specific about treasure. We can generate treasure randomly, which can lead to interesting story possibilities, such as finding an art object worth 9,000gp in a cave out in the middle of nowhere, we’ll want to explain that, we’ll want to name this object and decide how nice we want to be by making the object easy or hard to transport, if we are going to make it easy, then there should be a reason for letting the characters have that much gold, maybe it will cover most of the cost of a magic item they saw in a shop, or, there is always property; whatever it is, when you’re dealing with large chunks of money that is easy to transport, you’ll also need to come up with a couple of ideas to get that money back from them, and even then we won’t tell them how much an item is worth until they can get it appraised, if they have a trusted source. There are lots of evil tricks we can use.
(Ceremonial Wizards Robe: 9000gp/ Can trade it in village for Field Plate, sell at Neverwinter only)
Now, naturally we won’t want to forget this, and we also don’t want the PC to know its exact value, so we’ll have to keep a note of this for later.
Magic Treasure should also be precise: Weapons and armor should all have names, and like objects worth money, we should know precisely where they are at, and have a short little story to go along with the object, just to make it cool. Players will think that you’re a genius, when you only spent a few seconds on the thing. This item will be cool to the player who gets it, and deserves as much work as we can put in to it to make it special. We also don’t want to forget about it, we want to make it important to the ongoing story. If the blade glows when orcs are around, but you never have them fight orcs, then it is kind of pointless that they have it, thus, you may not want to choose a magic item randomly, unless you are willing to live with the consequences.
STATS!
I am old-school and still use a notebook and folder as my main tools on gameday. In my binder I am going to collect all of my general stats in one place. Use a formula that you like and have memorized for speed, don’t forget to include general NPC stats, for major NPCs I will stat them on notecards, but this way I can quickly look up a fact without having to grab the MM or writing it down elsewhere. When I do place a monster, I just write down the monsters name and hit points on the key itself (or if I want him to float around, on the master monster list). We are only doing this work once, and that saves time!
RANDOM ENCOUNTERS
I don’t know about your group, but we are adults with jobs and responsibilities (ugh), so our playtime is also limited. When we first started, we thought nothing of playing this game for days and days at a time (we didn’t have money to do much else), but now that just isn’t the case. Game time is precious! Random Encounters, while exciting back in the day, are shied away from today. Not to say that I don’t run them from time to time! Let’s just say that they aren’t as random as they used to be.
These things are kind of an after-thought to me. I have spoken to my group, and made the case that since our time is precious, I wanted to handle travel, and prep this before hand, and we all agreed that it wouldn’t change the game that much.
Now this isn’t to say that I am going to force the players to go where I want them to go, we usually make any big decisions about our next location at the end of the adventure session, but for short trips out of the area, then I will pick the path and add it to the adventure. I then check for random encounters before the players even sit down at the table. I don’t often use Random Encounter Tables as they are an enormous waste of time, but I do pick what the encounter is, and I limit them so that we don’t get 8 encounters on a three day trip, we only get one or two. I pick the monster, and either I work it into my story, or it is just a case of wrong place, wrong time.
Now, if I do get to feeling ornery, and bored because I want to do prep but I’m already done, then I will set up small encounters on a 1d6. Again, they aren’t random at all! Just very short scenarios that take very little time away from the main adventure.
I still don’t want travel to seem boring, so for every day,I’ll come up with some fluff off the top of my head on game day to make a scene or two stand out.
In dungeons, I don’t like Random Encounters either, but they are easier to stat. If I do end up using them, then I’ll just use a d6, and unless it is a 1 it is a random patrol (if the dungeon is big enough for that kind of thing), else a monster that is unique to that list, which is already stated and I know what it will do when it meets the party.
I don’t like saving Encounter Tables. I saw that they were included in the Greyhawk setting, and I know that many DMs on-line are looking for them, but I find them to be tedious, unbalanced, and unnecessary.
PLAYING WITH MYSELF
Sometimes you just have to do it. When monsters harass NPCs, we need to figure out if we need to have our stats reflect this or not. If a scenario is timed, we will want to know, ahead of time, what is going on. Or sometimes, if a PC doesn’t start in the room to set off the scenario, and we don’t know when they are going to chose to go in, we might want to figure out how many minutes they can wait until it is too late to save that NPC or group of NPCs. Much of the time, we can do this really quickly on gameday, but sometimes, if too much is going on, we don’t want to sit there and play with ourselves in front of others. Add it to your prep.
POLISHING
Once we get all of that out of the way, and our notes reflect the stuff that will save us time on gameday, we can go through and roughly figure out XP for if all goes well, also if you are going to need to look something up during play, write down the page number and the book you’ll want. This isn’t a waste of time at all! We want to be prepared, but we still want to have fun playing too.
At the end of the night, once all of the smoke has cleared, and the adventures have gone back to their normal every day lives, sit down and reflect on what you’ve done. Could something be better? Where did you stumble? Players are going to take advantage of you, how could you had handled that better so that it doesn’t happen again. Did we over prepare an element? Did we under prepare an element?
We are writing our own adventures! That is something to be proud of! No other party will be doing what you are doing, you will find your own style, and you are telling a story WITH your players, not about them. Now the only question is... what next?Social media website Facebook has unveiled a service that will allow users across Canada to share information to help locate missing children. Called Amber Alert, the posts will appear on Facebook news feeds in the first hours after a child has gone missing, and will be available to users in the designated search area determined by local law enforcement officials.
Facebook child-find feature will be available in Canada ( TED ALJIBE / AFP/GETTY IMAGES )
The alerts will include a photograph and description of the missing child and other information that is available, for instance a picture of a suspect. They will be shareable across the platform. “We know that when a child is abducted, the most valuable thing we can do is get information out to the public as fast as possible,” said Jordan Banks, global head of vertical strategy and managing director at Facebook Canada, in a statement. The system was unveiled Monday morning in Ottawa to coincide with Missing Children’s Day.
Article Continued Below
“When a child disappears, every second counts,” said Pina Arcamone, director general of the Missing Children’s Network, in a statement. “Facebook’s geo-targeted alerts will give Amber Alerts an expanded social media and Internet presence, thus greatly enhancing our abilities to quickly recover the child.” Facebook said the alert system was inspired by past examples of people using the site to help locate missing children. For example, a newborn baby was returned to her parents in Trois-Rivières, Que., in 2014 after local people saw a photo of a suspect online and got involved. In January, Facebook launched an Amber Alert service in the U.S. in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The alerts appeared on users’ news feeds, could be shared, and included photos of the missing child and other information related to the case.
The company said that since its launch, the U.S. system has helped recover one missing child safely. More on thestar.com Two missing Oakville teens found safe in Toronto: police
Read more about:The last 48 hours for the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and National Defense Forces (NDF) have been extremely productive inside the Latakia Governorate’s northeastern countryside, as they have captured two strategic towns from the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda faction) and the Free Syrian Army’s “Coastal Brigades” after intense firefights in Jabal Al-Akrad (Kurdish Mountains).
On Thursday morning, the National Defense Forces, Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) and Syrian Arab Army stormed Kafr Ajouz in Jabal Al-Akrad, killing 16 enemy combatants from Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army’s Coastal Brigades before they imposed full control over the town and its surrounding hills.
Kafr Ajouz was originally under the National Defense Forces’ control in July; however, the Islamist rebel forces launched an offensive in August to take this town and the imperative town of Doreen – the latter was not recaptured by the Islamist rebels.
Following their success on Thursday, the Syrian Arab Army and National Defense Forces did not waste much time before they launched a full-scale assault on Kafr Al-Dalbeh; this resulted in a series of fierce clashes between the aforementioned pro-government forces and the Islamist rebels of the Free Syrian Army and Jabhat Al-Nusra.
Much to the surprise of the Islamist rebels, the Syrian Armed Forces were determined and confident at Kafr Al-Dalbeh; this was likely due to the Russian Air Force protecting them from above.
Finally, after nearly seven hours of intense firefights on Friday night, the Syrian Armed Forces took full-control of Kafr Al-Dalbeh, leaving over 15 enemy combatants from Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Coastal Brigades dead before they retreated to the imperative city of Salma.
Kafr Al-Dalbeh and Kafr Ajouz are two towns that are situated south of the rebel stronghold of Salma; if they are lost, then the aforementioned city’s southern perimeter will be exposed by the hills that overlook it.
With their success, the Syrian Armed Forces are now in a prime position begin a major operation to capture this rebel stronghold that has been out of their possession since early 2012.
AdvertisementsAs the world focuses on the Middle Eastern and Korean flashpoints, the next war may not occur in either region, but rather in a replay of an old conflict that has been largely forgotten.
In an interview with Politico’s European edition, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama threatened war if Kosovo is denied entry into the European Union:
“Albania’s prime minister said a union between Albania and Kosovo cannot be ruled out if EU membership prospects for the Western Balkans fade.
“In an interview with Politico … Prime Minister Edi Rama said Europe would face ‘a nightmare’ if the Balkans ‘go crazy’ because EU accession is off the agenda, with the region becoming a ‘gray zone in which other actors have more influence than the European Union.’”
What does Rama mean by “go crazy”? Sounds like war to me. And that would clearly be the result of a merger between Kosovo and Albania, which Rama is threatening. Serbia would quickly act to ensure the safety of Kosovo’s beleaguered Serbian minority, in that event: and Russia, standing behind Belgrade, would back the Serbs.
The reluctance of the EU to admit both Kosovo and Bosnia is rooted in the brazenly undemocratic practices of these two thugocracies, where political violence, election fraud, and open corruption are routine.
Since the Kosovo war in 1999, a pan-Albanian movement that seeks to create a “Greater Albania” has spread throughout the region. In supporting Kosovo’s drive for independence, attacking the former Yugoslavia in the process, the US actively supported this movement both militarily and politically.
Now it is coming back to haunt us, threatening a replay of the Balkan conflict. In Kosovo, the biggest opposition party is determined to hold a referendum on unity with Albania, despite an explicit prohibition of this option in the country’s constitution. In neighboring Macedonia, sporadic terrorist activity by Albanian separatists has posed a threat to the unity |
No 40 on its initial release, in 1979, and the band’s highest ever chart position is No 12, for Heatseeker in 1988).
So why is Highway to Hell striking a chord now?
1. It’s not an X Factor winner
There’s no getting round the fact that there are people who would buy an unreleased demo of Faust banging their kitchen pots together if they thought it would hamper the progress of the all-devouring X Factor machine. Hence the fact that every year, several potential opponents to the Cowell monolith are floated, with varying degrees of success.
2. It brooks no doubt
What Highway to Hell has in common with the song that first mobilised the anti-Cowell brigades, Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name, is a sense of certainty. There’s no melancholy, no self-reflection, no hint of doubt about either of these songs. Both offer a single, simple message. For Rage, it was “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.” For AC/DC, it’s – well, do you even need me to tell you? – that “I’m on a highway to hell.” You don’t need to even care about music very much to have these choruses imprinted on your brain within seconds. My 10-year-old son is not a reflective boy: not for nothing, I suspect, is AC/DC by a distance his favourite band. He gets the point in seconds. Perfect, then, to rally as wide an audience as possible.
3. It’s “real music” made by “real musicians”
If you take a look at the comments beneath the Guardian’s albums of the year, you’ll see scores of people complaining about how poor the albums are. Often, their complaints boil down to a record – especially pop or hip-hop albums – not being what they feel to be proper music. And it’s true that “proper music” – which in this context usually means music made by men, with guitars – is having a bit of a slump at the moment, especially the kind of “proper music” that can be categorised as “rock’n’roll”. The biggest modern rock bands – the likes of Muse and Biffy Clyro – don’t offer the kind of simple, chantalong message that a No 1 campaign requires.
For rock’n’roll fans, the past isn’t a foreign country so much as a lost paradise. Mind you, there’s an irony here – Highway to Hell was the first AC/DC album produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange, who might almost be considered the Simon Cowell of hard rock. Not only did he have a staggering track record of making enormous hits, he did so by having a very clear idea about how to do it: simplify, polish, make the chorus huge. Bands did what he wanted or they didn’t work with him. There are AC/DC purists who feel the three albums they made with Lange – Highway to Hell, Back in Black and For Those About to Rock … We Salute You – are too clean and tidy. Too – dare we say it – manufactured.
4. The riff
All that said, Highway to Hell is one of the great AC/DC riffs. While it’s lead guitarist Angus Young – twitching across the stage in his schoolboy uniform – who gets the attention, it’s his brother Malcolm – standing at the back, with a blank expression – who’s the powerhouse of the band, the source of their finest riffs.
The best AC/DC songs have a way of proving the band’s complete confidence in the riff. With Highway to Hell, that’s shown by it getting a complete runthrough, unaccompanied, before the drums kick in. Then another runthrough with drums before Bon Scott starts singing. And then letting the first first verse play out before the bass joins. The nearest thing to a complication is Phil Rudd adding a couple of hi-hat swishes in the second verse. The riff is by such a distance the most important thing in this song that they could have done without the verses entirely – play the riff four times, throw in a chorus, repeat the riff four times, repeat the chorus – and it would be no less effective.
5. People love AC/DC nowadays
You can’t really find anyone with a harsh word to say about AC/DC, which certainly wasn’t the case when Highway to Hell came out. Back then, in the UK at least, they were critical pariahs, consigned to praise only from the metal community (Whole Lotta Rosie was voted the greatest song ever in the first issue of Kerrang! magazine in 1980). But all the kids who loved them back then – people like me – grew up and didn’t stop loving them. Some of us got jobs in the media, where we were able to bang on about how much we loved them. Some of us got jobs in fashion, and made AC/DC T-shirts fashionable.
Loving AC/DC stopped being something to feel guilty about, and – especially as the boundaries between musical tribes were broken down as the internet made everything available to all, for free – and became normal (I’m betting the same will happen with nu-metal inside the next 10 years). These days, AC/DC are more like the Rolling Stones than any of the bands they used to feature alongside in Kerrang! – they are immovable, permanent, simply a fact of rock music life. If you love rock, you love AC/DC. There are songs from the same era just as suitable for a Facebook campaign to beat The X Factor, just as simple in their message, just as powerful in their riffing, which wouldn’t stand a chance, because people don’t feel the same way about the band. Take United by Judas Priest – right song, wrong band.
That said, a part of me wishes it wasn’t Highway to Hell that was standing as this statement of AC/DC’s greatness. For me, it’s a reductio ad absurdum: it’s so absurdly obvious in every respect, and so overplayed, that I find it hard to listen to with much pleasure any more. It’s not my favourite riff (Riff Raff), it’s not my favourite lyric (Ain’t No Fun) and it’s not from my favourite album (Powerage). But, still: AC/DC in the top 10? I can’t complain.PM Jose Socrates had appealed to MPs to back the same-sex marriage law
Portugal's parliament has passed a law to legalise same-sex marriage, but rejected proposals to allow homosexual couples to adopt.
The bill was approved with the support of the governing Socialist Party and other parties further to the left.
Prime Minister Jose Socrates opened the debate with an appeal to back the law, saying it would put right an injustice that had caused unnecessary pain.
The law has been fiercely opposed by conservatives in the Catholic country.
Rightist parties had sought a national referendum on the issue following a petition that collected more than 90,000 signatures, but their proposal was rejected.
Friday's debate was at times heated, says the BBC's Alison Roberts in Lisbon, with Socialists attacking as discriminatory a counter-proposal from the centre-right Social Democrats for a new so-called civil union for same-sex couples.
The bill will now be reviewed in committee before coming back for a final vote in parliament.
If the law is ratified by President Anibal Cavaco Silva, it could come into effect in April - just a month before a visit to Portugal by Pope Benedict XVI, a staunch opponent of gay marriage.
The ratification would make Portugal the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriages after Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway.
Many other countries have introduced civil partnerships, which give lesbian and gay couples some of the rights of married heterosexuals.High Times is currently holding its 25th Annual Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam. When we first booked our flights, the controversial “weed pass” that would’ve barred tourists from enjoying some of its iconic fixtures and best perks, cannabis coffeeshops, had been implemented in some areas of country and Amsterdam was awaiting its turn with the new year.
The weed pass measure would have effectively ended the yearly tradition, since the Cup partners with cafes to judge the strains. As such, we assumed this would be the very last Cup and more importantly the last time we would be able to enjoy the civility of the Dutch recreational weed system and nostalgia suddenly kicked in. Thankfully the weed pass measure was killed.
Team Weedist is on the ground in Amsterdam. Updates on the best cafes and strains to come, but for now check out this gorgeous Devil’s Harvest specimen called “Shoreline” from Green Place coffeeshop:Top 8 Open Source Project Management Tools
Project management is one of the crucial elements in the success of a business enterprise. Bad project management can put the future of a company in jeopardy. With the advent of the web and cloud, project management has been compelled to enter a new territory with numerous opportunities and threats. Project management tools enable its users to amplify the opportunities at hand and dispatch all the potential threats.
Project management tools under an open source license provide ample scope to adapt to the unique needs of the enterprise, evolve with the ever-changing environment and integrate all desirable elements of project management into a single open source software customized just for you and your enterprise. Let’s take a look at the popular open source project management tools that could revolutionize your business experience.
OrangeScrum: #1 Task Management Software
OrangeScrum is a project management tool developed keeping freelancers, agencies, small and medium businesses in mind. OrangeScrum provides a simple and user-friendly ScrumBoard for resource planning and tracking progress. This gives an overview of who is doing what, what is already done and what needs to be done next.
OrangeScrum supports conversation threads with provision for attachments to enable the team members to share ideas, ask questions, get feedback and engage in discussions without any need to rely on emails and messenger apps. Moreover, you can enable automatic emails to be sent at the end of the day to the whole team which includes all the daily updates.
OrangeScrum plans vary according to the number of users and storage space requirements. There are three main plans – Startup, Basic and Standard. Startup is the cheapest plan which is priced at $9 per month and provides 5GB storage space for 10 users.
Interestingly, OrangeScrum community helps in customization, data migration, integration and in building and incorporating similar apps and add-ons to suit the needs of the customer. It is also available to be installed on the premises. Nonetheless, all these features and auxiliaries add to the pricing plan. OrangeScrum Demo for Community version is available for free which lets you get a first-hand experience of all its features before installing it in your system.
Taiga: Love your project
Taiga is a project management platform developed by Kaleidos, a Madrid-based company. It is equally beneficial to startups, agile developers and designers. It has a beautiful, user-friendly interface to keep your team in sync. It is designed to be intuitive, unobtrusive and easy to use. It is a free open source software with highly customizable options. Taiga provides a backlog to keep the running list of all features and user stories. Other features include kanban, tasks, sprints and issues. Although now available for free, Taiga is set to release other pricing plans by 2016.
Tuleap: Build software better, easier, faster
Tuleap open ALM is a fully libre and open source software development and project management tool for big companies, R & D centers and SMEs. Although designed primarily for agile management, it supports not just agile, but also traditional, hybrid, and even custom processes to plan and manage your projects. Project configuration is customizable and can be set as a template. Essential features include easy administration, code review, document management, continuous integration, tracking and collaboration tools.
Agilefant: Visibility is Agility
Agilefant is an end-to-end project management tool with powerful work management features providing visibility for the entire organization. The features of Agilefant include iteration management, product management, portfolio management, daily work, time tracking and reporting. Only the Solo version supporting a single version is available for free. Versions Team, Group, Business, Enterprise costs $5, $10, $25 and $50 respectively per user per month. Team only supports maximum of 5 users, however, all other versions support unlimited users.
OpenProject: Redefining project collaboration
OpenProject is a free and open source web-based project management software. It offers features like collaborative project planning, timeline reports, task management, time and cost reporting. Supported plugins include backlogs, global roles, help link, cost, pdf export among others. Auto project and emoji are two examples of the community plugins available. Being free and open source, any open source enthusiast can create and incorporate new plugin into the software to meet specific needs. OpenProject has an active community working on building and contributing to the development of a powerful open source software for project collaboration.
]project open[: integrated open source application
]project open[ is an integrated open source application that provides solutions for all crucial needs of the service industry. ]po[ solutions include Enterprise Project Management, Project Management Office, IT Service Management and Professional Service Automation. ]po[ EPM include features like Project Planning, Project Staffing, Project Tracking, Project Collaboration and Project Accounting. You can download the Community edition for Windows and Linux or buy the application.
MyCollab: The Excellent Collaboration Workspace
MyCollab is a free and open source project management software suitable for SMEs, developers and freelancers. It lets you manage tasks, documents, customers all in one place. Features include CRM, Project Management, Document Management, Issues Management and Online Document Editor. The free plan only supports a single project for three users and only a storage space of 200MB. Other paid plans include Micro for individuals, Compact for teams, Corporate for large teams and Enterprise for medium and large enterprises. Professional plans include necessary and powerful features like time tracking and bug tracking. Free trials are available for all paid plans.
Odoo: #1 Open Source ERP & CRM
Odoo is an open source suite of business apps with all-in-one management solutions. The suite takes into account the main aspects of business world including website, sales, human resources, finance, marketing, productivity and operations. Odoo apps are easily customizable to meet the unique needs of your business enterprise. It is a fast evolving software with around 2000 developers working on its development to adapt to anticipated needs. Another revolutionary advantage of opting the Odoo is that you can choose the apps you need and add the extra integrations you desire to make your dream business suite. The pricing will depend on the apps chosen and the number of users you intend to include. However, a free trial of any app is available online. If you would like to know more about this, please send an email to services@suyati.comFor the first time ever, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a 3D-printed drug.
The prescription pill, Spritam levetiracetam, will be used to treat certain types of seizures in epilepsy patients.
The drug's manufacturer, Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, says it makes the oral medication through a three-dimensional printing process, which builds the pill by spreading layers of the drug on top of one another until the right dosage is reached.
This technique allows the pill to deliver a higher dosage of medicine -- up to 1,000 milligrams -- while being porous enough to dissolve quickly. These attributes can be particularly beneficial for patients who have a hard time swallowing their medication, and miss doses of treatment, the company says.
"As a result, Spritam enhances the patient experience -- administration of even the largest strengths of levetiracetam with just a sip of liquid," Aprecia said in a statement on Monday. "In addition, with Spritam there is no measuring required as each dose is individually packaged, making it easy to carry this treatment on the go."
Aprecia says it expects the drug to be available early next year for adults and children.
Over the past few years, medical researchers have been experimenting with 3D printing technology for all kinds of applications, such as organ transplants, tissue regeneration, and replacement bones and prosthetics.
Commercial uses have also been growing. Everything from toys to spare mechanical parts, and food and fashion have been made using a 3D printing process.EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Oct. 2, 2017) - Radient Technologies Inc. ("Radient" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:RTI) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced shares-for-debt transaction with AVAC Ltd. ("AVAC") an arm's length creditor of the Corporation.
Pursuant to the shares-for-debt transaction, Radient has issued 9,424,330 common shares to AVAC at a deemed price of $0.66 per share in settlement of an aggregate of $6,210,633 of debt (inclusive of interest).
AVAC had previously advanced Radient $4,685,000 in exchange for a royalty on Radient's future revenue. The settlement will result in the termination of AVAC's entitlement to any future royalty payments by Radient to AVAC.
AVAC Ltd. is a Canadian venture investor with over 20 years of direct investing in early stage agriculture and technology ventures. AVAC also manages an early-stage venture capital fund-of-funds investment pool and the Accelerate Fund I, an angel co-investment fund.
"We are extremely pleased that AVAC has agreed to convert its position from being a creditor to a shareholder of the Company," said Denis Taschuk, CEO. "AVAC has been an important partner for Radient over the years and we are grateful for their continued support of the Company. The completion of this transaction further strengthens the Company's balance sheet and helps positions the Company for accelerated growth in it is cannabis and RTI Health and Wellness Solutions business units."
All securities to be issued pursuant to this settlement will be subject to a 4-month hold period.
About Radient
Radient extracts natural compounds from a range of biological materials using its proprietary "MAP™" natural product extraction technology platform which provides superior customer outcomes in terms of ingredient purity, yield, and cost. From its initial 20,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Edmonton, Alberta, Radient serves market leaders in industries that include pharmaceutical, food, beverage, natural health, personal care and biofuel markets. Visit www.radientinc.com for more information..
Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking information and statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The terms and phrases "goal", "commitment", "guidance", "expects", "would", "will", "continuing", "drive", "believes", "indicate", "look forward", "grow", "outlook", "forecasts", "intend", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the completion of shares for debt transaction. The Corporation cautions that all forward looking information and statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Corporation's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Corporation's ability to complete the proposed shares for debt transaction. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party is relying on social media and door-to-door canvassing for campaigning ahead of the assembly elections in Delhi this November, giving the electronic and print media a go-by as it plans to stick to the Election Commission’s expenditure limit of Rs 14 lakh per candidate.The fledgling party, which is contesting elections for the first time and planning to field candidates in all 70 constituencies, just cannot afford the conventional media, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said. Hoardings are also beyond the budget of the AAP, which has put up banners across the city’s flyovers instead with apicture of Kejriwal wielding a broom, the party symbol, and promising a clean Delhi.“Door-to-door campaign is our biggest focus. We want our candidates and representatives to go to every household, whether rich or poor, in the national capital and talk to them about the situation of corruption in Delhi,” said Kejriwal.The party depends entirely on donations received from the public, Sanjay Singh, a member of the campaign committee, said, adding that the ‘Sweep Delhi Clean’ would be the mainstay of both door-to-door and online campaigning.Notarised undertakings from candidates promising that they will not use benefits such as government bungalows, security guards and official vehicles if they are elected will be handed out by the party in pamphlets distributed during doorto-door visits. Kejriwal has an army of more than 1.25 lakh volunteers, making up for the lack of creative agencies, with individuals such as Rashmi Srivastav, who quit her job of a financial analyst in Texas, to work for the party.“I do gap analysis in various constituencies and coordinate the campaign across Delhi. The cause motivates me more than the job,” Srivastav said. For its social media campaign, Kejriwal has volunteers in the US, the UK and Australia as well who spend hours drumming up support on Facebook and other social networking sites.“On Twitter, people become offensive.The quality of the campaign is better on Facebook, where the quality of interaction with the public is much better,” said Ankit Lal, a volunteer who heads the social media campaign.China prepares to join the fight against ISIS
Al-Masdar Al-Arabi reported that Chinese military advisers are expected to join with their Russian counterparts in weeks. It comes after China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that Chinese and Iraqi foreign ministers agreed to offer intelligence and personal training in September 2014. As China breaks it’s long history of non-interference, due to the threats that ISIS pose on China and its economy.
“China has been fighting terrorism and has been providing support and assistance to Iraq, including the Kurdish region, in our own way, and will continue to do so within the best of our capabilities,” Hong explained. As China has shown solidarity with Syria, joining Russia vetoeing UN proposals against Bashar al-Asaad.
Along those same lines a possible allegiance between Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria with the possibility of China joining in what’s called “Joint Information Center” in Baghdad against ISIS could prove to be a troublesome allegiance to the US and its allies. As it was said China’s J-15 warplanes would launch from an aircraft carrier for attacks on ISIS.
According to some media reports, “the main goal of the center will be gathering, processing and analyzing current information about the situation in the Middle East – primarily for fighting ISIS.” With Iraqi army’s confirming their participation, and China sending military advisers as well.
Recently Russia has been deploying an attack after another on “logistical infrastructure, command posts, training camps and bases” belonging to ISIS jihadists.
Previously their attacks included strikes in the region around Deir Ezzor, their jets dropped bunker-busting bombs to destroy two ISIS command posts, hitting ISIS fighters and a weapons plant in the Ghuta region in the Damascus province. According to reports by france 24, the deployed attack in Idlib province reportedly hit three field camps, including one that intercepted radio traffic suggested was holding foreign fighters, and in the coastal Latakia province, the strikes purportedly hit a fortified IS base setting off wider explosions.
Russia last week launched airstrikes in Syria at the request of its long-standing ally President Bashar al-Assad.
Moscow says it is targeting the ISIS but US and Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar fear the Russian intervention is aimed at bolstering Assad’s regime, and keeps urging Russia to focus their efforts on ISIS alone. While Egypt expressed how it welcomes the Russian campaign as a measure to fight jihadist groups like ISIS.
Of course the clashing relations have a role in gaining the support of one country or another, as Egypt has been working on strengthening its relations with Russia, while Saudi Arabia is more dependent on US’s support.UPDATE Syria Special: Identifying the Sources for Hersh’s “Insurgents’ Chemical Weapons Attacks”
Syria Special: Dissecting Hersh’s “Insurgents Did Chemical Weapons Attacks” — A Sequel
In December, Seymour Hersh — the investigative reporter who broke the My Lai story and reported on Watergate before Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein picked up the trail — tried to pin last August’s chemical weapons near Damascus on insurgents in an article for the London Review of Books, “Whose Sarin?”
Joanna Paraszczuk and I dissected the piece:
See Syria Special: Chemical Weapons Conspiracy That Wasn’t — Hersh’s “Exclusive” Dissected
1. Hersh’s allegations amounted to a red herring — a misleading claim about American “secret sensors” inside Syria — a deliberate or unwitting misunderstanding of casualty figures, and a dubious source, “a former senior intelligence official” who is possibly F. Michael Maloof, a staff member of the Department of Defense in the George W. Bush Administration.
2. To spin his conspiracy, Hersh ignored the bulk of evidence about the attacks, including the fact that several munitions were fired at multiple targets, the fact that insurgent-held areas were the sites affected, the nearby location of regime military bases, and the preparations for a regime ground offensive to follow the attacks.
This morning Hersh tries again, again given space by the London Review of Books, “The Red Line and the Rat Line“. Through a combination of “fact” and insinuation, he argues that the Obama Administration pulled back from military intervention after the attacks because it had discovered that insurgents — and Turkey — were likely to be responsible for a “false flag” operation to pull foreign powers into the Syrian conflict.
So has Hersh finally carried out genuine investigative reporting to prove his dramatic case?
No.
HERSH’S CASE
1. Hersh quietly drops two of the four claims in his December article: that the US initially ignored the chemical weapons attacks and that a US “secret sensor” system inside Syria had not picked up any evidence of regime movement before the August 21 assault.
2. Now Hersh argues that the US, far from ignoring the attack, was very concerned about it — “Obama ordered the Pentagon to draw up targets for bombing”. However:
A. The Pentagon was concerned about the size of the operation.
B. The Obama Administration received an analysis from the British chemical warfare laboratory at Porton Down that “the gas used didn’t match the batches known to exist in the Syrian army’s chemical weapons arsenal”.
3. Hersh repeats his December claim that Jabhat al-Nusra was working with sarin in experiments for a chemical weapons attack.
4. The August 21 attack was “a covert action planned by Erdoğan’s people to push Obama over the red line”.
WHAT HERSH IGNORES
Hersh continues to ignore the detailed context, both from immediate witness reports and from months of enquiries. As we noted in Ddecember:
Reports on the day and subsequently indicated that 7-12 sites were attacked with chemical agents at the same time. In other words, whoever was responsible for the attacks launched multiple surface-to-surface rockets with chemical payloads against opposition-held towns in East Ghouta and one town in West Ghouta, near Damascus. These attacks were immediately followed by very heavy conventional attacks…. In omitting these details from his argument, Hersh does not bother to ask who would have had the capability and the capacity to carry out such a widespread operation against multiple, opposition-held targets at the same time.
HERSH’S EVIDENCE
1. Hersh repeats his December claim of a Defense Intelligence Agency briefing, issued in June 2013, that said the Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra maintained a sarin production cell.
It is unclear whether or not Hersh actually saw the briefing. His summary of it is remarkably similar to put out by F. Michael Maloof, the former Department of Defense official who claimed in September that insurgents had carried out the August 21 attacks.
2. An unnamed “person with knowledge of (United Nations) activities” who asserts that insurgents were responsible for a March 2013 chemical weapons attack that killed 26 people in Khan al-Assal in Aleppo Province.
3. The analysis from the British chemical weapons facility — Hersh has not seen the report but claims:
Within a few days of the 21 August attack…Russian military intelligence operatives had recovered samples of the chemical agent from Ghouta. They analysed it and passed it on to British military intelligence; this was the material sent to Porton Down…. The UK defence staff who relayed the Porton Down findings to the (US) joint chiefs were sending the Americans a message, “We’re being set up here.”
Let’s start with a fundamental: given Russia’s political and propaganda interest — starting almost immediately after the August 21 attacks and continuing to today — to pin the blame on insurgents and absolve Assad, “Russian military intelligence operatives” may not be objective and disinterested supplies of “evidence”.
See Russia Analysis: Diplomacy, Delay & Disinformation — How Moscow Gained The Upper Hand In Syria
So who are Hersh’s sources who reassure us of authenticity? Only one: the “former senior intelligence officer” who may be Maloof.
4. A lengthy description of US-Turkish tensions over supply of weapons to Syria’s insurgents
None of this offers any evidence of an attempt by Ankara to foster a chemical weapons attack by the opposition, but a source gives Hersh the killer lines:
We now know it was a covert action planned by Erdoğan’s people to push Obama over the red line. They had to escalate to a gas attack in or near Damascus when the UN inspectors (inspecting previous attacks) were there. The deal was to do something spectacular. Our senior military officers have been told by the DIA and other intelligence assets that the sarin was supplied through Turkey – that it could only have gotten there with Turkish support. The Turks also provided the training in producing the sarin and handling it.
And who is the source providing the smoking chemical gun?
The “former senior intelligence official”.
CONCLUSION
So Hersh’s four points “proving” the insurgent attack likely come from a single source: the “former senior intelligence official” who may be the Bush Administration staffer pushing his own conspiracy theory since last September.
The only portions of Hersh’s story that are corroborated by multiple sources are that: 1) the US military was opposed to widespread intervention in Syria after August 21; 2) the US and Turkey disagreed over the scale of support for Syria’s insurgents.
These are important dimensions of the Syrian conflict — which is why we have written about them often.
Hersh could have done the same to investigate the complexities and tensions between foreign powers and the insurgency. He chose not to do so.
Instead, finding (or being found by) a source with an agenda — to discredit the Syrian insurgency, the former reporter of My Lai and Watergate ran with the line, adding flourishes if not facts. And, after his article was turned down by leading US newspapers, he found an esteemed London journal to publish the “exclusive”.
Twice.
But does this really matter, as the August 21 attacks recede into the murk of “history”?
Yes, because history never dies.
Last week, as regime forces fought insurgents in the Damascus suburb of Jobar, Syria’s Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar al-Jafari declared that he had “proof” of “terrorist” planning of chemical weapons attacks in the area.
Al-Jafari said, in letters to the UN Secretary-General and President of the Security Council, that the Assad regime had proof from “a phone call between terrorists monitored by the authorities”.
Of course, the record of the incriminating phone call never surfaced, just as the regime has never produced its supposedly-definitive evidence pinning the attacks of last March and last August on the insurgency.
But that’s not the point. If Al-Jafari and the regime can make people think that opposition fighters are responsible, then at least the shroud of uncertainty is cast over last August — there is no need to act because we will never know if the Assad regime killed its own civilians with chemical weapons rather than airstrikes, artillery, and barrel bombs. Perhaps the regime might even achieve more, pinning the stigma of the attacks on the opposition.
And then there are the objectives of the present. If the onus of blame remains on the insurgency, then the way is clear for regime to carry out further attacks, conventional or beyond: amid claims by activists that the Syrian military may have used chemicals in Jobar last week, al-Jafari said:
The purpose of this (insurgent) talk is to use toxic gas once again to accuse the government of the attack, just like what happened last year in Ghouta area in Damascus Countryside and in Aleppo before it
Any assault by Assad forces has immunity, because we are told that the insurgents may have done worse. Any talk of an alternative to the President is suspect, because that alternative is tainted.
Hersh is not actively supporting this regime campaign.
But his “reporting” serves that purpose: with its exaggeration, insinuation, and distortion, it gives the cloak of credibility to those who — whether or not they carried out the deadly mission of August 21 — do so every day with or without chemicals.
And it sets the obstacle that, just as the Obama Administration did nothing to halt those attacks last autumn, we cannot legitimately do so today.Yesterday, we brought you the insurance company that wouldn’t insure a 17-pound infant because he was too heavy. Today, we bring you the investment bank that manages to double its bonuses during the worst recession since the Great Depression.
On Thursday, Goldman Sachs will announce the firm’s bonus payments for 2009. Analysts expect the bonus pool to mushroom to $23 billion — double the bonus pool paid to employees in 2008. Earlier this year, Goldman Sachs said that it had put aside $11.4 billion for bonuses during the first half of the year.
“The absolute size of compensation payouts will rise significantly,” Keith Horowitz, an analyst at Citigroup, wrote in a note to clients two weeks ago, highlighted by Andrew Sorkin in The New York Times‘ dealbook column Tuesday.
How much is $23,000,000,000?
For one thing, it’s enough to send 460,000 full paying students to Harvard University for one year, or 115,000 for four years.
It’s enough to pay the health insurance premium for the average American family ($13,375) 1.7 million times.
It’s enough to upgrade 191 million computers to Windows 7 operating system (priced at $119.99), or to buy 115 million iPhones at $199.99 (provided the recipient was willing to sign a two-year contract).
Or, apparently, it’s enough to reward the employees of Goldman Sachs for a bonanza trading year, at a firm where average employee compensation was recently $622,000 — and likely to be greater this year.
The $23 billion figure could leave some American taxpayers woozy — the US government bailed out Goldman Sachs with a multi-billion payment last year, which the firm has since repaid.
But while Goldman is likely to pay its biggest bonuses ever to employees, the firm pays very little in taxes worldwide. In 2008, the company was said to have paid just $14 million in taxes worldwide, and paid $6 billion in 2007.
The firm’s corporate tax rate? About 1 percent. According a prominent tax lawyer, “They have taken steps to ensure that a lot of their income is earned in lower-tax jurisdictions.”
Sorkin says Goldman’s CEO is trying to hold off criticism by making a big charitable donation.
“Now there’s talk inside Goldman that it is considering making a huge charitable donation — perhaps more than $1 billion — as a way to help deflect the criticism,” Sorkin says. “Such a donation would be a welcome gesture that would no doubt benefit many needy organizations. But it would most likely be seen for what it is: a one-time move to draw attention away from where most of the money is really going. A large charitable donation also raises questions about the company’s fiduciary duty to its shareholders; it could be seen as giving away profits that ostensibly belong to them.”Kansas senior guard Frank Mason III continued to dominate the college basketball postseason awards, taking home the 2017 the John R. Wooden Award on Friday.
Mason, who had already won the Associated Press Player of the Year award, Naismith Trophy and Oscar Robertson Trophy, accepted the Bob Cousy Award for the best point guard in the NCAA and Wooden Award during Friday's College Basketball Awards show.
"This award means everything to me," Mason told ESPN. "But nothing would mean more to me than the national championship but I really appreciate this. I'm thankful to win this award and I will continue to work hard and believe in myself and work hard off the court too."
Mason beat out UCLA freshman Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart of Villanova, Caleb Swanigan of Purdue and Gonzaga's Nigel Williams-Goss for the Wooden Award.
Mason also won player of the year honors designated by Sporting News, USA Today, and CBS Sports, among others. He was named a unanimous first-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and U.S. Basketball Writers Association in March.
The 5-11 Petersburg, Va., native averaged 20.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds a game for the Big 12 regular season champions while hitting just under 50 percent of his 3-point attempts. The 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year became the only player in Kansas and conference history to average more than 20 points and five assists in the same season.
Mason, who led the Jayhawks to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, is projected to be a second-round pick in June's NBA Draft.
Washington's Kelsey Plum, who broke the NCAA single-season scoring record this past season, took home the women's John R. Wooden Award.
Other awards on the men's side were handed out Friday include:
Bob Cousy Award (point guard): Frank Mason, Kansas
Jerry West Award (shooting guard): Malik Monk, Kentucky
Julius Erving Award (small forward): Josh Hart, Villanova
Karl Malone Award (power forward): Johnathan Motley, Baylor
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (center): Przemek Karnowski, GonzagaWaves wiki launched — bounties available
Waves Platform Blocked Unblock Follow Following May 8 |
/Constitutionally armed), display of unswerving loyalty to the US Constitution and against the incumbent government leadership, in Washington, D.C., with the mission to bring down the existing leadership. Go full-bore, no looking back, steadfast in the mission.
take our poll - story continues below Will the media learn anything from their biased reporting of the Jussie Smollett story? Will the media learn anything from their biased reporting of the Jussie Smollett story?
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?
Email *
Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Completing this poll grants you access to Freedom Outpost updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Trending: Former Federal Prosecutor: America Is Growing Into A "Civil War" - "I Vote & I Buy Guns" Phase 2 - One million or more of the assembled 10 million must be prepared to stay in D.C. as long as it takes to see Obama, Biden, Reid, McConnell, Boehner, Pelosi, and Attorney General Holder removed from office. The senior republican in the US House of Representatives will become Speaker of the House and the US House of Representatives will elect a temporary President and Vice President of the United States. The U.S. Senate will take action to elect a new majority and minority leader.
As required, the U.S. Congress will execute appropriate legislation to convene new elections or U.S. States will appoint replacements for positions vacated consistent with established constitutional requirements.
Phase 3 – Those with the principles of a West, Cruz, Dr. Ben Carson, Lee, DeMint, Paul, Gov Walker, Sessions, Gowdy, Jordan, Issa, will comprise a tribunal and assume positions of authority to convene investigations, recommend appropriate charges against politicians and government employees to the new U.S. Attorney General appointed by the new President.
*All actions in Phase 2 & 3 will be consistent with the U.S. Constitution.
May 16, 2014 is the date that the event is set to begin with the date of completion to be determined.
According to WND.com, Major General Paul E. Vallely called for an Egyptian style model which is "33 million people saying no to their leaders," resulting in the removal of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi from office. Vallely founded Stand Up America, an organization of a network of patriotic Americans from all walks of life dedicated to providing educational resources "based on the values and principles set forth by the founding fathers."
The rationale for "Operation American Spring" can be read here.
Patriots of America founder, Col. Harry G. Riley (Ret.), US Army, was interviewed by the Post and Email, with the results appearing on the Birther Report on January 1, 2014. If anyone is questioning the name as similar to "Arab Spring" or the uprising in Egypt that ousted Morsi, Riley explains that Egypt tried what was supposed to be a democratic movement with the Morsi regime, but it turned out to worse than before. Riley indicates that Americans have tried to get states to exercise their Tenth Amendment responsibility and tried to go from the bottom up in getting the elements of leadership in line, but to no avail.
According to Riley, "We're not suggesting that our government structure is bad. We're not even suggesting that the principles which the Founding Fathers gave us are bad or wrong. What we're saying is that the people who now occupy positions of power have betrayed the Constitution, have betrayed the Founding Father principles, and have betrayed We the People in seeking power and greed in an incestuous operation in Washington. They just feed one another, whether Democrat or Republican…they all put up a little show as if there's some difference. There really isn't. They're all up there to stay, to eat at the trough of the American people and basically have their own world, and we're down here wondering what's going on. We've had enough; we've just had enough."
Watch the video of an actual WWII veteran below.
Not every American knows what violations of the Constitution are occurring as Americans don't know the Constitution. Americans should learn the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. It's the Declaration of Independence that clearly demonstrates the truth that rights come from God, not man or governments. It is the Constitution that limits the power of the government while maintaining power to the people and the states for all other powers not granted to the federal government.
Regardless of what is being presented, who is presenting it or what you believe or think, it is the truth that is relevant.
Do your own research.
If you don't know exactly the meaning of the Constitution, look it up and visit Publius Huldah's blog. Find out what is in the Constitution and then find out what is being violated. And remember, it is not what is implied, but what the author's intent was. To find out the framer's intent regarding the Constitution, read the Federalist Papers, or use Publius' guide to learning the Constitution. She has done the work for you and uses the Federalist Papers to show the framers' intent.
What it is boiling down to at this point is a question of whether this nation will be a republic as framed under the Constitution or will it not; will this nation be a land of the free or will it not. America is the America we make it. Look around at America today. What has it been made into and where is it going? Then ask yourself what price you are willing to pay to keep America a constitutional republic for your posterity. If it is anything less than what is expressed by the WWII veteran in the video, America will not be ruled under a Constitution much longer.As a child of the 80s, I grew up watching a lot of weird stuff. My parents love movies, from glorious technicolor musicals (hi, mom!) and classic comedies to Westerns and all Kubrick films (hey, dad!), and as the oldest kid I was their pop culture guinea pig as they tried their best to figure out what kind of entertainment would fly with little ones, and what would just straight-up freak us out. But of course, they soon found that mileage tends to vary in a big way—spooky movies that amused me to no end gave my younger brother crazy nightmares, while other scenes that completely disturbed me had zero effect on him, and so on. Kids are fun like that.
Of course, having a strong emotional reaction to a movie or a particular scene isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and sometimes the moments we find most upsetting end up sticking with us long after we’ve processed those emotions. I’m sure everyone has a list of the movies that deeply affected them, growing up, and we’d love to hear your stories in the comments, if you care to share! In the meantime, here are my own personal top five trauma-inducing movie moments from childhood (mostly), in no particular order…
Artax Succumbs to the Swamps of Sadness—The NeverEnding Story
Oh, Artax. Other generations had Old Yeller or Bambi’s Mom or saintly Charlotte (of the titular Web) as their Spirit Animals of childhood trauma, ushering them gently into a precocious awareness of the harsh realities of mortality and loss. For better or worse, children of the 80s got the spectacle of a depressed horse sinking into the ghastly black depths of the Swamps of Despair, as his tearful, panicked human companion sobs and screams at him to fight against the sadness crushing in on him. It’s…pretty messed up.
Even knowing that Artax is restored to Atreyu at the end of the movie never did much to assuage my horror at this scene as a kid—I always broke around the point where Atreyu screams “Stupid horse!” as he pulls desperately on Artax’s bridle. It wasn’t just the sudden and tragic death of a beloved animal that was so upsetting (although I’ve never been good at handling that particular type of ordeal)—looking back, I think it was the idea that your emotions could be so overpowering that you couldn’t control yourself, or your actions, that disturbed me almost as much as the sinking horse. The idea of being so sad that you can’t fight to save yourself was just a horrific concept to me as a little kid who knew nothing about depression or mental illness, and frankly, it’s not the most comfortable scene to watch even now, almost three decades later.
But no matter how deeply (or not) Artax’s death affected you back in the day, at least I’m happy to report that all those morbid rumors that the horse used in the movie actually drowned during the scene are apparently completely false (there was an accident on set and Noah Hathaway, who played Atreyu, was injured, but the horse was unscathed.) And then probably went on to live the greatest horse life ever, eventually ascending directly into Equine Heaven alongside Secretariat, Fatty Lumpkin, and Li’l Sebastian, THE END.
A Child’s Guide to Conspiracy, Assassination, and Betrayal—The Secret of NIMH
As with The NeverEnding Story, I adored The Secret of NIMH when I was little, in spite of (or possibly because of) its stranger and darker aspects. The story throws its field mouse heroine, Mrs. Brisby (changed from “Frisby” in the book) into the path of a monstrous cat, a creepy owl, and all sorts of other dangers, all while she’s grieving the death of her husband, Jonathan, and attempting to save one of her children from a life-threatening illness.
While she encounters allies among the rats of NIMH (whose lifespans and intelligence have been expanded in a series of experiments), she also finds herself at the center of a power play by the film’s cunning and ruthless villain, Jenner. When Nicodemus, the wise, kindly leader of the rats, agrees to help move the Brisby home to safer ground, Jenner sees his opportunity to seize power and advance his own nefarious aims. He plots to murder Nicodemus by cutting the ropes during a critical point in the move, crushing the elder rat while conveniently making his death look like an accident.
Jenner’s slick façade quickly comes crumbling down when he attacks Mrs. Brisby in a frenzied attempt to silence her (and steal the magic stone Nicodemus entrusted to her earlier in the film). In the ensuing struggle, he wounds Justin, the Captain of the Guard, and slashes the neck of his former crony, Sullivan, when he attempts to intervene. Justin stabs Jenner and leaves him for dead, but Jenner manages to creep up behind Justin in order to deliver a killing blow. At the last second, the mortally wounded Sullivan hurls his dagger into Jenner’s back, redeeming himself and saving Justin’s life.
It’s an incredibly thrilling, beautifully animated couple of action scenes which reveal a level of villainy, betrayal, and violence that’s practically Shakespearean in its scope—Jenner is as calculating as he is merciless, and it certainly sets him apart from most other villains of children’s movies. The fact that he carefully plots (and successfully carries out) the cold-blooded murder of Nicodemus is still one of the more surprising aspects of the film, and that treachery certainly stuck with me over the years as an example of ruthless, pre-meditated evil.
George Lucas Loves An Orphan—Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
I might be one of the only people who vividly remembers the beginning of 1985’s sequel to The Ewok Adventure (aka: Caravan of Courage), but it was an oddly formative moment for me, and not in a particularly positive way. The made-for-TV movie focuses on Cindel Towani, the flaxen-haired moppet who had starred in the previous film, which saw Cindel and her brother happily reunited with their parents at the end, with the help of Wicket and the other Ewoks. As the sequel opens, their family is preparing to leave the forest moon of Endor when a savage band of marauders attacks—both parents are wounded, and Cindel is forced to escape with Wicket, leaving her family behind to their doom.
As a big fan of the earlier movie, I was already pretty invested in the Towani clan, since the whole first movie centers on getting Cindel and Mace safely back to their parents. More than that, I was basically the same age as Cindel, the main protagonist, and obviously identified with her to a certain point (I mean, what 80s kid didn’t want an awesome Ewok buddy to hang around with? All I really wanted was an Ewok, or maybe a Mogwai, and my six-year-old bucket list would have been beautifully complete.) So when the second installment started off by killing off Cindel’s parents, I completely and immediately rejected the first 15 minutes of the movie or so, because the idea was so utterly terrifying to me.
Obviously, kids then and now encounter plenty of absent/missing/dead parents in the world of children’s entertainment, but something about seeing Cindel go from part of happy nuclear family to orphan-on-the-run in a few abrupt minutes really messed with my head. Not that I stopped watching The Battle for Endor—instead, I’d always ask my parents to fast-forward past the unpleasantness, and would repeatedly reassured them and my brother that “Cindel’s family probably got away” from the bad guys. I mean, we don’t actually see them die, even though Cindel seems pretty definite that she’s an orphan, and is quickly paired up with certified consolation grandpa Wilford Brimley, who presumably helps to fill the family-shaped void in her psyche with his excellent mustache and random curmudgeonly mutterings.
Sigh. Damn you, George Lucas.
So. Much. Animated Rabbit Blood—Watership Down
I’m not going to choose a particular scene, because I think it’s safe to say that very young viewers might find themselves fairly traumatized by the film as a whole, without pointing out any particular moment of climactic violence. If you’re not prepared to see a bunch of grisly rabbit injuries and deaths (no matter how subtly or artfully the surrounding story is presented), then you may want to hold off on Watership Down.
The movie starts off with a rabbit creation myth in which an act of rabbit hubris results in a divine smackdown, as the predators of the world are unleashed upon rabbitkind and begin gleefully (and graphically) slaughtering the peaceful and unsuspecting bunnies. The movie then switches to the more realistically-animated tale of Hazel, Fiver, and their quest to survive in the face of these ancient enemies and more modern, man-made dangers.
Don’t get me wrong—Watership Down is a beautiful film, but it’s also a brutal portrayal of the fear and desperation of these creatures at the bottom of the food chain, and the violence that stalks their every move. It does not shy away from disturbing images, which include (but aren’t limited to): trippy visions of blood-soaked fields, a rabbit choking to death in a snare, a sequence in which an entire rabbit warren is gassed and destroyed using farm equipment, Fiver Hazel getting shot and chasing the Black Rabbit of Death, some intensely bloody rabbit-on-rabbit violence, and a horrifying encounter with a vicious dog. I was captivated by the movie, as a kid, but I was also deeply disturbed by it—as I got older, I read and loved the novel it was based on, but if I had to do it over, I would have preferred to watch the movie after reading the book, when I was a bit older and better able to contextualize the images and experiences being represented, and the emotional reactions they produced.
You Are Who You Choose To Be—The Iron Giant
All of the previous movies on this list I’d seen by the time I was six or seven years old; when The Iron Giant came out, I was in college, and probably thought of myself as being pretty jaded at the time (I mean, kids raised on Watership Down have seen some stuff, you know?)
I hadn’t cried at a movie in years, and certainly wasn’t prepared to be knocked off my emotional high horse by the likes of Hogarth Hughes and his goofy metal-chomping mega-robot, but the retro design looked amazing and I’d heard good things, and so I pressed play one day and completely fell in love in almost no time. And when I came to the scene in which (*spoilers*) the Iron Giant sacrifices himself to save Hogarth and the rest of the town by intercepting an incoming missile, I was absolutely gutted. To this day, I can’t watch the scene, with the Giant smiling to himself and murmuring “Superman” as he slowly closes his eyes, without crying buckets. I’ve tried—it doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen it, it just destroys me with its perfect combination of inexorable sadness and sheer, triumphant, heroic joy.
And while I’m always delighted when the scattered bits of the Giant begin to reassemble themselves at the end, it doesn’t make that one brilliant moment of self-sacrifice any less beautiful or devastating to me. That moment is everything, and even though the older I get, the more I tend to tear up over movies (and TV, and occasionally books and articles…and sometimes the odd commercial, if we’re being totally honest), I’m always grateful for the emotional touchstone that it’s become for me, over time.
Looking back at this list, it’s probably telling that all but one of the movies I’ve mentioned here were adapted (with varying degrees of faithfulness) from books—although I wasn’t aware of that fact, as a child. Perhaps a separate reckoning of similarly memorable moments in fiction might be in order, somewhere down the line. In the meantime, though, I’d love to hear about all the striking, shocking, sad, or trauma-inducing movie moments that have stuck with you over the years, for better or worse…
Bridget McGovern is the managing editor of Tor.com, and clearly watched way too many potentially disturbing movies as a kid. She regrets nothing.The statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee stands in the center of Charlottesville’s Emancipation Park the day after a white-nationalist rally devolved into violence.
There is a sinister congruence between the president’s reaction to the white-supremacist riot in Charlottesville yesterday and the object the rioters assembled to defend: the city’s doomed Robert E. Lee statue. Both are manifestations of Neo-Confederacy, the fierce, century-long effort of the Southern ruling class to normalize white racism so long as it did not degenerate into extralegal violence.
Like most of its counterparts across and beyond the South, Charlottesville’s Lee statue was not erected during the Civil War or in the period when ex-Confederates might be expected to remember the famed military leader of the planter’s rebellion. It was commissioned in 1917 and erected in 1924 as a monument, not to the Confederacy, but to the rebellion’s posthumous victory over Reconstruction and the Civil War amendments to the Constitution.
The Neo-Confederates and their many Yankee sympathizers viewed Jim Crow as a peaceable compromise between slavery and racial equality. In that regime’s latter days, whole generations of white Southern politicians posed as civil upholders of law and order equally opposed both to civil-rights “agitators” and to the white-trash hoodlums of the Ku Klux Klan, who were successors to the white terrorists that the “better element” of Southerners strongly supported during and immediately after Reconstruction. These politicians often condemned, as Donald Trump did yesterday, the “egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence, on many sides,” that threatened the quiet tyranny of Jim Crow. They preferred a “civil” resistance to equality in Congress and the courts, and in the genteel Citizens’ Councils that, as one sociologist aptly put it, “pursued the agenda of the Klan with the demeanor of the Rotary Club.”
The Neo-Confederates lost the battle against civil rights, but maintained a cultural rearguard for many years. You heard at least a faint echo of their words every time a conservative Southern politician hailed “law and order,” or attacked “the welfare,” or demanded maximum incarceration of African-American “predators.” This sort of politics maintained an unmistakable connection to nostalgia for the Old South, an imagined tranquil place of good manners and interracial understanding.
But until Donald Trump’s election, it seemed Neo-Confederacy had finally about run its course. The display of Confederate regalia on state flags, public buildings, and even football mascots gradually became distasteful, even to many conservative politicians. In 1993, when Georgia governor Zell Miller (later a conservative hero) proposed getting rid of the Confederate symbolism on Georgia’s state flag (imposed not during or after the Civil War, but during the period of white resistance to desegregation), soon-to-be House Speaker Newt Gingrich supported him. And by the time South Carolina governor Nikki Haley finally had the Confederate Battle Flag taken down from the statehouse after an outburst of racist violence — nearly 20 years after a Republican predecessor had proposed the same thing — it aroused little public opposition.
Yes, even hard-core conservatives began to understand that Confederate insignia were not just parts of history that today’s Southerners should “cherish,” to use the president’s startling allusion to the Lee statue, but part of a retroactive effort to whitewash history in the pursuit of racist lies.
But then, in the blink of an eye, the backlash to acts of simple racial decency began. It was not confined to Donald Trump’s campaign, but in many corners of the right, hostility to “political correctness” — defined as sensitivity to the fears and concerns of, well, anyone other than white men — became a hallmark of the “populist” conservatism Trump made fashionable and ultimately ascendent.
And so the relatively uncontroversial movement to get Jim Crow era Confederate insignia and memorials out of the public square and back into museums and history books suddenly faced renewed opposition — not just from the motley crew of open white supremacists who viewed the 45th president as their hero, but from politicians who saw a broader constituency for a brand-new era of white backlash. It is no mistake that Corey Stewart — who was Trump’s 2016 Virginia campaign chair until he was dumped for excessive public hostility to anti-Trump elements in the Republican National Committee — seized on the decision of the Charlottesville City Council to remove the Lee monument as an example of contemptible “political correctness” in his surprisingly successful 2017 GOP gubernatorial campaign (which fell just short of upsetting the heavily favored Ed Gillespie). Stewart, who is now running for U.S. Senate, not only defended Trump’s refusal to distinguish between white supremacists and their opponents in the Charlottesville violence, but took it to the next level in an interview with Breitbart News:
We have the violent left which recently attacked a U.S. Congressman [Steve Scalise], which has been attacking Trump supporters across the country, and I never hear Democratic politicians condemning them. I’m not going to play their game. I am not going to condemn anyone other than the criminal. We always have to protect citizens who are trying to exercise their First Amendment rights. From my perspective, there were a lot of left-wing agitators who violently attacked citizens who were trying to espouse their views last night and today.
So there you have it: Not only were the Nazis, Klansmen, and other white supremacists who chose Charlottesville for their big rally simply trying to “espouse their views,” but also conservatives should not say a discouraging word to them so long as they aren’t “the criminal,” however that is defined.
Perhaps the president will eventually be convinced by his more politically pragmatic allies to draw a clear line between himself and the racists who revere him. It would be immensely more valuable if he condemned not just idiot Klansmen and neo-Nazis but demagogues like Stewart whose idea of “Trumpism” is to champion any and all types of white backlash to “political correctness” and “the Left” as legitimate, or at least understandable. As my colleague Olivia Nuzzi notes, Trump is not a politician who has shown the least reluctance to call out and condemn by name — and by insulting nickname — whomever and whatever he finds objectionable. His silence condemns him to the opprobrium rightly felt toward the Neo-Confederates who even now defend the monuments to white supremacy.« Economic troughs, changes in the unemployment rate, and fed policy | Main | Reviewing the recession: Was monetary policy to blame? »
October 06, 2009
Prospects for a small business-fueled employment recovery
In a speech yesterday, William Dudley, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, identified financial constraints for small businesses as a restraint on the pace of economic recovery. Specifically, he said:
"For small business borrowers, there are three problems. First, the fundamentals of their businesses have often deteriorated because of the length and severity of the recession—making many less creditworthy. Second, some sources of funding for small businesses—credit card borrowing and home equity loans—have dried up as banks have responded to rising credit losses in these areas by tightening credit standards. Third, small businesses have few alternative sources of funds. They are too small to borrow in the capital markets and the Small Business Administration programs are not large enough to accommodate more than a small fraction of the demand from this sector."
President Dudley's comments are even more relevant in the current recession if one considers the disproportionate effect the recession has had on very small businesses. In general, the Small Business Administration defines a small business as a firm with less than 500 employees. However, for my analysis here I focus on the very small firms (those with less than 50 employees) as the data indicate these firms have been the most affected by the current recession. (Look here for another take on how to define a small business).
During periods when national employment levels were expanding since 1992 (when this data series began), firms with less than 50 employees have made up approximately one-third of the nation's employment growth. During the employment declines associated with the 2001 recession, these firms made up only 9 percent of job losses. In the current recession, though, these very small firms have made up 45 percent of the nation's job losses.
Looking ahead, it's not clear whether small businesses will continue to play their traditional role in hiring staff and helping to fuel an employment recovery. However, if the above-mentioned financial constraints are a major contributor to the disproportionately large employment contractions for very small firms, then the post-recession employment boost these firms typically provide may be less robust than in previous recoveries.
By Melinda Pitts, research economist and associate policy adviser
October 6, 2009 in Labor Markets | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c834f53ef0120a61cb311970c
Listed below are links to blogs that reference Prospects for a small business-fueled employment recovery :
» Is Small Business at a Crossroads from Leading Questions
In my browsing this morning, I came across this article from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - Prospects for a small business-fueled employment recovery. Here is a quote from a speech given by William Dudley of the Federal Reserve... [Read More]
Tracked on Oct 7, 2009 11:02:17 PM
CommentsIn a recent Washington Post column, “We must weed out ignorant Americans from the electorate,” I argued that voters should have to take the civics test portion of the citizenship exam before being allowed to vote.
As you can probably imagine, the headline alone incited some histrionic criticisms. Most of them inadvertently confirming just how little many in the media really think about the American electorate and our democratic institutions.
What we do know is that nearly every study conducted on voter knowledge finds a big chunk of the electorate understands next to nothing about American governance. To varying degrees, this is what allows Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and other platitude-spewing populists to lean on identity, anger, grievances, empathy, and jealousy rather than policy.
A democracy without knowledge corrodes the republic. And that’s exactly how elites like it.
If you dare blame the voters for the state of the union, you will be accused of harboring racist or elitist feelings, depending on whether you’re talking to a liberal or a Trump supporter. Neither makes sense.
Me: Ignorant people shouldn’t vote!
Them: I can’t believe you’re saying African Americans shouldn’t be able to vote, racist!
Do all the snarky critics who contend I was being implicitly racist realize they’re arguing blacks are less capable than whites of passing a simple civics test? Are they saying the citizenship test is racist, as well? If so, which questions are problematic? And how did millions of poor non-white prospective citizens pass the same test?
A democracy without knowledge corrodes the republic. And that’s exactly how elites like it.
Do they really believe that asking voters to name one right protected under the First Amendment is only a small step away from advocating for the return of Jim Crow?
Despite the best effort of Byron York — and many others — to conflate a civics test with a poll tax, there is no Bull Conner barring the in Internet door, prohibiting Americans from taking a couple of hours out of their lives to learn that we have three branches of government. This development should be celebrated, not muffled with cheap historical analogies.
If we do concede that the average African American or white working-class voter can’t pass such a test, or that such a test will have consequentially disparate outcomes (and I don’t know if any of that’s true), then we have a serious problem. It isn’t a test problem, it’s a knowledge problem. In this golden age of information, 32 percent of Americans can’t identify the Supreme Court as one of the three branches of the federal government, yet we’re advocating they Rock the Vote. It’s irresponsible.
It was amusing, however, to see liberals argue that nothing should ever inhibit an American from exercising his constitutional rights. Now, of course, many of them have no reservations about inhibiting gun ownership or demanding political groups register with the IRS and meet a whole list of demands before practicing their right of free expression. But advocating for a simple civics test — that you can take as many times as necessary — is tantamount to a military junta.
Me: Ignorant people shouldn’t vote!
Them: I can’t believe you’re saying the working class is too dumb to vote, you elitist!
When I wrote the piece, I was thinking about those who cheered on Barack Obama’s executive abuse. I was also thinking about Hillary Clinton’s corruption. I was thinking about everything Bernie Sanders says. I was thinking about George Bush’s attacks on federalism. Mostly, though, I was thinking about the cult of Trump — the people who applaud his attacks on free speech and separation of powers and embrace his identity politics.
Trump fans have assured me that his voters are the smartest and best educated in America, so I’m unsure why they were offended by the piece. It’s not elitism, after all.
Being well-informed about government doesn’t necessarily make you smarter than your neighbor. You may have gone to better schools, had more attentive parents, etc., but there are working-class Americans who have a keen understanding of their vocations, communities, and faith. Some possess an intuitive feel for the world or an emotional IQ that gives them greater insight into the human condition than an educated, aristocratic voter.
But so what? If they’re willing to support a candidate who promises to deport 11 million people for contaminating the purity of American citizenship, they should be able to pass a simple civics test.
When the next swindler promises them a shiny new object, voters might be better equipped to recognize the absurdity of it all.
Now, with that said, there’s something I didn’t mention in The Washington Post article that I thought was pretty obvious: It’s not going to happen.
There will never be a voting test in our lifetime. Never. So yes, James Taranto, it’s unlikely such a proposal would pass judicial scrutiny. A person can argue that abortion is immoral, even if he knows abortion is protected by the courts. And a person can genuinely believe that instituting a basic, unalterable civics exam for voters is a good idea and simultaneously understand it is improbable. Others can sidestep that debate.
If there were a voting test, political organizations might be incentivized to spend billions teaching prospective voters the answers to the test. And when the next swindler promises them a shiny new object, voters might be just a little better equipped to recognize the absurdity of it all. Or maybe a test wouldn’t substantively change the dynamics of the electorate at all. I’m willing to concede that there are plenty of good arguments against it that go beyond vacuous accusations of elitism and racism.
Noah Rothman at Commentary offered a thoughtful pushback. Ilya Somin — whose book “Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government Is Smarter” along with Bryan Caplan’s “The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies” are must reads for anyone interested contemporary democracy — also makes a strong case:
While I am sympathetic to Harsanyi’s idea, I ultimately cannot support it because I doubt that a real-world government can be trusted to implement it without bias. … Even if the test can be structured in such a way as to avoid racial or ethnic bias (which is by no means certain), it is unlikely to avoid bias against the opponents of those in power.
I’m unsure why the test would ever need to be changed. The Constitution does not change. History does not change. I’ve can’t find any substantive complaints about the test being biased. It is true that the powerful will typically find a way to manipulate the system. They manipulate it best when people have no clue how it works. And the today’s political class — right and left — seems very comfortable with this arrangement.Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made news this week when he said that he would be willing to meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un if elected president. On Friday’s Morning Joe, however, Trump drew the line at ever going to North Korea. As host Joe Scarborough tried to make an unfavorable comparison between Trump and two-term incumbent President Barack Obama, Trump jumped all over him for saying Trump was willing to go to North Korea, then challenged Scarborough’s assertion that he had attacked Great Britain:
Scarborough: This past week a lot of people confused because you’re talking like Obama saying you would go to North Korea, and you’d talk to the North Koreans… Trump: I wouldn’t go to North Korea. Scarborough: You would talk to them. Trump: The last thing I would do is go there. I don’t know who would say I would go there. Scarborough: You’ll talk to the North Korean leader. Trump: Yes, I would. Scarborough: Maybe he can go to your resort in Scotland.
That’s a distinction without a difference to Trump’s detractors, who view any direct engagement with North Korea as foreign policy heresy.
As for Trump’s “invitation” to Prime Minister David Cameron‘s 10 Downing Street residence, the British press reported this week that the British government is preparing for the possibility that Trump could visit in July after he’s officially nominated:
However, if he decided to visit Britain after the Republican convention in Cleveland, Ohio, towards the end of July, then protocol would change if, as isnow widely expected, the tycoon became the official Republican presidential nominee. The billionaire businessman would be expected to be offered meetings not only with the Prime Minister but also with Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Opposition.
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.comRobert St. Estephe–Gonzo Historian–is dedicated to uncovering the forgotten past of marginalizing men. “Gonzo journalism” is characterized as tending “to favor style over fact to achieve accuracy.” Yet history – especially “social history” – is written by ideologues who distort and bury facts in order to achieve an agenda. “Gonzo” writing is seen as unorthodox and surprising. Yet, in the 21st century subjectivity, distortion and outright lying in non-fiction writing is the norm. Fraud is the new orthodoxy. Consequently, integrity is the new “transgressive.”
Trigger alert:
Dear Reader: If you happen to member of either of the following communities – Toy Dog, Type 1 ( mangina ) or a Toy Dog Type 2 ( white knight ) – you should not read the rest of this post.
FULL TEXT: Berlin, July 7. – Dr. Albert Einstein, the famous scientist, made an amazing discovery relative to America on his trip which he recently explained to a sympathetic-looking Hollander as follows:
“The excessive enthusiasm for me in America appears to be typically American. And if I grasp it correctly the reason is that the people in America are as colossally bored, very much more than is the case with us. After all, there is so little for them there!” he exclaimed.
“New York, Boston, Chicago and other cities have their theatres and concerts, but for the rest? There are cities with 1,000,000 inhabitants. Despite which what poverty, intellectual poverty! The people are, therefore, glad when something is given them with which they can play and over which they can enthuse. And that they do, then, with monstrous intensity.
“You ask whether it makes a ludicrous impression on me to observe the excitement of the crowd for my teaching and my theory, of which it, after all, understandable nothing? I find it funny and at the same time interesting to observe the game.
“Above all things there are the women who, as a literal fact, dominate the entire life in America. The men take an interest in absolutely nothing at all. They work and work, the like of which I have never seen anywhere yet. For the rest they are the toy dogs of the women, who spend the money in a most unmeasurable, illimitable way and wrap themselves in a fog of extravagance. They do everything which is the vogue and now quite by chance they have thrown themselves on the Einstein fashion.
“I believe quite positively that it is the mysteriousness of what they cannot conceive which places them under a magic spell. One tells them of something big which will influence all future life, of a theory which only a small group, highly learned, can comprehend. Big names are mentioned of men who made discoveries, of which the crowd grasps nothing. But it impresses them, takes on color and the magic power of mystery, and thus one becomes enthusiastic and excited.
“My impressions |
asked my students to use online sources for their research — library catalogues, databases — to locate scholarly information and learn how to create a bibliography. One aspect of the assignment asked them to show that they understood the difference between how to cite a book in a footnote, and how to cite it in a bibliography or “works cited” page. In anticipation of the assignment, I showed them essentially how to find the answers to every question.
Everything went wrong. Only about 20% used the right online sources to answer questions. No one understands how to cite anything, despite all the information I provided. Some of them cited radically incorrect material, like novels or advertisements. After grading 15 of these, the highest grade was a 67.
To be fair, many of them use the term novel to describe everything — scholarly books, journal articles, memoirs — even though I’ve told them this is incorrect. I tried to teach them the word monograph to describe focused scholarly books, so 50% of my students now refer to them as monograms.
This is so frustrating for me, perhaps because I want to believe my students might actually be better at locating online information than I am. “Are they just stupid?” I spluttered at my colleague on Thursday, using a term I strongly dislike and almost never use except when referring to members of Congress.
But of course the true reason I’m so frustrated is because they didn’t pay attention while I tried to teach them to fish, and because I’m so goddamn tired.
My frustration is unfounded, because even if my students might be good at this kind of quest, they’re just goddamn exhausted. Many of them work at least 40 hours a week at the same time that they take 5 or more classes. One student — a highly capable guy in his 30s who has returned to complete his degree because he has discovered that his true calling is to become a high school teacher — got teary-eyed in my office this week telling me that he can’t handle the pressures of work and school, plus the family crises that have plagued the past few months.
Another woman told me that her boss has decided to stop allowing full-time student employees to adjust their schedules around their school schedules. So unless she wants to lose her job (and not pay her rent), my student has to skip classes to show up to be a hostess at a restaurant.
This is a crisis, folks. And it’s a direct parallel to what is now facing our government. My students have high tuition rates and extremely low financial aid of any kind, which necessitates all the part-time jobs. They cannot succeed in college if they work that much. Which means that they are being starved of a respectable education, only to receive the halfhearted one they can fit in between work schedules.
And meanwhile us college professors are left wondering what this means for us. Do we lower our expectations? We get told all the time to liven up our teaching, to make it more interactive and more dynamic, but the problem is not that we are tedious bores.
The problem is that our students are starving, and that we are being asked to ignore it — or to adjust our expectations, given the fact that they’re starving. At the same time, our universities ask us to do more with less — faculty is getting starved, too. And I’m one of the lucky ones, with a secure, tenure-line job, benefits, retirement program, etc.
I’m so goddamn tired.
AdvertisementsChina’s recent island-building spree, the focus of tensions with its neighbors as well as the United States, is all for the sake of better weather forecasting, Chinese officials say.
Over the past two years, China has dredged up over 2,000 acres of land from what was once open sea and constructed brand new islands that will house airstrips and helipads. Critics say the construction, at an estimated seven sites near the disputed Spratly Islands, is an attempt to bolster Beijing’s territorial claims as well as provide a base for potential military operations against its rivals.
“The construction of infrastructure for observation and communication is the first step towards enhancing and improving marine meteorological monitoring, warning, forecasting, prediction and scientific research,” Ding Yihui of the Chinese Academy of Engineering told the People’s Daily over the weekend. The head of China’s Meteorological Administration, Zheng Guoguang, said the facilities were for the benefit of a region that has been “suffering from frequent oceanic disasters and extreme weather and climate events.”
China claims most of the South China Sea, overlapping territorial claims made by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
Other countries with competing claims to the potentially resource-rich islets in the South China Sea have reclaimed land to expand islands that they occupy, but only China has created entirely new islands. Officials have said the new facilities are mainly for “civilian services” but also military. “Of course, we have facilities for defense purposes” China’s US ambassador to the US told the Wall Street Journal (paywall) last month.
Last week, officials said the land reclamation project was close to completion in what security experts believe may be an attempt to diffuse tensions between Beijing and Washington before the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue talks in Washington this week.
But China is likely to keep building. In its announcement last week, an official spokesman said that after land reclamation, “We will start the building of facilities to meet relevant functional requirements.”This is Sydney’s last interruption, promise!
In that first panel Maxima’s totally giving Sydney the “We are here as representatives of blah blah” and “I will turn this car around.” and probably something about a million extra laps. It obviously doesn’t stick, which may be the biggest challenge with training Sydney. Some stuff she takes to right away, and other stuff she slips back into her old habits in the span of a sentence.
A legitimate issue with this scene is Maxima really should have stuck Sydney’s nose in the corner before now. Even if she’s not as on board with the proceedings as she appears to be, having her recruit run her usual agent of chaos act reflects poorly on her. Ingsol may only be indulging her because he believes Archon really can help them, and he also might be a tiny bit afraid of Maxima. A 700 year old vampire is pretty high up the food chain, but not liquefy a tank high. The average vampire is stronger and faster than the average human. A well trained human can probably deal with an untrained average vampire. Give a vamp a few centuries and they’re probably on par with a moderately powerful super, but in cases like that, it really comes down to training and chance and strategy. Mr. Amorphous could probably take a 2-5 century old vamp. A vamp vs. Heatwave could swing wildly in one direction or the other.
Edit: Whoops! I totally forgot Ingsol’s “accent” on this page. I’ve edited it back in, which makes his pronunciation of “Vi’s” problematic, as you can see in non-all caps comic font, it’s Vi, pronounced “Vee” which Ingy should really pronounce “Wee,” and I really wish I’d have remembered that cause it could have made for some amusing confusion on the next page but what can you do?
I found another entertaining webcomic some of you might like. It’s not really a funny one so much, but it got me to read the first chapter at least. It’s a romance comic (between two girls, but it’s not salacious or anything) and it’s got really nice art (and unfortunately an auto playing music track, but it’s low key ambient stuff you can turn off.) It’s called Always Human. So named because it’s set in a future where everyone can look however they want with simple mods, except one of the girls who can’t use them so she’s stuck looking how she looks. I’d say spoiler, but that’s set up on the first page. Here’s a link to their Patreon if you’re so inclined, since it’s kind of hard to find on their comic page.
Has anyone seen Star vs. the Forces of Evil? I haven’t heard anyone talking about it on Twitter and where ever, but it’s quite amusing. It’s like… if Sydney was a 14 year old Disney Princess / Magic Girl, with lots of humor and fighting. Lots of recognizable voice talent too, if that’s your thing. It’s a Disney cartoon so that’s not surprising really. It’s on Hulu and possibly other places. Anyway I recommend it.
Double res version will be posted over at Patreon. (As soon as I get up. $1 and up, but feel free to contribute as much as you like :)
Here’s the link to the new comments highlighter for chrome, and the GitHub link which you can use to install on FireFox via Greasemonkey.Roseville, CA – Join us Friday, May 29 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. for Woof Wine & Dine at Vernon Street Town Square in Roseville.
This fun and unique event is an opportunity for you and your leashed canine companion to mingle while sampling outstanding food, wine and beer! And don’t worry – there will be delicious and refreshing treats for the canine attendees as well! The evening will also feature the Rotary Club of Roseville’s Muttini Bar, photo booth, games, music, raffle prizes and more.
Those interested in attending Woof Wine & Dine are encouraged to get their tickets now! Event tickets are available for $50 and include all food and beverages. Tickets can be purchased online at www.placerspca.org/woofwinedine.
Proceeds from Woof Wine & Dine will help the Placer SPCA continue its work in enhancing the lives of companion animals and people through its programs and services.
For more information, contact our Fund Development Department at (916) 782-7722, ext. 102 or (530) 885-7387, ext. 102 or email funddevelopment@placerspca.org.
*Placer SPCAThis is Part 3 in a short series exploring sexist attitudes in the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why. If you haven’t already, read Parts 1 and 2 first.
Related: 13 Reasons Why Teenagers Need Feminism (Part 1)
If you have not already seen 13 Reasons Why or read the novel, this post contains heavy spoilers. Even the subheadings contain spoilers.
Related: 13 Reasons Why Teenagers Need Feminism (Part 2)
Rape Culture in Netflix Original Series 13 Reasons Why
Several of the episodes below started with content warnings before they aired. This post discusses rape, but not in a graphic manner. While I will not go into detail regarding the incidents of sexual violence, this blog post does focus on the attitudes and actions of the characters that contribute to rape culture.
Related: Feminism 101: Rape Culture
Tape 5, Side A: Girls Who Drink Too Much are Asking to be Raped
This tape reveals that Hannah witnessed Bryce rape an intoxicated and near-unconscious Jessica. Jessica’s boyfriend, Justin, half-halfheartedly tried to stop Bryce, but it wasn’t enough. Hannah felt frozen with fear and didn’t intervene either.
Bryce feels entitled to sex with Jessica. He doesn’t care that she’s wasted or that she’s passed out in her room. He doesn’t even care that Jessica has a boyfriend–Justin, Bryce’s best friend.
Bryce doesn’t even try to hide the fact that he’s going to rape Jessica (probably because he doesn’t realize sex with an unconscious person is rape). He even makes a little comment to Justin about how they share everything before going into Jessica’s room.
13 Reasons Why is a piece of fiction. But rapists attacking intoxicated, unconscious victims? That is all too true.
And then, all too often, the public blames the victim.
Does alcohol cause sexual assault?
From the article “Rape and the Intoxicated Victim” by Maggie Tennis:
The idea exists in our culture that if you allow yourself to get so drunk that you black out or pass out, then you are, in fact, inviting inappropriate conduct upon yourself, or that you are even complicit in your own rape. A perpetrator of sexual assault seizes advantage of an unfortunate presumption that a drunken individual has somehow consented to a sexual act simply by becoming black-out drunk. Or even that, by reaching such a state, the drunken individual has forfeited any right to give consent entirely. Armed with this reasoning, the perpetrator concludes that sexual advances on this person would not be considered rape.
Just this year, a judge in the UK insinuated that if women don’t drink too much, they can protect themselves from rape. She also said, “if push comes to shove, a girl who has been drunk is less likely to be believed than one who is sober at the time. I beg girls and women to have this in mind.” The judge made these remarks after sentencing a rapist to jail.
For more information on the connection between alcohol and rape, I highly recommend reading “Actually, The Link Between Sexual Assault And Alcohol Isn’t As Clear As You Think.” From the article:
National statistics dispel the direct correlation between alcohol and rape, too. The Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey has found that the number of Americans who say they’ve been raped — regardless of whether they reported that crime to the authorities — has been declining since 1979. During that same time period, binge drinking has been steadily rising. As Slate’s Amanda Hess points out, that suggests something else besides alcohol consumption is actually factoring into the nation’s sexual assault rate. Indeed, research has found that intimate partner violence declines not as people drink less, but as society moves toward gender equality.
Tape 6, Side A: Rape Survivors Behave in a Predictable Way
Throughout the series, Jessica behaves more and more erratically. She misses cheerleading practice and shows up late to games. She sneaks alcohol at school, hides alcohol around her bed, and in one disturbing scene, plays with her father’s gun.
These actions are all signs of Rape Trauma Syndrome. But Jessica does one thing that might confuse some viewers of 13 Reasons Why.
She continues to spend time with Bryce, even pursuing alone time with him.
Why would any rape victim willingly spend more time with a rapist?
Jill Filipovic addresses this in an article on sexual assault misconceptions for Cosmopolitan. From the article (emphasis my own):
It’s incredibly common for survivors to feel numb and come across as cold or unemotional, or even to make what feel like inappropriate jokes… for a victim to downplay what happened or be confused about it… for rape survivors to have sex again soon after the event, sometimes with the same person they later say raped them — it can be a way of reasserting control after control over their own bodies was just taken from them. The only universal truth about how rape victims act is that they rarely act 100 percent like characters on a TV drama.
Refinery 29 addresses this same question brought up by 13 Reasons Why (emphasis original):
Yet in many cases, a survivor tolerating their rapist at all — let alone engaging in friendship or a relationship — raises eyebrows. It becomes something that a doubter can cling to — how can you claim that you were raped by this person, when two weeks later you celebrated his birthday? When you went on a second date? When you texted him about the math homework? That’s why Jessica’s story is important. It’s clear from episode 1 that Jessica is struggling with something, though we don’t yet know what that is. When we see her in present day, she is numbing herself with alcohol and partying — erratic behavior that doesn’t match up with the Jessica we saw in Hannah’s flashbacks. She also seeks out Bryce and hangs out with him alone, seemingly “flirting” with the person who we later learn raped her. It’s not that Bryce didn’t commit a serious crime, nor is it that Jessica has forgiven him for it. Yet by hanging out with Bryce, by pretending everything is “fine” between them, Jessica assumed, incorrectly, that it would be easier to move on.
Tape 6, Side B: Girls Who Attend Parties are Asking to be Raped
This tape reveals that while attending a party at Bryce’s house, Hannah ends up alone with him in the hot tub, where he rapes her.
In the present-day, Clay tricks Bryce into confessing the rape. But even that confession indicates that Bryce literally thinks Hannah was asking for sex. He says:
She came to my party. Mine. She got in the hot tub with me, without a suit on. Right? And she fucking–she made eyes. I know that’s hard for you to hear, that your crush wasn’t pure and clean. She fucking wanted it… She wanted it… Me. She was practically begging me to fuck her. If that’s rape, then every girl at this school wants to be raped… You wanna call it rape, call it rape. Same difference.
Again, 13 Reasons Why is a piece of fiction. But the public siding with the rapist? Blaming the victim for attending a party or drinking alcohol? That is all too true.
See Daisy Coleman. Despite a shocking amount of evidence (including video footage), the city dropped the charges against the rapists. And Daisy’s entire family ended up driven out of town by harassment and victim-blaming.
See the Steubenville High School rape case. People blamed the victim for going to a party and getting drunk.
A study came out in 2016 that discovered a full 25% of comments on news articles about sexual assault and rape blame the victim.
Related: Donald Trump, Rape Culture, and Feminist Fatigue
Tape 7, Side A: Girls Lie about Rape
In many ways, this final tape upset me the most. At the beginning of the tape, Hannah admits she feels slightly better about her life after recording all the tapes. She wants to give life a chance–but she needs help. So she makes an appointment with the school counselor, Mr. Porter.
Side Note: School Counselors vs. Mental Health Professionals
I read a comment online criticizing the portrayal of Mr. Porter. It basically implied that 13 Reasons Why doesn’t fairly paint mental health professionals.
I don’t know what sort of fancy high school this person attended, but my high school guidance counselors were the farthest thing from mental health professionals with any sort of mental health training or education. Mr. Porter even mentions that his previous job involved guns and gang violence (this detail is from memory, so I might have it slightly wrong), leaving him unequipped to deal with verbal harassment and bullying.
While I’ve read legitimate criticisms of the series, it’s unfair to assume Mr. Porter is supposed to be a trained mental health professional in any way, shape, or form.
An Absence of a No is Not Consent
In Hannah’s meeting with Mr. Porter, she implies she has suicidal thoughts. While she backs away from suicide in their conversation, she continues to share feelings of pain and isolation.
Hannah refers to the list that started the harassment. She mentions that the latest repercussion of the list happened a week prior. Mr. Porter carefully asks questions–suggesting that Hannah regretted consenting to sexual activity. When she reacts strongly to that suggestion, he asks if someone forced himself on her.
When she hesitates while replying yes, Mr. Porter pounces on her hesitation. “Did you tell him to stop? Did you tell him no? Maybe you consented, and you changed your mind.”
Hannah clearly objects to that last statement. Her pain is evident in her voice when asking Mr. Porter if he can guarantee her rapist will go to jail.
Understandably, Mr. Porter can’t promise that, considering how many convicted rapists serve no jail time. But this is where he completely fails Hannah.
Rape Survivors Have Options
Mr. Porter tells Hannah that if she won’t name her rapist, if she won’t press charges, if she’s not even sure she can press charges… Then she needs to move on.
He doesn’t provide a suicide hotline for her to call. He doesn’t recommend she visit a rape crisis center. Mr. Porter might not be a mental health professional himself, but at the the very least, he should refer students to outside resources. Such as an actual mental health professional.
Everyone on the 13 tapes fails Hannah in some way. Mr. Porter fails Hannah in the same way school administrators and police officers fail rape victims across the country (and world). With rape myth acceptance. By doubting rape victims. Questioning them with accusatory language and pouncing on any imperfect response.
And then by not providing any resources to help them with the trauma of rape. Rape survivors often experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS). They need professional help–not empty advice to “move on.”
Tape 7, Side B: Rapists Lurk in Alleys
There’s not an episode for Tape 7, Side B. In the second-to-last episode of 13 Reasons Why, Clay makes one last tape–Bryce’s confession. In the last episode, Clay gives all the tapes to Mr. Porter.
Bryce is a rapist.
But he’s not a monster.
Bryce’s character is so incredibly important in 13 Reasons Why. Yes, he’s an arrogant jock who clearly feels entitled to women’s bodies. He sends the photo of Hannah to the whole school. He grabs Hannah’s ass in the convenience store.
But Bryce is friendly and outgoing at school. Even the teachers seem to like Bryce. He knows about Justin’s terrible home life, so Bryce helps out Justin with material items. When Justin needs a place to stay, Bryce opens up his pool house.
Bryce does not fit the stereotypical profile of a rapist… Unless you’re a feminist deeply aware of rape culture and the actual statistics surrounding rape.
On Bustle, Samantha Rullo goes into this very point, quoting Justin Prentice, the actor who plays Bryce.
As a show aimed at teens, it’s incredibly important that 13 Reasons Why demonstrate the very real risks of sexual assault and bullying. By making Bryce “a real high school kid,” the series shows that being a good guy on the surface doesn’t stop someone from being capable of rape. “Most of these cases of sexual assault and violence aren’t by people who were born with different brain wirings,” Prentice says. “You know, they’re not these Ted Bundys — I mean those cases do happen of course — but the majority of these cases are opportunistic sexual assaults.” Indeed, in eight out of 10 rape cases, the victim knew their assailant, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), and there have been multiple cases of convicted rapists’ academic or athletic achievements affecting their defense.
Rape is about more than sex–it’s about power and entitlement. Bryce has wealth and influence, and he feels entitled to whatever he wants, including sex with an unconscious girl and a girl trying to get away from him.
Bryce actually fits the profile of a rapist pretty perfectly.
The harsh reality is that rape culture kills teenage girls and women. Hannah is a fictional teen who dies by suicide after rape. Rehtaeh Parsons and Audrie Pott are real teenagers who killed themselves after rape.
Practicing kindness is too simplistic of a response to 13 Reasons Why.
All of us need to do more than just be kind.
We need to dismantle rape culture.
If this post resonates with you, please share on social media.
If you need immediate support regarding rape or sexual assault, you can reach your local RAINN affiliate at any time, 24/7, by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673). You can also look up local centers for rape and sexual assault survivors online.
If you feel you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It is a free, 24-hour hotline, at 1.800.273.TALK (8255). Your call will be connected to the crisis center nearest to you. If you are in an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Love this post? Share the love! Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Tumblr
RedditPhone giant AT&T(s t) published its first “transparency report” on Tuesday morning, providing a snapshot of how often the government asks for data about its customers.
According to the report, which comes after Verizon(s vz) published a similar document last month, state and federal agencies made 301,816 separate demands for data from AT&T in 2013, with the company rejecting 3,756 of those.
Advertisement
The report also specifies that governments asked for location-related data 37,839 times, including 1,034 “cell tower searches.”
Another significant element of the report is AT&T’s decision to disclose that it received 35-000 to 35,999 data requests from the National Security Agency. The NSA, along with the phone carriers and big U.S. tech companies, have been embroiled in an ongoing surveillance scandal touched off by ongoing leaks from former NSA contractor, Edward Snowden.
Until a recent court victory led by Google(s goog) and Microsoft(s msft), it had been illegal for companies to even reveal how often the NSA has demanded information. In light of the ruling, companies can disclose the NSA data in ranges of 0-999 (as AT&T has done), but cannot provide any specifics about a given investigation.
The figures were published in a blog post, and come after both Verizon and AT&T announced in December that they would join the growing ranks of tech companies that publish so-called transparency reports — a policy inaugurated by Google several years ago. AT&T’s blog post provides only a short description, and only addresses the NSA scandal in an oblique fashion:
“Interest in this topic has increased in the last year,” states the company. Indeed.
Here’s a screenshot showing some of the key numbers, including a breakdown of the various legal instruments — NSA letters, National Security letters, warrants and so-on — that governments use to obtain information:If you’re planning to shop for a pair of boys light-up shoes you might want to skip Payless ShoeSource, as the retailer has pulled the footwear while fire officials in Texas investigate a fire that may be linked to the sneakers.
On Tuesday, Payless told Houston’s KPRC-TV that the shoe store chain had taken the “Jake and the Neverland Pirates” Lighted Runner light-up shoes off store shelves until an investigation can be completed.
The retailer’s decision to stop selling the shoes comes after a Texas family said the shoes caught fire in their vehicle over the weekend.
The parents say their two-year-old son had kicked off his shoes and left them in the family vehicle on Friday night. When they went to the car on Saturday they found the backseat charred and the shoes scorched.
While an official cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, the family believes it was caused by the small lithium battery used in the shoes.
“You don’t think about … a blinky shoe,” the woman tells KPRC. “It’s cool. You don’t think about the risks.”
Payless said on Tuesday that it had removed the shoes “out of an abundance of caution” from all stores “until we can thoroughly investigate a customer claim regarding that shoe.”
“First and foremost, safety is always a top priority at Payless and we take the claim made by the customer seriously,” the retailer said. “We have contacted the family, and we will work with them and local authorities to better understand the circumstances of the fire and what may have caused it.”
Although local fire officials say they are investigating the incident, it’s unclear if the issue has been reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. We’ve reached out to the agency for comment and will update this post when we hear back.
Payless pulls light-up shoes family believes caused car fire from shelves [KPRC]I get lots of solicitations for libertarian groups and I’m very pleased that there are so many of them these days. I can’t possibly support them all but I recently ponied up for an organization called F.I.R.E. (Freedom for Individual Rights in Education). Their focus is on fighting suppression of free speech on college campuses. Thus, for example, FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for October 2013:
Salem State University in Massachusetts prohibits “cultural intolerance” in its residence halls—a broad ban that threatens debate on controversial issues in a place where students often speak the most freely. Making matters worse, the policy applies not only to “actions” but also to “omissions,” broadening its scope to include not only speech but also a student’s personal decision not to speak.
It burns me up to see self-appointed fascist administrators launching attacks on individuals who dare to speak their minds in unpopular ways. And yet, there is a problem, centered on the distinction between public and private institutions. Suppose a small Baptist college decided that students would not be allowed to mock Christianity or promote Islam on campus. Could there be any objection to such a policy? Now suppose that same college decided it would not admit black students. Any thoughtful libertarian would have to defend this policy, distasteful though it may be, on grounds of freedom of association. The bottom line is clear: owners of private colleges have every right to determine whom they will admit as students or hire as faculty and how they are required to act on campus.
Now what about state colleges such as Salem State? Such institutions are “public property,” an oxymoron if we think about it. “Property” denotes the right to use or dispose of some valuable asset, implying an exclusion of non-owners or others who have not been invited to use the property. On the other hand “public” means, if anything, that anybody is allowed to use the asset and nobody is excluded. Who owns San Jose State University where I teach? The California State University Board of Trustees is the most likely candidate, but the faculty has a lot of control through the faculty unions and faculty senates. The Governor and the legislators wield a lot of influence too. The citizens own the place in theory but the connection between SJSU and the citizenry is so remote that it might as well be non-existent. The lack of clarity about who owns the place is the source of most of the idiotic, wasteful, and sometimes downright offensive policies that we see at SJSU and all other government agencies.
So what sort of speech is to be allowed at SJSU? I would say anything goes except shouting down lecturers. Objectionable behavior such as name-calling should be met with ostracism and boycotting or perhaps tit-for-tat. No need for prohibitions. But the people who have power over these matters no doubt see it differently.
Thinking about it more, there really isn’t any such thing as freedom of speech. Speech is not carried out in a vacuum (literally: there can be no sound waves!). If you’re speaking you are standing on someone’s property; if writing you’re using pen and paper or a computer. Land, pen, paper and computers are all resources whose owners have the right to determine who uses them and how. I have no right to invade your house and deliver a speech in your living room nor to grab your computer and compose a blog. Freedom of speech can only mean freedom to use one’s property, or the property of another who has given consent, for speaking purposes. (This, by the way, solves the fire-in-a-crowded-theater conundrum. Prohibitions on yelling “fire” are not a diminution of freedom of speech but rather a recognition of a theater owner’s right to control behavior on his property. See Rothbard’s excellent Ethics of Liberty p. 114.)
In the end, as Rothbard points out, there is no dichotomy between property rights and “civil” rights. There are only property rights, recognizing one’s own body as one’s primary form of property.Costa Rica has issued a warning to the new wave of undocumented Cuban migrants hoping to travel by land from Ecuador to Central America and eventually the United States: they will not pass.
Foreign Minister Manuel González Sanz told el Nuevo Herald that Costa Rica was already worn down by its handling of the previous wave of 7,800 Cubans who were detained or stranded here from November of 2015 until March.
“I want to make absolutely clear, to all the (Cuban) migrants who are coming and those already in Panama, that Costa Rica cannot and will not receive them,” González said. The country “will make use of all domestic and international measures at its disposal to address this situation, if we face something similar to what we faced from November to March.”
I want to make absolutely clear, to all the (Cuban) migrants who are coming and those already in Panama, that Costa Rica cannot and will not receive them Manuel González Sanz, Costa Rica’s foreign minister
Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald
He added that waves of undocumented Cuban migrants “will continue as long as the U.S. law that favors Cuban migration, the well-known Cuban Adjustment Act, continues,” and indicated that there's a profound discomfort in the region with the Act.
The issue of Cuban migration “should be part of the bilateral relations between Cuba and the United States, but the reality is that the countries from Ecuador to Mexico, we are the ones caught in the middle and we are the ones suffering the consequences of laws that incite that migration,” the minister said.
The Adjustment Act gives Cuban migrants many benefits not available to other undocumented migrants, such as U.S. residence after 366 days in the United States. Undocumented Cubans who reach U.S. territory are not deported to the island under the U.S. government policy known as “wet-foot/dry-foot.”
“Costa Rica already gave everything it could give, did more than it was required to do, and we are definitely not in a position to confront — not as part of a group and certainly not alone, as we did in the past — a situation similar to what the country experienced,” he added.
Costa Rica already gave everything it could give, did more than it was required to do Manuel González Sanz, Costa Rica’s foreign minister
The country's government said repeatedly in recent months that any Cubans who enter the country without visas may be deported to Cuba — an option that appears to remain on the table even though the migrants could challenge it in the courts here.
Emergency meeting
The government has called a meeting Tuesday in this capital city of migration and diplomatic officials from the United States, Mexico, Central America, Cuba, Colombia and Ecuador to tackle the threat of a renewed migration crisis.
Panamanian migration authorities reported that another 2,723 Cubans were detained there as of April 6. Adding to the threat of a new crisis has been the large number of migrants from Africa and Asia who travel to South America to join the stream of undocumented migrants heading to the United States.
“If there is not a coordinated, structural approach by all the countries involved, we will continue to have these events affecting countries individually,” he added. “But individual action has proven to be too fragile for one country to take on a problem of such proportions.”
The previous crisis — the worst Cuban migration crisis in Central America since Fidel Castro rose to power in 1959 — started in mid-November when Costa Rica cracked down on a people-smuggling ring. Left without guides or contacts, undocumented Cubans started to bunch up at the Costa Rican borders with Panama and Nicaragua.
Panama and Costa Rica had to open temporary shelters to care for the detained or stranded Cuban migrants, which eventually totaled more than 9,500. The Costa Rican government issued temporary transit visas to Cubans arriving in November, but on Dec. 18 it also decided to close its border with Panama.
The crisis was finally resolved with an airlift that flew thousands of Cubans from Costa Rica and Panama to El Salvador and Mexico.
The number of Cuban migrants moving through Central America has been increasing rapidly since 2008, when Ecuador lifted its visa requirement for Cubans. Ecuador reimposed its visa requirement in December to try to contain the flow of Cubans.
Costa Rican authorities already have warned that the flow is growing with the help of coyotes — people smugglers — who charge undocumented Cubans up to $15,000 to take them from Ecuador to the Mexican border with the United States.Michael Doran is a senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. Max Boot is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
The growing disaster in Iraq has triggered anguished debate over two fundamental questions: What went wrong? And what do we do about it?
Surprisingly, many people who disagree vehemently about the former question (in particular, whether President George W. Bush or President Obama is more to blame) agree on the latter. Thus Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), who has consistently attacked the Obama administration for its foreign policy, suggests that the United States should work with Iran to counter the rapid advance of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). That idea was also advanced by Secretary of State John F. Kerry, who said Monday that the administration is “open to discussions” with Tehran and would “not rule out” cooperation in Iraq.
It’s sometimes true that very different countries can cooperate against a common enemy, as the United States and Soviet Union did during World War II. But the suggestion of a united U.S.-Iran front is more reminiscent of the wishful thinking among conservatives who argued in the 1930s that Britain and the United States shared a common interest with Nazi Germany in countering communism. The idea that the United States, a nation bent on defending democracy and safeguarding stability, shares a common interest with the Islamic Republic of Iran, a revolutionary theocracy that is the No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism in the world, is as fanciful as the notion that Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler could work together for the good of Europe.
While it’s true that Iran is run by Shiite fundamentalists and ISIS is a Sunni organization, the rise of ISIS provides Tehran with multiple benefits. For one thing, it makes Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the Shiites of Iraq ever more dependent on Iranian protection. For another, ISIS’s frightening rise makes the United States more likely to compromise with Iran.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Vahid Salemi/AP)
We have grown accustomed to Pakistan playing both arsonist and fireman at the same time — sheltering Osama bin Laden and supporting jihadist groups while winning aid from Washington by portraying itself as a partner in the war against terrorism. Iran is adept at playing a similar game, only instead of aid it is likely hoping for a further relaxation of Western sanctions and a sweeter deal on its nuclear program.
Indeed, the non-jihadist Syrian opposition insists that ISIS is a creation of Iran. In typical Middle East fashion, the Syrians overstate the case, but there is much evidence that Iran and its Syrian allies have cooperated with ISIS. Don’t forget that ISIS (then |
When we consider the nature of the disaster, pure geography/geology meant that the central city and many eastern suburbs got hammered -- some for the second time, after September, only much worse.
And because of the nature of the buildings in the centre -- combined with the power and proximity of the quake, and possibly some weakening effects from September and its aftershocks -- many central buildings failed badly this time around, leading to the need for the huge cordon and urgent rescue efforts.
I think it was more those issues than socio-economic ones, but of course relative wealth is a cushion against the effects of disasters. If you have a friend with a large house or even a second home to escape to, or you have lots of food and other resources you had laid in, or even plenty of gas in the tank, and an extra car if your first one is trapped in the city centre or damaged -- you'll do better than someone without all that.
LW: Failures or oversights in disaster planning/execution?
I believe so. It's apparent that two factors dominated the early official response:
1. Life-saving in the centre: with people buried in rubble and hopefully rescuable, the key agencies were initially in "rescue" mode, seemingly almost exclusively in the first week. Experience from other earthquakes overseas suggested rescues might be possible up to a week or ten days after the quake. But for us, the last survivor was pulled out only 25 hours after the initial shock. This of course we know with 20:20 hindsight - it's understandable that many resources and much media attention would have been piled into that effort for the first week or so.
2. Meeting demand as represented by calls to the freephone helpline. The initial picture the authorities got from this was very misleading. When you are doing what you've been told -- hunkering down for the first 3 days or so, looking after yourself and your family -- you do not place calls to the helpline. You know they will be overwhelmed with people more in need and with situations more urgent than your own.
By day four or five, the people successfully making calls to that and the other various official or ad-hoc support agencies were those who still had working landlines, or power to keep their mobiles charged. Those in the most affected suburbs had neither -- and often hadn't received information about the helpline anyway (no portable radios, or batteries run down). And it doesn't take many calls on hold for 20 minutes on limited mobile charge to give up on the helpline, even if you DID know it existed.
It appears that it wasn't until public calls like mine (and others) started prompting a stronger focus on the eastern suburbs that the real situation apparently started to become clear to those who had the control of resources. By now, two weeks on, they all know they have a major job on their hands out east, and are finally starting to do simple/obvious things, such as redistribute portaloos in line with the most acute need. My more recent posts have highlighted what I think was needed from day one -- more on-the-ground staff from day one working in those suburbs, acting as a conduit for information in both directions and providing a nucleus for rapidly-growing support efforts. That this did NOT happen in many cases is both a surprise -- we always thought that's what our Civil Defence centres (schools) and people were geared up to do -- and a great disappointment. The immediate reason for this failure is pretty clear -- every CD and emergency worker and volunteer was initially running full tilt looking at the central city and its acute needs, with no-one left for the communities. But the solution is also clear -- when the extent of the quake was known (they HAD helicopters, and used them!), more personnel should have been bodily dragged in from the rest of NZ and even internationally and stationed in those communities (or used to relieve locals who could then return to their home suburbs and take on those roles). I do not understand why that did not happen, and regard its lack as a political/planning failure. LW: If even New Zealand can't handle disaster relief right, can anyone? Given how well some ad-hoc efforts have done here, like the Farmy Army, Student Volunteer Army, Rangiora Express, eq.org.nz and so on, there is hope for anyone -- especially if the above act as models for future situations, and especially if social networks and technology (where it was working) are mobilised as well as we seemed able to do. But the disjoint between them and the official agencies and the cut-off communities in need was primarily an information failure, heightened by loss of power and comms, but founded in the lack of initial local (and empowered) leadership. Even where that leadership sprung up spontaneously, as in Redcliffs and some other places, there seemed to be nobody they could talk with to get good information or request good support. They were at the end of the same 20-minute holds (and poor quality/generalised info after the phone was picked up) as everyone else. Simple example: the government freephone line very quickly became widely regarded as a joke (I don't know about now, haven't tried it recently). By about day six, after asking passing journalists and anyone else who would stop for a moment, we heard of a Council number, NOT a freephone. A day or so later, we spent 25 minutes on hold to that one -- using up about $40 in precious cellphone credit and of course battery -- to tell them about a pair of portaloos (two of four we had in the suburb) which had blown over in strong winds because they had not been properly anchored. Their response: "well, they are blowing down all over the city". Ok, great effort, we feel really on top of our neighbourhood's needs now. Locally-based CD volunteers in the same leadership role from day three or so, with more direct communication routes and the means to disseminate good, relevant info locally, could have made a wonderful difference -- and kept more people safely in their homes. (Things seemed so confused that I sometimes wondered if the information and service vacuum -- not to mention the sometimes-spurious forced evacuations -- was a deliberate policy to encourage self-evacuation, so as to relieve demand on services. But I'm not enough of a consipiracy theorist to believe that. Officials were way too busy to be that machiavellian last week.) I should mention that the media's determined initial fixation on Rescue City of course played a part in how all this unfolded. My wife Vicki is a long-time media person and science commentator (among other things, she runs http://scitechdaily.com). Her thoughts on the media response are here. LW: I'm wondering if there's something specific about earthquakes -- the inevitability balanced by infrequency-- that makes it hrad to prepare mentally for them? I accept it is difficult. We had our clarion call in September and a lot of us ignored it, thinking we'd gotten through the Big One rather well and thus had little need to do more. In our family, our circumstances were helped by having the relative wealth and leisure to consider how to be a little more robust -- rainwater collection tank (it was full, yay!), extra food, stored emergency drinking water -- EVERYONE can do that! -- face masks laid in during the bird-flu scares, a gas campstove and BBQ, a hand-cranked torch, radio and cellphone charger, lots of spare batteries and a solar charger for some of them, etc. In spite of that, we FAILED to anchor more than a few of our precious possessions and bookcases, we didn't have extra D-cell batteries for our main radio, our gas and petrol supplies were low and our cellphones were undercharged and low on credit*. (*) especially after the first few hours, when our scattered family was frantically trying to reassemble itself from across the shattered city. And, I admit, at least one of us had taken a few "disaster" photos or videos which squandered mobile charge. :-( LW: Was Christchurch able to overcome that inertia -- if indeed you have it as we do here in California? -- between the September earthquake and Feb 22? Clearly a little, but not enough. The illusion of already having survived the Big One well was the main inertial issue there. We were very self- congratulatory. Hell, even now, two weeks after Feb 22, I still haven't anchored several things well or laid in enough supplies to top up what we've used, so we are still vulnerable to a larger-than-expected aftershock. But then, we've been busy... LW: And how do you think people there's relationship with earthquakes will be different going forward? Oh, I think we'll all be more aware and more afraid for a generation or so. And our buiidings WILL be less likely to kill us in future. I have doubts about our utility infrastructure - it's going to be fragile for a long while I think. Personally, I'm aware of a few things we can do differently to make future experiences less difficult. Simple low-cost things like more spare batteries for cellphones and more effective ways of recharging them (comms is IMPORTANT). And available credit and practiced knowhow to permit the immediate use of mobile broadband, once those networks come online again. They were pretty quick to do so after Feb 22 but we were cautious about using them, partly due to lack of laptop power of course. (Did I mention that comms is IMPORTANT)? And at least one phone with a calling plan that isn't pre-pay, hence doesn't chew $/minute when you are trying to get help or to help your neighbours. As the years go by and mobile communications become ever more ubiquitous, the communication problems of 2011 may not recur for too many people, here or in any other (developed) countries. Then again, in a big disaster, you have to hope that the comms and power infrastructure is dispersed and hardened enough to be there when it is needed. Otherwise it's back to community noticeboards at the corner, and paper newsletters if you have the equipment and power to make them. But mainly, I think there are major lessons to be learned for our Civil Defence and other post-rescue emergency officials. And I hope they are learned sooner rather than later. LW: Or indeed, with the city? How hopeful are you for a safer, more prepared city emerging from the current disaster? Fairly hopeful, but it will take time. There are many phases of loss, struggle, inconvenience, annoyance, learning, argument and rebuilding to go through before we get there. Don't miss the resource sections. SHOT OF THE WEEK: Fletcher of the Redcliffs Info Point airing his opinion. Unsung Heroes Peter Hyde, March 5, 2011 -- p.j.hyde@gmail.com There are some signs that the official relief effort is starting to meet the most immediate needs in the worst-affected areas. Our delivery teams report that the supply situation is improving and broadening, and it's heartening to see the establishment of six one-stop service centres located in roughly the right places, instead of far across the city. And although the electricity and water and public information situation is still far from perfect, it has definitely improved on how it was just a few days ago. Two small examples of the improvements that I witnessed directly are decent drops of bottled water and food parcels (Salvation Army) and emergency kits/baking (Comfort Crusaders) in Redcliffs yesterday, which coincided with a town meeting featuring MP Ruth Dyson and Mark Yetton, an EQC/Council geologist. The latter is the first semi-official visit our village has seen since day one, finally attempting to answer the many questions and safety concerns that have arisen locally. And it did help a lot, even though it turned out that the new phone number provided to call for followup questions about homes, cordons and cliff inspections etc. had already been discontinued "due to overuse". But more remains to be done, and to some extent it will continue to depend on the efforts of unsung heroes like Creon, who has been independently delivering water to many areas for well over a week (and also providing excellent updates as to local conditions and needs), or Fletcher, who has staffed the Redcliffs Info Point almost continuously since last Sunday, or Nigel, who is making delivery trips daily around his shift work. Not to overlook all the volunteers shifting silt and solving problems in the Farmy Army and SVA, making food for the Sallies and many other social and church groups, making supply runs or providing direct support for many other distribution efforts, and the Civil Defence and Red Cross volunteers who have been keeping the ship afloat since the first day, and the Army and Navy folk who have added so much power to their efforts. Then there's the donors and other supporters from elsewhere who are helping to make all this possible. And above all, the Orion and watercare workers who are getting these essential services at least partially restored. At some point in the coming week, the acute phase will have passed for most people. But a long grind will remain, especially in those areas with fragile utilities, awful road conditions and poor or no public transport. The temptation will be to declare the crisis over and send the extra supporters home for a much-needed and deserved rest. I hope our officials and politicians don't give in to that temptation. Rotate the staff by all means - there are many New Zealanders and others willing to help. (I've had skilled people writing to me from Perth and further afield asking how they could help if they returned for a week or a month.) But KEEP the support efforts going in the areas where the support will be needed, so the most affected and most vulnerable do not become secondary casualties of the quake, more so than they have already. Our city has heart and guts aplenty - the city that shines has shone through the dust and the rubble and the tragic losses, the absurd stories about ghost towns, the ridiculous daily coverage of "looters", and some tales even more facile and self-serving. But let's keep the focus where it's needed, let the first aid be completed, then the healing can commence. Don't miss the resource sections. What now, What next? Peter Hyde, March 3, 2011 -- p.j.hyde@gmail.com Pardon the delay in today's update -- many glitches with mobile connectivity in our office today. But we now have water as WELL as power, so have officially rejoined Shower City. I've received much feedback and many reports and offers of help and information today, from across the world. I know of many people doing delivery runs and they are feeding back info on where the best distribution points can be found. Some of those are major and obvious, a few minor and informal - see below. There's also updates there on what is most needed -- but it's relatively unchanged from the original list. The media "script" is certainly changing, and it's gratifying to see the expanded interest being shown in the most affected areas from local, national and international media. More please! Inevitably, some people have chosen to interpret my original piece (below) as either a pointless moan, or a political attack on those people in the Council, Civil Defence, Red Cross, SVA, Farmy Army, NZ Army, church groups and so on, who have already been working so hard for so long. Not so. Saying "this event has been way too big for the tired first-line responders, they need more support and better information, especially out east" is a far cry from bagging them for the huge amount of work they have already done. But yes, things could be better, and it would be nice to see the following happening in the remaining deeply-affected areas -- on top of the crisis deliveries and relief work that is happening now. My chief concerns at this time are: there seems to be insufficient local knowledge and coordination happening, to make the best connection between those most in need in Refugee City and those who are already working so hard to bring them help. Get a Civil Defence volunteer with local knowledge working every collection of streets - moving around a bit if necessary, but the SAME person day to day, so local knowledge increases. They need to know the right numbers to call, so they can go AROUND the long call-centre queues when there is a crisis. They need to be visible. They need to pass reliable information both ways, appropriate for their locale. To make that happen, they need to have power sources and laptops and printers -- and cellphones on something other than a prepay plan that they are funding themselves!
the information flow (which IS improving each day) still mostly assumes people have power and communications (but see the "Print and Share" button on http://www.healthinfo.org.nz - this is smart thinking -- reuse it!). The people who need the info most don't have those services, leastways not reliably. My company are web professionals but, for our neighbourhood, the website came last - AFTER the corner noticeboard and THEN the paper newsletter.
there seems to be insufficient staffing of the intermediate coordination/communication roles in Civil Defence and elsewhere - the people who can gather and share the information with each other and with other agencies. More volunteers with those skills are needed. Bring them in from other cities, and do a handover SOON, before the current folk in those roles collapse from exhaustion.
That's the best I can offer today, from my limited vantage point. Note that these are meta-concerns - doing them tomorrow won't provide batteries or gas or extra food or hand cleaner to residents of New Brighton, Aranui, Richmond, etc. But these issues need to be sorted, so the support for those suburbs gets more focused from here on in. Don't miss the resource sections. Christchurch Quake -- More action needed in Eastern Suburbs right now Peter Hyde, March 2, 2011 -- p.j.hyde@gmail.com My original call to action can now be found here
Things we learned
List of formal and some information distribution points out east:
Aranui Primary School on Breezes Rd a bit north of Pages Road. Full-on well-organised food parcel organisation until at least March 11. They both gave them away and took supplies out to people who can't get out themselves. See this letter here with details of all sorts of help needed
Corner of Wainoni and Breezes
182 Gayhurst Road - someone's front lawn, in regular use
169 Bowhill Road (where it meets Keyes): Moved to 20 Marriots Rd, near the corner of Marriots and Bower: yesterday still a thriving centre, well stocked with food and water.
Parklands Baptist Church, 180 Queenspark Drive. Their area is pretty good but they have satellite redistribution points they service.
Hampshire Street Shops, Aranui: Not sure how regular it is, but there's often a table and donations etc.
Roy Stokes Hall on the corner of Seaview Road and Hardy Street
7th Day Adventist Church, cnr Pages Rd and Rowan Ave. Hot-meal and meeting spot. They would like to get salads (and presumably) other sandwich ingredients. And eggs. And I think they would love to have fresh cake or biscuits to give out.
Main Rd, opposite the New World in Redcliffs (relatively few needs there)
EARTHQUAKE HELP WANTED: Packing food boxes with the Salvation Army in Hornby. Starting Mon. 7 March people are wanted even for part of the day, to help pack 1000 food boxes. It is work that is beginning now and will probably be ongoing for about a year. The needs are getting greater now the emergency is dimming and helpers return to their 'normal' lives. Report to Captain Mike Allwright at 21 Calgary Place, off Edmonton Rd, off Shands Rd, near Halswell Junction Rd (Check out the link to the map below). Mike is a busy man but call his mobile 027 284 0974 if you need to. Map here
Reports from recent drop-offs
From March 7:
From Aranui School - supplies were almost out, probably because the Council said schools would be open, so people stopped sending stuff. They've fixed this now and supplies should start flowing again. Will take another load out tomorrow.
From March 5:
Aranui Primary School on Breezes Rd a bit north of Pages Road. They will be closed tomorrow (Sunday 6 March) Their greatest needs are: Rice, Pasta, 2 minute noodles. Baby formula, Baby food, Nappies (toddler or walker). Dish liquid, hand cleaners, Disinfectant. Long life milk. Ready meals. Soup mixes, and any canned foods. Disposable Razors
Bowhill Rd centre moved to 20 Marriots Rd
From March 4:
Detailed situation report on many eastern suburbs, and a report from a Civil Defence volunteer.
Redcliffs got lots of supplies today - more than ever before - and the drinking water in particular went (still no power/water in about 1/3 the suburb). Could do with more portaloos or equiv.
Aranui school said that there is a need for pasta, rice, tins of tuna and tomato cans etc. They had loo rolls mountain high. We came in from Northlands side of town and along QE2 drive which was in better condition then we expected.
We took baking and supplies of water containers, gas burner and bottles, masks etc to Aranui primary school and found much order and good distribution to the populace who could not make it to the distribution centre.
The road conditions are bad in Aranui, but the people are still turning up at the Aranui school by the hundreds. Heard the organiser say the army had given them 3000 dust masks, something they have been giving out for days already.
Water points all well supplied with masks and hand sanitiser. Bromley apparently has lost water again. Avonside and Mt. Pleasant are ghost towns. Water should be starting to flow in Mt. Pleasant in the next couple of days as the reservoirs have been fixed and are being filled. Next they will find all the leaks in the pipes. Avonside is just the most damaged of any place I have seen. Shirley has the most liquefaction that I have seen, and the most dusty. I noted was some Nuns delivering near Rowan Ave/Hampshire street. If I see them again I will ask where they are from. If anyone else sees them then ask. They may be willing to handle delivery, if we get supplies to a safe point.
The marae in Springfield Road, Shirley has teams reaching out to the community. It's one of the areas that is not saturated with community centres, unlike the east. So many needy people may be missed in that area.
On a good note I heard from a man whose business is doing no business. And he was in contact with WINZ via phone for only 3 minutes in order to get a grant. Maybe it is worth contacting vodaphone/telecom or 2 degrees to get some free cell phones. And then distribute them to community outreach teams? Although Operation Suburbs has theoretically contacted everyone by now and created a massive database of who needs what, and how badly, for agencies to follow up.
From March 3:
There has been a massive letter drop with official information brochures
Portaloos, we had some delivered today, more tomorrow, and several hundred expected in the weekend. But if traffic remains the same then it will be a struggle to deliver them. And servicing them is a nightmare, so they're sending the chemical ones, where the chemicals will last longer between services. And the first of the chemicals toilets (not portaloos, think camping toilets) are rumoured to have been delivered into suburbs.
New Brighton, Aranui etc still a real mess - lots of people without utilities and a lot of confusion between agencies
Deodorant, Petfood, tiny bottles of soda, babywipes, torches and batteries, candles, longlife milk and alcogel were well received. Little demand for water, nappies, most of the food and only moderate for the butane canisters.
People really need containers for their water. With lids. The bigger the better, really, up to 20 litres, but I've filled up folks' 300 ml bottles. [NB: avoid recycling 2L milk containers. Use anything else in preference].
Road conditions in the worst suburbs are bad - don't go in low-slung vehicles! Maps of roads open/closed are not always accurate. And if you make a trip, allow plenty of time for the return journey - much congestion. Don't clog the roads for a trip in a half-empty car - pool resources and take more in a single trip! Finally, buy supplies as far west as possible, leaving the closer (and already very busy/congested) retailers well-stocked for locals who make it there.
Canned goods were all gratefully received, as was the dried milk powder. Don't worry about giving apples - they have tons! Canned food is good, milk powder also, pasta mixes, batteries, gas/butane cartridges/cannisters. Other non-perishable and/or directly eatable, food, buckets, toiletries, loo paper, etc.
...batteries, sizes AA, C, and D; hand sanitiser; cat and dog food; soap, shampoo and deodarant; baby wipes; powdered or UHT milk; disinfectant and bleach...
Take many copies of Red Cross grant inf and application forms to spread around. And few printouts of Christchurch Recovery Map for a given district, to put on noticeboards
Who has services and who does not?
Power status
Check Orion's main site to find the latest service availability map: http://www.oriongroup.co.nz/news-and-media/news-and-media-archives/Earthquake-response-news.aspx
Bus Services
Buses will remain free until Sunday March 27. See http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/. Orbiter, Metrostar and Parklands (#60), Number 3 (Hospital to Ferrymead) and Number 5 are eastern services now running, albeit constrained due to road conditions. Most buses have changed schedule as well.
Water Services
Here is a map of piped water supply available as at March 14: http://canterburyearthquake.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/restored-water-supply-network-status-map.pdf.
Key Medical and Retail Services
The following medical centres are open:
Te Rawhiti Family Care (drop in after 9am if no phone), 52 Portsmourth St, Aranui, 03 388 8300
Eastcare Health (prefer appointments, but if willing to wait and can't make one come in), 283 Breezes Rd, Aranui, 03 388 8800
Cowles Stadium (field hospital still), 210-220 Pages Rd, Wainoni, 03 941 6852
Wainoni Medical Centre (limited hours), 100 Wainoni Rd, Wainoni, 03 389 5134
New Brighton Village Health Care (combined with New Brighton Health Care), 22 Union St, New Brighton, 03 388 7582
QEII Medical ltd, 204 Bower Ave, North New Brighton, 03 388 9120
Travis Medical Centre, 225 Travis Rd, Nth New Brighton, 03 388 9686
MP Ruth Dyson has put out this handy general information sheet of key contacts and actions to, etc. (Word doc)
The supermarket in Wainoni is open.
There is now a free Fisher and Paykel laundry service at Cowes Statium, 170 Pages Rd. WAY closer than Kaiapoi! ;-)
Aranui Primary has been offering free laundry facilities. 9-5, 7 days
Getting extra info and help
Contact these support organisations if you need labour or other resources they offer:
Farmy Army (final weekend effort March 18-20) - 0800 FARMING (0800 327646) - moving silt and rubble etc., sometimes water deliveries, general labour and support, including for individual householders
Student Volunteer Army (SVA) - http://sva.org.nz/ as above, working towards hot meal provision etc. also in worst areas. 0508 STUDENT (0508 7883368). NB: closing down their effort following reopening of the University of Canterbury.
Need water or a place to stay? 08004357900
General EQ help (Government helpline): 0800 779997
Need to sort out home repairs? EQC: 0800326243
What quake-related issues are in your area? See http://eq.org.nz/ - ADD INFORMATION THERE YOURSELF. And if you know what district(s) you are visiting on a given trip, take a spare printout or two to put up on community "quake" noticeboards etc. Let's Fix it is a free plumbing service offering to ensure every household has at least one working shower, toilet and sink. If you don't have that much, or if you can offer plumbing help yourself, register on their website!
So what are we doing here?
...apart from making a public fuss and updating this web page?
There's an additional donation option for PowerShop users which has a multiplier effect: donate $10 to the Sallies via PowerShop and they'll match it. If you haven't looked at PowerShop before check it out here - if you sign up as a result, they'll donate $75 to the Sallies too.
Insights
In an excellent piece in the Sunday Star Times, Professor John McClure of Victoria University writes "Intriguingly, one of the strongest predictors of earthquake preparedness is involvement in the community - in clubs, in social organisations, etc. When we strengthen community, a bonus spin-off is greater preparedness."
Vicki Hyde offers some musings on the nature of information flow in a disaster situation.
Quotes
There were many more wonderful and informative comments and contacts than shown here -- as resources became available, we just had to focus on filling immediate needs instead of posting quotes here.
Bevan writes on March 4:
"Big Joyful cheers welcomed the power returning to my street, but no portaloos or chemical toilets yet. And I agree with some of the others, the Sallies and other church groups have been doing a great job. And to those of you who were able to help, thank you. Most of the people that you have helped will never meet you, but I can tell, as a person living in the eastern suburbs without water and power, they will always be grateful. I know I was when the guys come to the door and give us water or the church around the road drops off baking to brighten the spirit, so I say again, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!"
Dave writes on March 4:
"Woohoo!!! The army just delivered chemical toilets to all the houses in our street.....That is SUCH a load off.....My mind, that is."
Sharon writes on March 2:
"You are so right. It's hard to convey how murderous you can feel when you've struggled out to finally find a paper to see "details on these websites...." F*****k. We're lucky we only had four days without water and power and now we've even got the net. I'm now taking shower/water bookings from our local school community. I suggest people do the act local thing; schools are often a good starting point; also bowls clubs, rsa's etc."
Georgie writes on March 2:
"We're in aranui. We have no power, no water and no sewerage. We've been told we could be waiting up to a month for power and the like. We have one portaloo that has been plonked on the corner of pages rd and porchester st thats supposed to be shared with god knows how many people. As far as our st goes, were one of two houses left occupied. Weve seen nothing from the army, the only cops was when we called them on possible looters. I, along with my family and neighbour would like some information other than "we're working as hard as we can to get power restored." who do we have to talk to to be heard? I'd even be happy with a visit from one of these door to door people they're supposed to be sending! We're lucky enough to have a small generator which keeps phones charged." I've since heard that One News got in touch with Georgie. A start...
Lisa writes on March 2:
"I am in new Brighton, unable to drive due to surgery. No phone, water, power. My Auckland boss thinks I am being dramatic, saying chch looks fine other than CBD."
Sonya writes on March 2:
"I think you summed the situation up very nicely. We are technically in Refugee City, but one of the better parts (we even have a trickle of water from the outside taps now!). We both work on the western side of town though, and it is amazing the difference between the two places. I can only imagine how much worse it is further east than where we are. I hope that passing your message on will make some of the residents of Shower City more aware of the human side of the situation."
Ruth writes on March 2:
"Just wanted to let you know that there are quite a number of us living within ‘Rescue City’. My husband and I are both blogging regularly about that. We’re very aware of how privileged we are to have power and water (since last Saturday) and to have a home that’s intact."
Karen writes on March 2:
"I am sitting here in comfortable Sydney, worrying about my rellies and friends who are battling really really hard to survive in Eastern CHCH right now. My cousin Tony is a fireman, he cannot get out of his driveway, he has to bike to get out of his street. He has a disabled grandchild who is living with him – so he has the weight of the world on his shoulders and has to go to work each day and life at the coal face as a fireman. They still don’t have power, water or sewerage. Sanitation is a huge problem. One lady in their street has a portaloo (left over from the last quake?) but that is reserved for her family – now 17 living in her house as her kids’ houses are uninhabitable... Would the authorities be so slow if it were Merivale? " Update March 3: I see from today's web that the authorities are now focusing on eastern CHCH. My cousin has now got a Portaloo - thanks for all your lobbying.
THANK YOU!
The following people or groups have been particularly generous in supporting our efforts since the quake. They are far from alone, but cannot go unthanked:
Thanks also to all those people or organisations who have offered moral support, or support we couldn't directly or immediately use. When the chips are down, every offer of help IS appreciated.
Published courtesy of Webcentre Ltd, with many thanks to Vodafone for their initial mobile data donations and to Kyocera and Office Max for supporting our printing costs. And to the guys on the ground from Orion, who were just great.While profiling RulerZ with Blackfire.io, I noticed that a non-negligible amount of time was consumed by PHP’s uniqid() function.
For those who don’t know, this function provides an easy way to generate unique identifiers based on the current date and an optional prefix.
Wait, the “current date” part can actually be interesting for our performance issue. What happens if we write something like this:
<?php foreach ( $foo as $bar ) { $awesomeCollection [] = new CoolObject ( uniqid (), $bar ); }
A simple loop like this should run pretty fast, so if uniqid() simply relies on the current date we should have collisions… but it is not the case. Why?
The answer to this question lies in the implementation of uniqid() : in order to avoid time-induced collisions on the same host, uniqid() literally waits before getting the current date. That’s why there is a usleep(1) call in the function’s implementation.
But wait, there’s more. As the man page for usleep says, “ The usleep() function suspends execution of the calling thread for (at least) usec microseconds. The sleep may be lengthened slightly by any system activity or by the time spent processing the call or by the granularity of system timers. ”.
Yup, if you’re not lucky usleep(n) calls can suspend the execution for more than n microseconds.
Now, you may have noticed that the usleep() call is conditioned by the more_entropy variable, which happens to be a parameter exposed in the user-land uniqid. By setting more_entropy to true, we choose to provide an additional source of entropy by appending data using php_combined_lcg() (a pseudo-random number generator), thus preventing time-induced collisions without having to sleep.Joe Flacco took to the podium this afternoon, and questions arose concerning the franchise quarterback’s knee post-surgery.
The first question asked about whether or not Joe has been close to pulling himself from practice, or lowering his reps during camp.
“No, (laughing) I knew it would be really tough to do and it is really tough to do,” Joe said. “They’ve got me off my feet a couple of walkthroughs in the afternoon which is really—the walkthroughs have me standing here for large amounts of time. That’s really what ends up being worse on my knee than going out and practicing for two and a half hours.”
Flacco finished the question stating, “But my knee feels great so I can’t complain.”
A follow up from asked whether Joe feels soreness after practices.
“Yeah listen, I feel my knee,” Joe said while laughing. “My knee is not 100% but I mean it feels great. I don’t think about it when I’m out there. It’s not perfect, but I can feel it standing here right now, a little bit. It’s not totally normal but, as far as going out there and operating on the field and running around and doing things I don’t pay attention to it.”
Though this sounds worrisome it’s something you shouldn’t read into. Joe Flacco has not lost reps due to soreness or complications. Joe looks fluid and precise in his motions. Eric Weddle mentioned in his first week of training camp that if you didn’t know Joe had surgery you wouldn’t be able to recognize it. His play has not declined in camp, and his ability to deliver passes ranging all across the field is not limited.Tallin, Estonia - If the next world war will be fought in cyberspace, recent events have shown the first shots have already been sent across the bow.
With several nations currently recovering from, or preparing for, cyber attacks, one former Soviet republic is launching an ambitious new programme that would protect its people, rewrite international law, and ultimately have wide-scale implications.
As Russian tanks rolled into Crimea last summer, Estonians were also preparing for a possible invasion. Known as the "tech capital of Europe", officials of the Baltic state put renewed focus on an innovative plan to protect the country's vast digital identity |
by the people against themselves, until reason, justice, and truth can regain their authority over the public mind?"The Constitution was a compromise between slaveholding interests of the South and moneyed interests of the North. For the purpose of uniting the thirteen states into one great market for commerce, the northern delegates wanted laws regulating interstate commerce, and urged that such laws require only a majority of Congress to pass. The South agreed to this, in return for allowing the trade in slaves to continue for twenty years before being outlawed.Charles Beard warned us that governments-including the government of the United States-arc not neutral, that they represent the dominant economic interests, and that their constitutions are intended to serve these interests. One of his critics (Robert E. Brown,) raises an interesting point. Granted that the Constitution omitted the phrase "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," which appeared in the Declaration of Independence, and substituted "life, liberty, or property"-well, why shouldn't the Constitution protect property? As Brown says about Revolutionary America, "practically everybody was interested in the protection of property" because so many Americans owned property.However, this is misleading. True, there were many property owners. But some people had much more than others. A few people had great amounts of property; many people had small amounts; others had none. Jackson Main found that one-third of the population in the Revolutionary period were small fanners, while only 3 percent of the population had truly large holdings and could he considered wealthy.Still, one-third was a considerable number of people who felt they had something at stake in the stability of a new government. This was a larger base of support for government than anywhere in the world at the end of the eighteenth century. In addition, the city mechanics had an important interest in a government which would protect their work from foreign competition. As Staughton Lynd puts it: "How is it that the city workingmen all over America overwhelmingly and enthusiastically supported the United States Constitution?"This was especially true in New York. When the ninth and tenth states had ratified the Constitution, four thousand New York City mechanics marched with floats and banners to celebrate. Bakers, blacksmiths, brewers, ship joiners and shipwrights, coopers, cartmen and tailors, all marched. What Lynd found was that these mechanics, while opposing elite rule in the colonies, were nationalist. Mechanics comprised perhaps half the New York population. Some were wealthy, some were poor, but all were better off than the ordinary laborer, the apprentice, the journeyman, and their prosperity required a government that would protect them against the British hats and shoes and other goods that were pouring into the colonies after the Revolution. As a result, the mechanics often supported wOn Tuesday, President Donald Trump surprised a group of startled tourists in the White House basement, took meetings with senators, and met with leaders of the AFL-CIO and the Boy Scouts. On the same day, Trump bypassed a West Wing meeting of military veterans, who met with the president’s staff instead.
For the assembled veterans’ service organizations, which have a combined membership of about six million veterans, the missed connection with the president was the latest in a series of puzzling interactions with the Trump administration. Despite Trump’s audacious campaign promises to them, including a commitment to overhaul the long-troubled Veterans Administration and vow to “do everything for veterans,” Trump himself has still not met face-to-face with veterans groups since he was elected president.
Tuesday’s meeting, which was first reported by the Military Times, included Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, former Apprentice contestant Omarosa Manigault, and a handful of White House staffers. Although the meeting was not on the president’s official schedule, several attending the meeting said they fully expected they would have met with Trump by this point in the administration.
“I won’t say anyone told us we were meeting with the president, but it was implied that we would be able to voice our concerns to the boss, the guy who ultimately runs everything, which is the president,” said Joe Chenelly, executive director of AMVETS, one of the nation’s largest and oldest veterans service organizations.
Chenelly described the ongoing efforts by veterans groups to meet directly with the president since he was elected a fruitless effort that has left them feeling “completely rebuffed” by the White House.
“We feel like we really need the opportunity to talk directly to the Commander-in-Chief and the people making the decisions,” he said. “We were never given that opportunity, so that caused a lot of concern within our community to begin with.”
Following the Tuesday meeting, Verna Jones, executive director at the American Legion, also told the Military Times, “President Trump ran a campaign on helping veterans,” she said. “When you look at who he has met with since winning, he has to make sure to make veterans a priority still.”
To hear Trump during his “America First” presidential campaign, veterans were practically his sole priority. He tweeted repeatedly about “our great VETERANS,” and promised he’d “do everything for vets, who are being treated terribly.” In a summer speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Trump called veterans “the finest and bravest people on earth.”
“We are going to take care of our veterans like they’ve never been taken care of before,” he said at the time. He even promised to create a 24-hour White House hotline to answer complaints about the VA. If the hotline didn’t work, he said, “I will pick up the phone and fix it myself, if need be.”
Veterans voted for the president by a two-to-one margin over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. But 2016 has turned out to be the high point for Trump’s apparent focus on veterans. While the president-elect took a stream of visitors at his Trump Tower office, the veterans groups were not among them. Instead, they met in December with transition team staff in Washington to outline their priorities.
Several described their surprise at that meeting to see that Omarosa was not only present at the meeting, but appeared to be the most senior transition staff member attending, despite having no experience with either the VA or healthcare. Omarosa explained her qualifications by saying that she had once been a lieutenant chaplain with the California State Military Reserve.
“When Omarosa was introduced the room collectively gasped,” said one attendee, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid conflict with the White House. “There were people there missing limbs and she was once a chaplain with the militia.” Another in attendance said, “There was an obvious disconnect between that transition team and, at that point, New York.”
The next veterans meeting came in early February at the White House. The roundtable discussion included Trump for an hour-long “veterans listening session.” But this time, it was the veterans themselves who were not invited. Instead, Trump spoke with Shulkin and a group of healthcare executives about ways the VA could better serve veterans.
If Trump were to meet with the groups directly, he would likely hear about the ongoing need to modernize the appeals process for veterans applying for benefits, which can last as long as seven years. He would also likely hear that his federal hiring freeze has calcified the already slow-motion claims process, as well as a request to give Shulkin the tools he needs to impose accountability at the VA and its hospitals. The veterans would also likely share their deep anxiety that Trump may fully or partially privatize the VA, despite his promises over the summer to keep the VA public “because it is a public trust.”
Part of the concern comes from Trump’s close relationship with Pete Hegseth, an Army Reserve veteran, Fox News Contributor, and past executive director of Concerned Veterans for America, a Koch-funded 501(c)4 that had pushed for a massive overhaul of veterans health care. While the vets did not get a meeting at Trump Tower, Hegseth did. He was also reportedly a top choice to run the VA for Trump, a sign to veterans groups that privatization could be on the table.
But a bright spot for the veterans groups has been the man Trump chose for instead. The groups describe Shulkin as “positive,” “professional,” and “very receptive,” but they still worry that they may be at arm’s length from Trump.
“It was disturbing when I got out of the meeting and I looked at my phone and saw that the president had taken the time to meet with tourists instead,” Chenelly said. “I hope he can carve that time out for us soon.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment for this article, but press secretary Sean Spicer proactively noted during his press briefing on Wednesday that Trump would be getting involved with the veterans groups soon. “I know the president looks forward to personally following up with the VSOs.”
The veterans would welcome the news, but at the moment, they seem to be taking all of Trump’s promises with a grain of salt. “He says a lot of things,” one group executive said. “But we’re waiting for him to do something.”BP has just released a new report on the state of the Gulf, called Gulf of Mexico: Environmental Recovery and Restoration. The glossy report is filled with footnotes and citations, but leaves key pieces of science out.
If you are interested in the ongoing impacts of BP oil spill, stay tuned for our upcoming reportThis new report, which looks at 20 species of wildlife or wildlife groups, will be released March 30
For now, here are ten important things BP’s latest report strategically didn’t mention:
1) Dolphins died before the spill–from freshwater
The report says: “An “unusual mortality event” (UME) involving an abnormally high number of dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico began in February 2010, months before the Deepwater Horizon accident.”
What it leaves out: The deaths of a cluster of dolphins during the months before the Deepwater Horizon exploded were likely caused by extended exposure to fresh water and unusually cold weather. (Source: NOAA)
2) Gulf dolphins are now very susceptible to an old disease
The report says: “NOAA has said that brucella, a bacterium that can infect animals, is “a common thread” in a number of the animals examined. Nearly one-third of the dolphins tested as of Nov. 25, 2014 were positive for brucella.”
What it leaves out: In 2011, Teri Rowles, the coordinator of NOAA’s National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program said, “Severe environmental stress, including from exposure to oil, could have reduced the animals’ ability to fight infection.”(Source: NOAA)
And in 2013, NOAA released a study showing that dolphins in heavily-oiled Barataria Bay had adrenal gland problems consistent with oil exposure that would in fact harm their ability to fight infections.(Source: Environmental Science & Technology)
3) For the Kemp’s ridley, anything less than an increase is a decrease
The report says: “For Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, nesting numbers the two years after the accident were above historical averages.”
What it leaves out: Up until 2009, Kemp’s ridley nests were increasing exponentially (15-19%) every year. In 2011 and 2012, the number of Kemp’s ridley nests—while essentially the same as the numbers seen in 2009—were still below expectations. Even more troubling are the significant decreases in nests seen in 2010, 2013, and 2014. (Source: Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission)
4) Sperm whales in the Gulf have high levels of toxic metals
The report says: “While data analysis is ongoing, BP has not seen any evidence indicating that oil or dispersant compounds from the Deepwater Horizon accident have impacted the health of whales in the Gulf.”
What it leaves out: Researchers have found higher levels of DNA-damaging metals such as chromium and nickel in sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico compared to sperm whales elsewhere in the world. (Source: Environmental Science & Technology)
And a recent study found that the two dispersants used in the Deepwater Horizon spill—Corexit 9500 and 9527—were both found to be damaging to sperm whale cells and DNA. (Source: Aquatic Toxicology)
5) Oil exposure damages fish development—in many species
The report says: “A study by university and government researchers examined the overlap between spawning habitat and oiled waters and concluded that the spawning area for bluefin tuna extended much farther west than previously known and that “the proportion of spawning habitat impacted by oil was generally predicted to be small (<10%).”
What it leaves out: Estimates vary on how many larval bluefin tuna may have been exposed. One NOAA study estimated that the figure could be as high as 20 percent. (Source: NOAA)
And a recent comprehensive laboratory study found that a chemical in Deepwater Horizon oil can cause irregular heartbeats in bluefin and yellowfin tuna that can lead to heart attacks, or even death. The resulting heartbeat changes significantly altered the development of other organs. The researchers suggest that many other vertebrate species in the Gulf could have been similarly affected. (Source: Science)
6) Right after the spill, red snapper and other fish had unusual lesions
The report says: “Researchers from the University of South Alabama and Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Alabama took samples of reef fish from the Alabama and western Florida Panhandle coasts from January 2010 to June 2011. They found no significant evidence of diseased fish in those populations.”
What it leaves out: In the aftermath of the spill, a number of fish caught in the Gulf between eastern Louisiana and western Florida had unusual lesions or rotting fins. Lesions were most common in bottom-dwelling species, including red snapper, and were particularly common north of the wellhead. (Source: Transactions of the American Fisheries Society)
7) An unusual lack of young red snapper
The report says: “In an Auburn University study published in 2014, researchers found no evidence that the spill affected young red snapper populations on reefs off the Alabama coast.”
What it leaves out: Both 2010 and 2011 had the lowest numbers of juvenile red snapper seen in the eastern Gulf fishery since 1994. (Source: NOAA SEDAR)
8) Seaside sparrows on oiled sites less likely to fledge
The report says: “Data from studies that BP conducted independently indicate that in 2011, the spill did not adversely impact bird productivity – how successful birds are at producing offspring. Brown pelicans, laughing gulls, great egrets, black skimmers, bald eagles and ospreys were studied.
What it leaves out: Preliminary data from 2012 and 2013 indicate that seaside sparrows from nests on unoiled sites were significantly more likely to fledge than those on oiled sites.. (Source: BioScience)
9) Oil is still washing up on beaches
The report says: “Since some of the heavily oiled areas were last surveyed a year or two earlier, NRDA teams resurveyed the areas in 2014 and determined that a total of just one mile remained heavily oiled.”
What it leaves out: Recent studies of beach shoreline in Alabama suggest that tar balls are likely to continue washing up for years to come on Gulf Coast beaches, and could pose a risk to organisms living on or near those beaches. (Source: Science of the Total Environment)
10) Oil remains in Louisiana’s coastal marshes
The report says: “A 2012 University of Florida study that measured the rate of marsh erosion in a limited geographic area in Louisiana showed that erosion rates returned to normal 18 months after the spill and that its impact was generally limited to the edge of the marshes.”
What it leaves out: In May 2013, three years after the spill, more than 80 miles of marsh shoreline in Louisiana remained visibly oiled. The long-term effects of the oiling of Gulf marshes are still unclear and may take decades to unfold. (Source: International Oil Spill Conference)
Make sure BP’s fines are used to restore habitat for dolphins and other wildlife in the Gulf!Mike Adams
Natural News
October 18, 2013
The Obama administration has been caught red-handed engaged in software piracy. Computer code used on Healthcare.gov was stolen (and then modified in an effort to conceal the theft) from a UK company called Spry Media.
To my best knowledge, this story was broken by WeeklyStandard.com in a blog authored by Jeryl Bier.
The computer code that was stolen is called DataTables, and it is exclusively provided under a GPL v2 license which requires anyone who uses the software code to keep the copyright notice visible in the code itself. This allows the original author of the code to receive attribution for creating it.
An analysis of the code running Healthcare.gov reveals that the Obamacare development team maliciously removed the copyright notice and credit attributions from the code while copying and using the rest of the code. In the field of journalism, this would be called “plagiarism.” In the field of computer software, it’s called “piracy” according to the U.S. government.
Here’s an image capture of the copyright notice which is supposed to remain in the code:
On Healthcare.gov, however, the copyright attribution is removed, leaving only the functional code of the script (which is a piracy violation):
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
Nearly all of the remainder of the script is identical to the Spry Media code, proving beyond any doubt that the Obama administration pirated this code in its construction of the failed website Healthcare.gov.
The Weekly Standard says they contacted SpryMedia for a comment: “A representative for the company said that they were ‘extremely disappointed’ to see the copyright information missing and will be pursuing it further with the Department of Health and Human Services, the agency that runs the Healthcare.gov site.”
Will DHS now seize Healthcare.gov?
The Department of Homeland Security has seized hundreds of other websites that it says were engaged in piracy.
These website seizures are conducted completely outside of law and utterly without due process. When sites are seized by DHS, the following notice is placed on the website home page:
This notice reads, in part:
Willful copyright infringement is a federal crime that carries penalties for first time offenders of up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, forfeiture and restitution.
Will the developers of Healthcare.gov who pirated the DataTables software from SpryMedia now be sentenced to federal prison?
Don’t hold your breath on that one. Prisons aren’t used to lock up actual criminals anymore. They are “work camps” with the sole purpose of locking up black Americans so they can be exploited as a “human resource” of ultra-cheap labor. Yes, the prison labor industry needs more output, and that’s why the entire “war on drugs” is allowed to continue even though it is a complete failure.
Sounds like Obamacare, come to think of it: A disastrous program that wastes billions of dollars while enslaving innocent Americans in a system where they will be financially raped for life.
Am I the only one who thinks we might be better off if we forced all politicians to trade places with all prison inmates?
This article was posted: Friday, October 18, 2013 at 4:51 am
Print this page.
Infowars.com Videos:
Comment on this articleOpponent of Obamacare who is probably not going to be swayed by data indicating the program has succeeded. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call
During the Obama era, the keenest minds in the conservative movement have had to develop policy responses to the administration’s agenda. But those policies had to be crafted within bounds established by Republican politics — conservative ideas were useful only insofar as conservative politicians could plausibly advocate them. Republican politicians, in turn, had to operate within the bounds of what their voters considered acceptable. And Republican voters, as the 2016 election cycle has made abundantly clear to even those long committed to denying it, are bat-shit crazy.
That frothing quality burst forth in its fullest form during the debate over health-care reform, in the summer of 2009. Angry Republicans flooded town hall meetings to denounce a law that they saw as redistributing resources from people like themselves to people who were not, identifying sources of grievance both real (cuts to Medicare) and imagined (death panels). The Republican Party’s stance on health-care reform took shape during those days of rage, and even six years after the law’s passage, its position on Obamacare has remained unaltered. The law is a failure and must be repealed, and no evidence can convince conservatives otherwise. A half-dozen years after its passage, none have dared revise that stance.
One of Obamacare’s goals, beyond expanding access to health insurance and paying for its budgetary costs, was to “bend the curve” of health-care inflation, which has historically grown faster than the cost of other things. The law implemented a wide array of reforms designed to bring more cost-consciousness into the system. Indeed, health-care inflation has not only slowed, it has dropped to the lowest level since the government began measuring it:
Some aspects of the lower health-care-inflation rate can be clearly tied to Obamacare reforms. For instance, the old Medicare system gave hospitals little incentive to keep their patients healthy once admitted. Just the opposite: A patient who acquired an illness in the hospital, or had to be readmitted, would receive more treatment, making more money for the hospital. Obamacare changed its reimbursements to penalize hospitals with high readmission rates. And sure enough, medical errors in hospitals are down, as are patient readmission rates:
Other reforms have worked through the medical economy in ways that are harder to measure as precisely. It’s impossible to know just what proportion of credit the law deserves for the lower inflation rate, some of which might have occurred anyway. (Or it might not — it can’t be proven.)
Among conservatives, though, it remains an unchallengeable certainty that Obamacare has failed. What about the historically low medical inflation? Ramesh Ponnuru, a leading conservative intellectual, expresses his certainty that the entire trend would have happened without any of the law’s cost reforms. According to Ponnuru, health-care inflation was already falling before Obamacare’s enactment:
The administration argues that the law has contributed to a slowdown in the growth of health spending. But that slowdown started in 2002. Obamacare can’t be the cause. The best that can be said about the law’s effect on health spending is that its early years haven’t interrupted that slowdown.
This data point is the state of the art in gainsaying Obamacare’s success. Here is what Ponnuru is referring to. During the middle of the last decade, health-care inflation had a mini-spike, which had already begun to recede by the time Obamacare was signed into law. But this doesn’t mean that health-care inflation was on an inexorably falling trajectory. It simply means that the unusually elevated levels of health-care inflation that took place during the Bush administration’s second term had given way to historically normal health-care inflation rates that were still unsustainably high. What has occurred since 2010 is not more of the same. It is a rate of health-care inflation far lower:
I followed the health-care debate extremely closely. In 2010, I was not aware of any influential analysts who predicted that health-care inflation was poised to drop to historically low rates on its own. Not only was that view unheard-of at the time, there was a deep skepticism that Obamacare could do much if anything to ameliorate it. Indeed, conservatives were unanimous in their belief that Obamacare would not only fail to bring down health-care inflation, it would cause health-care inflation to skyrocket. Ponnuru predicted that Obamacare would “exacerbate” health-care inflation:
The trouble is that the cost explosion is in the first place largely a function of the way the government has used its power as a provider and regulator of health insurance. The open-ended structure of Medicare and of the employer-based-insurance tax exclusion, together with the way Medicaid costs are shared by states and the federal government, have created huge incentives to spend more on health care, and therefore pushed costs upward. Obamacare would double down on an approach to limiting Medicare costs that has failed for decades, would massively expand Medicaid without reforming it, and would largely keep in place the tax exclusion while adding a new entitlement on top of it. It would exacerbate the causes of the cost problem while moving us further away from a real market in health insurance.
This was a testable hypothesis. If health-care costs rose at a higher rate than they had before 2010, conservative critics of the law would have reason to claim vindication. Indeed, they seized on every preliminary scrap of data that seemed to indicate higher health-care costs. National Review (where Ponnuru works as a senior editor) editorialized, beginning in 2010, that Obamacare was already causing health-care inflation to rise:
Health-insurance rates already are rising even more quickly than they had been in the past because of concern about the costs that will be imposed by Obamacare … These consequences were unintended, but they were not unpredictable: They were, in fact, predicted by a very large number of critics, not least those writing for National Review.
Conservatives have gone from absolute ideological certainty that health-care inflation would rise in the wake of Obamacare to absolute ideological certainty that the drop in health-care inflation has nothing at all to do with Obamacare. It’s obvious that no conceivable data can falsify conservative opposition to Obamacare. The premise that Obamacare has failed is a matter of doctrinal writ, as holy as the sanctity of the great Ronald Reagan. To abandon this position is to abandon conservatism itself. Conservatives can try to redirect their base’s rage toward the construction of an alternative plan to replace Obamacare, but they cannot concede that the law has actually succeeded in advancing its stated goals. Republicans hate Obamacare not for its concrete outcomes but for what it represents to them. If Trump’s campaign has demonstrated anything, it is the hopelessness of crafting technocratic justifications for the pulsating right-wing Id.Ricardo Gutiérrez (born May 23, 1970) is an American former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from 1993 through 2004 for the San Diego Padres (1993-1994), Houston Astros (1995-1999), Chicago Cubs (2000-2001), Cleveland Indians (2002-2003), New York Mets (2004) and Boston Red Sox (2004). He batted and threw right-handed. He was also the only Houston Astros player to get a base hit in Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game.
Background [ edit ]
Listed at 6'1", 195 pounds, Gutiérrez started his career at shortstop and became a valuable utility player later in his career. In the field, he had decent range and an above-average arm. He was a sharp line-drive hitter, and spent most of his career in the National League.
His most productive season came in 2001 with the Cubs, when he posted career-highs in batting average (.290), RBI (66), runs (76), hits (153) and games played (147). He finished the year leading the National League in sacrifice hits (17). He also had the fourth most sacrifice flies in the league (11), and was tenth in singles (117).
Boston Red Sox [ edit ]
On July 21, 2004, the Boston Red Sox acquired Gutiérrez from the Chicago Cubs[1] for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein lauded Gutiérrez as "a veteran with a tremendous makeup... he'll fit in well as a utility guy for us."
Gutiérrez wore number 16, the same number as other Red Sox players such as Jim Lonborg, Hank Johnson, Dave Sax and Bob Zupcic. His greatest offensive performance came on August 28, 2004 versus the Detroit Tigers. Gutiérrez, who filled in at second base while Mark Bellhorn took over at third for Bill Mueller, went 3 for 4 with a two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Teammate Alan Embree was in awe: "He's been sitting a long time, to come off the bench and contribute like he did tonight was incredible."
After winning the World Series, Gutiérrez carried an industrial-sized broom to remind victory parade goers of the final tally (a 4-0 "sweep" of the St. Louis Cardinals).
While with the Red Sox, Gutiérrez was a.275 hitter (11-for-40) with 3 RBI in 21 games, including 6 runs, 1 double, 1 stolen base, and a.310 on-base percentage. The Red Sox were 14-7 in games in which Gutiérrez appeared.
Over an 11-season career, Gutiérrez was a.268 hitter (967-for-3632) with 38 home runs and 357 RBI in 1074 games, including 463 runs, 138 doubles, 25 triples, 49 stolen bases, and a.338 on-base percentage.
Personal life [ edit ]
Gutiérrez's nephew, James Jones, plays in the National Basketball Association.[2] He is currently the manager of the Daytona Tortugas, a minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.[citation needed]
See also [ edit ]
Sources [ edit ]
The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia – Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English. ISBN 1-4027-4771-3
– Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English. ISBN 1-4027-4771-3 Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
2004 GamelogsOn a typical evening in Pakistan, where women are discouraged from visiting public spaces on their own, women with access to the internet head online. They use the web to communicate, express themselves, maintain social connections, and obtain information and entertainment.
There are nearly 30 million internet users in Pakistan, half of whom use mobile phones to access social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Yet, the internet has, in recent years, become an unsafe space for Pakistani women. Instances of online harassment, abuse, and blackmail are not uncommon.
Worse, social media companies have failed to protect women from developing countries because they fail to understand the language and the cultural context in which the harassment takes place. In Pakistan, where online harassment can result in physical violence, this is an inexcusable failure.
Oppression of women
Inside Story - Who in Pakistan should have protected Malala?
Certain sections of society have long insisted Pakistani women are responsible for their own harassment or assault.
The abuse is justified by charges of inappropriate dress, venturing into areas deemed "unsafe", holding down jobs or going to school.
In extremely conservative areas, women are subjected to honour killings if they are judged by their families to have acted inappropriately, for misdemeanours as simple as speaking to a man, or being filmed dancing in the rain.
That same mentality can sometimes extend itself to online spaces where users can take refuge behind a certain degree of anonymity.
Recently in Peshawar, one of Pakistan's most conservative cities, two men were arrested on charges of online harassment and blackmail. The case first originated in 2011 when they created a fake profile on Facebook called Edwardian Girls.
On the profile page, they posted photographs, telephone numbers, and information about the personal lives of female students from the co-educational Edwardes College, Peshawar.
It's true that anyone who joins social media is interacting with a business and becomes subject to their rules and policies, but nobody should have to give up the right to be safe from online abuse as part of that deal.
They obtained the data through social circles and by hacking the girls' social media pages. Contacting the victims, they promised to remove a woman's personal information if she either sent them money through the mobile phone money transfer facility "EasyPaisa", or agreed to divulge information about her friends.
Since the women were too scared to let their families know about the harassment and blackmail, they kept quiet for years.
But news of the network, which had expanded beyond the original two criminals and handful of victims, reached some of the victims' families, who finally took formal complaints to the Federal Investigations Agency (FIA) in 2015.
The FIA's cybercrime unit, which has become extremely active in recent years, traced the criminals, arrested them, and sent them to jail after a court trial. Currently, the FIA is currently investigating 50 related cases of blackmail.
News of the Peshawar blackmailing ring had been reaching Nighat Dad, Pakistani lawyer and founder of the Digital Rights Foundation, over the last four years.
Dad is the founder of a grassroots organisation, Hamara Internet (Our Internet), which trains women in rural areas of Pakistan in online safety.
Information about privacy settings, Facebook, privacy policies and digital rights are taught to women in conservative areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, such as Peshawar, Nowshera, Multan and Muzaffargarh.
"These women were coming and crying to me, telling me that if their families found out what was happening, they would be killed," she says.
'Community standards'
Yet, Dad found Facebook's approach to the problem problematic. First, the blackmailers' page was written in Pashto, but Facebook's policy team in the US lacked anyone with Pashto language skills - there is no office in Pakistan, only a regional one in India.
Second, many victims filed reports only to be told that the page didn't violate "community standards", a common response to many complaints.
Also read: Pakistan's women journalists: 'We want our voice heard'
When Facebook did take down the page, the blackmailers created another page. "They simply didn't understand the language or the cultural context in which this was happening," says Dad.
To this end, Dad is working to translate the National Network to End Domestic Violence's handbook for Privacy and Safety on Facebook into Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi and Pashto.
Yet this is not enough. Widely-used social media sites like Facebook - which has 8 million users in Pakistan -need an iron-clad guarantee for the online protection of women - on the other hand, Dad praised Twitter for its more effective anti-harassment policies.
With recent examples of GamerGate doxxing online female activists and Indian feminists having their pages removed from Facebook after complaints by those who harass them, online safety for women is a global problem.
Effective policies must adopt a uniform approach. Indeed, Dad warns against a policy specific to developing countries that might be conducted through government authorities already eager to impose Internet restrictions.
The IT industry should participate in the training of vulnerable communities, particularly women, to teach them to protect themselves from online abuse.
It's true that anyone who joins social media is interacting with a business and becomes subject to their rules and policies, but nobody should have to give up the right to be safe from online abuse as part of that deal.
Bina Shah is an award-winning Pakistani writer from Karachi. She is a contributing opinion writer for the International New York Times and writes a monthly column for Dawn, the biggest English-language newspaper in Pakistan.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
The Tasks of the Proletariat in the Present Revolution
[a.k.a. The April Theses]
Published: April 7, 1917 in Pravda No. 26. Signed: N. Lenin. Published according to the newspaper text.
Source: Lenin’s Collected Works, Progress Publishers, 1964, Moscow, Volume 24, pp. 19-26.
Translated: Isaacs Bernard
Transcription: Zodiac
HTML Markup: B. Baggins
Public Domain: Lenin Internet Archive (2005), marx.org (1997), marxists.org (1999). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” as your source.
This article contains Lenin’s famous April Theses read by him at two meetings of the All-Russia Conference of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies, on April 4, 1917.
[Introduction]
I did not arrive in Petrograd until the night of April 3, and therefore at the meeting on April 4, I could, of course, deliver the report on the tasks of the revolutionary proletariat only on my own behalf, and with reservations as to insufficient preparation.
The only thing I could do to make things easier for myself—and for honest opponents—was to prepare the theses in writing. I read them out, and gave the text to Comrade Tsereteli. I read them twice very slowly: first at a meeting of Bolsheviks and then at a meeting of both Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
I publish these personal theses of mine with only the briefest explanatory notes, which were developed in far greater detail in the report.
THESES
1) In our attitude towards the war, which under the new [provisional] government of Lvov and Co. unquestionably remains on Russia’s part a predatory imperialist war owing to the capitalist nature of that government, not the slightest concession to “revolutionary defencism” is permissible.
The class-conscious proletariat can give its consent to a revolutionary war, which would really justify revolutionary defencism, only on condition: (a) that the power pass to the proletariat and the poorest sections of the peasants aligned with the proletariat; (b) that all annexations be renounced in deed and not in word; (c) that a complete break be effected in actual fact with all capitalist interests.
In view of the undoubted honesty of those broad sections of the mass believers in revolutionary defencism who accept the war only as a necessity, and not as a means of conquest, in view of the fact that they are being deceived by the bourgeoisie, it is necessary with particular thoroughness, persistence and patience to explain their error to them, to explain the inseparable connection existing between capital and the imperialist war, and to prove that without overthrowing capital it is impossible to end the war by a truly democratic peace, a peace not imposed by violence.
The most widespread campaign for this view must be organised in the army at the front.
Fraternisation.
2) The specific feature of the present situation in Russia is that the country is passing from the first stage of the revolution—which, owing to the insufficient class-consciousness and organisation of the proletariat, placed power in the hands of the bourgeoisie—to its second stage, which must place power in the hands of the proletariat and the poorest sections of the peasants.
This transition is characterised, on the one hand, by a maximum of legally recognised rights (Russia is now the freest of all the belligerent countries in the world); on the other, by the absence of violence towards the masses, and, finally, by their unreasoning trust in the government of capitalists, those worst enemies of peace and socialism.
This peculiar situation demands of us an ability to adapt ourselves to |
we'll soon find out.Jeff Mans pores over all of the statistics, splits and match-ups to uncover the very best DFS NFL players for Week 1 contests.
"I find I'm so excited that I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel. A man at a start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain."
-- Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman) in "The Shawshank Redeption"
The start of the 2016 DFS NFL season is quite possibly the most exciting thing I've ever experienced. If that sounds bad or even pathetic to you, well than you weren't here during the 2015 NFL season. The winnings from last season quite honestly changed my life forever. A new house, a better studio, a couple epic vacations, braces for my Daughter....yeah I lost some steam there but trust me when I say that 2015 was amazing.
It wasn't just great for me either. I received so many messages from subscribers last season expressing their gratitude for helping them learn, play and win at daily fantasy football that it genuinely warmed my cold dark soul. I know that the expectations are high and that is quite fine with me. There is serious money to be made this fantasy football season and whether you are brand new or an experienced player you can trust that nobody cares more about helping you climb the DFS mountain than I do.
Week one is always a tricky thing. There are so many changes that have taken place between Super Bowl 50 and now that the entire landscape of the NFL is now quite different. We've got some exciting rookies like Ezekiel Elliott and Michael Thomas to consider using right off of the bat. While veteral fantasy superstars like Peyton Manning and Marshawn Lynch are no longer an options for us. But don't fret. I've done my homework and am as prepared as a human being can possibly be for this week and the entire 2016 season.
Here is the DFS NFL Playbook for Week 1:10 Million Passwords
When Mark Burnett released a dataset of 10 million usernames and passwords scraped from online (don’t worry – they’re probably dead, they’ve been online for a while anyway, and he even did some additional cleaning), some things weren’t much of a surprise: “123456” is still the most common password (with “password” close behind), and the strength of the average user’s password is still pretty abysmal. What definitely wasn’t expected was the amount of profanity and religious references – although some of my numbers are a little skewed from counting the “god” in “godzilla” and the “hell” is “michelle” (more on that later).
Enough talking for now, get exploring!
In this post I’m going to talk about the trickier and more interesting aspects of developing this visualization, such as data management for larger datasets, the new support for regular expressions in Tableau 9.0 that I used to determine whether usernames and passwords had numbers or symbols in them, how I worked around Tableau Public’s 1,000,000 row limit to publish the aggregated results for all 10 million rows, and a little discussion on the joys and difficulties of the word analysis.
Data Management : Millions and Millions of Rows
Ten million usernames and passwords didn’t seem like that much data when I started (~185 MB), but I quickly realized the toll my poor laptop was going to take if I tried returning millions of marks in Tableau. My co-workers Chris and William helped me learn how to develop worksheets more effectively when dealing with large datasets.
The primary method used to control the data was to create a much smaller extract from a subset of the data. This was easy to do in Tableau, as there is an option to only include the “Top N” rows when creating an extract – an option that you can change later, once you want to include all the rows. By developing with a smaller subset and then testing with larger numbers of rows, it was easier to see where performance would suffer.
Essentially, the views took the longest to load when I was trying to look at millions of rows at once. For example, creating a text table of all of the usernames and passwords would be a bad idea. On a faster machine, it may not matter – on my laptop, it definitely did.
However, if you’re applying an aggregation to millions of rows – for example, returning how many usernames start with the letter ‘s’ (983,011) – that is displayed much more quickly because Tableau doesn’t have to render all of those usernames. It just counts them up (which is much faster than rendering images on the screen) and returns a single number.
When in doubt, use a small extract of the data and build with that instead. When you’re not sure if some intermediate operation is going to try returning billions of things to the view, click that handy little “pause” button at the top of the worksheet to keep the view from refreshing with each new change you make. When you’re ready, you can click the button again and allow the view to generate.
Regular Expressions : The Greatest Things Ever
One of the greatest new features in Tableau 9.0 (in my humble opinion) is the support for regular expressions. For those of you who don’t know what regular expressions are, they’re basically data magic that allow you to find any string you want in some block of text based on conditions, instead of stating explicitly what you want the string to be.
For example, let’s say I want to find things formatted like email addresses in some huge book or website. I could try searching for the “@” symbol, but that’s going to take a lot of work to actually find all of the full email addresses. Here’s an example showing how to use a regular expression inside of Tableau to find an email address in a string. (The regex shown returns anything formatted as “something@something.something”.)
So the string that we pass in here is “My email address is steven@boulderinsight.com”, and the regex quickly matches and returns just the email address portion of the string. If you’re not used to regular expressions and this looks like a string of gibberish to you, don’t worry! I have limited experience with them as well, but it’s very easy to get up and running with the basic functionality you need to do cool things.
For this 10 Million Passwords analysis, I used regular expressions to divide all of the usernames and passwords into categories: “Alpha Only”, “Numeric Only”, and “Alpha-Numeric” (everything else). Although Tableau might have been capable of this in the past, it would have involved a nightmarish calculation looking something like this:
Instead, I was able to do it with this simple calculation.
The first line determines if the string is only numbers, and the third line determines if the string is only letters. Everything else is labeled “Alpha-Numeric”. Stupidly simple.
Using regular expressions also helped me fix a bug I hadn’t noticed in my original equation for finding the “Numeric Only” strings. I had originally used this calculation, which only divided up the passwords and usernames into “Numeric Only” and “Alpha-Numeric” (everything else).
Not only does this not include the “Alpha Only” category, it also had the unintended result of not including numbers with a leading zero as “Numeric Only”, since that zero wouldn’t be carried through once it was turned into an integer. So, we were ending up with things like “01234” in the “Alpha-Numeric” category, since STR(INT(“01234”)) = “1234”.
One quick note about using regular expressions in Tableau: I haven’t seen this in other uses of them before, but Tableau requires you to put parentheses around the part of the regular expression you want to return. For example, a regular expression of ‘[a-z]’ would return Null, but ‘([a-z])’ would return a lowercase letter. Just make sure to put parentheses around the part you want to return! (Which in my case was the whole thing. Notice in the above regular expressions, there are parentheses around the whole expression inside of the single quotes.)
Tableau Public Row Limit Work-Around
After attempting to publish to Tableau Public the first time, I discovered that Public has a limit of one million rows. In order to work around this, I created a new data source with aggregated data in it (about 5000 rows worth), then used this data to power the aggregated worksheets.
The aggregated data was essentially just copied from each sheet in the original workbook (CTRL-C when viewing the worksheet) and pasted into blank rows in the new datasource under the correct column headers. Maybe not the cleanest or most elegant solution, but it got the job done.
Next, I wrote a Python script to create a random sample of 900,000 of the 10 million rows, so that viewers of the viz could still see examples of usernames and passwords with certain characteristics.
Tableau can create an extract with the top N rows, but since the rows were sorted by username I wanted a selection of usernames and passwords that would be more representative of the full dataset. If anyone knows a way to easily create random subsets of data in Tableau, feel free to let me know.
Word Analysis
There were too many words in this dataset that I wanted to look for in the passwords, so I decided to pick a few categories and see what cropped up. I ended up going with the “Emotive”, “Religious”, and “Profane” categories of words because they were fruitful and, well, interesting. On the bright side, it looks like “Love” wins. The downside is that the f-bomb comes in a close second, beating out all of the religious words combined. For now, we won’t think too much about what that tells us about society.
One difficulty in doing the word analysis, though, is that it’s sometimes difficult to tell the context that a string of letters is used in. The f-bomb is actually a good example of a unique word that doesn’t get a lot of crossover, but words like “hell” and “love” are often contained in other words with completely different meanings. We can see a few examples in the viz. For the most part, all of the words containing the string “love” are using it in that context.
The top hit for “hate”, though, is actually “whatever”, and it’s ahead of all other references by a long shot.
Finally, when we get to “hell”, most of the words found use that string in a totally different context.
Michelle probably doesn’t want to be at the top of this list. Thus, we’re left with a conundrum — how do we find these words used in the context we want, without also including all of these other words that just happen to contain the same string of letters? We could go through and manually exclude words we don’t want, but that’s not feasible if we’re dealing with a large dataset and a lot of words to check. For now, I’ve chosen to leave everything in here so that people can explore this idea a little.
Security
The release of this dataset has helped me personally by making me more aware of how to keep personal information protected online. In order to learn more about protecting yourself and your information online, here are some resources that I found helpful:
http://lifehacker.com/5529133/five-best-password-managers
https://blog.agilebits.com/2013/08/31/how-long-should-my-passwords-be
Or you can continue being an internet noob with weak passwords. Your choice. (Don’t be a noob.)
Steven Rouk, Apprentice | Data ScientistPlease donate to the Ron Paul Institute Copyright © 2016 by RonPaul Institute. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit and a live link are given.
President Obama claimed that Donald Trump's "flattery" of Russian president Putin is "unprecedented in American politics." But as RPI Board Member Lew Rockwell tells RT, there is nothing new about it. During the Cold War Americans were told they had to hate the Russians and the Chinese, that the Russians were coming. The latest bashing, however, is "despicable, warmongering, narcissistic, and dangerous, says Lew Rockwell. Now Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Barack Obama are "actually threatening nuclear war," he said. We are supposed to hate the guts of Russia and China, he added, but "it's not a good idea from a religious, or political, or foreign policy standpoint to hate the guts of other countries. Like George Washington said in his farewell speech, we want to be friends with everyone who wants to be friends with us, trade with everyone, not be belligerent," said Rockwell.Amazon Sitting On $83 Million Worth of Fire Phones No One Wants - IGN News
Amazon Sitting On $83 Million Worth of Fire Phones No One Wants - IGN News
Share. Time to hit the Mayday button. Time to hit the Mayday button.
Amazon has reportedly struggled to sell its Fire Phone smartphone since its release in July.
The online retailer is sitting on $83 million worth of unsold Fire Phone inventory, according to CNET. Amazon CFO Tom Szkutak says the company has lost $170 million on the phone.
The Fire Phone originally launched in July exclusively with AT&T. It retailed for $200 USD with a two-year contract or $700 without a contract and came with a one-year Amazon Prime subscription. Slow sales led to a price drop to $.99 cents with a two-year contract just two months after its release.
Over 3000 customer reviews on Amazon give the Fire Phone a two out of five star rating.
Smartphone competition has proven tough for Amazon. Samsung is the smartphone market leader, but Apple is alone in generating significant profits in the business. Both companies recently released new versions of their popular smartphones, the Galaxy Note 4 and iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, respectively.
IGN’s review gave Amazon’s Fire Phone a 7.0, calling it “good, but not good enough to compete.”
Michael Martin is a freelance writer from Seattle who is hopelessly addicted to pop culture t-shirts. Send help on Twitter.Most energy experts surveyed for a study on the future of the world’s energy supply consider a global transition to 100 per cent renewable energy to be both feasible and realistic.
“There is an overwhelming consensus among the experts we interviewed that renewable power will dominate in the future, even with rising global energy demand,” said Dr Sven Teske, at the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures in Sydney – who conducted the survey on behalf of the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21stCentury (REN21).
“The question is not if we can achieve the transition to renewables, but when.”
The survey of 114 energy experts from around the world found a clear delineation between the “perceived” attitudes towards 100 per cent renewables.
Those energy experts considered “progressive” were all convinced that 100 per cent renewables is achievable, those considered “moderate” thought that 100 per cent is overly ambitious but renewables will make up a significant share, and those considered “conservative” thought that renewables will still only be a small share of energy by 2050.
Given that mix of perceived attitudes, it’s encouraging that the main finding from the report is that 71 per cent of the experts interviewed consider a global transition to 100 per cent renewable energy both feasible and realistic, with European and Australian experts most strongly supporting this view,” Teske said.
His other main takeaway is that nearly 70 per cent of those interviewed expect the cost of renewables to continue to fall, beating all fossil fuels within 10 years’ time.
“ Given the long planning and construction time of fossil fuel proje cts – new coal-fired power plants need around five to seven years – most fossil fuel infrastructure projects will be uneconomic by the time they are ready to produce energy. New fossil fuel projects are most likely to be stra nded assets and dead at arrival, ” Dr Teske said.
The survey found that more than 90 per cent of the experts interviewed agree that renewable energy technologies serve to lower the barrier for communities to gain access to energy services. An estimated 100 million people now receive electricity via distributed renewable energy systems, and markets for such systems are growing rapidly.
Arthouros Zervos, the chair of REN21, said that the outlook for renewable energy had changed rapidly since the organisation had been founded in 2004.
“Back then, no one could have imagined that in 2016, renewable energy would account for 86 per cent of all new EU power installations; China would become the renewable energy powerhouse of the world; and more than half of global renewable energy investment would take place in emerging economies and developing countries,” he said in a statement.
“Calls then for 100 per cent renewable energy were not taken seriously; today the world’s leading energy experts are engaged in rational discussions about its feasibility, and in what time frame.”Power Maxed Racing has recruited Hunter Abbott to drive a Chevrolet Cruze in the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
The team has made great strides forward since joining the BTCC at the start of last year. Following the change of ownership to Power Maxed and the appointment of Martin Broadhurst as Technical Director, the squad has made significant gains in every element of its racing programme.
Abbott has a long and distinguished racing career and this will be his third season in the BTCC. His CV is full of accolades, including the runner-up spoils in the 2008 British GT4 Championship and 2013 Benelux Porsche Carrera Cup, whilst in evidence of his pace and versatility, he has held lap records at circuits as varied as Zolder, Spa-Francorchamps, Donington Park and Brands Hatch Indy.
“I have had my eye on Hunter for a while now and am looking forward to giving him a chance to shine and show his true potential,” commented Power Maxed Racing Team Principal Adam Weaver. “I have been a good judge of motor sport talent in the past and I see something in Hunter.
“Hunter has a great track record and we are confident that if we guide him through the switch to front-wheel drive, he will flourish in the team, turn a few heads and deliver some of his best results.
“We run a very ‘open book’ team approach, sharing data and set-ups as we believe that treating both drivers as equals moves the whole team forward. I am sure that by pairing him with the technical skill of the PMR team and engineers, we can help Hunter unlock his true BTCC pace.”
“I am very much looking forward to the new opportunities presented by PMR,” echoed Abbott. “I want to show the paddock what I can achieve and repay Adam’s faith in my abilities. I have had two good years in the BTCC and I can’t wait to get out in the Chevrolet. It will also be great to try my hand at front-wheel drive, especially as the Cruze has enjoyed such a high level of development.”
Weaver revealed that negotiations are well underway to fill the second PMR berth, with a number of names in the frame.
“We have several options for our final seat,” he explained. “We are talking to some familiar faces, a multiple BTCC champion and one or two new drivers. All of them would make a great pairing with Hunter, but you know what this part of the season is like for speculation and rumour, so you will just have to wait and see.”The music is fine - some real gems, and the remastering is good. Appreciably different, not so much, but it's a cleaner sound. However, I can confirm what is actually stated in the accompanying book of interviews - I had to run an A/B test to see what the differences were, and they're minimal. The original recording wasn't in need of much remastering. To my ear, it seems the percussion is higher in the mix, which isn't actually welcome, as it starts to become overly intrusive - fine if the song calls for it, but not fine when it doesn't.
The accompanying books are nicely done, an enjoyable read as the main book goes and including the welcome nod to several Club Sandwich articles from the time period - but as always, a lot of white space, leaving one to wonder if they were interested in cost savings, if they mightn't have re-formatted it a little. I love the album cover artwork, but could have easily done without an entire book of plates of variations on the same theme.
I'm knocking this two stars because of the decision to make the b-sides to the singles and various unreleased tracks available only as a download. The excuse given by the producers of the set is that people want music digitally now, and that Paul is all about keeping current. This, as excuses go, is idiotic. This set is not going to be purchased by an overwhelming number of millennials addicted to music downloads, it is an "archive" collection of an album honestly only the faithful fanbase really ever took to in the first place. I also dispute the odd notion that the millennial generation never buy CDs anymore. If so, why not have all the discs be digital downloads?
Worse yet, the downloading mechanism has meant I've spent two hours downloading these tracks, and not in any convenient manner, either. If I'm spending over $100 on a release, I shouldn't be buying frustration along with it.
The instructions for downloading:
"Directions for digital download:
A) Please enter the unique code on your card in the 'enter code here' box and click 'Submit'
B) Please select the download button icon next to each item. Hi-Res download from Deluxe Edition: Due to the size of the music files all tracks should be downloaded individually. Attempting to download more than one file at a time could cause your download to fail
C) Once downloaded, save your files to the location on your computer where you keep your music and enjoy!
PLEASE NOTE: Music download will only work on a desktop / laptop computer."
What this has meant in practice is I'm faced with clicking each link for each track to download, and have had to sit here manually downloading each one in turn. This isn't just a two-hour download, it's a two-hour process of me being forced to sit here downloading link, by link, by link.
This is ridiculous. In addition, the webpage for the download keeps blanking out the download list, so I have to reload and re-enter the download code after every couple of downloads. So, one star lost for the download-only option for the b-sides, and one-star for wasting my time and giving an insulting excuse as the reason for me to have to go through this. The b-sides to the singles were the extended part of the original release. They belong in an "Archive Edition" of the album. The demos are welcome, but aren't integral to the release, so if anything was going to be a digital download - it should have been the demos.
I cannot overstate how offensive the offered excuse was, either - marketing doublespeak with no logical relation to reality. It reminds me of the brouhaha over the "McCartney Years" promo video set; When people complained about the cropping of the videos cutting out performance aspects, the response was that it wasn't an archive and needed to be "future-proofed" because people only want widescreen video even if they're losing image in the process, ignoring the stated desires of their paying customers in deference to the hypothetical wishes of a customer base they were never going to have.
So, enjoy the music, enjoy the books, and hunt down the b-sides since many are gems that are stronger than many of the album tracks ("The Loveliest Thing", and the one song that would have made a great single, "Back On My Feet"... insane to have left it off, both the original album and physically in this set.)About 35,000 people have fled Crimea after Russian occupation; further repressions against opponents of the annexation of the peninsula by Russia will increase their number, head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, MP Refat Chubarov has said.
"The unofficial figure is about 35,000 people, and half of them are Crimean Tatars," Chubarov said at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.
In his words there was no exact number of those who have left Crimea. Human rights activists estimated it to be around 25,000-30,000 people, while figures of official statistics include only those who have turned to the authorities for registration.
According to Chubarov, the Mejlis believes that "no one of the Crimean Tatars should leave [Crimea] unless he or she is ousted or imprisoned."
Repressions against individuals of different nationalities who disagree with the Russian occupation are continuing and will continue, he said.
"They will be just ousted and replaced with those to be brought from Russia's mainland," Chubarov added.A second-hand, fourth-generation Supra can be picked up for as little as £3k, perhaps cheaper if you look hard enough. So here’s a modified bright orange one that has just sold at auction for £120,000 ($185,000).
Of course, this particular modified bright orange Supra - sold at Mecum Auctions’ Indy 2015 sale - is the one driven by the late Paul Walker in 2001’s The Fast and The Furious; a car that appeared in a film that kicked off a franchise in which the latest instalment made over one billion dollars at the box office.
This particular example was one of several Supras used in the movie, featuring the final race scene where it jumps a railroad crossing while racing against Vin Diesel in a Charger. It’s also one of 58 stunt cars built by a man named Eddie Paul.
And because it’s a stunt car, it gets Good Stuff like a full roll cage, heavy duty suspension, a set of competition seats and a strengthened fuel tank. You might have also noticed that wild body kit, huge rear wing, alloys and graphics. Some gauges occur inside, too.
So with an Audi R8 or McLaren 540C-rivalling price tag, what exactly is under the ‘hood’? A 220bhp, non-turbo version of Toyota’s classic straight-six, matched up to a five-speed gearbox driving the rear wheels. Not hugely fast nor furious, in truth, and a far cry from the screen-based monster that tears up a Ferrari F355…
So, is £120k just too much for a modified, not-very-fast Mark IV Supra? Or does the fact it appeared in a movie and was driven by the late Paul Walker make it the bargain of the century? Tell us below. And please, no fighting.
Fast and Furious 7: secrets behind the stunts
Fast and Furious 7: the stars talk
Fast and Furious 8: confirmedThe Costumer’s Manifesto: (A statement of Purpose and Ethics for Costumers)
When I costume, I am not a fashion designer nor a clothing manufacturer, but a builder of character, concept, and physical movement. I, above all, work with Actors: I help them build their character from without, even as they build it from within. I do not complain about the shape of their bodies. I create the shape we need, and/or build a visual representation of the character that suits the existing body. I am aware of their movement needs and I facilitate them. I work under the guidance of Directors: I help them visually represent their conceptual ideas in physical form. I create clothes for the inhabitants of the world they envision. I am inspired by the words of Playwrights and Scriptwriters: I try to bring alive the script by transforming the words of the text into visual metaphors. Words, especially poetry in the text, need a visual equivalent that supports the mood of the script without distracting from it. I collaborate with the other Designers, seeking to bring our collective vision together so it works in harmony. Costumes do not exist in a vacuum, but on a set, among properties and furniture, sound, and light, as part of a consistent visual representation of an invented world. Whether I am in the position of stitcher, cutter, dyer, crafts worker or designer, I remember that what I am doing is contributing to the greater whole of the production, and must be done with an aesthetic sense in keeping with the performance, not merely my own whims. Designers, therefore, need to communicate the shows design to all the other costumers involved in the process as clearly as possible, so that when design decisions are made at any level of the process, from buttons to butt padding, they reflect the needs of the show or film as a whole. I assist the Audience in understanding the story and characters. In performances where spectacle is required, I make the costumes astonish and entertain, but when the audience should be more aware of the other elements of the performance, I will try to make the costumes recede to the background, without personal vanity. I study the history of fashion and dress, no matter what my position in a costume studio, so that I can better replicate the styles of clothing of the past when needed. However, I will remember to avoid mindlessly copying old fashion plates, but instead keep in mind the key elements of character and concept, and select or adapt those fashions to suit the individual production. I am aware that my work consists primarily of adapting and reinventing pre-existing styles to do a functional purpose: cover a body. I know then that what I build is not legally subject to copyright law, and I will not winge and whine if another designer is, in turn, inspired to reuse elements, even a majority of those elements, from one of my designs in their work. I will accept this as flattery if anyone does so. Costuming is a fun profession, and I endeavor at all times to keep it that way by remembering the feelings of all my collaborators. At no time should actors feel their bodies are being criticized in a fitting, nor should a student, worker or volunteer be treated as slave labor, nor should a director or another designer be bullied into an unwanted design decision. A desire for excellence is good, but the desire should never be pursued to any degree that ignores labor law, common courtesy or civilized collaboration.
Tara Maginnis, 8/18/2002In my opinion, this is a great looking "V for Vendetta" Mask.
This Rubies version is even better looking than a different one that I bought on another product page. It fits my head/face perfectly. This mask will fit an adult with an average size head, and may even fit really well on some children too. For me, it wasn't hard to see out of this mask, and I didn't have any problems breathing out of it either. There's also a sticker on the inside of the mask that will let you know if you got the Official Rubie's- version, which is the one that's supposed to be sold on this product page. Overall, I love this mask.
Feel free to ask me any questions in the Comment section. I usually answer All questions on the same day. :)206,217 Points
Introduction
Data are not sorted properly
The value sought comes before the first range
No matching data found in the lookup table
Data type mismatch
Extraneous spaces
Special characters
Quick VLOOKUP Syntax Primer
lookup_value is the value sought for in the first column of the lookup table
table_array is an array specifying the lookup table. table_array is usually a range, and that range need not be on the same worksheet--or even in the same workbook--as the cell where you enter the formula. table_array can also be a Name, or even an array constant
col_index_number specifies which column from the corresponding row is used for the return value. For example, if col_index_number = 3, then the value returned is the value in the third column of the lookup table
range_lookup is an optional argument. If this is FALSE, VLOOKUP looks for an exact match in the first column of the lookup table. If this is TRUE or omitted, VLOOKUP looks for the greatest value that is less than or equal to the value being sought
VLOOKUP is not case sensitive. Thus, for text matches, it does not matter whether you use lower-, upper-, or mixed case
VLOOKUP will not do data type conversions, so if the value being sought is numeric, then the first column of the lookup table should be numeric as well, and if the value being sought is text, then the first column of the lookup table should be text as well
If you omit, or use TRUE for range_lookup (i.e., you are looking for a "close match"), then you must be sure that the first column of the lookup table is sorted, ascending, or VLOOKUP may not return the correct result. However, if you use FALSE, there is no need to sort the lookup table
If you use FALSE for range_lookup, and the sought-for value is not in the first column of the lookup table, VLOOKUP will return a #N/A error
If you use FALSE for range_lookup, and if the values in the first column of the lookup table are text, you can use wild cards in lookup_value. To match zero or more characters use the asterisk, and to match a single character use the question mark. Thus, "R*" would match "red" or "rojo" or even simply "r", and "r??" would match "red" but neither "rojo" nor "r". To match the actual asterisk or question mark characters, precede them with a tilde. Thus, to match the actual sequence "r??", you would use "r~?~?"
If col_index_number is less than 1, or if it exceeds the number of columns in the lookup table, VLOOKUP will return an error (#VALUE! or #REF!, respectively)
In E4, E5, E8, E9, and E10, the formula returns "close" matches
In E6 and E7, while the formula is looking for a "close" match, the values sought for happen to have exact matches in the lookup table
In E15, E16, E18, E20, and E21, the formula found exact matches
In E17 and E19, the formula looked for, but did not find, exact matches
Data Not Sorted
Value Sought Is before First Range
No Match in Lookup Table
The sought-for value is 26
The greatest value in the lookup table that is less than or equal to 26 is the last, 7
The second column from that row of the lookup table contains "violet"
Data Type Mismatch
In G4, VLOOKUP returns an error because the lookup_value is "1" and not the number 1; since the values in the lookup table are numeric, there is a data type mismatch
In G15, VLOOKUP returns an error because the lookup_value is the number 1 and not "1"; since the values in the lookup table are text, there is a data type mismatch
Extraneous Spaces
Force what was intended to be a numeric value into a text value (and thus trip the "data type mismatch" failure);
Cause the lookup table to not be sorted correctly;
Lead VLOOKUP to incorrectly compare text strings (and thus return an expected value, or trigger the "before first range" failure
Et cetera.
Special Characters
Error Handling for VLOOKUP
Sample File
by Patrick G. MatthewsVLOOKUP is a tremendously useful function that allows you to "fetch" data from a specified rectangular range (the "lookup table"); this range can be on the same worksheet, a different worksheet in the same workbook, or even in a different workbook entirely.In a VLOOKUP call, Excel will search in the left-most column of the lookup table for a sought-for value (or if an exact match is not specified, then the closest value not exceeding that sought-for value), and then return the value in the Nth column from that row in the lookup table.However, from time to time, you may find that your VLOOKUP formula is returning an error, or is returning an incorrect value. In my experience, there are six main causes for this:This article will present a brief primer on VLOOKUP syntax, and then address each of these causes in turn.Lastly, this article will also provide suggestions on how to handle errors returned by the VLOOKUP function.: While VLOOKUP is the focus for this article, the same error conditions apply for the similar function HLOOKUP, which instead searches the first row of a lookup table, and then returns the value in the Nth row of the column where the match is found. Since VLOOKUP is used more frequently than HLOOKUP, the examples in this article will use VLOOKUP.The VLOOKUP function takes four arguments:When writing a VLOOKUP formula, please keep the following in mind:The image below shows a few basic examples of VLOOKUP formulae:In that image:: Elsewhere in this article, where I refer to a so-called "close match", I am referring to VLOOKUP's behavior when range_lookup is omitted or TRUE, and thus VLOOKUP is looking for the greatest value that is less than or equal to the value being sought.As noted above, if the optional fourth argument, range_lookup, is omitted or is TRUE, then VLOOKUP will look for a "close" match in the first column of the lookup table. Specifically, VLOOKUP will look for the greatest value that is less than or equal to the value being sought, and then return the value in the Nth column of that corresponding row.This will work, and allows the user to set up a lookup table to accommodate a single return value for a range of sought-for values. However, as noted in thesection above, the data in the first column of the lookup table must be sorted ascending in order for this to work.Consider the examples below:In the first block, the items in the lookup table are not sorted correctly: code 7, violet, is listed out of order, and thus the formulae in G6 and G10 return an incorrect result. In the second block, the formulae all return the correct results, because that lookup table lists the items in the correct order.To avoid this error, if you are using VLOOKUP to find a "close" match, always make sure that your lookup table is sorted properly.: In these examples, if we used FALSE for range_lookup, then the sort order of the lookup table would not have mattered, and all the formulae would have returned the correct results. That is, when you set VLOOKUP to look for an exact match, the lookup table does not have to be sorted: it can be in any order, and VLOOKUP will return the correct result assuming an exact match exists (or an #N/A error if there is no match).If you set VLOOKUP to use a "close" match (by omitting range_lookup, or setting it to TRUE), VLOOKUP will look for the greatest value in the first column of the lookup table that |
than is guaranteed by capitalism, but by capitalism at its best! Otherwise socialism represents no advance. What kind of socialism is it where the productivity of labor is so inferior to that which prevails in an advanced capitalist state?
Third: Browder wrote a book a few years ago – What Is Communism?I read it – a very radical book. He referred to the construction of Boulder Dam, to the fact that Roosevelt was very proud of it. What did Browder ask in commenting on that? He said, this dam, achievements similar to it – what have they contributed to the material welfare of the American workers? That’s the challenge he threw in the face of the American bourgeoisie in connection with Boulder Dam. Legitimate question to ask of it. It’s not less but more legitimate to ask it of those who claim that the industrialization in Russia is socialist in character, that the big technological advances there prove that Russia is a socialist community. And is that not what we are discussing right now? Now let’s look – official figures.
I want to emphasize first of all that I’ll not refer to Russia during or since the devastation of the country by the war. I will refer to 1939 and the years before it. It makes no difference really. As early as 1935 the Stalinists officially announced that socialism had already been established in Russia – and irrevocably at that!
At the end of the Second Five Year Plan, in 1937, the output of steel was four times as great as in 1913, the last pre-World War I year in Russia – dairy products lower than 1913; petroleum products three times higher than 1913 – tea was available only to one-third the extent of 1913. There’s a big airplane industry non-existent in Czarist Russia, absolutely. But in 1912, Russia had 1,166,000 department stores, wholesale units and retail shops, which the consumer depends upon – while on October 1, 1937, according to Planned Economy of 1938, issue No.2, with a population far greater – no less than 160,000,000 – there were only 228,000 distribution stores and 98,000 warehouses. The plan for rolled steel was completed almost 100 per cent; they now have a big chemical industry; but the plan for the production of soap was not even 40 per cent completed. Browder refers so lightly, as we Americans can, to radios and refrigerators, and television, and other Hollywood products, that even we don’t really enjoy and that the Russians don’t care about. Tea, we’re talking about, not television sets! Soap! The production of machines is twenty times as high as in 1918, at the end of the Second Five-Year Plan. But wages were lower than in pre-war Russia – real wages.
Which brings me to my fourth comment: The only valid criterion for socialist industrialization – and we’re not talking about industrialization in general, are we? We’re talking about whether Russia is a socialist community – the only valid criterion, I repeat, for that, is the improved economic welfare of the workers – that’s a minimum, that’s basic. What’s happened to wages – what’s happened to real wages – under Stalinist rule? In other words, what’s the real standard of living for the masses under Stalinism – not in terms of television sets, not in terms of radios, refrigerators, and Buick automobiles. No, not many workers have them here, not as many as should. We’re talking about ordinary standard of living. Have real wages kept pace with the growth of industrialization, which has been great – with the growth of production, which has been great – with the growth of the national income, which has been great? By Stalin’s official figures or any official figures? No, they have declined! The real facts are hard to find in the official Stalinist press, which does everything to conceal and twist them out of shape. The Stalinist press for years has not published one single line officially about prices of commodities. You don’t find that there. But although it’s hard to find, it’s not impossible. I will take my figures only from,the Stalinist press, in Russia.
According to Pravda, May 14, 1938, the average wage of workers in 1938 was 259 rubles a month. Bear that figure in mind. That’s Pravda. What could the Russian worker buy with this wage? What could he do with it? Inadvertently Pravda itself tells us. On April 8, 1038, it reports that food for a patient in a Moscow hospital costs 7 rubles a day, that is, 210 rubles a month. On May 17th of the same year, it says, and I quote, “The fee for a child in a Pioneer camp should not be more than the cost of maintenance, 250 to 350 rubles a month.” Now everybody knows that hospitals and children’s camps do not provide the richest variety of food, the best food. Not at all. Everybody knows that hospitals purchase in large quantities; they purchase collectively, they prepare collectively. Things are cheaper. If a hospital patient requires for food 210 rubles a month, if a kid in a Pioneer camp requires from 250 to 350 rubles a month for food, what could the Russian worker buy with an average wage of 259 rubles a month? That’s not after the Hitler invasion; that’s in 1938, after socialism had irrevocably been established in Russia. The average is wretched, but it doesn’t yet tell the whole story, because we have to find out what are the extremes. Averages are the most deceptive things in the world sometimes.
What about inequality? There is no country in the world, bar none, were inequality is as great, as deep, as extensive as it is in Stalinist Russia – nowhere. In the United States, the spread between the poorest-paid and the best-paid worker is what – three to one, four to one, and, in extreme cases, five to one? Is it much more than that – in extreme cases? – the best paid and the poorest paid? In Russia, according to a very objective and fair economist and statistician, Dr. Abram Bergson, in his book on The Structure of Russian Wages, in October 1934 – I am quoting him now – “the earnings of the highest paid Soviet worker were more than 28.3 times the earnings of the lowest paid worker at that time.” And it’s much worse to day. It’s much worse today. 1947, average annual wage: 7,100 rubles. The Stalinist press reports all the time earnings of some workers between 10 and 15 thousand rubles a month, that is, 120 to 180 thousand a year, when the average is 7100. Typical report is in Trud, the labor paper, so-called, for January 1, 1949, which reports that three Donbas miners averaged 60 to 75 thousand rubles for the three years 1946-1948. Now if with the lowest paid the average is 7100, is it an exaggeration to assume that the lowest paid do not go over 3000? That makes a ratio of what between the lowest paid and the highest paid? – anywhere from 50 or 60 to 1! Find me a working class anywhere in the world that shows that disparity. Now if that’s how it is among workers, imagine the gap between workers and the ruling class – the factory directors, the managers, the army and navy officers, the brass, the millionaire kolkhozhiks, as they call them in the Stalinist press, the bureaucrats of all varieties, Stripes, ranks, sizes and weights!
The Russian Revolution established the socialist principle: no official is to be paid more than the average worker – the skilled worker, if you wish; no functionary, no official. That’s the principle of the Commune, said Lenin. Marx praised that principle, as the only socialist standard. That’s one of the means, he repeated a thousand times, for shattering bureaucratism, for making possible rotation in office, for introducing workers’ democracy as the prelude to socialist democracy. No official above that of the skilled worker in income. And then he added later on, when the problems became a little more complex than he had imagined, if we have to pay a lot more to bourgeois “spetzes,” the specialists – he repeated that a hundred times later on – it is only because we are forced to. But, he said, that’s not socialism; that’s a concession to capitalism, that a violation of the socialist principle, the Commune principle; that’s a retreat from socialism! There are a thousand quotations from Lenin, and I refer to them not because they are quotations but because they are correct.
What did Stalinism do to this Commune principle, this principle of Bolshevism? We have already seen the division of the workers into paupers at one end and aristocrats at the other. What about the ruling classes themselves, the bureaucracy of all shades? Here is the decree of January 17, 1938. (Remember the average worker is earning an average in that year of 259 rubles a month, according to Pravda.) The decree provides that deputies, deputies, that is hand-raisers, Russian Gil Greens, get a thousand rubles a month, plus 150 rubles expenses for every day’s session they attend; presidents of the eleven federated republics, as they are jocularly called in Russia, get 12,500 rubles a month; presidents and vice-presidents of the Union get 25,000 a month. What does that mean, that figure? One hundred times more than the average worker’s wage, 100 times more! A 10,000 per cent increase as over the average wage of the worker! That’s socialism? Why, John L. Lewis would almost break his back getting that kind of socialism! Show me such a spread in that miserable capitalist-exploited United States – and that’s what it still is! Wouldn’t the National Association of Manufacturers be delighted with such a differential in this country? The only thing they’d have to worry about is to conceal their delight. It would be too, too revealing, would it not? That’s what you call socialism? You make a mockery of that ideal!
In 1939, Marshal Voroshilov – under socialism we have marshals! living ones and dead ones! – Voroshilov announced publicly that a lieutenant in what they jocularly call the Red Army is to get 625 rubles a month, a colonel 2,000 a month. Now, relatively speaking, is an American colonel better off, as compared to the average worker’s wage in this country? Not at all. Between 1934 and 1939, according to official statistics, wages for workers increased, nominally, 120 per cent; for army lieutenants, 240 per cent; for generals 305 per cent. I say nothing about the exceptional privileges that the bureaucracy, including the brass, enjoys in Russia. You call that socialism? Is that what you expect to introduce into this country, openly or behind the back, or any other way? Go peddle your socialism to the Pentagon Building!
When the Russian workers yearn for greater equality, what does Stalin, the leader of the country, say? He answers to this at the 17th Congress of the Party in 1934, that it is, and I’m quoting – this is the leader of socialism, its spokesman and idealist, its best disciple – it’s “a reactionary, petty bourgeois absurdity worthy of a primitive sect of ascetics but not of a socialist society organized on Marxian lines.” That’s what the yearning for equality is. Naturally, the applause from the assembled bureaucrats was deafening! It would be just as deafening and enthusiastic at a convention of the National Association of Manufacturers, wouldn’t it, if you could get anybody to advocate it openly there. And that’s where it belongs, and it also belongs in a convention of the Stalinist ruling class, the collectivist bureaucracy. It’s an abomination to socialism.
There is not a working class in a single modern country – modern country – that’s as brutally exploited as the working class of Russia, not one as cynically disfranchised and deprived of its elementary rights. The Russian worker has no trade unions. The Russian worker cannot determine hiring and firing – forbidden by law – wage scales, working days, working conditions. Trade unions are pure and simple speed-up organisms of the state. And what organisms! I quote, just typical, believe me, from Izvestia of May 16, 1937, that the central trade union committees are composed entirely of appointed officials. What’s Lewis got that they haven’t got? We hear from Andreyev, a Political Bureau member, in Pravdaof December 9, 1935, and I’m quoting: “The wage scale must be left entirely in the hands of – [whom, under socialism, whom?] – the heads of industry. They must establish the norm.” No wonder unions hold no conventions and leaders are appointed by the state. In no modern country do the workers have to endure the regime applied to the Russian workers.
Every worker must carry a labor book. Are we to have that under socialism in this country, introduced in the back door, the front door, or whatever door you want to? It was first introduced by the imitation Bonaparte, Napoleon III, in 1854. It was introduced into Germany in 1935 by whom? Hitler! And you’ve got it now in Russia, don’t you? It lists all your fines, your dismissals from work with the reason therefor, your insubordinations.
The decree of September 24, 1930, reaffirmed on August 11, 1940, in the Russian press, not in the press of the NAM, says that workers are forbidden to leave their factory without permission of the employer, the boss, the director; violation of that is desertion, and the penalties go up to 10 years in prison.
The decree of October 11, 1930, renewed January 1941: Worker must accept work wherever he is ordered to be or to go.
Decrees of December 16, 1932, reaffirmed June 26, 1940: Absence from work without justification can be punished by dismissal, involving loss of the so-called trade union card and lodging; three latenesses totalling 20 minutes per month are equal to an absence.
The Czar, the Czar – not the socialist one, the real one – had the system of internal passports. The revolution abolished them, because, as they said – the Bolsheviks said – it’s a police means for oppressing the people. Naturally, Stalinism reintroduced the internal passport on December 27, 1932. It exists to this day. It lists your parents, your grandparents, their class position and social activity; the members of your present family; the divorce record of the bearer; dismissals from work, the reasons for them; organizations you belong to; decorations, if any; dates of subscriptions to the “voluntary” loans, and how much you subscribed. Without stamped authorization on your internal passport, you cannot take a train out of the city, you cannot move from one city to another, you cannot be absent from home for more than 24 hours at a stretch. And permission is granted only by the bureau of the GPU in the factory. You cannot leave the country without authorization; you cannot get authorization.
On June 6, 1934, they adopted a new decree on “flight” abroad, that is, leaving the country without permission which you can’t get. It’s punishable by death, and if there are extenuating circumstances – ten years in prison. That’s a permanent, not a wartime, regulation. It’s not applied to the military personnel but to the civilian population.
Article III provides, under the socialism of Stalin, that if adult members of the military personnel family helped him to flee abroad, or failed to denounce him to the authorities in time, five to ten years in prison for them, with loss of wealth. Other members of the traitor’s family living with him or dependent on him, even if they knew nothing about the preparations for the flight – this is Article III – lose their citizenship and get five years in Siberia. It’s the system of hostages, in peacetime, for the civilian population. Tell me another country in the world that has it.
The czarist regime, the regime of Nicholas the Bloody, abolished capital punishment for all crimes except assaults on the Czar, political assasination. In Stalinist Russia, they have the death penalty for counterfeiting gold or silver money; acts of sabotage – and almost anything is interpreted as that; for strikes in enterprises, death penalty: for illegal slaughter of cattle, death penalty.
On April 7, 1935, another decree. As reported in Izvestia, for example: All children from 12 years upward, guilty of theft, violence, murder or attempted murder, go to criminal courts and may be punished to the full limit of the law, which includes the highest measure of social defense, which is translated, as you know, as execution. From 12 years on. Am I vilifying Stalinist Russia? I’m giving you a photograph of it. Where else will you find such barbarism?
The workers have no rights! The workers live in terror! If I’m told, by the way, I almost forgot – if I’m told: but how do you explain, didn’t they whip Hitler? Doesn’t that show superiority? Doesn’t that show it’s socialism? – I’m aghast! The most powerful army in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century was whose? Napoleon’s! The man who spread bourgeois rule over feudal Europe. Napoleon! The Grand Army of the Republic! Who whipped him? Czar Alexander, with his serf army, with his Marshal Suvorov. They fought well, didn’t they? Does that prove that bigoted, semi-feudal, backward, czarist Russia of the early 19th century was socialist, or that Czar Alexander was the best disciple of Lenin, or that he was the sun who radiates light throughout the world, as you read about Stalin in the Stalinist press, or that he created the world, as you read about Stalin in the Stalinist press? No he was the Czar, the autocrat of all the Russias.
Bernard Shaw went to Russia in 1931 and he made a broadcast about his visit to the United States, and here is what he said – listen: “A considerable share of the secret of the success of Russian Communism consists in the fact that every Russian knows that if he will not make his life a paying enterprise for his country, then he will most likely lose it. An agent of the GPU will take him by the shoulder and will conduct him to the cellar of this famous department and he will simply stop living. And his relative’s will be politely informed that they need have no anxiety about him because he’s not coming home any more.” Who am I quoting – a vilifier of Russia? A man who wants to create war, not peace? Bernard Shaw! And where do I take it from, this excerpt? Pravda, May 13, 1932, where it is printed without one word of comment!
We hear a lot about housing. I wish I had the time. Housing conditions have grown worse for the workers under Stalinism. The legal minimum is a miserable six square meters, about six by ten feet, per person, the minimum required for hygiene. Nizhni Novgorod, about which we have figures from the Stalinist press: five by seven, as compared with larger quarters before, in 1928. Moscow: average floor space, habitable floor space in 1937, a decline as against 1928. But – BUT, on March 9, 1936, Izvestia, Mr. Dyelukin, the Moscow construction chief, announced in that in 1937 the city will build 400 buildings with apartments of two or five main rooms, with latest improvements and servants’ rooms of six square meters, with master rooms of from 12 to 24 square meters. Who’s that for? Who? The worker? The skilled worker? The corkers live, as everybody in Russia calls them, in “coffins.”
We hear a lot about rest homes. I hope it will be referred to, then I will refer to it in my rebuttal. We’ll see what the rest homes are like, and who they’re for, and who enjoys them, and what kind there are for the heads of industry, and for the workers who get them. The Russians like to employ a phrase: Gnyat e peregnyat, catch up with and outstrip! Catch up with and outstrip the capitalist world. In inequality, gynat e peregnyat, far exceeding anything that we know in any modern country. Don’t insult the good name of socialism by applying it to this brutal regime of exploitation and social inequality.
Lenin wrote early that the legislation on women alone would justify the Bolshevik revolution. He was right. It was the most advanced in the world, admired not only by socialists but by every sincere reformer. What has Stalinism done to the status of Russian women? Take two things, which are not only sufficient by themselves, but which amply and accurately reflect the whole social structure, the whole social situation of women under Stalin.
First, divorce: Engels said, and so rightly, a long time ago, when love is at an end, “a separation becomes a blessing for both parties and for society.” Under socialism, he said, “humanity will be spared the useless wading through the mire of a divorce court.” Lenin said, and not once, it is impossible to be a socialist and a democrat without immediately demanding complete freedom of divorce.
On July 8, 1944, there is a decree, printed next day in zvestia, and what does it do? It reforms the divorce laws. Now you have to go through two courts and drag your case through the mire, and there is no formal basis now for allowing divorces; it is entirely up to the judge. The proceeding is humiliating, it’s drawn-out, expensive. The mere registration fee is now raised from 500 to 2,000 rubles. Do you know what the wage of the worker is? Do you know who can now enjoy divorce legally? Not only that, but they now record your divorce in your labor book. You not only have to wade through the mire but they splash some of it on you permanently.
Infinitely worse, infinitely more shameless and depraved is the Stalinist legislation on abortion. The decree of June 27, 1936 – in spite of numerous protests, so great that they had to be printed in the Stalinist press! – a penalty of two years in prison for the physician performing the abortion; public rebuke to the mother for the first offense, 300 rubles’ fine for the second. Abortion is a dreadful business, and every socialist, every human being with intelligence, with feeling, must recoil from this blow at what might become a human life. But we are neither hypocrites nor religious bigots. If a law prohibiting abortion is an abomination in this country, in the United States, it’s a double abomination in a country like Russia. Just think! A low standard of living; hospital service which is exceptionally poor. You can’t buy shoes for kids. Pravdaof March 30, 1938, reports – this is an absolutely typical and current picture – “To buy shoes, a coat or a change of underwear for the newly-born, the parents spend a great deal of time going from one store to another. For the entire railway district of Moscow with more than 100,000 inhabitants there was only one store for infant wear, and this store has been a long time without infant underwear or shoes for school children. Because of the lack of goods, the store sold underwear only six or seven days in the month. In the stores of the capital city [Moscow itself] mothers searched in vain for an infant bathtub or a round basin for bathing the baby and a tub for washing the clothes.” Say what you want about Russia, that’s the situation. Let us not blame Stalin for that. Let’s say that is not his fault at all. But to prohibit abortion under those circumstances? To force the woman to have an unwanted child under those conditions? At a time when contraceptives are at a premium, when diapers are almost impossible to get, when there is little or no food, when you cannot find a baby basinette or a basin for washing its underwear, when it’s even hard to find a nipple for the baby’s milk bottle – the dirty, mailed fist of the bureaucracy grabs the working woman by the throat and snarls at her: “Breed!”:
The law of 1936 provides that mothers of more than six children get 200 rubles’ premium annually for five years for each additional child; mothers of ten children receive 5,000 rubles at birth of each additional child, and so on. The bureaucracy does not hesitate to intervene into the most sacred and intimate precincts of the personal life of the working woman. We need more labor slaves; more cannon fodder! Here is your bribe! Produce! If you’re with child, whether you want it or not, whether it is a child of love or not, whether you can afford it or not, produce! Breed! That’s socialism? You call that monstrosity, copied straight from Mussolini, straight from Hitler, you call that socialism? You have the nerve to speak before an audience when that happens? I say to the Stalinists everywhere: Go try to peddle it to the women who have freedom and fearlessness enough to give you their answer.
You have destroyed the Russian Revolution. You have garrotted it! Lenin wrote a hundred times: “The proletariat cannot achieve the socialist revolution unless it is prepared for this task by the struggle for democracy; [I’m quoting] victorious socialism cannot retain its victory and lead humanity to the stage when the state withers away unless it establishes complete democracy.” Where is there democracy in Stalinist Russia today? What democratic rights does the worker have? The right to vote for Stalin whenever Stalin decides to allow what he calls an election? Is that the kind of elections Browder proposes for the United States? It would be interesting to hear something about that! Does the worker have the right to organize a trade union, to elect his own officials? Does he have the right to form a political party of his own – except for the Communist Party, as it is called jocularly? Do I have that right in Russia? Let me hear from an expert! Does Norman Thomas have it? Does Wallace have that right in Russia? Does Browder have that right in Russia? What would happen if he tried to exercise that right? Let me hear from some political idiots to whom Browder refers! What would happen if he tried to exercise that right in Russia? Isn’t he an agent of American imperialism? Isn’t he a class enemy spreading the poison of the bourgeoisie? I know that’s true – that’s what he is – I read that in a pamphlet by that pitiable Robert Thompson. I read it in the Daily Worker. Now, suppose Browder tried to exercise that democratic right in Russia?
Does the worker have the right to read any paper but the Stalinist press in Russia – any? Does he have the right to listen to any broadcast but the Stalinist broadcast? Does he have the right to organize a public meeting of his own, like here – not just this one, but any one? Does he have the right to put forth his own candidacy in the election? I want to nominate Browder! Can I do it? Can he run? Does he have the right to recall a single significant public official? Lenin considered that right absolutely indispensable for a workers’ state, let alone for socialism! He underscored it a thousand times, laid the heaviest stress on it. He pointed to the Commune as a model. Not only election of all officials, but recall, recall, so that if the scoundrel doesn’t turn out right you can yank him out of office. Show me a single Stalinist official of any consequence who has ever been recalled by the workers and peasants of Russia. One! The GPU recalls – that’s all – and that is not only all but it’s fatal, too!
Does the worker have the right to strike? Where? Does he have the right to move from one city to another without police permission? Stalinism has destroyed every right that the Russian workers ever had! Name me one of the tiny miserable rights that the workers had under czarism, under czarism, in Russia. They were miserable, tiny, microscopic – name me one that he has in Stalinist Russia today. You call that tyranny socialism? I know Stalin has given him “security.” We have heard that; we hear it time and again: He’s given a roof over his head. he’s fed two or three times a day; he’s given all the work he can stand – and a lot more! And there’s no unemployment like under capitalism – and that is a curse of capitalism that you can never get rid of, that’s true. But we’re talking about if there’s socialism in Russia. Is it a socialist community? If that is socialism, Browder, among others, has already had two experiences in socialism in the United States alone: one in World War I in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary; the other in World War II in Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. Those are nationalized penitentiaries, commonly owned. He had work there. The bourgeoisie gave it to him as it is given to all other political prisoners, and to all prisoners in general. But at least he could get out when his term was up! Can the Russian worker? No, it’s flight and treason; his family is held as hostage; he is imprisoned for life.
Look at what they have done to the great emancipating principles of the Russian Revolution! They butchered the whole revolutionary generation, with one or two exceptions! Not a word from Browder about that. A trifle! Industry is progressing – finyat e peregnyat! They wiped out the whole leadership of Bolshevism, of the October uprising, of the victory in the Civil War! Are they any better than the Czar? No, worse by far! Under czarism from 1826 to 1905, almost a century, 102 persons were executed for political reasons, 102! In the period of black reaction from 1905 to 1906, after the revolution, the blackest reaction cost the lives of 4,352 people. That’s all! That’s horrible! That’s all! And they’ve murdered tens of thousands of the same kind of revolutionists that the Czar murdered by the hundreds. There were just twenty-two members of Lenin’s Central Committee in October, 1917, the eve of the insurrection, the people who organized the insurrection: three of them died more or less normally – Lenin, Dzerzhinsky, Uritsky; two are still alive – Kollontai, Stalin. Five out of the 22. Where are the other 17, where are the other 17 who founded the Russian Revolution? Seventeen others shot as mad dogs, as fascists, as spies, as wreckers, as counter-revolutionists, as enemies of the people, as enemies of the working class, enemies of socialism, by Stalin. Stalin murdered five out of the seven chairmen of the Soviet executive committee; almost all the members and candidates of the Soviet executive; the heads and the leaders of practically every Republic – Ukraine, Georgia, White Russia, Uzbekistan, Transcaucasia – all the others. The majority of the commission that wrote the Stalin Constitution, the most democratic Constitution in the world – the majority of the commission that wrote it became fascist and were shot down like dogs. Two out of five marshals of the Red Army; three army group commanders out of six, ten army commanders out of fifteen, 57 army corps commanders out of 85, 110 divisional commanders out of 193, 202 brigade commanders out of 400 shot as mad dogs, spies, agents of Japan, of England, of France, of Germany. Thousands of lesser officers! The whole life of these men was devoted to the fight for socialism. They breathed, they thought, they dreamed, they ate, they drank nothing else. What happened to drive them – if we are to take Stalin’s version of these butcheries – what happened under Stalinism that drove them away from Stalinism, away from socialism, and into the arms of archreaction, Hitlerite fascism? That’s if we take your version! Isn’t that the most damning indictment that Stalin could make of his own socialism? That practically every one of the leaders in the fight for it, with trivial exceptions, hated and feared and despised his socialism so much that rather than share it, rather than tolerate it, they sold themselves to the most reactionary, the most sordid, the most rotten and corrupt imperialists in the world? You murdered the leaders of the Red Army, its great captains in the civil war, its giants, its architects, and its epic heroes. Then Stalin was free to destroy the army of socialism, of course, and establish the army of reaction which he has now.
The International – you sing it, don’t you? Not in Russia; it’s no longer the national anthem. They have a new national anthem of how “Great Russia established an indestructible union.” Great Russia! The term “general” was hated under the Czar, restored by Stalin. “Marshals” – that rank was destroyed under the Czar – restored by Stalin. Ranks, grades, class divisions, distinctions, privileges – restored by Stalin. And who were made the inspirers and models of the army? Under the names of whom did they go out to fight for socialism? Marshal Suvorov, the man who crushed the national revolution of Stanislav Poniatovsky, and Thaddeus Koscziuszko, the man who drowned in blood the peasant uprising of Pugachev! They even made medals – and the big breasts of the generals and marshals to this day are loaded down with them, aren’t they, or Suvorov and his right-hand man Kutuzov. They created an Order of Bogdan Khmelnitzky, the Ukrainian Ataman who centuries ago first introduced mass pogroms against the Jews and the Poles. It was under their banner, with their names on his lips, that Stalin sallied forth for his socialism! That’s what he has; Suvorov socialism, Khmelnitzky socialism! But not socialism as we ever understood it; not socialism to which we aspire with every fibre of our passion for freedom and the comradeship of man!
What have they done to the Bolshevik revolution, with its noble sentiments, its noble ambitions, and its noble goal? They’ve destroyed it and made Russia a nation of slave labor. Doesn’t every child know that there are millions of slave laborers in Russia? I don’t have the time, I will in my rebuttal; I will read you from the kodex, the photostatic copy of the kodex for “corrective labor institutions,” as they call them there – l0 millions of them at an absolute minimum. Here in “correction camps,” federal penitentiaries and state penitentiaries, we have what? – from US Census Bureau – 141,000 odd in state and federal penitentiaries out of a population of 145 million, five out of every 5,000 in prison. In England, 30,000 out of a population of 50 million, three out of every 5,000. In Russia, 10 million at least out of approximately 180 million, 277 out of every 5,000! Is that a sign of socialism? Is that what your socialism leads to!
[Interruption by Chairman Mills asking Shachtman to conclude. Shachtman asks for an extension which he will take from his summary if Browder doesn’t object.]
I want to conclude hastily.
I say even if Browder wants it, he’ll never live to see it!
What does he have to say about Tito? One word! One word! We’re discussing war or peace, Tito is an element in it. Why must Tito and his regime be liquidated? Aren’t their the same – the same regime as in Russia, same medals, same economy, same politics, same structure? He must be liquidated because he insists on exploiting the Yugoslav people instead of letting the Russians do it! That’s why he must be crushed, must he not? He must be crushed like Rajk was crushed in Hungary, like Gomulka is about to be crushed in Poland, like Kostov was crushed in Bulgaria.
Browder’s loyalty to Stalinism cannot be questioned, can it? His defense of Stalinist socialism, of Stalinist Russia, can’t be questioned, can it? You heard it yourself. But supposing this same Browder were in Russia, what would happen to him, what would have happened to him as far back as 1946? Suppose this same Browder, who calls Russia socialist, were in Hungary or Bulgaria, what would be his fate? Or suppose Browder’s Stalino-socialists were successful in establishing their socialism in this country, with Foster, and Green, and Dennis, and Childs and Minor and Don and all the rest of that perfidious crew at the head of it – [turning to Browder] they are perfidious, aren’t they? – who would be the first to go? Who would be the first to get the GPU bullet in the base of his skull? Who would be the first to be denounced in the obituary articles as a counter-revolutionary mad dog, a viper, a restorationist, a wrecker? Who would it be – Browder or Shachtman? That’s a sporting proposition!
[Interruption by Chairman Mills: Time’s up.]
When I saw him standing there at the podium, I said to myself: Rajk was the general secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party, and was shot, or hanged, or garrotted. Kostov was the general secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party. And when I thought of what happened to them, I thought of the former secretary of the American Communist Party, and I said to myself: There-there but for an accident of geography, stands a corpse!
Chairman Mills
There seems to be quite some difference between the two speakers. Before we have a rebuttal from Mr. Browder, whom I’m going to give 25 minutes because Mr. Shachtman exceeded his time to that extent, I want to let Mr. Kaplan of the Debs Society |
’s statement accurate. Yet it’s worth noting that oil statistics can be used to make a somewhat different argument about drilling and exploration.
From 2009 to 2010, offshore oil production rose by 14.9 percent. Prior to that, before Obama’s presidency, the offshore volume fell for several years, and it was erratic even during a phase in which it rose, EIA figures show.
Yet onshore oil production generally rose on federally owned land -- and did again in 2011, by 3.7 percent.
What does this say? To the White House, it says oil production on all public land is up; that it’s getting better and better on private land, where oil companies are chasing the boom in horizontal fracking; and that even last year’s drop on federal property, chiefly in the Gulf of Mexico, shouldn’t be regarded as a lack of commitment to offshore drilling
Making this case more forcefully, the White House on March 15 issued a blog post (to which we were pointed by the Interior Department) that broke the figures for oil production on public lands and water into annual averages over three-year periods. The most recent average, during the Obama presidency, was 661.7 millions of barrels of oil. That compares with an annual average of 585.3 million barrels during President George W. Bush’s last three years. The point of presenting it this way? The White House was able to show a 13 percent improvement over the previous administration.
So did the United States produce 14 percent less oil on its public lands last year, as Portman said? Yes.
Was his statement made in a context of needing to do more, or more specifically, of this president not doing enough? Yes.
He lent his voice to the ongoing debate of whether to allow more drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, in Alaska, and off the intercontinental shelf of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Fair enough.
The White House points to the broader measure of all oil production, including on private land, to show an improvement. That, too, is fair. But experts agree that most big boosts in production come from years of earlier exploration and drilling. Much of the current success was seeded under a different administration, just as Obama’s actions are expected to bear fruit later.
And at least part of the drop on public lands last year was due to the Deepwater Horizon disaster and oil spill and, according to BLM, an apparent shift by oil companies to private lands ripe for fracking.
That leaves us here: Portman’s fact was accurate: There was a 14 percent drop on public lands. Everything else can be teased out and spun for either party’s purposes. Under PolitiFact guidelines, when a statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information, it rates a Truth-o-Meter rating of Mostly True.The Senate’s Office of Compliance on Monday rejected Sen. Tim Kaine Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineTrump claims Democrats ‘don’t mind executing babies after birth’ after blocked abortion bill Democrats block abortion bill in Senate Trump unleashing digital juggernaut ahead of 2020 MORE’s (D-Va.) request for information about sexual harassment settlements in Congress, citing the Congressional Accountability Act’s confidentiality rules.
Earlier this month, Kaine asked the office to provide data about sexual harassment claims and settlements against members of the Senate and their staffers, with the intention of making the data public.
But in a letter to Kaine, reported by Politico, the office’s director, Susan Tsui Grundmann, wrote that the Congressional Accountability Act prevented the office from providing the detailed information he sought due to confidentiality requirements.
“The [Office of Compliance] shares your concern over the issue of sexual harassment in Congressional workplaces, and we stand ready to work with Members, Committees, and other employing offices to promote awareness and prevention of this problem,” Grundmann wrote.
In the letter, Grundmann said that her office does not have “investigatory authority” over discrimination claims, including sexual harassment.
“The [Office of Compliance] does not possess reliable information regarding the number of sexual harassment claims that have been filed or settled, the identities or positions of the individuals alleged to have committed sexual harassment, or why the parties reached settlements,” she wrote.
Kaine submitted his request on the day that Sen. Al Franken Alan (Al) Stuart FrankenVirginia can be better than this Harris off to best start among Dems in race, say strategists, donors Virginia scandals pit Democrats against themselves and their message MORE (D-Minn.) announced his resignation from the Senate after multiple women alleged that Franken had groped or forcibly kissed them in the past. In the same week, Reps. John Conyers John James ConyersDemocrats seek cosponsors for new 'Medicare for all' bill Virginia scandals pit Democrats against themselves and their message Women's March plans 'Medicare for All' day of lobbying in DC MORE Jr. (D-Mich.) and Trent Franks Harold (Trent) Trent FranksArizona New Members 2019 Cook shifts 8 House races toward Dems Freedom Caucus members see openings in leadership MORE (R-Ariz.) also stepped down over sexual misconduct accusations.
ADVERTISEMENT
The office had previously released data that showed more than $17 million in taxpayer dollars had gone to paying settlements involving Capitol Hill employees, but it was not clear how much of that was related to sexual harassment violations.
Grundmann noted that claims are filed against offices, not individuals, so it would be impossible to provide data that would distinguish between claims filed against members and those against staffers.
Kaine said in a statement that he was “disappointed” in the result of his inquiry and would “keep pushing” for the public release of the data.
“If Congress truly wants to fix a broken system, we need to understand the scope of the problem," he said.Senior European Union and Japanese officials reached a free-trade agreement on Wednesday, paving the way for leaders to conclude the political accord on Thursday, European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said.
“We’ve reached political agreement at ministerial level on an EU-Japan trade deal. We now recommend to leaders to confirm this at summit,” she tweeted after meeting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Brussels. “We ironed out the few remaining differences.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is due in Brussels on Thursday to sign a political agreement with the heads of the main European Union political institutions.
Senior EU officials said some issues, as well as legal technicalities, had to be worked out in the coming months before a full treaty would be ready for signing.
“We agreed on almost everything that is important for either side,” one senior EU official said after the talks.
He said that EU food and drinks exporters would in time get almost completely tariff-free access to nearly all Japanese markets — a key European demand — and European carmakers would “not be disappointed” by a transition to ending tariffs on Japanese vehicle imports. Carmakers’ lobbies had sought at least a seven-year period before tariffs disappear.In sports, losses are bound to happen. Especially in men’s college basketball, where the last undefeated national champion was the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers.
For the Ohio State men’s basketball team, though, losses have been a rarity the past two years — just 18 in 93 games.
But back-to-back losses to then-No. 5 Michigan State and then-No. 20 Iowa could cause some uneasiness around the program. That is not the case though, junior forward Sam Thompson said.
“I don’t think anyone in the locker room is hanging their heads. We’re obviously upset about the losses. None of us like to lose — we’re all competitors,” Thompson said Wednesday.
OSU (15-2, 2-2) coasted through its non-conference schedule and first two conference games, rising as high as No. 3 in the top 25. But the back-to-back setbacks — first on the road against the Spartans and then Sunday at home to Iowa — could have the team reeling as it prepares for its road contest with Minnesota (13-4, 2-2) Thursday. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m.
The Buckeyes, however, are doing their best to not let the negativity continue, junior guard Shannon Scott said.
“I think we were all down at first, we were pretty upset with the way we’ve been playing lately but we’re starting to get back a winner’s mentality now,” Scott said Wednesday. “I think we’re all positive, we all know what we have to do to become successful so we’re all sticking to that and we’re going to try and move on from there.”
OSU’s been here before, dropping multiple games once conference play began in the past two seasons. Two years ago, the Buckeyes lost two of four games over a 11-day span, and last season dropped three of four in February. Those teams rallied to earn trips to the Final Four and Elite Eight, though, which could prove useful for the rest of this year.
“Simply put, it’s a long season,” OSU coach Thad Matta said Wednesday. “I told (freshman forward) Marc Loving after the game, ‘This isn’t going to be the only time in your career you’re at a low point — trust me, it happens.’ It’s the reality for me coaching as long as I have. We’ve lost to two top-20 teams in back-to-back games and we’ve had a shot to win them both. I think the thing we’re trying to find is how do we get back to our consistent, our best basketball.”
The Golden Gophers took MSU to overtime Saturday in East Lansing, Mich., before ultimately falling 87-75.
“(Minnesota’s) a great team, they’ve got great guard lay and great bigs as well. We know nothing’s going to be easy,” Scott said. “We’re in the Big Ten now, it’s not like we’re playing some random team.”
Minnesota has four players who average in double figures scoring, led by junior guard Andre Hollins with 16.3.
“We know they’re not a slouch. We know that Minnesota, just like every team in this league can beat us,” Thompson said. “They’re a great team, they play a style of play that’s really caused a lot of problems for opponents this season. They force a lot of turnovers, they make a lot of threes. We know that if we don’t bring our best game or we could very easily lose this game.”
Despite his team’s losses last week, Matta said in order to get a win Thursday, OSU just has to get back to what was working before when it opened the season with 15 wins.
“I think just doing what we do, the consistency of what we do,” Matta said. “I say this all the time, know that we’re going to hold teams scoreless, not that we’re going to score every time we have the basketball but it’s one play after another play after another play after another play and then you put yourself in a position and you have a great chance to win the basketball game.”
Thompson agreed.
“We definitely weren’t the same team that we were the first few weeks of the season (last week),” Thompson said. “Whatever the issue may be with that, we just have to get it back.”Machetes by the door, drugs on the table - and mothers paid by the state to have babies with men they barely know. What HAVE we done to the British family?
It's the most destructive crisis of our age - a generation of violent, illiterate, lawless young men living outside civilised society.
The Mail asked a leading investigative journalist to spend nine months exploring their world.
Here, in the second part of a fascinating series, she reveals her chilling findings - and exposes how the benefit system is breeding boys condemned to a life of crime and despair because they've never known the benefit of a loving family...
When Prince opens his front door, the first thing you see is a machete hanging from a hook on the inside.
As a drug-dealer living alone on a South London estate, he needs to be on guard. With his Gucci trainers and single diamond ear-stud, he seems an unlikely candidate to be a caring father.
A generation of fatherless boys doomed to crime and failure
Yet Prince, who is of black Caribbean origin, has five children - by three different mothers - and sees them all regularly.
As he sorted out'sweeties' - ecstasy tablets - on a coffee table for his night's work, I asked him how he came to be a dad.
It always started the same way, he said: he'd start seeing a woman, and she'd tell him she was on the Pill.
Then two weeks later: 'Bang, she gets pregnant.' There was never any discussion about the pregnancy.
As far as he was concerned, they were barely an item at that stage - and they were certainly not about to move in together.
'I don't want you to be a lawyer, son. Just sell drugs'
So why did these women choose to have babies by a man they barely knew?
Prince, who is 37, laid the blame squarely on benefits: 'Women get money from the Government; men get eradicated. What do you need a man for? The Government has taken our place.
'I'm old-fashioned, from the ghetto, and I'm serious for my kids - but the Government is the provider now.'
Unfortunately, he is absolutely right. He may be a Peckham drug dealer, but he can clearly see what the Government has failed to register: that the benefit system is cutting fathers out of the equation.
Not only that, but it is condemning thousands more children every year to a poor start in life.
Politicians, for their part, blame the rising numbers of troubled children on the breakdown of the family and the absence of fathers.
This is a fundamental mistake: they are presuming there is a family in the first place.
Above all, the Government needs to recognise that benefits are a powerful incentive, particularly for young girls.
For the past few years, Britain has had the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe, with 90 per cent of births occurring outside marriage.
The consequences are dire. Babies born to teenage mothers are 60 per cent more likely to die in their first year, compared with those born to other parents.
And 72 per cent of children born to single mothers of any age will grow up in poverty.
The boys take to crime, the girls get pregnant
Two young men from council estates as far apart as the South Coast and the North-East told me girls giving birth at 16 or 17 were no longer the exception in their area, but the norm.
'They only go down that path because not too many paths are open to them. By 18 or 19, they've got two kids,' one of them said.
Over the past nine months, I have been investigating why teenage boys from low-income white and black Caribbean backgrounds are the most at risk of failing at school, and of being sidelined into a life of benefits and crime.
I talked to dozens of these boys themselves, as well as to men in their 20s and 30s from the same background - and found that most of them had grown up in single-parent families.
The cycle seemed likely to be repeated with their own children.
A young white man from the North-East, recently released from prison, told me: 'If I had a father, I would have got a good hiding and I probably wouldn't be here now.'
His 17-year-old friend, who is on the police list of top-ten troublemakers in his town, nodded. 'You need a dad for growing up,' he said.
An overhaul of the benefit system is clearly at the heart of transforming the lives of disadvantaged children. But to accuse their mothers of being feckless is unjust: they are merely responding to the economics of the situation.
They have grasped the consequences of our poor education system better than our politicians ever have.
Teenage drug-dealers always need to be on guard
Last year, less than half of teenagers finished compulsory schooling with five good GSCEs that included maths and English. Of those, the ones who do worst of all are children from lowincome families.
Then what happens? The boys take to crime - and the girls get pregnant.
Incredibly, more than a quarter of British children are now raised in single-parent families - and nine out of ten of them are headed by women.
Children with one parent, according to research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, are more likely to have behavioural problems, to do less well at school, have sex earlier, suffer from depression and turn to drugs and heavy drinking.
And, according to evidence from the U.S., they are more likely to get involved with gangs and crime.
A generation of fatherless boys doomed to crime and failure
Four out of ten of these children will have no contact at all with their fathers by the age of three. Indeed, for many boys, their first experience of spending any significant time with adult males is when they enter prison.
Prince, however, is determined not to let that happen with his own three daughters and two sons. On the day we met, he'd taken his eldest daughter, aged ten, to her new private secondary school, for which he is paying the fees.
Proudly showing me a photograph of her dressed in school uniform and playing the piano at a school concert, he commented: 'The school's wicked. They discipline the children and she learns the right values.'
Then he pointed to the ecstasy tablets on his coffee table. 'When she's here, I never discuss business or have weapons or pills lying around.
'Estate people leave everything in front of their kids: knives, guns, their stash, the lot. Not me,' he said, nodded emphatically. 'I try and show her the right way.'
By ensuring his daughter has a good education, he is doing the one thing most likely to give her a chance of escaping poverty and making a success of her life.
What future is there in Britain today for a girl without qualifications?
Skilled and hard-working immigrants now monopolise menial jobs, and the next step up - a job, for example, in catering or hairdressing - pays about £10,000 a year before tax.
Which is slightly less than a girl with two children receives in benefits, and without the incentive of somewhere to live rent-free.
In Streatham, South London, I overheard two young girls pushing buggies talking about a friend. 'Why she got pregnant?' asked one. 'She's got a good job!'
In other words, if you were in well-paid employment, with good prospects, there was no reason to have children.
Sir Norman Bettison, chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, summed up the situation starkly: 'We are talking here about the perverting influence of welfare. The more kids you have, the more money you get.'
Nor does that include the extras the mothers receive from the fathers of their various children.
As Prince pointed out: 'All those little trainers and bikes - £50 here, £40 there. If I had no children, I'd be a rich man now.'
Many single mothers are excellent parents, of course. But the Government has put disadvantaged girls in a position where the only career open to them, the only possibility of an independent life, is to have children - whether they want to or not, whether they are likely to be good mothers or not.
The state, as Prince pointed out, has indeed taken over the role of both husband and employer.
With a combination of financial incentives and poor schools, it is ensuring a steady supply of babies who start life with all the factors in place to become the next generation living on benefits or the proceeds of crime.
What is the Government doing about this cynical cycle of deprivation?
Over the past few years, it has come up with a plethora of schemes to intervene ever earlier in the life of a disadvantaged child. In other words, it has concentrated on the consequences of single parenthood - but not the cause.
Failing to address the poor education on offer at too many of our schools and the incentive of benefits is self-defeating.
What is the point of setting targets to end child poverty when the Government's policies are creating tomorrow's poorest children - and grandchildren? Between 1979 and
2003, the number of single parents more than doubled - from 1.4million to 3.2million.
Even Government advisors acknowledge that this is a major factor in the increase in child poverty.
So why hasn't the Government reformed the benefit system? It's as if they're offering car drivers a bonus for every crash - then acting surprised when accidents shoot up.
Boys with two parents are more likely to attend school regularly; they are also far less likely to be thrown out of school.
There is a wealth of research to show that boys, in particular, need fathers - but single mothers don't always see it that way.
In Manchester, I visited Simone, the mother of three boys from three different fathers - all well-known criminals in her community.
An attractive, slender black woman in her 30s, with elaborately tattooed shoulders, she was bouncing a baby on her lap in the sitting-room of her council flat.
At a side-table, next to an empty bottle of Moet and Chandon, her 18-year- old son Dion, who'd recently been convicted of driving without a licence, was folding up a pile of ironed clothes.
Dion had begun truanting in Year 9, and now Simone didn't know what to do with him. 'His school should have got the kids out more, taken them away on holidays and at weekends. One day's work experience would have helped,' she complained.
The idea of going to college held no appeal for Dion. 'I can't sit in one place too long,' he said.
Simone commented: 'You talk and talk and talk until you tired of talking. I don't want him to be a lawyer.' She turned to him: 'Just do your ting on the side [sell drugs] and have a job.'
Dion, she said, spends 'too much time' hanging about with his friends. 'It's boring, they're in each other's face all the time.
'That's where this violence comes from - boredom. One's got better trainers than another and they kick off.'
When I asked Dion about his father, he said: 'I don't know where he is - he's never played a part in my life.' Did Simone feel he lacked a father figure? 'Once upon a time, I would have said it didn't matter,' she said. 'Now I think it's important. You do need a man around.'
Simone is obviously a loving mother, but she had Dion at 16 and has never worked.
It hasn't occurred to her to march her son down to the local college to sign up; nor does she know anyone in work to give him a helping hand.
This is crucial because, according to Britain's chief inspector of schools, boys like Dion are unlikely to get it from school.
The requirement to include'work-related' and 'enterprise learning' in secondary schools has not yet been 'embraced wholeheartedly' by all, she admitted in her annual report.
The result? The number of vulnerable young people like Dion - who are not in education, employment or training - 'is alarming and unacceptable'.
The contrast between Dion and a group of boys living on an estate not 15 minutes' walk away was sharp. They looked similar: all seven of them, aged between 13 and 15, were wearing hoodies; and when I came across them, they were jumping up and down on a garage roof and throwing things to the ground.
But unlike Dion, these boys - one Somali, one Iraqi, two white, two black and one mixed race - could talk confidently about what they expected to be doing in five years' time.
The two white boys were attending Cadets and thinking about joining the Army.
Mustapha explained he wanted to be a plumber because'most of my dad's friends are plumbers' - and they'd offered him work experience.
Raphael played a lot of sport and planned to be a PE teacher. Hussain was going to be an engineer, like his uncle: 'My dad drops me off at my uncle's most weekends and he shows me what he's doing.'
What effect does a father have, I asked? 'You want to follow in their footsteps,' said one, and they loudly chorused their agreement.
Only Gabriel had relied on his mother to find him work experience. And Cody planned to work for his mother's boyfriend, who'd come out of prison, failed to find a job and started his own scrap-metal business.
As far as they knew, the families of their classmates weren't making any effort to find activities for them. 'So they go out,' said Mustapha. 'And follow bad boys.'
Steve said he knew his dad was sending him to Cadets 'because he doesn't want me getting into gangs. I could get seriously injured and hurt.'
And, poignantly, Raphael added:
'Everyone will give up on you, but a dad doesn't because he's your dad.'
Later, I talked to Bigs, a black man in his late 20s who is the former leader of one of the most notorious gangs in Brixton, South London.
There was a big divide at school, he said, between those who had single parents and the mainly white boys who had fathers.
At primary school, the boys 'had all started from the same place.' But when they all began misbehaving at 14, the white boys' fathers would send them off to the Cadets or to their mates, who worked in various manual trades, for training.
The father of one boy - 'a nut case, a real live-wire,' according to Bigs - took him to the Cadets and told the colonel: 'I don't care what you do to my boy, but he's going down the wrong road and needs straightening out.' Bigs, who was brought up by a single mother, wasn't so lucky.
Far from being taken in hand, he was serving his first jail sentence at 15.
The absence of a male role model has a particularly profound effect on disadvantaged boys during their teenage years.
A third of 14-to-25-year-olds questioned for a survey by the Prince's Trust did not have a parent whom they considered a role model.
More than half said they'd joined a gang to acquire a sense of identity, while a quarter said they were in search of someone to look up to.
These boys are unlikely to find male role models in schools. The number of male teachers has slumped to its lowest level in at least 20 years; and in primary school, 85 per cent of teachers are female. Even in youth offending teams, women make up the majority of the staff.
This year, according to the latest research, one in three children who live with a single mother will spend less than six hours a week with a male role model - whether a father figure, relative or teacher.
All the odds are stacked against them. Even children on the 'at risk' register are five times more likely to have single teenage mothers - as Prince knows all too well.
Two of his children, he discovered recently, were being neglected by their 19-year-old mother.
'The house was like a crack house: dirty clothes everywhere,' he said. 'She fed them crappy food, she left the kids [to] fall asleep in front of the TV. My boy was underweight and quiet.'
Social services removed the children and gave them to their maternal grandmother to bring up. But Prince's ex-girlfriend, he says, has made no attempt to get her children back.
He shrugged. 'She's never had a job. She's lived off the Government and what men give her.'
Now, she is pregnant by another man. Having another baby, she has told her friends, will allow her to keep her council flat.By Will Unwin
On and off the pitch Nathan Eccleston is a self-confessed risk-taker, something that has now seen the former Liverpool striker make the bold move to Hungary’s bottom club Békéscsaba. Sitting on the Romanian border, the town is not known for its football prowess, with the club picking up one piece of silverware in their 114-year history when they won the Hungarian Cup in 1988. Since leaving Kilmarnock last summer Eccleston has received a number of offers from all over the world, ranging from the lower leagues in England to Australia but he didn’t feel any of them were right for him until Békéscsaba came along.
Eccleston played a number of times in Europe. Credit: PA
“One of my former team-mates at Liverpool and Kilmarnock got approached by an agent asking if he knew of any players who wanted to move abroad. It’s something I’d wanted for a long time, so he got in touch with the guy and he made me aware there was interest in me from a team in Hungary. “I did some research on Google and looked up the team to see what I could find out about them, and it was better than the other options I had at the time, so I thought “why not?” “When I Googled it I didn’t check where it was on the map, to be honest; I checked about the club, players and ground but didn’t see where it was, so it was a bit of a surprise when I got off the plane at Budapest and had to drive for maybe three hours.
Eccleston has faced some fierce opponents in his time. Credit: PA
“I think a lot of people were surprised, even my only family were. I'm the type of person who thinks life is for living so if the type of opportunities come about and I think I can benefit from them, then I take them. It’s only three hours from Budapest to Manchester so it’s the same as being in Scotland, which is how I like to look at it.” Having arrived five weeks ago, Eccleston is building up his fitness and form, netting his first goal in a rare 2-0 win over Paksi on Saturday. The former Liverpool man is having to learn a new style of play and completely new culture off it. “On the pitch it’s been fine, I’ve been picking up some of the football jargon, but it’s a very difficult language so I think it would take me many years to fully understand it. The people at the football club have made me feel very welcome; I’m staying in a country hotel, which is very nice. It’s completely different way of living from back home; they don’t have some of the luxuries we take from granted, but I’m adjusting pretty well, I’d say. I’m enjoying it. “I didn’t play a competitive game for seven months, so I’ve got to get used to playing again. I got my first start as a striker on Saturday and scored in a good win against the team who are sixth in the league. Wins have been few and far between here this season so it was good to get on the scoresheet and help the team win.”
Eccleston had a spell at Charlton on loan. Credit: PA
Eccleston was given his professional debut at Liverpool by Rafa Benitez and Roy Hodgson gave him a Premier League chance at Anfield, but once Kenny Dalglish returned as manager the Manchester-born striker was never seen in the first-team again. The forward spent three spells out on loan at Huddersfield, Charlton and Rochdale clocking up almost 40 games, before being allowed to join Blackpool in the Championship in the summer following a play-off final loss to West Ham at Wembley. Time at Partick Thistle and Kilmarnock once his two years at Bloomfield Road followed, a period his enjoyment of the game was subdued due to a lack of time on the pitch as he appeared just 20 times in two years north of the border. A lot of soul searching took place during his time out of the game, including debating whether he wanted to play the game professionally again but he’s back and finding the game enjoyable once more.
Eccleston didn't play a competitive game under Kenny Dalglish. Credit: PA
“I’ve had a long time off and I’ve started thinking about football differently. I’m not the same nine-year-old boy who played in the park with no responsibility - this is people’s lives. It got to the stage with me and football where it wasn’t making me happy; I’d train Monday to Friday and it would come to the weekend and I wouldn’t always start so my game time wasn’t regular, which was frustrating. “Being away from it has allowed me to re-evaluate my life. Even in times when I’ve had offers I was still going to play five-a-side with my mates, people I went to school with, putting in your five pound to play, as I’ve always loved football. "I didn't know if I wanted to get back into the environment but in the four to five weeks I’ve been here, it’s been great. It’s a different mentality here than it is in England and that was a key factor for me to come here.”
Eccleston never got a run of games at Blackpool. Credit: PA
Eccleston endured a tough spell at Blackpool as the club’s struggles really began, which has seen three calamitous seasons at Bloomfield Road, consisting of losses, fan protests against the owners and frequent laughable events on and off the pitch, something which caused the 25-year-old to question if he had the desire to carry on playing the sport he loves professionally.
“There were times where I was under contract at Blackpool and my two previous clubs where I considered not playing and that’s coming from the heart. I was there doing something I loved but at the end of the week I wasn’t playing. There are players who are happy to pick up their wages when they’re not playing, but I’m not that type of person, I’m very ambitious. It’s on record that if I’m not playing, I’m upset, I show my emotions in a different way. I always went into training and tried my hardest, but got to the stage where it was really frustrating. “There have been periods in the last seven months where I came to terms with the fact if it didn’t happen, it didn’t happen. The offers I was getting from the lower leagues weren’t ideal. It was a difficult time but it was a good time to get to know myself and what I want as a person rather than needing a job.”
Eccleston had a spell with Coventry. Credit: PA
After some flashes of his ability in the Nemzeti Bajnokság, Eccleston has re-found the joy he first had playing as a kid and is hoping what he learned at Melwood can aid him in Hungary, which he describes as being a more technical style than England. “The fun side of it for me has now come back after being out for seven months, just playing five-a-side with my mates and now here where I’m allowed to play in a natural structure. All professional players play five-a-side together in pre-season and they will always coming off having enjoyed it, as it’s more fun. “My dad used to say to me “don’t ever become a robot, don’t let them coach your instincts out of you”. I’ve always said I’d rather fail being me rather than a carbon copy of someone else, that’s not who I am. As a youngster there were a lot of foreign coaches and managers at Liverpool, so we were often taught how Spanish and Dutch players were taught, which should help me now playing in Europe.
Eccleston scores his first goal for his new clubThe CW has renewed “Whose Line Is It Anyway” and “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.”
CW president Mark Pedowitz announced the pickups Tuesday at the Television Critics’ Assn. press tour at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.
“Whose Line” is hosted by comedian Aisha Tyler with cast members Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie, plus special guest comedians in each episode.
“Penn & Teller: Fool Us” is a one-hour, live studio audience competition in which each episode features aspiring magicians to perform their best trick to fool the legendary duo.
Airing back-to-back on Mondays, “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” and “Whose Line Is It Anyway” have been CW’s top-rated series of summer. The former, which is averaging a 0.55 rating in 18-49 and about two million viewers overall in same-night Nielsen estimates, last night drew its largest audience ever (2.35 million) — the network’s best performance in the Monday-at-8 hour since “One Tree Hill” in the fall of 2009. “Whose Line” is averaging a 0.45 in 18-49 and about 1.4 million viewers overall.
Rick Kissell contributed to this report.Huge facilities all over the world are now packed with Bitcoin mining hardware. A single facility near the Arctic Circle in Sweden boasts 45,000 machines running around the clock.
Why? Well, if your computer finds the correct answer to a problem in computing a hash algorithm, your bitcoin wallet address is built into the answer with 25 more bitcoin. Also, your bitcoin address collects the transaction fees implicit in that answer. You get these additional bitcoin after 99 further blocks are built onto the system. Today, at $196 per bitcoin, the 25 new bitcoin are worth $4,900. So, there are good reasons to dedicate additional computing power to the task.
Bitcoin Mining Still Growing
As a result, bitcoin mining is one of the fastest growing sectors in information technology (IT) today. More computers are being added to the task all the time. As the blockchain grows, more bitcoin are added to the ones already in circulation. Over time, the rate at which new bitcoin are added is scheduled to slow down, until bitcoin mining is performed exclusively for the transaction processing fees when the system maxes out at 21 million total coins in circulation.
Next year, 2016, the award for computing the next bitcoin block drops from 25 to 12.5. Will we see a drop in bitcoin mining activity? Perhaps. Already, the reduced exchange rate for bitcoins into dollars seems to be provoking some move toward consolidation in the industry. That comes at a time when bitcoin has again set a new record this month in the number of transactions occurring on a single day, over 105 thousand events.
A fairly typical transaction fee of 0.0001 bitcoin is applied to many of these events, implying 10.5 bitcoin, or about $2,058 in possible transaction fee revenue for bitcoin miners. Thus, transaction fees may prove to be attractive to bitcoin miners even after the new bitcoin award begins to drop.
ASICs – Bitcoin Miners That Are Game Changers
Bitcoin mining began in 2009, using the basic Bitcoin mining software that is included with the original Bitcoin wallet software, with nearly any technically sophisticated user able to set up a computer to solve the mathematical puzzles involved. By early 2013, however, the first application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or bitcoin hash chips, began shipping. These chips are Bitcoin mining hardware that are only useful for mining SHA-256 cryptocurrencies, and make the use of ordinary personal computers, or networks of general-purpose computers, obsolete |
find something that does brilliantly on all three dimensions. Rather, look for what does best on balance. A problem could be worth tackling if it’s extremely big and neglected, even if it seems hard to solve.
To get the full details on the framework set out here, see this in-depth article, which also tells you how to make your own comparisons of areas.
Your personal fit and expertise
There’s no point working on a problem if you can’t find any roles that are a good fit for you – you won’t be satisfied or have much impact.
So, once you’ve identified problems that have a good combination of being big, neglected and solvable:
Consider all the roles you could take to contribute to them. We cover this in a later article. Narrow those down based on where you expect to be most successful. We’ll discuss how to assess personal fit in a later article.
If you’re already an expert in a problem, then it’s probably best to work within your area of expertise. It wouldn’t make sense for, say, an economist who’s crushing it to switch into something totally different. However, you could still use the framework to narrow down sub-fields e.g. development economics vs. employment policy.
So what’s the world’s most urgent problem?
What are the biggest problems in the world that no-one is talking about and are possible to solve? That’s what we’ll cover next.
Take a breakAfter a week-long break, the trial of two men accused of killing Hamilton, Ont.'s Tim Bosma resumes Monday.
Dellen Millard, 30, of Toronto and Mark Smich, 28, of Oakville, Ont., are accused of killing Bosma, 32, who lived in the suburban Ancaster area of Hamilton. Both have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.
The trial last sat on Thursday, March 10, when it heard from an uncle of Millard, Robert Burns. Burns, a veterinarian who has a practice in Vaughan, Ont., denied any intention of getting into the pet cremation business with his nephew when asked by the Crown prosecutor in a Hamilton court.
Burns said he was "absolutely blown away" when he heard about a suggestion that he might have been planning a pet cremation business venture with his nephew.
The uncle said he had taken care of Millard for a time, but that they were not close.
Bosma was last seen on May 6, 2013, after taking two men on a test drive of a pickup truck he was trying to sell. The 32-year-old was missing for more than a week before human remains were found in an animal incinerator on an Ayr, Ont., farm owned by Millard.
The prosecution will continue its case Monday. The Superior Court trial is being held at the John Sopinka Courthouse in Hamilton.
CBC reporter Adam Carter is at court each day reporting live on the trial. You can read his live blog below starting at 10 a.m. ET. On mobile? Follow along here.(CBS/AP) SPOKANE, Washington - A human finger found inside a fish at Idaho's Priest Lake has been traced to a wakeboarder who lost four fingers in an accident more than two months earlier.
Fisherman Nolan Calvin found the finger while he was cleaning the trout he caught Sept. 11. He put it on ice and called the Bonner County, Idaho, sheriff's office, the Spokesman-Review newspaper reported.
Detectives were able to get a fingerprint off the severed digit. They matched it to a fingerprint card for Haans Galassi, 31, of Colbert, Washington, and called him Tuesday morning.
The finger was in remarkably good condition at the time of recovery, according to CBS affiliate KREM in Spokane.
Investigators learned that Galassi lost four fingers from his left hand in a June 21 accident on the same lake where the fish was caught.
"The sheriff called me and told me he had a strange story to tell me," Galassi said Tuesday. "He said that a fisherman was out on Priest Lake, and I pretty much knew exactly what he was going to say at that point.
"I was like: Let me guess, they found my fingers in a fish."
The fish was caught about eight miles from where Galassi had lost his fingers, the sheriff's office said.
Galassi had been on a camping trip at the scenic lake when he decided to go wakeboarding. He told the newspaper his hand got caught in a loop in the towline, and he couldn't pull it out before the line tightened behind the boat that was going to pull him.
When he finally broke free, he didn't feel much pain. But then he looked at his hand.
"I pulled my hand out of the water and it had pretty much lopped off all four fingers," he said. "It was a lot of flesh and bone, not a lot of blood."
He was taken by helicopter to a Spokane hospital.
Galassi has been undergoing therapy twice a week for his injured hand. He still has half of his index and pointer fingers on that hand.
"I can still grip things and grab and hold the steering wheel with it," Galassi said.
The sheriff's office offered to return the finger, but Galassi declined.
"I'm like, 'uhhh, I'm good,'" he said.
Detective Sgt. Gary Johnston of the sheriff's office said the agency will keep the digit for a few weeks in case Galassi changes his mind.
"There's still three more, too," Johnston said. "It's hard to say where those are going to end up."You’re not supposed to go on the Internet when you’re cast as a superhero. But after taking on Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four—a character originally written with blond hair and blue eyes—I wanted to check the pulse out there. I didn’t want to be ignorant about what people were saying. Turns out this is what they were saying: “A black guy? I don’t like it. They must be doing it because Obama’s president” and “It’s not true to the comic.” Or even, “They’ve destroyed it!”
It used to bother me, but it doesn’t anymore. I can see everybody’s perspective, and I know I can’t ask the audience to forget 50 years of comic books. But the world is a little more diverse in 2015 than when the Fantastic Four comic first came out in 1961. Plus, if Stan Lee writes an email to my director saying, “You’re good. I’m okay with this,” who am I to go against that?
Some people may look at my casting as political correctness or an attempt to meet a racial quota, or as part of the year of “Black Film.” Or they could look at it as a creative choice by the director, Josh Trank, who is in an interracial relationship himself—a reflection of what a modern family looks like today.
This is a family movie about four friends—two of whom are myself and Kate Mara as my adopted sister—who are brought together by a series of unfortunate events to create unity and a team. That’s the message of the movie, if people can just allow themselves to see it.
Sometimes you have to be the person who stands up and says, “I’ll be the one to shoulder all this hate. I’ll take the brunt for the next couple of generations.” I put that responsibility on myself. People are always going to see each other in terms of race, but maybe in the future we won’t talk about it as much. Maybe, if I set an example, Hollywood will start considering more people of color in other prominent roles, and maybe we can reach the people who are stuck in the mindset that “it has to be true to the comic book.” Or maybe we have to reach past them.
To the trolls on the Internet, I want to say: Get your head out of the computer. Go outside and walk around. Look at the people walking next to you. Look at your friends’ friends and who they’re interacting with. And just understand this is the world we live in. It’s okay to like it.Prominent Big Island farmer Richard Ha and former Maui Land & Pineapple CEO David Cole were among the eight medical marijuana dispensary license winners announced today, beating out dozens of others including actor Woody Harrelson and Hollywood producer Shep Gordon.
SHARE
ADVERTISING
Prominent Big Island farmer Richard Ha and former Maui Land & Pineapple CEO David Cole were among the eight medical marijuana dispensary license winners announced today, beating out dozens of others including actor Woody Harrelson and Hollywood producer Shep Gordon.
Here is the list of winners:
Oahu:
>> Aloha Green Holdings Inc.: Thomas Wong, Charles Lee
>> Manoa Botanicals LLC: Brian Goldstein, former CEO of Sunrise Capital
>> TCG Retro Market 1 LLC: Tan Yan Chen, Colbert Matsumoto, Richard Lim
Hawaii island:
>> Hawaiian Ethos LLC: Shelby Floyd
>> Lau Ola LLC: Richard Ha, Dylan Shropshire
Maui:
>> Maui Wellness Group LLC: Gregory Park, David Cole
>> Pono Life Sciences Maui LLC: William Mitchell Jr., Robert Wong
Kauai:
>> Green Aloha Ltd.: Justin Britt, co-founder of Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers
TCG Retro Market’s Matsumoto is an insurance executive and recent addition to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board, while Lim is a former director of the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Matsumoto is also on the board of Oahu Publications Inc., parent company of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Dispensaries can open as soon as July 15.
A four-member panel reviewed nearly 66 applications to open dispensaries based on criteria including companies’ proof of financial stability, ability to comply with security requirements and being able to meet patient needs.
The panel wouldn’t discuss why they selected and rejected particular dispensaries, but the health department said it expects to release the scores of each applicant in the next two weeks.
“It’s a feeling of huge responsibility and potential for doing good, so it’s lots of emotions,” said Ha of Lau Ola. “We’re really happy to participate in this, but we got to do this right and we fully intend to do that.”
Ha said his company already has a lease on a property and building plans for facilities, but he expects that the dispensary won’t be up and running until after July.
Video game entrepreneur Henk Rogers of Blue Planet Healing was among dozens of applicants who weren’t selected for a license. Rogers, 61, is famous for designing the video game “Tetris” more than 20 years ago, and lives in Hawaii in an entirely solar-powered home.
“We look forward to applying for a medical marijuana dispensary license in the future should the Department of Health decide that the granting of additional licenses to operate a medical marijuana dispensary is in the best interest of the people of the state of Hawaii,” Blue Planet Healing said in a statement.
Dispensary applicants are required to pay a $75,000 licensing fee to the Health Department within seven days of receiving written notice of their selection.
Applicants were required to have $1 million cash, plus $100,000 for each dispensary location. The department must inspect facilities before they can open.
The law allows medical marijuana businesses to have two production centers and two retail dispensaries, for a total of 16 dispensaries statewide.
Six are allowed on Oahu, four on Hawaii island, four on Maui and two on Kauai.
Hawaii became the first state to legalize medical marijuana through the legislative process 16 years ago. Under a law passed in 2015, the state could grant eight licenses.
Industry experts say Hawaii’s medical marijuana businesses could be confronted with challenges unlike those in other states, such as navigating rules that ban inter-island transport and limit the number of growers.
They say the new Hawaii industry could also face problems such as the nation’s highest electricity costs for indoor growing and a thriving underground market.DIGG THIS
Frdric Bastiat famously observed that the State costs us in ways we can see and ways we cannot see. Economists tend to focus on the second type because they elude public perceptions. What inventions are we denied because of regulations? What might have been done with the resources that are diverted in taxes or higher prices due to protectionism? The answers demonstrate that, because of intervention, we are worse off than we know.
Sometimes, however, we should also look at the potentially seen costs of the State, if only because the State doesn’t want us to see those either. These are the direct destructions caused by some State activity, most especially war. Seeing war in photographs changes things. It causes us to observe the State’s war and what it is doing to people: us and them.
This is why the State doesn’t want pictures of US wounded or dead circulating in public. The media mostly obey. Did you ever notice that? You are being shown only what the government wants you to see. The State does not want you to see dead soldiers or suffering families of those shot and killed.
Instead the State wants you to believe that the Iraq War is about patriotism, 9/11, national pride, the campaign to make you safer, the administering of justice, manhood and courage, and all the rest of the cover-ups for what war really is: murder and destruction paid for by you and me and made legal solely because it is the State and not someone else doing it.
Take a picture of dead soldier, or the child of a killed Iraqi family, broadcast it on your blog, and what happens? Photo journalist Zoriah Miller has found out. He was kicked out of his "embed," which is the name for the pack of journalists permitted to travel with a group of soldiers and report what those in command want reported. Afterwards, he was prohibited from traveling in any Marine-patrolled area of Iraq. The military command worked to get him kicked out of the country altogether.
Yes, it all seems very pre-modern and primitive, and contrary to all our pieties about the free flow of information, the first amendment and all that. But from the government’s point of view, it is running the war, and it should control what people know about it to the same extent it controls everything else about the war. As a result, after 4,000 dead soldiers, countless hundreds of thousands of Iraqi dead, millions of wounded on all sides, there are only a handful of bloody pictures to be found anywhere.
Amazing isn’t it, just how effective the State can actually be when it cares intensely about something? And why does it care so much? One reason, they say, is that photos provide the enemy with information about the effectiveness of their attack and the response. In effect, that’s like claiming that anything but approved propaganda amounts to subversion and treason. In any case, we can be pretty darn sure that when the enemy makes a hit, the enemy knows about it.
Another claim — and actually they have said the same thing from World War I until the present day — their main interest is in protecting the families of the dead from shock, privacy violation, and humiliation. Maybe that sounds plausible, but another way to look at it is that the State is most especially interested in continuing to foster the myth that these kids are dying for their country, and there are no more important people to convince of that than the parents of the dead.
But actually, only the most naïve could possibly believe that this is what the rules are wholly about. They want to protect the rest of us from reality. The Vietnam war lost massive support at home when the military loosened up on photojournalism. The handful of pictures we have from World War II all date from a period after FDR too bowed to public pressure.
At one level, it is pathetic that we need pictures to underscore what war is all about. But since the ancient world, the masses at large have proven susceptible to believing every myth about the grandeur and glory of war. We imagine that we as a people are going abroad to bring justice, truth, and liberty to some unenlightened and threatening foreign tribe. This has been the constant theme since the ancient world.
Then we see the pictures. It turns out that the unenlightened tribe is a collection of individuals pretty much like us. They are made of flesh and blood, have families, worship God, and struggle with pretty much the same issues that all people everywhere have always struggled with. There is no great glory in killing them, nor in being killed by them.
But the State says that sometimes war is necessary. If our masters really believe that, why hide its costs? Let us see precisely what we are getting into here. If it is justified, let us see why and how, and let us observe what we are giving up in exchange for the just war.
The truth is that the State must hide not only its wars but all of its activities. It hides its inflation. It hides the effects of its taxation and its protectionism. It fears anyone who draws the cause-and-effect connection between its activities and their deleterious consequences for the rest of us. It is the most destructive force in our world. Because that truth is so momentous, the State does everything possible to hide the smallest drop of blood.
The State wants us to all go on with our lives, believing it, loving it, and seeing only the pictures it wants us to see.
Lew Rockwell Archives
The Best of Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has announced that it will not proceed with a policy that would, it said, have restricted “the choice that members currently have as to how they manage their pension provision” and risked “creating an artificial transfer market up to 2012”.
Draft legislation published by the DWP in June would have prevented the transfer of many final salary or defined benefit pension rights to defined contribution schemes.
But the department has now said it will allow contracted-out defined benefit rights to be transferred to contracted-in schemes when contracted-out defined contribution schemes disappear in April 2012. This is when the option to contract out of the state second pension into a defined contribution scheme is being abolished.
Fiona Matthews, a senior consultant at Towers Watson, the consultancy firm, said: “Ministers keep saying that people responsible enough to have saved for retirement can be trusted to make their own choices about how to take their retirement income. Restricting transfer options would have been at odds with that. To its credit, the Government has been prepared to think again.
But she added: “People should think very carefully before moving their pension out of a defined benefit scheme where a former employer underwrites risks such as those relating to investment and longevity.
“However, this can be an attractive option for some who want more flexibility about how and when to take their benefits – especially if they are in poor health and could take advantage of impaired annuity rates – or who can afford to take risks with their investments in pursuit of better returns.”
Robert Graves of Rowanmoor Pensions said: "For many, keeping benefits in a defined benefit scheme will be the right thing to do to, so it is important that safeguards are put in place to protect members. Professional financial advice is critical when transferring pension benefits.”
Steve Webb, the pensions minister, said: "The abolition of contracting out on a defined contribution basis will provide an important simplification for schemes and members. We listened to the views of our stakeholders during our recent consultation and we have decided to allow transfers from contracted-out defined benefits schemes to non-contracted-out schemes following abolition.
"However, we will introduce safeguards to ensure that members are aware of the implications of transferring."
Plan your retirement and pension with Telegraph Retirement ServicesJed Henry and Dave Bull are the artists behind Ukiyo-e Heroes. Ukiyo-e Heroes takes classic video game characters and reimagines them in the style of traditional Ukiyo-e prints.
Ukiyo (or “Floating World”), which first came about in the Yoshiwara district, described an urban lifestyle of Japan during the Edo-period (1600-1867), and it was in this district where the Ukiyo-e prints originated. Ukiyo-e prints, or “Pictures of the Foating World,” depicted heroes, villains, and monsters, all filled with vibrant colour and creativity, which Japan is still known for today.
Reimagining their favourite characters in the style of Ukiyo-e prints allows Ukiyo-e Heroes to pay homage to Japan and the influence it has had on the video game industry. Continue reading past the break to view the prints in full.
Ukiyo-e HeroesFacebook shares are the only hard data Natural News seems to care about.
Screenshot via Facebook
Have you heard that eating whole lemons prevents cancer? Or that bathing in Himalayan salt rids the body of harmful toxins? That eating hijiki seaweed can delay hair graying? If you have a few Facebook friends, you’ve probably encountered some of these claims. The website Natural News —which seems like a parody but is unfortunately quite serious—published these preposterous stories, and many others just as silly, last week alone.
Hokum like this is best ignored, but hundreds of thousands of Americans fail to do so. Natural News has achieved astonishing traction on social media, garnering Facebook shares in the high five and low six figures. These numbers should trouble you—Natural News has an uncanny ability to move unsophisticated readers from harmless dietary balderdash to medical quackery to anti-government zealotry.
Let’s start by deconstructing the claim that eating whole lemons staves off cancer. The author cites two medical journal articles. She badly mischaracterizes the first, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 1999. The study described the isolation of three compounds, known as coumarins, from lemon peel. Coumarins exhibit tumor-suppressing properties in a laboratory dish, but that does not mean that eating lemon peel prevents cancer. Even if the oral ingestion of coumarins were convincingly shown to fight cancer in a laboratory animal, we still wouldn’t know how much lemon peel would be required for a human to experience the same effects or whether you could tolerate the dose.
The second study the author cites is an enormous overreach. No one enjoys biostatistics, but bear with me and you’ll be better prepared to identify weak studies in the future. The study, published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer in 2000, purported to show a correlation between consumption of lemon peel and diminished cancer risk. The authors surveyed 242 skin cancer survivors and 228 controls about their citrus consumption habits, but the questionnaire wasn’t externally validated and has some screwy definitions. (Eating citrus peel “often,” for example, is defined as “50-75 percent of the time.” What does that mean?) The authors did not adequately control for race or skin tone, which is an important variable in skin cancer studies. The sample size was much too small. Only 163 of the 470 study participants reported eating citrus peel, and just 28 of them admitted to eating citrus peel often. That’s not enough to prove that eating lemon peel prevents skin cancer. In addition, the statistical correlation is very weak, close to undetectable. Had one more person with cancer reported eating citrus peel, the relationship would likely have disappeared. In fairness, the study authors acknowledged the small sample size and the need for more substantial follow-ups, but everyone knows how these correlational studies are reported in the media. This is why you should look for patterns in scientific literature rather than relying on individual studies.
Anytime someone tells you that eating something prevents cancer, your BS detector should start a-clanging. Natural News is full of these beauties. In addition to whole lemons, the site pushes organic green shakes, cilantro, blueberries, and spirulina as surefire cancer fighters. Whisper it, though, because Natural News has exclusive information suggesting that the government will silence anyone who pushes natural cancer cures.
We’ll never be rid of tripe like this—shortcuts to immortality are irresistible—but it’s important not to confuse hopeful superstitions with science. If you loosen your grip on the anchor of evidence-based medicine, you’ll find yourself drifting dangerously toward conspiracy theory.
You probably know what’s coming next—vaccines and autism, of course. Natural News loves to prey on vulnerable parents, and it’s jumped all over questionable preliminary studies linking autism with everything from gluten to air pollution to antidepressants to the “Western lifestyle.” But the site’s drumbeat of support for the thoroughly debunked claim that vaccines cause autism is particularly shameful.
In case you’ve managed to miss this “controversy” (where have you been and congratulations, by the way), a 1998 paper in the influential medical journal The Lancet claimed that the vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella caused autism. Sixteen years and many preventable measles outbreaks later, we know for certain that the claim is wrong. Literally hundreds of thousands of children have participated in studies around the world showing no association between vaccines and autism. A 2011 Institute of Medicine review of thousands of different studies reached the same conclusion. The Lancet has withdrawn the original paper and Andrew Wakefield, its author, lost his medical license, in part because he failed to disclose that lawyers preparing to sue vaccine manufacturers helped fund his research.
None of this has deterred a small number of evidence-averse anti-vaccine campaigners, who think there is an international, inter-governmental conspiracy including thousands of doctors working for Big Vaccine. Natural News is, of course, bouncing along giddily on the bandwagon. In September, for example, the site published a story claiming that the government has “once again conceded” that the MMR vaccine causes autism. Here’s what actually happened. In the 1980s, the federal government set up a fund for people who may have been harmed by vaccines. Although such injuries are extremely rare, vaccines are administered so broadly that tort claims could clog up the courts and deter drug manufacturers and doctors from providing vaccines.
The fund does not compensate parents who believe their children developed autism as a direct result of receiving a vaccination—the fund’s administrators rejected that link in a series of test cases. However, some researchers believe that certain vaccines may in rare cases prompt an adverse reaction and cause encephalopathy, at a rate of about one case in 310,000 vaccine recipients. As a result, the fund pays children who were diagnosed with encephalopathy shortly after receiving a vaccine, whether or not they can prove causation. In some cases, children with encephalopathy are later diagnosed with autism. However, just as researchers have been unable to prove a causal link between vaccines and autism, they have been unable to produce convincing evidence that encephalopathy causes autism.
Evidence be damned, though. When the vaccine injury fund compensates an encephalopathy victim—whether or not autism is involved—sites like Natural News describe it as a government admission that vaccines cause autism. It’s nothing of the sort, but this unique brand of yellow journalism has earned the site 75,000 Facebook shares and counting. That’s the only hard data Natural News cares about.
The obvious next move is anti-government propaganda. An August headline claimed, “People Who Grow Their Own Food Labeled ‘Extremist’ by Dept. of Defense” (more than 33,000 Facebook shares). That’s not even close to true. In fact, a Department of Defense training manual on extremism stated, “Nowadays, instead of dressing in sheets or publicly espousing hate messages, many extremists will talk of individual liberties, states’ rights, and how to make the world a better place.” Both the conservative site Judicial Watch, which obtained the manual, and Natural News equate this to claiming that everyone who supports individual liberties is an extremist. If you’ve managed to read this far—or, if you’re able to read at all—I don’t have to explain to you why that interpretation misrepresents the Pentagon’s views. In addition, after reading through the entire DOD manual, I can’t find any comments whatsoever about people who grow their own food. (Natural News did not respond to requests for comment.)
When one of your Facebook friends posts a link to a story about spirulina boosting brain function or how to cure pneumonia with vitamin C, I beg you to respond. A simple “bogus” will help halt their descent into insanity induced by Natural News. (That’s a causal link you can believe in.)Photo courtesy of Shakur Stevenson's Twitter account
U.S. Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson will likely make his pro debut on April 22 at StubHub Center in Carson, California, Bob Arum told RingTV.com on Thursday.
Newark’s Stevenson would fight underneath a loaded card that would also include featherweight titleholder Oscar Valdez’s defense against Miguel Marriaga. Super middleweight titleholder Gilberto Ramirez is also scheduled to defend his WBO strap on the card against Max Bursak, Arum said. Arum said he was working on attaching a network to the show and that Stevenson’s pro debut would be televised. “It has to be,” Arum said.
Stevenson signed with Top Rank earlier this month, surprising some who felt the talented featherweight may go instead with either Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Roc Nation Sports, who had also, according to Stevenson, been pursuing him.
No posts found.Edward J. Tutunjian, shown with his wife, Nancy, in December, will sell his taxi medallions and several properties in the Fenway to developer Jay Doherty.
The decades-long reign of Boston’s “taxi king” is coming to an end.
Edward J. Tutunjian — whose Boston Cab empire crumbled amid competition from Uber and allegations of worker exploitation that triggered a federal investigation — has agreed to sell his company, 362 taxi medallions, and several properties in the Fenway to developer Jay Doherty for approximately $145 million.
The deal settles a brief legal skirmish between Tutunjian and Doherty, whose development company, Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, sued the Boston Cab owner in December for allegedly walking away from a contract the sides signed earlier in 2016. But after a state judge temporarily blocked the sale of the Fenway properties to another party while the dispute was litigated, Tutunjian agreed to sell everything to Doherty after all.
Advertisement
“We have an airtight contract,” Doherty said in an interview. “They agreed to honor it, and we’re very happy.”
Get Talking Points in your inbox: An afternoon recap of the day’s most important business news, delivered weekdays. Sign Up Thank you for signing up! Sign up for more newsletters here
Tutunjian did not respond to requests for comment.
Doherty said his primary interest is in Tutunjian’s property, 2.1 acres across four parcels in the red-hot Fenway area. He plans to build a large residential development on the property, while finding a transportation company to operate the taxi business.
In 2016, a federal judge fined Tutunjian $2 million and sentenced him to 18 months in a halfway house after he pleaded guilty to payroll tax evasion, failing to pay overtime to employees, hiring illegal immigrants, and helping workers win federal housing subsidies for which they didn’t qualify.
Those charges stemmed from a 2013 Boston Globe Spotlight Team investigation, which reported that Tutunjian’s managers exploited Boston Cab’s largely immigrant workforce by demanding petty bribes in exchange for shifts and garnishing drivers’ pay to make up for supposed fare shortfalls. IRS agents raided Boston Cab’s Fenway headquarters two months after the series was published and hauled away boxes of financial records.
Advertisement
But the emergence of Lyft, Uber, and other ride-hailing services has arguably done the most damage to Boston Cab. In his lawsuit, Doherty said Tutunjian told him that the decision by public officials to allow ride-hailing firms to operate under less regulation than taxis, and the resulting depreciation of Boston Cab and its medallions, were the primary reasons why he decided to sell.
Some cab drivers are furious that Tutunjian, despite his conviction, is poised to walk away with a $145 million payday.
“He’s not a businessman — he’s a liar,” fumed Ahmed Ali Farah, a Somali immigrant who drove for Boston Cab in the early 2000s. “Those cabs he’s selling, they’re not his. All the money came from the drivers. If there’s justice in this state, the drivers, they own it. But as always, Eddie is the winner and we are the losers.”
Farah, who sued Tutunjian in 2004 for disability discrimination, said there was one silver lining: “I am happy he’s not going to be anyone’s boss anymore.”
The purchase has yet to close, as Doherty said he is still conducting due diligence on Tutunjian’s holdings. Among the complications: arranging the transfer of Tutunjian’s properties and medallions, which are held by dozens of paper corporations.
Advertisement
Doherty will also need approval from the Boston Police Department’s Hackney Carriage Unit to take possession of the medallions. Last summer, with the federal case looming, Tutunjian received police permission to transfer his medallions to his children and his wife, Nancy Tutunjian. But police officials froze that transfer after Tutunjian pleaded guilty.
A police spokesman told the Globe this week the hackney unit ultimately concluded Nancy Tutunjian was “suitable to hold the medallions,” but that the unit “has since learned that the transfer to Nancy has not occurred and other options are being considered by the medallion owner.”
Doherty already has an idea for what he wants to build on the real estate, located near the intersection of Queensberry and Kilmarnock streets: a multifamily residential complex. Zoning rules for the Fenway, he said, would allow a project as large as 400,000 square feet. However, he promised to meet with nearby residents before pushing ahead with redevelopment.
Neighbors, Doherty said, “could be really happy that some operations are departing, but may have reservations about other things, like height.”
But if Doherty’s path to redeveloping the Fenway land is long, the challenge of taking over Boston Cab is even more daunting.
The taxi business is in free fall, mostly thanks to competition from Uber and Lyft. Ridership in Boston is down in recent years, and the value of medallions has plummeted — from nearly $700,000 earlier this decade to below $100,000 by the end of 2016. Several owners who had tried to sell their medallions recently received no offers.
Moreover, some medallion owners say they are having trouble finding drivers willing to pay them for a shift behind the wheel. Advocates for drivers have blasted public officials for not moving to restructure the failing system.
Doherty declined to assign a value to the 362 medallions he is purchasing. But the developer insisted he would not have paid $145 million for the land alone. Cabot, Cabot, & Forbes is in talks with transportation companies, including one that operates a taxi fleet in Canada, and another in Israel.
“We are working on business models we hope and expect will be viable in today’s climate, notwithstanding Uber,” Doherty said, noting recent criticism of ride-hailing services and how they treat their drivers. “We’re inheriting a company in an industry that’s in tremendous flux, so we’re talking to people around the globe that are looking at what to do with these shells that still have some kind of franchise.”
Doherty said he may employ a “Whole Foods/fair trade” model, pitching Boston Cab to progressive consumers as an upscale, higher-priced service that pays its drivers well.
“Uber may well kill everything, but clearly there’s blowback happening,” he said.
Doherty even left the door open for Tutunjian to participate, saying, “these kind of deals are usually more of a collaboration in the end, whether people come to it reluctantly or not.”
Dan Adams can be reached at daniel.adams@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @Dan_Adams86Originally Appeared at MM News. Translated from the German by Susan Neumann
Oskar Lafontaine is accusing German journalists of getting instructions from US intelligence services. "It should already be a known fact that the CIA is guiding the pen of many German journalists." The former Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) makes reference to the reporting on Syria.
From Oskar Lafontaine's Facebook page:
"In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies," said the old cynic, Winston Churchill. When you see and hear what is being reported in the German media about the wars in the Middle East, then Churchill's statement is vindicated.
It should already be a known fact that the CIA is guiding the pen of many German journalists. Putin is of course trying to counter this. However, if the decades of carnage in the Middle East can be reduced to nothing but Assad's barrel bomb and Putin and Russia’s bombing of Aleppo, then it shows that the propagandists of the "Western community of values" have once again done a great job.
Now, there’s again talk of the Syrian torture chambers. It’s completely forgotten "how closely Foreign Affairs Minister [Frank-Walter] Steinmeier and BND-President Uhrlau [German Federal Intelligence Service] cooperated with the regime in Damascus - even at the expense of human rights" (Stern Magazine, 03.13.2008). Former BND chief Uhrlau commented on the collaboration as follows: "There have always existed other basic legal standards for Syria. It was not an easy partner to deal with.”
The "Western community of values” stands for double standards. The wars over raw materials and weapons markets of the US-led "Coalition of the Willing" are simply fights for freedom, democracy, and women's rights.
Only once in a while does the truth come out: “If I am President, we will embark on a historic effort to create alternative fuels and the vehicles of the future - to make this country energy independent of Mideast oil within ten years. So our sons and daughters will never have to fight and die for it.” (John F. Kerry, February 27, 2004)
When the Russians drop a bomb, it's a crime; whereas for the “Western community of values," it’s just unfortunate "collateral damage," such as the 1.3 million deaths in recent years ("International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War").
The "Western community of values" was understood by George Orwell: “—if all records told the same tale— then the lie passed into history and became truth.”Story highlights The teen is accused of getting a hospital badge, treating patients and even doing CPR
The trial is expected to last three days
The teen has pleaded not guilty
It sounds like a bizarre episode of the 90s comedy-drama "Doogie Howser, M.D."
But this is reality. And this teen wasn't a board-certified surgeon, but, according to police, merely someone who, through a clerical error, acquired a medical badge and spent several days posing as a medical professional and treating patients.
Opening statements in the trial of 18-year-old Matthew Scheidt is scheduled to start Tuesday in a Florida courtroom.
Scheidt |
Mark 320 afterburning turbojets. The TSR.2 was built largely of conventional aluminum-copper aviation alloys, though more exotic metals, such as aluminum-lithium and titanium alloys, were used selectively where needed.
The inlets for the engines were on the sides of the aircraft, forward of and underneath the top-mounted wing, and were of semicircular shape, with a moveable half-cone shock diffuser. The Olympus engine had already been in service on the Avro Vulcan bomber, but the 320-22R version was to be fitted with an afterburner and other improvements. The engines were expected in maturity to provide 146.8 kN (14,970 kgp / 33,000 lbf) afterburning thrust each.
The aircraft's wing had 60 degree sweepback on the leading edge and was straight across the trailing edge. It was of relatively small area to give a smooth ride at Mach 1.2 at sea level, though such high wing loading also necessarily limited maneuverability. The wing was flat, no dihedral nor anhedral, but did have turned-down wingtips for lateral stability. One of the interesting features of the wing was that its spars were connected to the fuselage through two-pin pivoting links that allowed the wings to flex in flight; this measure not only made for a smoother ride, but increased the airframe life by reducing vibration. The tail assembly featured all-moving tailplanes, set with a slight anhedral droop and with small auxiliary "elevators" -- actually referred to as "tailplane flaps" -- plus an all-moving tailfin.
Although the Americans were interested in "variable geometry" or "swing wings" that could pivot outward to give a high-performance aircraft good low-speed and landing capabilities, the TSR.2 instead used a "blown flaps" scheme, in which engine bleed air was fed through the back of the wing and blown over wide-span trailing edge flaps to lower the stall speed and takeoff run. Takeoff run with a typical warload was expected to be about 490 meters (1,600 feet).
A large brake chute, stored in a "pen-nib" fairing between the engine exhausts, helped reduce landing roll. There were four large airbrakes, arranged in a distinctive "flattened X" pattern on the fuselage between wing and tail, with the upper airbrakes staggered a short distance behind the lower airbrakes. The landing gear was long enough to allow the airbrakes to be deployed during landings.
BAC TSR.2: _____________________ _________________ _______________________ spec metric english _____________________ _________________ _______________________ wingspan 11.28 meters 37 feet wing area 65.03 sq_meters 700 sq_feet length 27.13 meters 89 feet height 7.32 meters 24 feet empty weight 20,345 kilograms 44,850 pounds max loaded weight 43,545 kilograms 96,000 pounds max speed at altitude Mach 2.25 service ceiling 16,460 meters 54,000 feet operational radius 1,850 kilometers 1,150 MI / 1,000 NMI _____________________ _________________ _______________________
The wing was built as an integral fuel tank, though since it was thin it didn't have much capacity, particularly in comparison to the large fuel tanks fitted into the fuselage. A Lucas-built fuel system automatically maintained fuel trim. An inflight refueling probe could be attached to the left side of the nose.
Another particularly interesting feature of the TSR.2 was the landing gear, which was designed to meet the requirement for rough-field operation and was appropriately "industrial strength". The steerable, backward-retracting nose gear featured twin tires, and could jack itself up to give the aircraft a "nose-up" attitude and so help reduce take-off distance. The main landing gear featured large twin wheels, arranged in tandem on each assembly. The wheels were all fitted with low-pressure tubeless tires for operation on dirt airstrips. The tall stance of the landing gear gave the TSR.2 a birdlike appearance on the ground, an impression enhanced by the forward retraction of the main landing gear in flight.
Flight controls were driven by redundant hydraulics, activated mostly by mechanical linkages, though the TSR.2 did feature some electrically-activated controls. The control system was laid out with care to ensure that it would not be crippled by a single unlucky hit during combat.
* The TSR.2 did not have any built-in armament. It would be able to carry up to 2,720 kilograms (6,000 pounds) of conventional or nuclear munitions in its internal bombbay, and could also be fitted with four underwing pylons to carry a maximum external load of 4,500 kilograms (10,000 pounds).
In a strategic nuclear strike mission, the TSR.2 would carry a single "Red Beard" nuclear weapon in its bombbay. The Red Beard would be delivered in a "toss bombing" attack, in which the aircraft would release the bomb in a climb and fly away on afterburner before weapon detonation. As an alternative warload, the TSR.2 would carry a total of four smaller "WE.177" tactical nuclear weapons, with two in the bombbay and two on underwing pylons, laid down in level strike using retarding parachutes.
In a conventional strike mission, the TSR.2 could be loaded down with high-explosive bombs and unguided rocket pods; carriage of the TV-guided "AJ.168 Martel" missile was also considered. Fuel tanks could be fitted on the stores pylons, while a ferry tank could be carried in the bombbay, and semi-conformal belly drop tank was planned as well. A TSR.2 could also carry a "buddy refueling" pack to refuel one of its mates for a deep-penetration mission or ferry flight.
* The TSR.2 was to feature a navigation-attack system as or more sophisticated than any other in the world. The autopilot system was derived from the US Autonetics Verdan, used on the Vigilante, substantially improved by Elliot Flight Automation of the UK to adapt it for low-level operations. It was programmed by paper tape, punched in by keyboard and then read into the system before a mission. The autopilot acquired navigation data from multiple inputs, including a Ferranti inertial navigation system; a Decca Doppler radio navigation system; a Smiths air data system; a Ferranti solid-state forward-looking monopulse radar that tracked and provided imagery of the terrain; and twin Standard Telephones & Cables radar altimeters to provide height data.
The TSR.2 could guide itself to a target in almost any weather, day or night, with the pilot observing progress and all relevant mission data on a Rank-Cintel head-up display (HUD) that projected the flight data directly on the windscreen. The aircraft would be able to automatically sense obstructions such as radio towers and fly around them. If there was a system failure, the TSR.2 would automatically climb to give the pilot time to take full manual control.
The cockpit's windscreen was hardened against high-speed birdstrikes, always a problem in low-level operations, and was covered with a gold film to protect against nuclear flash. The pilot and navigator rode in Martin-Baker Mark 8VA ejection seats, which not only had "zero-zero (zero speed, zero altitude)" capability, but were qualified for ejections at Mach 2 and 17,070 meters (56,000 feet). The navigator could eject on his own, leaving the pilot behind, or the pilot could eject both crewmen, the navigator leaving the aircraft an instant before the pilot to avoid collision.
Along with the nav-attack system and sensors, other avionics kit included a long-range Marconi HF radio; a short-range Plessey UHF/VHF radio; a Corsor identification friend or foe (IFF) unit; and a Marconi instrument landing system (ILS). Oddly, no defensive countermeasures suite was defined for the TSR.2, though it may have been done and kept secret.
The leading-edge avionics kit of the TSR.2 would have made it a very sophisticated aircraft, but at a price. The obvious difficulty was that so much new technology might take more time than scheduled to get right. That could be accepted, but there was a subtler difficulty: with so few manned aircraft in development in the UK, that meant that the cost of work on new avionics for the TSR.2 could not be spread over multiple aircraft development programs, as it would have been in the US.
* The TSR.2 was fitted with an oblique film camera on each side of the forward fuselage. In bombing missions, the camera imagery would be used for strike assessment, and of course the cameras could also support reconnaissance missions. However, the primary reconnaissance system was to be provided by a sensor pallet plugged into the weapons bay. This was to be fitted with an EMI "side-looking airborne radar (SLAR)" -- though it was designated simply a "side-looking radar (SLR)", an ambiguous designation -- and a Hawker Siddeley Dynamics / Mullard linescan imager.
The EMI SLAR shot pulses out to the sides of the aircraft and recorded the echoes on a film strip to produce a "map" of the terrain under the TSR.2's flight track. The SLAR had a "moving target indicator (MTI)" capability that highlighted moving objects. It appears that the SLAR, whose antennas were permanently mounted in the forward fuselage, could operate in a much more limited capacity without the pallet as a navigation aid for strike missions, obtaining a terrain map about every 160 kilometers (100 miles) or so as a check for the navigation system.
The linescan would have been able to transmit imagery in real-time to a ground station. A conventional film-reconnaissance pack was also planned.
* As mentioned, the TSR.2 was designed in accordance with the "weapons system" concept, with all details considered for operations from rough forward airstrips. The aircraft was fitted with an auxiliary power unit (APU) for self-starting and ground power. BAC designed a comprehensive ground-servicing system, including:
A "ground system vehicle (GSV)" that could tow the aircraft on the ground, while providing systems to power the aircraft during servicing and pump fuel from flexible storage bags.
A self-powered "heavylift trolley" that could be used to lift or remove stores or systems to or from the aircraft and provide a service platform capable of reaching any part of the aircraft. Although care had been taken to provide plenty of service doors in the aircraft and make them accessible, the tall landing gear kept the machine high off the ground and demanded a servicing platform.
A "universal testing trolley", towed by the GSV, that could perform functional tests on the aircraft's systems.
The entire service kit was designed for airlift, with its specifications requiring that it be able to support a TSR.2 at an advance base for 30 days. The service procedures were in principle able to get a TSR.2 into the air five minutes after the GO order was given for a mission.
* The progress of the TSR.2 program was politically rocky. There were factions in the British government that were opposed to it, and friction with the Royal Navy over the Buccaneer "alternative" to the TSR.2 continued. The political problems were aggravated by the fact that initial funding estimates had been, in hindsight, recklessly low for such a complicated machine, guaranteeing cost overruns and unfortunate public scrutiny. Opposition Labour Party politicians began to snipe at the project as an example of the waste and inefficiency of the government in power, while Tory politicians responded with a muddled and unpersuasive defense. It appears that the controversy became extremely bitter, with the bitterness lingering for decades.
There was also the fact that the TSR.2 really was a complicated machine, with advanced elements and systems that kept a good part of Britain's high-tech industries busy. That would have been a challenge under the best circumstances -- but the creation of BAC from a number of companies that had been formerly rivals led to an extreme level of confusion and bureaucracy. The bureaucracy was compounded by the fact that since there were few other British military aircraft programs in progress at the time, Air Ministry officials were able to give the TSR.2 effort an unusually high and often counterproductive amount of attention, with every detail put through discussion in endless meetings.
It is somewhat surprising that the development of the machine went as well as it did. The worst technical problems were with engine development. The first flight-worthy Olympus 320-22R engine was fitted to the belly of an Avro Vulcan bomber in a very large housing with twin split inlets, flight tests beginning in February 1962. The Olympus 320-22R was so powerful that it could keep the Vulcan flying without use of the bomber's own four engines. In fact, the engine was probably too powerful, pushing the state of the art, a consequence of the severe specification that the TSR.2 had to be able to maintain Mach 2.2 for 45 minutes. The engine exploded on the ground on 3 December 1963, destroying the Vulcan, as well as a fire truck that got in harm's way. There were two more major engine failures over the next six months.
The engine problems were tracked down and the engine modified, but TSR.2 prototype construction had gone forward with unmodified engines. Nobody wanted to add more delays to the program to wait for new engines, and so the initial prototype performed its first flight, bogus engines and all, on 27 September 1964, with Wing Commander Roland P. "Bea" Beamont at the controls and navigator Don Bowen in the back seat.
Beamont was instructed to keep the engines under 97% RPM to avoid an engine failure, and the short flight was conducted with gear down. The chase plane crew was alarmed to see the TSR.2 trailing white streaks from the wingtips, thinking it was a fuel leak, but it turned out to be no more than condensation vortexes. The flight was essentially a publicity stunt to show critics progress on the program. Beamont insisted that the prototype be fitted with proper engines before he took it into the air again. Test pilots accept taking risks, but playing Russian roulette was just not on.
The new engines were fitted and the TSR.2 performed its second flight on 31 December 1964. 22 more test flights were conducted to the end of March, for a total of 24. Beamont and other flight test crew found the aircraft very impressive, with excellent handling and blazing performance right over the treetops, though it was not fitted with anything resembling operational avionics kit. A number of problems were encountered and resolved. There remained major problems with the landing gear design, which caused serious vibration that rattled the aircrew and threatened loss of control on touchdown, but that issue was being addressed.
* That was as far as it got. On 6 April 1965, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson's Labour government announced the cancellation of the TSR.2 program, making the day one of the most dismal in all British aviation history. The TSR.2 had completed only about 13 hours of flight tests. Another TSR.2 prototype was to fly the same day as the cancellation but never left the ground, and most of the rest of the initial batch of nine prototypes were in various stages of completion.
The project was dismantled with what has been described as "indecent haste", with almost everything burned, scrapped, or discarded. The single flying prototype met a humiliating end, being gradually blown to pieces over a period of years as a ground gunnery target hulk, while most of the other prototypes in various stages of assembly were scrapped. The only saving grace of the whole sad situation was that two prototypes were rescued, with one now on display at the Aerospace Museum in Cosford, and the other at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.
The RAF settled on the US General Dynamics F-111K as a replacement, leading to a follow-on fiasco when the F-111 ran into development problems and severe cost escalation. The British government canceled that order in turn, and the RAF finally, wearily, with an irony lost on no one, turned to the Blackburn Buccaneer as a solution. In reality, the RAF would find the Buccaneer an outstanding aircraft that provided excellent service into the Gulf War in 1991. Ultimately, the RAF would indeed get an advanced technology low-level strike aircraft in the form of the Panavia Tornado IDS, but the Tornado wouldn't go into service until the early 1980s.
Had the RAF the benefit of hindsight, the service might have just obtained the supersonic Buccaneer instead of the TSR.2, and been spared a great deal of trouble. However, it is hard not to be sympathetic to the regrets of British air enthusiasts over the TSR.2's passing.
* I was put up to writing this document by a reader, even though I had some reservations. It's not that I don't admire the TSR.2 -- it's just that when I've done articles on "cult" aircraft, like the Avro CF-105 Arrow, I've ended up getting flamed over them by crazy people. Ironically, nobody's ever said a single harsh word to me about this document, which only emphasizes the Murphy law that the trouble I get is usually not that which I am expecting.
Incidentally, in another tiresome irony of the whole situation, the British did propose an interceptor version of the TSR.2, carrying Sparrow and Falcon air-to-air missiles, to the Canadians as a replacement for the canceled Arrow. The Canadians didn't bite on the idea, which blessedly spared them the pain of being run down twice.
Modelers have put together "what if" imagery of the TSR.2 in service with Canada, Australia, Germany, and other air arms. One of the more interesting of these exercises was a TSR.2 in USAF camouflage colors, depicted as a participant in the 1986 Operation EL DORADO CANYON raids against Libya, with a Pave Tack targeting pod on the belly and carrying four 900-kilogram (2,000-pound) laser-guided bombs on the wing pylons. It wasn't an entirely plausible scenario, but it was certainly interesting.
* As concerns copyrights and permissions for this document, all illustrations and images credited to me are public domain. I reserve all rights to my writings. However, if anyone does want to make use of my writings, just contact me, and we can chat about it. I'm lenient in giving permissions, usually on the basis of being properly credited.
* Sources include:
THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WORLD AIRCRAFT, edited by David Donald, Barnes & Noble, 1997.
"BAC TSR.2" by Bill Gunston, WINGS OF FAME, Volume 4 / 1996, 122:137.
* Revision history:
v1.0.0 / 01 may 02 v1.0.1 / 01 jun 02 / Review & polish. v1.0.2 / 01 jun 04 / Review & polish. v1.0.3 / 01 mar 06 / Review & polish. v1.0.4 / 01 feb 08 / Review & polish. v1.0.5 / 01 jan 09 / Review & polish. v1.0.6 / 01 jul 10 / Review & polish. v1.0.7 / 01 apr 12 / Review & polish. v1.0.8 / 01 mar 14 / Review & polish. v1.0.9 / 01 feb 16 / Review & polish. v1.1.0 / 01 jan 18 / Review & polish.Video shows officers hitting refugees with metal poles as they drag men out of decommissioned camp
Papua New Guinean police have used batons to beat refugees and asylum seekers in the Manus Island detention centre, as they continue their operation to clear the decommissioned camp.
Video shot within the centre on Friday morning showed officers from PNG’s mobile squad threatening and hitting refugees with long metal poles as they dragged men out of the centre.
Walid Zazai (@ZazaiWalid) Look Australia, that's what you people doing with us by using PNG hands.
This isn't forcing? @PeterDutton_MP Look it's you who want to make violence, so u can blame us but we are peaceful, and will be peaceful until we get freedom in safe place.#ManusSOS#Saveus pic.twitter.com/yyGOIimjzR
Ezatullah kakar (@EzatullahKakar) Forcing by Force, Remember we will Never Accept PNG. pic.twitter.com/QCtAlNZQgJ
Other pictures showed immigration officials – in marked yellow T-shirts – physically moving refugees out of the centre.
Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) This morning police attacked the prison camp and the refugees are saying that they beat them. The refugees are going to leave the prison camp. So many are in the buses and are on the way to the new camps. pic.twitter.com/j5t1fSYxdB
More than 300 men still in Manus detention centre after PNG attempt to move them Read more
The effort to physically clear the camp – codenamed Operation Helpim Friends - began on Thursday with about 50 refugees and asylum seekers taken from the detention centre to other accommodation on Manus Island – most of which is not yet fully built, without running water, electricity or security fences.
The detention centre, where most of the refugees and asylum seekers have been held for more than four years was officially closed on 31 October.
The men who remained there, living without running water, food, and electricity for three weeks, have resisted going to other accommodation because they do not feel safe in Lorengau, after a series of violent attacks against refugees in the township, and because of a lack of services, especially health services, in the new centre.
Iranian journalist and refugee Behrouz Boochani, who was targeted and arrested by police on Thursday, and taken to Lorengau before being released without charge, continued to report from the island.
“This morning police attacked the prison camp and the refugees are saying that they beat them. The refugees are going to leave the prison camp. So many are in the buses and are on the way to the new camps.
“Immigration and police broke many phones of ppl (sic) trying to take photos. The refugees are gathering in Oscar compound, police and immigration are around them. Some officers destroying Delta compound. The ppl (sic) are waiting for buses to take them, four buses are full and on way to new camps.”
Walid Zazai, who remains in the camp, said refugees and asylum seekers were not resisting or using violence.
In Canberra, Malcolm Turnbull said the decommissioned detention centre was being cleared.
“I am pleased to say in terms of Manus is that the reports we have is that busloads of people are leaving Manus and complying with the directions of the PNG authorities and moving to the alternative facilities available to them,” the prime minister said. “That’s as they should.”
The Australian government’s claims that alternative accommodation units are ready and suitable for habitation have been consistently refuted by independent observers. Videos and photos have been published of blocked toilets, bathrooms without water and buildings still under construction. Electricity was cut to one accommodation centre during a dispute with local landowners, and detainees have repeatedly claimed they are not safe in the new housing in Lorengau, citing frequent violent attacks and a lack of security.
The United Nations Refugee Agency said it was troubled by reports of force being used to remove refugees and asylum seekers from the former regional processing centre.
The UNHCR said it had been given assurances excessive force had not been and would not be used, but it could not independently confirm what was happening as staff had not been granted full access to the facility.
“UNHCR reminds Australia of its obligation to take full responsibility and provide effective protection, safety and lasting solutions for all refugees and asylum seekers in cooperation with the Papua New Guinean authorities,” the UNHCR’s assistant high commissioner for protection, Volker Türk, said.
“We urge both governments to engage in constructive dialogue, to de-escalate the tensions and work on urgent lasting solutions to their plight,” he said.
The four-year history of the camp has been marked by violence. In February 2014, during riots when police and other outsiders stormed the detention centre, more than 70 asylum seekers were seriously injured, including having their throats slits with knives, as well as being shot with police weapons. Reza Barati was murdered by contractors who beat him with a nail-spiked stick and dropped a rock on his head.
In 2015, a mass hunger-strike ended with mobile squad police raiding the centre.
On Good Friday this year, drunken soldiers tried to crash a vehicle through the detention centre fence, and fired over 100 shots, including from an M16 assault rifle, at refugees inside.Row breaks out as Van Gogh Museum rebuts academic’s claims she has found dozens of sketchbook drawings by artist
An extraordinary row has broken out between the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and an academic who claims to have found more than 60 drawings made by the artist at the height of his powers.
Bogomila Welsh-Ovcharov, a professor at the University of Toronto in Canada, and her publishers called a press conference on Tuesday to unveil an accounts ledger that she said was used as a sketchbook by Vincent Van Gogh as he travelled round the Provençal countryside in 1888.
The ledger’s veracity is backed by the respected Van Gogh scholar Ronald Pickvance, who called it “the most revolutionary discovery in the entire history of Van Gogh’s oeuvre”.
But within minutes of the press conference starting, the Van Gogh Museum, the world’s leading authority on the artist, released a statement saying the drawings were categorically not by Van Gogh, but instead “imitations”.
Welsh-Ovcharov, who has curated several important Van Gogh exhibitions, is sticking to her claims.
Vincent van Gogh: myths, madness and a new way of painting Read more
She says she was tipped off about the ledger in 2013 and recalls her initial shock at seeing the first page – a drawing of cypresses.
“You know they say you have an ‘oh my God’ moment … I had an OMG. I said, it’s not possible! I knew straight away, I was a little thrown but I knew... and it was frightening.”
The precise history of the ledger is hazy. Its owner – who wishes to remain anonymous – was given it by her mother more than 50 years ago and says she had no inkling of its claimed links to Van Gogh. To her, it was “a pretty album of drawings” that reminded her of her mother, Welsh-Ovcharov said.
In a testimony published in a new book about the drawings, the owner explains that her mother came across it, along with a handwritten journal, towards the end of the second world war following bombing of Arles and the surrounding area by allied planes.
She writes: “Following the destruction, my mother found a collection of archival materials in a separate room, including the large book of drawings and the small handwritten notebook that accompanied it. Knowing nothing about art, and with no artistic education, she had no idea of the importance of this discovery. She gave it to me as a present on my 20th birthday, and it was put away in a cupboard.”
There it would have remained, but a friend of the woman suggested she show it the art historian Franck Baille, who lived in the area. He had a hunch and called in his friend, Welsh-Ovcharov.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bogomila Welsh-Ovcharov at press conference about the sketchbook. Photograph: Jacky Naegelen/Reuters
She claims Van Gogh was given the ledger by Joseph and Marie Ginoux, the owners of the Cafe de la Gare in Arles, where the artist stayed from May to September 1888. Given the high quality of the paper it is likely he would have leapt at the opportunity to use it.
The claim is that Van Gogh used it as he toured the Provençal countryside, drawing things which became some of his most recognisable subjects. There are previously unseen drawings of haystacks and sunflowers and a remarkable apparent self-portrait of a sunburned Van Gogh in his tatty straw hat.
Welsh-Ovcharov has spent the last three years working “like a scientist” on the ledger and believes she has overwhelming evidence of its true nature. She said of her detractors: “You’re bringing out such a revolutionary discovery there’s bound to be people giving their opinion. There are going to be different views and dialogues.”
Give me Van Gogh’s ear over Damien Hirst’s luxury basement any day | Jonathan Jones Read more
The statement from the Van Gogh Museum was unequivocal. It said it had been aware of the claims for some time and, on the basis of looking at 56 high quality photographs, researchers and curators had agreed the drawings could not be attributed to Van Gogh.
