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the first seven years of his MLB career with the Brewers before signing with the Detroit Tigers in January 2012. In November 2013, he was traded to the Rangers, where he ended his playing career due to injury in 2016.
Fielder is a six-time All-Star. He holds the Brewers' team record for home runs in a season, and is the league's youngest player to hit 50 home runs in a season.[1] He became the first Brewer to win the Home Run Derby, defeating Nelson Cruz in the final round of the 2009 derby. He also won the 2012 derby, joining Ken Griffey, Jr. and Yoenis Céspedes as the only players to win more than one derby and becoming the first player to win the Derby as both an American League and a National League All-Star.[2]
On August 10, 2016, Fielder announced that he would be unable to continue his playing career after undergoing a second neck surgery in three years. He was released by the Rangers on October 4, 2017. He ended his career with 319 home runs, the same number as his father, Cecil Fielder. Prince and Cecil Fielder are also the only father-son combination to each hit 50 MLB home runs in a season.
Childhood [ edit ]
Fielder was born right-handed, but at a very young age was converted to being a left-handed hitter by his father, baseball player Cecil Fielder.[3] Fielder was a fixture around his father's teams' clubhouses growing up. He appeared with his father on MTV Rock N' Jock Softball.[4] When his father played for Detroit, Prince would sometimes come along for batting practice. Fielder hit a home run off Tigers third base coach Terry Francona into the upper deck of Tiger Stadium as a 12-year-old in 1996. [5]
Fielder attended Saint Edward's School in Vero Beach, Florida, for two years, where he played junior varsity baseball.[6] Fielder spent his first three years of high school playing at Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, Florida. He then transferred to Eau Gallie High School, located in the Eau Gallie neighborhood of Melbourne, to play baseball there his senior year (2002).[7] He hit.524 with 13 doubles, 10 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 47 runs in his senior year. He was named by Florida Today as the All-Space Coast Player of the Year in 2002.[8] Fielder committed to play college baseball for Arizona State.[9]
Professional career [ edit ]
Minor league baseball [ edit ]
The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Fielder in the first round, with the seventh overall selection, of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Brewers, and began his professional career in minor league baseball with the Ogden Raptors of the Rookie-level Pioneer League. He was promoted to the Beloit Snappers of the Class A Midwest League that season. Fielder spent the 2003 season with Beloit, and was promoted to the Huntsville Stars of the Class AA Southern League for the 2004 season.
Fielder began the 2005 season with the Nashville Sounds of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.
Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2011) [ edit ]
2005 [ edit ]
Fielder earned his first call-up to Major League Baseball on June 13, 2005. He served as the designated hitter for the Brewers during interleague play. With Lyle Overbay serving as the Brewers' regular first baseman, Fielder was sent back down to the Sounds after the end of interleague play. Fielder was again called up to the Majors on August 17, 2005, and went on to finish the season with the Brewers, where he was used as a pinch-hitter. He was the 6th-youngest player in the league.
On June 15, 2005, he collected his first major league hit, a double, off Hideo Nomo, and drove in his first big league run with his second hit of the night at Tampa Bay. Prince also hit his first homerun on June 25, 2005.
2006 [ edit ]
After the Brewers traded Overbay to the Toronto Blue Jays, Fielder became the Brewers' starting first baseman in 2006. He was an early favorite for National League Rookie of the Year.[citation needed]
Fielder did not get off to a great start in the 2006 regular season, going 0–9 with 7 strikeouts. In his twelfth at-bat, Fielder delivered a game-winning hit that drove home Geoff Jenkins for the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fielder was named the National League's Rookie of the Month for April. With his eighteenth home run of the year, Fielder broke the Brewers' rookie home run record previously held by Greg Vaughn.[citation needed]
Fielder led all major league rookies with twenty-eight homers in the 2006 season. On defense, he had the lowest zone rating among NL first basemen,.804.[10]
2007 [ edit ]
Fielder had a strong first half in 2007, earning a start at first base in the 2007 All-Star game over the previous two MVP winners, Ryan Howard (2006) and Albert Pujols (2005).
On August 13, 2007, Fielder was featured on a magazine cover for the first time when he was featured on the August 13, 2007, issue of ESPN The Magazine.[11]
On September 15, 2007, Fielder broke the Brewers franchise record for home runs in a season, hitting his forty-sixth in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. The record was previously jointly held by Richie Sexson (twice) and Gorman Thomas.
On September 25, Fielder became the youngest player ever to reach fifty home runs in a season, joining his estranged father in the exclusive club. Fielder has stated that he hopes to surpass his father's total of 51 home runs in a season (1990) as a way of exorcising the demons that have come with being the son of a prominent major leaguer. "A lot of people said that's the only reason I got drafted... I don't mind people comparing me to him but I'm a completely different player. One day I want people to mention my name and not have to mention his", Fielder has said. Earlier in the season, Cecil Fielder had told a magazine that it was his famous name that led to his son being such a highly touted prospect. The younger Fielder also saw his contention in the 2007 NL MVP race as a way of proving his father wrong, but gets little else from the rift but motivation saying, "You've got to look at who's saying it. Let's be honest. He's not really the brightest guy." [12]
Fielder ranked first in the National League in home runs (50) in his MVP-caliber 2007 season (and was, until the 2017 MLB season, the last player in the National League to hit 50 or more home runs in a single season, when Giancarlo Stanton hit 59 home runs), was second in slugging percentage to teammate Ryan Braun (.618), second in at bats per home run (11.5) and OPS (1.013), third in RBIs (119) and extra base hits (87), fourth in total bases (354) and hit by pitch (14), fifth in intentional walks (21) and sacrifice flies (8), seventh in runs (109) and times on base (269), and ninth in walks (90).
In 2007, he led all major league first basemen in errors, with fourteen, and was last among eligible major league first basemen in range factor (8.49).
Fielder earned the Milwaukee Brewers Team MVP award, the Player's Choice NL Outstanding Player award, 2007 Silver Slugger award, and was voted the National League's Hank Aaron Award winner.[13]
2008 [ edit ]
Unable to come up with an agreement for a long-term contract with the Brewers, Fielder and his agent, Scott Boras, signed a one-year, $670,000 deal with the Brewers. Fielder was quoted saying, "I'm not happy about it at all", showing his disappointment in not being able to reach an agreement with the club.[14]
On June 19, Fielder hit the second inside-the-park home run of his career, against the Toronto Blue Jays.
On August 4, Fielder and teammate Manny Parra got into a scuffle in the dugout during a game against the Cincinnati Reds in which Parra was the starting pitcher. They were having a brief conversation, which led to Parra throwing his jacket down and Fielder shoving him. Fielder had to be restrained by teammates Ray Durham, Dave Bush, J. J. Hardy, Ryan Braun, and pitching coach Mike Maddux. ESPN reported that night that the dispute was over Parra heading back to the clubhouse after being pulled from the game instead of staying in the dugout to watch the Brewers bat in the next inning. Baseball Tonight also reports the exchange was started when Parra told Fielder to "get off his fat ass and play defense." Manager Ned Yost said reporters asking questions about the incident was as rude as "going over to the neighbors' house after they've been fighting and asking about it."
On September 23, Fielder hit his second walk-off home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates, helping the Brewers keep pace with the New York Mets in the NL Wild Card race.
Fielder was named the National League Player of the Week for the week of September 15–21 after he batted.462, with 27 total bases, six doubles, 11 RBIs,.533 on-base percentage, and a 1.038 slugging percentage.[15]
Fielder ended the 2008 regular season with a.276 batting average, 34 home runs, 102 RBIs, 86 runs and 84 walks. The Brewers finished 90–72, earning the NL Wild Card on the final day of the regular season, their first postseason berth as a National League club and their first since losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1982 World Series. They faced the Philadelphia Phillies and were eliminated in four. Fielder hit the Brewers' only home run of the series, in Game 4.[16]
2009 [ edit ]
After the 2008 season, Fielder was seeking an $8 million salary in 2009, while the Brewers filed for $6 million. On January 23 the Brewers and Fielder avoided arbitration and finalized a two-year $18 million contract.[17]
Fielder hit his first career grand slam against Rafael Perez of the Cleveland Indians on June 15, 2009, at Progressive Field.[18]
Fielder was one of four NL first basemen who made the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, joining starter Albert Pujols and fellow reservists Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Howard. Fielder won the 2009 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby in St Louis. Fielder began the Derby with a Rickie Weeks bat, but quickly switched to one of Ryan Braun's because it was longer and gave him more plate coverage.[19] He made the finals with seventeen home runs after the first two rounds, eliminating local favorites Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard. He then beat former Brewers teammate Nelson Cruz with six homers in the final round. His twenty-three long balls tied for the sixth-most in the Derby's history.[20] He also hit the longest home run of the Derby at 503 feet.[21]
On August 4, Fielder was involved in an incident with Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Guillermo Mota. With two outs in the ninth inning, Mota hit Fielder with a pitch on the leg, apparently in retaliation for Mota's teammate Manny Ramirez being hit in the hand by Brewers pitcher Chris Smith. Mota was ejected. After the 17–4 Dodgers victory, Fielder went to the Dodgers clubhouse in an effort to confront Mota. The Dodgers security guards stopped Fielder from entering, though the incident was captured by a television crew. Both Mota and Fielder were fined by Major League Baseball for their roles in the incident.[22]
Fielder had a good September. While playing the San Francisco Giants on September 6, Fielder hit his third career walk-off home run in the 12th inning.[23] The Brewers' subsequent home plate celebration sparked a minor controversy due to its unusual style.[24][25][26] Then, on September 19, Fielder set the Brewers' single-season record for RBIs at 127, beating Cecil Cooper's 1983 record of 126.[27] He set this record during a game against the Houston Astros—the team Cooper was managing at the time. The record-breaking RBI was a sacrifice fly, scoring Mike Cameron. He finished the season with 141 RBIs, which surpassed his father's career high of 133 in 1991.
Fielder finished tied for first in the National League in RBIs with Ryan Howard, and second in home runs with 46. He is one of three players in Brewers franchise history to have 100 or more RBIs in three consecutive seasons, along with Richie Sexson (2001–03) and Ryan Braun (2008–10).[28]
2011 [ edit ]
On January 18, Fielder and the Brewers agreed on a one-year, $15.5 million contract.[29] Fielder was named MVP of the 82nd All Star Game, in which he hit a 3-run home run.[30]
Along with Fielder, Braun also hit 30 home runs on the season, marking the 4th time the duo each hit at least 30 home runs in a season. Only 6 other duos have done this in major league history.[31]
He became one of three Brewers who have had four 100-RBI seasons, along with Cecil Cooper and Braun.[32]
On September 27 in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Fielder went 3-for-3 with three home runs and a walk, and 5 RBIs. It was his first career three-home run game.[33]
In 2011, Fielder batted.299, led the National League in intentional walks (32, a Brewers record), was second in the league in home runs (38), and was third in slugging percentage (.566).[34] On defense, he led the majors in errors committed by a first baseman (15) and had the lowest fielding percentage of all first basemen (.990).[35][36] Through 2011, he had the second-highest career slugging percentage (.540) and OPS (.929) of any player in Brewers history, behind Braun, and was second in career home runs (230) to Robin Yount.[34]
He came in third in the voting for the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player Award, behind winner and teammate Ryan Braun and Matt Kemp.[37]
Detroit Tigers (2012–2013) [ edit ]
2012 [ edit ]
Fielder after winning his second Home Run Derby title in 2012
Following the 2011 World Series, Fielder became a free agent. On January 26, 2012, Fielder agreed to a nine-year, $214 million contract with the Detroit Tigers to play first base and bat clean-up in the Tigers batting order.[38] It was the largest contract in the history of the Detroit Tigers, surpassing Miguel Cabrera's contract of 8 years and $185.3 million. The Tigers acquired Fielder to replace the bat of an injured Victor Martinez, the everyday designated hitter in 2011. The acquisition of Fielder, who had only played first base in his career, required 2008–2011 first baseman Miguel Cabrera to move to third, which Cabrera was notably happy to do.
On April 5, 2012, Fielder made his debut with the Tigers[39] and singled in his first at bat.
Fielder hit his first two home runs as a Tiger on April 7, 2012, in a 10–0 victory over the Boston Red Sox. In his first season in the American League, he was voted to the 2012 All-Star team as a starter. It is his fourth All-Star appearance overall.[40] Fielder was also selected by American League captain, Robinson Canó, to participate in the 2012 Home Run Derby.[41]
On July 9, 2012, Fielder became the 2012 Home Run Derby champion, hitting 12 home runs in the third and final round over José Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays. This is Fielder's second win in the derby, his first coming in 2009. Fielder became the first participant to win for both the National and American League, and joined Ken Griffey, Jr. as the only two players to win multiple Derbies.[42]
Fielder finished the 2012 regular season with a career-best.313 batting average. He hit 30 home runs, giving him six straight seasons with at least 30 long balls, and drove in 108 runs for his fifth career 100-plus RBI season. He also had an on-base percentage of.412, his fourth straight season with an OBP above.400. He played in all 162 games for Detroit, his third such season in his career, and he led the American League in being hit by pitches (17). Some in the sports media have given Fielder at least partial credit for teammate Cabrera winning the Triple Crown of batting in 2012. With Fielder hitting behind him in the Tiger order, Cabrera's walks declined from 108 the previous season to just 66, giving him more opportunities to hit home runs and drive in runs.[43] Cabrera would later confirm in a June 2013 Sports Illustrated article: "You can see a difference. They pitch to me more...I see a lot of good pitches."[44]
The 2012 World Series was Fielder's first career trip to the World Series. He compiled only a.071 batting average (1-for-14) during the World Series as the Tigers were swept in four games at the hands of the San Francisco Giants. In Game 2 of the series, Fielder was hit on the shoulder by a pitch from Giant's starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner. After Delmon Young hit a double down the left field line, Prince attempted to score. However, a relay throw from Gregor Blanco to Marco Scutaro to Buster Posey tagged Fielder out as he was sliding home. This became the first ever 7-4-2 putout in a World Series.[citation needed]
2013 [ edit ]
Fielder was named AL Player of the Week for April 8–14. He hit.632 during the week (12-for-19) with 11 RBIs and 22 total bases.[45] He finished the month of April with a.301 batting average, 7 home runs, and 27 RBIs.[46] On July 1, Fielder was voted in as a reserve infielder in the AL player balloting for the 2013 Major League All-Star Game.[47] It was his fifth career All-Star selection. During the All-Star Game, he hit a lead-off triple in the ninth inning off of Jason Grilli, he did not score but the American League still won the game 3–0.
Fielder hit.279 during the 2013 regular season, and his 25 home runs was the lowest total in any of his eight full major league seasons until he hit only 23 in 2015. He did, however, drive in 106 runs, marking the sixth time he topped 100 in his career. Fielder also played all 162 games for the third straight season, and played in his 500th consecutive game on September 24.[48] This followed a 327-game streak that was broken in September 2010, when he played for the Brewers. (He missed one game due to severe flu symptoms.) By the end of the 2013 season, he had played in 831 of his last 832 regular season games.
Fielder batted.278 in the ALDS against Oakland, registering 5 hits and 0 RBIs. In the 2013 ALCS he declined further, registering a.182 average with only 4 hits and 0 RBIs.
Texas Rangers (2014–2017) [ edit ]
2014 [ edit ]
On November 20, 2013, Fielder was traded to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Ian Kinsler and $30 million.[49][50] In June 2014 Fielder underwent season ending neck surgery.[51] At the time of his mid-season departure, he was batting.247 with 3 home runs and 16 RBI in 42 games.[52] Fielder's then league-leading streak of 547 consecutive games started was ended.[53]
2015 [ edit ]
Nearly halfway through the season Fielder led the AL in batting average and was selected as a reserve designated hitter for the MLB All Star Game in Cincinnati. It was Fielder's sixth appearance in the All-Star Game and his fourth selection in five seasons.[54] He finished the 2015 season with a.305 batting average, 23 home runs, and 98 RBIs. He had to be very patient with his power, but he said "the way I'm hitting this year, I'm fine with it."
2016 [ edit ]
On April 29, 2016, in a game against the Los Angeles Angels in the bottom of the 6th inning, Fielder hit a sharp single through the shift to score Rougned Odor, making him and his father Cecil Fielder the 2nd father-son combo to both record 1,000 RBIs. On July 20, it was revealed that Fielder was diagnosed with C4-C5 herniations in his neck, putting his career in jeopardy.[55] In a press conference on August 10, Fielder announced that he would not be able to continue playing professional baseball due to his injuries.[56] In 89 games of 2016, Fielder finished his injury-shorted season with a.212 batting average, 16 doubles, 8 home runs, and 44 RBI.
2017 [ edit ]
On October 5, 2017, the Rangers released Fielder, citing financial considerations. Although Fielder was not completely retired at the point he was released, the Rangers decided to release him anyway.[57]
Personal life [ edit ]
Fielder was named after the musician Prince.[58] He married his wife Chanel in 2005 during the Triple-A All-Star break while playing for the Nashville Sounds. They have two children named Jadyn and Haven.[59] Fielder filed for divorce in May 2013. By March 2014, he and his wife had reconciled.[60]
Fielder has a tattoo on the left side of his neck that reads, "왕자", Korean for "Prince".[61]
At one time, it was widely publicized that Prince was a vegetarian[62] but he has since admitted that he lasted only about three months before giving it up.[63]
See also [ edit ]Vettel came second in Monaco behind team-mate Mark Webber
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel will race on a different chassis at next week's Turkish Grand Prix after a defect was found on the one he used in Monaco.
Vettel complained of handling problems during the Monaco race, where he came second, and a post-race inspection revealed an unspecified flaw.
Team boss Christian Horner said the change to a chassis used earlier in the season was a precautionary measure.
"We found the chassis had a minor defect," said Horner.
"It looks as if it is an issue that deteriorated during the race in Monaco."
Vettel, 22, is second in the drivers' championship behind Australian team-mate Mark Webber, who has won the last two grands prix, in Spain and Monaco, from pole position.
German Vettel is level on 78 points with Webber but the Australian leads by two to one on race wins.
Horner said the problem with the chassis was detected in the post-race inspection back at the factory and tallied with comments Vettel had made about his car's handling during the previous race.
Webber finished second to world champion Jenson Button in Turkey last year, with Vettel third.
The Red Bull drivers are favourites to win the title this year, with the team already leading the constructors' championship, 20 points ahead of Ferrari.ROME— Father Joseph Enkh-Baatar is faced with a great challenge: As of Sunday, he’s the first “native” priest of Mongolia, one of the world’s largest countries in terms of size, landlocked between Russia and China.
“I feel elated that after almost a fourth of a century of Church presence in non-Christian Mongolia, a miracle happens… the ordination of the first ever indigenous priest in the vast steppes. I share the excitement and joy of our few Christian Catholics,” said Bishop Wenceslao Padilla, who’s in charge of the tiny Catholic community in Mongolia.
Padilla, a Filipino, was part of the group of 3 missionaries who arrived in the country in 1992, after a dark period of communist rule during which all religious practices were suppressed.
His official title today is that of “Apostolic Prefect.” The Catholic community in the country’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, can’t be considered a diocese yet because, among other reasons, it’s too small and unable to support itself.
Born in semi-tropical Philippines, Padilla got used to cold winters during his first missionary post, in Taiwan, where he served for 15 years. His time there prepared him for what was waiting in Mongolia, where the Catholic population was non-existent, there was a predominant nomadic culture, and long and harsh winters, with temperatures reaching -20 degrees.
This missionary of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary helped establish the first Catholic parish in 1994, was present during the first baptisms in 1995, and was created bishop in 2003. It’s only fitting, therefore, that he’d be there to ordain the first Mongolian priest.
According to the Catholic Almanac, the Catholic population in the country today is estimated at 1,000 people, representing.04 percent of the total population of less than three million.
Padilla and those who arrived with him had a huge disadvantage: Starting a local Christian community, with no model or infrastructure, and, as is usually the case in these situations, insufficient resources. Yet where some see a challenge, others see an opportunity.
“The advantage is to be able to start with anything that one deems right to do,” Padilla told Crux.
“It gives a lot of freedom for creativity, without losing the essentials of what ought to be done basing oneself from the reality of the place and people,” he said. “Trying to adapt to people’s way of thought and doing things is an advantage.”
Even though he’s the first local priest, Enkh-Baatar won’t be alone in his ministry: Mongolia today has 20 priests and more than 50 nuns, who’ve come from 21 different countries and 12 congregations. Quite literally, the face of the Universal Church is present in this vast nation.
It’s precisely this that makes this first Mongolian priest so important. He can be a bridge between Catholicism and the local community, which has a rich and ancient culture that foreigners sometimes find hard to assimilate.
Civil authorities attended the ceremony, including the mayor of Ulaanbaatar and the governor, together with many non-Christians or non-baptized people who work closely with the church.
In addition to the 1,500 attendees, there were close to 100 priests from South Korea, which has strong missionary ties with the country. The papal representative to Korea and Mongolia, Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla (also a Filipino), and the archbishop of Daejeon, in South Korea, Lazarus YouHeung-sik, concelebrated.
Odds are, soon there will be other priestly ordinations following that of Enkh-Baatar, as there are three seminarians currently studying in Daejeon.
Ordained in the cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, the new priest will carry his ministry in the small Catholic community of Arvaiheer, where he’ll soon learn the names and faces of all the members of his congregation, if he hasn’t already: 21 people, according to Vatican Radio, are eagerly waiting for him.
The missionary work Padilla and the others have done has been slow but steady, always respectful of a country that, although guaranteeing freedom of religion, is wary of proselytism, and has literally no Christian tradition to speak of.
Before the long decades of Soviet rule, Mongolia had a strong Buddhist presence: in the 1920s, one-third of the male population were monks, and the country had over 700 temples.
Buddhist predominance continues, with 53 percent of the Mongolians identifying as such according to the 2010 census. But the Soviet ban on religion left its mark: almost 40 percent of the total population said they’re not religious, and just three percent are Muslims.
For this reason, interreligious dialogue has been a key element in missionary work.
“One of the first moves we made was to interact with some leaders of the prevailing religions present in Mongolia at that time of our inception, [such as] Buddhism,” Padilla said, recounting that in the first days of their arrival, they visited some temples and most importantly the highest leader of Buddhism.
“We declared from the very beginning that we are open to inter-faith and interreligious dialogue,” he said.Source: http://world-of-ru.livejournal.com/2947595.html
Warning, this post is VERY picture heavy
So, a couple of pictures were leaked by supertesters. First, Prokhorovka will be graphically reworked. The map now looks more war-torn, with smoke on the horizon, destroyed guns and such. This map is work in progress and Storm confirmed it will NOT appear in 8.11
Next map to be reworked will apparently be Himmelsdorf. It will be turned into a winter map it seems – the original poster actually mentions that recently, the Winter Mod was demonstrated at the developer meeting in Minsk and it seems Wargaming decided to “borrow” a few ideas…
Anyway, Storm confirmed that this map will exist in parallel with the “summer” Himmelsdorf, both will be in the map pool.
Erlenberg and Redshire were also changed, the hills are not as high apparently and Redshire encounter was reworked by moving the base…
And, finally – new map, Windstorm – this map will appear in 8.11Danielle Sinay @daniellesinay writer Mason Mercer @masonmercer videographer
Torraine Futurum, Ridgewood resident and self-proclaimed “Black Panther Barbie,” does it all. A model, artist, musician, or whatever title she decides to take on next, everything Torraine touches turns to gold — and with good reason. Torraine and her art are out of this world. In fact, when asked where she’s from, she says, “Not from this planet.” But she's exactly what this planet needs right now.
The young model, signed with No Agency, has already walked the NYFW Runway for Gypsy Sport, appeared in campaigns for Adidas, Urban Outfitters, and made an appearance in Carly Rae Jepson’s video for “Boy Problems.”
This January, Torraine wrote, produced, and released her full length album “Colonial” alongside Alex Freedom. Now just eight months later, we have already iconic singles "Key Party” and "Forest Hills.”
Quite like “Colonial,” Torraine penned and produced the tracks along with producer Wyatt Bertz, with whom she regularly records in their DIY basement studio in Brooklyn, aka Torraine’s second home.
The unconventional love songs are upbeat and high energy, but not in the typical party song sense. The songs feel urgent, containing no empty space — quite like everything Torraine does.
“I don’t want to waste any time,” she told Bushwick Daily. “Everything is grand. I live fully or not at all.”
Follow Torraine on Instagram, Soundcloud and Bandcamp.
Cover image courtesy of Torraine FuturumOn Friday, NASA announced that it will be soliciting ideas for its Asteroid Initiative, and will grant a total of six million dollars split between a maximum of 25 proposals. According to the press release, they are looking for “concept ideas for an alternate asteroid capture system, rendezvous sensor systems, secondary payloads, feasibility studies on adapting commercial spacecraft buses, and commercial and international partnership opportunities for the mission.” Proposals are due May 5 and winners will be announced July 1.
“We're in this sort of pre-formulation phase,” said Greg Williams, deputy associate administrator of NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. The goal right now, according to Williams, is “studying and gathering input, leading to a mission concept review that we'll have in early 2015, where we'll try and focus down to a specific concept, and then go develop and implement.”
The ultimate goal is to redirect the trajectory of an asteroid towards Earth, where it can be nudged into a secure lunar orbit. Once we've given the moon the ultimate gift—a moon of its very own—NASA will select a team of astronauts to crew the Orion spacecraft and the beefed-up SLS rocket, which will rendezvous with the space rock, and return samples of it to Earth. The deadline NASA has set for itself is 2025.
Asteroid capture missions are sure to be costly in the short term, but the long-term benefits are likely to far outweigh the initial seed money. As Motherboard's Jason Koebler reported earlier this week, prominent scientists have speculated that it will soon take the resources of three planets to satisfy the needs of the ever-waxing human population.
While NASA is interested in up close analysis of asteroids for purely scientific reasons, the real driver behind this initiative will probably be the development of mining technology. Asteroids are rich in materials like iron, nickel, and titanium, which could help stem the tide of resource consumption on Earth.
On top of that, some asteroids are packed with water, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, making them perfect candidates for potential deep space outposts—stepping stones that can be used to extend the human reach in our solar system. In this way, asteroid mines may not only augment our continued survival on Earth, but help us achieve a future beyond our weary planet.
An asteroid capture concept design via NASA.
Much like the recently announced Lunar CATALYST program, the Asteroid Initiative seems especially geared to the private sector. “If the commercial satellite developers or other spacecraft developers see an inexpensive way of using the bus architecture as a framework for developing an inexpensive or affordable way of doing the asteroid-redirect vehicle development, we would be very interested in that,” said James Reuther, deputy associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate.
Becoming the first corporation to help capture and study an asteroid would require a gargantuan initial investment. But forward-thinking companies will no doubt grasp that eventually, there will be attractive returns for paving this road. It will be interesting to see who will step up to the plate and partner with NASA in these early stages.
It bears mentioning that the dream of redirecting an asteroid into our planet's backyard is only one of two objectives set by NASA's Asteroid Initiative. The other has to do with brainstorming how to keep asteroids on a collision course away from the planet.
With the enormous advances in tracking NEOs, we are now able to see a little better in the dark, and the view is frightening. Close-calls are abundant, and the meteor that exploded over Cheylabinsk last year—which was undetected when it hit—is a reminder that these errant space rocks pose an urgent existential threat.
Asteroid capture missions are thus an obvious twofer when it comes to our continuing survival on the planet. Whether it's nudging them toward the Earth for resource mining or nudging them away for self-protection, we need the Asteroid Initiative. Let's hope NASA receives the cutting-edge proposals it has requested, and that in the future, we'll see more than six million pledged to this crucial field.18 months ago, we’ve introduced Project CARS API functionality to our WMD community, allowing our members to create all sorts of third-party apps for our upcoming title.
As usual, our highly-talented WMD community has come through in spectacular fashion as a large selection of highly-innovative apps for a variety of platforms and devices will be available once Project CARS launches next March!
Whether you’re looking for second-screen functionality on a mobile device, a professional-grade telemetry tool to improve your lap times or something to expand Project CARS’ hardware compatibility, our community-made apps will have you covered!
You can find a list of some of the most promising apps on the Project CARS website. The list of available community apps will continue to grow in the months to come as several promising new apps are being created as we speak!
Project CARS will be coming to the Playstation 4, Xbox One & PC, starting mid-May.
You want to be among the first to play Project CARS next May? Click here to pre-purchase the Digital Edition on Steam. And if you’re looking for a boxed copy, head over to our pre-order website!
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SAN FRANCISCO — Small cracks have appeared in a new concrete spillway at Oroville Dam, a development state officials say was expected but an engineering expert says could lead to serious safety issues.
In a previously undisclosed October letter, federal regulators asked Department of Water Resources officials to explain the hairline cracks on the dam’s new massive concrete flood-control chute, KQED radio of San Francisco reported Tuesday.
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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also asked water officials what, if any, steps might be required to address the issue.
In February, authorities ordered nearly 200,000 people downstream of the dam to evacuate when both spillways suddenly began crumbling. The feared uncontrolled releases of water over the dam did not occur, and authorities allowed residents to return to their homes within days.
State officials say emergency and subsequent repairs of the 770-foot dam have so far cost at least $640 million but not all costs have been identified yet.
WATCH: How the repairs at Oroville Dam are constructed. CLICK HERE if you are having trouble viewing the video and photos on your |
the best choices for the State of California.”
Lawmakers in a few states have discussed withdrawing from Medicaid, although Texas officials recently concluded that the loss of federal matching dollars would make it impractical. In at least one state, Minnesota, officials are expanding Medicaid eligibility to some childless adults before 2014, largely to win federal dollars for coverage that was being provided by the state.
Arizona’s waiver request will be a test of the new health care law’s flexibility, and of the White House’s disposition. Other states are watching. Twenty-nine Republican governors wrote Mr. Obama and Congressional leaders this month to urge repeal of the prohibition, which they called “unconscionable.”
Jessica Santillo, a spokeswoman for the federal Department of Health and Human Services, said the agency would not comment on Arizona’s pending request or the administration’s approach to waivers. “We want to continue our close partnership with the states and our nation’s governors,” she said.
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Arizona is asking to remove 250,000 childless adults and 30,000 parents from Medicaid. They were granted eligibility by a 2000 referendum that made Arizona one of the few states to cover low-income childless adults.
The expansion was financed with proceeds from cigarette taxes and a tobacco lawsuit, but that money became insufficient in 2004. The state’s general fund has been making up the difference ever since. Eliminating the coverage would save $541 million, closing nearly half of the budget gap for the coming year.
In her letter to Ms. Sebelius, Ms. Brewer noted that Medicaid consumed 30 percent of her state’s general fund, up from 17 percent in 2007. And she emphasized that Arizona’s coverage was more generous than that in most states, a pointed reference to Kansas, where Ms. Sebelius was governor until two years ago.37029569 story
First time accepted submitter Texaskilt writes "I am looking to put together a mobile mesh network for my volunteer fire department and would like some recommendations from the Slashdot crowd. Ideally, the network would consist of cheap wireless routers (Linksys WRT-type) mounted on each vehicle. From there, tablets or other wireless devices could connect to the router. When the vehicles are in the station, the routers would auto-connect to the WiFi network to receive calls for service and other updates. When out on a call, the router would form an ad-hoc network with other vehicles on the scene. If a vehicle came into range of an Internet 'hotspot,' it would notify other vehicles and become a gateway for the rest of the 'ad-hoc' networked vehicles. I've looked at Freifunk for this, but would like some other options. Recommendations please?"Programming AI using functional and imperative languages
(July 2011)
Posted on Reddit and Hacker News.
Implementing a Score4 (Connect Four) engine
The Score 4 (Connect 4) game. The Score 4 (Connect 4) game.
I recently took a one week vacation and went to my parent's village. My niece Theodora was there (she is 7 years old), spending a fortnight with her grandparents. Naturally, in my duties as her uncle, I read her fairy tales when she went to sleep; gave her my phone so she could snap photos and play mobile games; and when she got tired of running around in the garden, we played two-player board and card games.
She particularly enjoyed playing Score4, a tic-tac-toe where you drop chips from the top: the goal is to align a series of 4 of the same color (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) to win. The game is also known as Connect Four in other countries.
Since I always try to find ways to "lure" my nephews and nieces towards science and engineering, I saw an opportunity here: after a number of Score4 rounds (seeing her brain adapt and learn patterns was quite a sight in itself), I told Theodora that by being an engineer, her uncle could create a "magical" program on her laptop: one that would play Score4 so well, that it would beat her, me, and every other human she knows.
She smiled and said "I'd like to see that, uncle!"... and that's when this story started.
My Score4 Windows implementation (executed under Wine)
Minimax
The Minimax algorithm
One of the AI algorithms extensively used in two-player games is Minimax. The Wikipedia article has all the information one needs, but let's review the main idea:A "scoring function" is used: This function, given an input board, produces a number. The more positive the number, the better the board is in terms of player A; the more negative the number, the better the board is in terms of player B.
With (1) the scoring function, and (2) a way to "find the allowed moves for a particular board", one can create a tree like the one shown above. Each node represents a board state, with the root node representing the current state of the board. From the root, we recurse downwards, creating the possible boards that can happen by each of the allowed moves, and stop when we reach a specified depth.
When we reach the maximum depth level, we apply the scoring function. This creates scores for all the "leaf" nodes of the tree. We then apply a simple strategy:
if the level corresponds to a move of the B player, we "distill" the minimum of the children scores to their parent (since the B player wants as negative values as possible)
if the level corresponds to a move of the A player, we "distill" the maximum of the children scores to their parent (since the A player wants as positive values as possible)
First attempt: Coding Minimax in functional languages (OCaml/F#)
This process creates the scores you see in the diagram above. When the recursion has calculated all the scores at depth 1 - right below the root - then the final decision is taken: the move is chosen that leads to the child with the optimum score.Functional languages (like LISP, OCaml, Haskell, etc) are reputed to allow concise, expressive solutions to artificial intelligence problems. Having little to no experience with these languages, I decided to verify this claim on my own little experiment, using OCaml and F# on Score4 and Minimax. In "Phase 2" below, I moved on to imperative constructs and languages, and the differences are indeed striking.
But let's take this one step at a time.
As we saw in the previous section, to implement Minimax we need to be able to represent the board:
type mycell = | Orange | Yellow | Barren type boardState = mycell array array
Barren
Each cell of the board can be empty (), or carry one of the two colors. The board itself is a two-dimensional array of cells.
The problem has some parameters - the size of the board, the depth we will descend into, as well as the two "magic" return values of the scoring function, which indicate one of the two players has won:
let width = 7 let height = 6 let maxDepth = 7 let orangeWins = 1000000 let yellowWins = - orangeWins
scoreBoard
dropDisk
let scoreBoard board =... let dropDisk board column color =... let findValidMoves board = 0 --( width - 1 ) |> List. filter ( fun column -> board.( 0 ).( column ) = Barren ) let performMoves board validMoves color = validMoves |> List. map ( fun column -> ( column, dropDisk board column color )) let rec minimax maximizeOrMinimize color depth board = match depth with | 0 -> ( None, scoreBoard board ) | _ -> let validMoves = findValidMoves board in match validMoves with | [] -> ( None, scoreBoard board ) | _ -> let validMovesAndBoards = performMoves board validMoves color in let killerMoves = let targetScore = if maximizeOrMinimize then orangeWins else yellowWins in validMovesAndBoards |> List. map ( fun ( column, board ) -> ( column, scoreBoard board )) |> List. filter ( fun ( _, score ) -> score = targetScore ) in match killerMoves with | ( killerMove, killerScore ):: rest -> ( Some ( killerMove ), killerScore ) | [] -> let validBoards = validMovesAndBoards |> List. map snd in let bestScores = validBoards |> List. map ( minimax ( not maximizeOrMinimize ) ( otherColor color ) ( depth - 1 )) |> List. map snd in let allData = myzip validMoves bestScores in if! debug && depth = maxDepth then List. iter ( fun ( column, score ) -> Printf. printf "Depth %d, placing on %d, Score:%d
%!" depth column score ) allData ; let cmpScore ( _, score1 ) ( _, score2 ) = compare score1 score2 in let ( bestMove, bestScore ) = match maximizeOrMinimize with | true -> allData |> List. fast_sort cmpScore |> List. rev |> List. hd | _ -> allData |> List. fast_sort cmpScore |> List. hd in ( Some ( bestMove ), bestScore )
Assuming that we have afunction that returns a score for our board, and afunction that creates a new board from an existing one (by dropping a chip on a specified column), this is the "heart" of my Score4 minimax algorithm, in functional-style OCaml:Let's see what is going on here:
First, we check to see what depth we are in. In this implementation, minimax's depth parameter starts from maxDepth, and is decreased at each recursive call. This means that when the value is 0, we are at the leaf level (see diagram above) - so we invoke the scoreBoard function, passing our input board to it. The function returns an integer value, which we return inside a tuple: (None, score).
Why a tuple, you ask? Simple: minimax will not only find the optimal score - it also needs to find the optimal move, the move that attains that score. The first member of the returned tuple will therefore be the move itself, followed by the score attained by the move.
You might ask: Why do we return None, then, in the place for the move? Well, at depth 0, we don't know what move lead us here (i.e. which column we placed the chip that lead to this board) - it is the parent minimax call that knows. We will see how we handle this below - keep reading.
If we are not at depth 0, we find the validMoves :
let findValidMoves board = 0 --( width - 1 ) |> List. filter ( fun column -> board.( 0 ).( column ) = Barren )... let validMoves = findValidMoves board in...
findValidMoves
Barren
In Score4, you can drop a chip in any column, as long as that specific column is not full. Thefunction, therefore, feeds the list of integers from 0 to width-1, to a simple filter: if the top-most chip in that column is empty () then the number passes.
This means that validMoves is a list of integers: the columns whose top cell is empty.
What were these "--" and "|>"? Well, OCaml allows creation of infix operators (by placing the operator name within parentheses), and I used "--" to emulate the ".." operator that other languages have: The construct N--M generates a list of numbers, starting with number N and ending on number M. In the same vein (i.e. syntactic sugar), "|>" is the "piping" operator:
let (--) i j = let rec aux n acc = if n < i then acc else aux ( n - 1 ) ( n :: acc ) in aux j [] let ( |> ) x fn = fn x
You see now the resemblance with UNIX shell pipes, in the validMoves calculation? We piped a list of 0.. (width-1) to List.filter, and some of them "survived". Below you'll see lengthier pipes, but the premise is again the same: we pipe stuff from one "function layer" to the next. Infix operators allow us to create "chains" of processing logic, which can be thought of as factory assembly lines.
Once we have the list of valid moves, we check to see if it is empty. If there are no valid moves, we just return the score of our current board, in a (None,score) tuple:
match validMoves with | [] -> ( None, scoreBoard board ) | _ ->...
If there are valid moves, then we create a list of the valid boards that are instantiated from our valid moves: We pipe the validMoves list to List.map, and for each valid move, List.map creates a tuple. The first element of the tuple is the move itself (the integer pointing to the column). The second element of the tuple is the new board that is created when we drop a chip on that column, via the dropDisk function:
let performMoves board validMoves color = validMoves |> List. map ( fun column -> ( column, dropDisk board column color )) let validMovesAndBoards = performMoves board validMoves color in...
We now check if any of these boards are winning/losing boards. Depending on the level we are, we are either maximizing or minimizing the score (i.e. we try to find the optimal move for the Orange OR for the Yellow player), so targetScore is made to point to the "magic" value that, when returned from scoreBoard, declares a victory. We then "filter" for that target score:
let killerMoves = let targetScore = if maximizeOrMinimize then orangeWins else yellowWins in validMovesAndBoards |> List. map ( fun ( column, board ) -> ( column, scoreBoard board )) |> List. filter ( fun ( _, score ) -> score = targetScore ) in match killerMoves with | ( killerMove, killerScore ):: rest -> ( Some ( killerMove ), killerScore ) | [] ->...
Did the killerMoves find anything? If yes, then any of them (e.g. the first) are enough to end the game - so pick them out from the head of the list, and return them.
If not, we need to perform recursion, and descend down into derived boards:
let validBoards = validMovesAndBoards |> List. map snd in let bestScores = validBoards |> List. map ( minimax ( not maximizeOrMinimize ) ( otherColor color ) ( depth - 1 )) |> List. map snd in
This is the key line in the function: it recursively descends into depth-1, toggling the color (via function otherColor ), toggling the "target mode" from A player to B player and vice versa (i.e. toggling maximizeOrMinimize ), and returning a tuple, containing the winning move, and its score. We pipe to List.map snd, and are therefore ignoring the returned moves - we just keep the scores of our "children" nodes in an output list.
Using myzip (which is a function that, just like F#'s List.zip, takes 2 lists as inputs, and creates an output with a single list of 2-tuples), we "pack" all our results in allData : a list of 2-tuples, of the form: (move,score)
Skipping over the debug output, there is only one thing remaining: to sort the results, based on their score, and take the largest or the smallest one, depending on which player we are optimizing for ( maximizeOrMinimize ).
let cmpScore ( _, score1 ) ( _, score2 ) = compare score1 score2 in let ( bestMove, bestScore ) = match maximizeOrMinimize with | true -> allData |> List. stable_sort cmpScore |> List. rev |> List. hd | _ -> allData |> List. stable_sort cmpScore |> List. hd in ( Some ( bestMove ), bestScore )
Update: Reddit and Hacker News people pointed out that we don't really need to sort - we just need to find the largest/smallest value, so List.fold_left is perfect for the job (and tail-recursive). The benchmarks show no improvement in execution speed for either OCaml or F# with this change, probably because the lists are too short - but regardless, this is indeed the correct way to find the best value:
let best ( _, s as l ) ( _, s' as r ) = if s > s' then l else r and worst ( _, s as l ) ( _, s' as r ) = if s < s' then l else r in let bestMove, bestScore = List. fold_left ( if maximizeOrMinimize then best else worst ) ( List. hd allData ) ( List. tl allData ) in ( Some ( bestMove ), bestScore )
That's all. Notice that the code reasons about boards, moves, and scores - it is completely generic, and applies to any two-player game that we can code a scoring function for.
Speaking of the scoreBoard function, I tried various forms to evaluate the board. I ended up on a simple policy: measuring how many chips of the same color exist, in spans of 4 going in any direction. I do this over each of the board's cells, and then aggregate this in a table keeping the aggregates from -4 to 4:
-4 means that the cell is a part of 4 cells that contain 4 yellow chips
-3 means that the cell is a part of 4 cells that contain 3 yellow chips
...
3 means that the cell is a part of 4 cells that contain 3 orange chips
4 means that the cell is a part of 4 cells that contain 4 orange chips
orangeWins
yellowWins
If 4 is found, the board is a win for the Orange player, and the function returns(i.e. 1000000). If -4 is found, the board is a win for the Yellow player, and the function returns(i.e. -1000000). Otherwise, scaling factors are applied, so that the more "3"-cells found, the more positive the board's score. Correspondingly, the more "-3" found, the more negative the board's score.
Let me reiterate again, that all the code above, is NOT problem-specific! If you define your board type, your findValidMoves and your performMoves functions, this code will play whatever game you want. Functional languages offer impressive code abstraction.
Testing with a "driver" program
bash$ engine o53 y52
Let's test our implementation - and since we intend to use multiple languages to do Minimax and eventually compare them, a simple Python program is written, which spawns the "engine", and gets back the optimal move. The board's state is passed through the command-line, e.g.......means that the input board has an orange chip in cell (5,3), and a yellow one in (5,2).
The engine returns...
3 bash$...
...meaning that the engine chose to play on column 3. The Python "driver" program makes use of this simple command line interface, and offers this "graphical" console:
home:/home/ttsiod/score4$./interfaces/driver.py [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ X ] -------------------- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 "q" to quit, or column number (0-6): --> 2 [ ] | [ ] | [ ] I entered "2" here, so I played my "O" at column 2 [ ] [ ] [ O X ] -------------------- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Computer chose 3 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ X ] [ O X ] -------------------- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 "q" to quit, or column number (0-6): -->
Seems to work! And even at a depth level of 6, plays a better game of Score4 than I *ever* could.
Well, how deep can we go? Why not go to level 7?
Execution speed
bash$ /c/Program\ Files/Microsoft\ F#/Fsc.exe --checked- --optimize+ score4.fs bash$ echo "This is F# (functional)" bash$ time./score4.exe o53 y43 -debug Depth 7, placing on column 0, Score:2 Depth 7, placing on column 1, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 2, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 3, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 4, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 5, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 6, Score:2 5 real 0m8.023s user 0m7.941s sys 0m0.013s bash$ ocamlopt -unsafe -rectypes -inline 1000 -o./score4.bin score4.ml bash$ echo "This is OCaml (functional)" bash$ time./score4.bin o53 y43 -debug Depth 7, placing on column 0, Score:2 Depth 7, placing on column 1, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 2, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 3, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 4, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 5, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 6, Score:2 5 real 0m1.728s user 0m1.703s sys 0m0.000s
Since F# and OCaml are first cousins, we translate the code to F# as well, and invoke a first benchmark:Wow... Even though both codes are essentially the same, and we compiled both using optimization options, the native binary of OCaml plays a move almost five times faster than F#...
Native compilers have "unfair" advantages over VMs (in this case,.NET). Then again, F# is a relatively new language; it's compiler will undoubtedly improve over time (Or maybe I am missing some optimization option - any feedback on this most welcome). Let's see what the more mature C# compiler can do on the same platform...
Moving to imperative style (C#/OCaml/F# and eventually, C++)
public static void minimax ( bool maximizeOrMinimize, Mycell color, int depth, Board board, out int move, out int score ) { if ( 0 == depth ) { move = - 1 ; score = ScoreBoard ( board ); } else { int bestScore = maximizeOrMinimize?- 10000000 : 10000000 ; int bestMove =- 1 ; for ( int column = 0 ; column < width ; column ++) { if ( board. _slots [ 0 ][ column ]!= Mycell. Barren ) continue ; int rowFilled = dropDisk ( board, column, color ); if ( rowFilled == - 1 ) continue ; int s = ScoreBoard ( board ); if ( s == ( maximizeOrMinimize? orangeWins : yellowWins )) { bestMove = column ; bestScore = s ; board. _slots [ rowFilled ][ column ] = Mycell. Barren ; break ; } int moveInner, scoreInner ; minimax (! maximizeOrMinimize, color == Mycell. Orange? Mycell. Yellow : Mycell. Orange, depth - 1, board, out moveInner, out scoreInner ); board. _slots [ rowFilled ][ column ] = Mycell. Barren ; if ( depth == maxDepth && g_debug ) Console. WriteLine ( "Depth {0}, placing on {1}, score:{2}", depth, column, scoreInner ); if ( maximizeOrMinimize ) { if ( scoreInner >= bestScore ) { bestScore = scoreInner ; bestMove = column ; } } else { if ( scoreInner <= bestScore ) { bestScore = scoreInner ; bestMove = column ; } } } move = bestMove ; score = bestScore ; } }
We use two "out" parameters to return the results (instead of a tuple).
We no longer use lists everywhere - we use loops instead.
(Functional language tutorials tend to favor lists - loops are somewhat "tainted" by imperative thinking. Still, OCaml does offer us for loops - no break, though)
(Functional language tutorials tend to favor lists - loops are somewhat "tainted" by imperative thinking. Still, OCaml does offer us loops - no, though) We mutate the heck out of everything, altering the state wherever we see fit to do so.
For example, why have dropDisk return a new board? Why not just have it return the row where the chip fell on, modify (in-place) the board, call minimax, and after it returns, "undo" the damage and reset that cell to Barren?
return a new board? Why not just have it return the row where the chip fell on, modify (in-place) the, call, and after it returns, "undo" the damage and reset that cell to? In the same vein, why store results in lists, and sort them? Why not just keep the best combo (move,score) as we go through the for loop in a couple of mutable variables (references)?
Switching to C#, we also rewrite the algorithm in imperative style. Note that C#'s two-dimensional arrays are very slow; we instead use "jagged" arrays, that is, arrays containing arrays - just as we did for OCaml and F#.Well... in the imperative world...
And so we hack and slash - the beautiful abstract functional code is translated to a problem-specific mutant...
Was it worth it?
bash$ csc.exe /checked- /optimize+ /unsafe+ score4.cs bash$ echo "This is C# (imperative)" bash$ time./score4.exe o53 y43 -debug Depth 7, placing on column 0, score:2 Depth 7, placing on column 1, score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 2, score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 3, score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 4, score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 5, score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 6, score:2 5 real 0m3.527s user 0m3.401s sys 0m0.123s
bash$ /c/Program\ Files/Microsoft\ F#/Fsc.exe --checked- --optimize+ score4_imperative.fs bash$ echo "This is F# (imperative)" bash$ time./score4_imperative.exe o53 y43 -debug Depth 7, placing on column 0, Score:2 Depth 7, placing on column 1, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 2, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 3, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 4, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 5, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 6, Score:2 5 real 0m6.161s user 0m6.143s sys 0m0.007s bash$ ocamlopt -unsafe -rectypes -inline 1000 -o./score4_imperative.bin score4_imperative.ml bash$ echo "This is OCaml (imperative)" bash$ time./score4_imperative.bin o53 y43 -debug Depth 7, placing on column 0, Score:2 Depth 7, placing on column 1, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 2, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 3, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 4, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 5, Score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 6, Score:2 5 real 0m1.424s user 0m1.400s sys 0m0.010s
for
Significantly faster than F# - still, half as fast as OCaml. Let's go back to F# and OCaml, and perform the same... mutation on their code (i.e. write it in a state-altering-mayhem way, since both these languages allow imperative style coding as well):Both F# and OCaml improved their times by using imperative constructs (usingloops and mutable variables): 24% for F#, 18% for OCaml.
I still feel that bitter taste in my mouth, though - there were speed gains, undoubtedly, but were they worth it?
The high-powered plasma cannon: C++
bash$ g++ -O3 -o score4.bin score4.cpp bash$ echo "This is C++ (imperative)" bash$ time./score4.bin o53 y43 -debug Depth 7, placing on column 0, score:2 Depth 7, placing on column 1, score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 2, score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 3, score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 4, score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 5, score:8 Depth 7, placing on column 6, score:2 5 real 0m0.226s user 0m0.220s sys 0m0.000s
Well, since we did the dirty deed and wrote the algorithm imperatively, we might as well see how C++ fares. Translation from C# to C++ is almost trivial, most things work as-is... and the results are...C++ makes the mutable mayhem: Compared to functional F#, C++ runs an astonishing
Even when compared to the native binaries generated by functional OCaml, it is running 7.6x times faster.
So... nothing beats C++ speed. Except inline assembly, but let's not get carried away :‑)
Might as well make a GUI, too
The Score 4 GUI - so my niece can play :‑) The Score 4 GUI - so my niece can play :‑)
Not much to say about this one - I used Pygame to code a silly little GUI for my Score4 implementation:The fact that I had separated the calculating logic from the presentation logic (the "driver" paradigm) made my job easy.
You can download a precompiled Win32 binary package of my Score4 implementation from Github (I used py2exe to compile the Python part and MinGW to compile the C++ engine).
Conclusions and lessons learned
bash$ git clone git://github.com/ttsiodras/Score4.git Cloning into Score4... remote: Counting objects: 55, done. remote: Compressing objects: 100% (43/43), done. remote: Total 55 (delta 16), reused 49 (delta 10) Unpacking objects: 100% (55/55), done. bash$ cd Score4 bash$ make benchmark real 0m0.222s: That was C++ real 0m1.389s: That was OCaml (imperative, C++ mirror) real 0m1.674s: That was OCaml (functional) real 0m3.526s: That was C# (imperative, C++ mirror) real 0m6.184s: That was F# (imperative, C++ mirror) real 0m7.967s: That was F# (functional) bash$
Functional-style programming reasons in terms of higher level constructs: lists of moves, lists of boards, passing around evaluation and move-making functions, etc. Imperative code feels "dirtier", since it reasons in terms of lower-level stuff ( for loops on arrays, that usually lead to state mutation...) The results in the functional-style seem more abstract, and easier to reuse. For example, the minimax of the functional implementation can be used as-is for any two-player game.
loops on arrays, that usually lead to state mutation...) The results in the functional-style seem more abstract, and easier to reuse. For example, the of the functional implementation can be used as-is for any two-player game. There's no such thing as a free lunch, however - imperative code is usually a lot faster. The sweet spot in terms of this balancing act (clear functional code vs speedy execution) - at least in this experiment - was OCaml, a functional language generating native binaries, whose speed resided halfway between VM-based F#/C# and native C++.
If you do need speed, try utilizing imperative style (state-changing) only in your "core" logic. In this example, scoreBoard (called hundreds of thousands of times) was written imperatively.
(called hundreds of thousands of times) was written imperatively. Switching the code to imperative style offers speed advantages, but it causes detrimental effects on quality and reusability. In this particular example, writing minimax imperatively only made sense - i.e. speed gain was significant enough to warrant the code impacts - when C++ was used.
imperatively only made sense - i.e. speed gain was significant enough to warrant the code impacts - when C++ was used. Separating the presentation logic always helps (easy re-structuring and new features - in this case, a GUI).
The inclusion of functional constructs (lambdas, etc) and libraries like Boost in C++0x make me eager to see some expert feedback from C++ gurus, who could write the code in a functional manner in C++. Unfortunately, every time I look at Boost my brain bleeds - any help (especially working code) most appreciated.
git-format-patch
The executive summary of the benchmark is easily reproducible:What did I learn from this exercise? Well, a lot, considering I had (and still have) very little experience with functional-style coding.Feel free to port the code to your favorite imperative/functional language and send me tarballs oroutputs: I will add/commit them so we can see how LISP/Scala/Clojure/etc fare on this. The code lives on Github, so you are invited to review and fix any things I did wrong. I've been programming imperatively for decades, but I am a "functional newbie" - so I am hoping people will show me ways to keep the functional way of thinking and still improve the speed under F# and OCaml.
Enjoy!
Update, July 12: Ports are coming in from all over the Web... the repository now carries versions for:
Java (Sario O. Alvey)
Python and D (Reddit/leonardo_m - who also suggested that C++ does not need a 'translation stage' in scoreBoard, since enumerants can be added - hence a 30% speedup in C++)
, since enumerants can be added - hence a 30% speedup in C++) Haskell (Hacker News/phnguyen)
Go (HackerNews/supersillyus)
: Thomas and Daniel from StackOverflow helped improve F# speed to within 30% of C#. Thanks, guys!
Update, July 24: Dr Jon Harrop joined in and improved the speed of the F# version of ScoreBoard... by 70%! Just as in my first F# endeavour, his help was invaluable.
Update, July 26: Javascript port, play Score4 in the browser!
Update, July 28: Migrated the F# optimizations (using ints instead of discriminated unions) to other languages, thus avoiding mapping to int values in scoreBoard.
Update, August 7: Added an unordered_map cache to the C++ implementation, to avoid recalculating scores for previously seen boards => 15% speedup.
Update, October 24: Use the best of 10 runs (to minimize impact of OS scheduling artifacts):
Under Linux, using: (a) GCC version 4.4.0 (b) Java 7 (c) OCaml 3.12.0 (d) Mono 2.10.1...I get: linux$ make benchmark 0.067 : C++(imperative,memoized) 0.107 : C++(imperative) 0.124 : C(imperative) 0.378 : Java(imperative) 0.392 : OCaml(imperative) 0.679 : OCaml(functional) 0.835 : F#(imperative) 1.045 : C#(imperative) 2.924 : F#(functional) Under Windows 7/64bit, and using: (a) Cygwin GCC 4.5.0 (b) Java 7 (c) Cygwin OCaml 3.12.0 (d) C# CSC 3.5.30729.5420, F# FSC 4.0.30319.1...I get: win7$ make benchmark 0.130 : C++(imperative) 0.145 : C++(imperative,memoized) 0.155 : C(imperative) 0.338 : Java(imperative) 0.342 : C#(imperative) 0.395 : F#(imperative) 0.395 : OCaml(imperative) 0.665 : OCaml(functional) 0.947 : F#(functional)
The Windows.NET compilers and runtimes are running the final, optimized code, a lot faster than Mono does.
Memoization behaves worse under Cygwin's GCC than the normal algorithm - weird, but consistently reproducible in my machine. In contrast, under Linux it provides a sizeable 40% speed increase.
The winners are still C++ (for imperative style) and OCaml (for functional style) - but the difference is a lot smaller now between them and the others.
Some comments about these latest results:
Update, November 6: The recent passing of John McCarthy reminded me of Lisp... so I decided to port score4 to Lisp as well. The tremendous power of Lisp macros allowed me to unroll (at compile-time!) the computations done in scoreBoard and only emit the actual accumulating instructions. This made Lisp the 2nd fastest language, behind only C/C++:
bash$ git clone git://github.com/ttsiodras/Score4.git... bash$ cd Score4 bash$ make benchmark... ====================== = Running benchmarks = ====================== Benchmarking imperative memoized C++... 0.089 sec Benchmarking imperative C++... 0.114 sec Benchmarking imperative C... 0.119 sec Benchmarking imperative |
ammer repeated this ridiculous claim in his column … This is 100 percent false. The bust [is] still in the White House. In the Residence. Outside the Treaty Room.”
Krauthammer is wrong when he says the the bust was provided to the Bush White House by the British embassy after the 9/11 terror attacks — an assertion also made by Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post and others.
The Post also incorrectly described the bust as a “gift to the American people from Britain in the wake of 9/11 — meant to recall America’s succor as night was falling across Europe in 1940.” In Republican thinking, the idea that the bust might have been a gift to Bush commemorating British solidarity after the 9/11 attacks would imbue it with added patriotic significance. However, it was not a gift –as Krauthammer points out — it was a loan. (In the original version of this story, we incorrectly ascribed the Post’s assertion that the bust was gift, not a loan, to Krauthammer, who correctly described it as a loan. We apologize for the error.)
Glenn Beck’s website also described the bust as a gift, and Romney, his campaign and a chorus of right-wing bloggers have chastised the president for returning the bust — even though returning things that are borrowed is preferred to not returning them, which is also known as stealing.
Proof that Krauthammer and others are wrong about the timing of the loan comes from an unlikely source: the George W. Bush White House website, which is now “frozen in time.” The photo above shows Bush receiving the bust from the British ambassador in 2001. The caption reads:
President Bush accepts a bust of Sir Winston Churchill from ambassador of England, Sir Christopher Meyer July 16, 2001. “He was a man of great courage. He knew what he believed. And he really kind of went after it in a way that seemed like a Texan to me,” said the President explaining why he would like the likeness of an Englishman placed inside the Oval Offfice. “He charged ahead, and the world is better for it.”
Just to state the obvious, July 16, 2001, was roughly 55 days prior to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
The original source of this misinformation appears to be — not Fox News or the other Republican propaganda outlets — but rather a spokesman for the British embassy, who was quoted in a Feb. 14, 2009, article in the British newspaper, the Telegraph:
A British Embassy spokesman said: “The bust of Sir Winston Churchill by Sir Jacob Epstein was uniquely lent to a foreign head of state, President George W Bush, from the Government Art Collection in the wake of 9/11 as a signal of the strong transatlantic relationship. “It was lent for the first term of office of President Bush. When the President was elected for his second and final term, the loan was extended until January 2009. “The new President has decided not to continue this loan and the bust has now been returned. It is on display at the Ambassador’s Residence.”
As noted, the hapless Romney campaign has been critical of the president for returning the borrowed bust, including this from the candidate himself during his disastrous visit to London last week:
“You live here, you see the sites day in and day out, but for me as I drive past the sculpture of Winston Churchill and see that great sculpture next to Westminster Abbey and Parliament and with him larger than life, enormous heft of that sculpture suggesting the scale of the the grandeur and the greatness of the man, it tugs at the heart strings to remember the kind of example that was led by Winston Churchill,” Romney told donors gathered at the Mandarin Oriental hotel this evening. Obama had the bust of Churchill replaced with a bust of Abraham Lincoln as part of the customary redecorating on which a new president usually embarks. At the time, some British news outlets speculated that the switch was an affront to the “special relationship” between the United States and United Kingdom.
(It was actually replaced with a bust of Martin Luther King Jr., not Lincoln.)
So what is really going on here? Jake Tapper at ABC News believes he has solved the mystery:
Like a plot twist in a sitcom, IT TURNS OUT THERE ARE TWO CHURCHILL BUSTS!!!!! The one in the White House residence was a gift to the White House from the British Embassy during the Johnson administration. The other one was loaned to President George W. Bush by British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Says James Barbour, press secretary and head of communications for the British Embassy, “The bust of Sir Winston Churchill, by Sir Jacob Epstein, was lent to the George W. Bush administration from the U.K.’s government art collection, for the duration of the presidency. When that administration came to an end so did the loan; the bust now resides in the British Ambassador’s Residence in Washington D.C. The White House collection has its own Epstein bust of Churchill, which President Obama showed to Prime Minister Cameron when he visited the White House in March.”
Indeed. CBS News asked White House curator William Allman about the disposition of the bust in January 2010:
Some Britons took offense when Winston Churchill’s bust was replaced with King’s. But the decision to return the Churchill bust to the British – it had been presented by former Prime Minister Tony Blair to Bush on loan – had been made before Obama even arrived. “It was already scheduled to go back,” Allman said.
There you have it. Mystery solved, controversy resolved, and we can expect apologies and corrections to be forthcoming from Krauthammer, Romney, the Post and others.
Kidding, of course.After the inadvertent leak yesterday, Samsung has officially confirmed Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 10.1″. While all the specs from yesterday remain the same like 1GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch (4.27-inch) Super AMOLED WVGA display, 8.49mm thickness, 116g in weight, HSPA+ Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS (High Speed), the Galaxy S II will also have a Readers Hub, Social Hub, Games Hub, Music Hub, 8MP camera with full HD video recording, gyro sensor, Mobile High-definition link allowing to watch full HD content on TV and storage options of 16 and 32GB.
As for the new Galaxy Tab, it will have a 10.1-inch display (1280×800), Honeycomb OS, 8MP camera, full HD video recording and playback and dual surround sound speakers.
You can check out these devices in the gallery below or couple more here.Looking for news you can trust?
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In racially segregated Madison County, Mississippi, black residents live in fear of the police. According to a federal lawsuit filed Monday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department has been using illegal tactics and subjecting people who live in majority-black towns to unreasonable searches of their bodies, their homes, and their cars. The purpose of these stops, the ACLU alleges, is to generate revenue by collecting unpaid fees and fines from those who are detained.
“There is a decades-old policy of methodically and systematically targeting black people with Fourth Amendment violations that are unheard of in white communities and in most of the United States,” says Paloma Wu, the legal director of the ACLU of Mississippi.
According to the lawsuit, roadblocks are one of the main tactics used by the MCSD. Deputies allegedly set up checkpoints in black neighborhoods and towns, near places of employment, and near black-owned businesses. The department’s written roadblock policy is short, vague, and does not include any restrictions on how and when deputies may use them, according to the ACLU.
The MCSD did not respond to requests for comment.
“There are a lot of warrantless invasions of black people’s houses and lots of excessive force, which is just a fancy way of saying they physically hurt people.”
The use of systematic arrests to generate revenue wouldn’t be unique to Mississippi. The US Department of Justice’s report on Ferguson, Missouri—published after a police officer shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014—found that the city’s police force was using a similar strategy. The protests in Ferguson catalyzed a wave of police reform efforts during the Obama administration, but the Mississippi case comes at a time when civil rights advocates are worried that President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions will undo much of that progress.
Madison County is the wealthiest county in Mississippi. Of its 105,000 residents, 58 percent are white and 38 percent are black. Most of the wealth is concentrated in white areas. The plaintiffs, 10 black people who all reside in the county, allege that white residents are not subject to the same policing strategies. According to the suit, between May and September 2016, 81 percent of roadblock arrests and 82 percent of pedestrian arrests were of black individuals.
According to the complaint, MCSD has conducted thousands of unreasonable searches of black residents of the county. As a result of these traumatic experiences, many black residents experience fear and anxiety over the simple act of leaving their homes or driving their cars. The Madison County Sheriff Department’s policing tactics impact “virtually every aspect of Black residents’ lives,” says the complaint, adding that “the very real possibility of unlawful and humiliating searches and seizures, as well as the attendant prospect of arrest and jail time for unpaid fines and fees” looms over their heads.
The suit alleges that Marvin McField, one of the plaintiffs, has been stopped multiple times at different roadblocks in the past few years. The 37-year-old has lived in predominantly black Flora, Mississippi, his entire life and uses a pacemaker because he suffers from a serious heart condition.
At one such roadblock several years ago, according to the complaint, McField was ordered to exit his vehicle, after which deputies handcuffed and searched him and then threw him onto the hood of the car. The deputies then allegedly left him in the back of a patrol car with the windows rolled up on a hot summer day for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The deputies drove off with him in custody but stopped a few minutes later and beat him in the chest until McField told them he could not breathe, according to the suit.
Next, deputies took McField to the Madison County Detention Center, “where the deputies beat him again—this time hitting him in the head instead of in his chest,” the complaint says. He was held in jail for more than two weeks without being charged with a crime, a clear violation of the right to due process, according to the suit. He was also not permitted to make any phone calls. After 19 days, McField was brought before a judge—without a lawyer. The judge, who is unnamed in the suit, simply told him that he had served his time and was free to go, according to the complaint.
In addition to stopping residents in their cars, the complaint alleges that deputies also stop and search pedestrians walking past the designated checkpoints. In January 2017, plaintiff Steven Smith was walking into the affordable housing complex where he lives. Deputies searched him, even though there was no probable cause, the suit states.
After deputies ran Smith’s identification, they discovered he had unpaid fines and court fees. He couldn’t afford to pay the overdue money and was jailed for 29 days.
The searches allegedly extend to residents’ private homes, as well. “There are a lot of warrantless invasions of black people’s houses and lots of excessive force, which is just a fancy way of saying they physically hurt people,” says Wu. In June 2016, Khadafy and Quinnetta Manning were at home when six deputies began banging on their door. When Quinnetta Manning opened the door, the suit alleges, the deputies pushed past her and began demanding that she sign a false witness statement implicating her neighbor’s boyfriend in a burglary. She told the deputies that she had not witnessed a burglary.
Khadafy Manning, who is disabled and walks with a cane, had just woken up and was not dressed. When he told deputies that his wife didn’t have to provide a statement, a deputy handcuffed him, swore at him, and began choking him, according to the complaint. The deputies allegedly threatened to arrest the Mannings if they didn’t comply. According to the suit, Quinnetta Manning agreed to write the statement out of fear, but deputies dragged Khadafy Manning out the door anyway. The deputies placed him in a car and began to beat him inside the vehicle, according to the complaint. “Mr. Manning was humiliated that his neighbors saw him being forcibly taken out of his family’s home while wearing only his underwear,” the suit says. The couple ended up writing false witness statements, according to the suit.
After the incident, Khadafy Manning sought legal remedies for the physical and emotional pain that he and his family suffered. Several months later in, February 2017, a deputy handcuffed Khadafy Manning and searched his car after telling him that he knew Manning had been “having people come around here asking questions,” the complaint alleges.
Update, May 11, 2017: Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker has now released a statement in response to the lawsuit. “I recently received and now have reviewed in great detail a suit that has been filed against the Madison County Sheriff’s Department by the ACLU. Our deputies are professional law enforcement officials who enforce Mississippi laws. If a law is broken, appropriate action is taken regardless of the race of the one breaking said law,” he said. “As always, we have fairly and diligently executed the duties for which we are required. We are going to vigorously defend the Madison County Sheriff’s Department on every aspect of ACLU’s lawsuit.”Estimates of the percentage of mass shooters who are mentally ill vary widely, as both “mass shooting” and “mental illness” can be difficult to define. One recent analysis of murderers who killed or intended to kill four or more people found that 22 percent of male killers exhibited evidence of mental illness (the share was higher among women, but the sample was much smaller). Another analysis, by the group Everytown For Gun Safety, found that in about 11 percent of shootings between January 2009 and July 2015 in which four or more people were killed, concerns about the killer’s mental health had been reported to a doctor or other authority before the crime took place.
Under federal law, people who have been involuntarily committed because of mental illness are prohibited from buying guns. The federal government relies on the states to submit records of such commitments to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, so that would-be gun buyers who have been committed will fail a background check.
In recent years, many more states have made an effort to submit such records to the federal system; the number in the databank has more than doubled since the 2012 mass shooting at a school in Newtown, Conn. After Connecticut began submitting its records in 2007, violent crime among people with disqualifying hospitalizations declined. However, getting state records is still a problem; six states have submitted fewer than 100 records.
A few states have additional prohibitions for those who have been hospitalized but not committed. California, for instance, bars those who have been involuntarily hospitalized for a short time from owning guns for five years, even if they were not committed. For people with severe mental illness who are never hospitalized, tighter gun permitting rules could help. Requiring an in-person application (like getting a driver’s license) would make it harder for them to qualify for gun ownership. In the 10 years after Connecticut passed a “permit to purchase” law requiring would-be gun buyers to pass a background check and complete a gun safety course with a certified instructor, gun homicides in the state fell by 40 percent.
In some states, the police may confiscate guns from people at risk of harming themselves or others, some of whom may be mentally ill. Between 1999 and 2009, 11 percent of confiscation warrants in Connecticut, for example, were requested as a result of “mental instability” on the part of the gun owner; by far the largest share, 46 percent, were requested because the owner showed signs of being suicidal.The Foundry uploaded complete 2 hour recording of ‘NUKE 8 Live Digital Event’. A great video tutorial of Nuke 8.0.
The Foundry – leading VFX software developer company – organized ‘NUKE 8 Live Digital Event’ on 5th December, 2013 at Vue Leicester Square, London. For the artists who missed the live event, The Foundry had uploaded the complete recording of the event.
Guest speakers from high profile Post Production Studios took the stage to showcase their use of NUKE 8 features in television, commercials and film VFX workflows. Speakers included Stephan Fleet (Creative Director – Encore Hollywood), Russell Dodgson (Head of NUKE Worldwide – Framestore) and Mike Maloney (Compositing Supervisor – Digital Domain). They were accompanied by Jon Wadelton (NUKE Product Manager – The Foundry). They were also joined live onstage for a Q&A by Hugo Guerra (Head of NUKE – The Mill) and Paul Simpson (Founder and Creative Director – Realise).
Check the out complete 2 hour video of NUKE 8 Live Digital Event:
Recommended >> Top 10 features of NUKE 8
NUKE 8 Testimonial :
Advanced Compositing – New Features in NUKE 8 :
Creative Compositing – New Features in NUKE 8 :Scientology is making headlines again with the release of Lawrence Wright's new book "Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief," and in the wake of the church's bad publicity, "Parenthood" actress Erika Christensen is defending the controversial religion.
While appearing on her co-star Joy Bryant's web series, the 30-year-old actress and lifelong member of the church took the opportunity to clear up misconceptions about the religion she calls a "huge part" of her life.
"[People assume] we're some kind of closed group and we're just the Hollywood religion... and we worship rabbits. I don't actually know how many people think that," she joked.
Scientologists don't worship rabbits, but members do believe that 75 million years ago, Xenu, dictator of the "Galactic Confederacy," sent billions of frozen souls on spaceships from his overpopulated planet to the bases of volcanoes on Earth. When the volcanoes erupted, the scattered souls or "thetans" found their way into human bodies, and their emotional issues haunt their human hosts, and Scientologists believe they must be purged through an expensive confessional practice called auditing.
Christensen grew up in the church and says she would have no problems introducing her future children to the religion.
"I would expose to them, like, this is what I do, which is how my parents did it, because my parents are Scientologists," she said, adding, "If I had to sum it up, the goal of Scientology is giving the person back to themselves. Like, your own power of choice."
Christensen, along with Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, is among the most high-profile members of the Church of Scientology, and its celebrity members are believed to give the religion, founded in 1953 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, an air of credibility and attraction.
And as Christensen defends her beliefs, the church's most high-profile former member, director Paul Haggis, continues to speak out and told NBC's Harry Smith that he was ashamed of his own stupidity and that he could be so blind about the organization for so many years.
When asked if Scientology is a cult, Haggis didn't mince words.
"Oh, of course it is. It's a system of beliefs and you've got all these folks inside this fortress who won't look out, who won't look at any criticism and can't bear any investigation and thinks everyone is against them. How would you describe that? It's a cult," he said.EMIGRANT, Mont. — Doug Peacock returned from Vietnam in 1968 a different man than when he left. His mind was eating at him. He and other war veterans didn’t have words for the disease from which they suffered. Later it would be identified as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Needing to be away from people, Peacock fled to the wilderness, camping high in Wyoming’s towering Wind River mountain range. Following a bout of malaria, he made his way up into Yellowstone National Park, where he came face-to-face with grizzly bears.
“I wasn’t looking for them, but they were there,” Peacock, 75, recently told HuffPost on the patio of his home in Paradise Valley, just north of the park and overlooking the Yellowstone River.
These dominant creatures proved exactly what Peacock — a former Green Beret medic, prolific author and the inspiration for Edward Abbey’s fictional character George Washington Hayduke in The Monkey Wrench Gang — needed; a species that, as he puts it, anchors your attention and gets you out of yourself.
“It’s the one animal on this continent at least, maybe anywhere, that refutes the whole notion that homo sapiens are in charge of every fucking thing,” he said. “The one animal that can remind the most arrogant fucking species on Earth what their true place is on the Earth, in nature, in their own hearts.”
“What you are is what you evolved with,” Peacock added. “We didn’t evolve in cities and towns and shit like that. We evolved as hunters and gatherers, in places whose remnants today we call the wilderness.”
Years after returning scarred from war, and after countless days tracking and filming bears in grizzly country, Peacock wrote in his first book, Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness, that the animals saved his life. Of course, any one of them could have just as easily taken it.
For the better part of five decades now, Peacock has been a fierce advocate for the grizzlies. And today he is among the lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the federal government over its decision to remove Yellowstone grizzlies from the endangered species list.
Marc Beaudin Doug Peacock, a Vietnam War veteran and longtime grizzly bear advocate, is among those suing the U.S. government over its decision to remove federal protections for Yellowstone grizzly bears.
Peacock is an expert in grizzly behavior; no surprise considering the amount of time he’s spent living and studying in grizzly country, out of a tent and mostly by himself. Over the years, he’s been charged by dozens of bears, almost all of them mothers protecting cubs. The run-ins, he says, were his fault and come with the territory.
Along with finding solace in the Rocky Mountains, Peacock learned how to avoid becoming a grizzly’s rag doll. The key, he says, is to avoid making eye contact, and to keep from making any sudden movements or screaming. Just hearing him talk about his closest encounters is enough to make the average person’s heart race.
One of Peacock’s favorite bears was a dominant, black-coated male he ran into often ― “the baddest son-of-a-bitch in the mountains,” Peacock said. Over a handful of summers in Glacier National Park, he and the bear developed a relationship of sorts. On one occasion, when Peacock walked away from his campsite high on a mountaintop, the bear pulled his cache of gear out of a tree and chewed to pieces his sleeping bag and a dirty T-shirt. “He ate everything that smelled of me,” as if to say “get the hell off my mountain,” Peacock said. Another time, that same grizzly caught Peacock away from his camera, knocked it off its tripod and chewed on it.
“He was a good bear,” Peacock said, without even a hint of sarcasm. “That’s what a bear should be.”
James Hager / robertharding via Getty Images A grizzly bear walks in Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming.
A couple of times, a grizzly came skidding to a stop right in front of him. One female stopped just six feet away, then leaned forward and stuck her nose out to sniff his pant leg.
“I always stood my ground,” he said. “I don’t look at the bears, I kind of hold my arms out. I don’t move a fucking muscle, all the time they are charging.”
One of Peacock’s most recent encounters was in June, when he and his daughter were resting on a high butte in Yellowstone; their last hike together before he walked her down the aisle. It was a “windy goddamned day,” he recalls. All of a sudden, the look on his daughter’s face changed. There, some 50 feet away, a mother grizzly and her yearling cub were coming over the hillside.
HuffPost is hitting the road this fall to interview people about their hopes, dreams, fears ― and what it means to be American today.
“Everybody sees each other at the same time,” Peacock remembered. “I think I probably say, ‘Don’t move.’”
The mother quickly reared onto her hind legs. Peacock and his daughter stayed still and eventually, after a couple of minutes, the bear calmed down. Then, the bears slowly walked by and sat down on the edge of a cliff 30 feet away, where the mother began nursing the cub. This went on for five minutes, Peacock says. In the distance he could hear the bellows and roars of male grizzlies, indicating the female had likely retreated to high ground to keep her cub away from aggressive bears looking to mate.
There’s a huge misunderstanding about these magnificent creatures, Peacock says, which for the most part have no interest in humans.
“We fear what we don’t know, and we hate what we fear,” he said.
Chris D'Angelo/HuffPost The remains of a grizzly bear lay along the bank of the Yellowstone River, near the town of Emigrant.
In addition to writing several books, Peacock is a co-founder and long-time board member of Round River Conservation Studies and works with traumatized veterans to expose them to the benefits of the outdoors. And he continues his decades-long fight to ensure grizzlies continue to thrive.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first delisted the Yellowstone population of grizzlies from the Endangered Species Act in 2007. Environmental groups sued; Peacock was among the plaintiffs. In 2009, a federal judge overturned the government’s decision, ruling that FWS had not considered the impacts the loss of white bark pine trees could have on the population. The decision restored protections for the Yellowstone grizzlies.
But in June of this year, federal authorities announced that Yellowstone grizzlies had recovered to the point that they no longer required federal protection. The Interior Department estimates the population to be around 700 bears ― up from as few as 136 in 1975 ― and said multiple factors indicate it “is healthy and will be sustained into the future.”
A month before the delisting took effect on July 31, a group of conservation nonprofits and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe promised to sue. And on Aug. 30, they did just that. It’s one of several complaints aimed at restoring ESA protections for the bears.
With the impacts of climate change becoming undeniable, it is a critical time for the Yellowstone grizzly, according to Peacock.
“The [Fish and Wildlife Service] wants to declare a victory,” Peacock said. “They’ve done an incredible job of bringing back the grizzly since 1975 in Yellowstone, but with climate change, global warming, that population will never be recovered. None of us will.”
In its final rule, published in July, the FWS concludes that “the effects of climate change do not constitute a threat to the [Yellowstone] grizzly bear [population] now, nor are they anticipated to in the foreseeable future.” But the seeds of white bark pine, a high-elevation tree that has been severely impacted by disease, insects and climate change, are an important food source for Yellowstone grizzlies.
Peacock’s most immediate concern is hunting. State jurisdiction in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho opens the door for limited hunting of grizzlies outside Yellowstone.
“It’s the thing that scares me the most, because it won’t just be a hunting season,” Peacock said. “It will be the whole pulse of the value of a grizzly bear, how easy it is to kill, how expendable they are.”
For Peacock, you can’t put a price tag on such a creature. Just like you can’t put a price tag on wild places.
“It’s late in the game. I’m not going to be around that much longer,” he said. “But boy have we fucked up, man. I feel bad. Both my kids are getting married this summer. You know, if I could hang on another year I’d probably see a grandkid. But man, what they’re going to inherit — it’s going to be tough.”
“That’s what I’ll do the rest of my days,” he said of fighting to protect the natural world.HOUSTON â€" Fans of the #HTownTakeover will soon be able to eat a delicious meal while giving back to the Houston Football program as BB's Café debuts The Applewhite, named after first-year Houston Football Head Coach Major Applewhite, on Sept. 5.
Designed in consultation with Applewhite and BB's owner and founder, UH Track & Field alum Brooks Bassler, the entrée will consist of a combination of catfish, crawfish and shrimp etouffee with garlic bread, white and dirty rice.
Available at all seven BB's Café locations throughout the Houston area, $2 from every Applewhite entrée will be donated to the 46ers, the restricted giving fund of Houston Football under the Cougar Pride fundraising umbrella.
Applewhite is the second member of the #HTownTakeover to receive the honor of an entrée at BB's Café as Houston alum and recent Super Bowl champion Elandon Roberts debuted The Elandon in July. The plate which consists of grilled redfish over cilantro rice, one chicken skewer and two stuffed shrimp benefits the Elandon Roberts Foundation that supports heart disease research.
2017 Houston Football Season Tickets
Houston Football fans can purchase season tickets for six games starting at just $175 at UHCougars.com/tickets or by contacting the Houston Athletics Ticket Office at 713.GO.COOGS (713.462.6647) or at tickets@central.uh.edu.Shocking photos show teenager booting cat like a football and repeatedly punching pet dog in the face - but hooligan is only given'rehabilitation order' by court
The 16-year-old repeatedly punched Staffordshire bull terrier during attack
He pinned it down in a chair before hitting it in the head, stomach and face
The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also caught kicking cat
He admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the animals at Luton court
Magistrate banned him from keeping any kind of animal for rest of his life
Violent teen only handed an 18-month Rehabilitation order for sick crime
A teenager who was caught on camera repeatedly punching a dog in the face and kicking a cat in a series of brutal attacks was only handed a rehabilitation order in court today.
In shocking video footage, which was filmed at a house in Luton, Bedfordshire, in September last year, the 16-year-old can be seen punching a terrified Staffordshire Bull terrier in the face.
In another video the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, can be seen kicking a cat in the head.
Scroll down for video
In the footage, which was filmed at a house in Luton, Bedfordshire, in September last year, the teenager can be seen putting the terrified Staffordshire bull terrier in a chair before hitting it in the head and stomach
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been banned from keeping animals for life after carrying out the unprovoked attacks on the innocent pets
The dog, called Tyler, was left with a bleeding eye after being subjected to the attack during which it was held down by the neck
The teenager pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals under the Animal Welfare Act when he appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court today.
Despite his horrific crimes, he was handed just an 18-month Youth Rehabilitation Order, including a three-month daily curfew from 7pm to 7am.
He was also banned from keeping any animals for the rest of his life.
Video footage of the teenager abusing animals emerged after police officers, who were investigating another matter, found video clips on his mobile phone and passed it onto the RSCPA.
The youth had saved one of the horrific attacks under a file name of ‘LOL’, slang speak for ‘laugh out loud’.
In the first video the violent teen puts the dog, called Tyler, i n a chair. He then punches it in the head and stomach before kneeing it in the face.
WARNING: Graphic content some viewers may find disturbing
A vet said the dog is likely to have suffered extreme distress and bruising, as well as soft tissue trauma and damage to the ribs, facial nerves and trachea in the horrific attack
The teenager pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals when he appeared at Luton Magistrates' Court
The dog was left with a bleeding eye after being subjected to the attack - during which it was held down by the neck.
A vet said the dog is also likely to have suffered extreme distress and bruising, as well as soft tissue trauma and damage to the ribs, facial nerves and trachea in the horrific attack.
In another video, filmed in April last year, the youth can be seen forcefully kicking a tortoiseshell cat in the head.
A vet said the distressed cat would have suffered bruising and soft tissue trauma, as well as possible physical trauma to the pelvis and bladder.
RSPCA inspector Stephanie Law said both of the distressing attacks were ‘utterly abhorrent’.
She said: ‘I have seen a lot of horrible things in my job, but I felt physically ill watching this footage, it was so distressing.
‘I just couldn’t help flinching each time each one of these animals was so brutally attacked.
In another video, filmed in April last year, the youth can be seen forcefully kicking a tortoiseshell cat in the head
A vet said the distressed cat would have suffered bruising and soft tissue trauma, as well as possible physical trauma to the pelvis and bladder The teenager was handed an 18-month Youth Rehabilitation Order and banned from keeping any animals for the rest of his life for the brutal attacks He saved this footage of him kicking a cat in the head under the file name of 'LOL' - 'laugh out loud' - on his mobile phone
‘What makes it even worse is that he seems to have seen this gratuitous violence as some form of entertainment.
‘Not only did he film it on his phone, but saved it under the title “LOL”.
‘Thank goodness a lifetime disqualification was put in place to prevent other animals from suffering a similar fate.’A scathing opinion issued by the Hawaii Supreme Court at the end of last week blasted Honolulu officials for blacklisting two veteran professional stagehands in August 2007 following a run-in with then-Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s older brother, Nephi.
The incident happened during a rehearsal for a benefit concert in which a performance by the mayor was to be featured.
The opinion provides an unusually candid and unflattering behind the scenes look at the Hannemann administration, and comes at an awkward time for the former mayor, who is rumored to be preparing to take another plunge into politics in 2014.
The court’s decision came in a lawsuit brought by Eric Minton and Richard Stanley, professional stagehands with nearly 75 years of experience between them, not to mention many rave reviews from prior clients. Named as defendants, along with the city, are Sidney Quintal, former director of the Department of Enterprise Services, and John Fuhrmann, who was in charge of daily operations at the city-owned facilities.
The men were barred from working in city facilities, and the city told groups or promoters who wanted to hire them to find other stagehands to do their jobs.
The court ruled the blacklisting violated the men’s constitutional rights, found they had not been provided due process, and ruled that the evidence properly demonstrated the city’s action had resulted in the loss of a significant part of their incomes.
The court called the city’s action “particularly egregious” because it effectively destroyed the men’s livelihoods by banning them for life from the premier entertainment venues, Blaisdell Center and the Waikiki Shell, without any intention of providing due process.
Although the city argued the men could still work in other venues, the court noted they were experts in the types of large productions that typically exceed the capacity of other, smaller theaters. Barring them from the city’s main venues essentially meant they could not practice their professions, the court found.
The unanimous Supreme Court ruling is unusual because it overturned the decision of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, which was also unanimous in upholding a Circuit Court ruling in favor of the city.
The Supreme Court ordered the case returned to the Circuit Court for further proceedings, largely confined to determining the final amount of damages the city will have to pay.
The loss of work caused by the city’s blacklisting forced Minton to leave Hawaii. For a while he lived with his daughter on the mainland, and now lives alone in a small trailer in Las Vegas, according to Honolulu attorney Charles Lotsof, who represented the men. Stanley lost between 75 percent and 90 percent of his income as a result of being blacklisted, according to evidence cited in the Supreme Court opinion. Their total loss of pay was estimated at over $700,000, according to expert testimony cited by the court.
Taxpayers will also likely have to pay the plaintiff’s legal fees and costs as well, and those costs could also be substantial. Lotsof said it took “six years of very intensive work.”
“I’ve got file cabinets full of documents from this case,” the attorney said.
Lotsof says he is still puzzled why the Hannemann administration went forward with imposing the lifetime bans.
“Anybody with any experience in government knows blacklisting private employees is something you can’t do,” Lotsof said. “It should have been stopped right in the bud.”
Setting the Stage
Although the city owns the Blaisdell Center and the Waikiki Shell, it does not provide the back stage workers required to put on events. Instead, it refers promoters to Local Union 665 of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents stage and theater workers.
Minton, who usually functioned as a crew chief, would routinely direct the actions of the stagehands who move scenery, adjust lighting, control the sound system, and perform other tasks. The court noted that Minton had about 50 years of experience, and had been a member of the local union since 1972. Stanley is a sound engineer who at the time had about 23 years experience.
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I would be lonely and never find someone to love.
Anger will never solve problems. Will never focus you. It will only stab at your brain. Understanding that the underlying emotion is fear allows you to practice the kindness to yourself to heal that fear.
L) James is crazy.
Yeah, I am. But I believe it. My business did get saved. Then it went out of business later. Then my next business got bought. Then it went down the drain. Then my marriage disintegrated. Then I went broke (again). Then I got married again to the woman of my dreams. Then I lost all of my writing jobs. Now I write more than ever. Then I lost many friends. Now I have more friends than ever. A million things. I trust good things will happen.
Everyone thought "Old Ben" was crazy. And he probably was. But he didn't care. He died at the end of that movie. And in a short enough time, so will the rest of us.Image caption Pelican makes a phone camera that allows two subjects to be in focus but not objects in between them
Imagine a camera that allows you to see through a crowd to get a clear view of someone who would otherwise be obscured, a smartphone that matches big-budget lenses for image quality, or a photograph that lets you change your point of view after it's taken.
The ideas may sound outlandish but they could become commonplace if "computational photography" lives up to its promise.
Unlike normal digital photography - which uses a sensor to capture a single two-dimensional image of a scene - the technique records a richer set of data to construct its pictures.
Instead of trying to mimic the way a human eye works, it opens the activity up to new software-enhanced possibilities.
Pelican Imaging is one of the firms leading the way.
Image caption Pelican's component is less than 3mm (0.1in) thick, making it thinner than most normal smartphone cameras
The California-based start-up is working on a handset part which contains an array of 16 lenses, each attached to either a blue-, red- or green-colour sensor, which link up to a chip that fuses the data they produce together.
"You end up with a standard Jpeg-image that has a depth map of the scene that allows you to identify where all the edges of all the objects are right down to human hair," chief executive Christopher Pickett tells the BBC.
A companion app uses this information to let the snapper decide which parts of their photo should be in focus after they are taken. This includes the unusual ability to choose multiple focal planes.
For example a photographer in New York could choose to make the details of her husband's face and the Statue of Liberty behind him sharp but everything else - including the objects in between them - blurred.
"Because we have no moving parts we also have super-fast first shot, as we're not hunting for focus," adds Mr Pickett. "You get the perfect picture as you just don't miss."
Another firm, Lytro, already offers similar functions on its own standalone light field camera - but Pelican suggests offering the tech via a component small enough to fit in a phone will prove critical to its success.
Nokia has already invested in Pelican, leading to speculation it will be among the first to offer the tech when it becomes available next year.
For now, high dynamic range (HDR) imaging offers a ready-to-use taste of computational photography. It uses computer power to combine photos taken at different exposures to create a single picture whose light areas are not too bright and dim ones not too dark.
Image caption Moving images in the background can create problems for current HDR-enabled smartphones
However, if the subject matter isn't static there can be problems stitching the images together. Users commonly complain of moving objects in the background looking as if they're breaking apart.
One solution - currently championed by chipmaker Nvidia - is to boost processing power to cut the time between each snap.
But research on an alternative technique which only requires a single photo could prove superior.
"Imagine you have a sensor with pixels that have different levels of sensitivity," explains Prof Shree Nayar, head of Columbia University's Computer Vision Laboratory.
"Some would be good at measuring things in dim light and their neighbours good at measuring very bright things.
"You would need to apply an algorithm to decode the image produced, but once you do that you could get a picture with enormous range in terms of brightness and colour - a lot more than the human eye can see."
Even if current HDR techniques fall out of fashion, computational photography offers other uses for multi-shot images.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Researchers have found a way to use a normal handheld camera to create photographs which let you change their point-of-view after being taken (courtesy: Marc Levoy, Stanford University)
Last year US researchers showed off a process which involves waving a compact camera around an object or person to take hundreds of pictures over the space of a minute or so.
The resulting data is used to create what's called a light field map on an attached laptop.
Software makes use of this to render views of the scene, letting the user pick the exact vantage point they want long after the event has ended.
Another technique involves analysing two photos taken in quick succession, one with flash the other without.
"You can use this to work out what features of the image are shadows," explains Dr Martin Turner, a computer vision expert at the University of Manchester.
Image caption Microsoft suggests software can be used to improve the look of flash photography
Microsoft has filed a patent for this idea saying the information could be used to make flash photographs look less "jarring" by automatically improving their colour balance, removing ugly shadows cast by the bright light and treating for red-eye.
Ultimately you end up with what looks like a highly detailed low-light image that doesn't suffer from noise.
Some of the most exotic uses of computational photography have been pioneered by Stanford University where researchers came up with a way to "see through" dense foliage and crowds.
By positioning dozens of cameras at different viewpoints and processing the resulting data they were able to create a shallow-focus effect that left the desired subject sharp but obstructing objects so blurred that they appeared transparent.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption By using an array of cameras, software can blur out objects blocking the view, to the point that they appear to be transparent (courtesy: Marc Levoy, Stanford University)
Their research paper suggested surveillance of a target as a possible use for the tech.
"They spent $2m [£1.3m] to build this great big camera array and it took a team of dedicated grad students to run the thing," says Prof Jack Tumblin, a computational photography expert at Northwestern University, near Chicago.
"It was a wonderful lab machine, but not very practical."
Prof Tumblin is currently trying to develop a budget version of the effect using only a single camera.
His theory is that by taking lots of shots from different positions, with the lens's exact location recorded for each one, he should then be able to use software to remove an undesired object from the final photograph. The caveat is that the thing involved must be static.
Image caption Prof Tumblin aims to be able to remove all traces of an object from his photos
Perhaps the biggest potential benefit of computational photography isn't new gimmicky effects but rather the ability to capture the best two-dimensional shot possible.
One area of research is to create a high-quality image that currently requires a heavy lens containing several precision-polished glass elements to take it - but to do so with a smaller, cheaper, less complex part.
Image caption By moving its camera sensor Hasselblad captures red, blue and green image data for each pixel point
The idea is to stop trying to avoid any imperfections in the image cast onto the sensor but rather control what kinds they are, limiting them to ones that can be fixed with software.
Another technique involves taking shots in quick succession and moving the sensor as little as half-a-pixel between each one before combining the information to create a "super-resolution" image.
Hasselbad already uses this on one of its high-end cameras to let its 50 megapixel sensor create 200MP photos.
And there's the suggestion that building a hybrid device which takes takes both stills and high-speed video simultaneously could solve the problem of camera shake.
"The purpose is to get an exact measurement of how the photo has been blurred," explains Prof Tumblin.
"If the video camera part focuses on some bright spot off in the distance it can be used to work out the trajectory. That lets blur caused by your hand moving in random ways become quite reversible."What is CQRS?
CQRS is an architectural pattern, where the acronym stands for Command Query Responsibility Segregation. We can talk about CQRS when the data read operations are separated from the data write operations, and they happen on a different interface.
In most of the CQRS systems, read and write operations use different data models, sometimes even different data stores. This kind of segregation makes it easier to scale, read and write operations and to control security - but adds extra complexity to your system.
Node.js at Scale is a collection of articles focusing on the needs of companies with bigger Node.js installations and advanced Node developers. Chapters:
The level of segregation can vary in CQRS systems:
single data stores and separated model for reading and updating data
and separated model for reading and updating data separated data stores and separated model for reading and updating data
In the simplest data store separation, we can use read-only replicas to achieve segregation.
Why and when to use CQRS?
In a typical data management system, all CRUD (Create Read Update Delete) operations are executed on the same interface of the entities in a single data storage. Like creating, updating, querying and deleting table rows in an SQL database via the same model.
CQRS really shines compared to the traditional approach (using a single model) when you build complex data models to validate and fulfil your business logic when data manipulation happens. Read operations compared to update and write operations can be very different or much simpler - like accessing a subset of your data only.
Real world example
In our Node.js Monitoring Tool, we use CQRS to segregate saving and representing the data. For example, when you see a distributed tracing visualization on our UI, the data behind it arrived in smaller chunks from our customers application agents to our public collector API.
In the collector API, we only do a thin validation and send the data to a messaging queue for processing. On the other end of the queue, workers are consuming messages and resolving all the necessary dependencies via other services. These workers are also saving the transformed data to the database.
If any issue happens, we send back the message with exponential backoff and max limit to our messaging queue. Compared to this complex data writing flow, on the representation side of the flow, we only query a read-replica database and visualize the result to our customers.
Trace by RisingStack data processing with CQRS
CQRS and Event Sourcing
I've seen many times that people are confusing these two concepts. Both of them are heavily used in event driven infrastructures like in an event driven microservices, but they mean very different things.
To read more about Event Sourcing with Examples, check out our previous Node.js at Scale article.
Reporting database - Denormalizer
In some event driven systems, CQRS is implemented in a way that the system contains one or multiple Reporting databases.
A Reporting database is an entirely different read-only storage that models and persists the data in the best format for representing it. It's okay to store it in a denormalized format to optimize it for the client needs. In some cases, the reporting database contains only derived data, even from multiple data sources.
In a microservices architecture, we call a service the Denormalizer if it listens for some events and maintains a Reporting Database based on these. The client is reading the denormalized service's reporting database.
An example can be that the user profile service emits a user.edit event with { id: 1, name: 'John Doe', state: 'churn' } payload, the Denormalizer service listens to it but only stores the { name: 'John Doe' } in its Reporting Database, because the client is not interested in the internal state churn of the user.
It can be hard to keep a Reporting Database in sync. Usually, we can only aim to eventual consistency.
A CQRS Node.js Example Repo
For our CQRS with Denormalizer Node.js example visit our cqrs-example GitHub repository.
Outro
CQRS is a powerful architectural pattern to segregate read and write operations and their interfaces, but it also adds extra complexity to your system. In most of the cases, you shouldn't use CQRS for the whole system, only for specific parts where the complexity and scalability make it necessary.
To read more about CQRS and Reporting databases, I recommend to check out these resources:
In the next chapter of the Node.js at Scale series we'll discuss Node.js Testing and Getting TDD Right. Read on! :)
I’m happy to answer your CQRS related questions in the comments section!WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is breathing new life into a previously floated idea for resolving risky congressional fights over raising the government's borrowing limit: the 14th Amendment.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Pelosi said President Barack Obama may not like the idea, but she thinks it's within his constitutional authority to raise the debt ceiling himself, in the event Congress fails to do so. Her pitch comes as House Republicans seem to be preparing for a fight over the matter in the coming days.
"I think the 14th Amendment covers it," said Pelosi. "The president and I have a disagreement in that regard, I guess. I guess!"
She added, "I would never have taken that off the table."
The federal government is on track to run out of money on Oct. 17. Instead of putting forward a clean bill to raise its borrowing limit, House Republicans are signaling they plan to load up their bill with unrelated measures that Democrats oppose -- including delaying the implementation of health care reform. The debt limit, or the total amount of money the government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing obligations, currently stands at $16.7 trillion.
If Congress fails to reach a deal in time, the government will default on its debt obligations to other countries. Such a default could trigger another financial crisis in the U.S., with likely repercussions abroad.
In past fights over raising the debt ceiling -- when things got to the 11th hour -- Pelosi and other Democrats urged Obama to bypass Congress and raise the limit on his own. They point to Section 4 of the 14th Amendment, which states: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payments of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.”
Essentially, Democrats are arguing that since the "public debt" cannot be questioned, then the debt ceiling itself is unconstitutional.
Obama routinely brushes off the idea and says it's up to Congress to address the matter. Asked for a response to Pelosi's latest call, a White House aide pointed HuffPost to comments made earlier this year by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney reiterating that the president wouldn't take that route.Tell her you’ve been praying to St. Anthony to find her.
#CatholicPickUpLines
2. Ask her to join you for donuts after Sunday Mass.
I think this is actually how Jim asked Jeannie out for the first time.
3. Brag about how good you are at changing diapers.
This skill WILL come in handy one-day. Start learning now.
4. Start all of your dates with a visit to an adoration chapel to see Jesus.
But maybe don’t be quite this forceful about it.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
5. Bring her roses and tell her they’re from St. Thérèse.
Warning: This could backfire if you pick the wrong color.
6. Let her know you appreciate how she dresses modestly.
Follow it up with a compliment that points to her character and you will earn two bonus points.
7. Quote her lines from JPII’s Theology of the Body.
“The communion of persons means existing in a mutual ‘for,’ in a relationship of mutual gift” (TOB January 9, 1980).
8. Tell her she kind of reminds you of Bl. Mother Teresa.
Or St. Joan or Arc. Or St. Edith Stein. It all depends on how she expresses her feminine genius.(TOB January 9, 1980).
9. Let her go first in the communion line.
This is way more touching than opening a door, but do that too.
10. Comment on how adorable Pope Francis is.
Okay, come on, he really that cute.
11. Suggest for her to take her puppy to the next blessing of pets on St. Francis’ feast day.
So many points won here. 12. Pray for her.
Heart-melting powers at their best. 13. Invite her to go on a rosary walk.
Wouldn’t your Mama Mary be proud? 14. Before you ask her out, become her friend.
Trust me. You’ll thank me later. 15. Always play Audrey Assad when she’s in your car.
You could even make a special playlist on your device for her called “Bae’s List.” 16. Ask her to save the first dance for you at the SLS16 hoedown. The white coat might seem like a bit of overkill at first, but it’d be a nice touch. 17. Sit next to her at Mass… so you can hold her hand during the Our Father.
And when it’s time to let go, give her an extra special squeeze. 18. Treat her like a princess.
After all, she is the daughter of a King. 19. Actually listen to her when she’s talking.
It’s hard. We know. But you can do it! 20. If Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday in Lent, make her spaghetti with Trader Joe’s Meatless Meatballs.
Nothing says Happy Valentine’s Day like conforming to liturgical mandates. 21. Become a Swiss Guard. The outfit speaks for itself. 22. Serenade her.
Depending on the seriousness of your relationship, something like “Set Me as A Seal” by Matt Maher would do quite well. 23. Assure her you’d never leave her for the seminary.
Okay, don’t really do that. Even if it would relieve a lot of potential anxiety. Really. Don’t. Do. That. 24. When you are trying to pick a movie to watch together, suggest a period drama.
There are just so many to choose from, and all of the really good ones are at least five hours or 10+ episodes long! (Score!) 25. Let her know about your weekly phone date with Grandma.
This way she’ll know you won’t be answering texts during that time. 26. Carry a rosary in your pocket and wear a scapular around your neck.
*Baller* 27. Respect her body. You know what that means. 28. Buy her some bling… like holy medals or a rosary. And go ahead and get it blessed by your bishop before you give it to her. 29. Beat her to finding the next hymn at Mass, and then offer her your book.
What a gentleman you are, anticipating her needs like that! 30. Tell her that you’ve been writing letters to your future spouse too!
Mic drop. You’ve just made all of her dreams (well, most of them) come true! Be saints; it’s worth it!
Follow it up with a compliment that points to her character and you will earn two bonus points.Having leaked to the world, and thus to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a detailed briefing of the coming U.S. air attack on Syria — (1) the source (offshore warships and perhaps a bomber or two), (2) the weapon (cruise missiles), (3) the duration (two or three days), (4) the purpose (punishment, not “regime change”) — perhaps we should be publishing the exact time the bombs will fall, lest we disrupt dinner in Damascus.
So much for the element of surprise. Into his third year of dithering, two years after declaring Assad had to go, one year after drawing — then erasing — his own red line on chemical weapons, Barack Obama has been stirred to action.
Or more accurately, shamed into action. Which is the worst possible reason. A president doesn’t commit soldiers to a war for which he has zero enthusiasm. Nor does one go to war for demonstration purposes.
Want to send a message? Call Western Union. A Tomahawk missile is for killing. A serious instrument of war demands a serious purpose.
The purpose can be either punitive or strategic: either a spasm of conscience that will inflame our opponents yet leave not a trace, or a considered application of abundant American power to alter the strategic equation that is now heavily favoring our worst enemies in the heart of the Middle East.
There are risks to any attack. Blowback terror from Syria and its terrorist allies. Threatened retaliation by Iran or Hezbollah on Israel — that could lead to a guns-of-August regional conflagration. Moreover, a mere punitive pinprick after which Assad emerges from the smoke intact and emboldened would demonstrate nothing but U.S. weakness and ineffectiveness.
In 1998, after al-Qaeda blew up two U.S. embassies in Africa, Bill Clinton lobbed a few cruise missiles into empty tents in Afghanistan. That showed ’em.
It did. It showed terminal unseriousness. Al-Qaeda got the message. Two years later, the USS Cole. A year after that, 9/11.
Yet even Clinton gathered the wherewithal to launch a sustained air campaign against Serbia. That wasn’t a mere message. That was a military strategy designed to stop the Serbs from ravaging Kosovo. It succeeded.
If Obama is planning a message-sending three-day attack, preceded by leaks telling the Syrians to move their important military assets to safety, better that he do nothing. Why run the considerable risk if nothing important is changed?
The only defensible action would be an attack with a strategic purpose, a sustained campaign aimed at changing the balance of forces by removing the Syrian regime’s decisive military advantage — air power.
Of Assad’s 20 air bases, notes retired Gen. Jack Keane, six are primary. Attack them: the runways, the fighters, the helicopters, the fuel depots, the nearby command structures. Render them inoperable.
We don’t need to take down Syria’s air defense system, as we did in Libya. To disable air power, we can use standoff systems — cruise missiles fired from ships offshore and from aircraft loaded with long-range, smart munitions that need not overfly Syrian territory.
Depriving Assad of his total control of the air and making resupply from Iran and Russia far more difficult would alter the course of the war. That is a serious purpose.
Would the American people support it? They are justifiably war-weary and want no part of this conflict. And why should they? In three years, Obama has done nothing to prepare the country for such a serious engagement. Not one speech. No explanation of what’s at stake.
On the contrary. Last year Obama told us repeatedly that the tide of war is receding. This year, he grandly declared that the entire war on terror “must end.” If he wants Tomahawks to fly, he’d better have a good reason, tell it to the American people and get the support of their representatives in Congress, the way George W. Bush did for both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
It’s rather shameful that while the British prime minister recalled Parliament to debate possible airstrikes — late Thursday, Parliament actually voted down British participation — Obama has made not a gesture in that direction.
If you are going to do this, Mr. President, do it constitutionally. And seriously. This is not about you and your conscience. It’s about applying American power to do precisely what you now deny this is about — helping Assad go, as you told the world he must.
Otherwise, just send Assad a text message. You might incur a roaming charge, but it’s still cheaper than a three-day, highly telegraphed, perfectly useless demonstration strike.
Read more from Charles Krauthammer’s archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.Image: Shutterstock
On Wednesday, Canada's major telecom companies will have to answer to the government for "skinny" TV packages that have been labelled a "ripoff" by Canadians.
In 2015, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruled that companies must offer a $25 "skinny" cable package, partly to benefit people earning a lower income. However, additional fees and installation charges added up so that the packages often cost a lot more than that—in some cases, up to $100 per month. In response, Canadians called bullshit and complained to the CRTC en masse.
Over two days of hearings beginning on Wednesday, Canada's top cable providers will have to prove that their skinny plans are in compliance with the CRTC's standards, and that their packages meet the "spirit" of the skinny initiative. These hearings are part of the regulator's annual broadcasting license renewal process, meaning that if the companies aren't compliant, they could theoretically lose their license to operate in Canada.
Read more: Canadians Will get to Tell Telecoms how Much of a Ripoff Their 'Skinny' Plans Are
"The CRTC has seen and heard different things from Canadians," CRTC spokesperson Céline Legault wrote me in an email. "In some cases, Canadians claim that if they switch to the basic package they would lose bundling discounts. Others have complained of high equipment fees. The CRTC has also received complaints about the channels included in the basic package."
Rogers, Shaw, Bell Canada, and Quebec-based provider Videotron will testify at the hearings. Bell, arguably the worst offender of the bunch, charges "skinny" customers between $60 and $100 per month after additional charges, and in February the CBC discovered that the company was instructing sales staff to not promote the plans to potential customers.
"We're hoping that the CRTC reprimands these giants for not complying with the spirit of the rules"
Bell Canada argued in its submission to the CRTC that its packages are "fully compliant" with the CRTC's regulations. The company's basic TV package is delivered over the internet, and so it requires customers to additionally purchase internet service at a minimum of $24.95 on top of the cost of the "skinny" plan, according to the submission.
"We're hoping that the CRTC reprimands these giants for not complying with the spirit of the rules," said Meghan Sali, a spokesperson for digital rights group OpenMedia, in an interview. "What's disappointing is that we've already talked about it. The CRTC came out with the regulations it wanted implemented, and now we're going back to another publicly-funded hearing to argue about whether or not these things have happened in the spirit of the regulations."
As for what the federal regulator can do to twist the arm of telecoms, "the CRTC has multiple tools and options at its disposal to address cases of non-compliance, which include the imposition of conditions of licence and shortened licence renewal," Legault wrote me.
In Canada's tiny telecom market, dominated by a handful of large companies—Rogers, Bell, and Telus, as well as Videotron in Quebec—losing a broadcasting license would be disastrous, and might even further narrow Canadians' already meagre selection of cable providers.
In other words, just offer a $25 cable package, will you already?An alleged burglar got more than he bargained for when he entered the Wisconsin home of a 95-year-old former Marine and his daughter.
Fred, a World War II veteran, says his dog started barking and alerted him to someone breaking in through a back door of the West Allis house on Dec. 4.
“I was almost standing nose to nose with him. That was a shocker,” the veteran told the Journal Sentinel. Fred added that the robber threatened to kill him and his dog if he didn’t hand over his wallet.
“I wasn’t scared. I was so damn mad,” the veteran of the war in the Pacific told reporters. The 95-year-old was able to wrestle alleged burglar, Gary Wells, to the ground before the homeowner’s daughter ran downstairs to help fight the thief off.
Fred’s motivated 51-year-old daughter Mary then took off after Wells, chasing the burglar for six blocks before catching and holding him for police. “I was mad because of what he did to my dad,” Mary said. “We jumped over two fences and ran through 12 yards,” the Marine’s daughter added.
Mary eventually caught the crook after the 53-year-old’s leg got caught on a picket fence. “It was just reflexes. I guess it rubbed off from my father.”
The West Allis family, who asked for their last name not to be used, said they were fortunate Wells did not have a gun. The father-daughter team also saved the property of another Wisconsin home as police found the alleged burglar with nine silver and gold cuff links on him. Authorities are now looking for the rightful owners of the stolen goods and Wells has been charged with felony burglary.The is it, isn’t it debate over whether No Man’s Sky would release later on PC than the PS4 can now be put to rest; Sean Murray has confirmed the date as 12 August worldwide. Prior to today, Steam in the US was still showing the PC date as 9 August. Today, it’s listed as the 12th.
“PC NMS release will now be global and will be August 12th worldwide. It’s so important we get it right and make the best version we can,” Murray says in a tweet from earlier today. Adding (in a separate one), “There are reasons we have to be tight lipped at times. I’m sorry for the confusion caused”.
Hello Games’ inability to absolutely confirm the worldwide PC release date until now (the “reasons” referred to above) may be boring bureaucratic and/or legal parameters due to No Man’s Sky being a Sony-published ‘console exclusive’ on PS4. By way of explanation as to why the release dates are different on PS4 and PC, Murray offers this: “We think a global release is best for everyone on PC. Retail forces us to be staggered on PS4.”
In yet another tweet from Murray, there’s some indication that the PC version is getting some specific love. “I’m here tonight adding support for 21:9 monitors. We don’t even have one. I’ve stuck some cardboard to the side of mine,” he says.
There’s even a bit more clarification about PC review copies. The word there is “If you are a reviewer/streamer on PC, we’ll be setting up a keymailer for you. We’d love you to play as soon as it’s ready. BUT NOT BEFORE.”
In other NMS news, Hello Games will be wiping the servers for launch.6 Bernie Ecclestone
Supremo. Head honcho. Chief. Boss.
Whether you use one of these words or something stronger, one thing is clear: Bernie Ecclestone maintains his iron grip on Formula 1. For decades, he’s been the driving force behind the sport’s modernisation, and has fronted a relentless drive to expand it to new territories.
At 84, Ecclestone’s hold is as tight as ever. But, going into the 2015 season, which starts in Melbourne this weekend, the sport he runs could be in better health. Spiralling costs and a drying-up of sponsorship revenue have forced some of the minnows into administration, and called some recent changes into question. The spotlight has been pointing at the ringmaster too, with a highly-publicised trial on corruption charges in Germany culminating in a multi-million dollar settlement. So, we ask: should Ecclestone be considered Formula 1’s saviour?
“He has built the business, the brand of Formula 1,” says David Coulthard, former F1 driver and BBC F1 commentator. “And he did so because of vision, because of the belief that he could get the teams to commit.”
Certainly, the landscape of the sport is hugely different to how it was when Ecclestone first started exerting his influence in the 1970s, first as the owner of Brabham, and then as the chief executive of the Formula One Constructors’ Association. “There’s no question that he was a driving force, if not the driving force in creating a homogenous package out of what was a disparate series of elements before,” says Andrew Benson, BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer.
Maurice Hamilton, former motorsport correspondent for The Observer, agrees. “All you have to do is look at the way it was before he arrived, and it was an utter shambles,” he says. “If I recall the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix – we arrived and there was no timetable, these sort of things were just made up by the organisers on the hoof. Ferrari were in one of their downturns, and they didn’t turn up. They were in the programme, on the entry list and they just didn’t come. Bernie could see that the whole of Formula 1 needed to be brought into a consistent, marketable state.
“There was no law and order to anything. And now, it is regimented, it’s strict. If there is one thing that Bernie has done, he has brought motor racing into line.”
His biggest early impact was arguably to introduce collective bargaining for television rights, which were previously sold on a race-by-race basis, and negotiated on behalf of the teams in exchange for a healthy commission.
“That decision was probably the most significant change that started Formula 1 on the route from what was, in the 1970s, a specialist sport for rich entrepreneurs to now the third-biggest global sporting event after the World Cup and the Olympics,” says Benson.
The business of F1
“He’s done an amazing job,” says triple F1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart. “He’s a dictator, but he has made it work. And he has made a lot of people rich.”
Himself included. Ecclestone has a net worth of more than $4bn according to Forbes – not bad for a man whose first business venture was trading motorbike spare parts for pennies in Bexleyheath.
Hamilton believes, however, that the pursuit of profit is not good for the sport or its relationship with its fans.
“He doesn’t care,” says Hamilton. “Bernie does not care about the public, and that’s a fault, no question about it. He’s there for Formula 1, as a business, to make money. And the public in the paddock get under his feet, get in the way, they’re a nuisance and that’s not right.”
The drive for profit is perhaps most evident in the way the series has targeted non-traditional markets in recent years. Countries such as India and China come with massive potential fanbases, but their governments are also willing to pay the fees associated with hosting a Formula 1 race.
“Some of the fees they get are astronomical,” says Matt Cutler, editor of SportBusiness International magazine. “If you look at somewhere like Abu Dhabi, they are paying in the region of $70m a year, and that’s just a hosting fee. What Bernie did really well is that these are escalating deals – every year it goes up by ten per cent, and deals are for five or ten years.”
Hamilton says the sport has gone too far. “The dollar has become the be-all and end- all,” he says. “Fair play to him. He finds these governments willing to spend all this money, and he takes their money knowing full well that the thing is going to die on its feet. While that’s all very nice from the point of view of turning a profit, it’s not great for Formula 1 – going to these places where three people turn up to watch and the circuit falls apart within three years, particularly at the expense of more traditional circuits.”
The money from race fees and television rights gets distributed among the teams after CVC Capital Partners (F1’s owners, and now Ecclestone’s employers) have taken their cut.
But it’s not nearly enough to run two cars across a 20-race season. The costs range from £50m a year, for the backmarkers, to more than £200m for one of the frontrunners. That’s where sponsorship money becomes essential, and it means teams such as Marussia and Caterham – who both went into administration within a matter of days of each other at the end of last season – can struggle to stay afloat.
“One of the problems at the moment is that sponsorship revenue in general is drying up,” says Benson. “It’s still there, but you can see the problems that teams are having raising sponsorship. This is the second season McLaren are heading into without a title sponsor onboard.”
Cutler adds: “Traditionally the sponsorship of Formula 1 has intrinsically been related to the broadcast footprint. F1 was always free-to-air in certain markets and they’ve kind of shifted away from that in the past five years or so. You get more money for rights, but not necessarily the same exposure.”
The numbers back up Cutler’s thinking. Formula 1’s global audience fell by 25 million in 2014, to 425 million. That’s down from 515 million?in 2011.
“I think we probably have to point the finger at Bernie from the point of view of no communication with the younger generation,” says Hamilton, who underlines the sport’s sluggishness in embracing new media. Ecclestone has been openly dismissive.
“I don’t know why people want to get to the so-called ‘young generation,’” he told The Telegraph in November. “Why do they want to do that? Is it to sell them something? Most of these kids haven’t got any money. I’d rather get to the 70-year-old guy who’s got plenty of cash.”
The shape of things to come
You could draw a parallel with Sir Alex Ferguson, who ruled Manchester United for decades with great success. He arguably did not, however, leave the squad in the same rude health it had previously enjoyed. Could the same thing be said of Ecclestone and F1?
“Yes. I think that’s a very good parallel,” says Hamilton. “I think Formula 1 is not in good shape, and I get the impression that Bernie is not particularly bothered because he has done his bit, he’s got |
Chicago (CNN) Three years ago, police gunfire felled black teen Cedrick Chatman as he ran away from them and cameras rolled.
On Thursday, a judge released video of the deadly shooting. In its wake, a group of activists who have organized previous protests over shootings called for more on Friday.
And former police investigator Lorenzo Davis called for a change in the way investigations of officer-involved shootings and alleged excessive use of force are handled.
Protesters in #chicago scream "shame on you" to community leaders walking into Mayor Emanuel's #mlk breakfast. https://t.co/1N6VszSEJt
Investigators are too close to the department, he told CNN's Don Lemon. He is looking forward to seeing what a U.S. Department of Justice investigation turns up.
The police department fired Davis, he said, after he ruled Officer Kevin Fry's shooting of 17-year-old Chatman, who was unarmed, unjustified. But he had been at odds with the department over the internal assessment of police use of force for a while.
"I was fired not just for that case but for several cases including officer involved shooting cases and other excessive force cases," he said. "But I refused to change my findings in a number of cases. That was simply the last one."
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Assessment: Unjustified
On video, Lorenzo saw a fleeing suspect who posed no danger.
"I pay most attention to Officer Fry. Mr. Chatman is simply trying to get away. He's running as fast as he can away from the officers. Officer (Lou) Toth is right behind him; he's doing the right thing. He's pursuing him. He's trying to capture him, while Officer Fry, on the other hand, has both of his hands on his weapon. He is in a shooter's position. He is looking for a clear shot."
Once Chatman runs past objects obscuring the officer's aim, Fry takes the shot he has positioned himself for, Lorenzo said.
Assessment: Justifiable
After Davis' firing, a new investigator was assigned, who ruled the shooting justifiable, and police accounts given after Chatman died told a story that differed in important points from Davis' assessment.
As Fry and Toth pursued on foot, police said, the 5-foot-7, 133-pound Chatman turned toward them.
"As Mr. Chatman approaches the corner, he makes a slight turn, a subtle turn to the right with his upper body. I see in his right hand a dark gray or black object," Fry said, according to court records.
So he fired four shots to protect his partner Officer Lou Toth, who was hot on Chatman's heels.
It turned out the object in Chatman's hand was a black iPhone box. Chatman had not pointed the object at either officer, Fry said.
He did not say anything or give any orders before opening fire. "I felt his threat was as such that I didn't have time to say anything," Fry said.
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Car reported stolen
Rewind the video, and it starts with Chatman jumping out of a car police say was reported stolen.
He runs across the street and squeezes between two parked cars as Fry's partner, Officer Lou Toth, gives chase. Chatman then hits an all-out sprint along the sidewalk toward an intersection. Toth sprints behind him.
Fry draws his handgun in the middle of the street, plants his feet near the intersection in a firing stance as Chatman appears to still be running away. Chatman is out of camera shot at the time, and it does not reveal his moves.
The camera then pans over and shows a wounded, unarmed Chatman lying in the street as Toth handcuffs him. The whole event takes about 10 seconds. Then Toth places his right boot on top of Chatman.
Brian Coffman, attorney for Chatman's family, objected to Toth's putting his foot on the shot teen. "It's irresponsible and unreasonable," he said.
Wrongful death suit
With the shooting was ruled as justifiable, the officers have remained on their beats.
But attorneys for Chatman's mother, Linda Chatman, filed a wrongful death suit against them. They urged the release of the video to the public as part of that case.
In ordering the videos' release, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Gettleman indicated Fry might have put his partner's life in danger, saying Toth was running so close to the teen when shots rang out "you might say he was in the line of fire."
Officer Fry scrutinized
There are no new criminal investigations against the officers. But Officer Fry, in particular, is facing public scrutiny with the video's release.
He has had 30 complaints lodged against him over the years, including 10 allegations of excessive use of force. The police department found every complaint against him to be unwarranted.
In one case in 2007, Fry and a partner shot a 16-year-old black male in a school alcove after seeing a shiny object around his waist and fearing for their lives. The object wasn't a weapon but a "shiny belt buckle," according to an independent investigation of the shooting.
The shooting was deemed justifiable, but CNN learned the city settled with the teen and his family for $99,000. There was no admission of guilt as part of the settlement.
Although neither officer was charged in the Chatman case, two men were charged with first-degree murder in the teen's killing: his 23-year-old friend Martel Odom and a 22-year-old neighbor, Akeem Clarke.
Both were about 10 blocks away at the time of the shooting. The law in Illinois allows for anyone who sets in motion a chain of events that results in the death of another individual to be charged with murder.
The two later pleaded guilty to lesser charges.
Videos and outrage
Outrage over police shootings have rumbled through Chicago since the November release of the fatal police shooting video of Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 times. Attorney's for his family accused police of threatening witnesses and falsifying their accounts.
Chicago Alderman Anthony Beale has criticized investigations into police violence as being flawed.
"For years we've had a systemic problem with the police officers protecting one another. And that's why you have such distrust in the community," he told CNN's Don Lemon.
But he also sees police as an essential part of the community and was worried that they might feel intimidated by the scrutiny.
"Now that the spotlight is being put on the police department, they're no longer being aggressive; they're no longer doing the job that they are capable of doing," he said. His suggestion was to do things by the book. That way they would still be doing their jobs and staying out of trouble at the same time.
Protests target mayor
Protesters have targeted Mayor Rahm Emanuel, at times calling for him to step down, and they have vowed to continue.
The city's prior opposition to releasing the videos of Chatman's shooting -- as late as December -- has brought on new heat. It seemed to contradict Emanuel's pledge of an era of new transparency.
'A new world'
The city made the move as part of the transparency effort and is considering how to handle videos of police shootings in the future, said Jonathan Green, an attorney representing the city.
Chicago had long opposed the release of such videos while investigations and court hearings were underway, but now with the spread of cell phone cameras and surveillance cameras, the stance may change.
"The city recognizes...we're in a new world," Green said.
Judge'very disturbed'
Judge Gettleman scolded the city and mayor's office, saying it was "irresponsible" to waste taxpayers' money and the court's time with its previous opposition.
"I'm very disturbed at the way this happened," he said. "This should not have happened the way it did."
He blasted city attorneys for the December motion in which they stated it was not clear from the videos who fired at Chatman. Gettlemen said that wasn't true: "It's clear to me who fired the shots."SALT LAKE CITY — The LDS Church is using a previously unreported self-reliance program in Africa that is yielding positive results on a continent where the church is seeing "close to exponential" growth, Elder Joseph W. Sitati said Friday.
A Kenyan who is a member of the Quorums of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Sitati shared the information during the lunch plenary session of the "Black, White and Mormon" conference at the University of Utah.
He also said African Mormons know about but "are largely unaffected" by the past restriction on blacks of African descent receiving the LDS priesthood, in part because the restriction ended in 1978 on the heels of the end of colonialism in Africa.
Since then, LDS Church membership on the continent has grown rapidly. In 1978, there were 7,567 Mormons in Africa. At the end of 2014, there were 448,487.
Among them was Elder Sitati, who joined the church in 1986.
Another 45,000 African immigrants have joined the church elsewhere, including 15,000 in the United States. In fact, over the past five years, more than 50 percent of new members baptized in Europe are immigrants from Africa.
"The rate of growth has been close to exponential," Elder Sitati said, adding that it is accompanied by some of the highest new-member retention rates in the church.
"This underlines the fact that pre-1978 temple and priesthood restrictions on black people have not impacted church growth in Africa to any extent that requires church leaders to address them specifically," he said.