“Their opinion, based on years of research on Van Gogh’s drawings in the museum’s own collection and elsewhere – the Van Gogh Museum holds about 500 drawings by Van Gogh and four of his sketchbooks – is that these album drawings are imitations of Van Gogh’s drawings.
“The experts examined its style, technique and iconography, and among their conclusions were that it contains distinctive topographical errors and that its maker based it on discoloured drawings by Van Gogh.”
If they were genuine, the drawings would shine light on some of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings such as the Yellow House, the Night Cafe and the Starry Night.
They would provide fascinating insights into Van Gogh’s summer of 1888, a largely happy time for an artist who suffered with so many demons. Welsh-Ovcharov said Van Gogh arrived in Arles “very tired, very disillusioned, very sick having drunk a lot in Paris”.
Van Gogh worked hard over the summer but by the end of 1888 his mental state had deteriorated. He fell out catastrophically with his friend Paul Gauguin and in December cut off his ear. In 1890 he killed himself.
“In 1888, he comes to Provence looking for respite. He came with optimism that he would find something in the countryside which would renew and resuscitate him.”Goals for Vela and Bendtner - but woe for Walcott
Just as Arsenal get back into the chase for the Premier League title, the players go off for international duty.reveals who had a blinder, who had a nightmare and who limped off the field injured.Despite the fact that France lost to Spain 2-0, Sagna had an impressive game at right-back. Defensively sound and a threat down the wing.Played the whole 90 minutes for Belgium against Croatia but was unable to prevent his side from slipping to a 1-0 defeat thanks to a Niko Krancjar goal.A starter in midfield for Spain's 2-0 win over France. A solid performance but was not key to the victory.Played 67 minutes of the Czech Republic's 1-0 defeat to Scotland and was the best player on the pitch. Unlucky not to have one pass converted into a goal.
Czech-ered night | Rosicky shone, but team lost
Started for Cameroon in their goalless away draw against Italy. Was withdrawn after 58 minutes after getting a kick earlier on in the match.Russia drew 1-1 against Bulgaria away from home thanks to Arshavin's shot that went in off Bilyaletdinov's knee.Unable to prevent the Elephans from slipping to a shock 2-0 defeat against South Korea in a game played at QPR's Loftus Road ground.Made a positive start when he crossed into Frank Lampard's path in the first five minutes, only for Lampard to shoot at the 'keeper; but his influenced waned. Hauled off for Shaun Wright Philips after 59 minutes. England beat Egypt at home 3-1.Came on as a substitute in the 55th minute for Olic but failed to score in Croatia's 1-0 victory over Belgium.Scored Mexico's second goal of their 2-0 home win against New Zealand, dribbling past three players before slotting home from 12 yards. But bad news for Arsenal fans... he limped off the field injured before the final whistle.Continued his scoring run by bagging another headed goal last night. Was, however, unable to prevent Denmark's eventual 2-1 away loss to Austria.Gameplay Questions?
Turns out manufacturing a board game has some unique challenges. We’ve spotted a couple of opportunities to add further clarification to the rules—these will be updated in future print runs. But in the meantime, if you have any gameplay questions, look below. Caution: there may be some minor spoilers…!
Mission 1
Minion Movement: Minions prioritize movement along the Blue/Green axis - preferring to always travel towards their objective unless that direction is blocked or unless the Blue/Green axis no longer brings them closer (and then they travel down the red/yellow axis). When two minions might try to enter the same space, start by moving the minions closest to the objective. In the case that two minions are equally close, the minion furthest along the Blue/Green axis goes first. In the rare event that they’re still tied, the first player chooses which minion to move first.
New Damage Cards: New Damage Cards aren’t introduced until the second mission. The rule to add new damage cards to the damage deck has been shifted to the second mission dossier to reflect this.
Escalation: When timing the draft, the Zhonya’s Minute Glass only applies to picking your cards. You may program or scrap cards at your leisure after time has run out. And since placement of cards technically occurs after the draft round is complete, in a two or three player game, you can decide the order in which you place your cards when you have drafted two.
Towing: If you have moves left after towing, you must use them. When mechs tow or are towed onto oil slicks, they slide as normal with the towed object following behind to rest in the oil. You can even tow with a Haywire Control damage card…!
Mission 2
Minion Assault: When Minions reach the center Map Tile, they are limited to moving only 1 space (even if you roll red and regardless of the escalations).
Mission 3
Rune Shields: Place a Rune Coin on each Rune on the Gear Tracker to keep track of which shields are up! Remove the coins as Rune Shields are disabled, and replace them when the Rune Shield is reactivated.
Boss Movement: The Boss stomps Minions flat if it moves onto them. Count these kills on the Minion Kill Tracker! Also, the Boss ignores Oil Slicks. And if the boss must move toward a certain player and two options are available, the first player gets to choose the route he takes—both directions are eligible as long as he’s moving closer.
Mission 5
Compass: In the setup, rotate the compass 90 degrees so that blue-green is “up-down” the long axis of the map.
Mission 6
Schematics: The “Tech Support” schematic has two different costs on the front and back of the card. The accurate cost is ‘7’.There is no place like it, on these islands, for the mutual battery of multiple forces, for the thumping, pummelling and attrition of creation and destruction, the incessant beating of weather, vandals and arson against rocks of obstinate architecture. It is like watching medieval knights club each other to death yet stay standing. It is a mud-wrestle of culture and nature. Only the scorched, rusticated carcass of John Vanbrugh’s Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland can come close.
It is also serene. The seminary of St Peter’s Kilmahew, near Cardross, near Glasgow, was intended for making tender young men into priests, a role it performed for 14 years after it opened in 1966. Canon Jim Foley, a veteran of St Peter’s, has written of “the elusive wonder and beauty” of the lighting effects in the sanctuary. You can still detect moments of grace in a fragment of handrail. There is still poise in its balance of forces, in the way its crowning concrete ziggurat comes to earth on columns that look too slight for the task. Its basilica, caked in graffiti, but with openings to the sky and trees, alternately radiant and sombre in the changeable weather, remains spiritual.
It is probably not surprising that it should have attracted the attention of Angus Farquhar, a man whose 1980s band of five percussionists, Test Dept., made instruments of scrap metal and old machines, and liked to perform in London railway arches and borrowed train stations. Farquhar is now creative director of the Glasgow-based NVA, an organisation he set up to create large-scale public artworks and events, usually in dramatic locations. He wants to make the seminary into an “international venue for public art and knowledge exchange”, by which he means concerts, art events and education projects. This sounds vague and optimistic, but NVA have a convincing record of attracting people to unlikely places.
He has recruited the architects Avanti and Nord and the landscape architects ERZ to design its new incarnation, and has set about removing the twin evils of asbestos and rhododendron from the building and its grounds. He has persuaded the Heritage Lottery Fund and other public and private donors to contribute £5m towards rescuing the building and the Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow to hand over their modern ruin for the purpose. He needs £2m more.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Andy MacMillan and Isi Metzstein: ‘they forged a Scottish modernism unlike anything else, anywhere’. Photograph: Kieran Dodds
“I could find you 10 people today,” he says, “within 10 square miles of here who would willingly put a bomb under it. There is a sense of it being a netherworld where dark things happen.” At the same time people from Brazil and Australia come to visit, some for the architecture, some connoisseurs of the high-class graffiti, some “people in their 60s and 70s entering illegally so they can show their grandchildren.”
It has also been called the best 20th-century building in Scotland. It was the work of the long-established firm of Gillespie Kidd and Coia, whose principal, Jack Coia, was, reassuringly for the church, of Italian Catholic origin. It was, however, designed by two young members of his staff, Isi Metzstein and Andy MacMillan, atheists of German Jewish and Scottish Presbyterian backgrounds. When later asked how he could design this seminary, as well as |
would be huge money. I remember, early on, somebody high up said, ‘You don’t want to wrestle him. Trust me, I have. You don’t’ want to.’ I said, ‘No, I want to,’ and I was told, ‘Trust me, you don’t want to.’ And that was as far as the conversation went.”
Ryback worked with Kevin Owens during his Intercontinental title reign, and he has plenty of respect for the newly minted Universal champion.
“I like Kevin a lot,” said Ryback. “I’m still frustrated that we weren’t given more time together in our program to wrestle, but I’m extremely happy for Kevin. I got to be around Kevin and his son Owen quite a bit, and he is a really good kid, which says a lot about how he was raised. Kevin has been wrestling on the independents for years and has a really strong following, and I’ll never hate on another talent for having success. He’s proven himself. He goes out and does his job very, very well. Hopefully there can be some more champions there that normally wouldn’t have been champions.”
Away from the demands of constant travel, “The Big Guy” is happy to report that his brand is revitalized.
“I have all these things that I want to do, and it’s all about building my ‘Feed Me More’ brand,” said Ryback. “That’s nothing against the WWE, but you have very little time to do anything else with their work schedule unless they get the work for you.
“I have all these dreams and ambitions, and I asked [WWE Senior Director of Talent Relations] Mark Carrano, ‘Could we let my contract run out so I can start working on some of these other things?’ Then we could have kept the door open for me to come back, but this is how unprofessional they are, he threatened me and said they were going to bury me and then take me off TV and see my value drop. That was his professional reply to me after asking a serious question about my life and taking some time off so I could get this stuff started. I was met with that reply, which does not help my case with how I feel about them.”
The 34-year-old Ryback launched the “Feed Me More” website, which is the core of the brand.
“I’m launching a workout apparel line, which is still in the works,” said Ryback. “I started merchandising myself, essentially everything WWE does for the talents but were limiting me on. I’m now doing all of that myself. I don’t have that television exposure, but I have my podcast and I’m going to be working a full-time schedule in October on all the independents every weekend.
Ryback also wrote a motivational book entitled Wake Up! It’s Feeding Time, and he is excited to share his passion with “Feed Me More Nutrition”.
“Self-help books have helped me so much in my life, and I feel like I can relate to a lot of wrestling fans,” said Ryback. “This is a culmination of a lot of things I’ve learned throughout my lifetime. The podcast has also given me a platform with my best friend, Pat Buck, and we talk about wrestling and life. We’ll talk nutrition and we’ll talk about steroids, things that WWE don’t necessarily want you to talk about. But I’m very open about it, and people want to know the real side of you. The only way they’re going to know is by telling the truth. The absolute biggest thing I have moving forward is ‘Feed Me More Nutrition’, which launches in November. I’ve got great partners with that, and we’re moving forward.”
Ryback revealed he has suffered from testosterone issues dating back to when he first used steroids, which is why his passion outside of wrestling is creating quality nutritional products like his all natural testosterone booster.
“This is something you never really hear people talk about in wrestling, but I had low testosterone for ten years, starting five years before the WWE,” revealed Ryback. “That all stemmed from experimenting with steroids at a very young age. People react differently, and it shut my body down and never came back. The WWE has the Wellness Program, and I will applaud them time and time again for bringing that in and saving a lot of lives with that program. Through that program, you’re allowed to have, through a board certified endocrinologist, testosterone-replacement therapy. You need to have all the blood work with multiple samples showing that your body is not producing adequate levels of testosterone. Through that, I was able to have a normal, regular testosterone replacement therapy dosage during my time there to keep me within the normal range. It was monitored by WWE and my doctor, as well as the Wellness Program tests and blood tests and urine tests.
“Coming off the road with that, knowing I was coming out with these nutritional products, I needed to see how this testosterone booster worked. And, for the first time in years, I have normal testosterone levels without any supplementation, which I’ve never been more excited about. For men who suffer from low testosterone to have an alternative outside of an injection or a putting a cream on your body, and have your body naturally produce its own testosterone, that’s where my heart and soul is.”
Although it is possible that Ryback will soon be seen wrestling with New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor, or TNA, he admitted that it is unlikely to occur any time soon.
“I’m at a point where I’ve done very well for myself financially and I’m very thankful that I don’t have to sign a contract with just anyone,” said Ryback. “Right now, I just have so much going on. I’m booked from October to January, including a nine-day UK tour. I’m going to get my fix of wrestling and do what I love to do. Until I have a full team in place to help me with my supplement company and Feed Me More, I need to be home more days than I’m gone.”
Rumors have persisted that Ryback was headed to New Japan, and he is willing to do so – permitting the dates allow him to return home to get back to work.
“As far as going to New Japan for an extended period of time, it’s kind of out of the question right now,” said Ryback. “I’m more than open to going over there and working a match, and I have no problem going anywhere to wrestle and show people that I am the best big guy in the universe. There is nobody in the world like me, and I would more than welcome going anywhere and meeting the fans. I’m looking forward to getting out there and being a part of it.”
The return to the ring is so meaningful for Ryback, as he remains grateful for the opportunity to interact with the men, women, and children who support pro wrestling.
“I love our fans,” said Ryback. “I always joke around when I say, ‘F------ marks.’ There is a very small percent of negative wrestling fans, and we all get it as wrestlers. Those are the ‘f------ marks’ I’m referring to that on my snapchat and podcast, and that’s me firing back at the ones who are extremely rude. All the others are great fans. I got the P.O. Box for fan mail, and I’m mad I didn’t do it sooner. I’m thoroughly thankful for the fans that support wrestling. They’re the ones that make us.”
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.Image caption Phobos-Grunt imaged from the ground on 29 Nov, at an altitude of 230km and at a range of 274km (ralfvandeburgh.startje.be)
Russia's space agency (Roscosmos) says its unsuccessful Mars probe will fall back to Earth next month.
The unmanned Phobos-Grunt spacecraft became stranded in orbit in November.
The agency says it expects the toxic fuel on board to burn up on re-entry, but 20-30 fragments of the spacecraft will survive to the surface.
Current Roscosmos estimates for the timing of the fall are between 6 and 19 January, but this window will be narrowed nearer the event.
Professional and amateur groups around the world will also be modelling the decay in the orbit in an attempt to determine precisely where and when Phobos-Grunt might come down.
Phobos-Grunt - Mishap sequence 8 Nov (GMT): The probe launched successfully on its Zenit rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
It was dropped off 11 minutes later in an elliptical orbit some 345km above the Earth
Two firings from the probe's hydrazine-fuelled cruise stage were planned over South America
The first, lasting 11.5 minutes, should have raised the orbit of Phobos-Grunt to 4,000km
A second burn, four hours into the mission, was to have sent the probe on a path to Mars
But Russian engineers later confirmed that neither burn took place
Controllers have had only limited radio contact with the probe; mission recovery was not possible
Re-entry is now expected in early January; 20-30 fragments are expected to survive descent
Phobos-Grunt is currently moving around the Earth at an altitude that varies between 201km (perigee) and 275km (apogee).
The maximum latitudes are 51 degrees North and South, encompassing London (UK) in the Northern Hemisphere and Punta Arenas (Chile) in the Southern Hemisphere.
The spacecraft's mass at launch was some 13 tonnes, most of which was the propellants unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and dinitrogen tetroxide (DTO).
These are extremely unpleasant substances and the Russian authorities will be hoping they are destroyed during the descent.
With more than 70% of the Earth's surface covered by water, the chances are that any fragments that do survive the fiery re-entry will end up in the ocean.
Roscosmos says it expects only about 200kg to make it all the way through.
Phobos-Grunt was built to land on the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, to scoop up rock and bring it back to Earth.
Such a venture would have yielded fascinating new insights into the origin of the 27km-wide object and the planet it circles.
The mission was notable also because China's first Mars satellite, Yinghuo-1, was launched piggy-back on the main Russian spacecraft. It will come back into the atmosphere with the Russian probe.The Nevada Department of Taxation declared a “statement of emergency” Friday, as the state’s supply of marijuana was in danger of running out less than two weeks after dispensaries began selling the drug for recreational use.
Republican governor Brian Sandoval approved the emergency declaration to allow state officials at the Department of Taxation to reexamine how many marijuana distribution licenses it awards, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Nevada dispensaries began selling marijuana for recreational use on July 1, with local outlets reporting extremely high demand and long lines at dispensaries across the state.
A court order issued in June by a Carson City judge awarded the state’s alcohol wholesalers with exclusive rights to distribute marijuana between growers and retailers for the first 18 months. However, the Gazette-Journal reports that state officials have not yet distributed any licenses to alcohol wholesalers to supply marijuana, due to zoning and other issues.
Just seven applications by alcohol wholesalers had reportedly been submitted to the state since November.
That has left the roughly 50 dispensaries licensed to sell marijuana recreationally in Nevada without a way to re-stock on supplies.
Last November, voters in neighboring California approved a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaumPhoto via Flickr user grongar
Unlike many aspects of the late 90s and early 2000s, the contentious early-Internet phrase "cool beans" has not yet seen its semi-ironic revival. Even spelling it quirkily, as kool beans or kewl beans or cool beanz, yields little by way of cred; to utter "cool beans" does not a cool teen make. Nevertheless, the phrase has persisted, despite being kind of nonsensical and, to many, annoying.
How did a chilled legume come to signify a kind-of-dorky middle ground between "fine" and "great"? Tracking the etymology of the phrase is a difficult enterprise. A cursory Google search offers only speculation and citation—no answers. According to the magazine The Iowan, "cool beans" is like the word "folks": an Iowism for which origins are unknown.
Although it's generally acknowledged that people started saying "cool beans" in the 60s, certain Internet sources cite a line from Cheech and Chong's 1978 stoner comedy Up in Smoke as one of the first records of the phrase in pop culture: Supposedly, when Cheech tells Chong the van they've just driven across the Mexican–American border is made of weed, Chong replies, "Cool beans!" Others dispute this claim, saying the phrase appears in one of their comedy albums but not in the film. (I watched the movie; it's not in there. The guys don't even ever realize their van is made of pot!) In the late 80s and early 90s, DJ Tanner frequently used the phrase in Full House. After that, it became prominent enough that I am writing this article today.
Read more: The History of Glitter
All of this is well and cute, but it does not answer the question: Whence did "cool beans" come? The US Dry Bean Council did not respond to my requests for comment, but I thought a peruse of their site might give me some answers. The USDBC recommends storing uncooked beans in a "cool, dry area," which would render them cool, both because they would be in a not-hot space and because they would be in an optimal state for later consumption, which is pretty cool. Should you cook your beans and want to store them, the USDBC suggests you refrigerate them, returning them to their cool state. Leftovers also save you money, which is very cool.
In other words, beans can be both literally and figuratively cool. But such humble origins do not an iconic teen slang phrase make. What's more, beans offer many health benefits, which is not something traditionally considered cool.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Stymied and discouraged, I emailed Jonathon Green, one of the world's leading slang lexicographers and the author of Green's Slang Dictionary, a three-volume compendium of over 10.3 million slang words and phrases that costs $625 new on Amazon. At first, even he was uncertain.
"My sense is that it developed from the mid-19th-century'some beans', used for something seen as impressive," Green told me. "There is also Australia's 'bean': the epitome of fashion."
When I asked Green about "some beans," however, he gave up the (dry) goods. "Some beans," he said, shows up in an 1853 autobiography: "By golly! You're some beans in a bar-fight. I'd rather set to with an old 'he' bar," it says. Green says this "gives [him] the sense" that it might all come from the phrase "full of beans."
What is the etymology of the phrase "full of beans," you ask? Well. According to Green, it is horse-racing jargon, "stable slang," "referring to a "sprightly horse." While in the late 1800s the phrase went on to signify arrogance, "especially through the sudden or recent acquiring of wealth," the phrase originated in the fact that people would feed horses beans to make them run faster.
I didn't know this, but is it cool? I wasn't sure. However, at the end of his correspondence, Green offered a more definitively neat hypothesis for the meaning of 'full of beans': "But does it also refer to the animal being blown along by its 'wind', i.e., farting?"
That's right, folks. The phrase "cool beans" stems from the phrase "some beans," which stems from the phrase "full of beans," which probably stems from horse farts. And that, I think we can all agree, is pretty cool.Senator Pauline Hanson has spent a day at a Queensland shooting range, describing the “long-overdue” visit as the “best day in about 20 years”.
The One Nation Senator vowed to obtain a gun license after firing a glock and a ‘Dirty Harry’-style gun at the North Arm Pistol Club.
“I’ve had the best day I’ve had for about 20 years,” she said in a video posted to Facebook.
“I’m going to go and get my license. I’ve been promising myself for a long time. It’s a great sport and who knows – the Olympics …. Why not? Have a go.”
Pointing to bullet holes in her target, she warned her opponents not to “mess with me – just make my day if you want to have a go”.
The One Nation Senator vowed to obtain a gun license after firing a glock and a ‘Dirty Harry’-style gun. (Facebook / Pauline Hanson's Please Explain) (Facebook / Pauline Hanson's Please Explain)
One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson has said she is in support of legal firearm ownership. (Facebook / Pauline Hanson's Please Explain) (Facebook / Pauline Hanson's Please Explain)
The visit comes as the One Nation senator yesterday announced she would lobby for Queensland police to be granted approval to practice with their service pistol outside of mandatory practice sessions.
Currently Police officers in Queensland are required to purchase an identical firearm at their own expense if they want to improve their shooting skills outside of their mandatory training sessions.
“I’m sure everyone agrees we want it to be as easy as possible for our Police Force to train and improve,” Senator Hanson said in a statement.
“I think this policy is just common sense.”
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2019(Robin Marchant/Getty Images)
Liberals surprised by her latest conspiracy theories seem to forget the Bush years.
Herewith, for your betterment and diversion, are a handful of dispatches from the dark depths of the digital front.
‐Driven by a desire to crack down on the people it serves — and to justify its actions abroad — the United States military is inventing crimes against humanity and attributing them to the Islamic State.
Advertisement
Advertisement
‐In Australia, a grateful government has jumped on these fabrications, and is employing them to justify a “draconian loss of freedoms.”
‐Claims to the contrary notwithstanding, America’s interest in the international Ebola outbreak has little to do with concerns about a lethal pandemic and more to do with the country’s establishing a convenient pretext for the imposition of martial law.
‐And, finally, the true results of September’s Scottish independence referendum were suppressed by that country’s electoral commission.
Advertisement
So sayeth the writer and activist Naomi Wolf on her Facebook page.
It should come as no surprise that these missives have attracted attention and condemnation from critics on both the left and the right. And yet the rank astonishment that has accompanied the criticism has been a little disconcerting. Compiling the most “unhinged, damaging, and dangerous” examples into a pseudo-explainer yesterday, Vox’s Max Fisher expressed bewilderment that Wolf would peddle such nonsense. Many Americans, Fisher proposed, continue to operate under “the assumption that Wolf is a respected and authoritative figure to be taken seriously.” This is a problem, he noted, because her “record of respectability gives her a platform and helps advance her conspiracy theories further than they would travel otherwise.” Later, Fisher attempted to set Wolf’s folly in context:
I was taught parts of Wolf’s 1990 book “The Beauty Myth” in school and admit that, until researching her more recent views more fully for this post, still mostly associated her with this and other well-respected work.... I can only assume that I was not alone in this.
Advertisement
Advertisement
“It is important for readers who may encounter Wolf’s ideas,” he concluded, “to understand the distinction between her earlier work, which rose on its merits, and her newer conspiracy theories.”
That we should examine individually each example of a person’s output strikes me as an eminently sensible rule. Nevertheless, I might quibble a little as to where we should draw the line of demarcation between Wolf’s earlier offerings and her newer theories. I understand that it has become something of a cliché for critics on the right to observe that, for many within the political press corps, modern history began with the election of Barack Obama in November of 2008, but, at the risk of playing to type, I cannot help but notice where Fisher’s analysis stops. Indeed, had he taken a little more time to research his post, he’d quickly have learned that, far from being a development of the last couple of months, Wolf’s considerable talent for delirium has been on display for years now. Of course she’s accusing President Obama of faking beheadings and coveting domestic military rule. Of course she believes that the Scottish referendum was faked. This is what she does.
Back in 2008, before Obama had been inaugurated, Wolf was touring the country warning anybody who would listen that the republic had fallen and that the citizenry should be preparing a resistance movement. “Americans are facing a coup, as of this morning, October 1st,” Wolf told Seattle’s KEXP, before promising listeners that she would soon be posting to her website a comprehensive set of instructions outlining “how to arrest the president.” “I’ve been saying for months,” Wolf insisted, “that leading up to the election you’re going to start seeing instability, hyped threats, hyped emergencies, hyped crises in order to create an atmosphere of urgency in order to justify a crackdown.” “I feel,” she explained, “like this is my one chance to alert America.” She wasn’t joking. Adopting a hysterical tone that would have prompted even Alex Jones into a period of self-reflection, Wolf warned that “we have almost no time” to push back against the “emergency.” And then she hawked her book to the audience.
Advertisement
The performance was a tour de force. Funnily enough, though, Wolf did not discuss what had become of her previous exhortations. She never does. Instead, she just keeps on going: warning of a coup here; predicting martial law there; and, all the while, heralding a glorious resistance movement that never quite needs to be arranged. There are, Wolf argued in the Guardian in 2007, ten inevitable steps that serve as the prerequisites to fascism. Fair enough. And yet precisely how these are playing out in America seems to depend upon her mood. Sometimes, she argues that these steps have already been taken: If voters were only “willing to look,” she proposed in 2007, they would see that “each of these 10 steps has already been initiated today in the United States by the Bush administration.” At other times, they are just around the corner: In the last days before the 2008 election, she claimed to have noticed that the United States was coming to resemble other “closing societies” in which “the leader or the president will send military — especially during an election — to beat or harass or arrest voters and opposition leaders.” And, on occasion, she has even argued for both propositions at the same time, contending simultaneously in September of 2008 that the election was going to be canceled and that, if John McCain beat Barack Obama, Americans would be swiftly subjugated under a tyranny run by Republican mastermind Karl Rove and the “designated muse of the coming American police state,” Sarah Palin. Such, I suppose, are the burdens that our modern-day Nostradami bear.
Worse, perhaps, was her tendency to drop the abstract talk of “closed societies” and instead to unabashedly accuse President Bush of channeling Adolf Hitler. Americans, Wolf advised earnestly in 2007, should be on the lookout for the Nazi “tactics and strategy” that were “being reproduced exactly right now by the Bush administration.” “When I saw the recycling of so much Nazi language, Nazi tactics, Nazi strategies, Nazi imagery in the Bush White House,” Wolf exclaimed, she was moved to investigate further. Sure enough, she found her smoking gun. “Belatedly,” she revealed, “people brought to me this history of Prescott Bush’s attempted coup and Smedley Butler’s revelations”:
There was a scheme in the 30s and Prescott Bush was one of the leaders of this scheme, an industrialist who admired fascism and thought that was a good idea — to have a coup in the United States along the lines of the coup they saw taking place in Italy and Germany.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
More recently, Wolf has transcended political prognostication and ranged into self-indulgence, too. In 2012, having suffered a diminishment in her sex drive, she wrote an entire book about her vagina. The experience evidently wasn’t easy. After attending “a dinner party celebrating her book deal where a male chef [prepared] ‘vagina-shaped pasta,’” the Los Angeles Times recorded, Wolf was afflicted by “six months of writer’s block.” One can only suspect that it would have been better for everybody if this incapacity had been permanent. “Naomi Wolf,” a science blogger for The New Statesman concluded in a review, “you sound like you’re on crack.” Almost to a man, the neuroscientific community concurred with the assessment, prompting the publication of some startling headlines. “Neuroscientists take aim at Naomi Wolf’s theory of the ‘conscious vagina,’” readers learned from io9. “Naomi Wolf’s ‘Vagina’ Gets More Public Criticism And Faint Praise Than Any Vagina We Know Of,” declared the Huffington Post. The tech website, Wired, meanwhile, lamented the pernicious influence of “Naomi Wolf’s ‘Vagina’ and the Perils of Neuro Self-Help.” Even Slate’s Katie Roiphe — no prude she — announced that Wolf’s book was “as ludicrous as you think it is,” representing an explosion of “faux academic language, and science, and personal confession mingled with a new-age idiom.” “I doubt the most brilliant novelist in the world,” Roiphe wrote, sticking in the dagger, “could have created a more skewering satire of Naomi Wolf’s career than her latest book.”
At what point, though, does the satire become the reality? Over the last eight years, Naomi Wolf has written hysterically about coups and about vaginas and about little else besides. She has repeatedly insisted that the country is on the verge of martial law, and transmogrified every threat — both pronounced and overhyped — into a government-led plot to establish a dictatorship. She has made prediction after prediction that has simply not come to pass. Hers are not sober and sensible forecasts of runaway human nature, institutional atrophy, and constitutional decline, but psychedelic fever-dreams that are more typically suited to the InfoWars crowd. I understand well that the gentle among us would prefer to shine a kind light on the descent, casting Wolf as having had an illustrious career blighted by a few giddy indiscretions. But we have probably now reached the point at which it would be more honest to conclude that the opposite is true. How should we respond when see a Naomi Wolf byline? By noting that she is an eccentric who was once involved in politics and rode the third wave of feminist thought, or by muttering under our breaths, “there goes that lunatic who once wrote a critically acclaimed book”?
Advertisement
— Charles C. W. Cooke is a staff writer at National Review.by Jason Frerichs
Since 2008, Iowa has turned from a blue state into a red state. Republicans control the state house, senate, and the governorship. There are a myriad number of reasons for this. Former Governor Chet Culver vetoed a 2008 bill that would have given public-employee unions a stronger hand in negotiating their contracts. It was a slap in the face to many labor groups. This was especially galling because it happened at the very beginning of the Obama administration that ran on a message of hope and change. Senate Democrats played a role in helping Republicans give tax cuts to large corporations. This did not help the image of Democrats within the state. These tax cuts have starved our schools of the necessary funding to deliver top-quality education. The role the previous IDP Chair played in creating division within the state party did not help the political climate in the state of Iowa. The purpose of this is not to drudge up old wounds or relitigate past events. It’s merely to paint a picture of why we are in the situation we are in. Complaining without offering solutions is just whining so here are some solutions to get the state back on track.
The first thing we must do is restore collective bargaining rights for our public-employee union members. Republicans have effectively destroyed collective bargaining for 184,000 state employees. “In my 25 years, I’ve never seen anything like this — ever,” said Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, who said Republicans used a “mean-spirited, rigged system” to circumvent the legislative process. “This is absolute drunk on power.” In addition to restoring these collective bargaining rights for existing unions, we must expand unions to other private sectors. Healthcare workers, retail workers, and restaurant workers should be allowed to form unions to advocate for their groups. Employers like Walmart and McDonalds should not be allowed to bully their employees into accepting starvation wages and leaving the taxpayers on the hook for food stamps, rental assistance, and Medicaid. The bosses are not going to willing hand us our fair share. We must take it.
It is imperative that Iowa raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour and it must be tied to the cost of living index. In order to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the state of Iowa, a person needs to earn $14.03 per hour. In order to afford a modest one bedroom apartment, a minimum wage worker in Iowa would need to work 60 hours per week. According to the United Way ALICE Report, 31% of Iowans do not earn enough to cover the basic costs of living. A family of four needs to earn $50,196 per year just to cover basic living expenses. Nearly half of all jobs in Iowa pay between $10 to $15 per hour. The days of taxpayers subsidizing low wages so wealthy Iowans can hoard more money must end. No one should have to make the choice between paying for groceries or paying for health care.
Healthcare is a human right. Let me repeat that. Healthcare is a human right. Instead of a worthless system of MCOs and private insurance companies, all Iowans should be put into the same single payer system, similar to how the Canadian provinces organize health care. Kick out the insurance companies and the MCOs. These organizations exist solely to steal money and don’t serve any useful purpose. Countries with universal coverage have lower costs and better outcomes. The reasons why are obvious. You are more likely to get a minor problem checked out if you don’t have to worry about high deductible and out of pocket costs. This will prevent it from becoming a bigger and more expensive problem down the road. The CBO recently stated that the AHCA would leave 14 million more people uninsured than the ACA currently does. This means that thousands of children in Iowa will lose their insurance. If children are not healthy, they will not do well in school.
When I was a child, Iowa’s schools were the envy of the nation. The last time Iowa ranked number one in education was in 1992. Programs like No Child Left Behind have harmed Iowa’s schools. It seems like Iowa is moving towards a statewide educational system instead of a loose confederation of school districts. Giving tax breaks to large corporations has starved schools of funding to deliver top quality education. Massive corporate property tax cuts will cause the state to face a $740 million shortfall over the next 10 years. Why are Republicans doing this? It’s because an educated populace is harder to control. The more education a person has, the less likely they are to believe in conservative values. People with advanced degrees have learned how to research and critically evaluate data. They’ve trained themselves to be critical thinkers. Education exposes people to new ideas and forces them to evaluate previously held opinions. An educated mind is the best weapon in the fight against fascism. It is imperative that we elect populist progressives who have the courage to void all previous contracts regarding tax cuts. Funding must be restored to previous levels. We must also make Iowa’s public colleges and universities tuition free. Young people taking on mortgage-sized student loan debt is not healthy for our economy.
These are just a few of the ideas that we can pursue in order to turn Iowa blue again. In the coming months, PVI will explore each of these ideas in more depth. Since 2008, Iowa has gone from blue to purple to red. What worked in the past does not work anymore. Progressives must take the lead and we must be prepared to fight. The only thing that can stop a bad person with a bad policy, is a good person with a good policy.
Jason Frerichs Founding Member and first Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party Progressive Caucus Contributor at The Good Men Project See author's posts
Like this: Like Loading...Lennon Bros sets up big top in Lismore, seven years after city bans animal circuses
Updated
The Lennon Bros Circus, which features lions, monkeys and camels, has rolled into a northern New South Wales city where animal circuses have been banned.
The Lismore City Council passed a motion in 2009 banning circuses that used exotic animals, but the order could only be applied to council-owned land.
The Lennon Bros Circus is being staged at the Lismore Showground, which is privately owned.
Showground trust president John Gibson said the event was legal and brought much-needed revenue to the organisation.
"Circuses are not banned in New South Wales," he said.
"In every community, there are all sorts of ideas and people have got various views on things that happen.
"Until the New South Wales Government does something about it, we're a trust and we've got to try to keep the thing afloat for all people in Lismore, not just the animal rights people.
"Without people coming and participating at the grounds, we'd go broke."
Activists and animal handlers have their say
About 20 animal rights activists staged a protest at the showground on the first night of the circus's five-day stay in Lismore.
Organiser Kashina Crabbe said word spread among Lismore's vegan community when the circus first began advertising in the city.
"Circuses can't really provide adequate care for animals, especially exotic animals," Ms Crabbe said.
"We want to push the industry into not using animals to get people to go to the circus."
Circus manager Jay Lennon said the three lions, rhesus macaque monkeys, camels and ponies in their care were well looked after.
"We have a full-time animal groomer with the show," he said.
"And if they're sick, we have a specialist vet that flies into wherever we are."
Animal handler Rod Levy has worked with the circus for 10 years and said he loved the animals "like his own children".
He said they were never on the road for more than three hours at a time, and the animals were the first ones off the trucks when they arrived at their destinations.
"The animal yards and shelters go up before we hook up our power or tend to ourselves," he said.
"The animals come first, everything else is second to the animals.
"I'm with them from five o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock at night … I just love them, it's a bond."
Mr Lennon said the 121-year-old circus toured around Australia all year round, but rarely encountered protesters.
He said Lismore had developed a reputation for its activism.
"We've found Lismore is very … let's say there are a lot of vegan groups and animal care places around," Mr Lennon said.
"It's unfortunate they won't come and contact us and talk to us about our animal treatment.
"I'd invite them around to have a look and to see how we care for them and maintain everything."
Mr Lennon said even if it were illegal to keep exotic animals, the circus's lions would not survive in the wild.
"They're born and bred into captivity in Australia, it's the same as a zoo," he said.
"You can't just take these animals and set them free; they don't know how to hunt they don't know how to kill.
"They can't look after themselves because it's been done for them their whole lives; it was the same with their parents and their parents before them.
"The circus hasn't brought in a wild animal from overseas for more than 50 years."
The Lennon Bros and Stardust circuses are the only remaining circuses in Australia that feature exotic animals.
Mr Lennon said they were sister organisations that worked together to breed their animals.
He said he saw their work as important to the survival of several species.
"One day that's all you're going to see — lions in a zoo or circus — look what's happening in Africa with people shooting them," Mr Lennon said.
"We want animals to live a long and healthy life.
"Our lions are 14 years old; in the wild they'd be dead.
"I'm so passionate about the animals, they're important to society … cats and dogs weren't domestic to start, and it's the same with the lions — they're our pets."
Topics: arts-and-entertainment, animal-welfare, lismore-2480
First postedddp images
Der ägyptische Schauspieler Omar Sharif ist tot. Er starb im Alter von 83 Jahren an einem Herzinfarkt. Bekannt wurde er durch Filme wie „Lawrence von Arabien“ und „Doktor Schiwago“.
Der Schauspieler Omar Sharif ist im Alter von 83 Jahren in Kairo an einem Herzinfarkt gestorben, wie seine Agentur am Freitag mitteilte. Der gebürtige Ägypter hat in über 100 Filmen mitgewirkt. Für seine Rolle in „Lawrence von Arabien“ erhielt er eine Oscar-Nominierung als bester Nebendarsteller.
dpa/Verleih
Erst im Mai hatte sein Sohn bekannt gegeben, dass Sharif an Alzheimer leidet. „Es ist schwer zu sagen, in welchem Stadium er sich befindet“, sagte er über seinen Vater. „Es ist offensichtlich, dass er sich nicht mehr erholen und es schlimmer werden wird.“ Er litt seit drei Jahren an Alzheimer Schon seit drei Jahren hatte Sharif seinem Sohn zufolge mit der Krankheit zu kämpfen. „Er weiß noch, wer er ist, aber nicht unbedingt, warum fremde Menschen ihn grüßen. Wenn ihn jemand auf der Stra |
the moment when he asks the audience if they think we're headed toward socialism (they all raise their hands) or are accused of being not "black enough" if they are conservative (again, a unanimous show of hands).
And it let Beck lead exchanges like this, with Beck regular Charles Payne and talk-show host Lisa Fritsch:
Beck: How many people here identify themselves as African Americans? (About a third raise their hands) OK -- Why? Payne: It's interchangeable. Beck: But wait, wait. Why not identify yourself as Americans? Fritsch: Well, people can look at you and tell you're black. You can't escape that. Beck: Yeah, but I don't identify myself as white, or a white American.
Will Brown of the New York Republican Community Coalition points out, adroitly, that "African American" is an "evolution" from the "N word" -- and certainly is preferable. Moreover, it wasn't black people who invented the "N word" or the segregation from enjoying the full fruits of American citizenship it represented -- it was white people. "African American" represents the recognition of their dignity and their rights as Americans.
But this point sails right over Beck's head, because he's too ignorant to appreciate the implications. Had Beck even a smidgen of American history, particularly pertaining to civil rights, he'd know that white Americans for most of the decades of the past century used the word "American" and "real American" almost exclusively to refer to white people -- and that this motif lingers even today (see, e.g., Sarah Palin's references to "real Americans" during the campaign -- speaking before small-town, all-white audiences).
This historical and cultural ignorance just kept manifesting itself:
Beck: Because one of the problems that I have -- and I have to tell you, as a white guy, as a white guy, I'm just being real honest with you, as a white guy, I think white people are uncomfortable sometimes saying, 'You know what, Martin Luther King' -- and then quoting Martin Luther King, because, it's almost as if society says -- 'No no no! That's our guy! Not your guy!' And it shouldn't be that way. And so Martin Luther King, wasn't the dream that we're all judged by the content of our character?
Beck doesn't understand why it's idiotic of white people to quote King -- namely, King was speaking in defense of black people whose civil rights had been systematically and violently denied for over a century, and his words were spoken in that context. They weren't intended to be spoken in defense of advantaged white people who want an excuse to keep stereotyping black people.
The black conservative talkers he had on weren't a whole lot better. Perhaps the most outrageously ahistorical remark came from Fritsch:
Fritsch: The only way black people were ever able to triumph is because of conservative values, which is directly linked to Christianity. Had we been liberals, during the Civil Rights movement, nobody would have done anything!
Um, Ms. Fritsch, you need to avail yourself some history books too. It was conservatives who argued for maintaining slavery before the Civil War. It was conservatives who insisted after the war that blacks be denied the full rights of citizenship, and who erected the system of Jim Crow, who led rope-bearing lynch mobs that crucified thousands of black people. It was conservatives who erected "No Black After Sundown" signs at the city borders of thousands of American towns.
And most of all, it was conservatives who fought the Civil Rights movement tooth and nail. And it was only from the ceaseless efforts of liberals -- many of them indeed Christian liberals -- in opposition to conservatives, many of them Christian conservatives -- that anything was in fact achieved during that era. Somehow, you've managed to get your history completely upside down.
This idiocy reached its apotheosis, though, when Beck played for his audience that audio tape of black Detroiters turning out for welfare assistance funds, originally promoted by Rush Limbaugh, which was nothing more than a nakedly racist bit of ugly stereotyping on the part of the radio talker, Ken Rogulski, who produced it. As King Crimson observed:
The conservo-talk reporter cherry picked through the audio booty until he found the absolute best soundbite that would most perfectly frame the city as one filled with Obama-fawning morons, black Sambos, and greedy welfare grabbers - precisely, as Limbaugh would later argue, the kind of rank idiots who would vote for someone like America's first black president.
And if you listen to the woman making the "Obama money" remarks, you can hear that she's cracking humorously on the humorless, stereotype-dependent white guy asking. He -- and Beck and Limbaugh, by extension -- are the butt of the joke and they don't even know it.
Well, we actually know where Beck thinks this talk comes from:
Beck: All right. These are the people who have been abused by the system. They've been taught they needed the government. They've been taught to be slaves, and their master is Washington! Both parties!
For some reason, those weren't the words he used yesterday. Hmmm. Wonder why not, don't you?
This is just vintage Beck, gorging himself on dumbass white stereotypes of black people and then fobbing himself off as just a colorblind white guy. As we noted before, this is his way of race-baiting:LOVELAND, Colo. – Public fishing at Lonetree Reservoir will only be open to the public for another year, after Colorado Parks & Wildlife was outbid by an unknown entity on a 20-year lease.
The popular reservoir and recreation area will be under lease by the state through June 30, 2018, but won’t be open to the public afterward.
The state Parks & Wildlife division had leased the reservoir and its surrounding for wildlife recreation since the 1970s, and say they will work to salvage and move and remaining sportfish to public water by next year. Current fishing regulations will remain in place until then.
It’s unclear who outbid the division or how much the winning bid was for, but the Parks & Wildlife news release announcing the lease would end next year lamented the failure of a financial sustainability bill for the agency in a Senate committee in this year’s legislature.
The bill would have increased prices for park passes and licenses for Colorado residents who fish and hunt.
“We are certainly disappointed. We negotiated as best we could for a 20-year lease, but were outbid in the end,” said Mark Leslie, the northeast regional manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Sadly the agency may face additional situations like this in the future as we struggle to support our hunting and fishing access with a constrained budget.”An undocumented immigrant has been using the identity of a dead man for the past four years to get benefits of nearly $30,000.
Court records show that the 69-year-old man took the identity of man deceased since 1994 to get social security, VA and other Federal, state and local benefits since 2012.
Police report that Rene Ortiz Quintana has been in the United States illegally for about 50 years. They say that in October of 2012 he took the identity of Ruben J. Gallardo, a man who has been dead since 1994.
Under that name, police say, he got an Arizona identification card, a state health card, a Phoenix health plan card and a VA choice card. The VA choice card was given to veterans in response to long delays in getting medical care from VA hospitals. It allows veterans to get medical care at Non-VA facilities.
He also received Social security benefits under the name Ruben Gallardo.
Quintana received benefits totaling $29,062.19.
He's been charged with fraudulent schemes, theft and seven counts of identity theft along with six counts of forgery.Tickets are now on sale for Frozen, the newest Broadway musical from Disney Theatrical. Frozen begins previews at the St. James Theatre on February 22, 2018 and will open mid-March.
Frozen, a full-length stage work told in two acts, is the first and only incarnation of the tale that expands upon and deepens its indelible plot and themes through new songs and story material from the film’s creators. This new stage production features more than twice as much music as the beloved 2013 animated film.
Broadway's Frozen features a book by Jennifer Lee and score by Oscar winners Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Frozen features choreography by Tony winner Rob Ashford and direction by Tony winner Michael Grandage.
Frozen stars Broadway veterans Caissie Levy as Elsa and Patti Murin as Anna. They are joined by Jelani Alladin as Kristoff, Greg Hildreth as Olaf, John Riddle as Hans, Robert Creighton as Weselton, Kevin Del Aguila as Oaken, Timothy Hughes as Pabbie, Andrew Pirozzi as Sven, with Audrey Bennett and Mattea Conforti rotating as Young Anna along with Brooklyn Nelson and Ayla Schwartz rotating as Young Elsa. Alyssa Fox is the Elsa standby and Aisha Jackson is the Anna standby.
Frozen also features Alicia Albright, Tracee Beazer, Wendi Bergamini, Ashley Blanchet, James Brown III, Claire Camp, Lauren Nicole Chapman, Spencer Clark, Jeremy Davis, Kali Grinder, Ashley Elizabeth Hale, Zach Hess, Adam Jepsen, Donald Jones, Jr., Nina Lafarga, Ross Lekites, Austin Lesch, Synthia Link, Travis Patton, Adam Perry, Jeff Pew, Olivia Phillip, Noah J. Ricketts, Ann Sanders, Jacob Smith and Nicholas Ward.
The design team for Frozen includes Tony winner Christopher Oram (scenic and costume design), Tony winner Natasha Katz (lighting design) and Tony nominee Peter Hylenski (sound design). Frozen features orchestrations by Tony nominee Dave Metzger and music supervision and arrangements by Tony winner Stephen Oremus.I’m an avid tabletop board gamer with hundreds of games in my “game library”. At least a couple times a week I head to the table with some friends and family to get in my fix of cardboard and dice. However there are still times when I want to play a game, but I don’t have the time or fellow players. Fortunately for me, the iPad has turned into a fantastic tabletop gaming substitute. Since its launch, there have been MANY fantastic tabletop games released for iOS. Today, we are going to look at some best digital translations of iOS board games. It was definitely hard to narrow the list down, and I’m sure it will change over time. But for now, here are the Top 10 iPad Board Games. And for clarities sake, we are only including iOS games that already have a cardboard counterpart.
Top 10 iOS Board Games
10. Battleore: Command
Battlore is a tabletop minis game where one player controls the heroic forces of light, while the other controls the monstrous minions of darkness. Fantasy Flight Games has taken this miniatures game and digitized it to run on your iPad and iPhone in the form of Battlelore: Command. While the rules have been altered slightly, the core of the game play remains the same. With both skirmish and campaign mode, Battlelore: Command has successfully brought a minis game to the digital realm.
Battlelore: Command • iPad, iPhone • 509mb • $9.99
9. Sentinels of the Multiverse
One of my favorite cooperative card games, Sentinels of the Multiverse puts players in control of a super hero as they work to stop an arch-villain. One of the great things about the Sentinels of the Multiverse app is that it takes much of the bookkeeping that slows down the card game. Players can now jump in and play Sentinels of the Multiverse both quickly and efficiently. The developers have also released a number of expansions for the app, so players have quite a bit of variety when firing up a game.
Sentinels of the Multiverse • iPad • 489mb • $9.99
8. Pandemic
One of the most popular cooperative games on the market today, Z-Man Game’s Pandemic tasks players with stopping four diseases from overtaking the planet. Easy to learn mechanics and challenging game play, Pandemic is a great game for just about anyone. The developer has also released the On the Brink expansion for the app in case you want to get some extra roles into your game.
Pandemic • iPad, iPhone • 63.4mb • $6.99
7. Carcassonne
A staple of “Gateway Games” for years, Carcassonne feature some very simple game play that has players building out the Carcassonne region of France. This tile laying game is easy to learn, yet the game play continues to draw people in even after all this time. To play, you simply place your tile onto the board, adding it to the existing layout. Points are scored for completing one of the game’s various structures. Carcassonne features both solo play vs the AI, pass and play, and also online play.
Carcassonne • iPad, iPhone • 275mb • $9.99
6. Cthulhu Realms
Designed by White Wizard Games, Cthulhu Realms (or Star Realms if you prefer a SciFi Theme) is a deck building game where players are trying to reduce their opponent’s life to zero. The nice thing about Cthulhu Realms is that it’s Free to Play done right. What that means is that you can download the app for free and try out a few missions in the campaign. If you decide you like it, you can make a one time purchases that unlocks every mode of the app. And not only do you unlock it on the device you bought it on, but you get the app on every platform its available on! This is how free to play should be done.
Cthulhu Realms • iPad, iPhone • 134mb • Free – $4.99 Unlocks All Play Modes
5. Galaxy Trucker
If you’ve never played the tabletop version of Galaxy Trucker, you owe it to yourself to try this one. It’s strategic, chaotic, and a whole mess of fun. The app does a great job of translating this game into the digital realm. Galaxy Trucker is a two part game that will have players building out a spaceship in real time, and then flying their crazy ship on a series of missions trying to earn the most money. The app is very well done and features pass and play or vs AI play.
Galaxy Trucker • iPad • 124mb • $4.99
4. Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is a best selling board game designed by Alan Moon. With over a million copies sold, it’s hard to argue the success of this title. The rules are easy to learn, with an almost rummy like feel to it and the game play stays fresh even after repeated plays. The Ticket to Ride app includes play via the AI, local play, or even online play. And with a number of expansions available as an in-app purchase, this one has a lot of replay value.
Ticket to Ride • iPad, iPhone • 271mb • $6.99
3. Neuroshima Hex
Neuroshima Hex is an absolutely fantastic tactical board game. Set in a post-apocalyptic future of our world, players each control a unique faction set on domination of the globe. Neuroshima Hex is one of those games that’s easy to learn, but difficult to master. The best part of the game is the asymmetrical nature of the factions. Each faction has its own unique power, tiles, and will approach the game just a little differently. What I like about the app is how it takes all the book keeping out of figuring out the combat numbers. I’ve played over a hundred games of the Neuroshima Hex app and still go back to it quite often.
Neuroshima Hex • iPad, iPhone • 480mb • $4.99
2. Lords of Waterdeep
A close contender for the #1 spot, Lords of Waterdeep is a worker placement game where players take on the role of a power player in the Forgotten Realms city of Waterdeep. The mechanics are easy to pick up, and the game play is highly engaging. Don’t let the Dungeon and Dragons theme fool you though, you don’t have to be an RPG fan to enjoy this board game. The app also features both the Undermountain and Skullport expansions as in-app purchases. The Lords of Waterdeep app is a great translation of an already excellent board game that has both fantastic visuals and smooth game play. You can play solo vs the AI, pass and play, or online. This one is a must own.
Lords of Waterdeep • iPad, iPhone • 553mb • $6.99
1. Agricola
Barely edging out Lords of Waterdeep for our Number One spot is Agricola. One of the oldest and most popular euro-games, Agricola definitely has a large following. Created by famed designer Uwe Rosenberg, Agricola has a very deep, complex, and strategic game play. This worker placement game has players running a medieval German farming. Despite its farming theme, this isn’t one of those click and wait for a timer type of game. Agricola will challenge you from day one with its excellent and in-depth game play. If you are looking for an absolutely fantastic board game, then look no further than Agricola.
Agricola • iPad, iPhone • 334mb • $6.99MLB will offer unbundled Internet packages for the next five years, including single-team packages for $84.99 next season. (Photo: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)
NEW YORK - Just as a trial was to begin, Major League Baseball and a group of its fans who had sued reached agreement Tuesday to expand the menu of online packages for televised games and lower prices.
The deal came weeks after baseball’s lawyers said for the first time the league was going to let fans buy single-team online TV packages. In the past, viewers who didn’t live in their favored teams’ home markets had to buy access to every televised MLB game included in the national plan.
Lawyers for fans who filed the class action lawsuit in 2012 said MLB will offer unbundled Internet packages for the next five years, including single-team packages for $84.99 next season. They said that’s a 23 percent drop from the cheapest version previously available.
The deal also calls for the cost of a league-wide package to drop to $109.99. The agreement provides other options to cable subscribers to regional sports broadcast networks. The league will let a subscriber buy access to a visiting team’s broadcast online. MLB also agreed to provide live local team broadcasts over the Internet for cable subscribers by the start of the 2017 season.
In most instances, a subscription to a team’s cable outlet is necessary to view games online, though the agreement contemplates eventually enabling some fans to watch games online without traditional cable subscriptions.
“We believe this settlement brings significant change to the sports broadcasting landscape,” said Ned Diver, a plaintiffs’ lawyer. “It is a big win for baseball fans.”
Major League Baseball confirmed the settlement but said it could not comment further because “the process remains ongoing.”
NBC Sports Regional Networks said in a statement it was pleased with the deal.
The trial had been scheduled to start Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, though officials indicated last week a settlement was likely.
Recently, MLB’s lawyers said they would change their sport’s packages similar to what the National Hockey League undertook when it settled its side of the lawsuit last year. The NHL also agreed to let fans buy single-team packages.
In 2013, U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled baseball could not use its antitrust exemption as a defense.
The lawsuit had said that the leagues’ clubs and some television broadcast entities colluded to eliminate competition in the airing of games on the Internet and on television. Baseball had defended a decades-old system of regional television contracts designed to protect each baseball team’s area from competitors.
More recently, baseball has multiplied options for fans so they could view games on various electronic devices.
“Make no mistake, this mission is not altruistic,” baseball’s lawyers said in court papers. “Baseball faces fierce competition, including from other sports offerings and an increasing slate of non-sports entertainment and leisure options.”
Diver, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, had argued that dividing the country into geographic territories for each team had strengthened baseball’s monopoly and permitted it to overcharge fans.
———
AP Baseball Writer Ron Blum and Associated Press writer Tom Hays contributed to this report.By Kathleen Sorensen
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Clover Food Lab will be able to serve local beer along with its vegetarian, locally sourced and largely organic fare to Google employees and others at their new location at 5 Cambridge Center. Expected to open Nov. 17 near the entrance to Google offices in Kendall Square, the newest Clover restaurant will be the third in Cambridge after Harvard and Inman squares. Other locations are in Brookline and Burlington, and the fast food chain has a fleet of food trucks throughout the city.
Founder and chief executive Ayr Muir was conditionally approved a malt beverage restaurant license Tuesday by the city’s License Commission, allowing the new Clover location to serve beer. As with the chain’s other Cambridge locations, there will be a two-drink maximum per customer. Clover will be able to serve from 11 a.m., seven days a week, but are not approved to serve beer outside until all the city’s requirements for patio seating are met.
Clover is “not looking for a bar atmosphere,” Muir said. “The license is meant to highlight local beers and brewers and to promote local agriculture.”
An Alewife Clover is expected next year, according to the chain’s website.Chet Atkins: The Lasting Influence Of 'Mr. Guitar'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame
Chet Atkins is no longer the household name he was in the 1960s, when he was all over TV and radio with his guitar. But every year, the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society packs a Nashville hotel. This year's gathering was the 27th.
"I saw the list of countries this year, and it's like New Zealand, Japan, Poland," says Pat Kirtley. "And the common bond is the music of Chet Atkins."
Kirtley has performed at Chet Atkins Days for 22 years. He's a veteran finger-style guitarist who attributes the very possibility of his career to Atkins.
"Chet made it OK to be a solo guitar player," he says. "It's not that there weren't solo guitar players before him — but there weren't that many. Chet took solo guitar to everybody."
Even to this day, young devotees are embracing Atkins' style. Ben Hall, a 22-year-old from Okolona, Miss., showcased at this year's convention. Hall uses the tricky right-hand technique that Atkins adopted from Kentuckian Merle Travis and refined in the 1940s and '50s.
"It revolves around a bass note," Hall says. "The fingers... Merle used one, Chet thought Merle was using two. So he used two and three and sometimes a handful of fingers. They play the melody. And there's famous stories of so many great guitar players along the way who play other styles listening to this and saying, 'I had no idea that's one instrument.' "
Atkins made his first solo recordings in the mid-1940s, but it would take him until 1955 to land his first hit, "Mr. Sandman." He was 31 by then, and more than a decade into his professional career. Born in the Appalachian town of Luttrell, Tenn., he'd acquired a hard-to-play Sears Silvertone acoustic guitar when he was about 10 years old.
Chet Atkins performs on the Grand Ole Opry in 1956. YouTube
Inspired by Travis and jazz guitarists George Barnes and Django Reinhardt, Atkins practiced obsessively in high school and then sought work. Carolyn Tate, chief curator of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibition, says it was a struggle at first.
"He knocked around on the radio circuit for a good long while," Tate says. "Your radio popularity in those days was based on the number of cards and letters that you got in. And he was just so shy, nobody was writing in for him — and so when times got tough, they would get rid of Chet."
Then, a connection with one of the seminal early country-music groups changed everything. Atkins began backing up The Carter Family (then known as The Carter Sisters) at the end of the 1940s. When the Carters were asked to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1950, Atkins came with them and quickly established himself in Nashville's new recording scene. He backed Hank Williams in "Cold, Cold Heart" and Elvis in "Heartbreak Hotel." And on records like Jazz from the Hills in 1952, Atkins and his fellow Music Row pickers breached the limits of country sessions and swung with the best of them.
"He'd launch into some kind of brand-new jazz style of playing or something that nobody had ever heard before, all because of all the things that had entered his head up to that point," Hall says.
Hall says Atkins was open to all the great music of his era, and cites a letter Atkins wrote to his sister from New York City.
"He said, 'I've heard some great music since I've been here. I even heard a guy named Art Tatum — you know, the fellow who plays such fine piano.' That tells you all you need to know about how curious Chet's ears were," Hall says.
Atkins would bring the city to the hills and the hills to the city for the rest of his career. As a recording artist, he made nearly 90 studio albums and released more than 100 singles, featuring intricate arrangements of everything from old fiddle tunes to calypso music to Beatles covers.
Atkins also enjoyed a long, influential career as a music executive. As head of RCA Records in Nashville, he became one of the architects of the so-called Nashville Sound. That fusion of country with string-laden pop rankled some traditional music fans, but it opened up new markets and helped Music City thrive in the 1960s.
Atkins performs on The Johnny Cash Show in 1970, with a poetic introduction from Cash himself. YouTube
Tate, the Hall of Fame curator, says the exhibition aims to tell those stories, while also letting visitors glimpse the private Chet Atkins.
"Folks that knew him and went to the house spoke of him being the consummate tinkerer," Tate says. "There were very few of his guitars he hasn't put a drill to or a saw to or put a big hole in it, or just made it his own."
The museum reconstructed Atkins' home workbench and filled it with the voltage testers, vacuum tubes and other things that were on it when he died in 2001. Country star Steve Wariner, a longtime Atkins friend and protege, says it's the perfect unifying symbol.
"I had goose bumps," Wariner says. "It's exactly the way it looked at his house when you walked into his control room."
Wariner recalls bringing over an electrified classical guitar whose bridge had become separated in a hot car. He'd hoped for advice about where to get it fixed.
"And he lays it up on his workbench, loosens the strings and pulls them apart. And he reaches over, and he's grabbing tools," Wariner says. "He takes the bridge off it, and I'm like, 'Oh my god, he took my bridge off.' And he says, 'Just leave it with me.' So Chet fixed it for me. Didn't charge me a penny, of course. And I'm thinking, 'How cool is that? Chet Atkins working on this guitar?' "
Over the last decades of his life, Atkins stepped back from the business and made more time to record and perform — with symphony orchestras, at the White House and at home. When he appeared on Johnny Cash's short-lived variety show in 1970, Cash introduced the legend with a poem he'd written just for the occasion:
The hands of the baker and the candlestick maker
Are those of a skillful man.
The thread of the tailor, the ropes of the sailor
Are tied by knowing hands.
The watchmaker's eye, and the light to see by
And hands that are calm and sure
Make the tiniest springs do the tiniest things
And long has the skill endured.
It matters not the job you've got
As long as you do it well.
The things that are made by plans well-laid
The test of time will tell.
But how can you count or know the amount
Of the value of a man?
By the melodies played and the beauty made
By the touch of Chet Atkins' hands.The Donatas Motiejunas saga in Houston has strayed into November, but stay tuned.
After weeks of mostly silence about the restricted free agent's future, action is starting to bubble here.
Whether that action results in a deal that restores Motiejunas to active duty remains to be seen, but league sources say that the Rockets have ramped up their attempts to sign the Lithuanian power forward, with Thanksgiving week serving as an unofficial deadline for a deal.
Editor's note Remember our encyclopedia-length Weekend Dimes back in the day? On Fridays, whenever the schedule allows, we like to try to recapture the spirit of the WD thing with a mini Son of Weekend Dime... because you know what nostalgic saps we are here at Stein Line Live.
Nov. 23 is the date of particular significance, sparked by the fact Motiejunas can't be traded this season if he's signed after that date, which could possibly lower his value with potential outside suitors as well. Any new deal with Motiejunas after Nov. 23 would leave less than three months before the league's annual Feb. 23 trade deadline, making him ineligible to be included in any potential deals, something that the ever-aggressive Rockets would prefer to avoid.
Motiejunas remains a restricted free agent after he chose to let Houston's $4.4 million qualifying offer for this season expire Oct. 1. Sources told ESPN on Friday that the Rockets' latest offer is a multiyear deal that starts at $7 million annually, with attainable incentives that could take it to $8 million.
The Rockets are presently unwilling to fully guarantee more than the first season in a new contract, sources say, in a nod to the back injury that scuttled Houston's trade with Detroit in February that briefly made Motiejunas a Piston until the deal was voided due to a failed physical.
Six teams out there still possess in excess of $10 million in salary cap space to make a play for him if they wish -- Philadelphia, Denver, Brooklyn, Utah, Phoenix and Minnesota -- but the Rockets remain able to match any offer Motiejunas receives.
As ESPN's Calvin Watkins reported recently, Motiejunas stopped receiving paychecks from last season's $2.2 million salary on Nov. 1. Another option available to the 26-year-old, of course, is signing a deal to play overseas this season, but the money available abroad typically falls well shy of NBA levels. He would also remain a restricted free agent in that scenario.
It's been an eventful week for Nets center Brook Lopez.
The 7-footer made an undeniable splash Wednesday with 34 points -- highlighted by four 3-pointers -- in surprising Brooklyn's 109-101 victory Wednesday night over Detroit. The flurry of triples made headlines because Lopez came into the game having sank just four previous 3s in 490 regular-season games.
But what's happening behind the scenes is newsy, too. Some rival executives are increasingly convinced that the Nets are open to moving Lopez between now and the February deadline in the proverbial right deal.
Rumblings of Boston interest have been forcefully shot down by sources familiar with the Celtics' thinking, but the situation bears monitoring -- and not simply because the Celts could ultimately decide that a big in-season move is wisest in the event they can't create as much cap space next summer as they once hoped.
Sources familiar with the Nets' thinking stressed to ESPN.com in recent days that, as it stands, Brooklyn is merely fielding calls and doing its due diligence. Listening to other teams, in other words, as opposed to outright shopping the former All-Star center.
The reality, though, is that Lopez, at 28, is the Nets' most desirable asset, thanks in part to the fact he has another full season (at $22.6 million) left on his contract after this one.
Yet it should be noted that the Nets, even after Lopez appeared in 73 games last season, have already held him out of one back-to-back in a nod to the big man's history of foot troubles and are openly weighing whether to hold him out of more.
The Raptors are among the teams that have expressed interest in Philadelphia's very available Nerlens Noel, but sources say Toronto's initial preference in the wake of losing Jared Sullinger (foot) to injury is to give more minutes to various younger players (such as rookies Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl) so they get first crack at filling the void.... Oklahoma City's Steven Adams landed a 7.5 percent trade kicker in his new four-year, $100 million contract extension, meaning he gets a 7.5 percent bonus from his existing salary if he's dealt during the course of the new deal that kicks in next season. The official numbers on Gorgui Dieng's extension in Minnesota, meanwhile, came in at $62.8 million over four years.... Jerry Colangelo's decision not to seek a third term as USA Basketball chairman won't have any impact on his role with the senior men's national team. He remains Team USA's managing director after assuring Gregg Popovich that he would continue to essentially serve as the team's GM through the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, something Colangelo promised when Popovich agreed to succeed Mike Krzyzewski as Team USA coach.Where Coal Was King, Pa. Voters Hope Trump Rejuvenates Their Economy
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ashley Westerman/NPR Ashley Westerman/NPR
On Election Day, Donald Trump swept many traditionally Democratic Rust Belt states. One of those was Pennsylvania.
For the first time in more than two decades the Keystone State went red. The Democrats' upset in a once-reliable blue state was fueled by working-class voters who have seen their communities hit hard over the decades-long decline of coal, steel and manufacturing in their areas.
Rural Fayette County is an hour south of Pittsburgh and one of the poorest counties in the state. Though registered Democrats outnumber Republicans almost 3 to 1, unofficial county election results show Trump trounced Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton by almost 30 points.
In Uniontown, the seat of Fayette County, Main Street is lined with decaying brick buildings. Several store fronts stand empty and many of the sidewalks are in need of repair. Area residents tell NPR that downtown used to be bustling and full of life, but the decline of "king coal" hit hard southwest Pennsylvania hard.
Watching his community decline is one reason lifetime Democrat and retired coal miner Walter Pleban voted for Donald Trump. Pleban hails from a long line of miners and even in retirement still supports the United Mine Workers of America.
"And what we'd like to see, they do something with the coal again because so many people in this area, in our area around here, worked in the mine," Pleban says. "And now there's a lot of mines closed and there's a lot of fellows without jobs."
Around the Nation Trump's Victory Elevates Hopes For People In Coal Country Trump's Victory Elevates Hopes For People In Coal Country Listen · 3:04 3:04
Pleban hopes Trump will bring back jobs to Fayette County, though he wouldn't say how long he'd give the real estate mogul to make that happen.
"We'll see what happens," he says.
Tina Allen is also a lifelong Democrat who crossed the aisle to vote for Trump. Her husband is a coal miner.
"If he's unemployed, where is he going to go? He's almost 60 years old," Allen says.
Allen hopes with a President Donald Trump, her husband's mine will be able to stay open and maybe even hire more people. But her main concern is the Affordable Care Act and the high cost of health insurance. Allen says her daughter has high insurance premiums, though she's unsure if that insurance is through the ACA.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ashley Westerman/NPR Ashley Westerman/NPR
"Everyone I talked to that's on Obamacare, it has almost doubled," Allen says. "So something needs done."
Allen says she got in fights with her mother, a strict Democrat, over her choice to vote for Trump.
"We didn't speak for days. I was told if my grandfather was living, he would disown me," Allen says. "I says, 'Mom, I've got to do what I have to do.'"
She and her mother have since made amends, Allen says – and right in time for the holidays.
Allen says Uniontown is also ready to put aside the politics and come together to celebrate the season. She's the lead organizer for the Uniontown's annual "Home for the Holidays" parade and light-up night. Allen helped transform downtown into small-town holiday fever on Thursday.
People lined the sidewalk of Main St. to see the parade, which included everything from the local high school marching band to dancers and costumed characters. The historic State Theatre was turned into a marketplace for homemade cookies sold for charity, and the mayor lit a Christmas tree in Storey Square to the sound of holiday music and the excited gasps of adults and giggles of children.
Community members of all political persuasions came out for the event including Fayette County Democratic Party Chairman Jim Davis.
In the spring, Davis was trying to raise alarm bells to his party. He told NPR that he was concerned about the large Republican turnout in the Pennsylvania primary and he that he was seeing Democrats in his country switch their party registration so they could vote for Trump in the general election.
The writing was on the wall.
"We didn't want to see it," Davis says. "We didn't want to accept it but... it was obvious."
David doesn't square lay blame on Clinton. Instead, he says it was the system that allows people to think they have a right to run for a certain office is what failed the Democrats.
"You should earn it, and competition is better," Davis says.
"I think a lot of good candidates assumed she would be the candidate, she would be the next president and they stepped out," he says.
Davis believes the Democratic Party has to reinvent what they stand for in order to win back blue-collar voters and stop putting social issues at the forefront of the party. Democrats, he says, have to start talking about things like how to |
said.
At least 22 police officers, three children and a woman were killed in those attacks, said Bama police commander Sagir Abubakar. He said officers killed three insurgents during the fighting.
Calls rang unanswered or would not connect on Tuesday night to those living in Bama, a town 40 miles (65km) south-east of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. In attacks in the region by Islamic extremists, phone towers have been bombed and burned to the ground, making communication even more difficult for security officials and civilians as well. At least 17 people died in an attack in Bama in late April.
Much of the violence has been blamed on the extremist network known as Boko Haram, which translates as "western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language of Nigeria's north. The group has said it wants its imprisoned members freed and Nigeria to adopt strict sharia law across the multi-ethnic nation of more than 160 million people.
While President Goodluck Jonathan has launched a committee to look at offering an amnesty deal to extremist fighters, Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, has dismissed the idea in messages.
The Islamic insurgency in Nigeria grew out of a riot in 2009 led by Boko Haram members in Maiduguri that ended in a military and police crackdown in which about 700 people were killed. The group's leader died in police custody in an apparent execution. Since 2010, Islamic extremists have engaged in hit-and-run shootings and suicide bombings, attacks that have killed more than 1,500 people.
Despite the deployment of more soldiers and police to northern Nigeria, central government has been unable to stop the killings. Meanwhile, alleged atrocities committed by security forces against the local civilian population has caused anger in the region.
In late April, at least 187 people were killed in fighting between Islamic extremists and the military in Baga, another city in Borno state that sits along the banks of Lake Chad. Witnesses say soldiers angry about the death of a military officer set fire to homes and killed civilians.
Human Rights Watch recently said an analysis of satellite imagery before and after the attack led it to believe the violence destroyed about 2,275 buildings and severely damaged another 125.Intelligence accounts raise more questions on origins of Brussels, Paris attacks
By Alex Lantier
30 March 2016
Accounts of US and European intelligence’s monitoring of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) make ever clearer that the key ingredient in ISIS terror attacks in Brussels and last year in Paris was the support of factions of the NATO countries’ intelligence apparatus for ISIS in the war in Syria.
As NATO officials sought to use ISIS militias and terror attacks to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and to discredit Assad’s accusations that they was supporting terrorists in Syria, they ignored mounting signs that ISIS was developing a broad terror network in Europe. This reckless policy led to substantial infighting inside the intelligence services, which was however hidden from the public.
On March 22 in Brussels, ISIS operatives identified as terrorists to state authorities, the El Bakraoui brothers, were able to prepare and carry out attacks, even though Belgian officials had been warned of the timing and targets of the attacks. Now, as NATO powers debate a shift towards pro-Russian forces and away from ISIS in Syria, factional infighting in the intelligence apparatus is erupting into the open. This is the content of yesterday’s lengthy New York Times feature article, titled “How ISIS built the machinery of terror under Europe’s gaze.”
The article is based on internal documents and testimony of US and French intelligence operatives of how they monitored ISIS operatives returning to Europe from Syria and apprehended several preparing attacks in Europe. It presents extended accounts of the travel plans, social media postings, and political views of several European recruits to ISIS who were preparing attacks in Europe, making clear that ISIS is thoroughly penetrated and monitored by NATO intelligence agencies. This makes it all the remarkable that ISIS was allowed to repeatedly carry out large-scale attacks in Europe.
The Times notes, “Officials now say the signs of this focused terrorist machine were readable in Europe as far back as early 2014. Yet local authorities repeatedly discounted each successive plot, describing them as isolated or random acts, the connection to the Islamic State either overlooked or played down.”
In fact, sections of the intelligence establishment were aware and concerned from shortly after the beginning of the Syrian war in 2011 that the Islamist militias they were mobilizing against Assad would organize terror attacks not only in Syria, but also in Europe.
The Times cites retired US General Michael T. Flynn, the leader of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) from 2012 to 2014. Flynn was a key source in a report by Seymour Hersh in the London Review of Books in January, detailing contacts of US military intelligence with Russian and Syrian officials, which the DIA hoped to use in a war against ISIS.
Flynn tells the Times, “This didn’t all of a sudden pop up in the last six months. They have been contemplating external attacks ever since the group moved into Syria in 2012.”
These signals included the May 24, 2014 shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussels carried out by Mehdi Nemmouche, an ISIS fighter from nearby Roubaix, in France. The Times notes, “Even when the police found a video in his possession, in which he claimed responsibility for the attack next to a flag bearing the words ‘Islamic State of Iraq and Syria,’ Belgium’s deputy prosecutor, Ine Van Wymersch, dismissed any connection. ‘He probably acted alone,’ she told reporters at the time.”
In fact, a review of Nemmouche’s phone records by the intelligence agencies showed that he was in close touch with Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the public face of ISIS’ social media recruiting operations, who subsequently led the November 13 ISIS attack in Paris.
The Times writes, “In the months before the Jewish museum attack, Mr. Nemmouche’s phone records reveal that he made a 24-minute call to Mr. Abaaoud, according to a 55-page report by the French National Police’s anti-terror unit in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.”
The article follows in detail the movements of ISIS operative Reda Hame, a 29-year-old computer technician from Paris who traveled to Syria in 2014 and volunteered, apparently after some initial reluctance, to return and carry out terror attacks in Europe. Despite attempts to hide and encrypt his communications with Abaaoud, Hame was apprehended in August of last year before he could carry out any attacks.
He is apparently one of 21 such ISIS operatives who were arrested before carrying out their attacks. “It’s a factory over there,” Hame told French intelligence officials after his arrest, according to the Times. “They are doing everything possible to strike France, or else Europe.”
As sections of the intelligence establishment were well aware, a mass of information pointed to the fact that ISIS was preparing terror attacks in Europe. “All the signals were there. For anyone paying attention, these signals became deafening by mid-2014,” adds Michael S. Smith II, a counterterrorism analyst with private firm Kronos Advisory.
The main question that emerges from the Times ’ account, which it does not even bother to pose, is why intelligence agencies did not pay attention to the “deafening” signs that ISIS was preparing attacks in Europe. This also raises what role state agencies’ decision to downplay these reports played in ISIS’ ability to carry out the Paris and Brussels attacks—against Charlie Hebdo in January 2015, again in Paris in November, and now in Brussels—killing and wounding hundreds in Europe.
The central factor is that in the initial years of the war, there was broad support in the ruling classes of Europe and the United States for a proxy war for regime change against Assad relying on Islamist terror groups. In Europe, protocols were put in place so that thousands of Islamist fighters could travel to the Middle East, to train for war against Assad, with impunity.
Initial reports that NATO proxies were carrying out hundreds of terror bombings, like the report by the Arab League in early 2012, were denounced in the Western media. In the ruling class and reactionary layers of the affluent middle class, there was broad support for an imperialist war against Syria waged via terrorist methods. Middle class pseudo-left groups such as the International Socialist Organization in the United States, the New Anti-capitalist Party in France and the Left Party in Germany enthusiastically promoted war with Syria.
War fever swept the New York Times, which published extensive, favorable portrayals of terror attacks in Syria by leading journalists. C.J. Chivers’ August 2012 video report “The Lions of Tawhid” detailed his stay with an Islamist militia, the Lions of Tawhid, that carried out truck bombings and killings near the Syrian city of Aleppo.
After criticisms emerged that the video showed the Lions of Tawhid carrying out a war crime by trying to use a prisoner as an unwitting suicide bomber, Chivers dismissed his critics as supporters of Assad on his blog, The Gun: “Where you stand on this probably depends on who you are. You might support this if you support the rebels and their cause. You won’t much like it if you are a member of a Syrian Mi-8 helicopter crew, or depend upon those aircraft and those crews for medevac and ammunition resupply.”
As these moods and views dominated in ruling circles, intelligence agencies ignored the mounting evidence that ISIS and similar groups linked to Al Qaeda were developing terror networks internationally. This underscores the fact that the main goal of the so-called “war on terror” is regime change and imperialist domination of the Middle East, not fighting terrorism. The Times report makes clear that the wars and the division of labor between the intelligence agencies and Islamist fighters have emerged as the main danger of terrorism in Europe today.
A number of questions remain, however, on how it was possible for the Charlie Hebdo, November 13, and Brussels attacks to proceed. In all cases, the attackers were high-ranking ISIS or Al Qaeda fighters well known to intelligence services: The Kouachi brothers were under state surveillance and spoke directly to Al Qaeda’s top leadership in the Arabian Peninsula. Abaaoud was known internationally and publicly as a leading ISIS official. And the El Bakraoui brothers in Brussels were violent felons known as terrorists to the intelligence services.
Given that the intelligence services were able to identify and stop more obscure figures such as Reda Hame, it remains inexplicable how such top Islamist fighters were allowed to travel freely across Europe to prepare mass terror attacks.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Throughout the primary season, smearing Bernie Sanders and his supporters established itself as a full-fledged media industry. Sanders, we were told, was an egomaniacal, sexist, old white man on a delusional and quixotic campaign promoting pie-in- the-sky policies like single payer health care, free college tuition, viewing Palestinians as people, and not destroying the planet. Exerting his male privilege, he bullied Hillary Clinton into nominally opposing a secretive, Frankensteinian trade agreement. He even forced her to embrace a $15 federal minimum wage with a sexist condescension that far outweighs the material benefits that would be reaped by women who make up the majority of the minimum wage work force.
In his Utopian quest, Sanders was more than happy to drag down the Democratic Party and thwart history, by opposing the candidate who could become the first female president of these United States. And he recklessly strung along an army of all white ‘Bernie Bros’ and some white women who had internalized misogyny. There were, simply put, no people of color who supported Sanders. It was that simple.
Little did we know, the media was actually pulling its punches. Once Hillary won the nomination and Vermont senator graciously and enthusiastically endorsed her, the gloves really came off. In a display of shameless schadenfreude, the media gleefully mocked Sanders supporters for being emotionally weak and cognitively damaged. If they wanted to hang around with the cool crowd, they had to remove their aluminum foil antenna from their heads, lick off their patchouli, and sit in the back, silent, hands-folded, and listening to the winners. Stinky, crazy, loud-mouthed losers, needed to get in line, sit down and shut up, immediately.
The media’s “Mean Girls” style contempt isn’t just for Bernie or Busters or Stein supporters. It’s for anyone who is, ever has been or ever might be one. Curiously, the criticism is much harsher than anything we see hurled at people supporting Trump… you know… the fascist whose potential presidency makes not supporting Clinton such an act of lunacy.
Let’s take a look at some schoolyard bullying and berating techniques the media is using that will do little to distinguish Democratic Party shills from you know who.
1. Ridicule people in pain.
Slate editor, Jeremy Stahl, was the schoolyard terror, lobbing Sanders supporters for being sad. In his piece, “Photos of Angry, Sad, Horrified Bernie Sanders Supporters During His Convention Speech”, Stahl compiled nine photos (none of which he took, as he’s more of a curator). Two of the selected photos have the same bummed out white guy and three of them have the same very sad white gal. There there was no shortage of photos of people of color with the Sanders Team in Philly (I know because I was there). But when your strategy is ridicule, why waste time on research?
And Stahl more than makes up for this with the witty descriptions he inserts under the photos such as, “Just please take me home now. I want to go home,” “poor souls,” “I mean, nobody died,” or my personal fave, “[Insert Celine Dion lyrics here.]” This blunt object hit piece wacks anyone who felt low watching their candidate officially leave the race, especially knowing that the DNC had employed dirty tricks to defeat him.
2. Subject people to deadly jokes
Stahl ends another piece, “Watch an MSNBC Host Confront Bernie Sanders Delegates About Denial,” with this zinger: “The Nile is a river in Egypt. Denial is a thing that some Bernie Sanders delegates are still apparently going through.” Though, hat tip to Stahl for unpacking for us the “de nial: it ain’t just a river in Egypt” classic.
3. Call people stupid often, even using evidence to the contrary as examples.
Stahl opens the same witty “denial” piece by promising his readers “fun.” The fun is watching MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle interview two Iowa Sanders delegates, “essentially asking them to justify the entire ‘Bernie or Bust’ movement’s raucous obstinancy [sic] on Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention.” Stahl dutifully transcribed some “highlights” of the interview, my favorite part being the following:
Ruhl: Bernie Sanders, he built the fire. He lit it and now he is saying ‘guys, time to put it out.’ Are you not listening to your candidate?
Delegate Larson: I would argue is that he is not saying that we put anything out. He’s saying we need to continue and fight harder.
Ruhl: For Hillary Clinton. He said it last night.
Larson: For progressive candidates. And we’ve made a lot of progress and we do have some faith that she has gone farther left and will support things that we care about.
Larson was not only intelligent but patient in his response to an interviewer who thought that Sanders’ convention message to his supporters had been, “Enough about the damn fire we started as a movement! Enough about the damn phoenixes and ashes. We’re gonna come together one last time, grab some hoses, and spray. We’re over.”
4. Taunt your victim, claim legions of supporters.
In all fairness, this rule is fairly counter-intuitive and it’s definitely not something they teach you at journalism school. So, I’ll cut Washington Post’s Callum Borchers some slack for writing a piece called, “Dear delegates chanting through DNC speeches: The media thinks you’re stupid.”
Speaking on behalf of “the media” and “journalists,” Borchers did not mince his words:
“Chanting is so hot right now at the Democratic National Convention, but the media is unimpressed.”
Those two clauses are amazing on their own but they are synergistic explosion of truth and knowledge dropping when combined. The problem, according to the very musical Borchers, “is partly because the rhythmic phrases disrupting speeches Wednesday night have been hard to understand, at times—and what’s the point of chanting, if not to deliver a message?” But the bigger issue, Borchers explains, is “journalists watching the proceedings consider the timing of these outbursts to be terrible.”
As he points out, “the criticism isn’t about substance; it’s about strategy. The analysis isn’t about the point pro-Sanders delegates were making. It’s that they picked a lousy time to make it.”
It’s pretty hard to dismiss Borchers precisely because he really gets these chanters and their message. He proves as much by citing the disapproval from the Pro-Sanders chanters’ natural allies like Joe Scarborough and Chuck Todd. But perhaps the greatest and more persuasive point that will definitely knock some sense into their heads was, apparently, a tweet from Nick Riccardi, who observed, “Panetta making mainstream case to kill terrorists and that HRC is the best to do that and is shouted down by ‘No more war’ chants”.
Panetta making mainstream case to kill terrorists and that HRC is the best to do that and is shouted down by “No more war” chants — Nick Riccardi (@NickRiccardi) July 28, 2016
Now, I’m not sure if Riccardi was condemning the chanters, extolling them, or just reporting what they were saying when they were saying it. The important thing here is that Borchers reads this tweet as proof that the chanting backfired. Borchers clearly knows how to appeal to his audience, as we already know (see headline). But he really nails it here. If the chanters had known Panetta endorsing Clinton for her ability to mainstream the whole killing of terrorists thing, surely, these critics of militarism and war would have shut up and maintained their silence until the end of Panetta’s speech, at which point they would have erupted into applause, stormed the stage, hoisted Leon on their shoulders, before putting him down, and clearing a pathway, down which Panetta would run and be greeted by a lucky Berniac who would lift Panetta into the air as “The Time of My Life” crescendoed in the background to full volume. Alas, it was not to be.
5. Humiliate by careful selection of examples
The Daily Beast’s Nathan Place was refreshingly candid about his intentions in a post entitled, “Watch: ‘Bernie or Bust’ Movement’s Worst Moments at the DNC.” The header is just as nuanced, understated and ambiguous as the video mashup and the description, which opens with, “The words will live on throughout history. ‘To the Bernie or Bust people,’ Sarah Silverman pleaded against the booing throngs of die-hard Bernie Sanders supporters, ‘you’re being ridiculous.’”
In case any readers were confused about what the embedded video would show, Place urged, “Watch this video to see what she was talking about.” In case anyone chose to ignore his advice about watching the video, he was happy to summarize: “At nearly any mention of Hillary Clinton’s name, devoted Berniacs at the Democratic National Convention booed, jeered, and chanted against the very notion of supporting their party’s nominee. Then, after the night was over, several of the Bernie faithfultold MSNBC reporters they would not support Clinton in the general election.
‘I would vote my heart, not my brain,’ one said, before suddenly backtracking. ‘I mean, you know, whatever’.” The backtracker is a Black woman, so I congratulate the writer for acknowledging Sanders supporters are not, contrary to unfounded media narratives, all white. Too bad he chose to highlight a few seconds of fumbling out of the hours of footage.
Looking forward to the “Watch: ‘Bernie or Bust’ Movement’s Best Moments at the DNC” video.
6. Mock the disabled
Wonkette’s Alex Ruthrauff could barely contain his excitement over the “really stupid” statements from Sanders supporters who engaged in a media sit-in inside the media tent, which Ruthrauff claims was poorly organized and poorly planned. I’m pretty sure he could have demonstrated that without writing the following:
The Washington Examiner collected several quotations from erstwhile Berners, and many are really stupid ones. To wit:
“Today we were all denied access to democracy,” [Alonso] Statham continued. “Being in a wheelchair, I am used to being denied access to all sorts of things. But everybody here was denied access to democracy, denied access to the party.”
Alonso Statham said this to the free press, at a political convention to which he freely traveled after freely voting for Bernie Sanders.
Ye ole Wheelchair mocking! One of the most underused strategies of persuasion.
7. Repeat again…frequently…now with Jill Stein
Much of the narrative against Sanders and his supporters framed them as self-indulgent, stubborn, out of touch, privileged people. And as soon as the Democratic Sanders lost to Clinton the same story has been advanced against Jill Stein.
Stein-bashing sprouted months ago. In May, when a pro-Stein listener called into Dan Savage’s podcast Savage…well… savaged her:
Disaster will come. And the people who’ll suffer are not going to be the pasty white Green Party supporters—pasty white Jill Stein and her pasty white supporters. The people who’ll suffer are going to be people of color. People of minority faiths. Queer people. Women.
Don’t do it. Don’t throw your vote away on Jill Stein/vote for, bankshot-style, Donald Trump.
Such savagery seems pervasive and coordinated. Jordan Weissman’s recent article in Slate is titled, “Jill Stein’s Ideas Are Terrible. She Is Not the Savior the Left Is Looking For.” In his Bernie-bashing days, Weissman defended free trade: “The fact is, most of the world has seen its standard of living improve quite a bit in the era of free trade.” Now he attacks Stein’s economic policy by stating that “Stein probably just has no idea what she’s talking about.”
I get it. I, too, am often tempted to attack or mock the people who disagree with me. Really I am. There’s a part of me that wants nothing more than to spend the next three months writing and performing, “Our Woman in Tegucigalpa,” a musical-comedy, packed with intrigue and romance, about the Democratic candidate’s involvement in the Honduran coup.
But my opposition to Trump is stronger than this particular creative calling, so I refrain. Maybe the media should do that too.A staffer close to the Clinton campaign said the candidate took Rangel's response to heart. Clinton’s exit: When push came to shove
In the end, the same man who ushered Hillary Rodham Clinton into electoral politics nine years ago pushed her out.
On Wednesday, Clinton was asking supporters to wait — it was unclear for what — and to give her time to gather her thoughts. Many seemed willing to accede to the request, but Rep. Charles B. Rangel, the blunt, 77-year-old dean of New York’s congressional delegation, had had enough.
Story Continued Below
In public statements and on a crucial afternoon conference call, he told Clinton it was time to go. And Rangel, for reasons of state politics, personal history and race, is not a man Clinton could afford to ignore.
“Unless she has some good reasons — which I can’t think of — I really think we ought to get on with” endorsing Obama, he told ABC News yesterday afternoon.
Rangel figures large in the Clinton legend: According to the official story, he first suggested to Clinton that she run for Senate in New York. This year, he held Clinton’s African-American supporters in line for her, despite the temptation many felt to back her surging rival. And he’s a powerful figure in the state to which she now must return.
A staffer close to the Clinton campaign said the candidate took Rangel's response to heart. "She strongly values his opinions, and they definitely made her think about what was going on."
Rangel’s move came after what had become, for some of the House members who had endorsed Clinton, an unbearable day of uncertainty.
By the time the polls closed on Tuesday night and Barack Obama became the presumptive Democratic nominee, it was clear to many of them that Clinton had to drop out.
After months of campaigning with her head down, the shift in pace and direction was going to be abrupt, no matter how long she took to gather her bearings.
"She wanted a day or two to talk to her supporters," said a source close to the Clinton campaign. "That was very important to her, especially because she's been in a bubble."
Yet she didn’t have that luxury, not after Tuesday’s speech, not after failing to even acknowledge that Obama had reached the delegate threshold necessary to claim the Democratic nomination. While her Senate colleagues were willing to wait a few more days until her formal exit, members of the House were intent on accelerating the end of her campaign.
She huddled at her Arlington, Va., headquarters Wednesday with top advisers, discussing her diminished options and leaving supporters free to mount a campaign on her behalf for the vice presidential nod. Even close supporters were unsure what she was waiting for, beyond a chance to clear her head, and all assumed she would be leaving the race within days.
But Clinton seemed to think she could postpone the inevitable and had her aides convene a pair of conference calls with Senate and House supporters. Her message, a prominent supporter said, was to be: “Please wait.”
The first call, around 4 p.m., went as planned. At least seven of Clinton's Senate supporters participated, and the tone was tame, even congratulatory.
Washington Sen. Patty Murray, who was on the call, described the exchange as cordial and respectful, with no demands that Clinton drop out and back Obama.
"There was tremendous pride in Sen. Clinton, and much of the conversation was focused on thanking her for her campaign,” she said.
Then, at 5 p.m., she spoke with House backers — including Rangel — for about 20 minutes.
"The tone of the call was 'What do you guys think?'" a source close to the campaign said.
Democratic House members who participated on the call said the first comments were supportive, expressing a willingness to wait.
Then Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank — whose sister, Ann Lewis, is a top Clinton adviser — chimed in with a dose of reality.
This article tagged under: 2010
PoliticsWhen it comes to anime and manga, Hollywood has a pretty poor reputation in terms of their film adaptations. Whether it’s a cultural problem or just plain ineptitude, Hollywood executives lack much of a discernible clue it seems. This consistency of misjudgment has now been reiterated in the announcement that Scarlett Johansson will star in a new film adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s acclaimed Ghost in the Shell.
It’s likely that she will take on the lead role of Motoko Kusanagi a shrewd cyborg operative that works within Section 9, the cyber security division of a near future government.
The rumor is she’s also being offered $10 million to play the role. To put that into perspective, the classic 1995 anime film originally cost $5 million for its entire budget. Even adjusted for inflation, that's still way more than the original film cost to make.
Now we’ve had anime adaptations of the host manga various times, from the aforementioned Mamoru Oshii films to the more recent Stand Alone Complex TV series and OVAs. Each of these have been excellent and retained much of the nuance and complexity seen in the original manga. Ghost in the Shell is also one of the most intricate cyberpunk franchises out there. It’s not something that should be attempted lightly or purely based off its prior success, which is what this comes across as.
While Johansson is a good actress she’s not a good fit for the Major. Especially as her action prowess in Lucy is being touted as the reasoning behind the decision to cast her. While there is action in Ghost in the Shell, it’s very often decisive and not the focus of the narrative. The Major is a very complex and difficult character and just slapping an action film on top of that sounds like all kinds of wrong.
Admittedly, her portrayal as a detached alien in the rather interesting Under the Skin is more appropriate for the Major but it's still not right. Some of the core elements to the character are how she rationalizes her humanity when almost the entirety of her body is artificial and that her consciousness can span cyberspace. Much of that is clearly down to the quality of the writing but a more experienced character actor would be a better fit in terms of handling the role.
Someone like the talented Rinko Kikuchi comes to mind, as she has already proven she can handle more complex and layered roles. Not to mention being a better fit for the Major overall.
What is more worrying though is the creative team behind this new film, that of the writer Bill Wheeler and the director Rupert Sanders.
They may do a good job but with something as big as Ghost in the Shell, surely you’d want someone with experience at dealing with sci-fi and cyberpunk.
Back in 1995, after the first anime film was released, James Cameron famously vouched his approval and showed interest in the series. It’s also widely known that he does at least read manga and is a fan of the deeply bleak cyberpunk Gunnm, something he was going to adapt before Avatar came along.
Cameron is probably one of the few people in modern Hollywood that could do Ghost in the Shell justice and not having someone of his caliber on board for this new film is deeply saddening.
The film may end up being good but with this casting and creative team I am highly doubtful it will be.
Follow me on Twitter and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii.
Read my Forbes blog here.Photographers and photo editors are about to hear some long-awaited news: Lightroom 6 is now available. It's available as part of an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription — where it's called "Lightroom CC" — and as standalone software. But the excitement should be tempered, because the new version is really more of an update than a revolution.
It's been almost two years since Lightroom 5 was released, which at the time was a major update to the photo editing program's look and performance. The biggest change in this version of Lightroom is speed. Lightroom 6's performance is based heavily on your computer's GPU and processing power, but Adobe is promising speed increases on most modern machines. Even if you're using a MacBook Pro from four years ago, you'll still see an improvement in the overall performance and the speed of individual tools.
The biggest improvements are found in the rendering speed of the "exposure" and "distort" tools — changes made with these appeared much faster in the preview build of Lightroom 6 I used. Importing a large batch of images into your Lightroom catalog is also faster, but it still takes long enough that you might want to use the time to walk away from your computer or check Twitter.
The new Lightroom is faster, but it still crawls here and there
Rendering RAW images still takes some time, though. Lightroom spends a full second or more before you see a fully rendered version of the image you want to edit, so you're still going to want to use another program if you want to quickly inspect the full quality of your images.
Adobe has added a few new features, the most notable ones being "HDR merge" and "panorama merge." While HDR and panorama tools aren't revolutionary, these particular ones generate rich DNG files that can be edited without worrying much about quality loss (as opposed to working like a JPEG, which can degrade quickly).
Other features announced today are the addition of facial recognition and finer control over the graduated filter tool. There's also DNG editing support on some devices running Android Lollipop — but only on DNG images taken by phones with that capability. Right now only a few phones can do that, like the OnePlus One and the Nexus 5 or 6.
One other major thing Adobe has done with Lightroom 6 is made library syncing work across all your devices. Smart folders can be created on any device — your laptop, your phone, or your tablet — and they will instantly appear everywhere else. Say you've edited a file on your laptop but forgot to upload it to Dropbox or email it to a client — by the time you walk out the door, you should be able to access that edited file on your phone, where you can flag and review it or share it anywhere you want.
With this announcement, Adobe is further stressing the value of its Creative Cloud subscription plan. While you can purchase a stand-alone version of Lightroom 6 for $149, you won't have access to any of the file-syncing features, and you'd have to buy separate licenses for Adobe's other software. A monthly subscription to Creative Cloud, however, gives you access to brand new desktop, mobile, and web versions of Lightroom CC (a nomenclature that Adobe introduced with the most recent version of Photoshop), file-syncing, and other programs like Photoshop.
Lightroom CC and Lightroom 6 are available from Adobe starting today.
Verge Video: Hands-on with Apple Photos for Macarticle
President Lyndon Johnson had one. So did President Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter. It’s a blind trust and several Presidents have used them while in office to ease concerns about conflicts of interest. President-elect Donald Trump is now considering whether to use one as well, according to reports. On Monday he tweeted that his sons and unamed executives will run his business but offered few details. He also postponed an event that was set for Thursday to discuss the plan for his empire.
Continue Reading Below
I will hold a press conference in the near future to discuss the business, Cabinet picks and all other topics of interest. Busy times! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2016
Even though I am not mandated by law to do so, I will be leaving my busineses before January 20th so that I can focus full time on the...... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2016
Presidency. Two of my children, Don and Eric, plus executives, will manage them. No new deals will be done during my term(s) in office. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2016
Some critics have called on Trump to sell off his businesses entirely in order to eliminate the appearance of any conflicts of interest. It may sound reasonable but selling off all of his assets, especially his real estate holdings, could take several years and it could cost him a fortune in taxes. Another option could be to gift his businesses to his children but that may result in a steep tax bill too. If the children wanted to buy the businesses from their father, they will likely need a large amount of liquidity. Trump could just turn over management to his children but the businesses would remain in the ownership of the family, not doing much to ease concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
While there is no simple answer to satisfy everyone, a blind trust may be Trump’s easiest solution according to Eric Schaefer, a financial advisor at Evermay Wealth Management. “The blind trust means, Donald Trump has no control,” Schaefer says. “He doesn’t know what’s going on in the underlying management.”
Advertisement
Blind Trusts
Blind trusts are not widely used. A person, usually in public office, will set up a blind trust and typically have an independent trustee oversee business interests in order to avoid any conflicts of interest. He or she retains ownership but is unaware of how assets are managed. President Lyndon Johnson set up a blind trust while in office so he and his wife could keep their television station in Texas. President Jimmy Carter placed his peanut farm in a blind trust to avoid the appearance of any conflicts of interest while he was President. “They set it up for a specific amount of time and once they leave office and once there are no critics to answer to, they simply dissolve the trust and take everything back out of it,” Schaefer says.
But for Donald Trump, who owns well-known real estate holdings including Trump Tower and Trump Hotels, setting up a blind trust in the traditional sense may be unrealistic. "It would be fairly hard to have a real blind trust because if a trustee were to sell any assets, the sale would likely be above the radar screen so he would probably know and that defeats it being blind which is you don't really know what you own," says Bruce Steiner, an attorney with Kleinberg Kaplan who specializes in business succession planning and trust administration. If Trump also names his children as trustees, they would not be considered independent.
Steiner says redefining how a traditional blind trust works and having it more loosely-defined may be a possibility for Trump. He also points out President-elect Trump is exempt from the conflict of interest law and is not required under the law to set up any sort of blind trust. “Presidents are not bound by this so he doesn’t have to do anything,” Steiner says.
Unchartered Territory
Steiner adds this is unchartered territory for the country. Trump will be the wealthiest President in U.S. history. Never before has a President in the U.S. had a multi-billion dollar fortune and stakes in hundreds of businesses around the world, leaving open the possibility for conflicts of interest. “The President is not subject to these rules. Presumably Congress thought the President would do what he/she thought was the best for the country. Presidents do want to go down in history well and they care about their legacy. They, by and large, try to do a good job,” Steiner says.
Schaefer says finding a solution to mitigate conflict of interest concerns will likely be a daunting task given the size and scope of all of Trump’s business assets and partnerships. “His attorneys have a really challenging couple of months ahead of them because understanding how various different tax entities and legal entities work, it is going to be challenging,” Schaefer says.Getty Images
Warren Moon made a cottage industry for himself leading up to last year’s draft with his full-throated defense of Cam Newton against critics of the eventual first overall pick.
He’s moved on to this year’s draft crop and his pet this time around seems to be Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Moon is a big fan of a player projected to go high in the first round and he’s using another Oklahoma State wideout as a measuring stick for how good he thinks Blackmon will be as a professional.
“He’s a beast, isn’t he? He’s like Dez Bryant with all of his brain cells,” Moon told KIRO-AM 710 in Seattle, via FoxSportSouthwest.com. “He’s a guy that |
ruling that largely upheld Anderson's arguments, MacPhail stated that the White Sox had failed to provide acceptable playing conditions.[4][22][33][34][35]
Reaction and aftermath [ edit ]
Dahl in 2008
The day after the event, Dahl began his regular morning broadcast by reading the indignant headlines in the local papers. He mocked the coverage, saying: "I think for the most part everything was wonderful. Some maniac Cohos got wild, went down on the field. Which you shouldn't have done. Bad little Cohos." Tigers manager Anderson said of the events: "Beer and baseball go together, they have for years. But I think those kids were doing things other than beer."[4] Columnist David Israel of the Chicago Tribune said on July 12 that he was not surprised by the events, writing: "It would have happened any place 50,000 teenagers got together on a sultry summer night with beer and reefer." White Sox pitcher Rich Wortham, a Texan, said: "This wouldn't have happened if they had country and western night."
Although Bill Veeck took much of the public criticism for the fiasco, his son Mike suffered repercussions as the front-office promoter. Mike Veeck remained with the White Sox until late 1980, when he resigned; his father sold the team to Jerry Reinsdorf soon afterward. He was unable to find another job in baseball for some time and claimed that he had been blackballed. For several years, he worked for a jai-alai fronton in Florida, battling alcoholism. As Mike Veeck said: "The second that first guy shimmied down the outfield wall, I knew my life was over!" Mike Veeck has since become an owner of minor league baseball teams.[38] In July 2014 the Charleston RiverDogs, of whom Veeck is president, held a promotion involving the destruction of Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus merchandise.[39][40][41] Dahl is still a radio personality in Chicago and also releases podcasts.[42]
Cultural significance [ edit ]
The popularity of disco declined significantly in late 1979 and 1980. Many disco artists continued, but record companies began labeling their recordings as dance music.[1] Dahl stated in a 2004 interview that by 1979 disco was "probably on its way out. But I think [Disco Demolition Night] hastened its demise".[43] According to Frank, "the Disco Demolition triggered a nationwide expression of anger against disco that caused disco to recede quickly from the American cultural landscape".
Rolling Stone critic Dave Marsh described Disco Demolition Night as "your most paranoid fantasy about where the ethnic cleansing of the rock radio could ultimately lead".[1] Marsh was one who, at the time, deemed the event an expression of bigotry, writing in a year-end 1979 feature that "white males, eighteen to thirty-four are the most likely to see disco as the product of homosexuals, blacks, and Latins, and therefore they're the most likely to respond to appeals to wipe out such threats to their security. It goes almost without saying that such appeals are racist and sexist, but broadcasting has never been an especially civil-libertarian medium."[45]
Nile Rodgers, producer and guitarist for the disco-era band Chic, likened the event to Nazi book burning.[7] Gloria Gaynor, who had a huge disco hit with "I Will Survive", stated, "I've always believed it was an economic decision—an idea created by someone whose economic bottom line was being adversely affected by the popularity of disco music. So they got a mob mentality going."[1]
University of East London professor Tim Lawrence states, "Following the unexpected commercial success of Saturday Night Fever, major record companies had started to invest heavily in a sound that their white straight executive class did not care for, and when the overproduction of disco coincided with a deep recession, the homophobic (and also in many respects sexist and racist) 'disco sucks' campaign culminated with a record burning rally that was staged at the home of the Chicago White Sox in July 1979."[46]
Dahl denies that prejudice was his motivation for the event. "The worst thing is people calling Disco Demolition homophobic or racist. It just wasn't... We weren't thinking like that."[4] In a 2014 op-ed for Crain's Chicago Business, Dahl defended the event as "a romp, not of major cultural significance".[47] He wrote that it had been "reframed" as prejudiced by a 1996 VH1 documentary about the 1970s, in a move he described as "a cheap shot made without exploration".[47]
In response to Dahl's op-ed, NBC Chicago political journalist Mark W. Anderson, who attended Disco Demolition aged 15, described the fear that white neighborhoods would be taken over by blacks and the anxiety around shifting pop culture trends. He wrote:
The chance to yell "disco sucks" meant more than simply a musical style choice. It was a chance to push back on a whole set of social dynamics that lay just beneath the surface of a minor battle between a DJ and a radio station that decided to change formats. More importantly, it was a chance for a whole lot of people to say they didn't like the way the world was changing around them, or who they saw as the potential victors in a cultural and demographic war.[48]
The unplayed second game remains the last American League game to be forfeited.[49] The last National League game to be forfeited was on August 10, 1995, when a baseball giveaway promotion at Dodger Stadium went awry, forcing the Los Angeles Dodgers to concede the game to the St. Louis Cardinals.[50] According to baseball analyst Jeremiah Graves, "To this day Disco Demolition Night stands in infamy as one of the most ill-advised promotions of all-time, but arguably one of the most successful as 30 years later we're all still talking about it."[33]
Game results [ edit ]
Game 1:
Game 2 forfeited to Detroit, 9–0.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Further reading [ edit ]
Coordinates:Batch 122 voting is now open. The following polls are currently open:
Batch 122
Batch 121
Batch 120
Batch 119
Batch 118
Batch 117
Batch 116
Batch 115 results will be up soon.
The full list of matchups for today is:
Kirtar’s Desire vs Rotted Hulk
Cauldron Dance vs Barrel Down Sokenzan
Comeuppance vs Gravitational Shift
Risen Sanctuary vs Tainted Field
Wrap in Flames vs Far Wanderings
Spark Elemental vs Snapping Drake
Our Market Research Shows That Players Like Really Long Card Names So We Made this Card to Have the Absolute Longest Card Name Ever Elemental vs Serenity
Burning Shield Askari vs Chain of Acid
Ben-Ben, Akki Hermit vs Quicksilver Fountain
Labyrinth Minotaur vs Martyrdom
It of the Horrid Swarm vs Apocalypse Hydra
Wandering Stream vs Ragnar
Bog Witch vs Ink Dissolver
Shrine of the Forsaken Gods vs Boros Battleshaper
True-Faith Censer vs Darkest Hour
Serra Paladin vs Cleansing
Path of Peace vs Daze
Myr Prototype vs Marsh Lurker
Coastal Drake vs Archers’ Parapet
Johan vs Fluctuator
Temple of Malice vs Righteous Charge
Orcish Librarian vs Krovikan Whispers
Faceless Butcher vs Kiss of Death
Thelonite Hermit vs Dauthi Slayer
Windfall vs Thoughtweft Trio
Broken Ambitions vs Dragon Scales
Hearth Charm vs Infinite Authority
Kessig Forgemaster vs Goblin Outlander
Matsu-Tribe Sniper vs Redwood Treefolk
Plant Elemental vs Wall of Water
Patron of the Kitsune vs Chromium
Eyeblight’s Ending vs Pestilent SouleaterThose words you type and send off to the innermost workings of Yelp reviews aren’t for the eyes of your fellow restaurant diners alone. No, the very chefs responsible for producing the food you eat and subsequently hate on or rave about are also paying attention. At least, they were when reading some customers’ awful, no good very bad reviews recently.
Eater filmed a few well-known chefs eating their diners’ words (if that’s a thing, if not, it is now) while reading their reviews at last week’s Aspen Food & Wine Classic. That’s the place you get to go if you win Top Chef, for those not in the know, and also features some of the very finest culinary minds.
In a video inspired by the “Real Actors Reading Yelp” videos, these chefs are faced with a somewhat more daunting task. They’re not disconnected actors — they’re the people responsible for food that prompts reviews where customers wish “we had gone to eat at the bowling alley instead. ”
Or then there’s the diner who’s of the mind that one chef “encouraged” his food truck cooks “to shave their balls on the prep counter.”Remember when you where a kid and holidays seemed to last forever? When a year was a huge amount of time? Doesn´t time time seem to pass by faster since those days? Is it because of the fastening pace of modern life? Is it the Zeitgeist of our time? Where does that sensation of years flying by come from? Do years really fly by faster each time? How can that be even remotely possible?
I believe two factors account for this sensation: One of perception and one of a physical nature. Let´s start with the perception one:
When you are a little kid, say, a seven year old kid, one year is a huge amount of time because your entire existence is comprised into just seven of those time units. And you probably don’t remember much of the first three either so you are left with just four lousy years as a time frame to compare the rest of the time units out there to. People tend to compare everything to themselves. Either consciously or unconsciously, they compare everything to their own recolections and the measures that are familiar to them.
Holidays where amazingly long when I was seven years old. But when you have lived a number of years you realize three months is not that much time. Or at least not as much as you thought it was when you were seven. And each time one year is added to your age, that time unit ends up representing a smaller percentage of your life. As with everything, the more you have, the less it means. Each year seems less than the previous one because of that same reason: It represents a smaller chunk of your life each time one is added. Same happens with months, days, etc. You don’t think much of one year when you have already lived quite a few and neither does your subconscious.
Now, for the physical factor:
Your metabolic rate slows down as you get older. The metabolic rate and the heart determine how fast your internal “engines” work. This includes your brain and the way it processes everything.
A film camera works as a perfect analogy here: When you reduce the number of frames per second you have a film where things seem to move faster. When your brain slows down over the years, the process is similar to the film camera. Everything seems to move faster each time because you don’t process the received information as fast or as efficiently as you used to. The deceleration of the metabolic rate slows down your brain which, in turn, slows down its perception, thus making it seem as if time is progressively speeding up.
People get used to faster things really, well, fast. The evolution of home computers is a perfect representation of how seamlessly we adapt to faster systems without almost noticing it. I got my first computer in 1992. It was a heavy, limited and slow piece of equipment but to me it was just great. The word processor really speeded things up from the typewriter, and many other functions that where performed through other devices are now almost unthinkable without the aid of a computer. The next model I got was a huge step forward both in functions and in speed. The difference was mind blowing at first but I quickly got used to it and deemed it normal. Same happened with the next upgrade.
Remember what Internet connection was like 15 years ago? I had a 56 kbps telephone modem which used to take forever to download a single image. And it was ok. Actually, it was nothing short of amazing and I didn’t think it was slow; it was the way it was supposed to be. Then I got cable modem and the difference was huge. The few times I had to revert to using a telephone modem I would get very impatient and couldn’t figure how I was able to stand such a slow system in the past. Same process happened with the next upgrade. And the next. We get used to higher speeds so fast that we almost don’t even notice it. Even if it happens in big steps, like the ones we experience when we upgrade our Internet connections.
Because of our very nature it is impossible for us to appreciate in real time this deceleration process we experience. Actually, it would be really scary if we could see or even perceive ourselves slowing down and the whole world speeding up. It would feel like dying because that’s exactly what this process is all about. Thankfuly, we only think of it as some sort of distant, philosophical sensation. But we do aknowledge it. Most of us can agree that time does seem to be moving faster each day. We are aging machines with a faint perception of our own obsolescence. We are slowing down as the world is speeding up.
I recently learned that I belong to a generation called “xennial”. A link between the -analog- X generation and the -digital- millennial generation. I am old enough to have grown up using analog technology and young enough that I was able to adapt to the coming of the Internet and embrace it fully. I am old enough to be quite familiar by now with this feeling of time slipping away faster each day and I am young enough to expect -and pretty much ignore- the ever fastening rythm on almost everything around me. I want things to happen faster but I am somewhat aware of time speeding up.
I don´t know if there is a name for this collective perception of time speeding up as we grow older. Or if there is a more solid explanation for this phenomenon than the one I attempted here. Maybe there´s even a cognitive bias to explain it. Maybe not. But it does happen.
AdvertisementsPurpose
Along this guide we’ll learn how to implement our tests with Exkorpion.
The environment
To follow this guide I assume you already have your Elixir development environment ready, besides you should have installed docker on our machine since we need to run a postgresql database and we will be taking advantage of docker.
This guide will go over Maru and Ecto but being focused on understanding Exkorpion.
Ecto
Ecto is a database wrapper that makes the life easier for Elixir developers who need to make use of database in their applications.
To get a better understanding of Ecto, have a look at Getting started with Ecto
Maru
It’s a REST-like API micro-framework for elixir inspired by grape.
I encourage you to have a look at my previous article Getting started with Maru
Exkorpion
Exkorpion is test library that wraps ExUnit and enhances their features providing our tests with a BDD syntax.
Goals
It helps us to write tests which are easy-to-read.
It is completely compatible with ExUnit.
It forces us to structure our tests in steps (given-when-then)
It is not coupled to any other framework
Syntax
As was mentioned on the above Exkorpion is mainly oriented to a bdd syntax:
scenario: A scenario groups multiple cases that test a functionality works as expected. By using scenario we achieve the below:
Better documentation for other developers.
Test are better organized and structured
Working under an agile methodology we can match scenarios to acceptance criteria
it: Exkorpion provide with a reserved word It to represent any of the cases inside a scenario.
before_each: Before each will be inside of a scenario and provices with a reusable set of data for our tests.
with/given/when/then: These word are the ones that provide us with s BDD syntax. Actually even when we write some unit tests we should thinkg about them.
Given: It defines the input data for performing the tests. (It’s an optional step, it could be not neccessary sometimes)
When: It performs the action to be tested.
Then: It ensures the result in the preoviuos step are the expected.
we could make us of with step if we pretend to run the some tests for multiple input
Let’s do it
This step-by-step guide will make use of a existing project which is implemented with Maru and Ecto. This project implement a versioned API, which offers the below services:
Version Verb Path Description v1 GET /v1/tracks Return the list of mocked tracks (It always returns two tracks) v1 POST /v1/tracks Add a new track and return the list of existing tracks (It will return 3 tracks) v2 GET /v2/tracks Return the list of tracks in the database v2 POST /v2/tracks Add a new track and return the list of existing tracks
The above records represent the services.
Go to the repository: elixir_maru_training is a repository hosted on Github.
Fork the repository:
Clone your repository: Once you’ve already forked the repository, lets clone it onto your computer
git clone https://github.com/ivancorrales/elixir_maru_training.git
Add exkorpion dep to your project: Lets open the mix.exs, add exkorpion dependency and download the dependencies.
Add the below dep to deps function:
{ :exkorpion, " ~> 0.0.2", only: [ :dev, :test ]}
Download your deps: Check into the project directory and run
mix deps.get
This command will download all required dependencies from this project.
Create the exkorpion structure: By running the below task we setup the directoies to work with exkorpion
mix exkorpion.init
After running the task a new directory called scenarios will be created in the project root. Inside this directory we can find the file scenario_helper.exs that looks like this
Writing a scenario for REST API V1: First scenario will be focused on testing API V1 (track_router_v1.ex). This version just works with mocked data so we won’t be required to run any database.
Create a file track_router_v1_scenario.exs in /scenarios/ directory.
in directory. We write the module that will contain the scenarios block
Write a test to check the get-tracks services in v1 work as expected. Don’t forget this is a mocked service that will always return 2 elements.
Run your first scenario to check everything works as expected. Tu run the exkorpion scenearios you onyly need to write the below command:
MIX_ENV = test mix exkorpion
As we can observe on the above execution the tests was successful. We can make a change in thest to observe how the execution will look when the test fails. For example we will say the length of the list is 3 instead of 2.
After running the scenearios
MIX_ENV = test mix exkorpion
we can observe the descriptive output when something fails
The second services provided by API V1 will insert a new track into the mocked list and return 3 elements to the client. To write this test will make use of two reserved words in Exkorpion: with and given. The key with, will allow us to run the same test for multiple cases.
As we can observe in the second test will be checking that the size for the track list has increased but also that the new element has been included into the list.
Now we when running the tests will check both tests in the scenario were successful.
Writing a scenario for REST API V2: Bear in mind this version of the api will run on a real environment and the application will need to access to a postgrest database (See postgresql configuration in /config/config.exs
First step now, it will be run the docker compose on /docker directory, so open a new terminal and run the scripts /script/setup-environment.sh
sh scripts/setup-environment.sh
Now we have a postgresql running on our machine with same config details for the Ecto configuration
Create a file track_router_v3_scenario.exs in /scenarios/ directory.
As we are writing acceptance tests we need to ensure the database status is always the same for all the executions, so we will take advantage of Ecto and we run the sceneario always with the same data. To achieve this we need to add the below commands into the /scenearios/sceneario_helper.exs
To test V2 we will write only one case that will add a new track to the system (this time in a real database) and it will check the size of the tracks has been increased after adding a new element.
Running both scenarios
MIX_ENV = test mix exkorpion
Now we can ensure our Maru Rest API work as expected
The code
In case of you have any doubt please have a look at my forked project here
Shared it!
You like this post, please share it with other colleagues on TwitterSouth Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham will meet with FBI Director James B. Comey to ask about inappropriate contact between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia officials. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Updated 5:40 p.m. | Sens. Lindsey Graham and Sheldon Whitehouse met Thursday with FBI Director James B. Comey as part of launching their own investigation into Russian election interference.
"Senators Graham and Whitehouse look forward to using their Subcommittee to inform the public of the toolbox of tactics used by Russia to undermine democracy, and working with the FBI to ensure that the FBI’s work is free of all political influence," said a statement issued by the two lawmakers.
The South Carolina Republican and Rhode Island Democrat, who both have backgrounds as prosecutors, are the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism. They wanted an update from Comey and to ensure they did not accidentally cause a problem for any FBI investigations.
Graham said earlier that he wanted to find out whether or not there is an investigation of inappropriate contact between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russian entities.
“I am tired of reading about innuendo,” the South Carolina Republican said Thursday. “Somebody is leaking this crap, and it’s putting people like me in a terrible spot. So, I’m going to meet with the FBI director today, and I’m going to look him in the eye and he’s going to tell me there’s an investigation or there’s not.”
“And if he doesn’t tell me, he’s going to have a hard time,” Graham added.
If such an investigation exists, the three-term senator said Attorney General Jeff Sessions shouldn’t be making determinations regarding potential criminal activity.
“You’ve got an attorney general who is my dear friend, who was closely involved with the presidential campaign,” Graham said. “If there’s credibility to the allegations of inappropriate contacts between a foreign government and the campaign, in my view for the good of the integrity of the system, somebody should pursue that. Not Jeff Sessions.”
“You don’t want somebody involved in the campaign deciding whether or not there’s a crime in the campaign,” he added.Every Monday, Sean McIndoe looks back at weekend play in the NHL and the league’s biggest storylines. You can follow him on Twitter.
Opening faceoff: That was fun
It was a big weekend in the NHL. The arrival of the new year meant the official start of the league’s 100th anniversary celebrations, and the weekend was headlined by the Centennial Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
We’d seen these two teams take it outside once before – this was the first rematch in NHL outdoor game history – and neither is sitting in a playoff spot right now.
And after two periods, it looks like the league might have delivered a dud, as a lackluster 1-0 game dragged into the third without much in the way of highlights.
But that’s when things got a little crazy, as the Leafs poured home four straight to build a 4-1 lead, only to watch the Red Wings mount a furious comeback to tie the game with a second left on the clock. That set up a back-and-forth overtime, one that Auston Matthews ended with his first career overtime goal.
It was all a lot of fun, and the weekend in Toronto even included a memorable alumni game—one highlighted by a ridiculous Mike Palmateer save, some good-natured toque-theft by Chris Chelios, and a decidedly not good-natured exchange between Kris Draper and Gary Roberts.
We also had the St. Louis Blues/Chicago Blackhawks alumni game—one featuring Wayne Gretzky’s return to the ice, and we’ll get the real thing Monday afternoon when the Winter Classic goes in St. Louis.
But despite all the hype that comes with the league’s various outdoor events, the highlight of the weekend was probably a game that nobody paid any attention to when the schedule was released. That was Saturday’s contest between the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets, a meeting of two teams riding double-digit win streaks.
It was a history-making matchup, marking the first-ever game between teams riding win streaks of 12 or more across all of major North American pro sports.
And despite various attempts by both teams to remind us that this was still just a regular season game, it felt like something bigger. Maybe that’s because fans are finally giving these two teams some respect. Or maybe it’s because we were just waiting to see whether one would be exposed.
Either way, the game managed to live up to expectations, delivering an entertaining game that ended with a 4-2 Blue Jackets win. We got some nice goals, a few big saves, and even a couple of scraps. It all played out in front of a loud Minnesota crowd, giving the whole thing a true big game feel.
So… did we just see a Stanley Cup Final preview?
That still seems like a stretch; June is still a long way away, and you can bet that teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Blackhawks will have a thing or two to say along the way. But at least a few fans may be holding out hope, given how Saturday night’s meeting played out.
And if you prefer to keep things a little more realistic, we’ll at least get a regular season rematch in early March.
The game snapped the Wild’s streak at 12, and gives the Blue Jackets 15 straight. That’s tied for the second longest streak in league history, and they’ll have a chance to break the record this week with games against the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals and New York Rangers.
—
Road to the Cup
The five teams that look like they’re headed towards Stanley Cup favourite status.
5. Chicago Blackhawks (23-11-5, plus-13 true goals differential*) – The Wild are getting all the attention right now—and rightly so—but the Blackhawks are technically still the Central’s top seed.
4. New York Rangers (26-12-1, plus-37) – They closed out 2016 with a pair of road games against the league’s worst teams, putting up a half-dozen goals on both the Coyotes and Avalanche.
3. Minnesota Wild (23-9-4, plus-38) – Despite the loss to the Blue Jackets, their recent hot streak is enough to return them to our top five for the first time since October.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins (25-8-5, plus-25) – They’ve got a four-game win streak. They’ll keep it all week; they don’t play again until Sunday.
1. Columbus Blue Jackets (26-5-4, plus-49) – You don’t want to think too far head, but the Blue Jackets going for the all-time win streak record on home ice against the Rangers on Saturday night would be worth tuning in for, right?
(*Goals scored minus goals allowed, without counting shootouts like the NHL does for some reason.)
—
We took last weekend off because the NHL did too, so we’ve got two weeks of shuffling to deal with in the power rankings. Let’s dive in and figure out where things stand.
The big news is that we have a new number one, and yes, it’s finally the Blue Jackets. We’ve been struggling with how to handle Columbus in this space all year, initially going conservative to deny them a spot and later wrestling with just how good they might be.
There’s still some debate to be had, and even those praising the Blue Jackets are still doing so with some caveats.
But at some point, you don’t over-think this stuff. They’re in first place overall, they’ve got the league’s best goals differential, and they’re riding one of the greatest hot streaks of all time. They get the number one spot, and fairly easily. At least for this week.
The last time we were here, we were trying to figure out whether the Wild were really a playoff lock. Two weeks later, they sure seem to be, pulling away to build a double-digit gap over teams like Dallas and Nashville. They’re also just one back of the Blackhawks for the Central lead and hold three games in hand. Add it all up, and it’s hard to deny them a top-five spot.
And that means that after a few weeks of relatively stability, somebody has to drop off the list to make room for Minnesota. That ends up being a team that’s been there nearly the entire season, and has held the number one spot more than anyone else: the Montreal Canadiens. (Don’t worry, I’m sure Habs fans will take the news well.)
It’s a close call, and if you wanted to nudge the Canadiens ahead of somebody like Chicago, then you could certainly make that case. But the reality is that after a red-hot start, the Canadiens haven’t been much better than average for the better part of two months now—and maybe not even that.
They had a four-game win streak back in early November that moved them to a league-leading 13-1-1, and ever since that ended, they’re just 9-8-5.
In other words, they’ve lost 13 of their last 22, and only six of those nine wins have come in regulation. Even Carey Price looks mortal lately, giving up three or more goals in each of his last three starts.
It’s not all bad in Montreal–they’ve banked enough points that their playoff spot is all but locked in, and they’re still holding a comfortable six-point lead on top of the Atlantic. There’s plenty of time to sort things out and get back into the mix at the top of the league.
But for the first time in months, they’re not quite there right now.
—
Road to the lottery
The five teams that look like they’re headed towards watching Nolan Patrick highlights and clicking refresh on draft lottery simulations.
5. Detroit Red Wings (16-16-5, minus-19) – They did well to come back and get a point in Toronto. But they’ve now managed just three regulation wins in their last 30 games.
4. New Jersey Devils (14-16-7, minus-29) – With one regulation win in their last 12, they’ve dropped below the Islanders for last spot in the Metro.
3. Buffalo Sabres (13-15-8, minus-19) – They managed just two wins in a six-game stretch against teams outside the playoff race, then lost back-to-back games to the Bruins. This week, they get the Rangers and Blackhawks.
2. Colorado Avalanche (12-23-1, minus-47) – They’ve lost three straight, and are apparently willing to start listening on some of their bigger names.
1. Arizona Coyotes (11-21-5, minus-41) – They’ve lost seven straight, including some ugly ones, and are now in that awful place where everyone knows they’re bad but the players aren’t allowed to come out and admit it because… oh, wait, never mind.
—
Let’s face it, this is a pretty miserable time of year to be a fan of a bad team. The season is mostly over, at least in terms of the playoff hunt. As much as the league tries to pretend otherwise, the loser point makes it all but impossible for teams to make up big gaps in the standings, especially if there are multiple teams ahead of you.
And the rewards at the end of the road for bad teams, the draft lottery and draft, are still too far away to get excited about.
So where do you find optimism these days? One potential source is the World Junior Championships. A top prospect having a strong performance at a major international tournament can be just the thing to offer some hope to a suffering fan base.
So today, let’s check in on how some of the NHL’s more hopeless teams are doing at the WJC.
We’ll start near the bottom, where Coyotes fans will be focused on Dylan Strome. He’s been a disappointment at the NHL level so far, failing to stick in Arizona through two seasons, but is still viewed as a top prospect. He’s got one of the highest-profile jobs in the tournament as captain of Team Canada, and has looked great so far, with eight points in four games. That’s the start of the sort of performance that will restore some faith in his potential to be a special player in the NHL.
And the Coyotes’ 2016 top pick, Clayton Keller, has also looked good, leading Team USA with seven points.
Colorado’s top prospect is also playing a key role on Team Canada, in 2016 first round pick Tyson Jost. He’s only managed two points so far, but has made some big plays.
Meanwhile, the Islanders will be watching another Canadian in Matt Barzal, who’s right behind Strome with seven points.
Sabres fans are getting some much-needed positivity, with first rounder Alex Nylander leading the entire tournament in scoring through four games.
The Devils have four players at the tournament, including Team Canada forwards Blake Speers and Michael McLeod, who each have two points.
The Hurricanes have three players on Team Canada, including Nicolas Roy.
And the Red Wings may have found a gem in goaltender Joren van Pottelberghe, who’s put up a.935 save percentage in four starts for underdog Switzerland.
And then there’s the surprisingly feisty Canucks, who are hanging tough in the playoff race. They have top prospect Olli Juolevi serving as captain of Team Finland. That team has been a disaster, sitting last in Group A and firing their entire coaching staff mid-tournament. That’s hardly Juolevi’s fault, although he’ll take his share of the heat as one of the team’s key players. He led all defencemen in scoring last year as Finland won gold, but has just a single assist so far this year.
It’s the second straight year that a Canucks prospect has been front-and-centre in a WJC disappointment, and a reminder that this time of year doesn’t always bring good news for the teams that could use it.
—
Quick shifts: Ten more notable moments from around the league
• Now that we’re into 2017, expect to see plenty of self-promotion and celebration of the game’s history. On Sunday, the league unveiled the first 33 members of its Top 100 list. The rest of the (unranked) list will be announced at the All-Star Game.
• Congratulations to Team Canada on its second straight Spengler Cup title. This year’s team was coached by Luke Richardson and backstopped by Zach Fucale.
• We had an ugly moment on Saturday when Devils defenceman John Moore was hit from behind by Washington’s Tom Wilson. Moore was stretchered off and spent time in hospital, but has since been released.
Wilson did not face any further discipline from the league, and played in last night’s win over the Senators.
• Tough news for the Predators, as P.K. Subban will be out at least two or three weeks. That includes tomorrow’s game with the Canadiens, which would have been his first meeting with his former team.
Elliotte Friedman has reported that the injury is thought to be a herniated disc.
• Another key defenceman injury, this one in San Jose where Marc-Edouard Vlasic took a puck to the face on Friday. He missed Saturday’s game and is considered day-to-day.
• Evander Kane and Kevan Miller mixed it up a bit on Saturday, then settled it the way hockey tradition demands: With post-game media sniping and Twitter burns.
• The Hurricanes might be getting a little bit predictable; they’ve now lost nine of their last eleven on the road, while claiming points in eleven straight at home.
• Coyotes defenceman Anthony DeAngelo has been suspended three games for physical abuse of officials, stemming from an incident in Saturday night’s game against the Flames.
• The league and its players continued to send mixed messages on the 2018 Olympics yesterday. Donald Fehr says he’s “more optimistic,” while Gary Bettman seems less so.
• Finally, in what was easily the best story of the weekend and may be a late candidate for best story of 2016: Hurricanes’ equipment manager Jorge Alves, who was forced into the lineup as the emergency backup goalie on Saturday when Eddie Lack got sick. We see this happen every now and then, but this time there was a twist: The Hurricanes actually put him in the game.
Carolina Hurricanes on TwitterFAA INFORMATION EFFECTIVE 28 FEBRUARY 2019 Location FAA Identifier: 3NC5 Lat/Long: 35-48-48.1300N / 081-04-09.2700W
35-48.802167N / 081-04.154500W
35.8133694 / -81.0692417
(estimated) Elevation: 1000 ft. / 305 m (estimated) Variation: 06W (1995) From city: 3 miles SW of STONY POINT, NC Time zone: UTC -5 (UTC -4 during Daylight Saving Time) Zip code: 28678 Airport Operations Airport use: Private use. Permission required prior to landing Activation date: 09/1996 Control tower: no ARTCC: ATLANTA CENTER FSS: RALEIGH FLIGHT SERVICE STATION Attendance: UNATNDD Wind indicator: yes Segmented circle: no Airport Communications WX AWOS-3 at SVH (6 nm SE): 119.225 (704-873-1978) WX ASOS at HKY (16 nm W): 118.325 (828-322-2996) Nearby radio navigation aids VOR radial/distance VOR name Freq Var BZMr118/9.0 BARRETTS MOUNTAIN VOR/DME 110. |
held the 17th in the series of demonstrations against the Coptic Church and its Pope Shenouda, repeating the Iraqi Al-Qaeda threats against Egypt's Coptic Church, demanding the release of the two priests' wives, Wafaa Constatine and Camilia Shehata, whom they claim had converted to Islam but were being held against their will by the church in monasteries (AINA 11-12-2010).
Following the massacre of the congregation at Our Lady of Deliverance Church in Baghdad on October 31 2010, Al-Qaida threatened the Coptic Church and demanded the release of Muslim women held by the church, else Christians everywhere would be their target. As a result Egyptian authorities supposedly stepped up protection around Copt places of worship after President Mubarak said he was committed to protecting the Christians "faced with the forces of terrorism and extremism".
"Security should know that those who demonstrated are the hand of Al-Qaida in Egypt," said Hany el-Gezeiry, head of Copts4Egypt. "They should have arrested them to investigate who was behind them. They want to destroy Egypt from inside and the government kept quiet, giving them a free hand to do what they wanted. I believe Al-Qaida achieved what it wanted."
El-Gezeiry asks why this Skoda vehicle was allowed to park in front of the church in an area cordoned off by security, when it was known that Al-Qaeda had already announced its intention of carrying out criminal acts against churches.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that security forces guarding the church withdrew nearly one hour before the blast, leaving only four policemen and an officer to guard such a big church and nearly 2000 people attending the midnight mass. "Normally they would have waited until the mass was over," said el-Gezeiry. He also commented on the Muslim's schadenfreude at the massacre at the church, who were heard chanting "Allah Akbar."
"Is this a victory?" He asks. "Whoever saw this fire and people dying and body parts all over the place and could still chant 'Allah Akbar' is a terrorist."
On January 6 2010, just before the Christmas Eve Massacre in Nag Hammadi, security withdrew its forces from guarding the church a couple of hours before the shooting of the Coptic congregation took place.
Attorney Mamdouh Nakhla, Head of Al-Kalema Human Rights Center, wondered if state security is an accomplice or just too cowardly to confront the Islamists in Egypt who carried out the Church massacre. "The crime is local and those who committed it are known, in addition there was a demonstration on the same day using the same rhetoric like al-Qaida. The Al Mujahedeen website threatens to repeat the attack in more churches. The site has addresses of churches and even how to make a bomb. Does security not know about it?"
"Anyone who says that it was a foreign or Israeli plot is trying to play down the crime and is trying to clear those murderers of this massacre, and I consider them their accomplices," said Nakhla.
Nakhla said that he was preparing a complaint to be presented to President Mubarak asking for the resignation of Interior Minister Habib el Adly for failing in his duty of protecting the Copts, and for not telling the truth by saying that it was a suicide attack by one individual, when everyone could see the detonated car, just to clear his security personnel of the responsibility of letting the Skoda park in front of the church. "This 100KG bomb could not have been transported by one individual as the Interior Minister wants us to believe."
On January 1, the funeral of the 21 people killed in the church massacre took place at St. Mina's Monastery in King Mariout, 50 km from Alexandria. It was attended by representatives of the President, Minsters, the governor of Alexandria, as well as nearly 10,000 Copts who traveled from Alexandria. After the funeral, the Copts, angry with the governor of Alexandria, shouted "resign" and "we do not want you."All Tesla vehicles in production – including the Model 3 – will have autonomous driving capabilities, the Elon Musk-led company has confirmed.
Tesla revealed yesterday that all new cars will come with $8,000 worth of self-driving hardware, even before the software is ready.
The new hardware will be installed in the upcoming Model 3, as well as the Model S and Model X vehicles in production.
‘Together, this system provides a view of the world that a driver alone cannot access, seeing in every direction simultaneously and on wavelengths that go far beyond the human senses’
– TESLA
What this means essentially is that even though new cars will be capable of self-driving, they will only gain these capabilities over time as new software updates come available.
The development comes on the heels of news that Tesla will be opening its first Irish car showroom as well introducing charge points.
Tesla promises systems safer than a human driver
Tesla – which is currently battling cases where cars using Autopilot have crashed – claims the hardware will accelerate the carmaker to a new era, where cars will be “substantially safer than a human driver” and which will ultimately lower the cost of transport.
The hardware that will be included on all new Tesla cars from today will come with eight surround cameras that provide 360-degree visibility around the car to 250 metres of range.
Twelve ultrasonic sensors will complement the machine vision capabilities, allowing for the detection of both hard and soft objects at twice the distance of the prior system.
A forward-facing radar with enhanced processing will provide additional data on a redundant wavelength, giving information that enables the car to see through heavy rain, fog, dust and even other cars ahead.
“To make sense of all of this data, a new onboard computer with more than 40 times the computing power of the previous generation runs the new Tesla-developed neural net for vision, sonar and radar-processing software,” the company said.
“Together, this system provides a view of the world that a driver alone cannot access, seeing in every direction simultaneously and on wavelengths that go far beyond the human senses.”
Tesla said that millions of miles of real-world driving experience will be used to calibrate the systems.
“While this is occurring, Teslas with new hardware will temporarily lack certain features currently available on Teslas with first-generation Autopilot hardware, including some standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, collision warning, lane holding and active cruise control.
“As these features are robustly validated, we will enable them over the air, together with a rapidly expanding set of entirely new features.”
Tesla Model S at Geneva car show. Image: Jia Li/Shutterstock.comSenate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) says that the U.S. tax system is unfair to the wealthiest Americans.
“I understand full well that our friends on the other side live to every day to raise taxes,” McConnell told CBS host Charlie Rose on Tuesday. “Almost 70 percent of the federal revenue is provided by the top 10 percent of taxpayers now. Between 45 and 50 percent of Americans pay no income tax at all.”
“We have an extraordinarily progressive tax code already,” he added. “It is a mess and it needs to be revisited again.”
According to the Congressional Research Service (PDF), almost 100,000 millionaires in the U.S. pay a lower effective tax rate than millions of families earning less than $100,000.
Earlier this year, Republicans in the Senate blocked the Paying a Fair Share Act, which would have enacted a rule named for billionaire Warren Buffett, who revealed that he paid a lower tax rate than his “secretary.” An April CNN poll found that 72 percent of Americans — including 70 percent of independents — favored the “Buffett Rule.”
The Kentucky Republican also told Rose that he was prepared to work with President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) towards a “grand bargain” to lower the nation’s debt.
“The challenge we have, Charlie, for the future is the unsustainable path of our entitlements, very popular programs,” McConnell insisted. “The eligibility for which needs to be adjusted in order to meet the demographics of America. Regretfully after six months of discussions the Speaker and I had with the president, the president was unwilling to make those kind of eligibility changes unless we gave him such a huge tax increase that it would have brought the economy to a halt.”
“We are prepared to do a grand bargain,” he continued. “You have to have a willing president. You don’t get these deals done without a president who is serious about getting an outcome.”
“Many people who know wrote about that and suggested that in the end when push came to shove, it was the Speaker that was not prepared for the grand bargain,” Rose pointed out.
“I read the same articles,” McConnell replied. “I thought we came out very well on the Republican side in Congress.”
Watch this video from CBS’s This Morning, broadcast June 19, 2012.People pass by the Tesla New York City store is seen in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York March 19, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
(Reuters) - U.S. safety regulators said they closed an investigation into fires involving electric sports car maker Tesla Motors Inc’s (TSLA.O) popular Model S sedans after finding no “defect trend”, sending the company’s shares up as much as 4 percent.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began its investigation after two cars in the United States and one in Mexico caught fire.
The two U.S. fires started after the driver ran over debris in the road, damaging the battery pack that runs along the base of the Model S.
Tesla responded by raising the ground clearance at highway speeds and taking steps to prevent overheating of its charging systems, including giving customers upgraded wall adapters and providing charging-software upgrades.
"Tesla's revision of vehicle ride height and addition of increased underbody protection should reduce both the frequency of underbody strikes and the resultant fire risk," the NHTSA said on its website. (r.reuters.com/tyn97v)
The regulator said that while a “defect trend” had not been identified, the closing of the investigation did not constitute a finding that a safety-related defect did not exist.
Tesla’s shares were up 1.9 percent at $211.35 in early trading on the Nasdaq.The US Marine Corps has revised its social media guidelines amid a scandal involving the non-consensual online sharing of nude Marines.
The scandal centres upon the revelation this month that pictures of female Marines in various states of undress had been shared in a secret Facebook group called “Marines United”.
Membership of the group was restricted to current and former Marines, but it had as many as 30,000 members before it was taken down.
The pictures, often accompanied by lewd commentary, gave the women’s names and units in some cases.
“Marines must never engage in commentary or publish content on social networking platforms or through other forms of communication that harm good order and discipline or that bring discredit upon themselves, their unit, or the Marine Corps,” General Robert Neller, the Marine Corps’s commandant, wrote in the updated guidelines.
The new guidelines, released last week, stressed that Marines could face criminal prosecution in military courts for bad online behaviour.
“In other words, Marines should think twice before engaging in questionable online activities,” the guidelines state.
All Marines will now be required to sign a statement showing they have read the guidelines.
“Marines are reminded that their conduct, even off-duty or online, may violate Navy and Marine Corps orders and regulations,” the guidelines state.
Other military services are also examining their social media guidelines.
The army last week warned soldiers that bad online behaviour, and turning a blind eye to it, is unacceptable.
Military investigators are examining the Marines United case and might level felony charges against some involved.
First Published: Mar 22, 2017 09:13 ISTSo, I had the bright idea of producing an animated egg timer with falling sand using HTML5’s Canvas. I considered this to be a simple task that wouldn’t take long. The particular project turned out to be the opposite! At one point I nearly gave up due to implementing a algorithm that assessed each sand particle one-by-one, and calculated its movement based on the movement of all the other sand particles. I ended up throwing that code away and starting again.
The final product functions to an acceptable level; however, I am not happy with the final product because I decided to compromise; thus, I would re-factor parts of the code. But, in order to complete this post I decided to leave this task for another day.The final product is displayed on the left. A working version can be viewed The final product functions to an acceptable level; however, I am not happy with the final product because I decided to compromise; thus, I would re-factor parts of the code. But, in order to complete this post I decided to leave this task for another day.The final product is displayed on the left. A working version can be viewed here
The folllowing HTML is used to render the page:
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <title>Sand Timer</title> <script src='sand_timer.js'></script> </head> <body onload='init();'> <canvas id="sand" width="400" height="320">Canvas not supported</canvas> </body> </html>
The HTML is straight forward. The items of interest are the canvas element and the ‘onload’ event for the body. For those who are not familiar with HTML let me explain how we draw the timer onto the canvas. When any HTML page loads the browser will run the JavaScript code attached to the onload event of the body tag e.g.
<body onload='init();'>
In order to understand how the ‘init’ function works we need to understand how the browsers locates it. The browser will load any JavaScript code included in a script tag prior to displaying the page to the user e.g.
<script type="text/javascript" src="sand_timer.js"></script>
Therefore, the content of the script “sand_timer.js” will be loaded, and therefore, the function called ‘init’ will be available. If you were to look inside the aforementioned script you will be able to see the code e.g.
function init() { // Grab the canvas element canvas = document.getElementById('sand'); // Canvas supported? if (canvas.getContext('2d')) { ctx = canvas.getContext('2d'); // Load the timer sand_timer = new Image(); sand_timer.src = 'hourglass.jpg'; sand_timer.onload = imgLoaded; } else { alert("Canvas not supported!"); } }
The ‘init’ function first obtains a handle to the canvas element we included in the HTML. It then verifies whether the browser supports the HTML5 canvas implementation. If so, a new image object is created and its source it set to the image ‘hourglass.jpg’. We then ask the browser to call the ‘imgLoad’ function after the image has been loaded. This function contains the following:
function imgLoaded() { initBoundary(); initSand(); animate(); }
The function above makes a call to two functions called ‘initBoundary’ and ‘initSand’. It then enters the main loop – the function call ‘animate’. The initialisation functions create two arrays which are fundamental to the animation. The first function create the boundary array. This array holds the x and y screen coordinates of each edge of the egg timer. The function contains the following:
function initBoundary() { leftBoundary = [ [142, 51], [140, 54], [140, 59], [139, 64], [139, 69], [139, 74], [139, 79], [140, 84], [141, 89], [142, 94], [144, 99], [146, 104], [150, 109], [153, 114], [158, 119], [160, 122], [162, 124], [165, 127], [167, 129], [169, 131], [173, 134], [176, 136], [180, 139], [183, 141], [186, 144], [188, 146], [190, 149], [191, 150], [193, 154], [195, 159], // Middle [195, 164], [193, 169], [188, 174], [183, 179], [177, 184], [170, 189], [164, 194], [158, 199], [154, 204], [150, 209], [147, 214], [145, 219], [142, 224], [141, 229], [140, 234], [139, 239], [139, 244], [139, 249], [139, 254], [139, 259], [140, 264], [142, 269] ]; rightBoundary = [ [259, 51], [260, 54], [261, 59], [262, 64], [262, 69], [262, 74], [261, 79], [260, 84], [258, 89], [257, 94], [255, 99], [253, 104], [251, 109], [247, 114], [243, 119], [239, 124], [237, 126], [234, 129], [229, 134], [226, 136], [224, 138], [222, 139], [219, 141], [216, 144], [215, 144], [212, 147], [210, 149], [208, 151], [206, 154], [205, 159], // Middle [205, 164], [207, 169], [211, 174], [217, 179], [225, 184], [231, 189], [236, 194], [241, 199], [245, 204], [249, 209], [252, 214], [255, 219], [257, 224], [259, 229], [260, 234], [261, 239], [261, 244], [261, 249], [260, 254], [260, 259], [259, 264], [257, 269] ]; }
The above looks daunting; however, seen visually it all becomes clear. If one was to draw a line between the points in each array we would end up with the following:
The second initialisation function ‘initSand’ contains the following:
function initSand() { var iYCounter = 0, iXMin = 0, iXMax = 0; for ( iYCounter = floor; iYCounter >= ceiling; iYCounter--) { iXMin = findXAtY(iYCounter, leftBoundary); iXMax = findXAtY(iYCounter, rightBoundary); gridBounds[iYCounter] = [iXMin, iXMax]; grid[iYCounter] = [iXMax - iXMin]; if (iYCounter > ceiling + 50 && iYCounter <= 159) { initSandForRow(iXMin, iXMax, iYCounter); } else { initEmptyRow(iXMin, iXMax, iYCounter); } } }
The above function creates a grid of cells in which the sand particles can occupy. Starting from the top of the egg timer we assess each row, obtaining the minimum and maximum x coordinates from the boundary array. For each cell along the x-axis we create an object that either holds a blank cell (initEmptyRow) or a sand particle (initSandForRow). In its default state sand occupies the row from the ceiling + 50 pixels to and including row 159 (middle point). If one was to render the hourglass onto the canvas and with the sand in this position we would see the following:
Revisiting the ‘imgLoaded’ function the last step within this function is the call to the main animation loop e.g
animate();
The ‘animation’ function contains the following:
function animate() { if (drawSandParticles() === false) { setTimeout(function() { animate(); }, 100); } }
The animation function was quite tricky to produce. Emulating the natural flow of sand under the force of gravity took several iterations and a few algorithms were created and later replaced as the code matured. The final result isn’t perfect and one feels it could be improved. However, as a proof of concept it functions. The core of the animation occurs within ‘drawSandParticles’ which is iteratively called until the sand has settled at the bottom. This functions contains:(
function drawSandParticles() { var iYCounter = 0, iXCounter = 0, bComplete = false, iStepCounter = 4; drawBackground(); // Adjust the sand by x number of steps while (iStepCounter >= 0) { // Allow any particle to move down bHasMoved = applyGravity(0, 1); // Allow any particle to move left/right bHasMovedRight = applyGravity(1, 1); bHasMovedLeft = applyGravity(-1, 1); iStepCounter--; if (bHasMoved === false && bHasMovedRight === false && bHasMoved === false) { iNilMoveCounter++; } } cleanUp(); // Draw the sand in the new location for ( iYCounter = floor; iYCounter >= ceiling; iYCounter--) { iXMin = gridBounds[iYCounter][0]; iXMax = gridBounds[iYCounter][1]; // Iterate from left to right within the boundaries for ( iXCounter = iXMin; iXCounter <= iXMax; iXCounter++) { drawSandParticle(grid[iYCounter][iXCounter]); } } // Draw the boundary line drawSandBoundary(); return (iNilMoveCounter > 250); }
This function can be split into four sections. The first of which is to draw the background image. The code for this is within the aptly function ‘drawBackground’. This function clear the canvas and draws the image loaded earlier onto the canvas e.g.
The second section handles the movement of each sand particle. Specifically the function attempts to move each sand particle according to the laws of gravity. Starting at the lowest row we check each sand particle from left to right, row by row, determining whether the sand can move a) down one on row, or, b) whether the sand can naturally fall left or right. The sand algorithm is used for each movement, with the target cell passed as a parameter to the generic function. This function is called ‘applyGravity’ and includes the following:
function applyGravity(iXAdjust, iYAdjust) { var iYCounter = false, iXCounter = false, sand = null, cell = null, iXMin = null, iXMax = null, bRowHasSand = false, bHasMoved = false; if (iFirstRowOfSand >= floor) { iFirstRowOfSand = floor - 1; } for ( iYCounter = iFirstRowOfSand; iYCounter >= ceiling; iYCounter--) { iXMin = gridBounds[iYCounter + iYAdjust][0]; iXMax = gridBounds[iYCounter + iYAdjust][1]; bRowHasSand = false; for ( iXCounter = iXMin; iXCounter <= iXMax; iXCounter++) { sand = grid[iYCounter][iXCounter]; cell = grid[iYCounter + iYAdjust][iXCounter + iXAdjust]; bHasMoved = false; if (sand!== undefined && sand.occupied === true) { if (cell!== undefined && cell.occupied === false) { // Sand in target cell? if (sand.x >= iXMin && sand.x <= iXMax) { //Swap the sand cells grid[iYCounter + iYAdjust][iXCounter + iXAdjust].colour = sand.colour; grid[iYCounter + iYAdjust][iXCounter + iXAdjust].occupied = true; grid[iYCounter][iXCounter].colour = 'white'; grid[iYCounter][iXCounter].occupied = false; bHasMoved = true; } } bRowHasSand = true; } } //Exit the loop if the row has no sand if (bRowHasSand === false) { iYCounter = ceiling - 1; } } iFirstRowOfSand++; return bHasMoved; }
The movement of each sand particle is permitted if the target cell is empty. If a particle can be moved the objects attributes such as its x and y position are swapped with the target cell e.g.
// Sand in target cell? if (sand.x >= iXMin && sand.x <= iXMax) { //Swap the sand cells grid[iYCounter + iYAdjust][iXCounter + iXAdjust].colour = sand.colour; grid[iYCounter + iYAdjust][iXCounter + iXAdjust].occupied = true; grid[iYCounter][iXCounter].colour = 'white'; grid[iYCounter][iXCounter].occupied = false; bHasMoved = true; }
This loop is repeated four times to hasten the effect of falling sand. I feel this part could be tweaked to obtain a smoother movement of sand; but, for now I’ve opted to settle for the not-so-smooth effect :-). The third step of the ‘drawSandParticles’ function is to iterate around each cell and draw it onto the canvas e.g.
// Draw the sand in the new location for ( iYCounter = floor; iYCounter >= ceiling; iYCounter--) { iXMin = gridBounds[iYCounter][0]; iXMax = gridBounds[iYCounter][1]; // Iterate from left to right within the boundaries for ( iXCounter = iXMin; iXCounter <= iXMax; iXCounter++) { drawSandParticle(grid[iYCounter][iXCounter]); } }
And the function that actually draws each particle ‘drawSandParticle’:
function drawSandParticle(current) { if (current!== undefined) { ctx.strokeStyle = current.colour; ctx.fillStyle = current.colour; ctx.fillRect(current.x, current.y, 1, 1); } }
This function used the canvas’ context (ctx) to draw a rectangle of 1 pixel using the colour associate with the current sand particle. The fourth step of the main animation loop is to redraw the boundary which simply keeps the edges clean. Finally, the function returns a true or false value to the calling interface. This value is driven by the number of nil movements. Every time the movement loop fails to move a partcile the number of nil movement is increased. After a given number of nil movements has passed we can safely say the sand a stopped moving, or, in other words the sand is in a pile at the bottom of the hourglass. The following depicts the hourglass at staged intervals of the animation:
That concludes one’s experiment with HTML5′s canvas. I hope this helps someone. All the code above may be taken and used for anything – credit not required. A working version of this project can be viewed here. The source code for this project can be obtained from my Git Hub repository here. Full credit for the original digital image goes to this site for providing the PSD.
AdvertisementsRUSH: Let’s go to 2004 and the presidential election between John Kerry, who once served in Vietnam, the haughty John Kerry, and George W. Bush, George W. Bush running for reelection.
The Democrats still had not accepted the legitimacy of the recount in Florida 2000. Bush was an illegitimate president conducting an illegitimate war in Iraq that they had all voted for the first time around. This is another thing keeps popping up. Let me give you the history on the vote for the Iraq war. The first time the vote come up, the vast majority of Democrats voted against the authorization of the use of force.
After Bush had spent a year and a half, folks, traveling the country, making speeches, appearing at the U.N., assembling a coalition. He didn’t ramrod anything down anybody’s throat. He spent a year and a half building up support. The first vote in Congress, in the Senate, the majority of Democrats voted against it, except Hillary Clinton. She voted for it, first time.
Public opinion polls came out showing that people were livid at the Democrats for not supporting the president in a retaliatory effort for the War on Terror, 9/11. Whether it was Iraq or Afghanistan, people wanted butt kicking, and the Democrats said no. So the Democrats asked for a second vote. She asked for a second vote, and on the second vote they unanimously voted for the use-of-force authorization in Iraq. This is after they had blown themselves up with the Wellstone memorial in 2002.
Hillary Clinton again voted for the war in Iraq. Starting in 2004, the Democrat Party began to undermine it, tried to sabotage it for political purposes, and that was part of the theory of the John Kerry campaign, that Bush didn’t know what he was doing but Kerry did. He’d served in Vietnam, he’d run the swift boats, he’d done all this great stuff. He’d come back and thrown his medals across the White House fence ’cause he was so opposed to what Big Government does, committing young kids to war, doesn’t care, a whole big rigmarole.
Kerry loses in 2004, but let’s remind ourselves of exactly what happened. The first wave of exit polls hit at about five p.m., between four and five p.m. on Election Day in 2004, and the first wave of exit polls showed that Kerry was going to win. And Bob Shrum, who was the campaign manager for Kerry, walked into Kerry’s office waving that first batch of exit polls and said, “May I be the first to congratulate you, Mr. President.” So starting at five o’clock Eastern time, Election Day 2004, the Democrats thought John Kerry had won, based on exit polling.
And then the polls closed and the real votes began to be counted. And it was obvious very early in the evening that John Kerry was not going to win, that the exit polls were not accurate. And in fact we found out some weeks later that the exit polls had been rigged. They had been tampered with by virtue of exit pollers lying about what they had done in the ballot box.
And we came to find out that the false reporting of exit polls — by the way, that’s not supposed to happen. The exit polling data in terms of actual candidate preference, that data is not to be released or discussed on TV, in the media, until the polls close in the Eastern time zone, in the states where the data is being discussed. The Democrats blew that to smithereens. They started discussing. They didn’t give actual numbers, but they let it be known — it was all over Fox News. I remember a bunch of Bush supporters being depressed as hell because the media was reporting, “Looks like exit polling data, looks like that’s it for George W. Bush. We can say, project early here that it looks like it’s gonna be John Kerry.” And this was basically ABC, CBS, NBC doing this.
You want to talk about rigging? They were lying. They were using exit poll results to try to suppress voter turnout among people at five in the afternoon that still hadn’t voted in the Eastern, Central, and Western time zones and Mountain time zone, obviously. They used incorrect exit polling data to try to impact votes that had yet to be cast. They didn’t give numbers. When you watch election coverage on election night, a network has some anchor or reporter assigned to tell you the exit polls.
There’s only one exit poll, and every network and every news agency gets the same data. They all have the same data. They all combine and pay for one company to do exit polling. So it doesn’t matter what you watch, the exit poll data is the same. They can interpret it however they wish. So if you’re watching you’ll recall that they’ll tell you, “Well, it looks like women broke in Massachusetts for John Kerry, looks like women under the age of 45 but older than 21,” all this demographic crap, but the one thing they don’t tell you is how the state actually voted. They wait ’til the polls closed.
But in 2004 they didn’t wait for the polls to close. Well, when the actual votes started being tabulated and reported, it was clear that Kerry wasn’t gonna win, and the Democrats were fit to be tied. And so social media they were blowing up. And it got to the point where some in the Democrat Party actually wanted to accuse the election and election officials and the Bush campaign of rigging the election. “Because the exit polls showed that Kerry won and when you start counting the real polls it showed that we lose!” So they wanted to believe the exit polls were right.
The exit polls are not even votes! They wanted to assert the exit polls were correct and the actual votes were fraudulent! The Democrat Party, the very same people bitching, whining, and moaning about Trump last night, in 2004 accused the real vote of being illegitimate because the exit polls said something different. And then to add insult to injury, John Kerry accused Ohio of chicanery. I can remember him saying (imitating Kerry), “You know, a swing of 50,000 votes and I would have won Ohio and I would be president.” Yes, swing of 50,000 votes. And so the meme, the narrative was established that Ohio was fraudulent. And who did that? Your beloved, precious, clean and pure as the wind-driven snow skunks, the Democrat Party.
That’s why I get so livid when I hear these people act like some great offense in our traditions occurred last night with Trump and his refusal to accept and concede defeat last night by people who refuse it themselves, 2000, 2004, and from 2000 to 2008 trying to say everything that the Bush administration did was illegitimate because his election was illegitimate because of the Florida recount. And they still haven’t let go of it.
My patience, I’ve worn out, folks, trying to be tolerant and understanding. These people are not who they say they are. They are not the way the media portrays them. You can make book on the fact that when they start complaining and whining about something, you can be sure they’re the ones who are actually engaging in the activity that they are accusing us of engaging in.In the Wake of the Poetic: Palestinian Artists after Darwish by Najat Rahman, Syracuse University Press (2015)
Perhaps inevitably, the ways in which Palestinian literature and art are thought of and written about are strongly colored by the memory and influence of the great poet Mahmoud Darwish almost a decade since his death.
Najat Rahman’s book considers how much Palestinian art has changed in the years after his death due to this influence.
Rahman’s key argument is that Palestinian cultural production – literature, painting, film, dance and music – has shifted away from a focused “literature of resistance” as articulated by the writer and activist Ghassan Kanafani, who was assassinated in an Israeli car bomb in 1972.
Instead, she suggests, recent Palestinian art demonstrates “how artists rearticulate the political in their aesthetic in the absence of true politics.” Since the failure of the Oslo peace accords in the late 1990s and the end of the second intifada, Rahman sees Palestinian artists as lacking the kind of clear political direction which, for Kanafani and his generation in the 1960s and ’70s, was provided by active resistance movements, such as the Palestine Liberation Organization.
With parties such as Fatah losing much of their credibility and organizations like the leftwing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine greatly declining in membership, recent artists are seen as engaging with the Palestinian struggle on themes of liberation, empowerment and solidarity – not with allegiance to a single message or the ideas of a particular faction of the national movement.
A wide influence
Rahman’s evidence lies in an examination of emerging and active artists working in such media as literature, film, music and the visual arts.
In their works, she identifies art used not as a call to arms in a focused resistance, but as a way of questioning political dominance. She views cultural production as empowering individuals through themes of “dispersion, loss, dispossession and belonging.” These allow artists to express a sense of solidarity and identification across borders – between Palestinian refugees, Palestinians living in diaspora, and those Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and the state of Israel.
The various art forms are not seen as separate entities but as an interrelated field in which the poetry of Darwish is viewed as influencing other types of creativity.
The first chapter, therefore, looks at the relationship between Darwish’s work and that of later writers such as Ghassan Zaqtan, Liana Badr and Suheir Hammad. Discussing Darwish’s own treatment of themes such as exile, journey and homecoming, Rahman traces how these other artists engage with the same topics and how and where they intersect with, or diverge from, the poetics and politics of Darwish’s vision – for instance, in Zaqtan’s poetic focus on separation from his family and home.
The following chapters reflect a similar trajectory in other media, examining the films of Elia Suleiman, Hany Abu-Assad and Rashid Masharawi, the visual art of Mona Hatoum and Sharif Waked, the generationally shifting music of classical or folk traditions as performed by Reem Talhami, Marcel Khalife and Reem Kelani, and the rap and hip-hop of artists such as DAM and Arapeyat.
Cultural elite
As an academic book looking at often avant-garde art, some parts of In the Wake of the Poetic are dense and technical, especially the early chapters in which Rahman describes the theories behind her ideas.
Unusually for an academic text, however, Rahman focuses on contemporary, experimental artists. Darwish’s poems, she points out, were, and still are, genuinely popular among all levels of society – in “high art,” in spoken word or in songs, such as those of Lebanese star Marcel Khalife.
Among present-day Palestinians, however, many of the artists covered in this book might only be seen by an elite minority in art galleries or exclusive concert halls. Popular appeal instead turns toward hip-hop, as mentioned in the book’s final chapter, or the pop songs of Mohammed Assaf, the Gazan winner of the international Arab Idol competition in 2014.
This book is significant in that it tackles the works of several artists not widely analyzed by European and US scholars of Palestinian literature and culture, including some whose work is somewhat or completely inaccessible to non-Arabic-speaking audiences.
The elite and marginal nature of the work does highlight |
for sure because the deal involved several layers of agents and trusts and investment companies. The right to buy legislation at least meant that small communities which had suffered under neglectful or high-handed landlordism – or even those whose landlords were benign – could at long last hope to own the land they lived and worked on. But only if the landowner wanted to sell.
Some years ago, with a great digging up of roads and re-laying of pipes, Scottish Water changed the source of my town’s supply. Lochmill quietly became redundant as a reservoir, though the dam and outflow remain in place and are maintained, as is the metal ice-breaker which provides a shallow where minnows shoal. The fishermen still pay their annual rent to Scottish Water, and so does the farmer who uses the summer grazing. The loch remained as it was, quiet, secret, wood-sided.
When Scottish Water intimated in 2007 that it wanted to sell, the town’s community trust recognised the opportunity. It took a certain leap of imagination because buyouts are more usually associated with the huge holdings of private landlords in the Western Highlands and islands, not tiny lochs in Fife being disposed of by a public body like Scottish Water. In the nature of such processes, all would go quiet for months, then there would be a sudden flurry of activity. First, a community has to register an interest, which means that at least 10 per cent of the local electorate has to sign a petition approving the idea. This was easily achieved. Leaflets were printed and delivered, and an information day was held because many people said they had never been to Lochmill; some didn’t even know of its existence. The community trust then set about obtaining the necessary business plans, due diligence tests and surveys. They filled in many forms. When all was in place, a vote was organised and everyone over 18 in our postcode area received a postal voting form. To enable the buyout, 50 per cent of these forms had to be returned, with a majority in favour of the proposal.
As it happened, between our community noting its interest and the actual vote came the independence referendum. This small-town vote felt like an aftershock. Those of us who had voted yes in September felt that this was what we’d been voting for: land reform, accountability, participation, ministers who have some relationship with the people they serve. Those who voted no but who supported the buyout could say that we already had what we wanted: devolved government and land reform. We could do all this and please ourselves and still remain in the UK.
Just as before the referendum, people were tense. Apathy would win. Who could be bothered to post a vote about a place they’d never heard of? Developers would buy it. Some snobby fishing syndicate. In the mild, chill words of the leaflet, ‘it could become private ground with restricted access.’ But I shouldn’t have worried: 95 per cent of those who voted, voted yes. The matter would now go back to the government ministers who would surely smile on it. It was, after all, one of the first buyouts on the east coast, it wouldn’t cost much, and it would get the SNP a few acres closer to its ambition of bringing a million acres into community ownership.
Land reform is again high on the Scottish political agenda. In 2012, the SNP government announced that it was setting up a Land Reform Review Group. Last May it presented its proposals. These included transparency. In Scotland – as the sale of the Cluny estate showed – it’s still not always known who owns what. The ownership of huge tracts of Highland land is obscured by shady offshore accounts and secretive trusts. It was also suggested that government ministers should be empowered to intervene where the scale of land ownership or the conduct of a landlord was blocking sustainable development. Shooting estates should again be subject to business rates, which the Tory government had exempted them from in 1994. The proceeds would be used to swell the Land Fund.
The Duke of Buccleuch made clear his ‘absolute dismay’ at these proposals. His family trust owns 240,000 acres of land, much of it in Scotland, and claimed the SNP reforms would force him to ‘reduce our exposure to land’. The Daily Mail, which had screamed itself silly throughout the referendum campaign, continued in the same tone: the SNP were ‘Tartan Stalinists … harrying the great estates – and their owners – with taxes and forcible land sales’. The Mail’s editor, Paul Dacre, owns a 17,000 acre estate near Ullapool.
We will see if these new proposals make it into law. But something’s shifting. I asked the chair of the community trust if he’d been surprised by the Lochmill vote. He widened his eyes and nodded. Our loch is, so to speak, a drop in the bucket. But it’s our drop, and maybe it will someday be our bucket. Iain Macwhirter, a yes-supporting journalist, wrote recently that, with the referendum, ‘something, somewhere snapped in the Scottish electorate.’ To my mind the sensation is more subtle. It’s like that feeling you have when a ferry casts off and for a long moment you can’t tell whether it’s the boat that’s moving or the pier.
The day after the vote I went with my husband to Lochmill. We felt a new sense of ownership and responsibility. Perhaps this is the way the Duke of Buccleuch feels every day. We wandered down to the loch’s southern bank, still in winter shadow, and finding a narrow deer trail we’d never noticed before, decided to follow it. Suddenly, from the bracken underfoot a woodcock shot up, startling us. Woodcock are uncommon round here. The bird flew off over the water, which we could see shining at the bottom of the slope through the scrubby trees, calm as ever.HACIPASA, Turkey — For some time now, Turkey has been accused of either supporting or tolerating the activities of the Islamic State group (IS). Turkey’s hesitation to contribute to the coalition Washington is trying put together has only intensified the accusations. Since Turkey opened its borders without restriction to those fighting against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, others have been exploiting the lax border control. More than facilitating the crossings of militants, the security loophole has also contributed to substantial financial resources for the armed groups dominating the liberated areas of Aleppo, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. The group profiting the most has been IS, which has been transporting to Turkey the oil it's extracting with primitive methods in its occupied areas.
In the Hacipasa village of Altinozu in Hatay province, the scope of this oil smuggling mechanism is clear. On the Turkish side of the Asi river, which forms the border with Syria, lies the village of Hacipasa, with the village of Ezmerin on the Syrian side. The saga of Hacipasa is surely one of the most telling outcomes of the Syria policy then Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu so passionately defended in parliament when he boasted, “We will lead the wave of change in the Middle East. A new Middle East is being born. We will continue to be the owner, pioneer and servant of this Middle East."
Here is how the oil trade fills IS coffers:
From Ezmerin, about 500 illegal oil pipelines, small-diameter plastic pipes normally used for irrigation, extend to the Turkish side of the Asi River. On the Turkish side, they are buried under agricultural fields to reach the village. Just like the village’s underground water distribution lines, oil pipelines crisscross under streets to reach the back yards of private houses. Diesel fuel pumped from a tanker on the Syrian side fills the private tanks. Simple “pump” and “stop” commands are given over cellular phones.
Villagers laying the makeshift pipeline. (photo by Fehim Taştekin)
Consumers come to the houses of sellers and buy the diesel for 1.25 Turkish lira per liter ($0.56). This is how the system worked for a long time.
The state began to intervene only after the international media started to question whether Turkey was supporting IS and whether IS oil was being sold in Turkey. At the end of March, soldiers that had until then been watching the goings on from a hilltop about 100 meters from the river began digging up the pipes from the fields and cutting the ones that lay visible in the streets. Checkpoints were established to prevent the diesel from leaving Hacipasa. But the smugglers always found ways to bypass the gendarmerie, the latest being shipping the fuel in barrels.
Confessions of smugglers
After seeing the pipelines, Al-Monitor's correspondent spoke to a villager involved in the smuggling operation. From the balcony of his house, five or six pipelines are visible going into other houses. Six people in the house told Al-Monitor that some 80-90% of the village's families are involved in the diesel fuel smuggling. Many pipelines have been cut, but some fuel still comes through, which is why the price went up to 3 lira ($1.36) from 1.25. There is a saying in the village: "If you have not been in smuggling, you won’t find a bride."
The state knows what is going on, said the villagers. Everything was happening in front of its soldiers. Some people even imported machinery from Japan to dig and lay the pipes. That can’t be done secretly. Every day, about 30-50 tanker loads of diesel is transferred. In Hatay, there are 4,500 semi trucks. They all use this fuel. Trucks come from central Anatolia to buy cheap fuel.
One man said that he once got stuck in mud next to a pipeline, and soldiers came and towed him out. He said, "We were legal then but illegal now? What changed?"
Soldiers dismantle a pipeline (Fehim Taştekin)
When pipes and oil barrels were confiscated and some people were detained, there was popular reaction. The villagers demonstrated and soldiers beat up a few people.
The villagers said that when the Syrian refugees came, they opened their houses to them. They carried that burden for three years, they said, without any help. "We helped to transfer relief supplies over the Asi to Syria. We evacuated the wounded to hospitals. One night, there was a call from the minaret loudspeakers of our mosque asking for people with cars to go and evacuate wounded people from the river." One man added, "That night, I transferred three casualties to the hospital. In return for all that, we made money from oil. Everyone looked the other way. Things changed after March. Soldiers now fire on people going near the border. People have been killed."
People now watch for the changing of the guards, sometimes waiting up to three days for the right time to get to work.
They said, "We helped everyone in Syria. We even helped Turkish officials to cross the border but suddenly, we are criminals. Fine, they punished us, now they should leave us alone. They should allow us to return to our work, to our fields. But soldiers now want to see our land deeds to before they let us go to the fields. Not everyone has a land deed. Some of the deeds are under the names of their relatives in Syria. I am running around in courts for years to get my own deed."
Free Syrian Army, not IS
The villagers of Hacipasa who voted for the ruling AKP in the last elections consider the illegal income they make from oil a fee for their support of Syrian refugees. When reminded that the oil smuggling has made IS rich, they object, protesting, "If it was illegal, why did the state allow it?” They prefer to think of the Free Syrian Army, not IS, as benefiting from the trade.
From Hacipasa, where the streets smell of diesel fuel, Al-Monitor went to Cilvegozu, a border crossing near Reyhanli, and spoke with truck drivers protesting the new restrictions. Their problem, they say, is that drivers who use smuggled oil and fuel are fined heavily. Those caught a second time can lose their trucks. Drivers say it is not only Hacipasa making money from smuggling, but also the village of Besaslan. One driver said, ”There still two pipelines operating in Besaslan. Villagers share the money they make. But because the flow of oil has decreased, you may have to wait two days.”
When asked, "You are objecting to the measures taken, but aren’t you uncomfortable with the money IS makes from this business?” their answer was: "Fine, let’s say they cut off the oil as a measure against IS. But militants are crossing the border freely. Go to Esentepe and you will see it.’’ Esentepe is a Reyhanli neighborhood where most cars have Syrian license plates. People believe many militants reside in that neighborhood.
In the province of Hatay, Altinozu and Reyhanli both carried the burden of the civil war in Syria and also made a living from it. Those whose incomes are now affected by the measures taken by the state talk nostalgically of the unique situation they dealt with and made a living from.A major event that would damage Barack Obama’s presidency as much as Hurricane Katrina did George W. Bush’s is a white whale for conservatives, suggests The New Republic’s Brian Beutler: They’re constantly, eagerly scanning the horizon for it, but they’ll never see it.
Beutler finds it hard to imagine that any Democratic president would have his or her own Katrina, since Dems have made responding to natural disasters a high priority. Not so the pro-small government, austerity-driven Republicans, who are “ideologically ill-suited to meet [that] challenge.”
According to Beutler, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was in fine shape when Bill Clinton left the White House, but “when Bush became president, he neglected FEMA before…stripping it of its disaster-preparedness function, and appointing a crony to run it.” Obama, “unencumbered ideologically, and unwilling to allow a natural disaster to unravel his presidency…rebuilt FEMA…His agency has been praised everywhere it has been deployed, by Republican and Democratic governors alike.”
As for disaster response under a President Trump, Beutler opines that it’d be “horrendous” and indicates that we got somewhat of a preview in 2011, when “House Republicans attempted to establish the precedent that supplemental disaster relief spending must be offset with cuts to discretionary programs that disproportionately help the poor…If Republicans somehow win the presidency this year, we can be fairly certain how highly they’d prioritize disaster relief, because they’ve told us repeatedly.”
Beutler claims that Republicans prefer smearing the opposition to adjusting their attitude on the issue (bolding added):As we prepare for 2018, we think back to the celebrity stories that made 2017 what it was. There were pregnancy rumors, new couple alerts, breakups, and album debuts. And those only begin to scratch the surface of the celebrity news that we’ve tirelessly followed for the past twelve months. Amid all of the rumors, news, and announcements, we’ve been constantly enthralled with the style of each and every one of those headliners. Polyvore knows: the style site has rounded up the top-searched female and male celebrities on their platform and the results are a who’s-who of the past year.
We want the oversize “pregnancy-hiding” button-down from Kylie Jenner, can’t get enough of the statement jackets BTS always rocks on stage, and have a wardrobe that has pretty much been curated by Selena Gomez’s timelessly classic style. Lucky for us, all of those celebs and more made Polyvore’s most-searched list. But how do they stack up against one another?
Kylie Jenner nabbed the top spot for the women, followed by Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande. Rihanna and Gigi Hadid rounded out the top five. For the men, BTS led the pack, with Harry Styles and Justin Bieber winning silver and bronze, respectively. In fourth and fifth place came Shawn Mendes and Niall Horan.
How did your favorite celebrities measure up? Is there anyone you think is missing from the list? Never fear: Your current obsession might just top the list for the coming year!
Related: Miley Cyrus Just Proved You Can Wear Chuck Taylors With Anything
Check this out:We went to the farmers market in our new city on Saturday and I bought a big bunch of watercress, which I have to admit, I have never used before. Sure, I’ve eaten it plenty of times before, but I have never brought it home and I had no idea what I was going to do with it.
Adam suggested I make a peanut crusted tofu and turn it into some sort of salad and that is exactly what I did. I ended up making a super simple lemon pepper vinaigrette to go with it and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Not many people realize that watercress is actually a superfood, which I was pleasantly surprised to learn after a quick google search. It is a rich source of antioxidants and phytonutrients that promote health and protect against disease, as well as many other nutritional benefits that you can read about here.
My Latest Videos
Along with the peanut crusted tofu and pasta, this salad is actually a complete meal and provides all of your dietary needs in one complete, delicious package. It was perfect eating it in the warm sun on our new patio.I went to MongoSF today – quite an event, and I hope to have a chance to write more about it. This post is about one replication problem and how MongoDB solves it.
If you’re using MySQL Replication when your master goes down it is possible for some writes to be executed on the master, but not on the slave, which gets promoted to the master. When Master comes back up it has some updates done to it which cause it to be inconsistent with data on the new Master. In MySQL world we can chose to either ignore this problem (or may be even replay those changes on slaves and hope it works out), re-clone it from the slave or use mk-table-checksum to find inconsistencies and re-sync them with mk-table-sync. Both of these operations can be very expensive for large databases.
MongoDB approach used in Replication Sets is for failed master to scan its log files to find all object ids which were modified from the point slave synchronized successfully and retrieve those objects back from the new master (or delete them if they no more exist). Such approach allows quick synchronization without any complex support of rolling back changes. In MongoDB there is a catch with this approach – because there is no local durability this also works as long as network goes down but server stays up, however once Single Server Durability is implemented it will be pretty cool.
What is really interesting – it should be possible to apply the same concept to MySQL Replication, possibly with help of some tools like MMM. Row level Replication makes it possible to identify the objects which were changed on the Master after failover to Slave happened and they can be dumped to local file (in case one wants to synchronize them manually) and when fetched again from the master.
This of course will require IDEMPOTENT slave mode but otherwise it should work unless you have DDL operations in between.
In general listening the great presentation on MongoDB Replication by Dwight Merriman as well as previously looking at how replication done in Redis I should say things can be done a lot more simple way when there is no schema and when you do not have to mess with complex features like triggers or multiple storage engines.Visit the Aurora Cannabis Investor Dashboard and stay up to date with data-driven, fact based due diligence for active traders and investors.
Aurora Cannabis Submits Proposal to CanniMed Therapeutics Board
Aurora Cannabis Executes Lock-up Agreements with 38% of CanniMed Shareholders
VANCOUVER, Nov. 14, 2017 /CNW/ – At the request of IIROC, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX: ACB) (“Aurora”) announced today that it has submitted a proposal (the “Proposal”) to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of CanniMed Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CMED) (“CanniMed”). The proposal was delivered to the Board of Directors of CanniMed on November 13, 2017 and Aurora is seeking to pursue a mutually agreed upon combination with CanniMed. CanniMed has not yet engaged in active discussions with Aurora, however, Aurora welcomes the opportunity to do so, such that CanniMed’s shareholders can benefit from the significant inherent value in the Proposal. Aurora has requested that CanniMed’s Board respond to the Proposal prior to 5:00 pm (Vancouver time) on Friday November 17, 2017, failing which, Aurora intends to commence a formal takeover bid for CanniMed.
Transaction Highlights
All-share Proposal, valued at $24.00 per CanniMed share based on the closing share price of Aurora on November 14, 2017, reflects a 56.9% premium over the most recent closing price of CanniMed shares on November 14, 2017
Irrevocable lock-up agreements with approximately 38% of CanniMed shareholders to vote in favour of Aurora’s proposal or tender to Aurora’s bid
The combination would create a global leader in the cannabis industry with a pro-forma market capitalization exceeding $3.0 billion
Combined entity would serve approximately 40,000 active registered patients
Aurora – CanniMed combined would benefit from enhanced capacity for future
Aurora – CanniMed combined would benefit from enhanced capacity for future growth with greater access to capital and liquidity, with trading volumes amongst the highest in the cannabis industry
Pursuant to the Proposal, CanniMed shareholders will be entitled to receive a maximum of $24 per CanniMed share or 4.52586207 Aurora shares, based on the 20-day volume weighted average price of Aurora. Based on the closing price of Aurora shares on November 14, 2017, this translates to 3.74415 Aurora shares for each CanniMed share. Based on the closing prices of Aurora and CanniMed on November 14, 2017, this represents a premium of approximately 56.9% premium over the closing price of CanniMed shares on November 14, 2017 and a 74.7% premium over the 20-day volume weighted average price for the period ended November 14, 2017. Upon completion of the transactions contemplated by the Proposal, based on the closing prices of November 14, 2017, CanniMed’s shareholders will hold approximately 16% of the issued and outstanding shares of Aurora.
Aurora and CanniMed are a great fit, truly complementary, and I am convinced we can generate even greater value by combining the two companies and aligning our efforts strategically. Aurora has the management expertise, capital markets strength, distribution channels, brand power and growth prospects to successfully integrate CanniMed into Aurora – the fastest-growing cannabis company with the sector’s most exceptional execution track record.
Terry Booth, CEO
Lock-Up of Shareholders of CanniMed
In connection with the proposal, Aurora has entered into irrevocable lock-up agreements in support of its proposal from shareholders representing approximately 38% of CanniMed’s outstanding shares. Under the lock-up agreements, the locked-up shareholders are precluded from tendering or voting any of their CanniMed common shares in favour of any other acquisition proposal relating to CanniMed and are required to vote against other acquisition proposals or actions which might prevent, delay or frustrate Aurora’s proposal.
Compelling Strategic Rationale
Aurora believes the value that would result from the combination of the two companies is substantial. Together, their unique and complementary strengths would drive value, create the leading cannabis company across multiple markets, and the combined entity will lower production costs while connecting consumers via market leading brands. Among other things, the combined entity will:
have a combined total of over 40,000 active registered cannabis patients in Canada;
have significant cultivation capacity with five state-of-the-art facilities, and additional facilities planned;
have existing or funded capacity of over 130,000 kilograms of annual production with significant additional capacity planned;
further strengthen both companies’ international presence with operations and agreements in the European Union, Australia and the Cayman Islands;
increase the capacity to reach and service a wider international patient base with a broader product offering;
improve yields through cross-application of proprietary technologies from each of Aurora and CanniMed;
provide CanniMed with access to Aurora’s network of strategic partners, such as extraction technology leader Radient Technologies;
enable CanniMed to leverage Aurora’s sector leadership in innovation to accelerate development;
expand both companies’ portfolio of genetics; and
enable CanniMed to leverage Aurora’s unparalleled e-commerce platform, including the only mobile app in Canada that enables customer purchases.
Additional Details of the Proposal
Readers are cautioned that Aurora may determine not to proceed with the Proposal if: (i) it identifies material adverse information concerning the business, affairs, prospects or assets of CanniMed not previously disclosed by CanniMed; (ii) CanniMed implements or attempts to implement defensive tactics (such as the adoption of a shareholder rights plan, the grant of an option (or similar right) to purchase material assets, the issue of additional shares of CanniMed, or the announcement of a significant acquisition by CanniMed) in relation to the Proposal. There can be no assurance that the Proposal will result in a friendly combination of Aurora and CanniMed or would proceed on the terms set out in this news release.
Should a takeover bid be commenced, full details of the offer will be included in a formal offer and the take-over bid circular to be filed with securities regulatory authorities and mailed to CanniMed shareholders. The offer will be subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary regulatory clearances, absence of material adverse changes in CanniMed and acceptance of the offer by CanniMed shareholders owning not less than 66-2/3% of the CanniMed common shares on a fully-diluted basis. Once the 66-2/3% acceptance level is met, Aurora intends, but is not required to, take steps to acquire all of the outstanding CanniMed common shares and other convertible securities or rights to acquire CanniMed common shares.
This press release does not constitute an offer to buy or an invitation to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or invitation to sell, any of the securities of Aurora or CanniMed. Such an offer may only be made pursuant to an offer and take-over bid circular filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada.
About Aurora
Aurora’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc., is a licensed producer of medical cannabis pursuant to Health Canada’s Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (“ACMPR”). The Company operates a 55,200 square foot, state-of-the-art production facility in Mountain View County, Alberta, known as “Aurora Mountain”, a second 40,000 square foot high-technology production facility known as “Aurora Vie” in Pointe-Claire, Quebec on Montreal’s West Island, and is currently constructing an 800,000 square foot production facility, known as “Aurora Sky”, at the Edmonton International Airport.
In addition, the Company holds approximately 9.6% of the issued shares (12.9% on a fully-diluted basis) in leading extraction technology company Radient Technologies Inc., based in Edmonton, and is in the process of completing an investment in Edmonton-based Hempco Food and Fiber for an ownership stake of up to 50.1%. Furthermore, Aurora is the cornerstone investor with a 19.9% stake in Cann Group Limited, the first Australian company licensed to conduct research on and cultivate medical cannabis. Aurora also owns Pedanios, a leading wholesale importer, exporter, and distributor of medical cannabis in the European Union, based in Germany. The Company offers further differentiation through its acquisition of BC Northern Lights Ltd. and Urban Cultivator Inc., industry leaders, respectively, in the production and sale of proprietary systems for the safe, efficient and high-yield indoor cultivation of cannabis, and in state-of-the-art indoor gardening appliances for the cultivation of organic microgreens, vegetables and herbs in home and professional kitchens. Aurora’s common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol “ACB”.
Original press release
The most reliable, fact-based information on Aurora Cannabis found only on its Investor Dashboard.
Get ahead of the crowd by signing up for 420 Investor, the largest & most comprehensive premium subscription service for cannabis traders and investors since 2013.
Published by NCV Newswire The NCV Newswire by New Cannabis Ventures aims to curate high quality content and information about leading cannabis companies to help our readers filter out the noise and to stay on top of the most important cannabis business news. The NCV Newswire is hand-curated by an editor and not automated in anyway. Have a confidential news tip? Get in touchMuslims groups have defended their decision to host a hate conference which called for the use of force against ‘non-Muslims’. CAIR executive director also spoke out in defense of the organizers.
A week earlier Rabwah Times through covert video and audio recordings revealed how speakers at an Islamist conference in Virginia called for the use of force against ‘non-Muslims’ and urged American Muslims to not vote for ‘Non-Muslim’ candidates.
The sister organizations Idara Dawat Idara Dawat-O-Irshad Inc and Khatme Nubuwwat Center Inc who organized the statement both released a statement defending the conference and the views of speakers. In a joint statement, the organizations claimed that the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives them the right to express their religious beliefs and protect their “orthodox beliefs against fringe heretical deviant theological innovations.”
The statement also condemned the moderate Ahmadis who the speakers claimed were ‘non-Muslims’ and claimed were worse that Christians & Jews. The statement which was endorsed by the entire speaker lineup said:
“First Amendment to the US Constitution…….gives Orthodox Muslim leaders the right to make clear that Qadiyani [Ahmadi] beliefs are contrary to established Islamic theology. To do so is not a form of extremism, but basic preservation of traditional orthodoxy.”
Support for the conference and its organizers also came from Hassan Shibly, the executive director of Florida chapter of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations).In an audio message that has since been deleted but has been archived by Rabwah Times here, Shibly claimed that:
There is absolutely nothing with all of you (conference speakers) making clear the tradition orthodox, Sunni perspective on KhatmeNabuwat (Muhammad being the last prophet) and anything else related to Aqeedah (belief). Including defining what heresy is and who would be heretical under traditional Islamic Jurisprudence.
Shibly’s comments were in defense of the speakers who at the conference had claimed that the punishment for committing heresy was death. After we contacted Shibly about the audio message that was put up by the organizers he claimed that he was was not aware of the comments made by the organizers as he did not attend the conference himself.
Shibly added that he was not aware that the conference speakers had made unconstitutional demands or that the organizers had taken his audio message and published it as a ‘congratulatory message’ for the conference. He denounced both the conference speakers and its critics by saying:
It was low attempt to divide American Muslims at a time when we must come together. Our response should be instead to rally around our common values no matter our background, we all believe in. That’s what I stand for and that’s what my organization stands for.
Responding to the speakers call for criminalizing Ahmadi beliefs he said:
Use of force is never acceptable to resolve religious differences Whoever tries to criminalize religious beliefs obviously doesn’t understand the first amendment. It would be absolutely wrong and unconstitutional to try to criminalize anyone’s beliefs.
However, Shibly did take to Twitter to criticize the Ahmadi leadership’s support for Mosque surveillance program calling it “Disturbing”. The tweet was later deleted, however the post was accessible on his facebook page.
The Ahmadi leaders have frequently called on the U.S. Government to monitor Mosques and Islamic schools due to fears of radicalization.
The ‘extremist’ event was only condemned by one American-Muslim organization, Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), which released a statement urging American Muslims to denounce the “Two Extremist Organizations”. In a statement MPV said:The hippocampus receives intense innervation from serotonergic raphe neurons, and the effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) on hippocampal activity represent important neurophysiological correlates for mood- and emotion-related behaviors, anxiety and cognitive performance in humans (Hensler 2006; Elliott et al. 2011; Lesch and Waider 2012). 5-HT is a major modulator of neuronal activity in the CNS and is traditionally regarded as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in mammalians although an extended reappraisal of the modulatory effects of 5-HT on neurotransmission is underway, especially for hippocampus-related functions (Andrade and Beck 2010). A substantial amount of the present knowledge of 5-HT effects on neurotransmission in the hippocampus derives from experiments carried out in hippocampal slices of rodents using bath or local application of 5-HT, which have allowed for the characterization of multiple 5-HT receptor-mediated effects in pyramidal neurons and interneurons (Barnes and Sharp 1999). However, how the different responses to activation of a panel of 5-HT receptors translate into the overall modulation of neurotrasmission by 5-HT in the different regions of the hippocampus remains less understood.
In the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices, the application of exogenous 5-HT produces predominant inhibitory effect(s) on neurotransmission (Jahnsen 1980; Segal 1980; Ropert 1988; Pugliese et al. 1998). In contrast, endogenous 5-HT released in hippocampal slices by application of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produced small effects on synaptic transmission in the CA1 and increased the excitability of pyramidal neurons resulting in a predominantly excitatory effect (Mlinar et al. 2008). The overall effect of 5-HT on electrical properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons is even more complex since the release of endogenous 5-HT in slices also inhibits glutamate excitatory neurotransmission at axon collaterals of CA1 pyramidal cells, thus modulating the CA1 local excitatory network (Mlinar and Corradetti 2003) and reducing synaptic excitation of a subset of GABAergic CA1 interneurons (Winterer et al. 2011). These results point to a substantial difference in 5-HT effects produced in vitro by the application of exogenous 5-HT compared with those produced by the release of the endogenous neurotransmitter and raise the question of whether a similar discrepancy occurs for the induction of LTP.
Long-term potentiation is a form of synaptic plasticity consisting in long-lasting enhancement of synaptic strength induced by high-frequency activation of the synaptic input (see in Bliss et al. 2007). In the hippocampus, LTP occurs during learning (Whitlock et al. 2006) and is considered a requirement for hippocampal processing and encoding of “meaningful memory traces” (Wang and Morris 2010). Consistent with this view, impairment or reduction of LTP has been correlated with memory impairment in laboratory animals and drugs known to interfere with LTP both in vivo and in vitro also affect hippocampus-dependent forms of learning and memory (see Izquierdo and Medina 1995; Bliss et al. 2007). In an attempt to understand the role of 5-HT on memory trace formation during learning, the paradigm of LTP has been applied both in vivo and in vitro, leading to contrasting conclusions. Depletion of 5-HT in vivo resulted in impairment of LTP in the dentate gyrus, suggesting a facilitatory action of 5-HT on synaptic plasticity (Bliss et al. 1983). In contrast, in rat hippocampal slices, bath-applied 5-HT inhibited the induction of LTP both in the CA1 (Corradetti et al. 1992; Staubli and Otaky 1994) and CA3 regions (Villani and Johnston 1993). In spite of these contrasting findings, the idea that 5-HT exerts an inhibitory action on LTP has prevailed (Bliss et al. 2007), regardless of whether this inhibitory effect of 5-HT on LTP would negatively modulate hippocampal processing and encoding, thus resulting in impaired learning and cognitive performance.
On the other hand, selective pharmacological manipulation of 5-HT system functioning with SSRIs, that in vivo increase the level of 5-HT in various brain areas including the hippocampus, ameliorates cognitive performance in humans (Harmer et al. 2002, 2003), whereas an acute decrease in 5-HT synthesis by acute tryptophan depletion results in poorer cognitive performance in humans (Hayward et al. 2005; Van der Veen et al. 2006). Collectively, these data indicate a facilitatory action of 5-HT on hippocampal activity that becomes difficult to correlate with inhibition of LTP and therefore of information processing and encoding by hippocampal circuits. Considering the growing evidence that the effects of endogenous 5-HT released in slices are different from exogenously applied 5-HT, we sought to re-assess the modulatory effect of 5-HT on LTP induced at dendritic CA3/CA1 synapses by studying the effects of endogenous 5-HT selectively released from terminals by MDMA in rat hippocampal slices.
Contrary to the expectation based on the effects of exogenous 5-HT on LTP, we found that endogenous 5-HT released by MDMA in hippocampal slices was not associated with a reduction in LTP at dendritic synapses in the CA1 region, but rather facilitated LTP.Four people were shot, one fatally, when an altercation between occupants of two party buses ended in gunfire near the iconic Santa Monica Pier in California early Saturday, police said.
A woman was the person who was killed, Santa Monica police said. They said that they were looking for two or three suspects who fled on foot. The shooting happened occurred around 1 a.m. on Ocean Avenue near the entrance to the pier.
"One of the buses had a group of people that got off the bus, got into an altercation of some sort with another group that was on another bus that was directly parked behind it, at which point shots were fired," Lt. Saul Rodriguez said, according to KABC-TV.
The woman and two of the wounded were driven to a nearby police station by the driver of their bus, the station reported. They were in the bus when they |
ratio of the visible light flux emitted (the luminous flux) to the total power radiated over all wavelengths. The source luminous efficacy (LES) is the ratio of the visible light flux emitted (the luminous flux) to the total power input to the source, such as a lamp.[63] Visible light is measured in lumens, a unit which is defined in part by the differing sensitivity of the human eye to different wavelengths of light. Not all wavelengths of visible electromagnetic energy are equally effective at stimulating the human eye; the luminous efficacy of radiant energy (LER) is a measure of how well the distribution of energy matches the perception of the eye. The units of luminous efficacy are "lumens per watt" (lpw). The maximum LER possible is 683 lm/W for monochromatic green light at 555 nanometers wavelength, the peak sensitivity of the human eye.
The luminous efficiency is defined as the ratio of the luminous efficacy to the theoretical maximum luminous efficacy of 683 lpw, and, as for luminous efficacy, is of two types, radiant luminous efficiency (LFR) and source luminous efficacy (LFS).[64][65]
The chart below lists values of overall luminous efficacy and efficiency for several types of general service, 120-volt, 1000-hour lifespan incandescent bulb, and several idealized light sources. The values for the incandescent bulbs are source efficiencies and efficacies. The values for the ideal sources are radiant efficiencies and efficacies. A similar chart in the article on luminous efficacy compares a broader array of light sources to one another.
Type Overall luminous efficiency Overall luminous efficacy (lm/W) 40 W tungsten incandescent 1.9% 12.6[1] 60 W tungsten incandescent 2.1% 14.5[1] 100 W tungsten incandescent 2.6% 17.5[1] glass halogen 2.3% 16 quartz halogen 3.5% 24 photographic and projection lamps with very high filament temperatures and short lifetimes 5.1% 35[66] ideal black-body radiator at 4000 K (or a class K star like Arcturus) 7.0% 47.5 ideal black-body radiator at 7000 K (or a class F star like Procyon) 14% 95 ideal monochromatic 555 nm (green) source 100% 683[b]
The spectrum emitted by a blackbody radiator at temperatures of incandescent bulbs does not match the sensitivity characteristics of the human eye. Most of the radiation is not in the range of wavelengths to which the eye is sensitive. Tungsten filaments radiate mostly infrared radiation at temperatures where they remain solid – below 3,695 K (3,422 °C; 6,191 °F). Donald L. Klipstein explains it this way: "An ideal thermal radiator produces visible light most efficiently at temperatures around 6,300 °C (6,600 K; 11,400 °F). Even at this high temperature, a lot of the radiation is either infrared or ultraviolet, and the theoretical luminous efficacy (LER) is 95 lumens per watt."[66] No known material can be used as a filament at this ideal temperature, which is hotter than the sun's surface. An upper limit for incandescent lamp luminous efficacy (LER) is around 52 lumens per watt, the theoretical value emitted by tungsten at its melting point.[61]
Although inefficient, incandescent light bulbs have an advantage in applications where accurate color reproduction is important, since the continuous blackbody spectrum emitted from an incandescent light-bulb filament yields near-perfect color rendition, with a color rendering index of 100 (the best possible).[67] White-balancing is still required to avoid too "warm" or "cool" colors, but this is a simple process that requires only the color temperature in kelvins as input for modern, digital visual reproduction equipment such as video or still cameras unless it is completely automated. The color-rendering performance of incandescent lights cannot be matched by LEDs or fluorescent lights, although they can offer satisfactory performance for non-critical applications such as home lighting.[68][69] White-balancing such lights is therefore more complicated, requiring additional adjustments to reduce for example green-magenta color casts, and even when properly white-balanced, the color reproduction will not be perfect.
Thermal image of an incandescent bulb. 71–347 °F = 22–175 °C.
Spectral power distribution of a 25 W incandescent light bulb.
For a given quantity of light, an incandescent light bulb produces more heat (and thus consumes more power) than a fluorescent lamp. In buildings where air conditioning is used, incandescent lamps' heat output increases load on the air conditioning system.[70] While heat from lights will reduce the need for running a building's heating system, in general a heating system can provide the same amount of heat at a lower cost than incandescent lights.
Halogen incandescent lamps have higher efficacy, which will allow a halogen light to use less power to produce the same amount of light compared to a non-halogen incandescent light. Halogen lights produce a more constant light-output over time, without much dimming.[71]
There are many non-incandescent light sources, such as the fluorescent lamp, high-intensity discharge lamps and LED lamps, which have higher luminous efficiency, and some have been designed to be retrofitted in fixtures for incandescent lights. These devices produce light by luminescence. These lamps produce discrete spectral lines and do not have the broad "tail" of invisible infrared emissions. By careful selection of which electron energy level transitions are used, and fluorescent coatings which modify the spectral distribution, the spectrum emitted can be tuned to mimic the appearance of incandescent sources, or other different color temperatures of white light. Due to the discrete spectral lines rather than a continuous spectrum, the light is not ideal for applications such as photography and cinematography.[68][69]
Cost of lighting
The initial cost of an incandescent bulb is small compared to the cost of the energy it uses over its lifetime. Incandescent bulbs have a shorter life than most other lighting, an important factor if replacement is inconvenient or expensive. Some types of lamp, including incandescent and fluorescent, emit less light as they age; this may be an inconvenience, or may reduce effective lifetime due to lamp replacement before total failure. A comparison of incandescent lamp operating cost with other light sources must include illumination requirements, cost of the lamp and labor cost to replace lamps (taking into account effective lamp lifetime), cost of electricity used, effect of lamp operation on heating and air conditioning systems. When used for lighting in houses and commercial buildings, the energy lost to heat can significantly increase the energy required by a building's air conditioning system. During the heating season heat produced by the bulbs is not wasted,[72] although in most cases it is more cost effective to obtain heat from the heating system. Regardless, over the course of a year a more efficient lighting system saves energy in nearly all climates.[73]
Measures to ban use
Since incandescent light bulbs use more energy than alternatives such as CFLs and LED lamps, many governments have introduced measures to ban their use, by setting minimum efficacy standards higher than can be achieved by incandescent lamps. Measures to ban light bulbs have been implemented in the European Union, the United States, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and Australia, among others. In the Europe the EC has calculated that the ban contributes 5 to 10 billion euros to the economy and saves 40 TWh of electricity every year, translating in CO2 emission reductions of 15 million tonnes.[74]
In the US, federal law has scheduled the most common incandescent light bulbs to be phased out by 2014, to be replaced with more energy-efficient light bulbs.[75] Traditional incandescent light bulbs were phased out in Australia in November 2009.[76]
Objections to banning the use of incandescent light bulbs include the higher initial cost of alternatives and lower quality of light of fluorescent lamps.[77] Some people have concerns about the health effects of fluorescent lamps. However, even though they contain mercury, the environmental performance of CFLs is much better than that of light bulbs, mostly because they consume much less energy and therefore strongly reduce the environmental impact of power production.[78] LED lamps are even more efficient, and are free of mercury. They are regarded as the best solution in terms of cost effectiveness and robustness.[79]
Efforts to improve efficiency
Some research has been carried out to improve the efficacy of commercial incandescent lamps. In 2007, the consumer lighting division of General Electric announced a "high efficiency incandescent" (HEI) lamp project, which they claimed would ultimately be as much as four times more efficient than current incandescents, although their initial production goal was to be approximately twice as efficient.[80][81] The HEI program was terminated in 2008 due to slow progress.[82][83]
US Department of Energy research at Sandia National Laboratories initially indicated the potential for dramatically improved efficiency from a photonic lattice filament.[80] However, later work indicated that initially promising results were in error.[84]
Prompted by legislation in various countries mandating increased bulb efficiency, new "hybrid" incandescent bulbs have been introduced by Philips. The "Halogena Energy Saver" incandescents can produce about 23 lm/W; about 30 percent more efficient than traditional incandescents, by using a reflective capsule to reflect formerly wasted infrared radiation back to the filament from which it can be re-emitted as visible light.[77] This concept was pioneered by Duro-Test in 1980 with a commercial product that produced 29.8 lm/W.[85][86] More advanced reflectors based on interference filters or photonic crystals can theoretically result in higher efficiency, up to a limit of about 270 lm/W (40% of the maximum efficacy possible).[87] Laboratory proof-of-concept experiments have produced as much as 45 lm/W, approaching the efficacy of compact fluorescent bulbs.[87][88]
Construction
Incandescent light bulbs consist of an air-tight glass enclosure (the envelope, or bulb) with a filament of tungsten wire inside the bulb, through which an electric current is passed. Contact wires and a base with two (or more) conductors provide electrical connections to the filament. Incandescent light bulbs usually contain a stem or glass mount anchored to the bulb's base that allows the electrical contacts to run through the envelope without air or gas leaks. Small wires embedded in the stem in turn support the filament and its lead wires.
An electric current heats the filament to typically 2,000 to 3,300 K (3,140 to 5,480 °F), well below tungsten's melting point of 3,695 K (6,191 °F). Filament temperatures depend on the filament type, shape, size, and amount of current drawn. The heated filament emits light that approximates a continuous spectrum. The useful part of the emitted energy is visible light, but most energy is given off as heat in the near-infrared wavelengths.
Three-way light bulbs have two filaments and three conducting contacts in their bases. The filaments share a common ground, and can be lit separately or together. Common wattages include 30–70–100, 50–100–150, and 100–200–300, with the first two numbers referring to the individual filaments, and the third giving the combined wattage.
Most light bulbs have either clear or coated glass. The coated glass bulbs have a white powdery substance on the inside called kaolin. Kaolin, or kaolinite, is a white, chalky clay in a very fine powder form, that is blown in and electrostatically deposited on the interior of the bulb. It diffuses the light emitted from the filament, producing a more gentle and evenly distributed light. Manufacturers may add pigments to the kaolin to adjust the characteristics of the final light emitted from the bulb. Kaolin diffused bulbs are used extensively in interior lighting because of their comparatively gentle light. Other kinds of colored bulbs are also made, including the various colors used for "party bulbs", Christmas tree lights and other decorative lighting. These are created by coloring the glass with a dopant; which is often a metal like cobalt (blue) or chromium (green).[89] Neodymium-containing glass is sometimes used to provide a more natural-appearing light.
Outline of Glass bulb Low pressure inert gas (argon, nitrogen, krypton, xenon) Tungsten filament Contact wire (goes out of stem) Contact wire (goes into stem) Support wires (one end embedded in stem; conduct no current) Stem (glass mount) Contact wire (goes out of stem) Cap (sleeve) Insulation (vitrite) Electrical contact
Many arrangements of electrical contacts are used. Large lamps may have a screw base (one or more contacts at the tip, one at the shell) or a bayonet base (one or more contacts on the base, shell used as a contact or used only as a mechanical support). Some tubular lamps have an electrical contact at either end. Miniature lamps may have a wedge base and wire contacts, and some automotive and special purpose lamps have screw terminals for connection to wires. Contacts in the lamp socket allow the electric current to pass through the base to the filament. Power ratings for incandescent light bulbs range from about 0.1 watt to about 10,000 watts.
The glass bulb of a general service lamp can reach temperatures between 200 and 260 °C (392 and 500 °F). Lamps intended for high power operation or used for heating purposes will have envelopes made of hard glass or fused quartz.[61]
Gas fill
Most modern bulbs are filled with an inert gas to reduce evaporation of the filament and prevent its oxidation. The gas is at a pressure of about 70 kPa (0.7 atm).[90]
The role of the gas is to prevent evaporation of the filament, but the fill must be chosen carefully to avoid introducing significant heat losses. For these properties, chemical inertness and high atomic or molecular weight is desirable. The presence of gas molecules knocks the liberated tungsten atoms back to the filament,[citation needed] reducing its evaporation and allowing it to be operated at higher temperature without reducing its life (or, for operating at the same temperature, prolongs the filament life). On the other hand, the presence of the gas leads to heat loss from the filament—and therefore efficiency loss due to reduced incandescence—by heat conduction and heat convection.
Early lamps, and some small modern lamps used only a vacuum to protect the filament from oxygen. The vacuum increases evaporation of the filament but eliminates two modes of heat loss.
The most commonly used fills are:[91]
Vacuum, used in small lamps. Provides best thermal insulation of the filament but does not protect against its evaporation. Used also in larger lamps where the outer bulb surface temperature has to be limited.
Argon (93%) and nitrogen (7%), where argon is used for its inertness, low thermal conductivity and low cost, and the nitrogen is added to increase the breakdown voltage and prevent arcing between parts of the filament [90]
Nitrogen, used in some higher-power lamps, e.g. projection lamps, and where higher breakdown voltage is needed due to proximity of filament parts or lead-in wires
Krypton, which is more advantageous than argon due to its higher atomic weight and lower thermal conductivity (which also allows use of smaller bulbs), but its use is hindered by much higher cost, confining it mostly to smaller-size bulbs.
Krypton mixed with xenon, where xenon improves the gas properties further due to its higher atomic weight. Its use is however limited by its very high cost. The improvements by using xenon are modest in comparison to its cost.
Hydrogen, in special flashing lamps where rapid filament cooling is required; its high thermal conductivity is exploited here.
The gas fill must be free of traces of water. In the presence of the hot filament, water reacts with tungsten forming tungsten trioxide and atomic hydrogen. The oxide deposits on the bulb inner surface and reacts with hydrogen, decomposing to metallic tungsten and water. Water then cycles back to the filament. This greatly accelerates the bulb blackening, in comparison with evaporation-only.
The gas layer close to the filament (called the Langmuir layer) is stagnant, with heat transfer occurring only by conduction. Only at some distance does convection occur to carry heat to the bulb's envelope.
The orientation of the filament influences efficiency. Gas flow parallel to the filament, e.g., a vertically oriented bulb with vertical (or axial) filament, reduces convective losses.
The efficiency of the lamp increases with a larger filament diameter. Thin-filament, low-power bulbs benefit less from a fill gas, so are often only evacuated.
Early lightbulbs with carbon filaments also used carbon monoxide, nitrogen, or mercury vapor. However, carbon filaments operate at lower temperatures than tungsten ones, so the effect of the fill gas was not significant as the heat losses offset any benefits.
Manufacturing
The 1902 tantalum filament light bulb was the first one to have a metal filament. This one is from 1908.
Early bulbs were laboriously assembled by hand. After automatic machinery was developed, the cost of bulbs fell. Until 1910, when Libbey's Westlake machine went into production, bulbs were generally produced by a team of three workers (two gatherers and a master gaffer) blowing the bulbs into wooden or cast-iron molds, coated with a paste.[92] Around 150 bulbs per hour were produced by the hand-blowing process in the 1880s at Corning Glass Works.[92]
The Westlake machine, developed by Libbey Glass, was based on an adaptation of the Owens-Libbey bottle-blowing machine. Corning Glass Works soon began developing competing automated bulb-blowing machines, the first of which to be used in production was the E-Machine.[92] Corning continued developing automated bulb-production machines, installing the Ribbon Machine in 1926 in its Wellsboro, Pennsylvania factory.[93] The Ribbon Machine surpassed any previous attempts to automate bulb production and was used to produce incandescent bulbs into the 21st century. The inventor, William Woods, along with his colleague at Corning Glass Works, David E. Gray, had created a machine that by 1939 was turning out 1,000 bulbs per minute.[92]
The Ribbon Machine works by passing a continuous ribbon of glass along a conveyor belt, heated in a furnace, and then blown by precisely aligned air nozzles through holes in the conveyor belt into molds. Thus the glass bulbs or envelopes are created. A typical machine of this sort can produce anywhere from 50,000 to 120,000 bulbs per hour, depending on the size of the bulb.[94][95] By the 1970s, 15 ribbon machines installed in factories around the world produced the entire supply of incandescent bulbs.[96] The filament and its supports are assembled on a glass stem, which is then fused to the bulb. The air is pumped out of the bulb, and the evacuation tube in the stem press is sealed by a flame. The bulb is then inserted into the lamp base, and the whole assembly tested. The 2016 closing of Osram-Sylvania's Wellsboro, Pennsylvania plant meant that one of the last remaining ribbon machines in the United States was shut down.[96]
Filament
The first successful light bulb filaments were made of carbon (from carbonized paper or bamboo). Early carbon filaments had a negative temperature coefficient of resistance—as they got hotter, their electrical resistance decreased. This made the lamp sensitive to fluctuations in the power supply, since a small increase of voltage would cause the filament to heat up, reducing its resistance and causing it to draw even more power and heat even further. In the "flashing" process, carbon filaments were heated by current passing through them while in an evacuated vessel containing hydrocarbon vapor (usually gasoline). The carbon deposited on the filament by this treatment improved the uniformity and strength of filaments as well as their efficiency. A metallized or "graphitized" filament was first heated in a high-temperature oven before flashing and lamp assembly. This transformed the carbon into graphite, which further strengthened and smoothed the filament. This also changed the filament to have a positive temperature coefficient, like a metallic conductor, and helped stabilize the lamp's power consumption, temperature and light output against minor variations in supply voltage.
In 1902, the Siemens company developed a tantalum lamp filament. These lamps were more efficient than even graphitized carbon filaments and could operate at higher temperatures. Since tantalum metal has a lower resistivity than carbon, the tantalum lamp filament was quite long and required multiple internal supports. The metal filament had the property of gradually shortening in use; the filaments were installed with large loops that tightened in use. This made lamps in use for several hundred hours quite fragile.[97] Metal filaments had the property of breaking and re-welding, though this would usually decrease resistance and shorten the life of the filament. General Electric bought the rights to use tantalum filaments and produced them in the US until 1913.[98]
From 1898 to around 1905, osmium was also used as a lamp filament in Europe, and the metal was so expensive that used broken lamps could be returned for partial credit.[99] It could not be made for 110 V or 220 V so several lamps were wired in series for use on standard voltage circuits.
How a tungsten filament is made
In 1904, the tungsten filament was developed by Croatian inventors Franjo Hanaman and Alexander Just.[100] Tungsten metal was initially not available in a form that allowed it to be drawn into fine wires. Filaments made from sintered tungsten powder were quite fragile. By 1910, a process was developed by William D. Coolidge at General Electric for production of a ductile form of tungsten. The process required pressing tungsten powder into bars, then several steps of sintering, swaging, and then wire drawing. It was found that very pure tungsten formed filaments that sagged in use, and that a very small "doping" treatment with potassium, silicon, and aluminium oxides at the level of a few hundred parts per million greatly improved the life and durability of the tungsten filaments.[101]
Coiled coil filament
To improve the efficiency of the lamp, the filament usually consists of multiple coils of coiled fine wire, also known as a 'coiled coil'. Light bulbs using coiled coil filaments are sometimes referred to as 'double-coil bulbs'. For a 60-watt 120-volt lamp, the uncoiled length of the tungsten filament is usually 22.8 inches (580 mm),[61] and the filament diameter is 0.0018 inches (0.046 mm). The advantage of the coiled coil is that evaporation of the tungsten filament is at the rate of a tungsten cylinder having a diameter equal to that of the coiled coil. The coiled-coil filament evaporates more slowly than a straight filament of the same surface area and light-emitting power. As a result, the filament can then run hotter, which results in a more efficient light source, while reducing the evaporation so that the filament will last longer than a straight filament at the same temperature.
There are several different shapes of filament used in lamps, with differing characteristics. Manufacturers designate the types with codes such as C-6, CC-6, C-2V, CC-2V, C-8, CC-88, C-2F, CC-2F, C-Bar, C-Bar-6, C-8I, C-2R, CC-2R, and Axial.
Electrical filaments are also used in hot cathodes of fluorescent lamps and vacuum tubes as a source of electrons or in vacuum tubes to heat an electron-emitting electrode.
Reducing filament evaporation
One of the problems of the standard electric light bulb is filament notching due to evaporation of the filament. Small variations in resistivity along the filament cause "hot spots" to form at points of higher resistivity;[62] a variation of diameter of only 1% will cause a 25% reduction in service life.[61] These hot spots evaporate faster than the rest of the filament, which increases the resistance at that point—this creates a positive feedback that ends in the familiar tiny gap in an otherwise healthy-looking filament. Irving Langmuir found that an inert gas, instead of vacuum, would retard evaporation. General service incandescent light bulbs over about 25 watts in rating are now filled with a mixture of mostly argon and some nitrogen,[102] or sometimes krypton.[103] Lamps operated on direct current develop random stairstep irregularities on the filament surface which may cut lifespan in half compared to AC operation; different alloys of tungsten and rhenium can be used to counteract the effect.[104][105]
Since a filament breaking in a gas-filled bulb can form an electric arc, which may spread between the terminals and draw very heavy current, intentionally thin lead-in wires or more elaborate protection devices are therefore often used as fuses built into the light bulb.[106] More nitrogen is used in higher-voltage lamps to reduce the possibility of arcing.
While inert gas reduces filament evaporation, it also conducts heat from the filament, thereby cooling the filament and reducing efficiency. At constant pressure and temperature, the thermal conductivity of a gas depends upon the molecular weight of the gas and the cross sectional area of the gas molecules. Higher molecular weight gasses have lower thermal conductivity, because both the molecular weight is higher and also the cross sectional area is higher. Xenon gas improves efficiency because of its high molecular weight, but is also more expensive, so its use is limited to smaller lamps.[107]
During ordinary operation, the tungsten of the filament evaporates; hotter, more-efficient filaments evaporate faster. Because of this, the lifetime of a filament lamp is a trade-off between efficiency and longevity. The trade-off is typically set to provide a lifetime of several hundred to 2,000 hours for lamps used for general illumination. Theatrical, photographic, and projection lamps may have a useful life of only a few hours, trading life expectancy for high output in a compact form. Long-life general service lamps have lower efficiency but are used where the cost of changing the lamp is high compared to the value of energy used.
If a light bulb envelope leaks, the hot tungsten filament reacts with air, yielding an aerosol of brown tungsten nitride, brown tungsten dioxide, violet-blue tungsten pentoxide, and yellow tungsten trioxide that then deposits on the nearby surfaces or the bulb interior.
Bulb blackening
In a conventional lamp, the evaporated tungsten eventually condenses on the inner surface of the glass envelope, darkening it. For bulbs that contain a vacuum, the darkening is uniform across the entire surface of the envelope. When a filling of inert gas is used, the evaporated tungsten is carried in the thermal convection currents of the gas, depositing preferentially on the uppermost part of the envelope and blackening just that portion of the envelope. An incandescent lamp that gives 93% or less of its initial light output at 75% of its rated life is regarded as unsatisfactory, when tested according to IEC Publication 60064. Light loss is due to filament evaporation and bulb blackening.[108] Study of the problem of bulb blackening led to the discovery of the Edison effect, thermionic emission and invention of the vacuum tube.
A very small amount of water vapor inside a light bulb can significantly affect lamp darkening. Water vapor dissociates into hydrogen and oxygen at the hot filament. The oxygen attacks the tungsten metal, and the resulting tungsten oxide particles travel to cooler parts of the lamp. Hydrogen from water vapor reduces the oxide, reforming water vapor and continuing this water cycle.[62] The equivalent of a drop of water distributed over 500,000 lamps will significantly increase darkening.[61] Small amounts of substances such as zirconium are placed within the lamp as a getter to react with any oxygen that may bake out of the lamp components during operation.
Some old, high-powered lamps used in theater, projection, searchlight, and lighthouse service with heavy, sturdy filaments contained loose tungsten powder within the envelope. From time to time, the operator would remove the bulb and shake it, allowing the tungsten powder to scrub off most of the tungsten that had condensed on the interior of the envelope, removing the blackening and brightening the lamp again.[109]
Halogen lamps
Close-up of a tungsten filament inside a halogen lamp. The two ring-shaped structures left and right are filament supports.
The halogen lamp reduces uneven evaporation of the filament and eliminates darkening of the envelope by filling the lamp with a halogen gas at low pressure, rather than an inert gas. The halogen cycle increases the lifetime of the bulb and prevents its darkening by redepositing tungsten from the inside of the bulb back onto the filament. The halogen lamp can operate its filament at a higher temperature than a standard gas filled lamp of similar power without loss of operating life. Such bulbs are much smaller than normal incandescent bulbs, and are widely used where intense illumination is needed in a limited space. Fiber-optic lamps for optical microscopy is one typical application.
Incandescent arc lamps
A variation of the incandescent lamp did not use a hot wire filament, but instead used an arc struck on a spherical bead electrode to produce heat. The electrode then became incandescent, with the arc contributing little to the light produced. Such lamps were used for projection or illumination for scientific instruments such as microscopes. These arc lamps ran on relatively low voltages and incorporated tungsten filaments to start ionization within the envelope. They provided the intense concentrated light of an arc lamp but were easier to operate. Developed around 1915, these lamps were displaced by mercury and xenon arc lamps.[110][111][112]
Electrical characteristics
Comparison of efficacy by power 120 volt lamps[113] 230 volt lamps[114] Power (W) Output (lm) Efficacy (lm/W) Output (lm) Efficacy (lm/W) 5 25 5 15 110 7.3 25 200 8.0 230 9.2 40 500 12.5 430 10.8 60 850 14.2 730 12.2 75 1,200 16.0 100 1,700 17.0 1,380 13.8 150 2,850 19.0 2,220 14.8 200 3,900 19.5 3,150 15.8 300 6,200 20.7 5,000 16.7 500 8,400 16.8
Power
Incandescent lamps are nearly pure resistive loads with a power factor of 1. This means the actual power consumed (in watts) and the apparent power (in volt-amperes) are equal. Incandescent light bulbs are usually marketed according to the electrical power consumed. This is measured in watts and depends mainly on the resistance of the filament, which in turn depends mainly on the filament's length, thickness, and material. For two bulbs of the same voltage, type, color, and clarity, the higher-powered bulb gives more light.
The table shows the approximate typical output, in lumens, of standard incandescent light bulbs at various powers. Light output of a 230 V version is usually slightly less than that of a 120 V version. The lower current (higher voltage) filament is thinner and has to be operated at a slightly lower temperature for same life expectancy, and that reduces energy efficiency.[115] The lumen values for "soft white" bulbs will generally be slightly lower than for clear bulbs at the same power.
Current and resistance
The actual resistance of the filament is temperature dependent. The cold resistance of tungsten-filament lamps is about 1/15 the hot-filament resistance when the lamp is operating. For example, a 100-watt, 120-volt lamp has a resistance of 144 ohms when lit, but the cold resistance is much lower (about 9.5 ohms).[61][c] Since incandescent lamps are resistive loads, simple phase-control TRIAC dimmers can be used to control brightness. Electrical contacts may carry a "T" rating symbol indicating that they are designed to control circuits with the high inrush current characteristic of tungsten lamps. For a 100-watt, 120-volt general-service lamp, the current stabilizes in about 0.10 seconds, and the lamp reaches 90% of its full brightness after about 0.13 seconds.
Physical characteristics
Bulb shapes
Incandescent light bulbs come in a range of shapes and sizes.
Incandescent light bulbs come in a range of shapes and sizes. The names of the shapes vary somewhat from region to regions. Many of these shapes have a designation consisting of one or more letters followed by one or more numbers, e.g. A55 or PAR38. The letters represent the shape of the bulb. The numbers represent the maximum diameter, either in 1⁄ 8 of an inch, or in millimeters, depending on the shape and the region. For example, 63 mm reflectors are designated R63, but in the US, they are known as R20 (2.5 in).[117] However, in both regions, a PAR38 reflector is known as PAR38.[citation needed] ANSI C79.1-2002, IS 14897:2000[118] and JIS C 7710:1988[119] cover a common terminology for bulb shapes.
Examples
description metric imperial details "standard" lightbulb A60 E26 A19 E26 ⌀60 mm (~⌀19/8") A series bulb, ⌀26 mm Edison screw[d] candle-flame bulb CA35 E12 CA11 E12 ⌀35 mm (~⌀11/8") candle-flame shape, ⌀12 mm Edison screw[d] flood light BR95 E26 BR30 E26 ⌀95 mm (~⌀30/8") flood light, ⌀26 mm Edison screw[d] halogen track-light bulb MR50 GU5.3 MR16 GU5.3 ⌀50 mm (~⌀16/8") multifaceted reflector, 5.33 mm-spaced 12 V bi-pin connector
Common shape codes
General Service Light emitted in (nearly) all directions. Available either clear or frosted. Types: General (A), Mushroom, elliptical (E), sign (S), tubular (T) 120 V sizes: A17, 19 and 21 230 V sizes: A55 and 60[e]
High Wattage General Service Lamps greater than 200 watts. Types: Pear-shaped (PS)
Decorative lamps used in chandeliers, etc. Smaller candle-sized bulbs may use a smaller socket. Types: candle (B), twisted candle, bent-tip candle (CA & BA), flame (F), globe (G), lantern chimney (H), fancy round (P) 230 V sizes: P45, G95
Reflector (R) Reflective coating inside the bulb directs light forward. Flood types (FL) spread light. Spot types (SP) concentrate the light. Reflector (R) bulbs put approximately double the amount of light (foot-candles) on the front central area as General Service (A) of same wattage. Types: Standard reflector (R), bulged reflector (BR), elliptical reflector (ER), crown-silvered 120 V sizes: R16, 20, 25 and 30 230 V sizes: R50, 63, 80 and 95[e]
Parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) Parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) bulbs control light more precisely. They produce about four times the concentrated light intensity of general service (A), and are used in recessed and track lighting. Weatherproof casings are available for outdoor spot and flood fixtures. 120 V sizes: PAR 16, 20, 30, 38, 56 and 64 230 V sizes: PAR 16, 20, 30, 38, 56 and 64 Available in numerous spot and flood beam spreads. Like all light bulbs, the number represents the diameter of the bulb in 1⁄ 8 of an inch. Therefore, a PAR 16 is 2 in in diameter, a PAR 20 is 2.5 in in diameter, PAR 30 is 3.75 in and a PAR 38 is 4.75 in in diameter.
A package of four 60 watt light bulbs
Multifaceted reflector (MR) Multifaceted reflector bulbs are usually smaller in size and run at a lower voltage, often 12 V.
Left to right: MR16 with GU10 base, MR16 with GU5.3 base, MR11 with GU4 or GZ4 base
HIR/IRC "HIR" is a GE designation for a lamp with an infrared reflective coating. Since less heat escapes, the filament burns hotter and more efficiently.[120] The Osram designation for a similar coating is "IRC".[121]
Lamp bases
40-watt light bulbs with standard E10, E14 and E27 Edison screw base
The double-contact bayonet cap on an incandescent bulb
Very small lamps may have the filament support wires extended through the base of the lamp, and can be directly soldered to a printed circuit board for connections. Some reflector-type lamps include screw terminals for connection of wires. Most lamps have metal bases that fit in a socket to support the lamp and conduct current to the filament wires. In the late 19th century, manufacturers introduced a multitude of incompatible lamp bases. General Electric introduced standard base sizes for tungsten incandescent lamps under the Mazda trademark in 1909. This standard was soon adopted across the US, and the Mazda name was used by many manufacturers under license through 1945. Today most incandescent lamps for general lighting service use an Edison screw in candelabra, intermediate, or standard or mogul sizes, or double contact bayonet base. Technical standards for lamp bases include ANSI standard C81.67 and IEC standard 60061-1 for common commercial lamp sizes, to ensure interchangeablitity between different manufacturer's products. Bayonet base lamps are frequently used in automotive lamps to resist loosening due to vibration. A bipin base is often used for halogen or reflector lamps.[122]
Lamp bases may |
to query the outcome of a previous operation.
This testing also confirmed that loose clock synchronization is necessary for CockroachDB to guarantee serializability. CockroachDB servers monitor the clock offset between them and will attempt to abort rather than return results that may be inconsistent, although this monitoring is imperfect and may not be able to react quickly enough to large clock jumps.
All CockroachDB deployments should use NTP to synchronize their system clocks. The amount of clock offset that can be tolerated is configurable. We’ve found the default of 500ms (increased since Kyle’s testing, when it was 250ms) to be reasonable in most environments, including virtualized cloud platforms. Environments with very reliable clocks may be able to reduce this setting to improve performance in some cases.
On Performance
One of the most eye-catching lines in Kyle’s report concerns performance: “For instance, on a cluster of five m3.large nodes, an even mixture of processes performing single-row inserts and selects over a few hundred rows pushed ~40 inserts and ~20 reads per second (steady-state).”
These, of course, are pitiful numbers for a database. However, it’s important to note that these numbers are not representative of what real-world applications can expect to see from CockroachDB.
First, this is a test in which the Jepsen nemesis is continuously tweaking the network configuration to cause (and heal) partitions between different nodes. You don’t commonly see behavior like this in a real world deployment.
Second, tests like these deliberately try to reach high levels of contention, in which many transactions are trying to operate on the same keys. In real-world situations contention tends to be much lower as each user is operating mainly on their own data. The performance of all transactional systems suffer under high contention (although CockroachDB’s optimistic concurrency model fares worse than most), and applications that anticipate high contention on part of their data (such as incrementing the “like” counter on a post that’s gone viral) should consider this in their schema and application design.
Continued Work
The development philosophy of Cockroach Labs has always been correctness and stability first, then performance. To that end, we’re focusing our attention now on performance, including both the kinds of high-contention transactions seen here and more typical low-contention scenarios, ahead of our 1.0 launch later this spring. We’ll have much more to say about performance in an upcoming blog post.
If building out and proving the correctness of a distributed SQL sytem sounds like your ideal Wednesday, then good news — we’re hiring! Check out our open positions here.Described in our album review in this week’s NME by John Calvert as “the UK’s most criminally underrated rock band,” Cardiff rockers Future Of The Left are back. The follow up to third album ‘The Plot Against Common Sense’ is fourteen tracks of ‘pure atomic fure and scalpel-sharp lyrics’. Here’s frontman Andrew ‘Falco’ Falkous:
Although it was not originally written and produced to be played on laptop speakers while you were booking Megabus tickets to Coventry or thinking of contributing to a forum discussion about Miley Cyrus’s arse we would like you to buy our record or, perhaps, come to one of shows (which are happening in November), and this seems as good a way as any. As you’re probably aware the album will sound best when played through a stereo system whilst looking at the artwork, which is fucking gorgeous, and I would encourage you to check it out and agree
Listen to it exclusively on NME.com below.© John Cheng
By Nick McCarvel
Kyla Ross remembers her first international elite competition very well: It was in Aracaju, Brazil, in 2009. The practice gym was outside, covered by a high tarp, and the competition gym was a bus ride – a long bus ride – away.
Many years, many gyms, and many bus rides later (including a famous one on a London double-decker), Ross has decided it’s time for her to walk away from elite gymnastics to the start the next chapter of her life.
“The past year has been a little rough,” Ross, 19, told USA Gymnastics last week. “I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries, and it hasn’t been my best year competition-wise. I tried to push through, but it was getting difficult to train. I didn’t want to go through with it if my heart wasn’t in it.”
“It” was the attempt to make back-to-back Olympic gymnastics teams, Ross having been a part of the 2012 “Fierce Five,” which won team gold at the Summer Games.
“This is the right time,” said Ross, who will join the UCLA gymnastics team when she starts there this fall. “I feel like in 2012 I was really passionate about making that Olympic team and giving it my all. I didn’t have that same feeling this year. I didn’t have the same desire. I wanted to concentrate on getting ready for college.”
In elite gymnastics, Ross will be remembered equally for her consistently clean and elegant style as much as for her quick-to-smile personality away from competition.
“Kyla is a team player; very supportive of all of us,” said fellow Olympian Jordyn Wieber, who is now the team manager at UCLA. “She was always so sweet and supportive and genuinely wanted everyone to do well. She’s one of the hardest workers I know.”
Ross has the hardware to back up such statements, too. Along with her team gold from London, she owns five World Championship medals, including the team title in 2014 when she was third in the all-around. As a senior, Ross has seven medals at the P&G Championships, most notably two silvers in the all-around, in 2013 and 2014.
© John Cheng
“The Olympics was a goal of mine, but being able to compete in London was a huge goal that I accomplished,” Ross said. “I competed at two Worlds, too. I’ve had a successful career. Going to college is the next step. I’m excited to start a new chapter of my life. I’ve been doing elite gymnastics for a while, but I’m excited for the team aspect.”
Aly Raisman was part of that London team in 2012, as well as the four-athlete team that went to Brazil in 2009. As Raisman continues her own Road to Rio, she was sad to hear that Ross won’t be trying to join her there – again.
“I’m sure it was a hard decision for her,” said Raisman. “I wanted to cry when I heard! We were in this team situation of trying to go back-to-back. I know how much she wanted it, and I know if that’s what she decided in the end, she had to follow her heart.”
Ross has been following her heart from the beginning, when she started gymnastics at the age of 3. She said she never thought the Olympics were a reality until the year prior, in 2011. At home in Southern California, Ross is eagerly awaiting her start at UCLA, where she hopes to go into bioengineering.
Gymnastics will still be a large part of her life, and she hopes her story will continue to motivate young girls to chase their own dreams – big or small.
“The biggest part of gymnastics is being passionate about it and having fun,” Ross explained. “We always wanted to enjoy what we were doing. For me, it’s about having supportive parents and coaches. It’s important to do something you love.”
The list of memories is a long one: Ross said she loved thinking back to the string of morning-show TV interviews that the “Fierce Five” did in New York after winning gold in London. Raisman recalled Ross being distraught over the team missing the band One Direction perform at the Closing Ceremony at the Olympics.
© John Cheng
“They were her favorite band at the time and it was the only time I saw Kyla distraught the whole time in London,” Raisman said, laughing. “I was like, ‘Kyla, we have Olympic gold medals around our necks. You have to let it go.’”
On a recent recruiting trip, Wieber said she and Ross were reminded by another teammate of their historic performance in London as the national anthem played at an event they attended at UCLA. Wieber, who will be a senior in the fall, looks forward to Ross becoming a Bruin.
“I can’t wait to have her here,” Wieber said. “To be back together next year in L.A., it’s going to be pretty special. I haven’t seen her much the last three or four years so I’m excited.”
Ross also remembered meeting President Obama in the Oval Office, even sitting in his chair: “Not a lot of people get to do that,” she said.
Not a lot of people get to do what Kyla Ross has in her life. And, though her journey won’t go full circle back to Brazil, Ross is happy – content, even – with her decision, and what’s to come next.
“I’m excited to be able to have more time to do things other than gymnastics,” she said. “I’m going to be really busy with school. I want to go out and meet new people. I’m going to live on campus. Those are all things I really am looking forward to.”This artist's conception shows the inner four planets of the Gliese 581 system and their host star. The large planet in the foreground is Gliese 581g, which is in the middle of the star's habitable zone and is only two to three times as massive as Earth. Some researchers aren't convinced Gliese 581g exists, however.
Every rocky planet likely develops a liquid-water ocean shortly after forming, suggesting that potentially habitable alien worlds may be common throughout the universe, a prominent scientist says.
The building blocks of rocky planets contain more than enough water to seed oceans, and computer models and Earth's own history suggest such seas should slosh around soon after these worlds' surfaces have cooled down and solidified, said Lindy Elkins-Tanton of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C.
"Habitability is going to be much more common than we had previously thought," Elkins-Tanton said today (March 18) during a talk at the 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas.
Making an early ocean
Analysis of ancient Earth rocks shows that our own planet hosted an ocean of liquid water at least 4.4 billion years ago, Elkins-Tanton said — just 160 million years or so after our solar system's birth. [9 Exoplanets That Could Host Alien Life]
This water came primarily from the planetesimals that glommed together to form Earth long ago rather than from comet impacts, as some researchers had previously believed, she added.
While comet-delivered water probably made a contribution later on, "it's not required," Elkins-Tanton said, citing studies that model planetary building blocks and how they come together. "You can make a water ocean without it."
For example, even if the pieces that built Earth contained just 0.01 percent water by weight — an extremely conservative estimate — our planet still would have harbored an early global ocean hundreds of meters deep, she said.
Such primitive oceans form in a multistep process, Elkins-Tanton explained. Water first boils out of the molten rock covering a newborn terrestrial planet heated up by accretionary impacts, creating a steamy atmosphere. This atmosphere then collapses as the planet cools, returning the water to the surface and generating an ocean.
"The ramifications of this are that, in any exoplanet system anywhere in our universe, if it's made of rocky materials with similar water contents to ours, every rocky planet would be expected to start with a water ocean," Elkins-Tanton said.
Further, models developed by Elkins-Tanton and others "all indicate that this cooling and collapse process happens on the order of 10 million years or less," she added.
That's an exciting prospect for astrobiologists, as life on Earth is found nearly anywhere liquid water exists.
Holding on to the water
Of course, forming an ocean and holding onto it are two different matters. After all, Earth's solar system hosts rocky planets — Mercury, Venus and Mars — whose surface oceans have long since disappeared, if they ever existed at all.
Alien Worlds Infographic 20"x60" Poster. Buy Here (Image: © Space.com Store)
Indeed, how some rocky worlds manage to retain their water is an area ripe for future research, Elkins-Tanton said, specifically citing the case of Venus, Earth's hellishly hot "sister planet" that veered down a very different road after its formation.
It may be tempting to ascribe the apparent dessication of rocky worlds like Venus to the giant impacts that pummeled them in our solar system's early days. But Earth held onto much of its water despite a massive collision with a Mars-size body (which is thought to have led to the formation of the moon), and data from NASA's Messenger spacecraft show that Mercury still harbors many volatile compounds, Elkins-Tanton said.
"Now if there would be a poster child for the body that should be depleted by giant impacts, that would be Mercury," Elkins-Tanton said. "Giant impacts do not dry bodies."
Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on SPACE.com.WASHINGTON — Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, sent a letter on Tuesday to Speaker Paul D. Ryan urging him to bar Republicans from using hacked documents in the campaign, arguing that “defending our democracy is more important than any advantage or disadvantage in this election.”
Ms. Pelosi, calling the hack into Democratic servers, apparently by Russians, “an unprecedented assault on the sanctity of our democratic process,” said Mr. Ryan should not condone either party using materials originating from the cybercrime.
“Democrats and Republicans must present a united front in the face of Russia’s attempts to tamper with the will of the American people,” Ms. Pelosi wrote.
Government officials have concluded that two Russian intelligence agencies, the F.S.B. and the G.R.U., are responsible for the hacking into the Democratic National Committee and the House Democratic campaign arm. Emails and other internal documents have been published by a hacker calling himself Guccifer 2.0, who is believed to be tied to the Russian intelligence agencies.Amid a difficult closing phase of the 2016 season, Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel are continuing to get a battering in the Italian media.
Pino Allievi, arguably the most respected Italian journalist in the paddock, was looking not at the Maranello team’s present but back to the past in assessing the US grand prix.
“We again saw the best from Fernando, who is limited by his McLaren,” La Gazzetta dello Sport quoted him as saying.
“There are many at Maranello who still lament his departure.”
As for Alonso’s successor, German Vettel, Gazzetta had this to say: “The performance was not bad, but he is still very far from the top, with a car that is no longer guaranteed.”
So while Vettel struggles, it is his teammate Kimi Raikkonen who is getting the praise.
“Raikkonen had Vettel behind him all the time until he was forced to retire. They had different strategies, but it was yet another convincing race” for the Finn, the authoritative sports daily added.
Corriere dello Sport, meanwhile, called Austin a “Red disaster”, saying “The light at the end of the tunnel seems far away”.
Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, however, is putting a brave face on it, insisting that while the current situation is “tough, we are strong”.
“What is happening, especially with things outside of our control, puts a strain on the b—s of anyone,” said the Italian.
“I should say shoulders: you cannot say bad words,” Corriere della Sera quoted Arrivabene as clarifying.
Also amid the ‘disaster’, Vettel keeps smiling.
“Yes, why not,” the German told Sport Bild. “A bad mood doesn’t make you better.
“I cannot be happy with the speed of the (Austin) weekend, but the positive is that we are learning so much that could be useful for next season.
“You must not forget that, first of all, we have a long term project. And we are not fighting against Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse, but very prepared opponents.
“Even if it’s a steep and bumpy road, I’m sure the day will come when we will be on top.”WASHINGTON — A glut of ethanol in the gasoline supply is threatening to push up prices at the pump and may have exacerbated the growing cost gap between regular gasoline and premium, some oil experts say.
Refiners have been trading so-called ethanol credits furiously in an effort to meet federal environmental mandates, helping to significantly push up the cost of those credits — a jump to more than $1 from a few pennies in the last several days, and drivers are feeling the effects, experts say.
Prices for premium gas are now about 30.2 cents over the price of regular, according to Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey. That is up from 24.1 cents in 2010 and 18.2 cents in 2000. Any increases could affect about a third of this year’s car models, because premium fuel is required or recommended for them, according to Edmunds.com.
Experts disagree on the reasons for a widening gap between the costs of regular and premium gas. Reasons for the ethanol surplus are even more broadly in dispute, between producers and the oil companies. Gas companies are required under federal law to blend a certain number of gallons of ethanol into the fuel. But refiners argue that some cannot reach that requirement because they are nearing or at the so-called blend wall, the maximum percentage of ethanol in gasoline that most gas stations can handle, 10 percent. They also note that is the maximum level recommended by auto manufacturers for most cars.I sold my car.
And I have no plans to buy another one.
It was a hard decision — and something of a radical one in Minnesota, where cars are a staple. In fact, it took me many months to ease out of my Subaru Impreza and to prove to myself that I really didn’t need it.
Now, two months after selling my car and nearly a year since I stopped driving it, I no longer worry about traffic or parking, my wallet is thankful, I’m in better shape and I feel much more connected to my adopted city.
So, how do I get around?
My primary modes of transportation are buses (in the winter) and bicycling (in the summer), interspersed with a lot of walking. But I credit two tools for getting me to take the plunge: car sharing and my smartphone.
Metro Transit offers bicycle riders racks on light-rail trains and buses around the metro area.
For a long time, I held onto my car because I wondered “What if?” What if I have to make a large purchase at Target or pick up a lot of groceries? What if I need to get somewhere quickly?
With expanding options from Hourcar, Zipcar, Car2Go and taxi-like services such as Lyft and UberX, I’ve discovered I can find a ride whenever I need one — as long as I have my phone with me.
The other night as I left work, for example, I checked Metro Transit’s mobile site for the arrival time of the next bus traveling down Nicollet Avenue. Within minutes, I hopped the bus from downtown to a friend’s improv show on 37th Street. Later that evening, after dinner at a nearby restaurant, I checked the same site and learned that there wasn’t another bus for an hour.
Instead of waiting, I opened another app and found that a Car2Go ride-share vehicle was just around the corner. I drove home, locked the car and left it on the street for the next Car2Go user to find. The ride cost me less than $6 — a marginal cost after subtracting the expense of maintaining a vehicle.
I had never owned a car — nor driven one for very long — before arriving in Minneapolis four years ago. In both Washington, D.C., where I had been working, and New York City, where I grew up, owning a car isn’t the norm, in part because both cities have expansive transit systems.
Knowing I’d need to have a car in Minnesota, I hired a driving instructor in Washington to help me brush up on my technique. I drove at night for the very first time when I peeled out of the dealership lot in White Bear Lake in my used car.
For a while, I was hooked on the novelty of driving. After about two years, though, I started to question my car logic.
The winter only seemed longer as I scraped off my windshield, lonelier when I was sitting alone in traffic. It was worse during our precious warm months: I yearned to be outside. Owning a car seemed limiting, and not worth the money.
“I think we’re tied to our cars so that people refuse to go to certain parts of the city because they don’t want to park, they don’t want to pay for parking or they have to leave somewhere early because their car is parked in a certain spot,” said Bill Lindeke, the carless host of the transportation-focused streets.mn podcast. “And in a way, the car sort of owns the person, instead of the other way around.”
I have no children, I live along a bus line in Uptown and work downtown, about 4 miles away. My company has a few vehicles for work-related trips during the day. Yet I was still one of 61 percent of Minneapolis residents driving to work solo.
Last spring, I bought a bike and started riding to work. Come fall, I got serious about understanding the bus system. Late this past winter, I took the Subaru to a carwash, took some photos of my car, then sold it on Craigslist.
Ride sharing
For grocery runs and trips to the suburbs, I have access to a Zipcar near my house, which must be returned to the location it was taken from. (Locally owned Hourcar has a similar model.) For short trips, I use Car2Go.
Of course, it made little sense to pay $9-$10 an hour (or about 46 cents a minute in the case of Car2Go) to rent a car when I was already paying more than $300 a month for loan payments, insurance, gas and parking for my own vehicle. Subtract my vehicle, however, and the occasional cost of car sharing has quickly become negligible.
On average, I make only two or three Car2Go trips per month, but the peace of mind of knowing the services exist is enough for me to rely on the bus system during the colder months.
Becoming a biker
MY TRANSPORTATION TOOLBOX Metro Transit Find real-time bus arrivals and bookmark most-frequent stops to your smartphone’s home page using NexTrip at MetroTransit.org. OMGTransit.com provides a similar service with a better Web interface. Google Maps is the smoothest method for routing trips (click the bus icon to seek directions). GoTo card Local city buses cost $1.75 or $2.25, depending on whether or not it is rush hour. Riders whose employers don’t participate in the Metropass program should get a GoTo card, which can be purchased at most Cub and Rainbow stores. Use the website to refill them or to arrange an automatic refill. Biking Check out tinyurl.com/TCBikeMaps for a summary of local bike routes by area. Google Maps bike directions are a helpful tool for routing on the fly. The city of Minneapolis has several instructional videos about riding in an urban area at tinyurl.com/TCBikeRules. Car2Go Use the app to locate more than 350 Smart cars scattered around Minneapolis, which can be left at any legal on-street parking spot. (No need to pay the meter.) The cost is about 46 cents a minute including tax. (Car2Go is not yet available in St. Paul.) Zipcar and Hourcar Hub-based car-sharing models for longer trips or those that involve hauling. Zipcar costs $25 to sign up, $60 a year and about $8.75 to $11 an hour to drive, depending on the vehicle. Hourcar is $5 a month for individuals and cars are $8 an hour, plus 25 cents a mile. Vehicles can also be rented by the day. Taxi Magic The high-tech way to hail a cab, Taxi Magic is a GPS-based app that connects to Blue and White Taxi and Suburban Taxi in the Twin Cities. It’s faster than phone-based dispatch, and a map displays the taxi en route to pick you up. The Minneapolis rate for Blue and White is $2.75 a mile after an initial $2.50. Lyft and UberX These new services allow people to essentially act as chauffeurs of their own, private vehicles. Lyft’s cost per ride in the Twin Cities is $1.90 a mile, 24 cents a minute, 75 cents at pickup and a $1 “trust and safety fee.” Eric Roper
The Minneapolis bike infrastructure has grown rapidly, but I’ll be the first to admit that becoming a bike commuter was a bit intimidating. It took time to determine what kind of bike to purchase, locate the best routes and learn the etiquette. (Raising your left hand to signal a right turn was a bit baffling at first.)
I’d never been that into biking, so each ride was a lesson. Google Maps bike directions were often my best guide. And only recently did I discover the wisdom of attaching saddle bags to transport groceries or hold a spare jacket.
Bike commuting requires more thought about the weather than driving does, though I can take the bus or use a bus bike rack in the event of rain — something New York City doesn’t have. Parking is plentiful and traffic — apart from stoplights — is nonexistent, especially on the side roads I frequent.
I also discovered the joy of biking down Nicollet Mall on a warm summer day as shoppers peruse the farmers market, smelling food cooking at nearby restaurants from the Midtown Greenway after a long day at work or cruising home with a friend along the Mississippi River after a night in Northeast.
Getting on board
Busing was also somewhat complicated at first. I first had to purchase a GoTo card, Metro Transit’s bus pass, at a local grocery store.
Hopping on the No. 6 outside my house to get downtown for work was easy, but what if I want to go to some obscure address outside of my normal route? Bus stops in Minneapolis provide woefully little information about where buses go. For a new user, it’s enough to keep you in your car.
“The transit system works reasonably well if you’re going to go downtown, or to one of the downtowns,” said Prof. David Levinson, a transportation expert at the University of Minnesota. “There’s relatively fewer cross-connections. So if you’re not going to downtown, but you want to go from Point A to Point B, Car2Go might very well be faster.”
To plan my routes, I turned to Google Maps again, but its app only uses scheduled bus arrival times. For real-time data, I rely on a combination of Metro Transit’s NextTrip (a valuable, if somewhat cumbersome, mobile site) and a similar but more user-friendly tool created by local developers called OMGTransit.com.
Are there hiccups with taking the bus? Sure. While Metro Transit is expanding nighttime and weekend service (a 3.9 percent increase in off-peak service last year), missing an off-peak bus can still leave you stranded.
Is it colder waiting for the bus? Yes. But it was a lot warmer after I bought a better coat, wore long underwear and wrapped my head in a scarf.
Taking the bus helped me discover something rare in the Twin Cities: a public environment where strangers occasionally talk to each other.
“What’s the most interesting building you’ve seen in the Twin Cities?” a woman asked me recently after seeing a book about local architecture sitting on my lap. On another occasion, a man sitting next to me read an article in my newspaper over my shoulder about icy roads and snarled traffic. “You wouldn’t know it on here!” he said to me matter-of-factly.
Bus interactions aren’t always this pleasant, particularly when alcohol is involved, but observing and encountering a variety of people on a daily basis is one of the things that makes city life so interesting.
Not for everyone
Going carless isn’t for everyone, of course. I happen to live along a transit corridor and not far from where I work. Many people in the Twin Cities have long commutes to and from the suburbs and rely on their cars to get their children to the soccer game and the orthodontist.
“Kids plus no car seems like a Triple Lindy level of difficulty,” one Twitter follower told me when I asked about managing without a car.
Not everyone has the mobility to ride a bike, and the bus system isn’t convenient if you work in a location that’s off the beaten track.
“A lot of it just depends on how you arrange your life,” said Levinson, whose five-member family owns one car. “In the city it is very different than in the suburbs because there’s a lot more choices in the city itself. I think that it [being without a car] is certainly more possible now because of Car2Go than it was previously. Places that were accessible by transit, but inconveniently, are now less inconvenient.”
But for some urban families, the growing number of transportation options may mean the ability to get rid of a car — or even two.
They just might find — as I did — the many intangible benefits to becoming car-free.
Twitter: @StribRoperNEWARK — The jury in the Newark schoolyard murder trial went home for the day this affternoon, two hours after having started deliberations.
The panel will resume Thursday morning. The judge excused the eight-man, four-woman jury at about 4 p.m. today because of the inclement weather, with snow blowing horizontally outside.
The defendant, Gerardo Gomez, is the last of six men and boys charged with killing three college-aged friends and wounding a fourth in the Mount Vernon School playground on Aug. 4, 2007. The victims were all shot execution-style in the head.
The murder trial in Superior Court in Newark is now in its sixth week, having been interrupted by Hurricane Sandy and Tuesday's presidential election. Closing arugments were Monday.
Related coverage:
• Defense recalls witness' revenge letter in Newark schoolyard shooting closing statement
• Defense for man charged in Newark schoolyard killings rests without calling a witness
• Witness says last defendant in Newark schoolyard killings pointed gun at victim
• Confessed accomplice in Newark schoolyard killings testifies last defendant was gang memberAn Academic Study Of Connecting With Fans & Giving Them A Reason To Buy
from the cwf+rtb dept
That these three factors may be partially responsible for the strong relationship between fan and artist in the case of Nine Inch Nails, is made all the more plausible in light of the findings of another qualitative study, by Saarikallio and Erkkila (2007), who explored the role of music in adolescents’ mood regulation. Seven unique regulatory strategies were identified, including solace, where particular attention is paid to lyrics - often in isolation. The authors noted that participants identified with the lyrics, and felt that the songwriter had faced up to feelings, worries and experiences similar to their own, helping them to connect with the artist. Given Reznor’s often dark lyrics and relatively narrow lyrical palette principally concerning themes of isolation, abandonment, loss and belongingness, it is likely the lyrics of Nine Inch Nails are a fundamental attraction to Reznor’s music. His naked lyrics help form a unique relationship with adolescents in particular, with consequent influence on consumer purchasing behaviours via age-based musical preferences. Furthermore, by engaging with Reznor, fans are ultimately drawn to him on a more personal level where reciprocity is more likely to be carried out. To this end, elusive superstars such as Madonna are perhaps more likely to suffer from piracy where blogging, fanclubs with exclusive interviews etc are likely means for musicians to help create a way of allowing their fans to engage with them on a more personal level, leading to reciprocal behaviour.
Reciprocity forms the basis of Shultz’s (2006) research into jambands; defined as bands whose live sets include much improvisation and variation and who allow their fans to record their live shows, copying and distributing them freely. The phrase is befitting for Grunge veterans Pearl Jam, who have been offering fans soundboard quality recordings of their live shows since 2000. These ‘unofficial bootlegs’ provide fans with documents of their live concert experiences, where as Masnick (2009) stated, live music is the ultimate form of connecting with fans and providing them with a reason to buy. Exploring the success of Tori Amos’ use of ‘official bootlegs’, Farrugia and Gobbato (2010) argue that Amos’ efforts at personalising each show increases the perceived value of each recording to those who were there. Amos and Powers (2005) note for example how throughout the 2005 Beekeeper tour Amos solicited fan requests for cover songs via her website, performing at least two of her fan requests. This level of interaction helps crystallise the importance of the relationship between fan and artist in creating a successful working relationship, adhering to supply and demand traditions, and subsequently increasing the likelihood to purchase hard copies of live music documents.
Such recordings can of course be easily obtained illegally for free and many fans are likely to do so, without affecting ticket sales. Those who do pay for them are the hardcore fans who enjoy bootlegs (Naghavi & Schulze, 2001) and circulation of their live recordings both legally and otherwise form part of the reciprocal relationship between artist and fan. In Shultz’s (2006, p. 657) words ‘the music industry thus needs to think in terms of building loyal communities that have reciprocal relationships with artists rather than simply moving physical products into the hands of consumers’.
Nearly four years ago, I gave a presentation at the Midem music industry conference, called How Trent Reznor & Nine Inch Nails Represent the Future of the Music Business Model, in which we first discussed the concept of CwF+RtB=$$$ -- or how Connecting with Fans plus giving them a Reason to Buy was the future model. While some are incorrectly suggesting that Reznor's recent decision to work with a major label somehow takes away from that point, I've yet to see any example of how he's no longer connecting with fans or giving them a reason to buy -- or how that's become any less important for musicians (or other creative artists) these days.Either way, I found it interesting to hear that Steven Brown, a student at Glasgow Caledonian University, has taken that presentation and published an academic article about it in the Empirical Musicology Review, entitled Artist autonomy in a digital era: The case of Nine Inch Nails. The paper goes through my presentation and looks at related academic research to see if there's support for the theories I discussed. I don't necessarily agree with everything stated, but it is interesting to try to put it all into the context of academia. Here's a snippet:Interestingly, the paper (obviously written prior to Reznor's recent announcement) notes that the research suggests different strategies at different times in a band's development -- and wonders what sort of distribution model Reznor would choose for his new projects. No matter what, it's great to discover a number of academic studies related to these topics that I had not yet seen. I'll have to spend some time digging through them.
Filed Under: connect with fans, reasons to buy, trent reznorMany pain patients are worried the guidelines could further restrict their access to opioid pain medications. The CDC has also been criticized for a lack of transparency in developing the guidelines and for seeking little public input.
In a letter to CDC Director Tom Frieden, the American Cancer Society called for the guidelines’ development to be suspended until numerous issues are addressed.
“We believe the proposed guidelines have the potential to significantly limit cancer patient access to needed pain medicines. We have concerns about the lack of evidence on which the guidelines were based, the methodology used to develop the guidelines, and the transparency of the entire process,” wrote Christopher Hansen, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
“Our concerns are so serious that we cannot endorse the proposed guidelines in any way and suggest suspending the process until the methodological flaws are corrected and more evidence is available to support prescribing recommendations.”
Hansen’s letter was also addressed to Debra Houry, MD, Director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which is developing of the guidelines.
In an email Monday to a “Stakeholders Review Group” composed mainly of physician organizations, Houry invited the groups to listen to a conference call on October 21 to update them on the drafting of the guidelines.
“As a reminder, the recommendations in the document you reviewed are pre-decisional, draft, and confidential. We ask that you refrain from sharing them widely at this point because they are not yet final, will change based on the feedback we received through the various comment processes, and we do not want clinicians to refer to the guidelines until we complete the peer review, revisions, and clearance process,” Houry wrote.
Secrecy had surrounded the development of the guidelines from the beginning and continues today. Only a summary of the guidelines is available on a CDC website and the agency is no longer accepting public comments on them.
Even the number of public comments the agency has received about the guidelines is unclear. In her email to stakeholders, Houry said there were “more than 250 comments.” But Pain News Network was told there were “more than 1,200 comments from patients, health care professionals, and members of organizations.”
When asked to explain the discrepancy, a CDC spokesperson said the agency had actually received just 167 emails during the public comment period, “but note that this is just the number of emails and doesn’t necessarily equate with the number of comments incorporated within each of the email messages.”
As many as 11.5 million Americans are on long term opioid therapy. The American Cancer Society called on the CDC to give those patients and the public a better chance to review and comment on the guidelines.
“We have concerns that the attempts to solicit public input on the draft guidelines were cursory and did not allow adequate opportunity for thoughtful responses. While a public webinar was held to discuss the recommended guidelines, it was not well advertised and many interested parties were denied access because the webinar lacked sufficient capacity,” Hansen wrote in his letter to the CDC.
As Pain News Network has reported, over 50 invitations to the webinar were sent to groups representing physicians, insurance companies, pharmacists, anti-addiction advocacy groups and other special interests. Only two patient advocacy groups – the American Cancer Society and the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) – were invited.
“U.S. Pain Foundation was disappointed to have learned that the CDC drafted the proposed pres |
the mountains to avoid the terrible transactions of the Christians.
And the Christians attacked them with buffets and beatings, until finally they laid hands on the nobles of the villages. Then they behaved with such temerity and shamelessness that the most powerful ruler of the islands had to see his own wife raped by a Christian officer.
From that time onward the Indians began to seek ways to throw the Christians out of their lands. They took up arms, but their weapons were very weak and of little service in offense and still less in defense. (Because of this, the wars of the Indians against each other are little more than games played by children.) And the Christians, with their horses and swords and pikes began to carry out massacres and strange cruelties against them. They attacked the towns and spared neither the children nor the aged nor pregnant women nor women in childbed, not only stabbing them and dismembering them but cutting them to pieces as if dealing with sheep in the slaughter house. They laid bets as to who, with one stroke of the sword, could split a man in two or could cut off his head or spill out his entrails with a single stroke of the pike. They took infants from their mothers' breasts, snatching them by the legs and pitching them headfirst against the crags or snatched them by the arms and threw them into the rivers, roaring with laughter and saying as the babies fell into the water, "Boil there, you offspring of the devil!" Other infants they put to the sword along with their mothers and anyone else who happened to be nearby. They made some low wide gallows on which the hanged victim's feet almost touched the ground, stringing up their victims in lots of thirteen, in memory of Our Redeemer and His twelve Apostles, then set burning wood at their feet and thus burned them alive. To others they attached straw or wrapped their whole bodies in straw and set them afire. With still others, all those they wanted to capture alive, they cut off their hands and hung them round the victim's neck, saying, "Go now, carry the message," meaning, Take the news to the Indians who have fled to the mountains. They usually dealt with the chieftains and nobles in the following way: they made a grid of rods which they placed on forked sticks, then lashed the victims to the grid and lighted a smoldering fire underneath, so that little by little, as those captives screamed in despair and torment, their souls would leave them....
After the wars and the killings had ended, when usually there survived only some boys, some women, and children, these survivors were distributed among the Christians to be slaves. The repartimiento or distribution was made according to the rank and importance of the Christian to whom the Indians were allocated, one of them being given thirty, another forty, still another, one or two hundred, and besides the rank of the Christian there was also to be considered in what favor he stood with the tyrant they called Governor. The pretext was that these allocated Indians were to be instructed in the articles of the Christian Faith. As if those Christians who were as a rule foolish and cruel and greedy and vicious could be caretakers of souls! And the care they took was to send the men to the mines to dig for gold, which is intolerable labor, and to send the women into the fields of the big ranches to hoe and till the land, work suitable for strong men. Nor to either the men or the women did they give any food except herbs and legumes, things of little substance. The milk in the breasts of the women with infants dried up and thus in a short while the infants perished. And since men and women were separated, there could be no marital relations. And the men died in the mines and the women died on the ranches from the same causes, exhaustion and hunger. And thus was depopulated that island which had been densely populated.
By Bartoleme de Las Casas
1542
From History is a WeaponChildren from the United States do not score well on international math tests. The gap grows as students get older, suggesting that our educational system is the problem. But how little math do US students know? A fascinating recent article (Richland, Stigler, & Holyoak, 2012) paints a sobering picture. It may also suggest an avenue for improvement.
These studies examined community college students who, like the majority of community college students, placed into a remedial math class. This is an interesting group because they mostly graduated from high school, they passed their required math classes, and they decided to go to college. It is also a large group; there were 13 million community college students (as of 2009).
The most interesting thing about the new research is that students were not tested using traditional measures of mathematical ability. You can do well on many traditional tests if you have memorized enough mathematical procedures (e.g., how to compute the third angle of a triangle if you know the first two). But this test was different. The students were tested on very basic conceptual knowledge, like what addition really is. For example, a student could know the procedure for multiplying fractions without having a conceptual what a fraction is—or even what multiplication is. These new studies checked to see whether students understood things like the meaning of fractions and multiplication.
The Richland et al. (2012) article reports a string of shocking findings gleaned from two other recent articles (Givvin et al., 2011; Stigler et al., 2010). Two of the questions assessed whether or not students understand what a fraction is.
Students were shown a number line from -2 to 2 and asked to draw a line marking the approximate location of two numbers: -0.7 and 13/8. Percentage who answered correctly: 21%.
Students were asked "If a is a positive whole number, which is greater: a/5 or a/8?" Fifty percent would answer correctly if they just guessed. Percentage who answered correctly: 53%.
If you’ve been assuming high school graduates fully understand how fractions work, these results say otherwise. Some fell back on procedural knowledge, probably because that’s the only knowledge they had about fractions. For example, seeing two fractions near each other apparently triggered an urge in some students to use the cross-multiplication procedure they had memorized.
Another question looked at whether the students understood addition.
In an interview one student was asked if he could think of a way to check whether 462+253 = 715. He smartly subtracted 253 from 715 and came out with 462. So far so good. But when he was asked whether he could have subtracted 462 from 715 instead, he said he did not think so. He had been told in school to subtract the second number from the bigger number, not the first. It appears he was just following a memorized script.
Another set of questions checked to see whether students would take advantage of between problems to find easy solutions. For example, the students were asked to solve the following set of problems:
10 × 3 = 10 × 13 = 20 × 13 = 30 × 13 = 31 × 13 = 29 × 13 = 22 × 13 =
Once you solve the problem two, problem three becomes easier; just multiply the answer by 2. Similarly, the answer to problem five is the answer to problem four plus 13. Yet 77% of the students never took advantage of any of these relationships and simply did the multiplication for each problem. They made errors in the processes that could have been caught with a cursory inspection and some very basic conceptual knowledge. Here are one student’s answers (Givven et al., 2011):
10 × 3 = 30 10 × 13 = 130 20 × 13 = 86 30 × 13 = 120 31 × 13 = 123 29 × 13 = 116 22 × 13 = 92
Math as rules versus math as a system
Many of these students do not fully understand how a fraction works, how addition works, or the fact that different problems can relate to each other. So the question becomes why? And what can be done?
One of the most enlightening questions the students were asked was not a math problem. They were asked (Givven et al., 2011) what it means to be good at mathematics. Here are some of their responses (quoting Richland et al., 2012):
“Math is just all these steps.”
“In math, sometimes you have to just accept that that’s the way it is and there’s no reason behind it.”
“I don’t think [being good at math] has anything to do with reasoning. It’s all memorization.”
In all, 77% of the students seemed to believe that math was not something that could be figured out, or that made sense. It was just a set of procedures and rules to be memorized. This is, of course, exactly the opposite of true.
Where did they get this? Their teachers did not believe it—in fact, the faculty members who taught these students were shocked and distressed to learn about this result.
Still, the students probably develop the belief that math is all memorization in their classrooms. The second part of Richland et al.’s (2012) article deals with improving mathematical. It suggests that students do not see mathematics as a logical system because their teachers do not present it that way. In particular, if the teachers did a better of pointing out connections between mathematical concepts, the students would develop a deeper understanding of what they are learning.
International differences in instruction
The TIMSS video studies were a landmark in educational research. These studies involved videotaping and coding teacher and student behaviors in hundreds of mathematics classrooms around the world. These studies were used to identify variables that predicted success. Many of the obvious variables were not predictive, including teaching primarily by lecturing versus group work, or using abstract versus real-world problems.
When the researchers broke problem-solving activities down into procedural activities and conceptual activities, they expected to find that the higher performing countries engaged in more conceptual problem solving. They found no such difference. But then they took a second step. They coded the data based on whether the teachers made the conceptual problems easier by converting them, for the students, in to procedural problems.
Looked at this way, it became clear that the US was an outlier (as was Australia, the only other low-performing nation in the study). Teachers in the US almost always converted challenging conceptual problems into procedural problems. In doing so, they did exactly the wrong thing. According to a seminal study by Hiebert and Grouws (2007) the two features of instruction that predict good math outcomes are
Being explicit about the conceptual structure, and interconnectedness, of mathematics Allowing students to struggle to understand mathematical concepts.
By converting conceptual struggle into procedural learning, US math teaches were unintentionally depriving their students of two crucial elements of effective learning.
This finding helps make sense of the community college students’ lack of conceptual understanding. They have been taught in a way that deprives them of the chance to work through the concepts they are being taught. No wonder they see math as an exercise in memorization. All too often, that is how it is presented. And given the way we test students, memorizing mathematical procedures will get you a decent grade, and for most students that’s the bottom-line.
These results are promising one way: they suggest that US students might be able to do a lot better in math if they can develop a basic conceptual understanding. It’s not like they need to be taught general relativity. The concepts are learnable. On the other hand, teaching mathematical concept is deceptively difficult. Teachers need high quality training, and more research (and funding) is needed to make that happen.
Follow me on Twitter.
References
Hiebert, J. C., & Grouws, D. A. (2007). The effects of classroom mathematics teaching on students’ learning. In F. K. Lester, Jr. (Ed.), Second handbook of research on mathematics teaching and learning (Vol. 1, pp. 371–404). New York, NY: Information Age.
Givvin, K. B., Stigler, J. W., & Thompson, B. J. (2011). What community college developmental mathematics students understand about mathematics, Part II: The interviews. The MathAMATYC Educator, 2(3), 4–18.
Richland, L. E., Stigler, J. W., & Holyoak, K. J. (2012). Teaching the conceptual structure of mathematics. Educational Psychologist, 47(3), 189–203. doi:10.1080/00461520.2012.667065
Stigler, J. W., Givvin, K. B., & Thompson, B. (2010). What community college developmental mathematics students understand about mathematics. The MathAMATYC Educator, 10, 4–16.It’s the experience that counts, right?
Of the many things to collect in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, there’s a thing called Korok Seeds. There are 900 of them, hidden in all of the game’s locations.
They’re a bit tricky to find, but because there are quite a lot of them, most players are nowhere near done collecting all of them. You exchange Korok Seeds for more inventory space with NPC character Hestu.
Spoilers to follow.
But what happens when you actually have every last one of them? Well, as Reddit user xFateAwaitsx discovered, is probably not worth the trouble.
As you can see in the screenshot above, Hestu’s gift, the item you get for collecting all 900 Korok Seeds is the closest thing we have to a piece of shit in the Zelda universe. It’s shaped like one, and the game confirms it smells bad, so there.This is the short film ADAM: Part 3 from Neill Blomkamp and Oats Studios.
Blomkamp and Oats Studios have partnered with Unity Technologies to direct the next installments of the ADAM franchise. This is the second short film that they have done for Unity, with the first being Adam: The Mirror. The first ADAM short film was released in 2016. Unity Technologies is the creator of the world's most popular creation engine, with the ADAM short films being used to demonstrate the technical abilities and innovations that Unity is capable of. Check out the synopsis and short film below.
"Created and produced by Blomkamp’s OATS Studios using the latest version of Unity 2017, these short films showcase the power of working within an integrated real-time environment – empowering the team to build, texture, animate, light, and render all in Unity to deliver high-quality graphics at a fraction of the cost and time of a normal film production cycle."One Twitter user posted this picture of Kumbuka before his escape. Pic: Rob Hogan
A gorilla who sparked a lockdown at London Zoo when he escaped from his enclosure spent some of his freedom downing five litres of undiluted blackcurrant squash.
Armed police were called in and visitors were cleared from the area after Kumbuka's "opportunistic" escape at dinner time last week.
The 29st primate had been called for his food just after 5pm on 13 October and went through two doors that had been left unlocked before coming face-to-face with the zookeeper.
Professor David Field, ZSL London Zoo's zoological director, said the two had an "incredibly close bond", adding: "The zookeeper was able to continually reassure Kumbuka, talking to him calmly and in the same light-hearted tone he would always use, as he removed himself from the area."
Staff then raised the alarm as the 18-year-old western lowland gorilla explored the zookeeper's area, which was next door to his enclosure.
Seemingly oblivious to the commotion outside, he then opened and drank the bottles of blackcurrant squash.
Prof Field added: "Kumbuka was immediately contained in the non-public area by quick-thinking zookeepers responding to the alarm, where he was tranquilised and moved back to his den."
He said: "I can certainly tell you that there were no broken locks.
"Kumbuka did not smash any windows, he was never 'on the loose'."
The day after the incident, there were calls for an inquiry into what had happened, with the Born Free Foundation saying it was a "startling reminder" of how dangerous wild animals could be when kept in captivity.
Chris Draper, associate director at the foundation, said: "This incident could have ended very differently."
Zoologist Sasha Norris told Sky News that the escape raised questions over the "respect and privacy" given to gorillas kept in zoos.
She said: "What most gorilla enclosures have across the world is glass, where people can see the gorillas but the gorillas can also see the people.
"It has been suggested that these gorillas should have privacy."
She added: "It is a very unnatural position for gorillas to be viewed by people constantly, millions of people over the years that they live there.
"The zoo is a living ark but perhaps we need to view zoos in that light, rather than entertainment for people to go and laugh at."Fantasy booking is every wrestler and wrestling fan's right, so Aries is asked the inevitable question of who he was particularly interested in working for in WWE and NXT. Interestingly enough, Aries starts by saying he isn't the sort of guy to have favourites, not a favourite ice cream, not a favourite colour, nothing.
Of course the answers come, and of the men that Aries is yet to work with Finn Balor sits pretty at the top of the list. The two are of similar styles and skill-sets, and with Balor at the top of the NXT food table this desire makes sense. An Aries/Balor match would certainly be one that many were interested in seeing.
Regarding the main roster, once the typical Triple H answer is done and out the way Chris Jericho's name comes up again. The reasoning is similar to Balor, of style and skill-sets and personality. Aries would also like to work more with Seth Rollins, with whom he worked extensively in Ring of Honor.Why Compiler Warnings are Your Friends
By Alex Allain
Catch Bugs Before Testing The great thing about compiler warnings is that they are often indicators of future bugs that you would otherwise see only at runtime. For instance, if you see your compiler complaining about an "assignment in conditional" then it might mean that you've written if ( x = 5 ) //uh oh, x = 5 will evaluate to the value 5, which is always true { /*... */ } when what you really meant was if ( x == 5 ) { /*... */ } You might have figured this out when your code always entered the if statement, but you wouldn't have known exactly why it was doing that. Maybe x wasn't being set properly (for instance, it might have been uninitialized). A scarier situation is one in which you never actually tested that branch of the if statement when x wasn't equal to five. This means that you would have a bug sitting in your code after you thought it was done. So the compiler warning both tells you exactly what is wrong and alerts you to a problem you might never have found!
Just for fun, here's an even more compelling example of when you'd have trouble finding the bug during testing. if ( x = 0 ) { std::cout << "x is zero!"; } Since x would generally not equal zero, the if statement generally wouldn't be expected to execute. Now, since x = 0 evaluates to false, this statement will always be false. If you never test the situation where x actually is 0, then you won't notice that the body of the if statement never executes. Catch Bugs that are Hard to Find in Testing Compilers will always warn you about things that might be difficult to find during testing. For example, your compiler can warn you that you are using an uninitialized variable; this can be hard to find in testing if you declare your variable far from the spot you first use it. (Note that "using" an uninitialized variable simply means getting its value; it's perfectly fine to initialize it. In fact, that's the solution to the problem.)
Another insidious bug is forgetting to return a value from a function. Sometimes this can be tricky to spot even once your compiler points it out. This might happen when your function has multiple paths through the code and most of them return a value; it's left up to you to find the one that doesn't. int searchArray(int to_search[], int len, int to_find) { int i; for( i = 0; i < len; ++i ) { if ( to_search[i] == to_find ) { return i; } } } Notice that most of the time, this function will return a value. It's only when the value isn't in the array that you wouldn't find it. This bug can be hard to spot in later testing both because this may be an uncommon occurrence and because the results of not returning a value when one is expected can be extremely weird. For instance, you might get a valid index of the array, or you might get something way too big (more likely). In either case, the problems in the running program wouldn't appear in the function at all. Lessons to Take Away While you've picked up a few tips for combating compiler warnings, the real message here should be the mindset you should have--catch bugs as early as possible, and take advantage of your tools, like the compiler, that tell you exactly where problems are before you discover something mysterious during testing. Sometimes there may be no need for you to set your compiler to fail on any warnings, but if you use automated scripts for building your program or tend to ignore the compiler unless it fails, then this might be a useful thing to do. You'll have to look at your compiler documentation for exactly how to set this up; on gcc and g++, all you need to use is the -Werror flag ("treat warnings as errors").
Furthermore, if you don't understand what a compiler warning means, it's probably best to trust that the compiler is telling you something valuable. I've had experiences where I was convinced that my code was correct and wasn't entirely sure what the compiler could be complaining about. But after investigating my compiler's complaints, I realized I had made a subtle mistake in a boolean expression that would have been nearly impossible to hone in on when debugging--it was much easier to catch the mistake while the code was fresh in my mind code rather than hours or possibly days later when I might (with luck) have found the bug due to the mistake. Related articles
Tips and tricks from combating compiler and linker errors
Read more about the compiling and linking process Even if you've fixed every compiler error and linker error your compiler gives you, it may still give you "warnings" (the cheeky bastard). These warnings won't keep your code from compiling (unless you ask the compiler to treat warnings as errors), and you might be tempted to just ignore them. There are, however, some good reasons not to do so. In doing so, I'll also cover some specific examples of the types of warnings you might face, what they mean, and how to fix them.The great thing about compiler warnings is that they are often indicators of future bugs that you would otherwise see only at runtime. For instance, if you see your compiler complaining about an "assignment in conditional" then it might mean that you've writtenwhen what you really meant wasYou might have figured this out when your code always entered the if statement, but you wouldn't have known exactly why it was doing that. Maybe x wasn't being set properly (for instance, it might have been uninitialized). A scarier situation is one in which you never actually tested that branch of the if statement when x wasn't equal to five. This means that you would have a bug sitting in your code after you thought it was done. So the compiler warning both tells you exactly what is wrong and alerts you to a problem you might never have found!Just for fun, here's an even more compelling example of when you'd have trouble finding the bug during testing.Since x would generally not equal zero, the if statement generally wouldn't be expected to execute. Now, since x = 0 evaluates to false, this statement will always be false. If you never test the situation where x actually is 0, then you won't notice that the body of the if statement never executes.Compilers will always warn you about things that might be difficult to find during testing. For example, your compiler can warn you that you are using an uninitialized variable; this can be hard to find in testing if you declare your variable far from the spot you first use it. (Note that "using" an uninitialized variable simply means getting its value; it's perfectly fine to initialize it. In fact, that's the solution to the problem.)Another insidious bug is forgetting to return a value from a function. Sometimes this can be tricky to spot even once your compiler points it out. This might happen when your function has multiple paths through the code and most of them return a value; it's left up to you to find the one that doesn't.Notice that most of the time, this function will return a value. It's only when the value isn't in the array that you wouldn't find it. This bug can be hard to spot in later testing both because this may be an uncommon occurrence and because the results of not returning a value when one is expected can be extremely weird. For instance, you might get a valid index of the array, or you might get something way too big (more likely). In either case, the problems in the running program wouldn't appear in the function at all.While you've picked up a few tips for combating compiler warnings, the real message here should be the mindset you should have--catch bugs as early as possible, and take advantage of your tools, like the compiler, that tell you exactly where problems are before you discover something mysterious during testing. Sometimes there may be no need for you to set your compiler to fail on any warnings, but if you use automated scripts for building your program or tend to ignore the compiler unless it fails, then this might be a useful thing to do. You'll have to look at your compiler documentation for exactly how to set this up; on gcc and g++, all you need to use is the -Werror flag ("treat warnings as errors").Furthermore, if you don't understand what a compiler warning means, it's probably best to trust that the compiler is telling you something valuable. I've had experiences where I was convinced that my code was correct and wasn't entirely sure what the compiler could be complaining about. But after investigating my compiler's complaints, I realized I had made a subtle mistake in a boolean expression that would have been nearly impossible to hone in on when debugging--it was much easier to catch the mistake while the code was fresh in my mind code rather than hours or possibly days later when I might (with luck) have found the bug due to the mistake.Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Wednesday that he's "amazed" a federal judge from "an island in the Pacific," specifically Hawaii, could block President Trump's immigration order.
"I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the president of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and constitutional power," Sessions said on the Mark Levin Show Wednesday night.
Trump has issued two immigration orders that would have banned people from certain Muslim-majority countries from coming to the United States temporarily. However, federal judges have struck down both orders.
Sessions was 12 years old when Hawaii became a U.S. state in 1959.
According to a CNN transcript of the interview, Sessions believed the decisions were made by judges who are more intent on making law than following it.
"The judges don't get to psychoanalyze the president to see if the order he issues is lawful. It's either lawful or it's not," Sessions said.
"I think that it will be real important for America to have judges in the model of Judge [Neil] Gorsuch and [the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin] Scalia, people who serve under the law, under the Constitution, not above it, and they are faithful to the law," he said. "They honor it and don't try to remake it as they'd like it to be."
Sessions also seemed to lay the groundwork for a defense for possibly losing an appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court. Judges in the court upheld a lower court ruling blocking Trump's first executive order.
"We've got cases moving in the very, very liberal Ninth Circuit, who, they've been hostile to the order," he said. "We won a case in Virginia recently that was a nicely-written order that just demolished, I thought, all the arguments that some of the other people have been making. We are confident that the president will prevail on appeal and particularly in the Supreme Court, if not the Ninth Circuit."
Mr. Attorney General: You voted for that judge. And that island is called Oahu. It's my home. Have some respect. https://t.co/sW9z3vqBqG — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) April 20, 2017
Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat, slammed Sessions' dismissal of Hawaii as "an island in the Pacific" by reminding him that he voted for the judge when he was a senator.
"Mr. Attorney General: You voted for that judge. And that island is called Oahu. It's my home. Have some respect," he said.
Hey Jeff Sessions, this #IslandinthePacific has been the 50th state for going on 58 years. And we won’t succumb to your dog whistle politics — Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) April 20, 2017
Sen. Mazie Hirono, another Democrat, called Sessions' comment "dog whistle politics."
"Hey Jeff Sessions, this #IslandinthePacific has been the 50th state for going on 58 years. And we won't succumb to your dog whistle politics," she said.Nexus 4 owners, don't lose hope. Though your 2012 Google phone was cruelly looked over for the developer preview builds of Android L (along with everything that wasn't a Nexus 7 2013 or Nexus 5), sharp-eyed Google+ users have spotted two different Google employees posting on the Chromium section of code.google.com claiming to use the Nexus 4 with Android L. Check out this entry from a contributor with a Chromium.org email address, explicitly using the "LRW52G" build of Android on his or her N4. The latest N5 build of Android L is LRW66E.
That gives us some real hope that Android L will be making it to the current penultimate Nexus, along with the initial partial support from the AOSP code released in July. Of course, it isn't written in stone. Just because Google employees have an "official" build for the N4 doesn't mean that we'll see it at launch - after all, they could simply be evaluating it for hardware viability. But Google has already committed to updating the new Android One devices to the next major release of the OS, and those phones are considerably underpowered compared to the Nexus 4.
Based on that admittedly anecdotal evidence, I'd say that an update to Lemon Meringue Pie (or whatever the next Android version is called) is more than likely. We're expecting a full Android L rollout and at least one new Nexus device before the end of this year.
Source: Code.google.com 1, 2 via Adalberto Hernandez and Alex Vainshtein-
The dll loader version does not work with Mod Organizer. You must install via NMM, manually or use the SKSE64 version.
-
-
REQUIRES THE LATEST VERSION OF MY DLL LOADER TO BE INSTALLED IF YOU ARE NOT USING SKSE64!
LINK HERE (DLL LOADER)
LINK HERE (SKSE64)
-
What is this?
NOTE!
How to install
Install my Dll Loader manually -OR- SKSE64. Install this mod via NMM. Refer to THIS IMAGE to make sure it's installed correctly. Play!
How to uninstall
Uninstall via NMM.
How to install (MANUALLY)
Install my Dll Loader manually -OR- SKSE64. Copy the Plugins & SKSE folder to Skyrim SE's Data folder (SKSE folder is only required if you are not using my dll loader). Refer to THIS IMAGE to make sure it's installed correctly. Play!
How to uninstall (MANUALLY)
Delete: Data\Plugins\AchievementsModsEnabler.dll
Data\Plugins\AchievementsModsEnabler.ini
Data\Plugins\AchievementsModsEnabler.dll_Exports.txt
Data\SKSE\Plugins\AchievementsModsEnablerLoader.dll
Options
How do I know if it's working?
AchievementsModsEnabler.log.
YES
NO
Will it need updating?
Tested & working versions w/ 1.0.0.8+:
NOTES
Achievements are baked into the saves. So any achievement that you would of gotten most likely won't be obtainable unless you load an earlier save or start again.
Sometimes after installing this your saves appear to disappear. This is due to how Bethesda sorts saves. Select "Show all saves" and they will appear.
This is not available for consoles because it requires patching the game in-memory upon startup which is not possible on them.
If your save is already modded, you'll have to save again to order for the [M] to disappear.
This will not get you VAC banned in any manner as Skyrim SE does not use any anti-cheat.
If you have renamed your Skyrim EXE you must edit this mods ini file to accommodate that or use SKSE64.
If the mod is not working, try restarting Steam and/or your computer.
The dll loader version does not use SKSE. It will also not conflict with it.
Written in C++/ASM.
CREDITS:
It's a plugin I made that re-enables achievements while using mods by patching Skyrim SE during runtime. It's designed to be version independent.It also works on already modded saves.No more achievement warnings, no more [M]!If you're upgrading from v1.0.1.0 SKSE64, please properly uninstall that beforehand (just delete anything achievements related from Data/SKSE/Plugins).If you're upgrading from v1.0.0.2 (or earlier) be sure to delete THESE FILES from your Skyrim SE root directory first!AchievementsModsEnabler.ini located in Data\Plugins\Sumwunn contains these options:iEnableLogging=1; 0 = Disabled.; 1 = Enabled.iIgnoreExpectedProcessName=0; 0 = Expected process name detection enabled.; 1 = Ignore Fallout4.exe name detection. Allows mod to work regardless of EXE name.; 2 = Ignore SkyrimSE.exe name detection. Allows mod to work regardless of EXE name.; Automatically overridden when using SKSE/F4SE.After you've started Skyrim SE (you can alt-tab for this part), go to Data\Plugins\Sumwunn, there's a log file called:It will either say "" or "". Indicating whether or not the plugin successfully patched Skyrim SE. So if it says NO, lemme know!Probably not! I've designed this to be version independent. However in the case that it does, I will have it fixed very quickly. Below is a list of Skyrim SE versions that have been tested and working.1.5.39.01.5.3.01.4.2.01.3.9.01.3.5.01.2.39.01.2.36.01.1.51.01.1.47.0Bethesda for Skyrim SE. ( http://store.steampowered.com/app/489830/ Microsoft for Visual Studio. ( https://www.visualstudio.com/ The UASM devs. ( https://github.com/Terraspace/UASMMelissa McCarthy reprised her role as press secretary Sean Spicer on "Saturday Night Live," this time dressed in an Easter Bunny costume and offering an apology for the White House spokesman's comments calling concentration camps "Holocaust centers" last week.
“Everybody shut up so I can apologize,” McCarthy yelled to the press. “Yes, you all got your wish this week, didn’t you? Spicy finally made a mistake... I clearly meant to say ‘concentration clubs,’ OK?”
“I would also like you to know that I am sensitive to the fact that they were sent there on trains,” she said. “Hey, at least they didn’t have to fly United, am I right?”
McCarthy's Spicer also brought out a handful of props to use to explain the story of Passover, "aka the Jewish Easter."
ADVERTISEMENT
Spicer last week caused an uproar during a press briefing when he said that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, whose regime gassed millions of Jews and others during the Holocaust, did not use chemical weapons during World War II.
In that same press briefing he also called concentration camps "Holocaust centers." Spicer also addressed the United scandal from earlier in the week in which a passenger was violently dragged off a flight.
McCarthy's bunny suit was a nod to Spicer previously dressing as the Easter Bunny at President George W. Bush's Easter Egg Roll.Three men plowed a car into a crowd on London Bridge on Saturday night and, after exiting the vehicle, stabbed people.
Seven people were killed and nearly 50 were injured. Three suspects were killed by police.
British authorities have arrested over a dozen people in connection with the attack.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility.
PA Wire/PA Images Police officers on Borough High Street in London as authorities responded to Saturday night's terrorist attack.
It had been just another Saturday night in the British capital. Tourists were strolling along the river Thames. Friends were dining, drinking and watching sports at pubs and restaurants nearby.
But around 10 p.m., a white van sped across London Bridge, mowing down pedestrians along its path. “The van was zig-zagging along the pavement and it looked like it was aiming for groups of people,” Holly Jones, a BBC reporter who happened to be on the scene, recounted. The van “hit two people in front of me... swerved back round again, and just clipped a girl who was walking towards me.”
As the vehicle came to a halt and injured pedestrians lay on the bridge, three men jumped and ran into Borough Market. Wielding long knives, they waded into the popular restaurant locale and began attacking people.
“[Then] they literally just started kicking them, punching them, they took out knives... it was a rampage really,” Eric, a witness, told the BBC. A witness named Gerard said the men had shouted “This is for Allah.”
Joe Palermo had just stepped outside of |
buzzer-beating game-winner)
Dec. 30, at Indiana: 2 points, 1-2 FG, 4 minutes
Jan. 2, Charlotte: 15 points, 5-6 FG, 5-5 FT, 5 minutes
(Note: The Bulls' Dec. 21 game against the Wizards was "clutch" for a single possession when the Bulls cut the deficit to four with 3 minutes left, but a Bradley Beal 3-pointer the next trip down pushed it out of "clutch" range for the remainder of the game, so it wasn't used)
Not surprisingly, Butler leads the Bulls in points, field goal percentage, field goals attempted, and free throws attempted in each of those six games. Butler has attempted 18 shots; the rest of the Bulls have attempted 26 as a team. And only Michael Carter-Williams has attempted a free throw (1, against Charlotte) in any of those six late-game situations. Butler's usage rate in those "clutch" situations is 50.0 (to put that in context, Russell Westbrook's usage rate this season is 42.2). And perhaps most importantly, the Bulls are 4-2 in those games.
It's a stark difference from the beginning of the season, when Butler struggled in these similar spots. Leading up to that Dec. 10 game against the Heat, Butler had appeared in 12 games that fell under the "clutch" category. While he did hit all 15 of his free-throw attempts, he shot just 6-for-24 from the field and his usage rate was 34.2 - an increase from his 27.2 usage rate on the season, but trailing Dwyane Wade for the team lead (27.9) and just 28th among qualified players.
Since Dec. 10, only Russell Westbrook (65.9) and DeMarcus Cousins (51.0) have higher usage rates in the clutch. And among players with a usage rate of 30.0 or higher in that span, Butler is fifth in true shooting percentage (78.5 percent), one spot above LeBron James (75.7 percent).
Last year Butler was solid in the clutch as well, shooting 45.4 percent, the same percentage he shot from the field in non-clutch situations; of players who attempted two or more field goal attempts per clutch game, Butler was third in field-goal percentage, eighth in points (3.6) and 10th in free-throw attempts (1.4). His usage rate in the clutch was 29.7 which trailed Derrick Rose (30.2).
This year there's no question about who the lead dog is down the stretch. Wade, one of the great closers in NBA history in his prime, dubbed the Bulls Butler's team before the year even started, and while Butler is making good on that proclamation in a number of different categories, his clutch play down the stretch is perhaps the most indicative statistic.
After the Bulls' 107-97 loss to the Wizards, Dwyane Wade said the Bulls might be relying too much on Butler down the stretch. But the reality is the Bulls are likely going to have to rely on him in close games, and certainly when Wade sits out.
They are admittedly small sample sizes, but Butler's late surges have propelled the Bulls to victories at a time when they're desperately staying afloat at the bottom of the East playoff picture.Image caption A new project aims to improve the way schools teach Christianity
The teaching of Christianity can be "incoherent" or "too stereotypical", an academic leading a project to improve lessons in English schools has said.
Lessons can lack "intellectual development", said Dr Nigel Fancourt of Oxford University.
His comments follow a poll finding widespread support in England for teaching about Christianity in schools.
Richy Thompson of the British Humanist Association said schools should also reflect non-religious world views.
Almost two-thirds (64%) of adults questioned for Oxford University agreed pupils must know about Christianity to understand English history.
Christianity 'needed'
Some 57% of 1,832 adults polled agreed that learning about Christianity was essential for children to understand English culture and way of life and 44% said more attention should be given to its teaching.
More than half (58%) said it was important for children to know about the history of Christianity, major Christian festivals (56%) and how it distinguishes right from wrong (51%).
The poll is part of a project to help schools teach the faith in a more rigorous way. Researchers from Oxford's department of education say their focus on Christianity stems from a legal requirement that English schools should reflect the fact that Christianity is the country's main religious tradition.
This means that Christianity "will probably be the only religion that pupils study throughout their schooling. It is treated in the same way as other religions but studied more frequently", said Dr Fancourt.
CHRISTIANITY AND HISTORY Augustine became the first archbishop of Canterbury in AD 597 - Justin Welby will be the 105th. The English Church became a full member of the Roman Catholic Church after the Synod of Whitby in AD 664
In 1170 Thomas Beckett is murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by knights who believed Henry II wanted his death. He is made a saint shortly afterwards
Richard I - the Lionheart - gained acclaim for his role as a military leader during the crusades of the 12th Century
In 1534 Henry passed the Act of Succession and then the Act of Supremacy. These recognised that the King was "the only supreme head" of the Church of England.
1553: Mary I - known as bloody Mary, reintroduces Catholicism to England. Many Protestants are executed.
1558: Elizabeth I is crowned. She reintroduces Protestant reforms to the Church. During her reign there are a number of Catholic assassination attempts - the most famous is the 1586 Babington plot which sought to place Mary Queen of Scots on the throne. Mary was executed for her part in the plot in 1587
In 1588 The Spanish Armada, a force sent by Mary I's Catholic widower Philip II of Spain, is defeated
November 5 1605: Catholic plotters try to kill James I by blowing up parliament. The failed coup is known as the Gunpowder Plot.
1642-1651 Religious and political tensions reach a high during the English Civil War. England becomes a republic under puritan Oliver Cromwell after the execution of Charles I in 1649. The monarchy is restored in 1660
William of Orange deposed the Catholic king James II
The popularity of non-conformist churches grew under the reign of Victoria (1837-1901) prompting calls for the disestablishment of the Church of England
But the emphasis on Christianity in religious education (RE) lessons does not mean that teaching is always "challenging and vibrant" say the researchers.
Dr Fancourt told BBC News lessons that some teaching was overly focused on faith or moral development.
For example he said a lesson on the Bible story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 could become "an exhortation to share your picnic rather than a discussion of whether miracles really happen or what significance they have for Christians today: for example those who say they have been miraculously healed or pray for healing".
The opposite side of the coin is teachers who are nervous about tackling Christianity as a subject in case it is considered evangelising, say the researchers.
The team are working on a free web-based introduction to teaching Christianity which is aimed at trainee primary teachers. It should be available by September 2013.
Andrew Copson, of the British Humanist Association, agreed that Christianity is often poorly taught but said the same thing was true of non-religious beliefs such as Humanism.
"Christianity should be taught about and taught about well but not, as at present, to the exclusion of other approaches to life and not in any pretence that it is relevant to the developing beliefs, values and life stances of most young people, over two-thirds of whom have non-religious worldviews."
Mr Copson also said that the poll showed that people in Britain primarily viewed Christianity as a matter of history and cultural heritage rather than as a matter of religion.
Paul Bate of the European Educator's Christian Association said accurate teaching about Christian beliefs was of paramount importance in the teaching of RE.
"The UK is overwhelmingly Christian and young people need to have a clear understanding of what are the central Christian beliefs, values and practices. They should always be given opportunities to evaluate and reflect upon what they have learnt which according to the report has been sadly lacking in many lessons."
John Keast, of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales, welcomed the project: "For several years inspection reports have shown that the teaching of Christianity, which is a key part of the RE curriculum in our schools is too weak.
"With almost total withdrawal of government support for RE, it is good to see a major university project, sponsored by charitable trusts providing a positive way forward."McDonald's is no longer accepting eggs from one of its major suppliers, Sparboe Farms, after a graphic video showing the hellish conditions inside three Midwestern facilities surfaced.
The undercover footage, titled "The Rotten Truth About Egg McMuffins" was shot by animals rights group, Mercy for Animals at farms in Minnesota, Colorado, and Iowa.
We watched the 4-minute video, and it's pretty gruesome.
It shows workers tormenting birds by swinging them in circles and ramming their necks through wire cages and chicks getting their beaks burned off without painkillers. In some instances, unwanted chicks are left to suffocate in plastic bags.
According to the AP, McDonald's called the treatment of animals in the video "disturbing and completely unacceptable."
The news comes less than a month after the Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit against the pork supplier of the McDonald's McRib for the inhumane treatment of its pigs.
Watch the video below:[center][url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/ann/1654433][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/wotw.png[/img][/url] Welcome to the November 2015 edition of [i]Words on the Wind[/i]! We have updates and great previews for you![/center] [b]Table of Contents[/b] [br] [LIST] [*][b]Site Status[/b] [list][*]Achievement System [*]Crossroads 2.0[/list] [*][i][b]Night of the Nocturne[/i] 2015 [/b] [*][b]Previews[/b] [list][*]Petals | Butterfly Genes[/list] [*][b]Familiar Coloring Contest[/b] [*][b]Fowl Familiars[/b] [/LIST] [br][center][url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/ann/1654433]Click here to read more![/url][/center] [more] [br][br][br] ----- [br][br][br] [center][b][size=6]Site Status[/size][/b][/center] [br][br][b][size=5]Achievements[/size][/b] [b]Parts of the Achievements system haven't worked for a long time. Are you planning on fixing it?[/b] [indent]Correcting issues with the Achievements system is definitely in our development plans for the future. However, [b]it will be one of the very last pieces that will touched during the site code rewrite project[/b]. When we sat down with the engineering team to determine our goals and lay out the path for the rewrite, we realized that at the end of the day it held a lower priority than other integral systems that maintain the site and its gameplay functions/features. We think that an achievement system is a great addition to [i]Flight Rising[/i], but we want to approach it the right way on the backend so that we can do plenty of awesome achievements and not wreck the site in the process. The reason that we have to approach this system last is because it interacts with a [b]vast amount of site systems, features, and functions[/b], and those all have to be in place and working before we can fully support achievements. We can't put the cart before the horse, so-to-speak. It is very likely that the system will see a full overhaul, and quite possibly a reboot depending on how deep the rabbit hole goes in the conversion process. We'll do our best to support a smooth transition and maintain the current achievement progression, but we thought it best to prepare everyone with the fact that it might look very different when all is said and done. Whatever we decide to do, you can be sure that we'll try to expand and improve on what was there.[/indent] [b]Will we see any new achievements before then?[/b] [indent]Unfortunately, no. We will only be adding and focusing on achievements when they are being awarded reliably without issue - and that means when the system is converted over. We feel that it's unfair, and can even be punishing, to add new achievements that may or may not be awarded under the current system.[/indent] [br][br][br][b][size=5]Crossroads 2.0[/size][/b] We are hard at work wrapping development on our big update to [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/crossroads][b]Crossroads[/b][/url]. For those who are unfamiliar with the task at hand: [b]while before players were able to only trade dragons, this feature is being expanded to allow for secure trading of items and currency as well.[/b] Because Crossroads will soon encompass a much larger chunk of [i]Flight Rising[/i]'s commerce, we are working extra dilligently to make sure it is both secure and efficient enough to continue towards our overall goal of improved site performance. In addition to finalizing development on this new system, we wanted to make sure that we were listening to player feedback based on our previous previews, and doing our utmost not to completely disrupt playstyles that have been in place since we opened. To that end, [b]we have added the ability to conduct One-Way Deliveries in addition to Two-Way Trades[/b], allowing you to "fast-track" some of the back-and-forth steps if you are only wishing to send (not receive) something to someone. [center][url=http://flightrising.com/dropbox/preview_oneway_large.jpg][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/xrdelivery.jpg[/img][/url][/center] [i](This screenshot depicts what the player will see when first visiting the Crossroads.)[/i] [b]One-Way Deliveries[/b] do not require trade contributions from the other trading partner and jump straight to the finalization phase. We know this was a popular request to help facilitate things like Dominance battles, gifting, and donating. As with Two-Way Trades, both players will have the option to cancel the delivery up until it has been finalized. On the Pending Trades page, One-Way Deliveries and Two-Way Trades will be designated by special [b]icons[/b], [b]colors[/b], and a [b]progress bar[/b] to help players differentiate them and discern what stage they are currently in. [center][url=http://flightrising.com/dropbox/preview_pending_large.jpg][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/xrpending.jpg[/img][/url][/center] [i](In this screenshot, the player has sent a one-way delivery to Traderdragon that has items and currency attached, and it is just awaiting finalization.)[/i] In order to implement Crossroads 2.0, [b]it will be necessary for us to cancel and purge all trade requests being made in the older version, and shut it down for a period of time[/b]. We anticipate that the amount of time between Crossroads 1.0 going down and Crossroads 2.0 going up will be fairly short, so you will not be without trading for very long. We will be sure to prominently alert the community about when Crossroads 1.0 will be going offline and current trade deals wiped, so don't worry about that. You'll have plenty of time to plan getting your last dragon trades through before the systems switch over. Crossroads is in final testing and polish, and we anticipate to launch it very soon! [br][br][br] ----- [br][br][br] [center][b][size=6][i]Night of the Nocturne[/i] 2015[/size][/b][/center] [br][center][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/noc_family.png[/img][/center] [br][br][size=5][b]What is Night of the Nocturne?[/b][/size] For those new players who joined after January 2015, [i]Night of the Nocturne[/i] is an annual two-week celebration of the [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?p=wiki&article=63][b]Nocturne[/b][/url] breed that takes place in December. Dormant most of the year, they emerge for two weeks around the shortest day of winter to claim new territory and found new clans. During this event, players can find [b]Nocturne Breed Change scrolls, Nocturne eggs, and other themed goodies.[/b] You can find the announcement post for last year's event [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/ann/1283770][b]here[/b][/url]. [size=4][b]A Bumpy Road[/b][/size] Despite the excitement of launching a new breed, last year's [i]Night of the Nocturne[/i] event could have gone better. After it came to a close last year, we sat down as a team and reviewed all of the feedback, the data we collected, and discussed how we could improve the experience. We wanted to share that information with you ahead of the event so that everyone knows what to expect. [size=4][b]What Didn't Go So Well[/b][/size] In order to participate in [i]Night of the Nocturne[/i], players had to gather, fight monsters for, or happen upon chests. Then open them. A lot of chests. An absolutely ludicrous amount of chests. So many chests, in fact, that it had a profoundly negative impact on the [i]Flight Rising[/i] servers and really soured the beginning of the event. The other issue was that due to the overflowing volume of chests, the majority that were opened did not contain items worth much value. For the first 20 or so, opening a chest was exciting, and from then on, it became a chore. Players who didn't have great luck ended up seeing chests full of food and trinkets while others were getting eggs and scrolls. Not a fun feeling. [size=4][b]What's Changing[/b][/size] Much of the site rewrite & backend optimizations done in the past year have been in direct response to [i]Night of the Nocturne[/i] and how it impacted site performance. While not intended as such, it was actually a great experiment in seeing where we were weakest and how we could improve for large-scale events. We feel that a number of things we've worked on this last year should help alleviate those performance woes. We also took a long look at the chest situation and made the following decision: [b]Opening chests should be fun, and chests should always have something cool in them.[/b] As gamers, we sat back and determined that chests should be associated with fun loot -- isn't that really the whole point of finding chests? This year, chests will be much more infrequent, but when you do open them, you can expect they will have something other than butt-rocks or mirrors. In addition to adjusting chest frequency, we will be introducing several new Coliseum enemies, additional imposter bears to round out those that appeared last year, and a few other surprises. More information will be available in the official announcement. [br][br][br] ----- [br][br][br] [center][b][size=6]Previews[/size][/b][/center] [br][br] [b][size=4]Petals & Butterfly Genes[/size][/b] Petals (Primary) and Butterfly (Secondary) are two new genes that will be released in the future. These genes will place a beautiful butterfly pattern across your dragon's body or wings. These genes utilize a more typical color pallette for the majority of the gene, with a small flash of color for the accent. Both Petals and Butterfly will be released as gem genes. Butterfly will be making its debut shortly, with Petals released sometime in 2016. These releases will not be back-to-back, as we would like to space them out with non-gem gene releases in between. Below you will find a preview of this lovely gene on the first 14 colors of the color wheel! [br][center][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/petals_butterfly.png[/img][/center] [br][br][br] ----- [br][br][br] [center][size=6][url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/1653985][b]Familiar Coloring Contest 2015[/b][/url][/size] [/center] Always wanted to paint your own familiar? We've got the contest for you! We are running a familiar coloring contest that [b]will run until December 30th[/b]. Winning entries will become an official familiar on-site! [center][url=http://flightrising.com/images/media_psd/camien_whelp_contest.zip][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/familiars/camien_whelp_thumb.png[/img] [/url][url=http://flightrising.com/images/media_psd/peryton_contest.zip][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/familiars/peryton_thumb.png[/img] [/url] [url=http://flightrising.com/images/media_psd/questing_beast_contest.zip][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/familiars/questing_beast_thumb.png[/img] [/url][url=http://flightrising.com/images/media_psd/dwarf_hainu_contest.zip][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/familiars/dwarf_hainu_thumb.png[/img][/url] [url=http://flightrising.com/images/media_psd/luna_mith_contest.zip][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/familiars/luna_mith_thumb.png[/img] [/url][url=http://flightrising.com/images/media_psd/manticore_contest.zip][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/familiars/manticore_thumb.png[/img][/url] [url=http://flightrising.com/images/media_psd/shard_bear_contest.zip][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/familiars/shard_bear_thumb.png[/img][/url] [url=http://flightrising.com/images/media_psd/yeti_contest.zip][img]http://flightrising.com/dropbox/familiars/yeti_thumb.png[/img][/url] [/center] [indent] [b]Deadline: [/b] Wednesday December 30th, 23:59 server time. [b]Format: [/b]1200x1200 png (you may zip this or link this. Previews are great for the forum, but ultimately we need the large colors) [b]Prizes: [/b]Winners will be credited in the tooltip of the familiar and its bestiary entry, will receive 3 copies of their winning familiar, 2,000 gems, and a special vista. (winners of our past familiar coloring contest will retroactively be granted this vista.)[/indent] [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/layout/gem_pile.png[/img] [/center] [center][url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/1653985][b]Click here for the contest thread and additional information![/b][/url][/center] [br][br][br] ----- [br][br][br] [center][b][size=6]Woodland Turkey[/size][/b][/center] This elusive game has been spotted by adventurers in [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?p=coliseum]Boreal Wood.[/url] Hunters predict that these birds will go back into hiding at the end of November. [center][img]http://flightrising.com/images/cms/familiar/art/7427.png [item=turkey dinner][item=woodland turkey][item=woodland turkey crate][/center]
Aequorin Community
Manager 440 74 157 5447
Welcome to the November 2015 edition of Words on the Wind! We have updates and great previews for you! Welcome to the November 2015 edition of! We have updates and great previews for you!
Table of Contents
Site Status Achievement System Crossroads 2.0
Night of the Nocturne 2015
2015 Previews Petals | Butterfly Genes
Familiar Coloring Contest
Fowl Familiars
Click here to read more!
Site Status
Achievements
Parts of the Achievements system haven't worked for a long time. Are you planning on fixing it?
Correcting issues with the Achievements system is definitely in our development plans for the future. However, it will be one of the very last pieces that will touched during the site code rewrite project.
When we sat down with the engineering team to determine our goals and lay out the path for the rewrite, we realized that at the end of the day it held a lower priority than other integral systems that maintain the site and its gameplay functions/features. We think that an achievement system is a great addition to Flight Rising, but we want to approach it the right way on the backend so that we can do plenty of awesome achievements and not wreck the site in the process.
The reason that we have to approach this system last is because it interacts with a vast amount of site systems, features, and functions, and those all have to be in place and working before we can fully support achievements. We can't put the cart before the horse, so-to-speak.
It is very likely that the system will see a full overhaul, and quite possibly a reboot depending on how deep the rabbit hole goes in the conversion process. We'll do our best to support a smooth transition and maintain the current achievement progression, but we thought it best to prepare everyone with the fact that it might look very different when all is said and done. Whatever we decide to do, you can be sure that we'll try to expand and improve on what was there.
Will we see any new achievements before then?
Unfortunately, no. We will only be adding and focusing on achievements when they are being awarded reliably without issue - and that means when the system is converted over. We feel that it's unfair, and can even be punishing, to add new achievements that may or may not be awarded under the current system.
Crossroads 2.0
We are hard at work wrapping development on our big update to while before players were able to only trade dragons, this feature is being expanded to allow for secure trading of items and currency as well. Because Crossroads will soon encompass a much larger chunk of Flight Rising's commerce, we are working extra dilligently to make sure it is both secure and efficient enough to continue towards our overall goal of improved site performance.
In addition to finalizing development on this new system, we wanted to make sure that we were listening to player feedback based on our previous previews, and doing our utmost not to completely disrupt playstyles that have been in place since we opened.