Challenges of growth
The church is growing faster than it can train new local leaders or build meetinghouses.
"It is easy for missionaries to find converts almost everywhere," Elder Sitati said.
The church adopted a principle of establishing and growing centers of strength in urban areas where literacy is high and there are fewer languages.
Other challenges include terrorist activity or internal conflict in some nations, and governments that impose limits on the number of foreign missionaries.
Poverty also restricts the participation of many Latter-day Saints.
Senior couples often can't finance even stay-at-home service missions. Most young Mormons can't afford to serve as missionaries without church assistance — the cost of serving a mission in some cases exceeds the per capita GDP.
"All who want to serve are given the opportunity to do so," Elder Sitati said.
In 2012, in a previously unreported move, the church's First Presidency began to expand on the Perpetual Education Fund to create "Self-Reliance Services," which Elder Sitati called "a doctrinally based, fully supported initiative providing resources to support members in international areas in their efforts to become self-reliant."
The initiative opened the PEF — which provides loans for higher education — to all adults, no matter their age, and opened more routes to self-reliance by adding options for self-employment, accelerated job searches and learning marketable skills and trades.
New program
African Mormons who undergo 12 weeks of self-reliance training in the program are more likely to take the sacrament weekly, become temple worthy, save money, pay tithing and become debt-free, according to a July survey of more than 1,000 Africans from nine countries who graduated from the program.
"This priesthood-led initiative is already having a significant positive impact on the African Saints who are taking advantage of it, and their lives are being transformed," Elder Sitati said.
The survey showed a 106 percent increase in those who saved money and a 38 percent improvement in the number who were debt free. It also captured a 32-percent increase in weekly sacrament observance, a 14-percent boost in tithepaying and 11-percent jump in the number of members who were temple worthy.
American Mormons can get access to much of the program in the Gospel Library app on their phones or tablets, said Jermaine Sullivan, president of the church's Atlanta Georgia Stake.
"These programs were created for the international church, but we're doing the same thing in Atlanta," he said.
Sullivan called a stake welfare specialist in May and launched one part of the program called "My Job Search," which he'd found on his tablet app.
"We began with seven people and had amazing results," he said. "At the beginning, none of the seven were employed. At the end, five had one job (each), and the other two had two jobs each."
The overall program includes both temporal and spiritual self-reliance tools.
Differing perceptions
Elder Sitati, 63, served in Kenya as an LDS branch president, district president, stake president, mission president, Area Seventy and as the church's international director of Public Affairs for Africa.
He became a Seventy and general authority of the church in April 2009 and now lives in Utah, where he is an assistant executive director in the Temple Department and a member of the Perpetual Education Fund Committee.
His talk at the "Black, White and Mormon" conference at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts was set amid panels of African-American Latter-day Saints discussing race and Mormon women, race at Brigham Young University — there are no African-American faculty, a panelist reported — and how race affects LDS fellowship, proselytizing and teaching in congregations.
Most LDS leaders in Africa are black, and Sitati said he surveyed a number of them before his talk. He said most active adult African Mormons who have joined the church since the end of the priesthood restriction in 1978 know about it.
"The work of the church is largely unaffected by concerns about the past," he said. Moreover, the Saints in Africa are not preoccupied by these issues."
They find understanding and peace in gospel teachings and the past restriction in the context of African colonialism, when "long-established foreign-based mainstream Christian churches" placed limitations on their African members.
The LDS Church is not seen as any more American, white or racist than other churches that originated in the United States, he said.
African LDS sensitivity may arise when something suggests "they belong to a status that in some way makes them less than fellow citizens with North American Saints."
Sullivan, who is the online learning advisor at Clayton State University and was one of six Mormons highlighted in the 2014 documentary film "Meet the Mormons," was a panelist at the conference.
"I thought it was powerful to hear the perspective of Africans," Sullivan said of Elder Sitati's presentation. "It's quite different from the African-American experience, but I really appreciated it."
The entire conference will be available to stream online at www.thc.utah.edu by next week.Samsung has announced plans to release a "Galaxy Tab 2," an official Android 4.0 follow-up to the first Galaxy Tab released in October 2010. The 7.0-inch Galaxy Tab 2's specs are underwhelming compared to the offshoot Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, a weird prospect given that the Tab 7.0 Plus is meant to be a bargain model.
The Galaxy Tab 2 will have a 1GHz dual-core processor of unspecified make, 1GB of RAM, a 3-megapixel "fixed-focus" rear camera, and a VGA-front facing camera. The tablet will be able to connect to both WiFi and HSPA+ networks, though Samsung has not yet announced a carrier. The whole thing will run on a 4,000mAh battery, and the 8GB/16GB/32GB storage options can be supplemented by a microSD card slot, up to an extra 32GB.
The Tab 2 comes only months after the Tab 7.0 Plus, which was released at a two-year contract price of $249 to compete with the Kindle Fire (through an extra $10 charge over the two years, customers would still end up paying the same $499 starting price as the original Tab). Despite the Tab 7.0 Plus's low starting price, it has slightly better specs than the Tab 2: a 1.2GHz processor and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.
The Tab 2 will come with Android 4.0, which is a plus, though no release date or prices have been announced yet. The mitigated specs and may mean the tablet could be released off of a contract, finally, for a reasonable price.Share This Story Tweet Share Share Pin Email
Nobody said a word as the auctioneer took his place at the lectern, but the tension was deafening. Nearly 100 protesters had packed the room at Utah's Salt Palace Convention Center, mad as hell that the federal government was about to sell oil and gas leases for up to 45,000 acres of public land. Some of the activists held signs: "Our lands, our future," or, "Don't auction our climate."
"OK, let's start the sale, ladies and gentlemen. The first parcel on there is No. 1266, it's up there in the upper corner if you want to follow along. It consists of 162-plus acres of it, located out in Juab County. And who will give me an opening bid of $2 to start? Two-dollar bid?"
The protesters hadn't planned to disrupt the auction. But once the bidding got underway, they couldn’t help themselves. A few of them started chanting, and soon everyone joined in. Their voices got louder and louder: "People gonna rise like the water, gonna calm this crisis down. I hear the voice of my great-granddaughter, saying, 'Keep it in the ground!'"
Protesters with the "keep it in the ground" movement attend a Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease auction in Salt Lake City on Feb. 16, 2016.
(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
A federal official told the activists that if they didn't quiet down, Salt Lake City police would escort them out. He gave them 60 seconds to stop chanting; police officers stood, ready to act.
They stopped chanting — but only for a few minutes, unable to sit silently as oil and gas leases were auctioned off for as little as $2 an acre. This time, they didn't get another chance. As police moved in and ordered them to leave, one of the protesters, Tim Ream, shouted at the bidders, "Show this to your grandkids! Show it to them and explain what’s happening with the climate!"
What's happening with the climate isn't complicated: For every ton of carbon humanity emits by burning fossil fuels, the world is getting hotter.
The Salt Lake City protesters had a simple demand for President Barack Obama: Stop making public land and water available for oil and natural gas drilling. It's a message that's taking hold across the country. In recent months, activists associated with the “keep it in the ground” movement have protested federal auctions in Denver, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Reno and elsewhere. They've got supporters in Congress, including a presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
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Any serious plan to deal with climate change, these activists say, requires the United States to start limiting the extraction of fossil fuels — immediately. They point to studies showing that if the world doesn't keep the vast majority of its coal, oil and gas in the ground, global warming will almost certainly exceed 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times, the target adopted by 195 nations in Paris last year. Scientists once believed that 2 degrees of warming would be relatively safe, but recent studies have found that even less warming could be catastrophic for people, animals and the natural systems that underpin human civilization.
The world is already 1 degree Celsius warmer than it was before the Industrial Revolution.
"Nobody is saying we want to stop burning fossil fuels today, or that we have the ability to stop burning fossil fuels today," said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, the country's largest environmental group. "What we're saying is that the challenge of climate change is a severe one. The need to act has never been more urgent."
CLOSE Activists with the “keep it in the ground” movement disrupted a federal oil and gas lease auction on Feb. 16, 2016 in Salt Lake City. There have been similar protests in Denver, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Reno and elsewhere in recent months. Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun
Critics of "keep it in the ground" say cutting back on drilling would do nothing to limit demand for fossil fuels, which still generate two-thirds of the country's electricity. They believe policymakers should limit their focus to reducing demand for coal, oil and gas, either by taxing carbon or by providing incentives for clean energy. "Keep it in the ground" supporters favor those steps, but say they aren't enough to confront climate change.
Other critics point to the economic pain that transitioning to clean energy could inflict. While scientists and economists generally agree that the long-term benefits of fighting climate change far outweigh the short-term costs, there's little question that abandoning fossil fuels would lead to job losses in regions where coal, oil or gas development is a significant economic force.
A lot is riding on this year's presidential election.
If Americans elect Donald Trump or Ted Cruz — both of whom reject the overwhelming scientific consensus that humans are causing global warming — international efforts to curb climate change could unravel. Cruz has written bills designed to boost oil and gas production, and has promised to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement. Trump, true to form, has released few specifics about his energy policy, although he's criticized Obama's carbon regulations. Hillary Clinton has pledged to limit oil and gas production, although she has a long history of supporting fossil fuels and fracking, including during her tenure as secretary of state. Only Sanders has consistently opposed fossil fuel development.
Whoever wins the Democratic and Republican nominations, most climate advocates say they'll have an easy choice in November.
"I wish it didn't boil down to a partisan political issue," said Michael Mann, a Pennsylvania State University climatologist who has researched long-term temperature changes. "Unfortunately, we've now arrived at a point where there really is this remarkable contrast between the two parties…with one party, we will move backward. With the other party, we will move forward."
'If I'm alive, I have to do something'
Climate change is already happening: Massive ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland are melting faster than expected, causing the oceans to rise. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more intense, with Hurricane Sandy and the California drought offering a preview of what the future might hold. Infectious diseases are expanding outside their old geographic comfort zones, with scientists saying rising temperatures could help Zika virus spread in North America.
Meanwhile, plants and animals are dying — and so are people, although it's hard to calculate an exact number. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, climate change will be responsible for about 240,000 deaths per year. Some of those deaths will be caused by heat and disease, but researchers say the biggest contributor will be childhood undernutrition, as a result of reduced crop production across much of the planet.
Oil wells on public land near Vernal, Utah.
(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
Limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius is still within the realm of possibility — barely.
The math is simple: If humanity wants good odds of staying under 2 degrees Celsius, between two-thirds and four-fifths of the world's proven fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground, according to calculations by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Carbon Tracker Initiative. By century's end if not sooner, the planet will need to be powered almost entirely by zero-carbon energy sources like solar, wind, hydropower and maybe nuclear, climate advocates say.
READ MORE: Why fighting climate change won't destroy the economy
Climate change isn't like other political issues, said Bill McKibben, an environmental activist who co-founded 350.org and led the opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. With most debates between Democrats and Republicans, he said, "the best response is usually to figure out a compromise in the middle," and then revisit the problem as needed. But with climate change, such a strategy could be catastrophic, he said. At current rates of fossil fuel consumption, the world has a few decades at most before it burns its way past 2 degrees Celsius.
"Our problem here is that the two sides, fundamentally, are not industry and environmentalists, or Republicans and Democrats," McKibben said. "At the very bottom, the two sides are physics and human beings. And that's an extremely tough negotiation, because physics doesn't care. We have no leverage on physics."
Climate scientists reported in February that just 2.5 degrees of warming would probably cause sea-level rise of 80 feet over a few thousand years, forcing the abandonment of New York, London and Shanghai. The impacts are already being felt: Rising seas regularly flood South Florida, and a football field's worth of Louisiana coastline is disappearing every 48 minutes, largely due to global warming.
A natural gas pipeline on public land near Vernal, Utah, seen on Feb. 17, 2016.
(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is known for its conservative estimates, projects between one and three feet of global sea-level rise by the end of the century. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is less optimistic, saying the United States could experience 6.6 feet of sea-level rise by 2100. If the oceans rise just six feet, 13.1 million people in the United States would be displaced, according to a recent study led by researchers at the University of Georgia.
"It's our actions that we're doing now that are committing us to this very long-term future," said Peter Clark, an Oregon State University climate scientist, who led the study predicting long-term sea-level rise of 80 feet. "Do we want to be responsible for that type of Earth for the citizens at that time?"
"Keep it in the ground" activist Jill Merritt believes humankind could be wiped out by climate change.
(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
The "keep it in the ground" activists don't want to be responsible. In Salt Lake City, the movement is led by Elders Rising, a group of seniors who hope to leave a livable planet for their grandchildren. They're old-school environmentalists, some of whom have been arrested for civil disobedience.
One of the group's founders, Jill Merritt, isn't optimistic about the future. Ask her what she sees on the horizon, and she'll tell you human beings are going to drive themselves to extinction.
Then why bother fighting, she was asked? Why work so hard to keep fossil fuels in the ground?
"What's the alternative for somebody who is serious about the immorality of all this?" she said. "If I'm alive, I have to do something."
Not good enough
President Obama has made climate change a top priority. It might not be enough.
At the Paris summit, Obama promised America would cut its carbon emissions 26 to 28 percent by 2025. His administration has rolled out stricter fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks, tens of billions of dollars in funding for renewable energy, and rules designed to limit methane leaks from oil and gas production. The centerpiece of his climate policy, the Clean Power Plan, would cut power-plant emissions by a third if it's upheld by the Supreme Court.
READ MORE: At Paris climate talks, nations looked to California
But while experts praise those efforts, they say the next president must do more — much more.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, center, and French President Francois Hollande applaud at the end of the United Nations climate summit at Le Bourget, north of Paris, on Dec.12, 2015.
(Photo: Francois Mori/AP)
Even if every country meets its Paris commitments, global warming will still reach 3.6 degrees Celsius, one recent study found. Another analysis was more optimistic, projecting a best-case scenario of 2.7 degrees of warming — still significantly above the 2-degree threshold.
And the United States isn't even on track to meet its modest Paris commitment. A recent analysis by the Rhodium Group, a global research firm, found that even under the most optimistic assumptions — including faster-than-expected technological improvement — America will fall short.
"The gap is pretty wide, because we really need to limit warming to 1.5 degrees in order to give many countries and wildlife species and ecosystems a chance to survive," said Brune, the Sierra Club executive director. "We have a long way to go. And what the U.S. has committed to certainly won't get us there."
There's only so much a president can do on climate without action from Congress. Many climate experts have called for a carbon tax, or a market-based cap-and-trade system to give polluters a financial incentive to cut back. But those steps would require legislation, which would require 60 votes to clear a filibuster in the Senate. Even if Congress comes around in five or 10 years, it might be too late.
Jeffrey Sachs, director of Columbia University's Earth Institute and an adviser to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is confident the world will transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. But he's not sure it will happen fast enough to avoid warming of 2 degrees Celsius.
"Will we do this? Absolutely. But will we do it in time? It's a very close call," he said. "I have no doubt that as the climate continues to become more unstable — as people begin to experience more shocks and disruptions all over the world — there will be a turn to decarbonization."
The transition is happening, fueled by the falling cost of solar panels and by government support for clean energy. For the first time, the world built more clean energy capacity than it did fossil fuel capacity in 2015, according to a United Nations report. Global investment in clean energy grew to $286 billion, more than double the investment in coal and natural gas, the report found.
READ MORE: How the solar industry scored big wins in California, Congress
It wasn't enough. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels skyrocketed past 400 parts per million last year, increasing faster than at any point during the last 66 million years, according to one study. The numbers are still rising, and they'll probably keep rising so long as power plants, cars, farms, residential and commercial buildings, and other sources keep spewing planet-warming greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
"Every country needs to make a plan to decarbonize. Every country's going to have to do that as fast as possible, and the only exceptions should be the very, very poor countries," Sachs said. "They should be given the leg up, that those fossil fuels are ones that will continue to be used."
The moon shines over a solar plant near the southern end of the Salton Sea, in California's Imperial Valley, on Nov. 23, 2015.
(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
Keep it in the ground
The "keep it in the ground" movement has its roots in opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have carried high-polluting tar sands oil from Canada to Nebraska. When Obama rejected the pipeline in November, he borrowed the movement's language, saying, "If we’re going to prevent large parts of this Earth from becoming not only inhospitable but uninhabitable in our lifetimes, we're going to have to keep some fossil fuels in the ground."
Even before Obama killed Keystone XL, the movement had started shining a spotlight on federal fossil fuels. In September, more than 400 groups and individuals sent a letter to the president, urging him to stop issuing new leases for coal, oil and gas on federal land and offshore waters.
"If we were serious about a world that was only going to be 1.5 or 2 degrees warmer — which would already be a disaster; 1 degree has already melted the Arctic — we can't build any new fossil fuel infrastructure at all," said McKibben, who helped launch the movement. "We've got to stop building pipelines. We've got to stop building coal transport facilities. We've got to stop here and around the world doing any of this stuff immediately."
About 32.2 million acres of federal land are already under lease for oil and gas exploration, with an additional 475,000 acres under lease for possible coal mining, according the most recent data from the federal Bureau of Land Management, which administers about 250 million acres of public land. Offshore, about 26 million acres of water are under lease for oil and gas development.
Critics say the federal fossil fuel program's biggest climate impacts could be yet to come. A report commissioned by two environmental groups — the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth — found last year that federal fossil fuels in areas that haven't yet been leased contain up to 450 gigatons of carbon pollution.
The impact of those emissions would be staggering. Researchers with the Carbon Tracker Initiative, a financial think tank, calculated in 2011 that to maintain an 80 percent chance of keeping global warming to 2 degrees, the world could emit just 565 more gigatons of carbon dioxide — and that number has continued to shrink since then.
READ MORE: Climate change far more than an environmental issue
The 565-gigaton figure is just one estimate of the world's remaining "carbon budget." The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change calculated in 2013 that humanity could emit another 1,000 gigatons of carbon dioxide, although that would give us just a two-thirds chance of keeping global warming below 2 degrees.
Whatever the exact number, the situation is dire: Earth’s proven fossil fuel reserves contain at least 2,795 gigatons of carbon dioxide, according to the Carbon Tracker Initiative. That means companies can’t be allowed to burn the vast majority of the fossil fuels in their arsenals, let alone go looking for new reserves in places like the Arctic, said Sachs, the adviser to Ban Ki-moon.
"It's just arithmetic. If you measure all of the carbon dioxide that would be released if we burned all the coal, oil and gas in our reserves, we'd blow our carbon budget many, many times over," he said. "The companies, basically, cannot go on doing what they’re doing. Of course they don't like that message. It’s a blow to their capitalization. It strands their assets."
Obama gave the "keep it in the ground" movement a major victory in January, halting new coal leases while federal officials review the coal program's climate impacts. His administration also announced last month that it wouldn't open the southeast Atlantic coast to offshore oil and gas development, reversing an earlier decision that would have brought drilling to the region for the first time.
But Obama's Bureau of Land Management is still issuing onshore oil and gas leases, and his Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is moving forward with plans to lease offshore areas in the Arctic and the Gulf of Mexico.
Through a spokesperson, Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze declined to be interviewed for this story. In an emailed statement, he defended the Obama administration's record on climate change, pointing to the president's goal of approving 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity on public land by 2020. Federal officials have already approved 35 solar farms, 11 wind farms and 12 geothermal facilities, although it's not clear all of those projects will be built.
Obama has also set a goal of cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas sector 40 to 45 percent below 2012 levels by 2025. That initiative targets planet-warming methane gas that leaks or is intentionally released during the drilling and transport of oil and gas — not the carbon dioxide emitted when the gas is eventually burned.
SCORCHED EARTH: How climate change is altering the deserts of the Southwest
Kornze declined to answer a question about whether promoting oil and gas drilling is consistent with limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius. In response to that question, Interior Department spokesperson Amanda DeGroff listed some of the administration's climate change successes, including cutting energy use and promoting the development of clean energy.
"The Department of the Interior is committed to safely and responsibly managing the development of oil and gas on public lands in a way that continues to meet our nation's energy needs while advancing renewable forms of energy," DeGroff said in an emailed statement. "Since the President took office, wind energy has tripled and solar has increased twenty-fold. Actions at home to facilitate this type of development show that we are serious about taking on the challenge of climate change and demonstrating leadership on the global stage."
Mill Creek near Moab, Utah.
(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
'We can actually shut it down'
Vaughn Lovejoy would probably have a lot to say to Kornze and Obama.
As president of the Salt Lake City chapter of the Audubon Society in the 1980s, Lovejoy worked to protect forests from development. He later went on a "vision quest" at Great Basin National Park, he said, which inspired him to leave the pharmaceuticals industry and spend 20 years as a volunteer coordinator for TreeUtah, which plants and cares for trees. He likes to talk about the importance of "transforming human consciousness" to encourage harmony with the natural world.
Vaughn Lovejoy believes it's his generation's responsibility to do something about climate change.
(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
But Lovejoy said that until recently, he was in denial about the environmental degradation his generation has caused. That changed on Sept. 14, 2015, when his grandson Johnathon was born — incidentally, the day before the 400-signature "keep it in the ground" letter landed on Obama’s desk.
As he looked into his grandson's eyes, Lovejoy later wrote, "The last vestiges of my denial about the future of our world, the world he had just entered, shattered."
"Humanity is not coming close to making the fundamental changes necessary to save Earth from rising temperatures, melting glaciers, dying forests, rampaging wildfires, extreme weather events and the extinction of countless species," he wrote in November for Catalyst Magazine.
LOSING SNOW: What global warming means for water supplies
Sitting in his Salt Lake City living room on an overcast morning in February — the day before the auction he helped disrupt — Lovejoy explained why he helped found Elders Rising.
“My generation…we were the ones who came of age in the '60s. There was, for this period of time, this sense that we had of optimism — a vision that, number one, the world needed changing, and number two, by golly, we were going to do it," he said. "And now here we are, 40 years later. And during the course of our professional careers here on the planet, there's been more decimation done in the last 40 years than in all of human history."
Protesters with the "keep it in the ground" movement react to the leasing of public land at a Bureau of Land Management oil and gas auction in Salt Lake City |
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp of chopped mint
1 tbsp of chopped flat-leaf parsley
Rind of 1 lemon
½ tsp English mustard
150ml olive oil
100g feta cheese, crumbled
1 small aubergine, sliced lengthways
Season the lamb chops, place them in a large tray under a hot grill, for three or four minutes on each side, making sure the fat renders down to become nice and crispy.
Meanwhile, mix the garlic, lemon rind, mint, parsley and mustard with about four tablespoons of oil.
Remove the lamb chops and rest them somewhere warm.
Add the rest of the oil to the grill pan. Season the aubergine and grill on medium for a few minutes either side until soft (if necessary, give them a couple of minutes in the oven at 180C).
Place the chops and aubergine on a serving dish, scatter the feta on the aubergine, then spoon the mint and parsley dressing over the whole dish.
• Angela Hartnett is chef patron at Murano restaurant and consults at the Whitechapel Gallery and Dining Room, London.
Twitter.com/angelahartnettNews
Microsoft Admits Windows Use at 14 Percent
Microsoft's operating system market position has slipped to 14 percent worldwide, when mobile devices are included in the estimate.
The 14 percent OS figure comes from Kevin Turner, Microsoft's chief operating officer, speaking at this week's Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Washington, D.C. Microsoft still has a 90 percent OS market grip in the PC market, according to Turner, but the majority of computing devices are to be found in the mobile space. To compete, Microsoft is making "hard decisions," including taking zero OS revenue for devices with screens of less than nine inches. Microsoft is adopting a challenger mindset to keep pace, Turner suggested.
The 14 percent figure is a bit shocking to hear, coming from Microsoft. The world has been used to the oft-repeated 90 percent Windows market share that was true when PCs were the predominantly used computing device. However, Turner's 14 percent figure closely corresponds with data released earlier this month by analyst firm Gartner Inc., which projected that Windows devices would hold just 13.7 percent of the total worldwide device market by year's end.
Microsoft is currently working with its partners to deliver lower cost devices for the holidays. Those devices will include seven-inch-screen tablets for $99 and laptops at $199, Turner indicated. Acer and Toshiba may deliver $249 Windows 8 PCs at about that time, which are expected to compete with Google Chromebooks.
Turner said that the next Windows release would be designed to address enterprise needs, as well as those of small-to-medium businesses. He described it as being a "world class" release.
Windows Phone was described as the fasting growing smartphone OS, with 91 percent year-over-year growth. Analyst stats tend to show Windows Phone at a distant third place behind Android and iOS. However, Microsoft contends that Windows Phone is No. 2 in 14 markets. There are about 270,000 apps in the Windows Store, according to Microsoft. Gartner predicts that Windows Phone will have a 10 percent market share in less than four years.
Turner offered up a few other stats in his talk. He suggested that that Hyper-V use has made inroads into VMware's virtualization market hold.
[Click on image for larger view.] Figure 1. Hyper-V market share vs. VMware. Source: Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2014 keynote.
SQL Server has reached the No. 2 place in the database management system market in terms of revenue, according Microsoft, citing IDC and Gartner. Microsoft is also claiming that Dynamics CRM has shown double-digit growth for the past 40 quarters. Half of the Fortune 500 use Microsoft Azure, according to Microsoft. Turner also showed a map of Microsoft's Office 365 datacenters and Azure nodes.
[Click on image for larger view.] Figure 2. Microsoft's datacenters worldwide. Source: Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2014 keynote.
Earlier details about Microsoft Azure were described by Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of the Microsoft Cloud and Enterprise group, in the same keynote address. He said that Microsoft now has "more than 17 Azure regions" around the world. He explained that each region is about the size of two jumbo jets lined up, with a single region capable of housing up to 600,000 servers. He depicted the cloud computing competition as being between just Microsoft, Amazon and Google. However, he claimed that Microsoft has twice more regions than Amazon Web Services and five times more than Google.
Guthrie said that Microsoft had shipped "more than 300 significant new features and services" this year for Microsoft Azure. He added that "more than 57 percent of the Fortune 500 companies" were running on Azure. There are "more than 300,000 publicly facing Web sites on Azure," he claimed.
One of the new capabilities in Azure is the ability to build out a SharePoint farm in minutes, rather than days. Guthrie demonstrated that capability by accessing a SharePoint template from the Azure gallery. Users can specify a single instance or set it up for high availability, he said.
Brad Anderson, corporate vice president for Enterprise Client and Mobility, offered additional Microsoft stats during the keynote talk. He said that Azure Remote App on non-Windows clients have been downloaded "more than 5 million times."
Anderson offered a preview of a new Cloud App Discovery feature in Microsoft Azure. It will scan a computing environment and track the use of SaaS apps, enabling IT pros to see what apps people are using. Anderson also highlighted the Microsoft Azure gallery, saying that Microsoft has integrated "more than 2,000 SaaS apps" into it, which will help IT pros better manage those solutions.Politicians Freak Out Over New FCC Neutrality Moves, Not Realizing They Probably Won't Do Anything
from the I-have-absolutely-no-idea-what-I'm-upset-about dept
"Ranking Republicans called the FCC's efforts to revive net-neutrality rules "a solution in search of a problem," and plan to fight any new rules. Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee will introduce legislation in the coming weeks to block what she calls the "socialistic" proposal. "Federal control of the Internet will restrict our online freedom and leave Americans facing the same horrors that they have experienced with HealthCare.gov," Blackburn said in a statement."
"AT&T, the second-largest wired broadband provider in the U.S., said it believes the FCC has the authority under Section 706 to preserve Internet openness...."AT&T has built its broadband business, both wired and wireless, on the principal of Internet openness," AT&T said in a statement. "That is what our customers rightly expect, and it is what our company will continue to deliver. That is also why we endorsed the FCC's original rule on Net neutrality, and is why we pledged to adhere to openness principles even after the recent court decision."
voluntary
Now that I've had some additional time with the FCC boss Tom Wheeler's new net neutrality proposal and have talked to a few lawyers and consumer advocates, I'm starting to think the agency's announcement was almost entirely political theater. All the FCC really said is that it wouldn't appeal the Verizon case, and would begin aabout how to vaguely protect the Internet under shaky Section 706 authority the FCC knows it doesn't have. Layered on top were empty promises about improving competition and some empty threats about reclassifying ISPs as common carriers if they don't behave (which is supposed to be a threat, but every ISP lobbyist on K Street knows they won't do this if they weren't willing to do it already).In short, the FCC. Cue the absolute, unbridled, partisan hyperbole shitstorm You apparently don't understand that the FCC's proposal won't actually do anything, but you do know it's certainlyand? The sad part is that issues like a healthy, functioning Internet with competitive balance really shouldn't be partisan at all. It's in the interest orthat networks work well and that honest, healthy competition improves service and drives down costs, while limiting the bad behavior of large network gatekeepers.Well ok, not. If youwant to understand whether a policy will be good or bad for consumers, ignore all the think tanks and politicians and watch the ISP response. Specifically watch AT&T, which has the biggest lobbyist operations and the biggest mouth when truly consumer-friendly policy gets passed. AT&T supported the original rules because they had oodles of loopholes and didn't cover wireless (Verizon only sued in the hopes of killing off FCC authority entirely). Note how AT&T thinks all this socialist freedom killin' is just a splendid idea Knowing the FCC pretty well after more than a decade of watching them, what I think you'll ultimately see at the end of this new "conversation" is a cross-industry set of self-regulatoryguidelines "prohibiting" ISPs from doing the kinds of things they never intended to do anyway -- like blocking your access to entirely legal websites. There might be particular cases where the FCC pushes for greater transparency in peering debates (especially if the ongoing Netflix standoff doesn't improve), but nothing that will truly rattle any slats. The primary goal here is making sure incumbent ISPs maximize revenues and keep the campaign contributions coming. Consumer protection is just pillow talk. For both parties.What yousee in any way (and probably wouldn't be enforceable under 706 anyway) is hard rules governing the more subtle sort of things network neutrality folks shouldbe worried about, such as predatory pricing and the use of broadband usage caps as a weapon (like AT&T's " sponsored data "). This, unfortunately for consumers, is considered "creative pricing innovation" by both the current FCC and industry alike, and the only ones who should be freaking out at the moment are the people who are going to foot the bill for all this supposed creativity.
Filed Under: fcc, net neutrality, section 706
Companies: at&t, verizonA leading United States think tank has published a piece posing the question, "Is Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott the most incompetent leader of any industrialised democracy?" and answering, quite comprehensively, in the affirmative.
Published on the Council on Foreign Relations website before Mr Abbott survived a spill motion on Monday, the piece argues that he has proven so "shockingly incompetent" that he deserved to lose his job.
"Abbott has proven so incapable of clear policy thinking, so unwilling to consult with even his own ministers and advisers, and so poor at communicating that he has to go," wrote the CFR senior fellow Joshua Kurlantzick, a US specialist in south-east Asian politics.
"Abbott's policies have been all over the map, and the lack of coherence has often made the prime minister seem ill-informed and incapable of understanding complex policy issues," he wrote.A few days ago if someone had told you the Raiders and 49ers would swap Defensive Coordinators, would you have believed them? How long would it take you to stop laughing before you asked them if they were serious? Well, that possibility is looking like a very distinct possibility now.
The 49ers "parted ways" with Jim Harbaugh after the season. At that time, it was thought if the 49ers went in-house for a head coaching replacement, a possible replacement was Defensive Coordinator, Vic Fangio. Then he watched as his Defensive line coach, Jim Tomsula, leapfrogged him to get the head coaching job.
Fangio has headed up one of the best defenses in the NFL in San Francisco over the past few seasons. He was officially released Thursday and now there are rumblings he could cross the bay and join Del Rio's staff with the Raiders.
All the talk regarding the Raiders defenisive coordinator position up to this point has been about Mike Smith due to the fact the Smith was fired as Falcons head coach this off-season and he was previously DC under Del Rio in Jacksonville. But at this point, there are no actual reports of certain interest.
While the Raiders are considering the likes of high profile candidates such as Fangio and Smith, the 49ers are seriously considering hiring former Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver to replace Fangio.
Tarver was an outside linebackers coach for the 49ers a few years ago. He was with the 49ers for six seasons in that role, four of those seasons on staff with Tomsula (2007-10). So, there are definitely connections there.
The past few years, the 49ers have been riding high as one of the most successful teams in football and one of the most respected coaching staffs as well. The Raiders have been on the other end of that.
Suddenly, that perception has completely shifted. The very idea they could actually swap Defensive Coordinators is proof of that.
Follow @LeviDamienJ.J. Barea, generously listed at 6-foot, didn’t take long to shoot down the notion that it might be time for basketball to raise the rims from 10 feet.
“No,” Barea said, shaking his head.
He paused and then smiled.
“That’d be awful for me,” he said.
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He isn’t alone in that sentiment. The rims have always been 10-feet high since James Naismith posted 13 rules for a game he called “Basket Ball” in a Springfield, Mass., YMCA gym in 1891.
The average height for men during that time, however, was 5-foot-6. Now, your average NBA player is 6-foot-7. But, over that same time period, the game has also evolved and the game above the rim is arguably the most exciting aspect.
Who doesn’t love an impressive dunk or alley-oop?
“I like it where it’s at, the slam dunk is still an exciting play,” TNT analyst and former NBA All-Star Grant Hill said. “It’s something that fans like, and it certainly gets your team going when it happens. You eliminate that to a degree when you raise the basket.”
Sure, that could be a consequence, but there are plenty of athletes in today’s game who could dunk with relative ease on an 11-foot rim, maybe even a 12-foot rim.
Zach LaVine won this year’s dunk contest with four spectacular slams with his head near rim level. Dwight Howard went effortlessly with a two-handed slam on a 12-foot goal in the 2009 contest.
Outside of the natural talents of the players nowadays, the biggest benefit would be returning to a more fundamentally sound game. SMU’s Larry Brown, a Hall of Fame coach, certainly didn’t dismiss the idea like some players.
Brown has seen the game change throughout the years, and not necessarily for the better. He’d like to see the fundamentals improve on every level and raising the rims could help in that area.
It’s an idea that has been discussed for years and proponents of it have included legendary coaches such as Phog Allen, John Wooden and Dean Smith. Should we include Brown on that list?
“I don’t know,” Brown said. “Alley oops and dunks are exciting, I love that part of the game. So I don’t take that lightly. There’s a skill to doing that stuff, but that’s something to think about.”
Pros for the change
The reason the basket is 10-feet high is because that’s how high the track above the gym was where Naismith invented the game and nailed peach baskets to it. Nothing more, nothing less.
It’s one of the great historical stories of the game, of course, but that’s hardly a reason to keep it from changing. Nobody has objected to ignoring one of Naismith’s original rules that prohibited dribbling, after all.
Raising the rims, as stated, would have the No. 1 benefit of improving the fundamentals of the game.
NBA superstar Paul Pierce, in a 2009 Boston Globe blog, stated: “I would raise the rim three inches. Then, you have to learn the art of the jump shot. You’ll have to know how to play this game a little bit better then. Raising the rim, you’ll see increasing play. You’ll see increasing fundamentals. I’m telling you.”
That has been proven through experimental games with raised rims over the years.
The most recent such game came in 2007 at Hec Edmundson Pavilion at the University of Washington in Seattle. Coach Tom Newell, the son of Hall of Fame coach Pete Newell, put the event together.
Outside of 11-foot rims, rules included no backcourt or 10-second violation with a 30-second shot clock. Also, 3-pointers were not counted until the fourth quarter.
The teams were comprised of former Division I, II and III players, and the results were favorable by all accounts from fans and media in attendance.
“The spacing was fantastic actually,” Newell said. “Players passed to the post, cut to the basket and, when they went one-on-one on read/react plays, their jump hooks and turnarounds were the best percentage shots.”
Newell feels it’s a necessary change for basketball to make, although he is strongly against having it at the high school level. Instead, he’d like to see the college and pro game play on the elevated rims with high school players continuing to play on 10-foot rims.
“This would force a large number of high school aspirants that wish to play someday in the NBA to go to college and learn the game,” Newell said. “And, perhaps staying more than eight months as they have to, they’ll listen to their coaches regarding offensive and defensive philosophy, get physically stronger, develop better overall fundamentals and of course get an education.”
One of Newell’s colleagues, former juco coach Ernie Woods, kept in-depth statistics throughout the experimental game. And he came to the same conclusion as Newell — it’s time to raise the rim.
“It’s ridiculous... you have guys like Zach Lavine with his head at or above rim level during the dunk contest,” Woods said. “It’s time for it to change. One of the big things that’ll happen by doing it is forcing post players to learn to shoot baby hooks and skills like that instead of relying on just athleticism because there isn’t a good angle to the basket in the restraining circle.”
Similar results were found in 1994 when the NCAA staged a game before the Final Four in Charlotte featuring two ACC teams. The baskets were 11-feet with no other changes to the game, recalled Ed Bilik, a longtime NCAA administrator who served his last 14 years as men’s basketball secretary-rules editor.
The effects of that game were promising, as well. The shooting percentages were lower than normal, but that was expected with the altered height. The ball rebounded further from the rim on missed shots, which would increase the difficultly of tip-ins and eliminate congestion in the lane.
At that time, Bilik said, momentum was well in favor of increasing the rim height.
“It had a great deal of favorability,” Bilik said. “Then, just before we were going to take a vote, someone asked, ‘Well, what about the women?’ That was a problem. At that time, I don’t know if they could’ve changed and elevated the baskets from 10-feet to 11-feet easily. So, after that, it just never came back up.”
Still, Bilik still feels that it’s a change that is worth pursuing. He understands the challenges to it and it’s something that would have to be studied closely to determine the right height to raise the rim, whether it’s 10 1/2-feet, 11-feet, 12-feet or somewhere in between.
And the rim heights don’t necessarily have to be universal across the board. As Newell suggests, high schools could be lower than college and the NBA. The size of footballs used in high school to college to NFL increase in size at each level, for instance.
“We’ve got a wonderful game and I don’t think you change for the sake of changing,” Bilik said. “But there are times when you have to look at things. This is a drastic change, but it’s worth looking into. The physical characteristics of players change with time and we can not let our game of basketball become stagnate. We have to present to those players a challenge.
“Right now, I don’t think the players are as good offensively... how many times do you see a layup from a set offense anymore? So, it’s definitely worth experimenting with and we’ve just got to make sure it doesn’t affect the effectiveness of our game.”
That is the delicate balance in this all and something Barea and Hill expressed concern over. They weren’t even in favor of experimenting with the idea during the All-Star Game such as football using the Pro Bowl to study longer extra-point attempts.
“It’d take some of the fun out of the game because then everything would be under the rim,” Barea said.
Added Hill: “I’m all for tweaking, changing and adapting the game and style of play and so forth, but certain things are kind of sacred and I like the idea of keeping the basket where it is — 10 feet. It’s been that way as far back as I can remember, and I don’t think the league should or will do that in coming years.”
Other options
Because raising the rim is such a drastic change, it’s hard to foresee it realistically happening. Instead, there have been other ideas floated around about how to improve the quality of play.
At the college level, for instance, there has been much talk of shortening the shot clock from 35 seconds to 30. In theory, that would increase the number of possessions throughout the game, thus increasing the offensive level of play.
But Brown is highly opposed to that notion.
“They want scoring to be up? Well, the way to get scoring up is to teach the kids how to play,” Brown said. “I worry about if you shorten the clock — one, I don’t think it’ll help the game; and two, I think it’ll keep teams that really don’t have the talent from having a chance to beat a more talented team and that troubles me.”
Brown went on to use the ABA days as an example of why scoring wouldn’t necessarily increase with a shortened shot clock. From the 1967-68 season through the 1974-75 season, the ABA had a 30-second shot clock while the NBA had its standard 24-second shot clock.
The ABA had a higher average score than the NBA in six of those eight seasons.
“Those extra six seconds allowed you to move the ball and get a better percentage shot,” Brown said. “We took less bad shots.”
Brown is all for improving the game in various ways and understands that raising the rim might help, however, also offered a more simple approach.
“Let’s figure out ways to teach the game better,” he said. “We’ve got to learn a little bit from the Europeans. They take kids of all sizes and don’t pigeonhole them and say, ‘You’re a center. You’re a guard.’
“Just teach them how to handle the ball, how to shoot the ball, how to pass the ball, how to guard. We have to do that.”
Woods couldn’t agree more. He and Newell, the two who put on the exhibition game with 11-foot rims in Seattle several years back, run several coaching camps overseas.
And it’s become clear that the international game has caught up with the United States.
Just look at the San Antonio Spurs, the reigning NBA champions who rely heavily on international players such as Tony Parker (France), Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Tiago Splitter (Brazil) and Patrick Mills (Australia).
The NBA also had more than 100 foreign players on opening-day rosters this season, the most it’s ever had. That’s more than 25 percent of the NBA player population.
“What’s that tell you about our development?” Woods said. “All we do now is play games.”
Brown has the same issues with youth basketball, particularly the AAU and select scene. More emphasis is put on playing games and tournaments across the country than spending hours in a gym learning the fundamentals of the game.
Raising the rim or not, something must change to get back to the way basketball should be played in several old-school minds.
“I’d wish we’d focus more on teaching kids how to play before they play in the game,” Brown said. “We’ve also got to put more emphasis on high school coaches being students of the game. We have a lot of great ones, but I think too much emphasis is put on games instead of practice.
“So, again, we’ve just got to do a better job of teaching kids the basic fundamentals of how to be successful.”Many sports sites use "Power Rankings", and as they are always based on the opinions of their authors there is a wide range between ranks for teams. Some are near-mirrors of the league standings, while others are closer to a reflection of a team's current form. One recent Power Ranking author made the best quote I have read to date for how to interpret a league's Power Ranking:
"If two teams played tomorrow, given their current injury concerns, form, and other considerations, who is likely to win on a neutral field? This list is designed to tell you who we feel is most likely to win that matchup. All things being equal, who is the best team going forward, based on what we know now?" -Richard Farley, NBC Sports ProSoccerTalk. 3/11/14
Based on that I bring you the Power Ranking Averages for MLS Week 1.
Sites Used:
Soccer America (www.socceramerica.com)
Major League Soccer (www.mlssoccer.com)
Soccer by Ives (www.soccerbyives.net)
ESPN (espn.go.com/sports/soccer/mls)
ProSoccerTalk (prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com)
Sports Illustrated (soccer.si.com)
Fansided-MLS Multiplex (fansided.com/category/soccer/mls/mls-multiplex)
Allvoices (www.allvoices.com/users/zacwassink)
Seattle Times Blog (blogs.seattletimes.com/soundersfc)
Several sites from previous years have apparently stopped their rankings, if they do continue I will include them in relevant weeks (Goal.com, BleacherReport, Fox Sports).
If you know of a Power Ranking site that I have not included, please send it to me via this site and I will consider using it.
Weekly Power Ranking Averages
High / Low Variance
This is a reflection of how similar sites are at ranking teams. After only one week there is obviously a lot of Hi/Low variance, this will level out as more games are played.
1 position: DCU
2 positions: RSL
3 positions: MI
5 positions: SS, SJE, CF
6 positions: PT, HD
7 positions: PU
8 positions: CR
9 positions: FCD, TFC, NER
10+ positions: LAG, CC, SKC, VWC, NYRB, CUSA
Season Average Power RankingUpdate: The AMA is going on now. Find it here.
I imagine Gabe Newell spent much of last week with his ears burning following Game Informer's interview with an alleged anonymous Valve employee. The source, whose opinions interviewer Andrew Reiner was unable to verify, suggested Half-Life 3 did not exist, has never existed and probably won't ever exist—the same applying to Half-Life 2: Episode 3. Tomorrow the world has the chance to hear it straight from the horse's mouth as Gabe Newell has agreed to host a Reddit AMA.
At 3pm PT/11pm GMT tomorrow (January 17), Newell will appear on The Gaben subreddit as confirmed first by the subreddit's moderator Jedi Burrell and again by the Steam subreddit's R3TR1X.
I imagine the veracity of the Game Informer interview will be called into question but whether Newell goes into detail—or even acknowledges the question—remains to be seen. Questions relating to Half-Life will almost certainly dominate the conversation, however with Dota 2's comprehensive 7.0 update having recently landed, among other Valve-related things, there will be plenty to talk about over and beyond Gordon Freeman et al.
In any event, I guess we'll find out tomorrow. Check back afterwards for the skinny on what Newell has to say.The seventh season of “Game of Thrones” has been illegally downloaded or streamed more than 1 billion times.
According to a report from anti-piracy firm MUSO, the seven episodes of “Game of Thrones” season seven each averaged 14.7 billion illegal views through Sept. 3. Within the first 72 hours of its initial broadcast, the season premiere was illegally downloaded or streamed more than 90 million times. The season finale was illegally downloaded or streamed more than 120 million times within its first 72 hours.
Of the 1.03 billion total piracy instances for the season 84.66% were streams, 9.12% were torrents, and 5.59% were downloads.
“Game of Thrones has become one of the biggest global entertainment phenomena of today and activity across piracy networks has been totally unprecedented,” said Andy Chatterley, co-founder and CEO of MUSO. “It’s no secret that HBO has been plagued by security breaches throughout the latest season, which has seen some episodes leak before broadcast and added to unlicensed activity. In addition to the scale of piracy when it comes to popular shows, these numbers demonstrate that unlicensed streaming can be a far more significant type of piracy than torrent downloads. At MUSO, we look at all types of piracy, not just torrents, and that is why these numbers have been illuminated.”Could A National Broadband Policy Boost The Economy By Over $100 Billion?
from the debate-away dept
There's been some controversy surrounding the group Connected Nation, as some have accused it of basically being a front group for AT&T -- though the evidence on that front still seems a bit weak. Whether or not you believe them, the group has now released a report claiming that a more comprehensive national broadband policy would boost the economy by $134 billion. These types of studies are always a little questionable, as it's common for the entities putting them together (who are obviously biased) to pick and choose how they count the economic impact of certain actions, playing up things that help their case and ignoring those that hurt their case. However, there is some additional evidence out there that better broadband coverage does improve the economy. In the past, we've pointed to a variety of municipal broadband efforts that boosted local economies in very noticeable ways. Of course, the critics of Connected Nation will quickly point out that Connected Nation's plans for a broadband plan could actually serve to hurt those municipal providers.At this point, I'm still rather agnostic on the issue. I agree that better broadband can help the economy, but I'm not convinced that anyone has really come up with a plan that provides that type of benefit to the entire country in a way that doesn't have dangerous unintended consequences. In some ways, it's similar to the debate over whether you want competition at the platform level or above it, as that would influence the decisions on how to encourage broadband. If you think it's better to focus on competition above the platform, rather than between platforms, then a national broadband policy makes sense (in fact, you could think of it more like the highway system). If you think it's better to have competition between platforms themselves, then a national broadband policy might not make sense. There are compelling arguments on both sides, so maybe we can hash out some thoughts in the comments.
Filed Under: broadband, national broadband policyTestifying in front of the House Homeland Security Committee Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary James Kelly said while a physical barrier is necessary on the U.S. southern border with Mexico, the wall promised by President Trump isn't going to happen everywhere overnight.
"I specifically went down to the most affected part of the border, down around McAllen, specifically went down there to talk to local law enforcement, which I did, the governor was there and to talk to my people on the border - ICE as well as CBP. We're not going to be able to build a wall everywhere, all at once," Kelly said.
"We have walls. There are walls there, parts of walls in strategic places in McAllen on the border. But do we need more walls? They said 'well you know Secretary, we need to extend some walls, we need to fill in some places with physical barriers,' their preference would not be something they couldn't see through, that was a finding for me," Kelly continued. "But they very definitively said 'yes sir, we need a physical barrier backed up by people like us, meaning CBP, and local law enforcement, technology where it's appropriate."
Kelly also detailed the immediate need for long overdue physical barriers on high traffic portions of the border. The Secretary didn't give any details about how much the wall is going to cost or how it will be paid for. Estimated from Congress sit at $12-$15 billion.
"I've been trying to get this done [border wall] done for the past six terms in Congress and I think finally we have the political will to do it, so thank you," Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said.
During an interview with Fox News earlier this week, Kelly said he expects to break ground on the border wall by summer 2017, with a completion date set for 2019.The Lost Battalion is the name given to the nine companies of the United States 77th Division, roughly 554 men, isolated by German forces during World War I after an American attack in the Argonne Forest in October 1918. Roughly 197 were killed in action and approximately 150 missing or taken prisoner before the 194 remaining men were rescued. They were led by Major Charles White Whittlesey. On 2 October, the 77th launched an attack into the Argonne, under the belief that French forces were supporting their left flank and two American units including the 92nd Infantry Division were supporting their right.[1] Within the 77th sector some units including Whittlesey's 1-308th Infantry were making significant headway. Unknown to Whittlesey's unit, the units to their left and right had been stalled. Without this knowledge, the units that would become known as the Lost Battalion moved beyond the rest of the Allied line and found themselves surrounded by German forces. For the next six days, suffering heavy losses, the men of the Lost Battalion and the American units desperate to relieve them would fight an intense battle in the Argonne Forest.
The battalion suffered many hardships. Food was scarce and water was available only by crawling, under fire, to a nearby stream. Ammunition ran low. Communications were also a problem, and at times they would be bombarded by shells from their own artillery. As every runner dispatched by Whittlesey either became lost or ran into German patrols, carrier pigeons became the only method of communicating with headquarters. In an infamous incident on 4 October, inaccurate coordinates were delivered by one of the pigeons and the unit was subjected to friendly fire. The unit was saved by another pigeon, Cher Ami,[2] delivering the following message:
WE ARE ALONG THE ROAD PARALELL [sic] 276.4. OUR ARTILLERY IS DROPPING A BARRAGE DIRECTLY ON US. FOR HEAVENS SAKE STOP IT.[3]
Despite this, they held their ground and caused enough of a distraction for other Allied units to break through the German lines, which forced the Germans to retreat.
77th Division [ edit ]
Members of the "Lost Battalion" in late October 1918 near Apremont
The men of the 77th Division, who held the Charlevaux ravine, which became known as the "pocket", were mostly from New York City. The 77th Division is known as the "liberty" division due to the Statue of Liberty patch they wore, but in WW1 they were usually referred to as the "Metropolitan" division because of where most of the men hailed from.[4]:31 Most of the enlisted men were recent immigrants or were poor working class from the streets of New York City fighting from a young age for food. These attributes acquired on the streets are seen by some historians[who?] as one of the reasons that this group survived in the Argonne.
The 77th Division was trained at what became a prestigious camp called Camp Upton, located in Suffolk County on Long Island. Charles Whittlesey, an east coast lawyer, was assigned as a battalion commander in the 77th upon completion of his officer's training. The camp was located a half mile from the town of Yaphank, New York. "Yaphank? Where the hell is Yaphank?"[5]:37 was a common expression heard amongst the new recruits of Camp Upton.
Companies involved [ edit ]
While universally known as the "Lost Battalion", this force actually consisted of companies from 4 different battalions - A, B, C Companies of the 1st Battalion 308th Infantry Regiment (1-308th Inf); E,G, H companies of the 2nd Battalion 308th Infantry (2-308th Inf); K Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 307th Infantry Regiment (3-307th Inf); and C, D Companies of the 306th Machine Gun Battalion. All of these companies belonged to the 154th Infantry Brigade of the 77th Infantry Division and with a strength of approximately 545 men was a battalion-sized force. Major Whittlesey was the battalion commander of 1-308th Inf, the senior officer present, and he assumed command of the entire force once he realized it was surrounded.
Argonne Forest before the attack [ edit ]
The Argonne Forest was seized by the Germans at the early stages of the war. They had set up defensive positions throughout the forest, using a string of networked trenches. These defences started with a roughly 550-yard (500 m) deep front line which "served as not much more than an advanced warning system".[5]:72 Beyond the first line, which consisted of trenches, shell holes, and listening posts, the Allies would have to push through the dense forest to the main battle lines. The next battle line, which was about 1 mile (2 km) in depth, had turned back all Allied attacks over the last four years. This battle line, which consisted of wired trenches that were firmly held, was referred to by the Germans as "Hagen Stellung" ("Hagen position"). The Next German battle line, referred to as the "Hagen Stellung-Nord" ("Hagen position-North"), was "basically a machine-gun-covered, pre-sighted artillery target."[5]:73 This was a very well entrenched location utilizing both natural and man-made barriers. Together, these two battle lines formed what was known as "Etzel Stellungen" ("Etzel postions").
The Hagen Stellung-Nord formed the most difficult problem. Over the years, the Germans had pre-sighted every square inch of the area in case of a hostile takeover. Should attackers take the Hagen Stellung-Nord, they came immediately into danger of annihilation by German artillery. No occupier could remain |
60 and 70 families, including multigenerational families and, in some cases, pets, said Marty Hartman, executive director of Mary’s Place.
Each family will have its own room with a bathroom, and there will be a kids’ playroom, a couple of common rooms, and a kitchen. Families will be able to stay in the center from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays, although their things can remain in their room while they’re gone. On weekends, the center will be open 24 hours so “kids can stay in their jammies,” Hartman said.
“This will become their home for now,” she said.
Other local businesses have chipped in. The Fairmont Olympic Hotel has donated 47 rooms’ worth of furniture, including bedding and chairs, according to Amazon spokesman Sam Kennedy.
Schoettler, the Amazon executive, said that once construction starts in the lot, the company hopes it can offer another site for a shelter (it owns another former motel nearby that it hasn’t taken possession of yet.)
“It’s hard to have a crystal ball,” Schoettler said, adding, “It’s my goal that if everything works out well, they’ll just move across the street.”
Hartman, the Mary’s Place director, said the nonprofit has become adept at occupying and transforming buildings quickly, and to transfer to other spaces. “It is our goal not to let any families fall through the cracks,” she said.BOSTON (CBS) – The numbers now look like this: precisely 25 home runs, 100 RBI, the second-best OPS at his position in the American League and representative defense that has him ranked sixth at his position among 13 qualifying players in the AL.
And then there is this: Hanley Ramirez is on pace for between 145 and 150 games played, his highest total with a single team in any one season since 2009, when he was 25 years and the National League batting champion.
All together now: we were wrong about Hanley.
OK, fine.
I was wrong about Hanley.
At least this year.
The Red Sox rallied for a dramatic, improbable and downright inspiring 7-5 win over the New York Yankees at Fenway Park Thursday night, and here’s how it ended: with Sir Hanley blasting a 99-mile per hour fastball from Dellin Betances into the center field bleachers for a two-out, game-winning three-run home run that gave the Red Sox a pulsating 7-5 victory. Coupled with Baltimore’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, the blow restored the Red Sox’ two-game lead in the division in a nip-and-tuck AL playoff race that is becoming historic right before our very eyes.
Somewhere out there, John Henry was nodding, Ben Cherington was smiling and even Dave Dombrowski was thumbing his nose at the doubters. After all, Henry gave Hanley the money, Cherington thought he could come back here (albeit as a left fielder) and Dombrowski both kept him and moved him to first base.
But the real credit here goes to Hanley, who is reminding us, especially in the second half of this wildly entertaining Red Sox season, that he has game-changing talent. Unlike many of the hitters in the Boston lineup, Hanley can hit good pitching. (Many of the others are still up for debate.) He has won a batting title. He has a career postseason batting average of.356. Ramirez can drive the ball to all fields, hit both left-handers and right-handers, and all of that makes him a terribly difficult man to pitch to in any situation.
Assuming, of course, that Hanley is focused and engaged.
This year, to his credit, Ramirez has generally remained both, though let’s not rewrite history, either: what has made a difference has been Ramirez’ second-half power surge, which altered his season. (He had only eight home runs at the break.) Excluding the otherworldly Brian Dozier, only Adrian Beltre and Khris Davis (18 home runs each) have more second-half home runs than Ramirez (17) ; only Dozier (55) has more RBI. (Ramirez has 52.)
And this month? Among Red Sox regulars, the team leaders in OPS are David Ortiz (1.133) and Ramirez (1.041), which should sound awfully familiar. Over the last dozen or so seasons, after all, when their Red Sox have been at their offensive best, the refrain was often the same. Ortiz and Ramirez. Ortiz and Ramirez. Ortiz and Ramirez.
But we digress.
Where does this all go from here? Only heaven knows. The Red Sox now have only 16 games left, all in the division, and every pitch matters. The possible reasons behind Ramirez’ renaissance this season are, of course, complicated. Maybe he needs to be in the infield. Maybe he’s healthy. Maybe he wants to play for Ortiz. Or maybe he has grown up. Whatever the case, the Red Sox need Hanley now more than ever, just as they need everyone, because there are important games to be played and won, because there are a playoff spot and division title at stake, and because for the first time in a long time the Red Sox and their fans can smell something inarguably distinct.
October.Vancouver Canucks President and General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that defenceman Chris Tanev has been recalled from the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.
Tanev, 22, has played four games with the Canucks this season, recording an even plus/minus rating and averaging 13:37 minutes per game.
In 34 games with the Wolves this season, Tanev has recorded 14 points (0-14-14) and a +12 rating. The Toronto, Ontario, native has appeared in 33 career NHL games and five NHL playoff games with the Vancouver Canucks. In 2010.11, he collected his first NHL point and registered 32 blocked shots.
The 6’0", 185-pound defenceman was first signed by Vancouver on May 31, 2010.
Career Regular Season Statistics
Season Team GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S% 2006-2007 Durham Fury-OPJHL 40 0 9 9 8 2007-2008 Durham Fury-OPJHL 19 1 6 7 12 2007-2008 Stouffville Spirit-OPJHL 4 0 0 0 0 2007-2008 Markham Waxers-OPJHL 26 1 9 10 12 2008-2009 Markham Waxers-OJHL 50 4 37 41 33 2009-2010 Rochester Institute of Technology-AH 41 10 18 28 4 2010-2011 Canucks 29 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 0.0 2010-2011 Manitoba Moose-AHL 39 1 8 9 5 16 0 0 0 21 4.8 2011-2012 Canucks 4 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 NHL Totals 33 0 1 1 -1 0 0 0 0 15 0.0Digitization of this collection was made possible by the Polish Library in Washington, D.C.
The Polish Declarations of Admiration and Friendship for the United States are a collection of 111 volumes of signatures and greetings presented in 1926 to President Calvin Coolidge to commemorate the 150th anniversary of U.S. independence and to acknowledge American participation and aid to Poland during World War I. Richly illustrated with original works by prominent Polish graphic artists, the volumes were assembled over an eight-month period with submissions from nearly one-sixth of the population of Poland as it then existed, including the signatures of national, provincial, and local government officials, representatives of religious, social, business, academic, and military institutions, and approximately 5.5 million school children.
The collected signatures are bound in 109 volumes and in one portfolio of unbound sheets. The last volume is a bound guide to the collection. The volumes were compiled under the auspices of the American-Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Poland and the Polish-American Society. At President Coolidge’s behest, this unique gift was transferred to the Library of Congress.
Poland in 1926 was a much more ethnically diverse country than it would become after World War II, as the many Jewish, Ukrainian, Belarussian, Lithuanian, Russian, and German names on the signature sheets testify. Approximately one-quarter of the institutions represented in this collection were located in eastern borderlands that Poland subsequently lost to the Soviet Union after World War II. Further, much of postwar western Poland was not included in the collection because, at that time, those areas were part of Germany. Of the more than 5.5 million signatures collected, many came from villages so small that they are not even listed in Filip Sulimierski’s exhaustive 15-volume Slownik geograficzny Krolestwa Polskiego i innych krajow slowianskich [Geographic Dictionary of the Polish Kingdom and Other Slavic Lands].
Essentially a census of school-age children in 1926 Poland, volumes 7-110 of the Polish Declarations constitute a rich genealogical resource. Researchers will discover that certain districts and regions—such as Upper Silesia—are more comprehensively represented than others—most notably, secondary schools in Krakow (Cracow) and elementary schools in Lwow (Lviv).
In addition to artwork by prominent Polish artists, the volumes are adorned with official seals, coats of arms, calligraphy, photographs, and decorative bindings. Many of the sheets are decorated with works of art by students or faculty. Often the signatures are arranged in clever designs, and a brief poem or congratulatory message frequently appears at the top of the sheet. Group photographs of students and faculty accompany about 1 percent of the more than 21,000 elementary and secondary school rosters. The majority of these remarkably clear photographs were collected in the formerly Prussian-ruled areas of the country.
The richly illustrated Volume 1 contains the signatures of central government officials including President Ignacy Moscicki; Jozef Pilsudski (who, although holding the title of minister of military affairs, exercised actual executive authority and, notably, signed the sheet without indicating his position); members of the Senate and Sejm, the Council of Ministers, the General Staff, and the Supreme Court; religious dignitaries, including the Primate of Poland, Cardinal Aleksander Kakowski; and officers and rank-and-file members of a wide range of national professional associations, institutes, and social organizations based in the capital city, Warsaw. Many of the signed sheets have finely drawn illustrations of buildings, coats of arms, historical monuments, rural and city scenes, and portraits of famous historical figures. The signatures are often accompanied by official seals.
Volume 2 presents the signatures of dignitaries on the provincial, district, and local levels. Preceding each provincial section are poster-size original works by prominent artists, including Zofia Stryjenska, Wladyslaw Skoczylas, Ferdynand Ruszczyc, Stanislaw Czajkowski, Wladyslaw Jarocki, and Ludomir Slendzinski. The final quarter of this volume is devoted to institutions of higher learning and includes signatures of administrators, faculty, and students.
Volumes 3 through 5 have signatures from three separate institutions of higher learning. The signatures of faculty and students at Jagiellonian University in Cracow take up the entirety of Volume 3, a 16-page folio bound in blue leather with the university wax seal in a brass container attached. Similarly, Volume 4 presents signatures from faculty and students of the Mining Academy of Cracow and consists of 14 pages bound in brown leather. Volume 5 is a 10-page folio bound in gray leather with signatures from the professors and assistants of the State Dental Institute in Warsaw.
Volume 6 is the only part of the collection that represents the Polish émigré community. It was signed by an interesting cross-section of the Polish population of Austria, including members of the Austrian-Polish Chamber of Commerce in Vienna, the “Hearth ” Academic Association in Vienna, the Union of Polish Legionnaires, Polish church congregations, and random individuals who came to the Polish Embassy in Vienna to inscribe their names.
Volumes 7 through 13 contain the signatures of the students and faculty of 1,170 mostly secondary schools. Although it may have been intended to present only secondary schools in this subset of the 111-volume collection, many elementary schools also are included. The signature sheets for these volumes were bound in random order.
Volumes 14 through 110 contain signature sheets from some 20,000 elementary schools representing 235 school districts. Entries are organized alphabetically by administrative district (powiat) through Volume 93, but Volumes 94-109 are in random sequence. Volume 110 is a portfolio of unbound sheets of various sizes, including standard forms for elementary school signatures, broadsides with signatures and stamps of local and regional officials, posters with elaborate ornamentation, and photographs of school buildings and classes. Volume 111, in handsome calligraphy, is a general description of the gift.
An index to Volumes 14-110, prepared previously by staff in the Library of Congress European Division, served as the source for geographic place names associated with the digital files. Stored in a captions.txt file, the names of cities, towns, or villages in which elementary schools were located may be searched. Also searchable are the names of the administrative districts (powiaty).
In December 2015, the Polish Library in Washington partnered with the Library of Congress to digitize Volumes 14 to 111. Samuel Ponczak and Grazyna Zebrowska managed the Polish Library’s side of the project and were the principal liaisons to Library of Congress staff. The Polish Library in Washington and its supporters and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MSZ) of the Republic of Poland provided essential financial support for digitization.Rokoduguni has a full-time contract with Bath, but the Army still have first call on the services of the reconnaissance tank driver with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
Rokoduguni, a Fijian who has qualified to play international rugby for England through residence, played for England Saxons earlier this season and has emerged as a strong contender for a place in the senior squad for their summer tour to New Zealand.
England have a wing vacancy because Jack Nowell has been ruled out of the tour with a knee injury and Rees believes that Rokoduguni is a strong contender.
“We all know his talent and we wish him the best of luck,” Rees said. “I’m sure Stuart knows what talent is out there but Roko is in with a shout and we wish him well.”
Rokoduguni first came to prominence in the fixture between the Army and the Navy two years ago when he scored the first of successive hat-tricks against the Navy. He had fewer opportunities to impress on Saturday in front of an 80,000 crowd, a record for an amateur match, because he was heavily marked, but he still managed to slip through for the Army’s third try in the second half.
Rokoduguni had little opportunity to celebrate the Army’s 12th Inter Services Championship success in 13 years as he had to report back for training with Bath on Sunday and also played down talk about becoming the first soldier to be capped by England since Tim Rodber.
“I’m just hoping to pick up where I left off and keep improving my game management, my tackling and my skills and hoping that I will be in the squad for New Zealand,” he said.Guru ki Maseet, also known as Guru's Mosque, is a historical mosque that was constructed by sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib at request of local Muslims of Sri Hargobindpur.[1][2] [3]Situated in Sri Hargobindpur town on the banks of River Beas, it is recognized as a historic site by UNESCO.
History Edit
In December, 1634 Guru Hargobind Sahib fought a fierce battle against Mughal forces near the River Beas.[4][5] Although heavily outnumbered, the Guru was victorious. Guru Sahib decided to stay there for a while, and soon a settlement grew up at this location. The settlement expanded into a town which became known as Sri Hargobindpur (-pur, being a suffix for "place of"). This mosque has existed in this location since the period of the sixth Guru.
Post-Independence of India Edit
With the turmoil of the partitioning of India in 1947 and the mass movement of people, the mosque fell into a state of neglect and disrepair. In time the care of the Masjid fell into the hands of a group a Nihang Singhs who installed the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib in the one-time Masjid. For many years, the mosque was maintained by Nihangs.[6] In 8 February 2001 a "Memorandum of Understanding" (MoU) was signed by Kirtan Singh, the chief of the Tarna dal - the Sikh caretakers of the mosque, and the Punjab Waqf Board[7] and Muslims perform their prayers at the mosque. Dr Mohammad Rizwanul Haque, Punjab Waqf Board Administrator, described the MoU as an international event which would pave the way for strengthening communal harmony in the country.The month of Ramadan is a time of fasting and family visits, with relatives and friends gathering together to break their fast at Iftar. Less well known is that this unique religious festival is the time that the Arab world indulges its passion for futsal. FIFA.com shines a light on the phenomenon.
The story starts at the dawn of the last century. When the cannon would fire to mark the start of Iftar, the evening meal when the fast is broken, makeshift football pitches used to magically spring up in the lanes and alleyways of Arab capitals. There enthusiastic young men would gather to play after their evening sustenance.
Back then the classic format was a futsal-like encounter between two teams of four or five players, with tournaments and leagues set up to pit sides from every working class neighbourhood against one another. Competitions would commonly run the length of the month.
It’s not just a sports competition, it’s more like a tradition, a ritual. Dubai resident Khaled Abdel Rahman
Over the years these leagues became a Ramadan fixture and the games moved off the streets and onto indoor pitches. In a number of Arab countries, especially the United Arab Emirates, where staggering numbers followed the game, these tournaments even became televised. Sponsors soon followed, and today an array of corporate investors - everything from telecommunications companies to mineral water manufacturers - pour thousands of dollars into the popular pastime.
One fan of this pastime is Dubai resident Khaled Abdel Rahman, who explained the phenomenon thus: “It’s not just a sports competition, it’s more like a tradition, a ritual. It’s normal for us to meet up with friends after Iftar to watch the games. There are usually some skilful players who put on a display of pure football.”
Then there is Mohammed Mustafa who, despite being 54, still turns out for his team. “I’ve played in the Ramadan leagues since I was 14," he said. "We’d play teams from other streets in the neighbourhood back then. These days my league is organized by the social club I belong to.”
Though still popular at local level, Ramadan futsal has moved beyond local youth centres and village squares. Propelled by a fanatical following the top-tier tournaments boast teams from professional clubs as well as government and educational institutes.
The tournaments the teams play in are commonly named after prominent businessmen or religious leaders. In some countries political parties have got involved, sponsoring teams and leagues in a bid to boost their popularity.
Professional football stars are often enticed to play, and there are few prominent Arab footballers who have not featured in a Ramadan futsal match at some point in their career.
This phenomenon, which began around the turn of the millennium, has caused tension with some of the bigger clubs, who fear their players might be injured either during a futsal game or making their way through the masses of fans that crowd around the pitches. Famous names to take the futsal stage include former Udinese playmaker Hazem Emam and Egypt’s international twins, Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan.Here's a whopper of an opinion (PDF) from the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.
It seems that in 2008, Monroe County Sheriff's Detectives Doug Brannon and Pat Henry actually posed as a federal defense attorney in an attempt to get incriminating information out of suspect John Edward Dawson, who was in jail on a host of charges, including theft and drug distribution. Not only that, but in doing so, they also talked Dawson into refusing to cooperate with his public defender and to plead guilty to the charges against him. They communicated with Dawson via a jailhouse informant.
Dawson's public defender was so taken aback by his assurances to her that he had a "federal lawyer" who had worked out all of his charges, that she actually asked for a psychiatric evaluation. When all this came to light, Dawson's (real) attorney asked for a continuance in his case so she could assess the damage. Remarkably, Tennessee Tenth Judicial Judge Amy Reedy refused the request, ruling that Dawson made "a real dumb decision" and that he had "picked his poison."
The appeals court disagreed.
[T]he conduct of the law enforcement officers in this case, and in particular Detective Henry, is so egregious that it simply cannot go unchecked. That Detective Henry would illegally pose as an attorney and arrange the circumstances of the defendant’s case to make it appear as though he had successfully undertaken legal representation of the defendant is abhorrent. That the detective would specifically instruct the defendant not to communicate the relationship to his appointed counsel, in what we can only assume was an effort to enlarge the time for the detective to gain incriminating information from the defendant, renders completely reprehensible the state action in this case. Given the unconscionable behavior of the state actors in this case and the fact that the defendant was essentially prevented from proving prejudice through no fault of his own, we have no trouble concluding that the only appropriate remedy in this case is the dismissal of all the indictments.
According to KnoxNews.com, Monroe County Sheriff Bill Bivens and DA Steven Bebb had some knowledge of the ruse, but did nothing to stop it.
During a hearing on the issue, Sheriff Bivens testified that he was vaguely aware of Henry's plot and did not see "a problem with it," adding, however that "if it's illegal, of course, I don't want to do it." Bivens did not order a probe of Henry's actions or take any disciplinary action; nor did Bebb initiate charges of impersonating a lawyer.
Assistant District Attorney General Bebb then successfully persuaded Judge Reedy to overlook it all.
Accountability tally: Henry apparently now works as a securities investigator for Regions Bank. From what I can tell, Brannon still works for the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. Reedy, Bivens, and Bebb are all still on the job.
ADDENDUM: Post corrected. The court decision does not suggest Assistant District Attorney General Bebb was aware of the ruse as it was happening. However, after he was made aware of it, he did continue to argue that it shouldn't affect Dawson's conviction.Think Progress
July 27, 2008
Last night on PBS, Bill Moyers interviewed investigative journalist Jane Mayer and mentioned that in Mayer’s new book, she notes that FBI agents refused to participate in the CIA’s interrogation of terror suspects at Guantánamo Bay because they determined it to be “borderline torture.” Moyers then asked, “Who were some of the other conservative heroes, as you call them, in your book?”
Mayer remembered one top Justice Department lawyer and “very conservative member of this administration” who said that after participating in White House meetings authorizing torture, he believed that “lunatics had taken over the country.”
Mayer said two other top DOJ lawyers had to develop a system of speaking codes because they feared they were being wiretapped while others described an “atmosphere of intimidation,” mainly from Vice President Dick Cheney:
MAYER: There was such an atmosphere of intimidation. … They felt so endangered in some ways that, at one point, two of the top lawyers from the Justice Department developed this system of talking in codes to each other because they thought they might be being wiretapped…by their own government. They felt like they might be kind of weirdly in physical danger. They were actually scared to stand up to Vice President Cheney.
Watch it:
Mayer later said that “there is a paper trail” documenting U.S. torture policies “that goes right to the top of our govenment” and that Congress “is beginning to” get to the truth and “piece it together.”
Mayer added that the truth to the White House policies is “a humungous jigsaw puzzle” because “there are many, many secrets we still don’t know. There are legal memos that nobody’s ever seen.”Emphasizing “more on propriety than legality”, the Supreme Court Friday stayed till April 27 the judgment of the Uttarakhand High Court that quashed the Centre’s decision to impose President’s rule in the state.
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A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh temporarily blocked the revival of the Harish Rawat-led Congress government while restoring President’s rule. The court also recorded the Centre’s undertaking that it would not revoke President’s rule until April 27, the next date of hearing, when it would also take a call on whether a floor test should be held on April 29 in accordance with the High Court order.
Watch: CM Harish Rawat On SC’s Stay On Uttarakhand HC’s Order On President’s Rule
“What has been happening is a very serious and grievous matter for any state…you don’t revoke President’s rule just like that. Everything has to be looked into…a balance has to be struck,” said the bench as it expressed displeasure at the High Court for not releasing a written judgment.
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Allowing a petition by the ousted Chief Minister, a High Court bench headed by Chief Justice K M Joseph had on Thursday dictated its judgment in the open court but said the written judgment would be made available only next week.
Also read | Why the BJP-led Centre must heed the message from Uttarakhand
This, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi contended, was improper since Rawat moved to “steal a march” by taking 11 decisions after calling a Cabinet meeting late last night without an official copy of the judgment being made available to the Centre. He sought an immediate stay on the operation of the judgment.
Allowing the AG’s plea, the bench agreed that in a matter as serious as President’s rule, a written judgment should have been made available immediately after the pronouncement, or the operation of the judgment could be deferred.
It turned down a plea by Rawat’s counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi not to issue any interim order and rather record Rawat’s undertaking that he would not act as a Chief Minister as far as taking policy decisions were concerned. “He is not a vice-chancellor,” retorted the bench.
It asserted: “There has to be a balance. We are slightly concerned…Article 356 (Presidential proclamation) is a serious matter for both sides…there are a few matters of propriety. If the High Court had signed the judgment, we could have looked into it. For a party to take remedial action, a written order has to be there.”
Also Read | Ambika Soni: Everything will become clear on April 29
Speaking for the bench, Justice Singh said: “If I were the High Court judge, I would have made my judgment operational only after three or four days when it is signed and ready. It is more on propriety than legality. Governance of a state cannot be left in the lurch.”
While issuing notices to Rawat who was the writ petitioner before the High Court, the bench said that the High Court shall provide its judgment to the parties by April 26 and the copy of the signed verdict shall then be placed before the apex court.
“Interference by a constitutional court in exercise of its power of judicial review pertaining to justifiability of Presidential proclamation is a serious issue… We will take on record the copy of the judgment and go through it. This matter may go to a Constitution bench,” observed the bench.
Arguing for the Centre, the AG and senior lawyer Harish Salve had urged the bench to immediately stay the operation of the Thursday judgment, saying it was not a property dispute where Rawat could rush to open the locks of the Chief Minister’s Office and start taking decisions.
The Governor has not accepted the 11 decisions of the Cabinet made last night on the ground he has not seen the judgment either, said the lawyers.
Also read | Armed with Uttarakhand HC order, Congress draws Parliament battlelines
During the hour-long hearing, AG pointed out that the Rawat government was evidently in a minority after its Appropriation Bill was defeated in the Assembly and 35 MLAs in the 71-member House had requested the Governor for a floor test. A sting operation, Rohatgi added, had shown Rawat trying to gain majority through horse-trading and bribery.
At this the bench responded: “We are not going to get into what happens inside the Assembly… the issue for us is on whether grounds of proclamation were justified and met the norms of (the S R) Bommai judgment.” It also commented: “Horse-trading creates a dent in the democracy.”
Senior advocates Singhvi and Kapil Sibal, who represented the Speaker of the House, argued the judgment cannot be stayed only on the ground of non-availability of its signed copy. “Staying the judgment would virtually mean allowing the appeal,” said the lawyers, adding nothing would happen between today and April 29.
But the court said its order was based only on the issue of propriety as a judgment was sought to be acted upon without a written copy of it made available.
WATCH INDIAN EXPRESS VIDEOS HEREOver the coming weeks, Canadians will turn their attention to a familiar rite of spring — filing their taxes. Meanwhile, federal and provincial governments are undertaking their own annual ritual — presenting budgets that outline how those tax dollars will be spent. In Canada, it can be dizzying to track the relationship between the taxes sent from one province’s residents to the federal government and what is ultimately returned in federal spending in the province. Our own analysis shows that this exercise results in a net transfer away from Ontario amounting to approximately $11 billion per year, based on the latest available figures.
Although Finance Minister Jim Flaherty picked up his new shoes at Roots in Toronto, his budget did not address long-standing inequities that hurt Ontarians. (March 20, 2013) ( AARON HARRIS / REUTERS )
This is at odds with Ontario’s recent label as a “have-not” province. Indeed, Ontario is no longer wealthier than the average province, due in large part to a resource boom in other provinces and the downturn of manufacturing in central Canada. Yet despite the fact that Ontario now receives payments under the equalization program, federal spending and transfers continue to redistribute funds away from Ontario. This net contribution by Ontario households and businesses to other parts of Canada amounts to about 2 per cent of the province’s GDP. This gap is not primarily due to unfair taxation practice. It is almost entirely a result of federal spending and program decisions that leave Ontarians receiving less than their per-capita share of spending and transfers. Simply put, many federal programs operate according to conditions that redirect funds to provinces other than Ontario.
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None of this has been changed in the recent federal budget. Despite a focus in the budget on some Ontario priorities, like manufacturing, there is no evidence that the federal government has moved forward to correct any of the long-standing inequities that hurt Ontarians. Take, for example, employment insurance. What Ontario employers and employees paid into the program and Ontario’s share of Canada’s unemployed were both above the national average. Under any normal circumstances, one would expect that Ontarians would receive at least 39 per cent of employment insurance benefits — our share of the population. But that conclusion would be wrong. In 2011, Ontarians received only 33 per cent of EI income benefits. In just one program — the employment insurance system — Ontarians saw a $20-billion redistribution away from the province in the period between 2000-2010. And it hasn’t stopped yet. Federal investments in infrastructure, housing, energy and regional economic development are not much better. While not all programs treat Ontarians unequally, the net effect is clear: a flow of funds away from Ontario, at a time when the province can ill-afford it. Even the equalization program makes Ontario worse off rather than better off compared to other provinces, by about $2.7 billion in 2012-13.
To be clear, Canada has enormous value to residents of all provinces. The value of Canada to Ontario cannot be measured simply by looking at the balance sheet. But all Canadians should be concerned when policies are not working for the benefit of all Canadians. The good news is that some of these problems are easily fixable. There is no grand federal plan to redistribute dollars away from Ontarians. This is simply a legacy of historical decisions made at different times and for different reasons.
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The federal government can and should deal with that legacy by reforming programs that discriminate against Ontario and Ontarians. That should start with funding for housing, training, economic development and infrastructure. Some simple changes to equalization and EI could also make a dent in the problem — even as we await bigger changes. Many of our big national programs were designed decades ago for very different times. Many have not aged well. Most Canadians know this. The fact that Ontarians fare poorly under many programs is but one bit of evidence that programs need redesign. Let’s reconstruct our fiscal and social architecture in a way that works for all Canadians — and responds to the challenges of the next half century. Noah Zon, right, and Matthew Mendelsohn work at the Mowat Centre at the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto, which will release the study Filling the Gap: Measuring Ontario’s Balance with the Federation next week. It will be available at www.mowatcentre.caPeople who haven’t been able to drink from their wells for weeks because of a potential chemical leak at a gas plant near Edson, Alta., are now raising questions about the system that was set up to protect them.
Alberta Health Services advised residents in 80 homes near the South Rosevear gas plant in March not to drink their water after a monitoring well tested high for sulfolane, a chemical used to remove compounds from sour gas.
CBC News has now learned that both Suncor, the company that previously owned the plant, and the provincial government knew about a potential spill of the same chemical five years earlier and didn't tell nearby residents.
When CBC first questioned Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) about reports that sulfolane had been found in the groundwater on the same gas plant site in 2008, spokeswoman Katrina Bluetchen said the government was not told about that leak until 2012.
She said annual groundwater monitoring reports from the plant between 2006 to 2011 were filed altogether in 2012.
Companies are required to submit those reports each year.
Bluetchen said that because subsequent reports did not show higher-than-threshold levels of sulfolane in the gas plant monitoring well, no further action from government was needed.
Since CBC’s initial report, ESRD says it has now found all the annual reporting from the gas plant filed since 2006.
“Since our conversation on Tuesday, some new information has come to light that I would like to share with you,” Bluetchen wrote in an email to CBC News after an earlier report described residents’ worries.
Bluetchen confirmed the government knew in 2009 that Suncor, which owned the plant at that time, found sulfolane in the groundwater in 2008.
However, she points a finger at the company for not reporting it sooner.
Duty to report
“If a company detects a level above the threshold or approval limit, they report it to the Director (ESRD) through the 24-hour Environmental Hotline,” she wrote. “This appears not to have occurred in 2008 and is something we will be taking a closer look at.”
No fines or sanctions have been launched against Suncor in relation to that incident.
Sec. 110 of Alberta’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act says a “person who releases or causes or permits the release of a substance into the environment that may cause, is causing or has caused an adverse effect shall, as soon as that person knows or ought to know of the release, report it to... the Director.”
The company, which sold the plant in 2010, says it did the right thing.
“In October 2008, we detected a groundwater exceedance of sulfolane in an onsite monitoring well. We reported this through our annual groundwater monitoring report as per ESRD’s normal reporting process,” wrote a company representative.
“Our approach was consistent with our interpretation of the regulatory requirement and we did not receive any notice that we were non-compliant with this approach.”
'I have my doubts'
CBC News spoke to several residents in the area who said they are relatively happy with the way the plant’s current owner, Bonavista, has handled the situation, but now have questions about the regulation process.
Roel Bangma owns a family farm near the gas plant. He worries about how his 250 cattle may be affected. (Scott Findlay/CBC) Bonavista reported a level of 5.0 mg/L of sulfolane (125 times the safe amount recommended by Health Canada guidelines for drinking water) found in groundwater at monitoring well in March 2014. The company is now supplying homes and agriculture producers with alternate water sources and organized an information night for residents. sulfolane
But many who live in the area wonder why they weren’t told about the earlier leak.
“It’s a concern that there was an earlier leak and the government knew,” said Lynnette Klut, who can see the plant’s smoke stacks from her kitchen window.
“At least now it’s come out and they can deal with it.”
Down the road, a dairy farmer who relied on spring water to feed to his 250 head of cattle says he hopes they deal with it soon.
“I have my doubts about what they know and what they don't tell us," said Roel Bangma |
short fiction.
In the foreward, Adams quickly discusses the criteria he and Hill used in choosing stories. Under ideal circumstances, this would have eliminated the possibility of selection bias, but with 24% of the stories in The BASFF coming from a magazine or anthology originally edited by JJA himself, I’m not so sure the process succeeded. Perhaps this is inevitable considering the consistently high quality of story put out by Lightspeed, Nightmare, and all the other publications JJA has had his fingers in over the past year.
What does this mean for the reader? If you enjoy JJA’s other edited works, then you’re guaranteed to love The BASFF. If not… well then this might be a bit of a slog.
Alright, enough about that. Let’s talk about the 10 Science Fiction and 10 Fantasy short stories that actually made the cut.
“How to Get Back to the Forest”
Sofia Samatar
FROM Lightspeed Magazine
Sofia Samatar was the only author to sneak two stories into collection. Her first story, “How to Get Back to the Forest”, kicks off the anthology with a story reminiscent of Margarat Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. The prose is solid, but it’s the worldbuilding (the majority of which is left untold) that really drags the reader in. Samatar leaves many unanswered questions, which, in the end, made me feel as though I was standing at the perimeter of a Police crime scene trying to puzzle all the pieces together.
“Help Me Follow My Sister into the Land of the Dead”
Carmen Maria Machado
FROM Help Fund My Robot Army!!! & Other Improbable Crowdfunding Projects
Machado definitely wins style points for the creative tools she uses to tell this story. Framed within the context of a sister using a Kickstarter’esque site to fund her trip to the Land of the Dead, this story has a lot going for it (strong prose, unique idea). Unfortunately, what it lacks is an overarching narrative that makes much sense.
“Tortoiseshell Cats Are Not Refundable”
Cat Rambo
FROM Clarkesworld Magazine
Rambo explores the idea of individuality, all the myriad factors contributing to our unique personalities, and how our memories of a person, no matter how complete, can never be perfectly replicated in a surrogate. The story reminded me of the episode of Black Mirror, “Be Right Back”, which explores a similar theme.
“The Bad Graft”
Karen Russell
FROM The New Yorker
Reminiscent of Vandermeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy, this story gave me chills. Russell masterfully ratchets up the tension with a slow build throughout “The Bad Graft”. It felt like being forced to watch a train-wreck in slow motion. Bonus points for telling an entirely weird story, by the way.
“A Guide to the Fruits of Hawai’i”
Alaya Dawn Johnson
FROM The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
I don’t like vampire stories. There I said it. Now, to completely contradict myself, I liked this story. Kind of a lot, in fact. Alaya Dawn Johnson creates an intriguing world that feels much larger and robust than she lets on. Humans are used for food and services in the vampire equivalent of a health resort. Not a terribly original concept, but expertly executed. Johnson digs deep into the thought processes leading a victim to sympathize (and eventually love) their captor.
“Each to Each”
Seanan McGuire
FROM Lightspeed Magazine: Women Destroy Science Fiction!
This story can be distilled into one word: Mermaid-Soldiers (you can make anything one word with enough hyphens, right?). Let’s quick do some simple math: Take how much I dislike vampire stories and double it. Now apply it to mermaid stories. That’s a lot of dislike, huh? Okay, so on paper, I should hate this story, right? Wrong. Absolutely wrong. McGuire pens an intense story about what it means to be a woman in the military, isolation, and embracing the unknown. Amazing.
“Ogres of East Africa”
Sofia Samatar
FROM Long Hidden
Samatar is back with her second entry into The BASFF. Written alternatively as excerpts from an Ogre Encyclopedia, intermixed with journal entry from an intrepid young explorer, “Ogres of East Africa” implies an enormous world with endless possibility. The sections pulled from the Ogre Encylopedia are informative and entertaining. Unfortunately, the journal entries (which were, ya know, the part actually telling a story) weren’t nearly so engaging. Perhaps this was a case of trying to do too much with too little space.
“Cimmeria: From the Journal of Imaginary Anthropology”
Theodora Goss
FROM Lightspeed Magazine
Imaginary worlds brought to life by means of what I’ll dub technological magic, and studied by Anthropologists. An interesting jumping off point which Goss runs with. Weaving a compelling narrative alongside some complex character development. This one makes for a fun intellectual exercise.
“Sleeper”
Jo Walton
FROM Tor.com
Another world within worlds, exploration of personality, motive, and all that jazz. This is one of those stories I’d really like to see fleshed out into something longer. There’s a lot of room for “Sleeper” to grow, but Walton does a fantastic job sticking to the story she set out to tell. Simple prose, complicated ideas, huge world. Great potential.
“How the Marquis Got his Coat Back”
Neil Gaiman
FROM Rogues
If you read Gaiman’s debut novel, Neverwhere, and left wanting more, then this is for you. Gaiman’s first foray back into the world of Neverwhere in nearly 20 years. We get an interesting look into one of the world’s most enigmatic character, the Marquis de Carabas. Unfortunately, while there is a certain amount of character development, this story effectively boils down to a good old fashioned check off all the side-quests type adventure. Not Gaiman’s best work, and possibly not a worthy addition to The BASFF, if not for the value of Gaiman’s name on the cover.
“Windows”
Susan Palwick
FROM Asimov’s Science Fiction
The prose is beautiful and character introspection deep, but this is only science fiction in the absolute loosest definition of the term.
“The Thing About Shapes to Come”
Adam-Troy Castro
FROM Lightspeed Magazine
I like awarding bonus points for creativity and weirdness, but this tale might have been too weird for even my tastes. Imagine a world where humans inexplicably start giving birth to…shapes. Not babies per se, for they lack faces, appendages, or anything suggesting they are more than inanimate chunks of cube and sphere shaped flesh. And then, for equally mysterious reasons, it stops, and humans return to having normal babies. Yeah, like I said, weird.
“We Are the Cloud”
Sam J. Miller
FROM Lightspeed Magazine
One of my personal favorites in the entire collection. Filled with the type of fantastically simple prose that lets you sink deep into a robust world, complex character relationships, and a heartbreaking story about what it means to be alone in the digital age.
“The Blue Afternoon That Lasted Forever”
Daniel H. Wilson
FROM Carbide-Tipped Pens
Coming in hot on the heels of “We Are The Cloud”, Wilson manages to tell what I believe is the best story in The BASFF. A brilliant scientist with obvious social issues tries to raise his daughter after his wife, having had enough of his emotional unavailability, leaves. This is a great look into the mind of a person trying so hard to connect that you can’t help but root for him even as a slew of rogue black holes rip through the solar system. (Yeah, you totally read that right. Rogue black holes. So good.)
“Skullpocket”
Nathan Ballingrud
FROM Nightmare Carnival
“Skullpocket” has so much history the reader needs to understand before they can fully immerse themselves in this peculiar world that I wonder if perhaps a short story was the wrong medium. Grow this into a novel length piece and it’d be an amazing bit of world-building. As is, it felt cramped. A shame considering the story itself is very good, the writing doubly so.
“I Can See Right Through You”
Kelly Link
FROM McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern
A lot of time spent developing a character that simply isn’t very interesting or sympathetic. The prose is solid, but the twist at the end left me scratching my head and squinting up at the ceiling trying to figure out if I just “missed” the point.
“The Empties”
Jess Row
FROM The New Yorker
World more or less ends for mysterious reasons. Character sits around contemplating it all. One of the longer stories in The BASFF. Unfortunately, it’s also the one where the least amount of stuff actually happens.
“The One They Took Before”
Kelly Sandoval
FROM Shimmer Magazine
I think this was a story about Fairies, but I’m not entirely sure. The prose was solid, the world-building had potential, but the narrative was muddled. I spent a large portion of “The One They Took Before” in a state of confusion. That could be a reflection of me and not the story, however.
“The Relive Box”
T.C. Boyle
FROM The New Yorker
Another story that shared many similarities with an episode from the television show Black Mirror. An expansive character analysis studying the effects of a memory box that allows the user to relive experiences from their past. As one would expect, living in the past does not bode well for the future. Boyle tells a compelling, and at times heart-breaking, story. The ending, unfortunately, didn’t deliver the same emotional punch as what preceded it. Still a solid story overall.
“How to Become a Robot in 12 Easy Steps”
A. Merc Rustad
FROM Scigentasy
Here I am awarding creativity/weird points again. “How to Become a Robot in 12 Easy Steps” is an improbably successful story about what it means to be human (or not human). I had mixed feelings going into this one, but Rustad impressed in the end. Well written, engaging, and creative.
The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2015 ultimately brings together an impressive collection of authors exploring a wide range of characters, ideas, and worlds. If you’re a fan of John Joseph Adams and his tendency to lean towards unique, character driven stories, then you’ll certainly enjoy The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2015.
Like this: Like Loading...× ‘Armless Archer’ takes home first place at archery championship in Westfield
WESTFIELD, Ind. – A man born with no arms defied the odds and took home first place at a national archery competition in Westfield over the weekend.
Using his feet, Matt Stutzman earned gold in the target championship and got silver in the open compound final at the USA Archery Outdoor National Championships.
Stutzman says this weekend’s results will put him in a great position to earn a spot on the US Archery World Cup Team.
The Paralympian won the silver medal in the 2012 games in London, but this is the first year he is competing in the able-bodied division.
Stutzman says his new tagline has become “What’s your excuse?”
“If a guy without arms can get a bow and sit down and compete with the best in the world at a sport with them using their arms, what’s your excuse?” asked Stutzman. “Why aren’t you doing what you want to do? Get off the couch and get it done.”By John Riddell - East End Against Line 9, June 6, 2016
The People's Climate Plan Teach-in, held in Toronto June 4,[1] took great strides forward in presenting a forceful alternative to the inadequate and deceptive climate action proposals of Canada's federal government. In the opening session, five leading climate activists presented a coherent, unified climate justice strategy, proposing effective action to save the world from climate disaster interlocked with practical measures to assist working people and the poor who are the first victims of global warming. Displayed in the meeting, held in the University of Toronto, were the banners: “Pipelines = Climate Change”; “Stop Line 9”; and (in French) “Leave Fossil Fuels in the Ground.”
After lunch, the more than 100 participants split up into training groups of half a dozen to develop skills for effective intervention in the “public consultation” meetings the Trudeau government proposes to hold over the coming three months.
People's Climate Plan
The proposed framework for this intervention is the People's Climate Plan (PCP),[2] a simple structure of three principles (or “pillars”) to guide those taking part in such gatherings.
“We've been to three of these consultations, and we know how they're organized,” PCP activists explained. “Government facilitators divide participants into small groups and then give each group a topic designed to force discussion into a channel favourable to government policy. “For example, they ask ‘How can we combine economic growth with emissions reductions?’ – implying that tar sands expansion is part of the bargain. If you accept the question on their terms, you've already lost the argument.”
If environmentalists argue at cross purposes or try to make too many different points, their voices can be sidelined and ignored. Those speaking for climate justice need to unite around a common focus and strategy. The PCP proposes three principles to assure this focus:
Science: keep fossil fuel reserves in the ground.
Economics: a rapid transition to a clean energy economy.
Justice: for Indigenous peoples, workers affected by the transition, and victims of climate change.
When government facilitators pose inappropriate themes, the PCP spokespersons suggested that we use an “ABC” approach:
A: Acknowledge the question posed by the organizers.
the question posed by the organizers. B: Bridge over to the question you wish to address, which should be aligned with one of the three PCP principles.
over to the question you wish to address, which should be aligned with one of the three PCP principles. C: Provide Context to sustain your view, preferably with a personal anecdote or insight that illustrates why you care so much about the issue.
Achieving this degree of focus may seem a tall order for environmental and social activists. Often we use discussion periods to express a broad and seemingly chaotic range of personal viewpoints. We rightly prize our diversity. Yet when entering a discussion structured by a government with quite alien goals, PCP activists suggested, we must harmonize and unify our approaches.
I myself participated in such an effort in February, when I attended an East-End constituency Liberal policy conference along with three other supporters of Toronto East End Against Line 9. After smoothing the way with kind words about positive aspects of Trudeau's promises, we were able to win the conference to our key points on climate policy, while making new friends for our committee – much to the consternation of the local Liberal MP.
In the June 4 conference, a couple of hours of intense work in our breakout groups familiarized us with the PCP approach.
The panel discussion preceding these training sessions illustrated the same theme. The five speakers were drawn from diverse and seemingly unrelated arenas of social activism. Nonetheless, the panelists succeeded in zeroing in on a common theme of climate justice, enriched by relating them to diverse work areas. Here are my notes of the panelists’ remarks:
Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
The keynote speaker, Myeengun Henry of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, recounted how his people, who live in southwest Ontario, learned that a tar sands pipeline, Enbridge's “Line 9,” was to be built across their traditional territory, without the consultation required by Canada's constitution.
Alarmed by the danger of a poisonous tar sands oil spill in their territory, the Chippewas asked the federal government for consultation. There was no response. So Myeengun's people boldly challenged the federal regulator's right to approve the pipeline and took their case to federal court. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear their case, which will be argued on November 30.
But the Chippewas of the Thames are aiming at more than stopping a pipeline. They have visited New Orleans to express support for hundreds of indigenous families there who have been driven from their homes by the effects of climate change. The Chippewas plan to bring together Indigenous climate protesters from B.C., Nunavut, Atlantic Canada, and the U.S. – “from all of Turtle Island” – on Chippewas of the Thames territory at the end of August.
Their goal is nothing less than sweeping social reorientation. Displaying a traditional indigenous two-row wampum belt, symbol of the treaties of respectful coexistence and mutual aid offered by indigenous peoples to the European settlers, Myeengun said, “We are going to build a nation in the spirit of our wampum and its teachings.”
Participants donated $2,100 to help cover the legal costs of the Chippewas’ Supreme Court appeal.
Justice for Migrant Workers
The second speaker was a characteristic global citizen of our century – a climate refugee. “My livelihood was destroyed by a hurricane, leaving me and my family destitute,” said Gabriel Allahdua from the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia. “I came to Canada as a migrant worker in 2011, thinking it was a place of diversity and human rights.”
Yet under Canada's migrant worker laws, migrants “face harassment at the work place with no recourse. We are denied minimum wage and paid less for equivalent work. Our labour contracts and labour laws are not enforceable. We can be expelled from Canada for speaking out,” Gabriel said. “We are denied the right to stay in Canada and forcibly separated from our families. The evils are systematic and supported by those at the top.”
“St. Lucia and other poor countries are the least responsible for climate change but suffer its worst effects,” Gabriel said. The island is impoverished, battered by the global economic conditions, and its banana-based economy is vulnerable to “devastation by hurricanes that get worse and worse.” Meanwhile, extreme weather events, driven by climate change, extract an increasing toll, with 90 per cent of deaths occurring in “developing” – that is, poor – countries.
Gabriel's group, Justice for Migrant Workers, demands that migrant workers in Canada receive status, in order to provide equal rights to all workers.
Canadian Union of Postal Workers
Megan Whitfield, Toronto President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), spoke on the theme of community power. “We have to get our own members engaged in efforts regarding climate change,” by remaking Canada's publicly owned postal service into a community-based network to reduce carbon emissions, she said.
“We want to force Canada Post to go green. It has the country's largest vehicle base; it should be changed over to electric vehicles. We have more retail outlets than Tim Hortons – let them provide electric charging stations and put solar panels on the roof. The post office is a community hub: let it provide Internet access to the many who otherwise can't afford it.”
Door-to-door letter carriers, which the last government tried to eliminate, are the “eyes and ears of the community. We know you second-best to your own family. It's a low-emissions alternative to delivery vehicles.”
Two million low-income workers in Canada pay up to 4000 per cent a year in interest to payday lenders. “We can provide an alternative with post-office banking – a popular service in many countries.”
Megan urged environmentalists to support the campaign to Save Canada Post and to take part in the present governmental postal service review.
Oil Change International
“There's lots of discussion about climate change, but very few programs that have any impact,” said Adam Scott, Senior Campaigner at Oil Change International. “We've had 20 years of governmental negotiations, but nothing has been done. Canada's federal government has effectively no climate policy.”
“Canada led the charge in the Paris climate negotiations to set a 1.5-degree limit on global warming, and that target requires that we eliminate fossil fuels entirely,” Adam pointed out. That fact has not sunk in. “Pipelines and tar sands are the elephant in the room – single-handedly blocking emissions reduction and posing an absolute barrier to Canada's progress toward its goals.”
Yet the Trudeau government insists that we can further expand oil consumption and usage while reducing emissions – an absolute impossibility. “We must ask Ottawa: if you increase oil industry emissions, what do you intend to cut out to make up for that,” Adam said.
“Canada has used the atmosphere as a dumping ground for its industrialization,” he said. “Now new developing countries cannot take that road” – and they pay the price of our pollution. “Canada has the resources to act and bears a historical responsibility to the world to do so.”
Leap Manifesto
“We cannot ‘silo’ climate change, making it one issue among many,” said journalist Avi Lewis, speaking for the ‘Leap Manifesto: A call for a Canada based on caring for the Earth and each other.’ “The climate is a global emergency; a message from the Earth; a lens through which to see all issues.”
“The government wants to keep discussion in a climate bubble. We want to explode the bubble, and that is what we will do in the consultations.”
Prime Minister Trudeau said in March that “we need both pipelines and wind turbines.” That is impossible, Avi said, “We have to choose.” That is shown by an “avalanche of evidence during the past week”:
The world's fourth-largest oil company, France-based Total S.A., has conceded that part of the world's fossil fuel reserves must be left in the ground.
A secret report by Policy Horizons Canada has told the federal government that the fossil fuel industry must close down very quickly, as renewable electricity becomes the main source of energy supply. Oil pipelines are at high risk of becoming economically unviable, the report says.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has flatly denied that Canada can build pipelines while keeping its climate commitments.
Meanwhile, Avi said, the government is trying to weasel out of its pledge to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which specifies their right to “free, prior, and informed consent” regarding resource develop on their lands. “That means veto power! That means no Line 9 and no Northern Gateway!”
“Smashing the silo applies to us too,” Avi added. “A climate justice movement must be led by justice.” Serious climate action demands an end to:
Trade deals that give corporations a right to sue over climate action measures.
Privatization moves such as Hydro One in Ontario.
Structural racism such as that imposed on migrant workers.
Structural social inequality.
“We need a movement of movements to unite meaningful climate action with a challenge to these social evils,” Avi concluded. •
John Riddell is a Toronto-based activist and maintains a blog at johnriddell.wordpress.com, where this article was published.
Endnotes:
1. The June 4 event was organized by an ad-hoc working group including 350Toronto, Toronto No Line 9 Network, and Climate Fast. It was hosted by Rising Tide Toronto, an Action Group of OPIRG TORONTO.
2. The People's Climate Plan is organized and sponsored by a broad spectrum of groups including 350.org, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, Council of Canadians, East End Against Line 9, Idle No More, KAIROS, Leadnow, Leap Manifesto, Stand (formerly ForestEthics), and United Church of Canada.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are not the official position of the IWW (or even the IWW’s EUC) and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone but the author’s.TV Reviews All of our TV reviews in one convenient place.
Tales Of The Grim Sleeper A- Tales Of The Grim Sleeper A- A- Tales Of The Grim Sleeper Director Nick Broomfield Runtime 100 minutes Rating TV-MA Cast Documentary Debuts Monday, April 27th at 9 p.m. Eastern on HBO
HBO’s documentary programming has always been strong, but it’s rarely been as culturally relevant as it is right now. After The Jinx and Going Clear—and with Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck waiting in the wings—HBO’s docs are suddenly the subject of think pieces, follow-up stories, and Saturday Night Live sketches. There’s been a rare confluence on HBO lately of accomplished filmmakers doing artful and accessible work, tackling attention-grabbing subjects.
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Tales Of The Grim Sleeper isn’t likely to generate any memes, but it may be the best of HBO’s recent slate. It has just as impressive a pedigree, too. British director Nick Broomfield has been making non-fiction features for more than 40 years, launching his career in the cinema verité era and then helping to define the style of first-person, investigative cine-journalism that Michael Moore and Morgan Spurlock practice. Broomfield has turned his fascination with scandal and celebrity into some of the best-known documentaries of the 1990s and early 2000s: Aileen Wuornos: The Selling Of A Serial Killer, Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam, Kurt & Courtney, and Biggie And Tupac.
The knock against Broomfield in the past—and it’s a fair one—is that his method of casting himself as a quizzical naïf in his films can come off as both disingenuous and self-serving. He pretends to know less than he does, then presents information to the viewer not as an authority, but as a guy who just happened on something quirky or damning. By making himself the central figure in his work, Broomfield gives himself an out, allowing the excuse that his documentaries are just one man’s limited perspective on criminals and crimes, and not any kind of definitive report.
But where Broomfield’s style can be irritating when he’s tackling big, well-known stories—like the stormy relationship between Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain—it’s exactly the right approach to take to Tales Of The Grim Sleeper. Broomfield arrives in South Central Los Angeles with his son and cinematographer Barney, and starts asking questions about a man named Lonnie Franklin Jr., who stands accused of murdering anywhere from 20 to 100 women over the course of 25 years. The more Broomfield talks to people who knew Franklin and know about the case, the clearer it becomes that it’s these conversations that Tales Of The Grim Sleeper is really about—the tales, not the Sleeper.
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The details of Franklin’s case are the stuff of lurid pulp. A seemingly ordinary man with a sweet disposition, Franklin was well-liked by his neighbors and friends, even though some of them knew about what they assumed was his biggest vice: picking up women, supplying them with drugs and alcohol, and taking pornographic pictures. What they didn’t know—and what some still refuse to believe—is that Franklin’s compulsion allegedly didn’t end with photography. A lot of his “dates” later went missing or turned up dead, and because some were hookers and others merely poor and black, the killings never became a serious priority for the LAPD’s homicide squad.
Broomfield’s tabloid tastes come into play early in Tales Of The Grim Sleeper. Given the subject matter of his earlier films, he was never going to be disinterested in a story with lots of sex and murder. But while he’s trying to find out all that he can about some of the women Franklin may have killed—with the help of Pamela, a former prostitute who knows the people and the processes involved with vice in South Central—he’s also asking how so many women could be slain, possibly by the same person, without the cops trying to stop it.
Broomfield likely knows the answer to this, or at least suspects. But similar to the wide-eyed act he pulled in films like Heidi Fleiss, Broomfield in Grim Sleeper pretends to be shocked to learn that crime and punishment in a predominately black neighborhood is handled very differently by the authorities than it might be somewhere else. He turns over long stretches of the movie to the activists who petitioned the police to track down this serial killer before he struck again. And because Broomfield’s playing the outsider, he lets them talk, uninterrupted.
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What emerges is a complicated situation, not easily reduced to “the justice system is racist”—although that’s certainly part of it. Tales Of The Grim Sleeper considers how—in a neighborhood where the residents distrust the police and are accustom to looking the other way when something illegal is going on—Franklin may have found it easier to operate. More to the point, in a place where people get shot on street corners all the time, it becomes harder to define terms like “serial killer,” and harder to get the authorities interested in another missing person or another dead body. The result? Women who’ve already had a rough life become disposable.
Here’s where Broomfield’s style proves essential. Whether out of prurience or compassion, he really does want to hear about the world where Franklin lived, from the ones who are still there. There is a recurring shot in Tales Of The Grim Sleeper that seems at first artless, and then poignant: It’s of Broomfield interviewing people from inside of his car, with his son’s camera catching his subjects from below, from window-level. Broomfield lets these interviews run longer than other documentarians might, rather than cutting them down to the few lines that have to do with Franklin. These faces fill the frame, shot from a dynamic angle, as they joke and grumble and describe another day of scraping by. By shutting up and paying attention, Broomfield fades into the background and lets Franklin’s acquaintances take over the movie. In the process, Tales Of The Grim Sleeper subtly, persistently makes the case that to write anybody off because of where they’re from isn’t just an outrage, it’s damned inhumane.There is a difference between being fiery and crossing a line, and controversial talk radio host Alex Jones crossed that line when he deemed the liberal news network MSNBC the “Klu Klux Klan” channel.
“You turn on MSNBC, it’s like the Ku Klux Klan channel, but it’s from a liberal perspective,” Jones argued on his own radio show on Friday. “Just race, everything race.”
“I’m so sick of it!” he shouted continuing his tirade against MSNBC. “I’m so tired of it. Shut up! I wasn’t raised like that. Nobody I know is. I’m sick of it. They just want everybody at each other’s throats while they’re robbing us. And it’s all a giant hoax.”
A recent poll by the Pew Research Center did reveal MSNBC as the most opinionated news station finding 85 percent of its content in 2012 was opinion-related.
And while much of this opinionated content is race-related, comparing something to the “Klu Klux Klan” — a hate group where many of its members were convicted for the murder of African Americans — is unwarranted.
Recently, Jones made many gun advocates proud when he passionately defended the Second Amendment to CNN host Piers Morgan. Jones is also the brains behind the White House petition to deport Morgan after the CNN host continued to bash gun owners.
But in this case, the radio host slipped up when he compared MSNBC to a group not only associated with racism, but violence and murder. The KKK is still a sensitive subject for many and Jones should issue less cringe-worthy insults next time.
It can’t be that hard to find ways to skewer the liberal news station. It is MSNBC after all.
h/t Newsbusters
Latest VideosHillary Clinton expanding presence in Nevada by opening second office
Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign will open a second Nevada campaign office on Wednesday, continuing the Democratic front-runner's effort to expand a grassroots network in the state.
The office will be in Reno and serve as a phone bank, recruiting hub and canvassing headquarters for Northern Nevada. The new location follows the July opening of Clinton's Las Vegas campaign. Clinton, the former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state, won the Nevada Democratic caucus in 2008 and has kept the framework of that campaign intact. Clinton’s 22 staffers surpasses the number of those working for her Democratic challengers, Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Gov. Martin O’Malley.
Nevada’s caucus, scheduled for Feb. 20, will serve as a barometer for how the demographically diverse state will vote in the November 2016 general election. Clinton has made three public appearances in Nevada this year and is trying to woo Latinos, women, union members and progressive voters.
Today, Clinton unveiled her campaign finance reform plan that aims to revamp the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United. Clinton staffers will use that platform to rally potential volunteers tomorrow in Reno, painting Republicans as beneficiaries of laws that allow wealthy donors to donate unlimited amounts of money without disclosing their names or affiliations.
“We are reminding folks that they have a voice in the election,” Tim Hogan, Clinton campaign staffer, said.Nice one! I've played with friends in the same house, and I've said, "Look at that bow in trade chat!" only to find out that they could not see it. Good fix.
Fun fact: this forum comes with a built-in literacy checker. If you see someone accuse me of being a white knight, a TencentGGG shill, or any variation thereof, you can rest assured that person does not read.
Isn't this how it already is? Besides, the last I checked, Trade chat is pretty much just people spamming buying/selling things; there's hardly a way to get an effective price check asking anywhere.I know it's a barter economy and all, but if what someone's wanting to pay for something is far, FAR lower than what 95% of everyone else is willing to pay, then why take less and run the risk of the buyer deciding to immediately re-sell it for profit?
Fun fact: this forum comes with a built-in literacy checker. If you see someone accuse me of being a white knight, a TencentGGG shill, or any variation thereof, you can rest assured that person does not read.
I recommend using global to price check actually. Unless there's been a clear rule about it, trade chat is best reserved for buying/selling posts. In my experience, PCing in trade chat can lead to, yknow, actual chatting in trade chat, which isn't the purpose of that chat.
Isn't this how it already is? Besides, the last I checked, Trade chat is pretty much just people spamming buying/selling things; there's hardly a way to get an effective price check asking anywhere.I know it's a barter economy and all, but if what someone's wanting to pay for something is far, FAR lower than what 95% of everyone else is willing to pay, then why take less and run the risk of the buyer deciding to immediately re-sell it for profit?Dan Deacon’s score for Rat Film, the new experimental documentary about Baltimore’s rat population from director Theo Anthony, is unlike any of his other albums. Inspired by 20th-century classical hero Philip Glass along with recent film scores like Mica Levi’s Under The Skin and Mark Korven’s The Witch, Deacon composed the music with some help from the rats themselves, scurrying around an enclosure surrounded by theremins and generating data to control a player piano. (See the film’s fascinating “making of” video here.) “Redlining,” the LP’s opening track, begins as a sparse piano meditation before transitioning into a warm mist of calmingly serene synth pads. Listen to it below, accompanied by visuals inspired by the Google Maps flyover passages in the film.
Here’s a mini-documentary about the making of the film:
Tour dates:
10/07 Edmonton, AB @ Up + Downtown Music Festival
10/14 Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon (Rat Film Soundtrack Release Party – Dan Deacon DJ Set)
10/21 Petaluma, CA @ Lagunitas Beer Circus
11/04 Pomona, CA @ Lagunitas Beer Circus
11/09 Providence, RI @ AS220
11/10 Somerville, MA @ Hassle Fest 9
11/11 Holyoke, MA @ Gateway City Arts
11/12 Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery
12/27-30 Reykjavik, IS @ Nordur og nidur
The Rat Film original soundtrack is out 10/13 on Domino Soundtracks. Pre-order it here.Lord save the presidential candidates from their allies, Chapter Two.
Last week, it was Barack Obama who saw his carefully crafted speech on patriotism overshadowed because backer Wesley Clark had made a controversial statement about John McCain getting shot down as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War.
Today, it was McCain's turn to watch as his recent effort to show he understands the economic hard times that many Americans are experiencing got stepped on by an old friend and top advisor.
In an interview with the Washington Times, former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm termed the current economic slowdown "a mental recession."
He added: "We may have a recession; we haven't had one yet."
And then he showed why his own presidential bid in 1996 quickly crashed and burned, calling the United States "a nation of whiners."
Obama, campaigning in Virginia, recognized the gift that had been handed him. Referencing the "mental recession" remark, he said Gramm "didn’t say this, but I guess what he meant was, 'It’s a figment of your imagination, these high gas prices.' "
He continued: "Sen. Gramm then deemed the United States, and I quote 'a nation of whiners.' "
Milking the moment for all it was worth as his crowd both laughed and booed, Obama delivered a punch line that gave the cable networks one of the day's prime sound-bites: "I want all of you to know that America already has one Dr. Phil, we don’t need another one."
McCain distanced himself from his blunt-spoken supporter at a news conference in Michigan.
"I don’t agree with Sen. Gramm," he said. "I believe the person in Michigan that just lost his job isn’t suffering from a mental recession. I believe the mother... who is trying to get enough money to educate her children, isn’t whining. America is in great difficulty.
"Phil Gramm does not speak for me," McCain said. "I speak for me. I strongly disagree."
McCain later came up with his own sound-bite. Asked whether Gramm was a contender to head the Treasury Department in a McCain administration, he cracked: "I think that Sen. Gramm would be in serious consideration for ambassador to Belarus, although I’m not sure the citizens of Minsk would welcome that."
Gramm apparently has no interest in another government job, because he...Make tax cuts for the rich populist again.
Virtually no one in the United States believes that taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals should be cut. In one recent Gallup survey, just 9 percent of respondents said corporations paid too much in taxes, while 67 percent said |
we know faith is more than this. It is power capable of scientific analysis, in a measure in correspondence with the progress made by any man.”[7]
The circle is complete when we learn to practice total control over our emotions, while in the physical world, and apply our loving will in a professional manner in the spirit realm. Only then, after a multitudes of lives, painfully mastering our character and attitudes, can we graduate to a position of responsibility to be entrusted with such might.
When we were children we would dream of having overwhelming power to perform great events. Those dreams of conjuring something out of nothing are visions of a distant future. We should not let go of our childhood aspirations, we ought to mold them into a strength of purpose to fashion our deepest intentions into energy for good.
Understand more about the spirit world and the part we play in it by reading my book, Explore Your Destiny – Since Your Life’s Path is (mostly) Predetermined. You will find out the different levels around our planet and how we are guided by the spirit world to be successful.
Author:
Brian Foster has a BSCS degree and a MBA. He has worked in R&D for medical device corporations and in IT for large financial institutions. Brian Foster has a blog at www.nwspiritism.com.
Works Cited
Owen, R. G. (2012). The Life Beyond the Veil. Pahrump, NV: Square Circles Publishing.
Xavier, F. C. (2011). In the Realms of Mediumship. Brasilia (DF), Brazil: EDICEI.
Xavier, F. C. (2011). On the Way to the Light. Brasilia (DF), Brazil: International Spiritist Council.
[1] Xavier, Francisco C. On the Way to the Light, EDICEI, p. 19
[2] Xavier, Francisco C. On the Way to the Light, EDICEI, pp. 21-22
[3] Xavier, Francisco C. In the Realms of Mediumship, EDICEI, p. 247
[4] Xavier, Francisco C. In the Realms of Mediumship, EDICEI, p. 247
[5] Owen, R. G. The Life Beyond the Veil, Square Circles Publishing, pp. 258-259
[6] Owen, R. G. The Life Beyond the Veil, Square Circles Publishing, p. 257
[7] Owen, R. G. The Life Beyond the Veil, Square Circles Publishing, p. 257For those of you who rage-quit articles, see no purpose for this article, or only read snippets of articles and then pretend to understand the message, I suggest that you skip to the last few paragraphs, which I have conveniently marked off by the phrase “I hate fat people”. Enjoy!
Before I begin, you should know that my best friend is a gay, African-American feminist who is concentrating in Anthropology, which basically makes him poor. Keep that fact in the back of your mind, so that whenever you feel the urge to call me a bigot, you are reminded that I too am a tolerant human being with valid opinions. Don’t forget: extremists, by their very nature, are not hypocrites; in no way can there exist contradictions between their beliefs and life choices. Just look at Newt Gingrinch: he loves family values and hates progress, and thus would never cheat on his wife with a progressively younger – oh wait.
Recently, there has been heated discourse on various controversial topics, which could offend many individuals and social groups. Knowing this, I should construct a well-substantiated, coherent foundation for my arguments. But in the spirit of controversy, let’s not do any of that.
Let’s just start with the facts. Civil rights ended like forty years ago, and race relations have never been better. Overlooking the odd Trayvon Martin or Jordan Davis court case, I think we can all appreciate how far racial integration has progressed in America. Yet in trying to create another “empowerment” movement, blacks are essentially segregating themselves from an otherwise-loving majority. I get it; blacks are disproportionately poor and incarcerated. And okay, maybe there is a strong causal link between race and inequality. But really, there is no need for affirmative action or the NAACP. Since racism is just a social construct, if we ignore it long enough, it will just go away, right?
Speaking of going away, when are the gays going to stop flaunting their identity? It is so annoying. I don’t flaunt being a hardy, heterosexual male, and I don’t need to. Mass media and society do it for me. But that’s irrelevant. You know what is relevant? The snobbery that occurs in the BLT community (I think there is a “Q” in there, but I was hungry).
The entire “queer” student movement is extremely cliquish. I haven’t bothered to enter our campus’s student office or even read the signs (which definitely DO NOT say that all genders and sexualities are welcome), but trust me when I say that I would feel excluded if I went. It would be like if a pedophile were to go to an expectant mothers’ convention: awkward for everyone. They should really be more accommodating. It would suck if I weren’t able to express my individuality.
I can just group women and poor people together, because really, what’s the difference? I think both need to study what our country was founded upon. Exploitation? Kind of. A nearly impenetrable glass ceiling that prevented women from serving substantial political roles for more than a century? Getting warmer. A politico-economic system, which ensured that wealth would be concentrated in the hands of the elite? Closer. Equal opportunity for all social groups? No. Oh wait, I mean yes… yes to that one.
If there is anything to be learned from Mankiw, it’s that those at the top deserve to be there. Some people are just born to be business leaders, especially if their fathers are (JP Morgan, James Murdoch, Blake Nordstrom, and David Lauren, among others). It’s a generational thing, kind of like poverty. Scratch that, poverty is the result of a dearth of personal ambition.
What ever happened to the American Dream? Look at the rags-to-riches stories replete throughout American history. Of the hundreds of millions of individuals who have lived in this country, I can make a list of at least twenty-five who have transcended their meager economic beginnings. And that’s pretty impressive, since we only ever seem to be tested on Andrew Carnegie. Bottom line, anyone can make it to the top. And once everyone is at the top, then that will become the bottom, and we will start the cycle all over again. But really, what more is life than a cycle?
I hate fat people.
Just making sure that you’re still paying attention. Anyway, I suppose I should tell you my reason for writing this inflammatory masterpiece. Well, part of me is a conflicted soul who believes that Ronald Reagan and the Chinese Exclusion Act were never given their due credit in history books. Most of me actually.
But an infinitesimal portion of my consciousness cannot help but think that my identity must be validated by attention. So thank you. I feed off of you. Or perhaps I should clarify – you feed me. Every time that you repost my article on Facebook, or share it with your friends, you give me meaning.
Say what you want about me in the comments section; it won’t bother me, since I have great selective reading skills. Besides, there will always be at least one contrarian who will defend me no matter what I say.
I’ve found my niche. I can’t die because you won’t let me. Instead of posting about your weekend, you’ll give a guy like me a place on your wall and a seat at your dinner table. No, you aren’t the problem, technically. Technically, I’m the bigot. But you are my lifeline.
I am a product of commercialism and the conflict-driven contrivances within society. I have many names (but you can just call me Bill O’Reilly). I thrive whether I believe what I say or not.
Now, if people made an effort to act upon, and not simply believe in social progress, that would be troublesome. If groups collectively chose to drown the trolls under the bridge with a deluge of social action and indifference to people like me, then I would die. This broken system of rewarding those who damage us the most would die. This broken system of intra-societal conflict and aggression would die. But who’s going to do that, huh? You?
AdvertisementsThe Charlottesville City Council is expected to vote to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee and rename the park after a vote last month ended in a tie.
Councilman Bob Fenwick, who abstained from voting on the measure during a Jan. 17 meeting, told The Caviler Daily he now plans to vote to remove the statue and rename Lee Park at the Virginia council’s meeting today.
Fenwick said he initially abstained from voting because he was unsure about the consequences for the move, slated to cost $300,000, and wanted time to consider input from a Blue Ribbon Commission on Race, Memorials and Public Spaces.
“I was very concerned a vote to remove (on Jan. 17) would take the energy out of a better city budget for citizens and neighborhoods which would mean community centers, the Jefferson School Heritage Center, diversion and mentoring programs (and) funding for 501c3 social programs like Legal Aid, Ready Kids, etc.,” Fenwick wrote in an email to The Daily.
According to the news site:
Though Fenwick is going to vote for the statue’s removal, he stressed the statue — which he said he views as a symbol of racism — will be relocated and preserved.
His decision was met with controversy from individuals and advocacy groups on both sides of the issue. While Showing up For Racial Justice applauded his efforts, organizations such as the Virginia Flaggers, which argues for the preservation of Confederate symbols, condemned the impending action.
Lifetime Charlottesvillian Lewis Martin told the local NPR station he believes the Lee statue, which depicts him mounted on a horse, sets a positive example for locals because Lee called for reconciliation after the Civil War.
“He said, ‘Go home and be good citizens,’” Martin said.
Fenwick and others, however, remain fixated on eliminating any traces of history that involve racism or slavery, and believe the statue is offensive to blacks in the community.
Lee “was a highly educated man, a top graduate and eventual superintendent of West Point,” Fenwick pointed out at the January Council meeting. “To say that Robert E. Lee didn’t believe his efforts as commanding general of the army of the Confederate states had as their primary aim the preservation of a way of life in which enslaved humans were the primary economic driver is in itself delusional.”
Richmond.com points out the pending removal of statue doesn’t follow recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission, which called for the Lee statue and another of Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson to be recontextualized in their current location, or at another park.
Pam Starsia, organizer for Showing Up for Racial Justice, lauded Fenwick’s decision to side with the other two council members who voted to remove the Lee statue in January.
“While we wish they city could have reached this decision sooner, and without the pain caused to so many at the last City Council meeting, we applaud Mr. Fenwick for his decision, and we are deeply appreciative of his action …,” a statement read.
Virginia Flaggers, meanwhile, posted a recent blog that condemned the action and predicted harsh consequences for council members who opted to remove the historical statue.
“These people have no shame,” the post read, according to Richmond.com.
“(Councilors Wes) Bellamy and (Kristin) Szakos have nothing to lose,” it continued. “Their careers are effectively over and they can pursue their agenda of hate, and vote to toss away taxpayer money and waste city resources without fear of any kind of accountability.”
“We can only assume that with this announcement, Fenwick has decided his political career is over, as well.”
UPDATE 2/7/17:
The city council voted 3-2 on Monday to remove the statue and rename the park.
“Councilor Wes Bellamy said community members feel the statue is culturally offensive and a symbol of white supremacy. Councilor Bob Fenwick provided the swing vote after both praising Lee and saying his record of fighting to preserve slavery is undeniable,” Fox 5 reports.I try to keep my.emacs organized. The configuration will always be a work in progress, but I'm starting to be satisfied with the overall structure.