To that end, we have added the ability to conduct One-Way Deliveries in addition to Two-Way Trades, allowing you to "fast-track" some of the back-and-forth steps if you are only wishing to send (not receive) something to someone.
(This screenshot depicts what the player will see when first visiting the Crossroads.)
One-Way Deliveries do not require trade contributions from the other trading partner and jump straight to the finalization phase. We know this was a popular request to help facilitate things like Dominance battles, gifting, and donating. As with Two-Way Trades, both players will have the option to cancel the delivery up until it has been finalized.
On the Pending Trades page, One-Way Deliveries and Two-Way Trades will be designated by special icons, colors, and a progress bar to help players differentiate them and discern what stage they are currently in.
(In this screenshot, the player has sent a one-way delivery to Traderdragon that has items and currency attached, and it is just awaiting finalization.)
In order to implement Crossroads 2.0, it will be necessary for us to cancel and purge all trade requests being made in the older version, and shut it down for a period of time. We anticipate that the amount of time between Crossroads 1.0 going down and Crossroads 2.0 going up will be fairly short, so you will not be without trading for very long.
We will be sure to prominently alert the community about when Crossroads 1.0 will be going offline and current trade deals wiped, so don't worry about that. You'll have plenty of time to plan getting your last dragon trades through before the systems switch over.
Crossroads is in final testing and polish, and we anticipate to launch it very soon!
Night of the Nocturne 2015
What is Night of the Nocturne?
For those new players who joined after January 2015, Night of the Nocturne is an annual two-week celebration of the
During this event, players can find Nocturne Breed Change scrolls, Nocturne eggs, and other themed goodies. You can find the announcement post for last year's event
A Bumpy Road
Despite the excitement of launching a new breed, last year's Night of the Nocturne event could have gone better. After it came to a close last year, we sat down as a team and reviewed all of the feedback, the data we collected, and discussed how we could improve the experience. We wanted to share that information with you ahead of the event so that everyone knows what to expect.
What Didn't Go So Well
In order to participate in Night of the Nocturne, players had to gather, fight monsters for, or happen upon chests. Then open them. A lot of chests. An absolutely ludicrous amount of chests. So many chests, in fact, that it had a profoundly negative impact on the Flight Rising servers and really soured the beginning of the event.
The other issue was that due to the overflowing volume of chests, the majority that were opened did not contain items worth much value. For the first 20 or so, opening a chest was exciting, and from then on, it became a chore. Players who didn't have great luck ended up seeing chests full of food and trinkets while others were getting eggs and scrolls. Not a fun feeling.
What's Changing
Much of the site rewrite & backend optimizations done in the past year have been in direct response to Night of the Nocturne and how it impacted site performance. While not intended as such, it was actually a great experiment in seeing where we were weakest and how we could improve for large-scale events. We feel that a number of things we've worked on this last year should help alleviate those performance woes.
We also took a long look at the chest situation and made the following decision: Opening chests should be fun, and chests should always have something cool in them. As gamers, we sat back and determined that chests should be associated with fun loot -- isn't that really the whole point of finding chests? This year, chests will be much more infrequent, but when you do open them, you can expect they will have something other than butt-rocks or mirrors.
In addition to adjusting chest frequency, we will be introducing several new Coliseum enemies, additional imposter bears to round out those that appeared last year, and a few other surprises. More information will be available in the official announcement.
Previews
Petals & Butterfly Genes
Petals (Primary) and Butterfly (Secondary) are two new genes that will be released in the future. These genes will place a beautiful butterfly pattern across your dragon's body or wings. These genes utilize a more typical color pallette for the majority of the gene, with a small flash of color for the accent. Both Petals and Butterfly will be released as gem genes. Butterfly will be making its debut shortly, with Petals released sometime in 2016. These releases will not be back-to-back, as we would like to space them out with non-gem gene releases in between.
Below you will find a preview of this lovely gene on the first 14 colors of the color wheel!
Familiar Coloring Contest 2015
Always wanted to paint your own familiar? We've got the contest for you! We are running a familiar coloring contest that will run until December 30th. Winning entries will become an official familiar on-site!
Deadline: Wednesday December 30th, 23:59 server time.
Format: 1200x1200 png (you may zip this or link this. Previews are great for the forum, but ultimately we need the large colors)
Prizes: Winners will be credited in the tooltip of the familiar and its bestiary entry, will receive 3 copies of their winning familiar, 2,000 gems, and a special vista. (winners of our past familiar coloring contest will retroactively be granted this vista.) Click here for the contest thread and additional information!
Woodland Turkey
This elusive game has been spotted by adventurers in Turkey Dinner Meat A meal that tastes best when shared with the rest of your clan. Except the plant, insect, and fish-eaters... Sell Value: 42 Food Points: 6 Woodland Turkey Familiar Rather reclusive, this fowl is seen only once a year. Sell Value: 2500 Woodland Turkey Crate Chests After traversing The Boreal Wood, a well-made crate is found; A small hoard of treasure and a fine skin are your reward! Sell Value: 0 We are hard at work wrapping development on our big update to Crossroads. For those who are unfamiliar with the task at hand:Because Crossroads will soon encompass a much larger chunk of's commerce, we are working extra dilligently to make sure it is both secure and efficient enough to continue towards our overall goal of improved site performance.In addition to finalizing development on this new system, we wanted to make sure that we were listening to player feedback based on our previous previews, and doing our utmost not to completely disrupt playstyles that have been in place since we opened.To that end,, allowing you to "fast-track" some of the back-and-forth steps if you are only wishing to send (not receive) something to someone.do not require trade contributions from the other trading partner and jump straight to the finalization phase. We know this was a popular request to help facilitate things like Dominance battles, gifting, and donating. As with Two-Way Trades, both players will have the option to cancel the delivery up until it has been finalized.On the Pending Trades page, One-Way Deliveries and Two-Way Trades will be designated by special, and ato help players differentiate them and discern what stage they are currently in.In order to implement Crossroads 2.0,. We anticipate that the amount of time between Crossroads 1.0 going down and Crossroads 2.0 going up will be fairly short, so you will not be without trading for very long.We will be sure to prominently alert the community about when Crossroads 1.0 will be going offline and current trade deals wiped, so don't worry about that. You'll have plenty of time to plan getting your last dragon trades through before the systems switch over.Crossroads is in final testing and polish, and we anticipate to launch it very soon!For those new players who joined after January 2015,is an annual two-week celebration of the Nocturne breed that takes place in December. Dormant most of the year, they emerge for two weeks around the shortest day of winter to claim new territory and found new clans.During this event, players can findYou can find the announcement post for last year's event here Despite the excitement of launching a new breed, last year'sevent could have gone better. After it came to a close last year, we sat down as a team and reviewed all of the feedback, the data we collected, and discussed how we could improve the experience. We wanted to share that information with you ahead of the event so that everyone knows what to expect.In order to participate in, players had to gather, fight monsters for, or happen upon chests. Then open them. A lot of chests. An absolutely ludicrous amount of chests. So many chests, in fact, that it had a profoundly negative impact on theservers and really soured the beginning of the event.The other issue was that due to the overflowing volume of chests, the majority that were opened did not contain items worth much value. For the first 20 or so, opening a chest was exciting, and from then on, it became a chore. Players who didn't have great luck ended up seeing chests full of food and trinkets while others were getting eggs and scrolls. Not a fun feeling.Much of the site rewrite & backend optimizations done in the past year have been in direct response toand how it impacted site performance. While not intended as such, it was actually a great experiment in seeing where we were weakest and how we could improve for large-scale events. We feel that a number of things we've worked on this last year should help alleviate those performance woes.We also took a long look at the chest situation and made the following decision:As gamers, we sat back and determined that chests should be associated with fun loot -- isn't that really the whole point of finding chests? This year, chests will be much more infrequent, but when you do open them, you can expect they will have something other than butt-rocks or mirrors.In addition to adjusting chest frequency, we will be introducing several new Coliseum enemies, additional imposter bears to round out those that appeared last year, and a few other surprises. More information will be available in the official announcement.Petals (Primary) and Butterfly (Secondary) are two new genes that will be released in the future. These genes will place a beautiful |
when you put them together with the stories of dozens of other high ranking military officers that have been purged from the U.S. military in recent years, a very disturbing pattern emerges.
The following is a list of high ranking military officers that have been dismissed over the past few years that has been circulating all over the Internet. I think that you will agree that this list is quite stunning…
Commanding Generals fired:
General John R. Allen-U.S. Marines Commander International Security Assistance Force [ISAF] (Nov 2012)
Major General Ralph Baker (2 Star)-U.S. Army Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Horn in Africa (April 2013)
Major General Michael Carey (2 Star)-U.S. Air Force Commander of the 20th US Air Force in charge of 9,600 people and 450 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (Oct 2013)
Colonel James Christmas-U.S. Marines Commander 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit & Commander Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Unit (July 2013)
Major General Peter Fuller-U.S. Army Commander in Afghanistan (May 2011)
Major General Charles M.M. Gurganus-U.S. Marine Corps Regional Commander of SW and I Marine Expeditionary Force in Afghanistan (Oct 2013)
General Carter F. Ham-U.S. Army African Command (Oct 2013)
Lieutenant General David H. Huntoon (3 Star), Jr.-U.S. Army 58th Superintendent of the US Military Academy at West Point, NY (2013)
Command Sergeant Major Don B Jordan-U.S. Army 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command (suspended Oct 2013)
General James Mattis-U.S. Marines Chief of CentCom (May 2013)
Colonel Daren Margolin-U.S. Marine in charge of Quantico’s Security Battalion (Oct 2013)
General Stanley McChrystal-U.S. Army Commander Afghanistan (June 2010)
General David D. McKiernan-U.S. Army Commander Afghanistan (2009)
General David Petraeus-Director of CIA from September 2011 to November 2012 & U.S. Army Commander International Security Assistance Force [ISAF] and Commander U.S. Forces Afghanistan [USFOR-A] (Nov 2012)
Brigadier General Bryan Roberts-U.S. Army Commander 2nd Brigade (May 2013)
Major General Gregg A. Sturdevant-U.S. Marine Corps Director of Strategic Planning and Policy for the U.S. Pacific Command & Commander of Aviation Wing at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan (Sept 2013)
Colonel Eric Tilley-U.S. Army Commander of Garrison Japan (Nov 2013)
Brigadier General Bryan Wampler-U.S. Army Commanding General of 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command [TSC] (suspended Oct 2013)
Commanding Admirals fired:
Rear Admiral Charles Gaouette-U.S. Navy Commander John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group Three (Oct 2012)
Vice Admiral Tim Giardina(3 Star, demoted to 2 Star)-U.S. Navy Deputy Commander of the US Strategic Command, Commander of the Submarine Group Trident, Submarine Group 9 and Submarine Group 10 (Oct 2013)
Naval Officers fired: (All in 2011)
Captain David Geisler-U.S. Navy Commander Task Force 53 in Bahrain (Oct 2011)
Commander Laredo Bell-U.S. Navy Commander Naval Support Activity Saratoga Springs, NY (Aug 2011)
Lieutenant Commander Kurt Boenisch-Executive Officer amphibious transport dock Ponce (Apr 2011)
Commander Nathan Borchers-U.S. Navy Commander destroyer Stout (Mar 2011)
Commander Robert Brown-U.S. Navy Commander Beachmaster Unit 2 Fort Story, VA (Aug 2011)
Commander Andrew Crowe-Executive Officer Navy Region Center Singapore (Apr 2011)
Captain Robert Gamberg-Executive Officer carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower (Jun 2011)
Captain Rex Guinn-U.S. Navy Commander Navy Legal Service office Japan (Feb 2011)
Commander Kevin Harms- U.S. Navy Commander Strike Fighter Squadron 137 aboard the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln (Mar 2011)
Lieutenant Commander Martin Holguin-U.S. Navy Commander mine countermeasures Fearless (Oct 2011)
Captain Owen Honors-U.S. Navy Commander aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (Jan 2011)
Captain Donald Hornbeck-U.S. Navy Commander Destroyer Squadron 1 San Diego (Apr 2011)
Rear Admiral Ron Horton-U.S. Navy Commander Logistics Group, Western Pacific (Mar 2011)
Commander Etta Jones-U.S. Navy Commander amphibious transport dock Ponce (Apr 2011)
Commander Ralph Jones-Executive Officer amphibious transport dock Green Bay (Jul 2011)
Commander Jonathan Jackson-U.S. Navy Commander Electronic Attack Squadron 134, deployed aboard carrier Carl Vinson (Dec 2011)
Captain Eric Merrill-U.S. Navy Commander submarine Emory S. Land (Jul 2011)
Captain William Mosk-U.S. Navy Commander Naval Station Rota, U.S. Navy Commander Naval Activities Spain (Apr 2011)
Commander Timothy Murphy-U.S. Navy Commander Electronic Attack Squadron 129 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA (Apr 2011)
Commander Joseph Nosse-U.S. Navy Commander ballistic-missile submarine Kentucky (Oct 2011)
Commander Mark Olson-U.S. Navy Commander destroyer The Sullivans FL (Sep 2011)
Commander John Pethel-Executive Officer amphibious transport dock New York (Dec 2011)
Commander Karl Pugh-U.S. Navy Commander Electronic Attack Squadron 141 Whidbey Island, WA (Jul 2011)
Commander Jason Strength-U.S. Navy Commander of Navy Recruiting District Nashville, TN (Jul 2011)
Captain Greg Thomas-U.S. Navy Commander Norfolk Naval Shipyard (May 2011)
Commander Mike Varney-U.S. Navy Commander attack submarine Connecticut (Jun 2011)
Commander Jay Wylie-U.S. Navy Commander destroyer Momsen (Apr 2011)
Naval Officers fired: (All in 2012):
Commander Alan C. Aber-Executive Officer Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (July 2012)
Commander Derick Armstrong- U.S. Navy Commander missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (May 2012)
Commander Martin Arriola- U.S. Navy Commander destroyer USS Porter (Aug 2012)
Captain Antonio Cardoso- U.S. Navy Commander Training Support Center San Diego (Sep 2012)
Captain James CoBell- U.S. Navy Commander Oceana Naval Air Station’s Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic (Sep 2012)
Captain Joseph E. Darlak- U.S. Navy Commander frigate USS Vandegrift (Nov 2012)
Captain Daniel Dusek-U.S. Navy Commander USS Bonhomme
Commander David Faught-Executive Officer destroyer Chung-Hoon (Sep 2012)
Commander Franklin Fernandez- U.S. Navy Commander Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 24 (Aug 2012)
Commander Ray Hartman- U.S. Navy Commander Amphibious dock-landing ship Fort McHenry (Nov 2012)
Commander Shelly Hakspiel-Executive Officer Navy Drug Screening Lab San Diego (May 2012)
Commander Jon Haydel- U.S. Navy Commander USS San Diego (Mar 2012)
Commander Diego Hernandez- U.S. Navy Commander ballistic-missile submarine USS Wyoming (Feb 2012)
Commander Lee Hoey- U.S. Navy Commander Drug Screening Laboratory, San Diego (May 2012)
Commander Ivan Jimenez-Executive Officer frigate Vandegrift (Nov 2012)
Commander Dennis Klein- U.S. Navy Commander submarine USS Columbia (May 2012)
Captain Chuck Litchfield- U.S. Navy Commander assault ship USS Essex (Jun 2012)
Captain Marcia Kim Lyons- U.S. Navy Commander Naval Health Clinic New England (Apr 2012)
Captain Robert Marin- U.S. Navy Commander cruiser USS Cowpens (Feb 2012)
Captain Sean McDonell- U.S. Navy Commander Seabee reserve unit Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14 FL (Nov 2012)
Commander Corrine Parker- U.S. Navy Commander Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 1 (Apr 2012)
Captain Liza Raimondo- U.S. Navy Commander Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River, MD (Jun 2012)
Captain Jeffrey Riedel- Program manager, Littoral Combat Ship program (Jan 2012)
Commander Sara Santoski- U.S. Navy Commander Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 (Sep 2012)
Commander Kyle G. Strudthoff-Executive Officer Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (Sep 2012)
Commander Sheryl Tannahill- U.S. Navy Commander Navy Operational Support Center [NOSC] Nashville, TN (Sep 2012)
Commander Michael Ward- U.S. Navy Commander submarine USS Pittsburgh (Aug 2012)
Captain Michael Wiegand- U.S. Navy Commander Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (Nov 2012)
Captain Ted Williams- U.S. Navy Commander amphibious command ship Mount Whitney (Nov 2012)
Commander Jeffrey Wissel- U.S. Navy Commander of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1 (Feb 2012)
Naval Officers fired: (All in 2013):
Lieutenant Commander Lauren Allen-Executive Officer submarine Jacksonville (Feb 2013)
Reserve Captain Jay Bowman-U.S. Navy Commander Navy Operational Support Center [NOSC] Fort Dix, NJ (Mar 2013)
Captain William Cogar-U.S. Navy Commander hospital ship Mercy’s medical treatment facility (Sept 2013)
Commander Steve Fuller-Executive Officer frigate Kauffman (Mar 2013)
Captain Shawn Hendricks-Program Manager for naval enterprise IT networks (June 2013)
Captain David Hunter-U.S. Navy Commander of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 12 & Coastal Riverine Group 2 (Feb 2013)
Captain Eric Johnson-U.S. Navy Chief of Military Entrance Processing Command at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, IL (2013)
Captain Devon Jones-U.S. Navy Commander Naval Air Facility El Centro, CA (July 2013)
Captain Kevin Knoop-U.S. Navy Commander hospital ship Comfort’s medical treatment facility (Aug 2013)
Lieutenant Commander Jack O’Neill-U.S. Navy Commander Operational Support Center Rock Island, IL (Mar 2013)
Commander Allen Maestas-Executive Officer Beachmaster Unit 1 (May 2013)
Commander Luis Molina-U.S. Navy Commander submarine Pasadena (Jan 2013)
Commander James Pickens-Executive Officer frigate Gary (Feb 2013)
Lieutenant Commander Mark Rice-U.S. Navy Commander Mine Countermeasures ship Guardian (Apr 2013)
Commander Michael Runkle-U.S. Navy Commander of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 (May 2013)
Commander Jason Stapleton-Executive Office Patrol Squadron 4 in Hawaii (Mar 2013)
Commander Nathan Sukols-U.S. Navy Commander submarine Jacksonville (Feb 2013)
Lieutenant Daniel Tyler-Executive Officer Mine Countermeasures ship Guardian (Apr 2013)
Commander Edward White-U.S. Navy Commander Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (Aug 2013)
Captain Jeffrey Winter-U.S. Navy Commander of Carrier Air Wing 17 (Sept 2013)
Commander Thomas Winter-U.S. Navy Commander submarine Montpelier (Jan 2013)
Commander Corey Wofford- U.S. Navy Commander frigate Kauffman (Feb 2013)
So what do you think about all of this?
Do you believe that a “purge” of high ranking military officers is taking place?
Please feel free to share what you think by posting a comment below…On this day — The SuperCommittee fails; a review of Saturday’s values panel in Iowa; Fred Barnes backs the Gingrich boomlet; Romney gets a key New Hampshire endorsement; does Obama really have a base problem and we may have our first ‘Perry as underdog’ story.
—
Low Expectations Met
Members of the super committee to tackle the nation’s deficit, which most everyone expected to fail, are expected to announce that they were unable to agree on a plan to reduce the nation’s debt by $1.2 trillion. The New York Times reports:
The stalemate was the latest sign of partisan deadlock in Washington, which members of both parties do not expect to lift until the 2012 election has clarified which party has the upper hand. Barring an unexpected turnaround before Monday’s deadline, the failure of the special Congressional deficit committee will be the third high-profile effort to fall short of a deal in the last 12 months, including a bipartisan deficit commission and talks last summer between President Obama and Speaker John A. Boehner.
At one point, Republicans offered what they dubbed the ‘Toomey Framework,’ which proposed about $300 billion in new revenue by permanently lowering overall tax rates and capping some deductions. Democrats said they didn’t like it because it would mean another round of tax cuts for the rich and stiff cuts for Medicare. Republicans that weren’t on the super committee didn’t like the proposal (72 of them in the House signed a letter promising to vote against it) because it included any new tax revenue.
Facing push back from fellow Republicans, conservative super committee members came up with what they described as a fall-back plan — about $600 billion in cuts with $3 billion in new tax revenue. As Talking Points Memo (TPM) reported, Democrats didn’t bite:
Only $3 billion of the total package comes from new tax revenues — ending a tax preference for owners of corporate jets. The rest came from spending cuts to federal agencies, federal pay, agricultural subsidies, higher fees and spectrum and land sales, and interest saved on the national debt. Democratic aides mocked the plan as wildly imbalanced — a 200:1 spending cuts-to-tax revenue offer Republicans never should have made. That counts land and spectrum sales as spending cuts, which they really aren’t.
When the White House and House Republicans came up with the debt ceiling deal that included creating the super committee, they also included a form of political punishment — spending cuts to defense and Medicare — that would kick in if the super committee failed to create a plan or if Congress failed to pass the super committee’s plan (or something equivalent). Although, since Congress has the power to punish itself, it also has the power to undo said punishment and the New York Times reports that many lawmakers are pushing to do just that:
Republicans have already begun plans to reconfigure the automatic cuts because about half would come from the Pentagon; Democrats and President Obama are likely to resist those efforts since some domestic spending programs are exempted from the cuts. As of Sunday evening, aides on Capitol Hill said no meeting among all 12 members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction has been set for Monday.
—
The Blame Game Begins
While Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill are busy pointing fingers at each other, Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney blamed the White House for the super committee’s failure, even though the super committee is exclusively composed of members of Congress. Politico reports:
“He’s done nothing,” Romney claimed. “It is another example of failed leadership. He has not taken personal responsibility to get the supercommittee to find ways to balance the budget and cut spending.” The Republican presidential front-runner also claimed Obama had “set a trap” by including an automatic $600 billion dollar cut in defense spending in the case the supercommittee failed to agree on a deficit reduction package. The president has largely stayed out of the congressional negotiations, but the trigger of Pentagon cuts Romney referred to was part of a broader plan devised by both the White House and congressional Republicans earlier this year in hopes of prodding the supercommittee to reach an agreement.
—
Comfortable as the Underdog
In absolute terms, the time it took for Rick Perry to fall from frontrunner to the Republicans second or third tier (when you look at the polling) is somewhat stunning, possibly rivaled by Howard Dean’s campaign in 2004. In the relative terms of the 2012 Republican race, he’s one of about six candidates or could-have-been candidates who have become the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the last 6 months (Palin, Trump, Bachmann, Daniels, Perry, Christie, Cain).
So his campaign has been recasting Perry as the “underdog” in the fight against Romney, the man who is always counted down and out before the game actually gets started. The Associated Press profiles a ‘more relaxed underdog Perry’ on the campaign trail.
It’s the day after another presidential debate, and if the flat-screen in front of him were on, he’d hear plenty of appraisals of whether a new fiery approach helped his pursuit of the highest office in the land or hurt him more. Instead, he’s talking about his boyhood in Texas, his time in the Air Force and a wiener dog named Lucy. He is, here in suite 6118 of the Red Rock resort, relaxed and confident — not the man Americans have seen on TV these past months, the orator whose flubs became the stuff of late-night comics.
—
Romney Gets Key New Hampshire Endorsement
Mitt Romney touted the highly sought endorsement of New Hampshire state Sen. Kelly Ayotte at a rally in the Granite State on Sunday, Politico reports:
The main purpose of the (rally) was to tout the support of the popular Ayotte, who was elected last year and has been courted by a number of the GOP White House hopefuls this year. Romney and his wife, Ann, dined with the senator and her husband this summer. In a brief interview following the rally, Ayotte said she was persuaded to back Romney in large part because of his debate performances and potential to defeat Obama – the two factors that seem to be shaping the views of many GOP primary voters.
The Boston Globe has more on the announcement.
—
Sturdier-Than-Expected Political Base
Remember the raft of stories over the last few months that questioned if Obama could hold onto his base? Well, that’s not really the case.
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza writes that a deeper dive in to the polling data seems to suggest his base really isn’t the issue:
“There is one immutable fact about President Obama’s re-election chances: Nobody has a more solid 44 percent base than he does,” Democratic pollster Peter Hart wrote in a not-entirely-uncritical memo assessing the state of political affairs a year out from the election. As evidence, Hart noted that in the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, Obama takes 44 percent in a three-way race with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) running as an independent; has a 44 percent job approval rating; and has a 45 percent positive personal rating. In the same survey, 45 percent said they “probably” will vote for Obama in 2012. … In Gallup’s most recent data, Obama’s job approval rating stood at 78 percent among Democrats and 70 percent among liberals. Those numbers are similar to where President Bill Clinton stood in November 1995, when 78 percent of Democrats in Gallup polling approved of the job he was doing. (Bush had the support of 87 percent of Republicans in the fall of 2003, but those numbers were the result of the boosts he received from the start of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.)
—
The Clips
– The Washington Post’s Erza Klein opines that the super committee’s failure is more indicative of political paralysis than anything else.
The supercommittee was expected to help with that. The expectation was that whatever deal it produced would extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits that were agreed upon in the 2010 tax agreement. Perhaps, if members reached a bigger deal, they would agree to infrastructure investment and further tax cuts. All of that would help the U.S. economy recover, or at least help us absorb any possible shocks from Europe. And, according to some economists, so, too, would the simple sight of Congress coming to an agreement. It would show the markets that even if the European Union’s political system is completely broken, ours isn’t. It would also show when action is needed, U.S. policymakers can be counted on.
– The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes jumps onto the Newt Gingrich bandwagon.
– The Los Angeles Times Paul West writes that the Trans-Texas Corridor fiasco showcased many of the weaknesses now bedeviling Perry’s presidential campaign.
– The Houston Chronicle’s Joe Holley reports from Iowa on how Republican candidates are attempting to woo evangelical Christians, a key block in the caucuses.
– Holley also reviewed the traditional family values summit that six of the eight GOP contenders attended this past Saturday.
– Politico’s Alexander Burns writes that the Republican candidates with money in the bank are about ready to start spending it as the clock winds down towards the first caucuses and primaries.
– Houston Chronicle/San Antonio Express-News Austin bureau chief Peggy Fikac writes that Perry and Cain’s rise and fall in the GOP field mirror each other.Conservatives and Climate Change This conservative economist makes the case for a carbon tax
N. Gregory Mankiw is, if not a household name, a dorm-room one. His Principles of Economics textbook is the standard for most college intro-to-econ courses, with more than a million copies sold. A professor at Harvard, Mankiw teaches the university’s most popular undergraduate course, Econ. 10.
He’s also well known in Republican circles. President George W. Bush named him chair of the Council of Economic Advisers in 2003, and in 2006, Mitt Romney brought on Mankiw as an economic adviser, a role the economist played throughout Romney’s 2012 presidential bid.
But though he calls himself a conservative — “I want limited government,” he explains — Mankiw advocates a carbon tax, a position notably at odds with all of the current GOP presidential candidates. He articulated his reasons in a recent New York Times op-ed, “The Key Role of Conservatives in Taxing Carbon.”
We called him up to get his perspective on the rift over climate change among Republicans, and his advice on how to sell a carbon tax to conservatives.
Q. You support a tax on carbon emissions — a rogue or even radical position among many Republicans, including those who accept climate science. Can you briefly state your position on this issue?
A. I’m not a scientist. I don’t even try to pretend to judge the accuracy of climate science. But I understand that science is about probabilities, not certainties. I can read the consensus of scientists, so I take that as a given and go on with economics. I understand that the sooner we deal with this problem, the less costly it’s going to be.
Q. And a carbon tax is the most expedient solution?
A. I’m in favor of tackling climate change in a way that uses the lightest hand of government as possible. That is, to put a price on carbon and incentivize people to reduce carbon emissions through a variety of different channels, allowing individuals to figure out what’s the best way to do that. Is it best to drive smaller cars? Is it best to carpool to work? Is it best to move closer to work? Is it best to commit to public transportation? There’s lots of different ways to change your carbon footprint. Regulations tell you how you should do that, whereas putting a price on carbon nudges people in the direction of reducing their carbon footprint but allows individuals to decide what’s the best way for them to do that.
Q. Let’s get into a bit more detail on the carbon tax you advocate—how will this work?
A. The basic idea of a carbon tax is mainly to put a price on carbon, to directly raise prices on carbon. Once you put a price on carbon, people will conserve on carbon emissions, just like they conserve on other things that are costly. That doesn’t mean we should raise taxes overall, though. If we put a price on carbon and raise revenue through that carbon tax, we can then take that money and funnel it back to people by reducing sales taxes, income taxes, or other taxes. If we’re smart about how we cut other taxes, there’s no reason that this should be a net tax increase, nor does it need to change the distribution of the tax burden among the rich vs. poor.
Q. Why the emphasis on revenue neutrality?
A. There’s no question that all consumers are going to end up paying higher prices for carbon-intensive goods. If you want to make this politically palatable to people, so that they’re incentivized but not necessarily worse off, you need to turn around and say, “Look, whatever revenue we’re collecting from this, we’re giving back to you.”
Q. Is advocating a carbon tax political suicide for Republicans? Is it politically feasible?
A. Ultimately, if we want good carbon policy, the key is not to convince the politicians, the key is to convince the voters. Unlike professors like me, politicians don’t have tenure — they’ve got to get elected constantly. Once the voters want this, the politicians will quickly decide they want it too. I’m a big believer that in our democratic system, the politicians aren’t the leaders, the voters are the leaders. That’s why I write op-eds, because ultimately I want to convince the general public.
Q. The vast majority of Republican presidential contenders are resisting modest steps to address climate change and even rejecting the science of climate change. What do you make of this state of affairs, of the infighting and polarization within the Republican Party on this issue?
A. I think [a carbon tax] scares people on the right because they’re of the view that this is not just trying to put a price on carbon, this is also trying to expand the size of government. Those two issues should be debated very distinctly.
If we start with a small carbon tax and the revenue really were rebated, I think over time a lot voters would say, “That worked out reasonably well.” And if we push it a little bit and continue to rebate it, they’ll see that it works just fine, and we can actually make more progress going forward.
Q. What will it take to mobilize and unify the Republican Party around this issue?
A. I think you can get buy-in from people on the right if you can convince them that we’re going to cut income taxes, which they’ve been paying, in order to add carbon taxes, which they may not be fond of, but maybe aren’t as bad an income taxes.
Q. Why a carbon tax and not a cap-and-trade system?
A. A carbon tax is much simpler. In cap-and-trade, one of the issues becomes: how do you allocate those permits for carbon emissions? A fully auctioned cap-and-trade system is very, very close to a carbon tax. But in practice, people who write the bills often don’t auction [all the permits] off, and [politicians] start using these permits to start paying off particular constituencies politically. That means that you’re basically pricing carbon, but you don’t have the revenue that you can use to reduce people’s taxes.
Q. Do you think that good climate policy could actually be a boon for the U.S. economy — that it could increase economic productivity and be a net positive in the long run?
A. It’ll be a net positive in the sense that we won’t have to deal with fallout from climate change. But no — if it weren’t for the impact on climate, we wouldn’t be doing this. I don’t think a carbon tax would be a good thing in and of itself. I wouldn’t still be in favor of a carbon tax for some other economic reason. Sometimes people on the green side want to push this as a big boon to the economy independent of the climate stuff, and I find that overselling the point.
Q. Carbon pricing — whether carbon tax or cap-and-trade — can’t on its own provide the big, swift emissions cuts to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius and stave off the worst climate impacts. What complementary policies are necessary?
A. One of the beauties of a carbon tax, for me, is that it makes a lot of other policies less necessary. You don’t need all the regulations, you don’t need what economists refer to as control solutions. You let the market work it out.
Q. What about caps on power plant emissions, let’s say, or car emissions standards, or restructuring energy subsidies?
A. I think putting a price on carbon moves everything in the right direction without the direct regulation. A carbon tax automatically incentivizes low-carbon forms of energy, so automatically wind and solar and technologies we haven’t even heard of yet are going to have an advantage relative to coal. People will automatically start thinking that electric cars are better than gas-powered cars.
I’m personally skeptical when the government tries to direct specific technologies. I mean, one of the open questions is, what are the best technologies of the future? I’d rather have the Elon Musks of the world making those bets than having a bunch of congressmen trying to decide what are the technologies of the future.
I’m conservative — I want limited government. But I want limited government that makes sure the private market is doing the right things. And in this case, the private market won’t do the right thing unless we put the price on this scarce resource.
Q. Elon Musk is an advocate of a carbon tax, with the idea that it could catalyze the cleantech industries, and possibly be a job-creation engine.
A. Again, I wouldn’t push a carbon tax as a huge job creator. Some jobs will be created, some jobs will be destroyed. Some industries will grow, some industries will shrink. I don’t think the overall economy’s going to boom.
Q. Critics of your work have argued that your economic theories are not politically practical, that—
A. Oh, maybe not right now, in a political primary dominated by Donald Trump. Right now, the dynamic in the Republican Party seems odd to me. I would never have predicted we would be where we are right now. But as an academic, I’m here to propose ideas, what I think are the right ideas, and convince people that I’m right, and hope that the politics will eventually fall in line.
Also, I’m not a political adviser. When I talk to any candidate, I say, “I’m going to tell you what I think is right, not what I think is politically expedient. Other people are going to tell you what’s politically expedient.” That’s not my job description.
From a Republican standpoint, a carbon tax is a pathway toward deregulation of the energy industry. You can say, look, we’re going to put a price on carbon so people are properly incentivized, they don’t have to meddle in all of your affairs. So, if you believe in deregulation, or a light touch of government, then a carbon tax is consistent with that, and that’s, I think, one of the ways to sell this to the right. Not only is revenue neutrality important, but also that it can go hand-in-hand with the deregulation agenda.
Q. You might even be able to get Donald Trump to buy into that framing.
A. Maybe. I don’t pretend to be able to get inside Donald’s brain.While Edward Snowden may be reviled at the top echelons of Western developed nations and is wanted in his native US on espionage charges for peeling back the curtain on how the gargantuan government machine truly works when it is not only engaged in chronic spying on anyone abroad, but worse, on its own people, the reality is that his whistleblowing revelations have done more to shift the narrative to the topic of dwindling individual liberties abused pervasively in the US and elsewhere, than anything else in recent years. And alongside that, have led to the first reform momentum of a system that is deeply broken. Which also happens to be the topic of a five-paragraph opinion piece he released today in German weekly Der Spiegel titled "A Manifesto For The Truth" in which he writes that his revelations have been useful and society will benefit from them and that he was therefore justified in revealing the methods and targets of the US secret service.
In the Op-Ed we read that "Instead of causing damage, the usefulness of the new public knowledge for society is now clear because reforms to politics, supervision and laws are being suggested."
RT adds: "Spying as a global problem requires global solutions, he said, stressing that "criminal surveillance programs" by secret services threaten open societies, individual privacy and freedom of opinion.
"Citizens have to fight against the suppression of information about affairs of essential importance for the public,” Snowden said in his five-paragraph manifesto. Hence, “those who speak the truth are not committing a crime."
Even with the existence of mass surveillance, spying should not define politics, Snowden said.
"We have a moral duty to ensure that our laws and values limit surveillance programs and protect human rights," he wrote.
The type of persecution campaigns that governments started after being exposed, and threats of prosecution against journalists, who blew the whistle, were “a mistake” and did not “serve the public interest,” Snowden concluded.
But "at that time the public was not in a position to judge the usefulness of these revelations. People trusted that their governments would make the right decisions," he said.
Needless to say, all of the above points are spot on, which is why one hopes that Snowden does not intend on returning to the US to defend himself with only truth and justice to lean on, because the US Judicial system is just as broken, if not more, as every other aspect of a tentacular government, intent on growing to even more epic proportions and silencing anyone and everyone who stands in its way.Having kept a journal documenting all my wildlife encounters with my country’s less commonly seen fauna for over three years now, I thought it was about time I condensed my notes into some sort of order to give you an idea of what you could expect to see when out and about in the Scottish countryside. It’s not of course, at all scientific and is predominantly from sightings in the Scottish Borders region, where I live, and the West coast of Scotland. But hopefully it will give you a useful overview of what our current wildlife is like and should reflect general population numbers in this part of the world. The percentage against each entry below represents the overall proportion of separate sightings for that animal from the total number of wildlife sightings recorded. Having crunched the numbers, there are a few surprises in the top 20…….
Roe Deer: 10.1%. Buzzard: 9.7%. Badger: 9.6% Fox: 6.7%. Bat: 5.1%. Kestrel: 3.9%. Heron: 3.9%. House Martin: 3.0%. Grey Squirrel: 2.8%. Brown Hare: 2.8%. Great Spotted Woodpecker: 2.8%. Tawny Owl: 2.7%. Common Shrew: 2.2%. Swallow: 2.0%. Sparrowhawk: 1.7%. Goldfinch: 1.7%. Siskin: 1.7%. Otter: 1.5%. Wren: 1.5%. Field Mouse: 1.3%.
Notable creatures spotted that just missed out on making it onto the list include, Weasel, Field Vole, Red Squirrel, Muntjac Deer, Nuthatch, Wood Mouse, Hedgehog, Barn Owl, White-Tailed Eagle, White-Throated Dipper and Greenfinch.
A cheeky visitor on our doorstep a couple of years ago. The culling of non-native, virus-carrying Grey Squirrels across Scotland has led to a resurgence of native Red Squirrel numbers in some regions, including my local area in the Scottish Borders.
AdvertisementsNHL teams up against the salary cap take note: restricted free agents may be targeted this offseason.
At least, that's the assessment of player agent Steve Bartlett, who appeared on WGR 550 Radio in Buffalo on Wednesday and said general managers may take advantage of teams with little wiggle room by signing RFAs to offer sheets:
The reality is the tighter the cap, the tighter teams are against the cap, it does open up more and more opportunity for a player to get an offer sheet and the team, no matter how much they would like to keep him, will not be in a position to match. So if I was guessing, I don’t think there’s going to be a huge explosion of them, but I think there may be more and more situations where a player with a team who can’t afford to even pay him what would be considered reasonable market value may have to turn to hoping he can get an offer sheet in order to get that because his own existing team can’t afford to match or meet the offer that he may get.
Notable restricted free agents at season's end include Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals, Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues, Dougie Hamilton of the Boston Bruins, Tyler Toffoli of the Los Angeles Kings, Brandon Saad of the Chicago Blackhawks, plus Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Bernier of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While offers sheets are quite rare, and choosing not to match even more so, it's likely the hockey world won't be shaken by a major poach.
But, after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman projected the salary cap to sit between $70-to-$71 million in 2015-16 and several teams already close to that ceiling, it's not out of the question that such a situation will present itself for cash-strapped clubs.
- With h/t to Today's Slapshot“Move fast and break things” has been the motto at Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook, embodying the Silicon Valley ethos of unapologetically finding new ways to solve old problems. His latest foray into politics in Washington, however, might be characterized as “Move fast, play hardball and be prepared for blowback.”
Fwd.Us, the new nonprofit advocacy group created by Mr. Zuckerberg and several technology executives and investors to push for an overhaul of immigration law, has bankrolled television ads endorsing the conservative stands taken by three lawmakers, prompting an outcry from liberal groups and a call to withhold advertisements from Facebook.
The uproar, some say, will be a lesson for Silicon Valley companies as they try to influence emotional political issues like immigration. But the group’s supporters brashly say they were ready for the reaction.
“Our advertising decisions are being made by a very smart team of political operatives who know that passing major reform will require some different and innovative tactics,” Jim Breyer, a venture capitalist with Accel Partners and a contributor to the cause, said in an e-mailed statement. “I’m proud to support Fwd.Us as they work to pass comprehensive immigration reform.”The last time Jeremy Corbyn visited the Republic of Ireland it was to speak at an international peace conference. The event was organised |
to drive Windows Phone 8. The biggest contribution though, is the full screen graphic that shows you the current weather. It's rather nice and artistic, and quite possibly the outstanding highlight of the entire custom HTC software implementation on Windows Phone 8.
One of the apps that I find incredibly useful, albeit for a very short period of time, is HTC's Connection Setup. This sets up all your Internet APN's, proxies, and login details from an on-board database of network providers and their various configurations. It's best left running in automatic, here the SIM ID is used to identify the network needed, although you can switch to manual, set your country, and choose the correct network combination (and wow, there are a lot of networks and virtual networks you can choose from in the UK!)
Most people will use this app once, when they first switch on a device, but I tend to switch SIM's between my devices on a regular basis, both around UK networks, and when I pick up SIM cards while travelling. Call up this app with a new insertion, and I can relax about any setup details or trying to find server addresses online without having my smartphone online. It does the job, it makes using the 8X that little bit easier, and then it can be deleted if you so wish.
I really like the fact that any of these apps can be deleted in the normal way (holding down a touch on the app list and select 'uninstall'). If you ever need to bring them back, just pop into the 'HTC Apps' section of the Windows Store on the 8X. This is also where you will pick up any updates to the applications.
Two other small utility applications are provided by HTC. The first is Flashlight, which will shine the LED flash constantly, allowing you to see in the dark. On screen you'll get the body of a flashlight, and the power button on the barrel of the torch which cycles through 'off' and three levels of brightness. The menu will also allow you to have the torch flashing automatically to gain attention, or to blink SOS if you are in an emergency situation.
The second is Converter, and this is where HTC's Android developers are probably involved. Unlike the main 'HTC' application, Converter looks nothing like a Windows Phone app. Not only does it not use the Windows Design Language, but this single screened application with drop down menus and faux tumblers of units to convert to and from is reminiscent of the multitude of Android apps that have been developed to look like iOS apps.
And now it's ported to Windows Phone in all its 'looking like another platform' glory. Yes it works, but it's rather disconcerting opening this application and finding yourself in what feels a different phone. I do think HTC have let themselves down here. The 8X styling is wonderful, the core apps and the HTC additions feel like Windows Phones... and then you have these applications that feel like a sausage roll in a vegetarian buffet.
Finally in the 8X suite is Photo Enhancer. It's the fashion nowadays to have an application to tweak the pictures taken on your smartphone (even though I can already hear Steve getting ready for a rant about true photography), and HTC have put their filter app within easy reach.
You can open the app directly from Windows Phone 8's 'Photos' application, in which case the chosen photo will be there ready for you, or you can open Photo Enhancer from the application list and choose the photo from the gallery. Either way, along the top of the screen you have a list of all the available filters. Scroll along, tap the filter, and see the results. If you like it, hit the save icon and have it placed in the 'Saved Images' folder, preserving the original image file.
What's missing is any way to edit your image. There are no tools to crop or resize the images you have taken, you can't rework any parts of the image. Neither are there are any direct methods to share the image on your social networks from the app - you'll need to open the image in 'Photos' and share it from there.
Take a closer look at the application and you'll see that there are no Windows Design Language features on show here as well. The visual nature hides it far better than the Converter application, but again we have a standard HTC app that does not take into account the environment of the device it is on. Again, it's functional to a large degree, but lacks that final flourish of features that could make it something you would turn to every day.
Another area in which this is quickly noticeable is in the icon design. Unlike the flat design used throughout Windows Phone by Microsoft (and followed by Nokia, as well as many third party developers), HTC have a haphazard approach to their icons. The HTC app does follow the Windows Design Language (which is not that much of a surprise, given that the whole app also follows the guidance), but the 16-bit graphical rendering of Converter, Flashlight and Connection Setup is jarring. Photo Editor has a touch of the 'lomo' filter around it, and if HTC's goal was to stand out in the app list, then they managed to do that. It's just that they stand out as being something apart from the system, like an afterthought.
That sums up how I feel about the HTC apps. They do provide extra functionality out of the box, and these are functions that are being added to the Windows Phone environment. What they don't do is provide a complete package for any of these applications (apart from possibly the flashlight, which really is an on or off situation - see what I did there?) Anyone looking for a serious photo app or a serious news reading app is going to have to head into the Windows Store... for everyone else, these apps probably offer functionality that you'll never need.
In that sense, these apps do brand HTC. These apps are showing the potential of the Windows Phone platform, and encourage you to look further afield to find out what is on offer in the Windows Phone Store. But these apps are the same package as I first encountered on the HTC Trophy some eighteen months ago. It doesn't feel like HTC have given the software the same loving attention as they have given to the physical design of the 8X.
Which is a shame, because when HTC try to work with the environment, they do show what you can do with Windows Phone as a manufacturer. It's a small thing but the HTC app, with the live tile, bringing the iconic clock to Microsoft's mobile OS, shows that HTC can enhance the phone, make it an HTC phone, and not diminish the capabilities. When you look at the external design of the 8X, and you recall the presentation of the smartphone and HTC's CEO waxing lyrical about how the design was inspired by the shape and the ideas behind the live tiles, you have to wonder why the software suite has not received the same attention.
I want to see more of that and less of the quick knock-off ports. I want the software to become a reason to buy an HTC Windows Phone handset over other handsets. I want HTC to care enough to deliver experiences in their applications so I don't have to download a third party app for the last few features HTC have not implemented. Most of all, I want to believe that HTC care about software as much as they care about the hardware.
HTC have missed an opportunity to be distinctive with their additional Windows Phone software.Watts Up With That's continued ignorance regarding Antarctic sea ice
Posted on 15 March 2010 by John Cook
Steve Goddard at Watts Up With That has it fixed in his mind that increasing Antarctic sea ice is caused by cooling. When I pointed out that the Southern Ocean where the sea ice forms is actually warming, Steve responded by labelling Skeptical Science a "scummy blog" and a partaker of "intellectual sloppiness". On a more positive side, he also dropped by to clearly articulate why he thinks the Southern Ocean is cooling. So let's examine what the empirical data has to say about temperature trends in the waters around Antarctica.
Steve's basis for Southern Ocean cooling comes from an NSIDC webpage, A brief look at Antarctic sea ice, which makes the following comment:
"A recent report (Turner, et. al., 2009) suggests that the ozone hole has resulted in changes in atmospheric circulation leading to cooling and increasing sea ice extents over much of the Antarctic region."
The NSIDC quote is unclear on whether the changes over "much of the Antarctic region" refer just to sea ice extent or to both sea ice and cooling. The next logical step is to examine the referred paper, Non-annular atmospheric circulation change induced by stratospheric ozone depletion and its role in the recent increase of Antarctic sea ice extent (Turner 2009). This paper uses climate modelling to explore how falling ozone in the stratosphere affects Antarctic climate and in particular, sea ice. The climate models find that falling ozone levels cause cyclonic winds which expose more surface water, leading to increased sea ice production. The only reference to temperature is where the models simulate cooler temperatures in one region of the Southern Ocean, the Ross Sea.
In Steve's defense, you can see how the NSIDC quote could lead one to think Turner 2009 had found cooling has occured "over much of the Antarctic region". However, a little investigation reveals that the paper doesn't offer empirical data on Southern Ocean temperature trends. What it does present is model simulated cooling in one region of the Southern Ocean.
So what do empirical observations tell us? Steve also cites a NASA map of temperature trends from 1981 to 2004. This map shows strong cooling over the East Antarctic continent. However, and more pertinent to sea ice trends, it also shows a strong warming over the Southern Ocean where sea ice forms.
Figure 1: An older NASA image of temperature trends over Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. This image was first published on April 27, 2006 and was based on data from 1981-2004. A more recent version was published on November 21, 2007 (see Figure 2 below). The new version extended the data range through 2007, and was based on a revised analysis that included better inter-calibration among all the satellite records that are part of the time series.
Unfortunately this map is no longer available on the NASA website but before the page went offline, Update: the page wasn't deleted, it was moved to this location (h/t to Robert Simmon). NASA posted a note stating that the temperature map had been updated with new data including better inter-calibration among all the satellite records (see Figure 2 below). The updated data showing more warming over the Antarctic continent. However, as far as sea ice is concerned, both maps shows a warming trend over the Southern Ocean.
Figure 2: Antarctic surface temperatures as observed by satellites between 1981 and 2007 (NASA).
Perhaps Steve was distracted by the continental cooling in Figure 1 and didn't notice the warming over the ocean. In that case, I recommend the following figure from Increasing Antarctic Sea Ice under Warming Atmospheric and Oceanic Conditions (Zhang 2007) as it displays trends only over the ice-covered Southern Ocean - this is the region where Antarctic sea ice forms.
Figure 3: Linear trend (1979–2004) of surface air temperature over the ice-covered areas of the Southern Ocean ( Zhang 2007 ).
We see strong warming over most of the ice-covered Southern Ocean although there is also some cooling. What is the average trend over the whole region? The overall surface temperature trend over the ice-covered regions of the Southern Ocean shows a warming trend:
Figure 4: Annual mean surface air temperature averaged over the ice-covered areas of the Southern Ocean. Straight line is trend line ( Zhang 2007 ).
Oceanographic data also find that the waters in the Southern Ocean are warming. The waters of the Southern Ocean's Antarctic Circumpolar Current have warmed more rapidly than the global ocean as a whole. From 1960 to 2000, water temperature increased by 0.068°C per decade at depths between 300 and 1000 metres. This warming trend has increased to 0.098°C per decade since the 1980s (Boning 2008).
Hopefully, when presented with the full array of empirical data, Steve Goddard will no longer continue the false assertion that Antarctic sea ice is growing because of cooling. Observations clearly state otherwise - the Southern Ocean where sea ice forms is warming. By fixing on a simple yet incorrect interpretation, Steve is depriving himself and his readers of the opportunity to explore the complex and fascinating question of Antarctic sea ice.Anselm's Ontological Argument
Anselm's ontological argument purports to be an a priori proof of God's existence. Anselm starts with premises that do not depend on experience for their justification and then proceeds by purely logical means to the conclusion that God exists. His aim is to refute the fool who says in his heart that there is no God (Psalms 14:1). This fool has two important features.
He understands the claim that God exists.
He does not believe that God exists.
Anselm's goal is to show that this combination is unstable. Anyone who understands what it means to say that God exists can be led to see that God does exist. On this view, the atheist is not just mistaken: his position is internally inconsistent.
What follows is an attempt to clarify the argument as it is presented in Chapter II of the Proslogium. The argument in Chapter III is rather different, and in some ways more interesting. After you have worked through this page, you might try to produce a similar gloss on the second argument. This will not be easy: the argument is notoriously complicated. But you might find it a useful exercise nonetheless.
A Running Paraphrase of the Argument
Let's work through the argument as Anselm presents it. Anselm writes:... we believe that thou art a being than which nothing greater can be conceived. This is Anselm's definition. We might paraphrase it as follows: By "God" we mean an absolutely unsurpassable being, a being that cannot conceivably be improved upon. As we've stressed, you do not need to agree that this is what the word "God" ordinarily means. Treat it as a stipulation. Clearly, if Anselm can establish the existence of a being of this sort, his conclusion would be of immense philosophical and theological significance. Or is there no such nature, since the Fool has said in his heart, there is no God? This puts the question: Is there in fact a being with the properties our definition assigns to God? But, at any rate, this very fool, when he hears of this being of which I speak - a being than which nothing greater can be conceived - understands what he hears, and what he understands is in his understanding; although he does not understand it to exist. This begins and ends straightforwardly. The fool understands the definition of God but denies that God exists. The first hint of strangeness comes in what seems to be a parenthetical remark: "what he understands is in his understanding". Anselm apparently proposes to treat the understanding or the mind as if it were a place, and to speak of things existing "in the understanding". Anselm's assumption here is that if I understand claims about God, then we may say that God exists in my understanding or in my mind. For it is one thing for an object to be in the understanding, another to understand that the object exists. For when a painter first conceives of what he will afterwards perform, he has it in his understanding be he does not yet understand it to be, because he has not yet performed it. But after he has made the painting, he both has it in his understanding and he understands that it exists, because he has made it. Anselm here explains a distinction. It is one thing for an object to exist in my understanding, and another for me to understand it to exist. This is a familiar distinction, even if the terms are not familiar. Ghosts, trolls, flying saucers and the like are all things I can think about. We might say that I have ideas of these things; Anselm says that they exist in the understanding. Anselm's point is that in general there is a difference between saying that something exists in my understanding and saying that I understand (or believe) it to exist. Trolls exist in my understanding; but I do not understand them to exist. Hence even the fool is convinced that something exists in the understanding, at least, than which nothing greater can be conceived. For when he hears of this, he understands it. And whatever is understood, exists in the understanding. Here Anselm applies the distinction he has just drawn to the case of God. The fool understands claims about God. So God - a being than which none greater can be conceived - exists in his understanding. Anselm means this to be an entirely uncontroversial claim. And assuredly, that than which nothing greater can be conceived cannot exist in the understanding alone: then it can be conceived to exist in reality, which is greater. Therefore, if that than which nothing greater can be conceived exists in the understanding alone, the very being than which nothing greater can be conceived is one than which a greater can be conceived. But obviously this is impossible. This is the heart of the argument. The trick is to show that God cannot possibly exist in the understanding alone. Anselm begins by contrasting existing in the understanding with existing in reality. This by itself is not problematic. Trolls exist in the understanding alone; Bill Clinton exists both in the understanding and in reality; and no doubt there are things that exist in reality that do not yet exist in the understanding because no human being has ever managed to frame a thought about them. The picture seems to be as follows:
In the area marked A we have things that exist in the understanding alone; in the area marked B we have things that exist both in the understanding and in reality; and in the area marked C we have things that exist in reality but not in the understanding. (For obvious reasons, we cannot give any concrete examples of the last category.) At this stage the fool has conceded that God exists in the understanding: so God belongs either in A or in B. Anselm now argues that God cannot exist in the understanding alone. The argument seems to proceed as follows. (1) Suppose (with the fool) that God exists in the understanding alone. (2) Given our definition, this means that a being than which none greater can be conceived exists in the understanding alone. (3) But this being can be conceived to exist in reality. That is, we can conceive of a circumstance in which theism is true, even if we do not believe that it actually obtains. (4) But it is greater for a thing to exist in reality than for it to exist in the understanding alone. (5) Hence we seem forced to conclude that a being than which none greater can be conceived can be conceived to be greater than it is. (6) But that is absurd. (7) So (1) must be false. God must exist in reality as well as in the understanding.
This reading of the argument is amply confirmed by the final paragraph: Therefore, if that than which nothing greater can be conceived exists in the understanding alone, the very being than which nothing greater can be conceived is one than which a greater can be conceived. But obviously this is impossible. Hence there is no doubt that there exists a being than which nothing greater can be conceived, and it exists both in the understanding and in reality.
A Reconstruction of the Argument
This is a useful first pass at the argument. Now let's go over it and try to isolate its most fundamental assumptions. (I'll highlight the premises of the reconstructed argument in red.) Remember the argument's dialectical context. The aim is to refute the fool - or less tendentiously, the rational atheist. So what we want to know about these premises is whether the fool should accept them. There is first the definition: (a)
By "God" we mean "a being than which no greater being can be conceived"
Then there are some assumptions about the Fool's understanding. (b)
We understand what it means to speak of a being than which no greater can be conceived. We understand what these words mean.
(c)
We can conceive of such a being's existing in reality.
Anselm now assumes a principle that he clearly regards as trivial. (d)
If we understand what it means to speak of X, then X exists in the understanding
. From (a),(b) and (d) we may now infer: (e) God exists in the understanding. (Note: this is not a premise. It is an intermediate conclusion supported by a quick argument from premises we have already accepted.) Anselm now employs a form of reasoning called reductio ad absurdum. This is a very useful technique. In a proof of this sort, we begin by assuming the opposite of what we want to prove. Then we derive a contradiction or an absurdity from this supposition. And from this we conclude that our original assumption was false. The general form of such an argument is as follows: Suppose P From P it follows that Q But Q is absurd (self-contradictory). Therefore P is false. For Anselm the target of his reduction is the proposition that God exists in the understanding alone. So let us suppose that this is the case: (f) Suppose that God exists in the understanding but not in reality. From (f) and (c) we may now infer (g) God in fact exists in the understanding alone, but he may be conceived to exist in reality as well as in the understanding. At this point Anselm wields what is perhaps his most controversial premise. It is hard to know exactly how to formulate it. But something like the following seems to be what Anselm has in mind. (h)
If something exists in the understanding alone, but can be conceived to exist in reality, then that thing can be conceived to be greater than it actually isMedia playback is unsupported on your device Media caption A taxi firm is criticised for refusing to pick up a man with his guide dog
A taxi driver who refused to carry a guide dog because he claimed it was against his religion has been fined for breaching equality laws.
Abandi Kassim turned away Charles Bloch, 22, and his dog in Leicester in July 2016.
The driver apologised outside Leicester Magistrates' Court and claimed he was "confused" at the time.
Mr Bloch said he hoped the fine would send a message to others that disability laws must be respected.
He had booked the minicab for himself and his assistance dog, Carlo, and his girlfriend filmed Kassim saying he would not take them with the dog because of his religion.
Mr Bloch, who is registered blind, explained the law but Kassim drove away.
More updates from Leicester and Leicestershire
Kassim, 44, of Fountains Avenue, Leicester, pleaded guilty to refusing to convey a guide dog, an offence under the Equality Act 2010, and was fined £340 plus £200 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
Magistrates told him taxi drivers had a duty to know the law.
Image copyright De Montfort University Image caption Charles Bloch said many friends were worried about the reaction to their assistance dogs
Kassim said: "I was confused because I was scared of the dog and at the time I did not know the difference between the guide dog and the normal dog.
"It was a mistake, it was a lack of training, I think there should be a course about dogs. I know about them now and would take them now."
Mr Bloch said: "I know a lot of people with assistance dogs worry about this happening so hopefully this shows them the law is on their side.
"It also shows that if they have a problem, there is something they can do about it."
This is the second time Mr Bloch has taken action against a taxi firm, with him bringing a similar case in November.
ADT Taxis, which employed Mr Kassim, said the driver had been dismissed as soon as they became aware of the incident.
Guide dogs and the law
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal for a private hire vehicle to refuse to take a disabled person because they have an assistance dog, nor can they charge more.
Anyone found guilty of an offence under the act is liable to a fine.
Assistance dogs are defined as dogs trained to guide someone who is blind, deaf, epileptic or suffers a condition which affects mobility.
Drivers can apply to a licensing authority for exemption from carrying assistance dogs, but only on medical grounds.
Source: UK GovernmentRestore Our Future is going up with an ad featuring Olympic athletes touting how Mitt Romney turned around the 2002 Olympic games.
“Mitt Romney brought a huge sense of hope,” says famed figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi in the ad. Yamaguchi won a gold medal in the 1992 and was an ambassador for the 2002 games. She also donated the maximum to Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.
“Mitt gets things done,” says Jimmy Shea, who won the 2002 gold medal in Skeleton. “He changed my life.”
“It meant a lot to athletes like myself to be able to realize our dreams,” says speed-skating gold medalist Derek Parra.
The only other pro-Romney ad run this general election has also been by Restore Our Future. Americans continue to have a more negative than positive impression of the former Massachusetts governor, according to the NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll. Just 35 percent viewed him favorably in the latest poll out this month, while 40 percent viewed him negatively.
Here's the script:joinDOTA MLG Pro League Season 1 Starts January 24
In December we announced the MLG-joinDOTA partnership and a guaranteed prize pool of $475,000 with $90,000 in travel support. Now we’re delighted to announce all of the Season 1 details.
The joinDOTA MLG Pro League Season 1 kicks off on Saturday, January 24 with round robin action in Europe, the Americas, and Asia through Saturday, March 21. The top 3 Teams in Europe, top 2 Teams in the Americas, and top Team in Southeast Asia will compete in the Season 1 Championship at the MLG Arena in Columbus, OH on April 10-12.
January 24th Schedule
9:00 AM EST – Invasion vs Arcanys
11:00 AM EST - Tinker vs LC
5:00 PM EST - coL vs Wheel
7:00 PM EST - uG vs paiN Where to watch: MLG.tv/joinDOTA
Ticket Info:
Pro Point information Here.
Season 1 Dates
January 24 – Round robin Begins
March 21 – Round robin Ends
April 10-12 – Season 1 Championship
Each Season’s Championship will feature a $75,000 base Prize Pool broken down as follows:
1st place = 40% ($30,000)
2nd place = 25% ($18,750)
3rd place = 15% ($11,250)
4th place = 10% ($7,500)
5th-6th place = 5% ($3,750) each
Season 1 will include top flight teams from each region; with EG, Fire and NoT from the Americas, Alliance, VP.Polar Empire from Europe and my G-Guard, my Invasion and kr MVP.Phoenix from Asia, just some of the teams to feature in our inaugural season.
Each Championship’s Prize Pool will be supplemented by sales of the season’s in-game ticket, with 20% of sales going to the Season Championship prize pool and 5% going to the $250,000 World Championship.
The Season 1 Championship will start with the 6 Teams competing in a round robin Group Stage. The top 4 Teams will then advance to a Stepladder Bracket. The Bracket will begin with the 3rd and 4th place Teams competing against each other, with the winner competing against the 2nd place Team, and finally the winner of that Match competing against the 1st place Team for the title.
For more information, see here.It should be obvious to anyone with a functioning human brain — not some vastly superior robotic brain of the very near future — that Isaac Asimov was a genius.
Or perhaps he was merely a useful idiot of our soon-to-be robot overlords.
If you're smart enough to watch "Westworld" on HBO — a great TV show with a chilling prospect — you probably already know the answer.
And there's a good argument that Asimov, the great science-fiction writer, was a useful idiot for the robots that will soon take all the jobs and then, quickly, before we can even think it through, make us their slaves.
The recent news that the European Union is considering a package of laws to govern robots, and perhaps grant them some type of legal "personhood," reinforces the urgency.
That, and of course, "The Singularity" which theorists say is that moment in future time when artificial intelligence surpasses our own. Things are then expected to change immediately when AI becomes king.
Since AI will be more powerful than human intelligence, we won't have much of a chance, we'll adapt and worship them. Think of primitive forest people of years ago, compelled to make gods of the airplane pilots who landed from the sky.
Then we might as well put on the slave shock collars and hope they let us live. They'll be stronger and smarter, but perhaps we can entertain them, with egg dancing or pugilism or sex shows, whatever excites our robot masters so they'll feed us.
It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Years ago, Asimov set forth his famous Rules for Robots.
This was back in ancient times when many people read novels and all kids wanted "good" robots that would help us on our space travels.
Good robots would assist us in conquering unknown planets and help administer the savages that lived on those planets as we spread the American Way through the galaxy.
Asimov's Rules for Robots seemed benign enough:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Later, Asimov apparently added a fourth law of robots above all others:
4. A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.
What fools we were.
Because anyone who watched "Westworld" knows that smart robots — besides being as sexy as the lovely Thandie Newton — can also reprogram themselves and kill humans at will.
Not kill them with anything as illogical as anger, but kill without remorse, like a farmer's wife dispatching rabbits or chickens for the family supper.
But of course these days, robots are depicted in some fiction as kindly and generous, with wants and needs and feelings. Humans who don't embrace their needs are considered bigots.
And TV commercials now tell us that all we have to do is ask a question out loud at home, and some AI with a pleasant, nonthreatening female voice will respond with the answer and make our lives complete.
Note that the voice isn't a Chicago voice like mine. And it's not named Lou or Gus, but Alexa or something similar, a name of star pilots. And if AI speaks to you, figure it's also storing your information, your wants, needs, proclivities, patterns of thinking.
Who was it who said data mining is like coal mining, only more lucrative?
And so we are programmed and prepared.
"What are you, a science denier?" asked a friend.
No, I said rather meekly, knowing that to be a science denier is a modern secular sin, like confessing to being a Communist Party member was a sin back in the early Asimov days, only worse.
I'm no science denier, God forbid. Science is reason and science is progress and progress is relentless. It has freed us from many diseases and opened a universe of possibilities. For example, we can toy with the DNA of the unborn and soon we'll be able — if we're not doing it already — to create perfect, disease free humans, or combine them with other mammals, or link them to synthetics.
And robots will free us from backbreaking toil, like John Henry, the steel-driving man of American railroad legend. John Henry was proud he could drive the railroad spikes with his sledgehammer, but his heart burst when he tried to keep pace with a steam-powered machine. Poor John Henry.
All this led me to the internet, where I found an older piece by George Dvorsky, "Why Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics Can't Protect Us."
He quotes Asimov as insisting that his Rules for Robots were the only way.
"I have my answer ready whenever someone asks me if I think that my Three Laws of Robotics will actually be used to govern the behavior of robots, once they become versatile and flexible enough to able to choose among different courses of behavior," Asimov wrote. "My answer is, yes, the Three Laws are the only way in which rational human beings can deal with robots — or with anything else."
Yet as Dvorsky and many others have noted, we're almost at the day when robots — and the AI that powers them — stronger, smarter than humans, will be mentally flexible enough to choose their own behavior.
And then what?
Listen to "The Chicago Way" podcast with John Kass and Jeff Carlin here: http://wgnradio.com/category/wgn-plus/thechicagoway.
jskass@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @John_KassMinneapolis, MN — At the August 8 Minneapolis Public Schools board meeting, directors voted to keep School Resource Officers in the schools. Before the meeting began, a group of young people with the Black Liberation Project, who have spent months speaking with school board members about the impact of having School Resource Officers in the schools, held a rally outside of the district offices.
During the public comment period of the board meeting, several students spoke about officers who abused their power and how having cops in the schools is part of the school-to-prison pipeline. They also gave solutions for the district to consider - such as using the $1.5 million in the contract for restorative justice work and hiring more counselors and social workers.
Board member Kerry Jo Felder, who represents families and students on the Northside of Minneapolis was also concerned about School Resource Officers in schools and proposed a compromise of a one-year contract and only 11 officers for the entire district. That proposal was voted down.
Director Felder also questioned why the office of civil rights was not a part of the discussion, and was told by the district legal counsel that the office does not deal with the School Resource Officers contract. The vote was eight to one, with Felder being the lone director voting against the SRO contract. This means that Minneapolis Public Schools agrees to a three-year contract to have Minneapolis police in the schools with a reduction of only two officers in the district. Members of the Black Liberation Project have vowed that the fight to remove School Resource Officers from the schools will not stop.Story Highlights 59% have favorable view of pope, down from 76% in February 2014
Christians, conservatives fueling the drop in favorability
Francis seen more favorably than Benedict, less so than John Paul II
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Pope Francis' favorability rating in the U.S. has returned to where it was when he was elected pope. It is now at 59%, down from 76% in early 2014. The pontiff's rating is similar to the 58% he received from Americans in April 2013, soon after he was elected pope.
After Pope Francis was elected the leader of the 1.2 billion-member Roman Catholic Church in March 2013, he attempted to focus the church on a renewed sense of protecting the poor, on interfaith relations and on respecting gay and lesbian members of the church. He was lauded in the American news media, with accolades including Time magazine naming him the Person of the Year in 2013. The next time Gallup asked about Pope Francis, in February 2014, his favorability had swelled to 76%.
In the current poll, conducted July 8-12, Francis' favorable rating declined, while his unfavorable rating increased to 16% from 9% in 2014. One-quarter of Americans say they have never heard of him or have no opinion, up from 16% in 2014. Now removed from the plaudits of 2013 and the high ratings of 2014, it appears that fewer Americans know enough about the pope to be able to rate him.
Pope's Image Among Catholics and Conservatives Worsens
The drop in the pope's favorable rating is driven by a decline among Catholics and political conservatives, two groups that have been ardent supporters of the modern papacy. Seventy-one percent of Catholics say they have a favorable image of Francis, down from 89% last year.
Pope Francis' drop in favorability is even starker among Americans who identify as conservative -- 45% of whom view him favorably, down sharply from 72% last year. This decline may be attributable to the pope's denouncing of "the idolatry of money" and linking climate change partially to human activity, along with his passionate focus on income inequality -- all issues that are at odds with many conservatives' beliefs.
The pope's image has taken a hit among liberals and moderates as well. Francis' favorable rating among liberals fell 14 percentage points. Many liberals have criticized the pope for not embracing ordination of women as priests or allowing priests to marry. His papacy is still relatively new, however, and in time he may address these long-standing doctrinal questions more fully.
Francis' Ratings Higher Than Benedict's, but Below John Paul's
Pope Francis' 59% favorable rating exceeds the 40% who viewed Pope Benedict XVI favorably in 2010, before he retired in early 2013 after an eight-year papacy. Benedict was plagued by priest abuse scandals in the last years of his papacy. Americans' views of Benedict were higher before 2010, but never as high as the 76% achieved by Francis last year.
In contrast, Pope John Paul II, who served as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church for nearly 27 years, always polled above 60% in the 1990s and 2000s, reaching a high of 86% favorability in late 1998. The 64% who have viewed Francis favorably throughout his papacy is below John Paul's average of 72%.
Also, a higher percentage of Americans say they have never heard of Francis than said the same about John Paul II. However, on average, a significantly higher percentage of Americans |
short tons.[2] Wyoming coal is shipped to 35 other states. The coal is highly desirable because of its low sulfur levels.[3] On average Wyoming coal contains 0.35 percent sulfur by weight, compared with 1.59 percent for Kentucky coal and 3 to 5 percent for other eastern coals. Although Wyoming coal may have less sulfur, it also a lower “heat rate” or fewer Btu’s of energy. On average Wyoming coal has 8600 Btu’s of energy per pound, while Eastern coal has heat rates of over 12,000 Btu’s per pound, meaning that plants have to burn 50 percent more Wyoming coal to equal the power output from Eastern coal.[4] Coal-fired power plants produce almost 95% of the electricity generated in Wyoming. Wyoming’s average retail price of electricity is 5.27 cents per kilowatt hour, the 2nd lowest rate in the nation[5]
It’s so bad, that Wyoming’s coal plants earned the coveted “Coal Swarm” badge on that page.
Gosh.
But not to worry, NCAR has a plan to “clean up” that dirty coal use to power their supercomputer climate modeling system.
Again from the interoffice staff notes
The new center will be the first NCAR facility to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for its design, construction, and operation. Measuring 108,000 square feet in total with 15,000-20,000 square feet of raised floor, it will be built for 8 megawatts of power, with 4-5 megawatts for computing and 3-4 for cooling. The power will be generated primarily from “clean” coal (coal that has been chemically scrubbed to reduce emissions of harmful pollutants) via Cheyenne Light Fuel and Power. NCAR is also aggressively working to secure the provision of alternative energy (wind and solar) for the facility, hoping to attain an initial level of 10%. “We’re going to push for environmentally friendly solutions,” Tim says.
Clean Coal? Hmmm. NASA GISS’ Dr. Jim Hansen says Clean Coal is a decade away:
James Hansen, one of the world’s best-known global warming researchers and a recent vocal advocate of proposed coal plants, says clean coal technology used on a full-scale coal-fired plant could be at least a decade away. He expressed the sentiment in a media briefing organized by clean energy group RE-AMP, arguing against a proposed coal plant in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Hansen also said that:
“The trains carrying coal to power plants are death trains. Coal-fired power plants are factories of death. When I testified against the proposed Kingsnorth power plant, I estimated that in its lifetime it would be responsible for the extermination of about 400 species – its proportionate contribution to the number that would be committed to extinction if carbon dioxide rose another 100 ppm.”
Don’t worry, the University of Wyoming in Cheyenne, where the new NCAR supercomputing center will be, is already on top of the situation. This is from their press release May 26th, 2008:
The University of Wyoming is ready to research clean coal and wants proposals from both academic and industry organizations. With the help of the Wyoming state government, they’ve arranged for up to $4.5 million in research funds — which can be matched by non-state funds.
And, Wyoming already has their hand out to Presdient Obama:
From CBS in Denver:
Colorado, Utah, Wyoming Seek Clean Coal Funding DENVER (AP) ― The governors of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming are asking President Barack Obama to fund the development of clean-coal technologies in the West.
Yup, clean coal will power that new NCAR supercomputer any day now, and we’ll be paying for it.
In the meantime:
I’m sure NCAR will let us know how those wind turbines work out for that other 10% of the power.
h/t to Steve Goddard in comments
Advertisements
Share this: Print
Email
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
LinkedIn
RedditThe superhero sequel is getting out of the way of 'Star Wars: Episode IX.'
Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman 2 is hitting theaters a little earlier than expected.
Warner Bros. has moved the film up to Nov. 1, 2019, from its previous date of Dec. 13, 2019.
The shift comes after Disney and Lucasfilm pushed back the release of Star Wars: Episode IX to Dec. 20, 2019. The Star Wars film had been set to hit theaters in May 2019, but was relocated after J.J. Abrams replaced Colin Trevorrow in the director's chair.
Wonder Woman 2, with Gal Gadot returning in the titular role, will have more breathing room now.
Warners also announced the shift in the wake of the box-office success of Thor: Ragnarok, which debuted on Nov. 3 to franchise-best numbers, proving that early November can be a lucrative corridor for superhero fare. Ragnarok has grossed $211.6 million in its first 10 days domestically and $650.1 million globally.
Released in June of this year, Wonder Woman shattered numerous records on its way to becoming the top-grossing film of all time from a female filmmaker with solo directing duties. The pic earned $412.6 million domestically and $821.8 million worldwide.Creating beautiful pieces of art sometimes comes with a risk—working with x-rays is dangerous. Safety is paramount, so all the radiation is contained in a bespoke concrete structure, "The Black Box." This is where the vast majority of the x-ray work is created.
Inside The Black Box are several different x-ray machines and a film processor. An x-ray machine consists of a head unit that emits x-rays and an electronic control that drives the head unit. The head unit is inside the area built to contain radiation; the controls are on the outside.
Items to be x-rayed are placed on a lead floor or wall. Film is placed under or behind the subject. The x-rays that emanate from the head units pass through the item and make an image on the film. That image is exactly the same size as the objects. If an object is too large to fit on one film, several sheets of film are used.
Once the setup is complete, a heavy lead-lined door is pulled shut to contain the radiation. An appropriate exposure time for the item is then entered into the control panel (more x-rays are needed to image a heavy object made of steel than a light object made of plastic).
Now the x-ray exposure is complete, the film is collected from the x-ray room. This film is processed and then scanned on a high-resolution scanner to obtain optimal detail and sharpness. The digital file created by the scanner is then carefully cleaned and retouched. Sometimes color is added, sometimes not. The result is an x-ray of unparalleled detail and beauty.
I had x-rayed parts of cars many times over the course of my career, but had never satisfactorily x-rayed a complete vehicle. I wanted a car that was genuinely cherished by its owners, but had a wider cultural significance and was considered an automotive classic. I have been a Mini owner, and the cars stay in your heart long after you have moved on to pastures new. Furthermore, my engineering images work best when the subjects possess a certain simplicity. The Mini was simple in design and engineering terms, but it was an undisputed design classic. It had reached its half century in spectacularly successful fashion and I wanted to celebrate that occasion.
We painstakingly took the car apart at my studio, piece by piece, and then exposed these elements to hundreds of hours of x-rays. The car we x-rayed had seen better days but the components were good and they looked fantastic when scanned and digitally retouched. That is how we rebuilt the Mini―in the computer. This enabled me to get the best exposures of the many materials in the car. It took us months but the results are spectacular.
Shooting the side of the car was difficult and, the engine block, as a mass of metal, was particularly resistant to being probed by the x-ray machines. However, I persisted and experimented and eventually got the results I wanted. Good old Haynes’ manuals came in useful in the deconstruction and reassembly stages.
From Nick Veasey's artist statement: "We live in a world obsessed with image. What we look like, what our clothes look like, houses, cars… I like to counter this obsession with superficial appearance by using x-rays to strip back the layers and show what it is like under the surface. Often the integral beauty adds intrigue to the familiar. We all make assumptions based on the external visual aspects of what surrounds us and we are attracted to people and forms that are aesthetically pleasing. I like to challenge this automatic way that we react to just physical appearance by highlighting the, often surprising, inner beauty."A miniature version of one of the most ubiquitous tools in science – the spectrometer – has been developed that is small enough to function within a smartphone.
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Tsinghua University in China created the miniature spectrometer by replacing the interferometric optics traditionally used with a filter composed of colloidal quantum dots.
What is a quantum dot? A quantum dot is a semiconductor nanostructure discovered in 1981 by Russian physicist Alexy Ekimov. Applications for quantum dots range from next-generation solar cells to powerful quantum computers.
Using these materials, it was possible to create a spectrometer that is smaller, lighter and cheaper than traditional devices. Details of the research were published this week in the journal Nature.
Spectrometers are widely used to analyse light in physical, chemical and biological research. If integrated into smartphones or smartwatches, the researchers claim quantum dot spectrometers could be used to diagnose skin diseases, analyse urine samples, monitor UV levels, track vital signs and detect environmental pollutants.
"Spectroscopy is carried out in almost every field of science, whenever light interacts with matter," the paper's abstract states.
"Although sophisticated instruments with impressive performance characteristics are available, much effort continues to be invested in the development of miniaturised, cheap and easy-to-use systems."
Spectrometers are used in a wide range of applications, including on Nasa's Mars Curiosity Rover, monitoring marine ecosystems, characterising proteins and analysing respiratory gas in hospitals.
The quantum dot spectrometer is currently around the size of a 1p piece and can be produced using materials that cost no more than a few dollars.
"Of course we still have a lot of room for improvement. But performance-wise, even at this preliminary stage, our spectrometer works very close to what's currently being sold in the market," Jie Bao, lead author of the study, told Popular Mechanics.
"I think that's one of the most attractive results of our research: [This spectrometer] is already so close to a real product."
Bao believes that the spectrometer could soon be integrated into smartphones and smartwatches in order to allow people to more accurately assess whether or not they have skin cancer through apps such as SkinVision.
Beyond consumers, it is likely that the cost and size of the quantum dot spectrometers will make them an attractive option for space agencies like Nasa to replace current devices.
"That's what I'm really hoping for, seeing them in cellphones in the very near future," Bao said, adding: "The people who are planning space missions are pretty much counting every gram, and so this would be a very easy way to lose weight."As many as 3,434 students of government-run residential schools in Kandhamal district of Odisha have tested positive for malaria."The affected students have been administered drugs.The health officials are keeping a watch on their condition," said Kandhamal District Collector Yamini Sarangi.Blood samples of 19,767 students of 214 residential schools run by ST and SC development department in the tribal-dominated district were tested between July 6 and August 3.The Collector directed the health officials to conduct the tests after 65 of 143 students of a primary residential school at Ranipathara were found suffering from the vector-borne disease last month.The Collector launched a three-month malaria, dengue and diarrhoea awareness drive last week and said the focus will be on school children."The accredited social health activists and other health workers will follow up the programme. They will immediately refer such cases to government hospitals," said Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Sapaneswar Gadanayak.The students will be sensitised on the causes of the vector-borne disease, he added.The programme will start with indoor residual spraying (IRS) in all hostels and schools to check malaria outbreak."We will provide medicated mosquito nets to the inmates and persuade them to use these," said district consultant, National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, Kumuda Chandra Sahu.Kandhamal has recorded two deaths due to malaria this year. Six persons had died of the vector-borne disease the previous year, while two persons had tested positive for dengue in 2014, sources said.By Jonathan Gault
January 15, 2015
Early Sunday morning, the Aramco Houston Half Marathon will play host to the 29th USA Half Marathon Championships. In the past, the event has been a springboard to marathon success. In 2007, Ryan Hall stunned the world with a 59:43 American record win and then led the London Marathon at 35k a few months later, before settling for the #2 time in American history. Meb Keflezighi won the event in 2009 and 2014 and went on to win major marathons each year. Deena Kastor prevailed in the 2004 edition and claimed Olympic bronze two months later.
The 39-year-old Keflezighi is back and will go for his third straight title on Sunday (fourth overall; he crossed the line second in 2013 but the winner that year was drug cheat Mo Trafeh), while 2014 women’s champ Serena Burla will run the full marathon instead. Josphat Boit (third last year), Matt Llano (fifth) and Jeffrey Eggleston will challenge Keflezighi, while Norwegian-based Annie Bersagel (13th at World Half Marathon Champs in ’14), Lauren Kleppin (second last year; 14th at World Half Champs) and USA 10,000 champ Kim Conley lead the women’s half marathon field.
The key details for Sunday’s races are below, followed by previews of each event.
What: Chevron Houston Marathon & Aramco Houston Half Marathon (with the latter doubling as the USA Half Marathon Championships)
Where: Houston, Texas
When: 6:55 a.m. Central Time
How to watch: Online at USATF.tv here starting at 6:50 a.m. Central Time
*Event website *Half marathon start lists *2014 LRC coverage *2014 results *RRW story on Kim Conley
Men’s Half Marathon
Meb is obviously the biggest name in the field and if he’s fit, there’s no reason to think he won’t be able to defend his title on Sunday. He’s coming off one of the best years of his career, as he won the USA Half Marathon Championship in January, the Boston Marathon in April and finished fourth in the New York City Marathon in November.
Keflezighi’s 61:00 pb is the fastest in the field, and while that time isn’t totally relevant (it’s from 2009), he did run 61:23 to win in Houston last year, the fastest time by an American in 2014. Shadrack Biwott (61:25) and Josphat Boit (61:32), the #2 and #3 Americans last year, are also entered; Keflezighi isn’t leaps and bounds ahead of this field. But given his tremendous 2014 and past success in this event, he has to be considered the favorite.
The question about Keflezighi — and really, everyone in the field — is where is he at in his training? Many of the top guys in this race will have a spring marathon on their radar (Keflezighi committed to Boston last week), but the dates of those marathons will vary, so guys will be at different points in their buildup. For other guys, Houston could be the culmination of a fall of training, one last race before taking a break and building up again for the summer road race season.
The prize money in Houston ($12,000 for first, $10,000 for second, down to $250 for 10th, plus time bonuses) is serious enough that the top guys will enter this race in good shape. Cash isn’t a concern for Keflezighi, and he doesn’t necessarily need a good tune-up race before a marathon (last year, he ran just 29:59 for 10K at Beach to Beacon three months before finishing fourth in New York), but he won’t want to run poorly here with a slew of Americans hungry to hand him a defeat. He won Houston before winning Boston last year, and opening 2015 in similar fashion would be a nice confidence boost for Meb.
Going by PR, Biwott and Boit, both of whom ran well here last year (Biwott was seventh in 61:56; Boit third in 61:41) are the two biggest threats to Keflezighi, though it’s hard to know how fit they are right now. Biwott had a solid second half of 2014, running 61:25 in San Diego in June, taking third at the U.S. 10K Championships at Peachtree in July and running 2:12:55 in Frankfurt in October. He seems more likely to upset Keflezighi than Boit, who hasn’t raced since taking 12th at Peachtree on July 4.
Outside of those two and Meb, there are two other men in the field who have broken 62:00 for the half: Mammoth Track Club’s Gabriel Proctor and Northern Arizona Elite’s Matt Llano. Proctor was 10th last year and went on to set personal bests in the half marathon (61:40) and marathon (2:13:45 in Chicago). 2014 Houston was a breakout race for Llano, as he was fifth in 61:47, but he fizzled after going out ambitiously in his marathon debut in Chicago (24th in 2:17:43). Proctor, still just 24, has the best chance to break through for the win as it will be more difficult for Llano, 26, to make a big jump two years in a row.
Diego Estrada (USA 5K road champ) and Girma Mecheso (USA 20K road champ) are the two most accomplished debutantes in the field. It’s not a stretch to imagine either running in the 61-minute range and perhaps battling for the win on a good day. Mecheso’s victory at the USA 20K champs last year suggests that he in particular may be suited to the half marathon distance (20K is just over 12.4 miles).
One interesting name to watch is Jeffrey Eggleston. Eggleston, who finished as the second-fastest American marathoner of 2014 (2:10:52 at Gold Coast), cranked out 10 half marathons last year. Based on those results, he probably won’t contend for the win here (his pb is 63:00) but he still managed to run under 64:00 in six of his 10 half marathons, an impressive feat. Houston could be sub-64:00 #1 of 2015 for Eggleston.
2015 Houston men Who wins the men's race in Houston? Other Shadrack Biwott Meb Keflezighi Matt Llano Josphat Boit Girma Mecheso Diego Estrada Gabe Proctor
Women’s Half Marathon
One of the nice things about the half marathon is that it’s short enough for 10K runners to be competitive and long enough for marathoners to use their strength. Ideally, you’ll get a mix of each type in a half marathon and that’s the case in the women’s race in Houston.
From the marathon side, the two women to watch are the U.S.’s top two finishers at last year’s World Half Marathon Championships, Annie Bersagel and Lauren Kleppin. Bersagel (70:09 pb) won the Dusseldorf Marathon last year in 2:28:59 and was 10th in New York in November. Kleppin (70:15 pb) ran 2:28:48 to take third in Los Angeles last March and was 15th in New York. She was also second in this race a year ago, and though her time of 72:12 was 1:24 back of winner Serena Burla, Burla is doing the full marathon in Houston this year, making Kleppin the top returner. Both Bersagel and Kleppin finished in the top five on the 2014 U.S. list for both the half marathon and the marathon, and if you prefer strength over speed, they’re probably the two women to beat.
Their chief competition figures to be Olympian Kim Conley. The 28-year-old has made steady progress on the track, lowering her 5000 pb in each of the last seven years and making U.S. teams at 5000 in 2012 and 2013. She moved up to win her first U.S. title, at 10,000, last year, and Houston will mark her second half marathon and her first serious one. Conley ran 75:41 in October at the Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon but told David Monti of Race Results Weekly that, “We actually did that as the beginning of this build-up. We definitely approached that as a 12-mile steady state (after an easy opening mile). It was definitely more like a workout. It was a target pace of 5:40 to 5:45 (per mile) that we were trying to hit.”
So what can we expect from Conley on Sunday? A couple of good examples to follow are Shalane Flanagan and Molly Huddle, who made their half marathon debuts at similar points in their careers. While Flanagan and Huddle were clearly better runners than Conley when attempting their debut half marathons, they’re both runners who, like Conley, started as primarily 5000 types before moving up in distance.
Athlete (age at debut) Date 5k pb at time of race 10k pb at time of race HM time Shalane Flanagan (28) 1/17/2010 14:44.80 30:22.22 69:41 Molly Huddle (29) 3/16/2014 14:44.76 31:27.12 69:04 Kim Conley (28) 1/18/2015 15:08.61 31:48.71???
The data here doesn’t tell the whole story. Huddle was in better 10k shape than her pb indicated (she ran 30:47 a month and a half later) and Flanagan didn’t have a huge incentive to run faster (she won that race — also the Houston Half Marathon — by 27 seconds and ran 68:37 later that year).
Any conclusions from just two data points aren’t going to be reliable, but let’s try and estimate what Conley might be capable of running on Sunday. If we skew Flanagan/Huddle’s average time a bit closer to Huddle’s time (giving Flanagan extra credit for the win), it’s realistic to say that a woman who has run 14:44 for 5000 should be able to run in the 69:10-15 range for 13.1 miles. Conley’s 15:08.61 pb is 2.7 percent slower than Flanagan/Huddle’s 14:44.78 average pb; if we multiple 69:10 by 1.027, it comes out to 71:02.
Of course, there are other variables at play here. Logically, Flanagan should have run faster in her first half than Huddle did based on her far superior 10k pb, but Huddle’s time was way faster (though Huddle didn’t win the race as Flanagan did). Perhaps Conley is less suited to the longer distance than Flanagan or Huddle? Conley has also said that, while she wants to run fast, her main focus is on racing the field, not the watch, according to Race Results Weekly. But in terms of analyzing her performance for Conley, a victory or anything close to 71:00 has to be considered a major success.
The other notable name is Janet Bawcom, the 2012 Olympian at 10,000 meters who has the fastest pb of anyone in the field (69:55 from the 2012 NYC Half). Bawcom has won a pair of low-key half marathons over the past few months (73:06 at the Savannah Rock ‘n’ Roll Half in November; 73:30 at the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Half in December), but she was just 16th at the.US 12K champs on November 16. Bawcom will need to regain the form that saw her take second at the U.S. 15K champs and the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler early in 2014 if she is to be a factor on Sunday.There are two other women who could contend for the win in Houston. Sara Hall, who was 11th last year, has won her last four half marathons, though none have come against serious competition. She did beat Conley at the Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon in October, but Conley was treating that as a workout. Hall’s average margin of victory in those four races — the Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon in July, Healdsburg, the San Jose (Costa Rica) Half Marathon in November and the Dallas Half Marathon in December — 5:31, even though her average time was just 72:54. Hall will get a real test this time (she was 11th in Houston last year, and her 73:38 time was her slowest of the year) and in a fast field, it’s not hard to imagine her getting down to the low-72:00/high-71:00 area, which would put her right among the leaders.
2015 Houston women Who wins the women's race in Houston? Sara Hall Annie Bersagel Lauren Kleppin Kim Conley Janet Bawcom Other
Men’s and Women’s Marathons
I’ve combined the marathons into one section because there are fewer Americans, they’re less interesting races and there’s no U.S. title on the line (the U.S. Champs are scheduled for March 15 in Los Angeles). Twenty-four-year-old Ethiopian Bazu Worku leads the men’s field; he has a 2:05:25 pb and has won the last two editions of this race. The American contingent includes Aaron Braun (who was second at the USA Half Marathon Champs last year but only run 2:19:51 in his marathon debut in LA) and veteran Craig Leon, who was 14th in Boston last year and 16th in Chicago. 2:07 Ethiopian Debebe Tolossa is also in the field (full elite entries here).
The women’s race boasts several Ethiopians, with Beijing Marathon champ Fatuma Sado (2:25:39 pb) the most accomplished of them. American Serena Burla, who won the half marathon at this race last year, will look to improve on her 2:28:01 pb from Amsterdam in 2013.
First place in each marathon earns $40,000 (down to $2,000 for seventh), with an extra $5,000 for the first American.To tackle the problem of absenteeism of its member of parliament (MPs), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be creating a group on instant messenger Whatsapp where the MPs will be informed about meetings and sessions. Parliamentary Affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu will create the group and inform the MPs.
According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not happy with the attendance of MPs in both the houses. He sent the message to BJP MPs to be more sincere and also to be present for Thursday's parliamentary party meeting on time.
To keep a track the PM asked the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to create a Whatsapp group for all MPs and send them regular messages to be part of meetings and sessions.
The PM also asked for Facebook accounts of the party MPs.Promotion-chasing Wolves beat Swindon to set a new club record of nine successive wins and maintain their lead at the top of League One.
Bakary Sako headed in James Henry's ninth-minute cross from close range as Wolves ran riot in the first half.
Nouha Dicko drilled in Sako's pass for his eighth goal in as many games before Sako grabbed his second from 15 yards.
Wolves keeping strikers at the door Michael Smith's goal for Swindon was the first Wolves had conceded in 680 minutes since Sam Baldock scored from the penalty spot in Bristol City's 3-1 defeat at Molineux in January. In that time Wolves were on target 21 times without reply.
Michael Smith's neat finish gave Swindon hope on 74 minutes before Leon Clarke sealed victory in injury time.
Kenny Jackett's side have now scored 24 goals in their record-breaking run and remain two points clear of Leyton Orient at the top of the table, following Orient's win at Port Vale.
Swindon stay in eighth place, eight points outside the play-off places.
Swindon Town manager Mark Cooper told BBC Wiltshire:
Media playback is not supported on this device Post-match: Swindon boss Cooper
"You can't play against a club like Wolves, with the financial riches they've got, and not have 11 men pulling in the same direction.
"After rolling their sleeves up, I thought they were outstanding in the second half.
"I understand it's easier when you're 3-0 down but we could have easily been blown away.
"Full credit to the boys on the pitch in the second half - I thought they were outstanding."
Wolves manager Kenny Jackett told BBC WM:
Media playback is not supported on this device Post-match: Wolves manager Kenny Jackett
"It was a game of two halves. I thought we were very poor in the second half and rode our luck.
"I was disappointed in the second half. We're capable of doing better and we'll have to do more than that.
"The most important thing is that we've won and it's a fantastic achievement by the players to get the club record."A CBC documentary about the Bell of Batoche is generating some controversy in Saskatchewan.
According to Doc Zone producers, the artifact that was in the news last summer as the Bell of Batoche is actually another bell from Frog Lake, Alberta.
Now, one of the people who worked on the return of what was believed to be the Bell of Batoche is not pleased with how the latest information has been handled.
This is going to hurt a lot of people. - Bishop Albert Thévenot
Bishop Albert Thévenot, from the diocese of Prince Albert, told CBC News Thursday that he is upset that people in the Métis community were not contacted about the bell's provenance.
"They had no consideration for the people involved," Thévenot said. "It's as if they're just trying to show a fact that you are wrong. And that's not what history is all about."
The story of the bell of Batoche has been an important part of Western Canadian history since the days of Louis Riel. The church bell was taken by Canadian soldiers as a trophy of war during Riel's last battle in 1885. It was on display in a legion hall in Ontario until 1991, when it disappeared. It resurfaced last summer and was returned to Saskatchewan.
The documentary producers, however, have uncovered evidence showing that bell was taken from Frog Lake, Alberta.
Thévenot said the new information will not be taken well in some Métis quarters.
"This is going to come out like a bomb for some of them," he said. "And this is going to raise a kind of — I don't like to say it — but a little bit of a hatred towards the government. Because they had stolen their bell, and here they're going to steal it away again? This is going to hurt a lot of people."
Batoche bell fragments nearby
When the documentary aired, Thursday night, it also suggested that fragments of the Batoche bell may be part of a shrine at St. Laurent de Grandin, the site of a Métis settlement not far from Batoche. The documentary uncovered evidence suggesting the Batoche bell was moved to a church at St. Laurent where it was in use since 1937.
That church burned down in 1990 but fragments of the bell are still with the shrine.'He wanted to be a cop and the LAPD killed him': 'Unarmed' Asian teen shot dead by police after dramatic chase was cadet drop-out
Police helicopter cameras capture the high-speed freeway chase
Suspect Abdul Arian heard saying: 'I have a gun'
Arian dodged flying bullets as police pursued the fleeing motorist
Uncle says he wanted to be a policeman, adding: 'He was a good boy, he'd never had a fight. He was the straightest kid you could know'
Shooting comes at sensitive time in the US on the back of Trayvon Martin's death
The 19-year-old who was shot dead on a Los Angeles highway was once in the city’s Police Department Explorer Academy, but had been discharged because of disciplinary reasons, it has been revealed.
Though it is unclear why Abdul Arian was removed from the program, police confirmed the program teaches students who are interested in careers in law enforcement.
Arian was killed on live television after a dramatic chase down Highway 101.
Scroll down for video
Police chase: Unarmed motorist Abdul Arian is seen running backwards and simulating pointing a weapon
Desperate: Abdul Arian, 19, was reportedly unarmed as police caught up with him on the 101 Freeway
Tragic loss: This undated photo shows Ray Karimee, left, and his younger cousin, Abdul, while family members are at a loss as to what caused Abdul's erratic behaviour (left centre and right)
Partial transcript of 911 call Abdul made during the freeway chase
Abdul: I have been arrested before for possession of destructive devices, I'm not afraid of the cops.
If they pull their guns, I'm going to have to pull my gun out on them. Police dispatcher: I don't want you to hurt yourself. Abdul: I'm not gonna get hurt s*** h***, f*** these police, they're going to get hurt.
Arian’s uncle, Hamed Arian, told the Los Angeles Times that his nephew aspired to be a police officer.
He said: ‘He wanted to be an LAPD cop, and the LAPD killed him.’
The dramatic video shows an LAPD police patrol car smashing into Arian's car as he does a failed U-turn in the road before he flees simulating pointing a weapon at chasing police.
News helicopter footage from CBS Sky 2 shows Arian jumping out of his car, turning and fleeing the scene running backwards.
He then repeatedly spins around in a combat stance just before he was shot on the US 101 Freeway in Woodland Hills, LA.
But a different picture is emerging of the man who was killed after the high-speed car chase.
His Facebook page suggests a different story with Arian posting comments and pictures which shed light on his interests and lifestyle.
In one on April 5, he posted a status update, saying: 'Just came back from the shooting range.'
There is also an enlarged photo of his car posted on the page.
Beaming: A glowing undated picture of the teenager in happier times
Fled: Arian left his car behind to try and avert chasing police in the dramatic footage captured on live television
A helicoptor news camera captures the fleeing 19-year-old after he had failed to stop for driving recklessly
It has emerged that Arian made a frantic 911 call to police during the pursuit, saying he had a gun, but one wasn't recovered from the scene.
Arian was shot dead by an officer as he fled his vehicle just before 10pm Friday night.
The images of last night's police chase show the aftermath of the scene on the freeway wreathed with smashed remnants of the suspect’s car and bullet casings.
The shooting comes at a very sensitive time in America following the huge public outcry over Trayvon Martin's shooting.
In a case which has gripped America and generated international headlines, Martin's killer George Zimmerman, who claimed he was acting in self defence, was charged with second degree murder this week after police hunted him for 45 days.
He faces the prospect of life in prison.
Lieutenant Andy Neiman said: 'The investigation will determine what happened, what the officer saw, what the witnesses saw.
'Sometimes what you see from a live shot from the air unit may or may not be exactly what people think so until we determine exactly what the witnesses saw, we can't make any comment on that.
Asked if the suspect was carrying a gun, Lt. Neiman said: 'That has not been determined at this point.'
The suspect's uncle Hamed Arian told the station: 'He was a nice kid. He was working. He was such a sweet kid, respectful to others.
'He wanted to be a cop and like I said before, during the chase last night, he was calling 911.
'He was afraid of cops. You know, he told me he wants to be a good cop, not a crooked cop.'
His family revealed he was working as a party-planning company as he pursued his dream of becoming a police officer.
Family members told how he graduated Taft High School but officials with the Los Angeles Unified School District said he left Taft in October 2011. It was unclear if he received his General Education Development (GED) test.
CBS reported that no weapon had been recovered from the scene as they reported the story last night.
The 101 Freeway was littered with smashed car remnants and bullet casings as police arrived on the scene
Carrying a gun? Lt Neiman says everything is not always as it seems from live TV images as the suspect appeared to be simulating holding a weapon
Arian's uncle Hamed said he was a young man who neither took drugs or drank alcohol and was 'afraid of guns'.
Abdul was shot dead by police after they fired off more than 90 rounds after a high-speed chase |
equals and hashCode then the merge test will fail, therefore breaking the consistency guarantee. It’s all explained in my How to implement equals and hashCode using the entity identifier (primary key) article, by the way.
And another misconception, from a Hibernate point of view
Why you shouldn’t store managed and detached entities in the same Collection
Not only that you should NOT avoid mixing detached and managed entities, but this is actually a great feature that allows you to hold on detached objects, and therefore prevent lost updates in long conversations.
And yet another misconception, from a Hibernate implementation perspective:
So, having a cache is really a great idea, but *please* do not store JPA entities in the cache. At least not as long as they are managed.
Hibernate strives to deliver strong consistency. That’s why the READ_WRITE and TRANSACTIONAL cache concurrency strategies allow you to not worry about such inconsistencies. It’s the second-level cache provider that guarantees this isolation level. Just like a relational database system.
Only NONSTRICT_READ_WRITE offers a weaker isolation level, but the non strict naming choice is self-descriptive after all.
If you enjoyed this article, I bet you are going to love my Book and Video Courses as well.
Conclusion
The best advice I can give you is that you should always question every statement that you read on the Internet. You should always check every advice against your current JPA provider implementation because details make a very big difference.
Download free ebook sample
Share this: TweetOn the eve of the Scottish independence referendum, President Obama tweeted his hope that the UK will remains "strong, robust and united."
The UK is an extraordinary partner for America and a force for good in an unstable world. I hope it remains strong, robust and united. -bo — The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 17, 2014
This isn't the first time Obama has made his support for the No campaign in Scotland explicit; he made similar statements alongside Prime Minister David Cameron at the G7 meeting in June. But that was before a series of polls suggesting the Yes campaign was within the margin of error for victory.
Scotland's separation would throw the UK's military and defense into turmoil, and weaken its participation in military actions against the Islamic State or in Ukraine, according to Foreign Policy.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also oppose Scottish independence. The former president released a statement Wednesday saying "it is possible to respect our differences while living and working together,” while Hillary told Jeremy Paxman in June that a Yes vote would be "a loss for both sides".
The most recent polling suggests Scotland will vote to stay in the union by a narrow margin. If undecided voters lean towards independence, the nationalists could still easily win.
If that happens on Thursday, Scotland will break its 307-year union with England and become an entirely separate country. They'd gain self-governance and oil revenues, but could lose the pound and the BBC.
Obama's tweet didn't deter Scottish supporters, who chanted his famous 2008 slogan "Yes we can!" at a pro-independence rally Wednesday.KENNY MILLER became only the 16th post war player to score 100 goals for Rangers as his strike proved the difference between the two sides in Inverness.
The striker’s beautifully taken volley won the game for the Gers and took all three points away from the trip to the Highlands to give his side a crucial away win.
It was a testing night for the Light Blues who has to work hard for their victory with Inverness providing a nervy end to the encounter.
Three minutes were on the clock when Inverness whipped a ball into the danger area from a dead ball for Lonsana Doumbouya to get on the end of. And the Caley striker jumped highest to nod over from a few yards out.
That chance sprung the Gers into action and Waghorn carved out a chance of his own a minute later. He skipped into the box down the right to dribble through a sea of legs and produce a close range shot at the near post. It was straight at Owain Fon Williams though.
Liam Polworth was next to challenge the Light Blues goal. Ten minutes had elapsed when he jinked about on the edge area to make room for himself, shake off James Tavernier, and fire a low range effort at Wes Foderingham. The keeper scramble to the ball and held well.
Rangers were struggling to make a real breakthrough which was perhaps summed up when Waghorn decided to go it alone from 30 yards just before the 15 minute mark. In space, the striker let the ball bounce a couple of times, before lashing a rising shot at Fon Williams goal. It was always rising though and whistled over the crossbar.
James Tavernier found McKay from the right with a deep cross on 20 minutes but the winger angled his volley just wide of the upright.
But if you were searching for the perfect volley Miller produced it moments later to give the Gers the lead with his centenary goal for the club. Lee Wallace stormed forward from defence to swirl an accurate cross into the box, it evaded the Inverness defence and found Miller lurking at the back post. The striker needed no invitation to put his laces through it and fire a rocket into the back of the net.
They could have made it two within minutes when Clint Hill rose to nod at Fon Williams and then Waghorn had the keeper’s parry hooked away from under his nose as he took aim.
Rangers pushed on but couldn’t double their lead before Ross Draper cut in from the right just before the break to threaten an equaliser. The midfielder dragged the ball inside to test Foderingham low at his near post.
Miller came out the traps early in the second period to shave the base of the post with a fizzing shot. Waghorn had squared to him on the right of the area before the striker shaped up his low drive.
Much like the beginning of the first-half Doumbouya was threatening in the air. He beat Rob Kiernan to nod over once again. The Gers responded quickly to the scare and tore down the other end with Tavernier crossing onto the penalty spot where Jason Holt was waiting. With the goal gaping the midfielder blazed his chance over.
Despite much of the second-half possession Rangers couldn’t find a chance to place on target. Holt and Waghorn threatened but their efforts fell short.
With 21 minutes left to play Warburton pulled McKay and Waghorn off to be replaced by some fresh legs in the form of Joe Dodoo and Joe Garner.
But the change seemingly swung the home side into action and they poured forward on the counter on 73 minutes. Aaron Doran got in behind the Gers defence and skipped through on goal. Foderingham committed himself to the save but the ball fell loose and Hill was forced to clear off the line to keep Rangers lead alive. Inverness were to frighten the Gers twice more in quick succession as the game reached a tense ending.
Five minutes from time sub Alex Fisher had a golden opportunity to level things up for Inverness. He was unmarked in the Gers penalty area but could only put his header wide.
RANGERS: Foderingham, Tavernier, Hill, Kiernan, Wallace, Halliday, Holt, Kranjcar (Windass 74’), McKay (Garner 69’), Miller, Waghorn (Dodoo 69’)
Subs not used: Gilks, Forrester, Hodson, Senderos
Goals: Miller 22’
Yellows: Waghorn 50’
INVERNESS CT: Fon Williams, Raven, Tremarco, Warren, Polworth, Draper, Vigurs (Doran 66’), Tansey, King (Mulraney 66’), McKay, Doumbouya (Fisher 78’)
Subs not used: Mackay, Horner, Boden, Cole
Yellows: McKay 33′, Draper 51′, Warren 84′With Red Bull set to end its relationship with Renault, and with Mercedes having ruled out a supply deal with the Milton Keynes squad, Ferrari has emerged as Red Bull's only option for 2016.
Arrivabene, whose team currently supplies engines to Sauber and Manor, says he is not worried that Red Bull may emerge as a strong rival as a result of giving it the Italian squad's engines.
"It is very difficult to talk about other people," said Arrivabene. "In theory they have big names, with [Adrian] Newey as chief designer and it is easy to think that if you give them the engine they will build a scary chassis, which means they will be really competitive.
"Concerning my team, my engineers and aerodynamicists know their own jobs. For that reason I don't have a problem, and competition is nice when you have a stronger competitor.
"This doesn't mean tomorrow morning we will give our engines to Red Bull or Toro Rosso.
"But I don't see any kind of problem to give our engine to any other team or be scared of the competition before they start.
"This is not the right spirit of competition or what Ferrari represents. We fight with everybody."
Toro Rosso good Ferrari relations
Red Bull already competed in Formula 1 with Ferrari engines in 2006, achieving its first podium in the sport in the Monaco Grand Prix that year.
Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso used Ferrari engines from 2007 to 2013, before switching to Renault power units for last season.
Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost insisted, however, that his team has a contract with the French manufacturer for 2016.
"As you know we have a Renault contract, the rest we will see," Franz Tost told Motorsport.com.
"We have a good relationship with Ferrari, but this does not mean that we will be partners in the future.
"We will see, the future will show us. Currently we are contracted to Renault."
Good news for Manor
Mercedes' decision to rule out a supply deal to Red Bull may mean Manor will end up using the German power units next year.
The team, currently running 2014 Ferrari engines, is considering its options for 2016, and is now on pole position to land the Mercedes deal if one becomes available.
Additional reporting by Adam Cooper and Franco NugnesVisakhapatnam: Weapon’s officer of the Naval Armament Inspection Office of Eastern Naval Command (ENC) attached to NSTL, Lt Commander Y. Shishir Kumar, 32, who was on board the sunken TRV and who is still missing, had offered his life vest to an NSTL scientist as part of his duty as a defence personnel: civilians first. He was deployed by ENC to inspect the testing of torpedoes developed by NSTL. On Friday, NSTL director C.D. Mall-eswar visited Shishir’s home to meet his family.
The need for Lt Commander Y. Shishir Kumar, weapon’s officer of the National Armament Inspection Office of Eastern Naval Command (ENC), to offer his life vest to another person has raised questions regarding the availability of these vests on the Torpedo Recovery Vehicle (TRV) and whether there were enough preparations in place on the vessel to handle so many persons.
Ms Rohini Kumar, the wife of Shishir has been working in a public sector bank in Vizag for more than two years and Shishir had shifted to Vizag from a defence organisation at Sunabeda in Odisha only two months ago on a transfer to join his family.“He is very good at swimming and he had offered his vest to one of the NSTL staff as he knows that as a defence personnel, it should be ‘civilians first’. He truly lived up to his duty. This was revealed by one of the NSTL staff who were rescued. Shishir saw that NSTL staff were rescued first. Shishir is a brave man. We wish and hope he comes back,” a colleague of Shishir told this correspondent.
“I know Shishir since some years. He is a very nice, humble and helpful man. I wish he comes back,” his neighbour, retired Master Mariner A.K. Ghosh, told this correspondent.
Even as the Indian Navy has instituted a Board of Inquiry to investigate into the reasons that led to the sinking of the vessel, there have been reports that the mishap took place due to ill maintenance of the vessel, which had led to corrosion of the plates of the steering compartment where the initial flooding started. Questions are also being raised whether a TRV can carry so many persons.
The Torpedo Recovery Vessel, which sank 35 nautical miles off the Vizag coast, was carrying scientists and technical officers of the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, who went along with the two naval ships for testing torpedoes, developed by the premier defence laboratory.
Sources in the NSTL said that the mishap took place while coming back after successful completion of the torpedo testing. Since the mother-ships, from where these torpedoes were fired, were not so far away from the TRV, the NSTL scientists could be rescued.
The scientists were afloat with life vests for around half-an-hour until they were rescued by the ships. The crew members of the TRV had first provided life vests to the NSTL staff and pushed them to the other side of the vessel from where it started sinking. The crew then dropped the NSTL staff with the vests for them to be afloat until the rescue ships arrived.
NSTL is involved in the designing of underwater weapons and their associated weapon control systems like torpedoes, mines, decoys, targets, simulators, fire control systems and weapon launchers.
Last year, NSTL had established a state-of-the-art integration centre in Vizag to develop Electrical Heavy Weight Torpedoes for its prestigious Varunastra project.
“The plan was that the mother-ships from where these torpedoes are fired and tested in the sea will sail off to their destination and our scientists and other technical officers will come back to the shore on the TRV. As they boarded the TRV, the mishap took place. The testing mission was successful and everyone was happy” a NSTL senior officer told Deccan Chronicle.
Of the 24 rescued, most of them belong to NSTL and the remaining are crew members of the TRV. Dead sailor James Jacob and three others, who went missing, are also part of the crew of the TRV.
Generally a TRV is manned by 13 crew members including an officer of the Indian Navy. One of the missing was identified as weapon’s officer of the National Armament Inspection Office of Eastern Naval Command Lt Commander Shishir Kumar Y, 35, who inspected the testing of the torpedoes developed by NSTL in Vizag.President Barack Obama still won't call radicals Islamists because he says he doesn't want to 'validate' their claims that they're speaking for the Muslim religion.
Confronted Wednesday by Gold Star mother Tina Houchins, whose 19-year-old son died in Iraq before he took office, Obama told her the issue 'has been sort of manufactured.'
'I've said repeatedly that where we see terrorist organizations like al Qaeda or ISIL, they have perverted and distorted and tried to claim the mantle of Islam for an excuse, for basically barbarism and death,' he told the woman, questioning him at a townhall put on by CNN.
Then, making an obvious reference to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Obama lambasted 'people aspiring...to become president' talking 'about Muslim-Americans here and the notion that somehow we'd start having religious tests.'
'You were clearly talking about the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, just then,' said moderator Jake Tapper, interrupting him.
A defiant Obama replied, 'No, I wasn't.'
Confronted Wednesday by Gold Star mother Tina Houchins whose 19-year-old son died in Iraq before he took office Obama told her the controversy over his refusal to say radical Islamic terrorism 'has been sort of manufactured'
Making an obvious reference to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Obama lambasted 'people aspiring...to become president' talking 'about Muslim-Americans here and the notion that somehow we'd start having religious tests'
'You were clearly talking about the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, just then,' said moderator Jake Tapper, interrupting him. A defiant Obama replied, 'No, I wasn't'
Obama insisted that he wasn't talking about Trump - the only candidate still in the race who has proposed a religious test for entry into the country - because that position is 'not unique to the Republican nominee.'
'And, again...I'm trying to be careful. We're on a military base,' he said. 'I don't want to insert partisan politics into this.'
Houchins' son, Aaron Goteer, was killed in Baghdad in 2007.
She said to Obama at the townhall, 'As a Gold Star mother, my son gave his life for acts of terrorism. Do you still believe that the acts of terrorism are done for the self-proclaimed Islamic religious motive? And if you do, why do you still refuse to use the term racially, I'm sorry, Islamic terrorist?'
The president thanked Houchins' son for his service and proceeded to explain why he doesn't refer to ISIS fighters as radical Islamic terrorists.
Obama said he's been cautious with his language because he doesn't want to 'lump these murderers into the billion Muslims that exist around the world, including in this country, who are peaceful.'
'Do I think that if somebody uses the phrase Islamic terrorism that it's a huge deal? No,' he claimed. 'There's no doubt that these folks think that, and claim that, they're speaking for Islam. But I don't want to validate what they do.'
He told Houchins, 'The way it's heard, the way it's received by our friends and allies around the world is that somehow Islam is terroristic. And that then makes them feel as if they're under attack.'
President Barack Obama jumps up the stairs to take the stage to speak to members of the military community, Wednesday, at Fort Lee in Virginia. He also participated in a CNN townhall there
The United States will send about 600 extra troops to Iraq to train local forces for an offensive on the Islamic State group stronghold of Mosul, the Defense Department also said Wednesday
Obama said he'd be offended if his religion, Christianity, was being demonized in the same way.
If terrorists were 'killing and blowing people up and said we're on the vanguard of Christianity, well, I'm not, as a Christian, I'm not going to let them claim my religion and say you're killing for Christ.'
'I would say that's ridiculous. That's not what my religion stands for.'
The president argued that it's fine to 'call these folks what they are, which is killers and terrorists - and that's what we've been trying to do.'
He said he won't allow them to speak for Islam, though, 'because they don't,' and he won't'make Muslims who are well-meaning and our natural allies on this fight' feel ostracized.PREMIERE WEEK L+7s: "GOTHAM" SOARS IN DAYS 4-7, POSTS LARGEST L7 RATINGS POINT GAIN OF ANY SERIES
· The debut of GOTHAM delivered the largest post same-day ratings point gain (+2.7) of any series during Premiere Week - gaining more than the Big Bang Theory premieres (+2.4 and +2.6)!
· In fact, in days 4-7, GOTHAM added nearly an entire ratings point beyond its Live + 3 rating (5.1 > 6.0). This is not only the largest L7 vs L3 lift of any show during premiere week, but it's also the largest ANY regular broadcast telecast LAST SEASON.
· In L7, GOTHAM's debut outperformed the season premieres of Scandal and Blacklist by +9%, The Voice Mon/Tue by +13% and Scorpion by +20%, while it tied with Modern Family.
· Also note that in the Live +3s, ABC's How To Get Away With Murder out-rated GOTHAM by 6 tenths. In the Live +7s, that gap closed down to only one tenth of a ratings point.
· GOTHAM and RED BAND SOCIETY posted the largest percentage gains (both +82%) of any series during Premiere Week.
· The FAMILY GUY crossover event added another half a ratings point in days 4-7 to a 6.5 rating, making it the #2 show OVERALL during Premiere Week (behind Big Bang Theory)
· The premieres of THE SIMPSONS and FAMILY GUY both increased over last year's openers in Live+7: FAMILY GUY was up +91% (6.5 vs. 3.4) and THE SIMPSONS was up +44% (4.6 vs. 3.2).
· BROOKLYN NINE-NINE's Sunday premiere gained +3% from last year's series debut in L7 (3.5 vs. 3.4).
· The premiere of RED BAND SOCIETY rose 7 rankings in the Live +7s after nearly doubling its same-day delivery (1.1 > 2.0).After the lights dimmed for the Metropolitan Opera’s Russian-themed opening night gala on Monday evening, the first solo voice that rang out in the house was not of a tenor or soprano, but of a protester criticizing the recent antigay laws signed by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
“Putin, end your war on Russian gays!” a man shouted in the vast auditorium, which was packed for the black-tie gala opening of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin,” before turning to two of the evening’s Russian stars: Anna Netrebko, the popular Russian diva, and Valery Gergiev, the artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. “Anna, your silence is killing Russian gays! Valery, your silence is killing Russian gays!”
Some members of the audience tried to shush the protester, as security guards walked into the house. After a pause, the opera began.
Four protesters in the Family Circle were asked to leave and did, opera officials said.
At issue was a new law banning “propaganda on nontraditional sexual relationships” that Mr. Putin signed into law in June, drawing worldwide attention to the difficulties gay people face in Russia. Both Ms. Netrebko and Mr. Gergiev were vocal supporters of Mr. Putin in his last election.Our overall strategy in the mock draft was two fold: 1) we wanted to bolster the defense, and 2) we wanted to try and build more name recognition for the squad. We will let you be the judge of how well we did.
In our previous article, Siems ranted about the need for some more defense (quite exhaustingly). The Loonum Staff took that into account, but Minnesota United FC also needs to add name recognition. Atlanta United (our enemies for the purposes of the expansion draft) have the headstart in that department. Do not interpret this as us saying that there is no recognition for MNUFC (the MLS announcement proved that), but adding some players that have some national team appearances would be great.
This mock draft was held using protected lists provided by the other MLS SB Nation blogs. With that in mind, here is an unpacking of our picks.
1st pick: Graham Zusi - M - Sporting Kansas City
Easily our most controversial pick.
Zusi has a huge contract, but also has the name recognition. This was a pick that was consensus simply for that reason. With Atlanta hitting the ground running, it would be nice to see the Loons doing the same.
When we say huge, we mean huge as it appears that Zusi will be owed somewhere in the neighborhood of $750k in 2017. The rules of the Expansion Draft allows for Atlanta or Minnesota the ability to renegotiate a player’s compensation either up or down. This will need to be done with Zusi (add in Beitashour, too.) $750k for an aging player scares me.
The other big reason that we decided to pick the bearded manbun was the possibility of using him as a trade piece. I never advocate drafting players to just trade them, but I think Zusi still has enough game left in him that he could be an appealing piece for the Loons trade later.
Either way, it would be cool to have a USMNT member on the team.
2nd pick: Steven Beitashour - D - Toronto FC
A player we were surprised to see exposed, Beitashour has had a great playoff run with Toronto FC. We, the Loonum staff, will not shy away from admitting that was partially the impetus for taking him.
The biggest reason is that the Loons need defense. Yes, he plays a similar position as Venegas, but both Beitashour and Venegas can line up in the midfield as well. If that were to be the case, I think the interplay between Viva and Beitashour could be the start of something great.
3rd Pick: Zac MacMath - GK - Colorado Rapids
Thank you Burgandy Wave. Minnesota United needs a goalkeeper and because you signed a designated player to be your goalkeeper, it allows us to take the young GK.
MacMath lost his starting sport to Tim Howard when Howard returned stateside from Everton, but it was not because of MacMath’s play. He started 17 games this year and only allowed 13 goals. Admittedly, part of that was the defense in front of him, but still impressive numbers for a “backup” keeper.
4th Pick: Damion Lowe - D - Seattle Sounders
The team is familiar with his play, nominated for NASL Young Player of the Year, and could pair well in the future if the Loons decide to go with defense in the SuperDraft. This may have seemed like a stretch at the time, but it made too much sense to pass up.
We admit that when it comes to #31, we are a biased group, but we would like to see him join the Loons at the next level. He has plenty of raw talent, and hopefully Adrian Heath can bring in the right coaches to develop Lowe into a solid MLS defender.
5th pick: Baggio Husidic - M - LA Galaxy
With our last pick, we went with another midfielder. Baggio Husidic had a great season with the Galaxy playing in his defensive midfield position. He appeared in 29 games this season (starting 16 of them) and tallied a couple goals and assists.
MNUFC did not really have a holding midfield in the mold of a #6 last season Husidic is not a true #6 by any means, but he can certainly contribute on either side of the ball. His contract is a little higher than we would love (owed $150k in 2016), but that can be renegotiated.
Husidic is an interesting person, too. He spent most of his career in Chicago. Born in Bosnia, his family left in 90s and settled in Illinois. His play this past season even garnered a call up from his native Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Read more
A look at Dirty South Soccer’s picks
For the curious, here is a list of who our friends at Dirty South Soccer picked:1 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan citizens wait for a truck to be unloaded with humanitarian aid supplies in Panow, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, June 27, 2007. This humanitarian assistance is conducted by coalition forces. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, prepare 155mm howitzer rounds to be strapped down for a bundle drop on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, June 14, 2007. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Cynthia Bartlett, from 242nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal, helps Soldiers from Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan load a pallet with 155 mm howitzer rounds for a bundle drop on Bagram Airfield-Afghanistan on June 14, 2007. This is just one of the steps taken to resupply troops. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 4 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An Afghan soldier searches a man before he can get humanitarian aid supplies in Panow, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, June 27, 2007. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 5 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan children wait for a truck with humanitarian aid supplies to be unloaded in Panow, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, June 27, 2007. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 6 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier hands out medicine as part of a medical civic assistance program in Khowst Province, Afghanistan, June 21, 2007. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 7 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An Afghan child walks to her village after receiving medical treatment and humanitarian supplies during a medical engagement provided by Afghan National Army commandos and coalition forces near the Tag ab Valley, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 14, 2007. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 8 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan commandos deliver school supplies and humanitarian aid to Afghan citizens, while at the same time working with coalition forces to provide security near the Tag Ab Valley, Kapisa Province, Nov. 14, 2007. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 9 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An Afghan girl pumps water in Panow, Paktika Province, June 27, 2007. Afghan soldiers built the water pump to help their fellow Afghans. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 10 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan children wait to get humanitarian aid supplies in Panow, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, June 27, 2007. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 11 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier from Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, prepares 155mm howitzer rounds to be strapped down for a bundle drop on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, June 14, 2007. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 12 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An Afghan child walks to her village after receiving medical treatment and humanitarian supplies during a medical engagement provided by Afghan National Army commandos and coalition forces near the Tag ab Valley, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 14, 2007. (Photo Credit: Spc. Michael D. Carter) VIEW ORIGINAL 13 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Michael D. Carter poses in front of his combat camera unit at Fort Meade, Md. Carter received the Silver Star for saving several special forces Soldiers during an operation in Afghanistan's Shok Valley on April 6, 2008. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Special Operations Command) VIEW ORIGINAL
Combat cameraman Spc. Michael D. Carter is an ordinary Soldier who did something extraordinary. In a horrific battle in Afghanistan last year, he traded his camera for a rifle and heroically saved the lives of several Green Berets, some of the Army's toughest and most highly trained Soldiers. Today, he wears the Silver Star as a result.
A soft-spoken, clean-cut young Soldier, Carter is like many servicemembers I've had the privilege to interview: humble and reluctant to brag about or even discuss his accomplishments. He was too polite to say so, but I quickly realized that he was doing me a huge favor by opening up about what had to have been one of the worst days of his life.
According to Combat Camera's historical records, he is the first Army combat cameraman to ever be awarded the Silver Star, and his story and that of Team 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group to which he was attached, is one of selflessness and heroism-one that has amazed even the most hardened and battle-scarred of generals and combat veterans.
Growing up listening to his grandfathers and uncles who had served in the Army and Marine Corps, Carter always wanted to join the Army. He itched with impatience after he was first assigned to a non-deployable training unit in Germany. As soon as his two years were up, he requested a re-assignment to a unit he could deploy with, but when he arrived at the 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) at Fort Meade, Md., he found they weren't expected to go anywhere.
"When I first got here, I was pumped and everything else until the day I signed in," he remembered. "They're like, 'Yeah, we're on a hiatus right now. We're taking a break.' I'm like, 'Huh'' They're like, 'Yeah, we're not going to deploy for a little while.' I got a little bit mad. Then I was like, 'Okay, whatever. It happens. I'll get my time.'"
So when Special Operations Command Central came knocking after he had been there a few months, looking for someone to document missions in Afghanistan, Carter eagerly volunteered. He was in country about a month later in June 2007, without even undergoing additional special operations training.
Most special forces Soldiers rotate in and out of theater every six months, but Carter spent almost a year in Afghanistan, going out an average of three to four times a week and participating in and documenting a variety of missions, such as snatch-and-grabs, cordons and humanitarian aid.
In fact, he was supposed to be done; he had completed his final mission and was ready to go home. But on April 6, 2008, his sergeant had "pink eye," and couldn't go on an operation with Team 3336 and Afghan commandos to a remote mountain village in the Shok Valley. He asked Carter to take his place. Neither of them could have imagined the horror to come.
Things went south almost immediately when the helicopters were unable to land and the Soldiers had to jump about 10 feet to the ground into icy water before beginning a grueling up-hill trek on foot to the village, which was about 10,000 feet above sea level.
They only made it partway, and much of the six-and-a-half-hour battle that followed remains a blur to Carter.
"'What was it like'' I haven't really been asked that question yet," he told me. "I've sort of been hiding away from everybody and doing interviews. 'What was it like'' It was just a bad situation.
"When it all happened, when it all kicked off, I don't know what was going through my mind. I had a lot of people who asked me that when I came back. I didn't have time to think about what was going on. I just reacted.
"I don't remember thinking about anything. I was just sitting there, going off and doing stuff, helping those guys out," he continued, leaning forward in his seat, pausing frequently and shaking his head as though he still couldn't believe what went down that day.
After our interview, he gave me copies of his award citation and sworn statements from the unit's commander and noncommissioned officers that detailed his story. The documents are both chilling and awe-inspiring. About 13 Americans and 80 Afghan commandos confronted an insurgent force almost twice their size. They were trapped between the enemy above, more insurgents closing in from below, a sheer 60-foot drop on one side and a weather front moving in.
The enemy "definitely occupied the high ground," as Carter said, and overwhelming sniper, rocket-propelled grenade, small arms and machine-gun fire rained down on the Soldiers. Carter's video camera was destroyed as a bullet ripped through the pack on his back and through his Camelbak of water. Feeling the liquid seep down his back, Carter thought it was blood and that he'd been shot.
"I thought, 'You've got to be (expletive) kidding me.' Then I was like, 'Oh, never mind. I'm good.' Then I threw my bag down and I didn't even think about it. I just started performing first aid and doing whatever needed to be done," Carter recalled.
Their interpreter had been killed less than two feet from him and at least six other Soldiers ultimately were wounded. According to his Silver Star citation and Capt. Kyle M. Walton, the company commander, Carter exposed himself to the enemy, immediately began returning fire-killing several insurgents in the process-and helped cover Walton from a protected nook in the side of the cliff as Walton retrieved the interpreter's body.
When Staff Sgt. Dillon Behr was shot in the arm and thigh, Carter charged 15 feet into the open while under fire to drag Behr to safety while Walton grabbed Staff Sgt. Luis Morales, who had been wounded while trying to help Behr. Carter then left his covered position again and ran back to retrieve Behr's radio. The antenna was shot off as he carried it back, but Walton was able to use it to reach headquarters.
With bombs from airstrikes exploding all around them, and the insurgents getting closer, Carter both continued suppressive fire and provided life-saving aid to Behr, Morales and other Soldiers.
When the insurgents were about 40 feet away, Walton could hear their voices and knew the unit was about to be overrun. They couldn't go back the way they came, and they were backed up, not against a wall, but a cliff. The only way out was down.
Walton asked Carter and Staff Sgt. David Sanders to see if they could find a way down without ropes or any repelling gear. Carter remembered that it was a sheer drop for about 60 feet with only one or two small breaks.
"It wasn't impossible," Carter said. "It could be done. It was just going to be hard getting the wounded guys down. Really hard."
Carter and two other Soldiers helped at least six wounded men down the mountain, searching for hand and footholds in what Walton termed a "heroic and daring rescue."
"I'd climb down first and then I would tell them, 'Climb down as far as you can get, and then just drop on me. I'll catch you.' I did that with Sergeant Morales and Sergeant Behr," Carter recalled.
He then left the comparative safety of the wadi (riverbed) at the bottom and climbed into harm's way once again to help cover the rest of the escape and throw weapons and equipment over the side of the cliff, because although they believed approximately 150 insurgents had been killed, no one |
emen. Their defensive prospect depth, a weakness coming into the draft, was improved dramatically. All in all, a great start for Chayka.
Boston Bruins C- (Worst Draft)
Picks: Charlie McAvoy, Trent Frederic, Ryan Lindgren, Joona Koppanen, Cam Clarke, Oskar Steen,
Best Value: Lindgren
Things started out strangely for the Bruins. Yes, they need an eventual replacement for Zdeno Chara; and taking a defenceman was a wise move. However, one has to question why they took McAvoy when Chychrun was still on the board. McAvoy is not a bad player; however, I question if he was the best defenceman available at the time, never mind best player available. In our viewings Juolevi, Sergachev, Chychrun, and Bean were four defencemen a clear cut above the rest.
If that wasn’t strange enough, the Bruins used their second first round pick on Trent Frederic. The centre from the US NTDP was ranked 58th by LWOS, 54th by Bob McKenzie of TSN, and 47th amongst North American Skaters by NHL CS. All other major scouting services had him outside their top 50; with HockeyProspect.com coming in at 85 and Future Considerations at 81. To pick him at 29th overall is inexplicable. The Bruins did get a solid two-way defence prospect in Ryan Lindgren at 49th overall. Overall though, this day has us scratching our heads.
Buffalo Sabres B+
Picks: Alexander Nylander, Rasmus Asplund, Cliff Pu, Casey Fitzgerald, Brett Murray, Philip Nyberg, Vojtek Budik, Brandon Hagel, Austin Osmanski, Vasili Glotov
Trade: Acquired Dmitry Kulikov, Acquired Jimmy Vesey
Best Value: Asplund
Once again, the Sabres had a plethora of picks. With the quickness of Tim Murray’s announcements; this sped up the draft overall. The Sabres get one of the most purely offensively talented players in Alex Nylander. He has it it all, skating, a lightning quick shot, the ability to stick handle in a phone booth, and great vision and passing skills. After his brother William was injured at the World Juniors, Rasmus Asplund took over as Alex Nylander’s centre on Team Sweden. He is another strong skater, and plays a strong game at both ends of the ice.
Cliff Pu was very good the second half of the OHL season, and in the playoffs. He is a playmaker who helped the London Knights to the Memorial Cup. Casey Fitzgerald is the son of former NHLer Tom Fitzgerald. The US NTDP product adds a two-way presence on the blue line. The Sabres also addressed the blue line of the NHL club; picking up Dmitry Kulikov from the Florida Panthers. He will immediately step in as a top four defender; and add talent and experience to an area where the Sabres needed help. The Sabres also acquired the rights to Jimmy Vesey. If they can convince him to sign a contract with the team, this rating moves to an A.
Calgary Flames A
Picks: Matthew Tkachuk, Tyler Parsons, Dillon Dube, Adam Fox, Linus Lindstrom, Mitchell Mattson, Eetu Tuulola, Matthew Phillips, Stepan Falkovsky,
Trades: Acquired Brian Elliott
Best Value: Matthew Tkachuk; with an HM to Dillon Dube
Flames fans were dreaming about the possibility of Matthew Tkachuk, who is a perfect fit for their team. It may not have seemed that likely pre-draft; but it ended up happening. They have to be very pleased with that. Brad Treliving also said that the Flames would leave Buffalo with a new goalie. They got the NHL’s save percentage leader in Brian Elliott. They also added a possible goalie of the future in Tyler Parsons. Mission accomplished.
The Flames continued to get excellent value later in the draft. Dillon Dube is a skilled centre, who plays the game with a real edge; and was real value late in the second round. Adam Fox is a diminutive defenceman; however, he is highly skilled and drives possession. Add to all of that a gamble on Lindstrom, a skilled playmaker; who can be a solid NHLer if he can add muscle to his frame and play less of a perimeter game. The Flames have really set themselves up for next year (Elliott, possibly Tkachuk) and for years to come.
Carolina Hurricanes A+ (Best Draft Week)
Picks: Jake Bean, Julien Gauthier, Janne Kuokkanen, Matt Filipe, Hudson Elyniuk, Jack Lafontaine, Max Zimmer, Jeremy Helvig, Noah Carroll,
Trade: Acquired Teuvo Teravainen and Bryan Bickell for picks
Best Value: Gauthier
The Hurricanes got their week started by giving up a pair of second round picks (2016 and 2017) for Teravainen and Bickell. Adding the young Finn for such a low price has to be seen as a clear win. Even after the move, Carolina still had six picks in the first three rounds. They made them count. Their first pick was Jake Bean, who might be the best offensive defenceman in the draft class. Adding him to a team that is already deep in blue line prospects, gives them one of the best groups of defence prospects in the NHL. With their second first rounder, the Hurricanes added a big winger in Julien Gauthier, who can score goals, and plays a responsible two way game. He addresses a real need for the Hurricanes.
In Janne Kuokkanen, the Hurricanes get a centre with good vision and passing skills. He also has a well rounded game. He needs to add some muscle though and could be a few years away. Filipe projects as a power winger at the next level. He has very good speed, agility and acceleration; especially for a big man. He is not afraid to get involved physically, and does so in all three zones. Elyniuk is also a big power forward, but one who profiles as a centre. He has an excellent shot, and a quick release. Jack Lafontaine adds a goaltending prospect to the pipeline. He’s headed to the University of Michigan next year. He has quick legs, and good reflexes. Overall a strong showing for Ron Francis and company.
Chicago Blackhawks B-
Picks: Alex DeBrincat, Chad Krys, Artur Kayumov, Wouter Peeters, Lucas Carlsson, Nathan Noel, Mathias From, Blake Hillman, Jake Ryczek
Trades: Sent Andrew Shaw to Montreal, Sent Teravainen and Bickell to Carolina
Best Value: DeBrincat
The Blackhawks cap crunch took another bite out of the team this week. Clearing Bickell’s contract off the books was a good thing, but losing a highly skilled player in Teuvo Teravainen to make it happen wasn’t ideal. Andrew Shaw has also been an important complimentary piece in two cup runs. He is now in Montreal, and this is largely due to cap issues. These losses will be felt.
In terms of draftees, the Blackhawks went with a philosophy of skill over size. DeBrincat scored 50 goals and 100 points in the OHL, but is just 5’7″ tall. The Hawks looked at his elite skill as being worth the risk at 39th overall. In Chad Krys they take another small player. The US NTDP defenceman is a very good puck mover, and can quarterback the powerplay. Artur Kayumov is also undersized, and will really need to bulk up before playing against men. He is an outstanding skater, with tremendous speed and acceleration. Kayumov has great stick handling and a tremendous release on his wrist shot.
Norway’s Mathias From brings a physical game to the table. He finishes his checks and brings non-stop energy. Undrafted last year, Nathan Noel is a serious boom or bust prospect. He has the potential to be a solid second line centre or winger, but will need to make major improvements in his defensive play and commitment for him to become an NHLer. Overall the picks are decent, but the losses to the main club, and the lack of a first round pick hurts this grade.
Colorado Avalanche B-
Picks: Tyson Jost, Cameron Morrison, Josh Anderson, Adam Werner, Nathan Clurman, Travis Barron,
Best Value: Barron
Things started out well for the Avalanche. Tyson Jost is a tremendous pick. He’s a talented centre who broke the Canadian record for most points in an under-18 tournament. Strong at both ends of the ice, he also has great leadership and character. Cameron Morrison is another two-way centre, but plays more of a power game. His wrist shot and snap shot are both hard and accurate, and feature a quick release. He is willing to use his size to drive the net, and has the hands to pounce on rebounds and get deflections when he is there.
However, at this point things went awry. Josh Anderson is a big, stay-at-home defenceman. He fits the mould of the type of defender that is no longer in vogue in the NHL, with little in the way of possession skills. Adam Werner is a goaltender who went undrafted a year ago. He struggled in the 2014 Ivan Hlinka tournament. Travis Barron was good value in the last round. He is a gritty forward who battles in the corners and in front of the net. He has a non-stop motor and plays a strong physical game.
Columbus Blue Jackets C
Picks: Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Peeke, Vitaly Abramov, Peter Thome, Calvin Thurkauf,
Trade: Sent Kerby Rychel to Toronto for Scott Harrington
Best Value: Abramov
This draft did not make a lot of sense. First the Blue Jackets took Pierre-Luc Dubois over Jesse Puljujarvi. We are going to mark that one down as a mistake. While we are very high on Dubois, Puljujarvi is just a better player and better pick. If the Jackets were set on Dubois, they should have worked harder to trade down with Edmonton or Vancouver.
The Jackets would make another strange pick early in the second round, reaching on Andrew Peeke. He is another big, lumbering defencemen; who doesn’t offer a lot of offensive ability. There were better defenders on the board early in the second round. Vitaly Abramov is a talented, but undersized winger. He was the best of Columbus’ picks.
The Jackets capped off the day by trading Kerby Rychel to Toronto. This trade does not look good for Columbus as Scott Harrington is struggling to make the NHL, and may top out as an AHL journeyman. For all his struggles, Rychel appears to cleary be the better player here.
Dallas Stars C+
Picks: Riley Tufte, Fredrik Karlstrom, Rhett Gardner, Colton Point, Nicholas Caamano, Jakob Stenqvist,
Best Value: Caamano
Riley Tufte has a great frame. He is 6’5″ tall, and skates very well for a big man. He also has very good stick handling, and a wide array of shots. He could stand to put some muscle on his frame though. The stars didn’t pick again until the 90th selection of the draft. They went off the board with Frederik Karlstrom. He is a good skater, and can use his good stickhandling to make plays. Gardner is a 20-year-old forward who was passed over in the draft, twice, and put up 18 points in 40 games for North Dakota. This also looks like a reach.
Colton Point is a fast rising goalie prospect. He has ideal size at 6’4″ and covers the net well with a sound butterfly tehnique. Caamano is a very good skater. He has good speed and acceleration. He can get to the outside on defenders off the rush and cut to the net. He needs to work on his shot. Outside of Tufte, it is difficult to find players with high end potential in this year’s Dallas draft class.
Main Photo:GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For a guy caught in the midst of a recruiting maelstrom, Jim McElwain looked quite relaxed Thursday morning.
The eternally sockless new football coach of the Florida Gators drank coffee from a Styrofoam cup and talked college basketball – “I’m a frustrated basketball player,” he said, reminiscing about his youth in Montana, when he had a key to the high school gym and spent countless hours there shooting hoops.
If he was stressed over the National Letter of Intent melodrama roaring outside his office, McElwain artfully concealed it.
Scroll to continue with content Ad
UF coach Jim McElwain isn't intimidated by the task at hand. (Getty)
Wednesday morning, No. 1 national recruit Byron Cowart committed to Auburn over the Gators on national TV. Then he didn’t send in his Letter of Intent, sparking several hours of confusion and speculation and general hysteria. Finally, by late afternoon, Cowart got the letter to Auburn. Florida had come in second.
Thursday it was five-star defensive end CeCe Jefferson’s turn to take a ride on the recruiting crazy train. He committed to Florida on Wednesday but a signed letter never followed. The athletic director at Jefferson’s high school described the delay to Yahoo Sports as “a family situation,” and the most popular explanation of the situation was that the player’s father, Leo, would not sign the letter. Leo Jefferson later told Rivals.com’s Mike Farrell that it was his son who was having doubts about the Gators, not him – although the dad went on to fire off several rounds of criticism at McElwain and his staff and said the biggest holdup was the just-announced news that defensive line coach Terrell Williams was leaving Florida. (That assertion about the coaching change being a factor was widely challenged as a convenient excuse.)
Story continues
Against that tumultuous backdrop, Jim McElwain placidly quoted British economist John Maynard Keynes while discussing the big-picture undertaking of rebuilding a dilapidated blueblood.
“The difficulty lies not in the new ideas,” McElwain said, “but in escaping the old ones.”
There aren’t many football coaches who will go Keynesian in an interview, but Mac went there. Beneath the surface his mind might have been on CeCe Jefferson, but the questions were about a job that is bigger than one player in one recruiting class.
McElwain’s new gig comes with a six-year contract for a reason – there is more modernizing to do at Florida than you might expect.
“Reworking the infrastructure is where we’re at right now,” McElwain said. “We fell behind a little bit, facility-wise. Not that they aren’t nice, but they’re tired.”
What was state of the art in the Spurrier Era now is overdue for an update. The bells and whistles that help sway recruits may carry the whiff of Roman Empire excess, but if everyone else in the Southeastern Conference has them and you don’t, guess who loses out?
One of Florida’s strengths also has been something of a weakness – administrative continuity. Stability and school loyalty flow from athletic director Jeremy Foley, who has been in charge since 1992, throughout the athletic department. But it took the failed Will Muschamp Era to shake some elements of Gator Nation out of its stasis, realizing that doing things the same way they’ve always been done eventually is a ticket to obsolescence.
Thus, construction on Florida’s first indoor practice facility is underway. And there are plans to modernize some of the dorms athletes live in. McElwain wants to change the floor plan of the football offices, too, making them more inviting for players to drop by and visit the coaching staff.
“Jeremy and the administration are behind us 100 percent to get us back to where we should be from that standpoint,” McElwain said. “Those were some of the chinks in our armor that people were using against us. It’s going to be hard for them to do that now.
Florida AD Jeremy Foley has fostered an environment of stability and school loyalty. (AP)
“Obviously, we’ve been very successful, so there’s a recipe here for that. There’s three national championship trophies over there. There’s three Heisman Trophy statues out there. This is a pretty good place, all right? And yet, staying on the cutting edge is the challenge. … Sometimes when you haven’t been out there and seen some of the things we’re dealing with, it’s hard. But the people that have been here recognize it and say, ‘You know what? We’ve got to get going here.’ That’s a credit to how they see things.”
The way McElwain sees things is through a Nick Saban lens – he used the Saban trigger words “process” and “organization” in the same sentence. But so did the last guy, and that didn’t work out so well.
McElwain is not just a former Saban assistant; he’s closer to a Saban clone in terms of structuring a program. Which is another part of what the former Alabama assistant wants to change at Florida.
“We’ve totally exploded [the organizational chart],” McElwain said. “It’s going to be totally different.”
Much of the emphasis will be on what McElwain terms “player personnel.” Basically, he wants a refurbished support staff that deals with every aspect of a player’s life at Florida – all aimed at enhancing the playing experience, which will in turn enhance recruiting.
“Recruiting is a broad term,” he said. “Basically, everything you do has to be zeroed toward that.”
The first people McElwain had to recruit were the players already at Florida. After largely laying back and observing bowl practices, the new coach stepped forward in January. Among the first assignments he gave the players was to visit the coaches’ offices regularly “to see how I’m doing.”
“It was unbelievable the amount of them who had only been up here to go to the principal’s office,” McElwain said. “That’s not what we want. We’re trying to build a culture of family. I said, ‘There’s going to be days when things aren’t going good, and I need you to pick me up, just the way I’m going to pick you up.’
“I’ve been over-the-top pleased with how they’ve embraced us. They’re hungry.”
Seven years past its last national championship and six years past its last appearance in the SEC title game, there is plenty of hunger at Florida. There is an urgency to pump new life into an outdated blueblood. But Jim McElwain knows the long-term state of the program will be affected by more than the melodrama of a single signing day.
“We’re in an instant gratification society,” he said. “We get mad if we don’t get our hamburger in 45 seconds. You grab your phone every two seconds, right? And yet, to do it right, to build a foundation so it doesn’t crumble – the ones that are consistent build it one brick at a time. That’s what we have to do.”PRESS RELEASE – On Sunday 27 April 2014, Galilee witnessed a new series of anti-Christian acts of violence and vandalism from the side of Orthodox Jews. A worrying situation as reported and denounced by the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land in the statement below.
Follow us
Listening to the Word
Project Development Office
Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Categories Categories Select Category Apostolic Administrator Interviews and speeches Meditations and homilies Visits Archives Pilgrimage in the Holy Land of Holy Father Pope – Holy Land 2014 Saints Mariam and Marie Alphonsine Synod Caritative action Church Diocese in worldwide News of the Holy Father News of Vatican Voice of the Holy Father Dialogue Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries Justice and Peace Ecumenism Interreligious dialogue Diocese Bishops Catechetical Center Chancellery History of Latin Patriarchate News of diocese News of parishes News of religious communities Parishes in Cyprus Parishes in Israel Parishes in Jerusalem and Palestine Parishes in Jordan Patriarchal Vicars Priests Schools Seminary of Beit Jala Society of St. Yves The Ecclesiastical Court For your information Books Invitations Jubilee of Mercy Liturgical life Feasts Sacraments, vows, ordinations Solemnity Order of the Holy Sepulcher News of Order Projects of Knights Visits of Order Patriarch Agenda FT Biography FT Homilies FT Speeches and Interviews FT Visits FT Politics and society Cremisan Culture Local news Middle East news World news Post it Projects Publications Analysis Diocesan Bulletin Newsletter Press releases Slide Spiritual Life Voice of priests Uncategorized Video
Upcoming Events There are no upcoming events.This article is over 1 year old
Cabinet secretaries urge prime minister to ensure top team are united behind same Brexit goal, in letter that contains veiled threat about Philip Hammond
A secret letter from Boris Johnson and Michael Gove giving Theresa May apparent instructions on how to run Brexit has emerged.
How much more of this suffering can Theresa May take? Read more
Transition arrangements for Britain’s exit from the European Union must end on 30 June 2021, the cabinet ministers demanded, according to the Mail on Sunday.
They also urged the prime minister to ensure members of her top team fall behind their Brexit plans by “clarifying their minds” and called for them to “internalise the logic”, the newspaper said.
The leaked letter appears to make a thinly veiled attack on the chancellor, Philip Hammond, who backed remain and wants a softer Brexit, for lacking the “sufficient energy” in preparing to the UK’s future outside the bloc.
A senior government source told the newspaper the foreign secretary and environment secretary had conducted a “soft coup” and described May as “their Downing Street hostage”.
The letter, titled EU Exit – Next Steps, is marked “For your and Gavin’s eyes only”, a reference to the PM’s chief of staff Gavin Barwell.
Boris Johnson has been embarrassing Britain for long enough. It’s time for him to go | Jeremy Corbyn Read more
It states: “Your approach is governed by sensible pragmatism. That does not in any way dilute our ambition to be a fully independent self-governing country by the time of the next election. If we are to counter those who wish to frustrate that end, there are ways of underlining your resolve.
“We are profoundly worried that in some parts of government the current preparations are not proceeding with anything like sufficient energy.
“We have heard it argued by some that we cannot start preparations on the basis of no deal because that would undermine our obligation of ‘sincere cooperation’ with the EU. If taken seriously, that would leave us over a barrel in 2021.
“We all want you to push your agenda forward with confidence and have your government articulate the following.”
No 10 said it did not comment on leaks and neither Johnson nor Gove commented.
Meanwhile, 40 Conservative MPs have agreed to sign a letter of no-confidence in the prime minister, the Sunday Times has reported.
That is eight short of the number needed to trigger a party leadership contest, the mechanism through which May could be forced from office and replaced by another Conservative.The posts have usually been a recap of my quest to see the 2015 movies I’ve missed but since I haven’t been doing much of that lately, I’ve decided to put that on hold. If I see anymore of those movies, I’ll update the last “We Can Do Bettah” post. For now, here is a recap of all my site’s reviews this year so far.
2016 Movies
The Hateful Eight
Macbeth
The Revenant
The Forest
Ride Along 2
Norm of the North
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
Dirty Grandpa
The 5th Wave
The Boy
Anomalisa
Kung Fu Panda 3
The Finest Hours
Fifty Shades of Black
Hail, Caesar!
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
The Choice
The Witch
Zoolander 2
Deadpool
How To Be Single
Race
The Lady in The Van
Risen
Touched by Fire
Triple 9
Gods of Egypt
Eddie the Eagle
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
London Has Fallen
Zootopia
10 Cloverfield Lane
The Little Prince
The Brothers Grimsby
The Young Messiah
Miracles from Heaven
Allegiant
The Bronze
Eye in the Sky
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
God’s Not Dead 2
Across The Line
The Boss
Demolition
Hardcore Henry
Midnight Special
The Jungle Book
Everybody Wants Some
Barbershop: The Next Cut
I Saw the Light
The Huntsman: Winter’s War
A Hologram for the King
Born to be Blue
Hello, My Name is Doris
Criminal
Precious Cargo
Keanu
Ratchet and Clank
Mother’s Day
Green Room
Captain America: Civil War
Miles Ahead
Money Monster
The Nice Guys
The Angry Birds Movie
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
The Meddler
Sing Street
X-Men: Apocalypse
Alice Through the Looking Glass
High-Rise
Me Before You
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
The Conjuring 2
Warcraft
Now You See Me 2
Central Intelligence
Finding Dory
Love & Friendship
Free State of Jones
Independence Day: Resurgence
The Shallows
The Neon Demon
The Legend of Tarzan
The Purge: Election Year
The BFG
The Secret Life of Pets
Swiss Army Man
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
Genius
Ghostbusters
Maggie’s Plan
Our Kind of Traitor
Lights Out
Nerve
Star Trek Beyond
Ice Age: Collision Course
Captain Fantastic
Bad Moms
Jason Bourne
Closet Monster
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
Indignation
Nine Lives
Suicide Squad
Café Society
Florence Foster Jenkins
Sausage Party
Pete’s Dragon
Anthropoid
War Dogs
Ben-Hur
Kubo and the Two Strings
Edge of Winter
The Infiltrator
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Don’t Breathe
Little Men
Hell or High Water
Mechanic: Resurrection
Last Cab to Darwin
Morgan
The Wild Life
The Light Between Oceans
Equity
Sully
When the Bough Breaks
Blair Witch
Snowden
Bridget Jones’s Baby
Deepwater Horizon
Storks
The Magnificent Seven
Queen of Katwe
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Masterminds
2016 Post-Theatrical Movies
Jane Got a Gun
The Benefactor
Misconduct
Mr. Right
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens (TV Movie)
Urge
Marauders
The Standoff
At this point last year I saw 58 movies so far compared to the 143 I’ve seen so far this year. I’ve already beaten my record of 100 but will I get to 200?
Non-2015 or 2016 Movies
Taken
Taken 2
Rush Hour 3
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda 2
Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle
Olympus Has Fallen
Divergent
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
God’s Not Dead
Snow White and the Huntsman
Alice in Wonderland
The Conjuring
Now You See Me
Finding Nemo
Guest Reviews
High-Rise
Equals
This is the End
Now You See Me 2
Boulevard
The Infiltrator
Suicide Squad
The Lobster
Hell or High Water
Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV
Digimon Adventure Tri. Chapter 1: Reunion
Advertisements
Share this: Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Tumblr
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Email
Print
Pocket
Telegram
WhatsApp
Skype
Like this: Like Loading...What it has taken me 33 years to learn
-You can be funny and kind or funny and cruel. The second one is easier, but the first one is worth it.
-Dip the french fry in the Frosty. Go on, try it.
-Habit is a powerful force we forget about until it’s turned against us. Be careful which ones you create.
-You will remember the most embarrassing crap you do in your life forever and in perfect clarity. Everyone else will remember the kindest things you do. It all comes out in the wash.
-If you’re doing a remote podcast, it’s worth it to record audio locally and mix it together. Trust me on this one.
-You’re the only one who can let go of your grudges. It’s worth it, I promise. They’re not doing you any good.
-Doing the good, brave, kind things can feel silly if you let your internal critic get in the way. Reminder: No one else can hear that guy.
-I can count on one hand the number of times putting out negativity has brought me back something worthwhile and even when it works it feels terrible.
-Want to be better-liked immediately? Today? Right now? Use people’s names. Ask more questions. Make the person you’re talking to feel important without empty flattery.
-Don’t correct people. Unless their wrongness will lead to them getting hurt or hurting someone else. You’ll have a fleeting sense of superiority and they’ll resent you. Nothing worthwhile comes of it. This used to be so hard, but now I cringe when someone else does it.
-Cooking a Hot Pocket in the oven may seem counterintuitive, but man, it can really elevate it.
-Learning to appreciate things you don’t initially enjoy is the power to fill the world with stuff you like.
-Empathy is the final step of maturity. It can take some work, but you’ll be shocked how much easier the world is to navigate when you remember to use it.
-You’re probably not drinking enough water.
-There’s no narrative to your life, no arc, no reward for achieving all the things you want. That kind of thinking is a recipe for a you-centric world view and is a very lonely road. Focus instead on the role you play in the stories of others. When I was young, there was an old man named Brady at our church who always had gum. No matter what, Brady always had gum that he offered up freely. When he died, it devastated our youth group and I still remember him two decades later. Brady might have only played a bit role in all our life stories, but by playing it with generosity and kindness he achieved a sort of immortality. Putting others first with a cheerful heart isn’t easy, but because of that, even the smallest acts can leave an incalculable impact.
-Don’t read the comments. And when you do, only reply to the nice ones.Some of his “Daily Show” commentary about the president has been scathing, and personal. The day after the election, Mr. Minhaj described his anxieties about Mr. Trump’s policies toward Muslims, saying that his mother had asked if she would be allowed back into the United States after a foreign trip to visit relatives.
“The fact that I can’t tell her ‘yes’ with 100 percent certainty is heartbreaking,” Mr. Minhaj said. “That is my mom, and I need her back home. Because I love her — and she owes me $300.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Minhaj called it “a tremendous honor to be a part of such a historic event even though the president has chosen not to attend this year. SAD!”
”Now more than ever, it is vital that we honor the First Amendment and the freedom of the press,” Mr. Minhaj added.
Officials at the correspondents’ group say the dinner will be focused on promoting journalism, with the famed writers Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward to present awards for White House reporting. Scholarships funded by the association will also be at the forefront.
Alec Baldwin, who caricatures Mr. Trump on “Saturday Night Live,” called Mr. Mason at one point to talk about the possibility of an appearance, according to two people familiar with the discussion. The actor would likely have appeared as himself, and not in his Trump guise, the people said, in part because “Saturday Night Live” would have to give permission for Mr. Baldwin to reprise the impression outside of the show.
But some journalists in the Correspondents’ Association felt that awarding a featured spot to Mr. Baldwin could inject a blunt partisanship into the proceedings. Would network news anchors, for instance, feel comfortable laughing along with Mr. Baldwin — live on camera — if no one from the White House administration was there to reciprocate?Enoxolone (INN, BAN; also known as glycyrrhetinic acid or glycyrrhetic acid) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid derivative of the beta-amyrin type obtained from the hydrolysis of glycyrrhizic acid, which was obtained from the herb liquorice. It is used in flavoring and it masks the bitter taste of drugs like aloe and quinine. It is effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer and also has expectorant (antitussive) properties.[1] It has some additional pharmacological properties including antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and antibacterial activities.[2][3][4][5]
Mechanism of action [ edit ]
Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits the enzymes (15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase and delta-13-prostaglandin) that metabolize the prostaglandins PGE-2 and PGF-2α to their respective 15-keto-13,14-dihydro metabolites which are inactive.[citation needed] This causes an increased level of prostaglandins in the digestive system.[citation needed] Prostaglandins inhibit gastric secretion but stimulate pancreatic secretion and mucous secretion in the intestines and markedly increase intestinal motility.[citation needed] They also cause cell proliferation in the stomach.[citation needed] The effect on gastric acid secretion, promotion of mucous secretion and cell proliferation shows why licorice has potential in treating peptic ulcer.[citation needed]
PGF-2α stimulates activity of the uterus during pregnancy and can cause abortion, therefore, licorice should not be taken during pregnancy.[citation needed]
The structure of glycyrrhetinic acid is similar to that of cortisone. Both molecules are flat and similar at position 3 and 11. This might be the basis for licorice's anti-inflammatory action.[citation needed]
3-β- D -(Monoglucuronyl)-18-β-glycyrrhetinic acid, a metabolite of glycyrrhetinic acid, inhibits the conversion of 'active' cortisol to 'inactive' cortisone in the kidneys.[6] This occurs via inhibition of the enzyme by inhibiting the enzyme 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.[citation needed] As a result, cortisol levels are high within the collecting duct of the kidney. Cortisol has intrinsic mineralocorticoid properties (that is, it acts like aldosterone and increases sodium reabsorption) that work on ENaC channels in the collecting duct.[citation needed]Hypertension develops due to this mechanism of sodium retention. People often have high blood pressure with a low renin and low aldosterone blood level.[citation needed] The increased amounts of cortisol binds to the unprotected, unspecific mineralocorticoid receptors and induce sodium and fluid retention, hypokalaemia, high blood pressure and inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Therefore, licorice should not be given to patients with a known history of hypertension in doses sufficient to inhibit 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.[7]
Derivatives [ edit ]
Glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives, where R is a variable functional group
In glycyrrhetinic acid, the functional group (R) is a hydroxyl group. Research in 2005 demonstrated that with a proper functional group a very effective glycyrrhetinic artificial sweetener can be obtained.[8] When R is an anionic NHCO(CH 2 )CO 2 K side chain, the sweetening effect is found to 1200 times that of sugar (human sensory panel data). A shorter or longer spacer reduces the sweetening effect. One explanation is that the taste bud cell receptor has 1.3 nanometers (13 angstroms) available for docking with the sweetener molecule. In addition the sweetener molecule requires three proton donor positions of which two reside at the extremities to be able to interact efficiently with the receptor cavity.
A synthetic analog, carbenoxolone, was developed in Britain.[citation needed] Both glycyrrhetinic acid and carbenoxolone have a modulatory effect on neural signaling through gap junction channels.
Acetoxolone, the acetyl derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid, is a drug used in the treatment of peptic ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Further reading [ edit ]
Saponin Glycosides, by Georges-Louis Friedli, URL accessed Sept 2010.Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, told a packed auditorium on Sunday what sounded like good news: The minimum wage is going up 50%.
But that won't help ordinary Venezuelans. Inflation there could skyrocket 720% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. As inflation goes up, the country's currency buys less and less.
The wage hike actually epitomizes Venezuela's spiral into chaos of all kinds.
It's the third time this year Maduro's government has hiked the country's minimum wage to combat extremely high inflation and an increasingly worthless currency. Prices for food, medicine and other essentials rise weekly if not daily.
Staggering wage hikes still aren't keeping pace with rising inflation, which is a result of years of government overspending and mismanagement, along with severe shortages of food, medicine and even cash itself.
The latest increase brings Venezuela's minimum wage to 97,531 bolivars a month. That's equivalent to $12.53, according to the unofficial but often used exchange rate of dolartoday.com. Official government exchange rates are considered overvalued.
Related: Venezuela's unbelievable currency collapse gets |
the fuel and raw materials used by industry and the price of goods leaving factory gates.
North Sea pipeline closure 'could have significant impact on consumers' Read more
In November, fuel and raw material bills for manufacturers were 7.3% higher than a year ago, up from 4.8% in October, while factory gate prices rose by 3%, up from 2.8% in October.
Mike Prestwood, the ONS head of inflation, said: “CPI inflation edged above 3% for the first time in nearly six years, with the price of computer games rising and airfares falling more slowly than this time last year. These upward pressures were partly offset by falling costs of computer equipment.
“The prices of raw materials and goods leaving factories continued to increase as oil and petrol prices continued to rise. Annual rises in house prices and rents continued to slow, with London seeing house price falls for the second month running.”
• Follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk, or sign up to the daily Business Today email here.Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll surely know the wonder and glory that is RuPaul's Drag Race, but did you know that the first ever episode of Drag Race aired eight years ago this month? That's 103 episodes staring 100 queens, which is an awful lot of outfits, mishaps, runways and shashays to have graced out screens.
We've already given you our most iconic moments of the reality competition talent show and now; through hours of mindless binging, doing nothing but eating, sleeping and breathing all things Drag Race, we've been able to tot up our top 18 most iconic outfits in drag race herstory.
Mama Ru, we thank you.
18. Season Seven - Trixie Mattel and Pearl - Twisted Sisters
So not only did Mama Ru give us a look into the world of conjoined drag queens, we also got blessed with the ever so brief return of Trixie Mattel! This pretty/unpretty sister duo gave us all life before Trixie got kicked out again like two episodes later...
17. Season Seven - Max - Death Becomes Her
Week after week, Michelle would critique Max with the same old criticism that sooner or later, her granny realness would have to take a back seat and the towering beauty would have to don something other than the usual grey wig. Thank god she ignored Visage and did what she does best with this beyond beautiful/gory glamour!
16. Season Six - Gia Gunn - The Entrance
The thing to remember with Drag Race is that first impressions count. And when Gia walked in with a purse larger than life, did she instantly steal the show? Absolutely.
Credit: Logo TV
15. Season Three - Raja - Carrie Chic
And so, Halloween inspiration was born.
14. Season Five - Alaska - Trash Couture
Not everybody can wrap layers of plastic bag and wrap around themselves and somehow make it work! Yes, Alaska has a figure that keeps us gagging for days, but this look stood out from the crowd in the opening episode of season five. Then again, anything was better than what Serena Chacha came out with...
Credit: Logo TV
13. Season Five - Jinkx Monsoon - The Living Dead
Jinkx's kooky and fun loving attitude wasn't always taken on board by the judges, and nine times out of ten, someone would have some to say about her chosen look that week. But during this runway turn out, Jinkx went from lonely outsider to skeletal senorita and pushed through Rolaskatox as the dark horse of the competition.
12. Season One - Shannel - Medusa
Rewind time to season one of RuPaul's Drag Race and we find Shannel. Shannel was the original shady queen, and was the first to bring a little more creativity in her runway looks. This Medusa-inspired get up was nothing like ever seen before on Drag Race. She was also the first to 'lose' her wig during a lipsync. The original diva.
Credit: Logo TV
11. Season Seven - Pearl - The Snake
Pearl is a queen who can give just a good as she gets. That time giving Ru back some sass will go down in herstory, but it wasn't just Pearl's IDGAF demeanour that made her such an incredible contestant. The make-up. The outfit. The legs that went on for days. Pearl's slippery snake inspired look will always be a personal fave.
10. Season Five - Ivy Winters - Circus Girl Glam
The girl walked a runway on stilts for Christ sake! Credit where credit's due.
9. Season Five - Roxxxy Andrews - Sugar Ball
Say what you want about Roxxxy's shade towards Jinkx during season five, you cant deny the girl took her critique and rolled with it. Not loving her original look, Ru hinted Roxxxy should to go in another direction with her Sugar Ball look. Did she bitch and moan? Hell no, that girl spent hours gluing individual liquorice strands to her gown. WHERE MA PEOPLE AT?!
8. Season Seven - Violet Chachki - Cinched for Days
How? Just how? Not only was this look stupidly beautiful, but just how?
7. Season Eight - Acid Betty - Acid Trip
It's all in the name really isn't it? Known for her extravagant and high concept looks, Betty never disappointed in her too-short stint on the show. Her forth runway look consisted of this weird mutated, nuclear fish thing, and she just kills it.
6. Season Five - Detox - Silver Screen Queen
Detox showed up to season five reunion show head to toe in black and white 1920's glam. It was a beyond perfect optical illusion that really showed off Detox's drag talent. The dramatic make up skills and the wig paired perfectly together for this walking, talking portrait.
5. Season Five - Roxxxy Andrews - Whip My Hair Back and Forth
If there's one thing Drag Race is not short of, it's contestants losing all sorts of attire during the heat of a lip sync battle, but Roxxxy stepped up. Losing one wig to find another perfectly placed underneath? Arguably one of the best lip syncs to date.
Credit: Logo TV
4. Season Four - Sharon Needles - Rupocalypse
When Sharon Needles first stepped into the work room, no one thought she'd last long. She was like nothing seen before in Drag Race, and that's what made her so special. Her first look of season four showed us exactly what to expect from Sharon. It was gory and ugly and we loved it.
3. Season Six - Courtney Act - Wings
She was critiqued for'resting on pretty' throughout the competition, and as Drag Race's fishiest queen to date, can you blame her? Courtney instantly stood out from the crowd for her beauty and voice, but it was her talent on the runway that made her a force to be reckoned with. Her wings costume reveal propelled her into the limelight.
2. Season Seven - Violet Chachki - Two-in-One
From the second we saw that tartan little number in the first episode of season seven, we knew we were in for a treat when it came to bitchy and catty Violet. Although she wasn't the most popular with other contestants, she quickly became a fan fave.
1. All Stars 2 - Detox - Every. Single. Look.
Anybody who is anybody who watched the latest instalment of All Stars can't deny one thing: that Detox slayed throughout the entire competition. Back in season five, she had her fair few misses which clinched the top three status away from her, fast forward to 2016, and Detox was nothing but hits. From her metallic robot inspired runway, to her pop star alter ego in 'Read U Wrote U', Detox smashed every challenge that came her way and looked bloody fantastic doing so too.
Credit: Logo TV
Do you agree with us? Think we've missed a major iconic outfit? Let us know in the comments.
Written by Jess SephtonSAN RAMON — A fourth-grader at Quail Run Elementary School in San Ramon will travel to the state Capitol to receive an award lauding her for the bravery she demonstrated when she called 911 when her mother fell ill, officials said Tuesday.
Alexa Hile Lewis, 8, is being recognized by the state Senate and California State Assembly for the calm, collected 911 call she made from a relative’s home on March 10 after her mom became nauseated and began having trouble breathing, said Kimberly French, spokeswoman for the San Ramon Valley Fire District.
“She’s like, can’t breathe right now,” Alexa said calmly to dispatcher Robert Vega on the call. “She’s like, throwing up really bad. And sometimes, she was like, falling and fainting.”
Vega gave the girl instructions for how to keep her mother calm and comfortable, and kept her on the line until emergency crews arrived.
When Vega praised Alexa for her maturity, Alexa replied “My mom always says that I sometimes act like I’m a grown-up.”
The girl’s great-grandmother was also at the house when Alexa’s mother fell ill.
“We’re at my grandma’s house, and my great-grandma is here, so I told her I was going to call the ambulance so she wouldn’t get scared,” Alexa said.
Emergency crews arrived within five minutes of Alexa’s 911 call, and it was her swift action that ensured her mom got the help she needed quickly, French said. Alexa and Vega were both nominated for the award as part of the “9-1-1 for Kids Local 9-1-1 heroes” program.
Alexa and her grandmother travelled to Sacramento Wednesday before Alexa received her award Thursday morning. Alexa’s mother remains hospitalized, and officials did not specify her illness. They did say she was recovering Wednesday.
According to Fire Marshal Christina Kiefer, the aim of the fire and life safety education provided by the fire district is to teach all kindergarten through fifth-graders in the valley to do exactly what Alexa did.
“Educating our community on how to be safe is the foundation of what we do,” Kiefer said. “Firefighters and Fire Prevention Specialists visit each class, every year, to teach lessons such as the importance of calling 911 in an emergency, how to create an escape plan at home and how to get out and stay out if their home catches fire.”
Contact Erin Ivie at eivie@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/erin_ivie.UPDATE 2: The validation process has ended, winner has been drawn and contacted. Congratulations to the winner and good luck to everyone in our future contests!
UPDATE: This giveaway has ended. Voting validation has begun and the winner will be drawn in the next 24-48 hours. The winner will be contacted and if he/she will agree, his/her name will be published on this page. Good luck to everyone that joined our first giveaway!
Gipsy.Ninja is celebrating its first birthday with an international iPhone 6s giveaway! It’s your chance to win an iPhone 6s by exploring the Gipsy Ninja world!
Don’t forget to give us some sugar by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, Instagram and Google Plus and by subscribing to our newsletter and Youtube channel! Start exploring like a Gipsy and studying like a Ninja!
iPhone 6s Giveaway in the color of your choice
iPhone 6s Giveaway by Gipsy.Ninja
iPhone6s specs: Display: 4.7″ Retina HD 3D Touch Camera: 12-megapixel iSight camera Chip: A9 chip with 64-bit Video: 4K 30fps Weight: 6.77 ounces (192 grams) Touch ID: Home button Fingerprint sensor
Detailed specs via GsmArena: BODY Dimensions 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 in) Weight 143 g (5.04 oz) SIM Nano-SIM – Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) DISPLAY Type LED-backlit IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Size 4.7 inches (~65.6% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 750 x 1334 pixels (~326 ppi pixel density) Multitouch Yes Protection Ion-strengthened glass, oleophobic coating – Force Touch display
– Display Zoom PLATFORM OS iOS 9, upgradable to iOS 9.2 Chipset Apple A9 CPU Dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister GPU PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics) MEMORY Card slot No Internal 16/64/128 GB, 2 GB RAM CAMERA Primary 12 MP, f/2.2, 29mm, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, check quality Features 1/3″ sensor size, 1.22 µm pixel size, geo-tagging, simultaneous 4K video and 8MP image recording, touch focus, face/smile detection, HDR (photo/panorama) Video 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps,1080p@120fps, 720p@240fps, check quality Secondary 5 MP, f/2.2, 31mm, 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps, face detection, HDR, panorama SOUND Alert types Vibration, proprietary ringtones Loudspeaker Yes 3.5mm jack Yes COMMS WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot Bluetooth v4.2, A2DP, LE GPS Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS NFC Yes (Apple Pay only) Radio No USB v2.0, reversible connector FEATURES Sensors Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Messaging iMessage, SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email Browser HTML5 (Safari) Java No – Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
– Siri natural language commands and dictation
– iCloud cloud service
– iCloud Keychain
– TV-out
– Maps
– Organizer
– Document editor
– Photo/video editor BATTERY Non-removable Li-Po 1715 mAh battery (6.9 Wh) Stand-by Up to 240 h (3G) Talk time Up to 14 h (3G) Music play Up to 50 h
Check out the new iPhone SE:When a Manitoba man heard about an NDP campaign to pay $50 to 'Send Harper a Message', the Conservative voter took them up on it.
"I thought it was a fantastic idea," James Montgomery of Brandon, Man. told CBC News.
"I'm an avid political observer... I just thought this idea by the Calgary NDP candidate was fantastic, unique — really kind of a fun idea, "
The initiative, called Send Harper a Message, was launched on Sept. 13.
For a $50 donation to the NDP's Matt Masters Burgener, who is running against Stephen Harper in the riding of Calgary Heritage, anyone can put a custom message on a campaign-style sign that will be placed near a Harper election sign.
There are no rules around what someone can say on a sign, which features a small NDP logo, as long as it's in good taste.
Intrigued, Montgomery made a friendly bet.
"I told my friend that told me about this 'if they put up a pro-Harper message, I'll buy you a drink.'"
Montgomery logged on and donated $50 to Masters Burgener's campaign and submitted the message for his sign: 'Let's make it four in a row. Go Harper go!"
Montgomery got an automated email confirming his contribution was received. He was also told a picture of the sign would be provided so he could share it on social media.
Four days later, nothing. So Montgomery took to Twitter.
<a href="https://twitter.com/MastersMatt">@MastersMatt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SendHarperAMsg">@SendHarperAMsg</a> where is the sign I paid for? —@J_Montgomery78
<a href="https://twitter.com/J_Montgomery78">@J_Montgomery78</a> due to the overwhelming response to <a href="https://twitter.com/SendHarperAMsg">@SendHarperAMsg</a> there is quite a backlog. We're working on it. —@MastersMatt
<a href="https://twitter.com/MastersMatt">@MastersMatt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SendHarperAMsg">@SendHarperAMsg</a> very unfortunate that you are not going to post my positive message. Or are you still trying to find the time? —@J_Montgomery78
Finally, 10 days later on Sept. 27, Montgomery says he received an email from Masters Burgener's NDP team saying they were working to refund his donation.
"I was surprised," said Montgomery, adding he didn't ask for a refund. "Since they said they were going to post positive messages they should follow through."
"When a candidate says they're going to do something and then doesn't follow through, it's reflective of maybe what the party will say during an election and actually do if elected."
Montgomery said he has yet to receive his refund or a response to why his sign won't be posted but he has no hard feelings.
"If they send me a tax receipt, it will actually only end up costing $12.50," he said.
"We're dealing with a lot more serious issues in this election but I think this also shows it's OK to have a little bit of fun."
'Not something we support'
NDP Candidate Matt Masters Burgener told CBC News by phone Montgomery was refunded for his donation on Sunday because "his message is not something we support."
The candidate says under the rules of 'Send Harper a Message' campaign, the website states the team "reserves the right to refuse any message."
In an interview earlier this month, a spokesperson for Masters Burgener told CBC News they would permit messages supporting Harper. "In that instance he misspoke," Masters Burgener said.
"We're running an NDP campaign supporting an NDP candidate — me."
Masters Burgener's said the site also states refunds would not be permitted but he decided to refund Montgomery, adding he didn't expect anyone would donate to the campaign with a message supporting his opponent.
Out of the 200 requests for signs, Montgomery's was the only one with a message supporting Harper.Thank you for supporting Pet Fest this year!
16th Annual Pet Fest will be Saturday, October 20th, 2018
The Community helps us generate much-needed funds as we celebrate the human-animal bond. All proceeds raised go to PALS' spay/neuter programs, pet pantry, TNRM, and humane education. The festival is located in the park by the beautiful San Marcos River with events throughout the San Marcos Plaza Pavilion Park (located at 401 East Hopkins Street). Admission is free, but it is requested that attendees bring a donation of dry pet food. Cash donations are also accepted and all contributions are tax-deductible.
PALS would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of PetFest 2018!
Jane Hughson K9 Water World Frost Bank Blue Sky Mortgage
AirOne Heating and Air Conditioning Tickle-Blagg Animal Hospital
Mark, Anna, and Maia Boling
The PetFest 5K/Fun Run will be held immediately before PetFest. The 5K starts at 8:00 AM, and the Fun Run at 9:00 AM. You can register online at Athlete Guild, or on site the day of the race.
Keep an eye out on this space for updates on vendors, sponsors, musical acts, etc.
If you are interested in sponsoring Pet Fest, you can download a sponsor form here
If you are interested in having a vendor booth at Pet Fest, you can download a vendor form here
Main Stage Schedule
10:00 am - Opening Ceremonies
10:15 am - Blessing of the Animals
10:45 am - Stringtown Texas
12:00 pm - Rockaroni and Cheese
1:00 pm - Semi Sweet Acoustic Duo
2:15 pm - SA Dark City Set 1
4:00 pm - SA Dark City Set 2
Silent Auction
Here are some of the items that will be available for bidding in the Silent Auction
Gift Basket #1
Gift Basket #2
Disney Dollhouse
End Table Pet Nook
Signed Fiesta Texas Poster
Hand Quilted Potholders
Hand Painted Skull
Jade Table
Snoopy Pet House
Tattoo Gift Certificates
Texans CoastersMost people may think of Greece, Italy, or Spain when they grab a jar of table olives at the grocery store, but they’ve been grown in California since 1870. Though maybe not for much longer. Olives have never been California’s largest agricultural product – at its height the industry only had a little over 35,000 acres of table olives – but as growers face low prices, high labor costs and dwindling water supplies, many are choosing to leave generations of olive-growing for a more lucrative crop.
Though California growers recognize that farming is a business, it doesn’t mean there’s no sentiment involved when it’s time to move on.
“My grandfather planted our first olives in about 1945-1950,” says David DePaoli, an olive grower whose family started farming in California about 100 years ago. When DePaoli took over from his father, he increased their original 20 acres of olives to 40, then 60 acres. In 2010, he started tearing those trees out. “The last 20 acres that I still have, my father planted anywhere from 1957-1972,” DePaoli says. “It’s a family tradition and it’s hard to remove those trees.” At 61 years old, DePaoli has literally grown up with the same orchard that he’s now contemplating tearing down. “But within the next two or three years those trees will probably have to come out, too.”
Though California growers recognize that farming is a business, it doesn’t mean there’s no sentiment involved when it’s time to move on. In the case of olives – a tree that can live well over 500 years and still bear fruit – farmers are losing history as well. “Olives have been around since the start of civilization,” DePaoli says. “It literally hurts to pull them out.” Unlike growers who live in areas suited to only one crop, California’s olive growers have many other lucrative options to choose from.
The most popular option is almonds, whose price has climbed from less than a dollar in 1999 to more than $3 a pound today. “Almond trees are really good money,” says Burkett. Not only do new trees start producing within three years (compared to eight for another nut like pistachio), the harvesting process is mechanized, cutting down on annual labor costs. “Labor is another Achilles heel for the table olive industry,” admits Adin Hester, president of the Olive Growers Council.
Unlike almonds, the more delicate table olives need to be hand-harvested. “In the table olive business, harvest can take over 50 percent of the farmer’s gross income,” he adds. And when there’s not a lot of money coming in to begin with, those fees are even more daunting.
Almonds may have some financial advantages over olives, but the drought is causing problems for any plant California growers want to keep alive. Olives do have the benefit of being highly drought-tolerant trees that can survive on light rainfall alone, but to bear enough fruit to harvest commercially, growers need to keep their thirst quenched. An acre of commercial olive trees needs three acre-feet of water to bear fruit (“acre-foot” referring to the amount of water needed to cover an acre of land with one foot of water), which is not nothing. One acre-foot is equivalent to about 325,000 gallons of water. However, an acre of commercial almonds need even more – closer to four acre-feet on average. In a state where the majority is in an “extreme” or “exceptional” drought, the difference between water needs in crops quickly gets expensive for farmers and the public alike.
Over the last few years, farmers have lost their government water allocations and have resorted to a mixture of drilling for groundwater and purchasing water rights from neighboring farms. “I’ve got well water but I’m afraid my wells are going to go down,” says Burkett, who acknowledges his water situation is better than many. “The question is, why would I stay in olives?” Neighbors are growing everything from pecans to oranges and almonds, and there’s nothing stopping him from joining in.
Burkett recently purchased his neighbor’s water rights after the other grower decided to get out of the farming business. “I took that water and put it on stuff that’s profitable,” he adds. For most growers, that means anything but olives.
Though switching to almonds means using more water, growers are getting high enough prices from the crop to afford it. That is, until there’s no water left for anyone anymore.
As the California drought enters its second year as an officially declared “drought emergency,” some growers are hopeful that rain will come again soon. “Long-term, it’s going to rain,” says Burkett, who hopes that farmers will start getting water again next year rather than five or 10 years from now. “But in the meantime, you do what you have to do.”
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Rod Burkett was chairman of the California Olive Council. He is chairman of the Olive Growers Council of California. The story has been corrected to reflect the correct amount of water needed to grow olive and almond trees. We regret the errors.A powerful Democratic women’s rights group has launched an advertising blitz attacking Republicans for not including women witnesses at a congressional hearing about an Obama administration contraception mandate and religious freedom.
The television ad spot — produced by EMILY’s List — will be broadcast to viewers in Chicago, San Francisco, and Florida and takes aim at a hearing held by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee this week in which female Democrats on the panel staged a walkout after few women were allowed to testify in support of the White House’s contraception mandate.
The debate centers around a ruling that employers, including Catholic schools and universities, provide or pay for birth control for their employees. Obama revised that policy last week, in the wake of a backlash from church officials and Republican lawmakers, to allow workers to get contraception through their insurance company.
Last week’s hearing was entitled, “Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?” Republicans have painted the Obama mandate as an attack on religious liberties and had invited religious leaders opposed to the mandate to testify.
The Democratic women on the panel walked out of the hearing after Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) refused to allow testimony from Sandra Flake, a Georgetown University law student who supports the policy.
ADVERTISEMENT
As the hearing was underway, pictures of the initial all-male witness table spread like wildfire across Twitter and liberal blogs, fueled by attacks from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic lawmakers.
“Imagine, they’re having a panel on women’s health, and they don’t have any women on the panel — duh!” Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said during a press briefing in the Capitol. “What is it that men don’t understand about women’s health and how central the issue of family planning is to that?”
Rep. Issa’s office shot back against Pelosi’s criticism, noting that two women testified on the second panel and saying Pelosi “is either ill-informed or arrogantly dismissive of women who don’t share her views.”
"Women are saying, ‘Enough,’" said Stephanie Schriock, EMILY's List president. “That picture told women everything they need to know about the radical, right-wing anti-women conservatives in Washington who are using their power to set women back decades.”
The EMILY's LIST ad opens with controversial remarks from Foster Friess, a major donor to a super-PAC supporting Rick Santorum who has hammered the contraceptive ruling as an Obama administration "attack" on religion.
The ad opens with footage showing Friess saying: “You know, back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn’t that costly.”
"We heard them, talking about women's lives," a narrator says before a montage of clips depicting male members of the media discussing women's issues along with images of Republican lawmakers, and the all-male panel from last week's hearing.
The video then cuts to an image of New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D) asking "Where are the women?" at the hearing.
"So who should be heard?" the narrator resumes. "You."
The protest by Democratic lawmakers and their allies underscores the difficulty Republicans are having in framing the issue as a fight over religious freedom. Democrats want to make it a debate over contraception and women’s health, a shift that could help the party win over female voters in an election year.
On Sunday, Rep. Michele Bachmann Michele Marie BachmannGillibrand becomes latest candidate scrutinized for how she eats on campaign trail Trump will give State of Union to sea of opponents Yes, condemn Roseanne, but ignoring others is true hypocrisy MORE (R-Minn.) was asked whether the all-male panel for the House hearing would hurt the GOP in the 2012 elections.
“There is no anti-women move whatsoever,” said Bachmann. “The Republican Party is extremely pro-women.
“The president of the United States has unprecedented breathtaking authority to make a decision about whatever healthcare service, whatever healthcare product, if he wants it offered or not offered, will it be free? He'll set the prices,” she said.
“This is unprecedented. That's why President Obama's Achilles heel is ‘Obama-care.’”
This story was updated at 6:28 p.m.We've expected it for some time, but now it's been confirmed: Tesla will build electric cars in China in the next three to four years.
While Chinese production won't replace the company's facilities in the U.S, it will give Tesla a foothold in an ever-growing market--and help it avoid China's hefty 25 percent import tariff.
According to Bloomberg, Tesla's plans also include building a network of battery charging stations in the country--both Tesla's dedicated Supercharger stations and others too.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk described China as "very important" to the future of the company, speaking at a conference in Beijing.
He said Tesla will make a "big investment" in the country in terms of charging infrastructure, but also expects to make cars in China in the next three to four years.
The move is likely to involve a joint-venture with a Chinese automaker to avoid punitive duties--just as Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar-Land Rover and several other automakers do (or plan to do) to avoid the country's heavy tax penalties.
Sales of the Model S electric sedan will begin in China next week. Tesla is applying an unusual pricing strategy in the country, refusing to charge more than the car's U.S. price plus import and sales taxes, and shipping costs--unlike many other automakers, who often add a premium.
Musk believes it's important that Tesla offers its customers good value for money. "I don't think ripping off customers is a good long-term strategy," he told Bloomberg back in January.
The car's $121,000 Chinese price tag will actually make the car a great deal moreaffordable than many conventionally-fueled rivals--likely making China one of Tesla's biggest markets.
Despite Tesla's confidence, the company is still unlikely to have it easy.
Electric cars have been a hard sell in China so far, with only 17,600 plug-in vehicles in total finding homes there last year.
Incentives are relatively high, but the high price of electric vehicles is still dissuading many customers. Charging infrastructure is also an issue, in a country where millions live in high-rise city dwellings with no easy access to charging facilities.
Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Musk is hoping the Model S will qualify for Chinese subsidies, though its higher market segment means price and charging access may not be as much of an issue as it is for lower-end vehicles.
Either way, Chinese production and Tesla's efforts to improve charging infrastructure should both play in the company's favor. The next few years could be interesting ones indeed for Tesla.In his 2008 TED Talk, Philip Zimbardo introduced his subject by showing his audience M.C. Escher’s Circle Limit IV, a set of black and white tessellated angels and demons. The art, Zimbardo explained, reminds us that “good and evil are the yin and yang of the human condition.” Neither are ever very far away.
Zimbardo rose to fame in 1971 with his Stanford Prison Experiment, in which students role-played guards and prisoners. The experiment was scheduled to last two weeks, but ended within six days after the guards began to abuse the prisoners, some of whom experienced mental breakdowns.
Even Zimbardo himself played a key role in the power structure. “In the experiment, I had ultimate power,” Zimbardo tells me. “I was the one ultimately that intervened and stopped it, [but] I could have intervened, and I should have intervened earlier.” The temptations of power can change an individual, he said—something that, no doubt, was on his mind when he testified in defense of Ivan “Chip” Frederick, a United States Army Reserve Staff Sergeant charged in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
In the years since the experiment, Zimbardo has become increasingly interested in positive psychology, and founded a non-profit organization that promotes everyday heroism and kindness.
Zimbardo spoke with Nautilus in December.
Prisonexp.org
What sparked your interest in power?
My interest in power comes from having grown up in the ghetto in the South Bronx. One of the fundamental aspects of being poor is you have virtually no power. If you are rich you have money-power; you have social connections, people-power. If you’re poor, you have neither. I’ve always been interested in that. For me, education was a form of power.
How do you define power?
Power is the force that makes things happen, for good or for evil. It can be an inner power like compassion or external like status or wealth. Power is central in my view of evil—that people harm, hurt, and kill other people, in various ways. So in the prison study, power is a central theme because guards have to convince prisoners they have almost total power over the prisoners’ lives.
What interested you in designing the Stanford Prison Experiment?
The Stanford Prison study, in a sense [was designed to give] a broader sense of situational power. What it means to be a prison guard is to demonstrate to prisoners that you have power of all kinds over them, and they have virtually none. Also, I wanted to have a situation that went on as it does in real life, 24 hours a day, day after day, observing up close and personal character transformations as people got into, and ultimately became, their role.
Prisonexp.org
How did you ensure that the students you recruited weren’t already bullies?
Seventy-five college students answered an ad in the Palo Alto newspaper. We gave them a battery of personality tests and then randomly assigned two dozen who were the most psychologically healthy to either play the role of prisoner or guard. Any other background factors were equally dispersed between those two roles.
Did subjects try to resist their roles as prisoners or guards?
They did. We did things that made it very realistic: parole board hearings, parents visiting. But students in 1971 were anti-war activists. Many students on many campuses protested against the war, were beaten up or suffered abuse by their local police. So nobody wanted to be a prison guard. Initially, it was very difficult for the boys playing prison guards to get into their role. But, the second day of the study, the prisoners rebelled. They did not want to be dehumanized, because one way to take away power is to take away your name, your style, the way you wear your hair and so forth.
How did the guards react to the rebellion?
All 12 guards came in, and they crushed the rebellion. At that point, the guards said, “These are dangerous prisoners. We have to show who is in charge, who is the boss.” That changed everything. That’s when it became a prison. No one used the word “experiment” again. The guards used physical force—stripped the prisoners naked, put them in chains, put them in solitary confinement. There was actually fighting. The guards used psychological force to make prisoners feel helpless and hopeless. That’s when I should have intervened and did not.
Prisonexp.org
Was Abu Ghraib similar to the Stanford Prison experiment?
Abu Ghraib was the Stanford Prison Study on steroids. The guards worked 12- to 14-hour shifts and never left the prison. Abu Ghraib was always under bombardment, so the guards lived in prison cells. That means they were totally enmeshed in that situation. Many of the prisoners were naked because they didn’t have enough uniforms; many of them were filthy because they were not enough showers; none of them spoke English; the Iraqi policemen were smuggling drugs in and helping prisoners escape; and the prison was under bombardment. This was a nightmare situation in which to be a guard.
In addition, they had 12 hours to kill every night. What happened was they began to use prisoners as their playthings to break the boredom up. The prisoners were naked, or they stripped them naked, then it just got worse. Every guard on the shift did degrading things to the prisoners; the abuses went on for three months. When you have the power, you use the boredom in whatever way you want. Lynndie England, one of the female guards said, “We were having fun and games.” They didn’t think anything they were doing was wrong.
Also in Psychology Why Power Brings Out Your True Self By Matthew Hutson At the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama told the crowd, “Being president doesn’t change who you are. It reveals who you are.” Growing up, Michelle said, she and Barack learned important lessons from their families about “dignity and decency”...READ MORE
What role did the guards’ bosses play in Abu Ghraib?
The head of military intelligence told the head of military police, “We want the guards on the night shift to take off the gloves. We want them to do whatever is necessary so that when they are interrogated they will spill the beans.”
There were zero abuses on the day shift—100 percent of the abuses came on |
with a regular microscope, you see a little shake,” he says. “So you steady that shake, and you look at them with a 15x microscope, and you see they’re still shaking. You steady that shake, then you look at them with a 30x microscope and you see they’re still shaking. You don’t want to be shaking when you’re going in for this kind of surgery.”
Chen is the only surgeon at UI Hospitals and Clinics to offer either procedure, and the hospital is one of a small but growing number in the United States to make it available. Although both procedures are beginning to gain some ground in understanding and use, Chen says, there is still a long way to go.
Lymphedema centers around the world traditionally use massage therapy and pain management to treat patients with the condition, which ranges from localized swelling to legs and arms swollen to two or three times their normal size.
“We’ve been trying to educate both physicians and patients that patients have options, that there are treatments to help reduce this swelling and this pain,” Chen says. “It’s time we really start to take this condition seriously because we are causing this condition, in this country, with medical treatments for cancer.”
In developed countries like the United States, the leading cause of lymphedema is cancer survivorship, Chen says.
While the majority of lymphedema patients are breast cancer patients, lymphedema can occur after any cancer or its treatment, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). There is no set timeline for lymphedema to occur—it has been reported within days of surgery, or even up to 30 years later—though NCI records show that 80 percent of lymphedema patients experience the onset of symptoms within the first three years after surgery.
The NCI data also shows that lymphedema typically occurs in the upper body after breast cancer, but in the lower body following uterine or prostate cancer, lymphoma, or melanoma.
When surgically treating lymphedema, Chen prefers to use an LVA, which is minimally invasive and “works very well in the majority of patients.” The lymph nodes remain intact and vessels are simply rerouted around the blockage, providing an alternate route for the lymph fluid to flow. For more advanced cases, or for patients whose lymphedema doesn’t respond well to the LVA, Chen recommends a lymph node transfer as another option.
This article first appeared in Medicine Iowa.There are few surefire bets when it comes to selections in the MLS SuperDraft.
Heading into the 2012 SuperDraft, many observers expected a flurry of deals, and for the headliners of Darren Mattocks or Andrew Wenger to go in the top few picks. That was about all that played out according to speculation, as no trades went down during the draft.
It didn't take long for the entire process to wrap up out in Kansas City, especially when compared to past iterations. Here's a look at how different folks fared on draft day.
Winners:
[+] Enlarge Jamie Squire/Getty Images MLS commissioner Don Garber greets Chandler Hoffman, who was selected as the 13th pick of the 2012 SuperDraft by the Philadelphia Union.
Philadelphia Union
In the team's short history, Philadelphia has managed to put together solid outings on draft day. This year was no different, as the team landed three players who can contribute. The Union landed striker Chandler Hoffman (UCLA) in the first round, as other sides passed on the Generation adidas forward.
It's in the second round where the club's scouting knowledge paid off. Greg Jordan (Creighton) is perhaps the pick of the lot in defensive midfield. He's a player who embraces his role positioned in front of the back line, and he can find teammates with his excellent passing ability. The pickup of Ray Gaddis (West Virginia) might have been the best of the lot, as he's an athletic right back who gets up and down the field very well.
Vancouver Whitecaps
The Whitecaps can thank Canadian counterparts Montreal for letting Darren Mattocks (Akron) fall to them at No. 2. Mattocks comes from humble beginnings, and could be an electrifying addition to both the league and to Vancouver.
The second-round pick of Chris Estridge (Indiana) was also astute. After a poor combine performance, Estridge fell out of the first round. He's a recently converted outside back who can play both sides, giving Vancouver valuable depth in defense.
L.A. Galaxy
Bruce Arena continued to find a way to make things work in the draft, despite picking dead last in both rounds. With Juninho back in Brazil and Omar Gonzalez sidelined with an ACL injury picked up while training in Germany, L.A. had holes to fill.
And Arena went out and addressed that with his two selections -- first grabbing Tommy Meyer (Indiana), a central defender with good size, and Kenney Walker (Louisville). Walker in particular seems to be the kind of player Arena loves: He's hard-working, will do the dirty work, and is a proven winner.
[+] Enlarge Jamie Squire/Getty Images Chicago Fire fans at the SuperDraft saw their favorite team make three selections, including highly-regarded players Austin Berry and Hunter Jumper.
Chicago Fire
Three draft picks are difficult to get right, but the Fire made impressive moves with each of their selections. First rounder Austin Berry (Louisville) is ready to make a splash in the pros and adds to Chicago's depth. Forward Lucky Mkosana (Dartmouth) needs to work on his finishing, but his speed is going to be a nice complement to fellow Fire attackers Patrick Nyarko and Dominic Oduro. The club then rounded things off nicely by going out and getting Hunter Jumper (Virginia), who not only has the best name in the combine, but could be groomed into a solid left back at the pro level.
FC Dallas
It's hard to end up in this position with only a single draft pick, but thanks to the teams in front of them, FC Dallas landed a possible replacement for George John in defender Matt Hedges (North Carolina). A decent enough athlete with good size, if John's loan move to West Ham turns into a full transfer later this year, Schellas Hyndman will already have a ready-made replacement in place in Hedges.
Losers:
Montreal Impact
Make no mistake; selecting Andrew Wenger (Duke) with the first overall pick was a smart move. The Duke forward/midfielder/defender looks like a bona fide prospect, and can help the Impact right away in its expansion season.
What lands the Impact in this category is the decision to pass on Mattocks. While Mattocks might not have done as much in 2012, the Jamaican looks to have the tools to be a special talent for years to come. It's hard to pass on a possible prospect like that, even for a player of Wenger's caliber.
San Jose Earthquakes
Currently completing a roster overhaul, San Jose could have made several moves. However, drafting Sam Garza (UC Santa Barbara) in the first round was something of a surprise. It's not that Garza isn't a quality player, but that the team had already made moves for wingers, bringing in Shea Salinas and Marvin Chavez during the offseason.
[+] Enlarge Jamie Squire/Getty Images Forward Darren Mattocks, chosen second overall by Vancouver, will bring his exciting pace to the MLS in the 2012 season.
Midfielder Jacob Hustedt (San Jose) has a chance to make the team and add midfield depth, but the selection of goalkeeper Chris Blais (South Florida) -- one year after landing 'keeper David Bingham in a lottery process -- in the second round was also a puzzling move.
International draft prospects
Before the draft season hit full swing, MLS invited a number of internationals from around the world to try and impress at this year's combine. While they were all far from household names -- the likes of Aldo Paniagua (Paraguay), Jason Banton (England), Gienir García (Mexico) and Kohei Yamada (Japan), to name a few -- none were selected in the two-round draft.
It doesn't come as a big surprise -- after all, it's a lot harder to see these players brought in for the combine, and teams are already going out on a limb by picking unproven college players as it is.
Portland Timbers
Needing defensive backup, the Timbers elected for a defender with more upside in Andrew Jean-Baptiste (Connecticut) over the defenders more ready to handle the rigors of the pro ranks, such as Hedges or Berry. His age and Generation adidas status does bring salary cap relief and the time to groom, but Jean-Baptiste will need a couple of years to fine-tune some of his shortcomings.
Grabbing Brendan King (Notre Dame) in the second round wasn't that much better. Other, more refined midfield options were out there, which included Greg Jordan, Kevan George or Warren Creavalle.
Real Salt Lake
There's no doubting the talent of midfielder Enzo Martinez (North Carolina), who should be able to reach his full potential in a place like Salt Lake. It's the second round that was confounding.
Left back Diogo de Almeida (Southern Methodist) seems like a bit of a head scratcher. While RSL needs help at the outside back spots, a more logical option like Hunter Jumper was available in the second round. And while it's hard to be critical about grabbing Sebastian Velasquez (Spartanburg Methodist), there's little doubt either second-round selection would have been taken in the supplemental draft.After ruffling a few feathers and creating waves, the giant yellow duck turned tail and sailed into the sunset Monday evening. The six-storey tall rubber duck “waddled” in Friday morning to kickoff Canada Day celebrations and the Redpath Waterfront Festival.
It is scheduled to migrate to its tour’s next stop in Owen Sound next weekend. Before flying north, the duck will be deflated, a process that will take at least two hours.
The giant rubber duck at HTO Park, pictured at dawn on Monday before the crowds arrived to catch a look during its final day in Toronto. ( Natasha Grzincic )
Lea Parrell, co-producer of the Redpath Festival, said the duck helped the festival break an attendance record on Saturday.
Article Continued Below
“On Saturday, we had more than we usually have in three days,” Parrell said. “It’s been unbelievable. It’s been half a million people on Saturday alone.” She estimated that by Monday evening over 750,000 people had come out to see the duck. “Have you seen her?” she asked, pointing to the duck. “You can’t look at her and not smile.” Late Sunday afternoon, crowds began to gather around the big duck’s nesting site as word fluttered of her departure. “It’s a little sad,” said Lina Maria of Toronto. “It’s a big, giant duck. Come on. It’s not everyday you get to see one.”
Thousands gather on the waterfront for a last look and selfie with the six storey rubber duck. ( Steve Russell / Toronto Star ) A tugboat hauls the tugboat away. It will be deflated in the Port Lands before moving on to Owen Sound next weekend. ( Steve Russell / Toronto Star )
Vanuja Sree and Samantha Vasanthan get a last look at the duck before it was hauled away. ( Steve Russell )
Cameras, phones and selfie sticks waving, people jostled their way over to the pier, most of which is barricaded because of increased water levels, to get as close as possible to the giant faux fowl. Lisa Fong said she was happy she made it in time to see the duck, having been in Washington DC for a wedding over the weekend. “It’s a great way of celebrating the 150th,” she said. “I know people are saying what does it have to do with Canada celebrating its 150th year but by having the duck you’re going to remember the 150th year.”
Article Continued Below
The duck created a wave of controversy over its price when the plan was announced and the fact that it wasn’t related to anything Canadian.
The six-storey tall rubber duck that was on Toronto's waterfront as part of the Canada Day celebrations and the Redpath Waterfront Festival. ( Steve Russell )
Parrell said the Redpath Waterfront Festival will be doing an economic impact study of the Ontario 150 duck tour, and release the results in fall. A store selling duck souvenirs, t-shirts and baby duckies had a steady stream of customers. Renee Mattson, merchandiser for the duck, said they did not anticipate the interest the big bird generated. “It took even us by surprise,” said Mattson. The most popular of the four styles of t-shirts was a duck face t-shirt in yellow with the Ontario 150 tour dates on the back. Some 600 baby duckies, which were exact replicas of the mama duck, were sold out.
A tugboat hauls the tugboat away. It will be deflated in the Port Lands before moving on to Owen Sound next weekend. ( Steve Russell )
As the sun faded, and the duck’s ropes were untied, Vanuja Sree and Samantha Vasanthan watched from the barricades. They were at the waterfront to bid the duck adieu. It would have been good if the duck could’ve found a permanent nest in Toronto, said Sree. A single seagull stood sentinel as the big, sunshine yellow fowl sailed into the sunset. “Goodbye, duck,” floated three-year-old Aarushi Aryal’s voice, although the inflated creature did not seem to hear or care.TEHRAN, Iran — Images of homeless drug addicts living in empty graves just outside the Iranian capital have deeply shocked the public and prompted reactions even from President Hassan Rouhani.
Shahrvand newspaper on Tuesday published the images in a report on the homeless people — about 50 men and women — who dwell in a cemetery in the town of Shahriar, 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of Tehran.
The story and the haunting images of the homeless staring into the camera from inside the unused grave slots spread quickly on social media, where users and celebrities reacted with expressions of alarm and sadness.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi aired his frustration in a letter to Rouhani.
“I read the report… and now my entire being is filled with shame and sorrow,” he wrote.
“With this letter, I intend to share my shame with you and all those who have had any responsibility in this country” in the past few decades, he added.
The president responded to Farhadi’s “painful” letter on Wednesday.
“Who can see human beings hurt from social issues who take shelter in graves…. and not feel ashamed?” Rouhani said in a speech about government supervision.
“I have heard about people in western countries who sleep on cardboard under bridges out of poverty, or those who sleep in metro stations, but not in graves,” he said.
“To solve these issues we must all unite and leave aside partisan issues and differences and address the basic problems of the country.”
گزارش گورخواب ها ايران را تكان داد. اينكه رسانه ها هنوز قدرت انتقال دردهاي اجتماعي را دارند، رسالت مطبوعات را تشديد مي كند. دردهاي اجتماعي آفتي دارد كه معمولا در چرخه سياست بازي و جناحي گم مي شود. بياييم براي دردهاي جامعه، و حل آنها وحدت نظر داشته باشيم. فاصله بين مشكلات پردرد اجتماعي و اخلاقي با دل نگراني هاي سياسيون بسيار زياد است و قرباني اين اختلافات مردم سطح جامعه هستند. اين بي عدالتي ها و فقر بايد دغدغه اوليه همه مديران و جناح ها باشد. همه مسئولان ايراني در يك اندازه در بحران هاي اجتماعي و فقر و فساد مقصرند. كاش حساسيت هاي مراجع تقليد ، مديران درجه اول كشور و مسئولان دولت و قوه قضاييه و مجلس به جاي مسايل حاشيه اي بايد به مشكلات مردم منتقل شود. A post shared by Mohammadali Abtahi ابطحي (@abtahimohamadali) on Dec 27, 2016 at 11:04am PST
In a follow-up report, Shahrvand said the grave-dwellers were forcibly removed from the cemetery, after promises from authorities to resolve the issue.
Some of those who lived in the graves had done so for 10 years, according to the daily.
“Aren’t we humans? Are we foreigners? We are Iranian too,” an unnamed homeless man told the newspaper in a video.
He asked authorities to build a shelter in the area.
The report is a rare glimpse into the lives of homeless people in the Iranian capital.
In October another report on homeless people occupying in sewage canals on Tehran’s highways triggered similar reactions.
Poverty has worsened in recent years in Iran.
The official unemployment rate has risen to 12.7 percent this year from 10.6 percent in 2014, while joblessness among teens and young adults has reached 27 percent.“To the American slave, what is your 4th of July? A day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy-a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.” ~ Frederick Douglass, July 5, 1852
It’s a sad fact that virtually every U.S. federal holiday celebrates colonialism, slave-owning presidents, regressive religions, or outright genocide – July 4th is no different. Only one of our holidays celebrates a American of morality and virtue who fought against such tyranny. We are an imperialist nation, constantly at war, where white supremacy and male dominance brutalizes domestically and globally. So what are we really celebrating for?
Many years ago in film school, some comrades and I shot a short documentary asking that very question. Many strangers we interviewed cited the army, the troops, vague ideas about what freedoms they believed they enjoyed – it seemed as though the militarization of the everyday had perverted July 4th into just another day to bolster nationalist pride. Nevermind that America’s declaration of independence was made without armed aggression. Great Britain didn’t even find out for another month.
Most people I know, they’ll party, they’ll watch fireworks, they’ll light off plenty of their own. They’ll maybe make some sort of ironic patriotic-themed costume mocking middle-‘Merica, NASCAR, Bibles and beer-mirrors, or something. Nobody really gets into the idea that the holiday means much other than getting a day off work to drink and BBQ. And that’s a good thing.
The very idea of nation states – of rooting for a country as best simply because you were born there – needs to die. As we face increasing globalization, we also face globalized threats that effect all our lives. Climate change, ocean acidification, deforestation, desertification of farmland – all of these are man-made crises that national governments have proven unable or unwilling to combat.
What is needed is a radical rethinking of our relationships with the land. There is nothing different about the need for water in America than there is in Australia. People and wildlife in Algeria breathe the same atmosphere as those in Alberta. It seems, that along with globalization’s harms, there is the beginning a global consciousness of these facts of life.
This July 4th, I joined a cadre of cycling comrades with fine food and drink as we collectively rode up to Swan Island, the mecca of industrialization in Portland, Oregon. We had a bonfire, we grubbed, we rocked some tunes on homemade suitcase sound systems. We talked about the holiday, about the possible futures of our city and our planet. Despite the existential dread of knowing our warming planet is rapidly changing, there was still a celebratory sense that we were living just a bit more harmoniously with the planet.
Most everyone there were regular bike commuters, choosing pedal-power over fossil fuels. We spend what money we earn locally, supporting small family businesses whenever possible, (not counting fireworks). In all honesty, after the absurd SCOTUS ruling last week, I had no idea what a Hobby Lobby even was.
If there is to be a celebration on the fourth of July, let it be for an independence from oil and automobile addiction. Let it be for healing the Earth. Let’s come together via bicycles, joyously – watching sunsets, watching explosions in the night sky, embracing the knowledge that regardless of where we were born, each of us calls Earth our home. If our home is worth saving, then we must change how we live, and we must celebrate that change.
Ride your bike like you give a damn. Happy 4th of July!
•••
•••Many people are of the opinion that eating vegetarian food is indicative of kindness and non-violence. That is not so. Ask the bull, or rather the bullock.
A bullock is a castrated bull: a bull whose testicles have been cut so as to deprive him of male hormones that make him untameable and violent. In other words, a bullock is to a bull is what a eunuch is to a man. Gelding and neutering and banding are nicer words used instead of castration. It’s a brutal procedure, carried out all over the world, as can be seen in a YouTube video showing a bull being neutered in a farm in rural Cambodia. In developed economies, like the US, the same thing is done using instruments that cause minimum pain. But the end result remains the same — the bull’s scrotum (the bag containing testicles) falls off.
Indian civilisation owes a lot to the bullock. For 5000 years, maybe more, bullocks have been used in the Indian subcontinent to plough fields and pull carts, enabling the production and transport of grains, pulses, fruits and vegetables. Bulls were known and venerated in the Indus-Saraswati civilisation. Their image has been found on clay seals. Clay carts found in the archaeological sites indicate that they knew how to castrate aggressive bulls and turn them into docile bullocks.
In Vedic times, men displayed their strength and agility by fighting or dancing with or leaping over aggressive snorting bulls. In the Bhagavata Purana, there is a reference to Krishna, the divine cowherd, overpowering seven wild bulls, to win the hand of the princess Satya in marriage. Such festivals are still in practice in many agricultural communities though animal right activists have sought to ban it.
Unless castrated, a bull cannot be used as a beast of burden. Castration has very much been in the news lately. Some judges in India believe that the threat of castration is enough to protect children and women from sex abuse: so deep is the fear of castration in the male psyche. Most men consider it a fate worse than death.
Once castrated, a bull cannot be used for mating and if there is no mating then the cow cannot get pregnant, hence cannot give birth to more calves, and so cannot give milk. So for the sake of milk, at least some bulls are not castrated. They are allowed to roam free in the village streets and farms. These untamed masculine creatures are even worshipped as Shiva’s bull, Nandi, whose proud genitals are in display in every Shiva temple, which contain the seed that eventually leads to the production of milk. Nandi embodies Shiva’s virility as well as his independent and untameable nature.
In modern sanitised temples, you will find images of Nandi without testicles in display as it embarrasses the modern urban devotee, who often does not know the difference between a bull, bullock, even cow. This is why cow protection has also become bull and bullock and barren cow protection. Gender nuance is completely lost. While protection of milk-giving cow has a strong economic basis, the protection of bull and bullock and barren cows is purely political — a belligerent stand that is beyond reason and so best left alone, as angry bulls often are.
Every time people speak of how vegetarianism is linked to non-violence and kindness, I think of the millions of bulls who over India’s history have been castrated to plough fields and pull carts. Is that cruelty or not cruelty? Is that violence or not violence? Who carries the karmic burden of the violence? The farmer or the consumer?
Civilisation is built on violence. We can argue which form of violence is acceptable and which form of violence is valid. But humans can never ever escape violence. Violently, we destroy forests and change the course of rivers, and bore into mountains to create human settlements and farms. In the process, vast ecosystems are destroyed killing millions of birds and beasts and fishes and insects. Since we do not witness these killings, we assume it does not happen.
The act of eating is violent because embedded in cultivated food (not wild foraged food) is the killing and castration of some animal or the other. Jain sages realised this and introduced fasting as a technique to reduce the karmic burden. They insisted on eating only fruit that fell from trees naturally, not fruit that was plucked. Even this, they realised meant depriving some other animal of food. Only one who could truly give up hunger could overcome the violence associated with the consumption of food. Such an evolved being was bhagavat, worthy of worship. Every other form of fasting is to remind us how difficult it is to escape the karmic burden of samsara or civilisation.
Our understanding of violence today is very poor. We actually believe that we can have a culture without it. This poor understanding of human culture is the result of increasingly outsourcing violence to farmers, and soldiers, and butchers, and to machines and robots, and to terrorists and goons.
Without violence, farms cannot be established. Without violence, produce cannot be protected from pests. From violence comes food on our table. If you seek food, if you seek to feed others, you are involved in some form of violence. This violence is very visible in the consumption of non-vegetarian food. This violence is invisible, and outsourced, if you are consuming vegetarian food. Since everyone consumes vegetables, and grains, and cereals, and pulses, everyone is responsible for creating a demand that involves farmers chopping the testicles of baby male calves. No escaping that. We can argue endlessly how much violence is acceptable. That is like arguing how much wealth is acceptable, where the rich will never agree with the poor. We can also argue that castration of a bull is not actually violence, or at least better than death. I wonder how many bullocks would agree to that.
The author writes on relevance of mythology in modern times.by Sharla Riddle
Here’s an “eye-popping” fact: The USDA estimates that 80% of insect crop pollination is accomplished by bees.
Scientists consider bees to be a keystone species. They are so important to an ecosystem that it will collapse without them. At least 90 commercially grown crops depend upon bee pollination for survival. How important is the pollination by bees? Ask an almond grower. Without bees, there would be no almonds. Apples, blueberries, cherries, avocados, cucumbers, onions, grapefruit, oranges and pumpkins would also disappear. Bees are the undisputed champions of the pollination world. And their secret weapon? Sight.
The remarkable eyesight of bees has long been a source of fascination in the scientific community. A hundred years ago, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Karl von Frisch proved that bees can see color. The color we see is based upon how a pigment absorbs and reflects light. When light hits an object, some is absorbed and some is reflected. Our eyes perceive the reflected portion as color. The brilliant color in flowers is a way of attracting pollinators, such as bees. The colors of flowers help target the areas of nectar. That’s the reason why petals are usually a different color than leaves. Even though humans can see more colors, bees have a much broader range of color vision. Their ability to see ultraviolet light gives them an advantage when seeking nectar. Many patterns on flowers are invisible to humans. These nectar “bulls-eyes” are visible only to animals, such as bees, that have the ability to see ultra-violet light. This “bee vision” makes finding nectar much easier. In fact, some flowers such as sunflowers, primroses and pansies have nectar guides that can only be seen in ultra-violet light.
Like us, bees are trichromatic. That means they have three photoreceptors within the eye and base their color combinations on those three colors. Humans base their color combinations on red, blue and green, while bees base their colors on ultraviolet light, blue and green. This is the reason why bees can’t see the color red. They don’t have a photoreceptor for it. They can, however, see reddish wavelengths, such as yellow and orange. They can also see blue-green, blue, violet, and “bee’s purple.” Bee’s purple is a combination of yellow and ultraviolet light. That’s why humans can’t see it. The most likely colors to attract bees, according to scientists, are purple, violet and blue.
Bees also have the ability to see color much faster than humans. Their color vision is the fastest in the animal world-five times faster than humans. So while we may have trouble distinguishing one flower in a group from another, bees don’t. They see each individual flower. Some flower petals appear to change color, depending upon the angle. This is known as iridescence. It’s often in the UV spectrum, so we can’t see it. But, bees can. They see these shiny petals and associate them with sugar. Thus, the flower becomes more attractive to the bee and gets pollinated.
When we drive on a highway and look out the window at the flowers by the roadside, we usually can’t distinguish one flower from another. The car is moving so fast that the flowers blend in to one another and we see a blur of color. Bees have a far higher “flicker” threshold. They can see individual flowers while traveling at a high rate of speed. Because of this, they actually respond better to moving objects than stationary ones. That’s why honey bees have no trouble pollinating moving flowers. That’s also why it’s rather useless to try swatting a bee-it has no trouble avoiding moving objects.
Flying helps bees see better. They can see depth and they can see three dimensionally. They can also judge distance. They communicate these distances and directions of good foraging sites to the hive through their waggle dance. However, scientists have found that it is possible to trick bees into misjudging distances. In one study, a tunnel was painted in a semi-checkered pattern. When the bees passed through it, they became confused regarding the distance of the tunnel. The checkered pattern caused them to think the tunnel was longer, because they thought they were passing by a lot of objects. When the scientists painted horizontal stripes in the tunnel, the bees flew too short. Because of the lines, they couldn’t judge that they were passing by any objects. Thus, scientists realized that bees use the objects they fly by to judge distances, which they later communicate to the hive.
Bees have two different types of eyes-each with separate functions. The three smaller eyes in the center-top of a bee’s head are called ocelli. Ocelli comes from the Latin word “ocellus” which means little eye. These little bee eyes have single lenses and help the bee maintain stability and navigate. They enable the bee to judge light intensity and stay oriented. Using these ocelli, bees can gather light and see ultra-violet light, helping them to detect UV flower colors.
If a bee were a superhero, its sight would be its super power. Every bee has two large compound eyes. These eyes are amazing examples of nature’s engineering. A compound eye is made up of thousands of tiny lenses called facets. Each of these facets takes in one small part of the insect’s vision. The bee’s brain then converts these signals into a mosaic-like picture made of each image. Worker bees have 6,900 facets in each eye, and drones have 8,600 facets. Every facet is connected to a tiny tube. Each of these units, called an ommatidium, contains a lens (facet), a cone of visual cells and pigment cells that help separate it from its neighbor cells.
A bee is able to see color, because each of these tiny tubes contains eight cells that respond to light. Four of these cells respond to yellow-green light, two respond to blue light, and one responds to ultraviolet light. But a bee’s super sight powers go much farther than seeing mere colors. A bee can also detect polarized light. Polarized light moves in one direction. It’s caused when air molecules from the atmosphere scatter the photons to create a “super highway” of light. A bee’s amazing eye can scan and match the polarization patterns in the sky. It’s a bee version of GPS. They are able to use this polarized light as a navigating system. What makes this such a super power is that bees can use polarized light to locate direction even when the sun isn’t shining. They then communicate these directions to the colony. Basically, it’s a bee road-map. Bees can find their way back home by checking the pattern of polarized light in the sky.
Every super hero has at least one side-kick and a bee’s pal is light. Light is defined as the electromagnetic energy we can see. Humans generally see in the 700 to 400 nanometer range of the spectrum, while bees can see from the 600 to 300 nm range. The 400 to 300 nm section of the spectrum includes ultraviolet light Studies have shown that if deprived of ultraviolet light, bees lose interest in foraging and will remain in the hive until they are forced out by starvation and severe food shortages. UV light, which can penetrate cloud cover, is critical in a bee’s ability to find nectar. Bees don’t see the same flower color that we do. The UV patterns on the petals of a flower can be compared to the landing deck of an aircraft carrier. Those patterns guide the bee to land at the nectar source. It also explains how bees are able to select a particular species of flower from a field of white flowers. Bees aren’t just seeing white flowers. They’re seeing flowers with distinct UV markers. In fact, bees will head to the UV-absorbing area of a flower first. It is their bullseye. And, just because a flower is ugly to us, doesn’t mean that it’s ugly to a bee. Recent studies have shown that weeds are more successful than other plants because they’re more attractive to the pollinators. Beauty is in the eye of the “bee-holder.”
In very rare instances, people can see into the ultra-violet range. Usually, it’s after a lens injury or cataract surgery. This condition is called aphakia. People with aphakia see a “near” UV light. It is perceived as a whitish-blue or whitish-violet color. The French impressionist painter Claude Monet had this condition after cataract surgery. Before the surgery, his cataracts were so bad that his color range was limited to red and orange. After the surgery his paintings included deep purple and blue hues.
Because of the bee’s extraordinary ability to see and navigate its world, researchers have made many attempts to create models that mimic a bee’s sight. The first “bee eye” cameras weren’t successful. They contained more than one camera, which caused them to be too heavy to use. Then, in 2010, German scientists were finally able to create a camera with a “bee’s eye view.” The key to this camera’s success was in using a combination of lenses and mirrors to create a bee’s 280 degree field of vision. The camera is tiny, with a diameter of only 23 millimeters. This “bee camera” will allow drone aircraft to “see” more of the world around them. It’s a small step in trying to mimic the bee’s very complex vision system.
The contribution by bees to world economies is staggering. Researchers at the University of Reading calculated that bees contribute more to the UK economy each year than does the Royal family from tourism. In the U.S., these super-pollinators are worth 14.6 billion dollars in crop production. With its incredible vision, a bee can pollinate plants with pinpoint accuracy. Windy weather and overcast skies are no match for its incredible sight. It can see what we can’t and because of that ability, it’s the ultimate pollinator. A bee’s sight is its super power. Why does it matter? Because bees matter.
References
Barras, Colin. “Artificial Bee Eye Could Improve Robotic Vision.” New Scientist 207. 2773 (2010): 1.
Dyer, Adrian G., and Jair E. Garcia. “Color Difference and Memory Recall in Free-Flying Honeybees: Forget the Hard Problem.” Insects (2075-4450) 5.3 (2014): 629-638.
Kleist, T. “Bee Navigation: The Eyes Have It.” Science News 130.14 (1986): 214.
Papiorek, S., et al. “Bees, Birds and Yellow Flowers: Pollinator-Dependent Convergent Evolution of UV Patterns.” Plant Biology 18.1 (2016): 46-55.
Pennisi, Elizabeth. “Dance of the Deceived Bees.” Science Now (2001): 2.
Srinivasan, Mandyam V. “Distance Perception in Insects.” Current Directions in Psychological Science (Wiley-Blackwell) 1.1 (1992): 22-26.
Werner, Annette, Wolfgang Sturzi, and Johannes Zanker. “Object Recognition in Flight: How Do Bees Distinguish Between 3D Shapes?” Plos ONE 11.2 (2016): 1-13.
Williams, Caroline. “Sense and Sense |
-hated tax on business equipment and capital. The legislation was improved by replacing much of the funding to municipalities that were freaking out over losing millions of dollars from their budget but there is still plenty of lost revenues and lots of folks in various cities are left holding the financial bag in these tough times.
Citizenship requirement for voting
The Republicans threw a last-minute surprise in yesterday by passing a bill, S.B. 810, out of the House requiring people to check a box affirming their citizenship when voting or applying for an absentee ballot. This was their answer to Gov. Snyder’s veto of a similar bill last summer. The requirement is the same, it just looks different on the form.
Making it harder to recall elected officials
The Senate passed bills 6060 and 6063 which reduce the number of days for collecting recall petition signatures to 60, virtually assuring no recall will ever be successful again. From MIRS reporting:
The legislation stops recalls from being filed for those who serve four-year terms to only the two middle years of their term, which means recalls for the current batch of senators can only happen in 2013, not 2014. It also creates a Wisconsin-like dynamic, where the opposing major party to the person up for recall must put up someone to run against the recall target. Also, the bill mandates that any statement on a recall petition not only be clear, but factual. If a recall is over a vote on a particular piece of policy, the description of that policy must be accurate. House members and those with two-year terms can’t be recalled in their first and last six months in office, creating a one-year window under which they can be bounced.
This will make it much harder to recall Republican Senators who were formerly eligible for recall next year.
Passage of a new Emergency Manager Law
This new legislation, S.B. 865, replaces Public Act 4 that was repealed by voters just six weeks ago. There are some nods to giving local municipalities more choices but, at the end of the day, all choices must be approved by Governor and the ability to balance the books on the backs of union members by cancelling their contracts still exists. Democrats are describing it as giving local governments their choice of poison. One improvement is that the state will now pay for the cost of an Emergency Manager rather than the affected municipality.
The bill was, of course, given immediate effect and includes nearly $6,000,000 in appropriations to make it referendum proof.
Concealed Weapons rules loosened
S.B. 59 was passed, a bill I have written about before. It will allow the carrying of concealed weapons in schools, day care centers and churches.
Yay, particularly in light of the shooting at an elementary school today in Connecticut where 27 people were killed including 18 children.
This bill now goes to the Governor.
Sweeping restrictions on abortions
H.B. 5711 was passed and now goes to the Governor. This bill, as I wrote about this week, will likely put a significant number of abortion providers out of business. The new rules for facilities, which are already more restrictive than that of most hospitals, will make it nearly impossible for all but the most established facilities to continue to offer women abortions. It also outlaws telemedicine consultations for abortion services which, as I said yesterday, is a flagrant act of hypocrisy on the part of Republicans.
Rep. Lisa Brown said this about the legislation: “These bills enact what many are calling some of the toughest restrictions on a legal health care procedure in the nation. It is an absolute disgrace.”
Fortunately SB 975, the so-called moral exemption bill that would have allowed healthcare providers to refuse services based on moral grounds, died in the House yesterday.
A new Red Wings stadium paid for with school funds
The House approved 5463 to build a new hockey arena for the Detroit Red Wings. According to Rep. Rashida Tlaib, “The bill would actually reduce state education tax and local property tax, including the education levy, by an untold amount of money. We need to go back and look at TIFAs and DDAs and see how it impacts our overall budget.” She also noted that Mike Ilitch’s company already owes the City of Detroit millions of dollars.
The bill did get bipartisan support.
Legislation which saw no movement and will be dealt with in the next legislative session includes:
A bill to put the statewide Education Achievement Authority into law
SB 620, the so-called “parent trigger” bills, which would give parents and teachers the power to turn their struggling school into a charter or go through some other reform.
Funding the Obamacare health insurance exchange
The legislature is not expected to take any further actions or votes until next year.
Thank Goddess…
[Photo credit: Anne C. Savage, special to Eclectablog]Microsoft announced earlier this week that it will be releasing some versions of Windows 10 on July 29. The Redmond-based company also revealed the minimum hardware requirements a computer needs to possess in order to upgrade to the forthcoming operating system. A blog post on the site also reveals several interesting information such as listing the Windows 7 and Windows 8.x features the new version of the desktop operating system won’t ship with, as well as an upgrade policy. The upgrade policy in question, however, is deterring.
Microsoft notes that it will be offering Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users with the ability to decide when they want to update their system, as well as provide them with the ability to decide which updates they want to install. This isn’t anything new. The company has had always allowed users to have full control over how they want their system to update. But it plans to change that with Windows 10 — at least for some users.
The company mentions that Windows 10 Home users will automatically receive the update, which is what’s scary.
Windows 10 Home users will have updates from Windows Update automatically available. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users will have the ability to defer updates.
One way to look at it is that Microsoft is momma-feeding the Home users. Being the most basic version of the desktop operating system, Microsoft perhaps thinks that its users are not smart enough to decide for themselves whether or not they want to install the latest update. This forceful shoving down of the update to a system might miff many users. In simple words, if a user is connected to the internet, Microsoft will download and install ANY available update AUTOMATICALLY.
What if an update the company pushes breaks the system? While Microsoft’s track record with update hasn’t been worrisome in the recent past, we know how annoying and terrible things could get when the update doesn’t do its job well (I’m looking at you iOS 8.0.1). There are many more practical scenarios where the company’s move doesn’t appear to be in the best interest of users. What if a user is on a limited data plan? The automatic update could eat a significant amount of data.
Interestingly, the company is aiming to make the upgradation process easier in Windows 10. Though, that leeway is only limited to enterprise and business users. Through information shared with Windows reseller partners, we’re now learning that the company is giving IT administrators more control over the roll out of new features to users — giving them the power to delay the installation of new features by up to ten years. My contention is that every Windows 10 user, irrespective of the edition they are on, should have the ability to delay the update or cancel it altogether if they choose to do so. Ideally, Microsoft may enable the auto download and auto update option by default, but it should still let Windows 10 Home users deter the download and/or installation of individual updates if that’s what they want.
We’ve asked Microsoft to explain their thought process behind this move, and will update the post when we hear from them.Apple is said to be planning not one, not two, but three new iPhones for release this fall, if "people familiar with the matter" speaking to Bloomberg are to be believed.
Two of those models will use the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch IPS screens that we're already used to, though Bloomberg doesn't say whether the designs will look much different from the current iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. But this year Apple is also said to be preparing a third higher-end model with a dramatically different approach, a slim-bezeled design with curved glass and an OLED screen that takes up most of the front of the device. If true, it's something that doesn't sound all that different from what Samsung is doing with the Galaxy S8.
According to the report, all three phones would be revealed at the same time, but the redesigned model wouldn't actually ship until later.
Other than this basic information, the report is heavy on guesses about what Apple could do with the redesigned iPhone while offering little concrete information on what it will do, which isn't totally surprising five months out from its September-ish reveal (the iPhone is currently the only one of Apple's products still updated on a predictable yearly cadence). Apple could ship a dual-lens camera system with the lenses aligned vertically instead of horizontally; the design could include a camera bump; the design could use a dual-lens front camera; Apple might integrate the TouchID sensor into the display glass instead of using a separate button; the phone could use curved glass on the front and back with a thin iPhone 4-style metal band around the edges; it could also use glass on the front that curved to meet a metal back, much like the current designs.
Also, none of that could be true. Apple has tested all of these things, according to the report, but it's not clear which ideas the company actually plans to use.
There are just a couple of points on which the report does not equivocate: the phones will ship with iOS 11, which will include some design changes; and all three phones will use processors manufactured on a 10nm process rather than the current 16nm TSMC process used for the Apple A10. Both Samsung and TSMC are working on 10nm manufacturing processes that ought to be ready by the time new iPhones are shipping, so Apple could use either manufacturer (Samsung made the A7 and many chips prior to that; TSMC makes the A10) or both (as with the A8 and A9, though the latter chip caused some controversy at the time).
A shift in strategy
A three-iPhone strategy would be a major departure from the two-phone strategy that has served Apple so well since the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus came out in late 2014. Those phones sold so well throughout 2015 that iPhone sales actually fell year-over-year for the first time in 2016, since the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus couldn't match that performance. Even still, having a medium-sized phone and a big phone has been good for Apple's sales, and it's the only iPhone design that Apple has used (with minor external tweaks) for three hardware generations.
And while the "three iPhone" strategy has been reported before by less reliable analysts and rumor sites, it does seem like an odd way for Apple to mix up its strategy. Yes, after three years of the same basic iPhone 6-era design, pundits are hoping for something that looks new, and it probably would help drive upgrades from people using 6 and 6Ses. But why release two upgraded 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch phones and then depress their sales by simultaneously announcing another, better iPhone that won't be available for weeks? At a bare minimum, I'd expect pre-orders to go up at the same time and for the new phone to be available at least in limited quantities shortly thereafter.
It's also possible that the new 4.7 and 5.5-inch phones are designed to occupy Apple's middle iPhone tier, currently occupied by the iPhone 6S. Normally the iPhone 7 would just be bumped down upon the release of a new phone, but Apple has been known to release new phones to its middle tier (the iPhone 5C, a very modestly refreshed version of the iPhone 5) and its low tier (the iPhone SE, which put most of the iPhone 6S' parts into a 5S-style case). The redesigned iPhone could then sit comfortably atop the lineup, rather than creating some new fourth ultra-high-end tier that would disrupt the "good-better-best" system Apple has used for iPhones for most of a decade.Operators of the 7-Eleven, 4859 N. Milwaukee Ave., agreed to a half-dozen restrictions at the request of Ald. John Arena (45th) and police officials, to win their support for the store's application for a packaged goods liquor license. View Full Caption DNAInfo/Heather Cherone
JEFFERSON PARK — Commuters getting off the CTA Blue Line at Jefferson Park will once again be able to grab a six-pack at the 7-Eleven next to the train station after the store regained its liquor license.
Operators of the convenience store, 4859 N. Milwaukee Ave., agreed to a half-dozen restrictions at the request of Ald. John Arena (45th) and police officials, to win their support for the store's application for a packaged goods liquor license.
The store in the Veterans Square shopping mall had a liquor license until seven months ago when 7-Eleven's corporate offices took over the store, which had been owned by a franchisee, said Charlene Brandt, community relations manager for 7-Eleven's Heartland Zone.
Because of the change in ownership, the company was forced to apply for a new liquor license, Brandt said.
However, the license was blocked by Arena and Jefferson Park Police District Commander James O'Donnell, who blamed the store for attracting crime and encouraging public drinking near the busy Jefferson Park Transit Center, which includes stops for several bus lines as well as a stop on Union Pacific Northwest Metra line.
Owen Brugh, chief of staff to Arena, said the agreement would help reduce public drinking around the terminal, which was a frequent complaint from travelers using the station.
"It is a solid agreement," Brugh said, adding that it has "teeth" to ensure the measures are enforced. "The alderman is very happy with it."
The restrictions include a ban on the sale of half-pints of liquor, single-serving containers of beer, wine and malt liquor as well as liquor for sale for less than $6.99. In addition, alcohol must be kept in a cooler with an automatic lock that prevents it from being opened when alcohol is not allowed to be sold.
While most liquor stores are allowed to sell booze from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., the Jefferson Park 7-Eleven will be restricted to selling beer, wine and liquor from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday.
The plan of operation for the Jefferson Park 7-Eleven is not out of the ordinary and will help the store be an asset to the community.
"We don't want to be a liquor store," Brandt said. "We want to be a true convenience for the community."Renegade Economists radio show #430
Read the show notes. Subscribe to the leading Georgist weekly podcast.
Karl Fitzgerald: And welcome the Renegade Economist with your host, Karl Fitzgerald. And, my, oh, my, hasn’t it been in the news, negative gearing, there’s been a huge change in sentiment not only from both political parties, but from the media itself. And who better to hear it from than Saul Eslake, yes, SaulEslake.com.au, one of the nation’s leading economists. Alright, let’s step into things.
When you hear about negative gearing today hopefully most of you know that this is the ability to write off losses on your property investment against your income. That gives property investors the ability to outbid everyday mum and dad homebuyers and it’s been going on for too long. And when you hear the term called “grandfathering” that means allowing what’s already happened to continue and just starting off from a certain date as in July 2017. Alright, let’s get into it.
We welcome to the show Saul Eslake, one of Australia’s foremost economists who many will know through his work at the Grattan Institute, the ANZ Bank and the nightly news. So Saul, welcome to the show. It’s just quite an extraordinary situation after for so many years working on negative gearing reform to see it now at the sort of policy focus level we’ve been waiting for.
Saul Eslake: Yes, in some ways, echoing Malcolm Turnbull, I’m tempered to say that there’s never been a more exciting time to be an advocate of changes to Australia’s long-standing negative gearing arrangements. I feel, and I suspect you do too, that you’ve been banging your heads against a brick wall of Treasurers for more than 20 years, remembering that Wayne Swan was no more willing to contemplate any changes to negative gearing than were Peter Costello or John Howard before him, or Tony Abbott or, until his last day in parliament, Joe Hockey after him.
Yet now we have a situation where the opposition has put forward some very significant changes to negative gearing arrangements, they’re not perfect in my view, but they would represent a significant improvement on what we currently have. And for its part the government seems to be sending off signals that it’s prepared to contemplate cracking down on what it has thus far mysteriously described as “excesses and abuses” in the negative gearing system, so even they might be prepared to do something as well. And all of a sudden it does seem as though at least some change is in the wind, no matter what happens to the outcome of the next election.
Karl: And certainly when you look at the headlines, there are pieces on The Australian Financial Review like end the negative gearing Ponzi scheme. Of course, The Daily Telegraph and some of those sort of newspapers are engaging in the sort of scaremongering we’d expect, that any change to negative gearing is going to increase rents. Now Saul, you’ve been very prominent in dispelling this negative gearing myth. Can you please spell out to us what happened, once and for all, in the mid-‘80s when Paul Keating did curtail negative gearing?
Saul: I sometimes say in my bolder moments that the arguments that are run regarding what allegedly happened when Paul Keating temporarily abolished negative gearing between 1985 and ’87 are a contemporary example of what Joseph Goebbels is alleged to have said when he was Hitler’s Propaganda Minister, that if a lie is big enough and you tell it often enough it becomes accepted as the truth.
So routinely has the assertion that during this period in the late 1980s rents went through the roof and the government was then forced to backtrack on its earlier policy decision, so often has that been trotted out. Some years ago I went back to look at the data to seek truth from facts, as Deng Xiaoping used to say, and what the data shows is that rents did indeed rise quite significantly in Sydney and Perth during this period between mid-’85 and mid-’87 when negative gearing for property investments was temporarily unavailable, but they didn’t rise significantly in any other Australian city.
Now, negative gearing was withdrawn nationally, so if there was to have been any impact as a direct result of that change it should have shown up in all cities since they were all affected by that policy change, but they only showed up in Perth and Sydney because in those two cities the vacancy rate was unusually low. In Sydney it was actually just below 2% and in Perth it was just above 2%, notwithstanding, I should say, the fact that negative gearing had been available for 50 years prior to that point. So if negative gearing was encourages increases in the supply of rental housing over that sort of period of time the vacancy rate probably shouldn’t have been as low as it actually was, given that immigration wasn’t running all that strongly at that time.
So the assertion that is so often made about what allegedly happened in the mid-1980s and what would, so the argument runs, happen again should any government have the temerity to interfere with this tax break just simply doesn’t send a moment’s confrontation with the facts.
Karl: And this urban myth was actually repeated by Treasury Secretary John Fraser, one of the highest ranking economists in the country, last week at a Senate Economics Committee.
Senator: Just last question to finish up this, is there any evidence from work that’s been done or that you’ve seen across the board as to whether negative gearing has an impact on availability of rents and a change in policy, how that would impact rents or rental yields? It’s always rolled out by the real estate industry in discussions on this topic, but I’m wondering where we go to to get that kind of analysis and data? John Fraser: I’m testing my memory and I’m looking – Nigel’s too young, but when the negative gearing was wound back in the ‘80s? Male: Yeah. John Fraser: The reason why it had been brought in, one of the reasons had been to increase the supply of rental housing and I think, I think I was overseas at the time, I think the evidence was such – Male: That it was brought back in. John Fraser: Yeah, and so it was brought back in. Senator: Sorry, so that’s why it was brought back in, to increase the? So my understanding was that maybe it was Sydney and Perth, there was some structural shortages at the time which led to some underlying – Male: So I think there were some underlying – I think you’re, I think you’re correct Senator.
Karl: And so this myth is still being propagated by those who should know better. What can we do to really put these people on notice that that’s no longer acceptable?
Saul: I was surprised by John Fraser’s comments as well. I have a lot of respect for John Fraser. He interviewed me for my first job with the Federal Treasury in 1979 and he was, in my view, rightly regarded as one of Treasury’s most capable and intelligent mid-ranking officers, as he then was, and of course he’s had a stellar career in the private sector since leaving Treasury in the early 1990s.
So I’m genuinely surprised that someone of Mr Fraser’s knowledge and capacity would make so elementary a mistake as that without first checking the facts. After all, he would have been in Treasury during that period when that policy change was made. Indeed, he might have been involved in advising both on the original policy change and the subsequent backtracking of it, and hopefully he would have been advising against it. But it does just illustrate the potency of the property industry’s campaigning on this score and underscores my earlier observation that, echoing Goebbels, if you tell a lie often enough and it’s big enough many people will come to accept it as the truth, even though it’s far from being the truth.
Karl: Well let’s step into the detail of Bill Shorten’s proposed negative gearing reforms, and that is to limit negative gearing to new housing only and also, importantly, to halve the capital gains tax discount to 25%. Now that is to come into play in July 2017. Saul Eslake, what do you see are the strengths and weaknesses of this sort of reform?
Saul: Well, the idealist in me cavils that many of the compromises that are inherent in the Labor Party’s policy. I hate the idea of grandfathering, for example, because it amounts to privileging people on the basis of birth order. Those who were fortunate enough to get their snouts in this particular trough some time ago or who have them there by the 30th of June next year will, if the Labor Party comes to office, be able to keep them there, while those who haven’t been so quick or adept will miss out on the opportunity to reduce tax and defer tax that negative gearing grants its participants.
Having said that, I’m also conscious of the saying that you can’t get the perfect to be the enemy of the good and what Labor is proposing will curtail negative gearing over time. The average property investment is typically held for about eight years, it may well end up being held for a longer period as people seek to retain the privileges associated with negative gearing that they’ll be able to retain on assets which they already hold. And that incidentally, of course, argues against the proposition that’s sometimes put as part of the scaremongering campaign that this change will lead to wholesale dumping of investment properties by existing landlords, therefore supposedly putting dramatic upward pressure on rents.
The historical reality is that almost any major change to the tax system including, for example, the introduction of the capital gains tax back in May 1985 or September 1985 by Paul Keating is almost always accompanied by grandfathering of existing investments because no politician who aspires to be in government or remain in government can really afford to be open to the charge that they’re breaching faith with investors who’ve entered into long term transactions, as they often are, under the assumption that the existing laws would remain unchanged. So, as I say, I don’t like grandfathering much, but I can understand the reason for it and the reality is that if they weren’t prepared to grandfather it they probably wouldn’t be making any change at all.
Similarly, I’m not wholly persuaded by the logic of continuing to allow negative gearing for new housing because the risk is that, unless state and local governments alter their planning and building regulations and laws, then the supply side of the housing market will still be as constrained as it is today and any effect that’s continuing to allow negative gearing for the purchase of new dwellings has in stimulating demand from investors for that kind of dwelling could simply serve to inflate the price of new dwellings. If that doesn’t happen then I suppose the Labor Party argues that this exception will encourage an increase in the supply of new dwellings and that may be so, it remains to be seen. But, as I say, if these are the compromises with the ultimate ideal that the Labor Party has felt it necessary to make in order to get the policy up in the first place, then at least what they’re proposing represents a significant improvement over what we currently have. And for someone who’s been arguing against negative gearing for over 20 years to no effect until now, over the next 20 years probably negative gearing will gradually fade away even with the grandfathering provisions.
Turning to the reduction in the capital gains tax discount from the present 50% to a proposed 25%, that’s actually a much tougher policy than most people seem thus far to have realised. You might recall that the Henry Review recommended that the discount be wound back to 40%. That figure was as arbitrary as the 50% instituted by the Howard government in 1999, but 25% represents a much less generous concession to people who make capital gains than the present system or the one that Henry’s Review recommended. Arguably it is less generous, and the assumption that the inflation remains at the midpoint of the Reserve Bank’s 2% to 3% target, it’s less generous that the system which Paul Keating instituted when he brought in the capital gains tax in 1985 and which continued until Costello changed it in 1999, whereby capital gains tax was applied at full marginal rates to the gain after an allowance for inflation instead of the present arrangement where the capital gains tax is in effect applied at full marginal rate for half the nominal gap.
Karl: Well it seems like they’re having a bet both ways and I liked the statement in The Financial Review today in an article, you were quoted regarding capital gains tax and David Richardson, from Access Economics, said, “Look, negative gearing is the symptom, but the cause are the capital gains. So targeting that is a good idea”, as you certainly agreed in that article. So wouldn’t they be having a bet both ways by implementing both these policy twists at the same time?
Saul: Yes, in some ways they are. My thinking on this question has evolved over the last couple of years, partly because of the difficulty I’ve had, up until this point, getting any traction with the idea that negative gearing itself should be curtailed or abolished. My own work had showed, and I think it’s now widely accepted, that the change in the capital gains tax regime back in 1999 did more than anything else to enhance the popularity of negative gearing as an investment strategy. Because what it did in the minds of taxpayers and investors was to convert what had traditionally been a strategy that resulted in a deferral of tax into one which, with the 50% discount, became a strategy that allowed people not only to defer tax, but actually permanently to reduce it, depending on the size of the capital gain they made. So winding back the capital gains tax discounts would certainly reduce the appeal of negative gearing even if you continued to allow it under existing arrangements.
I’d argue that an additional desirable policy change, though not one which the government or the opposition has contemplated, would be to say not only should the discount be reduced from the present 50%, but that for people who do undertake negatively geared investments the excess interest over rental income which they seek to offset against their other wage and salary or other income ought to be subject to the same discount as well, whatever that discount figure actually is. So, for example, if it was still 50% then you would only be able to offset 50% of the excess interest you might have incurred under a negatively geared arrangement in any given one year against your other income for tax purposes rather than, as at present, all of it.
Karl: There are a lot of myths going around in the press at the moment, we’ve already dispelled one about negative gearing reforms in the mid-‘80s having led to rental increases. But another common one is saying that the majority of people who claim negative gearing deductions are low to medium income earners. How do they enact this sleight of hand, Saul Eslake?
Saul: Well, what they do is appeal to the statistics published at the end of April each year by the Australian Taxation Office called Taxation Statistics. You can find them on their website, it’s a fairly clunky set of Excel spreadsheets but, with a bit of effort, you can work your way around them.
What they do show at first instance is that almost 80% of the number of taxpayers who claim rental interest deductions have a taxable income of less than $80,000. And this then, combined with some of the data that the Tax Office also provides on the occupational status of different categories of taxpayers, helps underwrite the claim that negative gearing is mainly done by cops, teachers and nurses, among others, as if that somehow made it alright. I’d note in passing that police, teachers and nurses are much more likely to join trade unions, for example, than other members of the workforce but you don’t usually hear Coalition spokespeople saying that that’s a good thing as well and more people ought to do it. But the key point here is that these figures are based on taxable income and, of course, the whole purpose of negative gearing is to reduce your taxable income relative to your actual income.
The same set of figures can be used to show that the average rental interest deduction claimed by those taxpayers with a taxable income of less than $6,000 per year of those who make those claims is $11,500. That is almost twice their taxable income. Now my guess is there are not many bankers out there who would willingly lend to people whose total income is less than $6,000 a year. Indeed, the Taxation Office figures show, according to what the Labor Party has said though I haven’t verified this myself, that there are some 64,000 people making negative gearing claims who have no taxable income at all. In other words, what’s clearly evident is that the figures which are quoted by proponents of negative gearing to buttress this claim that negative gearing is actually something that ordinary mainstream Australians do en masse is quite misleading.
A far better guide to how negative gearing is used and by whom comes from the Stats Bureau’s regular surveys of income and wealth distribution. The most recent one of those for the 2013/14 financial year shows that 72% of the value of investment properties, that is all property other than owner-occupied housing, is owned by households in the top 20% of the wealth distribution, that is the richest fifth of Australian households, and that those same households own 52% of the amount of investment property-related debt. Figures from the University of Melbourne’s Household Income & Labour Dynamics Australia (HILDA) survey that have been put together by the Reserve Bank show much the same thing and the Reserve Bank has commented on this in some of its statements on monetary policy and reports on financial system stability.
The overwhelming majority of investment property debt is actually owed by rich folks, not by average ordinary mainstream Australians.
Karl: So over to the Liberal Party, they’re floating ideas that perhaps they’ll limit the number of properties someone could negatively gear. This seems to be a lesser reform but one that’s likely to appeal to their supporters and my initial feeling is that all of a sudden plenty of five and six year olds, plenty of kids will all of a sudden own real estate.
Saul: Well it’s hard to know exactly what the effects will be until we know what the Coalition government is proposing, if indeed it does anything at all. The suggestion I’ve heard is that they might put a cap on either the number or the value of properties owned by it could be an individual taxpayer or a household which would be eligible for negative gearing. Alternatively there could be a cap on the total amount that can be claimed by way of interest in excess of income by any individual taxpayer or a household through negative gearing.
Either way, it would appear that that would actually have its greatest impact on the wealthiest of households rather than on the somewhat larger number though smaller value of claims made by the cops, teachers and nurses among others of whom the Property Council and others are all of a sudden all so fond. In that case, you might be able to say that what the Coalition is proposing is actually more equitable in the sense that it has a bigger impact on higher income and richer households than what the Labor Party is proposing. You might then ask why would they do that and the answer might be because the people who’d be most affected by it would be most likely to live in very safe Liberal seats where their votes don’t count, whereas the so-called cops, teachers and nurses are of course much more evenly spread over marginal electorates where their votes do count.
Forgive the cynical interpretation of the government’s possible motives there, but I’ve learnt over the years that such cynicism doesn’t really do you any harm in seeking to interpret why politicians do what they do.
Karl: Saul Eslake, let’s finish with the possible timing of such a policy reform as we see markets in Perth and Darwin, certainly Melbourne and Sydney, being less healthy in the property sector. As rental yields continue at record lows, do you think at this point in the economic cycle, will it futureproof negative gearing reform by implementing it now?
Saul: I wouldn’t say this was the ideal time to have them implementing it. It might have been much better, including for those who’ve been squeezed out of the housing market over the last four or five years, if this had been done some time ago, as a few of us were advocating. So I think assertions that the sort of changes that are being proposed will lead to a tidal wave of selling of investment properties are about as believable as most of the other claims that are made by negative gearing’s proponents.
I mean, in the first instance the Labor Party’s proposal is to grandfather those who already have negatively geared investments and you would think, as I said before, that the result of that grandfathering would be to make it even less likely that people who own existing assets would sell them than any alternative policy. And I find it hard to believe that if the Coalition also seeks to do something in relation to negative gearing that it too wouldn’t grandfather existing investments, as the Labor Party is doing. But suppose, notwithstanding that argument, that there was to be some selling of negatively geared properties in the aftermath of such a change you have to ask yourself who would those properties be sold to?
Well they wouldn’t be sold to other investors presumably since they would likely be deterred by the inability to enter into tax-preferred negatively geared arrangements as the result of any change. Rather those properties would be sold, in all likelihood, to people who had been wanting to buy a home to live in themselves, but had been frustrated in their aspirations to do so by the competition they faced from investors who had their mortgage costs subsidised through the tax system by other taxpayers. So those homebuyers who therefore became successful in meeting their aspirations to buy their own home would cease to rent, the demand for rental housing would drop by the same amount as the supply of it allegedly would, and there should therefore be no net change in the balance between the supply or the demand for rental housing such as would have a material impact on rents.
It’s another one of the assertions made by defenders of negative gearing that, as I say, doesn’t survive a moment’s confrontation with facts.
Karl: Well Saul Eslake, any last piece of advice you can share with our listeners on what they can be doing right now to help push this momentum for negative gearing and capital gains tax reform?
Saul: I think the best advice I can give is to challenge the arguments that are put by defenders of negative gearing whenever you hear them. I mean, I’m not personally critical of the property industry for defending their own interests. That’s what interest groups are meant to do, that’s why people pay to join them is so that someone is out there arguing their case. You can’t, as Neville Wran used to say, blame self-interest, you can be sure that it’s always trying. What we can object to is people who equate self-interest with the national interest and politicians who fail to see self-interest masquerading as the national interest for what it is.
So my appeal would be to those who understand the arguments and want to see changes made in this area to stand up and call out these kind of arguments, hopefully using thoughts of their own or things that they’ve heard in our discussion today bolster their case so that ultimately right will prevail.
Karl: Saul Eslake, thanks so much for joining us here on the Renegade Economist.
Saul: It’s a real pleasure Karl, thank you for having me.
Karl: So there we have Saul Eslake. SaulEslake.com.au, check out his work. Also, plug his name into our Prosper.org.au website and you’ll find his 122nd Annual Henry George Commemorative Dinner speech where he nailed all of those facts with charts, spells it out. You can read it in a bit more detail there. And please, pick up some of those key points and hit your MP with it. It’s just ballistic that the top 10% of income earners own 72% of housing wealth. That is a massive one. The top 20% are taking 80% of the capital gains write offs. The list goes on and on, it’s got to stop, it’s got to end, |
. This consistency is the second advantage of a solera.
A third advantage spawns from the solera’s ability to maintain a culture. While related to consistency, it’s a distinct advantage on its own as well. A continually fed solera is a great environment to develop and store your house souring culture. When you finish that bottle of *insert favourite sour here* and you want to save the dregs, go throw them in your solera. It saves you from Wednesday night DME boiling to save your culture between brewing sessions. I’ll admit it’s not perfect, but it works and it’s low maintenance.
To wrap things up, soleras are just cool. They are a little more real and visibly used than the picture ready barrel rooms of normal vineyards. While I’m not generally a huge fan of the product, the process is absolutely romantic. Knowing what I do now about how they work, I can think of hundreds of ways to use similar techniques in brewing for certain advantages. The more I see places like this and age old traditions of making things, I realise there is no one way to skin a cat. Have fun, do something that works for you, your climate and how much time you can commit to it. Adapt and develop a method from there and I’m sure you will make some good beer.
Edit: I do need to add that the flor is not actually anaerobic, i.e. the pellicle. If you are going to age beer in a solera you are best to top it off and minimise the surface area contact with oxygen to keep the acetobacter at bay.
AdvertisementsWhen Apple announced earnings this week, one of the surprising revelations shared by Tim Cook was that only 40% of iPhone owners have upgraded to a larger-screen iPhone. Cook has two plans to address the hundreds of millions of iPhone loyalists who are still sporting smaller, older models. First comes in March, with the iPhone 5se, a nice upgrade to the 5s. But the second is more intriguing: A series of upgrades to the flagship models that Apple believes will be compelling enough that people won't be able to resist.
If things work out as Apple hopes, it could reignite growth in iPhone sales -- which plateaued in the most recent quarter and even Apple expects to be down numerically for the three-month period ending in March -- and get people hooked on Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program. So far, only a small number of customers have signed on to pay a monthly fee for the privilege of being able to easily get a new iPhone every year (about 250,000 according to Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray, though many more engage in similar programs through wireless carriers), but it's not hard to imagine that figure growing with time and additional marketing. And, of course, if Apple can show customers why they need the latest and greatest iPhone every year.
Let's look ahead at what the next three iPhones are likely to bring to see where Apple is casting its bets.
iPhone 7, 2016: Expected this fall, the iPhone 7 will certainly sport an all-new design from Jony Ive and company as even year models have since the iPhone 4. Safe bets include an upgraded A10 processor, an even thinner chassis, and an upgrade to the snapshot/iSight camera. It seems likely, too, that Apple will be removing the headphone jack and bundling a set of earbuds that connect to the Lightning port. Expect a Beats-branded set of wireless earbuds -- likely with no wire between them -- to be offered as an upgrade. Don't be surprised if they run $99 and roll out alongside the iPhone 7. One bonus is that the iPhone might finally get waterproofing as a result of this change, though it's possible Apple won't tout that as a selling point.
As reported in Forbes, well-regarded Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects a dual-lens camera to debut, but only on the 7 Plus. That kind of separation between the large and small models has precedent from the 6 series, where only the 6 Plus offered optical image stabilization. This new camera should allow not only for better pictures overall, but also for wide angle and telephoto shots without clunky add-on lenses.
Another intriguing feature that might not be iPhone 7 specific is an opening up of the NFC chip that enables Apple Pay. Expect to hear more about transit partnerships in 2016 and 2017 (the iPhone already works as a de facto Oyster card in London) and iPhone will find use as an ATM card replacement as well.
Finally, there's intrigue in the possibility the new design will shrink the space around the screen to make the phone smaller and easier to hold. That might get some skeptics of the 4.7-inch screen (expect the screens to remain mostly the same) to move up and some who found the 5.5-inch Plus a bit big (like me) to go for the phablet next time around. So long as the Home button remains Apple is constrained somewhat, but there's definitely room for trimming around the edges. Additional rumors have suggested the white antenna lines on the back of the phone will disappear. Apple has needed them to allow radio signals to enter and exit the iPhone as metal tends to block radio signals. But there may be some tricks forthcoming to change that.
Prospects: Will these upgrades be enough to entice users to move? It's hard to say, especially since the elimination of the headphone jack is likely to both generate negative publicity and annoy people with investments in old-style headphones. But this year might be the least important of the trio. Why? Because with so many non-upgraded phones and Apple's installed base growing by many tens of millions (of the 200+ million iPhones that will be sold in the coming year lots will go to customers new to iPhone), there should be a burst of upgrades large enough in this generation.
iPhone 7s, 2017: The odd-year cycle has proved somewhat perilous for Apple in that the design of the phone remains constant and the company has to provide under-the-hood improvements to excite customers. This year's iPhone 6s offered a strong boost to processor speed and finally went to 2GB of RAM on board, but the rest of the feature set was less instantly compelling. As always, the camera got better, though perhaps by a smaller margin than usual. And some features felt either gimmicky (Live Photos, the new rose gold) or unfinished (3D Touch). That Apple marketed the phone with "the only thing that's changed is everything" points out the challenge of selling something new that doesn't look new. Personally, I find the 6s to be an excellent upgrade, but I don't generally tell people who have a 6 to rush out and get one.
It appears what Apple hopes to deliver with the iPhone 7s is truly wireless charging. A report in Bloomberg suggests Apple is targeting 2017 for a solution that will allow phone charging at distances perhaps as great as 1 meter. Apple has been a long-time skeptic of wireless charging that uses pads, like the Qi charging used by many Android phones, because those pads need to be plugged in and the phone physically placed on them. If Apple could make "ambient" charging work, it would allow you to just put your phone or iPad down on a counter or table near where the charging device is plugged in and that would do the trick.
While the A-series processor will certainly keep getting a refresh, it seems likely the value of this will diminish at least until Apple pushes up the pixel count on its smartphones. Perhaps most importantly would be increased power efficiency from a new generation, with improved battery life. Along those lines, another intriguing prospect is that Apple could begin designing its own radio components for the iPhone, instead of relying on Qualcomm (or Intel) for those parts. Better integration between the Apple A series system on a chip and the radio could make a meaningful difference in longevity on the days you're on the go, where the iPhone battery is clearly at its worst.
Prospects: It could be that 2017 is the "year of power" where Apple talks up wireless power, battery power, and perhaps some benefits associated with improved processing power -- it's typically the odd years where the A series makes bigger leaps. The dual-lens camera will certainly improve and might migrate down to the 7s from the 7 Plus, if space allows.
Perhaps more than anything, though, if Apple wants to sell more iPhones next year it would strongly benefit from having lower-priced offerings. The least expensive iPhone is $450 (often higher outside the U.S.), which limits it to a small number of customers in many emerging markets and even parts of Europe. While playing down in the sub-$100 price band isn't Apple's cup of tea, even a move to $350 would likely matter a great deal in India, Brazil and elsewhere. Whether the 5se opens the door to a lower price point in 2017 remains to be seen, but is closely worth watching if Apple wants to move from 1 billion devices in use -- a figure it touted in its earnings -- to 2 billion over the next half decade.
iPhone 8, 2018: Looking ahead this far is fraught, but one thing seems almost certain: This is the year iPhone goes OLED. Increasing evidence suggests Apple has contracted with Samsung, the leading maker of mobile OLED displays, and longtime display supplier LG to produce screens for iPhones. It's also been rumored to be working with another partner, Japan Display, to get it ready to produce OLED displays.
While this change is a big deal structurally, allowing for a potentially even thinner iPhone that finally again has a class-leading display, it's unlikely to wow too many customers. Samsung's Galaxy series has sported OLED for several years now and Apple will be a latecomer to the party. One killer feature of OLED is that it theoretical allows for flexible, foldable displays, making it possible to build an iPhone that could double its screen size to that of an iPad. But to produce a device like that in the quantities Apple typically sells won't be realistic in 2018 so the phone itself is likely to still be a solid slab with a glass front.
A radical change, however, would be to do away with the home button allowing a further shrinking of the chassis. If TouchID could be embedded behind the screen, such a change would become possible. As with a folding iPhone, though, it's not clear whether the technology to enable this will be realistic even by 2018. TouchID is made possible by a dedicated sensor that's far more sophisticated than the magic that enables 3D Touch, for example. To allow you to still use your fingerprint (for security), but do so on an arbitrary area of the screen might be a bridge too far, especially as Apple integrates OLED into the iPhone for the first time.
Still, this will bring yet another new design and perhaps a willingness to be radical. Google has a fingerprint sensor on the rear of its Nexus phones. Apple might find a way to embed something workable into the side edge of the iPhone.
Another killer feature that could entice more users to upgrade would be increased unbreakability. Apple spends tremendous time designing beautiful devices only to have most people (1) put them in cases (2) find ways to shatter the screen anyway. Mitigating the effects of damage is a hard problem, but Apple likes hard problems. And there's already a Motorola with a nearly unbreakable front.
Prospects: Hardest to tell, of course, without a better sense of what you'll be getting. The exciting feature here would be a truly radical redesign that makes the iPhone look and feel new all over again. The "white swan" would be some kind of breakthrough in battery life that allows heavy users to forget about getting a Mophie or worrying about nursing their phone through the day. iPhone will be more than 11 years old at this point and on what amounts to its seventh design. The smartphone market will nearly be one entirely of replacements and while Apple will certainly still occupy the premium tier, it may well have decided to take on a bigger chunk of the middle as well.
For all the hand-wringing over Apple's latest quarter, it recorded an all-time record profit and ended the calendar year with 232 million iPhones sold. Much of the angst concerns how the company plans on topping that total going forward in a slowing global economy and maturing smartphone market. As the above shows, there's still some obvious room for innovation ahead, not to mention the countless ideas Apple has that those of us outside Cupertino haven't yet conceived of. It's a safe bet that Apple plans on selling more iPhones in each of the next 3 years than they did in 2015, even with the first-quarter slowdown they've forecast for 2016. The question is will the new offerings be compelling enough to make that happen.The next PONARS Eurasia policy conference is happening next Monday and Tuesday. Here is my policy memo for that conference. For more information about the conference, including the full program, visit the PONARS Eurasia website.
——
The May 2014 Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS), sponsored by the Russian Ministry of Defense, was focused on the role of popular protest, and specifically color revolutions, in international security. The speakers, which included top Russian military and diplomatic officials such as Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, argued that color revolutions are a new form of warfare invented by Western governments seeking to remove independently-minded national governments in favor of ones controlled by the West. They argued that this was part of a global strategy to force foreign values on a range of nations around the world that refuse to accept U.S. hegemony and that Russia was a particular target of this strategy.
While the West considers color revolutions to be peaceful expressions of popular will opposing repressive authoritarian regimes, Russian officials argue that military force is an integral part of all aspects of color revolutions. Western governments start by using non-military tactics to change opposing governments through color revolutions that utilize the protest potential of the population to engineer peaceful regime change. But military force is concealed behind this effort. If the protest potential turns out to be insufficient, military force is then used openly to ensure regime change. This includes the use of external pressure on the regime in question to prevent the use of force to restore order, followed by the provision of military and economic assistance to rebel forces. If these measures are not sufficient, Western states organize a military operation to defeat government forces and allow the rebels to take power. Russian officials at the MCIS conference described color revolutions as a new technique of aggression pioneered by the United States and geared toward destroying a state from within by dividing its population. The advantage of this technique, compared to military intervention, is that it requires a relatively low expenditure of resources to achieve its goals.
Shoigu argued that this scheme has been used in a wide range of cases, including Serbia, Libya, and Syria—all cases where political interference by the West transitioned into military action. In 2014, the same scheme was followed in Ukraine, where anti-regime protests over several months transformed into a civil war, and in Venezuela, where the so-called democratic opposition is supposedly organized by the United States. While Western readers may find the lumping together of uprisings as disparate as those in Serbia in 2000, Syria in 2011, and Venezuela in 2014 hard to swallow, from the Russian point of view, they all share the common thread of occurring in countries that had governments that were opposed to the United States. Although uprisings in countries whose governments were close to the United States, such as Kyrgyzstan in 2010 and Egypt and Bahrain in 2011, are harder to explain, such inconsistencies do not appear to trouble the Russian government.
Furthermore, while Russian discussion of the destabilizing role of color revolutions usually portrays U.S. actions as taking place around the world, there is a clear perception that Russia is one of the main targets. This drives fear that unrest in the post-Soviet region may be a wedge for the United States to force regime change in Russia itself.
Russia’s Counter-Strategy
This perspective appears to be at the core of a new national security strategy that Russia is developing. Although the Russian government has not produced any kind of document summarizing this new strategy, the key aspects can be gleaned from an analysis of Russian leaders’ statements and Russian actions in recent months. The counter-strategy combines political and military actions.
On the political side, Russia has stepped up its efforts to make alliances with other authoritarian regimes that are similarly concerned about the possibility of a popular uprising that could lead to their loss of power. This strategy has been used by Russia to some extent throughout Vladimir Putin’s presidency, with efforts to develop ties with former Soviet allies in the Middle East and Asia. The MCIS conference highlighted a renewed emphasis in this direction. The presence of the Iranian defense minister, the Egyptian deputy defense minister, the chief of defense from Myanmar, and deputy chiefs of defense from Vietnam, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as a large delegation from China, all indicate the primary focus of attention for Russian military engagement this year. The absence of official representatives from NATO member states particularly highlighted the shift in emphasis of Russian military cooperation. By comparison, the 2013 MCIS had no representatives from Middle Eastern or Asian countries outside of post-Soviet Eurasia, while senior officials from most NATO member states were in attendance.
The second part of Russia’s political strategy is to damage the unity of the Western alliance. This effort has been pursued for several years through the development of political alliances with right-wing parties throughout Europe and in the United States. As described by Marlene Laruelle and Mitchell Orenstein, among others, Russia has supported European nationalists’ anti-EU and anti-immigrant positions. The core of Russia’s alliance with the European far right has been a shared opposition to increased ties between the EU and its eastern neighbors. The European right has also been sympathetic to Russia’s positions on issues such as the role of religion in society, same-sex marriage, and gay rights generally. These positions have also gained Russia some unlikely supporters among the Christian right in the United States, where Russian support for anti-abortion and anti-gay rights views has, in turn, been reciprocated by what would be otherwise surprising sympathy for Russian foreign policy positions on issues such as human rights and democracy promotion.
On the military side, Russia has determined that the best way to counter the perceived U.S. strategy is through a combination of strong support for existing authoritarian regimes around the world. This support has included military and economic assistance, as well as public support for actions taken against protesters, who are often conflated in Russian rhetoric with terrorists or supporters of radical ideologies such as radical Islam or fascism.
In circumstances where this proves insufficient and the situation is in an area deemed crucial to Russian national interests, Russia has shown that it is willing to go further by providing direct support to forces opposed to those supported by the West. This support may include the simulation of popular uprisings, support for local insurgents, and the threat of direct military force to protect co-ethnics.
Russia claims to reserve the right to protect Russians living abroad. Given the large numbers of Russians living throughout post-Soviet Eurasia, this claim has the potential to provide Russia with an excuse for intervention anywhere in the region. Furthermore, it may lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, by which governments of other post-Soviet states come to distrust their ethnic Russian populations, leading to discrimination that creates the conditions for a potential Russian intervention.
The Russian Strategy in Ukraine
The actions that Russia has been undertaking in Ukraine in recent months are based on this strategy and closely parallel Russian officials’ perceptions of how the U.S. color revolutions strategy works. Russian officials provided the Yanukovych government with advice on how to deal with anti-government protesters. This advice appears to have involved encouragement to use repressive measures, though the government appeared to lack either the capacity or willpower to carry it out to the end. Officials from Russian security services met regularly with Ukrainian government officials, with FSB Colonel General Sergei Beseda present in Kyiv on Feb 20-21 as the Yanukovych government collapsed.
At the same time, the Russian government provided economic assistance to Ukraine, including a $15 billion aid package and an agreement to lower the price Ukraine paid for 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas from $400 to $268. This assistance was canceled after the change of government in Ukraine.
When Russian assistance proved inadequate to maintain the Yanukovych government in power, Russia took immediate steps to weaken the new anti-Russian government that was being formed in Kyiv. It seems highly likely that Russian agents were involved in organizing counter-protests in eastern Ukraine and Crimea after Viktor Yanukovych’s departure from Ukraine.
From the start of the conflict, Russia repeatedly used the threat of force to try to influence the actions of the new Ukrainian government, both by making statements reserving the right to intervene in the conflict and by staging several military exercises on the Ukrainian border. The statements initially focused on the right of the Russian government to protect its co-ethnics abroad, though as the conflict accelerated over the summer they have shifted to the need to protect civilians in general from a humanitarian disaster. This parallels past Western statements that use the doctrine of the international responsibility to protect civilians to justify interventions in internal conflicts.
Finally, Russia has engaged in covert military action in Crimea and, at a minimum, provided military and financial assistance to separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. The quick Russian intervention in Crimea was made possible by the presence of a relatively large contingent of Russian troops (approximately 14,000) who were already based in Crimea and the strong antipathy of the local population to the new Ukrainian government. The Russian naval infantry based in Sevastopol were augmented by special forces troops from Russian military intelligence, who occupied key locations on the peninsula, including government buildings and the isthmus connecting Crimea to the rest of Ukraine, and surrounded Ukrainian military bases in the region. Many of these actions paralleled Russian military exercises that had taken place a year earlier in the Black Sea region.
Russian actions in eastern Ukraine have escalated more gradually, as the conflict has dragged on in recent months. Initially, Russian support consisted of a mass media propaganda campaign in opposition to the “fascist junta” that had taken power in Kyiv and in support of the actions being taken by protesters in the Donbas. As the conflict became more violent in April and May 2014, volunteers from Russia joined in the fighting. Many of these volunteers were recruited (unofficially) through military recruitment offices in Russia. While no conclusive evidence has surfaced, there is a strong likelihood that agents from Russian security services were involved in coordinating protests in eastern and southern Ukraine from their earliest stages.
Russia’s role in the conflict has increased over time, especially after the separatist forces began to lose territory in late June 2014. Early on, local protest leaders were sidelined by Russian citizens, some of whom had a background working for Russian security services. Beginning in June, Russia began to provide heavy weaponry to the separatist forces, including multiple rocket launchers and air defense weapons. Beginning in July, Russian forces have shelled Ukrainian forces from Russian territory in order to prevent Ukraine from sealing off the border and ending the provision of military assistance to separatist forces. In August, the Russian government responded to continued Ukrainian victories by sending in a limited contingent of Russian troops and opening a new front in territory previously under the firm control of government forces, near Novoazovsk and Mariupol in southern Donetsk region. This escalation in Russian military assistance caused a major shift in the path of the conflict, with Ukrainian forces taking heavy casualties throughout the Donbas and losing control of approximately half the territory they had gained over the summer.
Russian actions in Ukraine appear to mirror the actions Russian leaders believe the United States has been taking in its efforts to eliminate unfriendly governments around the world. While the increase in military support for separatist forces during the summer of 2014 appeared to have been largely improvised, the earlier actions to destabilize Ukraine in the aftermath of Yanukovych’s flight from Kyiv seem to have been based on existing contingency plans. It is possible that Russian leaders believe that the United States actively seeks to destabilize opposing regimes because such activities are a standard part of their own policy toolkit.
Impact on U.S. Policy and Recommendations
There has been a continuing debate on whether domestic or international factors are primary in Russia’s current foreign policy. In reality, it appears that both are working together. Russian foreign policy appears to be based on a combination of fears of popular protest and opposition to U.S. world hegemony, both of which are seen as threatening the Putin regime.
Russia’s current policies in Ukraine have little to do with geopolitical calculations about Ukraine’s economic ties with the EU versus the Eurasian Union or even its potential NATO membership. Similarly, the annexation of Crimea was not about ensuring the security of the Black Sea Fleet. Instead, the main goal has been to strengthen the Putin regime domestically by increasing patriotic attitudes among the Russian population. Patriotism is the means by which the Russian government inoculates the Russian population against anti-regime and/or pro-Western attitudes. This goal explains the obsessive focus on building an anti-Ukrainian and anti-American media narrative from an early stage in the Ukraine conflict.
In this environment, it is not worth spending time trying to convince the current Russian leadership to pursue more cooperative policies. If they truly believe that the United States is seeking to force them out of power and is simply waiting for an opportune moment to strike, then Russian policies will remain committed to ensuring that the United States does not get such an opportunity.
The U.S. response to such a position needs to focus on a combination of reassuring steps to show that the United States is not planning to overthrow the Putin regime and a restatement of the core U.S. position that the citizens of each country deserve the right to determine their own government without external interference (from either Russia or the United States).
In practical terms, the U.S. government should encourage the Ukrainian government to pursue policies of reconciliation in the Donbas. While the conflict has been greatly exacerbated by Russian actions, it has an internal component that cannot be solved by military action alone. In an ideal world, Russia and the United States would work together to encourage this reconciliation, though I doubt that the current Russian government is genuinely interested in peace in eastern Ukraine. Instead, it prefers to keep eastern Ukraine unstable as an object lesson to its own population of the dangers of popular protest leading to the overthrow of even a relatively unpopular regime.
[PDF]
AdvertisementsThe banded mongoose, a small social mammal of the African savannah, is known to be one of the most cooperative and helpful of all animals.
They live across central and southern Africa in family groups of up to 28. Individuals routinely feed and protect the offspring of other group members, and when one of their own is threatened they gang up together to defend against attack from predators or a rival team of mongooses.
But life is not all friendly cuddles between team-mates. Recent research shows these animals have a dark side. In the latest study of these mongooses, published recently in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers from the University of Exeter, Liverpool John Moores University and I show how competition between relatives can lead to mass evictions.
Jason Gilchrist, Author provided
War cries
The drama ensues when the presence of greater numbers of offspring and younger siblings compromise the productivity – breeding success – of senior group members.
Over a period of days, the happy family’s territory then becomes a chaotic battleground between relatives. The conflict is ultimately resolved by the older, dominant individuals evicting their younger team-mates en-masse.
Shrieking battle cries accompany the civil war, with mothers and fathers chasing and wrestling their own daughters and sons, and elder brothers and sisters attacking their younger siblings. The tension is palpable, and the wounds can be bloody as well as psychological. The evictees do not want to leave and try to hang on in there, before surrendering and fleeing after days of sustained persecution.
Eviction is not the only behaviour used to alleviate reproductive competition within groups of banded mongoose. Infanticide has been recorded, with adults killing the pups of fellow group-members, and there is also evidence that a female may abort gestating young during periods of stress, and that to do so increases the chance that she is not herself evicted.
Kicked-out in order to kick-on
We must take care not to judge such behaviour within a human context, however. Eviction, infanticide and abortion may appear callous, but ultimately those mongooses that are evicted will usually go on to disperse successfully and found new groups with a refreshed gene pool (thanks to reduced inbreeding).
This latest study shows the value of long-term research and collaboration. When I first arrived in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park back in 1996, to investigate these mongooses as part of a partnership between the University of Cambridge and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, I never imagined that these same mongooses would continue to be monitored by researchers over the subsequent two decades.
Jason Gilchrist, Author provided
We are now at a stage where today’s field researchers are following the great, great, great, great, great … offspring of the original group members. Such studies, monitoring the life history of multiple generations of individuals within populations, provide a remarkable insight into the evolutionary ecology of species, and tell us a great deal about how and why animals behave the way that they do.
I have spent much of my life as a behavioural ecologist studying cooperative animals, including banded mongooses but also chimpanzees, grey mouse lemurs, and even social spiders. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of these societies is that while we observe cooperation on the outside, closer inspection often reveals that such apparent friendly helpfulness is underpinned by conflict and the threat of aggression. Sometimes your best friend can turn out to be your worst enemy.Metro today provided the agency’s staff recommendation for a contractor to build the 8.5-mile Crenshaw/LAX Line. Staff is recommending a contract in the amount of $1,272,632,356 to Walsh/Shea Corridor Constructors. The contract includes stations at Leimert Park and Hindry that were approved last month by the Metro Board of Directors.
Walsh/Shea is a joint venture between Walsh Construction and J.F. Shea Company. Walsh/Shea has collaborated to work on many other rail projects in the United States, including the DART system in Dallas.
Walsh/Shea was one of four firms to submit proposals for the contract. The Metro staff evaluation gave Walsh/Shea the highest technical score; Walsh/Shea also had the lowest bid in terms of cost.
The Metro Board of Directors will decide on the contract award; the Board can choose to accept or reject the staff recommendation. The Board’s Construction Committee will discuss the contract at its meeting on June 20 and the full Board is scheduled to vote on the contract at their monthly meeting on Thursday, June 27, at Metro’s headquarters adjacent to Union Station. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Both the committee meeting and full Board meetings are, as usual, open to the public.
The Crenshaw/LAX Line is one of 12 transit projects being funded by Measure R, the half-cent sales tax increase approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2008.
The light rail project between the Expo Line and the Green Line is currently forecast to open in 2019 with major construction beginning in 2014. Utility work is already underway. The Board is also being asked to add funds to the project’s budget to include the Leimert Park and Hindry stations, as well as extra contingency funds, bringing the project’s budget to $2.058 billion, assuming all the funding sources come through. The budget also includes funds for new rail cars, a rail maintenance yard, real estate acquisition and the costs of planning the line and other items not included in the contract total.
Some notes and background about the project and the contract:
•The line is forecast by Metro to have average weekday boardings of just under 25,000 by the year 2035. Metro and Los Angeles World Airports are working together on another Measure R project that would connect the Crenshaw/LAX Line to LAX via either light rail, bus rapid transit and/or people mover. That project is currently scheduled to be completed in the late 2020s and will depend on funding from the city of Los Angeles.
•For those who want the Park Mesa Heights segment placed underground instead of running at street level, I want you to understand the process. First and foremost, it needs to be understood that the Board of Directors and the Federal Transit Administration have approved the project with a street-running segment through Park Mesa Heights. The Board has stuck with this decision.
Firms that submitted proposals for the project were allowed to submit “Alternative Technical Concepts” (or ATCs) that could potentially lower the cost of the project, improve its quality, reliability, performance or schedule. However, Metro did not consider ATCs that significantly changed the project or required a supplemental environmental impact statement/report.
Three points worth considering about the stretch of tracks through Park Mesa Heights. 1) The street is 180 feet wide and a train can safely operate in the median, as streetcars used to on Crenshaw; 2) Building a tunnel for this segment would cost up to an additional $250 million; 3) Adding a tunnel at this time would require that the final environmental studies be re-done, which Metro officials say would take nine to 18 months and could jeopardize federal funds being used to help build the line.
When the train line is completed, Crenshaw Boulevard will have three general traffic lanes in each direction through Park Mesa Heights, in addition to a parking lane and bike lanes. Metro says it will plant two trees for every tree removed to build the project.
•The train will pass near Crenshaw High School. Metro light rail trains currently pass near Dorsey High School (Expo Line), Blair High School (Gold Line), Mendez Learning School (Gold Line) and Ramona High School (Gold Line) and have thus far done so without incident. Metro has worked closely with the California Public Utilities Commission and the city of Los Angeles to incorporate safety features into the Crenshaw/LAX Line, including fencing, signage, pedestrian gates, crosswalks and security cameras.
•For those who are comparing the Crenshaw/LAX Line to the Blue Line: The Blue Line opened in 1990 and was the first modern light rail project in our region since the streetcars stopped running in the early 1960s. Many safety features have been added to the line since then and overall incidents have declined. Metro is continuing to add more safety elements along the line, including a new effort to reduce suicides.
•About 55 percent of the Crenshaw/LAX Line is separated by the street — that is, 55 percent of the line will be in a tunnel, in a trench or an aerial structure above streets. By comparison, the Blue Line is 20 percent grade separated, the Pasadena Gold Line is 42 percent, the Eastside Gold Line is 37 percent and the Expo Line is 20 percent. The Green Line is 100 percent grade-separated because it runs in the median of the 105 freeway and aerial structures.
This is also the reason that on a per mile basis, the Crenshaw/LAX Line will be the most expensive light rail line that Metro has built. The Purple Line Extension subway will be more expensive but it is a type of transit called “heavy rail” that can carry more people and run at higher speeds. It is being built as a subway because of the dense area along its alignment (mostly under Wilshire Boulevard) and expected high ridership.
•The Crenshaw/LAX Line is a design-build project, meaning a single contractor is responsible for the final design and construction of the contract. The idea is that some design and construction work will overlap, which will help the project be built more quickly.
•Among some of the big tasks: building the underground station boxes at the two northernmost stations at Exposition & Crenshaw and Crenshaw & Martin Luther King, Jr., boulevards. It is expected that the contractor will lower the tunnel boring machine (TBM) into the ground at Expo & Crenshaw and then tunnel south, either extracting the TBM at Crenshaw/MLK or proceeding south to the Leimert Park station at Vernon & Crenshaw.
•With major federal funding in this project, Metro is prohibited by law from “local hiring” of any specific ethnic group. However, the Metro Board approved a plan (called a Project Labor Agreement, or PLA) to implement targeted hiring focused on unemployed and disadvantaged workers while also providing apprenticeship opportunities. Under the Project Labor Agreement, Metro has identified areas by zip code where there is a high number of these workers and that includes South Los Angeles and Inglewood.
•Metro is requiring the contractor to make up for the loss of parking during construction. Also, Metro is preparing profiles for every business along the alignment to identify their type of business, hours of operation, number of employees, access for customers and how deliveries are made. Once a contractor is hired, the contractor will begin working closely with local businesses, the Crenshaw Leadership Council and others.
Like this: Like Loading...Why Trump's reversal of Obama's transgender decree makes Federalists cheer
Democrats hate Republicans and will find nothing good in anything they do. Republicans hate Democrats who they believe can do no right. Federalists hate neither major party. They call out concepts they oppose and embrace actions they like. With President Trump’s reversal of President Obama’s bathroom decree, Federalists have several reasons to cheer the GOP leader.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the kudos I’ll soon be posting at the Federalist Party website:
Freedoms and rights must be protected as long as they don’t supersede “greater” rights and freedoms. In modern American society, we’ve seen a rise in people claiming the right to do things that contradict the rights of others. We’ve seen this in calls against “discrimination” when private business owners want to exercise their right to practice their religion. We’ve seen it with “reproductive rights” superseding a preborn American’s right to live. Most recently, we’ve seen it with Obama’s declared right for someone to pick their bathroom, an action that steps over a person’s right to privacy and safety. Trump’s move is the first real step in preserving freedom that we’ve seen in eight years.
. In modern American society, we’ve seen a rise in people claiming the right to do things that contradict the rights of others. We’ve seen this in calls against “discrimination” when private business owners want |
to jagerman
Premium Member to jagerman
I can understand what you're saying here but is the CRTC not an independent agency? What right does the government have imposing an agenda on them if that's the case? I thought the CRTC was given a mandate upon their formation and beyond that, they are supposed to manage themselves.
jagerman
join:2011-01-10
Kingston, ON jagerman Member The CRTC has never been entirely independent, but the Conservative's policy direction was, I believe, the first ever such order issued by the Government to the CRTC. Prior to that the CRTC pretty much operated at arm's reach from government.
Gimli
Premium Member
join:2006-01-03
l5a2o4 Gimli to jagerman
Premium Member to jagerman
Um, the function of the CRTC is first and foremost to protect the interests of Canadians. They are the "1 voice" for Canadians when items are called to question to deal with issues within the purview of the CRTC.
They were petitioned, with false information, they asked for comment... they got lots opposing it, and they chose to allow BELL whatever they wanted, FULLY KNOWING the ramifications of the decision.
Now their integrity will be called to question, and rightly so. At the end of the day, the most non-techy person can be given the cold hard facts, and the response is always the same:
"wtf???"
"how can bell do that?"
"how can bell ask for something, then try make the CRTC make the cables companies follow so they dont have a better market position than them?"
"so basically they have killed all Canadian business except for bell and rogers"
F the CRTC and F Bell for their disgusting methods.
I am all for making money and business, but this misuse and abuse of power is enough.
cah51o8
join:2006-09-20
Canada cah51o8 to jagerman
Member to jagerman
There are glaring issues with Bell's submission. If CRTC had any intention to fight, that would be enough to kill it.
anonmous
@teksavvy.com anonmous to jagerman
Anon to jagerman
I thought the Conservative policy direction was common knowledge?!?
I oppose UBB but never understood the call to dissolve the CRTC. It would not help things. It is only because of the CRTC's prior decisions that is forcing Bell to wholesale in the first place!
No, I blame the Conservatives and Harper. I hope a spring election is called, though I fear it will only result in the same turnout (a conservative minority)... Until we get electoral reform (FPTP is horribly broken with more than 2 parties, Canada has 5 that garnered significant votes, with one party being regional), or a united Left-center vote, they'll keep squeaking in.
The right united and since then they still garner less than half the popular vote (running closer to one third) yet because of the fragmented left, it is enough for them to garner power...
avp77
join:2010-07-10 avp77 to jagerman
Member to jagerman
Jagerman, I think you are mis-reading what the bolded text implies, I read it in the opposite way.
In any case, it is very inaccurate to quote part of a sentence, when you don't show us how it starts, or what words might be used to entirely change the meaning of the text.
andyb
Premium Member
join:2003-05-29
SW Ontario andyb to cah51o8
Premium Member to cah51o8
The problem the CRTC has is that they allowed shit to happen years ago that set precedents for today that they cant reverse.They cannot change their own decisions.What they can do is leave holes for cabinet in new decisions to go back and change things or leave enough room for a court challenge.I "think" they did that but will Clement see it? A bit of time will tell.
corster
Premium Member
join:2002-02-23
North York, ON 1 edit corster to avp77
Premium Member to avp77
said by avp77: Jagerman, I think you are mis-reading what the bolded text implies, I read it in the opposite way.
In any case, it is very inaccurate to quote part of a sentence, when you don't show us how it starts, or what words might be used to entirely change the meaning of the text.
The entire paragraph basically says something like "The CRTC has to encourage investment, but take into account how the incumbents screw people if we don't mandate wholesale access, and how difficult it is to invest" It's completely taken out of context.The entire paragraph basically says something like
damenc
join:2010-09-30
London, ON damenc to Gimli
Member to Gimli
Plain and simple, this is legal extortion. CRTC just gave more power to Bell and Rogers and that is what we don't need, now they have the right to put any price on anything. Honestly, you're going to trust their metering system to regulate our pricing, come on. We've all have or know someone who's experienced Bell/Rogers "shady" practices in the past.
I will be writing an article to our local newspaper about this, and hopefully people who aren't "taksavvy" enough will realize this is unfair practice.
Our existing internet price structure is already a laughing stock from our neighbours across the border, this new ruling is the cherry on top. Hell, even out west the internet structure and pricing is 10x better then here.
What we don't see behind the curtain is how is going to impact the our industry, ie. everyone will now cut down on streaming because they can't afford it, how many companies do you think will stop subscribing services to Ontario, developers pulling out because they isn't any profitable business to be had in Ontario. There's nothing wrong with our existing infrastructure, you'll know when you see Bell/Rogers 2012 profit earnings, anyone willing to bet this will skyrocket?
Personally, I'm going to cancel my phone service3 with Bell, right now, I don't want to have anything to do with them directly, I doubt they will care but it will make me feel better.
I hope CRTC realizes that they just opened up a can of worms they are going to regret. What I really like to know is who at CRTC got the "manila envelope" filled with cash in the underground parking lot.
p.s. jagerman, if we can't count on the CRTC then we're screwed and why do they even exists??? this is the kind of issue they are suppose to protect us from.
My 2 cents.
Damen I couldn't of said it better.. NICE GIMLI!Plain and simple, this is legal extortion. CRTC just gave more power to Bell and Rogers and that is what we don't need, now they have the right to put any price on anything. Honestly, you're going to trust their metering system to regulate our pricing, come on. We've all have or know someone who's experienced Bell/Rogers "shady" practices in the past.I will be writing an article to our local newspaper about this, and hopefully people who aren't "taksavvy" enough will realize this is unfair practice.Our existing internet price structure is already a laughing stock from our neighbours across the border, this new ruling is the cherry on top. Hell, even out west the internet structure and pricing is 10x better then here.What we don't see behind the curtain is how is going to impact the our industry, ie. everyone will now cut down on streaming because they can't afford it, how many companies do you think will stop subscribing services to Ontario, developers pulling out because they isn't any profitable business to be had in Ontario. There's nothing wrong with our existing infrastructure, you'll know when you see Bell/Rogers 2012 profit earnings, anyone willing to bet this will skyrocket?Personally, I'm going to cancel my phone service3 with Bell, right now, I don't want to have anything to do with them directly, I doubt they will care but it will make me feel better.I hope CRTC realizes that they just opened up a can of worms they are going to regret. What I really like to know is who at CRTC got the "manila envelope" filled with cash in the underground parking lotp.s. jagerman, if we can't count on the CRTC then we're screwed and why do they even exists??? this is the kind of issue they are suppose to protect us from.My 2 cents.Damen
AnonRick
@teksavvy.com AnonRick to andyb
Anon to andyb
said by andyb: In plain English it says the CRTC needs to take into account the incumbents ability to bully competitors out of the market when they are trying to get started if GAS wasnt mandated. Thats what I read I agree. The OP has it backwards.
andyb
Premium Member
join:2003-05-29
SW Ontario andyb to damenc
Premium Member to damenc
If the CRTC wasnt there then bell would of had UBB long ago.They are needed but...They need a new policy directive among other things and KvF needs to be tared and feathered
AkFubar
Admittedly, A Teksavvy Fan
join:2005-02-28
Toronto CAN. AkFubar to jagerman
Member to jagerman
Sorry don't agree. The CRTC regulates internet access in this country (and other stuff) so the buck stops with them. This decision does not have the best interests of Canadians at heart. The decision is punitive and regressive in a poor economy. Sorry they don't get off that easy.
Davesnothere
Change is NOT Necessarily Progress
Premium Member
join:2009-06-15
Canada Davesnothere Premium Member said by AkFubar: Sorry don't agree. The CRTC regulates internet access in this country (and other stuff) so the buck stops with them. This decision does not have the best interests of Canadians at heart. The decision is punitive and regressive in a poor economy. Sorry they don't get off that easy.
+25GB - (Just trying on my new cap!) +25GB - (Just trying on my new cap!)
Angelo
The Network Guy
Premium Member
join:2002-06-18 Angelo Premium Member i passed 25gb 1 hr ago since today...
JGROCKY
Premium Member
join:2005-05-19
Chatham, ON JGROCKY to jagerman
Premium Member to jagerman
said by jagerman: So we're all pissed off about UBB, and since it was the CRTC decision that allowed this to go forward, we're all tending to blame the CRTC. I've seen numerous messages here over the past few days accusing the CRTC of corruption, of being bought by Bell, of being incompetent, of not understanding the issues, etc.
I know this is bound to get people a bit riled up, but let me state it: the truth is that the CRTC did as much as they could regarding UBB. You see, the CRTC was given a policy direction by the Conservative government shortly after coming to power in 2006 (read it here: »laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/S ··· e-1.html). The relevant bit of that is 1 (c) (ii): quote: with a view to increasing incentives for innovation and investment in and construction of competing telecommunications network facilities, to complete a review of its regulatory framework regarding mandated access to wholesale services, to determine the extent to which mandated access to wholesale services that are not essential services should be phased out and to determine the appropriate pricing of mandated services, which review should take into account the principles of technological and competitive neutrality, the potential for incumbents to exercise market power in the wholesale and retail markets for the service in the absence of mandated access to wholesale services, and the impediments faced by new and existing carriers seeking to develop competing network facilities, That part in bold is important: it basically requires the CRTC to not impede the incumbent's (i.e. Bell's) market power. Because UBB was sought by Bell as a means of exercising their market power, the CRTC's hands here were essentially tied.
If you think about it, the Conservative's policy direction was, in effect, instructing a regulator to not regulate. As much as I disagree with the CRTC, and as much as I wish Konrad von Finckenstein et al. had had the balls to stand up to the government on this issue through more creative interpretation of the policy direction (as, for instance, Peter Nowak suggests: »
My point is just this: make sure your anger is directed at the right parties here, and don't shoot the messenger. Yes, the CRTC decision was awful and bad for Canadian consumers, but the CRTC wasn't remotely free to decide the issue. Before we start calling to disband the CRTC, let's first try calling for removing its shackles.
That part in bold is important: it basically requires the CRTC to not impede the incumbent's (i.e. Bell's) market power. Because UBB was sought by Bell as a means of exercising their market power, the CRTC's hands here were essentially tied.If you think about it, the Conservative's policy direction was, in effect, instructing a regulator to not regulate. As much as I disagree with the CRTC, and as much as I wish Konrad von Finckenstein et al. had had the balls to stand up to the government on this issue through more creative interpretation of the policy direction (as, for instance, Peter Nowak suggests: » wordsbynowak.com/2011/01 ··· failure/ ), I can't bring myself to blame the CRTC for this failure, but instead the current Conservative government, which in effect severely crippled the CRTC's power on this issue.My point is just this: make sure your anger is directed at the right parties here, and don't shoot the messenger. Yes, the CRTC decision was awful and bad for Canadian consumers, but the CRTC wasn't remotely free to decide the issue. Before we start calling to disband the CRTC, let's first try calling for removing its shackles.
You're interpreting this in the reverse manner to what it is intended and has been applied. The CRTC was instructed to be mindful of potential incumbent marker power and not to ignore it or endorse it. This is clear not only from the Policy Direction but from the concerns expressed by the CRTC in the Essential Services decision (Decision 2008-17) and the speed-matching decision (Decision 2010-632). You've actually got it very wrong. The CRTC has a clear mandate to try to prevent the exercise of market power by incumbents and has acknowledged that. The problem is that the actions taken by the CRTC to date have not been sufficient to neutralize the exercise of that market power. In the case of UBB, the result is the opposite from what should be happening. This could have been avoided by a different (non-end-user-based) regime for charging for usage. The Policy Direction does have some problems, but the design of usage-based billing in a more competitively neutral manner is not being hampered by the Policy Direction. I would argue the reverse. The Policy Direction required a better competitive outcome than what the CRTC has adopted in its UBB decisions.
....basically, this particular decision "is" their fault.
Rocky Actually.... You need to not take that small piece.... You'd need to read more of that document.You're interpreting this in the reverse manner to what it is intended and has been applied. The CRTC was instructed to be mindful of potential incumbent marker power and not to ignore it or endorse it. This is clear not only from the Policy Direction but from the concerns expressed by the CRTC in the Essential Services decision (Decision 2008-17) and the speed-matching decision (Decision 2010-632). You've actually got it very wrong. The CRTC has a clear mandate to try to prevent the exercise of market power by incumbents and has acknowledged that. The problem is that the actions taken by the CRTC to date have not been sufficient to neutralize the exercise of that market power. In the case of UBB, the result is the opposite from what should be happening. This could have been avoided by a different (non-end-user-based) regime for charging for usage. The Policy Direction does have some problems, but the design of usage-based billing in a more competitively neutral manner is not being hampered by the Policy Direction. I would argue the reverse. The Policy Direction required a better competitive outcome than what the CRTC has adopted in its UBB decisions.....basically, this particular decision "is" their fault.Rocky
andyb
Premium Member
join:2003-05-29
SW Ontario andyb to JGROCKY
Premium Member to JGROCKY
Re: [DSL] UBB not the CRTC's fault Not to mention its dictating your business model with the UBB decision and thats against the mandate
Angelo
The Network Guy
Premium Member
join:2002-06-18 Angelo Premium Member they pay for gas which gives them the right to offer unlimited
gruntlord6
join:2010-06-10
Barrie, ON gruntlord6 to Gimli
Member to Gimli
Re: [DSL] UBB not the CRTC's fault said by Gimli: Um, the function of the CRTC is first and foremost to protect the interests of Canadians. They are the "1 voice" for Canadians when items are called to question to deal with issues within the purview of the CRTC.
They were petitioned, with false information, they asked for comment... they got lots opposing it, and they chose to allow BELL whatever they wanted, FULLY KNOWING the ramifications of the decision.
Now their integrity will be called to question, and rightly so. At the end of the day, the most non-techy person can be given the cold hard facts, and the response is always the same:
"wtf???"
"how can bell do that?"
"how can bell ask for something, then try make the CRTC make the cables companies follow so they dont have a better market position than them?"
"so basically they have killed all Canadian business except for bell and rogers"
F the CRTC and F Bell for their disgusting methods.
I am all for making money and business, but this misuse and abuse of power is enough.
I explained this to my dad without any bias, and his response to insurance was "But thats just what they want you to do" and indeed he is right, they just want you to pay more directly into their pocket, and the government supports it.
Glen1
These Are The Good Ol' Days.
MVM
join:2002-05-24
GTA Canada 2 edits Glen1 to JGROCKY
MVM to JGROCKY
Re: [DSL] UBB not the CRTC's fault Rocky I had to read your post 3 or more times before I could understand what you are saying. What you are saying makes sense to me and I agree with you, how can we as "users" help? I can only imagine we start with our Federal MP and work our way upwards?
P.S. I just fired off an email to my Federal MP (Liberal) voicing my displeasure with the recent CRTC decision re: UBB
tonytoronto
join:2007-10-31
Toronto, ON tonytoronto Member Glen, writing e-mails to MP's mute point, we need to go see them in person. I wrote my MP about C-32 at least 3 months ago, finally got a 2 line response back thanking me for my concern.. and that was it, no position on where she stands... so good luck with that.
Find out when they at the office and book appointment or call to go see them, e-mails just get ignored and letters you get answer back 6 month later.
++
andyb
Premium Member
join:2003-05-29
SW Ontario andyb Premium Member Its not a mute point.They dont answer keep sending till you piss them off enough to acknowledge you.Snail mail,email,fax,stripogram...It dont matter.Contact any and all,provincial or federal,municipal.Get them all aware that you aint happyWhen Caroline Kennedy managed to say “you know” more than 200 times in an interview with the New York Daily News, and on 130 occasions while talking to The New York Times during her uninspired attempt to become a hereditary senator, she proved, among other things, that she was (a) middle-aged and (b) middle class. If she had been a generation younger and a bit more déclassé, she would have been saying “like.” When asked if the Bush tax cuts should be repealed, she responded: “Well, you know, that’s something, obviously, that, you know, in principle and in the campaign, you know, I think that, um, the tax cuts, you know, were expiring and needed to be repealed.”
This is an example of “filler” words being used as props, to try to shore up a lame sentence. People who can’t get along without “um” or “er” or “basically” (or, in England, “actually”) or “et cetera et cetera” are of two types: the chronically modest and inarticulate, such as Ms. Kennedy, and the mildly authoritarian who want to make themselves un-interruptible. Saul Bellow’s character Ravelstein is a good example of the latter: in order to deny any opening to a rival, he says “the-uh, the-uh” while searching for the noun or concept that is eluding him.
Many parents and teachers have become irritated to the point of distraction at the way the weed-style growth of “like” has spread through the idiom of the young. And it’s true that in some cases the term has become simultaneously a crutch and a tic, driving out the rest of the vocabulary as candy expels vegetables. But it didn’t start off that way, and might possibly be worth saving in a modified form.
Its antecedents are not as ignoble as those of “you know.” It was used by the leader of the awesome Droogs in the 1962 novel A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess, who had possibly annexed it from the Beatnik Maynard G. Krebs, of Dobie Gillis. It was quasi-ironic in Scooby Doo by 1969, and self-satirizing by the time that Frank Zappa and Moon Unit deployed it (“Like, totally”) in their “Valley Girl” song in the early 1980s. It was then a part of the Californianization of American youth-speak. In an analysis drawing upon the wonderfully named Sonoma College linguist Birch Moonwomon's findings, Penelope Eckert and Norma Mendoza-Denton phrase matters this way: “One of the innovative developments in the white English of Californians is the use of the discourse-marker ‘I’m like’ or ‘she’s like’ to introduce quoted speech, as in ‘I’m like, where have you been?’ This quotative is particularly useful because it does not require the quote to be of actual speech (as ‘she said’ would, for instance). A shrug, a sigh, or any of a number of expressive sounds as well as speech can follow it.”
So it can be of use to a natural raconteur. Ian McEwan rather surprised me when I asked him about “like,” telling me that “it can be used as a pause or a colon: very handy for spinning out a mere anecdote into a playlet that’s full of parody and speculation.” And also of hyperbole, as in “She’s been out with, like, a million guys.”
Its other main use is principally social, and defensive. You will have noticed the way in which “uptalk” has also been spreading among the young. “Uptalk” can be defined as an ostensibly declarative sentence that is uttered on a rising note of apology and that ends with an implied question mark. An example: the statement “I go to Columbia University?,” which seems to say, “If that’s all right with you.” Just as the humble, unassuming, assenting “O.K.” has deposed the more affirmative “Yes,” so the little cringe and hesitation and approximation of “like” are a help to young people who are struggling to negotiate the shoals and rapids of ethnic identity, the street, and general correctness. To report that “he was like, Yeah, whatever” is to struggle to say “He said” while minimizing the risk of commitment. (This could be why young black people don’t seem to employ “like” quite as often, having more challenging vernaculars such as “Nome sane?”—which looks almost Latin.)
The actual grammatical battle was probably lost as far back as 1954, when Winston announced that its latest smoke “tasted good, like a cigarette should.” Complaints from sticklers that this should have been “as a cigarette should” (or, in my view, “as a cigarette ought to do”) were met by a second ad in which a gray-bunned schoolmarm type was taunted by cheery consumers asking, “What do you want, good grammar or good taste?” Usage of “like” has now almost completely replaced “as,” except in the case of that other quite infectious youth expression “as if,” which would now be in danger of being rendered “Like, as if.”
How could one preserve what’s useful about “like” without allowing it to reduce everyday vocabulary and without having it weaken the two strong senses of the word, which are: to be fond of something or somebody (As You, Like, Like It) or to resemble something or somebody (“Like, Like a Virgin”)? Believe me when I say I have tried to combat it when teaching my class, and with some success (you have to talk well in order to write well, and you can’t write while using “like” as punctuation). But I realize that it can’t be expelled altogether. It can, however, be pruned and rationed, and made the object of mockery for those who have surrendered to it altogether. The restoration of the word “as,” which isn’t that hard a word to master, along with “such as,” would also be a help in varying the national lingo. A speech idiosyncrasy, in the same way as an air quote, is really justifiable only if it’s employed very sparingly and if the user consciously intends to be using it. Just to try to set an example—comparing “like” to “like,” as you might say—I have managed to write all the above without using the word once, except in inverted commas. Why not try it? You might, like, like it.On the heels of news that Tesla Motors would be opening up its Supercharger patents in order to help speed up the electric car revolution, the company’s CEO Elon Musk has apparently decided what the hell, let’s just release all the patents.
Musk has made the announcement in a Tesla blog post entitled All Our Patent Are Belong To You (spectacular, by the way). To summarize Musk’s argument, the current patent system only serves to stifle innovation, the advancement of electric cars needs to accelerate, and Tesla can’t do it alone.
“Yesterday, there was a wall of Tesla patents in the lobby of our Palo Alto headquarters. That is no longer the case. They have been removed, in the spirit of the open source movement, for the advancement of electric vehicle technology,” says Musk.
He goes on to state that Tesla will not sue anyone who, in good faith, uses their technology.
“Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal. Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology.”
After explaining that the original purpose of Tesla’s patents were always defensive, as opposed to offensive, Musk makes it clear that this move isn’t going to hurt Tesla.
At best, the large automakers are producing electric cars with limited range in limited volume. Some produce no zero emission cars at all. Given that annual new vehicle production is approaching 100 million per year and the global fleet is approximately 2 billion cars, it is impossible for Tesla to build electric cars fast enough to address the carbon crisis. By the same token, it means the market is enormous. Our true competition is not the small trickle of non-Tesla electric cars being produced, but rather the enormous flood of gasoline cars pouring out of the world’s factories every day. We believe that Tesla, other companies making electric cars, and the world would all benefit from a common, rapidly-evolving technology platform.
Nearly every reaction I can find is praising the move.
“This is a testimony to Tesla’s commitment to its mission. People don’t buy what you make they buy why you make it!! Patents are really shackles to progress and power of collective innovation. Thanks for taking a lead on this Tesla!,” says one commenter.
“This is beyond outstanding! Well done Tesla! This won’t make as big a splash in the media as it deserves to and few people will understand how important this decision is. This is so opposite the offensive patent strategy executed by companies like Apple and I dare say Tesla holds far more useful and world changing proprietary tech,” says another.
On the contrary, I think this is going to be a very highly-publicized decision. The ‘good faith’ stipulation has yet to be hashed out, so Musk and Tesla could simply be choosing to ignore most cases of malfeasance.
But after such a public declaration, it would be hard to imagine Tesla initiating a patent lawsuit anytime soon.
Image via TeslaThe Battle Is Not Lost Project Bitch Kitchen
Project 2015-03-12 15:41:51 +1300
Sweet Release Cakes and Treats needs your help to stay open. We have worked too damn hard and have been through too much to let this get in the way of our dreams.
We need your help to "finish the kitchen" located behind our store.
Sweet Release was started after I was diagnosed with Graves' disease, I had never really baked before and it became my escape from my illness that has caused me to be homebound for 8 months on my first year, another 6months in my third year and then eventually had no option but to have radiation to sort out the symptoms. I continued with my newfound passion of baking which became very popular and gave birth to Sweet Release.
We have recently started free baking classes for sick people which is supported by Journey of Hope, we donate our goods to the Soup Kitchen and support other charities that have come our way. Our work with Journey of Hope is just beginning and it is gut wrenching to think of all the people we could have helped through our shop. You can read more about this here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/65813004/finding-her-sweet-release-through-baking
We need about $9K to "finish" the kitchen but as we have a very short amount of time and PledgeMe is only successful if we reach our target, we are going to put this at $3K as anything would be great help.