All stuff is under ~/.elisp, a directory that is under version control (I use git, if that's of interest). ~/.emacs simply points to ~/.elisp/dotemacs which itself just loads ~/.elisp/cfg/init. That file in turn imports various configuration files via require. This means that the configuration files need to behave like modes: they import stuff they depend on and they provide themselves at the end of the file, e.g. (provide'my-ibuffer-cfg). I prefix all identifiers that are defined in my configuration with my-.
I organize the configuration in respect to modes/subjects/tasks, not by their technical implications, e.g. I don't have a separate config file in which all keybindings or faces are defined.
My init.el defines the following hook to make sure that Emacs recompiles configuration files whenever saved (compiled Elisp loads a lot faster but I don't want to do this step manually):
;; byte compile config file if changed (add-hook 'after-save-hook '(lambda () (when (string-match (concat (expand-file-name "~/.elisp/cfg/") ".*\.el$") buffer-file-name) (byte-compile-file buffer-file-name))))
This is the directory structure for ~/.elisp :
~/.elisp/todo.org : Org-mode file in which I keep track of stuff that still needs to be done (+ wish list items).
~/.elisp/dotemacs : Symlink target for ~/.emacs, loads ~/.elisp/cfg/init.
~/.elisp/cfg : My own configuration files.
~/.elisp/modes : Modes that consist only of a single file.
~/.elisp/packages : Sophisticated modes with lisp, documentation and probably resource files.Irritatibly bright streams of light flooded their way into Anna's senses as her eyes opened to the sound of buzzing. Her eyes shifted over to the small clock placed on the TV table.
11:26am.
Wait.
Anna bolted upright in the bed, looking to the side to see Elsa on her constantly buzzing phone, giggling. Anna looked suspiciously at Elsa. "Watcha doing thats so giggle-worthy?" Elsa looked over to Anna with a grin. "Oh nothing, just telling about everyone I know what happened yesterday," she said before placing a light kiss on Anna's cheek. She blushed before realizing the time and shooting out of bed.
Elsa followed her with her eyes. "You late for something?" she asked as she raised an eyebrow and smirked at the speed Anna was moving at. Anna stopped rushing. "Yeah..." she said slowly before turning around to face Elsa. "What am I gonna do about work? I have to take care of you..."
Elsa's face dropped a little. "No you don't," she said simply. Anna approached and sat down next to her. "Yes I do Elsa. I know this situation isn't permanent, but for the time being, there's a lot of things that you aren't going to be able to do by yourself. I need to take care of you until this is over," she said seriously. Elsa looked up at the ceiling, her lips pursing slightly to the side. "I don't want to trouble you, Anna," she said with a small voice, covering her face with her arm. Anna noticed Elsa's fingers gently graze over the no-longer-so-prominent scar on her cheek, as if she was going to scratch it, then changed her mind. She also sensed the change in emotion and carefully sat down next to the blonde, taking a light hold on her chin and tilting it back down so she could look her in the eyes.
"Hey. You're never a trouble to me. Ever. I am more than happy to take care of you, and I mean that. Okay? I would do anything for you," Anna said softly but cheerfully before leaning in and gently capturing Elsa's lips with her own and smirking at Elsa's blush as she pulled away. Elsa cracked a little smile and hid her face with her hand. "Sorry, the feeling is still so new to me."
Anna gave a shy, crooked smile. "I know, me too. Then again we've only kissed like three times so it makes sense," she said with a chuckle. Elsa giggled back at her before clutching a fistful of Anna's shirt with her good hand and pulling her quickly down to her lips, kissing the red head tenderly. Anna melted into the kiss within a second, using the hand that wasnt supporting herself to carefully caress her new girlfriend, her fingers brushing over Elsa's arm and resting on her shoulder, lightly grasping. The hand grabbing Anna's shirt went loose before the hand went around behind her, pressing softly on her upper back, bringing Anna closer. Their lips moved together softly and lovingly, even though the movements were gentle, it left both girls breathless as they pulled away.
"Woah," Anna said in a daze. "Make that four. And many more to come," Elsa said, winking at the red head before propping herself up awkwardly with her good arm. Anna noticed the frustrated faces she was making as she tried to move and walked over. "You want to get out of bed?" she asked. Elsa just bobbed her head up and down, playfully holding out her arm. Anna chuckled a little and moved over, shifting one arm underneath Elsa and one slung around her waist, supporting her back, lifting her carefully out of the bed and placing her in her thankfully electric wheelchair.
"You're gonna get nice and strong doing this for the next month," Elsa said, wiggling her eyebrows. Anna rolled her eyes. "Please, you weigh like 2 pounds, it's not hard," she said before looking down, her expression saying she was thinking really hard. "What are you thinking about?" Elsa asked, resting her hand on the small control stick of the wheelchair, wheeling herself over a couple feet. Elsa was thankful that she could at least move herself around.
Anna looked back up. "I'm going to go to work, and ask for a leave of absence," she plainly stated. Elsa pouted, not wanting to be a burden. "Is that really necessary?" she asked. Anna scoffed a little. "Of course it is. You can't do much on your own, so I need to be here as much as possible until you fully recover."
"Are you sure?" Elsa said skeptically. "Yes I am, silly. If I get the leave, I'll still get paid. It's called worker's compensation," Anna said with a goofy smile before turning to their bedroom for some clothes.
Elsa was skeptical, but she didn't have much time to think about it, as Anna quickly came back out of the room dressed in black leggings and a green plaid button-down shirt with a brown jacket over it. "Do you need me to help you with anything before I go?" she asked. "Wait, you're going to ask now?!" Elsa said, mildly alarmed. "Yeah. Relax, it'll be okay. Look at it this way. If I get it, we got the whole month together. All day. I dunno about you but to me, that sounds like a good ass time," Anna said.
Elsa sighed. "Fine, you got a good point. And no, I don't need any help for now, but thank you for offering." Anna nodded and quickly slipped on a pair of flip-flops and grabbed her phone off the coffee table nearby, sliding it in her pocket. "I'll be back soon, okay?" Anna said sweetly, walking over to Elsa and carefully giving her a gentle hug and a trademark kiss on the cheek before heading out the door.
The blonde looked in the direction that Anna had just left, hoping desperately that Anna would get her leave, because no matter how much she protested, she secretly knew that Anna was right. She couldn't be by herself for long.
ooooo
Elsa had wheeled herself over to the fridge to grab herself a bottle of water when she heard the front door open. "Anna?" she called out. "Yeah?" a loud voice said back, and Elsa smiled. "Nothing, just making sure it wasn't someone breaking in."
The red head walked into the kitchen where Elsa was, wearing a big smile. "We've got the next 5 weeks together, girly," she said with the most excited tone. Elsa's jaw dropped. "Really?" she asked, her tone pressing for an explanation. "I told them everything that had happened, how long it would take you to recover, our living situation, stuff like that, and they gave me a 5 week medical family caregiver leave. 4 weeks for your recovery time and 1 extra week to make sure you're doing okay," Anna said, her face beaming.
"Oh my god, that's great Anna!" Elsa exclaimed, before her face went white. "What about my job?!" she said in a panic. Anna looked to the ceiling. "I wouldn't worry about that. I kinda called your workplace the night after the accident and explained everything. They said, quote-for-quote, 'just call to let us know when she's fully recovered, however long that may be, but until then, please send our prayers'. So I think you're good."
Elsa chuckled at the girl. "You think of everything, don't you?" she said before wheeling up to Anna, stretching her arm up for a hug. Anna joined in eagerly, embracing the chair-bound Elsa gently, pressing a kiss to the side of her face before pulling away.
"So, we're going to have a good time this month, alright? We're gonna get through this together," Anna said comfortingly to Elsa. She just smiled and nodded in agreement, pulling Anna in for another hug. They were going to get through it.
Suddenly, a feeling went through Elsa. Most likely from the water she just drank.
"Um, Anna? Not to ruin the moment, but I have to pee."
Anna just looked blankly at Elsa, mostly because of the fact that she just realized that she had absolutely zero knowledge on how to care for people in wheelchairs, and had for some reason had forgotten that humans need to go to the bathroom.
"Crap..." Anna muttered. "I have literally no clue how to care for people in wheelchairs."
"Let's look it up together, because unless you want me to turn into an actual human booger, we should probably figure it out," Elsa said. Anna tried to keep a straight face, but eventually nearly choked herself laughing at the booger comment. "See, we're already having a good time," Elsa said with a laugh, before Anna wheeled her over to her laptop, logging on and going to the browser.
After a little while, they had been to several websites and while Anna took notes, Elsa observed the information. "Well, this should all be fun for you, Anna," she said with a little teasing tone in her voice. "W-why?" Anna stuttured, a little flustered by Elsa's tone of voice. The blonde pointed to the screen with a playful smirk. "Well, look at all this fun stuff you get to do, considering I'm pretty sure you recently confessed your everlasting attraction and love for me. Look, you get to dress and undress me, and ooh, look at this, you get to bathe me-" she managed to say before Anna clasped a hand over her mouth, well aware of all the things she would have to do. The images were practically dancing through her head already.
Elsa removed Anna's hand from her mouth and laughed a little. "Relax a little, Red. It'll be fine." Anna shook the impure thoughts out of her head. "Why are you so relaxed about all this?" she asked. Elsa shrugged. "I mean, we have to get used to it, it's gonna be our lives for a month. Besides, I definitely wouldn't mind getting touched by you," she said with a wink, stretching out the word "definitely".
Color flooded to Anna's face quicker than a rocket launch. "Elsaaaaa!" she whined, flustered and mildly anxious.
This will definitely be an interesting time, both girls thought.
A/N So, new chapter after being gone all summer yay! And maybe this chapter finally marks the beginning of the usage of the M-rating? Like I said, I promised to make it up to you guys, and I keep my promises ;)John Holdren Ph.D. ’70, former senior science and technology advisor to former President Barack Obama, delivered the fifth annual Stephen H. Schneider Memorial Lecture on Tuesday evening. Speaking to an audience in CEMEX auditorium, Holdren discussed the elevated role of science policy in the Obama administration and his fears about climate change policy under President Donald Trump.
A Stanford alumnus, Holdren served under Obama as director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Holdren coordinated interagency cooperation, oversaw NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) and served as a co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
His Stanford lecture — titled “Science, Technology, and Environment in the White House: What Did Obama Do? What Will Trump Do?” — began with a video tribute to the late Stephen Schneider. Schneider, a respected climatologist, was an advocate for action to combat climate change. He was also a prominent member of Stanford faculty and consulted for multiple White House administrations.
Next, Holdren discussed the Obama administration’s role in expanding the voice of science in government. Using Obama’s pledge to “restore science to its rightful place” as a framework, Holdren described steps taken during both of Obama’s terms to strengthen the role of science policy in the federal government.
The lecture also highlighted the Obama administration’s achievements regarding the advancement of climate-related science and technology. Holdren was especially proud of cooperation secured on the international level and pointed to treaties such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, which went into effect in 2016.
In an interview with The Daily, Holdren again emphasized this pride for his work.
“We made big strides in support for clean energy, in support for increased energy efficiency, … climate change preparedness … [and] an enormous drive [against] climate change in the international arena,” he said.
Holdren was more reserved about the current state of climate affairs, however. Pointing to impacts of climate change such as fires, droughts and floods, he said the state of the world is “way past dangerous today.”
“The question now is, can we avoid catastrophic?” he said.
Of particular concern for Holdren is the general role of climate policy and science in the current presidential administration. Pointing to proposed budget increases for the military and cuts to the State Department, Holdren said, “This is nuts.”
Holdren encouraged scientists to continue their research, while urging other concerned citizens to pay close attention to and protest dangerous climate policies.
Following his talk, Holdren participated in a Twitter Q&A session, answering questions on topics ranging from habitat destruction to the role of activism in science policy. He specifically addressed the advantages and disadvantages of the upcoming March for Science, a Washington, D.C.-based march for scientists, science enthusiasts and citizens to voice their concerns about science policy.
The lecture event itself was founded by Schneider’s wife, Woods Institute Senior Fellow Terry Root, to carry on Schneider’s vision and voice. Root’s hope is that these lectures, which began in 2013 with former Vice President Al Gore, can expose students to people and ideas that they typically would not be exposed to in order to expand their knowledge of the world.
“We had to explain the science to people so that they would understand what the overall problem is,” Root said. “It doesn’t help for scientists to understand it if the general public doesn’t understand that there’s a problem.”
To ensure that the baton of scientific knowledge is passed on, the annual lectures are completely student-run. This year, Stanford seniors Meghan Shea ’17 and Ashley Jowell ’17 took the reins.
Despite her fears about the Trump administration, Shea shares Schneider’s philosophy of an educated and motivated public.
“It gives me a lot of hope that we will be able to mobilize people and citizens to start taking action on their own,” Shea said.
While they expressed concern for the future of climate policy, Holdren and Root both agreed with Shea’s sentiment, putting their confidence in the strength of individual action.
“You have voices that can be as loud as anybody,” Holdren told the students in his audience. “You are articulate, smart and effective. You represent the future.”
Contact Matt Nissen at mnissen ‘at’ stanford.edu.Mr. Horvitz, an artificial intelligence researcher at Microsoft Research, said many people treated search engines as if they could answer questions like a human expert.
“People tend to look at just the first couple results,” Mr. Horvitz said. “If they find ‘brain tumor’ or ‘ A.L.S.,’ that’s their launching point.”
Mr. Horvitz is a computer scientist and has a medical degree, and his fellow investigator, Ryen W. White, is a specialist in information retrieval technology.
They found that Web searches for things like headache and chest pain were just as likely or more likely to lead people to pages describing serious conditions as benign ones, even though the serious illnesses are much more rare.
For example, there were just as many results that linked headaches with brain tumors as with caffeine withdrawal, although the chance of having a brain tumor is infinitesimally small.
The researchers said they had not intended their work to send the message that people should ignore symptoms. But their examination of search records indicated that researching particular symptoms often led quickly to anxiousness.
They found that roughly 2 percent of all Web queries were health-related, and about 250,000 users, or about a quarter of the sample, engaged in a least one medical search during the study.
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About a third of the subjects “escalated” their follow-up searches to explore serious illnesses, the researchers said.
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Of the more than 500 Microsoft employees who answered a survey on their medical search habits, more than half said that online medical queries related to a serious illness had interrupted their day-to-day activities at least once.
Mr. Horvitz said that in addition to his interest in creating a Web search tool that would give more reliable answers, the research was driven by clear memories from his medical school education of what was often referred to as “second-year syndrome” or “medical schoolitis.”
He said he remembered “sitting on a cold seat with my legs dangling off the examination table,” convinced that he was suffering from a rare and incurable skin disease.
While the doctor was out of the room, Mr. Horvitz said, he took a look at his medical chart and saw that the doctor’s notes read, “Eric is in medical school, and he has been reading a lot.”
The researchers said that Web searchers’ propensity to jump to awful conclusions was basic human behavior that has been noted by research scientists for decades.
In 1974, the psychologists Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman wrote a seminal paper about decisions that are based on beliefs about the likelihood of uncertain events, like the outcome of an election or the future value of the dollar.
They said that people usually employ common sense rules to aid in decisions. The rules can be quite useful, but they also frequently lead to systematic errors in judgment.
The Microsoft researchers noted that reliance on the rankings of Web search results contributes a similar bias to the judgments people make about illness.
At the same time, Mr. Horvitz said he believed that the Web would evolve to offer more reliable information.
Advertisement Continue reading the main storyTHE State Government has released an updated version of the WA skilled migration list, slashing it to just 18 eligible occupations.
The list, which used to carry 178 occupations including bricklayers, engineers and nurses, was torn up on Labor’s first day of government in March.
Premier Mark McGowan said the 18 occupations on the list were mainly in the health sector where there was a genuine need, including midwives, psychiatrists and several classes of registered nurses.
Mr McGowan said in the current economic climate it did not make sense to give jobs to migrants ahead of West Australians.
“In the current economic climate, it’s more important than ever that we maximise employment opportunities for Western Australians,” he said.
“Our policy will ensure that, whenever possible, Western Australians will be given first preference on WA jobs. It doesn’t make sense to fast-track workers from overseas when there are unemployed Western Australians who are capable of doing the work.
“Our economy has changed dramatically since the height of the mining boom and we need to do everything we can to get Western Australians back to work.”
Mr McGowan also confirmed the Federal Government agreed to remove Perth as a region from the regional sponsored migration scheme, which provided an additional pathway to obtain a visa to work on WA.As Twitchy reported, an opinion piece on #Shirtgate by Glenn “Instapundit” Reynolds published in USA Today brought out the crazy in a big way, with people accusing Reynolds of “doxxing” (publishing private information about) Atlantic writer Rose Eveleth, whom he called on his blog a (gasp!) “horrible person” for ruining one of the best days of a man’s life in order to feel important.
One tweeter demonstrated how to downsize false accusations by first accusing Reynolds himself of doxxing Eveleth, then backing off and blaming him for encouraging others to “go after” her, and finally admitting that she “cannot prove otherwise” that Reynolds “wishes no harm to anyone.”
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that libeling a law school professor is a suboptimal life choice — alexandriabrown (@alexthechick) November 15, 2014
However, it’s a choice some just can’t avoid. Here’s another tweeter who started off strong.
Thanks to the deeply unprofessional actions of @instapundit, journalist @roseveleth was doxxed and her family is getting threats. — Alex Wild (@Myrmecos) November 15, 2014
@Myrmecos @roseveleth Quoting and criticizing is not "deeply unprofessional." I called for her to apologize. — Instapundit.com (@instapundit) November 15, 2014
@instapundit You have an odd sense of professionalism. You called her a "horrible person" and encouraged the mob. — Alex Wild (@Myrmecos) November 15, 2014
This sounds familiar.
@instapundit @dschumann0 Indeed it is. People with large followings can de-escalate, if they chose. Or, they can stoke the fire. — Alex Wild (@Myrmecos) November 15, 2014
@instapundit @redsteeze @Myrmecos @dschumann0 The Atlantic has close to 900k Twitter followers. They can defend their writer at any time — Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) November 16, 2014
@Myrmecos I encouraged no mob. I stated my own opinion. — Instapundit.com (@instapundit) November 15, 2014
@instapundit Your opinion was ad hom. "Horrible person" That's unprofessional. And you know full well what your readers do. #instalanche. — Alex Wild (@Myrmecos) November 15, 2014
@Myrmecos My readers aren't known for threatening people. — Instapundit.com (@instapundit) November 15, 2014
@Myrmecos @instapundit @roseveleth Are you accusing Instapundit of doxxing her? Could you provide a cite? — Douglas Levene (@DouglasLevene) November 15, 2014
Instead of a citation, would you settle for a push of the reset button? Hours later …
1. Yes, the doxxing happened. 2. No, @instapundit didn't do it, directly. I didn't mean to imply that. 3. @instapundit fanned the flames. — Alex Wild (@Myrmecos) November 16, 2014
@Myrmecos @instapundit You didn't imply it. You actually said it, "Thanks to…" — The Forgotten Man (@NWInfidel) November 16, 2014
Saturday night’s new Twitter hotness: accusing Glenn Reynolds of doxxing another writer and then backing off.
Feminists are trying criminalize criticism. Fair enough, we have the guy who just landed a robot on a comet with a sweet shirt on our side — S.M (@redsteeze) November 16, 2014
Not to mention Instapundit.Homeschooling Not a Fundamental Right, Justice Dept. Argues
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In a political asylum case involving a German family that fled to the United States to be able to homeschool their children, the U.S. Justice Department is arguing that the freedom to choose to educate one's own children is not a fundamental right. If the Romeike family, who are evangelical Christians, lose their case and are deported back to Germany, they could face fines, jail time, and their children could even be taken away from them.
Homeschooling is illegal in Germany. The Romeike's did not agree with some of what was taught to their children in the public schools, so they began homeschooling in violation of the law. After paying about $10,000 in fines and watching the police apprehend their children and take them to the public school, they sought political asylum in the United States and immigrated to |
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Palace have now lost their opening three matches of the Premier League season under new boss Frank de Boer. They have failed to score a single goal, conceding five in two home matches.
Speaking to BBC Sport, De Boer said: "It wasn't until after we were 2-0 down that we showed we really can play.
"It is a very hard lesson for us. We have to show some balls from the first second of the game. If you do not show courage then you get punished," he added.
"In the second half you saw a different Palace - one who creates chances - and with a bit of luck you make one of those. It just wasn't the day for us. Hopefully you will see a different Palace after the international window."
A happy return for Clement
"History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes," Mark Twain, author of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is supposed to have said.
Last November Swansea beat Palace 5-4, with an astonishing seven goals scored after the break.
Both teams went into Saturday's game without a goal from their opening two matches of the new league season, but there was only really one side who looked like providing goals and entertainment.
Swansea's front pair of Abraham and Ayew combined dangerously as early as the fourth minute when Ayew headed wide from Abraham's cross, and the away side controlled the entire first half, dominating possession and opening Palace up on several occasions.
After the break Palace did improve slightly and there were a few errors at the back from defender Mawson, but once Ayew punished the home side for Kelly's mistake, the result never looked in doubt.
Swansea manager Paul Clement watched his side beat Palace at Selhurst Park here in January, on the day he was appointed, and this was certainly a happy return.
Worries for De Boer
After James Tomkins was forced off injured in the first half - he appeared to suffer a muscle injury when striking a shot over the bar - Kelly came on to replace him.
It would be harsh to focus too much on one player in a toothless team performance, but the defender found himself at the heart of two key moments that ultimately may have settled the match.
Media playback is not supported on this device Defeat is hard lesson for Palace - de Boer
Kelly will rue his missed header, directed straight towards Fabianksi after rising well above the static Mawson at a corner, and moments later the 27-year-old rashly tried to knock the ball past Naughton on the halfway line, a move the Swansea defender easily read.
Ayew was perhaps slightly lucky with his finish - Hennessey rushed out to block with his legs and the rebound fell kindly - but more worrying was the lack of confidence Palace displayed in the few chances they did create when trying to find a way back into the match.
After the game, De Boer spoke of "a lack of courage" from his players, perhaps with the largely anonymous Christian Benteke in mind.
Man of the match - Tammy Abraham (Swansea)
Abraham, 19, scored 23 league goals on loan at Bristol City last season
The Chelsea loanee scored Swansea's first goal of the season and looked a real threat up front in combination with Ayew. He had the strength to hold up play, the invention to find others, and displayed a clinical touch to find the net.
'A positive start'
Swansea boss Paul Clement, speaking to BBC Sport: "It is hard coming away from home in the Premier League, so four points out of two away games is very positive.
Media playback is not supported on this device Clement please with 'positive' Swansea win
"Tammy Abraham and Jordan Ayew took their goals well, they both scored midweek, it's what you want from the strikers. But our offensive play in the second half needed to be much better. We will not get carried away, we have got to get better and improve.
"We played two games away from home and won four points, our home game was against Manchester United. To also go through in the EFL Cup, we can say it has been a decent start to the season.
"For someone who has only been with us only a couple of days, Sam Clucas has settled in well, we are very happy he is here. We have our eye on a couple of transfer targets, we will try and bring in some quality players to be competitive this year."
A history of bad starts - the stats
Crystal Palace have lost their first three league games of a season for the sixth time in their history and the first time in the top flight.
It is the second time the Eagles have started a campaign by failing to score in their opening three league games of the season (also 2008-09 in the Championship).
Crystal Palace have lost seven of their last eight Premier League matches, failing to score in each defeat.
Abraham's strike was Swansea's first shot on target in the Premier League this season, ending a run of 223 minutes without one.
What's next?
Palace's next match is in the Premier League on Sunday, 10 September when they travel to Burnley (13:30 BST) after the international break.
Swansea next play at home to Newcastle, also on 10 September (16:00).An NFL player who has participated in the national anthem protests said his father has lost work because of his actions.
Lions defensive linemen Akeem Spence tweeted Thursday that a contractor denied his father work on a house because of his protests.
There were eight Lions players who kneeled during the anthem on Sunday, and Spence was one of them. After the game, he explained his actions as every protester has when asked — that it is not about the flag or the anthem or disrespecting the military, but rather to raise awareness for racial inequality in America.
“No disrespect to the flag, no disrespect to any of the veterans or anything,” Spence told ESPN after the Lions’ 30-26 loss to the Falcons. “It was just right is right, wrong is wrong, and what the guy said about us as NFL players, I just feel like that’s something that’s us, as NFL players, we have to stand up for that’s not what we are. You know what I’m saying. We’re human beings. We give back to the community.
“We do great things, and our owners, you know what I’m saying, they do great things. So that’s something we don’t represent around the NFL. That’s something every team should have come out and showed this Sunday, that it’s not what that guy said about us.”
That guy he is referencing is President Donald Trump, who has targeted NFL players who protest during the anthem with a flurry of tweets and harsh words during press conferences. Trump said he’d like to see an owner “get that son of a bitch” off the field and fire anyone who protests during the anthem.
“It’s crazy and it’s wrong, you know. It shouldn’t be like that,” Spence said. “We’re hard-working people who give back to the community. Our owners are the same way, you know, and they have the utmost respect for us and we have the utmost respect for our country, our flag and everything like that. So for our head guy to say something like that about our owners and what they should do, that’s something that I can’t, man, right is right.
“I felt like he was wrong in that sense, and we just came out and acted unity, together and just tried to make a statement.”A new study released just before Christmas by The NPD Group paints a vivid picture of how the marketplace for PCs and tablets shifted in 2013. It also offers some clues about what to expect in 2014.
According to NPD, in the 11 months from January through November 2013, 14.4 million desktops, notebooks, and tablets were sold through U.S. commercial channels. That total includes only preconfigured notebooks and desktop PCs, and it doesn’t include direct channels. As a result, the number of devices sold represents only a fraction of total sales in the U.S. By way of contrast, IDC’s most recent Quarterly PC Tracker report shows that 16.4 million notebook and desktop PCs (tablets not included in the total) were shipped in the U.S. in the third quarter alone.
So the NPD number offers a snapshot of what American businesses and institutions are buying through the commercial channel, which includes large distributors and resellers. To summarize: Simpler and cheaper is better. Windows-based desktop sales increased by about 10 percent and Windows notebooks stayed flat, while sales of Apple notebooks and desktops combined fell by 7 percent, NPD said.
Meanwhile, tablets of all kinds and Chromebooks showed the greatest year-over-year growth.
Android tablet sales grew more than 160 percent, accounting for 8.7 percent of all sales in this channel.
Windows tablet sales nearly tripled during that period, off a very small base, reaching 2.2 percent of all devices sold through the channel.
The iPad slipped in share year over year, although it still commands 59 percent of all tablet sales in this channel.
Chromebooks were the big winner, according to NPD. The cheap devices from HP, Acer, Samsung, and others “accounted for 21 percent of all [preconfigured] notebook sales, up from negligible share in the prior year, and 8 percent of all computer and tablet sales through November, up from one tenth of a percent in 2012.”
While those are impressive percentage gains, it’s too early to declare any of the products on that list a hit. Unlike PCs and notebooks, Chromebooks are sold almost exclusively through the retail channel and into education markets. Some quick calculations from the NPD figures suggest that a total of 923,000 Chromebooks and 836,000 Android tablets were sold to U.S. buyers through these channels over the first 11 months of 2013. During the same period in the same channel, more than 1.5 million iPads were sold, while Windows tablet sales went from practically zero to approximately 317,000 in the same period.
The mostly flat sales for Windows PCs reflect a tepid response to Windows 8. That should change in 2014, as new products that were introduced with the launch of Windows 8.1 on October 26 reach the market. Windows 8.1-based hybrids like the ASUS T100 Transformer and smaller tablets such as the Dell Venue 8 Pro have been selling well and getting good reviews. Microsoft has struggled to keep its new Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 devices in stock, a welcome change from last year, when it had to take a massive writedown on unsold devices.
“The market for personal computing devices in commercial markets continues to shift and change,” said Stephen Baker, NPD’s vice president of industry analysis. The winners this year, he noted, were brands that focused on alternative form factors and operating systems. Baker cautioned against declaring the death of the PC, however: “[T]he Windows PC in commercial channels is clearly not dead, and its biggest brand proponents, HP and Lenovo, remain deeply committed to that product. However, as businesses upgrade from older machines and operating systems in the year ahead, the long-term trend is clearly towards greater hardware diversity, which all manufacturers will need to embrace in order to continue to grow.”2 of 5
At the No. 10 pick, you expect to pick up a guy that can start from day one.
If the Bills try to draft a left tackle at No. 10, I don't think that they'll be able to find that. Matt Kalil is clearly an elite prospect that will be able to start right away as a rookie in the NFL. The next two highest rated prospects at left tackle are Riley Reiff and Jonathan Martin.
I don't feel like either of them can start immediately.
Most scouting reports on Riley Reiff see him as a player that will need to play right tackle for a year or two before sliding over to the left side. His arms aren't as long as what you'd expect from a Pro Bowl left tackle, and to me, seems more like a guy that will become a solid, dependable starter.
Jonathan Martin had a good college career protecting Andrew Luck's blind side. Unfortunately, he only put up 20 reps on the bench press and isn't as strong as his counterparts.
It doesn't sound like Martin is the type of guy that enjoys spending time in the weight room. I hope that changes, because I think he could become elite if he gets stronger, but I'm not willing to make that gamble with the No. 10 pick in the draft.
From most of the reports I've read, the value for both these guys is more in the 20-30 range. An NFL GM would have to reach to take one of them at No. 10.USA Today
We're just two weeks into the 2014 MLB season, and there are already problems with the new instant-replay system.
In the eighth inning of Saturday afternoon's contest between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, shortstop Dean Anna ripped a pitch by Burke Badenhop down the right-field line and appeared on first glance to beat Daniel Nava's throw into second base.
Here's a look at the play:
Red Sox manager John Farrell came out to argue the safe call, and upon replay, it looked as though it'd be overturned. Although Anna got to the bag first, he lifted his right foot slightly off second as Xander Bogaerts held the tag.
The umpires confirmed the call, but as Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal later reported, MLB would admit it was the wrong decision:
So, those viewing at home have about 45 different high-definition angles to look at over and over again, but the guys whose decision actually matters don't have "immediate access" to every available angle?
As Farrell put it after the game, via NESN's Tom Caron, that is head-scratching, to say the least:
Caron put it simply:
Fortunately, the botched call had no effect on the outcome of the game. No runs came across the plate after Anna's double, and the Yanks went on to win the game, 7-4.
However, if the system is already having problems in early April, you have to wonder if it might rear its ugly head sometime again in a more important game.
The good news here is there is time to iron out the kinks. Hopefully, before a team loses because of a botched replay call, MLB will make sure umpires have all available camera angles—or, you know, at least let them turn on the broadcast—to make an informed decision.
Replays are supposed to help the game, not make it more controversial.New regulations go into effect on April 1st which will affect your plans for obtaining a student pilot certificate. Originally, you didn’t have to worry much about a wait time till you obtained your student pilot certificate. You could just go down to your local aviation medical examiner, FSDO, or a DPE and pick up the student pilot certificate that day, but now you have to apply for your student pilot certificate and wait until the TSA checks your background and mails you a student pilot certificate. “The FAA estimates that the turnaround time for student pilot certificates can be reduced to an average of 3 weeks or less, provided that initial security vetting by TSA indicates that the applicant is eligible for the certificate.”[1]
Three weeks seems rather short. The FAA said in the notice of proposed rulemaking for the commercial drone regulations that the TSA vetting for commercial drone operator applications “could take about 6 to 8 weeks after receipt of an application for the FAA to issue an applicant an unmanned aircraft operator certificate with a small UAS rating.”[2] I think this is a more realistic number.
Factoring in mailing and processing time (1-2 weeks), it looks like a student pilot should apply for their student pilot certificate 7-10 weeks before they need to solo. Additionally, this could mean that it also might be 7-10 weeks from taking your Part 107 exam in the future to the actual 107 drone operator certificate being in your hand.
One potential benefit to working on a 333 and obtaining a pilot certificate now is that the TSA background check could potentially also be applied to your future Part 107 drone operator certificate. “A successful [security threat assessment] is generally valid for five years, but may be revoked during that time if TSA’s recurrent vetting reveals that the individual poses or may pose a security threat.”[3] There is the potential that your student pilot certificate background vetting can also be used towards your Part 107 certificate so you can be processed faster.
To help out individuals going for their pilot licenses, I compiled a list of ways you can reduce the costs of flight training based upon my years of flight instructing students for their private pilot certificates. Sign up for the newsletter below to download the PDF “How to Get a Pilot License for Low Cost.”
When you need help with getting a Section 333 exemption, public COA, or a ground breaking exemption (night, moving vehicle, 500ft+, etc.), don’t hire a poser – hire a lawyer who is also a pilot.
http://jrupprechtlaw.com/The below article was gernerously shared by Lori Wallach, the director of the USA organisation, Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch.
www.tradewatch.org
Lori was recently in Melbourne for the TPPA talks and spoke at OccupyFriday on 2 March 2012.
It takes quite a “trade” agreement to undermine financial regulation, increase drug prices, flood us with unsafe imported food and products, ban Buy America policies aimed at recovery and redevelopment, and empower corporations to attack our environmental and health safeguards before tribunals of corporate lawyers. Trade, in fact, is the least of the TPP.
Backdoor deregulation and imposition of new corporate investor and patent rights via “trade” negotiation began in the 1990s, with the “mission creep” of the World Trade Organization and North American Free Trade Agreement. But the TPP now threatens a slow motion stealth attack against a century of progressive domestic policy, of an unprecedented scope. At stake is nothing less than a democratic society’s ability to regulate a market economy in the broad public interest.
Under the framework now being negotiated, U.S. states and the federal government would be obliged to bring our existing and future policies into compliance with expansive norms set forth in 26 proposed TPP chapters. These include domestic policy on financial, healthcare, energy, telecommunications, and other service sector regulation; patents and copyrights; food and product standards; land use and natural resources; professional licensing and immigration; government procurement, and more.
The obligation that signatory countries “ensure conformity of their laws, regulations and administrative procedures” to these terms would be strongly enforced, including by our own government. Failure to do so would subject the U.S. to lawsuits before dispute resolution tribunals empowered to authorize trade sanctions against the U.S. until our policies are changed. Attacks against our non-trade laws could also be launched by any “investor” that happens to be incorporated in any one of these countries. And the TPP is being designed so that other countries – China, Japan, you name it – could join in the future.
We know this much only thanks to a combination of rare text leaks and grilling of trade negotiators. As trade lawyer Gary Horlick, a former U.S trade official with four decades in the game, recently noted: “This is the least transparent trade negotiation I have ever seen.” In fact, a recent text leak revealed that the parties signed a special secrecy Memorandum of Understanding that forbids released of negotiating documents for four years after a deal is done or abandoned.
Such an extreme proposal could only get this far under cover of unprecedented secrecy. Important policy decisions that could affect us all in myriad ways are now being made by executive branch trade officials and corporate allies, without public access to any documents or details, or input from members of Congress serving on most of the Committees whose jurisdiction is directly implicated. The involved governments have ignored a global “release the texts” campaign led by unions and civil society groups. This is especially appalling for the Obama administration, given its stated priority of enhancing government transparency. The opaque process has contributed to a near total absence of press coverage.
Meanwhile, more than 600 business representatives serving as official U.S. trade advisors have full access to an array of draft texts and an inside role in the process. The strategy is to squelch informed congressional and public debate until a deal is signed and any alternations become extremely difficult..
The implications for the principle and practice of democratic governance are especially dire. Setting binding rules in trade pacts does not facilitate later modifications even when governments or the public demands change. Not only would a vast array of decisions affecting our daily lives be made in venues where we have no role, but alterations to an adopted pact require consent by all signatory countries. Thus, accompanying the imposition of specific retrograde policies would be an unprecedented shift of power towards locking in corporate rule insulated against the normal means of democratic accountability, such as elections, advocacy and public protest.
If this description of the proposed TPP sounds far-fetched, consider the consequences of other “trade” pacts sold under the appealing brands of “trade expansion” and “free trade.” Canada is threatening key aspects of the Dodd-Frank financial reregulation package as violating NAFTA while Texas oil and gas tycoon T. Boone Pickens is using NAFTA to attack Canadian renewable energy policies. The European Commission staff contends that the proposed financial transaction tax conflicts with European WTO commitments. Billions in U.S. stimulus money leaked offshore, because of limits on Buy America procurement preferences already established in past trade pacts. Last year alone, the WTO struck down U.S. dolphin-safe-tuna and country-of-origin meat labeling and the ban on candy-flavored cigarettes, which is aimed at curbing youth smoking, as violating U.S. “trade” obligations.
Now, the TPP threatens to combine the most damaging elements of past pacts and expand on them. And, with the later addition of Japan, China, Russian, Indonesia and other Pacific Rim nations a large swath of the world’s nations could end up under this retrograde corporate rule regime. This is precisely the vision for TPP former U.S. trade officials and corporate lobbyists presented to the Obama transition team in their ultimately successful push to get Obama to engage in these talks: a Pacific region NAFTA-on-steroids that can increase offshoring while rolling back domestic consumer safety, financial, environmental and other safeguards.
Investor Rules to Facilitate Offshoring, Undermine Domestic Law
Past U.S.-sponsored “free trade” agreements have included a set of extreme foreign investor rights and U.S. negotiators are looking to use TPP to expand these terms. This package includes many special protections that incentivize offshoring of U.S. jobs, by eliminating risks typically associated with relocating to developing countries with rock bottom wages, while significantly handcuffing domestic regulatory officials from implementing even the most essential environmental, land use, health and safety laws that apply equally to domestic and foreign firms,
Under the U.S. FTA investment model, foreign firms are guaranteed a “minimum standard of treatment” that extends beyond being treated the same as local firms. And, a U.S. firm could obtain this treatment, effectively a pass on regulation, by simply selling some portion of its shares to a foreign subsidiary incorporated in one of the TPP nations. Such firms also are granted new rights to obtain compensation from host governments for loss of “expected future profits” due to health, environmental, zoning, labor, or other policies. Compensation can be obtained for indirect or “regulatory” takings, a concept championed by extreme conservatives but generally not recognized under the robust property rights provided by U.S. law.
The U.S. proposes that this chapter also forbid host countries from limiting capital transfers. This removes a prospective complication for U.S. firms considering relocating, and poses a risk to global financial stability. In an era when even the International Monetary Fund has reversed its traditional opposition to capital controls, imposing such limits via “trade” pact is both disingenuous and reckless policy.
The chapter also would establish new rights for foreign investors to acquire land, natural resources, factories and more. All performance requirements, including domestic content rules, would be forbidden. Freign firms or foreign subsidiaries of domestic firms would have new rights under the deal to operate such mines, polluting industrial facilities, toxic waste dumps, coal power plants – whatever investment they have acquired – under the terms of the agreement that limits domestic regulation. If the same policies applicable to domestic firms are applied to them, they can demand compensation from us taxpayers.
This raises concerns about our ability to determine what sorts of investment from what sorts of countries is best for our country, and to regulate foreign firms operating here so that they operate on equal terms with domestic firms and in compliance with our land use, environmental and health laws.
Most stunningly, these new rights in a public treaty could be privately enforceable. The U.S. is pushing for inclusion of “investor-state” enforcement. This little-known mechanism allows foreign firms to bypass domestic court systems and directly sue governments for cash damages (our tax dollars) over alleged violations of their new rights before UN and World Bank tribunals staffed by private sector attorneys who rotate between serving as “judges” and bringing cases for corporations. The scope of domestic policies that would be exposed to such attacks is vast, including government procurement decisions, regulatory permits, intellectual property rights, regulation of financial instruments such as derivatives, and more.
Avoiding domestic courts not only eliminates another major risk for firms seeking to relocate, but inclusion of this regime in past pacts is establishing an alarming two-track system of justice privileging corporations. Chevron is now asking one of these corporate tribunals to invalidate 18 years of U.S. and Ecuadorian court judgments that resulted in the company being ordered to pay for clean-up of horrific Amazonian toxic contamination. In other kangaroo trade courts, Philip Morris International is attacking Australian and Uruguayan cigarette plain-packaging policy.
Under similar NAFTA provisions, over $350 million has been paid to investors by governments over toxic waste dump permits, logging rules, bans of toxic substances and more. Currently, there are over $12 billion in pending corporate attacks on environmental, public health and transportation policy under existing U.S. free trade agreements—and the proposed TPP would create vast new opportunities for litigation. Even when governments win, they waste scarce budgetary resources defending national policies against these corporate attacks.
Green Procurement Policies Threatened
The pact’s procurement chapter would require that all firms operating in any signatory country be provided equal access to government procurement contracts over a certain dollar threshold. These rules not only constrain how our national and state governments may use our tax dollars in local construction projects and purchase of goods. They also limit what specifications governments can require for goods and services and the qualifications for bidding companies. Thus requiring that electricity come from renewable sources or that uniforms meet sweat-free standards could be forbidden. Rules excluding firms that refuse to meet prevailing wage requirements or that are based in countries with terrible human or labor rights records could be challenged. Effectively, these rules expropriate our tax dollars and transfer them into new private units for corporate profit, while eliminating important policy tools for job creation, development of green economy capacity and the building of demand for preferred business practices.
Backdoor Financial Deregulation
U.S. trade officials engaged in the TPP are seeking to extend older trade deals’ ban on capital controls, even as Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has demanded a review of whether the past pacts require changes. U.S. negotiators are also pushing for additional expansive limits on domestic financial regulation which conflict with policies now being implemented by many countries to get banks, insurance and securities firms under control.
This includes a prohibition on bans of risky services and financial products. It would expose to challenge domestic policies that set limits on firms’ size, the types of services any one firm may offer and the legal entity through which a service or product may be provided. This would foreclose many policy tools aimed at dealing with too-big-to-fail firms, limiting risk via firewalls or, for instance, requiring clearing facilities for derivatives. These would be absolute bans on certain forms of regulation which countries would be forbidden to “adopt or maintain,” not requirements to treat domestic and foreign firms the same.
Higher Medicine Prices
The notion that any “free trade” agreement would expand monopoly rights for “rent seeking” (excess profits) would induce Adam Smith and David Ricardo to rotate in their graves.
But that’s exactly what our current trade policy does and TPP is poised to go further. According to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota, U.S. drug prices increased $6 billion when WTO patent rules required the U.S. to change its patent term from 17 to 20 years. The TPP would be even more of a gift to drug companies at the expense of consumers and taxpayers.
Leaked negotiating texts show that the TPP would extend monopoly controls over drug safety testing data, which could cut off millions of people from access to life-saving drugs. (Even when a patent monopoly ends, lower cost generics cannot be marketed because the safety data is withheld.) A majority of target TPP countries are developing nations with significant HIV-AIDS rates, so this is a particularly depraved proposal. Thanks to a leak, we know that U.S. negotiators are proposing to roll back even the modest trade pact access to medicine reforms obtained during the George W. Bush administration!
The U.S. proposal could also undermine the drug formularies of Australia, New Zealand and other countries that have successfully controlled drug costs. This could also boomerang home. State officials participating in the development of formulary rules for Medicare and Medicaid have reacted with alarm about how this proposal could undermine possible gains hard won here in the epic health care reform battle.
And there’s more…
Even given the lack of access to actual negotiating texts, we know that the scope of domestic policy space that could be foreclosed by this deal is immense.
The pact’s coverage of the service sector would include basically anything you can’t drop on your foot, from an education to healthcare. The rules would not be limited to trade in services, but would limit how we can regulate foreign service firms operating here. This would mean foreclosed domestic policy space for critical sectors such as health, energy, education, water, transportation and more. Even local land use and zoning policy is implicated.
These rules would even cover the movement of natural persons across borders to deliver a service, otherwise known as immigration and visa policy. Some past U.S. trade deals have guaranteed specific numbers of U.S. work visas. Other countries are demanding the same in the TPP. Whatever your view on immigration policy, obviously setting it behind closed doors in a trade pact whose terms cannot be altered without consent of all parties is a very bad idea.
We also know that there are several chapters that would impose limits on product environmental, health and safety standards. The U.S. has proposed a new “Regulatory Coherence” chapter that would require each signatory country to establish an agency to do cost-benefit analysis of regulation. And, we know that constraints on food and product safety and inspection are being negotiated, including a requirement that the U.S. accept imported food that does not meet our actual safety laws.
Consider just seafood, a lot of which is imported from TPP target countries. Before WTO and NAFTA, half of the seafood consumed here was imported. Today that figure is 84 percent, while the FDA only tests 0.1 percent of it. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) uncovered that, even with this lax inspection, last year FDA issued numerous import alerts for Vietnamese seafood detained for misbranding, E. coli, antibiotic residues, microbial contamination, and other serious safety problems. Yet, the TPP could undercut even our current safety rules.
And, thanks to leaked texts, we know that the same provisions deemed to be a threat to Internet freedom and innovation found in the discredited Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) are lurking in TPP. This includes a requirement that each country establish large mandatory fines for unintentional, non-commercial, small scale copying of Internet content protected by copyright. Also forbidden would be circumvention of digital locks, even for lawful uses such as running the DVD you purchased on your computer running on Linux. As well as exposing us all to personal liability, the technology industry says these policies stifle innovation, given the threat of a multi-million dollar lawsuits.
Why Obama, Why Now?
All this begs an obvious question: why are Obama trade negotiators pushing a NAFTA-on-steroids deal that could potentially include China and the rest of Asia? Certainly the White House policy team does not want international preemption of the domestic agenda it is fighting to enact. Nor must the Chicago reelection campaign team be celebrating a deal that will infuriate its base while benefitting only Obama’s most implacable corporate opponents.
The most hopeful explanation is ignorance made possible by the sad habit of elite fealty to the “free trade” brand and extraordinary secrecy that has forestalled the external alarms that might otherwise warn officials outside of the “trade” policymaking silo of what is really at stake. Those in the U.S. government who are positioned to know the expansive non-trade policy implications are also those who support this approach, including many Clinton-era retreads connected to the passage of NAFTA.
Yet, if these talks result in the adoption of a final agreement based on the framework now under negotiation, it could lock our country onto a future path devastating to most of us.
The only good news is that, in the past, some attempts to use the Trojan Horse of “trade” negotiation to impose and lock in massive deregulation have been foiled. Citizen activism and pubicity derailed the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas in 2005, the aborted Multilateral Agreement on Investment in 1998 – and the original attempt to negotiate a free trade area for APEC nations, many of who are parties to the TPP. Then, as now, the public, policymakers and the press can help derail these stealth attempts to undermine democracy by awakening to the threat before it is too late.
AdvertisementsNow, that’s not a slight to any of our customers. Rather, this is a true story!
An artist bet his friend back in 2001 that with the right packaging, he could sell literal garbage (from the streets of New York City). Ten years later, they’re still selling. For $50, you can buy a cube of genuine, authentic garbage from the fertile streets of New York City.
While this is a nice lighthearted look at an artist’s project, the real news here is that with high quality labels, your product can stand out—and we’re pretty sure you’re not selling garbage, either. Holographic, lenticular and color shifting substrates combined with translucent and opaque inks create dazzling package designs that also help consumers identify the brand. With the right packaging ideas, your packaging itself could become a part of your brand. Think of what Capri Sun did in the 80s—they invented an entirely new way to market beverages by leveraging the power of flexible packaging, and it helped launch their brand into the hearts and minds of kids everywhere. Most people don’t talk about the taste of Capri Sun, after all.
If you’re thinking about increasing your sales, take a look at the packaging for your product. Try to see it with fresh eyes. Do you think there’s something you could do to make it more attractive, or make it jump out at consumers?
The old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” is really somewhat inaccurate, as people will indeed judge products by their packaging. Something to keep in mind if you’re trying to increase your sales.The Show is Starting!
Can you feel it? Can you see it? It's everywhere, in every country. in every mind/Heart. the collective is waking. I can deeply feel our Mother's Joy. Love wins! It's happening, The energies we all are feeling, are only getting more and more intense. The love is now pushing all ego out the door. Relax, Release It. You don't need it anymore. Respond in Love instead of reacting in fear. Just Allow and surrender to Love. It's ok, let it all go. There is nothing to fear. Fear is illusion. It's Part of the programing that needs to be transformed to Love. Love is truely the Key to it all. there is no other way. Surrender to only feeling love in every Moment. The truth is now at every turn. except it and move on. Remember to respond not to react. Reacting only feeds the negative energies. Relax, take a focused breath. Responding in only love removes the EGO/Fear. With the collective mind being such chaos, Keeping yourselves centered is very important, as this shifting is happening. We are feeling the collective as a whole. Stay centered, and project your Love in the direction of truth. Allow the truths to transform the collective. This is The Moment. This is the moment, that we all have been waiting for. Love is Now. Take your places everyone. The Show is Starting. The curtains are lifting. Are you ready? Have you practiced your lines? Humanity is wakening and the spot light is now on. the moment has come to take the stage and Be the Love we are.
Written by ChelleaThe legal dispute between Hollywood-backed anti-piracy group BREIN and Usenet provider News-Service.com will continue after a Dutch court delayed its decision over a requested piracy filter. The court wants both parties to answer detailed questions about the efficacy and costs associated with such a filtering mechanism.
In 2009, Dutch anti-piracy group BREIN, representing the movie and music industries, took News-Service Europe (NSE) – one of Europe’s largest Usenet providers – to court.
BREIN stated that NSE should delete all infringing content from its servers, and in 2011 the Court of Amsterdam sided with the copyright holders.
In its initial verdict the Court concluded that NSE willingly facilitated copyright infringement through its services. As a result the company was ordered to remove all copyrighted content and filter future posts for possible copyright infringements.
Responding to the verdict the Usenet provider said that it was economically unfeasible to filter all messages. The company therefore saw no other option than to shut down its services while the appeal was pending.
In 2014 the appeals court issued an interlocutory judgment ruling that NSE does not facilitate copyright infringement as long as it maintains a procedure through which copyright holders can send unlimited takedown notices.
Whether the Usenet provider could also be ordered to employ a keyword filter was something to be decided at a later date. This week the Court issued its second judgment, but while both parties had hoped for more clarity, the Court pushed a final decision back once more.
Instead, the Court is now questioning whether both parties are still willing to take the case forward, as NSE already ceased its services several years ago. If they continue, both parties will have to split the legal costs as the case will have no clear winner.
In addition, the Court is asking both parties to provide expert witnesses who can answer several outstanding questions regarding a keyword filtering mechanism.
Among other things the Court would like to know if a keyword filter is technically feasible (NSE says it is not) and what costs and resources would have to be invested to employ such measures.
The Usenet provider is disappointed with another delay |
state and others Municipalities 257,302 4,430,090 29,793 2,258,090 Institutions Associations Private Total [35] 211,015 306,214 6,503,365 13,995,869
The mining industry should also be noted, for here, too, the state has retained a certain position.
Much more important, however, are the ever-multiplying attempts to establish state monopolies in the realm of production. There can be no doubt that this type of state intervention has the most “brilliant” future. To the general considerations we have already mentioned another must be added, having acquired particular significance during the war. We have in mind the need for an enormous increase in state revenues. The costs of the war are so enormous (including payment of state debts, interest payments on state loans, assistance to the wounded and orphans, etc., reconstruction of the depleted military apparatus on an expanded scale, etc.) that to cover them over a period of several years will require, and is already requiring, a total reconstruction of the state budget. At a minimum the income of the warring states must be increased twofold, possibly more. The immediate problem of state finances therefore assumes colossal and unprecedented dimensions. As a rule, state revenues can be classified according to the following categories: revenues from the state’s own enterprises (e.g., the forest industry, mining, state factories, railways, etc.), direct taxes, indirect taxes (including tariffs), and state monopolies. Revenues from the state’s own enterprises are relatively small; direct taxes are objectionable to the bourgeoisie; and an increase in indirect taxes (and tariffs), which all governments practice con amore, meets with the stubborn resistance of the proletariat.[36] Nothing remains but recourse to the introduction of state monopolies over the production of a number of products: the tobacco monopoly, monopoly in the production of cigars and cigarettes, monopolies in alcoholic beverages, kerosene, matches, electrical energy, coal and iron, potassium, gas for lighting, certain metals, etc. These are the branches of production in which monopolization encounters the least difficulties and has already occurred in several states.
Monopolization is also to be expected in war industry, that is, the industries working for the army and the navy (building battleships, cannon, etc.). Unproductive from the viewpoint of social development, this branch of production will grow in importance. Far from the “ultra-imperialist” idyll of Kautsky, we face a period of more acute competition on the part of state-capitalist trusts.[37] The transitional form between the “private capitalist enterprise” (or trust) and the pure type of state enterprise is the so-called “mixed enterprise” (“gemischte Betriebe”). Recently this form has begun to appear with growing frequency, and there is every likelihood that it will spread rapidly. Essentially the state cooperates here with a private capitalist enterprise or, more often, with a capitalist organization (a trust, syndicate, cartel, etc.). The merger is achieved through “share holding” (or “participation”): the state purchases a portion of the shares of the enterprise in question, the balance being held by the usual trust. Thus, the state and an entrepreneurial economic organization become co-owners of one and the same productive unit. Over the course of time this intermediate type will understandably give way to the pure form of state enterprise. The mechanism for this process is very simple: either the state becomes the owner of a growing portion of the shares, or else the shareholders are converted into mere recipients of a certain fixed income, being prevented from interfering directly in the production process, which is left to the control of the enlightened and appropriately trained imperialist bureaucracy.[38]
These are the basic and most established forms of state intervention in the sphere of production. There is a multiplicity of other measures that, to a greater or lesser degree, curtail the “free disposal” of private property. Although these measures by no means cause a loss in all cases for the aforesaid property owners, they do place production under control of the all-seeing eyes of the state. In the case of every belligerent country, those enterprises working for so-called “national defense” have been subjected to such control. In Germany, where the English blockade has increased the tendency toward regulation of the economy to an extreme, this control has been extended to several other production branches.[39] If, for example, a special ‘’Reichsverteilungstelle’’ not only distributes the finished product – sugar, shall we say – but also determines precisely how much sugar must be produced, by what date, and where to deliver it, then, under these conditions, the arbitrariness of the private entrepreneur or syndicate gives way to “state discretion.” We have, in consequence, a limitation on production and sales. Occasionally the state goes further and joins the different production groups together in a single complex for the sake of greater production planning (as was the case, for instance, in the German coal industry).[40] Finally, there is an infinite number of rules that regulate the production process itself (requiring a certain method of production, the use of specified raw materials, etc.). “All of these measures” – to quote Professor Hatchek – “convert the producer and the seller into social functionaries” (the worthy professor neglects only to mention the indecent “compensation” these syndicated “social functionaries” receive).
In these ways state power absorbs virtually every branch of production. Not only does it preserve the general conditions of the exploitative process but, in addition, the state increasingly becomes a direct exploiter, organizing and directing production as a collective, joint capitalist.
A similar process can be observed in the sphere of circulation.
Let us begin by considering the technical-material framework of the circulation process: the railways, telegraph, telephone, underwater cables, and the postal organization as a whole.
Here “statification” occurred earlier than in other areas. The reasons for statification of the railways were typical. Beside the economic reasons (the enormity of the capital to be advanced, the low rate of profit at the outset, etc.), both fiscal and military-strategic motives were operative. Although much later than other countries, England brought the railways under the Treasury, owing to the influence of the “great war.” As with protectionism, the creation of a standing army, the curtailment of individual freedoms, and so forth, the transition was also made to a state railway industry. The relative “weight” of state railways as a percentage of total track length is as follows: Belgium, 90.8%; Germany, 92.5%; Denmark, 55.6%; Italy, 77.8%; the Netherlands, 56.3%; Norway, 84.2%; Austria, 80.4%; European Russia, 65.5%; Switzerland, 71.9%; etc. France, Portugal, and Sweden have railways of the “mixed” type. As for the telegraph, only in America does a private telegraph play a major role, state telegraphs being the norm elsewhere. The cable network is mainly in the hands of private companies, but the state’s share is growing. There can be no doubt that the influence of the war is very forceful in this respect: in the name of “national defense,” and so forth, an energetic policy of statification is being implemented in all of these branches.
The skeleton of the circulatory process is therefore largely in the hands of the state. But the very process of circulation is itself passing more and more into state hands. Consider, for example, state trade monopolies. Generally speaking, these monopolies were introduced for the same reasons as those in the sphere of production: from a negative viewpoint, the growing “collectivist” character of capitalist relations; more positively, the financial and strategic considerations that compel the bourgeoisie to centralize economic relations at the level of the “fatherland.” In cases in which a production monopoly is difficult to establish, for one reason or another, the state assumes the exclusive right to sell the particular product and to set its own prices.
There is no doubt that trade monopolies represent a step toward further intrusion of state control into the realm of production. The only difference is that in this case intervention begins, so to speak, at the other end.
The joint-stock form of enterprise adds the possibility in this sphere as well of creating “mixed” enterprises, whose shareholders are public-law institutions (the state, municipalities), on the one side, and commercial-industrial organizations, on the other. In time of war a similar role is being played in Germany by the numerous “Kriegsrohstoffgesellschaften” (“war material societies”), which have complete authority (under the control of state power) to centralize all available supplies of different types of goods and to distribute them in accordance with definite regulations, established either by the state (e.g., rubber, benzine, metals, leather, etc.) or by “Reichsverteilungsstellen” (“imperial allocation offices”), which handle the allocation of commodities throughout the empire. Numerous organizations are obliged to supply commodities; others are obliged to accept them; and prices are fixed by the state. Finally, an extreme form of state intervention is the system of confiscation (consider, for instance, the activity of the German government in supplying the population with food products and the so-called “food dictatorship”). Here, too, several syndicate organizations cooperate with the organs of state and local government. As a result, the anarchic commodity market is largely replaced by organized distribution of the product, the ultimate authority again being state power.
Of course, many of these forms must also die out with the advent of normal conditions for the economic process. The dreams of certain ideologists of imperialism (dreams of so-called “Magasinierung,” or the establishment of gigantic state warehouses of different kinds of products with the simultaneous near-isolation of the state economy – in short, dreams of economic “autarky”) are absolutely Utopian.[41] But the general tendency of growing intervention by the state remains, even though its theoretical limits are impossible to establish.
If we turn now from the circulation of commodities to the circulation of money and the sphere of credit, we find the exact same process. The need for the state to regulate the entire process of monetary circulation is also made dramatically evident in time of war. Financial mobilization presupposes the colossal might of state central banks, which gather up virtually the entire gold supply of the country. The concrete constellation of monetary circulation depends primarily on the policy of the state bank, the quantity of notes it puts into circulation, etc. The same is true of credit relations. In Germany the state bank has also been supported by the “loan offices” (Darlehenskassen), which are subordinate to the bank and were specially created for the war. Besides accepting all manner of paper securities, these state institutions are also designed to grant credit, commodities[42] being accepted as security. Thus, something in the nature of a mutual guarantee, or an ever-expanding “community of interests,” arises between the state power and different circles of the bourgeoisie, as the representatives of economic life. Within the same sphere this mutual guarantee might take many different forms. The role of state loans is especially important. (The “success” of internal loans is highly dependent on one condition, namely, that capital cannot find areas for investment because the productive base has been narrowed owing to the war. Analysis of the sources of the payments makes it clear that the “popular” character of this success is pure fantasy.) If the capitalists give up their capital to the state, they also become shareholders in the whole aggregate of state enterprises, in the broad sense of the word; for the fixed rate of interest they receive represents a portion of the state’s general revenues. The more extensive the internal loan operations are, the more closely are all the branches of production tied economically to the state power. This tie originates and is accomplished in the sphere of circulation. The supreme regulator is the state bank.
It is interesting that the structure of the latter institution is not the same in all countries. In some cases there is a purely state institution; in others, an enterprise of the “mixed type.” The German Imperial Bank is one of a mixed nature. As a joint-stock society it is directed by state officials, who are appointed by the Emperor on the advice of the Bundesrat.[43] The “nature” of this bank has even given rise to several theoretical discussions on the theme of whether it is a state institution – that is, whether it is an institution of a public-law nature or a simple joint-stock company of a private-law nature.
In this connection we should also remember the so-called regulation of consumption. In fact, this sphere belongs entirely to circulation. It is a process of distributing goods, not of consuming them, for the latter lies beyond the limits of any economic investigation. We have in mind as well the numerous ration cards and other measures: cards for bread, butter, meat, etc.
In certain countries the intervention of state power has assumed enormous dimensions. In Germany it has led to regulated distribution of all food products and to “communist” mass meals (“Massenspeisungen”). This type of state intervention, however, is the least stable; and there is no doubt that it will disappear with the end of the war and overcoming Germany’s economic isolation.
It remains for us to look at the state’s foreign economic policy. Under this heading belong, first and foremost, all possible types of prohibitions and limitations on imports and exports, including the entire system of tariff policy, trade agreements, support for “national industries” abroad, premiums of all sorts, the search for concessions and profitable lending opportunities, etc., plus direct plunder, or seizing the territory of someone else’s “fatherland” for monopolistic exploitation by one’s “own” finance capital, which is the essence of an imperialist policy.
Now let us summarize. In total contrast to the state in the epoch of industrial capitalism, the imperialist state is characterized by an extraordinary increase in the complexity of its functions and by an impetuous incursion into the economic life of society. It reveals a tendency to take over the whole productive sphere and the whole sphere of commodity circulation. Intermediate types of mixed enterprises will be replaced by pure state regulation, for in this way the centralization process can advance further. All the members of the ruling classes (or, more accurately, of the ruling class, for finance capitalism gradually eliminates the different subgroups of the ruling classes, uniting them in a single finance-capitalist clique) become shareholders, or partners in a gigantic state-enterprise.[44] From being the preserver and defender of exploitation, the state is transformed into a single, centralized, exploiting organization that is confronted directly by the proletariat, the object of exploitation. In the same way as market prices are determined by the state, the workers are assigned a ration sufficient for the preservation of labor power. A hierarchically constructed bureaucracy fulfils the organizing functions in complete accord with the military authorities, whose significance and power steadily grow. The national economy is absorbed into the state, which is constructed in a military fashion and has at its disposal an enormous, disciplined army and navy. In their struggle the workers must confront all the might of this monstrous apparatus, for their every advance will be aimed directly against the state: the economic and the political struggle cease to be two categories, and the revolt against exploitation will signify a direct revolt against the state organization of the bourgeoisie.
All of these developments lie in the near future, unless a social catastrophe occurs before the pure type of economic relations we have been describing can take shape.
It is easy to qualify in socio-economic terms the mode of production whose undeveloped form is represented by the contemporary Kriegssozialismus, i.e., the militarization of almost every branch of industry. Many bourgeois theorists speak of state socialism. Professor Krahmann, for example, whom we have cited previously, writes:
The powerful influence of all the means currently employed to support the state and defend the Fatherland, means that have been adopted by the state out of military considerations, will be to move us... much nearer to state socialism. But this change will not occur in the way which some have dreaded and for which others have hoped. This is not a loose international, but a nationally consolidated, socialism that we are approaching. It is not a democratic communism; still less is it an aristocratic class government: it is a nationalism that reconciles classes [45]
And the revisionist E. Fisher, in addition to claiming that “Socialism is essentially nothing but the carrying over of the state idea (Staatsgedankens) into the national economy and social life in general,” tries his utmost to find socialism, referring to monopolization of the various branches of production with such strange names as “electrical socialism,” “water socialism,” and so forth.[46] These misleading phrases obscure the reality of the matter, namely, that in “war socialism” class contradictions not only persist but reach their maximum intensity. In the ideal type of imperialist state the process of exploitation is not hidden by any secondary forms: the mask of a supraclass institution that looks after everyone alike is torn away from the state. This is the basic fact, and it thoroughly demolishes the arguments of the renegades. For socialism is regulated production, regulated by society, not by the state (state socialism is about as useful as leaky boots); it is the elimination of class contradictions, not their intensification. On its own, the regulation of production is far from signifying socialism: it occurs in every familial economy, among every slave-owning natural-economic group. What we in fact expect in the near future is state capitalism. A single protest might be raised against such a designation, namely, that the logical extreme and pure type of the relations now emerging would entail the elimination of hired labor. The worker would receive rations, “aliments,” not a monetary equivalent of the value of labor power. Just as market prices are replaced by regulated distribution of the product, so the wage form would disappear and along with it hired labor as such. The worker would become a slave. And since hired labor represents one of the most characteristic features of capitalism, it is impossible to use the term capitalism to designate relations that involve the elimination of hired labor. Nevertheless, we would accept this complaint as being correct and would introduce some new designation for the type of relations now being formed only in one event – that is, if a single world economy were in existence. Insofar as this is not the case (for reasons we have discussed in Kommunist, a single world economy represents an impossible hope), and insofar as the anarchy of the world market remains, the categories of value and wages are also preserved – with the single difference that now the position of the separate enterprise has been taken by the state enterprise. The labor market will become the world market for labor, and the movement of workers from one state to another will gather momentum. Likewise, we must not think that the state will be able to establish whatever prices it dreams up, or that the law of labor value loses its significance, for it would be absurd to imagine a closed state and economic autarky. The pressure of the world market remains.
Thus, state capitalism is the completed form of a state-capitalist trust. The process of organization gradually removes the anarchy of separate components of the “national-economic” mechanism, placing the whole of economic life under the iron heel of the militaristic state.
3. THE ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESS, STATE POWER, AND THE WORKING CLASS
1) The dialectical development of state power: mercantilism, Manchesterism, imperialism. 2) Finance capitalism and the organizational process in the life of society: the emergence of a number of bourgeois organizations. 3) The dialectical development of state power: the sole organization of the ruling classes – one of the organizations – the all-embracing organization. 4) The working class and the state.
More than oats develop “according to Hegel.” A similar historical joke is played out in connection with the state. If we consider the capitalist state we see that during the epoch of commercial capitalism, at the dawn of its development, capitalism bore the mark of the state on its brow. State intervention flourished both externally and within the country, including the regulation of foreign trade, a system of premiums and every type of protectionism, the granting of privileges, etc. – such was the practice of mercantilism. The ensuing stage of capitalist development represented a complete negation of the mercantilist epoch. Industrial capitalism found its political expression in liberalism. Even the slightest intervention by state power in the “natural” course of economic life was considered a harmful experiment doomed to failure. So prevalent was this sort of theory that Spencer, for example, saw in the omnipotence of the state a vestige of the military regime that was not suitable for industrial capitalism, with its “voluntary cooperation.”[47] If liberalism and industrial capitalism were the negation of mercantilism and commercial capitalism, then imperialism, with finance capitalism as its basis, is the negation of the negation from the viewpoint of the developing functions of state power. The fact that recent tendencies of development are interpreted by some to be “vestiges” can be explained only by tradition, the inertia of thought, a failure to understand contemporary relations, and the projection of outmoded views from the pre-imperialist epoch into our own time. In reality, we have entered a new stage of development. With unprecedented force and on a scale never before observed in European history, the state is once again invading the sphere of economic relations (the class “communism” of the American Incas, etc., has not been adequately investigated). Insofar as we are speaking of society’s economic life, this growth of the state became possible thanks to an organizational process, which has strikingly unfolded since the final quarter of the past century.
As we know, this process took the economic form of an unusually rapid growth of every possible type of entrepreneurial organization: trusts, syndicates, cartels, corners and rings on the market, special alliances for struggle against workers’ organizations, and various institutions that undertook to represent the interests of “industry and commerce” (see, for example, the Russian “Councils of Congresses”), etc. But we must not assume that the organizational process has embraced the economy alone: its significance is much more general and profound. One could even say with a certain legitimacy that the bourgeoisie has not left a single corner of social life completely unorganized. For spiritual cultivation of the masses there is the church organization, with its far-flung apparatus, the school and the organized press. The daily “spiritual food” that is served up in abundance to the man in the street has long since ceased to be a “private” matter: every conceivable organization (the telegraph agencies, the press bureaus, the various associations of journalists, and, finally, entire newspaper trusts, which strictly control the production of bourgeois lies, etc.) adopts the honorable function of providing support to the “existing order.” Science also outgrew the condition of primitive disorganization long ago: every type of research, beginning with experiments in chemical laboratories or work on microorganisms and ending with archeological excavations, takes place systematically and according to plan. The academies see to the organization of science, along with learned conferences, specialized publications, and an endless stream of specialized institutions of every type (libraries, museums, experimental stations, laboratories, and observatories, which are genuine scientific factories, etc.). Bourgeois politics are also organized. Never before has there been such a close union of the bourgeois riffraff as there is today, in the epoch of finance capitalism. All of the formerly differentiated political organizations of the ruling classes are gradually losing their differentia specifica, being transformed into a single imperialist party. All-embracing blocs of all the imperialist parties – particularly when it is a question of the common struggle against revolutionary social democracy – complete unity on questions of foreign policy, the disappearance of all the remnants of democracy and the former liberalism: all of these trends clearly illustrate the process. The degree to which this universal organizational process embraces all and sundry can be seen simply by listing the multitude of societies, circles, associations, and other organizations, no matter what the area. Take, for example, propaganda on behalf of colonial policy. In France by 1906 this purpose was served by the various learned geographic societies: l’Union coloniale, le Comite Dupleix, la Societe de propagande coloniale, la France colonisatrice, l’Action coloniale et maritime, la Societe des etudes coloniales et mari-times, la Societe franc,aise de colonisation et d’agriculture coloniale, la Colonisation franchise, l’Association pour le placement gratuit de Frantjais al’etranger et aux colonies, la Societe francaise de’emigration des femmes, and l’Oeuvre coloniale des femmes frangaises. Then there were the special “comites”: les comites de l’Afrique francaise, de l’Asie frangaise, de Madagascar, de la Guyane frangaise, de l’Oceanie franchise, le Comite de propagande de l’Afrique occidentale franchise, le Comite du commerce et de l’industrie de l’Indo-Chine, la Societe l’Africaine, la Reunion d’etudes algeriennes – all of these together with l’Association cotonniere coloniale, l’Association caoutchouciere coloniale, l’Alliance francaise, la Mission laique frangaise, la Societe anti-esclavagiste de France, la Croix verte, etc.[48]
In other words, a multitude of various types of bourgeois organizations emerges (we shall speak of proletarian organizations later), and they overlap one another in the most diverse realms. The separate representatives of the ruling classes take their seats in different cells, which grow within definite limits, work out the collective will, and pose and resolve common tasks. Finally, the requirements of imperialist development compel bourgeois society to mobilize all of its forces, to extend its organization throughout the broadest possible context: the state absorbs into itself the whole multitude of bourgeois organizations.
Here, too, the war provided an enormous stimulus. Philosophy and medicine, religion and ethics, chemistry and bacteriology – all were “mobilized” and “militarized” in exactly the same way as industry and finances. The more rapidly there occurred a conscious, organized adaptation to the “whole” – that is, the more rapidly the state, by one means or another, incorporated these countless groups into its own universal organization – the more planned was the operation of this enormous technical, economic, and ideological machine. In the press it was announced that the capitalists had raised the question of producing nitroglycerine from the colossal number of corpses being produced by the war; all that was needed was to discover in a scientific manner the best method of doing so, a method that by virtue of the cheapness of the raw material would promise enormous profits. We do not know how true this report is or whether such ingenious thoughts really did enter the head of some worthy bourgeois. But the report – in the form of a caricature, it is true – does express the real state of affairs. From the viewpoint of sober “state reason,” that is, from the viewpoint of the ruling finance-capitalist oligarchy, the proletarian mass is an instrumentum vocale for the acquisition of superprofits. And just as the worn-out parts from machines or industrial experiments are utilized in some other productive process, so the energy locked up in human corpses can also be used. From this viewpoint, which is unique to the imperialist state, the work of doctors, sisters of mercy, the Red Cross, and similar organizations represents a repair job done on those instruments of imperialist competition that are worn out, but are still suitable for further use. As for the scholars, who are struggling with gum diseases, typhus, and cholera, their work is that of a lubricator who applies the oil and eliminates excessive friction in an enormous, death-dealing machine. That is how it is once state power becomes the center of attraction for these organizations and converts them into subordinate organs of the state giant.
The general pattern of the state’s development is therefore as follows: in the beginning the state is the sole organization of the ruling class. Then other organizations begin to spring up, their numbers multiplying especially in the epoch of finance capitalism. The state is transformed from the sole organization of the ruling class into one of its organizations, its distinction being that it has the most general character of all such organizations. Finally, the third stage arrives, in which the state swallows up these organizations and once more becomes the sole universal organization of the ruling class, with an internal, technical division of labor. The once-independent organizational groupings become the divisions of a gigantic state mechanism, which pounces upon the visible and internal enemy with crushing force. Thus emerges the finished type of the contemporary imperialist robber state, the iron organization, which with its tenacious, raking claws embraces the living body of society. This is the New Leviathan, beside which the fantasy of Thomas Hobbes looks like a child’s toy. For the time being there is no force on earth that might be its equal – “Non est potestas super terram quae comparetur ei.”[49]
Now we must turn to a perfectly natural question – the role played by the workers and proletarian organizations.
Here there are two theoretical possibilities: either the workers’ organizations, like all the organizations of the bourgeoisie, grow into the general state organization and become a simple appendage of the state apparatus, or, alternatively, they outgrow the confines of the state and explode it from within, organizing their own state power (or dictatorship). The first route, taken by the yellow social democracy of the Guesdes, Plekhanovs, Scheidemanns, Hendersons, Brantings, and Company, is one of converting the revolutionary party of the proletariat into a subordinate mechanism of the imperialist state, into its “labor department”; the second route, that of Liebknecht, Hoglund, Maclean, Muranov, and other comrades, is the route of revolutionary social democracy. In the mass actions of the proletariat, in the struggle between different “streams” and the splits in the old social democracy, we are experiencing a general revolutionizing process. This process indicates that the second outcome is becoming increasingly probable and that the national-imperialist labor policy will be overcome by the international socialist revolution. The material basis for such an outcome is the differentiated influence of imperialist policy on the position of the bourgeoisie compared with that of the proletariat. So long as imperialism allowed only its “progressive side” to be seen (the “peaceful” expansion of pre-war times), imperialist attitudes necessarily grew up within the proletariat. But now imperialism has displayed its aggressive side; and the more it does so, the greater is the burden it imposes on the international proletariat. Whereas the imperialist bourgeoisie sees vital necessity in continuation of the imperialist policy, the proletariat sees an equal necessity in the destruction of imperialism, and of capitalist production along with it.
Any further development of the state organisms – before the socialist revolution – is possible only in the form of militaristic state capitalism. Centralization is becoming the centralization of a barracks. In the upper stratum of society a vile military clique is inevitably growing in strength, resulting in brutal drilling and bloody repression of the proletariat. On the other hand, we have already seen that any activity by the proletariat, under these conditions, is inevitably directed against state power. Hence, a definite tactical demand: Social democracy must forcefully underline its hostility, in principle, to state power. So far as parliaments are concerned, social democracy must vote against the introduction of all monopolies, all customs unions, etc. Certain adherents of the party center attempt in vain to demonstrate that such innovations signify economic regression. But that is not the reason for our tactic. On the contrary, from an isolated economic and “nationally” limited point of view, these forms involve further centralization and undoubted progress. The real point is that this progress is nothing more than reinforcement and support for militarism and imperialism. To support the contemporary state means to support militarism. In our day the historical task is not to worry about further development of the productive forces (they are perfectly adequate for the realization of socialism), but to prepare a universal attack upon the ruling gangsters.50 In the growing revolutionary struggle, the proletariat destroys the state organization of the bourgeoisie, takes over its material framework, and creates its own temporary organization of state power. Having beaten back every counterattack of the reaction and cleared the way for the free development of socialist humanity, the proletariat, in the final analysis, abolishes its own dictatorship as well, once and for all driving an aspen stake..
(At this point the manuscript breaks off. The remaining sheets have been lost.)
NOTES
1. This article was intended for Sbornik Sotsial-Demokrata, a periodical publication of the Central Committee that began to appear after Kommunist ceased to exist. The editors of the Sbornik did not consider it possible to include the article, suggesting that it developed incorrect views concerning the state. Unfortunately, in the course of numerous travels abroad (under illegal conditions at that), several letters of Comrade Lenin’s on this matter were lost. After I received the refusal from Sbornik S-D, I wrote a number of short articles, developing the same system of views. These articles appeared in left-radical newspapers: the Dutch De Tribune (the article “De Nieuwe Lyfeigenschap” – “A New Slavery,” on 25 November 1916 and succeeding days); in the organ of Norwegian youth, Klassekampen; in the Bremen journal Arbeiterpolitik (“Rabochaya Politika”), which appeared during the war; and, finally, in the journal Jugendinternationale (an article under the pseudonym Nota Bene), and in a series of polemical articles (against Dr. Ingerman) in the New York paper Novyi Mir. V. I. came out with a note (published in volume XIII of the Sochineniya) against the article in Jugendinternationale. Readers will quite readily see that I did not commit the errors attributed to me, for I clearly saw the need for the dictatorship of the proletariat; on the other hand, it will be apparent from Ilich’s note that at the time he did not take a correct position on the “explosion” of the state (the bourgeois state, of course), confusing this question with the withering away of the dictatorship of the proletariat. Perhaps I should have further developed the theme of the dictatorship at that time. But in my defense I can say that at that time there was such indiscriminate Social-Democratic glorification of the bourgeois state that it was natural to concentrate all attention on the question of the explosion of this machine.
When I arrived in Russia from America, I saw Nadezhda Konstantinovna (this was at our illegal Sixth Congress, when V. I. was in hiding); and her first words were as follows: “V.I. asked me to tell you that he no longer has any disagreements with you on the question of the state.” Dealing with this question Ilich came to the same conclusions regarding the “explosion,” but he developed this theme and his subsequent teaching concerning the dictatorship so fully as to constitute an entire epoch in the development of theoretical thought in this area. – N.B.
2. See Gumplowicz, Geschichte der Staatstheorien (Innsbruck, 1905), p. 8.
3. Edgar Loening, “Der Staat,” in Handwbrterbuch der Staatswissenschaften. N. Jerusalem, repeating Plato’s words that the task of the state is realization of the moral ideal, claims that this view is now more correct than ever before (Der Krieg im Lichte der Gesellschaftslehre [Stuttgart, 1915], p. 61). Compare this with Wygodzinsky, “Staat und Wirtschaft,” Handbuch der Politik, p. iii. This is the same as saying that the goal of capital is to improve the workers’ wages.
4. Frederick Engels, The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the
State, in Marx and Engels, Selected Works (in English) (Moscow, 1962), p. 320. “... The state is an organization of the possessing class for its protection against the nonpossessing class” (Ibid., p. 321). ‘The policy (of the ruling classes – N.B.) is but a method of stabilization and an instrument for the preservation and expansion of property” (Achille Loria, Les Bases economiques de la constitution sociale [ 2nd ed.] [Paris, 1903], p. 362).
5. Oppenheimer, “Staat und Gesellschaft,” in Handb. der Politik, p 117. See also his Der Staat (published by M. Biber, Frankfurt a/M), pp. 9 and 151). On the difference between economics and politics for this author, see Theorie der und politischen Oekonomie (2nd ed.) (Berlin, 1911).
6. Der Staat, p. 9.
7. “Staat und Gesellschaft,” in Handb. der Politik, p. 115.
8. See G. Schmoller (Jahrbucher, 1890, p. 72), “Das Wesen der Arbeitsteilung und der sozialen Klassenbildung,” in which Schmoller says: “These truths (concerning the role of conquest – N.B.) are either incorrectly or exaggeratedly generalized by Gumplowicz, so that every emergence of a state, every advanced culture, every formation of social classes and division of labor is derived from the racial struggle “ Schmoller himself, in contrast, tries to “smooth over” real history. On the factual side, see Schmoller, “Die Tatsachen der Arbeitsteilung” in Jahrbucher, 1889. Interesting theoretical observations of a general character are found in E. Durkheim’s De la division du travail social (Paris, 1893).
9. In contrast to such underestimations, see Mayers, The History of Great American Fortunes, vol. I.
10. Oppenheimer’s “explanation” is that the masses, infected by the state in their native land, imported this state with them (Der Staat, p. 10). But even if the state is viewed as a secret illness of the masses, it is incomprehensible why it was not cured by the pure air of America. The strain inherent in O.’s explana-is obvious.
11. See his “Die soziale Frage und der Sozialismus.” It is interesting that Oppenheimer ends his book on the state... withaeulogy of the imperialist bureaucracy.
12. Engels, The Origin of the Family..., pp. 318-19.
13. Apropos of this, K. Renner, who during the war broke all records for legerdemain, giving brilliant quasi-Marxist formulations of his imperialist longings, based defense of the fatherland on the consideration that |
them in their entirety by characterizing the information on the ties between Kafka and the Czech anarchists as "pure legend." This is the attitude of some specialists including Eduard Goldstücker, Hartmut Binder, Ritchie Robertson, and Ernst Pawel. The first is a Czech Communist literary critic and the other three are authors of Kafka biographies whose value cannot be denied.
According to Goldstücker, "the principal reason for my skepticism on the legend of a prolonged and close contact between Kafka and the anarcho-communists is the fact that in no part of the work of Kafka does one find indications that he was familiar with their thought." In his view, Kafka's attitude toward the working class was not that of "modern socialism" but rather that of the utopian socialists "who long preceded Marx."
A few remarks on this strange reasoning:
1. the term "anarcho-communism" is far from adequate to describe clubs of such diverse orientations ranging from anarcho-syndicalism to libertarian pacifism.
2. Anarchism is not defined by a common attitude toward the working class (different positions exist on this subject in the libertarian tradition) but by its rejection of all authority and the state as instituted authority.
3. Anarchist doctrine was conceived before Marx and libertarian socialism is not constituted in relation to his work.
Hartmut Binder is the author of a very detailed and erudite biography of Kafka. He is also the most energetic proponent of the thesis that the ties between Kafka and the Prague anarchist community are a "legend" which belongs to the "realm of the imagination." Klaus Wagenbach is accused of having utilized sources "congenial to his ideology" such as Kacha, Mares, and Janouch which lack "credibility or are even deliberate falsifications."
In the opinion of Binder:
the mere fact that Brod did not learn of these alleged activities until several years after the death of Kafka... weighs heavily against the credibility of this information. Because it is almost unimaginable that Brod who had gone on two holiday trips with Kafka during this period and with whom he met daily.... could have been ignorant of the interest of his best friend in the anarchist movement...
If this is really unimaginable (the "almost" leaves a margin of doubt...), then why is it that the central figure, i.e., Max Brod, considered this information perfectly reliable since he used it in both his novel Stefan Rott and in the biography of his friend?
Much the same criticism applies to another of Binder's arguments:
Listening in a smoke-filled pub to the political discussions of a group acting outside the law... This is a situation unimaginable for somebody with Kafka's personality.
However this situation did not seem strange to Max Brod who also knew a few things about Kafka's personality... In fact, nothing in Kafka's work leads us to believe that he had such a superstitious respect for the law!
In an attempt to dispose, once and for all, of the testimony of Michal Mares, Binder refers insistently to a letter of Kafka to Milena Jesenska-Polak in which he refers to Mares as a "nodding acquaintance." Binder makes the following argument:
Kafka expressly underscores that his relation with Mares is only that of a Gassenbekanntschaft (nodding acquaintance). This is the clearest indication that Kafka never went to anarchist meetings.
The least one can say about this line of argument is that an obvious non-sequitur lies between the premise and the conclusion! Even if their encounters were limited to meetings in the street because Kafka's house was close to Mares' place of work, this does not preclude Mares passing on literature and inviting Kafka to meetings and demonstrations, confirming his presence at some of these activities, and even making him a present of a book by Kropotkin on one occasion.
As material proof of his ties to Kafka, Mares had in his possession a postcard sent to him by the writer which was dated December 9, 1910. While this is impossible to verify, Mares also claimed that he received several letters from his friend which had disappeared during the numerous house searches to which he was subjected during this period. Binder does not deny the existence of this document but, pouncing on the fact that the card was addressed to "Josef Mares" and not Michal, he claims to have uncovered new proof of the "fictions" concocted by the witness. It seems totally improbable that a year after meeting Mares and attending several sessions of the Youth Club along with him, Kafka "does not even know his proper given name." This argument does not hold water for a very simple reason. According to the German edition of the correspondence between Kafka and Milena, the original given name of Kacha was not Michal but... Josef.
The entire discussion in Hartmut Binder's book gives the painful impression of being a deliberate and systematic attempt to seize upon every minor pretext. His aim appears to be to eliminate from Kafka's image what conservatives would deem the dark shadow of suspicion that he took part in meetings organized by the Prague libertarians.
A few years later in his biography of Kafka which, by the way, is a book very worthy of interest, Ernst Pawel seems to uphold Binder's thesis. In his words, it is high time that we "laid to rest one of the great myths" about Kafka. This would be the "legend of a conspiratorial Kafka working within the Czech anarchist group called the Youth Club." This legend is the product of the "fertile imagination of the ex-anarchist Michal Mares who in his somewhat fanciful memoirs published in 1946 describes Kafka as a friend and comrade who participated in anarchist meetings and demonstrations":
This narrative is completely belied by all that is known of his life, friends, and character. Why would he have wanted to conceal his commitment from close friends whom he saw on a daily basis.
This "legend" is easy to debunk because it bears no resemblance to what any of the sources in question claimed. Mares, Janouch, and Kacha (who goes unmentioned by Pawel) never said that Kafka was a "plotter within an anarchist group." Mares explicitly insisted on the fact that Kafka was a member of no organization. In any event, Kafka was not engaged in a "conspiracy" but taking part in meetings which were in most cases open to the public. As for "keeping things secret from his close friends" meaning Max Brod, we have already demonstrated the inanity of this line of argument.
Ernst Pawel provides another argument to bolster his thesis. Prague police records "do not contain the slightest allusion to Kafka." The argument is inadequate. It is not very likely that the police would have held onto the names of all those people who attended public meetings organized by the various libertarian clubs. They would be interested in the "ringleaders" and heads of the associations rather than people who listened and said nothing...
Pawel differs from Binder in his willingness to recognize the validity of the facts suggested by these accounts in a more diluted version. Kafka really did take part in these kind of meetings but only as "an interested spectator." Moreover he sympathized with the "philosophical and non-violent anarchism of Kropotkin and Alexander Herzen."
We will now examine the point of view of Ritchie Robertson who is the author of a remarkable essay on the life and work of the Prague Jewish writer. In his opinion, the information furnished by Kacha and Mares must be "treated with skepticism." His principal arguments on this point are borrowed from Goldstücker and Binder. How would it have been possible that Brod was in the dark about the participation of his friend in these meetings? How much value can one attach to the testimony of Mares since he was only a Gassenbekanntschaft (nodding acquaintance) of Kafka? There is no point in repeating my earlier rebuttal to these kinds of objections which lack any real consistency.
Entirely new and interesting in Robertson's book is the attempt to put forward an alternative interpretation of Kafka's political ideas which, according to him, would be neither socialist nor anarchist but romantic. In Robertson's opinion, this anti-capitalist romanticism would be of neither the left nor the right. But if romantic anti-capitalism is a matrix common to certain forms of conservative and revolutionary thought - and in this sense, it does effectively transcend the traditional divisions between the left and the right - it nevertheless remains a fact that romantic authors clearly positioned themselves around one of the two poles of this vision of the world: reactionary romanticism or revolutionary romanticism.
In fact, anarchism, libertarian socialism, and anarcho-syndicalism provide a paradigmatic example of a "romantic anti-capitalism of the left." As a result, defining Kafka's thought as romantic seems to me entirely pertinent but it does not mean that he is not "of the left" or, more concretely, a romantic socialist of a libertarian tendency. As is the case with all romantics, his critique of modern civilization is tinged with nostalgia for the past which, for him, is represented by the Yiddish culture of the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. With notable insight, André Breton wrote that "in marking the present minute," Kafka's thought "turns symbolically backwards with the hands of the clock of the synagogue" of Prague.
The interesting thing about the anarchist episode in Kafka's biography (1909-1912) is that it provides us with one of the most useful keys for illuminating our understanding of his work, especially his writings from 1912 onward. I make a point of saying one of the keys because the charm of this work also comes from its polysemantic character which makes it irreducible to any univocal interpretation. The libertarian ethos is manifested in different situations which are at the heart of his principal literary texts but, first and foremost, it can be found in the radically critical fashion in which the haunting and terrifying face of unfreedom is represented: authority. As André Breton put it so well: "No other work militates so strongly against the admission of a sovereign principle external to that of the person doing the thinking."
An anti-authoritarianism of libertarian inspiration runs through Kafka's novels in a movement toward "depersonalization" and a growing reification: from paternal and personal authority toward an administrative and anonymous authority. Yet once more, he is not acting out of any political doctrine but from a state of mind and critical sensibility whose principal weapon is irony, humor, that black humor which, according to André Breton, is "a supreme revolt of the spirit."
This attitude has intimate personal roots in Kafka's relations with his father. For the writer, the despotic authority of the pater familias is the archetype of political tyranny. In his Letter to the Father (1919), Kafka recalled that "in my eyes, you assumed an enigmatic character like a tyrant for whom the law is not based upon reflection but his own person." Confronted with the brutal, unjust, and arbitrary treatment meted out to employees by his father, he instinctively began to identify with the victims:
What made the store insufferable for me was that it reminded me too much of my own situation with respect to you... This is why I belong, of necessity, to the employees' party.
The principal characteristics of authoritarianism noted in Kafka's literary work are:
1. Arbitrariness: decisions imposed from above without any moral, rational, or human justification while often making inordinate and absurd demands upon the victim.
2. Injustice: blame is wrongly considered to be self-evident with no need for proof, and punishment is totally disproportionate to the "mistake" (non-existent or trivial).
In his first major literary piece, The Verdict (1912), Kafka focuses on paternal authority. This is also one of his rare works where the hero (Georg Bendemann) seems to submit wholly and without resistance to the authoritarian verdict: the order given by the father to his son to drown himself in the river! Comparing this novel with The Trial, Milan Kundera observes:
The resemblance between the two accusations, condemnations and executions betray the continuity which ties together the closed familial "totalitarianism" with Kafka's grand visions. The difference between them is that in the two great novels (The Trial and The Castle), there is a perfectly anonymous and invisible "totalitarian" power at work.
In this respect, Amerika (1912-1914) represents an intermediate work. The authoritarian characters are either paternal figures (Karl Rossmann's father or Uncle Jakob) or the top hotel administrators (the head of staff or the chief porter). But even the latter retain an aspect of personal tyranny in combining bureaucratic indifference with a petty and brutal individual despotism. The symbol of this punitive authoritarianism leaps up at you from the first page of the book. Demystifying American democracy represented by the famous Statue of Liberty standing in the entrance to New York harbor, Kafka replaces the torch in her hand with a sword. In a world without justice or freedom, naked force and arbitrary power seem to hold undivided sway. The hero's sympathy goes out to the victims of this society. The driver in the first chapter is an example of "the suffering of a poor man at the hands of the powerful." There is also Thèrèse's mother driven to suicide by hunger and poverty. Karl Rossmann finds his only friends and allies among the poor: Thèrèse herself, the students, the residents of a working class neighborhood who refuse to turn him over to the police because, as Kafka discloses in a revealing aside, "workers are not on the side of the authorities."
The major turning point in Kafka's work is the novel, Penal Colony, written shortly after Amerika. There are few texts in universal literature which present authority with such an unjust and murderous face. Authority is not bound up with the power of an individual such as the camp commandant (old and new) who plays only a secondary role in the story. Instead, authority inheres in an impersonal mechanism.
The context of the story is colonialism - French in this instance. The officers and commandants of the colony are French while the lowly soldiers, dockers, and victims awaiting execution are the people "indigenous" to the country who "do not understand a word of French." A native soldier is sentenced to death by officers for whom juridical doctrine can be summed up in a few words which are the quintessence of the arbitrary: Guilt should never be questioned! The soldier's execution must be carried out by a torture device which slowly carves the words: "Honor thy superiors" into his flesh with needles.
The central character of the novel is not the traveler who watches the events unfold with mute hostility. Neither is it the prisoner who scarcely shows any reaction, the officer who presides over the execution, nor the commandant of the colony. The main character is the machine itself.
The entire story is centered on this sinister apparatus which, more and more in the course of a very detailed explanation given by the officer to the traveler, comes to appear an end-in-itself. The apparatus does not exist to execute the man but rather the victim exists for the sake of the apparatus. The native soldier provides a body upon which the machine can write its aesthetic masterpiece, its bloody inscription illustrated with many "flourishes and embellishments." The officer is only a servant of the machine and is finally sacrificed himself to this insatiable Moloch.
What concrete "power machine" and "apparatus of Authority" sacrificing human lives did Kafka have in mind? The Penal Colony was written in October 1914, three months after the outbreak of the Great War.
In The Trial and The Castle, one finds authority to be a hierarchical, abstract, and impersonal "apparatus." Despite their brutal, petty, and sordid characters, the bureaucrats are only cogs in this machine. As Walter Benjamin acutely observed, Kafka writes from the perspective of a "modern citizen who realizes that his fate is being determined by an impenetrable bureaucratic apparatus whose operation is controlled by procedures which remain shadowy even to those carrying out its orders and a fortiori to those being manipulated by it."
Kafka's work is deeply rooted in his Prague surroundings. As André Breton remarked, Kafka's writings "encompass all the charms and magic of Prague" but are at the same time perfectly universal. Contrary to what is often asserted, his two major novels are not a critique of the old Austro-Hungarian imperial state but deal with the most modern state apparatus. Kafka's critique of the state touches upon its anonymous impersonal character insofar as this alienated, hypostatized, and autonomous bureaucratic system is becoming transformed into an end-in-itself.
A passage from The Castle is particularly illuminating in this regard. In a scene which is a masterpiece of black humor, the town mayor describes the official apparatus as an independent machine which seems to work "by itself":
One might say that the administrative organism could no longer put up with the strain and irritation it had to endure for years because of dealing with the same trivial business and that it has begun to pass sentence on itself, bypassing the functionaries.
Kafka had a profound insight into the way the bureaucratic machine operates like a blind network of gears in which the relations between individuals become a thing or an independent object. This is one of the most modern, topical, and lucid aspects of Kafka's work.
The libertarian inspiration is inscribed into the heart of Kafka's novels. When he speaks to us of the state, it is in the form of "administration" or "justice" as an impersonal system of domination which crushes, suffocates, or kills individuals. This is an agonizing, opaque, and unintelligible world where unfreedom prevails. The Trial is often presented as a prophetic work. With his visionary imagination, the author had foreseen the justice of the totalitarian state and the Nazi or Stalinist show trials. Despite being a Soviet fellow traveler, Bertold Brecht made a telling remark about Kafka in a conversation with Walter Benjamin in 1934 (even before the Moscow show trials):
Kafka had only one problem, that of organization. What he grasped was our anguish before the ant-hill state, the way that people themselves are alienated by the forms of their common existence. And he foresaw specific forms of alienation like, for example, the methods of the GPU.
Without casting any doubt on this homage to the prescience of the Prague writer, it should nevertheless be kept in mind that Kafka is not describing "exceptional" states in this work. One of the most important ideas suggested by his work, bearing an obvious relationship to anarchism, is the alienated and oppressive nature of the "normal" legal and constitutional state. It is clearly stated in the early pages of The Trial:
K. lived in a country with a legal constitution, there was universal peace, all the laws were in force; who, then, dared seize him in his own dwelling?
Like his friends among the Czech anarchists, he seemed to consider every form of state, and the state as such, to be an authoritarian and liberticidal hierarchy.
By their inherent nature, the state and its justice are both systems founded on lies. Nothing illustrates this better than the dialogue in The Trial between K. and the priest on the subject of the parable of the guardian of the law. For the priest, "to question the dignity of the guardian would be to question the law." This is the classic argument of all the representatives of order. K. objects that if one adopts this view, "we have to believe everything that the warder tells us" which to him seems impossible:
- No, says the priest. We are not obliged to accept everything he says as true. It suffices that it is accepted as necessary. -A mournful opinion, said K.... It elevates the lie to the stature of a world principle.
As Hannah Arendt rightly observed in her essay on Kafka, the priest's speech reveals:
the sacred theology and innermost conviction of bureaucrats to be a belief in necessity for its own sake. Bureaucrats are, in the last analysis, the functionaries of necessity.
Finally, the state and judges administer less the management of justice than the hunt for victims. In imagery comparable to the substitution of a sword for the torch of liberty in Amerika, we see in The Trial that a painting by Titorelli which is supposed to represent the Goddess of Justice becomes transfigured in the right light into a celebration of the Goddess of the Hunt. The bureaucratic and judicial hierarchy constitutes an immense organization which according to Joseph K., the victim of The Trial:
not only employs venal guards, stupid inspectors and examining magistrates... but also sustains an entire magistracy of high rank with its indispensable retinue of valets, clerks, gendarmes, and other auxiliaries, perhaps even executioners. I do not flinch before the word.
In other words, state authority kills. Joseph K. will make the acquaintance of executioners in the last chapter of the book when two functionaries put him to death "like a dog."
For Kafka, the dog represents an ethical category - if not a metaphysical one. The dog is actually all those who submit slavishly to the authorities whoever they may be. The merchant - Block - forced to his knees before the lawyer, is a typical example:
This was no longer a client. This was the lawyer's dog. If the lawyer had ordered him to crawl under the bed as if it were a kennel, and bark, Block would have done so with pleasure.
The shame which must outlive Joseph K. (the last word of The Trial) is death "like a dog," submitting without resistance to the executioners. This is also the case with the prisoner in The Penal Colony who does not even make an attempt to escape and behaves with "dog-like submission."
The young Karl Rossmann in Amerika is an example of somebody who attempts - not always successfully - to resist the authorities. For him, this means not becoming a dog like "those who are unwilling to offer any resistance." The refusal to submit and crawl like a dog appears to be the first step toward walking upright toward freedom. But Kafka's novels have neither a positive hero nor future utopias. They only try to show the facies hippocratica of our epoch with irony and lucidity.
It is no accident that the word "Kafkaesque" has entered our current vocabulary. The term denotes an aspect of social reality that sociology and political science tend to overlook. With his libertarian sensibility, Kafka has succeeded marvelously in capturing the oppressive and absurd nature of the bureaucratic nightmare, the opacity, the impenetrable and incomprehensible character of the rules of the state hierarchy as they are seen from below and the outside. This runs contrary to social science which generally confines itself to examining the bureaucratic machine from the "inside" and taking the point of view of those "at the top," the authorities, and institutions: its "functional" or "dysfunctional," "rational" or "pre-rational" character.
Social science has not yet formulated a concept for the "oppressive effect" of a reified bureaucratic apparatus which undoubtedly constitutes one of the most characteristic phenomena of modern societies which millions of men and women run across daily. Meanwhile, this essential dimension of social reality will continue to be conjured up by reference to Kafka's work.
From New Politics, vol. 6, no. 3 (new series), whole no. 23, Summer 1997.
Translated from the French by Patrick Flaherty.“...there is the possibility of establishing a declared or undeclared Salafist Principality in eastern Syria (Hasaka and Der Zor), and this is exactly what the supporting powers to the opposition want, in order to isolate the Syrian regime, which is considered the strategic depth of the Shia expansion (Iraq and Iran).”
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it as many times as it takes for the naive, largely aloof American public to catch on: the quote excerpted above is the smoking gun when it comes to Washington’s ISIS “strategy.”
Note that no tin foil hats or conspiracy theories are needed. The passage shown above is from a 2012 declassified Pentagon report on the situation in Syria (you can read it in full here). What it says is that US intelligence was well aware of the possibility that Sunni extremists working to destabilize the Assad government might move to establish a proto-state in eastern Syria based around orthodox, ultra-conservative, Sunni Islam. It also says “the supporting powers to the opposition” (i.e. the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey) would be delighted with such an outcome as it would “isolate” Assad on the way to dealing a strategic death blow to Iran’s Shiite crescent (i.e. Tehran’s regional ambitions). That’s the only possible interpretation of the quote shown above and it’s completely consistent with the information contained in a leaked diplomatic cable sent in 2006 by acting Deputy Chief of Mission in Syria William Roebuck which contained the following “advice” on how to go about destabilizing the Assad government:
PLAY ON SUNNI FEARS OF IRANIAN INFLUENCE: There are fears in Syria that the Iranians are active in both Shia proselytizing and conversion of, mostly poor, Sunnis. Though often exaggerated, such fears reflect an element of the Sunni community in Syria that is increasingly upset by and focused on the spread of Iranian influence in their country through activities ranging from mosque construction to business. Both the local Egyptian and Saudi missions here, (as well as prominent Syrian Sunni religious leaders), are giving increasing attention to the matter and we should coordinate more closely with their governments on ways to better publicize and focus regional attention on the issue.
Importantly, you don’t have to believe alien corpses are stored at Roswell to grasp what’s going on here. That is, the declassified documents and leaked diplomatic cables clearly indicate that the US planned to play on the Sunni/Shiite divide in Syria and subsequently acquiesced to the establishment of a hardline, Salafist dominion because the CIA and The Pentagon knew that such an outcome was the worst nightmare for the government in Damascus and also for Shiite Iran, whose link to Hezbollah would be cut and whose influence in Iraq would be in jeopardy if a Saudi-backed, Sunni militant group could somehow manage to take and hold large swaths of territory.
That’s it. That’s the whole ISIS story in a nutshell. There’s no need to speculate on whether the creepy guy lurking in the background of the photos John McCain took with Syrian fighters was in fact Bakr al-Baghdadi. There’s no need to suggest that CIA operatives are on the ground assisting ISIS as we speak or that the US is paradropping weapons to Islamic State in Iraq. And there’s no need to ask whether the US government directly trained and armed ISIS once it became clear who the group was and what they intended to do. That’s not to say that some or even all of those storylines aren’t compelling and/or worth pursuing. It’s just to say that you needn’t posit anything that even looks like it might be a conspiracy theory to understand that at the end of the day, the bottom line - the almost irrefutable truth - is that the US and its regional allies were all-in on the “use Sunni extremists to bring about regime change in Syria” strategy from the word “go”, and the direct result of that strategy is ISIS.
Where things get really interesting is when we start to consider how America’s strategy towards ISIS shifted once it became clear that, i) they are the most effective force when it comes to fostering instability in Syria, and ii) they are a brutal bunch and could very well end up becoming an international terror organization.
For Russia’s part, Putin, Lavrov, and Maria Zarakhova contend that the US is deliberately pursuing a policy designed not to destroy the group, but merely to contain it. In short, Moscow says the US is effectively attempting to preserve Islamic State’s ability to operate within Syria and Iraq while simultaneously attempting to keep Frankenstein from escaping the lab, so to speak. Iran takes it a step further than that, but we’ll leave that aside for now.
America’s newfound zeal for attacking ISIS oil trucks seems to validate this assessment. As we noted earlier this week, it isn’t clear why it took so long for the US to bomb Islamic State oil convoys given that crude is the group’s main source of revenue, but one explanation is that the US didn’t want to cut off Islamic State’s funding, because without money, the group couldn’t fight Assad. Now that the Russians have essentially called Washington out, the US has little choice but to go along with bombing runs against illegal crude shipments because Moscow is going to do it anyway.
Well don’t look now, but The New York Times is out claiming that according to current and former officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, US Central Command may have been involved in a year long effort to obscure the fact that America’s strategy to combat ISIS simply was not effective (it's actually a follow up to a previous piece which you can read here). Here’s more:
When Islamic State fighters overran a string of Iraqi cities last year, analysts at United States Central Command wrote classified assessments for military intelligence officials and policy makers that documented the humiliating retreat of the Iraqi Army. But before the assessments were final, former intelligence officials said, the analysts’ superiors made significant changes. In the revised documents, the Iraqi Army had not retreated at all. The soldiers had simply “redeployed.” Such changes are at the heart of an expanding internal Pentagon investigation of Centcom, as Central Command is known, where analysts say that supervisors revised conclusions to mask some of the American military’s failures in training Iraqi troops and beating back the Islamic State. The analysts say supervisors were particularly eager to paint a more optimistic picture of America’s role in the conflict than was warranted. In recent weeks, the Pentagon inspector general seized a large trove of emails and documents from military servers as it examines the claims, and has added more investigators to the inquiry. The exact content of those documents is unclear and may not become public because so much of the information is classified. But military officials have told Congress that some of those emails and documents may have been deleted before they had to be turned over to investigators, according to a senior congressional official, who requested anonymity to speak about the ongoing inquiry. Current and former officials have separately made similar claims, on condition of anonymity, to The New York Times. The insurrection inside Centcom is an important chapter in the story of how the United States responded to the growing threat from the Islamic State. This past summer, a group of Centcom analysts took concerns about their superiors to the inspector general, saying they had evidence that senior officials had changed intelligence assessments to overstate the progress of American airstrikes against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
Now why, you might ask, would "senior officials" at Centcom be determined to "overstate the progress of American airstrikes against ISIS"? Were they all scared for their jobs? Were they embarrassed that the group's rise "caught them off guard?" We certainly doubt it, given the bevy of leaked documents which pretty clearly indicate that both The Pentagon and CIA were well aware of what was going on years before the fall of Mosul put the group on the map.
The more likely explanation is that Centcom, probably in conjunction with other intelligence officials, wanted to avoid a scenario whereby The White House and Congress would press for a more aggressive, more conventional military campaign against the group. Not only would that have meant stepped up airstrikes and the possibility that Islamic State's capabilities could be degraded in Syria, but it could also have resulted in a scaling back of the CIA's covert efforts to overthrow Assad. In short, it looks as though the military, in conjunction with the CIA might have been intentionally keeping the President and lawmakers in the dark. As The Times puts it, "at the least, the prospect that senior officials intentionally skewed intelligence conclusions has raised questions about how much Mr. Obama, Congress and the public can believe the military’s assessments."
For his part, Representative Devin Nunes of California, the Republican chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is concerned and is now "planning to send a letter to the inspector general on Monday asking if emails and documents relevant to the investigation have indeed been deleted" and if so, Nunes wants to know if investigators might be able to retrieve them from Centcom servers.
Amusingly, the Pentagon is pulling a Janet Yellen by citing the ongoing internal investigation (which conveniently is taking longer than expected) on the way to denying Nunes' committee an opportunity to interview officials, including the two most senior intelligence officers at Centcom, Maj. Gen. Steven Grove and his civilian deputy, Gregory Ryckman.
In September, The Guardian suggested that the tendency for Centcom to provide upbeat assessments of the fight against ISIS may have been influenced by James Clapper, the director of national intelligence. Clapper "is said to talk nearly every day with Grove – 'which is highly, highly unusual', according to a former intelligence official," The Guardian reported, adding that "such a situation could place inherent pressure on a subordinate." The "subordinate" in this situation would be Grove. Here's a bit more:
But one former intelligence official said Clapper “has to be careful of the Cheney effect, going over to the CIA and how does that affect people” – a reference to pressure felt by CIA analysts before the 2003 Iraq invasion to portray Saddam Hussein as posing a more dire threat than he actually did, following then Vice-President Dick Cheney’s direct interaction with far more junior analysts and officials. “He can be manipulative,” a former senior defense official said of Clapper. For Clapper as a senior US intelligence officer with access to assessments across the 16 US intelligence agencies to query Grove, the Central Command intelligence chief, the ex-official said, “something’s wrong”. Clapper’s calls, knowledgeable sources speaking on condition of anonymity said, placed Grove in a difficult bureaucratic position: between the nominal leader of the entire US intelligence apparatus and his lower-level analysts, several of whom consider the year-long war against Isis to be in dire straits.
So you decide. Is this the administration pressuring Centcom into telling Obama what he wants to hear, or is this Centcom deliberately obscuring the situation on the ground in order to pursue an agenda being pushed by intelligence officials hell bent on bringing about regime change in Syria even it means keeping ISIS operational?
Hopefully, we'll get something in the way of answers over the next six or so months, but we're not holding our breath.Some new faces have taken up residence on the four pillars of the Adelaide St. underpass. The bold, colourful faces are just one aspect of the new murals that now brighten a once-desolate underpass in Corktown. The transformation is more than just a slap of fresh paint to cover the typical grey of transportation infrastructure; it’s a series by street artists Essencia Art Collective called Frozen Moments.
Pillars on King St. E., beneath the Richmond St. E. and Adelaide St. E. overpasses, have been transformed by a series of striking murals as a part of the StreetARToronto Underpass Program. ( David Cooper / Toronto Star )
“Each pillar is kind of like a personification for a certain historical aspect of Corktown,” said Essencia Art Collective co-founder and co-director Elisa Monreal, a.k.a. Shalak Attack, the lead artist and project director. A turtle, representing the area’s First Nations history, and a ship crossing the high seas carrying Irish settlers give revellers an idea of the community’s history, on The Past pillar.
Pillars on King St. E., underneath the Richmond St. E. and Adelaide St. E. overpasses, were transformed by the Essencia Art Collective’s mural installations. ( David Cooper / Toronto Star )
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In contrast, The Future pillar depicts a booming Toronto cityscape, complete with condo buildings and the latest streetcar. The Worker pillar recalls Corktown’s working-class roots, depicting a brick mason, gears and a factory billowing smoke, while The Possibility pillar shows all the opportunity the city has to offer through the eyes of a child. The series was funded by the city’s StreetARToronto program, which started in 2012 to counteract graffiti vandalism with street and mural art. This is the first year of the StreetARToronto Underpass Program (StART UP). Four other underpasses were also revamped through the program: at Warden Ave. and St. Clair Ave. E.; Danforth Ave. and Kingston Rd.; Davenport Rd. and Dupont St.; and the Monarch Park pedestrian tunnel.
This pillar, called The Worker, recalls the neighbourhood’s working-class roots ( David Cooper / Toronto Star )
A colourful face transforms the utilitarian shape of an underpass support on King St. E. ( David Cooper / Toronto Star )
Choosing the Corktown pillars was serendipitous, said Kristina Hausmanis, a project lead with StreetARTToronto, also know as StART. Last year at a launch event for StART’s 2014 programs, Arthur Sinclair, the vice-president of the Corktown Resident and Business Association, arrived with photos of the orphaned pillars, looking for a revamp. It just happened to be the same year StART UP launched. “The impetusand the desire from the community made it a great fit,” Hausmanis said. The location of the pillars is a prominent space in Corktown, with lots of people passing by on foot and on the streetcar, Sinclair said.
“The area really intrigued me because it was dark and dingy. It wasn’t a place that you really wanted to be in; it was a place you wanted to pass through.”
This pillar shows off Corktown’s past with its depiction of a turtle, representing the area’s First Nations history, and a ship carrying Irish settlers. ( David Cooper / Toronto Star )
Toronto-based Monreal, her sister Gilda Monreal, a.k.a. Fiya Bruxa, and her husband Bruno Sant’Angelo Revitte, a.k.a. Bruno Smoky, applied to participated in StART UP last spring. They submitted a design proposal for the pillars in late August and were chosen by a selection committee in September. The work began in October and took about a week per pillar.
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“It was like beautiful, creative construction work,” Gilda said about moving around three- and four-storey scaffolding for a month. Sinclair, who lives just up the street from the murals, said the images are both highly visible from a moving vehicle and tell a more detailed story up close. He said he spends lots of time watching people discover the pillars, which are painted on all four sides. “One of the things I think street art does, it makes people very aware of their surroundings. People’s eyes rise up from trailing along the sidewalk. It’s incredible what that does for the psyche of a community.”Obama Expected to Win First Presidential Debate
Six-in-Ten ‘Very Likely’ to Watch
Overview
Heading into Wednesday night’s first presidential debate, voters expect that Barack Obama will do a better job than Mitt Romney. A substantial majority of voters plan to watch the debate |
inland city paired with a coastal port, such as Rome and Ostia, Athens and Piraeus, etc. To protect their connection they built "‘long walls’ like those that enclosed the thoroughfare between Athens and Piraeus."[8] The maritime historian Henry Ormerod said, "If we remember that piracy was, for centuries, a normal feature of Mediterranean life, it will be realized how great has been the influence which it exercised on the life of the ancient world."[9]
Despite these efforts, they couldn't completely remove contact between the pirates and the ports. Since they couldn’t effectively disrupt the pirates "business," it only continued to grow. Men often joined the very pirate ships that attacked their own towns. Even the sailors on merchant ships attacked by pirates turned to piracy themselves when they were out of work. Piracy offered a free and lucrative career, a chance for those who were interested to try to change their lives and better their livelihood a hundredfold in a very short time. For example, the area around Crete, famous for its slave markets, was known as "the Golden Sea" because of how profitable the slave trade was.[6] Unsurprisingly, Crete was also notable for its pirates. In point of fact, if a city had a successful slave market it was most likely a pirate port. Notorious pirate havens like Cilicia and Delos had thriving slave markets. "According to Strabo, as many as ten thousand slaves were sold in Delos in just one day."[10] Being kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery was so common that it was a favorite theme of ancient Greek dramatists.
Egypt and Piracy [ edit ]
The early history of the Mediterranean includes many references to piracy and measures taken to deal with piracy. It has been suggested that the Pirate Articles, which structured the company democratically, "derived from ancient seafaring traditions", and originated sometime during this period.[11] Egypt is a prime source of many of these early accounts, both because of its greater level of documentation in comparison with the less developed states of the Greek Dark Ages, and because much of its documentation was carved into stone or preserved by the dry sands of the environment.
The Lukka and the Sherden in particular are mentioned in the Amarna letters, a series of 362 clay correspondence tablets from the king of Babylon to Pharaoh Amenhotep or his son Akhenaton, about the fact that these sea raiders were beginning not just to plunder ships but capture towns. This is clearly a reference to pirates in the sense of thieves, rather than just using a generic term for aggressors originating in the Mediterranean. One of "the earliest recorded incident[s] – inscribed on a clay tablet while Akhenaton, an Egyptian pharaoh, reigned depicts pirates attacking a ship in 1350 BCE."[12] Nearly a century later, Ramesses II recorded on the Tanis Stele, "the unruly Sherden whom no one had ever known how to combat, they came boldly sailing in their warships from the midst of the sea, none being able to withstand them."[13]
The diverse group known collectively as the "Sea Peoples", a term used by Ramesses III on his mortuary temple at Medinet Habu as well as on numerous obelisks and stelae, may have also been pirates. It was there he recorded the accounts of attacks by named enemies of the Peleset (Philistines), and even the Hittites, but several of the enemies he is shown to be subjugating are only given the uncertain epithet "of the sea". Ramesses III describes how he defeated them by drawing them inland, "like the sand on the shore".[14] Possible members of the "Sea Peoples" include the Tjeker people of Crete, who left to settle Anatolia, the seat of the Hittite Empire, which is known to have clashed with the Egyptians.[15]
This negative view of sea peoples in Pharaonic texts follows the general pattern of Egyptian discussion of outsiders; they are viewed derogatorily until they become useful. There is evidence that as the power of Greece and Persia grew, it became more acceptable for Egyptian rulers to hire pirates for their own ends, and by the early Hellenistic period they were so widely employed as extra-legal forces that "there seemed to be no real distinction made between a pirate and a mercenary."[16] Despite the closeness between these two professions, they were not synonymous with "criminal". The original Greek word for pirate was not incorporated into the language until 140 BC.[12] More often than not, "pirate" simply implied "other": an outsider, but not necessarily a lawbreaker.[17]
Piracy in Greece [ edit ]
The rulers of Minoan Crete were the first to raise a navy specifically for the purpose of battling piracy. Greek sources describe this navy as the product of the legendary king Minos, and suggest "it is likely he cleared the sea of piracy as far as he was able, to improve his revenues."[18] He is said to have effectively curbed piracy in his area until his fleet was destroyed by a tsunami around 1400 BC, and piratical activities resumed.
Many texts from bronze age and archaic Greece actually condone piracy as a viable profession. "In ancient Greece piracy seems to have been widespread and widely regarded as an entirely honourable way of making a living."[19] Numerous references are made to its perfectly normal occurrence in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, thought to have been written sometime in the 7th or 6th century BC. Odysseus recounts an incident he himself took part in:
We boldly landed on the hostile place, And sack’d the city, and destroy’d the race, Their wives made captive, their possessions shared, And every soldier found a like reward.[20]
Over a century later, the Greek historian Thucydides (460–395 BC) tells of great men like Odysseus, settling upon this as a profession in his History of the Peloponnesian War:
For in early times the Hellenes and the barbarians of the coast and islands, as communication by sea became more common, were tempted to turn pirate…indeed, this came to be the main source of their livelihood, no disgrace being yet attached to such an achievement, but even some glory.[20]
As this quote indicates, by Thucydides' era of Classical Greece, piracy was looked upon as a "disgrace" to have as a profession - partly (and perhaps hypocritically, given that the threat of slavery on land was seen as an inevitable and "universal law")[21] because it came with the threat of ransom and enslavement for citizens as they travelled. At the height of Athens' power though, we have few epigraphic reports of piracy and Thucydides does not mention the threat as a particular motive for the cultivation of the Athenian Empire's fleet, so it is possible that the relative safety of the Classical seas in comparison with Hellenistic times was a side-effect of, rather than a motivation for, the development of the Delian League that furnished the Empire with her power.[22]
Piracy in the Hellenistic period [ edit ]
Reports of piracy did not resurge in the Mediterranean until after Alexander the Great's death in 323 BC. He had set a precedent for an intentional effort to curb piracy during his conquests around the Mediterranean rim. In his De Civitate Dei, St. Augustine recounts an entertaining exchange between Alexander and pirate that he had captured:
For when that king had asked the man what he meant by keeping hostile possession of the sea, he answered with bold pride, "What do thou meanest by seizing the whole earth? because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, whilst thou who dost it with a great fleet art styled emperor."[20]
After Alexander's death and during the subsequent wars, piracy was a problem both from independent crews of brigands and from states hiring them for mercenary use.[16] Demetrius I of Macedon in particular used naval mercenaries to his advantage, and these mercenaries included crews who would otherwise have been engaged in piracy. According to Diodorus Siculus book 20, the pirates of Demetrius used 'deckless' ships, likely for increased speed.[23]
The famous wreck of the Kyrenia ship dates from around this period in the 4th century, and was found with spear shafts embedded in its hull and a lead 'curse tablet', which Katsev suggests was put there by a pirate as the ship sank, to ensure they would not face retribution for the crime.[24]
By the time Rhodes had become the dominant naval power of the Aegean, part of the function of the League of the Islanders (which was founded by Antigonus I Monophthalmus to be an allied force in the Wars of the Diadochi) was to deflect pirates from its member states. Rhodes was the central trading area of the Mediterranean at this time, with five harbours that could be accessed from all wind directions, and at a fairly even distance from most major Hellenistic powers, and it was imperative for their economy that the waters around them be seen by traders as safe from pirates.
In 167 BC Rome forcibly made Delos a 'duty free' port to undercut the power and wealth of Rhodes,[25] and Rhodian harbour-tax income dropped from 1 million drachmas to 150 000 drachmas in a year. Without its policing influence, piracy grew rampant even in the eastern Mediterranean.
Piracy had become something of a bogeyman, and defence from pirates is frequently given as one of the reasons for cities to set up honorific decrees for individuals, as with the c. 166 BC decree from Imbros: ""Lysanias is benevolent towards the people […] he stood firm and brought news of the descent of pirates" [26]
The phenomenon was particularly endemic in certain areas, notably Cilicia (southeastern Turkey) and Illyria (western Balkans) There is evidence that "the coastal Illyrian tribes had created their own type of vessel, the lembus, in which to carry out their depredations."[27] It was a small, fast ship built to serve the purpose of quickly emerging from or retreating to hidden inlets to attack heavier vessels.
Illyrian piracy could be more correctly termed privateering, as it was endorsed by the state. In Polybius’ Histories, which covers the period of 220–146 BC, his description of Teuta, Queen of the Illyrians states "Her first measure was to grant letters of marque to privateers, authorising them to plunder all whom they fell in with."[20]
"So powerful did the Illyrians become that by 230 BC no honest traders wished to participate in maritime commerce."[12] Rome's attention was on land based conquests, and they did not initially seek to become the naval police that Rhodes and previously Athens had been for the Greek islands. However, when Illyrian forces attacked a convoy of ships with grain intended for the military, the Senate decided to send two envoys to Queen Teuta, who promptly had one killed. Outraged, "Consul Gnaeus Fulvius sailed for Illyria with two hundred ships, while Consul Aulus Postumius and 20,000 soldiers marched overland."[12] By 228 BC, Teuta had surrendered, and the Romans had decimated the forces of one of the most notorious pirate havens in the Mediterranean.
References [ edit ]
Sources [ edit ]Ruins of Roman gladiator school found in Austria
State-of-the-art technology enabled archaeologists to visualise the school before excavations
Continue reading the main story Related Stories
Archaeologists in Austria say they have discovered a large, well preserved school for Roman gladiators.
The remains of the school, at a site east of the modern capital, Vienna, were found using radar imagery.
The school was part of a Roman city which was an important military and trade outpost 17 centuries ago.
Though excavations have yet to begin, the radar images show thick walls surrounding the compound which contained 40 small cells for fighters.
There is also a training area and a large bathing area in the Carnuntum ruins.
Outside the walls, radar scans show what archaeologists believe was a cemetery for those killed during training.
'Barracks and prison'
"[This is] a world sensation, in the true meaning of the word," said Lower Austrian provincial governor Erwin Proell.
The school is part of a city thought to have been home to some 50,000 people that flourished 1,700 years ago.
The city was a major military and trade outpost linking the far-flung Roman empire's Asian boundaries to its central and northern European lands.
Officials have said that in structure the discovery rivals the famous Ludus Magnus, the largest of the gladiatorial training schools in Rome.
One of the distinctive parts of the ruins is a thick wooden post in the middle of the training area which was used by gladiators as a practice enemy.
The Roemisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum said the three-dimensional images of the school reveal it to have been a mixture of a barracks and a prison.
The gladiators, the museum says, were often convicted criminals or prisoners-of-war, and almost always slaves.
Experts have not yet set a date for beginning excavations of the gladiator school, saying they need time to settle on a plan that conserves as much as possible.
The school sits on a site so large that less than one percent of it has been excavated, though digging began originally around 1870.One thing nearly all chess players have in common is that they hate to lose.
Losing, while it might be good for our long-term chess development, is a short-term disaster for our ego.
Unlike games such as Monopoly or poker, luck is not even a temporary factor in chess. The person who played best always wins every game. (Sure, your opponent might have missed a mate in one, but if you won the game, you played better by definition.)
And unlike in team sports, there’s no one to blame for a loss but yourself.
Different players handle losing different ways. Some are gracious, and some pout. Some play it cool while burning up inside, while others get visibly upset for a few minutes and then forget it ever happened.
Here’s a look at how some of the world’s best players react when a game is lost. See if you have anything in common with the grandmasters in how you handle defeat.
Let us know how you react to losing a game in the comments or on Facebook.
1. Vishy Anand loses to Magnus Carlsen
The classy Anand definitely falls into the gracious camp, at ease and smiling here just after Magnus Carlsen was first crowned as the world chess champion in 2013.
2. Nigel Short loses to Garry Kasparov
Short seems more contemplative than upset here, wondering what wrong after losing this sixth game in his recent blitz match against Kasparov in St. Louis.
3. Rauf Mamedov loses to Wesley So
It's almost as if GM Mamedov is gasping, unable to believe he lost this game in Shamkir 2015. His face here might be closely related to number five on this chess hand-positions list.
4. Alexander Onischuk loses to Hikaru Nakamura
Onischuk lost this game at the 2015 U.S. championship, "with a wry smile as he fell into a tactic," said Peter Doggers. His opponent, Hikaru Nakamura, won the championship after this game.