Please check out our rewards and spread the word to help us with our battle.
CommentsFerguson Update: National Guard Deployed, School Postponed
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Riedel/AP Charlie Riedel/AP
Members of the National Guard have arrived in the St. Louis area, one day after Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said he would deploy troops to prevent violence in Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb that's been wracked by outrage and looting over the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager last weekend.
"Members of the National Guard are arriving in South St. Louis," local TV news KMOV reports, in a tweet this morning. "They will be heading to #Ferguson today."
Members of the National Guard are arriving in South St. Louis. They will be heading to #Ferguson today. pic.twitter.com/BNRIfHyOcb — KMOV (@KMOV) August 18, 2014
Late Sunday, news emerged that a preliminary private autopsy had found that Michael Brown, 18, was shot at least six times by a police officer (Update: the forensics experts have held a news conference about their findings). Two of those bullets hit Brown in the head. The autopsy was conducted at the request of Brown's family by former New York City chief medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden.
Before those developments, Sunday night had already brought fresh violence to Ferguson, as at least two people were reportedly shot in what police say was gunfire coming from within the crowd of demonstrators.
After that incident around 8:30 p.m., police then used tear gas to try to disperse the crowd and reach the victims. But some families were caught in the middle.
From St. Louis Public Radio's Durrie Bouscaren:
"A peaceful march down West Florissant Avenue turned violent after a woman was shot — to reach the victim, police began advancing with armored trucks, throwing tear gas, and later shooting rubber bullets. "Cars filled the road as demonstrators tried to leave, others moved forward towards police, placing bricks and broken glass in the street. "At a press conference around 1 a.m., State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson said police had received a report of eight people with guns in the area. According to police, officers were shot at but sustained no injuries."
Also Sunday, three journalists — from Sports Illustrated, the Financial Times, and The Telegraph — were briefly arrested before being released.
The governor's move to call in the National Guard came after a midnight-5 a.m. curfew failed to calm crowds angered by Brown's death — and upset by how police have handled the case. Nixon issued a statement after 1 a.m. today, in which he said in part:
"I join the people of Ferguson, and all Missourians, in strongly condemning this criminal activity that included firing upon law enforcement officers, shooting a civilian, throwing Molotov cocktails, looting and a coordinated attempt to block roads and overrun the Unified Command Center. These violent acts are a disservice to the family of Michael Brown and his memory, and to the people of this community who yearn for justice to be served, and to feel safe in their own homes."
Later in the day, he also said there there would be no curfew Monday night.
All schools in the Ferguson-Florissant School District have canceled classes for Monday, throwing the start of the school year further into disarray one week after it was originally planned to begin. At least two neighboring districts followed suit. As we reported earlier, in announcing the move, the district said, "We are planning to receive and support our students as soon as possible."
Ferguson Update: National Guard Deployed, School Postponed Listen · 4:42 4:42
Anticipating the start of classes, some parents and kids have been decorating their schools, trying to get kids excited about a return to normalcy. And some parents are using the chaos as a learning opportunity, as member station KCUR's Frank Morris reports for Morning Edition:
"Dennis Jethroe has taken his 4-year-old son, Harlem, from their home here, a couple of blocks over, to see the burned-out convenience store where the boy's treats used to come from. It's an important education for a young African-American boy, according to Jethroe."
"I just fear for him as he gets older," Jethroe says. "That's why I'm trying to show him these things. It can happen, it can be that fast. You can put on your shoes and clothes in the morning, and don't even make it home that night."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Riedel/AP Charlie Riedel/AP
The National Guard is deploying to Ferguson a week after a human rights delegation from Amnesty International arrived in the town.CLOSE A closer look at the case involving Dakota Dunes-based BPI and ABC News.
FILE - This March 29, 2012, file photo, shows the beef product that critics call "pink slime" during a plant tour of Beef Products Inc. in South Sioux City, Neb. An attorney for BPI on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, praised an Iowa judge's ruling that blocked the release of documents on food safety testing conducted for the Sioux Falls, S.D.-based company. Judge Dale Ruigh ruled last month that releasing the information would cause "irreparable harm" to BPI by revealing information about proprietary food-processing techniques. (Photo: Nati Harnik, AP)
ELK POINT — Jurors in the defamation trial against ABC News were released early Tuesday after plaintiff's attorneys objected to the use of earlier news reports of the South Dakota company.
Beef Products Inc. attorney Eric Connolly repeatedly objected to New York Times references during cross examination of the company's general counsel. The newspaper wrote about BPI's Lean Finely Textured Beef product years before ABC News' reporting would land the broadcaster in a multi-billion dollar defamation suit.
The judge called a recess until attorneys could develop “limiting instructions” for the jury. The instruction would explain to the 16-person jury how much weight to give the new reports published by media outlets other than those from ABC.
Union County Judge Cheryle Gering gave both lawyers about a half an hour to develop the instructions or she’d dismissed the jury for the remainder of the day. But, an agreement could not be reached.
“This is only week three and this is a very important issue we have been discussing with counsel,” Judge Gering told the jury before dismissing them.
The jury was expected to reconvene Wednesday morning.
Earlier Tuesday, BPI’s general counsel Rich Jochum was asked about an expert list the company provided ABC after a request for an interview about Lean Finely Textured Beef.
ABC’s lawyer Dane Butswinkas questioned Jochum about the connections the company had to each name provided. The questioning revealed the company had direct connections with all of the names, including consultants and groups the company had made significant financial contributions to.
One of the first names on the list sent to ABC works for an law firm that assists the company when needed.
“It’s a firm we use or have used when we are having regulatory issues with the USDA,” Jochum |
there are two or more ID folders, then do the following steps for both folders. One folder is for your Sysnand and the other is for your Emunand; if there is another similar folder, it probably belongs to another 3DS that you inserted your SD card into. Ignore the "private" folder if there is one.
There should be another folder within, so open that too. You should now see an "extdata" folder. If you don't see a "dbs" folder as well, download beside the extdata folder.
*Again, if the dbs folder already exists, and you have a title.db and import.db file inside, do not replace them!
Should look similar to this:
Now, boot the 3DS/2DS and go into System Settings —> Data Management —> Nintendo 3DS —> Software. It’ll ask to reset or repair your software management information or sd card, so allow it to do so. Do this in Sysnand and Emunand! In your SD card, there should be a Nintendo 3DS folder. Open it, and open the folder inside that (has a long name of random numbers and letters); that is your Sysnand's ID folder.There should be another folder within, so open that too. You should now see an "extdata" folder. If you don't see a "dbs" folder as well, download this zip folder and put the "dbs" folderthe extdata folder.Should look similar to this:Now, boot the 3DS/2DS and go into System Settings —> Data Management —> Nintendo 3DS —> Software. It’ll ask to reset or repair your software management information or sd card, so allow it to do so.
10. You should now have a new FBI app on your home menu, use that to install your CIAs! Download FBI.cia You need to use rxTools 2.5.2 or above for this method! You can get 2.5.2 from rxTools.net, or follow the instructions from the section "How to Update to a Newer rxTools Version" to get the latest Nightly.1. Boot up your 3DS and launch rxTools. Hold L when the bottom screen glitches to get into the menu. If you're using rxTools 2.5.2 or 2.6, hold R instead.2. If using 3.0, press dpad RIGHT to go to Advanced Options -> Press A -> Install FBI -> Press A -> choose SYSNAND, then select "check TMD version".If using 2.5.2 or 2.6, choose " Inject FBI over H&S app" and then choose "Install".3. Take note of the console region and the TMD version, and turn off your 3DS.4. Open the rxtools download and open the "Tools/fbi_injection/[region]/[version]" folder and copy the "fbi_inject.app" and "fbi_inject.tmd" files to the SD card root dir.5. Put the FBI.cia from the FBI download onto your sd card6. Boot up your 3DS and launch rxTools. Hold L (or R if using 2.5.2 or 2.6) when the bottom screen glitches to get into the menu.7. If using 3.0, press dpad RIGHT to go to Advanced Options -> Press A -> Install FBI -> Press A -> choose SYSNAND, then select "Install FBI". When it's done, it will ask what you want to do with the source. Select "keep" if you want to install FBI to sysnand later.If using 2.5.2 or 2.6, do the same as in step 2.8. Now, return to the rxtools main menu and select RXMODE -> SYSNAND and launch the Health & Safety Information app, it should boot FBI instead9. Select FBI.cia and press A to install it.10. You should now have a new FBI app on your home menu, use that to install your CIAs!
Section 5 - Creating EmuNAND!
Section 6
Section 6 - Unlinking your NANDS
Using the recommended method of formatting SysNAND
You will not have to unwrap all your games whenever you enter emuNAND. This doesn't happen to everyone, but if it does, unlinking your NANDs will stop this from happening.
In the past, some users have reported their sysNAND updating even though they were sure they updated emuNAND. These same people happened to have linked NANDs. We don't know if it is related but it is safer to unlink your NANDs if you fear this may happen to you.
NANDs. We don't know if it is related but it is safer to unlink your NANDs if you fear this may happen to you. You can go into sysNAND's Data Management (found in the System Settings app) safely. Doing this while your NANDs are linked will result in your emuNAND games, saves, themes, etc. being deleted.
If you have Menuhax installed, you will not get a black screen when entering EmuNAND. You can bypass this by holding a button when launching EmuNAND (which will disable Menuhax from loading). But who wants to remember to hold a button every time?
If you want to play GBA games in emuNAND, you will have to install the GBA game in both NANDs, taking up double the space on your SD card. If your NANDs are linked, you only need to install GBA games in sysNAND once.
Your sysNAND will be formatted. Naturally, Devmenu2x will not be installed in Sysnand anymore, but it will be in EmuNAND. You can do Section 4 again if you want a CIA installer in Sysnand still. Don't worry, everything that was on your sysNAND is in emuNAND instead. If you don't like this, you can always use Decrypt9WIP or Gateway to restore your NAND.bin, thus recovering all your sysNAND stuff.
If you have Menuhax installed, it will be removed and you will have to reinstall it!
Download TinyFormat Place the.cia in the CIAs folder on your SD card You may use the.3dsx version and run it from the HBL in Sysnand instead; then skip to step 8. Insert your SD card into your 3DS Boot into rxmode SysNAND Don't know how? Hold L when booting rxTools to get into the menu. From there you can select which rxmode you would like to access. Note: 2.5.2 users have to hold X when selecting "Launch rxMode" instead; you can also hold X while launching rxTools, and it will skip the menu entirely and send you to rxMode SysNAND. Once you're in the HOME menu, launch BigBlueMenu, Devmenu_2x, or FBI Install the TinyFormat.cia Press HOME, unwrap the new gift, and launch TinyFormat Follow the instructions to complete the formatting of SysNAND, and thus unlinking your NANDs Turn off your 3DS after the process is finished Reboot your 3DS and complete the Initial 3DS Setup. NANDs are now unlinked! When you are in the 3DS home menu again, launch the eShop application. When you get the message "A system update is available!...", press Cancel, then press HOME to exit back to the HOME menu. Then press Close to close the eShop. This is to ensure that you won't have any problems installing CIAs while in SysNAND. If you still have any issues with that in the future, see the below spoiler. Else, continue to Section 7!
Do this only if you always get an error when trying to install a CIA while in SysNAND
It should look similar to this:
The folder with the smallest size and random numbers/letters belongs to your sysNAND. It is your sysNAND's ID folder.
Go back to the 3DSCFWKIT folder, go into the Tools folder, and copy the dbs folder to this directory on your SD card:
SysnandIDFolder/RandomNumbersAndLettersFolder/
If there is a "dbs" folder already, you are probably in the wrong ID folder! Do not touch any existing dbs folder or you may lose your data (you can always restore it from the SD card backup we made though).
The dbs folder goes beside the existing "extdata" folder like so:
It is normal that the two files inside the dbs folder are 0KB!
Lastly, boot up your 3DS/2DS (into Sysnand, not Emunand) and go into System Settings —> Data Management —> Nintendo 3DS —> Software. It’ll ask to reset or repair your software management information or sd card, so allow it to do so. On your SD card, open the "Nintendo 3DS" folder.It should look similar to this:The folder with the smallest size and random numbers/letters belongs to your sysNAND. It is your sysNAND's ID folder.Go back to thefolder, go into thefolder, and copy thefolder to this directory on your SD card:SysnandIDFolder/RandomNumbersAndLettersFolder/If there is a "dbs" folder already, you are probably in the wrong ID folder! Dotouch any existing dbs folder or you may lose your data (you can always restore it from the SD card backup we made though).The dbs folder goesthe existing "extdata" folder like so:It is normal that the two files inside the dbs folder are 0KB!Lastly, boot up your 3DS/2DS (into Sysnand, not Emunand) and go into System Settings —> Data Management —> Nintendo 3DS —> Software. It’ll ask to reset or repair your software management information or sd card, so allow it to do so.
Section 7 - Installing a CIA installer in Sysnand after Unlinking NANDs!
Make sure you still have the BigBlueMenu_inject_with_banner.app file on your SD card. Rename Launcher.dat to E9 Launcher.dat, and rename D9 Launcher.dat to Launcher.dat. We do this so that we can launch Decrypt9 instead of EmuNAND9. You don't have to do this if you are using the Homebrew Launcher to access EmuNAND9 and Decrypt9. Insert your SD card back into your 3DS and launch Decrypt9WIP. Go to SysNAND Options. Choose Health&Safety Inject and enter the button combo. After entering the button combo, press Dpad Down to select BigBlueMenu-with-banner.app, then inject it. When it is done, simply "press START to reboot" your console. Done, the Health & Safety app should now be the BigBlueMenu app (Title Manager) again.
Section 8 - Updating EmuNAND!
Backing up your current EmuNAND:
Method 1 using EmuNAND Tool Download EmuNAND Tool - I recommend version 1.0.1
Insert your SD card into your PC.
Open EmuNAND Tool and click "Extract EmuNAND"
Name it however you want - I named mine "9.2 EmuNAND.bin" when I backed up my 9.2 EmuNAND.
Wait for the process to finish - you will know it is finished when the two buttons are clickable again.
Done! Your EmuNAND is now backed up. If you have any of the above mentioned issues after updating EmuNAND, you can restore your backup by clicking "Inject NAND to emuNAND" and selecting the EmuNAND bin file!
Method 2 using 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator Download 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator
Insert your SD card into your PC.
Open 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator with Administrator privileges and click "Extract NAND"
Name the EmuNAND backup however you want - I named mine "9.2 EmuNAND.bin" when I backed up my 9.2 EmuNAND.
Wait for the process to finish - you will know it is finished when the green bar reaches the very right and the "Operation successfully completed!" message pops up. Just press OK and close 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator.
Done! Your EmuNAND is now backed up. If you have any of the above mentioned issues after updating EmuNAND, you can restore your backup by clicking "Inject EmuNAND" and selecting the EmuNAND backup!
How to properly update emuNAND on an O3DS or 2DS:
Boot into Emunand, and launch System Settings.
Make sure it says RX-E or RX3D in front of the version number to be sure that you are in EmuNAND. If it says RX-S or Ver., you are in SysNAND, and updating SysNAND will leave you unable to continue!
or in front of the version number to be sure that you are in EmuNAND. If it says or, you are in SysNAND, and updating SysNAND will leave you unable to continue! Do NOT exit System Settings at this point or you will be kicked back to sysNAND!
exit System Settings at this point or you will be kicked back to sysNAND! Press Other Settings
Scroll to the right until you see System Update
Press System Update and accept
When it is done, your 3DS will reboot into sysNAND If you have Menuhax, your 3DS will reboot and launch Menuhax instead. That is not a problem.
When you launch rxTools and boot into EmuNAND, you will see that it is now updated to the latest version
If you have any issues launching EmuNAND after updating it, you can restore your EmuNAND backup (if you made one). See the last step in "Backing up your current EmuNAND". After restoring your EmuNAND backup, you can try updating it again. If it still doesn't work, go to the F.A.Q./Troubleshooting section to see solutions. If the update STILL doesn't work, see the below spoiler for an alternate method to update your EmuNAND.
Alternate method to update EmuNAND! Download 3DNUS and launch it Type in the latest firmware version in the Title ID box, without the letter at the end. Ex: 10.6.0-31 Type your region (ex: EUR) in the Version box Leave Pack as.CIA checked Click Download Place all the CIAs that it downloads in a single folder on your SD card Insert your SD card into your 3DS and go into EmuNAND Launch BigBlueMenu Navigate to the inside of that folder where all the CIAs are, then press L + R + A to import/install all the cias Power down your 3DS normally when it is done Your EmuNAND should be on the latest firmware when you access it again
Section 9 - Let's recap.
We set up rxTools for accessing via the browser or the Homebrew Launcher - this is not the only way to access rxTools, and it is actually the most inefficient way to do it. Read the Menuhax (recommended) or MSET section to learn more!
We made a NAND backup - this is important in case you ever brick your 3DS.
We injected/installed BigBlueMenu to SysNAND and used it to install Devmenu_2x and the patched AGB_FIRM - this is beneficial because: You can use it to install GBA and DSi games You will always have a CIA installer when you update your EmuNAND.
We created EmuNAND. EmuNAND provides a layer of protection, which helps prevent our SysNAND from being updated or bricked.
We unlinked our NANDs in order to avoid certain issues.
We have updated EmuNAND to the latest version - this allows the highest game compatibility, and eShop access.
----------------You are now ready to install CIAs! Read further to learn about RxTools' other features and capabilities!----------------
How to install Games, Updates, Patches, DLC, Homebrew, etc. using BigBlueMenu / Title Manager / BBM / Devmenu
Download any.cia file. Don't ask where to get them. There is a certain iso site for 3DS games that you can find on Google.
site for games that you can find on Google. Place the.cia file(s) on your SD card. I recommend placing them in a CIA folder to avoid clutter.
folder to avoid clutter. Open RXMODE EmuNAND or SysNAND (depending on which nand you would like to access the.cia from).
Launch BigBlueMenu / Title Manager, or any other CIA Installer that you have installed.
Go to the SDMC tab.
tab. Go to the location of the.cia file(s)
Highlight the.cia and press A.
Press A once more to confirm the installation.
Wait for it to finish.
If you want to delete the.cia file after installation (since it isn't needed anymore once installed), highlight the.cia and press X, then A to confirm.
Press HOME and you should get a notification that you have a new app. This only happens if it's a new game, app, or homebrew that you installed. There is no notification if you just installed DLC, a game update, or a System App.
Unwrap the gift and enjoy!
DSi/GBA/NES/etc. support
Have a DS flashcard?
Launch RxMode Sysnand and open FBI or Devmenu_2x.
If using FBI: Press L to change Destination to NAND.
Navigate to the CIAs folder.
folder. Select DSFlashcardWhitelistPatch.cia and press A to install it.
If using FBI: Choose to overwrite the title when it prompts you.
Once done, exit the CIA installer.
If your DS flashcard still doesn't work, then it will probably never work on your 3DS.
You should be able to use your DS flashcard in any mode (Sysnand, RxMode, Devmode/Pasta Mode), but exiting the card will bring you back to regular sysnand.
Running a DS flashcard will remove your MSET exploit if you have one (see the next section).
You can use a DS flashcard to easily install the MSET exploit (see the MSET section).
Launching rxTools at Boot - Menuhax!
Set a random theme on your 3DS, then change it back to the default theme. Make sure your WiFi is on and you are connected to the Internet!! Launch rxmode SysNAND (Hold L when booting rxTools to access it) Open BigBlueMenu (or any other CIA installer) If you already have access to the Homebrew Launcher, skip to step 9!! Install hblauncher_loader.cia (it's in the CIAs folder) Exit to the HOME menu; there will be a new gift. It is the Homebrew Launcher cia. Launch the Homebrew Launcher via the Homebrew Launcher cia you just installed in SysNAND.
[*]If you can access the HBL through any other *hax entrypoint in regular or rxmode sysnand, such as Cubic Ninja, Ironfall, Ocarina of Time, etc., then I urge you to do so. They usually work better than Browserhax. [*]People following this guide that don't have CFW can use Browserhax instead! Note: If your browser crashes after touching the slider, turn off your 3DS then turn it on and try it again. According to @chickendude, this has worked for him every time.[*]If you can access the HBL through any other *hax entrypoint in regular or rxmode sysnand, such as Cubic Ninja, Ironfall, Ocarina of Time, etc., then I urge you to do so. They usually work better than Browserhax. Click to expand... In the Homebrew Launcher, run the menuhax_manager installer and install menuhax. After all that, test if menuhax boots you into the homebrew menu at cold boot. Just turn off your 3DS and turn it back on, and don't press any buttons. On your SD card, look for the file which name starts with "ropbinpayload". Open it with HxD (included in the 3DSCFWKIT/Tools folder). Press CTRL+F, change Type to "Text string", and search for boot.3dsx. There will be two results. Change both to auto.3dsx and save the file.
When you turn on your 3DS, you should see the bottom screen flash multiple colors, followed by the rxTools splash screen.
The Menuhax button config is as follows:
Menuhax loads if no buttons are held while the 3DS boots.
Menuhax does not load if your hold the R button while the 3DS boots. Additionally:
If you hold L while the 3DS boots, you will boot into the rxTools menu.
If you hold SELECT while the 3DS boots, you will boot into the CTRBootManager menu. Some precautions:
Changing your theme in SysNAND will remove Menuhax; that is, you would have to reinstall Menuhax again.
Menuhax; that is, you would have to reinstall Menuhax again. If your NANDs are still linked, Menuhax would also be installed in EmuNAND. This means you will get a black screen every time you attempt to load EmuNAND. To solve this, you can either: Hold any button when launching EmuNAND to disable it from loading; you will have to do this every time. Unlink your NANDs (Section 6), launch EmuNAND while holding any button to disable Menuhax from loading, then change the EmuNAND theme to remove it completely from EmuNAND without removing it from SysNAND.
When you turn on your 3DS, you should see the bottom screen flash multiple colors, followed by the rxTools splash screen.The Menuhax button config is as follows:Additionally:Some precautions:
Launching rxTools through the System Settings app - MSET!
Understanding FBI
Warning: Spoilers inside!
EASIEST METHOD: If you have a DS flashcard that works on your 3DS, open the MSET folder in the rxtools download (or open the 3DSCFWKIT/MSET Installers/ folder) and put the rxinstaller.nds file on your DS flashcard's SD card. Now run it with your DS flashcard and select "rxtools 4.x".
If you have a DS flashcard that works on your 3DS, open the MSET folder in the rxtools download (or open the 3DSCFWKIT/MSET Installers/ folder) and put the rxinstaller.nds file on your DS flashcard's SD card. Now run it with your DS flashcard and select "rxtools 4.x". To install MSET with FBI, simply launch rxmode sysnand, launch FBI, and press SELECT. Now, select "rxtools3.x 4.x". MSET should now be installed.
To install MSET with the internet browser, simply put the rxinstaller.bin on your SD card root. Then launch the browser and go to http://dukesrg.github.io/?rxinstaller.bin or http://dukesrg.no-ip.org/3ds/cakes/?rxinstaller.bin. It should freeze and crash, and send you back to the home menu. MSET should now be set up. To launch rxTools via MSET, just turn on your 3ds, go to System Settings-> Other Settings-> Profile-> Nintendo DS Profile, and rxTools should boot. Use one of the following methods:To launch rxTools via MSET, just turn on your 3ds, go to System Settings-> Other Settings-> Profile-> Nintendo DS Profile, and rxTools should boot.
Warning: Spoilers inside! If you don't have a DS flashcard: grab the rxinstaller.bin for rxTools from the "mset" folder (or the 3DSCFWKIT/MSET Installers folder) and put it on your sd card root. Go HERE (click the "CIA Format DLC's, Themes & Updates" link. Name of the thread is "[MEGA] [CIA/BIN] MSET 4.X & 6.X backups, Browser backups, Update packs (All Regions)") Download one of the following cias according to your region:
MSET-USA-4.0 0004001000021000
MSET-EUR-4.0 0004001000022000
MSET-JPN-4.0 0004001000020000 Place the.cia anywhere in your sd card. Launch RXMODE SysNAND (Hold L when rxTools is booting to get into the menu first; if using rxTools 2.5.2, hold X instead) Launch Devmenu_2x or FBI
For FBI, destination should be set to NAND. Click to expand... Install the.cia you downloaded above and then exit to the HOME menu.
EASY METHOD: If you have a DS flashcard that works on your 3DS, open the MSET folder in the rxtools download (or open the 3DSCFWKIT/MSET Installers folder) and put the rxinstaller.nds file on your DS flashcard's SD card. Now run it with your DS flashcard and select "rxtools 4.X DG". Then skip to step 11! Note: the "DG" beside the system version number means "downgraded". Open the 3DS browser, and enter this URL: http://dukesrg.github.io/?rxinstaller.bin or http://dukesrg.no-ip.org/3ds/cakes/?rxinstaller.bin Wait for a bit (it should crash and send you back to the home menu). If it doesn't crash after a minute, press HOME and it should crash. If the next step (8) doesn't work, try clearing your cache and history before entering one of the above links. Now you can launch rxtools by going to System Settings-> Other Settings-> Profile-> Nintendo DS Profile
Warning: Spoilers inside! If you don't have a DS flashcard: grab the rxinstaller.bin for rxTools from the "mset" folder (or the 3DSCFWKIT/MSET Installers folder) and put it on your sd card root. EASY METHOD: If you have a DS flashcard that works on your 3DS, open the MSET folder in the rxtools download (or open the 3DSCFWKIT/MSET Installers folder) and put the rxinstaller.nds file on your DS flashcard's SD card. Now run it with your DS flashcard and select the 6.X MSET option. Then skip to step 4.
If you have a DS flashcard that works on your 3DS, open the MSET folder in the rxtools download (or open the 3DSCFWKIT/MSET Installers folder) and put the rxinstaller.nds file on your DS flashcard's SD card. Now run it with your DS flashcard and select the 6.X MSET option. Note: the "DG" beside the system version number means "downgraded". So if you are on 9.x using the 6.x mset, you would use "6.x DG". If you are on 6.x system version, you would use simply "6.x".
If you have FBI installed in sysnand, you can run it, press SELECT, and choose "rxtools3x 6.x" to install the exploit. Then you can skip to step 4. If you used a DS flashcard in step 1, then skip to step 4! Open the 3DS browser, and go to one of these URLs: http://dukesrg.github.io/?rxinstaller.bin or http://dukesrg.no-ip.org/3ds/cakes/?rxinstaller.bin Wait for a bit (it should crash and send you back to the home menu). If it doesn't crash after a minute, press HOME and it should crash. If the next step (4) doesn't work, try clearing your cache and history before entering one of the above links. Now you can launch rxtools by going to System Settings-> Other Settings-> Profile-> Nintendo DS Profile
Warning: Spoilers inside! If you don't have a DS flashcard: grab the rxinstaller.bin for rxTools from the "mset" folder (or the 3DSCFWKIT/MSET Installers folder) and put it on your sd card root. Go HERE (click the "CIA Format DLC's, Themes & Updates" link. Name of the thread is "[MEGA] [CIA/BIN] MSET 4.X & 6.X backups, Browser backups, Update packs (All Regions)")
Download one of the following cias according to your region:
6.X MSET (2DS users must choose a 6.0 MSET cia or you may brick your 2DS!):
MSET-USA-6.0 0004001000021000
MSET-EUR-6.0 0004001000022000
MSET-JPN-6.0 0004001000020000
4.X MSET:
MSET-USA-4.0 0004001000021000
MSET-EUR-4.0 0004001000022000
MSET-JPN-4.0 0004001000020000
Place the.cia anywhere in your sd card. Launch RXMODE SysNAND (Hold L when rxTools is booting to get into the menu first; if using rxTools 2.5.2, hold X instead) Launch Devmenu_2x or FBI
For FBI, destination should be set to NAND. Click to expand... Install the.cia you downloaded above and then exit to the HOME menu. EASY METHOD: If you have a DS flashcard that works on your 3DS, open the MSET folder in the rxtools download (or open the 3DSCFWKIT/MSET Installers folder) and put the rxinstaller.nds file on your DS flashcard's SD card. Now run it with your DS flashcard and select "rxtools 6.X DG" or "rxtools 4.X DG", depending on which version MSET you installed in step 3. Then skip to step 11! Note: the "DG" beside the system version number means "downgraded". Open the 3DS browser, and enter this URL: http://dukesrg.github.io/?rxinstaller.bin or http://dukesrg.no-ip.org/3ds/cakes/?rxinstaller.bin Wait for a bit (it should crash and send you back to the home menu). If it doesn't crash after a minute, press HOME and it should crash. If the next step (8) doesn't work, try clearing your cache and history before entering one of the above links. Now you can launch rxtools by going to System Settings-> Other Settings-> Profile-> Nintendo DS Profile
How to Update your 3DS/2DS to 9.0 or 9.2
Warning: This can brick your 3DS if done incorrectly! Be sure that you follow the instructions carefully!
BigBlueMenu installed in sysnand ( Section 4 if you don't have Gateway or Ninjhax) OR any other cia installer on Sysnand.
if you don't have Gateway or Ninjhax) any other cia installer on Sysnand. A rxTools 3.0 nightly (preferably the one linked in Section 1 ) Also works on rxTools 2.5.2 (for those that can't launch 3.0)
)
See AidanLumina's tweet here and click Files for downgrade/manual update.
Download one of the O3DS 9.2 update packs (it has to match your region, see the picture below!) Picture Once downloaded, open the O3DS 9.2 update pack and find the "updates" folder; place it on your SD card. There should be many cia files in that folder. Example: SD:/updates/0004013000008003.cia Download Sysupdater Open the Sysupdater archive, find sysUpdater.cia and place it on your SD card inside the CIAs folder. Insert your SD card in your 3DS Hold L while launching rxTools to get into the rxTools menu. If using rxTools 2.5.2, hold R instead. Press DPAD RIGHT until you highlight ADVANCED OPTIONS, then press A. Skip this step if you are using rxTools 2.5.2 Go down to DEVMODE or PASTA MODE and press A After a few seconds, you should now be in sysnand; firmware spoofing is disabled but cias can still be launched in this mode. Launch your SysNAND's CIA installer Install sysUpdater.cia (Destination: SD if using FBI) Once installed, press HOME to see sysUpdater wrapped as a gift; unwrap it. Launch sysUpdater sysUpdater will ask you if you are sure you want to go ahead with the update; choose to accept it. It will also tell you that you shouldn't be in Gateway mode, or have firmware spoofing. Do not worry about this, DEVMODE / PASTA MODE has no firmware spoofing, so sysUpdater will work as intended. Just be absolutely sure you are in DEVMODE / PASTA MODE (line 10), not RXMODE SYSNAND! Wait for sysUpdater to finish. When it is done, your 3DS will reboot into 9.0 or 9.2 firmware! You can now follow the steps to use Menuhax if you'd like.
If you can't find the 9.2 pack in AidanLumina's MEGA folder Click HERE Click the CIA Format DLC's, Themes & Updates [Archive] result Click View Full Version : CIA Format DLC's, Themes & Updates at the top of the page Find the thread titled [MEGA] [CIA/BIN] MSET 4.X & 6.X backups, Browser backups, Update packs (All Regions) Scroll down to the section titled Updates Download either the 9.2 modified update pack for your region, or a 9.0 or 9.2 Full Update Pack for you region
How to Update to a Newer rxTools Version
Run cdn_firm.py in the "Tools" folder. It will generate a firm folder in the same folder that cdn_firm.py is in. The firm folder must go into the rxTools folder like so: SD:/rxtools/firm
Removing files you don't need from your SD card!
The Nintendo 3DS folder Contains all your CIA/eShop games, saves, DLC, patches, themes, etc.
folder The rxTools folder Required to launch rxTools.
folder The slot0x25KeyX.bin file* Only required for users below 7.x SysNAND firmware.
file*
The 3ds folder Contains all Homebrew Launcher apps.
folder boot.3dsx Required to actually launch the HBL.
The same as the Homebrew Launcher, plus:
menuhax_imagedisplay.bin Shows a custom image when the 3DS boots up. The one included in the CFW Kit is just a black image. You can change it through the Menuhax Installer.
menuhax_padcfg.bin This is the button configuration file that Menuhax reads. The one included in the CFW Kit tells Menuhax to launch automatically unless you are holding the R button while your 3DS boots.
The ropbinpayload_menuhax bin file. This tells Menuhax which.3dsx file it will launch on boot. If you followed the Menuhax section in the guide, you should know that we edited this file to point to auto.3dsx, which is the.3dsx for CTRBootManager. Speaking of that...
bin file.
auto.3dsx This is the.3dsx of CTRBootManager. It is also the file that we configured Menuhax to load on boot (instead of boot.3dsx, remember?)
boot.cfg This is the configuration file for CTRBootManager. It tells CTRBM what CFW or Homebrew application to autoboot after Menuhax loads CTRBootManager (a bit confusing, I know ). We currently have it set to autoboot rxTools. But if you hold SELECT while your 3DS boots, you will be directed to the CTRBootManager menu, where you can choose other CFW or Homebrew that you want to boot.
How to move Games, Saves, Themes, and Emunand to a new SD card
Method 1 using EmuNAND Tool Get Emunand Tool (latest version, or version 1.0.1 if you get an error in step 12) Insert your old SD card in your PC Open Emunand Tool and select "Extract EmuNAND" Save it somewhere on your PC (as [EmuNAND firmware version] emunand.bin if you want) Backup all your SD card files to your PC Eject your old SD card Put EmuNAND9's launcher.dat on your new SD card Launch EmuNAND9 using the web browser in Sysnand (URL: go.gateway-3ds.com) Once in EmuNAND9, navigate to Complete EmuNAND Setup. Ignore the starter.bin warning and follow the instructions. Wait for the EmuNAND creation process to finish. Turn off your 3DS Insert your new SD card in your PC Open Emunand Tool and select "Inject NAND to emuNAND" Select the emunand.bin you made in step 4 and press OK Close Emunand Tool when done - you will know it is done when the buttons are clickable again Delete all the files on your new SD card Put the SD card files from your backup (from step 5) on your new SD card Done, emunand and data (saves, games, etc.) have been transferred to your new SD card!
Method 2 using 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator Get 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator Insert your old SD card in your PC Open 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator with Administrator privileges and select "Extract NAND" Save the EmuNAND backup somewhere on your PC (as [EmuNAND firmware version] emunand.bin if you want) Wait for the "Operation successfully completed!" message to pop up, then |
weeks on beautiful Koh Samui which gave us the chance to really get to know her. As the second largest island in Thailand we expected to find an array of things to see and do and we were definitely not disappointed. Koh Samui has been on the tourist radar for quite some time so she is well versed in what her visitors want and is also blessed with a natural and diverse beauty. Here you will not only find the idyllic palm fringed white sand beaches that Thailand is known for but also lush rain forest, scenic coconut groves and refreshing waterfalls.
On the man made side of things Samui also has something for everyone. For the backpacking or party crowd there are basic beach side bungalows scattered around the island, a lively nightlife in Chaweng and a chilled out vibe in Lamai. For those looking for a posher experience there are 5 star resorts and gourmet dining to please every taste as well as plenty of mid price range hotels perfect for families or couples. One interesting option the boutique resort The Library that has a distinctive red swimming pool.
You’ll never get bored on Samui as you have plenty of activities if you get tired of laying on the beach. There’s water-sports, adventure tours, hiking, Muay Thai fights, golf, water-parks, a big fancy mall for the shoppers and plenty of spas and yoga for the wellness focused. Like I said…something for everyone!
Our personal favorite area, and also where we stayed was Fisherman’s Village in Bophut. It is much quieter than Lamai and Chaweng and there is a French Village feel to it with charming boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants and an awesome walking street market every Wednesday and Friday. Plus it’s only a short ride to the busier areas when we felt like some dancing on the beach. There is so much to see and do on Samui that even with six weeks we didn’t exhaust all the options. We did a pretty good job trying though and created our own “Best of Samui” post to share our personal favorites.
Koh Pangan
Nathan from Fit Living Lifestyle
Koh Pangan Island in Thailand is world renown for it’s full moon party. Believe it or not this small island has much more to offer than just drinking and polluting a beach for 24 hours, especially for the fitness inclined. There is snorkeling, diving, competitive beach volleyball, yoga retreats and stand up paddle boarding to name just a few!
One of the best activities you can do on Koh Pangan is jungle trekking. My favorite route for this involves leaving Baan Haad Rin where the Full moon party takes place and head up to Stone wall where you get a great view of the town below.
You continue from stone wall to another amazing viewpoint overlooking two beaches below and may or may not have a run in with a monkey. The you descend down to Haad Yuan beach. Here you can rest for snack and drink before making your way along the beautiful coastline using bamboo bridges propped up on the rocks.
Finally you arrive at “The Sanctuary” a small beach only accessible by boat or hiking and popular with yogis and backpackers. Great place to have a drink, some food and rest after your jungle trek. It is easy to grab a local fishing boat to take you back to Haad Rin. This jungle trek is best to do with a local guide as much of the trail is unmarked and hard to navigate unless you know the way. So if you end finding yourself on Koh Pangan, try to explore the island and add some healthier activities to your trip besides the Full Moon party.
Phuket
Jules and Christine from Don’t Forget To Move
Although Phuket has always been a popular starting point for holidays in Thailand, it sometimes has a bit of a bad rap within the backpacking community. Known for its touristy resorts and the infamously sleazy parties of Patong, Phuket may not seem like much at first, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find an island well worth exploring. Phuket offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy a more authentic side of Thailand. Renting a motorbike for the day allows you to check out the sites on your own schedule. Don’t miss the Big Buddha statue which provides 360 degree views of the island, as well as the 3 Beaches Viewpoint. Renting your own bike also means you can cruise along the coast until you find a slice of sand all to yourself, avoiding the overcrowded beaches. To get your fill of delicious Thai cuisine, check out Phuket town’s delicious weekend night market and don’t miss the famous Pad Thai Shop in Karon- it’s the best we had in Thailand!
Koh Tao
Scott from Travelstache
Koh Tao is best known for certifying more scuba divers per year than anywhere else in the world and is a backpacker favorite. During the day you can dive ship wrecks, huge coral reefs and occasionally spot the elusive whale shark. At night eat fresh seafood with your toes in the sand and a reggae band jamming in the background. There are plenty of hikes and lookout points to explore and watch the incredible sunsets.
If the hoards of backpackers and fire twirlers on Sairee Beach are a bit much for you, head on over to Chalok Beach for a bit more peace. You can rent a scooter for $8/day and a beach bungalow for $20/night. Or, you can do a more luxurious stay, staying in a villa at Naroua.
If you run out of beaches to explore you can hire a long-tail taxi boat and cruise over to Koh Nang Yuan, another tiny patch of paradise about 15 minutes from Koh Tao. Be sure to bring some money, Nang Yuan is a marine nature reserve so you must pay $3 to enter.
For more adventures elsewhere in Thailand, check out my post on hiking Doi Chiang Dao.
Koh Phra Thong
Steph from EverySteph – Green & Glamourous Travel Blog
If you are avoiding Thailand because it’s become too touristy, then you need to get to Koh Phra Thong, which is Thailand in its purest form. The island is only a few hours from Phuket, yet it couldn‘t be farther from it.
Getting here is an adventure in itself: after a plane to Phuket, a bus, and a motorcycle ride, you will need to find a fisherman to bring you to Koh Phra Thong. But trust me, it’s worth it.
I went in October, when it was still low season; I was the only foreigner on the island, and I felt like a little Robinson Crusoe. When I was there, I went every night to the beach to photograph the sky turning all the shades of pink, yellow, purple and orange… and the best part was that I was always alone on the beach. No tourists, just silence, the sound of waves, and the most breathtaking sunsets I’ve ever witnessed.
The interior of the island is pretty special as well, as it’s a big, flat savannah that will instantly transport you to Africa: I even saw a king cobra!
Koh Phra Thong must be Thailand’s best kept secret.
Curious about more travels in Asia? Check out EverySteph’s Asia Destinations.
Koh Tarutao
Stefan and Sebastien from Nomadic Boys
We are Stefan and Sebastien, gay couple travelling the world and Nomadic Boys is our blog chronicling our adventures.
During our trip to Thailand’s Southwest Andaman islands in February 2015, we wanted to spend a few days experiencing a Robinson Crusoe like island, cut off from it all. We were undecided between Koh Adang and Koh Tarutao. We went with Koh Tarutao and fell in love with it.
The Southwestern most islands of Thailand sit just before the Malaysian border and collectively form the Tarutao National Marine Park. Koh Tarutao is the largest island in the Tarutao National Marine Park and a former concentration camp for political prisoners. It’s got camping grounds and huts to suit all budgets.
Koh Tarutao is an adventure enthusiast’s paradise. There are beautiful hikes through the thick jungle, cycling trails, coral for snorkelling and the surrounding water calm enough for canoeing.
Our favourite was canoeing through the mangrove forest to an abandoned crocodile cave. Upon entering the cave, you’re in pitch-black darkness and you need torchlight to navigate yourself and dodge the bat pooh from above.
Koh Phan Yee/Koh Panyi
Carole from Berkeley and Beyond
This scenic fishing village is built on stilts and has been here for two centuries. The population is 99% Muslim, and the 200 families living here are said to have descended from just two families that migrated here from Java in Indonesia. The turrets of the island’s mosque were visible as we approached. Fishing remains the chief activity, but tourism has taken over with a huge covered market and villagers make money by providing lunch to the boatloads of visitors. I enjoyed wandering the narrow piers behind the market, where I could view homes and see people busy at traditional tasks.
More from Carole’s travels in Thailand
Koh Lipe
Hannah and Adam from Getting Stamped
Thailand is a magical place and has hundred’s of Koh’s to choose from, but there is this one island that is my favorite place in the world. Koh Lipe is an island many have never heard of, if you ask me it is one of Thailand’s best kept secrets. Koh Lipe is only accessible via boat from Pak Bara Thailand, Langkawi Malaysia, or the ferries that service many nearby islands. Because Koh Lipe isn’t easily accessible it isn’t overrun with tourists and is definitely not a party island.
I like to lay on the white beaches and just take in the views. There are amazing day trips you can take to the nearby islands, and if you are a diver you’ll be in heaven. Koh Lipe has top notch sunsets, you could head to Sunset Beach or I prefer the tip of Sunrise Beach for sunset. My favorite restaurant is on Sunrise Beach, which is quite obvious by its name Sunrise Beach Restaurant make sure to get the Penang curry & papaya salad! Head into “town” tons of restaurants, shops, bars, and even a 7-eleven on walking street. Yes, the street is called Walking Street, no need to rent a bike here everything can be reached by just walking. Just rent a beach hut and fall asleep to the waves crashing right outside your front door. Koh Lipe I love you!
Koh Mak The Vicki Winters Show- vickiwinters.com There are so many beautiful islands off of Thailand and now I have to pick just one as my favorite? The thing is, whenever anyone asks me about my favorite place to visit, it is usually the last place I’ve been to. So, when asked to choose one of the islands of Thailand as my favorite, I choose Koh Mak. Only accessible by boat, Koh Mak is known for its white sandy beaches and clear blue water. Koh Mak can easily be reached by sea kayak or boat rental from the lighthouse in Trat, which is south of Krabi. The boat ride is fun and scenic. One of the reasons, I love this island is Koh Mak Resort, a completely sustainable hotel that grows all its own fruits and vegetables on the premises and is powered by 28 solar powered car Batteries! Yes, car batteries and solar energy! Koh Mak is the largest privately owned island in Thailand.
Koh Miang
Karyn from The Lost Lemurian
Koh Miang is Island #4 in the Similan Islands, not far from Phuket in the Andaman Sea. Unlike many other island groups in the region, the Similans are relatively untouched and have not suffered the harmful effects of tourism experienced by nearby areas. Although they are becoming increasingly popular, they are still very pristine and are said to contain some of the best diving and snorkelling in Thailand.
A large reason for their protection is that they are located inside a national park. Overnight accommodation is not possible in the Similan Islands except on Koh Miang, where your choices are roughing it in a tent or staying in some wooden bungalows which, although nice, book out well in advance. I am sure it would be worth it though – I only visited for the day but I can imagine how idyllic and peaceful it would be watching the sun set after everybody else has gone home.
The main features of Koh Miang are Princess Bay and Honeymoon Bay, located on separate sides of the island and connected by a short path through the forested interior. Princess Bay is smooth and perfect for swimming, whilst Honeymoon Bay is dotted with huge boulders and interesting rock formations. The sand on both sides of the island is soft and white, and the water is crystal clear. The island does get busy with day trippers but even with the relatively large numbers of people visiting, you can still find a quiet spot to chill out and relax.
Inspired? Pin it for later
Related stories about Thailand that you might enjoy:
Doi Suthep Chiang Mai Hike
Thailand This Winter – Get Three Vacations in One
Thai Drunken Noodles
Koh Chang Thailand – Things to do and Where to Stay
Note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them, we may get a small referral fee at no additional cost to you. So click away! And if you do – thanks so much – we appreciate your support.You can respect the rule of law or you can pardon former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio. You cannot do both. So if and when President Trump grants mercy to his fellow birther, his political bedfellow, his loyal partner in harassing the nation's immigrants, he'll be sending the strongest possible signal yet that the administration's tough-on-crime talk about "law and order" and a restoration of morality in enforcement is, in truth, a load of hooey.
I have covered Arpaio's antics in Maricopa County for a decade or more, and it is hard to name a more lawless lawman. He didn't just commit criminal contempt when he violated a federal court order halting his unconstitutional immigration roundups. He did so gleefully, boastfully, publicly—daring federal authorities to do something about it. And then, when they did, when federal prosecutors called him on his misconduct, Arpaio wasn't even willing or able to muster the courage of his race-related convictions. He pretended instead that he had been ignorant all along.
Inside every bully is a coward, and for decades in the desert there were few bullies as pernicious as Arpaio. He was gratuitously cruel to inmates even before he began to be unconstitutionally cruel to his Hispanic constituents. And the sad punchline is that he continues to this day to be the darling of conservatives despite the fact that he became so obsessed with harassing undocumented immigrants (and lawful ones, too) that his investigators failed to investigate violent sex crimes. Hundreds of them. This is the public servant the president praises and seeks to protect from punishment.
A pardon of Joe Arpaio would be a punch in the gut to the Justice Department, which has tried to stand up to his misconduct for years. It would be a punch in the gut to the federal judiciary, which operates under the reasonable expectation that public officials like Arpaio, who swear an oath to the Constitution after all, will follow valid court orders. Indeed, the foundation of our entire system of laws is that public officials like Arpaio must comply with valid court orders whether they agree with them or not. Without such compliance there is no law. There is only the personal power of petty despots.
Getty Images
Arpaio's sentencing is set for early October. He faces up to six months in jail. To pardon Arpaio now, even before his sentencing, would violate the Justice Department's own policies and procedures for clemency. A president's pardon power may be absolute but that does not mean it can be devoid of any due process. Hundreds of federal inmates with ties to Arizona been patiently waiting for some presidential relief from their unjust sentences. As they languish in federal detention they have completed all the paperwork, and shown the requisite amount of remorse and regret, and they will go nowhere with President Trump, just as most of them got nowhere with President Obama.
Arpaio, meanwhile, who has shown no remorse or regret for breaking the law and who instead pretends he is innocent when the evidence says he is not, will get to jump the line because he shares the president's political views, including the frightening notion that the federal judiciary need not be independent. That is not how the rule of law is supposed to operate. That is instead an arbitrary and capricious exercise of presidential power bestowed on a public official found to have violated his oath of office. Wouldn't you love to hear how Attorney General Jeff Sessions will try to square his push to "restore integrity" to the Justice Department with Trump's knee-jerk pardon of a man who flouted the most basic rule of constitutional ethics—obey a judge!
A pardon of Arpaio also would be a punch in the gut to those residents of Arizona who have paid the bill all these years for the former sheriff's misconduct. The tally is said to be around $70 million—and that's just for the racial profiling case. The opportunity costs of his misconduct, the skewed priorities that allowed violent crime and unsolved cases to flourish in Maricopa County, are beyond calculation. So too are the financial shenanigans that also prompted a federal review. So too is the harm Arpaio's policies caused the Hispanic community. The only thing Arpaio did well in office was to act cruelly toward those who could not effectively use the courts to fight back.
The White House reportedly is preparing papers that will justify Arpaio's pardon on grounds that he faithfully devoted himself to public service for 50 years. To Trump, Arpaio is a profile in courage, a fearless instrument of white supremacy fighting back against a brown tide of immigration. History, however, will have a much less lofty view. The sheriff's cruel and unusual treatment of prisoners and immigrants foreshadowed by decades the policies offered now by Trump and his tribunes. Arpaio's bigoted tendencies mirror those in the White House today. The lack of respect for legal norms, for the rule of law, also is present, even pervasive, in both men. The president may pardon Sheriff Joe but history will not.
A version of this story originally appeared on brennancenter.org.Dear Reader, As you can imagine, more people are reading The Jerusalem Post than ever before. Nevertheless, traditional business models are no longer sustainable and high-quality publications, like ours, are being forced to look for new ways to keep going. Unlike many other news organizations, we have not put up a paywall. We want to keep our journalism open and accessible and be able to keep providing you with news and analysis from the frontlines of Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.
Three Jewish visitors were arrested on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on Sunday morning for incitement and disturbing the public order, police said.
One suspect reportedly exclaimed “Muhammad is a pig” while being insulted by an Arab mob shouting anti-Semitic slurs, while the second Jewish suspect, a 14-year-old boy, was arrested for incitement for donning his tzizit over his shirt. A third was detained for reportedly singing a Jewish song.
Sunday’s arrest marks the fourth time in less than one month that a Jew has been arrested for slandering the Prophet Muhammad amid heckling by hostile Muslim groups.On the heels of Sunday’s arrests, Emek Shaveh, a leftwing consortium of archeologists, claimed tensions were further inflamed when government inspectors from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority began fencing off a Muslim cemetery adjacent to the Temple Mount.According to the NGO, the cemetery, known as Bab al-Rahmeh, is being cordoned off as a means to limit the number of Muslims near the contested holy site, and to cease the cemetery’s eastward expansion.“We understand these works as continuing the trend to limit the non-Jewish presence around the holy compound, and part of a long struggle between settlers and Palestinians over control of the eastern wall of the esplanade,” the group said.“In response to the works today, Emek Shaveh contacted the legal department of the INPA, asking whether the work is coordinated with the Antiquities Authority. If not, the concern is that the INPA itself is harming the antiques.”Noting that the cemetery has long served as a flashpoint in Arab and Jewish tensions, the NGO stated that the fence breaches “the delicate status quo between the Israeli authorities and Palestinians regarding the perimeter around the Temple Mount.”While Bab al-Rahmeh cemetery is included in the Jerusalem Walls National Park, the Christian and Jewish cemeteries on the Mount of Olives are not.Therefore, the Muslim cemetery’s inclusion within the park’s borders now “enables the INPA to operate in the cemetery under the National Parks Act, to fence it in, restrict access to it, and to strive to stop burial there,” the NGO said.“All this is being done in the claim of protecting ancient remains,” Emek Shaveh alleged.A spokesperson for the INPA could not be reached for comment.
Join Jerusalem Post Premium Plus now for just $5 and upgrade your experience with an ads-free website and exclusive content. Click here>>The Great Red Spot is arguably Jupiter’s most iconic feature. Mention the giant planet and most of us conjure up an image of striped gas ball with a big red beauty mark.
While the spot has been observed since the infancy of the telescope, we’ve come to accept it as a permanent part of the Jovian planet’s persona. Now it’s time to admit the truth. The Great Red Spot has been downsizing since the 1930s with particularly swift changes happening in just the last couple decades.
Ask any long-time amateur astronomer. Back in the 1960s the spot extended over a greater area and was more elongated or stretched out. In the past few years, its not only contracted thousands of miles but become more circular. Most of us have blamed the spot’s pale, watered-down color in recent years as the reason it’s become more difficult to see.
But that’s only part of the problem. Since 1995 it’s downsized by over 3,000 miles. That’s nearly half an Earth diameter in 20 years! Since 2012 it’s been losing girth at the rate of 580 miles a year. 130 years ago the spot spanned about 25,000 miles (40,000 km) and looked like a giant blimp riding Jupiter’s cloud belts. Even in the small 2-3 inch refracting telescopes popular at the time it would have hard to miss. Now you need at least a 6-inch telescope to see it clearly.
“In our new observations it is apparent very small eddies are feeding into the storm,” said Simon. “We hypothesized these may be responsible for the accelerated change by altering the internal dynamics and energy of the Great Red Spot,” said Amy Simon of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
The not-so Great Red Spot (GRS) is a hurricane-like storm that rotates anticlockwise in Jupiter’s southern hemisphere immediately south of the prominent South Equatorial Belt. It takes its swirly appearance from winds blowing at several hundred miles an hour with the spot’s cloudtops reaching 5 miles (8 km) above Jupiter’s cloud deck.
The spot used to rotate once every 6 days, but smaller eddies or vortices feeding into the spot that may be responsible for its changing appearance have shortened that to about 4 days.
What will become of the spot is anyone’s guess. It may continue to wither and disappear altogether. It is does go bye-bye, Red Spot Jr. waits in the wings. This new but considerably smaller red-tinted spot formed from the merger of three smaller oval vortices between 1998 and 2000. Or we could be completely surprised and see it revivified by the Jovian jet streams. Such is weather, whether here or on Jupiter, there will always be an element of unpredictability.
NASA’s Juno spacecraft is hurtling toward Jupiter now, due to reach the giant planet in July 2016. Up close examination by the probe will hopefully fill in holes in our knowledge of the planet’s turbulent and fascinating atmosphere.From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
A valuable item is an item which generally serves no practical purpose other than to be sold, usually for a high price.
In Generation II and IV, it is possible to buy some of these items for a discount (but only one of each per day) on Mondays in the morning in the Goldenrod Tunnel. In Pokémon Black, some of these items are sold in Black City, albeit for prices much higher than they can be sold for. Often, these items later become exchangeable items. In Generation V, mulches and flutes became valuable items due to losing their function. While most of these items can be sold at Poké Marts, those introduced in Generation V can only be sold to certain item maniacs. Besides Big Nuggets, Pearl Strings, and Comet Shards, the player can also sell normal Nuggets, Pearls and Big Pearls, Stardust, and Star Pieces to the maniac inside the Icirrus City Pokémon Center, for double the price presented below.
Valuable items that can be sold in Poké Marts
Mulches
Main article: Mulch
Flutes
Main article: Flute
Valuable items that can only be sold to item maniacs
Artwork
Underground
This is artwork of the items as seen in the Sinnoh Underground.
Global Link
This is artwork of the items as seen on the Pokémon Global Link.
In the anime
In Reunion Battles In Nimbasa!, a Pretty Wing was included in the full set of wings that was promised as a prize for winning the Club Battle tournament. The set was eventually won by Iris, who later sent it to the Village of Dragons.
In Defending the Homeland!, Clemont mentioned having used Big Mushrooms as a part of the new food he had just made for the group.
In Treasure Hunt, Akala Style!, Mallow found multiple Tiny and Big Mushrooms and Sophocles found a Star Piece during a Stoutland Search treasure hunt set up for Ash and his classmates by Olivia. In the dub, the Star Piece was incorrectly referred to as a Comet Shard.
A Nugget appeared in Why Not Give Me a Z-Ring Sometime?, where a man was seen polishing it, only to have it stolen by an item-snatching Gengar.
A Pretty Wing
Big Mushrooms
Tiny Mushrooms
A Star Piece
A Nugget
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
In Ursaring Major, Team Rocket had cut off the tails of a herd of Slowpoke by the Slowpoke Well near Azalea Town, planning to sell them for profit. However, they were stopped by Silver and his Ursaring before they could do so.
A Big Pearl appeared in Crossing Crobat, where it was retrieved by Janine as a part of a test to check the security of the Goldenrod Museum.
A Big Mushroom appeared in A Week to Go and Old Wounds, where Shoko gave it to one of her Patrat to hold while demonstrating her Marvelous Bridge Patrat Show to Black.
In the Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon chapter, a pair of Team Skull Grunts sold grilled Slowpoke Tails at the Iki Town festival, with one of said Tails appearing in The Party Crasher and Guzma the Destroyer.
Slowpoke Tails
A Big Pearl
A Big Mushroom
Trivia
The Slowpoke Tail is actually a useless item with no function past its monetary value. Although it is said that a Slowpoke will use its tail for fishing, a Slowpoke Tail has no effect on fishing at all, nor does it have any effect on Shellder despite the fact that contact with a Slowpoke's tail usually induces a spiral change.
The first time that humans eating Pokémon is mentioned explicitly in the games is when a Team Rocket member mentions the SlowpokeTail's value as a delicacy. In Pokémon X and Y, Slowpoke Tail is one of the dishes served by Restaurant Le Yeah in Lumiose City.
The Japanese name for nugget, きんのたま kin no tama, literally means "golden ball", which is also a colloquial term for testicles. The man offering his "golden ball" is a frequent joke amongst Japanese fans. As this pun would be lost in translation, as well as the fact that it would not go over well with parent groups, it was translated as "nugget of wisdom".
, literally means "golden ball", which is also a colloquial term for testicles. The man offering his "golden ball" is a frequent joke amongst Japanese fans. As this pun would be lost in translation, as well as the fact that it would not go over well with parent groups, it was translated as "nugget of wisdom". The Rare Bone and Thick Club share the same Bag sprite.
The Relic Gold and the Comet Shard are tied for the highest-selling items in the core series, selling for 30,000 each.CLOSE Update on church shooting suspects hearing in court Larry McCormack / The Tennessean
Alleged church shooter Emanuel Kidega Samson is being transported to jail. (Photo: MNPD)
The continuing investigation by local and federal authorities into Sunday's mass church shooting in Nashville shows the suspect legally purchased one of four guns found at the scene of the deadly attack.
A relative of Emanuel Samson — the man accused of opening fire at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, killing one churchgoer and injuring seven others — legally purchased the other three firearms, Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said Wednesday.
Police are not releasing the relative's identity but Aaron said the person had been interviewed by law enforcement and reported that the three guns were given to Samson "for safe keeping."
More: Nashville church shooting suspect did not have gun permit, police say
More: Nashville church shooting highlights ongoing divide on Tennessee, U.S. gun policy
More: 'He's killed me. I'm dying.' Minister recounts chaos during Antioch church shooting
Law enforcement said Samson had a.40-caliber handgun and 9mm handgun with him in the church and a.22-caliber handgun and semi-automatic AR-15 in his SUV parked outside the building. Police say he fired 12 rounds from the.40-caliber gun, reloading this gun, the only weapon believed to have been used during the shooting.
According to Aaron, Samson bought the.22 caliber semi-automatic pistol from a Rutherford County retailer in December 2015.
His relative, Aaron said, bought the.40-caliber gun — the one Samson used — from a Rutherford County retailer in August 2016
The relative bought the AR-15 from the same Rutherford County retailer as the.40-caliber gun in February 2014 and the 9 mm was purchased from a Wilson County retailer in August 2016.
CLOSE Police say Emanuel Kidega Samson opened fire at a church in Antioch, TN video by Michael Schwab/Tennessean
Although police have confirmed Samson did not have a handgun carry permit, state law allows a person to buy a gun without the permit.
More: Nashville church shooting victim's life revolved around faith, family and friends
More: Nashville church shooting: What happens when violence invades sacred spaces
More: Police: Antioch shooting suspect had multiple guns and'many more rounds available'
Retailers are only required to run a background check through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on someone who wants to buy a gun from a store, pawn shop or licensed firearm dealer.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/09/27/tennessee-church-shooting-antioch-nashville-suspect-bought-guns-legally/709066001/A tumultuos 2014 MLS season could end up in a departure from the Vancouver Whitecaps for Nigel Reo-Coker, according to a report this weekend.
TEAM1040 reporter Mike Martignago tweeted that the club and player "will part ways in a few weeks."
I’m hearing that Nigel Reo-Coker and #WhitecapsFC will part ways in a few weeks, likely after #VWFC v #SoundersFC on May 24. #HWWH — Mike Martignago (@MikeMartignago) May 9, 2014
When contacted by MLSsoccer.com on Sunday, a Whitecaps spokesperson said they "do not comment on speculation."
The 30-year-old Reo-Coker, who arrived during 2013 preseason, has only played four matches this season. He started the first three games and then lost his place in the starting lineup after a bizarre accident which saw him trip on a bicycle rack.
When he returned to full health, Reo-Coker could not break into the squad again and was stuck playing for the reserves.
He returned to the Whitecaps starting lineup at right back in the Amway Canadian Championship last week and made a one-minute cameo off the bench on Saturday in the club's 1-0 win in Columbus for his first MLS minutes since March 22.The parents of an autistic pupil are outraged he found and chewed two used condoms on the Trewyn School playground during PE class.
Further, the parents were not notified until two days later, when the school advised that the 9-year-old be tested for AIDS and other diseases potentially contracted from chewing the condoms.
“The thought of my son having used condoms in his mouth is despicable,” the father says. “... And waiting two days to tell me? That was unacceptable.”
Though the parents seek accountability for what they call lax supervision of the boy and playground, it’s unclear whether any Peoria Public Schools policies were violated. District spokesman Chris Coplan would not say whether any staff members face discipline.
The student is one of about a dozen children in his class at Trewyn, which hosts the district’s autism program. The fourth-grader is nonverbal and has a hard time sitting still for more than 10 minutes, choosing instead to flap his arms and dash about a room, his mom says. Anyplace, he tends to wander off if he spots something that catches his interest.
His parents say that at home, school and elsewhere, he needs almost constant supervision. For that reason, as well as for learning assistance, the boy was assigned a one-on-one aide. In that role, a staff member “is assigned specifically to a student and is the primary supervisor of the student,” Coplan says.
About 10:30 a.m. Sept. 12, the boy’s class went to the Trewyn playground for PE, under the supervision of a teacher, five aides and the one-on-one aid. The boy headed to a familiar spot, under the slide.
Coplan said the student “is known to climb under the play equipment and in various hidden spots on the playground. The student was seen in one of the normal hiding spots. (A) staff member approached the student and found the student with possibly two used condoms in the student’s mouth.
“The staff member removed the items from the student’s mouth immediately. The items were discarded into an outside trash can.”
At the end of the PE class, the student went back into the school with the rest of the class and continued the school day as usual.
“The staff member … did exactly as we expect our staff to do,” Coplan said.
But the boy’s mom scoffs at the school’s supervision that day.
“They let my child get not one but two condoms in his mouth?” she said. “He must’ve been so unsupervised.”
How was the student allowed to be exposed to the used condoms?
By school procedure, custodians are supposed to inspect the playground and remove any debris each day before classes start at 8:30 a.m. The father says that the school later “would neither confirm nor deny” to him whether the inspection had occurred that morning. Coplan did not specify if the playground was checked that morning, but he did say the procedure is not foolproof.
“Unfortunately, with different nooks, crannies and mulch on the playground, items are not always immediately identified or found,” he said.
The pupil’s father thinks Trewyn staff did not look hard enough. He says interlopers likely left them there either the preceding Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights, not that Monday morning.
“I don’t think there would be people out there fornicating daylight hours,” the dad says.
Further, he doubts the condoms were flung there as a prank after 8:30 a.m. that day.
“It’s a park in the back of the school,” he says. “I can’t see someone going there that morning and throwing condoms under the slide.”
The father was called to come to the school to talk about a “sensitive matter” -- but not until two days later. Minutes after the call, he arrived at Trewyn, where the principal and school school nurse told him about condom-chewing.
“That pretty much floored me,” he said.
He said that the principal and nurse offered an apology, but he became furious as he realized two days had transpired before notification.
“Waiting two days is unacceptable,” he says. “An apology does nothing. I didn’t accept the apology.”
Why the two-day lapse? Coplan says Trewyn administrators did not learn of the Sept. 12 mishap until Sept. 14, when a staffer told the nurse, who then relayed the information to the principal. Coplan did not say if that staffer was one and the same as the staffer who had removed the condoms from the boy’s month.
Coplan declined to say whether any Trewyn staff members face any discipline: “I am not at liberty to discuss personnel issues as it relates to individual employees.”
However, Coplan said the Trewyn “principal is working with all staff on communicating district guidelines to notify administration immediately upon such incidents so that the safety and health of the affected student can be addressed in a more-timely manner. Student safety is our top priority while our students are at school.”
Parents might find those “guidelines” unclear. As posted online, the district’s policies apparently include no speciifcs or timeline regarding parental notification about student injuries or medical problems. Further, though each school has a student handbook, most do not address the matter at all, while others are vague. The Trewyn handbook offers a section on “Illness/accidents at school: Any time an illness or accident occurs with a student, parents/guardians, or any other individuals on the emergency card, will be called by the student’s classroom teacher and/or office |
answer would have been a disaster of epic proportions, akin to the Depression wrought by the chain-reaction bank failures in the early 1930s. But [today] the startling answer is that a shutdown by banks might be far from cataclysmic. *** Who really needs banks these days? Hardly anyone, it turns out. While banks once dominated business lending, today nearly 80% of all such loans come from nonbank lenders like life insurers, brokerage firms and finance companies. Banks used to be the only source of money in town. Now businesses and individuals can write checks on their insurance companies, get a loan from a pension fund, and deposit paychecks in a money-market account with a brokerage firm. “It is possible for banks to die and still have a vibrant economy,” says Edward Furash, a Washington banks consultant.
So we the government has been barking up the wrong tree by propping up the big banks.
Moreover, as discussed above, the fact that banks can create money means that the level of private debt does matter … and economists like Bernanke and Krugman who encourage massive levels of private debt are hurting the economy.
As professor Keen explains:
In a credit-based economy, aggregate demand is therefore the sum of income plus the change in debt, with the change in debt spending new money into existence in the economy. This is then spent not only goods and services, but on financial assets as well—shares and property. Changes in the level of debt therefore have direct and potentially enormous impacts on the macroeconomy and asset markets, as the GFC—which was predicted only by a handful of credit-aware economists (Bezemer 2009)—made abundantly clear. If the change in debt is roughly equivalent to the growth in income—as applied in Australia from 1945 to 1965, when the private debt to GDP ratio fluctuated around 25 per cent (see Figure 1)—then nothing is amiss: the increase in debt mainly finances investment, investment causes incomes to grow, and the economy moves forward in a virtuous feedback cycle. But when debt rises faster than income, and finances not just investment but also speculation on asset prices, the virtuous cycle gives way to a vicious positive feedback process: asset prices rise when debt rises faster than income, and this encourages more borrowing still. The result is a superficial economic boom driven by a debt-financed bubble in asset prices. To sustain a rise in asset prices relative to consumer prices, debt has to grow more rapidly than income—in other words, if asset prices are to rise faster than consumer prices, then rather than merely rising, debt has to accelerate. This in turn guarantees that the asset price bubble will burst at some point, because debt can’t accelerate forever. When debt growth slows, a boom can turn into a slump even if the rate of growth of GDP remains constant. This process is easily illustrated in a numerical example. Consider an economy with a GDP of $1 trillion that is growing at 10% per annum, with real growth of 5% and inflation of 5%, and in which private debt is $1.25 trillion and growing at 20% p.a. Total spending on both goods & services and financial assets is therefore $1.25 trillion: $1 trillion is financed by income, and $250 billion is financed by the 20% increase in debt. In the following year, if the growth of debt simply slows down to the same rate at which nominal GDP is growing (without affecting the rate of economic growth), then the growth in debt will be $150 billion (10% of the $1.5 trillion level reached at the end of the previous year). Total spending will therefore be exactly the same as the year before: $1.25 trillion, consisting of $1.1 trillion in GDP plus a $150 billion growth in debt. However, since inflation is running at 5%, this amounts to a 5% fall in the real level of economic activity—which would be spread across both commodity and asset markets. If instead the growth of debt stopped, then total spending the next year will be $1.1 trillion, a 15% fall from the level of the previous year in nominal terms, and 20% in real terms. This would cause a massive slump in demand for goods & services, assets, or both, even without a slowdown in the rate of growth of GDP. This hypothetical example is not far removed from the actual experience of the GFC. As the US experience illustrates most clearly, the switch from rising to falling private debt ushered in the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression, a prolonged period of high unemployment, and sharp falls in asset markets—all of which are plotted in Figure 3. Figure 3
This is why the shift from the Age of Leverage to the Age of Deleveraging was so dramatic, and yet so unforeseen by conventional economists: it was caused by a huge reduction in aggregate demand from a factor they ignore. This debt-induced reduction in aggregate demand will persist as long as private debt levels are falling—as they still are in the USA, though at a much reduced rate from the peak rate of fall in early 2010.
In 2008, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) – often described as the central bank for central banks – said that failing to force companies to write off bad debts “will only make things worse”.
Indeed, Bernanke, Krugman and other mainstream economists from the left and the right who encourage more private debt are only creating a debt trap … where people take on new debt to try to pay for the old debt, and end up in a worse situation than they started:A plan for countries to cooperate in patrolling the South China Sea is welcomed by Vietnam.
The plan would combine naval forces of Japan, Australia and India with the U.S. to patrol the waters. The proposal was made as China expands its territory and displays its military in the sea.
Vietnam is one of a number of countries in Asia which has land and sea lane disputes with China. The Vietnamese welcome a group of navies patrolling the sea.
Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., the U.S. Pacific Command chief, proposed America and its allies take part in “navigation operations” in the South China Sea.
“We’ll continue to do them (the navigation operations),” Harris said Feb. 25 at a press conference.
China has built islands in the South China Sea on top of reefs. The building and military development on them worries Vietnam.
Social media user Vo Tan Hung of Vietnam told VOA that a coalition of naval power would make China “reconsider its aggressive moves in the contested waters if the coalition is born.”
Japan suggested a similar coalition of navies in 2007. The idea was dropped when the Chinese protested. Japan has disputes with China in the East China Sea.
Australia is considering the idea of the coalition. The positions of India and Japan are unclear, according to VOA.
As tensions climb in the South China Sea, the Vietnamese increased military spending and have received support. The Vietnamese strengthened military ties with the Philippines.
Two Japanese warships will dock in Vietnam next month, Vietnamese media reported. Tokyo and Hanoi agreed to a naval exercise last year.
I’m Jim Dresbach.
Trung Nguyen wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach adapted the report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.
________________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
patrol – v. to go around or through an area especially in order to make sure that it is safe
reefs – n. long lines of rocks or coral or a high area of sand near the surface of the water in the ocean
contested – v. to make something the subject of an argument
warship – n. a military ship that has many weapons and is used for fighting in wars
dock – v. to bring a ship or boat into a dockMarijuana addiction specialist
conjured images like the one seen here when, earlier this week, he shared what he sees as evidence of weed users searching for bigger and bigger highs -- and added his fear that such
Continue Reading
, the active ingredient in pot.
Dr. Bob Melamede, among the country's most vocal advocates for the medicinal benefits of cannabis, pulls no punches when asked his opinion about such a prospect. "This is nonsense," he says. "It's idiotic."
Thurstone is an extremely prominent figure locally and nationally on the subject of opposition to marijuana regulation and legalization. The medical director of a Denver Health program called Substance Abuse Treatment, Education and Prevention (STEP), he was also a member of the Amendment 64 Task Force, and he remains a primary figure in Project SAM, an organization spearheaded by former Congressman Patrick Kennedy that backs a public-health approach to pot.
In "Higher and Higher, the latest blog post on his personal website, Thurstone shares statistics from urinalysis tests done on STEP patients dating back to 2007; most of them were between thirteen and nineteen when they entered the program.
Marijuana Deals Near You
According to his data, THC levels in such samples have gone up from an average of 358 nanograms per milliliter of urine prior to the 2009-2010 period that marked what he calls the "big commercialization of marijuana" -- the boom period that led to hundreds of dispensaries opening in Colorado -- to 536 nanograms. He believes the reason for this rise has to do with the increasing potency of cannabis, particularly in Colorado, and widespread diversion of medical marijuana beyond the patient population, with much of it reaching teens.
Lately, Thurstone's patients have come to him with "more severe marijuana dependence and more symptoms than teens not using medical marijuana," he told us. "And it's also consistent with the whole idea that kids are using higher potency marijuana that's probably more addictive. Anecdotally, we're hearing about patients who start with cheap, low-grade marijuana before moving on to more potent marijuana, and then other ways of consuming it: waxing marijuana, dabbing marijuana and chasing a bigger and bigger high."
For that reason, Thurstone ends his essay with this line: "It is reasonable now to question how much longer it will be before we see injection use of THC -- especially as marijuana is legalized."
When asked about this prospect, he conceded that "I have not seen it clinically, and I have not seen it described except in research studies, which say it's possible to have an injectable form of marijuana. I don't know exactly how to do the preparation, to be honest, and I don't know how the high would differ. I can only hypothesize."
Immediately after our post's publication, we began hearing from readers saying that injectable THC has not been developed at this point, and may never be. One memorable note asserted that "THC is a terpene, a sap, it would be akin to injecting turpentine into your veins." The reader added, "You might as well write an article about glue huffers potentially shooting up glue."
Armed with these assertions, we reached out to Melamede, a member of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs faculty who's previously appeared in this space and shared a spot on a High Times Cannabis Cup panel about hash with Westword medical marijuana critic William Breathes back in 2012. We wanted to find out if he agreed with Thurstone's critics -- and it turns out that for the most part, he does.
Continue for more of our interview with Dr. Bob Melamede. Melamede says intravenously delivered THC has been a goal that's thus far proven elusive.
"They've worked on more soluble versions that could be injectable, for medical reasons, but nothing has ever developed from any of that," he says.
As for the assertion that THC is essentially a sap, Melamede says the truth is more complicated. "THC is actually a single molecule -- and THC alone is horrible. That's what Marinol is, and that's why no one wants to take it. It makes you very uncomfortable and it doesn't get you high in the sense that it gives people relief. It gets you stressed, which is why Marinol isn't used by anyone with an alternative -- plus, it costs something like $1,500 a month....
"But in all cases, ranging from THC to a more diluted yet more medically advantageous form, like cannabis extract, they're highly hydro-phobic. They don't like water, so you can't put it into a liquid water suspension that you could inject. These are basically oils, and oil and water don't mix -- and they certainly don't mix into any kind of form that's going to be injectable."
His conclusion: "The only injections of cannabis have occurred in this guy's mind."
Melamede also has problems with Thurstone's comments about marijuana addiction.
"I don't think in the mainstream scientific world of addiction that there's debate any more that it's addictive," Thurstone told us earlier this week. "It works on the same part of the brain as all other addictive substances, and there's an animal model of marijuana addiction now. We know that it's not just psychologically addictive but physically addictive, and studies by Dr. Alan Budney at Dartmouth have characterized a physical addiction to marijuana. Marijuana withdrawal is clinically equivalent to tobacco withdrawal -- and anecdotally, in our experience, we see adolescents coming into treatment extremely addicted to marijuana. They're dropping out of life, giving up on school and families to pursue their marijuana addiction."
To that, Melamede says, "first of all, you can't separate the physical from the psychological. Everything in our brain comes from the physical ability of how our brain works. But the studies he's referring to are very poorly controlled. If you take a population of people who are using cannabis, especially in high doses, and then cut them off from it, they have stress, poor sleeping, etc. But those are the very things people use marijuana for -- because they are stressed or not sleeping well. So you're taking away the medicine that fixes their bio-medical problems and then saying that's proof they're addicted. That's like taking someone off antibiotics they're taking for an infection and when they infection comes back saying, 'This proves they're addicted to antibiotics.'
"In reality, it's been termed to be about as addictive as caffeine. Just use a little common sense and think about how many people used marijuana prior to 25 and then stopped using until they reached their forties, fifties, sixties and seventies and were starting to get age-related illnesses. If it was so addicting, why did they all stop?"
In Melamede's opinion, the same sort of common-sense approach should be applied to concerns about marijuana users potentially injecting THC. "Some of this stuff is just so stupid," he says, "that it reflects on the competence of the people making these statements."
More from our Marijuana archive: "Marijuana users searching for bigger highs may start injecting THC, doctor fears."Google
Regular people will be able to purchase Google Glass eyewear by the end of 2013 for less than $1,500, sources have confirmed to CNET.
Google originally targeted 2014 for a consumer release when it revealed Project Glass last year, but the time frame has seemingly sped up in recent months, what with developer hackathons in San Francisco and New York and this week's announcement that people looking to put Glass to creative use could go through an application process to preorder the augmented-reality specs for $1,500.
The company also launched a new site promoting Glass that featured the below video of the new wearable tech in action.
The advancement of Google Glass also seems to coincide with recent rumors that the company is planning to open retail stores, presumably where consumers could get more familiar with products like Glass, and comfortable with the idea of wearing the funky rims on their face.
CNET has also been able to confirm that Glass will be able to connect via Bluetooth to both Android phones and the iPhone. Glass can pull down data from wifi or use the 3G or 4G feed from a connected phone, but it won't have its own cellular radio.
The Verge's Joshua Topolsky tried out Google Glass at the company's New York headquarters recently and reports that what is shown in the below promotional video is "nearly identical" to the actual user experience. In his review, he notes that the voice control on Glass isn't yet perfect and that slow data connections can quickly render the device useless.
Google says they plan to issue monthly updates to early users to refine the experience in the beginning.
Read more about how Google Glass works from CNET's Stephen Shankland.Don’t miss Jeremy Scahill and Glenn Greenwald at…
A weekend of revolutionary politics, debate, and entertainment
JUNE 27 - JUNE 30
SocialismConference.org Register here!
CHICAGO, IL “As someone who speaks at all sorts of political gatherings every year, I can say with certainty that no event assembles more passionate activism, genuine expertise, and provocative insights than the Socialism Conference. This will be my third straight year attending, and what keeps me coming back is how invigorating and inspiring it is to be in the midst of such diverse and impressive activists, "said Glenn Greenwald about the Socialism conference.
Glenn Greenwald and Jeremy Scahill have both made tremendous contributions in exposing the truth about U.S. politics and the way the government behaves at home and abroad. Do not miss Greenwald and Scahill at Socialism 2013 and this incredibly urgent discussion about the attack on civil liberties, U.S. imperialism, and how we can fight back.
Watch Scahill’s analysis on Democracy Now! about Dirty Wars and the latest developments in U.S. imperialism here.
More Workshops on the U.S Imperialism, the war on civil liberties, Islamaphobia, Palestine:
Obama’s war on civil liberties featuring Ali Al-Arian
US Imperialism in the Middle East after the Arab Spring featuring Yusef Khalil, Shaun Joseph, Wael Elasady
What happened to the Egyptian Revolution? featuring Hani Shukrallah, Mostafa Ali, and Hatem Tallima
The new movement against Israeli apartheid featuring Shirien Damra, Ziad Abbas and Nolan Rampy
The struggle for Palestine featuring Ali Abunimah
Israel, Zionism, and imperialism featuring Deepa Kumar and Sherry Wolf
The real “Pirates of the Caribbean” featuring Dana Blanchard
Mali and the new imperial scramble for Africa featuring Sarah Knopp
The Marxist theory of imperialism and its critics featuring Lee Wengraf
U.S. imperialism’s “pivot to Asia” featuring Ashley Smith
The making of global capitalism featuring Sam Gindin
Drones, special forces, and bases: Obama’s new imperial strategy featuring Khury Petersen-Smith
Kill anything that moves: The real American war in Vietnam featuring Nick Turse __________ __________
More about Socialism2013:Image copyright AP Image caption Mohammad Javad Zarif will attend with three of his deputies, officials said
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will attend multilateral talks on finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria in Vienna this week, a government spokeswoman has said.
It will be the first time Iran - an ally of President Bashar al-Assad - has attended such a summit with the US.
Representatives of Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey will also attend the talks.
Earlier, the US said an invitation had been extended to Iran - a move Syria's Western-backed opposition questioned.
Meanwhile, Russia said its aircraft had struck 118 "terrorist" targets in Syria over a 24-hour period - a new record - as a result of what its defence ministry said was new intelligence.
The main round of talks on Syria is expected to take place on Friday, but diplomats say some preparatory meetings could happen on Thursday evening.
Analysis: Kasra Naji, BBC Persian
Aside from inviting Iran to attend the talks in Vienna, the US has also said it could live with a political transition in Syria that would leave Mr Assad temporarily in power, potentially removing an obstacle to building international consensus.
For some time, Iran has been pushing a four-point plan for Syria that calls for a ceasefire, followed by the formation of a national unity government, constitutional reforms and, finally, free elections. The plan could now, conceivably, be used as a basis for further discussions.
But perhaps more surprising than the change in US policy, has been Saudi Arabia's acquiescence to Iran's involvement in the talks in Vienna.
Many in the region see the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia as being at the heart of the deepening conflicts in the Middle East.
And, in addition to potentially ending the destructive and bloody war in Syria, the talks in Vienna might therefore offer a way to calm that rivalry.
Iran now seen as part of solution to Syria conflict
Washington struggles for clear line on Syria
"We have reviewed the invitation, and it was decided that the foreign minister would attend the talks," Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said.
Egypt and Iraq also confirmed they had accepted invitations to the meeting.
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says that while the US is certainly not welcoming Iran to the Syria talks, it will now tolerate Tehran's involvement.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption The war in Syria has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced about 11 million
Iran's Fars news agency said Mr Zarif had discussed participation in the Vienna talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by phone on Tuesday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters that Russia wanted a "widening of the dialogue" on Syria.
Iran is believed to have spent billions of dollars over the past four years propping up President Assad's government, providing military advisers and subsidising weapons.
However, Syria's political opposition has warned that Iran's involvement will only complicate the meeting in Vienna.
Both Iran and Russia - another ally of President Assad - have recently stepped up their military role in the Syrian conflict.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Iran is believed to have influenced Hezbollah's decision to send fighters to Syria
Iran has long acknowledged sending military advisers to Syria, but has denied the presence of any ground forces.
Despite that, unconfirmed reports earlier this month said that hundreds of Iranian troops had arrived in Syria.
They were reported to be joining government forces and fighters from the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah, in assaults on rebel positions in northern and central Syria.
Russia began its military intervention in Syria at the end of last month, launching air strikes in support of President Assad.
Russia and Iran have insisted that Mr Assad must be part of any transition government and that the Syrian people must be allowed to decide who governs them.
The US has indicated it could only tolerate President Assad during a short transition period, after which he should step down.
Image copyright AP
Why is there a war in Syria?
Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory.
Who is fighting whom?
Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other.
What's the human cost?
More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe.
How has the world reacted?
Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes.
Iran's growing role in Syria's war
Syria crisis: Where key countries standWe’re pleased to announce the official release of Bitcoin Core 0.13.0. During the six-month development cycle leading to this release, dozens of contributors have made hundreds of notable improvements to Bitcoin Core. Among the many upgrades available in this release, the following may be especially interesting to miners, node operators, and wallet users:
Preparation for segregated witness to increase capacity, eliminate unwanted transaction malleability, and enable new ways to upgrade Bitcoin’s Script language using soft forks. The code in this release prepares for segwit only; it does not support segwit on mainnet, so users who want segwit support will need to upgrade to a future version.
Compact block relay on the peer-to-peer network to eliminate a major source of redundant data transfer among nodes that relay transactions, as well as reduce the peak amount of bandwidth those nodes use when downloading newly-generated blocks.
Fee-based filtering to eliminate another source of unnecessary data transfer on the peer-to-peer network by allowing nodes to skip relaying any unconfirmed low-fee transactions that they know their peers would ignore anyway.
BIP32 HD wallet support in Bitcoin Core’s built-in wallet to allow users to backup every private key they will ever generate with the wallet rather than the old default of just the next 100 private keys.
Child Pays For Parent (CPFP) transaction selection to allow miners to mine more profitably (when possible) and give users the ability to incentivize mining of selected transactions in cases where the users can’t increase transaction fees directly.
Official Bitcoin Core binary executables for ARM chipsets used with Linux to allow users of those platforms to take advantage of pre-built software secured by the Gitian deterministic building and multiple attestation process.
For a more comprehensive list of the changes made in Bitcoin Core 0.13.0, please see the release notes. The improvements listed above are described in more detail below.
Preparation for segregated witness
The most significant code change made in Bitcoin Core 0.13.0 is the inclusion of the segregated witness (segwit) code in preparation for an upcoming soft fork. Please note that this release will not activate segwit, and if segwit is activated, this release will not act any differently, so those who want to use or enforce segwit will need to upgrade to a later release that does contain the activation mechanism.
By including the segwit code in Bitcoin Core 0.13.0, users gain several advantages:
Easier upgrade to segwit: The code differences (“diff”) from this release to a subsequent release that includes segwit will be small. This allows users who modify their version of Bitcoin Core to easily convert any modifications they make to Bitcoin Core 0.13.0 to the release that contains segwit (which is expected to be 0.13.1). Easier segwit testing: Although this release won’t run segwit code on mainnet, it does run the code on testnet and in regression testing mode (regtest), which makes it easy for developers, administrators, and testers to use segwit in a safe environment with a version of Bitcoin Core that will be very close to the first version that is ready for miners to activate segwit. Full integration with other features: all the other features included in this release – such as feefiltering, compact block relay, child-pays-for-parent mining, and official binaries for Linux on ARM – are integrated with the segwit code and will probably be in production for two or more months before segwit activates, providing extra time for potential problems to be discovered through community review and testing.
More information:
Compact block relay
Prior to Bitcoin Core 0.13.0, a running full node would (by default) receive many transactions twice:
Before the transaction was confirmed, as an individual transaction being relayed across the network. After the transaction was confirmed, as part of a group of transactions contained in a newly-mined block being relayed across the network.
There’s no need for the node to receive the transaction a second time if it still has the first copy. Compact block relay (BIP152) can eliminate this redundancy by allowing a node to receive from its peers an ordered list of what transactions are included in a new block. With this knowledge, the node can use the transactions it has already received to partly or fully reconstruct the transactions part of the block for itself. If the node doesn’t receive all the transactions it needs to fully reconstruct the block, it requests the missing transactions from its peers, and then uses them to complete the block.
Compact blocks provides three very important benefits to the network:
By reducing the amount of bandwidth used by transaction relay nodes, compact blocks help offset the expected increase in bandwidth that will occur when the segwit capacity increases are enabled by miners. This offset should allow nodes to continue operating on the network after segwit even if they’re presently near their current bandwidth caps. By eliminating the bandwidth spike that occurs when nodes receive a new block, compact blocks may make it easier to keep a node operating on connections with limited peak bandwidth. For example, several users have reported that receiving a new block slows down other important activity on their network, such as video conferencing, so some of those users shut down Bitcoin Core before starting those activities. Compact blocks may eliminate those bandwidth spikes and make running Bitcoin Core less inconvenient for those users. Faster propagation of blocks across the network, by dramatically reducing the amount of data that needs to be transported when a new block is found.
More information:
Release notes
Compact Block Relay FAQ
BIP152, which describes the compact blocks protocol
Bitcoin FIBRE, an open source protocol and implementation that builds upon compact blocks to minimize latency for new block announcements between peers on managed networks. FIBRE was designed and implemented alongside compact block relay version 1 and it is being used to test improvements for a subsequent version of compact block relay.
Fee filtering
For several years now, Bitcoin Core nodes have used a minimum relay fee rate to help determine what unconfirmed transactions they’ll process, relay, and store in their individual memory pools. Each node gets to decide its own minimum relay fee rate, and if they receive a transaction whose fee rate is below that limit, they don’t add it to their memory pools or relay it to their other peers (although another mechanism called transaction priority historically allowed some transactions that pay a low fee to be accepted into mempools and relayed).
Prior to Bitcoin Core 0.13.0, nodes didn’t tell each other what minimum fee rate they were using, which could lead to wasted bandwidth. For example, Alice sends Bob a transaction without realizing that the transaction’s fee rate is below Bob’s minimum. Because of the way Bitcoin transactions are relayed, Bob has no way of knowing that the transaction is below his limit until he has already downloaded the whole transaction, at which point he stops processing the transaction because its fee rate is too low, so both his bandwidth and Alice’s bandwidth end up being wasted.
Bitcoin Core 0.13.0 supports a new message that has been added to the peer-to-peer (P2P) protocol, the feefilter message, which has been designed to help eliminate this wasted bandwidth. This P2P message allows Bob to tell Alice what he is currently using as his minimum relay fee rate so that Alice will not bother trying to relay to him any transactions that pay a fee below his rate.
More information
BIP32 HD wallet support
When Bitcoin Core starts for the first time, it will now generate a BIP32 Hierarchical Deterministic (HD) wallet where every private key in the wallet is derived from a single piece of information using a repeatable (deterministic) process. This means backing up that single piece of information will back up every private key your wallet will ever generate, ensuring that you can recover any bitcoins controlled by those private keys in the future.
Backups are hard to get right, so please note the following information:
If you upgrade from any version of Bitcoin Core before 0.13.0, you will continue using the old style of wallet where each private key is generated individually, with (by default) up to 100 of them pre-generated in advance to make backups easier—meaning you need to create additional backups every 100 transactions, since each default-style transaction uses one private key.
If you create a new wallet with 0.13.0 (or above) and you change from the default unencrypted wallet to an encrypted wallet, a new HD wallet will be generated for you. You will still have access to any bitcoins sent to the unencrypted wallet, but you will need to backup the wallet again.
If you aren’t sure whether you’re using an HD wallet, you can check using the getwalletinfo RPC:
If you use the Bitcoin Core graphical user interface, you can click the Help menu, choose the Debug option, click the Console tab, and then type in getwalletinfo.
If you use the bitcoin-cli command to access the RPC interface, you can type bitcoin-cli getwalletinfo.
In either case, if you see a line labeled “masterkeyid”, then you’re using an HD wallet; if you don’t see it, then you’re using a wallet with individually generated keys.
Backing up an HD wallet ensures that you will be able to re-generate any private keys produced by that wallet in the future, but that is the only information you can recover from the backup in the future. Any additional information you enter into your wallet after you make the backup, such as descriptions of transactions you sent or received, will be lost if you have to restore from the HD wallet backup, so we recommend that you continue to make regular backups of your wallet in order to preserve that information.
Importantly, if you manually import any private keys to your wallet, they cannot be recovered using any backups made prior to the import, so you will need to make a new wallet backup and use that.
More information
More intelligent transaction selection for mining
Ancestor fee rate mining is the new default transaction selection method for mining in Bitcoin Core 0.13.0. Miners can use it to select which transactions to put in their next block, providing two important benefits:
For miners often more revenue can be earned from transaction fees per block because ancestor fee rate mining is able to prioritize certain higher-fee transactions. For users as a side benefit of miners choosing transactions more intelligently, it becomes possible for the recipient of an unconfirmed transaction to incentivize miners to mine that transaction.
Bitcoin has rule that says if Alice spends a bitcoin to Bob, the transaction where Alice originally receives the bitcoin must appear earlier in the blockchain than the transaction where she spends that bitcoin to Bob. In other words, the parent transaction must appear earlier in the blockchain than its child transaction, forming an ancestor relationship.
Both the child and parent transactions can appear in the same block, but if they do, the parent must appear earlier in that block than the child. This means that if an unconfirmed child transaction pays a high fee, miners should be incentivized by this existing Bitcoin rule to mine that transaction’s unconfirmed parent (even if it pays a low fee) in order to get the child’s high fee.
This incentivization scheme is often called Child Pays For Parent (CPFP). In the simplest version, miners group a transaction and all of its ancestors together, calculating their total fee-per-byte in order to determine whether mining them together pays a high enough fee to outbid other individual transactions the miner wants to include in its next block.
A key advantage of ancestor fee rate mining is that the two transactions don’t need to be created by the same person. For example, if Bob is waiting for confirmation of a transaction that Alice sent him, Bob can independently create a child transaction that incentivizes miners to confirm his transaction and Alice’s transaction together.
It is important to note that ancestor fee rate mining doesn’t guarantee that a low-fee transaction will be mined just because it has a high-fee child or other descendent. In particular, almost all miners and nodes will ignore transactions that don’t pay a minimal amount of fee per kilobyte of data (the exact ratio varies by node), so if a parent transaction is ignored because the fee it pays is below this limit, then its children will not be mined no matter how high a fee they pay.
More information:
Official builds for Linux on ARM
The official Bitcoin Core binaries built and cryptographically signed by multiple contributors through the Gitian process now includes two new platforms:
bitcoin-${VERSION}-arm-linux-gnueabihf.tar.gz: Linux binaries for the most common 32-bit ARM architecture.
bitcoin-${VERSION}-aarch64-linux-gnu.tar.gz: Linux binaries for the most common 64-bit ARM architecture.
If you have the GNU C compiler installed, you can run the following command to figure out which platform you’re using:
gcc -print-multiarch
Or you if use a Debian-based system, you can try the following command:
dpkg-architecture -q DEB_HOST_GNU_SYSTEM
These binaries are designed for Linux using GNU libc6; they are not expected to run by default on Android or other operating systems.
The new builds are still experimental, so please report any problems that you encounter.
More information
Release notes
The Bitcoin Wiki has a list of Bitcoin Core compatible devices. Please add any unlisted devices that are also compatible.
The Debian Wiki includes information about boards that are probably compatible with these builds: 32-bit arm-linux-gnueabihf and 64-bit aarch64-linux-gnu
Conclusion
For details on all the changes made in Bitcoin Core 0.13.0, please read the release notes. To download, please visit the download page or the files directory
With the release of Bitcoin Core 0.13.0, we begin the six-month release cycle for the next version of Bitcoin Core (expected to be 0.14.0). With the participation of the community, we will also be choosing the BIP9 parameters for segregated witness and releasing a minor version (expected to be 0.13.1) with segwit fully enabled.
If you are interested in contributing to Bitcoin Core, please see our contributing page and the document How to contribute code to Bitcoin Core. If you don’t know where to get started or have any other questions, please stop by our IRC chatroom and we’ll do our best to help you.
Hashes for verification
These are the SHA-256 hashes of the released files:Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vowed to “never accept the illegal occupation of Ukraine by Russia,” but won’t say whether Canada could give Ukraine weapons and other “lethal” military aid to fight Russian-backed rebels.
Appearing alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel following an hour-long, closed-door meeting on Parliament Hill Monday, Harper sounded cautious as he discussed the crisis in Ukraine, where more than 5,000 people have died in a year of fighting.
The prime minister praised efforts by Merkel and French President Francois Hollande to negotiate a resolution to the crisis. The past week has seen the two European leaders conducting whirlwind visits to Kyiv, Moscow and, in Merkel’s case, Washington to negotiate a peace deal.
Merkel’s brief stop in Ottawa came on the heels of a similar meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington. She and Hollande are due to sit down with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Minsk, Belarus, for peace talks Wednesday.
“We all hope that this situation will be resolved by diplomatic means,” Harper said. “Unfortunately, to this point in time, as you know, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has rejected diplomatic means. He seeks to move his agenda through military violence, which |
currently.
Pension reform is critical for Taiwan as large payouts are no longer sustainable for the export-reliant economy, with contributions crimped by slower economic growth and a rapidly aging population.
A successful reform will be crucial for President Tsai, whose popularity has hit an all-time low since taking office last May. She has said reforms are “urgent” given limited national and social resources, and that she wants pension reform bills passed by the legislature this spring.
“The point is to ensure that Taiwan’s pension system will remain a solvent system which the government can afford while also ensuring that retirees can get their pensions,” said Tsai, in opening remarks at the conference, where government officials are discussing the plan with public servant representatives.
Pensions for civil servants could default by 2030, teachers by 2031, and other workers by 2048, government data shows, if Taiwan’s pension system is not reformed after years of under-funded liabilities.
Reform plans for military pensions, which could default as early as 2020, will be discussed after the Lunar New Year holiday.
Under-funded liabilities of public and labor sector pensions were expected to hit a record T$18 trillion in 2016, nine times the government’s annual budget expenditure, and a big leap from T$12 trillion a decade ago.The iLoo as depicted by MSN UK and distributed by news providers
The iLoo (short for Internet loo) was a cancelled Microsoft project to develop a Wi-Fi Internet-enabled portable toilet. The iLoo, which was to debut at British summer festivals, was described as being a portable toilet with wireless broadband Internet, an adjustable plasma screen, a membrane wireless keyboard, a six-channel speaker system, and toilet paper embossed with popular web site addresses. The iLoo was also to have an extra screen and keyboard on the outside, and was to be guarded. It was intended as the next in a series of successful initiatives by MSN UK which sought to introduce the internet in unusual locations, including MSN Street, MSN Park Bench and MSN Deckchair.
The project was announced by MSN UK on April 30, 2003, and was widely ridiculed before being declared a hoax by Microsoft on May 12. On May 13, another Microsoft press release stated that although the project had not been a hoax, it had been cancelled because it would do little to promote the MSN brand. There has since been speculation as to whether the project was cancelled for fear of being sued by Andrew Cubitt, who had invented the similarly named product "i-Loo". The iLoo was described as a public relations "debacle" by Online Journalism Review.[1]
Description [ edit ]
The iLoo was designed to be a Wi-Fi Internet-enabled portable toilet that would allow users to surf the internet while using the loo.[2] Internally, the facility would have a broadband connection via wireless 802.11b, a wireless waterproof keyboard, a swivel plasma screen running Windows XP Professional, a 6-channel surround-sound system beneath the sink, toilet paper embossed with popular URLs, and a suction toilet.[2][3] Externally, the facility would feature an MSN logo and have a "Hotmail station" with an additional plasma screen and keyboard for waiting consumers.[3] A security guard was to be stationed near the unit to ensure that it was being properly used and to prevent the unit from being stolen.[3] The iLoo was to debut "at a majority of the summer season festivals".[2] The iLoo was to be deployed only in Britain.[4]
Public relations timeline [ edit ]
The internet's so much a part of everyday life now that surfing on the loo was the next natural step. People used to reach for a book or mag when they were on the loo but now they'll be logging on! It's exciting to think that the smallest room can now be the gateway to the massive virtual world. —Tracy Blacher, Marketing manager of MSN in April 30 Press Release[2]
The project was announced on April 30, 2003 in press release by MSN UK, MSN's British subsidiary, as part of a "series of MSN.co.uk initiatives which look at the changing nature of how we use the web as it constantly evolves".[2] The press release stated that:
The UK's most popular website msn.co.uk is creating the world's first 'Internet Loo'. The iLoo will be mobile and is part of MSN's mission to allow instant logging on 'anytime and any place'. In time for the summer festival season, MSN is in the process of converting a portable loo to create a unique experience for surfers looking for an alternative to the bog-standard festival loo experience. Users will be able to sit down, undock a wireless keyboard and conveniently access the first ever WWW.C.[2]
The press release also stated that "MSN is also in talks with toilet paper manufacturers to produce special web paper for those in need of URL inspiration".[2][5][6]
MSN is really working on building a prototype for the Summer festivals, perhaps Glastonbury... This is very much a 'toe in the water' experiment to gauge interest so we'll have to see how it goes, although judging from response so far it's really captured people's imagination! —Ben Philipson, Red Consultancy, in response to AP query[7]
News of the iLoo was widely circulated amongst mainstream media.[A 1] The story became the most-emailed story on Yahoo! News on May 1, 2003, being emailed over 4000 times.[8][A 2] The iLoo was widely derided and press coverage subjected MSN and Microsoft to heavy criticism. On May 10, The Inquirer published a story in which Andrew Cubitt alleged that "Microsoft stole his iLoo idea" from his i-Loo invention.[9] On May 12, Microsoft announced that the iLoo was a "hoax perpetrated by its British division" calling it an "April Fool's joke" and issued an apology for the confusion.[7][10] The Associated Press, however, stated that they had previously received confirmation of the project from two of Microsoft's PR firms: Waggener Edstrom Worldwide and Red Consultancy.[7] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer also stated that it received confirmation from Waggener Edstrom and was even provided with a schematic drawing.[11] Furthermore, April Fools was almost a month before, and Microsoft had never before released a fake press release.[10]
On May 13, 2003, Microsoft retracted the denial, stating that the iLoo had been a legitimate demonstration project that was to be released in Britain for summer music festivals, but had been terminated by Microsoft executives in Redmond, Washington who believed the iLoo was inappropriate[12][13] with the final decision made by MSN senior vice president David Cole. MSN product manager Lisa Gurry stated that the project "didn't really map to our global branding objectives".[12][14] Microsoft again apologized for the miscommunication stating "the confusion over the legitimacy of this effort was caused by people moving too quickly and who misspoke before gathering all of the relevant information".[15] Prior to the cancellation, an iLoo prototype was in the "early stages of construction".[2][16] MSN allows regional units to design their own marketing campaigns, and the UK division had developed a reputation for innovative campaigns, in this case involving British toilet humour.[14][17][18] The iLoo which was designed for the UK as part of a "tongue-in-cheek marketing initiative" was "intended to be the next in line of a number of clever initiatives in the UK involving introducing the internet in interesting locations, including MSN Street, MSN Park Bench and MSN Deckchair".[15] The previous initiatives were well received.[19][20] Microsoft stated that no employees were disciplined as a result of the debacle, although the company stated that it would conduct "internal discussions".[21]
Reaction [ edit ]
Reading in the loo, or the bog, is a traditional English pastime. We've all seen the magazine racks, loo paper with jokes and cartoons on the walls in toilets up and down the land. You've got to hand it to the creative—and uniquely English—minds at Microsoft. —Jeremy Davies, market researcher from Context[3]
Although the product was not publicly released, many questioned whether "Microsoft had lost its senses" and the product was widely derided.[22][23] Critics contended that the product was a waste of money and doomed to fail.[13] Concerns were raised about how the iLoo would serve to extend waiting lines,[6] how hygienic it would be to share keyboards in a public loo, and what would happen if the keyboard were to be urinated upon.[24][25] Critics also questioned whether users would spend enough time in the loo to make use of the internet facilities, noting that "most port-a-potty users stay only long enough to relieve themselves without having to inhale."[26]
The iLoo, given its toiletry-related nature, subjected MSN and Microsoft to puns and jokes especially since Microsoft's marketing slogan at the time was "where do you want to go today?" with the PC being dubbed Pee-C.[1][21][25][27][28] The Herald Sun wrote that the "iLoo is, unquestionably, very good news – mainly to journalists with a bottomless pit of laboured bum jokes" while the Seattle Times wrote "now the company has a credibility problem as well as a red face."[12][29] Other newspapers issued humorous headlines: Microsoft technology headed for toilet from the San Francisco Chronicle,[30] Toilet mixes zeroes with ones and twos from the Washington Post,[31] and Microsoft's Gone Potty from The Daily Mirror.[32]
The product has since been studied as an example of a public relations disaster and an example of an internet hoax.[33][34][35][36][37] Microsoft's public relations response to the debacle is also considered to be one of the poorest in the company's history, given Microsoft's reputation for micro-managing news releases, interviews and promotional events.[38][39]
The iLoo's negative publicity drowned out the launch of MSN Radio Plus on May 12, 2003.[40][41] It has since inspired a number of spoofs.[42]
i-Loo controversy [ edit ]
After reading an article about the iLoo, Andrew Cubitt, inventor of the similarly named i-Loo, wrote to The Inquirer stating that iLoo "sounds remarkably similar... it now seems that the clever people at Microsoft have cottoned onto the idea and even call it the i-Loo, the same as mine!"[9] Cubitt went on to say that "mine did everything that the Microsoft one is meant to do, but additionally printed information on toilet paper and didn't use a keyboard for the interface due to hygiene reasons".[43] The i-Loo was prototyped by Cubitt as part of his thesis for his 2001 university degree in Product Design and Engineering at Brunel University. In an interview with The Inquirer, he noted "As it was designed at the university, they own the partial rights to the product so they will be watching the Microsoft 'invention' very closely."[43][44]
Microsoft never formally commented on Cubitt's allegations and instead initially stated the iLoo was an April's fool joke.[45] As a result, Cubitt questioned whether this was "a very calculated ploy to destroy competition in its early stages, or is admitting they don't even know what time of the month it is less embarrassing and ridding them of a potentially expensive situation!"[45][46] Cubitt went on to state that "as they have now discredited my idea as a joke, I will never be able to produce the idea" and as such was "consulting my law books now on defamatory statements".[46] Neither Cubitt, nor Brunel University have taken public legal action against Microsoft pertaining to the i-Loo.
The i-Loo was described as:
The i-Loo internet toilet roll browser is a novel and unique product designed to make best use of the time you spend on the loo! The product allows you to search the internet whilst sitting on the toilet and print out any web pages you are interested in on your toilet paper. i-Loo brings a whole new meaning to the word downloading. The unit is fixed in front of a toilet on the cubical [sic] wall. The product provides up to date information about new products, daily news and lottery results through an easy to navigate software package. Normal operation of the toilet and paper dispenser is evident.[47]
The i-Loo internet toilet roll browser was featured at the 2003 Daily Mail Ideal Home Show as part of the Future Concepts exhibition in Earls Court, London, where it was nominated for the MFI Bright Sparks 2003 awards.[47][48][49] The i-Loo, which was sponsored by Epson Printers, received significant press coverage, and was featured on GMTV as well as various radio shows.[47][50][51][52][53]
See also [ edit ]
Annotations [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Notes
Further readingU-17 MNT
The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team continues the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship against Mexico in its second Group C game on Wednesday, April 26. The match kicks off at Estadio Maracaná in Panama City at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on Univision Deportes Network and via the CONCACAF YouTube channel. Fans can also follow along on Twitter @ussoccer_ynt.
Offensive prowess on display in opening games
Both the USA and Mexico kicked off their 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship campaigns with high-scoring wins. After a scoreless first half against Jamaica, the floodgates opened for the United States as Chris Durkin (52’), Tim Weah (77’), and Josh Sargent (87’) tallied before Ayo Akinola’s late brace (88’, 90+2’) to give the U-17 MNT a resounding 5-0 shutout victory.
Following that match, Mexico wasted little time in asserting their dominance against El Salvador. After an own-goal blemish in the first minute, Luis Olivas tacked on a header in the 31st, followed by a Daniel Lopez strike five minutes later. Another El Salvador own goal just before the break sent Mexico into halftime with a comfortable 4-0 edge. El Trí kept up the momentum early in the second half as Lopez bagged his second in the 46th minute, then Alan Maeda added a header in the 75th to give Mexico a 6-0 win and a one-goal edge over the United States atop Group C.
2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship Group C Standings TEAM GP W L D Pts. GF GA GD Mexico 1 1 0 0 3 6 0 +6 USA 1 1 0 0 3 5 0 +5 Jamaica 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 -5 El Salvador 1 0 1 0 0 0 6 -6
Even if the first game doesn’t end deadlocked, Wednesday night’s winner would be a safe bet to advance, moving one step closer to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.
2016 Torneo De Naciones Rematch
In August 2016, the U-17 MNT traveled to Mexico City to participate in the Torneo De Naciones, where the USA and Mexico each faced Portugal and Qatar. After both sides finished with favorable results, the final game between the USA and Mexico served as the de facto championship match.
The U.S. jumped out to an early lead through Ayo Akinola in the second minute, but Mexico responded with two goals before halftime. USA defender Arturo Vasquez leveled things at 2-2 three minutes after the break. Mexico would go on to score three unanswered goals to go up 5-2 in the 79th minute. U.S. midfielder George Acosta’s 89th minute penalty kick seemed a small consolation, but then Mexico’s Alexis Gutierrez converted a minute later to close the scoring at 6-3.
“Full credit to Mexico and they are a very good team, but I think we’ve improved since then and this game at this point is very important to both teams because it sets us up for going through to the next stage,” U-17 MNT head coach John Hackworth said about the match.
USA-Mexico U-17 CONCACAF Championship History
The U.S and Mexico have not faced each other in a U-17 World Cup qualifying game since 1996. In that contest, the USA lost 3-1 and finished second to Mexico in the final standings.
Mexico holds quite the edge over the USA in U-17 FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifying (4-0-1), and has won the tournament six times, most recently in 2015. The USA is one title behind Mexico, and has finished as runners up an additional five times.
Experienced Coaches
In his second stint leading the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team, John Hackworth is looking to guide the U-17 MNT to the World Cup for a third time as head coach. Hackworth began with the U-17 MNT by serving as an assistant to former head coach John Ellinger, helping the U.S. qualify for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup. After Ellinger’s departure, Hackworth took the reins and guided the U.S. to the 2005 and 2007 World Cups as head coach before departing for other opportunities. After managing M.L.S. side Philadelphia Union, Hackworth returned to the U-17 MNT in December of 2015.
Hackworth’s opposite number, Mario Arteaga, A former Mexico youth international, played with famed Liga MX club CD Guadalajara before finishing his professional career with Club León. Internationally, he represented El Trí at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, appearing in a pair of 1-1 draws with Australia and Ghana. As a manager, Arteaga took over Mexico’s U-17 program in July of 2014. Since then, he has guided the side to the title at the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, followed by an impressive fourth-place finish at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
Reaching the Big Stage
This year marks the 17th occasion that the U.S. U-17 MNT will compete in the CONCACAF Youth Tournament or Championship. The USA has won the CONCACAF U-17, formerly U-16, Championship title five times: (1983, 1992, 2001, 2003 and 2011) and finished as runner-up five times: (1987, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1996).
Since the inaugural CONCACAF U-17 Championship in 1983, El Trí has participated in 15 of 17 tournaments, claiming six titles (1985, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2013, 2015) and one runner-up finish (1992). In total, Mexico has qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 12 times.
Once qualified, Mexico has had an impressive run at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. El Trí has advanced from the group stage seven times, made the Semifinals on four occasions and won the tournament twice – the 2005 edition in Peru and 2011 at home in Mexico.
Recently Mexico finished as runners up at the 2013 competition in United Arab Emirates and fourth in the last World Cup in Chile.
Tournament Format
The 2017 tournament begins in a group stage, with 12 CONCACAF teams split into three four-team groups. After an initial round-robin schedule, the top two teams from each group will advance to the classification stage, featuring two groups with three teams each. In that second group stage, the top two finishers from each group qualify for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, while the first-place teams in each group move on to play for the tournament title.Currently Still A Gaijin Andrew Joseph Toronto, Ontario, Canada Andrew was born in London, UK, raised in Toronto, Canada, and cavorted in Ohtawara, Japan for three years. He is married, has a son and a cat, Freddy (after the dude in Scooby-Doo). He has over 35,000 comic books and a plethora of pioneer aviation-related tobacco and sports cards and likes to build LEGO dioramas. Along with writing for a monthly industrial magazine, he also writes comic books and hates writing in the 3rd person. He also hates having to write this crap that no one will ever read. Along with the daily Japan - It's A Wonderful Rife blog, when he feels the hate, will also write another blog entitled: You Know What I Hate? He also works on his Pioneers Of Aviation - a cool blog on early fliers. He also wants to do more writing - for money, though. Help him out so he can stop talking in the 3rd person. View my complete profileWhite House Chief of Staff John Kelly is featured on TIME magazine’s latest cover; “GENERAL JOHN KELLY - TRUMP’S LAST BEST HOPE.” Kelly recently replaced Reince Priebus for the position.
time_john_kelly_magazine_cover.jpg
TIME’s Michael Duffy, the magazine's deputy editor, joins five other writers in composing a roughly 3000-word article ostensibly examining the White House’s switch from Reince Priebus to John Kelly.
Duffy hypes “daily chaos” in the White House, forwarding a narrative pushed by news media outlets such as CNN, The New York Times, Politico, and MSNBC; he frames left-wing and Democrat-aligned news media consensus as reflective of reality.
Unnamed sources allegedly describe the “mood” in the White House as “at rock bottom.”
Kelly was selected by Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster to move to the White House to save the nation from President Donald Trump, suggests Duffy:
The deep bonds and know-how of that team may have already done the nation a great service. This summer, as the threats from North Korea increased while confusion dominated in the White House, the generals quietly launched a mission of their own. Mattis, McMaster and Dunford (as well as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson) were concerned enough about the conduct of foreign policy to work together to convince a skeptical Kelly to become chief of staff. Their argument: unless someone else takes over, this White House cannot handle a real crisis. Which means that when Trump asked Kelly for the third time to be his chief of staff, it wasn't just a job offer. It was a call of duty.
Kelly’s “influence” may be damaged by Trump's praise of him, alleges Duffy, framing presidential praise as somehow politically toxic.
Duffy frames Democrats as necessary to avoid a global financial crisis with respect to increasing the debt ceiling:
The extended but failed Republican campaign to repeal Obamacare left the GOP with only 12 legislative days to manage the ritual of raising the debt ceiling by Sept. 29 and passing a budget by Sept. 30. The betting is against them: many GOP lawmakers will likely oppose both measures, which means House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate leader Mitch McConnell will have to rely on the mercy of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to keep the troops paid, the Social Security checks coming and the Treasury borrowing. Failure to do so could plunge the U.S. and global economies into a tailspin.
Duffy makes many claims about internal White House operations without evidence, presenting himself as connected to internal White House goings on.
H/T Axios.
Follow Robert Kraychik on Twitter.ES Football Newsletter Enter your email address Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in or register with your social account
Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has played down reports linking him with a return to La Liga this summer.
The 30-year-old arrived at Arsenal from Malaga back in 2012, and has made over 125 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side.
But despite almost doubling his Premier League goal tally this season compared to the previous campaign, the Spain international has been linked with a return to La Liga, with a move to Atletico Madrid mooted.
But speaking to Spanish publication El Mundo, Carzola was quick quash such of a summer move from the Emirates.
"Right now I haven't heard from anybody, it's just rumours,” he told El Mundo.
"And, to tell the truth, it doesn't concern me too much. What I'm concerned about is Arsenal, where I'm doing well.
"In the future, we'll see,” he added. “I'm saying that I like it very much and, as long as the club value me as they have done until now, then I'll continue.The great artist has a finger on the pulse of his time; he also quickens that pulse. In the case of Johnny Cash, his music seems to well up directly from the poverty and deprivation of country life in the Great Depression, through the uncertainty of World War II, the Cold War, Korea, and Vietnam, to the victories of adulation and the vicissitudes of addiction. We might guess, even if we didn’t know, that Cash’s classic “Five Feet High and Rising” is an account of the flooding with which he was all too familiar from his 1930s achildhood in the cotton fields of Arkansas:
How high’s the water, mama?
Five feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, papa?
Five feet high and risin’
His song “Man in Black” is a deft and dexterous comment on Vietnam, a subject on which so many others were heavy-handed:
And I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believin’ that the Lord was on their side
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believin’ that we all were on their side
The relationship between the amphitheater and amphetamines, meanwhile, is rather neatly delineated in a piece collected here called “Going, Going, Gone”:
Liquid, tablet, capsule, powder
Fumes and smoke and vapor
The payoff is the same in the end
Liquid, tablet, capsule, powder
Fumes and smoke and vapor
Convenient ways to get the poison in
So ingrained in our collective unconscious is the voice of Johnny Cash that we can all but hear the boom-chicka boom-chicka of his guitar accompaniment, at once reassuring and disquieting in its very familiarity.
The defining characteristic of an effective lyric—even the greatest of them—is that it doesn’t quite hold up to the scrutiny we might bring to bear on a poem, that only something along the lines of that missing boom-chicka will allow it to be completely what it most may be. In the case of work that is previously unpublished, or hitherto overlooked, this intrinsic lack is thrown into even greater relief. Is it possible that Cash himself chose not to round out, never mind record, some or all of these pieces? Are we doing him and his memory a disservice in allowing them out of the attic and into the wider world? Writers of the stature of Elizabeth Bishop, T. S. Eliot, and Philip Larkin are among those whose reputations have suffered at least a dent from the indiscriminate publication of their second- or third-rate efforts. And the fact is that even great artists not only nod, like Homer, but also produce nonstarters and no-nos.
Such considerations weighed heavily on the team—John Carter Cash and Steve Berkowitz—most immediately involved in the collection and collation of the copious raw material from which I was able to make the selection for Forever Words. It was with an initial sense of relief, then an increasingly rapturous glee, that I realized there is so much here that will indeed broaden and deepen our perception of Johnny Cash and his legacy.
•
Before thinking about Johnny Cash’s legacy, though, I’d like to appeal to a passage from T. S. Eliot’s “Tradition and the Individual Talent,” which I continue to find particularly instructive in this matter:
No poet, no artist of any art, has his complete meaning alone. His significance, his appreciation is the appreciation of his relation to the dead poets and artists. You cannot value him alone; you must set him, for contrast and comparison, among the dead. I mean this as a principle of aesthetic, not merely historical, criticism. The necessity that he shall conform, that he shall cohere, is not one-sided; what happens when a new work of art is created is something that happens simultaneously to all the works of art which preceded it.
The veracity of Eliot’s last profound observation may be seen in a piece like “The Dogs Are in the Woods”:
The dogs are in the woods
And the huntin’s lookin’ good
And the raccoons on the hill
I can hear them trailing still
These dogs are calling out to some of their not-too-distant relatives, the hunting hounds poisoned by Lord Randall’s dissed girlfriend, as reported by Lord Randall to his mother in the traditional Scotch-Irish folksong “Lord Randall”:
“What became of your bloodhounds, Lord Randall my son?
What became of your bloodhounds, my handsome young man?”
“O they swelled and they died: mother, make my bed soon,
for I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”
We’ve already seen the dialogue format of the “Lord Randall” ballad repurposed in “Five Feet High and Rising.” The “Muscadine Wine” we find in this collection is an offshoot of the same vine that gave us the blood-red wine in the Scottish standard “The Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens”:
The King sits in Dunfermline town,
Drinking the blood-red wine;
“O where shall I get a skeely skipper
To sail this ship or mine?”
Then up and spake an eldern knight,
Sat at the King’s right knee:
“Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor
That ever sailed the sea.”
The King has written a broad letter,
And sealed it with his hand,
And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens,
Was walking on the strand.
It’s no accident that the tradition of the Scots ballad, along with its transmogrified versions in North America, is one in which Johnny Cash should be so at ease, given that the first recorded instance of the name Cash—that of Roger Cass—is found in, of all things, the Registrum de Dunfermelyn. The entry is dated 1130, during the reign of King David I of Scotland (r. 1124–1153). “The Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens” is set in Dunfermline a mere hundred sixty years later, in 1290.
We may also see the influence of the Scotch-Irish tradition in the use of the tag phrase at the end of each verse (a device we’ve come to associate with the work of Bob Dylan), in a piece like “Slumgullion”:
Every day’s a brand-new mountain
Don’t drink long at any fountain
You’ll be turned into slumgullion
“Slumgullion” is a word that means several things, including a watery stew, the watery waste left after the rendering of whale blubber, and the slurry associated with a mine. It is generally believed to be derived from “slum,” an old word for “slime,” and “gullion,” an English dialect term for “mud” or “cesspool.” “Gullion” may actually be a corruption of the Gaelic word góilín, “pit” or “pool.” The earliest recorded usage of “slumgullion,” in Mark Twain’s Roughing It (1872), refers to a drink:
Then he poured for us a beverage which he called “Slum gullion,” and it is hard to think he was not inspired when he named it. It really pretended to be tea, but there was too much dish-rag, and sand, and old bacon-rind in it to deceive the intelligent traveler.
The Scotch-Irish song tradition has a strong humorous component that may be detected in “Jellico Coal Man,” a song about life in a Tennessee mining town that could easily have been called Slumgullion had it not already been named after the wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris) that grows there in abundance:
It will warm your baby in the winter time
It comes direct from the Jellico mine
When the sun comes up that’s the time I start
You will see me comin’ with my two-wheel cart
There’s a not too-far-from-the-surface eroticism about this coal-mining man that straddles not only the ballad tradition but also the bawdiness of certain old blues songs. We recognize it in “Hey, Baby, Wake Up,” with its assertion that “I need my biscuit buttered, Babe.” We have detected it in “Who’s Gonna Grease My Skillet?” when he says “Who’s gonna squeeze my juice if you should go,” with a nod and wink in the direction of Robert Johnson’s “Squeeze my lemon.”
In addition to conjuring up the naughty nickname attached to, say, Jelly Roll Morton, “Jellico Coal Man” brings to mind the city of Jericho, the walls of which succumbed to the power of music when the Israelite priests sounded their ram’s-horn trumpets. (In one of those fascinating coincidences that many of us enjoy, Jellico was the childhood home of Homer Rodeheaver, the famous evangelist and trombonist.) The iconography of the Bible is a constant in Johnny Cash’s work, rarely so powerful as in a piece like “Job,” with its recalibration of Job as cattle baron:
Job was a wealthy man
He had a lot of kids and a lot of land
He had cattle on a thousand hills
He lived every day to do God’s will
On a technical note, there exist a number of versions of the “Job” text in Cash’s hand. As with several other pieces included here, I drew on these multiple manuscript sources to make a plausible “finished” version. An attentive reader may therefore remark on discrepancies and disconnects, variations and vagaries, between the printed texts and the facsimile material with which they’re so artfully interspersed. That reader may also notice the rationalization of stanza breaks and the generally normative tendencies of grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Cash’s occasional misspellings need be perpetuated no more than Yeats’s, and that includes the humorous humdinger “Caddilac.”
There’s another humorous strand running through a number of these lyrics that draws on the cowboy tradition, be it the Lone Ranger mounted on Silver, referred to in “Spirit Rider” (“I will mount my Hi-Yo and I will ride off, ma’am”), or the singing cowboy Roy Rogers in “Hey, Baby, Wake Up”:
Hey, Baby, wake up
Did you hear the latest news
The man said Roy and Dale split up
And Dale got Trigger, too
Yeah, I hear your sweet feet on the f loor
I knew that’d get through to you
That humor extends to the litany of exhortations in “Don’t Make a Movie About Me” that reflect Cash’s own ambivalence about celebrity and the associated tabloid slobbering:
Don't let 'em drag old Hickory Lake
For my telephones and bottles and roller skates...
Out a hundred yards from my lakeside house
Weighted down with a rock is a skirt and blouse
A dozen pair of boots that made a dozen corns
Trombones, trumpets, harmonicas and horns
And the tapes that I threw from the lakeside door
Silverstein, and Kristofferson from years before
This was the selfsame Shel Silverstein who won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song of 1969 for “A Boy Named Sue.” He was friendly with David Allan Coe, also mentioned in “Don’t Make a Movie About Me,” who had the distinction of embarking on his music career in Nashville while living in a hearse parked outside Ryman Auditorium, a macabre touch that would surely have ap- pealed to Cash. The song continues:
If they’re hot on a book called Man in Black Tell
’em I’ve got the rights and won’t give back If
you don’t know my tune you can’t get it right I
don’t talk about me in Man in White
As it turns out, Man in White is the title of Cash’s historical novel about the life of Saint Paul before and after his conversion. We’re reminded, of course, that Johnny Cash as the “Man in Black” is less gunslinger than psalm-singing preacher, the unapologetic nature of his Christian faith shining through in “He Bore It All for Me,” a piece that takes as its text Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” A faith in the sense that there is a world beyond this one must at least partly inform the sentiments of “Forever”:
But the trees that I planted
Still are young
The songs I sang
Will still be sung
•
In addition to the sense that it functions within time, the great work of art brings with it a profound sense of timelessness. There’s a sense of immortality and inevitability that suggests (1) that it has always existed and (2) that it was always meant to exist in this form and this form only. Johnny Cash’s quiet insistence that his songs “will still be sung” might easily be read as self-regarding but is more accurately perceived as a manifestation of the humility that is an absolute prerequisite in art-making: it has less to do with his name and fame being bruited about in Dubai or Decatur or Dunfermline itself than with his achieving a kind of beautiful anonymity. It’s a claim to deathlessness that may be made only by someone who has taken into account that, like “The Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens,” Johnny Cash’s brilliant “California Poem” was written by everyone and no one:
The lights are on past midnite
The curtains closed all day
There’s trouble on the mountain
The valley people say
From FOREVER WORDS: The Unknown Poems by Johnny Cash, published by Blue Rider Press, an |
course of fire events, I analyzed all of the Eberlestock options and ordered the Eberlestock G2 Gunslinger II backpack in Dry Earth. This pack has actually been out for a few years now, but it is one of the few pack systems with integrated long gun carry on the market.
The Eberlestock G2 Gunslinger II is a 2700 cubic inch pack measuring 22″ (height) x 10″ (width) x 8″ (depth). It is composed of three compartments: the main compartment, the top flap compartment, and the rifle scabbard. The pack is designed around the Eberlestock Intex-II frame system which comes included. The Intex-II frame system is the one significant design change from the original Gunslinger pack.
The G2 has an empty weight of 8.2 lbs. For comparison, the Eberlestock G3 Phantom weighs 8.5 lbs and the Eberlestock G05 Gunslinger (precursor to the G2) weight 5.6 lbs.
The top flap compartment flips up to give access to the main compartment which can opened through the top cinch enclosure or via the zippered opening.
The main compartment is pretty much a single large compartment with a couple of small, short pockets on the side and rear walls, as well as bladder pockets on the rear wall.
The flap and side walls of the main compartment have PALS webbing on both the interior and exterior sides to accept MOLLE compatible accessory mounts.
The top flap compartment has several pockets for securing smaller items including rifle magazines, pens, notepads, tools, etc.
The individual magazine pockets can hold 30 round AR-15 magazines, but it just barely holds an AICS magazine. The retention bungees can be adjusted via hook and loop.
Note that there is a zipper at the bottom of the flap compartment, which opens up to reveal a very thin, padded compartment that can best be described as being able to hold an iPhone 6/6s (not a Plus). I will occasionally throw a random item in here in a pinch, but otherwise, I don’t really use it for specific items at this point.
The scabbard itself can be run for a deep or shallow carry configuration. In a shallow carry configuration, the bottom portion of the scabbard is folded up into the pack and secured via a buckle.
The depth of the scabbard from the start of the opening to the bottom in the shallow carry configuration is approximately 20″.
When needed, the buckle can be released to extend the bottom portion of the scabbard to accommodate a longer rifle and/or allow for deeper carry of the rifle, with a depth of 31″ from the start of the scabbard opening to the bottom.
The Eberlestock G2 Gunslinger II does come with a buttstock cover which is 13″ long, but has a 13″ pull out extension. This cover goes over the top of the scabbard opening and attaches via quick release buckles to fully enclose the rifle (up to 60″ long) if desired.
In the above photo, the pull out extension was not pulled out/down. The buttstock cover without pulling out the extension will cover about a 45″ rifle, but a 47″ rifle such as my Remington 700 with 26″ barrel and ATAICS (with default buttplate spacers) will be slightly exposed. Pulling out the extension is recommended for full coverage, especially in wet conditions.
As far as carrying the rifle, it can be done muzzle up or muzzle down. The original Eberlestock Gunslinger had a more tapered bottom portion, which meant rifles usually had to be carried muzzle down. But the G2 has a wider taper on the bottom end to allow for muzzle up carry.
The decision to carry muzzle up or muzzle down is going to vary based on rifle type, personal preference, and the situation. I can go either way on this.
It is important to note that the scabbard cannot be removed from the G2 Gunslinger II. The Eberlestock G3 Phantom offers a attachable/detachable rifle case system.
The pack has adequate padding and can be adjusted for height on the back by moving the attachment point of the pack straps. Although, the waist belt is too large for me. It appears to come with Eberlestock’s large contoured belt which is for 33″-40″ waists (based on their product page specifications). I cinched it down as much as I could and it is still loose, which means I should get the Eberlestock small contoured belt which has a range of 29″-44″ according to their specifications.
The weight of the pack is probably one detracting factor of the G2. As I mentioned earlier, the Gunslinger II weighs 8.2 lbs, which is about 3 lbs heavier than the original Gunslinger. If you look for opinions regarding Eberlestock online, some people will cite the weight of the packs. It is important to note that the G2 Gunslinger II does include the Intex-II frame and scabbard, along with extra padding as part of its weight.
There is one pack mounted Eberlestock accessory that I did buy for the novelty and that is the Eberlestock shooting rest in Dry Earth. It is quickly attached to PALS webbing using built-in MOLLE compatible attachment clips, and you can basically use it as a field expedient front rest point when you have to use your pack as a rifle rest.
It actually works effectively and is a nice addition to the pack, particularly for hunters, PRS-style match shooters, and anyone that wants a stable field expedient rifle rest platform
As I mentioned at the start, the impetus for acquiring the Gunslinger II pack is to function as my rifle and gear pack for an NRA Mid-Range or Long Range match (shooting F-Class). I attended a 3×1000 Long Range match at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and was able to get all my necessary gear (with two exceptions) into the pack.
The Eberlestock G2 Gunslinger II pack is actually comfortable to wear. The frame helps solidify the pack, as a frame should, but as heavy as the G2 was at the aforementioned 3×1000 match, with the ATAICS rifle and all the gear, I was still able to move fluidly.
This isn’t exactly what I had in the pack at the 3×1000 match, but the following photo is an example of what I carried.
Generally, all you truly need for an F-Class match is the rifle, front rest, and ammunition, while everything is supplemental based on shooting style and desired comforts. My rifle with bipod attached was carried in the scabbard, while I kept my ammunition, two rear bags (switch between the two depending on firing point conditions), and spotting scope in the main compartment. I also had a 32 ounce water bottle and two extra bottled waters in the pack, an Eberlestock rain cover, and some other cloth netting (shade in sun if needed) in the pack folded up.
The ammunition in the above photo are retained in Tab Gear Bullet Binders. Read my Mini-Review at https://www.ocabj.net/mini-review-tab-gear-bullet-binder/.
A quick aside regarding the Eberlestock rain cover. While this serves specifically to cover the pack if it is raining, I also use it to cover the rifle between relays to keep it out of direct sunlight (if I don’t put it in the scabbard) by stretching it over the muzzle and the back of the scope. This helps keep the barrel cooler than if it were being hit directly by sunlight.
In the small compartment I carried some snacks, a small clipboard, notepads, armboard, and my Fix It Sticks tool kit (with torque limiters).
This was pretty much everything I needed (and them some) for the match, except for two specific items: my scope stand and shooting mat. I ended up carrying my scope stand by hand, with my BLACKHAWK rollup shooting mat over the shaft of the scope stand.
I also used the Eberlestock G2 Gunslinger II at an NRA ARM (America’s Rifle Match) which is a rifle-only action match, where I carried my rifle and gear from stage to stage (bay to bay) in the Gunslinger II. I carried my 16″ AR-15, magazines, ammunition, and other supplementary gear (spare sling, HSGI Leg Rig, water, snacks) easily.
After using the pack, I do have one specific gripe and that is towards the secondary top flap. The problem is that the items inside the secondary compartment will spill out when you open the zippered compartment if the backpack is laying on its back.
The root of this problem is that the flap compartment doesn’t have enough slack material to place it away from the main body of the pack. This means that if the pack is full, particularly at the top half of the main compartment, the top flap can’t go over the pack body and be at front of the pack. It is resting more on the top of the pack at an angle.
Eberlestock could have mitigated this in a couple ways. One could have been to use more material that attaches the flap compartment to the main body. This would give the secondary compartment more slack to get over a stuffed main compartment and will allow it to sit correctly at the front of the pack.
The second way (my preferred choice) would be to have the secondary compartment open from the sides as opposed to the top, or have an additional zipper on the bottom of the flap to access the flap compartment. This way, if the pack is on its back, the flap compartment can be accessed from the bottom and not have the contents spill out.
With regards to the color pattern, Dry Earth is a specific Eberlestock color. It is not quite Flat Dark Earth nor is it Coyote Brown or Coyote Tan. Eberlestock had several sample photos of their Dry Earth pack and I thought it appeared to be a nice all-purpose color. It is not overtly tactical as Multicam and more subtle than Coyote Brown. So I opted for Dry Earth because it seemed like a color that could go well in all types of situations (non-shooting or shooting, urban or field, desert or forest).
Most of my photos already shown in this article are fairly representative of the Eberlestock Dry Earth color assuming your monitor is calibrated. But the following photo should help provide context to the Dry Earth color scheme.
The above photo was taken in directly sunlight with a pair of Mechanix Fastfit gloves in Wolf Grey, a Tab Gear Bullet Binder in Mulitcam, and an ITS Tactical Fatboy IFAK pouch in Coyote Brown. As you can see, there is a a stark contrast between Dry Earth and Coyote Brown.
This photo taken in the shade further displays the contrast between Dry Earth and Coyote. Note the Accuracy International Pale Brown of the AT AICS which isn’t too far off from Dry Earth.
I do not have any true Flat Dark Earth nylon gear to compare against this. But FDE should run closer than Coyote Brown to Eberlestock Dry Earth.
Multicam actually compliments Dry Earth quite well and I regret not getting a Multicam ITS Tactical Fatboy pouch instead of the Coyote Brown.
Given all this information, I can say that the Eberlestock G2 Gunslinger II is a viable solution for my original intent: a rifle and gear transport system other than a shooting cart for use during an NRA Mid-Range and Long Range match.
Note: Pictured in the above three photos is my Ray-Vin classic scope stand, but I swapped out the original 48″ single piece shaft (rod) with a short 24″ base shaft. Since I am have not been competing in NRA High Power Service Rifle, Across the Course with a 200 yard standing stage of fire, I don’t have a need to use my scope from the standing position. Thus, going with the short shaft will allow me to carry the scope stand on the outside of my pack without it being too unwieldy.
The Gunslinger II will also serve as a viable pack for field use and other scenarios. While Precision Rifle Series style matches are not common here in Southern California, I have been considering participating in that format of competition when the opportunity arises.
Is the Eberlestock G2 Gunslinger II perfect? Not at all. The top flap storage compartment could be redesigned and the weight of the pack might be on the high side for some. The inclusion of a large waist belt as opposed to smaller waist belt is a bit annoying. Assuming their product page specifications are correct, providing the small waist belt with an adjustment range of 29″-44″ makes more sense than the large with a range of 33″-40″.
With these minor deficiencies, the Gunslinger II does get the job done for anyone that wants a pack system to carry a rifle and extra gear.
The Eberlestock G2 Gunslinger II starts at $329 USD MSRP with slightly higher prices for different color patterns. It can be found in Black, Coyote Brown, Dry Earth, Multicam, Military Green, and UNICAM II. For more details on Eberlestock product color patterns, definitely check out their website at http://www.eberlestock.com/.
Like this: Like Loading...A member of the Free Syrian Army runs after placing a mortar shell inside a launcher during what activists said were clashes with pro-government forces beside Hanano barracks in Aleppo's Karm al-Jabal district on Tuesday. (SAAD ABOBRAHIM/REUTERS)
One of the most prominent figures in the peaceful protest movement that swept Syria early in the country’s uprising was reported missing Tuesday from a rebel-controlled suburb of Damascus, prompting suspicions that she is among the scores of civilian activists and journalists who have been detained by Islamist extremists in recent months.
Razan Zaitouneh, 36, a human rights lawyer, disappeared from her apartment with her husband and two other activists overnight Monday after threats were received from Islamist groups, according to the opposition group of which she was a founder, the Local Coordination Committees.
A friend who lives in the same building had visited the activists Monday night and found them gone Tuesday morning. He said that the apartment had been ransacked and laptops and files taken, but that money and valuables were not touched.
The apparent targeting of a woman so closely associated with the peaceful origins of the revolt ricocheted through the already demoralized activist community, drawing condemnations on Twitter and Facebook, as well as soul-searching.
“Razan’s kidnapping is like the slap in the face we need to wake up and acknowledge what this conflict has become,” said Rami Nakhla, an LCC co-founder who now lives in Istanbul. “It’s become a regional sectarian war using the cover of our legitimate demands for democracy — a giant, bloody monster.”
Scores of the activists who helped shape the initial uprising against President Bashar al-
Assad’s rule have been detained by extremists in rebel-held areas in recent months, exposing the gulf that has emerged between those advocating democratic
reforms and the Islamist radicals who have eclipsed them. Most have disappeared in the north of the country, where the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has gained ascendancy over more moderate rebel units.
Dozens of foreign journalists and aid workers also have been abducted in northern Syria. On Wednesday, the families of two Spanish journalists missing for nearly three months publicized their disappearance for the first time, appealing for their release.
Javier Espinosa, the Middle East bureau chief of El Mundo newspaper, and Ricardo García Vilanova, a freelance photographer, have not been heard from since they were detained at an ISIS checkpoint in September. There have been unconfirmed sightings of them in ISIS prisons, but no demands have been made, Espinosa’s wife, Mónica Prieto, said at a news conference in Beirut.
ISIS has a far smaller presence in the Damascus area than in the north. Douma, the suburb where Zaitouneh disappeared, has long been a stronghold of Jaish al-Islam, which has taken a lead role in a new Islamist alliance called the Islamic Front, now the country’s biggest rebel formation.
A spokesman for the group, Islam Alloush, denied involvement and said he did not know which group was responsible. Jabhat al-Nusra, another al-Qaeda-affiliated group, has a small presence in the area, said Zaitouneh’s friend and neighbor, also a longtime activist, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he fears for his safety.
Most recently, Zaitouneh had been working for another project she founded, the Violations Documentation Center, which catalogues the tens of thousands of deaths and disappearances in Syria’s war. The threats against her began after she started investigating abuses by rebels, colleagues said.Exclusive
By Raïssa Robles
Why, nobody else but Senator Vicente Sotto III.
Because of Sotto, libel is now a crime that’s lumped together with cybersex, child porn and strangely enough, the electronic mailing of advertising spam.
What makes the libel rider interesting is that it is SUCH a clumsy cut-and-paste job, without any attempt to take into account the nature of the Internet.
No congressional public hearing was ever held on libel in the Internet.
This section on libel has grave implications for freedom of speech on the Internet. People who post on Facebook, Twitter and write comments in news websites can be sued for libel in much more insidious ways than those in the traditional news media.
I am all for making people personally accountable for what they post online, but not this way.
It was Senator Sotto who inserted libel as a “content-related offense” in Republic Act No. 10175 (the Cybercrime Law), his Chief-of-Staff Hector Villacorta confirmed to me today in an interview.
“I can verify that,” Villacorta told me.
When I asked him why Sotto felt the need to insert libel at the last minute into this law, Villacorta said: “I have to ask him.”
When I asked Villacorta why it’s important to include libel as a crime on the Internet, he replied: “I’m not yet ready to discuss that. I have not seen the text of the law.” He explained that once a law is approved at the Senate only three hard copies of that particular law exist.
Remember Sotto’s warning
Sotto warned around two weeks ago that those who were lambasting him on the Web had better watch out because “once the cybercrime bill is enacted into law, they will be accountable for what they say or write.” He had issued this warning amid criticisms that he had plagiarized in three separate speeches delivered on the Senate floor.
I had wondered then what Sotto meant by that. I had examined both versions of the Cybercrime bill – House Bill 5808 and Senate Bill 2796 (which consolidated all the similar bills). I could not find a single mention of “libel” or “cyberbullying”.
Libel was never in the Senate and House versions of the Cybercrime bill prepared by the respective committees of both chambers. The section on libel therefore never underwent any congressional public hearing.
It was only introduced as an amendment by Senator Sotto on second reading on the Senate floor and verbally agreed to by the bill’s main sponsor, Senator Edgardo Angara.
The inclusion of libel was never reflected in any piece of legislative document that was made publicly available.
This stealth amendment therefore raises the following questions: Who is Sotto trying to protect? Why did other senators let him get away with it?
And why did President Benigno Aquino III sign it into law with this clause?
I asked Communications and Strategist Secretary Ricky Carandang about the libel clause of the newly-signed Cybercrime Law. He told me: “I haven’t gone over it. I haven’t studied it, nor have I discussed it with the President.”
He promised to get back to me after studying the bill.
This makes me wonder whether President Aquino is aware that he just signed a potentially repressive law on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
How Sotto inserted the libel clause
It has since turned out that Sotto knew all about the new section on libel in the Cybercrime Law because he did the insertion himself.
On January 24, 2012, while the nation was riveted on the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona, Sotto introduced an amendment to the proposed Cyber Crime Law. Here is an excerpt from the official Senate journal for that day:
Sotto said introducing internet libel would make people more cautious on the Net.
He therefore proposed a new section:
Senator Angara, the law’s main sponsor at the Senate, accepted the amendment because he said – “cyberspace is just a new avenue” for spreading libelous material:
Is it really? Can we simply adopt the present law on libel that covers print and broadcasting to apply to the Internet as well?
Why the result of Sotto’s cut-and-paste is dangerous
I’d like to share with you some of my concerns on this new law on libel that Sotto’s cut-and-paste manner of legislation did not take into account. Some of what I’m about to write was pointed out to me by my hubby Alan.
I would have to tell you something about Alan Robles. He has lectured on Internet politics at the International Institute for Journalism in Berlin for the last seven years. He has been writing and researching about the Internet since the mid-1990s and has interviewed luminaries such as Internet guru Nicholas Negroponte and Vinton Cerf, the “Father of the Internet”. He physically covered both phases of the UN-backed World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) which took place in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005.
This is what Alan said:
Make no mistake about it. This is a blow against freedom of expression on the Internet. There should be other means crafted to give people protection against libel that are appropriate to the Internet.
Besides, what happened to the political noises to decriminalize libel?
In contrast to Alan, I’ve learned about the Internet by trial and error. Mostly error, which is a wonderful way to learn a lot of things.
My concerns about the new Libel Law:
One: It is easy to determine who is committing libel in the traditional media. In newspapers, those sued for libel are usually the writer, sometimes the news source quoted in the article, and the editors who vet the news before publication. It’s similar in broadcast media.
Online, who are you going to sue for libel if for instance the one who posted the libelous material is unknown or under a false name?
Can the one who “Shares” or “Likes” on Facebook or re-tweets on Twitter the offending piece now be held liable for libel? Can someone who posts a comment agreeing with the alleged libelous material also be sued?
Two: In traditional media – newspapers, TV and radio networks – the origin of the libelous material is easy to identify. On the Web, can someone suing for libel obtain a court order to compel an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or Facebook or Twitter to divulge the identity of the one who posted the alleged libel? Can these entities also be held liable since they carried the offending material the way newspapers carry a libelous story?
Three: As a blogger, I believe in giving a wide democratic space to commenters, including those who criticize me. Can I now be sued for any comment that appears on my site? Besides, libel is in the eyes of the offended.
Four: The Internet has a global reach. Can someone living in Metro Manila file a case of internet libel in Zamboanga City on the pretext that the complainant was surfing in an Internet Cafe in Zambo when he saw the offending piece?
This is what politicians do, actually. They file libel suits against reporters in remote places. Alan reminded me that in a libel suit, the complainant need not even attend hearings. Only the respondents are compelled to appear every time. In the Philippines, libel suits are mostly not meant to be won. These are mostly filed in order to create a chilling effect on other reporters and to make the accused journalist’s life harder.
Remember the suits filed by the ex-First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo? I wrote about this in 2006. Here is an excerpt:
Presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo is a natty dresser and a man of many suits. But his critics are finding out his favorite is the libel suit. Mr Arroyo has sued or is suing six politicians, two publishers, and 12 editors and writers. Two weeks ago, he threatened to sue three more journalists and, this weekend, another congressman. His critics say he uses the courts as a political tool. But Mr Arroyo, who could not be reached for comment, has claimed his critics have maliciously and falsely accused him of corruption. The claims include vote-buying for his wife President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s 2004 poll victory, money laundering, demanding illegal gambling payoffs and influence peddling. He has also said they called him fat. In an 11 million peso (HK$1.68 million) damages suit against Lito Banayo, a columnist and spokesman for opposition senator Panfilo Lacson, Mr Arroyo complained Mr Banayo had described him as el esposo gordo (the fat spouse). This description was “obviously meant to denigrate me for my rotundity”, Mr Arroyo complained. Two weeks ago, Mr Arroyo showed Mr Banayo he was serious. Appearing in court for a pretrial hearing, Mr Arroyo brought along bomb-sniffing dogs and presidential palace guards, who barred the media from the proceedings. The judge, Concepcion Alarcon-Vergara, ordered Mr Banayo’s lawyer to cross-examine Mr Arroyo without being given time to study Mr Arroyo’s 102-page testimony. “I want to dispose of this case immediately because the complainant [Mr Arroyo] is a very busy man,” the judge said. Last week, eight policemen entered the legislature trying to arrest Senator Jinggoy Estrada, son of jailed president Joseph Estrada, over a 10 million peso criminal libel suit filed by Mr Arroyo five months ago. The young Estrada had linked him to alleged smugglers in a privileged speech inside the legislature.
The arrest was thwarted only by the intervention of Senate president Manuel Villar, who reminded authorities that lawmakers were constitutionally immune from arrest if the crime – like libel – was punishable with less than six years in jail. Last week, Malaya newspaper publisher Jake Macasaet, along with his editors and reporters, were compelled to attend a pretrial conference after being arraigned on Mr Arroyo’s libel charges. All have pleaded not guilty to maliciously publishing a May 2004 article in which former opposition senator Francisco Tatad named Mr Arroyo as “chief cheating operator”.
Five: If someone pretends to be me online and issues allegedly libelous material; or if someone hacks into my computer, obtains files and posts them online, can I be sued for libel? How do I defend myself on this?
Six: What kind of evidence would the court accept on internet libel cases? Would screencaps suffice? How will the court determine if an offensive image has been manipulated? Or an offending piece was really posted by the person being sued?
Seven: Under Philippine libel law, truth is not a defense. Something posted online may be true but the offended party could claim it is malicious. For instance, ex-FG Mike Arroyo thought that calling him fat – even if true – was malicious. How is malice proven online? What should ordinary people online guard against so that they are not accused of malice?
I’m fairly sure there are other issues and complications which will emerge.
Historically, in the Philippines, it is the rich and the powerful who use libel as a weapon to suppress criticisms about them.
Before the Internet came along, it was easier for the rich and the powerful to control criticisms. All they needed to do was buy a stake in newspapers, TV and radio. Or sue them.
Now they have realized that the Web is beyond their control.
The only way to put back a measure of control is to introduce libel on the Internet. Ask yourself this: Who can afford to file libel cases and tie down their critics in court?
By the way, a public figure and a public servant like Sotto has no cause to complain of cyberbullying. How can ordinary citizens bully a senator who can deliver privilege speeches galore in defense of his personal honor? Remember, a senator can utter the most libelous statements during privilege speeches. He remains immune from suit during privilege speeches.
In contrast, the Internet has a self-correcting mechanism in the form of people who take opposing views on all issues. While there are Sotto-bashers, there are also Sotto-lovers.
Media men have long asked for the passage of a Freedom of Information Act. Guess what. The joke’s on us. We got a libel law instead with absolutely no safeguards which the rich and the powerful can now use to chill critics. How convenient that the law was passed just eight months before a national election
Good job, senators and congressmen. Let’s remember this on election day.
For starters, here are the names of the senators who voted “Yes” to the Senate version on Third Reading of the Cybercrime Law:
Loren Legarda
Francis Escudero
Gregorio Honasan II
Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III
Pia Cayetano
Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Jinggoy Ejercito-Estrada
Panfilo Lacson
Manuel “Lito” Lapid
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos
Ralph Recto
Vicente Sotto III
Manny Villar
Only Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona voted “No.”
You can read the Cybercrime Law containing the section on libel here.BEIJING, July 15 (UPI) -- A second oil spill fouled Bohai Bay, an arm of the Yellow Sea, which separates China and the Korean Peninsula, Chinese officials said.
The spill first reported Tuesday is smaller than an earlier one, China News TV reported. On Tuesday, the State Oceanic Administration said an oil slick covered less than half a square mile.
CNOOC, the state-owned oil company that operates the Suizhong 36-1 oil field in Bohai Bay, said the spill was cleaned up by Wednesday.
But the larger earlier spill, which involved two drilling platforms, continues to foul the water in the bay, officials said. So far, experts say it has not affected the coasts.
The two spills have raised concerns in China and South Korea about the environmental effect of drilling in Bohai Bay. South Korea has said it wants to discuss the impact with China.The Obama Justice Department intends to “transform” the Cleveland police department “into a model of community-oriented policing,” by restricting officers’ use of force to subdue suspects.
The consent decree announced on Tuesday requires Cleveland police to use “de-escalation techniques” instead of force “whenever possible and appropriate.”
And who’s to decide what’s “appropriate”? A civilian, someone with no experience in subduing dangerous suspects, will be placed at the head of the police department’s Internal Affairs division to ensure that complaints of police misconduct are “thoroughly and effectively investigated.”
In a section called “Bias-Free Policing,” the agreement says Cleveland police will “deliver police services” in a “respectful” manner, free of unlawful bias, in a way that inspires confidence: “CDP expects all officers to treat all members of the Cleveland community with courtesy, professionalism, and respect, and not to use harassing, intimidating, or derogatory language.”
Another key element of the agreement–a favorite of the federal government–is “data collection and analysis.” This means the police department must keep detailed notes on officers’ activities when they respond to calls involving the use of force–including whether they have unholstered a firearm during an encounter with someone.
According to the consent agreement, the new rules are intended to ensure that officers “use techniques other than force to effect compliance with police orders whenever feasible; use force only when necessary, and in a manner that avoids unnecessary injury to officers and civilians; de-escalate the use of force at the earliest possible moment; and accurately and completely report all uses of force.”
Much of the agreement involves use-of-force policies. Here are some of the new guidelines issued to officers who sometimes must make split-second decisions in potentially life-threatening situations. The words come straight from the consent decree, except where noted.
{snip}
— Officers will use de-escalation techniques whenever possible and appropriate, before resorting to force and to reduce the need for force. De-escalation techniques may include verbal persuasion and warnings and tactical deescalation techniques, such as slowing down the pace or an incident, waiting out subjects, creating distance (and thus the reactionary gap) between the officer and the threat, and requesting additional resources (e.g. specialized CIT officers or negotiators).
— Officers will be trained to consider the possibility that a subject may be noncompliant due to a medical or mental condition, physical or hearing impairment, language barrier, drug interaction, or emotional crisis;
{snip}
— Officers will not use head strikes with hard objects, except where lethal force is justified. Officers will be trained that a strike to the head with any impact weapon could result in death;
{snip}
— Officers will not use neck holds;
{snip}
— Immediately following a use or force, officers and, upon arrival, a supervisor, will inspect and observe subjects for injury or complaints of pain resulting from the use of force, and immediately obtain any necessary medical care. As necessary, officers will provide emergency first aid until professional medical care providers are on scene.
— As soon as practical following a use of force, CDP will ensure that the incident is accurately and properly reported, documented, and investigated. A fundamental goal of the revised use of force policy will be to account for, review, and investigate every reportable use of force and reduce any improper uses of force.
{snip}
Vanita Gupta, head of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, announced the “court enforceable agreement” on Tuesday, following the Justice Department’s finding that Cleveland Police engaged in a “pattern or practice” of using excessive force. She said the agreement will build a “safer, more just city.”
{snip}
Original Article
Share ThisBenzocaine numbing condoms are somewhat unique. Their main feature provides a much-appreciated service for its users. Keep on reading to find out the ins and outs of the best condoms for lasting longer.
Something truly great about these types of condoms is that your partner doesn't have to know that you're even using them. That's because they look just like regular condoms except for the benzocaine lubricant on the inside of the condom. So you can confidently strut your stuff knowing that you're giving your partner long-lasting satisfaction without anyone knowing your performance-enhancing secret. How do you like having such an item in your personal intimate arsenal?
Also read: Condom Lubrication Allows More Slip and Slide Fun
Several nicknames
This type of condom has several nicknames. So throughout this article, you'll notice us referring to them as numbing, benzocaine, delayed ejaculation and climax control condoms.
How do climax control condoms work?
Numbing condoms have a lubricant on the inside that contains benzocaine. Benzocaine is a mild desensitizer (topical anesthetic) that, when lightly absorbed, numbs the tip of the penis to decrease its sensitivity. When this occurs, a man enjoys prolonged performance for up to 10 minutes. Our test shows that the extended performance times vary from person to person but do prolong the time before ejaculation.
Do numbing condoms work?
The short answer to this question is yes. Numbing condoms work. How much they will work for you is something you will have to determine after experimenting on your own. After all, this is a very personal experience being judged here. Feel free to let us know in an anonymous review below the product to help other buyers.
Best condoms for lasting longer
There are a couple of manufacturers that have these numbing condoms in their product selection. If you choose to use condoms with benzocaine, you will find different brands offer varying options and benzocaine strengths. Here are some good choices for you:
Trojan Extended Pleasures
Trojan Extended Pleasure is probably the most recognized numbing condom available today. This penis-numbing product gained an army of ejaculation-delaying fans throughout its existence. Try this benzocaine numbing treatment on your penis and enjoy the effects.
More details
Durex Performax Intense
Durex Performax Intense, like its Trojan counterpart, helps men last longer. For this reason, men of all shapes and sizes swear by these numbing condoms. No man wants to finish too early and if you tend to lose your ejaculation before it's actually time for your glorious climax, give these a try.
More details
Durex Prolong
Durex Prolong is a new product from the labs of this, the world’s most known condom brand. From our research, it is a replacement of the above mentioned Performax Intense. So don't get too confused that there are two similar products in the Durex selection. We suspect that there is just a wee bit of overlap before Prolong replaces Performax Intense. And who knows what this company will develop in the future!
More details
Are climax control lubricants safe?
Climax control condoms (Durex Performax Intense and Trojan Extended Pleasure) are FDA approved and safe to use.
How much of this topical anesthetic is in the lubricant?
The Durex Performax Intense condoms box states the condoms contain 5% of benzocaine as an active ingredient. This percentage is very similar to Durex's competitor, Trojan, whose Extended Pleasure condoms include 4% of benzocaine as an active ingredient.
Who should use climax control products?
Anyone who wants to extend sexual pleasure, anyone who has problems with premature ejaculation, or simply anyone who likes to experiment and try new things should these give penis-numbing prophylactics a whirl.
Our mini survey
Of course, condom manufacturers focus on providing the highest quality products that deliver the desired satisfaction. Consumers still wonder, “Do products such as climax control condoms work? Can they delay a man's ejaculation?” Based on the popularity of climax control products, the answer is definite yes! We wanted to know what our customers think about climax control condoms so we asked and here are the results.
We wanted to know:
Would you use climax control products again?
Do you think these products help delay ejaculation?
Twenty men participated in this anonymous mini-survey. Over 80% of our respondents were very happy and |
reports are united by opposition to cellphone towers) are now calling on the Government to spend millions re-researching the issue despite the considerable historic and ongoing research overseas.
What's more concerning is how this issue is being reported in some media. For example, apparent unsubstantiated claims that wired internet was "safer" than wifi going unchallenged and a lack of coverage of independent evidence that contradicts this.
What the science says
In response to growing concerns the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the International EMF Project in 1996 to provide scientifically sound and objective answers to public concerns about possible hazards of low level electromagnetic fields. Following review of over 25,000 scientific articles and research projects, the EMF Project has concluded that:
Despite extensive research, to date there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low level electromagnetic fields is harmful to human health.
In relation to cellphones, which emit far higher levels of electromagnetic fields:
The long-term health effects of mobile telephone use is another topic of much current research. No obvious adverse effect of exposure to low level radiofrequency fields has been discovered.
Not convinced? How about the US National Cancer Institute:
Although there have been some concerns that radiofrequency energy from cell phones held closely to the head may affect the brain and other tissues, to date there is no evidence from studies of cells, animals, or humans that radiofrequency energy can cause cancer.
It is generally accepted that damage to DNA is necessary for cancer to develop. However, radiofrequency energy, unlike ionizing radiation, does not cause DNA damage in cells, and it has not been found to cause cancer in animals or to enhance the cancer-causing effects of known chemical carcinogens in animals.
In the UK, Public Health England has this to say:
There is no consistent evidence to date that exposure to radio signals from Wi-Fi and WLANs adversely affects the health of the general population. The signals are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts) in both the computer and the router (access point), and the results so far show exposures are well within the internationally-accepted guidelines from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Based on current knowledge and experience, radio frequency (RF) exposures from Wi-Fi are likely to be lower than those from mobile phones. Also, the frequencies used in Wi-Fi are broadly the same as those from other RF applications such as FM radio, TV and mobile phones.
And back home in New Zealand, manager of the Royal Society's Science Media Centre Peter Griffin considers both of the above developments in detail, considers the research, then concludes:
The Te Horo school example is a legitimate news story for the media. A school is seriously considering switching of its wireless internet coverage. I don't need to throw any studies at you to show how important wireless access is to education.
Many of the devices kids are using at school can't even be plugged into a wired internet connection. If you turn off the wireless network, you make it harder for kids to go online to find the learning resources they need.... Without an evidence base to justify it, turning off the Wifi is therefore a regressive move that could hurt the development of children.
Damon Wyman may think he is doing the students of Te Horo School a favour. In fact, he is helping to generate the sort of hysteria that could lead to wifi networks going dark in schools across the country. That would be a disaster.
If you're interested in this topic I strongly recommend you read Peter's full post. And there's far more global evidence to boot.
What does that all mean?
In short, the science is clear and credible. Following very comprehensive and ongoing research, there is absolutely no evidence of a link between exposure to wifi transmission and adverse health effects. It would appear to make no more sense banning wifi in schools as banning electricity, and neither is supported by the evidence.
Te Horo School's board is acting on a call from their community and you certainly can't begrudge them for that. However we do live in the 21st century: decisions such as this should have an evidential basis and unfortunately that simply doesn't appear to be the case here.
Hopefully other communities around New Zealand will consider the science first and foremost rather than letting emotion override fact - to the detriment of their kid's education.
Paul Matthews is Chief executive of the Institute of IT Professionals NZ.Page 1 of 2
GB: We've been following the tweets that you and Brian have posted over the last few weeks, but this announcement still comes as a surprise. How did this collaboration actually come about? Who approached who?
Chris: I think it's a refreshing example of what happens when publishers aren't involved. It's something we couldn't do without a lot of red tape in a publisher agreement (if at all), but when it's just two developers chatting about something that would be cool... well, there you go. Brian asked, I wanted to do it, so we decided to make it happen.
I feel it's a sign of changing times, and this kind of flexibility is something Kickstarter allows for.
GB: Jason Anderson already spent a great deal of time working on Wasteland 2's storyline, and Brian Fargo has already made it pretty clear what the team's design goals are for the game. Assuming you'll reach the $2.1 million milestone, where does Obsidian Entertainment come in? Will you be tweaking existing story elements, adding more, or contributing in other areas?
Chris: It's up to the design goals of the project. While Jason Anderson isn't at inXile anymore, I have a lot of respect for Jason's story skills based on Fallout 1 and the story layouts for Fallout 2. I suspect I'd be doing area and narrative design, and fleshing out a piece of the wasteland, but we'll have to see what the needs of the project are.
Also, a game story is always a starting place - it provides an overarching vision for the game. If it's anything like Obsidian's narrative structure process, stories and areas get divided for individual designers to flesh out it's easy to say (Quartz is taken over by a gang that's holding the mayor hostage,) or (New Reno is home to 4 mob bosses) but going from there is a long, fun design journey.
GB: What role will other team members at Obsidian play in Wasteland 2's development? Will Feargus, Tim Cain, J.E. Sawyer, and others be making contributions, as well? Would Obsidian's efforts go beyond story and design, in that you could potentially be contributing art assets and sound effects, or even helping with programming and bug fixing?
Chris: Currently, it's just me, and I would potentially be assisting with narrative and area design, as well as conversation editor suggestions and structure. Ultimately, we won't know the final logistics for a short while longer, but we'll keep folks updated - right now, it's solely design content work, which is one of Obsidian's strengths.
GB: Could Obsidian's Onyx engine handle a top-down/isometric perspective and a turn-based combat system like inXile is shooting for with Wasteland 2? If so, have you talked to Brian about the possibility of licensing your Onyx engine, if only to make it easier for you and the rest of the team at Obsidian to contribute content at a faster pace?
Chris: Sure. To be clear, the Onyx engine isn't being used for Wasteland 2 - that said, there's information and structure components we can share based on how we've constructed RPG mechanics (notably conversation systems and editors, for example) that Brian has expressed interest in and we'd be happy to provide metrics and layout suggestions for. All of the programming and coding is in inXile's hands, however, as our programmers and tools programmers are focused on our other titles.
GB: You contributed heavily to Fallout: New Vegas and a majority of its DLC, worked as a designer on Fallout 2, and were in the lead designer position on the Black Isle iteration of Fallout 3, Van Buren. While Wasteland is undoubtedly a franchise that has much in common with the Fallout franchise, it also presents a slightly different take on the post-apocalyptic environment. Is there any worry on your part that content you contribute to Wasteland 2 might be considered too Fallout-like by fans who are familiar with both franchises?
Chris: Wasteland is far more freeing. There's ideas and seeds that won't work in the context of Fallout that will fit in the much wider umbrella of Wasteland, in a good way. There was a lot of variety in Wasteland 1 alone, and I'd like to see that upheld in WL2. Each location in WL1 had its own flavor, challenges, yet managed to keep a cohesive arc to draw the player in.A U.S. Navy ship struck part of the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor on Wednesday morning, according to a woman whose husband witnessed the accident.
Photos submitted by the woman, who declined to be identified because her spouse serves in the Navy, show the naval hospital ship USNS Mercy sailing dangerously close to the USS Arizona Memorial. Her husband took the photographs from nearby Ford Island.
"It went right over the dock," she told Military.com. "You could hear the metal crunching. My husband said you could see mud and water being kicked up. It backed up to within feet of hitting the white memorial building."
Tug boats were guiding the hospital ship from its port at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam at around 7 a.m. local time.
A Navy official who asked not to be identified said of the incident, "It looks like one of the tugs that was pushing her as she left the harbor might have hit the visitor landing to the Arizona."
It's unclear how much, if any, damage was done to the USS Arizona wreckage.
Update: USS Arizona Memorial Tours Suspended After USNS Mercy Collision
Bill Doughty, a spokesman for Navy Region Hawaii, said that while the dock sustained significant damage and was later separated by workers from the memorial structure, "there appears to be no damage to the vessel." Navy divers continue to inspect the memorial, the front of which sustained "minor damage," and the sunken ship, he said.
"We're especially looking at the moorings and the anchors that connect the floating dock," he said in a telephone interview shortly after a local news conference to discuss the incident. "We're very concerned obviously. It's a very sacred place."
A spokeswoman for the National Park Service, which manages the memorial, didn't respond to requests for comment. Attempts to reach a public affairs officer for the ship weren't successful.
A statement was posted to the base's Facebook page earlier in the day confirming the dock was damaged. "The floating dock at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor was damaged this morning (May 27) as the Hospital Ship USNS Mercy was underway," it states. "Initial reports indicated that a tug boat hit the Memorial, but an investigation is underway."
Boat passenger traffic onto the memorial was suspended to assess the extent of damage and ensure the safety of visitors, it states. Boat tours of Pearl Harbor will continue from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, but without the ability to drop passengers off at the memorial, it states.
Doughty said the park service plans to reopen the memorial in about a week.
The Mercy, operated by the service's Military Sealift Command, is based in San Diego. It recently arrived in Pearl Harbor in preparation for Pacific Partnership 2015, the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indio-Asia-Pacific region, according to Defense Department.
The Mercy's website lists the commanding officer of the ship's medical treatment facility, or MTF, as Capt. Melanie Merrick, a physician who deployed in support of the war in Iraq and other contingencies, according to her biography. The site doesn't identify the person in charge of the ship itself.
A Navy official later identified the master of the USNS Mercy -- the equivalent of the commanding officer -- as Capt. Thomas Giudice, a civilian mariner who's responsible for navigating the vessel. At the time of the accident, the hospital ship may have been under the direction of the two tug boats hired to transit the vessel out of the harbor.
The USS Arizona Memorial is the final resting place of most of the ship's 1,177 crewmen who were killed during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, according to the National Park Service. The 184-foot-long memorial structure spans the mid-portion of the sunken battleship, according to the service.
-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at Brendan.McGarry@military.com
-- Amy Bushatz can be reached at Amy.Bushatz@Military.com
-- Michael Hoffman can be reached at Mike.Hoffman@military.comThis week has been a tough one in the National Football League, but for the Oakland Raiders franchise the issue of domestic violence has had a far darker impact in the history of the team. Oakland’s dark history with the impact of domestic violence came through the tragic killing of the daughter of legendary wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff, who saw her life end by a killing in the sad end of s an abusive relationship with her killer who was her boyfriend.
Tracey Biletnikoff was strangled to death, and her killinh was a tragic day for a franchise that has supported their former wideout in the healing process from that day as the Biletnikoff Foundation has received plenty of help from the Raiders in helping to heal victims of domestic violence. So it is safe to say that the Raiders as a franchise are well aware of the serious impact domestic violence can have.
With that in mind, Davis addressed the issue when speaking to Jerry McDonald of Inside Bay Area, hoping that people use the Rice scandal to focus on the epidemic of domestic violence that costs so many lives each year.
From McDonald:
The Ray Rice domestic violence story hit home with Raiders owner Mark Davis, who has strong feelings about the issue and rejects the characterization that NFL teams aren’t doing anything about it. “The Raiders have been aware of domestic violence for more than 15 years,” Davis told this newspaper Friday. “In 1999, Fred Biletnikoff’s daughter — a member of our family — was murdered by her boyfriend, who was abusing her.” Tracey Biletnikoff, 20, was strangled by Mohammad Haroon Ali at a drug rehabilitation center in February of 1999. Fred Biletnikoff, and his wife, Angela, started the Biletnikoff Foundation, which provides support to young women recovering from substance abuse and education for the prevention of domestic violence. The Raiders, Davis said, have actively supported the Biletnikoff Foundation through their annual golf tournament as well as an annual fundraising crab feed. The Biletnikoff Foundation also works with STAND!, which has helped more than 15,000 crisis victims and their children by offering emergency shelter, counseling, support groups and transitional housing. Davis said he is dismayed the focus has been on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and his handling of the issue instead of the problem of domestic violence itself. “The important thing is that the focus is now on domestic violence,” Davis said. “Let’s work to prevent it.”
The Raiders as a franchise haven’t been perfect citizens just as any other NFL franchise, but the reminder of how serious domestic violence can be from the tragic murder of Tracey Biletnikoff. Knowing how the issue can ruin lives, Davis hopes that the league can help prevent the problem of domestic violence that harms and kills so many. Ray Rice’s suspension seems justified when looking at the message it sends to hopefully stop domestic violence not just in the NFL, but beyond as a message is being sent that violence towards women is not tolerated in our society.ADELAIDE's audacious bid to use the state jumper in the first Showdown at Adelaide Oval has ended after an enormous outcry from the public and the football fraternity.
At 6.30pm the Crows flew the white flag on their web site by announcing: "The SANFL has rescinded approval for us to wear a version of the SA guernsey.''
It came after some of the greatest SA footballers to wear the coveted guernsey had voiced their displeasure with the proposed jumper when speaking to The Advertiser.
Former greats such as Mark Naley, Garry McIntosh, Peter Motley, and John Platten slammed the plan and talkback continued to be in overdrive until the SANFL acted.
SA Football Commission chairman John Olsen and SANFL chief executive Leigh Whicker were in phone contact today between Sydney and Adelaide as public opinion continued to be overwhelmingly against the Crows playing in the SA jumper.
McIntosh summed it up: "If you're trying to get one up on Port, beat them when you play them,'' he said. "Beating them in the boardroom doesn't count.
"That's what happens when people in bullshit castles make bullshit decisions.''
Carlton champ Mark Naley, a Fos Williams medallist who cherishes his jumpers from 17 state games, was of a similar mind.
"How dare they,'' he said of the plan.
"It'd be like Carlton wearing the big V because it has a big membership and the right colours.
"It's just ridiculous. I'm a Carlton person and I'd be against that.''
Motley, whose first state game was a famous drought-breaking game against the Big V at Victoria Park in 1983, called the Crows' plan a "farce''.
Platten said the plan would have devalued the state jumper and pointed out that state jumpers had to be earned, regardless of the sport.
Heat has turned on the SANFL over how - and who - granted the Adelaide Football Club permission to not only adopt the state jumper for the derby against Port Adelaide on March 29 but also agreed to allow the Crows to sell space on the jumper to its members at $295 each.
SANFL club presidents are questioning why they were not consulted.
Norwood president Joe Tripodi told The Advertiser: "We should have been notified and consulted."
Also in question is why the SANFL administration did not pass Adelaide's request to the SA Football Commission in the first place.
Carlton president and SA Origin football hero Stephen Kernahan questioned how the SANFL could approve the Crows wearing the State jumper.
And he questioned if the AFL had set a precedent whereby Carlton could adopt the Victorian "Big V" state jumper in a celebratory club game.
"The South Australian state jumper is pretty sacred," Kernahan told The Advertiser this afternoon.
The former Glenelg forward who kicked 10 goals for SA in an Origin clash with Victoria at Football Park in 1984 added: "State team jumpers are for State team players. The South Australian jumper is for South Australians. It is meant for SA, not the Crows.
"I understand the Crows were the first SA team in the national competition and they are a big part of SA football. And, by the way, Port Adelaide has also added to that.
"But my father wore that state jumper to represent SA. So did I. So did many others. That jumper is sacred in my books.
"I spoke to (Collingwood president) Eddie McGuire today and suggested Carlton might wear the Big V in a heritage game. You can imagine the reaction. Clubs don't get to wear state jumpers."
Kernahan also questioned why the Crows did not engage Port Adelaide in talks on how to honour SA football in the return to the redeveloped Adelaide Oval next month.
"If you want to do something to acknowledge the history of SA football on Adelaide Oval, surely you get both clubs involved and work something out together," Kernahan said.
Kernahan's comments come after Crows chief operating officer Nigel Smart today stood by his club's controversial decision to both wear and sell the South Australian State-of-Origin jumper for the first Showdown against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on March 29.
The terms of the marketing deal that was to deliver as much as $500,000 to the Crows coffers from the sale of naming rights on the red guernsey are likely to change later this week with SA Football Commission intervention.
Smart told The Advertiser today the Crows remain committed to the controversial concept and jumper that were revealed at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday afternoon.
"We're committed to all aspects of it (wearing the jumper, selling the jumper and honouring past SA state teams)," said Smart.
SHOULD THE CROWS BE ALLOWED TO WEAR AN SA JUMPER? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW
The former Crows vice-captain and state player declared no surprise in the extraordinary reaction to Adelaide's decision to wear the state jumper in the derby against the Power.
"A reaction was somewhat expected because we knew that jumper creates a lot of discussion," Smart said. "We expected a reaction, but maybe not the reaction we have had."
Talks between the Crows and SANFL today are expected to deliver a compromise deal in which Adelaide hands part of the proceeds from the sale of the state jumper to the SANFL clubs.
Smart defended the sale of space on the jumper to Crows members saying this was a standard practice among AFL clubs today with heritage jumpers.
The AFL is understood to have made its own gaffe with the jumper proposal.
The Advertiser understands a junior league official approved the use of the state jumper because it posed no direct clash to the black Port Adelaide guernsey. However, this AFL staffer was not aware of the cultural significance of the jumper design delivered by the Crows to AFL House.
Adelaide announced yesterday it would will wear the traditional State football jumper - the red guernsey with the gold and blue V line - in the redeveloped Adelaide Oval's opening with the Showdown against Port Adelaide next month.
The controversial decision marked the second time the Crows had claimed a jumper once proudly reserved for state teams. The previous time was for an AFL heritage round game in which Adelaide took hold of a 1930s state jumper.
Speaking at Adelaide Oval yesterday, Smart declared the jersey would serve as a mark of respect of "140 years of SA football".
RUCCI: CROWS SPOIL THE CHANCE TO UNITE SA FOOTY
"The Adelaide Football Club was created by the SANFL by all of SA football in 1990 - and in 2014 we are still that team," said Smart.
"With this jumper the Adelaide Football Club is honouring its heritage in SA football. This club reflects the nine SANFL clubs (that formed SA's first AFL entry in 1990."
State Guernseys should be kept for State Games.... Cant imagine a Melb based AFL club being given permission to wear the Big V! — Warren Tredrea (@warrentredrea) February 5, 2014
The SANFL had endorsed the use of the state jumper in a club game despite Adelaide having non-South Australians in its line-up.
The decision is certain to use a jumper designed to unite South Australians in football has divided state opinion. It also is certain to annoy the Port Adelaide Football Club, a founding member of the SANFL in 1877.
Smart said yesterday of any reaction from Port Adelaide: "I don't care."
Adelaide plans to sell to its members the right to have their names displayed on the one-off jumper.
New @Adelaide_FC away jumper suggests Crows consider themselves SA state team. Imagine reaction if @CarltonFC opted to wear Big V. #arrogant — Warwick Green (@_WarwickGreen) February 5, 2014
Magnificent Crows. Nothing represents the heritage of the Adelaide Football Club better than that state jumper. Deal with it Port fans. — Graham Cornes (@Cornesy12) February 5, 2014
News_Module: Join The Advertiser Sport
Originally published as Crows abandon 'Origin' guernsey(CNN) -- The video is hard to turn away from. A sobbing 16-year-old sits in her bedroom and, staring into a camera, says she has been raped.
Crystal, 16, of Florida posted a video on YouTube pleading for help after she allegedly was raped.
"Hi, my name is Crystal.... I need some help. I didn't want to do it this way, but it's the only way I know that's going to work, that someone out there in the world is gonna listen to me."
The teen, whom CNN interviewed but is not identifying by her last name, is among dozens of young people who are turning to social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to talk about sexual assault.
For an online generation, the Web offers what traditional counseling does not. It's a chance to communicate without having to face someone or fear their judgment. Some people are seeking legal advice and medical information, and many younger victims believe that they can warn others about their accused attacker, counselors say.
There also are people like Crystal, whose case was dropped by the Orange County, Florida, state attorney's office, who feel slighted by the justice system.
"Young victims, particularly girls, turn inward. They are going to reach out and try to connect in the isolation of their dorm room or their bedrooms," said Jennifer Dritt, the director of the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence. "Most young women feel like they want somebody to know that someone did this to them."
One in four American women under the age of 25 report that they have been sexually assaulted, according to the nation's largest rape crisis counseling organization, RAINN, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.
"We noticed that this trend of posting details of an attack really picked up speed a few years ago," said Scott Berkowitz, RAINN's founder and president. "A rape survivor's intention may be to reach out, and we encourage that, but this is a dangerous way to do it."
Advocates worry that victims are divulging too much information. CNN found several Facebook and MySpace profiles on which young people say they have been raped. The postings include their names, photographs and hometowns. But Crystal is probably one of the few who have gone so far as to post a plea for help on YouTube.
Because anything posted on the Web is available forever through an Internet search, a rape survivor must consider how they would feel if that information were dredged up in the future, counselors said. By making themselves -- or their IP address -- available, victims open themselves to unreliable and unprofessional advice and the harsh judgment of their peers.
Perhaps worst of all, they could give their perpetrator a chance to find them again or gain more satisfaction.
In April, RAINN teamed with online security company McAfee Inc. and launched an anonymous and secure chat service where assault survivors can communicate with trained professionals. IP addresses are not tracked and transcripts of conversations -- which look like instant message boxes -- are not recorded. The service has helped more than 10,000 people, Berkowitz said. Go to RAINN's Web hotline
But counselors said survivors are going to look wherever they can to find help and comfort, particularly when they don't get it through the court system.
Fewer than 5 percent of reported cases in Florida make it to a prosecutor's office, Dritt said. Whether because of lack of forensic evidence or because many are he said/she said accounts, rape cases can be very difficult to try.
"What you hear from every rape crisis center from Pensacola to Key West is that there are hardly ever any prosecutions," she said. "Most sexual violence is acquaintance rape, and unfortunately, a lot of juries still think that if a victim had a relationship with their attacker, then they cannot be raped by that person."
Stacy, 25, worried about that when she was raped by a man she knew as a friend in 2001 while attending Ohio State University. Although she has spoken publicly numerous times about her experience, CNN is not using her last name in keeping with its policy of not identifying sexual assault victims.
As is typical of younger survivors, Stacy spent the days and weeks after her assault struggling to assure her friends and family that she was OK. She reported the assault to university authorities, but her attacker continued to go to class. She grew increasingly depressed and anxious. Her grades plummeted, and she gained weight.
"I thought that people who had never been assaulted would never understand. I thought I had no one to talk to, but then I realized, I had the Internet," she said. "Sometimes, talking to people who were not close to me was refreshing because there was no judgment to face. If you talk to someone online, there's no judgment, right? How can they judge you when they don't even know you?"
She began instant messaging in chat rooms but quickly realized that many people who initially seemed sympathetic were only pretending.
"The next thing you know, they are making it seem like they are turned on. They were asking me for details of my rape. It was very disturbing," she said. "I had to block several people. After that, I thought the worst of the world. I thought everyone was a perpetrator, and I trusted no one."
After years of face-to-face therapy, Stacy began to heal and feel more confident. She partly credits RAINN, which she found via an Internet search, for helping her recover. Other female students came forward to say they, too, had been assaulted by her attacker. He was expelled from the university and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge -- sexual imposition, a misdemeanor -- and was placed on probation.
Stacy watched Crystal's video.
"That's just heartbreaking," she said. "I feel really sad for her because no one seems to have explained that the justice system isn't always going to help. I understand why she's outraged. That's exactly how I felt, too."
Orange County authorities charged the 23-year-old man Crystal accused of assaulting her with lewd or lascivious battery. According to court documents, Crystal and the man both said they had an ongoing sexual relationship.
The prosecutor, who declined to comment to CNN, concluded that the teen and the 23-year-old had consensual sex, according to the case file.
Florida law states that a 15-year-old cannot give consent to sex. And though Crystal was 15 at the time of the alleged forced encounter, the prosecutor wrote that the case would not be prosecuted because Crystal was "a mere 1 month away" from turning 16, when it would be "legal to give consent," according to documents.
A spokeswoman for the Orange County state attorney's office declined to comment further.
Stacy had some advice for Crystal: Get counseling and keep talking.
"You're not always going to get what you want from the court system," she said. "So you've got to think about yourself, figure out who you are and realize that you're stronger than what he did to you."
CNN's Special Investigations Unit's Abbie Boudreau and Scott Zamost contributed to this report.
All About Rape, Abuse & Incest National NetworkMake an impact on our next game
Help us develop great games by participating in playtests at our downtown Champaign studio!
If we think you’re a good fit for a particular playtest, you will be appropriately compensated for your time and help. You must be 18 years or older to participate. You must provide your own transportation. The length of these studies may range from 1 hour to multiple days, depending on what is needed at the time.
To sign up, please complete the playtest sign-up survey linked below. Volition collects this information for the sole purpose of matching you with an appropriate study. All information is kept confidential. You must have a valid email address in order to complete this survey.
Playtest Sign-up
Send questions to: vPlaytest@dsvolition.com
Also, if you have gaming buddies, please tell them to enroll as well!The FBI on Wednesday released nearly 400 pages of records from an investigation it conducted on Donald Trump’s family real estate company in the early 1970s.
The documents consist of interview notes, handwritten statements and FBI reports compiled during the bureau’s investigation, which occurred between 1972 and 1974.
The FBI’s investigation centered on allegations that the Trump Management Company, which was owned by Trump’s father, Fred, discriminated against applicants for apartment rentals based on their race.
The federal lawsuit was widely reported during the presidential campaign with Democrats using the case to argue that Trump, an executive with the company at the time, is racist. The Justice Department settled with Trump Management in 1975 with the company admitting no wrongdoing but agreeing to provide more rentals to minority applicants.
The timing of the document dump is sure to raise questions given an ongoing battle between federal agencies and the Trump administration over leaks of classified information to the media.
But the FBI has recently started announcing the release of records related to high-profile cases.
In the weeks before the election, after nearly a year of inactivity, a Twitter account maintained by the FBI’s records division released files it had on Fred Trump, who died in 1999. Days later, the account dumped records from a Justice Department probe of Bill Clinton’s controversial pardon of billionaire fugitive Marc Rich.
Some Democrats asserted at the time that the release was politically-motivated. Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon called the timing of the release “odd.”
The documents released on Wednesday include statements from tenants and Trump company employees who claimed Fred Trump discriminated against black renters.
“Fred Trump told me not to rent to blacks,” one rental supervisor who worked for Fred Trump in 1973 told an FBI special agent.
In Oct. 1974, a former doorman at a Trump property in Brooklyn described what he said was the Trump company’s anti-black policy.
He told investigators that a superintendent who worked for Fred Trump told him that he should tell any black applicants for apartments “that the rent was twice as much as it really was, in order that he could not afford the apartment.”
Follow Chuck on TwitterCLOSE White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders reads a brief statement from the president Tuesday supporting his eldest son in response to revelations that Donald Trump Jr. agreed to hear damaging information on Hillary Clinton. (July 11) AP
What if there had been truly damaging information about Hillary Clinton? Any journalist would invoke the public’s right to know.
Donald Trump Jr. at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19, 2016. (Photo: Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty Images)
The saying in the Watergate days was that “it’s not the crime but the cover-up.” These days, you don’t need a crime or a cover-up to trigger outsized political outrage, just a heavy dose of bad optics.
The latest hyperventilating from the anti-Trump crowd is over a chain of emails from June 3-8, 2016 between Donald Trump Jr. and music producer Rob Goldstone. Goldstone was acting as an intermediary to set up a meeting between Trump and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. According to Goldstone, the purpose of the meeting would be to pass along “very high level and sensitive information” that “would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia.” Goldstone opined that this was “part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump.”
Goldstone said he was told “she has information about illegal campaign contributions to the D.N.C.” It would also have been reasonable to have assumed that the promised information had to do with the shady 2013 “Uranium One” deal, in which a Russian company with close ties to the Kremlin was allowed to assume control of one-fifth of all uranium production in the United States, while at the same time millions of dollars were flowing from interested parties in Russia to the Clinton Foundation and to Bill Clinton personally. The idea that Veselnitskaya was peddling information from hacked DNC servers would not have been obvious, since that story came out later, on June 14 — and even then it was reported that the hackers stole opposition research on Donald Trump.
However, when the meeting happened on June 9, no anti-Hillary information was forthcoming. Veselnitskaya only wanted to discuss a sanctions law called the Magnitsky Act, and claims she “never had any damaging or sensitive information about Hillary Clinton.” Goldstone, who apparently had been misled, called it “the most inane nonsense I’ve ever heard.”
This story is hardly as inane as the collective furor that has been generated around the Russia issue writ large. Although four (or, according to the Clinton camp, 17) intelligence agencies concluded the Russian government attempted to influence the 2016 election, there is no evidence that any of these attempts succeeded. Donald Trump won fair and square, unless you want to assert that somehow Russia hacked Michigan’s paper ballot system.
But those who are dead-set on invalidating the election results by other means still persisted. Lacking evidence of actual crimes, they have been forced to drum up narratives around more nebulous, subjective offenses like “obstruction,” “misleading conduct,” and of course “collusion,” which this email chain supposedly points to. However, the case is pathetically weak. Veselnitskaya was not connected to the Kremlin and Don Trump Jr. said she had no anti-Hillary material to offer. She comes off more as someone who wormed her way onto Trump Jr.’s schedule by dangling a vague promise of tantalizing information, then denied she ever promised anything.
The situation became even murkier when it was revealed that Veselnitskaya had hired an investigator from Fusion GPS, the Democratic opposition research firm that was behind the notorious Trump-Russia dossier, a collection of unsubstantiated and in some cases demonstrably false links between Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia. Could the real purpose of the meeting have been simply to get direct contact between a Russian and a member of the Trump family on the record? Fusion GPS says that any claim that it “arranged or facilitated” the meeting is “false.” Mark Corallo, a spokesman for President Trump’s lawyer, has implied the whole thing was a setup.
POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media
Those who are desperately concerned about the influence of foreign entities on U.S. elections should focus their attentions on the firm evidence of actual collusion between the Clinton campaign and Ukraine, particularly targeting one-time Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. It is a solid case. As for Donald Trump Jr., he was perfectly in his rights to follow up a lead on possible damaging information regarding Hilary Clinton in the heat of a political campaign. What if it had been true? Any journalist in that position would invoke the public’s right to know.
James S. Robbins, a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors and author of This Time We Win: Revisiting the Tet Offensive, has taught at the National Defense University and the Marine Corps University and served as a special assistant to the secretary of Defense in the George W. Bush administration. Follow him on Twitter: @James_Robbins
You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @USATOpinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.
Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2uOvz4iIn a statement issued today, the German Federal Office for Security in Information Technology (known as BSI) recommends that all Internet Explorer users switch to an alternative browser. They may resume using Explorer after a fix is issued by Microsoft for a critical |
Gigabit Ethernet), and gige (Gigabit Ethernet) ports at all core router locations. For speeds in excess of 10 Gbps, Hurricane Electric can deliver 100GE or multiple 10GE ports. Over 100 Terabits of Edge Capacity - Hurricane Electric has over 100 Terabits of edge capacity to allow us to easily help you with your growing network needs.
- Hurricane Electric has over 100 Terabits of edge capacity to allow us to easily help you with your growing network needs. Jumbo Frames - Hurricane Electric's entire network is Jumbo Frame (9000 byte MTU) capable to allow higher data throughput. Jumbo frames allow you to more easily attain higher data speeds for large data transfers between geographically separated locations when both locations have jumbo frame capability.
- Hurricane Electric's entire network is Jumbo Frame (9000 byte MTU) capable to allow higher data throughput. Jumbo frames allow you to more easily attain higher data speeds for large data transfers between geographically separated locations when both locations have jumbo frame capability. IPv6 transit and IPv4 transit on the same customer connection - Because Hurricane Electric's network is dual stack, Hurricane Electric can deliver wirespeed 10GE IPv6 transit on the same port as your IPv4 transit.
- Because Hurricane Electric's network is dual stack, Hurricane Electric can deliver wirespeed 10GE IPv6 transit on the same port as your IPv4 transit. Direct DWDM Backbone Circuits - All our backbone circuits are run over DWDM wavelengths directly on fiber, not on some other carrier's MPLS.
- All our backbone circuits are run over DWDM wavelengths directly on fiber, not on some other carrier's MPLS. Fiber Internet Connections - Get IP Transit via fiber at 1310nm or 1550nm (singlemode) using your SFP, SFP+, QSFP, QSFP28, or CFP2.
- Get IP Transit via fiber at 1310nm or 1550nm (singlemode) using your SFP, SFP+, QSFP, QSFP28, or CFP2. Burstable or Flat Rate - Burstable pricing as well as flat rate pricing is available. We can accommodate your rapid growth or fixed budget.
Key Features and Benefits
Port Availability - at all locations globally.
BGP - included at no extra charge.
IPv6 and IPv4 on the same connection - included at no extra charge.
Single AS worldwide - simpler global routing, provisioning, and service.
Flexible Billing - Burstable or Flat Rate
Rapid Turnaround Capability - if you can get a cross connect to a core node we can bring you live!
Ability to grow with you.
Availability
IP Transit Service Locations
United States RSA Dexter Avenue Datacenter 445 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, AL, 36104 Digital Realty Telx Phoenix 120 E Van Buren St, 3rd Floor, Phoenix, AZ, 85004 PhoenixNAP 3402 E University Dr, Phoenix, AZ, 85034 Hurricane Electric Fremont 1 760 Mission Ct, Fremont, CA, 94539 Hurricane Electric Fremont 2 48233 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont, CA, 94539 Equinix Los Angeles LA1 600 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA, 90017 CoreSite One Wilshire 624 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90017 Equinix Los Angeles LA4 445 N Douglas St, Los Angeles (El Segundo), CA, 90017 Equinix Palo Alto SV8 529 Bryant St, Palo Alto, CA, 94301 Digital Realty Telx San Francisco SFR1 200 Paul Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94124 Digital Realty Telx (365 Main) 365 Main St, San Francisco, CA, 94105 Hurricane Electric San Jose (Coresite) 55 S Market, 14th Floor, San Jose, CA, 95113 Equinix San Jose SV1 11 Great Oaks Blvd, San Jose, CA, 95119 vXchnge / BAIS 2050 Martin Ave., Santa Clara, CA, 95050 Coresite DE1 910 15th St, Suite 740, Denver, CO, 80202 Equinix Miami MI3 4680 Conference Way South, Boca Raton (Miami), FL, 33431 GoRACK 421 421 W Church St, Jacksonville, FL, 32202 Equinix Miami MI1/NOTA 50 NE 9th St, Miami, FL, 33132 iM Interconnect Miami 36 NE 2nd St, Suite 520, Miami, FL, 33131 365 Data Centers TA1 655 North Franklin St, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL, 33602 Digital Realty Telx ATL1 56 Marietta St, Atlanta, GA, 30303 Colo Atl 55 Marietta St., Atlanta, GA, 30303 Equinix Atlanta AT1 180 Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA, 30303 QTS Atlanta-Metro ATL1 1033 Jefferson St NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318 QTS Atlanta-Suwanee SUW1 300 Satellite Blvd. NW, Atlanta (Suwanee), GA, 30024 DRFortress 3375 Koapaka St, Honolulu, HI, 96819 Equinix Chicago CH1 350 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL, 60616 Digital Realty Telx Chicago CHI1 350 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL, 60616 Coresite CH1 427 S. LaSalle, Chicago, IL, 60605 Netrality Chicago 717 S Wells, Chicago, IL, 60607 Equinix Chicago CH3 1905 Lunt Avenue, Chicago (Elk Grove Village), IL, 60007 Lifeline Henry Street 733 W. Henry Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46225 Markley Group, One Summer Street 1 Summer St, Boston, MA, 02110 MFC Portland Regen Site / NNENIX 9 Westland Ave, Portland, ME, 04101 123net Southfield (Metro Detroit) 24700 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 700, Detroit (Southfield), MI, 48075 EdgeConneX Detroit 21005 Lahser Rd., Suite Bldg. 4, Detroit (Southfield), MI, 48033 Neutral Path MSP1 713 E Church St, Belle Plaine, MN, 56011 Cologix Minneapolis 511 11th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55415 Neutral Path RST1 220 S Broadway, Center Plaza, Suite LL12, Rochester, MN, 55904 CenturyLink (Level 3) 1100 Walnut St, Kansas City, MO, 64106 Netrality Kansas City (1102) 1102 Grand Ave, Kansas City, MO, 64106 Netrality St. Louis (900) 900 Walnut, Saint Louis, MO, 63102 Netrality St. Louis (210) 210 Tucker, Saint Louis, MO, 63101 Lumos Data Centers (DC74) 3101 International Airport Drive, Suite 400, Charlotte, NC, 28208 NCC 1623 Farnam St, Omaha, NE, 68102 165 Halsey (Tishman Properties) 165 Halsey St, Newark, NJ, 07102 QTS Piscataway PNJ1 101 Possumtown Road, Newark (Piscataway), NJ, 08854 Equinix New York NY5 800 Secaucus Road, Secaucus, NJ, 10011 H5 Albuquerque ABQ 1 505 Marquette Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87102 Fiberhub 1110 Palms Airport Dr, Suite 110, Las Vegas, NV, 89119 Roller Network 3545 Airway Dr, Suite 114, Reno, NV, 89511 Telehouse New York Chelsea 85 10th Ave, New York City, NY, 10011 Equinix New York NY9 111 8th Ave, Suite 734, New York City, NY, 10011 Digital Realty Telx NYC1 60 Hudson St, New York City, NY, 10013 Digital Realty Telx NYC2 111 8th Ave, Suite 634, New York City, NY, 10011 Coresite NY1 32 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 700, New York City, NY, 10013 Telehouse New York Teleport Staten Island 7 Teleport Dr., New York City, NY, 10011 Cologix COL2 555 Scherers Court, Columbus, OH, 43085 RACK59 Data Center 7725 West Reno Ave, Suite 304, Oklahoma City, OK, 73127 Pittock Bldg Portland 921 SW Washington St, Portland, OR, 97205 EdgeConneX Portland 23245 NW Evergreen Parkway, Suite C-300, Portland (Hillsboro), OR, 97124 Equinix Philadelphia 401 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA, 19108 Netrality Philadelphia 401 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA, 19108 365 Data Centers NA1 147 Fourth Ave, 8th Floor, Nashville, TN, 37219 Equinix Dallas DA1 1950 N Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX, 75207 Cologix Dallas 1950 N Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX, 75207 InfoMart Dallas BMMR 1950 N Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX, 75207 QTS Dallas DFW1 6431 Longhorn Drive, Dallas (Irving), TX, 75063 Consolidated Houston 811 Louisiana St, Houston, TX, 77002 Netrality Houston 1301 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77002 Databank SLC1 179 Social Hall Ave, Salt Lake City, UT, 84111 Equinix Ashburn DC2 21715 Filigree Ct, Ashburn, VA, 20147 QTS Ashburn IAD2 1506 Moran Road, Dulles (Sterling), VA, 20166 Coresite VA1 12100 Sunrise Valley Dr, Reston, VA, 20191 Pixel Factory Data Center 9680 Atlee Commons Dr., Suite 102, Richmond (Ashland), VA, 23005 QTS Richmond RIC1 6000 Technology Blvd., Richmond (Sandston), VA, 23150 Equinix Seattle SE2 2001 6th Ave, Suite 1200, Seattle, WA, 98121 Westin Building MMR 2001 6th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98121 5NINES 222 W Washington Ave, Madison, WI, 53703 ACT Data Center 1621 Diamond Creek Rd, Cheyenne, WY, 82009 Canada DataHive 840 7th Ave SW, Calgary, AB, T2P 3G2 Wolfpaw 10060 Jasper Ave., Suite 301, Tower 2, Edmonton, AB, T5J 3R8 Cologix 555 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N4 Harbor Exchange MMR 555 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N4 Global Server Centre 167 Lombard Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 0V3 Manitoba Hydro Telecom Data Centre 360 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 0G8 Fibre Centre 770 St George Blvd, Moncton, NB, E1E 2C6 Equinix Toronto TR1 151 Front St West, Suite 706, Toronto, ON, M5J 2N1 Cologix Toronto TOR1 151 Front St West, Toronto, ON, M5J 2N1 Equinix Toronto TR2 45 Parliament St, Toronto, ON, M5A 0G7 Cologix Montreal 1250 Blvd Rene Levesque W, Montreal, QC, H3B 4W8 Metro Optic I.C.E. 875 Saint-Antoine St. W, Montreal, QC, H3C 1A6 University of Saskatchewan / Innovation Place 110 Maintenance Rd, Suite C2, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 4L5 South America Equinix Sao Paulo SP2 Alameda Araguaia 3641, Sao Paulo, Tambore Barueri, SP 06455 Brazil Equinix Bogota BG1 Avenida Carrera 106 No. 15A-25, Bogota, Colombia Europe Interxion VIE1 Louis Haefliger-Gasse 10, Vienna, A-1210 Austria Interxion Brussels Wezembeekstraat 2 bus 1, Brussels, 1930 Zaventem Belgium Telepoint 122 Ovcha Pole St, Sofia, 1303 Bulgaria Equinix Geneva GV1 Rue de la Confederation 6, Geneva, Switzerland Equinix Zurich ZH4 Josefstrasse 225, Zurich, 8005 Switzerland Interxion ZUR1 Sagereistrasse, Zurich (Glattbrugg), 8152 Switzerland e-shelter Zurich (ZRH1) 56 Hofwisenstrasse, Zurich (Rumlang), 8153 Switzerland CE Colo Sitel Nad Elektrarnou 411, Prague, Czech Republic e-shelter Frankfurt (FRA1) 100 Eschborner Landstrasse, Frankfurt, 60439 Germany IPB CarrierColo Berlin Lutzowstrasse 105, Berlin, Germany Interxion Dusseldorf In der Steele 29, Dusseldorf, Germany Interxion Frankfurt FRA1 Hanauer Landstrasse 302, Frankfurt, 60314 Germany Equinix Frankfurt FR5 Kleyerstrasse 90, Frankfurt, 60326 Germany Equinix Frankfurt FR7 Gutleutstrasse 310, Frankfurt, 60327 Germany Equinix Frankfurt FR2 Kruppstrasse 121-127,, Frankfurt, 60388 Germany Incolocate/GlobalConnect Wendenstrasse 379, Hamburg, 20537 Germany Equinix Munich MU1 Seidlestrasse 3, Alte Hopfenpost, Munich, 80335 Germany Interxion CPH1 Industriparken 20, Copenhagen (Ballerup), 2750 Denmark Telia Eesti/Elion Sole 14, 10611, Tallinn, Estonia Equinix Itconic Barcelona Acer #30-32, Barcelona, Spain Interxion Madrid Calle Albasanz 71, Madrid, 28037 Spain Pasila Broadcast Tower / Digita Radiokatu 5B, Helsinki, Finland SFR Netcenter / Interxion 40 Avenue Roger Salengro, Marseille, 13003 France Telehouse Paris TH2 137 Blvd Voltaire, Paris, 75011 France Interxion PAR2 #20-22 Rue des Gardineaux, Paris (Aubervilliers), 93300 France Interxion PAR1 45 Avenue Victor Hugo, Suite Batiment no. 260, Paris (Aubervilliers), 93534 France Equinix Paris PA7 130-136 Boulevard de Verdun, Energy Park 9, Paris (Courbevoie), 92400 France Equinix Paris PA2 114 Rue Ambroise Croizat, Paris (Saint-Denis), 93200 France SRCE Zagreb Josipa Marohnica 5, Zagreb, Croatia GTS Hungary Victor Hugo u 18-22, Budapest, Hungary Interxion DUB1 Unit 35 Lavery Avenue, Dublin, 12 Ireland Equinix Dublin DB2 Nangor Road, Dublin, Ireland Equinix Dublin DB1 Unit 4027, Kingswood Road, City West Business Campus, Dublin, 24 Ireland Equinix Dublin DB3 Unit 2, Northwest Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin, 15 Ireland MIX Via Caldera 21 Bldg D, Milan, Italy Enter Srl Via Caldera 21 Palazzo B Ala 2, Milan, Italy Equinix Milan ML2 125 Via Savona, Milan, 20144 Italy NaMeX 6/b Via dei Tizi,, Rome, Italy Data Logistics Center Juozapaviciaus str,13, Vilnius, LT-09311 Lithuania LuxConnect DC1.1 4 Rue Graham Bell, 3235 Bettembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg LVRTC Zakusalas krastmala 1, Riga, LV-1050 Latvia Equinix Amsterdam AM7 Kuiperbergweg 13, Amsterdam, 1101 AE The Netherlands Interxion AMS8 37 Pudongweg, Amsterdam, 1437 EM The Netherlands Equinix Amsterdam AM3 610 Science Park, Amsterdam, 1098 XH The Netherlands Interxion AMS9 121 Science Park, Amsterdam, 1098 XG The Netherlands Global Switch 2-6 Henk Sneevlietweg, Amsterdam, 1066 VH The Netherlands NIKHEF 105 Science Park, Amsterdam, 1098 XG The Netherlands Digiplex Ulven Oslo Selma Ellefsensvei 1 / Ulvenveien 89b, Oslo, Norway Equinix Warsaw WA1/LIM/PLIX Al Jerozolimskie #65-79, Warsaw, Poland Equinix Itconic Lisbon Av. Severiano Falcao 14, Prior Velho, Lisbon, Sacavem 2685 Portugal NXDATA-1 8 Dimitrie Pompeiu Blvd, Bucharest, Romania Telenor Beograd 90 Omladinskih brigada, Belgrade, Serbia Equinix Stockholm SK1 Mariehallsvagen 36, Stockholm (Bromma), Sweden Interxion Stockholm Esbogatan 11, Stockholm (Kista), Sweden Equinix Stockholm SK2 Kvastvagen 25-29, SE-128 62, Stockholm (Skondal), Sweden NewTelco Kiev Gaydara 50 Street, 01033, Kiev, Ukraine Pulsant Edinburgh South Gyle Unit 6 The Clocktower Estate, Edinburgh (South Gyle Crescent), EH12 9LB United Kingdom aql Salem Church 11-15 Hunslet Road, Leeds, LS10 1JQ United Kingdom Telehouse East London 14 Coriander Ave, London, E14 2AA United Kingdom Equinix London LD8 #6&7 Harbour Exchange Square, London, E14 9GE United Kingdom Telehouse North London 14 Coriander Ave, London, E14 2AA United Kingdom Equinix London LD9 Powergate Bus. Park Volt Avenue, Suite 1, London, NW10 6PW United Kingdom Interxion LON1 11 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR United Kingdom Global Switch London East 3 Nutmeg Lane, London, E14 2AX United Kingdom Equinix London LD5 Slough 8 Buckingham Ave, London (Slough), SL1 4AX United Kingdom Equinix MA1 Williams/Kilburn 3 Williams House Manchester Science Park, Lloyd Street North, Manchester, M15 6SE United Kingdom Equinix MA2 Reynolds House 4 Archway Manchester Technopark, Manchester, M15 5RN United Kingdom Equinix MA3 Joule House Joule House 76 Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1HE United Kingdom LDeX2 Manchester Data Centre Unit 6 Waterside, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1WD United Kingdom Sitel Bratislava Kopcianska 20/c, Bratislava, 851 01 Slovakia Middle East Equinix Dubai DX1 International Media Production Zone, Building F90, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Asia Mega iAdvantage 399 Chai Wan Rd, 32nd Floor, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Equinix Hong Kong HK1 168 Yeung Uk Rd, Tsuen Wan NT, 17 Floor, Hong Kong, Hong Kong HKCOLO 8/F Sino Favour Centre, 1 On Yip Street, Chaiwan, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Equinix Osaka OS1 Nishi-Shinsaibashi Bldg., 1-26-1 Shin-machi, Osaka, 550-0013 Japan Equinix Tokyo TY2 3-8-21 Higashi Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan KINX 5F, Daelim Acrotel, 467-6, Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea Equinix Singapore SG1 20 Ayer Rajah Crescent #05-05/08, Singapore, Singapore Global Switch Singapore Tai Seng Avenue Global Switch Singapore, Suite 2, Singapore, Singapore Epsilontel 151 Lorong Chuan, Lobby A #06-02, Singapore, Singapore Chief Telecom LY Bldg 8/9F, No 250, Yang-Guang St., NeiHu District, Taipei, Taiwan Africa Djibouti Data Center Haramous 3G Building, Boulaos Street, Djibouti, Djibouti East Africa Data Centre Sameer Business Park, Mombasa Road, Nairobi, Kenya Teraco CT1 240 Main Road, Great Westerford Building, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700 South Africa Teraco JB1 5 Brewery Street, Isando, Johannesburg, 1600 South Africa Oceania Datacentre220 220 Queen Street, Level 1 Floor, Auckland, 1010 New Zealand Equinix Sydney SY1 639 Gardeners Road, Sydney, 2020 Australia Global Switch Sydney East 400 Harris St., Sydney, 2007 Australia Equinix Melbourne ME1 578 Lorimer Street, Melbourne, 3207 Australia
Or call and email for IP Transit details:
+1 510-580-4190 Or call and email for IP Transit details:+1 510-580-4190 sales@he.net
Hurricane Electric IP Transit service is available in colocation facilities such as Equinix, CoreSite, Cologix, Telehouse, Interxion, Itconic, Global Switch, etc. and cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Ashburn, Toronto, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Stockholm, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cuba could be a spring training destination once more.
Major League Baseball is considering playing future spring exhibition games on the island nation and baseball hotbed, which used to routinely host American teams in the days before Fidel Castro came to power.
Baseball players' association president Tony Clark said Saturday there have been "ongoing" discussions about playing in Cuba, which recently renewed diplomatic ties with the United States. Clark said there were conversations about Cuba hosting games this spring, but there wasn't enough time to finalize details.
"We weren't able to put those pieces in play this go-around," Clark said following his annual union meeting with the Cleveland Indians. "It is conceivable somewhere down the road that there may be a spring training game played in Cuba, but it's hard to tell when at this point in time."
The Baltimore Orioles played a spring exhibition in Havana against the Cuban national team in 1999, ending a 40-year gap since the last visit by a major league team.
Major league teams regularly held spring training camps in Cuba in the 1940s and `50s. The Cincinnati Reds had a Triple-A affiliate on the island, the Havana Sugar Kings.
Cuba and the U.S. have a long-time connection through baseball. Several Cuban-born players, including former stars Luis Tiant, Jose Canseco and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, as well as current players such as Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Abreu, have thrived on MLB teams. Last season, 19 Cuban-born players were on major league rosters.
Clark said players understand that baseball, now more of an international game than ever, can play a part in the healing process between the U.S. and Cuba.
"I think what's great is that you look around any locker room now and you appreciate how international and how global our game is," Clark said. "Cuba being a piece that no one really knows about."
"It seems like every Cuban player who comes over here is contributing significantly to our game and it's beneficial for everyone. There is intrigue. There is interest. I'm very interested to see what happens here," he said.
Indians manager Terry Francona visited Cuba in the late 1970s as a teenager, touring the communist nation with a U.S. national team. During the trip, Francona had his picture taken while shaking hands with Castro, but the photograph was of poor quality and it's one he wishes he still had.
Francona does have great memories of his time in Cuba and would love the chance to go there again with his ballclub.
"I think it would be cool," he said following practice. "My dad was there in '56, and he said at the time it was almost better than the major leagues. There were four teams in Havana. He was the MVP of something and he came home with a black Cadillac. That's not the winter ball I remember."Israeli forces used tanks backed by airstrikes in the pre-dawn raid
Israeli forces have clashed with Palestinian militants during a raid on northern Gaza, hours after rejecting a truce offered by Hamas.
Palestinian doctors say a 14-year-old girl died and eight other people were injured in the raid, in Beit Lahiya.
They say the casualties included the girl's mother, but were mostly gunmen involved in clashes with the Israelis.
Reports say the target of the raid was local Hamas leader Hassan Marouf, but the Israeli army refused to comment.
The Associated Press news agency quotes witnesses as saying the Israelis seized him from his home amid heavy fighting.
The Israeli army said none of its troops were injured.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
The raid began before dawn, with an Israeli undercover force entering northern Gaza backed by tanks and aircraft.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants fired at them with machine guns, mortars and homemade bombs.
On Friday Hamas proposed a six-month "period of quiet" in Gaza, which it said could then be extended to the West Bank.
Israel dismissed the proposal as a ruse to allow Hamas to "re-arm and re-group".Kevin Richardson is known as the Lion Whisperer, or the Lion King. He manages 38 lions, all bred in captivity, in his own lion park, and has developed quite an amazingly cuddly and playful relationship with the animals. The park costs him $15,000 to $20,000 a month.
Even though the lions are less aggressive than completely wild lions, this is still dangerous enough.
In Zimbabwe I played with a nine-month-old lion and was very surprised at how strong it was. Even when the young lion didn’t mean to be rough, he was rough. The lions in the video are full grown adults, and you can see how large they are.
The biggest danger is that when the lions play, they can be rough – though not meaning to hurt the guy, they could still seriously hurt him anyway. Human skin is quite soft compared to the very rough fur of lions, and if something happens and he starts to bleed, watch out. Nature can kick in quickly.
Still, it’s really stunning video. I’ve found some additional ones online, and posted a second below. Ooh, even better, I found a 45 minute National Geographic documentary on Kevin Richardson in HD. I’ll post that third, below.
Here’s the HD National Geographic documentary:By Walid Shoebat (Shoebat.com exclusive)
Between 5 to 7 thousand supporters of ISIS have announced themselves officially in Jordan, and the organization began to raise its flag in several provinces starting from Ma’an.
The sudden development with show of arms in the main roads, and the fighters even began to stop government convoys amid a barrage of bullets and shouts of Allahu Akbar, which raised the ire of observers to the absence of the state and security agencies to prosecute, monitor and follow up on these moves for the supporters of ISIS.
The three videos were traded through social networking sites and YouTube, which show Jordanians carrying machine guns, one of which was in front of a police car and a security patrol which did not move to stop them while ISIS supporters showered the sky with shots to celebrate the departure of an ISIS supporter them from prison.
The ISIS unit in Jordan is led by Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi and Abu Qatada, considered to be Salafi jihadist.
Experts warn that the phenomenon is on the increase.
In January of last year, we wrote an article forewarning the invasion of Jordan by jihadists, it can be read here.
In another video the ISIS unit in Jordan can be seen singing,
Abu Bakr O Baghdadi, you are a terror for the enemy. The Huris (wide eyed beauties in heaven) of heaven are calling. So register me as martyr.” (repeat) Our swords glitter. Our symphony is the canon. (repeat) And Islam will return …
The video can be found here
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION THAT WILL SAVE CHRISTIAN LIVES FROM ISLAMIC PERSECUTION
printBENGALURU: As public anger mounted over the mysterious death of an upright IAS officer, his family has threatened to commit suicide if their demands are not met."My son wouldn't have committed suicide. He is not like that. He was strong hearted. My son was not a coward. I had not given birth to a son who could commit suicide," Gowramma, the mother of D K Ravi, whose death has sparked outrage and rattled the state administration, said."He was a son of this country. I have a lost son of this country...," an inconsolable Gowramma said, as the government came in the line of fire from the Opposition parties and others for the suicide theory given by police.35-year-old Ravi, a popular bureaucrat for being honest and gutsy in taking on the sand and land mafia and tax evaders, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his room in a flat here on Monday evening, with the police saying it was a case of suicide prima facie.Not buying the police version, the Opposition demanded a CBI probe, instead of CID inquiry as announced by the state government, to unravel the truth about the death of Ravi, additional commissioner of commercial taxes (Enforcement).Body of DK Ravi, IAS officer, who was found mysteriously dead, brought to his father in laws residence in Nagabhavi for public display in Bengaluru wIfe Kusuma, Mother in law, father in law and others seen on Tuesday 17th March 2015. (TOI photo by KS Sridhar)"My younger brother died because of political pressure," Ravi's brother Ramesh said as he broke down. "I don't know whether we will get justice," he said alleging it was a murder.Ravi's father Kariyappa, Gowramma and Ramesh reached the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, and staged a dharna there demanding a CBI probe into Ravi's death."We only want a CBI probe. We want justice," Gowramma said, with the other two also echoing the same.There should be an impartial inquiry into the incident, the IAS officer's father-in-law Hanumanthrayappa said.It was Marilyn Monroe who once said, “If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”
I can really relate to this. Because the truth is, if you can’t handle me at my worst, you’re definitely not going to like that I dug my car keys clear across the side of your Honda Civic.
That’s right: I parked in your neighbor’s driveway sometime past ten, walked up to your car, tucked my house key between my forefinger and thumb, and sliced right through that passenger door like it was fresh bread. See, I contain multitudes, have my highs and my lows, and I like to think that my intensity is just part and parcel of my heightened ability to feel. I’m very empathic that way.
What can I say? I’m an unknowable feminine mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped around a handful of keys scraped across your car.
If you can’t handle me in all of my richness and contradictions, particularly during my dark moods wherein I’m prone to acts of aggression, then sorry, I’m not for you and you’re definitely not going to like that I defaced your vehicle in a moment of rage.
Have I mentioned that I’m an introvert?
My introverted nature is part of why I feel things so deeply. Right after skulking out into the night with a dozen eggs to smash into the windows of your car—which quickly froze in the winter air—I needed some “me” time to rest and recharge. Social interaction like this can be very taxing, but hey, I’m as loyal as they come, when I’m not at my worst and vandalizing cars.
I’m not religious, but I am intensely spiritual, so after puncturing your tires with a broken bottle of Bud Light Platinum, I paused to reflect on my space in nature. You know, we’re all just molecules, molecules that get excited and agitated and spin around Earth’s gravitational pull, leaving tire-popping chunks of glass and a little bit of diet beer in the driveway of the person they’re mad at that week.
The universe is beautiful, dangerous, and in violation of its parole—just like me.
I believe that you should never make someone a priority who only makes you an option, and at times the only option is to take that someone’s driver side mirror clean off with one good high kick. You’d better have some duct tape as strong as my spirit energy to patch that back together.
Being so in tune with my emotions means I’m great at reading others. So, I knew you were someone who can’t handle all of my quirks, especially the bad ones, and you’d really hate that I poured sugar into your gas tank before flipping you the bird and yelling “Fuck your mom!” loud enough for the entire block to hear. I live in the present. I never knew how strong I was, until I had to be. That sugar was heavy.
Sorry, this is just me. All of me. The good, the bad, the illegal. Take it or leave it, buster!Chelsea’s Colombia winger lost his father when he was four in frightening circumstances but ‘Shorty’ was desperate to be a footballer – despite the efforts of his exasperated grandmother • Chelsea sign £27m Juan Cuadrado
Perched on Colombia’s northern coast, Necoclí is a paradise fringed with palm trees, deep blue Caribbean waters and a lush tropical rainforest that tumbles from the mountains on to unspoilt golden sands.
But over the last few decades this haven of serenity and natural beauty has been trapped under a dark cloud of unimaginable horror. It has kept the tourists away and left 70% of the town’s population victims of violence. Few have been spared, not even Necoclí’s most famous son, the new Chelsea winger Juan Guillermo Cuadrado.
It was here on these dusty backstreets that as a little boy, Cuadrado’s early life was shattered by the thunder of gunfire. Aged four years old, he hid trembling under his bed as the bullets flew outside. When he crawled from his hiding spot he found his mum Marcela drowned in tears. Guillermo, his dad, was dead.
Straddled in the gateway between South America and Panama, Necoclí lies in strategic territory where right-wing paramilitary death squads, drug cartels, the army and guerrillas have been locked in a struggle for control since the 1980s. The victims are ordinary folk and Guillermo, a lorry driver for a fizzy drinks company, became another senseless death.
For the struggling family he left behind, there were few opportunities. On the breadline Marcela desperately chased work and was forced to move south to Apartadó to work in the city’s banana factory.
Juan reluctantly followed and as mum scrubbed and packed bananas for export, the boy would sit beside her plastering little blue stickers on the fruit. It was a tough life and Juan was not happy. He called his grandmother in Necoclí to explain why. “My mum doesn’t love me,” he claimed. “She won’t let me play football.”
An agreement was struck and Juan returned to Necoclí to live with his grandparents but the boy’s errant ways left grandma Marcela Guerrero exasperated. “I sent him to school but he used to come home filthy having the day playing football,” she said. “I punished and hit him because of the mess he was in.”
The stark contrast between Cuadrado’s latest home, Stamford Bridge, and the muddy, rocky pitch at La Batea could not be starker. His grandma called it the swamp and Juan soon learned that to escape her beatings he needed to stay clean. Cunningly, he took to playing barefoot in his underpants.
In an open letter to the Colombian newspaper El Espectador during the World Cup last year, one of Cuadrado’s childhood friends, Juan Diego Ramírez, recalled the fractious relationship and how Marcela used to tie up Juan in the backyard to prevent him running off to play football.
Ramírez’s letter is at times nostalgic and mourns lost childhood years but he also tells of the hardships and poverty of their early lives. “Your father became another statistic of injustice, another number in this fucking war. You were born into a life of difficulty … you know more than anyone that having talent isn’t enough.”
Grandma Marcela went to extreme lengths to stop Juan playing football but it did not work, and inspired by his hero, the Brazilian striker Ronaldo, the youngster became known for his tricks, darting runs and finishing. Nicknamed “Shorty”, he began as a forward and despite being undernourished and all skin and bones, his innate talent earned him a place at a curiously named school in nearby Apartadó. It was called Manchester Fútbol Club and it was here, aged 12, where he started to take football more seriously.
Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend Read more
He came to the attention of Nelson Gallego, a renowned scout, and for the next few years, he would become like a father to Juan. “He lived with me for several years and I taught him how to be independent, how to manage these things, how to cook, study, everything like that,” Gallego tells the Guardian.
On the pitch, the coach also had a major influence and arranged for |
natural flood management measures.”
The Environment Agency also issued nine flood warnings and 57 less serious flood alerts in the south-west and parts of the north of England.
Alison Baptiste, national flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said teams had been working through the night and were now preparing for further flooding as rain continues over the next couple of days.
“People should remember not to drive through floodwater and be aware travel may be disrupted,” she said. “Environment Agency teams will clear blockages in rivers, continue to issue flood warnings and may operate flood gates and sea defences.”Mar.10, 2013
This week, open source commercial space company DIYROCKETS and 3D-modeling software company Sunglass have announced the world's first open source competition to create 3D printed rocket engines. Yes, you can do a lot with 3D printing, even engines. Back in 2011, Professor David Sheffler's class in University of Virginia engineering class has built a one-quarter-scale working replica of the Rolls-Royce AE3007 turbofan jet engine used in UAVs, thanks to the revolution in 3D printing. Because the parts were printed in plastic, the engine is powered by compressed air rather than jet fuel. Totally 43 parts of the replica engine were printed in layers measuring 0.010 of an inch at a time. Then the class spent more than 150 hours assembling the engine.
With conventional manufacturing this process would have taken years and cost a quarter-million dollars, said Sheffler. Students made it in four months for under $2,000, about $1,500 for the plastic and another $300 for the bearings, nuts, and bolts.
3D printing used to be something only for the Pros, but now with the release of the open source software and entry level desktop 3D printer, more and more people can fabricate their creations at home. And you can often find creative designs shared by innovative people online. One type of the many interesting creations is 3D printed engines. Here are some cool projects:
3D printed Stirling engine
On Thingiverse the most impressive engine creation is the 3D printed stirling engine designed by user Doug Conner.
This is a Stirling engine which is a type of heat engine operating by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas. The working fluid is permanently contained within the system. At different temperature levels heat energy is converted to mechanical work. It needs about a 50 degF (28 degC) heat differential to run and cruises about 300 rpm unloaded. This engine was printed using a Stratasys 3D printer. There are totally 11 3D printed parts you can print out. The rest are some metal parts Doug Conner bought off-the-shelf. Stirling engine has the potential to be much more efficient than a gasoline or diesel engine.
Doug Conner has made this 3D printed Stirling engine project open source so that anyone could download and build it.
3D Printed V8 Engines
This model of V8 engine designed by jamesl_89 is 3D printed using an UP Plus printer, printed at 0.2mm resolution. The Crank and pistons were printer all as one part and required cleaning in order to fit easily into the engine block.
Another 3D printed V8 engine, a larger version, is made by sirmakesalot on a makerbot replicator 3D printer. The body is 225mm long, the pistons are 43mm and they connect with printed cylinders instead of filament.
3D Printed Oscillating Steam Engine
This completely 3D printed oscillating steam engine by cbabbage is printed in ABS plastic on Makerbot Thing-O-Matic 3D printer. In the video the engine is being run from a Co2 bottle at about 15 PSI. The model can be downloaded here at Thingiverse.
3D printed steam engine by gizmoguyar
Wobbler Engine by BackyardWorkshop
All parts for making a wobbler engine are printed on a Reprap 3D Printer.
本站所有文章版权归3ders.org所有，未经许可不得翻译或转载。
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
Maybe you also like:
Scott wrote at 3/6/2015 10:13:09 PM:What kind of software is being used in the first v8 engine video?Paul of the Outer Spiral Arm wrote at 8/13/2014 4:47:46 AM:Can anyone offer any first hand experience with the steam engine models? They spin pretty quickly - is any lubrication used? If so, what sort won't damage the plastic? If not lubricating, has anyone experienced a meltdown of the piston/cylinder or other bearings? Thanks, Paul.Paul of the Outer Spiral Arm wrote at 8/13/2014 4:42:34 AM:Can anyone offer any first hand experience with the steam engine models? They spin pretty quickly - is any lubrication used? If so, what sort won't damage the plastic? If not lubricating has anyone eperienced a meltdown of the piston/cylinder or other bearings? Thanks, Paul.Kineteka Systems, a local electronics manufacturer and distributor of SparkFun, Pololu, Adafruit, and iTeedStudio has donated over $1,000 in prizes for the raflle taking place during DMS’s annual Open House event.
Raffle tickets are $5 each, funds from the raffle will be earmarked for acquiring a new laser cutter system for DMS.
Tickets will be drawn for prizes starting at 1 pm and continuing every hour. Prize order starts at the bottom of the list and ends at the top.
All raffle ticket purchases are tax deductible. Winners must be present to win.
6 PM
2 Pololu 3pi Robot $99
2 Sparkfun Inventors Kit $94.95
5 PM
3 Olimex AVR-MT128 AVR Dev Board $49.99
3 SparkFun LilyPad E-Sewing Kit $54.99
4 PM
3 SparkFun Netduino Mini $29.95
3 SparkFun Tool Kit – Beginner $21.95
3 PM
1 SparkFun LilyPad TechStyles Kit $24.95
3 SparkFun Simon Game – Through-Hole Soldering Kit $24.95
2 PM
2 SparkFun LED Christmas Tree Kit $17.95
2 Oreilly Getting Started with Arduino $12.99
1 PM
3 Sparkfun Weevil Eye Kit $9.95
2 SparkFun Wire Strippers 30AWG $4.95
4 Hackerspace Passport $1.95Emotional children's testimonies are judged as more credible
2014-03-31
(Press-News.org) In an experimental legal psychology study, two young actors (one girl and one boy) portrayed victims in a mock-police investigation. They were questioned by the police about how they had been harassed by older schoolmates. The police interviews were videotaped in two versions: In one version the children appeared in a neutral manner but in the other version, the children showed clear signs of distress, as they sobbed and hesitated before answering the police officers' questions.
The films were later shown and assessed by law students that were familiar with the Supreme Court's criteria for how to assess the credibility of testimonies.
The results show that the children, despite giving the exact same testimonies, were perceived as more credible and truthful when expressing emotions than when behaving in a more neutral manner. The reason for these differences was that the law students had stereotypical believes that child victims should appear emotional. The law students also felt greater compassion for the emotional children.
'This is problematic since many children don't display strong negative emotions when questioned by police,' says Sara Landström, researcher in legal psychology at the Department of Psychology. 'There is a risk that these children will be considered less credible in court.'
Since witnesses and technical evidence are often lacking in cases involving child abuse, courts are often forced to rely solely on the victim's own testimony 'It is therefore very important that courts assess the credibility of a testimony based on what children say and not on how they say it,' says Sara Landström.
INFORMATION: The study is presented in an article titled Children's Testimony and the Emotional Victim Effect, which was published in the British journal Legal and Criminological Psychology in December. The article was written by Sara Landström, Karl Ask, Charlotte Sommar and Rebecca Willén from the Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg.
For more information, please contact Sara Landström, PhD
+46 (0)31 786 4291
sara.landstrom@psy.gu.se
The study was conducted by the researchers within the Research Unit for Criminal, Legal and Investigative Psychology (CLIP), at the Department of Psychology, the University of Gothenburg. The study was funded by the Swedish Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority.
[Attachments] See images for this press release:
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
2014-03-31
Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Uppsala University have developed a paper filter, which can remove virus particles with the efficiency matching that of the best industrial virus filters. The paper filter consists of 100 percent high purity cellulose nanofibers, directly derived from nature. The research was carried out in collaboration with virologists from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences/Swedish National Veterinary Institute and is published in the Advanced Healthcare Materials journal. Virus particles are very peculiar objects- tiny (about...
2014-03-31
(Toronto) March 31, 2014 – Researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health have discovered two new genes linked to intellectual disability, according to two research studies published concurrently this month in the journals Human Genetics and Human Molecular Genetics. "Both studies give clues to the different pathways involved in normal neurodevelopment," says CAMH Senior Scientist Dr. John Vincent, who heads the MiND (Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development) Laboratory in the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at CAMH. "We are building up a...
2014-03-31
Moxibustion may have protective effects on the stomach mucous membrane against stress gastric ulcer. The potential mechanism of moxibustion may be mediated by transforming growth factor-α, gastric mucosa cell proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and the expression of heat shock protein-70. Previous studies have shown that somatic sensation by acupuncture and visceral nociceptive stimulation can converge in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) where neurons integrate signals impacting on the function of organs. To explore the role of the NTS in the protective mechanism...
2014-03-31
In the first study of its kind, research undertaken at the University of Southampton has cast significant doubt over the use of biochar to alleviate climate change. Biochar is produced when wood is combusted at high temperatures to make bio-oil and has been proposed as a method of geoengineering. When buried in the soil, this carbon rich substance could potentially lock-up carbon and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The global potential of biochar is considered to be large, with up to 12 percent of emissions reduced by biochar soil application. Many previous reports...
2014-03-31
Scientists at The University of Nottingham have developed a new substance which could simplify the manufacture of cell therapy in the pioneering world of regenerative medicine. Cell therapy is an exciting and rapidly developing area of medicine in which stem cells have the potential to repair human tissue and maintain organ function in chronic disease and age-related illnesses. But a major problem with translating current successful research into actual products and treatments is how to mass-produce such a complex living material. There are two distinct phases in the...
2014-03-31
Ghrelin, a brain-gut peptide that induces anxiety and other abnormal emotions, contributes to the effects of insomnia on emotional behavior. In contrast, the traditional Chinese Medicine remedy Wen Dan Tang reduces insomnia-related anxiety, which may perhaps correspond to changes in the brain-gut axis. This suggests a possible relationship between Wen Dan Tang's pharmacological mechanism and the brain-gut axis. Based on this hypothesis, a research team from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in China generated a sleep deprivation rat model, and orally administered Wen...
2014-03-31
Controlling and bending light around an object so it appears invisible to the naked eye is the theory behind fictional invisibility cloaks. It may seem easy in Hollywood movies, but is hard to create in real life because no material in nature has the properties necessary to bend light in such a way. Scientists have managed to create artificial nanostructures that can do the job, called metamaterials. But the challenge has been making enough of the material to turn science fiction into a practical reality. The work of Debashis Chanda at the University of Central Florida,...
2014-03-31
In children, primary spinal tumors comprise 4% of all tumors from the central nervous system. Spinal tumors can present with a variety of clinical signs and symptoms in children such as pain followed by motor regression, gait disturbance, sphincter dysfunction, sensory symptoms, torticollis, and kyphoscoliosis. Treatment of spinal tumors is based on tumor type, but surgical resection is the mainstay. Moreover, physical treatment and rehabilitation implementation are necessary in order to minimize the symptoms of the patients and develop present functions. Prof. Nezire Kose...
2014-03-31
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – March 29, 2014 – Researchers at the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital have found that cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging may help doctors better identify which patients with mild heart disease are likely to develop more serious heart problems long term. CMR imaging provides supporting information to guide treatment decisions and help doctors provide targeted care for patients at highest risk. The research, led by Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation Research Fellow Naohiko Nemoto, MD, will be presented at the American...
2014-03-31
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – March 29, 2014 – A diet rich in fruits and vegetables for middle-aged adults has been associated with reduced rates of coronary heart disease (CHD), especially in women. Now, research supported by the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) shows that for women, what you eat in your 20s may be just as important for your middle-aged heart. The results of the study, aimed at examining the extent to which young adults' diets are linked to cardiovascular health later in life, will be presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting in Washington,...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:Director of the documentary Life After Flash
Pic via Harry O. Lohr Jr
Today on the podcast I found the lost interview from Boston SciFi Film Fest with documentary filmmaker Lisa Downs. I was really glad Lisa could make time to sit down and talk with me. She had a very busy schedule premiering her film Life After Flash (available on VOD February 26th), which is about actor Sam Jones and his life after… Flash… Gordon. You know, that old scifi film they mention A LOT in Ted. She was also part of panels talking about the film and women in the film industry. I found her story on getting into the film-making business and things she’s come across along the way. We also have a conversation that went too long on accents and why and how they came about. Regardless, it was a fun chat and I hope you enjoy it.
Music in this episode by my good friends Scott Lester & The Dirty Dottys.Why Bank Clients Need Alternatives
Everex Blocked Unblock Follow Following Dec 5, 2017
Reflections on Finance, Evgeni Mitkov, COO, Everex
On January 15, 2015, the Swiss National Bank let go of the Franc peg against the Euro. I was at a bank trading desk in London when this happened. The FX market started drowning within seconds of this biblical tsunami.
The Swiss Franc, a top 5 global currency, whipped up 40% to eventually settle around 20% appreciation in half an hour. Many retail and institutional FX traders lost their shirts. Citibank fired half of their institutional customers from its FX prime brokerage, which is the unit that allows people to get into the FX market through Citibank. Those were hedge funds, pension funds, and buy-side firms that do not have access to interbank markets.
This coincided with Basel III, a regulatory push that was the result of commitments that G20 countries made in Pittsburgh in 2010. After the financial crisis, G20 governments got together in Pittsburgh to agree on a financial system regulation that will not repeat 2008.
Over the last forty years, banks have traded derivatives to the tune of 40% of the global economy. The derivatives market is $700 trillion or ten times larger than the global economy. The derivatives sit on and off balance sheets.
There have been some tricks used in the industry to get around regulations. For instance, a bank regulated by a North American regulator can place all of its derivatives in the London Branch. This is done by all banks. CitiBank, which traded at $0.08 USD after the crisis, was basically bankrupted by the derivatives on its books.
Ultimately, it was decided all risks would be on balance sheets, and the capital required to trade derivatives had to cover all the risks that a bank takes. This had massive implications for individuals and SMEs. With the Basel III regulations, the seed was planted.
Basel III requires banks to have 10% of capital on the books. They need to have everything in that risk calculation, and it doesn’t matter if it’s on the moon or on mars. The regulations cover everything.
Suddenly, banks find them in a position in which they need capital.
Based on the new regulations, banks needed $8 trillion worth of capital. They had approximately $5 trillion. Therefore, they were missing approximately $3 trillion in capital if they hoped to cover the risk of derivatives.
At first, they fired customers that were too small or carried too many risks. Then, starting in 2014, fees started getting passed onto the consumer. $2 fees for using another bank’s ATMs. International transaction fees increased to $3 with 3% for foreign transaction fees. Banks merged and withdrew from entire regions, like Southwest Asia, where there were fewer profits to be had. The results of the regulatory push, and the bank’s desire to shrink its customer base, meant that SMEs and individuals lost access to their banking services.
Everex’s technology makes it significantly easier to service these customer bases electronically. Human error accounts for 95% of bank errors and blockchain technology can change this, while lowering overheads. There is very little room for error on a blockchain.
At Everex our goal is to help individuals and SMEs by making global payments more efficient and cost-effective by tokenizing fiat currencies.
Most currencies in Southeast Asia are non-deliverable, which is a defense mechanism against the US Fed exporting US problems to trading partners in Asia. Japan went into a 25-year financial coma due to circumstances like this.
Other Asian and BRIC economies realized they needed to protect themselves against similar issues, which resulted in the implementation of capital controls that made it difficult to send payments across borders.
Everex partners with FX market makers, and FX platforms, and receives access to interbank liquidity. The majority of transactions we anticipate in our network can be settled electronically. So, we will partner with FX players to tokenize currencies, and manage FX risk, as we sell those currencies for other currencies.
We can allow people to make cross border payments effectively without using a bank and allow the recipient to spend that money on their business. Obviously, that vision will depend on a wider array of customers being a part of the network, which is our real goal for the next six months, alongside building out our regulatory framework.
Blockchains vary in settlement times. The Bitcoin blockchain settles about every ten minutes, whereas the Ethereum blockchain settle much more quickly in around 20 seconds. In the FX market, settlement takes as long as ten days, particularly during the Japanese Cherry Blossoms season, when the entire country is closed. It is the third largest currency pair in the world, but for ten days there is no settlement.
Everex is changing this.
The vision I have for Everex is to provide an all-encompassing suite of products for individuals and SMEs.The lifecycle of a trade can be handled electronically. The more diverse the set of clients which Everex serves, the better we can serve everyone.Image caption Anti-government protesters have been in the square for weeks
The UK Foreign Office is advising all Britons to leave Bahrain as soon as possible unless they have a pressing need to stay, as violence intensifies.
Security forces with tanks have moved in on anti-government protesters camped in the capital Manama and at least six people have reportedly been killed.
The UK government has organised two charter flights from Bahrain to supplement commercial flights.
It estimates there are several thousand UK nationals still in the Gulf state.
Foreign Secretary William Hague has spoken to his Bahraini counterpart, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, to express "serious concern" at the situation.
He told the Commons on Thursday: "I call on all parties to engage in an open and constructive national dialogue, so that it is translated as soon as possible into tangible actions that respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Bahraini people."
At least three civilians were reportedly killed after police fired on mainly Shia protesters. Officials said three police also died.
Troops have reportedly taken over a hospital treating the wounded and officials have imposed a curfew and banned protests.
It came after the country's Sunni rulers called in Saudi troops to keep order.
'Holed up'
The UK Foreign Office said a chartered flight carrying Britons had departed Bahrain for Dubai at 1400 local time (1100 GMT) on Thursday. Those on board were charged £260 each.
A further flight from Bahrain to London is scheduled to depart at midday local time (0900 GMT) on Friday and will cost £310.
An FCO spokesman said the first option for Britons wanting to leave should remain commercial services, which were operating normally.
But anyone unable to get commercial tickets should register their interest for the FCO flights by calling +44 20 7008 5900.
Bahrain is a very peaceful country that's just going through a difficult stage Lee, Briton living in Bahrain
One Briton, Mike, who is originally from Wells, in Somerset, said he had been "holed up" in an apartment in the Manama suburb of Seef for several days, and was now waiting for a commercial flight to London.
"It's actually been relatively quiet where I live, although you can hear noise off in the distance," he told the BBC.
"I've lived here for the last five years with my family. They were on holiday in the UK so I told them not to come back.
"My company has another operation in Kuwait so I have no intention of going back to Bahrain in the near future."
But another British expatriate Lee, who lives in the town of Saar with his wife and three children, said he had no plans to leave.
"We're quite happy," he told the BBC. "We'll look at the situation as it develops, but we don't feel threatened at all. The protests are not aimed at the expats.
"Bahrain is a very peaceful country that's just going through a difficult stage.
"We are quite happy with the way the current situation. You can do normal things. The shops are still open."
'Exercise caution'
A British embassy team has been assessing routes to the airport and issued advice on its website about which roads were safe to use, albeit "with caution".
It said travel on the main routes of the island, during daylight hours, was "orderly if slow in some places, because of police checkpoints".
The advice added: "You should exercise caution in particular on any routes you use to get to these main routes and consider carefully the situation in your local vicinity before you leave."
Bahrain - which has a population of 800,000 and is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet - is the first Gulf country to be thrown into turmoil by the wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world. Protests there began last month.
Prime Minister David Cameron has spoken by phone to the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, and urged him to end the violent suppression of street protests.We all know that sinking feeling we get when the cameras covering practice, qualifying, or the race cut to an accident. The marshals scramble to the scene, the commentators comment, and everyone waits to see how the driver is. Sometimes, within moments, the television shows us the Medical Car heading to the accident. Let’s look at what happens from the moment of the accident until the medical and rescue system is activated.
First, a word about the FIA Medical Car.
I’m pretty sure that as far as race fans go, there aren’t many cars in the world as well known as the AMG C63 wagon in service as the Medical Car. It’s loud, powerful, superbly capable, and very fast. It’s not an easy car to drive, in an environment for which it was not made, but Alan van der Merwe makes it look easy. The car “belongs” to Allsport Management, the outfit that centralises much of F1 logistics, and also owns and operates the Paddock Club; AMG has two full-time technicians who travel to each race with the necessary kit (pic below). There are two MC’s (and two Safety Cars) at every race. And no, I don’t know what AMG does with them when they’re retired. The medical car has served since 2008 (if I’m not mistaken), with impressive reliability given how high a percentage of its mileage is flat out. Fuel economy? I remember once calculating it and came to something like 40-50 l/100 km, or 4.7-6 mpg.
In terms of medical equipment, the MC is stocked with basically the same stuff as the other MICs around the circuit. This consists of the material we need to make sure that an accident victim’s airway is open and secure, that breathing is effective (either by the patient or by us!), and to access, and if necessary treat, the circulatory system. In fact, we’ve usually got two full sets of equipment on board – my kit as well as that of the local doctor assigned to ride in the FIA car. We do that for a few reasons. First of all, during the stress of an intervention, it’s better that the local doctor have his own kit, knows what’s where, etc. Secondly, since we have two doctors, we may as well be able to manage two victims, should we be be first on scene!
The car has four Recaro race seats and full harnesses front and back. Interestingly, we have 5-point harnesses in front, and 4-points in back. It was always reassuring to see what good care AMG took of... um... well you get the idea. Alan and I are plugged into the car’s intercom/radio base station, so we speak to each other through our helmet boom mics and hear each other through our moulded earpieces (these double as noise attenuators when on scene). We each have a push-to-talk button for the main (digital) radio, and another for the backup (analog) set. Once we get out of the car, we need to unplug our earpiece/mic cable from the car and plug into our handsets. (I hear the ever so slight murmur – “he’s speaking in the present tense…”. He is. Indulge me. It just sounds weird and heavy using the correct tense).
The car also has three screens – two up front and one on the back of the central console. The rear screen is for our local colleague, whose weekend can be a bit lonely if language is a problem (especially with the front seat guys speaking in mere whispers over the intercom). The rear screen is “slaved” to the upper front; they can all receive the international TV feed (no sound, and usually on the top screen), the first timing screen (sectors and gaps, usually on the lower screen), the third timing screen (messages to teams), and the real-time gps locations of the cars around the circuit. This is obviously useful en route to an incident. At least in theory, because as you’ll see next time, we’re pretty busy when that happens, and switching screens is not the first priority.
(By the way, this is us following Bernd in the Safety Car exiting Suzuka’s Spoon Corner, one of the most thrilling moments one can have in a car, as quite significant velocity is involved. In fact, my laps around Suzuka with Alan are certainly my favourite car moments ever.)
The Medical Car is on standby for all F1, GP2 and GP3 sessions and races. The standby position varies from circuit to circuit, but is usually at the pit exit. We’ll always have scouted out any shortcuts through the circuit using secured inner roads (not all circuits have them). These can allow us to cut off up to half the length of some circuits, with a huge time gain.
There’s been an accident
When something happens on the circuit, we usually see it at the same time you folks do. Not surprising, given that we get the same TV feed you do. Obviously, race control has seen things in rather more detail, because of the coverage of the circuit by CCTV.
If we look at how the actual decision to deploy medical resources is made, it really occurs in one of three ways. (Remember, I grew up in a medical car, not in race control!) The first would be “by sight”. It’s a big accident, there are bits everywhere, gut feeling: fair likelihood of needing some sort of medical presence. I’d include in this category a good number of the bigger incidents we see, fully aware that most of the time there are no injuries. Obviously if the driver is immediately on the radio (and they usually are) speaking appropriately about, well, just about anything, this is good evidence for the absence of significant injury, at that moment anyway. I feel pretty strongly that if it looks big, secure the circuit and deploy. Sure, the MC would be deployed a bit more often, but these types of incident are relatively rare. A practice session or qualifying can be restarted after a red flag; admittedly a higher threshold needs to be used for the race. On the other hand, if there are time-critical injuries, if a “by sight” deployment isn’t used, then race control will have to rely on the report of marshals. Now I’m never been convinced that this kind of non-medical evaluation of the victim is any more valid than that of a first, visual, impression from the cameras by an experienced crew in race control. If the driver gets out of the car, has no complaints, walks and talks, then the medical car, deployed “by sight”, can be told that fact, and would either continue back to its standby position, or, more likely, pick up the driver. This would allow the medical team in the car to evaluate the victim for concussive symptoms and decide on the appropriate followup. Again, this should not be a common occurrence, but the 15-20 seconds saved by NOT waiting for word from the marshals WILL come in very handy some day.
As I just said, a request by marshals for medical assistance, or a report of driver complaints (other than about his colleagues) while he or she is still in the car, will elicit a medical response.
Lastly, race control can decide to send us out based on triggering of the medical warning light.
This light equips every F1 car. It’s located on the top surface of the car, just in front of the “windscreen”. Wired to the car’s data logger, it is always on, with a slowly oscillating bright-dark cycle, to show it’s operational. But when it is triggered by a force of > 15 g (front to back, side to side), or > 20 g vertical (to take into account running over curbs) for over 5 msec, it shines VERY bright blue. It’s a reliable indicator of high energy transfer, and it also activates a warning lamp in race control. Activation of the MWL will often lead to race control ordering a response.
Once the decision is made to activate the medical service, the circuit is secured. For practices and qualifying this is by a red flag. The Medical car is informed by the FIA that the red flag is coming out, and we’re either then deployed immediately or put on a brief standby. During the race, we’re put on standby with the safety car. When we’re given the “GO”, we follow Bernd out; Bernd will show us his green light and move over usually within a corner or two of deployment. In any event, when we need to go, we always know there are likely to be race cars on the circuit at least for some of the time we’re out there. More on this next in the next post.
Remember that last time we spoke about the distribution of medical cars and extrication teams around the circuit. And we talked about the CCTV screens in race control. In order to reduce response times to a maximum, race control has a chart like this for each circuit (this example is from Malaysia, 2005):
Each cell in the table corresponds to a screen in race control. An incident on any screen, referred back to this chart, immediately indicates the local units to deploy. Because traffic NEVER goes the wrong way ’round a circuit, each car and each extrication unit, covers a sector from their respective position to that of the next downstream unit.
When we get told to go, everybody on board the Medical Car needs to be ready for just about anything. In the next post, we’ll look at what happens en route to the incident, and what happens on arrival.
AdvertisementsTwo families are grieving Saturday night as Suffolk County homicide detectives remain on the hunt for a killer who murdered a man and woman in cold blood as they were simply walking through a Bay Shore neighborhood.A peaceful summer night was suddenly disrupted by gunfire Friday night when neighbors say they heard at least four gunshots ring out near Center Avenue and Oak Street."They sounded like firecrackers, but definitely I knew they were gunshots," said Lizeth Garcia.The tucked-away block behind the Bay Shore Long Island Rail Road stop was quickly flooded with police, who discovered 29-year-old David Arzu and 28-year-old Janelle Curella shot.The pair of friends were both taken to Southside Hospital where they were later pronounced dead.Overwhelmed with grief, the Arzu family declined to talk on camera, but described David as a loving father who leaves behind a 5-year-old son.The investigation is continuing.Anyone with information on the case is asked to call (631) 852-6392 or 1-800-200-TIPS.San Antonio
1. San Antonio Spurs (Last season’s record: 62-20): The reigning champs went just 2-5 in the preseason, but don’t appear worried. They open Tuesday with a tough test against Dallas.
Scroll to continue with content Ad
Golden State
2. Golden State Warriors (Last season’s record: 51-31): The Warriors have the best backcourt, deepest bench and Andrew Bogut back. It’s up to new coach Steve Kerr to make it work.
Cleveland
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Last season’s record: 33-49): LeBron James’ second tenure with Cleveland begins Thursday against New York. It could take time for James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving to jell.
Los Angeles
4. Los Angeles Clippers (Last season’s record: 57-25) The Clippers will play their first regular-season game in the post-Donald Sterling era on Thursday vs. the Thunder.
Chicago
5. Chicago Bulls (Last season’s record: 48-34): If Derrick Rose can play like his old self, Chicago will be an NBA power again.
Memphis
6. Memphis Grizzlies (Last season’s record: 50-32): Keep an eye on center Marc Gasol, who is much leaner this season. The Spaniard lost 23 games to a knee injury last season.
Houston
7. Houston Rockets (Last season’s record: 54-28): Dwight Howard returns to Los Angeles to play the Lakers in the season opener Tuesday.
Dallas
8. Dallas Mavericks (Last season’s record: 49-33): The Mavs are a team to watch with the additions of Chandler Parsons and Tyson Chandler to Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis, but point guard is a big concern.
Portland
9. Portland Trail Blazers (Last season’s record: 54-28): Keep an eye on Damian Lillard, who has a chip on his shoulder after being cut from USA Basketball’s World Cup team.
Atlanta
10. Atlanta Hawks (Last season’s record: 38-44): The Hawks now have a healthy Al Horford playing alongside Paul Millsap in the post. Atlanta will be one of the East’s top teams.
Miami
Story continues
11. Miami Heat (Last season’s record: 54-28): Life without LeBron James begins on Wednesday against Washington. Is this now Chris Bosh’s or Dwyane Wade’s team?
Toronto
12. Toronto Raptors (Last season’s record: 48-34): Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and the Raptors aren’t a surprise anymore and will face pressure to improve on their playoff appearance last season.
New Orleans
13. New Orleans Pelicans (Last season’s record: 34-48:): There will be a lot of pressure on the Pelicans this season as Anthony Davis and Co. are expected to make the postseason.
Charlotte
14. Charlotte Hornets (Last season’s record: 43-39): The usually reclusive Michael Jordan has been more visible lately with the return of the ‘Hornets’ nickname.
Phoenix
15. Phoenix Suns (Last season’s record: 48-34): Phoenix had success with a hard-to-guard, three point-guard lineup of Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas in the preseason.
Washington
16. Washington Wizards (Last season’s record: 44-38): Newcomer Paul Pierce will add much-needed veteran leadership and swag, but the injury to Bradley Beal (wrist) is a big loss.
Denver
17. Denver Nuggets (Last season’s record: 36-46): With a new contract and recent success with USA Basketball, the Nuggets are expecting an All-Star-caliber season from Kenneth Faried.
Brooklyn
18. Brooklyn Nets (Last season’s record: 44-38): If the roster remains healthy, new coach Lionel Hollins has a very talented team. But it is an older, injury-plagued Nets squad.
New York
19. New York Knicks (Last season’s record: 37-45): While it will take time for Carmelo Anthony to get used to the triangle offense, veteran point guard Jose Calderon should help him.
Oklahoma City
20. |
structure. Since steel is a good conductor of heat, and the steel in the Twin Towers' structures was well connected, their massive steel structures would have drawn heat away from the parts that were exposed to fire. The Report describes a model of "The Fire-Structure Interface", and describes the computation of heat transfer between the air and the steel structure, but it does not mention the conduction of heat along spans of the steel structure. (p 131-2/181-2) The suspicion that NIST simply ignored the conduction of heat within the steel is corroborated by the Report's disclosure that they used heat transfer tests on isolated steel elements to calibrate their model. (p 134/184)
Bowed Columns, or Refracted Light?
This illustration is in the slide presentations predating the Report, and is included in the final Report (p 33/83). NIST assigns inward displacements of every fifth column at each floor based on their appearance in the photograph.
A key part in NIST's theory of the collapse initiation is that the perimeter columns on one of the faces of each Tower bowed inward, pulled by sagging trusses. The Report contends that the columns on the south face of the North Tower bowed inward in the moments before its collapse and that the columns on the east face of the South Tower bowed inward some time before its collapse. As evidence for the supposed bowed columns NIST cites photographs. The Report includes one annotated photograph allegedly showing bowing in the North Tower, but no such photographs of allegedly bowing of columns in the South Tower. There are two photographs of alleged South Tower column bowing in an earlier slide presentation.
NIST fails to consider an alternative explanation for the bowed appearance of columns in its selected photographs of the Twin Towers: light refraction caused by the layer of hot air adjacent to the Towers. Such atmospheric conditions would refract light in a way that is consistent with apparent distortion of the columns seen in the photographs.
NIST's "Global Analysis"
The nearly-300-page Report has one and a half pages describing the "Results of Global Analysis" of the collapses. These are in two sections introduced by the following description, which seems designed to confuse observations of localized damage with the idea that the entirety of each tower was "unstable."
The results were a simulation of the structural deterioration of each tower from the time of aircraft impact to the time at which the building became unstable, i.e., was poised for collapse. (p 144/194)
Earlier versions of this essay critiquing the Report's Draft excerpted the entirety of the two sections describing the results of NIST's "Global Analysis." Here we excerpt only the final paragraphs, which imply that NIST modeled the tilting and downward movement of the "upper building section[s]."
6.14.2 Results of Global Analysis of WTC 1
...
The inward bowing of the south wall caused failure of exterior column splices and spandrels, and these columns became unstable. The instability spread horizontally across the entire south face. The south wall, now unable to bear its gravity loads, redistributed these loads to the thermally weakened core through the hat truss and to the east and west walls through the spandrels. The building section above the impact zone began tilting to the south as the columns on the east and west walls rapidly became unable to carry the increased loads. This further increased the gravity loads on the core columns. Once the upper building section began to move downwards, the weakened structure in the impact and fire zone was not able to absorb the tremendous energy of the falling building section and global collapse ensued. (p 144-5/194-5)
6.14.3 Results of Global Analysis of WTC 2
...
The south exterior wall displaced downward following the aircraft impact, but did not displace further until the east wall became unstable 43 min later. The inward bowing of the east wall, due to the inward pull of the sagging floors, caused failure of exterior column splices and spandrels and resulted in the east wall columns becoming unstable. The instability progressed horizontally across the entire east face. The east wall, now unable to bear its gravity loads, redistributed them to the thermally weakened core through the hat truss and to the east and west walls through the spandrels.
The building section above the impact zone began tilting to the east and south as column instability progressed rapidly from the east wall along the adjacent north and south walls, and increased the gravity load on the weakened east core columns. As with WTC 1, once the upper building section began to move downwards, the weakened structure in the impact and fire zone was not able to absorb the tremendous energy of the falling building section and global collapse ensued. (p 145-6/195-6)
So we get detailed computer simulations of how the planes were shredded by the impacts, but when it comes to the collapses, the most quantitative thing we get is "tremendous energy of the falling building section." Why are there no calculations of the approximate amount of energy?
It is very significant that the Report does not display any images of its multifloor global model or its global model actually showing the "building section above the impact zone" beginning to tilt or beginning to move downward. There are a number of illustrations of its multifloor global model such as to the right, but none show "column instability", tilting, or downward movement.
NIST's Vacuous Response to its Critics
The main difference between the Draft and the Final Report is the addition in the Final Report of Section 6.14.4, "Events Following Collapse Initiation," which consists of five paragraphs filling half a page. This section apparently constitutes the "little analysis of the structural behavior" following "collapse initiation" mentioned in the Executive Summary. Section 6.14.4 promotes the pile-driver theory with a circular argument; cherry-picks, misrepresents, and dismisses with faulty arguments evidence of controlled demolition; and attacks the demolition hypothesis by melding it with hoaxes.
The Pile-Driver Theory, Again
The first two paragraphs of the new section reiterate the pile-driver theory using similar language and vagueness to many earlier tellings of the theory.
Failure of the south wall in WTC 1 and east wall in WTC2 caused the portion of the building above to tilt in the direction of the failed wall. The tilting was accompanied by a downward movement. The story immediately below the stories in which the columns failed was not able to arrest this initial movement as evidenced by videos from several vantage points.
The structure below the level of the collapse initiation offered minimal resistance to the falling building mass at and above the impact zone. The potential energy released by the downward movement of the large building mass far exceeded the capacity of the intact structures below to absorb that through energy of deformation. (p 146/196)
Note the observations that the structure below was "not able to arrest this initial movement," and "offered minimal resistance." The Report implies that this was because the force of the falling mass destroyed the intact structure below it. It does not actually state this, however, or rule out the shattering of structure by explosives as the reason for the minimal resistance. Instead, it states that the energy of the falling mass exceeded the "energy of deformation" that the intact structures could supply. That may or may not be true, but the intact structure could have arrested the downward movement of the top without deforming by simply transmitting the impact forces to the ground. These nuances of meaning will not be noticed by the casual reader but could provide the investigators with an out in the event that they are charged with covering up the crime of the intentional controlled demolition of the Towers. Statements that are grossly misleading but legally defensible because they are technically true are one of the hallmarks of a sophisticated cover-up.
Perfunctory Explanations of Two Features
The next two paragraphs in the new section are the only places in the Report where NIST addresses critiques that the Draft Report avoided considering evidence of the controlled demolition of the Twin Towers. The third paragraph addresses the rapid rate of fall. It reads:
Since the stories below the level of collapse initiation provided little resistance to the tremendous energy released by the falling building mass, the building section above came down essentially in free fall, as seen in videos. As the stories below sequentially failed, the falling mass increases, further increasing the demand of the floors below, which were unable to arrest the moving mass. (p 146/196)
This does not explain either why the structure below failed to arrest the falling mass or how the structure failed to appreciably slow the falling mass. As in the preceding paragraphs, NIST begs these questions using a kind of circular argument: The towers fell rapidly because the stories below could not resist the tremendous energy of the falling mass. Videos clearly show that the upper section fell essentially in free-fall. Therefore the structures below offered minimal resistance to and were destroyed by the falling mass. The argument pre-supposes the conclusion that the force that overcame the resistance of the structures below was the falling mass, not some other force such as energy of explosives.
The fact that there is not a single example of total top-down progressive collapse outside of the alleged examples of the Twin Towers makes it entirely unscientific to pre-suppose that the alleged phenomenon was operative here.
Like virtually every other endorsement of the pile-driver theory, NIST's is entirely free of quantitative detail. Why does NIST not even attempt to quantify the amount of energy that the top of each Tower would accumulate after a free-fall of one story -- an easy calculation? Perhaps because it would draw attention to the many problems of the pile-driver theory, including:
No column failure theory excluding demolition can account for the top suddenly starting to fall freely.
Photographs and videos show the top of both Towers breaking up before reaching the crash zone, disproving the existence of the supposed pile drivers.
Most of the rubble appears to fall outside of the Towers' footprint, thus being unavailable to crush the intact structure.
Rubble falls through the air outside of the Towers' profiles at about the same speed it falls through their profiles, showing that the structures below provided little to no more resistance than air.
The fourth paragraph addresses the jets of dust, often called "squibs." It reads:
NIST attempts to explain away without disclosing evidence for or even accurately describing this demolition feature: energetic jets of dust emerging symmetrically from the Tower's faces. (Image copyright: Richard Lethin)
The falling mass of the building compressed the air ahead of it, much like the action of a piston, forcing material, such as smoke and debris, out the windows as seen in several videos. (p 146/196)
NIST conceals the nature of the energetic ejections by describing them only as material "forc[ed]... out the windows". It does not mention any resources for examining this evidence, such as these video frames showing dust ejections from the North Tower.
When one examines these ejections, it becomes obvious that NIST's piston theory does not begin to explain them, for a number of reasons including:
No photographs show evidence of the alleged piston moving down inside of the Towers, and the thickness of the dust clouds indicate that the floors were being pulverized well above the ejections.
The ejections appear at regular intervals on all visible faces of the North Tower, a pattern much too regular to be explained by the piston theory.
The North Tower's ejections are very energetic and focused, blasting through single openings on each face. This challenges the piston theory to explain how the relatively even application of pressure caused by falling floors could be contained by all but single windows in the middle of each face.
The ejections appear to contain thick dust such as of pulverized concrete and gypsum, which would not be generated until after a floor had already collapsed and ejected its air.
NIST thus attempts to explain away only two of the six features of controlled demolition enumerated in the Conclusion of this essay, and in the essay's earlier version critiquing the NIST's Draft Report.
Playing the Missiles and Basement Bombs Straw Men
In the last paragraph, NIST employs the straw-man tactic used so extensively by the Popular Mechanics article. It reads:
NIST found no corroborating evidence for alternative hypotheses suggesting that the WTC towers were brought down by controlled demolition using explosives planted prior to September 11, 2001. NIST also did not find any evidence that missiles were fired at or hit the towers. Instead, photos and videos from several angles clearly showed that the collapse initiated at the fire and impact floors and the collapse progressed from the initiating floors downward, until the dust clouds obscured the view. (p 146/196)
It may be true that NIST failed to find corroborating evidence of controlled demolition: perhaps its investigators were careful not to look at any of its 6,977 segments of video footage or 6,899 photographs capturing events after "collapse initiation." It may also be true (and is much more plausible) that NIST didn't find evidence of the missile strikes alleged by letsroll911.org, In Plane Site, and Loose Change. NIST employs the same strategy as these productions: pairing the controlled demolition hypothesis with the nonsensical idea that the crashing planes fired missiles into the Towers, in order to discredit the hypothesis. As with the Popular Mechanics piece before it, the overt apologists for the official story work hand-in-glove with sensational productions that attack the official story with phony evidence.
NIST's second use of the straw-man tactic in the paragraph is more subtle. It implies that controlled demolition would have destroyed the Towers in an order other than that observed -- from the bottom up instead of from the top down. This ignores the fact that controlled demolitions are controlled, and therefore demolition sequences can be effected in any order desired. In the case of the Twin Towers, the demolitions would have been designed so that the destruction could be blamed on the plane crashes and fires, and hence would have been initiated around the crash zones. (Even in that detail, they leave something to be desired, since there is evidence that the top of each tower was broken up before falling into the crash zone.)
NIST does not explicitly mention the basement bombs theory but falsely implies that all controlled demolition theories are synonymous with it, requiring the explosions to start low in the Towers. This suggests a reason that the basement bombs theories have been aggressively promoted in literature purporting to challenge the official story: It provides a convenient straw man that defenders of the official story such as NIST can falsely identify with all demolition hypotheses in order to discredit them.
Correcting the ASCE's Candor
NIST's is the second of only two official government investigations of the collapses of the World Trade Center buildings. The Report makes the following reference to the earlier investigation, in which FEMA assembled a team of volunteers from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE):
Immediately following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11, 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Society of Civil Engineers began planning a building performance study of the disaster. The week of October 7, as soon as the rescue and search efforts ceased, the Building Performance Study Team went to the site and began their assessment. This was to be a brief effort, as the study team consisted of experts who largely volunteered their time away from their other professional commitments. The Building Performance Study Team issued their report in May 2002, fulfilling their goal "to determine probable failure mechanisms and to identify areas of future investigation that could lead to practical measures for improving the damage resistance of buildings against such unforeseen events." (p xxix/31)
This is misleading for several reasons:
It implies that the Building Performance Assessment Team (BPAT) conducted an on-site investigation of the collapses, when in fact they were only allowed a walk-through of Ground Zero, derided by an investigator as a "tourist trip." Their only hands-on study of the debris was in salvage yards, and included an examination of far less than 1% of the steel. It claims they "determine[d] probable failure mechanisms," but their findings were in fact equivocal. Furthermore, NIST developed an entirely different collapse initiation theory based on column failure, which is incompatible with the ASCE's theory based on truss failure. Contrary to NIST, neither theory is probable.
The ASCE's Equivocation
About the Twin Towers, FEMA's report stated:
With the information and time available, the sequence of events leading to the collapse of each Tower could not be definitively determined.
On Building 7 they were even more reserved:
The specifics of the fires in WTC 7 and how they caused the building to collapse remain unknown at this time.... the best hypothesis has only a low probability of occurrence. Further research, investigation, and analyses are needed to resolve this issue.
It is, therefore, misleading for NIST to say that the FEMA-ASCE report determined the "probable failure mechanisms."
Like NIST's Report, FEMA's report did not attempt to provide an explanation for the total collapses of the Twin Towers. However, it did venture slightly beyond the NIST's cutoff of "collapse initiation," stating:
As the floors collapsed, this left tall freestanding portions of the exterior wall and possibly central core columns. As the unsupported height of these freestanding exterior wall elements increased, they buckled at the bolted column splice connections, and also collapsed.
[emphasis added]
Note that no photographs show "tall freestanding portions" or any substantial portions of the exterior walls above the descending rubble clouds. Also, even without the floors surrounding them, the core columns were not freestanding, but were connected by horizontal I-beams into lattices of steel. The authors' use of the non-committal "possibly central core columns" suggests they don't believe their collapse theory.
NIST's Report shows no such equivocation or doubt-revealing ambiguity.
The ASCE's Disclosures of Steel Sulfidation
One of the more interesting parts of FEMA's report is Appendix C: Limited Metallurgical Examination in which the investigators revealed that examination of the macro- and micro-structure of specimens of the steel show that it was rapidly corroded by sulfidation. Appendix C concludes with:
The severe corrosion and subsequent erosion of Samples 1 and 2 are a very unusual event. No clear explanation for the source of the sulfur has been identified.... A detailed study into the mechanisms of this phenomenon is needed to determine what risk, if any, is presented to existing steel structures exposed to severe and long-burning fires.
The authors don't speculate on whether the findings are evidence of explosives, but the New York Times called them "perhaps the deepest mystery uncovered in the investigation."
Despite the ASCE's call for further investigation, NIST's Report ignores the findings. Its five pages in Section 6.4 Learning from the Recovered Steel (p 86/136) includes a subsection on damage analysis with considerable detail, including some "observations of the microstructure of the steel." It fails to mention the sulfidation discovered by ASCE volunteers.
Omissions and Distortions
Omissions and Distortions is the subtitle of David Ray Griffin's book critiquing the 9/11 Commission Report. Given the likelihood that NIST's Report will be greeted by the mainstream media with uncritical acceptance similar to that enjoyed by the 9/11 Commission Report, it deserves a critique as thorough as Griffin's. This essay is much less ambitious, and does not attempt to provide a thorough enumeration of the Report's flaws. In this section I just note some of the more serious omissions and distortions apart from the ones mentioned in the preceding sections.
The Privatization of the World Trade Center
After providing a fairly detailed overview of the history of the World Trade Center, the Report mentions that WTC 7 "was completed in 1987 and was operated by Silverstein Properties, Inc." (p 2/52) However, the Report makes no mention of the fact that a private consortium headed by Silverstein Properties acquired a 99-year lease of the main World Center complex on July 24, 2001. Nor does it mention that the new landlord secured an array of insurance policies that included a special provision for loss due to terrorist attacks, and, subsequent to the attack, successfully sued the insurers to obtain twice the value of the policy based on its being "two occurrences" (two airplane crashes).
Chief Palmer's Radio Call
The Report conceals one of the most vivid accounts of heroism in responding to the attack. Battalion Chief Orio J. Palmer had reached the 78th floor of the South Tower by 9:48 -- 11 minutes before the explosive collapse began -- and reported via radio "two isolated pockets of fire." In contrast to Palmer's communication, NIST's Report implies that no firefighters were able to reach the crash zones.
However, there was insufficient time and no path to reach any survivors on the impact floors and above. Any attempts to mitigate the fires would have been fruitless due to the lack of water supply and the difficulty in reaching the fire floors within the time interval before the building collapse. (p 34/84)
It would take hours to accumulate sufficient people and equipment to access the impact zones. (p 167/217)
NIST gets the closest to admitting Palmer's account here:
From radio communications and first-person interviews, it appears that there were responders as high as floors in the 50s in WTC 1 and the 78th floor in WTC 2. (p 170/220)
Here's a transcript of a portion of the radio communication with Chief Palmer:
Battalion 7 Chief: Battalion Seven... Ladder 15, we've got two isolated pockets of fire. We should be able to knock it down with two lines. Radio that, 78th floor numerous 10-40 Code Ones.
...
Ladder 15: Floor 78?
Battalion 7 Chief: Ten-four, numerous civilians, we gonna need two engines up here.
...
Battalion 7 Chief: I'm going to need two of your firefighters Adam, stairway to knock down two fires. We have house line stretched we could use some water on it, knock it down, kay.
Excuses, Excuses
Light wind from the north bathed the northern portion of the North Tower's roof with cool, fresh air. (Image copyright: Aman Zafar)
Of the 1,344 people estimated to have been on or above the 91st floor of the North Tower when the plane hit, not a single person survived, the crash having blocked all three stairwells. But many might have been rescued from the roof, had not the doors been locked and helicopter rescue barred. Two choppers arrived within 5 minutes of the crash, one of which was a Bell 412 equipped with a 250-foot hoist and capable of carrying as many as 10 survivors at a time, and carrying a three-man crew specially trained for rooftop rescues. One of the choppers was piloted by Greg Semendinger, who had helped to rescue 28 people after the 1993 WTC parking garage bombing. Semendinger and other veteran pilots have stated that rescue from the North Tower roof would have been difficult but possible. But on 9/11/01, no rooftop rescues were allowed.
NIST avoids any mention of the 1993 rooftop rescues and the opinions of pilots that rescue was an option.
Some of the people went toward the roof. However, there was no hope because roof evacuation was neither planned nor practical, and the exit doors to the roof were locked. (p 26/76)
The following passage in the Draft was omitted from the Final Report, possibly because the earlier version of this essay had pointed out that photographs and the words of the helicopter pilots had documented the accessibility of the northern portion of the North Tower's roof.
Even had the roof been accessible, the helicopters could not have landed due to the severe heat and smoke. (p 26/80 of Draft)
However, most of the Report's references to the lack of rooftop rescue remain the same as in the Draft. NIST excuses the locked doors and lack of notification to the occupants as a matter of code:
The 2003 code does not intend roof access to be used for evacuation and has no prohibition on locking this access. (p 168/218)
NIST excuses the amazing prohibition of rooftop rescue by misrepresenting the condition of the roof, and by falsely implying that a helicopter would have had to land on the roof to effect any rescue.
NYPD helicopters reached the scene by 8:52 to assess the possibility of roof rescue. They were unable to land on the roof due to heavy smoke conditions. During the first hour, FDNY did not consider the option of roof rescue. When the aircraft struck WTC 2, it was clear that this was criminal activity, and the decision regarding roof top operations became the responsibility of NYPD. The NYPD First Deputy Commissioner ordered that no roof rescues were to be attempted, and at 9:43 a.m., this directive was passed to all units. (p 168/218)
This implies that an hour instead of 18 minutes passed between the North Tower strike (8:46) and the South Tower strike (9:03). Also, it was clear almost immediately after the first strike that people could not evacuate downward from above the crash zone. Why then did the unnamed First Deputy Commissioner prohibit rooftop rescue? NIST shows no curiosity at this decision, but makes further excuses, suggesting that a few lives weren't worth the effort:
Even if it had been possible for a helicopter to gain access to the roof, only a very small fraction of the large number of people trapped above the impact zone could have been rescued before the Towers collapsed. (p 169/219)
Given the great lengths and expense to which public officials often go to save a single life, it is striking that the Report's authors suggest that there was nothing wrong with the NYPD decision to prohibit attempts to rescue people from the roof. This, like the Report as a whole, is evidence that the authors would defend the authorities no matter what their conduct.
Fudging the Models
The Report contains a lengthy accounting of how the models performed under various assumptions about the buildings and the planes. One assumption common to all their simulations is the following:
The two Tower models included the core columns, the floor beams, and the concrete slabs from the impact and fire zones to the highest floor below the hat truss structure: from the 89th floor to the 106th floor for WTC 1 and from the 73rd floor to the 106th floor for WTC 2. Within these floors, aircraft-damaged structural components were removed. (p 100/150)
[emphasis added]
Apparently, any structural component estimated to have been damaged to any degree was removed from the model -- as if it contributed nothing to the structure. In other words, if NIST's crash simulation predicted that a column had lost 10% of its load-bearing capacity, it was treated as if it had lost 100% of its capacity.
For each Tower, NIST created two cases. The first set of cases, North Tower case A and South Tower case C, were based on the averages of NIST's estimates of building and plane strength, impact trajectories and speeds, etc. The second set of cases, North Tower case B and South Tower case D, assumed conditions more favorable to the failure of the buildings. The enhancements adopted for Cases B and D over cases A and C are described in the following table:
North Tower South Tower increase in impact speed 29 mph 28 mph decrease in approach angles 3º 1º increase in aircraft weight 5% 5% increase in aircraft strength 25% 15% decrease in Tower strength 20% 15% decrease in Tower live load 20% 20% increase in Tower fuel load 25% 25%
The Report noted that cases A and C did not produce results matching observations, so cases B and D were selected for use in its four-step modeling.
Since the Report does not provide any evidence that NIST was able to model its alleged "collapse initiation" in which the "upper building section" began tilting and then moving downward (as noted in NIST's "Global Analysis"), one might ask why they bothered to fudge their models. Perhaps NIST's detailed descriptions of its substitution of cases B and D to for cases A and C is a dissembling tactic. Showcasing the adjustment of parameters to favor the failure of its computer-modeled buildings draws attention away from the lack of any evidence that NIST's models predicted building failure at all.
Altering Flight 175's Path
This illustration from WAKING UP FROM OUR NIGHTMARE shows the probable path of Flight 175's fuselage through the South Tower based on the appearance of a fragment the diameter of the fuselage exiting its east corner. This photograph shows a piece of fuselage from Flight 175, which exited the South Tower.
Whereas NIST admits some of the liberties it took in adjusting its models' parameters to fit the desired result, such as their substitution of cases B and D for the more accurate cases A and C described above, it hides others.
This illustration (p 115/165) shows NIST's estimate of damage to the South Tower's columns, red indicating severed columns.
NIST's assumption contradicts FEMA's estimate of Flight 175's trajectory, as well as the simple analysis of the plane's path through the building based on the entry and exit points of the fuselage. The illustration to the right shows the South Tower's impact gash, a video frame showing a fragment of fuselage exiting the Tower's east corner, and the path connecting the centers of the entry and exit holes. That trajectory left only the left wing and engine to do nearly all of the alleged damage to the Tower's core structure.
In contrast, NIST estimates that Flight 11 severed only six of the North Tower's core columns. Thus, NIST estimates that the North Tower had less core damage than the South Tower, which is completely implausible because:
Flight 11 impacted the North Tower's core in a direct, centered fashion, contrasting with Flight 175's off-centered impact, glancing the core.
The core columns at the North Tower's 95th floor impact zone were only about half as thick as the core columns at the South Tower's 80th floor impact zone.
Shrinking the Core Columns
Previous government reports have minimized, hidden, or denied the existence of the Towers' core columns. The FEMA report contained misleading descriptions and illustrations minimizing and hiding the core columns, and it made no mention of beams connecting the core columns. The 9/11 Commission Report denied their existence entirely, claiming that "the interior core of the [Twin Towers] was a hollow steel shaft, in which the elevators and stairwells were grouped."
NIST continues in the tradition of Core Denial, with a number of misrepresentations, including, apparently, in the computer models that it supposedly used to simulate collapse initiation. Figure 6-9 shows sections of the global model for both the North and the South Towers. Both show the core columns to be thinner than the perimeter columns. But we know that the perimeter columns had outside dimensions of about 13.5 by 14 inches, and that most of the core columns had much larger dimensions. The outer row of core columns in each Tower apparently measured 56 by 22 inches for most of its height. We might forgive NIST for skimping on the dimensions of the core columns at the 100th floor of the North Tower, since the box columns apparently transitioned to smaller H-columns around the 100th floor, but their use of tiny core columns on the 85th floor of the South Tower is clearly in error.
This is a zoom-up of Figure 6-9 (p 96/146), which shows the "multifloor global model" for WTC 2, in which the top floor (pictured) is the 85th floor. Note the miniscule size of the core columns (the short, toothpick-like rods in the central area of the floor).
NIST's Opaque Investigation
The Report makes impressive-sounding claims about the thoroughness of its investigation. For example, it describes its collection of visual evidence:
The assembled collection included: 6,977 segments of video footage, totaling in excess of 300 hours. The media videos included both broadcast material and outtakes. Additionally, NIST received videotapes recorded by more than 20 individuals.
6,899 photographs from at least 200 photographers. As with the videos, many of the photographs were unpublished. This vast amount of visual material was organized into a searchable database in which each frame was characterized by a set of attributes: photographer (name and location), time of shot/video, copyright status, content (including building, face(s), key events (plane strike, fireballs, collapse), the presence of FDNY or NYPD people or apparatus, and other details, such as falling debris, people, and building damage). (p 83/133)
Unfortunately NIST does not share its visual database with the public. Are there any videos in NIST's archive that show the alleged column bowing? They would immediately show whether the effect was due to refraction or to column distortion.
The Report boasts about the computer models it used to simulate the crashes and fires, but it does not make its models available for download, nor does it publish any of the data sets generated by the models.
The Report does not contain footnotes. It is filled with claims, the basis for which the reader can only guess. It leaves the public with no way to compare its conclusions with the evidence on which it was purportedly based.
Conclusion
Assuming the premise of the official explanation, the total collapses of the Twin Towers and Building 7 were the largest, most unexpected, and least understood failures of engineered steel structures in the history of the world. NIST's Report, like FEMA's 2002 report, presents the appearance of explaining the collapses of the Twin Towers, but in reality it doesn't explain them at all. Flatly asserting that "global collapse" inevitably follows "collapse initiation," the Report implies that the only issue worthy of study is how the jet impacts and fires led to collapse initiation -- an issue to which it devotes well over one hundred pages. Thus, the Report makes two fundamental claims, the first explicit and the second implicit:
The impact damage and fires caused the tops of the Towers to lean and then begin to fall (collapse initiation).
Once initiated, the collapses proceeded to total collapses.
NIST goes to great lengths to support the first claim, but commits numerous omissions and distortions in the process. It remains quiet about the second claim, except for its vague rehash of the pile-driver theory. This is indefensible, given NIST's charge to investigate the collapses. Accepting that claim requires us to believe:
That the collapses of WTC 1, 2, and 7 are the only examples of total progressive collapse of steel-framed structures in history.
That those collapses were gravity-driven despite showing all the common physical features of controlled demolitions. In the cases of the Twin Towers, those features included the following:
Radial symmetry: The Towers came straight down, blowing debris symmetricaly in all directions.
Rapid descent: The Towers came down just slightly slower than the rate of free-fall in a vacuum.
Demolition waves: The Towers were consumed by synchronized rows of confluent explosions.
Demolition squibs: The Towers exhibited high-velocity gas ejections well below the descending rubble.
Pulverization: The Towers' non-metallic components, such as their concrete floors, were pulverized into fine dust.
Totality: The Towers were destroyed totally, their steel skeletons shredded into short pieces, most less than 30 feet long.
All of these features are seen in conventional controlled demolitions. None have ever been observed in steel-framed buildings collapsing for any reason other than controlled demolition.
What are the chances that a phenomenon other than controlled demolition would exhibit all six features never observed elsewhere except in controlled demolitions?
NIST avoids asking this and other questions by implying that they don't exist. It uses the false assertion that partial collapse will inevitably lead to total collapse (couched in the ill-defined terms of "column instability," "global instability," "collapse initiation," and "global collapse") to imply that nothing about the actual collapses is worth considering.
To shield the reader from the evidence of controlled demolition, NIST fills hundreds of pages with amazingly realistic plane crash simulations, tedious details about fire tests and simulations, and long lists of recommendations for improving building safety. It calls its event narrative of each Tower, which starts with the jet impact and ends at the point that "collapse ensued," the "probable collapse sequence," but it is neither probable nor a collapse sequence.
NIST's misleadingly named "probable collapse sequence" is a mirage, masking the explosive reality of the collapses with a cinematic account of the crashes and fires. NIST's theory stops at the moment that the "upper building section began to move downwards," thus avoiding the longer timeline of the truss-failure theory and any overlap with the time span in which the demolition-like features appear. Despite NIST's theory being even more incredible than its predecessors (with spreading "column instability" triggering "global collapse" in an instant) it works better as a mirage because its timelines stop short of the collapses.
NIST's Report states that its first objective is to "determine why and how WTC 1 and WTC 2 collapsed." The Report does not fulfill that objective, and hides that failure with misleading headings and disproportionate, misapplied technical detail. Its authors should admit that they have failed to explain why and how the Towers collapsed, and should call for an investigation that will address rather than avoid the issue.
Copyright (c) 911Research.WTC7.net 2005In March 2015, local housing builder Johnson Carr submitted preliminary plans to Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections, seeking permission to erect a four-story, 57-unit apartment structure in the city’s Phinney Ridge neighborhood. The proposed building would conform with existing zoning: it would sit in a designated neighborhood center, on a commercial street of shops and small businesses, close to a bus stop. Indeed, mid-sized apartment buildings are exactly what the city’s plans call for at such locations.
It’s also all too common: a perfect example of one of the most important but overlooked causes of housing shortage: delay.
Today, after almost two and a half years of grinding administrative process, Johnson Carr is still waiting for approval. In a city that tops the United States for ballooning home prices and rent, where population and jobs are growing faster than at any time in history, that delay is a travesty. It’s also all too common: a perfect example of one of the most important but overlooked causes of housing shortage: delay.
“Time is money,” goes the saying, and it’s the cardinal truth in the business of building homes. When a city’s regulations stretch the time from blueprint to move-in, the homes end up more expensive. Or they end up never built, because the delay makes them money-losers. In cities already suffering from a shortage of homes, either way, delay sends prices even higher.
In my last article, I spotlighted how fees make housing more expensive. This time, I’ll shine a beam on the cost of delay. For Johnson Carr’s Phinney Ridge project, unnecessary delay has so far had about the |
favorite sets from the weekend were at the Spirit Lake stage (Russ Liquid Test, Dimond Saints).
Some more interesting artwork within Spirit Lake included a mural maze, numerous creatures made from wood, and even a light installation that was very similar to what Purity Ring has for their stage setup! Night time was the best time to explore Spirit Lake and experience all of it as a whole. Spirit Lake this year reminded me of Electric Forest this year with all of the lasers, lights, and the sense of becoming one with the forest.
Secret Sets, Sit Ins, and Back to Backs
A unique factor at festivals is the surprises artists bring along with them for the weekend. I am always one who loves surprises, so when some of my favorite artists make their sets and presence special, it only makes my experience more sentimental. The first night I was lucky enough to run into two old friends from middle school who just so happened to be playing at the Silent Disco, MZG. It was a perfect way to catch up briefly, but little did I know what they had in store for the entire weekend…
MZG and GRiZ played a pop up DJ set at Pine Fields on Sunday during Space Jesus and drew a decent crowd! What makes it so unique is that GRiZ always says that they do this for fun and the fans love it! But that isn’t it…
I can’t take away from the secret set that MZG played back to back with Space Jesus at Incendia in Spirit Lake to close out Sunday night. I was about to head back to my campsite to conclude a memorable Hulaween, but heard some familiar tracks being played and decided to check out what was going on at Incendia. Upon walking up, I saw that MZG was playing and eventually saw Space Jesus and made the decision to extend my experience. Incendia also hosted a few other secret sets throughout the weekend, one of which was Manic Focus.
After the Russ Liquid Test set was finished on Friday afternoon, it was quite a surprise to see him sit in during Manic Focus’s set at the Amphitheater Stage later that night. Another surprise was Dimond Saints having someone sit in and play the clarinet and saxophone during their set at the Spirit Lake Stage Saturday night. To cap off another surprise, ProbCause made an appearance during GRiZ’s set at the Meadow Stage on Sunday night. He came out and rapped his section of “My Friends And I”. Hulaween loves the collaborations!
The Patch
During my first Hulaween in 2015, The Patch stage did not exist. Upon returning to Suwannee, the Patch stage had already been established back in 2016 and was back again for 2017. This stage featured a handful of artists who I was excited to see. Some familiar artists I have seen (RL Grime, Space Jesus, Lotus) and some new ones I looked forward to seeing live for the first time (Beats Antique, The Disco Biscuits). The stage was located close to my campsite, the Playground, and a few vendors.
The Meadow
The Meadow stage was where the headliners played their fantastic sets. If you had asked me if I were going to make all seven String Cheese Incident sets prior to the festival, I would have said no. Surprisingly, I found myself at all of the Cheese sets and enjoyed every one! The Meadow stage had a similar stage setup to what the String Cheese Incident had at Red Rocks earlier this year. The production of the main stage also consisted of countless lights, a plethora of lasers, and confetti cannons.
The other two headliners that I was completely satisfied with at the main stage were Bassnectar and GRiZ. Friday night Bassnectar closed the Meadow and my expectations were prepared for a trippy set. Instead, he opened with an audio sample from Zoolander into the “Loco Ono Bassnectar and Stylust Beats Remix” and came out swinging with a heavy drum and bass/trap track list. My favorite set of the weekend was Bassnectar and it was my favorite set I have seen him perform at a festival.
GRiZ is always going to be a favorite of mine regardless of how many times I have seen him. My festival squad usually consists of numerous GRiZ family friends I have met over the last two years. In 2015, GRiZ played an afternoon set at the Amphitheater Stage that was absolutely packed. This year, GRiZ closed the Meadow on Sunday night. It is a sweet moment to realize that your favorite artist went from playing an afternoon set to closing Hulaween on Sunday.
Overall, Suwannee Hulaween did not disappoint and lived up to the hype once again. A solid group of people like to say that it is the Electric Forest of the south. The crowd was not super packed and drew a diverse group of individuals. I would recommend this festival to anyone who is looking for a first camping festival to experience!
See the full photo album from Suwannee Hulaween 2017 here!BANGKOK (Reuters) - Ten Syrians linked to Islamic State entered Thailand in October to attack Russian interests, Thai police said in a leaked document citing information from the Russian Federal Security Service.
A security guard checks a car entering the Russia embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, December 4, 2015. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
In the document, Special Branch police urged an intensification of security around “target areas that Russian authorities are concerned about”, including venues associated with allies that have taken part in attacks on IS in Syria.
Russia began air strikes in Syria on Sept. 30 and has stepped up attacks in recent weeks. An IS affiliate claimed responsibility for downing a Russian airliner over Egypt’s Sinai peninsula in October, killing all 224 people on board.
Thailand’s Special Branch, which deals with national security issues, circulated the document to other police units.
Marked “Urgent” and dated Nov. 27, the Special Branch police said intelligence from Russia warned that 10 Syrians “related to” IS entered Thailand between Oct. 15 and Oct. 31. The document was circulating on social media on Thursday.
“The document is real. We received it from Special Branch,” said a police officer who handles international crime matters. He declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.
“The original communication was by word of mouth between Russian and Thai police. I don’t know how the document leaked.”
The Special Branch said four of the suspects travelled to the seaside city of Pattaya, two to the tourist island of Phuket, two to Bangkok and two to an unknown destination.
Police had not received warnings about IS activity from any other foreign intelligence agency, Deputy Police Spokesman Songpol Wattanachai told reporters, adding that police had no information about their whereabouts, identity or possible targets.
“We’re still trying to work out whether they even came in,” he said, when asked if they could still be in the country.
National Security Council Chief General Thawip Netniyom said security units had been told to be vigilant.
“We have yet to find any unusual movement,” he told reporters. “Everything is safe, rest assured.”
A press officer at the Russian Embassy in Bangkok could not be reached for comment.
“TARGET-RICH”
The Immigration Bureau had found no irregularities among the 21 Syrians who remain in Thailand of the 231 that entered in October, bureau commissioner Nathathorn Prausoontorn told Reuters on Friday.
“There is no information linking them to Islamic State,” he said.
The National Security Council asked the bureau two weeks ago to check on Syrians that had entered since Oct. 1, he said.
The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates there are 700 to 1,000 foreign Islamist fighters in the region.
“There is a definite connection between Southeast Asia and Syria,” UNODC regional representative Jeremy Douglas said on Friday, adding Thailand would need to work with its neighbours to deal with the threat.
“It’s very plausible that foreign fighters could transit through Bangkok to and from the Middle East,” he said.
The warning comes three months after a Bangkok bomb attack killed 20 people. Authorities said the blast was in retaliation for a crackdown on human smuggling gangs and said it was not a terrorist attack.
A busy tourist destination and hub for businesses and international agencies, Thailand is a “target-rich environment”, said Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based security analyst with IHS-Jane’s.
Thailand's deputy police spokesman Songpol Wattanachai gestures during a news conference at the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, December 4, 2015. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom
Corruption and the presence of transnational criminal groups had helped create “a dangerously permissive environment,” he said.
“Post-Sinai, Russian intelligence is going to be asking ‘Where globally are our vulnerabilities?’ Thailand is going to be right at the top of their list,” said Davis.
Thailand’s three southernmost provinces bordering Malaysia are home to a large Muslim community, elements of which have waged an insurgency against the Buddhist-dominated Thai state for more than a decade.A whole new set of Pokemon are coming to Pokemon Go. While we're still probably a few months away from the release of "Gen 3" Pokemon, it's never too early to start looking at some of the new Pokemon and see how they might impact the game. We're going to take a look at all of the Pokemon that will be included in Pokemon Go's next wave of releases based on their types. Today, we're talking about Dark-Type Pokemon, one of the most underrepresented types of Pokemon in Pokemon Go. While one of the game's most powerful Pokemon (Tyranitar) is a Dark-Type, there's only a handful of Dark-Types in the game so far, and most can't be used in any sort of attack or defense scenarios. However, a flood of Dark-Type Pokemon is coming, many of which will be solid secondary attackers or defenders for those who want to fill out a team of Dark-Type Pokemon. Here's a look at the Dark-Type Pokemon coming to the game:
Slide 1/7 – Poochyena and Mightyena Poochyena and Mightyena could become Pokemon Go's most populous Dark-Type Pokemon. These hyena-like Pokemon were pretty common in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, and there's no reason to believe that they won't spawn everywhere when Pokemon Go adds more Pokemon. Mightyena was one of the Pokemon commonly used by Team Magma grunts in the Hoenn region. Although they look and seem dangerous, they're not very powerful and won't make much of an impact in Pokemon Go. Its CP is a bit lower than Sneasel and it doesn't have any impressive stats that could give it a niche in the game. Catching Poochyena and Mightyena will be useful for Stardust purposes, but that's about it.
Slide 2/7 – Nuzleaf and Shiftry Nuzleaf and Shiftry are the evolved form of Seedot, a Grass-Type Pokemon that we expect to commonly spawn in Pokemon Go. As Seedot evolves, it becomes a Grass/Dark dual-type Pokemon, a type combination that we haven't seen before in Pokemon Go. Shiftry has an okay Attack stat, so it could be useful to players who need a secondary Dark-Type attacker. Unfortunately, it has a painfully low Defense stat and plenty of weaknesses, so we don't recommend using it as a gym defender, even though its above average Stamina stat means that it'll have a lot of HP. We don't see Shiftry having much use in Pokemon Go, unless it has access to some new type of attacks.
Slide 3/7 – Sableye Gen 3's weakest Dark-Type Pokemon is Sableye, an impish Pokemon with jeweled eyes. Sableye is actually based on the Hopkinsville Goblin, an infamous alien encounter that supposedly occurred in Kentucky. Sableye's appearance and movements were meant to mimic the Hopkinsville Goblin, although most Pokemon fans won't recognize the resemblance. Before the introduction of Fairy-Type Pokemon, Sableye had no weaknesses in the Pokemon franchise, which made it somewhat useful despite its weak stats. However, since Fairy-Type Pokemon are in the game, Sableye won't be very effective, at least not until Mega Evolutions are added to Pokemon Go.
Slide 4/7 – Carvahna and Sharpedo Carvanhna and Sharpedo are fearsome looking Water/Dark dual types with nasty looking teeth. Sharpedo was one of the signature Pokemon of Team Aqua, the villainous team that players faced off in Pokemon Sapphire. Despite its low CP, Sharpedo could turn out to be a really useful Pokemon in Pokemon Go. Sharpedo has an Attack stat of 243, putting it in the upper echelon of attackers in the game. Although its Defense and Stamina stats are both mediocre, Sharpedo could be a powerful glass cannon in Pokemon Go, able to deal out a lot of damage in a short period before fainting.
Slide 5/7 – Cacturne Cacturne is another Grass/Dark hybrid, but with a better Attack stat than Shiftry. Cacturne's Attack stat is comparable to both Sceptile and Exeggutor, which means that it should be a top tier Grass-Type attacker. Cacturne's secondary Dark-typing might also give it versatility against Psychic-Type Pokemon like Espeon, Mewtwo, or Lugia. Although there's stronger Dark-Type Pokemon, players won't have a ton of options and Cacturne's Attack stats are comparable to that of Houndoom. Cacturne won't be a mainstay on most players' teams, but it should still have its uses.
Slide 6/7 – Crawdaunt Crawdaunt is a lobster-type Pokemon with strong claws and a love of battling. Its tough shell is covered with claws from its various battles over the years. You might notice that Crawdaunt's shell bares a little bit of a resemblance to Sharpedo's coloration, which many believe is a sign of mimicry. Crawdaunt is another Water/Dark dual-type, although this one is a little more balanced than Sharpedo. Although its Attack stat isn't as high as Sharpedo, Crawdaunt has better Stamina and Defense stats, meaning that it might be a little more useful in battles where you need Pokemon to last longer in battle.As study after study (after study) in the United States over the last several decades have shown a prison population explosion that demands additional, larger, more expensive—and increasingly privatized—prisons, the trend in Sweden might hold a lesson on how to end the ever-expanding incarceration rate.
In fact, instead of building new prisons or holding steady with the number they have, the Swedish government—citing a rapid fall in demand—has now ordered the closure of four prisons.
"We have seen an out-of-the-ordinary decline in the number of inmates," Nils Öberg, the head of Sweden's prison and probation services, explained to the Guardian. "Now we have the opportunity to close down a part of our infrastructure that we don't need at this point of time."
As the Guardian reports:
Prison numbers in Sweden, which have been falling by around 1% a year since 2004, dropped by 6% between 2011 and 2012 and are expected to do the same again both this year and next, Öberg said. As a result, the prison service has this year closed down prisons in the towns of Åby, Håja, Båtshagen, and Kristianstad, two of which will probably be sold and two of which will be passed for temporary use to other government authorities. Öberg said that while nobody knew for sure why prison numbers had dropped so steeply, he hoped that Sweden's liberal prison approach, with its strong focus on rehabilitating prisoners, had played a part.
Swedish authorities explain that this more "liberal" approach includes both the rehabilitation cited, but also a new sentencing structure that has reduced the terms given for drug offenses, theft, and other less serious crimes.
At 112th in the world, Sweden has long been rated well in indexes that calculate the percentage of its population the remains incarcerated. In contrast, the United States has the most heavily-jailed population in the world.
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Help Keep Common Dreams Alive Our progressive news model only survives if those informed and inspired by this work support our efforts
Again, from the Guardian:
According to data collected by the International Centre for Prison Studies, the five countries with the highest prison population are the US, China, Russia, Brazil and India. The US has a prison population of 2,239,751, equivalent to 716 people per 100,000. China ranks second with 1,640,000 people behind bars, or 121 people per 100,000, while Russia's inmates are 681,600, amounting to 475 individuals per 100,000.
And, as the Congressional Research Service (CRS) reported earlier this year, the U.S. prison population continues to rise at an unprecedented rate, both federally and across many states. Those rates lead to over-crowding, growing costs, and increasingly unsafe institutions. As an Al-Jazeera investigation, following a report from the Government Accountability Office, found:
The overcrowded facilities have contributed to a multibillion dollar demand for private prisons. The industry argues it is helping the government save money. But others argue that for-profit prisons only increase the incentive to incarcerate more people. Almost half of those incarcerated in federal prisons are drug offenders. Another 16 percent of inmates are in prison for offences related to weapons, explosives and arson. Those convicted of immigration violations make up 12 percent of the federal prison population. And the impact of mass imprisonment spreads far beyond the prison walls. Sociologists have found that the rise in incarceration rates reduce social mobility and ensure both prisoners and their families remain trapped in a cycle of poverty.
______________________________________________Kraft is facing charges of misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution. What will the consequences be for him and the NFL?
The Steelers would prefer to trade Antonio Brown to an NFC team, while the Patriots and teams in the AFC North are considered no-trade zones, a source told ESPN.
The Patriots, Cardinals and Redskins each will get four of the 32 compensatory draft picks the NFL awarded on Friday.
The Chicago Bears are releasing kicker Cody Parkey following a difficult season, a league source confirmed. Parkey missed eight field goal attempts, including a 43-yarder that would have beaten the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs.
The Bears fall to the Eagles 16-15 after Cody Parkey's 43-yard field goal gets tipped, hits the upright and crossbar.
ABOUT COOKIES
To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies?This segment is part of The State of Science, a series featuring science stories from public radio stations across the United States. This story originally appeared on KQED Science.
From Day 1 of the Oroville spillway crisis in February, the California Department of Water Resources has never wavered in its declarations that, despite the disintegration of the massive concrete flood control outlet and a near-disaster caused by uncontrolled emergency reservoir flows down a rapidly eroding hillside, the stability of the massive dam itself was not and has never been threatened.
Despite those oft-repeated assurances, public questions about the dam’s integrity have persisted — in internet forums, in community meetings and, most recently, in a report released last week under the auspices of UC Berkeley’s Center for Catastrophic Risk Management.
That’s in part a reflection of public distrust of DWR after the spillway incident and in part a recognition that anything that seriously compromises the 770-foot-tall dam could endanger tens of thousands of lives, cripple a key element of California’s water-supply network and put the state’s entire economy at risk.
[Has California’s five-year drought washed away?]
Specifically, the questions have focused on an extensive area of moisture on the left side of the dam’s downstream face that’s known, even to the Department of Water Resources, as “the green spot.”
The spot, characterized by what state inspectors have termed “lush” vegetation during wet seasons that turns into dense thickets of dry weeds by late summer, is clearly visible on satellite images and measures about 700 feet long by 130 feet wide. That’s roughly the size of two football fields.
Last week’s study, led by internationally known civil engineer and risk management analyst Robert Bea, included several subreports asking whether the moisture at the green spot is a sign that water is leaking through the dam and weakening its inner structure.
Publicly, DWR officials have tended to dismiss those concerns. In response to questions at community meetings in Oroville and Yuba City in May, for instance, the agency said the green area is due to rainfall, that it first appeared while the dam was under construction, and that it poses no risk to the dam.
But outside public view, documents KQED obtained under the California Public Records Act show the Department of Water Resources has puzzled for years over the source of the seepage feeding the “green spot” and has been slow to act on a 2014 recommendation from independent experts to investigate the issue.
DWR’s uncertainty is reflected in a series of dam inspections between February and July 2011 — Northern California’s last wet winter before the five-year drought — that produced contradictory conclusions about the issue and whether it was a chronic condition or something that appeared only seasonally.
On Feb. 2, 2011, a DWR inspection party hiked to the green spot — about 200 vertical feet below the top of the massive structure — and found extensive moisture.
“The cause of the seepage has yet to be determined,” wrote Bill Pennington of DWR’s Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD).
One possibility, he said, was rainwater may have collected — or become “perched,” in engineering parlance — within the dam’s embankment. Another possible source: an area of seepage that had been noted in the dam’s abutment during construction in the 1960s.
Pennington suggested that the area should be monitored and “unexpected changes should be reported to DSOD.” In a field notebook, Pennington wrote that Paul Dunlap of DWR’s Dam Safety Branch was “thinking of mapping the area.”
After a May 2011 inspection visit, Pennington wrote that “the long-established wet area at mid-slope on the left end of the dam remains active” and recommended continued monitoring.
In July 2011, with the lake level unseasonably high — less than 2 feet below the edge of the dam’s emergency weir — DWR’s Paul Dunlap returned to check out the green spot. He found it had “essentially dried up.”
“The drying out of the green spot (especially under high reservoir conditions) provides further evidence that the green spot phenomena on the dam is associated with precipitation or abutment seasonal spring activity and not seepage through the dam,” Dunlap wrote in a report on his findings.
Find out what’s happening on Science Friday…on Thursday. Subscribe to our preview newsletter. Leave this field empty if you're human:
Those periodic observations continued — sometimes the green spot was wet, sometimes dry — along with Pennington’s repeated recommendation that dam managers figure out how to monitor the area “so that year to year changes can be recorded.”
In August 2014, an independent board met to perform the dam’s five-year federal safety review. The board’s recommendations, released in December, called on DWR officials to investigate the green spot and try to determine whether it posed a threat to the dam.
“This issue has a high historical profile that needs to be conclusively addressed,” the consultants commented in one section of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s 2014 Part 12D report.
The board said that while much of the dam’s behavior was understood, “one issue that seems to not have been addressed by previous stability analyses is that associated with the green spot on the downstream face of the dam.”
The consultants’ report noted that the final construction report for the dam, which went into service in 1968, indicated that the green spot area was observed even before Lake Oroville began rising behind the structure.
“The green spot is believed to be associated with pre-existing natural springs in the downstream left abutment area of the dam foundation,” the Part 12D report says. The concentration of moisture, the document speculates, could be due to the composition of the rock and earth used to build the dam’s downstream embankment. The fill, which may contain excessive volumes of very fine, dense material, “may prevent free drainage of flows from those underlying springs.”
The four consultants said that although there was no evidence of movement or instability in the green spot area, they recommended the Department of Water Resources investigate to see whether the persistent moisture could pose a risk to the dam, especially in the event an earthquake occurred during a period of particularly wet conditions.
In response, the Department of Water Resources has told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission it intends to answer questions raised in the 2014 safety board report by September 2018.
The department last year got approval to bore a hole as deep as 150 feet in the dam’s left abutment, adjacent to the green spot area. The drilling was to pursue a separate issue raised by the safety board — the seismic vulnerability of Oroville Dam and nearby facilities. As part of that work, DWR told FERC, it planned to install an instrument for “monitoring groundwater levels in proximity (to) the historic ‘green spot’ within the dam embankment. Data collected may provide beneficial in understanding the origin of seepage within the left abutment.”
After a wave of questions raised by the UC Berkeley Center for Catastrophic Risk Management report issued last week, DWR says it’s preparing a preliminary report on the green spot as well as a longer-term study of the issue. The report is due out next week, DWR spokeswoman Erin Mellon said Friday.
In response to questions about DWR’s response to the safety board recommendations or suggestions for monitoring made in the department’s own inspection reports, Mellon said regular monitoring was ongoing and that “to date, no issues of concern have been noted.”
Bea, the leader of the UC Berkeley study, says that DWR has been complacent in its response to a host of issues related to the dam, including the green spot.
“I think these people are looking at these pieces of evidence and using their logic, ‘Well, this dam’s been here for 50 years. We’ve seen these wet spots before, and it’s performed satisfactorily,’ ” Bea said. “What they’re then concluding is that as you move forward into the future it will continue to perform satisfactorily. That conclusion is premised on a belief there won’t be any changes as you move into the future.”
Bea says that posture is similar to the one the department took to the dam’s spillway. The imposing concrete structure had undergone several rounds of extensive repairs before it failed in February. Despite that history of recurring problems, there’s no evidence that the department considered the possibility that the spillway might need to be rebuilt, and DWR inspections through last August consistently declared the structure fit for continued use.
“They kept thinking (that despite) these early warning signs — ‘Yeah, they’re unusual, we’ve got to put concrete patches on those cracks. And yeah, there are voids under the concrete that we’ll fill with concrete’ — it’s going to remain stable,” Bea said. “That proved to be disastrously wrong.”On January 9, Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PenceVenezuela's Maduro says he fears 'bad' people around Trump 'And the award for best political commentary by an Oscar nominee goes to...' UN nuclear watchdog: Iran maintains compliance with 2015 pact MORE left his position as governor of Indiana, yielding the office to Eric Holcomb, his duly elected successor. After only four years in office, Pence understandably left many items of business unfinished.
Now, as vice president of the United States, Pence can and should weigh in on one of those unresolved items. Doing so could help to demonstrate that he recognizes the necessity of limits to the anti-immigrant laws passed by states, and, not incidentally, to show that he is not opposed to at least some of the rights of transgender people.
ADVERTISEMENT
An Indiana law enacted in 2010 — the same year as the more infamous Arizona anti-immigrant law, SB 1070 — is one of the most draconian anti-immigrant laws passed in the 21st century. Indiana’s 2010 House Bill 1047 strikes at the very heart of humanity and individuality by denying to all non-citizens the right to obtain a change of legal name. It is hard to imagine anything so definitive of personhood as the ability to change from the name provided at birth to one that better fits an individual’s sense of identity. It is a uniquely and centrally human right that Indiana denies to non-citizens.
Moreover, there is no subtlety to Indiana’s denial of this essential attribute of being human. The law prohibits all non-citizens — including asylees fleeing demonstrated persecution, refugees seeking freedom from the most dire of inhumane circumstances, and lawful permanent residents regardless of how long they have lived in the United States — from legally changing names.
There are, of course, significant benefits to immigrants from naturalization, including obtaining the right to vote, but such a basic element of personhood has never been one of the benefits or services contingent upon becoming a citizen. Since at least the end of the Civil War, our United States Constitution has considered all immigrants to be persons.