5. Vladimir Kramnik loses to Magnus Carlsen
When two of the greatest chess players ever meet, sometimes one of them loses. Here Kramnik takes on a pensive look after round seven of the Shamkir super-tournament, while Carlsen seems distracted altogether.
6. Daniel Naroditsky loses to Ray Robson
We are so used to Naroditsky being one of the best chess writers in the world that it's shocking to see him lose a game over the board. Alas, it does happen. Here Naroditsky covers his eyes as he realizes the weakness of his position, moments before resigning the game at the 2015 U.S. chess championship.
GM Alex Yermolinsky offers a comprehensive video review of this game. Click here to watch the full video.
7. Harika Dronavalli loses to Mariya Muzychuk
GM Dronavalli may be shaking hands, but she can't seem to look straight ahead after losing to the new women's world champion.
Do you make any faces when you lose a chess game? Let us know in the comments.This morning I woke up bright and early to benchmark some DDR4 memory kits and found myself waking up not to Folgers in your cup, but the smell of burnt electrical after loading the XMP profiles on a memory kit and restarting the system. Let me tell you what happened, the best I can.
On Friday I spent the day wrapping up the benchmarks on the Kingston HyperX Predator DDR4 16GB (4x4GB) 3000MHz quad-channel memory kit (part number HX430C15PBK4/16) that runs at 1.5V. This morning I wanted to get another kit of DDR4 memory tested, so the system was powered down, the CMOS was reset and a G.Skill 16GB (4x4GB) 3000MHz memory kit (F4-3000C15Q-16GRR) was installed and powered up the system. It posted fine, so I went into the UEFI and set it to run at the only XMP profile on the kit. The UEFI changes were saved and the system restarted. It was during the next seconds that both the board and the processor would be killed off in a rather unspectacular death. The system came up, hung for a very short time and then powered off with a audible click of the Corsair AX860i power supply. If you’ve ever heard the loud click of the Over Current Protection (OCP) shutting down the PSU you know exactly what click I heard. Now when I press power button on the motherboard the system clicks after being on for a split second. I unplugged all the cables on the power supply and did the built-in self-check and it passed with flying colors. I swapped out the PSU with a backup Corsair AX860i and the same click was to be heard. After clearing the CMOS, removing the memory, SSD and video card the system still wouldn’t post. At that point in time I switched to a non-digital power supply (Corsair AX1200) and it did the same thing although this time the OCP took a little longer to kick in. There was some audible crackling noises, followed by some smoke near the CPU VRM heatsink. So, the heart shattering smell of burnt electronics filled the room and I knew my day wasn’t going to be a good one.
I removed the board from the test bench and started to do a visual inspection and couldn’t see anything wrong with any of the components on the front or back of the board. I know where the smoke came from, so I removed the VRM heatsink and the burnt electrical smell got stronger. There was some discoloration new to where one of the mosfets sits on the thermal pad, so clearly it was a failure of CPU voltage regulation system and one of the eight 60 Amp phases (Dr. MOS IOR 3550M mosfets) has appeared to fail.
It isn’t burnt badly at all, but you can some of the signs of an electrical failure on the second power phase from the bottom.
Looking at the board we can see that the failed component in question is part of the PQ1004, which is part of the VCCIN or basically the processor input voltage. Crap! On these Haswell-E processors, Intel has moved the voltage regulation on-CPU as part of the new Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator (FIVR). Previously there were five separate input voltages the motherboard handled: Vcore, Vgpu, VCCSA, VCCIO, and the PLL. On Intel Haswell-E processors all five internal power rails are pulled from the single VCCIN and the components on ours just had a nuclear meltdown.
You can tell things got pretty hot as there were actually solder balls where they weren’t supped to be!
Our worst fears were confirmed when we pulled out our backup ASUS X99 Deluxe motherboard and put the original Intel Core-i7-5960X processor in and the system wouldn’t post. The boards debug display showed Q-Code 00, which is a bad sign. We tossed in our backup Intel Core i7-5960X processor and the system booted up just fine and we are off and able to benchmark again. The bad news is that I managed to kill an ASUS X99 Deluxe motherboard ($398.99 shipped) and an Intel Core i7-5960X processor ($1049.99 Shipped) after using it for less than two weeks, which is a bit unusual and why I am sharing information about this failure to the readers of Legit Reviews. It is not an everyday occurrence where $1450 in hardware gets put out to pasture.
LR isn’t the only site that has had a board go up in smoke as Michael Larabel over at Phoronix had an X99 board go up in smoke as well. He was not using the same brand of motherboard or power supply model, but to see X99 boards failing this early in the game is alarming.
I’ve been in contact with ASUS, Intel, Corsair and Kingston and no one is exactly sure what happened to our system. Was running 1.50V on the DDR4 memory too much? Is there something wrong with the VRM design or did we have a bad component on our motherboard? Was the power supply faulty? We aren’t sure, but we are going to be overnighting this board back to ASUS Taiwan on Monday (9/8/2014) and we have arranged for Corsair to put our PSU on their scopes and test equipment to make sure it is working properly.
We’ll let you know what happens if we find anything out in the weeks ahead!
Update 9/9/2014 – ASUS has received the X99 Deluxe motherboard that failed along with the power supply that was in the unit at the time of the failure. An ASUS employee will be taking the PSU to Corsair for testing on 9/10/2014. The board will be looked at here in the US and then will be shipped to ASUS HQ in Taiwan. In the meantime we have two ASUS X99 Deluxe motherboards being used by staff members that are still up and working properly and we have been told by ASUS that they have replicated out exact system and that they tested it overnight and haven’t experienced any failures. We’ll keep you updated and will post the actual Chroma test results from the PSU once we get them from Corsair. It was also learned in the past 24 hours that the ‘high’ DDR4 voltage (1.35 to 1.5V) that we were using on the board shouldn’t have caused any issues since the memory controller in Haswell-E can actually support DDR3 and DDR4, although only DDR4 is being implemented. DDR3 memory kits run at 1.5V, so that almost eliminates that from being the issue. The good thing about posting publicly about this failure is that all the companies involved are taking this seriously and are working overtime to ensure there isn’t an issue somewhere. We are really glad about that as we have recommended the board, processor and power supply and want to ensure that the platform works if our readers purchase the parts based on our recommendations.
Update 9/11/2014 – ASUS HQ in Taiwan has the motherboard and is looking at it now. ASUS and Corsair were unable to get the power supply tested on Tuesday and scheduled a time with Corsair to get the power supply on the Chroma tester on Friday 9/12/2014. This was the earliest that the Chroma tester was available for use during business hours.
Update 9/13/2014 – Corsair along with ASUS tested the pair of AX860i power supply that Legit Reviews was using on the test bench at the time of failure on Friday the 12th. Both power supplies passed the initial Chroma test passes, but we learned something that we previously did not know. When the Corsair AXi series of power supplies came out in 2012 they featured a single rail design. Corsair switched to a multiple rail design for the power supply series in 2013 (previously unknown to us). This is obviously a significant difference in the design of the power supply. We also learned that the earlier single rail power supplies did not have OCP enabled by default. One would have to install the Corsair Link Software package and manually set the OCP limits manually for that to function on the earlier models. We were not using the Corsair Link Software on the test bench, so therefore our power supply could have 90A or more potentially running down the rail. This might have exacerbated the damage to the CPU’s VR circuit if there was a bad component or solder ball joint present.
We looked around at Newegg, Amazon, Scan and other major online retailers and have the Corsair AX860i as having a single +12V rail. Heck, even Corsair.com has it listed as having a single rail! Hopefully now that this has come to light the folks at Corsair can update their own site and get retailers to properly list the specifications of this PSU in the listings.
ASUS is still working with the failed board and is going to be replicated our setup with the power supplies in Taiwan. Yes, these two power supplies have now been shipped to Taiwan where ASUS HQ will be able to test our first revision AX860i Power Supplies as the ones they were testing with this past week trying to replicate our system without failure was done using the new post-2013 power supplies. The exact cause of the fault is not known, but much is being learned by everyone and most of it is valuable information that will help the community. We’ll report back with more once ASUS is ready to give us an update that is ready for public consumption. That will happen after additional testing is done on the board over the days ahead.
Update 9/16/2014 – We are still working with Corsair to find out more on the firmware update that was done on their power supplies back in 2013. We have asked for dates and power supply lot numbers, so users can find out if they have one of the original ‘old’ AXi series power supplies that has no OCP by default. We also pointed out to Corsair that there is no mention of this in the instruction manual and that many users might not be aware that their flagship PSU has features that aren’t enabled unless they do so manually. From the sounds of it Corsair just updated the firmware and went to a multi-rail configuration. We’ve talked to several people about this issue and it was unclear if there was a hardware change and that is still being looked into. The bad news is that the firmware is not end-user upgradable. We have asked Corsair what if anything current customers can do since the firmware can’t be upgraded in the field. If you have an AXi series power supply we highly suggest downloading the Corsair Link software and programming the OCP setting.
Kingston Technology contacted us today and informed us that they will be lowering the voltages on the pre-production DDR4 memory kits that were sent out at 1.5V to 1.35V when they are shipped out to consumers. Kingston never shipped any DDR4 memory kits at 1.5V and won’t be. It doesn’t appear that the memory running at 1.5V had anything to do with our failure, but ASUS is still testing. We haven’t heard from ASUS in the past 48 hours and last we heard they were still looking into things in Taiwan now that our ‘old’ power supplies without OCP have arrived. ASUS said they will be giving us an official statement about the failure when the research is completed and we hope that will be sometime soon.
Update 9/17/2014 – Replacement ASUS X99 Deluxe motherboard was delivered (11 days from point of failure to replacement board being delivered).
Update 9/18/2014 – Corsair has gotten back to us with some answers to some questions that we asked earlier this week. It turns out Corsair shipped AX760i/AX860i/AX1200i power supplies for about four months before they changed the firmware on them without notice. The firmware is not field upgradeable and Corsair will not be offering exchanges for anyone with an ‘older’ model that wants to swap out a PSU for one with the latest firmware on it. Corsair also said that by the motherboard makers [ASUS] own admission, the X99 Deluxe motherboard was the root cause for the failures. Corsair also said this which we will directly quote: “Would an OCP-defaulted AXi or a competitor OCP-enabled PSU have save the CPU? We’re skeptical, but maybe.” So, right now it looks like the board had a failure and then when the system was restarted the PSU without OCP may or may not have taken out the CPU through the boards failed VR circuit. We are still waiting on ASUS to give us an official statement as to what happened to the board and were told that a typhoon in the region this week has slowed things down. In the meantime here are some answers to a Q&A that we gave Corsair that you can take a look at.
– When did Corsair change the firmware on the AXi series of power supplies?
AX760i/860i implementation date 3/15/2013 Lot#:13119560 AX1200i implementation date 3/8/2013 Lot# Lot#:13099520
Corsair shipped the AX760i/AX860i/AX1200i for about four months before they changed the firmware on them. If you bought one of these models when they first came out you likely have one with old firmware. The Corsair AX860i first was made available for sale with Amazon on November 1st, 2012, so just a heads up to early adopters.
– Can you please highlight what all changes with the new firmware?
PSU set to multi-rail (which by definition is OCP).
– So, you went from a default configuration of one +12V rail with no OCP to a virtual multi-rail setup with OCP enabled by default?
Yes.
– Why was this change not made public?
We saw no need for an announcement. The PSU design and its features stayed the same and this isn’t a design fault.
– Can end users with the original PSU design update their firmware at home?
– How can an end user know what firmware is on his/her PSU? (Can users identify by the serial number what PSU they have? )
By the serial number. The first four digits are the date code. The first two digits are the year and then the next two numbers are the week of the year that the power supply were produced. The image above shows a Corsair AX860i Power Supply with serial number 1249954 that was made the 49th week of 2012 and would be running the original firmware. AX760i/860i implementation date 3/15/2013 – First Lot number was: 13119560 AX1200i implementation date 3/8/2013 – First Lot number was: 13099520
– If users cannot upgrade the firmware at home, can users exchange their PSU for a model with OCP enabled by default?
No.
– How many Amps does the OCP default to on the AXi series. I heard it is different for each PSU?
By default, 40A. This is configurable.
– I was told that Intel Haswell-E processors are using up to 47A when overclocked to 4.4GHz and that it exceeds the OCP on some PSUs. Some motherboard makers are telling us to stay away from certain PSU’s. What are your thoughts on this?
When you have a PSU with multiple +12V rails, OCP can easily trip if the CPU is overclocked and running over load. This is why Corsair PSUs with Link Digital allow the user to disable OCP and why all other Corsair PSUs feature a single +12V rail.
– ASUS designed the VR circuit on their X99 platform with 60A components. Corsair came out with the AXi series in 2012 with an adjustable OCP that was off by default. Was Corsair foreseeing a situation in the future where end users could customize the OCP setting depending on what motherboard they were using?
Initially, Corsair was simply following our existing trend of providing power supplies with a single +12V rail. Since OCP is most beneficial during the initial build stage of putting together a PC, it made sense for the PSU to have the OCP on by default and therefore we decided to make the change.
Update 9/22/2014 – ASUS informed Legit Reviews that they will need 2-5 more days before releasing an official statement on the failure.
Update 10/01/2014 – ASUS is needing more time to discuss what they have found out with Corsair before making a public statement. We have been told that it will be another day or two until they will be able to say something. It sounds like some issues have been found during testing and the results are being looked into by both companies.
Update 10/6/2014 – The two replacement Corsair AX860i power supplies were just received today, which just happens to be one month to the day from the platform failure. ASUS informed us this morning that Corsair is requesting more information on their test setup and that needed more time again. We are hopeful we’ll get an answer soon, but it appears that ASUS and Corsair are having issues with what the test data relates to with the failure. It sounds like multiple things went wrong and of course no company wants to take more blame than they have to.
Update 10/9/2014 – Just received word from ASUS that the Corsair engineering group received the additional information that they wanted about the testing ASUS did and now ASUS is waiting to hear back. If ASUS gets an answer tomorrow they are hopeful that they will be able to provide a detailed response on the failure or failures that they believed happened to out platform on Monday (10-13-2009).
Update 10/13/2014 – We talked with ASUS and Corsair over the past several days and there was mention of needing a few more weeks to figure things out. It appears that Corsair is disagreeing with the ASUS findings about the power supply we were using and the testing of it at ASUS HQ. Legit Reviews has been kept in the dark for the past several weeks and can’t really do anything other than wait. Right now it appears that something might have been off with our power supply. Corsair gave us the Chroma test reports from their testing, but we have not been given anything by ASUS. We don’t know what was seen in the latest round of testing, but we do know that ASUS tested the PSU on a system and not just a PSU test machine. What did they find out that Corsair disagrees with? It feels like some people are trying to drag this out and hope it blows over. Is it working? We are still seeking answers from both ASUS and Corsair.
Update 10/22/2014 – No update from ASUS USA or Taiwan, but we did find out that someone at ASUS Singapore posted up a comment at Hardwarezone about our failure. [email protected] stated that our board failed due to a faulty pre-production BIOS/UEFI. They claim that the bug was discovered by Intel and the fix was done by ASUS before the first official UEFI release. Now Intel is being blamed? The same ASUS eCustomer Service Center employee then followed that post up with a post stating that Intel could have had a bad batch of Intel Haswell-E processors. Very interesting. Legit Reviews still is still waiting on our official answer from Taiwan. It is disappointing to see possible answers to our issues on other sites as ASUS hasn’t said anything about a bad BIOS/UEFI to us since this whole ordeal began.
Update 10/22/2014 Part 2 – ASUS USA told us they aren’t sure why [email protected] would post such comments and told us that is not the primary reason for our board failure. They didn’t deny having a UEFI/BIOS bug though, so this is starting to get interesting. Could we be getting close to finding out why our ASUS X99 Deluxe motherboard failed? Hopefully ASUS will give us something since they have representatives telling people what happened on forums, but then the ASUS employees we are working with are telling us that is not the truth. Ugh!
Update 10/23/2014 – ASUS released UEFI 1004 for the ASUS X99 Deluxe today and we have been told that this update includes an EC (Embedded Controller) Firmware update that fixes something discovered by our board failing here at Legit Reviews. We don’t have the official response from ASUS yet, but Legit Reviews highly suggests that all ASUS X99 Deluxe owners update to UEFI build 1004 due to the fixes implemented in it for the way the board power is being handled. The build date on this UEFI is 10/16/2014, so it has been around for a week before it was made public. ASUS also reprogramed the memory tables after receiving new microcode from Intel. That made a world of a difference on our board when running memory kits beyond 3000MHz with 1T Command Rates. Here is a list of the key changes:
ASUS X99-DELUXE BIOS 1004 Change Log:
1. Update EC FW
2. Fix crash free issue
3. Fix Xonar card compatibility issue
4. Revise Thunderbolt memory resource
5. Enhance Xeon CPU compatibility
6. Rebuild SteamOS boot option
We have been told to expect the final answer on our failure from ASUS on Friday.
Update 10/24/2014 – Legit Reviews was just sent the failure analysis response on our ASUS X99-Deluxe Motherboard. You can read it in its entirety below:
Hi Nate, We have determined the primary cause of failure for the pre-production ASUS X99 Deluxe you were testing on September 6, 2014 along with a secondary cause gathered during the investigation phase. Our initial analysis of the VRM Phase-4 MOSFET/Driver package failure is a bad solder point that was also present at the VRM Phase-3 location resulting in the failure you described along with the presence of solder balls. Additional analyses lead us to believe this was the secondary cause for the failure described. After extensive testing and collaboration with leading power supply manufacturers and our VRM supplier (International Rectifier) it was determined that the new VRM design on the X99 Deluxe board needs a firmware update to balance start-up and shutdown power loads and sequencing across the MOSFET/Driver packages. We determined that higher loads were placed |
the very principles that enable organizations such as our own to provide urgently needed relief in times of conflict," Conrad Sauvé and Yves Daccord wrote. "Those most affected by this crisis, and those who provide humanitarian assistance at great personal risk, cannot afford for neutral and independent humanitarian aid to be compromised."
Mr. Cornish, from MSF Canada, said that kind of connection occurred during the war in Afghanistan as governments tried to integrate aid, diplomacy and military objectives. "When you follow the discourse of all of the three main parties, they're talking about the political, military and the humanitarian all in the same sort of dialogue and narrative," he said of the conflict in Iraq and Syria. "So I think there is a risk that the lines could become blurred."
Bessma Momani, a professor of international affairs at the University of Waterloo, said the government has suggested in recent weeks that in order to help people in distraught regions of Syria and Iraq, Islamic State militants have to be defeated.
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"But when you look where [the Islamic State] is, those are not the regions where Canadian humanitarian aid was most concentrated, so it doesn't really hold water," Prof. Momani said. Eastern Syria and western Iraq were "never a part of their plan in the past 25 years, why is it going to be now?" she said. "Great if you want to commit [to helping people], much of these people are in refugee camps."
Prof. Momani said she remains concerned about Ottawa's long-term strategy in the region, including what the plan would be if the threat of Islamic State militants is eventually diminished. "The fear that I have is, okay, if you liberate Syria from [Islamic State] hands, you're effectively allowing [Syrian President Bashar al-]Assad to come back."
Both the NDP and Liberal opposition parties voted against the government's plans to launch air strikes in Iraq and later to expand them into Syria.
NDP international development critic Hélène Laverdière said she doesn't think the Conservative government has done enough to make humanitarian assistance a priority. Ms. Laverdière said she would like to see Ottawa come up with a plan that lays out long-term funding for a range of development issues, including good governance, democratic institutions, education and trauma healing.
Liberal foreign affairs critic Marc Garneau said he would like to see more funding for a co-ordinated humanitarian approach to the region.
Both parties have also called for Canada to accept more refugees. Ottawa has so far committed to settling 11,300 Syrian refugees by 2017, but many of those people will have to be sponsored by private organizations. About 1,300 have been settled so far, according to figures tabled in Parliament last month.
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"People who have lived a certain amount, and can remember [a large number of] refugees coming to this country, realize that for Canada this has been an act of generosity and it has made our country better," Mr. Garneau said.So, I guess it’s officially spring now, right? Or is that not until the 21st? I don’t know which is technically correct, but I’m going to go ahead and say it’s spring now, since that makes me much happier. We’ve managed to get away without any snow this winter (…yet.), which also brings me a ridiculous amount of joy, since snow is pretty much the worst thing ever invented (Minute 1: oh look, beautiful snow! Minute 7: ugh why is it all slushy everywhere and why can’t I drive anywhere and why are my feet cold and wet, this is so rubbish.).
Anyway.
Chickpea salads seem to be becoming a bit of a theme here at Amuse Your Bouche – and each time, they get fancier and fancier. The humble chickpea salad sandwich turned into a version with walnuts and goat’s cheese. Then came avocado chickpea salad (a match made in heaven). I just can’t stop. They make such a quick and easy lunch, and they’re so versatile – mix them up with whatever flavours you fancy (or whatever you have lurking in the fridge).
This time I decided to go for a Greek version. Greek salad is probably the only salad I would ever actually consider ordering at a restaurant – generally, salad isn’t really my cup of tea, but show me anything with olives and feta cheese and I’m sold. Turning a normal Greek salad into a Greek chickpea salad is beneficial for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s more nutritious – you get a great protein boost from the chickpeas. And secondly (and most importantly), you don’t have to include any lettuce, which is undeniably the worst part of any salad.
I served my chickpea salad in a pitta bread, because why wouldn’t you want extra carbs? If you’d rather not, it’s awesome on its own too. It’d be perfect to take in a packed lunch, since the flavours only meld together more and more over time. The mild flavour of the red onion finds its way into every mouthful, and the salty feta and olives are the perfect contrast to the sweet tomatoes. Those Greeks sure do know what they’re doing. And to think, they also invented veggie moussaka – complete and utter geniuses.
Greek chickpea salad Print Prep time 10 mins Total time 10 mins Author: Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche Recipe type: Light lunch Yield: 4 Ingredients ½ red onion, thinly sliced
1 x 400g tin chickpeas, drained (240g when drained)
~25 black olives, sliced
60g feta cheese, coarsely crumbled
3tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped
200g cherry tomatoes, halved
Black pepper
1tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1tbsp fresh lemon juice Instructions Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, and mix well. You can either serve the salad immediately, or store in the fridge for a few hours to allow the flavours to develop. 3.2.2265
If you’re a fan of chickpea salads but would prefer a vegan version, try my avocado chickpea salad:Local cops using Predator drones to spy on Americans in their own backyards
The same unmanned drones that the CIA and the American military uses to kill terrorists in Pakistan and gather intelligence on militants in Afghanistan are being deployed by local cops to spy on US citizens at home.
US Customs and Border Protection agents fly eight Predator remote-controlled aircraft to patrol the American borders with Canada and Mexico, searching for smugglers and illegal immigrants.
But increasingly, the federal government and local police agencies are using those drones to spy criminal suspects in America with sophisticated high-resolution cameras, heat sensors and radar. All of it comes without a warrant.
A spy plane comes home: Privacy advocates fear the use of Predator drones on US citizens gives police agencies too much power
Allowing local sheriffs and police chiefs access to spy planes happened without public discussion or the approval of Congress. And it has privacy advocates crying foul, saying the unregulated use of the drones is intrusive.
'There is no question that this could become something that people will regret,' former Rep Jane Harman, a Democrat, told the Los Angles Times.
One of the only confirmed uses of predator drones by local law enforcement came in June when a sheriff near Grand Forks, North Dakota, went looking for six stolen cattle.
When he arrived at the farm of Rodney Brossart, he was threatened by three men with guns and forced to retreat.
The Brossarts were known for being armed, anti-government separatists. So Sheriff Kelly Janke, who patrols a county of just 3,000 people, called in a Predator drone to look out over the 3,000-acre farm where the family was armed with rifles and shotguns.
Arrested: Rodney Brossart was arrested at his home in North Dakota after a sheriff used a Predator drone to spy on his family's 3,000-acre farm
With the help of a drone, summoned from nearby Grand Forks Air Force Base where it was patrolling the US-Candida border, the sheriff was able to watch the movements of everyone on the farm from a handheld device that picked up the aircraft's video footage.
He and his deputies waited until they could see the Brossarts put down their weapons. Then they stormed the compound and arrested Rodney Brossart, his daughter and his three sons on a total of 11 felony charges. No shots were fired.
And he recovered the cattle, valued at $6,000.
The sheriff says that might not have been possible without the intelligence from the Predators.
'We don't have to go in guns blazing. We can take our time and methodically plan out what our approach should be,' Sheriff Janke told the Times.
All of the surveillance occurred without a search warrant because the Supreme Court has long ruled that anything visible from the air, even if it's on private property, can be subject to police spying.
However, privacy experts say that predator drones, which can silently fly for 20 hours nonstop, dramatically surpasses the spying power that any police helicopter or airplane can achieve.As the demolition got under way, dozens of Eritrean and Ethiopian women aged between 17 and 30 marched past, chanting “We want asylum in England.” Hundreds of the camp’s children are being accommodated temporarily in converted shipping containers in a fenced-off enclosure at the camp, which will not be demolished for the time being.
A French interior ministry spokesman said: "We do not want to use force but if there are migrants who refuse to leave, or NGOs who cause trouble, the police might be forced to intervene."
A helicopter flew overheard this morning as scores of CRS riot squad vans surrounded the perimeter of the camp.
Water cannon have been positioned outside the camp.
Police and social workers asked migrants queuing to bussed to accommodation centres to sit down. Officials said they wanted to avoid jostling and scuffles which broke out on Monday. Some in the queue complained that the ground was muddy.
Almost all of the up to 10,000 migrants who have been living in the squalid camp want to claim asylum and begin a new life in Britain. They have been trying to get aboard ferries and trains illegally.
Migrants have been congregating in the Calais area for more than 20 years, but the French authorities say they are now determined to eradicate all migrants' camps in the region.THE FIRST DANDELION
by Walt Whitman
(1819-1892)
Simple and fresh and fair from winter’s close emerging,
As if no artifice of fashion, business, politics, had ever been,
Forth from its sunny nook of shelter’d grass—innocent, golden, calm as the dawn,
The spring’s first dandelion shows its trustful face.
_______________________________
This photo was taken on my wood pile at my cabin in Colorado, USA.
I named this little guy Jacob. He was a few weeks old here. He’s a golden mantel ground squirrel and was one of four babies born at the end of June 2009. The mom is Chippy and she’s been around my cabin for four summers. The first day the babies came above ground they let me approach them. That had never happened before.
I used a dandelion to reach them at first. Everything was so new that at first they didn’t know what to do with it. I ended up playing a gentle game of tug-o-war. Then they realized they could eat it! What you see above is Jacob’s first whif as he realized he could munch on it! My left hand is holding the dandelion while I had the camera in my right hand. This is the first in a series of photos …
My website, www.livehonestly.com, is devoted to ending animal & human trafficking/abuse. Stories about all my wild buddies are on my LIVEHONESTLY WEBSITE
(This link will take you out of RedBubble. If you want to cut/paste to visit later go to: http://www.livehonestly.com/chippy.html)
Look for more adventures now that it’s the summer of 2010. I have a new series with Jacob’s brother, Jasper. Look for Jasper and Bear ….
CHECK OUT MY NEW CHIPPY AND FRIENDS COLLECTION AS A CALENDAR
Here’s the baby’s Mom, Chippy ‘Just Hanging Out’
Here’s a sibling of the baby..
Someone Is Watching You (Chippy & my cat)
Boy Chip Preparing To Remodel‘I will be working to ensure that we have the best possible government out of next year’s election,’ former prime minister tells crowd at exclusive function
Tony Abbott continues to hint he will stay in parliament beyond the next federal election, despite a poll finding the majority of his electorate saying he should step down and make way for a new Liberal candidate.
Tony Abbott should quit parliament, voters in his electorate tell pollsters Read more
Abbott, who lost the leadership to Malcolm Turnbull in September, indicated to an exclusive crowd at a recent function that he would be in politics for a while, News Corp publications reported on Sunday.
“I will be working to ensure that we have the best possible government out of next year’s election,’’ Abbott said. “We will do everything we humanly can to ensure the best possible Coalition government is there in Canberra. And I know we will all be working, together, for that great end.’’
The invite-only event was organised by the former defence minister, Kevin Andrews, an Abbott loyalist who was dumped from the ministry after Turnbull took the reins.
At the event, Abbott warned against “change for change’s sake” when it comes to tax reform.
“The results of tax change has got to be tax which is lower, simpler and fairer. If it doesn’t produce taxes that are lower, simpler and fairer it’s not reform. It is just change,” he said. “We want change that’s worth it, not just change for changes sake.’’
The issue of tax reform and in particular, whether the goods and service tax (GST) should be increased and its base broadened, has been a hot topic.
Turnbull has set a deadline of March to solidify a model on reform, announcing the Council of Australian governments (Coag) will reach a conclusion on tax at its next meeting in March.
The Coalition has repeatedly said that all tax options, including changing the GST, remain on the table.
Abbott has been ramping up his language since the leadership spill, after saying he would contemplate his future over the Christmas break.
Tony Abbott says political future not ‘entirely resolved’, but hints he will stay in parliament Read more
Earlier this month he said he had not yet “entirely resolved” the question of whether or not to remain in politics, but indicated he would.
“I’ve had literally thousands and thousands of messages of support and encouragement since mid-September. I’ve had a lot of people talk to me as I get around the electorate and still, to some extent, around the country. The message that I’m getting from them, overwhelmingly, is that I still have a contribution to make to our public life,” Abbott told Sky News.
“It is still ‘if’ I stay on. But public life is I think a vocation, if I may say so. Being a member of parliament, including a backbench member of parliament is a noble and an honourable calling,” he said.
A poll taken last week found that the majority of voters in Abbott’s Sydney seat of Warringah want the former prime minister to retire.
Just under 51% of the 743 voters surveyed for the ReachTel poll thought it was best if Abbott left politics.While many people are ditching stocks and shares looking for a safe haven in which to invest their money, many executices are buying into their stock while they perceive the prices to be low.
Bloomberg reports that with 66 insiders from 50 companies buying shares between 3rd and 9th of August, more executives in Standard & Poor’s 500 Index companies have bought their own stock than at any time since the credit crisis started.
The feeling is that these insiders are bullish as they have the best information on which to act and this is therefore a good sign of the actual strengths of these companies. Shawn Price, a manager at Navellier & Associates told Reuters that “Nobody knows a company better than the people running it. It’s a positive sign that they are committing their personal capital.”
Bloomberg put the following together:
Morgan Stanley Chief Executive Officer, James Gorman, and two managers, Financial Officer Ruth Porat and Paul J. Taubman co-head of the firm’s investment bank, purchased a total of 175,000 shares in the bank after its share price dropped to a low not seen since March 2009. Mr Gorman alone bought his first tranche of 100,000 shares since joining MS in 2006.
Dan Ekerson, CEO of General Motors bought $250,000 in GM shares on August 9th.
MEMC Electronics Materials Inc CEO Ahmad Chatila with five other company officers bought 468,057 shares on August 5th.
The CEO of Celgene Corp, Robert Hugon, bought 10,000 shares in his company on Aug 8th.
Data put together by InsiderScore shows that 919 insiders have bought stock since August 1st.
Bloomberg points out that there were also 14 executives also selling during this period ‘bringing the ratio of those with buyers and those with sellers to 7 to 2’.
“It’s a fire sale and the insiders are stepping up to buy at these prices,” Daniel Genter, who oversees about $3.7 billion as president of Los Angeles-based RNC Genter Capital Management, said in a telephone interview with Bloomberg. “The insiders are saying that the lower valuation is unreasonable because they believe the earnings power of their companies is likely to go up.”
So, insiders are saying their shares are oversold. Or is this just misplaced sentiment?
Comment Here!
commentsShould you ever be in need of a new sartorial - and career - direction, wearing a leather jacket is a surefire way to go about it.
Whether you're an ex-President of the United States easing into life as a stylish island hopper and visitor of galleries, or the head of the IMF during debt crisis meetings, a leather jacket is a sign that you mean business.
Hillary Clinton? She definitely means business.
Her post-election life is really kicking off now and this time around it seems she's ditching the pantsuits she became famous for in her campaign/life and opted for a badass leather jacket (paired with a floral shirt) instead.
SHANNON STAPLETON/REUTERS Are we seeing the dawn of a new Hillary?
READ MORE:
* Women are loving Hillary Clinton's low-stress post-election look
* What Hillary Clinton wears really does matter
* How Hillary Clinton finally found her style
It's just the right kind of leather jacket to wear for a big event (ie soft leather, tailored and not too many details). She looks not to be messed with, but not like she's going to mess you up.
And predictably, the internet is loving it, with many of the opinion that HRod is back, and she is boss.
@yashar @HillaryClinton is out here serving Pat Benatar realness in a perfectly snug leather jacket all while dropping knowledge #slayme pic.twitter.com/sznT0zujDO — Finessa_Trilliams💋 (@C_Jill_Run) March 29, 2017
Hillary Clinton came back wearing a leather suit jacket and a floral shirt. She ain't got a care in the world.. pic.twitter.com/BpioVmOk6g — CiCi Adams (@CiCiAdams_) March 29, 2017
Current mood: HIllary Clinton trading in her pants suit for a leather jacket and florals. Let's do this. #TheResistance pic.twitter.com/bNSAUmgkmt — O General My General (@rideatdawn) March 29, 2017
Hillary Clinton in a leather jacket is my new aesthetic + she looks like she might be ready to turn vigilante hero by night & save us all. pic.twitter.com/Z9Y7b9HO10 — Laura Snodgrass (@SnodgrassLaura) March 29, 2017
Clinton wore said leather jacket to give a speech in which she encouraged her audience to not get tired (of relentless sexism, of Trump, of, well, everything) too quickly.
"I am here today to urge us not to grow tired. Not to be discouraged and disappointed. Not to throw up our hands because change is not happening fast enough," she said.
After which we presumed the audience thrust their fists into the air and then raced out to get their own leather jacket.
There's so, so much work to do. Work best done in a leather jacket, florals and a whole lot of attitude.Author: Livillus Perus, Professor at the Imperial University Livillus Perus, Professor at the Imperial University
Volume Eighteen
Cherim's Heart of Anequina
Contemporary with Maqamat Lusign (interviewed in volume seventeen of this series) is the Khajiti Cherim, whose tapestries have been hailed as masterpieces all over the Empire for nigh on thirty years now. His four factories located throughout Elsweyr make reproductions of his work, but his original tapestries command stellar prices. The Emperor himself owns ten Cherim tapestries, and his representatives are currently negotiating the sale of five more.
The muted use of color contrasted with the luminous skin tones of Cherim's subjects is a marked contrast with the old style of tapestry. The subjects of his work in recent years have been fabulous tales of the ancient past: the Gods meeting to discuss the formation of the world; the Chimer following the Prophet Veloth into Morrowind; the Wild Elves battling Morihaus and his legions at the White Gold Tower. His earliest designs dealt with more contemporary subjects. I had the opportunity to discuss with him one of his first masterpieces, The Heart of Anequina, at his villa in Orcrest.
The Heart of Anequina presents an historic battle of the Five Year War between Elsweyr and Valenwood which raged from 3E 394 (or 3E 395, depending on what one considers to be the beginning of the war) until 3E 399. In most fair accounts, the war lasted 4 years and 9 months, but artistic license from the great epic poets added an additional three months to the ordeal.
The actual details of the battle itself, as interpreted by Cherim, are explicit. The faces of a hundred and twenty Wood Elf archers can be differentiated one from the other, each registering fear at the approach of the Khajiti army. Their hauberks catch the dim light of the sun. The menacing shadows of the Elsweyr battlecats loom on the hills, every muscle strained, ready to pounce in command. It is not surprising that he got all the details right, because Cherim was in the midst of it, as a Khajiti foot soldier.
Every minute part of the Khajiti traditional armor can be seen in the soldiers in the foreground. The embroidered edging and striped patterns on the tunics. Each lacquered plate on loose-fitting leather in the Elsweyr style. The helmets of cloth and fluted silver.
"Cherim does not understand the point of plate mail," said Cherim. "It is hot, for one, like being both burned and buried alive. Cherim wore it at the insistence of our Nord advisors during the Battle of Zelinin, and Cherim couldn't even turn to see what my fellow Khajiit were doing. Cherim did some sketches for a tapestry of the Battle of Zelinin, but Cherim finds that to make it realistic, the figures came out very mechanical, like iron golems or dwemer centurions. Knowing our Khajiti commanders, Cherim would not be surprised if giving up the heavy plate was more aesthetic than practical."
"Elsweyr lost the Battle of Zelinin, didn't she?"
"Yes, but Elsweyr won the war, starting at the next battle, the Heart of Anequina," said Cherim with a smile. "The tide turned as soon as we Khajiit sent our Nordic advisors back to Solitude. We had to get rid of all the heavy armor they brought to us and find enough traditional armor our troops felt comfortable wearing. Obviously, the principle advantage of the traditional armor was that we could move easily in it, as you can see from the natural stances of the soldiers in the tapestry.
"Now if you look at this poor perforated Cathay-raht who just keeps battling on in the bottom background, you see the other advantage. It seems strange to say, but one of the best features of traditional armor is that an arrow will either deflect completely or pass all the way through. An arrow head is like a hook, made to stick where it strikes if it doesn't pass through. A soldier in traditional armor will find himself with a hole in his body and the bolt on the other side. Our healers can fix such a wound easily if it isn't fatal, but if the arrow still remains in the armor, as it does with heavier armor, the wound will be reopened every time the fellow moves. Unless the Khajiit strips off the armor and pulls out the arrow, which is what we had to do at the Battle of Zelinin. A difficult and time-consuming process in the heat of battle, to say the least."
I asked him next, "Is there a self portrait in the battle?"
"Yes," Cherim said with another grin. "You see the small figure of the Khajiit stealing the rings off the dead Wood Elf? His back is facing you, but he has a brown and orange striped tail like Cherim's. Cherim does not say that all stereotypes about the Khajiit are fair, but Cherim must sometimes acknowledge them."
A self-deprecating style in self-portraiture is also evident in the tapestries of Ranulf Hook, the next artist interviewed in volume nineteen of this series.NGC 2207 and IC 2163 are a pair of colliding spiral galaxies about 80 million light-years away[2] in the constellation Canis Major. Both galaxies were discovered by John Herschel in 1835. The larger spiral, NGC 2207, is classified as an intermediate spiral galaxy exhibiting a weak inner ring structure around the central bar. The smaller companion spiral, IC 2163, is classified as a barred spiral galaxy that also exhibits a weak inner ring and an elongated spiral arm that is likely being stretched by tidal forces with the larger companion. Both galaxies contain a vast amount of dust and gas, and are beginning to exhibit enhanced rates of star formation, as seen in infrared images. The collision is of interest because it reflects the probable fate of the Milky Way and Andromeda merger. So far, four supernovae have been observed in NGC 2207:
NGC 2207 is in the process of tidally stripping IC 2163.
Merging galaxies [ edit ]
NGC 2207 is in the process of colliding and merging with IC 2163. But unlike the Antennae or the Mice Galaxies, they are still two separate spiral galaxies. They are only in the first step of colliding and merging. Soon they will collide, probably looking a bit more like the Mice Galaxies. In about a billion years time they are expected to merge and become an elliptical galaxy or perhaps a disk galaxy.[7]
Gallery [ edit ]
Ocular structures like these tend to only last for several tens of millions of years. [8]
An infrared Spitzer Space Telescope image of NGC 2207 and IC 2163. Credit: NASA/JPL.
An ESO image of NGC 2207 and IC 2163.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]I don't typically share post-game quotes here, but I found some of the things the Knicks said following last night's loss in Toronto particularly funny/appropriate/inappropriate, so here are a few of those things.
The main point of contention in the locker room last night was the amount of swag/swagger befitting a team in the Knicks' position. Raymond Felton, speaking to SB Nation's James Herbert, expressed hopes of regaining swagger as the Knicks return to Madison Square Garden:
"We're going back home. Just get our swagger back when we go back to the house, go back to our home, our building."
Swagger levels are depleted. Returning home will hopefully replenish them. Got it. FULL SWAG AHEAD. But wait, Amar'e Stoudemire disagrees:
"We got plenty of swagger, we may have too much swag,’’ Stoudemire said. "We got to get more greedy, from the standpoint of wanting to defend, wanting to win and having a sense of urgency. We have to want to win. We got to have the mentality to want to win. It don’t matter if it looks good or not. We just got to get it done. It’s not a great feeling right now.’’
Too much swag! Is Amar'e drawing a distinction between swagger and swag, or is he repeating himself in that first line? I don't know. The Knicks just need to get on the same page swag/swagger-wise and adjust accordingly. Meanwhile, here's J.R. Smith:
"We’re still alive. We still got a heartbeat. It’s just a matter of do we get off the bed or not?"
And here's Carmelo Anthony:
"That’s been one of our downfalls – not giving effort," Anthony said before they lost to the Raptors.
And Mike Woodson:
"We had an opportunity where we could have drove the ball and got smashed and went to the line to make free throws," Woodson said. "We got to take advantage of that and we didn't."
Agreed on all counts (well maybe not the "got smashed" part. Just drawing fouls would be fine). The effort we've seen suits an elite, proven team pissing away wintertime games because they're too cool for the regular season. The Knicks are not that. One more kinda weird thing:
"I disagree with the slow start," he said of a first quarter in Toronto that saw the Knicks score 32 points, but also give up 32.
"You guys [media] are saying that's a slow start," he said, "I don't know what else you want us to do in the beginning of the game."
Like Alan Hahn says: that was a slow start, Jason. No way around it. What we want you (all of you) to do in the beginning of the game is play offense and defense at the same time. That's all.
So, yeah, good job saying the right things, Knicks. Nothing new there. Now just DO some stuff, please.Thursday, 26 July 2007, 13:52
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 002280
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHITE HOUSE FOR APHSCT TOWNSEND.
EO 12958 DECL: 07/13/2017
TAGS PTER, PREL, KNNP, KWBG, EFIN, IR, IS
SUBJECT: APHSCT TOWNSEND TAKES STOCK OF BMENA REGION WITH
MOSSAD DIRECTOR DAGAN
Classified By: Charge d'affaires Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (B/D).
1. (S) SUMMARY: Frances Fragos Townsend, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (AFHSC), met Mossad Director Meir Dagan on July 12 for a general discussion of regional security threats. On the Iranian nuclear program, Dagan proved surprisingly optimistic about the effects of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and their impact on Iranian elites. On most other fronts, however, Dagan expressed deep skepticism regarding any near-term solutions. Dagan believes that the Syrians were emboldened by the Second Lebanon War, and argued for a concerted international effort to enforce UNSC resolutions in Lebanon as a means of removing Syria from Iranian influence. In Dagan's personal opinion, present attempts to prop up the government of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will fail, and "an entirely new approach" with the Palestinians is required. Dagan and Townsend surveyed political developments in North Africa, Turkey, and the Gulf, and shared concerns about Pakistan's ability to withstand the challenge of Islamic radicals. END SUMMARY.
--------------------------------------
Financial Sanctions Offer Hope on Iran
--------------------------------------
2. (S) Mossad Director Meir Dagan began his two-hour meeting with Townsend by expressing satisfaction with sanctions against Iran. Dagan said UNSC Resolutions 1737 and 1747 caught the Iranians off-guard, and were having an impact on the Iranian elite and financial community. The resolutions had been particularly successful through their indirect consequences, explained Dagan, by stigmatizing Iranian businesses and discouraging risk-averse Europeans from being connected with Iran. Dagan praised ongoing GOI-USG cooperation on this front, and added that domestic economic problems were creating additional pressure on the regime.
3. (S) With regard to their nuclear program, Dagan said the Iranians are attempting to convey a "false presentation" that they have mastered the uranium enrichment process. The reality is that they are not there yet, said Dagan, and they are paying a heavy political price (sanctions) for something they have yet to achieve. Dagan noted growing antipathy in Russia towards Iran and its nuclear program, and said the Iranians were shocked by Russian statements accusing them of supporting terrorism against the United States. In Dagan's view, there is no ideological conflict within the Iranian leadership (all wish to see the destruction of Israel), but there is a growing divide on tactics with some supporting a retaliatory position against the West and others favoring new policies of moderation. Recognizing the growing strength of the moderate camp, Dagan said that the militant followers of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are now trying to target supporters of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as spies.
--------------------------------------------- -
Gulf States Await Action (From Others) on Iran
--------------------------------------------- -
4. (S) According to Dagan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf States all fear Iran, but want someone else "to do the job for them." Townsend and Dagan discussed the current state of affairs in the Saudi royal court, where the Mossad Chief accused Foreign Minister Saud bin Faysal of playing a "very negative role." He also pointed to the recent visit of the Saudi King Abdullah to Jordan as a historical first and turning point for relations between the two countries. Townsend agreed, and said that the Saudi king has a sense of urgency on the political front. Dagan characterized Qatar as "a real problem," and accused Sheikh Hamid of "annoying everyone." In his view, Qatar is trying to play all sides -- Syria, Iran, Hamas -- in an effort to achieve security and some degree of independence. "I think you should remove your bases from there...seriously," said Dagan. "They have confidence only because of the U.S. presence." Dagan predicted, with some humor, that al-Jazeera would be the next cause of war in the Middle East as some Arab leaders (specifically Saudi Arabia) are willing to take drastic steps to shut down the channel, and hold Sheikh Hamid personally responsible for its provocations.
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Syria Taking Dangerous Risks
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TEL AVIV 00002280 002 OF 003
5. (S) Dagan echoed other reports that Syria expects an Israeli attack this summer, and has raised its level of readiness. Despite the fact that Israel has no intention of attacking, said Dagan, the Syrians are likely to retaliate over even the smallest incident, which could lead to quick escalation. Dagan believes that Syria's strategic alliance with Iran and Hizballah has not changed, and that Assad views these policies as both "successful and just." There is a tendency to assume that Syria can be separated from Iran, said Dagan, and that this offers the key to weakening Hizballah. Dagan argued that the opposite is true: by enforcing UN resolutions on Lebanon and increasing efforts to disarm Hizballah, the international community can remove the glue that binds Iran and Syria. Enforcing the resolutions would put additional pressure on Assad, who fears being tried for the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri above all else. The advantage of such an approach, continued Dagan, is that the legal ground is already in place for action by the UNSC. This credible threat could sufficiently frighten Syria away from Iran and towards more natural allies in the Arab League.
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Deep Pessimism on Relations With Palestinians
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6. (S) Departing from official GOI policy, Dagan expressed his personal opinion that after more than a decade of trying to reach a final status agreement with the Palestinians, "nothing will be achieved." Only Israeli military operations against Hamas in the West Bank prevent them from expanding control beyond Gaza, lamented Dagan, without which Fatah would fall within one month and Abbas would join his "mysteriously wealthy" son in Qatar. Offering what he believed to be a conservative estimate, Dagan said that USD 6 billion had been invested in the Palestinian Authority since 1994. "What did it accomplish, other than adding a few more people to the Fortune 500?" asked Dagan. Although he expressed his personal faith in Salam Fayyad, Dagan said that the Palestinian Prime Minister had no power base. Fatah as a party would have to completely reorganize itself in order to regain credibility, argued Dagan, but instead they have turned once again to the "old guard." The Mossad Chief suggested that a completely new approach was required, but did not provide Townsend any additional details.
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Pakistan...and Other Regional Concerns
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7. (S) Townsend and Dagan then embarked on an informal tour of the region, comparing notes on countries critical to combating terrorism. Dagan characterized a Pakistan ruled by radical Islamists with a nuclear arsenal at their disposal as his biggest nightmare. Al-Qaeda and other "Global Jihad" groups could not be relied upon to behave rationally once in possession of nuclear weapons, said Dagan, as they do not care about the well being of states or their image in the media. "We have to keep (President Pervez) Musharaf in power," said Dagan. In North Africa, Dagan contended that Qaddafi needs to be pushed more in order to put Libya on the right track. Qaddafi faces little domestic pressure, said Dagan, but has traditionally responded to outside threats and runs foreign policy based on his emotions. The only reason Qaddafi moderated his position to begin with, said Dagan, was that he feared that he was "in the crosshairs" for regime change. Dagan viewed the situation in Algeria as more serious, with the south of the country becoming increasingly dangerous and the leadership uncertain as it faces radical Islamic forces. Morocco |
less than minimum wage.
Alejandra’s future career prospects are similarly limited; in fact, despite passionately pursuing an education major, Alejandra would be completely unable to get a job as a teacher in Massachusetts, due to the requirement that she pass a background Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check. According to USA Today, all 50 states require aspiring teachers pass some sort of background check before they’re hired.
“I’m an education major, I want to someday be a teacher, I want to impact students, but I can’t get close to children if I can’t pass the CORI check,” Alejandra said. “It’s like, this is my dream but … if I want to take the test or get a license to become anything —a teacher, lawyer, doctor — you need licenses.”
People with DACA, though, would be able to pass a background check. “Even though DACA is not the ideal, they can pass those background checks and do a lot of the stuff that would not be a possibility,” Alejandra said.
Alejandra, like all undocumented students, has no idea whether her Tufts degree will ever help her get a job, a concern that DACA students must now face as well.
“The uncertainty kills me every single day,” she said. “I’m graduating from this school Tufts, this really good school, and I’m still gonna wash dishes when I graduate. That’s just how it is, I get the education and I can’t use the degree.”
This is the reality that all students with DACA, whether their work permit expires in four months or two years, will have to face once the program is repealed. Taking stock of this sudden retraction of what has been a pathway to a “successful” life (if not full citizenship) has been taxing on many DACA students’ mental health.
The university has experience supporting undocumented students who don’t have DACA, but the repeal poses a challenge to staff and administrators who have been developing resources since the creation of the Undocumented Students Working Group in 2015, in part around the needs of students with the possibility of legal employment, which DACA created an opportunity for.
According to Donna Esposito, director of career development at Tufts’ Career Center, the DACA repeal announcement has prompted the Career Center to work on supporting students whose employment options will be more limited.
“We have been actively pursuing a range of possibilities for life both during and after Tufts for all of our students with undocumented status through a variety of means and targeted resources,” Esposito told the Daily in an email. “This includes connecting with national immigrant advocacy and immigration law organizations, leaders in the community and colleagues in a number of fields, potential employers and more.”
Esposito added that the center is currently working on an event for undocumented students in conjunction with UIJ, the Latino Center, the Office of Student Success and Advising and the University Counsel’s Office.
Diego, who said he’s been working with the Career Center on this event as a member of UIJ, believes that bringing an undocumented person with experience navigating the workforce to Tufts would be helpful for students who are insecure about their post-graduation plans.
“I’ve been talking to other students, but I’d love to talk with someone who is working,” Diego said. “Do they have DACA? And if they have DACA, then what’s their plan once it expires? If they don’t, how are they working and what have they learned?”
Esposito also said that the Career Center has been working to address the needs of low-income and otherwise underprivileged students through the Equity, Access and Student Equality (EASE) Committee, of which the Career Center is a part, as well as in conjunction with the First Gen Council.
Julián Cancino, director of the Latino Center, said that he is looking forward to expanding employment resources to be more inclusive of immigrant experiences.
“Tufts Latino Center is excited to bring immigrant entrepreneurs to campus soon,” Cancino told the Daily in an email. “Our aim is to highlight the experiences, both professional and personal, of immigrants who followed their dreams and forged paths for themselves and others.”
Cardamone said that, while the loss of work authorization for Tufts’ DACA population does pose a challenge for university employees tasked with advising them, there are options, most notably the forming of a Limited Liability Company (LLC).
“We have experience with helping our students navigate how to put their degree to use which is significantly more difficult [without DACA and work authorization],” she said. “A common path is forming an LLC or some kind of workers’ cooperative.”
Cancino also emphasized that fulfilling and fruitful employment is not impossible for those with undocumented status.
“The repeal of DACA is truly devastating because the lack of employment authorization is limiting for many students. But, fortunately, being hired is not the only option,” he wrote in an email to the Daily. “A Tufts degree may be put to use by creating a new business or becoming a consultant… It’s about not taking no for an answer.”
Diego, who studies engineering, said that while he enjoys his studies, his decision to enter the field was primarily motivated by his socio-economic status, and that the uncertainty of employment after graduation that comes with DACA repeals is thus especially disheartening.
“If getting an industry job doesn’t work out, I’m trying to see what else I could do. I guess that’s just how life is, things don’t always go according to plan,” he said.
Alejandra emphasized that, despite the unlikeliness of achieving her dream job in education, she still values her Tufts education.
“I value the education I am receiving even though … for us, college is not a job, it’s more about the knowledge you can obtain. Because even knowing I can’t work, I still decide every day to go to class,” she said. “This is my reality, I can’t do much about it … but there are a lot of things I do control. I control the knowledge and information that goes through my mind, I control the ethics, the morals that I hold in my life.”
Minna Trin contributed reporting for this article.This happened in a trial court decision in State v. Elabanjo (N.C. Super. Ct. Jan. 5); the defendant was prosecuted under N.C. Gen. Stat. &sec; 14-197, which makes it a misdemeanor to “on any public road or highway and in the hearing of two or more persons, in a loud and boisterous manner, use indecent or profane language.” The court held the statute was unconstitutionally overbroad and vague on its face, and also that it was unconstitutional as applied to the defendant.
The defendant also “called the officers ‘assholes’ while waving her arms widely,” but the prosecution ultimately did not rely on this, apparently because that word was said “while she was on the sidewalk, and thus was not on a public road or highway.”
Thanks to Prof. Greg Wallace and Matt Quinn for the pointer.Hanson unveiled her plans for family law in her maiden speech in the Senate. Source: JJ Harrison
BY LUCAS BAIRD
While majority of the nation was distracted by the theatrics of her opening statements, Pauline Hanson snuck in a proposal to radically change family law in Australia.
As the family law reforms went under the radar to most, legal professionals and disgruntled fathers listened and came away with radically different impressions.
“It doesn’t sound like a balanced policy at all, it sounds like a father’s rights policy from a particular group of disgruntled dads.”
To much anticipation, Pauline Hanson rose in the pale red room to give her second maiden speech to the Australian parliament. She launched into an all too familiar rhetoric, “Australia is now in danger of being swamped by Muslims,” echoed through the Senate as a similar statement about Asians had 20 years ago in the Lower House.
While anti-islamic sentiment was always expected from Hanson, this bombastic opener captivated the nation. After 20 years out of parliament, Hanson had returned and with a new target.
However, the attention garnered by this statement allowed a similar radical policy to slip through the cracks – family law reform.
If Hanson is to be believed, women in this country are dead because they had made “frivolous” claims in family court that led to their murder at the hands of “frustrated” former partners who had the system weighted against them.
This claim is only the opening salvo in One Nation’s war against family law, as they look to tear down the system, which according to them embodies misandry in the 21st century, and surprisingly this line of attack has won them numerous supporters.
While many of the online commenters who pledge their support for the tear down of this entire system haven’t gone through the struggles of divorce; Mark Jelic is one that has.
Nearly a decade ago, Mr Jelic went through a bitter divorce that left him without custody of his kids. While he now has a joint custody agreement with his with former wife, he is convinced the system was against him.
“The system needs an overhaul because it can be used as a weapon,” he said.
“I have and am still living through the unbalanced and unfair current situation in both law courts and child support system,” he said.
As he goes through the proposed reforms from Hanson, he uses one word answers to judge them.
“The system needs an overhaul because it can be used as a weapon.”
A formula that recognises the new cost of maintaining two households – “Yes.”
A new formula for child support that doesn’t take into account a second job or overtime – “Good.”
Recognition that a child’s standard of living will never be the same – “100 per cent.”
Mr Jelic continues like this through the other reformations providing traction for One Nation who have used experiences like his to not only inform a new approach to Australian Family Law but draw people towards it.
This has already worked in the case of David Truman, who while unaffected by the family law courts believes that a new perspective on the courts is required.
“I haven’t had any experience with the family court problem. However, I do understand in particular, a fair number of men believe that they have been discriminated against because of the predilection of the court,” he said.
“So I think they’re probably right, when they say we need to look at the courts with a different perspective rather than automatically taking one position.”
However, There are a few obstacles for Hanson and Co’s reformations: There is little to no evidence to support her claims and the legal community hate the reforms.
Lise Barry from Macquarie University is one legal professional who believes the ideas for the reforms are cause for concern.
Surrounded by books and literature, Ms Barry jumps quickly on her first opportunity to criticise the reforms, claiming that the reforms are a “mix of things”, but none of them good.
“It doesn’t sound like a balanced policy at all, it sounds like a father’s rights policy from a particular group of disgruntled dads.”
“I’m particularly concerned about their idea to shift things out of court and into some sort of super tribunal and it just seems to be that they think tribunals can operate outside the law, rather than there being an understanding that they are an administrative law procedure.”
As the disapproval flows out of her mouth she stops for a second to regather some structure. She takes a pause, before diving into an exercise similar to Mr Jelic’s.
“These proposed reforms sounds to me that someone may have had a bad experience and are not looking at it with objective eyes.”
She runs through the policies one by one, but instead of one word answers, she provides reasons.
A formula that recognises the new cost of maintaining two households – “That’s a terrible idea.”
“It seems to suggest that if you set up a second house, then you are no longer responsible for the first house and your children and to me, that is just condemning me to a life of poverty.”
A new formula for child support that doesn’t take into account a second job or overtime – “A really bad idea.”
“Parents who have separated have a shared responsibility to provide for their children and it should be based on their income.”
From the University of Wollongong, John Littrich agreed with Ms Barry.
He claimed that over his 14 years as a practicing solicitor, he had seen nothing as strange as One Nation’s plans.
“These proposed reforms sounds to me that someone may have had a bad experience and are not looking at it with objective eyes… There is definitely a poor understanding of family law in One Nation,” he said
Mr Littrich claimed that there was no need to reform the law as the language in the legislation is non-gender specific. Which provided an even playing ground in court.
However, he also had another important point to make.
“If anything, the current legislation is designed to keep the best interests of the children.”
“Whoever has been the primary carer during the child’s early years, it tends to be in the best interest of the child for custody to go to them.
Mr Littrich believes that with the emphasis placed on caregivers, One Nation is placed to miss one of the key points of the current legislation.
It’s not like they’ve missed it before.
Lucas Baird is a second year journalism student at UTS. He currently writes for the local City Hub newspaper in Sydney’s Inner-West.
AdvertisementsThe changes taking place in the German labor market in favor of temporary jobs, contract workers and precarious working conditions in the low-wage sector, among other things, are raising the danger that more and more old people in Germany will find themselves in poverty post retirement, concludes a new study released on Monday by the Germany-based Bertelsmann Foundation.
It predicts old-age poverty in Germany would soar from 16 per cent in 2015 to 20 per cent by 2036, meaning one in every five pensioners in the country could face severe financial hardship.
Pensioners in Germany are considered to be at risk of poverty when their monthly net income amounts to less than 958 euros ($1,072).
Single women, low-qualified workers and long-term unemployed people face the highest risk of ending up in poverty in old age. Among the women, the study estimates the poverty rate to rise from about 16 per cent in 2015 to 28 per cent in 2036.
Watch video 02:05 Share Being poor in Germany Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2YXYz Being poor in Germany
That means the risk of poverty for these women is four times higher than the national average.
"We need further reforms to retirement," said Aart De Geus, head of the Bertelsmann Foundation, pointing out that there could be serious problems when the babyboomer generation starts to retire. "In order to make our retirement system future-proof, we will have to adapt it to changing conditions in the labor market," he noted in the report.
Tackling tricky issues
Besides the changing labor market dynamics, the study authors also blame the continuing decline in pension payments for impoverishing the old. They cite the transforming demographic conditions and pension policies, underlining that the private pension plans recommended by the government do not offer a comprehensive solution to the issue.
"The current reform debates often go past reality and do not tackle the fundamental causes of old-age poverty," said Christof Schiller, a labor market expert at the foundation. "The discussions surrounding the stabilization of the pension levels are not of much help to the high-risk groups, whose low wages mean many of them already face poor living conditions even during their working years."
The results of the study are in many respects in line with those presented in an old-age security report published by the German federal government last year.
In that document, the government called on the public to make more provision for private pension plans. But the Bertelsmann study concludes that this is by no means sufficient.
The study suggests that reforms to the pension system must focus more on high-risk groups and take into account the changing labor market landscape as well as the situation in the financial markets.
For the study, the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) and the Center for European Economic Research (ZEW), two Germany-based think tanks, did simulations using a representative set of household data to calculate people's old-age income from various retirement arrangements.
sri/rd (Bertelsmann Foundation, dpa, edp)Selected Records from the National Archives How to Order Copies
Letter carrier in New York wearing mask for protection against influenza. New York City,
October 16, 1918. Letter carriers, mass transit workers, and others who came in contact with the public, were especially vulnerable to disease. Wearing a face mask helped them avoid contagion. Record held at: National Archives at College Park, MD. Record number 165-WW-269B-15. View Image
Telegram from squadron official, Wilbur Wright Field, Fairfield, Ohio, to Adjutant General, Washington, D.C., regarding death of a private, October 16, 1918. Army Air Forces. The flu spread rapidly in institutional settings, including military barracks where men shared close quarters. This notification of the death of an army private is one of thousands sent from military bases to families and other government officials. Record held at: National Archives at Chicago. Record Group 18. View Image
Letter from visiting doctor reporting situation to superintendent, Albuquerque Day School,
New Mexico, December 20, 1918. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Dr. D. A. Richardson, a physician visiting a New Mexico pueblo, describes the symptoms and course of treatment for flu victims. The disease progressed erratically. Some patients recovered, having followed the doctor's orders to remain prostrate and have liquids only. Others deteriorated rapidly, contracting pneumonia and dying within days. Record held at: National Archives at Denver. Record Group 75. View PDF
Policemen in Seattle wearing masks made by the Red Cross, during the influenza epidemic. December 1918. Officials feared mass hysteria in major cities. Citizens were urged to stay indoors and avoid congested areas. Here, policemen patrol the streets to ensure public safety. Record held at: National Archives at College Park, MD. Record number 165-WW-269B-25. View Image
Telegram from county food administrator to headquarters, Oklahoma City, regarding cancellation of public meetings, October 3, 1918. U.S. Food Administration. The flu interrupted the activities of the U.S. Food Administration responsible for rationing during World War I. The Administration's Wilburton, Oklahoma, office cancelled its public meeting because of 300 reported cases of flu in the area. Record held at: National Archives at Fort Worth. Record Group 4. View Image
Letter from nurse to her friend at the Haskell Indian Nations University, Kansas, October 17, 1918. Bureau of Indian Affairs. In this letter, a volunteer nurse assigned to various military bases, writes to friend about her experiences. Her initial reaction to death is a window into a personal experience, rather than an official report: "the first one [officer] that died sure unnerved me-I had to go to the nurses' quarters and cry it out." Record held at: National Archives at Kansas City. Record Group 75. View Image
Nurse wearing a mask as protection against influenza. September 13, 1918. In October of 1918, Congress approved a $1 million budget for the U. S. Public Health Service to recruit 1000 medical doctors and over 700 registered nurses. Nurses were scarce, as their proximity to and interaction with the disease increased the risk of death. Record held at: National Archives at College Park, MD. Record number 165-WW-269B-5. View Image
Telegram to Superintendent of the Pima Agency, Arizona, regarding condition of flu patient, October 17, 1918. Bureau of Indian Affairs. The flu spread rapidly in institutional settings, including government operated Indian schools. This notification of a student's pneumonia following influenza is one of thousands sent from Indian schools to next-of-kin. Record held at: National Archives at Riverside. Record Group 75. View Image
Directive from Washington, D.C., regarding treatment and procedures. September 26, 1918,
Naval Districts and Shore Establishments. The Navy Department tried to prevent the spread of the influenza by educating sailors about protecting themselves. In Circular No. 1, the Navy's Bureau of Sanitation suggests fresh air, adequate sleep, and fluids to stay healthy. Record held at: National Archives at New York City. Record Group 181. View Image
Photo of Indian dwelling and description of conditions at Reno Indian Agency, Nevada.
Bureau of Indian Affairs. Because of the Federal government's role in administering Indian reservations, the effect of the flu on Indian populations is well documented. At the Reno (Nevada) Agency, an agent took photographs and compiled detailed notes: "In this shack I found four people laying on the dirt floor wrapped in rags apparently all suffering from influenza." Record held at: National Archives at San Francisco. Record Group 75. View Image
Report on staffing crisis at military depot in Philadelphia, October 8, 1918. Office of the Quartermaster General. The flu was highly contagious and spread rapidly, as documented in a military report notifying the Office Quartermaster General in Washington D.C., of a staffing crisis. The report notes 11 officers and 1,489 employees "absent today," with the situation not improving. Record held at: National Archives at Philadelphia. Record Group 92. View Image
Notice to occupants of Western Shoshone Agency, Nevada, of rules for duration of the flu.
Bureau of Indian Affairs. Because of the Federal government's role in administering Indian reservations, the effect of the flu on Indian populations is well documented. Residents of Western Shoshone (Nevada) Agency received a notice of rules, such as keeping the home aired out, and women and children were to stay home, which they were to follow for the duration of the epidemic. Record held at: National Archives at San Francisco. Record Group 75. View Image
Typist wearing mask, New York City, October 16, 1918. The flu prevented day-to-day operations from going smoothly. Officials advised all persons to wear face masks, even indoors. Many believed that a person could contract the disease by handling documents and equipment. Record held at: National Archives at College Park, MD. Record number 165-WW-269B-16. View Image
Letter of condolence from Superintendent of the Yakima Indian Agency, Washington,
October 29, 1918. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Because of the Federal government's role in administering Indian reservations, the effect of the flu on Indian populations is well documented. This notification sent to the parents of a student at an Indian boarding school is typical of many letters on file. Record held at: National Archives at Seattle. Record Group 75. View Image
Record book of patients in South Beach, Washington hospital, 1918. Army Air Corps. Hospital staff hand wrote admissions daily to South Beach Hospital. The journal notes that six people were admitted on Christmas Day and that John N. Friel was admitted on December 27, 1918 at 5 pm and died on January 2, 1919 at 1:25 a.m. Record held at: National Archives at Seattle. Record Group 18. View ImageA common question I get asked from my friends and family in Australia is, "How is the language difference going?" To which I reply something to the effect "Not too bad!" or "I've had my frustrations/or caused some frustrations!"The single most commonly misunderstood word has got to be "no" I mean "yes" I mean "yeah". The Czech word for yes is Ano, and their version of yeah is No. Misunderstandings happen all the time - coming out of a fitting room, the attendant puts out her arms to take unwanted clothes and obviously says in Czech "Do you want me to take those for you?", instantly I answer "No" and a battle ensues until I realise I'm saying "no....no..."(which she is interpreting as "yeah, yeah")"Oh ne!ne!...nerozumim...pardon...Anglicky"; asking someone "Do you speak English?" "No" they answer, which of course means "yes" but we automatically think they are saying that they don't understand (this happens ALL the time). It doesn't matter how many times you say to yourself no is yes your brain is so conditioned to no being no that it will always mean no. It's one of those security words that you're taught from birth, like stop, it can save your life and is a reflex vocalisation, you don't think about it, it just comes out.Most of the time I can get by without trying to speak Czech. I have a wonderful understanding with an older Czech lady that lives below us since taking her garbage downstairs for her one day. We have passing conversations with each other, she speaks Czech, I speak English, we understand each other instinctively. It started the garbage day, I was saying that I was going to the bin and that I'd take hers, she was saying something like it's very kind of you, I was going to leave it near the door for my son to take down later(my summation) but that would be great....it wasn't til I got back upstairs that I realised that we were having a little conversation that neither of us knew what the other was really saying. We still have these conversations. Very strange, but friendly.Our little corner shop lady is another story. She takes great pleasure in teaching me the Czech word for whatever I buy. I have gone in there armed with a Czech word like egg. In my dictionary it said egg = vejce (j=y). This I tried out on her,"vejce", "nerozumim?", I drew a picture for her in the air, "nerozumim?", then I spied them in the back corner of the shop and pointed, "vajechna" she said. After a quick search on the web I know that both words mean egg?? I don't know what the difference is, and I don't know why she did't understand. Supermarket eggs have vejce on the carton?So...does that sound like fun?Roku has just launched its new app for Windows 10 devices, available today in the Windows Store. The app lets users search for movies, shows, and control their Roku using their Windows 10 PC or Tablet. Microsoft states:
Navigating a Roku device from your Windows 10 PC or tablet could not be easier. With the new Roku app for Windows 10 rolling out in the Windows Store today (free to download), your channels are just one click away. With more and more Windows 10 devices supporting both point-and-click, as well as gesture navigation, you can browse lists with a simple swipe or by clicking to bring the next page of content to the front. Browse more than 3,000 channels and 300,000 movies and TV episodes, or ask Cortana to search for your favorite content.
As you can see, the app includes a brand new user interface which looks pretty nice and the app also comes with Cortana integration which can be quite handy at times. Here are some of the features of the app:
Search for movies, shows, actors, or directors and easily launch the content on your Roku player or TV. Search is available today with the Roku Streaming Stick (HDMI version), Roku 3, Roku TVs, and will be available on additional Roku players at a later date.
Browse, add, and rate Channels from more than 1,800 Roku Channels offered in the Roku Channel Store.
Quickly launch your favorite Roku Channels
Name and switch between multiple Roku players and TVs
Enjoy your laptop or tablet photos and music on your Roku player or TV (Supported on Roku 3, Roku 2, Roku LT, Roku HD (model 2500), Roku TV, and Roku Streaming Stick only)
You can get Roku app for your Windows 10 device from the link below.Volvo Car Group’s first self-driving Autopilot cars test on public roads around Gothenburg
Volvo Car Group’s groundbreaking project ‘Drive Me’ – featuring 100 self-driving Volvos on public roads in everyday driving conditions – is moving forward rapidly. The first test cars are already rolling around the Swedish city of Gothenburg and the sophisticated Autopilot technology is performing well.
“The test cars are now able to handle lane following, speed adaption and merging traffic all by themselves. This is an important step towards our aim that the final ‘Drive Me’ cars will be able to drive the whole test route in highly autonomous mode. The technology, which will be called Autopilot, enables the driver to hand over the driving to the vehicle, which takes care of all driving functions,” says Erik Coelingh, Technical Specialist at Volvo Car Group.
What makes the ‘Drive Me’ project unique is that it involves all the key players: legislators, transport authorities, a major city, a vehicle manufacturer and real customers. The customers will drive the 100 cars in everyday driving conditions on approximately 50 kilometres of selected roads in and around Gothenburg. These roads are typical commuter arteries, including motorway conditions and frequent queues.
“That Volvo Cars’ hometown Gothenburg becomes the world’s first arena for self-driving cars in everyday driving conditions demonstrates both our technological leadership and Sweden’s dedication to pioneering the integration of self-driving vehicles,” says Erik Coelingh.
Joint initiative
‘Drive Me – Self-driving cars for sustainable mobility’ is a joint initiative between Volvo Car Group, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency, Lindholmen Science Park and the City of Gothenburg. The Swedish Government is endorsing the project.
“This public pilot will provide us with a valuable insight into the societal benefits of making autonomous vehicles a natural part of the traffic environment. Our smart vehicles are a key part of the solution, but a broad societal approach is vital to offer sustainable personal mobility in the future. This unique cross-functional co-operation is the key to a successful implementation of self-driving vehicles,” says Erik Coelingh.They have attempted to serve him a summons tied to a Federal Election Commission lawsuit since July. | AP Photo David Rivera evades U.S. Marshals
TALLAHASSEE — While former congressman David Rivera runs for the Florida House, he is also running from the U.S. Marshals Service.
The U.S. Marshals have attempted to serve the Miami Republican with a summons tied to a Federal Election Commission lawsuit since July, but have been unable to find him. He's also running for an open 2018 Florida House seat.
Story Continued Below
“The Commission’s diligent efforts to serve Rivera have been thwarted so far by Rivera’s apparent evasion of service,” wrote FEC attorney Greg Mueller in an Oct. 12 request for more time to serve Rivera. “Rivera is almost certainly aware of this lawsuit.”
U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola approved the extension request on Friday, one day after FEC sought more time. The FEC now has until Dec. 11 to find Rivera.
The FEC is suing him in Miami federal court over an alleged illegal campaign finance scheme that led to two people serving jail time. Under the allegations, Rivera was part of a scheme to funnel campaign contributions to Justin Lamar Sternad, a straw candidate running against Democrat Joe Garcia in the 2012 Democratic primary for the South Florida congressional seat Rivera then held.
The move was designed to weaken Garcia, who would later beat Rivera in the general election. Both Sternad and Ana Alliegro, a GOP operative working with Rivera, did jail time. Rivera was not charged but is now being sued by the FEC over the issue.
The target of multiple federal and state criminal and civil investigations, Rivera has remained a step ahead of the law for years. When it looked as if federal prosecutors might be unwilling to charge him criminally in 2014, Scola forced the U.S. attorney’s office to take the rare step of naming Rivera as a suspect in open court.
From the bench, Scola at one point suggested Rivera was a coward because of the way Alliegro was treated.
“Some people would call it chivalry, some people call it sexism — that the man should come forward and not let the woman do time on his behalf,” Scola said.
In early July, attempts to settle the issue failed, which led the FEC to file a civil complaint on July 14. Five days later, a deputy marshal unsuccessfully attempted to serve Rivera at his Doral home.
“The Deputy Marshal then encountered an individual in the driveway at that address who'refused to answer questions' regarding Rivera,” the FEC’s extension request said.
Since that time, U.S. Marshals have made four separate attempts to serve Rivera at three separate addresses.
“In the most recent attempts to contact Rivera by phone, on October 4 and 12, 2017, the outgoing voicemail message stated that Rivera was traveling outside the country and unable to return phone calls,” read the FEC’s request.
When POLITICO called Rivera’s cellphone seeking comment for this story, a voice mail indicating it was Rivera’s phone also said he is “out of the country and unable to return calls.”
While he hides from U.S. Marshals, Rivera is also running for House District 105, a seat being left vacant by House budget chief Carlos Trujillo.
Since the FEC first tried to serve Rivera, his campaign has raised $13,000 but has listed no expenditures. A political committee associated with his campaign has not been active. Rivera is listed as the treasurer of both entities, which have been filing regular reports with the Florida Division of Elections.
Rivera has used a total of $300,000 in personal funds to boost his failed 2016 Florida House campaign and his current 2018 effort. That money has been put into his state race as his former congressional committee remains nearly $130,000 in debt.
If Rivera were to win election back to the House, he could have a hefty fine waiting for him. He was hit with a 2010 ethics complaint that alleged he requested taxpayer-funded reimbursements for travel originally paid for by his campaign.
An administrative law judge recommended he repay $57,821 in damages, a decision upheld by a Tallahassee appeals court. Rivera petitioned to have the Florida Supreme Court review the issue, but justices declined to do so.
The fines would have to be imposed by Jose Oliva, a Miami Republican, who will be speaker in 2018. The law requires the speaker to act before any penalties are imposed, but does not require that any actions be taken.
In their quest to collar Rivera, authorities might have been a month late. Just before officials tried to serve him, he was spotted at a June 27 Miami-Dade GOP Lincoln Day dinner. He introduced his old friend on stage: Kellyanne Conway, President Donald Trump’s adviser.
Marc Caputo contributed to this report.Damon Sayles/Bleacher Report
For some, a dream is just that—a dream.
Darrion Green had a dream of one day playing college football. That dream heightened every day and became more of a goal with every disparaging remark. Green is a rising 3-star cornerback from Dallas who also happens to be partially deaf.
Green never let his condition interfere with his goals, and on Wednesday, the Woodrow Wilson High School prospect—with the nickname "Speedy"—announced on Twitter that he picked up his first offer from Michigan.
Earning offer No. 1 from Michigan is huge for Green, as head coach Jim Harbaugh just signed a top-five-ranked 2016 class and made multiple headlines with unorthodox-yet-effective recruiting tactics, including sleepovers and tree climbing with players who ultimately committed to and signed with the Wolverines. Harbaugh is one of the most polarizing coaches in college football, but his 28 signees this past recruiting cycle—including one 5-star and 14 4-star players—can't be ignored.
Green said he received the news Wednesday morning after calling the coaching staff. With the assistance of his brother relaying messages, he learned about the offer.
"It's really big, and I've been working so hard for it, so it's a blessing," Green said via social media chat. "I'm thankful to Michigan for believing in me and showing confidence. It feels good and is a relief.
"I started shaking, and my hands were sweating. My dreams came true; I got the first offer."
At 5'11" and 170 pounds, Green is a cornerback who can also line up as a running back or wide receiver. On the offensive side of the ball, he rushed 70 times for 341 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.
But Green's work is most decorated on the defensive side of the ball. He was an all-district cornerback for Woodrow Wilson as a junior and showed his talents at the position during The Opening Dallas regional in Coppell, Texas, on Sunday.
"I like playing defense better. I get more work," he said at the event, wearing a bright smile and hearing aids in both ears. "I feel like I'm a better DB."
Greg Powers, a national recruiting analyst who covers the state of Texas for Scout.com, said Green is "one of the most electric players in the Dallas ISD, on both sides of the ball."
"He's a guy who I've been pretty impressed with. He has the skills at corner to be a high D-I type of guy," Powers said.
Damon Sayles/Bleacher Report
Green said the Michigan coaches liked what they saw of him on film as a running back, but his instincts in the secondary earned him the opportunity to play for the Wolverines. Green added that Mattison is looking to come visit him on campus in Dallas in April.
One person impressed with Green on Sunday was Eugene Jackson, the defensive backs coach for The Opening. He noticed that Green—who read lips to understand what's happening on the field—wouldn't be the first person in line during drills, but he would be the third or fourth. For Green, it was all about watching what was done and then duplicating it.
Or, in some cases, doing it better.
"To be honest, you wouldn't know he's impaired," Jackson said. "I think he picks up a lot of things from being attentive to detail. Whoever is speaking, he's really focused on him. He fit in like any other kid playing ball. He held his own and he tested well. He has football skills and a lot of savvy."
Jackson said Green reminds him of former Ole Miss cornerback Tee Shepard, someone who also has a hearing impairment but overcame that obstacle to become a college football player.
"A lot of people didn't even know about Tee. He never used it as a crutch," Jackson said. "That's the same with Darrion."
Green has one offer, and he's hoping for a few more before national signing day in February 2017. He said he's received interest from Ole Miss, Texas, Oklahoma State, SMU and Tulane, among other programs.
"I'm looking for a good program," he said Sunday. "I want to play football and study pharmacy. I want to go to medical school. I want to say I go far after college."
Powers added: "I've always thought that recruiting is when talent meets opportunity. If the |
kick-off 4.45pm)
Saturday 10 October: Samoa v Scotland, St James Park (kick-off 2.30pm)Triple Eight has been unsuccessful with an appeal into the penalty handed out to Josh Cook in the final BTCC race of the weekend at Rockingham.
Cook was fined £500 and received three penalty points on his competition licence for an incident involving Team Parker’s Stephen Jelley, which marked his fourth ‘strike’ of the campaign.
Under championship regulations, that fourth strike triggered a one race ban, with Triple Eight appealing the decision in an attempt to ensure Cook is free to contest all three races at Silverstone this weekend.
A stewards hearing was held at the circuit on Friday in which the original decision was upheld, leaving Cook still facing the prospect of a ban from the opening race on Sunday.
However, Triple Eight has further appealed the decision to the MSA’s National Court, leading to question marks over whether the race ban will be implemented this weekend or whether Cook will race under appeal.If you raise money via Kickstarter and don’t deliver products you promised backers, the government will come after you.
In what is the first consumer protection lawsuit involving crowdfunding, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a suit against Ed Nash and his Nashville, Tenn.-based company, Altius Management.
Back in October 2012, Nash raised $25,146 from 810 backers — including at least 31 from Washington — for a playing card game called Asylum designed by a Serbian artist and managed by Nash. The campaign exceeded its funding goal of $15,000, meaning Nash was legally responsible for sending every backer the products they paid for.
But as the estimated delivery date of December 2012 passed, customers never received their Asylum product. In the months following, angry backers voiced their frustration on the ongoing Kickstarter page comment thread.
“Almost a year and no updates,” one backer wrote. “Ed Nash is in hiding.”
“This IS pathetic,” another said. “Kickstarter dont care at all same as Ed he dont care he has his money.”
According to the lawsuit, both Nash and Altius have not communicated with the backers since July 2013. The Attorney General’s office is seeking restitution for consumers, as much as $2,000 per violation of the Consumer Protection Act in civil penalties, and money to cover the state’s costs and attorneys’ fees.
“Consumers need to be aware that crowdfunding is not without risk,” Ferguson said in a statement. “This lawsuit sends a clear message to people seeking the public’s money: Washington state will not tolerate crowdfunding theft. The Attorney General’s Office will hold those accountable who don’t play by the rules.”
Joe Wallin, an attorney with Seattle-based Davis Wright Tremaine, said he’s not surprised by the Attorney General’s actions.
“If people mislead and defraud people, they can expect the government to take action,” Wallin said.
Kickstarter notes that the company “does not guarantee projects or investigate a creator’s ability to complete their project.” However, its Terms of Use page does note the legal obligation of people to deliver their product if funded. From the FAQ:
Is a creator legally obligated to fulfill the promises of their project? Yes. Kickstarter’s Terms of Use require creators to fulfill all rewards of their project or refund any backer whose reward they do not or cannot fulfill. (This is what creators see before they launch.) This information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn’t fulfill their promises. We hope that backers will consider using this provision only in cases where they feel that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfill.
We’ve reached out to Kickstarter for further comments.
The Altius Management website is blank, though some subpages are still online. The company’s LinkedIn page describes it as a “full-service entertainment and artist management firm.” Nash, meanwhile, is still listed as the president of the company on his LinkedIn.
It doesn’t appear that Nash is “hiding,” as one Kickstarter backer noted. His Facebook and Instagram accounts have been active.
Nash describes himself as an “experienced veteran of the music industry,” on his About.Me page.
“Now in his early 30’s, Ed is clearly outperforming his peers — as President of Altius Management, Ed represents a select roster of clients, now only in music, but in film, television, and comedy,” the page notes.
Check out the full lawsuit here:
Update, 5/2: Here’s the statement Kickstarter shared with us:
“Tens of thousands of incredible projects have been brought to life through Kickstarter. We want every backer to have an amazing experience, and we’re frustrated when they don’t. We hope this process brings resolution and clarity to the backers of this project.”
Update, 5/4: We reached out to the Washington State Attorney General’s office, and here’s the statement they gave us:
“This is a new frontier. We hope this sends a message to other potential project creators to take their responsibilities seriously. We look forward to bringing more cases, if necessary, to protect consumers.”Dear all,
Per request from QTUM team, Binance will upgrade QTUM wallet on 2017/10/05 4AM(UTC). We will suspend QTUM deposits during the upgrade. Trading will continue uninterrupted. Binance will re-enable QTUM tokens deposits as soon as we and the QTUM team agree that the upgrade is satisfactory.
If you hold QTUM in your own wallet and are unsure about how to deal with the technical aspects of the mainnet upgrade, simply deposit your QTUM to Binance before the upgrade, Binance will take care of it for you and ensure all your assets are transferred safely.
QTUM Team Official Announcement: Qtum ERC20 to Main Net Token Swap Announcement
Risk warning: cryptocurrency investment is subject to high market risk. Please make your investments cautiously. Binance will make best efforts to choose high quality coins, but will not be responsible for your investment losses.
Thank you for your support!
Binance Team
2017/09/25
Find us on
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/binance_2017Why are there so few women in highly paid careers as chief executives and, more generally, in finance, business, science, technology, engineering and mathematics? Analysing Danish data on young people whose educational and professional lives have been tracked over two decades since they started high school, this research suggests that part of the reason lies in restrictive bundling of courses, which deters talented young women from acquiring advanced mathematical skills. Changing the learning environment and designing the curriculum to identify and foster young women with high mathematical abilities would attract more of them and help to reduce the gender pay gap.
The university gender gap has been reversed in many countries in recent years, with greater participation among young women than among young men. Yet women remain underrepresented in high-powered and highly paid careers as chief executives and, more generally, in finance and business, and in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Our research assesses three potential explanations for this inequality:
First, are the labour market rewards for advanced mathematical skills lower for women than for men?
Second, are women less talented than men in terms of mathematical abilities?
Third, does the way we promote and teach mathematics in schools drive away talented young women?
The answers to these questions are: no, no, and yes! In particular, we show that restrictive course bundling in high school constitutes a barrier for the mathematical talents of young women.
Neither lack of talent nor lack of labour market rewards discourage young women from studying advanced mathematics at school
Why have these questions not already been answered? Gender differences in mathematics qualifications may explain a substantial part of the gender gaps in earnings and career outcomes, because the positive causal impact of advanced mathematics on earnings is sizeable (Altonji, 1995; Rose and Betts, 2004; Joensen and Nielsen, 2009; Falch et al, 2014; Cortes et al, 2014). Several studies (Paglin and Rufolo, 1990; Rose and Betts, 2004; Goldin et al, 2006; Altonji et al, 2012) touch on the link between the lack of mathematics qualifications among women and the gender wage gap.
Goldin et al (2006) also argue that better preparedness for university among young women – including completion of advanced mathematics and science courses in high school – is an important factor in the reversal from male-dominated universities to female-dominated ones in the United States.
But the causal impact of mathematics is still not well established. The problem is that the choice of mathematics depends on some of the same unobservable factors that affect subsequent education choices, career choices and earnings. Such unobservable factors include mathematical ability and motivation.
Tracking three cohorts of Danish high school students
How do we answer these questions? We analyse Danish administrative data for three cohorts of high school students whose education and labour market careers have been followed for 21 years after they started high school in 1984-86.
The study is based on a pilot scheme that unexpectedly and randomly allowed for a more flexible combination of advanced mathematics with other courses. Advanced mathematics teaches the students more advanced algebra and geometry compared with intermediate high school mathematics. It is also a prerequisite for entering most STEM fields at university.
Girls shy away from advanced mathematics at school because of too restrictive bundling of courses
In the traditional Danish high school, advanced mathematics could only be combined with advanced physics, but the pilot scheme offered the additional option of combining advanced mathematics with chemistry. This was a minor change in choice sets compared with the traditional advanced mathematics course option. It simply swapped advanced for intermediate chemistry and intermediate for advanced physics compared with the traditional advanced mathematics course option.
But this additional option had a substantial impact on the choices of students at schools that adopted the pilot scheme. Only one out of ten young women chose advanced mathematics before the pilot scheme, but this fraction doubled after it was introduced. The fraction also increased for young men: from four out of ten to half choosing mathematics.
Why would the advanced mathematics-chemistry option affect choice? In choosing what to study, students balance monetary and non-monetary benefits of particular courses against the costs. Both the benefits (higher wages, more desirable work, more options in higher education) and the costs (more effort, less appealing subject matter) depend on the ability and preferences of the student.
But benefits and costs are also affected by how courses are bundled together. We think of the advanced mathematics-chemistry option as lowering the costs of advanced mathematics. Viewed in this way, the pilot scheme resembles an experiment in which it is random whether a student unexpectedly gets the option to choose mathematics at a lower cost.
Our research conducts detailed validity checks of the assignment of the low cost mathematics pilot scheme. In essence, we show that prior students at the schools adopting the pilot scheme were not more prone to choose advanced mathematics and the student body at these schools did not have systematically different socio-economic and parental backgrounds.
The benefits of studying advanced mathematics
Our analysis indicates that young women at the top of the distribution of mathematical ability and young men at the middle of the distribution took more mathematics because of the cost reduction. These advanced mathematics qualifications provided the basis for more successful careers: almost 40% higher earnings on average. As Figure 1 shows, the average earnings gains were at least as high for women as for men.
Figure 1: Effects of having studied mathematics on earnings of marginal students
Note: This is a re-scaled version of Figure 3 in Joensen and Nielsen (2016).
The horizontal axis displays the probability of choosing advanced mathematics in high school. This is equivalent to the unobserved costs relative to the unobserved benefits of advanced mathematics that we label mathematical ability. Individual costs and benefits of taking more mathematics naturally depend on both abilities and preferences, but for simplicity, we label this unobserved latent variable mathematical ability.
The farther to the left in Figure 1, the higher are unobserved costs relative to benefits and the higher earnings it takes to induce the individual to choose mathematics. The vertical axis displays the causal impact of advanced mathematics on earnings 12-21 years after high school entry (in percentage terms). The dark red lines display the figures for women, while the light blue lines display the figures for men. The shaded bars highlight those who would be at the margin of choosing advanced mathematics if costs were reduced even further.
For young men and women with identical abilities, the earnings gains from studying mathematics are equal. This can be seen by the overlapping red and blue lines in Figure 1, which illustrate the earnings gains caused by advanced mathematics across the latent ability distribution.
Lost mathematical talent can be retrieved by allowing for more flexible bundling of courses in high school curricula
The fact that earnings gains are equal across genders for individuals with identical latent ability indicates that there is no gender discrimination in the labour market as to rewarding individuals with similar mathematical ability equally for their advanced mathematics qualifications. This also indicates that the underlying mathematical ability distribution is equal, at least around the top decile of the distribution.
What if costs were to be reduced even more? The shaded areas in Figure 1 show the students who would be at the margin of choosing mathematics if costs were to be reduced further. The figure reveals that the earnings benefits for the marginal young women are substantial when only 20% of them take mathematics, whereas the benefits for the marginal young men are not significantly different from zero when half of them already take mathematics.
This means that there is a considerable fraction of young women who would gain from choosing mathematics when only those of the highest ability choose mathematics. There is considerable unexploited mathematical talent among young women waiting to be realised.
Our results suggest that this mathematical talent can be retrieved by allowing for even more flexible bundling of courses in high school curricula. For example, one could allow advanced mathematics to be bundled with other advanced science courses that appeal more to young women.
How and why mathematics boosts earnings
Our study also analyses how advanced mathematics qualifications affect earnings. We find that mathematics moves women to the top of the earnings distribution, while it prevents men from falling to the bottom of the earnings distribution.
Overall, the effects across the mathematical ability distribution and the earnings distribution suggest that advanced mathematics pushes high mathematical ability students to the top of the earnings distribution. At the same time, it pulls more mediocre mathematical ability students from the bottom and it does not have a significant impact on low mathematical ability students.
Studying advanced mathematics provides a large earnings boost to high ability women
Why does studying advanced mathematics provide such a large income boost to high ability women? We find that they end up performing better in the education system, because it leads more of them to complete Master’s and PhD degrees instead of two- and four-year university degrees.
But the fact that advanced mathematics makes women drift away from the humanities subjects where they have been traditionally focused towards highly paid education in health and technical sciences also indicates that qualifications, preferences, self-confidence or self-perception may be affected by succeeding in advanced mathematics in high school. We even find that women become more likely to work in more competitive career tracks in the private sector and more likely to become chief executives.
The high earnings gains thus reflect the fact that high ability women switch towards more advanced and more mathematics-intensive fields at university. They also embark on more competitive career tracks, and subsequently climb higher up the earnings distribution and also, to some extent, the corporate hierarchy.
How to identify, attract and foster talent
The reasons why someone chooses mathematics or not are complex, but we believe that our conclusions generalize to populations where substantially more men than women choose the most mathematics-intensive university majors and careers.
This includes most West European countries and the United States. For example, the Netherlands and Sweden have high school tracking similar to the period we study in Denmark, while there is more freedom to choose and combine courses in US high schools and A-levels in the UK.
In 1988, following the period we study, there was a major reform of the Danish high school that broke up the course bundling and gave students as good as free course choice. This implied a further increase in students choosing advanced mathematics.
Fostering the most talented people to succeed in STEM careers could increase innovation and growth
In the two cohorts entering high school after the 1988 reform, 33% of young women and 64% of young men chose advanced mathematics (compared with 15% and 43% before). But the reform led to a drop in the number of students opting for advanced mathematics with a hard science course – physics or chemistry – as they were required to before the reform: only 10% of young women and 37% of young men.
The proportion of young women with advanced mathematics and science stabilized at around 8% for the cohorts entering high school during the following ten years. Over the same period, the gradual decline continued for young men such that only half as many of them (22%) chose mathematics and science in 2000 compared with 1984-87.
The gender gap in advanced mathematics and science skills fell by 57% over this 20-year period when restrictive course bundling was gradually loosened throughout the pilot period that we study and then abolished by the major reform: from a 31 percentage point difference in 1980 to a 13 percentage point difference in 2000. This suggests that restrictive course bundling matters for the gender gap, but it does not explain it fully.
Understand costs to improve qualifications and career outcomes
Many studies hint at cultural differences across countries, across US states, across education systems and across individual schools as important explanations for the gender gap in mathematics qualifications (Andreescu et al, 2008; Guiso et al, 2008; Bedard and Cho, 2010; Ellison and Swanson, 2010; Fryer and Levitt, 2010; Pope and Sydnor, 2010).
It seems clear that there is scope for improving young women’s mathematics qualifications and subsequent career outcomes by understanding why and how educational environments affect the costs of achieving mathematics qualifications: How is mathematics taught? How is mathematics promoted as a desirable subject to be studied? And, in our case, how is mathematics bundled with other courses?
There is a lost pool of mathematical talent among high ability young women
Our results suggest that neither lack of mathematical abilities nor labour market rewards discourage young women from taking advanced mathematics courses. Instead, it seems that access is deterred in part by too restrictive bundling of courses. This suggests there is a lost pool of mathematical talent among high ability young women that may be accessed by changing the costs embedded in the educational environment and the institutional set-up of mathematics teaching.
This may even be beneficial for the economy as a whole as identifying, attracting and fostering the most talented people to succeed in STEM careers could increase innovation, productivity and economic growth.
Why do talented young women shy away from advanced mathematics despite the economic benefits being so high? Our study provides hard evidence on one aspect of cost in the educational environment, which may be a barrier to attracting the most talented people and helping them to achieve their maximum potential. It also highlights that much more research is needed on how to identify, attract and foster this lost pool of talent.
This article summarizes ‘Mathematics and Gender: Heterogeneity in Causes and Consequences’ by Juanna Schrøter Joensen (University of Chicago) and Helena Skyt Nielsen (Aarhus University), Economic Journal, Volume 126, Issue 593 June 2016, pages 1129–1163.Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
Padres third baseman Chase Headley underwent an MRI exam on his calf injury and it confirmed the original diagnosis of a Grade 1 strain. Corey Brock of MLB.com reports that Headley is expected to miss another 2-3 weeks.
Last season Headley fractured his thumb during spring training and didn’t make his regular season debut until April 17. It’s unclear yet if this injury could put his status for Opening Day in jeopardy.
This is a hugely important season for Headley, as he’s on the verge of free agency and coming off a disappointing year in which he hit just.250 with 13 homers and a.747 OPS in 141 games after homering 31 times with an NL-leading 115 RBIs in 2012.
Follow @AaronGleemanImagine a police officer suddenly approaches and grabs you. This official does not speak the same language as you and, as you try to communicate -- to find out what the heck is going on -- the officer becomes increasingly aggressive. How would you feel? Scared? Isolated? Confused? Powerless?
This scenario is not as uncommon as you may think, and it occurs right here in America. Deaf individuals attempting to interact with hearing authorities, emergency responders or hospital staff are denied basic access to communication and, in some instances, their lives are put into jeopardy.
Recently, the story of California resident Jonathan Meister made headline news. Profoundly deaf, Meister was loading some personal items into his car at a friends house when the police arrived on the scene for a reported burglary. Because he was unable to hear the officer's orders, Meister did not comply with their requests. The police allegedly approached Meister and detained him by grabbing his arms behind his back which, for a person who uses ASL to communicate, can be extremely disempowering. Meister, panicking, pulled his arms away and attempted to let the officers know he was deaf. The police mistook his gesturing for aggression and used tasers and brute force to subdue the man. Beaten until he was unconscious, it turned out Meister was completely innocent of any wrongdoing.
A few months ago, 64-year-old Pearl Pearson alleged he was punched in the face until his eyes bled for failing to obey orders from Oklahoma Highway Patrol Officers that he could not hear. In February 2012 a deaf man named Robert Kim sued the City of Bridgeton, MO after he was tasered by police during a roadside incident in which he had fallen into life-threatening diabetic shock. Unable to communicate, and in a state of disorientation, the man was berated by an officer and tasered at least three times before receiving the medical attention he so badly needed.
A hospital stay can be a frightening experience for anyone, but imagine how powerless it feels to be in a medical setting where you cannot communicate. A recent example of this occurred over in the U.K. when a deaf couple was not provided an interpreter during the birth of their son. The couple claims the London hospital did not provide a sign language interpreter during the labor or birth of their child, nor during the eight day hospital stay that followed; although they were told repeatedly that there was an interpreter on the way. Because they were denied access, their monumental life event became a frustrating, confusing nightmare.
While the Americans With Disabilities Act requires equal accommodation in public settings, hospitals have been charged time and time again with neglecting the needs of deaf patients. Many people assume it is acceptable to write messages back and forth with a deaf patient. This is incorrect. Some individuals who use sign language as their primary means of communication are not familiar enough with written language to have an important medical discussion on paper. Without an interpreter available, a deaf person who uses ASL to communicate simply can not receive the same level of care as a hearing individual -- this is not equality.
A few years ago in Florida, a lawsuit was brought against Baptist Medical Center by seven hard of hearing patients who claim they were denied their ADA rights. The patients all reported feeling neglected, isolated and afraid when they were not provided sign language interpreters during their hospital stays. The plaintiffs were not seeking financial compensation in the case, they just wanted to make sure no future patients endured the same treatment.
In recent news, we have seen the tragic story of Alfred Weinrib, an 82-year-old deaf man from Long Island who died after three hospitals failed to give him his diagnosis. Weinrib died of malignant melanoma without ever being told he had cancer. Over the course of seven months, Weinrib was denied basic human rights, even attempting suicide after his pleas for assistance using the bathroom went ignored by employees at the facility. This is sick. And wrong. And absolutely not equality.
Suicide attempts are not that unusual among deaf individuals who are unable to communicate. When they feel trapped and alone in an institution that does not respect them, it can be hard for people to see any alternative. A few years ago, the family of Shawn Francisco Vigil filed a lawsuit after Vigil attempted to hang himself in a Denver jail, and then died a few days later. Vigil, who was serving a one month sentence, was segregated from the general prison population because he was deaf, and was never provided an interpreter for any interactions which occurred within the jail -- including a mental health screening. Had he received the same preliminary treatment as hearing prisoners, and not been forced into a form of solitary confinement, it is possible this 23-year-old man could have rehabilitated himself and gone on to live a productive life. But now we will never know.
The Americans with Disabilities Act provides legal protection for deaf Americans, yet it's a constant battle to have these rights recognized. Deaf individuals aren't asking for special treatment, they only want access to the the same quality of experience hearing people have.
Communication is especially important in situations which are already traumatic, isolating and stressful. Times of personal crisis are not when we want to be advocating for our basic human rights.I’m a feminist, which means that I reject societal beauty standards, advocate for equal pay, and strongly believe that women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies. But most of all, I support Lena Dunham’s right to choose to be horrible.
After all, it’s Lena’s life, and she has every right to make the terrible, god-awful choices that she does. Far be it from me to judge! You see, when I’m supporting Lena Dunham’s right to choose to say ghastly things, I’m also supporting every time Lena Dunham chooses not to do so. The point is that Lena Dunham can do whatever she wants, and that no one has the right to tell her to like, just shut up for one fucking second. Even if she really should.
Some people argue that Lena Dunham’s choice to be so terrible is dangerous and immoral. But I believe that my own morals have no place in Lena Dunham’s shitty decision making, or anyone’s decision to be a blight on mainstream culture. People who believe that Lena’s choice is harmful may not realize that there are actually well-tested, legal processes that guarantee her right to make terrible judgments.
The choice to be publicly appalling is a difficult one, but as long as one follows the appropriate procedure guidelines (public apology through Instagram or Twitter, showy proof of good-doing, money-backed projects already in the works), Lena can emerge from her decision with little to no harm done to her. Isn’t that what makes our country great?
Seeing Lena Dunham choose to be an absolute nightmare reminds me that, if I faced the same questions that she did, that I too could be an absolute nightmare. Growing up, I was told not to perpetuate racism or trivialize traumatic experiences or repeatedly put my foot in my mouth, but Lena Dunham shows me that it’s actually much more prevalent than my school, family, and religious institutions led me to believe. Why not just kick a dog or yell obscenities at old women on the street or tell my mom she’s a bitch? Lena Dunham’s behavior tells me that I can kind of do whatever and call it a joke and never learn from my mistakes and that’s honestly my right as a woman.
At the end of the day, Lena Dunham’s choice to be completely irresponsible and misinformed only affects her life, and that’s why we have no right to tell her she can’t. Unless, of course, she’s enforcing terrible stigmas or using her platform to say racist things, or normalizing her behavior for younger women to imitate and champion. Then that would be a fucking disaster!Ilkay Gundogan is relishing being out of his comfort zone at Manchester City.
The Germany midfielder became Pep Guardiola's first signing as City manager despite being on the mend from surgery to repair a dislocated knee cap – an injury that ruled him out of Euro 2016.
Gundogan, 25, was recalled to Joachim Low's national squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Northern Ireland, having started four matches for City last month.
The early season form of Fernandinho, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne means competition for places in midfield areas is likely to remain fierce at the Etihad Stadium, but Gundogan is enjoying the challenge as he prepares for Sunday's top-of-the-table clash at Tottenham in the Premier League.
"I just wanted to start from zero," he told the Daily Telegraph. "At Dortmund I played five years there and I had standing there and I was quite sure when I was fit that I would play and I was one of the players needed to drive the team forward and lead the others.
"Maybe not a captain but I lead by the way I play and I knew my position there. I wanted to come out of that comfort zone and join a new team, with a new manager, with a new club, a new country, a new league, a very competitive league. It’s not easy to handle all that, I knew that.
"Everyone told me the Premier League is the hardest. So I just wanted to try because I had nothing to lose.
"So I think for me it was the perfect time. I’m 25-years-old and I achieved everything in Germany.
"Also the combination with Pep and the club – it’s perfect for my type of football. It was not a difficult decision.
"It was quite easy. I enjoyed my years at Dortmund and thank and appreciate them but I wanted to go and show [elsewhere] how I play football. That’s what I mean by wanting to start from zero."
Gundogan reports a "very good relationship" with Guardiola and is getting to grips with being at the hub of the former Barcelona boss' trademark high-tempo, possession-based style.
"It's hard work, very hard work, but we should never forget that it is fun," he added.
"There is sometimes a danger that we all, not just players, but everyone forgets that the main thing of this sport is to have fun, to enjoy it, to enjoy the moments."Some of you are still stuck in life. You feel hopeless. You don’t have the motivation to start anything. You have the same routine every single day. It’s predictable. Life isn’t exciting.
You feel lazy or unmotivated cause you’re stuck. You have dreams, but you always fail to take action to make them come true. What will it take for you to finally get started?
I know what it took for me to get unstuck. It wasn’t hope. It wasn’t an inspirational quote. It wasn’t a miracle. It’s something that I possessed, but rarely used.
After years of getting no results, I realized one night I needed to do something about my life.
Like Obi-Wan Kenobi would say to me, “Use the Force, Benny”.
Let’s first talk about why you might feel stuck in life or not getting anything done.
Why do you feel stuck?
Feeling stuck doesn’t mean your life sucks. You have many things to be thankful for in your life, but the part that’s missing completely makes us forget what’s good.
Everyone’s life has the potential to be how they want it. As humans, we’re the only species on earth that can change the course of our lives.
Yes, you are human! If you’re not and you’re reading this then that’s pretty eerie. But since you’re human that means you can change your life.
Feeling stuck means that you’re not being fulfilled in a way that excites you. Where you are now is so far from where want to be. In that gap lies frustration and hopelessness.
I thought my life really sucked when I felt stuck, but when I looked around me at the time, I had lots to be thankful for. Simple things like good health, a house, a working car, food everyday and running hot water.
But the part that was missing from my life overshadowed all the good things I had.
If you feel stuck in life, I’m here to tell you there is hope. I’ve been there.
Your brain: Friend and Foe
Your brain can be your best friend or worst enemy. Let me explain.
A lot of things we do every day goes into auto pilot. We’ve done it so many times that our brain allows us to do it without much thinking. That can be great. It saves us from having to think about every single little thing we do.
If we had to, our minds would be exhausted by the end of the day.
Have you ever driven somewhere and when you got there you didn’t remember driving there? You weren’t drunk or on drugs (hope not at least). You were on autopilot.
When you wake up in the morning do you have a routine? Probably. You make coffee. You check Facebook. You check emails. That’s your brain on auto pilot. Your brain is your friend in these situations.
The brain can be your enemy cause it’s protects you too much. An important duty of the brain is to protect you from dangerous situations, but it also protects you like an overbearing parent.
Anytime you do something new, your mind will say, “Whoa….slow down there! Wait wait wait. Stop!!”
You stop. Then you start to think about that decision. Your inner voice starts to creep in. You then doubt yourself. You have second thoughts. Then you don’t proceed any further.
You’ve stopped before you’ve even started.
You might be doing something new and exciting. Something you’ve dreamt of doing. It’s not dangerous. It’s not illegal. It’s just new and that’s why your brain stops you.
That is the problem.
Your brain wants to protect you. That’s why it likes routines. It doesn’t like change. Your brain knows what you’re doing has been approved of many times. No warning signals go off.
But if we want to make our lives more exciting, get out of the same old boring routine, or achieve our goals, we need to break though that resistance.
Force Yourself to Do It
We need to break through what is trying to hold us back. In this case, there’s only one way to break through the resistance.
You have to force yourself.
You just have to suck it up and do it. No complaining. No whining. Block everything else out of your mind.
Stop waiting for that one moment when the stars align. Stop waiting for when you feel like starting.
That push your looking for isn’t in one famous quote that’ll inspire you. Nor from another personal development book searching for that one sentence or paragraph that instantly turns you from unhappy to fulfilled in the blink of an eye.
Trust me it’s not there because I wasted so many years searching for something that’d get me unstuck.
I kept waiting and waiting. Then I realized it was up to me to get started.
Remember being a kid? Our parents had to force us to do so many things.
Take a shower. Brush our teeth. Eat vegetables. Do our homework. Stop playing video games and go to sleep.
We didn’t like it most of the time, but we agreed to.
If our parents never forced us, we wouldn’t have done any of those things on our own. I know I wouldn’t have!
Now that we’re adults, who’s going to force you to do what you need to do?
Nobody.
That’s right. This push that you need isn’t going to come from anyone else.
Will your parents force you to starting writing that book? Probably not. They can’t punish you now by sending you to your room.
No one will force you to finally start pursing your passion. Only you can do that.
Who’s going to force you to get off your butt and take some action in your life?
No one. No one’s coming to save you. That’s the truth.
It’s not because they don’t care, but cause they have a million of their own things to worry about.
Even if you paid a lot of money for a coach, they’re not going to care if you don’t take their advice and do something about it.
No one cares about your whining and your sob stories about why you can’t. After awhile that whining gets annoying.
If you know something has to be done, but you’re not doing it, then you’re going to need to approach it differently.
Take your foot off the brakes and step on the gas!
The Three Second Rule
Pick up artists teach the three second rule. In a book called “The Game” By Neil Strauss (great book if you want to read about the world of pick up artists), he goes from average frustrated guy to a pick up guru. Along the way he learns what the best pick up artists do.
One important lesson for beginners is the three second rule.
It’s vital for beginners. Why? Think about what the hardest thing is for a guy when meeting girls. It’s not the small talk or how to get a phone number. The hardest thing is approach a woman and start talking!
The three second rule states that you must approach a woman within three seconds of noticing her. You might think that’s way too fast. What will you say? What will you do? What will you say if she says this or that? So many things to think about!
The point is to stop that inner voice from talking to you. You don’t have time to be nervous. You don’t have time to second guess yourself. You don’t have time for limiting beliefs.
It doesn’t give you time to freak out. It also keeps you from freaking her out by staring at her like a stalker all night.
The only way to overcome your fear of approaching beautiful women is to not think too much about it and just do it.
How does the three second rule apply to you?
Do you ever get an impulse to do something, don’t do it, and then regret it?
If you applied the three second rule, you wouldn’t give your inner voice to talk you out of doing something you want to do.
Let’s say you want more free time so you want to get up an hour early. We all know how hard it is to get up earlier. The moment the alarm goes off, we hit the snooze button and back to sleep. Just a few more minutes we think.
How long does it take for you to fall back asleep? Depending how early it is, it could be fast. Alarm rings again. We hit snooze again. Then all chances of waking up early goes away as we wake up our normal time.
What if you gave yourself the three second rule? You had three seconds to pull off the blankets and stand up and start moving.
You wouldn’t have time to think “Should I snooze or should I get up early? I’m so tired so I need more sleep, but I really want to (your important task) before I have to go to work.”
Getting right out of bed is so hard to do! It takes a huge amount of force. The bed is so comfortable and we feel so sleepy.
Don’t think about how you feel. Of course you feel sleepy!
If you listen to how |
never seen in any surveillance footage. Detectives reviewed hours of footage, he said.
Now, more than a month later, police have determined that the incident she described did not happen.
The woman could be charged with filing a false police report, according to Lt. Lige. The prosecutor's office will be reviewing the case, which could include a felony charge because the crime she reported -- ethnic intimidation -- is a felony.
The woman reported the incident to police a few days after the election, in which a surge of hate crimes were reported all across the country.Some species of dinosaur were astoundingly enormous compared to anything alive on land today, which becomes obvious the moment you stand in the shadow of their skeletons in a museum. This remains one reason why we remain fascinated with these long-extinct beasts.
The colossal size of the long-necked species such as Brachiosaurus stretches the limits of our imaginations, and exhausts our vocabulary. And nothing quite gets the hyperbole flowing like the discovery of a gigantic new dinosaur.
So, meet Dreadnoughtus, the 65-ton, 26-metre-long plant-eating behemoth from the latest Cretaceous – 84-66 million years ago – found in Argentina. It is named after the British battleship HMS Dreadnought, the first in a series of ships that sparked an arms race between Britain and Germany before and during WWI.
Mark A. Klingler, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
This find comes only a few months after another team of Argentine researchers reported a slightly older, and apparently even larger, long-necked dinosaur. That discovery dominated the science news for days, to the point where elderly relatives, who never took much of an interest in my career in science, were phoning me up to ask how something so huge could have possibly existed.
Although it may stretch logic, these animals were real. They were living, breathing, evolving organisms that, at least to me, are more fantastic than anything humans have created in legends, myths or even deliberate hoaxes.
Lacovara Lab, Drexel University
But we must be sceptical about such claims. Sometimes palaeontologists are a little too keen to extrapolate, based on limited fossil evidence, and proclaim that the tiny piece of the weathered finger bone they just uncovered came from the biggest, heaviest, fiercest dinosaur to ever live.
In this case, however, our understanding of Dreadnoughtus is not based on a few scraps, but is represented by more than half of the skeleton. Ken Lacovara at Drexel University and his team of palaeontologists found parts of the skull, several vertebrae and ribs, most of the shoulders and forelimb, and much of the pelvis and hindlimb. Their report has been published in Scientific Reports.
Lacovara et al
This amount of fossil material found is unprecedented for a large long-necked dinosaur. Other contenders for the “biggest dinosaur” crown usually are known from just a few bones. And while we can be confident that these dinosaurs were huge, accurately estimating their weight and length can be difficult. Not so for Dreadnoughtus. We can be very confident that this Mesozoic monster really did weigh about six times as much as an elephant, and was longer than two double-decker buses.
There is an unmistakable wow factor with Dreadnoughtus. It was old, it was huge, it is pretty hard to imagine actually watching one of these things move or eat. But does it mean anything more?
Lacovara Lab, Drexel University
Answering this question will be the next challenge for the impressive team of palaeontologists who described the colossus. Now that we finally have a relatively complete skeleton of a huge long-necked dinosaur, we can start to better understand how these creatures functioned.
These dinosaurs push the limits of what evolution is capable of, and we are only beginning to fathom how they lived as the largest animals to ever roam the Earth."John Milton And His Poetry" October 21, 1931
Columbia University is making a landmark in American scholarship and a monument to a great poet’s fame. Under the general editorship of Frank Allen Patterson, a staff of editors consisting of Professors Abbott, Ayres, Clark, Erskine, Haller, Krapp, and Trent, are bringing together the manuscripts and the early editions of Milton's works, for the purpose not only of giving us a final text but of publishing the first complete edition of the poet ever to appear.1 Over a period of about five years the volumes will come off the press until eighteen have been issued. The format and material construction of the books are exemplary; the paper is a fine quality of rag, the binding of the library edition a durable brown cloth; and the printing has been expertly done by Mr. William Edwin Rudge. The two first volumes, each of which is divided into two parts separately bound, contain all the poetry, English, Italian, Latin and Greek. These are now before us.
From the time of Addison's praise of Milton in 1694, the stream of criticism has carried the poet to our own day, the most referred to, but, in the last half-century, the least read of all the great poets. The scholars know him but the poets do not, and on the whole it must be said that we flatter him with neglect. We must not be misled by the dubious fact that every year sees the publication of enough critical routine about Milton to bemuse the whole of any man's time. In the most important sense the poet is without influence. His style, his "philosophy," his methods of composition, above all his attitude toward his material, have had no effect on the best poets since Tennyson. There is enough exegesis left to be done on Milton to entertain the profession of letters forever: "Lycidas" alone is one of those jokers that will always beguile the historical critic who cannot understand what is meant when one says that it is a great poem meaning nothing. Textual interpretation and biography have their own value; one hopes that all the problems may some time be solved. There is one new and great problem for the historical critic, who, however, had also better be a philosopher: we now hear that the Massonized Milton was fiction, that Milton's Puritanism was the most convenient set of terms in that age into which he might throw the whole energy of an insight that exceeded all brands of nonconformity. This new Milton will probably win a large new following among those men who do not know they are living in the backwash of the Renaissance and can thus enjoy it. The new Milton is a Renaissance hero. It is to be hoped that neither Masson nor the Renaissance can keep him from being a poet, or us from seeing that no historical controversy is so important as the task of making him available to the living poets. If the complete edition of his works is to perform its full duty, it must make Milton influence poetry once more. In order to accomplish this, he must stand before us in the full significance of his supreme craftsmanship.
In a brief essay such a discussion can barely be started; yet one may suggest two ways in which the moderns might read Milton with profit. The first is a craftsman; the second, closely connected with the first, goes deeper, and raises the question that Mr. I. A. Richards has discouraged us about: This is the place of poetic fiction in the modern mind. Modern critical practice explicitly demands of poetry a great many features that were taken for granted in Milton's time, or called by different names. The early eighteenth century said perspicuity; we say psychological sincerity—that is, does the poetry come out of an actual core of experience? (The corollary to this demand, one of our most typical dogmas, that the experience must be personal, or even almost purely sensory, I pass by as irrelevant to the main issue.) Another demand that we habitually make is this: Is the poetry peculiarly the poet's own?
He must speak in his own character; his rhythms and images must bear his personal stamp, and in every case it must be said, for him to win our praise, that he has created a style. This personal or psychic kind of sincerity means that the poet must be careful to distinguish his sensations from those of other poets, for this alone will make the poetry his and suffuse over his imagery a certain emotional tone that gives to the verse its specific esthetic quality. To demand these qualities is only just; Milton had them—from the point of view of his own age. Does Milton, in these respects, survive our judgment? We believe that an elaborate mythology lies beyond the possibility of experience, and we denounce the continued use of mythological personages in poetry as unreal and insincere. No poet has ever experienced the physicist's ether, or the mathematician's quantum; nevertheless, such fictions complete gloriously amongst us against Chaos or the Spirit of the Wood.
At what moment in Milton's poetry does this relative insincerity first appear? I call it relative because it is only a matter of taste in fiction. In the early poems—for example, the "Nativity Ode," which before "Lycidas" has the most elaborate machinery—there is not, even as we see it, any pretense of "belief" in the physical existence of the Christian and pagan gods who amplify the theme. They are there as allusion, as metaphor; and a metaphor, at that stage of the mental process which the term implies, has never been a mythology. It is so with Arcades, and with the twin poems; so barefaced is the make-believe in "Comus," it is so with that poem—although the full-bodied and subtly contrived anthropomorphisms of Comus seem to promise an even more elaborate performance of that kind. In Milton's poetry from first to last there is a steady growth of the personifying power, a sheer love of sensible fictions for their own sake, beginning with the casual figures in the early work and mounting to the systematized mythology of the epic. Was Milton less sincere at the end than at the beginning?
There is no need of discussing the quality of the early, style; if we like it we can surely accept the kind of experience that it sets forth, and we nearly all do; which means that we are perfectly capable of accepting an incipient myth, a small fiction but not a large fiction. It is not that Milton was increasingly irresponsible about reality, and insincere, but rather that the character of our imaginations has changed and taken on a defect. On principle, the "Epitaph on the Marchioness of Winchester" requires as much willing suspension of disbelief as Raphael's story of the war in Heaven: we can make a little suspension but not a big one.
For we fail to see any great portions of our experience as wholes: I use the verb see to mean actual vision, which as Milton employed it reduced the chief human passions to a perceptible scale, for the sake of truth, certainly, but mostly for our richest kind of delight. To represent as fiction, and as a whole, any human experience, one must make a fable, and when the fable is typical of one kind of action it becomes a myth, which conveys its meaning dramatically. When we read poetry we bring to it the pseudo-scientific habit of mind; we are used to joining things up in vague disconnected processes in terms that are abstract and thin, and so our sensuous enjoyment is confined to the immediate field of sensation. We are bewildered, helpless, confronted with one of those immensely remote, highly sensuous and perfectly make-believe worlds of poetry that rise above our scattered notions of process. The dramatic character of the myth offends us with its pretentiousness; it is hateful to I'homme moyen et sensuel, who is modern man; for it implies that the action is undertaken by superior beings (who are not allowed to exist), reaching beyond our personal experience. Our great myths make their appeal to those people, at last remarkably few, who have a sense of destiny, of poise above life, and who look at the vast distraction of the world, its shift and disintegration, with a controlling detachment.
Mythology as Milton understood it was no mere pictorial, exercise. We must remember that the greatest Anglo-Saxon master of the myth is the most perfectly self-conscious technician in English poetry: without the sense of myth, of fable, of ordered wholes in experience, he would have had no protection against our modern disease—miscellaneous sensation. He never wrote the same poem twice; there is no repetition. He was not overwhelmed by personal emotion; his personal emotion was caught up and purified by a succession of objective themes. Not even any two sonnets are technically the same; and what one expects is actually true—the emotion of every sonnet is distinctive. The moment he touched his medium, the feeling began to be transformed. There is, in the background of all the poems, an exalted presence, but there are no special Miltonic emotions comparable to the Byronic melancholy or the Leopardian despair. He is capable of every effect, but of no two effects twice. His great secret, as Saintsbury said, is his infallible sense of form: a violent, passionate man, lie did not let passion betray him into incomplete expression. He is the supreme English craftsman because he never violated the exact relation between his chosen subject and its demands upon his technique. His one unfinished poem, "The Passion," is evidence of a great artistic integrity; his instinct for form told him he had better drop it (it was "beyond his years"), although the last stanza is his high point in the minor poems before "Lycidas":
Or should I thence hurried on viewles wing. Take up a weeping on the Mountains wilde. The gentle neighborhood of grove and spring Would soon unbosom all their Echoes milde, And I (for grief is easily beguild) Might think th' infection of my sorrows loud Had got a race of mourners on som pregnant cloud.
Unless we are convinced Spenglerians, it is time for the Miltonic sense of form to reappear in Anglo-American poetry. It is high time that the modern poets, who feel strongly other seventeenth-century influences, came to a better view of Milton's significance for style. This does not mean that we must repeat "Lycidas," or try to write Miltonic blank verse; I have no specifications for modern style. In his time (as in ours) there was a good deal to be said for the Spenserian school against the technical breakdown to which the Jacobean dramatists had ridden English verse. Webster is a great moment in English style, but the drama was falling off, and blank verse had to survive in a non-dramatic form, which required a more rigid treatment than the stage could offer it. In substance, it needed stiffer and less sensitive perceptions, a more artificial grasp of sensation to offset the supersensitive awareness of the school of Shakespeare, a verification less imitative of the flow of sensation and more architectural. What poetry needed Milton was able to give. It was Arnold who, in the 1853 preface to his own poems, remarked that the sensational imagery of the Shakespearean tradition had not been without its baleful effect on poetry down to Keats:
One may imitate a passage in Shakespeare without penetrating to the mind that wrote it, but to imitate Milton one must be Milton; one must have all of Milton's resources in myth behind the impulse: it is the myth, ingrained in his very being, that makes the style. From Milton we learn only the meaning of craftsmanship—without a prescription for reproducing it; but it is a great lesson. There is no discouragement in the fact that Milton has never been successfully imitated (even Keats failed), and never will be.
It is still easy for us to oppose Spenser and Milton, and follow Donne. The school of T. S. Eliot is the modern school of Donne; it most probably would have appeared (such is the atmosphere of the age) without Donne's direct influence. In this generation we have had little use for Milton's lack of sensation, for his abstract orotundity. The enormous complexity of the sensibility in "Lycidas” contains no surprises, no shocks, and we do not like it. We like the oxymoron of feeling in the school of Donne. Milton asks us to attend not to his experience as such, but to his mythology; and this is the source of our belief in his psychological insincerity. He asks us to consider his fictions. Does he ask us to believe them? He asks us to contemplate them, and then to think what we please. We cannot see that "Paradise Lost" no more than "Lycidas” was written to enhance the idea of God; God and the death of Edward King—whom Milton had known slightly and probably disliked—were seized upon to satisfy a deep sense for form: Milton was devout, and the glorification or God was dose to his personal impulse, but the finished work shows his motive to have been something else. The cabinetmaker takes the need of his patron for a table as the occasion to exercise his gift for form; Milton's poetry just as mysterious, and just as simple, as that.
There is still work to be done on Milton's mythology. Possibly the critic ought to assume that it was qualitatively present at the outset of his career, and then grew from the acorn. He demands that we accept it, for that is all he is. If we cannot do this, the inference is in no one favor in the matter of metaphysical knowledge. But it against us in another respect; it means that we have lost the imagination. Milton does not ask us to believe his heavenly fictions in any sense that he did not believe them; Lucifer needs the same quality of belief as "old Damcetas.” He does ask us to exercise as much philosophical insight, passively, as he actively puts into his poetry. His philosophy is neither right nor wrong; it is comprehensive. It covers and puts in its philosophical place the modern shortsightedness that we shortsightedly call the revolution of the human mind, which is said to have made Milton's poetry obsolete. There has never been a revolution of the mind: There are only styles in fiction. Milton's fiction is not in our style, and it seems inadequate to the solution of our problems. It is not diverting; it has no personality. We do not like it because it lacks these modern features; because it is creative in the purest sense. I think it was Warton who said that "Lycidas" was the absolute test of the sense of poetry; it still is. It is well to have one fixed criterion, for there is no abstract formula under the glassy cool translucent wave.In this post, I’ll show you how to use the winapi crate to display a simple MessageBox on Windows. I’ll also describe the process I used to come up with the code. The end result should look something like this:
To get started, let’s create a new project using Cargo:
cargo new --bin hello_world
This will create a new folder called hello_world in your current working directory. The --bin argument tells Cargo that compiling this project will result in an executable (.exe). We now need to figure out what API to call to get a MessageBox. I googled “Windows MessageBox api” and found the MessageBox() function on MSDN. The “Requirements” table states that this function exists in User32.dll, so we’ll need to use the corresponding crate user32-sys. Inside the hello_world folder, you will find a file called Cargo.toml. Open that file in your favorite text editor. We’re going to add dependencies on the winapi and user32-sys crates. Find the line that reads [dependencies] and add the following below it:
winapi = "0.2.7" user32-sys = "0.2.0"
This tells Cargo that our project depends on the winapi and user32-sys crates. When we build our project, Cargo will automatically download those crates and build them for us.