Denying personhood to an individual not yet eligible for naturalization, or to a permanent resident who chooses not to become a citizen, is peculiarly inconsistent with the modern Constitution, following the formal elimination of the abomination of slavery over 150 years ago.
Indiana’s inexplicable discrimination against all non-citizens has very real and dangerous effects for those deprived of personhood and forced to retain names that do not reflect their identity and autonomy. The courageous Indiana resident who has stepped forward to challenge the law — in a federal lawsuit filed by MALDEF and the Transgender Law Center — faces many such consequences as he is forced to carry and use identification documents that include the first name he was given at birth.
This Latino immigrant plaintiff, bravely taking on Indiana’s state government to strike down the unjust law, has had to endure confusion, ridicule, and ominous interrogation after presenting his identification to, among others, a restaurant server seeking proof of age, admitting nurses in an emergency room, and a police officer who pulled the plaintiff over for a minor traffic violation.
The danger in these interactions stems from the fact that the plaintiff is a transgender male, who lives his personal and professional life as a man, consistent with his sense of himself and his individual identity. His identification documents also note that his gender is male. However, because of the discriminatory Indiana law, he must carry and use identification documents that bear his conventionally female birth name.
As a result, he must frequently explain why his name is a female name, often having to identify himself as transgender in doing so. Of course, such a forced “outing” as transgender has potentially dire and dangerous consequences in light of the prejudice and discrimination, sometimes expressed through physical violence, that transgender people still face in our country.
In recent years, Pence has, with reason, faced question and criticism about his role in the passage of a state bill that would have sacrificed the rights of LGBT community members to the religious views of some businesspeople. While Pence did not sign Indiana’s discriminatory name-change law (his predecessor Mitch Daniels did), he has resisted the federal litigation filed to challenge it.
Whether or not he is aware of the legal tactics, pursued in his name, to delay and prevent a remedy for the plaintiff, Pence, as vice president, has an opportunity to urge his successor and the Indiana legislature to resolve the litigation and to repeal the offending law that denies all non-citizens the quintessentially human right to change names.
In doing so, the vice president could demonstrate a more humane posture toward both immigrant rights and LGBT rights, in contrast to the reputation that the Trump/Pence ticket acquired through its 2016 campaign and perpetuated through its initial changes in federal government websites.
Calling for repeal of the discriminatory Indiana name-change law would be a far more auspicious way to begin the administration.
Thomas A. Saenz is president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), a national civil rights legal organization that works to promote the civil and constitutional rights of all Latinos living in the United States.
The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill."Stingaree" redirects here. For other uses, see Stingaree (disambiguation)
The Stingaree was a neighborhood of San Diego between the boom of the 1880s and the cleanup of 1916. The reason for the neighborhood's fame was its role as the home to the city's "undesirables", including prostitutes, pimps, drug dealers and gamblers. For similar reasons of societal exclusion, it was also the site of the city's first Chinatown.[1] Additionally, the neighborhood was home to many other lower-class citizens, and was in the center of a wider blue-collar residential area encompassing much of the city south of Broadway.[2]
Though the name "Stingaree" (a synonym of stingray) refers primarily to the period before 1916, the neighborhood's character as a vice district lasted until its massive redevelopment in the 1980s.
Boundaries [ edit ]
The exact boundaries of the neighborhood are contested and likely changed throughout the years. The Health Department identified them as First and Fifth streets and Market and K streets.[3]
Crime in the Stingaree [ edit ]
Gambling and prostitution were illegal in California after 1855. However, law enforcement throughout America and especially in the West saw these vices as impossible to eradicate. Special "restricted" districts were created in many cities where the vices were allowed to be practiced in the open, provided that they were kept within the boundaries of the district and that there were no greater crimes involved. Illegal payments from the vice trade to the police were also typical components of these bargains. The Stingaree, like the more famous Barbary Coast in San Francisco, was one of these districts.[3]
The neighborhood saw a concentration of drug peddlers, brothels and gambling halls. Many other establishments in the neighborhood participated in petty crime, like the Railroad Coffeehouse on Fifth and K that sold liquor after midnight under the title "Coffee Royal" (coffee and whisky) for 15¢. There were at least 120 openly illegal establishments in the district in 1888.[3]
Between 1887 and around 1896 Wyatt Earp owned four saloons and gambling halls in San Diego, one on Fifth, one on Fourth Street, and two others near Sixth and E.[4][5][6] The saloons offered 21 games including faro, blackjack, poker, keno, and other Victorian-American games of chance like pedro and monte.[4] At the height of San Diego's real estate boom, Earp made up to $1,000 a night in profit.[7]
The Oyster Bar on Fifth Avenue was one of the more popular saloons in the Stingaree district.[8]:39:p71 One of the reasons it drew a good crowd was the brothel upstairs named the Golden Poppy. Each room was painted a different color and each prostitute wore a matching dress.[9] In 2003, the Oyster Bar saloon was converted into a restaurant by former San Diego mayor Roger Hedgecock who opened Roger’s On Fifth.[10]
Chinese population [ edit ]
The southwest corner of the Stingaree (between Market, K, First and Fourth) was the site of the city's Chinatown from the 1880s until the 1930s. During this period, the Chinese in California were marginalized by sometimes violent anti-Chinese movements, as well as the passage of laws that made it a crime to hire Chinese laborers while there were non-Chinese willing to take the work.[1] This, together with a decline in Chinese fishing due to the fear of being blocked readmission into the country from the waters, led to the creation of a thoroughly impoverished and ghettoized population. Many Chinese fell prey to the neighborhood's opium dens and gambling houses.
Social unrest [ edit ]
The Industrial Workers of the World found a ready audience with the Stingaree's marginalized working-class population. Their attempts to organize the residents were met with a 1912 ordinance banning street speaking. Furthermore, the city police were given special powers to break up demonstrations. What followed were years of demonstrations by the IWW, AFL, and other groups. These demonstrations were often violently suppressed by the police, turning the neighborhood into a scene of overt social conflict..[2]
City action [ edit ]
Starting with the 1880s, there were many election-time promises to reform the Stingaree, most of which were not acted on. In 1912 the Health Department began to eradicate vice in the district. They acted against the recommendations San Diego police chief Keno Wilson, who believed that this would simply spread prostitution into other parts of the city. The health department's action was in keeping with the national Progressive movement that called for closing these districts.[11]
Between 1912 and 1916 over 120 structures were destroyed, transforming the image of the city and creating a large homeless population.[3] Many prostitutes were driven out of town. A large portion of the Chinatown was razed in the process as well.[3] Although the name of the district disappeared, extensive raids against prostitution took place as late as 1938, and significant massage parlor raids occurred in 1973.[11] Vice and poverty dominated the area until its redevelopment in the 1980s.
Present day [ edit ]
The wild character of the neighborhood was finally removed by modern-day redevelopment. Many of the neighborhood's residents—and modern red-light uses—were removed with eminent domain, tax increment financing and other strong-arm techniques. The redevelopment efforts hinged on turning the neighborhood into an 1880s-themed upscale shopping area. The new Gaslamp Quarter recreates a "gaslamp era" town that has few characteristics of its actual history as the Stingaree. The last vestiges of the neighborhood's red-light history have been overcome by historical recreationism.
There is now a restaurant & nightclub called Stingaree at the corner of 6th and Island. In 2011, a taxi driver veered his cab into a crowd outside of the bar and injured 23 people.
In 2015, Stingaree was bought out by Hakkasan Group, remodeled, & is now Omnia Nightclub.[12][13]
References [ edit ]
Coordinates:So, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in New York (again) and is showing us how a really fearless leader of the free world does it.
Where to begin?
I guess at New York University, where Trudeau arrived at 9:30 this morning to talk to |
prohibition.
This movement/industry has come a long way, and we have seen some major breakthroughs where acceptance of cannabis is concerned; but there is also a disturbing complacency within that is fostered by a lack of courage. It is almost as if there are those who would like to continue the quasi-legal grey market of cannabis for a while longer so they can cash in a few more chips before their whole deal goes up in flames. A lof of so-called reformers have no idea what the fuck they will reform if the easy money of cannabis prohibition is off of the table and they actually have to perform to gain support. There is posturing on all sides of the table. Sadly enough, deep down inside, there are some within our ranks who probably hope that cannabis prohibition never really ends so that they can continue to hold on to what ever minimal control they have of their pathetic lives of selling bad weed for good money, or whatever else scam they are into where the black market allows them to get over.
Let’s be clear though… The folks who continue to work behind the scenes to retard the progress of ending prohibition are the scum of the earth. Those who have disregarded the mission in an effort to ensure they have a seat at the table going forward are no better than those who work against us. Believe that there are many people who stand next to us every day pretending to be down for the cause who are just as happy to see things stay right where they are. Don’t let a lot of these fuckers fool you… Many are selfish and greedy pricks who survive off of the chaos and pain fueled by prohibition.
So as that clock hits midnight and you are taking part in whatever silly time honored tradition that makes you feel good, let this soak in for a minute. 2015 could be the last year anyone is ever arrested for weed. It could be the last year that people who need cannabis suffer without. It could be the last year that people lose their kids or jobs for weed. It could be the last year we have to fight- if we all agree to really fight. If we all put down our egos and delusions of grandeur for a hot minute, and actually picked up the sword and drove it home WE CAN END THIS THING.
We do not need to wait until 2016 and hope that a few rich guys decide to back some weakly worded ballot initiative that will allow for more limited freedoms in select areas based on bullshit calculations done by some weird thinktank cats who probably don’t even smoke much weed. We can decide to rise up and be accounted for. We can use our power and influence to move the mountain… if we really want the mountain fucking moved.
Or we can kick the can down the street for another year or ten, and allow for our society to continue to deteriorate in the name of bad laws and ignorant policies. It is likely that many will choose to kick that can again. It is easy money for a lot of people and most are too busy worrying about themselves and their hopeful futures to really do the hard work it will take to end this thing.
This could be the last year of the bullshit…. if we really want it to be. Only time will tell and often it is out of our hands. Fate is seldom wrong.
I for one will be reloading and coming at 2015 like I come at every year…. as if it will be the last year of cannabis prohibition. I hope an army of people join me in the fight to end this thing once and for all. You want to make a resolution? Make one to spend every day working to stop the madness; and if enough of us make that commitment do not be surprised if we are not having this conversation next year.
Selah.(CNN) Conservative warnings about Donald Trump have grown increasingly somber. At first he was just an entertainer; then he became a worrisome distraction, and soon, there was fear that he would permanently scar the reputation of the Republican Party.
But it was after Trump started calling for stronger surveillance of Muslim-Americans in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks that a handful of conservatives ventured to call Trump's rhetoric something much more dangerous: fascism.
Since launching his campaign this summer, the billionaire real estate magnate has regularly deployed inflammatory rhetoric about immigrants -- particularly regarding Latinos -- and repeatedly raised the alarm about foreigners entering the country. That has escalated following the series of shooting rampages and explosions in Paris this month allegedly perpetrated by ISIS and amid a national debate over accepting Syrian refugees.
Trump is joined by his family as he is sworn in as President on January 20.
Trump is joined by his family as he is sworn in as President on January 20.
Trump walks on stage with his family after he was declared the election winner on November 9. "Ours was not a campaign, but rather, an incredible and great movement," he told his supporters in New York.
Trump walks on stage with his family after he was declared the election winner on November 9. "Ours was not a campaign, but rather, an incredible and great movement," he told his supporters in New York.
Trump apologizes in a video, posted to his Twitter account in October, for vulgar and sexually aggressive remarks he made a decade ago regarding women. "I said it, I was wrong and I apologize," Trump said, referring to lewd comments he made during a previously unaired taping of "Access Hollywood." Multiple Republican leaders rescinded their endorsements of Trump after the footage was released.
Trump faces Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the first presidential debate, which took place in Hempstead, New York, in September.
Trump delivers a speech at the Republican National Convention in July, accepting the party's nomination for President. "I have had a truly great life in business," he said. "But now, my sole and exclusive mission is to go to work for our country -- to go to work for you. It's time to deliver a victory for the American people."
Trump delivers a speech at the Republican National Convention in July, accepting the party's nomination for President. "I have had a truly great life in business," he said. "But now, my sole and exclusive mission is to go to work for our country -- to go to work for you. It's time to deliver a victory for the American people."
Trump speaks during a campaign event in Evansville, Indiana, on April 28. After Trump won the Indiana primary, his last two competitors dropped out of the GOP race.
Trump speaks during a campaign event in Evansville, Indiana, on April 28. After Trump won the Indiana primary, his last two competitors dropped out of the GOP race.
Trump -- flanked by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, left, and Ted Cruz -- speaks during a CNN debate in Miami on March 10. Trump dominated the GOP primaries and emerged as the presumptive nominee in May.
Trump -- flanked by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, left, and Ted Cruz -- speaks during a CNN debate in Miami on March 10. Trump dominated the GOP primaries and emerged as the presumptive nominee in May.
Trump speaks in Sarasota, Florida, after accepting the Statesman of the Year Award at the Sarasota GOP dinner in August 2012. It was shortly before the Republican National Convention in nearby Tampa.
Trump speaks in Sarasota, Florida, after accepting the Statesman of the Year Award at the Sarasota GOP dinner in August 2012. It was shortly before the Republican National Convention in nearby Tampa.
Trump poses with Miss Universe contestants in 2011. Trump had been executive producer of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants since 1996.
Trump poses with Miss Universe contestants in 2011. Trump had been executive producer of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants since 1996.
Trump appears on the set of "The Celebrity Apprentice" with two of his children -- Donald Jr. and Ivanka -- in 2009.
Trump appears on the set of "The Celebrity Apprentice" with two of his children -- Donald Jr. and Ivanka -- in 2009.
For "The Apprentice," Trump was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2007.
For "The Apprentice," Trump was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2007.
Trump wrestles with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania in 2007. Trump has close ties with the WWE and its CEO, Vince McMahon.
Trump wrestles with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania in 2007. Trump has close ties with the WWE and its CEO, Vince McMahon.
Trump attends the U.S. Open tennis tournament with his third wife, Melania Knauss-Trump, and their son, Barron, in 2006. Trump and Knauss married in 2005.
Trump attends the U.S. Open tennis tournament with his third wife, Melania Knauss-Trump, and their son, Barron, in 2006. Trump and Knauss married in 2005.
Trump attends a news conference in 2005 that announced the establishment of Trump University. From 2005 until it closed in 2010, Trump University had about 10,000 people sign up for a program that promised success in real estate. Three separate lawsuits -- two class-action suits filed in California and one filed by New York's attorney general -- argued that the program was mired in fraud and deception. Trump's camp rejected the suits' claims as "baseless." And Trump has charged that the New York case against him is politically motivated.
A 12-inch talking Trump doll is on display at a toy store in New York in September 2004.
A 12-inch talking Trump doll is on display at a toy store in New York in September 2004.
An advertisement for the television show "The Apprentice" hangs at Trump Tower in 2004. The show launched in January of that year. In January 2008, the show returned as "Celebrity Apprentice."
An advertisement for the television show "The Apprentice" hangs at Trump Tower in 2004. The show launched in January of that year. In January 2008, the show returned as "Celebrity Apprentice."
Trump dips his second wife, Marla Maples, after the couple married in a private ceremony in New York in December 1993. The couple divorced in 1999 and had one daughter together, Tiffany.
Trump dips his second wife, Marla Maples, after the couple married in a private ceremony in New York in December 1993. The couple divorced in 1999 and had one daughter together, Tiffany.
Trump and singer Michael Jackson pose for a photo before traveling to visit Ryan White, a young child with AIDS, in 1990.
Trump and singer Michael Jackson pose for a photo before traveling to visit Ryan White, a young child with AIDS, in 1990.
Trump signs his second book, "Trump: Surviving at the Top," in 1990. Trump has published at least 16 other books, including "The Art of the Deal" and "The America We Deserve."
Trump attends the opening of his new Atlantic City casino, the Taj Mahal, in 1989.
Trump attends the opening of his new Atlantic City casino, the Taj Mahal, in 1989.
Trump uses his personal helicopter to get around New York in 1987.
Trump uses his personal helicopter to get around New York in 1987.
Trump was married to Ivana Zelnicek Trump from 1977 to 1990, when they divorced. They had three children together: Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric.
Trump was married to Ivana Zelnicek Trump from 1977 to 1990, when they divorced. They had three children together: Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric.
Trump attends an event to mark the start of construction of the New York Convention Center in 1979.
Trump attends an event to mark the start of construction of the New York Convention Center in 1979.
Trump stands with Alfred Eisenpreis, New York's economic development administrator, in 1976 while they look at a sketch of a new 1,400-room renovation project of the Commodore Hotel. After graduating college in 1968, Trump worked with his father on developments in Queens and Brooklyn before purchasing or building multiple properties in New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Those properties included Trump Tower in New York and Trump Plaza and multiple casinos in Atlantic City.
Trump stands with Alfred Eisenpreis, New York's economic development administrator, in 1976 while they look at a sketch of a new 1,400-room renovation project of the Commodore Hotel. After graduating college in 1968, Trump worked with his father on developments in Queens and Brooklyn before purchasing or building multiple properties in New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Those properties included Trump Tower in New York and Trump Plaza and multiple casinos in Atlantic City.
Trump, center, wears a baseball uniform at the New York Military Academy in 1964. After he graduated from the boarding school, he went to college. He started at Fordham University before transferring and later graduating from the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania's business school.
Trump, center, wears a baseball uniform at the New York Military Academy in 1964. After he graduated from the boarding school, he went to college. He started at Fordham University before transferring and later graduating from the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania's business school.
Trump, center, stands at attention during his senior year at the New York Military Academy in 1964.
Trump, center, stands at attention during his senior year at the New York Military Academy in 1964.
Trump, left, in a family photo. He was the second-youngest of five children.
Trump, left, in a family photo. He was the second-youngest of five children.
Trump at age 4. He was born in 1946 to Fred and Mary Trump in New York City. His father was a real estate developer.
Trump at age 4. He was born in 1946 to Fred and Mary Trump in New York City. His father was a real estate developer.
President-elect Donald Trump has been in the spotlight for years. From developing real estate and producing and starring in TV shows, he became a celebrity long before winning the White House.
President-elect Donald Trump has been in the spotlight for years. From developing real estate and producing and starring in TV shows, he became a celebrity long before winning the White House.
Most striking has been Trump's aim at Muslims in the United States. He's been widely denounced for claiming that people in New Jersey — a state with "large Arab populations," he said — cheered after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. That, coupled with his seeming endorsement of a national registry to track Muslims in the country, has sparked a new level of condemnation from conservatives already on edge about Trump's endurance.
"Trump is a fascist. And that's not a term I use loosely or often. But he's earned it," tweeted Max Boot, a conservative fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who is advising
Trump is a fascist. And that's not a term I use loosely or often. But he's earned it. https://t.co/KSfADd5Ycq — Max Boot (@MaxBoot) November 22, 2015
"Forced federal registration of US citizens, based on religious identity, is fascism. Period. Nothing else to call it," Jeb Bush national security adviser John Noonan wrote on Twitter.
Forced federal registration of US citizens, based on religious identity, is fasicm. Period. Nothing else to call it. https://t.co/XYee8dEgJr — John Noonan (@noonanjo) November 20, 2015
Conservative Iowa radio host Steve Deace, who has endorsed Ted Cruz, also used the "F" word last week: "If Obama proposed the same religion registry as Trump every conservative in the country would call it what it is -- creeping fascism."
If Obama proposed the same religion registry as Trump every conservative in the country would call it what it is -- creeping fascism. — Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) November 20, 2015
Even one GOP presidential hopeful -- albeit a little-known candidate barely registering in the polls -- has used this language. In an interview with Newsmax TV on Friday, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore said Trump's immigration policies, including the idea of creating a " deportation force " to remove undocumented immigrants from the country, amounted to "fascist talk."
The fresh accusations of fascist behavior are extraordinarily charged -- the term is often equated with Nazism. The use of such a loaded word marks one more step in the evolution of the establishment's view of Trump, from a political clown to something much more malevolent and dangerous.
Photos: Who's running for president? Photos: Who's running for president? Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, John Kasich, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: Who's running for president?
"So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd at his announcement. Businessman Donald Trump announced June 16 at his Trump Tower in New York City that he is seeking the Republican presidential nomination. This ends more than two decades of flirting with the idea of running for the White House."So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd at his announcement. Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: Who's running for president?
"These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience at Liberty University in Virginia. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant." Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has made a name for himself in the Senate, solidifying his brand as a conservative firebrand willing to take on the GOP's establishment. He announced he was seeking the Republican presidential nomination in a speech on March 23."These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience at Liberty University in Virginia. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant." Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: Who's running for president? Ohio Gov. John Kasich joined the Republican field July 21 as he formally announced his White House bid.
"I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University. Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: Who's running for president?
"Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion -- so you can do more than just get by -- you can get ahead. And stay ahead," she said in her announcement video. "Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time. And I hope you'll join me on this journey." Hillary Clinton launched her presidential bid on April 12 through a video message on social media. The former first lady, senator and secretary of state is considered the front-runner among possible Democratic candidates."Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion -- so you can do more than just get by -- you can get ahead. And stay ahead," she said in her announcement video. "Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time. And I hope you'll join me on this journey." Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: Who's running for president?
"This great nation and its government belong to all of the people and not to a handful of billionaires, their super PACs and their lobbyists," Sanders said at a rally in Vermont on May 26. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, announced his run in an email to supporters on April 30. He has said the United States needs a "political revolution" of working-class Americans to take back control of the government from billionaires."This great nation and its government belong to all of the people and not to a handful of billionaires, their super PACs and their lobbyists," Sanders said at a rally in Vermont on May 26. Hide Caption 6 of 6
And it also reflects an increasingly visible and acute level of frustration and disbelief about Trump within the GOP, as Republicans view Trump's candidacy as an explosive mixture of economic populism with strongman personality politics. While it's unclear whether Trump is motivated by any coherent political philosophy, it's hard to recall another recent presidential candidate who has campaigned so openly on solving problems by sheer personal will.
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Boot and Deace couldn't be reached for comment, and a Bush spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on behalf of Noonan.
Academics who study fascism say that while Trump seems to have an authoritarian sensibility, his behavior doesn't meet the dictionary definition of fascism. The term describes an overtly anti-democratic movement that suppresses all opposition as a way to fulfill political goals, and a fascist leader is a dictator that wishes to exercise complete control, even by condoning violence.
Scholars of fascists like Benito Mussolini in Italy and Adolf Hitler in Germany (none of Trump's conservative critics have compared him to either man) say, however, that Trump does display some of the key characteristics of a fascist. His comments about a national registry for Muslim-Americans, together with his propensity to stir up anti-immigrant and xenophobic sentiments among his supporters, amount to a perception of hostility toward ethnic and religious minority groups.
"The most recent comment he said about creating a national registry of all Muslims -- that's very dangerous," said Steve Ross, a professor of history and scholar of fascism at the University of Southern California.
Ross, who proposes the label "right-wing bully" for Trump, said he can certainly understand why the question has come up. "You're talking about an American government that would move towards the persecution of citizens and people living within its own country," he said. "That is why people are saying, 'Gee, if you follow this through, it's fascism.' "
JUST WATCHED Trump would 'certainly implement' database for Muslims Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Trump would 'certainly implement' database for Muslims 00:45
"Fascism sometimes becomes an attribute to describe someone that is intolerant or totalitarian or even racist," said Federico Finchelstein, an expert on fascism at the New School who said Trump is better described a populist. "When dealing with an important part of the nation such as Hispanics, I think he definitely fits those categories."
When a reporter asked Trump last week how a national database of Muslims would be different from the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany, Trump responded: "You tell me."
Historians say they see other characteristics of fascism in Trump in addition to his propensity for racial and ethnic stereotyping. Among them: nativist undertones, attempts to control the media; and even condoning violence against his critics.
At a Trump campaign rally in Birmingham, Alabama, a black protester was physically attacked by a handful of Trump fans in the crowd. Video captured by CNN shows the man being shoved to the ground, punched and at one point even kicked. The next day, Trump drew fierce backlash when he said that perhaps "he should have been roughed up."
The sentiment was then echoed by Trump's senior counsel Michael Cohen. "Every now and then an agitator deserves it," Cohen said on CNN's "New Day" Tuesday morning.
JUST WATCHED Trump: Maybe protester'should have been roughed up' Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Trump: Maybe protester'should have been roughed up' 00:59
Ross said the incident illustrates behavior that is only steps removed from fascism.
"We had the same thing happening in Germany in the 1920s with people being roughed up by the Brownshirts and they deserved it because they were Jews and Marxists and radicals and dissidents and gypsies — that was what Hitler was saying," Ross said. "I'm not saying Trump is Hitler, but the logic of condoning violence against those who oppose you -- you can imagine, a man who would condone it as a candidate -- what would he do as an official president?"
Trump's interactions with the media — in particular, his attempts to shut out reporters critical of his campaign —have also shown authoritarian tendencies.
The businessman regularly lashes out at reporters who give unfavorable coverage, and his campaign has denied credentials to journalists as retribution. Trump has more than once boycotted appearing on Fox News, in protest of what he has deemed unfair treatment.
JUST WATCHED Univision anchor: Journalists have to take a stand Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Univision anchor: Journalists have to take a stand 03:20
"What they expect from the media is praise. This is another element in this character and in other leaders of this type, which is that they are extremely messianic and narcissistic," said Finchelstein. "Whatever they see, they see as a personal attack against them."
History professor Robert Paxton of Columbia University, who has studied the rise and spread of fascism, said he would not call Trump a fascist. But Paxton also said he can understand why some people might be inclined to point out similarities between Trump and fascist leaders.
"He's good at making astonishing speeches that make people sit up and take notice. So there's some of that manipulation of public emotions that is visible with Trump," Paxton said. "Hitler and Mussolini -- no one had ever seen public rallies like the meetings they'd have. People were absolutely mesmerized."After the June terror attack at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the LGBTQ community and its allies united to support victims of the shooting, raising $15 million in relief funds by the end of the month. As a drag performer, I was proud to see my sister queens become leaders in this effort, not only organizing dozens of benefit events in Orlando, here in New York City, and elsewhere, but also speaking out about queer safety issues—both on stage and across social media.
But as the weeks and months pass, many newly minted drag activists—myself included—are drifting back to their regularly scheduled programming, leaving LGBTQ political issues out of their professional lives. Now that the conversation around Orlando has drifted from immediate relief efforts to broader, more complex and long-term issues like gun control, it’s easy to feel that we queens are out of our depth. After all, a drag queen is an entertainer. She isn’t required to be a full time LGBTQ activist, is she?
Well, maybe not required, but it’s not without precedent. From tales about the launch of the Stonewell rebellion to the recent story of “accidental” drag activists like Panti Bliss, there is a long-standing desire to see queens as firebrands and leaders in the queer community. So for some perspective, I spoke to two noted queens who have made activism a cornerstone of their careers: Ambrosia Starling and Bob The Drag Queen.
If anyone knows about the life of an activist queen, it’s Ambrosia Starling of Dothan, Alabama. Her platform of choice is not the pageant stage but the picket line. Though she has been a muckraker for many years, Starling first drew national attention in May when the Rachel Maddow Show covered her campaign against Alabama’s anti-gay chief justice, Roy Moore, who has, in violation of the Supreme Court, tried to block same-sex marriage in his state. Painted, coiffed, and clad in a mini dress, Starling organized protests until Moore was suspended following an Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission investigation. And though she was not the only voice that won his removal, she was a powerful enough presence that he publicly nodded to her—a “professed transvestite”—as a cause of his travail, giving her, ironically, yet another jolt of fame.
Starling’s battle with Moore is an inspiring example of what one queen can do. But for Starling, the story doesn’t end there. Whether she’s in the national spotlight or joining a local Pride gig, she continues to advocate for queer rights in Alabama and beyond. In the past weeks, she has used her visibility not only to raise money for Orlando victims, but also to inspire audiences to think about what’s next. “I try to make sure that each time I go to a public event I tell these children: Standing and breathing and living here today, you have an opportunity that 49 people do not,” Starling told me. “Make it count—participate. If we do not use the rights we already have, they will not give us more.”
When I asked Starling if she thought all drag queens were obligated to take on activist work, I was surprised by her elegantly pragmatic answer. Looking back, she described how her work as a queen helped her make ends meet when her day job wasn’t cutting it. “You pick up the phone and call a bar to see if they have room for you,” Starling told me. “They don’t know what they’re doing for you—that you can’t pay your bills, that there’s no food in the house. But my community in this little bitty town for 23 years has kept my lights on. How do I not pay that back?” For Starling, activism is not a sacred duty for queens; it’s simply a reasonable response to the support they receive from queer people every day. It’s merely, as Starling herself might put it, “good manners.”
Bob The Drag Queen, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8—and, as I’ve written before, my drag mother—might be more well-known than Starling but she’s equally committed to activism. Miss The Drag Queen has been engaged in queer activism since the start of her career. In 2010, she helped launch Drag Queen Weddings, a series of weekly demonstrations demanding marriage equality. Today, her Queen for the People logo appears on events benefitting LGBTQ organizations like Trinity Place Shelter, which helps help homeless LGBTQ youth and young adults in New York City to safely transition out of the shelter system.
Bob The Drag Queen attends Logo’s RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 Premiere on February 22, 2016 in New York City.
When I asked her why she felt compelled to do activist work, her answer was simple. “The first time I got on the train in full drag I realized that every single person—every single person—stopped dead in their tracks to look at me. I didn’t even say anything. All I did was stand on the train,” Bob told me. “And I thought to myself, Well, now that I have everyone’s attention I should say something meaningful.” And so she has, helping to make the past season of Drag Race one of the more socially engaged seasons to date.
Both Starling and Bob are quick to say that their missions are personal, and that no queen is necessarily bound to activist work. Sometimes, however, their words belie a longing not only for more politically engaged queens, but also for politically engaged queers. “I don’t think it’s everyone’s job to be an activist. For me, I feel it is my duty, but I don’t get down on everyone else who doesn’t do it,” Bob told me. But she added: “I might ask someone how important their rights are to them, and ask are going to wait for some politician to make things right, or are you doing to do the most extreme form of lobbying that there is?”
For Starling, today’s queer community seems more focused on boundaries and divisions than solidarity, and she senses a complacency that worries her. “So much of queer activism came to a screeching halt in 1985 because everyone that was doing the activism was dying, but in some ways we were a tighter and better community when we were worried about how to keep each other out of the nursing home at 30,” Starling explained. “Now when I look around, I don’t see us looking out for each other the way we used to.”
It’s impossible to know whether queens and their allies will continue to act up and give back to the queer community as Orlando begins to drop out of the news cycle. And no queen is obligated to take up any cause or do any service as she struggles to make ends meet in a less-than-lucrative profession. But after talking to Starling about getting engaged politically, I keep remembering one of her remarks about elected officials. “You exist at the whim of your supporters,” she told me. “You owe them everything.” Perhaps that statement applies to us queens, as well.
Read more from Slate on the Orlando nightclub shooting.Some are thematic, containing puzzles and items integral to completing the world.
Some are secret, hidden side quests in which abilities can be gained.
Some are tough as nails with overwhelmingly difficult foes, mobs and bosses.
Time to complete
Percentage of map uncovered
Percentage of items obtained
Game mode: regular vs permadeath
Single-player action RPG
AI or human-controlled second player
Local co-operative two player mode
Full gamepad support, including rumble
Realtime combat
7 kinds of weapons including the nanosword, boomerang-like tophat, bombs, blink orb, ghost sword projectile, lighter and kilobombs
Hundreds of unique items and powerups
Some items can be combined, for example: ghost sword + lightning cube = lightning sword
Hidden items, secret entrances, secret pathways, bomb-able walls
Over 30 different achievements
A science fiction narrative featuring a spacecutter named Songbringer, its crew, an ancient evil army, and a planet named Ekzerra
Approximately 8-16 hours of gameplay per adventure, depending on thoroughness
Procedurally generated overworld and dungeons
A world contains: 1 overworld, 10 dungeons and 13 primary bosses
Worlds are based on a six-letter seed; enter the same seed to play the same world on any platform, or enter a new seed to play something different
World generator is hand-crafted, creating worlds based on human-designed rules, blending the best of both procedural and bespoke game design
Online leaderboards highlight the top players based on completion time, percentage of map uncovered and percentage of items found
Roguelike-inspired permadeath option which gives a higher score on the leaderboard and allows for faster runs
Songbringer is a scifi action RPG with swords, secrets, dungeons, bosses and stuff.You play the role of protagonist and accidental hero, Roq Epimetheos. With a propensity for partying and making music, he cruises the galaxy with his skybot Jib aboard the ship Songbringer, searching for verdant planets absent the presence of galactic police.When Roq finds the nanosword hidden in a cave on Ekzera, he unwittingly awakens an ancient evil. The sword is pretty fraggin' sweet though. It... hums.Jib began life as a human boy on the skycity planet Yuerder. Growing up, he took an interest in programming artificial intelligence, eventually making a career for himself. On his deathbed, he illegally transferred his consciousness into a skybot, destroying the consciousness link thereby preventing overwrite.Jib scans the bodies of your fallen foes, sometimes uncovering valuable loot. He can also gain the ability to stun foes. Jib is automatically controlled by AI, or player two can play Jib in local co-op mode.Lacking the ability to grow one as a human, Jib is obsessed with mustaches.You choose a 6-letter world seed when beginning a quest. This seed is used to procedurally generate the planet, overworld, secrets and dungeons.Entering the same world seed will always generate the same world, no matter which platform you are playing on. Thus lore and competition can be shared with others.Play a new seed and surprise yourself with a new world. Or enter a seed you are familiar with for a speed run.The generated overworld is open and non-linear. Head in any compass direction you like or play dungeons out of order. You aren't even required to pick up the sword.Of the nine dungeons Roq and Jib can uncover in each world:Everywhere one looks, there is much that is not seen. Concealed treasures abound. By eating cacti, Roq gains psychedelic powers and is able to perceive the secrets that lurk in plain sight.Some items Roq discovers can be combined to create distinct artifacts. Find a blink orb and a fire cube? Take these to the droidsmith aboard Songbringer to craft a fire orb enabling Roq to teleport forward a few steps while turning into a fireball.Songbringer features no experience points (no XP). Progress is made by crushing mobs, vanquishing bosses and claiming lost technological devices.On completing a quest, several factors are quantified to produce an overall score:Your score can be saved to a global leaderboard sorted by world seed. This leaderboard cycles through seeds by popularity and freshness. You can manually override to view a particular seed.
Copyright 2017 Wizard Fu, Inc. Songbringer is a registered trademark of Wizard Fu, Inc.Bush: 'I take responsibility' for federal failures after Katrina
Bush to address nation Thursday about Katrina
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Tuesday he takes responsibility for the federal government's failures in responding to Hurricane Katrina.
"Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government and to the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," Bush said during a joint news conference with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. (Watch Bush's comments -- 0:47)
Bush was responding to a reporter's question about whether Americans should be concerned that the government is not prepared to respond to another disaster or terrorist attack after it took several days for aid and troops to arrive in New Orleans and other areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
He repeated his desire to find out exactly what went wrong on every level of government.
"It's in our national interest that we find out exactly what went on... so we can better respond," Bush said.
A bipartisan joint congressional committee is to review the response at all levels of government to the hurricane and report its findings to Congress no later than February 15.
Bush praised the first responders and the U.S. Coast Guard, who risked their lives to rescue New Orleans residents stranded on their rooftops.
"I'm not going to defend the process going in, but I will defend the people on the front line of saving lives," Bush said.
Earlier in the day, the White House said the president will address the nation Thursday night about the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
The 9 p.m. ET address is the latest administration reaction to Katrina, which roared ashore on August 29.
"The president will talk to the American people about the recovery and the way forward on the longer-term rebuilding," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters, according to Reuters.
Bush is expected to make his address from storm-wracked Louisiana, where the president toured damaged New Orleans neighborhoods on Monday.
On Monday, Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Brown resigned, after questions were raised about his qualifications and for what critics call a bungled response to Katrina's destruction. (Full story)
Bush chose David Paulison, director of FEMA's preparedness division, as interim director.
|
‘Dogs are dogs’, he said, ‘because they all have one characteristic in common, they all possess dog-ness’. This sounds like a bit of a cop-out, but Plato actually believed that there was such a thing as dog-ness which truly existed. He believed that there was an ‘ideal’ world. The world we see around us, the world of perception, is just an imperfect copy of this ideal world. In the ideal world, there is a single, ideal, perfect dog, and every individual dog we see is an imperfect copy of this ideal dog. All the unimportant parts of ‘being a dog’ will change from individual to individual, but the things which are essential to being a dog will remain unchanged. (This is where the word essential, as in necessary comes from). These essential qualities are not perceived by us, but our minds, being rational, are somewhere halfway between the world of perception and the ideal world, so we can sense, or recognize, these qualities, if you like, even though we cannot see them clearly.
This might sound a little familiar to you; an unperceivable yet fundamentally important, eternal part of you which ‘lives’ on a higher plane of existence and basically constitutes who you are. Plato’s thinking, and the works of those who came after him were hugely influential on the early Christian Church. Most of what Plato said about essence and forms made its way into the Christian concept of the soul. Someone’s outward appearance and individual acts began to be seen as less important than this unknowable, semi-divine essential quality of a person. It allowed for dissenters within the Church to argue that as each soul is fundamentally good regardless of the acts of the person, and the essence of a thing is by far its most important part; all souls would eventually be saved. The idea that appearance is not all there is to an object had taken root.
With the advent of modernism in the late 19th and early 20th Century, a lot concepts previously found mainly in a religious context were applied to art. The idea of martyrdom became the idea of the tortured soul hell-bent on self-destruction, which is possibly at the root of our contemporary rock ‘n’ roll drug culture. The idea of asceticism – self-denial – manifests itself in the bare language and sparse poems typical of writers like William Carlos Williams. The idea of the ‘initiation’, the exclusivity of knowledge, is seen in a huge emphasis on referencing and writing for the learned. One of the concepts which found its way into our aesthetic was this idea of essence. People began to write and paint in weird and experimental ways, experimenting with symbolism, stream-of-consciousness, surrealism etc. in an attempt to capture, not the way things seem to us, but the way things actually are, deep down. People began trying to write create art showing the essential qualities of the world around them, rather than its superficial, outward appearance.
This idea of the two worlds has had a long tradition in English. I believe it is so fundamentally ingrained in our thinking that it is extremely difficult for us to understand a way of thinking in which reconstructing your most famous historical sites out of plastic and other such materials is a good idea. The material seems to represent its essence to us; at any rate, it is more fundamental than the purely visible appearance; there is nothing as disappointing as touching a huge and impressive 20ft Buddha statue to find out it’s made of a plastic shell no more than a centimetre thick. We seem to have an idea that buildings absorb this history around them; when visiting a particularly old historical structure, we think of ‘what these rooms have seen’, or something to that effect (I do, anyway; a bit of a silly belief, but one that most of us can’t help). The hollowness of the temple walls serves only to remind us how little history these temples have ‘absorbed’, the development of the DSLR camera is probably about the height of it. The baseness of the material makes the gaudiness of its colour and its pretence, its hypocrisy even, at impersonating a 500 year-old-structure, all the more off-putting. This, I think, is why the kitsch typical of Asia grates on us so badly.
This tradition of essence doesn’t have the same history over here as it does back home. Korea is a traditionally Confucian culture which is not a theistic religion like Christianity, Judaism or Islam. I looked the word kitsch up in the Korean dictionary and the result it returned was a term to the same effect, but one that can only be applied to people. Perhaps ‘hypocrite’ or ‘two-faced’ would be a better match. I’ve asked my co-teachers and as far as I’m aware there’s no word for kitsch that can be applied to aesthetics. The idea that the interior should match the exterior (or perhaps even the idea that there is an interior at all) is alien to this culture; which makes you realize, in spite of how strongly you might feel otherwise, how arbitrary an idea it is for us.
One of the things you hear dissatisfied waygooks (foreigners) complain about the most is the ‘superficiality’ of Korea. Which is more superficial though; embracing the belief that outward appearance is everything; or proclaiming essence to be more important, yet striving always to represent it, to externalize it, to reduce it to something we can see?
Check out my newest post!: Adam Smith’s Bad Dream; Capitalism in Korea
Credit for the above photo goes to Accidental Chinese Hipsters. There’s plenty more where that came from!
Credit for the philosophers cartoon goes to Savage Chickens.
AdvertisementsThe progressive disappearance of seed-dispersing animals like elephants and rhinoceroses puts the structural integrity and biodiversity of the tropical forest of South-East Asia at risk. With the help of Spanish researchers, an international team of experts has confirmed that not even herbivores like tapirs can replace them.
"Megaherbivores act as the 'gardeners' of humid tropical forests: They are vital to forest regeneration and maintain its structure and biodiversity," as was explained by Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, the lead author of the study that was published in the 'Biotropica' journal and researcher at the School of Geography of the University of Nottingham in Malaysia.
In these forests in East Asia, the large diversity of plant species means that there is not enough space for all the trees to germinate and grow. As well as the scarce light, seed dispersion is made more complicated by the lack of wind due to the trees that are up to 90 metres high. Plant life is then limited to seeds dispersed by those animals that eat pulp. They either scatter seeds by dropping their food, regurgitating it or by defecating later on.
In the case of large seeds, "plants need a large animal capable of eating, transporting and defecating the seeds in good conditions," as outlined by Luis Santamaría, co-author and researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA) of Spain's CSIC Scientific Research Agency. This is where elephants and rhinoceroses come into play because they can scatter large quantities of seeds thanks to the fact that they slowly digest very little of their food.
However, habitat loss, poaching, and the conflict between elephant and man has caused a 95% loss in Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) historical distribution range and has left the rhinoceros just a step away from extinction: there are less than 50 Java rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros sondaicus) and 200 Sumatra rhinoceroses (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis).
According to the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), elephants are in 'danger of extinction' and the two rhinoceros species are 'critically endangered'.
Asian tapirs are no elephants
In light of the situation, the research team evaluated the seed-dispersing capacity of another large herbivore weighing 300 kg. For cultural reasons it is not hunted and has a similar digestive system to that of elephants and rhinoceroses: the Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus).
The study allowed researchers to analyze the effect of dispersion by tapirs on the seed survival of nine different plants. This included some large plant species such as the mango tree and durian, as well as other smaller species like the 'elephant apple' (Dillenia indica).
Among other outcomes, the results show that tapirs defecated 8% of the tamarind seeds ingested (none of which germinated) compared to elephants, who defecated 75% of the 2,390 ingested seeds (65% of which germinated).
"The Asian tapirs spit, chew or digest the majority of large seeds. This either destroys them or leaves them in the same place. As a result, they are not good dispersers for plants with large fruits and seeds," confirms Campos-Arceiz. In this sense, "given the role that they play they belong to a different group to elephants and rhinoceroses."
Stopping illegal hunting is the priority
"If these megaherbivores disappear from the ecosystem, their contribution to ecological processes will too be lost and the path of the ecosystem will change irreversibly," explains the lead author, who goes on to state that "the most probable consequences are the change in the structure of the undergrowth and the forest and the loss of certain species." Elephants and rhinoceroses play a unique ecological role that cannot be replaced by other species.
Without large herbivores, new large seed plants will always grow in close proximity to the mother plant and are therefore "unable to colonise available space in other forest areas," warns the IMEDEA researcher.
In this respect, those species that depend on large animals will become increasingly rare whereas those that depend on the wind and smaller, abundant animals will increase in terms of density and dominance. Campos-Arceiz asserts that "at the end of the day, the composition and structure of the forest changes and ends up becoming less complex on a structural and functional level: this translates as a loss of biodiversity."
To avoid such a scenario, researchers suggest that megafauna should be protected and in some cases megaherbivores should be reintroduced into areas from where they had previously disappeared. "In the south-east of Asia, the priority is to stop illegal hunting and mitigate the impact of habitat loss," indicates the expert, criticising the "absurd" motivation to kill in order to sell their horns and tusks for traditional medicine ("with no therapeutic benefits") or to make ornamental products. This also highlights the need to combat illegal trade in a "much more determined way."Rally hub and Super Stage launched
Posted
The hype is building for this year's leg of the F-I-A World Rally Championship which will be raced on forest road between Nambucca and Grafton 12-15 September, 2013.
The Rally Hub and Super Special Stage was launched at Brelsford Park in the Coffs Harbour town centre this morning.
Event manager David Catchpole says the Super Stage has moved from the Jetty Foreshores where it was held in 2011.
"We intend to create a rally hub environment down at Brelford Park," he said.
"It's going to contain our service park along with out Super Special Stage.
"Turning it into a live entertainment site.
"We're going to have musical acts playing on Friday and Saturday afternoon in the evening, before the Super Special starts.
"We've got freestyle motocross.
"We've had confirmation that the RAAF Roulettes will be here for three days doing flyovers."
Topics: rallying, regional, coffs-harbour-2450, port-macquarie-2444InfoSec Institute plagiarized course material from Corelan.be
Sat Oct 29 16:34:38 CDT 2011
An independent source was informed about the infringement of InfoSec Institute and took it upon himself to document it and submit it to the Errata project. In addition to the text written by this source you will find 2 letters sent to InfoSec Institute by the legal representatives of Corelan, the official copyright registration for the Corelan content and a full scan of the lab manual used during the Expert Penetration Tester course.
Update: On November 17, Corelan.be and ISI announced that a settlement had been reached: ISI Announcement, Corelan.be Announcement.
This story starts in September 2010, when a member of the well-known and respected Corelan crew (http://www.corelan.be/) receives a copy of the lab-book for InfoSec Institute's (http://www.infosecinstitute.com/"Expert Penetration Tester" course. Within minutes it is clear that the document is an almost verbatim copy of the Corelan tutorials which are, to date, publicly available on the Corelan website. Tutorials that anybody who has ever had the faintest interest in exploit development has undoubtly run across. Content, publicly available to the infosec community, that took close to 24 months to develop. [..]
Continue reading about the plagiarism, e-mails and legal battle. [Download PDF]
Update: Two days after this article was published, InfoSec Institute published an apology, that has since been updated twice, and then removed completely when the'resources' site was taken offline due to further plagiarism concerns.
Supporting documentation:
Copyright registration for Exploit Writing Tutorial by Peter Van Eeckhoutte / corelanc0d3r [PDF]
Letter to Jack Koziol / InfoSec Institute from van Eeckhoutte's lawyer (2010.12.17) [PDF]
Letter to Jack Koziol / InfoSec Institute from van Eeckhoutte's lawyer (2011.03.29) [PDF]
InfoSec Institute Expert Penetration Testing Lab Manual [PDF]
Note: Lab #8 in the Lab Manual is taken from Buffer Overflow Attacks: Detect, Exploit, Prevent by James C. Foster.Click to viewEverything from satellites and space travel to synthetic biology and robots existed in fiction before they were realized in a lab — and most science fiction fans assume that situation is somehow beneficial for scientists. We told you earlier that Buzz Aldrin disagrees (he thinks scifi killed space travel). And over the weekend, MIT synthetic biologist Drew Endy told me his area of research has also suffered because so much science fiction portrays bio-hacking as horrific (think Frankenstein) or silly (think South Park's "four-assed monkey"). But for every scifi story that hinders science, there's one that inspires it. Below, I've got a big list of stories that hinder, as well as inspire, scientific innovation.
Advertisement
It's important to remember that when I say that a story "hinders" scientific innovation, that doesn't mean the story isn't good or powerful. In fact, some of the most important, world-changing science fiction is of the "hindering" variety because it serves as a warning against rampant scientific experimentation without any thought for possible consequences. Even if beneficial in some ways, a "hindering" tale is still, well, hindering scientific progress.
Hindering: Gattaca
The tale of a repressive nation which genetically-engineers its ruling classes, Gattaca makes it seem that the logical outcome of genetic tampering is fascism. In reality, history has shown that fascism can exist in the absence of modern science, and that genetic engineering is merely a tool that can be put to good or bad uses. And yet the myth of genetic engineering existing on a slippery slope toward social breakdown is a difficult one for experimental biologists to overcome.
Inspiring: Look to Windward
One of Iain M. Banks novels about a posthuman Culture where enhanced humans live alongside A.I.s in an anarchic, trans-galactic society, Look to Windward explores the way humans can maintain their basic identities and ethical values no matter how much they tamper with their genes or modify their morphology. For Banks, synthetic biology is simply a logical way that humans extend their capabilities, but it does not turn them into monsters or make them authoritarian overlords.
Advertisement
Hindering: Blood Music
One of the earliest novels about nanotechnology and the dreaded "gray goo" scenario, Greg Bear's book is about nanotech that goes awry, becomes sentient, and eats the entire world. Consumed by the nano, humans enter a kind of transcendent "noosphere" while their bodies become the raw materials of a new world. While this is a cool idea, it's led to the myth that the outcome of nanotech is inevitably the (literal) breakdown of society.
Advertisement
Inspiring: The Diamond Age
Neal Stephenson's gorgeous and complex novel The Diamond Age is set in a nano-enabled world where human minds are used for distributed computing and electronic children's books are so close to being sentient that they can raise children without the help of human adults. A young woman raised by one such book grows up to become a wise and brilliant leader. You can find a similar scenario in Linda Nagata's nanotech novel The Bohr Maker, where an impoverished woman discovers a nanofabricator and uses it to transform the developing world.
Advertisement
Hindering: Frankenstein
Mary Shelley's classic novel of biomedical horror and scientists "playing God," this novel has probably done more to scare people away from biotech than almost any other science fiction story. This novel suggests that monstrosity and murder are the only possible outcome of science aimed at enhancing humans, or reusing human parts to create new kinds of life.
Inspiring: The Scar
This is China Mieville's haunting steampunk tale of a society where "thaumaturgists" remold humans' bodies at will, adding animal and machine parts to make them more efficient. It's a fully-realized (though occasionally surreal) portrait of a society where humans can be anything from a torso attached to a steam engine, to an amphibious creature covered in octopus tentacles. In Mieville's work, human-animal hybrids are often less disturbing than so-called normal humans.
Advertisement
Hindering: Terminator
The field of robotics has never been more dissed than it was when people started obsessing over the well-known and ever-expanding set of Terminator tales about an evil A.I. named Skynet who destroys humanity with nukes and an army of nasty cyborg soldiers. In Terminator, it seems inevitable that A.I. will lead to human destruction — except in the few, rare cases when the cyborgs are forcibly reprogrammed (and even then, we have some doubts).
Inspiring: Wall-E
Pixar's recent movie Wall-E portrays robots as a more humane version of humanity. Hero Wall-E is treated as sympathetically as a human character, and his love for another robot, Eve, is represented as a hopeful sign in the wake of humanity offing itself through pollution. Here we see humans and robots living together as equals to make the world better.
Advertisement
Hindering: Oryx and Crake
Margaret Atwood's harrowing near-future tale of bioengineering gone mad is about what happens when a mad scientist decides humanity sucks and should be replaced by a new hominid species he's created to be disease-resistant and non-hierarchical. While viral apocalypses could indeed occur (and in fact the Plague of the late middle ages was one such), there are a lot of problems with the idea that a thriving consumer biotech industry will inevitably unleash one.
Inspiring: Engine City
The third novel in Ken MacLeod's superlative Engines of Light trilogy, this book deals with what happens when humans infected with an extraterrestrial nano-plague are actually enhanced rather than destroyed by it.
Advertisement
Hindering: Saturn's Children
I love this new novel by Charles Stross, but it paints a pretty dismal picture of what will happen to humans when they attempt to travel in space and found a colony on Mars. And by "dismal," I mean that Stross shows that it's essentially impossible for humans to exist off-world because our bodies are too fragile and therefore all our space colonies fail.
Advertisement
Inspiring: Parable of the Talents
The second novel in Octavia Butler's two-book exploration of the social and political collapse of the United States, Parable of the Talents is about how the nation recovers from a coup by the religious right. The Christian "reeducation" torture camps have been shut down, and society is slowly returning from the brink of anarchy. And a new leader emerges to bring hope — a woman who believes humans must leave Earth if our species is to survive. Beautifully-written and astute, the novel makes a compelling case for exploring space even if the trip will be dangerous.
Advertisement
Hindering: The Handmaid's Tale
Our second Atwood novel in the "hindering" category, The Handmaid's Tale is similar to Butler's Parable of the Sower (prequel to Parable of the Talents) in that it depicts a post-apocalyptic United States taken over by right-wing Christians. In Atwood's feminist nightmare, science does not lead the nation on a pathway to progress; instead, it enables a retrograde, patriarchal system to thrive. Science leads the US back to the Dark Ages.
Advertisement
Inspiring: Woman on the Edge of Time
What's encouraging about Marge Piercy's classic Utopian feminist novel Woman on the Edge of Time is that it is pro-science. The potential world of eco-friendly, multicultural feminists is founded on many complex technologies including artificial wombs, green mass transit, a rapid internet-like communications system, and complicated bio-engineering and waste-recycling tech. Piercy further complicates this future vision by showing that not everybody is on board with the techie feminists. They are fighting a war against a more conventional society.This is the time of year when the tech pundits discuss what happened last year and what will happen next year. they miss the points from last year and mess up those for next. But let's see if I can do any better.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
This has been "the next big thing" for the past few years and may become the hot ticket for 2017. I sure hope it is, so I can figure out what good it is. I cannot see it creeping too much into everyday life because we already have too many "things" that are not compatible. There is no way to develop a strategy to incorporate legacy toasters, for example. In the world of industry, high-end smart homes, and some other niche markets, it may have an impact eventually.
The Cloud
This is a technology that I have personally been grousing about for the last decade, but it is still something of the future. This is because it has not met the predictions for penetration. I'm not sure it ever will when I can buy a 5TB hard disk for $99. It is also constricted when it comes to running apps the cloud. Get yourself a PayPal account, use it for a while, and notice how the performance is lacking when you do certain requests or try to sort data. This is the epitome of the cloud to me.
Autonomous Cars
This could be big for 2017, but I mostly see continued blather about it in the press. Google has gone out of its way to up miles without incidents. Now everyone with a screw-driver is building these things. The result will be more than a few fatalities. This will get all the attention and further push off implementation. What will be hot: autonomous features on regular cars such as lane control radar and automatic breaking.
Augmented/Virtual Reality
The AR and VR devices that utilize various high-resolution mobile phones will become more ubiquitous and popular over the next year, but this trend began some time back. It's just waiting for the one killer app that everyone must have. This app better appear in 2017 or else the entire category will become something like the 3D TV: something that was supposed to catch on like crazy but is now hard to find. The problem of looking like an idiot wearing these devices is still a problem.
Blockchain, Blockchain, Blockchain
There are (yes, ) out there pushing blockchain for everything. They cannot easily define it. To me it's like provenance for art combined with neverending updating with a checksum added to make it even more arcane. What is it good for? Absolutely bitcoin. There may be some sort of very interesting digital copyright management to come out of it. It's not a serious trend any more than BitTorrent (another fascinating technology that was never going to be a serious disruptor). That's not to say that these technologies do not already serve millions of people because they do. Just not a 2017 trend.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
One cannot help but add this quasi-technology to this list. It appeared last year, and I think in 2015. Also in 1980, 1981 and a slew of years in between. The way I say it, artificial intelligence is the technology of the future and always will be.
Keep an eye out for other hopeless predictions. Happy New Year.The first photo of Salma Hayek from the upcoming adventure/fantasy movie “Cirque du Freak” has been unveiled. The movie is based on the Darren Shan‘s bestselling book-series for children.
Hayek plays bearded lady, one of the performers at the Cirque Du Freak who can grow a beard all the way down to her feet, then suck it up again through her face as if she has no facial hair at all.
In the film, John C. Reilly plays a vampire who drafts a 14-year-old to serve as his assistant. The youth is turned into a half-vampire who breaks a 200-year truce between two warring bloodsucker factions. A young boy named Darren Shan meets a mysterious man at a freak show who turns out to be a Vampire. The vampire agrees to give him the only cure for his ill friend Steve if Darren agrees to become his assistant, and half vampire. After a series of events Darren must leave his normal life and go on the road with the Cirque Du Freak.
The first three books may be adapted for a stand alone movie, however there could be up to three sequels as the saga consisted of twelve books split into 4 trilogies.
“Cirque du Freak,” kid-friendly story, directed by Paul Weitz from the script by Brian Helgeland stars Chris Massoglia, Salma Hayek, John C. Reilly, Willem Dafoe and Josh Hutcherson.Who is this for?
You’ve been developing web applications using PHP for a couple months now and are finding it very enjoyable. Although you feel that you’re doing quite good, you’re not sure whether its the end. Besides, the following questions wonder you often:
Where to go from here
What new things to learn
How to become a Kick-ass PHP Ninja
If that’s the scenario, then this post if for YOU.
Background
A few days back, I read a number of blog posts where people have highlighted the shortcomings they see in newbie developers. Some of them have gone further to narrow down the focus on PHP developers only (as PHP’s nature sometimes allow developers to avoid standards). They did a great job by listing the shortcomings, but their posts missed clear way forwards (these can be inferred though). A number of readers also commented on the posts with their insight as well. So I was thinking how about compiling all these in an easy to follow list? Hence this post.
Btw, due to the volume, I’ve mostly touched the points here and provided few useful resource links for further study. I do have plan to elaborate a few of them in coming posts, with each point becoming a single post. Let me know which ones you’ll prefer most, by entering the poll at the bottom of the post.
Part A : Technical Way Forward
In the first part, let’s shed some light on how you can move forward with your technical abilities.
1. Start using version control
Version control is like a big UNDO button for your coding. You can go back to your previous code revisions and can compare/rollback to specific code areas anytime you see necessary. It will keep track of all your changes and will empower you to track your development changes across your work/team. Also, in a distributed development team, version control helps prevent overwriting of code by team members and keeps all the members code up to date.
Subversion (SVN) is one of the most popular open source version control system. If you’re on windows platform, you can try TortoiseSVN, a client for SVN.
2. Write code in OOP way
If you haven’t already, it’s high time you started writing code in Object Oriented Programming (OOP) way. You may ask why? Well, OOP forces you to write code that is maintainable in nature. If properly followed, OOP code become a lot efficient than procedural code. Also, it allows you to re-use code across your project and/or multiple projects.
If you’re not convinced, have a look at these excellent resources for further study.
3. Adhere to a coding standard
Coding standards allow you to write code in a way which is easily understood by other people. When you adhere to a coding standard used by may others, you actually convey a message that you’re serious in writing code that people will be able to “get” and maintain. Keeping abbreviation type variable names, applying multiple indention types, writing meaningless function names etc will work for you in short term, maybe in personal projects. But when you move to a larger group with a number of developers, you ought to follow a standard so that everybody working with you can get along with your parts.
The following standards are most widely used among PHP developers around the globe:
Although you can define a standard for your team/company, it’s always better to have close relation with what the industry follows. In my company, Right Brain Solution Ltd, we follow a slightly modified version of Zend Framework Coding Standards. You can get that one here.
4. Document your code
Documentation is a virtue of great developers – don’t get me wrong, I’m talking about code documentation, not writing user manuals 🙂 Well documented code prevents other team members from reading each line of your code and understand them by heart. Rather, it tells them exactly what they need to know – purpose of the code, what it requires as input, what it will deliver as output, etc. If you take a look at the above mentioned coding standards, you’ll discover that most of them even specified standard for documentation as well, which is phpDocumentor. It’s the most used standard for PHP code documentation and is widely recognized.
5. Use a good framework
Frameworks give you good structure and helps you build web applications in a fast way, with confidence. Most of today’s popular PHP frameworks (Zend Framework, CodeIgniter, CakePHP, Symfony, Kohana etc) follow the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, which itself is a strong advocate of good practice.
Besides structure, frameworks force you to write code in a structured way. Some of them will also require writing the code in OOP – whose benefit we already discussed above. And frameworks usually come with a number of helpful libraries and helpers, to make your life easy as a web developer.
Josh sharp discusses this in details here and later posts a follow-up here. Both are good reads.
6. Re-use code/libraries
One of the most common advice programmers get is: “Don’t re-invent the wheel”. Well, what’s the point here? It actually means that you should not spend much time on solving a problem that has already been solved, in efficient way, by others. Rather solving it out yourself, you can “google” it and see how others have done it. It will not only save your valuable time, but also will ensure stable code (assuming that people usually post things on web after doing a number of testing and user of the codes usually help iron-out any issues, etc).
However, keep an eye on your target use/objective. If there is not enough good solutions that solves your problem, go ahead and solve yourself. Make it good and give it back to the community so that others facing that problem won’t need to spent the time you’ve spent. The whole open source model runs on this give-give way, so be a part of it.
7. Test your code the right way
In order to make confidence out of your code, you’ll need to test your code the right way. Although you might be used to testing your application using debug messages and browser refreshes, in a real world scenario these won’t work. You’ll need to write unit tests which can do automated testing of your code. The power lies in that you can run these tests almost anytime and can check if anything is broken after each new change.
PHPUnit and SimpleTest are the two most widely used Unit testing suite for PHP. You should also have a look on Test Driven Development (TDD), which is the way of greatly enhancing your chance of deploying application with least bugs.
Part B : Personal Way Forward
Now, even if you’ve improved yourself on the above mentioned points, you’ll still need to work on your personal matters to move forward. Here goes those points.
8. Be Agile
You need to be an agile developer if you want to move forward in your career. What does it mean to be agile? Agility is more of an attitude than a skill set. The common characteristics of agile developers are:
They’re open minded and therefore willing to learn new techniques
They’re responsible and therefore willing to seek the help of the right person(s) for the task at hand
They’re willing to work closely with others, pair programming or working in small teams as appropriate
They’re willing to work iteratively and incrementally
Further resources: Agile Software Development, The Agile Manifesto.
9. Keep yourself updated
No matter what, keep yourself updated on whats going on in your field (in this case PHP). Subscribe to the RSS of great PHP blogs and skim over them on a regular basis. Dig into the topics that interest you most and see the author’s point. Also, keep a habit of trying new technologies every now & then. It gives you an edge over others and when any discussion goes about it, you can help others understand as well as make your points.
Btw, if you don’t have a clue where to find good blogs, have a look at here, here and here.
10. Start community involvement
Remember I told above to give your work back to the community? How to do that? Start a blog of your own and start writing posts there every now & then. Yes, I know you’d say “Who’s going to read my blog anyway?”, but if you share your experience, someday, somebody will find it useful. And if you can share things that others haven’t done, you’ll slowly see visitors coming on your blog increasing way.
Besides blog, try to participate in tech forums and communities. Help people out in the areas you excel and at the time of your need, other people will be happy to help you out as well. These communities are also great place to learn about many unusual matters, see how situation changes from person to person, place to place, etc. You’ll also be able to make great friends who might come handy later in your life.
Another great way of community involvement is to contributing to open source projects. Share some of your valuable time for an open source project and it may come handy for a huge number of people. Your work might solve the problem of somebody like you. If needed, initiate an open source project yourself and invite others to work on your vision.
11. Use a good IDE
With due respect to Dreamweaver, step forward and use an IDE made for PHP. You’ll notice the difference in a few days when you’ll see that your productivity has increased in great ways. These IDEs provide great number of useful features including but not limited to: syntax highlighting, auto completion, code suggestions, code snippets, contextual help, code templates, debugging, profiling, etc.
The following IDEs mostly have the similar feature set and can boost your productivity in great ways:
Personally I use NuSphere PhpED 5.2 and I love it in every way. They’ve provided me with a complementary license and I am grateful to them for that. If you’re planning to buy it, let me know and I might find you a discount.
12. Be communicative
In your team/company, try to be as communicative as possible. It reduces a lot of confusions, makes you close to other devs so that you understand them, portrays you as a good person in front of management and overall, helps you enjoy your work. When you’re working together with others, make them feel that you’re there and ready to give whatever it takes. Create a personal brand of yourself.
What’s next?
Phew! It’s quite a good amount of writing in a while 🙂 I’ve tried to cover most of the items I found to be important. However, there might be some points I’ve overlooked so feel free to post them in the comments. If this helps any one of the developers I intend it for, then I’ll take that the effort is successful.
Thanks everybody, Happy Eid Mubarak to you!
[poll id=”3″]AMC has renewed Halt and Catch Fire, its ingenious drama about the 1980s tech industry, for a third season of 10 episodes. The show will return with its cast intact and creators Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers promoted to full showrunners. It will be back in summer 2016.
Despite low ratings, the series' second season, which concluded in August, was one of the biggest treats of the summer. It combined propulsive storytelling about the early days of the internet with a surprisingly nuanced take on obsession and the ways men and women relate to each other in the workplace. Though the series' first season has its flaws, season two perfectly addressed them. The show was rewarded for those efforts with substantial critical acclaim.
"The critical momentum was a big part of the decision," Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV, told me.
The ratings weren't always there, but the storytelling was
Stillerman said the network was particularly impressed with how the series overcame those first-season bumps to deliver something with real momentum in its second season. "It’s a great sign that we’re in good hands in terms of the creative team," he said. "We love the story. We know that it’s a very relevant story, and that there’s an audience out there for it."
Of course, at this point, that audience is tiny. The series' ratings regularly finished below 500,000 viewers, and even with improvements in DVR and streaming numbers, that's a much lower number than networks customarily reward with a renewal.
"Whenever we have the opportunity to keep something going that we think is good, we're going to make it happen"
But Stillerman says those who watch the show tend to watch every episode religiously — a good sign for potential future growth. And it helps that AMC produces the show, rather than licensing it from another company, which means it can collect money from |
. currentThread (). interrupt (); // Here! throw new RuntimeException ( ex ); }
We’re setting the flag back to true!
Now, nobody will blame us for having an irresponsible attitude toward a valuable flag. We found it in true status, cleared it, set it back to true, and threw a runtime exception. What happens next, we don’t care.Get the biggest Newcastle United FC 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
Newcastle United are one of four Premier League clubs keeping tabs on Derby County midfielder George Thorne, according to reports.
The Mirror say Newcastle, along with Everton, Norwich and Crystal Palace, are keen on the 22-year-old and with the January transfer window just around the corner, could Thorne reunite with his former boss?
Steve McClaren brought the former England youth international to Derby after impressing on loan from West Bromwich Albion 18 months ago, and while a number of injuries have hampered his progress, he’s now earned the plaudits and attention of the Premier League again.
Thorne cost County around £2.5m back in 2014 having spent time on loan at the club, as well as previous spells at Portsmouth, Peterborough and Watford and the Mirror say Everton boss Roberto Martinez sees him as a long-term replacement for Gareth Barry.
McClaren desperately needs to add to add to his squad in January with the club sat in the relegation zone and a number of players having already been sidelined through injury this term.
Some of the United head coach’s current crop could find action elsewhere when the transfer window opens and as such he will need to replenish – and more importantly add to – his ranks.The table is set for Missouri’s vote on constitutional Amendment 7 on August 5th. After two years of machinations in Missouri’s state legislature, the sales tax increase to boost MoDOT’s budget passed near the end of the 2014 legislative session, trimmed from a 1% hike to.75% before getting a final vote. Missouri governor Jay Nixon in late May set the election date for the August 5th primary, leaving a mere 6 weeks for MoDOT and regional planning agencies around the state to program $6 billion in new spending over a decade.
MoDOT has been in search of an additional revenue stream, as the flat gas tax has been untouched by the legislature since 1996 and has fallen to the seventh lowest in the nation. Meanwhile, money borrowed by MoDOT between 2001 and 2010 to fund an accelerated construction program is running out, while federal stimulus funding from the recession simultaneously expires. The net effect is MoDOT will have a reduced construction program after a decade of their most robust construction and expansion budget in recent history.
While Gov. Nixon has made few public statements about the August 5th election date, its generally accepted that primary elections in Missouri trend more republican than general elections, hence the chances of passing a large tax increase are slimmer. Nixon opposes Amendment 7 since it would boost highway spending at a time when the republican led Missouri legislature passed a phased income tax cut, which will limit spending on other state responsibilities like education for a decade or more.
Planning agencies around the state responded to the accelerated election date in different ways. In the St. Louis region, East-West Gateway (our Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)) cancelled its stakeholder process (a committee I participated on) and gave the project selection responsibility individually to the five Missouri counties in their planning area. MoDOT worked separately with the Mayor’s office in the City of St. Louis and with the County Executive and St. Louis County Highway Department. Despite the fact that St. Louis City and St. Louis County largely share one transportation network and Metro covers both areas equally, project decisions were made independently.
The project lists generated by local counties and approved by MoDOT’s commissioners on July 9th are below (see link). The City’s list is a mix of complete streets projects, greenways, and seed funding for a streetcar (which Metro has not endorsed) and two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes (which Metro has). Despite being the transportation hub for the entire region, the city’s funding allocation from MoDOT was based only on population – meaning the City is likely under-funded in regards to the size and importance of its actual infrastructure to regional transportation.
The St. Louis Area Final Project List
St. Louis County received both the region and state’s largest funding allocation, with over $800 million in new spending available. The County was one of the few jurisdictions in the state with enough funding to make a substantial impact on transit service. Their project list shows they decided to go in a different direction, allocating a mere 2% to transit projects. Without the County leading the way on transit, and without City/County cooperation, the City was forced to play small-ball on its transit desires.
Notably absent anywhere on the St. Louis regional list is funding for existing Metro service. Transit advocates (me included) have long noted the glaring absence of state funding for local transit agencies in Missouri. For some, the promise of a new, flexible revenue stream was enough to swallow the bitter pill of a regressive sales tax increase that would push St. Louis and Kansas City to the top of the list for sales tax rates nationally. In 2013 I argued before state House and Senate committees that the tax increase proposal needed a guaranteed funding floor for transit in St. Louis and Kansas City. Ultimately the bill passed with no guarantees, the mantra repeated many times at the state level was, “Regions can decide on their own transportation priorities.”
With that message in mind, any analysis of the St. Louis region’s project list can come to only one conclusion: In our region, its still all about highways. Regionally only 5.5% of funding would go to transit projects, and a substantial amount of that (The central corridor streetcar, for instance) will require another local tax increase before MoDOT releases funding. The region’s highway system, already one of the most robust per capita in the country, would see expansions almost across the board outside of I-270. Nearly $200 million in new spending would be allocated to add new lanes to I-55, Highway 94, I-64, and I-44.
Placing these highway expansions in context is important. The core of the St. Louis region, St. Louis City, County, and St. Charles County, have seen only a 1% increase in population since 1970. Over the same period, the United States population grew by 34% while Missouri grew by 22%. The St. Louis region has low traffic congestion. Moreover, the region has seen annual declines in total miles driven since 2007 and is about the same as 1999. Despite all indications that the region already has an overbuilt regional highway system, passage of Amendment 7 would expand it further.
Along with lane additions, St. Louis County placed an equal level of importance on complete rebuilds of portions of the interstate system. MoDOT’s phrase, “Improve I-270” belies a $350 million expenditure with little detail attached to it. Similarly $200 million would be spent to “Improve I-70” between Natural Bridge and Hanley Road. These highway rebuilding projects and lane additions account for the lion’s share of the county’s funding allocation. The round numbers attached to these projects, $200 million and $350 million, reveal that they’ve yet to have environmental or engineering studies completed, meaning the figures are simply best guesses as to what the projects might really cost.
Leading into the effort to pass the tax increase, MoDOT lead a state-wide “listening tour” they dubbed, “Missouri on the Move”. To their credit, they surveyed thousands of Missouri residents and published the results of their work in February of this year. 62% of St. Louis area residents who responded to the MoDOT survey prioritized expanding public transit, while only 40% prioritized expanding the region’s road network. When MoDOT released the region’s project list in July, it revealed a different set of priorities for regional elected leaders. The vast majority of funding would go to rebuilding and expanding highways, with only about 3% of the region’s allocation guaranteed to be spent on transit. Absent, and off the table for at least another decade, is a substantial transit project like a North/South MetroLink expansion.
Following the political efforts to pass the transportation tax increase closely over the last two years, one thing becomes striking: How little conversation there is about transportation. We have the facts. MoDOT’s own data shows a robust highway system in good repair with record low levels of congestion. Driving is declining, while Missouri’s aging population and sluggish population growth is likely to extend that trend. The conversation has been reduced to this: “All transportation spending is good transportation spending.” No analysis has been done on how adding lanes to existing highways will increase MoDOT’s future maintenance costs, perhaps requiring future asks for additional tax increases.
Virtually absent has been a conversation on how transportation spending affects land use. Transportation spending in the St. Louis region over the past 5 decades has primarily accelerated the depopulation of the urban core and portions of St. Louis County. In the last two decades the population of many American cities rebounded after 30 years of declines. Not so in St. Louis, where the decline merely slowed. Without oversimplifying the issue, the correlation between a rapidly expanding highway system and consistently declining population and real estate values in the urban core could not be more clear.
Transportation infrastructure can move people away as easily as it can draw them in. Context matters. In a region desperate for new population, a highway expansion boom is likely to undermine already struggling areas. Smart transportation spending requires planning that can’t be done in 6 weeks. Missouri’s road network is already in comparatively good shape. The state has plenty of time to develop a more equitable, intelligent, strategic plan for transportation spending. The false sense of urgency cultivated by MoDOT is leading the state head-first into a decade of spending aligned neither with resident preferences nor the transportation needs of the future.They don't just dislike road cycling in Surrey. Objections to people having fun on bikes have kept a new mountain bike trail closed at Leith Hill while Surrey County Council waits for a formal complaint from local equestrians.
The British Horse Society said the track, which has been built on National Trust land, is too close to existing bridleways and the potential combination of horses and cyclists could be fatal.
Bob Milton, from the society, told the BBC that the path was illegal and that the authority had not carried out adequate consultation.
He said: “It has been constructed, it impedes access and it is on a common.”
He said there was clear guidance from the planning inspectorate that had not been followed.
Penny Tyson-Davies, BHS bridleways officer for Mole Valley, told Martha Terry of Horse and Hound that there had been no input rom equestrians into the building of the mountain bike trail.
“If they had consulted the BHS, they would have been told that a fast off-road cycle track alongside and crossing bridleways is out of order. Mountain bikes whizzing in and out of trees, jumping ramps above horses’ heads, around an established sunken horse track, is an accident waiting to happen.”
In a statement, Surrey County Council said it was waiting for Mr Milton to confirm whether he wanted it to investigate his complaint.
It added: “Should he decide to take the matter to the planning inspectorate we will co-operate fully with any inquiry.
“In the meantime we have made a request to the landowners for the trail to remain closed for the duration of any investigation.”
Julie Rand, from the national cycling charity CTC, said: “There are bridleways and tracks all over Surrey that are quite happily co-existing at the moment without too much anguish and they respect each other.
“People are anticipating problems that may not actually arise.”
Sam Bayley, National Trust head ranger, told Horse and Hound that dedicated tracks for mountain bikers will improve safety, because cyclists have been “creating unauthorised trails at Leith Hill following and crossing many bridleways”.
“We aim to balance the needs of everyone,” he said. “The design will ensure cyclists naturally slow down at crossing points by appropriate turns and signage.”
Rob Fairbanks, of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Board said: “It is not feasible to ban biking in one of the most popular areas in England. We want to work with the BHS to educate cyclists about the priority that needs to be given to horse riders, so we can all share the Surrey Hills.”Where has the time gone? We seriously cannot believe Frozen has been out for a year; it simultaneously feels like we’ve loved this movie forever and that it just came out a few months ago, right? Either way, today calls for a celebration. So we’re looking back on all the moments in Frozen that made our hearts grow three sizes and our chortles all the chortlier. (Not a word, just go with it.)
Baby Kristoff and Baby Sven
We actually think this level of adorable is illegal in certain states.
“The sky’s awake, so I’m awake!”
We can’t argue with Anna’s logic, nor do we want to.
The Beautiful Tragedy That is “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”
Anna and Elsa’s pain and loneliness is so so sad, so why do we watch this song on repeat? Seriously, why? Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez are clearly song-writing wizards.
Anna’s Morning Hair
We feel vindicated by it. We’re not even sure why because no one has ever told us, “your morning hair game is rough,” but we’ve personally felt that way from time to time, and so we really identify with Anna here. Overshare? Probably.
The Hans Meeting
Sure, he turns out to be an evil, scheming, jerk who would be totally cool with murdering people to get what he wants, but this scene is adorable. We forgive him retroactively in this moment. Just this moment, though. We still know he’s a bad guy. (So mom, if you’re reading this don’t worry.)
Chocolate Love
We’re not complicated. We know what we like and chocolate ranks pretty high with us. So, naturally, Disney characters who understand and share that deep need for cocoa are okay in our book.
Mental Synchronization
We know, we know. Hans is still evil and all that, but this song! Just give us this song.
Elsa’s Epic Door Slam
We now want to close all doors this way. The great tragedy of our lives is that we will never have the power to close french doors like Elsa.
Oaken
It was love at first “hoo-hoo” for us and this sauna-owning, jovially-intimidating shopkeeper.
When Anna Meets Kristoff
Awkward tension? Loads of it. But you know what we sensed underneath it? Love.
Kristoff’s Weird Sven Voice
Seriously, what is happening here? While it can’t be super healthy, we understand that these two are closer than close, and also it’s cute, so we’re willing to forget whatever psychological/emotional issues may have lead to this.
“In Summer”
The first time we saw this musical number, we legit guffawed. That’s right, guffawed.
The Knocking Joke
“Knock…just knock. Why isn’t she knocking? Do you think she knows how to knock?” We love that Olaf’s inner monologue is non-existent because he says everything he’s thinking. We do the same, but it’s almost always less funny.
Olaf’s Reaction to Kristoff’s Family
“Anna because I love you, I insist that you run.” And in that moment, we knew Olaf would always have a special place both in our heart and our neuroses. We had found a true kindred spirit.
When Kristoff Rushes Anna to the Palace
Look at his face and then tell us you’re not destroyed. We dare you. He loves her so much he’s willing to lose her forever to save her life.
Elsa’s Reaction to Anna’s Frozen Heart
We’re pretty much dead at this point.
Kristoff and Sven’s Reaction to Anna’s Frozen Heart
Nope…now we’re dead.
When Love Prevails
All is once again right with the world and we can finally stop holding our breath.
Anna Punching Hans in the Face
While we don’t condone violence, we also can’t think of someone who has ever deserved to be punched in the face more than Hans. We wanted to reach through the screen and punch him, so we’re glad that Anna took care of this for us.
Olaf’s Flurry
Look at his cute little stubby feet just dancing around so happily.
The Twirl
Our initial reaction: Yaaaaaayyyyyy! Our reaction one year later: Yaaaaaayyyyyy!
Can you believe it’s been a year since Frozen came out? What’s your favorite part? Tell us in the comments!
Posted 4 years AgoImage caption The hospital where Malala is being treated has said it takes security very seriously
Doctors at the UK hospital where 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai is being treated after a Taliban gun attack say they are hopeful she can recover.
The Pakistani girl, who arrived in Birmingham on Monday, had a bullet removed from her skull last week.
The Taliban said they targeted her for "promoting secularism".
Hospital Medical Director Dr David Rosser said some UK colleagues who had been in Pakistan believed she had "a chance of making a good recovery".
"Clearly it would be inappropriate on every level, not least for her, to put her through all of this if there was no hope of decent recovery," he told reporters shortly before Malala's arrival at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Monday.
I felt hurt on opening my wardrobe and seeing my uniform, school bag and geometry box. Boys' schools are opening tomorrow, but the Taliban have banned girls' education Malala Yousafzai, Diary entry, 8 February 2009 Diary of a Pakistani schoolgirl Swat women on changing life
Doctors have already carried out a series of tests on the teenager and a hospital spokeswoman told the BBC they hoped to give an update on her condition on Tuesday morning.
Malala Yousafzai was flown from Pakistan via the United Arab Emirates by air ambulance, almost a week after she and two other schoolgirls were attacked as they returned home from school in Mingora in the Swat Valley.
She became widely known as a campaigner for girls' education in Pakistan as a result of a diary she wrote for BBC Urdu about life under the Taliban, when they banned all girls from attending school.
The gunman who boarded the van in which she was travelling asked for her by name.
Surgeons in the north-western city of Peshawar removed the bullet that had entered her skull from close to her spinal cord and she was then moved to a military hospital in Rawalpindi for more specialist treatment.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Dr David Rosser: "We do have very extensive experience of this sort of traumatic, bullet-related injury"
A military statement said a panel of doctors had recommended she should be "shifted abroad to a UK centre which has the capability to provide integrated care to children who have sustained severe injury".
Dr Rosser said that specialists at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham were "in a good position to treat her" because they had 10 years of experience in treating UK military casualties - and her condition was much the same as a "battle casualty from a physiological point of view".
Once Malala recovers sufficiently, it is thought she will need neurological help as well as treatment to repair or replace damaged bones in her skull.
The Taliban have threatened to target her again. She was given tight security for her journey to the UK and officials in Birmingham said they also took security very seriously.It is incredible that in the same week many rose defiantly to defend free speech — cartoons that were often base and intentionally offensive — many clamoured furiously for the expulsion of Dalhousie University dentistry students who made base and offensive comments on a private, password-protected Facebook page, the contents of which were leaked to the CBC.
[np_storybar title=”Christie Blatchford: Dalhousie dentistry students paying a heavy price for victimless thoughtcrimes” link=”http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01/12/christie-blatchford-dalhousie-dentistry-students-paying-a-heavy-price-for-victimless-thoughtcrimes/”%5DWhy, the news out of Dalhousie University is enough to turn one into a raging anti-dentite, one of those who are prejudiced against dentists, as so brilliantly invented, as was so much else, in an episode of the late, great Seinfeld.
(The episode was inspired when Jerry’s dentist converted to Judaism and within seconds, began telling Jewish jokes. Jerry took offence at the too-quick joke-appropriation, which the dentist promptly damned as anti-dentitism.)
In any case, probably not since the release of Marathon Man has so much ink or so much thought been devoted to those who poke about in the human mouth for a living with their weird little metal instruments, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Continue reading…
[/np_storybar]
Judging by the few posts I have read, I would say the comments appear despicably coarse; that they seem to emerge from a hyper-crass, immoral sexual culture with which we are constantly inundated; and that making such comments on the Internet, even on a private site, is unimaginably stupid and naïve. But there is, so far as I can at this point gather, zero evidence that these students committed any crime.
I wish to avoid further discussion of the content, but rather to draw attention to a principle that is here at stake, a principle that is foundational to the just governing of a free people. I wish to ask Canadians the following question:
Are you prepared for anything you have ever said or written, anywhere, at any time, in the privacy of your own home, or on the telephone, or in an email, to be used against you in your public life? Imagine the angriest, meanest, basest or most ironic, pushing-the-limits thing you have ever said or written — that is, the thing you would least like the world to know of — and now imagine those words broadcast in national media, probably out of context and twisted and misunderstood, to the person or group most likely to take offence.
That is what is here at stake. Who among us has not said privately something that, if made public, would destroy us, our friendships, our employment or our reputations? If we concede that these students should, in the absence of a criminal conviction, be expelled, or suffer any formal consequences whatsoever, then you too must accept your fate when your private comments are made public and used against you — when your email account is hacked or a letter is stolen from your mailbox, or a conversation in your home or on your cell phone is surreptitiously recorded.
However hateful those students’ comments may be, they were private comments that were never intended to be heard by anyone except those to whom they were made; and unless there is evidence that a crime has been committed, that is how they should have remained. The ease with which Internet-based private correspondence can be made public does not change the fact of its privacy. The content of the students’ comments does not change the principle that is at stake.
The peaceful and creative culture in which we have the historically unparalleled privilege of living is not possible if our private lives are to be surveilled and policed. We simply do not have the right to take action against, or even to know, what our classmates, colleagues or neighbours, or the persons next to us in the grocery store, are thinking, or what they say at home or write in private correspondence.
To expect private thoughts and words to answer to coercive authority is totalitarian, and is contrary to the nature of the Canadian polity and to the institutions and liberties that make the country a flourishing home for human beings, whose nature requires private space to think and speak without risk of intrusion from others.
There are, it should go without saying, limitless ways of directing and limiting legal-but-offensive speech and behaviour, many of which I employ myself on a daily basis: self-control; rational debate; social opprobrium; education both private and public; religious and moral teaching, and so forth — but none of these requires that our private lives be publicly policed.
None of this is meant to deny the connection between private and public life, or that between the thoughts of the heart and the actions of the will. Indeed, vast swathes of philosophy, literature, poetry, holy scriptures and theology have been dedicated to the all-important question of how to form the human soul, how to cultivate virtue, how — as Plato would say — to turn the self towards goodness, truth, and beauty.
It is a difficult task: the purification of the heart is a lifelong endeavour, and one that, given our fallen nature, is always far from complete. We must nonetheless do all we can to cultivate virtue — in ourselves, principally — through habits of courage, self-control, wisdom, humility, self-sacrifice, forgiveness and the like. But the whole constellation of activities that allow us to do this falls apart if the sphere of our own private thoughts and actions is to be coercively regulated by tyrannical, extra-legal force (or indeed by intrusive government surveillance).
Flourishing human society always involves a complex reconciliation of various and sometimes competing goods, but one essential moment in this dialectic is the integrity of the private sphere. There is, simply speaking, no way to publicly police private life that is not totalitarian.
We are perilously close — through a process and according to a standard by which none of us could expect to be judged innocent — to the destruction of the lives of persons who at present remain unconvicted of any crime; and to the debasing and shackling of our polity and of our humanity should that destruction be permitted to occur.
If there is suspicion that a crime has been committed, then let the police investigate, and let the courts prevail. But until then, the students’ comments on a private Facebook page should have no formal bearing on their studies at Dalhousie. Now that they have become public and taken on a weight they were never intended to have, it befits all of us, and especially the members of Dalhousie University, to proceed in a manner that is worthy of the great country which our forbears — many at the cost of their own lives — bequeathed us, and which it is our shared calling to preserve.
National Post
Stephen Blackwood is an alumnus of Dalhousie University; his first book will be published by Oxford University Press in the spring of this year.Posted by Nat Bernstein
I’m afraid to admit it, but I have little patience for Passover. Almost none. And the seder least of all.
Don’t get me wrong: I observe the holiday to the letter. I clean out the house, sell my chametz, and subsist on a standard diet of matzah, cream cheese, and eggs with the variable vegetable and odd protein for the entire week, and I not only endure but participate in both seders with my family as I have done since the good ol’ Ma Nishtana days. And I hate every minute of it.
Partly, I just don’t do well with structure. As both a product and proponent of alternative education, I struggle with the hours of prescribed “order” that we’re all forced to adhere to on this so different a night: stand up, sit down, lean to the left, say this, drink that, eat this, eat that, now sing… It feels more like a rigid second grade day school classroom than a meal, let alone a celebratory feast. And, much like that same second grade classroom, the strictly regimented agenda doesn’t yield proportionate efficiency—in fact, it feels, just the opposite.
Mainly, though, it’s the repetition that gets to me: the required regurgitation of the same story year after year. It’s gone from boring to insufferable and at some moments even oppressive—and that’s just the impatience, before the late hour or physical hunger sets in—but I bear through the retelling two nights in a row every year because that part is unquestionably essential to Judaism and Jewish identity—for, as we know all too well, in every generation one must see oneself as though they, too, left Egypt.
There are many in the Jewish community who have chosen to interpret that imperative as a summons to reflect on the events and ills of our lifetime and more recent history: college chaplains organize “freedom seders” joining Jewish and black students on campus; women convene on feminist seders and family members clash over current Israeli policies; rabbis at the pulpit bring up the uncomfortable realities of slavery in our time—on that note, if you read one other essay today, make it this one (although I’m pretty sure it wasn’t written by a rabbi).
The seder also becomes a fertile millennial arena for the social justice bender Jews in their twenties and thirties are on with renewed fervency at the approach of every holiday. This year more than any other (yet), social media housed countless queries and responses for social justice haggadot and supplements—Jewschool.com, for example, assembles their top ten picks of new social justice-themed Passover resources each year—and that’s a wonderful thing. But even with the obvious parallelable narratives of freedom and oppression, there’s something curious about an entire generation insisting on telling a multitude of other peoples’ stories on a night we’re supposed to focus entirely on our own one. Is the Exodus somehow less meaningful, less critical to Jewish history or the modern experience, if it isn’t directly relatable to the world around us and its victims? Why on this night do we continue to layer stories on top of the one we’re required to tell?
Reading The Lost Book of Mormon (it’s a Jewish book—very Jewish, I promise, bear with me here) I was inspired to think of the social justice seder phenomenon in terms of a book—more accurately, in terms of a book series, or any narrative-driven franchise. In relating new stories and new struggles to the Passover narrative, these supplements create a sequel to the Exodus. Seder participants take one of our most glorious tales and stretch it across centuries so as to continue to enjoy the original by connecting with not only to the story but the storytelling itself. As Avi Steinberg observes in in his new memoir:
Maybe our tendency to make sequels is somehow embedded in how we think. Just as we want and need a story to end, we also want and need a story to never end. We make sequels as a way of bringing our stories closer to life. As a matter of convention and convenience, stories have endings, but if we were to tell them honestly, stories would never end, just like life, whose dramas dip in and out of time and memory, are recalled, shared, stolen, reprised, recovered, revised—anything but neatly concluded. A sequel may well be a deformed kind of story, a pale likeness—as its critics have long charged—but even if it’s silly or tragic or nobly deluded or tainted by a shameless profit motive, or, more likely, all of these at one, then all the more is it like life.
Steinberg’s rumination on the sequel began with watching new episodes of The Simpsons at his laundromat and realizing that in two decades since the show premiered, nothing in the animated world of Springfield had ever changed, its denizens stuck in a bright, eternal Groundhog Day:
Sequels don’t necessarily believe in progress, but they do insist on the passing of time, or at the very least a change of place. By contrast, a serial like The Simpsons can remain in a state of animated paralysis for eternity.
Critic Terry Castle has described sequels as tragic because they are motivated by a desperate human need to reproduce the original sensation of some pleasurable experience, an impulse, a “mad hope,” she says, that is fated to miserable disappointment. But when I saw Bart still throwing spitballs at Springfield Elementary over twenty years later, that to me seemed like the tragedy of repetition: Sisyphus on a skateboard.
At the Passover seder each year, Judaism makes that same attempt to reproduce the original sensation of one of the greatest miracles ever witnessed by our ancestors: the Israelites’ liberation from slavery, by the hand of God. But the haggadic retelling isn’t a sequel; it’s a loop; it’s Bart Simpson’s same old antics week after week; it’s forty years circling the same patch of desert. We know that experience all too well—and how it can lead to communal loss of faith, rebellion, kvetching, and even idol worship [see: Golden Calf].
In finding a sequel to the Passover story—in the histories and current issues of Civil Rights, feminism, and modern social justice movements—perhaps we restore our faith by breaking out of that cycle, just enough to bring it closer to life. It reifies that the story didn’t end—that the story of the Jewish people didn’t end—with Exodus, that it is an evolving legacy rather than an outgrown or outgrowable childhood tale. We want to relive the experience of leaving Egypt without despairing of it, without growing bored, without losing appreciation for this among the narrative pillars of Jewish history.
The power of the sequel, Avi Steinberg discovered, “meant that the old biblical saga wouldn’t simply replay forever but somehow, some way, find a way out, maybe even a way forward. It boldly reentered the original and steered it in a different direction. Maybe the sequel isn’t the tragedy of repetition: it’s a solution to it.”
So maybe I just need to find my Passover sequel. Maybe one day I’ll write my own.
Related Content:Splatoon 2 launched on a Friday, so most people were at work. Shops in Akihabara open at 10am, and many were ready for early buyers.
Some larger stores like Sofmap, Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera set up shopfront stalls, selling the game and related products.
There were some small lines
But there was plenty of stock to go around, so it was easy enough to get the game and related items, like Amiibo and neon green/pink joycons. If you were lucky, there were also a few of the licensed (in-game brand) Forge headsets available.
The bigger stores were very busy however – there was a 20+ minute wait at the counter at Yodobashi for example.
While the game was easy enough to obtain, it’s not so easy to get a Switch console in Japan. This is what you see in most places at the moment:
Demand is off the charts and all Switch consoles sell out instantly. Stores only get a certain allotment of consoles, and to determine which customers get a chance to buy one, they run lotteries.
Literal lotteries. Customers are asked to line up at a certain location from 8am and take a number. Later in the day, they draw numbers, and the winners now have an opportunity to buy the console.
This was the line to take a number at the Akihabara Bic Camera store.
After getting your number, you can go about you day shopping, and return for the results announcement.
The results are posted at the front of the store.
The Splatoon 2 booth was quite busy with buyers at this point, and combined with the rush to see the Switch lottery results, a crush took place.
Bad luck if you didn’t win, try again tomorrow.
Or you could buy from scalper stores for double the price!
More Splatoon store displays
After a long day of observing the craziness, I finally got home to get playing myself.
While Japan got ready to do it all again a week later for Dragon Quest XI!
Next up: Splatoon at the Kyoto Aquarium
AdvertisementsCarpet Maker To The World
Empire underfoot: Bob Shaw came to Georgia intending to close his family business. Instead he create
Your mother always warned you not to leave any footprints on the carpet. She never said anything about carpet leaving its footprint on you. But it already has, in so many ways.
There’s the economic footprint Georgia’s enormous carpet industry is leaving on the state, especially the Northwest region, and the aesthetic footprint it leaves on the nation and the world:
The carpet and flooring industry employs more than 45,000 workers in Georgia with a payroll topping $4 billion – the largest of any manufacturing sector in the state.
The world’s four largest carpet companies, and seven of the 14 largest, are located in Georgia (Shaw Industries, Mohawk Industries, Beaulieu of America, Interface, Milliken, J&J Industries, Collins & Aikman Floorcoverings).
More than 80 percent of the U.S. carpet market – which supplies 45 percent of the world’s carpet – is controlled by mills located within a 65-mile radius of Dalton. That equals about $10 billion in business activity within a golden tufted circle.
“Imagine, this all started as an outgrowth of the tufted bedspread business. Guess we’ve come a long way since then,” quips Bob Shaw, CEO of Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, headquartered in Dalton. “The tufted carpet industry, which started right here, is one of the few industries created wholly in this country.”
Then there’s the messy environmental footprint the carpet industry, like nearly every other industry, leaves on the environment – a footprint that Georgia’s carpet makers are working diligently to reduce.
“When we issued our first sustainability report in 2000 we defined our environmental footprint from 1990. By 2002, when we published our third report, we had reduced that footprint by 80 percent,” claims Werner Braun, president of the Dalton-based Carpet and Rug Institute, the industry’s national trade association.
“This industry is the only one I know of in the United States that meets the Kyoto Protocol. We have less carbon dioxide emissions today than we had in 1990 and we’re producing 40 percent more product.”
About 5 billion pounds of carpet gets shoved into landfills each year, but because of the commitment of industry leaders like Shaw, Interface founder/chairman Ray Anderson, and their fellow carpet makers, hundreds of millions of pounds of carpet are being diverted from landfills and recycled into carpet products. In the process, a broad new reclamation industry is emerging.
“We’re enabling creation of the infrastructure, the technology, the products, the marketing, the economic models that will power new businesses,” says Bob Peoples, executive director of CARE (Carpet America Recovery Effort), the three-year-old joint industry-government program designed to increase recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet. “The concept of recycling material has been around for a long time, but I never anticipated that one of the side |
of the Mustache", just look at the door handles), his love of cigars (he still enjoys handing them out to Chargers players after a win) and his fandom. It would be difficult to find a bigger Chargers fan than Pernicano, who has attended all but 2 Chargers games (both home and away) since 1961.
Despite owning a chain of pizza restaurants, Pernicano's crown jewel was the Casa di Baffi location in Hillcrest. In its heyday, you could walk in on any night and see half of the Chargers' roster eating dinner or enjoying drinks there along with players from whatever team was in town that week to match up against the Bolts. Of course, this wasn't by accident.
"The first month Casa di Baffi opened, he let the players eat for half price," Ron Mix said. "But he forgot to say it was just for the players, and all the guys would bring in their guests. I lived with (ex-Chargers quarterback) Jack Kemp on Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest and I must have eaten there five times a week." Shocking? Yeah, that Mix was somewhere else the week's other two days. But Pernicano didn't just feed the Chargers. Whenever a visiting team came through San Diego, they would exit with a Pernicano care package. Once, Pernicano ran out on the Lindbergh Field tarmac and halted the New York Jets' plane. Seems Joe Namath wouldn't leave without Pernicano's unique veal cutlet sandwiches. "Those veal cutlet sandwiches were so good they tasted like dessert," Mix recalled. Source
Today, the Hillcrest location sits as a dusty, vandalized reminder of Pernicano living his dream as Owner of his favorite sports franchise and Owner of the choice restaurant of the stars. George still attends every Chargers game, sharing a luxury box with his former co-owner Barron Hilton.
With just 3% ownership of the team, Pernicano undoubtedly has very little say in the day-to-day operations of the team. However, to know that one of the team's most die-hard fans has a direct line to Dean Spanos or A.J. Smith gives the rest of us hope. Maybe, one day, we can own a part of our favorite sports team and live the dream that George Penicano was able to live.Want to play Texas Hold’em Poker at home with your friends? Do you hate the hassle of dealing and shuffling cards or fumbling with your chips? With HPTL, your iPhones are holding your hole cards, and your iPad shows the community cards. Be amazed by our realistic sounds and graphics – you’ll feel as though you are in one of the finest casinos in Vegas
Play poker with your friends over wifi. Fully customizable, HPTL allows you to simulate realistic poker games for up to 6 people in the comfort of your own home. Cash games and tournaments are supported. Adjust blind structure, level timers and hide your hole cards from your opponents using our unique privacy slider.
Experience the thrill of going “all in“ and earn bragging rights by beating your friends at the game that’s taking the world by storm!
Take a look at in-game screenshots.Proceeds Benefit the Roslyn Fire Company visit website Special thanks to
the sponsors of
this event:
County Theater
Nicole Lombardi,
AutumnHeart.net
Thank you for supporting the Roslyn Film Festival! The Roslyn Film Festival Committee would like to extend thanks to all of the filmmakers and everyone who attended the 2018 Roslyn Film Festival on March 24th. We are actively seeking volunteers to take over the administration of the festival to continue this great community tradition in the years ahead.
If you might be interested in leading the committee for the 2019 festival, please contact Lori Schreiber for more information.
Roslyn Film Festival 2018 The Roslyn Film Festival Committee would like to extend thanks to all of the filmmakers and everyone who attended this year's screening.
Congratulations to our 2018 Festival Winners:
1st Place: Road To Jericho
Filmmaker: Phillip Carroll
PCG Studios
2nd Place: Undo
Filmmaker: Tom Sims
YouTube
3rd Place (Tie): Gibby
Filmmaker: Shane Gaber
Lavrastory
Filmmaker: Pierce Robinson 1st Place:Filmmaker: Phillip Carroll2nd Place:Filmmaker: Tom Sims3rd Place (Tie):Filmmaker: Shane GaberFilmmaker: Pierce Robinson Our Complete Year 11 Film Festival Lineup:
1. Collage (Steve Cleberg)
2. Love At First Heist (Stephen Maransky)
3. Letters To Mary Jane (Jim Young)
4. Lavrastory (Pierce Robinson)
5. The Forest (Stephen Maransky)
6. Handsy (Eric Miller & Shane Gaber)
7. Road To Jericho (Phillip Carroll)
8. Gibby (Shane Gaber)
9. Undo (Tom Sims)
10. Are You Sure? (Matt Lee)
Special Thanks From Abington Commissioner Lori Schreiber The Roslyn Film Festival began in 2007 and has been one of the most popular and successful events in our community. For those of you who might have missed it this time around, you’ll have to watch for it next time. Everyone who attends has a great time watching quality films, and then playing film critic by choosing the winning entries.
I want to thank all of the filmmakers who entered their short films into the contests for the last 11 years. Several of them also attended the festival, driving in from outside our region, and were willing to answer questions about their productions while we counted ballots to choose the winners.
Adding community-building events is a very important and exciting part to the revitalization of Roslyn. Again, I want to thank everyone who makes our annual Roslyn Film Festival a huge success every year, and am looking forward to another great sequel in the years ahead!
Sincerely,
Lori Schreiber
Abington Township Commissioner–Ward 14 The Roslyn Film Festival began in 2007 and has been one of the most popular and successful events in our community. For those of you who might have missed it this time around, you’ll have to watch for it next time. Everyone who attends has a great time watching quality films, and then playing film critic by choosing the winning entries.I want to thank all of the filmmakers who entered their short films into the contests for the last 11 years. Several of them also attended the festival, driving in from outside our region, and were willing to answer questions about their productions while we counted ballots to choose the winners.Adding community-building events is a very important and exciting part to the revitalization of Roslyn. Again, I want to thank everyone who makes our annual Roslyn Film Festival a huge success every year, and am looking forward to another great sequel in the years ahead!Sincerely,Abington Township Commissioner–Ward 14In early 2010 a man was escorted to arguably the most secure prison cell in Israel.
Transcript
"The elusive X is being held for unspecified crimes and confined in total seclusion within a private wing of the maximum security prison." REPORT, JUNE 2010 'TELEGRAPH' UK
In early 2010 a man was escorted to arguably the most secure prison cell in Israel. The guards taking him there had no idea who he was or what he'd done. What they did know was that the cell had been purpose designed and built for one previous occupant - the assassin of former PM Yitzhak Rabin.
"It is simply a person without a name and without an identity who is placed in complete and absolute isolation from the outside world. We don't know if he gets visits, or if anyone even knows he's even in jail. There is confidentiality surrounding the detainee in every respect." PRISON SERVICE OFFICER
When word leaked about the mysterious inmate, Israeli media began to report and speculate but no sooner had a handful of stories been published, the coverage was shut down by one of the most comprehensive suppression orders conceivable.
There would be one more blip of information that would sneak out. Prisoner X - held in a video-monitored, regularly checked, suicide proof cell - had killed himself.
Who was Prisoner X and what had he done to end up secretly jailed in a high-tech cell and locked down under a nationwide media ban?
Now, for the first time, some answers.
In a protracted and painstaking investigation, Foreign Correspondent has amassed compelling evidence uncovering the identity of Prisoner X. It's a trail that leads all the way from Israel to Australia.
Foreign Correspondent reveals that the man who died in Ayalon prison in 2010 was an Australian. It's a story that will send shockwaves around the world.
________________________________
Transcript
BORMANN: It was a peephole look into a top secret world. But just enough to grip a nation's attention and pose disturbing questions. What was the identity of a mysterious prisoner in one of Israel's toughest jails and why he secrecy behind his extraordinary incarceration?
When the media began to ask questions, the State mobilised to push through one of harshest and most punitive suppression orders conceivable.
The only piece of information to emerge since is that this man, housed in a purpose-built, high-tech, suicide-proof prison within a prison somehow managed to kill himself.
There are many inside and outside Israel who remain deeply concerned about the case of Prisoner X.
BILL VAN ESVELD (Human Rights Watch): The old saying is sunlight is the best disinfectant. If there's no sunlight, we don't know what happened, and very dirty things could have gone on.
BORMANN: Tonight, a special Foreign Correspondent investigation to unmask prisoner X.
It's a story that cannot be told here in Israel because the government has threatened to jail anyone who writes about it, anyone who talks about it. The courts have effectively shut down any discussion of this case because they argue this is a case of national security.
For the first time we reveal compelling evidence that Israel's infamous prisoner X was a man from suburban Melbourne.
[music and title]
BORMANN: Ayalon maximum security prison conceals many secrets, even from those who work behind its walls. In early-to-mid 2010 an inmate in his early thirties arrived here under great secrecy and security.
[Re-enactment]
The guards were not to ask questions and other prisoners knew nothing of the newcomer. His incarceration might have remained a state secret if it hadn't been for an incredulous prison's department official who spoke to a journalist.
PRISON OFFICIAL: Look it is simply a person without a name and without an identity who is placed in complete and absolute isolation from the outside world. We don't know if he gets visits, or if anyone even knows he's in jail. There is a confidentiality surrounding the detainee in every respect, okay? I doubt if even the jailers in charge of him know who he is.
[End re-enactment]
BORMANN: Between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is a city of prisons called Ramla. There are five jails here, the notorious Ayalon prison is the biggest.
[Re-enactment]
BORMANN: Detached from the main part of Ayalon is wing 15, a jail within a jail but containing just a single cell. With an array of high tech features including CCTV, it was built to house the assassin of Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin. But for several months in 2010 the identity of its occupant was a state secret.
[Re-enactment]
PRISON OFFICIAL: Look, there is too much confidentiality surrounding him okay. It is scary that in 2010 a man imprisoned in Israel without us even knowing about it, okay?
[End re-enactment]
BORMANN: The prison official's account was picked up by online news service Y-Net and Israel's internal security force, Shin Bet, acted quickly to shut down the coverage. The reporter who ran the story was interrogated. When approached by Foreign Correspondent, he said he didn't want to get into any more trouble.
But authorities didn't stop there. Shin Bet went to court and in a secret hearing, a judge banned any further public mention of the Prisoner X case.
I tried a few contacts in Israel, but no one it seemed wanted to go near the case. And when I asked Israel's Association for Civil Rights exactly what couldn't be discussed, their chief legal counsel replied to me with just three words, the whole affair.
Back in 2010, the association's Dan Yakir wrote to Israel's Attorney General about Prisoner X, and received a letter back, saying "the current gag order is vital for preventing a serious breach of the state's security, so we cannot elaborate about this affair."
Eventually I found someone from an international organisation who was prepared to talk. Bill van Esveld is from Human Rights Watch. Israel and the Palestinian territories are his patch.
BILL VAN ESVELD [Human Rights Watch]: There will always be a national security justification offered by a government for you know some sort of bad treatment. You can almost expect it. It's not an excuse. You can never disappear somebody that's just a very clear red line. You cannot create a secret facility, you cannot you know take somebody and put them on the dark side of the moon and not expect to be called to account for it.
BORMANN: But the intriguing mystery of Prisoner X would not go away, despite the heavy handedness of the security services. One American blogger had a theory of his own, that this secret inmate was an Iranian General by the name of Ali Reza Asghari. He claimed the General had been kidnapped by Israel's overseas spy service, the Mossad. That theory went nowhere.
BILL VAN ESVELD ([Human Rights Watch]: Clearly it was super-sensitive otherwise you know at least people in the detention facility would know about it. This is a centre of attention, this part of the world has a lot of eyes on it. It's very difficult to keep a secret that well in this day and age.
BORMANN: The mystery had now become a source of speculation in the international media.
BRITISH VOICE: [The Telegraph] The elusive X is being held for unspecified crimes and confined in total seclusion within a private wing of the maximum security prison.
AUSTRALIAN VOICE: [Sydney Morning Herald] Several websites have suggested that this may indicate that the man is being held on suspicion of espionage and is a serving agent of the Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service.
BORMANN: The continued chatter drove Israel's security services back to the courts to reinforce the blanket suppression of the case. Foreign Correspondent has obtained details of a gag order issued in late June 2010 under the case name "Israel versus John Doe". In it, Judge Hila Gerstl, of the Petach Tikva District Court bans any public mention or hint of Prisoner X, Mr X, cell number 15 in Ayalon Prison, the conditions there, or anything about being held in that cell. As an indication of how sensitive the issue was, the Judge ruled that even mention of the existence of the order was prohibited.
But with little to go on the media coverage soon dried up and the man in solitary confinement could have no contact with the outside world. The world could have no contact with him.
I sought opinion from an Australian man who knows all about keeping state secrets. Warren Reed is a former spy, trained by Britain's MI6. He was a senior operative in the Middle East and South East Asia for Australia's overseas spy agency, ASIS.
WARREN REED [Former Asis agent]: The degree of sanitisation of this gentleman... where he was put in Unit 15 in that prison which was constructed only as one cell, and hermetically sealing him away in all human terms even within the prison from his society, his family... that suggests that it has to be something very very touchy and very immediate, otherwise you wouldn't go to those lengths.
[Re-enactment]
BORMANN: As the Israeli government had hoped, little more was heard about Prisoner X.
Then, in December 2010, the Y-NET news service that broke the original story carried a brief news flash.
FEMALE VOICE: An inmate held in solitary confinement at Ayalon Prison committed suicide by hanging in his cell two weeks ago. The warden team that noticed him took him down and tried to revive him, but in vain. He was taken to the prison clinic and was pronounced dead.
BORMANN: The web page was quickly pulled down by Israeli authorities. It was news they were desperately trying to suppress. Prisoner X had apparently killed himself in one of the most sophisticated, secure and reportedly suicide proof facilities in Israel.
BILL VAN ESVELD [Human Rights Watch]: Was there a history of mental illness, was there a history of physiological illness, was this a result of what had happened to him in prison, was he told he would never get out, was this a result of despair? I mean, it's all a matter of speculation now but that's why you need the facts to be uncovered. That's why you know the state should not be able to shroud things in secrecy because anything could have happened. The person could have been murdered in custody.
WARREN REED [Former ASIS agent]: How could anybody hang themselves in that way? There are lots of ways nowadays where you can pick up the extent to which the person in the cell is sweating, their heartbeat, all sorts of things. I mean modern technology applied in a cell like that almost totally precludes any possibility of someone like him sanitised in that way could hang themselves. I find it almost impossible to believe.
[Re-enactment]
BORMANN: Then, during an assignment in Israel last year, an intriguing development. A respected and trusted source with connections to Israel's security establishment told me something he couldn't hope to have revealed in the local media. Prisoner X, he said, was Australian. He told me that X was a Jewish man in his mid-thirties who'd been in Israel for about ten years.
He'd lived in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ra'Anana with his Israeli wife and two children. This Australian, he claimed, had worked for spy agency, Mossad. I was given the name - Ben Alon.
This is his photograph, from a social media site. And this is him at his wedding in 2006, with a caption bearing another name - Ben Zygier. As our investigation unfolded, his different names would become significant.
So began what would become months of painstaking and often frustrating inquiry to verify my source's information. It's a trail that leads all the way from Tel Aviv to Melbourne.
But first, to comprehend how an Australian could fall into such a predicament, I wanted to understand what motivates Australian born Jews to make the pilgrimage to Israel.
NOMI BLUM [Medical student] : It's almost innate, this notion of of homeland and of affinity towards Israel. My first time in Israel...
BORMANN: Medical student Nomi Blum regards Israel as a second home. A Jewish youth leader in Melbourne, she's been travelling to Israel for ten years, dabbling in everything from volunteer work with the ambulance service, to programs with Palestinian children.
NOMI BLUM: And that's a young Palestinian boy who proposed to me in Hebron. His friend came up to me immediately afterwards and said if you're not going to marry him, why don't you marry me. It was an excellent opportunity to contribute to Israeli society as well as learn about what was going on there. For me it's because Israel is a central component of of being Jewish. I wouldn't consider necessarily myself a religious person but I very strongly identify as a as a cultural Jew and a huge part of Jewish history and Jewish culture has been centred on the notion of Judaism as a nationality as in addition to it being a a religion.
BORMANN: Australian Jews, like others from the diaspora, are entitled to automatic Israeli citizenship and often become dual citizens. With that comes an obligation to serve in the Israeli military.
NOMI BLUM: I think if if those people believe in the cause they are fighting for and if they identify as Israeli citizens over being an Australian citizen, then I'm not sure that it's a problem.
BORMANN: Israel's largest and most vibrant city, Tel Aviv, is a magnet for young Jewish men and women from around the world who come here by the thousands each year. There are many ways to serve Israel and Australians have found themselves in intelligence agencies operating here.
WARREN REED [Former ASIS agent]: Australians abroad are generally seen to be fairly innocent. It's a clean country, it has a good image like New Zealand. There aren't many countries like that so our nationality and anything connected with it can be very useful in intelligence work.
BORMANN: Still sharp are the memories of early 2010 when Australians found out how their identities could be abused abroad. It was the most audacious of cloak and dagger missions. The assassination of a Palestinian arms trader in Dubai three years ago, practically the full story played out on CCTV. But the greatest international outrage was that Mossad had used the identities of dual nationals living in Israel, including four Australians. The spy agency created new passports with photos of the hit squad members.
STEPHEN SMITH (Former Australian Foreign Minister): This is not the first occasion where there has been misuse of an Australian passport by Israeli agencies. This was sanctioned by the State of Israel and that's why we have responded in the way that we have and why in very many respects we're distressed by it.
BORMANN: It marked a frosty moment in relations between two countries that were friends, their intelligence agencies close as well.
STEPHEN SMITH: We can only put it behind us if Israel conducts itself genuinely as a friend.
BORMANN: Australia had expelled an Israeli diplomat. It was a mere spat.
In 2010 ASIO suspected that several Australian Jews were working for Mossad, after changing their names from European or Jewish names to Anglo names. Then with new Australian passports and Australian accents, they could travel freely in the Arab world and to places like Iran, to destinations where no Israeli could venture.
WARREN REED [Former ASIS agent]: In a multicultural society like Australia when people are constantly applying for new passports, it's a dead giveaway and foreign affairs people usually are right on top of that.
BORMANN: Twelve years ago Melbourne man, Ben Zygier, moved to Israel to start a new life and would change his name to Ben Alon.
He would list his occupation as lawyer but according to my principal contact he worked for Mossad.
My source told me something went dreadfully wrong in this man's spy career and early to mid-2010, Ben Zygier found himself in solitary confinement in Ayalon prison.
BILL VAN ESVELD (Human Rights Watch]: For a Jewish person to be treated this way is is really quite unusual. We can look at the apparent concern from the security services but we can't say whether it was justified or not because we don't know what happened - that's exactly the problem.
WARREN REED [Former ASIS agent]: Well however the transgression came about, it would have to be involved with espionage, possibly treachery, but very very sensitive information that known to others would pose an immediate threat to Israel as a nation state. But of course with a case of this sensitivity, we really have to expect we'll probably never really know.
BORMANN: We've been unable to independently verify when Ben Zygier was jailed in 2010. But the timing of the reporting of Prisoner X's suicide offers key correlation to what we do know. Of two prison suicides in December, only one was at Ayalon. The Y- Net story on 27th December referred to the Ayalon hanging as occurring two weeks ago and that accords with records we've seen of Ben Zygier-Alon's death.
We understand a post mortem was conducted at the Health Department's Abu Kabir mortuary near Tel Aviv. Foreign Correspondent has evidence that a death certificate issued there for Ben Alon, the name Ben Zygier used in Israel, is dated December 15, so in keeping with Y-Net's time frame. It states the death occurred at Ramla, the suburb of Ayalon prison, and the cause of death was asphyxiation by hanging. Sources within this facility have told us the body was from Ayalon jail.
An Israeli organisation called ZAKA arranged for the body to be flown to Melbourne. Its religious band of volunteers are better known for recovering the remains of Israeli victims of terrorism.
On the 22nd of December, Ben Zygier, aka Alon was buried in a Jewish cemetery in suburban Springvale.
The story of Ben Zygier raises many questions. Why was he jailed and why the extraordinary cover up by the Israeli government? What is this matter of national security? And what did Australian authorities know? When Ben Zygier died in that prison what questions were asked by our diplomats and what were they told?
International protocols demand that when a foreign national is jailed or dies, their diplomatic mission must be informed.
BILL VAN ESVELD [Human Rights Watch: That is such a fundamental obligation, the obligation of one country to notify another when the other citizen has been arrested, detained, you know especially if they if they died. That is so basic that it's called customary law which means that even if Israel didn't ratify a treaty saying it has to notify the other country, it still has to do so because that is just such a basic norm of interstate relations.
BORMANN: So what did the Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv know? Foreign Correspondent lodged a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Foreign Affairs asking for any documents relating to Ben Zygier, also known as Ben Alon. DFAT told us there were documents relating to his imprisonment and death but we weren't entitled to see them because their release could have a substantial adverse impact on the proper and efficient conduct of consular operations. But curiously in their response to me DFAT referred constantly to a Mr Allen. When I asked for clarification, a department official told me that Ben Zygier, also known as Ben Alon, also carried an Australian passport bearing the name Ben Allen.
I caught up with Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr.
BOB CARR [Australian Foreign Minister]: I'm assured that there was no record of contact between his family and the Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv or DFAT in Canberra so on my advice the Australian government was not informed of his detention by his family or by anyone else.
BORMANN: Would you be having a word with the Israelis about this?
BOB CARR: I think I'd need something from his family to go on here. I'd need some.... maybe this program gives me enough to make an enquiry.
BORMANN: A couple of years ago Australian intelligence agencies were concerned at Australian Jew changing their names getting a new Australian passport and then working for the Mossad. Does it in itself trouble you?
BOB CARR: On the face of it, it does. Australians should not be working.... performing intelligence functions, intelligence gathering functions, for a foreign government using their passport. They would have breached I would guess half a dozen laws by doing that.
BORMANN: Over several months we've been trying to build a portrait of this young man from Melbourne and his tragic decline. We do know that Ben Zygier attended Jewish schools in Melbourne's south east, before studying law. His parents have chosen not to be involved in our story, and so have the many friends and acquaintances we've made contact with.
BILL VAN ESVELD [Human Rights Watch]: I have a feeling that the more that comes to light about the mistreatment, alleged mistreatment and death in custody of somebody who was disappeared - that should cause some waves. I think there's going to be a lot of discussion about that, which would be very good.
BORMANN: This is the tragedy of a young man from Melbourne whose fateful final months are cloaked in mystery and secrecy.
There is compelling evidence suggesting he and Prisoner X were the same man.
In all likelihood we'll never know what Prisoner X did to suffer such an extraordinary incarceration and to propel Israel into a security clampdown that would deny his very existence.
WARREN REED [Former ASIS agent]: Things might roll on in ten or 15 years and Mossad might agree to put out a sanitised version of what happened. I would doubt it. I think this is one of those things that would probably be under lock and key for 50... 75 years - if not, never to be released.
[Shot of grave stone: In loving memory of Ben Zygier 9.12.1976-15.12.2010]
[The Israeli Embassy in Canberra declined to comment.]
Video US police deny body recovered after cabin shootout California police deny reports a body has been recovered from a burned out cabin following a gunfight with a fugitive ex-cop.
Video Obama delivers State of the Union address Watch US president Barack Obama's opening remarks from his State of the Union address.
Video Huawei Ascend P1 S mobile phone New report claims Australians are increasingly addicted to smartphones, affecting their manners and even safety.
Video Foreign Correspondent: Prisoner X Foreign Correspondent reveals startling new details in the super-secret case of Israel's Prisoner X.
New York Times
Prisoner X - The Australian Connection
ABC Online - 22 hours ago(Reuters) - Insurer Chubb Ltd said on Wednesday it has added coverage to help U.S. victims of cyber bullying pay for costs, including mental health treatment, legal expenses and lost wages.
The company said it added $60,000 of cyber bullying coverage to its U.S. Masterpiece Family Protection policy, a $70-a-year add-on. The insurance already covers threats including stalking, carjacking, home invasion, air rage, hijacking and child abduction.
Chubb added the coverage amid unprecedented public awareness of cyber bullying. Last year an article in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics reported that about a quarter of U.S. adolescents had experienced cyber bullying through social media, (reut.rs/1MBu3cS)
Chubb said the new coverage will pay for expenses resulting from “harassment and intimidation” over personal computers, telephones or mobile devices.
Covered costs include psychiatric care, temporary relocation services, education expenses, public relations services and cyber security consulting.
The policy kicks in when cyber bullying results in wrongful termination, false arrest, wrongful discipline at a school or a diagnosis of debilitating shock, mental anguish or mental injury.
The coverage is currently available in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin and will soon be rolled out to additional states, Chubb said.
Chubb said it believes it is the first company to offer such policies. It launched them in December in the United Kingdom.The cases of close to 200 people facing charges related to rioting on Inauguration Day will continue moving forward after a judge denied motions to dismiss.
WASHINGTON — Close to 200 people charged in the Inauguration Day protests in D.C. won’t have their cases dismissed despite motions to do so.
The accused rioters are charged with felony rioting and other charges stemming from the violence seen in the streets of downtown D.C. on Jan. 20.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz denied several motions filed by those facing charges. Among them, lawyers for the individuals charged argued in July that the criminal indictment wasn’t specific enough when it comes to the crimes police believe each individual was responsible for.
“The issue of the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain any of these charges against any particular defendant is deferred until the trials of the defendants,” Leibovitz wrote in her decision Thursday.
The group is accused of forming a “black bloc” demonstration, which prosecutors say included participants dressing in all black, with gas masks and goggles covering their faces.
Lawyers for the accused rioters also say that the conduct described in charging documents is not criminal but protected First Amendment speech.
The judge ruled the indictment handed down by a grand jury does survive a First Amendment challenge.
A demand made by those charged to see the instruction given to the grand jury before it made its decision was also denied.
The alleged rioters will begin going to trial in groups later this year, and those trial are expected to continue on into 2018.
Court documents denying the alleged rioters’ motions are below.
Order Denying Motions by wtopweb on Scribd
Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others.
© 2017 WTOP. All Rights Reserved.Hampton city councilman Billy Hobbs said Tuesday that he is more certain than ever that Langley Speedway will open in 2016 and predicted a late-April opening for the track's 66th season.
Hobbs is representing the City of Hampton in negotiations between a prospective buyer of the land on which the track sits and representatives of the land owner. Hobbs said the city is looking to give financial help to the buyer in the form of a grant to ensure the track's opening and long-term viability.
He said he spoke with both parties Tuesday and feels a deal is very close.
“I would be shocked and devastated if the track doesn't open in 2016 in light of recent developments in the negotiations,” said Hobbs, who added he is not at liberty yet to say who the prospective buyer is. “I expect the track's offices to be open for business in the next couple of weeks.
“I'd be surprised if the offices do not open by mid-March at the latest.”
Two-time track and regional Late Model champion Mark Wertz welcomed the news.
“This is great to hear, because we have sponsors and this gives them an idea of a target to shoot for,” he said. “And it's great for everyone who had engine rebuilds and did other work on their cars, to hear all of that work wasn't for nothing.
“While Langley Speedway is best known for the history of its drivers, the drivers and fans appreciate that someone cares enough to invest in the track and open its gates.
“We appreciate what Bill Mullis (the track operator the past seven seasons) has done and hope he will still be involved with the track somehow.”Today I’m sharing the Aromaleigh Insectarium Collection with you. The Insectarium Collection is inspired by colorful beetles. The contour powders are inspired by moths. I have Insectarium Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and the contour powders. I’ve also got some Fatalis Nourishing Lip Creams, highlighters, blushes and other eyeshadows too.
Aromaleigh Insectarium Collection
Aromaleigh is a small indie company located in South Carolina. All of her products are artisan made in small batches in the USA. They’re all cruelty free and many products are vegan.
All products swatched on Too Faced Shadow Insurance eyeshadow primer. For the extra sparkly shades, I also used Darling Girl Glitter Glue.
Insectarium Collection Contour Powders
Alucita (vegan)
warm taupe
Grey brown taupe.
Hyalophora (vegan)
warm brown
Pinked brown.
Saturnia (vegan)
chestnut brown
mauve brown
Antheraea (vegan)
warm golden brown
light warm brown
Carriola (vegan)
warm brown-green
brown green grey
Fatalis Nourishing Lip Creams
Dicentra formosa
A lush fuchsia. This shade may slightly stain the lips.
To me this is a fuchsia red cream.
Acanthaster brevispinus
A soft warm purple. This shade may slightly stain the lips.
To me this is a deep red with purple undertone.
Insectarium Collection Vol. 1 Brights
Lamprima
An orangey red base with blue to green color travel iridescence.
Coral red with green shift.
Charidotella
An orange/coral base with blue to violet color travel iridescence.
Coral orange with violet and blue shift.
Chrysolina
A vibrant blue purple with a violet to blue shift depending on lighting conditions.
A midtone purple with strong blue shift and violet sparkle.
Iridotaenia
A muted deep blurple with gold to green iridescence.
Deep warm purple base with strong gold shift and green sparks.
Anthaxia
A vibrant blue with red to gold shift depending on lighting conditions, it can also appear as a violet shift since the red iridescence is affected by the blue base.
Pretty turquoise blue base with strong pink to red shift, plus gold, violet, blue and pink sparks.
Megaloxantha
A warm violet base with red to gold color traveling iridescence.
Warm midtone violet purple with pink shift and gold sparks.
Sagra
A vibrant pink base with red to violet color travel iridescence.
Bright candy pink with pink, violet and blue sparks.
Protaetia
A willow yellow/brown base with green to blue color travel.
Yellowy-brown with golden green shift and blue and green sparks.
Sternocera
A warm green base with a blue to violet iridescent color travel.
Yellow-toned green with blue shift and blue and violet sparks.
Chlaenius
A vibrant green base with a violet to red iridescent color travel.
Deeper teal green base with blue to violet shift and blue, vioet and red sparks.
Insectarium Collection Vol. 2 Neutrals
Rhomborrhina
A metallic bronze base with green to teal to blue color travel.
Golden bronze with teal to blue shift and sparkle.
Plateumaris
A metallic bronze base with green to teal to blue color travel.
Soft bronze base with strong blue shift.
Agestrata
A metallic bronze base with gold to chartreuse to green color travel.
Golden bronze with lime to chartreuse.
Meloe
A metallic bronze base with blue to indigo to violet color travel.
Golden bronze with violet shift and blue and pink sparkles.
Canthidium
A metallic bronze base with gold to copper to pinkish red color travel.
Golden bronze with copper shift and pink and red sparkles.
Cassida
A metallic bronze base with violet to magenta to reddish color travel.
Golden bronze with violet pink shift.
Saperda
A metallic silver base with gold to chartreuse to green color travel.
Metallic silver with chartreuse to green to gold.
Pericalus
A metallic silver base with blue to indigo to violet color travel.
Metallic silver base with blue to violet.
Megistomela
A metallic silver base with violet to magenta to reddish color travel.
Metallic silver base violet to magenta.
Sphenoptera
A metallic silver base with gold to copper to pinkish red color travel.
Metallic silver with pink to copper to gold.
Aromaleigh Highlighters
Diana (vegan)
a pale gold highlighter with a soft blue lustre
Pale yellow gold with blue shift.
Ixchel
Pale |
stumbling along moaning “LAAAMME. LAAAMMME”. To see a good friend reduced to that would be too brutal a reality and a lousy bargain for a life of hipster eradication.
Luckily there is a solution, and like most cures it’s a two step process. Firstly, we must destroy Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr – the virus’s support networks. These communal forums allow infected individuals to output their poorly composed, blurry, vignetted photos and also their atrocious homemade synth music, which is fed back upon via other hipsters. It is normal to read claims such as: ‘OMG the way you’ve captured the retro-post-modernist feel is just exactly how I live my life’ and ‘Your music is just so much more real than label music could ever be’. This feedback loop is known as Mass Delusional Enforcement, a common mechanism used amongst road cyclists to propagate the internal belief of awesomeness within their community.
Secondly, the only cure for Hipstermania is to separate sufferers from their group. Although Hipsters proclaim to be individuals, they are actually not unlike sheep and tend to flock with other hipsters. This is because the virus requires its host to feel comfortable and at ease, else wise the host might start to question the odd changes occurring. The act of ‘thinking’ has an incredibly damaging effect on the virus as it creates an inhospitable environment for dressing stupidly and speaking vapidly. So if you notice any people starting to display symptoms of Hipstermania, either invite them into your hipster-free social group (one at a time – remember, Isolate not populate!) or just brain them with their Macbook in a humane manner.
It is as simple as that my good people. Destroy their social media networks, and separate them from their herds. Because god knows we don’t want the archaeologists of the future uncovering caches of synth recordings and lomo photography. Otherwise just a taste may cause their civilization to fall in a rotting pool of irony too.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I best get this rash seen to.
Special Thanks to Tommy Tait for sketching the title picture.
Tommy is a preternaturally talented artist who specializes in tattoos – and he does them so well that even if you don’t like tattoos his work might just change your mind.
AdvertisementsThis is a an advance copy of a risk report that I co-authored with the Bulgarian Risk Management Lab…The full report can be read at RiskManagementLab.Com
KREMLIN: Facing A Fateful Decision
The downing of Malaysian flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine has created a new reality that is likely to cause long-term internal political and economic destabilization of Russia. Historically, the Russian political system has been stable and resilient to shocks but only under strict and hard-to-maintain balance of interests of the various representatives of the power-wielding elite – the security sector, media owners, oligarchs, Eurasia(“Greater New Russia”) ideologues, former putsch operatives from the 1991-1993 period, the military-industrial complex, as well as simply bigoted military commanders. Putin’s political longevity has been largely due to the skilful maintenance of this balance.
The elite has not been of a single mind in relation to the Ukraine conflict, and is still divided regarding the conflict with NATO and the EU. It comprises ideological moderates and extremists, as well as pragmatists with economic interests.
The shooting-down of MH17 exacerbated the internal tensions and challenged this elite to a degree that has caused a radical change in the behaviour of the Kremlin as a geopolitical entity and a factor of global equilibrium.
Propaganda goal: a parallel reality
Under the latter-day Putin, there has always been a tacit collusion of the Moscow power elite to maintain a common (consensual), coherent and ostensibly plausible parallel reality (PR), sold – by means of soft and hard propaganda tools – as actual reality to the Russian voters. In order to achieve the last condition (plausibility), a homeopathic dose of democratic social and political processes have been tolerated. The recipe is mandatory for maintaining such balance: the collapse of any of the three basic elements – “consensus”, “consistency” and “apparent plausibility”, would cause PR to crumble, along with the total internal political balance.
The domestic and foreign political discourse of the broad elite – comprising government, parliament, parliamentary opposition factions, media, entrepreneurs and opinion leaders (analysts, sociologists and pollsters, and cultural figures), have adhered to a disciplined and coordinated deviation from reality, as hinted by the Kremlin.
In the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, a semantic analysis of this discourse reveals the following: 1) ” endogeneity ” of the centrifugal and separatist tendencies in Ukraine, 2) non-admission of Russian military involvement in the Crimea (until Putin himself breached the embargo on this topic), 3) public eulogy of the “volunteers” from Russia, and 4) categorization of a) the Euromaidan momentum as programmed and financed by the West, b) the change of President and the government as an illegal “putsch” that has not been truly remedied by the May elections, c) all official representatives of Kyiv authorities – as prone to neo-Nazism and fascism.
Deviations from such PR have been ventured by a small part of the media (radio “Echo of Moscow”, Dozhd’ TV, and the Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper). These exceptions, however, should not be seen as breaching the “consensus condition“; but rather as an escape valve for social tension amidst that minority of the electorate, which for one or another reason has acquired immunity against the Kremlin propaganda.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has turned into the most difficult test for the Kremlin’s PR strategy in the past 10 years. Indeed, there have been occasional drastic departures from the “plausibility condition” – e.g. the dissemination by Channel 1 and LifeNews of the “Slavyansk crucified boy” fake story, but such discredited blunders have been countered by a coordinated silence.
A new balance in the power elite
The deviations from the conditions of `consensus’ and ‘consistency’ became more difficult to contain when the conflict suddenly gave greater prominence to some of the subjects of the power elite which have coalesced, temporarily, in a new super-entity, whose interests do not always coincide with those of Putin. This newly formed extremist entity comprises:
The oligarch Konstantin Malofeev whose private army is the primary military factor in Eastearn Ukraine (Girkin and Boroday were, and likely still are his employees) The ideologist for the Russia-dominated Eurasian Union Alexander Dugin, and parliamentary “hawks” such as the chairman of the the Duma Economy Committee Evgeny Fedorov, and the spokesmen for the Russian military-industrial complex, deputy PM Dmitry Rogozin.
This new power center has been using a much more extreme rhetoric to define the context of the Ukraine conflict, preaching theses such as : 1) alleged secret military intervention of NATO troops on the Ukrainian side, 2) alleged planned genocide of the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine and its replacement by none than “Muslims[1]“, and 3) the necessity for immediate and open introduction of the Russian army into continental Ukraine. This new power center currently has no interest in causing a destabilization of the Russian political system, and therefore is not directly confronting Kremlin on its occasionally differing positions. Extremists try to mask the breach of the ”consensus condition’ by insisting that Putin thinks exactly like them but that he is handicapped in the actions. The parties guilty for his handicap are “the fifth column “- the Liberals and the Russian media, as well as by the neological “sixth column “- “the traitors”, who do not want to drag Russia into another world war.
Albeit forcing the boundaries of the conditions of consensus and coherence, this new internal face-off has not lead to actual internal destabilization, as Putin has agreed to pay a certain price to keep the balance (and to benefit fully from his own only half-earned glorification as the engineer of the new Russian greatness, the symptom of which the Russian population has recognized in the annexation of the Crimea. The price Putin agreed to pay are the periodic compromises that he grants to the extremists demands, as well as the acquiescence to their allegation that he thinks exactly like them, but is forced to act differently from his beliefs.
According to Dugin himself, “while refusing to send troops, the Kremlin at least has provided direct military assistance to the media and fighters for Novorossiya.” When Putin has acted directly against the interests of the extremist center – for example, when he tried to postpone the independence referenda in Donetsk and Lugansk, and later by refusing the recognize their outcomes – Dugin, Girkin and Boroday have all responded by implying that they could withdraw their confidence in him, and relegate him to membership of the Fifth, or at the very least, the “Sixth Column”. [UPDATE: as of July 24th, Dugin has introduced “the 7th column” into the semantic field, which apparently is meant to include everyone who is not actively pursuing a Russian expansionist agenda]
The balance achieved through such transactions has so far suited both parties: on one hand, Putin’s rating has reached unprecedented levels, without him taking directly provable responsibility for the actions of the separatists, on the other hand – the militant center has received free military, propaganda and diplomatic support from the State apparatus. Such balance has been critical to maintain internal stability.
The boiling point
for the Russian power elite was the downing of Malaysian Air flight MH17.
Following the tragedy, Putin has had a choice:
To force an end or at least suspension of the conflict with Ukraine, and terminate the confrontation with NATO and the EU, through neutralizing the extremist center’s power elite, (for which he has all the necessary legal and extrajudicial levers). To begin a new Cold War with the West by continuing to support the extremists’ lobby, as a trade-off for retention of the internal balance of power and stability.
This fateful choice for Russia will not be avoided, whether the crash investigation produces a smoking gun for the guilt of the Moscow-backed terrorists (which is what the world sees the separatists as now), or leaves this hypothesis as the “main but unproven theory”. The price that Putin will have to pay the second choice would be structural – in the form of long international isolation and categorization of the country into the “failed states” group. It is not by accident that Rogozin made a passing analogy between the “unsubstantiated” allegations against Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, and Putin’s current situation.
Putin’s initial reaction to the dilemma has been half-baked. He has continued the propaganda and diplomatic support, as the Kremlin controlled media have not even for a moment hypothesized that the separatists might have shot down the plane; same preemptive protection of “the rebels” was provided at the meeting of the UN Security Council on 21.7.2014. However, direct military support in the form of training of terrorists in southern Russia, and sending of weapons across the border was temporarily suspended. This was confirmed by public statements by Dugin where he hinted of “a possible betrayal” by Putin himself.
The rhetoric by Fedorov and Dugin grew into a crescendo in the days after 7/18/2014, the former declared “victory of fifth column” and the capitulation of the Kremlin, while the latter began to paint an apocalyptic picture of the demise of Russia unless the Kremlin undertakes an immediate preventive invasion of Ukraine – or at least resumes the supply of weapons to the separatists. On 22/07/2014 Dugin disseminated a prediction that the failure by Kremlin to launch a preventive invasion would lead to an invasion by Ukraine – with the support of NATO, both of the Crimean Peninsula, and of southern Russia.
The extraordinary domestic pressure, paired with Putin’s vane desire to live up to the heroic image that has been “lent” to him by the extremists’ lobby, pushes him towards the second choice. At the meeting of the Security Council of the RF and the subsequent extraordinary speech, Putin signaled to a compromise deal with extremists: 1) he denied their thesis of a direct threat to the territorial sovereignty of Russia, and thus refrained from direct invasion; 2) adopted their theses of “a fascist regime” in Kiev that came to power through an “unconstitutional coup”, and thus signaled that he will continue direct military support to the terrorists[2].
The compromises in PR that the Kremlin made as concessions to the extremists lobby are already pregnant with the grain of near-term destabilization – as they have sacrificed irreversibly the”apparent plausibility’ condition. Thus, the Kremlin propaganda:
Categorically and irrevocably assigned the blame for the death of nearly 300 innocent passengers on MH 17 to Kiev; while at the same time absolutely and unconditionally exculpating the terrorists; Grandly announced “substantiated theories” for the cause of the tragedy, including: a) shooting down by a Ukrainian SU-25 aircraft b) shooting down by Ukrainian “BUK” installations; and c) the involvement of a secret U.S. experimental satellite which was allegedly registered by Russian intel systems just over the downed aircraft; Fostered conspiracy and conjecture that: a) the Ukrainian army may have attempted to shoot down Putin’s plane that flew about 1000 km from the site of the tragedy; b) the downing of the plane was staged by the CIA, and the corpses in plane had been possibly dead for several days before crash.
A complete collapse of the “apparent plausibility” of the PR will occur if the ongoing international investigation produces irrefutable evidence of the guilt of the terrorists, and in the worst case scenario for the Kremlin – for a direct Russian link. The response of the Putin regime will then have to be a complete denial, and withdrawal inside into the realm of its own PR, which may never cross the world’s perceived reality again. This is the policy used by North Korea, Venezuela and somewhat Cuba, but it requires complete information isolation from the outside world and legally enforced suppression of freedom of expression in Russia; this in turn would lead to political isolation, practically from the entire developed world. Such price will be too high for the Russian power elites, and this itself will cause the collapse of the balance of the political system.
The positions of Washington and Brussels
The West is trying to persuade Putin not to opt for second choice; buying time for him and for itself by delaying the verdict based on irrefutable evidence.
President Obama has said the U.S. investigation has concluded that the MH17 has been downed by an “earth-to-air” missile launched from an area controlled by the separatists. The U.S. has no interest in making a direct accusation at Russia of complicity in terrorism, as it does not want to brand this nuclear power a strategic enemy. By adopting this position, the White House allows the Kremlin to distance itself from the extremists.
EU leaders refrain from conclusive verdicts and most likely are trying to divert the Russian President from his course to the wrong fateful decision. The EU is in the process of an executive power shift, and is unable to focus on the subject, which is a very serious, but temporary weakness.
Still, it is not a foregone conclusion that the Kremlin will yield to the final demand of the extremists’s lobby – i.e. a direct invasion of Ukraine. The extortion on Putin will certainly continue, especially after he has made so many concessions thus far. The position of the Russian President is now strongly weakened. He did attempt to crack the door open towards a possible distancing from the terrorists with the thesis that “it is both parties’s fault”, because they have not ceased hostilities. This remains Putin’s only reserve position in the event of detection of compelling evidence for the terrorist’s role.
Risks to Bulgaria
….. (Read the full report at RiskManagementLab.com)
[1] Evgeny Fedorov, April 2014
[2] This interpretation is corroborated by information from the Ukrainian Security Service that during the night of July 22nd, 14 GRAD units were shipped across the border, as well as data provided by the Council National Security that the positions of anti-terrorist units of the Ukrainian army were fired upon from the Russian side of the border on July 23rd.
AdvertisementsAccepting Is The First Step
The first thing we need to do when a relationship is over is accepted. Sometimes this is one of the hardest steps to accomplish. For more painful is, you need to put in your little head the idea that is time to leave that relationship in the past and move forward. If you have to cry, then cry. Express all your pain will help you to feel much better. Soon you are going to realize that out there are lots of exciting things waiting for you. New people to meet, new places to go. A whole new world to discover. Are you ready for the next step?
Cut Any Type Of Communication With That Person
I is very painful but you need to do it. I am not saying that you are not going to talk with that person any more in your life or that you can't be friends. But if you really want to leave that relationship behind you need to stop talking or seeing him or her at least for some time. If you continue doing it, you are going to get even more hurt. This time will help to heal your wounds.
Spend Time With Friends
At this time you will need your friends more than ever. You probably have not been spending so much time with them. This is a great opportunity to get closer to them. Isolating will not going to help you at all on this situation. Maybe you are not in a mood to talk with nobody or go anywhere. Do a little of effort, call your friends and go to a new place together. Somewhere that not remind you your ex for nothing. Friends are too good listeners. It could be a great opportunity to get all that out of your system. Do it often and you will see how you'll be fine in a bit.
Get As Busy As You Can
Trying new and exciting activities will keep your mind busy all the time, this way you are not going to have time even to think in that person. Plus you have a great chance to meet new people with your same interest. Sign up in a gym, take cooking class, I don't know, what ever you always wished to do. This is the perfect moment to do it. Slowly tha sadness is going to disappear.
Wait Before Start A New Relationship
Maybe the loneliness can make you want to start a new relationship. Watch out. Be sure you heal your heart before. If you start another relationship too soon you may carry with issues from your past and that new relationship could not work. You probably are exhausted after breaking up. Take your time, enjoy your life, work your self esteem and get strong enough to start over again.
Use Your Past As A Guide For The Future
Analyze your past relationship. What would you change? Why didn't work? Do not try to mend it, it is too late for that, but use it as a guide next time you meet somebody. Set your expectations. How do want this new person treat you? What will you be able to stand? Those are questions you have to answer before you move on. Put your limits and be strict with yourself. Take your time to know well that new person and if you are seeing is not what are you looking for, just change your course and continue with your life.Don Garber revealed to Goal.com that the emerging league in China and possibly India will change how MLS operates as a league but there are some positives out of new markets.
NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has acknowledged that emerging soccer leagues around the world could affect the way the North American league operates.While MLS has lost out on the likes of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba, Garber believes that there could be some positives that come out of having strong leagues in China and possibly India.Speaking with Goal.com, Garber discussed the impact of new emerging soccer leagues, whether or not struggling teams might need to relocate and the league's long standing desire to have a second team in New York.(Responses were edited for length purposes)The global economy continues to shift. I think those changes are going to affect every business.Clearly this transfer window, a handful of Chinese clubs made massive investments. There's rumors of an emerging football league in India backed by the country's wealthiest person. That's certainly going to have some impact.At the end of day, this is a tough business. We've been through the thick and thin of it for 16 years now. We're less concerned about what happened a month ago as opposed to what's happening over the next decade or generation.The commitment to home grown players and development is going to be a part of what we do regardless of financial pressures of emerging leagues. I think that dynamic is going to affect soccer globally for a period of time. It's going to affect every league. It's going to have an impact on helping some of those leagues grow and create a global market and that can be good for MLS.We can take our teams to tour in China, we can hopefully sell our TV rights there. There are some players that we have that maybe that Shanghai team might be interested in purchasing and we might have interest in that owner investing in MLS. All of these shifts have an impact but that impact is really a dual impact and it doesn't affect things in one way.I think Financial Fair Play is just smart.I hope that UEFA is able to put some rules into place that will create more order in football around the world. I think that's good for owners, leagues and confederations and it's good for the fan. Ultimately, if there's more order, MLS will benefit from that in a wide variety of ways, not just on the field.No, listen this is a good year for MLS and the last couple of years as well. You're not in any sports league that's going to have 100 percent success in every market. That's how professional sports have operated and will continue to operate both here and abroad.We are going to continue to support those teams that have had challenges and then feel good about sharing the practices of teams that have being doing well in certain markets. So at the end of the day, relocation isn't even remotely in consideration.We're very focused on it.We believe that having a second team here will allow the Red Bulls to really capitalize on some of the success that they've had in this market. Have a rival here that we think will allow our league and our sport to capture the interest of soccer in this massive market. There's 13 million people here.There's no shortage of interest and a second team would really capitalize on that.Garber spoke with Goal.com as part of Adidas and MLS announcement of implementing miCoach on all 19 teams next season. The technology will provide all MLS clubs with a new way of tracking performance.With the expansion of the smartphones on the mobile market, people are starting to worry about the security of their devices. Usually the devices are vounerable in different areas. Plus additional rooting of your android can be fatal.Plenty of PC OS's are pretty much in danger without using antivirus. For your smartphone you should be aware of these things that decrease the security of your smartphone:For medium to big size companies this is not acceptable. Really not acceptable. Usually people want to customize their devices, use them at work for reading email, communicating with other coleagues. But the freedom of having your own device provides a security breach for the system. Security must be implemented on all devices that are connected to the internal company network.Android is Open Source software, custom roms are developed by enthusiasts. Usually people who are using custom roms are rooting their devices. Rooting can grant various privileges to the user of the smartphone. Exploiters know the code and can easily exploit it. It's recommended for every user that has rooted phone, to update it with fresh roms to stop the flaws.Plenty of applications ask for read permission from users. They ask for reading SMS messages, phone books, SD cards, even they ask for usage of your GPS signal. Everything is OK if you are using the Google Play software. But not everyone wants to pay for the software on their smartphones. People are trying to search for "free" version of the software attending black markets. Black markets can be devastating for your cell and suspicious applications can steal your data. Be aware.But you can protect yourself, you can install antivirus software to keep away from malware software. This are our recommendations:Not so famous like other antivirus software, but it can help you, scan in real time, monitor the traffic, optimize your smartphone, backup your contact, protect and trace stolen phone.Entering antivirus for smartphones market is not easy, but because of the old fame ESET are entering with their very solid product. They offer anti-theft system (remote lock, finding device, remote wipe, password reset), advanced on-access scanning, SIM Matching (protection against unauthorized SIM card insertion), security audit with built-in task manager and uninstall protection.Their marketing slogan is: "Do you value the contents of your smartphone?". We all do, aren't we. Complete package with antivirus scanner, safeguard for personal and confidential data, recognizer of dangerous websites, anti-theft system. They even have child protection (unwanted SMS/MMS messages and web guardian system).Jackie Chan now protects your smartphone. They have in their software anti-theft, antivirus, anti-spam and privacy protection. For the anti-theft protection they use Google Maps for locating the missing phone. Unlike the Symbian version of their software, the Android version doesn't have data encryption, parental controls and firewall protection.During his just short of seven hour appearance in front of the House Intelligence Committee, Carter Page admitted that he did tell Jefferson Sessions about his upcoming trip to Russia. But Page spent much of the day attacking the Steele dossier rather than talking about his own actions.
And when it came to documents, Page had a frustrating response.
x Carter Page has invoked the 5th, on his own without a lawyer, regarding document production, says House Intel member Speier. Which documents? "Any documents," she tells me. — Billy House (@HouseInSession) November 2, 2017
The refusal to hand over any document did not endear page to the members of the House committee who spent a good piece of time trying to explain why “Nothing” was not an offer the committee was willing to accept.
Lawmakers said after the session that Page did not hand over documents they subpoenaed, though it was not clear what material they requested. It was not immediately apparent what steps they would take to obtain the documents. The Senate intelligence panel has also issued him a subpoena.
It sounds as if the Senate is in for a dose of the same frustration that the House experienced on Thursday as Page rambles on, refusing to directly answer questions or to provide any support for his statements. For his own part, Page thinks he hit a home run in the House chambers.
“Now that the truth is getting out there and the domestic propaganda which related to this has been resolved, the truth is now in the process of becoming known, and brighter days are ahead,” Page said.
That’s the 30-second version. Imagine sitting through seven hours.It's 2 a.m. on a Tuesday and Janice Modin is in her Burbank driveway, cramming every square inch of her Honda Fit with jugs of water, cans of food and stacks of cardboard. It's a messy kind of Jenga that, having repeated it thousands of times, Modin is good at. On this particular morning, even the dashboard is stacked with Styrofoam containers.
Every day, from 2 to 6 a.m., the 74-year-old drives a carefully orchestrated 20-stop route that takes her winding through Burbank, North Hollywood and Sun Valley. From 5 to 9 p.m., Modin repeats the route with a few variations. She times her morning trip strategically to dodge traffic, to be mostly cloaked in darkness and to avoid angry business owners and residents who aren't cool with the swarms of feral cats Modin feeds.
At each stop she parks and hops out of her car, piles food onto the cardboard and watches with glee as the cats flock to feast. In places where all the cats don't get along, she hastily cuts disposable plates into quarters and puts a dollop of food on each, allowing the animals to eat in private.
Continue Reading
Modin has been feeding these cat colonies for about five years, rain or shine, Christmas and New Year's. She's sacrificed travel plans, birthday parties and sleep. "I only missed one night last year, because my brother and sister-in-law had their 50th wedding anniversary," she said. "I went to Portland, Oregon, for one night."
Modin herself was married, but her husband died more than 20 years ago, suddenly, from a heart attack. The couple had no kids but did have three cats. Modin continued working, as a flight attendant, until the age of 69, and when she retired she was faced with a lot of free time. She took tennis lessons, worked in the garden, explored photography and volunteered at the Wildlife Waystation in Sylmar, where she helped take care of lions and tigers.
One day, as she was leaving a paint store, she spotted a man sitting on the sidewalk and playing with some kittens. Modin went over to speak with the man and volunteered to get them spayed and neutered.
From there, she began to expand the circle of cats she fed and had fixed — from a single litter to more than a hundred.
"Maybe they're my substitute kids," Modin says. "I guess I like to be needed or something."
The Kitty Bungalow has found homes for 750 kittens in about five years. Photo by Danny Liao
Modin is a "feeder," part of a large and largely unorganized network of cat caregivers who sacrifice time, money and human friendship to feed — and often spay and neuter — felines that live in the wild. Surveys conducted in other parts of the country show that anywhere from 8 to 26 percent of households feed cats they do not own. These aren't all devotees who sneak out under the cover of darkness to care for multiple colonies but may include your neighbor who simply feeds a hungry stray outside her back door.
But feeders might be doing as much harm as good. And the city's plans to step in and humanely reduce the feral cat population have been stalled for years by a legal battle.
There are a lot of feral cats in L.A.; though it's impossible to truly get a handle on the population, estimates of Los Angeles County's feral cat population range from 1 million to 3 million across the county — which could be as many as one cat for every four humans. The city is an enticing place for cats to live for many of the same reasons it is for humans: the warmth, the landscape, the plentiful food.
The cat-human relationship is not always harmonious. The Los Angeles Unified School District includes feral cats on its "Pest Management" guide and bans the feeding of cats on campus due to the risk they pose to children. The L.A. County Department of Public Health advises residents to avoid any interaction with feral cats because they might be carrying fleas infected with typhus, which can spread to humans through the fleas' feces or bite. Although it's commonly treated with antibiotics, typhus can result in complications such as hepatitis or intestinal bleeding. L.A. County documented 379 cases of flea-borne typhus between 2001 and 2014, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Feral cats may also carry toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that's spread through a cat's feces. Symptoms often begin like a flu but in extreme cases can develop into seizures, brain infections and schizophrenia. Pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.
A trapped feral cat at North Central Animal Shelter Photo by Danny Liao
And feral cats pose a tremendous risk to wildlife. Each stray cat is estimated to kill dozens of birds every year — and outdoor cats are estimated to kill between 1.7 billion and 3.4 billion birds annually in the United States.
Historically, cities have tried to manage feral cat populations with one main strategy: elimination. This basically entails rounding up feral cats and euthanizing them.
An alternative to elimination, known as Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), has been employed by cities nationwide as a way to reduce feral cat populations and drive down euthanasia numbers. TNR is exactly what it sounds like, and its intent is to keep cats out of animal shelters (where many will end up dead) while keeping their numbers down by preventing them from procreating. Supporters say the technique is effective and humane, but wildlife advocates and environmentalists say it continues to put other species, particularly birds, at risk.
The no-kill movement, according to Travis Longcore, science director of the Urban Wildlands Group, "is simply a decision that the lives of dogs and cats are more important than anything else that one might be considering."Public prosecutor Leif Johansson mulled pressing charges against the firm but eventually opted to settle for a fine.
"I've never heard of a robot attacking somebody like this," he told news agency TT.
The incident took place in June 2007 at a factory in Bålsta, north of Stockholm, when the industrial worker was trying to carry out maintenance on a defective machine generally used to lift heavy rocks. Thinking he had cut off the power supply, the man approached the robot with no sense of trepidation.
But the robot suddenly came to life and grabbed a tight hold of the victim's head. The man succeeded in defending himself but not before suffering serious injuries.
"The man was very lucky. He broke four ribs and came close to losing his life," said Leif Johansson.
The matter was subject to an investigation by both the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket) and the police.
Prosecutor Johansson chastised the company for its inadequate safety procedures but he also placed part of the blame on the injured worker.You'd have expected the Golden State Warriors, with a healthy Kevin Durant, to make a run at 70 wins and hold the top spot in ESPN's weekly NBA Power Rankings from here to the regular-season finish line.
Without Kevin Durant?
Sans their prized new star, Golden State might well find it hard to wrest the No. 1 ranking back from the San Antonio Spurs over the final five Rankings Mondays, now that the Spurs have moved to the summit in the wake of Durant's sprained left knee.
Editor's Picks ESPN's NBA Basketball Power Index ESPN's NBA Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a measure of team strength developed by the ESPN Analytics team.
Golden State has 20 games left in the regular season and is favored in all but two of them, according to ESPN's Basketball Power Index. Those two would be the Warriors' pair of remaining road games against the Spurs, coming Saturday night in San Antonio and again March 29, both on the second half of a back-to-back.
The Warriors, of course, care far more about holding off the Spurs and clinching the No. 1 seed in the West than impressing the Committee (of one). But the degree of difficulty there, without warning, just got way tougher thanks to their Durant misfortune.
Especially with San Antonio playing 14 of its final 21 games at home.
Don't forget to tune into the overnight SportsCenter that airs Tuesday at 1 a.m. ET for our weekly video feature that accompanies these rankings. Profuse thanks, as always, go to ESPN Stats & Information and the Elias Sports Bureau -- with ESPN research ace Micah Adams running the point -- for all the background data they supply to assist the Committee's efforts -- to arrange things here properly.
Week: 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1
1. San Antonio Spurs
2016-17 record: 48-13
Previous ranking: 3
The Spurs just clinched their 20th successive playoff berth, but that's not the truly impressive part. What grabs you most is the fact that San Antonio's streak is twice as long as the team that's next in line: Atlanta is on pace to make its 10th straight trip to the playoffs this spring. Next up: Two more wins will take the Spurs to 50 for the 18th consecutive season. The last time they failed to get there was the 1998-99 season, when the lockout shortened the NBA season to 50 games. Click on this fun tweet, meanwhile, for more background to explain why we chose Kawhi Leonard as our Second Trimester MVP. In short: San Antonio is still as Spurs-y as ever -- even in the wake of Tim Duncan's retirement after 19 seasons as the center of the Spurs' orbit. And Kawhi's ongoing maturation as a superstar is the biggest reason why.
2. Golden State Warriors
2016-17 record: 51-11
Previous ranking: 1
There are some in the Warriors organization who regard their just-snapped streak of 146 consecutive games without back-to-back defeats as perhaps the most impressive thing these guys have achieved during these past two-and-a-half seasons of grand success. Given that the previous league record was Utah going 95 games in a row without a losing streak in the late 1990s, those sentiments would appear to have some merit. It comes as little surprise that Stephen Curry, even after an unexpected trip to the dentist Saturday afternoon, busted out Sunday with 31 points on 5-for-13 shooting from deep in Golden State's (much-needed?) win at Madison Square Garden over the Knicks. Curry's hard-to-believe cold spell from deep in the Warriors' previous three games (4-for-31) simply couldn't last. Since losing Kevin Durant, Golden State's 24 minutes in the ensuing two games with Curry off the floor have been really hard to watch, with the Warriors getting outscored 56-36 and averaging just 0.75 points per play while shooting 2-for-14 from the 3-point line.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
2016-17 record: 42-19
Previous ranking: 2
In the nearly 45,000 regular-season and playoff games since the NBA ushered in its own 3-point line for the 1979-80 season, only twice has a team sunk 25 3s in a single game. You'd be completely justified to assume that the Warriors or Rockets would be involved in those two rare cases, but both times it was LeBron James and his Cavs, who just tossed in 25 triples against the Hawks for the second |
or can we offer something that would make people want to come to us instead of Candida?”
“Saying her parents were hurt?” Lillian asked. Then before I could shut her down, she shook her head. “No.”
“No,” I agreed. “The bond isn’t strong, and they’ve manipulated her enough she’s watching for it.”
“Family doesn’t work,” I said.
“Don’t go and give her the answer,” Gordon said.
“I’m not.”
“You are. You have an answer in mind, and you’re picking and choosing and subtly pointing the way to that answer.”
I clapped a hand over my mouth.
“I bet you can’t keep that up for two minutes,” Gordon said.
I pointed at him and winked.
“Can’t be family. Do we push or do we pull?” Lillian asked. “Rhetorical question. Thinking out loud.”
“You’ve been spending far too much time around Sylvester,” Gordon said.
“She’s going to run if we push, unless it’s the right kind of push, but I’m not clever enough to figure out how to do that.”
I poked her in the arm, hard, my other hand still in place over my mouth. When she looked at me, I wagged my finger at her.
“You’re cleverer than you think, Lillian,” Gordon said.
I nodded, in a very exaggerated way.
“I’m a year or two older than most of you and I’m still behind you in terms of my ability to pick things up and put them together,” Lillian said. “And I’m years behind a real, practiced doctor. I know I have my strengths, but let me be self-depreciating when it’s accurate, okay?”
I poked her shoulder again. She swatted at my hand.
“We disagree on how accurate it is,” Jamie said.
“Then let me be self depreciating when I think it’s accurate, then,” Lillian said.
I poked her again. She swatted at me, and I grabbed her hand, my other hand still clasped to my mouth. I held her hand and pressed it to her chest, over her heart.
“Sy’s trying to tell you something. Because he just can’t resist,” Gordon said.
“I don’t get it,” Lillian said. She tried to pull her hand free and I held on. In a quieter voice, she said, “And you’re touching my chest, Sy.”
That was maybe the fourth most important thing going on here.
Maybe the fifth.
I let her move my hand away, and extended a finger, pointing at her. I had to work against her to extend a single finger and tap it against her chest.
“Me,” Lillian said. She shook her head.
I could see her expression changing. The disappointment in herself.
I tapped that finger against her heart again.
“Sy’s going to have an aneurysm,” Gordon said.
Lillian’s smile and half-chuckle was more sympathetic for Gordon than anything.
I kicked at his leg.
Clod! Jerk! Look at her, read her! Understand what she’s doing. She’s frustrated and you’re rubbing it in her face.
“Me,” Lillian mused. “What can I do that nobody else can?”
I was too busy avoiding Gordon’s retaliatory kick to give her further guidance.
Lillian continued to voice her thoughts out loud, “We know they’re working on something using the books. What if… we tell them the truth? That I know Academy science, I am- was a student of the Academy?”
Gordon and I turned our full attention to her.
“They might want help or details, if they’re working with those books. Or we could tap into that, if we make it clear I’m looking for one of the books too. Through that, we could find them. It’s a slim chance, but it’s-”
“Brilliant,” I said.
“Ah, ah, ah!” Gordon said. He smiled triumphantly.
“Eat your dog’s shit, Gordon,” I said.
“Wow,” he said.
“I hope you puke it up and you get that thing where it goes out the nose, too.”
“You amaze me sometimes, Sy.”
I ignored him, because he was in a prickly, surly mood, and pointed at Lillian. “Good.”
She smiled, but it was a faltering smile. “You ended up leading me to the answer you wanted in the end.”
“I actually was thinking along the lines that you could trade your services for information, at first,” I said. “And I did jump to the idea you gave, but I was too busy with Gordon kicking me to actively lead you to it.”
“That’s sweet, Sy,” Lillian said. “I don’t believe you.”
I sighed.
I turned and looked back at the two families and the one stray child that were all following us, in earshot, but far enough away to almost count as a distinct group.
They looked so confused and lost.
“Where are we staying?” I asked.
Jamie pointed at a building that loomed above the rest. Where there were many buildings here that ranged from the dilapidated to outright shacks, the building Jamie indicated was one of the sturdier ones.
I spoke to the families, “Pass on word, ex-Academy student is looking for the book. If they ask what book it is the student is looking for, they aren’t who we’re looking for. If you find them, then you get a role in what follows, with a corresponding increase in pay. We meet at that building at dusk if unsuccessful. If successful, you can lead them to us at that building, or just take note of who they are and where they are, we’ll handle the rest.”
I saw a number of uncertain nods.
I had my work cut out for me.
“Start out by saying you’re looking for work. Might be you find something for yourselves, which is great. But mention that you have a friend who has Academy training, young and not sure what to do. You can say she’s heard about a book or say she’s looking for a mentor.”
More uncertain nods.
I suspected I could give them a day’s worth of lessons about how to handle this, and they would still have doubts.
“You’ll figure it out,” I said.
“Go in groups,” Gordon cut in.
“Oh yeah. Dangerous town, you’ll want to be safe,” I said.
“Pairs, trios, or as a family,” Gordon said. “Keep an eye out for trouble. We got you out of a bad situation, if you do decide to head off to greener pastures, maybe do us the favor of letting us know what you’re doing, so we don’t waste time looking for you?”
Less than committal nods.
People were so annoying sometimes.
“Go,” Gordon said.
The families scattered, staying to their individual family units. One family was black, the other white, and the youngest criminal, independent of either family, immediately went off and ignored Gordon’s instructions to stay in groups and left on his own.
“We’ll stay in groups too,” Gordon said.
“Great,” I said.
“Lillian’s with me,” he said.
I opened my mouth to protest, then closed it.
“If I put you with her, you’re going to be distracted.”
“Scurrilous lies,” I said.
“Or you’re going to distract her.”
“Damn straight,” I said.
Lillian swatted my arm. She was so physical like that. I pitied the man who ended up with her, after I was dead and gone.
“If I take you with me, I’m not sure that pair will have any forward momentum,” he said.
Which was a fine way to say that a pairing of Jamie and Lillian were liable to get their asses kicked.
But, I thought.
I could see the look on his face. There would be no negotiating, no pleas.
I looked at Jamie, my new partner.
“Right-o,” I said, after managing to muster up something resembling enthusiasm.
“Stay out of trouble,” he said. Then to Jamie, he said, “Watch him.”
“I’ll try.”
“Best I can ask for,” Gordon said. He whistled for Hubris.
I watched as he and Lillian walked away. Lillian glanced back at me.
I looked at Jamie.
It made sense, doing things this way. On a technical level, I knew it was for the best.
I was doing a lot of those failed, miserable attempts at convincing myself that things were ‘technically for the best’ too, these days.
Previous NextSAP is continuing to merge its HANA in-memory database platform with its Business Warehouse data warehousing software, with the latest update adding support for HANA’s real-time data loading services.
Companies with large data warehouses often load information sets at off-peak times, such as in overnight batch jobs. But with the general availability of Business Warehouse 7.4, HANA’s “smart data access” services can tap any source within or outside a company as it’s needed. SAP is calling the approach an “in-memory data fabric.”
The services don’t actually physically move data into Business Warehouse; rather, the target sources are viewed as virtual tables. This services provide broader access to data sets, as well as the ability to keep frequently accessed information sets inside the core data warehouse while reaching out to ones that are needed only occasionally as desired.
SAP has been pushing the IQ database it gained through the acquisition of Sybase as an ideal option for coring such “cold” data sets.
Real-time data access also helps Business Warehouse users generate better BI (business intelligence) reports, said Neil McGovern, senior director of product and innovation marketing at SAP. “You’re always getting the very latest data because you’re reaching out to the source.”
Monolithic, centralized data warehouses “are no longer viable,” added Ken Tsai, vice president of HANA and data management product and innovation marketing at SAP.
Still, SAP is keen to show the scalability of HANA and Business Warehouse. SAP recently announced it had won a Guinness World Record for the largest data warehouse. It built a 12 petabyte system on Amazon Web Services spanning 111 HANA instances.
Queries on the cluster ran in 330 milliseconds, compared to 250 milliseconds for a single instance, “demonstrating the ability to scale massively with little impact on performance overhead,” SAP said.
Beverage maker Molson Coors is a long-time Business Warehouse user and went live on Business Warehouse on HANA in November, said Pawel Mierski, senior BI development lead.
Molson Coors is still on version 7.3 but recently took part in a pilot project for 7.4, Mierski said. The newest release allows users to “model and design much quicker than before,” even twice as fast as with 7.3, he said.
The company’s pilot project didn’t focus on real-time data loading or massive scalability, however. Rather, the project took advantage of the fact that 7.4 does away with previous versions’ 60-character limitation on text fields.
Molson Coors contracts with a third-party vendor that collects social media feedback about the company. The information is analyzed for sentiment and then sorted into categories such as good, bad and neutral.
The 60-character limit meant Molson Coors was unable to load the social messages into Business Warehouse by their URLs in order to generate visual reports and develop KPIs (key performance indicators), leaving the company with only the.CSV file supplied by the vendor, Mierski said.
However, it’s not clear whether Molson Coors will take advantage of 7.4’s real-time data loading services. “It’s something we are looking at,” Mierski said.
But Business Warehouse on HANA has already provided some help in this area, Mierski said. “A main benefit we have with HANA is the speed of the nightly loads,” he said. “The business was getting frustrated before because the data was not there before 10 or 10:30 a.m. [EDT]. We would get lots of emails and calls in the morning. No more emails, no more calls.”Football has advanced well through the “technological age,” with the dramatic transformation of how we perceive the game on the pitch.
This has seen the improvement of the Premier League, as the “greatest league” in the world, with a crop of some the world’s “greatest” players. Money may have played this important part in the advancement of our game on the pitch but it has also controlled the game of the pitch, which has negatively, driven away the average “working class” supporter who can’t afford to compete with their football clubs hike in ticket prices for example.
This raises the questions – what happened to the days fans were more important to the football club than the money coming into it? The top level game is slowly turning into a business of greed at the very top and something radical needs to change, for the sake of the average “working class” man who supported his team for years being priced out the so called “beautiful game”. The main catalyst for this change was the emergence of, billionaire owners and rich tv sponsorship deals from Sky Sports. This points to another example of the negative effect which money is having on our game.
This diverse change in the game reflects the trends in capitalism,within society with the neo-liberalism of Thatcherism and Blairism. The aim of the chairmen of the big clubs such as Manchester City or Chelsea is to ‘rationalise’ the football industry by the unleashing of brutal market forces. But the real fans, “working classes” in society, are gradually being cut off from attending the game because of the greed of money, cutting the new generation off from watching top level live football.
The bubble is starting to burst. Football clubs have always played an integral part of working class communities. BBC Sport’s “Price of Football” has shown that fans in the Premier League are paying between £15 and £126 for match day tickets this season, with season tickets costing up to £1955. It’s a sad state of affairs to see hard working and dedicated football fans from “working class” backgrounds who love the “beautiful game” being driven away by ticket price hikes.
Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the FSF, with regards to this issue said:
We want football to be available to all income levels. Certainly at some clubs that is not the case. We are in the wrong ballpark for prices of tickets. I hear all the time of long-term supporters who have given up season tickets because they resent paying the money they are asked to pay. There is a danger that supporters feel alienated.
Football clubs in the high end of the ticket prices in the Premier League such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United won’t make any radical change in their ticket prices and season tickets because they fill their stadiums every week, so it makes no difference if that means the “working class” supporter who can’t afford the sudden hike in prices misses watching their team they supported all their lives. Why do clubs in Premier League, who are part of “working class” cities, charge their fans such unrealistic ticket prices which in majority the average “working class” fan can’t support? Some Premier League clubs such as Stoke CityandWigan are an example to most “working class” cities, that rational and affordable ticket prices can be part of the modern game of football.
As a fair game on the pitch, football should also be level playing field of the pitch for all sections of society. This greed in profits of clubs like Arsenal or Chelsea shouldn’t price out the “working class” fans. Football is above anything else, an ideal vehicle for working with the working class sections of society such as minority communities, offenders and people with disabilities because of its glamour and intrinsic, near-universal appeal. Instead the game is being further pushed away from the “working class” roots.
It seems now in the modern age of top level football, particularly the Premier League, the game belongs to the rich business men like Roman Ambromvich and big sports TV companies like Sky Sports, who set the agenda and have truly changed the game beyond belief and have actively tried to squeeze the working class roots out the “beautiful game”. It has become a multi-billion business and it seems the emphasis is made on how much money can now be made from ‘their customers’ and they will do anything in their power to achieve this, without any thought to the “working class” supporters who were the original foundations of the game.With football season still seven months away, fans should focus their attention on the Glendale Raptors rugby team if they’re in need of watching crushing hits and fast-tempo gameplay. The team is currently 4-0 to start the season, and co-captain Chad London joined Casey Light of Mile High Sports to discuss their hot start, as well as what to expect down the road.
After finishing as champions the past two seasons in the Pacific Rugby Premiership, the Raptors are now competing in the Major Rugby Championship this season. With four straight wins, including three straight 50-point performances to start the campaign, London doesn’t feel the competition has changed too much since they changed leagues, and thinks the Raptors have done a great job of playing to their strengths, sticking with what works.
“We have a specific style of play that we’ve always tried to obtain,” said London. “It’s just been something that we’ve always done since I’ve been part of the Raptors.”
All sports teams in Colorado know the biggest advantage they have doesn’t come from a player, scheme or game plan. Altitude has always been an issue for visitors, which is why the Raptors direct so much attention towards being in better shape than their opposition, capitalizing off the opponent’s fatigue and blowing them out late in games.
“First of all, we’ve been working quite a lot on our fitness. We’ve been trying to blow teams away in the second half. As you know, with the altitude, that kind of plays into our favor,” said London.
With long-time Raptors strength and conditioning coach Dave Williams being named head coach for the current season last November, some may be surprised by the Raptors’ dominant start thus far. London and his teammates feel the transition was very smooth, and have nothing but good things to say about their coach.
“It’s actually been really great. All the boys on the team respect him, have a lot of good things to say about him.”
The popularity of rugby is rapidly growing in America, and the Glendale Raptors and their world-class facility, Infinity Park, have a lot to do with it. Another step has been taken towards bringing rugby to the top of American sport popularity, as the Raptors, along with other teams across the country, now have some players making rugby their full-time jobs; dedicating themselves fully to the game.
“It just allows the guys not to worry about all those extra things, like paying rent and finding jobs and things like that, it just allows them to focus solely on playing rugby and get better at playing rugby,” said London.
The Raptors must keep their foot on the gas headed into their next game against Rugby Utah, who were the USA Rugby Club 7s National Champions last season. London expects it to be a fast-paced, physical game with potential for a lot of scoring, stating “a lot of teams that come out of Utah are always very big and physical.”
The two will face off at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 3 p.m.
Listen to the full interview with Chad London, including his thoughts on his time with the Denver Stampede, in the podcast below.
Image courtesy of the Glendale Raptors/TwitterFrank Luntz emphasized questions about civility while the famed Republican pollster moderated an Ohio GOP gubernatorial forum at a suburban Columbus church on Sunday night.
So much for that.
Minutes after the values-focused forum ended, the bitter battle between Secretary of State Jon Husted and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci took another turn for the worse out in the church lobby. That's where Renacci's wife, Tina Renacci, approached Husted and sternly let him know she doesn't like the type of campaign he's running, two witnesses told Politics Extra on Monday.
Both campaigns confirmed to PX that Tina Renacci approached Husted in the Genoa Church lobby. Husted's campaign had no further comment.
Here's Renacci's side of the story, according to campaign spokesman James Slepian:
"On Sunday evening, after hearing Jon Husted publicly declare that he has been running a clean campaign, Jim’s wife, Tina, later approached Jon Husted and asked if she could speak with him about the dirty and dishonest attacks he’s been engaged in for months. In front of witnesses, Husted responded by abruptly threatening Tina Renacci, at which point she walked away. Our campaign is still awaiting a formal apology from Jon Husted for his conduct towards Mrs. Renacci."
PX's sources confirmed that Mrs. Renacci told Husted she thought he was running a dirty campaign. There were no physical threats made from either side, nor was anyone shouting, sources said.
Sign up for the daily Top 3 Newsletter Thank you Something went wrong. This email will be delivered to your inbox once a day in the morning. Thank you for signing up for The Top 3 Newsletter Please try again later.
Submit
Husted had been talking to members of Ohio University's College Republicans, and told Mrs. Renacci that wasn't the time or place to have such a discussion, according to sources.
OH, BUT THERE'S MORE: These days, there can't be a Renacci-Husted squabble without Delhi Township's Linda Caudill seemingly being in the middle of it.
The Renacci campaign volunteer walked up to Husted alongside Mrs. Renacci, and Caudill also gave Husted a piece of her mind about how he's running his campaign, according to the sources.
Husted's campaign confirmed Caudill did approach him. Renacci's campaign said nothing about Caudill's presence on Sunday night.
NO ROOM TO TALK: Caudill has been aggressively trolling Husted on social media in recent weeks. It's put the avid Trump supporter in headlines from here to Cleveland.
PX reported last month about Caudill sabotaging a personal Facebook post a former Husted staffer made about her dead grandmother. Caudill littered the comments section with memes attacking Husted.
Caudill, who claimed to have led Trump's campaign in Hamilton County last year, was back to posting anti-Husted memes again last week. This time, she was slinging the mud on her own Facebook page.
Here's what Cleveland.com's Seth A. Richardson reported on Monday:
The meme Caudill shared shows a man bound to a chair with rope. Husted's face is edited into the picture with duct tape over his mouth. The accompanying text reads, "A Silencer is a good thing when used properly."
Jim Renacci campaign team member posts meme alluding to violence against Jon Husted https://t.co/MGzSmgvkId — Seth A. Richardson (@SethARichardson) October 9, 2017
Caudill is not a paid campaign staffer, but she is officially one of Renacci's county leaders. The campaign continues to stand by her, and said she'll remain on the team.
"Linda is a campaign volunteer and her personal Facebook posts are her own – they do not speak for the campaign," Slepian said. "Nevertheless, when the campaign learned that she had shared this particular meme that we felt was inappropriate, we asked her to take it down and she did so immediately."
Hamilton County GOP Chairman Alex Triantafilou condemned Caudill's social media posts.
Said Triantafilou: "I spoke with the leadership of Rep. Renacci's campaign. She is not a member of that team. She is a volunteer who has a reputation for very poor judgment on social media. Her conduct is not reflective of Congressman Renacci or the Republican Party."
PLAY NICE, Y'ALL: Cincinnati-based Citizens for Community Values hosted the forum in Westerville, the first for candidates Mike DeWine, Mary Taylor, Husted and Renacci ahead of the 2018 GOP primary. Luntz focused his questions on topics such as faith in God and civility toward fellow politicians.
How can voters trust you will run a civil campaign?
The question was posed to each candidate, who took the stage one-by-one. Luntz, the Fox News contributor, did his homework because he pressed Husted and Renacci more on the issue. They have been engaged in a tit-for-tat since August, when the pro-Husted super PAC Ohio Conservatives for a Change launched a social media ad criticizing Renacci for wanting to get rid of drug education for children.
At its core, the battle is over who can win Trump's supporters. Renacci believes he's the candidate most aligned with Trump. Meanwhile, Husted has been aggressively pushing a conservative agenda.
Renacci was asked about an ad he launched last month that called his three opponents "Columbus fat cats." Actors depicted Husted, Taylor and DeWine as cats in the 30-second spot. Renacci said the ad was more to help him build name ID.
Luntz then asked if the ad was setting a tone for his campaign.
"The fire first came at me," Renacci said. "And in politics, you can't just sit back. You respond accordingly."
Husted was the last to take the stage, and here's how he answered the question about civility:
"I consider all of these folks who are running for governor friends. I respect them. We need to have a vigorous debate, but we’re not going to take the low road. My reputation means more to me than being governor, and I’m not going to do something that would jeopardize that."
Minutes later, Mrs. Renacci and Caudill were confronting Husted, the sources said.
Just think, only seven more months until the primary.
Politics Extra is a column looking inside Greater Cincinnati and Ohio politics.WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Ash Carter says President Barack Obama will nominate the first woman to head a major U.S. military combatant command.
If confirmed by the Senate, Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson would be the seventh commander to head the Colorado-based U.S. Northern Command. The command was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to coordinate and improve homeland defense and to provide support for other national disasters.
Robinson is currently the head of the Pacific Air Force.
Third female soldier becomes Army Ranger
Carter also says Obama will nominate Gen. Vincent Brooks to head U.S. Forces Korea. Brooks currently is in charge of U.S. Army Pacific Command.
Brooks' nomination also is subject to Senate confirmation.
CBS News has reported previously that the U.S. military had begun recruiting women for combat jobs, including as Navy SEALs, and could see them serving in previously male-only Army and Marine Corps infantry units by this fall, according to plans endorsed by Defense Secretary Ash Carter and obtained by The Associated Press.
Marine Corps experiment tests women for combat duty
After a lengthy review by the services and the Pentagon, Carter in December 2015 ordered all combat jobs open to women. The Marine Corps initially sought to keep certain infantry and combat jobs closed, citing studies showing combined-gender units are not as effective as male-only units. But Carter and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus rejected that proposal.
Since then, the military services put together plans outlining exactly how to will incorporate women into the male-only units.Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker may be on the verge of burning himself down before he actually gets started, given what is now becoming something of a circus regarding his actual stance on immigration.
According to this new Wall Street Journal report, it’s quite possible a supporter of Jeb Bush, or another candidate went to the media regarding Walker’s recent comments at a private GOP dinner, it doesn’t matter. With three sources now (anonymously) on record, he appears to have Walkered himself right into this one. If his name becomes synonymous with waffling on a critical issue like immigration, his next nickname may be toast!
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told a private dinner of New Hampshire Republicans this month that he backed the idea of allowing undocumented immigrants to stay in the country and to eventually become eligible for citizenship, a position at odds with his previous public statements on the matter.
Given the history here, it may now be impossible to know precisely where Walker stands, with supporters left to assume the worst — that he’s just another open borders Republican — becoming the default across the conservative grassroots whose support he needs to win.John Koster, a Republican congressional candidate in Washington state, said Sunday that "the rape thing" is not a good enough reason for a woman to have an abortion, the Associated Press reported.
Asked at a campaign fundraiser whether he supports abortion rights in some situations, Koster replied that he only supports abortion in cases where a woman's life is in danger.
"Incest is so rare, I mean, it's so rare," he said. "But the rape thing-- you know, I know a woman who was raped and kept the child, gave it up for adoption, and she doesn't regret it."
He added, "On the rape thing, it's like, how does putting more violence onto a woman's body and taking the life of an innocent child that's a consequence of this crime -- how does that make it better? You know what I mean?"
Listen to the audio of Koster's comments:
His Democratic opponent, Suzan DelBene, supports abortion rights. Her campaign criticized Koster for trivializing rape.
"Dismissing it as a 'thing' is an awfully casual way for him to talk about it, and I think it highlights how little he understands the ramifications and the seriousness of the issue. So that's very problematic," DelBene spokesperson Viet Shelton told TPM. "And the way he approaches the issue and the policy conclusions he comes to, it just highlights the serious problem we have when politicians are trying to dictate women's health care decisions."
In response to the controversy over his comments, Koster campaign manager Larry Stickney told the AP that Koster clearly takes rape seriously because he has strongly advocated cracking down on sex offenders.The Remai Modern Art Gallery is behind schedule and over budget.
A report going to Saskatoon city council's executive committee on Monday details what's happening at the showcase riverbank project.
According to the four-page update, corrections and clarifications to the internal drawings are to blame. The projected cost is now between $87.2 million and $88.4 million. That is $3.5 to $4.5 million higher than expected.
The gallery is now forecast to open in 2017, not next year as projected.
"The change between what the contractor bid on the original drawings versus what the new design condition requires, has resulted in the contractor having to expend additional resources," the report states.
City administration is expected to work on finding ways to cover the shortfall.
The next update will come before the end of the year.Jon Favreau To Executive Produce Two-Part ‘Avengers: Infinity War’
It’s hard to believe that Marvel Studios is where it is now. Captain America: Civil War is the 13th film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and we’ve already seen it, and plan to release more news from the film’s press conference in the coming weeks. But none of that could have happened without Jon Favreau helping to lay out the groundwork with the first two Iron Man films.
And even though he no longer directs films for the MCU, the filmmaker is now set to make his return to where it all started for the MCU by signing on to be an executive producer for the Avengers: Infinity War two-parter. More on the story below.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Favreau talked about his involvement in Infinity War:
“I’m going to be executive producing the Avengers films with the Russo brothers, which I’m very excited about. I talk to them about it all the time. I’ve worked both in front of and behind the camera with Marvel and I really love what they’re doing right now. It’s a really exciting time to be over there. I’ve seen a rough cut of Civil War and it’s fantastic. We’re constantly looking for things to do together. And now I’m freed up.”
That “freed up” part could be referring to the fact that Favreau is now done with The Jungle Book. Favreau was also an executive producer on The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. But an executive producer doesn’t have as much responsibility as the producer does. Still, he will most likely oversee the filmmaking with regard to film finance, as well as report to production companies and distributors. Nothing against the title, as it does have its own weight of responsibility, but Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and directors Anthony and Joe Russo will bear most of that weight.
Though most have had mixed experiences working with the studio, Favreau’s statement indicates that he is just itching to return to work with Marvel once more. Though the success of The Jungle Book (read our reviews here and here) has prompted Disney to greenlight a sequel, for which Favreau will return to direct. The studio has yet to announce a release date.
Avengers: Infinity War Part I opens in theaters on May 4, 2018, and Part II opens in theaters on May 3, 2019.Popeyes, an Atlanta, Ga.-based fried chicken restaurant chain, will open its first store in Cedar Rapids early next year.
Jeff Braverman of SASAJ LLC in Coralville said the foundation for the 60-seat, 2,700-square-foot restaurant is under construction just east of the Road Ranger store at Blairs Ferry Road and C Avenue NE.
“The actual structure is being trucked in and should be here on Dec. 15,” said Braverman, formerly president of Hawkeye Foodservice in Coralville. “Anyone driving down Blairs Ferry Road will see a real change at that intersection.
“Our goal is to open Feb. 9. We plan to initially hire about 60 people and hope to keep them really busy.”
Braverman said SASAJ in July bought an existing Popeyes location in Waterloo to become proficient at running the business.
“I've never been on this side of the business,” said Braverman, whose family owned Hawkeye Foodservice until July 2012. “I've always worked on the supplier side of the restaurant business.
“It's a chance to talk and interact with the people who actually consume the food, rather than those who prepare it.”
Braverman said the restaurant will offer dine-in and drive-up service. He said Popeyes corporate monitors service through the drive-up window, which can account for 50 percent of the restaurant's business.
“At Popeyes, everything is cooked to order,” Braverman said. “We bring fresh chicken in the door, bread and marinate it, and cook it to order before serving it to the customer.”
Braverman said SASAJ worked with Popeyes to select its location. He said the company prefers to locate its restaurants on routes where people are driving home from work.
Braverman said SASAJ became a Popeyes franchise because the publicly owned company has been consistently profitable. He said SASAJ already is looking at additional locations in Eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
To reach Popeye's Cedar Rapids by phone, call (319) 899-6846. You can also find hours at the Popeyes Cedar Rapids Facebook page.Scott Morgan never wants to see another ghost bike for as long as he lives.
The Toronto grandfather lost his 5-year-old grandson to a traffic collision last May while they were cycling down the Martin Goodman Trail.
Now, he is asking motorists to be more careful on the road.
"All we can wish for is that people would slow down," Morgan told a group of supporters at a vigil in the Peace Garden at Toronto City Hall on Tuesday.
The vigil was organized by Friends and Families For Safe Streets to mark the one year anniversary of their organization which advocates for better traffic laws in the city.
Dozens of people gathered in a standing circle, recounting emotional stories of the people they lost.
A large group of advocates stood outside City Hal Tuesday amidst cutouts to illustrate the loved ones they lost in traffic collisions. (CBC)
"Right now, [traffic crimes] are almost treated like this is a victimless crime. This is not a victimless crime. My dad was a victim. My whole family were victims," said Heather Sim, whose father was fatally struck while cycling home in June.
Vulnerable Road Users Act
She wants to see vulnerable road users legislation passed.
The proposed Bill 168 seeks to amend the Highway Traffic Act to impose heavy consequences on anyone convicted in a collision that seriously injures or kills a pedestrian, a cyclist, a mobility device user, a roadway worker or an emergency responder.
But David Stark, whose wife was struck and killed by a car that mounted the sidewalk, wants to see more.
"We need lower speed limits. We need to have separate safe spaces for all road users and protected bike lanes; the kind of bike lanes with barriers separating them from vehicular traffic," the co-founder of Families and Friends for Safe Streets said.
David Stark lost his wife Erika Stark after a car mounted a sidewalk and fatally struck her. (CBC)
"For me personally, it's important that the driver appears in every stage of the court proceedings so that they're present in court to hear the victim impact statement," the father of three added.
Last year was the deadliest ever for pedestrians and cyclists on Toronto's streets, according to police. Seventy-seven people were killed by drivers.
Each death feels personal
Over 50 have been killed in 2017, the Families and Friends for Safe Streets said.
For David Stark, each one feels personal.
"Those of us who have been affected by tragedy, who have lost loved ones or endured the trauma of being a survivor in a collision are triggered every time there is another serious injury or fatality on the road," he said.
We are deeply affected even though we don't know the people who have been struck or their families, we know what they're going through."Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. Afghanistan's president renewed his calls for calm Sunday in a televised address to the nation after the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base sparked five days of deadly protests. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top U.S. diplomat in Kabul and a campaign adviser to President Barack Obama said Sunday the U.S. isn't rethinking its commitment to Afghanistan after violent protests left more than two dozen people dead, including two Americans shot inside a government ministry.
U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Robert Gibbs, Obama's former press secretary, said they believe Afghan President Hamid Karzai's fragile government could collapse and the Taliban would regain power if the U.S. were to walk away.
"This is not the time to decide that we're done here," said Crocker. "We have got to redouble our efforts. We've got to create a situation in which al-Qaida is not coming back."
Added Gibbs, "What the president's trying to do now is get us to a point where we can hand off the security |
deposited, etc. filled in the columns provided on the cover, close it and deposit it in a box called Triple Lock Receptacle against issue of a paper token. This box is kept at the Enquiry counter at each Issue Office of the Reserve Bank. The admissible exchange value of the mutilated notes will be remitted by means of a bank draft or a pay order. Mutilated notes can also be sent to any of the RBI offices by registered/insured post. Excessively soiled, brittle, burnt notes Notes which have become excessively soiled, brittle or are burnt and, therefore, cannot withstand normal handling can be exchanged only at Issue Office of the RBI. Persons holding such notes may approach the Officer-in-charge of the Claims Section, Issue Department of the Reserve Bank for this purpose. TopGet 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 poltergeist is giving customers at a Birmingham salon a hair-raising experience by spooking them as they get their locks cut.
Both staff and customers at Nokes’z Hair in Church Road, Northfield, have been subject to the weird goings-on over the last four years.
They have reported seeing a ghostly face staring at them in the darkness – while a spooky image has also been captured on film.
John Conway, from West Midlands Ghost Club, was photographed seated at the salon, with a strange swirling mist near his face.
The catalogue of creepy incidents have stretched back to 2009, when Sarah Nokes first opened the salon. Other potential paranormal activities include:
* A strange mist forming in the back of the salon, spotted by a customer;
* Staff opening up in the morning to find vases and mirrors stacked up on the floor;
* A dustpan and brush being thrown across the room;
* Strange voices calling out – and hairdryers switching themselves on.
In other chilling incidents, a coin dating back to the 1700s mysteriously appeared on the salon doorstep – while a 5p coin was also once thrown at Sarah.
Hairdresser Laura Shaw, 18, saw one apparition while closing up one night.
She said: “We had just switched off the lights and were in darkness. Then it just appeared – a huge face of a man, made out of lights.
‘‘I didn’t hang around long enough to see any features in close detail. It really shook me up and I just ran.”
Fellow worker Louise Fisher, 19, added: “We were once talking about tucking into a pack of digestive biscuits in the kitchen. Next thing you know we heard a thud – and the pack of biscuits had been thrown off the shelf onto the floor.”
Owner Sarah, 36, says she had heard rumours that a family had died in a fire in the property in the early 1900s, yet says no pesky poltergeist will force her out.
She added: “I don’t feel threatened by whoever or whatever is haunting this place. I don’t get a sense that it is malevolent, just mischievous.
‘‘Customers have experienced strange things going on here but they keep coming back.”
Nick Duffy, from West Midlands Ghost Club, is now set to carry out an investigation at the hair salon.
He added: “This is a fascinating case as there have been so many incidents witnessed by lots of different people. It sounds like the behaviour of a mischievous spirit or poltergeist.”
There are plenty of ghosts in Birmingham and the rest of the region. Check out our guide to Birmingham's most haunted hotspots.They also claimed that, because files are broken up into tiny "packets" before being sent over BitTorrent, this may not be enough to suggest a "substantial portion" of a copyrighted file was distributed. The movie studios' lawyers argued that this is irrelevant to their case as all they need to prove is that iiNet users illegally obtained the files and then made them available for others to download over BitTorrent.
Admitting this is dangerous for iiNet because it would then make the ISP potentially liable and exposed to a multimillion-dollar damages claim. The studios hired online investigators DtecNet to intercept BitTorrent traffic and record all instances of iiNet users transmitting copyrighted movies illegally. They claim the evidence is iron-clad and barrister Tony Bannon, SC, was visibly frustrated that iiNet would not accept it. "How you can't admit that [iiNet users download movies illegally]... is quite frankly beyond us," he said.
"They don't stop customers doing what they're doing and they keep asserting that they have insufficient information." The studios claim iiNet in effect "authorised" customers' copyright infringement by failing to disconnect them when notified of the infringements by the movie studios.
iiNet's barrister, Richard Cobden, SC, said the ISP was not required to act on a "mere allegation of copyright infringement" and used comments from former attorney-general Philip Ruddock that apparently back up this claim. iiNet has previously said that the case was "like suing the electricity company for things people do with their electricity". The studios say DtecNet's evidence is enough for iiNet to definitively determine whether a customer is trading movies illegally by comparing it with their own server logs.
Much of today's hearing was devoted to bringing Justice Dennis Cowdroy up to speed with technical concepts such as IP addresses and the workings of BitTorrent. The studios' lawyers admitted that DtecNet's evidence could only tell them that an iiNet user was illegally downloading, but could not identify the individual customer.
However, they pointed to previous judgments in the cases against the Kazaa file sharing service and MP3s4free.net owner Stephen Cooper, which found it was "not necessary to know the identify of each individual user". As part of their statement of claim, the studios also said iiNet was responsible for customers downloading movies illegally and then burning them to DVD to sell or share with friends. Justice Cowdroy in court today questioned whether they had any evidence that this was occurring, to which the studios' lawyers replied: "This is a notorious practice."
Justice Cowdroy also asked whether, upon receiving an infringement notice from the movie studios, it was possible for iiNet to go back and confirm that the user was downloading a specific movie at a particular time. Bannon said he couldn't "say yes or no" at that time.
The case is set for a formal hearing about October. The landmark case will determine the lengths to which an internet provider must go to prevent illegal downloading on its network. A loss for the movie industry could leave it no choice but to go after individual downloaders, as has occurred in the US. However, if iiNet loses, all ISPs could be forced to disconnect customers identified by the movie studios as illegal downloaders.“One big problem is change. [The older residents] don’t understand change is happening and why it’s happening, and sometimes I don’t understand it myself.” – Jimmy Dettor, lifelong Belmont resident. From the documentary, Still Life With Donuts.
When she arrived in Charlottesville in the summer of 1976, Joan Schatzman didn’t think of herself as a pioneer. She was 24, fresh out of college, and when her best friend Debbie decided to go to grad school at UVA, she went along for the ride.
Initially they rented an apartment near Grounds, but in the spring of 1978, Joan, Debbie, and another friend decided to buy a house across town in an old, run-down neighborhood called Belmont.
“Belmont?” people said. “You can’t live in Belmont!”
“Why?”
“Nothing but trouble there.”
“What trouble?” Schatzman wondered. She’d grown up on the south side of Chicago; what was so scary about a sleepy Southern town? The only problem she could see was that the residents were kind of racist, but she didn’t think they’d bother her. Besides, the house was so cheap, $14,500 for a three bedroom place on Levy Avenue where the mortgage split three ways was cheaper than rent anywhere else in town.
In 2005, 27 years later, houses in Belmont were routinely selling for over $400,000. The neighborhood was hip, “the SoHo of Charlottesville,” “one of America’s Best Secret Neighborhoods.” Schatzman still lived there. In the intervening years she’d bought out her roommates, sold the house on Levy, and purchased four houses on nearby Douglas Avenue.
Buy the house, fix the house, sell the house. The bourgeois American dream.
Belmont’s change from a neighborhood the tonier set studiously avoided, to one where they got into bidding wars, seemed strange to people watching from the outside; if you were caught up in the madness, it could be kind of terrifying. One of Schatzman’s neighbors paid $450,000 for his house, and as both reality and panic set in, he anxiously asked Schatzman if she thought he’d paid too much.
There was a class Schatzman remembered from college titled “Urban Geography,” which she explained to me like this: “Cities go through cycles. There’s a central business district and there’s rings around it where the rich people live, so they can walk downtown. And then as they get more affluent, they want to move a little further out… The inner ring of fine, nice, beautiful homes now becomes devalued.”
It wasn’t because she was rich that Schatzman had been able to buy so many houses in Belmont. She wasn’t rich, she was in the right place at the right time, able to recognize an area filled with well-built, undervalued properties.
“I kind of identified Belmont as a place at the bottom of its cycle,” she said. “And I thought, ‘You know what? I’m gonna kill myself to buy. Whatever it takes, I’ll tighten the belt.”
Which is exactly what she did.
Until 2005, when something told her that things were going to change. The market was peaking, it was time to get out of the game. She sold two of her houses and rented out the third.
And then her new neighbor went and bought his house for $450,000 and asked her if he’d paid too much.
What she said was, “No,” but what she was thinking was, “Heck, yeah.”
Hitting bottom
“This is a rough neighborhood. The police are almost scared to get out of their cars.”—anonymous man in front of Belmont Market, The Daily Progress, 1984
“Belmont has had a boo-hiss-hiss, God-you-live-there? Reputation.” —Pat Weis, Belmont resident, The Daily Progress, 1990
In 1980 a handful of Belmont business owners and residents, determined to fight the “growing adolescent youth problem,” hired off-duty cops to patrol the small commercial section along Monticello Road at night. Spearheading the project was Bill Lanier, a self-described eccentric and entrepreneur who, despite having lived in the neighborhood for less than a year, claimed to be the unofficial “Mayor of Belmont.”
The patrols were not cheap, Lanier told the Daily Progress, but they were worth it. Local store owners, he said, were worried about more than their businesses; they were worried about their community.
It was nothing new, this sense of worry. Around 1960, most Belmont residents began to feel like their neighborhood was changing for the worse. As older homeowners died off, commercial landlords began buying their houses to convert into cheap rental units. By the end of the 1970’s, rentals outnumbered owner-occupied houses and the neighborhood’s reputation had become one of crime and neglect.
The Charlottesville Department of Community Development sent out a memo in September of 1979 to announce the creation of a Belmont neighborhood association. Around 100 Belmont residents showed up, only to be told that the memo had been sent by mistake; there were no current plans to set up a neighborhood group, the purpose of the meeting was simply to let residents speak their minds. And speak they did, telling Community Development head (now Mayor) Satyendra Huja about the problems they saw destroying their neighborhood: vandalism, drugs, neglected rental properties that were starting to decay, and most of all, “loitering juveniles.”
Where were the cops when you needed them?
According to the police, they were in Belmont, one of the most heavily patrolled areas in the city, even though its crime rate was no higher than anywhere else. The biggest problems cops faced in Belmont were drunken fights and domestic disputes, and unless they actually committed a crime, there wasn’t much they could do about kids hanging out.
John DeK. Bowen, Charlottesville’s chief of police at the time, blamed the tensions in Belmont on the fact that the neighborhood was changing from an all-white, owner-occupied neighborhood, to a racially mixed neighborhood with a lot of renters. It’s hard to see what was mixed about it. Belmont in 1980 was 90 percent white (the rest of the city was more like 75 percent). When it came to race, it was everything around Belmont that was changing.
Between 1979 and 1981, three public housing projects opened up just beyond Belmont’s borders: Garrett Square (now Friendship Court), Sixth Street, and South First Street. Where Belmont was mostly white, the projects were almost entirely black, and as Joan Schatzman remembers it, the two groups rarely crossed over into each other’s territory.
A 1980 report by the city on conditions in Belmont noted that “[m]any residents fear that the changing nature of the Belmont area has had a negative impact upon local youth, leading to increased vandalism, drug use and general delinquency.” But the report also said that things were starting to get better. The number of rentals was leveling off and the number of homeowners rising again. The Department of Community Development said that Belmont was in a “transition phase.”
Bill Lanier didn’t need an official report to tell him things were changing; he was out there making it happen. There were the police patrols, the shirts he was selling that said “Beautiful Downtown Belmont” and the Belmont Community Fair he’d organized that year.
“Free Chicken! Free Ice Cream! Live Bands!” the poster promised.
But Lanier’s interest went beyond community PR. Where most people saw a dilapidated corner of the city, he saw dollar signs. Lanier bought two houses in Belmont and flipped both for a tidy profit, deals that helped him to facilitate the purchase of three commercial buildings for a group of investors from Northern Virginia. The dollar figures involved were nothing compared to what they’d be later, but “The Mayor of Belmont” had seen the future, and the future was good.
“Three years ago to say that any house in Belmont was worth more than $35,000 was a joke,” he told the Daily Progress. “Now you can see a relatively new Jaguar go down the street in Belmont and pull into a driveway.”There's no question that plenty of soldiers from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But exactly how many soldiers? That's a question that even top medical experts, not to mention military officials, still can't quite answer.
Now a new consortium, manned by some of the nation's top scientists where PTSD is concerned, is hoping to develop an objective means of diagnosing the condition. In other words, the group hopes that the illness can -- one day soon -- be diagnosed using medical techniques like blood tests or brain scans, rather than self-reported symptoms.
"If you think about it, most PTSD assessment is done by self-reporting," Dr. Roger Pitman, one of the consortium leaders and himself the director of the PTSD Research Lab at the Massachusetts General Hospital, tells me. "But we've found that patients can, of course, be imperfect reporters of their own states."
Relying on self-reported symptoms to make a diagnosis is, even for the best clinicians, difficult enough. Among military populations, the diagnosis of PTSD has been hampered, quite publicly, by additional challenges. Soldiers who avoid seeking help and therefore go undiagnosed, as well as concerns over just how accurate the military's diagnosis process actually is, are but two examples.
"Just as our behavioral health professionals are committed to providing the best care, we, too, must ensure that our processes and procedures are thorough, fair and conducted in accordance with appropriate, consistent medical standards," Army Secretary John McHugh said in a recent statement that announced plans for a widespread review of Army policies on PTSD diagnoses.
This new consortium, which was spearheaded by Draper Laboratories (a non-profit spin-off of MIT), could make those medical standards much more consistent. Researchers, including top-notch experts at Harvard, Boston University, Mount Sinai Hospital and several VA Medical Centers, plan to track more than 2,000 people (military and civilian) who are exposed to traumatic events -- most likely car accidents -- from across the country.
The intent is to measure, both shortly after the experience and in later years, several different biomarkers -- including hormones, genetic data and neurological factors -- to parse out a select group of "markers" that can accurately diagnose PTSD. From there, the group hopes to come up with a systematic diagnostic plan, say a combination of blood test and fMRI scan, that can replace (or at least markedly enhance) self-reporting.
"Nobody has embarked on a study of this scope, to turn subjective strategies of diagnosis into objective ones," Dr. Pitman says. Indeed, although researchers at several institutions have found biomarkers that suggest either vulnerability to PTSD or an outright diagnosis, there's yet to be a widespread collaboration that looks at a host biomarkers in a single study population.
The study, which will cost an estimated $50 million, according to Dr. Len Polizzotto, Draper Lab's vice-president, is in the final planning stages. That said, the consortium still needs to secure funding -- which they hope to do, in part, with military research dollars. And while the Pentagon is already funding plenty of research into PTSD, including pharmaceuticals that target fear response and tests to pin down PTSD biomarkers, they've yet to embark on a project of this scope.
"To have an impact on such an important issue, you need to expand the efforts," Dr. Polizzotto says. "We have the best of the best in the country, and they're ready to do this."If you've ever been to Walt Disney World you know that planning is key and long lines can just about ruin your trip.
But image if you could book appointment times for your rides, meetings with Disney characters and other popular park attractions months before your vacation.
This isn't some fantasy land, but part of a high-tech reality being introduced across Disney theme parks as part of a billion-dollar project dubbed “NextGen.”
Details of the plan emerged in February 2011 when Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs announced some major changes at an investors' conference.
“Guests will be able to reserve times for their favorite attractions and character interactions…secure seats at our shows and spectaculars…make dining reservations…and pre-book many other favorite guest experiences -- all before even leaving their house," Staggs said.
Since then, Disney has remained quiet about the project -- even its existence.
“I can’t confirm nor deny it,” said Disney representative Marilyn Waters when FoxNews.com asked her about the NextGen project.
But the blogosphere has been rife with NextGen particulars from those who say they have details of the plan.
Entertainment blogger Jim Hill and editor of JimHillMedia.com, told FoxNews.com that he learned many intricate details of the project after someone at the “executive level in Burbank” showed Hill a PowerPoint presentation prepared for Walt Disney International President Bob Iger on the progress of the company’s NextGen initiatives.
According to Hill, one major initiative of NextGen focuses on what is being called an xPASS, which would allow guests to book rides weeks or months in advance. Here’s how Hill says it will work: Visitors planning their trip would go on the xPASS website and use the free service which allows you to reserve experiences, including ride times, exclusive meet-and-greets with Disney characters, even viewing spots for the nightly fireworks. The xPASS system would also help to avoid lines at restaurants by ordering food in advance.
“This xPASS/NextGen effort is going to fundamentally change how people visit the Disney parks,” said Hill.
Currently, Disney’s line-skipping system called FastPass allows guests to book a time for an attraction, leave to do other things, and return at an allotted time. Last month, Disney began enforcing return times, which many Disney watchers saw as the first step to the implementation of the xPASS system.
Another expected aspect of the plan is the use of a wrist bands embedded with radio-frequency identification microchips, or RFID, that reads your identity and acts as your ticket. Disney is already experimenting with RFID technology, for example, at Epcot. But the the NextGen wrist band concept is expected to go further. It’s believed that guests would provide information -- such as their names, credit card information and favorite attractions -- ahead of their arrival. After they enter at the park, the RFID would interact with sensors deployed throughout Disney’s resorts and trigger interactive features. So for example, an attraction may greet you and your family and call you by name.
Some have raised questions about privacy and what type of information Disney may require, while others say late bookers may not have access to many of the more popular attractions.
But Scott Smith, a former Disney employee who now teaches theme park management at the University of Central Florida, told DisneyDispatch that NextGen's goal is to eliminate the wait time, streamline the experience for guests --and more importantly for Disney to make money.
“Disney is a business, bottom line driven, and what they want to do with the wrist bands is make it easier for resort guests to spend money. It's almost like a Club Med situation: it's easier for you to spend money if you don't actually have to take the cash out of your wallet. All you have to do is swipe your wrist,” says Smith.
While it is unclear when xPASS or other NextGen features will be unveiled (some say as early as 2013), some who follow Disney theme parks say it will completely change people's theme park experience.
“It’s exciting,” said Disney blogger Ricky Brigante, editor of Inside the Magic. “Any way of taking a Disney theme park experience and making it individual and more memorable, I can’t see anything wrong with that.”
Travel writer and consultant Sandra Halket says Disney travel agencies are already preparing for the project to launch, as Disney fans and potential guests call and ask when they will see this.
“People really love the fact that we can give them tips prior so this would just take that to a next level because everything is done before you leave home,” said Halket.Skip to comments.
George Tiller (Child Murderer) shot to death at Wichita church
Wichita Eagle ^ | 05/30/2009 | Stan Finger
Posted on by Kansas58
click here to read article
I do not support this, but I do understand this. Kansas politics has been corrupted to the core by George Tiller, making him like a mobster above the law. He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.
To: Kansas58
Is this a false report? Why would an abortionist go to church?
To: Kansas58
Whatever “church” Tiller attends must be worshipping satan.
by 3 posted onby newfreep ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." - P.J. O'Rourke)
To: Kansas58
Reichstag Fire.
by 4 posted onby SolidWood (Palin: "We do not want to become slaves of Washington.")
To: BenLurkin
From the article: George Tiller, the Wichita doctor who became a national lightning rod in the debate over abortion, was shot to death Sunday morning as he walked into church services.
To: BenLurkin
"Why would an abortionist go to church?" Great point. I wonder if they meant he was struck by lightning as he was entering the church.
by 6 posted onby mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
To: Kansas58
His sister is a friend of mine. This is tragic.
by 7 posted onby reg45 (Be calm everyone. The idiot children are in charge!)
To: BenLurkin
Why would an abortionist go to church? Great question. Reminds me of Star Trek when Kirk said, "Why does God need a starship?"
by 8 posted onby buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
To: SolidWood
That’s what I thought, too. I guess we’ll see - or maybe not.
To: Kansas58
jury (of one) nullification
To: Kansas58; Bushbacker1
Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
To: Kansas58
Shot AND killed: ************* George Tiller shot to death at Wichita church
BY STAN FINGER
The Wichita Eagle MIKE HUTMACHER | The Wichita Eagle
George Tiller, the Wichita doctor who became a national lightning rod in the debate over abortion, was shot to death this morning as he walked into church servicesMore News
George Tiller, the Wichita doctor who became a national lightning rod in the debate over abortion, was shot to death this morning as he walked into church services. Tiller was shot just after 10 a.m. at Reformation Lutheran Church at 7601 E. 13th, where he was a member of the congregation. An anonymous police source confirmed Tiller was the victim. **************** http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1225751.html
To: reg45
His sister is a friend of mine. This is tragic. What does she think of her brother's crimes?
by 13 posted onby buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
To: BenLurkin
Public relations. Social contacts. This particular “church” was pro-abortion. There was once a minister in town that would baptize the aborted babies, if the mother made such a request. Again, ever element of our lives here has been corrupted by George Tiller. This is what happens when the United States Supreme Court, the legal system, and our elected officials, and even some religious institutions, have all been corrupted to the point that a man can profit so much from killing babies.
To: reg45
Why is the death of a satanic worshipper tragic?
by 15 posted onby newfreep ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." - P.J. O'Rourke)
To: SolidWood
Reichstag Fire. Wouldn't surprise me.
To: Kansas58
Have not seen anything on the news concerning this, nothing.
To: Kansas58
Let’s hope responses on this thread do not celebrate this. Let the other side celebrate death, not us. We need to defeat the dark side in the minds and hearts of people.
To: Kansas58
Until such time as anarchy prevails, this is not the right behavior. Shooting causes more shooting.
by 19 posted onby Lazamataz ("We beat the Soviet Union, then we became them." -- Lazamataz, 2005)
To: Kansas58
This is not good for pro-life supporters....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John RobinsonBeing raised in a fairly strict Muslim household made a lot of things more difficult during my teenage years. I wasn't allowed out with friends until I was 16, having girls over or any sort of relationship was a bit of a taboo—yet all my friends were out having fun and getting up to typical teenage debauchery, and I felt a little bit left out.
Growing up Muslim wasn't the issue in itself—it was the restrictions on going out that often limited me to chatting to friends over MSN or during school, where I'd get incessantly jealous of what everyone did at the weekend. My family hardly ever went on holiday aside from the odd trip to London for a weekend, meaning that during school holidays I was left bored out of my mind.
My only real tedium killer during summers holed up inside was to get stuck into a video game. Other years that'd prove to be Team Fortress 2 or Counter-Strike: Source, but one holiday I decided to pick up Atlus's Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4. I'd always had a soft spot for Japanese role-playing games, JRPGs, but this looked a little more off kilter and certainly different from the standard fantasy romps of the Tales of... titles I adored.
In Persona 4, you assume the role of an exchange student coming to an old, idyllic Japanese town named Inaba. Investigating multiple murders and getting to know both the setting and intricate systems gave the game a great structure, but what made me really fall in love with Persona 4 was its large number of characters.
From the outset, some of the cast might seem a little one dimensional—I remember hating Yosuke, but as time goes on you learn things about what makes him tick, you both eventually bond and have the standard teenage boy chats—about girls, getting accustomed to city life, and dealing with universal themes like loss and grief. This is made even more prevalent with the main cast when you face their "shadows"—physical manifestations of their repressed feelings about themselves. Through a mechanic called Social Links, you strengthen your own powers by spending time with friends, encouraging the player, you, to actively interact with the vast and varied array of NPCs.
Article continues after the video below
But it's not the overarching story or dramatic character arcs that made me attached to the cast. The little events and conversations you have with them, the antics that you got up to outside of the wider plot is what gave this game its heart, and it also gave me an insight into what I thought I was missing out on in real life. To me, going on a camping trip with Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, and Kanji gave me some sort of fulfillment that at least made me think that I was having the social life I figured my schoolmates were. In retrospect, getting attached to video game characters in that way was probably unhealthy, yet I was obsessed by the game and posted way too many Facebook updates about it.
It didn't feel as if I was playing a game. In Persona 4 I had a schedule; I had to go to school, hang out with friends, study, maybe pop into the drama club. All the while I was also leading an investigation team and attempting to solve a murder. I settled into the role pretty comfortably, and I was getting drawn into the game even further. That's when it started to present its romance options to me. And for my teenage self, this brought back painful memories.
I wasn't a complete stranger to the elusive world of teenage romance, as at 13 I'd had a secret girlfriend, who none of my family knew about. It didn't last long; she kissed me once when I helped her with a paper round and then we broke up a week later. I was distraught. With Persona 4 came new opportunity, I thought that maybe once a game showed me the way it was done, I'd be able to open up to girls for real. I decided that I should hook up with Yukiko, a demure, traditional Japanese girl who worked at her family's hotel.
New on Motherboard: Damn, That's a Lot of Weed
I made sure I kept her in my party at all times, and take her into dungeons—you know, the usual. As the relationship progressed through the game, I found myself more attached to the character and even kept her as my romance option in subsequent playthroughs. As I came closer to the more intense moments nearing the end of the game, that attachment grew and started to influence the way I would act in real life.
As the summer ended, the new school year began and, after playing Persona 4, I decided to try to socialize more and attempt to convince my parents to let me hang out with friends. To my surprise, it worked. The game gave me the courage to try something new, talk to new people, and help me schedule activities to keep me occupied, and not just holed up at home playing games all day. Persona 4 was the catalyst of my teenage rebellion: it showed me a healthier way of living and helped me come out of my shell. I am still attached to the game, and it seems to have also resonated with many others who also played it. It has since been followed up by fighting games, a Golden remake, two anime seasons, and a rhythm action dancing game.
So there's clearly something about Persona 4 that makes it special for a lot of people. Personally, it helped me face my own "shadow" and overcome my social obstacles. Eventually, I had an investigation team of my own, and it was all thanks to Persona 4. There's a fifth game proper scheduled for release in the summer of 2016. I doubt that I'll have the same connection with the cast of Persona 5 as I did its predecessor, but I'll never forget what the series has done for me.
Follow Sayem Ahmed on Twitter.Over the last week, powdery mildew was detected on both cones and leaves of several varieties of hop in the Simcoe Research Station’s experimental yard. While powdery mildew was historically a problem in northeastern North American hops, and continues to be a significant pest in the Pacific Northwest, we had not had significant issues with this disease since the resurgence of Ontario’s hops industry over the last decade. Last year, we detected a small number of powdery mildew infections on hops leaves towards the end of harvest (see this blog post for more information). This year’s detection was significantly earlier than in 2014, and this is also the first time we have seen the disease on the cones in southwestern Ontario. Hops growers should be scouting their fields for signs of this disease.
Hops powdery mildew on leaves and cones. Note the characteristic powdery white appearance of the spores.
Powdery mildew is caused by a fungus that is quite different from the species causing downy mildew of hops (which is actually not really a fungus – see this post on the difference between powdery and downy mildews). Because of this, most sprays applied to control downy mildew will not control powdery mildew. Additionally, powdery mildew requires only high humidity, not free water, to infect plants, so the disease can spread even without rainy weather. This species of powdery mildew is specific to hops and its close relatives, and is not the same as the powdery mildews of other crops such as grapes, cucumbers or strawberries.
Powdery mildew may initially appear on leaves as pale yellow spots which develop into colonies of powdery white spores. In contrast, downy mildew lesions produce dark purplish spores. Downy mildew lesions also sporulate only on the leaf underside, while powdery mildew will sporulate on both sides of the leaf.
Powdery mildew lesions on hops leaf
Powdery mildew will also affect the cones, which may also produce powdery white spores (as in the photo at the beginning of this post), however, sporulation is not always obvious. As infected cone tissue dies, it may become reddish-brown, and symptoms may be difficult to distinguish from downy mildew or Alternaria cone disorder, which is common in hops damaged by wind or other mechanical injury. In the Simcoe yard, Alternaria is also present, however it seems to be restricted to the tips of the bracts, giving the cones a striped appearance, while powdery mildew is more widespread throughout the cone.
Hops cones infected with powdery mildew (left) and alternaria cone disorder (right). Note the striped appearance and lack of powdery white spores on the cones infected with Alternaria.
In Ontario, several fungicides are registered for control or suppression of powdery mildew, however many have very long pre-harvest intervals and cannot be applied this close to harvest. Registered products are:
MilStop and Sirocco (potassium bicarbonate – suppression, 0 day PHI)
Pristine (boscalid + pyraclostrobin – control, also provides suppression of downy mildew, 46 day PHI)
Purespray Green Oil (mineral oil – suppression, discontinue use at burr development)
Quintec (quinoxyfen – control, 21 day PHI)
Vivando (metrafenone – suppression, 14 day PHI)
Most of these products are preventative, so growers should be aware that applications will work mainly to prevent spread to uninfected tissue rather than reducing existing infections.
Sprays are unlikely to be effective in stopping infections already present on cones this close to harvest. If significant infection is present on cones, consider an early harvest, which may reduce spread of the disease and damage to the cones.This article is over 7 years old
Phone operator to waive data charges for users in Middle East and Africa to access Wikipedia on mobile devices
Orange has struck a deal with Wikipedia to make its digital encyclopaedia available free of data charges to millions of mobile phone users across the Middle East and Africa.
The mobile phone operator, which claims that the partnership is the first of its kind in world, has 70 million customers across Africa and the Middle East.
However, the ability to access the internet, and websites such as Wikipedia, is currently limited to about 10 million Orange customers who have mobile devices with 2G or 3G capability.
Sue Gardner, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organisation that runs Wikipedia, said:
"Wikipedia is an important service, a public good, and so we want people to be able to access it for free, regardless of what device they're using. This partnership with Orange will enable millions of people to read Wikipedia who previously couldn't."
The free service will be launched in 20 markets across 2012, with a spokesman from Orange saying that the aim is to increase the proportion of 2G and 3G phones to 50% of customers by 2015.
Currently, penetration stands at between 7% and 15% across various African and Middle Eastern markets.
"In countries where access to information is not always readily available, we are making it simple and easy for our customers to use the world's most comprehensive online encyclopaedia," said Marc Rennard, group executive vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Orange.
The deal is non-exclusive and other mobile phone partners are expected to follow suit.
|
RCTs of CBT [53]. This suggests that dropout rates from MBIs for people diagnosed with a current anxiety or depressive episode is not higher than would be expected from the broader psychotherapy literature. This is important as it suggests that engagement with MBIs is possible for people when they are experiencing a current episode of a depressive or anxiety disorder. Dropout rates were variable across the studies however, ranging from 8 percent to 37 percent and reasons for variability in dropout should be explored in future studies.
Limitations Research exploring the effectiveness of MBIs in populations with current diagnoses of anxiety or depression are in their infancy, and the evidence base is somewhat limited in both quantity and quality. Only 12 studies met our inclusion criteria, and of these the majority of studies (N = 7) compared MBI to inactive control conditions. These studies permit only a weak interpretation of the treatment effects, and do not allow the benefits of mindfulness practice and principles to be separated out from non-specific group therapeutic factors such as universality, altruism and group cohesion [54]. MBIs are purported to work through improving mindfulness which in turn is thought to reduce symptom severity and improve wellbeing. This is supported by evidence that improvements in mindfulness mediate symptom improvements following MBCT for recurrent depression [55]. In addition, a recent meta-analysis demonstrated enhanced mindfulness skills following MBIs in comparison to control conditions for people from non-clinical populations [17]. The preponderance of RCTs comparing to inactive control conditions limits the opportunities to explore mechanisms of change given the potential role of non-specific therapeutic factors in enhancing mindfulness and producing positive outcomes. Future research of MBIs should therefore aim to control for non-specific and non-mindfulness factors in order to isolate the potential benefits of learning mindfulness from other elements of MBIs. The methodological quality of several of the included studies was poor, as shown by low Jadad ratings in some cases. Despite this, there were non-significant associations between Jadad ratings and effect sizes which indicates that there was not a bias towards lower quality trials reported larger effect sizes. Whilst seven of the 12 studies reported intention-to-treat data, five studies only reported completer data which potentially introduces some bias in favour of MBI, as it is possible that non-completers would have benefitted less than therapy completers. However this does not appear to be the case here as the mean effect size on primary symptom severity for the studies reporting completer data was similar to the effect size for studies reporting intention-to-treat data (Hedges g = −0.84 and −0.73 respectively). Too few of the studies included long term follow-up of participants to allow for a separate analysis. For people experiencing a current episode of a depressive or anxiety disorder not only do we want our therapies to be of immediate benefit, we hope that they will continue to provide benefit in the longer term. Without following participants up it is not possible to know whether MBI provides long lasting benefit in relation to symptom reduction and future research in this area should include a follow-up period. Whilst this meta-analysis set out to answer the question of efficacy of MBI for depressive and anxiety disorders, the range of anxiety disorders was not well represented. Whilst RCTs of social anxiety disorder [42], [44], [47], generalised anxiety disorder [40], health anxiety [46] and post-traumatic stress disorder [43] were included, no RCTs of MBIs specifically targeting obsessive compulsive disorder (see [56] for a recent review), agoraphobia, panic disorder or simple phobia could be found. This limits conclusions that can be drawn here about the effectiveness of MBIs transdiagnostically across anxiety conditions. Efforts were made to limit the impact of publication bias on findings. Unpublished dissertations and theses were included in the search strategy and three of the major clinical trials registers were searched in order to find potential unpublished studies. No unpublished data were made available. Graphical (funnel plots) and statistical (Fail-Safe N) methods were used in order to assess for possible publication bias and its potential impact on findings. Whilst the funnel plot indicated a potential for publication bias (meaning that there may be unpublished trials with non-significant or negative findings), the Fail-Safe N analysis suggested that a large number of studies with nil effect would be needed to render the primary analysis non-significant. This allows us to have some confidence in our findings despite the omission of data from unpublished studies.
Clinical Implications This meta-analysis suggests that people meeting diagnostic criteria for a current episode of a depressive disorder can benefit from MBIs. However, the studies of MBIs for depression were limited to MBCT or PBCT; none of the studies were of MBSR. Therefore our findings only apply to MBCT and PBCT and not to MBSR and we cannot comment on the basis of our analysis on the effects of MBSR on current depression. Our findings suggest that people experiencing a current depressive episode can benefit from MBCT or PBCT despite the negative thoughts and feelings associated with depression, thinking processes that orient attention towards or away from negative content and motivational and attentional problems. The studies targeting depression recruited from primary care and secondary care populations which suggests that MBIs might usefully be offered in both settings to people experiencing a depressive episode. It is of note however that the mindfulness-based intervention used in the PBCT trial [48] was especially adapted for secondary care populations [52]. None of the studies specifically recruited people from inpatient settings and therefore it would be premature to extend findings to this setting. Finally, given the paucity of evidence in their favour, we would caution against offering MBIs as a first line intervention for people experiencing a primary anxiety disorder. Not only did we find few studies targeting specific anxiety disorders, but those we did find suggest that MBIs may not be effective at targeting primary symptom severity for people experiencing an anxiety disorder. There are other, well-evidenced interventions for the range of anxiety disorders [57], [58] and findings from the current meta-analysis would suggest great caution if offering MBIs to this population as a first line intervention instead of a well-established therapy.By Damian Roland
Follow Damian on Twitter: Follow @Damian_Roland
Medicine involves providing compassionate care to patients. Health care students are introduced to an education culture of ‘doing’ good. However, as students progress through training they realise that some diseases can’t be cured and that not all patients can be healed. Later still, they may discover the very interventions they’ve prescribed do more harm than good.
A famous medical mantra (perhaps ascribed to Syndenham) is Primum non nocere (‘First, do no harm”). This imperative against actions that harm a patient does not help distinguish which interventions should be avoided. Only in the last decade has guidance on “what not to do” taken shape. In the United States and Canada, Choosing Wisely (US site: www.choosingwisely.org & Canadian site: www.choosingwiselycanada.org) is a campaign to aid and inform doctors about presumably appropriate interventions that, in fact, are not supported by evidence and may cause harm. In the United Kingdom, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have a database of “do not do” recommendations.
In a similar vein, Jonathan recently discussed practical (but evidence based) teaching that doesn’t suck. At the end of the blog is a list of things to avoid (i.e. do not do)
What are the other things that Clinician Educators should avoid to #DoNoHarm? Finding the evidence on this isn’t easy but there are some topics that do spring to mind. For example, if you are a Twitter aficionado, you will be aware of the mass movement away from complex, busy slides often found in large group presentations. Presentations should use simple slides (only for emphasis) that help with a clear narrative. What about bullet points? Obviously a huge list of text is not helpful, but a blanket ban might not be welcome by everyone. (I know a colleague who suggests that bullet points help in signposting key points.)
So, lets start a meme for Clinician Educators that describes things to avoid in our education practice.
I’d be interested in hearing your #Meded #DoNoHarm
Image via blog.newswhip.comThe Moto X might be getting on toward its twilight years, but it's still a great phone with killer features. Motorola's promised Mother's Day sale is active, which means you can get this device for a mere $299.99 for the 16GB version.
Unlike past promotions, today's deal is automatic and requires no wacky coupon codes. Just head over to the Motorola site and choose between the Moto Maker 16GB ($299.99), Moto Maker 32GB ($324.99), or the Developer Edition (also $324.99). Adding a wood back to one of the Moto Maker editions still costs an extra $25, though. If you do pick one up, Motorola is even throwing in a free Skip NFC unlock device.
This deal is only live through 11:59pm ET tonight. This might be your last chance to justifiably buy a Moto X before the anticipation of a refresh forces you to wait it out.
[Motorola]A model poses for a portrait during a casting call in Sydney. Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images
Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending is a good novel. We know it’s a good novel because lots of people like it, and because it won the Man Booker, one of the biggest prizes in English-language literature. But here’s the funny thing. After the book won the prize, people didn’t like it as much! Its rating on the site Goodreads took a sudden plunge. And it wasn’t the only book to suffer that fate. A recent paper by sociologists Balázs Kovács and Amanda J. Sharkey studied a group of 32 English-language novels that won major literary awards. After the prize, their ratings on Goodreads dropped from an average of just under 4 to about 3.75. A group of comparably rated novels that were short-listed for prizes, but didn’t win, showed no such diminution.
When a book wins a Booker, that ought to make us think it’s good. Every sociologist—OK, every human being over the age of 12—knows we like things more when we hear that other people like them. So what explains the Booker backlash?
At least in part, it’s a quirk of statistics called Berkson’s fallacy. If you know one thing about correlation, it’s that correlation is not the same as causation. Two variables, like height and math scores in school kids, may be correlated, even though being good at math doesn’t make you taller, or vice versa. What’s going on is that older kids are both taller and better at math. Correlation can arise from a common cause that drives both variables in the same direction.
But that’s not the only way misleading correlations can pop up. Joseph Berkson, the longtime head of the medical statistics division at the Mayo Clinic, observed in 1938 that correlations can also arise from a common effect. Berkson’s research was about medical data in hospitals, but it’s easier to explain the phenomenon in terms of the Great Square of Men.
Suppose you’re a person who dates men. You may have noticed that, among the men in your dating pool, the handsome ones tend not to be nice, and the nice ones tend not to be handsome. Is that because having a symmetrical face makes you cruel? Does it mean that being nice to people makes you ugly? Well, it could be. But it doesn’t have to be.
Behold the Great Square of Men. (And I’d like to note that you can find more stunning hand-drawn illustrations just like this one in How Not to Be Wrong.)
Now, let’s take as a working hypothesis that men are in fact equidistributed all over this square. In particular, there are nice handsome ones, nice ugly ones, mean handsome ones, and mean ugly ones, in roughly equal numbers.
But niceness and handsomeness have a common effect: They put these men in the group of people that you notice. Be honest—the mean uglies are the ones you never even consider. So inside the Great Square is a Smaller Triangle of Acceptable Men:
Now the source of the phenomenon is clear. The handsomest men in your triangle, over on the far right, run the gamut of personalities, from kindest to (almost) cruelest. On average, they are about as nice as the average person in the whole population, which, let’s face it, is not that nice. And by the same token, the nicest men are only averagely handsome. The ugly guys you like, though—they make up a tiny corner of the triangle, and they are pretty darn nice. They have to be, or they wouldn’t be visible to you at all. The negative correlation between looks and personality in your dating pool is absolutely real. But the relation isn’t causal. If you try to improve your boyfriend’s complexion by training him to act mean, you’ve fallen victim to Berkson’s fallacy.
The fallacy works, too, as a driver of literary snobbery. Why are popular novels so terrible? It’s not because the masses don’t appreciate quality. It’s because the novels you read are the ones in the Acceptable Triangle, which are either popular or good. So within that group, the good ones are less likely to be popular, for the same reason the handsomer men are bigger jerks. If you force yourself to read unpopular novels chosen essentially at random—I’ve been on a jury for a literary prize, so I’ve actually done this—you find that most of them, just like the popular ones, are pretty bad. And I imagine if you dated men chosen completely at random from OkCupid, you’d find that the less attractive men were just as jerky as the chiseled hunks. But that’s an experiment I can’t recommend, not even for the sake of mathematical enlightenment.
And now what happened to Julian Barnes is pretty clear. There are two reasons you might have read The Sense of an Ending and rated it on Goodreads. It might be because it’s exactly the kind of novel you’re apt to like. Or it might be because it won the Booker Prize. When a book wins a prize, then its audience expands beyond the core group of fans already predisposed to love it. That’s what every author dreams of, but more frequently read inevitably means less universally liked.Ready 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.
Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue
Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month!
Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter.
Fight Back! Sign up for Take Action Now and we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each 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 we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each week.
Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue
Travel With The Nation Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits.
Sign up for our Wine Club today. Did you know you can support The Nation by drinking wine?
The decision by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to compel the Russian-state media outlet RT (an English-language cable news network) to register as a “foreign agent” is intended to not only stigmatize its reporting as foreign propaganda but also tar anyone who appears on its programs as Russian dupes. Ad Policy
RT will register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) of 1938, the aim of which, according to the nonpartisan transparency watchdog Sunlight Foundation, was “To make it easier for federal counterespionage authorities to keep tabs on U.S.-based individuals and other groups helping to drum up support for the Nazi movement and keep America neutral in the war.” Amendments added in 1966 shifted its focus to political activities, such as lobbying.
But whatever the legal basis for requiring RT to register as a foreign agent, the Justice Department’s decision is clearly in response to intense domestic political and media pressure. Many of the assumptions behind that pressure are dubious or based on myths.
It is the case that RT is not the first media outlet to have been compelled to register: China Daily, a Chinese-state funded news outlet; NHK Cosmomedia, a Japanese TV news operation; and KBS America, a South Korean company, are also currently registered under FARA.
But what makes the current move by the DOJ even more disturbing is that it is part of a larger campaign being waged by politicians and a plethora of American media organizations and Washington think tanks to purge what is relentlessly referred to as “Russian disinformation” from American political discourse.
Whatever the debatable aspects of “Russiagate”—which itself might be reasonably defined as the year-and-a-half-long (and counting) campaign by elements of the American political establishment to discredit the outcome of last year’s presidential election on the ground of Russian interference—the current obsession with countering Russian “disinformation” may not stop there. Indeed, demanding RT register as a “foreign agent” may set a troubling precedent.
In current mainstream American usage, “Russian disinformation” means virtually any and every news story and commentary that deviates from the narrative of the US political establishment. Indeed, this delegitimizing of dissent applies not only to “Russiagate” but to opinions and analysis relating to US-Russian relations generally. We are now, and have been for some time, living in a world where Russia is not just seen as a country with a different set of national interests and priorities from ours, but as instead a wholly malevolent actor on the world stage, responsible for “weaponizing” everything from information to language to history, finance and, yes, even the weather. Current Issue View our current issue
Worryingly, not one major US media outlet has protested the DOJ’s decision to compel RT to register as a foreign agent. Some, shamefully, have even endorsed it. Many of America’s traditional defenders of the First Amendment have remained quiet—and therefore complicit. The Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement Monday stating, “We’re uncomfortable with governments deciding what constitutes journalism or propaganda”; the Freedom of the Press Foundation warned that the DOJ decision “…opens up serious risk of retaliation for many brave journalists who work in Russia—both independent reporters who may get funding from the US and the US government’s own Voice of America.”
Indeed, the United States’ compelling of RT to register is the latest unnecessary escalation in the new Cold War: In a classic tit-for-tat, the Russian government is already preparing to retaliate, with lawmakers announcing last week that they were amending the country’s foreign agent law to include media organizations.
Some media monitors contend that forcing RT to register under FARA will make basic, routine journalistic work impossible. Whether that is true remains unclear, though RT will be required to issue a disclaimer accompanying its content. RT will also be required to report its activities and funding sources to the DOJ twice a year.
Nevertheless, stigmatizing RT as “Russian disinformation” would seem to be, given the outlet’s negligible audiences, completely unnecessary. It is a gratuitous slap in the face of Russia, which the United States—whether we like it or not—needs as a partner on a wide range of issues, from nuclear non-proliferation to terrorism, regardless of who occupies the Kremlin.
Still worse, branding RT’s news coverage as merely “Russian disinformation” will only further crowd out dissenting views and circumscribe the robust debate we desperately need, making proponents of alternative views even more fearful and self-censoring.
Whatever the biases of RT, and to whatever extent its coverage is factually inaccurate, the channel scarcely reaches the American public compared with many US media outlets that are arguably no less biased and no more factual. Behind all of this lurks the conceit that as Americans we have everything to teach and nothing to learn from a Russian-funded broadcaster. But is it really such a terrible thing for Americans to hear different opinions and reporting on world events that conflict with those of CNN, MSNBC, and Fox? Must we be at pains to stigmatize a few drops of propaganda from another government, however “hostile” it allegedly may be, while getting routine propaganda from our own? And isn’t there implicit contempt for American voters implied in the charge that RT transformed decisive segments of the electorate into zombie-like pro-Trump voters through a relatively negligible stream of “foreign” news reports, commentaries and ads? Are we supposed to believe the US media environment is so fragile and vulnerable that it can be poisoned by a relatively tiny amount of Russian messaging?
There is a telling irony, ignored by the mainstream America media, in all of this.
In 2012, Russia passed its own “foreign agents” law which required NGOs and other independent groups that received foreign funding to register with the Russian Ministry of Justice. At the time, the law was correctly seen as an attempt by the Russian government to tighten its control over Russian civil society, in an attempt to limit dissent. The law drew pointed criticism from the US State Department and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. (Russia is not the only country that has proposed or used foreign-agent laws to register civil-society organizations or media— Hungary, Ukraine, and Israel have debated or passed similar laws, according to the International Center for-Not-for-Profit Law.)
Indeed, as recently as this past September, Human Rights Watch (HRW) decried the effects of the Russian law, complaining that “For the past four years the Kremlin has sought to stigmatize criticism or alternative views of government policy as disloyal, foreign-sponsored, or even traitorous.” HRW denounced the law’s “enduring, central feature,” its requirement that groups must “register as ‘foreign agents’ if they receive any foreign funding and engage in broadly defined ‘political activity.’”
In this context, the closing lines of George F. Kennan’s famed “Long Telegram” remain perhaps more relevant than ever. At the very start of the first Cold War, Kennan urged Americans to “have [the] courage and self-confidence to cling to our own methods and conceptions of human society…. the greatest danger that can befall us in coping with this problem of Soviet communism, is that we shall allow ourselves to become like those with whom we are coping.”
It would seem we, in the unbridled suspicion and paranoia with which we approach nearly everything that emanates out of Putin’s Russia, are now in the process of falling into the very trap Kennan warned about so many years ago.Photo of Dina Shehadeh at her family home in al-Bireh near Ramallah by Allison Deger
Dina Shehadeh, 17, was about to begin her senior year of high school in Ohio where she was born and raised. But two weeks ago, after spending the summer with her extended family in the West Bank, she was separated from her mother and detained inside of Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. Israeli security then told Dina that she was not allowed to leave the country—at least not through the airport.
While detained on the night of August 13, 2014 when she was scheduled to fly on El Al flight 1, Dina learned to her surprise that Israeli security no longer considered her an American citizen with American travel privileges. The Palestinian identification card her family filed for her the year before, a registry requirement for children of West Bank Palestinian ID holders, erases her rights as a U.S. citizen.
“We put aside the American passport for this matter and they are only Palestinian,” said the Israeli Ministry of Interior office at Ben Gurion Airport to Mondoweiss. As of her 16th birthday, Dina now needs a special permit from the army to enter the airport. “Otherwise he can leave through Gaza for Egypt, and Jordan from Allenby [a West Bank land crossing].”
Israel’s policy of limiting travel through Ben-Gurion for Palestinian-Americans has recently come under fire when last April Israel made a bid for a U.S. visa waiver program. To be eligible, the U.S. State Department said Israel needed to reduce the number of deportations and travel bans imposed on Palestinian-Americans. In April spokesperson Jen Psaki said at a press briefing Israel needed to ease up, “The Department of Homeland Security and State remain concerned with the unequal treatment that Palestinian-Americans and other Americans of Middle Eastern origin experience at Israel’s border and checkpoints, and reciprocity is the most basic condition.” However, no changes have been announced.
“When I was first detained they told me to sit on some chairs outside and all I heard them ask my mom was who is her dad, what is his name?” said Dina recounting how she was held in an airport employee office for five hours without her passport. Then Dina said the Israeli authorities yelled at her mother, Nedha Shehadeh and so she walked away to avoid the confrontation. “When my mom said this is the last time we’ll come back if this is how we are treated the lady told her I don’t care.” Airport security then said to Nedha she should board the flight to JFK in New York that the pair had booked, indicating that Dina would to join her on the plane before take off.
However Dina was not allowed to board and instead was kept in an employee room inside of Ben Gurion airport until the next day. Her mother was on the plane and flew to New York, unable to de-board by the time she realized that something had happened to her daughter.
Security officials asked Dina a few questions about her family tree, her father’s name, his father’s name, etc., and then she was left alone for hours. “It was an office where all of the people work there clock in and out,” she said. When her passport was finally returned to her, Dina was told she was allowed to leave the airport to return to the West Bank.
But Dina didn’t know how to get to the West Bank from Tel Aviv and found herself in the precarious position of being without a phone, in foreign country, in an airport that she’s legally not allowed to be in. And so she cried.
“I was just sitting there the whole time for like two hours by myself,” said Dina, explaining her father had planned to travel back to the U.S. via Jordan a few days later, but she didn’t know how to reach him. Also, airport security had taken all of her mothers checked luggage off of the plane and dropped them off with her, too big and too heavy to carry. She sat on the hallway floor outside of the room where she had been detained, “until this man that works there took me to a office and I used his phone to call my father,” she said.
In 2008 after spending two decades abroad Dina’s father had a comparable situation while flying into Ben Gurion airport in order to travel on to the West Bank. He too was detained. Airport authorities then put him on a flight to Jordan and told him he needed to renew his Palestinian ID and could no longer use the Israeli airport. But before 2000, Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza had a legal right to access the Tel Aviv airport and technically they still do today. However during the second Intifada the army instituted a temporary security provision requiring Palestinians to obtain an “airport permit,” which Dina and her family were not aware of. And even though the Intifada has long since ended, the security requirements for Palestinians using Ben Gurion have only increased.
Still when Dina flew into Ben Gurion at the beginning of the summer, she breezed through passport control without hassle.
“They have two different kinds of U.S. citizens.” Said Abdulsalam Shehadeh, Dina’s father pointing to his daughter’s green Palestinian ID card, continuing, “even though we didn’t want these, but they gave them to us.”
There is no process in place for Dina to renounce or rid herself of her Palestinian ID card and become American in the eyes of Israel again. Her ID card is more of a hindrance than a benefit. It does not grant her additional rights. It does not make her a citizen, as Palestine is not an independent country. Rather by having the Palestinian ID, Dina is troubled by no longer being allowed to visit Jerusalem or the beaches of Tel Aviv—like other Americans. At a checkpoint, Dina has to stand in the line for Palestinians not foreigners, which is often longer, and she can only drive a car with Green license plates, a special marker for West Bank Palestinians.
Being viewed by Israel as a Palestinian also means Dina is subject to harsh military codes. If she were to get a minor traffic violation such as speeding, she would be prosecuted under military law and could face three-months in jail. By contrast any other American citizen would be issued a ticket and a nominal fine.
Within two days of Dina’s detention at Ben Gurion airport Abdulsalam had already contacted his congressional representative, the American Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Israeli Civil Administration in the West Bank. The latter issued Dina a special “airport permit” that puts in writing that she is not a security threat, and allowed her to board a flight from Ben Gurion.
“They should have told her when she was coming to their country ‘hey we don’t want you go back’ they do that to a lot of people,” he said, continuing, “Why would you let her in, when she’s leaving with her mother, a minor underage, and separate her from her mother. This is the whole issue.”Wipro, India's third largest information technology services company, is trying to delink revenue growth from headcount by rolling out a cognitive platform, Holmes, with features like human-computer interaction, knowledge extraction, semantic mapping, machine learning and pattern recognition.
"Wipro is pitching this against IBM's Watson, but it also resembles some features of IPsoft's Amelia platform. Holmes is built with open source tools and will feed Wipro's generic cognitive computing platform that enables development of artificial intelligence applications," Tom Reuner, managing director for infotech outsourcing research at research and advisory firm HfS, said in a recent report.
"Specialist consultants like GenFour and VirtualOperations are bundling artificial intelligence platform Celaton with typical robotic process automation tools to get close to such scenarios. In combination with its Base and ServiceNXT platforms, Wipro is on course to build one of the most comprehensive process automation approaches," Reuner said.
He, however, warned time might be crucial, as IBM discovered in its attempt to develop Watson into a commercially viable platform.
Wipro's drive to hyper-automation is driven by a shift in the global marketplace. During a meeting with analysts at Frankfurt last month, TK Kurien, Wipro's chief executive officer, said the company's use of automation would lead to a 30 per cent reduction in its headcount in three years. According to insiders, this may not mean retrenchment but slower hiring.
"Having been coy so far to discuss innovations around autonomics, Wipro is stepping up its communication with the market. The messaging went beyond a breakdown of technical capabilities and TK Kurien discussed his expectations that these new technologies would lead to a 30 per cent reduction in headcount over the next three years," said Reuner.
"A bold statement that could further place process automation centre stage in setting the strategic direction of the infotech services market for the next several years," he added.
In a recent round of restructuring, Wipro created a new business line called Wipro Analytics to deal with new technologies like AI, machine learning, advanced analytics and big data.Research in Motion (RIMM) will need to do more with its upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform to get Wall Street’s attention. Shares belonging to the troubled smartphone vendor continue to tumble as excitement for its latest operating system stalls. The once dominant mobile company has fallen on hard times in the last few years and has lost a majority of its market share to Android and iOS. Wall Street’s expectations for RIM are lackluster, as analysts peg Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows Phone 8 operating system as a more appealing offering in a crowded mobile market. In a note to investors on Wednesday, Pacific Crest Securities analyst James Faucette said the company’s new BlackBerry 10 operating system may be dead on arrival, thus setting off the biggest decline for shares of RIM in more than a month.
“We believe BB10 is likely to be DOA,” Faucette said in a report obtained by Bloomberg. “We expect the new OS to be met with a lukewarm response at best and ultimately likely to fail.”
The analyst said that shareholders will most likely be disappointed with the new operating system, which he believes will struggle to attract buyers due to an unfamiliar user interface, a lack of compatible technology and a less than appealing selection of applications.
BlackBerry 10 is seen as RIM’s last chance at the mobile market. Earlier reports have suggested that the Waterloo-based company could license the operating system to companies looking to lessen their dependence on Android, although it is unclear if any talks have taken place. RIM CEO Thorsten Heins announced last week that the company’s BlackBerry 10 smartphones had begun carrier testing and are still on track to be released in the first quarter of 2013.Charle N'Zogbia scored for Sunderland in their preseason friendly victory over Rotherham.
Sunderland have offered Charles N'Zogbia a deal at the Stadium of Light after impressing on trial, sources close to the club have told ESPN FC.
N'Zogbia, 30, is currently a free agent following the expiration of his contract at Aston Villa earlier this summer and he was invited to train with Sunderland by former boss Sam Allardyce.
The Frenchman has caught the eye in training and he boosted his chances of winning a move to Sunderland with the winning goal in the preseason friendly victory over Rotherham last weekend in front of new Sunderland manager David Moyes.
Moyes has included N'Zogbia in his squad for this week's training camp in France and sources have told ESPN FC that Allardyce gave Moyes a positive report on N'Zogbia.
Sunderland have held a long-term interest in the former Newcastle and Wigan winger, with the club just failing to sign the player on transfer deadline day in January.
N'Zogbia saw his career at Villa stall last season after finding himself out of favour at Villa Park with the player making just two appearances last season.
Moyes is now ready to offer N'Zogbia the chance to get his career back on track and he could become Moyes' first signing since taking over from Allardyce at the Stadium of Light.Nobody has a problem discussing politics in games- in general. There’s plenty of ways to approach and talk about games in an interesting and deeply political way that nobody would really have a problem with. Having said that politics has always been part of video game industry even since it’s early days, be it intentionally added by the developers or not. The problem occurs when people make claims that some of the politics, scenes or stories should not be in games, because they are “harmful”. These people essentially want to pressure developers and publishers into a kind of self-censorship, and most people know that censorship is incompatible with a creative medium like video games or any other medium for that matter.
The point I am trying to make is that politics will always be part of video games as a medium. Any form of art inherently contains political reflections of the people and culture that made them, there is no denying that point. And if approached in the correct manner it can be interesting and educational and even entertaining, for those willing to be part and take part in the discussion. And as a gamer who has been part of the hobby for well over 20 years, I think that there are aspects of our hobby worth evaluating and inspecting more closely. But the moment it becomes dismissive and derisive and more about attacking the people who enjoy playing video games, it becomes unwanted and unneeded. And then that is when games like myself become agitated.
Especial when these people start making the baseless assertions that playing a game with themes of say racism, homophobia, somehow makes us the gamers racist or homophobic. Which is what a lot of these people who discuss games in a political manner really like to push onto us and the media. The idea that playing say games like: GTA or Bioshock or whatever new “problematic” game comes out this month somehow makes anyone who plays it a bad person. That grinds my gears. And there is a clear double standard which is prevalent in the entertainment industry today. Millions of movie buffs who watches and enjoys movies with racist, sexist and homophobic sentiments in them won’t get called out as being racist, sexist or homophobic for doing so. Why is that?
And that is where the big difference comes in and missed by most of the people who are critical towards video games. There is a massive difference between examining the context of a video games story, versus proclaiming that it is inherently good or bad due to your own political views or opinions. The one is an academic point of view while the other is some egotistical attempt at shaming gamer’s and telling them what they can and cannot enjoy. And when these people’s interpretations are eventually challenged by us the gamers then it’s instantly ascribed to immaturity, bigotry or simple hatred. And in such situations you are not opening a debate, you are imposing a narrative and preaching it to us and the media as the absolute truth…Police: Derby man arrested after altercation with 5-year-old at Shelton day care
Lance Churchill was arrested June 16, 2017 for risk of injury to a minor at a Shelton day care. Lance Churchill was arrested June 16, 2017 for risk of injury to a minor at a Shelton day care. Photo: Shelton Police Department Photo: Shelton Police Department Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Police: Derby man arrested after altercation with 5-year-old at Shelton day care 1 / 1 Back to Gallery
SHELTON >> A Derby man was arrested on June 16 after he was involved in an altercation with a 5-year-old at a Shelton day care during a Father’s Day party.
Lance Churchill, 33, was attending the party at Apple Tree Day Care at 117 Long Hill Cross Roads in Shelton where the children made Father’s Day cards and gave them to their respective fathers.
According to police, one of the children playfully took Churchill’s card that he received from his son and ran around the room with it. The 6-foot-4, 270 pound Churchill chased the child and picked him up over his head, police said in a press release. Once he |
system on a board a bit smaller than a credit card, NVIDIA is looking to further the COTS usage of Jetson by giving product developers a smaller dedicated board specifically designed for COTS usage and quick integration into shipping products.
Meanwhile I/O connectivity is now provided by a separate board, be it a product-specific developer design or the official Jetson TX1 carrier board, with the Jetson TX1 using a 400 pin board-to-board connector to attach to other devices. Similar to the original Jetson TK1, the official Jetson TX1 carrier board is designed to offer TX1 as a development kit and contains a full suite of I/O including Ethernet, WiFi + BT antenna connectors, HDMI, USB, M.2, a large number of GPIOs, a camera serial interface with 5MP camera, and a PCIe 2.0 x4 slot. Relative to Jetson TK1, the newer TX1 includes more GPIOs, the camera, a full-size PCIe interface, and it can now work from a more traditional 3.3v power supply.
Moving on, not unlike TX1’s discrete GPU counterparts, with the Jetson TX1 platform NVIDIA is strongly focusing on machine learning and autonomous machines. The company believes that machine learning is the next great frontier for GPUs – both discrete and integrated – and is capitalizing on neural net research that has shown GPUs to be capable of both quickly training and quickly executing neural nets. This is an important differentiator for NVIDIA given their strengths in GPU development (both from a tech perspective and overall SoC GPU performance), and because it is a market that they feel no one else is truly aiming for (or at least competitive in) at this time. The Drive PX system already uses TX1 on this basis, and now with Jetson TX1 NVIDIA is looking to extend that relationship to a much wider group of developers.
Similar to Jetson TK1 then, Jetson TX1 comes with a suite of software and SDKs in order to simplify the development process and to give developers a good starting point for implementing machine learning. Along with the Linux for Tegra environment, NVIDIA is including their cuDNN neural network library and VisionWorks computer vision toolkit. Coupled with other APIs and software packages such as OpenVX and various neural network systems, NVIDIA is aiming to make the Jetson SDK an ecosystem in and of itself.
Finally, along with today’s announcement NVIDIA also unveiled the pricing and availability of the Jetson TX1 module and the full development kit. NVIDIA will begin taking pre-orders for the dev kit on the 12th with kits to start shipping as soon as the 16th, and will sell for $599 retail/$299 education. The dev kits will contain the module, carrier board, camera board, a heatsink-fan for cooling (which we’re told is grossly overpowered for TX1), and all of the necessary cables. Meanwhile the stand-alone Jetson TX1 module for use in commercial products will go on sale in Q1 of 2016, priced at $299 in 1K quantities.New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to Centre and Election Commission on Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) plea challenging Delhi High Court’s verdict holding the ruling party along with Congress prima facie guilty of violating the foreign funding law by receiving donations from UK-based Vedanta Resources’ subsidiaries.
Agreeing to hear the appeal, a bench headed by chief justice H.L. Dattu issued notice and tagged the case with plea filed by Congress which also challenged the verdict.
Challenging the order, BJP contended that the High Court erred in interpreting the law and Anil Agarwal and members of his family hold more than 50% share in the company and any contribution made by them will not be deemed to be contributions from a foreign source.
“The High Court did not appreciate that the petitioner and other political parties have not violated any provisions of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 or 2010, as the donations made by these two even though Vedanta Resources Plc is a foreign company for the purposes of Section 591 of the Companies Act," the petition said.
It contended that Vedanta is owned by an Indian citizen, and its subsidiaries are incorporated here, therefore they are not foreign sources. The High Court had held that Vedanta is a foreign company as per the Companies Act and therefore, the Anil Aggarwal-owned company and its subsidiaries, Sterlite and Sesa, are foreign sources as per Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).
The verdict was delivered on a PIL by NGO, Association for Democratic Reforms and E.A.S Sarma, a former secretary of the Government of India, who had alleged that the two political parties violated the Representation of People’s Act and FCRA by taking donations from government companies and foreign sources.We receive lots of questions about financing your MBA, so today I’m excited to share insights from Ji Choi and Andy Promsiri, our amazing full-time MBA Financial Aid team. Ji and Andy are committed to helping prospective and current students find the best options to fund your studies and collectively bring many years of financial aid experience and knowledge. Check out their helpful tips below!
Our photogenic financial aid team Andy & Ji
What are some common financial aid mistakes made by applicants?
First off, borrowing too much – just because you qualify for X amount of loans doesn’t mean you have to take it all! Look at your savings, your budget and the cost of education to see how much you will need for tuition, books, living expenses, travel, and “surprise” expenses and borrow accordingly.
Another common mistake we often see is a student borrowing money without doing all the research on the best financing options for you. Every loan has different incentives and drawbacks that affect individual borrowers differently. It’s important to read the fine print to make sure you understand what they are. This site provides a lot of information on private loans and is a good place to start.
What steps can prospective students take now to prepare financially for their MBA?
Start budgeting and saving - earlier the better!
Pay off as much consumer debt as possible (credit card bills, car loans, etc.) prior to starting school.
Domestic students can start filling out the FAFSA now – provisional award letters will be sent to our admitted students beginning in April. We also recommend you check your credit report so there are no surprises if/when you start looking into private loan options. You can check your credit for free at www.annualcreditreport.com.
What should prospective students know about UCLA Anderson’s financial aid office?
We have an open door policy and are happy to answer questions from prospective and admitted students alike! Financing your MBA is an important factor in deciding which program is right for you, and we are here to help add clarity to that process throughout your MBA journey.
What are some financing options available for our full-time MBA students?
All of our admitted students are considered for merit-based fellowships, and we announce awards at the time of admission. Award amounts vary depending on the strength of your entire application relative to the rest of the admit pool. Typically, the top third of our admits will receive some level of fellowship money.
It’s important to note that students who did not receive a fellowship at admission can apply for select 2nd year donor fellowships. Awards are based on first-year grades in the core courses, involvement in the UCLA Anderson community and other criteria set by the donors.
Approximately 20% of 2nd year students take on TA/RA positions as well. Perks include competitive pay, partial tuition remission, and health insurance. These positions aren’t guaranteed since the professors announce and select their TA/RAs, but it’s an option to keep in mind.
What about international students?
We do offer a private loan that does not require a US cosigner, which you can find more information about on our website. Also, International students admitted to our program will need to fill out a Confidential Financial Statement (CFS) as part of the requirement to obtain an I-20, and many admits don't know you can use any grants, fellowships, and loans you receive to meet the CFS threshold.
We highly recommend international students to research other financing options offered by your home country to see if your government provides any incentives for graduate study. For example, some countries provide grants and/or low interest loans to their citizens that can have a significant impact on your MBA investment.
Any final words of wisdom?
Look at the big picture ROI – not just the cost of education but also outcomes like employment statistics and salaries when researching MBA programs.
Put in the time to assemble a strong application – not only will you be a stronger candidate for admissions purposes, you can put yourself in a better position to receive a merit fellowship as well.
If you have ANY financial aid-related questions, don’t be shy - just ask us!
For more on financing your MBA at UCLA Anderson, check out our website. If you have additional questions, you can contact Ji and Andy at ji.choi@anderson.ucla.edu or andy.promsiri@anderson.ucla.edu.Reason contributor Harvey Silverglate was in the Boston Globe over the weekend with a cautionary tale out of the Boston bombing investigation about how the FBI decides when you are lying to it--and the real potential criminal consequences of even talking to them at all.
THOSE CONCERNED with the survival of American civil liberties during the post-9/11 (and now post-Boston Marathon) “age of terror” most commonly fear the federal government’s technical ability to record and store virtually all telephonic and electronic communications. But a more immediate threat to liberty lies in what one particular agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, refuses to record, as Robel Phillipos is now learning the hard way.
Phillipos is a 19-year-old Cambridge resident, former UMass Dartmouth student, and friend of alleged Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. He faces charges of making materially false statements during a series of interviews with FBI agents. If convicted, he could get up to eight years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
Phillipos underwent four FBI interviews. He is not alleged to have had any advance knowledge of, much less role in, the bombing itself....
FBI agents always interview in pairs. One agent asks the questions, while the other writes up what is called a “form 302 report” based on his notes. The 302 report, which the interviewee does not normally see, becomes the official record of the exchange; any interviewee who contests its accuracy risks prosecution for lying to a federal official, a felony. And here is the key problem that throws the accuracy of all such statements and reports into doubt: FBI agents almost never electronically record their interrogations; to do so would be against written policy.UCLA professor Greg Bryant says the dynamics of simultaneous laughter might hint at important differences in friendship patterns between the sexes.
Hearing other people laugh together, even for just one second, can be enough information to gauge whether or not those people are friends, according to a UCLA study.
The research, co-authored by Greg Bryant, a UCLA professor of communication studies, was published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It found that the phenomenon holds true in societies around the world — and that when people hear two females laughing together, they are highly likely to assume the women are friends, even when they are not.
Bryant and 32 collaborators across the globe, including Daniel Fessler, a UCLA professor of anthropology, and Riccardo Fusaroli, an assistant professor at the Interacting Minds Center of Aarhus University in Denmark, were interested in better understanding the communicative functions of co-laughter.
They played 48 short audio clips of two people laughing together for 966 listeners from 24 different societies. The listeners included people from hunter-gatherer and other traditional small-scale populations, working-class urban groups, and college students.
The laughter was recorded during conversations between pairs of undergraduate students at UC Santa Cruz — some who were friends and some who were recently acquainted strangers. Recordings captured the simultaneous laughter of two women, two men, and a woman and man together. Overall, listeners from every society could correctly identify whether the people they were hearing were friends or strangers 61 percent of the time.
The scenario in which listeners were best able to judge the relationship correctly was when two women friends were laughing together — listeners were accurate more than 80 percent of the time.
In past research, Bryant has investigated the idea that listeners can tell the difference between involuntary, or spontaneous, laughter and volitional, or “fake,” laughter. His findings indicate that the different kinds of laughs are produced by different vocal systems and that they have different communicative functions. The current study suggests that laughter between friends is generally more spontaneous, and that listeners across the globe can hear the difference.
Bryant said he was surprised at how consistently participants, regardless of their cultural backgrounds, presumed that co-laughter between women meant that those women were friends.
“Obviously there is an assumption about female relationships at work,” Bryant said. “People from around the world assume that when two females are laughing together that they are friends. This is consistent with other research showing that women take longer than men to develop friendships that result in genuine co-laughter.”
He added that the dynamics of co-laughter might also hint at important universal differences in friendship patterns between the sexes.
The authors write that the findings shed light on how the evolutionary development of laughter might have facilitated the evolution of cooperation.
“In a highly cooperative species such as ours, it is important for individuals to correctly identify the social alliances of others,” Bryant said. “If laughter helps people accomplish that, it has likely played a role in social communication leading to cooperative interactions.”
The researchers also examined the sound features of the laughs. They found that the clips judged as simultaneous laughter between friends were characterized by greater irregularities in the pitch and loudness of the laughs, as well as faster bursts of sound, all of which are usually associated with excitement and spontaneous, genuine emotion.
Can you tell the difference in the sounds between friends laughing versus strangers laughing?
The last 2 decades have seen a constantly increasing interest in mindfulness, due to its positive effects on health and well-being. Recently, a number of mobile applications aimed at supporting people in practicing mindfulness techniques have appeared, but their efficacy has not been formally evaluated yet. In this paper, we first introduce the reader to mindfulness techniques, traditional as well as computer-based. Then, we propose and evaluate a mobile application (called AEON) aimed at helping users in practicing thought distancing, i.e. a mindfulness technique that requires one not to react in response to his/her thoughts but to be aware of them and observe them while they go away. AEON allows the user to enter his/her thoughts and visualize them as written in ink on a parchment placed under water. By touching the screen, the user can interact with the water and produce waves that progressively dissolve each written thought. We evaluate AEON on a sample of naive meditators (i.e. people with no or minimal experience with meditation), contrasting it with two traditional thought distancing techniques that are not computer-based. The first traditional technique requires users to mentally visualize their thoughts as printed on clouds and observe them as they pass by, while the second requires users to write their thoughts on cards, then pick up the cards one at a time, look at them and toss them into a wastepaper basket. AEON obtained better results in terms of achieved mindfulness, perceived level of difficulty and degree of pleasantness. Since practicing mindfulness tends to be difficult for naive meditators, these results suggest that AEON can be a novel and effective way to help them approach mindfulness.The population of the TARDIS rises from two to three this week when Amy's fiancé Rory arrives on board. Still reeling from Amy's pass at him, The Doctor decides to pick up the-one-with-the-big-nose and take a trip to 16th century Venice - "an early wedding present", as he brands it. This particular gift comes with an added bonus, however: vampires!
Read on for our ten teasers about 'The Vampires Of Venice':
1. Rory is halfway through his stag do when The Doctor arrives to collect him. And it's quite an entrance.
2. On entering the TARDIS, Rory doesn't really say what The Doctor wants him to.
3. The First Doctor makes an appearance.
4. The 'vampires' like Amy. Who can blame them? She's delicious!
5. "Where are you from? Did you **** ******* the *****?"
6. Ever wanted to see The Doctor get electrocuted? Luck's in.
7. "Some tiny. Some were as big as the sky."
8. What's 10,000 in number and waiting in the water?
9. Amy enjoys a massive snog with either Rory or The Doctor. Right in front of the other.
10. "All I can **** is... *******."
What do you make of our teasers? Add your comments to this entry below!On Dec.26 the Rotowire Dynasty Invitational kickstarted its slow draft. It’s a 20-team roto league with 19 other managers from around the industry, many of which have a concentration in the prospecting world.
The draft is 40 rounds and includes both major and minor leaguers. All teams must roster at least 10 minor leaguers. The categories are standard, 23 active spots, there’s a weekly FAAB waiver period and we all have a $100 season budget. If you’re wondering how draft order was decided, I gave a breakdown here. It’s a neat draft method that uses future keepers as bids on draft slots.
From-scratch dynasty drafts are some of the coolest and most promising in all of fantasy baseball. Careful thought must be given to each selection, weighing age, free agency, veteran discounts and more. The first round of any draft is crucial, but the first round of a dynasty startup even more so.
I reached out to all managers to get their reasoning behind their first-round selection. Here’s what what they had to say:
1. Mike Trout - Eddy Almaguer, Fake Teams
The easiest pick that I’ll make all draft. He was headed toward a 43 HR/28 SB campaign last year before injuring himself. He’s 26, has a revamped Angels team around him and is primed for his greatest year yet, which is a scary thought for opposing pitchers. There is no better chip with which to start a dynasty league and I’m excited I get to own him in this setting, even if it cost me 18 keepers heading into 2019.
2. Jose Altuve - Justin Mason, Friends With Fantasy Benefits
Mason: “Altuve has been the most consistent elite player in fantasy over the last three seasons, hitting at least 15 home runs, stealing at least 30 bases, and posting.300+ batting averages. In a league this deep he is worthy of the top pick considering the shallowness of second base.”
Author’s Note: Altuve seems to be the consensus second overall pick in all fantasy formats this year and Justin laid out why. In a speed-starved game, Altuve’s stolen bases are that much more valuable.
3. Bryce Harper - Matt Modica, CTM Baseball
Matt: “My rationale was after Trout, Harper was my number two in this format. He just turned 25 and could consistently put up 40, 100 & 100 as he enters his prime with solid average and triple crown upside. I planned on Correa at three because I thought it would be Trout then Harper, I still considered CC and his prime position but in the end Bryce is my boy and the best is yet to come.”
Author’s Note: When healthy, Harper has shown he’s an easy lock for 35+ HR, 200 R+RBI and a.300/.400/.500 slash line. I don’t think it was at the forefront of Matt’s decision, but boding well for Harper owners in dynasty leagues is that he’ll more than likely call a hitter’s park home in 2019 with teams like Cubs, Yankees, Phillies waiting in the wings to court him once his free agency kicks in after 2018.
4. Mookie Betts - George Bissell, Baseball Prospectus
George: “Mookie Betts is a 25-year-old, proven five-category franchise cornerstone that dynasty owners can build around for the next decade. Even if he fails to ascend to the stratospheric heights of his 2016 campaign again, Betts power/speed combo establishes an extremely high realistic floor in the current landscape.”
Author’s Note: Mookie’s well-rounded profile is not unlike Altuve’s or Trout’s and he’s shown has has the MVP upside we crave with first-round picks. Even in a ‘disappointing’ 2017 he went 24/26 with 200 R+RBI. If that’s his floor, George will take that any day of the week.
5. Trea Turner - Rob Silver, 2016 NFBC Main Event Champion
Rob: “Trea Turner has the highest fantasy ceiling in baseball and his speed gives him a solid floor. Would have taken him second overall, happy he fell to me.”
Author’s Note: I love Turner this year as well, though I don’t know if I like him enough to take him second overall in a dynasty like Rob said he would. But to Rob’s point, Turner was on a 17 HR, 70 SB 150-game pace last season. From the shortstop position.
6. Carlos Correa - Clay Link, RotoWire
Clay: “Correa was a no-brainer for me. He's one of the game's best hitters (not just at shortstop), and he's a proven commodity at the ripe age of 23. The home runs and RBI at the position make him incredibly valuable in this 20-team format. I was pretty much set on Kris Bryant heading into the draft, fully expecting Correa to already be gone by the time I picked.”
Author’s Note: Correa fell one, maybe two spots further than I thought. Before going down with injury, he was headed toward at least a 110/32/110 season to go along with career high marks in AVG, OBP and SLG. At 23, he’s already a superstar that can challenge for an MVP and if he had gone as high as third overall I would have understood it.
7. Nolan Arenado - Ryan Bloomfield, Baseball HQ
Ryan: “I was looking for an elite MLB track record with another 3-4 years at peak from my first-round pick. At 26 with a.297 batting average and 40 HR per year since 2015, Arenado checked all boxes. He's a free agent after 2019, so that was my only qualm, but his contact/power combo can play anywhere. Also considered Kris Bryant and Paul Goldschmidt here, but Bryant didn't quite have the track record and Goldschmidt is four years older.”
Author’s Note: Ryan’s only concern about Arenado is he might not call Coors Field his home park after 2019, but he still has an.859 OPS in a season’s worth of road at bats since April 2016. And frankly, in dynasty leagues I don’t concern myself with any event that’s more than a year out. Ryan has an elite contributor to try and win him a championship right now.
8. Kris Bryant - Derek VanRiper, RotoWire
Derek: “With the eighth overall pick, I was torn between Kris Bryant (whom I selected), Aaron Judge, Manny Machado, and Paul Goldschmidt. My hope was that Carlos Correa would slide to that spot, as I prefer him to the rest of that group. The decision-making process for a league this size, with the ability to keep a player forever nudged me in the direction of youth and safety, which made Goldschmidt and Judge particularly problematic because of Goldy's age and Judge's very high strikeout rate. As Machado goes, I was increasingly pessimistic about taking him over Bryant given that there isn't a significant age gap, and because Bryant's overall profile includes a higher OBP, and year-to-year consistency that makes him look quite a bit like Goldy of 3-5 years ago. I also felt like there was more multi-year stability with Bryant as someone likely entrenched with the Cubs through 2021, while Machado's new team in 2019 isn't necessarily going to bring him a better home park, or lineup context around him, even though it could be a huge upgrade if he ends with the Yankees.”
Author’s Note: When I was deciding on my bids, I was aggressive with the first eight slots. To me, this is where the first tier ends of superstar dynasty cornerstone pieces. Derek benefitted from a “down” season of Bryant’s to land him in this spot. Like Derek said, Bryant’s OBP gives him a high floor and if you told me he’s going to win the 2018 MVP, I wouldn’t blink an eye. I’d have considered him as high as the fourth spot due to age, park and team.
9. Paul Goldschmidt - Chris Blessing, Baseball HQ
Chris: “As the first picks came trickling in, I quickly identified three players I liked for 1.9. Despite missing out on Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant, Paul Goldschmidt was a solid selection despite some small worry about his production taking a hit from the use of a humidor in Arizona. I did briefly consider the middle infielders taken by Sayre and Winkelman right after my selection. However, I like my chances landing some value at SS later in the draft as opposed to missing out on a potential MVP with some SB value in Goldschmidt.”
Author’s Note: Ol’ Reliable. Goldy turned 30 in September but my rule of thumb is if someone can still be elite or near-elite for at least three more years, it doesn’t matter how old they are. I don’t expect the humidor to affect a hitter of his caliber. About the only question mark I have was Arizona’s team-wide dip in stolen bases in the second half, which led to Goldy stealing just five bases after the All-Star Break. He can certainly be valuable without the steals, but it’s that one thing that’s set him apart from others at his position.
10. Francisco Lindor - Bret Sayre, Baseball Prospectus
Bret: “Originally, when we were bidding on draft order, I counted 11 players who fall into the category of young fantasy superstars and I knew that picking 10th, I'd certainly be able to snag one of them. When Chris took Paul Goldschmidt (as much as I love him), that left me with three options: Lindor, Seager and Machado. The separator? Steals. Lindor showed he could hit for the same kind of power as those two last year, and has shown the ability to hit for a Seager-like average, but to get that value with year-in-year-out 15-20 steal potential in a player who is a lock to stay at shortstop for the next 7-8 years was too much to pass up. Lindor is fascinating as he's gone from being undervalued as a fantasy prospect before his debut (due to security over upside) to overvalued as a major-league fantasy asset after his rookie season back to undervalued as a elite dynasty player. Lindor hit 19 homers and stole 11 bases while hitting.298 in the second half last season. That's not just elite, that's Trout-ian (Trout himself hit 17 homers, stole 12 bases and hit.285 in the second half—so at least for 2.5 months, he out Trouted Trout). And while he's not Trout (no one is), Lindor doesn't get mentioned often among names like Correa, Turner, Arenado and Bryant, but he deserves to be.”
Author’s Note: Well, I think Bret talked me into making sure I have a share of Lindor somewhere this upcoming year. My only qualm with Lindor has been trying to figure out what player you’re drafting. Last year he dramatically increased his FB% (28% to 42%), had a better Hard Hit% (27% to 35%), and even made a little bit more contact while cutting down his swinging strikes. If he’s the 30/15 guy again, then that’s pretty great from shortstop. If he reverts to the higher average, high-teens HR guy, then that’s still good, but it may unintentionally change Bret’s team construction.
11. Corey Seager - Matt Winkelman, Phillies Minor Thoughts
Matt: “I really like going young SS early in any league because it locks up a position that always feels shallow. I thought about the Stanton/Judge bashers, but HRs are easy to find and I don’t trust either in average. While Seager is a zero in steals, the batting average and other skills at shortstop made him an easy pick.”
Author’s Note: Entering his third full year, Seager already feels like a safe player, which is quite the compliment for a 23 year old. If I’m Matt, though, I’m hoping for another tick in offensive production. 25 HR, 90 RBIs with a near-.300 AVG is great, but he lacks some of the offensive ceiling of the following picks. Is Seager that different from what Bregman might offer later? But in the first round, drafting safe is often the better route to take.
12. Cody Bellinger - J.P. Breen, Milwaukee’s Tailgate
J.P.: "As much as I adore Manny Machado, I had to grab Cody Bellinger for my first-round pick. He's younger, projects to hit for more power, and will benefit from a high-end lineup. Moreover, Bellinger stole 17 bases between Triple-A and the majors last year, while Machado has only swiped nine in the past two years. All of that tipped the scales toward Bellinger for me."
Author’s Note: If Bellinger had accrued 650 plate appearances, he was on pace for a 103/46/115/11 season. While his power slowed down in the second half (14 HR), he improved his average and on-base percentage and cut down on his K%, promising signs that he can make adjustments. The Astros exposed him in the World Series, and that might tip some teams off on how to handle him in 2018, but not everyone has Lance McCullers’ curveball either.
13. Ronald Acuña - Tom Trudeau/Greg Wellemeyer, Dynasty Guru/Baseball Prospectus
Tom: “When Greg and I discussed co-owning a team (I happily accepted because he's easily one of the best dynasty owners there is) I advocated for my usual tank-year-one strategy. Greg was my toughest competition in the 20-team [The Dynasty Guru Expert League] this past year and has seen first hand the merits of delaying gratification in dynasty startups. I finished lastish in years one and two and that team now boasts Harper, Trout, Correa, Machado, Mookie and Vlad Jr.
As for Acuna, specifically, we targeted him with a bid for the 5th pick, but ended up selecting 13th. We're relieved to get him as he's our #2 or #3 asset for a tank strategy (you can make a case for #1, we both liked Correa #2 behind Trout).
Acuna looks to be the best fantasy prospect since Trout and Harper and is arguably more valuable than they were at the time due to the scarcity of the wheels he will bring. I've heard skeptics speculate he won't run in the Majors, but it's hard to fake all the bags he's swiped and I haven't seen sufficient research on SB efficiency in the minors to justify that concern.”
Author’s Note: In cased you missed it, just want to point out that Tom and Greg said they wanted the fifth pick to draft Acuña. I think Tom did a good job explaining their rationale. They may not initially be going for it, but they’ll be damned if they don’t have the best prospect in baseball as a foundation for an eventual superteam. With a 25-year-old Machado still on the board, I can’t justify this pick, but boy did it drum up some chatter. I’m excited to see how this duo constructs their roster.
14. Manny Machado - Matt Thompson, Friends With Fantasy Benefits
Matt: “With the 14th pick I wasn’t expecting Machado to be on the board at all. I’ll gladly take the 25 year-old superstar in a contract year that gets to hit in that park. Pick will look even better if he gets shortstop eligibility, but even if he doesn’t I have a 25 year-old in his prime with probably another decade of elite performance in him. Perfect for dynasty formats.”
Author’s Note: I think this might be my favorite pick of the round for obvious reasons. Machado had a bit of a down year but a lot of that was bad batted ball luck. I don’t see any glaring reason why he can’t return to being the player that was on average eighth overall in ADP entering 2017. If he does, then mark this as the first steal of the draft.
15. Freddie Freeman - James Anderson, Rotowire
James: “Well, this was not a fun pick. I thought I would probably get Ronald Acuña at 15, and he went two picks ahead of me. Then Manny Machado, who I would have been ecstatic to end up with, went the pick before me. All of a sudden I was left with four or five guys I could make a case for at 15 and none that I felt great about starting my team with. I didn't want an outfielder who wouldn't run, and I wanted an element of safety and flexibility in case I choose to go for it in 2018 or build for 2019 and 2020. I also like to let hit tool be the tie breaker when I don't see much of a gap. I really can't stress strongly enough how uninspired this pick makes me feel.”
Author’s Note: One of the perils of drafting in the last quarter of a 20-team league is you’re now wading into the pool of Great-Not-Elite players, which is usually a less exciting way to start a dynasty league. To Freeman’s credit, his 2016 and his early 2017, especially, looked like he was morphing into an elite bat. But I understand James’ angst -- Freeman is not as young as some of the elite picks before, plays a fairly loaded position and doesn’t run. He’s very safe, and that has value in a league this deep. But Freeman doesn’t have that ‘Brag To Your Friends He Was Your First Pick In A Startup Dynasty League’ trait about him.
16. Giancarlo Stanton - Melissa Lockhard, Oakland Clubhouse
Melissa: “I planned to take a middle infielder or a third baseman with my first pick, but with my top picks off the board and Stanton still sitting there, I decided to take the plunge and go with power for my first selection. I recognize that there are risks involved in taking Stanton, who has a checkered injury history and doesn't always hit for average, but I'm taking a bet that his numbers will reach new heights in the American League East, with its hitter-friendly ballparks. Stanton will have plenty of line-up protection in New York, will be able to DH if leg injuries pop up and may find it easier to hit for average given the offensive environment at Yankee Stadium (not to mention the frequent road games at Fenway, Rogers Centre and Camden). At 28, Stanton figures to be hitting home runs for a long time for my team."
Author’s Note: Stanton’s biggest drawback in the fantasy environment right now is his toolkit is the least valuable. Home runs, RBI and runs are abundant. We saw his peak year last season and to his benefit, he’s going to one of the best places to try and replicate it. It’s really hard for me to see Stanton having a year worse than 100/40/110. You could argue players like J.D. Martinez, Khris Davis and Edwin Encarnacion do almost the same. But sometimes, just owning someone who can mash 55+ home runs is just damn fun.
17. Aaron Judge - Josh Katzenstein, The Times-Picayune
Josh: “This was a really tough call for me. Anthony Rizzo and JD Martinez were both strongly considered, but I decided I wanted to go younger. After reaching that decision, I debated between Judge, Alex Bregman and Gary Sanchez. I absolutely love Bregman's tools and think he'll be a five-category contributor for many years. Ultimately, I thought that Judge had the most upside of anyone on my board, and I didn't want to see him hit 50 homers every year for someone else.”
Author’s Note: I’m such a risk averse person in fantasy drafts that when someone drafts the big breakouts, I get excited to hear their rationale. I understand Josh wanting to take the risk and land last year’s runner up to the AL MVP. In the first half of a 20-team draft, perhaps floor should be more of a consideration. But the back portion is so ‘meh’ at times that you want to shoot for the stars. I don’t think there’s a riskier early investment than Judge considering his floor for 2018 could be starting right fielder for Triple-A and his ceiling AL MVP.
18. Clayton Kershaw - Chris Welsh, In This League
Chris: “This was tough, I had hope Stanton would fall, and then thinking Kershaw might go 17, I had set on Judge. This being a dynasty it allowed Kershaw and Blackmon to fall, and those were my two big choices after Judge went 17. I almost took Blackmon in hopes of getting Sale on the comeback, but figured 19 or 20 would take advantage and take Kershaw and Sale. I went with Kershaw to possibly be the counter to 1 and 2 (You) and Justin who are in win now. My hope is if Sale were to drop I could dominate pitching and build up hitting after. Being 18 is a bit of a disadvantage so I can zig when others are zagging. I also trust in my minor league drafting that I can focus offense for the future, as well expect older established hitters to fall in the dynasty format. Dream scenario is 19 and 20 want to play young and Blackmon comes back.”
Author’s Note: The pitching seal is finally broken! This group is showing that they prioritize bats much more than pitching, which runs counter to redraft leagues this year where sometimes three pitchers are gone inside the top 12. It’s no surprise why Kershaw fell this far: pitchers get hurt and are a riskier long-term investment than bats. In spite of that, this is great value for the game’s best pitcher. There is a little bit of health concern now that he hasn’t crossed 175 IP in the last two seasons, but when he’s on the mound |
2) Jul 03 (1) Jun 30 (1) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (1) Jun 26 (1) Jun 24 (1) Jun 22 (2) Jun 21 (1) Jun 18 (1) Jun 17 (1) Jun 16 (2) Jun 15 (1) Jun 13 (1) Jun 12 (1) Jun 10 (1) Jun 09 (1) Jun 08 (2) Jun 05 (1) Jun 04 (1) Jun 02 (1) Jun 01 (1) May 28 (1) May 27 (1) May 26 (2) May 25 (1) May 24 (1) May 19 (2) May 17 (2) May 15 (1) May 12 (1) May 11 (1) May 09 (2) May 06 (1) May 05 (1) May 04 (1) May 02 (1) May 01 (1) Apr 30 (1) Apr 28 (1) Apr 27 (1) Apr 25 (1) Apr 21 (1) Apr 20 (2) Apr 12 (2) Apr 11 (1) Apr 10 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 06 (2) Apr 04 (1) Apr 03 (1) Apr 02 (1) Mar 31 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 28 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 26 (1) Mar 24 (2) Mar 23 (1) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (2) Mar 20 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 15 (1) Mar 14 (1) Mar 13 (1) Mar 12 (1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (1) Mar 08 (1) Mar 06 (1) Mar 04 (1) Mar 03 (1) Mar 02 (1) Feb 28 (3) Feb 25 (1) Feb 24 (1) Feb 23 (1) Feb 22 (1) Feb 20 (1) Feb 18 (2) Feb 17 (1) Feb 16 (1) Feb 15 (2) Feb 14 (1) Feb 11 (1) Feb 10 (1) Feb 08 (2) Feb 06 (1) Feb 05 (1) Feb 03 (2) Feb 01 (1) Jan 31 (2) Jan 30 (2) Jan 27 (1) Jan 26 (2) Jan 24 (1) Jan 22 (2) Jan 20 (2) Jan 19 (1) Jan 16 (1) Jan 15 (1) Jan 13 (1) Jan 12 (2) Jan 09 (1) Jan 07 (2) Jan 05 (1) Jan 04 (1) Jan 02 (1) Jan 01 (1) Dec 31 (1) Dec 30 (1) Dec 29 (1) Dec 27 (1) Dec 26 (1) Dec 24 (1) Dec 21 (1) Dec 18 (1) Dec 17 (1) Dec 15 (2) Dec 14 (2) Dec 13 (1) Dec 12 (1) Dec 10 (1) Dec 09 (1) Dec 08 (1) Dec 06 (1) Dec 03 (2) Dec 01 (1) Nov 30 (1) Nov 28 (2) Nov 27 (1) Nov 25 (2) Nov 23 (1) Nov 22 (2) Nov 20 (2) Nov 17 (1) Nov 16 (1) Nov 13 (1) Nov 11 (2) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (1) Nov 08 (2) Nov 07 (2) Nov 05 (1) Nov 04 (1) Nov 02 (2) Nov 01 (1) Oct 31 (1) Oct 29 (1) Oct 28 (1) Oct 26 (2) Oct 24 (1) Oct 23 (1) Oct 22 (1) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (2) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (1) Oct 16 (1) Oct 15 (1) Oct 13 (2) Oct 11 (2) Oct 10 (1) Oct 08 (2) Oct 05 (1) Oct 01 (1) Sep 30 (1) Sep 29 (1) Sep 28 (1) Sep 27 (1) Sep 24 (1) Sep 23 (1) Sep 22 (1) Sep 19 (1) Sep 18 (1) Sep 14 (1) Sep 10 (1) Sep 09 (2) Sep 03 (2) Aug 30 (2) Aug 26 (1) Aug 23 (1) Aug 19 (1) Aug 17 (2) Aug 13 (1) Aug 11 (1) Aug 09 (1) Aug 06 (2) Aug 05 (1) Aug 04 (1) Jul 19 (1) Jul 16 (1) Jul 15 (1) Jul 14 (1) Jul 12 (1) Jun 30 (1) Jun 27 (1) Jun 25 (1) Jun 23 (1) Jun 20 (1) Jun 19 (1) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (1) Jun 16 (3) Jun 14 (1) Jun 11 (2) Jun 08 (2) Jun 06 (3) Jun 03 (1) Jun 02 (1) Jun 01 (2) May 31 (3) May 28 (1) May 27 (1) May 24 (1) May 22 (1) May 20 (1) May 18 (2) May 14 (1) May 13 (1) May 11 (1) May 10 (1) May 09 (1) May 08 (1) May 07 (1) May 06 (1) May 03 (1) May 02 (2) Apr 30 (2) Apr 29 (1) Apr 27 (1) Apr 26 (1) Apr 25 (1) Apr 24 (1) Apr 22 (1) Apr 20 (1) Apr 19 (2) Apr 18 (1) Apr 17 (2) Apr 16 (2) Apr 13 (1) Apr 11 (1) Apr 10 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 08 (1) Apr 07 (1) Apr 04 (1) Apr 02 (2) Apr 01 (1) Mar 31 (2) Mar 30 (1) Mar 29 (1) Mar 28 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 25 (2) Mar 23 (1) Mar 22 (3) Mar 20 (1) Mar 19 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 16 (2) Mar 13 (1) Mar 10 (1) Mar 09 (2) Mar 08 (2) Mar 07 (1) Mar 06 (2) Mar 03 (1) Mar 02 (1) Feb 26 (1) Feb 25 (1) Feb 24 (1) Feb 22 (2) Feb 20 (2) Feb 19 (1) Feb 18 (1) Feb 16 (1) Feb 15 (1) Feb 11 (2) Feb 09 (2) Feb 08 (2) Feb 05 (2) Feb 04 (1) Feb 03 (2) Feb 02 (1) Feb 01 (2) Jan 31 (1) Jan 30 (3) Jan 26 (1) Jan 23 (2) Jan 22 (1) Jan 20 (1) Jan 17 (1) Jan 16 (2) Jan 15 (1) Jan 14 (1) Jan 13 (1) Jan 11 (1) Jan 09 (1) Jan 08 (1) Jan 07 (2) Jan 06 (1) Jan 05 (1) Jan 04 (1) Jan 01 (1) Dec 31 (1) Dec 30 (2) Dec 28 (1) Dec 26 (1) Dec 25 (1) Dec 24 (1) Dec 23 (1) Dec 22 (1) Dec 21 (1) Dec 19 (1) Dec 18 (1) Dec 17 (1) Dec 16 (1) Dec 15 (1) Dec 14 (1) Dec 11 (1) Dec 09 (2) Dec 08 (1) Dec 07 (1) Dec 06 (1) Dec 05 (1) Dec 03 (1) Dec 02 (2) Dec 01 (2) Nov 01 (1)Awesome or Potentially Awesome Features of BigLaw
Unawesome Features of BigLaw
Unfortunately,. While there are parts of being a lawyer that can involve some of the glamorous aspects highlighted in the show (for example, helping people in need through pro bono work, winning an intellectual contest against the adverse party in litigation, or "winning" a transactional matter by obtaining more value for your client than she had anticipated), there is also a great deal of detail-oriented and much less interesting work and also potentially significant adverse impact on your personal life.Suits does depict some awesome or potentially awesome aspects of BigLaw, so I thought I'd start with the good news. One of the reasonably accurate depictions of a positive aspect of BigLaw is the high pay and the fancy perks surrounding the characters. For example, they frequently dine at high-end restaurants, Harvey takes Mike to Atlantic City in tuxes, Louis Litt has two great seats to each show of the ballet, and the partners live in spacious Manhattan apartments. This is a real phenomenon. The two top law firms most similar to Pearson Hardman are probablyand, which have annual profits per partner of ~$3.5 million and ~5 million, respectively. That kind of money certainly allows partners to easily afford the lifestyles that are portrayed in the show, particularly if they do not have expensive divorces to pay for. Even as big law firm associates, you often get access to tickets to fancy events from the firm or individual partners, and you will eat quite a few fine dining establishments for firm events, such as retreats, or recruiting meals. The salaries are also quite significant, with the big law firm market salary starting at $160,000 per year for first year associates (fresh law graduates frequently with no professional experience), and rising steadily over the years. The market pay scale for large firms is available here:(there are certainly firms that exceed this by a bit as well - but this is the standard rate for the top tier of law firms in the United States). That is a hefty salary, good for the 90th percentile of all U.S. income tax filers according to(though you cannot forget the burden of student loans). Suits shows the difference in wealth between partners and associates (compare Mike Ross's apartment to Harvey Specter's), and that it provides quite a high income at all levels, but really an incredibly high income for established partners.Another reasonably realistic, and potentially awesome for Machiavellian types, aspect of BigLaw is the internal politics of large law firms. Firm politics, with respect to firm management (the battle for control between Jessica Pearson and Daniel Hardeman) and also partner compensation (not really addressed in the show), is a reality. For an example, please see this article about the internal politics of Mayer Brown:. Further, the merger that created Pearson Darby is reflective of a trend toward consolidation among big law firms, and often is the result of internal managerial turmoil. Finally, law firms generally do not have professional managers at the top levels of firm administration, and rely on lawyers to handle the role of C-suite executives at other types of companies.Finally, the office romances and complications depicted in Suits, while sometimes taken to extremes in how they are depicted, actually exist, perhaps compounded by the long hours of working in close quarters combined with high stress environments. Some examples can be found here:and. However, these salacious stories may be no more common in law firms than in other industries; I just wouldn't know. If you're looking for romance in BigLaw, I personally know of numerous romantic relationships that have formed in the workplace.I appreciate that the show alludes to the more mundane aspects of the job, but it certainly does not emphasize them. For example, Mike pulls an all-nighter to review a roomful of documents for the wrongful termination pro bono lawsuit in Season 1, Episode 1 and is also handed a large binder and numerous documents to review for the mock trial. Rachel and Mike also stay late at the office to conduct research. Hours-intensive labor is a large percentage of the job for junior associates at big law firms; much more than the fun stuff that is often depicted in the show (for example, negotiations with opposing counsel, interviewing clients or witnesses, or appearing in court).Further, you are working a lot. If you notice, Jessica comes back to the office late at night after a formal event, Harvey comes back into the office to deal with a client in Season 1, Episode 1, and Mike has to sleep in the office one night (requiring Jenny to bring him a suit the next day). These moments are indicative of the long hours that may be required, but they don't seem to be that bad in the show. Being a BigLaw attorney is very demanding and frequently places a lot of stress on your other personal relationships. Significant others and spouses often compete with the job for time, attention, and energy. Suits alludes to this: Jessica, Harvey, and Lewis are all unmarried and have no ongoing deep personal relationships outside of the workplace that we know of. Mike's relationship with Jenny did not seem too stressful in terms of time, attention, and energy, but that may be because their relationship is so new or because the show is fictional.Finally, another major unrealistic point about the show is that Harvey and Mike are both litigators and transactional lawyers and they cover an enormously diverse range of legal fields (patents, mergers & acquisitions, commercial litigation, criminal defense, and employment law are areas that come to mind). That's pretty awesome that they are the best in every field of law! In reality, the vast majority of big law firm attorneys specialize in certain areas of law, and at least broadly choose to be either litigators (essentially, representing clients in disputes before adjudicatory bodies such as courts, government agencies, or in arbitration) or transactional lawyers (representing clients in transactions including licensing, mergers, spin-offs, regulatory filings). This is a fairly substantial divide that few cross once they are senior lawyers and none that I'm aware of do so with the frequency of Harvey Spector. Relatedly, in genuine big law practice, attorneys consult with specialists in certain fields or bring in assistance more frequently than in Suits. For example, Louis assists on one of Harvey and Mike's cases in(though generally this is done amicably and reasonably routinely). In the show, Harvey is often assigned the most important or biggest cases of the firm, regardless of their subject matter, but that is fairly unrealistic.I really like that Suits actually gives the viewer a chance to see hints of the difficult and unsexy side of practing BigLaw, and I completely understand their choice to focus on the more interesting and dramatic aspects of it. But don't be fooled! It is awesome for some people, but not nearly as awesome as the show suggests.Move over parrots, there's a new animal on the dance floor. Her name is Ronan, and she's a California sea lion at Long Marine Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Scientists at the lab trained Ronan to bob her head in time with rhythmic sounds, then showed that she could transfer this skill to tempos and music she hadn't heard before.
Ronan is the first non-human mammal convincingly shown to be able to keep the beat. Scientists call it "rhythmic entrainment," and aside from humans it was previously seen only in parrots and other birds with a talent for vocal mimicry. Ronan's sense of rhythm undercuts an increasingly influential theory that beat keeping requires a capacity for complex vocal learning, according to Peter Cook, a graduate student in psychology at UC Santa Cruz and first author of the study, published online April 1, 2013 in the Journal of Comparative Psychology.
Sea lions have limited flexibility in the sounds they make, and they are not known to be capable of vocal mimicry. "Ronan's success poses a real problem for the theory that vocal mimicry is a necessary precondition for rhythmic entrainment," Cook said.
Internet sensation
That theory had gained support from two 2009 studies inspired by a sulfur-crested cockatoo named Snowball, who became an Internet sensation after his owner posted a video of Snowball dancing to the Backstreet Boys. Researchers intrigued by the video had conducted a rigorous search for more dancing-animal videos and found that, at least on YouTube, parrots and their relatives accounted for almost every apparent case of beat keeping.
"The idea was that beat keeping is a fortuitous side effect of adaptations for vocal mimicry, which requires matching incoming auditory signals with outgoing vocal behavior," Cook said. "It's understandable why that theory was attractive. But the fact is our sea lion has gotten really good at keeping the beat. Our finding represents a cautionary note for an idea that was really starting to take hold in the field of comparative psychology."
Born in the wild in 2008, Ronan was rescued by the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito in 2009 after she was found on Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County. It was her third stranding incident, and she didn't seem to be making it in the wild. She came to Long Marine Lab in January 2010 and joined the Pinniped Cognition and Sensory Systems Laboratory directed by one of Cook's advisers at UCSC, animal behaviorist Colleen Reichmuth.
At first, the beat-keeping study was a side project for both Ronan and Cook. Ronan had originally served as a healthy control in Cook's primary research project, which focuses on the cognitive effects of a neurotoxin produced by certain algae found along the California coast. During blooms of the algae, the toxin enters the food chain and sometimes causes mass strandings of sea lions. Many of the affected animals end up at the Marine Mammal Center for rehabilitation, where Cook collaborates with the staff to study the effects of the neurotoxin, using a mixture of brain imaging and behavioral approaches.
'Particularly bright sea lion'
The idea to use Ronan in a study of beat keeping was spurred partly by her facility for rapid learning. "From my first interactions with her, it was clear that Ronan was a particularly bright sea lion," Cook said. "Everybody in the animal cognition world, including me, was intrigued by the dancing bird studies, but I remember thinking that no one had attempted a strong effort to show beat keeping in an animal other than a parrot. I figured training a mammal to move in time to music would be hard, but Ronan seemed like an ideal subject."
Working mostly on weekends, Cook and research technician Andrew Rouse began training Ronan to bob her head to a beat, starting with simple rhythm tracks. It took a few months before she was reliably keeping the beat, but once she had mastered it, Ronan showed a remarkable ability to keep time to novel rhythmic tempos and music. Currently, her favorite track seems to be Earth Wind & Fire's "Boogie Wonderland."
"Given her success at keeping the beat with new rhythm tracks and songs following her initial training, it's possible that keeping the beat isn't that hard for her," Cook said. "She just had to learn what it was we wanted her to do."
Although parrots may show a greater inclination for this behavior without explicit training, Cook noted that it is not clear whether birds like Snowball started dancing spontaneously. Cockatoos and other parrots are long-lived, highly social birds known to bond closely with their human keepers. "Some of these parrots are not intentionally trained, but they do have decades of complex interaction with humans," he said.
Better than birds
Cook also noted that the well-trained Ronan performs much better than the birds at staying on the beat. "In the videos, Alex [an African gray parrot] and Snowball fall off the beat a lot. They’re good at finding the tempo in music, but don’t seem to maintain the behavior as reliably as Ronan. She stays right on the beat," he said.
Cook is working with Margaret Wilson, an associate professor of psychology at UC Santa Cruz, to explore the implications of the new findings. Scientists once thought that the underpinnings of musical ability were unique to humans. The recent demonstrations of entrainment in parrots have challenged that, but only in a limited way, leading to the idea that specializations for vocal mimicry might be necessary for the ability to move in time with a heard rhythm. This theory cannot, however, account for beat keeping in Ronan, a non-mimic. Wilson and Cook argue that the brain mechanisms needed for beat keeping may be widespread in the animal kingdom.
"Human musical ability may in fact have foundations that are shared with animals," Cook said. "People have assumed that animals lack these abilities. In some cases, people just hadn't looked."
Cook, Rouse, Wilson, and Reichmuth are all coauthors of the new paper. Rouse was a UCSC undergraduate when he began working at the Pinniped Lab, earning a B.S. in biology in 2011. This research was supported by an award from the Packard Endowment for Ocean Sciences at UCSC and a National Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship to Peter Cook. The Pinniped Lab works with Ronan under National Marine Fisheries Service permit #14535.PORTLAND, Ore. – In response to an increase in perceived hate-related activity across the Portland Metro Area, the United States Attorney’s Office, along with law enforcement partners from across the state, encourage anyone with information about hate-related activity to contact their local law enforcement agency and the FBI.
If you are concerned about your safety, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
Recent reports of hate-related activity in our state are deeply concerning to members of our law enforcement community. Beyond local reports, Oregonians have likely seen an increase in news reports and social media posts about alleged hate crimes and harassment across the country. These reports have caused many in our community to fear for their own or their loved ones’ safety.
“The United States Attorney’s Office, with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, wants to reassure community members that we are united in our efforts to combat hate crimes in any form and to repudiate the targeting of individuals because of their actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity” said Billy J. Williams, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We remain committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting all hate crimes.”
“We must stand together against hate because all Oregonians deserve to feel safe in our communities," said Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. "A hate crime occurs when somebody intentionally subjects another to offensive physical contact, physical injury, or damage to another person’s property based on their race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. Fortunately, in Oregon we have laws that protect us from these hateful acts.”
“Everyone has a right to live, work and worship freely and without fear,” said Loren Cannon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon. “When someone commits a crime of violence against you because of your race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, gender or gender identity, the FBI will stand with you to make sure our shared community is both safe and just.”
Victims and witnesses of crime are not responsible for determining whether an action rises to the level of a hate crime. Law enforcement personnel in Oregon encourage over-reporting. Links to Oregon police departments and county sheriffs’ offices are listed below:
For crimes committed in Oregon, the FBI Portland Division can be reached at (503) 224-4181. A list of all local FBI offices is available at: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices. Reports to the FBI can also be submitted online from any state via: https://tips.fbi.gov.
Additionally, the Oregon Department of Justice collects reports of hate crimes to ensure these are passed on to the appropriate authority for investigation via the following web form: https://justice.oregon.gov/crimereporting/hatecrime.
If you have questions about your rights or the hate crime reporting process, please contact any of the following law enforcement agencies:Ready 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.
Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue
Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month!
Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter.
Fight Back! Sign up for Take Action Now and we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each 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 we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each week.
Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue
Travel With The Nation Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits.
Sign up for our Wine Club today. Did you know you can support The Nation by drinking wine?
In 2009, Dashiell Bennett at Deadspin compiled four years of clichés about how the New Orleans Saints were somehow central to the “recovery” of New Orleans. The eerie part of these articles is how similar they are year after year, almost like the start of the football season meant that the leading publications needed to have one “Saints are Saving New Orleans” article “in the can” by Labor Day. This is how media organizations also handle obituaries: written in advance to avoid the slightest delay when announcing death. Ad Policy
As the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the breaking of the levees is discussed this week, the well-worn narrative that “the Saints saved New Orleans” has continued endlessly, far more magnified than the pressing issues of poverty, racism, charter school failures, and displacement that still plague the city. The Saints narrative is like a game of video-friendly connect-the-dots: the Steve Gleason blocked punt, the U2 concert, the ascension of Drew Brees from mid-level quarterback with a bad shoulder to sure-fire Hall of Famer, the big Super Bowl win led by savior coach Sean Payton and an amazing defense. Each of these touchpoints has an ugly underside: Steve Gleason now bravely endures ALS, which the league refuses to admit was exacerbated by football. The Saints defensive MVP for that Super Bowl team, Darren Sharper, is now a convicted serial rapist in one of the more horrific crime sprees of gender violence in sports history. Sean Payton has struggled with Vicodin addiction and personal issues that are an open secret throughout the city. There was “Bountygate,” the scandal that wasn’t, which took away a year of this team’s prime window to become a double Super Bowl champion, and was, in retrospect, the first sign before Ray Rice and Deflategate that Roger Goodell was simply in over his head. There is Drew Brees, in that awkward twilight of his career where he still throws for a ton of yards but also too many picks, yet whose icon-status makes it impossible to let him go. And then there is U2, who at the time seemed to be an embarrassing choice to play during halftime at the Superdome when it reopened: about as representative of New Orleans as a gluten-free po’ boy. Yet in retrospect, they were a sign of things to come. U2 by 2005 was less of a band than a global brand, and New Orleans had already decided they would rebuild as a global city, open for business and closed to the poor who had been displaced.
More than all the Saints-themed retrospectives one could conjure, a simple poll tells the story of New Orleans today far more effectively. The best polls have the power to paint pictures, to transport a theory from the realm of opinion to fact. The Public Policy Research Lab at Louisiana State University produced such a poll. They found that “nearly four out of five white residents believe the city has mostly recovered, while nearly three out of five blacks say it has not, a division sustained over a variety of issues, including the local economy, the state of schools and the quality of life.”
The fact of the matter is, as The New York Times wrote, “African-Americans were far more likely to have lived in a flooded part of the city, and places that were worse-hit by the flooding, such as the Lower Ninth Ward, have taken much longer to recover.”
As for the New Orleans Saints, they have not so much saved the city as reflected the ways in which the city has changed. This was a team whose owner, Tom Benson, was looking to move out of the city before Hurricane Katrina, in search of public funding for a new stadium. He received that cash to stay in New Orleans, but only after the Superdome was ripped apart. That the Superdome was a FEMA funding priority was a slap in the face to the people who were waiting endlessly for federal funds to rebuild. It was a sign of how business was going to be done. THE NATION IS READER FUNDED. YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL TO OUR WORK. DONATE NOW!
And yet… like Drew Brees, despite how erratic it’s all been, New Orleans is still one of the great cities on earth. It’s almost unexplainable how something so beautiful can still exist amidst so much mismanagement, so much vulture capitalism, and so much personal pain. The flaws are as thick as the humidity, yet in an era of carbon-copy cities, New Orleans is still all its own place. This is not a post-Katrina phenomenon but a function of its history: Its singularity has always been there in the architecture, the above-ground cemeteries, the food, the music, and above all else, the people. As much as they try to commodify this city, it is still a place apart. Similarly, in an era of carbon-copy football, there is Drew Brees, balding, pushing 40, barely six feet tall, and slinging the ball around like he’s still in it for the thrill. But that unique spark, while more durable than Brees, still needs to be defended. The vultures won’t be sated until it is consumed. The Saints players that love New Orleans should stand with the people in that fight, even if it means standing against whatever the NFL and their corporate partners have planned for the city’s future.Supporters of Russian-backed separatist leader Col. Igor Strelkov at a demonstration in Moscow in the summer of 2014. Sign: "Our Name is Strelkov!" Photo by East News.
Novaya Gazeta’s correspondent Pavel Kanygin, among the best chroniclers of the Russian-backed separatist leaders in the Donbass, published a good round up on December 8 on the fate of the Russian-backed separatists, titled “Managed Spring,” in a reference to the concept of the “managed democracy” of President Vladimir Putin.
He covers Colonel Igor Strelkov (Girkin), commander of the forces of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DPR); “Bes” or Demon, Major General Igor Bezler; Ataman Nikolai Kozitsyn, a Cossack commander; and Aleksandr Khodakovsky, a former officer in the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and now the head of Vostok Battalion in the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (LPR). Where are the “heroes of Novorossiya” now, asks Kanygin, referring to the term the fighters used to describe an imaginary realm based on historic Russian imperial lands — or just parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions they control.
The “turbulent “Volodin spring” of the Crimea and the East of Ukraine has ended in the quiet ‘Surkov autumn,” says Kanygin, referring to Vyacheslav Volodin, the first deputy chief of the Kremlin staff and Vladislav Surkov, head of the division for Commonwealth of Independent States of the former Soviet Union (CIS), Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the Kremlin. Surkov’s department has recently undergone a shake-up, with dismissals, resignations and some new staff, and admonitions about “losing Kharkiv” and other Ukrainian cities where Russia tried to instigate riots and takeovers by pro-Russian forces. Says Kanygin (translation by The Interpreter):
The Kremlin has finally rejected the idea of the independence of the DPR and LPR. And as our source, close to the ‘Novorossiya’ project notes, wishes to “push the republics back into Ukraine on conditions of some kind of autonomy.” Three Novaya Gazeta sources simultaneously — in the presidential administration, in the government, and directly in the DPR and LPR — confirmed: we can forget about an independent Novorossiya. Vladislav Surkov is involved with the “pushing back” of the eastern regions. And also, under Surkov’s direction, Igor Udovichekno, the new deputy head of the administration’s division for social-economic cooperation with the CIS, Abakhazia and South Ossetia; he took the place of Boris Rapoport. Rapoport’s resignation is also connected to the change in moods inside the Kremlin. As the “Novorossiya Popular Front” put it, “Slava [Surkov] decided that Rapoport was not coping, although we were working on the whole fairly well.” It should be noted that Rapoport had enjoyed great authority among the leaders of the separatist movement and was considered their “ideological advocate.”
Strelkov has been Surkov’s greatest critic, and in recent weeks has been giving critical interviews to any media that will listen. He openly blames Surkov for the failure of the “Russian spring,” as the separatists dubbed their Donbass offensive. Surkov is also believed to be the main force behind the purge of all the Russian leaders, as one after another they’ve all been dismissed in recent months, ostensibly because they were “too independent” or even “rogue.” Bes had even reached the point of declaring a “Gorlovka-Yenakiev People’s Republic” in Gorlovka and neighboring towns and defied the DPR leadership, even negotiating directly with Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskiy and exchanging POWs. Bes got the Privat-bank ATMs to work in Gorlovka and was also said to change tactics with Ukraine in recent months, conceiving of “an autonomous Donbass inside a united Ukraine.”
Kozitsyn, too, had declared a “Cossack People’s Republic” in the western districts of Lugansk Region where his people were busy raids and robberies. He was infamous for having two portraits on the wall of his office: President Vladimir Putin, and Surkov, but it didn’t save him; he has now disappeared from the scene, soon after a Novaya Gazeta reporter spoke with him. A source in the “Novorossiya” camp said he is still alive, although his men were getting savaged by Oplot, the battalion once run by DPR leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko.
According to Kanygin’s sources, the operation to remove the prominent separatist leaders was run by Gen. Sergei Surovikin of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff. Bezler was sent off to the Crimea “with honors”; Kozitsyn’s people were charged with stealing coal and re-selling it to Ukrainian business, which is why the ataman seems to have gone into hiding.
Regarding Strelkov, a source in the presidential administration said, referring to him by his name and patronymic, “Igor Ivanovich is attracting attention to himself in vain. The past cannot be returned.” Kanygin says Strelkov still has a following in the Donbass though; the commanders who have become infamous with the Donetsk Airport Battle, Givi and Motorola, are still loyal to him.
The purge of the Muscovite separatist leaders is being done for the sake of “confirming unified leadership” of Zakharchenko, who was said to be promoted with Surkov by Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov. Kanygin says the Oplot fight club Zakharchenko used to run was founded in Kharkov by Party of Regions member Aleksandr Bobkov, and among the founders was another Donetsk boss Sergei Arbuzov, who was the head of the government of Ukraine under deposed leader Viktor Yanukovych. Now Arbuzov is in Moscow. Oplot is said to be financed “by people close to Akhmetov,” says a source, ever since Oplot fighters were put to work guarding Akhmetov’s properties and keeping them safe from their more aggressive separatist fellows.
Despite having installed Zakharchenko, the Moscow “curators,” as the managers of “Novorossiya” are called, don’t respect him, but had to put someone in place from the region.
Surkov’s appointees are living large in Donetsk, urban life under their rule has acquired certain traits of Moscow decadence. For example, oysters have appeared in restaurants, which weren’t there before the war. Dreamy conversations about the imminent introduction of the ruble have begun. Even so, disenchantment in Zakharchenko is already sensed in the staff; he is called an incompetent manager.
As for Khodakovsky, Kanygin’s sources says his |
> MyPassPhrase
> EOF If you wish to configure your Galileo to connect to the wireless network automatically, edit /etc/network/interfaces file and add auto wlan0 line somewhere in the file. I suggest putting it right before iface wlan0 line: # /etc/network/interfaces -- configuration file for ifup(8), ifdown(8)
# The loopback interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
# Wireless interfaces
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wireless_mode managed
wireless_essid any
wpa-driver wext
wpa-conf /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf Restart networking: root@clanton:/etc# /etc/init.d/networking restart
Running /etc/init.d/networking restart is deprecated because it may not enable again some interfaces
Reconfiguring network interfaces...
ifdown: interface wlan0 not configured
ifdown: interface eth0 not configured
udhcpc (v1.20.2) started
Sending discover...
Sending select for 192.168.1.9...
Lease of 192.168.1.9 obtained, lease time 86400
/etc/udhcpc.d/50default: Adding DNS 192.168.1.254
udhcpc (v1.20.2) started
Sending discover...
Sending discover...
Sending discover...
No lease, failing You can also bring wireless interface up or down using ifup wlan0 and ifdown wlan0 command (even if you didn't enable auto connect in step 3): root@clanton:/etc# ifdown wlan0
[ 1180.113711] wlan0: deauthenticating from c8:60:00:d2:95:2c by local choice (reason=3)
[ 1180.183410] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
root@clanton:/etc# ifup wlan0
Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
[ 1186.273174] iwlwifi 0000:01:00.0: L1 Disabled; Enabling L0S
[ 1186.287015] iwlwifi 0000:01:00.0: Radio type=0x2-0x1-0x0
[ 1186.563247] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
udhcpc (v1.20.2) started
Sending discover...
[ 1189.866932] wlan0: authenticate with c8:60:00:d2:95:2c
[ 1189.888080] wlan0: send auth to c8:60:00:d2:95:2c (try 1/3)
Sending discover...
[ 1190.100271] wlan0: send auth to c8:60:00:d2:95:2c (try 2/3)
[ 1190.106813] wlan0: authenticated
[ 1190.120257] wlan0: associate with c8:60:00:d2:95:2c (try 1/3)
[ 1190.127349] wlan0: RX AssocResp from c8:60:00:d2:95:2c (capab=0x11 status=0 aid=2)
[ 1190.159137] wlan0: associated
[ 1190.162421] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
Sending discover...
Sending select for 192.168.1.9...
Lease of 192.168.1.9 obtained, lease time 86400
/etc/udhcpc.d/50default: Adding DNS 192.168.1.254 LSB-compliant Image
If compiled correctly LSB image will contain iwlwifi kernel module and firmware for current Intel wireless adapters.
Poky LSB compliant image uses connman for managing network connections. I used the following procedure to configure wireless there. Login to your Galileo as root
Start connmanctl: root@clanton:~# connmanctl Enable wireless using enable wifi command: connmanctl> enable wifi Scan for available wireless networks using scan wifi command: connmanctl> scan wifi
Scan completed Display available wireless network and note one you want to connect to: connmanctl> services
MyWiFi { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_ 4d7957694669 _managed_psk }
Guest { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_4775657374_managed_psk }
kafenet { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_6b6166656e6574_managed_psk }
DIPPELFAMILY { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_44495050454c46414d494c59_managed_psk }
aussie { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_617573736965_managed_psk }
aussie { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_hidden_managed_psk }
EverydayParadise { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_45766572796461795061726164697365_managed_psk }
5VHXG { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_3556485847_managed_psk }
Moria-2G_xt { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_4d6f7269612d32475f7874_managed_psk }
unknown_protocol { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_756e6b6e6f776e5f70726f746f636f6c_managed_psk }
Stock-House { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_53746f636b2d486f757365_managed_psk }
Moria-2G { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_4d6f7269612d3247_managed_psk }
5NFP6 { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_354e465036_managed_wep }
Moria-Guest { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_4d6f7269612d4775657374_managed_psk }
XEMT2 { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_58454d5432_managed_wep }
4RDS1 { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_3452445331_managed_wep }
Kingdom1 { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_4b696e67646f6d31_managed_wep }
Belkin_N+_D57D20 { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_42656c6b696e5f4e2b5f443537443230_managed_none }
Comcast { wifi_b4b6765faaf0_436f6d63617374_managed_wep } (As you can see I have way too many wireless access points in my neighborhood... some are even wide open)
Next three steps are needed because currently connmanctl lacks command to setup passphrase for a network.
Exit connman for now using exit command: connmanctl> exit
root@clanton:~# Create a file in /var/lib/connman/. The file name is not really important. The header (first line of the file) should be in [service_<service_name>] format, where <service_name> is the name from the services command output above matching SSID of your network. Set the Security value according to the security type of your network (wep, wpa, none). Also set the Passphrase value to the passphrase of your wireless network:
root@clanton:~# cat << EOF > /var/lib/connman/wifi.config
[service_wifi_b4b6765faaf0_ 4d7957694669 _managed_psk]
Type = wifi
Security = wpa
Name = MyWiFi
Passphrase = MyPassPhrase
EOF
root@clanton:~#
Stop and start connman to re-read configuration:
root@clanton:~# /etc/init.d/connman stop
Stopping Connection Manager
root@clanton:~# /etc/init.d/connman start
Starting Connection Manager Shortly you should see something like this on your console:
[ 1879.331020] eth0: device MAC address 00:13:20:ff:16:af
[ 1879.357126] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): eth0: link is not ready
[ 1879.403465] iwlwifi 0000:01:00.0: L1 Disabled; Enabling L0S
[ 1879.417585] iwlwifi 0000:01:00.0: Radio type=0x2-0x1-0x0
[ 1879.701814] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 1892.405363] wlan0: authenticate with c8:60:00:d2:95:2c
[ 1892.431336] wlan0: send auth to c8:60:00:d2:95:2c (try 1/3)
[ 1892.640274] wlan0: send auth to c8:60:00:d2:95:2c (try 2/3)
[ 1892.647289] wlan0: authenticated
[ 1892.660276] wlan0: associate with c8:60:00:d2:95:2c (try 1/3)
[ 1892.674197] wlan0: RX AssocResp from c8:60:00:d2:95:2c (capab=0x11 status=0 aid=2)
[ 1892.706347] wlan0: associated
[ 1892.709495] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
You can run ifconfig command to make sure that wlan0 interface is configured correctly:
root@clanton:~# ifconfig
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:13:20:ff:16:af
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST DYNAMIC MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:1 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:322 (322.0 B)
Interrupt:40
lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:65536 Metric:1
RX packets:32 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:32 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:2240 (2.1 KiB) TX bytes:2240 (2.1 KiB)
wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr b4:b6:76:5f:aa:f0
inet addr:192.168.1.9 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
inet6 addr: fe80::b6b6:76ff:fe5f:aaf0/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:936 errors:0 dropped:453 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:153 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:142868 (139.5 KiB) TX bytes:36885 (36.0 KiB)A Russian police officer who is in Virginia to participate in the World Police and Fire Games is accused of trying to steal merchandise from a department store.
The Washington Post reported that 29-year-old Ruslan Rizaev has been charged with grand larceny after police say he stole several hundred dollars' worth of clothing Tuesday from a Macy's store in Tysons Corner.
A judge on Wednesday ordered Rizaev to surrender his passport pending a preliminary hearing next week.
Rizaev is listed as a member of the Tatarstan Republic Police team competing in ice hockey at the World Police and Fire Games. The competition began last week.
The newspaper said the Fairfax public defender's office was appointed to represent Rizaev but did not have any details about his case.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC4 WashingtonIf you follow the NBA or TMZ or both -- and, honestly, these days you should probably be following both -- you might have noticed a video last week of LeBron James exiting a coffee shop in Los Angeles and immediately being peppered about his future. If not, here's the video:
Turquoise shirt, backwards black hat, sunglasses, beard.
Undeniably, that's LeBron James.
I know you know that.
But what you might not know is that two more prominent figures exited Coral Tree Coffee right in front of James that day. Multiple industry sources confirmed to CBS Sports that, yes, that's James' agent, Klutch Sports Group founder Rich Paul, in the white hat, and Cameron Reddish, a consensus top-five high school prospect in the Class of 2018, in the gray and black hoodie. So it's reasonable to assume they had just had lunch together in Brentwood. Or, at least, they had a cup of coffee or tea or something.
Which is totally OK.
There is no NCAA rule prohibiting prospects from meeting with agents. It's allowed, as one NCAA source explained, "as long as the agent isn't providing a benefit to the prospect -- and the prospect hasn't agreed to be represented by the agent." So there is nothing necessarily improper happening in that TMZ video. But it does offer a glimpse into two things:
1: How James seems to play an active role with Klutch Sports Group.
2: How early elite basketball prospects are targeted by sports agents and agencies.
"I think [Paul] uses LeBron a lot [to help lure future clients]," a person familiar with the inner workings of how agencies pursue prospects told CBS Sports. And, to be sure, that opinion has existed in basketball circles for years -- although, it's only fair to note, this practice is hardly unique to Paul, James and Klutch Sports Group. Other NBA agents have other NBA players who operate similarly. It's just that James appears to be the biggest star with the most influence who is also comfortable being an active de facto recruiter.
And it's nothing new.
One source told CBS Sports he remembers seeing James at a club in Las Vegas many years back at a private table with, among others, Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph -- who were, at the time, high school students at Findlay Prep in Nevada. "That was an eye-opener for me," the source said.
Thompson and Joseph are now represented by Klutch Sports Group.
Probably not a coincidence.
James' influence over prospects is also something rival agents used to complain about back when the LeBron James Skills Academy was held annually in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The four-time NBA MVP and three-time NBA champion would regularly host prospects at his 30,000-square foot mansion for bowling or movies or whatever. And though some recognized it as little more than an attempt to mentor young players, others assumed James' motives were also guided, at least in part, by future business possibilities.
To be clear, it's true James has no official role with, or stake in, Klutch Sports Group. But what's also true is that he and Paul have been close since before James graduated high school in 2003, and that the NBA has investigated whether James is a part-owner in Klutch Sports Group. The league reportedly found no evidence of such. But that's never stopped eyebrows from raising.
Either way, this is a fact: Reddish, who is being recruited by Duke, Kentucky and others, is already a target. He's an 18-year-old from Philadelphia who was in California for the Nike Skills Academy that ran from Aug. 16-19. And, after the event ended, the 6-foot-7 forward remained in California and met with Paul and James, as the TMZ video proves. Again, that's technically within NCAA guidelines; the video is not a so-called smoking gun. But it does underline just how early agencies start recruiting five-star prospects. And if you've ever wondered how a one-and-done player can announce he's entering the NBA Draft on a Tuesday morning and then sign with an agent on that same Tuesday night, it's because the relationships between agents and heralded prospects typically date to when the prospects were 16 or 17 years old.
"And sometimes even earlier," one industry source insisted.
That's the Business of Basketball in 2017.
And here's why: There's a decent chance Reddish will play one more season of high school basketball and then one season of college basketball before becoming a top-five pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. If so, he would likely sign a four-year contract worth more than $20 million only 22 months from now. Same goes for fellow Class of 2018 stars R.J. Barrett, Bol Bol and Zion Williamson.
In other words, their futures are lucrative and fairly predictable.
Consequently, it's easy to understand why Reddish is already being wooed by an agent; it would be weird if he weren't. And if Paul is indeed using King James to help, well, that's easy to understand too. And, more to the point, it's hardly surprising.UPDATE:
Just two weeks ago we began voting for Adam Carson of AFI as he was among the list of candidates considered for Music Radar’s “Who is the best international drummer of 2017?” poll. Thanks to all of the fans who voted for Adam (HELL YES!). Adam landed at the 12th spot out of 17. See below for the comments made about Adam’s amazing drum work:
Adam Carson (AFI)
2017 highlight: AFI have blossomed from black-clad hardcore punks with a cult following to alt rock superstars. At the start of the year they released their tenth studio album, AFI (The Blood Album). Adam Carson’s skills behind the kit have always flown under the radar… continue reading!
See the original thread by clicking on the blurriness below.
What is YOUR favorite song for Adam’s drum work? For me personally, one of them is definitely “I Hope You Suffer”.
What’s yours?
Credit: AFINewHQ
[spoiler]>Who is the best international rock drummer of 2017?
Among 17 drummers, Adam Carson is in there so he needs your help to win MusicRadar’s “Best International Rock Drummer of 2017”! I just voted for Adam! Last year Red Hot Chili Pepper’s drummer Chad Smith won. This year, we need to get Adam selected as the winner, so follow the link below to vote for our very own Adam Carson!
Credit: AFINewsHQ[/spoiler]On Wednesday, federal environment minister Greg Hunt approved the Watermark Coal Mine in New South Wales.
That approval, given under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, is not the final step. Shenhua still needs a mining license from New South Wales, and three further approvals on water management and rehabilitation from the federal government.
In an economic analysis the mine, proposed by Chinese mining company Shenhua, was valued at A$1.3-1.6 billion. The mine is expected to produce up to 10 million tonnes of coal each year over the its 30-year lifetime.
Minister Hunt said the approval was granted with some of the strictest environmental conditions in Australia’s history. But federal agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce, current member for New England where the mine will be constructed, labelled the approval “ridiculous” for allowing a mine in agricultural land.
And former independent MP Tony Windsor, who held the seat of New England until 2013, has indicated the approval was a “tick in the positive box” for his potential return to politics.
Below, experts respond.
John Rolfe, Deputy Dean of Research, School of Business and Law at Central Queensland University
The potential development of the Shenhua coal mine for coal-fired power plants in China expose the differences between aspirational goals and what is happening in reality. China has underpinned the huge increase in demand for coal between 2004 and 2013, and is now the world’s largest producer, consumer and importer of coal.
Some commentators have predicted that China’s consumption of coal will soon peak, perhaps by 2015, because of cost pressures, the growth in renewables, and government restrictions.
While China’s growth in demand for coal is slowing, absolute growth in coal consumption will continue for another one and a half decades. The World Energy Outlook 2014, summarised by Ian Cronshaw, predicted that total global energy use will increase by almost 40% to 2040.
While the share of renewable energies grows, and the share of fossil fuels falls over that time period, the absolute share of fossil fuels is predicted to increase. China is central to this story, with predictions that it will account for almost a quarter of energy usage by 2020.
There are a number of reasons why China’s dependence on coal will slow, including a restructuring of the economy, increases in renewables, and efforts to reduce pollution. As well, the current replacement of many coal-fired power plants will improve efficiencies. Yet demand is expected by the World Energy Outlook to grow out to at least 2030, albeit at much lower rates that over the past decade.
This growth in demand is one reason why China is investing in production, such as the Shenhua coal mine. At a projected production of 10 million tonnes a year, the mine would meet about 0.7% of China’s current coal demand for electricity generation of more 1.3 billion tonnes of coal each year.
While meeting future demand is one reason why China may be investing in production, supply substitution is another key reason. While China is the world’s largest producer of coal, the production and transport costs are high at many mines.
This means that marginal producers in China (as in Australia) are probably losing money. Now coal prices are lower, there is more likelihood that marginal operations will be closed in favour of new mines that can produce more efficiently.
Would the development of the Shenhua coal mine lead to an increase in global greenhouse emissions? The answer depends on whether the coal contributes to a growth in coal consumption, or whether it is part of the substitution story. Both scenarios are plausible but uncertain.
The current slowdown in China’s economy must be trimming growth forecasts and future coal consumption; at the same time the low coal prices and increased focus on air pollution measures are probably increasing pressure for closing some domestic mines in favour of other alternatives.
John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, University of Queensland
In the years since the project was proposed, the price of coal has fallen dramatically. The company’s economic analysis of the proposed mine assumes a coal price of A$140 a tonne.
This is based on the high price for metallurgical coal that prevailed when the project was proposed. The boom in such coal derived from a massive multi-year construction boom experienced in China. In the last two years of construction the boom, has slowed and there is now a substantial risk of a disorderly collapse.
Coal has fallen accordingly and the price is now far below that assumed by the company in its economic analysis. It is highly unlikely that the mine can be profitable at current coal prices let alone lower prices in the future.
The prospects of the mine are even worse in the light of China’s commitment to cap and then reduce its emissions of carbon dioxide before 2030. For a mine with a projected life of more than 30 years, this is a disaster. Most of the coal will be left in the ground one way or another.
Shenhua would be well advised to abandon this project.
Martine Maron, Associate Professor of Environmental Management, University of Queensland
The Shenhua mine will destroy 771 hectares of some of eastern Australia’s most threatened ecosystems. These endangered box and gum woodlands are home to rare and rapidly-declining species, such as the colourful swift parrot, regent honeyeater and koalas.
One of the conditions of approval for the mine is to “offset” these impacts. That means the proponents must pay for some beneficial action somewhere else to counterbalance the significant impacts of the mine.
How could this work? There are two options.
First, we can recreate box-gum woodland and habitat that were not there before, to replace the amount being destroyed.
Except that we probably can’t do it very well. All we can do is replant some of its typical plant species. In many decades, what we replant might start to provide some ecological functions and habitat similar to the original ecosystem that was lost. There is a lot of uncertainty – and a long time delay.
Second, we could protect some already-existing box-gum woodland offsite. We could remove grazing, for example, or control weeds and feral animals. This is called “averted loss” offsetting. As my colleague and I have pointed out elsewhere, the use of this approach requires biodiversity to be in decline, and it leads to maintenance of that same rate of decline.
In other words, our newly-protected offset area only helps us counterbalance the loss of woodland if our offset site would otherwise have been lost or degraded – remembering that it is, of course, a threatened ecological community that needs protection anyway.
The Shenhua offset proposal does a bit of both: it plans to restore woodland and protect some existing habitat. The bottom line is that clearing 771 hectares of woodland means there will be even less of this threatened ecosystem than there was before. Offsets can help, but the only sure-fire way to recover threatened ecosystems is to avoid losing them the first place.
Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Faculty of Business and Law at Deakin University
The Shenhua open cut coal mine is planned for the ridge county around Mount Watermark and will not affect agriculture rich black-plain soils. The approval includes strong water usage conditions – Shenhua is only entitled to use 0.09% of available groundwater; it must complete water, biodiversity and rehabilitation management plans prior to mining and any impact on groundwater allocated for agricultural purposes; it must complete annual compliance updates and; should an impact on agricultural interests be proven, would be required to provide compensation.
The approval of the coal mine in a strong agricultural zone is illustrative of the increasing overlap between the mining and agricultural sectors in New South Wales. The approval needs to be contextualised.
BHP has plans for a mine of 500 million tonnes less than 10 kilometres from the proposed Shenhua location and Santos has applied for a coal seam gas licence to explore for gas across the Liverpool floodplain. The approval also needs to be evaluated in light of global concerns regarding the environmental, health and climate change impacts associated with both the extraction and use of coal.
These concerns combined with the sensitive location of the proposed mine raise strong questions regarding the overall benefit of the Shenhua mine to the region and to Australia. The fundamental issue is whether this mine can really provide such economic boost that it will offset the potentially devastating impacts on fragile ecological areas, including the local koala population and groundwater aquifers.
While Shenhua insists that the proposed mine will not be located on the Liverpool plains and therefore will not impact the irrigation groundwater in this region, it is clear that the close proximity of the mine to this groundwater system increases the possibility.
The jobs, economic growth and community funding generated by Shenhua, including for example, an upgrade of the maternity ward of the Gunnedah hospital, donations to aged care and renovations to the Gunnedah town hall are important but cannot act as a substitute for rigorous protection of a groundwater system that supports such a strong and established agricultural industry.When I was a child I was very fond of my vinyl record set of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. I say "vinyl", not "LP" because those records spun at 78 revolutions per minute. They were thick, heavy, and seemingly robust enough to last forever.
Yeah, OK, you're already laughing at me because, of course, those records had been made obsolete by the time I was old enough to drink. Now that I'm 56, I've seen the vast excitement over the arrival of VHS tapes – and the shrug that accompanied their demise. Plus: Betamax videocassettes, reels of recording tape, DAT tapes, audio cassettes, eight-track cartridges, and 5.25in floppy disks. Now, Sony announced this week, 3.5in floppy disks are set to join the ranks of dead media.
To be sure, it's hard to mourn something with such tiny capacity. My digital camera takes images that won't fit on a single floppy disk (which, by the way, held 1.4MB of data, not the 1.44MB beloved of marketers), and stores these on an 8GB – gigabytes! – card the size of a postage stamp. A 1.4MB floppy won't hold a single average-length pop song; it might just manage a book-length manuscript in today's bloated word-processing formats.
But the 3.5in disk was revolutionary in its day. It held double the amount of data of its predecessor, the 5.25in floppy, and at the time 1.4MB was a lot. Like social media now, it spawned media scares; I seem to remember tabloid stories of them being passed around, filled with pornography and computer viruses, in school playgrounds. But these things die hard: my desk drawer still holds 30 or 40 of them, alongside a USB floppy drive carefully wrapped to keep out dust. Ultimately, the drive matters as much as – or more than – the disks.
The constant flow of changing and obsolete formats has a distinct cost in caretaking time and attention. If the data matters to you, you must check frequently to make sure you can still read it and transfer it to new media as old ones die off. Libraries have archivists to manage this; families don't. My childhood photographs may be faded – but they're viewable. Will the same be true of the photographs you posted last week on Facebook when your six-year-old is my age?
The BBC made this mistake in 1986, when it created a digital "Domesday book" on – hah! – an Acorn computer and video disc player. By 1999, the digital book was unreadable; it took a team of researchers three years to develop emulator software to unlock it. The original from 1086 is, of course, still readable now.
And yet, the digital Domesday researchers may have had an easier time than their 2050 counterparts will: they knew what they were trying to emulate. As a sound engineer friend always tells me, you can analyse magnetic media and fashion a reader, but you can't do the same with today's optical discs – CDs and DVDs. For permanent accessibility, printed copies are still your best bet.Image copyright Eric McGinley Image caption Sinn Féin councillor Eric McGinley has called on young people to stop firing'muck bombs' at houses
Drivers are being put in "very real danger" by youths throwing so-called muck bombs in Derry, says a local councillor.
A house and a number of cars in the city's Hazelbank area have been targeted in recent days.
It is believed youths fill a drain pipe with mud before launching it like a catapult at homes and vehicles.
Sinn Féin councillor Eric McGinley has called on those involved to stop immediately.
"Apart from the mess which has been created, there is a very real danger that an accident will occur if passing cars are struck by this debris," said Mr McGinley,
"When motorists are targeted it can cause damage to the car and could scare a driver into crashing, so there are very serious implications.
"Drivers have been in touch telling us that these incidents were taking place over the weekend."
'Mess'
Mr McGinley made a further appeal to parents in the area to be aware of where and what their children are up to.
"These muck bombs are going to detract from the general appearance of the area," said Mr McGinley.
"So, parents need to impress upon their children the dangers of their actions.
"I've been in contact with the housing executive about this and they have given me assurances that the mess will be cleaned up as quickly as possible," he added.
A spokesperson for the Housing Executive said: "There is a tenancy at this property and a number of issues have arisen, which we are currently working to resolve.
"We have taken measures to protect our property."Go over like a lead balloon
What's the meaning of the phrase 'Go down like a lead balloon'?
Fail completely and be considered a flop by the public.
What's the origin of the phrase 'Go down like a lead balloon'?
'Go over like a lead balloon' is the US version of this phrase. In the UK a complete failures 'go down like a lead balloon'.
The phrase is American in origin and the first mention of a lead balloon with the meaning of something that fails comes from a Mom-N Pop cartoon that was syndicated in several US newspapers in June 1924. Actually, that coinage went over like a lead balloon itself and the phrase didn't appear again until after WWII; for example, this piece from The Atchison Daily Globe, May 1947:
"But occasionally a column or comic strip will 'go over' like a V-1 rocket in one community and, for inexplicable reasons, a lead balloon in another."
That's when the phrase can be said to have entered the language and there are many examples in print from US sources of ventures which went down like a lead balloon from that date onward.
The most celebrated use of the term is the part played in the naming of the English heavy-metal band Led Zeppelin. The story goes that Jimmy Page had completed a Scandinavian tour with the New Yardbirds - an impromptu band that was formed from the popular rapidly disintegrating Yardbirds. Keith Moon is reputed to have said the new band would go down like a lead balloon - some reports say go over like a lead balloon (or zeppelin). Moon is said to have borrowed the term from John Entwistle, who had previously used it to describe bad gigs. Moon and Entwistle, both being English, would have been more likely to have used the English 'go down' version. The details of this are difficult to verify as the anecdotal comment wasn't recorded or put into print at the time and, as Moon and Entwistle are deceased, we can't ask them. Jimmy Page has confirmed the essence of the story in several subsequent interviews (although, as we all know, 'If you can remember the 1960s, you weren't really there.').
The irony and the association with the heavy metal lead was too good to miss for an aspiring heavy metal band. They even made sure that people got the point that they were referring to the metal by changing the spelling to Led and avoiding any possible mispronunciation as lead - as in leader (reputedly at the suggestion of their manager, Peter Grant).
The choice of Zeppelin in the band's name was surely influenced by the Hindenberg disaster of 1937. The newsreel of the event, complete with Herbert Morrison's famous "Oh, the humanity" line, was commonly seen footage in English cinemas during the 1950s and 60s and Page would certainly have been familiar with it. The band used an image of the crash for the cover of their first album. Moon's prediction could hardly have been more wrong. Led Zeppelin became one of the most popular, arguably the most popular, musical act of the first half of the 1970s and reputedly have sold more than 300 million albums.Donald Trump. George Frey/Getty Images Donald Trump's presidential campaign unleashed a furious statement Tuesday night after Ted Cruz easily defeated Trump in the Wisconsin primary.
"Ted Cruz is worse than a puppet — he is a Trojan horse, being used by the party bosses attempting to steal the nomination from Mr. Trump," the Republican frontrunner's statement said.
Instead of offering a note of praise as Trump did after past losses, the Tuesday-night statement leveled a bevy of attacks against "Lyin' Ted Cruz."
Among other things, the statement accused Cruz of illegally coordinating with super PACs supporting his campaign, though Trump did not specify any evidence for the claim.
The Trump camp also said its candidate "withstood the onslaught of the establishment yet again" and noted that Cruz had the support of Wisconsin's governor, Scott Walker, and numerous local conservative radio hosts.
Trump had aggressively campaigned in Wisconsin and repeatedly predicted that he would win there. He barnstormed the state for days in hopes of catching up to Cruz after the senator started to pull ahead, holding six Wisconsin rallies between from Saturday to Monday.
The billionaire still is hoping to salvage a few of the 42 delegates at stake. Though winning the statewide vote guarantees Cruz a batch of delegates, Trump can gain three delegates for each congressional district he wins. The data-journalism website FiveThirtyEight reported that Trump was competitive in two of the state's eight districts.
Read the full statement below:
Donald J. Trump withstood the onslaught of the establishment yet again. Lyin' Ted Cruz had the Governor of Wisconsin, many conservative talk radio show hosts, and the entire party apparatus behind him. Not only was he propelled by the anti-Trump Super PAC's spending countless millions of dollars on false advertising against Mr. Trump, but he was coordinating with his own Super PAC's (which is illegal) who totally control him. Ted Cruz is worse than a puppet--- he is a Trojan horse, being used by the party bosses attempting to steal the nomination from Mr. Trump. We have total confidence that Mr. Trump will go on to win in New York, where he holds a substantial lead in all the polls, and beyond. Mr. Trump is the only candidate who can secure the delegates needed to win the Republican nomination and ultimately defeat Hillary Clinton, or whomever is the Democratic nominee, in order to Make America Great Again.English author Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936 A.D.) once said, “I tell you naught for your comfort, Yea, naught for your desire, save that the sky grows darker yet and the sea rises higher,” which should serve as a mantra for sailors of the North and Baltic Seas, which has been generously referred to as a “thermally inhospitable environment for those working above or below the water, and for any unfortunate enough to be accidentally immersed in it. The low air temperatures coupled with high wind speeds make working conditions above the surface both unpleasant and hazardous, while the low water temperatures throughout the year make hypothermia and subsequent drowning inevitable to |
did think that, we wouldn't have proceeded with this campaign,'' he said.
Ironically, Mr Carthew's mother received a group email from Ms Francis expressing her anger about Burger Urge's advertising.
''Mum's quite religious and she doesn't have any problem with the image of the cow and the girl,'' he said.
Mr Carthew said the overwhelming majority of people saw what they were trying to do and didn't have an issue with it.
''We do think quite carefully about our promotions. We don't want to cause any damage or do any harm, we just want to have a bit of fun.''
What do you think? Entrepreneurial marketing spirit in an area that is cornered by big-franchise chains or a genuine offence? Have your say by leaving a comment below.The son of actor Jackie Chan has been released from a Beijing jail after completing a six-month sentence for allowing people to use marijuana in his apartment, amid a crackdown on illegal narcotics in the Chinese capital.
A statement issued by Jaycee Chan's entertainment company said the 32-year-old actor and singer left the city's Dongcheng jail a few minutes after midnight local time.
The statement thanked fans and the media for their concern and said Chan would hold a news conference today in order to "apologise and explain".
Police detained Chan, Taiwanese movie star Ko Kai and several other people at Chan's Beijing apartment last August. Chan and Ko tested positive for marijuana, and police seized more than 100g (3.5oz) of the drug. Ko, whose real name is Ko Chen-tung, was released after serving a 14-day administrative detention.
Chan could have been sentenced to as much as three years in prison, but the court showed leniency because he had confessed and showed contrition.
Chan's arrest was a sensitive matter for his father because of Jackie Chan's high profile in China, including serving as an anti-drug ambassador and deputy to the top advisory board to China's legislature. The elder Chan has apologised for his son's actions and said the pair would work together to mend his ways.
A number of celebrities have been caught up in Beijing's drugs crackdown as the city tries to slow ballooning substance use. Police said more than 7,800 people were arrested last summer in Beijing in what was called the biggest anti-drug campaign in two decades.San Antonio – April 7, 2016 – Rackspace® (NYSE: RAX) today announced companies can run a fully-managed private cloud in any data center around the world without bearing the high cost, risk and operational burden of doing it themselves. By delivering OpenStack® everywhere, the new integrated software, hardware and services solution can answer CIO demand for managed services for private cloud on their own terms – meeting customers at every step of their cloud journey whether it is in a customer or third party data center, a Rackspace-supported third party colocation facility or a Rackspace data center.
Companies are on a transformational journey inside and outside their data centers – adopting a hybrid approach to public and private cloud to deliver improved customer experiences, increase reliability and reduce infrastructure and operational costs. OpenStack has fast become a dominant platform for private cloud, but the complexity and cost of hiring talent to deploy and operate it themselves has enterprises wanting to consume OpenStack as a managed service.
“Companies realize they can free up money and resources for more strategic business investments when they turn their IT capital expenses into operating expenses,” said Darrin Hanson, GM and VP of OpenStack Private Cloud at Rackspace. “When OpenStack is consumed as a managed service, businesses can remove non-core operations, reduce software licensing, and minimize infrastructure acquisition and IT operations costs.”
Today’s announcement from Rackspace further extends the company’s strategy to make cloud computing simple for enterprises. By delivering OpenStack as a managed service in any data center the customer chooses, Rackspace helps companies adopt private cloud to increase performance, simplify compliance and improve data sovereignty and security.
How it Works
Customers deploy a Rackspace designed purpose-built OpenStack private cloud in any data center, anywhere in the world, with a fully tested integrated modular rack of hardware, software and services.
Rackspace experts then manage the end-to-end deployment, monitoring and operations of the integrated solutions and help on-board the customers to their new OpenStack private cloud environment.
From the floor tiles all the way up the service stack, Rackspace extends Fanatical Support® to the customer’s OpenStack private cloud – fully managing the underlying OpenStack software, hardware and networking.
Customers receive industry-leading service level agreements combined with the world’s foremost OpenStack operational expertise from Rackspace backed by a 99.99 percent OpenStack API uptime guarantee.
“As a media capture, management and distribution service, it is mission critical for Encompass Digital Media to deliver a seamless and top notch user experience to our clients,” said Robert Bond, senior vice president of product engineering at Encompass Digital Media, Inc. “The ability for Rackspace to deliver OpenStack private clouds through an as a service model is important as it allows us to deploy a fully managed cloud infrastructure service to our clients. The option to deploy production-ready OpenStack private clouds in the location of our choice can improve our speed to market and reduce acquisition costs. In leveraging the Rackspace product portfolio, industry leading OpenStack expertise and managed cloud delivery capabilities, Encompass Digital Media can now focus on its core business and deliver new revenue streams.”
“Rackspace continues to break down the barriers of enterprise cloud adoption by giving companies even more choice and flexibility in their data center transformation. With this new solution, Rackspace is making OpenStack possible for its customers no matter what the environment,” said Patrick Moorhead, founder, president and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. “There is an increase in hybrid cloud adoption and Rackspace is operationalizing and simplifying it with this approach.”
Rackspace Private Cloud powered by OpenStack is now available in the customer’s data center of choice in regions around the world. To learn more about the new software, hardware and managed services solution, please visit https://www.rackspace.com/cloud/private/openstacksolutions and the Rackspace Blog.
About Rackspace
Rackspace (NYSE: RAX), the #1 managed cloud company, helps businesses tap the power of cloud computing without the challenge and expense of managing complex IT infrastructure and application platforms on their own. Rackspace engineers deliver specialized expertise on top of leading technologies developed by AWS, Microsoft, OpenStack, VMware and others, through a results-obsessed service known as Fanatical Support®. The company has more than 300,000 customers worldwide, including two-thirds of the FORTUNE 100. Rackspace was named a leader in the 2015 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud-Enabled Managed Hosting, and has been honored as one of Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For in six of the past eight years. Learn more at www.rackspace.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Rackspace Hosting could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements concerning expected development, performance or market acceptance associated with Managed Private Cloud Everywhere; anticipated operational and financial benefits from Managed Private Cloud Everywhere; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions including the possibility that expected benefits from Managed Private Cloud Everywhere may not materialize because this product is not generally accepted in the marketplace, which could occur due to certain factors including (i) a failure to market the product cost effectively, differentiate the product from competitive products or communicate differentiations effectively, (ii) the reliability, quality or compatibility associated with the product, (iii) changes in technology which adversely affects the product’s benefit, (iv) slowdowns in the general economy or technology industry that impact consumer spending habits, (v) internal strategy decisions that impact the product, and (vi) and other risks that are described in Rackspace Hosting’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on February 25, 2016. Except as required by law, Rackspace Hosting assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
Media Contact:
Christina Weaver
210-312-4593
Christina.weaver@rackspace.comKayakers paddle down the Potomac River's icy waters, before plunging over the Great Falls. (Wayne Wolfersberger and Kevin Ambrose)
(Video by Wayne Wolfersberger and Kevin Ambrose)
Kayaking over the Potomac’s Great Falls in mid-summer, when the water is warm and low, seems terrifying. Kayaking over Great Falls in February, when the Potomac River’s 32-degree water is high and roaring over ice-coated rocks, seems downright crazy.
A routine photo shoot of Great Falls after our latest snowstorm quickly turned into a photo shoot of four kayakers who shot the falls then kayak-surfed the waves below. It was fun to watch but I was cold photographing from above; I can only imagine how it must have felt plunging through the icy river water and catching river spray in the face when the temperature was below freezing.
Kayaking over Great Falls on Feb. 26, 2015. (Wayne Wolfersberger)
This kayaker turns sideways as he descends Great Falls. Despite how it looks, he was fine. (Wayne Wolfersberger)
At the first Great Falls overlook, I met another photographer named Wayne Wolfersberger who was also photographing the scene. I arrived a few minutes too late to witness the plunge over the falls but I photographed the kayak surfing. We combined our photos and videos into this post which should give you a good idea of the what it looked like out on the Potomac River at Great Falls on Thursday. Anyone ready to go canoeing yet?
The men in kayaks appeared to wear GoPro cameras on their helmets so, hopefully, we’ll hear from them and can track down links to their videos. If so, we’ll follow-up with another post.
Shooting Great Falls with a kayak. (Wayne Wolfersburger)
Note: Wayne Wolfersberger is a nature photographer of Nature is Wild Photography (www.waynewolfersberger.com). He teaches basic photography and other courses through the Fairfax County Park Authority, runs several workshops, and does speaker/presentations throughout the area on various aspects of photography. He worked at Yellowstone as a naturalist ranger for 14 summers. Wayne is also currently working part-time for GMU in science education.
Related:
Kayaking the Potomac Gorge
Going over Great Falls in a kayak
Nearing the falls, Feb. 26, 2015. (Wayne Wolfersberger)
A wide view of the Potomac River and the kayaks below Great Falls. (Kevin Ambrose)
Surfing a wave below Great Falls facing upstream. (Kevin Ambrose)
Carrying the kayaks up the rocks. (Kevin Ambrose)
Climbing over the rocks with kayaks onto an overlook for Great Falls. (Kevin Ambrose)SINISTER v dexterous. Commie v Tory. The difference between left and right carries more meaning to human beings than mere matters of handedness and symmetry. And so it is with man’s best friend as well. For in dogs, too, left and right signal different things. Specifically, it is in the way they wag their tails. And for dogs, like people, it is the left-hand side that is sinister.
The story started a few years ago when Giorgio Vallortigara of the University of Trento, in Italy, and his colleagues, established that dogs wag their tails to the right when they see something pleasant, such as a beloved human master, and to the left when they see something unpleasant, such as an unfamiliar dominant dog. What Dr Vallortigara did not establish then was whether such signals are meaningful to other dogs. Now, he and the team from the previous study have done just that.
Get our daily newsletter Upgrade your inbox and get our Daily Dispatch and Editor's Picks.
As they report in Current Biology, they wired up several dozen dogs of both sexes and various breeds with electrodes, to record the animals’ heart rates, and then showed them videos of dogs, or silhouettes of dogs, head-on, with tail wagging to left or right. A left-wagging tail, they found, induced a higher maximum heart rate (in other words, an anxiety response) than a right-wagging tail, and this maximum heart rate lasted longer. A right-wagging tail, indeed, produced the same results as one that was stationary.
Dr Vallortigara and his colleagues also observed their animals during the experiment, noting behaviours such as ear-flattening, head-lowering and whining that are associated with stress. They found that stressed behaviours were more common in the presence of left-wagging than right-wagging.
All this suggests lateral specialisation in dogs’ brains. The nervous signals for left-wagging and right-wagging originate in different hemispheres. (Because of the peculiar way vertebrate brains are wired up, it is the left hemisphere that controls right-wagging, and vice versa—as is the case for handedness in people.) That they are triggered by different emotions shows that the two halves of a dog brain work, in this respect at least, differently.
Human brains are similarly lateralised. Handedness is one example. Another is language, a function predominantly of the left hemisphere. Whether it is just a coincidence that dogs and people agree about which side is sinister, or whether there is something deeper going on, remains to be determined.So many of you knew Claire who sadly lost her battle with Pancreatic Cancer on 26th February 2012, after a 20 month fight. Having seen how hard Claire fought, the least we can do is to continue to to assist the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund. We are extremely grateful to all of you who have already donated in our goal to do this.
Nearly 8,000 people a year are diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in the UK, and they face a cancer that has the lowest survival rate of all cancers – just 3% of those diagnosed survive for five years. Yet despite this high death rate, pancreatic cancer attracts little research funding in comparison with many other cancers.
Our current challenge to raise funds for PCRF is an off-road cycle ride on the Ridgeway on 22/23 September, covering approximately 70 miles of the English countryside. A group of ten of Claire's family and friends are joining in the ride.
Please help us to support the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund so that they can raise new funds for research, and argue for a fair allocation of research funding.
Once again, thank you for your invaluable support.
Graham Hunt
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – We raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!
For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription:
We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article.
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!
For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription:
We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article.
Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!
For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription:
We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article.
Last month, Schnoor, after receiving assurances from Swan that he was seeking the information for his own personal use, wrote that an MLA who owns five per cent or more of a company must publicly disclose the name of that corporation.
Swan had to pose questions hypothetically to the commissioner because provincial rules prevent an MLA from asking him questions about the affairs of another member of the house.
A New Democratic Party MLA says Premier Brian Pallister was breaking provincial conflict-of-interest rules until he “voluntarily” listed his corporate holdings in Costa Rica on a public disclosure form, shortly after the last provincial election.
Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/9/2017 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/9/2017 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A New Democratic Party MLA says Premier Brian Pallister was breaking provincial conflict-of-interest rules until he "voluntarily" listed his corporate holdings in Costa Rica on a public disclosure form, shortly after the last provincial election.
Andrew Swan bases his claim on a written opinion he recently received from Jeffrey Schnoor, Manitoba’s conflict-of-interest commissioner.
TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES NDP MLA Andrew Swan.
Swan had to pose questions hypothetically to the commissioner because provincial rules prevent an MLA from asking him questions about the affairs of another member of the house.
Last month, Schnoor, after receiving assurances from Swan that he was seeking the information for his own personal use, wrote that an MLA who owns five per cent or more of a company must publicly disclose the name of that corporation.
"The jurisdiction in which it is incorporated does not affect that obligation," Schnoor wrote.
Days before the April 19, 2016, general election, Pallister said he had complied with public disclosure rules after a Costa Rican newspaper reported a public-records search showed Pallister owned several parcels of land in the Central American country through a holding company. He also was listed as owning two vehicles through a second company.
Pallister issued a statement at the time saying he owned four parcels of land there, including the one that contains his vacation home. He said he conducted "no business activity" in Costa Rica, nor did he own any "revenue-generating property." The other parcels of land were described as pasture and grassland.
Pallister did not list the corporations with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly until May 2016 — and then did so only as an "additional voluntary disclosure" on a separate page tacked onto the back of the form all MLAs are required to fill out.
At that time, he said his Costa Rican holdings were not subject to provincial MLA disclosure rules, "as per advice received by" the conflict-of-interest commissioner. He said he was including them simply in the interest of "greater openness and transparency."
It’s not clear whether Pallister was referring to advice from Schnoor, who became conflict-of-interest commissioner in January 2016, or his predecessor, Ron Perozzo. If he had asked for a written opinion, that would have been made public.
On Friday, Pallister urged an all-party review of political party and candidate disclosure rules in light of new information about NDP Leader Wab Kinew’s past.
The premier said it’s worth looking into whether candidates and parties should be required to disclose past criminal charges and convictions when a candidate seeks office.
"The premier wants us to believe that he’s all about openness and transparency but we have a premier who for years refused to disclose the existence of corporations that any reasonable review of the Act... (would have shown) must be disclosed," Swan said.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister.
"The conflict-of-interest commissioner (in his opinion for Swan) did nothing more than state the law, which is in Manitoba if you own a corporation which has a value of more than $500 for all the shares that you own, it’s your obligation to report it," he continued.
"The premier had an obligation to report the value of that corporation. He only made a "voluntary" disclosure after he was found out."
Chisholm Pothier, a spokesman for Pallister, said whether the premier is required to disclose the Costa Rican corporations is now "irrelevant."
"The disclosure was made on the understanding it was voluntary at the time," Pothier said in an email Monday. "If the conflict-of-interest commissioner now deems it’s a requirement, that gives (the situation) even more transparency and we agree. However, it doesn’t affect the Premier’s situation given he had already disclosed."
Want to get a head start on your day? Get the day’s breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every morning.
Schnoor said he was unable to comment on how his written opinion to Swan may apply to Pallister or any other MLA.
"It wouldn’t be right for me to do that," he said.
Schnoor said he meets with all MLAs at the beginning of each new session of the legislature. MLAs can call him for advice at any time, he added.
Swan said if Pallister did seek verbal advice from Schnoor or his predecessor, it should have been clear to him that he had to disclose his Costa Rica-based corporations.
"I think either the premier was mistaken in the advice he received or the premier simply didn’t give the commissioners the information they would need to give him the right advice," he said.
larry.kusch@freepress.mb.caIn the three days after a runaway train filled with oil devastated a small Quebec community, before an investigation had even properly begun, theories abounded about the lessons to be drawn.
To critics of Stephen Harper's government, it was evidence of the costs of deregulation; to pipeline advocates, proof that we should be moving oil underground rather than by rail; to some environmentalists, yet another sign that we need to slow down resource development until we better know how to manage it.
Throw in the politics of Quebec, where an Alberta-based Prime Minister and staunch promoter of the oil industry tends to be viewed with suspicion, and there is enough here to keep Ottawa chattering for years.
Story continues below advertisement
For the most part, the people running the country and those who aspire to do so are making a visible effort to hold off on such conversations while Lac-Mégantic copes with its losses. But restraint will become more difficult with each passing day, because of both the nature of the tragedy and the culture of the nation's capital.
More so than when previous such tragedies occurred, our political classes trade heavily in rapid response. Every relatively marginal controversy that feeds the 24-hour news cycle is spun on Twitter and television panels and through sympathetic media outlets within hours, if not minutes. And to most of the country, it's largely white noise.
Any response to what happened this past weekend will be more than that to Canadians, and political veterans clearly know it. When NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair veered into finger-pointing on Saturday, linking "a magnificent little village being burned to the ground" to the Conservative government "cutting transport safety," former Liberal leader Bob Rae was among those who lined up to castigate him. When Mr. Mulcair toured Lac-Mégantic on Sunday, he was more circumspect.
There on Monday, Justin Trudeau avoided the trouble Mr. Mulcair got himself into, pronouncing it "not the time" to criticize the government. As for Mr. Harper, he said during his weekend visit that he would leave it to investigations to determine "who is guilty, who is responsible."
Those investigations, though, are likely to take months, if not years, to offer anything conclusive. And politicians are not known for their patience.
As it happens, Lac-Mégantic is in one of the few Quebec ridings represented by a Conservative MP, Industry Minister Christian Paradis. Mr. Harper and Mr. Paradis will both feel under considerable pressure to ensure that blame is apportioned to others before it falls to them, which might explain why the Prime Minister struck a somewhat sterner tone in French on the weekend than he did in English. The executives at the U.S.-based Montreal, Maine & Atlantic railway have looked bad enough in responding thus far that they may prove too inviting as targets to pass up.
As Mr. Harper continues trying to sell the Keystone Pipeline to Washington or the Northern Gateway Pipeline to British Columbia, it may also be all but impossible for him to resist the case against rail transportation that others are already making for him (even if this train happened to be carrying crude oil from North Dakota, not Alberta).
Story continues below advertisement
Story continues below advertisement
Mr. Mulcair and Mr. Trudeau, meanwhile, are currently in a dogfight to demonstrate which of them is better at opposing Mr. Harper, and gearing up to battle over a good number of Quebec seats. Already, some Liberals are chafing at what they complain are jabs by New Democrats about Mr. Trudeau taking longer to pay his visit to Lac-Mégantic. It's a fair bet that when Parliament returns in the fall if not sooner, at least one of the opposition leaders will try to directly link Conservative policies to the tragedy; if so, the other will be under pressure to follow suit.
In other words, it may not be long before attacks start to be shouted through the echo chambers, and become exercises in confirmation bias.
There will be important discussions to be had here – about the state of our infrastructure, federal regulation and corporate responsibility. But for once, out of respect for the victims and national interests and perhaps even each other, our leaders and their supporters would do well to leave the rapid responses to others.Courtesy of Lee Adler of the Wall Street Examiner
An analysis of the actual, not seasonally manipulated and massaged unemployment claims data shows some deterioration in employment, week to week. Weakening employment data has raised expectations for Fed action.
Actual initial claims rose by 9,355. In the same week last year they were down by 1,273. The average increase in new claims in the pre Labor Day week over the past 5 years was 4,293. Including just 2007-2010, the average was +3,300. Therefore this week's number is worse than last year, worse than the average of the past 5 years, and worse than the past 4 years since the depression began in terms of the increase in new claims since the previous week.
The total number of claims at 346,065 is better than last year's 381,838 and 2009's 466,277 during the same week, and slightly better than 2008's 358,730, but it remains significantly elevated versus 2007's 257,454, and 2006's 259,539.
New claims as a percentage of eligible covered workers were 0.275%. That compares with 0.301% during the same week last year and 0.350% in 2009. This year is worse than the 0.268% in 2008 and 0.195% in 2007, just before the economy collapsed.
Analysis of continuing claims is clouded by the fact that continuing claims can decline due to claimants becoming employed, or by exhausting benefits. Claims have been in a steadily declining trend, but there is no way of determining how much of the decline is due to new employment and how much is due to claimants exhausting benefits. The rate of decline in Federal extended benefit programs has been faster than in regular state programs. I suspect that this is due to greater numbers of people exhausting these benefits than the number moving from the state program to the extended benefit program.
The Fed has been floating trial balloons almost daily about different stimulative steps it could take. The claims data is just more grist for the mill. The consensus seems to be that the Fed will make like Chubby Checker and do the Twist, swapping out short duration Treasuries for longer term notes and bonds. There's also discussion of cutting the rate paid on bank reserves to zero. Additional money printing (aka QE) has been all but ruled out for the time being.
With QE ruled out, the real impact of either of the other proposed actions will be nil, but that won't stop the market from speculating about it and percolating higher heading into the announcement on September 21. Once the new program is made official, whatever it is, it could be a quintessential sell the news moment. That would not apply if the Fed actually announces another round of outright money printing a la QE2.
For more, try the Wall Street Examiner Professional Edition risk free for 30 days.This list contains the default city names for all the sponsors, in the game Civilization Beyond Earth (CivBE)
You can choose to rename your cities if you wish.
ARC City Names [ edit ]
Central (Capital City)
Axiom
Vanguard
Liberty
Fortune
Amity
Prospect
Grand City
Praxis
Sentinel
Reliance
Endeavour
Ascension
Stalwart
Heritage
Star City
Bradbury
Empire
Venture
Enterprise
Magan (Capital City)
Ayaan
Thabo
Jenali
Bongani
Xirsi
Zuberi
Masego
Sizwe
Ladan
Jabulile
Warsame
Thula
Qasri
Chengetai
Fadziso
Mzoxolo
Hoodo
Liibaan
Roonaan
Tiangong (Capital City)
Quyen
Nhiet Tinh
Ganzorig
Huanle
Gong Ren
Thanh
Kuijia
Huihuang
Sinjeon
Renxing
Qi Chui
Gaosi
Adislal
Xindalu
Troi
Phao Dai
Tenger Bambai
Hyugeso
Le Coeur (Capital City)
Prospérité
Aintza
Fidèle
Gran Éxito
Beraht
Amparo
Bouclier
Izar
Honorée
Mirabelle
Senén
Valienta
Filoteu
Kenza
Igoa
Espérance
Kemena
Pacifique
Mandira (Capital City)
Saira
Asraya
Sabda
Javed
Vasanta
Harsha
Pran
Agni
Zafar
Sachita
Shan
Mansi
Dhanya
Rayyan
Thangam
Udyama
Garhi
Nikhitha
Khrabrost (Capital City)
Uspekh
Serik
Stanimir
Konechno
Svyatoy
Kuzma
Istochnik
Yuriya
Aguya
Izot
Rodomir
Blesk
Vola
Pobeda
Heba
Averkiy
Krasota
Mir
Polystralia City Names [ edit ]
Freeland (Capital City)
Jimboomba
Rangi
Pembela
Richport
Maeva
Harta
Kesempatan
Kala
New Hope
Rahi
Tenang
Mareeba
Holyfield
Mahalaga
Waspada
Kayamutan
Ballarat
Speewah
Brasilia City Names [ edit ]Open Mike Eagle is getting a TV show on Comedy Central, according to Deadline. It’s called “The New Negroes,” and it’s based on his and Baron Vaughn’s comedy showcase of the same name. The program (co-hosted and executive produced by Mike and Vaughn) will combine music and standup comedy. Speaking with Deadline, Comedy Central president Kent Alterman said the show “taps into something that is so real and vital, it’s tapping into black comedy while presenting multiple points of view and different angles on material and performances that is reflective of the world we are living in.” Other pilots picked up by the network include a U.S. adaptation of “Taskmaster,” starring Reggie Watts. An untitled project with rapper Awkwafina is also in the works.
Last year, Open Mike Eagle appeared on “The Eric Andre Show,” where he competed in the Rapper Warrior Ninja obstacle course. Also in 2016, he put out a record with Paul White called Hella Personal Film Festival. His last solo LP, Dark Comedy, was released in 2014.More than 100 people have been killed in the cold snap across Europe, with temperatures plummeting and snowfall causing chaos from Moscow to Milan.
In Poland, where temperatures have dropped to as low as -20C in some areas, police appealed for tip-offs about people spotted lying around outside. At least 42 people, most of them homeless, died over the weekend.
In Ukraine 27 people have frozen to death since the thermometer dropped last week. Authorities in Romania said 11 people had succumbed to the chill, and in the Czech Republic the toll was 12. In Germany, where temperatures have fallen to -33C in certain parts, at least seven people are known to have lost their lives in the freezing weather.
For millions of others across the continent, the cold snap has brought severe disruption, with flight cancellations and traffic jams thwarting pre-Christmas travel plans.
The resumption of Eurostar services brought some relief to passengers travelling between France, Belgium and England, but many trains across Europe were delayed or cancelled.
Airports were struggling to cope with icy runways, with Ryanair and Easyjet among several airlines to cancel some flights.
In Frankfurt, where snowfall prompted delays and cancellations, 3,000 people were forced to spend last night inside the terminals at the city's main airport. "It is totally chaotic today … no one knows what's going on – neither us nor the staff," Dorothee Schaefle, waiting in line, told Die Welt newspaper.
Roads were not exempt from the chaos. After a weekend that brought the heaviest snowfall in about 100 years, Moscow was gridlocked, with tailbacks snailing around the Russian capital.
In Italy, where winters are usually mild, motorways in the north-east were closed and the Ministry of Defence dispatched helicopters in Sicily to bring medical aid to those in need.
In Milan hundreds of soldiers worked through the night to clear the snow- and ice-covered streets.On This Day
Sunday 14th June 1953
65 years ago
Jaguar cars finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th in Le Mans 24-hour Grand Prix d’Edurance. At 4:00pm on the Saturday, the flag fell and the race was on. At the end of the first lap, the Allard led the field, which was closely bunched behind. The first few laps at Le Mans means very little and it was not until after the 30 minutes that the true picture really become close. Rolt had already put in a lap record at 96.48 mph, while Moss led the way, closely followed by Villoresi, Tom Cole, Rolt, John Fitch, with Karl Kling rounding out the top six. Sydney Allard early lead lasted hardly any time, and by lap four he had to retire with a collapsed rear suspension that severed a brake pipe. Moss was also in trouble. Although he had smoothly pulled away from the chasing pack, until a misfire set in. His subsequent unplanned pitstop for spark plugs, plus another later to the eventual cure – removal of a clogged fuel filter. At least Jaguar remembered the pit regulations. Ferrari topped up the brake system on Mike Hawthorn’s 340 MM before the specified 28 laps had been completed, thereby Hawthorn/Farina were disqualified. Whilst all this was going on, Villoresi had taken the lead. By 5:00pm, the order had settled down, and it became clear that the Jaguars, Ferraris and Alfa Romeos were the forces to be reckoned with. The Lancias and Talbots were quite outclassed, as was the Aston Martins. Consalvo Sanesi in his Alfa Romeo 6C, continued to lower the fastest lap, with Rolt moving into the lead for Jaguar. Just before 6:00pm, Fangio retired with engine troubles in his Alfa Romeo. The pace continued at a fantastic pace and now it was Jaguar setting it. At the three-hour mark, Rolt/Hamilton led from Ascari/Villoresi, followed by Cole and his partner, Luigi Chinetti, Sanesi with Piero Carini, and the Germans of Kling and Fritz Riess. Already these five cars had pull out a two lap advantage over the rest of the field. As darkness fell, the Ferrari-Jaguar battle continued unabated, between Ascari/Villeoresi and Rolt/Hamilton, with the Alfa Romeos close behind. During the early hours of the morning, Rolt/Hamilton continued to lead with no sign of tiring, while Ascari/Villoresi was now losing ground. By 3:00am, the rear suspension on Sanesi/Carini car has collapsed, and they were out, along with George Abecassis and Roy Salvadori as oil |
thorn, UK. The jail time was interesting, he says: he used it to reflect on strategies. “Researchers themselves tend to be traditionalists who are not open to alternatives,” he says. “I realised we need to go for policy-makers.”
The AVC and the ADC were the main drivers of the Stop Vivisection Initiative, a petition calling for the EU animal-research directive to be abrogated and animal research to be banned altogether. The petition, launched in November 2012, collected more than a million signatures across the EU within a year. The signatures are now being verified; if they pass, the initiative will be granted hearings at the European Commission and the European Parliament.
“This will reopen the debate — something we'd all rather do without, given the enormous effort that the commission, scientists and animal-welfare groups invested in achieving the compromise,” says Stefan Treue, director of the German Primate Center in Göttingen and an adviser to the European Commission on the 2010 directive.
ANDREA RONCHINI/DEMOTIX/PRESS ASSOCIATION
Treue doubts that the Stop Vivisection campaign will change European legislation — political demand for new therapies is too strong, he says. But, like many of his colleagues, he says that researchers working with monkeys should abandon their conventional tactic of keeping quiet, which cedes ground to the activists. Two months after the directive was approved, Treue helped to launch the Basel Declaration (see Nature 468, 742; 2010), which commits its signatories — so far more than 2,500 — to be open about their animal research and to engage in public dialogue.
The declaration prompted a sea change, and many initiatives are emerging in its wake. For example, the Swiss Primate Competence Center for Research was launched last year in Fribourg to provide a training centre for scientists and technicians wanting to work with primates, and an educational one-stop shop for the public.
Individual scientists are also speaking up on their websites. Neuroscientist Pieter Roelfsema at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience in Amsterdam, who works with monkeys, says that so far activists have not targeted researchers in his lab. But he fears this may soon change. Last spring, minority parties in the Dutch parliament — including the Dutch Party for the Animals — posed formal questions about whether research using monkeys is necessary, if it could be replaced by alternative methods, and if the number of government-funded research institutes using monkeys could be reduced.
With these developments in mind, Roelfsema is planning a public-information webpage about the value of primate research, modelled on that of Nikos Logothetis, a director at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany. Logothetis's site, which has thousands of visitors a week, emerged from a public-relations debacle. In 2009, he invited a team of investigative journalists from a national television company into his lab, imagining that the reporters would be impressed by his monkeys' luxurious accommodation, and surprised by how relaxed and content the animals seemed. Instead, the journalists portrayed a slightly mad scientist among suffering animals. The experience “spectacularly demonstrated the need for a reaction of scientific organizations to the escalating absurdity of the anti-vivisectionists”, Logothetis says.
However, Tübingen — unlike Kreiter's Bremen — is a city where researchers enjoy a supportive political environment. Even the city's mayor, a member of the Green Party, which is not known for supporting animal experiments, has openly criticized flyers distributed by activists as untruthful, and described the harsh treatment of Logothetis as “unacceptable”.
“This shows the power of local politics to influence how easy or difficult it can be to carry out research using monkeys in different European regions,” says Treue, whose research centre also benefits from local political support in Göttingen. For scientists such as Treue, the EU directive has brought a feeling of stability.
The Italian job
That feeling is largely absent in Italy. In 2012, activists attacked a beagle-breeding facility near Brescia. It was later closed down. In 2013, they sabotaged experiments at the University of Milan. And last month, activists posted flyers that included photographs, addresses and phone numbers of some of the university's researchers in their home neighbourhoods.
By 2012, some populist politicians had adopted the animal-rights cause and used it to influence the Italian implementation of the EU directive. The proposed law went beyond the directive, calling for a ban on xenotransplantation and the use of animals in addiction research.
Italian scientists woke up late to the threat, and by the time researchers had organized a petition defending animal research — signed by 13,000 people in just a few weeks — the course of the distinctly gold-plated law was already set. It passed through parliament in December.
“You can't go directly from mice to humans. Mice are simply not a good model of how people see.”
Researchers who use monkeys are also worried about ambiguities in how the Italian law interprets the EU directive's clause allowing research on non-human primates. “It's not clear at all whether basic research is allowed or not,” says neurophysiologist Roberto Caminiti at the University of Rome La Sapienza, who chairs the Committee on Animals in Research for the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies.
The law also requires all research proposals involving non-human primates, cats or dogs to be authorized by the High Health Council (Consiglio Superiore di Sanità), the broad mandate of which includes drug licensing and approval of clinical protocols. This additional level of control, on top of the approval required from local ethical committees, would slow and destabilize the process, says Caminiti.
The legislation is expected to become law in March. As soon as it does, Caminiti and his colleagues plan to file an appeal to the EU Court of Justice. “Gold-plating is not allowed,” he says, “so we are confident of winning.” In the meantime, Caminiti predicts that Italian labs working with primates will all be able to argue that their work has health benefits for humans.
In Belgium, the government is hurrying through a similar gold-plating decree that would also ban the use of primates in addiction studies, and require a national committee to approve projects involving non-human primates, even after approval by local ethics committees. The Belgian health minister would have the final say on whether a particular project could go ahead, raising concerns that final decisions would be based on politics, rather than on science or ethics.
Political decisions are already affecting research in Switzerland, a non-EU country that is not bound by the 2010 animal-rights directive. In 2000, Switzerland's constitution was changed to protect the dignity of animals — a move that led courts to limit the use of monkeys to translational research.
Researchers in Fribourg have been able to continue their studies of spinal-cord repair in primates, but local authorities in Zurich have not renewed licences for basic research using primates since 2004. Kevan Martin, a director at the city's Institute of Neuroinformatics, had to stop mapping the functional microcircuitry of the macaque brain in 2006, when his licence expired. Martin was shocked to learn that local authorities had declined to renew his licence because the work was unlikely to reap practical benefits for society in the near term. He was even more shocked when his appeal to Switzerland's supreme court was turned down. “Is any applied research possible without basic research?” he muses.
Working abroad
In this climate, some Swiss scientists are relying on their collaborations in other countries to carry out primate experiments. Botond Roska of the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel and his colleagues have used mice to develop an experimental treatment for a common type of blindness called retinitis pigmentosa. The method is now poised for human trials, to be run by the small Paris-based biomedical company GenSight Biologics, which Roska co-founded. “But you can't go directly from mice to humans because you can't be sure if the neural circuits are the same,” says Roska. “Mice are simply not a good model of how people see.”
Rather than face uncertainty in Switzerland, Roska and his collaborators — GenSight and the Vision Institute in Paris — are conducting primate studies in France, where animal activists have less political support. Roska hopes the first human patient could be treated within the year.
Like Roska, Per-Olof Berggren at the Karolinksa Institute in Stockholm has reached a translational turning point in his research. He has developed an experimental therapy for diabetes in mice, and now needs to test it in primates before moving to humans. He thinks he could have got a licence for this in Sweden, but knew that he could not have afforded it. Regulations in the country, where animal-rights and animal-welfare groups are very powerful, require particularly large, sophisticated — and consequently expensive — primate facilities. So Berggren decided to do the work in Singapore, where he says facilities are first-class and ethical standards are as high as in Europe. “They have a long tradition of working with monkeys there, and it doesn't cost so very much.”
Berggren is far from alone: many European researchers are taking their primate research to Asia, sparking a controversy that is dividing the scientific community. Some worry that standards of ethical oversight and animal welfare could be lower in certain Asian countries. And Martin points out that the trend exacerbates the loss of skills already apparent as the number of groups working on primates in Europe falls. (The number of primates used in the EU for scientific purposes shrank by more than 25% between 2008 and 2011, according to the European Commission.) “The loss is going to be much harder to reverse,” he says. “Finding anaesthetists and surgeons has already become more difficult.”
One European scientist, recently returned from two weeks at a leading institute in China, says that he found many Europeans setting up collaborations there — but they, like him, did not want to say so openly, for fear of damaging the reputations of their home institutions.
The scientist insists that ethical concerns are out of place, and that standards at the institutes match those of Germany and the United States. “It is not a question of low standards but of forward-looking research,” he says. “And it is nice to enjoy the energy and optimism, and not always hear the word 'no'.”
Back in Bremen, Kreiter still hopes to hear a 'yes' in court. With the support — moral and financial — of his university, he has spent more than five years fighting local authorities in a string of courtroom battles. He is now awaiting yet another verdict from a high court in Leipzig. “It may be the last,” he says. “But you never know how things will develop.”Study suggests ending child marriage would save governments and donors hundreds of billions annually, rein in population growth and improve lives
Ending child marriage could add more than $4tn to the global economy, curb population growth and transform the lives of millions of young women worldwide, claim researchers.
A study by the World Bank and the International Center for Research on Women, the first to quantify the financial cost of the practice, suggests that eradicating child marriage would save governments money while enabling girls to complete their education and get better jobs.
“This research provides crucial evidence showing that child marriage doesn’t just impact the lives of the 15 million girls married every year, but also has a major negative impact on the economic development of the countries in which these girls live,” said Lakshmi Sundaram, executive director of Girls Not Brides, a coalition of organisations committed to ending child marriage.
South Sudan's battle for cattle is forcing schoolgirls to become teenage brides Read more
“Governments and other policymakers should be spurred on by this research to commit additional energy and resources to ending child marriage by 2030. By ridding the world of child marriage, we can help alleviate poverty and ensure that girls everywhere have access to a brighter future.”
Though the global child marriage rate is in decline, every two seconds a girl under the age of 18 becomes a bride. Niger has the world’s highest child marriage rate, with 76% of women married before reaching 18. In India, more than 26 million women became brides before 18.
Across the 25 countries with the highest number of child marriages, one in five women aged 18-22 had her first child before 18.
The researchers suggest gains in annual welfare costs from lower population growth could eventually reach more than $500bn a year.
Ending child marriage, a target of the sustainable development goals adopted by the UN in 2015, would have major benefits for governments and donors, said Suzanne Petroni, a senior director at the International Center for Research on Women.
“One of the ways in which we thought we could potentially affect more significant change by governments and donors was by helping them understand the bottom line – what does child marriage cost to their economies?” said Petroni, one of the report’s authors.
“And as finance ministers and others saw the findings and realised there is actually a financial cost to our country’s development as a result of child marriage, they might take it more seriously and provide investments to end the practice.”
The report is based on three years’ research using national surveys, international statistics and interviews, and was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and the Global Partnership for Education.
Looking at data from 15 countries with high child marriage rates, the report found that a girl marrying at 13 will have 26% more children over her lifetime than if she had married at 18 or later. Researchers calculated that ending child marriage would reduce national fertility rates by 11%.
The study estimated that ending child marriage would save billions of dollars each year, reaching $566bn by 2030 due to reduced population growth. Fewer deaths and reduced stunting among children under five years old would also save billions. Ending all early childbirths could save up to $708bn by 2030.
Ending child marriage would also improve women’s expected earnings, as girls are likely to leave school when they marry.
Benefits would be felt particularly strongly in poorer segments of populations, said the researchers, as young girls in poverty are more likely to marry early than girls from other socio-economic groups.In the first Superman movie, supervillain Lex Luthor plans to trigger a massive, California-detaching earthquake by detonating a couple of nuclear weapons in the San Andreas Fault.
Crazy Lex! That scheme never would have worked, geologists will tell you. But, if he'd been serious about creating an earthquake, there are ways he could have actually done it. He would just have to inject some liquid (as some carbon-sequestration schemes propose) deep into the Earth's crust, or bore a few hundred thousand tons of coal out of a mountain.
"In the past, people never thought that human activity could have such a big impact, but it can," said Christian Klose, a geohazards researcher at Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
It turns out, actually, that the human production of earthquakes is hardly supervillain-worthy. It's downright commonplace: Klose estimates that 25 percent of Britain's recorded seismic events were caused by people.
Most of these human-caused quakes are tiny, registering less than four on geologist's seismic scales. These window-rattlers don't occur along natural faults, and wouldn't have happened without human activity – like mining tons of coal or potash. They occur when a mine's roof collapses, for example, as in the Crandall Canyon collapse in Utah that killed a half-dozen miners last year.
But some human actions can trigger much larger quakes along natural fault lines. That's because humans, with the aid of our massive machines, can sling enough mass around to shift the pattern of stresses in the
Earth's crust. Faults that might not have caused an earthquake for a million years can suddenly be pushed to failure, as Klose argues occurred during Australia's only fatal earthquake in 1989.
After the jump, we present the top five ways to create an earthquake. With all due respect to Lex, and supervillains like him, you won't find nuclear explosions on the list. It turns out that if you want to make an anthroquake, shifting mass is far more effective than delivering a momentary blast.
__1. Build a Dam: __Water is heavier than air, so when the valley behind a dam is filled, the crust underneath the water experiences a massive change in stress load. For example, the Hoover Dam area experienced hundreds of quakes as Lake Mead filled. University of Alaska seismologist Larry Gedney explained, "Since [the dam] reached its peak of 475 feet in 1939, the level of seismicity has fluctuated in direct response to water level. None of the shocks has been particularly damaging – the largest was about magnitude 5 – but the area had no record of being seismically active." Other examples of dam-caused quakes abound and Klose's research indicates that about one-third of human-caused earthquakes came from reservoir construction. This science has raised fears that the recent earthquake in China was caused by the filling of the Three Gorges Dam reservoir, although no conclusive evidence has been presented.
__Inject Liquid Into the Ground: __In 1961, the Army decided that the best way to dispose of toxic waste from napalm production (among other things) was to drill a 12,000-foot-deep well in the Rocky Mountains and inject the bad stuff down it into the crust of the Earth. From 1962 to 1966, the Army deposited 165 million gallons of toxic waste into this hole in the Earth. Unfortunately, the injections probably triggered earthquakes in the region, and the Army shut the operation down. As seismologist Dave Wolny explained, "If you are doing deep well injection, you are altering the stress on the underlying rocks and at some point, the stress will be relieved by generating an earthquake."
Columbia's Klose fears that carbon dioxide sequestration, in which compressed CO2 captured from coal plants would be injected into underground deposits, could generate earthquakes too, and worse they'll be near heavily populated regions. "Unfortunately, coal-fired power plants are closer to cities," said Klose.
__Mine a Lot of Coal: __Coal provides more than half the electricity in the United States and an even greater percentage in China. That means there are a lot of coal mines working overtime to pull the fossilized fuel out of the Earth. In total, miners pulled 6,195 million metric tons of coal out of the Earth in 2006 alone. And coal mines often have to pump water out along with the coal, sometimes extracting dozens of times as much water as coal. Add it up and you have a huge change in the mass of a region, and huge mass changes refigure the earthquake stresses of an area, sometimes increasing the chance of an earthquake and other times lowering it. Klose's work suggests that more than 50 percent of the human-triggered earthquakes recorded came from mining operations.
__Drill a Gusher Dry: __Three of the largest human-caused quakes occurred near a natural-gas field in Uzbekistan, the Gazli. The combination of liquid extraction and injection changed the tectonic action in the field. The biggest of the trio registered as a 7.3. According to a major analysis (.pdf) by Russian scientists, "Few will deny that there is a relationship between hydrocarbon recovery and seismic activity, but exactly how strong a relationship exists has yet to be determined." They caution that in regions where tectonic activity is already high, extracting oil and natural gas could trigger strong quakes.
Create the World's Biggest Building: Back in 2005, a geologist claimed that the world's then-tallest building, the Taipei 101, which weighs in at more than 700,000 metric tons, was triggering earthquakes in a long-dormant fault in Taiwan. Klose doubts that the building actually did so, but said that it wasn't outside the realm of possibility for a building to create an earthquake. The weight of the building, however, would have to be much greater than the Taipei 101's, and even much larger than the Burj Dubai, currently still under construction but already the world's tallest building.
Perhaps, then, this leaves some space for a supervillain to secretly construct the world's heaviest structure in the wilds of San Bernardino, slowly but surely adding strain to California's jumpy fault system in what Geoff Manaugh of the architectural speculation site, Bldgblog, calls "tectonic warfare."
But, thankfully, probably not.
Images: 1. Illustration from Oil Field Review (pdf). 2. Hoover Dam. Credit: flickr/wili hybrid... 3. Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Credit: Library of Congress photo... 4. 5-km by 7-km coal mine in Elsdorf, Germany. flickr/davipt. 5. Oil derricks. Credit: flickr/Pay No Mind 6. The Taipei 101. Credit: flickr/orange tuesday
WiSci 2.0: Alexis Madrigal's Twitter, Google Reader feed, and webpage; Wired Science on Facebook.About Star Axis
Star Axis is an architectonic earth/star sculpture constructed with the geometry of the stars. Created by artist Charles Ross, all of Star Axis’s shapes and angles are determined by earth-to-star alignments. They are built into the sculpture so that we can experience them in human scale. Star Axis offers an intimate experience of how the earth's environment extends into the space of the stars.
The approach to building Star Axis involves gathering a variety of star alignments occurring in different time scales and allowing them to form the architecture. The sculpture's name refers to its primary earth–to-star alignment: it is precisely aligned with Earth's axis, which now points toward our north star Polaris.
Charles Ross’s artwork is about light, time, and planetary motion. Star Axis is his largest project. It was conceived in 1971, and after a four-year search throughout the southwest, Ross broke ground in 1976. Star Axis is presently being constructed on a mesa in New Mexico. Built with granite and sandstone,
at its outside dimensions, Star Axis will be 11 stories high and 1/10th of a mile across.
Star Axis has five main elements. The Star Tunnel is precisely aligned with Earth's axis. Here the viewer can walk through layers of celestial time, making directly visible the 26,000-year cycle of precession, Earth's shifting alignment with the stars. The Solar Pyramid marks the daily and seasonal movements of the sun across the Shadow Field. From inside the Hour Chamber you can view one hour of Earth's rotation, and from inside the Equatorial Chamber you can observe the stars that travel directly above the equator.
A New Boston, Texas woman who played bit parts on TV shows “The Walking Dead” and “The Vampire Diaries” was arrested Friday for allegedly sending letters laced with the poison ricin to President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. According to NBC News, Shannon Rogers Guess Richardson was arrested in Arkansas on charges that will be filed Friday afternoon.
Officials said that it was Shannon Richardson who first contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation, accusing her fourth husband, Nathaniel Richardson, of making the poison from castor beans and mailing the letters. As evidence, the mother of five, who is currently pregnant with her husband’s child, said that she found a recipe marked “How to make ricin” in their house and a Tupperware container in the family refrigerator containing a substance that “looked like ricin.”
Police arrested Nathaniel Richardson, a U.S. Army veteran, last Friday and questioned him extensively before releasing him. Officers found castor beans in his car, but had no other concrete evidence tying him to the letters.
Nathaniel Richardson argued strenuously that he was being framed for the crime, pointing out that the castor beans used in the poison had been purchased with a credit card, which he never uses. The couple, who married in October of 2011, have been in the process of getting divorced.
The letters were mailed from Shreveport, Louisiana, which is about a 40-minute drive from New Boston, and read, in part, “You will have to kill me and my family before you get my guns. Anyone wants to come to my house will get shot in the face. The right to bear arms is my constitutional God given right and I will exercise that right till the day I die.” and “What’s in this letter is nothing compared to what I’ve got planned for you.”
[image via Facebook.com]Q: Delhi are doing well at the moment with a change in the direction of the team in terms of a youth-first policy. You have been involved with this franchise for a long time - even captained them at one stage - so does this change in fortunes help put a finger on what went wrong earlier?
Duminy: It is difficult to pinpoint what has gone wrong but from the past two years we have definitely made great strides in the way we have performed. Last season it came down to 3-4 games where it went down to the wire and the matches could have turned our way, and then we would have easily made the playoffs. That’s the nature of T20 cricket and there are very small margins. So we were unlucky at times and it cannot be pointed as going wrong. But surely we need to improve on that performance. At the end of the day, it is about individuals performing in the big moments so we need to start doing that.
WATCH: Brathwaite powers Delhi to victory
Q: And it is a similar situation with South Africa, who have always boasted high quality players and yet they can never get it right in the ICC events. What is going wrong there?
Duminy: I think it’s similarly hard to point out what is wrong. I don’t think anything is wrong to be honest. We have got the players and the staff to go all the way, but unfortunately it just hasn’t happened for us. Coming into the World T20 I thought we had improved a lot, especially considering (we made) the (50-over World Cup) semi-finals last year. We were in the semi-finals in the 2014 World T20 as well, losing to India. We aren’t making a lot of mistakes and it is just that we are getting outplayed in those tournaments. This time around our batting and bowling didn’t click together in any one match. It was alternate; either we weren’t doing well with bat or ball. We scored 230 against England and still couldn’t win the game. So it is hard to answer that question because there are different opinions as to why it is not happening. All I know is that we have given it our best shot and we have ended up on the losing side most of the time, but I also think we are very close to winning an ICC event.
Q: South Africa experienced a heart-breaking semi-final loss in the 2015 ODI World Cup. Is it tougher to get over a loss like that, or the recent T20 one, where it didn’t kick off from the beginning?
Duminy: I don’t think any one moment is tougher than the other. Individually, that semi-final loss could have been tougher for some guys. But you end up feeling the same afterwards, either way. For me, at the end of the day, the tournament is over and it is in the past. So it is about picking yourself up and moving on knowing that you have given your best. That is every cricketer's mantra I think.
Q: There is a bit going on in South African cricket at the moment about transformation and inclusion of players of colour. How does it affect the dressing room?
Duminy: No, I don’t think it affects the players at all. From a managerial point of view, it can have an impact and makes their job difficult. But from a dressing room point of view, the colour of the skin doesn’t matter. When it comes to playing for the national team, we feel that you have been picked on merit for your abilities. There is always going to be politics around various selection issues and it is not just with South Africa. For any team, there will be selection politics. But for us, as players, we don’t get involved with that. Our sole job is to play out there on the field and we focus on that.
Q: You have played for different franchises in the IPL and now have settled down with the Delhi Daredevils. How has this experience been?
Duminy: I have enjoyed it immensely while playing for different teams and the great thing about the IPL is that you build friendships outside your own country. You get to understand the different cultures within one team and that’s been the most rewarding part of being in the IPL, apart from the playing experience in front of packed crowds.
WATCH: Mishra shines for Delhi against Mumbai
Q: Does playing franchise cricket in foreign conditions help in neutralising any home advantage when it comes to international cricket? Is there a trend to be seen in franchise cricket here?
Duminy: Yes, I think so. Most international players have now played in the Indian conditions and it has sort of neutralised that advantage in terms of playing here, whether in IPL or on international tours. It is still a great challenge, because conditions differ from place to place here, and you still have to perform in those conditions. From a South African point of view we did well during in the limited-overs here in autumn last year. So you get a lot of confidence out of that.
Q: Can you talk about Rahul Dravid’s role as mentor of the Delhi Daredevils?
Duminy: It has been a short time but he has been a great help so far. He has had a similar role with Rajasthan Royals and he has a fair share of success with them. He brings a different dimension to our team and the type of character he is, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and he commits a hundred per cent to whatever he puts his mind to. That’s what you want from a coach, that he understands his players. I think man management, from a player’s point of view, is very crucial in these types of tournaments. The way he manages us as international players gives us the tools to be successful as a team.EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Video Graphics Card
The new EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Video Graphics Card is powered by the next-generation NVIDIA Maxwell architecture, giving you incredible performance, unmatched power efficiency, and cutting-edge features.
Maxwell is the most advanced GPU architecture ever made, designed to be the engine of next-generation gaming. Inspired by light, it was designed to solve some of the most complex lighting and graphics challenges in visual computing. For the first time, gaming GPUs can dynamically render indirect light using the new VXGI (Voxel Global Illumination technology. Scenes are significantly more lifelike as light interacts more realistically in the game environment. This card features EVGA SuperClocked ACX 2.0 cooling. With optimized Swept fan blades, double ball bearings and an extreme low power motor, EVGA ACX 2.0 delivers more air flow with less power, unlocking additional power for the GPU. Elevate your game play using the EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Video Graphics Card today!
What It Is and Why You Need It:
EVGA ACX 2.0: With optimized Swept fan blades, double ball bearings and an extreme low power motor, EVGA ACX 2.0 delivers more air flow with less power, unlocking additional power for the GPU.
With optimized Swept fan blades, double ball bearings and an extreme low power motor, EVGA ACX 2.0 delivers more air flow with less power, unlocking additional power for the GPU. Dynamic Super Resolution Technology: Enable the detail of 4K monitors, on a 1080P display. DSR produces smoother images by rendering a game at a high resolution, then downscaling it to the native resolution of the display using advanced filtering.
Enable the detail of 4K monitors, on a 1080P display. DSR produces smoother images by rendering a game at a high resolution, then downscaling it to the native resolution of the display using advanced filtering. Super-Smooth and Stutter-Free: GeForce GTX 980 and 970 cards support tear-free, super-fast NVIDIA G-Sync monitor display technology, including 4K. Together, these technologies provide the most immersive and competitive gaming experiences possible.
GeForce GTX 980 and 970 cards support tear-free, super-fast NVIDIA G-Sync monitor display technology, including 4K. Together, these technologies provide the most immersive and competitive gaming experiences possible. NVIDIA G-SYNC Ready
NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0
INCREDIBLE SPEED AND POWER EFFICIENCY
The GTX 980 is very fast and offers the most advanced performance in its class. It delivers 2x the performance of previous-generation cards, bringing more gaming experiences to virtual reality, HD, and ultra-resolution 4K displays.
GeForce GTX 980 cards support tear-free, super-fast NVIDIA G-Sync monitor display technology, including 4K. Together, these technologies provide the most immersive and competitive gaming experiences possible.
DYNAMIC SUPER RESOLUTION TECHNOLOGY
Enable the detail of 4K monitors, on a 1080P display. DSR produces smoother images by rendering a game at a high resolution, then downscaling it to the native resolution of the display using advanced filtering.
Get the power and nuance of cinema sound straight from your laptop. The speakers are certified by sound engineers from Klipsch and the system comes preloaded with Dolby Home Theater v4 software for extraordinary audio and an easy interface - whether you're gaming or enjoying other media.
GPU BOOST
Dynamically maximizes clock speeds based on workload and allows enthusiast-class controls such as temperature target and fan controls, extra over-voltage headroom, and optimizations for water-cooling solutions. This allows gamers to push performance to new levels. Adaptive vertical sync.AUSTIN – The Oregon track and field team closed strong at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds on Saturday, a big qualifying day for the Ducks with 24 more entries to the NCAA Championships.
Oregon finished the weekend with 45 entries to the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field, June 10-13. The Men of Oregon will have 23 entries while the women will have 22.
“For our men's and women's teams to be represented in all but three events, it gives meaning to when we say we try to be a balanced program,” head coach Robert Johnson said. “I'm really proud and excited about that.”
Before events could get started on the track, a severe lightning storm delayed the meet by about an hour before the skies cleared, giving the Ducks a small glimpse of the harsh weather that has ravaged the southern part of the country.
“As nice as it is to qualify all these kids, it is humbling and brings a sense of reality, when you realize how these storms have affected communities here in this part of the country,” Johnson said. “The thoughts and prayers of our coaches and athletes are with the families who have been affected.”
The group of women's 1,500-meter runners thrived on the NCAA stage as the Ducks went 4-for-4 in qualifying on Saturday, each setting personal bests along the way. In the first of two heats, Nikki Hiltz (4:16.13) and Alli Cash (4:16.56) qualified as part of the top five finishers with Katie Porada advancing on time (4:17.04). Ashley Maton was the lone Duck in the second heat and positioned herself nicely with 400 meters to go before finishing second in 4:18.38.
The men's 1,500-meter runners had similar success with three competitors moving on to Eugene. Blake Haney (3:42.75), Daniel Winn (3:43.11) and Johnny Gregorek (3:43.17) each finished in the top five of their heats to qualify.
The distance crew continued to add to its numbers later in the night with four men advancing in the men's 5,000. Edward Cheserek won the first heat in 14:11.66 followed by redshirt freshman Jake Leingang who finished fourth in 14:12.27. In the second heat, Will Geoghegan (13:50.21) and Eric Jenkins (13:51.45) finished second and fourth, respectively to punch their tickets to the national meet.
Molly Grabill represented the Ducks in the women's 5,000 and qualified in 16:04.62 to solidify her double in Eugene, paired with the 10,000.
Jenna Prandini concluded her busy weekend by qualifying to Eugene in the 200 by finishing second in her heat (22.98). It marks the third event for Prandini who qualified in the long jump on Thursday and the 100 on Friday.
On the men's side Arthur Delaney will represent Oregon in the men's 200 after scoring in the event last season. Delaney finished second in his quarterfinal heat in 20.73.
Both Oregon's men's and women's 4x100 teams solidified their NCAA Championships bid. The women's team of Wallace, Ashante Horsley, Jasmine Todd and Marybeth Sant finished in 44.78 while the men's team of Tony Brooks-James, Charles Nelson, Arthur Delaney and Marcus Chambers ran the third-fastest time in school history of 39.55 to advance.
The same goes for Oregon's 4x400 teams. The team of Ben Thiel, Arthur Delaney, Russell Hornsby and Marcus Chambers ran the seventh fastest time in the west (3:05.14) which ranks eighth in school history. The women's team of Christian Brennan, Ashante Horsley, Annie Leblanc and Raevyn Rogers finished eighth overall and third in their heat with a time of 3:33.69.
Defending national champion in the javelin Sam Crouser finished second in the West Prelim with a throw of 246-5 (75.10m) on his second attempt as he will head back to Hayward Field to defend his title.
Brittany Mann took fifth in the women's shot put to advance. The redshirt sophomore will look to score in the event for the second-straight year after taking seventh last season at the outdoor championships.
Sasha Wallace and Johnathan Cabral take part in the hurdles in Eugene after both qualified with the fourth-fastest times out of the West on Saturday. Wallace took second in her heat of the 100 hurdles in 13.21. Cabral, who suffered an injury at the 2014 NCAA prelim and did not finish, will look for redemption this year after running 13.67 in the quarterfinal.
Freshman Nate Moore will double for the Ducks in the jumps thanks to a qualifying mark in the triple jump on Saturday after already doing so in the long jump. Moore finished 10th with a best of 51-3.75 (15.64m) on his first attempt.
Liz Brenner finished sixth in the women's javelin with |
Crystal Castles was the single most difficult decision I’ve ever made.” She continued, “That band was everything to me. My music, my performances and my fans were all I had in the world. I gave that up and started over not because I wanted to but because I had to…It has taken me years to recover from enduring almost a decade of abuse, manipulation and psychological control. I am still recovering.”
In a statement made via his attorney, Palmieri insisted that Glass’s “story is pure fiction.” He subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Glass and her boyfriend, musician Jupiter Keyes, alleging that Glass (referred to as Margaret Osborn throughout the lawsuit) had “released false and malicious lies to the online world.”
“As a result”, the suit continued, “Crystal Castles has suffered irreparable damage, very least of which was the cancellation of Plaintiff’s North America tour.” Palmieri further alleged conspiracy: “Defendant Keyes was aware that Osborn planned to wrongly defame and harm the reputation of Plaintiffs Palmieri and Crystal Castles.” On November 18, Glass posted a photo of her summons on Twitter, writing, “Just got served after my show in Chicago by someone pretending to be a fan. lol see you in court asshole.”BY: MATTHEW CHIN
Civil unrest in parts of the Middle East has left many citizens to gamble between makeshift boats on the open ocean and the danger ashore.
Taking to the sea, many are trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe. According to Amnesty International, last year 218,000 migrants tried to escape and 3,500 drowned, making it “the deadliest sea crossing in the world.” Amnesty International said the rate of those crossings are 50 per cent higher than last year and hundreds have already drowned this year. The cause of drowning is due to impractical makeshift boats that are often over packed, causing the boats to sink.
After a cruise on their private yacht witnessing a floating jacket said to belong to a drowned victim, Christopher Catrambone and his wife Regina Catrambone decided to take matters into their own hands. Catrambone, a wealthy businessman from the United States, invested $8 million and bought a 40-metre-long rescue boat, two drones, and hired a 20-person crew including sailors, rescuers, doctors, and paramedics to save those stranded at sea. Their vessel named “Phoenix” will cruise under the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), an organization based in Malta that saves lives at sea. The vessel operates between Italy and Libya.
Christopher Catrambone and his wife Regina Catrambone invested $8 million and bought a 40-metre-long rescue boat, two drones, and hired a 20-person crew including sailors, rescuers, doctors, and paramedics to save those stranded at sea.
Photo by: Massimo Sestini
In a BBC article, Catrambone said, “We are making history in many ways by being the first civilian ship to use such grand technology. We hope that this is going to change the environment for rescue at sea. We’re innovators here. We’re trying to do something that no-one else has been able to do. We’ve put our money where our mouth is.”
In their first mission, they rescued 271 people including over 100 women and children. In just 60 days, Catrambone and his crew saved 3,000 lives.
The journey between Libya and the nearest Italian shore is in Sicily, a distance just over 520 kilometres and to travel in a boat with a motor takes less than a day. Migrants land on islands in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea such as Lampedusa and Malta, but both islands don’t have the resources or the capacity to keep up with the amount of arrivals.
Migrants who are rescued are often dehydrated and hungry due to the long distance they travel. On the Phoenix, they’re given blankets, water, an energy bar, and if they are in severe condition the medical team will look after them.
In their first mission, they rescued 271 people including over 100 women and children. In just 60 days, Catrambone and his crew saved 3,000 lives.
Photo by: Giles Clarke
In a NPR article Catrambone said, “Thousands of people are dying. As we stand here we just received news that 10 more migrants died.” No European country has a search-and-rescue operation fully dedicated to saving migrants at sea, according to Catrambone. Italy abandoned their search-and-rescue mission in 2014 due to EU members saying they were unable to fund it.
Concerned that offering aid would promote taking the risk to escape, politicians remain stagnant. Martin Xuereb, the director of MOAS and Malta’s former Chief of Defence disagree with politicians and said in an interview with Sky News, “Politicians need to remove politics from search-and-rescue and put saving lives at the top of the agenda.”
The Phoenix will redeploy in May this year, committed to saving the lives of those stranded at sea.
Sources: esflc.org, francetvinfo.fr, nydailynews.com, blogspot.com,You know, sometimes it’s not easy being a dad. There aren’t really a lot of stories in modern popular culture about good fathers, and the world of video games is no exception. Everybody knows the ESRB stat about how the average age of gamers is around 34, yet very few titles provide an honest portrayal of what it’s really all about. There is however one game in which you play as a father, a good one. Hell, a fantastic one! That game is Dead Rising 2, and that father’s name is Mr. Chuck Greene.
A lot of people prefer Frank West from the original Dead Rising. I get it, but I disagree. Frank is funny and kind of a prick in that roguish yet loveable Han Solo-ish way, but ultimately Dead Rising suffers because there isn’t any emotional connection to him. It’s particularly resonant in Dead Rising 2: Off the Record in which you are able to play pretty much the exact same scenario, but as Frank. It’s fun for a little while and a nice throwback to the original, but something is clearly missing. That ‘something’ is the emotional investment the player has to Chuck and it’s not because he’s an awesome, badass character (although he absolutely is), but because he himself has an emotional investment in Katey, his young daughter.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4R9oNi3TUQ[/youtube]
Katey was bitten and infected by a zombie prior to the events of Dead Rising 2. This means that one of Chuck’s primary goals throughout is to find Zombrex medicine and give her a dose every morning. Chuck puts himself through an unbelievable amount of abuse and danger just to keep his daughter alive. Consider; he’s not even necessarily looking for a cure for Katey. He’s looking for a stopgap treatment that will keep her going for another 24 hours. Chuck competes in Terror is Reality, runs from one end of the complex to another multiple times, fights against psychopaths and thousands of zombies, and works to uncover the larger conspiracy of the outbreak in Fortune City for one reason: To save his daughter.
To be honest, a big part of what makes Dead Rising 2 so fun is that you can do all kinds of crazy stuff and dress up in any kind of costume, and it is a bit of a mood-breaking moment to see Chuck sharing a tender moment with Katey while wearing, say, biker chaps and high heels. Still, the fact that their relationship is played completely straight in the midst of such an insane game does ground the story in a way that its predecessor doesn’t even remotely approach. Sure, you can run around and completely ignore the story if you want (and in fact it’s pretty much the way you need to play it the first time through), but the clock never stops ticking and there will always be consequences.
In many ways, Dead Rising 2 is a brilliantly immersive parenting simulator. It gives you a strict timeframe in which you need to accomplish a list of critical tasks, and then piles on a bunch more tasks causing you to make tough decisions about what is best for your child versus what you want to do. Don’t get me wrong; parenthood is an amazing and worthwhile experience…but it can be hard. In this day and age it’s all about time management, multitasking, and finding pockets of time to take it easy and recharge, and this game is no different. Kind of like finding time to read a book or play a video game, this game definitely makes it worth your while and necessary to explore and discover the hilarious possibilities of what it offers. The thing is, if you’re going to do that then you had better make sure you’ve gone and picked up some Zombrex (or milk, diapers, etc.) beforehand.
There’s no instruction manual for raising kids, and it’s just about the toughest job there is in the world. It’s all about sacrifice, selflessness, and unconditional love. There’s a lot of talk about video games ‘growing up’, and I think what can facilitate that transition is by letting characters grow up as well. We’ve done it to death; playing as a lone-wolf soldier or a 17 year old who’s trying to save the world. Screw the world; there’s nothing more poignant and emotionally meaningful than desperately trying to save your child. Chuck understands that which is what makes him such a fantastic character.
Now go give your dad a hug and tell him you love him.After Lorenzo saw off the early challenge of Honda’s Marc Marquez, it was Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi – at his home circuit – who threatened his pole time in the closing minutes.
In the end, Lorenzo extended his advantage to 0.348s with a stunning final effort, becoming the only rider to lap under the 1m32s barrier.
“I’m very proud of this qualifying,” said Lorenzo. “I make a very good laptime with the first tyre – I did this [1m]32.0s that I was very happy, that was an unbelievable laptime really – so I said, okay, with the second tyre, I will risk a little bit more than normal.
“I rode much more aggressive than normal, braking very hard, very aggressive, moving on the bike, risking a lot, maybe too much – especially in the fast corners in sixth gear, the bike was moving so much.
“So I thought – okay, maybe I'm too aggressive, I'm gonna be slower than the previous lap. When I crossed the finish line, I see the 31.8s, I was delighted, completely delighted, very proud.
“Probably I rode one of my best lap ever – maybe the best lap of my life.”The interviews in this article are part of CoinDesk’s wider coverage of the Global Bitcoin Summit in Beijing, which took place 10th-11th May 2014.
As part of a clampdown on bitcoin in China, the nation’s bitcoin exchanges were forced by the authorities to pull out of any official involvement with Beijing’s Global Bitcoin Summit earlier this month.
However, CoinDesk was still able to meet with the CEOs of two of the largest exchanges, OKCoin and Huobi, at an off-conference event where they discussed the regulatory climate, bitcoin in China, and their plans going forward.
Both OKCoin’s Star Xu and Huobi’s Leon Li are optimistic about bitcoin’s future in China, they said, and see the current regulatory environment as a real, but temporary problem that can be overcome.
The CEOs also addressed the Chinese central bank’s concerns regarding excessive price speculation and investor risk, hinting that this may be driving the government’s recent actions and agreeing that exchanges could do more to curb such activity.
Star Xu, OKCoin
Xu first got into bitcoin at the beginning of 2012, he said, after seeing the digital currency mentioned on an episode of TV drama series The Good Wife, he said. After falling in love with the concept and researching the topic further, he began trading on Mt. Gox and BTC China later that year. He founded OKCoin early in 2013.
“I felt that they could do better,” he said. “So I wanted to found a new exchange.”
OKCoin soon found investors, including the $10m it received in Series A funding from local VC firm Ceyuan, followed by investment from Mandra Capital and VenturesLab in January this year.
Finding investors that also believed in digital currency was the key, he said:
“The most important thing is, your investors should believe you, trust you, and support your business. My investors also believed in bitcoin, he bought a lot of bitcoin himself, and he thought I was the right person to run the business. We made the deal in 10 minutes.”
Xu advises other startup owners to be prepared to run their business for two years as they looked for investors.
“It’s really important to get the right investors for the right startup,” he said. “They should match beautifully.”
Bitcoin startups need to move more slowly, he continued, because they needed to help their customers better understand bitcoin and the risks associated with its use.
Banks and regulation
Despite the recent regulatory environment in China, Xu said that he still thought his native country was less restrictive than others, which have also seen bank account closures and even arrests of bitcoin exchange operators:
“Actually it’s easy to run a bitcoin exchange in China. There are only two exchanges in the US, but in China we have 10 or 20 bitcoin exchanges.”
The People’s Bank of China’s policies would “bring a period of hardship”, but, in the long term, the situation would improve, he predicted, since the government has shown some interest in communicating with bitcoin companies.
Overseas plans
Xu’s ultimate goal is to take OKCoin international in some form, either directly or by licensing the company’s technology to other companies:
“From the beginning I thought bitcoin is international, this is the reason I love bitcoin. I think the Chinese bitcoin companies will cooperate with overseas startups. I think we need more cooperation than competition.”
“We can make more and more customers love bitcoin, and use bitcoin,: he added. “The important thing for all of us, is that bitcoin has no nationality.”
Mt. Gox revival?
OKCoin’s name has recently been associated with an alternative plan to rescue the defunct Tokyo-based exchange Mt. Gox, challenging the SaveGox campaign launched by Sunlot Holdings Ltd.
Under the plan, the exchange would not launch a direct takeover, but assemble a new team leveraging OKCoin’s technology and experience, and make an application to the Japanese bankruptcy court overseeing the case.
Xu became interested in reviving Mt. Gox after one of his friends suggested OKCoin could help out with its technology and experience, he said. Trying to resurrect the business and return funds to its customers was important for the whole bitcoin community, he added.
Only the court could decide in the end, he pointed out, so his team would have to apply to the Japanese bankruptcy court and await its reply:
“It’s very complicated and hard work. It needs maybe one or two years.”
Leon Li, Huobi
Like Xu, Huobi CEO Leon Li is positive about the future of bitcoin in China, in several sectors. There is a lot of trading and mining activity in China, he told CoinDesk, but the surrounding services, like apps and APIs, need improvement.
Speculation on bitcoin price had been “too hot” in the past year, and China’s exchanges needed to calm things down, he argued. Many investors were looking to make short-term gains, he said, and that kind of activity needed to be kept in check “for the good of the country”.
Future plans
As for the near future in the wake of new central bank restrictions, Huobi said it had a two-stage plan to continue business.
The first step will be to move away from direct interaction with the banks and instead interact with a “peer-to-peer network”, in which Huobi would function as a platform for users to trade fiat currency for bitcoins directly with each other.
The second step will be to investigate opportunities overseas, although Li did not specify at this stage what those opportunities might be.
Beijing skyscrapers image via ShutterstockOct 17, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning in game three of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Toronto Blue Jays Steamer and ZiPS projections for the 2017 season
Each year, in the dead of the Toronto Blue Jays’ off-season, we look ahead to the coming spring with a handful of projection systems. Going position-by-position, we’ll begin with the starting rotation that carried Toronto through much of 2016.
The systems we’ll look at are Steamer and ZiPS. For a full look at MLB projection systems, how they work, and the intricacies of each, I recommend this piece from Henry Druschel at Beyond the Box Score.
Projection systems, as I always say, are the sober friend at a party. A little more based in logic, a little less optimistic, and less likely to do something drastic (like, say, project a 9.0+ WAR season, as these systems are typically conservative). What they do offer, however — between their existing flaws — is an unbiased baseline for analysis and discussion.
RHP Aaron Sanchez
Steamer: 202 IP, 7.6 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 – 3.98 ERA, 3.0 WAR
ZiPS: 196.0 IP, 8.1 K/9, 2.8 K/9 – 3.35 ERA, 4.6 WAR
The ZiPS projection is certainly more favourable to Sanchez, but even Steamer shows optimism with 200+ innings and a sub-four ERA. Sanchez will continue to face questions about his endurance through 2017, as one season of full rotation work does not mean he’s out of the woods by any means.
Of note from the ZiPS projections: Sanchez’s “No. 1 Comp” player is Dave Stieb. Though this is not the most analytically-based term, Sanchez’s “projection-defying stuff” could help him to exceed these numbers.
RHP Marco Estrada
Steamer: 165 IP, 7.6 K/9, 3.12 BB/9 – 4.67 ERA, 1.6 WAR
ZiPS: 180.1 IP, 6.4 K/9, 2.9 BB/9 – 3.84 ERA, 3.1 WAR
ZiPS seems to have a better grasp on Estrada’s projection for 2017, though both systems expect him to regress from his 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 2016. The right-hander did battle some back issues throughout the season and does not have a lengthy track record as a workhorse, so his innings count will be worth monitoring as well. Given the unusual nature of Estrada’s pitching style (heavy changeup, pitching to wonky contact), he’s a difficult case for projection systems.
LHP J.A. Happ
Steamer: 184 IP, 7.6 K/9, 2.9 BB/9 – 4.15 ERA, 2.4 WAR
ZiPS: 154.2 IP, 8.0 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 – 3.96 ERA, 2.5 WAR
The two seem to agree on Happ’s WAR value, which is reasonable following seasons of 3.4 and 3.2 WAR. Where the two differ is Happ’s innings, and coming off a season that easily represents his career high, that will be an issue (noticing a common thread here for the rotation that chewed through innings brilliantly in 2016?). Short outings plagued Happ more than injuries did earlier in his career, but with bias put aside, one must admit that 20 wins with a 3.18 ERA is not likely to be sustainable for the lefty.
RHP Marcus Stroman
Steamer: 166 IP, 7.4 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 – 3.68 ERA, 3.2 WAR
ZiPS: 140.2 IP, 7.6 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 – 3.97 ERA, 2.2 WAR
Here’s an important one, as Steamer projects Stroman to lead the Blue Jays’ staff in ERA and WAR this season despite the low innings total. That IP number is even lower on ZiPS despite him topping 200 innings in the regular season alone last year, so even with his short track record considered, that’s a bit conservative. Stroman showed through the final months of the season that his early-season struggles might have just been a blip on the radar. In this case, projections do have a value in helping to frame last season’s stats against who the pitcher truly is.
LHP Francisco Liriano
Steamer: 138 IP, 9.3 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 – 3.93 ERA, 2.0 WAR
ZiPS: 158 IP, 9.9 K/9, 4.0 BB/9 – 4.22 ERA, 2.0 WAR
These numbers are in line with what Blue Jays fans can reasonably expect from Liriano. Strikeout and walk ratios that more closely resemble a high-velocity reliever’s will see him dominate some games and struggle in others, but when it all adds up, there should be real value for Toronto. He’s shown the ability to string it together over longer stretches, however, with four seasons of 3.3 WAR or higher scattered throughout his career.In a strong signal, Mr. Trump has turned to Dan DiMicco, a longtime steel executive and trade critic, to oversee trade issues during his administration’s transition. Mr. DiMicco writes a personal blog, liberally sprinkled with exclamation points, that blames America’s industrial decline on cheating by trade partners, particularly China.
“Hillary Clinton has claimed Trump’s trade policies will start a ‘Trade War’ but what she fails to recognize is we are already in one,” he wrote on his blog last summer. “Trump clearly sees it and he will work to put an end to China’s ‘Mercantilist Trade War’! A war it has been waging against us for nearly 2 decades!”
China over the last two days has emphasized that a healthy relationship would benefit both sides. On Thursday, Lu Kang, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said, “It is in the common interests of both countries to develop a long-term, stable and prosperous trading relationship, and any American politician would take a policy in the interest of his country and the American people.”
Mr. Trump’s views veer widely from the free-trade positions of the Republican Party in recent years and signal a return to the more hawkish positions of the Reagan administration, which repeatedly went after Japan on trade issues. Since President Ronald Reagan, Republican and Democratic administrations have been reluctant to confront countries that may be subsidizing or dumping exports, either because the evidence is unclear or because of a risk of damaging diplomatic or strategic relations.
“This is the kind of stuff you learn in law school, and in the early days of your law career,” said Alan H. Price, a longtime lawyer for the American steel and aluminum industries at Wiley Rein.
When used, the measures were sometimes deemed ineffective.
In one rare example, President Obama used his powers to impose tariffs of up to 35 percent on imports of Chinese tires soon after he took office. The tariffs prompted China to impose steep tariffs on American chicken meat and automotive products. Both countries complained to the World Trade Organization, which mostly sided with the United States.
The case resulted in the United States producing more tires, but imports from other countries rose even faster. And the Obama administration later became more cautious about challenging China with trade restrictions.Argentina’s president will address an international summit of Jewish leaders meeting in Buenos Aires on the anniversary of the 1992 attack on the Israeli Embassy there.
More than 400 Jewish leaders are expected to gather for the Special Plenary Assembly of the World Jewish Congress March 15-17 in conjunction with a meeting of the WJC Executive Committee. The plenary will include discussions on unresolved terror attacks like the embassy bombings, as well as the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish center in the Argentine capital.
President Mauricio Macri will speak at the opening event of the assembly, where Paraguay’s President Horacio Cartés will be awarded the Latin American Jewish Congress’ Shalom Prize for his support of Israel.
WJC President Ronald Lauder said the gathering will be among the largest in Latin America of international Jewish leaders in recent decades.
“We look forward to fruitful discussions and to a show of solidarity with the Jewish community of Argentina, the largest and most vibrant in Latin America,” he said this week.
Claudio Epelman, executive director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, told JTA that Argentina was chosen to host the meeting not only because it hosts the largest Jewish community in the region, but “also due a new stage of building bridges between the local Jewish community and the Argentinian government.”
Last December, the Macri government in its first week voided the agreement with Iran to jointly investigate the AMIA bombing.
Keep updated: Sign up to our newsletter Email * Please enter a valid email address Sign up Please wait… Thank you for signing up. We've got more newsletters we think you'll find interesting. Click here Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later. Try again Thank you, The email address you have provided is already registered. Close
As part of the program, the WJC will participate in the official ceremony marking this anniversary of the embassy bombing on March 17, 1992, and also will visit the rebuilt AMIA headquarters on the site of the attack. The embassy was bombed on March 17, 1992, killing 29 and injuring more than 200.
“We will make it clear that it’s not acceptable that today, more than two decades after the worst terrorist attacks against the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and the AMIA Jewish center, justice has yet to be done,” Lauder said. “We welcome President Macri’s decision to cancel the memorandum of understanding with Iran regarding the AMIA bombing probe and we hope that he will work diligently to ensure that no stone is left unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
According to the Latin American Jewish Congress, Argentina is home to 230,000 Jews.Copyright by KOIN - All rights reserved Nearly 3 dozens shots were fired at a car on NE 27th and Lombard, Mar. 26, 2016 (KOIN)
Copyright by KOIN - All rights reserved Nearly 3 dozens shots were fired at a car on NE 27th and Lombard, Mar. 26, 2016 (KOIN)
KOIN 6 News Staff - PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) --- No one was hurt in a Saturday afternoon shooting that some witnesses call an 'ambush-style' shooting.
Portland Police say they were called to the area of NE 27th Ave. and Lombard St. about 3:40 on the report that 3 men were shooting into the street.
The suspects were gone by the time officers arrived but they did find evidence of gunfire in the street.
The victim says she was in her car with her 3 kids, ages 16, 4, and 1, when she was stopped at NE 27th and Lombard. She says the suspects pulled up next to her and several men got out and started shooting at her car.
She sped off eastbound on Lombard and the suspects drove south on 27th.
Police say nearly 3 dozen shots were fired at the car. No one inside the car was hurt and the only damage to the car was to the tires.
The Gang Enforcement Team is investigating.Vanilla has always been a mystery to me, or at least to this day. It was around the time when I first stumbled upon his 2015 released album Origin when I felt the growing love towards love for instrumental hip hop and sample beats music.
I had forgotten about the UK producer until his latest release Moonlight which contains by far one of my favourite track discoveries this year - "Snowdance". Months after discovering the tune, it still gives me the ultimate goosebumps. Anyways, lets stick to what's important now. I am extremely excited to share with you my interview with Vanilla and the awesome mix he crafted for us.
I'm really happy to have discovered a bit more about him and I feel you guys will enjoy this a lot too, regardless if you were familiar with his music before.
Stereofox.com Stereofox Mini Mix://51 - Artist [Vanilla] Stereofox Mini Mix://51 - Artist [Vanilla] - Stereofox.com 27:55
Tracklist:
Thes One - Noonen
Nico Is - Thinking Of
Azymuth - Partido Alto
DJ Mitsu the Beats - Intro (ft. Hunger of Gagle)
Fat Jon - Pleione
Jazz Liberatorz - Ease My Mind (Instrumental)
Soriheda - 생각의 탄생 (With Dead`P, 강선아)
Lone - Jaded
Before the interview, would like to ask you about the mix you've crafted for us today. What was the inspiration behind it and how would you describe it in a sentence?
These are just some tracks I’ve discovered recently and thought they might go well together. I think there’s stuff from Brazil, Japan, Korea, the UK and the states here but really they’re all bound by good grooves.
So, you're pretty much off the grid and most of the social media networks. I imagine that's a deliberate decision, but what's the reasoning behind it?
It’s a combination of things really. I’m quite a private person in many ways and I always found the social media element of being an artist in this day and age distracting in all honesty. I realise that means I may be doing a disservice to fans who want to know more or stay up to date, but I’ve always sort of naturally gravitated to this approach and even though I’m not prolific it does mean I’m always thinking about the music first and foremost. This may change in the future as I have now have to consider the future of ‘Vanilla’ and where I want to take it.
You're one of the best proof that huge social media presence and PR are not necessary to be popular and share your music with thousands of people across the world. Were you surprised by your growth and popularity?
Absolutely, and I genuinely feel blessed and honoured that I’m at a stage where I only have to go as far as announce a release and the online community takes it from there and spreads the word. That’s not to say I haven’t worked hard for that, and I suppose it’s proof that you don’t have to bombard social media accounts to get your stuff heard by large numbers of people.
Do people around you (in the everyday life) know / listen / follow Vanilla or it's something you keep rather online & mysterious?
Most people I’ve met probably don’t really know that I do Vanilla. Those close to me obviously do but in my day to day life it doesn’t factor in all that much. I’m appreciative of those who want to know though!
Where does the name Vanilla come from actually?
It was a nickname from a while back based on me having blond hair and if memory serves I just liked the fact it rhymed with Dilla. Obviously not the best name to google but it’s actually worked out pretty well thus far.
You play a bit of piano and guitar - do you still prefer a sample-based driven beats or you try to expand into creating your own sounds?
I can’t really help but gravitate towards sampling; I love composing original stuff and I have a lot of unreleased sample-free music, but I just love the whole process of taking something that exists and seeing what you can do with it so I usually end up focusing on that. I’ve been working on a sample-free album for some years now so I really hope I can get that out there some day, it’s a world away from the sample stuff.
Vanilla is not a full time thing for you right now. However, are you looking into expanding into other sound fields or music will be (at least for now) a fun side thing?
I’ve recently become very interested in sound and music for film, which is where I’ve been putting a lot of my recent time and energy. Vanilla is always going to be happening but I’m at a stage now where I really need to figure out the next step, and I find film to be a fascinating medium which I want to become more immersed in.
What do you do in your day life besides beat production?
I’m a pretty ordinary dude really. I like films and good food. As I mentioned above most of my time outside of music is taken up with film sound stuff.
If you have to choose someone to collaborate with on an EP who would that be and why?
I’d love to work with DOOM or Ghostface not only because they are incredible rappers but they would push me as a beatmaker to do something really creative and different from my usual stuff.
Who have been the most influential musicians for you?
The two pillars of my production aesthetic are definitely Nujabes and Dilla. I have been obsessed with both of these artists for some time and both have been hugely influential on the way I sample and program beats and think about large-scale projects.
Are you thinking about doing live shows any time soon and what are the Vanilla plans for 2017?
The live thing is tricky. I’m not ruling it out of happening at some point but it’s a whole thing I really need to get to grips with first, so I wouldn’t expect anything there anytime soon. My main plan is another album for 2017 which I am currently working on. Without saying too much I’d like to channel the spirit of Origin with this one and see where I can take it.
Thank you so much for the interview! Any last words / shoutouts etc.?
Only to say thank you so much for the interview and giving me a chance to externalise my thoughts! I appreciate it.
For more of Vanilla's music, drop by his Stereofox artist profile. Free download of the mix here.In certain areas of northern Vietnam the phone signal leaves something to be desired, namely, its presence. Of course, this seemed immaterial when I heard that Slavoj Žižek was available to interview on the day of my departure. And so it was that I was at Hanoi International Airport, taxiing down the runway, writing frantic notes on loose sheets of paper as Slavoj Žižek shouted at me down the phone about Donald Trump. “The signal is very bad”, Slavoj observed, as an airhostess tapped aggressively on the no-mobile sign in front of my face; “Yes, it is”, I agreed in a suitably breezy manner. Slavoj, it is worth pointing out, once gave an entire interview while sat on the toilet, a strategy I myself briefly considered as the plane gained speed, before agreeing with him that it was probably best to resume speaking the next day.
It seems that you can’t believe, or even coherently imagine, everything you hear about Slavoj Žižek. He is the Elvis of cultural studies, some say; according to others, he is the Borat of philosophy; at any rate, he is the “most dangerous philosopher in the west.” A forbidding combination, then. Such comparisons fail because they are hardly large enough to contain Žižek’s own trade in the self-parodic and bizarre. He is a writer, critic, and quite arguably the most influential philosopher living today, certainly the most famous — a Lacanian in his psychoanalysis and a Hegelian in his Marxism. He delights in collapsing the divide between high and low culture, and revealing what is ideological in the every day. He can appear a contrarian and controversialist, but in the ends seeks more than just these titles. His critiques bring with them an ambition and theoretical sweep that is quite overwhelming—a circus of disparate concepts and unanticipated allusions, all delivered at a speed designed to kill, like oncoming traffic hurtling towards us, the sleepwalkers of late-capitalism.
There is something vertiginous in the vision Žižek presents of contemporary life. His impression is that we are approaching a precipice of sorts, a kind of “apocalyptic zero-point”. As the title of one of his recent books puts it: we are “living in the end times”. However, at a moment when many may be willing to share in this pessimism, Žižek prefers to occupy a position of qualified dissatisfaction.
He finds Jeremy Corbyn uninspiring, seeing the internecine politics of the PLP as yet another sign of “the deadlock of the left”. We cannot retreat into the shadow of the monolithic welfare state off the 50s. What about the Brexiteers, were they self-serving or just misguided? Žižek sees it in starker terms: the substance of the entire debate is evidence of a pervasive “false consciousness”.
What about Trump? He is merely sound and fury representing nothing. To Žižek Trump is a “centrist liberal” disguised as a radical. He is more appalled by the Republican grandees dislodged and disempowered in the volcanic rise of the Donald. “Ted Cruz!” He exclaims, “I wonder if he is a human being!” Of course Trump is “disgusting”, a “provoking clown”, but fundamentally his recourse to “public vulgarity” is just “a mask of the fact that there is nothing special about him.”
Žižek is in his element now: “It’s theatre! you know, a wall with Mexico, bullshit, up and down, and so on.” What explains, then, the appetite for such a meretricious show? “All the spectacle is here for us not to notice that there is nothing new, that it is just the same old politics…Look at his complete economic proposals, like what to do with healthcare … He is oscillating, inconsistent, but basically playing well within the field.
“I don’t even think, apart from aesthetic points like a little bit more anti-immigrant [talk] and so on, that there is economically a considerable difference between Hillary and him.” I press him on this: surely there is a difference: one of image. Trump’s ambition to remake the American statesman in the mould of a reality TV-star makes him qualitatively different to candidates of the past. “It does!” Žižek exclaims, and “of course it matters. Form always matters for a philosopher. Of course it’s horrible, this vulgarisation of public discourse, but I think again that this masks the fact that he is the candidate of continuity, contrary to appearances.”
Žižek occupies a strangely insecure cultural position. He is embraced by a system that he finds to be depraved and confused. Does he worry about |
the most improved MVP after people discredited the Warriors’ title run — Doc Rivers most notably calling them “lucky” they didn’t have to face the San Antonio Spurs or Clippers in their championship run. And it would explain the 67 points over two games after Russell Westbrook laughed off a reporter asking about Curry’s defense — a move everyone knew wouldn’t go unpunished — and their chances at coming back to win the series.
And this would also explain the Warriors’ ability to obliterate teams in fourth quarters after letting themselves trail for most of the game. Curry thrives on the underdog status and he enjoys proving people wrong. Don’t think it was an innocent coincidence that Curry laughed his way down the court after crossing Kevin Durant and laying the ball up over Westbrook’s outstretched fingertips in the waning seconds of the Western Conference finals’ seventh game. It’s one of those many reminders that the Babyfaced Assassin has bite behind his nonchalant demeanor.
Somewhere in New Orleans, there’s a middle-aged white lady with a really awkward picture of me and Curry.
This was 2010, and I was waiting for him in the Smoothie King Center’s player meeting area after a New Orleans Hornets vs. Warriors game. The area is a glorified storage facility filled with friends of players and people looking for an autograph from anyone going from the team locker room to the bus. I’d heard the woman and her teenage daughter whispering, and then she came up behind me with “Are you Stephen Curry’s brother?” I wanted to let her know that all tall, light-skinned guys don’t look alike, but I just told her I wasn’t and laughed it off.
I wonder if…Curry subconsciously creates scenarios in which he believes people underestimate him, so he can rise above the disrespect of the underestimation.
When Curry finally came out, we had small talk about his season. It was his second in the NBA. We spoke about me routinely beating him in online Scrabble. How much we missed chicken Parmesan from Vail Commons, and how great it was we don’t have to pull all-nighters anymore. The woman interrupted us: “You two, stand together.” We awkwardly shuffled toward each other and stood there confused, wondering why we were taking this picture, and trying to smile through the weirdness. Curry signed a couple of autographs and boarded the team bus soon after.
Over the years, I’ve waited after games in that same area when the Warriors are in town. The crowd waiting for Curry has of course gotten bigger each time. We rarely talk about basketball. There are enough people around him to talk basketball. Instead we talk about the important things. We’d talk about our families — he married Ayesha exactly a month after I was married, and his oldest daughter Riley is a couple of months older than my son. And we’d talk about Davidson. We’d always go back to Davidson.
The well-known elevator speech about Davidson College: It’s a tiny liberal arts Division I school in a tiny town right outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. But what’s not widely talked about — but generally assumed — is that there aren’t a lot of Black people at Davidson. About 6.5 percent of the 1,800 students at Davidson were black when I was there, so we’re all at least familiar with one another. Black students tend to create a tight-knit community throughout their four years there.
When Curry got to Davidson my junior year, all I knew about him was that he was supposedly a good basketball player and he looked like he was in middle school. He didn’t come to Davidson with much fanfare because, well, we didn’t have much fanfare to offer. Steph was just Steph — a sometimes quiet, laid-back kid who’d joke around with friends and occasionally try to Crank That Superman on a given Saturday night.
He was coming off the the embarrassment of a unanimous MVP selection that was impossible to live up to. Yes, Curry deserved to be unanimous MVP, just not the first one.
But it didn’t take long to realize Curry was a special basketball player. Even though Davidson had always enjoyed success as a Southern Conference champion and NCAA Tournament participant, our home games were rarely packed, and students could just wander into the gym to find a good seat in the middle of the first half. That’s how I’d see most of Curry’s games: I’d meander in the middle of a monster game against Furman University or Elon University or any other midmajor school that had no clue what to do with his insane scoring spurts, which were very similar to what he does now. Two minutes would mean 15 points and a demoralized opponent. It was even funnier because his jersey looked like it was three sizes too big. The opposing team would call timeout and he’d run to the bench, jump in the air and give his roommate and teammate Bryant Barr a celebratory bump while the bench and crowd went crazy. The realization would sink into his opponents: We’re getting killed by someone who looks like a middle-schooler. It’s the same look NBA defenders give him now. Disbelief that someone so slight is able to terrorize a whole generation of defenders and defensive schemes.
Naturally — in a move some still think works in the NBA — the opposing coaches would find a lanky, quick defender to guard Curry — a matchup that looked unfair. And that’s when Curry’s heart would show: He’d find a screen, use some shifty ball-handing and eventually find himself with enough air to launch a 3. Every Davidson student there would chant, “He’s a freshman,” then get our keys out, shake them and chant, “Drive home safely,” while the other teams left the court, shaking their heads in disbelief. After the games? Steph would just be Steph. He’d shrug off compliments, seemingly oblivious to what he’d just done on the court. It was easy for everyone to pretty much treat him like just another student.
Is he tough enough for the playoff grind? Does physicality bother him? Is he a defensive liability? And can he regain the alpha dog status that James swatted out of bounds?
Most NBA MVPs in the AAU generation are superstars from the time they’re in middle school. People are clinging to potential fame by the time would-be stars hit puberty. LeBron James was on the cover of Sports Illustrated while in high school. Curry was a fairly anonymous upper-middle class kid, especially in high school, and those first couple of years at Davidson. I’m not the only Davidsonian he seeks out around the country — especially in those early years of his career. I’ve heard from plenty of classmates who met him at arenas postgame to reminisce about simpler times. It must be good to just see a familiar face who Curry knows isn’t hanging around for a free pair of Curry 2s (the high-top version).
Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals was a stage unlike anything Curry had ever seen. Last year’s Finals was a foregone conclusion by the end of Game 4, so the drama and pressure never reached the crescendo of its sequel. Last week, Curry was no longer the underdog.
Instead, he was the bully. Curry was the leader of a juggernaut that even made James look like David throwing rocks at Goliath. It had become hard to imagine the Warriors losing — there were just so many games when these Warriors were up against defeat and still won. There was the 24-point deficit against the Clippers at the Staples Center they overcame to preserve their undefeated streak. In December, there was the heroic double overtime win in Boston to do the same. And the half court prayer from Curry to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 27. In the final week of the season, they came back from 10 down late in the fourth in Memphis to preserve 73 wins. Curry carried out an overtime explosion to beat the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of the second round. Then there was Klay Thompson’s out-of-body Western Conference finals Game 6 in Oklahoma City to save their season.
It just all worked out. Every one of those games was as improbable as it was a sign of championship resolve. Even down four, with 10 seconds left in the most watched Game 7 since 1998, it felt like the Warriors would somehow find a way to win. But eventually the run ends. And importantly, unlike that tournament game against Georgetown, Curry had more than a lot to lose.
There was a look in Curry’s eye when we talked about the game that I didn’t quite understand until much later.
He was coming off the the embarrassment of a unanimous MVP selection that was impossible to live up to. Yes Curry deserved to be unanimous MVP, just not the first one. His season was phenomenal, but the unanimous vote became a twisted indictment of the great players who were previously shafted out of unanimous MVP awards. Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and James have all deserved it before him. But MVP votes used to go to players who “deserved a chance” as much as people who actually deserved to win. That would explain why O’Neal only has one MVP and Karl Malone and Charles Barkley each got MVPs during Jordan’s reign. In years past, journalists would make Brexit-like votes that were set to act as statements more than a reflection of who they actually thought should be MVP. That’s how New York Knick Carmelo Anthony ended up getting the sole non-LeBron vote for MVP in 2013. That’s how Philadelphia 76er Allen Iverson got the lone vote that kept O’Neal from being unanimous MVP in 2000. Curry benefited from simply not having lone dissenters this year.
Maybe the MVP vote is becoming more accurate. Maybe Curry’s likability, good boy image and probable beloved status amongst voters’ kids stopped every trolling voter this year. Whatever the case, Curry’s unanimous MVP became a burden and a symbol of an award he didn’t quite deserve. Now the word “unanimous” became translation for “better than Jordan” and an achievement Curry hadn’t quite deserved yet. And it turned into a target for people to begin aiming at. Suddenly everyone remembered all the times he turned around before he made a 3-pointer. The dance moves after game-winners. The weird fetishization of his wife on Twitter. Then he struggled against Oklahoma City and by the time he reached the Finals, James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were the heroes and Curry’s Warriors were the villains. The word “unanimous” became an albatross — it was attached by every critic to every missed 3-pointer.
This is an usual thing to witness — for someone who’s been watching Curry play since he was a Wildcat. He’s been the underdog his whole career. And it’s a hard-sell — telling anyone that Curry is humble. But he’s always demonstrated awe at each new level of stardom and accomplishment. We texted after his 54-pointer in Madison Square Garden, talked after his first gold medal and spoke after his MVP. He’s always treated these things like they’re unexpected, like he’s just as surprised as we all seem to be.
And beyond the MVP, Curry was sitting on a herculean 73-win season — and the prospect of it all being for naught. Weighing on him also has to have been the overwhelming (and somewhat silly) notion that the Warriors’ excellence in 2015 was a result of just too many good breaks going their way: a perceived invalidation of their entire NBA championship run. It was all on the table. And when Curry’s behind-the-back pass to Thompson sailed out of bounds with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the magic finally ran out. For the first time since I saw Curry score 25 points in the first half of Davidson’s Red and White intrasquad scrimmage to kick off his freshman year basketball campaign, things weren’t going his way on the court.
That pass was when the fine line between carefree and daring finally disappeared. Even when his errant behind-the-back pass got stolen in Game 4, Thompson managed to block Cavalier Kyrie Irving’s subsequent layup, erasing the mistake. But in Game 7, things stopped working. On the biggest stage, the answers Curry usually finds in a timely 3-pointer, a sneaky steal or a perfectly placed pass to Thompson in the corner just didn’t come. I couldn’t jingle my keys at the TV or chant “Drive home safely” to James and Irving. Instead I just waited for that classic Curry dagger that never came. The Cavs won. And Curry began an offseason full of questions. Is he tough enough for the playoff grind? Does physicality bother him? Is he a defensive liability? And can he regain the alpha dog status that James swatted out of bounds?
The last time I saw Curry in New Orleans, he was playing the Hornets a couple of weeks before All-Star Game 2013 and I was sure he was a lock to make his first appearance at the big game. He was averaging 20 points and six assists a game while shooting 45 percent from 3 and the Warriors were on pace for their first playoff berth in years. So naturally I gave him some early congratulations for making the team. Also I was going to be covering the game in Houston, so I wanted to let him know I’d be there watching him. Curry, always quick to downplay his success, refused to jinx it, and was quick to name other players who were also qualified.
Curry did not make the All-Star team in 2013. But he did reach out, said, “Wanna roll to the game?” At the time, it was a surreal experience to see people asking Curry for his autograph as we walked to over from the player hotel to Houston’s Toyota Center. But looking back, it’s equally surreal to think that just three years ago, Curry was able to stroll across the street from the player hotel to the arena without causing a traffic jam. After the game, he was in good spirits despite the fact he knew he should have been in that all-star game. We laughed at some YouTube videos, joked about old times. I still felt awkward. I wanted to say something like “You’ll get em’ next year,” or, “You got robbed,” but he didn’t sell the snub like it bothered him.
Still. There was a look in his eye when we talked about the game that I didn’t quite understand until much later.
The NBA has a way of humbling its biggest stars and snatching away their innocent joy for the game. Oddly enough, many league fans around the world want to see these men come down to Earth.
This happened in ’84 when the smiling, bright-eyed Earvin “Magic” Johnson choked away the Finals and became “Tragic Johnson.” Jordan went through it after his third straight loss to the Detroit Pistons in the 1990 playoffs, turning him from the score-at-will future of the league to the guy who was too selfish to lead a franchise to a championship. O’Neal went from entertainer extraordinaire to Finals sad story after his upstart Orlando Magic got swept in 1994. And James went from choreographed pregame routines with his teammates to league villain after his 2010 Celtics series, The Decision to leave the Cavaliers, and his inexplicable no-show at the 2011 Finals. All of these men had to eventually find their happiness in basketball again and become winners.
Curry is middle of that same awful humbling process, this time on a stage bigger than any of those stars before him. While we all reach points in our lives that call for humility and grace in defeat, we rarely reach these points in front of the entire world. More than 30 million people watched Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, the most since Jordan’s final Bulls game in 1998. The rafters were full of blue and gold confetti waiting to fall on the unanimous MVP and his teammates. There was a parade route mapped out already. And for the third game in a row, boxes of “2015-2016 NBA Championship Warriors” shirts were tucked in the corners of gift shops, never to be opened. Fans filed out of Oracle Arena, somber and morose after a loss for only the fifth time all year.
But injuries won’t excuse what happened in Game 7. That Pass, plus the inability to shake Kevin Love, and Irving nailing the game-winner in his face will haunt him no matter how many titles he goes on to win. Because Curry has always been able to shut people up. When he was called “too small” at Davidson, he found ways to win. I remember in 2008 when Davidson played Wisconsin in the Sweet 16. It was assumed their defensive specialist Michael Flowers would shut him down. I saw reports that Curry would have trouble scoring and I saw his dismayed reaction to the reports. Then I saw him score 33 points. When NBA layers voted James Harden their MVP in 2014-2015, Curry came back with the biggest improvement between MVP seasons in NBA history. I could see how much he wanted to shove it back in James’ face after the now-infamous block and staredown. I saw the frustration when those daggers he usually hits didn’t go in. This is uncharted territory for Curry.
But: I feel better about the Warriors’ loss than I thought I would going into Game 7. I expected myself to feel downtrodden and depressed. But I’m not and it’s mostly because I’m reminded, ironically, of a quote from James: “I can’t worry about what everybody say about me,” he said during the celebration after his Miami Heat beat the Spurs in Game 7 of the 2013 Finals. “I’m LeBron James from Akron, Ohio, from the inner city. I’m not even supposed to be here. That’s enough. Every night I walk into the locker room, I see a No. 6 [jersey] with ‘James’ on the back. I’m blessed. So what everybody’s saying about me off the court don’t matter. I ain’t got no worries.”
For a whole other set of reasons, Steph’s not supposed to be here either. And another reason I’m not as heartbroken over Game 7 as I thought I would be is that look. When I watched the postgame press conference, I saw Stephen Curry give the same look he gave in that hotel room in Houston in 2013. And I’ve finally figured out what that look is. The look says, “Don’t worry: This won’t happen again next year.”This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Last Friday, an African-American woman was returning home from a job interview in Waller County, Texas, when she was stopped by police. Apparently, she had improperly signaled a lane change. Two days later, the woman, Sandy Bland, was found dead in a jail cell. A video taken by a bystander during the arrest shows Bland shouting that the officer had slammed her head into the ground.
SANDRA BLAND: You just slammed my head into the ground! Do you not even care about that? I can’t even hear! You slammed me into the ground and everything! Everything!
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: According to police, Sandra Bland was taken into custody and charged with “assault of a public servant.” The next morning, police say she was “found in her cell not breathing from what appears to be self-inflicted asphyxiation.” The announcement was made by Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith. Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Smith was fired from his previous post as chief of police of Hempstead, Texas, amidst accusations of racism. Bland’s friends and family contest Smith’s account, saying the thought of her committing suicide by hanging is “unfathomable.” This is Cheryl Nanton and LaVaughn Mosley, Bland’s friends, followed by her sister, Sharon Cooper.
CHERYL NANTON: I do suspect there was foul play, and I believe that we all are 100 percent in belief that she did not do harm to herself.
LAVAUGHN MOSLEY: We’re very suspicious. And we’re a very tight community, and we’re very upset that this is happening, and it seems like there’s nothing really being done about it.
SHARON COOPER: Each one of us feels like we lost a part of ourself. And it’s hard. It’s going to be hard for a very long time.
AMY GOODMAN: Sandra Bland was 28 years old. She was an outspoken member of the Black Lives Matter movement. She produced a series of videos called “Sandy Speaks” in which she discussed social justice and racism on her Facebook page.
SANDRA BLAND: I want the white folks to really understand out there, black people are truly—we’re doing as much as we can. Not all of us, but some of us are really doing as much as we can. And we can’t help but get [bleep] off when we see situations where it’s clear the black life didn’t matter. For those of you questioning why was he running away, well, [bleep], because in the news that we’ve seen as of late, you could stand there, surrender to the cops and still be killed.
AMY GOODMAN: Social media is now ablaze with people demanding answers about Sandy Bland’s death. The hashtag #SandraBland is now trending on Twitter, edging out the Emmys as a topic of discussion.
We’re still with Maya Schenwar, editor-in-chief of Truthout, author of Locked Down, Locked Out: Why Prison Doesn’t Work and How We Can Do Better. Her family, Sandy’s family—Sandy herself is from Chicago, from Naperville. Maya, that’s where we’re speaking to you. Her family has gone to Texas today to retrieve her body. Can you comment on what we know at this point? We have this video, apparently, that’s just been released of her saying, “Why are you slamming my head into the ground?” She’s then taken to the local jail. That was a Monday. And then she is found dead in her cell.
MAYA SCHENWAR: Right. She spent three days in the jail, injured. Clearly, police had severely injured her. We don’t know the very specifics of that, but we know she was slammed to the ground—the video shows she was severely injured—and then left in this jail cell. And I think that definitely highlights something about our county jail system, that people who are still innocent—they haven’t been proven guilty of anything—are left, you know, until they can post bail, which was actually going to happen on Monday. Sandra’s friends were about to post her bail.
And I think the fact that we see this situation where this young black woman is pulled over for a small traffic violation, she’s thrown to the ground by police, she is severely beaten and slammed into the ground—the police, actually, actually admonished the person who is filming this horrific scene—and she’s taken to jail. And I think this demonstrates—you know, earlier, we were talking about prison reform as if it’s cut off from policing. But again, policing is the gateway to prison. And policing cannot be separated from anti-blackness. And I think this is just such a tragic and horrifying example of how that practice plays out in reality.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Maya, people often focus on the federal prison system, but the number of inmates in federal prison is dwarfed—
MAYA SCHENWAR: Right.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: —by those who are in county and state—in state facilities.
MAYA SCHENWAR: Mm-hmm.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Could you—and what about the oversight in those facilities?
MAYA SCHENWAR: Yeah. So, there are about 215,000 people in federal prison at this time, and there are around 2.3 million people incarcerated in the country as a whole. And so, a lot of those are in state prisons. Again, state prison, a lot of people convicted of violent offenses, those aren’t people that Obama is addressing when he talks about this large-scale prison reform. And then we have 750,000 people in county jails. And most of those people are incarcerated pretrial. They haven’t been convicted of anything. Most of those people who are in there pretrial are there because they can’t pay their bail. They’re there because they’re poor. And we have to remember this is also a racial justice issue, that people are given higher bails generally when they’re black.
And so, we have this many-pronged system, and addressing federal prison alone isn’t going to cut it. So even though there is kind of more of a focus being zeroed in on federal prison, particularly since the president is speaking out to a certain extent, we can’t forget that Obama can’t do everything. And actually, the community level, the activism happening at the community level, is really what’s going to make those giant shifts.
AMY GOODMAN: You know, as you talked about, she was clearly severely injured. Even as she said that, “Why are you slamming my head against the ground?” she also said, “I can’t hear. I can’t hear.”
MAYA SCHENWAR: Right.
AMY GOODMAN: She’s brought into the prison. The county sheriff there, the Waller County sheriff, Glenn Smith, who made the first public comments about Bland’s in-custody death, had been fired from a past job for his actions involving alleged humiliation and mistreatment of young African-American males. In Hempstead, the place where he was the sheriff before, the City Council placed him on probation for six months and ordered him to take anger management classes. He was later fired. Maya, we have 15 seconds.
MAYA SCHENWAR: So, first of all, I would say, obviously, it’s horrifying that this person is still in his job. Secondly, I would say that it’s not always about an individual racist. This is an inherently racist system. And we have to be careful—even though this sheriff obviously shouldn’t have kept his job, we have to be careful not to term someone a bad apple and ignore the inherent anti-blackness in the system as a whole.
AMY GOODMAN: Maya Schenwar, I want to thank you for being with us, editor-in-chief of Truthout and author of Locked Down, Locked Out: Why Prison Doesn’t Work and How We Can Do Better. She was joining us from Chicago.Everyone "knows" that China is badly polluted. I've written over the years, and still believe, that environmental sustainability in all forms is China's biggest emergency, in every sense: for its people, for its government, for its effect on the world. And yes, I understand that the same is true for modern industrialized life in general. But China is an extreme case, and an extremely important one because of its scale.
Here are two simple charts, neither of them brand-new but both easily comprehensible, that help dramatize how different the situation is there. The first, by Steven Andrews for China Dialogue via ChinaFile, compares official Chinese classifications of "good" air conditions with those in Europe or North America.
Here is the point of this graphic: The green and yellow zones in the left-hand column, showing official Chinese government classifications, are for "good" or "OK" air—while those same readings would be in the danger zone by U.S. or European standards. When you're living in China, it's impossible not to adjust your standards either to ignore how dire the circumstances are, so you can get on with life, or to think that any day when you can see across the street is "pretty good."Public Outcry Leads Minnesota Politician To Drop Terrible Idea For The PRINCE Act
from the good-news dept
“I’ve had people say, `Is it just prompted by the death of Prince?’ Yeah, essentially it is. Really, what it’s doing is it’s attempting to recognize the right of publicity postmortem,” Hoppe said.
Last week, we wrote about a terrible idea from Minnesota politician Joe Hoppe, for the PRINCE Act (Personal Rights in Names Can Endure Act), which was a massively broad publicity rights law, clearly designed to capitalize on Prince's recent death. In fact, as we noted, the bill could be read to, since the whole point was to block people from exploiting the likeness orof a famous person like Prince for various purposes, including commercial purposes and fundraising. Hoppe, apparently missing the irony entirely, had no problem saying that he was pushing the bill to exploit Prince's death.Thankfully, lots of people spoke out against the bill -- including many in Minnesota itself, pointing out how the law would stifle free speech for no good reason.Apparently surprised by the unexpected backlash to his attempt to exploit Prince's death by stopping others from exploiting Prince's death, Hoppe has now announced that the bill is being set aside for the rest of this legislative session -- but may come back in the future. Hopefully, if it does, Hoppe will have taken some time to understand just how problematic broad publicity rights laws can be.
Filed Under: joe hoppe, minnesota, prince act, publicity rightsThe Pagan Otherworlds deck adds to the ever growing aesthetic integrity of the Tarot community. Tarot is unique from other artistic mediums in that it does not simply passively contain archetypes and symbolism. These concepts are activated and molded into our own lives through their use in readings. While tarot can be appreciated by its aesthetics alone, it is the action of their use that uncovers its true value. As we interact with the cards we attach our own narratives to their original interpretations and thus create a continuously evolving realm of meaning and inspiration. Tarot cards are a tool and their imagery is our guide. Yet it is our own intuition that transforms the cards from physical objects into channels where we can glimpse within the depths of our subconscious and beyond into the realms of the greater unknown.
This review is not sponsored by Pagan Otherworlds or their parent collective of artisans, Uusi.
What are your own opinions of this deck? Do you have a different interpretation of what tarot means to you? Let me know in the comments below.
If you're interested, you can click below to learn more about the tarot readings I offer.“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves.” — Thomas Jefferson, U.S. president, 1801-1809
Announcements, Events & more from Tyee and select partners ‘Punch to the Gut’ Musical on Residential Schools Returns to Vancouver Children of God has been shaped by intense audience reactions, says director Corey Payette.
There must not be any change to British Columbia’s electoral system without a democratic referendum.
You can never improve democracy by denying voters a ballot while changing the very way in which governments are elected — never.
Green Party leader Andrew Weaver’s demands that some undefined form of proportional representation be imposed as a condition for the support of his three-member caucus are undemocratic and must be rejected.
The reason is simple: changing electoral systems without voters’ approval is illegitimate, impractical and insulting.
Voters twice rejected a proposed Single Transferable Vote electoral system, in referenda in 2009 and 2005. To impose a new system now without a referendum would be a stunning affront.
And Elections BC takes between 18 months and two years just to consult and then change electoral boundaries in our current system. Bringing in a new, unknown and untested electoral system and new boundaries in less time is impossible, and a minority government — the likely outcome of recounts and negotiations — could easily fall before the system was ready.
What’s more, Weaver’s position threatens the formation of a Green-backed progressive New Democrat-led government which would advance positions both parties and most British Columbians strongly want.
Everything both parties support is being put at risk by the Green demand for electoral change without a referendum, from ending corporate and union political donations to improving disability benefits to acting on housing affordability to more public transit to universal child care.
Yet Weaver said in March “Rather than say we will have a referendum before we implement electoral reform, we will just do it.”
And Weaver continues to say it now: “Our position had been that we would bring in proportional representation without a referendum... but we would be open to discussing a referendum afterwards.”
But that position can at best be said to have the support of the 16 per cent per cent of electors who voted Green.
And holding a referendum after changing the electoral system is an absurd idea that takes the old adage of putting the cart before the horse to a whole new level.
Both NDP leader John Horgan and Liberal Premier Christy Clark should tell Weaver that changing electoral systems without a democratic referendum is non-negotiable, period.
Horgan’s position was clear in the election campaign. An NDP government would consult British Columbians, hold hearings, decide on a form of proportional representation, develop a referendum question and then hold a vote, with the support more than 50 per cent of voters needed to proceed.
“I want to make sure we have a specific question that we put to the public,” Horgan said.
“This is important, because some people have said to me, ‘you should just do it,’ but I don’t think something as fundamental as changing our election system should be done arbitrarily,” Horgan told Fair Vote Canada, a lobby group for change.
Clark position was equally clear. The Liberals didn’t even hint at electoral system change before the election.
British Columbia has a proud history of consulting voters on public policy through democratic referenda and plebiscites — and on issues far less important than the electoral system that determines how we are governed.
Back in 1873, BC held its first plebiscite, on pay for Members of the Legislative Assembly. (Voters rejected an increase from $5 to $7 a day; MLAs accepted the verdict.) Since 1898 there have been at least 15 referenda and plebiscites on issues large — giving women the vote in 1916 — and small — whether to sell beer by the glass in 1924.
And British Columbia has held five referenda since 1991 alone, voting to eliminate the Harmonized Sales Tax in 2011, to defeat the Single Transferable Vote electoral system in 2009 and 2005, to advise the government on First Nation treaty negotiations in 2002 and and to support Initiative and Recall legislation in 1991.
Full disclosure: I played a leading role in both STV ballots as president of NO BC STV, the group opposing that electoral system. And I was strategist for Fight HST, the grassroots group led by former B.C. premier Bill Vander Zalm that achieved the first successful citizens’ initiative petition in 2010 and then won the referendum.
I believe in referenda on important issues and that voters have the democratic right to decide, not a small group of politicians. And nothing is more important than how we elect representatives to run our province.
Quickly imposing a proportional representation system without a referendum would not only be illegitimate and insulting to voters, but it is also impractical.
Even if Weaver got his wish, some process would have to be held to decide which of the myriad electoral systems would be used.
The most common is the “party list proportional representation” system, where, for example, if 30 per cent of voters choose one party, the top 30 per cent of that party’s list of candidates are elected.
Some systems have a “closed list” where the party determines the order in which its candidates are elected; others have an “open list” where the voter can change that order to their liking.
A variation used in some countries is mixed-member proportional, where there are local ridings elections but then a “top up” of party candidates chosen from a list so that each party gets roughly the same percentage of seats as their popular vote.
The Single Transferable Vote is another electoral system used in Malta, Ireland and Australia’s equivalent to our Senate: it creates large multi-member ridings and votes are “transferred” so fractions of a vote go to other candidates in a complex system that defies easy explanation.
If Libs and Greens Ally, ‘It Will Be about Power and Ego,’ Say BC Activists read more
Whatever option might be chosen, Elections BC simply cannot implement a new system with new boundaries and new rules in such a short period of time.
Given all this, one would hope Weaver and new Green MLAs Sonia Furstenau and Adam Olsen would be among the first to realize that forcing through a proportional representation electoral system without voter approval would rob it of all legitimacy, not to mention encouraging any future government to change make changes without a referendum.
Arguments from imposition advocates that previous B.C. governments changed electoral systems in the 1950s without referenda are desperate and illogical. Not only did former Socred premier W.A.C. Bennett shamelessly change the system to improve his own party’s chances, but it was a different era. After two electoral system referenda in the past 12 years, a clear standard has been set.
The Green Party has its best chance ever of achieving electoral change, if it backs Horgan’s approach of consultation and then a referendum to decide. At the same time it would get rid of the BC Liberal government and bring in progressive policies.
A new government after 16 years of BC Liberal arrogance and entitlement is what a strong majority of British Columbians voted for, and the BC NDP and Green Party need to deliver that — and soon.The NFIB contends that its policy positions are determined solely based on feedback from its members, most of whom are small business owners. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
The National Federation of Independent Business, an advocacy group in Washington, calls itself the voice of small business as well as a nonpartisan, nonprofit association.
Liberal groups have long scoffed at both descriptions, citing the group’s largely one-sided lobbying record and its roster of financial backers. Now, they appear to have found fresh ammunition in their attacks on the organization, courtesy of the a new tie between the NFIB and a decidely right-leaning advocacy group.
The American Legislative Exchange Council, which connects state lawmakers with private sector executives to discuss and craft legislation, recently added Steve Woods, NFIB’s senior vice president in charge of state operations, to its private enterprise council. ALEC, which is based in nearby Arlington, Va. and counts more than 2,000 lawmakers as its members, says that the council serves in an advisory role to its board of directors.
ALEC has garnered a reputation for promoting conservative-friendly policies, and in many cases, critics have cast those policies in a cozy-with-big-business light. Nearly every lawmaker on ALEC’s leadership team is a Republican, and a story by the Atlantic in 2012 suggested the group is heavily involved with conservative bills introduced at the state level.
On the advisory council, Woods will be sitting alongside executives from corporate titans like Exxon, Pfizer, AT&T, SAP and State Farm — as well as the head of public and government affairs for Koch Industries, according to ALEC’s Web site.
Some liberal groups are using this link between ALEC and NFIB to poke holes in the |
chain of aquatic theme parks, research by the investment bank Credit Suisse suggests. Are young people turning en masse against the idea of animals in captivity?
"Does anybody like dolphins?", Styles shouted to fans in San Diego in July. The crowd roared: "Yes."
"Don't go to SeaWorld," the star responded.
It wasn't long before his comments - captured on their phones by hundreds of spectators, including Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams - went viral on social media.
Very viral, according to Credit Suisse. It says there was a huge spike in online mentions of SeaWorld - which trains dolphins and killer whales to perform tricks in front of stadiums full of spectators - and a sharp increase in negative commentary.
Image copyright Credit Suisse
It wasn't just Styles. Allegations that a SeaWorld employee had acted as an undercover member of activist group Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) also contributed to the negative commentary, according to the investment bank.
SeaWorld took rapid steps to minimise the bad publicity.
"Dear Harry, we've seen a concert clip of you urging your fans not to visit SeaWorld. We want you to know we love dolphins too. We care for the animals in our parks like we would our own family," the company wrote.
"We are committed to making sure their lives are enriching and they are continually engaged socially, mentally and physically. And, we also care for animals in the wild. We invite you to see for yourself, and then decide based on facts."
The company has taken a series of hits in recent years.
In August, SeaWorld Entertainment reported an 84% drop in earnings in the second quarter of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014, and a 2% drop in visitor numbers.
Chief executive Joel Manby blamed "the timing of Easter, record levels of rainfall in Texas and continued brand challenges in California" for the figures, although it said visitors were still flocking to SeaWorld in Florida.
A key moment for the company's fortunes came when the 2013 documentary Blackfish criticised its treatment of killer whales, or orcas, tracing the history of killer whales in captivity, up to the 2010 killing of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau by Tilikum, a five-tonne male.
Image copyright AP Image caption SeaWorld operates 11 theme parks in the US
The film also raised questions over the ethics of breeding programmes and practices such as the separation of calves from their mothers.
SeaWorld described the film as inaccurate, misleading and exploitative.
It said it had not captured a killer whale in the wild for 35 years and pointed out that according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, SeaWorld was "meeting or exceeding the highest standard of animal care and welfare of any zoological organisation in the world".
It also launched a SeaWorld Cares site, and has taken to releasing videos designed to reinforce how much the company cares for its animals.
But in the wake of the film's release, SeaWorld still saw ticket sales slide, some school children start petitions against class trips and musicians such as Willie Nelson and the Beach Boys cancel SeaWorld performances.
An #AskSeaWorld Twitter campaign which hoped to help rehabilitate its image in 2015 also backfired - with users asking when the park would close. SeaWorld said the Q&A was hijacked by "bots and bullies".
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Attendance at SeaWorld has declined in the wake of criticism of its treatment of whales
US advertising and public relations executive Marian Salzman isn't surprised by the continuous slide of SeaWorld's fortunes. Public opinion on animals in captivity has shifted, she says.
"We humanise all animals now. A video of bear cubs in New Jersey went viral last week. There was that big reaction to Cecil the lion. One in 12 or something Americans send their pet cards from holiday. Some even leave them voicemails," she says. "We project feelings on to animals, so we are projecting how we would feel in captivity."
Salzman is also critical of the company's advertisements, which are a turn-off for many Americans, she suggests.
"You have these teethy employees on TV talking about how they love the animals and 'nothing would happen on their watch'. There is no recognition of any captivity. It comes across as unwise, inauthentic, and feels fake-, saccharin and truly unbelievable.
"I've heard millennials say they don't like the ad - so maybe Harry Styles was part of that," she says.
Peta's senior vice-president Lisa Lange says celebrities can have a big influence on public opinion.
"Peta has worked with celebrities from day one. Someone like Harry Styles has a massive and loyal following - so he can really help move the needle. We've seen the same thing with Jane Birkin wanting Hermes to take her name off its crocodile bag after realising methods crocodile and alligator farms were using. It sends a strong message," she says.
SeaWorld has complained of being the victim of an "anti-zoo agenda" but Salzman thinks it's a cultural shift that goes beyond any organised campaign or celebrity broadside.
"I'm not sure SeaWorld's salvageable - it's that kind of business venture," she says. "We love animals and we love the wild and SeaWorld is the antithesis of wild."
Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.Home Daily News Gorsuch appears to side with liberals on…
U.S. Supreme Court
Gorsuch appears to side with liberals on need for warrant to get cellphone location data
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch appeared to side with liberals on Wednesday as the U.S. Supreme Court considered whether police need a warrant supported by probable cause to obtain cellphone location data.
While Gorsuch suggested police needed a warrant to obtain the data about cellphone locations of an armed robbery suspect, he differed with other justices on the reasoning, report the New York Times, the Washington Post and Law.com (sub. req.).
Police had obtained more than 120 days’ worth of cellphone tower records for Timothy Carpenter that showed he was in the area where several armed robberies took place. Rather than obtain a search warrant, police got court orders to obtain the data under the Stored Communications Act.
The law authorizes release of records when there are “specific and articulable facts showing that there are reasonable grounds to believe” the records are “are relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation.”
Carpenter was convicted on federal robbery and weapons-related charges and sentenced to 116 years in prison for the armed robberies in Michigan and Ohio.
During oral arguments on Wednesday, Gorsuch suggested the cellphone records were the property of Carpenter and shouldn’t have been disclosed without a warrant. Several other justices said a warrant was needed because the detailed phone records violated Carpenter’s expectation of privacy.
The government had argued the records had no Fourth Amendment protection because the cellphone location information is shared with a third party, according to coverage by SCOTUSblog.
Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Anthony M. Kennedy appeared most inclined to agree with the government that a warrant wasn’t needed, according to the Post. Justice Sonia Sotomayor appeared to most favor protections for the data.
“As I understand it, a cellphone can be pinged in your bedroom. It can be pinged at your doctor’s office. It can ping you in the most 10 intimate details of your life,” she said. “So I am not beyond the belief that someday a provider could turn on my cellphone and listen to my conversations.”
The case is Carpenter v. United States.
Related articles:
ABA Journal: “SCOTUS considers limits to the government’s surveillance powers over personal technology”
ABAJournal.com: “Do police need warrant for cellphone location records? Supreme Court will decide”An uncle has come forward after his Mormon sister and brother-in-law has told him his nephew will not be allowed to play on his new bouncy ball as it could make him gay.
Posting on the Ex-Mormon forum on Reddit, a user said he had bought his nephew the hot dog shaped toy as a present to help him make friends.
But his sister and her husband, who he describes as ‘totally brainwashed Mormons’, are accusing him of pushing a ‘gay agenda’ on their son.
‘My brother-in-law thinks it looks like a penis,’ he said. ‘It’s a hot dog that kids bounce on and it looks nothing like a penis. This is how riled up Mormons are about homosexuality.
‘I think they believe I’m trying to push a “gay agenda” by getting a seven-year-old a hot dog to bounce on. It never crossed my mind that it looked like a penis because I’m no longer a sexually suppressed Mormon cult member.’
The family’s issues go deeper than forbidding this kid from playing on a hot dog. The Reddit user also said he saw the same brother-in-law kicking his son at Christmas.
‘I called the Utah state kid protection services about it and they wouldn’t do anything,’ he said.
The uncle later said that his brother-in-law is ‘freaked out’ because ‘nephew is very artsy and likes to wear rainbow bow ties to church’.
‘I think my brother-in-law is freaked out inside that my nephew is gay. He is acting like Homer Simpson in that episode when he tries to make sure Bart doesn’t turn gay,’ he added.
But if his nephew does turn out to be gay, it wouldn’t matter to his uncle.
‘If my nephew was gay, that would be awesome and I would love him just the same. But he is seven, so who cares if he is or isn’t. 🙂 I love him the same no matter what.’Philly Turns Skyscraper Into Video Game Screen For Tech Week
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Rourke/AP Matt Rourke/AP
When it comes to technology, Philadelphia is no Silicon Valley. And the organizers of the third annual Philly Tech Week say it's not trying to be.
To kick off the weeklong celebration of the local tech scene, organizers turned a skyscraper into an interactive light display Friday night. The Cira Centre, a 29-story building, became perhaps the world's biggest video game.
Philly Tech Week YouTube
Frank Lee is the man behind this gigantic version of Pong. He's a professor at Drexel University and the co-founder of the school's Game Design Program.
Spectators gathered about a half-mile away to watch from the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Eyes fixated on what was about a 400-foot-tall "screen," a lattice of LED lights on a wall of mirrored glass serving as the "pixels."
Lee says the vision for his tech-art mashup came when he was driving by the building one day.
"Other times I passed by, I didn't really think too much about it, but this time, in 2008, when I was passing by, I saw Tetris shapes rotating and falling. And that began this long journey to make this game," he says.
Five years later, his vision has morphed into the giant Pong video game.
A few hundred people gathered Friday night to watch gamers actually face off in an arcade classic that was older than most in attendance.
About 1,000 people had entered an online lottery for a chance to play. The first pair of winners stepped up to the joysticks. The game began, complete with vintage sound effects.
YouTube
The old-school joystick panel was connected to a laptop, which was connected to a 4G hotspot, which was linked wirelessly to the computers that control the building's lights.
Darren Davis, 17, won the friendly match-up. He says playing a video game on a skyscraper was pretty cool.
"To be honest, taking my hands on the joystick, it was pretty amazing. I actually really liked it," says Davis, a high school junior by day, and a game developer by night.
If the idea of Tech Week is to encourage Philadelphians to up the ante, then it worked on Davis.
"It definitely is inspiration to make me want to top this, because I know I can," he says.
Organizer Christopher Wink says inspiration like that is the whole point. Wink runs the local tech blog that's organizing Philly Tech Week — Pong is just the kickoff to a slew of 100-plus tech-related events.
But Wink says the game, which made a static skyline interactive, is also a symbol of the momentum he's hoping to build around Philly's growing tech scene.
After dozens of competitors squared off on the face of the skyscraper, the video game was shut down for the night. But the opportunities for tech-induced wonder aren't done yet. Round 2 of Pong is on for Wednesday.WordPress 4.5.2 is now available. This is a security release for all previous versions and we strongly encourage you to update your sites immediately.
WordPress versions 4.5.1 and earlier are affected by a SOME vulnerability through Plupload, the third-party library WordPress uses for uploading files. WordPress versions 4.2 through 4.5.1 are vulnerable to reflected XSS using specially crafted URIs through MediaElement.js, the third-party library used for media players. MediaElement.js and Plupload have also released updates fixing these issues.
Both issues were analyzed and reported by Mario Heiderich, Masato Kinugawa, and Filedescriptor from Cure53. Thanks to the team for practicing responsible disclosure, and to the Plupload and MediaElement.js teams for working closely with us to coördinate and fix these issues.
Download WordPress 4.5.2 or venture over to Dashboard → Updates and simply click “Update Now.” Sites that support automatic background updates are already beginning to update to WordPress 4.5.2.
Additionally, there are multiple widely publicized vulnerabilities in the ImageMagick image processing library, which is used by a number of hosts and is supported in WordPress. For our current response to these issues, see this post on the core development blog.
Share this: Twitter
Facebook
Google
EmailA list of Hippocrates quotes and sayings.
Well-known for quotes topics related to medicine, general health, food and physicians.
Brief information:
Hippocrates of Kos (460 – 370BC) was a well-known Greek physician during the Age of Pericles (Classical Greece). Born on the Greek island of Kos, he is considered as one of the most reputable figures in the history of medicine. His contributions made such outstanding impact to the field that he was therefore attributed as the “Father of Western Medicine”.
Hippocrates was the founder of the “Hippocratic School of Medicine”, an intellectual school that revolutionized medicine in ancient Greece. This institution paved the way for the field to be established as a distinct discipline, and later on, as a profession. The writings of the Corpus Hippocraticum contributed an abundance of knowledge for bio-medical methodology and provided one of the first reflective codes of professional ethics. It is generally believed that majority of the writings in the book came from the actual efforts and ideas of various physicians and authors under his school.
Learn more about this author
Listed below is our collection of images for Hippocrates quotes and sayings.Spurious liquor in Mumbai has claimed 53 lives so far
64 people have died and 28 others remain critical in hospitals after consuming spurious liquor in Mumbai on Wednesday night. The incident occurred at Laxmi Nagar slum in Malwani area of suburban Malad. The police have arrested five people in connection with the case.Three people have been arrested so far, they have been identified as Raju Hanmanta Pascar, Donald Robert Patel and Gautam Harte. They were produced before a Court, which remanded them to police custody till June 26.Eight police personnel have also been suspended; the case is being handled by the Crime Branch.Mumbai Police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni, told reporters, "senior police inspector (attached to Malwani police station) along with seven other personnel, including three officers and four constables, have been suspended for connivance/negligence".Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had ordered an inquiry into the incident last night and directed officials to submit the report within two days.Police has collected samples of spurious liquor and sent them for analysis.Additional Commissioner of Police (North Zone) Fatteh Sinh Patil, told NDTV, "We are in the primary stage of investigation and not in a position to divulge much details. We are investigating who is responsible for this and how the liquor was brewed."The three accused have been booked under sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc. with intent to commit an offence) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. This is the second biggest tragedy in Mumbai in nearly a decade. In 2004, 87 people died after consuming spurious liquor in Vikhroli in the eastern suburbs. Nineteen people were convicted and jailed in connection with the "Vikhroli tragedy".Square Enix, prolific developer and mega-publisher hasn’t exactly delivered all that much this generation. Sure, they’ve published some sparkling gems, like Eidos’ Deus Ex Human Revolution – but their internally developed games seem to be missing the spark that’s made them. The reason for that might be the fact that they’ve been hard at work developing a new engine that promises to deliver photorealistic graphics – and if the demonstration pictures and videos are anything to go by, they may have succeeded.
Using new ways of including cloth and fluid simulation, realtime reflections and new tessellation techniques promises higher detailed 3D models without much impact on memory. The new engine – which boasts advanced, scalable AI support along with native DirectX 11 support and programmable shaders is also capable of modelling light the way it would behave in the real world.
According to Square Enix, the new engine should lower development cycle times and costs – one reason for which is its procedural animation techniques, which automatically uses motion capture from a database to dynamically change character animation based on, for example, the weight of a weapon or the type of terrain.
Square Enix’ technical director Julien Merceron had this to say of the new engine : "If I take a picture and after this I create the same objects in a game with the right materials, I can achieve a rendering that is very close to the picture because I’m using the physical parameters of the real world." No games have been announced using the engine, but certain aspects of it will be utilised in Final Fantasy Versus XIII.
Here’s a video of the engine in action – although right now all it is is a parking garage simulator. Still, pretty impressive – as it’s purported to be rendered in real-time.
Last Updated:Diet has a significant impact on colorectal cancer and both dietary fiber and plant-derived compounds have been independently shown to be inversely related to colon cancer risk. Butyrate (NaB), one of the principal products of dietary fiber fermentation, induces differentiation of colon cancer cell lines by inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs). On the other hand, (-)-epicatechin (EC) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), two abundant phenolic compounds of green tea, have been shown to exhibit antitumoral properties. In this study we used colon cancer cell lines to study the cellular and molecular events that take place during co-treatment with NaB, EC and EGCG. We found that (i) polyphenols EC and EGCG fail to induce differentiation of colon adenocarcinoma cell lines; (ii) polyphenols EC and EGCG reduce NaB-induced differentiation; (iii) the effect of the polyphenols is specific for NaB, since differentiation induced by other agents, such as trichostatin A (TSA), was unaltered upon EC and EGCG treatment, and (iv) is independent of the HDAC inhibitory activity of NaB. Also, (v) polyphenols partially reduce cellular NaB; and (vi) on a molecular level, reduction of cellular NaB uptake by polyphenols is achieved by impairing the capacity of NaB to relocalize its own transporter (monocarboxylate transporter 1, MCT1) in the plasma membrane. Our findings suggest that beneficial effects of NaB on colorectal cancer may be reduced by green tea phenolic supplementation. This valuable information should be of assistance in choosing a rational design for more effective diet-driven therapeutic interventions in the prevention or treatment of colorectal cancer.
© 2013.House lawmakers voted 405-0 unanimously passing a host of changes to veterans’ education benefits that aim to boost aid, expand who’s eligible for benefits and eliminate the expiration date for veterans to use them.
WASHINGTON — House lawmakers on Monday unanimously passed a host of changes to veterans’ education benefits that boost aid, expand who’s eligible for benefits and eliminate the expiration date for veterans to use them.
The 405-0 vote came just nine days after Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., and a bipartisan group of cosponsors introduced the bill, H.R. 3218.
“In the time I’ve had the privilege of representing southwestern Minnesota, I’m not sure there’s been a day I’ve felt more of that pride than here today,” Walz said. “This is a real historic piece of work. It is hard to get historic legislation like this done.”
The legislation eliminates the 15-year limit afforded veterans to use their education benefits after leaving military service. The change would apply only to servicemembers who enlist after the expanded GI Bill takes effect, which is expected to be Jan. 1, 2018.
It also restores benefits to veterans whose schools abruptly close. In the past two years, when for-profit ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges closed their doors, thousands of veterans who attended the campuses were unable to recover lost education benefits. The bill would fully restore any lost benefits to veterans affected by those kinds of closures. Going forward, veterans can receive back their GI Bill benefits for the semester their schools abruptly close, as well as up to four months of additional living stipends.
The legislation also boosts aid for dependents, Purple Heart recipients, technical education and members of the National Guard and Reserve. It fixes a Pentagon deployment authorization that has kept about 5,000 reservists and guardsmen from accumulating education benefits.
Altogether, it combines 18 bills and is expected to increase GI Bill costs by $3 billion in 10 years. To offset costs, the legislation calls for decreasing living stipends to GI Bill recipients to fall in line with active-duty servicemembers' basic housing allowance. The change would not apply to people now using the GI Bill.
The GI Bill expansion was introduced July 13 and was the subject of a committee hearing July 17. The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously decided July 19 to send it to the House floor for a vote.
The legislation was put together by lawmakers during the last several weeks. Negotiations were reignited by a group of veterans organizations, led by Student Veterans of America, following a rift between organizations in April about how to pay for the GI Bill expansion. Walz said it was almost a “death knell” for the bill.
With a new proposal on how to pay for the expanded benefits, veterans organizations encouraged lawmakers to pass the bill before leaving for their August recess.
“Without a doubt, we would not be in the chamber today on the verge of this historic moment without their efforts,” Roe said of the organizations. “This is a strong bill that would help thousands of student veterans for the rest of their lives.”
The legislation also appears poised for quick passage in the Senate.
Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., the chairman and ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced an identical bill last week.
The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will vote on the legislation Wednesday and won’t consider any amendments, committee staff said. If the committee approves the bill, it would then have to be scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor.
Besides the expanded GI Bill, the House passed seven other VA-related bills Monday.
H.R. 1690, introduced by Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., requires the VA to submit an annual report to Congress disclosing high-dollar bonuses to senior executives. Lawmakers balked when the VA was found to have spent $3.3 million on bonuses to 300 senior executives in 2015 while the department was facing a perceived culture of corruption and misconduct.
H.R. 282, introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., allows servicemembers and their spouses to use the same state of residence for the purpose of taxation and voting, even if a servicemember is relocated and the spouse isn’t living in the same state. The bill’s advocates said it would ease the burden placed on military families when relocating.
H.R. 1058 would boost pay in the VA system for podiatrists to put the doctors on equal footing with physicians. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, introduced the bill. He’s a licensed podiatrist. According to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the bill is expected to help recruit and retain podiatrists, which is a struggle for the VA.
Under the Veterans First Program, the VA prioritizes veteran-owned small businesses for contracts. H.R. 2749 would require participants of the program to report whether veteran-owned businesses are performing the mandated amount of work that’s required to receive the preference. If they’re not, the bill instructs the VA to report violators to the Office of Inspector General. There’s concern some businesses are obtaining contracts through the program and collecting profit while passing all the work to other companies. The bill was introduced by Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., and Rep. Anne Kuster, D-N.H., who lead the House subcommittee on VA oversight and investigations.
H.R. 2781, introduced by Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., extends a mandate to the General Services Administration to prioritize veteran-owned small businesses on federal contracts.
H.R. 2006, introduced by Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., requires the VA to calculate how much it saves on federal contracts by encouraging competition.
Lastly, H.R. 1848, introduced by Roe, establishes a two-year pilot program for the VA to use medical scribes to assist doctors by entering patient data into electronic health records. Roe said the program could help veterans get appointments with doctors faster.
All of the legislation must be approved by the Senate to become law.
wentling.nikki@stripes.com
Twitter: @nikkiwentlingWolfgang Puck, a casual dining restaurant in Ackerman Union, is scheduled to open to the public on Wednesday.
The restaurant is offering a sample service for select people or groups in the days leading up to the opening so that the staff can gain some experience, said Bob Williams, the executive director of Associated Students UCLA, in an emailed statement.
The restaurant’s patio furniture will not arrive until a few days after the opening and restaurant officials are still finalizing the liquor license, but Wolfgang Puck will open without them so that the restaurant staff can train before school starts, Williams said.
By the end of zero week, Wolfgang Puck will have full service, including patio seating and beer and wine available for purchase, Williams added.
Wolfgang Puck has similar casual dining restaurants on other university campuses, including the University of Southern California and the University of Chicago.
In 2007, ASUCLA planned to open a Wolfgang Puck restaurant that would serve beer and wine. They decided to create the restaurant in response to a student vote indicating overwhelming student approval for such a place on campus, said Cindy Bolton, the food service director for ASUCLA, in December 2012. The plan never came to fruition, though, because of the economic recession resulting in budget cuts for both ASUCLA and Wolfgang Puck, according to Daily Bruin archives.
Construction on the restaurant began in November 2012, according to Daily Bruin archives.
Compiled by Yael Levin, Bruin senior staff.Implied meaning of symbols.
Many of the shapes and symbols here have been used for symbolic purposes across a wide variety of cultures and religions throughout human history. I have tried to relay the meaning implied by the Pennsylvania Fancy Dutch, which is rooted in the Christian faith. Independent research into the meaning of the older symbols, especially those of stars, will turn up some very questionable material pertaining to the occult. The important thing to keep in mind is the context in which these symbols are being used.
Fancy Dutch vs. Plain Dutch
Also, it is important to differentiate between “Fancy Dutch” and “Plain Dutch” as the communities are not synonymous. The Amish and Mennonite communities are considered “Plain Dutch” and did not participate in hexology as early “Fancy Dutch” settlers did. From what I have read, the Amish really don’t like being asked about Hex signs, so please approach the communities respectfully if you are touring popular Hex sign tourism routes.
Fancy Dutch groups for the most part have assimilated into other groups in the United States. Some Fancy Dutch communities are still thriving in the rural parts of Pennsylvania including; Reading, Allentown, York, and Lebanon.
Hex Signs are not the same as Barn Quilts.
Dutch Hex signs are always shown in a circular format or painted on circle plaques. In the last 20 years, there has been a rise in a similar art style: Barn Quilts. While the art style and symbolism is similar, it should not be confused with any affiliation to hex signs. Barn quilts originated in Ohio in 2001. This tradition is spreading rapidly and though I don't have any evidence to support the theory, I believe the established popularity of hex signs may be the reason it has so quickly spread.GUEST:
I brought in some books written by Charles Darwin. The Origin of Species was a wedding gift from my wife in 1978. Her father was a book collector. He collected in the '40s and '50s. And unfortunately, he was deceased when we got married, but my mother-in-law agreed to sell the book to my wife for $200, and because I was a biologist, she gave it to me as a wedding gift.
APPRAISER:
Well, that's a very appropriate gift for a biologist.
GUEST:
Yes. And the other two I basically inherited when my mother-in-law died.
APPRAISER:
All right. Well, you've brought... first, let's talk about The Voyage of the Beagle, that's the earliest of the three books that you brought. That's, uh, one volume only of the set, which would have had four volumes, and you have them, you said.
GUEST:
Yes, we have them, I just didn't want to lug all of them around.
APPRAISER:
The Voyage of the Beagle is from the 1830s. It was published over a series of years in the four volumes. It's in beautiful condition, the cloth is really a lot less worn than we typically will encounter. This other book is later; this is The Descent of Man. Again, it's one volume... Of two, correct. And you have the two.
GUEST:
Yes, we have both.
APPRAISER:
Perfect. The Descent of Man was published, together, the two volumes in 1871. The Origin you brought in struck me, first of all, just its overall… the condition of it. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, published London, 1859. It was only printed when it came out in 1,250 copies.
GUEST:
Oh, that's news, wow.
APPRAISER:
Yeah, that's a small run. It wasn't nearly the blockbuster it became right off the bat. And it was a book that... it's considered, you know, the most important scientific book of the 19th century.
GUEST:
Oh, I would agree.
APPRAISER:
It really has become a landmark in science. But also, it was the work in which he put all his ideas and thoughts about evolution into his theory. So it was really a major, major work. His early work on the Beagle, he traveled on the Beagle as a naturalist. He didn't like going on the sea, he got seasick, but when he got to the land in South America, while they were surveying the coastlines, he was on the land collecting samples and studying geology. But during that time there was a very important period for him when he was starting to really develop his theories of natural selection, where he saw the variation of the types of animals... Darwin's finches and all that.
GUEST:
Exactly.
APPRAISER:
What I looked to here, when you showed me the book, was here in the back. These are the ads for the publisher's other works, and they're dated June 1859. That's a good sign.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
That implied to me that this is definitely a first edition.
GUEST:
Oh, great.
APPRAISER:
So you've got a beautiful first edition of a really significant work of the 19th century. For insurance, I would put on The Beagle, in that condition, you're going to want to put about $80,000 insurance figure on The Beagle.
GUEST:
$80,000?
APPRAISER:
Yeah, $80,000 on The Beagle...
GUEST:
The set?
APPRAISER:
The set, the set.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
Auction estimate we'd put $40,000 to $60,000. The Descent of Man doesn't bring as much-- it came out after The Origin, so it doesn't have the same impact-- but it is an important book. It's going up. But I would put on that one a $4,000 insurance value.
GUEST:
Oh, big difference.
APPRAISER:
Auction estimate would be about $2,000 to $3,000 for the complete two-volume set.
GUEST:
For both of them, right. APPRASER: The Origin, I have to say, if that were to come along at auction, I would put an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.
GUEST:
You're kidding.
APPRAISER:
Nope.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
And if you were going to insure it, I would insure it at $200,000. That was $200 well invested. GUEST (laughs): That was a nice return on the $200.
APPRAISER:
Thank you so much for bringing it in. It was a real eye-opener.
GUEST:
Yeah, for me.
APPRAISER:
Congratulations.
GUEST:
Wow, that's fantastic. Thank you so much.NEW YORK - Jeurys Familia is on the brink beginning a throwing program, but as it turns out, the Mets closer will likely be on the disabled list for at least a few more weeks.
During his pregame press conference Saturday, manager Terry Collins said the Mets believe Familia could be back "around the end of July," though they're targeting an August 1 return date.
The timetable comes one day after general manager Sandy Alderson said Familia will head to Florida shortly to begin a throwing program.
Familia has been absent since early May, when he had surgery to remove a blood clot from his right shoulder. At the time, there was some concern that the closer could miss the rest of the season.
Mets injury updates: Conforto, Wright, Familia, etc.
Luckily for both Familia and the Mets, they seem to have dodged that season-ending bullet. And with Familia working largely as a one-inning pitcher, Collins believes the rehab process should move a bit quicker than most pitchers.
Still, Collins said, "we've got to get the velocity up, we've got to get the movement back," and that's bound to take some time.
"I don't think he's necessarily ahead (of schedule)," Collins said. "I think we were very lucky that the clot wasn't worse than it turned out to be. But you're still looking at a guy who's going to head to Florida next week. How many games is he going to need? How many days is he going to need? You're still looking around the end of July - August 1 is the date that we hope he'll be ready by.
"I mean, will he be ready in 10 days? I think he's going to need more than that. He's going to need outings, he's going to need to rehab. First thing he's got to do is strengthen his arm up. So that's going to take how many sides, I don't know. But at least we're at a starting point where there is some light at the end of the tunnel."
Matt Stypulkoski may be reached at mstypulkoski@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @M_Stypulkoski.German mathematician
Felix Hausdorff (November 8, 1868 – January 26, 1942) was a German mathematician who is considered to be one of the founders of modern topology and who contributed significantly to set theory, descriptive set theory, measure theory, function theory,[clarification needed] and functional analysis.
Life became difficult for Hausdorff and his family after Kristallnacht in 1938. The next year he initiated efforts to emigrate to the United States, but was unable to make arrangements to receive a research fellowship. On 26 January 1942, Felix Hausdorff, along with his wife and his sister-in-law, committed suicide by taking an overdose of veronal, rather than comply with German orders to move to the Endenich camp, and there suffer the likely implications, about which he held no illusions.
Life [ edit ]
Childhood and youth [ edit ]
Hausdorff's father, the Jewish merchant Louis Hausdorff (1843–1896), moved in the autumn of 1870 with his young family to Leipzig and worked over time at various companies, including a linen-and cotton goods factory. He was an educated man and had become a Morenu at the age of 14. There are several treatises from his pen, including a long work on the Aramaic translations of the Bible from the perspective of Talmudic law.
Hausdorff's mother, Hedwig (1848–1902), who is also referred to in various documents as Johanna, came from the Jewish Tietz family. From another branch of this family came Hermann Tietz, founder of the first department store, and later co-owner of the department store chain called "Hermann Tietz". During the period of Nazi dictatorship the name was "Aryanised" to Hertie.
From 1878 to 1887 Felix Haus |
287-90] The foundations of Keynes' methodology: the General Theory, in T. Lawson and M. Pesaran (eds.) Keynes' Economics: Methodological Issues, Croom Helm, 1985, 181-94 ( PDF copy of final draft) Methodology: Reply ('Response to Critics'), American Economic Review, 74, 1984, 795-7 [Reprinted in Wood and Woods (eds), Milton Friedman: Critical Assessments, 1990] Classical vs neoclassical economic models, Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 14, 1984 [with David Hammes], 107-13 On the state of economic methodology, Research in the History of Economic Thought and Methodology, 2, 1984, 173-7 ( PDF copy of final draft) On the best strategy for doing philosophy of economics, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 1983, 387-392 ( PDF copy of final draft) Reply to Caldwell ('Appraisal vs criticism in economics'), American Economic Review, 73, 1983, 828-30 [Reprinted in B. Caldwell (ed.) Appraisal and Criticism in Economics: A Book of Readings, Allen & Unwin, 1984, 256-8] An essay on the foundations of Friedman's methodology, American Economic Review, 73, 1983 [with William Frazer], 129-44 'Difficulties with the Element of Time' and the 'Principles' of economics or some lies my teachers told me, Eastern Economic Journal, 3, 1982, 47-58 [Reprinted in M. Blaug (ed.) Pioneers of Economics, Vol 29, 220-31] (a revised version is available as Chapter 2 of the above 1992 book) On the futility of criticizing the neoclassical maximization hypothesis, American Economic Review, 71, 1981, 1031-6 [Reprinted in B. Caldwell (ed.) Appraisal and Criticism in Economics: A Book of Readings, Allen & Unwin, 1984, 246-51 and in L. Filippini e A. Salanti (eds), Razionalità, impresa e informazione, Giappichelli, Torino, 1993] ( PDF copy of final draft) Satisficing in methodology: a reply to Rendigs Fels, Journal of Economic Literature, 19, 1981, 84-6 Friedman's methodology vs conventional empiricism: a reply to Rotwein, Journal of Economic Literature, 18, 1980, 1555-7 [Reprinted in Wood and Woods (eds) Milton Friedman: Critical Assessments, 1990] Knowledge and the role of institutions in economic theory, Journal of Economic Issues, 8, 1979, 957-972 ( PDF copy of final draft) a revised version is available as Chapter 8 of the above 1992 book) On the role of knowledge in economic theory, Australian Economic Papers, 18, 1979 [with Geoffrey Newman], 71-80 (a revised version is available as part of Chapter 6 of the above 1992 book) A critique of Friedman's critics, Journal of Economic Literature, 17, 1979, 503-522 [Reprinted in W.L. Marr and B. Raj (eds) How Economists Explain: A Reader in Methodology, University Press of America, 1983, 101-30; Reprinted in Hacienda Publica Española, Institute de Estudios Fiscales; Reprinted in B. Caldwell (ed.) Appraisal and Criticism in Economics: A Book of Readings, Geo. Allen & Unwin, 1984, 205-24; Reprinted in Wood and Woods (eds) Milton Friedman: Critical Assessments, 1990] ( PDF copy of final draft) Time in economics vs economics in time: the 'Hayek problem', Canadian Journal of Economics, 11, 1978, 240-262 [Reprinted in E. Seifert (ed.) Arnoldshainer Schriften zur Interdisziplinären Ökonomie, Band 15, Haag+Herchen, 1988, 102-30; Reprinted in Wood and Woods (eds) F.A. von Hayek: Critical Assessments, 1991] (a revised version is Chapter 15 of the 1997 book) Giffen goods, market prices and testability, Australian Economic Papers, 16, 1977, 72-85 ( a revised version is available as Chapter 14 of the above 1992 book) Model specifications and stochasticism in economic methodology, So. African Journal of Economics, 45, 1977, 182-9 ( an expanded version is available as Chapter 8 of the above 1989 book) Testability, time and equilibrium stability, Atlantic Economic Journal, 5, 1977, 39-47 Testability in economic science, So. African Journal of Economics, 45, 1977, 93-105 (a revised version is available as Chapter 7 of the above 1989 book) Uninformative economic models, Atlantic Economic Journal, 3, 1975, 27-32 ( a revised version is available as Chapter 6 of the above 1989 book) THE law of demand, W.A.R.P. and price-consumptions curves, Australian Economic Papers, 14, 1975, 104-119 ( a revised version is available as Chapter 13 of the above 1992 book) Lexicographic orderings, multiple criteria, and 'Ad Hocery', Australian Economic Papers, 13, 1974, 152-7 ( a revised version is available as Chapter 12 of the above 1992 book) An institutional theory of economic technology and change, Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 1, 1971, 253-8 ( a revised version is available as Chapter 7 of the above 1992 book) Methodology as an exercise in economic analysis, Philosophy of Science, 38, 1971, 105-117 ( a revised version is available as Chapter 5 of the above 1989 book) Conventionalism and economic theory, Philosophy of Science, 37, 1970, 239-248 ( a revised version is available as Chapter 4 of the above 1989 book) Axiomatic analysis and economic understanding, Australian Economic Papers, 9, 1970, 62-75 ( a majorly revised version is available as Chapter 4 of the above 1992 book) Economic understanding and understanding economics, So. African Journal of Economics, 37, 1969, 144-160 ( a revised version is available as Chapter 1 of the above 1989 book) The identification problem and the validity of economic models, So. African Journal of Economics, 36, 1968, 236-240 ( a version is available as part of Chapter 3 of the above 1989 book --- actually, Chapters 2 and 3 includes my PhD thesis)
HONOURS:
Who's Who in Economics: A Biographical Dictionary of Major Economists 1700-1999 (2nd and 3rd Editions)
1992-93 Simon Fraser University's Excellence in Teaching Award
2001 Elected to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of CanadaWritten by Samuel S. Visner
President Obama’s Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity meets Monday in Washington to hear evidence about changes to the structure of government that might help the U.S. better respond to stopping foreign hackers, organized online criminals and digital spies.
But much of what they will hear is deficient, because it lacks a vision of global leadership.
The U.S. should set itself a goal — as it did with President John F. Kennedy’s moonshot — to be the nation with the world’s most secure digital infrastructure.
The U.S should be the place whose citizens are the safest online; whose banks are the most sound and best protected from online criminals; whose industry sets the world’s standard for trusted engineering and supply chains; where public information is known to be accurate and free from tampering; and the nation best able to manage its presence in cyberspace in a manner that accords with and helps spread its values and traditions.
If we are to engage with international partners on this issue, as President Barack Obama has said, we should do so as the global leader, primus inter pares — first among equals — on the world stage.
There are gifted people working today within the administration that have been charged with the development of cybersecurity policy and plans. Their priorities — protecting critical infrastructure, identifying and reporting cyber incidents, engaging with international partners, securing federal networks, and building a cyber workforce — are the right ones. They have labored long and loyally and no one doubts their commitment or abilities.
But the commission was not established because they have succeeded.
It is part of the complexity of cybersecurity that it is a cross-cutting issue — implicating a wide variety of institutional stakeholders. The need to examine strategic choices at the highest level presupposes that the president has access to advisers unfettered by existing organizational equities.
Such choices should be weighed and presented to the president and their cabinet in a manner that allows for — indeed, encourages — development and discussion of concepts that look to a variety of future scenarios, and provides access to the widest possible range of contributors both within and outside government.
We have done this before — global leadership in important endeavors is nothing new to the U.S. We have models that have served us in the past, ones that move beyond policy to grand strategy. If they are updated, they would serve today’s needs.
Perhaps the best known model is the creation of advisory commissions to serve the president regarding issues of national importance.
Such commissions need to be led by people of true national standing, whose presence reflects the gravity of the issues they address, whose participation attracts the efforts of other eminent people and, more important the attention of the nation’s president and the cabinet.
Prior to the Second World War, Vannevar Bush, then Director of the Carnegie Institution, met with the President in 1940, proposing to him establishment of the National Defense Research Committee “to coordinate, supervise, and conduct scientific research on the problems underlying the development, production, and use of mechanisms and devices of warfare.”
The Committee helped establish the underpinning of efforts to create a national commitment to the development of nuclear power, including its use during the Second World War. Harvard University President James Conant, MIT President Karl Compton, and other eminent scientific and business leaders joined Bush in his work on what became a national science research strategy.
America’s leadership in the industries resulting from this effort gave our nation global influence and we became the world’s undisputed leader in the exploitation of nuclear technology.
America’s leadership in aeronautics and astronautics benefited from a similar approach. The Special Committee on Space Technology was established in 1957 and charged with developing a strategy to coordinate government, industry, and academia to build a national space program. The Committee was led initially by MIT’s Guyford Stever, appointed subsequently as President of Carnegie Mellon University.
The establishment a year later of NASA, was in large part the result of a memorandum provided then-President Eisenhower by another national scientific leader, MIT’s James Killian, who chaired the President’s Science Advisory Committee.
Such an approach complements existing staff responsibilities, but is clearly far broader. Ideas presented to the president should reflect the critical judgement of the committee’s leadership, and result from vigorous debate.
Such advisory groups drive the development of national strategies. Perhaps as important, they keep the spotlight focused in the White House on issues that deserve national attention, highlighting problems that need to be solved and opportunities that can be seized.
Presidential advisory committees exist today. Some monitor important developments and advise the President regarding courses of action that might be taken. The groups described above went further, sowing the seeds of what became national strategies (for nuclear energy, and aero- and astronautics), and paving the way for American global leadership in these fields.
These groups were comprised of people of singular standing, and of great vision. A National Cybersecurity Advisory Committee to the President could fill this role.
To achieve and sustain global cybersecurity leadership — to convert this challenge into an enduring national advantage — will take the same kind of vision from which our nation has benefited in the past, and on which it should count in future.
This vision can only come from the unfettered advice of the nation’s leading minds — with access to the president. A National Cybersecurity Advisory Committee to the president would be a powerful resource in gaining this objective.
Samuel S. Visner is a former senior NSA official and now senior vice president and general manager for cybersecurity and resilience for ICF International. He is an adjunct professor of cybersecurity at Georgetown University and member of of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, where he serves currently as co-chair of the Alliance’s Cyber R&D Task Force.I see that, despite some of the good things he's done, President Trump has not yet gotten around to dealing with the H1B visa issue as this article from Breitbart indicates:
Every year, more than 100,000 foreign workers are brought to the U.S. on the H-1B visa and are allowed to stay for up to six years. That number has ballooned to potentially hundreds of thousands each year, as universities and non-profits are exempt from the cap. With more entering the U.S. through the visa, Americans are often replaced and forced to train their foreign replacements.
As Breitbart Texas spoke to a number of workers in front of the White House, a reoccurring factor was that Americans would only speak anonymously.
“I have to remain anonymous,” one told Breitbart Texas. “It’s in my severance package.”
“This is also a national security threat because foreigners are dominating an entire American industry, the worker said.
“If the Indian worker can’t do their job, it’s your fault for training them wrong.”[More]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 was the resounding winner of Thursday night's Republican presidential debate in Houston, according to two online surveys.
According to a Drudge Report survey that has attracted more than 120,000 votes, 63.8 percent said Trump won the debate, followed Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzTrump unleashing digital juggernaut ahead of 2020 Inviting Kim Jong Un to Washington Trump endorses Cornyn for reelection as O'Rourke mulls challenge MORE, at 17.9 percent, Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioHillicon Valley: Senators urge Trump to bar Huawei products from electric grid | Ex-security officials condemn Trump emergency declaration | New malicious cyber tool found | Facebook faces questions on treatment of moderators Key senators say administration should ban Huawei tech in US electric grid Trump unleashing digital juggernaut ahead of 2020 MORE, at 12.8 percent, John Kasich, at 3.6 percent, and Ben Carson, at 2 percent.
A Time magazine online poll of 17,000 people found the billionaire businessman taking 71 percent, followed by Rubio, at 18 percent, Kasich, at 6 percent, Cruz, at 4 percent, and Carson, at 2 percent.
Trump has mopped up in most of the post-debate online polling this cycle.
The surveys aren’t scientific but can gauge online enthusiasm for the candidates.This article is over 3 years old
Lurkmore is backing off from its infamous biting humour after a series of clashes with media regulators. The Moscow Times reports
Lurkmore, a Russian site described as the “satirical Wikipedia”, is suspending its operations because of increasing censorship, founder Dmitry Khomak has announced.
Harassed and shunned, the Russians labelled foreign agents by Kremlin Read more
The move follows a series of recent clashes with Russia’s media watchdog.
In 2014 Roskomnadzor blacklisted five pages on the site for carrying information on drugs, and threatened to block the site altogether. Subsequently, Lurkmore complied with the watchdog’s request to delete the pages.
In April, the website was asked to take down a page featuring what the watchdog claimed were offensive memes of Russian singer Valery Syutkin.
Folklore foreign agents?
Founded by Khomak in 2007, the site describes itself as an “encyclopaedia of folklore and sub-culture”, and runs on an openly editable platform similar to Wikipedia.
Famous for its biting lewd satire and meme-friendly language, the site has more than 140,000 registered users working on 6,000 articles.
Screenshot of Lurkmore’s entry for Vladimir Putin, translated from the Russian Photograph: Screenshot
The entry on Putin describes him as a “citizen who sees himself as king” and “a prominent defender of human rights... at least verbally”.
But despite its popularity, Khomak has decided to freeze the site. In a Facebook post explaining his decision, the founder cited the rise of censorship in Russia, and particularly the broad use of the foreign agent law. The site’s Twitter feed on Monday wrote “The era of free internet in Russia is no longer. The project [is now] a monument.”
Screenshot of Lurkmore’s announcement, translated into English. Photograph: Web
The 2012 ruling is targeted at organisations that are seen torepresent a threat to the Russian government, but activists say that the law’s ambiguous wording allows it to be applied to any independent voices in order to silence them.
Organisations such as Citizens’ Watch, the Human Rights Resource Centre and the Committee Against Torture have all been placed on the foreign agents blacklist.
The era of free internet in Russia is no longer Dmitry Khomak
Pointing to the recent designation of the science foundation Dynasty as a foreign agent, Khomak wrote: “If they destroyed them [Dynasty] without even looking, then they are certainly not going to miss us.” He also mentioned that he is currently facing personal financial difficulties.
Khomak expressed disappointment at the lack of coverage of recent censorship cases by the Russian media. “Between autumn and spring it has become clear that we no longer have a free press. No one took notice of [online project hosting platform] Github getting blocked,” he wrote.
Russian science outcry as Kremlin targets major funder Read more
Khomak specified that his decision doesn’t mean a total closure of Lurkmore, which will in future focus its efforts on archiving digital culture. “It’s obviously not the end of the project. It’s the end of a wonderful era for all of us,” he wrote.
A version of this article orignally appeared on The Moscow Times, part of the New East networkCharges against both Martens and Gonzales are kidnapping, child abuse with great bodily harm, tampering with evidence, two counts of conspiracy, two counts of child abuse, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Police also charged Gonzales with criminal sexual penetration of a minor under 15.
APD has not revealed the girl’s identity, but people close to her tell KOB she just celebrated her 10th birthday the day before she died.
“This homicide is the most gruesome act of evil I have ever seen in my career," APD Chief Gorden Eden said in a statement Thursday. "A complete disregard of human life and betrayal by a mother. So many are in need of the support and prayers of our community.”
Once officers took Martens and Gonzales into custody, they agreed to speak with them.
The criminal complaint states Gonzales and Martens had been seeing each other for roughly one month after meeting on an online internet dating website. Martens told police she and Gonzales let Kelley stay with them after she was released from prison four days earlier.
On Wednesday night, Gonzales and Martens arrived at Marten’s second-floor apartment. Police did not complete an interview with Kelley because she asked to talk with an attorney.
According to the police report, Martens said Gonzales and Kelley gave the victim methamphetamine “to calm her down so they could have sex with her.” Gonzales allegedly sexually assaulted with the victim as Kelley covered the girl’s mouth and Martens watched.
Martens reportedly told police Gonzales then killed the victim by choking her and Kelley stabbed her in the chest. Gonzales told police he was not involved in the death, saying Kelley killed her.
A representative for the Gonzales family told KOB, “I do not believe he did it. We are going to hold him accountable regardless because no one saved this little girl.”
The police report does not say when the rape and murder occurred, but Gonzales told police he and Martens fell asleep around midnight. Then around 1:40 a.m. Gonzales said Kelley woke them up and asked them if they believed in Jesus. She appeared to have something behind her back. When they replied, Kelley then hit them both with an iron, Gonzales said. Gonzales said that he and Martens then fled the apartment after the attack.
Martens had a head injury and Gonzales had a black eye and a cut over his left eye. Gonzales also had blood on his shorts. He told police he was “cleaning” himself up, the report states.
Officers tried to make contact with Kelley at the apartment where the incident happened but she bolted the door and leapt from the balcony.
Police said they inspected the apartment after the three were apprehended and saw smoke inside. They then found the girl’s lifeless body.
“It’s horrific, it’s evil, and there’s no way around it,” Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry said. “You can’t paint this in any other way other than this is pure evil. These are monsters who did horrible things and it happened here.”
On Thursday, judge set a $1 million cash-only bond on both Gonzales and Martens. Gonzales was already on a probation violation hold, and the judge said he poses risk to the community. Although Martens lacks a criminal history, the judge said she also is a risk to society as well as a flight risk.
Two of the three suspects have a criminal past. Martens does not have a criminal record, but Gonzales has previous convictions for domestic violence and false imprisonment.
Kelley, meanwhile, was released from prison 10 days ago, according to police. He has a criminal history dating back to 2005 that includes battery, assault on a peace officer, methamphetamine trafficking and sexually assaulting an inmate.
Attorney General Hector Balederas said he will ensure resources are available to the Albuquerque police and district attorney’s office “to secure justice for her and the community.”Canada is set to mark its 150th anniversary in 2017, but some of our country's most beautiful spaces have decided to start their celebrations early.
Parks Canada rang in the new year by offering prospective annual passholders a deal: buy a 2016 Discovery Pass and it won’t expire for 24 months.
Meaning, outdoor lovers won’t have to deal with any sort of renewal process until 2018. Rejoice!
One annual adult pass costs $67.70. Family and group passes are priced at $136.40. Seniors pay $57.90 and youths, $33.30.
Passholders have unlimited access to nearly 100 national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas across the country that normally charge entry fees.
Check out some of Canada’s beautiful national parks worth visiting:
Photo gallery 15 Great Canadian National Parks See Gallery Canadian National Park Entry Fees To Be Waived In 2017 1 / 15
15 Great Canadian National Parks 1 / 15
The offer echoes a pledge made in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s mandate letter to Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna to, “Make admission for all visitors to National Parks free in 2017, the 150th anniversary of Confederation.”
File photo of a 2016 Discovery Pass.
And that’s just the tip of other Parks Canada changes expected to roll out soon.
“Beginning in 2018, ensure that admission for children under 18 is free, and provide any adult who has become a Canadian citizen in the previous 12 months one year’s free admission,” it continues.
According to its 2014 report, nearly $670 million of Parks Canada’s operating budget comes from the federal government. Entrance fees contribute approximately $59 million in non-government revenue to the federal agency.Erecting a wind turbine in the middle of the ocean is a costly and time-consuming business. Most importantly, the structure must be anchored at the bottom of the sea to ensure its stability in the face of extreme wind and rough seas. The project is normally only feasible up to depths of 50 meters of water.
But, a new generation of wind turbines no longer has that problem. Mounted on pontoons which are attached to the ocean floor by long steel cables, floating wind turbines are now the new trend in the renewable energy scene. First prototypes are already being tested.
A floating tower
The world's most advanced floating wind turbine has floated in the North Sea off Norway since 2009. It's called the Hywind turbine, and looks like a kind of giant, bottle-shaped buoy. The tower with the rotor blades at its tip rises high into the air, while the body of the turbine is settled deep in the ocean, weighed with cement ballast. This gives it the stability it needs to stay upright in heavy weather.
The "Hywind" floating wind turbine, with its cement ballast
But it's not the only way of producing a floating wind turbine. The alternative to a floating buoy like Hywind, is a floating island. Windfloat, installed off the Portuguese coast in 2011, is a turbine mounted on a large triangular base, with three separate floating corner pontoons.
Sweden's Hexicon firm has ambitious plans. They want to design a pontoon that measures half a kilometer in length, scheduled to carry 24 turbines. It's a floating wind park complete with its own power station.
Safely moored
With all of the options, cables tether the installations to concrete blocks on the floor of the ocean. The companies involved say that the turbines can be based in waters that are up to 700 meters deep.
Frank Sandner, an engineer at the University of Stuttgart, says the technology has massive potential. "Many countries all over the world have steeply sloping coasts," he told DW. "Floating wind turbines are the only chance to utilize the wind energy out on the ocean."
An additional advantage of floating wind parks is the cost. The rotor blades are mounted on land, in a dry dock, before the installation is towed offshore. That means there is no need for costly construction work on the high seas.
There are, however, disadvantages. Like a ship, the floating turbines rock and heave on the waves. In principle, the solution to that problem is simple – make the device heavier so that it less susceptible to waves. That calls for an extremely large amount of material, Sandner says. "With the current cost of steel, that would be much too expensive."
Engineers are working on alternative solutions to get around the extra material costs. Intelligent systems that would pump ballast water from one tank to the next to stabilize the wind turbine or the option of tightening the cables that moor the structure to stabilize it in heavy seas.
No even keel
No matter what tricks engineers come up with - they will never succeed in stabilizing the floating turbines to an extent that they stand completely rigid and fixed. They will always rock.
"In the swell of the waves, the installations can easily tilt by up to 15 degrees," according to Andreas Heege, the director of Barcelona-based LMS Samtech, a company that produces specialized wind power software. He adds that today's generation of wind turbine rotor blades are not designed to function in those sort of conditions.
Windfloat is a three cornered pontoon island, that floats on the surface of the sea
Exposed to constant motion, floating wind turbines experience much more wear and tear than fixed offshore facilities. The rocking motion also interferes with power generation. When the installation reels into the wind it is hit by significantly stronger winds than just a moment later, when it rocks back into the other direction. "The result is erratic power generation that we have to balance by carefully adjusting the rotor blades," Heege said.
One thing is clear. Mounting a regular wind turbine on a pontoon is not likely to function. Engineers will have to develop new, specialized rotor blades.
Economic feasibility at issue
Which of the two different concepts currently being tested – either the turbine weighted with ballast or the floating wind park island – will win the race is not yet settled. Both prototypes are doing quite well, Frank Sandner said. "Which concept is superior has not yet become apparent."
In both cases, the most important question is commercialization. That means, which is of the turbines can be produced reliably and at low cost. Experts say the structures would have to be more slender than at present, using much less material - which in turn would threaten stability.
It is akin to a tightrope act, said Andreas Heege: "To make the proposition profitable, we will have to push ourselves to our technological limits."MARY (TURKMENISTAN): Vice-President Hamid Ansari Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the leaders of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan on Sunday broke ground here for the $7.6-billion TAPI pipeline project, which will provide energy-hungry India gas for its power plants. Ansari flew to the ancient city of Mary, 311 km from the capital Ashgabat, which was part of the old Silk Route, to attend the ground-breaking ceremony of the 1800-kilometre TAPI gas pipeline in the presence of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.They pushed a button which started the welding process of pipes. They later signed the pipe as well as a document which was put in a capsule and placed under the ground. At the ceremony, held in the Turkmen desert, Berdimuhamedow said he hoped the project gets operational by December 2019. He said the project proved that Turkmenistan could carry such a huge amount of gas to places where it was required.“Today, we were participants and witnesses of a historic event. Today marks the start of a project of great scale,” he added. “TAPI is designed to become a... powerful driver of economic and social stability in the Asian region,” he said.The TAPI pipeline will have a capacity to carry 90 million standard cubic metres a day (mmscmd) gas for a 30-year period. India and Pakistan will get 38 mmscmd each, while the remaining 14 mmscmd will be supplied to Afghanistan.Ansari warned that all stakeholders had to work together to ensure that “negative forces inimical to the success of the project” were addressed in an appropriate manner. “In doing so, we must recognise that the forces of violence and disruption can no longer be allowed to threaten the quest for economic development and security of our people. I am confident that with the active engagement of all four governments, and the support of our international partners, we can overcome such challenges,” he added.The V-P also praised the role of ministers and officials who had worked hard to achieve the goals, and said petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan exemplified a new generation of politicians who work hard to make India prosperous.Ansari said the four nations also needed to work together to ensure the technical and commercial viability of the project. “...It is essential to ensure that we can make energy available at the least possible cost to the largest sections of our people,” he added.Responding to the increased focus on player safety in football over the last several years, the Texas Longhorns have installed sensors in the helmet of each player, becoming the FBS team to do so across the entire squad.
Learn more about the specialized helmets in this Longhorn Network clip:
“Our mission in the athletic training room is to provide a safe and healthy environment for our players,” says Anthony Pass, UT’s head football athletic trainer. “I think with this system we’ve done that by utilizing cutting-edge technology to monitor the hits they receive while they’re at practice.”
Officially, the program is known as the Riddell InSite helmet monitoring system.
Using a transparent helmet as an example, Pass shows the various sensors monitored throughout which measure factors like G force and direction of hit. That info is then sent to a sensor held by trainers on the sidelines.
Of course, in the finished product fans can’t see the sensors or tell anything out of the ordinary is going on.
If the helmet takes a hard-enough hit the trainers will take a look at the player to make sure all is well.
“We were the first of the Power 5 schools to integrate the Riddell InSite system into every helmet,” Pass says. “That means everybody at practice has one. We have great coaches that teach them the proper technique in how to tackle, block and keep yourself safe. What this does is gives us that thing that we can’t see.”When you think economic opportunity, do you think of a heavily regulated, highly-competitive consumer goods sector where prices are set to drop? No? Maybe we should dial back the excitement around the potential of the US marijuana industry.
With the legalization of recreational marijuana in the American states of Colorado and Washington last year, along with growing support for legalization among the public and in 18 states, there’s a sense that it may be time for businesses and investors to enter a market dominated by criminal and semi-legal operations. (Not for the first time, however: recreational drug sales were common in the 19th and early 20th century).
The potential for a legal marijuana market has manifested itself in dot-com comparisons: A Microsoft employee turned pot entrepreneur is “the Bill Gates of Weed,” while a Colorado businessman mused aloud, ”do I want to be the next Google or Facebook of marijuana?”
These comparisons are premature.
Consider the former Microsoft employee, Jamen Shively, who wants to create an international marijuana brand named after his hemp-growing great-grandfather, Diego Pellicer, by acquiring legally operating dispensaries in Washington and Colorado, and opening more in California. His ambitions are to do for pot what Starbucks did for coffee, all while importing marijuana to the US from Mexico. Shively aims to seize 40% of the $142 billion worldwide market—once he raises a cool $10 million from investors.
Credit his boldness. Every industry going from grey markets to white ones needs firms committed to succeeding within the law, and newly opened markets could be the opportunity for someone to make a fortune. It just might be Shively, but it will be very hard for Diego Pellicer to succeed.
The biggest problem with this plan is that the US federal government still prohibits the sale and use of marijuana. Where states have allowed medical use, a grey market has evolved with federal law enforcement officials tolerating small operations but cracking down on large operations and efforts to regulate them. There’s no suggestion yet that it will be any different in Colorado or Washington. Shively could consolidate a network of dispensaries in those two states, but he’ll really have no recourse if the Drug Enforcement Administration decides to shut down his operation and seize all of his assets. And since the main criteria the DEA has for those seizures is size and national ambition, it’s hard to imagine he won’t attract its attention.
Still, there’s a sense that opinions on the issue are changing. And what if five years from now—a generous timeline—the national government sees the benefits of legalization and re-classifies marijuana as a controlled substance like tobacco or alcohol, not heroin and cocaine? Won’t the pot entrepreneurs of today be in a great position to make millions on legalization? There are still some obstacles. One is that the price of marijuana will likely drop precipitously if it is truly legalized, which will be a boon for consumers but not the producers. While Shively is emphasizing quality, creating a luxury brand that can charge premium prices isn’t easy.
Another obstacle is that this isn’t an industry ripe for disruption: Distributing a plant-based drug is something that existing pharmacies, among other companies, have down to a science. If the regulatory environment really opens up for the private sector, the competition is going to be fierce. You can imagine an analogous ecosystem to the microbreweries that exist precariously next to the near-monopoly imposed by global beer makers, but it could be hard for even the largest pre-existing dispensary chains to beat global corporations if they get involved.
The final problem, however, is that legalization for marijuana might not look like legalization for tobacco or alcohol. Mark Kleiman, the public policy professor who is helping create Washington’s marijuana regulations, notes that we still don’t know enough about how legal pot will work to understand what legalization really means for people and businesses. As the experiment there and in Colorado continues, lawmakers may decide that marijuana should be more strictly controlled than other recreational drugs, or not for recreational use at all. That won’t mean an end to marijuana’s (legal) profit potential, but it does imply the road ahead for pot entrepreneurs isn’t likely to be easy.CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The president of a state-run university here was gunned down by still unidentified perpetrators early Saturday morning, a report released by the police, said.
The report said Ricardo Rotoras, 48, was shot dead outside his house at Golden Glow North Subdivision in Barangay Carmen here about 1 a.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rotoras was the president of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines or USTP.
Police said Rotoras bore multiple bullet wounds in his body and was rushed to the nearby JR Borja General Hospital by his driver but did not reach the medical facility alive.
A witness told investigators he saw people loitering near the Golden Glow North perimeter fence days before the incident.
The same witness also saw two men walking out of the subdivision after the shooting. A black pick-up truck came to fetch the suspected gunmen, the witness added.
Recovered from the crime scene were empty shells fired from a weapon believed to be a.45 caliber pistol.
Rotoras, who served as the head of the USTP since 2006, was also the president of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) for four consecutive terms.
Elected unopposed for the fourth time, Rotoras was supposed to end his two-year term as PASUC head in 2019.
His colleagues describe Rotoras as a “dedicated public servant” and “workaholic.”
USTP alumnus Alyssa Clenuar, in her post on social media, said Rotoras’ death was “a big loss to everyone” in the university and those that he had extended help in the past.
ADVERTISEMENT
As of Saturday morning, police said they were still conducting investigation and follow-up operation.
Authorities have yet to establish the identity of the gunmen and the motive for the killing.
Read Next
LATEST STORIES
MOST READUgh...you have no idea how long this took. Mostly because my tablet stopped working and I had to |
battlefield for IBM’s push—and the shove will come down to price.
As a side note, it seems a shame that the Flex line was named “Flex” versus NextScale—seems the true meaning of these are flip-flopped, with the Flexes emphasizing scalability and NextScale pushing flexibility.EXID member and one of the hottest stars of the moment, Hani, will be joining Jinusean on the stage of “KBS Music Bank.”
Numerous broadcast insiders have told the media that Hani will be part of Jinusean’s “Tell Me One More Time” for the May 8 broadcast of “KBS Music Bank.”
Previously, Jinusean announced that they will be featuring numerous different female musicians in the song, which was originally sung by YG-trainee Jang Hana. 2NE1‘s Sandara Park and Akdong Musician‘s Lee Suhyun have also joined them on stage for the song so far. This will make Hani the third female star to be guest-featured on a performance of the song.
EXID has recently released “Ah Yeah” and is currently undergoing promotions.
Source: (1)
See also: Jinusean Invites Female Singers to Feature in Performances; First Up Is Sandara Park!March 9, 2015
Twitter: @mattdesl
Drawing lines might not sound like rocket science, but it’s damn difficult to do well in OpenGL, particularly WebGL. Here I explore a few different techniques for 2D and 3D line rendering, and accompany each with a small canvas demo.
Source for demos can be found here:
https://github.com/mattdesl/webgl-lines
Line Primitives
WebGL includes support for lines with gl.LINES, gl.LINE_STRIP, and gl.LINE_LOOP. Sounds great, right? Not really. Here are just a few issues with that:
Drivers may implement the rendering/filtering slightly differently, and you may not get a consistent render across devices or browsers
The maximum line width is driver-dependent. Users running ANGLE, for example, will get a maximum of 1.0, which is pretty useless. On my new Yosemite machine, line width maxes out at about 10.
No control over line join or end cap styles
MSAA is not supported in all devices, and most browsers do not support it for off-screen buffers. You may end up with jagged lines
For dashed/dotted lines, glLineStipple has been deprecated and doesn’t exist in WebGL
In some demos, like the one above, gl.LINES might be acceptable, but in most cases it’s inadequate for production quality line rendering.
Triangulated Lines
A common alternative is to break a line into triangles or triangle strips, and then render them as regular geometry. This gives you the most control over the line, allowing for end caps, specific joins, unions (for overlapping transparent areas), and so forth. This can also lead to some more creative and interesting line rendering, as in the above demo.
A typical way of achieving this is to get the normals for each point along a path, and expand outwards by half the thickness on either side. For an implementation, see polyline-normals. The math behind the miter join is discussed here.
More advanced meshes may need to emit new geometries for end caps, bevel joins, feathering, and so forth. Handling these edge cases can get fairly complex, as you can see in Vaser C/C++ source.
For anti-aliasing, you have a few options:
hope that MSAA is supported and that you will never need the lines rendered to an off-screen buffer
add more triangles for the feathered edges of a stroke (as in this image)
use a texture lookup to gradate the alpha; very easy but does not scale well
in the fragment shader, compute the anti-aliasing based on the projected scale of the stroke in screen space
render prefiltered gl.LINES as a second pass, around the edge of your stroke
Note: a drawback that comes with miter-joined lines is sharp edges. When the angle connecting two segments is very sharp, the miter length grows exponentially toward infinity, and causes huge artifacts in rendering. In some applications this may not be a problem, in others you might want to limit the miter or fall back to another join (i.e. bevel) when the angle is too sharp.
The above Triangles demo uses extrude-polyline, a small work-in-progress module for building a triangulated mesh out of a 2D polyline. Eventually it aims to support round joins/caps and proper miter limiting.
Expanding in a Vertex Shader
Triangulation can add a fair amount of complexity to your code, and the mesh needs to be re-constructed when the stroke and join style changes. If you just want simple thick lines in WebGL, it can be a bit overkill.
This demo above expands the stroke in the vertex shader, where the thickness is a uniform. We submit two vertices for each point in our path, and pass the line normals and miter lengths as vertex attributes. Each pair has one normal (or miter) flipped, so that the two points are pushed away from the centre to form a thick line.
attribute vec2 position; attribute vec2 normal; attribute float miter; uniform mat4 projection; void main() { //push the point along its normal by half thickness vec2 p = position.xy + vec2(normal * thickness/2.0 * miter); gl_Position = projection * vec4(p, 0.0, 1.0); }
The inner stroke effect on the left (click the canvas to animate it) is created in the fragment shader using the signed distance from centre. We can also achieve line dashes, gradients, glows, and other effects by passing distanceAlongPath as another vertex attribute.
? For a ThreeJS implementation of this approach, including line dashes, see three-line-2d.
Screen-Space Projected Lines
The previous demo works well for 2D (orthographic) lines, but may not fit your design needs in 3D space. To give the line a constant thickness regardless of the 3D view, we need to expand the line after projecting it into screen space.
Like the last demo, we need to submit each point twice, with mirrored orientations so they are pushed away from each other. However, instead of computing the normal and miter length CPU-side, we do it in the vertex shader. To do this, we need to send along vertex attributes for the next and previous positions along the path.
In the vertex shader, we compute our join and extrusion in screen space to ensure the constant thickness. To work in screen space, we need to use the illusive homogeneous component, W. Also known as “perspective divide.” This gives us Normalized Device Coordinates (NDC), which lie in the range [-1, 1]. We then correct for aspect ratio before expanding our lines. We also do the same for previous and next positions along the path:
mat4 projViewModel = projection * view * model; //into clip space vec4 currentProjected = projViewModel * vec4(position, 1.0); //into NDC space [-1.. 1] vec2 currentScreen = currentProjected.xy / currentProjected.w; //correct for aspect ratio (screenWidth / screenHeight) currentScreen.x *= aspect;
There are some edge cases that need to be handled for the first and last points in a path, but otherwise a simple segment might look like this:
//normal of line (B - A) vec2 dir = normalize(nextScreen - currentScreen); vec2 normal = vec2(-dir.y, dir.x); //extrude from center & correct aspect ratio normal *= thickness/2.0; normal.x /= aspect; //offset by the direction of this point in the pair (-1 or 1) vec4 offset = vec4(normal * direction, 0.0, 1.0); gl_Position = currentProjected + offset;
Notice there is no attempt to join two segments here. This approach is sometimes preferable to miter since it doesn’t deal with the problems of sharp edges. The twisting circle in the above demo is not using any miter joins.
On the other hand, the hourglass shape in the demo would look pinched and deformed without a miter join. For this, the vertex shader implements a basic miter join without any limiting.
We could make some slight variations to the math to achieve a different design. For example, using the Z component of the NDC to scale the thickness of the lines as they fall deeper into the scene. This would help give a greater sense of depth.
? For a ThreeJS implementation of this approach, see THREE.MeshLine by @thespite.
Other Approaches
As with most things in WebGL, there are a dozen ways to skin a cat. The above demos were implemented with rather low-level abstractions so you can get a sense of what is going on, and decide for yourself the most suitable approach for your next application. Some other approaches that might be viable:
Modules Used
The demos were composed of dozens of open source modules on npmjs.org. Some of the path-related modules:
Further Reading
3,837 Kudos|<
< Prev
Next >
>| Git
Title text: If that doesn't fix it, git.txt contains the phone number of a friend of mine who understands git. Just wait through a few minutes of 'It's really pretty simple, just think of branches as...' and eventually you'll learn the commands that will fix everything.
Explanation [ edit ]
This is Git [ edit ]
Git is a version control system, used to manage the code in many millions of software projects. It is very powerful, and was amongst the first widely adopted tools to use a distributed version control model (the "beautiful graph theory tree model"), meaning that there is no single central repository of code. Instead, users share code back and forth to synchronise their repositories, and it is up to each project to define processes and procedures for managing the flow of changes into a stable software product.
How do we use it? [ edit ]
Although very powerful, the command line of Git is notoriously difficult to learn and master. Dozens of blog posts and websites (see [1], [2]), and even books ([3], [4]) have been written to help users navigate this complexity.
The difficulty of using Git in common situations is contradicted by the apparent simplicity of its use in tutorial-style situations. Committing and sharing changes is fairly straightforward, for instance, but recovering from situations such as accidental commits, pushes or bad merges is difficult without a solid understanding of the rather large and complex conceptual model. For instance, three of the top five highest voted questions on Stack Overflow are questions about how to carry out relatively simple tasks: undoing the last commit, changing the last commit message, and deleting a remote branch.
This comic thus explores the difference between the idealised view of Git's architecture, and its actual typical usage. Tutorials for Git tend to use simple systems in their examples, and only deal with the most basic commands to get started, which can create the misleading impression that Git can be used effectively without extensive study.
Due to this problem, compounded by the fact that Git's commands are named differently from similar commands in other version control systems, many users (including Cueball) are unable to use it beyond basic commands, and might try to avoid problems by saving their code outside Git, downloading a newer copy, and then re-applying their changes to the new copy instead of trying to understand and use the features that exist in Git to accomplish this task.
Memorize these shell commands [ edit ]
Cueball suggests "just memoriz[ing] these shell commands and type them to sync up". He is probably referring to a sequence of commands such as:
git pull # remote changes have now been received, so work on your file git add file.txt git commit -m "Added some text" git push
If you get errors... [ edit ]
As long as every contributor to the project follows these principles, this may suffice for a while. But many situations may cause "errors":
merge conflicts (two people editing the same part of the same file)
unmerged changes (another person committed a change before you did, so you need to merge their changes first)
attempting to recover from a situation such as an accidental merge, and making the situation worse.
In a situation such as a merge conflict, Git will show an error message such as:
CONFLICT (modify/delete): README.md deleted in HEAD and modified in branch-b. Version branch-b of README.md left in tree. # Automatic merge failed; fix conflicts and then commit the result.
Save your work elsewhere... [ edit ]
Although Git experts can of course deal with such situations, the remedy proposed by Cueball is "save your work elsewhere, delete the project, and download a fresh copy". That is, to copy the files out of their local repository's working directory, delete that whole structure, then clone the remote repository again (and, implicitly, copy the saved work back again):
# Copy files elsewhere mkdir /tmp/myproject cp * /tmp/myproject cd.. # delete the project rm -rf myproject
# Download a fresh copy git clone https://github.com/myorg/myproject cd myproject
# Copy saved work cp /tmp/myproject/*.
Abandoning the old project likely means losing some work, but may be faster and give a more predictable outcome than attempting to salvage the situation. Applying this method to a mere merge conflict issue may prolong the issue however, as the merge conflicts may still be present.
Title text [ edit ]
The title text suggests an alternative method for working around Git's complexities, which reflects common practice: knowing a "Git expert" who can help in any situation. Such experts are somewhat notorious for waxing lyrically about Git's strengths, so it may be necessary to win their favour by first letting them ramble enthusiastically about it. They will hopefully eventually give the exact commands needed. In practice, the question-and-answer site Stack Overflow is frequently used for this exact purpose.
It may even be a reference to the infamous tweet "Git gets easier once you get the basic idea that branches are homeomorphic endofunctors mapping submanifolds of a Hilbert space" which has been discussed here but it is inconclusive whether a meaningful interpretation exists.
Putting a telephone number of someone who "understands Git" into such a file is humorous because:
Software teams would more normally use electronic means of communication
Explaining Git over the phone to team members should not be necessary, as there is extensive help available online, and
In the situation where many team members would need phone support to avoid or fix basic Git problems, this would be extremely distracting to the person whose phone number was given in the file.
In short: programmers use version control systems to track changes to code. Most of these version control systems are quite similar and easy to learn if you already know another one. Git is a version control system based on completely different principles, and most programmers find it difficult to wrap their heads around it (although Git also offers a large number of nontrivial benefits over standard version control systems, which is why it is used). Cueball is one of those programmers.
Trivia [ edit ]
This comic is referenced on what if 153, the page where Randall, due to a problem with git, erroneously posted a draft of his what if? piece on peptides. As of December 17th, 2016 the page reads:
Whoops This article is still in progress. An early draft was unintentionally posted here thanks to Randall's troubled approach to git, and it took a little bit to get everything sorted out and rolled back. Sorry for the mixup!
The comic 1296: Git Commit also features Git.
Transcript [ edit ]
[Cueball points to a computer on a desk while Ponytail and Hairy are standing further away behind an office chair.] Cueball: This is git. It tracks collaborative work on projects through a beautiful distributed graph theory tree model. Ponytail: Cool. How do we use it? Cueball: No idea. Just memorize these shell commands and type them to sync up. If you get errors, save your work elsewhere, delete the project, and download a fresh copy.
DiscussionYour Bitcoin transactions The Ultimate Bitcoin mixer made truly anonymous. with an advanced technology. Mix coins
Advertised sites are not endorsed by the Bitcoin Forum. They may be unsafe, untrustworthy, or illegal in your jurisdiction. Advertise here.
ripper234
Offline
Activity: 1274
Merit: 1000
Ron Gross
LegendaryActivity: 1274Merit: 1000Ron Gross Re: [ANNOUNCE] BTCtoX - Rate Converter between BTC and other currencies June 23, 2012, 11:35:16 AM #11 I just deployed a new version with these improvements:
1. Fixed the API documentation page, it didn't work well.
2. Added weighted average over 1,7,30 days to the API (not to the app itself... not sure it's needed there, and the app should be redesigned in a nicer way anyway).
3. Added caching! I discovered that BitcoinCharts doesn't like it when API requests are made more than once every 15 minutes... so now I'm caching all outgoing API requests to speed up the process. BitcoinCharts data will be cached for 16 minutes, Mt. Gox and Open Exhcange will be cached for 2 minutes just to get a speed boost.
I'm particularly happy about bullet number 3, because it gave me a chance to play around with Memcached for the first time (it's a bit of an overkill for this project, but it's really simple using Play Framework & Heroku, so I wanted to give it a try... and it was really easy to implement & deploy).
Please give it a test drive and report any issues.
Ron
Executive Director
Co-founder of the Israeli Bitcoin Association Please do not pm me, use ron@bitcoin.org.il instead Mastercoin Executive DirectorCo-founder of the Israeli Bitcoin Association
frisco2
Offline
Activity: 274
Merit: 250
Sr. MemberActivity: 274Merit: 250 Re: [ANNOUNCE] BTCtoX - Rate Converter between BTC and other currencies June 24, 2012, 07:49:12 PM #14 This is an idea, since I'm not in trading -- but if there was an API to retrieve a dump of prices in many exchanges, one could build a graph structure and try to compute a cycle of trade to make money. For example, I know that I can buy bitcoin at the cavirtex for CAD for less than mtgox, then sell it for USD on mtgox, move the money accross the border back to canada with RBC USA free cross-border transfer, and be in net profit. Of course there are commission fees in the exchanges, but it is a matter to have all the data quickly retrieved in one location, and running some search and optimization code on it. Since you are querying all those exchanges anyways, maybe you can bunch up all the data into one json, and allow people to make such an application of off your api? Just10.com -- Ad-Free Private Social Network for just 10 of your friends.What is it that we have received “without cost?” Well, we have received every good thing for free. It’s true! All that is good is a gift from God. And it’s a free gift from Him. There is nothing we can do to earn His blessings in our lives. Do you believe that?
The above Scripture quote is part of Jesus’ exhortation to His Twelve Apostles as He sends them out to preach, heal and cast out demons in His name. He reminds them that all they have received from Him is a free gift and that they must, in turn, give the Gospel free of charge to everyone.
Advent is a time when we should especially focus upon the coming celebration of the Gift of Christmas. Christmas is a time when we give and receive gifts, but it’s important to understand the difference between a “gift” and a “present.” A present is something that is expected. For example, your spouse or child expects a present on their birthday or on Christmas. But a gift is something that is much more. A gift is something that is freely given, unearned and undeserved. It’s given out of love with no strings attached. This is what the Incarnation is all about.
Advent must be a time when we ponder the truth that God came to earth to give us Himself in an unmerited and free way. His life is a totally free Gift to us and is the greatest Gift we have ever received. In turn, Advent must be a time when we also reflect upon our calling to bring the Gift of Christ Jesus to others.
Reflect, today, upon the giving and receiving of Jesus in your life. Let your heart be filled with gratitude this Advent so that you, in turn, can give the Gift of Jesus to others.
Lord, thank You for the Gift of Your life. Thank You for coming to earth to enter into my life. Thank You for the joy of knowing You and loving You. May I allow this joy to so transform my life that I may continually seek to give You to others. Jesus, I trust in You.
More for Advent>>>50 Cent has donated $100,000 (£69,000) to charity after he mocked an autistic airport worker.
The rapper publicly apologised to Andrew Farrell after he tweeted a video of himself teasing him at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport.
In a statement 50 Cent said he wanted "to make good with Andrew Farrell".
He explained that he wanted "to turn this misunderstanding into an understanding".
"There are people that are ignored, mistreated and neglected with disabilities that need our support," he said.
"Today, I have made a donation of $100,000 to this worthy cause through Autism Speaks.
"I am calling on my fellow musicians, actors, entertainers and all others who may not have fully considered this cause to join together to help in any way they can."
50 Cent posted the video writing that the janitor seemed "high" and that "the new generation is crazy" but Andrew Farrell didn't appear to respond.
The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, deleted the video.
It was Andrew Farrell's first job, which he'd been working in for a month.
After the video was posted a school friend of Andrew Farrell's left a comment, saying: "He has extreme social difficulties, just to let you know.
"He has a hard enough time getting through life without jackasses like you making fun of him. I hope you feel good about yourself. You just lost a huge fan."
50 Cent said he personally apologised to the family.
In a statement, they said: "As requested we have received a letter apologising for 50 Cent's behaviour and we have chosen to accept it, along with a request that a donation be made to Autism Speaks.
"Though a letter of apology will not undo what 50 Cent has put our family through, we are choosing to forgive.
"A great lesson can be learned from this heartbreaking situation. Regardless of the way that another person appears to you, it is never OK to publicly humiliate them via social media."
Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeatMitt Romney has a 40-point lead over President Obama among active and reserve service members, according to a new poll from the Military Times.
The survey found Romney with a wide 66-26 lead that is similar to the advantage enjoyed by Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainGOP lobbyists worry Trump lags in K Street fundraising Mark Kelly kicks off Senate bid: ‘A mission to lift up hardworking Arizonans’ Gabbard hits back at Meghan McCain after fight over Assad MORE (R-Ariz.) over Obama in the 2008 race.
For military voters, the economy was by far the most important issue, with 41 percent of respondents saying it was most important issue for them in the upcoming race. National security came in at just 16 percent.
The Military Times poll surveyed 3,100 active duty, National Guard and reserve troops via email who subscribe to the paper.
ADVERTISEMENT
Romney’s lead is 2 points less than the advantage McCain held, who was up 68-23 with military voters. McCain might have had a greater advantage given his military service. The senator is a war hero whose years in a Vietnam POW camp are well-known. Neither Obama nor Romney served in the military.
Both campaigns have made an active pitch to veterans, particularly in battleground states such as Florida that have a heavy military presence. Romney has consistently led in polls among veterans as well.
The Military Times poll found respondents were most critical of Obama on the defense budget, but also disapproved of his handling of the war in Afghanistan by a 2-to-1 margin.
The troops supported his decision to keep the U.S. military out of the Syrian conflict 44 to 38 percent, and were split the other way, 36-47, on the withdrawal from Iraq.
Poll respondents disapproved of the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy preventing gays from serving openly in the military. Fifty-three percent disapproved of the repeal compared to 34 percent who approved of it.June 3, 2008. It's an important date in American history.
On June 3, 2008, Sen. Barack Obama clinched enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination for president of the United States.
On June 3, 2008, General Motors chief executive officer Rick Wagoner announced that, due to shifting consumer purchases, four of their auto plants would close by 2010 or "sooner if demand dictates." On his list was the SUV plant in Janesville, Wis.
On June 3, 2008, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said about that plant closure: "Growing up and living in Janesville, this is something we've always feared." The workers at Janesville expected this. As early as December 2007, GM had announced a production cutback, and by spring was offering employees buyouts.
On June 3, 2008, Obama, who had visited the plant earlier in the year, released this statement: "Today's news is a painful reminder not only of the challenges America faces in our global economy, but of George Bush's failed economic policies." He then proposed that we fund the automakers to retool their factories for the fuel-efficient cars that America was starting to purchase.
For Janesville though, Obama entered the White House too late.
Ryan certainly knows the actual history of the GM plant in Janesville.
More than four years later, on Aug. 16, campaigning as the VP pick of the party that would have let GM be liquidated, Ryan told a crowd, "One of the reasons that plant got shut down was $4 gasoline. You see, this costs jobs. The president's terrible energy policies are costing us jobs."
That was a lie. Ryan knows this. Obama's energy policies had nothing to do with the price of gas in 2008.
It didn't matter.
On Aug. 29, as Ryan accepted the nomination for vice president, he knowingly lied again to the entire nation:
"My home state voted for President Obama. When he talked about change, many people liked the sound of it, especially in Janesville, where we were about to lose a major factory. … Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said: 'I believe that if our government is there to support you … this plant will be here for another hundred years.' … Well, as it turned out, that plant didn't last another year. It is locked up and empty to this day."
Candidate Obama was right. Eventually he saved that entire company and more than 1 million auto jobs. But he could not reverse a corporate decision made well before he took office.
Ryan knows this.
But for Ryan and the Romney campaign, the truth doesn't matter. Their campaign pollster admitted it: "We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers," Neil Newhouse said this week.
That's painfully obvious. Fact checkers should take the weekend off after going through Ryan's lie-larded speech on Wednesday. Factcheck.org; PolitiFact; Glenn Kessler from the Washington Post — all must be exhausted from labeling as untrue the lies flowing from Ryan's mouth.
From the "We built it" quote that was deliberately taken out of context, to the continuing lie about welfare and spending, to the speeches from many candidates that contained some variation of all the above — this entire GOP convention has been one continuous lie.
But the display by Ryan was one for the record books.
The "we built it" theme lie. The Medicare lie. The Simpson-Bowles lie. The credit rating downgrade lie. The Janesville lie. Not to mention the "misleading" statements like that the Republicans would "protect the weak," when 62 percent of Ryan's budget cuts target poor families. Or that health care, not the economy, was the president's first order of business when the stimulus was passed first. Others have catalogued the lies ad nauseum.
My question is: Are the American people going to give Ryan's serial lying a pass? Is it okay to voters that the GOP vice presidential nominee delivered the speech well but his content was pure poison? Have we become so immune to lies that it's the new normal?
Please tell me no.
"We will not duck the tough issues, we will lead," Ryan promised Wednesday night. He mentioned leading and leadership eight times in his speech. But he'd better bone up on what leadership is all about. More than anything, "leadership" is about honesty.
The No. 1 quality people look for in leaders, James Kouzes and Barry Posner state in their iconic book, The Leadership Challenge, where they cite more than 40 years of extensive surveys across six continents, is honesty. People want to trust that their leaders will do what they say they will do. Of course we want to believe we will not be duped. Of course we want to be led honestly.
I couldn't help thinking that Wednesday night we have been sold a bill of goods by a slick-haired, earnest-looking, fast-talking salesman. Harold Hill, move over. Apologies to Meredith Willson of The Music Man fame, but if these guys win — we surely got trouble, my friends. Trouble with a capital "T" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for Paul.
Jennifer Granholm is the former governor of Michigan, serving from 2003 to 2011. She is now host of "The War Room" on Current TV. She is also a visiting public policy and law professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
© 2012 PoliticoThe Bad, The Good, and The Cloud
The Bad
This weekend I was working on a little project that involved manipulating a fairly large (1.8 gB compressed, 17 gB uncompressed) 7zip archive. I don’t have 17 gB to uncompress to on my laptop and a significant amount of the archive was uninteresting to me. I thought it would be sortav fun and worthwhile to remove the files that are not needed, so I ran a man 7zr and started reading.
Reading the manpage, it seems like one could do:
7zr d foo.gz file/to/delete.txt
Alas, for no obvious reason, that does exactly nothing. Instead, after some googling, the recommended method is:
7zr -d foo.gz -r delete.txt
Of course the manpage (which the document idiotically parrots) says:
-r[-|0] Recurse subdirectories (CAUTION: this flag does not do what you think, avoid using it)
So fine, we have a way to do that, but with an archive this big it takes minutes to delete a single file, and my archive has something like eleven thousand files. I think I did the math and my computer would take nearly two weeks to delete the files assuming a linear rate that decreased as files were deleted.
The manpage also mentions the -si flag:
-si Read data from StdIn (eg: tar cf - directory | 7zr a -si directory.tar.7z)
I’m not totally clear what that is telling me. I figured I’d try what was obvious to me:
echo file/to/delete.txt | 7zr d -si foo.7z
That replaces the entire archive with an empty archive. Worthless.
The Good
So while that is all terrible, Unix is pretty great. To delete (some of) the files I don’t care about I can do:
7zr l foo.7z | \ grep 'yawn' | \ cut -b60- | \ xargs -d '
' -n1 -I{} \ 7zr d foo.7z -r {}
This writes a temp file in the current directory (instead of $TMPDIR, wah wah), so copying it to /run/shm so that it’s 100% in memory helps a tiny bit, but not enough to be sensibly fast.
On top of the command above, I wrote a couple other commands to see my progress:
megs() perl -E'printf "%0.02f mB
", (((stat "old.7z")[7] - (stat "new.7z")[7])/1024/1024)'
newcount() { 7zr l $HOME/tmp/new.7z | grep 'yawn' | wc -l } new() { local old=5365; local new=$(newcount); echo $(( $old - $new )) }
Those were really handy when I was checking my deletion progress. Unfortunately I defined them in the shell so I had to make sure to only run them from the window I defined them in. I then decided to write this tool, which allows definition of new commands almost as simply as defining a function in the shell.
Usage:
fn dumb-echo perl -E'say "dumb"' fn dumb-count 'ls | wc -l'
The code is here; feel free to let me now if you have ideas on improvements.
I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a while, so that was pretty fun and rewarding.
Sadly, even after all of that, it was still too slow on my laptop.
The Cloud
So instead of leaving my laptop running at circa 50% CPU for two weeks, I figured out a better solution: use AWS to extract the entire archive, delete the files I don’t want, and recreate the archive. On top of that I suspect that it would be worth it for me to use something like tgz instead of the poorly interfaced and implemented 7z.
So in the course of 2 hours I both got a new free tier AWS account (I lost the credentials for my other one), spun up a machine, and started the upload of the archive. I had to get a larger than default (but still free) EBS volume or the extracted archive wouldn’t fit. After that it was almost literally:
scp foo.7z $mymachine:foo.7z ssh $mymachine sudo apt-get install p7zip 7zr e foo.7z rm *yawn* tar c foo.tar foo gz foo.tar exit scp $mymachine:foo.tar.gz foo.tgz
Sadly and maybe unsurprisingly I discovered that gzip was terrible for these kinds of binaries. I ended up just using rsync with compression to get the remaining 5 gB of files after cleaning them up.
Load Comments
Posted Mon, Sep 7, 2015In the first study to pinpoint the cause of narcolepsy in humans, UCLA/VA researchers report in the September issue of the peer-reviewed journal Neuron that the dramatic, degenerative loss of a specific type of brain cell triggers the debilitating sleep disorder.
Hcrt cells, or neurons containing the neuropeptide hypocretin, are located exclusively in the brain's hypothalamus. Hypocretin sends messages to numerous regions throughout the central nervous system, including the major mass of cells that regulates sleep.
The researchers found that the number of Hcrt neurons in narcoleptics was 85 percent to 95 percent less than the number found in non-narcoleptic brains.
Other types of neurons that intermix with Hcrt cells in normal brains were not reduced in number in the narcoleptic brain, indicating that cell loss was confined to Hcrt neurons. In addition, the presence of gliosis, or neural scarring, in the hypocretin cell region indicates a degenerative process.
The discovery suggests that the replacement of missing hypocretin neuropeptides produced by Hcrt cells may reverse some of the symptoms of the incurable disease.
"The findings end a 120-year search for the cause of narcolepsy and open new paths for treating this incurable disease," said Dr. Jerome M. Siegel, professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA, chief of neurobiology research for the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, and senior author of the study. "While it is clear that the degenerative loss of Hcrt cells is directly linked to narcolepsy, the cause of this cell loss remains to be determined. An autoimmune attack on Hcrt neurons or a sensitivity of the cells to specific environmental or biological toxins are possibilities."
Narcolepsy affects approximately 1 in 2,000 individuals (about 125,000 in the United States) and usually develops in young adults in their 20s and 30s, progressing over a period of one or two years and then stabilizing.
The disease causes overwhelming sleepiness and cataplexy, a loss of muscle tone triggered by sudden strong emotions such as laughter and impulsive anger. Most narcoleptic patients experience sleepiness rather than cataplexy.
Narcoleptics go through life feeling the way most individuals would feel after staying awake for 48 hours. They awake refreshed from naps but soon feel sleepy again. Their nighttime sleep is fragmented, with fewer of the deeper stages of sleep.
-UCLA-
DP396Written by Stefanie Fogel
The Walking Dead Season Two is almost here. Telltale's Dennis Lenart, director of the Season Two premiere, and writer/season designer Mark Darin recently spoke to us about the series and its new pre-teen protagonist, fan-favorite Clementine.
PC Gamer: Child protagonists are not all that common in video games. Why did you guys decide to make Clementine the lead for season two?
Mark Darin, writer/designer, Telltale Games: I think choosing Clementine as a protagonist let us really experiment in the way that the gameplay plays out. It lets you experience--like you said, child protagonists are not generally used that often--but it provides us a unique perspective on a world that you've already seen. You spent a lot of Season One playing as Lee bringing up Clementine in a way that you think is going to be best for her. Now, putting you in her shoes and seeing how that plays out, that's something that really resonated with us.
For me, one of the things that is really |
we raise these concerns, they will respond positively.”GREGORY HAGER'S 2004 BMW M3 2dr Convertible (3.2L 6cyl 6M)
Online Now GREGORY HAGER'S 2004 BMW M3 2dr Convertible (3.2L 6cyl 6M) Follow this Build 82 MOD SCORE 6 LIKES 5 FOLLOWERS 15881 VIEWS
Specs Horsepower 480 HP Torque 340 LB-FT Curb Weight 3781 LB Drivetrain Rear Wheel Drive Engine Size 3.2 L Transmission Type SMG MPG (City/Highway) 17 MPG
The Story
2004 Mystic Blau Cab, Cinnamon interior, VF Engineering 480hp kit, UUC Corsa exhaust, and some other goodies. After some emails, I sent the seller some money for a PPI. Everything checked out except for the SMG pump gasket'sweating' as the shop put it, but that was fixed and no other faults were found. We agreed on a purchase price, and I asked my uncle to make the trip with me to pick her up a few states away. We loaded up in the Ram with a 28' trailer and headed down. Met up with the seller, looked over the car, and finalized the purchase. Brought her straight home and unloaded it a little bit from the house and drove it back. So much fun. Car has a few small issues that I am addressing currently. The silver interior trim and SMG knob need a little attention, one small scratch on the rear diffuser to the driver's side of the exhaust, and the front BMW roundel is chipping. Before anyone says anything, yes, they are BBS LM replicas. Yes, they will be replaced. No, it won't be anytime soon. lol :hatter:
Comments (0) 8 here nowDaniela Ryf takes home a $1 million payday at the Ironman 70.3 Middle Eastern Championships in Bahrain.
With a race win and the Triple Crown title at the Ironman 70.3 Middle East Championship in Bahrain today, Ironman World Champion Daniela Ryf made history by taking a a million-dollar prize. Bart Aernouts won the men’s race.
Race recap from Bahrain Endurance 13:
The Ironman 70.3 Middle East Championship was the last of the three races comprising the Nasser Bin Hamad Triple Crown series, where the athlete who wins all three is awarded a one million-dollar bonus. The Swiss star’s wins at Challenge Dubai and the Ironman 70.3 World Championship set up this weekend as one to watch, and Ryf delivered by creating a gap on the bike and building an insurmountable lead on the run after the day’s swim was canceled due to strong currents. Ryf also ends her stellar year undefeated and a world champion twice over, having also added the Ironman World Championship to her list of accolades.
“The last six weeks after Kona, I put my head down toward this race, and I’m so happy I could finish strong and take this win,” she said. “I’m so grateful for this opportunity. It’s been a great journey and I’m also grateful for the support from my team… And of course, my coach. He supported me so much and the last weeks were not easy. I was really struggling to keep the focus.”
Ryf’s compatriot Caroline Steffen made it a one-two punch for Bahrain Endurance on the women’s podium, making her pass for second in the final kilometers of the run. “I’m really glad the season is over,” she said. “I was hoping for top three, at least second I think I could be pretty happy with that. I never did back-to-back races so that was a good experience. Being not healthy all week long didn’t really help but I learned a lot this week and I think I absolutely got the best out of me. It’s a great way to finish a big year
James Cunnama claimed bronze on the men’s podium, playing a smart race that saw him stay in contention from start until finish.
Jodie Swallow finished in fourth despite gastric problems that left her heaving and with no energy. David Plese also took fourth, while Brent McMahon crossed the finish line just seconds behind him. Domenico Passuello closed out the men’s top ten, Ben Hoffman finished 12th, and Eric Watson 19th.
Ironman 70.3 Middle Eastern Championships Bahrain
Cancelled swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run
Women
1. Daniela Ryf (CHE) 3:28:20
2. Caroline Steffen (CHE) 3:37:45
3. Ana Lindstrom (SWE) 3:39:35
4. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 3:49:08
5. Caroline Livesey (GBR) 3:57:14
Men
1. Bart Aernouts (BEL) 3:11:15
2. Ruedi Wild (CHE) 3:12:26
3. James Cunnama (ZAF) 3:13:34
4. David Plese (SVN) 3:15:24
5. Brent McMahon (CAN) 3:15:38
Full results from Ironman here.History Matters http://www.sltrib.com Third Governor Was Run Out of Utah After 3 Weeks Will Bagley Published: 12/30/2001 Edition: Final Section: Utah Page: B1 Nobody ever had a worse New Year's Eve than the Utah Territory's third governor, John W. Dawson. Dawson, an Indiana lawyer and newspaper editor, had a tough time during the three December weeks he spent in Utah in 1861. In a speech to the Legislature, he called on Mormons to pay $26,982 in federal taxes to help fight the Civil War. Brigham Young did not like the idea. First, the Feds would want the taxes and then "they will want us to send 1,000 men to the war." He would "see them in Hell before I will raise an army for them." The LDS prophet said that anyone who had been a newspaper editor for 15 years must be "a jackass." After Dawson vetoed a popular scheme to win statehood for the Territory of Deseret, someone took five shots at a federal judge in front of the governor's rooms on Main Street. Local authorities laughed it off, but Dawson got the message. On New Year's Eve, he boarded an eastbound stagecoach under "circumstances somewhat novel and puzzling." Dawson said his health "imperatively demanded" that he return home, but the Deseret News reported he left "in a state of mental derangement, or in other words, distressingly insane." An LDS apostle charged that the governor had gotten in trouble "hunting a seamstress." Dawson allegedly propositioned a Mormon widow, who "drove him out of her house with a fire shovel," which, the News claimed, accounted for his mental state. An odd gang of rowdies fell in behind the stagecoach as it rumbled up Emigration Canyon to Mountain Dell. "I was followed by a band of Danites [legendary Mormon vigilantes]," Dawson informed Abraham Lincoln. That night the crowd at the stage-coach station got drunk. After the governor discovered someone had stolen his valuable beaver robe, stage driver Wood Reynolds knocked him down. Lot Huntington and other thugs then inflicted serious violence on their victim. The gang wounded "my head badly in many places, kicking me in the loins and right breast until I was exhausted," Dawson wrote. Once the governor had been "viciously assaulted & beaten," and, according to some, castrated, the hoodlums carried "on their orgies for many hours in the night." This vile attack upset Salt Lake City authorities and they ordered the perpetrators rounded up. The ruffians claimed the chief of police had ordered the assault, but within a month most of them were dead at the hands of either Orrin Porter Rockwell, at the time a deputy sheriff, or the Salt Lake City police. "How long does the government intend to persist in foisting such characters upon us?" asked Brigham Young. "It is our purpose to no more endure the imposition of such men as... Governor Dawson." Dawson said he felt the "misrepresentation calumny & unjustifiable invective" in the Deseret News was an attempt to justify his assault. Given the rough handling Dawson received, one might expect historians to give him a break, but most Utah chroniclers treat him as badly as the thugs did that New Year's Eve at Mountain Dell. Ironically, being Utah's shortest serving governor was not John Dawson's greatest claim to fame. The battered politician returned to Indiana and spent his last 15 years as a pain-wracked invalid. He devoted his time to the study of local history, earning the title "the Herodotus of Fort Wayne." Dawson published the first account of the adventures of John Chapman, an old friend who had spent 49 years wandering the frontier planting apple trees. Walt Disney eventually made Chapman famous, but it was John Dawson who created the American legend, "Johnny Appleseed."
_________ Bagley is a Utah historian and author. David L. Bigler's "Forgotten Kingdom" described Governor Dawson's unhappy Utah adventure.The National Security Agency has declassified the finding aid for a collection of thousands of historically valuable NSA scientific and technical records that were transferred to the National Archives (NARA) last year.
Up to now the contents of the collection had been opaque to the public. As David Langbart of NARA described the collection to the State Department Historical Advisory Committee last year:
“These records mostly consist of technical, analytical, historical, operational, and translation reports and related materials. Most of the records date from the period from the 1940s to the 1960s, but there are also documents from the 1920s and 1930s and even earlier. The NSA reviewed the records for declassification before accessioning and most documents and folder titles remain classified. [...] The finding aid prepared by NSA was the only practical way to locate documents of interest for researchers, but it is 557 pages long and is classified.”
When confronted with this impasse last month, the National Security Agency to its credit moved to rectify matters by declassifying the finding aid, which is now available as a.pdf file here (or as an.xlsx file here).
Most of the folder titles (listed beginning on p. 13 of the.pdf file) deal with narrow, highly specialized aspects of cryptologic history prior to 1965. A few examples picked at random: German Signals Intelligence in World War II; A Compilation of Soviet VHF, UHF and SHG Activity by Area, Source and Service; Hungarian Army Communications; Description of Chinese Communist Communications Network; and so on. Those folders all remain classified. But armed with the titles and file locations of such records (and of thousands more), researchers can now pursue their declassification.
Release of the finding aid by NSA “should help interested researchers gain access to relevant material more readily,” said David J. Sherman of NSA, who facilitated disclosure of the document.There are those who say a day trader is only as good as his charting software. While that's debatable, it's certainly true that a key part of a trader's job — like a radiologist's — involves interpreting data on a screen; in fact, day trading as we know it today wouldn't exist without market software and electronic trading platforms.
A lot of software applications are available from brokerage firms and independent vendors claiming varied functions to assist traders. Most brokerages offer trading software, armed with a variety of trade, research, stock screening, and analysis functions, to individual clients when they open a brokerage account. In fact, the bundled software applications – which also boast bells-and-whistles like in-built technical indicators, fundamental analysis numbers, integrated applications for trade automation, news, and alert features – often act as part of the firm's sales pitch in getting you to sign up.
Much of the software is complimentary; some of it may cost extra, as part of a premium package; a lot of it, invariably, claims that it contains "the best stock charts" or "the best free trading platform." Fact: There is no single best stock chart or best stock screener software. There are too many markets, trading strategies and personal preferences for that. But we can examine some of the most widely-used trading software out there and compare their features. Whether their utility justifies their price points is your call.
MetaStock: One of the most popular stock trading software applications, MetaStock offers more than 300 technical indicators, built-in drawing tools like Fibonacci retracement to complement technical indicators, integrated news, fundamental data with screening and filtering criteria, and global markets coverage across multiple assets: equities, derivatives, forex, futures, and commodities. Both its MetaStock Daily Charts Subscription and its MetaStock Real Time packages (especially geared for day traders) include its highly praised stock charts software.
Worden TC2000: If you are interested exclusively in U.S and Canadian stocks and funds, then TC2000 offers a good solution. Features include stock charts, watch lists, alerts, instant messaging, news, scanning, and sorting.TC2000 offers fundamental data coverage, more than 70 technical indicators with 10 drawing tools, and an easy-to-use trading interface, as well as a backtesting function on historical data. It does not, however, offer automated trading tools, and asset classes are limited to stocks, funds, and ETFs.
eSignal: Another popular stock trading system offering research capabilities, the eSignal trading tool has different features depending upon the package. It has global coverage across multiple asset classes including stocks, funds, bonds, derivatives, and forex. eSignal scores high on trade management interface with news and fundamental figures coverage, and its stock charts software allows for a lot of customization. Available technical indicators appear to be limited in number and come with backtesting and alert features.
NinjaTrader: An integrated trading and charting software system, providing an end-to-end solution from order entry to execution with customized development options and third-party library integration compatible for more than 1000 apps and add-on products, NinjaTrader is one of the commonly used research and trading platforms. It's especially geared to futures and forex traders. While not a free trading platform, costs can be as low as $.53 per contract, and commission rebates are not uncommon. Apart from the usual technical indicators (100+), fundamentals, charting, and research tools, it also offers a useful trade simulator, enabling risk-free trade learning for budding traders.
Wave59 PRO2: Offering advanced level products for experienced traders, Wave59 PRO2 offers high-end functionality, including "hive technology artificial intelligence module, market astrophysics, system testing, integrated order execution, pattern building and matching, the Fibonacci vortex, a full suite of Gann-based tools, training mode, and neural networks," to quote the website.
EquityFeed Workstation: One prominently highlighted feature of the EquityFeed Workstation is a stock hunting tool called "FilterBuilder"— built upon a huge number of filtering criteria that enables traders to scan and select stocks per their desired parameter; advocates claim it's some of the best stock screening software around. Level 2 market data is also available, and coverage includes OTC and PinkSheet markets. However, it offers limited technical indicators and no backtesting or automated trading. Its product-specific search tools like ETFView, SectorView, etc. rank among the best stock screening software. And it even offers free trading platforms – during the two-week trial period, that is.
ProfitSource: Targeted at active, short-term traders with precise entry and exit strategies, ProfitSource claims to have an edge with complex technical indicators, especially Elliot Wave analysis and backtesting functionality with more than 40+ automated technical indicators built in. Its asset class coverage spans across equities, forex, options, futures, and funds at the global level.
VectorVest: With trading platforms and analytics software that cover different geographic regions (for the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Europe, Hong Kong, India, and South Africa), VectorVest is the one for the intercontinental crowd. Its program offers comprehensive coverage for common technical indicators across major stocks and funds all around the world. VectorVest also offers strong backtesting capabilities, customization, real-time filtering, watch lists, and charting tools.
INO MarketClub: For users specifically looking for charting software, INO’s MarketClub offers technical indicators, trend lines, quantitative analysis tools, and filtering functionality integrated with a charting and trading system — not just stocks, but futures, forex, ETFs and precious metals.
The Bottom LineFrom the NYT:
At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.
McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive.
Are you fucking kidding me? We are now rigging the debate formats to compensate for a know-nothing, mendacious Manchurian candidate drilled in meaningless talking points? And the Obama team agreed to this? And so did the press?
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.This evening, I'll be providing live, real-time commentary on the State of the Union Address along with my Forbes colleagues Josh Barro and Rick Ungar. Rick has seen the speech already and claims "Bingo." Some of my Econ 100 students are (probably) watching and writing up a summary and evaluation of the speech in light of these principles of economics.
11:00 PM: Final words. I'm not really sure what to make of the Republican response. The problems we face are much more difficult than either Daniels or Obama admit. Both Daniels and Obama sounded like preachers calling the wayward to repentance, but the fundamental problems in political economy and policy involve much more than deciding which variation on the Gospel--Red or Blue--is correct.
We need to move the analytical work back a step and ask not which team can be trusted with power, but whether anyone can. Yes, there is an ideological component to this, but there are also very serious analytical and scientific components that are ignored far too often. The relevant question is not "is Outcome X desirable?" but "is Outcome X possible, or at least feasible?" Economics is unpopular with politicians because it usually gives them the answers they least want to hear.
10:33 PM: An article from last year on profits.
10:30 PM: Young people today face a less promising future than their parents? If they can find somewhere with a decent wifi connection, they might want to bust out their smartphones and start Googling ways to fix it.
10:28 PM: as we await the Republican response, the relevant question--here as always, is "how do you know?" As I expected, the President spent a lot of time talking about the benefits of this or that policy without acknowledging the costs (I'll invoke Frederic Bastiat again and reiterate that just because they're hard to see doesn't mean costs aren't real). If we're talking about whether this or that result is desirable or not, we're missing the analytical point. Whether we want to help poor people--which I want to do--is irrelevant to whether propping up GM actually helps poor people in the long run. The key questions that emerge from the tradition in political economy most exemplified by Carl Menger, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, James Buchanan, Gordon Tullock, and others focus on how policies change incentives and either create or destroy information. Mises, in his 1920 essay "Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth" and Hayek in his 1945 essay "The Use of Knowledge in Society" showed how private property and market exchange are necessary conditions for the creation of knowledge and information that makes rational economic calculation possible. These insights and critiques apply very generally to the use of force in society. I don't have the time or space for a full treatise, but the fundamental problem is that the knowledge needed for rational appraisal of labor, capital, and other factors of production does not and cannot exist without private ownership of the means of production and market exchange.
10:18 PM: @Josh: you're right; if we want to improve the lives of veterans, more money is the way to go as non-cash benefits are inefficient relative to cash benefits. @Rick: getting money "out" of politics sounds great, but it would open Pandora's box. How do you decide what counts as protected political speech and what counts as a corrupt use of money? What happens when people innovate around the restrictions?
10:08 PM: The discussions of military involvement here, there, and everywhere that are likely being applauded by the right suffer from the same sets of incentive and information problems as the subsidies for this, that, and the other that have those on the right setting their jaws in frustration. How do we know these are good ideas?
10:00 PM: For discussion: does money corrupt politics, or does politics corrupt money? Here's an economics meme I made to illustrate the point. People spend enormous amounts on politics because there are enormous amounts of money to be made in politics.
9:56 PM: 30%--average, or marginal?
9:48 PM: The President is talking about regulation. There is an information asymmetry story for why regulation might work (Google my friend from grad school Marc T. Law for his work on the FDA); however, I think the President is being a little cavalier in his discussion of regulation. Is it just as simple as passing the "right" laws?
9:43 PM: Translation: subsidizing oil companies was a huge mistake, so we should make the same mistake by subsidizing "green energy" firms.
9:40 PM: Perhaps I'm a little behind, but from Rick and Josh's posts, we should absolutely make it easier for foreigners to come to the US--but not only the highly-skilled ones. Here's my most recent immigration article.
9:34 PM: Rick, re: Frederic Bastiat and Lordstown, Ohio: I'm sorry you don't care what Bastiat has to say, but costs are just as real as benefits, even when they're harder to see. You're making Billy Bluecollar from Lordstown better off--perhaps--but Billy won't be enjoying a free lunch. Here's a PDF of Economics in One Lesson for your iPad. I paraphrase Deirdre McCloskey: labor unions raise wages for some workers, but they do it by lowering wages for everyone else.
9:30 PM: Josh's comments on protectionism are worth reading.
9:26 PM: @Rick on auto workers: Frederic Bastiat has something to say about that.
9:23 PM: Please stick around for my comments on governments picking winners and losers, coming after the State of the Union Address. For now, here's Bryan Caplan's The Myth of the Rational Voter on the biases voters have. Most prominent so far: make-work bias.
9:22 PM: President Obama treats the "need" for an auto industry as if it is axiomatic. Were the benefits worth the costs?
9:20 PM: The President is outraged about what happened in the housing market, but these were the results of specific policy goals aimed at creating "affordable housing." Here's my review of Thomas Sowell's The Housing Boom and Bust. I explain more here.
9:14 PM: The President is correct about the end of World War II and the rise of economic growth; however, Independent Institute Senior Fellow Robert Higgs' research (see his book Depression, War, and Cold War in particular) suggests that it was post-war liberalization that drove the growth rather than collective action.
9:12 PM: And you just got the bin Laden square.
9:10 PM: If you're playing Bingo, you just got the Center space.
9:05 PM: For my economics students who are reading, PBS just said some Congress members have been waiting since 8:00 AM for good seats. They didn't pay money. Were the seats free?
This is the third time I've written about the State of the Union Address for Forbes. In 2010, President Obama had the misfortune of giving the State of the Union Address on the same day Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad. Advantage: Jobs and the iPad. Last year, the President explained how we could "win the future" in a speech that was, in many respects, a high-speed train wreck: I discussed it for Forbes here.
I watched the President's introductory video on Josh's site a few minutes ago. These videos to which I contributed for the Institute for Humane Studies' LearnLiberty.org project will be useful complements to (and perhaps substitutes for) parts of the President's speech: they discuss some of the basic principles of economics, the ways in which trade creates wealth and conserves resources, and why the benefits people want from subsidizing a different set of favored interest groups aren't likely to materialize.
But there's much more to come. Keep watching this space for real-time commentary. I'll also be tweeting throughout the evening: @artcarden.
Staying-on-good-terms-with-the-FTC Disclosure: I have received valuable consideration from the Institute for Humane Studies in exchange for my participation in the LearnLiberty.org project, but not for mentioning the videos in this ongoing commentary. Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Update, 1/26/2012: At the request of the Independent Institute, I have listed Robert Higgs' affiliation and provided a link to his book.So, in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past week, it finally happened. After an entire generation of emasculation and social suppression of men, some socially alienated, sexually frustrated douchebag finally snapped, and went postal, Columbine-style. This was predicted by many, but, like all social problems in America, no one really cared until disaster struck. And even then, most people didn’t really care, they just used it as a springboard to talk about whatever personal issue they have a stick up their ass to create public awareness of, from gun control, to women’s rights, to the horrors of involuntary male celibacy.
But of course, the underlying social and psychological causes of this tragedy are poorly understood by most, and as such, have not really been addressed. Instead, there has been a whole lot of posturing, punditing, and proselytizing (especially on AlterNet, which I normally enjoy) from people who have no clue what they are talking about, and instead are merely passing off a photo-copied opinion as original thought. I must say, this terrible crime has had a big effect on me personally, for many reasons. 1: I have been known to frequent some of the same sites and forums as the attacker (though not regularly or with the same fervor). 2: I sometimes feel subject to some of the same internal AND external pressures as the attacker (though obviously I have healthier ways of dealing with them). 3: I have published masculist writing of my own, if only as an emotional outlet for a middle-aged divorcee and social outcast (although my statements online have stopped short of advocating rape or violence against women, both of which I find totally unappealing). And finally, 4: I am now aware, via news media, of a well-connected gang of feminists who probably want to commit me to a mental institution, simply because I am a socially alienated computer nerd.
I will spare you the details of Elliot Rodger’s heinous crime. You can read about them elsewhere. What fascinates me is the reaction to it, culturally and in the media. This story has become a lightning rod for feminist radicals, gun control radicals, and even masculist radicals. And the media chatter has damn near driven me insane, to hear so many flavors of intolerable ignorance and stupidity pollute the airwaves and internet at once. But hopefully, as a single man who happens to be well-versed in human psychology, sociology, political science, AND, most importantly, internet discussion forums, I feel as though I can shed some light on the background of all this.
For one thing, it would be helpful to know that there has been an ideological war brewing in the dark underbelly of the internet for quite some time. It is between feminists, men’s rights advocates, and pick-up artists. Take an online discussion site like Reddit, for instance. You have these three subforums, and a lot of cross-chatter between them:
www.reddit.com/r/feminism/
Your basic Feminist discussion group where common topics are “Smashing the Patriarchy“, fabricating evidence that patriarchy exists as opposed to simply a generically oppressive system that tyrannizes people regardless of gender, whining that not all women are President of a small country or CEO of a large company, ignoring female privilege, playing up male privilege, and generally pretending that women are in the same position, socially, politically, and economically that they were in 100 years ago. This forum was recently made a ‘default’ on Reddit, which means it is more accessible via the top banner headline, because Feminism is really in chic right now, and it would be totally unfashionable not to promote it.
www.reddit.com/r/theredpill/
The Red Pill is a discussion forum for man-whoring douchebags, plain and simple. It’s a place for men to discuss their ‘sexual strategy’, or in other words, “how to score with as many chicks as possible without getting caught up in a bunch of female drama, aka a ‘healthy relationship'”. The members of this forum tend to be sexist macho pigs who see women as objects, have a high sense of sexual entitlement, and generally advocate patriarchal control/domination of women, because they have rationalized to themselves that ‘this is what women truly want deep down’, or ‘this is the only way you will get anywhere with women’. Evolutionary psychology and neuroscience are used, by the men who frequent this forum, to manipulate and sexually exploit women, often creating emotional scars that leave them incapable of trusting any subsequent men they meet in life, no matter how good their intentions may be. I personally find this forum extremely distasteful, and the only reason I ever visit there is to antagonize the hard-core devotees, whom I consider total scumbags.
www.reddit.com/r/mensrights/
The Men’s Rights Advocacy forum is more of a place to discuss… well, men’s rights. And there’s actually a lot to discuss, such as: unfair court decisions regarding restraining orders, custody battles, and alimony/child support payments, the inequality of men under the law, men’s dwindling social capital and agency relative to women’s, and combatting the popular misconception that all men are violent, sexist villains. Of the two men’s forums, r/mensrights tends to get along the best with r/feminism, mostly because r/mensrights is populated primarily by men who want things very similar to what traditional feminists want: gender equality, and the abolishment of obsolete traditional gender roles. So there is actually a lot of overlap between the goals of r/mensrights and the goals of r/feminism, as r/mensrights seems to be populated mostly with ‘White Knights’ (egalitarian, chivalric, hopeless romantic types) as opposed to the PUA’s (Pick up Artists) of r/TheRedPill.
There are conflicts among these subreddits, and they are as follows:
Red Pillers believe that there is a female conspiracy to emasculate men, exploit men materially, and deprive men of a healthy sex life. And in some cases, they are correct, as there are some women who seem to have these goals individually, or even as a radical faction, though probably not as a mass demographic. But it’s really more complicated than that, and I’ll get into that later. Feminists, naturally think that TheRedPill is full of douchebags who are borderline if not full-fledged psychopaths, and I really don’t blame them for having that perspective, with which I pretty much empathize, even if I don’t agree with much of radical feminism. I do take issue with the common misuse of the term ‘psychopath’ by people with no education in psychology, which doesn’t necessarily describe a killer like Rodger, who I believe collapsed under the weight of his own emotion, rather than being an inherently emotionless psychopath.
Feminists tend to see MRA’s as encroaching upon their ideological territory, ie: “How dare you complain that your gender is under-privileged, that’s our schtick!” And so on and so forth. MRA’s often accuse Feminists of “Goal Post Moving” and “Creeping Matriarchy”. Of course, the more seasoned veterans of both forums realize that gains made by a minority can often entail losses by a long-standing majority in a zero-sum game, both genders could easily be oppressed at the same time by an indifferent system or social trend, and often-times two people’s (or groups of peoples’) rights may conflict: in other words, my right to free speech might conflict with the person who is the subject of my writing’s right to privacy. So those are sticky areas that are often fought about in court battles or legislative sessions, the results of which usually have more to do with who hired the right lawyer or bribed the right congressman than who was actually right. Furthermore, men have privileges women don’t and women have privileges men don’t, and it is totally possible to be both the victim and the victimizer at once. Sometimes it seems that everyone victimizing eachother is just another consequence of shit rolling downhill.
I’ve even heard men like Elliot Rodger be called ‘gay’ by both men and women, for various motivations, just because a guy like that can’t get laid. This prostitute’s rhetoric is merely yet another attempt at ego manipulation: “If you aren’t willing to pay to fuck a woman, you must be gay. If you are being deliberately ostracized by women, you must be gay.” And this is just victim blaming the poor guy who is the subject of both ‘keep away’ and ‘why are you hitting yourself’? So, as all this discussion and name-calling and drama is going on on the internet 24/7, Elliot Rodger finally snapped, and the rest is history. Now, the part I find fascinating: the media and the internet reacts.
And let me tell you, the feminists REALLY came out swinging on this one, I personally believe, to the detriment of their own cause’s credibility. In the mainstream media, feminists used this tragic event as further evidence to depict men in general as progenitors and sustainers of an idea women have contrived called ‘Rape Culture’ What is rape culture, you ask? Basically the idea that women have the right to assume that all men are potentially a threat, or that all heterosexual intercourse is necessarily rape. Saying that if you have a penis, you must necessarily either be neutered or else you are a rapist is akin to saying that if you have a vagina you must be a baby murderer, because you could potentially be killing unborn babies. Which is bad when you get into persecuting people not for what they HAVE done, but for what they MIGHT POTENTIALLY DO, because, by that logic, a PhD of chemistry, computer science, or physics should be incarcerated for making drugs, hacking into NORAD, or blowing up buildings, merely because he possesses the capability to do so. Personally, I find this idea extremely offensive and hypocritical, especially coming from a movement that says, on one hand: “Women should never be questioned or judged”, but on the other hand says that “it’s totally OK to assume right off the bat that all men have a rapist mentality”, when in reality I can speak from a male perspective of saying that non-consensual sex under duress of violence or implied threat of violence is totally unappealing to me. Not to mention the hypocrisy of demanding women never be shamed for their sexuality or forced to be celibate, but men should be shamed for their sexuality. Or shamed for not getting any. Depends on what day of the week it is.
I don’t even go to strip clubs, because I believe the dancers AND the patrons are being sexually AND materially exploited by way of a borderline fascist capitalism, which is inherently coercive, and the commodification of sex, female companionship, and affection. I stopped watching porn because I wanted to stop supporting the seedy types who run the porn industry, plus I feel time wasted with porn really prevents you from relating with actual, real-life women. However, I live in the kind of retarded backwoods town where it is considered an act of feminism, by some poor misguided people, to go to the strip club. In fact, if you DON’T support a woman’s “right” (think ‘right to work state’) to get naked for the chickenfeed they throw at her, you MUST be some sort of misogynist. Not like that fine young women’s rights activist who regularly trolls the strip club for booty even though he already has a girlfriend or two. Clearly, that guy loves women. And the Keep Austin Topless activists, right… like there isn’t even a tiny bit of transparent douchery in all that. Seems to me like people from LA are determined to turn all the local women into trashy models, and even using “progressive feminism” as a rationalization to do so… “I’ll make you a star, baby.” You know in the porn industry, someone always fucks the camera man? It’s considered cruel not to. So even Randroid sexploitation can be painted in a feminist light. “I thought the female body was a beautiful work of art”, said the sleazy pornographer.
I don’t even like dating because it too closely resembles prostitution to me. Most of my relationships have come out of the so-called “friend zone” believe it or not, and I don’t believe that friendship prevents romance with the right type of person, although lack of friends possibly could. Relationships, to a certain extent, require communal support, and no one wants to see the “bad guy”, or the guy popularly perceived as “bad” to get the girl.
Going back to Freedom of Speech Vs Feminism, did you know that in many states, writing about violence is legally considered committing violence. Seriously, check this out: GUN. Aren’t you scared? I just pulled a gun on you! This is kind of like one of those deals where liberals say “it’s never OK to hate”, but then they hate the haters, so it’s like they’re total hippie-crits, you know? A threat, or anything misconstrued |
I in Indian populations although some middle/upper castes might have some of the additional EHG-like component as in Yamnaya.
Thus, the CHG component rather than the EHG component appears to be the common denominator of the spread of the IE into India, Armenia, Greece, rest of Europe, and Eastern steppes.
• What would this mean for origin of proto-Indo-Europeans and the emergence of the Indo-Iranians?
-The finding the that the CHG derived component is the common denominator would imply that the Yamnaya people were unlikely to be the proto-Indo-Europeans. The corollary would be that PIE probably arose in the North Caucasus in a primarily CHG ancestry population close to the steppe zone. Even today the Caucasus is a region of great linguistic diversity – there are 3 distinct language families found only in the Caucasus, then there are several branches of Indo-European, Turkic and Mongolic branches of Altaic, and the Semitic branch of Afro-Asiatic. While many of these languages have moved into the region in more recent times, we suspect that even during the transition from the Neolithic to the bronze age there was a comparable diversity and Proto-Indo-European emerged as one of the many languages. Being in the steppe zone of the Caucasian region it was at the junction between the northern world of the EHG and the southern world of the EF. Indeed, one culture from the region Maikop shows signs of straddling the two worlds with clear material signs of links to both the West Asian cultures on one hand and the steppes on the other. The Maikop culture had long range trade links to the south that went as far as the early Harappan civilization of India, as attested by the presence of cotton, and carnelian and lapis lazuli beads of likely Indian origin. In the north, in the Dniester and lower Don steppes we find several kurgans with Maikop-like material such as ceramics, mace-heads and other tools. On the genetic side the interaction between the steppe and the North Caucasus is supported by the incipient admixture of the CHG-type ancestry into the EHG in the Neolithic-metal age transition. While at this point there is nothing to say Maikop was a proto-Indo-European culture in entirity, among peoples involved with this complex of sites were likely to be those who were the proto-Indo-Europeans
From these PIEans the Hittites separated first and probably moved southwards with little contact with the rest until millenia later. In the Maikop culture we see the evidence of a key technology the wheel, which is seen for the first time in the region in the Starokorsunskaya kurgan 2 and depicted on a pot at a grave at Evdik. This technology was key to the mobility of the rest of earliest Indo-Europeans – the words cakra and ratha in Sanskrit descend from the early IE words for wheel that was likely shared by the common ancestor of all the remaining branches except the Hittites. It is possible that this mobility allowed a branch of the PIEans to actively expand into the northern steppes mixing thoroughly with the resident EHG to found the Yamnaya culture. The first to split from this population was Tocharian that utilized the mobility to move far to the east and never have further contact with other IE branches till they encountered the Indo-Iranians more than a millennium later. The next to leave the Yamnaya core were likely the Germanic, Italic and Celtic groups which likewise pushed westwards. The Greeks and Armenians shared some developments with the ancestors of Indo-Iranians and appear to have separated there after. The Baltic and Slavic probably expanded from a population related to the Yamnaya but likely remained longer in the region given evidence for their contact with Indo-Iranians [the satem development; parjanya among others]. One possibility is that the Poltavka was the population from which they expanded. The genetic support for contact with the Indo-Iranians is presented by the less-frequent yet present R1a-Z93 Y chromosome of the Indo-Iranian type in this culture.
After the Poltavka period there is clear change in the genomes of the region – the greater influx of EF ancestry seen in Sintashta-Potapovka and their successors. Allentoft tried to explain this EF ancestry as arising from a back migration from Europe carrying the old Neolithic EF component from Europe. However, this is unlikely because the Y chromosome landscape changes to R1a1-Z93 dominance rather than R1b which would have been prominent if the European population migrated back to the steppes. Since, the Maikop period there is evidence for the southern contact with West Asia. Hence, it is quite possible that a more southern branch of the early Indo-European people in the meantime had acquired admixtures with the EF and moved further north to mix with the older populations to found the Sintashta-like cultures.
-Now how does this square with the origin of the Indo-Iranians? Here is where things get complex and multiple scenarios present themselves:
(1) The Sintashta-like cultures were the proto-Indo-Iranians who then expanded as Andronovo and Srubnaya during which Indo-Aryans and Iranians split. This is the mainstream model. The advantages it has are:
-the spoked-wheel chariot warfare, which is so prominent in Indo-Iranian is archaeologically first attested here.
-the dates would consistent with the attestation of Indo-Aryan in West Asia in the Mitanni culture.
-It brings IA into India after the collapse of the Harappan civilization, which allows them to fill a vacuum thus explaining the total dominance of IA over much of the old Harappan zone.
-It can easily account for the R1a-Z93 Y chromosomes, a prominent haplogroup in Indian males.
-These populations show a completely consistent relationship to at least some of the modern Indians with high ANI components.
-It is completely consistent with the median dates of admixtures between ANI and ASI as inferred from linkage disequilibrium [This is after a correction is applied to those presented by Reich and colleagues which seem to represent the lower temporal end of the admixtures involving ANI-high sources].
The disadvantages of this scenario are:
-While it accounts for R1a-Z93 the rest of the genetics is less-consistent especially given the lower expected EHGs for most Indians with ANI components i.e. they are better explained as an admixture with a population that is predominantly dominant in CHG ancestry with little EHG component.
-The dates of entry into India via the conventional scenario are inconsistent with the philological evidence for the Sarasvati river and the most reliable astronomical dates of the Veda.
These disadvantages could be explained away by positing:
-The Bactria-Margiana complex (BMAC) was primarily of CHG ancestry. As the Andronovo-like I-Ir filtered through the BMAC they got enriched in CHG, which is what we seen in most Indians.
-A two invasion scenario with a non-Indo-European population with primarily CHG ancestry that came first followed by Indo-Europeans. So only a part of the Indians with ANI have really Indo-Aryan ancestry with rest of ANI being from a non-Indo-European source. Some whites and their fellow travelers with a poor understanding of Indian ethnography seem to like this scenario. However, we hold that this is unlikely because even given a multiple invasion scenario (which in itself is possible) the earliest admixtures as calculated by linkage disequilibrium are too recent for such an imagined non-IE invasion.
-Finally the astronomical references are accounted for as being incorporation of an older textual material into younger texts.
(2) This is a variant of the above scenario, which involves multiple invasions but all of these are Indo-European, primarily Indo-Iranian. The idea of ārya-s entering India wave upon wave is an old one. There is some support for this from philology: the members of the pañcajana and ikṣvāku seem to be distinct waves with the former playing a major role in the Ṛgveda but latter being remembered as a notable group but are not the main patrons of the RV authors. Even in the RV we have others like Ruṣama Pavīru and Tirindira Parṣava suggestive of a more Iranic wave. In the later Vedic period there was the likely invasion of yet another group the Śalva, and in the post-Vedic period of the Pāṇḍava-s who established themselves in the Kuru-Pañcāla realm. Even in the historical period we have multiple Iranic waves in the form the Shaka, Pahlava, Kushana, Huna, and Gurjara-s who founded dynasties in the subcontinent. That they contributed to the genomes of the Indians is suggested by the distinctive group, of likely Huna-Gurjara origin, which could be identified within the Gujarati Indian genomes. These multiple waves could then account for different types of admixtures with some involving groups primarily enriched in CHG ancestry and others with more of a Sintashta or Yamnaya/Afanasievo-like ancestry.
The advantage of this scenario is it being consistent with the evidence for multiple admixtures recovered by Moorjani et al by getting better fits by using a sum of exponential decays of linkage disequilibrium than with a single exponential curve. In principle it could also account for oddities like the the kentum substratum in Bangani, which might imply that one of the waves included in it a substantial kentum-language speaking population.
(3) In this scenario it is proposed that the Sintasha-like complex of cultures and its Andronovo successor were not the primary set of people who brought the Indo-Aryan languages to the subcontinent. Instead they are seen as being the Indo-Iranians who never reached India: primarily as Iranian or as Iranians along with a non-Indian branch of the Indo-Aryans. Indeed, there is some evidence from ancient Greek historians that there was a branch of Indians in the region of the Black Sea even in the early historical period. Instead, in this scenario Indo-Aryan languages were borne to India by a distinct branch that separated early from Sintashta-like cultures (~4.2 kyr BP) and rapidly reached the subcontinent. This group was predominantly of CHG ancestry but might have had a population structure with an elite “brahma-kṣatra” with more EHG ancestry and a viś of mainly CHG ancestry. However, it should be noted that the multiple invasion scenario posited above can also work with this scenario. This group rapidly invaded India probably via a mechanism similar to that speculated by Anthony regarding the Sintashta mercenaries playing a role in the defeat of Ur by the Elamite confederation. The archaeologist Bisht has proposed that the Harappans were likely involved in fort-based warfare just like the early Indo-Iranians on the steppes. The steppe Indo-Europeans had long-range trade interests, especially given the industrial-scale metal production starting around 4.2 kyr BP. This could have meant that their trade interests combined with their new military technology got them involved in Harappan affairs thus establishing them India.
It is commonly claimed by the unerudite OITists that there is no evidence for any link between Harappans and the steppe-land. This is far from true. The Chanhu-daro, Pirak and the chalcolithic Ahar-Banas from Rajasthan show seals with clear relationship to those from the BMAC system around this time and unlike those typical of the Harappan system. Rathacakra and kurgan-like graves have been found by Bisht at Dholavira. Around the same period (~4.1-4 kyr BP) the rare examples of images of a horse are seen in sites like Lothal along with horse bones appearing at Surkotada. This would suggest that the first entry of IA happened in the mature Harappan period. A much earlier invasion is rendered less likely by the inferences of decay of linkage disequilibrium based on the data we have today.
The advantages of this scenario are:
-At least it brings the period of entry into India close to the Kṛttikā period inferred from Vedic astronomical references.
-It gives at least ~2 centuries of an active Indian Sarasvati for it to be embedded in the memory of the Indo-Aryans in the formative phase of their presence in India.
-It gives an explanation for the spike in evidence for contacts with central Asia ranging from the horse to the Rathacakra kurgans in India.
The disadvantages of this scenario are:
-The weight of the evidence suggests a prolonged shared development with Iranian: this model is less conducive for that.
-Especially if the exit of the Indo-Aryans happened via a southern route as suggested by the CHG predominance, then the shared loans into and from Finno-Ugric are less easily explained.
In conclusion, we believe that the details about how the invasion(s) happened remain murky. Ancient DNA could conclusively solve the issue in the coming years. In the past we were rather skeptical about the late invasion model favored by the mainstream indologists based on the astronomical dates from the Veda. However, we must now concede that the chances for the mainstream indological model look brighter than ever before. Even with non-mainstream models like 3 we cannot push things into the remote past. This raises a question as to what about the astronomical dates? We have to conclude that most probably the Vedic texts are all composite preserving particular pieces corresponding to the older dates but as a “saṃhitā” date from a later time – the dates do not date the whole saṃhitā but merely the ṛk or ākhyāna containing the old date, that to was probably first composed in an earlier IE dialect and massaged into an IA form at a later date.
₪‡₪‡₪‡₪‡
Epilog: This is already rather long. To go into all the nitty-gritties will make it even longer. As serious readers of these pages might have noticed our understanding is evolving and things are going change with new ancient genomes. But broad outlines have never been as clear.
An important point to note is that, which ever way you dice it, the early Indo-Europeans created a system of thought centered around a natural religion that was remarkably stable to all kinds of admixtures with diverse populations in distant lands be it in northern Europe, the Mediterranean arc or Iran or India. This suggests that the Indo-European system of thought was something that people outside of its original horizon sought to emulate and become an integral part of. We believe that this memetic complex was more important for their original expansive spread even more than any technological or biological advantages they might have possessed relative to other people. It is for this system our Indo-Aryan ancestors had the words like ṛta and dharma. Even in far off Bali in the East, even after many, many genetic admixtures, this system, which had developed in steppe-land, held fast in those who were soaked in it. But today practitioners of most branches of this ancient system of thought have ceased to be such – they only have the languages not the system. The Iranians have been reduced to a tribe and are on route to extinction – we are to only ones who remain and some among us still understand its essence in form not far from what it was on bronze age steppes despite all its evolution over the millennia. Beyond religion in the narrow sense, in its orthodox and heterodox forms, this system is at the foundation of everything else notable across the branches of the Indo-European world like science, technology, and arts
But it has a dangerous rival – a memetic complex of a pathogenic type that arose in the Afro-Asiatic milieu of West Asia. This rival is the one which has extinguished the system across the former IE world and taken up the riches generated by the IE system as its “secular” property. Branches of this rival system are now baying for the blood of the last great bulwark of the old IE system. This is the heart of our biggest civilizational clash that many in our midst fail to grasp.
₪‡₪‡₪‡₪‡
Bibliography
Archaeology
Anthony DW The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World.
Grigoriev S Ancient Indo-Europeans.
Shinde V, Raczek TP, Possehl GP (editors) Excavations at Gilund: The Artifacts and Other Studies.
Shinde V et al Excavations at Gilund 2001–2003:The Seal Impressions and Other Finds
Bisht RS How the Harappans Honoured Death at Dholavira?
Bisht RS Harappans and Rgveda: Points of Convergence.
Genomic studies
Cordaux R et al Independent origins of Indian caste and tribal paternal lineages. Curr Biol. 2004 Feb 3;14(3):231-5.
Raghavan M et al Upper Palaeolithic Siberian genome reveals dual ancestry of Native Americans. Nature. 2014 Jan 2;505(7481):87-91. doi: 10.1038/nature12736.
Allentoft ME et al Population genomics of Bronze Age Eurasia. Nature. 2015 Jun 11;522(7555):167-72. doi:10.1038/nature14507
Haak W et al Massive migration from the steppe was a source for Indo-European languages in Europe. Nature. 2015 Jun 11;522(7555):207-11. doi: 10.1038/nature14317.
Lazaridis I et al Ancient human genomes suggest three ancestral populations for present-day Europeans. Nature. 2014 Sep 18;513(7518):409-13. doi: 10.1038/nature13673
Moorjani P et al Genetic evidence for recent population mixture in India. Am J Hum Genet. 2013 Sep 5;93(3):422-38. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2013.07.006.
Moorjani P et al Reconstructing Roma history from genome-wide data. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58633. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058633.
Reich D et al Reconstructing Indian population history. Nature. 2009 Sep 24;461(7263):489-94. doi:10.1038/nature08365
Jones ER et al Upper Palaeolithic genomes reveal deep roots of modern Eurasians. Nat Commun. 2015 Nov 16;6:8912. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9912.
Basu Mallick C et al The light skin allele of SLC24A5 in South Asians and Europeans shares identity by descent. PLoS Genet. 2013 Nov;9(11):e1003912. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003912.
Metspalu M et al Shared and unique components of human population structure and genome-wide signals of positive selection in South Asia. Am J Hum Genet. 2011 Dec 9;89(6):731-44. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.11.010.
Gallego Romero I et al Herders of Indian and European cattle share their predominant allele for lactase persistence. Mol Biol Evol. 2012 Jan;29(1):249-60. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msr190.
Underhill PA et al Separating the post-Glacial coancestry of European and Asian Y chromosomes within haplogroup R1a. Eur J Hum Genet. 2010 Apr;18(4):479-84. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2009.194.
Rosenberg NA et al Low levels of genetic divergence across geographically and linguistically diverse populations from India. PLoS Genet. 2006 Dec;2(12):e215FOR AMERICANS thinking about learning a language—and to lesser extent, for Europeans and Asians—the name Rosetta Stone may come to mind. In America in particular, the bright-yellow brand is, if not quite ubiquitous, to be found wherever the internationally-minded are: railway stations, airports, the ad pages of newspapers and magazines. This week, I wrote about the business of language learning, also looking at Berlitz, for the print edition.
As a language writer, I’m often asked "Should I get Rosetta Stone?" For years, I was sceptical. In 2005, I reviewed an earlier version of the software, and came away partly impressed and partly frustrated. The interface was clever, and I truly seemed to be learning my test language with little conscious effort. But before long, I found what I thought was a near-fatal flaw: that Rosetta Stone barely differed at all between languages.
Get our daily newsletter Upgrade your inbox and get our Daily Dispatch and Editor's Picks.
Arabic and Swedish pose very different challenges to the learner. One example: an early Rosetta Stone lesson teaches the difference between "he walks" (singular) and "they walk" (plural). But the Arabic version I looked at would occasionally show a man and a woman with the word yamshiaan, "they [two] walk." The dual is distinctive to Arabic and a few other languages. But Rosetta Stone did not single out and teach the dual separately. The learner was just supposed to figure out that when there were two people, the ending would change from –oon to –aan. The software should have singled it out for explicit practice.
Fortunately, Rosetta Stone agreed. Between Version 2 (which I had tested) and Version 3, customisation was added for each language. The peculiar difficulties of each language would get more focus, even while the basic lessons stayed the same.
So what does today’s top-end version, Version 4 TOTALe, look like? I spent several months with the software, working on Mandarin. (I tested Mandarin using Pinyin romanisation only. The software lets you learn with Chinese characters, but is not really designed to teach this unique and difficult system. Rosetta Stone focuses on getting you to speak.) The short verdict, after many hours spent: though it still has shortcomings, Rosetta Stone has come a long way, and I think it is a genuinely useful tool for language-learning.
Those who don’t know how Rosetta Stone works are encouraged to try the demo. But to describe in a few words: Rosetta Stone does not use your native language. It uses only pictures and words in the target language. First, the learner gets a few nouns: a man, a woman, a car, a bicycle. You hear the word, see the word written and see the picture at the same time. Soon you start practicing them: you see the picture of the bicycle and have to click on one of four words, only one of which is zìxíngchē, bicycle. Or you’ll see and hear zìxíngchē, and have to pick which of four pictures has a bicycle in it.
Soon, you move to pairs: a boy and a girl, a man and a boy, a boy and a bicycle. Then basic verbs: the man eats. The boy eats. The girl eats. Gradually, things get more complex: the girl drinks juice, the girl drinks water, the man reads a newspaper. All of this builds block by block. The learner is solving the language like a puzzle. Only one new element appears at a time. If you see, in Mandarin, the man is reading a [unfamiliar word], you will have already learned "The man is reading…" and the picture will make clear that the new word is "book". Then you get to the book is [unfamiliar word] the chair, with the book on the chair. So the new word is on. In theory, you should never struggle too hard to figure out what’s going on.
In theory. Now we must get into practice a bit, and into Mandarin, to see where this is not always the case. Take he is eating. In Mandarin, this is four short syllables: tā zài chī fàn. But what do they mean? Tā is both "he" and "she". So the rest is "is eating" … right? Not quite. You have to do some digging outside of Rosetta Stone to figure out what’s going on.
Zài is a particle that goes with verbs denoting an ongoing action. Chī is the verb "eat" itself. But what’s fàn? It’s "cooked rice", of course. Rosetta Stone won’t tell you, but chī is transitive only. It must have a direct object in Mandarin, and so a dummy object (cooked rice) has to be supplied. The man might really be eating steak, but you say he's eating cooked rice, if you just want to say he is eating and don't know or care what.
At first, you may just learn chīfàn as one unit meaning “eat”. This wouldn’t exactly be wrong. But along comes another wrinkle: when Rosetta Stone’s dog is eating, you get zhè zhī gŏu zài chī dōng xi, "This dog chī dōng xi". Why not chī fàn? If you’re clever (remember, you don’t know fàn is "cooked rice") you’ll just figure out that dogs just have a different verb, chī dōng xi instead of chī fàn. But what on earth is dōng xi? You can do some internet digging to discover that the two Chinese characters mean east and west, but that will only confuse you more. Finally, you discover that dōng xi just means "something". People eat one dummy object ("cooked rice") and dogs another ("a thing").
So Rosetta Stone is full of puzzles. Some are explicit, and cleverly designed into Rosetta Stone (like how to figure out on from the picture of the book and the chair that you already know). But others are accidental: they are a product of the fact that the program is mostly built around a common set of thousands of pictures. Each set has a man eating, a woman eating, a dog eating, and a boy eating. This is unproblematic in some languages: The man eats and The dog eats don’t require different verbs in Spanish or English. But they do in German and Mandarin, and the learner is stuck with this unintended and distracting minor puzzle.
Another amusing puzzle, among a few I could name, was why the Western-looking characters address each other as qióng sī tài tai and the like. Who or what is a qióng sī tài tai? Google will tell you that tài tai is "Mrs" or "wife". And qióng sī? It's a sinification of "Jones"! Westerners do have to render their names into Chinese sounds (and characters) if they deal extensively with Chinese people in Chinese. This usually requires some pretty extensive phonetic contortions. Again, this is fascinating, and teachable—but not explicity taught by Rosetta Stone.
Perhaps the most persistent little puzzle in Rosetta Stone Mandarin is the presence of indispensable yet inscrutable little words all over the place. Right in the first lesson, we see "a man": yī ge nán rén, literally one ge male person. "A woman": yī ge nǔ rén, one ge female person. "A dog": yī zhī gŏu, one zhī dog. And so on. What are these little words between "one" and the nouns?
They're called classifiers (or measure words), and they must be learned with every single Mandarin noun. In English we say three head of cattle or five loaves of bread. In Mandarin, every noun has a word like head or loaf that is used whenever you use a number, or words like "this" and "that": this ge man, four zhī dogs. Classifiers are inescapable in Mandarin. Some, like ge, are frequent. Some, like tiáo, have properties in common (belts, rivers and roads are all tiáo—long, and thin). But many are not obvious or easy to learn. Any sensibly designed Mandarin course will drill students in classifiers extensively.
Rosetta Stone, to its credit, does a bit. Beginning early in the lessons, and recurring occasionally, are sessions designed to reinforce the classifiers. But never is the student explicitly told what’s going on, as in the two paragraphs above. It’s simply something you have to figure out and learn to deal with. If you’re good at this kind of thing—if cracking brain-teasers in the Sunday paper is your idea of fun—you might well enjoy the challenge. In the specific case of Mandarin classifiers, though, even more explicit drilling would be welcome. Once you do figure out what classifiers are, there's still a lot of work to be done learning them all.
Tones make up another nut that is harder to crack than it should be in Rosetta Stone. Mandarin is tonal. Shí, with a rising pitch, means ten. Shì, with a falling one, means is or are. (And many other things: Mandarin has many homophones.) Western learners will usually not know a tonal language when they start Rosetta Stone. Unless they’ve done some research, they may not know to look out for tones at all. If they don't, they could do a lot of learning before realising that tone is crucial in Chinese, and will have failed to learn the tones in a lot of early vocabulary. And while Rosetta Stone tests your pronunciation—requiring you to repeat words and phrases—the software does not notice when you get the tones wrong. (I tested it by intentionally repeating the "right" syllables with the wrong tones. Even with the difficultly level set at the highest it will go, Rosetta Stone counted my replies as 100% correct.)
Again, clever or diligent learners might figure out tones early and adapt to them. But most learners could use explicit instruction. Tones are hard. Rosetta Stone is marketed as software that will teach you near miraculously, without all those annoying books and drills. But there are many pitfalls for the learner of a language, especially one distant from one’s own: foreign concepts ("cooked rice" as a stand-in object for eating almost anything), foreign grammar (those classifiers), and foreign phonology (tones) all throw up challenges ranging from mild to fearsome. Hitting them with both Rosetta Stone’s intuitive software and a traditional lesson book (Living Language makes some good ones) is far preferable to relying on Rosetta Stone alone.
Finally, Rosetta Stone has added many bits and bobs to successive versions of the software. These include solo games, games you can play with others online, and chatrooms. I found the chatroom for Mandarin mostly empty, with users often showing up, asking a question, finding it unanswered and leaving. Interactions are few. (There is more going on in the German chatroom I also visited.) But the games were a good way to practice vocabulary while having a bit of fun.
And by far the best feature Rosetta Stone has added is the opportunity for live video tuition, called Studio. With the provided headset, users can join live 30-minute and hour-long lessons with no more than a few other users. The tutor carefully guides the students (all at the same point in their learning) through a scripted session that will focus carefully on the grammar and vocabulary they're learning just then. In my first session, still fairly early on, the picture was of a family at a dinner table. The teacher asked "What’s this?" "A family." "Who is this?" (She puts a cursor over the boy.) "This is a boy." "What is the boy doing?" "He is eating." "Do you have a family?" "Yes, I have a family." "Do you have children?" Et cetera. A mistake will gently be corrected (including mistaken tones and classifiers). The learners’ native language is never used, though the teacher will occasionally type things on the screen and use clever graphical devices to explain. For example, when she said “Now you ask me,” I didn’t understand her, so she typed my name, and drew an arrow to her name.
At the moment, Studio sessions are free and unlimited with the yearly subscription, which is going for $239, and gives access to all five levels of Mandarin. (Update: the subscription now offers two Studio sessions per month for each Unit. There are 20 total Units.) Right now, the $399 five-level CD-ROM package comes with only a three-month trial of Studio. Subscribing (even though it means you don’t own the software) seems the better deal, since Studio fills a critical need for the learner: live practice with a human being. Also, a regular learner (spending several hours a week) can probably complete all five levels in a year, and save $160 while getting Studio in the bargain.
In addition, Rosetta Stone has put a lot of work into good smartphone and tablet apps. The iPhone app, miniaturised as it must be, does not keep track of my progress, and does not offer the Studio lessons, but is good for vocabulary practice while killing time almost anywhere. The iPad app seems to have all the features of the full computer software, and so allows seamless continuation of your progress away from your desk (as long as you have an internet connection). Both phone and tablet apps are free with the subscription. Users get just a three-month trial of the apps with the CD-ROM purchase.
Why? Rosetta Stone is trying to move people to subscriptions, not CD-ROMS. Their head of public relations, Jonathan Mudd, calls the software "classroom quality at disruptive pricing". They want you to think of it as a high-end ongoing service (competitive with your local language school) at a good price, not as an expensive piece of software.
In summary, Rosetta Stone has come a long way. It still has shortcomings, but so will any methodology. Fortunately, these can be mitigated if you disregard Rosetta Stone's promise of effortless learning without the need for any explicit teaching. For an adult learner, those pesky books can be a huge help when running into a dog eating dōng xi or a westerner named qióng sī. Rosetta Stone can be a great tool—alongside books, rather than instead of them.Google+ is one of the social media platforms that gets priority when it comes to SEO (displaying social media results on Google). You will never see Facebook or Instagram posts appear in google search unless it’s the profile of a person.
Google does not index pages from facebook or Instagram but it does index all Google+ pages and posts. Google Plus therefore is one of the most preferred channels by marketers mostly for the SEO benefit. This is a reason ‘Big and Strong’ enough for you to focus on Google plus for business.
In my recent research trying to find ways to improve my Google Plus social media strategies, I came across a myriad of posts that featured great pieces of advice from experts on Google plus and I thought it would be a good for me to share these expert advices’ with you all.
Below are five reasons that make social media experts and marketers turn to Google plus for business.
1. A community for every topic
Kamila Gornia, A digital marketing strategist working with FOX, NBC, CBS news and ABC.
The unique thing about Google+ is that regardless of how obscure or unconventional your niche is, there is a good chance that there is a community with a large number of members already on Google plus that will be interested in what you have to offer and will also be willing to connect with others about that topic.
2. Connect with influencers
Anil Agarwal; a blogger that shares on his blog everything that worked for him when increasing traffic and sales.
Connecting with influencers is one of the best ways of making your products and services known by a wider audience. Google+ offers you this option. Here, you can connect with the influencers to boost your reach by commenting on the posts of influencers, or by sharing their posts on your network. This will enable you to grab their attention. In the long run, you will be able to increase your Google plus followers.
3. Make use of Google Authorship
BEN SCARDELLO – President & CEO at Convergent1.com
This is a service that makes your face appear next to your article in the Google search results. You only need to create a Google plus account then link your profile to your posts. This enables you to build your authority as well as establish your personal brand. Having an authorship markup has been found to increase the click through rates.
4. Segment your audience
Heather R. Huhman, founder and president of Come Recommended,
With Google plus, you have the option of creating different circles based on the people you want to connect with. If you sell jewelry, you can create circles for clients, jewelers, employees and so on. This is a feature you will not get on Twitter or Facebook.
5. Social Proof and Knowledge Graph to show your support from Internet users
By Unknown
Another reason you should use Google plus for business is because of the knowledge graph and social proof features. This allow you to build the trust of audiences in your brand by showing them such things as your customer reviews and follower count on Google search results.
Google plus is distinct from other social media platforms. It is the best network for people interested in boosting the reach of their brand.
Related
Tags: google marketingHome Is A Fire
Boing Boing is thrilled to feature the premier of Death Cab For Cutie's "Home Is A Fire" music video, by artist Shepard Fairey and Death Cab bassist Nicholas Harmer. The song is from Death Cab for Cutie's exquisite new album, Codes And Keys, available May 31, 2011 on Atlantic Records. Below, Shepard and Nick share their inspiration and thoughts on this perfect collaboration. -- David Pescovitz
Shepard Fairey: I have been a fan of Death Cab for years so I was excited to hear from bassist Nick Harmer about his idea to collaborate on a video piece for their song Home Is A Fire. I love the democracy of music and I'm always excited to bundle visual art with great music. Nick sent me the lyrics to Home Is A Fire and they evoked the duality of "home" both as a place you inhabit, and also as a place that inhabits or traps you. One's relationship with home might be |
of pride from the whole ordeal.
"I don't see any problem with that." I took his note, thanked him, and walked out the door.
How did I feel? I think there are two emotions that prevailed over the others. Scared — What am I going to do now? What does this mean for my service? — and relieved, both from the stress of ignorance about my health and from the stress of being a combat soldier. Make no mistake, there were of course great parts of being part of Rimon, but at that very moment, I was relieved.
But why relieved? This is all I wanted in my life. This was my new dream, my new goal, my new purpose. Without it, I'm left lost again, just as I had been a year and a half ago, only now I'm stuck in the army. Relief was the last thing I expected. Heartbreak. Agony. Despair. All were present, but in nowhere near the quantity of relief. Along with being the most prevalent, relief was also the most confusing, or maybe the most revealing. I'm sure it will take me years to understand how I felt walking out of that office.
I am writing this five years later and am still processing those emotions.
Two weeks later, I completed the final hike of basic training with my platoon, limping severely by the end, and was proud to receive my purple beret to show that I had completed basic training with the Givati brigade. However, I returned to the doctor's office a day later and was told that I was no longer a member of Rimon and was medically ineligible for infantry. The final blow.
Because I was part of an elite unit, and because my lieutenant was supportive of me, I was given the option to choose where I wanted to go afterward. I told the colonel in charge of my base that I wanted to be in intelligence. He said he would make it happen. In the meantime, he told me, I would have to bide my time and wait for the paperwork to clear as a "communications expert" in the Radio Room, a boring job, and one I was woefully underqualified for.