Now that we have finished setting up the project metadata, we can start writing the code. Open the file src/main.rs in your text editor. Currently it should look like this:
fn main() { println!("Hello, world!"); }
The first thing we need to do is tell the Rust compiler that we want to use the winapi and user32-sys crates in this file. To do that, add the following lines to the top of the file:
extern crate user32; extern crate winapi;
We now need to figure out what the function signature should look like in Rust. Here’s the signature in C:
int WINAPI MessageBox( _In_opt_ HWND hWnd, _In_opt_ LPCTSTR lpText, _In_opt_ LPCTSTR lpCaption, _In_ UINT uType );
If you aren’t familiar with native Windows programming, this probably looks very strange to you. For simplicity, you can think of WINAPI, _In_opt_, and _In_ as attributes describing the things that follow their usage. Ignoring those, we get this:
int MessageBox( HWND hWnd, LPCTSTR lpText, LPCTSTR lpCaption, UINT uType );
Well that looks a lot more like C. HWND is a handle (pointer) to a window, LPCTSTR is a const string, and UINT is, of course, an unsigned integer. You may be asking, “What kind of string is LPCTSTR? ASCII or Unicode?” and the answer is slightly complicated. In normal Windows C/C++ programming, there is a preprocessor symbol called UNICODE which determines whether a LPCTSTR is a Unicode string or an ASCII string. This preprocessor symbol is also responsible for determining which MessageBox function gets called (You can read more about this here). Looking further down on the MSDN page, we see that the Unicode and ASCII names for this function are MessageBoxW and MessageBoxA respectively. This is important because we will need to call the correct version of the function ourselves. In this example, we’ll call the ASCII version ( MessageBoxA ).
We know from reading the documentation that the first parameter is a pointer to the MessageBox’s parent window and that we can simply pass NULL since the parameter is optional ( _In_opt_ ). We also know that the next two parameters are ASCII strings for the text and title of the MessageBox. The final parameter is a bit flag of display options which control which buttons show up and what icon to use. The documentation contains a list of constants we can choose but for this example, we’ll use MB_OK to get an “Ok” button and MB_ICONINFORMATION to set the icon to the informational exclamation point. Since this is a bit flag, we’ll combine those values with the bitwise OR operator ( | ) to get a single value. In pseudo-code, this looks like:
MessageBoxA( NULL, "Hello, world!", "MessageBox Example", MB_OK | MB_ICONINFORMATION );
At this point, we need to figure a few things out in order to write our code in Rust:
Where are MessageBoxA, MB_OK, and MB_ICONINFORMATION declared? We need to know this so we can import them. What is the equivalent of NULL? Idiomatically this would be None but we actually need a raw pointer. How do we pass a Rust string into a C function?
To find the answer to #1, I opened the documentation for winapi and used the search box at the top to look for those names. I found them in user32 (for MessageBoxA ) and winapi::winuser (for MB_OK and MB_ICONINFORMATION ). Let’s add use statements for those to our main.rs file right after the extern crate lines at the top:
use user32::MessageBoxA; use winapi::winuser::{MB_OK, MB_ICONINFORMATION};
This brings those names into scope and allows us to use them without prefixes in the rest of this file.
On to #2. A quick Google search shows that we should use the std::ptr module to get a NULL pointer. Since the winapi crate defines MessageBoxA as taking a HWND value which is a mut pointer, we’ll use the std::ptr::null_mut() function.
Finally, #3. The standard library’s ffi module already has a CString type for precisely this purpose. We simply need to create a new value of this type and use the.as_ptr() function to get a raw pointer to pass to the C API.
Putting this all together, we’ll add a use statement for CString and an unsafe block to call MessageBoxA because it is marked unsafe resulting in:
extern crate user32; extern crate winapi; use std::ffi::CString; use user32::MessageBoxA; use winapi::winuser::{MB_OK, MB_ICONINFORMATION}; fn main() { let lp_text = CString::new("Hello, world!").unwrap(); let lp_caption = CString::new("MessageBox Example").unwrap(); unsafe { MessageBoxA( std::ptr::null_mut(), lp_text.as_ptr(), lp_caption.as_ptr(), MB_OK | MB_ICONINFORMATION ); } }
You can find all of the code from this post in this repository. Thanks for reading!In a country with low rankings on many indicators of social progress, women and girls are the most disadvantaged.
More than 80 percent of Afghan women are illiterate. Women’s life expectancy is only 45 years, lower than that of men, mostly because of the very high rates of death during pregnancy. Forced marriage and under-age marriage are common for girls, and only 13 percent of girls complete primary school, compared with 32 percent of boys.
The cult of war left women particularly vulnerable. For years now they have been the victims of abduction and rape. Hundreds of thousands were left war widows, mired in desperate poverty. Particularly in the last years of Taliban rule, even widows, who had no one to provide for them, were not allowed to work or leave the home unaccompanied by a male relative.
Fear of armed militiamen left women afraid even to walk in front of the police station in the town of Bamian, recalled Nahida Rezai, 25, the first woman to join the police force here. “And I came right into the police station,” she said, admitting to some fears.
At the beginning, she had some problems. “I received some threats by telephone,” she said. “But now I am working as a police officer, I think nothing can deter me.”
Nekbakht, 20, joined the police force, too, and now helps her father, a casual laborer, support the family. They live in a single room tucked into the cliff face of Bamian valley, where homeless refugees have found shelter in caves inhabited centuries ago by Buddhist pilgrims.
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“It was very difficult to find a job,” she said. “We had economic problems, and with the high prices life was difficult. Finally, I decided if I could not find another job, I should go into the police.” After joining nine months ago, she likes the job so much she says she is encouraging other women to join, too.
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Indeed, growing economic hardship has helped drive some women to join the work force or to take other bold steps as they try to help their families cope with a severe drought, rising food prices and unemployment.
That was the case for Zeinab Husseini, 19. Her father, with seven daughters and no sons, says he had little choice when he needed a second driver to help at home.
“I like driving,” she said, seated at the wheel of her family’s minibus. “I was interested from childhood to learn to drive and to buy a car. I was the first woman in Bamian to drive.”
But over all, it is the return to relative peace here that has allowed for women’s progress, said the governor, Habiba Sarabi, a doctor and educator who ran underground literacy classes during the Taliban regime.
“If the general situation improves, it can improve the situation for women,” she said. She pushed to have policewomen so they could handle women’s cases, and there are now 14 women on the force, she said.
Some of the changes in Bamian have been echoed in more conservative parts of Afghanistan. But even the success stories sometimes end up showing the continuing dangers for women who take jobs to improve their lot. In Kandahar Province, one of the most noted female police officials in the country, Capt. Malalai Kakar, was gunned down on her way to work on Sept. 28.
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In Bamian Province, Mrs. Sarabi, 52, has been the driving force behind women’s progress in public life. Her appointment by President Hamid Karzai three years ago as governor of Bamian was a bold move when jihadi leaders were still so powerful in the towns and countryside.
Some opponents are still agitating for her removal, Mrs. Sarabi said. “It is not only because they are against women,” she said, “but they do not want to lose power, so they make trouble for the governor.”
She mentioned her problems to Laura Bush, the first lady, who visited Bamian in June to show support for education and women’s projects in Afghanistan. Mrs. Bush’s visit prompted Mr. Karzai to make a visit of his own to Bamian to inaugurate the construction of a district road.
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The people of Bamian say they accepted a woman as governor in the hope that an English-speaking, development-oriented technocrat like Mrs. Sarabi would deliver jobs and prosperity.
In fact, the success of women’s Community Development Councils here has caught the attention of the World Bank, which has been a major donor to the programs and is looking to develop them further. Around the country there are 17,000 such councils, which choose local development projects and could be expanded to work on district and regional levels, said the bank’s president, Robert B. Zoellick, who visited Bamian this year.
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“They are very effective,” he said of the councils in a recent interview. “People feel they have an influence in the future.”
The quiet work being done by women on the councils and in other jobs has helped turn things around for many in Bamian.
Najiba, 48, is a woman in Yakowlang District who lost her husband in the notorious massacre by Taliban forces there in the winter of 2000-1.
The Taliban fighters came on horseback, forcing the villagers and townspeople to flee in the night, leaving everything behind. Their shops and homes were set on fire while they sought refuge in the mountains.
After the American intervention in Afghanistan and the fall of the Taliban in late 2001, they returned home to nothing, not even a roof over their heads.
“I just had one skirt, and I was always patching it,” Najiba said.
As the government began development programs in the provinces, Najiba was elected head of a newly formed women’s development council, representing her village and the neighboring village. Its job was to plan how to spend a government development grant.
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The men’s council decided the area needed a road, and flood barriers to save the farming land near the river. The women’s council wanted instead to buy livestock for each family, traditionally the women’s domain in Afghan households, to improve the food supply for families.
The men won that debate. “We did not get the farming project,” Najiba said. “We are still suggesting it was valuable; we are trying to work on our projects so we don’t have to depend on the men.”
The women got their way with the next project: solar panels to provide light to groups of four houses. That project has opened up all sorts of ideas, for computers, televisions and educational and election programs, she said.
Women have participated in literacy and tailoring training programs, too. Najiba laughed as she explained: “We have changed our way of life. Now I have lots of skirts.”
She added, “It all comes down to the council.”
Now, women are taking courses run by nongovernmental organizations, getting educated and learning ways to improve their family incomes. Most important, the women have won over the men, she said.
“Their minds have changed,” Najiba said. “They want to share decisions, not too far, but they want to give us some share.”All the information you need about the League Two clash at Fratton Park
Click here to listen to live Pompey v York commentary.
Pompey end the 2014/15 campaign with a dead rubber against York.
Although the Blues will match last season's total of 59 points if they can beat the Minstermen at Fratton Park on Saturday.
They could also repeat their placing of 13th, although would need Dagenham & Redbridge, Oxford and AFC Wimbledon to all drop points.
York have triumphed six times on their league travels this term, which is one more victory than they have managed on their own patch.
A six-match unbeaten run saw them pull away from danger recently, although City have lost both of their last two fixtures.
The sides drew 0-0 at Bootham Crescent earlier in the season, while York won the previous three meetings.
Team News
Andy Barcham (knee), Ben Chorley (back), Danny East (hamstring), Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring), Josh Passley (head), Paul Robinson (fractured cheekbone), Ryan Taylor (groin) and Jack Whatmough (knee) are all sidelined for Pompey.
But Bradley Tarbuck could feature after returning from a spell on loan at non-league Dorchester.
Josh Sinclair, Wes Fletcher and Emile Sinclair are all injured for the visitors, but Dave Winfield returns from suspension.
Head to Head Pompey 4 wins,
York 7 wins, 2 draws
At Fratton Park Pompey 3 wins, York 2 wins, 1 draw
Referee: Rob Lewis Assistants: Antony Coggins, Mark Derrien Fourth Official: Justin Amey
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The NewsBefore strapping on the pads and applying the eye black, before his head hits the pillow around 10 p.m. for a long night of slumber, before even the Vikings' final walkthrough every Saturday morning, Harrison Smith starts his preparation for his mentally draining and physically punishing Sunday afternoons with a doughnut.
The hard-hitting Pro Bowl free safety prefers a no-frills glazed croissant.
"It's kind of like the first step," Smith said. "You've done most of your work and you're starting to gear up for the game. You know it's almost time to play."
At around 7:45 Saturday morning, nearly 28 hours before the undefeated Vikings play host to the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium, Smith and about two baker's dozens of teammates will gather in Eric Sugarman's modest-sized training room at Winter Park. For about a half-hour, they will share stories, laughs and, well, doughnuts.
The aptly named Donut Club was first established in that room in 2008. Since then, it has quadrupled its membership and adopted a short but strict list of rules, and last year Sugarman, the team's head athletic trainer, had matching gray T-shirts printed for "card-carrying" members, of which there are between 20 and 30.
The club is all about team bonding and a mutual love of doughnuts. But the devouring of doughnuts means something different to each member.
For Smith, the Donut Club officially starts the countdown to Sunday's kickoff.
For players with season-ending injuries, it is a way to feel like they are still a part of the team despite the NFL's cold but necessary next-man-up mantras.
And for veterans such as outside linebacker Chad Greenway and defensive end Brian Robison, who were here when the club started in 2008, it's a Vikings tradition, though they are quick to point out that membership is a privilege, not a right.
"You have to take the Donut Club seriously. If you don't, then we just won't allow you in the Donut Club," Robison said. "To be a part of it, you have to be a certain upstanding type of gentleman in the community and in the locker room. We give people trial runs to try to get in. Sometimes they make it. Sometimes they don't."
The selective and secretive club, which Smith dubbed "our own little country club," began with an impromptu meeting during the 2008 season. The handful of men who gathered that day had no idea they were about to start a Vikings tradition.
One Saturday morning, quarterback Gus Frerotte kindly dropped off a few dozen doughnuts in Sugarman's training room. They did not last long. So Frerotte kept bringing in more of the tasty pastries each Saturday. A handful of players that included Greenway, defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams, and defensive end Jared Allen would linger in the training room and shoot the breeze.
Last weekend, there were 26 players in the training room, along with Sugarman and other members of the training staff |
we look at the Middle East today—with Iran closer than ever to nuclear weapons capability, with the conflict in Syria threating to destabilize the region, with violent extremists on the march, and with an American Ambassador and three others dead likely at the hands of Al-Qaeda affiliates— it is clear that the risk of conflict in the region is higher now than when the President took office. I know the President hopes for a safer, freer, and a more prosperous Middle East allied with the United States. I share this hope. But hope is not a strategy. We cannot support our friends and defeat our enemies in the Middle East when our words are not backed up by deeds, when our defense spending is being arbitrarily and deeply cut, when we have no trade agenda to speak of, and the perception of our strategy is not one of partnership, but of passivity. The greater tragedy of it all is that we are missing an historic opportunity to win new friends who share our values in the Middle East—friends who are fighting for their own futures against the very same violent extremists, and evil tyrants, and angry mobs who seek to harm us. Unfortunately, so many of these people who could be our friends feel that our President is indifferent to their quest for freedom and dignity. As one Syrian woman put it, "We will not forget that you forgot about us." It is time to change course in the Middle East. That course should be organized around these bedrock principles: America must have confidence in our cause, clarity in our purpose and resolve in our might. No friend of America will question our commitment to support them… no enemy that attacks America will question our resolve to defeat them… and no one anywhere, friend or foe, will doubt America's capability to back up our words. I will put the leaders of Iran on notice that the United States and our friends and allies will prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. I will not hesitate to impose new sanctions on Iran, and will tighten the sanctions we currently have. I will restore the permanent presence of aircraft carrier task forces in both the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf region—and work with Israel to increase our military assistance and coordination. For the sake of peace, we must make clear to Iran through actions—not just words—that their nuclear pursuit will not be tolerated. I will reaffirm our historic ties to Israel and our abiding commitment to its security—the world must never see any daylight between our two nations. I will deepen our critical cooperation with our partners in the Gulf. And I will roll back President Obama's deep and arbitrary cuts to our national defense that would devastate our military. I will make the critical defense investments that we need to remain secure. The decisions we make today will determine our ability to protect America tomorrow. The first purpose of a strong military is to prevent war. The size of our Navy is at levels not seen since 1916. I will restore our Navy to the size needed to fulfill our missions by building 15 ships per year, including three submarines. I will implement effective missile defenses to protect against threats. And on this, there will be no flexibility with Vladimir Putin. And I will call on our NATO allies to keep the greatest military alliance in history strong by honoring their commitment to each devote 2 percent of their GDP to security spending. Today, only 3 of the 28 NATO nations meet this benchmark. I will make further reforms to our foreign assistance to create incentives for good governance, free enterprise, and greater trade, in the Middle East and beyond. I will organize all assistance efforts in the greater Middle East under one official with responsibility and accountability to prioritize efforts and produce results. I will rally our friends and allies to match our generosity with theirs. And I will make it clear to the recipients of our aid that, in return for our material support, they must meet the responsibilities of every decent modern government—to respect the rights of all of their citizens, including women and minorities… to ensure space for civil society, a free media, political parties, and an independent judiciary… and to abide by their international commitments to protect our diplomats and our property. I will champion free trade and restore it as a critical element of our strategy, both in the Middle East and across the world. The President has not signed one new free trade agreement in the past four years. I will reverse that failure. I will work with nations around the world that are committed to the principles of free enterprise, expanding existing relationships and establishing new ones. I will support friends across the Middle East who share our values, but need help defending them and their sovereignty against our common enemies. In Libya, I will support the Libyan people's efforts to forge a lasting government that represents all of them, and I will vigorously pursue the terrorists who attacked our consulate in Benghazi and killed Americans. In Egypt, I will use our influence—including clear conditions on our aid—to urge the new government to represent all Egyptians, to build democratic institutions, and to maintain its peace treaty with Israel. And we must persuade our friends and allies to place similar stipulations on their aid. In Syria, I will work with our partners to identify and organize those members of the opposition who share our values and ensure they obtain the arms they need to defeat Assad's tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets. Iran is sending arms to Assad because they know his downfall would be a strategic defeat for them. We should be working no less vigorously with our international partners to support the many Syrians who would deliver that defeat to Iran—rather than sitting on the sidelines. It is essential that we develop influence with those forces in Syria that will one day lead a country that sits at the heart of the Middle East. And in Afghanistan, I will pursue a real and successful transition to Afghan security forces by the end of 2014. President Obama would have you believe that anyone who disagrees with his decisions in Afghanistan is arguing for endless war. But the route to more war – and to potential attacks here at home – is a politically timed retreat that abandons the Afghan people to the same extremists who ravaged their country and used it to launch the attacks of 9/11. I will evaluate conditions on the ground and weigh the best advice of our military commanders. And I will affirm that my duty is not to my political prospects, but to the security of the nation. Finally, I will recommit America to the goal of a democratic, prosperous Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with the Jewish state of Israel. On this vital issue, the President has failed, and what should be a negotiation process has devolved into a series of heated disputes at the United Nations. In this old conflict, as in every challenge we face in the Middle East, only a new President will bring the chance to begin anew. There is a longing for American leadership in the Middle East—and it is not unique to that region. It is broadly felt by America's friends and allies in other parts of the world as well— in Europe, where Putin's Russia casts a long shadow over young democracies, and where our oldest allies have been told we are "pivoting" away from them … in Asia and across the Pacific, where China's recent assertiveness is sending chills through the region … and here in our own hemisphere, where our neighbors in Latin America want to resist the failed ideology of Hugo Chavez and the Castro brothers and deepen ties with the United States on trade, energy, and security. But in all of these places, just as in the Middle East, the question is asked: "Where does America stand?" I know many Americans are asking a different question: "Why us?" I know many Americans are asking whether our country today—with our ailing economy, and our massive debt, and after 11 years at war—is still capable of leading. I believe that if America does not lead, others will—others who do not share our interests and our values—and the world will grow darker, for our friends and for us. America's security and the cause of freedom cannot afford four more years like the last four years. I am running for President because I believe the leader of the free world has a duty, to our citizens, and to our friends everywhere, to use America's great influence—wisely, with solemnity and without false pride, but also firmly and actively—to shape events in ways that secure our interests, further our values, prevent conflict, and make the world better—not perfect, but better. Our friends and allies across the globe do not want less American leadership. They want more—more of our moral support, more of our security cooperation, more of our trade, and more of our assistance in building free societies and thriving economies. So many people across the world still look to America as the best hope of humankind. So many people still have faith in America. We must show them that we still have faith in ourselves—that we have the will and the wisdom to revive our stagnant economy, to roll back our unsustainable debt, to reform our government, to reverse the catastrophic cuts now threatening our national defense, to renew the sources of our great power, and to lead the course of human events. Sir Winston Churchill once said of George Marshall: "He … always fought victoriously against defeatism, discouragement, and disillusion." That is the role our friends want America to play again. And it is the role we must play. The 21st century can and must be an American century. It began with terror, war, and economic calamity. It is our duty to steer it onto the path of freedom, peace, and prosperity. The torch America carries is one of decency and hope. It is not America's torch alone. But it is America's duty – and honor – to hold it high enough that all the world can see its light. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America."The Dalai Lama was speaking at a function in Jalandhar in Punjab. He is scheduled to travel to Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh in December.
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today in a statement on 'non-violence' and 'tolerance' said the Bihar election results show that a majority of the Hindus "still believe in peace and amity"."India has a long tradition of peace and amity. The people of Bihar in the recent Assembly polls have proved that a large section of the Hindu community still believes in peace and amity," the 14th Dalai Lama said without naming any political party or leader.The BJP reacted to the spiritual leader's statement, but did not seem to take it personally. Party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said Bihar has for long seen communal harmony."We have ensured that communal harmony in the state is maintained at all costs. We have worked to ensure that any attempt to disrupt the harmony is defeated... we fought the Bihar assembly polls on the agenda of development," he said.Dalai Lama has come to India after completing a 15 day journey on foot in the Tibetian capital. He will be travelling extensively in Karnataka before heading to Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.The spiritual leader who was speaking at a function in Jalandhar, Punjab, said that India is "known worldwide as a country of religious tolerance and that "All religions and individuals are given equal respect here"."Religious tolerance not only means respecting all religions but also the people. Buddhism too started in this nation and because of this, India is the guru and all Buddhists are students," he said. Asked about terrorism, the Dalai Lama said, "First we must create an atmosphere of peace and it should be initiated from one's own home. Encouraging religious tolerance is the need of the hour and should be done through schools and universities."Travel always contains an element of the unexpected - a chance encounter with people, places and sometimes, even a life lesson. Skyscanner Australia checks in with the subReddit r/digitalnomad to discover what people have learned while globetrotting!
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There are many reasons why people travel abroad. Some are forced to for business or family reasons. Others go for long weekends or fortnight getaways, simply needing a temporary escape from the mundane realities of life.
Then there are the people who travel to learn: those who recognise that fully experiencing other peoples and cultures can provide benefits to your education and wellbeing that are pretty impossible to achieve any other way.
This was a popular recent discussion in the subReddit r/digitalnomad — a community of people who use technology to work remotely and live an independent and nomadic lifestyle. The original poster _globe_potter wrote:
So I’ve just returned to my home town in freezing cold Quebec from a few years living and working abroad, mainly in SE Asia. It’s made me realise how much more I’ve learnt and grown as a person during my time away than I ever did at school and college. Really interested to know what you guys have learnt from your travels?
The thread was very popular, receiving over 50 upvotes and 20+ comments. So what have digital nomads learnt from their experiences abroad? Here are some of the best bits.
Learning from new cultures
The highest voted comment by user wanderlou described what she’d learnt about other cultures:
Living in a load of different places I’ve learnt more about how other people live their lives. Like in Japan I became super tidy… partly because I had so little space but mainly because when my Japanese friends came round at first they’d be so disgusted by the state of my place :’)
User zippidydooda replied:
Japan made me much more courteous to others. I love the way Japanese society is focused on the needs of others, which results in everyone treating everyone with respect. No one takes a loud phone call on the train, for example – there is a sign telling you not to!
This sort of experience is extremely important, especially for those of us that grew up in small towns and cities, where everyone tends to come from a similar background. Broadening your mind and learning about how other people do things will help you make better decisions about how you live your own life.
Learning tolerance and acceptance
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We live in an increasingly diverse and connected age, full of opportunities for those that can comfortably live and work alongside people from all kinds of backgrounds. Several posters on the thread mentioned how travel has helped them do this.
In an essay sized reply, user Shivadxb spoke of how his living situation has benefited his child:
My kid was born an expat, who knows where he’ll live or die. His class at school has 25 kids, 17 nationalities probably 10 different languages, his best friends are a half English half Indian kid who’s never lived in either of those countries, a half danish half Arab kid who’s never lived in Denmark and a blond haired Finnish kid with blue eyes and an Arabic name and Syrian father. “To these kids skin colour is literally unknown, it’s just not something that registers with them at all, nationality has a very flexible definition and none of them have any concept of racism yet.
Echoing this, user wonderliv pointed to a blog she’d recently posted on the subject. In it she writes:
The most valuable assets of every country in the world are its people. The best realisation that you will get from travelling is that there are true genuine and amazing people everywhere. No matter their colour, religion or nationality you will find amazing people in every corner of the world.
Learning to challenge yourself
As _globe_potter mentioned in his original post:
My biggest lesson was definitely self discipline. I’ve been working remotely the whole time and in order to make the most out of my trip whilst still surviving I’ve had to make some tough choices. I was so lazy and unmotivated at school, but when the choice is sucking it up and putting in the work versus ending an amazing adventure… there’s really no choice but to shape up!
Other Redditors seems to have had a similar experience. User maidenmad wrote:
I feel like if I did decide to go back to a 9-5 now I’d be so much better at managing my time. I remember before always being the last person in and always having to stay late… Now I’m used to getting up early to [get stuff done] so I can make the most out of the day. I could even imagine early morning gym sessions, which I could never manage before.
The human mind is interesting because we’re programmed to keep ourselves safe, comfortable and secure. This may have done just fine for our cavemen ancestors who barely had the chance to get out of their own backyard, but today we have so many more possibilities.
Travelling helps us break out of our bubbles and experience all of what life has to offer. User bikermoose said:
I think travelling teaches you about what happens in real life. It very often takes you out of your comfort zone because you are in a place where you are not a local, don’t understand the language and are not familiar to the culture. As a person it makes you more human to be in contact to other cultures and learn about their reality vs yours.
These are just some of the ways travel can enrich your life. You can read the full thread here. But… if you really want to discover how much you could learn, you’ll have to get out there and explore for yourself!
Ready to take on the world? Check out Skyscanner Australia for the best deals on flights, hotels and car hire – all without booking fees!
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Return One way Multi-city From Add nearby airports To Add nearby airports Cabin Class & Travellers 1 adult, Economy Direct flights only Search flights MapDo you ever wonder what life would be like, if instead of blowing up aliens on a forsaken planet you instead connected and worked together with a with a team of highly skilled professionals to break into a super secret base with highly advanced tracking and discovery technology to steal all the intel you can get its hands on?
Introducing Invisible, Inc, the turn-based, tactical stealth & espionage strategy game with a stylish Sci-Fi noir flair from Klei Entertainment, the independent studio behind the hit games Don't Starve and Mark Of The Ninja. Keep in mind that there might be some annoying and pesky guards around the corner, super laser beams blocking your way, highly intelligent AI, Big Brother on Overwatch, and locked doors between you and your target. So put together a plan, and some careful movement and deceptive trickery, and you just might be able to survive and escape with your trophy in tow.
Take control of Invisible's Agents in the field and infiltrate the world's most dangerous Corporations. Stealth, precision, and teamwork are essential in high-stakes, high-profit Missions, where every move may cost an agent their life. By performing the various missions across the globe to retrieve information, valuables, and other espionage tasks, you'll need to keep cognizant of the amount of time taken for travel and missions to survive and reintegrate Incognita's systems within the 5 day period.Columnist M.D. Harmon, who died in an accidental shooting on December 28, 2016 (Photo via the Portland Press Herald ).
M.D. Harmon, a conservative columnist who frequently wrote in favor of gun ownership rights for the Portland Press Herald, died this week after being accidentally shot by a teenage boy.
As the Press Herald itself reports, the 71-year-old Harmon was showing off one of his guns to a 16-year-old boy in his home in Sanford, Maine, on Wednesday. Harmon apparently let the teenager handle the weapon, which went off while the boy was holding it.
Both the teenager and his father were visiting Harmon for undisclosed reasons, and Harmon’s wife has called the shooting an “accidental tragedy.”
Harmon was a dedicated defender of gun ownership rights and would regularly rail against attempts to regulate firearms or even make the use of firearms safer.
In a 2013 column, for instance, Harmon attacked proposed legislation in Maine that would have required gun owners to take a firearm safety course — in fact, he referred to this section of the legislation as “the worst part of the bill.”
“So much for ‘the right of the people to keep and bear arms,” he wrote. “It’s one thing to have the government create limited groups of people not entitled to own firearms for good reasons — felons, the insane, children, etc. — and quite another to have the government think it can require that a free people get official permits to exercise their rights!“
He also criticized President Obama for issuing gun control “fatwas” that tried to mandate background checks at gun shows, as well as a ballot initiative that would have required gun sales to be processed through a federally licensed dealer.“How I Met Your Mother” will soon wind to an end after nine seasons — but not before reaching its milestone 200th episode. And after the curtain falls on “Mother,” series creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas (pictured) will busy themselves preparing a spinoff series, “How I Met Your Dad,” which has received a pilot production commitment from CBS.
TheWrap attended a press event Thursday where Bays and Thomas spoke about the upcoming 200th episode — which airs Jan. 27 — and discussed how the new project will be a totally different animal than its predecessor.
Also read: ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Spinoff Gets Pilot Commitment From CBS
Billed as a “kindred spirit” to “How I Met Your Mother,” “Dad” will tell its story from the female point of view. But Thomas and Bays insist there will be no crossover between the current series and the new project.
“If this new show goes next year, it will be a brand new show. It will be a brand new story,” Bays said. “We kind of didn’t want it to have any feeling of trying to resuscitate something that has already ended.”
Also read: ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Casts Broadway Star Lin-Manuel Miranda
And no, Cristin Milioti — who was recently introduced this season as the titular mother on “HIMYM” — won’t be playing role in the new series.
“I almost wish we could use her. She’s good enough to do it, she’s good enough to carry a series,” Thomas said. “But the thing that’s most important to us is that ‘How I Met Your Mother’ has its own ending, and then that’s it. April 28 at 9 p.m. is the end of ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ that’s the end of the story. It’s contained, it’s done. And then in the fall, if we succeed with the spinoff, we will have to make our case to the audience in a whole new way, with a whole new world, with whole new characters. And that feels right; we want to honor ‘How I Met Your Mother’ with the cleanest ending possible. And then, should [the spinoff] go forward, that will have to earn the love again in a new way and just be its own charming, different thing.”
Also read: CBS Orders Pilot From ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Producer
“Beyond just changing one word in the title, there is a twist and it makes it a totally different show,” Bays added.
As for the upcoming 200th episode, the pair was reluctant to divulge specifics, but Thomas promised that it will be “unlike any we’ve done before.”
“I think one of the proudest things of Season 9 and especially the 200th episode is that it’s an episode unlike any we’ve ever done before, in a season unlike any we’ve ever done before,” Thomas said. “It’s a new trick we’re showing, a new trick in episode 200 that we ever could have done in any other season. And to me, more than anything else, episode 200 is why we did Season 9. If you could epitomize it in one 21-minute capsule, this is why we did Season 9, and you’ll see what I mean when you see it.”
Thomas added that Milioti is “the star of episode 200, let’s say it that way. We want her to win an Emmy for this episode, Cristin. She’s beautiful and wonderful and hilarious in this episode.”
And Milioti’s presence on the show will definitely be increasing as the series runs up to its close.
“We definitely didn’t want to give too much of the mother, that was our number one thing. she has to be special,” Bays offered. “As sort of a template we kind of looked at ‘Jaws,’ kind of. Like, you don’t see the shark right away; it pops up here and there, but you see more of the shark as the movie goes on.
“The second half of the season we’ll see more of the shark, and in the finale… she’s going to bite a boat in half,” Bays cracked.
The post ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Creators on the ‘Dad’ Spinoff, and the 200th Episode appeared first on TheWrap.
Related stories from TheWrap:
'How I Met Your Mother' Spinoff Gets Pilot Commitment From CBS
'How I Met Your Mother' Casts Broadway Star Lin-Manuel Miranda
'Breaking Bad' Star Bryan Cranston Returning to 'How I Met Your Mother'Bill O’Reilly opened his show tonight by analyzing the merits of Donald Trump‘s declarations that everything is rigged. Some of it, O’Reilly felt, is somewhat warranted, but not where the vote count is concerned.
He said very clearly that “it is virtually impossible for the actual vote tally to be rigged,” though he did say there is a legitimate study on issues with voter registration.
Where O’Reilly did agree with Trump on rigged system is where the media and the DOJ are concerned.
He said it’s clear Republicans face “rigged” media coverage all the time, and argued that there is a lot of evidence that the DOJ––if not rigged––has been “compromised” in protecting Hillary Clinton from prosecution.
But despite those points in Trump’s favor, O’Reilly still concluded, “Undermining our electoral system is not a patriotic thing.”
Watch above, via Fox News.
[image via screengrab]
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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.comPosted on by lskenazy
Hi Readers — Here’s a note from puzzlemeister Eric Berlin, author of The Puzzling World of Winston Breen. Read it and peep. Er…weep:
I’m an author of middle-grade novels, and as such I have a lot of interaction with elementary school kids. I’m glad to say I haven’t often come in contact with the kind of paranoia you document on your blog, but today that changed:
I was setting up a phone call with a 4th-grade teacher and her class — they live a good thousand miles across the country from me. I let her know that I have Skype, so nobody needs incur any long-distance charges. Her response via e-mail just now: “Is there a way to Skype with us being able to see you, but you not being able to see us? Due to confidentiality and other school district guidelines, I am hoping this is a possibility.”
Truly, I am speechless. I’m just glad this won’t be an in-person school visit, because it would be really awkward wearing a blindfold all day, lest I actually lay eyes on these kids.
Hey Eric: Children are our most precious resource. If we don’t protect them from technology-assisted remote-site author visits, who will? — Lenore
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Filed under: Photography issues, School and Zero Tolerance and Bullies, Uncategorized, Worst-First Thinking | Tagged: author, book, class, fear, overprotection, pedophile, school, Skype, teacher |In a message sent to Forbes earlier this month, Wu-Tang Clan lyricist RZA confirmed that the lone copy of the group’s Once Upon A Time In Shaolin album will be sold through Paddle8, a company described as “the auction house for the 21st-century collector.”
“We will announce Paddle8 as [the] official auction house,” RZA said in an electronic message sent to Forbes.
No added details regarding the sale were revealed, but according to Forbes, a micro-site with more information on the sale will launch later this month. The micro-site will feature interviews with RZA, Wu-Tang-related essays, and a sneak peek at the Once Upon A Time In Shaolin tracklist.
Additionally, Forbes reports that Once Upon A Time In Shaolin will not be auctioned and will instead be treated as a private sale.
“That’s something that auction houses–Christie’s, Sotheby’s, all the way down to Paddle8–do quite frequently,” Paddle8′s Sarah Goulet said, according to Forbes. “It’s price upon request.”
It’s unclear what amount Once Upon A Time In Shaolin will sell for, but in an interview last year, RZA did reveal that he was offered $5 million for the album.
“Offers came in at $2 million, somebody offered $5 million yesterday,” RZA said during an interview with Billboard in April of last year. “I’ve been getting a lot of e-mails — some from people I know, some from people I don’t know, and they’re also e-mailing other members of my organization.”
For additional Wu-Tang Clan coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
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If you’re a traveler but you don’t fly enough to get in to the extra special diamond, platinum, or other private group of the most elite airlines, you know that amassing frequent flyer miles or points is easy but using them to get a better seat or a free flight might be exceedingly difficult.
The problem is simple: airlines save money by offering fewer flights which means less seats available.
Even worse, when an airline merges with another airline, the amount of people in the frequent flyer problem doubles but often, the amount of flights taking off and landing doesn’t. More people but less seats doesn’t make you happy.
Finally, if that isn’t enough frustration, in order to make money, airlines sell points and miles to credit card and other companies to offer to their loyal customers. Some of those people sitting in the first class seats that should rightfully be yours may hardly ever fly. Go ahead and get a little frustrated!
Ideaworks knows how you feel and that may be why they conduct the Switchfly Reward Seat Availability rankings report (click here to see the report pdf.)
This study measures how easy (or difficult) it is to redeem your frequent flyer miles or points.
If you thought it didn’t matter which airline has your loyalty, you may be surprised to know that there is a large difference between the carriers.
Get a Discount
If you want the best chances of getting the first class or business class seat on a flight, you want to amass points and miles on the discount carriers.
When you try to redeem with Southwest Airlines, you’ll get your seat 100% of the time according to the study.
[Related: Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Review]
Airtran and Jetblue had an average fulfillment rate of 87%.
The average fulfillment rate for discount carriers was 93.5% compared to the larger legacy carriers, like Delta and US Airways, that had a rate of 62.9%
Improving Your Chances
So you really don’t like sitting in coach seats squeezed in between two people?
First, experts want you to fly with carriers that use a points system instead of miles.
Points systems reward based on price. Since trips that take you a shorter distance aren’t necessarily less expensive, this makes miles systems less of a value.
[Related: Best Airline Miles and Points Credit Cards.]
Next, be flexible.
If you normally fly out of a smaller airport, consider traveling a little further to a larger hub to give yourself more options. Flying out a day before or after your original planned departure, and flying in to different airport may increase your chances of getting the comfortable seat for that long flight.
Bottom Line
If you fly enough to make it in to the top levels of an airline’s frequently flyer program, you’ll have a much easier time getting a business class seat.
If you’re on the bottom rung of the frequent flyer ladder, you might want to look through the report to find out which airlines are best equipped to give you the awards that you deserve when you want them.
Take a look at Ideaworks’ Overall Reward Availability chart below:“Little Messi” is like millions of young boys around the world. Kaisar Tursun is 12 and a member of the Uighur minority from Xinjiang province in northwest China. He loves to play football and dreams of playing in the World Cup. “I want to win glory for China, for my motherland and for the Uighurs,” he says with steely determination.
Kaisar has reason to be confident. As one of 2,300 students at an ambitious and massive football school in the southern province of Guangdong, he is closer than most boys his age to having a shot.
Evergrande International Football School lives up to its name. With clock towers, medieval turrets and spires, it looks like JK Rowling and Walt Disney have built a magical castle in rural Guangdong. At night, the turrets are illuminated in vivid blue or red – the school colours – adding to the surreal spectacle.
“Our school looks a bit like Hogwarts... the main building looks like the tower in Harry Potter,” says Zhang Linyan, 12, a star player from Sichuan who plays for China’s female U-14 national team.
With its clean air, you forget that Evergrande is only 75km from Guangzhou, the heavily polluted capital of Guangdong. But the most impressive thing is its size. The complex has 50 football pitches and is building 30 more. Not only is it China’s largest academy dedicated to the sport but it is almost certainly the biggest in the world. “We are part of Xi Jinping’s dream,” jokes Deng Sheng, a school official, referring to China’s president.
The front of the Evergrande football academy
Even in China, where construction reaches unfathomable levels, the scale is incredible. On a tour of the 167-acre grounds, Liu Jiangnan, the principal, proclaims: “It is number one in the world.” Centred around a big stadium, the campus has a cavernous movie auditorium, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and ping-pong tables, six canteens, a gym, a library and an enormous computer room. European-style street lamps line the paths, while the entrance is adorned with a giant replica of the World Cup.
“The dimensions of the complex are unparalleled. No one else has developed a project of this magnitude,” says Miguel Angel, a former Real Madrid goalkeeper whose son is a coach at Evergrande.
Chen Wudi, a football fan from Hubei province who moved nearby to support his grandson Chen Mengze, says his generation could never have imagined a school like Evergrande, adding that even Mao Zedong would have been impressed. “Chairman Mao would be as delighted as me with this environment,” he says. “He loved sports and exercise as a way for the people to build up their strength. We used to be called the ‘sick man of Asia’. After Mao founded the People’s Republic of China, he had to boost the strength of the people.”
Evergrande is both another vivid example of how China has risen in once unimaginable ways and a marker of unfulfilled ambition. In 2008, when Beijing hosted the Olympics, China topped the gold medal table. In 2010, it overtook Japan to become the world’s second-biggest economy, and recently it became only the third country to put a spacecraft on the moon. But one success has eluded the nation: it has never come close to winning the World Cup, the biggest international trophy in sport. Its football team is ranked 92nd in the world, sandwiched between lowly New Zealand and Estonia, and way behind Japan and South Korea. Evergrande wants to change those fortunes. Driving around the campus in a golf cart with Liu, his words are drowned out by loud shrieks of “hao qiu” (“good ball”) from the 150 coaches running the Saturday matches.
Liu Jiangnan, Evergrande principal
The school is the brainchild of Xu Jiayin, a property tycoon and China’s 10th-richest man, estimated to be worth more than $6bn. It grew out of an investment Xu made in 2010 when he bought a struggling professional team in Guangzhou. Xu turned round the team’s fortunes by hiring foreign players. But Xu’s biggest catch – at a reported annual salary of €10m – was Marcello Lippi, the Italian who coached his national team to World Cup victory in 2006.
The investment has paid off. The club has won the Chinese Super League three years running and just became the first Chinese team in 23 years to win the Asian Champions League.
Evergrande Group, Xu’s company, is one of many property developers that have bought teams, using the wealth generated from China’s construction boom. Guangzhou R&F, also owned by a property firm, last year hired the former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson as its coach. It too has opened a small football school, in partnership with Chelsea football club. Other teams, such as Shanghai Shenhua, have had stars such as former Chelsea players Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka on their books.
But while Guangzhou Evergrande has benefited hugely from its foreign players, Xu has a different vision for its future, which is where the school comes into the equation. “Our long-term strategy is to use teenagers to turn Evergrande into a team of only domestic players in eight to 10 years, making them stars in China, Asia and the world,” he said when the school opened in 2012. “[Xu’s] ambition is to become the hero of the Chinese people,” says Liu. “He knows it requires a big reserve of talented young players.”
Evergrande pupils Chen Tenghui, Han Linye and Wang Shengbo
For those players, the week starts at 7am every Monday. On one crisp morning, 2,200 boys and 100 girls, aged nine to 16, stream into the stadium for a pep talk wearing the red Evergrande colours.
“Hola,” a boy shouts in my direction as |
the Anti-Neocons Report. Two distinct species of libertarian commentator, Trun and Dawson are both remarkably bright young men, well-read, witty, and thoughtful beyond their years. Each, too, is in his own way a dupe.
Ry Dawson
Brad Trun, aka Libertarian Realist
Sadly, most varieties of libertarians, drunk with the Kool-Aid of postracialism, pretend that the freedoms they espouse are universally applicable in the world and in no way dependent upon ethnic segregation or racial integrity. Trun has done much to address this breach with his popular “Demographic Decline” travelogues and elucidations of the unavoidable implications of human biodiversity. Even Trun, however, has his limitations.
While quick to rightly slaughter the negro worship of the establishment, Trun is more reticent with regard to the Jews. His brilliant “Open Letter to a Person of Privilege” is one instance of welcome exception; but, while acknowledging the existence of an Israel lobby in America, Trun dismisses outright the “conspiracy theories” about Jewish false flag terror attacks and resists any association with those identifying as national socialists.
Worse, Trun berates David Duke as a “cultural Muslim” for daring to sympathize with the Palestinians dispossessed and massacred at American taxpayer expense. He appears not to have considered that his own dismissive and dehumanizing flippancy toward the Palestinians, along with his uncharacteristically uncritical endorsement of the Bin Laden mythology, make him something of a cultural neocon – and, to that extent, an enemy of his own race.
Far at the other end of the spectrum, Ry Dawson is virtually peerless in his consistent exposure of Zionist intrigue. His documentary War by Deception complements Mike Delaney’s crudely made but informative Missing Links in fingering Israel as the principal culprit and beneficiary on 9/11. If anything, Dawson’s devotion to the subject of Zionist influence is almost single-mindedly obsessive and precludes his devoting more of his time to other problems warranting his attention. To his credit, he has devoted more than one of his programs to debunking the “Holocaust”.
Where Dawson principally disappoints is in failing to recognize the Jewish problem as racial in nature – or any problem as racial in nature, for that matter. The idiosyncratic Dawson, as any follower of his videos will be painfully aware, is nothing if not an anti-racist, and delights in sporting an ugly hoodie, appropriating leftist demagoguery, and tossing the tiresome “racist” smear at opponents. One can only wince in revulsion at hearing this promising young man wasting his talent and insulting his audience’s intelligence by saying things like, “Fuck those cops” in discussing the situation in Ferguson, Missouri.
Dawson’s partial Native American derivation and ethnic resentment over the treatment of his ancestors accounts in part for his stubborn refusal to see the light on race and the fundamental reality of the Jewish (not merely Zionist) Question. Dawson is otherwise an attractive and likable personality, and one could make the argument that his social justice shtick functions as a valuable buffer, allowing Dawson to serve as an anti-Zionist ambassador to the Obamabots and the left-libertarians who would shudder to give the time of day to a self-proclaimed white nationalist.
This writer lacks such subtlety, alas, and looks, rather, toward the awakening anguish and coming battles in the open – which brings matters back to the issue at hand. Libertarian yin and yang, Dawson and Trun would seem perfectly suited to wrestle each other into the light – or, alternately, into the darkness. What is being proposed here is a debate – or, more accurately, two debates – between these two formidable YouTube titans. Specifically, would it not be rewarding to watch Dawson trounce Trun on the responsibility for the 9/11 attacks – and then to see Trun demolish Dawson on the genetic inheritance of racial propensities to crime?
Internet debates have a hit-and-miss history in terms of entertainment value. Earlier this year, conspiracy peddler Jim Fetzer and American Free Press contributor Michael Collins Piper collided in a highly anticipated debate on the Sandy Hook affair, which in the event turned out to be an embarrassing bore and degenerated into a petty cat fight. But one would expect more from Dawson and Trun. As Trun’s series of videos refuting Skeptical Heretic and other ideological opponents demonstrate, the Libertarian Realist is perfectly capable of maintaining his devastating cool in the context of confrontation and personal critique. Likewise, Dawson’s “To the Woodshed” series shows him, if not as calculated as Trun, at least an engaging, spirited, and idealistic scrapper.
Sound like fun? Let Trun and Dawson know that the mutual challenge has hereby been issued.
RC von C
AdvertisementsSmoking converts healthy saliva into a deadly chemical cocktail that increases the risk of mouth cancer, according to research published today.
Normally saliva is the body's first line of defence against disease, providing a protective buffer between toxins and the lining of the mouth.
However, chemicals in tobacco smoke combine with saliva with devastating results, scientists have found.
Dr Rafi Nagler, of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, who led the study published in the British Journal of Cancer, said: "Most people will find it very shocking that the mixture of saliva and smoke is actually more lethal to cells in the mouth than cigarette smoke alone.
"Our study shows that once exposed to cigarette smoke, our normally healthy saliva not only loses its beneficial qualities, but it turns traitor and actually aids in destroying cells of the mouth and oral cavity. Cigarette smoke is not only damaging on its own, it can turn the body against itself."
There are nearly 8,000 new cases of mouth cancer each year in Britain and 3,000 deaths. The disease is usually caused by smoking or drinking alcohol. The study recreated effects of tobacco smoke in the laboratory using samples of cells and saliva.
It found that smoke destroys protective anti-oxidant compounds in saliva, leaving a corrosive mix that damages cells and increases the risk of mouth cancer.
The longer that mouth cells were exposed to saliva contaminated with tobacco smoke, the more the cells were damaged.When Andrea Sacchetto decided to live off the grid in northern Ontario, she had no idea she'd eventually be helping a woman flee from the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints church in Utah.
Sacchetto said she has been living off-grid since 2016, when she moved out of the city and built her own house, touching base with other off-gridders through a Facebook group.
It was in that group Sacchetto met a mother who said she was leaving the FLDS and looking to build a self-sustainable home.
Sacchetto said once she understood the woman's situation, she extended an invitation to visit the property.
"She had essentially been judged non-worthy of being part of the community," Sacchetto said. "Where if you've committed any offences or gone against the church you're sent away...to spend your time atoning for your sins, and trying to get back into the fold of the community."
The FLDS has at least 10,000 members across North America — including a 1,000-member community in Bountiful near Creston, B.C. It is a radical offshoot of mainstream Mormonism and believes polygamy brings exaltation in heaven. Members see convicted sex offender Warren Jeffs as God's spokesman on earth.
"It was very much a patriarchal environment, very misogynistic," Sacchetto said. "If one of his many wives displeased him, or was not following common practices, or was questioning too much, [the man] would be in a position to go to his bishop and establish a case where the wife could be sent away into a non-member community, as well as take any children to be raised by one of his other wives."
Return to get children
Sacchetto's new friend returned to Utah, where she packed up her children and fled back to northern Ontario.
"They stayed for five weeks on the property," she said. "I realized they needed to decompress coming from an environment that was incredibly strict. It was almost as if they were suffering from post-traumatic stress."
"They're lovely people, a lovely family," Sacchetto said. "It's rewarding to see her children laugh and run through the property and play with my chickens and dogs, and not feel like they were being constantly supervised or scrutinized for everything they do."
Once the family settled in, Sacchetto said the next decision was clear.
"After that we decided that it would be best with moving forward to becoming Canadian citizens."
Sacchetto said the family is now in a women's shelter, where they're completing the Canadian immigration process, and should know in a few weeks if they qualify.
In addition to helping the woman and her family through the paperwork, Sacchetto started a GoFundMe campaign to raise enough money to help the family get clothes and basic needs while going through the immigration process.Email Share +1 2K Shares
The odds are improving that President Obama will endorse marriage equality before the November election, according to an informed source.
The chances that Obama will make such an announcement before the election are looking better than in previous months as the issue receives growing media attention and voters in a handful of states face ballot initiatives this year.
An informed source, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, said “active conversations” are taking place between the White House and the campaign about whether Obama should complete his evolution on marriage and that the chances of him making an announcement are about 50-50.
According to the source, the administration would like to unveil another major pro-LGBT initiative before the November election, and an endorsement of marriage equality could fit the bill. But concerns persist on how an endorsement of same-sex marriage would play in four or five battleground states.
“We’re talking about the Michigans, the Ohios, the Illinois of the world; the real battleground states in which voters are already conflicted and may factor this into their judgment,” the source said.
Moreover, the administration may only want to expend political capital on one measure. It could come down to a choice between an endorsement of marriage equality and something else, such as the executive order requiring federal contractors to have LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination policies.
“My feeling is you’ll get one, you won’t get both before Election Day,” the source said. “There is a great timidity in terms of their dealing with the gays, right? In many ways, they kind of consider our issues to be the third rail.”
Supporters of an Obama endorsement were encouraged on Monday when first lady Michelle Obama suggested during a fundraiser in New York that the president would appoint justices to the Supreme Court who would support marriage equality.
“And let us not forget what their decisions — the impact those decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -– on our privacy and security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly, and, yes, love whomever we choose,” Michelle Obama said.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney later disputed the notion that those remarks were related to marriage equality and said they were in reference to the president’s position against the Defense of Marriage Act.
“I think, as folks who regularly report on the first lady’s speeches, they’ll know that she has said this before and has for some time, and that is a reference to the president’s position on the Defense of Marriage Act,” Carney said. “The president and first lady firmly believe that gay and lesbian Americans and their families deserve legal protections and the ability to thrive, just like any family does.”
Carney has been asked repeatedly about President Obama’s stance on marriage equality since the president first said he could “evolve” on the issue in response to a question from AMERICAblog’s Joe Sudbay during an interview with progressive bloggers 17 months ago, but the White House hasn’t given any updates.
Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, echoed Carney when asked about Obama’s evolving position on same-sex marriage for this article.
“I don’t have any updates for you on that point,” Inouye said. “The president has long believed that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and legal protections as straight couples, including the ability to take care of their families. That’s why he supports the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, and has determined that Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional and that his administration would no longer defend it in the courts.”
But some advocates are pushing Obama to come out for marriage equality before the election. From a political standpoint, they say Obama has much to gain by coming out for marriage because it would energize the Democratic Party’s progressive base. They say he has little to lose because those who would vote against Obama for supporting same-sex marriage would vote against him anyway.
John Aravosis, editor of AMERICAblog, said an endorsement from Obama of marriage equality would better distinguish him from the Republican presidential candidates, who oppose same-sex marriage.
“It never hurts them with progressives to remind them that Obama is better than Romney on a lot of our issues,” Aravosis said.
Aravosis added that if advocates are successful in their push for including an endorsement of same-sex marriage in the Democratic Party platform when the platform committee convenes in September, the result could create a thorny issue for the president just before Election Day.
“We wouldn’t be having the debate on the Democratic platform and marriage if the president was OK on marriage,” Aravosis said. “Does the president really need marriage to come up as an issue eight weeks before the election? Coming up as a divide between him and the community? I don’t think it helps.”
Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry, said that coming out for marriage equality would benefit Obama and added that voters won’t be turned off by it because the act would build off his existing support for LGBT rights.
“He’s done many important things in support of gay people’s participating and protection in society, including advancing the marriage cause,” Wolfson said. “He has come out strongly and repeatedly against measures aimed at taking away the freedom to marry, or adding additional layers of discrimination as in state attack measures.”
Further, advocates say Obama is giving cover to Republicans who say their position on marriage is the same as the president’s even though they may hold wildly different views on related issues. Rick Santorum has made that point, even though he was an author of the Federal Marriage Amendment, as has New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie after he vetoed the marriage equality bill in his state.
Sarah Palin expressed the same sentiment via Twitter earlier in the campaign season when Republicans like Santorum were under attack for their position.
“What’s radical & intolerant about Santorum/Romney/Gingrich et al’s position on the definition of marriage?” she said. “It’s the same position as Obama’s.”
Obama is also facing calls to oppose state measures aimed at banning or overturning marriage equality. Voters in a handful of states are expected to face such measures, including in Minnesota, North Carolina,Washington State and Maryland. Meanwhile, voters in Maine will decide whether to legalize marriage at the ballot.
Last week, Cameron French, the North Carolina press secretary for Obama for America, issued a statement to the Raleigh-based News & Observer saying the president “does not support” the anti-gay marriage initiative that will come before voters on May 8 during the state’s primary.
“While the president does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the record is clear that the president has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples,” French said. “That’s what the North Carolina ballot initiative would do — it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples — and that’s why the president does not support it.”
The statement is the strongest that either the White House or the Obama campaign has issued on an anti-gay marriage state ballot initiative. Similar past statements never mentioned the state where a particular ballot initiative was taking place. The White House has repeatedly said the president opposes “divisive and discriminatory efforts” aimed at same-sex couples.
Wolfson said Obama’s lack of support for same-sex marriage allows the anti-gay side in these ballot fights to use the president to advocate for their side, even if the president has denounced the measure.
“Because there’s this one remaining failure to make the case clearly on his part, it allows the opposition to obscure and mislead and hurt us and hurt the president,” Wolfson said.
Nonetheless, some LGBT advocates working in these states say President Obama’s support isn’t necessarily what will decide the issue for voters.
Matt McTighe, director of public education for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders in Maine and executive board member of the Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition, said efforts in his state are more locally based.
“The more people who come to understand that allowing marriage licenses for all loving, committed couples can benefit all families, the better,” McTighe said. “But it’s not President Obama’s change of heart that will decide the issue here. It’s the voters of Maine.”
Jeremy Kennedy, campaign manager for Protect All NC Families, said he thinks the statement from the campaign was sufficient and doesn’t see a lot of value in Obama coming out for same-sex marriage.
“I think what the president said on Friday specifically on North Carolina was probably more helpful than coming out for same-sex marriage would be for us because this isn’t a same-sex marriage fight here,” Kennedy said. “Regardless of whether this amendment passes or fails, it’s not going to change the state of marriage in North Carolina.”
Kennedy said much of the debate in North Carolina is focused on domestic partnership benefits that will be lost if the amendment passes — including the seven localities that already offer partner benefits to employees.
But national advocates continue to press for an endorsement of marriage equality from the president in addition to seeking his help in defeating anti-gay marriage initiatives at the ballot.
Wolfson said it’s time for Obama to come out for marriage equality regardless of the political fallout that may ensue.
“Americans want their president to show moral leadership and stand up when the freedoms and rights of Americans are at stake,” Wolfson said.Return to Transcripts main page PAULA ZAHN NOW Interview With President George W. Bush; Condoleezza Rice Faces Heat on Capitol Hill Aired January 18, 2005 - 20:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening, everyone, and welcome. Thanks so much for joining us tonight.
Tonight, our series "Defending America" continues with two unlikely warriors in the fight against terrorism. And Condi Rice, who is the president's choice for secretary of state, had a rather interesting day at her confirmation hearing.
But we begin with the celebration of President Bush's second inauguration. This evening, the first couple showed up at a youth concert. First daughters Barbara and Jenna were in the audience, which made the concert one of the hottest tickets in town.
Among the inauguration events tomorrow, a candlelight dinner and a ball where the attire is Black Tie and Boots, of course.
And today, the president also made some news. He sat down with our senior White House correspondent, John King, for an interview you'll see only here on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Mr. President thank you for joining us this morning.
You're about to begin your second term, after a first term in which, for all but seven months, the country was at war. I want to ask you, as you start the second term, what is different about the threat to the United States and people of the United States? When you look at your threat matrix, the word we learned in the first term in the morning, how is it different now than it was, say, on September 10 or September 12, 2001?
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is clear to me we're making progress, that we have dismantled much of the operating capacity of al Qaeda. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, for example, who was the mastermind of September 11, is incarcerated.
That many of the foot soldiers of al Qaeda have been brought to justice one way or the other. Now, that's not to say al Qaeda isn't still a threat, but we have made good progress about dismantling the operating capacity. And we're beginning to make progress about defeating the Salafist movement long term by spreading freedom. If you think about it, we've had elections in Afghanistan, in the Palestinian territory, and soon in Iraq, which will be a major blow to those who can't stand the thought of people being able to express themselves and determine the fate of a government.
KING: When you read the book in the morning and you're briefed in the morning, are there fewer direct threats against the United States or specific threats? Is the volume different?
BUSH: Well, it seems that our efforts have had an effect on the operating capability.
But the enemy is dangerous. And I say that fully understanding that some are saying, well, the administration keeps crying wolf. But it is -- our most solemn duty is to protect the American people. And when we see a specific threat, we act on it. And if we don't see a specific threat, we're still mindful that there is a war on terror.
And I can remember full well addressing the nation right after September the 11th and recognizing that there's a temptation to forgot the pain and agony of that day. And there's a desire by people to kind of slip into the comfort zone of normal life, which we want. But I don't think the president has that luxury. The president must be always mindful that an enemy lurks.
KING: When you look at the vulnerabilities, still, as you prepare to address them in the second term, your secretary of health and human services spoke recently about his surprise that no one has tried to attack the food system. Some mayors in coastal cities talk about they still think the ports are vulnerable to either a dirty bomb or some kind of an attack. If they came to you and said, Mr. President, you can fix one thing, what do you think is the greatest thing you need to focus on?
BUSH: The human intelligence, the ability to get inside somebody's mind, ability to read somebody's mail, the ability to listen to somebody's phone call, that somebody being the enemy.
We have got a commission up and running that will determine why things -- why we didn't find any stockpiles in Iraq. And out of that commission, coupled with the new national director of intelligence, hopefully, the president, this president and future presidents will get the best possible intelligence, both human and, of course, signal intelligence.
KING: Part of the threat comes from the desire to attack America that some obviously have and still have. You have spoken about working with your new secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, on a public diplomacy campaign in the Muslim world.
I want to ask what you think has failed in that regard so far, in the sense that the State Department did reach out and hire a Madison Avenue ad executive to try to help.
BUSH: Sure.
KING: You had an Office of Global Communication here in the White House, at one point, offices in London and Islamabad. We've created an Arab-language television network paid for by the taxpayers in the United States. Where have we failed so far? BUSH: The propagandists have done a better job of depicting America as a hateful place, a place wanting to impose our form of government on people and our religion on people. And it's -- and we're behind when it comes to selling our own story and telling people the truth about America.
On the other hand, I believe that we're beginning to make progress. And Condi is going to work hard to reform and strengthen the public diplomacy efforts. But I made some very difficult decisions that made public diplomacy hard in the Muslim world. One was, obviously, attacking Iraq. But when a free country emerges in Iraq, I think people will begin to see the wisdom of the policy.
The relief efforts from the tsunami, from -- because of the tsunamis, will help Muslims in Indonesia, for example, see that the United States of America is there to help, that our soldiers are there not to fight, but to provide comfort and help as best possible.
KING: Do you ever worry that it's personal, fairly or unfairly, that these groups have decided, so long as you are president of the United States, they will not change?
(CROSSTALK)
BUSH: You know, I don't know. I try not to take things personally in the political world.
I can remember people condemning Ronald Reagan's decisions. And I don't see how they could condemn him personally, because he was such a good guy. But he made some very difficult decisions, which happened to be right, in retrospect. And I believe the decisions I have made will end up making the world a better place. And so, I don't take it personally when people are critical.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: And John King now joins us from Washington.
John, I was fascinated by something that you didn't even ask the president directly to talk about, when he said he wants to find out why we didn't find stockpiles of WMD in Iraq. He seems to be really focused on this idea of human intelligence.
KING: It is the ghost, I think, Paula, of the whole debate over going to war in Iraq, one of the criticisms of this president. You heard it in Condi Rice's hearing today. Why didn't we find stockpiles? Why was the intelligence so bad? I asked the president to address a vulnerability here at home, and he wanted to talk about human intelligence.
So, clearly, this is on the president's mind. And he knows that debate is not over. He has yet to pick his new director of intelligence. It still comes up when people talk about the Iraq war. It will of course come out as the administration goes forward. So, it's quite paramount in his mind. That was very interesting. ZAHN: He also seemed to have a pretty candid response about trying to burnish our image in the Arab world. Do you suspect, from what you've been told by the president and his spokespeople, that that will be a priority that he'll make for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, assuming she gets that job?
KING: It will be a priority.
And I think they realize that, for all the millions of dollars they have spent on trying to do that, improve the image of the United States and the image of this president in the Muslim world since September 11, I think they have come to the belief, they realize now they have to prove it by trying to address the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
Look for Condi Rice very quickly to try to move into some Middle East peacemaking. They know that that is the key, that a new Arab- language TV station isn't going to do it. Advertising isn't going to do it. Speeches isn't going to do it. They need to try to deal with the fundamental issue in the region.
ZAHN: And what should we be looking for in part two of your interview on the other side of this break?
KING: I found it interesting. One of the big subplots here in Washington is what a vindication this is for the president, what a vindication this is for the Bush family for a President Bush to win a second term. The president doesn't want to talk about that at all. He does not want to make that personal at this moment.
ZAHN: And, John, I hate to be honest here, but I think I can take a temperature reading by looking at your face tonight. We're going to really freeze at the inauguration, aren't we?
KING: It's a beautiful spring day.
(LAUGHTER)
ZAHN: I can hardly wait.
So, we're going to get back to John's interview after this short break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ZAHN: And welcome back.
We continue now with CNN senior White House correspondent John King's interview with President George W. Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING: You've talked about changing your language a bit in the second term, that perhaps people thought -- found you too blunt, when you said things like dead or alive about Osama bin Laden, or bring it on, in the early days of the Iraq insurgency. What about with us or against us. That was a defining moment when you spoke about terrorism, that countries around the world are either with us or against us. Some found that too black and white, too confrontational. Do you change that?
BUSH: Not at all. I mean, we've got to win. And we've got to make it clear that people have to make a choice.
And I will continue to be straightforward and plainspoken about my view that freedom is necessary for peace and that everybody deserves to be free.
But you're right, some of my language in the first four years was -- it had an unintended consequence. And I'm mindful of that.
KING: I want to ask you one more question about Iraq and then I may ask to steal an extra minute to ask you a bit about the moment to come. But about Iraq, obviously there's the debate about WMD. Some would say that there was a -- perhaps a greater failing, either of intelligence or in planning, in the idea of the troop levels going in, or the statements from some in the administration that the Americans would be greeted as liberators.
As you look back now, was that an intelligence failing? Was there a misjudgment somehow in the planning?
BUSH: I think it was -- I think what you've just described is what normally happens in war, is that some things happen that you don't expect and some things you expect don't happen.
For example, I can remember the briefings I had on what to do with mass refugee movements or hunger or, you know, what you would expect as a result of a military action, which did not take place.
What did take place was a very swift defeat of Saddam's army, which allowed some Baathists to head to the hills and then let them live to fight another day. And that's what we're dealing with.
The truth of the matter is in the long run, John, that a sovereign government of Iraq is going to have to be prepared and equipped to defeat those people. And that's what I talked to Prime Minister Allawi about today.
KING: The president of the United States is also a former baseball owner. Two-thirds of the American people think this new steroids policy is not tough enough. Some in Congress have talked, saying it's not tough enough. What does the president think?
BUSH: Yes.
I think that -- first of all, I understand how difficult it is for management and union to get along. If you follow the history of baseball, there's been an antagonistic situation between the two. I was very pleased to see that the union and the management was able to come together and put in place a steroid policy. And if it fails, they can strengthen it. But it's a very positive step forward. KING: In closing, sir, assess the moment for me. Is it a personal vindication for you? Some have talked about vindication for the Bush family? And, as you do so, could you help us a little bit with the speech? And I understand that this is a book you've read as you talk about your ideas about promoting democracy around the world.
BUSH: I have.
This is a book by Natan Sharansky, who is -- was imprisoned in the Soviet Union. He's an heroic figure. He's now an Israeli official who talks about freedom and what it means and how freedom can change the globe. And I agree with him. I believed that before I met Natan Sharansky. This is a book that, however, summarizes how I feel. I would urge people to read it. I'm glad you did.
Let me talk about this inauguration. For me, particularly given the fact that these are historic times, in which more and more of the world is beginning to understand the importance of democracy, it is important for the world to see a peaceful transfer of power or, in this case, a continuation of power in a peaceful way. It is a moment for the country to unite.
It is an opportunity for all of us who are blessed to live here to say that we've got a great form of government. It can be improved, but it is a great form of government. And so, I really don't view this in personal terms, John. I view it as a celebratory moment for America. I'm so honored to be the person who has been chosen to lead us for four more years.
I think, this time around, it will be a little different. I'll be a better spectator than I was the first time. The first time, I was pretty well overwhelmed by the moment and stayed focused on delivering the speech. I would hope that, after four years as the president, I will be able to not only stay focused on delivering the speech, but will also be able to take in the sights and sounds of this glorious moment.
KING: Mr. President, thank you for your time.
BUSH: Thanks, John.
KING: Thank you.
BUSH: Appreciate it.
KING: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: John, this is a president who has set a very ambitious agenda for his second term. And if history is his guide, there is a suggestion that this month of August, the end of the summer of this first year of the second term, is do-or-die time. How mindful is he of that ticking clock?
KING: Oh, he's very mindful of the ticking clock. He's jokes with aides and he has talked to reporters in recent days about, he knows that people will try make him a lame duck as soon as possible.
In a second term, you make one big mistake and people in this town try to write you off. And, politically, you are often written off as a lame duck. He knows this first legislative session is critical to him, the period now, the inaugural address, then the State of the Union address, critical to try to build up support, because, if you look at polling right now, Paula, he is not getting that post- election honeymoon.
He knows he needs to try to create some initiative for his initiatives, because it is an ambitious agenda, as you noted.
ZAHN: But what's also interesting about those polls is, when the president is talking about Social Security reform and tax reform, those are not on the top of the list of most of these polls, as far as voters or Americans are concerned. Iraq is their chief concern. How will the president address that, do you think, in his inaugural address?
KING: Well, in his inaugural address, he will talk about the power of freedom and democracy. And he will note that, in his view, freedom and democracy is coming to Iraq. Obviously, what happens in the elections the week, 10 days after his inaugural address will go a long way in how the president can frame the Iraq political debate heading into the second term.
And there's no question about it. Iraq is the big cloud, if you will, over the domestic agenda. If Iraq is bad, if American troops keep getting killed, if the president can't say when they will start coming home, that affects his political standing here at home and it will affect his ability to sell anything else, whether it's Social Security, tax reform, or perhaps some other difficulty in foreign policy that we're not thinking about just yet.
ZAHN: John King, thanks for the excellent interview.
KING: Thank you. Thank you.
ZAHN: Appreciate it.
We should all keep in mind going to the inauguration that the president doesn't have any more elections, except for the election among history writers, which I'm sure he'll give us a footprint in on Thursday.
There's more news ahead, including one of the president's closest advisers taking some heat on Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN (voice-over): The woman who would be secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, under attack.
SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D), CALIFORNIA: Your loyalty to the mission you were given to sell this war overwhelmed your respect for the truth. ZAHN: And firing back.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We can have this discussion in any way that you would like. But I really hope that you will reframe from impugning my integrity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZAHN: And on our CNN "Security Watch," "Defending America," imagine running into two of the 9/11 hijackers just hours before they committed mass murder. Michael Touhey was the last line of defense before these terrorists set off on their deadly mission. Tonight, he tells his story.
And then meet the cyber spy mom, scanning the Web for terrorist secrets, tracking them down, cracking their codes -- all that and more when PAULA ZAHN NOW continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ZAHN: No one in Washington really doubts that Condoleezza Rice will be the next secretary of state. She will most likely be worn in by week's end. But that doesn't mean her confirmation would be easy. It isn't. Rice faced some very tough questions today, especially when it came to the war in Iraq.
And there was a lot of heat when Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer pointed out that American troops went to war over weapons that simply didn't exist.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICE: It was the total picture, Senator, not just weapons of mass destruction, that caused us to decide that post-September 11th, it was finally time to deal with Saddam Hussein.
BOXER: Well, you should you read what we voted on when we voted to support the war, which I did not, but most of my colleagues did. It was WMD, period. That was the reason and the causation for that particular vote.
But again, I just feel, you quote President Bush when it suits you, but you contradicted him when he said, Yes, Saddam could have a nuclear weapon in less than a year. You go on television, nine months later, and said, Nobody ever said it was going to be.
RICE: Senator, that was just a question of pointing out to people that there was an uncertainty, that no one was saying that he would have to have a weapon within a year for it to be worth it to go to war.
BOXER: Well, if you can't admit to this mistake, I hope that you will rethink it.
RICE: Senator, we can have this discussion in any way that you would like. But I really hope that you will reframe from impugning my integrity. Thank you very much.
ZAHN: The Iraq war proved to |
outside of Quebec they only speak English, which is of course forgetting about New Brunswick and many strong francophone communities throughout Canada.]
Hopefully you liked the questions I asked her! The 13 minute video goes as follows:
Intro 0:00 – 0:36
[0:37] What's different between Quebecers and the French?
[2:21] Some unfairness about preference for English in Montreal and the need to preserve French
[3:27] How foreigners are very much welcomed in French-speaking Quebec
[4:00] The history of where Quebec curse words come from and some examples
[5:30] Things to do to be more Quebecois
[6:27] Difference in use of “les anglais”
[6:53] Differences in how “a” is pronounced in some words
[7:41] Spending time with Quebecers to get used to the accent
[8:11] General vocabulary that is different in Quebec French
[10:55] Geneviève's travels and thoughts on travelling to keep an open mind
[12:41] Wrapping up and me saying “I miss Quebec” in Quebec French
Hopefully my rusty (but still fluent) French didn't slow the interview down too much 😉 As you can imagine, I prefer sharing interesting videos like this rather than using my languages as a dancing monkey for no good reason. This is what languages are all about for me; interesting conversations with people 😉
Any thoughts on how different Quebec French sounds? Have any of you been to la belle province? Let me know in the comments below!
Benny Lewis Founder, Fluent in 3 Months Speaks: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Esperanto, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, Dutch, Irish Fun-loving Irish guy, full-time globe trotter and international bestselling author. Benny believes the best approach to language learning is to speak from day one View all posts by Benny LewisWe can’t imagine a more dedicated way to show off your love of hit anime Attack on Titan than by strapping on a pair of replicas of the heroes’ giant-killing swords whenever you step out of the house. What we can imagine, though, is the blades clashing with the rest of many peoples’ wardrobes, not to mention earning them the unwanted attention of their local police department should they happen to live in a municipality where defending yourself from 60-meter tall monsters isn’t a daily concern.
Thankfully, if you’re looking for anime accessories that are less bulky/deadly, the makers of the Attack on Titan iPhone case have announced they’ve started taking orders.
Price, details, and lots of delicious photos after the jump!
Last month, model maker Sentinel treated us to a few grainy photos of the prototype of the cool case. Now the manufacturer is back with more images and info about their new product, including the price.
The case, which is made of acrylonitrile, fits iPhone 5 and 5S models, is priced at 3,996 yen (US$39).
Early information from Sentinel claimed that pulling the triggers would open the lens cover for the iPhone’s camera, but this function has since been moved to the lever at the front of the grip.
Unfortunately, the case completely blocks the phone’s flash function. Sentinel’s design does allow access to the various switches and ports, as it leaves the power and volume buttons, as well as the connector and earphone jack, unobscured.
As it has been from the beginning, the company remains firm in its stance of not including a slot into which insert a blade. Probably a sensible decision.
Sentinel seems to still be tinkering with the fine details, as it says the finished product may look slightly different from this latest batch of pictures. Still, with the Attack on Titan iPhone case scheduled at the end of August, it’s probably a safe bet that this is pretty close to how things will end up. Apple/anime fans ready to take the plunge can reserve theirs right here through Amazon Japan.
What do you say, guys and girls? Will you be grabbing one of these, or would you rather be eaten legs-first by a Titan? Let us know what you think of this unorthodox anime-inspired iPhone case in the comments section below!
Sources: Jin, Sentinel
Images: SentinelA tipping point is where physical momentum, inclined in one direction, reverses its course, stabilizes, and then begins to move the opposite way. Those of us who have been arguing for a sane United States foreign policy in the Middle East have well understood that the odds on shifting the prevailing narrative have been heavily against us thanks to the overwhelming resources possessed by a powerful domestic lobby. Ten years ago in America, it was impossible to place even a letter in a mainstream newspaper or magazine that was in any way critical of Israel. Apart from Pat Buchanan, no one on television provided a critique of Israel and its policies. In the U.S. media, Israel was ever the beleaguered little democracy surrounded by savage Arabs.
But then, all of a sudden, the conspiracy of silence began to break down. It began with the revisionist history of the antecedents of the Iraq War as that conflict continued to drag on. Many began attributing Washington’s initiation of the fighting, at least in part, to Israeli interests. Philip Zelikow, chief counsel for the 9/11 Commission Report, famously noted in March 2004 that the war was “to protect Israel,” surely an exaggeration but containing more than a kernel of truth. Many also began to observe that the agitation for a new war with Iran was following the same pattern, with supporters of Israel leading the charge.
In 2006, former President Jimmy Carter published Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. It provoked considerable outrage and highly publicized resignations from the board of the Carter Foundation together with charges that Carter was supporting Palestinian terrorism. But the big breakthrough came with the publication of Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer’s The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy in the following year. It became a New York Times best-seller, and it suddenly became acceptable to talk about Israel without the usual bromides. For the first time, people in America were taking notice of the power of the Israel lobby and the inherent downside for U.S. national interests.
Driven by the prospect of unending warfare in an attempt to remake the Muslim world by force, letters and op-eds critical of Israel and its policies began to appear in the mainstream media. There weren’t a lot, mind you, and they were always “balanced” by more numerous contrary commentaries, but there were enough to demonstrate that a shift was taking place. Mainstream Jewish organizations, always vigilant in defense of what they have perceived as Israel’s interest, resorted increasingly to discrediting critics by calling them “anti-Semites.” Indeed, they succeeded in equating any criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism and even managed to pass legislation in Canada and several European nations that made any criticism of Israel ipso facto a hate crime.
Some American Jews have always been bothered by the dark side of Israel’s story, beginning with the Nakba expulsion of the Palestinians from their homes and including the more recent settlement policy, “security” wall, and the denial of civil and human rights to the Arabs living in Israel and the occupied territories. They were convinced, correctly, that Israel had no intention to permit the creation of a viable Palestinian state. Many began to protest, though their voices were at first confined to the alternative media and they had to work through many progressive groups that were advancing a much broader peace agenda in response to George W. Bush’s horrific “global war on terror.”
But now we Americans have finally reached our tipping point. Recently Peter Beinart, a Zionist and defender of Israel for many years, released The Crisis of Zionism, which explains how Israel has become an armed camp dedicated to repressing and even expelling its Palestinian helots. As a liberal Jew, he rejects the militant values that drive the Israel of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has even gone so far as to support an economic boycott of Israel, similar to the pressure that was put on South African apartheid. The book has predictably provoked a firestorm of criticism from the pro-Israel establishment, but Beinart is not alone. Tom Friedman and Paul Krugman of The New York Times, both Jewish and both longtime friends of Israel, have voiced the same concerns, namely that Israel no longer represents the liberal and humanistic values that they themselves cherish. It has been noted in passing that young American Jews increasingly do not view Israel in positive terms, a sign, if one was needed, that the older generation that believes Israel is always right, no matter what it does, is passing into history.
And it does not end there. Even the mainstream media is now, perhaps reluctantly, on board. On April 22, 60 Minutes, the most watched television news and commentary program in the United States, aired a segment on Israeli persecution of Christians. The program was a real shock for the many fundamentalist Christians who have viewed Israel through rose-tinted glasses. Many evangelicals have promoted the myth that Israel is actually a protector of Christians, which it most emphatically is not; it seeks instead to marginalize them and force them to emigrate, as the 60 Minutes program demonstrated. Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, who tried to kill the story and called it a “hatchet job,” was interviewed as part of it. His performance was alternately smug and angry, and it is widely regarded as a public relations disaster. He even said that mainstream Christian churches are “known for their anti-Semitism.”
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office supported Oren’s contention that the broadcast was a “threat to Israel.” It was Netanyahu’s second venture into public relations in a short time, having previously denounced German Nobel Prize–winning author Gunter Grass. Netanyahu banned Grass from traveling to Israel and said that his writings had “hurt Israel profoundly.” Netanyahu was responding to Grass’s rather mild declaration in a poem that the Jewish state’s nuclear program is a threat to an “already fragile world peace.”
Netanyahu knows that the tide is running against him and everything he represents, particularly as the criticism from former senior officials in his own country continues to mount, but he is too obdurate to do what must be done. One of Israel’s darkest secrets is the extent to which young, educated Jews are fleeing the country for greener pastures, most notably the United States. By some guesstimates, one third of university-educated second- and third-generation Israeli Jews have left the country. They are leaving behind the recent Russian immigrants, many of whom are not actually religiously or ethnically Jewish, and the Islamophobic racists who constitute the core of the hard right in Israel. Israel publishes no statistics on the brain drain, which has intensified the country’s demographic problem and lessened its competitiveness.
So we have reached the point where the proverbial cat is out of the bag. Everyone, with the possible exception of the U.S. Congress, has become aware that there is something terribly wrong with Israel. In Israel itself, where there is often ferocious debate over the country’s policies, it is time for a reckoning. Does Israel want to become a normal state with correct relationships with its neighbors, including an independent Palestine, or does it want to continue down the road that it is pursuing, which is folly and will lead to ruin? The choice is ultimately Israel’s, but, for the first time, Americans are actually beginning to talk and write freely and openly about the problem.
Read more by Philip GiraldiLondon hospital boosted its budget – and cheered up a few in-patients – by allowing company to shoot porn on its premises, MP claims
A London hospital hired out one of its wards to the makers of a big budget pornographic movie, a Conservative MP told parliament.
Penny Mordaunt, the newly elected member for Portsmouth North, said she had discovered the irregularity while working as communications director for Kensington and Chelsea council, although she did not name the hospital in question.
Speaking at a Commons debate on improving transparency in government accounting, Ms Mordaunt said: "When I was director of Kensington and Chelsea council, I discovered that one of our local hospitals was hiring out one of its closed – but fully-equipped – wards to a film company to use as a film set.
"To add insult to injury, the movie was a pornographic one. Although I cannot claim to have seen the final picture – as I understand, these things are no longer claimable on parliamentary expenses – it was a big-budget affair and generated substantial income for the hospital. But apart from cheering up a few of the in-patients, it cannot be said to be contributing to the objectives of the PCT [primary care trust]."We got a new user contribution from lucebac that just got merged into CEGUI's v0-8 branch yesterday, which will be part of our next CEGUI Release (0.8.5).
He provided what we decided to name "application templates". The currently present application templates (based on GLFW and SDL2) are buildable using CMake for your OS and IDE of choice, just like the rest of CEGUI. The templates are small stand-alone minimal applications that use CEGUI. They serve as a great starting point for creating your own application using CEGUI or might be used as quick guidance to integrate CEGUI into an existing program.
Up to now we only had the SampleBrowser, which in itself is great for showing off samples (Be sure to check out the well-documented code of the samples to learn CEGUI) and for us to quickly test if features still work, but was not a good starting point to setting up your own CEGUI application or for explaining how CEGUI is set up. We suggest beginners to most of all, read the API docs, then to look at all samples in the SampleBrowser that are relevant to them and finally to grab the application template and see how it works.
In the future we would like to add support for more window creation systems for the application template, and maybe also a Ogre and Irrlicht based application template. User contributions are very welcome (https://bitbucket.org/cegui/cegui)
Also I want to remind all our users of our Ticket Issue system on bitbucket: https://bitbucket.org/cegui/cegui/issues
I was made aware recently that there are some issues that do not get reported on our forum or issue tracker by users. It is very important for us that unreported issues get reported on our issue tracker (or at least on our forum). Use the search function to look for reported issues. If the issue was already reported you may also additionally comment on it or add your vote for it, which will raise awareness. We definitely pay more attention to issues (and also suggested features) with more votes, since this shows they are likely to be relevant to more people.
Discuss the news hereHeavy traffic on Canberra's Northbourne Avenue. Credit:Melissa Adams Monday's release of new 2016 census data showed Canberra leads the nation on riding and walking to work, along with a 5 percentage point increase in the number of people who report driving or being a car passenger. In 2016, 74.9 per cent of ACT residents reported driving to work, up from 69.3 per cent in 2011. A further 8.4 per cent said they rode a bike or walked and 7.1 per cent said they used trains or buses. The proportion of Canberrans riding to work has grown steadily from 2.1 per cent in 2006 and 2.4 per cent in 2011.
The proportion of Canberrans riding to work grew from 2.1 per cent in 2006. Credit:Rob Homer As the ACT government promotes active travel options and encourages commuters to look for alternatives to their car, Ms Molloy said Canberra was the best place in Australia to be a cyclist commuter. A Pedal Power ACT member, she said her commute can be as little as 10 minutes door-to-door, but sometimes she adds a lap of the lake to take advantage of the daylight saving and warmer weather. "It can be a bit daunting, with people worried about how they'll get there, what to do once they're at work, what they'll wear, what about the rain and the cold. "But once you get riding, you find it's so easy and sets you up for the day energising," she said.
Nationally, driving remains the most popular way to get to work as 6.5 million people or 69 per cent of the working population report driving. A further 5 per cent or 490,000 people travelled as a passenger on census day. The cycling advocacy group's Cycle Works program aims to increase the number of people who ride to work in Canberra and to raise awareness of how healthy and active living can be incorporated into a busy lifestyle. It starts again next month. Ms Molloy said riding was good for her physical and mental health and could be quicker than taking her car.
"I find I either solve problems or forget about problems when I'm on my bike," she said. "My cycle commute to work gets me ready for the day, my cycle home gets me ready for the evening." Census program manager Bindi Kindermann said the latest Census insights were important in helping governments plan services for communities. "From how people get to work, to what they are studying, what their jobs are and where people are moving to, this census information tells us so much about the lives of people in the ACT," Ms Kindermann said. "While car use remained by far the most common, as was the case nationally, it had the lowest percentage increase of 5 per cent."I do try to avoid dipping my toe into political waters when I can, I dont need the stress, my family doesn't need the stress but there are some issues that it just seems wrong to be silent on and this is one of them - http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/world/europe/swedish-police-coverup-sexual-assault.html - No, it is not ok to hush up rampant sexual assaults when the perpetrators are minority groups. I am sorry if you are offended by the idea that I think protecting people from being sexually assaulted and raped is more important than the nebulous idea of race relations.
Actually no I'm never going to be sorry about that, it should never be controversial to say "hey, stop raping people". There is a solid middle ground to be found when it comes to cultural understanding. Not every criticism of a culture is a *phobia. Cultural relativism as a concept is valid but not when you take it to the extreme. Yes I feel entirely ok with condemning countries that do oppressive things in the context of their culture and no I don't excuse them of that just because of said culture, religion or whatever. That is reasonable. Make the effort to understand empathise, learn about the culture, but don't give it a free pass on the problems you might think it has. Lemme put it this way. If saying "hey stop raping people" makes me or anyone else a racist, then call me a goddamn racist.
If peoples feelings have to get hurt to stop people getting raped then hurt as many damn feelings as you want. It is time to accept that some people come from cultures that do bad things and that has affected their world view and made them think that doing those things in other countries is ok. Spoiler alert: It fucking well isn't and I'm not going to pretend otherwise and neither should anyone else.Deliverance of sentient beings through the Name
According to Buddhism, Buddhas have four different ways of delivering sentient beings in the Ten Directions:
1. Bodily karma – with their 84,000 physical characteristics, each having 84,000 secondary marks of excellence, usually in the form of light emitted from different parts of the body
2. Verbal karma – with their teachings, which have been uttered and recorded in the sutras, as exemplified by those of Shakyamuni Buddha
3. Mental karma – with the supranormal powers of their mind, so that different forms of their body and their Pure Land can manifest for the deliverance of sentient beings
4. Name – with their vow power, like the vows of Amitabha Buddha
“Name is Substance” and “Name is Light”
While every Buddha has his own name, the substance of all Buddhas—that is, their dharma body (Skt. dharmakaya)—is basically the same. This teaching is known as “Name is Substance,” or “Name and Substance are one entity” in Buddhism. The principle here is that the Buddhas can respond at any time in any place under any circumstance when their own Name is invoked or recited by sentient beings in the Ten Directions.
For Amitabha Buddha, “Name is Light” or “Light and Name are non-dual” because his dharma body is in the form of light. Amitabha Buddha delivers sentient beings through his Name, which consists of unimpeded light shining over all the worlds in the Ten Directions. His name is therefore also called “the Name of Light.”
As stated in the Infinite Life Sutra, Amitabha’s light is foremost among all the Buddhas. That is why the Contemplation Sutra says: “Amitabha’s dharma body is in the form of light shining over all the worlds [and beings] in the Ten Directions, embracing all those who recite his Name and never forsaking them.”
When we exclusively recite his Name by chanting “Namo Amituofo,” Amitabha’s light will embrace and receive us, and will never forsake us. Embracing and receiving us means protecting and delivering us. Never forsaking us means he will never abandon us, and that towards the end of our lives, he will receive us to be reborn in the Land of Bliss.
If we recite the names of the Buddhas of the Ten Directions, their help and deliverance may lack the unconditional principle of “never forsaking.” Moreover, the various Buddhas in the Ten Directions are not “monarchs” among Buddhas, whereas Amitabha Buddha is the king of all the Buddhas, as stated in the Infinite Life Sutra.
However, Amitabha’s light will not embrace and protect those who recite the names of other Buddhas or bodhisattvas, or those who recite dharani (long mantras) and sutras or who practice other meditative and non-meditative virtues. As Master Shandao says in the Praise of the Rites of Rebirth, this is because “Only those who recite the Name of Amitabha Buddha are embraced by his Light.”
“Name is Teaching”
Since a Buddha can deliver sentient beings through his Name, there is also a principle in Buddhism known as “Name is Teaching.” Amitabha Buddha delivers sentient beings through his Name, which is charged with immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable, splendid, and real merits and virtues. Thus it is also known as the “Great Name with a Myriad Virtues.”
This means that, if sentient beings believe in and accept the teaching of Amitabha’s deliverance through his Name and sincerely practice Name-recitation, he will instantly arise in their minds. Thus the minds of sentient beings can be converted from ordinary minds to awakened minds through their practice of Name-recitation, as stated in the Eighth Contemplation of the Contemplation Sutra.
Pure Land Buddhism is based on Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance in accordance with his Fundamental Vow (the 18th Vow) through the exclusive practice of Amitabha-recitation. Once we are delivered to the Land of Bliss through reliance on Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow, we will realize the ultimate truth, or perfect Enlightenment, just like Shakyamuni Buddha, who suddenly became enlightened upon seeing the morning star.
Upon rebirth in the Land of Bliss, we are naturally endowed with the Six Supernormal Powers without making any effort to acquire them. Moreover, the myriad bodhisattva practices of the Six Paramitas (Perfections) and the hundreds and thousands of dharani will naturally be manifested and completely revealed in our minds at once.
In sum, Pure Land Buddhism is not the teaching of cultivation through self-powered practices, but of deliverance through the vows of “other-power.” Therefore, as Master Tanluan says in his Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth, “The substance of all Pure Land sutras is [Amitabha’s] Name.” This is different from the substance of other bodhisattva teachings—Real Form (in the Tiantai school), Dharma Realm (in the Huayan school), or Self-Nature (in the Chan or Zen school) and so on, though the meaning and nature of all these terms are the same.
Pure Faith in Pure Land Buddhism
In regard to the definition of “pure faith” as defined in the Doctrine of Mere Consciousness— “With respect to reality, virtue, and capacity, there is a kind of deep faith that one has delight in pursuing. The nature of this faith is purification of the mind”—how does this relate to the definition of faith in Pure Land Buddhism?
Faith is acceptance of Amitabha’s deliverance through his Name, in accordance with his Fundamental, or 18th, Vow. It is because Amitabha himself is real, virtuous, and endowed with a myriad of practices and virtues that he has the capacity to enable us to leave the Saha World and be reborn in the Pure Land, where we can achieve Buddhahood.
“Faith” is a special kind of “belief” in which we believe in things objectively, without any doubt. If we do not understand the principle, it will be impossible for us to believe in things without any doubt. Conversely, if we know the active principle of Amitabha’s deliverance, as discussed in my last article,* faith will be naturally established in our mind and there will be no need for us to develop faith either intentionally or reluctantly.
*The Active Principle of Amitabha’s Deliverance in Pure Land BuddhismAKB48 members participate in event seeking to eradicate online crimes
TOKYO (TR) – Members of the popular all-girl idol group AKB48 and law enforcement participated in an event in Chiyoda Ward on Wednesday that seeks to eradicate online crimes, reports Sankei Sports (Oct. 11).
AKB48 members Yui Yokoyama (24), Rena Kato (20) and Haruka Komiyama (19) appeared on stage inside a meeting room near JR Akihabara Station before an audience of about 200 business persons to discuss online security measures related to the use of personal computers.
After Kato asked about what kind measures can be taken to improve security, an investigator responded, “Ensuring that a computer’s operating system and antivirus software are regularly updated to the latest versions creates an environment whereby an infection is difficult.”
Tokyo police view crimes taking place online as a worsening problem. Between January and June, police were consulted on 7,380 occasions over online crimes.
Yukihiro Suzuki, the chief of the Manseibashi Police Station, whose jurisdiction includes the Akihabara area, said, “Attacks are a global problem. Nationally as well, the present situation regarding information leaks is at crisis level.”Hi everyone, we are back to work and mostly recovered from the Seattle Indies Expo. What a show! The two of us (Rich and Iikka) were there all day from 9am until 7:30pm, demonstrating the game to a constant stream of people who wanted to try it out. We even had a few players finish the game by winning one of the new major quests! The overall tone of the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, and we caught a number of bugs that we have been fixing in the last several days. Big thanks to the Seattle Indies for organizing this event! You should check out all the other games that were at the show as well, there was some true indie spirit and imagination on display!
As for Sea of Stars development, we have now completed building the content as well as all the major features we'll be launching the game with, and are concentrating on overall polish. In about a week, we will start a new beta testing phase that will for the first time include the Mac OS X build. Our cyborg fish-slaves are hard at work to make it happen. Stay tuned!10 Coolest Spiders In The World
1. Goliath Birdeater (Theraphosa blondi)
Belonging to the tarantula family, it is considered to be the second largest spider in the world by leg-span and possibly the largest by mass. It is native to the rain forest regions of northern South America. Females have an average life span of 15 to 25 years while Males have a lifespan of 3 to 6 years. These spiders can have a leg span of up to 28 cm (11 in) and can weigh over 170 g (6.0 oz). The venom of the Goliath birdeater is relatively harmless and its effects are comparable to those of a wasp’s sting. Despite its name, the Goliath birdeater does not normally eat birds. Its diet consists of insects, rodents, and frogs. However, it has been seen feeding on lizards, bats, and even venomous snakes.
2. Spiny Orb-weaver (Gasteracantha)
Also known as Spiny-backed orb-weavers, the orb-weaver is a genus of around 70 species of spiders known for their visible spines. These spiders can reach sizes of up to 30mm in diameter. They are found all around the world and are completely harmless to humans despite their frightening appearance.
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3. Giant Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda maxima)
The world’s largest spider by leg-span with a 30 centimeter (12 inch) leg-span (!!), and 4.6 centimeter (1.8 inches) body-length. The huntsman appears to be a cave dweller and was discovered in Laos in 2001. It is part of the Heteropoda genus.
4. Black Widow (Latrodectus)
Widow spiders are a genus which contains 32 recognized species. The name Black Widow is derived from the behavior in which the female sometimes eats the male after mating. The black widow spider is the most famous member of the genus. Its bite is very dangerous for humans, but death is rare if proper medical treatment is provided.
5. Brazilian Wandering Spider (Honeutria)
Also known as banana spiders, this is a genus of aggressive and venomous spiders. It is found in tropical South America, and one species in Central America. The Brazilian wandering spider is the world’s most venomous spider according to Guinness World Records. Almost half of all spider-related hospitalizations in South America are caused by this aggressive spider.
6. Wheel Spider (Carparachne aureoflava)
Also known as Cartwheeling spider or Golden Wheel spider, this spider is native to the Namibian desert in South Africa. The spider escapes attackers by flipping onto its side and cartwheeling down sand dunes at speeds of up to 44 turns per second, or one meter per second. Wheel spiders are harmless to humans.
7. Camel Spider (Solifugae)
This is actually an entire order of animals. But they are known as Camel spiders or Sun spiders. This spider is the fastest in the world with a whopping speed of 10-12 mph.
8. King Baboon Spider (Pelinobius muticus)
A tarantula species native to East Africa. It can grow up to 20 cm in leg span. It is popular among tarantula collectors but is highly aggressive and not suitable for beginners. They also have very strong venom: a bite from a baby can cause sharp pain and strong hallucinations and the place of the bite remained itchy for five days.
9. Wold Spider (Lycosidae)
These spiders are robust and agile hunters with great eyesight. They live alone and hunt alone – hence their name, and they rely on camouflage for protection. There are over than 2,000 species of Wolf spiders.
10. Jumping spider (Salticidae)
This family of spiders contains about 5,000 species which makes it the largest family of spiders with about 13% of all spider species.Most of those species are capable of very agile jumps in both hunting and avoiding threats. Jumping spiders are generally recognized by their eye pattern, all the jumping spider species have four pairs of eyes with one pair being their particularly large.Sample Request
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As a result, and because of the demand for samples from across the world, we have had to take the decision to charge a nominal fee of £3.00 to cover the shipping & handling.
We are confident however that you will love our products thus will refund the cost of your sample when you place your first order.
To order your sample, simply click on select options, choose any 3 of the selected products as either Stage 1 or Stage 2. Add the sample to your basket and check out. We will do the rest.Today, the California State Assembly takes up a bill to create new criminal penalties for so-called "revenge porn" sites, which host amateur nude photos usually uploaded without the subject's permission. As The New York Times reports, the new bill would raise the stakes for the rarely prosecuted crimes, targeting uploaders with up to a year in prison in addition to the civil penalties that often face the hosting sites. The bill would also single out videos or photos taken in private and "in a state of full or partial undress," as legally distinct, and carrying particular penalties if they're shared without the subject's consent.
The sites have faced legal action before, as they often veer into extortion, but criminal prosecution is still rare. Advocates like End Revenge Porn have been calling for new legislation to address the unique new form of harrassment, but New Jersey is the only state where a law targeting the sites is currently on the books. Critics say the bill duplicates previous anti-stalking efforts and may have unintended consequences on free speech if applied to consensual nude photos or public protest art, but advocates are undeterred. As law scholar Danielle Citron told the Times, "It signals taking the issue seriously."The Oscar contender discusses the art of making timely cinema and why reading a book is better than “being on Twitter every day.”
In the 10 years that Raoul Peck spent developing I Am Not Your Negro, in the running for an Oscar later this month, the celebrated Haitian director was also working on another long-gestating project (“I tend to do all the most difficult films in the world!” he says). And like his acclaimed documentary telling the story of race in modern America, this latest feature also lands at a rather uncannily poignant moment in time.
The Young Karl Marx, his first narrative feature since 2014’s Murder in Pacot, explores the early years of one of history’s big political thinkers, focusing especially on his close relationship with radicalized manufacturing heir Friedrich Engels that would flourish in the pubs and cafes of 1840s Paris. Before they were 30 years old, the two had helped alter the shape of society with the publication of The Communist Manifesto, one of the most widely read and influential texts of all time.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump — “It’s like we gave Attila the keys to the kingdom” — Peck discussed his film, Marxism and why Beyonce isn’t a revolutionary.
What’s your relationship with Marx?
I grew up with him. When I was studying in Germany, at that time in the ‘70s it was almost an obligation to be confronted with Marx. You were not at all credible without knowing some basic tools of his analysis. I spent four years on Das Kapital, in German, at [Humboldt] University in Berlin. I actually came to cinema because of politics. My dream wasn’t to make films and work with actors. But when I found a way to tell a story that was entertaining and at the same time had content and was educational without being didactic, that’s what I wanted to do.
What was Marx like in his youth?
He was extremely intelligent — we could even call him a genius, a very early PhD at just 19 years old, which was incredible in Germany at the time. He had big ambitions, not of changing the world — that was not how he phrased it — but fighting inequality, fighting poverty. He was a very humanistic young man, first a poet, a journalist and a philosopher, and then an economist and someone who was organized in politics. He basically influenced the whole of civilization, for good and bad.
Was it an instant meeting of minds with Engels?
They had briefly met in Germany, and Marx originally thought Engels was very pretentious and a young, rich brat and also a womanizer. But when those two met in Paris, after a short while they just started working together. They had 10 days that were incredible, and that’s when they became friends for life. They drank, of course, they played chess in bars and cafes. But most importantly they started taking notes and started working together. It was Engels who introduced Marx to economics, because he’d been working in his father’s factory in Manchester and seen how the workers were treated like animals.
What did you use for research?
We decided to work almost exclusively on their correspondence. When you read the letters between Marx, Engels, [Marx’s wife] Jenny and their friends, they’re incredible. It’s lively, it’s funny, it’s ironic. They were jokers with sharp tongues. In the letters they would make fun of other leaders. Engels would talk about his women, his relationships, the husband of one of his girlfriends who was coming after him with a gun. The whole story was there.
There was renewed interest in Marxism around the start of the financial crisis.
Yeah, I remember being in New York and every major economical newspaper and magazine had Marx on their front covers. But I’d been working for 10 years on the film. It was the same with I Am Not Your Negro. People were telling me, “wow, this film has come at the right time because of Trump.” But I’ve been working on it for 10 years already!
Is the interest in Marxism still there or have people swung to the right?
No, I think |
: $1.18 billion
2014 value: $1 billion
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
Current value: $1.15 billion
2014 value: $1.3 billion
4. Chicago Blackhawks
Current value: $925 million
2014 value: $825 million
5. Boston Bruins
Current value: $750 million
2014 value: $750 million
6. Vancouver Canucks
Current value: $745 million
2014 value: $800 million
7. Philadelphia Flyers
Current value: $660 million
2014 value: $625 million
8. Detroit Red Wings
Current value: $600 million
2014 value: $570 million
9. Los Angeles Kings
Current value: $580 million
2014 value: $580 million
10. Washington Capitals
Current value: $565 million
2014 value: $500 million
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
Current value: $560 million
2014 value: $565 million
12. Edmonton Oilers
Current value: $455 million
2014 value: $475 million
13. Dallas Stars
Current value: $450 million
2014 value: $420 million
14. San Jose Sharks
Current value: $445 million
2014 value: $425 million
15. Calgary Flames
Current value: $435 million
2014 value: $451 million
16. Anaheim Ducks
Current value: $400 million
2014 value: $365 million
17. Minnesota Wild
Current value: $380 million
2014 value: $370 million
18. Ottawa Senators
Current value: $370 million
2014 value: $400 million
19. Colorado Avalanche
Current value: $360 million
Current Value: $360 million
20. Winnipeg Jets
Current value: $350 million
2014 value: $358 million
21. New Jersey Devils
Current value: $330 million
2014 value: $330 million
22. New York Islanders
Current value: $325 million
2014 value: $300 million
23. Buffalo Sabres
Current value: $300 million
2014 value: $288 million
24. St. Louis Blues
Current value: $270 million
2014 value: $235 million
25. Tampa Bay Lightning
Current value: $260 million
2014 value: $230 million
26. Nashville Predators
Current value: $255 million
2014 value: $250 million
27. Columbus Blue Jackets
Current value: $226 million
2014 value: $200 million
28. Carolina Hurricanes
Current value: $225 million
2014 value: $220 million
29. Arizona Coyotes
Current value: $220 million
2014 value: $225 millionI hope everyone is enjoying their long weekends. Sadly for me I have to be at work on Monday. No holiday for me. :-(
Today I'm showing you a fun striped look with two Indie polishes. My base is Floss Gloss Faded. This is a greyed out denim blue. It's a really unique color and I'm a huge fan. This is two easy coats.
I then used straight Nail Vinyls to add stripes of ILNP Neon Rosebud. These multi-chrome flakie polishes are everywhere lately but they are SO GORGEOUS! Neon Rosebud goes from blue to green/yellow and magenta. It's so stunning and I love the way it accents Faded.
As a final touch, I matted the whole look with my Revlon Matte topcoat. I much prefer it matted vs. shiny.
What do you think? Flakies or no flakies? Matte or shiny?
Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee
*nothing to declareHe's the star of one of the best-reviewed shows on television.
And it looked as though Rami Malek was definitely enjoying that fact, as he was all smiles while on set filming a new season of Mr. Robot on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old actor donned two different outfits while filming in New York's Central Park.
Fun job: Rami Malek was all smiles while on set filming a new season of Mr. Robot on Wednesday
Initially, Rami looked relaxed in beige short-sleeve button down shirt which he tucked into some skinny jeans with the help of a thin black belt.
A pair of stark white sneakers and some wayfarer-style shades rounded out the first ensemble.
Later, the Night at the Museum star appeared in a new outfit while taking a break between scenes to talk with lovely co-star Stephanie Corneliussen, 29.
Malik's second look was even simpler than the first, and was composed of a charcoal grey t-shirt, tucked into black skinny jeans paired with black sneakers.
Summer casual: Initially, Rami looked relaxed in beige short-sleeve button down shirt which he tucked into some skinny jeans with the help of a thin black belt
A little grittier: Later, the Night at the Museum star appeared in a new outfit while taking a break between scenes to talk with lovely co-star Stephanie Corneliussen, 29 (right)
Light and dark: Malik's second look was even simpler than the first, and was composed of a charcoal grey t-shirt, tucked into black skinny jeans paired with black sneakers
Stephanie's outfit was a bit more summer friendly, and featured an airy tan colored swoop neck t-shirt under a semi-sheer white cardigan.
On the bottom, the Danish beauty sported a pair of white floral print trousers with unique tan-pattern flats.
Later, she had her own wardrobe change and popped up in a demure flower print button up blouse and some cream-colored straight leg slacks.
Regal: Later, she had her own wardrobe change and popped up in a demure flower print button up blouse and some cream-colored straight leg slacks
It seemed everyone on set was in quite a good mood, which may have been due to the news that the series would be getting two additional episodes for season two, bringing the total to 12, according to The Wrap.
A live after show called Hacking Robot has also been announced, and will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the show after the premiere.
Mr. Robot's second season is set to premiere on July 13th on USA.
Great news: It seemed everyone on set was in quite a good mood, which may have been due to the news that the series would be getting two additional episodes for season two, bringing the total to 12, according to The WrapGreetings Citizens,
Star Citizen Alpha 1.3 is now available on the live server! Alpha 1.3 represents our first ‘post merge’ patch, which means that a great deal of work has happened ‘under the hood’ combining several different development streams. The merge process conducted these past weeks has prepared the game for the next major update: the upcoming Alpha 2.0 “Mini Persistent Universe.” In addition to technical work, today’s patch includes updates to the flight model, a selection of new, larger guns for Voyager Direct and a variety of other changes. The patch is currently accessible via the Star Citizen Launcher and a complete list of release notes (including balance modifications, known issues and other changes) are available here.
This patch includes a large expansion to the ArcCorp’s Area 18. It adds the under-construction Galleria area, an overhaul of the social interface, new emotes and the addition of Greycat buggies around the zone that can be driven and crashed. We have also introduced some balance changes to both ship health and weapon damage, as well as a number of bug fixes. Finally, today’s patch also includes a significant update to the social module’s chat system. Want to learn how to socialize in the ‘Verse? We’ve put together a Chat FAQ available here for those interested.
We would also like to take a moment to thank the many backers who worked tirelessly to help the team locate and eliminate blockers on the PTU. The ability to issue more rapid PTU updates have been a goal for the project, and we’re happy to have been able to have launched six iterative test universe patches to get to this point! Thank you to our elite vanguard of volunteer testers who have made today’s release possible.
New Weapons
Star Citizen Alpha 1.3 adds a larger Size 4 Behring Combine Ballistic Cannon intended for use with the upcoming flyable Retaliator. Since the multicrew bomber is not available today and we know pilots would love some new toys to work towards, we’re making them available in the Voyager Direct site today along with a pair of specialized mounts that will let you attach them to either the Cutlass Black or the Hornet series of spacecraft. All three items are now available for rental with REC or purchase with UEC. A second gun, a size 2 Strife Mass Driver, is also available!Question: So are zombies possible? And if so, what does that mean for believers?
“You have to shoot them in the head.”
Vampires get staked in the heart; werewolves get shot with silver bullets (And no, Coors doesn’t count), but zombies are only stopped by blowing their brains out. Now, technically, that can be done with a bat, shovel or high heeled shoe, but the brain must go.
These vicious reanimated corpses were made famous by George Romero, but are now amazingly popular due to the Walking Dead tv show and comics as well as countless films that capitalize on the phenomena. The zombie mythos, however, has a much longer shelf-life tied into voodoo rituals and the possibility that those priests and priestesses might have actually been very good amateur pharmacists crafting drugs to reduce life signs and induce a state of almost hypnotic persuadability. Modern zombies, however, aren’t just barely living docile slaves, they are dead. D. E. A. D. And they are hungry for human flesh, spreading the plague of their condition quickly through the rank and file of society.
So is this possible? Does the Bible permit such a state?
To be clear, dead is dead.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 KJV)
Unless your name is Lazarus, you are pretty much out of luck. When we die, we immediately pass into our eternal destiny. (A discussion of the “I was dead on the table for 14 seconds and I went to heaven/hell” stories can be dealt with at another time.) General rule of thumb: you die, you stay dead.
Some folks will point to the resurrection of the dead promised in scripture as a justification for a coming zombie apocalypse.
“ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ESV)
Yes, there will be a massive resurrection of the dead at Christ’s return. I imagine that will be super freaky to watch, but note what happens here–they join the living believers in welcoming Jesus in the air. So unless you are tooling about in your Jetsons jet car, you should be fine. And these folks aren’t interested in “Braaaains!,” they are interested in just one thing: Jesus. In addition, nobody ends up with a rotting corpse body like make-up genius Greg Nicotero devised. We get much better bodies that are impervious to decay.
“ Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 ESV)
Our souls immediately pass into heaven or hell, but what about those bodies prior to the general resurrection? Is it possible that they could be reanimated? You probably aren’t going to like my answer: It is possible. There are lots of provisos here, but when Uncle John passes, while he is gone, his body could be reanimated.
Organ donation is a small scale picture of this. The heart, kidneys or corneas that he no longer needs are placed in or on a new host. They cease to be John and become a living, working part of Ethel, Candace and Jean Ralphio. In a very real sense, former living tissue is given new life, but only when attached to a living being.
As zombies have become more popular, writers have sought to embrace a scientific basis for the condition. Usually it is traced to a virus that infects healthy flesh, but a more likely culprit would be a parasite. There are several examples of this in the wild. (including at least two wasp species.) Though not an easy task, if attached quickly enough to a recently departed body, it is conceivable that a parasitic organism could send electrical impulses through the existing pathways of the creature in order to cause motion. This would, as is common to the lore, be very limited, so the whole rotting thing makes sense as the parasite focuses only on absolutely essential processes.
Even if that were possible, you can go ahead and conk Uncle John in the head with impunity because “Elvis,” as it were, “has left the building.” This has no more moral implications than swatting a fly. (Sorry, PETA.)
There is another option which is more troubling–demonic possession. The Bible recounts several examples where demons attached themselves to people. It is important to note that demons don’t seem to be able to remain in dead tissue as evidenced by the whole suicidal swine episode in Mark 5. While in control of their living hosts, however, they do not treat them well.
“For he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.” (Mark 5:4-5 ESV)
The demons have little regard for their human hosts. It is conceivable that such afflicted folks would have lots of weeping sores, untreated infections, burns and other defacing wounds that might, indeed, appear very like our image of zombies. On the positive side, however, while there is yet life, there is yet hope. As this man was freed from his demons by Jesus, it is possible, were this to happen, we could seek the Lord to do the same for Uncle John.
So generally speaking, we are pretty safe from an actual zombie apocalypse. Time to move our concerns over to Mayan calendars (oops, too late already), rogue asteroids and sentient robots that reject Asimov’s rules.
Got a question? Ipymin@gmail.com
AdvertisementsWhen conservatives use the apparatus of to promote their religious views, they typically do so under the guise of "acknowledging religious heritage." This rationalization has been used to justify the national motto of "In God We Trust," for example, and inclusion of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
There is plenty of reason to suspect that the "acknowledging heritage" argument is untrue, a disingenuous cover for an agenda of promoting religion. To acknowledge a heritage is fine, but it seems odd that we must do so by asserting religious truth claims (since the wording of both the Pledge and the motto assume that a God in fact exists). And isn't it puzzling that such efforts to "acknowledge heritage" are always led by religious organizations, not legitimate historical or educational societies?
But just for the fun of it, let's go along with the façade of "acknowledging our religious heritage." If we do so, what exactly are we acknowledging? Here again, we see that misinformation clouds the issue, because common understandings of America's religious heritage more often reflect mythology, not facts.
Elementary children, for example, are often told of how the Pilgrims left England in search of religious freedom, only to find it on the shores of New England. This, however, is false, as the Pilgrims were not at all interested in religious freedom, and in fact vehemently opposed it. After leaving England they settled in Amsterdam, a relatively free society, but they couldn't tolerate the and diversity there. In deciding to leave the Netherlands, Pilgrim William Bradford wrote that he wanted to shield the community's children from being "drawn away by evil examples into extravagance and dangerous courses."
Bradford envisioned the American settlement as a "great hope... for the propagating and advancing the Gospel of the kingdom of Christ..." Properly translated, this meant he wished to establish a theocracy, which is precisely what happened. To suggest that early New Englanders were a group that longed for a society of religious freedom is an absurdity; harsh intolerance and cruel piety were the rule.
If indeed we are supposed to be thinking of America's religious heritage when we place our hand over our heart and declare that the nation is "under God," there is little need to be consumed with nostalgia. We should instead ponder with somber regret the victims of that religious heritage, such as Mary Dyer, a Quaker woman who was hanged on Boston Common in 1660 for the of religious nonconformity. For holding religious views that were just slightly unaligned with those of her Boston neighbors, Dyer was strung up and killed along with several others, becoming a permanent symbol of America's rich "religious heritage" for which we now have our children Pledge daily.
Dyer and her fellow victims are not to be confused with the targets of the Salem witch hunts, which came a few decades later - yet another chapter in America's proud religious tradition. Once again, a confluence of, ignorance, and intolerance resulted in the early demise of innocents.
Ironically, although religious conservatives argue so aggressively for America's religious heritage, the most remarkable thing about the birth of the new nation was its secularity. The framers were most influenced philosophically by the Enlightenment, which was the first period in European history where we see thinkers openly rejecting Christianity. Reason and empiricism, not religious dogma, were seen as the avenue to truth, and for the first time we see a non-Christian religious view, Deism, becoming openly acceptable, particularly among the educated.
Because the framers were so secular, religious conservatives give great weight to the Declaration of Independence reference to "nature's God" and men being "endowed by their Creator" with rights. These phrases, they insist, are evidence that America is a Christian nation. This is ironic, because the Declaration is notable for its intentional omission of any mention of Christianity or Jesus. "Creator" and "nature's God" are common deistic references, obviously an intentional effort to avoid Christian rhetoric. Thus, almost a century before Darwin's discoveries, in an era when outright atheism was still a crime, the framers took careful steps to avoid validating Christianity. In fact, when they finally drafted the Constitution the resulting text was entirely god-free. Religion is mentioned in the original Constitution only once, and that is in the negative: to ensure that there is no religious test for holding office.
Religious advocates will cherry-pick occasional quotes and actions by the framers paying respect to religion, but such examples hardly prove a "heritage" that deserves exaltation. Indeed, to the extent the nation has a religious history, that heritage often provides more reason for than pride. Take, for instance, the proud religious tradition that justified slavery. Citing both Old and New Testament passages, preachers and slaveowners insisted that God was on their side as they subjected their fellow humans to the ultimate inhumanity.
Even the occasional "Great Awakenings" of religious fervor that have dotted America's history, though surely an important part of America's religious heritage, are rather embarrassing if considered honestly. At the height of such revivals, apocalyptic religious leaders have convinced devout believers, some of whom had relinquished all possessions, that the Second Coming of Jesus is imminent. Such "awakenings" all end, of course, with great disappointment, when the day of reckoning passes unremarkably.
Venomous religious bigotry is another part of America's proud religious heritage. Almost all of the framers were strongly anti-Catholic, for example. John Adams wrote that he was glad that in New England Catholics were "as rare as a comet or earthquake." John Jay, the first chief justice of the Supreme Court, promoted a law in New York that would allow anyone except Catholics to hold office. When Catholics finally began immigrating in large numbers to America in the 1800s, the anti-Catholic backlash was violent and extreme.
All countries have a religious heritage of some kind or another, and America is no exception. And like other countries, America has a religious heritage that should not necessarily be an object of pride. Though of course there have been some good works done in the name of religion—deeds of charity, support for civil rights, etc.—to suggest that America's religious heritage is so great that we should subject all the nation's citizens, believers and nonbelievers, to constant indoctrination via religious truth claims (i.e., that the nation is "under God" or that we all trust in God) is to distort history and disregard freedom of.
Order Dave's new book, Nonbeliever Nation, here.
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Ricciardo brought out the red flag when he stopped at pit lane exit early in the morning but thereafter his Red Bull ran trouble free to record a time of 1:24.574s, just under half a second faster than yesterday's best.
The Australian's best lap was recorded on the first lap of a single hot-lap run during the morning session on soft compound rubber, as was Kimi Raikkonen's second fastest time for Ferrari who enjoyed another productive day of running, with the Finn eventually getting through 90 laps. Raikkonen's quickest lap came at the start of a five-lap outing.
Felipe Massa went third for Williams when he switched to soft tyres an hour from the end of the session in another encouraging day for Williams. Massa logged the best times through sector one and also recorded an impressive top speed of 330.km/h, with Sauber's Marcus Ericsson almost matching the Williams. Ricciardo, meanwhile, was quickest in sectors two and three.
Sergio Perez made a late bid for glory in the 2014 Force India but his super soft run resulted in only a marginal improvement on his soft tyre best and he had to make do with fourth fastest on a day when he accumulated the second highest lap total.
World champions Mercedes continued to manage their drivers' health with the development needs of the team.
Nico Rosberg's morning stint with Mercedes produced 65 laps, the biggest count pre-lunch, and fourth fastest time to that point. The German showed no ill effects of the pinched nerve that had forced the team to rest him on Thursday when Hamilton fell ill.
Meanwhile, a night's rest enabled Hamilton to get back in harness in the afternoon during which he managed an impressive 89 laps and fifth fastest, just ahead of his team-mate's best to be the quickest runner on medium compound Pirellis.
Fernando Alonso had a relatively encouraging day for McLaren Honda, recording almost three times as many laps as Jenson Button on Thursday, albeit the lowest number of the day in a series of short runs as they wait for a replacement for the faulty MGU-K seal that has hampered their running to date.
Jolyon Pamer's first day as Lotus test driver produced a solid 77 lap total and eighth fastest of the ten drivers on show in Montmelo.
Marcus Ericsson took over from Felipe Nasr in the Sauber and produced 113 laps and ninth fastest despite bringing out the red flags when he stopped on the start finish straight with just over half an hour to go.
Carlos Sainz Junior took the wheel of the Toro Rosso, managing a healthy three figure lap total though his test ended a half hour early when he arrived back at the Toro Rosso garage with a tell-tale cloud of smoke emanating from the back of the car. It wads the final act of an eventful day for the rookie, as Sainz had earlier brought out the red flags when he went off at Turn 9.
Barcelona Test - Day Two
1 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1:24.574s 142 laps
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:24.584s0.010s 90
3 Felipe Massa Williams 1:24.672s 0.098s 88
4 Sergio Perez Force India 1:24.702s 0.128s 121
5 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:24.923s 0.349s 89
6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:25.556s 0.982s 66
7 Fernando Alonso McLaren 1:25.961s 1.387s 59
8 Jolyon Palmer Lotus 1:26.280s 1.706s 77
9 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1:27.344s 2.770s 113
10 Carlos Sainz Jr. Toro Rosso 1:28.945s4.371s 100Self-Publishing and Writer Organizations
Electric Literature Blocked Unblock Follow Following Jul 31, 2014
by Nick Mamatas
The Horror Writers Association (HWA) has decided to allow self-publishing as a criterion for its membership, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) is currently contemplating doing the same. Membership in both groups had previously been means-tested only to allow membership to writers who sold a certain number of short pieces at a certain pay rate, or a novel for an advance of a couple thousand dollars. (There are also other kinds of membership for publishing professionals, but that’s not relevant here.) Much anxiety and discussion has ensued, though of course there has been more light than heat.
The problem is that nobody understands the putative goals and purposes of these organizations, of which I was a member of both for a number of years — and a former Trustee of HWA and a former member of the grievance committee of SFWA. I am not a member of either right now, and have no plans to rejoin either group any time soon. I am a member of the Mystery Writers of America, however, though because MWA is sufficiently tight-lipped about its own operations I’m actually less qualified to talk about it.
The first question is this: why wasn’t self-publishing allowed before? The real answer has little to nothing to do with the ease of self-publishing, or “gatekeeping”, or the stigma attached to self-publishing, and it certainly had zero to do with the idea that self-published works make for worse reading than commercially published works. Though of course self-publishing is fairly easy, there are gatekeepers, there is still a stigma attached to self-publishing, and self-published works are, on the whole, more likely to be bad and to be bad in ways that bad commercially published fiction is not.
Self-publishing wasn’t a criterion for membership previously because the goal of these organizations was in large part to serve as a guild that would defend the commercial interests of their members against the state and the publishing industry. That is, publishers were the class enemy — even though editors and publishers could theoretically join the organization, and even though there is nothing to stop an editor from joining as a writer, as I did. Of course the groups had other goals: to give out awards, to provide some number of publishing opportunities via the licensing of member-only anthologies, to hold parties, to create and maintain a mailing list, and to make the mediocre feel grandiose. The goal of defense was incompletely manifested and riven with contradictions, but that’s life.
Who is the class enemy of the self-published writer? In times past, when self-publishing meant storing books in one’s garage, there was no class enemy. There were many enemies — bookstores that refused to stock books, mice and other vermin chewing away at the boxes, angry mail carriers, printers who get things wrong — but they are not class enemies. So there was never a reason for the self-published to join HWA, SFWA, or other groups, though of course the desire of the mediocre to feel grandiose led several to agitate for a seat.
And, it turns out that it is much easier to sell awards and grandiosity than it is to fight for writer interests, especially when the publishers the organizations dealt with would first collapse and then reform into far more powerful organizations thanks to conglomeratization. (The big achievement of these orgs over the past few years was to get a few magazines to pay five, and now six, cents a word, instead of three cents a word, for short fiction.) It used to make sense to have separate organizations for romance writers, science fiction writers, etc. Now, when the difference between a romance publisher and a science fiction publisher is which phone rings on which desk in the same office space, it does not. However, when it comes to awards and parties and grandiosity — well, you don’t get a lot of play on a country club scheme if anyone can walk off the street and join, especially when some of them are gross ugly nerds who smell like landfill, uh, I mean science fiction writers. In the pre-Kindle days, a number of self-published writers wanted to join, were rebuffed, and complained that they were “pros” too and made ever so much money — far more than three cents a word for a short story or whatever the going rate was at the time.
Amazon.com and the Kindle changed everything for self-publishing. It solved the two problems of self-publishing, distribution and quality. The Kindle made distribution simple, and the ability to price one’s titles cheaply solved the quality problem: people don’t care as much about products that cost them a dollar, especially when high-quality substitutes cost between eight and twenty-five times as much while only being twice to five times as good. Plus, as Amazon’s new Kindle Unlimited rule about a reader needing to read ten percent of a book before Amazon will pay the writer suggests, lots of people are buying dollar books and then promptly forgetting to even look at them.
Self-publishing today is more accurately called direct publishing via online networks that operate under some set of terms of service. The class enemy stands revealed! And yet, heavy subsidies by Amazon and competitive pressures from other firms — if you like your 70 percent royalty, thank Apple for forcing Amazon’s hand, not the other way around — makes it appear subjectively that Amazon is not a class enemy. That is, self-published writers have gone from rejected to accepted, from poor to rich, from mediocre to grandiose! With the press of a button, and the ritual payout to freelance “editors” — most of whom in fact do not edit. (Relatively few editors tell their clients, “Throw this book away. Do nothing but read widely and deeply for five years. Then try again.” This is an important part of the editorial process, formerly made manifest by the ubiquitous rejection letter.)
The only thing missing…the stamp of approval from a guild. Well, now they got that too.
What they don’t have are fighting organizations. What would SFWA and HWA do if tomorrow Amazon decides to cut royalties in half, or if Google decides to give every book away for free, or if Apple decides that vendors get paid only after 100 percent of a book is read? They would do nothing. They can do nothing. If the CEO of Macmillan can’t score more than a twenty-minute meeting with Amazon execs, and if Hachette finds itself outboxed and outfoxed by the company, what can a bunch of sad little mid-listers (SFWA) and, to be frank, a mess of small-press tyros and wannabes (HWA) do? Within the caste elite of publishing, Amazon reigns supreme. And its subsidy to the self-published and only slowly increasing demands (audible.com royalty reductions, increased pressure for exclusivity to thwart B&N and Smashwords) mean that most sellf-published writers are not interested in an organization that will fight against Amazon. The irony is that while successful self-published writers complain that the writer organizations were acting as gatekeepers and such, it is the top tier of the self-published who are truly the labor aristocracy, to only slightly misuse the Marxist term.
The lower tiers? Well, Steinbeck’s quip about “temporarily embarrassed millionaires” comes to mind.
So, what does this mean for the groups? Well, it means that now we will see more self-published material on the Nebula and Stoker Awards ballots, as being in a group is always the best way to get nominated by the group. Increasing amounts of the internal conversations in the groups will be given over to pricing schemes for Kindle, the creation of “box sets”, cross-promoting by writers, and laments when these strategies start working less well because now everyone is doing them. The promotional tactics of the self-published will also be focused internally: you-read-ten-percent-of-mine-and-I-will-read-ten-percent-of-yours, vote for me and I shall vote for you, and the like. When New York makes its countermoves against Amazon by squeezing margins on its writers, well, that will just prove the point that self-publishing is better, and by then it will be too late.
What should have happened is this: in the 1990s, SFWA, HWA, MWA, RWA, and whatever other groups out there should have merged. As stated above, there is no compelling reason to keep separate writer organizations when huge conglomerates publishe mystery and romance and science fiction and Western and other fiction. A significant group of size — with little affinity branches to hand out the various legacy awards and throw the parties and publish innocuous newsletters — could have perhaps done something about both New York and Seattle. The groups should still merge, but this would be a rearguard action at best.
What will happen is this: the last impulses toward guild status and interest-defense will fall to the wayside, and the groups will become fan/aficionado clubs. If you want an extant model, think of the cruises occasionally held by Turner Classic Movies. Do famous people show up for the cruises? Sure they do. Are the cruises interesting and fun? Sure they are. Are the cruises a useful tool for organization to change TCM’s programming, or to agitate for better pension plans for aging stars, or even to encourage better storage facilities for old film reels? Of course they are not, even if a petition is passed around or a small educational meeting is held. They are for fun. SFWA, HWA etc. are for fun. They were mostly for fun before, and will be almost entirely for fun and nothing else, at all, in five or six years. Not because self-publishers are the bad pennies flooding the market to adulterate the Real Horror and the Best Science Fiction, but because the battle was lost before it was joined. Before Amazon was even founded.
And thus the grandiose shall have their mediocrity revealed.
[Editor’s note: this essay original appeared on the author’s blog.]With the latest batch of RCMP documents, the timeline of the deal to repay Mike Duffy's expenses is becoming clearer.
The scandal over Nigel Wright's decision to give Mr. Duffy $90,000 to repay expense claims has shaken the Conservative government and the Prime Minister's Office – leading to Mr. Wright's resignation as chief of staff, Mr. Duffy's suspension from the Senate and RCMP investigations into each of them.
A court document released Wednesday – based on police interviews and 2,600 emails, though not proven in court – offers new details on how the Duffy deal transpired.
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Wright gets involved
The issue landed on the radar of Mr. Wright on Feb. 5, police say. He spoke with Mr. Duffy two days later, and the senator professed innocence.
Mr. Wright had thought Mr. Duffy agreed to repay some claims, but "felt deflated" upon hearing from Mr. Duffy's lawyer, RCMP wrote. The sides continued to talk. On Feb. 13, Mr. Duffy approached Prime Minister Stephen Harper, leading Mr. Wright to "interject" in the discussion.
Later that month, Mr. Duffy's lawyer proposed a deal with five conditions. The Deloitte audit into his residency would be abandoned; the government would acknowledge Mr. Duffy could continue to serve as a senator from PEI; Duffy would be "kept whole," or not be on the hook for his legal fees or repaying his expenses; he'd could collect a living allowance going forward, if rules allowed; and both sides would stick to "media lines," or talking points designed to conceal the pact.
Not all those would happen, but Mr. Wright thought the Conservative Party was "open to keeping Sen. Duffy whole," or paying his bills.
Senator Irving Gerstein, chair of the Conservative Fund, told Mr. Wright the Fund would cover $32,000 in housing claims only – "nothing else," Mr. Wright stressed – and legal fees, estimated by Mr. Wright to be $12,000.
Mr. Wright said Feb. 22 he had "the go-ahead" on repayment, but that "I do want to speak to the PM before everything is considered final" An hour later, he said: "We are good to go from the PM."
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It's unclear what was said in that hour. At that point, the Conservative Party was planning to pay roughly $44,000 on Mr. Duffy's behalf. But Mr. Harper said Wednesday he understood that they were "good to go with Mr. Duffy repaying his own expenses."
Mr. Duffy went and got a mortgage, part of an apparent attempt to conceal the source of the repayment. His lawyer wanted a deal in writing, which the PMO refused. The deal wouldn't last anyhow.
How it fell apart
On Feb. 26, Mr. Wright learned Mr. Duffy had been charging meals and per-diems, and that the bill would be roughly $80,000, rather than $32,000. "I am beyond furious. This will all be repaid," Mr. Wright wrote in one e-mail.
The next day, the final tab came in – $90,172.24. The party wouldn't pay it.
On March 1, Mr. |
Gibson Park; QUB v Old Crescent, Dub Lane; Seapoint v Old Wesley, Kilbogget Park; Thomond v Terenure College, Liam Fitzgerald Park.
Division Two B– Ards v Cashel, Hamilton Park; Armagh v Boyne, Palace Grounds; Highfield v Naas, Woodleigh Park; Nenagh Ormond v Navan, New Ormond Park; Rainy OB v Banbridge, Hatrick Park; Sundays Well v Connemara, Musgrave Park; Suttonians v NUIM Barnhall, JJ McDowell Memorial Grounds; Wanderers v Sligo, Aviva Stadium.
Sunday
RaboDirect PRO 12– Dragons v Warriors, Rodney Parade 4.30pm.ScottFarRoad
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Atomic Society Version 0.0.8 Patch Notes
NEW FEATURES
• New feature: Scavenger Focus. You can now mark a specific resource as a priority via the storehouse menu. Your scavengers will then make that resource their focus and ignore any ruins that don’t contain it at all. Check out the new tick boxes on the storehouse menu to do this.
• New feature: Tolerate Solution. The 5th ethical solution has been added to the game so you can now tolerate certain behaviours rather than ignoring or encouraging them. This gives you more finesse over what you think of certain issues. Toleration slightly increases the rate behaviours will happen again in future, and will come with its own unique side-effect in a later version.
• New building: Luxury Tower. The ultimate shelter has been added to the game. This huge building can house up to 25 people in the best comfort available. It’s useful for soaking up huge numbers of homeless near the end of the game when you can afford it.
• New map added: Valley. A lush and green forest biome map has been added to the game. This is a deep hillside map, divided by a scenic lake.
• New map added: Summit. A new mountainous and snowy map has been added to the game. This is a moody and misty map.
• Building system redone. The building construction system has been redone from scratch and improved to make it a lot more consistent. Laying out your towns feels a lot nicer now. There is no longer any confusion about why you can't build in a certain area. Scenery now deforms in real-time as you position a structure. Buildings now have a little animation and rise out of the ground when they appear. Many bugs, including a bug that stopped you putting a building near corpses, have been fixed. It is now much easier to line up buildings.
• Citizen animations improved. A new, physics-based animation system has been added to the game which improves the realism of citizen’s walking animations, has been added to the game. This looks more realistic and lets them walk according to the features of the landscape (rather than sliding over the top of it). New turning and idle animations added too. Citizens now try and avoid each other (rather than ghosting through each other) and will try and run out of the way of the Town Leader if you come charging through them!
• Citizen path-finding upgraded. The Town Leader and citizens are now generally smarter about picking routes and many annoying bugs, such as when they'd change their mind and turn back, or go extremely scenic routes, have been fixed. Control over the Town Leader has been enhanced.
• Town Leader can now help maintain buildings. You can now left click on any building that is beginning to need repairs and manually help fix it.
• Collapsed or destroyed buildings now leave junk mounds behind. When a building is demolished, or collapses, it now leaves a mound of junk. Right click on this to identify what the building used to be. You will not be able to build on this spot until you have cleared up the junk as the Town Leader.
• Cancelling constructions now refunds you half the material cost. You may now cancel a new construction before it is 100% finished and you will receive half the cost back in building materials.
• New convertible ruin added: Abandoned Mansion. The largest and grandest ruin in the game is now available to make the centrepiece of a town, if you can find it.
• New convertible ruin added: Abandoned Ski Resort with broken ski lifts. A new wintery ruin type has been added to the game. This old tourist resort might make a decent base of operations on the new map Summit.
• New feature: Random map selector: Pressing this will randomly pick one of the 9 default maps for you.
• New feature: Loot tooltips. You can now get a basic idea what kind of loot is in each ruin contains by mousing over it. A good scavenger would be able tell what a structure was made of so now you can too.
• Several graphical improvements: New flowing, realistic water has been implemented on all maps, greatly improving their appearance. All maps now have procedural skyboxes that improves lighting. Citizens have had minor graphical enhancements, including fingers and ears. Male character model has been redone. Several ruins have also had minor visual upgrades. Shadows have been improved in general. Many maps have had complete lighting overhauls.
• You can now type in a number of resources to destroy. This should make it quicker to abandon a lot of unwanted junk.
• Improvements made to Town Leader mode. The game will now automatically pop you out of Town Leader mode whenever the Leader enters a building to construct or scavenge. In addition, you no longer need to be in Town Leader mode at all to deposit items in at storehouse. (This new system can be turned off in Interface Options if you prefer it the old way.)
• A Restart Map button has been added to the Escape Button menu. This lets you restart the map you are on currently without having to make a new Town Leader character. Useful if you have a bad start or waste time at the beginning.
• 2 new hidden story skeletons added to the new maps: Valley and Summit both hide a new human skeleton, each with a new journal entry that gives some backstory to the game’s apocalypse. Also, all skeletons now also have tooltips if you accidentally mouse over them to make them easier to find.
• Various notification messages added. For example, you will now receive warning messages when a building collapses, when your prisons are full, when all your enforcers are busy, the first ever time you execute or imprison someone, and more.
• New feature: Enforcer icons. Small icons now appear over over Enforcers who are arresting someone. This helps you see what’s actually going in your town. (These can be disabled in Interface options).
• An icon now appears over any convertible ruin that is completely empty to remind you to convert it. As there’s no reason not to convert a ruin once it’s been drained of loot. (You can turn these off as well)
• 3 new buttons have been added to the main UI panel. These shortcut buttons will take you straight to the storehouse inventory, stats screen and social issues list respectively. You can find them by the need bars. (You can still access these menus in the old-fashioned way too.)
• New keyboard shortcuts added, particularly for laptop users. You can now zoom in and out by pressing F or R on the keyboard and change the game speed on the – and + keys (in addition to the numpad, if you have one).
• More information now given on workers: If you click on a scavenger or construction worker/engineer, it now tells you what building they are going to work on next.
• The 3 core building supplies have been renamed. Wood is now called “Salvaged Lumber”, scrap metal is now “Salvaged Metal” and rubble is now called “Salvaged Masonry”. This is to make seem more logical why the citizens get their supplies from ruins. They want ready-to-use materials.
• The way citizens chose where to sleep has been refined. Citizens now look for the best quality house within a certain distance, so more expensive housing will now get used more frequently.
• You can now see what solution you picked. If you mouse over a social issue you have set a law for on the Town Hall it now tells you what solution you picked to help remind you.
• Other UI improvements: The way shelter coverage was displayed has been improved to match the way latrine coverage was displayed. All circular icons, such as those that appear above buildings, now have tooltips explaining what they mean if you mouseover them. You can also click on them to go straight to the menu in question. A salvage complete percentage has been added to the Town Leader’s inventory to help show how long it will take. A help message has been added to the News feed tab at the top to explain to new players that it can be dragged out and re-positioned. This message will scroll off as new messages appear.
• The Rain Collector has been renamed to the Dew Collector. This was to make it more appropriate for desert and icy biomes. It now takes twice as long to produce but produces twice as much.
• More sound effects have added. You might notice new sounds when you click on things. We're gradually adding these over time in the areas where we think they're needed most.
• The rate of drug overdosing has been reduced slightly. As some people want to try and run a town full of junkies.
• The icon for Culture Critics has been changed to make it more distinct. It used to be mistaken for low morale. It is now a snooty person picture.
• The text for the social issues and the punishments has been completely re-written. It has now been phrased as if it were the words of actual town advisers with clearer pros and cons.
• Latrines now support up to 25 citizens at once (+5). So you don’t need quite as many.
• The game has been upgraded to the latest version of Unity. This may provide an extra performance and a visual boosts for players.
NOTABLE BUG FIXES
• Fixed: A bug that prevented players from putting a building down in an visually clear spot of ground. You should be able to put buildings more or less wherever you want them now.
• Fixed: A bug that sometimes caused citizens to stop animating and slide along the terrain.
• Fixed: A bug that sometimes left Engineers buried up to their waists in the ground.
• Fixed: Idling citizens wandering straight through buildings.
• Fixed: Engineers exiting a construction site in the same area and standing inside each other.
• Fixed: Various issues with the Town Leader. He or she would sometimes run around on the spot for no reason, or change direction and run backwards, or run through buildings to get wherever they needed to be.
• Fixed: Stopped scavengers tending their needs while out searching for loot. They will no longer get 99% of the way to a ruin and decide to turn back, for example.
• Fixed: Loading a save no longer lets you skip the timer period between setting laws.
• Fixed: A bug that stopped you switching between Town Leader and Overview Mode if you had the mouse cursor over any UI element.
• Fixed: A bug that meant holding down shift to easily make a duplicate of that building was too sensitive. It now works correctly.
• Fixed: The News feed no longer scrolls through all old messages when you open it.
• Fixed: If you scroll up in the News Feed, it now stays there and doesn’t scroll down as new messages appear.
• Fixed: Certain parts of the Iceberg map were incorrectly inaccessible.
• Fixed: An issue that could cause citizens skin/hair to appear shiny/metallic.
• Fixed: The tutorial window was re-opening after you load a save game with it closed.
• Fixed: Being unable to destroy storehouse resources at game speed 0.
• Fixed: If you exit and return to Leader mode while he or she is scavenging, their inventory panel now correctly re-opens.
• Fixed: Salvaged military rations now correctly boost food and drink at the same time. They are the best food/drink resource in the game (later you will be able to make something comparable yourself.)
• Fixed: The exclamation mark icon was appearing over the Town Hall even if you had judged all available issues in the game.
• Fixed: The Town Hall exclamation icon was not appearing if a citizen committed an issue before you’d even built a Town Hall.
• Fixed: Made it so that if resources get added to the storehouse while you are browsing the build menu, you can see what’s in stock get updated in real-time.
• Fixed: A bug that meant you had to enter a detail on the Town Leader screen again to proceed if you went back to the title screen.
• Fixed: Removed the “saving may take time” message from the loading screen.
• Fixed: A bug that was causing shadows to look distorted and low colour under certain lighting conditions.
• Fixed: The “all storehouses full” message was playing too frequently.
Version 0.0.8 is now available for all new and existing players. Here's what it brings to the game...You can now mark a specific resource as a priority via the storehouse menu. Your scavengers will then make that resource their focus and ignore any ruins that don’t contain it at all. Check out the new tick boxes on the storehouse menu to do this.The 5th ethical solution has been added to the game so you can now tolerate certain behaviours rather than ignoring or encouraging them. This gives you more finesse over what you think of certain issues. Toleration slightly increases the rate behaviours will happen again in future, and will come with its own unique side-effect in a later version.The ultimate shelter has been added to the game. This huge building can house up to 25 people in the best comfort available. It’s useful for soaking up huge numbers of homeless near the end of the game when you can afford it.A lush and green forest biome map has been added to the game. This is a deep hillside map, divided by a scenic lake.A new mountainous and snowy map has been added to the game. This is a moody and misty map.The building construction system has been redone from scratch and improved to make it a lot more consistent. Laying out your towns feels a lot nicer now. There is no longer any confusion about why you can't build in a certain area. Scenery now deforms in real-time as you position a structure. Buildings now have a little animation and rise out of the ground when they appear. Many bugs, including a bug that stopped you putting a building near corpses, have been fixed. It is now much easier to line up buildings.. A new, physics-based animation system has been added to the game which improves the realism of citizen’s walking animations, has been added to the game. This looks more realistic and lets them walk according to the features of the landscape (rather than sliding over the top of it). New turning and idle animations added too. Citizens now try and avoid each other (rather than ghosting through each other) and will try and run out of the way of the Town Leader if you come charging through them!The Town Leader and citizens are now generally smarter about picking routes and many annoying bugs, such as when they'd change their mind and turn back, or go extremely scenic routes, have been fixed. Control over the Town Leader has been enhanced.You can now left click on any building that is beginning to need repairs and manually help fix it.When a building is demolished, or collapses, it now leaves a mound of junk. Right click on this to identify what the building used to be. You will not be able to build on this spot until you have cleared up the junk as the Town Leader.You may now cancel a new construction before it is 100% finished and you will receive half the cost back in building materials.The largest and grandest ruin in the game is now available to make the centrepiece of a town, if you can find it.A new wintery ruin type has been added to the game. This old tourist resort might make a decent base of operations on the new map Summit.Pressing this will randomly pick one of the 9 default maps for you.You can now get a basic idea what kind of loot is in each ruin contains by mousing over it. A good scavenger would be able tell what a structure was made of so now you can too.New flowing, realistic water has been implemented on all maps, greatly improving their appearance. All maps now have procedural skyboxes that improves lighting. Citizens have had minor graphical enhancements, including fingers and ears. Male character model has been redone. Several ruins have also had minor visual upgrades. Shadows have been improved in general. Many maps have had complete lighting overhauls.This should make it quicker to abandon a lot of unwanted junk.The game will now automatically pop you out of Town Leader mode whenever the Leader enters a building to construct or scavenge. In addition, you no longer need to be in Town Leader mode at all to deposit items in at storehouse. (This new system can be turned off in Interface Options if you prefer it the old way.)This lets you restart the map you are on currently without having to make a new Town Leader character. Useful if you have a bad start or waste time at the beginning.Valley and Summit both hide a new human skeleton, each with a new journal entry that gives some backstory to the game’s apocalypse. Also, all skeletons now also have tooltips if you accidentally mouse over them to make them easier to find.For example, you will now receive warning messages when a building collapses, when your prisons are full, when all your enforcers are busy, the first ever time you execute or imprison someone, and more.Small icons now appear over over Enforcers who are arresting someone. This helps you see what’s actually going in your town. (These can be disabled in Interface options).As there’s no reason not to convert a ruin once it’s been drained of loot. (You can turn these off as well)These shortcut buttons will take you straight to the storehouse inventory, stats screen and social issues list respectively. You can find them by the need bars. (You can still access these menus in the old-fashioned way too.)You can now zoom in and out by pressing F or R on the keyboard and change the game speed on the – and + keys (in addition to the numpad, if you have one).If you click on a scavenger or construction worker/engineer, it now tells you what building they are going to work on next.Wood is now called “Salvaged Lumber”, scrap metal is now “Salvaged Metal” and rubble is now called “Salvaged Masonry”. This is to make seem more logical why the citizens get their supplies from ruins. They want ready-to-use materials.Citizens now look for the best quality house within a certain distance, so more expensive housing will now get used more frequently.If you mouse over a social issue you have set a law for on the Town Hall it now tells you what solution you picked to help remind you.The way shelter coverage was displayed has been improved to match the way latrine coverage was displayed. All circular icons, such as those that appear above buildings, now have tooltips explaining what they mean if you mouseover them. You can also click on them to go straight to the menu in question. A salvage complete percentage has been added to the Town Leader’s inventory to help show how long it will take. A help message has been added to the News feed tab at the top to explain to new players that it can be dragged out and re-positioned. This message will scroll off as new messages appear.This was to make it more appropriate for desert and icy biomes. It now takes twice as long to produce but produces twice as much.. You might notice new sounds when you click on things. We're gradually adding these over time in the areas where we think they're needed most.As some people want to try and run a town full of junkies.It used to be mistaken for low morale. It is now a snooty person picture.It has now been phrased as if it were the words of actual town advisers with clearer pros and cons.. So you don’t need quite as many.This may provide an extra performance and a visual boosts for players.: A bug that prevented players from putting a building down in an visually clear spot of ground. You should be able to put buildings more or less wherever you want them now.: A bug that sometimes caused citizens to stop animating and slide along the terrain.: A bug that sometimes left Engineers buried up to their waists in the ground.: Idling citizens wandering straight through buildings.: Engineers exiting a construction site in the same area and standing inside each other.: Various issues with the Town Leader. He or she would sometimes run around on the spot for no reason, or change direction and run backwards, or run through buildings to get wherever they needed to be.: Stopped scavengers tending their needs while out searching for loot. They will no longer get 99% of the way to a ruin and decide to turn back, for example.: Loading a save no longer lets you skip the timer period between setting laws.: A bug that stopped you switching between Town Leader and Overview Mode if you had the mouse cursor over any UI element.: A bug that meant holding down shift to easily make a duplicate of that building was too sensitive. It now works correctly.: The News feed no longer scrolls through all old messages when you open it.: If you scroll up in the News Feed, it now stays there and doesn’t scroll down as new messages appear.: Certain parts of the Iceberg map were incorrectly inaccessible.: An issue that could cause citizens skin/hair to appear shiny/metallic.: The tutorial window was re-opening after you load a save game with it closed.: Being unable to destroy storehouse resources at game speed 0.: If you exit and return to Leader mode while he or she is scavenging, their inventory panel now correctly re-opens.: Salvaged military rations now correctly boost food and drink at the same time. They are the best food/drink resource in the game (later you will be able to make something comparable yourself.): The exclamation mark icon was appearing over the Town Hall even if you had judged all available issues in the game.: The Town Hall exclamation icon was not appearing if a citizen committed an issue before you’d even built a Town Hall.: Made it so that if resources get added to the storehouse while you are browsing the build menu, you can see what’s in stock get updated in real-time.: A bug that meant you had to enter a detail on the Town Leader screen again to proceed if you went back to the title screen.: Removed the “saving may take time” message from the loading screen.: A bug that was causing shadows to look distorted and low colour under certain lighting conditions.: The “all storehouses full” message was playing too frequently.Home Daily News Jailhouse lawyer who wrote winning US Supreme…
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Jailhouse lawyer who wrote winning US Supreme Court cert petition will soon clerk for DC Circuit
A decade ago, Shon Hopwood was a convicted bank robber serving time. Hitting the books in the prison library, he honed his legal skills and wrote, on behalf of a fellow inmate, a rare winning certiorari petition to the U.S. Supreme Court that a former U.S. solicitor general who later worked on the case described as “just terrific.”
That was the beginning of a soaring career trajectory for Hopwood, who subsequently was released, worked as a paralegal, went to law school and interned for a federal district judge in Washington state. Next year, after he earns his law degree from the University of Washington, he will clerk for Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the Blog of Legal Times reports.
“I’m amazed at the opportunities and second chances I have been given,” the 38-year-old Hopwood told the BLT on Wednesday, describing himself as “still in a state of shock” after his Monday interview with Brown.
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “Superb Skills as Jailhouse Lawyer Put Ex-Inmate in Position to Help Top Attorneys”
ABAJournal.com: “Skilled Jailhouse Lawyer Is Now in Law School, Thanks to Bill and Melinda Gates”Anthony Zhang, one of the creators of Know Your VC Anthony Zhang
Like so many male Silicon Valley founders, Anthony Zhang was shocked when he read that a prominent tech investor, Binary Capital's Justin Caldbeck, was accused of harassing female founders.
And then he read that another famous investor, 500 Startups' Dave McClure, admitted to being a "creep" towards women.
"I've actually gone through 500 Startups," Zhang told Business Insider. "I knew Dave McClure personally, and had pitched Justin a few times."
Zhang went through 500 Startups with his food delivery startup EnvoyNow, which he then sold to JoyRun for an undisclosed amount.
It troubled Zhang that he knew these investors, but knew so little about their bad behaviour.
"It was a complete blindside to not know that side of their character... before pitching them," he said. "I got to talking to other founders and sharing stories. Lots of [stories] showed behaviour that was very biased, or flat out disrespectful. Like having five meetings, being really interested, requesting lots of information, then never calling again."
His solution? A kind of Glassdoor for VCs where, instead of rating places of employment, people rate investors.
Zhang has spent the last month building Know Your VC, a platform where founders can anonymously or publicly submit reviews and comments for any investor.
The Know Your VC homepage Shona Ghosh/Business Insider
Founders who want to leave a review or comments need to sign up (and be verified by Zhang's team). For now, anyone can search for and read reviews for any investor.
This is one of the reviews that shows up if you search for Justin Caldbeck.
A review of ex-Binary Capital partner Justin Caldbeck, who resigned after admitting to sexual harassment. Shona Ghosh/Business Insider
There are some obvious gaps here. There's nothing here flagging the allegations against Caldbeck, or the fact he's stopped investing for the time being. It's the same for Dave McClure, who resigned from 500 Startups. Zhang said his team plan to add tags that will flag negative news coverage, and whether the person is still an active investor.
While founders can submit open reviews, they can also ask to submit comments privately in a kind of personal log. They can then ask to be alerted if someone else submits something similar about the same investor. For a female founder hesitating about whether to go public about harassment or discrimination, that could provide important support.
Zhang is also hoping to add an anonymous chat function so founders can swap tales through the platform, but that's a way off.
He's already had to deal with at least one VC trying to trash another's reputation.
"We have filters and flags for when, say, five emails get created and they all review one person poorly," he said. "We can tell who's signed up. We had an address bashing one VC but could see on their LinkedIn that they were interning for another VC firm."
Still, defamation seems like an obvious problem, particularly since investors rely heavily on their networks to strike new deals.
For now, Zhang is relying on the company's terms and conditions, which stresses that users are responsible for the truthfulness of their reviews. And he said no one's complained about negative reviews yet.
There's a team of five behind Know Your VC, who are building out the platform in their spare time. Zhang said there are almost 1,000 reviews on the platform, and "a few thousand" founders and investors using the platform already.
It's already spread to Europe. Business Insider heard about Know Your VC from Gemma Young, cofounder and CEO of British property startup Settled, who thought the project was broadly positive. Though Young also likened it to a particular episode of dystopian drama "Black Mirror", where people rate each other every few minutes with their phones.
Harry Stebbings, a young British VC who has cofounded a new investment fund with Fred Destin — an investor accused of inappropriate behaviour— is an early adopter for the service. He told Business Insider: "It is incredibly hard for founders to know the right VC for them and so any product that brings transparency to the market will be welcomed by the entrepreneurial ecosystem."
While there are existing resources for founders such as AngelList, there aren't any platforms that vet angels or investors publicly. Most founders rely on private networks and groups to share information. Ultimately, that's probably still the best way for founders to get the most candid views on an investor, but Know Your VC is a good first step towards transparency.
For now, Zhang's focus is on growing Know Your VC and on quality. "If it becomes the Glassdoor of VC, that would be amazing," he said.Image caption At least 200,000 people marched in Tel Aviv
At least a quarter of a million Israelis have staged marches over the rising cost of living.
The largest protest was in Tel Aviv where police said at least 200,000 people were on the streets, while another 30,000 marched in Jerusalem.
In one of biggest waves of protests in decades in Israel, demonstrators are demanding government action to reduce the cost of housing and food.
Some protesters have also set up camp in city centres.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld that as well as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, an estimated 20,000 people had taken part in protests in other towns and cities.
"Our numbers are more than 250,000 people across the country," he told AFP news agency.
Israeli media put the number of protesters closer to 300,000.
Analysis If the Israeli government was hoping this extraordinary movement of middle-class protesters was losing momentum and direction, the message from the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities across the country is that they are not giving up. The unaffordability of housing, childcare and even some basic foods has driven many Israelis to despair in a country with high prices but relatively low salaries. Thus far, Prime Minister Netanyahu has promised to reassess his government's priorities and make housing more affordable. But, until they see more immediate and concrete proposals, thousands of protesters say they will remain camped out in the heart of Tel Aviv.
It was the third Saturday of protests in a row.
The BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem says most of those taking part were middle-class professionals who say their salaries cannot cover basic expenses including housing and childcare.
The protesters have been inspired by social uprisings in the Middle East but instead of seeking political change are demanding that the government take action over the soaring cost of living, he adds.
"It's hard to live in this country," said 26-year-old student Ehud Rotem, who joined the Jerusalem protest.
He told AP news agency that Israelis perform their mandatory military service, work and pay high taxes but "still don't earn enough to finish the month".
Another 45-year-old Tel Aviv resident said the situation was "impossible".
"We work so hard and we cannot afford a quiet life, we always have to struggle."
A revolution'
One of the organisers, 33-year-old Baroch Oren, said the movement was "a revolution".
"There has been nothing like this for decades - all these people coming together, taking to the streets, demanding change."
Israel's annual economic growth is relatively healthy, averaging 4.5% since 2004, and in the same period unemployment has fallen from about 11% to 6%.
But the public say this growth has failed to benefit them and there is growing public anger over perceived social inequality, injustice and official corruption.
Image caption Mr Netanyahu has promised to tackle issues including the high cost of housing
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to reassess his priorities and make housing more affordable.
Mr Netanyahu's spokesman, Mark Regev, told the BBC's Newshour programme that the government was aware it had to act to bring down prices of housing and consumer products.
"we are hopeful that this current wave of demonstrations will help us get through the parliament the sort of legislation and things we require to bring down prices," he said.
He said a team of ministers, academic experts and business people would be appointed on Sunday to meet in "a round table type situation".
He added that Mr Netanyahu was prepared to meet protesters.Researchers from UC Berkeley have found a way to reprogram mouse embryonic stem cells so that they exhibit developmental characteristics resembling those of fertilized eggs, or zygotes.
These “totipotent-like” stem cells are able to generate not only all cell types within a developing embryo, but also cell types that facilitate nutrient exchange between the embryo and the mother.
For now, the new stem cell lines UC Berkeley researchers have created will help scientists understand the first molecular decisions made in the early embryo. Ultimately, however, these insights could broaden the repertoire of tissues that can be generated from stem cells, with significant implications for regenerative medicine and stem cell-based therapy.
A fertilized egg is thought to possess full developmental potential, able to generate all cell types required for embryo gestation, including the developing embryo and its extra-embryonic tissues. A unique feature of placental mammals, extra-embryonic tissues such as the placenta and yolk sac are vital for nutrient and waste exchange between the fetus and mother.
By contrast, most embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells are more restricted in their developmental potential, able to form embryonic cell types, but not extra-embryonic tissues. The ability of a fertilized egg to generate both embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues is referred to as “totipotency,” an ultimate stem cell state seen only during the earliest stages of embryonic development.
“Studies on embryonic development greatly benefit from the culture system of embryonic stem cells and, more recently, induced pluripotent stem cells. These experimental systems allow scientists to dissect key molecular pathways that specify cell fate decisions in embryonic development,” said team leader Lin He, a UC Berkeley associate professor of molecular and cell biology. “But the unique developmental potential of a zygote, formed right after the sperm and egg meet, is very, very difficult to study, due to limited materials and the lack of a cell-culture experimental system.”
He’s new study not only reveals a novel mechanism regulating the “totipotent-like” stem cell state, but also provides a powerful cell-culture system to further study totipotency.
She and her colleagues reported their research online Jan. 12 in advance of print publication in the journal Science.
MicroRNAs and stem cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells, harvested from three-and-a-half-day-old mouse embryos or five-and-a-half-day-old human embryos, are referred to as pluripotent because they can become any of the thousands of cell types in the body. They have generated excitement over the past few decades because scientists can study them in the laboratory to discover the genetic switches that control the development of specialized tissues in the embryo and fetus, and also because of their potential to replace body tissues that have broken down, such as pancreatic cells in those with diabetes or heart muscle cells in those with congestive heart failure. These stem cells can also let researchers study the early stages of genetic disease.
As an alternative to harvesting them from embryos, scientists can also obtain pluripotent stem cells by treating mature somatic cells with a cocktail of transcription factors to regress them so that they are nearly as flexible as embryonic stem cells. These artificially derived stem cells are called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Neither ES nor iPS cells, however, are as flexible as the original fertilized egg, which can form extra-embryonic as well as embryonic tissues. By the time embryonic stem cells are harvested from a mouse or human embryo, the cells have already committed to either an embryonic or an extra-embryonic lineage.
MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that do not translate into proteins, yet have a profound impact on gene expression regulation. He and her colleagues found that a microRNA called miR-34a appears to be a brake preventing both ES and iPS cells from producing extra-embryonic tissues. When this microRNA was genetically removed, both ES and iPS cells were able to expand their developmental decisions to generate embryo cell types as well as placenta and yolk sac linages. In their experiments, about 20 percent of embryonic stem cells lacking the microRNA exhibited expanded fate potential. Furthermore, this effect could be maintained for up to a month in cell culture.
“What is quite amazing is that manipulating just a single microRNA was able to greatly expand cell fate decisions of embryonic stem cells,” He said. “This finding not only identifies a new mechanism that regulates totipotent stem cells, but also reveals the importance of non-coding RNAs in stem cell fate.”
Additionally, in this study, He’s group discovered an unexpected link between miR-34a and a specific class of mouse retrotransposons. Long regarded as “junk DNA,” retrotransposons are pieces of ancient foreign DNA that make up a large fraction of the mammalian genome. For decades, biologists assumed that these retrotransposons serve no purpose during normal development, but He’s findings suggest they may be closely tied to the decision-making of early embryos.
“An important open question is whether these retrotransposons are real drivers of developmental decision making,” said Todd Macfarlan, a co-author of the current study and a researcher at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Maryland.
Co-authors with He are graduate student Yong Jin Choi, postdoctoral fellows Chao-Po Lin and Davide Risso, graduate student Sean Chen and undergraduate Thomas Aquinas Kim, along with statistics professor Terence Speed of UC Berkeley. Meng How Tan and Jin Li of Stanford University, Yalei Wu of Thermo Fisher Scientific in South San Francisco, Caifu Chen of Integrated DNA Technologies in Redwood City, Zhenyu Xuan of the University of Texas at Dallas, Weiqun Peng of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Kent Lloyd of UC Davis and Sang Yong Kim of the New York University School of Medicine, all contributed to this work.
He’s work was funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (RN2-00923-1), National Cancer Institute (R01 CA139067), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM114414) and a faculty scholar award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
RELATED INFORMATIONThis Bill Would Force Large Corporations To Pay a Fine if They Don’t Pay Workers a Living Wage
Yamara Ayala rallies with other Responsible Business Act supporters at a Walmart in Bedford Park, Ill., on February 1, 2016. (Justyna Bicz)
A group of Chicago-area progressive groups and unions are backing a bill that would punish large companies who don’t pay their workers a living wage.
The Responsible Business Act would charge corporations who employ more than 750 Cook County workers at less than $15 per hour fees for paying what advocates call poverty-level wages. Since it |
Caitlyn, Dee and countless others in the LGBT community and our allies, we’re changing the language that’s vital to the marrow of our being.
Kathi Wolfe, a writer and poet, is a regular contributor to the Blade.If history is written by the victors, government surveillance agencies will have an awfully long list of sources to cite.
Domestic digital surveillance has often seemed to be a threat endured mostly by the social media generation, but details have continued to emerge that remind us of decades of sophisticated, automated spying from the NSA and others.
Before the government was peering through our webcams, tracking our steps through GPS, feeling every keystroke we typed and listening and watching as we built up complex datasets of our entire personhood online, there was still rudimentary data to be collected. Over the last fifty years, Project ECHELON has given the UK and United States (as well as other members of the Five Eyes) the capacity to track enemies and allies alike within and outside their states. The scope has evolved in that time period from keyword lifts in intercepted faxes to its current all-encompassing data harvesting.
In a piece published today in The Intercept, life-long privacy advocate Duncan Campbell describes his past few decades tracking down the elusive Project ECHELON, “the first-ever automated global mass surveillance system.
Until Snowden placed the full capacities of the NSA and other government spying agencies in plain sight, ECHELON was largely just another codename in the conspiracy-theorist’s notebook.
Campbell made the first references to the program in his 1988 piece, titled Somebody’s Listening, where he detailed a program capable of tapping into “a billion calls a year in the UK alone.”
Campbell described his conversations with a source, preceding that piece’s publication.
The scale of the operation she described took my breath away (this was 1988, remember). The NSA and its partners had arranged for everything we communicated to be grabbed and potentially analyzed.
The program reportedly utilized massive ground-based radio antennas to intercept satellite transmissions containing the digital communications of millions. It then relied on its content-sensitive dictionaries of keywords and phrases to scour the communications for relevant information.
In February of 2000, 60 Minutes published a report detailing the existence and scope of ECHELON. Mike Frost, a former spy for Canada’s NSA-equivalent, CSE, told the host just how large the program’s reach really was, “Echelon covers everything that’s radiated worldwide at any given instant.”
Frost also recounted a tale of how exactly the program was being used.
While I was at CSE, a classic example: A lady had been to a school play the night before, and her son was in the school play and she thought he did a–a lousy job. Next morning, she was talking on the telephone to her friend, and she said to her friend something like this, ‘Oh, Danny really bombed last night,’ just like that. The computer spit that conversation out. The analyst that was looking at it was not too sure about what the conversation w–was referring to, so erring on the side of caution, he listed that lady and her phone number in the database as a possible terrorist.
Details of ECHELON outraged Europeans in the months following the reports from Campbell and 60 Minutes. In the summer of 2000, European Parliament appointed a special ad-hoc committee to spend a year investigating ECHELON, with some arguing that by spying on European communications, the U.S. was breaching the European Convention on Human Rights. Little materialized from the committee, other than a vote recognizing the program’s mere existence.
Following the 2005 discovery that the Bush Administration had been tapping Americans’ phones without warrants, some speculatively pointed to ECHELON as a tool that the government may have been using.
Since then, the program has largely been presented to the public only through posts on government surveillance/conspiracy forums with limited references in declassified documents to guide those questioning the program’s full potential.
It has largely faded from public consciousness, especially as details of its far more powerful offspring have been exposed, but it’s important to frame automated government surveillance as an issue of our lifetimes rather than short-sightedly confining its influence to the advent of the mainstream internet.
It is now abundantly clear, thanks to internal documents leaked by Snowden, that the program exists, but what is unclear is what that means. PRISM and XKeyscore certainly represent a more shocking invasion of the information we have digitally presented, but ECHELON shows us that the privacy of our communications have indeed always been under attack.
These instances of government surveillance have been justified by decades of disparate “threats” under multiple administrations that have repeatedly made promises to “prioritize privacy without compromising security,” while we all have been led by the current narratives.
As the broken record continues to play, further examining ECHELON suggests the importance of looking to the past to remember what sounds familiar.We are committed to holding this organisation to account by providing the support and guidance to help survivors come forward. The voices of these survivors will continue to drive positive change, and will ensure that child protection policies and actions within this organisation are improved.
We are working with advocacy groups and leading practitioners in the UK and the United States to ensure that we are taking a collaborative approach where possible and that we share learnings across the jurisdictions.
If you've been affected by abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses, please contact the Shine Lawyers Abuse Team.
Shine Lawyers’ Abuse Law Team specialises in providing legal advice and guidance to survivors of abuse, standing as a voice for clients and helping them gain access to justice and acknowledgement for the harm they have suffered.
Collectively, our team possesses over 105 years of experience in in this area of law. We work with survivors to determine their rights and deliver the outcomes that are most important to them - acknowledgement, apology and compensation.
We are highly experienced in bringing claims for individuals who were subjected to sexual abuse within a range of churches and institutions, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses. We are familiar with the organisational and legal structure, the isolating culture and their policies in relation to the reporting of abuse. This experience allows us to provide expert advice and representation.Post by Mad_Joker » Sun, 17. Nov 13, 19:46
This mod is outdated and not supported anymore since its functionality was integrated into the game by Egosoft. Do not download.
NESA - Never Enter Stations Again
Please be aware that you might have to create an account on the Nexus to download NESA. Creating an account is totally free (simply don't check any checkbox during the first step and click "Create Account"), even though you are presented with a choice of support plans (which I encourage you to do, since the site is great and deserves your support).
In early versions the mod was still using the "MainMenu.xml" file. Please check if you still have that file in your "Steam\steamapps\common\X Rebirth\extensions\NESA\md\" directory, and if so delete it.
Note: If you are downloading NESA via the Steam workshop, you will have to execute the following steps to configure the mod:
1) Browse to the "Steam\steamapps\common\X Rebirth\extensions
esa" folder
2) Rename the 'ext_01.cat' to 'ext_01_with_config.cat' and rename the 'ext_01.dat' to 'ext_01_with_config.dat'
3) Rename the 'ext_01_no_config.cat' to 'ext_01.cat' and rename the 'ext_01_no_config.dat' to 'ext_01.dat'
4) create an'md' folder in the 'nesa' folder
5) copy the 'NESA_Config.txt' file to the'md' folder
6) rename the 'NESA_Config.txt' file to 'NESA_Config.xml'
Since V0.9.1 NESA features a configuration utility which can be used to configure many aspects of the mod (see the Nexus for screenshots).
For all that have issue with upgrading to the newest version: One thing you can try is to
1) load the savegame with the old version
2) wait for the NESA update message (will only appear if the config changed)
3) save the game in a new slot
4) load the newly saved game
Mad_Joker0.9.2 Beta02.04.20141.30One of the things I don't like most about X Rebirth is the walking around stations. Therefore, I decided I'd do something about it.This mod adds an entry to the Universe menu (MAIN MENU/3/3) which allows to remotely talk to NPCs on stations. All NPC types should be supported, and you get the full dialog options (including hiring, shopping, show me your skills etc.). This mod also features extensive customization options (see Configuration section below).However, please be aware that this is a beta release and as such should not be used in a real game. This mod might melt your PC, or destroy the world, who knows. So please use it with caution.Extract and copy the "NESA" folder to the "Steam\steamapps\common\X Rebirth\extensions" folder (create the extensions folder if you don't have it already).If you are upgrading from a previous version, simply overwrite all files (though backup your config first if you don't remember all your settings).After extracting the "NESA" folder look for a file "Steam\steamapps\common\X Rebirth\extensions\NESA\md\NESA_Config.xml". In that file you will find all configuration parameters.There are multiple reports of NESA being incompatible with the Remove Detailmonitor Animation mod. Therefore I recommend not using them together.This mod is incompatible with any mods that change the lower left conversation option on the Universe main menu entry, and/or any of the "hiring, trading, repairing, upgrading" dialog entries of all NPCs.Delete the "NESA" folder from the "Steam\steamapps\common\X Rebirth\extensions" folder.- When you remotely hire a NPC, an animation of the NPC boarding your ship will be played, even though you are in space- Since when you talk to NPCs and trade, hire etc. your head turns right, it might be that there are cases (though I couldn't cause one) where your head will stay in that direction. However, simply opening the main menu and browsing to (MAIN MENU/3/3) should fix any issues as a workaround, since the conversation will force you to look forward again.- When you buy equipment while talking remotely, you have to dock and undock to see the changes in the cockpit. They should be applied correctly immediately though, it's only a visual bug. (thanks sebbi08 & danni)For texts I am using page 99999.- [17.11.2013 - V0.1.0 Experimental]Initial Release- [17.11.2013 - V0.2.0 Experimental]Proper conversation exit when using (Close)Properly disabled the menu item when dockedchanged menu item label to "Open Comm Link" (other languages as well)added french translation (thanks to socros and nourse)The script now checks all stations in the current zone, and in the menu you can iterate over all of them (the number of NPCs can be very very large though)- [18.11.2013 - V0.3.0 Experimental]Added better menu structure. Now you first choose the NPC type, then you see all the NPCs- [19.11.2013 - V0.4.0 Experimental]Added many configuration parametersChanged order of NPC types so that traders come first- [20.11.2013 - V0.5.0 Beta]Fix for issue of configs not refreshing properlyAdded more configuration parameters (e.g. max trade, repair, hire, upgrade dist; disable in combat; and some more)Changed the default config to be more balanced- [20.11.2013 - V0.5.1 Beta Hotfix]Fixed issue with configuration refresh- [20.11.2013 - V0.6.0 Beta]Updated for X Rebirth version 1.15Slightly changed the way configuration works, hopefully it's more stable nowAdded distance to NPC labels for mode 2 to make it more clear with whom you can trade etc.Increased default distances for trading etc. in configurationFixed angled display issue when tradingFixed "in combat" detection not working- [20.11.2013 - V0.6.1 Beta Hotfix]Fixed issue with main menu not working anymore- [21.11.2013 - V0.7.0 Beta]Added Italian translation (thanks Montana_88)Sort NPCs based on distance to playerAdded version checksAdded option to have NPC skills revealed without needing to complete the smalltalk minigame (only when not docked)Changed mode 2 to have an additional level where the general NPC type must be selected- [22.11.2013 - V0.8.0 Beta]Fixed issue with NESA not correctly initializing on new game startsSorted docks by distance in mode 4Fixed angled monitor issue for mechanics, and all hiring dialogsFixed skill reveal for defence officers (thanks MutantDwarf)Added option to have target NPC marked (to remove mark open mission monitor, select the mission and click "Guidance")- [23.11.2013 - V0.9.0 Beta]Fixed angled monitor issue for repair menuAdded option to disable NESA for mission NPCs since talking to them remotely might break missionsAdded Russian translation (thanks t13link)Fixed Italian translation not working (was using wrong language code)Removed relation "enemy" from combat detection; now only "kill"+"nemesis" take effect, i.e. enemies that are actively pursuing youRemove marker on target NPC when conversation endsAdapted for Patch 1.17Removed savegame modification flag- [24.11.2013 - V0.9.1 Beta]Added configuration utility (thanks to Pimpace for inspiring me to do this)- [02.04.2014 - V0.9.2 Beta]Adapted for Patch 1.30Changed default configured maximum enemy distance to 0m since many people were confused by this feature- find a suitable ship upgrade and create a config option for this upgrade to be requiredThis week alone, the team behind the Ashley Madison hack have posted what can only be described as a treasure trove of information online, with the first batch weighing in under 10GB and the next batch around 20GB worth of data. In fact there is even a tool that has been posted online by an investigation service that lets you check to see if your email or your partner’s email is part of the hack.
Now if you thought the hack and the ability to search the hacked data was bad enough, a report from Stuff New Zealand has revealed that the blackmails have already begun. The report claims that a man has received an email from a team calling themselves Team GrayFlay, and in the email they are threatening to forward the man’s details to his spouse unless he pays a ransom.
According to the email, “Unfortunately your data was leaked in the recent hacking of Ashley Madison and I now have your information. If you would like to prevent me from finding and sharing this information with your significant other send exactly 2.00000054 bitcoins (approx. value $450 USD) to the following address.”
That being said it turns out that maybe the hackers were just casting a very wide net as the man who reported it is actually single, so all he had to do was change his credit card details (which the hackers claimed they had) and he was good to go, but at the same time we can only imagine that those who are married or have boyfriends/girlfriends might react in a different way.
Filed in. Read more about Ashley Madison, Hacking, Legal and Security.Munster rugby supporters face another shock in the next day or two when news of Donncha O’Callaghan’s departure will be made official.
The Munster and Ireland veteran has been linked with an overseas club and is on the verge of signing a two-year deal after Munster apparently agreed to release him from the remainder of his current contract, which runs up to June 2016.
With O’Callaghan out of the country, there was no way to confirm the news of his imminent departure last night but sources close to the squad intimated the legendary second rower will definitely part ways with a province he has served brilliantly for 17 years.
With 94 international caps and appearances with the British and Irish Lions, O’Callaghan played a staggering 263 times for Munster, won Heineken Cup and Celtic League and Cup medals, and has been amongst the most popular of players with the fans during that time.
The ex-Highfield and Cork Constitution player made his Munster debut in August of 1998 against Edinburgh Reivers and his first Heineken Cup start against Perpignan in October of that year.
The 36-year-old is regarded as one of the fittest members of the Munster squad and had openly expressed his interest in continuing his career for longer than the current contract he had with the province. With Paul O’Connell headed for Toulon at the end of the Rugby World Cup, Munster will now have lost two of their most experienced and enduring forwards in the space of a few weeks.Getting to know your OpenBazaar Vendor
OpenBazaar Blogger Blocked Unblock Follow Following Feb 9, 2017
Artist: Rab Fulton
www.rabfulton.com OpenBazaar: @rabfulton https://duosear.ch/@rabfulton
Glasgow, Scotland
Handcrafted Wooded Rings and Bitcoin Price Ticker
I was thrilled when I heard back from Rab letting me know that he was willing to be my first subject in the “Getting to Know your OpenBazaar Vendor” series because it is my favorite purchase yet on the decentralized platform. As a thirty-five year old dude that is usually found to be wearing second hand flannel shirts and $17 dollar shoes from Wal-Mart, I don’t get many compliments from strangers on my apparel but the beauty and uniqueness of the rings draws attention and praise from complete strangers and has been a great conversation starter. I also use the ring as a reminder throughout my day to appreciate the present, focus on what is important to me and to be more patient and compassionate so it has had a great influence on my way of thinking, relationships with others and overall mental health :) Thanks Rab, Great Product and wonderful customer service!
Openbazaar Vendor Profile: Rab Fulton
How are they made?
All of my products are made by myself in my workshop in Glasgow,
Scotland. I mostly use hand tools due to a dislike of the noise and
dust produced by their electric counterparts. (See how they are made: www.rabfulton.com/2015/07/21/Wooden-Rings-Inlay.html )
How did you start in this business?
My business started as a hobby, doing woodwork. After becoming sick of
working for ‘the man’ I started looking to transistion into to doing
what I love for money.Materials used or manufacturing process?
Mostly wood, stone, occassionally a little metal work. I also do some
electronics and programming. A little variety keeps life interesting!
What is your target market?
Not sure I really target my markets. Marketing and advertising are the
sides of business that I have little interest in. My sales are
entirely online.
Price?
Price is a difficult one in an increasingly global marketplace. In an
ideal world I believe that an hour of my time is worth an hour of
yours! My prices are however set to provide a modest return on my time
invested to pay the rent in the country I live in.
Shipping?
I charge a flat rate £2 domestic, £5 international. Keeps life simple.
Why do you use OpenBazaar and how long have you had an OpenBazaar store?
I love the idea of decentralised services not controlled by single
entities. Decentralisation is foundation of the internet after all. I
have been using OpenBazaar since the initial release.
Do you use a moderator? Why or why not?
I have not used a moderator for purchases as I have not felt the need
to. I don’t believe there are many scammers on OpenBazaar yet and the
things I buy are too obscure to be offered by scammers.
What would you like to see improved with OpenBazaar?
Some tools to batch edit listings and set standard shipping profiles.
What is your favorite feature of OpenBazaar?
I like the chat sidebar, its great to be able to chat with customers
and sellers.
What do you wish other people knew about OpenBazaar?
Unfortunately most people don’t know that it exists, just as most
people don’t know that there are alternatives to the traditional
banking system for global commerce.
What surprised you about using OpenBazaar?
No suprises, guess I follow its development too closely.
What, if anything, do you not like about OpenBazaar?
That there is no way easy way to onboard non crypto customers. It
would be great if you could somehow partner with a bitcoin provider
that would let customers buy using a credit card in as simple a way as
possible (maybe duosearch could evolve to offer this?). Later, to
avoid associated fees these customers might become users of crypto
currencies and free themselves from the global banking tyranny!
What do you look forward to in the future?
OpenBazaar 2.0! More users and more sellers. Then 3.0….Get the biggest Manchester 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
The misery of being forced to watch other clubs in the Champions League this season is driving Manchester United to ensure that is not their fate next year, defender Chris Smalling has admitted.
Smalling says even just hearing the Champions League music brings it home to him that United are missing out Europe's elite club competition.
United, however, are on course to qualify for the next season's Champions League, with four successive victories propelling Louis van Gaal's side to fourth place in the Premier League table. Three points from the trip to Southampton on Monday night and United will leapfrog Saints into third place.
Smalling said the bitter experience of being a bystander in European football is all the incentive his United team-mates need.
"You hear the Champions League music when they all line up and it's just a case where we've been in it year after year, so it's a sad time," Smalling told www.manutd.com.
"We'll be making sure we don't miss out again next time.
"I was watching it the other week. Even when we were in it, I would watch it on the other night anyway. Even more so this year. It's a bit gutting that we're not involved but you can see the standard of football we need to make sure we rise to."
United's four victories have been achieved despite a lengthy injury list, not least in defence, but they will at least have captain Wayne Rooney available after a scare last week which saw the England striker have a scan on a possible knee problem.
It may also be a good time to play Ronald Koeman's Saints, whose impressive start to the season has stalled with successive defeats in their last two games.
United boss Van Gaal, meanwhile, has spoken of being impressed at the team spirit that has developed, highlighted by the Christmas party organised last week by Rooney.
"It was fantastic," Van Gaal told MUTV. "Usually, I don't use words like this, but I think it showed the cohesion in our group from both the players and staff. My wife and I enjoyed it very much.
"The squad is very important, and that's why the timing of our Christmas party was fantastic - it showed the togetherness in the squad. I think we are in a good position."
The match at St Mary's is being built up as a battle between warring Dutch coaches Van Gaal and Koeman, who fell out when they worked together at Ajax in 2004. The pair have refused to discuss their relationship but they appear to have buried the hatchet.
According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, at a recent League Managers' Association meeting Van Gaal complimented Koeman on his work, told him: "You have a good team," and clapped him on the shoulder.This is a quick piece I did for my friend Carlos at work. We instantly bonded over a shared love of Rick and Morty, and have a running inside joke referencing the infamous seeds from the pilot. I decided to draw it for him when he covered for me when I was out sick one day as a "Thank you." He loved it and has apparently framed it! I'm sure this won't be the last Rick and Morty piece you'll see from me.
Note: This was also my last piece that I scanned on my scanner. From here on out, if it's a traditional piece I'll be digitizing it with my DSLR. It captures the images more crisply and holds much more color detail than my scanner can. That also means much less color correcting work I have to do in photoshop!The U.S. overtook Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the world’s biggest producer of oil as extraction of energy from shale rock strengthens the nation’s economy, Bank of America Corp. said.
U.S. production of crude oil, along with liquids separated from natural gas, surpassed all other countries in the first six months, the bank said in a report Friday. The country became the world’s largest natural gas producer in 2010. A Commerce Department decision to allow the overseas shipment of processed light oil called condensate has fanned speculation the nation may ease its four-decade ban on most crude exports.
Low energy prices are a key edge of the U.S. economy
“America is now the world’s leading producer of oil and gas,” Francisco Blanch, the bank’s head of commodities research in New York, said in the report. “The American shale revolution has had a transformational effect on the U.S. and global economies in recent years. Low energy prices are a key edge of the U.S. economy.”
Oil extraction is soaring at shale formations in Texas and North Dakota as companies split apart rocks using high-pressure liquid, a process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The surge in supply combined with restrictions on exporting crude is curbing the price of West Texas Intermediate, America’s oil benchmark, prompting calls from some lawmakers to change overseas-shipment rules.
OPEC Unrest
Production growth outside the U.S. has been lower than the bank anticipated, keeping global oil prices high, Blanch said. Partly as a result of the output boom, WTI futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange remain at a discount of about US$7 a barrel to their European counterpart, the Brent contract on ICE Futures Europe’s London-based exchange. WTI was at US$103.93 a barrel as of 10:44 a.m. London time.
Rising U.S. oil supplies come as an Islamist insurgency threatens output in Iraq, the second-largest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries after Saudi Arabia. Territorial gains in northern Iraq by a group calling itself the Islamic State has spurred concerns that oil flows from the south could be disrupted. Exports from Libya have been disrupted by protests, while Nigeria’s production is crimped by oil theft and sabotage.
Libya will resume exports as soon as possible from two oil ports in the country’s east after taking back control from rebels who blocked crude shipments for the past year, Mohamed Elharari, spokesman for the state-run National Oil Corp., said by phone Thursday from Tripoli.
The U.S. will consolidate its position as the world’s biggest producer in the coming months if returning Libyan supply limits the need for Saudi barrels, said Julian Lee, an oil strategist who writes for Bloomberg News First Word. The observations he makes are his own.
North Dakota
Fracking is used in states from North Dakota to Pennsylvania, helping push U.S. natural gas production to new highs in each of the past seven years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Annual investment in oil and gas in the U.S. is at a record US$200 billion, reaching 20 percent of the country’s total private fixed-structure spending for the first time, Blanch said.
Condensate export licenses awarded by the Commerce Department are “a positive first step” to dispersing the build up of crude supply in North America, Blanch said in a previous report on June 27.
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. said on July 25 that the Commerce Department had allowed export of condensate produced in Texas, provided it was first subject to preliminary distillation. The U.S. could potentially have daily exports of 1 million barrels of crude, including 300,000 of condensate, by the end of the year, according to a June 25 report from Citigroup Inc.
Bloomberg.com3 Peaks – The world’s toughest cyclo-cross race
The ultimate guide to race prep, on the day action, kit choices and everything else to be considered.
Held the last Sunday of September annually it has run nearly every year since 1959.
World's Hardest Cyclocross Race from Geoff Waugh on Vimeo.
I have been competing in the event since 2004 having only missed a few years due to major illness, foot and mouth outbreak (not personally but nationally) and getting married. This year will be my 11th outing. The event just seems to get better with age and experience and is now proving super popular and pretty hard to get an entry. People come from all over the world and all ages from 16 to 80+ of both sexes take part.
Part of the attraction is the truly grass roots nature of the event. No big sponsors, cold showers in the local bunk house to finish and an obligatory pint in the pub adjacent the start-finish line. It feels ‘Yorkshire’ to its core. Honest and hard but extremely rewarding. Views to die for, climbs to break all but the sternest, descents that are second to none and a really great atmosphere. Never does a 4-hour race seem to go so quickly. It is effectively a single lap so there really is not time for getting bored.
One of the big attractions of the event is the endless discussions and deliberations of what kit to use, bike set up and preparation. Only standard cross bikes are allowed. 35mm tires, drop bars and no suspension.
Having done it a few times and with a personal best of 3hours 49 mins, I have gained a reasonable amount of ‘insider’ knowledge and experience on what I consider the to be hot tips for all aspects of the event.
In no particular order here are a few of my suggestions for making a great day out and hopefully a time to be proud of. Some of these tips can also be applied to cross racing in general and staying fit and healthy through the winter.
Kit
Bikes
I now have worked out what I consider the best of all worlds and lucky enough to have the kit and crew to make it work. I use my Specialized carbon Crux for Pen-y-Ghent ascent and descent and then swap at the bottom to my own Hackney GT ‘Cockney Rebel’ steel set up. The carbon option is super light for the hardest of the climbs and only the top of the first descent is rocky. Then for the other two ‘hills’ I find the steel option a bit more heavy but so much better for the downhill, more comfortable and more controllable. If I had only one bike it would be steel. Never tried it on a aluminum frame so comment but I guess it would be similar to carbon, light, but going to knock you around a bit.
Brakes – First and foremost thing is to make sure they work well. Whether disc or cantis new pads are a good investment. I have cross top levers but don’t really use them as I find they make the bars too narrow for safe and fast descents. Adjust the brakes up (when using cantis or cable discs) with a little less slack than normal as the pads will wear down especially if it is wet.
All changes made to the bike should be done at least a week before the event and used a couple of times to make it is all running smoothly. The first year I did the race I was putting a new chain on the morning of the race. Not a good option. If chain does need changing it is always a good idea to change the cassette as well. I use a simple park tool wear checker and as soon as it reaches.75 wear I swap the chain out. This way the cassette and chainings seem to last a long time.
RACE
Drinks
What ever is your preferred energy product, stick with it but an isotonic option is good incase it is hot. Replacing lost minerals to avoid cramps is essential. I tried tonic water once. The quinine in it is meant to help prevent cramp (as recommended by Carl ’ Elbows‘ McDongah, 3 peaks G Vet champ 2008) but it did not work for me.
If it is hot, which it could be you will need a decent amount of fluid, at least two liters. If you are riding unassisted then that is a lot too carry in one go but one year I did not carry enough. The race started off pretty cool but by mid morning it was really heating up and I did dehydrate. An option is to put some bottles out en route the day before in easy to remember locations. There is a drink station for water at the bottom of Whernside where all riders must dismount. Could be a chance to fill a bottle up here.
If riding assisted then get your crew ready with bottle swaps. An issue is where to carry fluids. Bottle cages are not the best option for carrying your bike or bumpy descents. Personally I use two camel backs. From the start line I take no drinks and then pick up the first camel back at the bottom of Ingleborough. I then swap again at Ribblehead. That way I don’t have to carry any extra weight up the first climb and keep the fluid weight to a minimum for Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent. I also have spare supplies in each camel back, at least one tube and a hand pump, etc.
Another option for carrying drink is to use flexi juice cartons with small screw tops. They fit will in the back pockets. Buys some juice drinks, empty the contents then you have your receptacle.
Finally if all else fails and your in that mood maybe a tequila shots holster might be the way to go but would not suggest necking the said spirit.
Crewing
If you can get someone to crew it is advisable. Good for carrying spare wheels, spare bike, tubes and energy bars and yes they will need a car to get around in or on a well laden bike. Good idea is to get them to wear something distinguishable so they can be spotted from a distance. My mum wears a pink walking jacket, which stands out a mile. The pits at Cold Cotes go on for quite while and downhill therefore it’s probably best to have your pit crew near the bottom where you are carrying less speed.
Accommodation and travel
Depending on where you are coming from but I suggest it is good to be up there the day before if travelling from far. The Saturday is a good chance to reckey bits of the course. The decent of Whernside can be ridden up to the halfway point and then walked up the rest. It is well worth a look. Again if you have travelled far I don’t suggest driving back the same day. There are camping options but I normally hire a local cottage for the weekend.
Food on race
Not an expert on this but I know I never feel hungry despite being out for 4 hours plus and exerting a lot of energy. Normally 4 hours with out food and I would be ‘starving’ with this in mind I always try and take on at least a couple of energy bars. Note they can very difficult to swallow when you are pushing hard so get something that goes down easy or maybe old fashion fig roll biscuits or a couple bananas could be good option.
I will normally carry a couple of gels and have my crew loaded up with a handful too. They are particularly handy at the end of the race to help get you over the line.
Weather
It could be super hot and sunny or hailstones, hurricane winds and epics floods. I have experienced all of them. Literally being blown of my bike, hailstones so hard they hurt my eyes, water up over my knees and then also blistering sunshine. Be ready for whatever although the forecasts should give you a good indication close to the event. Best take kit for all eventualities and decided on the day. If the forecast is not good all riders are required to carry a waterproof jacket. I take the lightest thing I can find. With a moderate amount of protection
Survival Bag.
All starters must carry one. Nowadays there are superlight weight versions rather than the old fashion large and heavy orange polythene bag version. I use a lightweight one, which can be picked up on line.
Whistle
The weather can get real bad and it has been known for riders to get lost. Rules state that all entrants must carry a whistle
Shoes- Important thing is to get a pair that fit well and do them up tight. Particularly when climbing Simon Fell on Ingleborough it is very steep and unless your shoes are on well there will be a tendency for your feet to lift out as you lean forward. A more heavier ‘trail’ shoe with a higher cuff or a lace up shoe could be good. Try not to use something super stiff as a bit of flexibility is good. Studs are not generally necessary as most of the ground is hard pack. Too long a stud would be uncomfortable. Shoes covers are not necessary. You will be running through at least one stream and you feet will get wet regardless
Tires
The holy grail of 3 Peaks is what tires to run. I have used Schwalbe Slick Sammys for a few years and found them to be excellent. They have a puncture protection layer, file tread in the middle and knobbles on the edge. Run them at about 70 psi. I never punctured with them and hey are pretty lightweight.
I have used Land Crusiers many times. They are strong but very heavy and I found them to be too baggy on the rim.
A tubeless option could be good to save weight and reduce pinch punctures. There is a new Cross XN Pro file tread tyre from Vittoria, which is tubeless ready. Two of these is saving you two tubes and depending how you feel two spare tubes. That adds up to quite a bit of weight. Non-tubeless rims can be easily converted using Gorilla tape. Read more here. https://www.pinkbike.com/news/Tech-Tuesday-Gorilla-Tape-Tubeless-Conversion.html. If running tubeless I would still carry at least one spare tube as a back up and a |
be seen in this MFS martyr monument in Qamishli.
This is clearly part of an attempt by the pro-PYD MFS to try to encompass the concerns of the entire Assyrian community.
The original ruling of the killers of David Jindo saw two men receive two years each, with no punishment handed to the two other individuals involved. A re-trial in July saw the sentences extended to 20 years for two of the killers, and four years and one year respectively for the other two men. Suroyo TV broadcasted footage of the trial. In the news clip, the Kurdish judge, wearing traditional clothing and presiding over a court room with a photo of Abdullah Ocalan above its entrance, speaks of the dynamics of the ruling. He points to “open meetings” that took place with Assyrian, Arab and Kurdish representatives in which the opinions of individuals and “left wing” parties were noted, and claims that these discussions led to the revised decision regarding the sentence. He asserts that the sentence will help guarantee the brotherhood and unity of all the peoples of Rojava. There is no discussion of the actual procedures and principles of the ruling: the processing of evidence, establishment of proof, and so on.
In their press release in response to the first ruling, the Bethnahrain National Council (MUB), the overseeing political body of the Dawronoye, decried the murder of David Jindo as an “unpardonable act, not only against our people, but also against Kurds and all oppressed peoples.” The statement also emphasised that the involvement of “some elements in the Kurdish Freedom Movement in the incident saddened and disappointed [the MUB] deeply, as well as our people.” (The final two clauses constitute another interesting attempt to shade their political solidarity with the Kurdish movement across the whole community of Assyrians.) The SUP claimed credit for influencing the subsequent expansion of the sentence, hinting at the political nature of the decision.
Issues of security receive disproportionate coverage in the international press and hold a powerful symbolic, imagistic, and political value. The Assyrian Diaspora imbues security forces in Iraq and Syria with the hopes of their entire destiny, which is deeply unrealistic given their small size. Similarly, the PYD has made very skillful usage of the MFS in their propaganda, frequently mentioning their Christian allies to show that the YPG is not the only force fighting for Rojava. The Russian intervention, backed by the PYD, stepped up the need for American intervention in some form in response. This was seized upon by the PYD, who put together the ‘Syrian Democratic Forces’, an entity thoroughly dominated by the YPG but also containing small numbers of Arab fighters as well as the MFS. Their flag bears writing in Arabic, Kurdish and Assyrian, and the map of Syria emblazoned on it – in a mischievous gesture of antagonism towards Turkey – contains Hatay Province. The YPG, therefore, has not only gained from Russian bombing of opposition targets, but has attracted American support (including specialised training) in the form of the SDF.
The current status of Assyrian security forces independent of the YPG
In May, a security force dubbed the Gozarto Protection Forces (GPF) was established. Notably, the GPF bears the same logo as the Nineveh Plains Protection Units (NPU), an Assyrian security force in northern Iraq, despite the lack of common political party patronage. The GPF and the Sootoro[17], its local security unit division, immediately took part in the defence of Hassakah in May and June. The NPU seeks sanction under the Hashd al-Shabi (Popular Mobilization Law), attempting to utilize the broad anti-ISIS mandate to assist in the liberation and subsequent defence of in the Nineveh Plains following the Peshmerga withdrawal and subsequent ISIS incursion into the region in the summer of 2014.
Despite the discrepancies between the overall state of Iraq and Syria, there are parallels between the NPU and GPF. Both forces seek to operate independently from Kurdish nationalist control seek sanction and support from central governments.
In November, the GPF was flown by Russian planes to assist in the defence of Sadad, a Syriac Orthodox Town north-east of Damascus that was overrun by Jabhat al-Nusra in October, 2013. The deployment of the GPF, originally a local force, to assist the SAA close to its heartland, shows signs of a potentially broader engagement with the regime, as well as reflecting the manpower problem in the SAA. The GPF received a raucous reception upon their return to Qamishli from Sadad.
The local security forces of the Guardians of Khabur and the Guardians of Tel-Tamar recently announced their merger.
Assyrians under the Kurdish self-administration: Beyond security and military matters
Social relations between Kurds and Assyrians in Hassakah have always been poor. I have never spoken to an Assyrian who has told me that their family had an intimate bond with a Kurdish (or an Arab) family, even to the extent that they would have had dinner at one another’s homes, for example. Even though Kurdish and Assyrian political parties exchanged delegations during Akitu and Nowruz celebrations, popular interest by one ethnic group in the other’s celebrations were almost non-existent. Inter-marriage is utterly taboo: both communities are endogamous. The elopement of Assyrian women with Kurdish men has often ended up with the murder of the woman by her Assyrian siblings, and occasionally both the woman and the man. Assyrian men who have attempted to marry Kurdish women have faced a similar fate at the hands of the Kurdish family, especially if they do not convert to Islam. The state treated incidents where only the ‘offending party’ was murdered as an honor crime, usually sentenced to six months, whereas if the other party was also killed it was treated as murder per se and sentenced appropriately.
Beyond questions of security, there are a series of issues that have arisen regarding the relationship of the Kurdish self-administration to Assyrians.
— Assyrian property, including the villages of the Khabur, was threatened by a law proposed in September in the self-administration parliament of Amuda on Emigrant Properties which stated that all abandoned properties – many of which were emptied due to the flight of Assyrians following the unrest in Hassakah generally and the emergence of ISIS specifically – were liable to confiscation. Following overwhelming objections by Assyrians and others, the law was overturned. The issue of land is deeply significant to Assyrians as well as Kurds in relation to the regime. Land ownership rights were a key cause of the security Assyrians broadly ‘enjoyed’ under the Syrian state, especially in light of the persecutions that robbed them of their previous homeland. They perceived their extensive and legally enshrined ownership of property and the state stability concomitant to it as a guarantor against external or partisan encroachments. The lack of land rights was a profound cause of anger and mistrust by Kurds towards the Syrian state, one dimension of the ‘de-naturalisation’ policies and broader ideological and racial humiliation, antagonism and repression of Kurds by the Ba’ath party.
With the consolidation of PYD authority over Assyrian territories and communities, these divergent positions between Assyrians and Kurds in relation to land have clashed and come to the fore, and are compounded and inflected by questions over the direction of Kurdish nationalist interests. Assyrians in Syria are aware of the extraordinary scale of Kurdish confiscation and forced annexation of Assyrian land in northern Iraq, as well as carrying memories of the same phenomenon in Turkey.
— Ongoing anxieties over the issue of conscription and military service have led to the emigration of Assyrians from Hassakah. Proven completion of SAA service will not necessarily act as a safeguard against conscription into the YPG (either proper or in the form of the MFS) or into six-month terms of duty in the HXP (Self-Defense Units). A report compiled in May by three Assyrians – Sawa Oshanne Ide, Erkin Metin, and Simon Poli, a member of the HDP – quotes members of the ADO describing harassment and arrest of Assyrians in Derik to this effect.
— The educational policies of the PYD led self-administration in the Jazira region have raised alarm among Assyrian and other Christian organizations. The ideological orientation of the curriculum has shifted from a broadly more palatable — to the broadly temperamentally and culturally conservative Assyrian community of Hassakah — combination of church-led and Ba’ath pedagogy to one perceived as being steeped in radical PKK/PYD ideology, especially in the subjects of History and Sociology. Many public schools in Qamishli have closed in response to these developments. Hundreds of Kurdish children, whose families sought to avoid enrolling their children in schools that would teach the PYD curriculum, were turned away from private Syriac schools.
Sixteen Assyrian organisations – largely ecclesiastical in orientation but also including the ADO – signed a statement on November 1st decrying various PYD policies, including the enforcement of new curricula. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the implementation of the new curriculum between the education administration of Rojava, the regime, and private schools.
More fundamentally, it is very rare indeed to come across an Assyrian, aside from those who are direct participants in Rojava, who is comfortable with Kurdish rule, or one who perceives Rojava as anything other than a project of ethnocracy and ethno-national partition. Mistrust of Kurdish nationalism is very deep in the community, expressed in Assyrian proverbs such as “do not put a Kurd in your pocket, he will not turn to gold,” and “have dinner with the Kurd, but sleep at the Arab’s house.” Any encroachment is liable to trigger fear and mistrust. The changes taking place in Gozarto, taking place against a backdrop of far more alien and ghoulish transformations across the country, have overwhelmed the Assyrian community. It is not uncommon to encounter more detailed and up to date knowledge of developments among analysts in Diaspora than Assyrians on the ground. The stability of the Syrian state, which insulated the Assyrian community while allowing it to be overseen by an entity whose perceived order, legitimacy and continuity afforded Assyrians a sense – however tempered by authoritarianism – of civic identity and national belonging, is gone.
“We can never trust them,” an Assyrian man who fled Khabur last year told me. “Arabs can be bought off, but nothing will satisfy a Kurd except a country.”
The future of Assyrians in Syria
Assyrian migration out of the Middle East is constant. A 2003 population of around one million Assyrians in Iraq has dwindled to around 400,000 today. There were 150,000 Assyrians in Iran on the eve of the Islamic Revolution in 1979; today, only a few thousand remain. The Assyrian population of Turkey is around 20,000. Assyrians have been leaving Syria steadily from the 1980s, and the uprising and the emergence of ISIS have only accelerated this process. Around 50,000 Assyrians remain in Gozarto. Small numbers of Assyrians also remain in Damascus and Aleppo.
As conditions in the Middle East have become more unstable and extreme, the reality and experience of the Assyrian Diaspora and homeland populations diverges further. Fewer Assyrians return to visit their families and communities. Even though the capacity of Diaspora Assyrians to engage with and support Assyrians in the homeland populations in an organized manner is increasing, the possibility for viable independent Assyrian projects declines constantly along with demographics.
I have observed a transformation in the attitudes and memories of Assyrians who grew up in an atmosphere of opposition to the regime and who now live abroad. Even more fundamentally than a shift in political stance in favour of the regime, which is relatively rare, the extent of the carnage that has befallen Syria has eroded recollections of what it was they had a problem with in relation to the government in the first place. It was almost as if the stability of the regime served as a pivot or fulcrum for their opposition stances – which usually revolved around a disdain for nepotism and corruption, a desire to promote the Assyrian ethnic identity and culture more officially, a yearning for freedom of speech and a freer media, and anger at government neglect of Assyrian areas in favour of Arab ones – which now appear remote and quaint in light of the collapse of the state and the country. Their eyes glaze over in baffled fear when contemplating the future of Syria.
The intellectual and moral stability provided by the ADO has also arguably entered into decline. The party has no firm place in Syrian political affairs today. Having thrown its lot in with the opposition, which has since transformed unrecognisably, the ADO – a member of the Syrian National Council – continues to refuse the legitimacy of the regime without being able to claim a meaningful position among the forces seeking its demise.
The psychological effect of the Khabur kidnappings, especially since so many remain captive, has been devastating. Some trepid return has taken place to the Khabur villages, which is more than can be said for the Nineveh Plains. The recent ISIS suicide bomb attack in the once majority Assyrian city of Tel Tamar, in which four Assyrians died, is a reminder of the constant threat of terrorism, against which Assyrians have no reliable recourse.
Today’s events in the Middle East echo those of a century ago. The overarching structures of political and social organisation – now of the Arab state, then of the Ottoman Empire – are giving way to turmoil, ethnic cleansing, and uncertainty. After the dividing and redrawing of borders was complete, the polities that emerged attempted to yoke together various ethnicities and sects, and Assyrians secured a diminished place within them. There is little reason to believe that the forms of organization that will emerge from the chaos in the region today will feature even the aim of co-existence, let alone the attainment thereof. In the absence of a plan for an independent Assyrian national endeavour, the Assyrian people face an existential threat in their ancestral homelands.
Hundreds of thousands of Assyrians died in the process of dissolving the Ottoman Empire and creating new states from it. The sheer scale of murder, along with the abysmal humanitarian conditions that ensued, is at least being largely spared the Assyrians of today. Also novel, however, is the phenomenon of emigration to western countries, which now contain far more Assyrians than exist in the Middle East. There is mercy here, at least for those privileged Assyrians who manage to find a secure path abroad. Along with their departure will go the Assyrian culture, language, and entire living heritage, permanently confining the Assyrian people to the annals of history.
*Mardean Isaac is a writer of fiction, journalism and essays. He has written and spoken widely on the Middle East & holds an MA in English Literature from Cambridge University and an MSt in Syriac Studies from Oxford University.
Footnotes
[1] In 2000, the Syrian Orthodox Church changed its name to the Syriac Orthodox Church.
[2] The Church of the East added the title ‘Assyrian’ to its name in 1976.
[3] The Chaldean Catholic Church is an offshoot of the Assyrian Church of the East, established in 1552 when Yuhannan Sulaqa, a Church of the East bishop, entered communion with Rome following internal disputes with his peers. The Assyrian population of Iraq is predominantly Catholic, owing to conversions that mainly took place against the backdrop of the travails of the 19th century, but the Chaldean Catholic denomination is a minority among the Assyrians of Syria.
[4] Meaning the ‘Arab Christian’ populations of western Syria, mainly belonging to Melkite, Greek Orthodox, and Syriac Orthodox confessions.
[5] The western dialect of Assyrian reads the ‘A’ vowel as an ‘O’.
[6] Some western Assyrians, who are largely Syriac Orthodox, refer to themselves by their denominational title ‘Syriac’, an ethnically neutral translation of ‘Sur(y)oyo’. The Arabic version of this title is ‘Syrani’; ‘Süryaniler’ in Turkish. Western Syrian adherents of the Syriac Orthodox Church largely describe themselves as ‘Syrani’ as a title of religious belonging, while referring to themselves as ethnic Arabs.
[7] In using the past tense in reference to the regime and the Syrian government in relation to Hassakah, I am not passing a definitive judgment on its future as a whole. Too many variables are at play, both within Syria and regionally, for such an assessment, and a broad discussion of the fate of the country is beyond the scope of this article. However, the prospect of the regime restoring the status quo antebellum, in particular in Hassakah, is remote. In using the past tense, therefore, I acknowledge that the norms I describe in this section are either threatened or no longer apply as they once did, and that an era of relatively stable political and social organisation has come to a likely definitive end, especially in relation to the particular matters I discuss herein.
[8] An old joke that reflects the ideological distance between the Arabist Syrian state and the Assyrian community goes like this: An Assyrian is recruited into the SAA. He is told that his first mission will be alongside the PLO in Tel Aviv. He asks the general, “Tel Aviv… Is that east or west of Tel Tamar [a village along the Khabur River]?”
[9] One instance of a slight reconfiguration in the policy of the state towards affairs related to the Assyrian and Syriac people, rather than churches, can be observed as follows. The Syriac Orthodox Church, which had hitherto never publically addressed the events of the Assyrian Genocide that led to the establishment of the western Assyrian presence in Syria, publically screened a documentary on the Assyrian Genocide in Damascus in August. This facilitation of this public commemoration by the Syrian state reflected the emergence of Turkey, the instigators of the Genocide of Assyrians, Greek and Armenians a century ago, as a foe of the regime in the civil war.
Some contemporary regime aligned media outlets refer to Assyrians as such.
[10] Classical Syriac is understood almost exclusively by scholars and church figures, and is spoken only by monks – in the Mor Gabriel Monastery in Turkey, for example, and erudite hobbyists.
[11] The first MFS martyr, Tamer “Athro” Bahde, died in clashes with ISIS in this period.
[12] David Jindo was a deacon in the Assyrian Church of the East.
[13] The assailants also stole guns and money from Elias Nasser and David Jindo’s property.
[14] The term ‘Jazira’ province is derived from ‘Gozarto’, the Assyrian word meaning ‘Island’.
[15] The term ‘Beth-Nahrain’ – ‘between the rivers [Tigris and Euphrates]’, a Syriac translation of the Greek word ‘Mesopotamia’, is itself controversial among Assyrians. One of the most significant premises of Assyrian nationalism is a land claim. In using the ethnically neutral yet historically resonant term ‘Beth Nahrain’, parties such as the SUP and the Beth-Nahrain Democratic Party, a KRG aligned party in northern Iraq, attempt to create a vision of a homeland that is deeper than and apart from contemporary nation-states without tying it directly to an Assyrian nationalist endeavour. This narrative goes: We belong to ‘Beth-Nahrain’ – others now partake in it but we were its earliest inhabitants – whereas ‘Assyria’ only belongs to Assyrians.
[16] The PYD does not have a monopoly on political support among the Kurds of Hassakah, but has been able to assert itself over its rivals due to the overwhelming strength of the YPG.
[17] The MFS also has a local security unit called ‘Sutoro’ [sic].
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RedditThe Trump administration on Tuesday defended its policies focused on border and immigration enforcement, arguing that almost all unauthorized migrants pose a threat and potentially should be deported, especially if they violate U.S. law.
President Trump carved out a temporary reprieve for nearly 800,000 migrants who entered the country as children to the United States and were allowed to work and avoid deportation under a program created by the Department of Homeland Security under President Obama.
That program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, will continue for the time being, but may be subject to later Trump administration enforcement actions, according to DHS and White House officials.
“The message from this White House and from the DHS is that those people who are in this country and pose a threat to our public, or have committed a crime, will be the first to go, and we will be aggressively making sure that that occurs,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said.
“Everybody who is here illegally is subject to removal at any time,” he added.
Under the guise of national security and a federal crackdown on crime, Trump is rewiring his argument that without waiting for Congress, he is making good on changes he promised during his campaign.
The president used a hastily convened White House news conference and a Florida campaign-style rally last week to sharpen his pitch that he’s keeping his campaign promises. On Friday, he plans to reprise his themes when he addresses Republicans at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington, D.C.
Border enforcement and the expulsion of unauthorized immigrants who are deemed law-breakers will be part of his CPAC speech. In less than a week, Trump will also address a joint session of Congress for the first time as president during an evening event covered live on television.
Trump on Tuesday conferred privately with Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the details of a replacement executive order he seeks to release this week – an order the administration believes can lift a court-ordered freeze on Trump’s temporary ban on foreign-national travelers and certain refugees entering the country.
The president unveiled his initial order a week after his inauguration, sparking global demonstrations of protest, several days of confusion for travelers and green card holders detained in transit, and hand-wringing on Capitol Hill among lawmakers who said they were kept in the dark by the White House.
The administration’s original restrictions were imposed without extensive implementation preparations or White House outreach to stakeholders. The aim was to swiftly block travelers and refugees while creating a stringent new vetting process to screen non-citizens from seven countries, and especially Muslims, who might pose U.S. security hazards. Travelers and refugees from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Libya were covered by Trump’s order.
After rebukes from the judicial branch, Trump hopes to issue a new order by the end of this week to remedy various legal vulnerabilities and objections identified by a host of states and backed by a federal appeals court. At the same time, the president says he will appeal the underlying legal merits of his executive authority to establish national security policies as he sees fit, within the strictures of law and the Constitution.
Many legal analysts have predicted that even with administration repairs, the replacement immigration order expected this week will be challenged in court.
Whether Trump will rescind the original order or try to layer a new one into the mix was a point of confusion on Tuesday. Spicer told reporters the president would not rescind his January order, but the Justice Department on Feb. 16 told judges for the U.S. Appeals Court for the 9th Circuit that Trump’s executive action would be, in effect, repealed and replaced.
“[T]he president intends in the near future to rescind the order and replace it with a new, substantially revised Executive Order to eliminate what the panel erroneously thought were constitutional concerns,” the department wrote this month in a 47-page response to the federal appeals court.
Separately on Tuesday, DHS Secretary John Kelly said in a pair of memoranda that the administration would protect the country’s borders by targeting almost all unauthorized immigrants who break the law, aiming to keep them out of the country or to deport them more rapidly if they’ve made their way into the United States. A wall or barricade along the country’s nearly 2,000-mile southern border will be built, Kelly said. More federal personnel will be hired to execute the plans.
Kelly’s instructions Tuesday to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and the U.S. Border Patrol do not amount to a “mass deportation” order, Spicer said. The administration argues, much as President Obama did during his second term, that it has wide latitude to set enforcement priorities under existing law, and to target federal resources (and to withhold federal resources in some cases) to bolster Trump’s priorities.
“When you look at the scope of how many people are in the country illegally, the No. 1 priority is making sure that people who pose a threat to this country are immediately dealt with,” Spicer added. “We're talking close to a million people who have already been adjudicated, and had their status processed through a formal due-process system.”
The most frequently cited and recent federal estimate is that 11.1 million undocumented immigrants live and work in the United States. The White House said Tuesday the estimate could be as high as 15 million, although Spicer did not cite a source for the larger count.
Trump tweeted Tuesday that “Americans overwhelmingly oppose sanctuary cities,” pointing to a Harvard-Harris Poll published by The Hill newspaper. The poll found that 80 percent of Americans believe that U.S. cities that arrest illegal immigrants for crimes should be required to turn them over to federal authorities, rather than shelter undocumented migrants from authorities, or opt to release them rather than detain them under instructions from Washington.
After tackling border and enforcement issues, the president will enlarge his immigration concerns by seeking to curb the few taxpayer-funded benefits available to unauthorized immigrants by law. This is a policy goal several of his top White House strategists have discussed both publicly and internally in the last month, but is complicated by variations in state-based policies.
“We will have more [actions], and [the president] continues to see that immigration is one of those issues that he was very, very clear and consistent on in the campaign. And we're going to continue to implement the policies that he talked about to keep the country safe,” Spicer said.DETROIT – Sergio Pettis is all about this potential champion vs. champion fight between Demetrious Johnson and T.J. Dillashaw, even if it hinders his own career in the short-term.
Pettis (16-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who meets Henry Cejudo (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in a potential flyweight title eliminator on Saturday’s UFC 218 pay-per-view main card following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, would likely be viewed as the obvious next contender for Johnson (27-2-1 MMA, 15-1-1 UFC) should he emerge victorious.
The problem, however, is that the UFC has expressed interest in having bantamweight champ Dillashaw (15-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) drop down a weight class to fight Johnson in what would have to be considered the most significant matchup in 125-pound history. Pettis would be the odd man out if the promotion moves forward with those plans, but surprisingly, he said he’s OK with that.
“I’m 24 years old, I’m getting better and better, and if they want me to fight again before a title, I’m good with that,” Pettis told MMAjunkie at Thursday’s UFC 218 media day. “I’m building my resume, getting some money on top of it and getting some experience. T.J. vs. DJ, that’s an interesting fight, even for me. I’m a fan of the sport. It’s entertainment and it makes sense. It’s part of the business. I have no hatred towards that. I understand it. If they want me to build my resume and get to that DJ shot, I will. If I have a great performance against Henry Cejudo, maybe I can get there.”
Although Pettis’ title aspirations are strong, he knows his youth puts him at an advantage. Whether it’s one fight or 10 fights, “The Phenom” promises to flourish with every performance the same way he has to this point in his career.
He has a gargantuan task ahead at UFC 218, though, because outside “Mighty Mouse,” Cejudo is as good as it gets in the flyweight division. Cejudo said his power will be the difference in the fight, and brings that confidence following a knockout of Wilson Reis at UFC 215 in September. Pettis, however, said he’s not buying it.
“Most of his wins are by decision, besides his last fight,” Pettis said. “Wilson was there to get hit by that power. I’ve got five inches of reach on this guy. I’ve got movement. He doesn’t have that power there. He’s going to fall onto my sword and he’s going to fall into my striking.”
If all goes according to plan, Pettis said he hopes to be the one scoring the knockout win. He believes his style meshes well with Cejudo and insists he’s going to send a message to “The Messenger” on fight night.
“I want to get a knockout on my belt,” Pettis said. “First win by not decision. Whatever happens, happens. I’m going to go out there and push the pace. I believe my style is different now. I’m not longer a little boy. I’m a grown man. My style is going to make him come in and think he has the power. I’m going to hit him with something hard and he’s not going to expect it. If not, I’m going to pick that face away all night.”
For more on UFC 218, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.Saturday Night Live spoofed Conor McGregor for the first time this week and completely butchered his accent.
Saturday Night Live spoofed Conor McGregor for the first time this week and completely butchered his accent.
Comedian and SNL star Alex Moffatt played the UFC lightweight champion in a game show skit called Where'd Your Money Go, a twist on the US show Jeoprady.
Host Charles Barkley, played by Keenan Mitchell, quizzed the "ignorant millionaires" on how they spent their vast fotune.
Moffatt as McGregor was dressed in a faux mink coat as a nod to the Gucci fur McGregor wore at the UFC 205 pre-fight press conference last month in New York.
Mitchell as Barkley ribbed McGregor for his love of expensive suits and recent purchase of a $350,000 Rolls Royce. He told McGregor that he needed to get himself a Roth IRA (a special US retirement account with tax incentives).
"I've been in the IRA since Protestants moved into my neighborhood," Moffat as McGregor quipped in an accent that was somewhere between a fantasy west Cork and Kerry land with hints of Hollywood 'Oirish' and echoes of Darby O'Gill.
Later, Mitchell as Barkley calls Moffat's McGregor an "angry little leprechaun" after he provided an inappropriate answer to a question about a stripper.
Online EditorsPut simply, we've learned a lot since 1787. What was for the Founders a kind of providential revelation—designing, from scratch, a written charter and democratic system at a time when the entire history of life on this planet contained scant examples of either—has been worked into science. More than 700 constitutions have been composed since World War II alone, and other countries have solved the very problems that cripple us today. It seems un-American to look abroad for ways to change our sacred text, but the world's nations copied us, so why not learn from them?
No Longer a Model
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was pilloried when she told Egyptian revolutionaries last year that she "would not look to the U.S. Constitution, if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012." But her sentiment is taken for granted by anyone who has actually tried to write a constitution since politicians stopped wearing powdered wigs. "Our Constitution really has been a steady force guiding us and has been perhaps the most stable in the world," says Louis Aucoin, who has helped draft constitutions in Cambodia, East Timor, Kosovo, Rwanda, and elsewhere while working with the U.N. and other groups. "But the disadvantage to the stability is that it's old, and there are things that more-modern constitutions address more clearly."
Almost nobody uses the U.S. Constitution as a model—not even Americans. When 24 military officers and civilians were given a single week to craft a constitution for occupied Japan in 1946, they turned to England. The Westminster-style parliament they installed in Tokyo, like its British forebear, has two houses. But unlike Congress, one is clearly more powerful than the other and can override the less powerful one during an impasse.
The story was largely the same in defeated Nazi Germany, and more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan, which all emerged from American occupation with constitutions that look little like the one Madison and the other framers wrote. They have the same democratic values, sure, but different ways of realizing them. According to researchers who analyzed all 729 constitutions adopted between 1946 and 2006, the U.S. Constitution is rarely used as a model. What's more, "the American example is being rejected to an even greater extent by America's allies than by the global community at large," write David Law of Washington University and Mila Versteeg of the University of Virginia.
That's a not a fluke. The American system was designed with plenty of checks and balances, but the Founders assumed the elites elected to Congress would sort things out. They didn't plan for the political parties that emerged almost immediately after ratification, and they certainly didn't plan for Ted Cruz. And factionalism isn't the only problem. Belgium, a country whose ethnic divisions make our partisan sparring look like a thumb war, was unable to form a governing coalition for 589 days in 2010 and 2011. Nevertheless, the government stayed open and fulfilled its duties almost without interruption, thanks to a smarter institutional arrangement."Social threat" is the psychologists' term for the urge to recast events that threaten our identities in new lights; it's the phenomenon behind some gun advocates' insistence that mass shootings are false-flag ops cooked up by governments to take away Americans' guns.
This is incredibly hard on the survivors of shootings, the widows and widowers and parents and children of the senselessly slain, who find their inboxes filled with angry messages accusing them of participating in a hoax. Their grief is evidence of overacting; their stoicism is evidence of their lack of acting ability. The cruelty is nearly unimaginable.
“If I am indeed wrong then I feel bad for the guy. It’s a terrible tragedy. But that doesn’t mean I’m not gonna have my opinion. That’s just what I see,” he says. “If that happened to me—and it really did happen—and people were calling it a false flag or a hoax, I would disagree with them. But I would have to respect their freedom of speech.”
But really, Thom, really, this is the worst thing that could happen to anyone. He watched his to-be fiancée die in an unrepeatable way. He almost evaded seeing a picture of her death until the morning after it happened, but he didn’t. He couldn’t. He saw it on the cover of the New York Daily News. He saw his soulmate shot in three frames, one alive, one bracing for a bullet, and one as she was dying, and he writes to me and he says, “I broke when I saw the Daily News.” And then he goes onto his Facebook wall one morning and someone says that she was an actor all along, or that she’s alive on an island somewhere, or that he was part of her death, or that he and the love of his life were never in love all along and this was you, Thom, and now this happens every morning, and this was you who started it, Thom, I mean, really, Thom, really.
“If I’m wrong, my heart goes out to Alison’s family and Chris Hurst, but it’s my opinion that it’s not obviously wrong.”AP Photo/John Locher Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at FreedomFest Saturday, July 11, 2015, in Las Vegas.
This article originally appeared at The Huffington Post.
LAS VEGAS—I'm here at Planet Hollywood as the token liberal to participate in two debates—one on what is killing the American Dream; the other a mock trial of the Federal Reserve. Paul Krugman is also here, debating the cause and cure of inequality. We're outnumbered about a thousand to one.
The annual FreedomFest convention of some 2,000 libertarian conservatives is doubly surreal. What better setting for libertarian dreams than fantastical Las Vegas—the free market as casino, made flesh.
Like casino operators, these libertarians live on fantasies. They inhabit an imagined universe where markets never do anything wrong and government never does anything right. This is comforting because it is true by definition and thus resists any evidence to the contrary. Mostly they are very nice, idealistic people, if sweetly delusional about economics.
I like libertarians because they tend to be principled, incurring the ire of ordinary conservatives by resisting government snooping and supporting gay rights. They are best understood as a cult—true believers who are too far-fetched for the American mainstream but with a creepy degree of influence on the Republican Party.
Yaron Brook, who heads the Ayn Rand Institute, is my foil in the American Dream debate.
Brook takes the premise of government as the source of all evils to an instructive extreme. Thus the financial collapse of 2008, weirdly, was not the result of Wall Street financial engineering but of government regulation (don't ask).
Rising inequality is somehow the fault of government, too. The best thing we could do for poor people would be to abolish the minimum wage (the steady erosion in its real value and coverage hasn't reduced poverty, but never mind).
Not only should public schools be abolished, but government should stop collecting taxes to support education altogether, even vouchers. The poor would somehow come up with the money to send their kids to private schools, and markets would stimulate innovation that would make schooling cheaper. In libertarian circles, this man is considered a serious person, even a celebrity.
Yaron Brook is an Israeli immigrant. He attended the Technion in Haifa and then the University of Texas, both public institutions. But he thinks public universities should be abolished, too. Didn't our great state universities, going back to Lincoln, help working-class kids to realize the American Dream and provide generations of research breakthroughs? No, they are statist parasites on the market.
The increased inequality (that Brook half-concedes) is legitimate, he says, because billion-dollar hedge-fund paydays and CEO bonuses are market verdicts and thus efficient. I can't resist pointing out that we are having this |
both sides defending the trenches, attackers were quickly mowed down before they could cross “no-man’s-land,” the short distance between the opposing lines.
“The deadlock on the Western Front forced armies to develop new technologies to overcome it,” says Paul Cornish, a historian at the Imperial War Museums in London. Many well-known innovations that we associate with the war today were invented to try to gain an advantage over an entrenched enemy.
“The development of the tank, of poison gas, aerial photography, and sound ranging [a method to determine the coordinates of the enemy from the sound of its guns] can all be seen as efforts to break the trench stalemate,” says David Stevenson, professor of international history at the London School of Economics. Each new innovation that gave a slight edge over the other side would then be promptly copied and improved to make it even more deadly. The use of Chlorine gas led chemists to later develop phosgene and mustard gas, for example.
“Arguably, [WWI] was the first war where science and technology were mobilized as part of the war effort,” says Jeff Schramm, a Missouri University of Science and Technology historian of technology. “Labs and people all over, at universities and in the industries, were working on stuff for the war. That was unprecedented.”
Here are six of the more surprising examples of the technical innovations that came from World War I:
1. Industrial Fertilizer
Shortly before the war, German chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch developed a process to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a biologically available form—ammonia—using high pressure and temperatures. During the war, this allowed Germany to produce artificial nitrates used to create explosives, like TNT. Prior to this, their nitrates came from Chilean guano deposits, which produced a limited supply. Once the war broke out, says Schramm, Germany had only enough natural nitrates to last about six months. “Because of this new process, they could create explosives essentially out of the air, and the war was prolonged for years,” he adds.
As deadly as his invention proved to be during the war, Haber’s process today actually sustains one third of the population on Earth, as it allows the production of ammonia nitrate fertilizer from nitrogen gas. Nitrogen is a critical component of both our DNA and proteins, and it is by far the most abundant atmospheric gas, but it first has to be “fixed” into a different form before it can be used by living organisms. (Specifically, the nitrogen must be changed from oxidation state 0 to –3.)
In nature, microorganisms possessing nitrogenase enzymes perform the nitrogen fixing. The Haber-Bosch process permitted the mass production of nitrate fertilizers, which sustain mass-scale industrial agriculture today.
2. Drones
World War I caused a tremendous acceleration in the development of aviation. “During the war, air speeds and [altitudes] doubled, engine horsepowers quadrupled, and bomb payloads increased even more,” says Stevenson. The war also saw experiments in developing the first pilotless aircraft.
Charles Kettering designed an unmanned “flying bomb,” known as the Kettering Aerial Torpedo or the “Kettering Bug,” that could hit a target at a range of 40 miles. The craft was launched with a dolly-and-track system; once launched, an onboard gyroscope guided it to its destination. “It was the first cruise missile—or drone if you will—and it was designed to take off, fly for a certain distance, and then stop and dive into the ground,” explains Schramm. The first test flight on October 2, 1918, failed because the aircraft climbed too steeply, stalled, and crashed.
Elmer Sperry and Peter Hewitt developed an unmanned aircraft for the US Navy in 1916 and 1917, known as the Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Aircraft. It was just 18.5 feet across and weighed 175 pounds, and it was also piloted with gyroscopes and a barometer to determine its altitude. It flew its first test flight on Long Island on March 6, 1918.
In the end, both were determined to be too unreliable to be useful. Still, by the time the war ended, the US had produced 45 “Kettering Bugs.”
3. Air Traffic Control
Radio had already made its debut before the war, but great strides were made during the war because of how valuable it could be for military communications. Nowhere was this more apparent than in aviation. In the early days of flight, once pilots left the ground, they had no good way of communicating with each other or the people on the ground.
The US Army installed the first two-way radios in planes before the nation’s involvement in the war. By 1916 technicians could send a radio signal over a distance of 140 miles, and radio telegraph messages could be exchanged between planes in flight. By the end of 1916, a helmet was designed with a built-in microphone and earphones to block out noise from the aircraft’s engine; in the following year, the first human voice was transmitted by radio from a flying plane to an controller on the ground.
The two-way radio systems developed for airplanes and operators on the ground were not only invaluable to fighting of the war, but also became the basis for the technology that would develop into the air-traffic-control system of today.
4. Portable X-Rays
Battle casualties overwhelmed the medical services in 1914, but armies quickly developed sophisticated systems for addressing the problems with new innovations made during the war. For example, the Thomas splint for a broken leg had a massive impact on survival rates in an era before antibiotics. Before the Thomas splint was invented, 80 percent of all soldiers died from a broken femur, but by the time of a battle in 1917, over 80 percent survived, reportedly. Blood banks were developed, thanks to the use of sodium citrate to keep blood from coagulating and becoming unusable, allowing battlefield transfusions.
One of the most important medical innovations of the time was the ability to get the diagnostic tools to the front line. When the war broke out, X-ray machines were too bulky and delicate to move. Using funds she raised in Paris, Marie Curie developed small, mobile X-ray machines and installed them in cars and trucks for the French army. She drove some of these portable X-rays to the front herself, and worked with her 17-year-old daughter, Irene, at casualty-clearing stations, using the X-rays to locate fractures, bullets, and shrapnel.
5. Sanitary Napkins & Tissues
In 1914, Ernst Mahler, the head of a small US company called Kimberly-Clark, toured pulp and paper plants in Germany, Austria, and Scandinavia and spotted a new cellulose material called “Cellucotton.” It was five times more absorbent than cotton itself and, when mass-produced, half as expensive. Upon returning to the US, Mahler trademarked it; when the US entered the war in 1917, Kimberly-Clark started producing the wadding for surgical bandages.
Meanwhile, enterprising Red Cross nurses started using it for their own personal hygienic use. Once the war ended, Kimberly-Clark re-purchased the surplus of bandages from the military and the Red Cross and created the first commercial sanitary napkins.
The company also ironed out the cellulose material to make smooth tissues, which, in 1924, were released as the first facial tissues: Kleenex.
6. Sun Lamps
The undernourishment of Germans because of the war led an increase of rickets, a disorder caused by a lack of Vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate that leads to the weakening of bones. By the winter of 1918, half of the children in Berlin were suffering from rickets.
At the time, the cause of the ailment was not known, but a Berlin doctor named Kurt Huldschinsky noticed that the children were also very pale, so he conducted an experiment in which he put four children under mercury-quartz lamps that emitted ultraviolet light. The treatment worked: The children’s bones became stronger. Ultraviolet light causes the skin to produce Vitamin D, which is necessary for healthy bones. Thus, the sun lamp was born.
Simone M. Scully is a science and culture journalist based in New York City. Follow her on Twitter at @ScullySimone.A failed attempt to comb a hairy 3-ball (2-sphere), leaving a tuft at each pole
A hairy doughnut (2-torus), on the other hand, is quite easily combable.
A hair whorl
The hairy ball theorem of algebraic topology (sometimes called the hedgehog theorem in Europe)[1] states that there is no nonvanishing continuous tangent vector field on even-dimensional n-spheres.[2][3] For the ordinary sphere, or 2‑sphere, if f is a continuous function that assigns a vector in R3 to every point p on a sphere such that f(p) is always tangent to the sphere at p, then there is at least one p such that f(p) = 0. In other words, whenever one attempts to comb a hairy ball flat, there will always be at least one tuft of hair at one point on the ball. The theorem was first stated by Henri Poincaré in the late 19th century.[citation needed]
This is famously stated as "you can't comb a hairy ball flat without creating a cowlick", "you can't comb the hair on a coconut", or sometimes "every cow must have at least one cowlick." It can also be written as, "Every smooth vector field on a sphere has a singular point." It was first proven in 1912 by Brouwer.[4]
Counting zeros [ edit ]
From a more advanced point of view: every zero of a vector field has a (non-zero) "index", and it can be shown that the sum of all of the indices at all of the zeros must be two. (This is because the Euler characteristic of the 2-sphere is two.) Therefore, there must be at least one zero. This is a consequence of the Poincaré–Hopf theorem. In the case of the torus, the Euler characteristic is 0; and it is possible to "comb a hairy doughnut flat". In this regard, it follows that for any compact regular 2-dimensional manifold with non-zero Euler characteristic, any continuous tangent vector field has at least one zero.
Cyclone consequences [ edit ]
A curious meteorological application of this theorem involves considering the wind as a vector defined at every point continuously over the surface of a planet with an atmosphere. As an idealisation, take wind to be a two-dimensional vector: suppose that relative to the planetary diameter of the Earth, its vertical (i.e., non-tangential) motion is negligible.
One scenario, in which there is absolutely no wind (air movement), corresponds to a field of zero-vectors. This scenario is uninteresting from the point of view of this theorem, and physically unrealistic (there will always be wind). In the case where there is at least some wind, the Hairy Ball Theorem dictates that at all times there must be at least one point on a planet with no wind at all and therefore a tuft. This corresponds to the above statement that there will always be p such that f(p) = 0.
In a physical sense, this zero-wind point will be the center of a cyclone or anticyclone. (Like the swirled hairs on the tennis ball, the wind will spiral around this zero-wind point - under our assumptions it cannot flow into or out of the point.) In brief, then, the theorem dictates that, given at least some wind on Earth, there must at all times be a cyclone or anticyclone somewhere.
Note that the center with zero wind can be arbitrarily large or small. Mathematical consistency dictates the wind forms a cyclonic wind pattern for at least one point on the planet, but this does not require the cyclone be a violent storm.
This is not strictly true as the air above the earth has multiple layers, but for each layer there must be a point with zero horizontal windspeed.
Application to computer graphics [ edit ]
A common problem in computer graphics is to generate a non-zero vector in R3 that is orthogonal to a given non-zero one. There is no single continuous function that can do this for all non-zero vector inputs. This is a corollary of the hairy ball theorem. To see this, consider the given vector as the radius of a sphere and note that finding a non-zero vector orthogonal to the given one is equivalent to finding a non-zero vector that is tangent to the surface of that sphere where it touches the radius. However, the hairy ball theorem says there exists no continuous function that can do this for every point on the sphere (i.e. every given vector).
Lefschetz connection [ edit ]
There is a closely related argument from algebraic topology, using the Lefschetz fixed-point theorem. Since the Betti numbers of a 2-sphere are 1, 0, 1, 0, 0,... the Lefschetz number (total trace on homology) of the identity mapping is 2. By integrating a vector field we get (at least a small part of) a one-parameter group of diffeomorphisms on the sphere; and all of the mappings in it are homotopic to the identity. Therefore, they all have Lefschetz number 2, also. Hence they have fixed points (since the Lefschetz number is nonzero). Some more work would be needed to show that this implies there must actually be a zero of the vector field. It does suggest the correct statement of the more general Poincaré-Hopf index theorem.
Corollary [ edit ]
A consequence of the hairy ball theorem is that any continuous function that maps an even-dimensional sphere into itself has either a fixed point or a point that maps onto its own antipodal point. This can be seen by transforming the function into a tangential vector field as follows.
Let s be the function mapping the sphere to itself, and let v be the tangential vector function to be constructed. For each point p, construct the stereographic projection of s(p) with p as the point of tangency. Then v(p) is the displacement vector of this projected point relative to p. According to the hairy ball theorem, there is a p such that v(p) = 0, so that s(p) = p.
This argument breaks down only if there exists a point p for which s(p) is the antipodal point of p, since such a point is the only one that cannot be stereographically projected onto the tangent plane of p.
Higher dimensions [ edit ]
The connection with the Euler characteristic χ suggests the correct generalisation: the 2n-sphere has no non-vanishing vector field for n ≥ 1. The difference between even and odd dimensions is that, because the only nonzero Betti numbers of the m-sphere are b 0 and b m, their alternating sum χ is 2 for m even, and 0 for m odd.
See also [ edit ]
Notes [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Eisenberg, Murray; Guy, Robert (1979), "A Proof of the Hairy Ball Theorem", The American Mathematical Monthly, 86 (7): 571–574, doi:10.2307/2320587When your candidate has a really rotten debate, the temptation is great to create a distraction. However, if the distraction is harebrained and unflattering to your candidate, you wind up making things worse.
That is essentially what happened yesterday when Rick Santorum and his team came out with a conspiracy theory that Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) and Mitt Romney were in cahoots. A source close to the Paul campaign told me last night that the Paul camp sees this as an effort by senior Santorum adviser John Brabender to distract the media from the fact that his candidate was “not ready for primetime.” The Romney camp did not return a request for comment. (Romney staffers no doubt believe in the adage that you should never get in the way when your opponent is doing harm to himself.)
Indeed, on one hand, you can say it was foolish for Santorum to cook up an excuse for his dismal outing. Santorum already has a reputation for being thin-skinned and peevish. This tactic certainly made him seem like a poor sport.
To some extent, however, the gambit worked. When you can get major media figures and longtime GOP operatives tweeting away about non-existent deals (A Cabinet position! A VP slot for Rand Paul!) based on nothing but the accusations of a wounded candidate’s flack, that is no small feat. But, in fact, the explanations for Ron Paul’s very obvious disdain for Santorum, and, to a lesser extent, Newt Gingrich are much simpler than a Roswell-esque theory.
Both campaigns confirm that Paul and Romney are personally friendly, as are their wives. They are both of the same generation, with married kids and grandkids on whom they dote. They’ve both been happily married for decades. (It is widely known that Ron Paul’s wife was friendly with Gingrich’s second wife.)
It is human nature to show greater deference and civility to those whom you like. What the press is missing, however, is the degree to which Gingrich, Santorum and their staffs have acted in ways that the Paul camp would justifiably perceive as dismissive and rude. When I asked Brabender for reaction to the accusation that he was practicing the art of distraction, he e-mailed, “It sounds like something the Romney campaign told the Paul campaign to say.” It is precisely this sort of denigration — that Paul and his staff are unable to think on their own or advance their own interests — that has fueled Paul’s desire to skewer Santorum. The source close to the Paul camp responded, “Once again demonstrates the total lack of respect for Ron Paul, his supporters, and his campaign team held by Santorum and his top advisor. When you build coalitions and treat your fellow Republicans the Santorum-Brabender way you end up losing in the general by double digits in the swing states like Pennsylvania.” You get the picture now?
It has been going on for some time now. Santorum publicly called Paul “disgusting.” Gingrich has been telling others to get out of the race for months. In the debate, an eye-rolling Santorum couldn’t contain his disdain for Paul, who returned the favor with blow after blow to Santorum’s self-image of a “courageous” conservative warrior (wasn’t that self-definition by Santorum an unintentional moment of Newt-like ego?).
At a staff level, the Romney team, perhaps due to an awareness of the personal relationship between the candidates, has been cordial and professional toward Paul’s people. These things matter.
But stepping away from the personal aspects for a moment, consider things from Paul’s perspective. He’s been a candidate who has openly said he wants to get as many delegates as possible — to win if he can or to influence the party and its platform if he can’t. If he thinks Gingrich and Santorum, like Rick Perry and others before him, are going to flame out, doesn’t he want to be on firm ground with the man who is best positioned to win a multi-state, long campaign?
And consider as well that Paul speaks of himself as the grandfather of the Tea Party. If he’s not going to get the nomination, does he want a Gingrich or a Santorum to crash and burn, taking with them the reputation of the Tea Party? Or would Paul prefer a Romney figure, who will either win (and then take his advice and calls in the White House) or lose and not be seen as confirming the Tea Party’s demise?
There is an additional factor at play. The Tea Party, Paul has repeatedly said, has brought the party closer to him, meaning it has been focused to a greater extent than in the recent past on individual liberty, limited government and sound fiscal policy. Gingrich’s erratic policy positions and personal instability would place that progress at risk. Santorum’s zealous interest in pronouncing on personal morality would shatter that alliance as well. So, from Paul’s vantage point, better to have a stable businessman who is not obsessed with contraception than either of the other two.
If he can’t win the nomination, Paul’s interests at this point are threefold. He wants: 1) to be influential on issues he cares about (the Fed, fiscal sobriety); 2) to been seen as a responsible figure who brings his followers into the party; and 3) to leave his son Rand in a position to lead his segment of the party. With Romney, those are within his grasp. With the other two, they become increasingly remote.
The most significant factor in this flurry of gossip-masquerading-as-news is that with the advent of Twitter and blogs, speculation and conspiracy-mongering become commonplace and largely swamp actual reporting. Unfortunately, the real story about Romney and Paul, which is far more interesting and significant to the future of the conservative moment, goes underreported.
More from PostOpinions:
Charles Krauthammer: Obamacare vs. the Constitution
George Will: Romney, Santorum still both weak candidates
Kathleen Parker: The trials of Saint Santorum
Michael Gerson: Containment won’t work with IranGet out your sunscreen, Minnesota. Sun Country Airlines announced Wednesday it is adding flights to Honolulu and Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a limited time during the spring and summer months.
In the first announcement since being acquired last week by a New York-based investment group, Sun Country Airlines raised its cachet of vacation-style destinations considerably by adding Hawaii to its network of 43 domestic and international routes.
Service to Hawaii's capital city will begin May 19 and run through Aug. 19, with a layover in Los Angeles. Flights will run four days a week, Friday through Monday.
The airline will fly directly to Myrtle Beach, a coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean, on Mondays and Fridays between April 6 and June 4.
Apollo Global Management purchased the Eagan-based carrier on Dec. 14 for an undisclosed sum.
Sun Country, which flies out of Terminal 2-Humphrey, has built its business around offering low-cost flights to an array of sunny climes and vacation spots that don't always support frequent service preferred by bigger airlines. It flies across the U.S. as well as to Mexico, Costa Rica and the Caribbean.
Though Sun Country is profitable, its performance has been near the bottom of an industry that has been thriving in recent years.
New CEO Jude Bricker, a former Allegiant Air executive, was hired in July to lower costs and generate more revenue. In October the airline announced plans to introduce bag and seat fees.
Sun Country will be going head-to-head with Delta Air Lines, which flies directly to Honolulu in addition to stop-over flights at the Los Angeles International Airport.Alexander Berkman hasn't added a story.
Firstly, the revolutionary movement must vigorously direct its activities towards slavery/prison abolition and the abolition of all forms of captivity.
Secondly, our long-term vision must be to abolish the state itself.
The overarching scope of our struggle must focus on building abolitionist counter-power and helping people escape the plantation. While we fight to abolish prisons and the state structure, we must unequivocally fight alongside those who are now the target of state violence, with the intent of ending the entirety of this heinous system.
The basic focus of our struggle:
1. Take up the immediate fight to abolish prisons, courts, and ICE detention facilities.
2. As Abolitionists, we must fight unequivocally with Black, Latino, Native, Muslim people, and all those subjected to prison society and white supremacy.
3. The struggle must be feminist, and predicated on queer and trans liberation.
4. The Abolitionist struggle must fight for decentralized, commune-based political organization, and stand resolutely against capitalism and the state.
5. The struggle must be orientated toward militant self-defense, and devise specific plans for offensive actions against reactionary forces.
6. The Abolitionist long-term goal is to get rid of the justice system, the nation-state, and the capitalist economy.
We must defend people from captivity as well as our political centers, we can not be on the defense indefinitely. The state is in a weaker position today than it has been in decades. The moment we act is up to us. "The secret is to really begin."
Pittsburgh is home to a wealth of anti-authoritarian groups & projects. We hope to deepen the local scope of these groups by tying the actions to neighborhood self-governance, and a larger political project. Connecting the projects to each other by increasing resources, participants and deepening our commitments to revolutionary political solutions.
Strengthening connections between projects helps reinforce each one and builds up pragmatic resources and defense. Revolutionary initiatives and projects form new political and social relations base on mutual aid and neighborhood self-sufficiency.
The most essential tasks are to create the ideological underpinnings for revolt and the necessary infrastructure that can sustain action and long-term organization.
An overarching political objective is absolutely necessary. In order to go on the offensive, groups need a foundational reason to act, to liberate individuals, to liberate new territories, or weaken the state
We seek to tie pragmatic feminism into the larger abolitionist framework whose main pragmatic purpose is to help those fleeing oppressive situations and state repression, while forming a militant wing to help protect this political project.
The process of undoing gender roles can be viewed as similar to the process of dismantling the carceral state. Putting self-defense at the origin of this process has the potential of both building strength and uprooting stagnant roles.
When people have the opportunity to autonomously defend themselves, and fight for others, the nomativity of fixed identities are called into question, and the process of abolishing gender, and creating a fluid world of self-determination becomes possible.
This opening necessitates larger political organization. With revolutionary defense tied to the origins of this project we can begin fighting for the diffusion of power, and as power is diffused, new possibilities arise with a proliferation of identities.
Anarchists and other revolutionary groups have already began self-defense classes, queer gun-clubs, and rapid response networks for transpeople. By tying these projects to a broader revolutionary mission, multiplying their efforts by training new complementary units, placing them at the center of social organizations and creating the avenues for mutual support, we can build viable self-defense and the capacity to release others from bondage.
It is impossible to speak about resolving social conflicts in the U.S. without addressing the agents of the State and reactionary, racist forces, and their consistent use of terror to maintain their social and political position.
No platform, no dialogue, no inch of territory, and certainly no concern can be ceded to those who either threaten or unleash authoritarian, white supremacist violence. As the Italian anarchist Alfredo M. Bonanno has eloquently put it, "The life of someone who oppresses others and prevents them from living is not worth a cent!"
Revolutionary change will not come as a singular event, nor an immediate exchange of power, but an ongoing struggle to free us all from the bonds of oppression and distribute power to communities of resistance. The illusion that a small group can seize state power and enact the will of the majority has dried up in the gulags, prisons, and killing fields of nation-states around the world.
Within the scope of the Abolitionist struggle, it is essential to work towards a long term liberatory solution. The legacy of previous struggles in the U.S. demonstrates that our need for new methods of revolutionary organization must be built deliberately, completely outside the caceral apparatus of the state, and grounded in the predominant conflicts in the country. Our projects integrity depends on whether it is rooted in destroying the slave-state, revolutionary decentralization, and vigorous self- defense to prevent other political forces from subsuming or defeating us.
Revolutionary communities must exemplify the new socio-political relationships that they seek to create in society at large.
By laying proper political frameworks both in terms of practice and ideology, revolutionary groups today have the capacity to turn the tide of spontaneous revolt into something that can sustain itself. If successful, we will inspire others to acts of revolutionary justice and self-liberation, initiating participation in building the political foundations of the future.
The revolution will build the revolution!Manipulation is often thought of as morally repugnant, but it might be responsible for the evolutionary origins of some helpful or altruistic behavior, according to a new study.
In evolutionary biology, manipulation occurs when an individual, the manipulator, alters the behavior of another individual in ways that is beneficial to the manipulator but may be detrimental to the manipulated individual. Manipulation not only occurs in humans and animals but also at the cellular level, such as among cells in a multicellular organism, or in parasites, which can alter the behavior of their hosts. Consider the case of the parasitic roundworm Myrmeconema neotropicum, which once ingested by the tropical ant Cephalotes atratus in Central and South America, causes the ant to grow a bright red abdomen, mimicking berries. This bright abdomen constitutes a phenotype manipulated by the roundworm. Birds eat the "berries," or infected ants, and then spread the parasite in their droppings, which are subsequently collected by foraging Cephalotes atratus and fed to their larva, and the cycle of manipulated behavior begins anew.
In the study published this week in the journal American Naturalist, the researchers developed a mathematical model for the evolution of manipulated behavior and applied it to maternal manipulation in eusocial organisms, such as ants, wasps, and bees, which form colonies with reproductive queens and sterile workers. In the model, mothers produce two broods, and they manipulate the first-brood offspring to stay in the maternal site and help raise the second brood. Mothers can do this by disrupting the offspring's development in some way, for example through poor feeding or aggressive behavior. Manipulated offspring of the first-brood stay and help to raise the second brood. Alternatively, first-brood offspring can resist manipulation and leave.
The researchers show that an offspring's resistance to manipulation may often fail to evolve, if the costs of resistance are high. In a sense, then, helping or altruistic behavior is coerced through manipulation.
"The evidence in so-called primitive eusociality, where helping is often coerced through aggression or differential feeding, appears consistent with these results," said lead author Mauricio Gonzalez-Forero, who conducted the study while a graduate research assistant at the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis.
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Citation: González-Forero M, Gavrilets S. 2013. Evolution of manipulated behavior. The American Naturalist. [Online]
The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) brings together researchers from around the world to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to investigate solutions to basic and applied problems in the life sciences. NIMBioS is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture with additional support from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.Posted by
Harjeet Johal,
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VANCOUVER, B.C - Vancouver Whitecaps FC's Sheanon Williams grew up in Dorchester, just outside of Boston. He loves the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox, and cheered for his beloved Bruins when they beat the Vancouver Canucks in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. Now that he is on the other side of the continent, he is a world away from 'The Hub.'
Williams has found a home with his new club, and he's settling in after being acquired from the Houston Dynamo on December 13, 2016. Through five MLS matches with Vancouver, he's enjoying his teammates, the city, and being part of a new environment.
"Yeah it's been great," said Williams. "Everybody's been great. It's been an easy transition except for a little bit of the weather, but other than that, I'm happy. I'm happy to be a part of this team, and I think we have a good group here. I'm excited to continue on with the season."
The 27 year-old, has been away from his wife and daughter who are in Houston Texas. Williams met his wife, a Philadelphia native, when he played for the Union from 2010-2015. Following Vancouver's current four-match road trip they will be reunited in Vancouver. Getting his family together will no doubt help Williams on and off the pitch.
"It's been pretty tough on both me and my wife," admitted Williams. "It's going to be nice to have them here. They'll be here in about two weeks. It'll be good to get in the routine, and back with them. It'll make life at home a little bit easier. I've got one daughter, and she's going to be starting kindergarten in the fall, so definitely excited."
Despite the distance between him and his family, Williams is adapting and finding his form with Vancouver. He has closed the revolving door that was the Caps right-back position last season. Coach Carl Robinson is glad he was able to bring in Williams.
"I think he's been very solid," said Robinson. "He's come in and he's settled in very well. He knows a couple of the guys. I think last year was difficult for the two right-backs. We had Jordan (Smith) and Fraser (Aird) both came in and done very well at times, but both were more attack orientated. After losing Steven (Beitashour) to Toronto for whatever reason. We were unable to fill that on a consistent basis. In the off-season, my job was to try and find a solid right-back, we have that in Jordan Harvey in the left-back position, and Sheanon fitted that bill. Bringing him on board was very important."
There is one surprise characteristic that you might not know about Sheanon Williams, and Carl Robinson wasn't aware either. Like a true Boston athlete, Williams wants to win, and he will do whatever it takes to do that. If something isn't right, he wants to learn and educate himself, even if that means causing a bit of a stir with the gaffer,
"He likes to moan in training, which is brilliant," revealed Robinson. "He likes to question every decision, even when it's clearly not his ball, he actually appeals for it, and generally looks at me as if he believes it is his ball, so that surprised me. I thought he was a good honest lad. He wants to win, so I don't mind that."
As the 2-4-1 Whitecaps travel to Montreal to take on the 1-2-4 Impact at Stade Saputo on Saturday. They do so looking to earn a result after a 2-1 loss to Portland on Saturday. Vancouver will also visit Colorado, and Houston before returning home to play Sporting Kansas City on May 20. Ideally the Whitecaps would love to pick up all 9-points, but that's easier said than done.
What would Williams consider a successful road trip?
"Yeah that's a tough question to ask," said Williams. "We're going to go into every game with the mindset that we want to get three points. It depends on the game. It depends on the situation of every game, and how many points we think we can get. I think the group is confident right now. Over the last five games, we've played well, except for the exception of the Real Salt Lake game. I think we're in good form, maybe the results haven't shown that, but I think that we're creating a lot of chances. If we can get zeroes in the back, will win a lot more games than we'll lose this year."
You can tell Williams is already fitting in well in Vancouver. He's already found the biggest topic Vancouverites enjoy complaining about after affordable housing.
"As the weeks go on, it's got nicer and nicer," said Williams. "I'm probably the biggest complainer in the locker room about the weather. Everybody tells me to wait until summer. It's been sunny the last couple of days, so as long as the sun's out a little bit, I'm happy."
If Williams can continue to bring a winning mentality, and a positive influence to the Whitecaps defensive, the Caps back-line will indeed put up plenty of zeros this season. We all know defence wins championships, and having grown up in Boston, Williams is well aware of what it takes to bring a 'Duck Boat' parade to a loyal fan base. Vancouver supporters are hungry for a championship and Williams solidifies his position.Paul Pogba: In training with France this week
Manchester City are preparing to turn their interest in Paul Pogba into a firm bid, according to Sky sources.
However, Pogba does not qualify as a home-grown player having failed to reach the required quota of appearances while at Manchester United.
Pogba spent two seasons at Old Trafford from July 2010 to 2012 where he struggled to make an impact, being given just a handful of substitute appearances for the first team before leaving for Italy.
City need home-grown talent to fill their Champions League quota - defined as anyone who has trained at an English club for three years between the age of 15 and 21.