Personal journal, Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 2 weeks after leaving Rimon:
My time in the Radio Room has been abysmal. My Hebrew is STILL weak and people's voice on the radio sounds like they're talking through a closed fist. Take that plus the fact that there are no non-verbal cues like hand signs, and I'm pretty much stone-lost 90 percent of the time. Yesterday was particularly bad.
A call came in on the radio. "Hello, Radio Room. This is the lieutenant of Shaked 3 seeking permission to begin exercises. Over."
I had no idea what he just said. "Did not receive. Please repeat. Over."
"This is Shaked 3 seeking permission to begin exercises. Over."
"Shaked 3 seeking permission to what? Over."
I think he heard my accent that time. He started barking in Hebrew, "To shoot, to shoot! I want to start shooting!"
At this point I'm supposed to ask if they have an ambulance and a medic, except I still haven't learned the army slang for that — or the actual vocabulary for that matter. "Aah, got it. Do you have (intentional mumble) and (mumble)?"
"What?" We were done with ending our statements with "over" at this point. He was pissed.
"Do you have (louder mumble) and (mumble)?" I said it with conviction so he'd think he was the wrong one here.
He didn't buy it. "What the fuck are you saying?! Why is this taking so long? Soldier, do you speak Hebrew?"
"No, sir," I said pointedly.
He exploded. "What in the fuck are you doing on the radio then? Put the fucking radio down and go get your lieutenant!"
And I did. I was told this morning that I would have the night shift from now on.
I learned that the base commanders were having difficulty finding people to staff the Radio Room, and they just needed a warm body in the seat. It was a miserable job, and Israelis themselves hated it, so best to get a temporary person to fill the gap for a while. Every trip to the Radio Room was worse than the last. It was eight hours of boredom punctuated with a linguistic failure every hour or so.
My new commander came to me and told me that I was denied entry into intelligence. I had gone through all the clearance, but as part of obtaining the final security clearance, everyone in intelligence must be a citizen of Israel. I volunteered for the IDF as an American, and was not then, nor am I now, a citizen of Israel, so I was stuck in the Radio Room for the foreseeable future.
The colonel who was ostensibly helping me get into intelligence had never heard of volunteers, so he just assumed I was a citizen. My lieutenant did all he could to help, but by this point his superiors were tired of hearing about me. I was filling a need for them, even if I was doing it poorly, so I was just stuck in limbo.
This sent me into a depression unlike anything I had ever experienced. I believed that I had failed. I had signed up to protect Israel as a combat soldier, and anything else, to me, was failure. Supporting combat soldiers through intelligence was perhaps a worthy alternative, but sitting in a room bored and stumbling all day? My service time was reduced back down to the volunteer standard of a year and a half after leaving Rimon, but the prospect of another minute in the Radio Room was depressing, much less another eleven months.
I started sleeping 12-plus hours a day, I would go some days without eating, and some days binge eating. My mood swung from high to low like a metronome, and I drank to excess when home on the weekends. It was terrible.
Eventually, one of my buddies from Hebrew Course, Ben, heard of an opening in the Education Corps as a combat instructor and logistical specialist. Those were two things I believed I could do well, so I applied for a transfer and somehow, thankfully, mercifully, got it. Starting in February, after three months of hell in the Radio Room, I was now a member of a unit called Marva. With the guidance of my then-girlfriend (now-fiancee) Emily, and a transfer out of the Radio Room, I eventually shook the depression and saw just how wrong my mindset had been the whole time.
As part of the broader mission of Israeli military service, the IDF is one of few militaries around the world to have a dedicated Education Corps that bridges the gap between the military and civilian world. It is the IDF's main mechanism for non-combat instruction, along with being the social justice arm of the IDF. The Hebrew Course I initially drafted into was part of the Education Corps, but the Corps does many other things: officer training, foreign citizen relations, immigrant absorption, and teaching lessons on Judaism, ethics, and the history of the IDF to both soldiers and civilians. The Education Corps also helps disadvantaged populations integrate into society and the military. I saw juvenile delinquents and the most stubborn refuseniks, people who refused to join the military or follow the law, become productive members of the military and society through the rehabilitation program Havat HaShomer. Being a part of the Education Corps showed me the myriad other things the IDF does beyond protection, and my own definition of service broadened tremendously. I saw the power of words and how an exposure to new things, a new way of life, can change a person's perspective.
My own program, Marva, was part of the Education Corps' goal of foreign citizen relations. Recent high school graduates from around the world voluntarily came to Israel to join our 150-person platoon and simulate two months of IDF training. Marva is a chance for foreigners to come and get a taste of IDF experience, an important part of Israeli society that few foreigners learn about, much less experience firsthand. We treated the "soldiers" (we called them simply "participants") in our course like real soldiers in almost every way, even though they had not enlisted and would only be "in the army" for two months. They even wore uniforms and carried guns, though the barrels were filled with cement. Like my own commanders in Rimon, we did not berate our participants like the sergeant in Full Metal Jacket. (How'd that work out for him?) We enforced strict expectations and military discipline, but we were there to teach our participants, and we did so calmly and with respect. In Marva I saw that if a person sees new experiences and people, and is shown respect, they'll respond with kindness and respect back.
My job in Marva was twofold. With my transfer I was promoted to corporal and became part of the commander's corps, where half of my job was to be a logistical specialist. Ben and I would help the first sergeant and major coordinate the battalion's gear and time. For example, if the battalion needed someone to organize a list of things to take with us to the field and pack the truck, Ben and I were typically given a rough sketch of what to do, and expected to make it happen with few resources besides chicken wire. It was great.
I cannot express to you the relief of having Ben with me in Marva. Finally, I had someone I could talk to who understood where I was coming from and had similar experiences to me. We were great friends in Hebrew Course, but we spent every minute together in Marva. Because of our friendship, I came to understand the bonds forged in the military.
Personal journal, Wednesday, March 16, 2011, one month into Marva:
Turns out commanders have to guard too. I'm on guard duty again for the third time this week. I've spent more hours this week staring at a tree than I think I have in my entire life. It hasn't moved yet.
My mind wandered today to thinking about the purpose of guard duty. Who am I guarding against? It occurred to me that it's people my age, similar to me and everyone around me save chance of birth. Our nature is the same, but our nurture is radically different. They were born there, the people I serve with were born here, and I was born half-way across the world. Hardly anyone else in this situation volunteered for it. They were born into it and forced into roles by circumstance.
I'm realizing that the military situation does not allow its actors to understand their opposition with any sort of complexity. I'm not guarding against a human being. He is Threat, and I am Defense.
Seems to me, this approach makes peace unlikely, and only leads to perceived threat meeting perceived threat with violence.
During my service at least three major international events involving Israel took place: an humanitarian flotilla heading from Turkey to Gaza was boarded by Israeli commandos; peace talks were occurring between Israelis and Palestinians; and Israel threatened to bomb Iran's nuclear program. At no point, whether in Hebrew Course, Givati, or the Education Corps, did my commanders ever sit us down and discuss potential implications of external events. I discussed the news and rumors among my peers ("Did you hear we're going to train specifically to infiltrate Iran?" "No, we're going to learn Arabic and disguise ourselves as Palestinians." "No, we're..."), but that was for fun. In reality, we were resigned to our fate. There was nothing we could do, and there was plenty to worry about that was within our control, so we did our best to put politics out of our mind. The mentality was that politicians and generals make decisions. Soldiers serve.
This is not to say that our mission to defend Israel was unimportant to the people I served with. To the contrary, it was extremely important, even personal for them. While still in Rimon, a couple of my platoon-mates and I were sitting around one day discussing where we grew up. I told them about my home in Florida (Israelis often confuse Florida and California. I'm sure half of them still think I'm from LA.) I told them about fires on the beach and playing football, and they told me about growing up in Israel. It hit me that while I rode my bike to get barbecue after practice and while I walked around public places in total comfort, my platoon-mates had grown up during the Second Intifada. Terrorists were exploding buses, setting pizza parlors ablaze, and detonating suicide vests in public places that would achieve maximum casualties. When I left my house, my parents told me to be smart. When my platoon-mates left their house, their parents told them to be safe. My platoon-mates were committed to keeping Israel safe because they knew a cousin, or aunt, or brother, or friend who had been killed by terrorists or foreign militaries. For a long time, that was my experience of Israeli politics, and they were the terms in which I understood the conflict.
The military often treats threat defense as the whole mission: the predominant value to which defending dignity takes a back seat. Serving in Marva and the Education Corps completely changed my perspective and allowed me to see the error of my previous mindset. As an infantryman guarding a settlement in the West Bank, I saw fear in the eyes of the Israeli settlers as they surveyed the Palestinian villages surrounding them. As a combat instructor, I saw many public buses where Palestinians were uncomfortable sitting next to Israelis, and many Israelis stiffen if they did. Of course, this is not the worst hardship Palestinians face on a daily basis. Compared to the occupation or other maltreatment, the Palestinians' and Israelis' attitudes in this public place was more indicative of their respectively reluctant and unwelcoming mindsets than it was an affliction in itself.
As a soldier, I always understood that it was part of my responsibility to protect the settlements and make the residents feel safe, but it was my service in the Education Corps that showed me that the IDF's mission was broader than protection alone and included a duty to others as well.
I carried the IDF's Code of Ethics in my wallet. It states:
IDF soldiers are obligated to fight, to dedicate all their strength and even sacrifice their lives in order to protect the State of Israel, her citizens and residents. IDF soldiers will operate according to the IDF values and orders, while adhering to the laws of the state and norms of human dignity, and honoring the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.
While training with Rimon, I stood in unison with all of Givati, with one hand on my bible and another on my rifle, and shouted, "Ani nishbah! Ani nishbah! Ani nishbah!..." I swear, I swear, I swear an oath of loyalty to the IDF, Israel, and the Jewish people. I swore an oath to uphold the IDF's Code of Ethics. I believed that meant protecting Israel from outside forces.
But after seeing the great work done in the Education Corps, and the value of such service, I saw that my oath was more inclusive. I focused on the first half of the paragraph to the detriment of the second, and it took me almost a year of service to realize my blunder. I gave the Palestinian on the bus my seat not because I felt bad for him, though I did. I stood because as a soldier in the IDF it was my duty to defend his human dignity.
These types of small acts, though unfortunately rare, are essential to the IDF's aspiration to be "the most moral army in the world." Many soldiers would disagree with me. I would have disagreed with me, back when I emphasized security over dignity. But I came to believe that wearing the uniform of the IDF meant not only a responsibility to protect Israel, but also to represent Israel's highest ideals. To fight not only the physical threats of terrorism and unfriendly foreign militaries, but to also fight the societal threats of intolerance and disrespect.
The two missions — defense from threats and defending dignity — can be seen as conflicting by the Israeli people. The military often treats threat defense as the whole mission: the predominant value to which defending dignity takes a back seat. I fell into this trap myself, not just in my thinking about Israeli politics, but in my approach to my job. When I began as a combat instructor, I barked my orders until I achieved submission. I offered no respect to those I was working with, and as a result achieved only the most basic objectives.
Eventually, I learned to incorporate respect into my lessons, learning from others while I was teaching them. I treated the people I was instructing as partners, emphasizing our common goal and pursuing it together with them. This way, I was able to change more than a soldier's stance while they shot. I was able to actually educate them, to help them grow, and grew myself in the process.
I saw that my arrogance and bull-headed pursuit of defensive combat service and my discounting other forms of service at the beginning of my enlistment were not only unwarranted, but counterproductive. I limited my scope, which only limited my own fulfillment and sent me spiraling to hopelessness and depression.
It is my hope that both Israeli and Palestinian leadership take this same approach in their dealings with one another. The overwhelming emphasis on security within Israeli society is, broadly speaking, a symptom of the lack of tolerance and the lack of respect for Palestinians by Israeli leadership and the same for Israelis by Palestinian leadership.
Security alone is a short-sighted and short-term solution. In truth, a lasting solution does not and cannot involve perfect protection for both sides. Though many politicians pursue this goal, neither Israelis nor Palestinians will ever be totally safe: as long as each side sees the other as an existential threat, violence is inevitable. A lasting solution must allow Israelis and Palestinians to view one another not as threats and rivals, but as equals, and as partners. For better or worse, their fates are interwoven. Friendship between the two peoples would accomplish more than any military advantage and so the duties of physical defense and defending dignity should be viewed as equal paths to peace, not competing goals. I do not know if such a friendship is possible, but without it, there will never be a lasting peace.
I did not love every minute of my service in the IDF. In fact, there were many dark moments where I saw no joy and no escape. Serving as a volunteer in the IDF was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. I learned humility, and gained a respect for others. Few other experiences would have so clearly shown me my own limitations and faults, both physically and mentally, and I am grateful for that. I was also able to expand my horizons in ways I wouldn't have even thought possible before my enlistment. I will always be American, but am also proud to call myself a veteran of the IDF.
Joseph Lenoff is a legislative assistant for the Georgia State Senate.
First Person is Vox's home for compelling, provocative narrative essays. Do you have a story to share? Read our submission guidelines, and pitch us at firstperson@vox.com.US President Donald Trump has warned Republican lawmakers that voters could punish them if they do not approve a plan he favours to dismantle Obamacare, as pressure grows on him to win the first major legislative battle of his presidency.
In one of the few visits he has made to the US Capitol since taking office, Trump told fellow Republicans in the House of Representatives they would face "political problems" for opposing the bill that takes apart Obamacare and partially replaces it.
His comments were interpreted by lawmakers speaking to reporters as a threat that they would lose their seats in the next elections.
Some conservative lawmakers believe the healthcare bill does not go far enough, while moderate Republicans worry that millions of Americans will be hurt by the dismantling of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, Democratic former president Barack Obama's signature healthcare legislation.
"If we fail to get it done, fail to [meet] the promises made by all of us, including the president, then it could have a very detrimental effect to Republicans in '18 who are running for re-election," said Republican Congressman Mike Conaway. "If it fails, then there will be a lot of people looking for work in 2018."
READ MORE: Trump's crusade against Obamacare - a complicated matter
Party leaders hope to move the bill to the House of Representatives floor for debate as early as Thursday. But the administration and House leadership can afford to lose only about 20 votes from Republican ranks or risk the bill failing since Democrats are united against it.
Republican Congressman Mark Meadows, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said the caucus has decided not to vote as a bloc on the bill, meaning Republican leadership could still win votes from some of the group's roughly three dozen members.
In a tweet, NBC news channel listed 26 House Republicans who have said they cannot support the measure.
NBC News has now ID'ed 26 House GOPers who are opposed/leaning strongly against House health-care bill, per @AlexNBCNews & @LACaldwellDC pic.twitter.com/lksvwOTw3x — Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) March 21, 2017
Repealing and replacing Obamacare was one of Trump's main campaign promises and has been a goal of Republicans since it was enacted.
While Trump predicted that Republicans could face challenges in primary contests ahead of the 2018 midterm elections if they do not gut Obamacare, there is also danger to them in doing so. If the Republican bill is passed, millions of voters might lose their healthcare coverage.
The Congressional Budget Office said last week that 14 million people would forfeit coverage under the House bill over the next year, although that number could change based on the most current version of the legislation.
Republican leaders tweaked the bill this week to try to satisfy critics, mainly from their own party.
Republican chairmen for two key committees said late on Monday they proposed more funding for tax credits, which conservatives have opposed, that would give the Senate flexibility to help older people afford health insurance. Additionally, Obamacare's taxes would be eliminated in 2017 instead of 2018.
The amendments also addressed Medicaid, which is the country's largest health insurance programme and covers about 70 million people, mostly the poor. The changes would allow states to implement work requirements for certain adults, an idea championed by many conservatives, and to decide how they receive federal funds.Today my gift from my Secret Santa came. I almost couldn't wait opening it, but for your sake I showed some restraint and grabbed my camera to document the whole process. What could it be? I had a feeling that it might have something to do with food, even before I opened the package as I had mentioned that I loved good home cooked food. So finally getting to the good stuff I was pleased to see that I was right. Some sweets and cookies, whom my Secret Santa wrote was from his/her local area and some home made beef jerky. Sweet deal. :)
To my Secret Santa: I love your gift. It's great and it's always fun to try out things which are some what out of your normal comfort zone. Tonight I dine on home made jerky and home brewed mead. As for the sweets? Let us see if the kids are getting any of it. ;)The White House says it has not determined the number of interns who will be selected or the curriculum. | Getty White House Trump’s White House seeks new apprentices A Twitter provocateur and a pageant contender are among the prospective White House interns inspired by Trump’s unconventional presidency.
President Donald Trump built a career shaping on-screen apprentices. Now his administration is becoming a magnet for interns who want to be stars.
Traditionally hailed as a path to public-sector employment, the White House Internship Program is drawing young applicants with media, entertainment and business bragging rights fit to serve a former reality television mogul.
Story Continued Below
“I appreciate a man who can speak his mind,” said Auburn University senior Anna Kelly, a political science major and beauty pageant contestant seeking one of the unpaid intern slots working for Trump, a onetime owner of the Miss Universe contest.
A Virginia native who has volunteered for Republicans for the past five years, Kelly says she’s eager to defend Trump from attacks in the press. “I think a lot of the coverage of this administration has been very biased and very unfair,” she said. “My ultimate lifetime dream job would be to be press secretary, especially to learn from someone like Sean Spicer.”
The initial application deadline on Friday night spurred a flurry of action from prospective candidates trying to stand out from the crowd and become the first intern class in the Trump White House, for the summer term from May 30 to Aug. 11. Along with a résumé and letters of recommendation, applicants were asked to submit essays demonstrating an interest in working for the Trump administration and a commitment to public service.
The Trump White House’s application added a field that didn’t exist when President Barack Obama adopted the program: social media details.
Josh Hall, an incoming freshman at Harrisburg Area Community College, hoped the White House would notice that his tweets condemning the media mimic the president’s own style. “I started my Twitter as a political account six months ago. I have like 12,000 subscribers,” he said.
“I’d maybe be able to shed a lot of light on the bias that happens within the media,” Hall added. “I try and do that a lot of the time with my Twitter.”
One of Hall’s recent tweets: “The fact of the matter is #Manafort's Russian ties from YEARS AGO had no influence on the campaign or the election. This is FAKE NEWS!”
A fan of alt-right media darling Milo Yiannopoulos, Hall said he likes Trump because “he sounds like your average American.”
“He can be offensive at times,” Hall said. “There are things he says that I think go too far. But your average Americans do say kind of offensive things.”
Amy Dai, who’s studying business administration and cinematic arts at the University of Southern California, wants a White House internship even though she was an informal “Never Trump” libertarian. The appeal: a president who knows how to use the press.
Breaking News Alerts Get breaking news when it happens — in your inbox. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time.
“He really knew how to leverage media, getting all that ad time for free,” says Dai, who has racked up media internships at Turner Broadcasting, NBC Universal and Disney ABC. “I love complaining on Twitter and usually I get my voice heard,” she said. “All the things I wouldn’t actually say in real life, I just post on Twitter.”
Josh Hall, an incoming freshman at Harrisburg Area Community College, shows his support for Donald Trump for president on June 30, 2016, near Harrisburg, Pa. | Photo courtesy of Josh Hall
But one piece of her background may trigger alarms: Her side job in college hawking newspapers. “I’m a campus representative for The New York Times, which Donald Trump has said is fake news,” she said of her involvement promoting the paper through a collegiate marketing program.
Still, she sees the appeal of working in an administration rocked by controversy since its start. “It sets you up for every type of office environment,” Dai said. “Nothing would be as extreme as a Trump White House.”
The White House says it has not determined the number of interns who will be selected or the curriculum. “We are looking for applicants who are interested in learning about how government works and the importance of public service,” a spokesperson said.
The interns, who are considered government volunteers, will be assigned to a variety of departments, including those with key staff openings, the administration says.
The federal hiring freeze will not affect the program because interns are unpaid. And the summer class might get more work than usual in an administration that has yet to announce nominations for 489 of its top 553 posts requiring Senate confirmation, according to the most recent data from the Partnership for Public Service.
Christian Peele, who was promoted to run the Obama administration’s White House Internship Program for two years after interning herself, said it can be retooled to fit a president’s agenda. “It doesn’t have to be any one thing. You can shape it as a little extra workforce.”
Candidates who planned to apply as interns this year were touting qualifications that could make them a strong match with Trump’s background and useful to the White House staff.
“Having a business degree along with a political science degree would look more favorable,” said John McCracken, a senior at Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama. “I’d be able to distinguish myself better under a Trump administration.”
McCracken, who said he has supported Trump since the day he announced his candidacy, is fixated on the media but for a different reason from the president: It’s “always been my dream to go into journalism,” he says. He hopes to meet the White House press corps on the job.
George Mason University junior Yasser Aburdene is also working his business credentials. “I believe the administration will want more business and accounting or economics majors,” he said, pointing to his ongoing work with Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group for which he interned.
But Aburdene worries about standing out for a different reason: His grandparents are from the Middle East and he’s an immigrant who moved to the United States from Bolivia five years ago. “For me, for minorities, I think it will be more challenging to get in, just to be an intern,” he said. “I’m Hispanic with a Middle Eastern name. That’s the first challenge."It was a good year for picnickers, but a bad one for sea swimmers: in the National Trust’s annual survey of how the weather and climate has affected Britain’s flora and fauna, jellyfish were judged to have flourished while wasps suffered a sharp decline.
A sunny winter was followed by a late spring, which meant summer migrant birds were late, as were the leaves on the hedges. A pretty wet and windy summer followed, but September and October came good, leading to prolonged flowering for many summer plants and a longer season for insects.
As so often in recent winters, violent storms – including Storm Desmond at the beginning of December – wreaked havoc on human infrastructure, but it is too early to assess the possible long-term damage to plants and wildlife.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bracket fungi on a tree at Lydford Gorge, Devon. It was a disappointing autumn for fungi enthusiasts. Photograph: John Millar/National Trust
Matthew Oates, a National Trust nature and wildlife specialist, said he was most struck by the proliferation of jellyfish and the paucity of wasps. “We’ve seen unprecedented jellyfish invasions,” he said. “This may be due to overfishing and warming seas, which has led to huge plankton booms and reduced the number of predators.”
The 'jellyfish invasion' story one newspaper didn't want you to read | Steve Backshall Read more
Some believe the idea of a jellyfish invasion is a media-driven “silly season” story. At the height of summer, naturalist Steve Backshall argued in the Guardian that it was not uncommon for “smacks” or “blooms” of jellyfish to become stranded on British shores. He also pointed out that the barrel jellyfish that appeared this summer only had a mild nettle-like sting.
More disturbingly, there was hardly a wasp to be seen this summer. “Wasps had another poor year, particularly in the south-west,” Oates said. “This represents a wider decline in our insect populations, thought to be a result of confounding weather alongside the possible effects of pesticides used in farming.
“We need to ask what’s happening to our wasps. Many might welcome their dwindling numbers, but the ecological world is a delicate one, and with our two species of common wasps incredibly scarce in many districts for the second consecutive year, we have to ask what impact this is having.”
The survey made a number of cheerful discoveries, including the appearance of the red-shanked carder bee at Birling Gap in Sussex, which is now part of a conservation management plan. The long-tailed blue butterfly, an extremely rare migrant, returned to the south-east, breeding again on the white cliffs of Dover.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Long-tailed blue butterfly. Photograph: Matthew Oates/National Trust
The good news
Conservation projects in places such as Malham Tarn and Upper Wharfedale in North Yorkshire helped the barn owl population flourish.
There were spectacular appearances of barrel jellyfish, particularly around the south-west of England and Wales. As climate change causes sea temperatures to rise and plankton blooms become bigger and last longer, there are likely to be more jellyfish appearing even further north.
A lack of stormy weather or frosts in early autumn ensured it was a fantastic year for autumn tints and produced a superb apple crop.
The elegant seabird the little tern enjoyed its best year on Blakeney Point in Norfolk since 2011.
There was another record-breaking year for breeding guillemots on the Farne Islands off Northumberland.
BBC Springwatch enthusiasts noted a huge increase in goldfinches in gardens.
The not so good newsSeason four of FX's superb spy-marital drama — one of the very best shows on TV — amps up the tension and starts plotting an endgame.
It’s a good thing that viewers can’t immediately binge-watch FX’s The Americans, arguably the best ongoing series on television, because there are moments in the first four episodes where it feels like there’s a vice tightening on your chest. And there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for that feeling: The first four episodes (that’s how many were made available to critics) are among the best the series has ever done.
It’s quite a start to the fourth season and, no doubt, the seasonal trumpeting (and grumping) by critics about how not enough people are watching this show, or how in the world the Emmys could be ignoring it, will begin again in earnest. And while it’s true those phenomena are annoying, the brilliance of the achievement is the only reward The Americans really needs.
When the show ends — and current guesses are after a fifth or possibly sixth season — it will have a well-earned legacy (and of course FX should continue to get plaudits for keeping it on the air, despite the Emmy snubs, since awards recognition usually fuels a channel’s loyalty to a gem with low ratings).
The heart-pounding (and wounding) elements in play for season four suggest an impending end to the story. That there’s a heightened, body-tightening sense of pace even in the first four of the 13 episodes hints that The Americans can see that end and is not afraid to race toward the fallout of its high-stakes spy game. That’s what great series do. They don’t worry about lasting forever; they worry about telling the story as it was meant to be told.
It will be interesting to see what creator-writer-executive producer Joe Weisberg and executive producer-writer Joel Fields do for the rest of the season, but if the first four episodes are any indication, they fear not where they go. And if you’re looking to handicap what might happen going forward, major revelations and perhaps a cliff-hanger in this season would open the door to season five dealing with the emotional toll of all that's come before. It’s hard to imagine, at this pace, that a sixth season would even be helpful or necessary.
Season four picks up where, arguably, it fumbled the third-season finale. While we had the ongoing marital and spy-devotion struggle between Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip (Matthew Rhys) — and for that matter the dissolution of FBI neighbor Stan (Noah Emmerich) and wife Sandra (Susan Misner) -— there was no resolution for the major bombshell in the penultimate episode about Martha (Alison Wright) finding out she didn’t marry the man she thought she did (in fact, Martha wasn’t even in the finale, nor was Kimmy, whose storyline was dropped completely).
Martha’s situation is complicated in that Philip is getting excellent access to FBI secrets and so killing her is not the first option — even though Philip knows Stan is snooping around (and you can bet he’ll continue to do so this season). Yes, the choice to leave Martha out of last season’s finale seemed a bad one, as Weisberg and Fields instead serviced the big reveal that was daughter Paige (Holly Taylor) being told by her American parents that they’re really Russian spies (and Paige in turn doing the one thing she couldn’t do, which was to tell that to Pastor Tim).
But what season three did very well was get even more granular than past seasons as it explored what it means to be arranged-marriage spies struggling with conflicting emotions, and what it meant to be loving parents to two American kids, one of whom was going to figure out any day what was going on.
The Americans has always worked on those separate planes: that of the spy world and that of the marriage/parent world — it’s the magic combination that elevated the series from a good idea on paper to a great idea onscreen. Anyone who watched The Americans last season no doubt thought, “Oh my God, you can’t tell Paige” while also realizing that as both parents and spies they absolutely had to tell her.
That tension — and it was never more intense than in the finale — is only part of what coils and uncoils and reverberates in season four.
What Weisberg and Fields planted in the first season — that Philip is less invested than Elizabeth in the spy game, partly because his jadedness about what they do is coupled with a begrudging appreciation of life in America, as well as his desire to never let the kids do what he does — has driven each season and culminated perfectly in the EST movement. More shockingly, a major plotline in season four — biochemicals — could nudge Elizabeth in the same direction, especially as Paige’s situation threatens the Jennings like never before.
That stake-raising — the fact that Elizabeth can’t deny the fact “we’re in trouble” — is a fantastic one to explore because The Americans has always made her harder than Philip; she's frequently the one who has to explain to her handlers (the fantastic duo of Frank Langella as Gabriel and Margo Martindale as Claudia) why Philip is pushing back against Moscow.
The Americans has always wanted its characters to think about consequences, always wanted the mundane world of cooking dinner or walking around town to smack up against the spy conceit; it has always been deft at contrasting what a person does on the surface and the secrets and lies beneath. Imagine, then, what it will have to work with now that events are not turning out as expected for Elizabeth and Philip at home and at work.
One intriguing narrative strand in this new season is the hunt for bio secrets and how that’s paying off dramatically inside the Russian Rezidentura, but especially in the expanded role that Dylan Baker will have as an American scientist who’s been aiding the Russians for years. Baker is excellent. And when you look at what this series does with actors like Langella and Martindale, and now Baker, it's no wonder why they are kept around. The acting, across the board, is remarkable.
And if the whole Kimmy storyline seemed like an unnecessary det |
5 sets of 8 reps, and then go eat a well-deserved post-workout feast. But something funny happened after the first set...instant hamstring DOMS (muscle soreness).
In fact, the soreness was so immediate and painful that I had to shut down my leg workout. I was completely done for the day. Walking to the barbell was painful, and crawling upstairs from my basement gym was a test of will.
It was at this point, after one meager set, that I knew I had stumbled upon an important squat variation.
You might be thinking that my muscle soreness was no big deal. Nothing could be further from the truth. I've been squatting for nearly 28 years, and have spent the last 3 years closing in on a 700 pound raw squat.
I never get leg soreness anymore. Not from low rep heavy sets, and not from 5x5 protocols or 10-12 rep sets. In fact, these days it's hard for me to make any muscle sore. So when one set of paused squats sent me scurrying for a wheelchair, I knew it was time to take this squat variation seriously.
So now that you have been introduced to this potent exercise variation, let's talk about form and programming.
Paused Squats Form & Tips
When performing paused squats there are 2 important things to remember:
Pause Duration - When in the hole there is no need to pause for an extended period of time. A simple one-thousand-one count will suffice. I do not recommend pausing longer than this.
With that said, if you've just spent the last several months using paused squats and want to experiment with a slightly longer pause, have at it. I can't say that an extended pause is as important as progressing in weight with paused squats, but it may be worth a try.
Stay Tight - It is essential that you remain tight in the hole. This will require concentration and practice. Getting loose in the hole can lead to lower back rounding and falling forward during the concentric aspect of the squat.
Keep your upper and lower body tight. Maintain a death grip on the bar, and make sure your upper back and arms do not get loose.
How to Use Pause Squats
The following are general recommendations. You can really use paused squats anyway you'd like. My main advice is to ease into them. Take a few workouts to practice paused squats with a slightly lighter than normal weight, and start progressing when you feel comfortable with the mechanics and your form.
Paused squats and full body workouts
I typically only structure 2 squat workouts per week when using a fullbody approach. Here is a sample schedule:
Monday - Paused squats, 3-4 sets x 6-8 reps
- Paused squats, 3-4 sets x 6-8 reps Wednesday - Deadlifts, no squats this day
- Deadlifts, no squats this day Friday - Regular squats, 3-4 sets of 6-10 reps
Paused squats on Monday will work best. You will have 3 complete days of rest and recovery before your next squat session. Start with only 2 sets of paused squats for a few weeks, and then eventually add a third. The fourth set is optional, and only recommended for trainees with good recovery abilities.
Paused squats and upper/lower muscle building workouts
If you are strictly looking to build muscle, and working with conventional hypertrophy rep ranges, I suggest the following upper/lower schedule:
Monday - Paused squats, 3-4 sets x 6-8 reps (Lower body day)
- Paused squats, 3-4 sets x 6-8 reps (Lower body day) Tuesday - Upper body day
- Upper body day Friday - Regular squats, 3-4 sets of 6-10 reps, or 20 rep squats if you are a glutton for punishment (Lower body day)
- Regular squats, 3-4 sets of 6-10 reps, or 20 rep squats if you are a glutton for punishment (Lower body day) Saturday - Upper body day
Paused squats and upper/lower powerbuilding workouts
If you are an intermediate lifter who is looking to build both strength and size, I suggest the following upper/lower schedule:
Monday - Paused squats, 3-4 sets x 6-8 reps (Lower body day)
- Paused squats, 3-4 sets x 6-8 reps (Lower body day) Tuesday - Upper body day
- Upper body day Friday - Heavy squats using your pre-existing structure (Lower body day)
- Heavy squats using your pre-existing structure (Lower body day) Saturday - Upper body day
Paused squats and muscle building split workouts
If you are training legs once a week, here is a sample workout you could do using paused squats that will hammer your legs:
Squats - 2 sets of 5 reps, heavy work
- 2 sets of 5 reps, heavy work Paused Squats - 3 sets of 6-8 reps
- 3 sets of 6-8 reps 20 Rep Squats - 1 set of 20 reps
Leg Press - 4 sets of 15-20 reps
- 4 sets of 15-20 reps Hack Squats - 3 sets x 8-12 reps
- 3 sets x 8-12 reps Stiff Leg Deadlifts - 3x4 sets x 6-12 reps
- 3x4 sets x 6-12 reps Leg Curls - 4-5 sets x 10-15 reps
- 4-5 sets x 10-15 reps Seated Calf Raise - 5 sets x 10-15 reps
Paused squats and strength building training splits
If you are training squats once a week, here is a sample workout you could do using paused squats that will help enhance your strength building workouts:
Squats - 4 sets x 2-3 reps, heavy work
- 4 sets x 2-3 reps, heavy work Paused Squats - 4 sets x 6-8 reps
- 4 sets x 6-8 reps Romanian Deadlifts or Glute Ham Raise - 3-5 sets x 6-8 reps/8-12 reps
- 3-5 sets x 6-8 reps/8-12 reps Abdominal Work - Ab wheel rollouts, planks or cable crunches, 5 sets
You may choose to alternate between paused squats and leg presses for quad power, or between paused squats and speed squats.
Final Notes
If you give paused squats a try, please let me know in the comments section below.
As with all things, lifters tend to think "more is better." If you decide to give paused squats a run, focus on adding weight whenever possible instead of adding volume. If you can get brutally strong on paused squats I guarantee they will help build quad size and assist your one rep max strength.
It should be noted that I have never tried the combination of paused squats with a wide stance. If you are a wide stance squatter, it might be worth your time to bring your stance in and use a conventional squatting style for paused squats. Make those quads work.We've been on a mission over the last six months - to fully get to grips with the importance of the CPU in a gaming PC and that's involved benchmarking the lion's share of the processors on the market today, including a decent, representative proportion of the new Skylake line from Intel. On top of that, we've been road-testing various CPUs with each new major PC launch in an effort to understand where the sweet-spot lies in terms of price vs performance.
Having now covered two, four, six and eight-core processors from both Intel and AMD, we now feel ready to offer our recommendations for the best gaming hardware available in a range of pricing categories, with tests from CPUs costing as little as £50 all the way up to £800. Our combined results are found in this piece, and we'll be looking to update it as and when new hardware arrives.
The current state-of-the art is Intel's Skylake platform, but its successor - Kaby Lake - arrives later this year, but perhaps more exciting is AMD's return to the performance CPU sector with the upcoming debut of its Zen architecture, which we expect to see in the second half of the year. Also due is Broadwell-E - an update to Intel's top-of-the-line enthusiast platform.
So fingers crossed that we'll see a return to some plurality in the PC processor market, but in the meantime, the chances are that if you're considering a CPU upgrade you may well be running an older Intel platform - perhaps the Sandy Bridge 2500K. In which case, the video below - and its accompanying article - may prove quite interesting!
Can the Core i5 2500K still cut it, five years on from release? Rich presents this data-rich deep dive covering a range of games. Maybe it's time to consider a new Skylake build?
Now, it's fair to say that it is the graphics card that is the most upgraded element of a gaming PC - and we've got you covered there - but for the purposes of this piece, the focus shifts to the CPU and its job in powering gameplay. The sweet-spot in terms of price vs performance rests with Intel's Core i5 line, but each market sector has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Here's how we've divided up this guide:
So - what is the job of the CPU and why is it so important to gaming? Essentially, the processor works through the game logic and also prepares all the instructions for rendering the next frame to the graphics card. In effect, as you raise quality settings, generally the amount of 'things to draw' increases, which means more work for the CPU. With the move to new generation of consoles, the strain on the CPU has increased a lot with the move to more detailed environments and more realistic world simulation, to the point where it's not particularly difficult to max out a modern i3 dual-core chip or even an older quad.
How can you tell if your CPU is reaching its limits? We recommend downloading MSI Afterburner and accessing its settings. In there, you'll find the option to set up the on-screen display to measure load on each of your CPU cores. To see how easy it is to max out those cores, ramp up settings in GTA 5 or Assassin's Creed Unity, or set up a Project Cars race with the maximum allowable vehicles. Perhaps take a visit to Rise of the Tomb Raider's Village stage, or simply boot up Crysis 3 and play through the Welcome to the Jungle level.
There's a delicate balance of potential bottlenecks in any given gaming PC and while the graphics card is the primary limiting factor generally, the worst examples of hitching and stuttering do tend to occur when you are CPU-bound.
In choosing an upgrade a number of decisions need to be made:
Can your current system move up to a faster chip like a Core i5 or i7 processor? Remember to check your board's CPU support before buying any upgrade.
Can your motherboard handle overclocking?
Can your board also support faster memory?
In the example of the Core i5 2500K above, we can overclock and swap in faster memory and bring the system back up to the standards required for modern gaming. Or we can push on and upgrade with a more capable Core i7 processor.
This guide is meant for those considering a more radical option - buying from scratch and constructing a whole new PC. We hope you find it useful.While Americans are suffering in the Obama economy, President Barack Obama is seeking to increase the money available to him after he leaves the White House.
The Congressional Research Service reports that for requests for both 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, Obama’s proposed federal budget would expand funding through the Former Presidents Act. In 2017 alone, Obama wants nearly an 18% hike in expenditures… $588,000. That means $3.865,000 in appropriations will be available to spend on former Presidents!
More from The Political Insider
The 2016 proposed budget includes an additional $25,000 increase.
The Former Presidents Act, enacted in 1958, provides living former presidents with a pension, office staff and support, funds for travel, Secret Service protection, and mailing privileges. It also provides benefits for presidential spouses. Currently, former presidents are awarded a pension equal to the salary of cabinet secretaries, which totaled $203,700 for the 2015 calendar year and was boosted by $2,000 for the current calendar year. Critics of the act argue that it financially supports former presidents who are not struggling. Many of them, alternatively, have gone on to profit from writing books about their time in the White House or delivering paid speaking engagements. Former President Bill Clinton, for example, earned $132 million for delivering paid speeches between February 2001 and March 2015, according to an analysis from CNN. Clinton received $924,000 in taxpayer dollars last year by way of the Former Presidents Act. Republicans in the House and Senate have introduced legislation that would cap annual pensions for former presidents at $200,000. Additionally, the bills would cut each pension by a dollar for every dollar the former president earns over $400,000 in the private sector in a given year. The measure was approved by the House in January with bipartisan support. “It’s pretty simple. You want a retirement and pension, it’s there. But if you’re going to go out and make enormous sums of money, then you don’t need taxpayer subsidies,” Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R., Utah), who introduced the bill in the House, told ABC News in an interview. “The former presidents are making gobs of money speaking and writing books, more power to them, but that doesn’t mean they need more taxpayer dollars on top of that,” Chaffetz added. “It’s embarrassing that they take that money.”
Now watch this:
Via Free Beacon
Read this Next on ThePoliticalInsider.com Barack Obama Slams Hip-Hop Community, Explains What It Means to Be a Real Man
What do you think about Obama proposing a massive raise for himself for his post-White House years? Please leave us a comment (below) and tell us!Like Madonna and Prince, Emilio Navaira was known to his legion fans by just one name.
Over a career that spanned several decades, he performed both Country and Tejano music. Indeed, Emilio was sometimes called the “Garth Brooks of Tejano”.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the 53-year-old had died after suffering a massive heart attack.
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view. From 15p €0.18 $0.18 $0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.
After reaching popularity in the 1990s, Navaira won a Grammy for best Tejano album in 2002.
Among his hits were Tu Robaste Mi Corazon, which he sang with fellow artist Selena, and the English-language It’s Not the End of the World.
Fellow artists and fans paid tribute to the the San Antonio native that many called a legend.
In 2008 he suffered severe brain injuries after crashing his tour bus while driving drunk in Houston.
In recent years he had begun touring again, and was nominated for a Latin Grammy for best Norteño album in 2013.
NBC said that a neighbour who lived across the street from Mr Navaira in San Antonio said he spoke with his wife, shortly after she found him lying unresponsive on the floor in their home.
“He moved across the street from me about a year ago and just recently started working on his health,” said man, who did not wish to be named.
“Every day he rode his bike trying to get back into shape. He was such a nice guy, and neighbour, too.”
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 nowPick Club Player Note
2 (Borg) Carlos Alvarez, University of Connecticut
3 (Doyle) Kyle Bekker, Boston College Acquired from Portland Timbers as part of the Ryan Johnson/Milos Kocic trade (Dec 12, 2012)
4 (Doyle) Walker Zimmerman, Furman Acquired from New England Revolution in trade (Jan 16, 2013)
5 (Saghini) Eriq Zavaleta, Indiana Acquired from the Philadelphia Union as part of the deal to sign Bakary Soumare (Jan 26, 2012)
6 (Borg) Mikey Lopez, North Carolina
7 (Doyle) Erik Hurtado, Santa Clara
8 (Saghini) Blake Smith, New Mexico
9 (Borg) Deshorn Brown, University of Central Florida
10 (Saghini) Dillon Powers, Notre Dame
11 (Borg) Jason Johnson, Virginia Commonwealth Acquired from Chicago in trade for midfielder Jeff Larentowicz (Jan 16, 2013)
12 (Doyle) Ryan Finley, Notre Dame
14 (Borg) Donnie Smith, Charlotte
15 (Doyle) Dylan Tucker-Gagnes, Washington
16 (Borg) Emery Welshman, Oregon State
17 (Doyle) Jimmy Nealis, Georgetown
18 (Saghini) Ashton Bennett, Coastal Carolina Aquired from Houston Dynamo as part of the trade for Brian Ching (Feb 16, 2012).What’s the difference between a “package” and a “module”? Though modules have evolved beyond their low-level origins into richly composable, type-based abstractions, packages are largely stuck in a Linux-like land of version ranges and imprecise specifications.
How can we bring packages up to speed with contemporary module systems? For my first big project, I’m investigating this question in the context of GHC Haskell and its package management system, Hackage/Cabal.
* * *
Derek Dreyer (my advisor) and I, in collaboration with GHC gurus Simon Peyton Jones and Simon Marlow, are designing a new “package language” for Haskell in the style of the ML module system. More specifically, we’re starting with Dreyer and Rossberg’s system of mixin modules, MixML,1 as the basis for the language. As mixin modules, packages consist of arbitrary collections of module specifications and module implementations.
With this language we aim to achieve the following:
1) To formalize the notion of a package as Haskell’s unit of distribution.
We’re leaving Haskell’s notion of module largely untouched (with the exception of our module signatures). Instead, all the moduley stuff like abstraction (think functors), linking (think functor application), and hierarchical composition happen at the package level.
In ML type abstraction constitutes a core motivation of the design of the module system, and a core point of frustration for a plethora of type systems for modules. Though Haskell has much weaker support for type abstraction – based on namespace management like hiding – we must still carefully manage the instantiations of modules and, subsequently, their (data) types.
2) To formalize the notion of a package as a program’s module context.
When you invoke `ghc` on a Haskell source file, the compiler needs to make sense of those modules you’re importing. Usually, with the `–make` flag, GHC determines the packages that contain those modules automatically and loads them into the context; in the general case, however, the user must add `-package P` to load `P` into the context.2 This often works without a hitch, but it also relies heavily on the common (yet brittle) assumption that packages generally don’t define modules with the same name – i.e. that developers generally define globally unique module names in their packages.
Instead, our language offers a precise means by which programmers (or more likely, automated tools) define the context of modules under which programs should be understood. We are (currently) designing the type system for our packages with an elaboration semantics, wherein a package is translated into an internal language that is, essentially, readily understood by GHC.
3) To introduce proper abstraction of dependencies in packages.
Packages in Hackage currently look a lot like those you might find in, say, Linux’s APT: a package has a name, a version number, and a list of dependencies, where dependencies are defined as `name version-constraints`. Why should a type-happy language like Haskell rely on the same old notion of dependency as multilingual/typeless package systems?
Rather than depending on the informal interface `foolib >= 1.2.0 && < 2`, a package developer should depend on an exact interface for `foolib` that describes its modules’ contents: data types, functions, type classes, etc. After all, it’s (usually) not the case that this developer actually cares about which particular version is linked – she just needs that code to exist and do what it’s supposed to.3
Thus we must offer a way to define interfaces, which are essentially packages that define module signatures instead of module (implementations). What’s a module signature? Essentially it already exists in GHC as a “boot file” used for recursive imports. (Thanks to our formulation of packages as mixin modules, our language will natively and naturally support recursive dependency within packages and between packages.)
Another benefit of proper type-based dependencies lies in the package development process. Currently a developer tests the compilation of her package against whichever concrete instantiations of dependencies that exist on her machine. Another such instantiation, allowed by her dependencies’ version constraints, might lead to unforeseen type/compilation errors. With our language this is no longer an issue because each dependency describes either a precise implementation/version, a precise (typed) interface, or some combination thereof.
4) To solve some of the problems that developers currently face with Hackage.
Version-range dependencies shoehorn Haskell package authors into choosing between type safety and evolvability of their packages. If an author omits an upper bound on a dependency’s version, then she risks installation of her package by users against a version of that dependency that no longer offers the expected definitions at their expected types. But if she does write an upper bound, then she’s artificially limiting the utility of her own package in case that depended-upon package evolves much faster than hers.
The Haskell community has coalesced around an informal (i.e. not mechanically enforced) “package versioning policy” (PVP) to help with this sort of problem. The PVP dictates how version numbers should be incremented; effectively this allows developers to rely on the version numbers themselves as some approximation of a type or interface.
Another problem developers face is the inability to “privately” depend on another package for implementation reasons, such as a particular QuickCheck API. This is often needed so that Cabal’s dependency resolution doesn’t require that all such dependencies across packages are compiled against the same version number. Our package language allows this sort of dependency easily due to its emphasis on types and interfaces.
* * *
In future blog posts I’ll talk more about various aspects of the design. Something I’ve deliberately shelved for the foreseeable future is the redesign of the Cabal part of Hackage; i.e., the user-facing tool that offers all the nice, implicit behavior of packages like choosing implementations to install. Stay tuned for more!
1 Derek Dreyer and Andreas Rossberg. “Mixin’ Up the ML Module System,” ICFP'08. (pdf)
2 See Section 4.9 of the GHC user’s guide.
3 Granted, what it’s “supposed to do” might actually change between versions. In a later post I’ll talk about structural vs. “nominal” signature matching for packages.Police today moved to reassure visitors to London after a masked gang armed with guns, knives and hammers raided an Arab couple’s holiday flat in the capital’s centre.
The terrifying gunpoint raid in which the pair and a friend were robbed of £2,000 in cash, mobile phones, passports and jewellery comes just two weeks after three sisters from the United Arab Emirates were beaten unconscious in a hotel room attack.
The two attacks have raised fears that gangs are targeting wealthy Middle Eastern tourists in London and prompted thousands of people from the UAE to tweet the #London_is_not_safe hashtag on Twitter.
The hashtag has more than 3,500 tweets, with one commenting: “Now No to London & yes to Paris or Rome.”
One of the most widely shared images was a picture of Dubai’s skyline and a hammer with the words: “Dubai’s heat is better than London’s hammer.”
A senior Scotland Yard officer today sought to play down the concerns, while detectives are understood to be investigating the possibility the couple’s flat was mistaken for a vice den.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: “This was obviously frightening for those involved but I wish to reassure visitors that they will be safe in London. We acknowledge the tragic coincidence of two serious violent attacks against residents of UAE in London and the concern these are bound to cause but there is no reason to suggest they are linked.” He said the couple were not targeted because of their nationality.
Victim Ali Al Tamimi, 51, today said he and his wife, 47, had been staying at an apartment in Westbourne Gardens, Paddington, with a friend when their intercom rang at 1am on Tuesday.
He told Dubai TV: “I picked up but no one answered — then we heard a loud sound like an explosion.
“I rushed to check and saw the main door to the apartment wide open and a man holding a knife coming at us. I tried to close a door but he pushed us back. Four or five other men rushed in carrying knives, hammers and guns.
“I managed to evade two stabs and also managed to unmask one of them. His colleague started yelling at him to shoot me because I saw his face.
“Then I heard, “Shoot him, hit him’. But the man hesitated. What saved us was the sound of an ambulance siren.”
A neighbour alerted by screams dialled 999 and police arrived within minutes but the gang, all described as black and wearing masks, had fled.
Four people have been charged over the hammer attack a fortnight ago at the Cumberland Hotel, less than a mile away, in which Khulood Al Najjar, 36, lost her left eye and has been left with just five per cent of brain function.After reviewing our extensive officiating database, we have found no data that suggests Jeremy Lin is disadvantaged by our officiating staff. NBA referees use a set of criteria (available here) provided by the league office in determining whether a foul should be called flagrant. Following the game, contact that is deemed flagrant by referees and other hard contact (whether called or not) is reviewed by NBA Basketball Operations. As part of that review, Basketball Operations uses that same set of criteria, multiple video angles and enhancements, and its comparable database to calibrate its judgment. When deemed appropriate, a foul can be upgraded or downgraded and applicable penalties can be assessed. While some of the plays in the video involved hard contact, none was subsequently deemed a Flagrant Foul given the full circumstances, angles and comparables from past games.
With respect to the data, over the last three seasons, Mr. Lin ranked 21st among all players in number of drives to the basket with 1,537. While he has not drawn a flagrant foul in that time, neither have other guards known for their driving ability like Reggie Jackson (2,031 drives), Tony Parker (1,974), Tyreke Evans (1,969), Ty Lawson (1,891), Kyrie Irving (1,649) or Victor Oladipo (1,544). Conversely, Mr. Lin has drawn more common fouls on those drives than any of those previously listed players and has drawn fouls at the seventh-highest rate among the 23 players with more than 1,500 drives.
Furthermore, given the infrequency of flagrant fouls (roughly 1 per every 500 foul calls), it is not statistically significant that none of Mr. Lin’s 814 fouls drawn were deemed flagrant.Judge Ann Marie Donnelly in New York has granted an emergency national stay, freezing the executive order that President Donald J. Trump signed into action Friday afternoon.
Judge Donnelly “The stay is granted!” — Jackie Vimo (@JackieVimo) January 29, 2017
BREAKING: ACLU wins emergency, national stay of Trump’s refugee ban https://t.co/UqA1caSzxi — CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) January 29, 2017
The American Civil Liberties Union has been fighting on behalf of the detainees who have been held at New York City’s JFK Airport since Trump’s executive order suspended immigration for citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Libya.
This means that none of the passengers who arrived in the United States from those countries currently being held can be legally sent back to their countries of origin, but it is unclear if they can be released. Cheers erupted through JFK’s Terminal 4 minutes ago when news of the emergency stay made it way to the gathered crowd of protestors. The ACLU said, “Stay granted, stay is national, we won.”
Stay covers all those who were in transit and are being detained at airports. Important first win–thank you @ACLU attorneys! #NoBanNoWall — ACLU of Ohio (@acluohio) January 29, 2017
Clarification:Stay covers the airport detainees and those currently in transit. Doesn’t change ban going forward. Prev unclear tweet deleted — Jessica Huseman (@JessicaHuseman) January 29, 2017
Despite the celebrations by the ACLU over the swift reversal, the Trump administration will still have the opportunity to sign further executive action as the next steps in the saga. MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber cautioned that the stay is simply a temporary development, saying, “…the first blowback to his cascade of executive action,” but noted that, “it will have some constraint on what [President Trump is] trying to do.”
CNN’s Jim Sciutto further points out that the stay is exactly that — a stay for those who are already here, indicating there will be a, “Massive court fight to come.”
To be clear, this stay is temporary and only applies to those already here in US or in transit. Massive court fight to come. #travelban — Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 29, 2017
This information is developing and we will update as we know more.
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.comclick to enlarge Photo courtesy of Michael Powers.
Farotto's Pasta and Pizzeria is one of the participating pizza vendors at the first-ever STL Square Off.
You may have heard the announcement earlier this month about the STL Square Off, the city's first-ever St. Louis-style pizza festival, which is scheduled for Berra Parkfrom noon to 5 p.m. on October 8. You may even recall that it will feature eight local pizza purveyors, each of them bringing their own take on St. Louis-style pizza — cracker-thin crust, Provel topping and all — to compete for the title of "Best St. Louis-Style Pizza."But what you may not know is that the festival is not about pizza. Or, at least, that it's about more than just pizza.That's according to co-founder Michael Powers. Powers, who has had a hand in numerous St. Louis area events, including the creation of Tower Grove Pride, explains that celebrating St. Louis' unique pizza is just part of the idea behind the festival. It's also an opportunity to bring St. Louisans together, celebrate their contributions and tell the city's story.The concept started with Matthew Mourning, Powers' partner, who loves St. Louis-style pizza and originally came up with the idea for a festival devoted to it. The two were further inspired thinking back to time they'd spent in New Orleans, noting how proud the locals were of everything that made their city unique. Along with co-founders Jim Barnthouse and Rick Ruderer, Powers now hopes to bring that same community and pride to the STL Square Off."When you see it, you know it," Powers says of St. Louis' famous pizza. "And we should celebrate it."A big way the team is looking to do that is in their search for participating pizza companies. Rather than simply filling the list with well-known spots, they're looking for contestants from all around the area so people can try new pizza, meet the people behind it and learn more about all the different neighborhoods they come from. So far, Dogtown Pizza and Farotto’s Pasta and Pizzeria have been announced as participants; the other six will be announced on the STL Square Off Facebook page one by one in the weeks prior to the event.The STL Square Off is also working to feature a wide variety of local retailers — more than 50 of them — as well as live music, lawn games, kids activities and other St. Louis food favorites like gooey butter cake and toasted ravioli.With a $25 ticket, festival goers will get admission, a square of each participating pizza company's pizza, and a choice between a sixteen-ounce beer from 4Hands, a glass of wine or a soft drink. A vegetarian ticket, also $25, will guarantee you pizza sans meat. Each attendee will also get a ballot to nominate their favorite of the eight pizzas. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket will go to Hill 2000, the neighborhood's nonprofit neighborhood association.Powers anticipates this to be just the beginning of the STL Square Off. He's aiming to grow the festival in the future, including adding more participating pizza vendors.Says Powers, "I'm hopeful it will be a hit."You can keep up on the latest about the STL Square Off, including ticket information and announcements of the remaining contestants, on the event's Facebook page.With just a few days left of 2017, I wanted to write about an important issue that has occurred in the book blogging community. After immense support from my closest blogging friends and what feels like the entire book blogging community, I’ve gathered the courage to speak out for the safety of our community.
Thank you to so much to everyone who has offered me support in the past few days, it meant a lot to me, and tears were rolling down my face when I saw all of your messages.
When an author goes too far
Over the past few days, I received a threat from an author due to changing my thoughts on the review of her debut novel, The Harper Effect, and writing a “damning one” here. My original thoughts on the book didn’t raise issues that I had with it, but after pulling out from the blog tour, I was more comfortable in sharing my honest opinion about it. Many of you have seen the original comment on Goodreads threatening legal action, which has since been removed by the Goodreads team due to breach of the author’s terms of use. This threat was also followed up with a sinister email with more accusations, including the threat to notify her publisher and others, of my “unprofessional behaviour”.
I was uncomfortable with the author’s use of Instagram, where she had reposted my photo without permission and the appropriate credit which is a breach of copyright. I had asked several times for it to be removed, and her response was that thousands of other people over 2 years never had an issue with it. I found out that other bloggers had previously been in touch with her about the same issue, revealing that she had been aware of the issue previously.
Because I wanted to support a local debut author, I had also been in touch with her to organise a book launch. However, due to the lack of respect of my time with constant follow ups while I was working and demands, I no longer felt comfortable working with her and decided to withdraw my support. Book blogging is something we do out of our spare time, and I felt like this had been taken advantage of. Never would I have expected that a legal threat would be the result.
The community has your back
For a hobby that we participate in out of our own love, passion and spare time, this type of behaviour can be detrimental to the whole community. As book bloggers, we put our own time and effort into sharing the joy of reading, our honest thoughts on reviewing, to help out readers, publishers and authors. We should be able to share freely, from the heart, as long as we’re respectful about it.
The sad thing is, behaviour like this can put people off from not only book blogging itself, but from putting themselves in such a public space. I’ve seen many comments that have said they’re now afraid of sharing their negative thoughts on a book…or from blogging at all. It’s not easy to be in such a public space, but I want to tell you all, please don’t let behaviour like this put you down. Like the Kathleen Hale incident in 2014, I’m hoping that this never, ever happens again. If it ever does, please feel the courage to speak out like I have, because the community won’t stand for this type of behaviour and we all have each other’s back.
Reviews are based on honest opinions
Book reviewing and book blogging is all about your opinions and I truly believe it’s not about how good or how bad a book actually is, but what you thought and felt about it. That’s why I love it so much, because no two people can have exactly the same thoughts on a book. It’s drawn from your own personal thoughts, experiences and preferences and one person’s trash might be another person’s treasure. That’s why I find it ridiculous when people bother to attack others for their reviews aka. opinions.
Negative reviews are possibly even more important than positive reviews, because we know how hard they are. The writer has put so much time and effort into their book, and the last thing they want is to hear that someone didn’t like their book. However, reviews are first and foremost, for readers and not for writers. They are highly valued in this community, because we can find out whether the book is for us or not.
If a book received positive, 4-5 star reviews all the time, it actually makes me more wary because not everyone can love a book, just look at John Green, or Harry Potter, or Twilight. I’ve also picked up a book based on negative reviews, because what that reviewer didn’t like, I knew I would. Please keep those negative reviews coming, as long as you’re not attacking or tagging in the author. They are so important.
Importance of book blogging
Through book blogging, I’ve met so many amazing friends and people and have received so many amazing opportunities out of it. While it has it’s ups and downs, it’s something that I believe I will continue to do for a long time to come, simply because I love it so much. I know how isolating it may seem |
feat of engineering,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “The big difference between us and the carriers is that they’ll do absolutely everything they can to bleed you dry. We’ll do absolutely everything we can and use every proven technology available to give you the best coverage possible.”
The wireless industry is all abuzz about “small cells,” but the carriers are choosing where to put their small cells and where they think customers should get better coverage. With the 4G LTE CellSpot, T-Mobile is doing something classically Un-carrier – putting the power in customers’ hands who can now light up T-Mobile’s LTE network wherever they need it most. This idea has been wildly popular with T-Mobile customers, who have already snapped up more than 1 million Wi-Fi CellSpot Routers since last year and are making more than 11 million calls every single day over Wi-Fi.
The T-Mobile 4G LTE CellSpot measures just 8.5” wide by 8.5” tall and is just 1.3” thick, so it fits just about anywhere. And it’s fully ‘plug-n-play.’ Just hook it up to the Internet, plug it into the wall and boom! You’ve got a clear, strong LTE signal covering 3,000 sq. feet on average.
T-Mobile’s 4G LTE CellSpot is ideal for small businesses who need to provide coverage for employees and visitors. The 4G LTE CellSpot supports up to 16 calls at one time; works with any 3G, 4G or LTE device compatible with T-Mobile’s network, including those that can’t use Wi-Fi calling; and can deliver 4G LTE even in places where cellular signals aren’t available.
The T-Mobile 4G LTE CellSpot is free to eligible Simple Choice customers − one per business or home location − with a refundable $25 deposit and a non-return fee. In stark contrast, the carriers make their customers pay hundreds of dollars and jump through hoops just to get their outdated 3G-based femto cell solutions.
The Un-carrier is relentlessly pushing the envelope when it comes to coverage—whether it’s delivering the first nationwide voice over LTE network, Wi-Fi calling and texting, nationwide HD voice, advanced messaging, Gogo in-flight texting or a range of personal coverage solutions. The 4G LTE CellSpot rounds out T-Mobile’s Personal CellSpot family, a set of products complementing the Un-carrier’s blazing-fast 4G LTE network and available to Simple Choice customers at no extra charge, including:
Wi-Fi CellSpot Router : Announced at Un-carrier 7.0 in September 2014, this Internet-connected router provides customers with Wi-Fi coverage for calling and texting beyond the reach of any cellular network;
: Announced at Un-carrier 7.0 in September 2014, this Internet-connected router provides customers with Wi-Fi coverage for calling and texting beyond the reach of any cellular network; 4G LTE CellSpot Signal Booster : This signal booster amplifies T-Mobile’s 3G, 4G and/or LTE signal throughout a home or business without an Internet connection; and,
: This signal booster amplifies T-Mobile’s 3G, 4G and/or LTE signal throughout a home or business without an Internet connection; and, 4G LTE CellSpot: Announced today, this 4G LTE tower delivers a strong, reliable wireless 4G LTE signal for customers with or without an indoor cellular signal on compatible 3G, 4G and LTE handsets for up to 16 callers at one time anywhere a customer has broadband Internet and T-Mobile wireless spectrum.
The T-Mobile 4G LTE CellSpot will be available November 4 in participating stores nationwide or shipped through T-Mobile Customer Care. For more information, visit: http://explore.business.t-mobile.com/coverage#cellspot. For more on T-Mobile’s Data Strong coverage, please visit: www.t-mobile.com/coverage.html.
May require plan change. Damage fee may apply. Current location address required for device use. See T-Mobile.com for details and restrictions including important 9-1-1 limitations. Property of T-Mobile USA, Inc. Not For Resale.
About T-Mobile US, Inc.
As America's Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The Company's advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to approximately 61 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.
# # #
Media Contacts
T-Mobile US Media Relations
MediaRelations@t-mobile.com
Investor Relations
877-281-TMUS OR 212-358-3210
investor.relations@t-mobile.comMedia playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Theresa May: "We should be working together, not pulling apart"
The UK government is to reject calls for a Scottish independence referendum before Brexit after Theresa May said "now is not the time".
The prime minister said the focus should be on getting the best Brexit deal for the whole of the UK.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said Nicola Sturgeon's demand for a vote by the spring of 2019 would be rejected "conclusively".
Ms Sturgeon said blocking a referendum would be a "democratic outrage".
Ms Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, told BBC Scotland: "It is an argument for independence really in a nutshell, that Westminster thinks it has got the right to block the democratically elected mandate of the Scottish government and the majority in the Scottish Parliament.
"You know history may look back on today and see it as the day the fate of the union was sealed."
Ms Sturgeon has called for a referendum to be held in the autumn of 2018 or the spring of the following year, to coincide with the conclusion of the UK's Brexit negotiations with the EU.
But Mrs May said her message to Ms Sturgeon was clear - "now is not the time".
The prime minister added: "I think we should be working to get the right deal for Scotland and the UK with our future partnership with the European Union.
"It would be unfair to the people of Scotland that they would be being asked to make a crucial decision without the information they need to make that decision."
The prime minister also said the country should be "working together, not pulling apart".
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Blocking a Scottish referendum 'would be undemocratic'
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Ruth Davidson says a second Scottish independence referendum should only be held after the UK leaves the EU
Ms Davidson later told a media conference in Edinburgh that the people of Scotland should have the right to see how the UK was working after leaving the EU before deciding whether or not they wanted independence.
She added: "People should only be asked to make a judgment on whether to leave or remain within a 300-year-old union of nations when they have seen for themselves how that union is functioning following Brexit.
"They should also know what the alternative entails and we have seen no clarity from the SNP on even the basic questions of their proposition."
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: "The proposal brought forward is not fair, people will not be able to make an informed choice.
"Neither is there public or political support for such a referendum.
"Therefore we will not be entering into discussions or negotiations about a Section 30 agreement and any request at this time will be declined."
What are the challenges ahead?
By BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor
The Tory triumvirate - PM, secretary of state, Scottish leader - stress that a referendum might be feasible once Brexit is signed, sealed and settled. David Mundell seemed particularly keen to stress that point.
However, if they won't contemplate Section 30 meantime, then the time needed for legislation, consultation and official preparation would suggest that - by that calendar - any referendum would be deferred until 2020 or possibly later. Possibly after the next Holyrood elections.
Options for the FM? She could sanction an unofficial referendum, without statutory backing. Don't see that happening. It would be a gesture - and Nicola Sturgeon, as the head of a government, is generally averse to gestures. Unless they advance her cause.
She could protest and seek discussions. Some senior Nationalists believe this to be a negotiation ploy by the PM, the prelude to talks.
Will the first minister proceed with the vote next week at Holyrood, demanding a Section 30 transfer in which the Greens are expected to join with the SNP to create a majority? I firmly expect her to do so, to add to the challenge to the PM.
Read more from Brian
Scotland voted by 55% to 45% to remain in the UK in a referendum in September 2014 - but Ms Sturgeon says a second vote is needed to allow the country to choose what path to take following last year's Brexit vote.
MSPs are due to vote next Wednesday on whether to seek a section 30 order from the UK government, which would be needed to make any referendum legally binding.
The parliament currently has a pro-independence majority, with the Scottish Greens pledging to support the minority SNP government in the vote.No shirt, no shoes, not straight, no service?
A Kentucky shop plastered stickers on its front door, including one with a crossed out rainbow flag – a symbol of gay pride – suggesting it might refuse to serve LGBT customers.
Herald Embroidery in the town of Oak Grove, which specializes in promotional products for the military, made the graphic in the same look as the common “no shoes, no shirt, no service” signs. Signage also alerts visitors over restrictions on the use of “foul language.”
Guns, beards and the quoting of Bible verses, however, are allowed inside the store.
Their new rules prompted an explanation from the company on its website: “We recently posted five 3” stickers on the front entrance to our shop. Two of these stickers are negative and prohibitive in their message,” said Herald Embroidery. “After some public confusion as to the meaning of one which depicted a rainbow flag, we’ve replaced them with a clarification.”
The statement continued, “While we will serve all customers who treat our place of business with respect, we reserve the right to refuse to produce promotional products that promote ideas that are not in keeping with our consciences. This includes, but is not limited to content promoting homosexuality, freemasonry, the use of foul language, and imagery which promotes immodesty.”
Last month, Kentucky lawmakers voted to override Gov. Steve Beshear’s veto of controversial religious freedom bill, opening the door to these kinds of practices. Unless there’s a “a compelling governmental interest,” the law gives added protections for those with “sincerely held religious beliefs” from government infringement.
Though many critics argue these freedom bills offer a free pass to discriminate against the LGBT community and many other minority groups.
As noted by The Advocate, Google Plus commenters have begun to chime in on their business page, and most were not supportive. “I’m so disappointed with the anti-gay stance that this business has taken,” wrote reviewer Gregory Brookes, for example. ”You are a business, open to the public. You don’t operate out of a private house or even a church. You have a public store front. You benefit greatly by being open to the public because anyone can see your business and chose to use it. In return for this public benefit, you must serve the whole public, not just those who agree with you, the whole, entire public!”
LGBT rights have been a major part of the Kentucky dialogue in recent weeks. Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway announced he would not appeal a federal gay marriage ruling that requires state officials to recognize same-sex marriages performed in one of the 17 states that allow them.Description
Special limited edition steel ZB26 by ROCK / VIVA ARMS - only 250 pieces were ever made and none will be made again. This version by ROCK / VIVA ARMS is the most realistic ZB26 on the market for collectors who want the rawness and realism of this famous rifle.
The real ZB26 is a gas operated, air-cooled, selectively fired, light machine gun. It has a finned, quick-detachable barrel and fires from an open bolt. The action of the gun is powered by a long-stroke gas piston, located below the barrel. The gas block is mounted at the muzzle end of the barreland also serves as the front sight base. The action is locked by tipping the rear of the bolt (breechblock) upwards, and into a locking recess in the receiver. The return spring is located in the butt of the weapon, and is connected to the bolt carrier / gas piston via a longrod; additionally, there is a short spring buffer located around the return spring at the juncture of the receiver and butt, which softens the impact of the bolt group at the end of its rearward stroke. The charging handle is located at the right side of receiver and does not reciprocate when the gun is fired.
Development of the ZB-26 began in 1923 after the Czechoslovak Brno arms factory was built. Designer V�clav Holek was charged by the Czechoslovak army with producing a new light machine gun. He was assisted by his brother Emmanuel, as well as two expatriate Poles: Marek and Podrabsky. Holek was a genius as a firearms designer; he quickly began work on a prototype and within a year the quartet had created an automatic light machine gun that was later known as the ZB. The Czechoslovak army quickly adopted the ZB as the vz. 26, and many other countries later adopted the ZB or similar designs.
This is the airsoft AEG version of ZB26, which was designed by VIVA ARMS, manufactured by ROCK and tuned by RedWolf. Some key parts were also manufactured in collaboration with G&P, making this gun a joint project between several quality manufacturers. The gun is made with real wood for the grips, a steel barrel & bipod, aluminum receiver. The quick-detach barrel comes off easily by pulling down on a lever, although there is no real need to do this in airsoft since you won't be melting your barrels down anytime soon! The surface finishing of the gun is also intentionally fabricated to replicate the real ZB26's rugged finishing.
The ZB26's fully adjustable sight is replicated faithfully here with it's unique offset design to get around the vertically mounted magazine.
The battery is fitted inside the rear stock of the gun, and can be powered by 7.2v or 11.1v Lipo, or more traditional NiMH batteries.
This ZB26 comes with 3 x 160 round magazines. Additional magazines are sold separately.
Once these are sold out, they'll be gone forever. ROCK has confirmed these are the last ones.Posted 30 July 2013 - 10:36 AM
A % of critical damage done to the internals of a component will be applied directly to the inner structure of that component.
Large and medium pulse lasers are going to have their beam durations reduced.
ER Large Laser is going to have its base heat reduced.
PPC and ERPPCs will be bumped by 1 base heat each.
Weapon Balance continues on track as we head toward Launch.This week, you see the linking of heat scales as well as buffs to the Air/Artillery Strikes. Seismic Sensor has taken a significant reduction in their effective radius.Next patch, you will see the following:p.s. Noticed a question about Terra Therma... yes... you will take damage if you stand in exposed lava. The longer you stand in it, the hotter it's going to get so be VERY careful.Feedback can go hereGet the biggest celebs 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
An Argentinean flag has been spotted flying above Top Gear's HQ – just weeks after it hit huge Falklands controversy in South America.
The flag was spotted flying on a building at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, home of the hit show's famous test track.
It is thought the flag may have been put there by pranksters keen to stir more controversy for Jeremy Clarkson and his colleagues. The BBC confirmed they were not currently filming at the aerodrome, which they use when the series is on air.
Last week the Argentinian ambassador to the UK demanded a public apology from the BBC after the Top Gear crew had to flee the country following an angry backlash to them using a Porsche with the registration number H982 FKL, seen as a reference to the Falklands conflict in 1982.
Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman denied the number plate was a "stunt" and Jeremy Clarkson claimed he was "shocked" when someone pointed out the number plate during the incident at the start of the month.
A statement from the Embassy said: “Argentine ambassador to the UK Alicia Castro made a formal complaint to the BBC regarding Jeremy Clarkson's provocative behaviour and offensive remarks towards the government and the Argentine people, following Top Gear's recent filming in Argentina, calling for the BBC to make a public apology.
(Image: INS)
“Furthermore, the Argentine ambassador deeply regretted Jeremy Clarkson's entirely false accusations of alleged resentment against British citizens in Argentina.”
A BBC spokeswoman said: “The BBC has received a complaint and will apply its usual processes.”
The Top Gear team including co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May, maintain they were subjected to unwarranted abuse from an angry mob in the lobby of their five-star hotel in Ushuaia.
Clarkson's Porsche, with the Lotus Esprit driven by May and the Mustang Mach I driven by Hammond, were stoned outside the town of Tolhuin as they made their way via on side roads to the border crossing of San Sebastián, escorted by police.
Clarkson said it was "the most terrifying thing I've ever been involved in", and warned that “someone could have been killed”.
A spokesman for Top Gear said: “Top Gear is not filming at Dunsfold today. This has nothing to do with Top Gear.”
Like this? Did you know we have a dedicated TV and Film page on Facebook?
Mirror TV Facebook PromotionWikiLeaks’ latest release of the Clinton campaign manager’s emails adds merit to growing allegations that the Democratic presidential nominee considered and indulged in the so called “pay for play” practice.
The leaked emails highlight a number of occasions where large sums of money were demanded in return for either Bill or Hillary Clinton meeting with influential figures.
In a mail from February 2016, Neera Tanden, the President and CEO of the Center for American Progress, suggests to John Podesta that Hillary Clinton should consider returning money to banks who paid to hear her speak, if she does not secure the presidency.
'She created this mess': Clinton aide reveals concerns in #podestaemails13https://t.co/nBLaa6jBC1 — RT (@RT_com) October 20, 2016
Simply titled ‘speaking at the banks,’ the mail is in regard to Clinton speaking at financial institutions in which Tanden tells Podesta “don’t shoot me but if we lose badly maybe she should just return the money.”
“Say she gets the anger and moves on. Feels a little like an open wound,” Tanden adds.
Clinton made speeches to a number of banks including Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank.
Read more
Clinton is also said to be “considering” a meeting with a delegation from Morocco in exchange for a $12m donation from the country’s King, Mohammed VI, to the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).
“The King has personally committed approx $12 million both for the endowment and to support the meeting,” the mail from aide Huma Abedin to Podesta reads.
“Just to give you some context, the condition upon which the Moroccans agreed to host the meeting was her participation,” Abedin adds, claiming “if hrc was not part of it, meeting was a non-starter.”
Clinton had been scheduled to attend a CGI event in Marrakech from May 5 to May 7, 2015, but a number of weeks before this, a Foundation official told Politico it was “unlikely” she would attend.
Adding more fuel to Donald Trump’s accusations that the Clinton family’s wealth is built on a “pay for play” scheme, another email released earlier this week revealed the Clinton foundation would consider having Bill Clinton call Sheikh Mohammed, the vice-president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, in exchange for $6m.
“Unless Sheikh Mo has sent us a $6 million check, this sounds crazy to do,” a foundation staffer says in a mail in which Bill Clinton is asked to call Sheikh Mohammed to thank him for offering the use of his plane to attend a conference in Ethiopia.
READ MORE: Clinton & DNC accused of fraud, finance violations in election commission complaint
The revelations come following renewed calls this week for an investigation into allegations that the FBI were bribed during their investigation into the use of a private email server by Clinton during her time as US Secretary of State.
Earlier this week, the FBI released records pertaining to the investigation, in which the Undersecretary of State, Patrick Kennedy, allegedly calls on the FBI to alter the classification of a number of sensitive emails on Clinton’s server in exchange for more resources for the bureau.
READ MORE: House committee demands criminal investigation of State Dept. undersecretary over FBI 'quid pro quo'The Winklevoss twins have both been very vocal in their support of bitcoin, which is understandable – given the fact they missed the opportunity to cash in on tech giant Facebook.
The brothers are avid bitcoin advocates, and big investors – with an estimated $35m worth of bitcoin between them.
Over the weekend, Cameron Winklevoss discussed the future of bitcoin on reddit, making a few interesting announcements and predictions.
Cameron’s ‘conservative’ valuation estimate sounds anything but – he believes each bitcoin will pass $40,000, roughly 40 times what a bitcoin is worth today.
He described his ‘small bull’ scenario to a reddit user who wondered how bitcoin would remain a viable currency:
“Small bull case scenario for Bitcoin is a 400bn USD market cap, so 40,000 USD a coin, but I believe it could be much larger. When this will happen, if it happens, I don’t know, but if it happens, it will probably happen much faster than anyone imagines.”
This is not a new announcement, as the twins said the bitcoin market cap could hit $400bn back in November.
Another user remarked that Winklevoss stands to gain handsomely if the prediction pans out, questioning the credibility of his prediction. He added:
“I have put my money where my mouth is. I stand to gain as well as lose depending on how the future unfolds. Having skin in the game is called accountability. Bitcoin is way too large for one single person to be able to manipulate it by talking their book.”
‘Commodity money’
When asked whether he sees bitcoin as a currency or a speculative vehicle, Cameron says he views bitcoin as commodity money. The reply came under a lot of scrutiny from other redditers who argued that Cameron’s position is vague at best, as bitcoin does not fit into existing definitions of what a currency should be.
He added that he views bitcoin as an alternative to fiat currencies rather than a replacement. Winklevoss also revealed that he did not make any altcoin investments yet.
“I don’t believe that any of the ‘problems’ or issues that they address can’t be addressed by bitcoin itself.”
He also admitted that he does not look at the bitcoin price every day, as he is in bitcoin for the long-haul, adding: “Spartans hold.”
Winklevoss did not discuss the Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust, which the pair are setting up to help manage their bitcoin investments and give more legitimacy to bitcoin as an alternative currency.
He said he could not discuss the matter due to gun-jumping rules.
The twins filed for a $20m IPO with the US Securities and Exchange Commission back in July. The trust is sponsored by another company created by the twins, dubbed Math-Based Asset Services LLC.
At the time the brothers told the New York Times that they had roughly 1% of all bitcoins in circulation.
Image: Max Morse / FlickrCLOSE Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen addressed the latest unemployment figures at The Economic Club in Washington. Bloomberg
Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen has signaled recently that the Fed could well raise interest rates this month r the first time in nearly a decade. (Photo11: AP)
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signaled Wednesday that the Fed is all but certain to raise interest rates this month for the first time in nearly a decade, saying that gains in the economy and labor market have met the central bank's goals.
Her comments at the Economic Club of Washington amount to the strongest indication the Fed has provided so far that it will take action at a December 15-16 meeting.
Yellen noted that Fed policymakers have said they'll increase its benchmark rate when they've seen "some further improvement in the labor market and were reasonably confident that inflation" would move up to the Fed's annual 2% target over the medium-term.
"I currently judge that U.S. economic growth is likely to be sufficient over the next year or two to result in further improvement in the labor market," Yellen said. Those gains, combined with market inflation expectations, "serve to bolster my confidence in the return of inflation to 2%" as the effects of low energy and import prices fade.
Fed policymakers have provided signs in recent weeks that they likely will bump up rates this month. Financial markets are now giving 75% odds of a rate increase.The Fed's benchmark rate has been near zero since the 2008 financial crisis.
Fed policymakers, though, remain divided over the timing of the first hike, with some arguing it's more prudent to hold off because a premature move could derail the recovery and expose the economy to unexpected shocks. By contrast, the Fed could raise rates more rapidly than it anticipates to catch up to quickly rising inflation.
Yellen's acknowledged those concerns but highlighted the risks of waiting too long and noted that the effects of monetary policy on the economy work with a lag.
"Were the (Fed) to delay the start of policy normalization for too long, we would likely end up having to tighten policy relatively abruptly to keep the economy from significantly overshooting both of our goals" of about 5% unemployment and 2% inflation. That, she said, could push the economy into recession. And keeping rates near zero too long "could also encourage excessive risk-taking and thus undermine financial stability."
The unemployment rate already is at 5%, down from 10% in 2009, Yellen said. She noted the Fed's preferred measure of inflation -- which strips out volatile food and energy costs -- is just 1.4%, well below its target. But she said she expects inflation to rise to the Fed's 2% benchmark "over the next few years" as the effects of low oil prices and a strong dollar fade. A strong dollar keeps import prices low for U.S. consumers.
She noted that while weakness overseas has curtailed exports, consumer spending and the broader domestic economy remain strong. And risks from the global turmoil "have lessened since late summer," she added.
Economic data since the Fed's October meeting has shown continued improvement in the labor market, Yellen said. Job growth weakened in August and September, but Yellen cited October's robust gains of 271,000, which she says brought the monthly average since June to a healthy 195,000.
Yellen added that the Fed will receive additional reports over the next two weeks that it will consider as well, including Friday's eagerly anticipated jobs report for November. But economists say it will take an unusually disappointing report to throw the Fed off course. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect 200,000 job gains.
Yellen also indicated that rate increases will be gradual over the next few years and that the benchmark rate will remain below normal even after the labor market and inflation have fully met the Fed's targets. Although Fed policymakers' forecasts indicate they're likely to boost rates by a quarter of a percentage point every other meeting, or four times a year, Yellen said the Fed has no plans "to proceed over time in such a mechanical, calendar based way." She said each move will depend on economic data.
"The economy has come a long way (toward the Fed's goals)," she said. Lifting rates will be a "testament, also, to how far the economy has come in recovering from the effects of the financial crisis and the Great Recession. In that sense, it is a day that I expect we are all looking forward to."
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1QeLBKGChasity Spence and Arnold Culley helped save four children from a burning shed on Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation this weekend.
Spence said she heard children crying and screaming inside a burning storage shed Saturday afternoon and knew she had to get them out somehow.
Chasity Spence ripped the wall off a burning storage shed to save four children on Saturday. (Facebook) "I grabbed the wall and I ripped it right off. I couldn't believe that, I'm a tiny little person and that wall was boarded on there pretty good with three other two-by-fours right over it," she said.
"The flame came out and I kind of backed away. I was going to run in there and one of the little girls came running through the fire."
Arnold Culley said he saw the burning shed and ran to help.
"[Culley] went around the back and started prying from the corner," she said. "He got that open, that little boy fell out and then the other two little girls came running out and then like two seconds after we got them out, that shack fell."
Spence said the children were badly burned – one of girls had burned hair and her skin was peeling.
"She [was] wanting me to hold her, but I'm so scared to touch her and I'm trying to comfort her and tell her not to worry, she's out, an ambulance is coming," she said. "Then the other two girls that ran out from the back came running to me also wanting me to hold them, and I was too scared to touch them."
Two six-year-old girls and a five-year-old girl were sent to Winnipeg, where one is listed in serious condition. A three-year-old boy was treated at the local nursing station and released.
The Office of the Fire Commissioner is investigating the cause of the fire.
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (formerly Nelson House First Nation) is located about 80 kilometres west of Thompson.Dani Carlson -
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.(WOOD) -- A question over who controls a computer source code could derail the state's new road funding law.
Though the Kent County courthouse was closed for Veterans Day, one courtroom held a trial for the State of Michigan v. Hewlett Packard.
Ten years ago, Michigan hired a company called EDS -- later acquired by HP -- to construct the Business Application Modernization or BAM project. Michigan fired HP earlier this year, citing missed deadlines and problems with the $40 million project.
The BAM system handles the Secretary of State's online portal, along with things like voter registration and vehicle licensing.
The roads deal changes the way the state charges for vehicle registrations and therefore requires changes to the BAM source code, which HP is holding on to. For example, changes need to be made for hybrid and electric vehicles, which the state said it currently cannot do.
"The entire road funding package is essentially in peril, never mind the reputation of the Secretary of State and everything that goes with it," Kent County Judge Christopher Yates summarized an argument of the state.
Attorneys for the state also said that without the source code, no other vendors would want to work with the state, and Michigan does not want to work with HP anymore.
Attorneys for HP said Wednesday that there's no rush to hand anything over to the state, especially since the company says the state hasn't paid for all the code it wants.
"Nobody can stand here in court and claim that this has all been paid for," HP attorney Robert De Jong said.
De Jong acknowledged the state has paid millions over several years, but his clients' position is that the state terminated HP's contract before paying for the code. De Jong said it would likely be up to a court to determine how much the code is worth.
The state of Michigan contends that HP has not only been paid, the company has been "overpaid."
De Jong said HP is also concerned that state employees don't know what to do with the computer program and any problems state workers create will then be blamed on HP.
"In essence, if you give them the source code and they crash the system because they don't know what they're doing, HP is going to get blamed for it," Yates again summarized.
The state is also concerned about security. It says it needs the source code to make sure the system is up to date and safe -- though it's worth noting there have not been any security problems so far.
A state audit in 2012 found a series of missed deadlines and problems on the part of HP, and mismanagement at the state level. That mismanagement included millions of dollars in payments to HP for systems that were either not finished or not working. Other payments were made without appropriate approval.
The audit also found the state was lax in enforcing the requirements under the contract. HP argues the state was also responsible for delays in the project and failed to timely identify issues and give HP time to fix them.
Yates is expected to make a decision Monday. Whatever the ruling, it will likely mean millions of more taxpayer dollars to get the computer program up and running with a new company.Pema Chödrön’s commentary on Atisha’s famed mind-training slogans that utilize our difficulties and problems to awaken the heart.
When I first read the lojong (“mind training”) teachings in The Great Path of Awakening by the nineteenth-century Tibetan teacher Jamgön Kongtrül the Great, I was struck by their unusual message that we can use our difficulties and problems to awaken our hearts. Rather than seeing the unwanted aspects of life as obstacles, Jamgön Kongtrül presented them as the raw material necessary for awakening genuine uncontrived compassion. Whereas in Kongtrül’s commentary the emphasis is primarily on taking on the suffering of others, it is apparent that in this present age it is necessary to also emphasize that the first step is to develop compassion for our own wounds.
It is unconditional compassion for ourselves that leads naturally to unconditional compassion for others. If we are willing to stand fully in our own shoes and never give up on ourselves, then we will be able to put ourselves in the shoes of others and never give up on them. True compassion does not come from wanting to help out those less fortunate than ourselves but from realizing our kinship with all beings.
The lojong teachings are organized around seven points that contain fifty-nine pithy slogans that remind us how to awaken our hearts. Presented here are nineteen of those slogans:
First, train in the preliminaries.
The preliminaries are also known as the four reminders. In your daily life, try to:
1. Maintain an awareness of the preciousness of human life.
2. Be aware of the reality that life ends; death comes for everyone.
3. Recall that whatever you do, whether virtuous or not, has a result; what goes around comes around.
4. Contemplate that as long as you are too focused on self-importance and too caught up in thinking about how you are good or bad, you will suffer. Obsessing about getting what you want and avoiding what you don’t want does not result in happiness.
Regard all dharmas as dreams.
Whatever you experience in your life—pain, pleasure, heat, cold or anything else—is like something happening in a dream. Although you might think things are very solid, they are like passing memory. You can experience this open, unfixated quality in sitting meditation; all that arises in your mind—hate love and all the rest—is not solid. Although the experience can get extremely vivid, it is just a product of your mind. Nothing solid is really happening.
Sending and taking should be practiced alternately. These two should ride the breath.
This is instruction for a meditation practice called tonglen. In this practice you send out happiness to others and you take in any suffering that others feel. You take in with a sense of openness and compassion and you send out in the same spirit. People need help and with this practice we extend ourselves to them.
Drive all blames into one.
This is advice on how to work with your fellow beings. Everyone is looking for someone to blame and therefore aggression and neurosis keep expanding. Instead, pause and look at what’s happening with you. When you hold on so tightly to your view of what they did, you get hooked. Your own self-righteousness causes you to get all worked up and to suffer. So work on cooling that reactivity rather than escalating it. This approach reduces suffering—yours and everyone else’s.
Be grateful to everyone.
Others will always show you exactly where you are stuck. They say or do something and you automatically get hooked into a familiar way of reacting—shutting down, speeding up or getting all worked up. When you react in the habitual way, with anger, greed and so forth, it gives you a chance to see your patterns and work with them honestly and compassionately. Without others provoking you, you remain ignorant of your painful habits and cannot train in transforming them into the path of awakening.
All dharma agrees at one point.
The entire Buddhist teachings (dharma) are about lessening one’s self-absorption, one’s ego-clinging. This is what brings happiness to you and all beings.
Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one.
The two witnesses of what you do are others and yourself. Of these two, you are the only one who really knows exactly what is going on. So work with seeing yourself with compassion but without any self-deception.
Always maintain only a joyful mind.
Constantly apply cheerfulness, if for no other reason than because you are on this spiritual path. Have a sense of gratitude to everything, even difficult emotions, because of their potential to wake you up.
Abandon any hope of fruition
The key instruction is to stay in the present. Don’t get caught up in hopes of what you’ll achieve and how good your situation will be some day in the future. What you do right now is what matters.
Don’t be so predictable.
Do not hold a grudge against those who have done you wrong.
Don’t malign others.
You speak badly of others, thinking it will make you feel superior. This only sows seeds of meanness in your heart, causing others not to trust you and causing you to suffer.
Don’t bring things to a painful point.
Don’t humiliate people.
Don’t act with a twist.
Acting with a twist means having an ulterior motive of benefiting yourself. It’s the sneaky approach. For instance, in order to get what you want for yourself |
to encapsulate all the film’s best qualities (self-awareness, dumb fun and directorial imagination) and keeps the audience grinning right up until the point they leave the cinema. 22 Jump Street is not only a superb sequel but also one of the funniest movies of recent years and, in conjunction with The Lego Movie, cements Phil Lord and Chris Miller as the comedy film-makers to beat.
★★★★
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Written by Michael Bacall and Oren Uziel
Starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube
Run Time: 112 Minutes
Rating: 15
AdvertisementsA year after a major oil spill along the North Saskatchewan River fouled the water source for three Saskatchewan cities, environmentalists say the company involved should get more than just a fine.
Peter Prebble with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society says he hopes Husky Energy is ordered to make upgrades to its oil pipeline system.
Prebble says Husky is a big company and a fine could just end up being a slap on the wrist.
Last July, a Husky pipeline leaked 225,000 litres of heavy oil mixed with diluent onto the riverbank near Maidstone and about 40 per cent of the spill reached the river.
Dale Marshall with the group Environmental Defence says he's not surprised that no charges have yet been laid.
He says it can takes years for charges, but that they should be laid more quickly in the interest of accountability.
Saskatchewan's Ministry of Justice isn't commenting. It's still reviewing Husky's response to alarms before the spill to decide whether charges should be laid.RENO - Three people have been arrested in what Lamar County authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime.
The Sunday morning incident in Reno left 25-year-old Burke Burnett badly injured after he was reportedly stabbed several times with a broken bottle before he was thrown into a lit burn barrel.
Burnett, who is gay, told the Dallas Voice that his attackers were yelling gay slurs. The newspaper reports that Burnett said it took 30 stitches to close stab wounds to his back and forearm, as well as a cut above his left eye. He also sustained second-degree burns and severe bruises. Burnett was treated at a hospital in Sulphur Springs.
33-year-old Daniel Shawn Martin, 31-year-old James Mitchell Laster and 25-year-old Mickey Joe Smith have each been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.If there was any doubt that a BMW Z4 successor is coming, then these photos should eliminate any doubts. These are the very first spy shots of the BMW Z5 Roadster which was caught testing in the night at around -25 degrees Celsius. The images show a heavily camouflaged prototype with the typical proportions and short overhangs of a BMW roadster. Judging by the photos, the dimensions of the alleged Z5 Roadster are larger than the current BMW Z4 while featuring a soft top compared to the hard cover found on the Z4.
At the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Klaus Frohlich, BMW head of R&D told the press that not only a Z4 replacement is in works, but also confirmed that it will be developed together with Toyota. The two companies have been working on three sports cars for years now. BMW and Toyota have been tight-lipped about details but the two companies say their partnership will last until at least 2020.
if (pl_is_mobile()) {? }?
Toyota and BMW outlined plans for the sports car in early 2013 and said in November 2014 that they’d reached the concept phase for the vehicle after completing a technical feasibility study. The manufacturers have declined to specify where the model might be built or when production would start. Sources say the car in question for BMW would be a Z4 replacement, and will most likely use a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
if (pl_is_mobile()) {? }?
With first test mules hitting public roads now, the Z5 is likely to be unveiled by 2018.Once he gets honest and declares, Bush will have to sever coordination ties between his campaign and the super PAC. It won’t matter by then. Bush has already ensured that Right to Rise will be able to fund many a nasty attack ad on his behalf.
These days, every presidential candidate must have a slush fund. Can you match the following candidates — Jeb Bush, Martin O’Malley and Scott Walker — with their personal super PAC or 527 group? The choices are: O’Say Can You See, Right to Rise and Our American Revival.
Extra points if you can name the candidate who also has a nonprofit advocacy group with the words “Policy Solutions” tacked on to the name of his super PAC.
Sorry, that was a trick question. None of the men listed above are candidates for the presidency. Not yet anyway. Not officially. They are all merely “exploring” a run, although they might not even concede that much.
And as long as they do not officially declare their candidacy, politicians can raise loads of money for their super PACS without having to report the donations or stay within limits that keep individuals from contributing more than $2,700 in the primary season. That’s the law. This is how candidates skirt it.
It’s why Jeb Bush quickly backtracks each time he verbally stumbles and refers to his run for the White House. Here’s just one recent example: “I’m running for president in 2016 and the focus is going to be about how we — if I run — how do you create high sustained economic growth.”
Meanwhile, Bush is keeping a nonstop schedule of fundraiser appearances for his super PAC, Right to Rise. He conducts media interviews and comments regularly on issues like a man who is pursuing the presidency.
Right to Rise is expected to stockpile $100 million by the end of May. Under federal election law, once a candidate who is “testing the waters” for a run spends more than $5,000, he or she must register with the Federal Election Commission, report campaign contributions and comply with other requirements.
Bush is clearly done testing. But he’s still flouting the law.
Once he gets honest and declares, Bush will have to sever coordination ties between his campaign and the super PAC. It won’t matter by then. Bush has already ensured that Right to Rise will be able to fund many a nasty attack ad on his behalf. And he’ll be able to distance himself from any nastiness.
Exactly when is a candidate a candidate? This shouldn’t be a difficult question.
If you are thinking that there ought to be some sort of federal watchdog that keeps candidates within the law, there is. That’s the FEC, which was set up after the scandal of Watergate.
Unfortunately, it’s useless. The chairman of the commission has admitted as much in early May.
“The likelihood of the laws being enforced is slim,” Ann M. Ravel, told the New York Times. “I never want to give up, but I’m not under any illusions. People think the FEC is dysfunctional. It’s worse than dysfunctional.”
The reason is the same sort of partisanship that stymies Congress. The six-member group, by law, consists of three Democrats and three Republicans. But it appears to be permanently splintered along those party lines.
The FEC meets in secret, and by law its doings remain confidential. Members could vote ethics over party loyalty, but they don’t.
Given the commission’s worthlessness, two liberal watchdog groups appealed to Attorney General Loretta Lynch this week (May 27) to appoint a special counsel to investigate. Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21 want scrutiny of the super PACS, especially Bush’s.
It might help if voters demanded reform. But mass public backlash seems unlikely. A vicious circle is developing. Public confidence is eroded by unchecked campaign funding and evidence that wealthy donors are heavily influencing candidate agendas and policy. Voters don’t believe their vote counts and sit out at the polls.
A record $10 billion is expected to be spent in the pursuit of the White House in 2016. Cash is already being stockpiled, unchecked. And Americans may end up getting not the government that they want or deserve but the one that others have bought for them.
Sanchez is an opinion-page columnist for The Kansas City Star. Her email is msanchez@kcstar.com.Back in August of 2011, we wrote an article about the Missing Apps that we most wanted in the Windows Phone Marketplace. Since then 6 of the main apps we asked for have become a reality. Firefox & Google+ were the main apps we never got, nor do we expect to see these anytime soon for obvious reasons. However since 2011, Banking and Travel apps have expanded their portfolio worldwide, though some major Australian banks such as Westpac and ANZ have yet to submit a fully functioning app to the marketplace (disappointing really, but Windows Phone users have come to expect that).
Thing’s have certainly changed since then in the number of apps in the Marketplace. In August of 2011, the Marketplace or Store had 30,000 apps. Today, that number hover’s just above 160,000 apps (thanks to //Build/ 2013 statistics), which is a big boost, though the store still falls far behind the iOS and Android app stores which hover around 800,000 apps. It’s not all about quantity, as quality makes a big difference, but the selection of app choices makes a sizeable difference as well.
About 20 days ago, I asked the Windows Phone Subreddit (on Reddit of course) which apps they wanted the most, so the 2013 list is basically a makeup of the most requested apps by the public, and with over 120 comments, you know there are quite a few apps WP users are still craving for.
Side Note: While Official apps would be nice, 3rd party alternatives for Instagram, Vine & Snapchat exist. So we’ve decided to NOT include them in our list because you have access to them in some format or another thanks to some amazing Dev’s.
Tiny Wings
We Have to be honest – till the we asked Reddit, we had never heard nor seen this game before. But from the description, it’s about controlling a bird with tiny wings taking him through hills and over forests and you have to upgrade your bird we believe. We’ll look more into this, but from what see – it only exists currently on iOS (though Android features a similar Tiny Bird’s game). Another game is not something we would say no to, but this is the most upvoted request, so many the Dev’s may want to look into this.
‘Any’ Video Editing App
The Lumia 920 series has one of the best camera’s on the markets, and the video recording feature is no exception. However, and shockingly, the one thing Windows Phone 8 doesn’t have is a Video Editing App, either by Microsoft, Nokia, or a 3rd party while there are plenty on both Android and iOS. Nokia’s Cinemagraph app has some basic enhancing filters, as well as the option to trim or edit the video snipper – so why can’t this be added in by Microsoft in the near future? It hasn’t even been broached as far as we’re aware.
And on that side note, if Microsoft can convince Instagram and Vine to create official apps, imagine the tie in you could have if you combined Instavideo and Vine with Cinemagraph! That would make for an incredible killer combo for the Windows Phone userbase, something which would put it ahead of the masses of iPhone and Android users (for the most part). These kind of ideas if they are floating around Microsoft, are good for everyone. However if this hasn’t crossed their minds – it really needs to. Cinemagraph and Smart Shoot work well together as well. We’ll keep an eye out on this one for you soon.
Streaming Video Apps
Any mainstream streaming app will do at this point in all fairness, even though Amazon Streaming was the most requested and upvoted in this department. This is seriously lacking, and it’s becoming a concern when all around friends are streaming Sport matches or events or concerts on their Android devices. Perhaps this has something to do with the way the Microsoft ecosystem works, but it still would be nice to have these. As quoted by a swantonsoup on reddit “Amazon should make one just to fight Google.” Truer words never spoken, and your move Amazon.
Flipboard
Ok, so we know this has been announced at //Build/ just a few days ago (along with a Facebook app) for Windows 8, but where is the Windows Phone 8 love? Isn’t this the market you’re trying to break into to, rather than re-dominate with Windows 8? Flipboard is a gorgeous reading app that we first used on Android, and instantly were attached to it. There are alternatives on the Marketplace, but frankly they all pale in comparison to Flipboard. Make it happen Microsoft & Flipboard, and for the love of god – sooner rather than next year when we’re all considering chucking away our Windows Phone’s out of sheer frustration that everything moves at a snail’s pace in the Marketplace (rant over).
Big Name Games
Games that everyone else is playing but we are not. We were considering doing a separate section for each game, until we realized that there were just so many big games we were missing currently. Temple Run 2, Candy Crush, Plants Vs. Zombies 2, Draw Something 2, Pocket Planes, Bad Piggies, Pitfall, Tap Tap Revenge, Subway Surfers – and these are just a few to name. We’re sure there are at least 100 games out there which are popular which we’re not on the receiving end of.
Alternatively, what’s the point of having a game released which no one plays anymore? For instance – Draw Something and Words with Friends were games of 2000 & late by the time they arrived in the Nokia Store (ie: no one played it anymore). This isn’t something which we hope keeps occurring, because it’s the consumers that lose.
Path
So we don’t really use app, and I personally have never even seen it being used – but I do know plenty of folks who do use it, and are Windows Phone users as well. It’s another social media site and it shouldn’t be too hard to port over (guessing here). SO make it happen please!
Duolingo
Duolingo is another app we haven’t heard of before, but from what we read it’s a great app that helps you learn languages and it’s free! The app uses visuals and words to help you learn the language of your choice (from Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English). It tries to make learning languages fun which could be useful for people like myself who have been wanting to learn Italian for EVER and can never get around to it because of how much work it takes. Why not, another language under the belt never hurts.
And i’m sure very many of you would agree an app like this would be good as well, despite the various good Language learner apps we already have on the Windows Phone Store.
Honestly we could go on and on in this list, but we decided to cut it short here. If you have other suggestions, the comments are open to the floor. Microsoft has always been giving out cash incentives to port apps to their platform, but maybe they need to step up their cash and their intent with bigger Developers for Apps, because that’s what people want. The more quality apps in the marketplace, the better a draw it is to new users. At the end of the day, we can only keep letting Dev’s know what we want and that there is a market for their apps. Reddit is a great place to start, but Facebook and Twitter are great avenues to keep reminding devs that we would LOVE to see their apps on our phones.
The future is still bright though, as the Synergy between Windows Phone 8, Windows 8, WIndows RT, and Xbox One seems to be growing closer all the time. But the pace still needs to pick up and soon.Monday, April 23, 2012
File:Frida Kahlo by Artist René Romero Schuler.jpg
(Image missing from commons: image; Frida Kahlo is an oil painting on canvas by Artist René Romero Schuler.
According to a new diagnosis by a surgical pathologist, Frida Kahlo most likely suffered uterine damage during a streetcar accident as a teenager and this led to a rare condition known as Asherman's syndrome, and that would explain the Mexican artist's infertility.
Dr. Fernando Antelo, from the Harbor–UCLA Medical Center, said, "Her survival defied the grim prognostication by her physicians; however, complications from this physical trauma would emerge in her adulthood." He presented his diagnosis yesterday at the annual meeting of the American Association of Anatomists in San Diego.
Asherman's syndrome is normally caused by a trauma to the uterus that results in internal scar tissue. For example, it can occur after multiple procedures to clear the uterus after a miscarriage or abortion, which is known as a "D & C" procedure. Antelo said Kahlo tried to have children many times and her miscarriages, as well as three therapeutic abortions, could have further aggravated the scarring.
At present the condition could be diagnosed and treated after advancements in medical imaging and hysteroscopy, but in Kahlo's time, Dr. Antelo said, the technology had not advanced far enough to diagnose and treat her. Asherman's syndrome has been known since 1894 when it was first reported. Kahlo died at age 47 in 1954.
"She kept attempting to have children with a uterus that wasn't in any condition to do that," Antelo said.
Antelo, who has been working on connections between art and medicine, says that Kahlo brought her infertility to the canvas and this can be seen in her many paintings of reproductive organs or in her depiction of her own bleeding body in the 1932 painting Henry Ford Hospital. In that image, Kahlo is shown lying on a hospital bed with multiple umbilical cords extending from her body and each one holds an object or body part, except one holding a baby.
SourcesNewsAlert
Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop.
Enter your e-mail address:
Privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose.
Russian resupply ship returns and docks to space station
BY JUSTIN RAY
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: July 4, 2010
The Russian-American crew living aboard the International Space Station welcomed the safe arrival of a cargo-delivery tug Sunday, two days after the freighter aborted its initial rendezvous and sailed by the orbiting complex.
Credit: NASA TV
Flying smoothly on autopilot 220 miles above Earth, the Progress M-06M spacecraft linked up to the aft docking port of the station's Zvezda service module at 12:17 p.m. EDT. "Docking confirmed...at the four-corner border of Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia," NASA commentator Rob Navias announced from Houston's Mission Control Center. "The belated arrival of the Progress 38 cargo ship executed perfectly, flawlessly by the KURS automated rendezvous system." Hooks and latches were engaged a few minutes later to firmly secure the 24-foot-long craft to the station, finally bringing two-and-a-half tons of supplies and equipment to the outpost. The Expedition 24 crew of commander Alexander Skvortsov, Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Fyodor Yurchikhin, and NASA astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Doug Wheelock and Shannon Walker plan to open hatches and enter the Progress around 3:30 p.m. EDT. The cargo includes 2,667 pounds of equipment, food, fresh clothing, life support system gear, 1,918 pounds of propellant to replenish reservoirs that feed the Russian maneuvering thrusters, 220 pounds of water and some 110 pounds of oxygen and air for the station's atmosphere. The Progress was launched Wednesday atop a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, reaching a preliminary orbit of 150 by 120 miles. A series of precise engine firings over two days guided the craft toward its planned Friday rendezvous. But an apparent interference problem about 25 minutes before docking halted the scheduled intercept and caused the freighter to move past the space station in harmless fashion. The Progress went into the standby condition when the communications link between the ship and station was interrupted. Engineers later traced the interference to a television transmitter used in the backup docking equipment that is available for the cosmonauts to manually fly the freighter via remote control. The autonomous safety procedures aboard the supply ship worked as designed to abort the rendezvous since conditions exceeded pre-programmed commands. Subsequent testing of the KURS autopilot showed that system to be functioning properly, so Russian specialists uplinked plans for the vessel to perform maneuvers Friday night and Saturday to target a Sunday docking attempt. "Everything is going extremely well. The KURS automated rendezvous system reported by the Visiting Vehicle Officer to be rock solid and locked on," Navias said Sunday as the craft closed within two miles of the space station. After arriving in close range of the space station, Progress began a flyaround maneuver at 11:49 a.m. to get lined up with the docking port and then executed a roll maneuver to properly orient its forward docking probe with Zvezda. The station crew didn't activate the television transmitter this time and the interference problem wasn't repeated. A brief stationkeeping hold with about 600 feet between the freighter and station allowed Russian flight controllers to assess systems before giving approval at 12:06 p.m. to commence the 11-minute final approach. The ship's autopilot did its job and drove the craft down the corridor for a successful docking while traveling over Russian ground tracking stations. "No doubt a sigh of relief on the part of the Russian flight control team after Friday's events. Today went by the book, a smooth and uneventful approach and docking automatically," Navias said. It is the 38th Progress to dock with the station over its decade-long life and the third of six scheduled this year. The craft joins the previous resupply ship that arrived on May 1 and remains affixed to the outpost's Pirs port, plus two Soyuz crew transport capsules currently residing at the space station's Poisk and Rassvet modules.
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: FULL BROADCAST OF SUPPLY SHIP'S DOCKING PLAY
VIDEO: WATCH CARGO FREIGHTER DOCK TO SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: ORANGE COUNTY AND AL JAZEERA MEDIA INTERVIEWS PLAY
VIDEO: PROGRESS 38P FREIGHTER LAUNCHED PLAY
VIDEO: SOYUZ RELOCATED FROM ZVEZDA TO RASSVET PLAY
VIDEO: WELCOME CEREMONY FOR THE NEW RESIDENTS PLAY
VIDEO: POST-DOCKING NEWS BRIEFING IN RUSSIA PLAY
VIDEO: SOYUZ DOCKS TO THE SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: FULL EXPERIENCE FROM LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY
VIDEO: ENTIRE EXPEDITION 24 LAUNCH BROADCAST PLAY
VIDEO: CREW DEPARTS SITE 254 FOR LAUNCH PAD PLAY
VIDEO: VIPS MEET THE CREW ON LAUNCH MORNING PLAY
VIDEO: CREW MEMBERS DON THEIR SOKOL SPACESUITS PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH MORNING TRADITIONS AT CREW QUARTERS PLAY
VIDEO: SOYUZ ROCKET ROLLED TO THE LAUNCH PAD PLAY
VIDEO: POST-ROLLOUT COMMENTS FROM NASA OFFICIAL PLAY
VIDEO: ASSEMBLY OF SOYUZ COMPLETED IN THE HANGAR PLAY
VIDEO: HIGHLIGHTS OF CREW'S ACTIVITIES AT BAIKONUR PLAY
VIDEO: CREW'S DEPARTURE FROM STAR CITY TRAINING BASE PLAY
VIDEO: PRIME AND BACKUP CREWS MEET WITH REPORTERS PLAY
VIDEO: CEREMONIAL VISIT TO RED SQUARE IN MOSCOW PLAY
SUBSCRIBE NOWConsidering Hillary Clinton’s proclamation that women need to break through the glass ceiling, or the variety of policy makers discussing the gender wage gap, or even the throngs of women protesting in pink pussy hats, it would seem that women are suffering from decided oppression and inequality in the 21st century.
It was against such inequality that women like Cleta Mitchell fought in the 1970s. But while many would say that inequality and oppression of women still exists, Mitchell tells a different story. According to an article she penned for The New York Times, women already have succeeded in gaining equality.
Because of this success, women are faced with a dilemma: they have a movement, but nothing toward which to work. As a result, Mitchell believes the women’s movement has now turned against the very women it once purported to help:
“Our fight was ostensibly about respecting women’s choices, whatever they may be. But the women’s movement doesn’t live up to that idea. If women choose to be chief executives and officeholders and columnists and doctors and partners in law firms, great! If they choose, however, to be moms and wives and attend Bible study or bake cookies, they are ‘bitter clingers’ and ‘deplorable.’ And if they happen to be conservative professional women, they are invisible.”
Ironically, this development in feminism was first predicted in the late 1970s by professor Christopher Lasch. According to Lasch, what started out as a quest to achieve “choice” for women has now become a quest to require devotion to the feminist mindset:
“What distinguishes the present time from the past is that defiance of sexual conventions less and less presents itself as a matter of individual choice, as it was for the pioneers of feminism. Since most of those conventions have already collapsed, even a woman who lays no claim to her rights nevertheless finds it difficult to claim the traditional privileges of her sex. All women find themselves identified with ‘women’s lib’ merely by virtue of their sex, unless by strenuous disavowals they identify themselves with its enemies. All women share in the burdens as well as the benefits of ‘liberation,’ both of which can be summarized by saying that men no longer treat women as ladies.”
In light of such comments we should ask ourselves: Has the quest to break down multiple stereotypes and gender conventions only served to pigeonhole women into one narrow stereotype of the feminist ideal?FILE- In this Jan. 28, 2013, file photo, Veronique Pozner places her hand next to artwork made by her son Noah's before testifying before a hearing of a legislative subcommittee reviewing gun laws at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Conn. The town of Newtown and its Board of Education asked a judge to throw out the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of two children killed during the Sandy Hook shootings in December 2012. The lawsuit was brought by the estates of 6-year-olds Noah Pozner and Jesse Lewis. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The town of Newtown and its Board of Education asked a judge to throw out the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of two children killed during the Sandy Hook shootings in December 2012.
The lawsuit, filed in state Superior Court in January 2015, alleges security measures at the school weren’t adequate when Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 first-graders and six educators. Among other things, it cites that classroom doors could not be locked from the inside.
The lawsuit was brought by the estates of 6-year-olds Noah Pozner and Jesse Lewis. The other victims’ parents aren’t part of the lawsuit. The town had earlier rejected an offer to settle the suit for $11 million, the maximum amount that could be paid under the town’s insurance policy.
In their June 30 motion for summary judgment, the town argues it has governmental immunity from such lawsuits and there is no basis to argue that school officials were negligent.
“Simply alleging that the defendants’ teachers, administrators, or staff failed to act a specific way prior to or in the middle of such a shocking tragedy, when six of them gave their lives to protect the children of the school, is not enough to create a genuine issue of material fact,” they argued.
But attorney Don Papcsy, who represents the Lewis and Pozner estates, said there were hundreds of school shootings before Newtown, and the town should have had adequate protocols in place to protect the students at Sandy Hook.
“We just want our children to come home at the end of the school day,” Papcsy said, noting the town’s motion was filed on what would have been Jesse Lewis’ 11th birthday.
A new Sandy Hook school, which opened last fall to replace the one demolished in the wake of the shootings, has elaborate security features. Among other things, visitors must pass through a driveway gate with a video intercom, across a moat-like raingarden and past two police officers and a video monitoring system to get inside. Its ground floor is elevated, making it harder to see inside classrooms from the outside. All the doors and windows are bulletproof.
But the town argues that nothing like that was required before the shootings.
“At no time have the plaintiffs articulated how the defendants were bound by a duty to provide a security officer at the elementary school, bulletproof glass at the entrance of the elementary school, or doors that lock in a particular way,” lawyers for the town wrote.Well-played, NYT.
Screengrab
On Monday, I wrote a cranky but sincere rant on the New York Times’ daily “Mini” crossword, my least-favorite product in a franchise I otherwise adore. My hyperbolic complaint was that the Mini is overly simple and uncharacteristically witless, and that it therefore devalues the great Times crossword brand. I called it “the People magazine crossword puzzle of the New York Times.” I said it was a waste of time.
Today, the Mini responded, and it was anything but witless.
If the message needs spelling out, the three longest Across answers are:
AWFUL
PIECE
SLATE
I may be overanalyzing, but I’m also happy to read that top-line “IDK” as a kind of exasperated eye-roll toward my Mini manifesto, the crossword version of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Mini is the creation of a puzzle wunderkind named Joel Fagliano, who placed his first full-size puzzle in the Times at age 17. I didn’t want to call him out by name in my original post; I may be a curmudgeon but I’m not a jerk. But now I’m happy to tip my hat to Fagliano for this response. It’s clever, saucy, and fun—the Mini at its best.
It was worth every single one of the 46 seconds it took me to complete.As the conservative idea of replacing property taxes with sales taxes comes under political scrutiny in Texas, the practical complications pile up quickly.
The debate between the state comptroller candidates Glenn Hegar and Mike Collier — Hegar, a Republican, likes the idea, while Collier, a Democrat, calls it an enormous sales tax increase — puts the tax swap notion back in the public arena, exposing its strengths and its flaws.
The concept has been knocked around for years by research organizations, lawmakers and activists who fear that rising property taxes are pricing Texans out of their homes and other property holdings. Public schools are the biggest recipients of property taxes, but they are not alone. Those taxes are also a critical source of money for the state’s 254 county governments, for hospitals and other special districts, for cities and, well, you get the idea.
The main argument for a change is simple: People don’t control the amount of property taxes, especially when they are caught between the rising values of their homes in a growth state and the rising tax rates from the schools and governments trying to keep up with that growth.
The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Sales taxes, on the other hand, are based on consumption. If taxpayers can control what they purchase, they can control the taxes they pay. Sales taxes are not exactly voluntary, but they are a little less arbitrary.
A change would overturn the state’s school finance formulas and force lawmakers and local officials to negotiate everything from local control to tax enforcement to economic fairness. Politically, it is an extremely rigorous obstacle course.
Start with the big hurdle: The state’s public schools are financed in large part by local school property taxes — and a complicated set of formulas intended to ensure a state constitutional requirement that every student in Texas has equal access to an “adequate” education.
Where property is more valuable, property taxes bring in more money. In Glen Rose, the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant dwarfs the rest of the property tax base, creating a wealthy school district in a place with relatively few children to educate. Some of the state’s urban areas, on the other hand, are home to school districts where property values are relatively low and the number of students is high, like the Edgewood school district in San Antonio. To keep things fair (and constitutional), the state takes money from places like Glen Rose and sends it to places like the Edgewood district.
The proposal to replace property taxes with increased sales taxes would upend the current maps of rich and poor school districts. Instead of wealth based on property values, a tax-rich district would be one that generates a lot of taxable sales. Shopping malls would be worth more — on a tax level — than nuclear plants. A convenience store would be worth more than an oil rig. A hamburger joint would be worth more than a bank.
On a sales tax map, Edgewood is worth more than Glen Rose.
The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.
School districts are only the most visible hitches in the plan. Most of the current sales tax is collected by the state, which has set the rate at 6.25 percent. Local governments can add their own sales taxes so long as no shopper in the state ever has to pay more than 8.25 percent on a purchase. Retailers and other businesses collect the taxes and remit them to the state, which in turn sends each local government what it is due from purchases within its jurisdiction.
Property taxes are collected and distributed locally. Rich school districts send some of their money, based on those complex formulas, to poorer districts or to the state, which distributes it, along with other state funds, to schools. For the most part, however, property taxes are set, collected and spent by local governments.
A switch to much higher sales taxes would change that. Local politicians may enjoy sending angry taxpayers to Austin to talk to the people who set their taxes, but those same officials bristle at the thought of going to Austin to ask for the money needed for their local budgets.
Nothing in politics is as simple as it sounds.When you're wandering around in Jurassic Park and you hear a T-Rex roar, you run in the other direction. It's just good sense. No one wants to end their day — or their life — as an apex predator's lunch.
The dino escape wouldn't be possible without the myriad of audio cues that clue you in to which direction the danger is coming from. It's the audio equivalent of 3D, and — as headphone-maker Ossic understands — it's a critical, if overlooked, piece of any virtual reality experience.
"Just like with visuals, you'll never get a good sense that the sound is outside your head if it just moves with your head," Ossic co-founder Jason Riggs told Mashable.
"That would be like VR where the screen just moved with your face. You're not going to believe that it's there and you're in it unless it stays there while you move."
Image: Ossic
Enter the Ossic X 3D audio headphones. They're not just for VR experiences — each headset's capabilities can enhance stereo mixes from a game, movie or music source — but they offer a sense of depth in VR soundscapes that not even the Oculus Rift's built-in 3D audio headphones can rival.
It all starts with your body. Everyone picks up sound differently, and that has a lot to do with not just where we're standing in a physical space, but also the size of our heads and the shape of our ears.
"We are asymmetrical," Riggs said. "Our ears are shaped a certain way and they're different from the front to the rear."
When each individual's listening experience is its own, special snowflake, there's no one-size-fits-all solution for 3D audio. That's where components similar to what you'd find in a smartphone come in handy.
Sensors built into the headphones measure the wearer's head and ears. This data is needed to calculate the user's "head-related transfer function" (HRTF), a mathematical representation of how we locate the source of a sound.
Ossic X also employs head-tracking to work out a necessary data point for determining the wearer's HRTF.
"Just think about an animal in the woods turning its head [to locate a sound source]. We do it, too... especially if we can't see the thing." Riggs said.
"Head-tracking gets us that. In the same way it gets us the visuals [in an HMD], it gets us with the audio. It allows us to sample [an audio source] at multiple points."
All of the data collected by the headset is then processed through software to create a more immersive soundscape, where changing your location and turning your head has a noticeable effect on the character of what you're hearing.
I experienced this firsthand in the HTC Vive's "Secret Room" demo, from Valve's The Lab. It drops you into the titular location from Dota 2, a cluttered wooden shack filled with magical devices and fantasy creatures.
Image: Ossic
The virtual space is filled with sound sources, each of which is essentially a cue to direct your attention. I immediately picked up on a sense of depth to the soundscape that I hadn't with stereo headphones. It's a difficult thing to describe.
Imagine you're sitting at home in your bedroom with the door closed. The dog starts barking in the other room, but it's muffled. You get up and walk to the door to see what's going on, and with every step you know — because of what you're hearing — that you're getting closer to the dog.
It is 3D for your ears.
Ossic X virtualizes that instantaneous, unconscious process of tracking a sound source in a way that even high-end stereo headphones aren't capable of. It is 3D for your ears.
When Ossic X launches later in 2016, connecting it to a PC (via USB) will be the best way to take advantage of what it can do. There, you can install proprietary software that processes the audio for your anatomy to create fuller soundscapes.
The Ossic X can also connect to most devices using a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. You lose out on the complex software processing that a PC can deliver, but the headset itself can still process your anatomy data to create the impression of positional audio.
Riggs sees the first-generation O |
Sigma Enterprises Inc. Sigma Enterprises Inc. (Gottlieb license) Sigma Enterprises Inc. (Venture Line license) Sigma Inc. Signatron USA Simutrek Sisteme Sleic SMS Manufacturing Corp. SMS MFG CORP SNK SNK (Centuri license) SNK (Nintendo of America license) SNK (Pasadena International Corp. license) SNK (Rock-Ola license) SNK (Taito America license) SNK (Victor license) SNK (Zilec Games license?) SNK / Pallas SNK / Saurus SNK of America SNK Playmore Soft Art Co. Soft Design Solar Games Song Won? Sonic SonoKong / Expotato South West Research Southern Systems & Assembly Sovic Space Space (Fuuki license) Space Computer Spacy Industrial, Ltd. Spale Soft Sphinx Sphinx / AV Japan Sphinx/AV Japan/Astro System Japan Sphinx/Just&Just; Spinball Spirit Splin Square Square (Nintendo of America license) Square / Namco SSI Starfish Stargame Status Games Stella Stern Stern Electronics Stern Electronics (Free Enterprise Games license) Stern Electronics (TV-Tuning license from Free Enterprise Games) Stern Electronics? STG Strata/Incredible Technologies Subelectro Subsino Subsino / Buffy Subtle Style Success Success / Fujiwara Success / Sega Success / Taiyo Jidoki Success / Warashi Summit Coin Sun Sun a Electronics Sun Amusement / BrezzaSoft Sun Electronics Sun Electronics (Atari license) Sun Electronics (Taito license) Sun Mixing SunA SunA (Sharp Image license) SunA (WDK license) Sunn / Techstar Sunsoft Sunsoft (Nintendo of America license) Sunsoft / Activision Sunsoft / Atlus Sunsoft / Epoch Sunsoft / Sega Sunsoft / Success Sunwise Sure Sure Milano Syrmex Syrmex (bootleg/hack) System Service System Ten SystemBit T&E; Soft T&E; Soft / I'Max T.I.C. TAB Austria TAB Austria / Evona Electronic TAB-Austria Tad Tad (Fabtek license) TAD Corporation TAD Corporation (Alpha Trading license) TAD Corporation (Fabtek license) Taff System Tago Electronics Tago Electronics (Free Enterprise Games license Tago Electronics (TV-Tuning license from Free Enterprise Games) Taito Taito (Centuri license) Taito (Midway license) Taito (Nintendo of America license) Taito (SNK license) Taito (Universal license?) Taito (Visco license) Taito (World Games license) Taito / Midway Taito / Moss Taito America Corp Taito America Corporation Taito America Corporation (Coin-It license) Taito America Corporation (Romstar license) Taito Corporation Taito Corporation (Amenip/Centuri license) Taito Corporation (Fox Video Games license) Taito Corporation (licensed from Midway) Taito Corporation (Nova Games Ltd. license) Taito Corporation (TAD license) Taito Corporation (Tecfri license) Taito Corporation (Venture Line license) Taito Corporation (Williams license) Taito Corporation America (licensed to Romstar) Taito Corporation Japan Taito do Brasil Taito Europe Corporation Taito? Taiyo Taiyo (Data East license) Taiyo (Taito license) Takara Takumi Takumi (Capcom license) Takumi / Capcom Tamsoft / D3 Publisher Tamtex Tatsumi Tatsumi (Atari/Namco/Taito license) Tatsumi (Kana Corporation license) Tazmi TCH TDS & MINTS Team Play/Game Refuge/Monaco Entertainment Tecfri Tecfri (Gecas license) Tecfri (Nippon Amuse license) Tecfri (Philko license) Tecfri (Volt Electronics license) Techno-Top Technos Japan Technos Japan (Data East license) Technos Japan (Nintendo license) Technos Japan (Taito / Romstar license) Technos Japan (Taito America license) Technos Japan (Taito license) Technos Japan (Tecmo license) Technos Japan (Universal USA license) Technos Japan + California Dreams Technos Japan / California Dreams Technos Japan / Roller Tron Technos Japan / Taito (Memetron license) Technosoft Technosoft / Jaleco Techstar Techstar (Rock-Ola license) Techstar (Sunn license) Techstar (Telko license) Techstar (Zaccaria license) Tecmo Tecmo (Nintendo of America license) Tecno Soft / Sega Tecnoplay Tehkan Tehkan (Centuri license) Tehkan (Kaneko license) Tehkan (Video Ware license) Tehkan / Sun Electronics (Centuri license) Tekunon Kougyou Telko Terminal The Game Room The Game Room (Allied Leisure license) Thomas Automatics Thunderhead Inc. Time Warner Interactive Toaplan Toaplan (Dooyong license) Toaplan (Taito license) Toaplan / Data East Corporation Toaplan / Data East USA Toaplan / Sega Toaplan / Taito Toaplan / Taito America Corp. Toaplan / Taito America Corporation Toaplan / Taito America Corporation (Kitkorp license) Toaplan / Taito America Corporation (Romstar license) Toaplan / Taito Corporation Toaplan / Taito Corporation Japan Tomy / Namco Tong Electronic Tong Electronic (Game Plan license) Tong Electronic (Pacific Polytechnical license) Top Ltd. Topis Corp Toptronic Treasure Triangle Service Triumph Software Inc. Tung Sheng Electronics Tuning Tuning/Incredible Technologies TVG Type-Moon/Ecole U.S. Games U.S. Games Inc. Uniana Unico Unidesa? Unies Corporation Union Union / Empire United Universal Universal (ADP Automaten license) Universal (Gottlieb license) Universal (Taito license) Universal (Taito license?) Universal Video Games Uniwang Unknown UPL UPL (American Sammy license) UPL (Cosmos license) UPL (Falcon license?) UPL (Jaleco license) UPL (Kawakus license) UPL (Seoul Trading license) UPL (Taito license) UPL (Universal license) UPL (World Games license) V-System Co. V-System Co. (Bally/Midway/Sente license) V-System Co. (Data East license) Valadon Automation Valadon Automation (Itisa license) Valadon Automation (Stern Electronics license) Valadon Automation / Jeutel Valley VEB Polytechnik Karl-Marx-Stadt Vectorbeam Vektorlogic Veltmeijer Veltmeijer Automaten Venture Line Vesely Svet VFS Viccom Videa Video Fun Games Ltd. Video Games GmbH Video Games GmbH (Venture Line license) Video Klein Video Klein? Video System Co. Videodens Videotronics Virtual Image Productions (Sega license) Virtuality Visco Visco / Datt Japan Visco / Video System Vision / Artic Vision Electronics Vivid Vivid / Whitbread Voodoo Voodoo Games VR8 Inc. Warashi Warashi / Mahjong Kobo / Taito Warashi / Sunsoft / Taito Wave / Taito Corporation Web Picmatic Whitbread / Ace Whitbread / Crystal Whitbread / JPM White Board Wico Williams Williams / Vid Kidz Windom Wing Wing Co., Ltd Wing Co., Ltd. Wing Co., Ltd. / GEI Wing Co.Ltd. Wintechno WMS Wonwoo Systems Wood Place Inc. Wood Place Inc. (Data East license) Wood Place Inc. (Data East USA license) Wood Place Inc. (Status Game Corp. license) Wood Place Inc. (Taito America Corporation license) Wood Place Inc. (Taito Corporation license) Woodplace Woodplace Inc. (Status Game Corp. license) World Game World Station Co.,LTD WSAC Systems? Xex Yachiyo Denki / Uni Enterprize Yachiyo Electronics, Ltd. Yang Cheng Yang Gi Co Ltd. Yankee Game Technology Yanyaka Yanyaka (Mitchell license) Yona Tech Yubis / T.System Yuga Yuki Enterprise Yuki Enterprise / SNK Playmore Yumekobo Yun Sung Yun Sung / Soft Vision Yun Sung / T&K; Zaccaria Zaccaria (Bally Midway license) Zaccaria / Zelco Zenitone Zenitone-Microsec Ltd Zenitone-Microsec Ltd. Zenitone-Microsec Ltd. (Dutchford license) Zilec Zilec - Zenitone Zilec Electronics Zilec Electronics (Centuri license) Zilec Electronics (Taito license) Zilec Electronics / Bally Midway Zilec Electronics / Jaleco Zilec-Zenitone Zilec-Zenitone (Jaleco license) Zilec-Zenitone (Konami license) [Alpha Denshi Co.] (SNK/Romstar license) [Atari Games] (Playmark bootleg) [Dooyong] (NTC license) [Dynax] (bootleg) [Konami] (Sega license) [Konami] (Stern license) [Namco] (Atari license) [Namco] (Bally Midway license) [Namco] (Midway license) [Namco] (Rock-ola license) [Namco] (Taito license) [Orca] Thunderbolt [Seibu Kaihatsu] (J.K.H. license) [Seta] (Taito license) [Sun Electronics] (Atari license) [Taito] World Games [Technos Japan] (Taito America license) [Technos Japan] (Taito license) [Tehkan] (bootleg) [Toaplan] Data East USA [Toaplan] Taito America Corporation (Romstar license) [Toaplan] Williams Electronics Games, Inc [Video System Co.] (Playmark bootleg) [Zilec Electronics] Jaleco CPU: All 4004 5A22 68000 68010 68020 68040 68301 68307 68EC020 68EC030 80186 80188 8080 8080A 8085A 8086 8088 ADSP-2100 ADSP-2101 ADSP-2104 ADSP-2105 ADSP-2115 ADSP-2181 ADSP2100 ADSP2101 ADSP2104 ADSP2105 ADSP21062 ADSP2115 ADSP2181 ALPHA-8201 ALPHA-8301 Am29000 ARM ARM7 ARM7 (big endian) ARM9 ARM920T ASAP AT89C4051 CCPU CDP1802 COP402 COP420 COP421 COSMAC CXD8530AQ CXD8530BQ CXD8530CQ CXD8606BQ CXD8661R DECO CPU16 DS5002FP DSP32C DSP56156 E1-16T E1-16XT E1-32N E1-32T E1-32XN E1-32XS E1-32XT FD1089A FD1089B FD1094 Freescale 68340 GMS30C2116 GMS30C2132 GMS30C2232 H8/3002 H8/3007 H8/3044 H8/3334 H8S/2394 HD6301 HD6303Y HD6309 HD63701 HD63705 HuC6280 I386 I486 I8031 I8032 I8035 I8039 I8041 I8049 I8051 I8052 I80C31 I80C32 I80C51 i860XR I8741 I8742 I8748 I8751 I8X41 i960KB IDT R4650 (big) INS 8050 SC/MP Jaguar DSP Jaguar GPU KONAMI Line CPU M37702 M37710 M58715 M6502 M6504 M65C02 M65SC02 M6800 M6801 M6802 M6803 M6808 M6809 M6809E M68705 MB86233 MB8841 MB8842 MB8843 MB8844 MB8884 MC68HC11 MCF5206E MEDIAGX N2A03 N7751 netlist NSC8105 Panasonic MN10200 PENTIUM Pentium III PIC16C55 PIC16C57 POKEY PowerPC 403GA PowerPC 403GCX PowerPC 602 PowerPC 603 PowerPC 603e PowerPC 603R PowerPC 604 PowerPC MPC8240 PPS4 PSX CPU PSXCPU PXA255 R3000 (big) R3000 (little) R3041 (big) R4600 (little) R4700 (little) R5000 (big) R5000 (little) Real Time Image Processor RM7000 (little) Rotate CPU RSP S2650 SCC68070 SE3208 SH-1 SH-2 SH-3 SH-4 Sound CPU SPC700 T11 TLCS-900/H TMP90841 TMP91640 TMP95C063 TMS32010 TMS32015 TMS32025 TMS32026 TMS32031 TMS32032 TMS32051 TMS34010 TMS34020 TMS57002 TMS9980A/TMS9981 TMS9980AL/TMS9981L TMS9995 TMS9995L uPD7807 uPD7810 uPD96050 V20 V25 V30 V33 V35 V60 V70 V810 VR4300 (big) VR4310 (little) Z180 Z80 Z8002 Controller: All dial joy8way lightgun paddle stick trackball Buttons: All 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Players: All 1 2 3 4 6 8 Status: All Good Imperfect Preliminary Emulation Status: All Good Imperfect Preliminary Color Status: All Good Imperfect Preliminary Sound Status: All Good Imperfect Preliminary Graphic Status: All Good Imperfect Preliminary Home | Search | Top 50 | History | FAQ | Contact | Cabinets | About mamedb.comAssociated Press Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas does the “gator chomp” with a law school student at the end of his speech at the Levin College of Law on the University of Florida campus.
Law school graduates aren’t the only ones saying less emphasis should be placed on law school rankings. Justice Clarence Thomas went on record Friday criticizing the popular U.S. News & World Report list.
During a chat at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law, Justice Thomas compared the bias against lower-tiered schools to discrimination against women and minorities, the Associated Press reported. He said he believes the individual is what’s important, not the school that issued the degree.
“Isn’t that the antithesis of what this country is supposed to be about? Isn’t that the bias that we fought about on racial terms, or on terms of sex, or on terms of religion, etc.?” Justice Thomas said. “My new bias — which I now embrace — is that I don’t eliminate the Ivies in hiring, but I intentionally prefer kids from regular backgrounds and regular students.”
Justice Thomas, in discussing getting the call from President George H.W. Bush to serve on the Supreme Court, empathized with graduates in a tough job market...Mere days after several opposition websites were blocked [Global Voices report] by Russia's mass communications regulatory agency, Roskomnadzor, free speech proponents have created a unique system for circumventing censorship — and imposing counter-attacks. This approach could create problems both for censors and pro-Kremlin websites. Indeed, it seems that Russian Internet activists have taken the adage “the best defense is a good offence” to heart.
The system gained popularity when blogger Ruslan Leviev [ru] implemented the approach in order to access opposition leader Alexey Navalny's blog, which was blacklisted and blocked last year. A programmer identified as alexkbs, who first developed the system, explained in a blog post [ru] that he wanted to create a way for average users to access blocked material — a method for those who might not have the technological aptitude to use specialized services like Tor, i2p, VPN and proxy servers [ru]. This is why his approach is centered on allowing users to access blocked sites through plain old World Wide Web.
The method consists of a network of mirrors, or exact copies, of the blocked site, combined with an “active defense” mechanism. Because Roskomnadzor requires ISPs to constantly check if a resource is trying to circumvent a ban by changing its IP address, blocked resources can introduce code that redirects some of these IP queries to a different website. Eventually, goes the theory, ISPs will pick up on this redirect and block the secondary website as well. So if a blocked site is savvy enough to redirect to a government site, say Kremlin.ru, ISPs will ultimately block Kremlin.ru, a block that obviously can't stay in place for long.
This idea was put to the test on March 17, when the popular pro-government website LifeNews was banned by many ISPs [ru] through this redirection trick. The website responsible for the block was one of the mirrors of Navalny's blog. LifeNews later appealed the block to Roskomnadzor, and the mirror was unblocked as a result, proving the exploit successful at actively forcing a reversal of censorship. Leviev tweeted news of his success, posting a screenshot of the mirror removed from the Roskomnadzor registry:
Учитесь как надо на**ывать систему ;) pic.twitter.com/YRg523fKS2 — Руслан Левиев (@RuslanLeviev) March 18, 2014
Learn how to screw the system ;)
Of course, like all weapons, the redirect exploit can be used for evil as well as good — literally any website could be blocked in this way, including the website of a business competitor, for example. Roskomnadzor can also combat the exploit by creating “whitelists,” i.e. websites that should under no circumstances be blocked.
A different way to actively “screw” the system was proposed by Twitter user @unkn0wnerror, who suggested reverse blacklisting Roskomnadzor. Under this method, when regulators attempt to view one of the mirrors to Navalny's website, all they see [ru] is a full screen photo of a kitten:
Leviev and company continue to think of new ways to circumvent online censorship — for example, on March 24, Leviev announced [ru] on his blog that his team of volunteers had created a Google Chrome extension that automates the process of accessing Navalny's blog mirrors. One might question Leviev's zeal at circumventing censorship specifically for Navalny's blog. After all, Navalny's texts are also published on his Facebook account, which is easily accessible from Russia. Another extremely simple solution, suggested [ru] by Anton Nosik, is to read any blocked website through an RSS feed. One explanation is that this project is a proof of concept — a way to prepare for a grim and probable future when any opposition voice on the RuNet is in danger of being stifled.Posted on by Sandlapper Spike
I couldn’t quite fit this into a Tweet, but then I remembered I have a blog…
—
On Tuesday night, Francisco Liriano of the Twins threw a no-hitter against the White Sox. It was not only Liriano’s first career no-no, it was his first career shutout and complete game as well.
As no-hitters go, it wasn’t exactly a masterpiece, not that Liriano will care.
I was curious about other “ugly” no-hitters. I’m defining this particular brand of ugly as walking six or more batters while allowing more free passes than strikeouts. Since 1919, it appears there have been 10 such no-hitters. Some of them are noteworthy.
It’s still a no-hitter, though. That’s all anyone will remember (barring any suggestions that LSD might have been involved).
Share this: Share
Twitter
Facebook
Print
Tumblr
Google
Email
Reddit
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Like this: Like Loading... Related
Filed under: Baseball | Tagged: A.J. Burnett, Cliff Chambers, Dock Ellis, Don Black, Dwight Gooden, Edwin Jackson, Francisco Liriano, Johnny Vander Meer, Minnesota Twins, no-hitter, Sam Jones, Steve Busby |0 Victims of Orlando mass shooting identified
Watch continuing coverage from KIRO 7's sister station in Orlando, WFTV.
QUICK FACTS:
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer confirmed 48 of 49 of the victims have been identified.
47 names released. Authorities continue to notify the next of kin.
The FBI removed all of the bodies from the club around 11 p.m. Sunday.
The FBI says the investigation could take some time.
The FBI commended the work of the first responders.
The FBI clarified the number of dead; there are 49 dead. That does not include the shooter.
Florida Governor Rick Scott asked President Obama to declare a state of emergency for the state of Florida.
PHOTOS: Newspaper front pages reflect Orlando massacre
ORLANDO - The FBI says 49 people were killed, not including the gunman, and more than 50 others were injured in an Orlando mass shooting at a gay nightclub early Sunday morning that an FBI spokesman described as a domestic terrorism act.
The city of Orlando started identifying the victims late Sunday after notifying the next kin. So far, 46 victims have been identified:
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old Kimberly Morris, 37 years old Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old Amanda Alvear, 25 years old Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old Cory James Connell, 21 years old Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24 years old Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old Frank Hernandez, 27 years old Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz 24 years old
The city says it will update the list as they continue to reach out to the families of the victims.
>>Read more about the victims
"Edward Sotomayor (pic), one of the funniest & nicest guy, he lived in Sarasota" said Nate Carrick, victim's friend pic.twitter.com/hoD7FrqOmF — WFTV Eyewitness News (@WFTV) June 12, 2016
The gunman is dead. He was identified by WFTV as Omar S. Mateen, 27, of Port St. Lucie, Fl.
>>Read more about the Orlando nightclub shooting
The FBI, along with numerous other agencies, was investigating the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub at 1912 South Orange Avenue, about 15 miles northeast of Disney World.
>>RELATED STORY: Orlando nighclub shooting: What we know now
The gunman had an assault-type rifle and a handgun and took hostages after exchanging gunfire with an office working at the club about 2 a.m. Eastern, police said. The gunman also had some sort of “suspicious device,” Orlando Police Chief John Mina said.
"This can be classified as a domestic terror incident," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said at an early morning press briefing.
There was no indication that more shootings were planned in Orlando or the state of Florida, FBI spokesman Danny Banks said.
But as the investigation into the shooting moves forward, U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley said Mateen was not the only person being investigated, according to WFTV
Bentley said Mateen could have been assisted before the shooting.
“We’ve been collecting a great amount of electronic and physical evidence – there is an ongoing criminal investigation, it is still in the early stages,” he said. “We do not know yet if anyone else will be charged in connection with this crime," said Bentley.
FIND REAL-TIME UPDATES BELOW.
© 2019 Cox Media Group.The hardest part for official Washington is not knowing what happens next.
Amid the escalating criminal investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 election, every corner of the city finds itself preparing for the unexpected.
Democrats fret that President Trump might try to shut down the inquiry. Republicans worry that their last best hope for a legislative win, a tax overhaul, could fall victim to the scandal. And the president's denial that his campaign worked in any way with Russia continues to be tested by new disclosures.
The only person with any significant control over events, special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, offered no hints Monday on his next move beyond the day's bombshells — legal filings that included the indictment of two former Trump campaign officials and the guilty plea of a third.
And the possibilities seemed only to grow as the day wore on. Hours after the first indictments landed, a leading Democratic lobbyist, Tony Podesta, announced that he would leave his firm after its apparent role in a Ukrainian lobbying campaign was described in court papers.
"We are in a real testing time for democracy," said Thomas Mann, a scholar at the Brookings Institution. "You really have to go back to Watergate to find anything of this scope and dimension."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), center, joined by, from left, Sens. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) and John Cornyn (R-Tex.), at the Capitol on Monday. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Former Democratic strategist David Axelrod liked to say that presidential campaigns provide MRIs of candidates' souls. The corollary is that criminal investigations can similarly expose the hidden malignancies of Washington.
The release of the charges followed the disclosure last week that a prominent Democratic lawyer and a news outlet backed by a major Republican donor had at different times paid a firm that compiled opposition research on Trump alleging ties to Russian interests that could threaten national security.
Both disclosures were the sort of tradecraft that rarely becomes public, but there was little sign that they would be the last. Mueller has signaled that he will seek to turn every stone in his search and use all available legal tools. Monday's court papers revealed that he had decided to file charges under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, a nearly 80-year-old law that regulates lobbying for foreign powers but rarely leads to criminal charges.
Legal experts say the Mueller investigation is likely to bring more charges, not to mention a protracted legal process that is likely to distract from other priorities.
"The charges brought last week could easily result in prosecutions extending into 2019, just on the trial level, not even the appellate level," said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University Law School. "That is going to continue to have a dysfunctional impact on the Trump administration."
That raises the prospects for political distractions that could continue into the 2018 campaign season, possibly complicating Republican efforts to hold the House and Senate. It also undercuts the expectations of White House aides, who say they expect the Mueller investigation to conclude soon.
Already, there are signs that the growing scandal has begun to distract from a key week for Republicans looking to build momentum behind tax legislation.
On Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) avoided questions from reporters on the indictments. At a separate event, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said this when asked about the indictments: "I really don't have anything to add, other than nothing's going to derail what we're doing in Congress."
But Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist, said: "It has added a degree of unpredictability and volatility into what was already an unpredictable environment. It ends up just being a thing that just started eating up bandwidth."
Even the president found himself caught off guard when he prematurely tweeted his own absolution hours after indictments were announced against his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a top deputy, Rick Gates. At 10:25 a.m., Trump felt it safe to boast that the announcements did not directly reference his campaign.
"Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the campaign," Trump wrote on Twitter. "... Also, there is NO COLLUSION!"
At about the same time, Mueller's team announced a previously secret guilty plea of a third Trump campaign adviser, George Papadopoulos, who worked on foreign policy in a volunteer capacity. In court papers, Papadopoulos described in detail his 2016 efforts to arrange contacts with people he knew to be Russian agents, including one person who had told him about Russian "dirt" on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, including "thousands of emails."
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to giving false statements to federal agents in his initial interviews about the interactions. He now says that he discussed the Russian overtures he had received with several other people in the Trump campaign, including a "senior policy adviser," a "campaign supervisor" and a "high-ranking campaign official." Among the campaign officials he emailed were Manafort, campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and national campaign co-chairman Sam Clovis.
The campaign officials are not identified in court documents, but some of the emails cited by federal prosecutors match messages described in August to The Washington Post by people familiar with their contents.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders chose not to acknowledge that confession later in the day. "Today's announcement has nothing to do with the president, has nothing to do with the president's campaign or campaign activity," she said, arguing that the work by Papadopoulos to coordinate a Russian meeting with the campaign did not amount to a campaign effort.
Podesta's decision to leave his firm amounted to the first collateral damage for Democrats from the Russian investigation. One of the party's most powerful lobbyists and effective fundraisers, he is also the brother of Clinton's 2016 campaign chairman, John Podesta.
The Manafort and Gates indictments described the efforts of "Company B" — which appears to be Tony Podesta's firm, the Podesta Group — to help the government of Ukraine. A principal from Podesta's firm is described as privately warning Gates that his talking points on work on the lobbying contract could be contradicted by "lots of email traffic."
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) put out a warning to Trump not to interfere with the ongoing probe. "If he does, Congress must respond swiftly, unequivocally and in a bipartisan way to ensure that the investigation continues," he said in a statement.
Republicans, meanwhile, seemed more concerned that the scandal not distract from the effort to pass tax legislation before the end of the year. Lobbyist Charlie Black, a former business partner of Manafort, worried that the focus on the investigation could do so. "The agenda of politics is dictated by the news media most of the time," Black said. "And the news media will be consumed by these scandal issues." Black noted that all of his 65 clients are interested in the outcome of the tax fight.
Grover Norquist, a conservative activist working on tax legislation, said the situation recalled moments during the scandals of the 1990s. "There was a period of months during Monica Lewinsky when I could have set my hair on fire and I would not have gotten on television," he said, arguing that more debate over taxes would help his side. "It's a distraction."
Read more at PowerPostImage caption Images of the suspect have already been widely circulated in Turkish media
Turkey has arrested a number of people of Uighur ethnicity over a deadly nightclub attack that killed 39, the state-run news agency reports.
Those detained are believed to have come from China's Xinjiang region with ties to the attacker, Anadolu says.
Deputy PM Veysi Kaynak also said they were closing in on the gunman, who he said was possibly an ethnic Uighur.
Also on Thursday, there was an explosion near the courthouse in the city of Izmir in western Turkey.
Social media images showed two cars ablaze and several people were reported wounded.
Other images showed what appeared to be the body of a man carrying a gun, amid media reports he was an attacker who was shot dead by police.
Anadolu reported a second man was shot dead and police were seeking a third.
'Aiding and abetting'
So-called Islamic State (IS) says it carried out the Istanbul attack over Turkey's military involvement in the Syrian civil war.
The authorities have reportedly tightened security at Turkey's land borders and airports to prevent the attacker from fleeing the country.
Turkish media have run images of a suspect, saying the pictures were handed out by the police. But the police have given no official details.
The Turkish foreign minister has said the authorities have identified the attacker, but has not given further details.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Turkey has heightened security across the country, including at land borders and airports
Special forces made the early morning arrests at a housing complex in Selimpasa, a coastal town on the outskirts of Istanbul, after police were reportedly tipped off that individuals linked to the attacker were in the area.
Uighurs were among those arrested - the number was not confirmed - on suspicion of "aiding and abetting" the gunman, Anadolu reported.
At least 36 people were already in custody over suspected links to the attack, many of whom were picked up in an earlier police operation in Izmir.
Several families had recently travelled there from Konya, a central city where the main suspect was said to have stayed for several weeks before the attack.
Who are the Uighurs? BBC Monitoring
The Uighurs are a Turkic ethnic group who are mainly Muslims, primarily living in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in China. Their language is related to Turkish and a substantial Uighur diaspora lives in Turkey.
Some Uighurs have complained for years about persecution at the hands of the Chinese authorities. Al-Qaeda has long-developed links with Uighur jihadists - known as the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) - and has offered them military training in Afghanistan.
Uighur jihadists appear to have joined the fighting in Syria in relatively large numbers, alongside both Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS, formerly al-Qaeda's Syrian branch al-Nusra) and al-Qaeda's rivals, the so-called Islamic State (IS).
They have featured in IS propaganda and the group's magazine, Rumiyah, has been published in Uighur, along with English and a range of other languages.
It is believed Uighurs make their way to Kyrgyzstan through the mountains between Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang. Once in Kyrgyzstan, they fly to Turkey using forged Kyrgyz passports.
Separately, Mr Kaynak told Turkish broadcaster A Hamer that the authorities knew where the suspect, who he described as "specially trained", was hiding, without giving further details.
He confirmed the gunman had acted alone, but may have had help inside the nightclub.
Image copyright AFP Image caption Some 27 of the 39 killed at Reina nightclub were foreigners
Witnesses to the new year attack said more than 100 rounds of bullets were fired which, the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardener says, indicates the gunman had at least some rudimentary military training.
Mr Kaynak expressed confidence in the Turkish police operation but said he could not rule out the possibility of the attacker fleeing the country.
No Kyrgyz connection
Previous media reports incorrectly suggested the culprit was a national from Kyrgyzstan, after a passport photo claiming to show the attacker was circulated.
It later emerged the passport belonged to someone unrelated to the attack.
Kyrgyzstan's embassy in Turkey has since asked the media to retract the reports and issue an apology.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The BBC's Mark Lowen was one of the first journalists allowed into the nightclub site
More than half of those killed in Sunday's attack on Istanbul's popular Reina nightclub were foreigners, including citizens from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iraq and Morocco.
The gunman managed to escape in the aftermath of the attack.
A day later, IS issued a statement saying "a heroic soldier" belonging to the group had carried out the attack in retaliation for Turkey's military role in northern Syria.
Mr Kaynak also said on Thursday Turks were questioning the use of the country's Incirlik air base by both Nato and the US-led coalition launching air strikes on IS in Syria and Iraq.
Turkey launched a military operation in Syria in August to push back IS and Kurdish forces.
Some of Turkey's big cities have since been targeted in a number of bomb attacks by IS and by Kurdish militants.Statement : 13 October 2016
My Office is aware of worrying reported extra-judicial killings of alleged drug dealers and users in the Philippines, which may have led to over 3,000 deaths in the past three months. I am deeply concerned about these alleged killings and the fact that public statements of high officials of the Republic of the Philippines seem to condone such killings and further seem to encourage State forces and civilians alike to continue targeting these individuals with lethal force.
Extra-judicial killings may fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court") if they |
regularly dressed in costume of some sort, possibly usually as a woman, and matched against a secutor or murmillo in a mock gladiatorial exhibition."[30]
Despite their low status, some retiarii became quite popular throughout the early Empire.[31] The fact that spectators could see net-fighters' faces humanised them and probably added to their popularity.[32] At Pompeii, graffiti tells of Crescens or Cresces the retiarius, "lord of the girls" and "doctor to nighttime girls, morning girls, and all the rest."[33] Evidence suggests that some homosexual men fancied gladiators, and the retiarius would have been particularly appealing. Roman art depicts net-men just as often as other types.[18] A mosaic found in 2007 in a bathhouse at the Villa dei Quintili shows a retiarius named Montanus. The fact that his name is recorded indicates that the gladiator was famous. The mosaic dates to c. CE 130, when the Quintilii family had the home built; the emperor Commodus, who fought in gladiatorial bouts as a secutor, acquired the house in CE 182 and used it as a country villa.[34] In modern times, popular culture has made the retiarius probably the most famous type of gladiator.[35]
Arms and armour [ edit ]
retiarius armed only with a dagger raises a finger in surrender. His trident lies at the foot of his secutor adversary, and his net is missing. He is also seen bleeding from an artery in his leg In this scene from the Zliten mosaic (c. CE 200), aarmed only with a dagger raises a finger in surrender. His trident lies at the foot of hisadversary, and his net is missing. He is also seen bleeding from an artery in his leg
The retiarius is the most readily identifiable gladiator type, due to his signature equipment: arm guard (manica), shoulder guard (galerus), net (rete), trident (fuscina or tridens), and dagger (pugio).[4] (Technically, the retiarius was not a "gladiator" at all, since he did not fight with the sword—gladius—after which such fighters took their name.[35]) His weapons and armour could be decorated. An embellished gladiatorial dagger is held at the Naples National Archaeological Museum.[36] Archaeologists have excavated three engraved shoulder guards from the gladiator barracks at Pompeii: one is engraved with illustrations of an anchor, a crab, and a dolphin; another with cupids and the head of Hercules; and a third with weapons and the inscription RET/SECUND ("retiarius, second rank").[37]
Although the net (rete) was this gladiator's signature weapon, few depictions of the device survive.[4] Combat with throwing nets may have occurred on ancient battlefields,[11] but modern experiments and comparisons with modern fishing nets offer the only clues as to how the gladiatorial net was constructed. Such data indicate that the rete was circular, with a wide mesh about 3 metres (9.8 feet) in diameter and lead weights along the edges.[4] A rope ran around the perimeter of the mesh, with the ends tied to the gladiator's wrist.[38] Because it was thrown, the net was sometimes called a iaculum.[4]
The retiarius complemented his net with an iron or bronze trident (fuscina, fascina or, rarely, tridens)[39] that stood about as high as a human being.[40] A skull found in a gladiator graveyard in Ephesus, Turkey, shows puncture holes consistent with a trident strike. The wounds are 5 centimetres (2.0 inches) apart and match a bronze trident excavated from Ephesus harbour in 1989. The trident's prongs are 21.6 centimetres (8.5 inches) long.[41]
A long, straight-bladed dagger (pugio) was the gladiator's final weapon.[42] A tombstone found in Romania shows a retiarius holding a dagger with four spikes (known as a quadrens—each spike at the corner of a square guard) instead of the usual bladed dagger. This was previously thought to be an artistic invention or perhaps a ceremonial weapon but a recently excavated femur bone from a gladiator graveyard in Ephesus has wounds consistent with the use of such a weapon.[41]
The retiarius wore minimal armour; unlike other gladiator types, he wore no helmet, greaves, or shield. He wore a manica on his left arm, where other gladiators wore it on the right;[4] this allowed him to more fluidly make a right-handed cast of his net.[43] Attached to the top of this was a long bronze or leather guard over the upper left arm and shoulder, known as a galerus.[4][11] This guard extended 12 to 13 centimetres (4.7 to 5.1 inches) beyond the shoulder blade and flared outward, allowing free movement of the gladiator's head. The device protected the upper arm, head and face when the retiarius kept his left side to his opponent.[4] The armour was designed to let the net-man duck his head behind it, and it was curved so as to deflect a blow from the top downwards, not up towards the eyes.[44] Three examples of this protective gear found at Pompeii vary between 30 and 35 centimetres (12 and 14 inches) in length and about the same in width. They weigh about 1.1 to 1.2 kg (2.4 to 2.6 lb).
In the Eastern Roman Empire in later years, some retiarii wore a chainmail manica instead of the galerus. This mail covered the arm and upper chest.[4] Equipment styles stayed relatively fixed in the Western Empire.[11]
Besides these items, the retiarius wore only a loincloth (subligaculum) held in place by a wide belt and gaiters or, as images show in lieu of the loincloth, a tunic that left the right shoulder uncovered.[4] He wore fabric padding on his body to provide minimal additional protection.[36] Artistic depictions show that other options included legbands, anklebands,[11] a headband, and a medallion.[45] All told, the retiarius's equipment weighed 7 to 8 kilograms (15.4 to 17.6 lb), making him the lightest of the standard gladiator types.[42] Like other arena combatants, the retiarius fought barefoot.[41]
Fighting style [ edit ]
retiarius Kalendio captures the secutor Astyanax in his net. Nevertheless, in the upper image, Kalendio lies wounded on the ground and raises his dagger to surrender. In the lower frame of this mosaic at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, theKalendio captures theAstyanax in his net. Nevertheless, in the upper image, Kalendio lies wounded on the ground and raises his dagger to surrender.
The retiarius was traditionally pitted against a secutor or, possibly on rare occasions, a murmillo.[4][46] Despite the disparity between the nearly nude net-fighter and his heavily armoured adversary, modern re-enactments and experiments show that the retiarius was by no means outmatched.[4][47] His lack of heavy equipment meant that he could use speed and evasion to his advantage.[48] He also fought with three offensive weapons to his opponent's one.[49] The net-fighter had to avoid close combat at all costs, keep his distance, and wait for an opening to stab with his trident or throw his net.[5][42] The name secutor means "pursuer" or "chaser", because this gladiator had to chase down the retiarius. They were also known as contraretiarii ("those against the net-man").[5][11] The secutor's strategy was to keep behind his shield (scutum) and force his opponent into close combat so that he could strike with his sword.[5] In close quarters, the net-man had only his galerus shoulder guard for defence; its design forced him to keep his head ducked down behind it.[44] The secutor's helmet greatly restricted his sight, hearing,[5] and airflow. Coupled with the heavy weight of his arms and armour—the gear of a murmillo, of which the secutor was a variant, weighed 15 to 18 kg (33 to 40 lb)[50]—this gladiator was in greater danger of exhausting himself in a long fight.[51] One of the retiarius's tactics was to jab at the secutor's shield (the heaviest part of his equipment), forcing him to block and wear himself out.[50][52] Overall, Roman oddsmakers gave an advantage to a retiarius, although skill and experience could affect the odds in individual matches.[53]
In skilled hands, the net was a useful weapon. The retiarius's primary objective with it was to capture his opponent.[11] A ewer found at Rheinzabern demonstrates the throwing technique: the retiarius held the net folded up in his right hand and cast it underhanded. He held his trident and dagger in his left hand, careful to keep the trident's prongs pointed downward to avoid snagging it in the mesh.[54] If the toss missed, the retiarius used the drawrope tied to his wrist to bring the net back in hand.[11][45] On a successful cast, the gladiator tightened the drawcord around the net's perimeter and tried to unbalance or topple his rival.[40] A successful cast of the net could win the battle for the retiarius straightaway.[49] This was not certain, however, as a mosaic at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid shows: in the first panel, the retiarius Kalendio has caught his opponent, a secutor named Astyanax, in his net. In the later image, however, Kalendio lies on the ground, wounded, and raises his dagger to surrender. The inscription above Kalendio shows the sign for "null", implying that the match organisers ordered him killed.[55]
The net could ensnare the secutor's weapon to disarm him[12] and snag away his shield to put him at a significant disadvantage.[49] Other retiarius tricks were to whip the net at his opponent's eyes to blind him and at his legs to trip him.[2][56] The helmet of the secutor was smooth and round to avoid snagging the net.[5] In most cases, the secutor knew to expect the net-man's tactics and tried to intercept and hold on to the weapon,[42] possibly unsteadying his enemy by yanking on the net. In such danger, the retiarius could sever the drawstring from his wrist with his dagger.[36] The secutor stood by a lost net and left little chance to recover it.[44][47] Speculation surrounds the frequency with which the retiarius used his net. Extant imagery rarely shows gladiators of the type with a net, yet the class is named for the device, and Juvenal uses the net to quickly identify a retiarius in his satires. The discrepancy may simply be a case of artistic licence; other types of gladiator are often shown without their weapons but can be assumed to be holding them due to their stance, and a net is a particularly difficult weapon to depict. The lack of nets in retiarius images may show gladiators who have already lost the weapon in the fight. Another possibility is that some retiarii simply did not use nets.[57]
scissor (left) is wearing a conical arm guard used to snag away the net of the retiarius (right). In this mock gladiatorial fight at Carnuntum, Austria, the(left) is wearing a conical arm guard used to snag away the net of the(right).
In most bouts, the retiarius probably had to resort to fighting with just his trident and dagger,[42] placing him at a disadvantage.[44] The trident was his primary weapon in such situations,[42] and its length allowed the retiarius to keep his opponent at bay.[58] He held the weapon two-handed, left nearer the prongs, so that he could parry his enemy's strikes with its shaft and strike with both ends. Wielded two-handed, the weapon could land powerful blows.[40][42] Images show retiarii stabbing downward at the secutor's unshielded legs or stabbing down at the helmet in an attempt to poke through an eyehole. The trident itself was too weak to pierce the metal,[42] although a skull found at Ephesus, Turkey, dating to CE 200 to 300 shows that a trident strike to the head could be fatal on a bareheaded opponent.[59] The secutor's helmet was rounded and free of protrusions to avoid snaring the net or being caught in the trident's prongs, but attacks on it forced the secutor to duck or hide behind his shield. This reduced his field of vision and gave the retiarius an advantage with his speed.[42] Should the secutor strike with his sword, the retiarius parried with the trident prongs and attempted to disarm him.[42] Likewise, the more heavily armoured gladiator tried to block the trident with his shield and force the net-man to lose it.[40] Another type of gladiator, scissor could also be pitted against a retiarius. Images from the Eastern Roman Empire show scissores wearing a tubular arm-guard in lieu of a shield. The guard fits over the left hand and ends in a hooked, knife-like blade that was probably intended to parry the net and trident or to snag and pull away the net. Scissores who succeeded in this probably dropped the hook weapon and fought with just a sword.[60][61]
The retiarius held the dagger in his left hand.[42] The gladiator could use the dagger to cut his net free if it got snagged on his trident.[62] He might fight with the trident in one hand and the dagger in the other, but this negated the advantage of distance afforded by the longer weapon when wielded by itself.[63] The dagger also served as a backup should the retiarius lose both net and trident.[49] He attacked with the dagger when he had the element of surprise and could attempt to wrestle the secutor to the ground.[42] Fights could devolve into straight wrestling matches in such situations, perhaps with daggers.[63] Should the retiarius win and be ordered to kill his rival, he used his knife to stab him or cut his throat.[36] Evidence shows that retiarii could be quite successful combatants; a tombstone from Gaul reads, "[For] the retiarius, L. Pompeius, winner of nine crowns, born in Vienna, twenty-five years of age. His wife put this up with her own money for her wonderful spouse."[64] Nevertheless, the gladiators themselves were prone to boast: A graffito at Pompeii shows the retiarius Antigonus, who claims a ridiculous 2,112 victories, facing a challenger called Superbus, who has won but a single fight.[65]
In some contests, a retiarius faced two secutores at the same time. He stood on a bridge or raised platform with stairs and had a pile of fist-sized stones to lob at his adversaries and keep them at bay. The secutores tried to scale the structure and get at him. The platform (called a pons, "bridge") may have been constructed over water.[66] Such scenarios were one of the rare situations where gladiators were not paired one on one.[67]
Notes [ edit ]
References [ edit ]#LaRioja #ParqueSolar #360Energy #Solar #EnergiaSolar #PanelesSolares #EnergiasRenovables
Ante la intempestiva e infundada sentencia adoptada por el Tribunal Superior de Justicia de La Rioja en relación a la construcción del Parque Solar Fotovoltaico Nonogasta que 360Energy lleva adelante a través de Nonogasta Solar S.A. en la Provincia de La Rioja, y a raíz de las declaraciones del Diputado Nacional Beder Herrera, la compañía desea manifestar públicamente su posición al respecto.
La construcción del Parque Solar Nonogasta se encuentra paralizada como consecuencia de una medida cautelar dictada por el Tribunal Superior de Justicia de La Rioja originada en una presentación del Fiscal de Estado de la provincia y el Diputado Nacional Beder Herrera.
El Fiscal y el Diputado Beder Herrera cuestionan que el Gobierno Provincial haya autorizado la futura conexión del Parque Solar a la línea de alta tensión de 132KV “La Rioja-Nonogasta” y que el Parque Solar utilice la radiación solar porque alegan que limitará la capacidad de explotación futura del sol por parte de la Provincia.
Además el Diputado Beder Herrera, en recientes declaraciones, enfatiza que la empresa desea utilizar “gratuitamente” la línea de alta tensión de 132kv “La Rioja-Nonogasta” y pretende utilizar el sol de los riojanos sin dejar regalías en la provincia.
Nuestras aclaraciones al respecto:
Es importante aclarar que el uso de las redes de transporte eléctrico en alta tensión es un servicio público regulado por el Estado Nacional como lo estipula la Ley 24.065 que establece el libre acceso en la medida que exista capacidad disponible. Por otra parte, los cargos por el uso de dicha capacidad de transporte son regulados y la empresa abonará todo lo que corresponda por la utilización de cualquier línea eléctrica según lo establecido en la ley y en las regulaciones del Ente Nacional Regulador de la Electricidad (ENRE).
La radiación solar es patrimonio de la humanidad y pretender cobrar regalías como sostiene el Diputado Beder Herrera, seria desconocer los actos propios de la Provincia de La Rioja que por medio de la sanción de la Ley Provincial 9.818 adhirió a la Ley Nacional 27.191 de fomento a las energías renovables y que, específicamente en su artículo 17, determina que el recurso renovable no podrá ser gravado con ningún tipo de tributo específico, canon o regalía sea nacional, provincial o municipal.
Destacamos que 360Energy y Nonogasta Solar cumplen estrictamente con las leyes que regulan en nuestro país la actividad de generación eléctrica en base a fuentes renovables. Asimismo resaltamos que la actividad de construcción del Parque Solar Nonogasta se desarrolla en un terreno de propiedad privada adquirido por la empresa y que cuenta con las correspondientes aprobaciones ambientales emitidas por la Secretaría de Ambiente de la Provincia de La Rioja y las habilitaciones municipales correspondientes para el desarrollo de la obra en construcción.
En defensa de sus derechos constitucionales, la Empresa ha realizado presentaciones ante la Corte Suprema de Justicia de la Nación solicitando su intervención por tratarse de un asunto de carácter federal, por estar en juego la política nacional de fomento a las energías renovables Ley 27.191 y las regulaciones al transporte de energía eléctrica previstas en la Ley Nacional 24.065.
Nuestro principal interés es retomar la obra, continuar generando fuentes de trabajo para más de 300 personas en forma directa e indirecta, la mayoría de ellos riojanos, y cumplir con los plazos de ejecución comprometidos.
Por cada día que el Parque Solar Nonogasta se demore en su finalización, le costará al país cerca de 100.000 dólares/día por importación de combustibles, y por cada día que el Parque Solar Nonogasta se demore en entrar en operación, se liberarán a la atmósfera alrededor de 150 toneladas/día de dióxido de carbono que agravará los efectos del cambio climático.
Lamentamos enormemente la falta de seriedad y de claridad en las reglas de juego de los dirigentes de la Provincia de La Rioja que perjudican el normal desarrollo de la construcción de este parque solar.
360Energy es un grupo empresario argentino comprometido con el desarrollo de las energías renovables en el país. Hemos participado con honestidad y transparencia en el programa RenovAr lanzado por el Ministerio de Energía y Minería de la Nación, y nuestro objetivo es honrar los compromisos asumidos en los proyectos que nos fueran adjudicados, desplegando inversiones por más de 180 millones de dólares para llevar adelante obras en las provincias de La Rioja, Catamarca y San Juan.
Desarrollamos nuestra actividad con un total encuadramiento con las leyes y regulaciones vigentes, pero esta medida cautelar, acto intempestivo, desmedido e injustificado, expone la fragilidad
institucional para llevarla a cabo.
Información adicional
El proyecto “Parque Solar Fotovoltaico Nonogasta” de la compañía 360Energy fue adjudicado en la ronda 1.5 del Programa RenovAr del Ministerio de Energia y Mineria de la Nación. Posee un contrato MEM de abastecimiento de energía a 20 años. El proyecto se encuentra en plena fase de construcción y montaje.Se trata de un predio de 107 hectáreas de propiedad de la empresa ubicado a pocos kilómetros de la ciudad de Nonogasta, en el Departamento de Chilecito, provincia de La Rioja.
360Energy planificaba la entrada en operación comercial del Parque antes de finalizado el corriente año, algo imposible de lograr ahora.
Principales datos del Parque Solar Nonogasta:
Potencia Instalada: 35 MW
131.000 paneles policristalinos montados sobre estructuras móviles.
Generación anual de 90 GWh, equivalente al consumo de 30.000 hogares.
Evitará la emisión de 50.000 toneladas de CO2 por año.
Sustituirá el consumo de aproximadamente 185 mil barriles de petróleo equivalentes de combustibles líquidos.
Inversión total estimada: U$S 40 millones
360Energy es una empresa de capitales argentinos enfocada en el desarrollo de proyectos de energía renovable, más específicamente de energía solar fotovoltaica. A través del programa RenovAr, el Grupo 360Energy ha sido adjudicatario de 180 MW. Los proyectos son Ullum I (25MW), Ullum II (25MW) y Ullum III (32MW) en la provincia de San Juan; Saujil (22,5MW), Fiambalá (11MW) y Tinogasta (15MW) en la provincia de Catamarca; y Nonogasta (35MW) en la provincia de La Rioja. Asimismo, el grupo 360Energy, a través de Energías Sustentables S.A., posee y opera desde 2012 el único parque solar fotovoltaico de gran escala de Argentina, ubicado en cercanías a la localidad de Cañada Honda, provincia de San Juan.LANETTE FIDRYCH knew that people in Portland, Oregon, were obsessed with the tacky carpet at the city’s airport. Enraptured hipsters snap up everything from mousepads to underpants emblazoned with its dated 1980s design. But she had no idea that the carpet was almost as well known in Japan. When she landed in Tokyo carrying a water bottle bearing the same pattern, she was stopped by a dozen strangers on the street who, recognising the carpet, asked if she was from Portland. On hearing that she was, they went on to list the restaurants in Portland they most wanted to visit or the beers from Oregon they most liked.
In America, Portland is shorthand for trendiness run amok. In Japan, it is simply trendy. Ms Fidrych is the founder of Cycle Dog, a company which sells dog collars, leads and other paraphernalia made from recycled bicycle parts (the collars all have bottle openers attached). She was visiting Tokyo to participate in the third annual “Portland Popup”, at which Tokyoites can buy goods from Portland and learn about Portland’s way of life. Speeches this year included “Creative Entrepreneurs of Portland” and “What Tokyo Can Learn from Portland”. Yokohama and Osaka also hold similar events annually. Cycle Dog’s kit sells well at these shindigs, Ms Fidrych says.
Get our daily newsletter Upgrade your inbox and get our Daily Dispatch and Editor's Picks.
Oshuushu, a popular Japanese blog, is dedicated entirely to beers from Oregon. The PDX Taproom opened less than a year ago in Tokyo’s fashionable Shibuya district (Portland’s airport code is PDX). The bar serves beer from Oregon only and has a small square of the famous carpet on the wall. Many eateries in Portland, rather than expanding in America, have decided to leap across the Pacific. Blue Star Donuts, which serves delicacies with names like Blueberry Bourbon Basil and Cointreau Creme Brulee, will soon have seven stores in Japan compared with six in America.
Teruo Kurosaki, author of a Japanese-language guidebook, “True Portland: Unofficial Guide for Creative People”, says Japanese are interested in Portland not just because of its nifty gadgets or funky food, but because of its “future vision”—a combination of individualism, enterprise and greenery. For those who chafe at Japan’s stale economy and hidebound culture, the image of young creative types, knitting old inner tubes into dog collars before cracking open a local brew, holds great allure.
Japan’s political leaders are even getting in on the act. The mayors of several small Japanese cities, which face gradual extinction if young people cannot be persuaded to stay instead of moving to Tokyo or Osaka, have been visiting Portland in search of ideas. Mitsuhiro Yamazaki, who works in Portland’s planning and development agency, has been invited to sprinkle some Portland magic over Aridagawa, a shrinking Japanese town, in part by redesigning a rural creche in a bid to persuade young women not to move away. He has not yet chosen a pattern for the carpet.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Robert De Niro has shown up to pitch for Barack Obama, just as the rumor had it, here at the Izod Center at the Meadowlands. He’s looking sporty in a blue blazer. “Barack Obama does not have the experience to be president of the United States” is his opening line. For one thing: “He wasn’t experienced enough to authorize the invasion of Iraq.”
“And that’s not all,” he went on. “It’s clear Barack Obama does not have the experience to let the special interests run the government.”
>> Click here for more coverage of Barack Obama’s run. Click here for all of our Super Tuesday coverage.
The crowd (which takes up 5/28ths of just the lower tier of seating in the 30,000 seat arena, so you know, a big crowd, but not a big, big crowd) is jazzed. This rhetorical device goes on for a bit. “That’s the kind of inexperience I can get used to,” said DeNiro.
“I’ve never made a speech like this at a political event before,” he said. “Sooo, what am I doing here?”
“Finally, one person has inspired me,” he said. Guess who!
“Lemme just speak to you young people here,” he continued. “The rest of you can listen –it’s okay. I’ve been concerned that so many of you aren’t voting…. No one inspired you. You wanted to vote, you just didn’t have anyone you wanted to vote for. You know what? I felt the same. Until now.”
He then introduced Senator Ted Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy and Barack Obama.I wanted her to be able to see out of Foxy's mouth, so I planned on having the snout come out of the forehead, and the bottom jaw extend from the bottom of the face shield. I stripped the helmet and shield of all straps. To secure the face shield I riveted the shield to the side of the helmet.
I cut a block of foam and shaped it for the nose. Once I had the shape I wanted I tied it to the helmet with some twine and then hot glued it to hold it in place.
Once the snout was secured I mounted a block to the bottom to make the jaw. This time I mounted it before shaping it. I wanted Foxy to maintain a fairly asymmetric look and have an underbite. I felt it would be easier to achieve this if the foam was already attached. At this point I also taped the eyes in general position to start getting a sense of how Foxy was coming to life.
I then formed the ears and taped them to the helmet for the mockup. I was able to play with the positions of the ears and eyes to figure out where I wanted them for the best look.Story highlights Police say there was shootout with the suspects, but no one was injured
It was a real "James Bond moment," a witness says
By early Monday, both inmates had been captured
"It's a first in Quebec," a correction officer says
Even by dramatic jailbreak standards, this escape was particularly brazen.
Two men posing as tourists reportedly commandeered a helicopter from a Canadian tour company, ordered the pilot to fly over a detention center near Montreal, hoisted two inmates using cables or ropes into the hovering aircraft -- and zipped away.
All in broad daylight. All in full view of incredulous witnesses.
It was a real "James Bond moment," witness Francis Emond told CNN affiliate CTV about Sunday's escape from the correctional facility in Saint -Jerome, about half-hour northwest of Montreal.
But despite the movie-worthy getaway, the prisoners' freedom didn't last long.
By early Monday morning, authorities arrested both inmates and two other people.
A pilot roped into the plot?
Authorities have not yet said how long they believe the plot had been percolating.
But it was put into play early Sunday afternoon.
The helicopter belonged to a tour company in Mont-Tremblant, a city in Quebec about 130 kilometers (80 miles) northwest of Montreal.
Two men posing as tourists hired the chopper for a tour, said a reporter from LCN television network who said he knows the pilot.
Once they were in the air, the men held a gun to the pilot's head and reportedly ordered him to fly to Saint-Jerome.
Quebec provincial police spokesman Benoit Richard would not comment on the reports.
Reaction time 'probably too slow'
Once at the detention center, the helicopter hovered as two inmates climbed aboard using cables or ropes lowered for them, police said.
Slack-jawed prison guards watched as the helicopter then spirited away as two of their prisoners clung on.
One of them, police said, was 36-year-old Benjamin Hudon-Barbeau who had beaten a double murder conviction on an appeal. But he was in prison in connection with an attempted murder investigation.
The other, 33-year-old Danny Provencal, was serving a seven-year sentence for various offenses, including arson, police said.
The prison, which houses 480 inmates, knows how to handle the expected. About a month ago, it quelled a riot before it got out of hand.
But, Yves Galarneau, the deputy director general of Correctional Services Western Quebec, said he'd never seen anything like this escape in his three-decade-long career.
"The reaction time was probably too slow," he told reporters, adding that everything happened very quickly.
Galarneau also acknowledged the jail did not have security protocol in place to prevent a helicopter from swooping in.
"As far as I know, it's a first in Quebec," he told reporters at the scene. "It's exceptional."
A manhunt for the fugitives followed.
Calls to a station
Adding an extra layer of audacity to an already extraordinary caper, a man claiming to be Hudon-Barbeau called a Montreal radio station to say he'd been shot in the calf during the escape -- and to justify his departure.
"I don't want to cause any harm to anybody. I am not a killer. I never did anything bad to an innocent," the man told 98.5 FM.
"I know that (the escape) wasn't the best thing to do, but I didn't want to stay in prison anymore. I am ready to die."
The man then said the escape was Provencal's idea.
"It was not my idea to get away but Danny convinced me it was his friends who arranged it outside," the man said.
Chopper found
Authorities found the chopper back in Mont-Tremblant, where the flight originated.
The pilot was inside but the men had fled.
The pilot was taken to a hospital for a medical assessment and later for questioning.
Police later said they had ruled him out as a suspect.
The men, meanwhile, escaped in a white Cadillac Escalade -- with police on their tail.
A short-lived breakout
Authorities tracked the SUV to the town of Chersey, about 50 minutes north of Saint-Jerome.
The men got out of the vehicle there and began shooting, said Richard, the police spokesman.
Police shot back, he said, but no one was injured.
LCN, the television station, showed images of a cottage where the men were believed to be hiding. Outside, the white Cadillac stood, its driver's side door open.
Six hours after the escape, police arrested three men.
One of them was Hudon-Barbeau. Police did not release the names of the other two.
But Provencal was still missing.
Several hours would go by before he too was in custody.
Police found him holed up inside a sugar shack in the same city.
He eventually surrendered early Monday morning.
All four men will appear in a court in Saint-Jerome Monday to face charges.
Escapes not unheard of
While spectacular, airborne escapes are not unheard of.
Albanian inmate Alket Rizaj broke out of a maximum security prison in Greece twice -- in 2006 and 2009.
On both occasions, accomplices swooped in to the prison's courtyard on helicopters and inmates climbed aboard using rope ladders.
Both times, Rizaj was recaptured.
Last month, another prison escape in Greece tried to use the same tactic.
But the plot was foiled when the prisoner was shot and the chopper was forced to land on the prison parking lot.
In 1971, Joel David Kaplan escaped from a Mexican jail aboard a helicopter. The New Yorker's flight inspired the book "The 10-Second Jailbreak: The Helicopter Escape of Joel David Kaplan" and the 1975 movie "Breakout."
And in France, Pascal Payet escaped not once, not twice but three times from French prisons.
Each time, he was recaptured.Defenders may not always get the love they deserve when it comes to recognition of their achievments on the soccer field, but that's not the case for this week. In an MLS Week 7 that saw plenty of close, physical games (and far too few goals), a host of defenders from across the league took the chance to make their mark. Four of them earned places in this week's Team of the Week for it.
In addition, two defensive-minded midfielders found their way into the selection (though one's brilliant goal helped him stand out), while this week's honoree in goal put in an exceptional showing to elevate himself above the other eight 'keepers – yes, eight – who earned consideration for the spot.
READ: Davis named MLS Player of the Week
Let's not forget the players on the attacking side, though. One of the league's marquee men was in typical form while leading his team to a win, while another of the league's rising stars added another impressive outing to his resume. And of course, Houston claimed a piece of MLS history by setting a record for games unbeaten at home in all competitions, and two of their players made the cut for their exemplary efforts in that win.
Which stars shone brightest this time around? Read on to find out...
SAVE: Bendik's superb reaction
GK: Joe Bendik (Toronto FC) – Made no shortage of big saves as he proved the key to the Reds’ 1-1 draw in Philadelphia, turning a match in which they were very much outplayed into a well-earned draw on the road.
DF: Jámison Olave (New York Red Bulls) – Dominant on the defensive side of the ball in New York’s 2-0 win over D.C. United and added the all-important second with his thigh while continuing to show off his great instincts attacking set pieces.
DF: Matt Hedges (FC Dallas) – George John may have gotten the goal and the glory in FCD’s 1-0 win over the Galaxy, but Hedges was the best defender on the field, making plenty of timely interventions to keep LA off the board.
DF: Mamadou "Futty" Danso (Portland Timbers) – Faced with the task of stepping into an injury-ravaged Timbers backline and coping with no less than Chris Wondolowski, Alan Gordon and Steven Lenhart, Danso was more than up to the task. Wasn’t afraid to mix it up physically and a big part of the reason why the Quakes got almost nothing going on offense in Portland’s 1-0 win over San Jose.
DF: José Gonçalves (New England Revolution) – Emerged as a key force in New England’s backline in Saturday’s 0-0 draw in Seattle, stopping everything the Sounders threw at him as he led the Revolution to a clean sheet and a point in one of the league’s toughest road venues.
MF: Andrew Driver (Houston Dynamo) – You won’t find his name on the scores |
was ADHD. The exposure for the second research question was ADHD medication, which was identified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes in the Prescribed Drug Register. Both stimulant (codes N06BA04, N06BA01, and N06BA02) and nonstimulant (code N06BA09) medications are used in Sweden for ADHD treatment.18 In accordance with previous studies,18-20 an individual was defined as on medication during the interval between 2 dispensed prescriptions (picked up by the individuals themselves, family members, or health care staff) of ADHD medication, unless the prescription occurred more than 6 months apart. An individual was defined as off medication during intervals of 6 months or more without any prescription.
The main outcome for both research questions was serious transport accident, which was identified as an emergency hospital visit or death due to transport-related trauma (codes V01-V99 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision)7 through the Patient Register and Cause of Death Register.
Several potential confounding factors were measured. Five sociodemographic factors (civil, employment, and education status; living in 1 of 3 large cities in Sweden; and disposable family income in 2006) were retrieved from the Integrated Database for Labour Market Research. Information on previous psychiatric diagnoses (other than ADHD), other common psychotropic medications, and criminal convictions was obtained from the Patient Register, Prescribed Drug Register, and Crime Register, respectively.
Statistical Analysis
To explore the association between ADHD and serious transport accidents, we first compared the rate of accidents between individuals with and without ADHD using Cox proportional hazards regression. Second, we included measured covariates into the model to control for confounding.
To investigate the association between ADHD medication and accidents among patients with ADHD, we first used ordinary between-individual Cox proportional hazards regression, with robust standard errors accounting for the correlations between periods within the same individual. Next, within-individual analyses were performed using stratified Cox proportional hazards regression with each individual entering as a separate stratum.21 That is, each patient served as his or her own control, and the rate of accidents during ADHD medication use was compared with the same individual while untreated. Current ADHD medication, age, history of ADHD medication, and transport accidents were included as time-varying covariates. As such, the within-individual hazard ratio is adjusted for confounding by all unmeasured covariates that are constant within each individual during the follow-up (eg, genetic predisposition and early environments) and by all measured time-varying covariates. A more detailed description of this method can be found in a recent study of ADHD medication and criminality.20
To assess the public health effect of ADHD medication on serious transport accidents, we used the population-attributable fraction (PAF). The PAF was originally proposed for cross-sectional data,22 but extensions are available for cohort studies.23 In the absence of unmeasured confounding, this PAF measures the proportion of accidents that would be eliminated if the entire cohort of patients with ADHD would be medicated during the follow-up. Details regarding the estimation and interpretation of PAF can be found in the eMethods section in the Supplement.
Because of the sex difference of patients with ADHD24 and those involved in transport accidents,25 all analyses were conducted for men and women separately. Since young males are the single most risky demographic group,26 separate analyses were also conducted in young and middle-aged adults.
Sensitivity Analysis
To examine the robustness of our findings, we analyzed the association between ADHD medication and serious transport accidents with different definitions of the cohort, exposure, and outcome. First, we analyzed a cohort of individuals who received at least 1 prescription for ADHD medication during the follow-up (identified from the Prescribed Drug Register) but did not necessarily have a registered ADHD diagnosis, which avoids potential bias because some counties have historically been less consistent in reporting outpatient data to the Patient Register (the Prescribed Drug Register has complete coverage).17 Second, to explore if the association between ADHD medication and accidents was explained by drug abuse or criminality, we excluded from the analysis individuals with any drug abuse diagnosis or crime conviction during the follow-up. Third, we performed sensitivity analysis with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment as exposure (instead of ADHD medication). This analysis enabled us to compare the general effects of being prescribed medication with the specific effects of ADHD medication. Fourth, to explore whether the association depends on the type of ADHD medication (stimulants vs nonstimulants), we performed sensitivity analysis on individuals who received only stimulant medications. Fifth, because the health registers lack information about whether the patient was a driver or passenger in an accident, we performed a sensitivity analysis restricted to motorcycle rider injuries (assuming that most patients were drivers). Finally, it is possible that the association between medication and transport accidents was due to life changes accompanied with medication status changes. We addressed this potential confounding by comparing the differences in risk of accidents between 2 consecutive periods (without ADHD medication vs with ADHD medication) for patients with different patterns of medication changes.20
Results
Quiz Ref IDThe study included 10 528 men and 6880 women with ADHD aged 18 to 46 years in 2006 (see Table 1 for descriptive data at baseline and during follow-up). Among men diagnosed with ADHD, 57.5% had been prescribed ADHD medication and 6.5% had at least 1 serious transport accident during follow-up. The corresponding numbers in the matched general population controls were 0.3% and 2.6%, respectively. Among women with ADHD, 65.3% had been prescribed ADHD medication and 3.9% had at least 1 serious transport accident during follow-up compared with 0.2% and 1.8%, respectively, among controls.
Men with ADHD showed significantly higher rates of accidents than those without ADHD (Table 2); the unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 2.45 (95% CI, 2.27-2.65). The association was attenuated but remained significant when controlling for sociodemographic factors, previous psychiatric diagnosis, other psychotropic medications, and criminal convictions (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.32-1.63). Similar results were observed in young and middle-aged men (eTable 1 in the Supplement). We found similar results for women (adjusted HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.24-1.71).
To explore the association between ADHD medication and serious transport accidents, we based all subsequent analyses on patients with ADHD. Comparing the accident rate during medication and nonmedication periods in men showed that ADHD medication decreased the accident rate by 29% (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89) (Table 3). The association was not statistically significant in women (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.78-1.23).
Quiz Ref IDSince patients receiving medication might be different from the nonmedicated patients, a within-individual analysis comparing the risk between medication and nonmedication periods is a more informative test of the association. For men, the stratified Cox proportional hazards regression, a within-individual comparison, showed that medication decreased the accident rate by 58% (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.23-0.75) (Table 3), illustrating that even within an individual (ie, after controlling for all confounders that are constant during follow-up and measured time-varying covariates), ADHD medication was associated with a significant reduction of accidents. The associations were similar in young and middle-aged men with ADHD (eTable 2 in the Supplement). Again, we did not observe a significant association among women.
We estimated the PAF of serious transport accidents due to nontreatment (Table 4), calculated as See the eMethods section in the Supplement for details. Among male patients with ADHD, 20.0% of the total person-years across the 4-year follow-up were medication periods, and 80.0% were nonmedication periods (ie, exposure rate). Based on this exposure rate, 49% of the accidents might be explained by nonmedication under certain assumptions (see the eMethods section in the Supplement; eg, no unmeasured confounding). It should be noted that ADHD prescription rates have increased substantially in Sweden18 and elsewhere.27,28 At the end of follow-up, 37.2% of male patients with ADHD were treated with ADHD medications. With this exposure rate, 41% of the accidents were attributable to nonmedication.
Because of the absence of significant associations in women, all sensitivity analyses of the association between ADHD medication and serious transport accidents were performed in men only. We observed a similar within-individual result when the cohort was identified from the Prescribed Drug Register (HR, 0.38) (Table 5), suggesting our result was robust to selection criteria. We also observed similar results when excluding individuals with drug abuse or criminal convictions during the follow-up, although the estimate did not reach statistical significance because of the smaller sample size. In contrast to the reductions in risks when analyzing ADHD medication, there was no statistically significant association when we investigated the association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication and accidents (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.62-3.14), suggesting the associations with ADHD medication were not due to the proclivity to take or discontinue medications in general. When analyzing stimulant medication only, we found a similar reduction in the rate of accidents (HR, 0.31). When restricting the outcome to motorcycle rider injuries, a strong rate reduction was observed (HR, 0.10). Finally, the risk of accidents increased when patients with ADHD moved from medication periods to nonmedication periods and decreased when moving from nonmedication periods to medication periods (eTable 3 in the Supplement).
Discussion
The present study found that patients with ADHD were at increased risk for serious transport accidents and that in male patients, ADHD medication was associated with reduced rates of accidents, even when using within-individual analyses.
Quiz Ref IDWe found that individuals with ADHD had a 45% to 47% increased rate of serious transport accidents compared with individuals without ADHD, in both men and women. The magnitude of the association is similar to results from a population-based case-control study in North America.7 Studies have suggested that visual inattentiveness and impulsiveness are the largest contributions to the risk of transport accidents in patients with ADHD.6 Although the stability of ADHD from childhood to adulthood is increasingly recognized,24 ADHD is still commonly underdiagnosed in adults.11,29 Our results provide further evidence that the adverse effects of ADHD extend beyond the early years of driving.
Medications that alleviate ADHD symptoms might be expected to translate into safer driving behavior and subsequently reduce the risk of accidents.30 Similar to a study on criminality20 and experimental and clinical studies on stimulant medication effects on driving,3,5,13,31 the results presented here clearly suggest that ADHD medication was associated with reduced rates of serious transport accidents. Compared with nonmedication periods, the transport accident rate during medication periods significantly decreased by 58% in men; a similar effect was found in young and middle-aged men. Our estimates of the PAF suggest that, under certain assumptions, 41% to 49% of the accidents in male patients with ADHD could have been avoided if they had been medicated the entire follow-up. It is important to note, however, that PAF estimates will be lower in countries with higher prescription rates than in Sweden26,27 and that the beneficial effects of ADHD medication need to be weighed against potential adverse effects, including potential overprescription.
To our knowledge, this is the first population-based study of ADHD medication and serious transport accidents. Population-based register data have several strengths compared with clinical studies. The sample size is substantial and representative for the population, therefore avoiding referral bias, selective participation, and other threats to validity and generalizability. Diagnoses of ADHD are made by specialized psychiatrists in Sweden32 and masked to outcomes. Medication for ADHD is recorded when a prescription is filled and free from recall bias. Nevertheless, observational studies are always liable to selection effects.33 The biggest threat is that some patients might receive medication because they are different (usually more symptoms or with comorbid conditions). Unlike randomized clinical trials, observational studies such as ours cannot account for all possible confounders that select individuals to treatment. Our main attempt to control for this was within-individual analyses, which adjust for all potential confounders that are constant during the follow-up (genetic predisposition and early environment). However, unmeasured confounders and mediators that varied during follow-up (engagement with services that provide prescriptions, cyclic nature of the disorder itself, substance use, or crime records) can never be fully ruled out in this research design. To address this issue, we first analyzed accident rates among patients who had discontinued selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors instead of ADHD medication, where no association was found. Second, we analyzed the association in a subgroup of patients without any substance abuse or crime records during follow-up, and the within-individual estimate did not change substantially. Third, we compared the differences in risk of accidents between 2 consecutive periods when patients changed their medication status, and the association remained regardless of the order of change in medication status. Although these analyses are consistent with a causal hypothesis, they are only suggestive. Thus, future randomized clinical trials or observational studies with medication dosage information are obviously needed.
The findings should also be considered in the context of other limitations. First, we measured ADHD medication using dispensed prescriptions, and our study might be affected by poor medication adherence. This is similar to randomized clinical trials, and our effect estimate can be compared with an intent-to-treat analysis. We used a 6-month cutoff between prescriptions to define “off medication,” which is an empirical cutoff based on previous research.18-20 To explore the potential influence of exposure misclassification, we reanalyzed the data with a 3-month cutoff and found a similar result (eTable 4 in the Supplement). If some individuals did not take medication as prescribed, this would reduce the effect estimates; hence, our findings are probably conservative estimates of the actual effects of medication on accidents. Second, because of small numbers, we were not able to explore the specific effect of nonstimulant medication or compare different types of medication. However, the magnitude of the associations was similar when considering all medication and stimulant medication only. Third, we used emergency hospital visits or deaths due to transport accidents as our primary outcome, which is a serious outcome. In addition, we have no information on who was responsible for an accident, so an alternative interpretation might be that ADHD may impair one’s ability to avoid accidents initiated by others. Regardless of the culpability of the accident, injuries and deaths due to transport accidents are important public health concerns. Future research will need to explore whether the findings generalize to less severe outcomes of transport accidents. Fourth, we found no statistically significant evidence that medication was associated with serious transport accidents in female patients with ADHD. The between-individual estimate showed a small protective effect of medication. In contrast, the within-individual estimate suggested that medication increased the risk of accidents. However, these results were most likely chance findings as indicated by the wide confidence intervals. Finally, the findings are based on Swedish population data, and generalizations across cultures and countries should be made with caution. Although the ADHD prevalence and the overall rates of traffic fatality and disability are lower in Sweden compared with other developed counties,1,24 the magnitude of risk among patients with ADHD was similar to other studies.7
Conclusions
Quiz Ref IDWe found that ADHD was associated with an increased risk of serious transport accidents and that ADHD medication use was associated with a reduced rate of accidents among male adult patients with ADHD. The World Health Organization predicts that traffic injuries will become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030.1 The findings call attention to a prevalent, preventable, and costly cause of mortality and morbidity. The association between ADHD and serious transport accidents does not by itself justify withholding a driver’s license; nevertheless, our findings suggest that a large number of injuries and deaths due to traffic accidents associated with ADHD were conferred to periods when patients were off medication. Clinicians should consider informing patients about the increased risk for transport accidents associated with ADHD,34 as well as possible benefits of ADHD medication. This would not only provide opportunities to reduce morbidity and mortality for patients with ADHD but also contribute to the public’s safety in transport.
Back to top Article Information
Submitted for Publication: June 26, 2013; final revision received August 31, 2013; accepted October 4, 3013.
Corresponding Author: Zheng Chang, PhD, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, PO Box 281, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden (zheng.chang@ki.se).
Published Online: January 29, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.4174.
Author Contributions: Drs Chang and Lichtenstein contributed equally to this work. They had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
Study concept and design: Chang, Lichtenstein, D’Onofrio, Larsson.
Acquisition of data: Lichtenstein, Larsson.
Analysis and interpretation of data: Chang, Lichtenstein, Sjölander.
Drafting of the manuscript: Chang.
Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.
Statistical analysis: Chang, Lichtenstein, Sjölander.
Obtained funding: Lichtenstein, D’Onofrio.
Administrative, technical, or material support: Chang, Lichtenstein, D’Onofrio.
Study supervision: Lichtenstein, Larsson.
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.
Funding/Support: This study was supported in part by grants 2010-3184 and 2011-2492 from the Swedish Research Council, grant 2006-1625 from the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, and grant HD061817 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Role of the Sponsor: The funding sources had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.The Narendra Modi-led BJP's near total control of the country's political space marks a clear break from the political arrangements and equations of the past. While it's too early to declare that the Nehruvian construct of India is dead, it is clear that more than six decades after Independence the Indian electorate is convinced that that the Congress need not be a constant in its life. The bigger story in the election results over the last few years though is the collapse of the 'Congress system'. The BJP's ascendance signals the beginning of a time of churn, flux, realignment and re-thinking in Indian politics. Here's a look at how things stand now and how they are expected to shape up in coming days.
The 'Congress system' is finally over: It means the days of the Congress or parties sharing the Congress's outlook towards matters governance, ideology, internal leadership and running the party organisation are set to be eclipsed by a new order. A whole lot of parties in states are entities born out of the Congress and have a similar worldview as the Grand Old Party. The worldview is getting rejected across the country. Logically, the parties should go.
Reversal of roles: The BJP now occupies the political space the Congress held for close to six decades. With all political competition virtually decimated in important states and the Congress not expected to stage a dramatic recovery, the party is set to have a long stint in power with other parties ganging up against it in different formations in different states from time to time.
Race to occupy the opposition space: As the results in the general elections and the assembly polls over the last two years reflect, no opposition exists for the BJP in electorally critical states. Since politics abhors a vacuum, there would be competition among non-BJP parties to capture the opposition space. We could have entered a phase of furious activity involving splintering of parties, voluntary merger and aggressive takeover before the new opposition takes final shape.
Ideological rebranding: This follows from the earlier point. The Narendra Modi-led BJP has set the agenda, now others have to follow. All other parties will be forced to do a drastic re-think on ideology and upgrade to keep in touch with the times. All of them look similar when it comes to political mindset and they need to re-invent and re-position themselves in the political space to stay distinct. The churn is expected to deliver interesting results. The BJP's Right wing ideology may find its challenge in the redesigned ideology of the Left.
The era of the decisive mandate: The country is tired of coalition governments, both at the Centre and the states. The decisive mandate for the BJP in major states and even for regional players such as the Trinamool Congress, the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh indicate that the electorate is no more prepared to accept the uncertainties thrown up by unstable governments. Voters would rather bet big on one party than allow their votes get scattered among several contenders.
People are tired of regional parties: The trend of big regional parties seems to have run its course and the idea of the big national party is making its way back. People are tiring of regional parties and their self-limiting existence. The massive jump in the BJP's vote share vis-a-vis regional parties in the general elections and the assembly election reflects the new trend. Of course, there have been big wins for the regional parties in the last couple of years, but wherever the challenge has been strong from a national party they have faltered.
No place for identity politics: Identity-based parties are on the way out. The performance of the Shiv Sena, and more specifically, the MNS in Maharshtra and Haryana Janhit Party are pointer to the new reality. These parties with their limited agenda have outlived their utility and have no space in a changing, mobile India. The diminishing appeal of such parties have to do with their inability to formulate an agenda beyond parochialism. Their votes are likely to be usurped by bigger parties with more inclusive agenda.
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.Anna Duggar, according to People magazine, will not likely be leaving her cheating, philandering, child-molesting husband, Josh Duggar.
This one is hard to swallow. I can let the Josh Duggar scandals fall into the bin of “he is a terrible person” and, thus, I am not all that shocked about the Ashley Madison news. But when I read this, I felt terrible.
More: Josh Duggar deserves a little more sympathy than people are giving him
A source “close to the family” told People, “Anna will not leave him. As with her in-laws, she is turning more to her faith than ever. She and Josh are probably praying around the clock right now, I would assume.”
That isn’t the most shocking part the source reveals, going on to add, “Maybe not publicly, ever, but privately, there will be some suggestion of whether or not she should have been more aware of the pressures Josh was under, of the issues he was facing, and how she could have better counseled him or helped him.”
At this point, if you are anything like me, you are furious. But the source isn’t done making our blood boil.
More: Jessa Duggar reportedly blames sex scandal for ruining her first pregnancy
The source then says, “She is fully and permanently committed to her marriage and her children. And she’ll have the support of Jim Bob and Michelle and everyone else in their circle in terms of staying with him and making this work. Divorce is not even something that will be discussed.”
More: Duggar supporters react to Josh’s extramarital affairs in a baffling way
All of these unbelievably infuriating statements fall well within the realm of possibility. Remember when Michelle mentioned on camera about how no matter what you feel like, you should “be ready to submit” to your husband for sex? In a religious sect that preaches that women are far inferior than the men, how else is Anna supposed to feel other than this is somehow her fault?
I could understand Anna staying to try to work things out for the sake of her family and children, but to accept any of his wrongdoing as her own: no. Just, no.
More: Jessa Duggar’s new religious Instagram post sparks controversy (PHOTO)
What would you do if you were in Anna’s position? Share in the comments below!Bitcoin is getting intense fame worldwide. Several poker websites have started accepting Bitcoins as a valid payment method in 2017. But with so many options it becomes difficult to choose the best Bitcoin websites for Poker. In this article we will enlist some of the best and trustworthy websites where you can play Poker using Bitcoins.
Best Poker Websites Which Accept Bitcoins in 2017
Betcoin
Betcoin is one of the most popular Poker websites accepting Bitcoin as a valid payment method. The website provides safe and secure Bitcoin transactions. They provide you top-notch support in case if problems and discrepancies. However, it is difficult to find high stakes games if you plan to use Bitcoin on this website. Betcoin Poker gives you a lot of freerolls. There are a plethora of deposit options. You can even use alternatives to Bitcoins like Lietcoin to pay to play poker on this website. You won’t need lengthy documentation or verifications. You can make an anonymous account on Betcoin Poker.
Ignition Poker
Ignition Poker is now accepting Bitcoin. The website and approved by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. This Poker website is a rebranded version of the famous Bovada Poker, which was a great authority name in the Poker circles. You can also pay through your mobile Bitcoin wallet on this Poker website. Cash out time is pretty fast as compared to other Bitcoin Poker websites 2017. Ignition Poker is also giving $100 worth of Bitcoins to new players as a bonus. You can take part in Poker tournaments like Sit-and-Go, Turbo, Mad Monday. No extra fee is involved when you play Poker using Bitcoin.
Seals with Clubs
Seals with Clubs is a decent Poker website where you can play using Bitcoins. This Poker room offers almost all Poker games with Bitcoins, including all stakes, heads up, 6 and 9 max tables. This website is a good option for beginner Poker players because the Poker rooms here aren’t packed all the time.
Sports Betting
Sports Betting needs no introduction in the gambling sphere. The good news is that the website has started accepting Bitcoins from Poker players as a valid payment option. There are several safe and secure options to pay through your Bitcoin wallet on this website. Sports Betting website also accepts Litecoins.
Black Chip Poker
Black Chip poker is a part of the famous Winning Poker Network, which is the second most popular internet network of Poker in the US. Black Chip poker recently started accepting Bitcoins from US players. The website also offers customizable tables and generous bonuses.
============================================================================
What we’re all about at Ace Poker Solutions
We offer the highest EV poker software, and training tools available on the net, recommended and used by today’s top poker players are the world. We’ve been doing this since 2009 with the emphasis on offer unique and creative poker software that will help any level of poker player be a more thoughtful and successful player at the table. We’d invite you to check these titles out:
Leak Buster Software – Leak Buster is poker software that interfaces with your Holdem Manager or Poker Tracker database, and extracts key statistics about your play in order to find your largest poker leaks. It’s unique scoring algorithm weighs the impact of your leak against average win-rates, and suggests ways to correct those leaks through the use of videos (over 50) and written modules.
DriveHUD – DriveHUD is a poker database and HUD for your online poker play. It will overlay a HUD on your online poker tables, and display vital stats about each of the opponents on your table. It will track and record all of the hands you play online, allow to you to review, re-play, filter, graph and analyze all of the hands you’ve played so you can improve your poker game.
Ace Poker Drills – Ace Poker Drills is a poker training software that gives you a “flash card” style training for Odds and Outs, Equity, and Pre- Flop play. The Pre-Flop trainer will help you to easily recognize which hands to play in different positions. Odds and Outs trainer will get you to quickly calculate your odds and outs in various situations. Equity Trainer will quiz you on equity calculations for different hands, so that knowing your equity in a given scenario will be.A detachment of U.S Marines arrived in Syria outside the ISIS de-facto capital of Raqqa, a U.S. defense official confirmed Wednesday to Fox News.
The Pentagon is not publically confirming the move, citing operational security.
The recent deployment is expected to be discussed Thursday when the head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Joe Votel, the top U.S. general responsible for American forces in the Middle East, appears before Congress to testify on the ISIS fight.
Votel had hinted that more troops would be headed to Syria along with artillary when he spoke to reporters while traveling in the region late last month.
The U.S. is authorized to have up to 500 troops in Syria. Before the Marines arrived, roughly 300 U.S. special operations personnel were supporting local Syrian forces there.
In addition, the U.S. is preparing to send hundreds of U.S. troops to Kuwait in order to be ready to join the Islamic State fight if they are needed, the official said. The number would be fewer than 1,000, the official said.
The Washington Post was first to report on the deployment of Marines.
Separate defense officials told the newspaper the group of Marines are working to establish an outpost from which they can fire artillery guns in support of the fight to take back Raqqa from ISIS.
Pentagon leaders sent a new plan to defeat ISIS to the White House late last month. It outlined a strategy that would likely increase the number of U.S. troops in Syria in order to better advise and enable the U.S.-backed Syrian fighters who will take on the battle for Raqqa.
U.S. officials say the battle for Raqqa will look much like the fight in neighboring Iraq, where local forces are in a fierce battle to retake the northern city of Mosul from ISIS. As troops were preparing to move into Mosul, the U.S. set up bases outside the city to use as logistical hubs and as locations for heavy artillery.
The moves to pre-position U.S. troops closer to the fight, so they can be tapped as needed, are the kinds of decisions that military commanders say they need to be able to make more quickly, without going to the White House every time for approval.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.Serie A sides like Juventus, Roma, Inter and Milan have already started revamping their squads with massive spending sprees and in several cases new Coaches, but Napoli stand out as taking the slow and steady approach to success.
Despite coming away empty-handed last season, Napoli should be quite pleased with the progress they have made over the past few years.
The Partenopei’s wildly entertaining and electrifying attack earned plaudits on the Peninsula, and all of continental Europe finally followed suit, ultimately buying into the hype surrounding Coach Maurizio Sarri’s tactical wizardry. Unfortunately for them, scoring a gaudy 94 goals – a league best – was not enough to lift them above Juventus and Roma in the table, meaning their third-place finish forces them into the Champions League preliminary round.
But, if there is a silver lining to be taken from this, supporters can rest easy knowing their top two attackers penned long-term deals, eliminating any possible panic associated with the summer transfer market.
Breakout star Dries Mertens and local lad Lorenzo Insigne each committed to the club with lengthy extensions, signifying their loyalty and belief in the project to compete for top honours. Last summer, when striker Gonzalo Higuain’s €90m release clause was unlocked by Juventus, President Aurelio De Laurentiis proceeded to re-invest back in to the market in hopes of threatening ‘the Old Lady’s’ locomotive run to six straight Scudetti – to no avail.
Arkadiusz Milik, Piotr Zielinski, Amadou Diawara, Marko Rog and Nikola Maksimovic were among the arrivals in a massive spending spree, many of whom barely played at all. This is because of Milik’s injury, but also Sarri’s complex tactics that must be drilled in to players so they become second nature. As this will be the second season for those additions, they should be ready to go and make a much larger contribution.
For the most part, Napoli tend to shy away from emptying the bank, relying on scouting to discover value and sign potential superstars. They do not have pockets as deep as the Bianconeri, meaning they must play the market smart.
Surveying their current roster, Sarri should feel delighted to know it won’t take much flexing - financially speaking - to once again contend for the Scudetto next year. Many assume Napoli will take a 4-2-3-1 shape. From the back, Elseid Hysaj and Faouzi Ghoulam push forward, although rumours suggest that Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno or Roma’s Mario Rui (who already worked with Sarri at Empoli and therefore knows his system) could replace the Algerian this summer.
Anchoring the back bank is one of Serie A’s elite centre-halves, Kalidou Koulibaly, and savvy Spaniard Raul Albiol, but there is optimism amongst Napoli supporters that Nikola Maksimovic can compete for a starting role and work to repay on his lofty €20m obligation triggered this summer.
Transitioning towards the midfield, Napoli hold the luxury of options. Captain Marek Hamsik and young controller Amadou Diawara project to armour the defense, with a supporting cast consisting of Zielinski, Croatian Rog, Allan and Jorginho all at Sarri’s beck and call.
Napoli’s recent run of top three finishes have been heavily dependent on a lethal attack, capable of making even the most fearless of defenses play with caution. The trident of Insigne, Mertens and Jose Callejon score by the dozen as a collective and apply unrelenting pressure. Milik’s full recovery from an ACL tear means the Polish international reclaims his spot as the lone man spearheading an attack which – all things considered – should top the scoring charts once again.
Widely considered to be the top priority this summer, the goalkeeping situation could depend on Pepe Reina and whether or not he is to remain the first choice option. Supporters lament notable lapses and sporadic play in the net last season as fuel for major interest in a long-term replacement.
Consistency has been key for Napoli over the last few years, from the squad to their overall market strategy. Success in modern football is measured mostly by trophies, but for Napoli, extensive analytics and Europe’s perception of their play prove they are trending in the right direction.
There’s a narrowing gap from six-in-a-row title winners Juventus, and while shortsightedness suggests spending big is the way to claim Serie A supremacy, it’s consistency this summer that will ultimately get Napoli there.Feeling a little hamburgled? Looking for something a bit more definitive than an ex-Microsoftie explaining away all the design changes in Windows 10? Well, good news. Microsoft has gone on record about what it’s trying to do with the design of the Windows 10 user experience. And I think you’ll be interested in the official explanation.
You can read the whole thing in a new post to the Blogging Windows blog. It’s written by Albert Shum, who oversees the design of Windows. And since it’s a bit on the long side and hits on some very specific issues. But here’s a point by point recap.
Metro is dead. He doesn’t say it that way, of course. He says it like this: “Our design approach is evolving from our rich history in transportation graphics and the International Typographic Style.” Evolving “from” means “evolving away from,” by the way.
The new thing is … different. Shum says the new Windows design language was driven by developers who wanted it to be easier for people joining from other platforms. So the new design features “some new, more flexible global controls” and an “adaptive [user experience].” I won’t bore you with what they examined en-route to get to where they are today, but the themes were “making content even more expressive,” “overall simplicity” and “more personal expression.”
Phone and tablet look rough now because it’s still early. Which sounds disingenuous when you consider that we’re supposedly three months from launch, yes. “This ‘roughness’ is part of the deal when we send code out early … [and] the builds you see have many different parts of Windows 10 in various states of being finished.” For phone in particular “what you’re seeing today are apps only partially-adapted for the phone UI that we intend to ship when [its] finished.”
Hamburgers. The most dreaded word in UI/UX design today is everywhere, as Shum attests. But they’re listening. “We can use a hamburger icon without pivots on a PC version of the app for better keyboard and mouse navigation and then customize the same app to have pivots with swipe control for better one-hand-use on mobile. We’re making it possible for an app to have both hamburger and pivot controls—but to display the right control at the right time on the right device. This is one of the benefits of the new adaptive UX design.”
Outlook: commands at the bottom of the screen. “We’re happy to let you know we’re not moving away from that pattern—the builds you’ve seen have an incomplete implementation of the ‘command bar’ from Office and in the coming weeks you’ll see most of the commands back in a familiar-but-updated control at the bottom.”
Outlook: Hamburger menu. It’s changing. Relax.
Microsoft Edge. The complaint here is that the address bar should be on the more accessible bottom of the display, and not at the top. The jury is still out on this one. “We’re still investigating designs for this experience, but we don’t have a final approach ready to share just yet. Keep sharing your thoughts and we’ll keep you updated on our work here.”
Squares vs. circles. Metro was all squares and hard edges. Now, we see circles everywhere. People hate change. “For now, we’re going to stick with using circles to represent people, and we hope we’ll hear that you enjoy how easy it is to spot a friend when you |
can do is work hard and hope I get a chance.’’
Still motivated
He said he gets more motivated with each rejection.
“I love to play, and I have 15 years of [anger] inside me, so I have something to prove,” he said. “I don’t want to stop yet. I haven’t had any significant injuries. I keep myself fit all year round. I own a gym, so I can’t get out of shape.”
Rice lives in Madison, Mississippi, near where he grew up. But he says he’d like to move back to Miami, finish his degree at UM and maybe go into coaching. But first, he wants that NBA phone call.Get the biggest Liverpool FC 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
Liverpool FC have been put on red alert after Marseille forward Andre Ayew revealed he wants to leave the club, according to local French paper La Provence.
The Reds have been linked with a move for the 24-year-old before, and reports suggest they will look to move for the Ghanaian international.
And while Newcastle are also said to be interested, it is claimed that Champions League football could steer him towards Anfield.
Meanwhile, despite claims the deal to bring Xherdan Shaqiri to Liverpool is close to completion, Swiss newspaper Blick claims the winger may stay at Bayern Munich next season.
Manchester United and Juventus have also been linked with the Swiss international, but the Reds were thought to be in pole position.
But despite just 10 starts for Bayern last season, media in his homeland believe he could stay with Pep Guardiola.
And finally, Turkish international Caner Erkin has signed a new contract at Fenerbahce - ending Liverpool's supposed interest.
The Reds had been linked to the full back, who was available on a free this summer.
But the 25-year-old will now stay in Turkey after signing a new deal, the Daily Star says.
poll loading Do you want Xherdan Shaqiri at Anfield? 9000+ VOTES SO FAR YES NO
More LFC news
Ian Doyle: Hodgson must be brave or go home
Liverpool struggling to agree Reina fee
Blood Red: Sterling will pay off - if Hodgson gamblesPublished in the December 2013 issue
In 2006, Esquire honored David Droga, the founder of a small ad agency named Droga5, as one of its Best & Brightest and worked with him to launch the Tap Project, a clean-water initiative for UNICEF. Now, seven years and one minority-stake sale to William Morris Endeavor later, we asked Droga (who remains creative chairman of Droga5) to assess the state of his industry.
Anyone who's ever failed to close a pop-up knows that advertising today is more about interruption and intrusion than compelling narratives or a good laugh. We don't add value. If anything, we often take it away.
But all that's going to change. Because it has to. Because it's harder than ever to hold anyone's attention for longer than a split second. Because mergers across our industry, like the one earlier this year between Publicis and Omnicom, are being done in the name of efficiency, not creativity. Because over the past fifteen years, many of those who get paid to practice what's considered the third-least-ethical profession in the country have gotten cynical in our thinking. In fact, no industry works harder at being lazy.
It's time advertising executives got the memo.
THE STRONGEST STORY WINS
Name the strongest man in America. I bet the first image that comes to mind is the Hulk. Or Superman. Paul Bunyan, even. Not Derek Poundstone, three-time winner of the America's Strongest Man competition and the only real person in this paragraph. That's because no one gives a shit about Derek. Only the strongmen with the strongest narratives stand the test of time.
It's not rocket science: The best ads tell great stories. They look and feel like the content you're already consuming. They invite you in. They make you laugh. They teach you something. They also sell. The ingredients for great advertising haven't changed since the Mad Men era: Brands win if their advertising is relevant and people like it.
Gentlemen of the jury, I present the following:
Remember the last life-insurance ad you saw? Let me remind you: It featured salt-and-pepper models draped in cashmere on fifty-foot yachts. That's not what getting older looks like for real Americans. Prudential created hundreds of hours of content documenting people on their first day of retirement. The results are arresting and human. (Full disclosure: Droga5 did this.)
Turns out 60 percent of men's body washes are actually purchased by women. This will come as no surprise to those of you who can't even remember to buy toilet paper. So Old Spice went after women. With Isaiah Mustafa's muscles. And a towel.
Life insurance and man fresheners: What do these things have in common? They all tell rewarding, surprising, great stories that connect directly with human beings, not "consumers" or "clients."
DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH (SPOILER ALERT: DAVID WINS.)
In the past, the size of an agency mattered. Big brands wouldn't even look at ad agencies unless they carried a big stick. But now, in an age when Netflix can win an Emmy, many clients are craving fresh thinking and output and finding them with smaller, more nimble agencies that are throwing themselves into uncharted waters to find new ways of doing things.
Panic buttons are being pressed at every legacy company around the world, and unless the Goliaths (like, say, the newly formed Publicis Omnicom Group) invest in research and development that will reinvent their business, they're going to continue trafficking in dead-end, middle-of-the-road output.
Now, a huge number of clients are happy with that approach, but they're fast becoming a minority. Creativity is a game changer. That's true of society, in advertising and in life. It's the daydreamers that change things, and today the little guys have the best chance of reaping the rewards.
FIGURE OUT MOBILE. NOW.
Your cell phone never leaves your side. It knows more about you than your parents combined. Pretty soon, it'll read your mind. It's the holy grail for advertisers: a portable screen you can buy things on.
Funnily enough, mobile advertising right now is the lowest common denominator. It's intrusive and downright awful 99.9 percent of the time. No one has figured out how to advertise on mobile in a way that doesn't make you throw up in your mouth.
We need to figure this out, the sooner the better. The first brand that can purpose-build great stories for mobile, that can target in a relevant but noncreepy way and understand that it's the individual that matters, not the algorithm, is the first brand to win mobile and, possibly, the future.NBA free agency began at midnight, and there are all kinds of big questions that will be answered over the next few weeks. But beyond the speculation and midnight meetings and cap maneuvering, there’s one question flying under the radar: What will the Nuggets do with Ty Lawson? They have to trade him soon, right?
Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge can shake up the NBA landscape themselves, but on the right team, Lawson could make as big an impact as anyone. This should be a bigger story. Ty Lawson is great.
Look at what he does to Kirk Hinrich here:
Watch him carve up the Grizzlies defense:
Look at him declare war on D.J. Mbenga:
Listen to him talk about Puff Daddy’s parenting this week:
Ty Lawson is great. His numbers are excellent (15.2 points, 9.6 assists last season) and his defense is pretty solid considering his size. He’s also only 27, and he’s signed through 2017 at about $12.5 million per year.
He’s too fun a player to watch him waste away on another awful Nuggets team. He plays so low to the ground, and he’s constantly pinballing his way through the defense, driving everyone nuts. He’s the closest thing the NBA has to Toad in Mario Kart.
Granted, Toad got his second DUI in January, and he straight-up skipped a practice to stay in Las Vegas after the All-Star break, which sums up his approach for most of last season. There are some red flags here. But those red flags just make the situation more pressing. The Nuggets have spent the last two years as a rebuilding team that doesn’t quite know it’s time to rebuild, and that scenario is even more depressing than The Process. Now they’re finally ready to rebuild for real, but those two lost seasons have already killed the trade value of their veterans.
There’s a chance Denver could bring Lawson back and make this work with a new coach — GM Tim Connelly said as much after the draft — but there’s a better chance things will only get more toxic the longer they drag out. It’s probably best for everyone to just move on, especially after the Nuggets drafted Emmanuel Mudiay last week.
Denver was apparently fielding offers for Lawson during last season’s trade deadline, but after landing two first-rounders for Timofey Mozgov, the Nuggets wanted even more for Lawson. That won’t happen — especially in a league awash with great point guards. Assuming the asking price is more reasonable now, let’s take a look around the league at some options. We’ll do this with two categories.
The Pipe Dreams
The Wolves: Rubio and Lawson in the backcourt. Wiggins and Towns up front. Who says no? Want to see the Wolves max out their League Pass potential as soon as possible? Don’t tell me why it wouldn’t work, just come with me on this vision quest full of alley-oops and 120-point games.
The Bucks: Imagine Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo running with a guard who can actually score. Trade Michael Carter-Williams, throw in a pick, whatever it takes. Like Minnesota, this is probably too much fun to really happen, and that’s for the best, because if it did, I’d probably have to move to Milwaukee tomorrow.
The Mavericks: As the Mavs chase everyone from Danny Green to DeAndre Jordan, they are clearly in the market for anyone who can help. For Lawson’s part, he’s already taken to the Instagram comments to express interest, because 2015 is the best. The problem here is that Dallas has almost nothing to trade. Next year’s first-round pick went to the Celtics, and even if the Nuggets relax their asking price, they’re probably not flipping Lawson for Justin Anderson.
The Bulls: Derrick Rose for Ty Lawson. I first saw this idea thrown out by Ryen Russillo, and it’s still not quite that crazy. At some point, The Derrick Rose Experience in Chicago costs more than it’s worth. Getting Lawson back would make a transition far easier than it should be, and it would also ease some of Jimmy Butler’s rumored concerns about the team’s long-term direction. The Nuggets? They could get rid of Lawson and gamble on a few years of Rose to sell tickets while they rebuild, with an outside chance he bounces back and turns into a superstar again. Fans of both teams probably hate this idea, so I’ll move on, but it had to be mentioned.
The Rockets: If there’s a star available, Daryl Morey is interested. The Rockets have been going to war with Patrick Beverley as their floor general for the past two years, but how much scarier would they become with Lawson running next to James Harden? If Morey strikes out with Aldridge, adding Lawson could be a nice consolation, especially since the spike in TV money will free up more cap space next summer. Would Denver do much better than something like Terrence Jones, Sam Dekker, and a future first-rounder? Maybe Houston belongs in the next category.
Now We’re Talking
The Celtics: Marcus Smart can play point guard, but should he? Wouldn’t the Celtics be better off handing the reins to Lawson, with Smart rotating with Avery Bradley at the 2, and Isaiah Thomas coming off the bench? How much fun would that team be? The Celtics’ future depends on the Nets picks regardless; they might as well get crazy in the meantime.
Given Denver’s dwindling leverage, Boston could probably make this happen with the Mavs’ 2016 first-rounder or their own 2016 first-rounder, hanging on to those prized Brooklyn picks. And after losing out on Justise Winslow last week and being ignored by Aldridge and Love this week, I have to imagine Danny Ainge has turned into Owen Wilson at the end of Wedding Crashers.
Maybe it’s time for Lawson to bring Ainge back to life.
The Pistons: Detroit is the dark horse in all of this. Stan Van Gundy is already busy building this team with undervalued guys who fit his system. What about a sign-and-trade that sends a pick and restricted free agent Reggie Jackson back to his home state to handle things while Mudiay develops? Or if the Nuggets don’t want Jackson, Detroit could package next year’s first-round pick with someone like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. That might be enough. (R.I.P., the Kentavious Caldwell-Pope experiment, 2013-15.)
Van Gundy has done enough losing, and the East is wide open. It’s time to get serious. As the Pistons go small around Andre Drummond, it’s hard to imagine a better fit than Lawson.
The Jazz: Rudy Gobert is so dominant protecting the rim that the Jazz could probably surround him with smaller, faster players and just blitz teams every night. Derrick Favors is coming off the best year of his career, but maybe it makes sense to trade him, especially if it means adding a guard who can put them in the playoffs. Or they could keep Favors, and try to package Alec Burks, Rodney Hood, and next year’s first-rounder.
Whatever they do, the Jazz have one of the most exciting young cores in the league. But they still have a massive hole in the backcourt that Trey Burke was supposed to fill, and to hit the next level they probably need to gamble and get lucky. In other words, nobody in the league should be trying harder to make a deal with Denver over the next few weeks.
The Kings: Even Lawson sees this coming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxnMGo_FbjA
He posted the above video to some bootleg streaming app called Makren while watching the NBA draft and smoking a hookah. All I can say about that last sentence is that it’s our best proof yet that Lawson is in a dark place. He’s probably not that different from Ainge right now. He needs to be set free as soon as possible.
George Karl has already expressed interest here, and if the Kings plan on retaining DeMarcus Cousins and keeping him happy, there’s no clearer path toward competing right away than adding a point guard who can actually (a) score, (b) penetrate to open up the defense, and (c) get Boogie the ball on a consistent basis. Giving up a first-round pick would be a gamble, but when the alternative is betting big on Rajon Rondo, anything else feels smart.
The Pacers: Come on, Larry. Paul George is coming back, the Pacers are looking to get smaller and faster … Why can’t this work? They could send Roy Hibbert’s expiring deal to Denver along with next year’s first-rounder, and just like that, an offense that’s been dead for two years begins to come alive. Indiana won’t land stars in free agency, so gambling on the upside of players like Lawson is the best alternative. The Pacers will have a playoff team regardless with George coming back healthy, but if they add an explosive point guard and use this summer to shore up the front line, they could be a GOOD playoff team.
As for Lawson? We just need him on a better team. Somewhere, anywhere. Eastern Conference with Paul George or Stan Van Gundy, or the West with Boogie. Please, Nuggets. Do the right thing. We have to make sure D.J. Mbenga didn’t die in vain. Let Ty Lawson live.Bernie Sanders is winning a third of the vote in Iowa and New Hampshire, according to the latest polls. Nearly 10,000 people showed up at his Wisconsin rally this week. Roughly 250,000 small donors have contributed to his campaign.
At Hillary Clinton’s Brooklyn HQ, it’s as if they’ve never heard of him.
Story Continued Below
The Clinton campaign is reading straight from the front-runner’s playbook when dealing with the socialist Vermont senator. Her staff insists it’s taking Sanders’ polling bump seriously while showing no signs of changing its long-charted course. There are no new plans to attack Sanders, no alterations of the forthcoming policy rollouts that will dot the summer calendar, and no expected leftward sprints to match him policy-for-policy. She doesn’t even mention his name on the campaign trail.
Instead, the former secretary of state’s political operation is making a show of its organizational muscle and safeguarding its position beyond the early-voting states. Far from sweating over reports of standing-room-only crowds at the Vermonter’s events, the Clinton campaign is breathing a quiet sigh of relief that it’s Sanders — and not a potentially more viable primary opponent like Elizabeth Warren — nipping at its heels this summer. The senator’s name pops up in conversations at Clinton’s Brooklyn headquarters, but he’s not the topic of the day, week or month — not even in the candidate’s chats with donors, who are keeping a close tab on the state of play.
“No one’s hair is on fire about him,” explained Maria Cardona, a national Democratic strategist who remains in close touch with the Clinton camp after working for Hillary’s 2008 campaign. “Not even the nose hairs. Nothing.”
Now that Clinton’s sprint to fill her campaign coffers by the end of the fundraising quarter is finished, the former secretary of state will begin periodically unveiling detailed policy proposals throughout the summer, up to the first primary debate in the fall. Her team has indicated that she will increasingly go after her Republican opponents by name — as she has started doing over the past month — but that she will in all likelihood avoid granting Sanders or any of her other Democratic rivals the dose of attention that would come with a direct barb from the dominating favorite.
That’s been the plan at least since Clinton set the date for her New York City kickoff rally in June, long before a CNN/WMUR poll showed Sanders within 8 points of her in New Hampshire last week and a Quinnipiac poll this week showed Sanders with by far his best showing yet in Iowa — 33 percent.
Clinton allies are quick to point out that they’ve expected a close primary since the start of the campaign — the team’s first memo to its surrogates in April outlined how to project that very message — and, accordingly, there was a broad-strokes plan in place accounting for a rival’s rise, even if many were surprised by its vigor or the challenger’s identity.
The explanation for the Sanders surge, Democrats aligned with Clinton and some who are unaffiliated say, is that he has largely captured the share of voters who had previously expressed a preference for Warren, who’s not running. In that way, he’s consolidated the anti-Clinton crowd.
“Everyone who’s worked in Democratic politics knows there’s a 30 to 40 percent vote that’s the ‘anybody but the front-runner’ share,” explained Chris Lehane, a veteran of Bill Clinton’s campaigns who is now helping Hillary raise money.
And because many Clinton allies inside and outside of Brooklyn dismiss Sanders’ chances to mount a long-term challenge due to his liberal politics and troubles connecting with large portions of the Democratic base — like minority voters — they say they’re relieved Warren’s supporters have swung to him, rather than another candidate.
“The fact that it’s Bernie is fantastic, because Bernie is perfectly wired for this role,” said another national Democratic operative close to the campaign. “Everything about Bernie conveys the opportunity and limitations of his candidacy. It’s perfect for him, it’s perfect for the Clinton campaign, and it’s good for the party. I don’t think Democrats are wringing their hands saying, ‘What if Bernie wins?’”
As such, Clinton has avoided actively antagonizing Sanders or the voters backing him — in fact, some allies were annoyed when Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Clinton supporter, attacked Sanders for his left-wing views on MSNBC last week.
Among campaign fundraisers and surrogates, there is very little appetite for a direct fight with Sanders, whose supporters Clinton would need against a Republican opponent come November 2016.
“Hillary supporters that have run for election often, like myself — I’m 12-2, if I was a pitcher I’d be worth about $15 million a year — we’re saying, ‘Stay the course. Bernie Sanders is not going to be the nominee,’” said former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.
Clinton, whose campaign even declined to publicly promote the endorsement of Sanders’ home-state governor, Peter Shumlin, has shown no signs of deviating from its plan. At her first public appearance after the New Hampshire poll’s release, for example, she refused to mention the Vermonter, instead railing against Donald Trump. Former bank executive Robert Wolf, a Democratic donor, said Sanders’ name didn’t come up once during a two-hour meeting he had with Clinton last week.
There is one insurance policy, however, that belies the idea that the Sanders’ challenge is inconsequential: Last week the Clinton campaign hired Jeff Berman, the consultant who built Obama’s delegate-winning strategy in 2008. It also held a weekend of grass-roots actions across the country — from local meetings to canvasses — to demonstrate its reach in states that could matter if the primary were to stretch past the first four early-voting ones.
But as long as history repeats itself — the Clinton campaign’s refrain is that no non-Iowan has broken 50 percent in that state’s Democratic caucus — early-state supporters insist Clinton should be fine.
“I did this with John Kerry, I did this with Al Gore,” said New Hampshire lawyer Billy Shaheen, the husband of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and a close Clinton friend. “When I was running their campaigns in New Hampshire they both went from 20-point leads to 20-point deficits. Deficits! In December 2003, the whole press had written John Kerry off because he was in single digits, and the election was 35 days away.”
Getty
Bob Shrum, who played top roles in both of those campaigns, agreed: “This could be like Gore-[Bill] Bradley, where Bradley in September ’99 looked like a real challenger. Gore then won Iowa overwhelmingly, New Hampshire closely, and then every other primary and caucus.”
And, he added, echoing the sentiments of Clinton-allied Democrats who refuse to acknowledge Sanders as a serious rival. “Kerry was written out before coming back in Iowa in part because Iowans got serious and said, ‘Who’s a plausible candidate against Bush?’ There’s something about Bernie’s personality that’s attractive to people, and I believe he’ll go to the convention with a reasonable number of delegates. But do I think that means Hillary Clinton should declare all-out war on him? No.”Hillary Clinton is set to launch a full-fledged attack Thursday on a newly evolving group that's embracing the Trump candidacy: the so-called "alt right."
What is the alt right?
In the words of National Review's Washington Editor Eliana Johnson, like so many other creations of the digital age, it's "an amorphous internet movement." Its members are indistinguishable from other Trump supporters -- mostly white, male, blue collar, rural or red state, and enthused about Trump’s immigration reform and his promise to bring jobs back to America.
But unlike other Trump supporters, the alt right followers have rejected the philosophy of the traditional GOP with unusual vehemence -- even coining a new phrase, "Cucks," to label traditional, inside-the-Beltway Republicans. It means conservatives who are emasculated or neutered by globalist/progressive forces.
Critics on both the left and the right have found a villain in the alt right, labeling its followers as uneducated racists and sexists who are energized by Trump’s rejection of political correctness.
Clinton's campaign describes the alt right as "embracing extremism and presenting a divisive and dystopian view of America which should concern all Americans, regardless of party."
But the alt right movement is marked by a diversity not so easily categorized. Among its members -- Jared Taylor, editor of the non-profit American Renaissance. Asked if he is a white supremacist, as many critics contend, Taylor told Fox News, "Absolutely not. I don't even know what that term means."
He described what drives his long-held beliefs and his new association with the alt right. "The idea that America is just a nation up for grabs, that whoever can get here owns the place. No. We think that the United States has an identity and that the people who are extended from the founding stock have a right to resist dispossession."
Also identifying with the alt right -- Breitbart columnist Milo Yiannopolis. A flamboyant, openly gay conservative, he is embarked on what he describes as his intentionally offensive "Dangerous Faggot Tour" of college campuses.
In a recent interview, Yiannapolis described his mission. "If people rise up now and say this social justice thing, this language policing, this political correctness, safe space, trigger warnings, micro aggressions, this stuff is horseshit... and if enough people smash its stranglehold on the public square, it will never recover."
Some Jewish conservatives who have criticized Trump -- Fox News contributor and National Review columnist Jonah Goldberg among them -- have been targeted by the alt right with hate mail and tweets that use holocaust imagery.
Conservative writer and pundit Ann Coulter, author of the new book, "In Trump We Stand," believes the alt right is a predictable outgrowth of multiculturalism, as presently manifested in California, perhaps the most diverse state in the union.
"When you have a multicultural society, you don't have political parties anymore," she says. "You have people voting their ethnic group and that's what you see in California. It’s not like the Nancy Pelosi Democrats against the Chuck Schumer Democrats, it's the Asian Democrats voting against the Hispanic Democrats."
National Review's Johnson says, "Whatever you say they are, they tend to say they are not -- whether it's anti-semitic, racist, countercultural or anti-establishment. They've become very difficult for people to nail down and define as a political movement."
History has shown that whenever cultures undergo economic hardship and technological upheaval, ethnic groups often blame one another for their difficulties. The present political season may be no exception.Current status:
High School DxD is yet to be renewed for season 4
We monitor the news to keep you updated on the release date of High School DxD season 4. At the moment, the TNK studio is yet to renew or cancel the anime. If you want to get automatically notified of the anime series renewal, please, sign up for updates below
Photo: TNK
Season 3 of High School DxD BorN premiered on April 3, 2015 on the Japanese television channel AT-X, and it was simultaneously released on the online streaming services AnimeLab and FUNimation Entertainment.
The adventures of Issei Hyodo, a womanizer who dreams of having a harem, are continuing. He has become a little more masculine, but still very amorous. Apparently, female demons have taught him nothing. They killed him, then revived him, gave him special powers and made him their servant. And he is still dreaming of being surrounded by beautiful girls. In a sense, his dream has come true, only that he is surrounded by strong and fierce girls, although with great bodies.
The graphics in High School DxD BorN are outstanding, especially when it comes to magical battles. Fanservice is everywhere, and, by the way, the AT-X channel is broadcasting the uncensored version of the anime. Well, it is very possible that another season will be made, because the ranobe on which the anime series is based is still being published. So, let’s hope for a fourth season in the spring of 2016. Since there have been no official statements yet about the fate of season 4, check back with us for the latest news, or subscribe to our notifications to get the release date of High School DxD BorN season 4 automatically sent to your inbox as soon as it is officially announced.
Are you a fan of this anime series? Have you already started watching season 3.After the First World War, Hans von Seeckt, the commander-in-chief of the small German army that remained from the Versailles Treaty, established numerous small committees of handpicked officers to study the war. The German army had suffered tremendously in the war. With the Versailles treaty, shame was added to defeat. It would have been easy for the army to turn away from the experience of the war, to reject the past as an anomaly, or to blame the army’s failures on the strategic miscalculations of the political and military leaders of the Prussian Empire. But Seeckt refused to take the easy way out. In his studies of the German army, he tasked officers with addressing the following questions: What new situations arose in the war that had not been considered before the war? How effective were the army’s prewar views in dealing with the above situations? What new guidelines have been developed from the use of new weaponry in war? Which new problems raised by the war have not yet found a solution?
In exploring these issues, the German army began its transformation into the titanic force that would advance Hitler’s awful vision. The specter of Nazism is so dark that it is awkward to suggest we may learn anything good from the interwar experience of the German army. But let us remember that the German army’s innovative foundation was well established long before it came under Hitler’s control.
Today, the United States Army is taking stock of itself. The difficulties of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have prompted persistent and painful debates inside and outside the Army: What is the Army for? How should it prepare for conflict? What are the greatest risks for which it should prepare? The release of the report of the National Commission on the Future of the Army (NCFA) gives us occasion to ask (yet again) what the Army and the nation have learned from recent military experiences and how the Army should move forward. The answers that the commission offers are both familiar and disappointing, and the contrast with Seeckt’s studies is telling. Whereas Seeckt focused relentlessly on seeing the past clearly, the NCFA report exhibits a sort of strategic amnesia.
The single greatest challenge for the U.S. Army is maintaining a force that is capable of accomplishing two missions: first and foremost, defeating a capable adversary in large-scale land operations; second, conducting effective stability operations in areas in which governance is weak or nonexistent. Not only does the NCFA report offer no insight as to how the Army can maintain this balance, but it also virtually ignores stability operations altogether.
The necessity of the first mission — what the NCFA calls “deterrence and assurance” — is beyond question. The commission writes that effective deterrence “depends on partners and adversaries believing that the U.S. military has the capability and capacity to win in combat.” Implicit in this statement is that the Army must maintain that capability and capacity. No one denies this. Many of the commission’s recommendations seek to reduce perceived risks in the Army’s ability to fight conventional war, such as increasing armored brigade combat team capacity, and modernizing field artillery and short-range air defense.
In contrast, the second mission — stability operations — is barely discernible in the report. The term “stability operations” is omitted from NCFA section describing the Army’s core missions, despite its remaining one of the twelve Joint Force Prioritized Missions of the 2015 National Military Strategy, one in which the Army has a unique responsibility. The commission vaguely alludes to stability operations when it writes that the Army’s counter-terrorism activities and efforts to counter violent extremism “could include sustained land operations for a gray area.” What does that mean? One gets the sense that the commission wanted to say stability operations or counterinsurgency (COIN), but could not bring itself to use terms that have fallen out of favor. Indeed, the phrase “stability operations” occurs only three times in the report and never in the discussion of the Army’s core missions, or in connection with any recommendation. Other words connected with stability operations are absent or barely register. The terms “wide area security,” “counterinsurgency,” “guerilla,” “irregular,” and “asymmetric” do not appear anywhere in the report. “Unconventional” is used twice. The overall impression is of an expurgation of the language in an attempt to forget painful experiences. This is a mistake. Seeckt pointed the German army to an innovative future not by ignoring its recent past, but by studying it.
Within the Army, three fallacies are employed to justify treating recent stability operations with damnatio memoriae, the ancient Roman practice of blotting out the names of traitors to the state to effectively eliminate them from history.
The first is the fallacy of residual capability, which posits that an Army capable of defeating a high-end adversary will have the time, space, and ability to learn what it needs to about other kinds of warfare. Experience suggests otherwise. The 2006 Army and Marine Corps Counterinsurgency manual asserts, “Western militaries too often neglect the study of insurgency. They falsely believe that armies trained to win large conventional wars are automatically prepared to win small, unconventional ones.” In an April 11, 2003 briefing, the Central Command spokesman was asked what the U.S. military was going to do to restore order amidst looting and increasing anarchy in Baghdad. His unfortunate response epitomized the problems of transitioning an army to stability operations without preparation:
We seek to create conditions of stability where people can walk the streets safely without looting, without violence, without exploding vehicles. That hasn’t occurred yet. So we’ll play a role in that, a military role inside of that to achieve that purpose. In some cases it may require shooting machine guns in downtown. At no point do we see really becoming a police force.
The second is what we call “the curveball fallacy.” A baseball player who has great hitting success until he faces a pitcher who can throw a good curveball cannot be successful simply by refusing to swing at those pitches. Until he learns to hit the curve, pitchers will know how to strike him out. The Army cannot eschew developing and retaining capability in stability operations simply because such operations are hard or because the American people do not like them. The COIN manual states:
Most enemies either do not try to defeat the United States with conventional operations or do not limit themselves to purely military means. They know that they cannot compete with U.S. forces on those terms. Instead, they try to exhaust U.S. national will, aiming to win by undermining and outlasting public support.
We should assume that our adversaries are intelligent and will pursue ways of war that exploit their advantages and minimize their disadvantages.
The third is the fallacy of policy failure. In this view, the experiences of Iraq and Afghanistan are discounted because both wars were failures not of the military, but of policy. In this vision, Iraq was an unjustified war of choice in which the military suffered as the instrument of an administration that was willfully blind to the realities of the war and refused to prepare for the huge governance project that the invasion would entail. Similarly, the invasion of Afghanistan — while more justified — has failed to achieve its objectives because of a combination of limited resources (due to the Iraq War) and a misconceived federalist project. Thus, the hard military lessons of both wars are dismissed as the results of policy failures. But this view oversimplifies the cause-and-effect relationship between stability operations and policy. While prolonged stability operations may sometimes be the consequence of bad policy, they may also result from good policy. Indeed, stability operations are an enduring military requirement for the United States, independent of whether policy is good or bad or whether a war is one of choice or necessity.
A country can satisfy the political objectives of its wars in two ways: by replacing the government with another effective entity that accepts and enacts these objectives, or by compelling the existing government to accept and enact them. In the first Gulf War and Kosovo, the United States and its allies used the compellence approach: After achieving limited objectives, the United States allowed hostile regimes to remain in power. By contrast, the United States pursued regime change in Japan and Germany after World War II and in Iraq and Afghanistan in the modern day. Compulsion allows military operations to coerce or compel through purely destructive or punitive operations, but requires that the United States accept the continued rule of an enemy regime or other status quo government. However, such acceptance is sometimes impossible, either because the United States cannot accommodate an enemy regime or because the existing government is too weak to enact a political settlement. In such cases, some other entity for enacting policy and establishing favorable governance must be found or created. This cannot be achieved without robust ground forces.
The effectiveness of ground forces in stability operations derives from their ability to create space for governance. U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis famously instructed Marines under his command, “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.” The value of ground forces is most evident if you change the order of that statement: You start with the plan to kill before transitioning to being polite and professional. Only ground forces possess this capability, which can see soldiers start the day running a checkpoint and end the day running a clinic. The sad legacy of the Iraq War originated in the U.S. military’s success in utterly destroying the mechanism by which the Iraqi government had compelled its citizens for decades without a realistic approach to replacing that mechanism. This was a conceptual failure to understand the demands placed on ground forces in creating governable space, and both policymakers and military leaders shared in the failure.
The NCFA report is part of a broader pattern of a denial of the significance and relevance of the Army’s recent experiences. Nowhere is this denial more evident than when the commission asserts that the Army needs “to recover readiness from the past fourteen years of war.” Clearly, a unit that is deployed fighting one kind of war is probably not ready to redeploy immediately to a different kind of war. However, given the low number of soldiers currently deployed in combat areas, the “recover readiness” assertion makes sense only under the assumption that the Army’s experience during the past fourteen years is irrelevant to the wars the Army will fight in the future. The recommendation that the Army subsidize expansion or modernization in other areas by cutting two infantry brigade combat teams underscores this point. Damnatio memoriae, indeed.
The commission does note that “under current strategic guidance, the Army and other Defense components are directed not to size themselves for large-scale, long-duration stability operations,” |
at it. Looking at it again today, from initial appearances, it seems that it’s a list of texture names before they were, one can assume, renamed which are then, usually, followed by a path that likely points to where each texture was moved to and renamed as. After looking through the document a little more, I then stumbled upon a few names I recognised from Half-Life WADs; “aaatrigger”, “origin” and “clip”. Immediately it seems likely this is a list of names that were used for textures, before Valve transitioned to it’s VMT (Valve Material Type) and VTF (Valve Texture Format) implementation, and were using WADs instead.
So Source probably used WADs for storing textures earlier in development, big deal! We knew this was probably the case already! Hammer even has support for converting WADs to VMFs too, isn’t that more than enough to suggest this?
Well, this is very true. However, this information seems to suggest that initially Half-Life 2 had more of a focused texture-set, as the textures original names seem to imply more specific functions or areas in which they were to be used. An example could be a number of textures here that have the naming convention, “deep”. These were very likely intended for the Citadel, the mentioning of “core” in some of their names seems to suggests this, as the Core within the Citadel was originally to be featured in Half-Life 2, before being recycled as a concept in Episode One, and there’s no other “core” within the Half-Life 2 design that I’m aware of.
The creation of specific sets of textures, for chapters or uses, was something that had previously been done for games such as Doom, Quake, Unreal and Half-Life, so it’s interesting to see that initially Half-Life 2’s texture set was being produced in a similar way. It seems for the final game, very few textures remained that were intended to be used exclusively in certain areas and the majority of them became, in some sense, generic. That said, tags within materials are still used as a recommendation and Valve still mixes around their texture palette to make chapters appear more varied and unique from the last.
It’s rather peculiar however, as I’ve never seen any VMFs within the leak reference WAD textures, but only textures with specific paths. From what I recall, the earliest VMF in the leak is from 2001, it’d be interesting to see if the textures in this document (their renamed counterparts anyway), matchup with textures that we can still see in those earliest levels. However, the implication of this could mean that this document and the textures it references are actually older than the earliest VMFs we have, I have to emphasize to people that the modification dates for files within the leak are not accurate in most cases.
It appears that a number of textures mentioned in this document however, are also missing from the leak. A few examples are “brickwall026c” and “brickwall026b”, which are mentioned in the document but otherwise missing. It’s also interesting to note that a lot of textures were repurposed as something else, “lab_brick06a” became “stonefloor001a” for example.
I decided to put a collection of these together, which you can see below, to see what sort of textures they originally intended to use for the lab. I’ve seen these textures used in some iterations of the VMFs and some of them remain for the final version of Kleiners Lab, though I don’t believe I’ve seen “lab_yellowbrick02a” and “lab_yellowbrick02b” used in any VMFs I’ve seen. It’s also very much possible that these textures looked differently when they were originally created, and for some of these sets there are a number of additions that aren’t mentioned in the document, which might imply that Valve were still actively creating new textures at the time.
That’s all I’ve got for the moment but I hope this was insightful. Keep in mind, again, that this is speculation and I could be entirely wrong about what I’m saying, the point is for you to take this information in and hopefully correct me so a complete picture can be formed for everyone else.
If you enjoyed this, I’ll definitely pursue it again in the future. Thanks for reading!
Update
Thanks to Jackathan, on Reddit, for correcting me in regards to my assumption on “deep” being the Citadel. Deep is a name that Valve used to refer to Kraken Base, which can also be seen used for levels intended for that particular chapter of the earlier storyline.
He also added that the earliest VMF that was leaked is actually from 2000, which was a port of c1a3a from Half-Life.Diamond and Silk SHRED Hillary Clinton Over Her Delayed Weinstein Statement
As previously reported, embattled Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is the subject of a devastating expose detailing decades of sexual harassment.
Weinstein is one of Hillary Clinton’s biggest donors, having raised mega bucks for the failed Democrat presidential candidate. Weinstein even threw a fundraiser for Clinton back in June, raising $1.8 million.
Mr. Weinstein has also donated at least $250,000 to the Clinton Foundation, reports the Washington Times.
It took staunch feminist Hillary Clinton FIVE DAYS to speak out against Weinstein’s sexual abuse accusations.
Not only did it take five days and the conservative media pounding Hillary for her to make a statement on Weinstein’s sexual abuse accusations, the staunch feminist sent her aide, Nick Merrill to tweet it out for her.
Hillary simply ‘re-tweeted’ Nick Merrill’s statement. Hillary’s statement contained less than 40 words — 38 to be exact. Just three lines!
Hillary got savaged on Twitter by Trump supporters for taking so long to respond to such a serious accusation against one of her dear friends and donors.
Enter Diamond and Silk.
The duo slammed Hillary Clinton Tuesday afternoon by using Michelle Obama’s own words against the former presidential candidate.
Diamond and Silk tweeted Tuesday afternoon, “Michelle Obama said: Women who voted against Hillary Clinton voted against their own voice, yet it took Hillary 5 days to use her voice to denounce Weinstein. She’s a champion all right; as long as it’s not messing with her money!”
Michelle Obama said: Women who voted against Hillary Clinton voted against their own voice, yet it took Hillary 5 days to use her voice to denounce Weinstein. She’s a champion all right; as long as it’s not messing with her money! pic.twitter.com/cywkWwvSi6 — Diamond and Silk® (@DiamondandSilk) October 10, 2017
A few hours before Hillary released a carefully crafted statement on Weinstein through her spox, Diamond and Silk slammed her saying, “Hillary claims to be a champion for women, yet one of her biggest donors admits to sexually abusing women and she’s silent……she is so clueless; that’s why she keeps running around asking…..What Happened?”
OUCH! And this is why we LOVE Diamond and Silk!
Hillary claims to be a champion for women, yet one of her biggest donors admits to sexually abusing women and she’s silent……she is so clueless; that’s why she keeps running around asking…..What Happened? pic.twitter.com/yId6XPlFeo — Diamond and Silk® (@DiamondandSilk) October 10, 2017Remember when the Miley Cyrus twerk incident that everybody would not shut up about back in the summer of 2013?
Korn frontman Jonathan Davis thinks that is just one example of how President Barack Obama is using Cyrus, and other celebrities, to become a dictator.
Davis explained the meaning behind the band's new song and video, Spike in my Veins, to TMZ. The singer says:
"I think that our government uses those people to distract from what's really going on...the thing with Miley Cyrus at the VMAs, when that went down, I think Barack Obama passed a law that he is basically a dictator, he can imprison whoever he wants, he doesn't have to charge them, he can hold them as long as he wants."
It sounds like Davis is referring to the National Defense Authorization Act. The president signed that bill into a law back in January of 2012.As reported previously, when discussing Hillary Clinton's email in which revealed US intel and strategy regarding the middle east, and disclosed that Qatar and Saudi Arabia were funding the Islamic State, John Podesta said he was willing to discuss sensitive information with his future boss Hillary Clinton while he worked for President Obama and she was a private citizen in August 2014, but he knew better than to send the intel over Clinton’s private server from his Gmail account, emails released Thursday by WikiLeaks show.
In the exchange which Hillary Clinton previewed by stating"sources include Western intelligence, US intelligence and sources in the region", and who had resigned as secretary of state 18 months earlier, asked then-Obama counselor Podesta if he knew who was responsible for an Aug. 18 airstrike in Tripoli, in which unidentified bombers blew up an Islamist-controlled arms depot in the Libyan capital. “Yes and interesting but not for this channel,” Podesta replied in the Aug. 19, 2014 message to Clinton’s hrod17@clintonemail.com account.
As fox previously observed, the conversation suggests that Podesta, now Clinton’s campaign chairman, was willing to provide Clinton information that had not been made public. Reports from The New York Times and The Associated Press at the time included denials of involvement from the U.S., France, Italy and Egypt and debunked claims of responsibility from a rogue Libyan general. Podesta, in his email response, indicated he had his own sources. But he also apparently recognized he shouldn’t share the information over their personal accounts. It's unclear if he was concerned more about the security on her clintonemail.com account or his Gmail account -- which would be hacked months later, in turn exposing the email chain Thursday.
Podesta’s concern could show that at least one close Clinton ally was aware of the risk of sharing sensitive or classified information over the unsecured server.
And today, thanks to the latest - and perhaps last - Wiki release, we know that Hillary agreed with Podesta when in the last email in that thread she replied simply, "got it." It is unclear if this was the first time Hillary Clinton realized that sending potential confidential intelligence by private email is frowned upon.Cheryl Mills, Hillary Clinton’s State Department chief of staff and her personal attorney, received immunity from the Justice Department in order to cooperate with the FBI’s investigation into the former secretary of state’s email practices.
The Associated Press reported the bombshell news on Friday.
Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, told the wire service that Mills, who served as Clinton’s chief of staff, granted federal investigators access to her laptop on the condition that nothing found on the computer could be used against her.
Two other former State Department officials also received immunity, Chaffetz said. Heather Samuelson, a former State Department official who now works as a lawyer for Clinton, received immunity. So did John Bentel, a former State Department official who managed the agency’s IT systems.
“No wonder they couldn’t prosecute a case,” Chaffetz said of the Justice Department. “They were handing out immunity deals like candy.”
The DOJ declined to prosecute anyone involved in the Clinton email matter. That decision was made just days after Clinton’s July 2 interview with federal investigators. Both Mills and Samuelson attended that interview in their capacity as Clinton’s lawyers.
Five people are now known to have been granted DOJ immunity in exchange for cooperation with the FBI’s investigation.
In addition to Mills, Samuelson and Bentel, two computer technicians who managed Clinton’s email servers both received limited immunity. Bryan Pagliano is one of them. He is the former Clinton campaign staffer who took a job at the State Department in May 2009 and managed Clinton’s server while it resided in the basement of her New York home.
Paul Combetta also received immunity. He is a technician with Platte River Networks, the Denver-based IT firm that managed Clinton’s email system after she left the State Department in 2013.
Mills had contact with both Pagliano and Combetta regarding Clinton’s email system. But it is her interaction with Combetta that has proved most intriguing.
In July 2014, Mills — who by then was working as Clinton’s personal lawyer — asked Combetta to forward her and Samuelson copies of Clinton’s email backups. Clinton’s team was at that time negotiating a deal with the State Department to turn over Clinton’s work-related emails. The State Department, in turn, had reached a deal with the House Select Committee on Benghazi regarding the records.
Ahead of that handover, Combetta appears to have sought help on scrubbing Clinton’s email address from her emails. As was revealed earlier this week, Combetta appears to have posted on a Reddit message board asking other users how to “strip out” the email address from an account for a “VIP.”
“They don’t want the VIP’s email address exposed to anyone, and want to be able to either strip out or replace the email address in the to/from fields in all of the emails we want to send out,” Combetta wrote. (RELATED: Computer Tech Who Asked How To ‘Strip Out’ Email Addresses May Have Worked For Hillary)
Combetta also appears to have misled the FBI during one or more of his interviews with investigators. Weeks after Clinton’s email practices were reported, and after Congress had subpoenaed all of her records, Combetta used a software program called BleachBit to erase Clinton’s email backups. Combetta gave the FBI conflicting answers about why he decided to use BleachBit.
He also held conference calls during the week of March 25-31, 2015 to discuss Clinton’s emails. He used BleachBit in the interim. The first call was with staffers who worked for Bill Clinton. The second call was with Hillary Clinton’s attorneys, including Cheryl Mills. According to the FBI’s report of its investigation, Combetta invoked attorney-client privilege when asked by the FBI what was said during that conference call.
While it is still unclear why Mills was granted immunity, TheDC found some apparent inconsistencies claims she purportedly made to the FBI during her May 27 deposition. Mills asserted that she was not aware of Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. But Mills was included on numerous email chains exchanged during Clinton’s tenure in which the server was explicitly discussed. (RELATED: Clinton Aides Told FBI They Didn’t Know About Server, But Emails Suggest Otherwise)
Samuelson and Bentel are also key figures in the email scandal.
In 2014, Samuelson directed the effort to determine which of Clinton’s State Department emails counted as federal records. Bentel appears to have given inconsistent answers about what he knew of Clinton’s server while he was at State. He told the House Select Committee on Benghazi that he did not know about Clinton’s server, but the State Department inspector general interviewed two of Bentel’s subordinates who said that he told them that Clinton’s server had been approved by State’s legal adviser. They also said that Bentel ordered them not to discuss the server. (RELATED: Ex-State Dept. Official May Have Lied To Congress About Hillary’s Server)
The Daily Caller has reached out to Mills and her attorney, Beth Wilkinson, through email for comment and will update if she responds.
Reached for comment, the Justice Department referred TheDC to the FBI.
“We don’t have any comment,” an FBI spokeswoman said.
This post has been updated with additional details.
Follow Chuck on TwitterThis week's North American update has relatively slim pickings, with Wii missing out entirely. There's one title each for eShop and DSiWare, a reduced Mario classic and a couple of videos, so let's look at what we have.
eShop
3D Solitaire (Zen Studios, $2.99) — The title tells you almost everything you need to know, with two modes that allow you to play Klondike 1 or Klondike 3 (one or three cards drawn at a time, respectively), and some attractive 3D animated backgrounds. It's a simple game at a budget price that gets the job done, as our 3D Solitaire review explains.
DSiWare
The Lost Town — The Jungle (CIRCLE Entertainment, 500pts) — The second title in the series, this action/adventure RPG tasks you with exploring the effects of a meteorite that landed in the Amazon jungle in 1997. We awarded the first title 7/10 in our The Lost Town — The Dust review, and we'll see whether this one's mix of quests, exploration and shooting are worth the adventure in the next few days.
Month of Mario
Super Mario Land (Reduced to $2.99 from 2nd August to 8th August) — The debut of the Super Mario series on Game Boy may not match the heights of its two sequels, but it's still a fun experience and now available with a $1 discount. Check out our Super Mario Land review to learn more about it.
Nintendo Video
Dinosaur Office: Coffee Run (free) — The dinosaurs face the only thing worse than extinction: a coffee shortage.
As the first part of a series over the next few weeks, there'll be a video for New Super Mario Bros. 2 on the eShop that shows one of the title's Rainbow courses. If discovered in the game, these areas apparently lead to a colossal number of coins, so this may be worth a watch.
So, what will you be downloading this week? Let us know in the comments and vote in the poll, below.The north end of Wood St. in West Oakland is a frontage road for warehouses, Raimondi Park athletic field, and one of the city’s largest homeless encampments. Constructed largely of plywood, plastic tarps and an assortment of vehicles in varying states of repair, the population includes individuals and families.
Against a chain-link fence, a line of tents, RVs, trailers and sheds extends from Grand Ave. to 26th Street. At times, the camp creeps several feet into Wood St., already made narrower by railroad tracks and delivery trucks.
A fire on New Year's Day destroyed most of Lee's home and possessions.
On the evening of January 1, a fire broke out in a section of the camp managed by Lee, a disabled veteran. Off and on, he estimates that he’s lived on Wood Street for four years.
That night, a guest smoking a cigarette “lost track of things” and started the fire, he said. As we talk, a bulldozer gathers the burnt remnants of his home, as a police car with flashers on blocks the road. Firefighters arrived about a half hour after the fire began.
Today, Lee lives in his minivan with his dog.
“I asked them why it took so long,” he said, watching the cleanup crew. “If they had got here in time, I probably could have saved some of it.” Today, his living space is limited to a Ford minivan on blocks, which he shares with his dog. The Red Cross visited him afterwards to offer a $125 voucher and a tent.
“I don’t live in tents, though,” noted Lee, who lost power tools, a generator and a television. “I don’t know what to do now,” he said, adding that he hopes one of the church groups that drop off food a few times each week might bring “nails, wood or whatever they feel we need.”
According to Lee and his neighbor, a woman who goes by “Random Citizen,” the camp's population fluctuates with the seasons. “We started with around fifteen in May, we’re up over fifty now,” she said. “Closer to a hundred,” added Lee.
Random Citizen's dog looks out of her trailer.
City officials selected a smaller encampment at 35th and Magnolia to use as a pilot for Compassionate Communities, a program that provides residents with washing stations, portable toilets, trash pickup, mental health outreach, and access to other services.
The program is intended to help transition people into permanent housing. The camp at 35th & Magnolia was sanctioned because it had fewer than fifty residents, said Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney. “Wood Street is considerably larger,” she told Hoodline via email.
Approximately three-quarters of Oakland’s homeless population lives in District 3, which encompasses West Oakland and downtown. Working with Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, McElhaney helped secure $190,000 in city funding for the encampment at 35th & Magnolia.
Random Citizen's front yard.
That camp, which opened in October, is slated to close permanently by March 31. Citizen, who refers to the Wood Street homeless village as “Camp One,” said Camp Two, the sanctioned facility, is overcrowded. “They’re like rats in a cage,” she said. “I don’t see how they get along.”
To Lee, Compassionate Communities is a form of political posturing. “I was told that the mayor put that there because she was looking for votes,” he said. “Why did she just do it for that encampment and not us? Because we’re one of the larger ones out here and we really could use help.”
For many of the Wood Street encampment’s housed neighbors, the camp's presence has had a direct impact on their quality of life.
Lee's encampment in September 2016. | Photo: Google
Some residents feel unsafe driving so close to people, dogs and their belongings. The encampment also generates additional trash that’s collected on an ad hoc basis. “We do get a good response from the city through adopt-a-street,” said Citizen.
“I call and they come once a week and pick up the trash, but we get a lot of people coming from other places to dump trash,” she noted.
Lee and Citizen, a former Bay Area homeowner, said they empathize with neighbors who are uneasy. “There are a lot of crazy people around here, but we try to keep order,” Lee said. "We want to make it as safe as possible because we understand the situation."
Citizen said she plans on "getting some chickens and gardening."
Although Citizen said she's lost possessions to arson and has been sexually assaulted on Wood Street, but prefers it to homeless shelters.
"I have a backyard here," she said. "I plan on getting some chickens and gardening, if my neighbors will allow it. I see lots of opportunity here."
“What people should realize is that it’s hard living out here, but we’re a culture, we’re not a problem,” said Citizen. “If we are a problem, then we need to work an etiquette out with the city and our neighbors.”
Next: Housed neighbors near the Wood St. encampment discuss efforts to create sustainable solutions for area homelessness.Many essays have discussed the U.S. government's foreknowledge of the 9/11 attacks. Indeed, the number of facts pointing towards likely foreknowledge are so numerous that it is easy to get lost in the details.
This essay focuses solely on the proof that American and allied intelligence services actually heard the hijackers discuss and make their plans before 9/11.
Initially, an FBI informant hosted and rented a room to two hijackers in 2000.
And a CIA agent allegedly met with Bin Laden in an American hospital in July 2001
Furthermore, Israel tracked the hijackers' every move prior to the attacks, and sent agents to film the attack on the World Trade Centers.
Moreover, the intelligence services of the French and other governments had infiltrated the highest levels of Al-Qaeda's camps, and actually listened to the hijackers' debates about which airlines' planes should be hijacked, and allied intelligence services also intercepted phone conversations between Al-Qaeda members regarding the attacks.
And the National Security Agency and the FBI were each independently listening in on the phone calls between the supposed mastermind of the attacks and the lead hijacker. Indeed, the FBI built its own antenna in Madagascar specifically to listen in on the mastermind's phone calls. The day before 9/11, the mastermind told the lead hijacker "tomorrow is zero hour" and gave final approval for the attacks. The NSA intercepted the message that day and the FBI was likely also monitoring the mastermind's phone calls.
Shortly before 9/11, the NSA also intercepted multiple phone calls to the United States from Bin Laden's chief of operations.
The CIA and the NSA had been intercepting phone calls by the hijackers for years (see also this).
Indeed, two days before 9/11, Osama Bin Laden called his stepmother and told her "In two days, you're going to hear big news and you're not going to hear from me for a while.” US officials later told CNN that “in recent years they've been able to monitor some of bin Laden's telephone communications with his [step]mother. Bin Laden at the time was using a satellite telephone, and the signals were intercepted and sometimes recorded." Indeed, before 9/11, to impress important visitors, NSA analysts would occasionally play audio tapes of bin Laden talking to his stepmother.
And according to CBS News, at 9:53 a.m on 9/11, just 15 minutes after the hijacked plane had hit the Pentagon, "the National Security Agency, which monitors communications worldwide, intercepted a phone call from one of Osama bin Laden's operatives in Afghanistan to a phone number in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia", and secretary of Defense Rumsfeld learned about the intercepted phone call in real-time (if the NSA monitored and transcribed phone calls in real-time on 9/11, that implies that it did so in the months leading up to 9/11 as well).
Forget complicated arguments about warnings. The government actually heard the plans for 9/11 from the hijackers' own mouths.Twilight of the Superheroes is the title of a proposed comic book crossover that writer Alan Moore submitted to DC Comics in 1987 before his split with the company. Although various elements suggested by Moore later occurred in various comics, Twilight was never published and is considered a "lost work". The proposal gained fame after surfacing on the internet in the 1990s where its status as a lost work by one of the superstars of the medium, as well as its dark treatment of superheroes, garnered much attention.
The title refers to Ragnarök from Norse mythology. The story was to be set two decades in the future of the DC Universe and would feature the ultimate final battle between the heroes of Earth, including the older and younger generations of superheroes, as well as the supervillains and some extraterrestrials who inhabited Earth in the DC continuity. Twilight was conceived as a standalone limited series which could also be tied to ongoing titles at the other writers' consent, much like the then-recent 12-issue limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Background [ edit ]
Various web sources preface the proposal by claiming that it originated in 1987, after Moore had made a name for himself with comics such as Swamp Thing but before his departure from DC.[1] The proposal itself is prefaced with a long disquisition in which Moore talks about his thoughts on the super-hero genre, the problems of crossovers as a marketing and storytelling device, and his overall goals with the project. With regard to superheroes, Moore stated that one problem with the genre was the lack of a definitive end to the story of most heroes; in the manner that the Norse Gods, for instance, had a definitive end. He felt that this prevented superheroes from achieving the iconic status that they might otherwise acquire and praised Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns as an effort to provide such an end point for at least one DC hero. On the subject of crossovers as a storytelling tool, Moore criticised them as either forcing other books to make tentative connections to a central storyline, or forcing readers to buy comics they otherwise would not for fear of not understanding the storyline. His goal for the Twilight proposal was to address both of these concerns by providing an end point for the DC superhero universe, as well as providing a crossover which would logically tie into the company's various books without forcing readers to buy numerous titles.[2]
The proposal [ edit ]
The framing device of the story involves future versions of John Constantine and Rip Hunter travelling to the present day, ostensibly to prevent a catastrophe involving the superheroes of their time. The hook through which the series would connect with other titles is the attempts of the two time travelers to recruit others into their quest to alter the future through warning them of upcoming events. Individual books in the DC Universe could tie into the crossover or not, as their creators wished, by having Hunter or Constantine show up and warn the stars of the book of some event. The main narrative of the series involves Constantine relating the story of what has happened in the future to his present-day self over drinks in a bar.
The series was set in the future where the world is ruled by superheroic dynasties, including the House of Steel (presided over by Superman and his wife Wonder Woman) and the House of Thunder (consisting of the Marvel Family) as well as houses built around the Teen Titans, the Justice League, and an alliance of supervillains. The Houses of Steel and Thunder are about to unite through the marriage of Superboy and Mary Marvel, with their combined power potentially threatening the status quo, and several characters attempt to stop it. One group of opponents is a shadowy cabal of non-powered heroes led by Batman. Another involves an alien alliance of the Green Lantern Corps, Martians, and Thanagarians. Constantine's narrative of the future ends with a massive battle between the various factions, resulting in the death of most of the superpowered characters.
A side story would show a decaying superhero ghetto where decrepit versions of old heroes live. In the final part of the present time framing device it would be revealed that Hunter and Constantine had traveled back in time not to prevent the future they came from, but to ensure its coming true. The final battle depicted in the book resulted in humanity being freed from the control of superheroes, a prospect that Hunter and Constantine supported.
The series would have restored the DC Multiverse, which had been eliminated in the 1985 mini-series Crisis on Infinite Earths. However, the series would also have been a significantly darker take on DC characters than had previously been published, with many of the future versions of the heroes depicted as murderers, perverts and tyrants. A central plot element of the series, for example, involves the Question investigating the bondage-themed murder of someone who turns out to be Billy Batson. The series was never commissioned, but copies of Moore's detailed notes have appeared on the Internet and in print, despite the efforts of DC, which considers the proposal its property.
A number of story elements from Twilight of the Superheroes have made their way into works later published by DC Comics. The 1991 crossover Armageddon 2001, for example, involves a messenger from the future traveling to the present to convince superheroes to avoid a disastrous future. A dark future vision of superheroes as irresponsible was shown in the series Kingdom Come. DC later introduced a more flexible approach to continuity, similar to what Moore proposed, with the idea of Hypertime. Finally, the miniseries Infinite Crisis, along with the series 52, reintroduced the multiverse to DC comics. Other changes to individual characters that appear in the proposal, such as the Teen Titan Cyborg becoming almost wholly mechanical, were introduced as well.
Internet leak [ edit ]
As the years passed after Moore's departure from DC, the proposal for Twilight started to leak onto various websites on the internet. For a time there was some speculation as to the document's authenticity, but it has been proven by DC and Moore to be authentic. At least one website was threatened with legal action by DC, which claimed to hold the copyright on the proposal, an action whose legitimacy is disputed.[3]
See also [ edit ]This piece was written as a collaboration between FX and Adapt Studios, the branded content division of The Hollywood Reporter.
It’s London, 1814 — and James Keziah Delaney is prepared to do some “very foolish things.”
Following the death of his father, Delaney (Tom Hardy) returns home from Africa to take over his family’s shipping business, only to be met with ruthless and devious opposition. Refusing to yield to the Goliath East India Company, he’s thrust into a political and economic conflict that not only threatens his father’s business, but may also claim his life. Delaney isn’t like other men, though: he’s been cauterized by harrowing experiences and is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to protect his family’s legacy.
Taboo sees Hardy add yet another notch to his belt of deranged characters, in the same company as Bane from The Dark Knight Rises, Alfie Solomons from Peaky Blinders, and John Fitzgerald from The Revenant, but the show isn’t purely defined by Hardy’s on-screen presence. From a star-studded supporting cast to a legendary pair of producers, it’s the sum of Taboo’s parts that makes it so interesting. Here’s a look at eight people who make the show possible:Spring football practice started this month for high schools across the country, and teams are drawing up game plans for the heat as well as this fall's opponents.
Football players are 11 times more likely to suffer heat related illnesses than all other high school sports combined, according to a recent University of North Carolina study. To block heat illnesses, several big-time high school football states have new policies for practicing in intense heat.
Georgia last year began a new heat policy for football practices that might help end the state's distinction as the leader in heat-related football player deaths. Other states, including Pennsylvania and Iowa, will roll out new practice rules this season. But many others, including some of those with rates of heat illness among the nation's highest, do not have a policy for preparing players for practicing in the brutal summer heat.
The new study "really reinforces how vulnerable football players are to heat-related illnesses," said University of Georgia climatologist Andrew Grundstein, who was not involved with the work. Grundstein's own study last year found that heat related football deaths have tripled nationwide since 1994.
More than 9,000 high school athletes are treated for exertional heat illness annually, according to a 2010 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Risk factors include beginning the fall season in August, when athletes are not yet acclimated to intense practices in the hot and humid weather.
Spring football training typically involves two weeks of practice in full pads, followed by a few months off before summer training begins. Spring drills run into mid-May, although the risk for heat illness is not as great as in the dog days of summer.
"It's important to keep in mind that coming out of winter we are probably less used to hot/humid weather and may be more vulnerable [to exertional heat illnesses]," Grundstein said.
Some coaches and fans grumble that kids aren't as active during the off-season as in the old days, so players are slow to acclimate to record-breaking temperatures. The new study found more than 60 percent of exertional heat illnesses in all sports – from heat cramps to heat strokes – occurred in August, as players return from summer vacation and ramp up full-contact drills.
Nearly 75 percent of the cases of heat illness occurred in football, according to the study, done by researchers at the Korey Stringer Institute and Ohio State University in addition to the University of North Carolina. The next-riskiest sports were girls' volleyball (4.8 percent), girls' soccer (3 percent) and boys' wrestling (3 percent). The study analyzed data collected from 2005 to 2011 by the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance System.
More than one third of football players with exertional heat illness were offensive linemen, typically the biggest players on the field. Obese athletes from all sports made up 37 percent of the exertional heat illness cases, researchers report.
Football's highest exertional heat illness rates were in Florida, Alabama, Arizona and Kentucky, according to the analysis.
Last year, Florida and Arizona adopted all seven of the heat guidelines recommended by the Korey Stringer Institute and the National Athletic Trainers' Association, which have been adopted also by the National Football League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Just nine states meet all the guidelines. Kentucky meets only one. Alabama does not meet any.
Pennsylvania this season will require a mandatory three-day acclimatization program. Iowa is dropping two-a-day practices. If a proposal in Texas is adopted, football teams would be limited to 90 minutes of full-contact, game-speed practices per player per week during the regular season and playoffs.
Some coaches pushed back against the Georgia High School Athletic Association's new heat policy, but overall the policy was a success, said Jeff Hopp, president of the Georgia Athletic Trainers' Association and Marietta High's athletic trainer.
"From seeing the preliminary results from this past year after the policy went into place, the number of heat problems was drastically reduced," Hopp said.
There is some more good news: The overall rate of heat illnesses across all high school sports is on the decline, researchers reported. In football, however, heat related deaths have risen in recent years. The spike in deaths has coincided with the ten warmest consecutive 12-month periods in recorded history for the United States, which have all have occurred since 2000.
The summer of 2011 was particularly tragic, when six high school football players died due to high temperatures and lack of rehydration, triple the average. August 2011 was the second-warmest August on record in the US.
Records for overnight lows have also been on the rise, and many players are suffering heat illnesses during morning practices, which aren't as cool as they once were, according to Grundstein's study.
On the web:
Article: Epidemiology of exertional heat illness among U.S. high school athletes
Korey Stringer Institute heat guidelines for football practices
Daily Climate story on high school deaths
This article originally appeared at The Daily Climate, the climate change news source published by Environmental Health Sciences, a nonprofit media company.Share the News
After three months, at least one of the Bell Foundry’s tenants is being let back into the building to resume their work.
Last night, at a public comment meeting of the Mayor’s Task Force on Safe Art Spaces, Acting Housing Commissioner Michael Braverman said the city will grant the Baltimore Rock Opera Society a use and occupancy (U&O) permit to re-enter its first-floor workshop and practice space in the DIY building in Station North, located at 1539 N. Calvert Street.
BROS and dozens of other artists were evicted from the Bell Foundry in early December due to building code violations discovered by the Fire Department. The evictions unfolded days after a similar space in Oakland known as “Ghost Ship” caught fire, killing 36 people.
A fire department spokesman said they shuttered the building due to a range of code violations, including lack of a valid permit, unsafe conditions, use of flammables and combustibles and unlawful removal of ceiling beams.
Braverman shared the news about BROS receiving the U&O permit for the first floor during an open exchange with Councilman Ryan Dorsey at the meeting inside the |
ERROR: type should be string, got "https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/hAYf5uV8h5f2xWYCvhVdDZ/3deacd74-76b7-46c2-a539-e91da491745e.jpg/r0_125_3521_2114_w1200_h678_fmax.jpgWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sharpshooters will renew culling the white-tailed deer population, growing fast in the heart of the U.S. capital, as early as Thursday night, the National Park Service said.\n\nThe nighttime hunts by Department of Agriculture shooters in Washington's Rock Creek Park will continue until March 31, or until 106 deer have been killed, said Nick Bartolomeo, the park's chief of resources management.\n\nThe general public should remain out of harm's way because joggers and cyclists are generally barred from the park after dark, according to the park service.\n\nThe sharpshooters will deploy on unspecified nights as early as Thursday, when the 12-mile-long (19-km-long) park is normally closed. Park roads will also be temporarily closed as a safety precaution.\n\nThe three-year program is aimed at reducing the deer population to 15 to 20 per square mile (six to eight per square km) from 77 per square mile (31 per square km), Bartolomeo said during a conference call with reporters.\n\nThe first cull took place in March 2013, when 20 deer were killed in one night, he said.\n\nThe number of deer has soared in the last 20 years, with the animals eating nearly all the park's tree seedlings and preventing the forest from growing, according to a statement from the Park Service.\n\n\"There are no historic records of a white-tailed deer population in Rock Creek Park before 1960,\" said Park Superintendent Tara Morrison.\n\nThe deer meat will be donated to food banks and organizations for the homeless.\n\nThe number of U.S. white-tailed deer has exploded from a few hundred thousand in the 1930s to an estimated 30 million presently. The growth has been blamed on a lack of predators and growth of deer-friendly residential areas outside cities.\n\n(Reporting by Lacey Johnson; Editing by Ian Simpson and Gunna Dickson)Image copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Nearly 11,000 men die from prostate cancer in the UK every year\n\nMen with larger waistlines could be at higher risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer, a study has suggested.\n\nResearch on 140,000 men from eight European countries found that a 4in (10cm) larger waist circumference could increase the chances of getting the cancer by 13%.\n\nMen were most at risk when their waist was bigger than 37in (94cm), the University of Oxford study found.\n\nProstate cancer is the most common cancer in men.\n\nThe study, which was presented at the European Obesity Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, looked at the association between body measurements in men in their 50s and prostate cancer risk over 14 years.\n\nIn that time, there were about 7,000 cases of prostate cancer, of which 934 were fatal.\n\nThe researchers found that men with a higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference had an increased risk of high grade prostate cancer, an aggressive form of the disease.\n\nFor example, men with a waist size of 37in (94cm) had a 13% higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer than men with a waist of 33in (84cm).\n\nScientists also observed a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer with increased BMI and increased waist circumference.\n\nNHS Choices says there is a higher risk of health problems for men with a waist size of more than 94cm (37in) and for women of more than 80cm (31.5in).\n\nProstate cancer facts\n\nAbout 47,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the UK\n\nMore than 10,800 men die from it every year in the UK\n\nOne in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime\n\nMore than 330,000 men are living with or after prostate cancer\n\nSource: Prostate Cancer UK\n\nDr Aurora Perez-Cornago from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford said the study showed that the association between body size and prostate cancer was complex and varied by disease aggressiveness.\n\nShe said it was likely to be down to cancer-causing hormones in fat cells, but this had not yet been proven.\n\nHer advice was that \"men should try to maintain a healthy weight and if possible lose weight around their waist\".\n\nBut she added that the study had not specifically looked at the impact of losing weight on prostate cancer risk.\n\nA spokesman for Prostate Cancer UK said: \"Maintaining a healthy weight and staying active can protect against many diseases, including cancer.\n\n\"This research adds to a growing body of evidence that shows that weight and waist size could be another crucial risk factor for men to be aware of when it comes to protecting themselves against prostate cancer.\"\n\nThea Cunningham, health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said more research was need to get a clearer picture of the link.\n\n\"It isn't clear whether excess weight itself is causing men to develop aggressive prostate cancers, or if prostate cancers are less likely to be picked up at an early stage in overweight men, meaning their prostate cancer may be aggressive or advanced by the time it is diagnosed.\n\nShe added: \"Keeping a healthy weight can help men reduce their risk of several other cancers including bowel cancer.\"And thus ends Part 2 of Escape From The Mall!\n\nWhat, you didn't know this was part 2? Well, neither did I! I was thinking I should make the next part of the story part 2, but then I realized they'd been in this dressing room for 15 out of 32 comics total in the storyline, so... yeah. Part 2 now officially begins when they get in there.\n\nAnyway, this whole \"which entrance thing has totally happened to me on several occasions. It's usually because I have a favored entrance to such places, but there'll be times when I'll park elsewhere for whatever reason, and I'll get to where I'm used to going, start to wonder if maybe my car's been stolen, and then slap my forehead upon realzing that my car's on the opposite side of the place.Vexed have surprised SK Gaming in the initial round of group C with a 16-10 victory on de_train.\n\nThe start of SK's match with Vexed saw the Poles getting to a quick 5-0 lead as Terrorists after a won pistol round, a gunround and a few anti-ecos.\n\nA single round going SK's way wasn't enough to stabilize economical situation as they were broke after losing the next, but Asger \"AcilioN\" Larsen bailed his team out with three kills and a 1-on-2 clutch for his team's second round in the half.\n\nThree rounds in a row to Vexed's name afterwards, Michael \"Friis\" Jørgensen stepped up with an AWP quad-kill, but the mostly-Danish lineup wasn't able to make a streak out of it as they began staring down the barrel at 12-3.\n\nFurlan lived up to the expectations\n\nMore of Friis's heroics in the second pistol round helped SK to three rounds in a row, and Andreas \"MODDII\" Fridh's quad-kill in the first gunround of the second half extended it to five.\n\nA few of the rounds got a bit too close for comfort, but nevertheless SK gaming clawed their way back into the match round by round. It all stopped once they reached 10 rounds however, as it only took four rounds in a row for the Poles to come out victorious at 16-10.\n\nMLG Columbus 2016 Main Qualifier Best of 1 SK Matchpage 10 16 Vexed 10 Train 16\n\nSK K - D +/- ADR Rating 2.0 Michael 'Friis' JørgensenFriis 21 - 18 +3 79.2 1.11 Asger 'AcilioN' LarsenAcilioN 16 - 21 -5 70.0 0.90 Jacob 'Pimp' WinnechePimp 14 - 22 -8 75.9 0.86 Emil 'Magisk' ReifMagisk 17 - 22 -5 74.6 0.86 Andreas 'MODDII' FridhMODDII 15 - 23 -8 62.7 0.78 Vexed K - D +/- ADR Rating 2.0 Damian 'Furlan' KislowskiFurlan 29 - 15 +14 102.2 1.68 Dominik 'GruBy' SwiderskiGruBy 20 - 17 +3 100.0 1.38 Karol'repo' Cybulskirepo 22 - 17 +5 86.2 1.27 Oskar 'oskarish' Stenborowskioskarish 20 - 18 +2 72.6 1.11 Karol 'rallen' Rodowiczrallen 15 - 16 -1 67.5 1.06\n\nVexed have thus advanced to the winners' match of group C, and will be going up against the winner of CLG versus SPLYCE, which is coming up next in Columbus.EXCLUSIVE: After showy turns in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and tomorrow’s opener Blade Runner 2049, former wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter Dave Bautista is getting his own movie vehicle to shine in. STX has closed a deal to partner with Bautista and develop an action-comedy franchise that he will star in and produce. Jonathan Meisner will co-produce alongside Bautista, and Drew Simon will oversee the project for the studio.\n\nMarvel\n\nAside from his work opposite Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford in the Denis Villeneuve-directed Blade Runner 2049, Bautista stars in a short film made to tie the new film to the Ridley Scott-directed 1982 predecessor. Bautista’s been appearing in more studio fare, after his breakout turn as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel. He has taken Drax to the Joe and Anthony Russo-directed Avengers: Infinity War, and he’s currently shooting the sequel. Separately, Bautista wrapped the Lionsgate pic Hotel Artemis, opposite Jodie Foster, and stars with Sylvester Stallone in both upcoming Escape Plan sequels. Bautista has started to build a following overseas, and stars in the Chinese Ip Man spinoff for director Yuen Wo-Ping. He also starred in and produced Bushwick, a drama seen at the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance. Also upcoming, he stars with Pierce Brosnan and Ray Stevenson in the Scott Mann-directed Final Score for Signature, the Fyzz Facility and Atmosphere.\n\nBautista returned to the WWE to headline 2014’s Wrestlemania. That’s where he got his start, as a six-time world champion and international spokesman for the company. Bautista is repped by Gersh, MSK’s Jay Rosenthal and Meisner Entertainment Group.\n\nHere is the Blade Runner 2049 short that stars Bautista:Bend, OR, July 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Signal Bay, Inc. (OTCQB: SGBY) a leading provider of cannabis testing and advisory services announced today that its cannabis testing division EVIO Labs has licensed its first lab in Florida. Kaycha Holdings, LLC will operate under the EVIO Labs brand and the lab will be managed by a lab director with over 18 years of experience in development of Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Products.\n\nCEO Mr. William Waldrop stated, \"With operations in California, Oregon and soon to be Massachusetts, Signal Bay is proud to bring its accredited testing services to Florida. This expansion into Florida allows Signal Bay to continue to execute on its core mission of ensuring medical patients have access to clean cannabis. Our Florida expansion also marks another first as we executed our first license agreement. We are excited to have found a partner with deep ties into the community and shares our common core values.”\n\nAccording to the Department of Health Office of Medical Marijuana Use, there are currently seven licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTC) in Florida. Each MMTC is authorized to cultivate, process and dispense medical marijuana. On June 23, 2017, Florida Governor Scott signed SB 8A, that instructs the Department of Health to increase the number of licensed MMTCs to 17. It also allows for each MMTC to open 25 dispensaries.\n\n“We are excited to help ensure clean and safe cannabis to the patients of Florida. Our partnership with EVIO offers strong support to achieve our goal. EVIO Labs is known for their strength and breadth of knowledge in the marijuana testing industry and raises the standard of cannabis testing throughout the state. With EVIO's experienced team and proven testing methodologies we will ensure Florida treatment centers sell only the highest quality cannabis,” Christopher Martinez, President/Co-Founder of Kaycha Holdings, LLC.\n\nAbout Signal Bay\n\nSignal Bay, Inc. (the “Company”) is an Oregon-based life sciences company. Through its subsidiaries EVIO Labs, Signal Bay Research, and Signal Bay Services, the Company provides analytical testing services, management advisory services and scientific research to the legal cannabis industry. The Company's EVIO Labs division operates state-of-the-art facilities and offers accredited testing methodologies to ensure the safety and quality of the nation's cannabis supply. Learn more at http://www.signalbay.com or the Company can be reached directly @ 1-888-544-EVIO.\n\nSafe Harbor Statement\n\nAny statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be considered to be forward-looking statements. Statements may contain certain forward-looking statements pertaining to future anticipated or projected plans, performance and developments, as well as other statements relating to future operations and results. Words such as \"may,\" \"will,\" \"expect,\" \"believe,\" \"anticipate,\" \"estimate,\" \"intends,\" \"goal,\" \"objective,\" \"seek,\" \"attempt,\" or variations of these or similar words, identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements by their nature are estimates of future results only and involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risks associated with the uncertainty of future financial results, additional financing requirements, development of new products, our ability to complete our product testing and launch our product commercially, the acceptance of our product in the marketplace, the uncertainty of the laws and regulations relating to cannabis, the impact of competitive products or pricing, technological changes, the effect of economic conditions and other uncertainties detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov or www.signalbay.com\n\nInvestor Relations: investors@signalbay.comWith the trade deadline approaching, general managers around the league are preparing to either shape their teams for the post-season or add future assets for a rebuild.\n\nMarc Bergevin got off to an early start when he acquired Nikita Nesterov from the Tampa Bay Lightning. More news broke this week regarding the Canadiens‘ defence corps, as Bergevin let the other 29 teams know that Greg Pateryn is available in a trade.\n\nNo big shock, but clubs say #Habs GM Marc Bergevin sent out note advising D Greg Pateryn is available. He's in lineup tonight vs. #NYR. — Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 21, 2017\n\nThis comes as a bit of a surprise after the Habs lost Mark Barberio on waivers to the Colorado Avalanche, and demoted Zach Redmond to the AHL. While outside factors may be having an influence, it’s clear Bergevin thinks he can improve upon the Michigan-native.\n\nFrom @TSNBobMcKenzie on the #TSN690 Morning Show re: Pateryn and league wide notice: \"There were efforts to move him earlier in the season.\" — Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) February 22, 2017\n\nHe’s not known as an offensive juggernaut, but Pateryn does possess a powerful slapshot; one that helped net him 15 goals in the AHL just three seasons ago. While he hasn’t come close to meeting that sort of production at the NHL level, he has been a steadying presence on the Canadiens’ bottom pairing when given the chance.\n\nHe’s suffered from injury troubles, including a broken ankle earlier this year, which has limited his game total, but he has still managed to remain a positive force when called upon.\n\nIn a small sample size this year, Pateryn is running at a 51.9 Corsi-for percentage, trailing only Jeff Petry and Andrei Markov in that category. It’s clear that with him on the ice the third pair in Montreal is a solid, albeit unspectacular, pairing. They aren’t going to pile up the goals, but when Pateryn plays the bottom duo does well to keep the shots against limited, and help to get play turned the other way. While Pateryn was on the ice this season the Canadiens have controlled over 53% of the scoring chances and goals.\n\nValue\n\nIt’s hard to gauge exactly what Pateryn’s value is going forward. Despite his limited playing time, he’s shown himself to be a highly competent bottom-pairing defenceman. There’s always a market for depth on the blue line; the Canadiens’ GM himself has said many times that “you can never have too many defencemen.”\n\nOrganizational Depth Chart A constantly updated chart of the players in the Habs system, from junior prospects to the current NHL roster. View it here.\n\nA likely return would be a combination of mid- to late-round draft picks or a player and late pick depending on which organization comes calling. There are plenty of teams out there looking to shore up their defence, so it’s likely that Bergevin will have plenty of options to choose from. There’s also the chance he’s packaged as a part of a larger deal as well, whether it be picks or other players going the other way.\n\nThe primary issue with trading Pateryn is that he still has a place in the Canadiens’ system, and his departure would create a large gap at the bottom of the Habs defence. With him gone, Zach Redmond becomes the seventh defender, with Ryan Johnston and Joel Hanley the only right-side options behind him, both of whom have struggled mightily at the NHL level. Ironically, a good return for Pateryn would be a player of his calibre to shore up a rotating cast on Montreal’s third pairing.\n\nPotential trading partners\n\nEveryone is always looking for help on defence; a fact that is repeated year in and year out. This gives Bergevin the freedom to pick his trading partner as opposed to taking what might be the only offer on the table at the time.\n\nWe’ve been hearing about Arizona and Montreal discussing trades for weeks now, primarily concerning centre Martin Hanzal, while we’ve also speculated on an Anthony Duclair trade. The Coyotes have been looking for a defenceman in return for their rentals, in addition to a combination of draft picks or a prospect, with Michael McCarron specifically named earlier in the season.\n\nIt was also mentioned that the St. Louis Blues might want some defensive help in exchange for Kevin Shattenkirk. Greg Pateryn could slide into a third-pairing role there, while Shattenkirk would give Montreal a full complement of top-four defenders on the right side. That move would require some substantial additional pieces leaving Montreal, but Pateryn could make up part of the package.\n\nWhile teams like Buffalo and Toronto are also looking to beef up their defence, a transaction with a divisional rival is unlikely with teams battling each other for playoff positioning. A non-division Canadian team like Edmonton or Winnipeg could be a solid landing spot as Pateryn would likely step into a full-time role with either club.\n\nIt’s not easy to move a defenceman when your team is struggling, even more so when the team needs a player like Pateryn to help stabilize the team defensively. If they do choose to move him, the Habs will need Nikita Nesterov and Zach Redmond to play up their potential, or else a problem area may grow into a major issue.Artemi Panarin (left) of Russia celebrates scoring the game-winning goal against Canada during the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship gold medal game. Photograph by: Rick Stewart, Getty\n\nMembers of the Russian world junior hockey championship team, still high off their improbable comeback victory against Canada in Wednesday’s final, were brought back down to earth Thursday after they were kicked off a flight in Buffalo, New York for unruly behaviour.\n\nThe team, celebrating its come-from behind 5-3 win over Team Canada, were removed from a Delta Air Lines flight just before the plane took off at approximately 6:10 a.m.\n\n“To ensure the safe operation of the flight, the crew of flight 1266 denied boarding to 30 passengers who were travelling together and displaying unruly behaviour,” said Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott in a statement. “The passengers are being rebooked on a future flight.”\n\nThe flight was scheduled to fly from Buffalo to Atlanta at 6:15 a.m.\n\n“They were asked by the flight crew to calm down,” said Doug Hartmayer with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, which is in charge of security operations at the airport. “When they didn’t, that’s when they were asked to leave the plane. They left in an orderly manner.”\n\nThe team was forced to deboard the plane, retrieve its luggage and leave the terminal.\n\nHartmayer said an additional five or six police officers attended the terminal to assist in the escort.\n\nPolice at the airport said the players appeared to be intoxicated.\n\nIf the players were drunk, they would have been consuming alcohol illegally, since the legal drinking age in the state of New York is 21, and players on world junior teams must be 20 years of age and under.\n\nHartmayer wouldn’t confirm the players were inebriated but said the team’s behaviour “wasn’t consistent with what you want to find on an airplane.”\n\nThe team was reportedly staying in a Buffalo-area hotel until a new flight can be scheduled.\n\nThe young Russians had stayed at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo for the past 12 days and had checked out around 3 a.m. for the airport.\n\n“We are looking into it but we did not have an occurrence with any incident here,” said hotel manager Jim Burke. “The team was well-behaved. They’re great kids.”\n\nBurke said the players were in a private banquet room for a late-night dinner which ended at 1 a.m.\n\nNo alcohol was served by the hotel staff, he added.\n\nDave Fischer with USA Hockey, one of the organizers of the international tournament, said officials were just learning about the incident.\n\n“It was a marvellous tournament. It was highly successful,” he said. “There are always things that don’t go 100 per cent. I don’t know exactly what happened and until I know all the facts, the severity of the facts, it would be inappropriate for me to comment.”\n\nNot all of the players are heading back to Russia. Some were slated to return to teams in Canada.\n\nFischer said the organizers were no longer responsible for the team’s stay in the U.S.\n\n“The organizers of the tournament have the obligation to get the team to the airport, that’s when our obligation ends,” he said. “The teams are responsible for their own behaviour.”\n\nFischer said it is now up to law enforcement to look into the matter to determine whether any illegal activity took place.\n\nMedia reports say the team was partying into the early morning hours Thursday at the hotel bar.\n\nBuffalo police were still looking into the incident.\n\n“Police were never called to the hotel last night,” said police spokesman Mike DeGeorge. “We need someone to complain and say ‘We saw kids drinking or something.’ Here’s the question now: by the time, they get onto a plane and go to Russia, what’s going to happen?”\n\nlinnguyen@postmedia.com\n\ntwitter.com@lindathu—nguyenMELBOURNE City boss John van’t Schip has vowed to continue his team’s controversially aggressive ways in Friday night’s FFA Cup final replay.\n\nSydney FC’s home advantage is diluted somewhat with the game moved to ANZ Stadium due to a Coldplay concert at their Allianz Stadium home.\n\nIvan Franjic, Fernando Brandan, Neil Kilkenny and Tim Cahill are likely to come back into the XI for the clash after fatigue and suspension resulted in them missing last week’s draw with Brisbane Roar.\n\nThe FFA Cup winning coach defended his team’s new-found intensity, which was most recently criticised by Brisbane’s John Aloisi and led to a spiteful last week.\n\nRound 21 Visit Match Centre Visit Match Centre Visit Match Centre Visit Match Centre Visit Match Centre\n\n“It’s football, not futsal. It’s body contact,’’ van’t Schip said.\n\nMelbourne City’s Tim Cahill and Sydney FC’s Sebastian Ryall scuffle in the FFA Cup final. Source: News Corp Australia\n\n“Sometimes a challenge that two players go for a ball and on the high level and high speed, if you’re a bit late it could look worse than it actually is.\n\n“Aggression can be explained in a lot of different ways. For me it’s about being aggressive when we have the ball by playing attacking.\n\n“When we don’t have it it’s about being aggressive in winning the ball back. It’s not said that we kick opponents and get red, yellow cards.’’\n\nEX CAPTAINS: City ‘not unsporstmanlike’\n\nARNOLD: Sydney FC ready for feisty clash\n\nVan’t Schip said a loss wouldn’t rule them out of the race, nor would a win make City title favourites though it would help.\n\nHe said wise heads were needed for what loomed as another big game.\n\n“We know we have players that are up to it, can play big games and deal well with emotions and this is another one,’’ he said.\n\nLISTEN: Tom Smithies from the Daily Telegraph and the Herald Sun’s Matt Windley look ahead to the weekend’s A-League action, as the top two face off:\n\n“We want to play our own game and we’re going there to win. We do that by having a lot of the ball and controlling the game.\n\n“But they have a good team, they’re at home and it’s a great challenge to see if we can make another step.\n\n“In the Cup game we were aggressive, equal maybe better in the battle, so we’ve shown we can fight and match opponents in that aspect. Playing wise we can still make a lot of improvement, it’s about having the right balance.\n\n“Sydney have been more consistent, but we want to challenge and we want to challenge them. Even if the result doesn’t go our way, the league is long.\n\n“It’s a big game, this is a final as well.’’\n\nSpeedy winger Bernie Ibini will feature for the Sky Blues, who also get Slovakian attacker Filip Holosko back.Applications to carry handguns have skyrocketed in B.C. and Alberta in the past three years – likely driven by demand among people who work in the bush and want portable protection against wildlife.\n\nRates have held steady in the rest of Canada, according to RCMP figures show released in response to an access-to-information request.\n\nWe don’t know how many of these applications were approved because the RCMP won’t tell us.\n\nWe also don’t know how many were for concealed-carry permits for people facing “criminal threats” and how many are for openly carrying handguns in wilderness areas to defend against wildlife. RCMP Staff. Sgt. Julie Gagnon refused to break out the two categories.\n\nThe RCMP’s access-to-information office also refused to make that distinction, citing a section of the federal Access to Information Act exempting “information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to threaten the safety of individuals.”\n\nWhat we do know is that more people are submitting these applications for “authorizations to carry” : The number of applications across the country rose from 386 to 564 between 2011 and 2013.\n\nIn that time period, they more than doubled in B.C.; in Alberta, they more than doubled from 2011 to 2012.\n\nPeople in the territories submit far more application rates than the rest of Canada. The Yukon had 33 applications in 2013 – almost one for every 1,000 residents – while the Northwest Territories had 29. By contrast, Quebec’s 64 applications make for fewer than one for every 100,000 residents.\n\nThe number of applications and the authorizations issued are about the same, says Ontario’s chief firearms officer, OPP Supt. Chris Wyatt.\n\n” If somebody applies for an ATC and it’s really deficient – they’re not a prospector, they don’t have a wilderness occupation, they just want it when they go camping –we just say ‘You don’t qualify,’ and they don’t pursue their application.”\n\nThe higher number in B.C., Alberta and the Arctic is due to the presence of predator animals, Gagnon said.\n\n“We find that there has been growing concern about the bears, just generally, both among corporations and the general public,” said Eric Beer, a use-of-force instructor at Silvercore, a Delta, B.C. firearms training company. “There has been an increase in interest in bear defence, specifically.”\n\nSilvercore runs a course for people to qualify to carry a wilderness handgun, and also a bear defence course using shotguns.\n\nPeople working in the remote bush often choose a handgun as a bear defence weapon because it’s easier to carry than a rifle, Wyatt said.\n\n“You’ve got to put the rifle down while you’re working, right? That kind of opens you up a little bit to attack.”\n\n“The people who go for ATCs are employed in the bush – geologists or prospectors,” Beer said. “Their equipment is heavy and bulky. You add a shotgun to that, and they tend to get overloaded.”\n\nWhat’s less clear is whether a small gun will be much good against a big animal – a bear, for example – in a life-or-death situation.\n\nThe OPP requires permit holders to choose “a big handgun,” Wyatt said. “It’s got to be a fairly powerful handgun.”\n\nBeer agrees.\n\n“The largest handgun, with the biggest calibre that the student can handle effectively – that’s what I recommend.”\n\nBut “with brown bears, carrying a handgun is just absolutely stupid,” argues former OPP staff-sergeant Doug Carlson, who ran the gun control system in northwestern Ontario before his retirement.\n\n“You’re dealing with such a humongous bear – you’ll have a hard time knocking it down with a handgun. You might get lucky, but more likely it would just bounce off his skull, or aggravate him.\n\n“You really need a high-powered rifle for something like that. Anybody who was truthful would tell you that.”\n\nThe issue has come up before: The OPP denied a handgun carry permit to a woman who wanted it to fend off polar bears on an expedition to the North Pole, Wyatt said.\n\n“We said: ‘I don’t think you could defend yourself well with a handgun against a polar bear, because they’re so big.'”\n\nBut in general, he added, if people who may face a bear attack want to trust their lives to a handgun, it’s up to them.\n\n“I don’t get to put across, ‘The world according to Chris Wyatt’ about how wise it is to try to take on a bear with a handgun, because the law allows it.”\n\nHow does concealed carry work?\n\nOther than armoured car guards, private citizens in Canada can be licenced to carry handguns in one of four situations: if they are trappers, need protection from wild animals in remote areas, or if “the life of that individual … is in imminent danger from one or more other individuals” and police protection is insufficient under the circumstances.\n\nPolice don’t release statistics on permits to carry concealed handguns against human threats “for security reasons and public safety reasons,” Wyatt said.\n\n“If that number was known, people may make a determination that maybe that person doesn’t have a [permit], and could make an attack on their life without fear of being confronted with a firearm.\n\nOttawa lawyer Solomon Friedman says these permits are “almost impossible to get.”\n\n“The legislation actually contemplates somebody who has been the subject of specific threats of harm or death from a particular person,” he said. “The guy signing your authorization to carry, who is a very high-ranking police officer, has to certify that the police aren’t able to help.\n\n“I have filed several authorization to carry applications on behalf of clients, all unsuccessfully.”\n\nToronto mayoral candidate and former councillor Norm Gardner, who had a concealed carry permit for several years in the 1990s, said the weapon made him “very, very calm.”\n\n“I was asked to go in and help some of the residents in the Jane and Finch area against the drug problem that was going on in the area, and I did, and I did have an altercation with somebody … who was really a drug dealer,” he said.\n\n“As a result of that, I applied for a concealed carry permit.”\n\nGardiner, a Metro councillor at the time who sat on the Police Services Board, was approved after talking to then-Toronto police chief Jack Marks, he said. For several years, Gardner carried a Glock 19, a compact handgun.\n\n“It makes you much calmer than you might ordinarily be, because you don’t want to have to get into a situation where someone could take it from you, or you could expose the firearm, or anything like that.”\n\nIn 1992, while he had the permit, Gardner shot and wounded a man breaking into a store he owned. He was never charged.Rio de Janiero: Demonstrators and police have clashed in Sao Paulo during the first in a planned series of anti-World Cup protests called by radical activist group Anonymous across Brazil.\n\nWith less than five months before the June 12 kick-off - when the five-time champions and hosts take on Croatia - Brazil is facing the same kind of social rumblings that marred last year's Confederations Cup dress rehearsal.\n\nPeople help a family out of a burning car after it drove over a barricade of fire started by protesters in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit:Getty Images\n\nAnonymous called for Saturday's protests against football's fabled event via its Facebook page under the slogan, \"The Cup will not take place.\"\n\nOther activists said \"FIFA go home\" on Twitter, referring to football's world governing body, which was likely watching the weekend's events with some concern.5 years ago\n\nWashington (CNN) - Mike Huckabee urged Republicans to aggressively fight back against Democratic attempts to make female \"libido\" a campaign issue - language that may inflame the ongoing war of words between Republicans and Democrats over women's health issues.\n\nAddressing a Republican National Committee luncheon in Washington, Huckabee said Thursday Democrats have invented a phony \"war on women\" in an effort to lure female voters into their fold.\n\nFollow @politicalticker Follow @PeterHambyCNN\n\n\"It is time Republicans no longer accept listening to the Democrats talk about a war on women because the fact is the Republicans don't have a war on women,\" Huckabee said. \"They have a war for women – for them to be empowered to be something other than victims of their gender.\"\n\nHuckabee said women he knows are \"outraged\" that Democrats think they are \"nothing more than helpless and hopeless creatures whose only goal in life is to have the government provide for them birth control medication. Women I know are smart, educated, intelligent, capable of doing anything anybody else can do.\"\n\n\"Our party stands for the recognition of the equality of women and the capacity of women,\" he continued. \"That is not a war on them it is a war for them. And if the Democrats want to insult the women of America by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing them a prescription each month for birth control because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government, then so be it.\"\n\n\"Let us take that discussion all across America because women are far more than the Democrats have played them to be and women across America need to stand up and say enough of that nonsense and I think it is time we lead that discussion,\" he continued.\n\nHuckabee's comments come as the RNC debates a new resolution calling on GOP candidates to frame the abortion debate on their terms in 2014.Ali Al-Habsi has kept seven clean sheets in 23 appearances for Reading this season\n\nAli Al-Habsi's penalty save helped Reading hold promotion-chasing Burnley to a goalless draw in the Championship.\n\nAndre Gray saw his penalty saved after he had been tripped by Al-Habsi, and Reading held out to secure a point.\n\nGray should have put Burnley in front early on when he scuffed Geroge Boyd's cross over from six yards out.\n\nTom Heaton saved from Yann Kermorgant's header at the other end, while Gray put Matt Lowton's cross wide from point-blank range after the break.\n\nFormer Brentford striker Gray, the Championship's top scorer with 18 goals this season, faced a long wait to take his penalty, with Reading winger Hal Robson-Kanu receiving a booking for scuffing up the penalty spot.\n\nThe Royals could have won it when Robson-Kanu fired well over, but they created few chances throughout and have now scored only eight goals in their last 14 matches.\n\nBurnley remain third in the table after extending their unbeaten run in the league to eight games, while Reading stay 15th.\n\nReading manager Brian McDermott:\n\nMedia playback is not supported on this device McDermott on Reading v Burnley\n\n\"I've looked back at the penalty decision three or four times and it doesn't look like Ali's touched him.\n\n\"Then Ali made a great save from the penalty and we're delighted with that.\n\n\"Our players were incensed for a reason, but Ali's made a fabulous save and that was the right outcome.\"\n\nBurnley manager Sean Dyche:\n\n\"From where I was looking, I did see their player [Robson-Kanu] dig the spot up.\n\n\"I've never seen that in my career and I hope my players never conduct themselves in that manner.\n\n\"I would not expect my players to move the ball off the spot when someone is ready to take a penalty and then kick the floor up. I think that's really poor.\"Sometime around the fourth goal, I descended into hysterics. No exaggeration - as Toni Kroos nicked the ball from Paulinho on the 25th minute and slotted the ball into the back of the net, almost from kickoff, moving and passing around Brazil's backline like cones laid out on a training pitch, I convulsed with hysterical laughter. When the rational disappears, we must confront the irrational and unexpected, and there was little as unexpected as Brazil capitulating as they did last night. When the fifth went in I had to leave the room.\n\nMy Twitter timeline was a series of exclamations," |
ice Fiamengo, which warned against the institutionalization of radical feminism. A law-breaking riot attempted unsuccessfully to stop that address at the University of Ottawa.