Manuel Pellegrini's team had five in their squad last season, which was reduced to 21 players overall due to breaching Fair Play rules.
Defender Dedryk Boyata has left to join Celtic, midfielders James Milner for Liverpool and Frank Lampard for New York City leaving just goalkeeper Joe Hart and left-back Gael Clichy from last season's European selection.
Veteran back-up keeper Richard Wright also qualifies as home-grown while the club can only name 17 overseas players, leaving them currently with a Champions League squad of just 20 senior players.
Thierry Henry suggests that Juventus' Paul Pogba could become the best midfielder in the world Thierry Henry suggests that Juventus' Paul Pogba could become the best midfielder in the world
Sky Italia's Ghilda Pensante, who says Juventus will only consider "extraordinary" offers for the France international, told Sky Sports News HQ that the club would accept nothing less than 80m euro (£58m).
Pogba has already been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, with reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Chelsea and City, whose chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has talked about making "quality signings" during the transfer window.
The 22-year-old is currently back home preparing for international friendlies against Albania and Denmark.Show full PR text
Taking Passion for Performance to New Heights-Dodge Enters Global RallyCross with all-new Dodge Dart and Travis Pastrana
Dodge and SRT Motorsports announce Global RallyCross Championship entry with Dodge Dart piloted by four-time Rally America Champion Travis Pastrana
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (Monday, March 26, |
, Christine Morgan, Richard Lee Byers, Orrin Grey, Anya Martin, and Edward Morris) as well as fresh new voices, and with a cover featuring the psychedelic art of Nick ‘The Hat’ Gucker, RESONATOR: New Lovecraftian Tales From Beyond is the anthology that will break down the barriers in 2015.
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Martian Migraine Press: the Best Kind of HeadacheIndependent promotion Paragon Pro Wrestling will no longer air Saturday mornings on Pop TV now that TNA Impact has joined the network. PPW started with Pop TV on July 4, featuring talent such as Gangrel, Jessy Sorenson, Victoria and Joey Ryan. The company was somehow able to use talent's WWE themes and some names on the program.
See Also: Notes And Results From Paragon Pro Wrestling's National TV Show, Several Former WWE Superstars
You can see the press release PPW sent out below.
"Paragon Pro Wrestling will begin airing its weekly program on 4 networks across North America. The family-friendly program began airing across the United States on Saturday, July 4th on Pop TV. Paragon Pro Wrestling hopes to reach more wrestling fans by expanding the networks and times of day that the program will air. As a result of this expansion, Paragon Pro Wrestling has ended its agreement with Pop TV. Their final broadcast on Pop will be Saturday, November 21st. While PPW is ending their agreement with Pop, officials with the company have stated they are very grateful for the time they spent on the network.
Starting on November 19th, Paragon Pro Wrestling can be seen on Tuff-TV at 12:00 midnight, Eastern, 9:00pm Pacific. Other networks include Fight Net, Yoo Too America, Dish Network and WADL TV in Detroit. Check your local listings to confirm channels and air times in your area.
Fans of pro wrestling in these areas can tune in weekly to see athletes such as Wes Brisco, Tyshaun Prince, Jessy Sorenson, Alex Chamberlain, Gangrel, Darin Corbin and more."November 18, 2013
The Wayne County prosecutor in Detroit has finally filed charges in a case that many are comparing to the murder of Trayvon Martin. Joel Reinstein goes through the facts.
A 19-year-old African American woman is dead for the "crime" of asking for help after a car accident in a predominantly white suburb of Detroit.
Renisha McBride was shot in the face with a shotgun in the early morning hours of November 2. She had been in a car crash and--with her cell phone dead and bleeding from a wound on her head--was seeking help from residents.
According to reports, 54-year-old Theodore Wafer shot Renisha through the screen door of his home. Wafer didn't call police until an hour later--at which point, he claimed to have fired in self-defense. He then changed his story, claiming the shotgun went off by accident--only to change it back again when prosecutors filed murder and manslaughter charges against him. Initial reports said Renisha's body had been "dumped," but police later said it was found on the porch.
RENISHA'S MURDER is being compared to the Trayvon Martin case, and for good reason--Wafer is using "Stand Your Ground"-style self-defense laws to try to escape punishment by claiming that he felt threatened by Renisha.
Protesters demand justice for Renisha McBride
Although her death was ruled a homicide, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy didn't file charges for 13 days, during which time police and the mainstream media kept the killer's identity secret. Worthy reportedly refused an initial request for a warrant by Dearborn Heights police, saying more investigation was needed.
Detroiters didn't take the same do-nothing attitude toward Renisha's murder.
On November 7, about 50 people gathered outside police department headquarters in Dearborn Heights. Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, spoke for the crowd when he asked: "Had she been a white woman and the shooter a black man, would the shooter be sitting comfortably at home watching TV today?"
Two days later, some 200 people attended a rally, organized by the National Action Network, on the West Side of Detroit. Another protest was held a week later, on December 16, organized by the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality and the International Socialist Organization.
Faced with this mounting pressure, Worthy finally filed charges against Wafer, including second-degree murder and manslaughter.
Now that charges have been filed against Wafer, the media are taking another page out of the Trayvon Martin case and are putting the victim on trial. Mainstream outlets are reporting on toxicology reports showing that the alcohol level in Renisha's blood was past the legal limit for intoxication--and unconfirmed tests showing marijuana in her system. As if that justifies her execution by shotgun for seeking help.
Worthy insisted that the decision to charge Wafer had "nothing whatsoever to do with the race of the parties"--but no one who looks at the case can take that seriously. As journalist Rania Khalek wrote at her blog, Renisha was "a Black woman from Detroit, which is 82 percent Black, whereas Dearborn Heights, the area she was shot in, is 86 percent white."
Anyone who has protest police violence and racism in Detroit is familiar with the double standards applied to Black and white, including by Kym Worthy, who is African American.
Worthy, for example, wasn't so cautious about filing charges with Charles Jones, the father of Aiyana Jones, the 7-year-old girl murdered by Detroit police in her sleep three years ago. Shortly after Aiyana's death during a police raid on her home, Charles was charged with providing the gun used in another murder. Although the only "evidence" against him was the testimony of a jailhouse snitch that had been thrown out by a judge, Jones has been held without bail for three years as Worthy continually postponed his trial.
The prosecutor assigned to Jones' case is the very same one as for his daughter's killer, which Worthy denies is a conflict of interest. In the case of Aiyana's killer, the prosecutor's office somehow managed to select an all-white jury from a predominantly Black area for the cop's first trial, which ended in a mistrial.
This is only another example of a justice system that treats Black life as less valuable--something made gruesomely clear once every 28 hours--the rate at which African Americans are killed by police, security guards or vigilantes, according to a report by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement.
It goes without saying that a Black man who killed a white woman on his porch would be put in jail right away. The news media wouldn't be printing statements from his neighbors about how he's a "good man" who "never bothered anybody." Wafer wouldn't have been released on 10 percent of a $250,000 bond and described as a "low risk to the community"--and the media wouldn't be talking about whether he reasonably believed his life was in danger.
ON THE morning of George Zimmerman's acquittal of Trayvon Martin's murder earlier this year, with the mainstream media raising the specter of riots, blogger Jay Smooth made a prediction: "The fundamental danger of an acquittal is not more riots, it is more George Zimmermans."
There were no riots. There have been more George Zimmermans.
In July, a New Orleans homeowner shot unarmed 14-year-old Marshall Coulter in the head because he thought the teen was trying to break into his house, and a pregnant woman was killed on a sidewalk in Pratt, Kan., by a man shouting racial slurs. In September, a man in Dallas shot 8-year-old D.J. Maiden in the face as he played in a parking lot.
Then there's the case with the closest echoes to that of Renisha McBride. Also in September in Charlotte, N.C., 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell was involved in an auto accident so severe that he had to climb out the back window to escape. He went to the nearest house and pounded on the door to beg for help, and the resident inside hit an alarm indicating a home invasion was in progress. When police arrived, they didn't offer the injured man help, but Tasered him--and then shot him three times, killing him.
The protests in Dearborn Heights and Detroit have shown the justified outrage that people feel over Renisha's killing. But in to prevent the deaths of future Renisha McBrides and stop future George Zimmermans, we will need more than outrage. To defeat the New Jim Crow, we need ongoing anti-racist mobilization and organization.This past weekend, New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard set new masters world records while competing at the World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand. Hubbard made a splash in March when she was the first transgender woman to represent New Zealand in weightlifting at the 2017 Australasian Championships. At that meet, Hubbard snatched 123kg/271lb and clean & jerked 145kg/319lb on her way to gold across the board and new New Zealand weightlifting records.At the World Masters Games this past weekend, Hubbard again competed in the women's 90+kg in the 35-39 age range. She snatched 131kg/288lb and clean & jerked 149kg/328lb to set new masters world records in the snatch, clean & jerk, and total.Here is the stream of her lifts. Her snatches begin at 44:20 and her clean & jerks start at the 1:47:00 mark:Laurel Hubbard's transition from her previous life as Gavin to her new life as a dominant female weightlifter has been highly publicized and people from everywhere have expressed their opinions on it. Through all of that, the heads of both the Australian and New Zealand have shared their support for her and her performances.Hands sheathed in soft white gloves, Nadia Kurd, the curator at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, points out the fine craft-work on a basket intricately woven from black ash.
"There's sweetgrass as well," she says, before lifting the lid to reveal the smooth interior. "It was made in the 80s but it continues to hold onto the smell of the sweetgrass."
"A number of objects in our collection have sweetgrass, and if we haven't been in collection storage for... a week or so, you open the doors, and the smell of sweetgrass still permeates in the air, and it's just wonderful."
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery's collection includes many baskets, but 'in terms of skill, this one really stands out,' says gallery curator Nadia Kurd. The basket is decorated with more than 100 miniature baskets. (Amy Hadley/CBC)
This basket is one of close to 1,600 pieces that make up the permanent collection at the gallery in the northwestern Ontario city.
The art is stored in a climate controlled room located behind the exhibit areas, accessible only to staff. The room is full of drawers and movable shelving units that make use of every bit of space to store everything from paintings and sculptures, to masks and garments.
Thunder Bay Art Gallery curator Nadia Kurd returns a sliding panel to its place in storage. It contains one of the many colourful Norval Morrisseau paintings the gallery counts among its collection. (Amy Hadley/CBC)
There's much to choose from when items from the permanent collection go on display, which happens four or five times a year, said Kurd, with exhibits organized around different themes — often with a focus on Indigenous artwork, for which the gallery has a strong reputation.
The gallery has been collecting since the mid-1980s, said Kurd, with an early focus on First Nations artists such as Norval Morrisseau. The gallery now holds Canada's largest collection of work by the famous Woodland style painter.
Beadwork from artists across Ontario in storage at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. (Amy Hadley/CBC)
In the past decade there's also been a renewed focus on acquiring pieces from northwestern Ontario artists in a wide-range of mediums, Kurd added.
"You know the diversity and range of works that we have in our collection, I think that's one of our great strengths," she said.White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday said President Donald Trump has not “changed his position” on the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape, despite a report that Trump has privately questioned its authenticity.
Sanders said the recording “was litigated and certainly answered during the election by the overwhelming support” for Trump and his eventual victory.
“He’s made his position on that clear at that time, as have the American people,” she said.
“He apologized for it, which would seem to acknowledge its authenticity and that position hasn’t changed?” a reporter pressed Sanders.
“Like I just said, the President hasn’t changed his position,” she replied. “I think if anything that the President questions, it’s the media’s reporting on that accuracy.”
Pressed to specify what reporting Trump is questioning, Sanders said, “I said what he didn’t like and what he found troubling were the accounts that are being reported now.”
The New York Times reported on Saturday that Trump has privately questioned — to a senator and, more recently, an adviser — the authenticity of the 2005 recording on which he bragged about groping and kissing women without their consent.
Trump is both visible and recognizable in the video, and he acknowledged in October 2016, after the recording was published, that he made the statements caught on tape.
“I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize,” he said at the time.THE CENTRAL Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the murder of anti-superstition activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, has filed an application before a magistrate court in Pune seeking nod for a polygraph test of two Sanatan Sanstha workers, Hemant Shinde and Nilesh Shinde, saying the duo have agreed for the same.
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Two unidentified motorcycle-borne youths had shot Dabholkar dead on August 20, 2013 while he was on a morning walk, around 7.15 am, on the Omkareshwar bridge, near the Balgandharva auditorium, in Pune.
[related-post]
An offence in this case has been registered at the Deccan police station. The case was transferred to the CBI later. As per the application fired by CBI before the magistrate court, it is looking into the role of Hemant Shinde, resident of Shivaji Nagar and Nilesh Shinde, resident of Mangalwar Peth.
“Both were found deceptive in their Forensic Psychology Assessment and Forensic Statement Analysis,” it is stated in the application. The CBI now wants to conduct polygraph test on the duo. The CBI told the court that the duo have shown their consent for the test to be conducted at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory unit in Belapur, Navi Mumbai.A gap has closed — there reportedly are now as many female gamers as male gamers. Our own analysis confirms this, but we've discovered something possibly more surprising: The rift between what games males and females play has been widening.
APP USERS (2012)
MALE VS. FEMALE APP USERS (2016)
MALE VS. FEMALE
To build apprecs.com's latest feature (search for apps by user gender), we joined the names of 2.1 million app reviewers in the iOS App Store™ with SSA name data. The results reveal gender divisions within the App Store, app genres, and even individual apps.
In 2016, 50% of iOS app users are female, up from 45% in 2012. Women/girls now also make up 50% of iOS game players, up from 49% in 2012. What genres do they dominate? Puzzle and word games, apparently.
MALE VS. FEMALE GAMERS BY GENREMaurice Cheeks will be offered an opportunity to lead the Detroit Pistons out of a half-decade's malaise.
The Pistons have settled on Cheeks as their top choice to become the franchise's 33rd head coach, according to sources, after he interviewed extensively with both owner Tom Gores and president of basketball operations Joe Dumars.
Cheeks, currently an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and formerly a head coach of two franchises, was one of two finalists for the job, along with Nate McMillan.
Yahoo! Sports first reported that the Pistons had settled upon Cheeks and intend to engage contract negotiations immediately.
Assuming the two sides reach terms, Cheeks will take over for Lawrence Frank, who was dismissed April 18 after two losing seasons.
Cheeks played 15 years in the NBA and won a 1983 championship as a guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, one of two teams he served as head coach.
Cheeks was 284-286 in parts of eight seasons as head coach of the Portland Trailblazers and Philadelphia 76ers.
Cheeks, 56, played collegiately at West Texas State University, then a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, now known as West Texas A&M.
-- Download the Detroit Pistons on MLive app for iPhone and Android
-- Like MLive's Detroit Pistons Facebook pageThe crime fiction year opened with a bang, appropriately enough, with Adrian McKinty’s Gun Street Girl (Serpent’s Tail), the fourth in a series featuring Seán Duffy. A Catholic detective with the RUC, Duffy investigates a double-killing as the news of the impending Anglo- Irish Agreement sends Northern Ireland into a turmoil of strikes, riots and violence.
Set in the 1970s, Celeste Ng’s impressive debut Everything I Never Told You (Black Friars) investigates the tragic life and death of Ohio teen Lydia Lee in a heartbreaking portrait of a teenage girl struggling to cope with unbearable and conflicting pressures.
Paula Hawkins’s The Girl on the Train (Doubleday) was an equally impressive first outing, and one of the year’s publishing sensations (touted as this year’s Gone Girl), as alcoholic Rachel turns amateur sleuth when a woman goes missing. Steve Cavanagh’s The Defence (Orion) was another debut, a rollicking tale of New York lawyer Eddie Flynn going into court with a bomb strapped to his back to defend a Russian mobster. Attica Locke’s third offering, Pleasantville (Serpent’s Tail), lawyer Jay Porter tries to extricate the personal from the political in defending an alleged killer during a mayoral election in Houston, Texas, against the backdrop of a campaign of very dirty tricks.
A Song of Shadows (Hodder & Stoughton) was John Connolly’s 13th novel to feature private eye Charlie Parker, and arguably his best, as Parker – no stranger to evil – finds himself immersed in the horrors of the Holocaust and evolving into something of a Christ-like figure. The Shut Eye (Bantam Press) was Belinda Bauer’s sixth novel, and another tinged with the supernatural, in which hard-nosed DCI John Marvel finds his scepticism tested to the limit in a thoughtful meditation on faith, hope and belief. Over in Colorado, FBI agent Ren Bryce returned in Killing Ways (Harper Collins), Alex Barclay’s seventh novel. Bryce tracks a serial killer in an unusually poignant thriller featuring moments of poetic horror.
Richard Beard’s superb Acts of the Assassins (Harvill Secker) was a time-bending tale employing modern weaponry and infrastructure in which Roman investigator Gallio searches for the rabble-rousers who stole the corpse of the local mystic Jesus from his tomb in the wake of the prophet’s crucifixion. Camille (MacLehose) concluded Pierre Lemaitre’s impressive trilogy about diminutive Parisian detective, Camille Verhoeven, with Camille racing to track down a killer while constantly second-guessing his own motives and capabilities.
In June, the ever reliable Karin Fossum delivered The Drowned Boy (Harvill Secker), in which her series detective, the brooding Norwegian Insp Sejer, investigates the tragic death of a toddler with Down syndrome. Dennis Lehane concluded his excellent Joe Coughlin trilogy with World Gone By (Little, Brown), set in Florida and Cuba, charting the transition of America’s criminal fraternity from the riotous gangster era to the more organised crime of the Mafia.
Elmer Mendoza’s Silver Bullets (MacLehose) was a Mexican “narco” novel featuring Det Edgar ‘Lefty’ Mendieta, a bleak but blackly comic tale of murder investigation set in a country where “nothing is true, nothing is false.”
Set in Belfast, Those We Left Behind (Harvill Secker), Stuart Neville’s sixth novel, featured DCI Serena Flanagan and explored the physical and psychological damage wrought by the actions of two apparently sociopathic – but heartbreakingly vulnerable – young boys. Simon Mawer’s Tightrope (Little, Brown) was a superior spy novel set in the post-second World War years, an absorbing tale about Marian Sutro, a former war hero whose notions of patriotism and honour are ripped apart as the Cold War chills to deep freeze.
Even the Dead (Penguin) was Benjamin Black’s seventh offering in the increasingly impressive series featuring the pathologist Quirke. Here the depiction of a genteel 1950s Dublin belies a brutally noir moral relativism, as Quirke sinks into a quicksand of politics and religion. Sinéad Crowley’s sophomore offering, Are You Watching Me? (Quercus), was an assured take on the “domestic noir” genre, as Garda Det Claire Boyle tracks the stalker who is making life hell for media ingénue Liz Cafferky. Jon Steele concluded another trilogy with the fantastic (and fantastical) The Way of Sorrows (Blue Rider Press), as Harper, an angel in human form, complete with Chandleresque quips, goes to war against the forces of Evil for humanity’s soul.
Jane Casey’s After the Fire (Ebury Press) featured her series heroine, London-based DC Maeve Kerrigan. “The Maeve Kerrigan books keep getting better and better,” wrote Declan Hughes in these pages. Mark Henshaw’s The Snow Kimono (Tinder Press) centred on retired Parisian police inspector Auguste Jovert playing the part of reluctant confessor to an elaborately detailed declaration of guilt. Julia Heaberlin’s third novel, Black-Eyed Susans (Penguin), was a brilliantly constructed tale of parallel narratives as teenager Tessie and adult Tess recount their horrific story of being abducted and left for dead by a seasoned serial killer in an engrossing exploration of the morality of the death penalty.
Lynda La Plante returned to the iconic heroine of Prime Suspect for Tennison (Simon & Schuster), offering a tale of how Tennison came of age as a policewoman in the early 1970s when she is seconded to an investigation into the murder of a 17-year-old girl found naked and strangled on Hackney Marshes. In a good year for Irish crime fiction, Jo Spain’s With Our Blessing (Quercus) was an assured debut that introduced Insp Tom Reynolds in an old-fashioned murder mystery set in a convent.
This year, of course, also saw the return of Lisbeth Salander in David Lagercrantz’s The Girl in the Spider’s Web (MacLehose), although Declan Hughes, reviewing it here, wasn’t overly impressed.
“Salander remains part comic-book superhero, part male fantasy,” wrote Hughes, “but she still deserves better than this cynical, curiously disengaged production.”
Declan Burke is an author and journalist. His current novel is The Lost and the Blind (Severn House)Many people (including myself) have come to the conclusion that Gmail, with its threaded messages, spam filtering, and vast storage space, is one of the web’s best webmail providers. In fact, we like it so much that we use it for both our personal accounts and work accounts using Google Apps. But that also poses a problem: many of us wind up having to maintain two separate Google accounts, which means we have to swap logins whenever our Gmail, Reader, or other data is stored under the other account. Fortunately, there may be an end in sight for this juggling act.
As today’s SXSW panel on Gmail came to a close, the panelists revealed one last juicy tidbit: they’re working to resolve the problems with multiple namespaces that users have to deal with. The team didn’t get specific — they simply repeated that they have to deal with the same problems, as they have “@google.com” accounts for work and standard Gmail accounts for personal use. And they know it’s a pain.
There’s no time frame, and we have no idea what form the feature will take. But at least we know Google is working on it.
Image by HelicoNormally I don’t pay much attention to e-mails that hit my inbox from manufacturers claiming that a certain motherboard can overclock a Skylake Core i7 processor the highest, or that they have claimed the 3DMark record. They are in my mind boring marketing tactics that mean little to nothing to the consumer.
Last month I received one such e-mail from Asrock that nonetheless caught my attention. It claimed their Z170M OC Formula was the only motherboard to support G.Skill’s Trident Z DDR4-4333 modules. Initially I thought, how useful is that? Are there even any benefits from running DDR4 memory on the LGA1151 platform that high?
For the most part we test using DDR4-3000, as it occasionally shows some benefits over the more typical 2400 and 2666 speeds. Going to 4000 MT/s (2000MHz) and beyond is a massive increase in frequency (and cost) and I struggled to imagine where this would be useful, particularly when gaming. Then again, curiosity had gotten the better of me...
So I asked Asrock to kindly send along one of their Z170M OC Formula motherboards. Disappointingly, G.Skill didn’t have any DDR4-4333 memory available and a month later we are yet to see any go on sale, so this news report is appearing more and more like a marketing exercise.
However, G.Skill did come back and say they could provide an 8GB kit of their DDR4-4000 memory which is available for purchase. It isn’t the record setting DDR4-4333 memory, but at 4000 MT/s it doesn’t fall far short and will certainly give us a clear indication of whether or not this kind of high frequency memory holds any merit.
Currently there are a few DDR4-4000 memory kits available from the likes of G.Skill, Corsair and GeIL. Of those G.Skill's TridentZ modules appear to be capable of the best timings at 19-21-21-41 vs. 19-23-23-45 from Corsair, while the GeIL kits are even slacker at 19-25-25-45.
For testing we'll be using a few select applications and games comparing the Core i7-6700K at various memory speeds ranging from 2133 MT/s up to 4000 MT/s. Helping to maximize gaming performance will be a pair of GeForce GTX 980 Ti graphics cards, if they aren’t able to exploit the potential of DDR4-4000 we fear nothing will be able to. With that said, let’s get down to business.
Test System Specs
Memory Bandwidth Benchmark
Starting at DDR4-2133 we see a throughput of just 20.4GB/s which isn’t bad but less than what we were seeing from the Haswell processors out of the box. Increasing the memory frequency to 2400 MT/s boosted the memory bandwidth by 12% to 22.9GB/s which is typically what we were first seeing from the Haswell processors.
Going from 2400 MT/s to 3000 MT/s, the speed which we regularly test at, boosted the memory bandwidth by another 20% to 27.4GB/s. Surprisingly taking the next step to 3600 MT/s boosted performance significantly yet again, this time by another 20% as we hit 33GB/s. Final stop at DDR4-4000 saw the memory bandwidth reach 35.5GB/s making it 8% faster than the 3600 MT/s configuration. While theoretical, the first benchmark shows some promise, shall we go real-world?Many experts believe that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has several root causes including some viruses. Now, lead scientists Shara Pantry, Maria Medveczky and Peter Medveczky of the University of South Florida's Morsani College of Medicine, along with the help of several collaborating scientists and clinicians, have published an article in the Journal of Medical Virology suggesting that a common virus, Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), is the possible cause of some CFS cases.
Over 95 percent of the population is infected with HHV-6 by age 3, but in those with normal immune systems the virus remains inactive. HHV-6 causes fever and rash (or roseola) in infants during early childhood, and is spread by saliva. In immunocompromised patients, it can reactivate to cause neurological dysfunction, encephalitis, pneumonia and organ failure.
"The good news reported in our study is that antiviral drugs improve the severe neurological symptoms, including chronic pain and long-term fatigue, suffered by a certain group of patients with CFS," said Medveczky, who is a professor of molecular medicine at USF Health and the study's principal investigator. "An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 patients with this CFS-like disease in the United States alone may ultimately benefit from the application of this research including antiviral drug therapy."
The link between HHV-6 infection and CFS is quite complex. After the first encounter, or "primary infection," all nine known human herpesviruses become silent, or "latent," but may reactivate and cause diseases upon immunosuppression or during aging. A previous study from the Medveczky laboratory showed that HHV-6 is unique among human herpesviruses; during latency, its DNA integrates into the structures at the end of chromosomes known as telomeres.
Furthermore, this integrated HHV-6 genome can be inherited from parent to child, a condition commonly referred to as "chromosomally integrated HHV-6," or CIHHV-6. By contrast, the "latent" genome of all other human herpesviruses converts to a circular form in the nucleus of the cell, not integrated into the chromosomes, and not inheritable by future generations.
Most studies suggest that around 0.8 percent of the U.S. and U.K. population is CIHHV6 positive, thus carrying a copy of HHV-6 in each cell. While most CIHHV-6 individuals appear healthy, they may be less able to defend themselves against other strains of HHV-6 that they might encounter. Medveczky reports that some of these individuals suffer from a CFS-like illness. In a cohort of CFS patients with serious neurological symptoms, the researchers found that the prevalence of CIHHV-6 was over 2 percent, or more than twice the level found in the general public. In light of this finding, the authors of the study suggest naming this sub-category of CFS "Inherited Human Herpesvirus 6 Syndrome," or IHS.
Medveczky's team discovered that untreated CIHHV-6 patients with CFS showed signs that the HHV-6 virus was actively replicating: determined by the presence of HHV-6 messenger RNA (mRNA), a substance produced only when the virus is active. The team followed these patients during treatment, and discovered that the HHV-6 mRNA disappeared by the sixth week of antiviral therapy with valganciclovir, a drug used to treat closely related cytomegalovirus (HHV-5). Of note, the group also found that short-term treatment regimens, even up to three weeks, had little or no impact on the HHV-6 mRNA level.
The investigators assumed that the integrated virus had become reactivated in these patients; however, to their surprise, they found that these IHS patients were infected by a second unrelated strain of HHV-6.
The USF-led study was supported by the HHV-6 Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
Further studies are needed to confirm that immune dysregulation, along with subsequent chronic persistence of the HHV-6 virus, is the root cause of the IHS patients' clinical symptoms, the researchers report.You wanna know the reason I hate some people on the subreddit? Because the subreddit spends more time talking about me than it does about my work. There are people on there who make it their mission to dissect everything I ever say. Why are these tweets even on there? What purpose does that serve? To fulfil your daily drama quota that's what. You're not acting in good faith. You're there to get your pound of flesh and nothing else. Can you imagine what it's like to have a group of tens of thousands of people who at least on the surface only seem to exist to critique your life 24/7? Almost every tweet I make ends up on there and then hundreds of people sit around and discuss whether or not it was ok that I said it. I have an unelected commission of arbiters that sits there in loud judgement everytime I say something. Jesus christ it wears you down so much, you cannot imagine unless you've been in that position. You know what? It'd be ok if I believed those people were acting in good faith, but they're not. They're using it to yell at me, knowing that I can't respond to them individually or I'll get yelled at some more for singling them out. There's basically a bunch of my supposed viewers right now sitting there posting about how much of an asshole I am and then when I get mad at that, that's just another reason for them to call me an asshole. God I am so fucking sick of it. Please, add "I'm really good at yelling at terminally ill people on the internet because this man who makes free internet videos about games doesn't handle social media in quite the way I'd like him to" to your CV. I'm sure it'll get you far in life. Oh and don't you even think about trying to make the comparison between what you're doing and what I do for a job. My job is to critique a product based on its technical and artistic merit. It's never personal, the mission is never to hurt someone. That is a world apart from the 24/7 criticism of a single person that anyone with any modicum of fame gets. What's that quote? Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people? There's an awful lot of discussing a person going on right now. I wish social media had never been invented, it might be the worst thing to have happened to discourse in human history. "Just don't read it!" Ok. "WHY DON'T YOU LISTEN TO YOUR FANS?" Goddamnit.Arming the Boston Police with Assault Rifles
Whose idea is this?
The Boston Police Department is preparing a plan to arm as many as 200 patrol officers with semiautomatic assault rifles, a significant boost in firepower that department leaders believe is necessary to counter terrorist threats, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the plan. The initiative calls for equipping specialized units, such as the bomb squad and harbor patrol, with the high-powered long-range M16 rifles first, the officials said. The department would then distribute the weapons to patrol officers in neighborhood precincts over the next several months, according to the two law enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not have permission to speak publicly.
Remember, the "terrorist threats" that plague Boston include blinking signs, blinking name badges, and Linux. Would you trust the police there with automatic weapons?
And anyway, how exactly does an police force armed with automatic weapons protect against terrorism? Does it make it harder for the terrorists to plant bombs? To hijack aircraft? Sure, you can invent a movie-plot scenario involving a Mumbai-like attack and have a Bruce Willis-like armed policeman save the day, but -- realistically -- is this really the best way for us to be spending our counterterrorism dollar?
Luckily, people seem to be coming to their senses.
EDITED TO ADD: These are semi-automatic rifles, not fully automatic. I think the point is more about the militarization of the police than the exact specifications of the weapons in this case.
Posted on June 3, 2009 at 5:57 AM • 110 CommentsCheck out the below complaint against Tom Ham's Lighthouse for more detailed information.
At least fifteen lawsuits have been filed against some of San Diego's most popular restaurants alleging that a controversial surcharge amounts to an illegal practice in violation of California law.Some of San Diego's top restaurants - including George's at the Cove, Tom Ham's Lighthouse, Bali Hai, Sammy's Woodfired Pizza & Grill, and numerous Cohn Restaurant Group establishments - have been named as defendants in a case requesting to be filed as a class action suit brought on behalf of various plaintiffs by attorneys Kevin Lemieux and Robert Hyde from Hyde & Swigard law firm. The complaint states that the named restaurants violated California's False Advertising Law, Unfair Business Competition Law, and the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act by adding deceptive surcharges on customers' bills. The firm expects to file as many as 20 such lawsuits by the end of 2017.In an effort to battle the rising costs of food and gas, as well as San Diego's increasing minimum wage, which jumped to $11.50 an hour in January - the second such hike in a six month period - many area restaurants started |
in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the courageous activist openly confronted Trump about the “dancing Israelis” and Israel’s central role in planning, executing, and most certainly benefiting from the events of 9-11.
“Trump’s comments about alleged ‘cheering Muslims’ made me angry because I saw it as nothing more than an amplifying of the Zionist propaganda that Americans have been inundated with for the past 15 years,” Hill told AFP. “There is one purpose of this: to perpetuate the fear and support of the neocon imperial agenda of endless wars in the Middle East, the tyrannical police state in America, and blind support for the Israeli lobby and their diabolical geopolitical agenda.”
Hill originally traveled to a Trump rally in South Carolina with the hopes of confronting the GOP frontrunner.
“In South Carolina, I had a chance to shake Trump’s hand—he signed my bumper sticker—and I asked him about the undue influence of the Israeli lobby in America, and if he would put a stop to it for us,” Hill explained. Trump simply refused to answer Hill’s entirely legitimate and direct question, which only fueled his determination to confront the controversial and politically incorrect presidential contender.
“When Trump went to Michigan, I spent a great deal of time, effort, and expense to be there to once again confront him,” Hill told AFP. “I was almost directly in front of the podium in which Trump was speaking, and I shouted: ‘You listen to me, Trump!’ To my shock, he actually quit talking and looked at me, in this stadium with a capacity crowd of 9,000 people, waiting to hear what I would say.”
Hill continued: “I shouted, ‘Five Jews were arrested on 9-11 in New Jersey, not Muslims!’ I added that it was, ‘Five Jews, you got it?’ and concluded with, ‘Israel did 9-11,’ a fact AFP has been exposing for years now.”
Incredibly, Trump actually listened to Hill, and described him as a “Trump guy” with “a lot of energy.” Hill was shortly thereafter escorted out of the rally.
Describing his motivation for confronting Trump, Hill told AFP: “The ‘Global War on Terror’ is a complete hoax, a fraud, and the Muslim boogeyman is a contrived enemy created by the U.S. government to inflict fear into the populace. While actual Islamic terrorism does exist, it is oftentimes funded, encouraged, and provoked by the U.S. government.
“The people need to know the truth about 9-11, a monumental false-flag event, which involved the Central Intelligence Agency and Israel, with the full consent of our government,” Hill stated. “As a Catholic, I believe that the American people should learn about the ‘Just War Doctrine’ of St. Augustine, and promote peace among nations. We have an obligation to speak the truth.”
John Friend is a California-based writer who maintains a blog.PROVO, Utah
New mission presidents and their wives — 127 couples from 24 countries — gathered at the Provo Missionary Training Center June 24 through June 28 for the 2017 Seminar for New Mission Presidents.
The couples, who will serve in 61 different countries, received training and instruction from senior Church leaders.
Sharing the gospel and the love of the Lord is a call all Latter-day Saints receive at baptism, taught President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency.
“We are in His service, called by Him to help take His gospel, and His love, to Heavenly Father's children,” said President Eyring.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, told the new mission presidents, “You will not only have a positive influence on the spreading of the word of God worldwide, but you will also impact the lives of individuals and families,” he said. “You will be remembered for years and generations to come.”
Of the 127 couples entering missionary service, 82 couples came from the United States, 10 from Brazil, and four couples were called from Argentina, from Mexico and from the Philippines. The remaining mission presidents represent 19 additional countries.
The youngest of the 2017 mission president class is 40 years old and the oldest is 66 years old. Of the 127 mission presidents, 35 are converts, with 34 of their wives being converts, and 113 mission presidents served full-time missions in their youth with 19 mission president’s wives having served full-time missions.
More than 50 of the new mission presidents work in business or finance and more than 25 are Church employees; 11 work in the legal profession.
Regarding languages, 94 couples are native English speakers, 18 are native Spanish speakers, 10 are native Portuguese speakers and four are native Tagalog speakers.
Elder Brent H. Nielson, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Missionary Department, thanked the new mission presidents and their wives — who begin service July 1 — for their courage to “accept a call you did not seek, to an area you did not choose, to be with people you do not know.”
Following are summaries of selected talks given during the seminar:
Women’s Auxiliary presidents: Sister Jean B. Bingham, Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, and Joy D. Jones Sister
President Henry B. Eyring
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
President Russell M. Nelson
Elder Dallin H. Oaks opening address
Elder Dallin H. Oaks closing address
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Elder Quentin L. Cook
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Elder Neil L. Andersen
Elder Ronald A. Rasband and Sister Melanie Rasband
Elder Gary E. Stevenson and Sister Lesa Stevenson
Elder Dale G. Renlund
Bishop W. Christopher WaddellAccording to some fringe members of the Christian faith, the Rapture will be happening on May 21, 2011.
No, really. They have math to prove it.
This is something of a bummer as I had scheduled a rare date night with my wife and frankly we were looking forward to the fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie.
Actually, after paying lip service to respecting other views in previous posts, I don’t want to mock these people too much. However, they’re receiving a decent amount of media attention which, barring more important breaking news, will probably ramp up as the date approaches. And since this is the sort of behavior that tends to compound the misunderstanding of the Christian faith, I feel compelled to say something about it.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, the Rapture as referred to by these folks is the sudden disappearance of all Christians from the face of the earth (stop clapping atheists, there’s a catch) before the REALLY bad things start to happen.
It’s possible that there’s something I’m missing, but from my own readings of the Bible, this so-called Pre-Millenial view is problematic even in context of the Scriptures. Regardless, what I really don’t appreciate is the attitude that usually accompanies the discussion of this topic by subscribers to the idea. It amounts to something of an apocalyptic “I told ya so!”
The idea of being “raptured” is generally derived from this passage:
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. I Thess 4:17 ESV
Even granting me the assumption that the Bible is true, when read in context of the passage itself and the Scriptures as a whole, there’s no indication that this will occur before an outbreak of earthly punishment for non-believers. It seems to correspond more to the proverbial Second Coming which, according to Scripture, is the end of human history.
In any case, let’s just play along for a brief moment and say that there’s a rapture that takes place before the end of the world and signals the coming of very bad things for those left behind. Here’s the main problem with setting a known date for it, taken from just a couple of sentences down the same passage:
1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. I Thess 5: 2 ESV (emphasis added)
Or consider this passage, quoting Jesus himself
32“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. Mark 13:32
For a parallel verse, you can go to Mark 24.
So, even assuming that the Scripture is true, the fact that a group of people are PUBLICLY proclaiming the EXACT date and time (AND mainstream media is running with it) kinda puts the kibosh on the whole “thief in the night” metaphor if it were to happen on that day.
So I will fully assure you that the rapture will not occur on May 21st.
All bets are off for the 22nd, though.**
*Yes, that is a bad Apocalypse Now joke. Sorry.
**Just in case you can’t tell: kidding.Audacious Titans Podcast 026 Dan Smyth
Thanks for listening to the show, this week we are excited to have special guest Dan Smyth, star of the Dan Smyth Trio. You can find Dan on Facebook at Dan Smyth Music to keep up to date with his upcoming gigs and you can always find him hosting the Open Mic at O’Reilly’s every Tuesday from 9-midnight. Don't forget to listen to us on Stitcher
000:30 Arnold Schwarzenegger
003:00 Black Mirror
008:37 The Flash and Gotham
012:33 UFC
017:30 What’s it like being a musician?
022:03 What’s the coolest gig you’ve had?
024:00 Are you scared?
026:25 Killshot
027:15 Beer Tasting: Lagunitas Sux Brown Shuggah Substitute
027:45 Beer Tasting Kentucky Honey Barrel Brown Ale
029:45 Dragon Age
039:00 Dragon Age vs Diablo
041:05 Assassin’s Creed Unity bugs and Holiday Exclusives
047:55 Sunset Overdrive
052:27 Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
060:00 Oculus Rift and the future of AI
065:15 Zombie Apocalypse
067:50 Lacona Brewing Castaway IPA
068:45 Beer Tasting: Atwater Brewery Decadent Dark Chocolate Ale
069:05 Have you ever had a bad time playing music?
076:00 Cam’Ron
079:55 Beer Tasting: Flat 12 Brewery Mustache Ride Red
081:40 Opening for Tesla
084:20 How many bands have you been in?
084:43 Singing dogs
093:23 Walking Dead and Atwater Brewery Hop-A-Peel
101:40 The Fappening
104:00 Game of Thrones and HBO GO
107:48 Suicide Squad
110:05 Beer Tasting: Left Hand Brewery Fade to Black
114:45 Myspace pagesBuilding Fast & Resilient Web Applications
You've applied all the best practices, set up audits and tests to detect performance regressions, released the new application to the world, and... lo and behold, the telemetry is showing that despite your best efforts, there are still many users—including those on "fast devices" and 4G networks—that are falling off the fast path: janky animations and scrolling, slow loading pages and API calls, and so on. Frustrating. There must be something wrong with the device, the network, or the browser—right?
Maybe there is. There is an infinite supply of reasons for why the application can fall off the fast path: overloaded networks and servers, transient network routing issues, device throttling due to energy or heat constraints, competition for resources with other processes on the user's device, and the list goes on and on. It is impossible to anticipate all the edge cases that can knock our applications off the fast path, but one thing we know for certain: they will happen. The question is, how are you going to deal with it?
Carving out the fast path is not enough. We need to make our applications resilient.
Resilient applications provide guardrails that protect our users from the inevitable performance failures. They anticipate these problems ahead of time, have mechanisms in place to detect them, know how to adapt to them at runtime, and as a result, are able to deliver a reliable user experience despite these complications.
I won't rehash every point in the video, but let's highlight the key themes:
(9m3s) Seemingly small amounts of performance variability in critical components quickly add up to create less than ideal conditions. We must design our systems to detect and deal with such cases—e.g. set explicit SLA's on all requests and specify upfront how the violations will be handled. (16m28s) The "performance inequality" gap is growing. There are two market forces at play: there is a race for features and performance, and there is high demand for lower prices. These are not entirely at odds, the cheap devices are also getting faster, but the flagships are racing ahead at a much faster pace. (19m45s) "Fast" devices show spectacular peak performance in benchmarks, but real-world performance is more complicated: we often have to trade off raw performance against energy costs and thermal constraints, compete for shared resources with other applications, and so on. (23m35s) Mobile networks provide an infinite supply of performance entropy, regardless of the continent, country, and provider—e.g. the chances of a device connecting to a 4G network in some of the largest European countries are effectively a coin flip; just because you "have a signal" doesn't mean the connection will succeed; see "Resilient Networking".
If we ignore the above and only optimize for the fast path, we shouldn't be surprised when the application goes off the rails, and our users complain about unreliable performance. On the other hand, if we accept the above as "normal" operational constraints of a complex system, we can engineer our applications to anticipate these challenges, detect them, and adapt to them at runtime (31m39s):
Treat offline as the norm. All request must have a fallback. Use available API's to detect device & network capabilities. Adapt application logic to match the device & network capabilities. Observe real-world performance (runtime, network) at runtime, goto(4).Carol Kloeppel about Bonn, Facebook groups for international people and about the new service GA-English.
18.01.2016
Bonn likes to call itself an international city. Is it?
Carol Kloeppel: Yes! People from all around the world live here in Bonn. Alone the United Nations has 18 agencies or programs here, and there are about 150 NGO’s. Deutsche Telekom and Deutsche Post DHL also have international employees, amd the University has many international students. And let’s not forget Ford, Toyota, Shell, General Electric, Federal Express, and organizations like OCCAR, EASA or the Paralympic Committee - they are all here in Bonn or the surrounding region. Employees of some firms like to settle with their families in Bonn, even if their job is in Cologne. There are also two international schools here, IBIS and BIS. Bonn International School alone has 780 kids from 74 countries.
What is missing for English speakers who live in Bonn? Are there any particular areas where it is lacking?
Kloeppel: I find Bonners to be very helpful and friendly, and many of them go the extra mile to try and understand those who are “German beginners”. But I have also come to the conclusion that newcomers to Bonn don’t have enough possibilities to find out what is going on in the communities where they live. Communication about news and events here is often passed on through informal means such as Facebook groups, school or church. There are families who come here with a limited amount of time due to work contracts that only run a few years. They want to get connected right away and make the best use of their time here. They want to experience typical German cultural events such as the Christmas Markets, St. Martin’s processions, Rhine in Flammen and other happenings.
How many international English speakers are we talking about?
Kloeppel: Good question! I belong to many different Facebook groups for international people in Bonn. Altogether there are more than 10,000 people in these groups. Add to that, the United Nations alone employs more than 1,000 people. My guess is that the number of international, English speaking citizens in Bonn is in the five digits.
How is the communication between the steadfast Bonners who have been here a long time and the newcomers?
Kloeppel: Bonn citizens who have lived here a long time try hard to communicate as best they can with people from other countries. Many are very proud of their city, and very generous when it comes to showing people and sharing with people from other countries their hometown of Bonn. By the way, I also find important that people who are foreign guests in Bonn should also try to learn the German language and culture. It was only when when I learned the German language that I felt truly comfortable here.
What gaps does GA-English hope to fill?
Kloeppel: International readers should get a better inside look at life in Bonn and the surrounding region. There will be regular news stories, information about Bonn from A to Z, with many practical tips and useful information. Some examples: how does the public transportation system work? What are the holidays? When I have an emergency, which hospital should I go to? How do I rent a house or apartment? Where can I go for weekend or casual excursions? As well, readers can find out about cultural events, whether music, dance or something different. This brings old Bonners and new Bonners closer together as they can learn about and enjoy the same experiences. Of course, GA-English can’t carry the whole newspaper in English but hopefully it will be a door opener into life here in Bonn. Maybe it will even inspire newcomers to explore the German culture and learn to speak German.The Cellular Regenerator or Dermal Regenerator is a device on Star Trek capable of speeding up the healing process of living tissue by using light. A lot of the technology we now take for granted was actually inspired by Star Trek. And when i first saw the dermal regenerator on Star Trek i thought that this doesn’t seem too far fetched. Turns out I was quite right.
Fittingly It’s a technology developed by NASA that is now being adapted to do just that. Now it might only be a matter of time before every hospital has one, heck maybe even every household.
The need to care for a population with chronic wounds is a growing challenge that requires innovative approaches. Two approaches that specifically address the identified pathophysiological processes involved in wound healing are hyperbaric oxygen therapy and light therapy. Light Emitting Diodes (LED-technology), originally developed for NASA plant growth experiments in space, show promise for delivering light deep into tissues of the body to promote wound healing and human tissue growth. In this paper we review and present our new data of LED treatment on cells grown in culture, on ischemic and diabetic wounds in rat models, and on acute and chronic wounds in humans. Results include: in vitro increases of cell growth of 140-200% in mouse derived fibroblasts, rat derived osteoblasts, and rat derived skeletal muscle. Increases in growth of 155% -171% of normal human epithelial cells in vitro. Wound size decreases of up to 36% in conjunction with HBO in ischemic rat models. Improvement of greater than 40% in musculoskeletal training injuries in Navy SEAL team members. Decreased wound healing time by 50% of crew members aboard a U.S. Naval submarine. And finally, up to a 47% reduction in pain of children suffering from oral mucositis. We believe that the use of NASA Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) for light therapy will greatly enhance the natural wound healing process. This work is supported and managed through the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center – SBIR Program.
We’ve actually known that this is possible for some time, but first now are considerable advances in this technology being made, which is very promising.
Laser light and hyperbaric oxygen have been widely acclaimed to speed wound healing of ischemic, hypoxic, and infected wounds (Conlan, 1996). Lasers provide low energy stimulation of tissues which results in increased cellular activity during wound healing (Beauvoit, 1994, 1995). These activities include collagen production and angiogenesis (Abergel, 1987). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is currently standard therapy in the treatment of diabetic ulcers, graft failures, radiation necrosis, and other ischemic wounds, has also been shown to beneficially affect these processes. However, there are a variety of instances in which a patient who may benefit form hyperbaric oxygen is unable or unwilling to be treated in a high-pressure environment. These situations include lack of access to a facility equipped with hyperbaric oxygen, claustrophobia, and certain current or chronic medical conditions which would make hyperbaric oxygen therapy contraindicated. In these instances light therapy provides an option for the patient. Lasers, however, have some inherent characteristics which make there use in a clinical setting problematic, including limitations in wavelength capabilities and beam width. The combined wavelengths of the light for optimal wound healing cannot be efficiently produced, the size of wounds which may be treated is limited (due to laser production of a beam of light; a fact inconsistent with treating large areas), heat production from the laser light itself can actually damage tissue, and the pin-point beam of laser light can damage the eye. NASA developed LEDs offer an effective alternative to lasers. These diodes can be configured to produce multiple wavelengths, can be arranged in large, flat arrays (allowing treatment of large wounds), and produce no heat. It is also of importance to note that LED light therapy has been deemed a nonsignificant risk by the FDA; thus FDA approval for the use of LEDs in humans for light therapy has been obtained.
NASA LEDs stimulate the basic energy processes in the mitochondria (energy compartments) of each cell, particularly when near-infrared light is used to activate the wavelength sensitive constituents inside (chromophores, cytochrome systems)
SourceWA Education Department told to slash 800 full-time jobs within months
Updated
The WA Education Department is preparing to slash up to 800 full-time jobs by March next year, in a move unions claim will devastate the public school system.
The job losses are part of the WA Government's Voluntary Targeted Separation Scheme (VTSS) announced by Treasurer Ben Wyatt when he handed down his first budget in September.
The scheme aims to cull 3,000 public sector jobs by March 2018, and it has emerged 800 of those positions will come from non-frontline education roles — teachers and teacher assistants will not be affected.
State School Teachers' Union president Pat Byrne said with school-based personnel quarantined from the scheme, the job losses would come entirely from a pool of 1,200 non-school-based staff.
"This cut will decimate the department's school support services, central and regional offices, the Institute of Professional Learning, and have a serious impact upon WA schools," Ms Byrne said.
"Cuts to staff numbers of this magnitude are unfairly disproportionate and simply unsustainable.
"These moves will directly impact upon frontline schooling with principals and teachers being unable to access the support they need."
Minister won't rule out forced redundancies
Education Minister Sue Ellery yesterday issued a statement ruling out forced redundancies, but refused to repeat this assurance when questioned further today.
"We know so far after asking staff who are interested, nearly 300 [education staff] have said, 'yes they're interested,' but we have to work through whether any or all of those who've expressed an interest are the right ones to go," she said.
"I can understand that there's a lot of chatter about how we get there and a lot of uncertainty and I do want to reassure people and reassure staff that this is not about any forced redundancies."
Ms Ellery wouldn't say what would happen if her department fell short of reaching its redundancy target.
"That's hypothetical, we're not there yet," she said.
"I'm not going to second guess where we might end up at the end of March next year.
"All government agencies need to find savings within their existing budgets and, like other agencies, the Department of Education is currently working through the state's voluntary targeted separation scheme."
Cuts a 'body blow' for WA education
CPSU/CSA branch secretary Toni Walkington said her members had been betrayed.
"To say we are disappointed is an understatement. We are outraged," Ms Walkington said.
"This is a body blow for WA's education system and extremely disappointing from a government elected on a jobs platform.
"We already know that employees engaged on contract providing important services will be gone at the end of this year, raising serious questions about how services to schools will be delivered once the redundancy process is completed.
"The targeted staff provide a range of valued services for principals, teachers and students such as professional learning, support for students with special needs and for teachers and schools dealing with severe behaviour issues."
Before the election Labor promised there would be no forced redundancies under its watch, but last week Treasurer Ben Wyatt appeared to backtrack, stating he would not rule any contingencies "in or out" in the event of a shortfall.
Unions claimed some support staff had been pressured to apply for voluntary redundancies and told if they did not go willingly, they could be forced out.
"If 100 out of 800 people put up their hand that's fine, but that means that 700 people are still going to be targeted and they're going to be forced into redundancy," Ms Byrne said.
"That's not fine and in fact it's downright dishonest."
Topics: government-and-politics, state-parliament, schools, teachers, wa
First postedShaun R. Harper is a professor and executive director of the Race and Equity Center at the University of Southern California. His 12 books include "Scandals in College Sports."
I know Donald Trump. Though we have never met, I know him well.
At several moments throughout the campaign, I have felt that something about Trump was disturbingly familiar, but I couldn’t quite pinpoint it. After seeing the video of this presidential candidate and married man talking about kissing women, grabbing their vaginas and using his celebrity to get them to do whatever he wants, I now fully recognize the guy I have known since I was a teenage boy. The Trump on that video is a sexist, misogynistic, womanizing cheater who degrades and sometimes sexually assaults women. I know this man and so many like him. I wish I didn’t, yet I do, and I have for a long time.
Truth is, many men objectify women and say outrageously offensive things about their breasts, butts and other body parts in spaces we occupy with each other. In his response to the video’s release, Trump explained that his comments were “locker room banter.” His is a “boys will be boys” defense of sexism and the objectification of women, but he wasn’t incorrect that some men do, indeed, talk that way. And such talk is not confined to gyms and country club showers, but occurs too often in other spaces where men are among other men — in fraternity houses, on golf courses, in barbershops, at bars. I have even seen men stand aside and engage in this kind of talk about moms at kids’ birthday parties. Unfortunately, the kinds of words we heard from Trump are commonly spoken when men are with other men. Those who participate in this “banter” are rewarded. Those who choose not to engage, and especially guys who critique such statements, have their masculinities questioned and risk being placed on the outskirts of social acceptance.
[What happens when you ask women for their stories of assault? Thousands of replies.]
I have spent much of my career studying men and their masculinities. My research has put me in conversation with thousands of young men, mostly high school and college students. Many have told me that they learned to be Trumps in middle school, sometimes earlier. Media, parents, family members and peers shape how boys are taught to think and talk about women from a young age. While I am quite older than they are, I still understand and relate to what my research participants tell me. The horrifying things Trump said in that video are comments I’ve heard from male friends of mine since I was a teenager. As a young boy, I witnessed older men appraise women’s bodies and heard them say what they would do sexually (for example, “Look at the ass on that one” and “I would bang her all night long”). Truth is, I have known Trumps most of my life.
Despite their familiarity, the words I heard Trump speak in that video horrified me. Most disturbing was this: “You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p—y.”
Kissing or groping someone without consent is sexual assault. It’s popular for men to brag about similar behaviors. Young men I have interviewed say their male buddies often affirm and applaud such statements. Rarely does one man hold another accountable or raise his consciousness about the vile acts he’s describing. Details of sexual conquests — even unsuccessful attempts like Trump taking a married woman furniture shopping in hopes of having sex with her — are typically celebrated. And because bragging of this kind is common, men in my research confess that they don’t always recognize that they and their peers talk about women in deplorable ways. Hiding it behind the guise of “banter” or jokes only makes the problem worse by making it seemingly acceptable. It is unacceptable.
When men fail to challenge other men on troubling things they say about and do to women, we contribute to cultures that excuse sexual harassment, assault and other forms of gender violence. I know from my research that confronting male peers is difficult for a 14-year-old high school student-athlete who desperately wants his teammates to like and accept him. He needs his coach to step up and disrupt locker room banter. Perhaps Trump, who was 59 when the video was recorded, and Billy Bush, whose comments were also awful, never had a coach or anyone else confront their sexism. College men need opportunities in their classes and elsewhere on campus to see women differently, develop more progressive perspectives about women’s roles and worth in our society and undo ways they have been socialized to view and talk about women. Young men — not just those who spend time in locker rooms — need their dads, uncles, male teachers, ministers, rabbis and other adult men in their lives to teach them how to appreciate and talk about women.
But too many adult men fall short of this ourselves, especially when we are in “men’s only” spaces with guys whom we need to affirm our masculinities.
I am fairly certain that hearing the vulgar words Trump spoke over a decade ago will compel many more women to vote against him next month. Electing the first female president will not end sexism, though, any more than electing Barack Obama ended racism. To make progress, men need to do more than vote against Trump. We must stand up to him and call out others who say things similar to what we heard him say on the video. We have to stop excusing the disgusting degradation of girls and women as “locker room banter.” Feminists and courageous others have done much to contest exchanges like the one between Trump and Bush. But it takes men like me to hold our friends accountable for things they say and do to objectify women. We must challenge their values, language and actions.
I have known Trumps far too long — they are my friends, my fraternity brothers and so many other men with whom I routinely interact. I understand now, more than ever before, that letting them talk this way about women makes me just as sexist. By excusing their words and actions, I share some responsibility for rape, marital infidelity and other awful things that men do. I want other men to recognize this, too — not only because they have mothers, wives, sisters, aunts or daughters – but because sexism hurts all women and men in our society.
Read more:
In Brock Turner’s hometown, we’re raising kids who are never told no
Schools aren’t teaching enough about sexism
Making it harder to punish campus rapists won’t help stop campus rapeObamanomics: For five years now, President Obama has been telling Americans that we "have a long way to go" before the country will see a return to prosperity. Just how long does he expect us to wait?
Do a search of the White House website for "long way to go" and you come up with hundreds of hits, most of them involving President Obama or someone in his administration counseling patience on economic growth.
Now, it might have made sense in mid-2009 to say that recovery from a deep recession will take time. After all, the recovery had just begun.
But to still be saying it in March 2014?
Obama has now spent more than 1,870 days pleading with the public for forbearance on the economy, with no end in sight.
If you don't believe this, here's a small sampling (hat tip to the Minority Report blog ).
April 2009: "Although we have a long way to go before we can put this recession behind us, the gears of our economic engine do appear... to be slowly turning once again."
Nov. 2009: "The reason we're here today is because we just are not where we need to be yet. We've got a long way to go."
May 2010: "Now, we've got a long way to go before this recovery is felt in the lives of our neighbors and in all the communities that have lost so much ground in this recession and in years before."
July 2010: "We're not there yet. We've got a long way to go. But what is absolutely clear is we're moving in the right direction."
Jan. 2011: "We still have a long way to go, and my number one priority is to ensure we are doing everything we can to get the American people back to work."
Aug. 2011: "We still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do to give folks the economic security and opportunity they deserve."
April 2012: "Our economy has begun to turn a corner, but we've still got a long way to go."
June 2012: "What we're also seeing is that we have a long way to go."
July 2013: "We've got a long way to go. The long-term challenges facing the middle class are still very real."
Oct. 2013: "So we still have a long way to go. We've still got a lot of work to do, especially to rebuild the middle class."
March 2014: "We have made great progress, but we must do more to rebuild our economy on a new foundation for growth and prosperity."
Enough already!
In his latest budget message, Obama now admits: "After 4 years of economic growth... average wages have barely budged. Inequality has deepened. Upward mobility remains stalled.... too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by — let alone get ahead."
Fortunately, we don't have a very long way to go before the architect of all this is safely out of office.Posted on October 14, 2008 in Articles
The Article: The Anti-democratic nature of US capitalism is being exposed by Noam Chomsky. Bretton Woods was the system of global financial management set up at the end of the second World War to ensure the interests of capital did not smother wider social concerns in post-war democracies. It was hated by the US neoliberals – the very people who created the banking crisis writes Noam Chomsky.
The Text: THE SIMULTANEOUS unfolding of the US presidential campaign and unraveling of the financial markets presents one of those occasions where the political and economic systems starkly reveal their nature.
Passion about the campaign may not be universally shared but almost everybody can feel the anxiety from the foreclosure of a million homes, and concerns about jobs, savings and healthcare at risk.
The initial Bush proposals to deal with the crisis so reeked of totalitarianism that they were quickly modified. Under intense lobbyist pressure, they were reshaped as “a clear win for the largest institutions in the system... a way of dumping assets without having to fail or close”, as described by James Rickards, who negotiated the federal bailout for the hedge fund Long Term Capital Management in 1998, reminding us that we are treading familiar turf. The immediate origins of the current meltdown lie in the collapse of the housing bubble supervised by Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, which sustained the struggling economy through the Bush years by debt-based consumer spending along with borrowing from abroad. But the roots are deeper. In part they lie in the triumph of financial liberalisation in the past 30 years – that is, freeing the markets as much as possible from government regulation.
These steps predictably increased the frequency and depth of severe reversals, which now threaten to bring about the worst crisis since the Great Depression.
Also predictably, the narrow sectors that reaped enormous profits from liberalisation are calling for massive state intervention to rescue collapsing financial institutions.
Such interventionism is a regular feature of state capitalism, though the scale today is unusual. A study by international economists Winfried Ruigrok and Rob van Tulder 15 years ago found that at least 20 companies in the Fortune 100 would not have survived if they had not been saved by their respective governments, and that many of the rest gained substantially by demanding that governments “socialise their losses,” as in today’s taxpayer-financed bailout. Such government intervention “has been the rule rather than the exception over the past two centuries”, they conclude.
In a functioning democratic society, a political campaign would address such fundamental issues, looking into root causes and cures, and proposing the means by which people suffering the consequences can take effective control.
The financial market “underprices risk” and is “systematically inefficient”, as economists John Eatwell and Lance Taylor wrote a decade ago, warning of the extreme dangers of financial liberalisation and reviewing the substantial costs already incurred – and proposing solutions, which have been ignored. One factor is failure to calculate the costs to those who do not participate in transactions. These “externalities” can be huge. Ignoring systemic risk leads to more risk-taking than would take place in an efficient economy, even by the narrowest measures.
The task of financial institutions is to take risks and, if well-managed, |
the Greenwich Meridian.
Emergency Blow: When a sub rapidly blows all of the ballast out of the ballast tanks, resulting in a rapid ascent and an impressive display as the sub breaks the surface.
EMO: Electronic Materiel Officer, line officer or electronics CWO or LDO responsible for maintenance of the unit's radar, radio, and command and control equipment. Extra Man Onboard
Enlisted Puke: Derogatory term used sparingly and very privately among junior officers to describe a particularly worthless and disliked enlisted subordinate. The opposite of a highly respected and particularly valuable "Good Man." "Gadoozlefrank is an enlisted puke. Schmuckatelli is a Good Man."
ESWS: Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. (Often pronounced "E-swas.")
Eternal Patrol: The last and still on-going patrol of a submarine lost at sea. The subs and the sailors are on eternal patrol.
Evil Planet Notorg: Groton CT. (Notorg is Groton spelled backwards.)
Evolution: Any scheduled event.
EWO: Electronic Warfare Officer.
Eyeball liberty: Ability to see but not interact with something pleasurable, especially members of the opposite sex; For example, male sailors may joke that they have eyeball liberty ogling a boat full of women while exiting port, or in view a port itself where no actual liberty is allowed.
F [ edit ]
FAG: (1) Fighter Attack Guy: F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet pilot or naval flight officer ("NFO"). (2) Former Action Guy: Any SO, SB, EOD, ND, or FMF Recon Corpsman or any other parachute-qualified member who is in a position where they cannot maintain their jump quals, or goes into a different warfare community. (3) ("Submarine Service") Forward Area Gentleman: A crewman serving in the forward part of the submarine, a non-Nuke.
Family Gram: A 40-word personal communication from the family members of an Officer or Sailor on a Strategic Deterrent Patrol assigned to a Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) submarine. Each crewman was allocated a limited number of these messages during each 3-month patrol and they were severely censored to protect the submariner from news that could negatively effect the emotional condition of the recipient. All Family Grams were screened by the CO/XO upon receipt, prior to distribution to the individual. A similar system was used for surface ships.
Fan Room (see "X-Ray fitting"): (1) A room with a fan or blower, A "closed" space which is often utilized for general mischief away from watchful eyes.
F.A.W.C.U. (pronounced "fuck you") ( Submarine Service ): Focused After Watch Clean Up, usually between 1 to 2 hours of "Field Day" after every watch rotation.
): Focused After Watch Clean Up, usually between 1 to 2 hours of "Field Day" after every watch rotation. Fart sack: Canvas mattress cover (In cold conditions sailors sleep inside them for extra warmth.) or a dirt sailor's sleeping bag.
Fart Suit: Dry suit worn by aviators when flying over cold water. So called because of the rubber seals at the neck and wrists which keep water out in the event of water entry. These seals also keep all flatulence inside the suit, where it remains hot and mixes with ball sweat, pitstink, and various other foulness. This foul air is released by removing the suit, or more amusingly by pulling one of the wrist seals open while squatting and pointing at an unsuspecting individual, thus forcing all the stench in his direction.
Farting dust: Getting old.
Fashion Show: A series of individual personnel inspections conducted in each uniform the sailor owns. Usually this form of Extra Military Instruction is reserved for the most severe dirtbags who are either consistently failing uniform inspection or look like crap on a daily basis.
FASOTRAGRULANT/PAC: Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group, Atlantic and Pacific. Specialized training for Aviation Administration (AZ) and Aviation Anti Submarine Warfare Operators (AW) ratings.
Fast Cruise: Pretending to be underway while moored to a pier. Usually an all day event to get the crew ready for a real underway.
Fat Boy: Derogatory term for Amphibious Ships used by bridge officers on cruisers and destroyers. "We better slow down or the fat boys won't be able to keep up."
Fat boy program: FEP (see below).
FEP: Fitness Enhancement Program. Mandatory physical training regimen designed to return sailors to within physical readiness standards. Also refers to sailors who are enrolled in the program... Fat Enlisted People / Forced Exercise Program. See "Chub Club."
FF: Frigate, class of ship.
FFG: Frigate, Guided Missile, class of ship. also,"Forever Fucking Gone", A frigate which spends more time underway than in port.
Field Day: All hands clean-up. Usually lasts on a good day about 3-4 hours. (30 min of cleaning and 2-4 hours of fucking off.)
FIDO: Fuck It! Drive On! An expression used in the face of adversity, meaning that regardless of the setback you are going to continue anyway!
Field expedient ___: Anything that is made or done ad hoc in the field. E.g. a "field expedient Frappuccino" might be made by putting all the MRE coffees, sugars, and creamers into a 2-liter bottle and mixing.
Field Survey: The nominal survey taken before discarding a worn-out item "in the field" (often off the end of the pier) instead of submitting it for a proper, formal "survey" to determine if it should be redistributed or disposed of. (Sometimes, a field survey results in an item being handed down to a needier local unit, thrown off the fantail at sea, or sold ashore for booze money.)
F.I.I.G.M.O.: Fuck It, I Got My Orders: A refusal of a long or tough assignment near the end of a duty rotation. Also seen as a name badge at this time, so officers/petty officers will forget the wearer's real name.
FIG: An FFG is called a FIG.
Fighting gear: Eating utensils.
Five by five: nonstandard Radio speech indicating "loud and clear." Derived from an arcane method of reading signal strength.
Five and Dimes: A watch rotation where the sailor or watch team stand five hours of watch, then have ten hours off (to clean, perform maintenance, train, get qualified, conduct drills, take care of divisional business or their collateral duty, eat, shower, and occasionally sleep). This follows from a three-section watch rotation, and results in the sailor standing watch at a different time every day and night, repeating every three days.
Fish ( Submarine Service ): See Dolphins, above. Also "torpedo."
): See Dolphins, above. Also "torpedo." Fit Boss: Officer designated by the Commanding Officer to be responsible for the command Physical Readiness Program. Can be a collateral duty for a commissioned officer or more frequently, a civilian contractor's primary duty.
Flag, Flag Officer: Rear Admiral (Lower half) and higher ("flag" rank, because they are entitled to show a flag with an appropriate number of stars on their car, ship, building, etc.) A person with such a rank can also be referred to by number of stars they have; so a "three star" is a Vice Admiral, and so forth.
Flag Deck, Flag Bridge: Command level on large ships for Admirals if they are present, see Flag.
Flare to Land, Squat to Pee: Navy pilot's derisive description of aircraft landing technique used by (primarily) Air Force aviators; used in comparison to the nerve-wracking controlled crash that is the typical carrier landing.
Flattop: Aircraft carrier. Also the haircut worn by truly motivated sailors.
Flavor Extractor: Standard equipment in all Navy galleys.
Fleet Up: When a second in command takes his senior's place upon that senior's transfer, retirement, or other re-assignment.
Flight Deck Buzzard: Chicken (food).
Flight Line: The area on a ship or station where aircraft are made ready for flight. Also used as a prank on gullible new sailors, as in "Go get me 100 feet of flight line from the crash shack."
Float Check (also Flotation Testing, Float test): Throwing something overboard. "Take that and give it the float test"
Floating Bellhop: Derisive Army term for sailor.
Flying the Bravo: Menstruating; from the signal flag, which is all-red, one meaning of which is "I am discharging dangerous goods." Also used to indicate one who is in a bad mood "What's wrong with him?" "Oh, he's just flying the Bravo"
Flux capacitor: New members of a CVN's MMR will be sent to retrieve the "flux capacitor" from the OOW in the reactor control room. A flux capacitor ran the time machines, particularly in the car, in the Back To The Future movies...
Forecastle: (Pronounced "foc-sull") Forward most part of a ship.
forecastle zoo: Game of naming everything on the forecastle which has an animal name, e.g. "Bull nose," "Wildcat," "Pelican hook," "rat guard, rat lines," "deck Apes."
Foc's'le Follies: A gathering of all the aviators in the airwing in the carrier's foc's'le (forecastle). The CAG, ship's CO, and battle group admiral are also usually invited and present. The "official" reason for this event is to hand out awards to the top aviators. The most enjoyable parts are the "roll calls" from each squadron, and the skits that two or three of the squadrons perform. If the roll call or the skit fails to amuse the rest of the airwing, the offending squadron is booed and belittled mercilessly. Follies are held about every 6 to 8 weeks while on deployment.
FM: Frequency modulation, or Fucking Magic, sometimes referred to as the FM Principle
FNG: Fuckin' New Guy — self-explanatory
FOAD: Acronym, Fuck Off And Die, traditional response to MARF see below.
FOD: Foreign Object Damage. Caused by Foreign Object Debris, such as nuts, bolts, or anything that could be sucked into a jet engine, damaging it. At aviation commands, FOD can also describe a worthless individual, i.e. "If Airman Smith isn't in this shop in 5 minutes, write that piece of FOD up."
FOD Walk Down: A periodic, organized search on an aircraft carrier flight deck or hangar deck looking for debris that a jet engine might ingest. The OIC of this evolution is sometimes referred to as "the FOD-father."
Four (4) by Eight (8) Watch: The worst watch section to be in because one's first watch is 0400 to 0800, then one works one's duty station until 1600, followed by second watch 1600 to 2000, every day. Note, on some ships, the 0400-0800 is the 0400-0700, see "Seven to forever" below.
Fourballs: Midnight, entered as 0000 when writing logs; The "Fourballs watch" is midnight to 0600 when underway on a submarine, using a 3 person x 6 hour shift, 18 hour rotation "day" for each watchstation. Most engineering daily chores are performed on the 0000 watch, after which one is relieved at 0530 for chow, followed by drills at 0700, chow at 1200, followed by drill review at 1300, collateral duties at 1500, chow at 1700, followed by the 1800 watch; a very long "day" underwater — 24+ hours. The Sub equivalent to the Four by Eight watch mentioned above.
Freeball: To wear no skivvies.
Freeboard: On a ship or boat, this is the vertical distance between the waterline and the "gunwale" (see below).
F.R.E.D.: Fucked Up Ridiculous Educational Device: The computer that graded the teletype capabilities of those going through Radioman "A" School. So called because it used to grade based on keystrokes rather than words per minute.
Fresh Water Navy (derogatory) members of the US Coast Guard.
Fried Calamari: A sailor who has been electrocuted. This term derives from the nickname "squid", meaning "sailor."
Fried horse cock: Fried baloney.
Frocked: Advanced in rank or rate with no pay increase. See BOHICA.
Frog Hog: A female who hangs around Navy SEALs.
Fruit Salad: Numerous ribbons on a dress uniform.
FTN: Fuck the Navy (common epithet used when complaining about naval policies or regulations). Often scrawled on the walls of toilet stalls by sailors who have been assigned to clean it for a reason. Also can refer to "Free The Nukes," referring to sailors in the nuclear power field. Also refers to a mythical rate or ship type an "FTN Striker" says he/she is trying to get in (i.e. Fleet Tug-Nuclear, Fire Technician-Nuclear). Also stands for "Fun Time Navy" around higher chain of command to save face in front of said chain of command, yet "secretly" means "Fuck the Navy." In nuclear commands, can sometimes be seen as KEY when over-nuked (the last letters of the same three words are used.)
FTN Striker: Sailor whose stated goal/desire is to get discharged.
F.U.B.A.R.: Fouled up beyond all repair, Fucked up beyond all recognition. (Foobar)
F.U.B.I.J.A.R.: Fuck You Buddy, I'm Just A Reservist
F.U.B.I.S.: "Fuck You Bitch I'm Short": Slogan indicating lack of care since the one uttering it or wearing it will be leaving soon.
Fuhgowee's: Code word for ditching work and going home at lunch time, so as not to be suspected by PO1, Chiefs, etc (used in Newport News Drydock). Sailor 1: "What are you having for chow?" Sailor 2: "Fuhgowee burger sandwiches."
Fulmer: A sailor that desperately tries to win various games (ping pong, pool, etc.), but does not have the skills to compete successfully.
FUNGUS: Fuck You, New Guy, You Suck.
F.U.P.A. (pronounced "foop-uh"): Fat Upper Pelvic Area: The buldge that protrudes from ill-fitting pants worn by an overweight sailor, or by extension, the sailor him- or herself. (When describing a female, it may stand specifically for "Fat Upper Pussy Area"; when describing a male, "Fat Upper Penis Area.")
FuckingNuke ( always one word ): A sailor who is trained to operate the boat/ship nuclear power plant.
): A sailor who is trained to operate the boat/ship nuclear power plant. Fuckface: Any person or thing which has a face.
Fuck the mission, clean the position: Break out the swabs.
Fuck You, strong message follows: Seen on a numerical list of epithet substitutions (the unauthorized "Falcon Code," derived from the "Charlie Echo" code), especially transmitted over radio, which has to stay clean
[A] Full up round: Operational or ( of a person ) fit for duty, a fully operational projectile to be fired from a gun.
) fit for duty, a fully operational projectile to be fired from a gun. Fun Boss: Morale, Welfare and Recreation Officer.
F.U.R. ( derogatory ): Fucked Up Recruit: A boot camp recruit who constantly makes mistakes.
): Fucked Up Recruit: A boot camp recruit who constantly makes mistakes. Fuzznuts: A young sailor, one not long out of puberty.
G [ edit ]
Gaff Off: To ignore or purposely fail to show proper respect to someone more senior, such as by blowing off an assigned task, by not saluting, or by using improper forms of address.
Garden Party: A semi-formal social gathering requiring dress whites from the waist down and dress blues from the waist up.
Gator: Gator Navy vessel or sailor. Or, the ship's navigator.
Gator-Freighter: A ship used in amphibious warfare, or generally the transportation of Marines and their equipment, especially, a carrier-like vessel (amphibious assault ship) whose primary purpose is to put ass in the grass.
Gator Navy: The part of the surface Navy that exclusively supports embarked Marines and amphibious operations. Conducts operations near shore. Contrast with the "Blue Water" Navy or "CRU-DES." Note, an amphibious command ship may also coordinate supporting arms from non-gators, such as destroyers or aircraft.
Gator squares: Putting a square on a chart, often 3 miles by 3 miles, in the middle of a body of water, and steaming around in it for hours. Common overnight activity for ships underway. "Do we have any nighttime evolutions this underway?" "No, just gator squares."
Galley: Crews' mess, or dining area. Place where food is prepared for consumption.
GCE: Gross Conceptual Error, an instructor's comment on student work wherein the student has clearly misunderstood a concept.
Gear adrift: (1) ( said when there is ) loose or unsecured gear or equipment. (2) ( said of ) an incompetent sailor, one who has a screw loose. "Seaman Jones is gear adrift!"
) loose or unsecured gear or equipment. (2) ( ) an incompetent sailor, one who has a screw loose. "Seaman Jones is!" Geedunk: (1) Candy, or a place that sells candy (namely Gedunk bars). (2) Ice cream. From the Harold Teen comic strip. From the sound that a coin makes when put into a candy machine.
comic strip. From the sound that a coin makes when put into a candy machine. Geedunk-a-donk: A huge jiggly ass acquired from eating too much geedunk.
General Quarters (GQ): Set to prepare a ship for battle or during a serious casualty such as a main engineering space fire. Every sailor has an assigned duty station to be manned; the ship is set for maximum water tight integrity. On submarines, the term "Battle Stations" is used.
George: The juniormost officer onboard a surface ship. Also spelled "JORG", meaning Junior Officer Requiring Guidance, or "JORGE," meaning Junior Officer Requiring General Education.
George jobs: Nit-picking paperwork jobs given to George because no one else wants them. Examples: Morale Officer, Mess Officer.
Gerbil Alley: Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. The only guaranteed port visit during any deployment.
Gerbil Gym/Gerbil Room: Exercise space on board ship with treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical trainers — all pieces of equipment on which one performs motions that should move one to another place, though one remains in the same position like a gerbil on its wheel.
"GFO": Goat Fuck Operation.
Ghetto: Open-bay barracks, usually reserved for single sailors who are in transit or otherwise temporarily assigned there.
G.I. Shower: In boot camp the recruits are inspected frequently. If they are found to have soiled clothing as a result of not showering, several of the company will take the recruit into the barracks shower and scrub the persons bare skin with floor broom heads.
Gigged: Having suffered a point deduction in Boot Camp for an unsatisfactory personal, uniform, or bunk or locker inspection. Deduction is usually one to five points per infraction, depending on the severity.
Gig line: The visual line formed by uniform zipper, belt buckle, and buttoned shirt seam. Also used as another in-joke to send new sailors on a wild goose chase. See bulkhead remover.
. Girl Scout: A sailor with an inordinate amount of decorative patches on spotless poopysuit, or a sailor regarded as overly concerned with appearance; a dandy.
Girl Scout Training Aid: A complete pepperoni (a sausage roughly 1-2 inches wide and 2-3 feet long).
GITMO: Guantanamo Bay Naval Station.
Glow worm: A surface fleet name for nuclear machinist's mates.
Goat Fuck Operation: A situation in which every possible aspect fails or goes "sideways". Not a single aspect is successful.
Goat locker: A lounge or galley for the exclusive use of "Chiefs."
Goatrope: A confusing, disorganized situation often attributed to or marked by human error.
God, Junior-Grade ( derisive ): A superior.
): A superior. Gold Crow: A 12+ year PO1 with good behavior. Very rarely, a PO2 (due to changes in high year tenure), which leads the question of how somebody can screw up that badly and still call it "good" behavior.
Gold Locker: A locked cabinet in the Engineering Spaces wherein the most valuable, precise, fragile, or one-of-a-kind tools are kept. "I could have fixed it but I don't have a key to the Gold Locker."
Golden Dragon: A sailor who has crossed the Prime Meridian or the International Date Line into the Eastern Hemisphere.
Golden Shellback: A sailor who crossed the International Date Line and Equator at the same time.
Golden rivet: The rivet, made of gold, which according to folklore every ship is built containing one of.
Golden Screwjob: Used when a sailor has 12 years or more of honorable service, and, for reasons unknown, does not have his Gold rank device. A Golden Screwjob is never spoken of when the sailor in question is within hearing range.
The Goo: Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). When an aviator flies an aircraft into the clouds, can no longer see the earth or the horizon, and is dependent on instruments for navigation, he is said to be "in the goo." This is usually done intentionally when flying with an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan, but can lead to high "pucker factor" when it is done accidentally.
Good Deal ( Submarine Service ): When a sailor recieves an assignment that is viewed by others as better than theirs, despite the fact that this may not be the case.
): When a sailor recieves an assignment that is viewed by others as better than theirs, despite the fact that this may not be the case. Good Humor Man: Reference to the Summer White uniform. This is an all-white short sleeve uniform that makes the wearer look suspiciously like the ice cream man.
"Got your six": looking out for your or your buddy's ass.
Gouge: The inside scoop, the skinny, the low-down. Only the information one needs to know in a given situation, with nothing else to waste one's time. Some black shoes say "Live by the gouge, die by the gouge." Aviators say "Live by the gouge, excel by the gouge."
Grape:
(Submarine Service) Easy as pie, man. Examples: "This is fuckin' grape duty." "That was a fuckin' grape sig, you cocksuckin' asshole piece of shit." The latter example can be translated as "Bravo Zulu, shipmate!" (See Bravo Zulu, above. Also see "sig" below.) (Aviation Service) A sailor in an aviation fuels rating; so named because of the purple flight deck jersey such sailors wear. USMC: A person's head. "....then you smash his fucking grape!"
Great Mistakes: Common epithet used when complaining about RTC/NTC Great Lakes Illinois. Commonly used by old school sailors to complain about the quality of sailors after the Navy shutdown RTC San Diego and RTC Orlando. It was "mistake" to keep RTC Great Lakes, as the sailors have continually failed to measure up.
Green Scrubby: Mildly abrasive scouring pad. Also called a "Greeny Weeny." It's green, of course.
Green Side: The figurative side one is stationed at if one is stationed at a Marine Corps Command; contrasted with the "Blue Side" (Naval Command).
Grip and grin: A public affairs or awards event in which some member of the command must shake hands, smile, and have their photo taken.
Grog: Initially, this referred to the watered down rum ration given daily to sailors in the Royal Navy. Presently, in the USN, it refers to the alcoholic brew offered at social events like "dining-ins" and "dining-outs." Depending on the wardroom and in particular on the person preparing the grog, it may be pleasant and delicious or one of the most foul and disgusting beverages ever conceived.
Grok ( Nuke Field Geek ): To understand completely. From Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein (USNA '29).
): To understand completely. From by Robert A. Heinlein (USNA '29). Gronk ( Submarine Service ): To tighten a bolt or nut so much that the operator of a wrench or ratchet who tries to tighten it further or to loosen it sees stars. "Who the fuck gronked this nut on so tight?" See "Star tight."
): To tighten a bolt or nut so much that the operator of a wrench or ratchet who tries to tighten it further or to loosen it sees stars. "Who the fuck gronked this nut on so tight?" See "Star tight." Grotopotamus: The rather large ladies that graze around the Groton, CT area. Similar to a Bremerloe.
Grottweiler: See Grotopotamus.
Growler: A sound-powered phone, which is used like a telephone to call specific dialed in stations. It has a hand cranked dynamo which will produce a whirring sound on the other station, hence the "growl."
Ground-Pounder: Navy term for Marines, specifically infantry. Generally pejorative.
Gundeck: To juryrig something; falsifying or misrepresenting records and reports. Occasionally, gundecking (while technically wrong) may have to be done to satisfy an inspection of an otherwise nonessential or useless program. Gundecking any reports constitutes falsifying an official document, and can be punishable by Captain's Mast or even a Court-Martial, should the person gundecking be caught, which they almost always are.
Gun Boss: Weapons Department head.
Gunner: Term applied to and used in addressing (informally) an Ordnance Technician Surface Warrant Officer.
Guns: A sailor in the Gunner's Mate rating.
Gunwale: (pronounced "gunnel") The top of the hull portion of a ship that runs down the port and starboard sides.
Gut: The section of a port city or town where visiting sailors can find cheap booze, games of chance, ladies of the night, a bar brawl or two, and other entertainment. Often placed off limits by the captain.
Gyrene (derogatory, Navy term): A U.S. Marine; a "jarhead."
H [ edit ]
HAC: (pronounced "hack") Helicopter Aircraft Commander: the pilot in command of a helo.
Hack: Unofficial punishment where an officer is confined to his stateroom, usually during a port call. During this time, the officer is not allowed to leave the ship (all officers must have permission from the Commanding Officer, or his appointed delegate before debarking the ship at any port call, including their home port).
Hall of Fame Company: A recruit company during boot camp that maintains perfect marks through the entire eight-week evolution; harder to get than Color Company, the company that rates Hall of Fame Status is given three days special liberty, as well as the week prior to shipping out to the fleet as downtime. They are also given the privilege of wearing their winter blue, or summer white uniforms, or, as an alternate, their dress uniforms, for the week before shipping out to the fleet. Hall of Fame Companies are also given precedence above Color Company, and are given the honor to be the first recruit company to Pass in Review.
Haji: Racial epithet for a Middle Eastern individual, or anything Middle Eastern. For instance, pull-tab sodas are referred to as "Haji Sodas" due to their ubiquitous presence in the Fifth Fleet AOR.
Halfway-Night ( Submarine Service ): Party night on predetermined 1/2 length of boat’s patrol. Tenderloin and lobster, frozen, but good.
): Party night on predetermined 1/2 length of boat’s patrol. Tenderloin and lobster, frozen, but good. Happy Hour: The hour during which the ship is cleaned every day.
Hamster: Chicken cordon bleu, a common chow entree.
Haole: Pronounced "How-Lee" Hawaiian term for non-native. A dangerous thing for a sailor to be around Pearl Harbor, as some of the natives see them as easy targets for crime, especially when local law-enforcemenElmohamady excited for Premier League challenge after making Hull stay permanent
Egypt international Ahmed Elmohamady has completed his £2million move to Hull City.
The winger, who spent last season on loan at the KC Stadium, has signed a three year deal with The Tigers.
City boss Steve Bruce signed Elmohamady for Sunderland three summers ago from Egyptian club ENPPI. He went on to make 60 appearances for the Wearside club, scoring one goal.
Top flight awaits: Hull City have completed the £2million signing of winger Ahmed Elmohamady
Favourite: Steve Bruce bought Elmohamady for Sunderland before his move to Hull
But after failing to secure a place under Martin O’Neill, Bruce signed him for Hull’s promotion season back to the Premier League. Bruce also signed Ireland midfielder David Meyler from Sunderland permanently last season.
Elmohamady is one of a number of players Bruce is looking to add to his squad following their return to the top flight.
He told Hull’s official website, www.hullcityafc.net: 'It feels great to be here permanently, especially after what happened here last season. It was a great year and I thoroughly enjoyed playing for this club.
'Everything about it was great - the players, the staff, the fans - and I am delighted to be here again.
Loan ranger: Elmohamady played for Hull on a temporary deal fron Sunderland last season
'It’s going to be great to play in the Premier League again, especially with Hull City, and I am very much looking forward to the new season.
'Moving here was an easy decision to make. The fans are fantastic and it will be enjoyable to play in front of them in the Premier League.”
He added: 'The manager was the one who brought me over from Egypt to play for Sunderland and now he has brought me here. I really enjoy playing for him and I look forward to doing so again now.'‘€63m Cavani will leave Napoli’
By Football Italia staff
Edinson Cavani will quit Napoli at the end of the present campaign, believes agent Mino Raiola.
Although the latter doesn’t represent the Uruguayan international, he has told Il Mattino that the South American will leave the Stadio San Paolo.
“For now Cavani will stay, but I wouldn’t be so sure about that once June arrives,” Raiola commented to the newspaper.
Cavani signed a new contract with the Azzurri at the start of this season which included a €63m rescission clause.
“I’m sure there are clubs ready to pay that,” Raiola added. “But only five clubs in the world can afford to do that – Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain.
“You are intelligent enough on your own to understand where Cavani will play his football next season.”
Raiola was also asked for an opinion on Napoli ace Marek Hamsik, a player who he helps to represent – even if he’s not technically his agent.
“I think that Paris SG want Hamsik, but he’s a different case to Cavani,” Raiola noted. “Marek is a special guy, someone who has a life philosophy which I respect but don’t agree with.”
Hamsik has often made it clear that he is happy with life in Naples and with his football at Napoli.
“A player must never give up on bettering himself and finding new motivation. Who pledges loyalty is someone who doesn’t want to progress.
“Look at Francesco Totti, what sense is there in a champion playing all of his career for the same club?
“However, if Marek believes in what he is doing then it is right that he stays at Napoli.”YouTube uses Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP ( DASH ) for delivering videos and along with that, it serves the audio and video in two separate streams for some resolutions/formats. For instance, resolutions like 1080p and 480p are available only with separate audio and video streams.
youtube-dl, a popular command line tool for downloading videos from YouTube and other similar websites, was updated recently with proper support for DASH and separate audio and video streams: the tool can now automatically combine / merge / multiplex the audio and video formats offered by YouTube.
Here's an example via cynic.cc for downloading separate audio and video streams from YouTube and combining them automatically using youtube-dl (which uses ffmpeg or avconv under the hood):
"Now, if you want a 480p video in H.264 format, High profile, with 128kbps AAC audio (this used to be Youtube's format 35), you can specify format -f 135+140 on the command-line and it will download both the audio, the video and multiplex it with ffmpeg (or avconv, depending on what you have installed)."
And that's not all, a lot of other improvements and fixes are added daily to this command line download tool.
For instance, since our previous article about youtube-dl, the downloader received support for many websites, including: Vevo, 9gag, discovery.com, vk.com, southpark.de, myspace.com, vube.com, vesti.ru, stream.cz, ndr.de, onf.ca, Dropbox and so on, along with many fixes and improvements.
For those not familiar with youtube-dl, this command line video downloader not only supports hundreds of websites, but it can also extract the audio automatically, download playlists, download and embed subtitles into videos and more.
Install youtube-dl in Ubuntu
The latest youtube-dl 2014.02.17 is available in the Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr repository but it wasn't backported for older Ubuntu versions. Install it via Ubuntu Software Center or by using the following command:
sudo apt-get install youtube-dl
For older Ubuntu versions (though I also recommend it for Ubuntu 14.04), you can install youtube-dl by using the main WebUpd8 PPA.
As a reminder, I update youtube-dl from the WebUpd8 PPA a few times a week, so if YouTube or another website make changes that break it, run an update and it's very likely that a new youtube-dl version will be available, which fixes the issues.
To add the main WebUpd8 PPA and install youtube-dl in Ubuntu and derivatives (Linux Mint, elementary OS and so on), use the following commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8 sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install youtube-dl
Using youtube-dl to download videos
To download a video, simply use the following command:
youtube-dl http://VIDEO_URL
If you don't use any parameters, youtube-dl tries to download the best format. For YouTube, by default it downloads the best non-DASH format, which usually is 720p mp4 for YouTube.
How to download 1080p YouTube videos using youtube-dl
youtube-dl -F http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZ_D3ELwOQ
youtube-dl -F http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZ_D3ELwOQ [youtube] Setting language [youtube] 3JZ_D3ELwOQ: Downloading webpage [youtube] 3JZ_D3ELwOQ: Downloading video info webpage [youtube] 3JZ_D3ELwOQ: Extracting video information [info] Available formats for 3JZ_D3ELwOQ: format code extension resolution note 171 webm audio only DASH webm audio, audio@ 48k (worst) 140 m4a audio only DASH audio, audio@128k 160 mp4 192p DASH video 133 mp4 240p DASH video 134 mp4 360p DASH video 135 mp4 480p DASH video 136 mp4 720p DASH video 137 mp4 1080p DASH video 17 3gp 176x144 36 3gp 320x240 5 flv 400x240 43 webm 640x360 18 mp4 640x360 22 mp4 1280x720 (best)
2. To get the best video quality (1080p DASH - format "137") and best audio quality (DASH audio - format "140"), you must use the following command:
youtube-dl -f 137+140 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZ_D3ELwOQ
"-f 137+140" specifies the format: 137 (which means mp4 1080p as you can see above) for video and 140 (which means m4a audio@128k) for audio, as displayed by the command under step 1.
To see all the available options (extract audio, choose a different video quality, download a video playlist and many many other options), type the following commands in a terminal: "man youtube-dl" or "youtube-dl -h".
If you don't want to add our PPA, you can manually download the deb from the PPA by visiting THIS link.where "VIDEO_URL" is the url of the video you want to download.SoFirstly, get a list of formats. I'll use a random video link as an example below:This will list all the available formats:As you can see, for 1080p there's only a DASH video available (format 137) and two separate DASH audio files (formats 140 and 171).Ben Margot/Associated Press
Just when it looked like clarity had been brought to the NFL playoff picture, think again.
Thanks to the Denver Broncos' loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the AFC playoff picture is a jumbled mess. The AFC West is far from decided, and there's plenty of |
ing out towards the centre where the stand attaches. The stand offers full ergonomic flexibility; tilt (5° forwards, 20° backwards), height adjustment (120mm or 4.72 inches), swivel (60° left and right) and pivot (90° rotation clockwise into portrait). The overall build quality of the stand and product itself is certainly nice – it feels rather solid and well-built as you would hope given the asking price. For reference the stand base is ~240mm (9.45 inches) deep. At the lowest height, the bottom edge of the screen clears the desk by ~78mm (3.07 inches) with the top of the screen ~437mm (17.20 inches) above the desk.
The rear of the stand has an interesting angular design with matte black plastic used in favour of glossy plastics. This matte black plastic is used on the bezels and stand as well. The top and bottom areas of the screen, at the rear, are textured with a sort of triangle pattern. The stand attaches by 100 x 100mm VESA and can be removed by taking off the rubber screw covers and removing the screws beneath. An alternative VESA 100 stand or mount can then be used. There is a cable-tidy mechanism towards the bottom of the stand neck and an interesting arrangements of down-firing ports running up and then down the top sides of the bottom triangular area of the stand.
From left to right the ports are; DC power input (external power brick), 3.5mm headphone jack, DP 1.2 input, HDMI, USB 3.0 upstream, 2 USB 3.0 downstream ports, a service port (for ASUS service centre use) and a Kensington lock slot. Standard cables include; a DP cable, HDMI cable, USB 3.0 upstream cable, and a power cable (and adaptor). There are also 2 x 2W stereo speakers which provide basic sound output. The clarity of these speakers is fairly good for 2W stereo speakers, with fairly clear treble and mid-tones. The ‘bassiness’ is reasonable in places too – they provide a generally less ‘tinny’ sound than integrated monitor speakers usually do. Whilst they aren’t going to get the pulses of audiophiles racing, they are certainly useable. Good for those moments where you don’t want to don that pair of headphones you have connected to the PC, for whatever reason.
The monitor uses a very light matte screen surface, with a fairly low haze value. This sort of screen surface preserves vibrancy and clarity better than stronger/heavier matte surfaces. The screen surface does not have the strong ‘smeary’ layered grain of some matte surfaces, although there is a bit of a grainy look to white and other light colours. In other words, the surface texture is not as smooth as we’ve seen on some other ‘very light’ matte screen surfaces despite the low haze value. The low haze value does in itself still improve the potential vibrancy and overall clarity regardless of this.
The usual RGB (Red, Green and Blue) stripe subpixel layout is used by this monitor. This is the most common subpixel layout and the default expected by modern Operating Systems such as Microsoft Windows and Apple’s MacOS. There is therefore no need to worry about ‘fringing text’ as a Mac user or having to run ‘ClearType’ as a Windows user. Still, you may still want to run ‘ClearType’ to fine-tune according to preferences.
The PG27AQ features a number of ‘GameVisual’ presets; ‘Scenery Mode’, ‘Racing Mode’, ‘Cinema Mode’, ‘RTS/RPG Mode’, ‘FPS Mode’ and ‘sRGB Mode’. There are also a number of other interesting options in the OSD, including a ‘Blue Light Filter’, a ‘Low Blue Light’ setting which allows the user to set the monitor to one of 4 levels of increased blue light reduction. In the table below we look at a range of different settings in the OSD and how they affect the general image characteristics. Readings for the white point and central gamma are also provided, as recorded using a Spyder5ELITE colorimeter. We also list some of the OSD settings that are available with some of these settings but not others.
Our test system uses Windows 10 and an Nvidia GTX 970, with the monitor installed in its ‘plug and play’ state without any additional drivers or ICC profiles loaded. The screen was connected via DP 1.2. Note that DP 1.2 is required to run the monitor at its full native resolution, at 60Hz. It’s also required (alongside a compatible Nvidia GPU) to make use of G-SYNC. DP 1.1 is limited to 3840 x 2160 @30Hz, whilst HDMI (version 1.4 used by the monitor) is technically limited to 3840 x 2160 @30Hz – although 24Hz is actually listed in the resolution list instead. 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz is also supported via HDMI. Unless otherwise stated assume default settings were used, with the exception of our ‘Test Settings’ with certain changes made as explored later.
Out of the box this monitor was quite bright, although not overwhelmingly so as the brightness control in the OSD is set to ‘80’ rather than ‘100’. ASUS have included a number of ‘GameVisual’ presets rather than ‘Splendid’ modes with this monitor. By default it comes set to ‘Racing’ mode. Aside from the brightness and the colour temperature being a bit high and therefore things looking a bit ‘cool’ with a slight blue dominance, things are nicely balanced. We therefore used this as a basis for our ‘Test Settings’, but made a few tweaks as explored later. The image below shows gamma tracking under our ‘Test Settings’ – as you can see, things track very closely to the curve in this representation.
Gamma test settings Impressively, the gamma tracking clings tightly to the standard ‘2.2’ curve regardless of the ‘GameVisual’ preset used. These alternative ‘GameVisual’ modes are not really as desirable as the standard ‘Racing Mode’ default, though, as they selectively oversaturate colours or dull the image whilst locking off access to brightness and other basic image controls. In the ‘Racing Mode’ you also have access to ‘Blue Light Filter’ settings which are applied on top. These allow you to enforce various levels of blue light reduction and work as you’d hope – effectively reducing blue light output. As usual, they do this by lowering the blue colour channel to lower colour temperature and give the image a warmer appearance. The strongest setting (‘Level 4’) also enforces a lower brightness, which reduces overall light output including that in the blue region. You can manually adjust the brightness levels to suit for ‘Level 1’ to ‘Level 3’. Note that you can also adjust the colour channels after enforcing one of these ‘Blue Light Filter’ settings, but such changes can enhance or nullify the effect. If you then select one of the ‘Blue Light Filter’ settings again it will overwrite any changes you’ve made to the colour channels. ‘Level 0’ means the ‘Blue Light Filter’ setting is deactivated. Rather annoyingly, any manual adjustment you make to the colour channels are reset once any ‘Blue Light Filter’ setting is used. So you can’t activate one of these settings for relaxing evening viewing and then quickly return to your manual adjustments for a 6500K white point (or whatever you’re targeting) in the daytime. You’d have to dial in your manual adjustments again. These settings are still nice to have, but having them as a separate thing that doesn’t overwrite colour channel adjustments would have been preferable.
Test Settings For our ‘Test Settings’, we used the factory default ‘Racing Mode’ but significantly reduced the brightness. We also slightly reduced the green and blue colour channels to counteract the cool tint (without introducing a green tint instead). The settings below were suitable for our unit and should be used as a guide, but be aware that individual units vary. Any settings not mentioned here were left at default. We’ve also included the ‘OD’ setting used in the review, just for reference.
Brightness= 53 (according to preferences and lighting) R= 100 G= 98 B= 97 OD= OFF
Contrast and brightness Contrast ratios We used a highly accurate light meter (Konica Minolta CS-200) to measure the luminance of white and black using various monitor settings. From these readings static contrast ratios were calculated, as shown in the table below. Values for the highest white luminance, lowest black luminance and highest contrast ratio recorded are highlighted in blue. The results under our ‘Test Settings’ are highlighted in black. With the exception of the ‘Test Settings’, assume anything not mentioned was left at default. Monitor Settings White luminance (cd/m²) Black luminance (cd/m²) Contrast ratio (x:1) 100% brightness 263 0.23 1143 80% brightness (Factory Defaults) 223 0.20 1115 60% brightness 183 0.16 1144 40% brightness 138 0.12 1150 20% brightness 90 0.08 1125 0% brightness 37 0.03 1233 RTS/RPG Mode 225 0.20 1125 FPS Mode 224 0.20 1120 Game 279 0.25 1116 sRGB Mode 107 0.10 1070 Blue Light Filter = Level 1 221 0.19 1163 Blue Light Filter = Level 2 219 0.19 1153 Blue Light Filter = Level 3 219 0.19 1153 Blue Light Filter = Level 4 77 0.07 1100 Test Settings 160 0.15 1067
The PG27AQ produced an average static contrast of 1152:1 with only brightness adjusted, which is good. Impressively, it maintained strong contrast with all of the setting combinations we tested. Even the ‘Blue Light Filter’ settings, which do usually reduce contrast, had a negligible effect here. The adjustment made to our test settings dropped the contrast slightly to a still respectable 1070:1. The lowest white luminance recorded on this table was a fairly low 37cd/m² whilst the maximum was 263 cd/m², falling a bit short of the specified 300 cd/m². Very few users would require a brightness anywhere near this high, though. The luminance adjustment range for the monitor based on these figures is 226 cd/m².
PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)
The monitor uses DC (Direct Current) and does not use PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) at any brightness level. The backlight is therefore ‘flicker-free’, as advertised, which will come as welcome news to those sensitive to flickering or other side-effects of PWM usage such as PWM artifacts.
Luminance uniformity15 Horror Movies Only Adults Will Understand
Decades ago, most horror movies were intended for grown-ups. Movies like 1973’s The Exorcist and 1968’s Rosemary’s Baby considered far too terrifying and too sophisticated for younger audiences. The Exorcist was not a gory exploitation movie by any stretch, but a terrifying look into what frightens an adult woman (seeing her child decay in the hands of Heaven-knows-what), and the despair that flagging faith can bring. Rosemary’s Baby is about the fear a not-all-that-young couple goes through when trying to conceive a child. These are films that are about fear, loss, family, faith, and other concerns that your average teenager may not be able to relate to.
Thanks to a solid 15 years or so of slasher movies, however, horror movies soon moved widely into the purview of teen audiences. Slasher movies – a genre which has its own crown jewels as well as its turkeys – were more about the immediate, visceral fear of being stalked by a killer with a knife. These were not earnest examinations of adult fears like loss of family, loss of a job, the crumbling of a friendship, losing one’s identity. They were playful death fantasies.
The most powerful horror movies are, one might agree, the ones that deal with sophisticated adult fears. It’s actually easy to shake off the fright one encounters in slasher movies, because we so rarely find ourselves in a position where we have to outrun a zombie with a machete. This is a simple, sensual fear masked in fantasy. The horror movies that really seek to rattle, to unnerve, to unravel the psyche, are the ones that look at adult life, look at what’s valuable to adults, and then proceed to destroy it. Horror movies for adults are not about blood or gore, they are about unmasking anxiety. And not necessarily exorcizing it.
CraveOnline has delved through the pits of despair and produced the following list of excellent – and emotionally harrowing – horror movies for adults.
A note to teens: You’ll understand these fears someday.
Slideshow: 15 Horror Movies for Adults
Witney Seibold is a contributor to the CraveOnline Film Channel, and co-host of The B-Movies Podcast. Follow him on “Twitter” at @WitneySeibold, where he is slowly losing his mind.I noted to myself recently that I haven't done any reviews of ukulele cases on Got A Ukulele. Seems strange. I have talked about them but never reviewed. As such it was timely that the nice people at Tom and Will got in touch and asked me to take a look at their 66UK range of soft gig bags for the ukulele.
The Tom and Will 66UKC concert ukulele gig bag
nice strong zips and handle
two nice, shaped and padded shoulder straps
This range of cases comes in different sizes (I am looking here at the concert model) and they start at £19.99 for the Soprano so pretty good value. They also come in a couple of colour styles, Carbon (like this one) and black.A soft shell case is perhaps the most commonly bought ukulele case on account of their prices, but I do find the quality of some of them out there rather shocking (with minimal padding, cheap stitching and zips etc). As such I will say from the outset that this one is a breath of fresh air. From the moment I took it out of the box you can see that it exudes quality.Now, a soft shell case will only, however, provide so much protection. It won't stand up to crushing (being trodden on) like a hard shell case and should only be relied on for minor falls and knocks. That said, for the majority of situations (going to uke practice, school, college, work, with your ukulele - ie where it is unlikely to be dropped off a balcony or sat on) then a soft shell case is perfectly adequate so long as you get one that is durable.The Tom and Will case is certainly that - made of a thick robust nylon fabric and a claimed 20mm of padding all around. Around the edges of the case are rubberised scuff strips which will also help it stand up to wear and tear.Zips and handles are an area where many cheap cases fall down - broken zip often then means whole new case. Nice to see some good quality on these cases though - nice chunky zips (with Tom and Will branding on the tags) and a well stitched strong handle too. Then over on to the back and another nice touch - straps!Again, this is an area where some uke cases let you down - with thin uncomfortable straps. On this model you get two, shaped and extremely well padded straps which make it really comfortable to carry an instrument with. And, as there are two, you can wear it like a rucksack - perfect for cycling. The straps also have quick release clips if you want to take them off.Other little features include a nice tough name tag (in case you ever leave it somewhere) and the Tom and Will logo stitched into the top of the case. In addition there is an accessory pocket for tuner, strings etc on the front of the bag.Inside is plush in feel and nice and soft. The padding is nice and thick although it is missing a couple of things that I would have liked to have seen on a 'premium' soft gig bag. First, it has no neck strap used to secure the instrument inside for extra security. Second, the padding in the neck and headstock area could be improved in my view - and I have seen other premium gig bags include some side bolsters in this area and around the top to avoid snapping incidents on this delicate area of the ukulele.That said, with a ukulele in the case it all feels secure, and if you are really that concerned about damage, then perhaps a hard case is for you. As a gig bag goes though, I think this is really rather nice and well made and would give it my recommendation.The cases are available direct from Tom and Will as well as a range of good music stores.Nirvana From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah on 2LP
Originally issued in 1996, From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah features 16 live Nirvana songs recorded between 1989 and 1994, from Seattle, WA to Springfield, MA, from London to Amsterdam, in venues ranging from small American clubs to the Reading Festival in England. "It's an aggressive record," said Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, who along with drummer Dave Grohl listened to more than a hundred hours of tapes to select the tracks. "Hopefully people who didn't get to see us live will get a flavor of what the band was all about. Most of the songs we chose were ones we played every night."
If the previous live Nirvana live album, MTV Unplugged in New York (1994) documented the acoustic side of the band - "Nirvana lite," as Novoselic puts it - then From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah is "Nirvana raw." Two tracks on the album pre-date the band's breakthrough album Nevermind as "Polly" and "Breed" were both recorded in London in December 1989. The majority, however, come from the band's world tour in the winter of 1991 including "Drain You," "Aneurysm," and "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Sources for the tracks range from soundboard reference cassettes to 24-track recordings. The album was mixed by Andy Wallace.The maker of Taser stun guns is advising police officers to avoid shooting suspects in the chest with the 50,000-volt weapon, saying that it could pose an extremely low risk of an "adverse cardiac event." The advisory, issued in an Oct. 12 training bulletin, is the first time that Taser International has suggested there is any risk of a cardiac arrest related to the discharge of its stun gun. But Taser officials said Tuesday that the bulletin does not state that Tasers can cause cardiac arrest. They said the advisory means only that law-enforcement agencies can avoid controversy over the subject if their officers aim at areas other than the chest. The recommendation could raise questions about whether police officers will find it more difficult to accurately direct the probes emitted by a Taser gun at a recommended body area in order to subdue a suspect. Taser officials say the change won't hinder officers' ability to use Tasers. In a memo accompanying the bulletin, Taser officials point out that officers can still shoot the guns at a suspect's chest, if needed. Police departments across the United States and in Canada and Australia reacted immediately to the bulletin, with some ordering officers to follow Taser's instructions and begin aiming at the abdomen, legs or back of a suspect. Officials with the Phoenix Police Department, one of the first in the country to arm all its officers with Tasers, said Tuesday that the new guidelines are being adopted by trainers who are reviewing departmental policy for possible changes. Critics, including civil-rights lawyers and human-rights advocates, called the training bulletin an admission by Taser that its guns could cause cardiac arrest. They called it a stunning reversal for the company, which for years has maintained that the gun was incapable of inducing a cardiac arrest. Scottsdale-based Taser insisted that the revision admitted no risk of cardiac arrest and served only as risk-management advice for law enforcement. In the past, Taser has cautioned that use of its stun gun involves risk inherent in police-suspect conflicts, including the risk that suspects fall after being struck by a Taser. "Taser has long stood by the fact that our technology is not risk-free and is often used during violent and dangerous confrontations," Taser Vice President Steve Tuttle said in an e-mail. "We have not stated that the Taser causes (cardiac) events in this bulletin, only that the refined target zones avoid any potential controversy on this topic." Taser's training bulletin states that "the risk of an adverse cardiac event related to a Taser... discharge is deemed to be extremely low." However, the bulletin says, it is impossible to predict human reactions when a combination of drug use or underlying cardiac or other medical conditions are involved. "Should sudden cardiac arrest occur in a scenario involving a Taser discharge to the chest area, it would place the law-enforcement agency, the officer and Taser International in the difficult situation of trying to ascertain what role, if any, the Taser... could have played," the bulletin says. The bulletin recommends that when aiming at the front of a suspect, the best target for officers is the major muscles of the pelvic area or thigh region. "Back shots remain the preferred area when practical," it says. For years, Taser officials have said in interviews, court cases and government hearings that the stun gun is incapable of inducing ventricular fibrillation, the chaotic heart rhythm characteristic of a heart attack. The guns are used by more than 12,000 police agencies across the country, including every major law-enforcement agency in the Valley. Many authorities credit the weapon with preventing deaths and injuries to officers and suspects. Advocacy groups such as Amnesty International allege that Taser guns are often used by police as a compliance tool on unarmed individuals who pose no deadly threat, who are drunk or on drugs and simply quarrel with officers. Mark Silverstein, legal director of the Colorado American Civil Liberties Union, who has tracked Taser issues for years, said the bulletin means that police departments should now be asking questions about liability and reconsider how the stun gun is used. "This is further evidence that law-enforcement agencies need to stop and ask if they have been sold a bill of goods," he said. "This (training) bulletin confirms what critics have said for years: that Taser has overstated its safety claims.... (It) has to be read as if Tasers can cause cardiac arrest." Since 2001, there have been more than 400 deaths following police Taser strikes in the United States and 26 in Canada. Medical examiners have ruled that a Taser was a cause, contributing factor or could not be ruled out in more than 30 of those deaths. The training bulletin is drawing significant attention in Canada, where controversy erupted after the 2007 death of a Polish immigrant at Vancouver International Airport. The man stopped breathing after being shocked five times by Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers. A Canadian government investigation in July concluded that Taser stun guns can cause death, spurring law-enforcement agencies across the country to put severe new restrictions on how and when police there can use the weapons. In view of Taser's bulletin, the Mounties revised policies to urge officers to avoid firing at suspects' chests. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read moreAfter the Manchester terror attack in which 22 people were killed and 59 injured, a Texas sheriff urged the citizens under his watch to “pay attention” to what is happening in Europe, because the ideology behind the threat to the continent is active in the United States as well.
While many citizens of Denton County, north of Dallas, expressed appreciation for the warning by Sheriff Tracy Murphree, an Islamic group that regards itself as “moderate,” casting its role in the U.S. as a defender of the civil rights of Muslims, expressed outrage, noted author Robert Spencer on his Jihad Watch blog.
The Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement calling on Murphree “to reaffirm his pledge, and that of his officers, to serve and protect all Denton County residents regardless of their faith, ethnicity or national origin.”
Read moreCan Dating App Hinge Make You Talk, Not Swipe?
toggle caption Hinge
There is a startup in the love industry that promised to help people find real relationships — not just sex. But, as with so many things in love, it didn't go according to plan. The app became yet another hookup app. Today, after 10 months of soul-searching, the startup is making a very public commitment to change.
It's called Hinge, and it's based in Manhattan's Flatiron District. Back in January, it was coming to grips with a crisis.
"[People] started saying things — on dating apps, on Twitter, everywhere — that we would never say to someone in person," says Katie Hunt. "Walking up to a woman in street and asking her to show you one of their boobs. [It] doesn't happen."
It doesn't happen in real life. It does online.
Hunt is part of the company's leadership team, giving a presentation in a recent all-staff meeting. Hinge conducted market research and discovered some very telling norms. For example, 67 percent of women have received a sexually explicit photo or message on Tinder — the far more famous and infamous competitor.
But it's not just Tinder. It's Hinge too. And it's not just men behaving badly. It's women too. Hunt reads an actual conversation that happened on Hinge:
A man who just got out of the military matches with a woman, and takes the time to send this message: "I got out as staff sergeant, E-6, if you know what the military ranks are at all."
Fair start. She doesn't know, so he explains it means mid-level. And her response — which she'd never say face-to-face — is this: "OK, so this is going to sound absolutely terrible — and feel free to judge me or tell me I'm a terrible person — but I don't date people who don't have grad degrees."
Hunt is horrified: "This person just served our military! He just got home!" The room breaks out into awkward laughter.
The point is not the woman should have liked the guy. She can like who she wants. The point is: Hinge, which first launched in 2013 and has more than $20 million in funding, promised to be different — a place where people treat each other with basic human kindness. The app was built on top of Facebook. You'd meet the friends of your friends (so community is baked in). When you matched with someone, you'd get each other's real full names (not aliases).
I am trying to create a service for people who are interested in finding a relationship, find a relationship. I'm not trying to create an addictive game that people spend all day on.
That wasn't enough.
"Essentially we realized at a certain point that the path we were on was pretty unsustainable," says Hinge CEO Justin McLeod.
By unsustainable, he meant as a business. Too many users were playing games (Swipe right to see who likes me! Whose pants can I get into?!). And if games were the point, Hinge could never be No. 1. The app had 2.3 million installs. Tinder was processing more than 1 billion swipes per day.
"We were just going to lose out essentially to Tinder over time as it swallowed us because we weren't different enough and our product wasn't living up to our vision," the 32-year-old CEO admits.
McLeod decided to reboot. He let go of half his staff. He let the original Hinge app fall apart (the reviews in the app stores are terrible because of it) and he took the startup back into stealth mode.
NPR got to watch the process up close throughout this year — dropping in and out of the office, sitting in on meetings with users, investors, a Madison Avenue ad agency.
McLeod is finally ready to release the new Hinge app — which is different from competitors.
"On current apps," he explains, "you come in and it's swipe right on this person, swipe left on this person. And it's always about your next connection. It's not about your existing connection."
When you open Hinge, you land in an unusual place: the people with whom you've already matched. By design, the app is encouraging you to converse — not swipe.
And if you want to meet new people, that's OK. "You get dropped right into people's stories, which is a series of questions that they've answered and photos that they've posted," McLeod says.
This is interesting. Hinge created an in-house lab, with thousands of users, to test alternatives to swiping. The startup ended up with an interface that looks and feels a lot like Instagram. You don't like the person. You like or comment on specific things in that person's story.
The company is also making users decide about one person before moving on to the next. And the algorithms are keeping track of people who like incessantly but don't converse. Those people get dinged, shown less to others.
"I am trying to create a service for people who are interested in finding a relationship find a relationship," McLeod says. "I'm not trying to create an addictive game that people spend all day on."
The cost of the new Hinge is $7 a month — not free! It's too soon to tell if it'll work. Today is just the product launch.
Hinge has made a commitment to NPR — to share internal data in the coming weeks, so we can see if they're succeeding, or failing. We'll be back with updates.Economic Snapshot for February 11, 2009
Federal contract jobs leave one-in-five in poverty
by Kathryn Edwards
The federal contract workforce—government workers paid with federal dollars but employed by private business—is swelling in size. Although the number of directly employed federal workers has remained steady at 2.7 million since 2000,1 federal contract workers have grown from 1.4 million to 2.0 million.2
The cause for this increase is the federal government’s expanded outsourcing of its operations. Federal contract spending—the money federal agencies pay to private businesses for goods and services—has increased 69% (to $415 billion) between FY 2000 and FY 2006 (the last year of available data).3 This spending on outsourcing constituted 16% of all federal outlays.4
This is a troubling development. An estimated 20% of federal contract workers make a wage below the poverty threshold.5 In addition, these workers are less likely to have some form of health care or retirement benefits. In short, the United States essentially has two federal workforces: one to which the government is accountable, and one to which it is not.
Contracting is done under the mantra of greater efficiency, but much of this “cost-saving” comes from the willingness and ability of private contractors to push down wages and benefits. In short, the government is spending more money than ever that encourages lower wage jobs.
For more information on this issue, see also the EPI Issue Brief, Outsourcing poverty: Federal contracting pushes down wages and benefits.
Notes
1. Employment, Hours, and Earning survey from the Current Employment Statistics of BLS, includes federal postal workers.
2. The Federal government does not collect data on federal contract workers. This number is an estimate using the General Services Administration’s Federal Procurement Data System and the Employment Requirements Matrix from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3. Spending is in real terms, adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers Research Series (CPI-URS).
4. Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2006, Office of Management and Budget.
5. The Federal Poverty Threshold is determined yearly by the U.S. Census Bureau Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division.For Rosh Hashana, A Matzo Ball Soup By Way Of Mexico
Enlarge this image toggle caption Copyright Ellen Silverman Copyright Ellen Silverman
This is a big weekend for matzo ball soup.
Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, starts Sunday night, and chef Pati Jinich wants all the matzo-ball makers out there to understand: The soup doesn't care whether you prefer floaters or sinkers.
"It turns out that matzo balls are insanely capricious," Jinich says. "One Friday, they're like, you can have me fluffy. And the other week is like, this is what you'll get."
Matzo ball soup is a classic recipe straight from Eastern Europe — typically chicken stock, root vegetables and dumplings made from the crumbs of unleavened bread.
But the recipe that Jinich serves at her home near Washington, D.C., took a detour. Like her Eastern European, Jewish grandparents, it skipped Ellis Island and reached the New World through Mexico. Which is why Jinich's matzo ball soup sits on a bed of steamed mushrooms, jalapeños and onions. It's "not traditional, but it is a recipe my grandmother used to make in Mexico," she says.
Flipping through Jinich's cookbook, Mexican Today, it's easy to see these recipes as something other than purely Mexican. There are variations on pizza, mac and cheese and this matzo ball soup.
Her family has done this for generations: integrating its culinary roots with the place it lives now.
When her paternal grandmother, Esther Morgenstern, moved to Mexico from Poland in the 1920s, traditional gefilte fish got the Vera Cruz treatment with red sauce, capers and pickled chiles.
Chicharrones were off limits — crispy pig skin isn't kosher. Instead, for Friday night Shabbat dinner, she made gribenes — Yiddish for "crispy chicken skin."
"So instead of doing tacos with corn tortillas with guacamole and pork rind, [my grandmother] would do corn tortillas with guacamole and gribenes. So that was the Shabbat chicharron!" Jinich recalls.
And for the Jewish new year, Jinich's maternal grandmother, Lotte Gross — who immigrated to Mexico from Austria in the 1940s — made this reinvented matzo ball soup.
"She came from Austria, and there they have a lot of mushroom dishes," Jinich explains. "And in Mexico in the rainy season, you get wild kinds of mushrooms, clouds and birds. The shapes are insane — they're blue and yellow. She'd choose different kinds of mushrooms and then cook them with jalapeño, onion and garlic."
Mushrooms and jalapeños aren't the only surprises in this soup. When Jinich mixes the matzo balls, she adds freshly grated nutmeg.
"Nutmeg — when you use it for savory foods, it makes the other elements of that dish shine a little bit more," Jinich says. "It makes the sweetness of the matzo meal come out."
Another surprise? Toasted sesame oil. It adds a nutty, toasted flavor to Jinich's matzo ball soup.
Finally, she shares a trick to help the matzo balls float — sparkling water. "It keeps it light and fluffy," she says.
The resulting soup is hearty, earthy. The jalapeños add a touch of heat; the matzo meal and sesame oil give it a nutty sweetness. The taste, I tell her, is familiar but different — like a taste of home, but a home that has been remodeled.
At that, Jinich laughs. "It's not overpowering, that's what I love," she says. "And it's still very homey. It's still something you'd want to have if you have a cold tonight."
Matzo Balls With Mushrooms And Jalapeños In Broth
(Bolas de Matza con hongos y chiles)
Serves 6 to 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Make ahead: The soup can be made up to 3 days ahead, covered, and refrigerated.
This is a Mexican rendition of matzo ball soup, with jalapeños sweated along with mushrooms, adding subtle heat to the broth. The mushroom base is easy to make. It's a wonderful way to dress up chicken soup for the holidays or for entertaining. My maternal grandmother used to season her matzo balls with nutmeg and a bit of parsley. I add a splash of toasted sesame oil, too. Her secret ingredient for making them fluffy was a dash of sparkling water. She used mushrooms of all sorts in the soup, but she was moderate in her use of chiles. In honor of my late grandfather, who was obsessed with chiles, I add a lot more to this soup than she would have.
Ingredients:
1 cup matzo ball mix (or two 2-ounce packages)
2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Kosher or sea salt
4 large eggs
8 tablespoons canola or safflower oil
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons sparkling water
1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 jalapeño chiles, finely chopped (seeded if desired) or to taste
8 ounces white and/or baby bella (cremini) mushrooms, trimmed, cleaned and thinly sliced
8 cups chicken broth, homemade or store-bought
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the matzo ball mix, parsley, nutmeg, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. In another small bowl, lightly beat the eggs with 6 tablespoons of the canola oil and the sesame oil. Fold the beaten eggs into the matzo ball mixture with a rubber spatula. Add the sparkling water and mix until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and chiles and cook, stirring, for 4 to 5 minutes, until they have softened a bit. Stir in the mushrooms and 3/4 teaspoon salt, cover, and steam the mushrooms for 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the lid and cook uncovered until the liquid in the pot evaporates. Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Meanwhile, when ready to |
access to Website A (access scopes can be introduced here)
is directed to and required to login and specifically grant access to (access scopes can be introduced here) If granted, the user is directed back to Website A with a request token that is then exchanged for an access token
The resulting access token can then be used for requests to data on Website B that the user has explicitly granted access to without Website A knowing the password of the user or having access other data that may be out of scope. Access tokens automatically expire after a short amount of time to improve security.
OAuth 2.0 introduces refresh tokens which allow for a much more complex authorization implementation. A common refresh token scenario allows Website A to make a request for a new access token on behalf of the user to Website B without the user having to re-authorize with a username and password once the original access token expires.
OAuth also supports less complicated methods of authentication for simple client to server communication while still retaining the familiar access token retrieval process.
OAuth Pros:
A more secure authorization implementation (tokens rather than passwords)
More convenient to end users depending on the scenario
Ability to introduce access scopes for complex implementations
OAuth Cons:
Harder to setup and maintain (third party dependencies, access portal)
Expensive to operate depending on implementation (dedicated auth server)
Not stateless — API “session cookies” (a privacy concern in some cases)
The best way to implement API authorization is completely dependent on your personal preference, your unique application environment, and potentially your audience. You can find success with either one and I urge you to research other methods not discussed in this post as well to see what works best for you. (digest auth, HMAC)
Versioning
API versioning is an important but often overlooked topic — especially with less popular services. The basic idea of a RESTful API is to allow others to implement your application into an outside environment — which means an API is (in some ways) a dependency.
If we start thinking about API design this way, we can arrive at the following guideline: once a significant release has been made, significant changes to that release should stop. Obviously bug fixes and security patches may still be required, but new functionality, endpoints, and features should be left for a release under a newer version.
Luckily RESTful design already has us covered with the API version being declared in the base URI. (/v1) This allows people to integrate with a specific version and not worry that one day their implementation is going to break because you decided to remove a core feature later that year.
Similarly, this allows you to develop newer versions of your API without the fear that you may be breaking someones integration. Your new version can be changed in any way you want because it doesn’t force existing integrations to use it.
This empowers users and lets them decide when to migrate to a newer version of your API. (rather than forcing them)
Documentation
APIs can only be as good as their documentation allows them to be. While RESTful design tries to conform to common sense standards, it still relies on solid documentation to be successful.
Rather than write a novel on all the different ways you can approach this, I’ll provide you with a few links to some of my favorite examples. (pay attention to how they personalize the docs— assuming you’re logged in)
Putting things to REST
(horrible attempt at a pun, I’m so sorry)
Ultimately every RESTful API is going to be unique and will depend on a number of different factors. The choices you make with yours are entirely up to you. Hopefully I’ve provided you with some new perspective and ways to think about APIs.
If you take anything away from this piece let it be this: always design, develop, and deploy with your audience in mind.Aurora Australis icebreaker runs aground near Mawson Station
Updated
Australia's icebreaker Aurora Australis has run aground near Mawson Station while on a mission to resupply the Antarctic outpost.
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) confirmed the ship had broken free of its mooring lines during a blizzard on Wednesday afternoon.
AAD officials said there were a total of 67 expeditioners and crew on board at the time of the incident but no-one was injured.
The ship is believed to be watertight but blizzard conditions are hampering a full assessment of damage to the hull.
The AAD said winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour were recorded just before the ship broke its lines.
Forecasters said blizzard conditions were expected to continue for the next 24 hours.
The ship left Hobart on January 11 and had been involved in marine science efforts in Antarctic waters and arrived at Mawson Station for resupply last weekend.
Aurora Australis is owned by P&O Maritime Services but is chartered by the AAD for research missions to Antarctica.