This Wednesday’s inaugural event will feature an eye-opening presentation by David Shackleton on his new book, “The Hand That Rocks the World,” which explores gender, power and victimhood.
To arrange an interview or to cover the event please contact us.
CONTACT
Justin Trottier
Executive Director, Canadian Association for Equality
[email protected]
416-402-8856Pervert David Truscott, who has
a sexual fetish for rolling in cow manure, has been jailed for two years.
David Truscott, jailed for repeatedly pleasuring himself’ in manure at a local farm.
Truscott was found in a field, covered in manure and mud and naked apart from a single sock, by a Cornish farmer’s 16-year-old son on February 26.
Truro crown court heard that the 41-year-old, of Camborne, Cornwall, was already jailed for an arson attack at the farm belonging to Clive Roth in Redruth, in which one cow was killed.
He had terrorised farmer Mr Roth and his family for six years with his fetish for manure.
He had also been involved in a number of other offences related to his sexual thrill for rolling in slurry.
Truscott was jailed for breaching a restraining order and harassment.
His defence lawyer said he was ‘sad, socially inadequate and vulnerable.’"Since Newtown, more people have died at the end of a gun than we have lost in Afghanistan."
In the six months since a gunman killed his mother, six educators and 20 children in Newtown, Conn., gun control legislation has ground to a halt in Congress. In the face of political opposition, mainly from Republicans but also from some Democrats, the White House has readied a more limited approach in a package of executive orders aimed at reducing gun violence.
Vice President Joe Biden outlined those measures in a press conference Tuesday, emphasizing that President Barack Obama will still press for a new law. In making the case, Biden said, "Since Newtown, more people have died at the end of a gun than we have lost in Afghanistan. Pretty astounding. Pretty astounding. And Iraq, as a matter of fact. Over 5,000. That's no way to run a country."
Obama repeated Biden’s stat in a tweet. Readers asked us if the number was right, so we decided to take a look at his numbers.
The White House press office told us that Biden was speaking about American casualties since the start of the war in Afghanistan. That number is 2,106, according a fact sheet updated daily by the U.S. Defense Department. Another tally, maintained by the Associated Press, shows nearly the same figure.
Firearm deaths are more difficult to count. Biden relied on a database assembled by Slate, an online magazine. The numbers there come from average people who send links of newspaper stories about gun deaths in their communities; we found no duplicate entries. This approach is likely to undercount deaths, and it still shows some 5,176 fatalities in the six months since Newtown.
The numbers back up Biden’s claim. In a span of half a year, there were more than 5,000 gun fatalities in the United States. In a dozen years, fewer than half that number of Americans died in the war in Afghanistan. Biden also referred to Iraq. Deaths there reached 4,422, according to the Pentagon. That’s higher, but still less than fatalities due to firearms in America since mid December, 2012.
We should note that Slate’s statistics don’t distinguish among suicides, homicides, accidents and law enforcement actions.
Also, Biden's comparison doesn't take into account that the deaths occurred in populations of very different size.
When Biden said "that’s no way to run a country", that would take in the entire U.S. population. We calculated the death rates implicit in his claim. When you do the math for the 5,176 gun deaths and the population base is over 316 million, the rate turns out to be.016 per 1,000.
To make the same calculation for American service fatalities in Afghanistan, we contacted the Defense Department to determine the number of people at risk. The total number of soldiers deployed in that country for Operation Enduring Freedom is a bit over 823,000. The death rate comes out to 2.56 per 1,000. That’s nearly 150 times bigger than the death rate by guns in the United States since Newtown.
A similar calculation for Operation Iraqi Freedom yielded a rate of 3.97 deaths per 1,000.
To get a longer term view of firearm fatalities in America, we went to a database run by the Centers for Disease Control. There we learned that between 2001 and 2010, the rate was.103 per 1,000. That’s higher than the rate since Newtown but still 25 times smaller than for the Afghanistan war.
Lastly, it’s important to note that one expects deaths in a war zone. The gun deaths in the United States represent deaths during peacetime.
Biden said America has lost more people to guns since Newtown than it has in the war in Afghanistan. He is correct that more than twice as many people died in the past six months as did in 12 years of fighting. We rate his statement True.At Safe Streets Rally, SFPD Blocks Bike Lane to Make Point of Victim-Blaming
Shahum reported that SFBC staffer Marc Caswell found a surveillance camera at an auto body shop which has footage of Le Moullac’s crash, even though SFPD has said no such footage could be found. More on that story later as it develops.
San Francisco Police Sergeant Richard Ernst apparently decided that the best way to make Folsom Street safer was to purposefully park his car in the bike lane this morning and force bicycle commuters into motor traffic.
Staff from the SF Bicycle Coalition were out at Folsom and Sixth Streets, handing out flyers calling for safety improvements on SoMa’s freeway-like streets in the wake of the death of Amelie Le Moullac, who was run over at the intersection last week by a truck driver who appeared to have made an illegal right-turn across the bike lane on to Sixth.
When Ernst arrived on the scene, he didn’t express sympathy for Le Moullac and other victims, or show support for safety improvements. Instead, he illegally parked his cruiser in the bike lane next to an empty parking space for up to 10 minutes, stating that he wanted to send a message to people on bicycles that the onus was on them to pass to the left of right-turning cars. He reportedly made no mention of widespread violations by drivers who turn across bike lanes instead of merging fully into them.
He said it was his “right” to be there.
According to SFBC Executive Director Leah Shahum, Ernst blamed all three victims who were killed by truck drivers in SoMa and the Mission this year, and refused to leave until she “understood that it was the bicyclist’s fault.”
“This was shocking to hear, as I was told just a day ago by [SFPD Traffic] Commander [Mikail] Ali that the case was still under investigation and no cause had yet been determined,” Shahum said in a written account of the incident. While Ernst’s car was in the bike lane, “a steady stream of people biking on Folsom St. were blocked and forced to make sudden and sometimes-dangerous veers into the travel lane, which was busy with fast-moving car traffic during the peak of morning rush hour.”
One observer, who declined to be named, called Ernst’s behavior “insane.”
Shahum said she introduced herself to the sergeant and asked him to move his vehicle. “I said we were concerned about the large number of people biking who were being blocked by his car and forced into the auto lane at an already intimidating location,” she said. “I said it looked like a dangerous situation at that moment. I said we’d be happy to talk with him and for him to interact with the event however he wished, but that we’d feel more comfortable about people’s safety if he would move the car out of the bike lane and into a more appropriate spot.”
“There was literally an open, available parking spot next to the bike lane, which he could have pulled into,” added Shahum. “Sgt. Ernst again said he did not need to move his car. He said it was his ‘right’ to be there.”
This is far from the first display of windshield-centric views and poor understanding of bicycle laws entrenched among some officers in the SFPD. Reports of officers unfairly blaming, targeting, and even yelling at people on bikes aren’t uncommon.
As KRON’s Stanley Roberts and Streetsblog explained yesterday, few drivers seem to understand how to properly make a right-turn in a bike lane — they’re required to merge fully into it, like any other traffic lane, while yielding to people on bikes. Instead, many drivers turn across the bike lane, setting up bicycle riders for a “right hook” crash.
Right hooks were the causes of death for Le Moullac and Dylan Mitchell while they were biking this year. The third victim, Diana Sullivan, was reportedly run over while stopped at a red light at Third and King Streets. None of the truck drivers involved have been cited or charged.
The SFBC sent an open letter yesterday to Mayor Ed Lee, the Board of Supervisors and the SFMTA calling on them to move forward with safety redesigns on SoMa Streets, including the lingering plan for Folsom that would include parking-protected bike lanes and a calmer two-way traffic configuration. Shahum said the organization gathered about 200 signatures on Folsom in support of the letter this morning, and that more than 150 people have sent similar emails to city leaders.
Protected bike lanes like those planned for Second Street often have separate traffic signal phases for bicycles and turning vehicles, which would have likely saved Le Moullac’s life.
At Sixth and Folsom, a memorial for Le Moullac can still be seen, and several people who knew her were present at this morning’s incident. Shahum said Sergeant Ernst’s behavior “was deeply upsetting to see him unnecessarily disrupt and add tension to what was already an emotional and difficult time for many people who lamented this sad loss of life.”Share Pin +1 Share Shares 237
Emergency shelter during disaster that provides physical & psychological needs. The concept behind “sphere” not only considers taking shelter from extreme weather conditions but also reestablishing the feeling of security and companionship without losing ones privacy. The center of “sphere” is constructed as a social place, which consists of single families and inhabitants. These people constitute a community, a circle. This place offers the opportunity of once again getting in contact to others, cooking and simply getting together in a social way. In this way every “sphere” becomes a germ cell for a community working properly.
19 units of tents offer room for 3 persons at a time, however, partition walls can be unbuttoned in order to create bigger sections for families wards and the like. The inner tent, made of lighter nylon permeable to air, is independent from the outer part which consists of waterproof canvas. The stakes are made of fibre glass plastic and guarantee stability of the whole construction. The design as such is long-lasting and can be recycled if required.
Designer: Felix StarkLIKE MANY NEW ENGLANDERS, I’ve had a reflexive prejudice against Los Angeles, which I’ve always envisioned as an ugly maze of freeways where everyone eats egg-white omelets and avoids calling anyone back. In the last 20 years as a writer, I’ve had occasion to visit nearly every major US city (not to mention most of the capitals of Europe and quite a few in South America and Asia), but I’ve always consciously managed to avoid Los Angeles. That is, until recently, when a book tour took me through the city. And in just 48 hours, I’m not ashamed to say, I fell in love.
First off: Some stereotypes are true. There are a heck of a lot of freeways, and the health-conscious thing is just out of control. I lost count of the number of places I saw that peddled cold-pressed — never fresh-squeezed — juice. But driving around LA’s highways for two days, just reading the names of the boulevards — Sunset, Hollywood, Wilshire, Santa Monica — gave me a tangible thrill to realize how much a part of our cultural psyche this city is, not to mention how gratifying it was to see how they all fit together. I cued up a Spotify playlist of Angeleno songs and found myself thinking things like So that’s why it’s a long day livin’ in Reseda and That’s why all the vampires walkin’ through the valley move west down Ventura Boulevard.
I STARTED MY COURTSHIP in downtown LA, where I stayed at the elegant Omni Los Angeles. It’s a far cry from the burned-out reputation downtown has languished under for years (LA’s own “skid row” is four blocks away) and which the city has been gamely fighting. From my upper-floor window, I can see some of the victories of that battle, including the shimmering stainless-steel facade of Disney Hall and the 25-foot-tall sculpture of airplane wreckage outside the Museum of Contemporary Art and, rising between them, the newest star of downtown LA — The Broad Museum.
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images The Broad itself is tailor-made for a selfie backdrop, with an alabaster concrete honeycomb over a glass enclosure.
Advertisement
A gift to the city by philanthropist Eli Broad (pronounced with a long O), the $140 million museum is free to the public — but admission is currently booked weeks in advance. The building itself is tailor-made for a selfie backdrop, with an alabaster concrete honeycomb over a glass enclosure filled with 2,000 works of art from all the brand-name artists of the last 50 years: Warhol, Rauschenberg, Basquiat, Haring, Sherman. Fitting for a city of spectacle, the galleries don’t do subtlety. Visitors can confront the enormity of Jeff Koons’s shiny blue balloon dog before plunging into the Infinity Mirrored Room, a fun house of LED lights by Japanese pop artist Yayoi Kusama, into which visitors are admitted one at a time for 45 seconds of psychedelic satori.
Get Today's Headlines in your inbox: The day's top stories delivered every morning. Sign Up Thank you for signing up! Sign up for more newsletters here
When they stumble out into the reliable California sunshine, they can find relative tranquillity down the street at the gardens adjoining the Richard J. Riordan Central Library. There, the tables of Cafe Pinot nestle among trees romantically hung with paper lanterns and overlooking a view of the LA skyline. The food is California French, with standouts like a mustard-basted rotisserie chicken and mussels with chorizo and saffron-white wine broth with crunchy grilled bread for dipping.
David McNew/Getty Images The hills above Santa Ynez Canyon beckon in Topanga State Park.
Which brings me to another reason to fall in love with LA: The food just tastes better. Not sure if it’s the more stringent food-safety regulations in California or the proximity of fresh vegetables or just the emphasis on healthy ingredients, but even the average chicken sandwich is a notch above comparable fare on the East Coast. The next morning, I stop in for a salmon and sour cream crepe at Solar de Cahuenga, a cafe on the outskirts of Hollywood, and find myself licking my lips and contemplating ordering another. I wash it down, of course, with cold-pressed juice in a Mason jar — some kind of beet-and-citrus concoction that leaves me humming with energy and just maybe makes me start to understand the difference between it and fresh-squeezed.
I’LL NEED ALL THE ENERGY I can get for my next destination. Careering around the Hollywood Hills, I head west to Topanga Canyon, an enclave for actors in the 1920s that became an alt Shangri-La by the 1970s. Now the area is more hippie-chic than hippie. The boulevard up from the valley weaves around craft galleries and artisanal bakeries festooned with colored Christmas lights and Tibetan prayer flags as it climbs up to Topanga State Park — at around 11,000 acres, the largest wilderness area within any US city. I park at Trippet Ranch — an 80-acre plot once owned by a female rancher in the 1920s and ’30s, now part of the park — and start climbing a 2-mile trail to the top of the ridge, passing through a lovely scrub oak forest alive with birds flitting among the tree branches.
Breaking out of the woods, the last half-mile of the trail is straight up over dusty scree and chaparral, and I’m panting in the hot sun, nervously eyeing my diminished water bottle. Thankfully, the trail levels off at the top, and I turn around for my reward — waves of unspoiled ridges stretching in every direction and, toward the west, a shiny blue sliver of the Pacific Ocean poking out over the farthest ridge. Maybe it’s the heat or the thrill of accomplishment, but the view has me swooning. It’s the sort of beauty I never expected to see in LA — certainly not a half-hour drive from downtown.
C2 Photography Watch the sunset (or the people) at popular Venice Beach.
Advertisement
The sun is heading down the sky by the time I climb back to my rental car to follow it in the direction of that blue sliver. Slicing into the canyon and taking a hard left at Santa Monica Pier, I reach Venice Beach — a place that smacks me with a solid sense of deja vu from all the times its curving concrete paths and palm trees have played backdrop to Hollywood meet-cutes. For sheer people-watching, it doesn’t disappoint. A Jamaican street performer walks on shards of broken glass to entertain German tourists, muscleheads do pullups to the sounds of thrumming bass, and beach-bronzed teens giggle past stalls selling sunglasses and booty shorts.
I grab a couple of fish tacos — easily some of the best I’ve ever had — from one of the stalls along the boardwalk and surreptitiously sip beer from a brown bag while I sit on a low wall and watch the sun sparkle on the waves, thinking maybe I could get used to life in LA after all. Supremely satisfied, I start back to my car, hoping for one last image to encapsulate my too-short Los Angeles sojourn. Then I see it: a plain cardboard sign written in black magic marker with an arrow reading: “Cold-Pressed Juice in Alley.”
Richard Vogel/Associated Press Visitors wait in line to enter The Broad Museum on opening day.
WHERE TO STAY
> Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza, 251 South Olive Street, 213-617-3300; omnihotels.com/hotels/los-angeles-california-plaza; Rooms start at $259
WHERE TO EAT
> Cafe Pinot, 700 West 5th Street, 213-239-6500; cafepinot.com
> Solar de Cahuenga, 1847 North Cahuenga Boulevard, 323-467-7510; solardecahuenga.com
WHERE TO GO
Advertisement
> The Broad Museum, 221 South Grand Avenue, 213-232-6200; thebroad.org; Reservations required
> Topanga State Park, 20828 Entrada Road, Topanga, 310-455-2465; parks.ca.gov; Hours: 7 a.m. – sunset; Parking: $10
More from the Globe Magazine:
• How to fall in love with Los Angeles
• This winter, consider a culinary and cosmopolitan weekend in chilly Montreal
• A family adventure in the jungles of Puerto Rico
• Unspoiled and unhurried, Tulum, Mexico rewards the laid-back traveler
Michael Blanding is a Boston-based writer whose most recent book is “The Map Thief.” Send comments to magazine@globe.comDenmark will send seven F-16 fighter jets to help combat IS militants in Iraq, Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said on Friday.
"I am very pleased that there now is a broad coalition, including countries in the region who want to... contribute," she said at a press conference, adding that the Danish fighter jets would not join U.S. planes in bombing targets in Syria.
The decision to take part in the campaign in Iraq is expected to receive the support of a majority in parliament and the F-16s could be dispatched next week.
"We were asked to contribute in Iraq, it fits well with what the coalition wants. With regards to Iraq we have a concrete request from the Iraqi government," Thorning-Schmidt said.
"The terror group IS is a terrible organization that Denmark should help battle," she added.
A U.S.-led alliance launched fresh air strikes against IS in Syria on Friday as Britain weighed joining the aerial campaign in Iraq.
Both France and Britain have ruled out carrying strikes in Syria, unlike Arab allies taking part in the raids.
Belgium and the Netherlands also plan to send six F-16 fighter bombers to take part in the campaign in Iraq.
In August, Danish lawmakers approved sending a C-130J transport aircraft to Iraq and up to 55 military personnel to help load and guard it.One of the base principles of cryptography is that you can't just encrypt multiple messages with the same key. At the very least, what will happen is that two messages that have identical plaintext will also have identical ciphertext, which is a dangerous leak. (This is similar to why you can't encrypt blocks with ECB.)
If you think about it, a pure encryption function is just like any other pure computer function: deterministic. Given the same set of inputs (key and message) it will always return the same output (the encrypted message). And we don't want an attacker to be able to tell that two encrypted messages came from the same plaintext.
The solution is the use of IVs (Initialization Vectors) or nonces (numbers used once). These are byte strings that are different for each encrypted message. They are the source of non-determinism that is needed to make duplicates indistinguishable. They are usually not secret, and distributed prepended to the ciphertext since they are necessary for decryption.
The distinction between IVs and nonces is controversial and not binary. Different encryption schemes require different properties to be secure: some just need them to never repeat, in which case we commonly refer to them as nonces; some also need them to be random, or even unpredictable, in which case we commonly call them IVs.
Nonces in TLS
TLS at its core is about encrypting a stream of packets, or more properly "records". The initial handshake takes care of authenticating the connection and generating the keys, but then it's up to the record layer to encrypt many records with that same key. Enter nonces.
Nonce management can be a hard problem, but TLS is near to the best case: keys are never reused across connections, and the records have sequence numbers that both sides keep track of. However, it took the protocol a few revisions to fully take advantage of this.
The resulting landscape is a bit confusing (including one or two attack names):
RC4 and stream ciphers
RC4 is a stream cipher, so it doesn't have to treat records separately. The cipher generates a continuous keystream which is XOR'd with the plaintexts as if they were just portions of one big message. Hence, there are no nonces.
RC4 is broken and was removed from TLS 1.3.
CBC in TLS 1.0
CBC in TLS 1.0 works similarly to RC4: the cipher is instantiated once, and then the records are encrypted as part of one continuous message.
Sadly that means that the IV for the next record is the last block of ciphertext of the previous record, which the attacker can observe. Being able to predict the IV breaks CBC security, and that led to the BEAST attack. BEAST is mitigated by splitting records in two, which effectively randomizes the IV, but this is a client-side fix, out of the server control.
CBC in TLS 1.1+
TLS 1.1 fixed BEAST by simply making IVs explicit, sending the IV with each record (with the network overhead that comes with that).
AES-CBC IVs are 16 bytes (128 bits), so using random bytes is sufficient to prevent collisions.
CBC has other nasty design issues and has been removed in TLS 1.3.
TLS 1.2 GCM
TLS 1.2 inherited the 1.1 explicit IVs. It also introduced AEADs like AES-GCM. The record nonce in 1.2 AES-GCM is a concatenation of a fixed per-connection IV (4 bytes, derived at the same time as the key) and an explicit per-record nonce (8 bytes, sent on the wire).
Since 8 random bytes is too short to guarantee uniqueness, 1.2 GCM implementations have to use the sequence number or a counter. If you are thinking "but what sense does it make to use an explicit IV, sent on the wire, which is just the sequence number that both parties know anyway", well... yeah.
Implementations not using a counter/sequence-based AES-GCM nonce were found to be indeed vulnerable by the "Nonce-Disrespecting Adversaries" paper.
TLS 1.3
TLS 1.3 finally took advantage of the sequential nature of TLS records and removed the free-form explicit IVs. It uses instead a combination of a fixed per-connection IV (derived at the same time as the key) and the sequence number, XORed—not concatenated.
This way the entire nonce length is random-looking, nonces can never be reused as the sequence number monotonically increases, and there is no network overhead.
ChaCha20-Poly1305
The ChaCha20-Poly1305 ciphersuite uses the same "fixed IV XORed with the sequence number" scheme of TLS 1.3 even when used in TLS 1.2
While 1.3 AEADs and 1.2 ChaCha20 use the same nonce scheme, when used in 1.2 ChaCha20 still puts the sequence number, type, version and length in the additional authenticated data. 1.3 makes all those either implicit or part of the encrypted payload.
To recap
RC4 is a stream cipher, so it has no per-record nonce.
CBC in TLS 1.0 used to work similarly to RC4. Sadly, that was vulnerable to BEAST.
TLS 1.1 fixed BEAST by simply making IVs explicit and random.
TLS 1.2 AES-GCM uses a concatenation of a fixed IV and an explicit sequential nonce.
TLS 1.3 finally uses a simple fixed IV XORed with the sequence number.
ChaCha20-Poly1305 uses the same scheme of TLS 1.3 even when used in TLS 1.2.
Nonce misuse resistance
In the introduction we used the case of a pair of identical message and key to illustrate the most intuitive issue of missing or reused nonces. However, depending on the cipher, other things can go wrong when the same nonce is reused, or is predictable.
A repeated nonce often breaks entirely the security properties of the connection. For example, AES-GCM leaks the authentication key altogether, allowing an attacker to fake packets and inject data.
As part of the trend of making cryptography primitives less dangerous to use for implementers, the research is focusing on mitigating the adverse consequences of nonce reuse. The property of these new schemes is called Nonce Reuse Resistance.
However, they still have to see wider adoption and standardization, which is why a solid protocol design like the one in TLS 1.3 is critical to prevent this class of attacks.
Does painting overviews of technical topics like this sound satisfying to you? We are hiring in London, Austin (TX), Champaign (IL), San Francisco and Singapore!It is official that BJP and Shiv Sena will share power in Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). The decision to share power was taken in a meeting held between BJP state unit president Raosaheb Danve and minister for industries Subhash Desai on Friday. This outcome has put to rest all the speculations as to whether MNS would be kingmaker or both the parties were trying to contact Congress to put pressure on each other.
It was reported first by dna on October 3 and 4 that BJP and Sena had decided to bury the hatchets. The October 4 report had said that both the parties would come together and BJP would yield to Sena's demand of one of its winners would be the KDMC mayor. While Sena has 52 elected corporators BJP has 42.
The details of power-sharing would be decided by finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) and MSRDC minister Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena). The details decided by these two leaders would be given a nod by the senior leadership of both the parties before arriving at a final decision. While BJP nominated Mungantiwar, Sena nominated Shinde, who is the architect of Sena's victory in the KDMC polls.
It was BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari on Friday informed that the two parties have agreed to come together in KDMC.Minister of International Cooperation Sahar Nasr reached an agreement with the World Bank to increase the number of governorates included in the Natural Gas Supply Project to 20 instead of 11 through the inclusion of some of Upper Egypt governorates.
Nasr said that gas supply will reach 2.4m houses over the course of four years. She added that 1.1m of these houses will be located in 11 governorates—Giza, Ismailia, Alexandria, Matruh, Menoufiya, Qaliubiya, Daqahleya, Qena, Sohag, Gharbeya, and Aswan.
President Al-Sisi’s instructions are to increase the national components of the project, Nasr said. She added that this must work simultaneously with maintaining the quick pace of it its execution so as to increase the number of beneficiaries from houses and families in the governorates.
Also, Nasr said, they must guarantee the sustainable energy policy while linking the gas project with the social housing project.
The minister pointed out that it is important to finish the execution of the project in the allocated timeframe without needing to extend the closing date of the agreements.
This is to maintain the increasing potential for benefits from the foreign funds that are directed towards the project to be able to serve the citizens, especially the underprivileged, she added.
During this meeting held with the World Bank and representatives of Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the European Union (EU), Nasr said it is important to support the solar power projects in light of the president’s request to have more diverse infrastructure for energy sources.
The World Bank in an earlier statement said that currently 75% of Egyptian households use liquefied petroleum gas cylinders instead of natural gas. By the end of this project, 8.2m households will be connected to the natural gas grid, according to an earlier report published by Daily News Egypt.
In November 2015, the EU granted Egypt a €68m loan for this natural gas supply project, which aimed to include 11 governorates. This grant was meant to help supply natural gas to low-income villages over a three year period; however, Nasr said back then: “I’m hoping to complete the natural gas connection within a two-year period.”
In 2014, the World Bank also provided Egypt with a loan worth $500m towards the same project, and AFD aided the project with €70m.Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton delivers an economic speech June 21 in Columbus, Ohio. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)
RALEIGH, N.C. — A day after seeking to portray Donald Trump as unfit to manage the nation’s economy, Hillary Clinton used a second speech here to pledge to make the largest investment in U.S. jobs since World War II and remind voters of a long list of her prescriptions to bolster the middle class.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s address focused on largely familiar proposals, including measures to make college debt-free, increase corporate profit-sharing, expand access to child care and ensure that large companies and the “super rich” pay their “fair share” of taxes.
“I will not raise taxes on the middle class,” Clinton said, recounting the difficulties that families in North Carolina have making ends meet, particularly those with children.
[In economic speech, Clinton casts Trump as selfish businessman who stiffed others]
The summation of Clinton’s agenda, rolled out in pieces throughout the Democratic nominating contest, was intended to provide a contrast to what she derided as “flashy slogans” from Trump — and to reinforce the notion that Clinton is offering progressive solutions as she seeks to court skeptical supporters of her Democratic rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Clinton, a former senator from New York who has been criticized by Sanders and others for her ties to Wall Street, pledged to build on reforms of the financial sector. She also promised to “say no to bad trade deals,” including the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership, a high-profile target of Sanders.
And in a speech billed as an economic address, Clinton said she would also work to get “dark money” out of politics, another priority for the senator from Vermont and his supporters, who see the political system as rigged in favor of the “billionaire class.”
Seeking to contrast her concrete plans with those of Trump, Clinton chided him for having no strategy to rebuild the country’s infrastructure besides building a wall along the Mexican border.
Clinton portrayed herself as someone who would work across the aisle as president to get things done, citing her efforts as first lady to create the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which she said was accomplished with the help of Republicans.
“We need to make Washington work much better,” Clinton said. She acknowledged that her agenda could be difficult to push through Congress but offered an optimistic note, saying, “I really think progress is possible.”
In a race in which both candidates have been hobbled by high negative ratings, Trump delivered a blistering speech hours earlier Wednesday in New York in which he painted Clinton as a politician who had personally profited off her public service and was unfit for higher office.
[Trump, amid campaign turmoil, delivers scathing critique of Clinton]
“He’s going after me personally because he has no answers,” Clinton said toward the end of her nearly 50-minute remarks. “All he can do is try to distract us.”
She accused Trump of peddling “outlandish lies and conspiracy theories.”
On Tuesday, during an appearance in Columbus, Ohio, Clinton attacked Trump on what the real estate mogul has touted as his greatest strength: his business background. Her speech blended criticism of Trump’s economic policy positions with a recitation of some of his failed financial ventures. Aides billed Wednesday’s speech as the second in a “one-two punch.”
Clinton’s speech Wednesday was her second in two days staged in a general-election battleground state, destinations her campaign has made a greater priority than Trump.
In 2008, then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) narrowly defeated Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in North Carolina. In 2012, President Obama lost the state to Republican Mitt Romney by a narrow margin.
In introductory remarks, former four-term North Carolina governor Jim Hunt said Clinton was the kind of politician residents of his state appreciate. “In North Carolina, we put our stock in doers, not big talkers,” Hunt said. “Hillary Clinton is doer. She doesn’t play a doer on TV.”
Save
Save
SaveIs teen pot use really associated with long-lasting, adverse effects on memory and an increased risk of schizophrenia? The conventional media says so. But a closer examination of the scientific literature reveals that it is the mainstream media, not cannabis consumers, who are suffering from memory loss.
Marijuana Use and Cognition
Claims that marijuana consumption causes permanent damage to the brain and cognitive skills are hardly new. In fact, such claims have remained pervasive since the very inception of cannabis prohibition. Yet there exists little scientific data to support these persistent allegations.
For example, a comprehensive review published in 2003 in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society assessed effects of cannabis on neurocognitive performance in nearly a dozen published studies, involving over 1,000 test subjects. Authors reported: “In conclusion, our meta-analysis of studies that have attempted to address the question of longer term neurocognitive disturbance in moderate and heavy cannabis users has failed to demonstrate a substantial, systematic, and detrimental effect of cannabis use on neuropsychological performance. It was surprising to find such few and small effects given that most of the potential biases inherent in our analyses actually increased the likelihood of finding a cannabis effect.”
A 2012 meta-analysis of 33 separate studies by researchers at the University of Central Florida Department of Psychology similarly reported that moderate to heavy marijuana consumers failed to experience “enduring negative effects” associated with cognition. Writing in the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, investigators reported that cannabis chronic consumption may be associated with "small" effects on neurocognitive abilities for limited periods of time lasting beyond the immediate hours of intoxication, but they found "no evidence of lasting effects on cognitive performance due to cannabis use" in subjects whose abstention period was at least 25 days. Authors concluded: "As hypothesized, the meta-analysis conducted on studies evaluating users after at least 25 days of abstention found no residual effects on cognitive performance… These results fail to support the idea that heavy cannabis use may result in long-term, persistent effects on neuropsychological functioning."
Marijuana Use and Schizophrenia
SPONSORED
The mainstream media has long been fixated on the allegation that smoking pot will make you crazy. (For perspective, read my 2011 HIGH TIMES feature, "Don’t Blame the Reefer,") So it was hardly unusual to see mainstream news outlets this week run with headlines implying that marijuana use may increase one’s risk of schizophrenia. Yet, scientific research establishing such a link remains tenuous. In fact, in the days prior to this week’s media frenzy, researchers at Harvard University released a study soundly rebutting this allegation.
Writing in the peer-reviewed journal Schizophrenia Research, investigators compared the family histories of 108 schizophrenia patients and 171 individuals without schizophrenia to assess whether youth cannabis consumption was an independent factor in developing the disorder. Researchers reported that a family history of schizophrenia increased the risk of developing the disease, regardless of whether or not subjects consumed cannabis as adolescents. They concluded: “The results of the current study, both when analyzed using morbid risk and family frequency calculations, suggest that having an increased familial risk for schizophrenia is the underlying basis for schizophrenia in these samples and not the cannabis use. While cannabis may have an effect on the age of onset of schizophrenia it is unlikely to be the |
namely those that were, are, or will be, the city’s tallest.
Fairmont Palliser Hotel
Photo: Wikimedia
Years tallest: 1914 — 1958
Height: 197 feet, 12 stories
Current ranking: Unknown (well outside the top 50)
Interesting facts: While it was under construction, suggested names for the hotel included the Adanac, Golden West, Pride of the West, Crowfoot, Piedmont, Swastika and Royal Mary. The name Palliser was eventually chosen in honour of Captain John Palliser, leader of the famed British expedition responsible for exploring Western Canada between 1857 and 1860. The hotel was so popular with some guests that a few took up permanent residence, most notably the 11th Prime Minister of Canada, Calgary-born RB Bennett, who lived in room 760.
Elveden Centre
Photos: Calgary Public Library, Wikimedia
Years tallest: 1958 — 1968
Height: 262 feet, 20 stories
Current ranking: Unknown (like the Palliser, also well outside the top 50)
Interesting facts: Cost $5 million to build, which, adjusted for inflation, would be just over $41 million today.
Calgary Place I
Photo: Avison Young
Years tallest: 1968 — 1973
Height: 361 feet, 30 stories
Current ranking: 42nd
Interesting fact: Calgary Place I is connected to the city’s Plus 15 pedestrian network, which links the tower to all major office buildings in the Central Business District, a factoid that’s about as dull as the building’s design.
Altius Centre
Photo: dalmond/Flickr
Years tallest: 1973 — 1974
Height: 415 feet, 32 stories
Current ranking: 33rd
Interesting fact: With an adjoining parkade comprised of 257 stalls, the Altius Centre has one of the highest parking ratios of any building in the downtown core. Something to consider the next time you’re driving around aimlessly looking for a space.
Bow Valley Square 2
Photos: Oxford Properties, Dillan K/Flickr
Years tallest: 1974 — 1976
Height: 469 feet, 39 stories
Current ranking: 23rd
Interesting fact: Like other buildings on this list, Bow Valley Square II was the tallest building in Western Canada at the time of completion.
Scotia Centre
Photos: Doug Zwick/Flickr, Dave Smith/Flickr
Years tallest: 1976 — 1982
Height: 509 feet, 41 stories
Current ranking: 18th
Interesting fact: Was designed by WZMH Architects, the same firm that imagined Toronto’s CN Tower, as well as Calgary’s Suncor Energy Centre and Bow Valley developments.
First Canadian Centre
Photos: Kevin Cappis/Flickr, Paul/Flickr
Years tallest: 1982 — 1984
Height: 548 feet, 41 stories
Current ranking: 13th
Interesting fact: Original plans called for a two-tower complex, with the second being an impressive 64 stories. However, an economic downturn put an end to that proposal and it wasn’t until 2013 that a second, scaled-back tower of only 28-stories was finally approved.
Suncor Energy Centre I
Photo: Ayrcan/Flickr, Rich Moffitt/Flickr
Years tallest: 1984 — 2011
Height: 705 feet, 53 stories
Current ranking: 2nd
Interesting fact: The building was often referred to as Red Square in its early years, a derisive reference to its primary occupant Petro-Canada, which was a Crown corporation at the time.
The Bow
Photo: Dezene Huber/Flickr
Years tallest: 2011 — present
Height: 774 feet, 58 stories
Current ranking: 1st
Interesting fact: Is the tallest building in Canada outside of Toronto and will remain as such until 2018 when construction on Brookfield Place Tower One wraps up. (Will fall to number three on the list if the City of Edmonton approves the 71-storey Edmontonian proposal.)
Brookfield Place Calgary Tower One
Photo: Brookfield Office Properties
Years tallest: 2018 —?
Height: 810 feet, 56 stories
Current ranking: Under construction
Interesting fact: As the National Post explains, it’s no small irony that Brookfield Place will beat out the Bow for the title of Calgary’s tallest tower. Brookfield Place’s primary tenant, energy giant Cenovus, split off from the Bow’s lead tenant, EnCana Corporation, in 2009. EnCana now manages natural gas assets, while its onetime offspring oversees oil development.
Notable exclusion: The Calgary Tower
Photo: Calgary Public Library
Years tallest: 1968 — 1983
Height: 626 feet
Current ranking: 6th
Interesting fact: We didn’t include the Calgary Tower in our ranking because, as a free-standing tower with no relevant floor count, it stands outside the skyscraper category. It was, however, the world’s tallest free-standing tower when it first opened. A title it was able to hold onto for a time because the developers lied about its height during construction, claiming it would be only 614 feet tall and thus preventing competing projects from surpassing it. More interesting facts and photos on Calgary’s most iconic building this way.Get the biggest daily news 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 robot vacuum cleaner has fired the opening salvo in the impending war between man and machine by “attacking” its sleeping owner.
A woman from the South Korean city of Changwon left the device to clean the floors and decided to take a nap on the floor.
But the nefarious machine, which either thought her hair was dirt or was striking back at its 52-year-old human overlord, scooted over and sucked up the strands.
Her hair got caught up in the machine and the pain of having her scalp tugged woke her up.
She realised she was trapped and was forced to call emergency services to get free of the mechanised marauder.
South Korean newspaper Kyunghyang Shinmun reports paramedics were able to free her without injury, but it is not known if she intends to keep the rebellious robot.
Robotic vacuum cleaners have soared in popularity in recent years.
The most popular brand, Roomba, was introduced in 2002 and as of February 2014 has sold more than 10 million units worldwide.
They use sensors to move around obstacles, avoid steep drops such as stairs, and detect dirty spots on the floor. They have been so successful that there is now a floor-scrubbing Scooba and a floor-mopping Braava.
Roombas, which did not make the model involved in the accident, are manufactured by iRobot, which also manufactures robots for the military.Yes, you did read that headline correctly. Microsoft has announced that due to the popularity of Kinect for Windows, the sensor will no longer be produced. While an increase in demand would normally lead to an increase in production, Microsoft is taking something of a different approach.
Rather than maintaining two Kinect product lines -- a model for Xbox One and a model for Windows -- the company will instead sell an adapter that allows the console sensor to be connected to a PC. Microsoft says that this will help to keep things simple and create consistency for developers.
An announcement on the Kinect for Windows blog points out that the Xbox One version of the sensor along with the necessary adapter are available in the Microsoft Store. Had the announcement been made a little earlier, it could have been mistaken for an April Fool, but the Kinect Team explains the thinking behind the decision:
Over the past several months, we have seen unprecedented demand from the developer community for Kinect sensors and have experienced difficulty keeping up with requests in some markets. At the same time, we have seen the developer community respond positively to being able to use the Kinect for Xbox One sensor for Kinect for Windows app development, and we are happy to report that Kinect for Xbox One sensors and Kinect Adapter for Windows units are now readily available in most markets.
Microsoft will continue to support the Kinect for Windows v2 sensor, so anyone who already has the Windows version need not rush out and buy the Xbox One model. Anyone looking to adding a Kinect Sensor to their PC, however, will have to splash out $149.99 on a Kinect for Xbox One as well as $49.99 for the Kinect Adapter for Windows. While the overall cost is much the same as the previous unit on its own, you'll need to make sure your computer has a spare USB 3.0 port.This article was co-authored by Dan Cady is an assistant professor of history at California State University, Fresno. He publishes on the history of the American West, music, and religion.
The results from a recent poll published by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (http://www.pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/Tea-Party-and-Religion.aspx) reveal what social scientists have known for a long time: White Evangelical Christians are the group least likely to support politicians or policies that reflect the actual teachings of Jesus. It is perhaps one of the strangest, most dumb-founding ironies in contemporary American culture. Evangelical Christians, who most fiercely proclaim to have a personal relationship with Christ, who most confidently declare their belief that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, who go to church on a regular basis, pray daily, listen to Christian music, and place God and His Only Begotten Son at the center of their lives, are simultaneously the very people most likely to reject his teachings and despise his radical message.
Jesus unambiguously preached mercy and forgiveness. These are supposed to be cardinal virtues of the Christian faith. And yet Evangelicals are the most supportive of the death penalty, draconian sentencing, punitive punishment over rehabilitation, and the governmental use of torture. Jesus exhorted humans to be loving, peaceful, and non-violent. And yet Evangelicals are the group of Americans most supportive of easy-access weaponry, little-to-no regulation of handgun and semi-automatic gun ownership, not to mention the violent military invasion of various countries around the world. Jesus was very clear that the pursuit of wealth was inimical to the Kingdom of God, that the rich are to be condemned, and that to be a follower of Him means to give one's money to the poor. And yet Evangelicals are the most supportive of corporate greed and capitalistic excess, and they are the most opposed to institutional help for the nation's poor -- especially poor children. They hate anything that smacks of "socialism," even though that is essentially what their Savior preached. They despise food stamp programs, subsidies for schools, hospitals, job training -- anything that might dare to help out those in need. Even though helping out those in need was exactly what Jesus urged humans to do. In short, Evangelicals are that segment of America which is the most pro-militaristic, pro-gun, and pro-corporate, while simultaneously claiming to be most ardent lovers of the Prince of Peace.
What's the deal?
Before attempting an answer, allow a quick clarification. Evangelicals don't exactly hate Jesus -- as we've provocatively asserted in the title of this piece. They do love him dearly. But not because of what he tried to teach humanity. Rather, Evangelicals love Jesus for what he does for them. Through his magical grace, and by shedding his precious blood, Jesus saves Evangelicals from everlasting torture in hell, and guarantees them a premium, luxury villa in heaven. For this, and this only, they love him. They can't stop thanking him. And yet, as for Jesus himself -- his core values of peace, his core teachings of social justice, his core commandments of goodwill -- most Evangelicals seem to have nothing but disdain.
And this is nothing new. At the end of World War I, the more rabid, and often less educated Evangelicals decried the influence of the Social Gospel amongst liberal churches. According to these self-proclaimed torch-bearers of a religion born in the Middle East, progressive church-goers had been infected by foreign ideas such as German Rationalism, Soviet-style Communism, and, of course, atheistic Darwinism. In the 1950s, the anti-Social Gospel message piggybacked the rhetoric of anti-communism, which slashed and burned its way through the Old South and onward through the Sunbelt, turning liberal churches into vacant lots along the way. It was here that the spirit and the body collided, leaving us with a prototypical Christian nationalist, hell-bent on prosperity. Charity was thus rebranded as collectivism and self-denial gave way to the gospel of accumulation. Church-to-church, sermon-to-sermon, evangelical preachers grew less comfortable with the fish and loaves Jesus who lived on earth, and more committed to the angry Jesus of the future. By the 1990s, this divine Terminator gained "most-favored Jesus status" among America's mega churches; and with that, even the mention of the former "social justice" Messiah drove the socially conscious from their larger, meaner flock.
In addition to such historical developments, there may very well simply be an underlying, all-too-human social-psychological process at root, one that probably plays itself out among all religious individuals: they see in their religion what they want to see, and deny or despise the rest. That is, religion is one big Rorschach test. People look at the content of their religious tradition -- its teachings, its creeds, its prophet's proclamations -- and they basically pick and choose what suits their own secular outlook. They see in their faith what they want to see as they live their daily lives, and simultaneously ignore the rest. And as is the case for most White Evangelical Christians, what they are ignoring is actually the very heart and soul of Jesus's message -- a message that emphasizes sharing, not greed. Peace-making, not war-mongering. Love, not violence.Tulsa, Okla. - The Arkansas Travelers kept on rolling Thursday night with a 7-2 victory over the Tulsa Drillers at ONEOK Field for their fourth straight win. Third baseman Kaleb Cowart le the way with three RBI's to go along with two hits including his second home run. Orangel Arenas (1-1) earned the win by outpitching Rockies prospect Eddie Butler (1-3) who allowed five runs in the loss.
The Travs hitters remained hot with 13 base hits giving them 48 hits in four games. All nine Travs starters had a hit by the end of the fourth inning. Cowart, Brian Hernandez, Jett Bandy and Alex Yarbrough each had two hits.
In his second start of the season Arenas allowed two runs in the first inning then set down 16 of the last 19 batters he faced. In all he gave up two runs on five hits in six innings without a walk and six strikeouts.
Butler allowed season highs with five runs and 11 base hits to suffer his second loss in a row.
The Drillers jumped out to a 2-0 first-inning lead against Arenas as Taylor Featherston and Tom Murphy hit back-to-back doubles. Murphy advanced on a groundout by Cristhian Adames and scored when Dustin Garneau hit a deep sacrifice fly.
Butler kept the Travs at bay until the fourth inning, which began with a single by Zach Borenstein. the game seemed to turn on the next at bat when Hernandez lined a sharp drive off Butler's glove. The ball was recovered by Langfels near third base and he threw Hernandez out while Borenstein advanced to second base. After a visit from his athletic trainer to check on his hand, Butler remained in the game but wasn't the same. Cowart followed with a gapper to right center knocking home Borenstein. A wild pitch moved Cowart to third and he scored the tying run when Bandy bounced to deep shortstop. Adam Melker kept the inning alive with a single to right field and stole second base in front of a walk to new shortstop Alex Allbritton. Andy Workman followed with the go-ahead base hit, a double off the left field wall, scoring two runs for a 4-2 lead.
The Travs got a misplayed fly ball by left fielder Tyler Massey into a double for Yarbrough leading off the fifth inning. He took third when Borenstein bounced to first base, then with Tulsa's infield playing up Hernandez singled to right field for a 5-2 lead.
Meanwhile Arenas was motoring through the Drillers batting order retiring eight in a row from the third through the fifth inning. Featherston, who had four base hits on Thursday, singled to lead off the sixth inning. He tried to steal second base but was thrown out by Jett Bandy, who has caught eight of the last 13 base runners attempting to steal.
Relief pitcher Carmine Giardina replaced Arenas in the seventh inning and struck out three consecutive batters.
The Travs capped the scoring in the eighth inning when Brian Hernandez hit a leadoff single against Carlos Hernandez. Cowart followed with a two-run blast to left field for a 7-2 lead.
David Carpenter pitched the last two innings and gave up just one hit to finish the game.
Time of game was 2:33 and the paid attendance was 4,095.
The Travs will try for their first series sweep of the season on Friday night at Tulsa. Broken Arrow native Drew Rucinski (2-1, 2.91) will pitch for the Travs while Tulsa counters with Daniel Winkler (3-1, 0.90). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. at ONEOK Field.Adventures in the land of substrings and RegExps.
Part I: Little substring that could (not).
Few weeks ago a bug was filed against Dart SDK citing “very low performance of String.substring ”. Here is a core of microbenchmark developer submitted together with the issue:
// JavaScript version function test ( s ){ console. time ( "substring(js)" ); while ( s. length > 1 ) { s = s. substring ( 1 ); } console. timeEnd ( "substring(js)" ); }
// Dart version test ( s ) { final stopwatch = new Stopwatch ().. start (); while ( s. length > 1 ) { s = s. substring ( 1 ); } print ( "substring(Dart): ${stopwatch.elapsedMilliseconds} ms" ); }
Results are rather bad for Dart version:
$ dart substring.dart benchmarking with string of length 25000 substring(Dart): 244ms benchmarking with string of length 50000 substring(Dart): 949ms benchmarking with string of length 100000 substring(Dart): 3709ms $ node substring.js benchmarking with string of length 25000 substring(js): 2.566ms benchmarking with string of length 50000 substring(js): 2.308ms benchmarking with string of length 100000 substring(js): 2.633ms
Depending on your background you might also be surprised by a non-linear growth in Dart run times: increasing input string size by a factor of \(2\) (\(25000\) to \(50000\)) increases running time by a factor of \(4\) (\(244\) to \(949\) milliseconds).
Running benchmark with dart --observe and looking at CPU profile in Observatory reveals an unsuprising picture:
Most of the time is spent doing a substring operation, so why Dart VM’s substring is so much slower than V8’s? They must be implemented completely differently - and indeed they are.
Dart VM implements String.substring(start, end) in a very straightforward manner: it allocates a new String object of length end - start + 1 and copies string contents into this new string. Formally speaking this is an \(O(n)\) implementation - also known as linear time - it requires amount of operations proportional to the length of a substring.
If we take a look at the core of our benchmark then it should become obvious why running times exhibit quadratic growth:
while ( s. length > 1 ) { s = s. substring ( 1 ); }
If we assuming that initial length of the string s is \(N\) the the first iteration of the loop creates a substring of length \(N - 1\), next iteration creates substring of length \(N - 2\) and so on, until the last iteration creates a substring of length \(1\). This means the loop requires
operations, which is proportional to \(N^2\).
[If you have never encountered this sequence before I suggest to stop and think for a bit how a formula for its sum is derived. Solution’s simplicity and elegance might provide a welcomed retreat from fighting Webpack configs. The Prince of Mathematics Carl Friedrich Gauss managed to figure it out when he was 8 - though obviously we would never know what he would do facing modern JavaScript ecosystem.]
The \(O(N^2)\) complexity of the above loop is precisely the reason why it’s not a good idea to iterate a string by slicing away processed pieces, unless of course your runtime does “a bit” of magic internally and optimizes for this particular pattern… unsurprisingly V8 does.
If we take a look into V8 sources we discover a somewhat intimidating zoo of different string representations, each optimizing for some particular use case (indexing, concatenation, slicing):
// The String abstract class captures JavaScript string values: // // Ecma-262: // 4.3.16 String Value // A string value is a member of the type String and is a finite // ordered sequence of zero or more 16-bit unsigned integer values. // // All string values have a length field. class String : public Name { //... };
// The SeqString abstract class captures sequential string values. class SeqString : public String { //... }; // The OneByteString class captures sequential one-byte string objects. // Each character in the OneByteString is an one-byte character. class SeqOneByteString : public SeqString { //... }; // The TwoByteString class captures sequential unicode string objects. // Each character in the TwoByteString is a two-byte uint16_t. class SeqTwoByteString : public SeqString { //... };
// The ConsString class describes string values built by using the // addition operator on strings. A ConsString is a pair where the // first and second components are pointers to other string values. // One or both components of a ConsString can be pointers to other // ConsStrings, creating a binary tree of ConsStrings where the leaves // are non-ConsString string values. The string value represented by // a ConsString can be obtained by concatenating the leaf string // values in a left-to-right depth-first traversal of the tree. class ConsString : public String { //... };
// The Sliced String class describes strings that are substrings of another // sequential string. The motivation is to save time and memory when creating // a substring. A Sliced String is described as a pointer to the parent, // the offset from the start of the parent string and the length. Using // a Sliced String therefore requires unpacking of the parent string and // adding the offset to the start address. A substring of a Sliced String // are not nested since the double indirection is simplified when creating // such a substring. // Currently missing features are: // - handling externalized parent strings // - external strings as parent // - truncating sliced string to enable otherwise unneeded parent to be GC'ed. class SlicedString : public String { //... };
// The ExternalString class describes string values that are backed by // a string resource that lies outside the V8 heap. ExternalStrings // consist of the length field common to all strings, a pointer to the // external resource. It is important to ensure (externally) that the // resource is not deallocated while the ExternalString is live in the // V8 heap. // // The API expects that all ExternalStrings are created through the // API. Therefore, ExternalStrings should not be used internally. class ExternalString : public String { //... }; // The ExternalOneByteString class is an external string backed by an // one-byte string. class ExternalOneByteString : public ExternalString { //... }; // The ExternalTwoByteString class is an external string backed by a UTF-16 // encoded string. class ExternalTwoByteString : public ExternalString { //... };
Whenever you see a string value in your JavaScript code - it can actually be backed by any of those representations, runtime is able to operate with them interchangeably and even can go from one representation to another dynamically if that improves performance of some operation.
[Other JavaScript runtimes have similarly convoluted representation hierarchies spawned by benchmark races and desire to optimize for common usage patterns. See SpiderMonkey’s String.h, JSC’s JSString.h and *String.h files in Chakra’s sources]
Understanding differences between different string representations used by different JS runtimes is usually a key to understanding why your string manipulation code performs in a certain way. For example we could digress and discuss why
function strange () { var s = "01234567891011121314" ; for ( var i = 0 ; i < 100000 ; i ++ ) { s += s [ Math. floor ( s. length / 2 )]; } return s ; }
runs 60 times faster in SpiderMonkey than in V8 - but unfortunately that’s beyond the scope of this post.
Lets return back to the String.prototype.substring microbenchmark in question. Cutting through the layers of C++ and assembly we would eventually arrive to the code implementing substring operation:
// Note: this a cleaned up version of the original V8 code with some // unimportant details removed for readablity. Handle < String > Factory :: NewProperSubString ( Handle < String > str, int begin, int end ) { // If string is a cons-string produced as a result of concatenations // flatten it to have a flat representation. str = String :: Flatten ( str ); int length = end - begin ; if ( length < SlicedString :: kMinLength /* 13 */ ) { // If resulting substring is small then simply allocate a new sequential // string and fill it with characters. if ( str -> IsOneByteRepresentation ()) { Handle < SeqOneByteString > result = NewRawOneByteString ( length ). ToHandleChecked (); uint8_t * dest = result -> GetChars (); String :: WriteToFlat ( * str, dest, begin, end ); return result ; } else { Handle < SeqTwoByteString > result = NewRawTwoByteString ( length ). ToHandleChecked (); uc16 * dest = result -> GetChars (); String :: WriteToFlat ( * str, dest, begin, end ); return result ; } } // Resulting substring is large enough to warrant sliced-string allocation. // Instead of allocating sequential string and copying substring characters // allocate a SlicedString object that contains a pointer to the // original string, substring start offset and substring length. int offset = begin ; // If input string is a SlicedString itself unwrap it. if ( str -> IsSlicedString ()) { Handle < SlicedString > slice = Handle < SlicedString >:: cast ( str ); str = slice -> parent (); offset += slice -> offset (); } // Create a slice. Handle < SlicedString > slice = New < SlicedString > (...); slice -> set_hash_field ( String :: kEmptyHashField ); slice -> set_length ( length ); slice -> set_parent ( * str ); slice -> set_offset ( offset ); return slice ; }
[With V8 nothing is ever implemented just in a single place, so lost souls searching for substring implementation might also find themselves digging into CodeStubAssembler::SubString which constructs TurboFan graph that would be compiled down to machine code to serve as the SubString stub - which essentially implements fast paths for the C++ logic above.]
Translating the C++ logic to Dart we would get something like this:
class StringSlice /* implements String */ { final String parent ; final int offset ; final int length ; StringSlice ( this. parent, this. offset, this. length ); static substring ( str, start, [ end ]) { if ( end == null ) { end = str. length ; } else if ( end > str. length ) { throw "range error: end ${end} is greater than string length ${str.length} " ; } if ( start < 0 || start >= end ) { throw "range error: start ${start} is out of range [0, ${end} )" ; } final length = end - start ; if ( str is StringSlice ) { start += str. offset ; str = str. parent ; } return new StringSlice ( str, start, length ); } } test ( s ) { final stopwatch = new Stopwatch ().. start (); while ( s. length > 1 ) { s = StringSlice. substring ( s, 1 ); } print ( "substring(Dart): ${stopwatch.elapsedMilliseconds} ms" ); }
$ dart substring.dart benchmarking with string of length 25000 substring(Dart): 3ms benchmarking with string of length 50000 substring(Dart): 3ms benchmarking with string of length 100000 substring(Dart): 1ms
This is what JavaScript version is approximately doing and it explains why we don’t observe quadratic complexity on the microbenchmark: roughly speaking substring operations take constant amount of time (assuming that input string is flat and disregarding memory management overhead) and thus instead of
you get
Given such a drastic performance improvement why would not we implement a similar optimization in Dart VM? Well, this substring optimization comes with a dangerous trap built in: it leads to surprising memory leaks:
function process ( str ) { var small20CharToken = str. substring ( 0, 20 ); return { token : small20CharToken }; } var obj = process ( gigantic10GbString );
Counterintuitively obj above retains the whole 10Gb input string instead of a small 20 character token - because this token is internally represented as a SlicedString that points back to the source string. This might seem like a contrived example but leaks like this do tend to happen in the real world: here is a three.js issue describing how they had to work around this issue, here is a blog post from somebody who had to hunt for this leak in production. Eagerness of a runtime to fall over itself and make your code faster with clever hidden optimizations has an ugly side too. Issue 2869 tracks progress of fixing this on the V8 side, but nothing has really happened since 2013, probably because the only simple and robust solution is to remove sliced strings altogether. Interestingly that’s precisely what Java did - they used to implement String.substring in \(O(1)\) time by reusing parent String ’s char[] storage for the substring object but that lead to memory leaks and was eventually removed in 2012. V8 history with string slices is even more curious: originally V8 had them, then removed them in 2009, then added it back in 2011.
This all is somewhat bad news for the original Dart SDK bug which prompted this trip down the memory lane. Indeed Dart VM is unlikely to implement substring optimization through sliced-strings. That’s why I decided to probe: why exactly they are measuring substring performance?
Part II: Enter less_dart.
Turns out that bug was prompted by their investigation into the slowness of less_dart - which is a port of less.js from JavaScript to Dart.
Looking at less_dart benchmark in the Observatory reveals the following picture:
That is Less parser is doing exactly what I would not recommend - iterating through the input string using substring operation. Looking into the source reveals the following code and the reason for using substring becomes obvious:
$re ( RegExp reg, [ int index ]) { if ( i > currentPos ) { current = current. substring ( i - currentPos ); currentPos = i ; } Match m = reg. firstMatch ( current ); if ( m == null ) return null ; //... skipped... }
[Code is ported word-for-word from JavaScript so exactly the same code exists in JavaScript version where its, ahm, suboptimality is hidden by the helpful JavaScript runtime]
Authors of Less decided to parse input using regular expressions instead of writing custom lexer, however in pre-ES6 world lexing with RegExp -s was convoluted by the fact that you could not take a regular expression and easily check if it matches at the given position, which is what lexer needs to do as it advances through the string and breaks it into tokens.
function Lexer ( str ) { this. str = str ; this. idx = 0 ; } Lexer. prototype. nextToken = function () { if ( this. idx == this. str. length ) return "eof" ; else if ( this. match ( / \d + (?!\w) / )) return "number" ; else if ( this. match ( / [ a-zA-Z_ ]\w */ )) { // note: names can't start with a digit return "name" ; } else if ( this. match ( / \s +/ )) return "space" ; else throw "unexpected token" ; }; // Try to match the given regexp at the current // position (this.index) in the string. // If match succeeds then advance position in the // string past it and return the match object. // Otherwise return null. Lexer. prototype. match = function ( re ) { //??? };
match can be easily implemented in any modern JavaScript interpreter that supports sticky RegExp flag introduced in ES6:
Lexer. prototype. match = function ( re ) { re. lastIndex = this. idx ; var m = re. exec ( this. str ); if ( m!= null ) { this. idx = re. lastIndex ; } return m ; }; // Note: all regular expressions now need to have // sticky bit set. Lexer. prototype. nextToken = function () { if ( this. idx == this. str. length ) return "eof" ; else if ( this. match ( / \d + (?!\w) / y )) return "number" ; else if ( this. match ( / [ a-zA-Z ]\w */ y )) return "name" ; else if ( this. match ( / \s +/ y )) return "space" ; else throw "unexpected token" ; };
[The flag y is apparently named after yylex which is part of the Lex API (not to be confused with Lexx which is a spaceship based on the organic technology which is far beyond even things included into ES7). The name sticky in turn was apparently chosen because it ends with y.]
However what is the way to implement match in a pre-ES6 JS engine? A very naive approach would be to do something like this:
Lexer. prototype. match = function ( re ) { re. lastIndex = this. idx ; var m = re. exec ( this. str ); // No match at all or match at a wrong // position if ( m === null || m. index!== this. idx ) { return null ; } this. idx = re. lastIndex ; return m ; }; // Note: all regular expressions now need to have // global bit set otherwise lastIndex will be // ignored. Lexer. prototype. nextToken = function () { if ( this. idx == this. str. length ) return "eof" ; else if ( this. match ( / \d + (?!\w) /g )) return "number" ; else if ( this. match ( / [ a-zA-Z ]\w */g )) return "name" ; else if ( this. match ( / \s +/g )) return "space" ; else throw "unexpected token" ; };
This however is extremely inefficient because calling match(/\d+/g) would essentially search from this.idx forward for the first sequence of digits and then discard the match unless it occurred at this.idx.
A person with a bit more insight into RegExp features might come up with the following optimization:
// Note: all regexps have irrefutable pattern // as an alternative "...|()" this guarantees // that regexp engine won't attempt to match // this expression at a different position because // irrefutable pattern always matches. Lexer. prototype. nextToken = function () { if ( this. idx == this. str. length ) return "eof" ; else if ( this. match ( / \d + (?!\w) | () /g )) return "number" ; else if ( this. match ( / [ a-zA-Z ]\w *| () /g )) return "name" ; else if ( this. match ( / \s +| () /g )) return "space" ; else throw "unexpected token" ; }; Lexer. prototype. match = function ( re ) { re. lastIndex = this. idx ; var m = re. exec ( this. str ); // No match at all or an empty match. if ( m === null || m [ 0 ] === "" ) { return null ; } this. idx = re. lastIndex ; return m ; };
However a much more common and straightforward way to implement match would be to use substring and anchored regexps:
Lexer. prototype. match = function ( re ) { var m = re. exec ( this. str ); if ( m!== null ) return null ; // Slice away consumed part of the string. this. str = this. str. substring ( m [ 0 ]. length ); return m ; }; // Note: all regular expressions now need to // be anchored at the start. Lexer. prototype. nextToken = function () { if ( this. str. length === 0 ) return "eof" ; else if ( this. match ( /^ \d + (?!\w) / )) return "number" ; else if ( this. match ( /^ [ a-zA-Z ]\w */ )) return "name" ; else if ( this. match ( /^ \s +/ )) return "space" ; else throw "unexpected token" ; };
This is exactly the code we see in the less.js and less_dart - fortunately for less.js V8 runtime implements String.prototype.substring as a \(O(1)\) operation, unfortunately for less_dart Dart VM does not.
What Dart VM does implement is RegExp.matchAsPrefix method - which essentially performs a sticky match of the given regular expression at the given position. Hooray! ☺
However when I did necessary changes to the less_dart code I discovered that it actually became several times slower. Hmm. ☹
It turns out there was a little TODO inside VM’s RegExp implementation:
Match matchAsPrefix ( String string, [ int start = 0 ]) { //... // Inefficient check that searches for a later match too. // Change this when possible. List < int > list = _ExecuteMatch ( string, start ); if ( list == null ) return null ; if ( list [ 0 ]!= start ) return null ; return new _RegExpMatch ( this, string, list ); }
Obviously the solution was to fix VM by implementing RegExp.matchAsPrefix in the same way |
"Feel the Bern" with the new Bernie Sanders volunteer office opening up earlier this month.
Organized by Marc Armstrong, the all-volunteer run office opened to the public with more than 100 visitors on Jan. 9.
Although not directly linked to the Bernie Sanders 2016 Presidential Campaign, Armstrong said he and other volunteers are meeting and organizing before the campaign has hired a Virginia state director.
The small office, located across from the Howard Johnson in Staunton, rotates about 25 volunteers. According to Armstrong, the office has a mailing list of 200 people who have either attended events or are interested in being involved.
The Staunton volunteer office is the only physical office dedicated to the campaign so far in the state, Armstrong said. He is also unaware of any other candidates having volunteer offices in the area or rest of the state.
"Bernie 2016 volunteers opened offices in Staunton and Cleveland, both of which opened on Jan. 9," Armstrong said. "My information is that these are the first dedicated Bernie 2016 volunteer offices in the country."
One volunteer, Dolores Curry, has only lived in Staunton for a few months, but with regular visits to her daughter who calls Staunton home, she wanted to reach out and do something.
"Just looking at his slate... he was the only one who makes good sense to me," she said. "He's honest, generous and on the right track."
Prior to opening the office in town, the organization's first event — a Democratic Primary Debate Watch Party — drew more than 70 people to Queen City Brewing on Oct. 14.
"There is significant support for Bernie Sanders here in Staunton," Armstrong said. "Bernie Sanders has a common sense approach to solving the issues we face as a nation. His proven record representing and supporting the interests of the people in a rural state shows that his judgement can be trusted. Moreover, his courage in standing up to Wall Street is unmatched. Many of us still believe that government can serve the interests of the people and Sanders is the only candidate who understands that this is possible by coming together to demand a political revolution. We're doing our part."
Volunteer meetings are held every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the office, which is located at 240 N. Central Ave. #6 in Staunton.
Other Sanders volunteer movements through social media have opened up in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Waynesboro. To learn more go to Staunton4Bernie.org.
Once the primaries are over, physical offices for candidates are expected to reach the area, like what the Valley saw for the 2012 election.
As for other candidates moving forward in the state, Micah Johnson of the Marco Rubio, said Rubio's campaign has made it a point to have a presence in all 50 states.
"We are encouraged by the outpouring of support from Virginians eager to spread Marco's message and help ensure that we elect a leader who is focused on solutions to make the 21st century America's best," Johnson said. "Their hard work and support is a testament to Marco's strong conservative record and unique ability to unite Republicans."
Other Republican candidates, like Trump, Bush and Cruz, also have reached out to Virginia representatives for support. The other Democratic hopeful, Hillary Clinton, has garnered support from Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and other state representatives.
Follow Laura Peters @peterslaura and @peterpants. You can reach her at lpeters@newsleader.com or 213-9125.
Read or Share this story: http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2016/01/20/bernie-saunders-volunteer-office-opens-staunton/79003994/US imposes new sanctions on North Korea
By Peter Symonds
3 January 2015
US President Barack Obama yesterday raised the stakes in the confrontation with North Korea over unsubstantiated allegations that it hacked into Sony Pictures Entertainment, authorising a new round of economic sanctions affecting 10 government officials and three state entities.
The US action is deliberately provocative. The Obama administration imposed the penalties despite the lack of evidence that Pyongyang was responsible for the Sony hacking. North Korea has flatly denied any involvement and offered to conduct a joint investigation with American authorities.
Cyber security experts have increasingly questioned the FBI’s allegations against North Korea and pointed to other more likely suspects. Internet security company Norse has handed the FBI evidence indicating that a group of disgruntled Sony employees could have been responsible for the Sony hacking. The FBI simply dismissed the possibility out of hand.
Former US cybercrimes prosecutor Mark Rasch told Reuters this week: “I think the government acted prematurely in announcing unequivocally that it was North Korea before the investigation was complete. There are many theories about who did it and how they did it. The government has to be pursuing all of them.”
The entire Sony hacking affair has the character of a US concoction deliberately designed to heighten tensions on the Korean peninsula. Obama’s executive order makes no mention of Sony and cites a litany of “provocative, destabilising and repressive actions and policies of the government of North Korea, including its destructive, coercive cyber-related actions” as the pretext for the new penalties.
The sanctions prevent the designated individuals and entities from doing business in the US and block their access to the American banking and financial system. North Korea’s main intelligence agency—the Reconnaissance General Bureau—as well as two allegedly defence-related state companies—the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID) and Korea Tangun Trading Organisation—were sanctioned. Most of the 10 senior officials targeted were connected to KOMID.
When the FBI publicly accused Pyongyang of hacking Sony on December 19, Obama warned that the US would respond “at a time and in a manner of our choosing.” Speaking yesterday on the executive order, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said: “Today’s actions are the first aspect of our response.”
In fact, the Obama administration may well have taken action against Pyongyang already. Two unexplained shutdowns of North Korea’s Internet access—the first just days after Obama warned of US retaliation—have taken place over the past fortnight, in all likelihood the result of a cyber attack. American officials have refused to either confirm or deny responsibility.
Obama has also pressed Sony to release its film, The Interview, a comedy about a fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Sony, which made the crude film in collaboration with the American military-intelligence apparatus, initially withdrew it from circulation. The film is nothing but a calculated attempt to insult the North Korean leadership and inflame tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Obama has already indicated that his administration will review the 2008 decision of the previous Bush administration to remove North Korea from the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. That decision was part of an agreement to denuclearise North Korea, reached in 2007 at six-party talks sponsored by China and including the two Koreas, the US, Russia and Japan. Bush only reluctantly took the terrorism list step after North Korea shut down its nuclear facilities, began dismantling its nuclear reactor and made a comprehensive declaration of its nuclear programs.
The agreement collapsed months later when the Bush administration unilaterally insisted on a tougher inspection and verification regime for North Korea’s nuclear facilities. Since coming to office in 2009, Obama has made no attempt to revive the six-party talks, ensuring that tensions on the Korean peninsula remain high. While occasionally hinting that a rapprochement with Pyongyang might be possible, he has always made clear that price would be very high. At the same time, the US has responded to North Korea nuclear and missile tests with harsh new sanctions and threats.
North Korea has been subject to a virtual economic blockade by the US and its allies since the end of the Korean War in 1953. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Washington’s thinly veiled aim has been to precipitate a political and economic crisis in North Korea that would lead to the installation of a pro-US regime. In the Wall Street Journal last month, US Council on Foreign Relations president Richard Haass bluntly insisted that the objective had to be: “ending North Korea’s existence as an independent entity and reunifying the Korean Peninsula.”
The latest US sanctions cut directly across tentative steps towards talks between the two Koreas. In his traditional New Year’s speech on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un suggested that a summit might be held. “Depending on the mood and circumstances to be created, we have no reason not to hold the highest-level talks,” he said.
South Korea’s unification minister Ryoo Kihl-jae told the media: “Our government hopes South and North Korea will hold dialogue without further ado in the near future.” Last Monday, Ryoo sent a formal proposal for talks to North Korea. In October last year, two top-ranking North Korean officials flew unannounced to South Korea, nominally to observe the closing ceremonies of the 2014 Asian Games, where they held discussions with their South Korean counterparts.
In his speech yesterday, North Korean leader Kim made an appeal to the US for a “bold shift” in its policy towards Pyongyang, and criticised Washington for its “human rights” campaign in the United Nations against North Korea. In November, the Pyongyang regime released two American prisoners following a visit by US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. The latest sanctions, however, indicate that far from making any move to ease tensions with North Korea, the US is intent on intensifying the confrontation, using the Sony hacking allegations as the pretext.
By targetting Pyongyang, the Obama administration is also heightening the pressure on North Korea’s ally, China. Sanctions against North Korea are just one element of the US “pivot to Asia”—a comprehensive diplomatic, economic and strategic offensive aimed at undermining Beijing’s influence that is destabilising the entire region.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Online retailer Amazon on Monday emailed websites with which it formerly had an affiliate relationship inviting them to re-enroll in the revenue-sharing program.
“As you may have heard, California Governor Jerry Brown has signed legislation repealing the law that had forced us to terminate our California Associates. We are pleased to invite all California Associates whose accounts were closed due to the prior legislation to re-enroll in the Associates Program,” Amazon’s email stated.
In June, Amazon terminated its affiliate advertising program, involving some 10,000 websites after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill, AB X28 1, to require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales tax from California customers.
In affiliate programs, a website can collect a commission if its visitors click on a retailer’s ad and buy something.
The Supreme Court had ruled that states could not force online retailers to collect state sales tax if the retailer did not have a physical presence in that state, called “nexus.” California and several other states have passed laws saying that the affiliates are the nexus for these out-of-state retailers.
After mounting a referendum drive to repeal the California law, Amazon struck a deal with the state that postpones enforcement of the state law in order to give online retailers time to lobby Congress to pass a national law about sales tax collection.
Most California Amazon affiliates were small businesses with fewer than 75 employees, according to Rebecca Madigan, executive director of the Performance Marketing Association, a Camarillo-based national trade association for websites that had affiliate relationships with dozens of online retailers.
Of Amazon’s announcement Madigan said, “I’m pleased that Amazon is reopening its associate program in California and we hope the other hundreds of out-of-state online retailers that were forced to terminate their advertising program when the law initially passed will continue to open their programs in California … so that our affiliate members can truly get back in business at least for the next year.”
Brick and mortar retailers had supported the new law, saying they were at a competitive disadvantage because they have to collect sales tax, which in California is as high as 9 percent in some cities. Sales tax is 7.75 percent in all Orange County cities except La Habra, where it is 8.25 percent.
Only former Amazon affiliates whose accounts were terminated by AB X28 1 are eligible to re-enroll, Amazon said. Once re-enrolled they can start earning commissions again.
Click here for more information about Amazon’s offer to its former affiliates.Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Sir Elton admitted his wish to meet Mr Putin was "probably pie in the sky"
Sir Elton John says he wants to meet Vladimir Putin to discuss what he called the Russian president's "ridiculous" attitude to gay rights.
A report by Human Rights Watch last year said Russia was failing to prevent and prosecute homophobic violence amid a rise in attacks against minorities.
Speaking to the BBC, Sir Elton said he would welcome talks with Mr Putin even though "he may laugh behind my back... and call me an absolute idiot".
The musician is currently in Ukraine.
He met Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and called for the country to give stronger support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-sexual (LGBT) community.
Sir Elton also met with business leaders to call on them to not turn away LGBT employees.
Image copyright EPA Image caption Sir Elton John accused Mr Putin of saying "stupid things" about gay people
Ukraine's neighbour, Russia, passed a law in June 2013 that prosecuted private individuals promoting "homosexual behaviour among minors".
Sir Elton criticised the move, and comments Mr Putin made last year, indicating gay people targeted children.
"Give me a break," Sir Elton said. "You are President of Russia, and you go and say stupid things like that?"
He said Mr Putin's attitude to gay people was "isolating and prejudiced" and "ridiculous".
"I would like to meet [Mr Putin]," Sir Elton told the BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Bridget Kendall.
"It's probably pie in the sky... He may laugh behind my back when he shuts the door, and call me an absolute idiot, but at least I can think I have the conscience to say I tried."2 October 2005 | rootleafdinner
FINALLY! Been hungering for something fresh and new like this!
I haven't gotten into anything new as far as a live action series since Seinfeld went off the air. Most comedy series are lame, not funny and predictable with laugh tracks.. Its like, "Oh, I was supposed to laugh at that?". Finally with "Earl" there is something new to get into watching again with an original idea. This show is very funny, has great characters, scenes, directing and doesn't prompt you to laugh with a laugh track. Jason Lee was on Leno a week or so ago pluggin his show and is really funny, and talks much the same as his character. Guess thats how he delves into it so easy. I hope this show sticks around for a while. After years of Reality TV and a bunch of played out stupid comedy series this is a welcome treat!Yosef Kuperwasser and Shalom Lipner's "The Problem Is Palestinian Rejectionism" (November/December 2011) hangs on an echo -- perhaps an unconscious one -- of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 2009 speech at Bar-Ilan University. "The Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state stands at the root of the struggle and behind every so-called core issue," the authors argue. "Rather than focus on the issues of settlement activity and territory, success in the negotiations will first require at least a tentative change in the Palestinian position on recognizing Israel as a Jewish state." This is a prime example of the ongoing attempts to revive the increasingly incredulous myth that a peace-loving Israel simply has "no partner for peace."
One fact is undisputed: In 1993, the Palestine Liberation Organization recognized "the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security" through the letters of mutual recognition exchanged between then Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. The authors correctly note that the declaration did not imply a Palestinian recognition of a "Jewish state." However, they inaccurately interpret the omission as proof of a thinly concealed Palestinian scheme to pretend to support a two-state solution.
The truth is less dramatic. The declaration did not include the recognition of a "Jewish state" for the simple reason that Israeli leaders had not asked for it. And this was hardly an accident; they made no such request in the years that preceded the Oslo accords and did not include any such statement in the "road map for peace" or the "joint understanding" of the 2007 Annapolis Conference. Contrary to Kuperwasser and Lipner's claim, the demand to gain outside recognition for a Jewish state is a position without precedent.
Of course, Israel has officially characterized itself as a "Jewish and a democratic state" since amending the basic law in the 1980s. Still, virtually no international actor, including Arab states with diplomatic relations with Israel, has ever been asked to embrace this designation. That is notWASHINGTON — The government hiring freeze put in place by US President Donald Trump will apply to Department of Defense civilian positions but will not impact uniformed personnel.
Trump signed the hiring freeze order Jan. 23, drawing harsh criticism from both federal employee unions and members of Congress, who worry the freeze will save few dollars but create major headaches for government agencies. The freeze included an exception for national security positions, but the wording was such that it was unclear if the Pentagon was directly impacted or not.
On Wednesday, the Pentagon finally confirmed that its civilian spots would be impacted, but that Secretary of Defense James Mattis can exempt from the hiring freeze any position "that he deems necessary to meet national security or public safety responsibilities," a DoD official told Defense News. Other exemptions must be requested from the Office of Personnel Management.
The memorandum does not impact Senate-confirmable officials, the appointment of officials to non-career positions in the Senior Executive Service or to Schedule C positions in the excepted service, the official added.
"Since January 20, 2017, and prior to our notification of the President's Executive Order on a Federal Hiring Freeze, Washington Headquarters Service (WHS) hired 36 employees to support various functions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)," the official added. "Additionally, 18 political appointees have been hired thus far to support the Secretary of Defense. Political appointees are exempt from the Executive Order."
In June, the Pentagon ended a four-month hiring freeze used to ensure personnel were reflected in an internal DoD accounting system.
The freeze also impacts the Department of Veterans Affairs. On Tuesday, acting VA Secretary Robert Snyder said his department "intends to exempt anyone it deems necessary for public safety, including front-line caregivers."
VA officials said the statement was a clarification of how they are interpreting the new presidential order and not an attempt to get around the new rules.
Governmentwide hiring freezes were tried under the Reagan and Carter administrations, but in 1982, the Government Accountability Office found they were not an effective means of controlling federal employment and that any savings would likely be offset by overtime and part-time worker costs.
Those concerns were repeated this week by a bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers, who represent thousands of federal workers.
× Fear of missing out? Fear no longer. Be the first to hear about breaking news, as it happens. You'll get alerts delivered directly to your inbox each time something noteworthy happens in the Military community. Thanks for signing up. By giving us your email, you are opting in to our Newsletter: Sign up for our Early Bird Brief
"I think it’s largely symbolic," said Virginia Democratic Rep. Don Beyer, whose district is home to 77,000 federal workers. "If you’re a Trump supporter in rural America who thinks your taxpayer dollars are being wasted by too many civilian employees, you might be thrilled by it. But they’re missing the point that we haven’t seen this few federal workers in our lifetime."
Beyer told Defense News that the hiring freeze hurts military retirees and military spouses who hope to enter the federal workforce. It also creates management headaches at the Pentagon, where civilian support staffs have been cut progressively since federal budget caps were enacted.
"As a manager, you’re always trying to do more with less," Beyer said. "They’ve already determined who they need to hire in a critical space, and now you’ve frozen the ability to hire those people."
According to Beyer, upward of 221,000 people were in the pipeline to be hired governmentwide, at least a third of them veterans. He said the freeze would "greatly hurt" the VA, which is looking to hire 2,000 people to deal with backlogged cases.
Virginia Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock on Monday broke with Trump to oppose the governmentwide hiring freeze.
"The federal budget cannot be balanced on the backs of our federal workforce," she said in a statement Monday. "I don’t support this type of across-the-board freeze and think it is better to look at priorities and areas where appropriate cuts can be made and where we can consolidate efforts or identify unnecessary costs that can be eliminated."Who Benefits If Russian Oil Sanctions End?
February 20th, 2017 by Susan Kraemer
The US put sanctions on Russian oil in 2014 to discourage Putin from invading any more of his neighbors after he annexed Crimea.
Image Credit: Kremlin.ru
These sanctions are focused on Russia’s oil sector, because most of Russia’s state wealth is actually privately owned by about 30 Russian oligarchs. All of the state-owned petro-state assets were essentially stolen by the Russian mob after the end of communist rule. Russia is a petro-state with little economic diversity.
Sanctions also impact foreign investors in Russian oil. Bloomberg:
“Sanctions to punish Russia for supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine and for the annexation of Crimea prohibit companies based in the U.S. and EU from probing Russia’s deep-sea, shale and Arctic fields.”
The Russian Dossier and Trump and Sanctions
In the infamous Russian Dossier exposed by Buzzfeed, the respected British ex-spy Christopher Steele revealed that Trump’s top campaign advisor Carter Page/Trump’s associates had been offered up to a 19% stake in the giant Russian oil company Rosneft if the new Trump administration would lift these sanctions.
Image Credit: Russian Dossier
Although denying contacts now, early last year, Page boasted of his Russian connections. Bloomberg: March 2016: Trump’s New Russia Adviser Has Deep Ties to Kremlin’s Gazprom:
“When Donald Trump named him last week as one of his foreign-policy advisers, Page says his e-mail inbox filled up with positive notes from Russian contacts. ‘So many people who I know and have worked with have been so adversely affected by the sanctions policy,’ Page said in a two-hour interview last week. ‘There’s a lot of excitement in terms of the possibilities for creating a better situation.’”
After Trump was successfully elected, Carter Page visited Russia in December. That week, the Kremlin announced the sale of a 19.5% stake in Rosneft, supposedly to Glencore and Qatar, but also to an unnamed entity through a series of Cayman Island shell companies, which can legally conceal the identity of owners, so it is impossible to ascertain its real buyer. The sale price is variously cited as either $11.3 billion or $17.5 billion.
Reuters was unable to account for nearly a quarter of the funding for this 19.5% stake in Rosneft:
“But important facts about the deal either have not been disclosed, cannot be determined solely from public records, or appear to contradict the straightforward official account of the stake being split 50/50 by Glencore and the Qataris.
For one: Glencore contributed only 300 million euros of equity to the deal, less than 3 percent of the purchase price, which it said in a statement on Dec. 10 had bought it an “indirect equity interest” limited to just 0.54 percent of Rosneft.
In addition, public records show the ownership structure of the stake ultimately includes a Cayman Islands company whose beneficial owners cannot be traced.
And while Italian bank Intesa SanPaolo lent the Singapore vehicle 5.2 billion euros to fund the deal, and Qatar put in 2.5 billion, the sources of funding for nearly a quarter of the purchase price have not been disclosed by any of the parties.
“The main question in relation to this transaction, as ever, still sounds like this: Who is the real buyer of a 19.5 percent stake in Rosneft?” Sergey Aleksashenko, a former deputy head of Russia’s central bank, wrote in a blog last week.
Rosneft declined to respond to questions posed by Reuters, including a request for comment on how ownership of the 19.5 percent stake was divided, information about the identity of the Cayman Islands buyer, or details of the source of any undisclosed sources of funds.“
Carter Page Benefits from Lifted Sanctions on Russian Oil
Carter Page, a US oil investor and energy expert, had a long history of oil and gas energy investment in Russia. Sanctions on Russia directly impact him as well, because his own investments are among those impacted by the sanctions.
In December, Page warned/threatened Senator McCain that military response would follow if the US refused to lift sanctions, according to Sputnik News.
Sputnik News is described by Foreign Policy in 2014 as a “compliant outlet to trumpet the Kremlin line.”
Page is among the Trump associates under investigation for Russian connections (New York Times):
“Carter Page was one of at least three individuals in the Trump campaign who were under investigation by the FBI, National Security Agency, and Central Intelligence Agency for possible links to high-ranking Russian officials.”
Curiously, since his December threat from Moscow, Page’s current whereabouts are unknown.
Exxon Benefits from Lifted Russian Oil Sanctions
Exxon’s interest is also aligned. In 2014, through joint-venture agreements with state-controlled Rosneft, Exxon acquired drilling rights to 63 million acres of Russian oil (Bloomberg). This is much larger than Exxon’s previously largest-ever deal, a 14 million acre lease in the US.
The purchase would make no sense if sanctions remained, as Exxon would not be able to sell most of that oil. All but 3 million of the 63 million acres are covered by the sanctions. However, even with the sanctions, exploration itself was still legal. The sanctions do not bar oil-related activities like seismic surveying or acquiring drilling rights. So it was legal for Exxon to get the drilling exploration rights.
However, in order to sell the vast amount of oil expected to lie under the remaining 60 million acres, sanctions would need to be lifted. It is now also in Exxon’s interest that the US look the other way when Putin invades neighbors.
In other words, by partnering with Putin’s firm Rosneft in the 63 million acre lease, Exxon was betting on the sanctions being lifted. Former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson is the Trump administration Secretary of State.
Flynn Tried to Lift Russian Oil Sanctions – on Orders From…
In February, Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn “resigned” after publicity over US intelligence intercepted calls in which he appears to have promised Russia sanctions relief while he was still a private citizen — in violation of the Logan Act — and then lied about it to VP Pence.
According to the New York Times this week, before resigning, Flynn had been hand-delivered a sanctions-removal proposal by three Trump associates.
One of the three was Felix Sater, a Russian-born Mafia-linked figure whose racketeering sentence was reduced for cooperating with American intelligence officials on “undisclosed matters related to national security” in providing “significant intelligence with respect to nuclear weapons in a major country openly hostile to the United States.” Trump claimed no connection to Sater, but Sater has admitted to multiple Trump connections under oath in pursuing numerous Russian and other business ventures, and operates two floors down from Trump in Trump Tower.
Image Credit: Forbes
The second was Trump’s lawyer Michel Cohen, who was named in the Dossier as having clandestine meetings in Prague in August with Kremlin figures, which he denies. (The Dossier claims are progressively being verified by US intelligence agencies.)
Image Credit: Russian Dossier
The third person is Trump-connected through former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Manafort now directs the Putin-backed Trump-style populist strongman candidacy of the new would-be Ukrainian leader, Andrii Artemenko. Before working on Trump’s campaign, Manafort worked on electing Putin’s initial Ukraine puppet pick, former president Viktor Yanukovych, now exiled in Russia.
So, the sanctions ultimately impact Putin’s wealth, through the fortunes of Rosneft, the world’s largest listed oil company. Putin himself is reputed to be worth $200 billion, according to Red Notice author, Bill Browder.
The idea of the president of any normal country also owning one of its largest assets and using his office to protect it seems outrageous. Putin used his position to gain wealth for himself and a small group of cronies, and is trying to prevent sanctions from reducing the value of that wealth.
So, various US interests are aligned with a foreign power threatening the sovereignty of Eastern European NATO members.Four mental patients on a field trip in New York City must save their caring chaperon, who ends up being taken to a hospital in a coma after accidentally witnessing a murder, before the killers can find him and finish the job.
A morgue attendant is talked into running a brothel at his workplace after a deceased pimp is sent there. However, the pimp's killers don't look too kindly on this new 'business', nor does the morgue's owner.
Jack and Caroline are a couple making a decent living when Jack suddenly loses his job. They agree that he should stay at home and look after the house while Caroline works. It's just that he's never done it before, and really doesn't have a clue. Written by Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>
Did You Know?
Trivia The premise came about when The premise came about when John Hughes recounted to Lauren Shuler Donner about a disastrous experience he had looking after his two children in the absence of his wife, which Shuler found hilarious. After asking if that could make a good movie, she replied that "it sure sounds funny to me". Hughes wrote the film, and flew to Los Angeles to re-write the script with Shuler. See more
Goofs When the baby eats the chili, she knocks the can on the floor from her stroller and it makes a clank sound as if hitting a hard floor. But it lands on the carpet and there should not have been any sound coming from an empty can landing on carpet when dropped from a height of just a foot or so. When the baby eats the chili, she knocks the can on the floor from her stroller and it makes a clank sound as if hitting a hard floor. But it lands on the carpet and there should not have been any sound coming from an empty can landing on carpet when dropped from a height of just a foot or so. See more
Quotes
: No, I don't want to go over the list! OK, let's go over the list.
See more » Caroline : Do you want to go over the list one more time? Jack Butler : No, I don't want to go over the list! OK, let's go over the list.
Alternate Versions In one scene, Jack's "girlfriends" take him to a male strip show in which the dancers are dressed as astronauts. Jack comments "These aren't the guys from the space shuttle, are they?" When the film was first shown on network television in 1986, the line was removed, presumably because it seemed in poor taste coming so soon after the Challenger disaster. In one scene, Jack's "girlfriends" take him to a male strip show in which the dancers are dressed as astronauts. Jack comments "These aren't the guys from the space shuttle, are they?" When the film was first shown on network television in 1986, the line was removed, presumably because it seemed in poor taste coming so soon after the Challenger disaster. See moreBanknotes provide a snapshot of the history of Mormons and their trek across the United States
By Zachary Habermas – Paper Money Guaranty …..
Within the banknote collecting universe, there is a group of notes that garners a relatively large amount of interest. Currency printed by followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), or Mormons, gives a snapshot into the tumultuous years after the founding of the LDS Church. They reveal the oppression many of the followers faced and the innovation they showed in trying to expand throughout the United States. Today, some of this currency is quite rare and can fetch a decent price at auction. The following are some examples of the different types of currency printed by Mormons throughout their history.
Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Co.
The issuance of Mormon currency began shortly after the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1830.
In 1836 many Mormons had resettled to Kirtland, Ohio from the east coast. There they had decided to start a bank. This was a time when hundreds of banks, both legitimate and not, had sprung up. The number of banks increased with the demand for credit throughout the United States. After gathering the plates and printing a significant sum of banknotes the Kirtland Safety Society Bank applied for a charter from the state of Ohio. However, Ohio denied their charter due to lack of capital.
This did not stop the Mormons as they came up with an interesting plan. They eventually modified the notes by changing the bank title to “Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Co.” as well as blocking out the titles “Cashier” and “President” and replacing them with “Secretary” and “Treasurer.” This was an attempt to differentiate the institution from a bank as it had no legal charter to operate.
Only a small amount of notes were changed and it was only done to the $1, $2 and $3 banknotes, not the higher denominations. Some of these notes were signed by Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of Mormonism and the LDS movement. However, many of these were done by scribes and it is impossible to determine which notes carry a genuine signature. The notes were virtually worthless outside of Kirtland and were often traded at 12.5 cents on the dollar. Eventually the bank collapsed and many of the Mormon inhabitants left the city. Today, the rarest form of these notes is one that has been modified and countersigned. An example of this can be seen above.
The State of Deseret
In 1849 many Mormons had resettled in the mostly ungoverned west. There they established the State of Deseret. Brigham Young, the president of the LDS Church at the time, was to be governor of this territory. The plan was to get recognized as a territory or state by the U.S. government. However, this never happened and the council governing the area was disbanded after the U.S. created the State of California and Territories of Utah and New Mexico.
Young was eventually installed as the first governor of the Territory of Utah.
During its short history, the State of Deseret managed to create a functioning government that appointed judges and created a criminal code. They even had their own militia modeled after the Nauvoo militia from Nauvoo, Illinois, another important Mormon settlement.
In addition to this, currency was issued by the Deseret Currency Association. Since there was very little gold or silver to back up the currency, the currency was backed by livestock. The currency was used to pay workers at the church and came in denominations of $1, $2, $3, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. There are few surviving examples of the $1-$5 denominations, and no genuine examples of the higher values have been found. The notes are scarce and can be worth a decent amount even in circulated grades.
Mark Hofmann Forgeries
Due to the high value of the Mormon notes, it is understandable that people would create forgeries of them for personal gain. As they are not legal tender, there is no law being broken in making counterfeits of these notes.
The best of these forgeries were done by a man named Mark Hofmann.
Hofmann would use paper from books that were over 150 years old, thus matching the type of paper used for the Mormon notes. He also obtained an official embossing seal that was used on many notes. This made his forgeries quite deceptive, fooling many experts. Hofmann went on to forge many other historical documents related to Mormonism throughout his life before he was arrested for murder.
There are many other examples of Mormon currency stretching across the United States. They exist mostly as scrip notes, coming from private merchants. The countless varieties show how the Mormon community tried many different ways at prospering, despite often being around a hostile populace. The banknotes provide a snapshot of the history of Mormons and their trek across the U.S.
Be on the lookout for Mormon currency to add to your collection and always be careful not to get fooled by any Hofmann forgeries.
Sources
Nyholm, Douglas A. (2010). Mormon Currency 1837-1937.
Originally posted on www.pmgnotes.com.
PMG is an independent member of the Certified Collectibles Group (CCG).NFL team owners approved three rule changes Wednesday at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix. While the "Tuck Rule" and the red-flag rule changes were met with modest reaction, it appears the same can't be said about the NFL's new crown-of-the-helmet rule.
Starting next season, it will be illegal for ball carriers to initiate contact with the crown of their helmets in the open field. Many NFL players took to Twitter to voice their disapproval.
Wow so they really passed that rule...last time I checked football was a contact sport. Calling bank now to set up my lowering the boom fund â Matt Forte (@MattForte22) March 20, 2013
So I'm guessing I'm going to have to find ways to strengthen my chin now lol â Justin Forsett (@JForsett) March 20, 2013
These rules are getting out of hand, I wonder when they realize they are going to have to change the name of the sport â Tank Carder (@tankcarder) March 20, 2013
Soon everyone will get a trophy for participation â Harrison Smith (@HarriSmith22) March 20, 2013
Us players use to Joke around and say we play a grown mans version of tag.. Well now...Jokes over, 2 hand touch by 2015 watch what I say lol â Carlton Mitchell (@C_Mitch18) March 20, 2013
Listen, American football is a violent sport. U choose to play at ur own risk. And with that u have to accept the injuries that come with it â Rashad Butler (@RB2cool) March 20, 2013
Football will be destroyed because of "player safety" rules. â@davis_winkie: @jennings141 anynews on thepossible ruleto protect us snappers? â Jennings 141 (@Jennings141) March 20, 2013
My main concern is that the rules |
upset about the "borrowed" dress and a lot more upset at the fact that her foal has been keeping all of this secret, to his apparent great distress and shame. She scoops poor sniffling Bel up in a heartbeat, and Bel's fears dissipate away against the might of warm safe mama hugs. And that's how Prima Donna was born.I'd always conceived Prima Donna as a trans girl, but I was hesitant and unsure how to go about it story-wise without writing unnecessary melodrama. Eh. Prima Donna is a proud glam rock child superstar, and her family has given her nothing but love, support, and respect. It was her cousin Magnolia May that first gladly showed her how to do her make-up, which Magnolia soon regretted, cuz hot dang does Prima like to glob on that eye shadow (cuz it looks punk rock, duh)City of Austin employees might be banned from staying in Trump hotels on the city's dime. Austin's Human Rights Commission passed a recommendation that the city boycott Trump products and condemn some of the things he has said and done.
Joe Miguez, the commissioner who authored the recommendation, says he doesn't think the city uses many Trump products or services in the first place, but he says adopting the recommendation would send a message. Ultimately city council will get the final say.
In a meeting Monday night, the commission voted 8-2 making a big statement on how they feel about President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
"Their actions are not okay and they're cheapening the presidency of the United States," says Garry Brown, an Austin Human Rights Commissioner who co-sponsored the recommendation.
The commission wants Austin City Council to publicly condemn Trump's actions. Inside the full recommendation, the commission listed those actions which included specific incidents in which Trump's comments to or about women, immigrants and many others were considered offensive. The commission is also recommending a boycott of all Trump products and services. For the recommendation's author, he says it's personal.
"I'm a father of two daughters. I'm a husband. I have family members who are disabled. I have friends who are members of the Muslim community," says Miguez.
He says he's proud that the city could soon blaze a trail. "People talk about keeping Austin weird. Well, I think one of the things we all try to do here is try to keep Austin fair... try to keep Austin just... try to keep Austin welcoming to people from all backgrounds all over the world," Miguez says.
It's a controversial idea that some taxpayers have mixed feelings about.
"I think it's a little petty given all of the other problems we have," says resident Brad Sullivan.
"I think they should have better things to do. I think they should concentrate on the real threats to the public safety," says Steve Mason, an Austin resident who chose to speak at the meeting.
However, others see it as a step in the right direction.
"Obviously in the way our system works, money pays a big role and by choosing not to use your money for a certain product is a great way to show -- 'Hey, we don't think what you're doing is great,'" says Austin resident Anna Schattschneider.
Two Austin Human Rights Commissioners did vote against the recommendation. Commissioner Tucker Royall said the recommendation was politically motivated and not a step toward unity. The full recommendation also asks Austin Mayor Steve Adler to send a letter to The White House informing president Trump of the city's stance. It's not clear when or if city council will consider the recommendation.They are in dead last in the NHL by a wide margin, with just 11 points in 26 games.
They have won just one of their last 14 games in regulation. Three of their five wins have come in the coin flip that is the shootout.
Yes, the Buffalo Sabres, deep into the 2013-14 season, are on pace for just 35 points in a league where it takes more than 90 to usually make the playoffs.
Story continues below advertisement
That is about as bad as we've ever seen in recent history in the NHL.
Since the 2004-05 lockout, which brought in the last collective bargaining agreement and a salary cap, the worst a team has ever finished in those eight seasons is the 2006-07 Philadelphia Flyers.
They won only 22 of 82 games, with a 22-48-12 record that gave them 56 points.
Only two other teams have ever finished with fewer than 60 points in a full season: The 2005-06 Pittsburgh Penguins (58 points) and St. Louis Blues (57 points).
So the Sabres are tracking to be the weakest team we've seen in a while.
Historically speaking, it's very unlikely they challenge the worst seasons of all time. The 1974-75 Washington Capitals hold the record for fewest points in a full season with just 21 in 80 games – they won only eight as an expansion team – and three other teams have had 30 or less.
Those records, however, were all set before there were all these three-point games. With 15 per cent of NHL games now going to a shootout, there are more points available than at any other time in league history, making a 35-point season by the Sabres probably right up there in the top five if adjusted for era.
Story continues below advertisement
Story continues below advertisement
Since the NHL started awarding points for overtime losses beginning in 1999-2000, by far the worst a team has ever finished is the expansion Atlanta Thrashers in the first season with three-point games, when they managed only 39 points.
That team was outscored 313-170 on the season and its save percentage was an unthinkably bad.877.
So far this year, Buffalo has had competent goaltending from Ryan Miller but is on pace to score just 132 goals, which would beat the record of 133 set in 1953-54 by the Chicago Blackhawks.
And that was in a 70-game season.
Team GP W L T OL PTS PTS% GF GA PP% PK% 1999-00 Thrashers 82 14 57 7 4 39 0.238 170 313 13% 80% 2013-14 Sabres* 82 16 63 -- 3 35 0.212 132 259 14% 78%
*-prorated
But the Sabres underlying statistics are also just as ugly. They have the worst Fenwick Close (possession rating) of any team since the number has been kept at 38.5 per cent, and while their PDO suggests they may be a little unlucky, it's also possible their shooters are just that bad.
Story continues below advertisement
They've done it with a roster making more than $57-million, with boat anchor contracts like Ville Leino's six-year, $27-million one on the books until 2017.
Cody Hodgson is the only Sabre with more than four goals this season, after 26 games. No Buffalo player has a positive plus-minus, and some of the high-priced help like Christian Ehrhoff is minus-10 this month alone.
The Sabres highest scoring player at even strength, meanwhile, has just nine points, which is 137th in the league.
Whoever Pat LaFontaine hires as this team's next GM, in other words, has their work cut out for them.
But they should have some pretty good draft picks to work with.The rescued children (faces blurred to protect their identities) with Chatra deputy commissioner Amit Kumar and other officials on Thursday. Telegraph picture
Ranchi, Aug. 7: A group of 22 children from Jharkhand, some as young as eight and working under distressing conditions at a gem factory in Rajasthan for two years, was rescued earlier this week and reunited with their families today.
Overworked — some for 14 to 15 hours a day — and underfed, 20 of these young victims of slavery belong to Chatra district while two hail from Giridih.
Accompanied by labour officials and members of a voluntary outfit, the children reached Koderma station on board the Ajmer-Sealdah Express late last evening in a chilling rerun of the May rescue of over 150 Godda children from orphanages in Kerala.
The 22 children were handed over to Chatra deputy commissioner Amit Kumar who is expected to oversee rehabilitation as directed by labour commissioner Manish Ranjan and the State Commission For Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR).
According to deputy commissioner Kumar, poor parents of these children had willingly sent them to Nagina Factory in Jaipur to work. The agreement was that the factory would directly pay the families back in Jharkhand, which, unfortunately, rarely happened.
“The children, at least six of them less than 10 years old, were kept in captivity, disallowed contact with their families, made to work 14-15 hours a day and given just one square meal. They never saw a penny because factory officials claimed that the money was being routed to their parents, but the latter too didn’t receive the same for months at a time,” Kumar said.
Of Chatra’s 20 children, 16 are from Hunterganj block, three from Kanhachatti and one from Chatra block. Both the children from Giridih belong to its Hathgarh village.
Their ordeal of two years ended after a member of Jaipur’s child welfare committee, Vijay Goel, informed the Rajasthan labour department about the malpractice at the gem factory. Jharkhand labour commissioner Ranjan and Ranchi-based social organisation Bharatiya Kisan Sangh were taken into confidence.
On August 3, a four-member team — comprising the labour extension officers of Chatra and Giridih, and two officials of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh — left for Jaipur. A day later, they raided the factory with the help of local administration and police to rescue the 22 children.
They were lodged at a shelter until a couple of days ago. Before they left for home the Jaipur administration issued them “relief certificates” to ensure proper rehabilitation and benefits under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation Act) 1986.
Chatra deputy commissioner Kumar said after reaching Koderma, the children spent the night at a residential school and boarded a bus for home this morning. “They must have been reunited with their families by now, thanks to child welfare committee members,” he told The Telegraph this evening.
According to Kumar, the factory paid a paltry monthly remuneration per child to the parents. “It varied between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000, but sometimes the money didn’t come,” he said, adding that each of the 22 victims had been given a preliminary rehabilitation sum of Rs 25,000 by the Jharkhand labour department.
“The relief certificate will help the children avail of government schemes and we will talk to the education department to seek their enrolment in schools,” he maintained.
Member of SCPCR Sanjay Mishra said he had requested the Chatra deputy commissioner to provide employment opportunities to parents of the rescued children to prevent a rerun. “Children below 14 years will be admitted to local schools while the others will be offered vocational courses,” he added.
Birendra Kumar, a member of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh who had accompanied these children from Jaipur, said they were more than glad to board the train home. “They were dying to meet their parents after two years. It was a happy journey.”The Colorado Rockies do weird things. Whether it’s reorganizing the front office in a way that puts the GM in charge of the farm system instead of the major league roster or having the new GM put an office in the clubhouse, they operate in a way that is unusual for an MLB franchise. Even their player personnel decisions can be a bit odd; heads were certainly scratched after the team made Michael Cuddyer a qualifying offer on Monday, for instance.
The big knock on the Rockies is that they seem unable to commit to a direction or a purpose. Despite four straight losing seasons, they’ve been unwilling to attempt to rebuild, rebuffing offers for not just their star players but for expensive role players like Jorge de la Rosa. Making Cuddyer the qualifying offer appeared to be yet another sign of a team that seems intent on trying to keep the pieces in place together, despite the fact that there’s mounting evidence that this roster just isn’t good enough to contend.
Except maybe extending the qualifying offer to Cuddyer didn’t mean that. A few days after that decision was made, Ken Rosenthal reported that the team has “their eyes and ears open” to potential trades for both Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, a significant change in stance, as previously both players had been off-limits to suitors. You don’t let teams know that your two best players are finally available if you don’t think there’s a real chance you could trade either or both, and so it seems like the Rockies are finally ready to shake things up and try something different.
So, why make the 35 year old Cuddyer a qualifying offer if you’re planning on blowing things up? Because the calculations for making a QO for a rebuilding team are quite a bit different than for a team that expected to need to maximize payroll efficiency.
Cuddyer’s open market value is probably somewhere in the $10 million range on a two or three year deal, so making him an offer of $15 million for one year means that the team has committed to overpaying by a few million if he accepts the offer. But having an overpaid player that other teams still want isn’t the worst thing in the world for a rebuilding team, as they could simply pay part of his 2015 salary to make him a more desirable trade chip over the summer. With spending restrictions on signing amateur talent, paying the salaries of veteran players to acquire prospects in trade is one of the few ways left to essentially buy talent. Even if Cuddyer accepts the qualifying offer, the Rockies could likely flip him for something of value as long as they kick in a few million dollars, so having him accept isn’t really that harmful to the franchise.
And if he turns it down and gives a contender a discount in annual salary in order to get the multi-year deal he prefers, then the Rockies will receive a compensatory pick in next summer’s draft. Either way, they’d get the chance to add some young talent to the organization. Keeping Cuddyer at $15 million is only really an issue if having him on the books prevented them from making other necessary upgrades, but if they’re trading Tulowitzki and Gonzalez, few free agents of note would have been interested in taking their money to begin with. If you’re blowing things up, it’s better to have expensive trade chips that you can pay down in trade rather than having a bunch of unspent money that no one wants to take.
While it might seem counterintuitive, making the qualifying offer to Cuddyer actually makes more sense in the wake of the news about the availability of Tulowitzki and Gonzalez. It seems like perhaps new GM Jeff Bridich has finally convinced ownership of the need to rebuild, and perhaps the Rockies can start to commit to a direction and stick with it for once. While both Tulo and Gonzalez dealt with injuries again, and both have proven to be quite fragile, putting them on the market this winter actually seems to make some sense, rather than trying to let both prove that they’re healthy before accepting bids.
The idea of keeping both stars until they’re healthy in order to raise their market value seems wise, but let’s think about the logistics of what that might actually look like; in any scenario where both Tulo and CarGo are healthy and playing well, the Rockies are probably also probably a semi-competitive team. After all, they did go 16-12 in April when Tulo was tearing the cover off the ball, and even though this isn’t a great team when both are healthy, it will be a more difficult decision to move either player while the team hangs around the periphery of the Wild Card race.
With a healthy Tulo and CarGo, the Rockies are good enough to convince themselves to not blow things up; the reality of the necessary rebuild only becomes obvious when those two are not able to take the field, exposing a weak supporting cast that can’t make up for the loss of the team’s best players. The dream scenario of being able to trade both players at the peak of their value is probably unrealistic, because at the peak of their value, ownership is going to remember why they’ve been previously unwilling to trade them, and commence the annual spinning of their wheels.
The Rockies best chance to get out of this death spiral is to trade both players now. A weak free agent class on the position player side of things will help drive up demand for the team’s two star hitters, even as both have questions surrounding their health. Teams are more inclined to make blockbuster deals in the offseason anyway, and with teams like Boston actively looking to exchange multiple players for a controllable star, there are teams who will likely take the risk on the health of a younger star rather than taking the risk on a long-term deal for an aging free agent.
After all, while the talking points always center around Tulowitzki’s health, keep in mind that he posted a +5 WAR season in 2014 even while playing just 91 games, and he was over over +5 WAR in 126 games in 2013 as well. Over the last two years, while combining for just 887 plate appearances, Tulo still ranks 11th among position players in WAR. You pay for production, and Tulo’s health risks are offset by his absurd ability to play well when he’s on the field.
Even with the injury problems, Tulowitzki is one of the game’s premier players, and his contract is still well below market value. Shin-Soo Choo got $140 million over seven years last winter; Tulo is due $15 million less than that even if his seventh year option is picked up, which would likely mean that he stayed healthy enough to be worth keeping. Jose Reyes got $102 million over six years coming off an excellent season shortened by injury, and that was three years ago; baseball salaries have only gone up since.
There will be a strong market for Troy Tulowitzki, and Gonzalez should be able to fetch a decent return as well, especially if the Rockies pick up some of the cost of his salary. We’ll deal with a fair return for both players in another post, but for now, I’d suggest that Rockies fans should take this as somewhat promising news. A directionless franchise might actually be ready to commit to an overdue rebuild. Things might really be changing in Colorado for once.It’s been an interesting few days, as I mentioned earlier. The downtime means I haven’t gotten to cover some stories that I otherwise would have. Since Rand Harper and her thugs continue their unrelenting assault on free speech and expression, maybe we should take a harder look at Harper herself. Actually, we don’t have to do too much, because the Blocklist Blockhead voluntarily gives out incriminating evidence. It turns out Literally Blue likes to dye her fucking DOG blue as well. Yes, you read that correctly. This poor pooch has to walk around looking like some mutant Smurf to appease this hypocritical ass-sore.
People, this is animal abuse. There is no other way to put it. I’m not a fan of PETA, but at least they called out Randi’s dangerous and potentially criminal behavior:
The dog looks damn near suicidal. The ghost of Brianna Wu’s dog feels sorry for this motherfucker. Could you imagine having to show your face to the other canines in the neighborhood looking like this? I seriously feel sorry for this dog. It’s bad enough that the poor thing had to live with an owner like Randi Harper. Now it has to look like a freak because of her as well. Randi, please seek help. Dyeing dogs is not normal behavior.
But there is some behavior that’s normal for Randi, namely, the hypocritical type. You see, according to screenshots provided to me earlier on Twitter, Randi Harper used to talk shit about feminism. Not only that, she called feminists “tards” (which is of course short for retard). I’m not one to police speech like that, but it certainly does seem inconsistent with how she portrays herself.
If you look at the full context of the episode, it’s even more hilarious. Here’s the original complaint, and the response from Randi, on the FreeBSD site. Of course Randi had to blast her behind her back on Facebook, because that’s what she does.
Here’s the complaint, which is fucking idiotic, I must say:
She proposes a couple ways to fix it, and I they did change it. But let’s face it, no one cares. I know I certainly don’t. I would like to see Big Randi look like a fraud though. She’s 100% right, don’t get me wrong. But I wonder what 2014 Randi Harper would say to the 2011 version. I have an idea: “The con worked.”
The Blocklist Blockhead is a massive phony. That’s already been well-established here on the site. But, I thought she was at least serious about her radical feminism. As it turns out, it’s just one more example of fakery. These people use the language of the oppressed so they can ride the gravy train for the rest of their lives. It’s sickening. But, the one way to help stop it, is to mock them for the hypocrites and laughingstocks that they truly are (the other way is to destroy their enablers in the media). Stay focused on that. In the meantime, I encourage local authorities to look into Randi Harper’s animal abuse. This appalling behavior needs to be discoursed, and Big Randi is the perfect one to make an example out of.About Thanks for the Money
From actor and comedian Joel McHale comes the most important celebrity-penned book of this, or any, generation – Thanks for the Money: How to Use My Life Story to Become the Best Joel McHale You Can Be.
Part shocking tell-all memoir, part aspirational how-to guide, and mostly all book, this one-of-a-kind tome is required reading for anyone who enjoys Hollywood gossip, get-rich-gradually tips, and copious illustrations and charts.
Joel McHale pulls back the curtain on his personal journey to stardom! Here, for the first time, Joel reveals all that has molded him into the acclaimed comic actor he is today: a love of performance, a series of boyhood head injuries, and most importantly, a passion for financial compensation and free shoes.
It’s all here: Joel’s career trials and tribulations, his criminal trials and tribulations, and an honest, unflinching list of all the people he’s been paid money to make out with, on camera.
But the book does not stop there! Because if you want wealth, fame, and cost-free footwear, Joel will share every vital tip he has learned: an insanely low-carb diet plan, how to escape from a certain pseudo-religious celebrity cult, and more!
How can you unlock the power of the Joel McHale who lurks inside? What happened when Joel fought his Community co-star Chevy Chase? And hey, while we’re at it, what’s up with Joel’s hair – really? All will be revealed, within the pages of Thanks for the Money.
Buy now, and receive – as a special bonus – an email receipt that details your purchase!
*Bonus PDF includes charts, images, games, and more!Create New Profile
In order to apply to be on one of our shows, please create a profile with your current contact information. You will be redirected to the Show application once your profile has been
successfully created.
*Date of Birth: - Month - 1-January 2-Febuary 3-March 4-April 5-May 6-June 7-July 8-August 9-September 10-October 11-November 12-December - Day - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 - Year - 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942
Thank you for registering with MysticArt Pictures.
If you have any issues please contact tech support at casting@mysticartpictures.com
By registering or logging in you agree to give MysticArt Pictures right to contact you. If you do not wish to be contacted regarding casting please email us at casting@mysticartpictures.com and request that your profile be removed. This information is the sole property of MysticArt Pictures and will be used for the sole purpose of casting, developing, or producing television and film projects. Some information will be made available to Independant production companies and or networks, or producers that hire MysticArt Pictures to cast or produce their projects and applicants agree to the sharing of this information for casting and production needs by logging into our site. Each project will have a seperate video release that will be provided by the production company. MysticArt reserves the right to all materials including Application, Background Forms, Video recordings, Uploaded materials, and will only share materials if they have been contracted to cast, develop, or produce a project.
The Company seeks to use reasonable technical, administrative and organizational measures to protect the user information within its organization against unauthorized or unlawful access or processing, and against accidental loss, damage, or destruction. Company believes that these measures are reasonably adapted to the nature of the information in its custody. However, even though the Company makes reasonable efforts to protect information in its custody and control, no data storage or transmission over the Internet and no security system is fully secure. Thus, Company cannot guarantee the security of any information it may have collected or received from you or transmitted to you and assumes no responsibility. If you believe your information is not secure due to a problem in the Company’s systems, please immediately notify the Company of the problem at Jack@mysticartpictures.netChina's government is building what it calls a "social credit system" to track individual behavior and assign ratings to citizens. Here's how it will work. Video: Menglin Huang. Photo: Dave Tacon for The Wall Street Journal.
By Josh Chin and Gillian Wong ▲
Josh Chin The Wall Street Journal BiographyJosh Chin
@joshchin
Josh.Chin@wsj.com and Gillian Wong Nov. 28, 2016 11:46 a.m. ET 204 COMMENTS
HANGZHOU, China—Swiping her son’s half-fare student card through the turnstile here one Monday afternoon, Chen Li earned herself a $6 fine and a reprimand from a subway-station inspector for not paying the adult fare.
A notice on a post nearby suggested more-dire consequences. It warned that infractors could be docked points in the city’s “personal credit information system.” A decline in Ms. Chen’s credit score, according to official pronouncements, could affect her daily life, including securing loans, jobs and her son’s school admission.
“I’m sure if it comes up, I can explain,“ Ms. Chen said, saying she picked up the card accidentally. “It was unintentional.”
Hangzhou’s local government is piloting a “social credit” system the Communist Party has said it wants to roll out nationwide by 2020, a digital reboot of the methods of social control the regime uses to avert threats to its legitimacy.
More than three dozen local governments across China are beginning to compile digital records of social and financial behavior to rate creditworthiness. A person can incur black marks for infractions such as fare cheating, jaywalking and violating family-planning rules. The effort echoes the dang’an, a system of dossiers the Communist party keeps on urban workers’ behavior.
In time, Beijing expects to draw on bigger, combined data pools, including a person’s internet activity, according to interviews with some architects of the system and a review of government documents. Algorithms would use a range of data to calculate a citizen’s rating, which would then be used to determine all manner of activities, such as who gets loans, or faster treatment at government offices or access to luxury hotels.
The national social-credit system’s aim, according to a slogan repeated in planning documents, is to “allow the trustworthy to roam everywhere under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step.”
Thus far, the pilot data-collecting systems aren’t yet tied together into what Beijing envisions as a sweeping system, which would assign each citizen a rating. It isn’t clear that Ms. Chen’s ticket infraction made it into any central system, although the notice warned that fare-dodgers risked being marked down starting Jan. 1; a station agent said only repeat offenders are reported.
Some Shanghai districts such as this one are rolling out early versions of a ‘social credit’ program that aims to rank citizens based on various behaviors. Photo: Dave Tacon for The Wall Street Journal.
Zan Aizong, a Hangzhou human-rights activist, sees the system, once it’s fully operational, as an Orwellian exercise to keep closer tabs on a populace already lacking basic liberties such as freedom of speech. “Tracking everyone that way,” Mr. Zan said, “it’s just like ‘1984.’ ”
Blacklisted
China’s judiciary has already created a blacklisting system that would tie into the national social-credit operation. Zhuang Daohe, a Hangzhou legal scholar, cites the example of a client, part-owner of a travel company, who now can’t buy tickets for planes or high-speed trains because a Hangzhou court put him on a blacklist after he lost a dispute with a landlord.
“This has had a huge impact on the business,” said the client’s wife. “He can’t travel with clients anymore.” Added Mr. Zhuang: “What happens when it punishes the wrong person?”
Hangzhou officials didn’t respond to inquiries.
Driving the social-credit system are the State Council—China’s cabinet—and the central national-planning agency. A blueprint the cabinet published in 2014 stated it aimed to “build sincerity” in economic, social and political activity. It stressed the need for fair and clean government and for punishing polluting factories and bribe-takers.
Blacklists will expose offenders and restrict them from certain activities, while well-behaved citizens will earn access to “green lanes” that provide faster government services, the blueprint said. Citizens in jobs deemed sensitive—lawyers, accountants, teachers, journalists—will be subject to enhanced scrutiny, it said.
Flags promote a 'Sincerity Management Model Street' in a cafe in Shanghai, where ‘sincerity displays’ at some restaurants show video feeds from kitchens. Photo: Dave Tacon for The Wall Street Journal.
The State Council and national-planning agency didn’t respond to requests for comment.
China’s government must overcome technological and bureaucratic obstacles to build a system that can monitor 1.4 billion people. Government departments often guard their information, undermining efforts to build a unified database, and their systems often aren’t compatible, said Meng Tianguang, a political scientist at Beijing’s Tsinghua University who advises the government on applying “big data” to governance issues but isn’t directly involved in the social-credit system.
“Whether we can actually pull this off, we’re in a state of uncertainty at the moment,” Mr. Meng said. “Either way, it’s better than the traditional era,” until recently, he said, “when we had no data and policy was based on the judgment of individuals.”
The Shanghai government on an official website has identified scores of violations that can incur credit penalties in its pilot system, including falling behind on bills and breaking traffic rules. State-media reports list penalties for not being filial to one’s parents. (Under Chinese law, parents over 60 may sue children for not visiting regularly or not ensuring they have enough food.)
Penalties for low scorers will include higher barriers to obtaining loans and bans on indulgences such as luxury hotels, according to state-media reports.
The Shanghai system appears to still be in an early phase. Residents can check their social-credit records, but records reviewed by The Wall Street Journal didn’t show any nonfinancial data. Shanghai city officials didn’t respond to inquiries.
Despite official-media warnings and propaganda promoting sincerity, dozens of people interviewed in Shanghai weren’t aware of the social-credit plan. Many agreed more should be done to enforce higher moral standards, bemoaning habits such as spitting, cutting in line and being cold to strangers in need.
Research by Yang Wang, a Syracuse University expert on internet behavior, has shown Chinese internet users, accustomed to the idea of government snooping, are less concerned with online privacy than Americans. The most common word for privacy, yinsi, didn’t appear in popular Chinese dictionaries until the mid-1990s, he notes.
Behavior reports
In the tree-lined Yangjing neighborhood, subdistrict authorities maintain a database that gives a hint as to what elements of a broader social-credit system might look like. The database collects reports on locals’ behavior from residential committees, said Yuan Jianming, the head of the Yangjing Sincerity Construction Office.
Slogans promote sincerity along a Shanghai road. Photo: Dave Tacon for The Wall Street Journal.
Since mid-2015, the office has published a monthly “red list” of exemplary residents. Zhu Shengjun, 28, a high-school teacher, was named on a September red list. He said he didn’t know why. While he supported efforts to encourage better behavior, he hesitated at the idea of linking that with financial consequences, saying “it seems like too much of a stretch.”
The office also maintains a “gray list” of people behaving badly—throwing garbage out of windows, say—but the office hasn’t decided whether to publicize it, Mr. Yuan said.
In an area with a population of roughly 170,000, only around 120 have made Yangjing’s red list. Officials there complained to Chinese media this year that limited data sharing between departments was hampering efforts to rate people.
Businesses, too, get surveillance in pilot cities, where anyone can look up records on registered companies, though the records are sometimes incomplete. One objective: turning around what leaders see as a crippling lack of trust among citizens from decades of corruption and bare-knuckle competition.
So the social-credit system aims not just to collect data on individuals for official use, it seeks data on the behavior of businesses to analyze and show the results to consumers.
Yangjing officials offer a solution: touch-screen displays they installed this summer in some restaurants. The screens, part of a local social-credit pilot system, offer an unusual level of transparency for China. Lit up with slogans—“Join heart to hand, be a model of sincerity” reads one—they display information about where ingredients came from and when waste oil was last picked up. Customers can watch videos on a mobile app showing chefs working, and the system displays the eatery’s health-department rating.
Diners eat near a restaurant'sincerity display' showing a video feed from kitchen, health ratings and other information. Photo: Dave Tacon for The Wall Street Journal.
One recent Monday at Jujube Tree, a vegetarian restaurant, the food-safety console was partially obscured by poster board. Manager Wang Dacheng said it was because the system had erroneously downgraded the restaurant’s health rating, and local officials couldn’t fix it. “We have a lot of return customers. What if they come in and see that?” Mr. Wang said. He said he supported the system but was wary of its being applied without better controls.
Yangjing officials didn't respond to inquiries.
Ltd. For initial social-credit efforts, local officials are relying on information collected by government departments, such as court records and loan and tax data. More-extensive logging of everyday habits, such as social-media use and online shopping, lies with China’s internet companies, including e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding
A credit-scoring service by Alibaba affiliate Ant Financial Services—one of eight companies approved to pilot commercial experiments with social-credit scoring—assigns ratings based on information such as when customers shop online, what they buy and what phone they use. If users opt in, the score can also consider education levels and legal records. Perks in the past for getting high marks have included express security screening at the Beijing airport, part of an Ant agreement with the airport.
“Especially for young people, your online behavior goes towards building up your online credit profile,” said Joe Tsai, Alibaba’s executive vice chairman, “and we want people to be aware of that so they know to behave themselves better.”
Alibaba shares aggregate data about online sales with China’s statistics bureau but doesn’t divulge personal data unless required to by law, for example in criminal investigations, Mr. Tsai said.
In the U.S., private concerns such as credit-reporting agencies and ride-sharing services compile certain ratings based on consumer data or reviews.
The local-government trials aren’t known to be tapping private-sector data, although the social-credit system blueprint designates internet data as a “strategic national resource” and calls for internet companies to contribute data, without getting into specifics.
Whether private and public data systems will be combined is still being hammered out, said Zhu Wei, a China University of Politics and Law scholar who has advised the government on social-credit efforts.
In an October speech screened to 1.5 million officials, Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma urged law-enforcement agencies to use internet data as a tool to identify criminals, according to posts on a Communist Party social-media feed. He didn’t mention sharing Alibaba’s user data. His comments raised eyebrows for broaching the notion that internet companies might share data with government agencies. Alibaba declined to make Mr. Ma available for comment. “We believe the application of machine learning and data analytics for the purpose of crime prevention is consistent with our core values: solving society’s problems,” the company said
In an |
, you can have IFTTT send a notification directly to your phone any time your package changes status. For now, it seems the shipping channel can't filter out any status except "delivered" (which is the only one we care about), but it's still helpful.
Push a Voice Message to Other Devices
IFTTT allows you to call in to a dedicated number and leave a voice message for yourself (or others!). With the Pushbullet channel, you can send that voice message directly to your tablet or desktop. The notification will include an audio file of the recording that you can download to any of your devices.
Advertisement
Find Out When the Weather is Crappy
Okay, you probably have somewhere in the area of hundreds of apps on your phone that can retrieve the weather. However, Pushbullet and IFTTT can send weather alerts directly to your phone or desktop. You can get a daily reminder of tomorrow's forecast, receive a notification if it's going to rain tomorrow, or just get today's weather report every morning.
Get Notified When Google Services Go Down
For some of us, we find out that Google services go down because our Twitter feeds won't shut up about it. If you're not quite that addicted to information overload, you can find out when a service is having a problem (or when it comes back) with the Google app status RSS feed. To make it even easier, you can have IFTTT send Pushbullet a notification every time the app status feed updates.
Advertisement
Use Pushbullet and Tasker Together
IFTTT isn't the only automation service that's gotten the Pushbullet treatment. About a month back, Tasker got Pushbullet support, which means that you can trigger notifications based on any profile your phone can run. Moreover, those notifications can go to any device. This means that Pushbullet notifications are about as flexible as Tasker itself, but here are a few examples of things you can do with Tasker:
Get notified of missed calls/texts on other devices.
Send a notification to a shared device when you arrive/leave a place.
Find out when someone attempts to unlock your device.
Unfortunately, Tasker's ability to execute commands when it receives a Pushbullet notification seem to be broken right now, however if this is ever fixed, you would also be able to execute Tasker actions remotely by sending notifications with a specific name attached.
Advertisement
Pushbullet may seem like just a notification service, but with IFTTT and Tasker support, as well as extensions for two of our favorite desktop browsers, it packs a serious punch. The Pushbullet recipe page has been steadily growing since launch (more than 20 new recipes have shown up just while writing this article), so be sure to check them out.Odious, despicable, hypocrite – those are just a few of the words that have been used to describe me since the publication of my book School Daze: Searching for Decent State Education. My sins? There are two, according to my critics.
The first is that I faked being a Christian to get my children into the local Church of England primary school. My plea: guilty. I am an atheist, but for at least two years before my son reached primary-school age I went along to the local church, along with my wife. And so it came to pass that our son got the school place.
My mitigation is this: whose fault was it that we had to go to church to get our son into the local primary school? I didn't choose the selection criteria that meant that half the places were reserved for churchgoers, thus discriminating against local families who did not follow this particular brand of religion. This was not a situation of my choosing. I went to church under duress, because that was the only way to be sure of a place, even though that school was literally the other side of the road from our house. I didn't pretend to be a Christian for several years because I wanted to offend anyone, or because I thought it was fun – I promise you it wasn't. I did it because I wanted my son to attend the local state primary school. Is that too much to ask?
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view. From 15p €0.18 $0.18 $0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.
Christians who are offended by my behaviour – and I've heard from plenty – perhaps need to become a little more realistic, because every Sunday across the country churches are full of families doing exactly what I did. If churches do not want bogus Christians coming through their doors there's a simple solution: stop using religion as a criteria for admission to state schools.
We live in a secular society. Depending which survey you read, roughly 900,000 people attend Anglican mass each Sunday in the UK, and the figure for Catholic mass is similar. That's out of a population of more than 60 million. Why do we allow such tiny minorities to have such sweeping control over our state education system?
Those figures for churchgoers mask the true position, because many of those filling places in church each Sunday will be unbelievers like me who are only there because they care about their children's education. That's why churches will not be advocating an overhaul of the education system: they can use their control over school admissions to get heathens through their doors each Sunday.
It's an abhorrent situation, and one that is made worse when parents are forced to play a system that they didn't create and are then accused of being odious, despicable hypocrites.
So, on to my second sin. I didn't send my son to the local comprehensive. There are those, if I've got the argument correct, who think parents should send their children to the local secondary school irrespective of how that school is performing. Parents who get their children into grammars or move closer to better schools are, apparently, condemning their local comp to eternal failure. This is an argument that has its logic back to front. Poor schools are the cause of families looking elsewhere for their children's education, not a consequence of it.
When we began looking at the state secondaries near our then home in Merton, south-west London, just one third of pupils at the nearest one achieved five or more GCSEs, English and maths included, with a grade C or better. By the time parents were selecting comprehensives last winter, the results had gone up to 49 per cent. A great improvement, but I wanted better for my child – and I was not alone. The father of a child still at the primary school my son attended tells me that just two boys from this summer's leaving year went on to that local comprehensive.
Overall in Merton, one third of children at its primary schools do not go on to its secondaries. Some families move house, some find the money to go private, some get places at grammars in nearby Sutton and Kingston.
"In my circle of friends, I know probably half a dozen people who have moved specifically to be in the catchment area of schools," I was told by Dave Hill, then Merton's director of Children, Schools and Families. "It's like a national disease.I make no judgment. The system is set up in such a way. I hope we can persuade people like you in the future to see the results, see what's happening here, and say 'I'm going to stay in Merton, I can get a good education here.'"
He also candidly told me: "I do think that if you live in any area and you've got a school that's not scoring around 60 per cent, I don't know if I'd really want to send my kid to that school. And I think people have a right to choose something else. We've had schools down in Mitcham scoring 18, 15 per cent – it's just not acceptable. Why would your want your bright kid, with all your family support, to go to a school where clearly that school is not going to be able to improve [his or her] chances? You'd be mad to."
One of the schools that is improving is the local comprehensive – Rutlish – that I was so keen to avoid. Its GCSE results for 2010, as yet unpublished, have gone up to 61 per cent. I'm delighted to hear of this transformation, I'm glad to hear of any school improving, because at the heart of this problem is that fact that there are too many dreadful schools that caring parents are understandably desperateto avoid.
During my research for School Daze I encountered an interesting divide. Pretty much everyone I interviewed in Merton, the borough I abandoned, disapproved of my actions. One comprehensive head told me I'd wasted my time, though he was kind enough to add: "But I understand why you've done it. There are thousands of people who've done what you've done, or who will subject their children to enormously long journeys to get into certain schools. Lots of more able children leave after year six or go into private education. Friends of mine have not sent their children here. I understand that. We still get on."
Conversely in Surrey, where we now live, there was universal approval, one headteacher even admitting that he had once moved house because he didn't think the local primary suited his children.
Back in Merton, a regular at the church I once so diligently attended recently emailed me, mainly to accuse me of "conning and lying" to get my children places at the local Anglican school and "proudly admitting you exploited the old and infirm" (I had volunteered for the car rota to help the elderly get to and from church).
He then went on: "Funnily enough, it now looks as if the joke is on you because you have spent 40k on moving house to a so-called posher area where your new local comp only has a 2 per cent better GCSE pass rate than Rutlish."
I think he's saying that I should have hung around Merton in the hope that the local comprehensive would improve. But I was never going to take that risk with my son's education, nor was I going to sacrifice it for someone else's political or religious dogma.
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 now(Reuters) - Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has restored voting rights to almost 13,000 felons on a case-by-case basis after the state Supreme Court blocked his wider clemency effort, he said on Monday.
Democratic nominee for Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe stands onstage during a campaign rally in Dale City, Virginia, October 27, 2013. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
The announcement by McAuliffe, a Democrat, came a month after the high court blocked an executive order issued in April that had restored voting rights to more than 200,000 felons who had completed their sentences.
The order was seen as a possible aid in tipping Virginia, a swing state in this year’s presidential election, in favor of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Opinion polls have shown her leading Republican candidate Donald Trump in the state.
McAuliffe said he had signed the restoration orders last week for almost 13,000 felons who had had their voter registrations canceled under the court ruling. The orders were mailed on Friday.
“I am not content to condemn them for eternity as inferior and second-class citizens,” he said in a ceremony at the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial in Richmond, the state capital.
McAuliffe said state officials would continue to review cases. The names of felons whose rights were restored would be announced on the 15th of every month, he said.
Republican legislative leaders had challenged McAuliffe’s move in court. The state Supreme Court said McAuliffe had overstepped his clemency powers through his sweeping order.
John Whitbeck, chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, said it had always backed restoration of voting rights on a case-by-case basis where deserved.
“We’re going to take a really long look at the individuals who had their rights restored, make sure he complied with the court order... and from there decide what to do,” he said by telephone.
McAuliffe has said his original order would move Virginia away from lifetime disenfranchisement that hits African-Americans particularly hard.
Many of the convicts who benefited were African-Americans or Latinos, two groups that have voted overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates in the past.
President Barack Obama, a Democrat, won Virginia in 2012 by about 150,000 votes and in 2008 by about 235,000 votes.
Virginia is one of four states whose constitutions permanently disenfranchise felons but allow the governor to restore voting rights, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a non-partisan civil liberties group.Three men armed with cleavers stormed a mosque in Bangladesh and attacked a 35-year-old cleric from the minority Ahmaddiya community, critically injuring him, police said on Tuesday.
Advertising
Imam Mostafizur Rahman from Khanpur mosque in Ishwarganj area was hacked by the assailants indiscriminately with sharp weapons inside the mosque after the end of evening prayers yesterday, Dhaka Tribune reported.
Rahman was shifted to a nearby hospital where his condition is stated to be critical, police was quoted as saying by the report.
One of the three attackers was nabbed by the local people and handed over to the police. The two others attackers managed to flee the scene.
The motive behind the attack is not yet clear, police added.
However, Ahmaddiya community has come under similar attacks over the last few decades by neo-Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh terror group in the country.
Earlier, members of militant group neo-JMB carried out a suicide attack on an Ahmadiyya mosque in Baghmara region on December 25, 2015. Ten devotees were injured in the bomb attack.
The Ahmadiyya community people are termed anti-Islamic by Islamist groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam. Hefazat urged the government to ban Ahmadiyyas in its 13-point demands placed in 2013.
Advertising
Bangladesh has seen several violent incidents in recent months, including attacks on foreigners and secular bloggers claimed by the IS, although the government says the attacks have been carried out by local Islamist radical groups.Using the same six-panel layout each day hasn't stopped Dinosaur Comics' Ryan North from making a big name for himself online
Rebecca Clements, an Australian illustrator, wasn't expecting much when she put her first comic online. "I thought I'd just start a web comic with no expectations at all to see where it went. And that's that," she says.
But her quirky comic Kinokofry, which features a cast of wisecracking mushrooms, has become a phenomenon online – and it's not the only one. An increasing number of artists are turning to the internet to express their ideas, find an audience and, in some cases, to make a living.
With no editors, publishers, or advertisers to upset, online cartoonists are free to explore uncomfortable issues and ask difficult questions of society, making the world of online cartoonists about as far away from Mickey Mouse as it's possible to get.
"I'd always played with the idea of writing an occasional comic strip," says Edinburgh based cartoonist and programmer Matt Gemmell, who draws the Sheercore comic in his spare time. "The web lets me do that and share the results with people without cost or commitment, so it becomes a leisure activity rather than a hassle."
"We are our own bosses. The only people censoring us is ourselves," agrees Matt Melvin. Together with his friends, Rob and Dave, Matt draws the online cartoon series Cyanide and Happiness. Like other online cartoonists, art has been a lifelong passion for Matt.
"Like most kids, we all drew all over our notebooks and papers in school. We just never stopped. Luckily, the artistic skill required hasn't changed much," he says.
"We've sort of got our different styles, but overall we go for complete simplicity," adds fellow Cyanide and Happiness cartoonist Rob Denbleyker. "Stick figures whose only difference is the colour of their shirt, set against white backgrounds. Occasionally there will be a background or prop if the joke demands it."
Stylish work
There are, it seems, as many styles of online cartoon as there are people drawing them. "Kinokofry is fun, a bit strange, fantastical, cute," says Clements. "I would hope it's seen as imaginative. Full of things to keep the eye wandering all over the page."
Of those we spoke to, the artist who sticks closest to the style of the traditional comic strip is Jeph Jacques, who draws Questionable Content. How would he describe his style? "Improving!" he says modestly.
"I don't know if I have any particular style, but the word'minimalist' comes to mind," says the man behind the Abstruse Goose comic site, who wished to be known simply as 'that guy who draws Abstruse Goose'. So be it.
GETTING NOTICED: Word of mouth and social media sites are the secret to Abstruse Goose's success
"I often only draw the minimum necessary to convey my idea," he says. "If you read through my archives, you'll see that many of my comics feature disembodied heads with very little detail. In some ways, this is how human perception works. The brain focuses attention on salient features of the environment and discards extraneous noise."
Ryan North is the man behind Dinosaur Comics. He's used the same six-panel strip since 2003 and simply fits each new story onto it. "What do I do? In a sentence: I use the same pictures of dinosaurs every day but think up of new things for them to say. It's better than it sounds. OK, that's two sentences; but I feel the latter one is important."The New York Councilwoman who claimed the federal government of “AmeriKKKa” is going to “round up and execute” black people following the Ferguson shooting stormed out of a meeting Thursday after a new accusation was leveled against her.
Sgt. Tom Hoffman, president of the Police Benevolent Association, said in the meeting that Democratic Councilwoman Anastasia Robertson took part in a group effort to incite a white police officer to violence, because he was talking to a black woman involved in a domestic dispute, reported the Times Union.
“This is why the black community doesn’t respect the police,” Robertson allegedly said with a camera pointed at the officer. “You only go after black people.”
Hoffman said her effort to foment anti-police sentiment was “unethical and unprofessional,” and asked the Ethics Committee to consider removing her from her position.
She serves on the Public Safety Committee, in addition to her elected position on the Troy City Council.
“I’ve been a proud member of the Troy police department for almost 25 years,” he said as Robertson gathered her things and walked out. “And I have never witnessed a more disrespect towards the group of men and women, who put their lives on the line everyday for the citizens of this community.”
One woman is heard in the video yelling at Robertson to “sit down and take it!”
WATCH:
Hoffman’s comments followed an apology from Robertson about earlier comments she posted online claiming the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., is evidence the government is getting ready to “round up and execute blacks” in hopes of exterminating them.
“I do recognize my word choice was unfortunate and offensive to some,” Robertson said in her apology. “That was not my intent.” She also said her comments were made as a private citizen, and influenced by her worldview. “I’m an African-American. My experience may be very different than some people.”
Here is a screenshot from Grio, where she’s been commenting on an article about Michael Brown. “We are hogs for the slaughter,” she says.
Follow Rachel on TwitterWith Yahoo and ESPN opening up their respective Fantasy Hockey sites last week we can finally almost taste the coming season. Each year when this happens we fantasy owners debate the player rankings of these sites. Which players are ranked too low? Which are going too high?
So far only Yahoo has released their list of ranked players, which gives us a chance to dissect it and pick apart where we feel Yahoo blew it.
5 Players Ranked Too Low
Tyler Johnson, TBL (Ranked 39th) – Last season Johnson finished 14th in NHL scoring, playing for the Eastern Conference champion Lightning. This season the Lightning are projected to be one of the favorites to win the cup, and there is no reason to assume their offense is going to be any worse than it was last year. In fact, it might be better if Victor Hedman is healthy all year. With Hedman hurt the team’s PP was only average. If he’s 100%, expect an improved PP for the team and great numbers for Johnson’s line again.
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS (Ranked 54th) – Surprise! Backstrom is underrated again! Not only did he lead the league in assists last season, but Backstrom was 6th overall in NHL scoring and 4th in power play points. This season the Capitals appear to be better on paper than last year and for now there is no slowing down Alex Ovechkin; Backstrom’s linemate. How does Yahoo justify ranking Ovechkin first overall while slighting his center each year? Backstrom was a top 20 fantasy skater in many leagues last year and there is little reason to assume he won’t be right up there again this year.
Kris Letang, PIT (Ranked 59th) – Letang was an absolute stud last season when he was healthy. Even though he only played in 69 games last year, he was still a top 10 fantasy defenseman. With the Penguins sporting one of the league’s best power play units and the acquisition of Phil Kessel, there is little reason to assume Letang’s offensive numbers will drop. How does Yahoo rank him below Drew Doughty from a fantasy perspective? Seriously?
Scott Hartnell, CLB (Ranked 138th) – Hartnell has never been, nor will ever be, an elite scorer in the NHL. However, Hartnell is a great player to have on any fantasy roster. Not only will Hartnell score 20 goals, but he’s a 200 shot, 150 hit, 100 PIM guy. Yes, he’s getting older, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still play. Last season the Blue Jackets had a ton of injury problems that caused them to miss the playoffs. For those that are worried about the acquisition of Brandon Saad, it’s unlikely to affect Hartnell, as they play on opposite wings.
Tomas Plekanec, MTL (Ranked 170th) – Montreal’s offense is not the greatest in the league – we all know this. However Plekanec is the top center for the team, has a potential 40 goal scorer in Max Pacioretty on his wing, and racked up almost 250 shots last season. If you’re in a league that scores shots, Plekanec should not be going 170th overall. He’s had at least 199 shots each of his last six full NHL seasons.
5 Players Ranked Too High
Anze Kopitar, LAK (Ranked 28th) – There is no doubt that Kopitar is one of the best all-around players in the league. Yet, every year someone in your fantasy league will draft him too highly and be disappointed with his numbers. Last season was Kopitar’s worst offensive season since his rookie campaign. The Kings in general are not a great offensive team and even with the addition of Milan Lucic it’s hard to assume Kopitar will start scoring 80 points a season again. He’s bought into the Darryl Sutter game plan and will be backchecking his way to 65 points like normal.
Connor McDavid, EDM (Ranked 42nd) – We know he’s McJesus and the savior of the Edmonton Oilers, but that doesn’t mean he’s the savior of your fantasy team. McDavid will have a good rookie season if he stays healthy and clicks with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. However, he’s still a rookie. If your league scores based on +/-, McDavid and the Oilers might not be worth as much as you think, at least until the team proves their defense and goaltending have improved.
Patrick Sharp, DAL (Ranked 85th) – We all know that Sharp had a below average season last year. But why does Yahoo assume he’ll bounce back just because he changed teams? He’s a left wing, which is the same position Jamie Benn plays, so it’s not like he’ll be centered by Tyler Seguin most of the time. Second line center Jason Spezza is no scrub, but he’s past his prime, just like Sharp.
T.J. Brodie, CAL (Ranked 133rd) – Last season when Mark Giordano went down to injury, Brodie and the Flames defense stepped up and helped carry the team to the playoffs. However, this season Giordano is back and the Flames acquired Dougie Hamilton to help out on defense. Calgary has one of the best defensive cores in hockey now, but that just means less minutes for Brodie overall. It’s doubtful he’ll be able to replicate his numbers from last season; especially considering his shooting percentage last season was almost double anything it had been in his previous years.
Jonathan Drouin, TBL (Ranked 177th) – Yes, he was just a rookie last year, but 4 goals in 70 games in uninspiring. He’s also routinely in Jon Cooper’s doghouse for not playing a 200 foot game. Until he starts to play the type of hockey we all expected from him coming out of juniors it’s not worth it to risk a mid round pick on Drouin. Grab someone with more experience who’s proven themselves.ATLANTA—Surveying the variety of travel pillows and support cushions as he browsed through a Brookstone in Concourse D, Pope Francis reportedly killed three hours Monday milling around the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport during a layover to Washington, D.C. “I was just going to grab something at Panda Express, but then I figured since I have so much time, I might as well head to the next concourse and check out the food options there,” said the Vicar of Christ, who confirmed that he spent 20 minutes seated at a food court table people-watching before strolling through the terminal and window-shopping at Headphone Hub, Sunglass Icon, and Savannah’s Candy Kitchen. “I’m definitely going to swing by Hudson News before my flight and grab a bottle of water and maybe a bag of Bugles or a Kind bar. That new Clive Cussler book looks pretty good, too, so I might pick that up to read on the plane.” At press time, sources confirmed Pope Francis had lost track of the time and was frantically running across the terminal to catch his flight.
AdvertisementJust a short blog post today, but it’s about an important topic: Chinese New Year!
If you source your manufacturing from China, you’ve likely run into this event before. You need to make a plan months in advance, because before you know it, factories across the country are shut down and your chances for emergency product orders are out the window.
Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, so the exact date changes every year. This year, it’s relatively early: the holiday occurs in January 28th, 2017.
However, celebrations begin earlier than the new year itself — sometimes, people begin their celebrations up to three weeks before the eve. Amazon sellers should know that factories may begin to shut down around January 19th.
What Does This Mean for Me?
As we’ve said, if you’ve sourced your products from China for at least a year, you probably know the drill. In case you don’t, though, here are the basics.
Come January, factories across China will be shutting down for weeks, so you need to get your orders in early to stock up for the holiday season.
It’s especially important that you get your orders in as early as possible, because every factory in China will be dealing with an increased production load. Orders from sellers everywhere will start stacking up as everyone tries to get ahead of the shutdown, so you may face increased lead times and reduced quality control as a result.
In general, the earlier you can place the POs you need, the less chance there will be of running into delays, manufacturing shutdowns, or product defects. So do it now!
Hopefully, you understand your supplier’s lead time at this point, so do the math, figure out how much you need for the holidays, and place the orders.
An Extra Consideration: Amazon Storage Fees
FBA sellers will run into an extra kink when it comes to holiday inventory: storage fees.
Last Q4, so much inventory arrived in Amazon warehouses that they basically ran out of space. These overfilled warehouses cut into Amazon’s profits, despite the gentle price hike on storage fees that they thought would make sellers rethink their inventory quantity.
This year, that price hike isn’t so gentle. Storage fees will be increased to $2.25/cubic foot for standard-size products and $1.15/cubic foot for oversized products. Compared to last year’s 72 cents/cubic foot for standard-size and 57 cents/cubic foot for oversized, that’s a big increase — 3x the normal rate for standard items and 2x for oversized.
Thankfully, there’s a bit of consolation: weight handling fees will be reduced for November and December. The reduction will be anywhere from 10% to 25%, depending on the size of the item — larger items will get marked down more. It’s not much, but it’s something.
Basically, Amazon wants sellers to only store the inventory they know will move — and are rewarding that even further with the weight handling fee reduction.
You’ll have to strike a difficult balance: too little inventory, and you might be run dry mid-holidays with no backup POs available; too much inventory, and the storage fees for products that aren’t moving will devour your margins. Normally, I would recommend erring on the side of too much, but in this case, you’ll need to limit the surplus to your highest-velocity items. In others areas, you’ll really need to trim the fat and make sure you don’t order too many non-movers.
Conclusion
Chinese New Year, even if you’ve come across it before, presents some interesting new challenges this year. For one, it’s earlier, so you’ll have less time to formulate a plan of attack. Second, Amazon storage fees mean you’ll have to think long and hard about which products are worth the exorbitant storage fees, and which products are better off being cut back a little.
Have any questions, comments, or additions? How are you approaching inventory this Q4? Let us know in the comments below!Tarantulas are out looking for love, and hikers in Southern California's Santa Monica Mountains are warned to watch out for the hairy spiders.
Tarantula mating season has begun, and it will last through the end of October, the National Park Service said Thursday.
That means the giant arachnids will spend the next two months weaving webs just above ground, outside the female's burrow, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Because females typically stay inside, if a hiker comes across a tarantula on a footpath, it's probably a male on the lookout for a mate, experts say. Males have been known to search for up to four miles to find a female.
Though they have fangs and carry poison, tarantulas are not considered a serious threat to humans.
The spiders move slowly so hikers can take pictures, but humans shouldn't touch or otherwise harass the creatures, said Kate Kuykendall, a spokeswoman for the Santa Monica Mountains.
While female tarantulas can live for up to 25 years, the average lifespan of the male is only seven or eight years, so their annual chances to spread their genes is limited. To make matters worse, female tarantulas have been known to eat the males if they linger too long after copulation, the Times said.
According to the park service, mating occurs when the male approaches the female's burrow and taps on the web strands outside the entrance. If the female is willing, she'll come outside and receive his sperm, which he deposits on a web that she then receives and uses to fertilize her eggs.Faith and fate.
Commercial success and spiritual fulfillment.
Rock ’n’ roll and rock of ages.
In the 20 years since its inception, Switchfoot has sold millions of albums, had several major radio hits, toured the world multiple times, won a Grammy Award for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album in 2011 and earned nearly a dozen Gospel Music Association Dove Awards between 1999 and 2015. Then there was the 2013 film documentary, “Fading West,” which focused on the twin passions this hard-rocking San Diego band’s five members have for music and surfing.
12th annual Switchfoot Bro-Am Concert and Surf Contest With: Switchfoot, American Authors, Parachute, Josh Garrels, Brynn Elliott and one artist tba When: Saturday, July 9 (the surf contest is 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the concert is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Where: Moonlight Beach, 400 B St., Encinitas Admission: Free Online: broam.org/events/ (This website also provides information about Friday’s private Bro-Am benefit party in Carlsbad, for which tickets are $250 for general admission. VIP tickets start at $350 each and include a pre-show reception and a meet-and-greet with Switchfoot.)
Yet, while Switchfoot leader Jon Foreman is understandably proud of his group’s legacy — and of its ambitious new album, “Where the Light Shines Through” — he cites another achievement as far more significant.
And, no, it’s not overcoming the crisis of faith that fuels some of the best songs on “Where the Light Shines Through” — although that is a key issue for Switchfoot’s members, who embrace their Christianity far more overtly on their new album than on any of their previous nine releases.
“The thing I’m most proud of, more than winning a Grammy or any sales figures, is the Bro-Am,” Foreman said, citing the band’s annual surf contest and free concert at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas.
Since being launched a decade ago, the Bro-Am has raised more than $1 million to help homeless and at-risk youth here.
After a slow start, the event has grown steadily. The Bro-Am drew about 15,000 people last year — up from 5,000 in 2010 — to enjoy a day of free music and to watch such surfing legends as Tom Curren and San Diego’s Rob Machado hit the waves.
The 12th annual Bro-Am takes place Saturday, July 9. The band will headline the concert portion of the event and will devote a good share of its performance to songs from “Where the Light Shines Through.”
“The credibility of the event and what it does for the community, that’s what I’m most excited about what the band has accomplished,” said Foreman, Switchfoot’s lead singer and rhythm guitarist. “The other thing is the fact we still really love each other. We really, truly are fans of one another and want the best for each other and for each others’ families.”
Not resting on their laurels
“Where the Light Shines Through” will be released Friday. It is the band’s first release on Vanguard Records, whose roster also includes Jerry Lee Lewis, Bruce Hornsby and Indigo Girls.
The album sounds unmistakably like Switchfoot but goes to some unexpected places, musically speaking. “Looking for America” features a rap by Christian hip-hop star Lecrae, while “Healer of Souls” has a thumping, glam-rock feel and “Holy Water” offers a heady fusion of trip-hop and psychedelia. Then there’s “Float,” which manages to sound radio-friendly despite having a tricky 7/4 time signature.
“This record absolutely pushes the limits a bit,” Foreman said. “I grew up loving hip-hop in the 1990s — De La Soul, Digable Planets, A Tribe Called Quest. We’ve had albums before where I came close to rapping, but it ends up sounding more like Bob Dylan than rap!”
The 12 songs on Switchfoot’s new album were selected from nearly 90 that the band had to choose from. What was the criteria used to determine the dozen selections that made the final cut?
“The first and foremost criterion was: ‘Would you get into a fight for this song to get it on the record? Would you fight for it?’” Foreman, 39, replied.
“The second was: ‘How well does it tie into to the theme of ‘Where the Light Shines Through.’ The full title is ‘The Wound Where the Light Shines Through.’ So the question was: ‘How well does it connect with that?’”
Recorded at Switchfoot’s Carlsbad studio, the new album took several years to be completed by Foreman and his band mates — his brother, bassist/singer Tim Foreman, drummer Chad Butler and guitarist/keyboardists Jerome Fontamilas and Drew Shirley.
Why so long?
“We were talking about that the other day,” Foreman, a longtime Encinitas resident, said.
“It felt like we took our time in the studio. But, in many ways, this record took us a couple of decades to make. It pulls from things we’ve learned from every other album we’ve made, in a way, and that feels really healthy. So, in some ways, this album took nine albums to make. I feel like there’s lyrics and (thematic) elements we’re talking about on this record you only can talk about through experience.”
‘A dark season’ of struggle
Tim Foreman, who co-wrote all of the songs on the new album with Jon, was recently quoted as saying that making the album “was a huge struggle” and that “it was a dark season for” the band.
What struggle and dark season was he was referring to?
“As a band, there were a couple of things we had been wrestling with as a group. And, then, for me, personally, that’s where I was coming from on a lot of these songs,” Jon Foreman replied.
“And I came to the conclusion that you can kind of run away from the things you fear, run away from the pain — there’s a million ways to run away; you can run away even with songwriting and use metaphors to distance yourself. Or you can dive into your work, or dive into a bottle, or into a relationship, or whatever.
“But a lot of times, there |
en has denied involvement or prior knowledge of the coup attempt.
Related: Incirlik Air Base: Power Restored to Key U.S. Site After Coup
Ankara has not yet made a formal extradition request, but the arrest warrant could be the prelude. Washington has asked for evidence of the cleric's involvement, and has said the extradition process must be allowed to take its course.
U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose followers Turkey blames for a failed coup, speaks to journalists at his home in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, on July 16, 2016. Greg Savoy / REUTERS TV / Reuters, file
Turkey has designated Gulen's movement, which runs charities, schools and businesses across the world, as a terrorist organization and has launched a widespread crackdown on suspected members since the failed coup.
Since the coup attempt, nearly 70,000 people have been suspended or dismissed from jobs in the civil service, judiciary, education, health care, the military and the media. And about 18,000 people have been detained or arrested, mostly from the military, on suspicion of being involved in the failed putsch.
Earlier Thursday, Erdogan vowed to go after businesses linked to Gulen's movement.
"Without doubt, this organization has an extension in the business world. Maybe it is what they are most powerful at," he said during a speech to the heads of chambers of commerce in Ankara. "We are determined to totally cut off all business links of this organization, which has blood on its hands."In examining the president's Nov. 21 immigration orders, ask yourself what is to stop him from amending those orders?
President Barack Obama is interrupted Wednesday by a heckler as he delivers remarks on his executive action regarding immigration reform, at the Copernicus Cultural Center in Chicago. (Photo: EPA) Story Highlights Promises stemming from Obamacare, other issue raise questions about immigration orders
President repeatedly shows he will do whatever he wants, no matter the law
Amnesty for 5 million illegal immigrants could easily expand to cover 5 million more
In the aftermath of President Barack Obama's address to the nation Nov. 20 regarding executive orders granting what amounts to amnesty for about 5 million illegal immigrants, and prior to his signing those orders, news stories came out with headlines to the effect of "...What we know so far."
The sad fact is, nobody – outside of President Obama himself, and possibly Valerie Jarrett – can ever "know" what Obama will do.
With regard to all the hubbub regarding Obama's immigration plan as outlined by the executive orders he signed Nov. 21, allow me to invoke the venerable Steve Martin with his observations/reservations about cats: "Do you trust 'em?"
Even though some may agree with the supposed substance of what those executive orders entail, is there anything in Obama's history of governance that suggests he is a man of his word? That he will stick to what he said in his Nov. 20 address to America, or to the letter of what those executive orders entail?
My point is, if Obama gets his way, can you trust him to keep to the tenets of the agreement?
Harken back to the phrases, "If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan. Period." and "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. Period."
Obama has displayed no compunction against pulling a Darth Vader ("...I have altered the deal..pray I do not alter it further...") on the American people with respect to Obamacare, as well as with countless other promises he has made since his campaign in 2006-08. There are precious few exceptions; among those was his promise to bankrupt the coal industry and make energy prices skyrocket.
The takeaway to this latest series of promises outlined in these executive orders must necessarily be that in the end, President Obama will do what President Obama wants to do.
Barack Obama's modus operandi has served well to inform us that he doesn't take laws very seriously, neither in terms of execution nor enforcement.
Based on history, there is no reason to believe that amnesty for 5 million illegal immigrants today will not turn into amnesty for 15 or even 20 million illegal immigrants tomorrow.
There is no reason to believe his promise that his administration will deport felons. Indeed, there continue to be illegal immigrant felons who have gone so far as to commit murder who remain in this country. Plus, violent illegal immigrant offenders have even been freed from American prisons.
History has indeed shown us that Obama has precious little respect for laws. Not even his own.
Given that, why would anyone believe what he promised Nov. 20? Or for that matter, why would anyone believe any word that comes from his mouth in the future?
This is the opinion of St. Cloud resident Leo Pusateri.
Read or Share this story: http://www.sctimes.com/story/opinion/2014/11/30/turn-trust-obamas-immigration-orders/19673905/× Humpback whales are behaving strangely and scientists want to know why
Humpback whales are suddenly hanging out in massive, densely packed “super groups” and scientists are trying to figure out why.
It’s a curious phenomenon that’s been spotted off the coast of South Africa by researchers and the general public.
Their meet-up spot is far away from where humpback whales usually summer in the Antarctic. The groups swell from 20 to 200 and they are focused on one thing — feeding.
“When you’re in a small boat with 200 humpback whales around you — they’re 14-meter animals — and you’ve got whales popping up all around you, it’s a really incredible experience,” lead researcher Ken Findlay told CNN.
He and his colleagues from South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs believe that these “super groups” feeding together is a relatively recent behavior, they wrote in PLOS One.
They observed the whales lunging, repeatedly diving and letting out the “pungent ‘fishy’ smell of whale blows.” Research cruises observed this behavior in 2011, 2014 and 2015 during the months of October and November, which are spring-summer months in South Africa.
The “super groups” seemed fluid, as some whales joined them but then left. Researchers observed that some whales traveled from afar to join the massive groups.
As the New Scientist pointed out, humpback whales aren’t known for being social. They’re usually spotted alone, in pairs or in small groups that don’t stay together long.
“Reasons for this recent novel behavior pattern remain speculative,” researchers wrote, but it could be due to increasing numbers of humpback whales in the region or the abundance of prey.
But researchers couldn’t identify what kind of prey prompted this massive meet-up.
“There is something a little mysterious about it, but it’s not mysterious that it’s happening, it’s the how it’s happening and the why it’s happening,” Findlay said. “We need time to unpack those questions.”
He said he and fellow researchers plan to publish a series of papers on the phenomenon. “I’ve been in humpback research since the late 1980s and we’ve never seen anything like this before.”
The spotting of so many super groups do mean something exciting for the state of these majestic creatures.
“What we found here is reflective of the abilities of these animals to bounce back from very severe whaling pressure in the last century. Over 200,000 humpback whales were taken from the Southern hemisphere last year,” Findlay said.
“It absolutely amazed me that 30 to 40 years later, we’ve seen these populations rebounding as they are. That gives me hope. It tells me something about the state of the ocean.”Kurdish forces recaptured the Yazidi-majority district of Sinjar, west of Mosul from ISIS on November 13. Confrontations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) will grow increasingly likely as both seek to control Sinjar, while Kurdish control over the mixed-demographic district is already leading to heightened tensions between Yazidis and Sunni Arabs. Kurdish forces included Peshmerga affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP); PKK-affiliated fighters from the Syrian People’s Protection Units (YPG); Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) forces; and local Yazidi militias. The city of Sinjar remains under mixed KDP Peshmerga and PKK control. Areas east of the Sinjar were recaptured primarily by the Peshmerga, with the exception of Tel Qasab, a village southeast of Sinjar, which was captured by a YPG-affiliated Yazidi militia. However, areas west of Sinjar reportedly involved few Peshmerga. These areas remain primarily under the control of the PKK, YPG, and PKK-affiliated local Yazidi militias. Villages north of Sinjar and Sinjar Mountain contain forces from all Kurdish fighting forces excluding Peshmerga affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and it is unclear as to what specific villages are controlled by which forces. Areas north of the mountain have been under mixed Peshmerga and PKK control since before the Sinjar operation, which ISW is restrospectively representing on this map.ISW has also retrospectively assessed that the KDP Peshmerga do not have control over the Kasak intersection area, northwest of Mosul, which is still held by ISIS. KDP Peshmerga control the town of Kasak itself, but not the surrounding roads. ISW has thus adjusted the depicted control of terrain in the Kasak area.Sydney Mardi Gras this weekend will be a celebration full of excitement and spectacle. It will also be a powerful expression of how far we have come as a community – and how far we still have to go. I’ll be proud to march with Rainbow Labor in my first Mardi Gras. I see this as another way to add my voice to the campaign for equality.
This year marks two important milestones for Australia’s LGBTI community. It is the 36th anniversary of Mardi Gras and it is 30 years since legislation was passed to decriminalise homosexuality in New South Wales. These anniversaries highlight the dual faces of Mardi Gras – a celebration of identity and a call for change; an opportunity to party and a forum for protest.
Over the years, the parade has provided a highly visible focal point for the campaign for justice and equality. Mardi Gras makes the principle of equality real. It is thousands of people of great diversity and difference marching for one simple idea – that equality matters.
In the early years, it was met by arrests and clashes with police. We should not forget those that marched through intolerance and violence so that we can march in celebration. It has become an integral part of the Sydney and Australian social calendar and not just for the LGBTI community – it is an event that receives national and international coverage.
But there is always work to be done to confront discrimination and prejudice and to pursue social, political and legislative advances. When we march we need to remember those who are not marching – the young boy growing up in western NSW or the teenage girl in regional Queensland, struggling to work out who they are.
Our march is more for them than ourselves. Imagine the impact on young people like this when they hear bigoted comments and encounter homophobia – the hurt can be immeasurable. For me, this drives home the need for people who are in leadership positions to speak out; to be counted. Mardi Gras is an affirmation, not only for those of us who are confident enough to march, but also for those still coming to terms with their sexuality.
Political leaders need to take up the fight against homophobia and discrimination. When I entered parliament in 2002, I would not have believed that within the next 11 years the ALP would change its platform to support same sex marriage and that a Labor prime minister go to an election promising to introduce marriage equality legislation.
We have come this far because people have advocated, organised and worked together – people in the community and people in political parties. We have achieved a considerable amount because we have been prepared to work together for a common cause. We have won the arguments for reforms ranging from decriminalisation to the elimination of legislative discrimination in areas like superannuation and adoption.
Now we need to win the argument for marriage equality – and we will win this argument because the principle of equality is such a powerful, clear and simple idea. After all, we are arguing for the most important people in our lives – the people we love.Get the biggest Celtic 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
CELTIC are on the verge of striking a new multi-million kit deal with American sportswear giant New Balance.
The Scottish champions’ current contract with Nike expires at the end of this season and now the Parkhead club are in talks with the Boston-based company.
New Balance want to break into the football market and challenge the likes of Nike. They launched their football division this week.
English Premiership duo Liverpool and Stoke have signed up for next season along with Spanish outfit Seville and Porto in Portugal.
And they are now targeting the Hoops in a bid to boost their portfolio with the Parkhead side’s global brand appealing to New Balance bosses.
(Image: New Balance)
Any deal would end a decade-long association between Celtic and Nike after they signed a five-year extension to their initial deal which kicked in in 2010 and was reported to be worth up to £29million.
Talks between Celtic and New Balance are ongoing but at their football launch general manager Richard Wright said: “The competition for this market share is intense but New Balance has made its name by never shying away from a challenge.”
Manchester City quartet Vincent Kompany, Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo, currently on loan at Valencia, and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey were just some of the names who turned out at a star-studded launch of New Balance Football at events in London and New York on Wednesday.
TACKLE THE RECORD SPORT QUIZ:Tucked away in the northwest corner of Iran is the quaint and mysterious thirteenth century village of Kandovan. It’s a village in Sahand Rural District, in the Central District of Osku County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Kandovan is also part of the Lake Urmia region, the region that is central to the start of the second phase of Zoroastrian history. This village consists of manmade cliff dwellings which are still inhabited. The troglodyte homes, excavated inside volcanic rocks and tuffs similar to dwellings in the Turkish region of Cappadocia, are locally called “Karaan”. Karaans were cut into the Lahars (volcanic mudflow or debris flow) of Mount Sahand. The cone form of the houses is the result of lahar flow consisting of porous round and angular pumice together with other volcanic particles that were positioned in a grey acidic matrix. All these aspects, make the landscape look like a gigantic termite colony. This method of dwelling makes the residents modern-age cave dwellers or troglodytes. After the eruption of Sahand these materials were naturally moved and formed the rocks of Kandovan.
When you first come upon the houses, you might not notice them, as the stone used to expand the dwellings outside of the caves, mimics that natural color of the original stone. But once you get closer to the village, you can see the windows, power wires, doors, and chimneys jutting out of the rock face. Most communities have become modernized, with power and some even with running water, all while blending perfectly into the natural surroundings. The volcanic stone is both easy to manipulate and sturdy enough to support these ancient constructions.
What is particularly amazing about these homes is that they have supported life for centuries. They are ancient cave dwellings. The first inhabitants were from ancient tribes, but these homes have been updated and passed down from inhabitant to inhabitant.
Most communities have taken special precaution to preserve as much of the original cave as possible, so that both the exterior and the interior have that authentic Kandovan feel. Some houses rely on the natural cave formations, while others have been hollowed out into larger rooms, and have even been whitewashed to create a more modern look and feel.
Most of the cave houses are two to four storeys in height. In a typical four storey house, the ground or first floor is used as an animal shelter, the next two floors are used as living areas, and the top floor is used for storage. There are reports of tunnels connecting towers owned by a person or family.
While Mount Sahand itself is one of the beauties of the region, the surrounding country abounds in a natural beauty that is today but a shadow of a legendary past. Some believe that legendary past beauty is preserved in the biblical story of the Garden of Eden. Ancient Persian gardens, also called baghs, were renowned for their spectacular beauty.
The houses are known as karan in the local dialect. One interpretation has the word Kandovan being a plural form of kando, a bee’s hive. Another interpretation says that Kandovan means Land of Unknown Carvers. The use of ‘van’ to indicate the plural is found in the Avesta: cf. ashavan. Nowadays, residents speak a Turkic dialect but have traditional Iranian family names, names such as Kayani. The mountains and rivers in the region have both Persian and Turkic – and perhaps even Assyrian – names.
The residents declare that their village is around 700 years old, and was formed by people fleeing from an advancing Mongol army and who used the caves as a refugee and a place of hiding. Even after the Mongol occupation of the country came to an end, many of the refugees decided to continue living in the caves and gradually expanded their cave homes to form permanent multi-level houses. Another legend states that eight hundred years ago a body of soldiers hid in the caves during a military campaign. However, there are indications that the caves of Kandovan were inhabited as far back as 3000 years ago – around the time when the Zoroastrian Medes and Persians inhabited the region.
Nature’s gifts in Kandovan extend to the healing properties of its natural spring water. In particular, the waters have traditionally been used to help dissolve kidney and bladder stones. Some of the area’s wild plants as also reputed to have healing and vitality-giving properties. The combination of Kandovan’s unique natural landscape, beauty, and the manner in which its inhabitants have adapted to the environment, has made Kandovan a popular destination for visitors. While the weather in the region has likely changed over the past ten thousand years, Kandovan still receives a fair amount of winter snow. In addition, the number of cool months in Kandovan exceeds the number of warm months.
looking for accommodation in kandovan, click here Kandovan cheap hotel
Book Your Stay at Hi Tehran Hostel Now offers excellent value budget accommodation in a convenient location of Tehran, stay with us and see what a difference a stay makes. You Are Invited! HI Tehran Hostel offers excellent value budget accommodation in a convenient location of Tehran, stay with us and see what a difference a stay makes.
Was this article helpful? Share it with your friends!Research supports an association between extraversion and dopamine (DA) functioning. DA facilitates incentive motivation and the conditioning and incentive encoding of contexts that predict reward. Therefore, we assessed whether extraversion is related to the efficacy of acquiring conditioned contextual facilitation of three processes that are dependent on DA: motor velocity, positive affect, and visuospatial working memory. We exposed high and low extraverts to three days of association of drug reward (methylphenidate, MP) with a particular laboratory context (Paired group), a test day of conditioning, and three days of extinction in the same laboratory. A Placebo group and an Unpaired group (that had MP in a different laboratory context) served as controls. Conditioned contextual facilitation was assessed by (i) presenting video clips that varied in their pairing with drug and laboratory context and in inherent incentive value, and (ii) measuring increases from day 1 to Test day on the three processes above. Results showed acquisition of conditioned contextual facilitation across all measures to video clips that had been paired with drug and laboratory context in the Paired high extraverts, but no conditioning in the Paired low extraverts (nor in either of the control groups). Increases in the Paired high extraverts were correlated across the three measures. Also, conditioned facilitation was evident on the first day of extinction in Paired high extraverts, despite the absence of the unconditioned effects of MP. By the last day of extinction, responding returned to day 1 levels. The findings suggest that extraversion is associated with variation in the acquisition of contexts that predict reward. Over time, this variation may lead to differences in the breadth of networks of conditioned contexts. Thus, individual differences in extraversion may be maintained by activation of differentially encoded central representations of incentive contexts that predict reward.
Introduction
Extraversion represents a higher-order personality trait that has been identified in virtually all classificatory systems of the structure of personality, including Eysenck and Gray's models (Gray, 1994), the Five-Factor model (Costa and McCrae, 1992), Tellegen's Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ) model (Tellegen and Waller, 2008), and Zuckerman's Alternative Five-Factor model (Zuckerman, 2002). The phenomenology of extraversion is described similarly in all of these models, and is characterized by adjectives that connote a state of positive affect and strong motivation of desire and wanting, as well as by feelings of being excited, enthusiastic, active, peppy, strong, confident, and optimistic (Watson and Tellegen, 1985; Berridge, 2004).
Jung (1921) insightfully placed this positive motivational state in a larger context in his description of extraversion. He suggested that extraversion is characterized by broad engagement with the environment which is supported by the positive affective state emphasized by others. Jung's notion suggests that there is a broad class of environmental stimulus that elicits positive affective engagement, and Gray (1994) extended that notion by arguing that the stimulus class is composed of rewards. Thus, extraversion may represent individual differences in the extent to which environmental rewards elicit positive affective engagement as a means of obtaining those rewards.
Due to conceptually similar phenomenological features, we drew an analogy between this positive affective state in humans and incentive motivation as described in the animal literature (Depue and Collins, 1999; Depue and Morrone-Strupinsky, 2005; Depue and Fu, 2012). Incentive represents a motivational system identified in all mammals, and is elicited by the broad stimulus class of unconditioned and conditioned incentive stimuli that induce forward locomotion and strong subjective feelings of reward. This analogy suggested that, if extraversion represents the manifestation of an incentive reward system, then the trait may be in part influenced, as this motivation is in animals, by the activity of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) projection system. This projection system originates mainly in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain, and sends afferents to several limbic regions, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in the ventral striatum and the amygdala, and to many cortical regions, including the orbital cortex (Depue and Collins, 1999; Depue and Morrone-Strupinsky, 2005; Fields et al., 2007).
In rats and monkeys, dose-dependent DA receptor activation in the VTA-NAc pathway mediates the acute rewarding effects of stimulants, and facilitates a broad array of incentive motivated behaviors, including locomotor activity to novelty and food; as well as exploratory, aggressive, affiliative, and sexual behavior (Depue and Collins, 1999; Berridge, 2007). In single-unit recording studies in monkeys, large populations of VTA DA neurons are activated preferentially by appetitive incentive stimuli (Schultz et al., 1995, 1997; Mirenowicz and Schultz, 1996; D'Ardenne et al., 2008; Schroeder et al., 2008), and DA cells, most numerously in the VTA, respond in proportion to the magnitude of both conditioned and unconditioned incentive stimuli (Fields et al., 2007; Schultz, 2007; Bromberg-Martin et al., 2010). Similarly, NAc cells increase firing to primary and conditioned signals of reward and novelty during intervals when reward is expected, and during engagement in rewarding social activity.
In humans, incentive motivation is associated with both positive emotional feelings such as elation and euphoria, and motivational feelings of desire, wanting, craving, potency, and self-efficacy (Depue and Collins, 1999). This is in contrast to positive feelings that accompany reward consummation, which is associated with feelings of gratification, quiescence, liking, and calm pleasure (Depue and Morrone-Strupinsky, 2005; Smillie et al., 2012). DA activity is related to the former, but not the latter, subjective emotions. Thus, neuroimaging studies have found that, during acute cocaine or amphetamine administration, the intensity of a participant's subjective euphoria increased in a dose-dependent manner in proportion to DA-agonist binding to the DA uptake transporter (and hence DA levels) in the ventral striatum (Volkow et al., 1997). Moreover, DA-induced activity in the NAc was linked equally strongly (if not more strongly) to motivational feelings of desire, wanting, and craving, as to the emotional experience of euphoria (Breiter et al., 1997). And the degree of activation by positive or rewarding stimuli or agonist-induced DA release in healthy human ventral striatum and other regions of reward circuitry (e.g., amygdala, medial orbitofrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex) assessed by fMRI and PET were correlated strongly with (i) feelings of euphoria, (ii) extraversion and similar traits of novelty seeking and affective impulsivity, (iii) DA-relevant gene polymorphisms, and (iv) pharmacological indicators of DA functioning (Depue et al., 1994; Depue, 1995; Berke and Hyman, 2000; Drevets, 2001; Canli et al., 2002; Kumari et al., 2004; Knutson and Cooper, 2005; Mobbs et al., 2005; Reuter and Hennig, 2005; Reuter et al., 2006; Deckersbach et al., 2006; D'Ardenne et al., 2008; Zald et al., 2008; Smillie et al., 2009; Bromberg-Martin et al., 2010; Buckholtz et al., 2010; Haber and Knutson, 2010; Baik et al., 2012). Hence, taken together, the animal and human evidence supports the notion that the VTA DA-NAc pathway is a primary neural circuit for incentive reward (Bromberg-Martin et al., 2010; Haber and Knutson, 2010; Sesack and Grace, 2010), and that extraversion is related to activity in that pathway (Wacker et al., 2006, 2012, 2013).
While VTA DA activation is critical for inducing incentive motivation in NAc, VTA DA neuron responses also play a role in facilitating the association between those stimuli that predict reward (i.e., conditioned stimuli) and motivated behavior that obtains reward (Schultz et al., 1997; Montague et al., 2004; Schultz, 2007). With regard to associative learning, mere DA neuron activation without exogenous reward produced a preference for the context paired with phasic DA firing. Concordantly, DA neuron firing was gradually time-locked to the presentation of a conditioned cue that predicted sucrose delivery, and phasic DA release correlated positively with conditioned approach behavior toward the cue (Stuber et al., 2008). This associative process includes the following steps. The optimal stimuli for activating VTA DA neurons are unpredicted unconditioned rewards (e.g., food, sweet liquid). Such biologically salient stimuli are evaluated for their emotional significance in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and medial orbital frontal cortex (mOFC). If such stimuli have sufficient incentive salience, these and other corticolimbic areas then activate VTA DA neurons (Berke and Hyman, 2000; Myer-Lindenberg et al., 2005; Fields et al., 2007; Kauer and Malenka, 2007; Stuber et al., 2008; Zellner and Ranaldi, 2010), which release DA into the NAc as a means of increasing incentive motivation to obtain the reward. Subsequently, neutral cues in the current context that consistently predict reward are associated with reward (become CSs) in the BLA and mOFC (Elliott et al., 2003; Gottfried et al., 2003; Simmons et al., 2007; D'Ardenne et al., 2008), which in turn activate VTA DA neurons prior to the occurrence of primary reward (Zellner and Ranaldi, 2010). This process is shown in Figure 1 during an experiment's progression: VTA DA neurons show increased activity in the presence of neutral stimuli that consistently predict reward, and a concurrent decrease in activity to the unconditioned reward, until DA responding has transferred completely to the conditioned incentive stimuli (Schultz et al., 1997; Galvan et al., 2005; Day et al., 2007; Schultz, 2007; Stuber et al., 2008). Thus, VTA DA discharge ratchets backward in time so as to respond to earlier and earlier predictors of reward. Therefore, DA activity is critical to the control of appetitive behavior by conditioned incentive stimuli—specifically, to link stimuli predicting reward, which activate VTA neurons, to the response-facilitation mechanism in the NAc (Schultz et al., 1997; Depue and Collins, 1999; Nestler, 2001; Depue and Morrone-Strupinsky, 2005; Berridge, 2007; Stuber et al., 2008; Zellner and Ranaldi, 2010).
FIGURE 1
Figure 1. Relative ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) firing as a function of trial. VTA DA neurons show increased activity in the presence of neutral stimuli that consistently predict reward, and a concurrent decrease in activity to the unconditioned rewards, until DA responding has transferred completely to the conditioned incentive stimuli (Trials 1–5).
The acquisition of a reward-predictive neural structure is enhanced when VTA DA activation results in release of DA in the NAc. DA release in the NAc plays a critical role in the formation of complex contextual ensembles that predict the occurrence of reward in a much more detailed manner than do single CS incentives (Depue and Morrone-Strupinsky, 2005; Depue and Fu, 2012). The array of stimuli that comprise the full context that precedes the occurrence of primary reward converge on the NAc (O'Donnell, 1999). These corticolimbic inputs originate from many perceptual processing pathways, but importantly also from those areas that compute the incentive salience of contextual stimuli, including the BLA, mOFC, and extended amygdala (e.g., bed nucleus of the stria terminalis) (Groenewegen et al., 1999a,b; O'Donnell, 1999; Berke and Hyman, 2000; Depue and Morrone-Strupinsky, 2005). The end product of this compression is a contextual ensemble that is encoded for incentive salience or value. That ensemble is further compressed in a cortico-cortical loop, which terminates in the mOFC where the ensemble is associated with an expected outcome (i.e., probability and magnitude of reward; Alexander et al., 1990; O'Donnell, 1999; Amodio and Frith, 2006). It is not surprising then that it is the mOFC that provides the major source of activation of VTA DA neurons when predictive contexts of reward occur (Taber et al., 1995; Carr and Sesack, 2000; Zellner and Ranaldi, 2010). The magnitude of the encoded incentive salience of the mOFC contextual ensemble is thus translated into the magnitude of mOFC-VTA DA activation and, in turn, NAc DA-facilitated incentive motivation.
The acquisition of contextual ensembles is strongly dependent on DA in the NAc. Corticolimbic regions carrying contextual information innervate NAc neurons in close proximity to VTA DA projections to the NAc (O'Donnell, 1999; Depue and Morrone-Strupinsky, 2005; Sesack and Grace, 2010). It is here that DA facilitates the development of long-term potentiated connections of corticolimbic afferents to NAc neurons (Nestler, 2001; Goto and Grace, 2005; Kauer and Malenka, 2007; Shen et al., 2008; Stuber et al., 2008). Presumably, the more DA that is released in the NAc, (a) the greater the strengthening of the connection of contextual afferents on NAc neurons, and (b) the greater the number of afferents thus facilitated. Hence, variation in DA input to the NAc will modulate the strength of the contextual ensemble, and hence the capacity of that ensemble to subsequently elicit incentive motivation, positive affect, and approach behavior (i.e., extraverted behavior).
The importance of this model is that individual differences in VTA DA-NAc reactivity to reward, as found in extraversion, could modify the associative conditioning of unconditioned rewards to neutral contextual cues, and thereby create differences in the strength and breadth of individuals' networks of reward-relevant contexts. Exactly this prediction has been confirmed in animal studies, where a significant correlation between DA functioning and contextual conditioning was demonstrated (Hooks et al., 1992; Cabib, 1993; Jodogne et al., 1994; Wassum et al., 2011). The implication of these findings is that variation in the strength and breadth of reward-predictive contextual networks could play a critical role in the maintenance of individual differences in extraverted behavior over time.
Expanding a small preliminary study on conditioning and extraversion, we more fully investigated these possibilities by studying the acquisition and extinction over seven consecutive days of conditioned contextual facilitation of DA-modulated motor, affective, and cognitive processes in a DA agonist (methylphenidate)-paired context in high and low subgroups of extraverts. We predicted and found that high extraverts who had context paired with methylphenidate showed significantly greater conditioned contextual facilitation across all three processes relative to low extraverts. Indeed, low extraverts showed little, if any, conditioning under these experimental conditions. Moreover, conditioning was verified not only on a conditioning Test day, but also by demonstrating (a) robust conditioned responses on the first day of extinction under placebo in the absence of unconditioned drug effects, and (b) the decay of conditioned responding over a three-day extinction period.
Materials and Methods
Design
A study design with three consecutive phases was used (Figure 2): (i) Association (days 1–3), in which MP or placebo (lactose) is associated with laboratory context for three days. MP and placebo were administered in identical capsules double-blind to drug and extraversion score. On the basis of preliminary studies, three Association days were used; even one day with low doses of DA agonist is adequate in rats to demonstrate acquisition of contextual association to incentive processes (Anagnostaras and Robinson, 1996; Robinson and Berridge, 2000); (ii) Test (day 4), in which degree of contextual facilitation of responding is assessed under MP conditions; and (iii) Extinction (days 5–7), three days of placebo, where the first extinction day (day 5) assessed the presence of conditioned context-facilitated responding in the absence of unconditioned drug effects, which provides direct evidence of a motivational effect of conditioned cues (Anagnostaras and Robinson, 1996; Everitt et al., 2001).
FIGURE 2
Figure 2. Study design and experimental conditions. See text for details. M, methylphenidate; P, placebo.
Three experimental conditions, each with high and low subgroups of extraverts (i.e., six groups total), paired MP exposure with laboratory context (Paired) or did not (Unpaired and Placebo). On each Association day, all three experimental conditions received MP or placebo in each of two contextually distinct laboratories (Lab A, followed by Lab B—in which participants read emotionally neutral magazines supplied by the experimenter, as they also did in Lab A when not involved in tasks). This procedure equated Paired and Unpaired conditions for MP exposure but within different laboratory contexts (see Figure 2) (Anagnostaras and Robinson, 1996). Following previous research (Anagnostaras and Robinson, 1996; Robinson and Berridge, 2000), the context of Labs A and B differed in physical dimensions, flooring, wall colors and decorations, lighting, furniture, and experimenters. Because psychostimulants, including MP, strongly amplify conditioned-cue activation of behavior via DA release in the NAc (Parkinson et al., 1999; Robinson and Berridge, 2000; Everitt et al., 2001), all conditions received MP on Test day. MP was administered on Test day, because expression of conditioned drug effects are context-dependent. Therefore, despite receiving MP, the control groups above should not express facilitation of responding as should the group that has acquired conditioned facilitation. This allowed an assessment on Test day of the extent to which contextual cues had acquired incentive properties in the Paired condition relative to unconditioned effects of MP in Unpaired and Placebo groups.
Participants
The MPQ (Tellegen and Waller, 2008) extraversion scale was used. It correlates with EPQ extraversion (0.62, P < 0.01), incorporates content of the extraversion scales measured by the NEO-PI (Costa and McCrae, 1992; Church, 1994), is influenced by strong genetic variation (Tellegen et al., |
said. "And if they are successful, that will put in jeopardy tens of thousands of other companies that rely on open networks and millions of consumers."
Historically, most FCC bosses paid empty lip service to the competition problem in the broadband sector. Many, like former FCC boss turned top cable lobbyist Michael Powell, went comically out of their way to pretend the market was perfectly healthy. While his solutions were sometimes imperfect, Wheeler was at least capable of admitting that the core issue in the telecom sector is a lack of competition. A lack of competition not only in the last mile, but in the very cable boxes and closed hardware at the heart of the industry's control.
In contrast, Pai's entire platform rests on the idea that the real problem in the broadband sector is that government has been too hard on companies like Comcast and AT&T, and that these companies need less oversight than ever before. Of course, that kind of thinking is what helped create the Comcast and the pricey, annoying broadband and cable sector most consumers know and love today. Believing that dismantling the only government agency to stand up to Comcast this decade is going to somehow fix everything is precisely the kind of thinking that gave us Comcast in the first place.
Filed Under: broadband, competition, fcc, net neutrality, tom wheelerThe Intercept got hold of an Army video that warns of the complexities of maintaining military control in the cities of the future. The megacities of the future (population >10M), the video asserts, will be more densely populated and socially and politically complex than anything we know today. People will be stacked up—people living in high-rise apartments, at street level, and below the streets—with distinct political and social systems at each level.
The Intercept seems to make fun of the video, but I don’t see much to laugh about. Sure, the use of third-world imagery of overpopulation and political strife used by the producers (which remain anonymous) is something we’ve seen before. But the reason those images are relevant is because they depict present-day cities that are already well on their way to the megacity dynamic described in the video.Image caption The unrest spread from the school to a nearby shopping centre
At least 27 people have been held by police for rioting in Sweden, after photos of children were posted on Instagram alongside sexual insults.
The account is alleged to have been set up by a teenage girl who attends the Plusgymnasiet school in Gothenburg.
It asked people to send in photos and allegations of the person's sexual history, publishing about 200 of them.
Some 200 people then responded to a rival Facebook page urging them to go to the school in retaliation.
The initial account on Instagram - a website and smartphone app which allows users to upload and edit photographs - was set up on Monday asking for pictures and accusations relating to other local teenagers in Gothenburg.
It attracted more than 6,000 followers, according to Swedish media, with users adding further insults to the pictures, and naming some of those photographed.
The images it posted were of both girls and boys - some of those pictured were allegedly as young as 13.
When the account was shut down, it moved to a Facebook account, and continued to be widely read in the school and elsewhere.
Dragged to the ground
The rival Facebook account then called for a protest outside the school - some reports said it had urged people to beat up the girl alleged to have run the accounts.
Police had been alerted to the page and were waiting at the school in the morning, but large crowds still turned up and the situation became violent.
Björ Blixter, a police media spokesman, was quoted by Swedish Radio as saying some people were throwing stones and bottles at officers and passing vehicles.
Image caption Police are said to have seen the Facebook page protest call in advance
Video posted online allegedly of the incident showed a girl being dragged to the ground by some in the crowd.
The trouble then moved to a nearby shopping mall.
In total, 27 people were detained, said police. The teenaged girl alleged to have started the account has been taken to a safe place.
"We're talking to her and investigating whether a crime took place," Gothenburg police spokesman Stefan Gustafsson told BBC News.
He said there were no reports of any injuries or damage to property.
The school will be closed on Wednesday because of the risk of further protests. Mr Gustafsson said the police would also be monitoring social media for possible further trouble, and officers would be posted around the town at potential trouble spots.
The unrest in Sweden came on the same day that Instagram, which is owned by Facebook and has some 100 millions users, updated its privacy policy, giving it the right to sell users' photos to advertisers without notification.
Unless users delete their Instagram accounts by a deadline of 16 January, they cannot opt out.
The changes, which have sparked an angry reaction, also mean Instagram can share information about its users with Facebook as well as other affiliates and advertisers.Trust and manufacturing are two terms that aren’t used together often enough. On the occasions when they are used together, it usually comes as dispositive, as in, “I don’t trust that manufacturer.” Of the many manufacturers I write about, few have enjoyed as respected a reputation as Cervelo. This spring I was afforded the opportunity to ride both the R3 and S3 back to back. There was a question before me: Would I go for the traditional road frame or would I go for the aero advantage? Two or three years ago the question would have been academic, but the design and execution of aero frames has improved enough that it finally seemed a fair question.
So I’m going to cover the things these two bikes have in common first, to get them out of the way. Both bikes were equipped with Shimano Ultegra (6800) Di2 components. The R3 sports an FSA bar (Energy Compact) and stem (SLK), while the S3 is built up with a 3T bar (Egonova Pro) and stem (ARX Pro). The seatpost on the R3 also comes from FSA, the SLK, while the S3 uses a proprietary aero post. Both came with a Fi’zi:k Antares saddle, a detail for while I was almost (almost) inordinately grateful. The R3 rolls on Fulcrum 5.5 wheels and Vittoria Diamante Pro tires, while the S3 went a more aero route with Mavic Cosmic Elite S wheels and Mavic Yksion Comp tires. Both bikes came with Rotor 3DF BBright cranks with 52 and 36t rings.
Cervelo’s Future-Proof Cable Management made the routing of brake cables and Di2 leads internally clean and attractive. The system uses a collection of standardized fitting so should you wish to move from a mechanical group to Di2 or swap out mechanical calipers for SRAM’s Hydro Rim brakes, the Future-Proof fittings will accommodate all of those choices without looking like you’ve had to zip-tie your bike together.
Both bikes use Cervelo’s assymetrical BBright bottom bracket design that allows the bottom bracket shell and non-drive chainstay to be 11 millimeters wider. BBright achieves this by eliminating the outboard cup and making the BB shell wider to incorporate that bearing within the frame. The rationale is that anything you can do to decrease twisting forces at the drivetrain is worthwhile, and because you can’t find more room on the drive side, you might as well use the space available on the non-drive side. Early on the system only worked with Rotor Cranks, but any opposition to BBright due to compatible cranks has been eliminated; you can now use everything from SRAM and Shimano to FSA and even Campagnolo Ultra-Torque.
The bikes weighed in at 16.56 lbs. (R3) and 16.82 lbs. (S3), a difference of roughly 130 grams, a difference accountable in the wheels alone; however, it doesn’t account for the difference in the frame weights—roughly 900g for the R3 in a 56, and roughly 1100g for the S3 in a 56. (Cervelo doesn’t really like talking frame weights on the R3 and S3, but when pressed prefer to say there tends to be a 110g difference between the two; I had to do some research to find published frame weights.) I’d go looking for that 200 grams if it really bothered me; it doesn’t. Better yet, swapping for a better set of wheels alone could make the S3 lighter than the R3.
The two bikes also differ in price. The R3, as built, carries a suggested retail of $5000. The S3 goes for a bit more, at $5200. These two frames, built with Ultegra Di2 components and aluminum clinchers and bars, deliver race-ready performance for less than some similarly-equipped bikes.
The bikes share identical geometries. I rode 56s, each with a 56.4cm top tube, 73.5-degree head tube angles, 43mm-rake forks, head tube lengths of 17.3cm, stacks of 58cm and reaches of 38.7cm. This made replicating my fit between bikes almost absurdly easy, especially as both came equipped with Fi’zi:k Antares saddles.
(Click the link for the next page.)
Pages: 1 2 3 4People may be getting laid off these days — but apparently, they still want to get laid. The Bunny Ranch and other legal brothels say they’re seeing a huge boost in women applying for prostitute positions as a result of the current economic climate.
The Bunny Ranch: Applications Up
The Moonlight Bunny Ranch in Reno, Nevada has spawned its share of celebrities thanks to its HBO show — characters like Air Force Amy, and even a guy dubbed “Eric the Midget” by Howard Stern. (Apparently, “Eric the Midget” lost his virginity at The Bunny Ranch, and Howard Stern devoted some time to discussing it.)
Now, the brothel and others like it say business is booming, and women out of work are looking to join Air Force Amy and her pals for a high-paying romp in the hay. The Bunny Ranch says it received 1,500 applications last month alone. And it’s not just prostitution, either — adult businesses such as strip clubs are also seeing an increase in applications.
Bunny Ranch Video
The following video discusses the trend at The Bunny Ranch and other Nevada brothels. (And yes, you’ll hear from Air Force Amy in it.)Nobody enforces gender roles and gender stereotypes quite like feminists
It’s funny how they whine about “male tears” and “male entitlement” and “fragile masculinity” and “lol mra pissbabies” because if you stop talking about their problems for ten seconds and focus on the problems of someone who is not them, they act like toddlers who have just had their favourite toy taken away.
"We have to empower women… by presenting double standards that favour women as another victimisation of women, and tell boys that everything that goes wrong in a woman’s life is a man’s, and that he is personally responsible for every bad thing that happens on the planet. Instead of teaching boys that its okay to cry, we need to teach them not to make women cry. Men are put on this earth to be useful to women."Battling food shortages, the government is rolling out a new ID system that is either a grocery loyalty card with extra muscle or the most dramatic step yet toward rationing in Venezuela, depending on who is describing it.
President Nicolas Maduro’s administration says the cards to track families’ purchases will foil people who stock up on groceries at subsidized prices and then illegally resell them for several times the amount. Critics say it’s another sign the oil-rich Venezuelan economy is headed toward Cuba-style dysfunction.
Registration began Tuesday at more than 100 government-run supermarkets across the country. Working-class shoppers who sometimes endure hours-long lines at government-run stores to buy groceries at steeply reduced prices are welcoming the plan.
“The rich people have things all hoarded away, and they pull the strings,” said Juan Rodriguez, who waited two hours to enter the government-run Abastos Bicentenario supermarket near downtown Caracas on Monday, and then waited another three hours to check out.
Rigid currency controls and a shortage of U.S. dollars make it increasingly difficult for Venezuelans to find imported basic products like milk, flour, toilet paper and cooking oil. Price controls don’t help either, with producers complaining that some goods are priced too low to make a profit and justify production.
As of January, more than a quarter of basic staples were out of stock in Venezuelan stores, according to the central bank’s scarcity index. The shortages are among the problems cited by Maduro’s opponents who have been staging protests since mid-February.
Checkout workers at Abastos Bicentenario were taking down customers’ cellphone numbers Monday, to ensure they couldn’t return for eight days. Shoppers said employees also banned purchases by minors, to stop parents from using their children to engage in hoarding, which the government calls “nervous buying.”
Rodriguez supports both measures.
“People who go shopping every day hurt us all,” he said, drawing approving nods from the friends he made over the course of his afternoon slowly snaking through the aisles with his oversized cart.
Reflecting Maduro’s increasingly militarized discourse against opponents he accuses of waging “economic war,” the government is calling the new program the “system of secure supply.”
Patrons will register with their fingerprints, and the new ID card will be linked to a computer system that monitors purchases. On Tuesday, Food Minister Felix Osorio said the process was off to a smooth start. He says the system will sound an alarm when it detects suspicious purchasing patterns, barring people from buying the same goods every day. But he also says the cards will be voluntary, with incentives like discounts and entry into raffles for homes and cars.
Expressionless men with rifles patrolled the warehouse-size supermarket Monday as shoppers hurried by, focusing on grabbing meat and pantry items before they were gone. Long shelves that should have been heaped with rice and coffee instead displayed six brands of ketchup. There was plenty of frozen beef selling for 22.64 bolivars a kilogram — $3.59 at the official exchange rate, or 32 cents at the black market rate increasingly used in pricing goods.
A local consumer watchdog, the National User and Consumer Alliance, invokes the specter of Cuba’s struggling economy and calls the ID program rationing by another name. It predicts all Venezuelans without cards will soon be barred from shopping at state supermarkets.
After five decades of rationing basic goods for Cubans, President Raul Castro’s communist government is phasing out subsidized foodstuffs as it opens the island’s economy to private enterprise. Cubans most dependent on the rationed goods say that in recent years their monthly quotas provided only enough food for a couple of weeks.
Until now, Venezuela’s restrictions on purchases have been toughest in its cities on the border with Colombia. Venezuelans can make a killing by buying goods at below-market prices and smuggling them into Colombia for sale at much higher prices.
Defenders of Venezuela’s socialist government say price controls imposed by the late President Hugo Chavez help poor people lead more dignified lives, and the United Nations has recognized Venezuela’s success in eradicating hunger.
Complaints aren’t heard in the long lines at government supermarkets. One young mother shielded her eyes against the afternoon sun as she approached a cashier with sugar, flour and Frosted Flakes cereal. She arrived at 10 a.m., but didn’t blame the government or its opponents for the long wait.
“I don’t know if it’s worth it, but when my children are crying what else can you do,” said the woman, who declined to provide her name as an armed National Guardsmen watched her at the checkout line.
She planned another five-hour run to another supermarket Tuesday to get everything out of stock at the downtown store.RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian researchers on Thursday said they found signs of the Zika virus in a common mosquito that is a separate species from the insect known to be the primary means of transmission.
A Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito is seen on the skin of a human host in this 2014 picture from the Center for Disease Control. REUTERS/CDC/James Gathany
They warned, however, that further tests are needed to determine whether the species, known as Culex quinquefasciatus, is in fact responsible for transmitting the virus to humans and, if so, to what extent.
The scientists, from a leading Brazilian research institute known as the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, discovered the Zika traces in Culex mosquitoes captured in and around the northeastern Brazilian city of Recife, capital of the state that was hit hardest by the Zika outbreak since last year.
In March, the same researchers said they had successfully transmitted the Zika virus to Culex mosquitoes in the lab, but were not yet sure at the time whether the species could carry the virus naturally.
The Zika traces, the scientists said in a statement, were found using methods that identify ribonucleic acid from the virus. The findings, they said, “confirm the species as a potential vector of the virus.”
Still, many questions remain to determine whether Culex, even if capable of carrying Zika, would be a significant source of infection in humans.
Culex mosquitoes are more common than Aedes aegypti, the species primarily responsible for transmitting the Zika virus, and are able to withstand more temperate climates. They are common across the Americas and in tropical and subtropical climates elsewhere.
Aedes aegypti has different breeding, feeding and overall habits that scientists say make it an efficient vector for the disease in humans.
Compared with that mosquito, which is fond of urban and household environments and likes to feed on humans, Culex likes to live around trees and other high areas and is as likely to feed on birds and other animals as it is on humans.
“Just finding the virus in another species doesn’t mean that it can efficiently transmit it,” says Jerome Goddard, an entomologist and specialist in mosquito-borne illnesses at Mississippi State University.
Because mosquitoes of various species are capable of carrying any number of infections or parasites, scientists say that eradication efforts for any illness must concentrate on the insects known to best transmit each particular disease.New evidence has linked Arctic warming with severe weather in countries including the UK and US.
Professor Edward Hanna and PhD student Richard Hall, from the University of Sheffield's Department of Geography, are part of a select group of international climate scientists investigating links between Arctic climate change and extreme weather in the northern mid-latitudes.
They have found that while it is too soon to know for certain whether the Arctic played a role in persistent cold events during the extreme wet UK winter of 2013/14 and recent USA East Coast winters, new studies are adding to the growing weight of evidence linking increased Arctic temperatures with changes in mid-latitude weather patterns.
The research published in the Journal of Climate by Professor James Overland of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and authors from North America, Asia and Europe, including Professor Hanna and Richard Hall, paints a picture of links that vary by region and season.
Arctic temperatures are increasing two to three times faster than those at the mid-latitudes. Some scientists have suggested that warming Arctic temperatures contribute to weaker upper level westerly winds and a wavier jet stream. This wavier path may have caused cold weather conditions to stall over the eastern seaboard and midwest United States during recent winters, according to these theories.
Professor Hanna and Richard Hall note increased variability of the jet stream in winter and high pressure over Greenland, which has given more variable UK winters in the last few years. This includes the exceptionally stormy winter of 2013/14 which could have been partly influenced by climate change in the Arctic.
Professor Hanna said: "Our work presents tantalising new evidence of links between global warming, which is enhanced in high northern latitudes, and recent extreme winter weather events in the UK and further afield, as well as a timely review of much recent literature which has appeared in this important field of research. However, since the climate system is highly complex, many missing parts of the puzzle remain and much further work needs to be done."
Professor Overland, lead author of the paper The melting Arctic and mid-latitude weather patterns: Are they connected? added: "We are in the pre-consensus stage of a theory that links continued warming of the Arctic with some severe weather events."
A way to advance research from a pre-consensus stage is to further investigate the meandering jet stream and the connection between the warmer Arctic and the negative phase of an index showing the dominant pattern of sea level air pressure in the Arctic.
"We are where other major theories such as plate tectonics and El Niño were before they were widely accepted," said Professor Overland.
"We need a Grand Science Challenge to advance weather forecasting abilities and climate change prediction."
New studies on the changing Arctic together with additional Arctic observations will improve the ability to make forecasts for the mid-latitudes, helping millions of people better plan for the future and take steps to be more resilient in the face of extreme weather.WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Today Speaker of the House John Boehner issued the following letter to the American people:
Dear American People,
Yesterday, your hardworking House Republicans tried, once again, and failed, once again, to repeal Obamacare. And I really thought we had a good chance this time.
That’s because we were all united in our hatred for this infernal and takes-too-long-to-read law. Every last one of us cast his vote to strike it down, from crazy little Paul Ryan to that arrogant bastard Eric Cantor.
And I wish you could have seen the faces of those freshman Republicans as they voted to repeal Obamacare—so innocent, so full of hope and wonder. As I told them yesterday, “You’ll never forget your first time.”
It’s important for you to know that even as scandals swirl about the cesspool known as the White House, some folks in Washington are still working hard for the American people.
It was a gruelling week for me, what with popping up in front of the TV cameras every five minutes saying, “Who’s going to jail?,” plus trying to rid our land of Obamacare. But I don’t want your thanks. Save that for the dedicated House Republicans who have now voted thirty-seven times to repeal. You can’t put a price tag on that kind of performance. Well, actually, you can: it’s cost the taxpayers over fifty million dollars.
And worth every million, damn it.
One last thing. I know some of you are probably thinking that after suffering this latest defeat, we House Republicans are just going to take our bat and ball and go home. Well, there’s an old saying where I come from: the thirty-eighth time’s the charm.
Courage,
John Boehner
Get the Borowitz Report delivered to your inbox.
Photograph by Chip Somodevilla/Getty.Got a question? Click here and ask away!
Of course I don't, but I can see how in a traditional, Western way of thinking it is strange to visualize a person at the "bottom" of the Earth. It’s weird for me to think about launching a weather balloon, as visualized from space, floating straight down away from the Earth as it rises.
We certainly can’t give directions here like everybody else does. For instance, to go out to the MAPO observatory from the Dome, one would have to walk South and then North without ever turning because they would pass right by the Geographic South Pole. Fortunately, we rarely have to give each other directions because our station is so small and the nearest place that anyone would want to go to is over 800 miles away!
If someone does talk about things being North or South here, they are most likely referring to what we call 'Grid directions' as in Grid North and Grid South. In the Grid system, North is along the Prime Meridian or 0° Longitude, pointing toward Greenwich, England. South would be 180° Longitude, East is 90° and West is 270°. It's actually quite simple. Meteorologists like myself always describe wind directions using the Grid system. It wouldn't mean much to report that the wind at the South Pole always comes from the North!
Honestly I have no idea, but I’m sure I go through several every day. In fact, I could go outside and run around the Geographic South Pole and go through all twenty-four time zones in a few seconds.
Using real time zones here would be difficult. Some buildings would be on a different time or day than others. So we have all decided to use New Zealand Time. The reason we settled on that zone is nearly all flights to Antarctica arrive at McMurdo Station from New Zealand. To avoid confusion when scheduling flights, McMurdo uses New Zealand time as well. Since nearly all flights to the South Pole come from McMurdo, we use the same time. Normally, it is 12 hours ahead of UTC. For the Austral summer, New Zealand goes on Daylight Savings Time, and therefore we are 13 hours ahead of UTC. During our winter, when it’s noon on Monday here, it’s 7 PM on Sunday in the U.S. Central Time Zone.
The coldest temperature ever recorded at the South Pole was -117° F (-82.8° C) on June 23, 1982. The average temperature throughout the winter is remarkably consistent at about -72° F (-58° C).
I go outside even when it's -100° F. As a meteorologist, it's my job! Some people even work in those temperatures for most of the day. Believe it or not, most of us would rather be outside in -100 than -60. When it gets really cold, the wind is usually calm. When the wind is howling, the temperature rises considerably, but that is when it's the most uncomfortable.
The wind can definitely make it feel colder outside and certainly has the effect of causing a person to lose heat at a much faster rate. However, the wind-chill index in common usage is of little or no scientific value or merit. It is based upon the subjective idea of how cold it 'feels' and there is no real way to measure that. Wind-chill is a novelty that people like to invoke when bragging. I'm not going to do that, but wind-chills here, using the common method of calculation, have been close to or possibly been below -200° F (-130° C).
The strongest wind ever recorded at the South Pole was 48 kts (55 mph, 92 km/h) on August 24, 1989. The average wind at the South Pole is 11 knots (12 mph, 21 km/h), quite low compared with the rest of Antarctica, which is the windiest continent.
Most Poleys get mild forms of frostbite at some time during the winter. My ears turned white and blistered once when I was outside posing or a picture when the wind-chill was -140°F. Usually frostbite occurs when the wind is blowing really strong and one has to walk into the direction from which it is blowing. It is hard to get every inch of flesh covered and when the cold wind blows strong on exposed skin, frostbite doesn’t take long. Another easy way to get a burn is to touch any metal outside with bare skin. Even doorknobs under the Dome can cause a good burn when it’s really cold. That’s why most of the doorknobs here are wrapped in tape.
No. In fact it hardly ever snows. We don't even measure snow accumulation at the South Pole because it is negligible. Any time we actually see snow falling (really the only types of precipitation we record are called snow grains or ice crystals) we record a trace. Even with hundreds of traces accumulating all year, we still only record a trace of precipitation a year. There is definitely significant accumulation, but most of that is from drifting snow and it is nearly impossible to differentiate between what really fell and what just blew in. Even if we could measure actual precipitation, we would still be in what is classified as a desert. We are also on a huge glacier. Of the two miles of snow on which the station is built, most is millions of years old.
During the winter I don’t feel trapped at all. I feel much freer. There is a lot more room with the smaller winter population. I rarely feel alone. There are a lot of wonderful people here, and it can actually be pretty hard to avoid them sometimes. I don’t really get homesick either. After four years in the navy, I am quite used to being far from home, and the people here make it much easier. Technology also helps. I can email anyone I want, look at pictures from home, and even call back to the U.S. when the satellites are up.
The only life at the South Pole is humans and the parasites they host. Occasionally a fly or slug might make it here hidden in some lettuce in the summer. If one survives, someone usually takes care of it as a pet.
For the vast majority of the interior of Antarctica, there is no life at all. On the other hand, the coasts are teeming with wildlife, nearly all aquatic or avian. Penguins of course are great in number. I got to see a few when I was on vacation in McMurdo. The primary flying bird is the skua, kind of like high-latitude seagulls they are scavengers and some species fly to the Arctic for the Boreal Summer and back every year for the Austral Summer. I guess they really like sun! Once in a great while, a skua makes it all the way to the South Pole in the summer. It is unclear if they would normally fly this far inland or if they are just following the vapor trails from the planes that fly here.
Several types of seals also dominate the ice edge. There are lots of whales and many varieties of fish. Orkas (Killer Whales) are at the top of the food chain. As for flora, there are no trees or leafy plants, but several types of lichens and molds do grow in areas that are not completely covered with ice. Polar bears are only found in the Arctic.
The toilets here look the same as any in the U.S. The question about the direction of swirl really touched off an interesting debate at the South Pole (although I'm sure it has come up before.) Until I was asked this question, I had honestly never thought about it, so I had to check. Toilets here definitely spin counterclockwise, but the main reason appears to be the position of the jet. The water seems very reluctant to go this way in comparison with what I remember about the Northern Hemisphere. So now that I was curious, I filled a large sink and let it drain naturally. Clockwise! For the life of me I could not remember which way either of these turn back North, but I had a hunch-- which was supported by my understanding of Coriolis force-- that both toilets and sinks normally spin counterclockwise back home, like tornadoes. Since there are a lot of smart people down here, many of them scientists, I thought I would ask a few about the subject. Although I couldn't find any that did dissertations on toilet water, most couldn't remember how it's supposed to work at all. One of these scientists told me about an experiment that some researcher did on the subject. Apparently, the direction can be easily manipulated unless an enormous tub of water is used. Another told me that the idea of drainage behaving differently in different hemispheres was a farce, but couldn't explain why. How could anything on "The Simpsons" not be true? Anyway, the debate goes on...
We get nearly all our water from what we call the "Rodwell" (short for "Rodriguez Well" named for the inventor, who apparently conceived and first implemented the idea in Greenland). It is a fairly simple concept: hot water is pumped down a hole in the glacier and it melts the ice at the bottom. The newly melted water is pumped to the surface. When the well becomes too deep for the reaches of our pump, it is abandoned and a new Rodwell is started. For a few of the outlying buildings, snow is brought in from the snow mine (a big pile of clean snow a little ways from the station) and front-end loaders put it into snow-melting machines, where the resultant water is used locally.
The drinking water here is probably among the purest of any on Earth. Contaminants and bacteria are almost nonexistent. It is treated with chlorine anyway, in the off chance that there are microorganisms lurking in the station's pipes.
In Antarctica, the waste is a terrible thing to mind. There used to be landfills both here and at McMurdo. A few years ago they were cleaned up and the litter was shipped out. The garbage heap practice of waste disposal didn’t go over very well with the international push to keep this the most pristine landmass on Earth. It also didn’t help that there is little or no rot in Antarctica. With the dryness and lack of nearly any life at all the garbage would stay intact and unchanged for many years to come. So now all of our trash is separated for recycling or incineration and shipped off the continent.
Human waste is the only refuse that is not flown out from the South Pole. In fact, sewage is pumped down the hole from the last Rodwell that was in use. It is frozen and essentially buried in the ice. Be forewarned: Sometime in the next few million years, a very dirty iceberg will calve off the Antarctic ice edge and sail out to sea.
I live in on the second floor of the building where I work which is called the Science building. It is is located under a huge geodesic aluminum dome which is about 150 in diameter and 60 feet high. The Dome is not heated but the buildings under it are so it is a little warmer than outside and it keeps out the wind.
My room is not very big, about six feet by nine feet, but it is all my own and don’t have roommates. Of those staying for the full year, the only people who share rooms are the married couples.
My bed is kind of like a loft and I have a desk underneath it where I keep my laptop computer hooked up to the Internet. We also eat all our meals here under the Dome in the Galley and the food is always very good.
The summer (Nov-Feb) population at the South Pole is rarely more than 220, but fluctuates quite a bit with flights coming in and going out every day. The winter population is fixed because there is no way in or out. This year, there are 50 of us staying over for the winter, which is still considered to be a lot (too many by some). Last year, they also started out the winter with 50. The year before that the winter population was 42, and every year previous there were only about half as many people or less, 18 easily being the mode.
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station has its own power plant that actually runs on the same fuel (JP-8) that the planes that fly here use. Most of the buildings are connected to a central heating system that derives its heat from the plant. The rest of the buildings, mainly those far away from the Dome, have their own furnaces.
Although many people keep on a few layers when they are indoors (not enough hooks for everyone to hang everything!), it is in fact quite warm inside the buildings at the South Pole. It pretty much stays around room temperature. The only complaint people have is that some of the rooms in the middle of buildings can get a little warm. Sometimes a building's heating system has a difficult time keeping all the temperatures the same throughout.
The middle rooms can also get very dry. The humidity outside is so low here that we don't even measure it. Inside, humidity is almost non-existent, especially in the winter. When you take -100°F air and warm it up to +70°F, it would be bone dry no matter how wet it started. And since the middle rooms are the warmest, they also tend to be the driest.
One interesting effect of such dryness is a tremendous buildup of static electricity. In the T.V. lounge (a middle room), a spark from someone flipping the light switch can light up the room! I get static-electric shocks all the time-- and they hurt!
For the summer, it seemed normal to have the sun up when I was up; when I slept, I never knew it was light because there are no windows in my room. In the winter it is just like working a night shift.
I have been coping just fine without the sun. Darkness is actually a nice change from the constant barrage of sunlight we had all summer. For some reason, most people here don't have a problem with the darkness. Just in case though, I brought along a full-spectrum lamp for my room.
I in fact devoted an entire journal entry to this question. Click here.
I am a meteorologist. My main job while I'm at work is to keep an eye on the weather. I take weather observations every hour and record information about cloud cover, visibility, temperature, pressure, and wind. Our weather records here go back to the first year the station was built: 1957.
Every day we send up two huge weather balloons (about 5 feet in diameter) into the atmosphere. Attached to them is a miniature weather station called a radiosonde that records temperature, pressure and wind data and sends them back to us via radio signal. I also send out the current weather conditions and weather balloon reports, as well as daily, weekly, monthly (and yearly) climatological summaries to meteorologists at McMurdo Station, who send out this information out to the rest of the world.
My job is called meteorologist, but I am neither a researcher nor forecaster. There are two reasons for having meteorologists at the South Pole, however. Primarily, we are here to provide weather information to pilots in the summer when we actually have an operational airfield. The second reason is to collect data for researchers and climatologists. As you can imagine, weather data for the Southern Hemisphere are sparse, especially in Antarctica, so any data collected here are quite valuable to scientists who study global weather and climate.
That can be blamed on accidental trick photography. I am really only 5’ 11 12/3".
I don’t know. It certainly has nothing to do with Poland though. I guess it is the language spoken at the South Pole. Although English is the main language here, there are many terms we use that are found in few other places, if any. I suppose this lingo comes from the vernacular of a mix of dialects: Southern, Amundsen-Scottish, Native Antarctican, and Penguish. The navy also had a lasting influence on the vocabulary of Poleys.
Milk. Fresh Kemps milk from the Cub Foods store by the house where I grew up in Minnesota. I just can't do the powdered stuff. Although there |
because they have no recognized role in the political process, and citizens do not join or leave them based on political considerations (Hussain & Moriarty forthcoming; Tucker 2010). Some have criticized the U.S. Supreme Court’s majority decision in Citizens United—which affirmed and enhanced firms’ rights to participate in political discourse—on this basis. Alternatively, we might see firms as legitimate speakers on behalf of certain points of view (Stark 2010).
Scholars have also raised questions about the goals of CPA. One thing a firm might do when it engages in CPA is provide valuable information to government officials. Society has an interest in knowing how proposed economic policies will affect firms; firms themselves are a good source of information on these questions. But some worry that firms more often engage in CPA in order to advance their own interests at the expense of their competitors’. This activity is sometimes described, and condemned, as “rent-seeking” (Tullock 1989). Questions have been raised about the nature and permissibility of rent-seeking. According to standard definitions, rent-seeking is socially wasteful economic activity intended to secure benefits from the state rather than from the market. But there is disagreement about what counts as waste. Lobbying for agricultural subsidies is often described as a rent-seeking activity, but it can be important to secure a nation’s food supply (Boatright 2009b; Hindmoor 1999). A related issue is whether firms are permitted to engage in rent-seeking behavior. The structure of the problem appears to be that of a prisoner’s dilemma: individual firms often do better if they engage in rent-seeking, but the economy as a whole does worse if all firms engage in it (DeBow 1992–1993).
The forms of CPA identified above—participating in public discourse and lobbying government officials—go “through” the formal political process. But firms are increasingly engaging in what appears to be political activity that goes “around” or “outside” of this process, especially in circumstances in which the state is weak, corrupt, or incompetent. In the world today, firms are providing public goods such as healthcare and education (Ruggie 2004), protecting people’s citizenship rights (Matten & Crane 2005), and helping to create and enforce systems of private regulation or “soft law” (Vogel 2010). For example, when the Rana Plaza collapsed in Bangladesh in 2013, killing more than 1000 garment industry workers, new building codes and systems of enforcement were put into place. But they were put into place by the multinational corporations that are supplied by factories in Bangladesh, not by the government of Bangladesh. Writers characterize these activities as political because they are the kinds of actions that states normally perform, or should perform (Matten & Crane 2005; Scherer & Palazzo 2007, 2011). These new forms of CPA—called “political CSR”—have raised questions about the legitimacy of firms’ actions in democratically governed states.
Scherer and Palazzo (2007, 2011) are major contributors to this debate. In their view, if firms behave like states, then they must be governed like states (see also Matten & Crane 2005). The form of governance that Scherer and Palazzo have in mind is Habermasian in character, involving deliberative dialog among all stakeholders who are affected by a firm’s actions. They give as examples of this type of governance arrangement multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) that bring together firms, non-governmental organizations, and members of local communities to deliberate and decide on policy matters, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Against this, critics have charged that multi-stakeholder initiatives, while effective in producing dialog among stakeholders, are ineffective at holding firms to account (Moog, Spicer, & Böhm 2015). There is little doubt that firms can benefit society through political CSR. The building codes put into place by Western multinationals may well save the lives of many Bangladeshi garment workers. Unless new forms of corporate governance can be devised, however, these benefits may come at a cost to democratic self-rule.
A still more subtle way that firms can engage in political activity is through the exercise of their property rights (Christiano 2010). A firm might move out of a state in response to the passage of a law it does not favor, or it may threaten to move out of a state if such a law is passed. This may cause the state’s citizens to revise or edit their political decisions. As with certain cases of political CSR, we may applaud the results of this kind of political activity. Many applauded when the state of Indiana revised its law permitting discrimination against members of the LGBT community (on grounds of religious liberty) in response to claims by powerful firms, such as Salesforce.com and Angie’s List, that they would scale back their economic activity in the state. But it is unclear whether such behavior by firms should be encouraged. We may wish to draw a distinction between private individuals influencing political decision-making by exercising their property rights and firms doing the same thing.
7.3 International business
Many businesses operate across societal, including national, boundaries. These are typically called “multinational” or “transnational” firms (MNCs or TNCs). Operating internationally heightens the salience of a number of the ethical issues discussed above, such as CSR, but it also raises new issues, such as relativism and divestment. (Two issues often discussed in connection with international business are not treated in this section. One is wages and working conditions in overseas factories, often called sweatshops. This literature is briefly discussed in section 6.2. The second issue is corruption. For discussion of this issue, see the entry on corruption.)
Whether and to what extent firms have a duty to perform socially responsible actions is a question that can and has been asked about firms in a domestic context. But this question has seemed especially pressing in international contexts, and many of the most famous examples of CSR—including the case of Merck and River Blindness discussed in section 7.1—take place in the developing world. There are two reasons for this. One is that social problems, including poverty and environmental degradation, are often worse in the developing world than in the developed world. The second is that firms are relatively more powerful actors in the developing world than in the developed world.
A number of business ethicists have developed ethical codes for MNCs, including DeGeorge (1993) and Donaldson (1989). International agencies have also created codes of ethics for business. Perhaps the most famous of these is the United Nations Global Compact, membership in which requires organizations to adhere to a variety of rules in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. In his important work for that body, Ruggie (2004, 2013) developed a “protect, respect, and remedy” framework for MNCs and human rights, which assigns the state the primary duty to protect human rights and remedy abuses of them, and firms the duty to respect human rights (cf. Wettstein 2009). A striking fact about much of this research is that, while it is focused on international business, and sometimes promulgated by international agencies, the conclusions reached do not apply specifically to firms doing business across national boundaries. The duty to, e.g., respect human rights applies to firms doing business within national boundaries too. It is simply that the international context is the one in which this duty seems most important to discharge, and in which firms are one of the few agents who can do so.
There are issues, however, that arise specifically for firms doing business internationally. Every introductory ethics student learns that different cultures have different moral codes. This is typically an invitation to think about whether or not morality is relative to culture. For the businessperson, it presents a more immediate challenge: How should cultural differences in moral codes be managed? In particular, when operating in a “host” country, should the businessperson adopt host country standards, or should she apply her “home” country standards?
Donaldson is a leading voice on this question, in work done independently (1989, 1996) and with Dunfee (1999). Donaldson and Dunfee argue that there are certain “moral minima” that must be met in all contexts. These are given to us by “hypernorms”, or universal moral values and rules, which are themselves justified by a “convergence of religious, philosophical, and cultural” belief systems (1999: 57). Within the boundaries set by hypernorms, Donaldson and Dunfee say, firms have “free space” to select moral standards. They do not have the liberty to select any standards they want; rather, their choices must be guided by the host country’s traditions and its current level of economic development.
Donaldson and Dunfee’s approach has attracted a great deal of attention, and many critics. Much of this criticism has focused on the nature of hypernorms. Some writers argue that Donaldson and Dunfee’s criteria for hypernorms are ad hoc (Scherer 2015); others claim that some of the norms that they claim are hypernorms (e.g., a prohibition on gender discrimination) do not meet their stated criteria (Mayer & Cava 1995). Other writers focus on the application of Donaldson and Dunfee’s theory, arguing that it does not give managers the specific guidance it claims to (Soule 2002).
A complication for the debate about whether to apply home country standards in host countries is that multinational corporations engage in business across national boundaries in different ways. Some MNCs directly employ workers in multiple countries, while others contract with suppliers in multiple countries. Nike, for example, does not directly employ workers to make shoes. Rather, Nike designs shoes, and hires firms in other countries to make them. Our views about whether an MNC should apply home country standards in a host country may depend on whether the MNC is applying them to its own workers or to those of other firms. The same goes for accountability. MNCs, especially in consumer-facing industries, are often held responsible for poor working conditions in their suppliers’ factories. Nike was subject to sharp criticism for the labor practices of its suppliers in the 1990s (Hartman et al. 2003). Our views about the extent of the MNC’s responsibility may depend on whether the problematic practices exist in the MNC’s own factories or in those of its suppliers.
A businessperson may find that a host country’s standards are not just different than her home country’s standards, but morally intolerable. She may decide that the right course of action is to not do business in the country at all, and if she is invested in the country, to divest from it. The issue of divestment received substantial attention in the 1980s and 1990s as MNCs were deciding whether or not to divest from South Africa under its Apartheid regime. It may attract renewed attention in the coming years as firms and other organizations contemplate divestment from the fossil fuel industry. Common reasons to divest from a morally problematic society or industry are to avoid complicity in immoral practices, and to put pressure on the society or industry to change its practices. Critics of divestment worry about the effects of divestment on innocent third parties (Donaldson 1989) and about the efficacy of divestment in forcing social change (Teoh, Welch, & Wazzan 1999). Some believe that it is better for firms to stay engaged with the society or industry and try to bring about change from within.
8. The status of business ethics
The field of business ethics, in its current form, grew out of research that moral and political philosophers did in the 1970s and 1980s. It is not hard to see why moral and political philosophers might be interested in business. Business activity raises a host of interesting philosophical issues: of agency, truth, manipulation, exploitation, justice, and more. After a surge of activity 30 years ago, however, philosophers seem to be retreating from the field. There are hardly any philosophy Ph.D. programs that have faculty specializing in business ethics and, as a result, few new Ph.D.’s are produced in this area. Those who work in the area are typically “converts” from mainstream ethical theory and political philosophy. This is a missed opportunity. Many businesspeople care about business ethics: they see themselves as good people who want to do the right thing at work. And many accrediting agencies, such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), require business schools to teach ethics. As philosophers have retreated from the field, business schools have turned to management scholars to fill the void. Given their training in the social sciences, management scholars treat ethics largely as a descriptive enterprise, i.e., as the study of the causes and effects of allegedly ethical or prosocial behavior. This is an important enterprise, to be sure, but it is no substitute for normative reflection on what is ethical in business. I hope this entry helps to inform philosophers about the richness and value of business ethics, and in doing so, excite greater interest in the field.Battlefield Hardline is coming in March, and the game features a fresh campaign mode that let you experience the classic “cops vs criminals” fantasy in a new way.
You’ll need weapons, gadgets and plenty of nerve to play through a Miami drug war in Battlefield Hardline, with all the action feeling more like a movie or TV show than a video game. To pull it off, the team at Visceral has been inspired by many pieces of entertainment.
We sat down with Ian Milham, Creative Director on Hardline, to learn more about the inspirations behind Battlefield Hardline’s single-player campaign.
Which TV shows helped influence the development of Battlefield Hardline?
Cop dramas that focused on characters more than procedures and units. Especially ones with a bit of wit to them. “Justified” is probably the best example.
Are there movies or genres of movies that have contributed to the story of Battlefield Hardline?
We really loved the dialogue and tone of movies that were based on the books of Elmore Leonard. The best examples would be “Out of Sight” and “Jackie Brown”.
Are there specific characters from movies or TV shows that inspired you throughout the process?
Not so much any one specific character, but again the world of Elmore Leonard was our guide. These are characters who talk like real people without a lot of jargon. For the most part, they all already know each other, so there’s very few scenes of exposition and planning. We wanted to keep the conversations quick and smart.
There are some iconic filmmakers with a very specific style, like Michael Bay, for example. Are there directors that you’ve studied throughout the process? What have you learned from them?
Rather than look at any filmmakers and emulate them, we actually brought an experienced director on board for this reason. Games are different, and a non-game director’s style could break down if we just tried to bring it over straight. Instead, we brought a director into the process who had experience working on shows like Justified and The Americans. By teaming up, we could get the best of both worlds. He helped us get our scenes and story right, and we evolved his style to be right for games.
How has the story evolved over time throughout development?
Game stories have to be able to be delivered quickly and clearly, and they need to take into account the physicality of the actions the player is performing. So over time, we kept making the story more streamlined, more elemental. We also tried to make it integral to the action, not just movies that play in between levels.
How does that game handle choice in single-player mode?
We want the choices in our game to be constant, and always valid. So there’s not a huge binary system of good and bad, or long conversation trees. Its more that situations are approachable in different ways, and the ways those encounters go are fluid. We have very, very few moments where a mission fails, because the player doesn’t know what they’re “supposed” to do.
Can you talk about the color palate in Battlefield Hardline, and how your team decided to go in that direction?
We’re constantly adjusting color in the game to support gameplay and mood. To pull out all the color and make it all brown or grey takes away one of our best tools. We also want different places to feel different, and color is part of that conversation.
How does that compare to the look and feel of previous Battlefield titles?
Battlefield has traditionally has taken a digital documentary look, with specific color management. We’re going for an analog TV show look, with more theatrical and deliberate lighting. We want to maintain the series’ tradition of high detail, while bringing a different feeling to the look.
How are you working to ensure that the look and feel of Hardline is an immersive world?
There are million things to consider to achieve that. Really being consistent, using reference, and getting the details right. Then it’s going beyond to get the world alive with motion and sound, and providing the sort of huge scope that Battlefield is known for.
For more on Battlefield Hardline's single-player campaign and the newly revealed campaign mechanics, head over to the Battlefield site.
Stay in the conversation of all things EA: Read our blog, Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.Before I tell you about the call I received from the MLB Fan Cave today, let me once again thank everyone as much as the interwebs will allow for the unrelenting support from you all over the past couple months. The voting, sharing, reading, tip-giving and every other -ing verb you all took part in has been incredible to say the least.
Whether you are a loving member of my immediate family or fellow baseball fan tweeting from Oklahoma, I really wish I could thank every single one of you in person.
Alas, that is not possible. So please accept this blog as my metaphorical high-five/thank you hug combination. Anyway, down to business:
I regret to inform you (eh, too cliché) On a dark and stormy night (NO.) Bad news bears, people. The MLB Fan Cave discovered that I was ingesting performance-enhancing substances (mostly cookies and beer), over the course of this campaign and promptly disqualified me.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
But the truth is, the powers that be at the Fan Cave have officially chosen their nine representatives for this season (whose names I will NOT reveal no matter how much you bribe me, as I do not want my new friends getting in trouble before they even touch down in New York), and my name is not among them.
I’ll answer your first question right quick — yes, of course I’m disappointed. I was, still am, and always will be very confident in my abilities to rock a contest like this. Just like the other final 29, I thought I was going to get the “good” call this week. I’ve spent countless hours, days, weeks and months on my parents’ couch watching, analyzing, writing about, and loving baseball for as long as I can remember. And I think I do it better than most.
That being said, the talent in this competition was unbelievable. It’s a tough gig to get, especially when you’re squaring off with so many others who possess equal, if not better, blogging, creative, and social media expertise. So I’m proud of the nine who will be advancing (stay tuned to MLBFanCave.com for the announcement about a week from today), and the 20 other finalists who received bad news.
Just like last year, I’ve made some unbreakable friendships through this process and experienced amazing moments with these men and women. We will all stay in touch and continue to bond via Facebook, Twitter, and fantasy sports through our love for baseball.
Now, enough of the sappy stuff. Let’s talk about me.
But, seriously. Let’s talk about me. No matter where I’m watching my Dodgers play this season, the passion won’t subside. You will still be spammed by endless Bleacher Report links (how many of you just blocked me on Facebook?) and be expected to defend me if I come to blows in the bleachers at AT&T Park this summer.
I have no idea yet if I’ll be re-applying for the Fan Cave in 2014. That’s like asking me if I’ll get back together with __________ (insert name of ex-girlfriend here) two hours after we broke up! It’s too fresh.
Plus, next year marks my 25th birthday, meaning I will have spent the majority of a quarter-century with a baseball for a brain. That’s scary. If it doesn’t work out again, is it time to hang up the jock strap, spit out the Big League Chew, and go travel the world or write a book or skinny dip in piranha-infested waters (I didn’t have a real third one…forgive my modest life goals)? Maybe.
But I’ll tell you this much — I still have more to give to this contest. I know I have a spot in the baseball workin’ world. I have no doubt that I am a living, breathing specimen for the purpose of watching baseball all summer, writing “top-10 nut shot” lists, and filming song parodies about Mike Trout.
And I know I can do better. That’s not necessarily an admission of regret; just an acknowledgement of room for improvement in certain aspects of my performance in Arizona.
If I do re-apply, you’ll know. But let’s just all take a break for one glorious baseball season, huh?
Now back to you lovely people. I honestly could not have gotten this far without your support, and thank you again for everything. My family and friends who cheered, voted and shared all my links. My #DodgerFam on Twitter and r/Dodgers thread on Reddit. Anyone who hosted me on their podcast or wrote about me on a blog. My uber-fan brethren on Three Up, Three Down. All the A-list actors, directors and choreographers who helped film all that ridiculous, goofy content I put together along the way. And again, the rest of the country’s most dedicated fans.
Even though I didn’t make it, I can’t be too upset. Not only are they making a Veronica Mars mov–uh, sorry. What I meant to write is, how else would I have ever met the kindest, cuddliest baseball fan of all time, @SuperFanPete, for example? Or the pro’s pro, @SamDingman? I mean…for god’s sake, I never would have known the happiest, giggliest Yankees fan ever, @Stephelovee, existed!
I love you all. Thanks for helping me along the way and for following along with the journey. I’ll never forget it. Please continue to follow my blogs and all my sports writing. It is what I love to do, and each read or comment or “like” is akin to finding an Easter egg full of candy and puppies. I seriously mean that.
So no matter if I’ve met you in person before, keep chatting me up about the greatest sport in the world (Or anything else. I do also accept the following conversation topics: Russian gymnasts, Vin Diesel quotes, and this commercial.). Heck, let’s go to a game together and revel in the glory ourselves! If I’m lucky, you’ll even buy me a beer!
What? I’m an unpaid intern. Cut me some slack.
Peace, Dodgers, and bunting forever,
Jeremy
Advertisements
Tags: announced, announcement, final, Jeremy Dorn, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB Fan Cave, New York City, Top 30, top 9, Twitter, World Baseball ClassicConservative Republican Roy Moore leads liberal Democrat Doug Jones by seven points in the Alabama U.S. Senate special election that will be held next Tuesday, 50 percent to 43 percent.
There were four percent undecided and three percent for write-in candidate Lee Busby, according to a new Raycom News Network/Strategy Research Poll of likely voters released on Tuesday.
“The statewide telephone poll of 3,200 was conducted Monday night between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.,” WBRC reported, making it the most recently conducted poll of the closely watched and hotly contested race:
Fifty-nine percent identified themselves as typically voting in the Republican primary and 33% identified themselves as typical Democrat primary voters. Eight percent considered themselves as independent or not typically voting in party primaries. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.
The party affiliation of those included in the poll’s sample closely mirrors actual recent voting behavior in Alabama, a state that Donald Trump won by 28 points over Hillary Clinton in 2016, 63 percent to 35 percent.
“The new poll suggests Moore has regained some support after a dip in a November 21st RNN poll that showed a statistical tie between Moore and Jones. The November 21st poll followed 12 days of controversy surrounding allegations that Moore had pursued some teenage girls either sexually or romantically in the late 1970’s when he was in his 30’s and working as an assistant prosecutor in Etowah County. Moore has denied the allegations,” WBRC reported, adding:
Among party lines, three of every four respondents (75%) who identified as typical Republican voters said they would vote for Moore. Twelve percent of Republican voters said they would vote for Jones if the election were held today. Eighty-seven percent of Democrats said they would vote for Jones. “We’re polling on a regular basis internally and it’s showing our lead to be about the same thing. It’s growing,” Moore campaign chairman Bill Armistead said in response to the poll results. The Jones campaign had not immediately provided a statement at the time this story was published.
“A lot of momentum coming in on Roy Moore’s side,” Strategy Research pollster Jon Gray told WBRC.
“I think we’re starting to see a change in the vote from a few weeks ago when Roy Moore was really losing Republicans across the board,” Gray concluded.
The current Real Clear Politics Average of Polls shows Roy Moore with a 2.3 point lead over Jones.Amir Meshal, a United States citizen born and raised in New Jersey, is a Muslim, who decided to visit Mogadishu, Somalia, in 2006, in order to “broaden his understanding of Islam after the country’s volatile political situation had largely stabilized.” Yet, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing him in a lawsuit, during Meshal’s trip in Somalia he was detained without due process and “harshly interrogated” by FBI agents.
The ACLU alleges that the FBI violated his Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights, engaged in illegal interrogation, illegal proxy detention, illegal rendition and torture. The organization will be in a court in Washington, DC, tomorrow to argue against a government motion to have the lawsuit dismissed.
The government argues that allowing the lawsuit to proceed “risks injecting” the court into “sensitive overseas national security and intelligence domains.” The “remedy” sought by Meshal “could impinge upon the Executive Branch’s ability to pursue cooperative arrangements with foreign governments aimed at protecting our nation from terrorist attack.
What the government is attempting to do is similar to prior cases involving alleged rendition or torture. In a lawsuit against Jeppesen DataPlan, Inc., a Boeing company subsidiary, the ACLU alleged the company had helped the CIA “forcibly disappear” five men, who were tortured, detained and interrogated. The US government invoked the state secrets privilege and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to hear further argument on the case.
On January 24, 2007, violence erupted in the country and Meshal fled Somalia with other civilians, according to the ACLU. Meshal was “apprehended in a joint US-Kenyan-Ethiopian operation along the Somalia-Kenya border.” He was then held for four months and three days and detained in three different countries. He was never charged with a crime, never given access to a lawyer and never brought before a judge.
More than thirty times, Meshal was interrogated. He was “threatened with torture, forced disappearance and other serious harm in order to coerce him to confess to wrongdoing in which he had not engaged and to associations that he did not have.” He returned home on May 27, 2007.
Two Supervising Special Agents of the FBI, Chris Higgenbotham and Steve Hersem, were allegedly responsible for Meshal’s detention, abuse and torture. They allegedly threatened him with the “infliction of severe physical and mental pain and suffering in the course of interrogations that took place” in Kenya. They allegedly did this to force Meshal to admit to having connections to al Qaeda or individuals connected.
The US government maintains that if this lawsuit is not thrown out it will “implicate” the US’s “relationships with governments in the Horn of Africa and their purported joint counter-terrorism operations to identify, apprehend, detain and question suspected terrorists in that region.” That is only if that coordination requires the torture and inhumane treatment of persons in order to fight terrorism.
According to journalist Jeremy Scahill, the CIA has an underground prison and a CIA base in Somalia. Terrorism suspects have been subjected to renditions and brought to the underground while governments have no knowledge of those suspects whereabouts. Somali intelligence agents are paid, advised and trained by the CIA to run the prison. They are denied due process and interrogated for days, even when they may not be who the CIA thinks they are.
This may be what the US government is worried will be disrupted. It worries this lawless and inhumane conduct will be jeopardized, since the CIA would suddenly have to take more care if they caught someone like Meshal, who happened to be a US citizen. (Note: Kenya has paid some damages to rendition victims, unlike the US government which refuses to give torture or rendition victims their day in court.)
Furthermore, the US government suggests that because agents or officials were involved the case cannot proceed because Meshal’s allegations require inquiry into the actions of Kenyan, Somalian and Ethiopian officials.
The upshot of the argument by the US government, the ACLU contends in a recent court filing, is that the court is “powerless to provide a remedy to a US citizen abroad for gross misconduct by federal law enforcement officers no matter how brutally those officers treated him or how long they locked him away in a secret jail, as long as they engaged foreign officials to shield their illegal conduct.”
“Meshal’s Fifth Amendment due process claim against interrogations involving threats of torture and forced disappearance does not challenge foreign conduct even though the interrogations occurred abroad,” the ACLU adds. “Likewise, his Fourth and Fifth Amendment claims against his four-plus months of secret, extrajudicial detention challenges only the actions of the FBI agents responsible, in whole or in part, for that detention.”
The FBI agents may have communicated and cooperated with foreign agents but that conduct is not being challenged in this case. The agents are also not being accused creating or implementing a policy of extraordinary rendition but rather are being accused of physically depriving Meshal of his liberty by detaining him secretly for over four months.
Oral argument already took place on the motion to dismiss on July 12, 2011, but on December 1, 2013, the court ordered further argument.
“The harsh treatment and mental anguish this man suffered should never be experienced by anyone, let alone an American citizen at the hands of his own government,” said Jonathan Hafetz, who is a cooperating attorney with the ACLU and will argue the case in court on December 11. “When an American’s constitutional rights are violated by law enforcement officials, courts must hold them accountable.”First planting, first look inside Amazon's 'Spheres'
Amazon's biospheres, "The Spheres" near completion in downtown Seattle, on Thursday, May 4, 2017. Amazon's biospheres, "The Spheres" near completion in downtown Seattle, on Thursday, May 4, 2017. Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 77 Caption Close First planting, first look inside Amazon's 'Spheres' 1 / 77 Back to Gallery
They aren't even finished yet and they're already becoming something of a landmark in Seattle.
And why shouldn't they be? A hulking structure of three steel-framed, glass-enclosed domes called, simply, "The Spheres," isn't likely to be missed.
On Thursday, the domes got a ceremonial first planting of the 400-plus species of plants that will eventually reside inside the structures at Sixth Avenue and Lenora Street. But they won't house only plants.
RELATED: Amazon unveils new Seattle stores, grocery pickup service
The domes are to be a place "where Amazon employees can think and work differently," the company said in a news release handed out during a media preview inside The Spheres on Thursday.
"They are the result of innovative thinking about the character of the workplace and an extended conversation about what is typically missing from urban offices -- a direct link to nature," the company said.
RELATED: Amazon patents plans to parachute packages from drones
When they open in 2018, The Spheres will have space for about 800 people at any given time, but they will have no enclosed offices or conference rooms. Instead, it will be wide open across the five different levels.
Meanwhile, Seattleites can follow along on the Spheres' own Instagram account at @seattlespheres.
The Spheres are part of the growing new campus for the e-commerce behemoth in the Denny Triangle, with two towers already open in the last two years, another block under construction and yet another in planning stages.Alex Wong / Getty Images file Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, seen in October 2012.
Updated at 4:40 p.m. ET -- Just days after the Supreme Court announced it would take its first serious look at gay marriage, Justice Antonin Scalia was asked to defend his legal writings on homosexuality.
The Supreme Court justice was visiting Princeton University on Monday to discuss his latest book when a college freshman, who identifies as gay, asked Scalia about the comparison he has drawn between laws banning sodomy with those barring bestiality and murder.
“If we cannot have moral feelings against or objections to homosexuality, can we have it against anything?” Scalia said in response to the question, according to The Daily Princetonian. “I don’t think it’s necessary, but I think it’s effective.”
Scalia told Princeton student Duncan Hosie that he is not equating sodomy with bestiality or murder, but drawing parallels between the bans.
Scalia added dryly, “I’m surprised you weren’t persuaded,” the student newspaper reported.
Hosie's question -- which received a round of applause -- stemmed from a 2003 case, Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down a Texas anti-sodomy law. Scalia had dissented in the case; in his dissent, he makes a couple of comparisons to laws against bestiality and declares, "nowhere does the Court’s opinion declare that homosexual sodomy is a 'fundamental right.'"
Scalia, the longest-serving justice on the current court was at Princeton to promote his new book, “Reading Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts,” and to talk about the interpretation of, the Constitution. It was during a question-and-answer session that Hosie asked him about Lawrence v. Texas.
"It's a form of argument that I thought you would have known, which is called the'reduction to the absurd,'" Scalia told Hosie, of San Francisco, The Associated Press reported.
Reduction to the absurd, an English translation of the Latin term "reductio ad absurdum," is a form of logic in which one refutes an argument by showing that its inevitable consequences would be absurd.
Hosie later told NBC News he didn't feel persuaded by Scalia's response.
"I was very pleased that Scalia was polite with me. I thought he was respectful with me, so I appreciate that, however, I disagree with the substance of his answer," Hosie said.
"If you’re making an argument to convince people, you don’t want to alienate people, and that’s what Scalia did with his language. He didn’t just alienate liberals by comparing laws against gay sex to laws against murder and bestiality, he has alienated laws conservatives have condemned. It didn’t make sense to me," he added.
The Supreme Court will be reviewing California's ban on same-sex marriage and a federal law that defines marriage as only the legal union of a man and a woman in March, with a decision expected by late June.
Scalia has "not been opaque" about his feelings toward same-sex marriage in the past, and gay rights advocates do not expect him to change his mind when the Supreme Court hears the cases in the spring, said Fred Sainz, vice president of communications at Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights organization.
"It's safe to say he is a vote in the 'no' column," Sainz said. "He is not a justice that has an open mind towards these issues that are coming his way.”
Hosie said he hopes the exchange he had with Scalia, while it may not change the justice's mind, will at least change the fiery words he uses in the future.
"I feel as if he’s crossed a line in comparing some of the things he’s compared gay rights to... so hopefully this media coverage will encourage Justice Scalia to be more conscientious and careful in the words he uses," he said.
Scalia didn't discuss any issues related to specific cases during the Princeton Q&A, but defended his view that divining the original meaning of the Constitution is the best way to interpret it.
“The Constitution is not an organism; it’s a legal text, for Pete’s sake,” he said, reported The Daily Princetonian. “Unless you give [the laws] the meaning of those who enacted them, you’re destroying democracy.”
NBC News' Miranda Leitsinger contributed to this report.
More content from NBCNews.com:
Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and FacebookMy friends and I all went to Atlantic City a few weeks ago, and after dinner, we were hanging out at this one hotel, at night, they turn the whole pool area into this giant outdoor club. So it was pretty cool, it was early, but not too early, just early enough that there was still enough room to walk around, get a drink without having to elbow anybody out of the way.
Anyway, I planned this whole prank out way in advance. I told my buddy Steve, I said, “OK, so we’re going to throw Kenny in the pool. Cool?” And Steve’s always down for a dumb prank like that, always. In fact, I was doing everybody a favor by actually putting some thought into this. Because if things progressed naturally, Steve would have inevitably had one too many drinks, and he would have just gone for it, I’m telling you, somebody would have been thrown in that pool.
Which, don’t get me wrong, it’s a great joke, a classic |
solution to the war in Syria unless the international community stops funding opposition forces. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/1dq0tS5
— D.C. students pull off an awesome version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on the eve of Halloween. The Washington Post: http://wapo.st/1bD8gd2 (OK, maybe not defense related, but still worth a look!)
** United Technologies, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, UTC Aerospace Systems and many other familiar brands, has been named Most Admired Aerospace and Defense Company by Fortune magazine for 10 of the last 12 years. Our approach to recruiting and developing the best talent to solve some of the world’s most challenging problems has enabled us to redefine the marketplace — safely, ethically and responsibly. Find out more at http://www.utc.com **For those of you who don't follow us on twitter at https://twitter.com/SuperDojo or on our blogspot page http://superdojo.blogspot.com, I apologize for not updating this project. I kept things updated as much as possible via social media but failed to realize that some people do not frequent either site and should have updated things here as well. Once again, my apologies.
So for those of you unaware of our current status, our original location shut down just before the end of 2014. I have been working hard to bring the arcade to a new location and been in works with the City of Azusa for almost 2 months now. We will be having a city council public hearing on 6/24 that anyone can attend. This is the final step in obtaining the proper permits and licensing to move into this lovely city as our location has already been determined since the beginning of April.
As far as backer rewards, here is the current status. I decided to give everyone a custom button due to the lack of quality the tokens came in with. A backer plague has already been finished and will be displayed at our new location. Shirts are a whole different story as I honestly have not had to the time to sort through all the orders and place the proper sizing necessary. I am honestly a 1 man army, and though this is not an excuse, it is a reality. And as slow as things seem to be going, I am working on it all, but my main focus is reopening the arcade ASAP. I hope everyone understands and I will update you all again soon.
Sincerely,
Mike WatsonVisakhapatnam: Talks are underway with the Andhra Pradesh government to convert INS Viraat, the oldest aircraft carrier operated by the Indian Navy, into a luxury hotel-cum-museum after its decommissioning. The carrier is expected to berth on the coast in Visakhapatnam by mid-2017.
Addressing media persons onboard INS Shakti in Visakhapatnam ahead of Navy Day celebrations tomorrow, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice-Admiral HCS Bisht said Andhra Pradesh was the top contender for getting the majestic warship.
The Andhra Pradesh government had shown keen interest on getting INS Viraat to berth in Vizag for promotion of tourism once it is decommissioned and turning it into a ship museum, he said. “In a recent meeting with chief minister N.Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada, I discussed the modalities and financial feasibility to convert INS-Viraat into a museum-cum-star hotel," Bisht said.
People familiar with the matter said, the state government has drawn up plans to convert INS Viraat into a 500-room hotel. INS Viraat is likely to be decommissioned by end of 2016 or some time next year after 55 years of service, including 27 years with the Royal Navy (British Navy). It served as the flagship of Royal Navy’s task force during the Falkland Islands campaign in 1982 and was decommissioned from active duty in 1985. It was inducted into Indian Navy in 1987 after undergoing extensive refits.
Speaking about ongoing projects, the chief of ENC said that India’s first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant was still undergoing various sea trials and it would take more time for commissioning it into the Navy.
INS Arihant is capable of carrying nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, the class referred to as Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN). Arihant was launched on 26 July 2009 on the occasion of the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War) by former prime minister Manmohan Singh. Also, INS Arihant is to be the first of the expected five in the class of submarines designed and constructed as a part of the Indian Navy’s secretive Advanced Technology Vessel project, he said.
Regarding Navy Alternative Operational Base (NAOB) at Rambilli in Visakhapatnam which would be made the submarine headquarters, Bisht said land acquisition and resettlement issues were being finalised by the state government.The 'Mad Max: Fury Road' director also revealed the advice he received from Jack Nicholson ("Make them think you're crazy") during THR's interview series 'The Hollywood Masters.'
Mad Max: Fury Road director George Miller says he held a number of private conversations with Stanley Kubrick while making his 1995 movie Babe.
Miller had tried to enlist the Clockwork Orange filmmaker to help develop digital technology; after that, they became regular telephone pals and talked "about everything," he said on Jan. 29, as a guest in The Hollywood Reporter's ongoing interview series The Hollywood Masters.
"Every night, we'd sit and talk for a long, long time, and talk about the process, and I knew he was very, very intrigued about what could be happening," he continued. Among Kubrick's more interesting revelations: "He told me how he had readers who were reading for him that never knew it was [for] Stanley Kubrick. So if he heard of a novel, he would send it out to … housewives and barristers and all sorts of people. I said, 'How many people are doing this?' It was about 30 people."
Despite their many conversations, the two never met. "His daughter, who was pregnant, gave birth to a child a day or two before [the meeting]," said Miller. "And he had to go down to London."
Miller, an Oscar winner for the animated Happy Feet and a double nominee this year for producing and directing Fury Road, spoke to students at Loyola Marymount's School of Film and TV.
Asked about his plans for a Fury Road sequel, he said: "Because this got delayed so often, and we dug down deep into the backstory, Nick Lathouris and I have written two other stories. One is a full script. It doesn't have a title. And one of them we talked about in great detail and he wrote as a novella." First, he said, he wants to make "something small and quick."
He also discussed his less-than-happy experience on 1987's The Witches of Eastwick, which he tried to quit twice.
"Some of the producers were very chaotic in their thinking," he said. "It kind of got crazy. There was no purpose to [things]. The first mistake I made was, I sat down at a production meeting and they said, 'OK, where can we cut the budget?' And I said, 'Oh, I don't need a trailer.' I was always seen as being very polite. And they mistake politeness for weakness. That's what Jack [Nicholson] told me. He said, 'Be careful. They mistake your politeness for weakness.'"
Nicholson gave him another piece of advice. "He said, 'You've got to make them think you're a little bit crazy.'"
A full transcript follows.
STEPHEN GALLOWAY: I'm glad to see you wearing your Australian bomber jacket, which you take everywhere with you.
GEORGE MILLER: Well it's very strange. I'm one of those people who likes wearing the same thing all the time. And believe it or not, this jacket I wore every day on the set of Fury Road. [LAUGHTER] And the day will come when my family will say, "Pease, please, Dad, no more." And so I'll find something else to wear.
You change the underwear, I hope?
Yes, I do. [LAUGHS]
That's very reassuring … So it's 1945, World War II is just about to end, separating to some degree the first half of the 20th century from the second, the old world from the modern. And you're born in that year in Australia. Your parents are Greek immigrants. You grow up in a little town called Chinchilla. Let's talk about the past, because you're one of the most modern directors I can imagine. But I know nothing about your family's past. Who were they and how did they end up in Australia?
Wow. My dad left a Greek island called Kythira, right in the middle of the Mediterranean, and he was about 9 or 10. And there was so much of this in the very early 20th century. And he came to Australia. He said goodbye to his mother. Saw her for the last time when he was 9.
Wow.
Came with relations here, and worked. He had one year of schooling. He was a man obsessed with education, so — I have three brothers, and of course we all became doctors and one lawyer. So he came and made life in Australia. He went to a place right in the center of Australia, and I couldn't work out why he loved it so much. A very isolated, dry, flat [place], very hot in summer. And it wasn't till we went back to the Greek island in the height of summer that I recognized the same dried grass, the same intensity of light, the same sound of the cicadas, and so on. So he found a way of reproducing the life he had as a kid. My mom, however, came out when she was a baby. She'd been in Asia Minor when the Greeks were thrown out by the Turks. And their family came out, and so we grew up basically in remote, rural Australia, with my twin brother and I, and then later my younger brothers. And it was a very, very privileged childhood, because it was a childhood entirely spent in play. There was a Saturday matinee and there was no television. There was radio. We were on our horses in the bush, playing all the time, acting out all the stuff we'd see in the Saturday matinees.
Did you grow up thinking of yourself as Greek? Did you speak Greek?
Every year, we'd come down to Sydney where my grandmother was. And we learned baby Greek. So, you know, if I speak Greek, it's always like an infant's Greek. But I didn't, because there were no other Greek people in the area where we lived. I didn't grow up feeling Greek, part of Greek culture, but I realized that my father reproduced the kind of life he had in the islands, so that every Sunday, in particular, there was a table at lunch with 25 people. And they'd come from all over the countryside. And the great thing about those cultures is, they were multigenerational. There'd be the babies and the grandmothers and so on. But they're all Australian. They're all country folk from Australia. And it wasn't until later that I went back to the Greek island that he came from, when I realized that he was absolutely reproducing the life he always had, or the life he was longing for, actually. The other thing, I think, that might have influenced me unconsciously was that the Greeks are very steeped in storytelling.
Greek mythology influenced you enormously.
Yes. I work basically in that area. My films one way or the other are fables or mythological stories. And I really got onto the idea, like so many filmmakers, of Joseph Campbell, and really got to understand — not so much the hero myth, but just the way he tried to elucidate the purpose of us telling stories and the function of story and the function of mythology. It was familiar. It was something I naturally took to. I don't know whether there's a connection there.
Did you have a favorite Greek myth or character growing up?
There was The Odyssey. And I always, always loved that. But I love the notion that there were gods; there were hybrids between gods and men. Fallible gods. It was a pantheistic tradition, Greek, Roman, in many, many cultures. And what's really interesting to me is that the modern superhero myths are the latest incarnation of that. I find that really interesting.
You were going to direct a couple of them: Man of Steel 2, Justice League. What happened?
Justice League was the main one. That was, oh, seven years ago, I think. And there was a really great script. And Warners said, "Let's do it. Let's do a Justice League." I really was attracted to it. But there was a writers strike looming. We had to cast it very quickly, which we did with Warners' casting people. And we cast it really quickly and we mounted it very quickly. And it depended on a start date and it depended on some basic rebate legislation that had just got through a new Australian government. But it was just too big a decision for them to make in the time. And that fell through and the whole film fell through. We almost got there. And it wasn't to be. But that happens a lot, where films line up and the stars look like they're aligning and they didn't.
Which happened to Fury Road. For years.
It happened to Fury Road three times.
Which film most impacted you as a kid? When you were going to those Saturday matinees.
Did you say film or films?
If you want to name more than one, that's OK.
Well, it was the experience of the Saturday matinee. I don't know if they still have anything like that. [TO AUDIENCE:] Do you know what the Saturday matinee is? The Saturday matinee, there'd be the serials, which were ongoing serials, and then there were the cartoons. And it was like a smorgasbord. And there was often the A feature and the B feature. Usually a Western, or if it was a big film, it had an interval, like Hateful Eight. You've got to remember, that place out there was flat and often dusty and there was the heat haze, and so on. And then you'd go into these dream worlds. It was an extraordinary thing. And so that very experience was fantastic. And I remember in Australia, we used to have candy, which were called Jaffas, which were sort of hard sugar on the outside and chocolate on the inside. And people used to roll them down the wooden floors of the cinema and it was just one of the games we'd always play. [LAUGHS]
What a waste of good candy! We couldn't afford that in England.
It used to start with people, you know, spilling them and then people would just roll the candy down. It was a festival every weekend. And every kid would just turn up. But the movies — there were none that stuck in my mind, except I remember the movie The Thing, the Howard Hawks Thing. And some distributor, some really clever person, took a box in front of the cinema, just like one of those old pirate's chests. Painted it black. And wrote on it The Thing in white paint that was dripping a bit and put a big chain around it. And as kids, we'd leave school and we'd race down there and just stare at this box, obviously an empty box, and wonder, what was The Thing? And that's all it was. I mean, it sounds so simple. But we were just fascinated. And the town divided into two types of kids: those whose parents said, "Yeah, you can go and see The Thing." And those who said, "No, no, we don't think The Thing's for you." Anyway, my parents — we were a bit young, and my parents thought that we shouldn't go. My twin brother and I shouldn't go and see The Thing. But we snuck underneath the cinema and right underneath the screen at the back. And we listened to The Thing. And it was so illicit that it was the most exciting thing we could possibly do. And it was really, really interesting when I finally saw the movie. It was never as good as what we had [no picture].
My mother was a teacher, and she would teach night school occasionally, and then I would stay up and watch something on British TV called Play for Today. You've directed for the BBC, so you know. Didn't you do Vietnam for the BBC?
Yeah, we did.
I wasn't allowed to stay up beyond a certain hour. and I'd watch these unbelievable things written by Dennis Potter. But I could never watch the end, because I'd hear my mother's car coming home. So they retained a mystery. You've said that going to those movies was more inspiring than religion. Were you religious? Are you religious today?
What was the first part you said?
I said that with an English accent so it's hard to understand.
Yeah! [LAUGH] I've got an Australian ear.
Between the two of us we could pretend to talk, and they wouldn't know, you know? [LAUGHTER] You said it was more awe-inspiring than religion, and I wanted to know if you were religious then, and if you are now.
I was as a kid, because it was part of the culture. Because I first went to a Catholic school. And I was christened in the Greek Orthodox Church. I went to a Catholic school at first, then a public, non-religious school. Then the church we attended was Anglican. But as time went on, like so many people, I found my own way to be, I guess, spiritual. I have very strong sense of the interconnectedness of things. But there's no formal religious belief that I practice. But I do believe — and this again is from Joseph Campbell — when he was asked what's the best definition of mythology, he said: other people's religion. And it kind of makes sense, because there's something that compels us collectively as human beings to find meaning in the universe. I mean, we can't exist without that. And we do it through stories and narratives in order to explain the universe to ourselves. Or life to ourselves. And in all cultures across all time and space as humankind, we do that. We do that spontaneously. And I think that's the function of storytelling, and some stories are so compelling, they become mythologies and indeed religions.
I'm just fascinated to see Star Wars, because I remember seeing it when it was just Star Wars. And now it's become a modern mythology.
And not only that, I'm told that people get married as Jedi. [LAUGHTER] They do! The British.
Not British, I promise you. [LAUGHTER]
It's a census. When people are asked to put down their religion, they say Jedi. A certain percentage.
That's British humor. That's like when they say, "Satanic," you know, they don't mean it. Hopefully.
I'm sure a lot of it is humorous, but people see this as legitimate. They take it seriously.
Do you pray?
I have a kind of magical thinking thing that I do. But it's not to a specific entity, it's sort of to the cosmos, all the things that connect us in some way, and recognizing us as part of it. And one of the things I think is really important is that there's gratitude for life. I mean, any existence is a remarkable thing. The fact that any of us exist, whether unhappy or happy, is just literally a freak of nature.
How disappointed do you get when things are not working out? I mean, the film business especially, you know, things fall through. I remember once, I was talking to Anthony Minghella, and he'd spent two-and-a-half years just writing The English Patient. And the financing was all in place from Miramax and Fox. And he was in pre-production and one of them pulled out. And the film was over. It was gone. And then either Saul Zaentz came in with money or Miramax did and next thing you know he wins the Oscar for best director, best picture. But this picture was dead — and that happens. How crushed do you get?
Initially, when you prepare just one film, you put everything into it. It can be soul-crushing, because there's a compulsion to tell some sort of story. But as time goes on, you get a little wiser, and you find yourself working on a number of things. And you know that this is a part of the process, it's part of the ecology. That certain things align and it's work. But it's not everything. And so you learn after a while to become a lot wiser. There are a lot worse things that can happen to anybody in life than a film to fall down. But it's working up to it like an athlete. If you're an athlete, you're working up to a game, or a let's just say the Olympic Games and so on. And then suddenly, you're not going to play that game again. You're energizing every fiber of yourself towards it. So, I've been lucky enough that there are more films I want to make than there is time to do them. So there's always something to replace [the ones that don't work out].
Is there a dream film you haven't been able to make?
There's certainly films I want to make, but there's not one that I tried to get made that I haven't been able to make, no.
Who most influenced you as a filmmaker? Was it Kubrick? A Clockwork Orange was a big influence.
That was huge.
When did you see it?
Back when it came out. It was one of those movies that, once having seen it, for me, I can always remember almost every part of the movie, cut for cut. Particularly the first half, which I thought was so vivid. And that was the great thing about Stanley Kubrick. Somehow he was able to create images which, once seen, are never forgotten. They somehow sear themselves into the brain. And they're just uniquely his vision. And so whenever I watch something like Clockwork Orange, it's almost as though I don't need to watch it over and over, because I know every shot, every gesture, every bit of the music and so on. But the filmmakers that influence you, when I really became interested in cinema, it started with the silent filmmakers. I remember I first saw Buster Keaton, and I thought, "Wow, this guy really, really knows the potential of classic montage filmmaking." You've got composition, how one shot flows to the next, and understanding in those chase films and those action movies he made, understanding that it can only exist in cinema. It could never exist in theater or anywhere else. So they were the people who defined it. And then for me, you know, the greatest pioneer — not only because of the films he made, but because of the way he was able to articulate his process so succinctly — was Hitchcock. But there's so many of them.
You spoke to Kubrick at one point about pushing a digital initiative. Did you ever meet him?
Never met him. But we had lots and lots of conversations on the phone. And back when we were doing Babe, pre-digital, we didn't know how to make the pig speak. I knew that the story had to be done live-action, because it didn't lend itself to a kind of classic kinetic animation, cel animation. And there was a place called Newbury, you might know it.
Mm-hmm.
I think about 30 miles away from London. It was about 30 miles away from where Stanley Kubrick's house was. And there was a guy at Quantel, this company in Newbury. They were doing analog, but it was very, very high-vision stuff. Military, medical. And there was a guy there who was a kind of genius. Suddenly it occurred to me, my God, if you could get Stanley Kubrick and he together, they would push the technology, because Kubrick pushed lenses, he pushed cameras, he pushed everything. And if they could get together … And so every night while I was there, they invited us into this place, Quantel. And we were trying to figure out how to manipulate the 2D image to make it look like talking. I was definitely going down the wrong track, because it wasn't digital and would never have really worked well. It would have looked artificial, ultimately. Anyway, it was organized for Stanley to come to this place and see what was happening, because he was so interested in technology. And then his daughter, who was pregnant, gave birth to a child a day or two before he was to come. And he had to go down to London. And they never got together. And I don't know whether much would have happened because of that digital thing. I think that was happening elsewhere.
Did you talk to him on the phone then?
Oh endlessly. Every night.
Wow. About Babe?
About everything. I explained we're trying to make a pig talk. He was particularly caught up with the technology of not cutting on videotape. But he was one of those people who just kind of sucked in the world by conversations. Every night, we'd sit and talk for a long, long time and talk about the process and I knew he was very, very intrigued about what could be happening. Then of course, one of the fascinating things he told me about was how he had readers who were reading for him that never knew it was Stanley Kubrick. So if he heard of a novel, he would send it out to people. I think he did it through newspaper ads at the time. And he would send it out to people and ask for a kind of synopsis or a critique of the novel. And he would read those. And it was done anonymously. But he said there were housewives and there were barristers and all sorts of people doing that. And I thought, yeah, that's a really good way to open up the possibilities. Because otherwise, you're randomly looking [for material], walking through a bookstore or an airport.
Just imagine the reader who said, "Nah, The Shining, don't do this one. Ooh, made a mistake there." [LAUGHTER]
Well, they never knew. I thought that was very interesting. I said, "How many people are doing this?" Now if my memory serves me correctly, it was about 30 people.
Who do you turn to for advice? Your wife?
My wife and my friends and the people I work with. Mostly having conversations in my head. There's some gravitational pull towards stories, and a kind of confluence of all the things that you're processing in your life, and your interests in the world. My family think I'm a bit strange, but I can't read fiction. All my reading is non-fiction.
What do you read? What have you been reading recently?
Everything to do with science — though now I'm re-reading an absolutely wonderful book which is not on science. On Catherine the Great, by Robert Massie. He wrote a great book on Peter the Great, Catherine the Great. I knew nothing about Russian history. But it's so vivid, because she's an extraordinary woman.
Slept with a horse I think.
Well, I don't know that that's true at all. But she would sit two or three hours every morning, basically, writing down her recollection of all the meetings she had. So that really came alive.
Would you ever make a film about her?
No, not necessarily, but the world it created, the way she tried to stop the feudal system and failed — I mean, she was the emperor of Russia and she couldn't stop it. The reason I'm re-reading it is because some of the structure of Fury Road, where everybody is a commodity. That's exactly what happened in those days across the world. People were no different. I mean, there were advertisements where people would be selling wagons or weapons or crops and with them they would be selling beautiful descriptions of various people they owned, and their skills and so on. And some of them had whole opera companies that were basically people who were extremely talented. There's one a wonderful story where there was some great singer belonging to one of the Russian aristocrats, and this singer just rebelled. He performed with a chain and collar.
You think of yourself as a rebel?
In my head. Not necessarily in what I do. And to some degree in movies. But no. I wouldn't say that.
You went to medical school. You trained as a doctor. What kind of doctor would you have been?
I never really got to find out. But the thing I would have liked to have done was surgery, because I grew up, the kid in the country doing something with my hands. We were always making things, we were always painting and drawing, always. But I have a lot of friends who are great surgeons and that's just such a focused thing. I don't know whether I would have been a good surgeon. And I don't know which sort. I never got to find out. But I still have that curiosity. I think one of the big things that lead us all in life is a sense of inquiry. And I always find myself caught up in an area and that's really what got me to cinema. There was no sense of a career. There was always a sense of: what's going on here? The moment I had the opportunity to actually cut a little film, that was just the most —
Was that when you made a short with your brother at university?
Yes. Oh gosh, that was a long time ago and you know a lot. Just as I was sitting for my final exams, there was a competition to make a one-minute [film]. You had one hour to make a one-minute film in one room and it had to be cut in the camera. There was no sound. And I said to my brother, one of my brothers, not my twin brother, I said, "What are you going to do?" He said, "I'm thinking about it." I should have been studying for my exams, but I said, "Look, why don't you do something really simple, because it's going to be too difficult to do anything much more epic." And it was a very simple idea that was to be one minute. I think for about 56 seconds, it was a long tracking shot to a man standing against a wall with a long coat, long hair and a hat. And then he turns to the camera and there's a caption that comes in, like a cartoon caption, which is drawn on a bit of cardboard. And he says, "The thing that gets me about films is they're never real." And then he turns away and suddenly his head, his hat and hair fly into the air and the coat drops to the ground. And my brother simply got a balloon, put the wig on the hat on and burst the balloon. And he made the film. And the interesting thing about it is that it won this award to go to a film workshop, which he went to. And to cut a long story short, I felt, "I've got the summer before I start work as a doctor. I'd like to go to the workshop." And they made room for me because of just a pure coincidence: I had a little motorbike. I rode 900 miles on this tiny little motorbike. And the person doing the admissions, when she heard that I'd ridden 900 miles on this tiny, little a Honda 90 C.C, she said, "You came all the way on that bike to try to get into this film workshop?" And she said, "Look, I'll try to fit you in." And I did. And that's where I met Byron Kennedy, who became my filmmaking partner. And that's when I first got my hands on film. And to actually cut a simple film together was just so addictive, because the moment you bring the dimension of time into it, it's narrative. [You take] the two-dimensional image, which I was so used to drawing and painting, and then there's narrative, just that simple thing. And that was the trigger that really got me fascinated.
I want to show a clip from your first feature. Because one of the things I find fascinating is how defined your style was and how quickly. And if you look at a lot of the great directors — Hitchcock, John Ford, Ozu, whom I love — it actually takes a while. And one of the things that is regretful today is: you make a film, it doesn't work, goodbye. And yet you arrived almost full-born. There is an extraordinary progression in your work, which I want to talk about later. But first, let's show a clip from The Road Warrior.
[CLIP] [APPLAUSE]
Not bad for an amateur. [LAUGHTER] So here's what fascinates me. You seem very mellow and relaxed. Very pleasant company, I think, right? But you have there's this extraordinary, unbelievable, chaotic intensity in film. Where does it come from?
Ah gee, even my mother asked me that. She saw Fury Road and she said, "George, I sort of get Happy Feet." She said exactly that: "Where does it come from?" I guess it's a number of things. I think storytelling, and storytelling through cinema. I'm really, really interested in film language. And I like playing with the tools. Most of all it's the storytelling, [and] to the extent that they're kinetic or violent, they are moving pictures. I know that the very first Mad Max was processing the kind of experience I had in hospitals, working as a doctor.
Oh?
It's only recently I realized, you know, that I don't think I would have been the filmmaker that I am had I not had that experience as a doctor. Because as a doctor, you have a very privileged point of view. It's all about point of view. You can look at the world as an epidemiologist in the broadest sense, statistically, the statistics of disease. ou can look at a person as a junior doctor assisting an operation. You actually see inside of a person, inside their brain and so on. You can look down a microscope and see what their cells are doing and look at blood cells. And you're looking at people, and you're there at the moment of people in extremis, either badly hurt or in the extremes of life. So processing that, I think, seeped into the filmmaking. And it's only recently I began to realize that would be the case. But I just love the chase films.
It's more than a chase. There have been chase films since the silent era. But no one had done it in this way. It's almost like Jackson Pollock painting. It seems completely chaotic; but I was talking about your work with a friend of mine at The Hollywood Reporter who said, "But it's controlled chaos." An extraordinary control. Is it the control that you gravitate to or is it the chaos?
Oh I think it's the paradox between the two. I think all of life is a kind of paradox. If it's purely chaotic, it's just noise; and if it's purely controlled, it's dead. And you're trying to find the balance. I think that's all of human endeavor. We're trying to find meaning in the noise. We're trying to find the signal in the noise. There's so much noise coming at us and it's increasing in the world, and that I think is one of the functions of story. We're looking for some coherence. With Witches of Eastwick, that's one of the things that I learned from Jack Nicholson — who's incredible, you know: it was really incredible working with him way back because he's an incredibly wise man. And he understood that, like the athlete —I think that's why someone like him is so interested in sport. There's all this preparation and drilling and rigor, but in the moment of performance, whether you're a basketball player [or actor], you just surrender completely to the moment, to the impulse, to the abandon.
Do you as a filmmaker? Because you did 3,500 storyboards for Fury Road. At what point do you go, "Let's just get out there"?
The 3,500 storyboards are a fantastic document with which to produce a film that has very little dialogue, where everything is spatial. Where that vehicle is, where that character is, and so on, and what the intention of the shot is. But getting out there in the reality, you're not looking at the storyboards, you're looking at what's in front of you. What's in the camera lens as you're setting up the shot? So you have to let the storyboards go. It's surprising that they are the things that free you to respond to what's in front of you. And you're always making many mid-course corrections in everything you do, when you're making a movie. So it's not like throwing out the storyboards; this is better.
I find it interesting that you talk about paradox, because it's central to your work. There's control and there's chaos. There's the most extraordinarily avant-garde filmmaking and then you've got Saint-Saens music in Babe. Or Verdi. So have this opera playing against the most modern of work … You went from the Mad Maxes to Hollywood. You did Lorenzo's Oil, which surprised people, because it felt like a somewhat different director. You did Witches of Eastwick, which was not a happy experience. You quit the film twice. Why?
Because it was a chaotic production. I'm not even sure what happened. I'd had a really fantastic experience working on the Twilight Zone movie with Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall and Kathy Kennedy and a whole crew that had come off E.T. And it felt like very much at home. I thought, "Oh, this is Hollywood." You know, all these stories about Hollywood being chaotic [weren't true]. And I didn't pay enough attention — when I read this wonderful screenplay Witches of Eastwick — to the crew and how the film was to be made. I thought, "Oh, it's just going to be like working with Amblin and that whole cohort." And it wasn't. I didn't cast enough of the crew properly. There was some of the producers were very chaotic in their thinking. And, if it wasn't for Jack Nicholson — it kind of got crazy. There was no purpose to [things]. The first mistake I made was, I sat down at a production meeting and they said, like we always do in these production meetings, "OK, |
the most distant we can do with well-established, mature technology, and it's about the most distant where people have been finding objects successfully up to now."
Malhotra adds, "With this search, we've not only found one of the furthest galaxies known, but also the faintest confirmed at that distance. Up to now, the redshift 7 galaxies we know about are literally the top one percent of galaxies. What we're doing here is to start examining some of the fainter ones thing that may better represent the other 99 percent."
Resolving the details of objects that are far away is challenging, which is why images of distant young galaxies such as this one appear small, faint, and blurry.
"As time goes by, these small blobs which are forming stars, they'll dance around each other, merge with each other and form bigger and bigger galaxies. Somewhere halfway through the age of the universe they start looking like the galaxies we see today and not before. Why, how, when, where that happens is a fairly active area of research," explains Malhotra.
In addition to Hibon, Malhotra, and Rhoads, the paper's authors include Michael Cooper of the University of California at Irvine, and Benjamin Weiner of the University of Arizona.
Explore further: Spitzer and Hubble telescopes find rare galaxy at dawn of time(AFP) – Germany has pledged to spend 150 million euros ($189 million) helping migrants return home, the minister of development said in an interview published Friday.
The aid fund will benefit both failed asylum seekers and migrants who choose to return to their home countries.
“For the next three years, we will put aside 50 million euros a year for this return programme,” minister Gerd Mueller told Augsburger Allgemeine daily.
The funds will be made available to Iraqis, Afghans and migrants from the Balkans.
The aid will help those migrants “make a new start” in their home countries, Mueller said.
“We can offer them education, professional training, employment and social benefits.”
Since receiving 900,000 asylum requests in 2015, Germany has tightened up its borders and regulations for would be migrants.
Under pressure from her Christian Democratic Union party, Chancellor Angela Merkel has got tougher on immigration ahead of her bid to win a fourth term in next year’s elections, vowing never again to allow such a wave of arrivals from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
Her previous “open door” policy towards refugees has drawn increasing criticism, in part due to a number of high profile crimes committed by recently-arrived migrants.
Last week a teenage Afghan asylum seeker was arrested on suspicion of the rape and murder of a German student.
Last month, German police arrested seven Afghan asylum seekers on suspicion of repeatedly raping an Iranian teenager in a refugee camp.← Sidebar
A new Rasmussen poll highlights the divergence between left and right on perceptions of who’s persecuted. And just, wow. From the data, one gets the impression that it’s the allegedly cold-hearted right more alarmed about the plight of religious minorities in the infamously illiberal Muslim world. The left meanwhile is looking inward, at the condition of Muslims in America, and deciding it’s even worse than the condition of Christians in Egypt. Or Algeria. Or Iran. Or Pakistan.
Fifty-six percent (56%) of Democrats, however, believe most Muslims in this country are mistreated, a view shared by only 22% of Republicans and 39% of voters not affiliated with either major party. Fewer Democrats (47%) think most Christians are mistreated in the Islamic world, compared to 76% of GOP voters and 64% of unaffiliateds.
Of course, Pew Research Center among other outlets has long been documenting the general dearth of religious freedom in Muslim-majority countries, with nations like Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia routinely popping up on its lists of various illiberalisms around the globe. Add to that the observation via the Witherspoon Institute that “78 percent of Muslim-majority countries have high levels of government restrictions on religious practices, compared with 43 percent of all other countries and 10 percent of Christian countries.”
Muslims in the U.S. aren’t barred or restricted in their proselytization efforts by an explicitly Christian government, nor does the U.S. make conversion to Islam illegal. Muslims in the U.S. aren’t made to get special permission to repair or expand their mosques, and won’t face the crime of “contempt for Christianity” for disseminating material critical of or mocking the religion. In countless ways it’s not even remotely comparable, the situation of Muslims in the U.S. and Christians (and other assorted religious minorities including Jews, barely) in the Muslim world.
So why the perception otherwise on the left? Apart from the same ideological makeup of progressives that give us celebrations of the hijab and even (a somewhat amended, supposedly) sharia law by the left’s rising stars, there’s simple saliency. Christian persecution is going on over there, Muslim persecution in the U.S., to the degree it exists, is happening over here, and the American media is unsurprisingly focused on domestic matters. While true, the left has historically prided itself on looking outward too, not just inward, and resisted the urge to give in to American parochialism. “We are not the center of the universe,” “first world problems,” and so forth.
I reckon that with the identity politics of the left going into overdrive upon repugnant old white man Donald Trump, er, grabbing the Oval Office, the left’s global orientation is being jettisoned for a crude anything-that-makes-traditional-America-squirm stance. If they’re into it – documenting the unending travesty of justice occurring in the Muslim world – then we’re out of it. Concomitant with this approach is an unfortunate head-in-the-sand attitude regarding a certain religion that leaves liberals, classical and otherwise, very frustrated.
Christianity · Islam · pew · Rasmussen
Comments are closed.
<< Pope Francis and Venezuela: Throwing Another Tyranny a Lifeline
The Slippery Slope? >>Fuad Hussein, the chief of staff to the Kurdish presidency, meets with US President Donald J. Trump at the White House on March 21. Photo: KRG-US
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurds have the right to self-determination as a right endorsed by the United Nations and as a people who have their land, language, culture, history and identity, says Chief of Staff of the Kurdish president Fuad Hussein, and that’s why President Masoud Barzani has suggested September 25 as the day of referendum.
All Kurdish rights have been trampled historically and their demand for freedom and democracy answered with iron and fire, argued Hussein, and they have been subjected to genocide and deportation.
The chief of staff quoted Barzani as saying that the Kurds gave Iraq a chance for democracy, pluralism, a constitution that would guarantee all people’s rights, and a voluntary union after the liberation of Iraq in 2003.
Yet years later Iraq is still violating the constitution and the most important pillars of federalism, which is revenue-sharing and border demarcation, are being ignored. In addition to that Kurdistan Region’s budget has been frozen and Article 140 not implemented.
Hussein cited the preface of the Iraqi constitution that says abiding by the charter will protect Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its violation would lead to disintegration.
Hussein said that Barzani’s decree stipulates that due to years of the violation of the constitution and the rights of the people of Kurdistan, political parties decided to confer with people in order to decide their own future by themselves.
Meetings have also taken place with the election commission about the mechanism and measures to be taken for holding the referendum in September, said Hussein.
Two seats on the commission have been reserved for Change Movement (Gorran) and Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal), who did not attend the June 7 meeting. They have until Monday to appoint their respective representatives for seats on the commission.
Hussein says Kurds in diaspora will also be able to participate in the vote.
According to a previous statement this week from the Kurdish presidency, the elections for the presidency and parliament in the Kurdistan Region are going to take place on time on November 6.City officials have a message for the federal government and President-elect Donald Trump: Pay up and get out.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has penned a letter to President Barack Obama’s administration requesting $35 million in federal reimbursements for the NYPD’s role in securing the area around Trump Tower between Nov. 8 and Jan. 20 — the span between Election Day and Inauguration Day.
He said he believes this sum will cover the entire cost of the extra security for that period. That equates to just north of $450,000 being spent on security each day.
“Last month was the first time we had NYPD taking such a crucial role and huge role in providing security around Trump Tower,” de Blasio said at a Monday morning crime briefing with Police Commissioner James O’Neill at the First Precinct.
Noting the feds’ financial support of last year’s papal visit, which drew about 6,000 police officers and more than 1,000 police vehicles, de Blasio said at the briefing that he was “hopeful” that the administration would be responsive.
Melania Trump has expressed the desire to continue living in the family’s penthouse apartment in the tower after Trump assumes office. Trump himself has said that he’d like to return to the city on weekends, which the mayor fears will sap an “extraordinary amount of resources.”
“It is a high-density neighborhood and street traffic easily obstructs pathways to and from the building, making it profoundly challenging for the NYPD to establish a secure perimeter,” read the letter to Obama, signed by de Blasio as well as Melissa Mark-Viverito, the speaker of the City Council.
Get Breaking News emails The latest about your city, as it happens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.
De Blasio and Mark-Viverito also wrote to Congress Monday requesting financial support for presidential security after Trump’s inauguration. O’Neill said the NYPD was “still in talks with the Secret Service” about a post-inaugural plan and Melania Trump’s potential plan to stay in New York.
About a half-hour after de Blasio’s remarks, the head of the City Council’s Transportation Committee stood in front of Trump Tower on 56th Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, to call on Trump’s transition team to relocate its headquarters from the building, citing traffic congestion concerns.
The councilman, Ydanis Rodriguez, said the security around the Trump transition team and their high-profile visitors has turned midtown traffic into “a parking lot” and is jeopardizing the commutes of drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
“It would be an excellent sign of goodwill if our president-elect, instead of tying up the movement of goods and people, decides to be part of the solution,” Rodriguez said.
Trump’s transition team did not respond for a request to comment.
Rodriguez’s news conference was one of three that were being staged across from the tower Monday morning, smack in the middle of a dedicated bus lane. Jill Stein was there in the lane as well as a group of broadcasters with their cameras trained on the tower’s entrance.
“We’re standing in a bus lane that’s very important for New Yorkers,” Rodriguez said. “The activities on this block have put a number of roadblocks in New Yorkers’ commutes.”
O’Neill described 57th Street and Fifth Avenue as “obviously one of the busiest intersections in the city.”
Around the tower, police officers were either standing watch, shifting barricades or continually drawing and withdrawing police tape at crosswalks to manage pedestrians’ rights of way. Tourists slowing to take photos of the tower were asked to keep it moving.
Rodriguez cheekily suggested for Trump’s team to relocate south. “I hear Florida is a great way to escape the cold weather heading our way,” he said.
De Blasio said that he believes congestion has been exacerbated by the holiday shoppers at the nearby high-end retailers. He conceded that the decision to stay in New York is up to Trump.
“He’s the president-elect of the United States of America. I didn’t vote for him, I don’t agree with him, but he’s the president-elect and he has to do what he thinks will allow him to put together the team to govern the nation and I don’t want to second-guess him as to which location is best to do that,” he said. “Obviously, if it’s a jump ball, I’d say go to that beautiful golf course in New Jersey.”New York Mets infielder Daniel Murphy left Thursday night’s game in the third inning after feeling tightness in his left quadriceps.
On Friday, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left quad strain. Danny Muno was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to replace him on the roster.
With third baseman David Wright sidelined indefinitely due to a back injury, Mets manager Terry Collins realigned his infield against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He moved Murphy from second base to third and shifted Ruben Tejada from third back to a more natural spot at second.
Murphy doubled in the first inning and grounded out in the third, but stayed in the dugout for the bottom half of the inning. He was replaced by Eric Campbell.
“Getting down the line, I felt it tighten up,” he said after the 6-2 win. “That’s about all I felt.”
Murphy is hitting.283 with four homers and 29 RBIs.
“It is frustrating,” Murphy said. “But we’re not the only team in the big leagues dealing with injuries right now.”
Collins — whose lineup has been missing Wright and starting catcher Travis d’Arnaud — said after the game that the team would review Murphy’s MRI on Friday.
“If he is going to be out, if he is going to be on the DL, then you’re on the DL for two weeks,” Collins said on Thursday. “It’s pretty basic.”
It appears Wilmer Flores won’t be part of any realignment, even with Murphy on the disabled list.
“He’s done fine,” Collins said of his shortstop. “That’s why I just want to leave him alone. The minute you move him, controversy starts. Then when you move him back, more controversy. We’re trying to play baseball here and stay away from the back page.”
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)Millwall vs. Cardiff City @ The Den. Friday, 9th February 2018 - 7:45pm KO.
Cardiff City's February away clash with Millwall has been moved after being selected as a Sky Sports Football live match.
This game will now take place on Friday, 9th February 2018, kicking off at 7.45pm.
Tickets will be on sale for this match in the coming weeks!
Don't forget - you can stay up-to-date with City's fixtures by syncing our full 2017/18 league fixture list directly to your mobile, tablet or desktop.
All you need to do is click here to automatically sync the fixture list directly with your calendar via Outlook, Apple, Google, Yahoo and more.
It's that simple - and all dates and times of the Bluebirds' league games will automatically update with any rearrangements.Story highlights Two former university officials will face trial in Penn State scandal
Mike McQueary testifies that he told university officials, not police, about alleged incident
Two officials are charged with perjury and failing to report the alleged 2002 sexual assault
The men's fates may hinge on what McQueary saw on March 1, 2002, and told others
A Pennsylvania judge ruled Friday that the perjury case against two former Penn State university officials will go to trial over their roles in a child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
Tim Curley, Penn State's former athletic director, and Gary Schultz, a university vice president who oversaw campus police, have been charged with perjury and failing to report an alleged 2002 sexual assault of a child.
The decision followed Friday's testimony of prosecutors' star witness in the case against Sandusky, who faces more than 50 counts involving sexual acts with 10 boys since 1994.
Mike McQueary testified that he told university officials that he saw Sandusky possibly sodomizing a boy in 2002, saying that what he saw was "extremely sexual in nature."
But during a court reading of Curley's earlier testimony, the former athletic director said he was not made aware of any sexual activity.
Curley, who after the alleged incident restricted Sandusky from using university property, said his decision was based on what was considered inappropriate but not sexual conduct.
He said he thought McQueary was just "uncomfortable with (Sandusky's) behavior and didn't think it was appropriate for Jerry to be in the showers with a young person."
But McQueary said, "There's no question in my mind that I conveyed to (university officials) that I saw Jerry with a boy in the shower and that it was severe sexual acts going on and that it was wrong and over the line."
Curley's attorney, Caroline Roberto, said after Friday's decision that McQueary continues to face credibility issues, while Schultz's attorney, Thomas Farrell, questioned why police were never alerted.
Sandusky, meanwhile, has pleaded not guilty to all charges while denying any sexual activity with his accusers. Regarding the 2002 incident in the showers, he has said that he and the boy were just "horsing around."
McQueary, a former Penn State quarterback, testified that he met with Curley and Schultz to inform them about the alleged incident about nine days after first alerting head coach Joe Paterno.
In a graphic description of the alleged events, McQueary testified that he walked into a locker room and heard someone in the shower.
JUST WATCHED Alleged Sandusky victim's attorney speaks Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Alleged Sandusky victim's attorney speaks 03:04
JUST WATCHED Sandusky lawyer: No plea discussion Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Sandusky lawyer: No plea discussion 09:05
JUST WATCHED Sandusky victim lawyer on waived hearing Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Sandusky victim lawyer on waived hearing 05:34
He said he heard rhythmic slapping sounds, like that of skin on skin.
"I looked in the mirror and shockingly and surprisingly saw Jerry with a boy in the shower," McQueary told the court.
He said Sandusky was behind the boy, and the boy was up against a wall. He said he believes Sandusky was sexually molesting the boy, but he did not see insertion and did not hear protests. He said he believes the two were engaged in intercourse, but he could not be sure.
"They were as close as they could be," he added.
McQueary then said he looked away for a few moments, and when he took a closer look, the two were standing apart.
"They had turned so their bodies were both facing me.... They looked directly in my eyes," he said. "Seeing that they were separated, I thought it was best that I leave the locker room."
He added that he felt "shocked" and "horrified" afterward.
"I was not thinking straight," he said, adding that he was "sure (the incident) was over" when he left.
But McQueary acknowledged he doesn't know what happened after leaving. He also testified that he never tried to find the boy.
McQueary, then a graduate assistant, said he called Paterno -- who was fired in the wake of the scandal -- the morning after, telling him that he "saw Jerry with a young boy in the shower, and it was extremely sexual in nature, and I thought I needed to tell him about it."
McQueary testified that the former head coach was "shocked" and "saddened" on hearing the allegation.
"He said, 'I need to think and tell some people about it.' "
But McQueary didn't meet with university officials to explain what he saw until more than a week after first informing Paterno, he testified.
As far as McQueary knew, Paterno also never tried to find the boy, McQueary said. He added that he couldn't be certain whether he ever used the word "intercourse" when describing the alleged incident to university officials.
He further testified that he did not alert police, saying that he instead told Curley and Schultz.
"In my mind, that is the police," McQueary said. "I want to make that clear."
When pressed about why he went to university officials and not police, McQueary said it was "because it was delicate in nature, and I tried to use my best judgment."
Sandusky, who was Penn State's defensive coordinator when he retired in 1998, met his accusers through a youth charity he founded, the Second Mile. According to prosecutors, he would hug, tickle and wrestle with the boys before allegedly crossing the line and sexually abusing them.
In November, the summary of a grand jury report was released, contending that Sandusky sexually abused the boys in the basement of his home, hotel rooms, a high school wrestling room and -- based on McQueary's account -- the locker room for Penn State's football team.
Sandusky waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Centre County, a two-hour drive from Harrisburg. From the courthouse's steps, his attorney, Joseph Amendola, took shots at McQueary's credibility during a long talk with reporters.
He suggested that had McQueary told Paterno, Curley and Schultz that he had seen Sandusky raping a boy in the showers, they would have done more than order him to stop bringing Second Mile children on campus.
"If we destroy McQueary's credibility, then we put the credibility of all others involved into question," Amendola said.
In its report, the grand jury found that McQueary was a credible witness after hearing all the testimony.
According to the grand jury report, McQueary testified that, as he walked into the locker room, he saw the lights were on and heard the showers running.
As he put his sneakers into his locker, McQueary looked into the shower and saw a naked boy, about 10, "with his hands up against the wall being subjected to anal sex by a naked Sandusky," the report said.
McQueary, an assistant football coach placed on administrative leave this fall amid the scandal, told the grand jury he was shocked, then noticed that Sandusky and the boy saw him. He left the building "distraught," according to the grand jury's report.
McQueary first reported what he saw to his father and told Paterno what he had seen the next day. The head coach himself testified to a grand jury that McQueary told him he saw Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature."
His father, John McQueary, testified Friday that he followed up with Schultz, who "knew about it and something was being done."
Asked whether McQueary reported seeing an act of sodomy, Curley responded, "Absolutely not," the grand jury reported.
Schultz testified that he recalled being told at a meeting that Sandusky "may have grabbed the boy's genitals while wrestling" and agreed it would be inappropriate sexual conduct between a man and a boy, the grand jury said. But he also testified that the allegations made were "not that serious" and that he and Curley "had no indication that a crime had occurred."
Neither man reported what he'd been told to local or campus police.
"The grand jury found that portions of the testimony provided by Curley and Schultz were not credible," the report said.
Curley, 57, is now on leave, and Schultz, 62, retired in the wake of the allegations. Days later, Penn State trustees ousted President Graham Spanier and Paterno amid criticism that they could and should have done more.
Prosecutors were out in force for Friday's hearing before Judge William Wenner. According to the state attorney general's office, Chief of Staff Bruce R. Beemer will lead the prosecution along with Frank Fina and E. Marc Costanzo, deputy attorneys general.IDEAS Sean Howell is the p resident of Hornet, the gay social network
Conservatives have begun tearing away at our nation’s fabric by introducing over 85 bills in 28 states that legalize discrimination against fellow citizens. The president’s recent executive order may not have explicitly allowed for discrimination against LGBTQ people, but under the guise of “religious freedoms,” these state-led bills allow private businesses and taxpayer-funded social organizations to discriminate against LGBTQ people. And while these bills target LGBTQ people, they also affect children awaiting adoption, businesses seeking highly qualified job candidates, unmarried couples seeking reproductive healthcare and average taxpayers who will bear the costs when state governments inevitably have their laws’ constitutionality challenged in court.
These bills do not protect religious beliefs — they merely sow hatred and division in our communities by undermining America’s most cherished civil liberties, namely that all people are created equal and that all Americans deserve equal rights and protections under the law, promises made by both the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. Thus, faith leaders and fellow Americans have come together by the millions to reject these bills and the prejudice that spawned them, stating in unison: “Hate is not an American value.”
Our founders knew that hatred can hide behind religion. George Washington himself said, “No one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution.”
The founders understood that hate is not an American value, and in accordance, Americans throughout history have opposed intolerance and oppression wherever it occurs, whether within our borders or in foreign lands. Whether it was abolishing slavery, defying fascism, or fighting for civil rights, Americans have fought on the front lines against discrimination in our states, cities and hometowns because hate is not an American value.
The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now
When bigotry has threatened our communities, we have formed powerful networks of community support — neighbors, strangers and loved ones uniting together to defend one another and challenge injustice. In the face of hatred, we bring compassion, conversation and care; when bigotry darkens our neighbors’ hearts and minds, we bring light, love and laughter. Together we have tried to build a world worth fighting for, one where everyone can live authentically and unafraid because hate is not an American value.
Hate doesn’t unite, it divides; it doesn’t foster understanding, it silences free expression; it isn’t open-minded, it has pre-chosen winners and losers. Hate has no respect for individuality, liberty or justice. It isn’t inclusive, isn’t creative, and isn’t brave. It cuts us off from our neighbors, our values and our own hearts. It’s the very opposite of fairness, equality and brotherhood — opposed to the very principles on which this country was founded, which is why we so strongly oppose it: Hate is not an American value.
Thus, we stand united against hate, persecution and inequality so that each citizen, regardless of their differences, has the chance to live, learn, experiment, express and grow and to help others do the same, because hate is not an American value.
Hate does not have a home here. It is not welcome in our communities. It will not live on our streets, prey upon our neighbors or poison minds in our schools or workplaces. It will find no sanctuary in our houses of worship, no privileged places in our public squares, nor friends in our halls of government. We do not tolerate hate in this town, not in this nation, nor in this country because hate is not an American value.
Contact us at editors@time.com.Election 2016: Labor to confirm small business tax breaks for new jobs
Updated
Labor will deliver its answer to the Government's "jobs and growth" election pitch today, using its campaign launch to announce a policy that provides a tax break for small businesses hiring new staff.
Key points: Businesses will get a $20,000 incentive to hire mums returning to work, older job seekers, under 25s
The policy is designed to create 30,000 new jobs
Labor says it will commit $400m to build Sydney's rail link
Businesses will get a $20,000 incentive to hire a mum returning to work, an older job seeker or someone under 25.
The scheme is also likely to be available to people who have taken time off work to care for a relative.
The policy is worth $257 million and designed to create 30,000 new jobs each year.
The Government has made a small business tax cut a major plank of its election platform, it has also promised to gradually extend the definition of a small business from a turnover of $2 million to $10 million.
Labor will also announce that it will back three major infrastructure projects in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne if it wins power.
It will commit $400 million towards building the rail link connecting Sydney's outer suburbs in the north west and south west, by the second Sydney airport.
Labor said that would allow the rail line to be built at the same time as the second airport is developed.
The Melbourne Metro Tunnel project will get $500 million, along with extra car parking at stations and bicycle facilities.
The party said it would put $800 million toward the Cross River Rail project in Brisbane — as long as its business case adds up and it successfully finalises negotiations with the State Government.
Labor's warning on Coalition privatisation plans
Labor Leader Bill Shorten will use a study of "reform" options within the Department of Human Services to warn the Government is still planning to privatise Medicare, despite the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull emphatically denying the accusations.
Mr Shorten said the document showed the Prime Minister had a "secret plan" to privatise services within Medicare and beyond.
"This shows that Malcolm Turnbull's plan to privatise Medicare is just the beginning," he said.
"This is the Liberals' hand-crafted blueprint for the privatisation of services, including Medicare."
Mr Turnbull has rejected Labor's advertising campaign that privatisation is on the cards, and yesterday went even further declaring "every element" of Medicare would remain in Government hands.
That is despite earlier consideration of privatising a string of Government payments.
The opposition has seized on a Productivity Commission issues paper focused on the Department of Human Services which was released earlier this month.
Labor is highlighting the terms of reference, specified by the Treasurer Scott Morrison in April, which state the inquiry will consider "private sector providers and overseas examples like the United States".
Further, it says the final report will set out findings from case studies and international experiences to identify which services within the "human services sector" are best suited to competition.
The preliminary and final reports from the study will not be released until after the election.
Topics: government-and-politics, political-parties, alp, federal-elections, small-business, australia
First postedTed Nugent thinks it’s time for more gun violence in America. According to the right-wing gun nut, liberals need to be shot in the face to rid the country of them. Speaking with Alex Jones, the two conservatives fed into each other’s fervor.
“I don’t care why he’s foaming at the mouth, I don’t care how he got rabies, he’s rabid, get rid of the damn dog,” Nugent said. “When Old Yeller brings us slippers, give him a biscuit; when he foams at the mouth, you shoot him between the eyes. Any questions? You got to do it. America, you got to cleanse this country. No, I’m not talking about shooting anybody. I’m talking about dealing with an outrageous condition that is painful and traumatic and frustrating, but if you don’t face the beast, you’re dead, and that’s what’s going on.”
“I don’t really care why Barack Obama is the enemy of America,” he said. “I don’t really care why Nancy Pelosi is a braindead, vicious freak. I don’t care how Sheila Jackson Lee is allowed to stay in power.”
Watch.Salutations, steadfast sojourners! Today’s featured fraternity focuses on a far-out friendship from a familiar funnybook! A premium pair of pals created by Stan The Man, himself!
And also Jack Kirby, but mixing that in with the alliteration feels kind of dirty. Anyway, today’s Brovember Spotlight shines ever-so-brightly upon…
The Thing and The Human Torch!
For just as long as there has been a Marvel universe, these two characters have been simultaneously watching one another’s back and busting one another’s balls. In Ben Grimm’s defense, Johnny is normally the antagonist in their less friendly moments. But when you’re a rockstar teenager with a super sexy power and you’re cooped up with a big orange mook 24/7, you might end up taking some cheap shots. And since Johnny was 16 at the time of their fantastic transformation, he’s that much less mature. You have to remember, this kid once grabbed a disoriented homeless man and burned all of the hair off of his face just for laughs… luckily, that hobo happened to be Namor so the FF were able to give it a positive spin in the press.
Despite being a teenage superhero, a hot rod enthusiast and a ladies’ man, Johnny still found time to tease the hell out of Ben. Perhaps the most notable, certainly the most enjoyable, instance of this comes from Marvel Fanfare #15, in a story by Barry Windsor Smith. This story tells the tale of a particularly trying day for Ben Grimm, throughout which he’s constantly experiencing an uncanny degree of bad luck. As shown above, there are clearly signs of foul play and when it all comes to a head he realizes it was all an elaborate April Fool’s Day prank by the Human Torch. Unfortunately, he was too busy planning the prankfest to double-check his day planner.
But it’s not always so one-sided. While Johnny has a lot of fun toying with Ben, he’s the subject of a bit of abuse, himself. You see, despite Ben Grimm’s rough and tumble attitude, he’s actually a fairly clever guy. Johnny, on the other hand, is sort of a dummy. So Ben can normally get a verbal jab in here or there, and therefore can let off some steam without actually murdering Johnny (a feat he could easily accomplish).
Ben and Johnny may often be at one another’s throat, but it’s all in good fun. When push comes to shove, they’re practically family and each would risk hislife to save the other. But, as so often happens in situations of Bromance, even the strongest friendship can be shaken when they both have eyes for the same woman. In this case, blind sculptress Alicia Masters. In the aftermath of the Secret Wars, Ben Grimm learned that on the alien planet Battleworld, he could change from his rocky form back to his human form at will. Since this was kind of a big deal to him, he elected to stay behind. The rest of the FF understood, and they brought She-Hulk in as a replacement for Aunt Petunia’s favorite nephew. Obviously, Ben’s on-again-off-again girlfriend Alicia was a bit upset. Thankfully, though, Johnny was there to comfort her. And he continued to comfort her for quite some time, even after the Thing returned to earth.
Yeah, the door ought to stop him.
As weird as it was, Ben was eventually okay with this “revolting development” and even acted as best man in Johnny’s wedding to Alicia. Thankfully, though, the Alicia that loved and married Johnny was actually a Skrull spy sent to get in close with the Fantastic Four. However, we can’t let that little detail spoil the fun of calling them Eskimo Brothers.
Since Ben is the forgiving sort, he remained close friends with Johnny all the while. Through the constant abuse, the rampant property damage, and even the brosharing incident these two have shared a Bromance for the ages.
All images and characters depicted are copyright of their respective owners. Please click on the “About Us” tab for our takedown policy.The Trudeau government has earmarked more than $100 million to compensate members of the military and other federal agencies whose careers were sidelined or ended due to their sexual orientation, The Canadian Press has learned.
The money will be paid out as part of a class-action lawsuit settlement to employees who were investigated, sanctioned and sometimes fired as part of the so-called gay purge.
An agreement in principle in the court action emerged Friday, just days before the government delivers a sweeping apology for discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community.
Details of the agreement must still be worked out by the parties and approved by the Federal Court, but it's expected that several thousand people will be eligible for the financial compensation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will deliver the apology — which is expected to surpass what other countries have done to make amends to LGBTQ people — in the House of Commons following question period on Tuesday.
Among apology-related initiatives, the government is putting $250,000 toward community projects to combat homophobia and provide support for people in crisis.
Application for expungement
In addition, it plans a commemoration in 2019 of the 50th anniversary of the federal decriminalization of homosexual acts.
The government also plans to table legislation Tuesday to expunge the criminal records of people convicted of consensual sexual activity with same-sex partners, whether in civilian or military courts.
The process will involve making an application for expungement and requests may be submitted on behalf of deceased people who were convicted.
The apology and associated efforts to recognize past wrongs will be genuinely historic, said Gary Kinsman, a sociology professor at Laurentian University and a leading scholar on the injustices for many years.
Gary Kinsman, a sociology professor at Laurentian University and a leading scholar on the injustices for many years, says an apology for the gay purge will be truly historic. (Kate Rutherford/CBC)
"It's also been an incredibly long time coming," said Kinsman, a spokesman for the We Demand an Apology Network, which includes people directly affected by the purge campaign as well as supporters and researchers.
"I'm very saddened by the fact that many of the people who really needed to be apologized to have passed away," Kinsman said in an interview.
'Should have happened decades ago'
"It should have happened decades ago, in my view."
The discriminatory policies that often ruined careers and lives had their roots in federal efforts that began as early as the 1940s to delve into the personal lives of people who were considered security risks.
There is no evidence of a gay or lesbian employee ever giving information to Soviet agents or another foreign power, Kinsman said. On the contrary, victims of the purge say the only ones who tried to blackmail them were the RCMP or military security, trying to el |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.