The ship, which came into service in 1989, is due to be replaced by a new $500 million icebreaker in 2019.
Topics: science-and-technology, accidents---other, antarctica, hobart-7000
First posted… whatever a man has in superabundance is owed, of natural right, to the poor for their sustenance. So Ambrosius says, and it is also to be found in the Decretum Gratiani: "The bread which you withhold belongs to the hungry: the clothing you shut away, to the naked: and the money you bury in the earth is the redemption and freedom of the penniless." Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, II-II, Q 66 A 7. 1. Rich and Poor In the world today there are many people who "have in superabundance". By that I mean that, after satisfying all their needs – for food, shelter, warmth, clothing, health care, and education, for themselves and their children, and some provision for those needs to be met in the future as well - have money left over for items that are not, by any stretch of the imagination, needs. If you have money to spare for good restaurants, concerts, vacation travel, books, CD's, and keeping your clothing in fashion, you are, in a word, rich. Aquinas could never have envisaged the kind of wealth many people have today - think only of such luxuries as central heating and air-conditioning, exotic fresh fruits from both temperate and tropical lands delivered to your door, being able to visit all the wonders of the world. If Aquinas could be transported to our time he would have thought most middle-class Europeans and Americans today to be unimaginably rich, and the same goes for those able to live a comparable lifestyle in other countries. If the rich are far richer than anyone in the thirteenth century could have imagined, however, the essential ingredients of poverty are the same. As in earlier times, the poor are those who do not have sufficient means to meet even the most basic of these needs, for example for food, shelter, and clothing. Today we would add that they also lack the resources to obtain even minimal health care, or to provide education for their children? There are today more than a billion of these "absolutely poor" people, living on no more than $US1 per day. These are the people who are absolutely poor - that is, poor not only relative to others with whom they may compare themselves; they by an absolute, timeless standard related to the most basic human needs. What attitude should the rich have towards the poor? What, if anything, should they see themselves as obliged to do? I shall argue that our current attitudes draw distinctions that are not defensible, and that they ought to change. To do this I shall first present an argument that I have put before, in an article in the New York Times, and then consider some objections that have been raised to this argument. 2. A Child’s Life or a New TV? In the Brazilian film Central Station, Dora is a retired schoolteacher who makes a modest living sitting at the station writing letters for illiterate people. Suddenly she has an opportunity to earn $1000. All she has to do is persuade a homeless nine-year old boy to follow her to an address she has been given. (She is told that he will be adopted by wealthy foreigners.) She delivers the boy, gets the money, spends some of it on a television set, and settles down to enjoy her new acquisition. Her neighbor spoils her good mood, however, by telling her that the boy is too old to be adopted – she says that he will be killed and his organs sold for transplantation. Perhaps Dora was aware of this possibility all along, but was able to block it out of her mind. After her neighbor's plain speaking, however, she is unable to sleep. In the morning she sets out to take the boy back. Imagine that, instead of trying to save the child from his fate, Dora had told her neighbor that it's a tough world, that she wants a TV, and if selling the kid is the only way she can get one, well, he was only a street kid, and who knows, maybe he will be adopted after all. She would then have become, in the eyes of the audience, a callous, selfish person, lacking all conscience and moral sense. She redeems herself only by being prepared to bear considerable risks to save the boy. At the end of the movie, in cinemas all over the affluent nations of the world, people who would have been quick to condemn Dora if she had not gone back to rescue the boy go home to places far more comfortable than her apartment. These people are, by the standard I described a few moments ago, rich. The average family in the United States spends around one-third of their income on things that are no more necessary to them than Dora's new TV was to her. But it is also true that Brazil, and in other Latin American countries that have very many people who are absolutely poor, there are also many others who are absolutely rich. The money that the rich spend on luxuries could, if donated to one of a number of voluntary agencies, mean the difference between life and death for children in need. All of this raises a question: in the end, what is the difference between a Brazilian who sells a homeless child to people who might be organ peddlers and one who already has a TV and upgrades to a better one - knowing that the money could be donated to an organization that would use it to save the lives of street kids in Brazil? Some differences will immediately come to mind. For one thing, to be able to consign a child to people who might kill him when the child is standing right in front of you takes a chilling kind of heartlessness. It is much easier to ignore an appeal for money to help children you will never meet. Yet if the upshot of the rich person's failure to donate the money is that one more kid dies on the streets of a Brazilian city, then it is, in some sense, just as bad as selling the kid to the organ-peddlers. At the very least, there is a troubling incongruity in being so quick to condemn Dora for taking the child to people who may be organ-peddlers while, at the same time, not regarding the rich person's behavior as raising a serious moral issue. 3. Is Our Situation Different? Let me consider some possible differences between our situation and that of Dora. 1. Rich people who do not contribute to helping the poor are not actively bringing about their deaths. Dora, on the other hand, by bringing the boy to those who may kill him, has made an active contribution. Our sense that enjoying all the luxury our wealth can buy is an acceptable way to live is based very largely on the idea that while it is very wrong to kill, we are under no obligation to try to save people whose lives are in danger. But is this right? In his book Living High and Letting Die, the American philosopher Peter Unger presents an ingenious series of imaginary examples designed to show that we often do think people to be grievously at fault if they knowingly allow someone to die, even if this is by an omission rather than by an act. Here's my paraphrase of one of these examples: Bob is close to retirement. He has invested most of his savings in a very rare and valuable old car, a Bugatti, which he has not been able to insure. The Bugatti is his pride and joy. in addition to the pleasure he gets from driving and caring for his car, Bob knows that its rising market value means that he will always be able to sell it and live comfortably after retirement. One day when Bob is out for a drive, he parks the Bugatti near the end of a disused railway siding and goes for a walk up the track. As he does so, he sees that a runaway train, with no-one aboard, is running down the railway track. Looking further down the track he sees the small figure of a child playing in a tunnel and very likely to be killed by the runaway train. He can't stop the train and the child is too far away to warn of the danger, but he can throw a switch that will divert the train down the siding where his Bugatti is parked. Then nobody will be killed- but since the barrier at the end of the siding is in disrepair, the trainwill destroy his Bugatti. Thinking of his joy in owning the car, and the financial security it represents, Bob decides not to throw the switch. The child is killed. But for many years to come Bob enjoys owning his Bugatti and the financial security it represents. Bob's conduct, most of us will immediately respond, was gravely wrong. I agree; but is it possible to think that it was very wrong of Bob not to throw the switch that would have diverted the train and saved the child's life, but not wrong for rich people to decide not to help people in desperate poverty? By sending money to an organization working against poverty, it is possible for us to save a human life by making a sacrifice much smaller than that required of Bob in the example just given. In fact Unger calculates that a donation of $US200 is enough to save a child’s life. 2. If we give to an agency that helps the world's poorest people, we cannot be certain whether aid will really reach the people who need it. Nobody who knows the world of overseas aid can doubt that such uncertainties exist. But Unger's figure of $200 to save a child's life was reached after he had made conservative assumptions about the proportion of the money donated that will actually reach its target. In any case, there is uncertainty in the situations of Bob and Dora too. In Bob's case, if he throws the switch he will certainly destroy his Bugatti, but if he does nothing the child might be quick and alert enough to flatten herself against the side of the tunnel, and save herself. Dora was not completely certain that the child would be killed for his organs, rather than be adopted. So in none of these cases is there any certainty that giving the money, or sacrificing the car or the TV, will have any good outcome. 3. Dora and Bob are each faced with a dilemma concerning just one child. That is not our situation. If we give $200 now to save a child, there will still be other children who need saving. The argument can be repeated, over and over again, until we are ourselves at the poverty line. This makes our situation different from Dora’s and Bob's. In the real world, there are millions of children, and adults too, who need our help, so it is right to say that giving $200 will not be the end of our obligations. But think how much Bob stands to loose, as he contemplates throwing the switch. The car is his pride and joy, and represents virtually all his savings. Even if we were to say that no-one has an obligation to make a cumulative sacrifice as great as the loss of the car is to Bob, that is quite compatible with people who are comfortably off having an obligation to give much, much more than $200. Dora's more modest sacrifice is, relative to her level, more significant than a donation of $200 or even $1000 would be to someone who is comfortably off and living in an affluent community. 4. To set too high a standard is utopian, and perhaps even counter-productive. We run the risk that people will shrug their shoulders and say that morality, so conceived, is fine for saints, but not for them. We are unlikely to see, in the near or even medium-term future, a world in which it is normal for rich people to give most of their wealth to help strangers. When it comes to praising or blaming people for what they do, we tend to use a standard that is relative to some conception of normal behavior. In most communities, rich people who give, say, 10 percent of their income to help the poor are so far ahead of virtually all their equally rich counterparts that I wouldn't go out of my way to blame them for not doing more. Nevertheless, they are in no position to criticize Bob for failing to make the much greater sacrifice of his Bugatti, or Dora for selling the child, and this suggests that, in some sense, they really should be doing more. 5. If every citizen living in the affluent nations contributed his or her share no-one would have to make such a drastic sacrifice, because long before such levels were reached, the resources would have been there to save the lives of all those children dying from lack of food or medical care. So why should anyone be obliged to give more than their fair share? The question of how much we ought to give is a matter to be decided in the real world - and that, sadly, is a world in which we know that most people do not, and in the immediate future will not, give substantial amounts to overseas aid agencies. Thus, we know that the money we can give beyond that theoretical "fair share" is still going to save lives that would not otherwise be saved. While the idea that no-one need do more than his or her fair share is a powerful one, should it prevail if we know that others are not doing their fair share, and that children will die preventable deaths unless we do more than our fair share? That would be taking fairness too far - and Aquinas, Ambrose and Gratian apparently agree, since they say that you should give what you have in superabundance, not just some hypothetical fair share that would be enough if others also gave. It would certainly be better if governments were to increase their foreign aid allocations, since that would spread the burden more equitably across all tax-payers. Unfortunately, over the past twenty years, the amount that the governments of the economically developed nations have given to foreign aid has fallen, and most countries are further than ever from meeting the United Nations target of 0.7% of Gross National Product. The amount of foreign aid given by the United States, in particular, is a disgrace – only 0.1% of GNP, the lowest proportion of all the OECD countries, and less in absolute dollar terms than the amount given by Japan, although the United States economy is far larger than the Japanese. Moreover even within that miserly amount, the largest recipient is not one of the world’s poorest countries, but Israel, a country that has an average income that places it within the richest 20 nations in the world. 6. If everyone gives away substantial amounts of their income, rather than spending it on consumer goods, there will be fewer jobs and the economy will suffer. Thus the poor will be worse off, rather than better off. As my response to the previous objection indicates, if everyone really were giving away substantial amounts of money, the amount that we would need to give would be much less. To end absolute poverty would not require enormous sacrifices, if all or even most of the rich played their part. As Thomas Pogge has argued, we think that this will require an enormous amount of money, because we know that there are so many very poor people - about a quarter of the world's population, or 1.5 billion people. But we forget just how unimaginably acute the difference in income between the rich and the poor is: The aggegate income of the poorest quartile is less than 0.7% of the global social product, less than $210 billion out of nearly $30 trillion. A shift in global income distribution that would double (or triple) their incomes entirely at our expense would still be quite minor. It would reduce the top tenth of incomes by a mere 1 or 2 percent - hardly a serious threat to our culture and lifestyle. Quite apart from this, any adverse impact on the economy would be balanced by the fact that most of the people who have been lifted out of absolute poverty will, with better education and training, become self-supporting and eventually will enter the global market as consumers themselves. 7. Giving aid to the poor does not help, because it produces a dependent relationship, removes their incentive to work, and in countries that are already overpopulated, will only exacerbate the population problem. This is a practical objection that will apply to some kinds of assistance, but not too others. Certainly giving food aid is a last resort, only to be used in dire emergency. But assisting people to become small-scale entrepreneurs, or providing villages with clean water, a school, and basic health care, is a different matter. It provides them with the ability to become self-sufficient, to work to better themselves. As for the population question, it is a mistake to think that the only way to reduce fertility is to let people starve. On the contrary, the single factor that has been shown, in many different studies, to correlate best with a reduction in fertility, is an improvement in the level of education, and particularly the education of women. 4. The Need for a New (or Old) Attitude to Poverty The examples of Dora and Bob show that our current ideas on what the rich ought to do for the poor are not in harmony with our other ideas on what we are required to do to save a child's life. None of the objections that I have considered convincingly indicates a difference between Dora’s or Bob’s situation and our own that is sufficient to prevent us drawing the conclusion that it is wrong for us to spend our money on luxuries when others are starving. Our attitudes to poverty need to change - not to something entirely new, but to something more like the attitudes I quoted when I began, the attitudes of Ambrose, Gratian and Aquinas. Though I do not accept the religious and Aristotelian foundations on which Aquinas drew, I accept his conclusion that "whatever a man has in superabundance is owed, of natural right, to the poor for their sustenance", because on the utilitarian ethic that I hold, needs take priority over the desire for luxury. This makes me, oddly, on this vital topic a better Christian than many bishops and cardinals. They rush to condemn abortion - a moral dilemma that none of them will ever face - but openly violate, in the luxurious way in which they live their everyday lives, the teachings of their own saints on what the rich owe to the poor. They argue that it is wrong to kill an "unborn child" no matter what reasons its mother may have for not wanting her pregnancy to continue, but they are themselves allowing actual children, loved and wanted by their parents, to die when they could prevent those deaths. In some circles, there are signs of a change in these attitudes. At the United Nations Millennium Summit, held in New York in September 2000, South African President Thabo Mbeki gave a powerful speech in which he said that "the poor of the world stand at the gates of the comfortable mansions and palaces occupied by each and every king and queen, president and prime minister privileged to attend this unique meeting." There were no reports of leaders inviting the homeless to take over their vacant guest rooms, but the General Assembly passed a Declaration setting a series of ambitious but specific targets for the year 2015. The most important was to halve the proportion of the world's population who suffer from hunger and lack safe drinking water. Others who have spoken with new vision have been the leaders of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In Prague, World Bank president James Wolfensohn said: Today you have 20 percent of the world controlling 80 percent of the gross domestic product. You've got a $30 trillion economy and $24 trillion of it in the developed countries. The income of the top 20 is 37 times the income of the bottom 20, and it has doubled in the last decade. These inequities cannot exist. Regrettably, these inequities can and do exist. The question is what can be done about them. Institutions like the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank have recently made tackling inequity a higher priority than it was in the past. That is surely the right strategy, from an ethical point of view. It is vitally important for such organizations to ensure that what they are doing makes a difference to the world’s poorest people. In the past, large schemes have often benefited, not the poorest, but those who are part of the problem. It is more difficult and more labor-intensive to ensure that assistance really does benefit those who most need it. Just as Dora was, at first, able to avoid thinking too much about what was going to happen to the boy, so it is always possible to persuade oneself that the things that are in one’s interest are also the best for everyone. But that is often not the case. Dora stands as a warning figure to those prone to take the easy path of self-deception. Every major development agency needs a friend like Dora’s neighbor – one who will force them to take a hard, self-critical look at the real impact that its work is having on the people who most need its help. Otherwise a development agency can, like Dora, become an accomplice in something that is unjust and exploitative. 5. A Last Word: The Political and the Personal. Horst Köhler, the new managing director of the IMF, said recently: "We have to tackle the selfishness of wealthy countries. This is a question of morals." Köhler is right - this is a question of morals. But morals is not only a matter for nations and it is not only the selfishness of wealthy nations that must be combatted. The new ethic must be felt at all levels, from international financial institutions to nations to individuals. Those who decide the fate of millions of people who live in absolute poverty should show their attitude to inequity and selfish in their own lives. They should make it clear that they find it repugnant that some should live in luxury while others are in dire poverty. Of course, leaders cannot wear rags and live in shantytowns. They must be able to do their work, receive visitors, communicate rapidly, ensure their personal safety, and represent their country in public. They need the equipment and surroundings that will permit them to do this as efficiently as possible. None of that is superabundance. But they do not need caviar at receptions, limousines to drive around in, or palaces in which to live. If they share their superabundance with the hungry, their stated wish to end poverty will at last become credible. Once that happens, anything is possible.By Ryan Schleeter
Still think the Keystone XL pipeline will create tens of thousands of permanent jobs? Think again.
Throughout his young presidency, Donald Trump has repeatedly justified his administration's love for the fossil fuel industry with the nuanced and insightful argument of "JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!"
Unfortunately for him, tweeting something in all caps does not make it true—and it also won't suddenly make the fossil fuel industry economically viable again.
When it comes to fossil fuels versus renewables, there's no contest. Clean energy is our fastest path to a booming, prosperous economy for all Americans, not just the one percent. The next time you're confronted with the White House's alternative facts on coal, oil and job creation, arm yourselves with this info instead.
1. The U.S. solar industry is on a record-breaking growth streak.
According to the non-partisan Solar Foundation, one in every 50 American jobs created in 2016 was in the solar industry.
In total, the industry employs more than 260,000 people in the U.S., up 25 percent from 2015—when the number of U.S. solar jobs surpassed those in oil, gas and coal extraction for the first time.
Solar is projected to continue growing in spite of Trump administration policies that favor fossil fuels. Falling installation costs and soaring investment—especially compared to coal—mean solar jobs are projected to increase by 10 percent in 2017.
2. Wind is not far behind and is catching up fast.
For the last few years, wind has trended ahead of fossil fuels but behind solar power in job growth—but that could soon change.
Last year, the industry added 25,000 new jobs and currently employs 102,000 people. Between now and 2024, wind turbine technician is projected to be the single fastest-growing job in the country by a wide margin. Overall, a 2015 Department of Energy analysis found that the wind industry could support more than 600,000 jobs by 2050.
As with solar, Trump's anti-environment policies can't stop the growth of the wind industry. Even without state or federal subsidies, onshore wind farms are cheaper to build and operate than coal and natural gas plants in many parts of the country, which will continue to fuel job growth in construction and manufacturing.
It looks like Trump will just have to get used to seeing more "terrible," "ugly," "unsightly" wind turbines.
3. Pipeline projects do not create anywhere near as many jobs as Trump says they do.
Trump has claimed that his decision to fast-track the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines will put Americans to work and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
He's wrong, of course.
While it is true that Keystone XL would create an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 temporary construction jobs, an alternative plan to scrap the pipeline and instead expand sustainable infrastructure in the region would create up to five times as many jobs. And in terms of full-time, permanent jobs, Keystone XL would create just 35 and Dakota Access 40.
Beyond pipeline projects, the overall number of people in the working in oil and gas extraction fell by nearly 17,000 over the course of 2015. Worldwide, wind and solar already employ more people than oil, gas and coal combined.
4. Coal jobs are simply not coming back—it's time to focus on a just transition for coal country.
"The miners are coming back," was Trump's promise to coal country at a rally in Kentucky last month. The only problem is that it's one more promise he can't keep.
Because it's not the Clean Power Plan—or any other environmental regulation—that's causing the decline of the coal industry. It's basic science and economics. Wind and solar are already cheaper and growing more affordable each year. Coal mining companies are going bankrupt left and right, shafting workers but giving CEOs million-dollar bonuses in the process. What coal mining operations are left are mostly automated and have been bleeding jobs for decades.
Instead of false promises, it's time to start focusing on the just transition that coal country deserves. That means job training in clean energy technologies and more democratic control over electricity grids for the communities of color, Indigenous people and blue collar workers hit hardest by our prolonged reliance on fossil fuels.Traffic jams on highways are often triggered where two lanes must merge into one. Lanes of cars cannot merge if there are no large gaps between cars. Therefore, drivers who create large gaps between cars will ease this type of traffic jam.
SIMPLE, EH?
Don't miss: Traffic Waves F.A.Q
Also, Main page
To ease this type of jam: Maintain a large space ahead of your car.
Never "punish" late-merging drivers by closing your gap. It's illegal, and for good reason.
Encourage one, two even three cars to merge ahead of you.
As you approach the final merge point, open your space wider and wider.
If traffic slows to a complete stop, KEEP TWO CAR-LENGTHS OF SPACE OPEN AHEAD OF YOU.
Fed Hwy Admin says: merge at the last minute. Early merging is the cause of jams.
MnDOT: Do The Zipper Merge (vid)
MnDOT on proper merging (vid)
Other suggestions Amazingly enough, it is not necessary that EVERYONE do this. If only a few drivers will maintain extra-large gaps during heavy traffic, then merging traffic is not forbidden, and the situation in the left-hand diagram can be prevented.
The "zipper flow" is counterintuitive. It's created by proper late-merging at the last minute. It's destroyed by early merging. For this reason, the Fed Highway Admin has specific recommendations for proper driver behavior. They (and the various state highway groups) also have found the best road signage for smoothing the flow: "STAY IN LANE UNTIL MERGE POINT." Then at the last minute, another sign: "MERGE HERE, TAKE TURNS." Early merging ruins everything. Any drivers who encourage early merging, but who tailgate to punish late merging, they've fallen for faulty reasoning. The situation is counterintuitive. The ideal behavior is the exact opposite of drivers' early-merge and "cheater-punisher" beliefs: keep everyone in their lanes, no early merging allowed. No empty lanes, so 'cheating' is stopped. Then take turns merging *only* at the last minute. Anything else is a recipe for hot-headed tailgaters and jam-triggers.
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Yes you're right, you cannot eliminate every problem by simply making a big gap in front of your car. When there are too many cars on the road, traffic slows down. But if we use these special driving habits, the smaller jams can be erased, and stop-and-go traffic can be smoothed out. Since many traffic jams are caused by merging lanes, many traffic jams can be improved by the actions of just one driver.FEATURED VIDEO
LuLaRoe owes consultants not just answers, which don’t seem to be forthcoming, but also thousands of dollars, and they are literally holding the financial futures of the employees who made them rich in the palms of their hands.
And yet, while they can’t seem to cut checks to the people they owe money to, they have the funds to sue Christina Hinks, owner of the popular MLM whistleblower blog, MommyGyver.
That’s right.
LuLaRoe is seemingly dragging their feet on payments to consultants and has been lax in responding to allegedly thousands of requests regarding inventory, but they will invest the time and money to sue mom bloggers.
What a time to be alive.
According to Hinks, she started her blog, MommyGyver, in December 2016 in hopes of writing product reviews and addressing topics that impact women. At the time, she was also a LuLaRoe consultant. She quickly grew disillusioned by the company’s practices, and in March 2017, she shared her story on her blog.
And suddenly, women came out of the woodwork to tell her about their LuLaRoe horror stories. Hinks said that the volume of information was heartbreaking and overwhelming. She started sharing stories on her blog, and in March 2017, she was added to a Facebook group dedicated to angry LuLaRoe consultants and customers who were frustrated by the infamous leggings’ ability to “rip like wet toilet paper.” While she was a member of the group, she gathered information and was also contacted both privately and anonymously by women and men who had felt the crushing financial blow of their LuLaRoe businesses crashing and burning.
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In a 100-page court document filed in Illinois this week, LuLaRoe filed suit against Hinks declaring that she must give up the sources who have gave her information about LuLaRoe’s shady practices. LuLaRoe is suing her not only for the names of her sources, but is also claiming that Hinks and her blog posts do not fall under journalistic protection.
(Click to enlarge.)
In the last few months, Hinks says she has made it her mission to blow the lid off of LuLaRoe’s allegedly shady business practices and to tell the stories of the consultants who approach her everyday with their valid concerns and financial worries.
And now, as feelings of unease and disappointment continue to rise, LuLaRoe management has their leggings in a bunch. And they’ve set their sights on people like Hinks, apparently.
According to court documents obtained by Scary Mommy, LuLaRoe is suing Hinks “to disclose the identity and contact information of potential LLR defendants who have damaged LuLaRoe.” They have also slapped her with charges of Breach of Contract, Tortious Interference, Computer Use Violations and Fraud, among other charges.
(Click to enlarge.)
The company is claiming that she does not fall under journalistic protection laws because she “reposts material that she does not gather on her own.”
Uh huh.
So, let me get this straight: LuLaRoe claims that their consultants are independent and are the owners of their own businesses. And now they are not allowed to share information about their independent businesses as they see fit?
LuLaIDontGetIt.
In a phone interview with Scary Mommy, Hinks stated, “I think LuLaRoe’s attempt to scare me or silence me speaks to a larger issue with corporations that think they are bigger than one single person.”
She also states, “For the people who have shared their stories, it’s my duty to protect them. I have been a voice for them for months and months because they’ve been afraid to speak out.” I think we can all understand why.
What’s particularly distressing for Hinks is the number of consultants who applied to leave the company months ago and still have not received their shipping labels, meaning these consultants are stuck in limbo wondering what policy their returns will fall under now.
According to a consultant named Kelli,* she filled out the required exit paperwork online and applied for shipping labels in late August. To date, she’s still waiting on shipping labels to return her $8,000 worth of inventory. She has seven boxes of merchandise to ship back, and she states that it will cost almost $800 to return via UPS.
If LuLaRoe doesn’t come through with her labels, Kelli is not only left to pay the hefty shipping fees out of pocket, but it also remains unclear if she will still receive a full refund.
“I’m now trying to sell it off for the wholesale cost, so I don’t lose any money. This will hurt business for other LLR consultants, but they have put us in an ‘every man for himself’ position. They get to pick and choose what they feel is “resalable,” and I don’t trust them to give me a fair refund at this point. I don’t trust this company at all anymore.” At the time of publication, Kelli has yet to receive word from LuLaRoe.
Kara,* a consultant since June 2016, sent four boxes and $3,300 worth of inventory to LuLaRoe in late August. To date, she still has not received her refund, and she |
general core of the deck remains largely untouched, here’s my thoughts on a couple of cards:
Craterhoof Behemoth: the second copy has always just been a concession to Natural Order as there’s nothing worse than stranding your only Behemoth in your hand — except for drawing useless NOs afterwards. I’m happy to cut back down to a single copy even though I have to admit I rarely do miss the second one in Hatebear-heavy but slow matchups like Death & Taxes. Often times they would get down Containment Priests, Ethersworn Canonists protected by Mother of Runes, only to see you Cradle out a nearly untouchable win. Overall though, it seems like much better value to just play a single copy.
Shaman of the Pack: Especially over the last couple of weeks, I’ve read a lot of comments about this card. People seem to look at it as one of the cornerstones of Chaos Elves, citing its flexibility as one of the main reasons to play this deck over classic Elves. I disagree. To me Shaman is just one of those “nice to have” cards. What I love about it is how it swings damage races against Delver heavily into your favor. With Cavern of Souls and Wirewood Symbiote in the mix, it’s usually well-protected and as a 3/2 it is also able to swing for a sizeable amount if your mana doesn’t allow for casting it twice a turn. It of course provides another angle of attack against cards like Glacial Chasm, which is “nice”, but not the reason I’m playing this deck in the first place. Another cool use for it is to force your Miracles opponent into a weird Terminus. Usually they would get you mid-combat, thus not allowing you to properly use your Cradle to rebuild. With Shaman, you can force them into a Terminus during your mainphase, allowing for a much strong immediate reinforcement.
Wren’s Run Packmaster: or as we Elves players call him #REKTmaster is one of the main reasons to play this deck. Unlike Natural Order it’s less risky to play, much easier to resolve and incredibly difficult to deal with. Neither Lightning Bolt nor Abrupt Decay can touch it, while Wirewood Symbiote provides comfortable Swords to Plowshares protection. And even if it gets removed, you will still get a favorable trade from a championed Elvish Visionary. Altogether, this card is every BUG decks biggest nightmare! Even just the first Wolf will put you ahead a lot on most board states and should you ever get to untap with WRP, most creature-based decks will never be able to recover. I suggest getting the Lorwyn Wolf tokens as they also have an Elf in the background. Just make sure to get enough of them as commanding armies of 4+ Wolves is the expected minimum. Note that there are also some cute (and unnecessary) tricks you can pull with a Packmaster and Wirewood Symbiote: a championed Reclamation Sage for example allows you to Disenchant at instant speed, should it ever become relevant; the even rarer thing is to set up a spell on the top of your deck with Sylvan Library, then draw into it at Instant speed with a championed Elvish Visionary. The later scenario has never come up for me yet but can potentially be useful with cards like Surgical Extraction or Mindbreak Trap vs Storm combo’s discard. Overall though, it’s just a cute thing to keep in mind for fancy plays during camera matches.
Gaddock Teeg: Gaddock is one of those cards that’s much stronger in the maindeck than as a sideboard card. We can probably skip the part where I keep talking about what it is good against and move right on to the implications he has on deckbuilding. It’s quite clear that he puts certain constraints on what you’re doing and sometime you will hate how he blocks your GSZ, but overall I do think he’s a good addition to the deck, especially since he will give you a certain number of turn2 free wins against combo decks, where you’re otherwise significantly behind game1. One of the positive implications are that you want to play as many Llanowar Elves as you can reasonably fit into the build. With 4 GSZ, 4 DRS and 2 Llanowar Elves, as well as some Heritage Druid draws, this gives us 10+ cards that enable a second turn Gaddock in the first game. On top of that, this version of Elves is incredibly mana hungry, which is why I think that even if you didn’t play Gaddock, having access to 2 Llanowar Elves gives you even more really explosive draws, allowing you to set up for a much strong midgame. I could see going without our Kithkin overlord though, but wouldn’t really recommend doing so for now. With Natural Order gone, you’d probably still want another permanent hate card vs Storm in the sideboard and by putting him into the main, you earned yourself another even more dedicated sideboard slot.
Crop Rotation: “Crop Rotation is basically like Natural Order in this deck” Basti somewhat jokingly explained to me. Reason being that with GSZ or Behemoth in hand, Crop Rotation will usually turn your board into the giant army of trampling Elves, we’ve all grown to know and love. Of course the comparison isn’t really sound, but you get the idea. On top of this “nice” bonus of chaining Cradles, Crop Rotation provides a lot of other uses that justify it being part of this more silver-bullet-oriented build: the first and most important one being the instant speed land tutoring it provides. Getting either Pendelhaven, Karakas or Cavern of Souls can often have a huge impact on the board, throwing off your opponent’s combat math or providing a huge edge in the Sneak Show matchup. The other use I really like about this card is how it messes with your opponent’s decision-making process. Especially during the early turns, opponents often find themselves in positions asking themselves whether they should continue developing their board or Wasteland Elves in order to try and contain their explosiveness. With Crop Rotation in the mix you get to heavily punish opponents opting for the later alternative. Suddenly they find themselves down a land drop against an Elves opponent who’s about to untap with Gaea’s Cradle. I like.
Pendelhaven: Boy is this card important to Chaos Elves — much more so than in classic builds, where it could already be considered a valuable mainstay. With Chaos Elves playing a primarily beatdown-focussed game, Pendelhaven will often make the difference of allowing to attack for 5 or 0. Consider situations where you got a bunch of 1/1s staring down something like a Snapcaster Mage or Deathrite Shaman and you will see how Penvelhaven makes all the difference in the world. At this point I should probably also mention surprise combat tricks with Crop Rotation but at the point we’re already heading down way too deep into the danger of cool things. Other cards this land shines against include Umezawa’s Jitte, Grim Lavamancer, Punishing Fire, Containment Priest, Ethersworn Canonist, Meddling Mage, most -1/-1 effects, Shardless Agent, Stoneforge Mystic, Zombie Tokens and many more!
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben: When Basti gave me the list, Thalia was the one card that stood out to me as something I’d probably want to replace. After playing with her, I’m still not 100% convinced she’s the right girl for the job against combo, but I’m madly in love with her against anything Grixis. Shw slows them down a lot, is great at blocking and slices through most boardstates involving Young Pyromancer and a couple of tokens. I’ve recently been wondering whether I want to replace her with Aven Mindcensor, who’s got a wider variety of uses, but as of yet am still undecided. If you’re looking to start tinkering with sideboard cards, this is your go-to slot.
Karakas: Outside of the obvious uses vs Reanimator and Sneak Show, there’s two more things I love about this card: the first is allowing you to protect your Gaddock Teeg and or Thalia vs Miracles. It’s not a huge edge, but every once in a while it can definitely help you out. The other thing that’s great about Karakas is how it can stop an attacking Marit Lage. Be aware that you should probably try to Crop Rotation into it if possible or at least have a Pithing Needle set to Wasteland and/or Rishadan Port as those cards can turn off your Karakas. With Karakas, you get the chance to shut down the first 20/20, giving you time to Surgical Extraction Dark Depths, which can swing the matchup heavily in your favor, especially if Lands was on the more all-in’ish start and didn’t pull ahead quickly with Exploration and Punishing Fire.
Friday- Big Legacy Side Event
With the return-flight from Munich to Milan at just 55,- € I decided to fly in in the early morning, getting to the site just in time for the Big Legacy Trial, while the rest of my crew crossed the Alps by car later that day. Unfortunately there were only about 30 people who showed up for the event so we just played 5 rounds of Swiss followed by Top8. Here’s how my tournament went:
Round 1 — Zombardment — 2:0 WIN
Round 2 — Oldschool Aggro Loam— 2:0 WIN
Round 3 — Lands — 0:2 LOSS (incl. Game Loss for decklist)
Round 4 — Merfolk — 2:1 WIN
Round 5 — *ID*
Quarterfinals — Infect — 2:0 WIN
Semifinals — 4c Delver — 2:0 WIN
Finals — 12 Post — 2:1 WIN
Except for that 3rd round loss to Lands, the tournament was pretty smooth sailing for me. Unfortunately I registered the wrong Fetchland configuration which earned me a game loss, followed by a mulligan to 5 without sideboarding. Fun story: while the judge was going through his routine of explaining to me why I would receive a game loss and what configuration of Fetchlands I actually wanted to play, the head judge walks by and interrupts him: “Dude, he just wants to play any 8 green Fetchlands!”
My match vs Merfolk stands out as incredibly odd. To the outsider it must have looked like to overdosing hippos trying to get a grip on each other. My opponent was on the play and had a turn2 Chalice of the Void set to 1….and then nothing else for the next five turns, at which point he started hardcasting THREE Silvergil Adepts over his next couple. Apparently he just kept drawing into them on his turn, thus always requiring the full five mana, while the rest of his hand was just countermagic. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t draw a Cavern or anything else than 1 mana spells for the entire game, meaning that his gang of overcosted Elvish Visionaries did me in.
After winning the second game in quick fashion, game 3 came down to a race situation in which he was pulling ahead with True-Name Nemesisand a couple of Lords. My hand at this point was Gaea’s Cradle, Cavern of Souls, some Elves and a Craterhoof Behemoth. The way my opponent had played the game up to this point had pretty much telegraphed that he was probably holding a Force of Will in his hand, so I decided to bait a maybe sandbagged Wasteland by playing my Gaea’s Cradle and summoning a bunch of Elves. Even if he had had the Wasteland, I needed those Elves to generate just enough mana to hardcast Craterhoof Behemoth on the following turn. After passing the turn he takes me down to 3 life and is at least 2 turns ahead in the damage race, which must have made him feel pretty good sitting behind his Force of Will…and you could clearly see how the terror started setting in the moment I set my Cavern to “Beast” to quickly turn the game around. FINISH HIM!
In the finals I quickly steal game 1 with a fast Glimpse before he even gets to do anything. In the second game things look to be over rather soon before he manages to Crop-Rotation-Glacial-Chasm-walk me for a turn before clearing my board with Ugin, Planeswalker and following it up with a bunch of lethal Eldrazis. I had actually anticipated that Crop Rotation but just couldn’t put together a lethal string of Deathrite Shaman activations. In the third game however I quickly Glimpse of Nature’d him on the third turn, too early for him to have any meaningful interaction. This earned me a booster box and free entry into the Legacy Main Event including one *BYE*.
Saturday – Legacy Main Event
With our apartment literally on the very other side of the street, our crew got to enjoy a good round of sleep. I still head out a little earlier to hit the local supermarket, where my 20,- € bill is double and triple checked for authenticity before accepting it. Apparently I make the impression of a small time counterfeiter.
Having restocked my supplies for the day, I arrive back at the tournament site well in time for the first round. Here’s is how my tournament went:
Round 1 — *BYE*
Round 2 — 4c Delver — 2:1 WIN
Round 3 — Shardless BUG — 2:1 WIN
Round 4 — Canadian Threshold — 1:2 LOSS
Round 5 — Miracles — 2:1 WIN
Round 6 — RG Lands — 2:1 WIN
Round 7 — *ID*
Quarterfinals — Infect — 2:0 WIN
Semifinals — 4c Delver — 2:0 WIN
Finals — ANT — 2:1 WIN
I’m really happy I got to make good on my new year’s resolution of trading all these x-2 results at big tournaments for Top8s. Round 2 it was looking like I was up to a bad start when I mulliganned to 6 in the final game and had my only two business spells countered and discarded, leaving me with just three (for all intents and purposes vanilla) 1/1s in play. After not drawing anything meaningful for the next three turns and facing down an opponent with many more cards in hand, I pretty much expected to lose this game. Fortunately my opponent had trouble applying pressure, drawing into just more countermagic, cantrips and discard. Every once in a while he finds the occassional Lightning Bolt, Snapcaster Mage and eventually Delver of Secrets, but none are a real match for my Pendelhaven. And while I don’t draw into any more business, a constant string of random 1/1s from the top of my deck eventually gets me there as my opponent proves reluctant to throw his Force of Will on any of them. Weird game; I took him down all the way from 20 to 0 in increments of 3, with the occasional Fetchland on his part. Pendelhaven guys, play it!
In the third round I beat my friend Daniel Rehmann on Shardless BUG, mostly thanks to the power of Wren’s Run Packmaster. It’s just crazy how much this card dominates this matchup with little to no reliable ways for them to remove it. And with the current build much more focused on acceleration and using your mana most efficiently every turn, Packmaster is just the best creature you could ask for. If your meta was really Shardless-heavy, I’d actually recommend a second copy of it because it’s that good.
My fourth round loss was to Matthew Johnson on Canadian Threshold, who ended up Top8’ing all three main events. I quickly run away with our first game and got him on the edge of defeat in the second one when we arrive at a situation where he needs to draw a removal spell on his very next turn to win or otherwise lose. He draws a Ponder, shuffles and I cut his deck to his last copy of Submerge. Not gonna complain, I myself had much more insane topdecks over the course of the tournament. In the third game I struggle a bit early on but eventually start racing his Delver of Secrets before he finds a Nimble Mongoose that’s about to hit Threshold next turn. With him on 5 life, I attack with two Heritage Druids, with an active Deathrite Shaman staying behind. When he declares no blockers I try to Crop Rotation into a Pendelhaven for the win, but Matthew knows what’s up and Dazes the Rotation thus forcing me to tap my only black source, delaying my Deathrite Shaman activation for a turn and eventually turning the game around on his next turn. Great games and a great guy to play against!
My next round against is much less eventful. I lose the first game to a combination of Monastery Mentor and Entreat the Angels but fight back with not only an already great maindeck but all the additional sideboard hate I got. In the third game I go for a move that should be part of every Elves player’s repertoire: end of the opponent’s turn I Abrupt Decay his Sensei’s Divining Top, thus denying him the opportunity to Miracle Terminus on my turn and then just take him down with a Glimpse chain, finishing him off with two uncounterable Shaman of the Pack triggers. My opponent seemed rather pissed about his loss, but I guess it’s not easy losing what you consider to be one of your best matchups — especially when you don’t know it isn’t anymore.
For my win-and-in I’m paired against RG Lands. I get an ok start while my opponent goes for just a turn1 Crop Rotation into The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale, which usually indicates weakness on their part. Unfortunately I don’t have the Gaea’s Cradle yet and have to go through a lot of complicated Heritage Druid and Wirewood Symbiote activations, but keep prodding him for 1-2 damage every turn, while my Deathrite Shaman makes sure he doesn’t Dredge into anything meaningful. He eventually starts drawing instead of dredging, but at this point I eventually find Gaea’s Cradle which allows me to take him down in two clean swings. Game2 I realize on my second turn that he probably kept a hand that Crop Rotation‘s into Marit Lage on his third turn. Armed with that knowledge I try my best to find my own Crop Rotation to blow him out with Karkas, but neither Sylvan Library (pay 8 life) nor an Elvish Visionary get me there, so his 20/20 does me in. In the final game I lead with Llanowar Elves. After my opponent made a Molten Vortex on his first turn, I explode with Glimpse on turn2 and pass the turn with 20+ Elves in play. My opponent untaps and congratulates me on making Top8. Another great guy and a pleasure to play against. I just really feel like pointing this out since not everyone always takes important losses with a genuine smile.
After ID’ing in the 7th round I once against find myself up against the same Infect player I already played in Friday’s quarterfinals. With him on the play I don’t expect to win the first game but variance once again swings my way and sees him mulligan to 4. But my relief only lasts for a turn as his Tropical Island into Glistener Elf could threaten a quick kill nevertheless. Fortunately his hand seems to be all Noble Hierarchs, Spell Pierces and Force of Wills, so I quickly get there on the back of Shaman of the Pack. Before game2 my opponent asks for the Oracle text of Shaman and then starts with Leyline of Sanctity; made me giggle as it’s a clear adaptation to our game the previous day where I took his hand apart with Cabal Therapy — of which I am already holding another copy in my opening hand. With Reclamation Sage sided out, the Leyline was there to stay and Shaman of the Pack wouldn’t be able to touch my opponent. I still get off to an ok’ish start, establishing some board presence and pressure but neither Abrupt Decay nor Pithing Needle to interact. When my opponent gets down a Sylvan Library and finds a Blighted Agent, I think I’m done for, but to my surprise he just keeps crashing in for 2 exalted poison every turn. I wish I could tell you more about this game but despite his Sylvan Library, he never draws additional cards and eventually loses to me building a big enough board and just outracing him. After the game my friends tell me that he had been holding a Brainstorm and Invigorate for several turns…and eventually died with both cards still in hand. While I can see that he didn’t want to Brainstorm because he always knew his top2 cards because of Library, I wonder whether he should have drawn more aggressively. Of course he was acting in fear of Abrupt Decay on his agent, but when you can already tell that you’re not beating the board, I really think you have to try and milk variance in order to get back into the game. Otherwise you just die by a thousand stings. Also, since he got Library down before any of his creatures, there’s a good chance I would have sent a potential Decay that way anyways.
In the semis I was up against 4c Delver. Both games go quite long but especially in the first one, Elves is quite favored because of their lack of mass- or more efficient removal. The game still goes quite long with the board stalled every which way, with his Delver racing my Deathrite Shaman superiority thanks to Quirion Ranger. When he shuts down my Ranger we eventually we get to a point where there’s exactly one card I need to find in order to stay alive and probably win the game: Scavenging Ooze. I peel the top card of my deck and it’s Elvish Visionary, which draws me into exactly Scavenging Ooze with just enough mana left to beat his Deathrite Shamans (which he couldn’t tap, otherwise my 1/1s and 1/2s would take him down). With Ooze on the field, I slowly turn around the game, happily making some otherwise bad attacks, just because they end up putting more creatures into the yard while dealing a couple points of damage. Ooze eventually gets there. The second game plays out a lot like the first one as my opponent apparently doesn’t see a lot of sideboard cards. I make a stupid mistake of not preemptively emptying his graveyard with Ooze which allows him to at least have a fighting chance thanks to Gurmag Angler. While my Ooze was slightly larger than the Angler, his additional Deathrite Shamans made it so that I would end up just trading the Zombie Fish for the Ooze in case I attacked. So we once again reach this weird stall with him at 10 life, a Delver, a 5/5 Fish and 2 Deathrite Shamans against my board of a 7/7 Ooze and a couple of Elves. I think my life total must have been around 9, putting me dangerously close to being burned out with the help of Delver. Fortunately my opponent is hellbent, but when he draws for his turn, his entire body becomes a giant tell he hit something amazing. “Fire Covenant paying 8 life, 7 damage to your Scavening Ooze and 1 damage to your Quirion Ranger” he declares and the crowd erupts. Why? Because he just threw away the game. Instead of dealing 8 to my Ooze, he just goes for 7 and 1 on the random Quirion Ranger, allowing me to eat the one and only card in both graveyards, a random Elvish Visionary to grow my Ooze out of burn range. When he realizes he just paid 3 mana and 8 life to kill a Quirion Ranger, he just concedes out of shame, but not before having a good laugh about his misplay. Good sport!
You can read about my finals on the MKM website, which has really good text and picture coverage of almost every aspect of all of our games. Very much recommended not only for people looking for pure information:
Finals: Julian Knab (Elves) vs Stefano Mauri (ANT)
So, I won. Yeay! I’m really happy I got to prove myself and also have an amazing weekend with Basti’s latest creation. There’s nothing worse than trying something new, getting everyone hyped about it, only to return home with an 0-2 drop. Thanks to everyone who congratulated me on the site and via social media, it always does mean a lot to me, really!
Sunday – Modern Main Event
For Modern I played Rodrigo‘s Ad Nauseam deck that he used to win the last two MKM Opens with. I’m far from good with it and my knowledge about Modern is still limited, but somehow I still got there. I’m not sure how, especially because I made horrible mistakes in a lot of games, like not countering a Bring to Light for 4, only to have all my Ad Nauseams Slaughter Games‘ed. In the end I think the deck just has some really good matchups, especially against most control decks, that it just carried me to the Top8. If I look back, my matches against Grixis Control, UWr Midrange and RG Tron were over in less than 10 minutes. Part of that is probably owed to my opponents misplaying, but even the long game should favor Ad Nauseam quite a bit; at least if they don’t have Blood Moon.
Here’s the list I played:
Maindeck
4 Ad Nauseam
4 Angel’s Grace
4 Lotus Bloom
4 Pentad Prism
4 Sleight of Hand
4 Serum Visions
4 Simian Spirit Guide
3 Pact of Negation
3 Phyrexian Unlife
3 Spoils of the Vault
2 Lightning Storm
4 Gemstone Mine
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Temple of Deceit
2 Plains
2 Dreadship Reef
1 Temple of Enlightenment
Here’s how my tournament went:
Round 1 — 90 Card Kiki Living Endshift — 2:1 WIN
Round 2 — Grixis Control — 2:0 WIN
Round 3 — UWr Midrange — 2:0 WIN
Round 4 — Abzan Siege Rhino — 1:2 LOSS
Round 5 — 5c Scapeshift — 1:1:1 DRAW
Round 6 — RW Land Destruction — 2:1 WIN
Round 7 — RG Tron — 2:0 WIN
Quarterfinals — RGw Burn/Zoo — 1:2 LOSS
I’m still pretty unhappy about losing that quarterfinal. Not only did I have a great matchup, my subsequent two matchups would have always been quite favorable (Scapeshift+Merfolk), which means I messed up a great shot at becoming a double champion for the weekend — something that only Pascal Wagner had done before in Rome. In the end I lost to my stupid keep because I really, really do hate taking mulligans. Interestingly, I would have still won game3 had I left 2 instead of just 1 Pact of Negation in the maindeck. The situation was that I could have drawn my entire deck on his turn and Slaughter Pact’ed his lethal attacker and Pact of Negation’ed his Boros Charm, then untapped and with both triggers on the stack have killed him with Lightning Storm. I couldn’t do this on my turn as I needed my Lands to untap in order to have enough mana for the Lightning Storm. The problem was that this would still make me lose to his Deflecting Palm since I already needed to spend my only Pact of Negation on his Boros Charm. I guess that’s just how it goes: as long as you can’t win it all, you just keep going!
Epilogue – Chaos Elves in Legacy
As you can probably tell, I’m very convinced and happy about this new build of Elves. I just took it to an MKM Trial for Frankfurt this weekend and took it down. That makes me 3/3 of tournaments played and won with Chaos Elves. Could I have done the same with Natural Order Elves? Nobody knows. It would have been a lot harder though. Here’s the tradeoff you’re making when playing Chaos Elves:
Matchups Chaos Elves is better in:
– Any Delver deck
– Miracles — by a lot
– Storm
– Sneak Attack — by a lot
– Shardless
– Any Stoneblade deck, but those aren’t really a thing anymore
Matchups Chaos Elves is worse in:
– MUD
– Merfolk
– Burn
– Natural Order Elves
– Eldrazis
– Some other non-blue matchups like Jund, but the difference is pretty small
It’s up to you what you want to beat. Elves is still huge trouble for most fair non-blue decks and even without Natural Order you will still get there through overwhelming forces and critical mass. At the MKM Trial for example, the decks I beat were Shardless, Pox, Eldrazi, RGBw Jund and GWb Maverick. If you wanna count Shardless as a blue deck (it’s the least blue blue deck) that’s still 5 matchups that are (even) better with Natural Order Elves, but it ended up not mattering. When your opponents keep bringing in all that hate for what they think is your big haymaker, just getting whatever Wirewood Engine you have running will probably get you way too far ahead for them to catch up, while they just timewalked themselves with e.g. Containment Priest.
Overall, you should play what your comfortable with, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t sometimes venture outside your comfort zone to make progress. I think that Chaos Elves very well exploits a current hole in the metagame by having a favorable matchup vs Miracles and Delver with a decent matchup vs most combodecks ON TOP of already being favored against everything non-blue. That weekend in Milan I kept jokingly referring to it as the deck without any bad matchups. While that’s of course not true, it hints at what I’m trying to tell you: it’s really well positioned and you should play it. Overcome your fear and drop the order — let’s embrace chaos together!
Until next time,
Julian
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TweetA Silicon Valley startup accelerator known for its deep pockets and high-profile leadership is expanding to Vancouver.
Expa Labs, which grew out of a company started by Uber co-founder Garrett Camp, launched last year in New York and San Francisco. Earlier this month, it begun recruiting the first group of companies for its Canadian program, which will begin in June.
"I think that Canada has massive untapped potential talent and some great entrepreneurs that just need a little bit of support," says Milun Tesovic, a partner at Expa and founder of online song lyric website MetroLyrics, which was acquired by CBS Interactive.
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Startups selected for the program will receive an investment of $250,000 (U.S.) or $500,000, as well as access to office space, "support, mentorship, access to our network and help fundraising once the program is over," Mr. Tesovic says. In exchange, Expa Labs will take between 10 and 20 per cent in equity.
The size of that initial investment sets Expa Labs apart from similar programs, he says.
Fewer than half of the startup accelerators and accelerator-like programs (which through a competitive process offer investment and support in exchange for equity), in Canada make investments in participating startups, according to a 2013 study conducted by MaRS. Those that did invest $50,000 on average.
Even in the United States, the most prominent startup accelerators tend to invest no more than $150,000 in companies entering the program.
Mr. Tesovic says it's increasingly important to give startups more time to get things right and, by making a bigger investment off the bat, startup founders can spend more time working on their product, instead of worrying about raising more money.
"Companies need a longer runway in order to figure out whether or not their product is going to work," he says.
Building a startup is often about trial and error, says Mike Schmidt, who participated in the first edition of Expa Labs with his startup Dovetale. It uses image recognition software to help brands identify popular online commentators or "influencers" to work with.
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"The whole notion of buying yourself more time to figure it out, especially in this climate, is pretty incredible," he says.
Mr. Schmidt, who grew up in Toronto, has founded several companies and gone through accelerator programs in Canada and the U.S.
"Expa is so, so different from everything else I've done," he says.
While the money was important, he says working next to people who have helped build some of the world's largest tech companies was helpful and inspiring.
Mr. Tesovic, who grew up in Vancouver, says he wants to provide entrepreneurs with the type of support he wished he had when he was first starting out.
"When I got going with my first couple of companies, I didn't know anybody in the Valley and I think it put me at a major disadvantage," he says.
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Boris Wertz, the founder and general partner of Version One Ventures, a Vancouver-based venture-capital fund, says he's excited to see Expa Labs expanding to Vancouver.
"Over all, adding more pieces to the Vancouver ecosystem is a good thing, especially when it's experienced investors or accelerators that have a little bit of a broader view than just Vancouver," he says. "Whenever you have someone that's world-class and you bring them into an ecosystem like Vancouver, I think it elevates the whole ecosystem."
He says that he while expects Expa Labs to make a difference for some companies, it's overall impact could be limited because it will only be funding a small number of startups.
Six startups participated in Expa Labs' initial six-month program and while Mr. Tesovic says he expects that number to grow, there is no specific target for this year's round. He says that will be decided by the strength of the applications.
"The first thing we look for is a great team; the second thing would be the market and what kind of idea they're looking at pursuing," Mr. Tesovic says. "We don't have a particular mandate where we're very focused and we just want to invest in a particular category."Persist
Life as a professional scientist is inevitably fraught with setbacks and failures. It is important to recognize failure as central to science since the advancement of scientific fields relies as much on the rejection and refutation of hypotheses and theories as it does on corroboration and breakthrough discoveries. In many cases, “failures” in the laboratory provide valuable knowledge that guides the community away from blind alleys and toward more promising avenues of inquiry.
Fortunately, I learned early on that setbacks are inevitable, and that persistence and resilience are essential qualities in a scientist. At Gettysburg College, I had big ideas about majoring in chemistry, but I struggled to grasp some of the basic concepts of chemistry. In fact, after a lackluster early performance, my chemistry advisor told me straight out that I should find a different major. In the face of my own struggles with the material and my advisor’s discouragement, it would have been easy to walk away and find another major. In fact, I almost did just that. Yet somehow, I found that these hurdles also sparked their own form of encouragement in me, as I discovered that I wanted to prove to myself and others that I could reach my goal.
The epiphany inspired me to study nights and weekends, asked my roommate for help, and seek out professors in their offices. I managed to hang in there with passing grades, and then, when I made it to Physical Chemistry, something remarkable happened: suddenly things started to click and I felt that I was really becoming a chemist!
I don’t know why PChem was the one subject that gave me that “aha” moment, especially since math is not my strong suit. Perhaps my brain needed time to mature. Or maybe I needed time to mature. Whatever the reason, all the hard work, the support of many, and my belief in myself were starting to pay off. I learned from this early experience that in science, there is an article of faith—faith in the process itself, in consistent effort, and in the worthiness of the goal that lies at the core of our ability to persist through setbacks.More notes from my brabo choke homework.
Thinking Like It’s a Triangle
This may seem obvious to you, but it took me a while think of the brabo as a triangle choke. Yeah, I knew literally that it’s an arm triangle — that’s not what I mean. I had a “just slap it on” attitude towards it, where I’d give up if I didn’t hit it in one shot, which isn’t how I think about the triangle choke with the legs. With that move, I know to be patient while I work towards my ultimate goal, fixing several points at once: maintaining position, breaking their posture, getting the correct angle, getting the proper contact with their neck, working to close the full figure-four, crossing their arm, etc. You have multiple simultaneous objectives, and which one you’re working on changes depending on its importance and how well they’re defending it.
Once I started looking at the brabo along similar lines, it started clicking more and my success rate with it has gone way up. The main points I fleshed out were 1) how to get the arm triangle tight using progressive grips, 2) how to cross their arm and 3) how to apply finishing pressure.
First, I want to go over the idea of using a series of grips to work towards tightening and closing the final choke.
I’m big on giving people credit if they gave me ideas or teach me. I didn’t come up with any of these grips, but I did collect them from scattered resources and put them together. If you’re been following my brabo choke homework, you know the usual suspects for my |
set is the final component in Nate Diaz's armor. The Diaz brothers are famous excuse-makers. That's no secret.
When Rafael Dos Anjos worked Nate both standing and on the ground, chopping him down with headkicks and brutalizing him from top position, the fighting pride of Stockton wasn't about to accept the loss at face value.
"I was not in the best type of shape I could be in," he told Sherdog. "I'm here to fight, always. I'm here, you see me. I'm not like other guys pulling out of fights with injuries," Diaz said. "Regardless, I'm going to be here, and show up and show what I can do. I just wish I could've been in better shape and had better sparring. Next time. I'll be here next time. I want to get the job and make it look right."
Two years prior, Josh Thomson floored Nate with a headkick, prompting brother Nick to throw in the towel even as the referee moved in to stop the fight. It seemed like an irrefutable result. Josh Thomson, at least on that night, was the better man. Nate disagreed.
"[Thomson] didn't come in there and put no ass whooping on me," he told BJPenn.com Radio shortly after the fight. "You know what I'm saying? He didn't come in there and make anything happen. I have never fought somebody before who had ever wanted out of a fight so bad... [He] was scared shitless when I was fighting him. It's unbelievable how scared he was in there. He was running for his life... He was making bitch ass lady sounds and that's not bullshit. I'm not here talking shit on him, this is reality. He was making woman sounds. He was running out of the clinch. I hit him in the face and he was going ‘Oh, oh, ehh' making woman sounds I've never even heard out of a man before during a fight. I'm hearing his corner telling him to smile and I'm like, ‘Yeah, smile motherfucker.'"
For many fighters, this kind of self-belief would be a weakness. It would suggest that the fighter in question is incapable of accepting defeat, and therefore incapable of making improvements. But for all of his excuses, Nate Diaz is not an unbeatable fighter, and he knows that.
Like his brother, Nate is more hard worker than natural athlete. His dangerous submissions are the product of 17 years of training; his rangey boxing the perfect foil for the come-forward style of big brother Nick, honed over a decade of hard sparring against mixed martial artists and professional boxers alike; his famous stamina the hard-earned reward of countless marathons, triathlons, and cross-country bike rides. He is not gifted with natural power, or unstoppable strength, nor is he particularly fast. Diaz's fights, like his extracurricular activities, are long-distance affairs.
And before he reaches the finish line, Diaz almost always absorbs punishment. He is notoriously easy to cut, his stern brow bearing the marks of a dozen old wounds. Even when he wins, Nate tends to take hard shots, or find himself pinned to the canvas. He claims to have fought injured for at least 10 of his fights.
Thus his undefeated mindset is tempered by the reality of his body and the demands of unarmed combat. Unlike some of his compatriots--unlike Conor McGregor--Nate Diaz knows, even when he is winning, that fighting is not easy. It comes at a price, and in 10 of his professional bouts Nate has failed to waive the fee. Winning got Conor McGregor where he is today, but it was losing that enabled Nathan Diaz to beat him.
There is even a kind of humility beneath Diaz's macho exterior. Behind all the flexing and mean mugging, there is an acceptance of risk that most fighters do not possess. He knows that fighting is chaos, that anything can happen on any given night. He knows that he can lose, and be humiliated. And he doesn't care. "I write it off from the beginning," he told Conan O'Brien. "Like, ‘I'm probably gonna get knocked out.' Just take that and accept it. And then go in there and make it happen. When it doesn't happen, when you come out with a win, that's pretty exciting."
Prior to UFC 196, Diaz spoke to TMZ about the unpredictability of the fight game. "I think you should beat everybody on your worst day, but you can never be ready enough for a fight anyway. [I] might get murked... Or he might."
Even though he thinks of himself as the best fighter on the planet, Nate Diaz does not shy away from the worst possible outcome. He makes his peace with it--befriends it--and then dares himself to overcome.
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For a full, in-depth breakdown of Diaz vs McGregor 2, check out the latest episode of Heavy Hands, the only podcast dedicated to the finer points of face-punching.Sen. Debbie Stabenow Deborah (Debbie) Ann StabenowOvernight Health Care: Senators grill drug execs over high prices | Progressive Dems unveil Medicare for all bill | House Dems to subpoena Trump officials over family separations Senators grill drug execs over high prices Land conservation tax incentives should inspire charitable giving, not loopholes MORE (D-Mich.) will deliver the opening remarks at the progressive Women's Convention in Detroit later this month.
The convention is being organized by the Women's March, the group that organized massive protests in Washington and cities around the country after President Trump's inauguration in January.
The event will bring together politicians and activists for "workshops, strategy sessions, [and] inspiring forums" as they gear up for the 2018 midterm elections.
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“It was amazing to be part of the Women’s Marches and witness democracy in action,” Stabenow said in a statement. “I fully expect to see that same turnout, passion and energy here in Detroit, and I look forward to speaking with women leaders from across the country.”
Stabenow, who is up for reelection in 2018, could face a challenge from musician Kid Rock, who has teased a potential GOP bid for months.
Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernard (Bernie) SandersSenate Dems seek to turn tables on GOP in climate change fight Bernie Sanders Town Hall finishes third in cable news race, draws 1.4 million viewers Woman to undecided Biden: 'Just say yes' to 2020 bid MORE (I-Vt.) will also speak on the opening night of the conference, a invitation that sparked controversy and drew criticism from many sponsors and women's groups.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), who has called for Trump's impeachment, will speak at the conference on Saturday evening.
"As we gear up for the 2018 midterm elections, The Women’s Convention will tap into the power of women in leadership as the fundamental, grassroots force for change," the group's statement said.MANILA (UPDATE) - A photo of President Rodrigo Duterte on the government-issued IDs for overseas Filipino workers has drawn flak on social media, with a Palace official saying the Chief Executive would not have approved of its design.
Palace Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson posted on her Facebook account a photo of the OFW card bearing the President’s photo, something which earned the criticism of anti-Duterte accounts on the social media platform.
“Can we make it fair and square by removing Mr. Duterte's image so that the OFW can have a peaceful and stress-free life? This is totally wrong! It's better to put the HEROES, or the flag...but Duterte's image? My goodness! What is happening to our country?” said one Facebook user.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III defended the placing of Duterte’s photo on the ID, saying it was meant to highlight the President’s advocacy for the OFWs.
“I just want to to underscore yung concern ng President sa kapakanan ng mga manggagawa,” Bello told ABS-CBN News.
“Pinapakita namin na ito ay project niya...Hindi naman siya kandidato.”
According to Bello, the OFW card shall serve as the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) of OFWs.
He said the cards will also soon be recognized by other government agencies such as Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund, among others.
Bello said an initial batch of 500 OFW cards have been distributed and the government intends to distribute the cards to all OFWs and former OFWs.
He added the cards have no expiration, meaning it will be “part of the system” even after Duterte steps down.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque III, meanwhile, said he will seek clarification from the President about the matter, adding the Chief Executive probably would not have approved of it.
“Hindi ba pati ang mga pictures niya sa mga offices pinapalitan niya ng mga heroes? I don’t think he knew about this,” Roque said.
Sought for further clarification by ABS-CBN News on whether the design of the OFW card was approved by the President, Bello said the design was an “initiative of DOLE.”
Duterte enjoys strong support among OFWs, garnering a huge number of votes from the sector during the 2016 presidential polls.A Texas mother died and her two young daughters were hurt after they fell about 25 feet from a four-person chairlift Thursday morning at Ski Granby Ranch in Grand County.
Ray Jennings, chief officer for emergency management at Grand County EMS, said first responders were called to the ski area about 10 a.m. The three were taken to the nearby Middle Park Medical Center.
The 40-year-old woman died at the hospital, and one of the daughters was flown on Flight for Life to Children’s Hospital Colorado. The other child was in stable condition at Middle Park. The girls are 9 and 12 years old.
It was not clear what prompted the fall, causing the first chairlift fall death in Colorado in 14 years.
Schelly Olson, spokeswoman for the incident command, said the three were the only ones on the chair when they fell somewhere between the lift’s loading area and summit. The chair remained attached to the line.
Olson said there were many witnesses: “People on the chairs in front. People on the chairs in back. People on the hill.”
Chairlift deaths from malfunctions or falls are exceedingly rare in the United States, according to the National Ski Areas Association. Deaths from malfunctions have totaled just 12 from 1973 through October, and there were three deaths from falls between 2004 and October, the NSAA reports.
Rod Kessler, a ski area spokesman, said they fell from the Quick Draw Express lift. The lift — a detachable quad, which is often called a “high-speed” lift — was shut down “just to make sure everything is in order,” Kessler said.
This is the lift where 3 people fell at Granby Ranch this morning. One died. pic.twitter.com/g9Drcyeg4H — Lance Hernandez (@lancehernandez7) December 29, 2016
Jennings said the Grand County Sheriff’s Office and Granby Police Department are investigating, as is the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board. The names of the three have not been released, but officials say they were visiting from Texas with other family members.
Ski Granby Ranch is about 20 miles west of Winter Park. The small, 400-acre family-oriented resort is known for being a spot for beginner skiers and snowboarders. It has just four chairlifts.
The last chairlift fall death in Colorado is believed to have occurred in 2002.
“(Since) that time, there have been 1.7 billion chairlift rides,” said Chris Linsmayer, a spokesman for Colorado Ski Country USA. “It’s super rare. It really doesn’t happen very often, and it’s not something that folks need to concerned about.”
According to an October report by the NSAA, the last death on a chairlift attributed to a malfunction was in 1993. As of the 2015-16 ski season, the annual fatality rate per 100 million miles traveled on ski lifts was 0.14.
In 1976, two cars from Vail’s 7-year-old gondola – each carrying six skiers – plummeted 125 feet, killing four people in one of the most deadly lift incidents in the United States. In 1985, a bullwheel at Keystone Resort failed, sending waves down the line that threw 60 people off the Teller Lift, two of whom later died from their injuries.
In April 2009, a Rhode Island man with no significant medical history died after losing consciousness on a chairlift in Breckenridge. Attempts to revive him at the top of the lift were unsuccessful.
In January, a skier pushed a snowboarder off an Aspen Highlands chairlift. Thomas Proesel, who was accused of first-degree assault in the case, was found not guilty by reason of insanity. The snowboarder was not seriously hurt.MELBOURNE, Australia — Tim Flannery, a scientist and environmentalist who was named Australian of the Year in 2007, lost his job in 2013. The right-wing government of then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott shut down the Climate Commission that Flannery headed in a peremptory move designed to demonstrate its contempt for climate change. The commission had been established two years earlier to provide “authoritative information” to the Australian public.
Abbott, of the conservative Liberal Party, had no time for such information. Climate change, he argued in his autobiography, was bunk. It had been “happening since the earth’s beginning.” Therefore it made no sense to “impose certain and substantial costs on the economy now in order to avoid unknown and perhaps even benign changes in the future.”
“To Abbott, I was the devil incarnate,” Flannery told me. Throughout the developed world — from the “Drill, baby, drill!” crowd in the United States to Abbott’s “ax-the-tax” attack on clean-energy legislation in Australia — denial of climate change has become a tribal, almost masonic badge of the coal and fossil-fuel loving right. In today’s culture wars it’s as much of a wedge issue as any.
Through crowdfunding, Flannery raised enough money in short order to turn the state-funded commission into the Climate Council, an independent nonprofit organization with the same role. Earlier this month, he headed for the Great Barrier Reef to see what “benign changes,” as Abbott would have it, global warming has produced in the world’s largest coral reef. He found what he saw northeast of Port Douglas on the outer rim of the reef devastating.Whispers of "payback" are being directed at Hillary Clinton after she decried as "unprecedented" the surprise FBI revival of its probe of her email scandal.
That's because 24 years ago, as former President George H.W. Bush was surging back against challenger Bill Clinton, a special prosecutor raised new charges against Bush in the Iran-Contra probe, prompting Clinton to claim he was running against a "culture of corruption."
Many Republicans claimed that the indictment made by special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh against former Reagan-era Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger the weekend before the 1992 election cost Bush a second term. The indictment, later thrown out, challenged Bush's claim that he did not know about a controversial arms-for-hostages deal that dogged the Reagan-Bush administration.
When it came, Clinton seized on it, saying for example, "Secretary Weinberger's note clearly shows that President Bush has not been telling the truth when he says he was out of the loop." Clinton added, "It demonstrates that President Bush knew and approved of President Reagan's secret deal to swap arms for hostages."
Powerline blogger Paul Mirengoff wrote, "What goes around comes around."
He concluded:
The Clintons seized on the new indictment, howling about a "culture of corruption" that supposedly pervaded the administration. Bush's poll numbers declined and Bill Clinton won the election.
Shortly after the election, a federal judge threw out the new indictment because it violated the five-year statute of limitations and improperly broadened the original charges. President Bush then pardoned Weinberger.
Keep this history in mind during the coming days when you hear Democratic hacks talking about how awful it is for law enforcement officials and/or prosecutors to "interfere" in the presidential election process.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.comIn Bel Air, where the median household income is $207,938, one entrance to the neighborhood was scheduled to be closed for filming for eight hours during one night last week. Neighbors were incensed. An un-bylined article in the Beverly Hills Courier:
Residents have been besieged by overdevelopment, construction, excavation vehicles and DWP improvements following the sinkhole incident in front of UCLA last summer. The additional stress of filming puts the community as a whole at risk.
In Adams-Normandie, where the median household income is $29,606, petroleum company Freeport McMoRan wants to expand oil drilling operations (including drilling a new well) without conducting any environmental review. Neighbors are worried that the site holds acid and other hazardous chemicals and that Freeport McMoRan is using dangerous extraction methods; in 2011, "a fine mist" of oil sprayed on a house and cars in the neighborhood, according to KPCC. The company says the city let them out of a requirement to keep two properties as a buffer zone between drilling and residents, according to the LA Times.
The LAFD, which is supposed to oversee the site, has one documented visit to the site in the nearly 50 years it's been in operation. (It's not the only probably hazardous oil drilling operation in South LA either.) A rep for the area's City Councilmember, Bernard Parks, says "He's not taking a position on the issue." Here's nearby resident Jackie Garcia:
"It's kind of dangerous, I don't agree with that at all," she says. A mother of two, Garcia has a third baby on the way. But she's never complained to the city. "I didn't think that I was – that I had the option," she says.
· Some Bel Air Residents Are Livid Their Street Will Close Briefly for Filming [Curbed LA]
· 'Routine' planning hearing raises questions about L.A.'s oversight on oil drilling [KPCC]
· What it's like to have 30 oil & gas wells as neighbors [Grist]Google’s latest version of Android is already rolling out to the company’s Nexus and Pixel devices and will begin launching on new smartphones starting with the new LG V20.
If you’re still waiting, Google is pushing Nougat to those on the Android beta programme first, so if you must have it right now, join the beta quickly to get it updated to the final version of Android 7.0.
Here are all the features to look forward to and things to tweak.
1. Quick reply
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Quick replies are now available for almost any messaging app on Android. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
There’s no need to actually go to into a messaging app anymore, as basically everything gets quick reply through the new modifications made to Android’s notifications.
You can reply to messages, see other replies and conduct your business without ever leaving the app you were already in. It’s great.
2. Longer battery life
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Doze helps prolong battery life whenever the phone is locked. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
You don’t have to do anything for the new version of Doze to give you better battery life apart from update your phone. Doze reduces the impact that apps not actively running in the foreground have on battery life by working out which ones need to receive updates and use the processor, and which don’t.
Using Marshmallow, that only happened when the phone was not moving around, but now it works even if the phone is in your pocket. It should give you anywhere between 10% and 25% longer battery life, depending on how long you leave the phone in standby.
3. Multitasking without having to hack around
Facebook Twitter Pinterest If you really must continue watching that video while checking Twitter, now you can, using Google’s native multitasking support. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
A few Android phones, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Note series, have had side-by-side app multitasking before, but now it’s baked into Android and works with almost every app out of the box.
Simply hold the overview button on the right side of the navigation bar when in an app to choose another to place beside it or above it.
4. Quick app switch
Facebook Twitter Pinterest The square button in the bottom right is your app-switching friend. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
Almost better than multitasking – double tap the overview button to jump to the last used app. Switching from one app to the other has never been faster.
5. More emoji
Facebook Twitter Pinterest More emoji, because there never can be enough emoji, apparently. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
Thanks to an update to Unicode 9, 72 new emoji have joined the party, bringing the total to over 1,500. You’ll never be without the appropriate pictogram to get your point across, if you can find it in the massive list, that is.
Now you can:
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
6. Edit Quick settings
Facebook Twitter Pinterest The top five quick settings panes can be changed to modify what’s always displayed at the top of the notification shade. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
Quick settings are better than ever. Now you get a top line of settings without opening the rest. That line contains the first five of the full quick settings panel that can now be edited. Just tap the edit button on the bottom right of the quick settings panel and move them around by holding and dragging.
7. System UI tuner
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Unlock the System UI tuner by holding down the cog at the top of the quick setting panel. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
If you want more customisations of the icons on the status bar, the do not disturb settings or a swipe-up gesture for split-screen multitasking, the hidden System UI tuner is your friend.
To activate it, hold the cog at the top of the quick settings panel for around 3-5 seconds. A menu right at the bottom of the main settings list called “System UI Tuner” will then appear for you to play around with.
8. Power notification controls
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Power notifications provides granular control over what apps can and can’t notify about and when. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
Inside the System UI tuner menu there’s a setting for even more granular control over notifications called power notification controls.
There are various levels of notification access, which can prevent notifications from showing when an app is full screen but still make a sound or vibrate, for instance, instead of outright blocking them. Activating power notification settings in the System UI tuner adds a new slider to notification settings that allows you to pick how important they are, instead of the app automatically picking for you.
9. Data saver
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Data saver helps stop unintentional data use, but may reduce or block notifications in the background. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
If you have a tight or no mobile data budget, the new built-in data saver function can help. The setting hidden under Data usage stops apps from sending or receiving data when in the background and limits an app’s data usage when being actively used.
You an set a whitelist to allow free data access for certain apps, and there’s a quick toggle available too. The feature isn’t the same as the data saver function of Chrome, which must be activated separately.
10. Change the DPI and font size
Facebook Twitter Pinterest If you want to display more on the screen or need things a little larger, the display size and text size tools are your friend. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
If the text and icons on screen are just too big or too small, now you can adjust how big everything is. The Display size setting allows you to magnify everything, reformatting the screen, while the Font size setting just affects the type face of text.
11. Cat collecting
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Cats. Because the internet loves them. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs for the Guardian
Android 7.0 Nougat comes with a built-in cat collecting game. It’s an easter egg mini-game similar to Neko Atsume.
To activate it, scroll down the list of settings to About and tap on the Android version number three times to bring up a big N logo. Tap the N logo a couple of times before holding down on it until a cat emoji pops up at the bottom of the screen.
Then edit your quick settings panel and add the Android easter egg tile to your collection. Then tap on the empty dish to put out bait and wait.Missing Youth - Juran MEECHES
The Brandon Police Service is requesting the publics assistance in finding the following missing youth………….
Juran MEECHES age 15, date of birth 2000-10-12
He is described as an Indigenous male youth who is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 135 lbs with short brown hair and brown eyes. He does not have any tattoos or other distinguishing marks.
Meeches left his foster home in Brandon on August 30th and has been seen in the area of the 800 block of Russell and Dennis St several times after that. He is believed to be in Brandon at this time. He is at a high risk to do to potential alcohol and drug abuse.
Anyone with information on the location of Juran MEECHES is asked to contact the Brandon police Service at 204 729 2345.
RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY:
Sgt B. Brown #114
204 729 2373
Anyone with information on any unsolved crime is asked to call Brandon Crime Stoppers at 204-727-(TIPS) 8477, www.brandoncrimestoppers.com or by texting BCSTIP and your message to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stoppers pays up to $2000.00 cash for information that leads to the solution of a crime.
CRIME STOPPERS 204-727-TIPSAfter months of dreary earnings reports, Midway Games got a brief reprieve in November with the release of the decently reviewed Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. However, the honeymoon didn't last. This morning, the publically traded publisher issued a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that revealed it is carrying a whopping $240 million in debt. That's $72.5 million more than the $167.5 million in total assets--including property--that the company had as of September 30.
Midway's debt breaks down as follows: $150 million is from various note holders (with Wells Fargo as trustee), and another $90 million is from the publisher's former majority shareholder, National Amusements. National Amusements is headed by Sumner Redstone, the multimedia mogul who controls MTV parent Viacom and GameSpot parent CBS. Last week, gloomy stock-market conditions forced Redstone to sell his $30 million stake in the company for $100,000--and the assumption of $70 million of debt--to a private financier buyer, Mark Thomas.
As a result of the ownership change, Midway's debtors are able to call in the company's debts if they so choose. "Based on current market conditions, the registrant [Midway] expects that all holders of the [debt] notes will elect to require the registrant to repurchase their notes," it read. Indeed, Midway has apparently already received notices from investors eager to get their money back.
According to the terms of the $150 million loan, Midway has 20 days to send its debt holders notices of the controlling interest change. Said debt holders then have the option to demand the Chicago-based company repay their loans at 100 percent value--"plus accrued and unpaid interest"-- within 30 days. In short, that means that in mid-January 2009, Midway could default on debt worth nearly twice the $75.9 million quarterly loss that it reported in November. In the company's own words, "If this were to occur, the Registrant [Midway] does not believe, on the basis of its current liquidity, that it would have the ability to satisfy its obligation with respect to the repurchase of the [debt] Notes."
Even worse, defaulting on the $150 million debt would trigger a provision that would let National Amusements call in the $90 million that it loaned Midway. Again, in the filing's own words, "If these amounts were declared immediately due and payable, the Registrant [Midway] does not believe, on the basis of its current liquidity, that it would have the ability to satisfy its obligations to repay these amounts [to National Amusements]."
So what happens then? "I can't really comment other than to say we're pushing forward," a senior Midway corporate communications rep told GameSpot. The rep did confirm that for several weeks prior to today's announcement, Midway has been working with investment bank Lazard to come up with "liquidity solutions" that will be announced "as soon as possible." In the meantime, Midway is sticking to its 2009 release schedule, which has the long-delayed Vin Diesel-starring game the Wheelman launching in mid-February. It also revealed that a sequel to its TNA Impact wrestling game is slated for release later in the year.Not content with the avalanche of titles currently confirmed for the various PlayStation platforms, Sony has established a brand new division dedicated to bringing third-party content to its consoles. Creatively dubbed Third-Party Production, the new unit will focus on porting and localising games for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Vita.
Announced during a PAX Prime 2013 panel overnight, the division was founded as a result of the recently announced Borderlands 2 port for the Vita. Gio Corsi, a former lead producer at LucasArts and executive producer on the now-defunct Star Wars 1313, has been hired to run the operation. You can pester him for ports on Twitter.
This is enormous news, because it now means that there’s an avenue for titles such as, say, Yakuza 5 to release overseas. While publisher SEGA may not be too keen on the idea of bringing the game to the west, theoretically Corsi and his crew could work with the Japanese company to get it localised. It also means that there’s hope for more Vita releases of big games.
So, what third-party content that isn’t currently in the pipeline would you like to see released on the numerous PlayStation platforms? Feel free to plead your case in the comments section below, and we’ll send this thread to Corsi at the end of the day.Still recovering from what was likely an avoidable public relations debacle, United Airlines is again making headlines after two passengers — a couple traveling to their own wedding — said they were kicked off their flight.
Michael Hohl and his fiancee, Amber Maxwell, had planned on flying Saturday from Salt Lake City to Costa Rica, with a layover at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Hohl told KHOU. But he said they were unable to leave Texas that day because flight crews told them to deplane before takeoff.
A United spokeswoman, Maggie Schmerin, said in a statement that the passengers “repeatedly attempted” to sit in upgraded seating they didn’t pay for and did not follow instructions from crews to go back to their assigned seats. The two were then asked to leave the plane, she said.
Hohl’s account of what happened is quite different.
He told KHOU that he and Maxwell moved to two vacant seats because a sleeping passenger was sprawled across their seats a few rows away. After airline personnel told them to go back to their assigned seats, they complied, Hohl said; still, he said, law enforcement officers came in minutes later and escorted them off the plane.
[Here’s what United will do differently after the infamous dragging incident]
“We did politely, quietly and without incident,” Hohl said. “We got to the gate and asked why, and they said because we were in the wrong seat and being disruptive.”
According to United, the seats Hohl and Maxwell had moved to were considered Economy Plus, an upgrade from the ones they had paid for. Schmerin, the United spokeswoman, said the airline asked the couple if they wanted to pay the difference in fare, but that they declined. United offered them a discounted rate at a hotel for Saturday night and rebooked them for a Sunday morning flight.
Michael McCarthy, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, said that neither federal air marshals nor TSA officers were involved in the incident.
The Washington Post was unable to reach Hohl and Maxwell on Monday. Their wedding is scheduled for Thursday, according to KHOU.
The incident came just days after a paying passenger was violently dragged off an overbooked United flight for refusing to give up his seat for an off-duty crew member.
A United official told passengers that the airline needed volunteers to give up their seats but no one volunteered, so the airline chose the passengers.
Now-viral videos taken by other passengers showed a now-suspended security officer leaning over to grab one passenger, David Dao, and pulling him up. At some point, a bloodied Dao went limp, and the officer dragged him by the arms across the aisle and off the plane. Two other officers have been placed on leave.
United Airlines said a man wouldn't give up his spot on a flight. According to witnesses, he was pulled screaming from his seat by security and back to the terminal at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. (The Washington Post)
The incident on April 9 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport — and United chief executive Oscar Munoz’s muted response to it — prompted worldwide outrage, particularly from China, where anger was fueled by reports that the passenger was Asian. Dao is originally from Vietnam.
The 69-year-old doctor from Kentucky suffered a concussion and a broken nose and lost two front teeth. Dao’s attorney, Thomas Demetrio, told reporters at a news conference last week that his client will “probably” sue the airline.
“I would defy anyone to suggest there was not unreasonable force and violence used to help Dr. Dao disembark that plane,” Demetrio said.
[A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight. So he was dragged off, battered and limp.]
On April 10, the day after the incident, Munoz issued a statement apologizing “for having to re-accomodate” the customers. In a letter the CEO sent to his employees, Munoz appeared to blame Dao, saying the passenger “refused” to cooperate after he was “politely asked” to leave, prompting crews to call the Chicago Department of Aviation for help.
A more humbled statement from Munoz came on Tuesday, after United’s stock prices plummeted. Munoz apologized to Dao and said he was “disturbed” by what had happened to him on the plane. He also promised a review of policies regarding overbooked flights, and to have a public report by the end of the month.
On Friday, United announced that it is updating its policy and will no longer allow crew members to displace passengers who are already seated on a plane. Off-duty airline crews are now required to check in at least an hour before a flight leaves. Previously, crews could be booked up until the time of departure, Schmerin, the spokeswoman, said.
Avi Selk and Lori Aratani contributed to this story.
Read more:
Why people will keep flying United even if they don’t want to
United CEO Oscar Munoz: The rise and fall of a ‘Communicator of the Year’
The chain collision of Pepsi, United and Sean Spicer fail — in one memeSecret of Chess
By Zhigen Lin, Melbourne, Australia
Chess is a very popular recreational and competitive game. It is one of the great mind games which our ancestors have invented. The current form of the game emerged in Southern Europe during the second half of the 15th century after evolving from similar, much older games of Persian and Indian origin. Today, chess is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide in clubs, at home, by correspondence, online, and in tournaments. This is the variant I'm talking about today.
I wanted to talk about the much-discussed "secret of chess". So, how do we solve this seemingly simple recreational and competitive game, played on a square chequered chessboard with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight square between two players? The answer of course, is not that easy to find, however in my constant practice and research, I believe I have found at least one answer.
There are many possible hypotheses for the "secret of chess". I will give my opinion on some of the myths I think are busted (I'm not sure if there's a reference there to some TV show there) and which hypotheses I think are plausible.
1. Computers will solve the game of chess.
Computers are strong opponents and the best analyse many millions of positions per second (e.g. Rybka), however, simply look at the statistics - there are 318,979,564,000 possible ways to play the first four moves of chess. In addition, America's Foundation for Chess found that there were 169,518,829,100,544,000,000,000,000,000 ways to play the first ten moves of chess. For a computer to solve the game of chess, it would have get through every possibility for a whole game, and it would also have to assess every single position correctly.
On another note, if a computer solves the game of chess, a person could not possibly remember what to do against any possible move in order to beat someone - it's just too difficult. The use of computers to try to solve the game of chess is inefficient, see hypothesis number 4 for a better use of computers.
Assessment: Busted.
2. Secret of Chess: Maximise the opportunities for your opponent to make mistakes.
In a 2003 article concerning the world's strongest nonagenarian (the strongest active player in chess in the world aged ninety or older), the authors gave a possible answer. The information was provided by writers Neil Sullivan and Yves Casaubon. The strongest nonagenarian in ChessBase's opinion at the time was Arkadiy M. Gilman (rated FIDE 2237 in 2003), who hails from Russia and lives in Canada.
Anyway, in the analysis to "Gilman,A - Grondin,J [D02], Le Bolduc II - A Montreal CAN (6), 08.10.2003", which was a win for Gilman is 23 moves, the authors subtly slipped in the secret of chess. In my opinion, this is the |
6-overall draft pick to select left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
Thus, Monroe became expendable following two-plus years of being unreliable.
After signing a five-year, $37.5 million extension in 2013, Monroe has missed 15 regular-season games. Undrafted left tackle James Hurst has played more regular-season snaps than Monroe the past couple years, not including two playoff games in 2014 that Hurst started.
After being very durable during his five years in Jacksonville, Monroe missed games in Baltimore due to a multitude of injuries to his shoulder, knee, ankle and head.
Monroe had surgery to repair a torn labrum (shoulder) this offseason, and used the time off to become the first active NFL player to openly campaign for the use of medical marijuana. The Ravens did not rally behind the cause.
“I promise you, he does not speak for the organization,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said this offseason.
Monroe did not participate in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and was held out of minicamp after being cleared to play. The Ravens didn’t want to risk another injury that could jeopardize trade discussions.By Seth Daniel
When residents walk along the new Wynn Boston Harbor walkway, it won’t be like a lot of the HarborWalk areas in Boston where bulkhead walls provide a sharp cutoff between the land and the water.
Instead, residents will see what was there before the chemical plants moved in and before the property lay dormant for decades – they’ll see what nature intended in the form of a Living Shoreline. That shoreline will not include sharp cutoffs with the water underneath, but rather a slow incline to the water filled with native salt marsh plantings in the tidal areas and, further up, fully native plants between the walkway and the marsh.
Wynn Boston Harbor has been preparing part of their waterfront for a Living Shoreline since April, and in the next few weeks workers will move in to start planting three different varieties of salt marsh grasses in the tidal areas.
Later in the fall, the native coastal plantings will be put in, with all of it resting on a temporary “rock roll” that holds everything in place for about two years until the restoration takes root.
“In the beginning we were not Living Shoreline experts, but during the environmental permitting process, the various groups talked us into it,” said Chris Gordon, president of Wynn Massachusetts Design and Development. “We ended up coming to the conclusion that it was a good idea. Some people may say that the environmental regulation process is a pain, but this is an example of how it isn’t like that. This was a good idea that came out of that process. We talked to the Watershed Association and others and they talked us into it. It was a great idea…We could have done rip-rap, revetments, boulders or other things, but we liked this idea best when we looked at it.”
Gordon added that it fits in with Wynn’s promise to bring the waterfront back to the people – and in the state it was in before industry blocked Everett from its waterfront.
“We said we were going to bring back the shoreline here to the people as part of the development,” he said. “This is bringing it back the way it was long before residents were walled off from the shoreline by industry and contamination…We also think it’s going to set a precedent for developments that are coming afterward. They’re not going to see this and then want to put rip-rap or boulders. It’s going to be contagious once people see it.”
Mayor Carlo DeMaria was happy to hear that the Living Shoreline project was about to begin. He said one of the main reasons he pushed so hard for the casino was to make sure things like this took place in Everett.
“For over 100 years industrial uses along our riverbanks have walled off the Everett shoreline from our residents,” he said. “Restoring the riverbanks to their natural state has been a major priority of mine. The Wynn team, through their creative efforts, is opening up our waterfront for the first time in a generation. Not only will people have access to the waterfront for the first time, but they are also restoring our shoreline to its natural state. This work includes the restoration of a natural beach and native vegetation along the harbor walk way. By doing so, we improve water quality, provide fisheries habitat, increase biodiversity, and promote recreation. In addition, living shorelines are more resilient against storms and reduces coastal flooding.”
Gordon said the Living Shoreline isn’t any more expensive than putting a sharp edge like the bulkheads. In fact, about 50 percent of the shoreline will be a bulkhead formation to accommodate boats. However, the remaining parts will be a softer, natural shore.
The Living Shoreline concept is very new and innovative, especially in Boston where there is only one other example, which is at Clippership Wharf in East Boston.
However, the idea may grow as it provides great flood and storm surge protection, something that has become very important in Greater Boston through protecting shorelines from sea level rise (which is known as Climate Resiliency).
Wynn officials said their primary reasoning for introducing the Living Shoreline into the project came down to three main points.
First, a 2015 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study showed that living shorelines can help reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere while increasing coastal resilience.
Second, acre for acre, salt marsh can store two to three times as much carbon over the course of a year as mature tropical forests.
Finally, living shorelines have been demonstrated to be more resilient to hurricane impacts than shorelines hardened with bulkheads.
That will be very important for the Wynn property as the future is uncertain with regards to sea level rise and storm surge.
Right now, workers are preparing the foundations for the Living Shoreline.
Already, they have completed the placing of the “rock roll,” which is simply large rocks rolled into a coconut fiber sheathing that will disintegrate after a few years. That is simply in place to keep everything from washing away when it’s taking root.
A silt and fine sand surface has been placed in the tidal zone to accommodate the salt marsh grasses. Those grasses have been cultured in a nursery and are growing in waters taken from the Mystic River so they are acclimated to the conditions before being planted. They are expected to be planted by hand during low tide throughout the rest of the summer.
The upper plantings outside of the tidal zone will be placed in a loam mixture and will be placed in the fall.
It is hoped that by October, the Living Shoreline will be in place.
Gordon said that would feed into the dredging project for the Mystic River waterway just off the casino property. That is still in the permitting stage, but it is hoped that will be approved soon.
The bid is already out and the hope is to start by October after the fish have migrated and spawned in the River. Due to the fish migration patterns, dredging is only allowed from October to February in the Mystic River.Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The Caracas rally was peaceful but ended with minor clashes
Hundreds of thousands of people have marched through the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, to protest against President Nicolas Maduro.
Opposition supporters, staging their largest rally for two years, called for Mr Maduro's removal.
They blame him for Venezuela's economic crisis and accuse the electoral commission of delaying a referendum that could shorten his stay in power.
Mr Maduro's supporters also rallied in large numbers.
He accuses the opposition of trying to stage a coup.
The opposition said close to a million people turned out for their march, dubbed the "Takeover of Caracas", but the government disputed the figures.
"We have shown to the world the importance of Venezuela and how much it wants change," said opposition politician Jesus Torrealba.
Dressed predominantly in white, they chanted "we are going to bring down Maduro".
Protesters said they had enough of the policies of the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela.
"We are going to defeat hunger, crime, inflation and corruption. They've done nothing in 17 years. Their time is finished," Naty Gutierrez told Reuters news agency.
A small group of protesters clashed with riot police as the peaceful rally ended.
Image copyright Wales News Service Image caption Protesters blame the socialist policies of the past 17 years for high inflation and crime
Image copyright Reuters Image caption There were clashes between anti-Maduro protesters and police
"The nation has triumphed. They wanted to intimidate the people but the people are here," said Mr Maduro at a rally in central Caracas he said was attended by 30,000 people.
"We have defeated an attempted coup that tried to fill Venezuela and Caracas with violence, death," he said.
Image copyright EPA Image caption Mr Maduro's six-year term ends in January 2019
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Government supporters hold a picture of the late president, Hugo Chavez, during a rival march in Caracas
In the run-up to the march, a number of opposition politicians were detained.
Last week, Daniel Ceballos of the opposition Popular Will party was returned to prison after having spent a year under house arrest awaiting trial on charges of rebellion.
The Interior Ministry said he was planning on escaping from house arrest to carry out acts of violence during Thursday's rally.
Mr Ceballos was one of the politicians arrested in 2014 over violent anti-government protests that swept through Venezuela at the time.
Forty-three people on both sides of the political divide where killed during those protests.
Popular Will party activists Carlos Melo and Yon Goicoechea have also been arrested over the past few days, the first suspected of carrying a "detonator cord" and the latter of carrying explosives.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Police detained a number of protesters
The opposition hopes the march will pressure the electoral authorities into allowing them to launch the second petition needed to trigger the recall referendum as soon as possible.
Timing is key as the date when the referendum is held will determine what happens next.
If a referendum should go against the president before 10 January, new elections will be held, which the opposition hopes to win.
But if it is held after that date and Mr Maduro is recalled, his loyal vice-president will serve out the end of his term until 2019.In 1878, 28-year-old Robert C. Morrison drifted from the East to Miles City, Montana, an oasis of barrooms, brothels and gambling dens in the hauntingly beautiful and remote plains and badlands of southeastern Montana. The place had begun as a watering hole for wandering buffalo hunters and the soldiers at nearby Fort Keogh; eventually cowboys, sheepherders, railroad workers and a cast of eccentric Britons would join in the fun.
He had an eye for the off-kilter, the anomalous and the marginalized. At his death, at age 87 in 1938, he left behind more than 3,600 glass-plate negatives, but a disagreement among his heirs left them gathering dust—until now. At the Montana Historical Society, which is printing the negatives, photo archivist Lory Morrow, says she and her staff “talk among ourselves” about Morrison’s unusual vision, which, while “off the mainstream” is also “more realistic” than the work of other photographers from that place and time.
“Jones shack along the Yellowstone” is the only identification of this photo, written by an unknown hand. Why did Morrison frame the boat as if it were marooned on the dry-as-toast plains? (He composed all his pictures carefully: the glass-plate negatives he used were fragile and expensive, and they required long exposure times.) The image captures the loneliness of homesteads once inhabited by hopeful pioneers. You can still see them along the Yellowstone River—abandoned and empty, relics of someone’s busted dream of turning the semi-arid land into a profitable farm or ranch.
Miles City lies on the south bank of the Yellowstone River, as does the Northern Pacific Railroad, which arrived in 1881. For those who settled north of the river, isolation was a given. For an instance, an Englishwoman named Evelyn Cameron—another glass-plate photographer of extraordinary talent—moved in 1902 with her husband to a log cabin some 40 miles northeast of Miles City, near Terry, Montana. Their ranch was, “shut in on two sides by the river & badlands,” she wrote her sister. To get their mail and supplies, “we have to ride or drive 28 miles & cross the Yellowstone by a ferry boat in summer & on ice in winter.... [E]verything down to the smallest tin tack has had to be hauled from Terry (14 miles), taken across a rapid river (1050 feet wide), the latter part of the way without any road.”
Thus a dingy could be considered an essential piece of ranch equipment—even if there’s not a drop of water in sight.No Need To Get Screened For Celiac Unless You Have Symptoms, Panel Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Brookes/Cultura RF/Getty Images Andrew Brookes/Cultura RF/Getty Images
Celiac disease, the autoimmune disorder that prevents people from digesting gluten, affects about 1 percent of the population.
But there's not enough evidence to recommend screening everybody to find that 1 percent, an advisory panel said Tuesday.
In people with celiac disease, eating foods with gluten inflames the lining of the intestine and makes it difficult to absorb nutrients. People who are diagnosed with the condition are told to cut gluten out of their diets entirely, which can be difficult and expensive, even as gluten-free products have become more widely available.
Gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye, and those three grains are found in an awfully large number of prepared and processed foods.
"Gluten-free diets are widely promoted, and I think a lot of individuals question and ask and wonder if gluten is bad for their health," says Dr. Alexander Krist, a family physician in Fairfax, Va., and a member of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent group that evaluates the effectiveness of preventive treatments.
"It's not uncommon for people to come to the doctor and ask if they should be avoiding gluten, and if they might have celiac disease and if they should be tested."
On Tuesday, the task force announced there is not enough evidence to recommend, or not recommend, that patients without symptoms of celiac disease should be screened for the condition.
"There are a group of individuals who have asymptomatic celiac or have subtle symptoms," says Krist. "Our main message is just that there really isn't evidence right now to say whether checking people if they don't have any signs or symptoms is beneficial."
The subtler symptoms of celiac disease include common things like abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea, so the task force's findings could still lead to more people getting tested.
The task force is also calling for more studies, especially of people who are at higher risk for celiac, including those with family members who have already been diagnosed and people with Type 1 diabetes.
As for consumers, Krist says, "If you're concerned that you might have celiac disease, or that you're having symptoms of celiac disease, I'd encourage people to talk with their doctor and to figure out what's right for them."
Dr. Ivor Hill directs the Celiac Disease Center at Nationwide Children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He says it's a challenge for physicians to figure out whether to test a patient for celiac disease, given the wide range of symptoms associated with the condition.
"It's extremely weird in its clinical presentation," he explains. "Although the disease affects the intestinal system, in fact more than half of patients have symptoms that are not even related to the gastrointestinal tract."
For example, people with celiac can suffer from anemia, weight loss, diarrhea, abdominal pain, chronic fatigue, osteoporosis, infertility and peripheral neurological problems.
He says the medical community is still split over how to handle people who do not have clear symptoms of celiac disease but are at higher risk for the condition.
"I think you'll get people on both sides of the fence who deal with celiac disease," Hill says. "There are those that avidly recommend everybody should be screened, and others who say, 'No, because we don't know, [I'd] rather follow those people closely and, if they develop symptoms, consider screening.' "
Hill says he generally lets patients choose. For example, if a child is diagnosed with celiac disease, parents wonder often whether to test their other children immediately, or test them only if symptoms of the condition emerge later. Hill says he generally tells them there is no evidence that either decision is harmful or beneficial, and they should choose whichever is right for them.
The primary test for celiac disease is simple blood test to look for the presence of an antibody that shows up in almost all people with celiac disease who are eating a diet that contains gluten. The tTG-IgA test, as it is called, is often covered by insurance for people with symptoms of celiac disease.
Dr. Joseph Murray, a celiac specialist and researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., warns that recognizing symptoms can be difficult for patients.
"There are a lot of people out there who might have symptoms but they don't associate them with celiac disease," he says. "They might be living with symptoms without knowing it. Maybe they move their bowels and it stinks so bad, you'd think something died up there. Or they have chronic fatigue, but maybe they attribute it to something else."
For that reason, Murray thinks doctors need to increase their level of suspicion when it comes to diagnosing celiac disease.
And, in an editorial accompanying the task force announcement published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Murray and co-author Rok Seon Choung write:
"Patients with atypical or nonspecific symptoms often report a delay in diagnosis of celiac disease that may last for years. Thus, screening would enable the earlier detection of symptomatic but undetected celiac disease and shorten the duration of symptoms."
Since the blood test is relatively cheap and non-invasive, and gluten-free food is easier to find than ever before, Murray says the medical community must come up with better data to decide who should be screened and treated for celiac disease.
For people who are concerned they might have celiac disease, Murray has the same advice as Krist and Hill: Go see your doctor.A good week in the NCAA, but a quiet week overall, in this edition of the prospect update. Let’s take a look at the stats!
CHL
Jansen Harkins assisted on one of the Cougars’ two goals on Saturday; a nice one-touch pass to open a lane for Colby McAuley. The Cougars were shut out the next night in Kelowna. Harkins continues to lead the Cougars in points with 60 on the season.
Matteo Gennaro went quiet this week, but the Hitmen won both games and now cling to a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Hitmen and Blades are tied, but the Hitmen have a game in hand.
Michael Spacek had another successful week with a goal and three assists. However, the Rebels are on a downward slide (1-6-2-1 in last 10) that has them on the verge of losing 3rd place in the Central Division.
Luke Green is still looking for his first point of the month, currently in an eight-game drought. Green had five shots on net this past week.
USHL
Good news – Mikhail Berdin returned from injury this week. Bad news – he was pulled just over seven minutes into the 2nd period after allowing 5 goals on 25 shots. The Stampede gave up two shorthanded goals on horrible turnovers and two more on the powerplay.
Below is a short example of my favourite part of Berdin’s game, his puck-handling abilities:
NCAA
Minnesota State captain CJ Franklin had another great weekend with a goal and two assists; his team winning both games against Northern Michigan. Franklin was 52% on the faceoff dot and had six shots on goal.
Tucker Poolman scored what we thought was his sixth goal of the season, but it was changed to an assist tonight. Let’s enjoy the shot anyway and you can judge for yourself.
Erik Foley scored another highlight goal on Saturday. Foley got just two shots on net this weekend as Providence lost one and took the next game to OT against Notre Dame.
Mason Appleton recorded a goal and an assist on Saturday in a 4-3 loss to Ohio State. Michigan State also lost Friday’s game 3-2. Appleton had five shots on net in the two losses.
Matt Ustaski tallied his second assist of the season just eight seconds into the game on Saturday. In his limited playing time, Ustaski recorded four shots on goal over the weekend and was 5-1 on faceoffs.
Jack Glover was scratched in both Minnesota games.
Overseas
Pavel Kraskovsky picked up a secondary assist this week. Kraskovsky was 50% on the faceoff dot (9 of 18) and had three shots on goal.
Sami Niku had another pair of assists this week in a 5-1 win over KalPa. Niku put six shots on net, averaging about 20 minutes of icetime.
Jacob Cederholm is now bouncing between HV71 and IK Pantern, playing a pair of games for IK Pantern before returning to HV71 for a game on the 18th. Cederholm was available as an extra defenceman, but did not step on the ice despite having a “game played”.
AHL
The Manitoba Moose lost all three games they played this week in regulation.
The last half of a six-game road trip for the Moose was not a kind one, starting with a 7-5 afternoon loss to the Griffins. Jack Roslovic and Kyle Connor each had a pair of assists in the loss. Chase De Leo got into the double digits with his 10th of the season.
Eric Comrie was pulled on Friday following the 2nd period, allowing 4 goals on 18 shots. Jamie Phillips took over for the final frame, stopping 5 of 6. Already down 5-1, Chase De Leo scored once again for his 11th of the season.
Despite his performance on Friday, Eric Comrie was given the start on Saturday and rebounded nicely, stopping 30 of 31. Unfortunately it was not enough, as the Moose were shut out 1-0 by Garret Sparks and the Marlies.
The Moose will look to get back into the win column with a four-game homestand beginning tonight against Rockford.
All stats current as of this morning.What do each of these symbols have in common? They are all trying to convey the exact same action–share! Sharing to a social network or via email is a ubiquitous action nowadays but designers still haven’t been able to reach a consensus on what symbol to use to represent it. Not only does each major platform use a different icon, but each has witnessed changes over the years.
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I have spent sometime thinking about this, trying to figure out which symbol best conveys sharing to the user. Uploader – iOS 7
I first saw this share icon when Apple announced iOS 7 on stage at WWDC 2013. I immediately recreated it only to discover that other people hated the new symbol.
The primary issue is that the iOS 7 share icon looks far too much like an upload symbol. If you place it side by side with the symbol for downloading, it’s immediately apparent that the iOS 7 share icon is quite confusing. The upward pointing arrow is the exact inverse of the download icon and the natural assumption is that it represents the opposite, uploading. The Outgoing Tray – Pre-iOS 7
The share icon from previous versions of iOS has been around for many years and is still being used in Mac OS X Mavericks (Mac OS X Yosemite will use the same share symbol as iOS 7’s). Overall, it is a well-designed symbol. It points outward from a tray, signifying sharing. Since it has been around for a long time–since the first iPhone–people have gradually become familiar with it.
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Three Dots – Android Share Symbol The Android share icon is a simple three dots with lines joining them. The same symbol is also used by ShareThis, a popular plugin for developers to share to all the popular social networks. It looks like a graph with nodes and vertices connecting them. It does not really convey any meaning at first glance, but if I were to venture a guess, the designer is trying to represent the idea of the single node on the left spreading out to two others on the right. Overall, the idea of this design is not immediately intuitive and the association of sharing with this symbol is purely because users have learned what it means over time. I suspect that only Apple users may have trouble recognizing this symbol.
The Y – Old Android The old Android ‘Y’ is one of the best representations of the concept of sharing purely based on its shape. Prior to Honeycomb, this share symbol was used across Android devices. It represents a single point spreading outward in two directions. This symbol is not widely used now, but I still really like this symbol because the arrows represent outward motion, much like the act of sharing, and also because it is vertically symmetrical. I think that this is one of the best representations of the concept of sharing purely based on its shape.
The Circle – Windows 8
The Windows 8 share symbol is reminiscent of the Ubuntu logo and is used widely across OS and on Windows Phone devices. This is another completely abstract icon with no evident meaning to it. Without its accompanying label, a first time user would likely be very confused about the function of this icon.
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The Gift – Windows Phone 7
The Windows Phone 7 share icon of a present or gift is an odd, but fun choice. The concept behind the icon is obvious–a gift that you can share. However, the issue is that you don’t really share presents, you give them away. This icon was interesting and refreshing, but feels too unfamiliar to users. The first time I saw it, I had no clue what it did. This symbol was short-lived–it lasted about a year and a half–before Windows Phone adopted the new Windows 8 share icon. The Hands – Open Share Icon
Shareaholic attempted to create an universal share symbol that designers could use. The Open Share Icon was described thusly: The Open Share icon conveys the act of sharing by visually representing one hand passing an object to another hand, as in ‘pass it on’ or ‘sharing.’ The icon also represents an ‘eye,’ as in ‘look at this.’ Overall, it is an interesting concept and idea. Although it is fairly distinct, most users would not recognize the hands at first glance. If the hands are not immediately distinguishable, then the icon loses its meaning. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to have caught on and is rarely used on sites in the wild.
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Frustrated with all the different versions of share icons on various platforms, many designers have tried to create a ‘universal’ share symbol. These are some other icons that I have come across: The Spread
Some designers use the idea of spreading to represent sharing. It represents the idea of network effects quite well, but I find it overly complex and too cluttered to be a good share icon. The Graph Diagram
Some share icons consists of varied circle sizes with lines joining to the center dot. These icons look too much like graph diagrams. They may be a good representation of chemical elements bonding, but they definitely do not represent the concept of sharing well. The Open Hand
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Many years ago, the open hand symbol was used on shared network folders. Certain old enterprise software still uses the open hand symbol as the share action. However, those share actions usually denote sharing settings to a local area network, not sharing to social platforms. Many People
The many people symbol is usually used to mean sharing with specific collaborators or team members. I have never seen it used in the context of sharing to a social platform before. Milkshake! Sometimes, the best way to solve a design problem is to ask a non-designer. For this issue, I asked my housemate, a non-designer: “What comes to mind first when you think of sharing? How would you represent the action of sharing with a symbol?” He proceeded to draw a drink, which he explained was a milkshake, with two straws.
The milkshake icon is a really fun idea. It signifies the action of sharing quite well. However, there are two potential issues with this symbol. It is a bit jarring to have a milkshake amid all the other icons that we usually use. More importantly, this symbol seems to convey a very specific sharing concept–sharing the same object between two people. However, in the sharing context that we are discussing, it’s almost always the idea of sharing to many other platforms.
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All the share icons
Which icon should you use? It is unlikely that we will see a convergence to a single share symbol. Apple will not start using Android’s design language, Google is not going to implement Microsoft’s design, nor is Microsoft going to use another platform’s share icons. Since each of the big three OS companies has huge device market share, users will likely interact with at least three different types of symbols that represent the same action. The best icon is the one that users are most familiar with. The best icon is not the one that is the simplest, nor the one that makes the most sense. Instead, the best icon is one with which most users are already familiar. An effective icon is one that requires minimum effort for the user to translate that symbol to an action. It is unlikely that we will see a convergence to a single share symbol. Google is not going to implement Microsoft’s design, nor is Microsoft going to use another platform’s icons.
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You should use the share icon depending on the platform for which you’re building.
If you are developing on Apple iOS 7, you should use the share icon that is already in use on that platform, the “Uploader.” Similarly, your Android app should use the “three dots.” What if I just want to use the same symbol for all platform? If you want to pick a single universal share icon for your app or site regardless of the platform, the “Outgoing Tray” or the “3 dots” icons would be your best bet because they are the most recognized share icons today. However, I would recommend the “Outgoing Tray” over the “3 dots” because even for someone who has never interacted with an Apple product before, the outgoing tray icon still manages to convey the act of sharing. The 3 dots is far more abstract in its representation. In a year’s time, iOS 7’s “Uploader” (which will be used in iOS 8 and Mac OS X Yosemite) and Windows 8’s “Circle” will probably become the more recognized share icons. Best concept If I were to evaluate each of the share icons not by its familiarity with users or popularity among apps, but purely based on design, my vote would go to the “Y icon.” This icon is the least abstract, and the most straightforward way to represent an outward action, much like sharing something. It is highly distinct, and also vertically symmetrical. Unfortunately, it hasn’t yet been adopted widely.
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Today, I still use the “Outgoing Tray” as my default go-to share icon. Let me know which icon you use in your app or site in the comments below or on Twitter. [A version of this article originally appeared at Pixelapse. Read the original here.]Forget arcane mortgage bonds, toxic derivatives or a swiftly shifting regulatory landscape.
There’s a new systemic risk for the banking system to worry about. Or perhaps you might say, an operating systemic risk.
The Federal Reserve is warning US banks to prepare for a looming April 8 deadline, at which point Microsoft has stated that it will be ending its support for Windows XP, the operating system created in 2001. That means the tech company will no longer offer security patches—fixes which address potential vulnerability to cyberattack—or tech assistance. Microsoft has been urging its customers to switch to Windows 8.1.
Windows XP is used to run everything from some bank’s internal computers to automated teller machines (ATM). In fact, the Microsoft operating system serves as the backbone for 95% of the ATMs operated in America, Bloomberg reports. So losing Microsoft tech support may translate into heightened security problems for financial institutions. An interagency standards body known as the Federal Financial Financial Institutions Examination Council included this warning in a letter:
Potential problems include degradation in the delivery of various products and services, application incompatibilities, and increased potential for data theft and unauthorized additions, deletions, and changes of data.
The Fed—which has a broad regulatory responsibilities for parts of the US banking system—is taking the software change seriously and has issued specific warnings to community banks—as opposed to large Wall Street banks—as they may be more vulnerable to security breaches due to their smaller size. The Fed is urging them to prepare for security lapses to teller machines and other technological systems after the XP deadline passes:
Community banks are being targeted by cybercriminals through corporate account takeovers and ATM cash-out and other fraud schemes. The increasing complexity, sophistication, and frequency of cyberattacks require that banks remain attentive to elevated and evolving information security risks. Community bankers should engage their user groups and have direct discussions with their technology service providers to ensure that they are properly addressing cybersecurity risks, including “end of life” for XP support.
The XP software switch comes as security breaches at retailers like Target Corp. have put the spotlight on the older technology that some banks and credit card companies have been relying on. Even so, the Fed expects that some banks won’t upgrade their systems before the April deadline, which could expose them to security breaches.Life has been tumultuous lately, and I totally forgot that January 10th was the fifth year anniversary of The Dailies. Fortunately, comics are not aware of the passage of time (to my knowledge).
As a human, however, I am aware of the passage of time sometimes. For example, I know that my upcoming book contains 1,096 days of comic strips from the total 1,830 strips made so far.
You will be able to hold this book in your hands at TCAF this May, which is only 115 comic strips from now. My publisher has also informed me that we might have a handful of advance copies in time for The MoCCA Festival.
This book will be hardcover and adorned with silver and gold. The contents will be full colour. It will likely be heavy enough to subdue a home intruder if thrown correctly.
Although I’m a little surprised to realize that five years have passed since I started this project, my mind is most blown by the fact that there’s a James Kochalka quote on the back of my book. Fetch me my smelling salts, someone.
Anyway, thanks for reading and keep your eyes out for this thing. Happy belated birthday, comics.Just when you thought Uber had hit rock-bottom and was on its way back up...
In a somewhat stunning - even for Uber - series of events, Bloomberg reports that the ride-hailing service concealed a massive cyberattack - in which hackers stole personal data from 57 million customers - for more than a year... and paid the hackers $100,000 to keep quiet about the cyberattack.
This week, the ride-hailing company ousted Joe Sullivan, chief security officer, and one of his deputies for their roles in keeping the hack under wraps.
Compromised data from the October 2016 attack included names, email addresses and phone numbers of over 50 million Uber riders around the world, the company told Bloomberg on Tuesday.
The personal information of about 7 million drivers were accessed as well, including some 600,000 U.S. driver’s license numbers.
“None of this should have happened, and I will not make excuses for it,” Dara Khosrowshahi, who took over as chief executive officer in September, said in an emailed statement. “We are changing the way we do business.”
Kalanick, Uber’s co-founder and former CEO, learned of the hack in November 2016, a month after it took place, the company said.
Uber had just settled a lawsuit with the New York attorney general over data security disclosures and was in the process of negotiating with the Federal Trade Commission over the handling of consumer data.
Kalanick declined to comment on the hack.
“While I can’t erase the past, I can commit on behalf of every Uber employee that we will learn from our mistakes,” Khosrowshahi said in the emailed statement.
The company plans to release a statement to customers saying it has seen “no evidence of fraud or misuse tied to the incident.” Uber said it will provide drivers whose licenses were compromised with free credit protection monitoring and identity theft protection.About The Author Vailancio Rodrigues is a web ninja who bakes semantic muffins. Apart from that he is also interested in Motion Graphics, Visual Effects, Photography and knows … More about Vailancio…
Stunning Space Photography
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Space has many beautiful mysteries hidden inside. Many people have tried and are still trying to uncover those mysteries. In this inspirational post, we present beautiful photographs from space explorations: nebulas, comets, stars, planets, etc. Hopefully, these beauties will inspire you to create beautiful artwork, Web designs, graphics, wallpaper, illustrations, etc. All of the images are linked to their sources. Click on them to get the high-resolution versions.
Beauties in the Outer Space
Messier 104 Messier 104, known as the Sombrero Galaxy, is one of the most popular sights in the universe. This floating ring is the size of a galaxy. In fact, it is part of the photogenic Sombrero Galaxy, one of the largest galaxies in the nearby Virgo Cluster of Galaxies. The dark band of dust that obscures the mid-section of the Sombrero Galaxy in optical light actually glows brightly in infrared light. The Sombrero Galaxy, also known as M104, spans about 50,000 light years across and lies 28 million light years away.
Meet Smashing Book 6 — our brand new book focused on real challenges and real front-end solutions in the real world: from design systems and accessible single-page apps to CSS Custom Properties, CSS Grid, Service Workers, performance, AR/VR and responsive art direction. With Marcy Sutton, Yoav Weiss, Lyza D. Gardner, Laura Elizabeth and many others. Table of Contents →
Hoag’s Object Despite the vagueness of its name, “Hoag’s Object” galaxy is known to have some rare and inexplicable traits, not the least of which is the “halo” of stars surrounding its core.
NASA - Bursting with Stars The most active star-forming galaxy in the distant universe, nicknamed the “Baby Boom” galaxy, loosely resembles the galaxy shown here, called Zw II 96. While Zw II 96 is located about 500 million light-years away, Baby Boom lies 12.3 billion light-years away and appears in images as only a |
eraldoRivera) November 30, 2017
Reactions have not been kind
Since @GeraldoRivera has taken it upon himself to cast doubt on the recent wave of sexual harassment allegations, here's a clip of Bette Midler in 2001 talking about being assaulted by him. pic.twitter.com/ISXld0ZXCJ — Julian Routh (@julianrouth) November 29, 2017
I saw Geraldo Rivera defending Matt Lauer. Then I saw an old interview with Geraldo bragging that he had sex with over 1000 women. Then it made sense why he's defending Matt Lauer. Celebrity journalists are scum of the earth. — Mark Dice (@MarkDice) November 29, 2017
Geraldo Rivera trying to tweet through his potential future sexual assault allegations like… pic.twitter.com/dn4JavUuSr — Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) November 29, 2017
Geraldo defended Matt Lauer today. Who else thinks a tsunami of women are about to come forward and accuse him of sexual harassment? pic.twitter.com/TNkuvLPUxE — Cristina Laila (@cristinalaila1) November 30, 2017
Nailed it. Geraldo 6 hours ago: Matt Lauer's a good guy, probably did nothing wrong & accusers should be forced to come forward within certain time period with documentation. Geraldo 16 minutes ago: I've made a huge mistake pic.twitter.com/3UJ7wqvEB5 — ZeroPointNow (@ZeroPointNow) November 30, 2017
If you enjoy the content at iBankCoin, please follow us on TwitterMarcus Rashford says he was inspired as a youngster watching Cristiano Ronaldo play for Manchester United.
Real Madrid star Ronaldo enjoyed a six-year spell at United that brought with it, amongst other trophies, three Premier League titles and a Champions League crown.
And although Rashford was only 11 when Ronaldo left Old Trafford for Madrid in 2009, he says the Portugal captain was a player he admired growing up.
"When Cristiano Ronaldo came to United, he was the one who everyone looked up to," Rashford told Inside United.
"The thing that impressed me the most was the fact he was only young when he came into the side and he wanted to be the best player in the side.
"He worked hard every single day, you saw him in the gym every single day and the results came on the pitch. He openly wanted to be the best player in the world."
Rashford was impressed by Ronaldo's single-mindedness during his time at United, and says it is an attribute he will need to have if he is to make a success of his career.
"You have to have an approach like that -- all the best players in the world do," he added. "It's not arrogance or anything like that, it's the mindset you need to achieve things."President Trump signed three executive actions Thursday morning to further his “law and order” agenda, including orders to crack down on international crime and crimes against law enforcement.
"I'm signing three executive actions today designed to restore safety in America,” Trump said in the Oval Office after swearing in Jeff Sessions as attorney general.
The orders will put plenty of work on the new attorney general’s plate.
The first takes aim at international crime organizations, namely drug cartels, and orders a wide-ranging effort to further prosecute and deter such crime.
It calls on the administration to strengthen federal law to reduce transnational criminal organizations, including those that smuggle drugs, people, and weapons and engage in financial and cyber crime.
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It also directs that federal law enforcement “give high priority and devote sufficient resources” to going after such organizations, including extraditing members to face prosecution in the United States, where possible, and deporting foreign nationals who are members of such groups.
The order calls on the heads of several agencies to review existing federal laws that could be used to further combat international crime groups, specifically naming the Immigration and Nationality Act.
It additionally directs federal agencies to maximize information sharing among themselves and with foreign governments.
Trump said the order directs his administration “to undertake all necessary and lawful action to break the back of the criminal cartels that have spread across our nation and are destroying the blood of our youth.”
Another action focuses on preventing crime against law enforcement, including a push to define new federal crimes and potentially establish new mandatory minimum sentences.
The order directs the attorney general to review existing federal laws “to determine whether those laws are adequate to address the protection and safety” of law enforcement officers at all levels.
Following that review, Sessions will make recommendations to the president for potential new legislation, which would include “defining new crimes of violence and establishing new mandatory minimum sentences for existing crimes of violence against” officers.
Sessions is also directed to evaluate all Justice Department grant funding programs “to determine the extent to which its grant funding supports and protects” officers and recommend any changes.
Finally, a third order is directed at crime reduction more broadly, giving Sessions broad authority to establish a task force aimed at developing strategies “to reduce crime, including, in particular, illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and violent crime.”
The Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety — whose members will be chosen by Sessions — will propose new legislation and evaluate existing laws and data collection on crime.
"We have a crime problem," Sessions said at his swearing-in.
"I wish the rise that we're seeing in crime in America today were some sort of aberration or blip," he continued, calling it a "dangerous permanent trend that places the health and safety of the American people at risk."
Trump has repeatedly said that crime is rising in the United States, though federal statistics indicate crime rates are at the lowest point since the 1960s.
The pace of executive actions had slowed in recent days after Trump kicked off his presidency by issuing a torrent of orders aimed at fulfilling his campaign promises.
Trump's most controversial order temporarily barring refugees and people from seven predominantly Muslim nations from entering the U.S. has been blocked by a federal judge.
Leaders in Congress and others inside the administration complained the rollout of the order was fumbled. Senior aides have reportedly taken steps to streamline the executive order process amid the fallout from the travel ban.
Updated at 2:05 p.m.Last December, the New York Islanders made a surprising move by sending goaltender Jaroslav Halak to the American Hockey League. Many thought the demotion was based purely on performance, but appears not to be the case.
At least that is what Jean-Charles Lajoie said on the airwaves of 91.9 Sports FM on Monday. The radio host was in Pittsburgh with some contest winners to watch Sunday’s Eastern Conference Finals game between the Penguins and Senators and he spoke about Craig Anderson being pulled after a terrible start to the game. He praised Anderson keeping his spirits high and remaining on the bench to cheer on his teammates.
Lajoe then went on to say that he met a highly respected person in the world of hockey on the trip and he told him the real reason why Halak was demoted. According to his source, the Slovakian net minder was pulled early from a game and went straight to a shower before heading to the press box for a few hot dogs.
If his backup would have been injured during the game, Halak would not have been ready to get back on the ce. The Islanders management did not care for this display and he was on his way to Bridgeport, CT the very next day.Obama wants America too stupid to be free
January 28, 2014
To see more articles by Dr. Keyes, visit his blog at LoyalToLiberty.com and his commentary at WND.com and BarbWire.com.
By Alan Keyes "Stupéfiant" is a French word for "drug." It is a compound word with roots that literally mean "to put someone into a stupor," to induce a state of mental numbness in which you are unable to think normally. More pungently put, it describes things that make you stupid.I thought of this recently as I read a report of Obama's indulgent attitude toward marijuana. He claimed that it's less dangerous than alcohol. The salient question is, "Dangerous to whom or in what way?" With respect to individuals, his nonchalance is certainly debatable. As WND's Art Moore has pointed out, data from "an extensive four-decade study published in 2012 by the National Academy of Sciences showed marijuana can lower the IQ of young teenagers and may cause permanent mental impairment" – "a neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife."Moore points out evidence that lends support to the conclusion that Obama himself may be an instance of this kind of long-term individual damage. But given the office he presently occupies, this compels us to remember that in America, such damage to individuals has grave implications for the welfare of the nation as a whole. After all, the person who occupies the office of president is supposed, among other things, to represent the sovereign interests of the American people.As chief executive officer, the president of the United States has a particular responsibility to be mindful of anything that poses a grave danger to the nation, anything that damages the American people as a whole. As an official sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution, he should know this certainly includes anything that impairs the ability of the people to carry out their duties as citizens – i.e., as members of the sovereign body of the people.This requires a very practical kind of intelligence. When Tocqueville sought to fathom the factors that contributed to the success of democratic self-government in the early United States, he was particularly impressed that ordinary Americans had the ability to understand and navigate a complex, decentralized political and administrative environment. Indeed, their capacity to do so had become, as it were, a second nature.In this regard, America's prevalent founders were particularly careful of what they called the "genius of the American people." They weren't referring to Einsteinian genius ( though some say that in our era even such geniuses may be an endangered species ). They meant the common-sense intelligence of people with sufficient character, will, and ability to care not only for themselves, but also for their families and the communities in which they live. The founders' concern for this kind of intelligence is what led the founding generation to make sure the U.S. Constitution included provisions to protect the people's sources and methods of information, including the exercise of religion, free speech, and the media.In this respect, contemporary U.S. politicos like Obama have little or nothing in common with the leading lights of America's founding generation. In fact, everything they do seems aimed at destroying this "genius of the American people." Obama's nonchalant attitude toward things that make people stupid has its counterpart in other matters of policy, and other insistent demands from the elitist elements of American society today.These elitists insistently aid and abet practices (like abortion) that repress the people's natural will and inclination to safeguard the lives of their offspring. They also promote a patently false understanding of right as the licentious freedom to do what we please, rather than the decent liberty that we may claim when we act in accord with our God-endowed nature as human beings. As an excuse for rendering the people defenseless against these elitists' abuses of power, they even seek to deny them access to the means of self-defense.Yet the TV shows, movies, and games massively promoted by these very elites are increasingly saturated with themes (zombies, vampires, beastly human-animal hybrids, amoral thugs, and anti-heroes who shadow forth every conceivable variety of conscienceless evil) that preoccupy the soul with evil. They focus on concepts, tools, and stratagems for the wholesale violation and degradation of human beings. Rejecting the Christian challenge ("Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good"), their preferred depictions of supposedly humanitarian heroes are often molded according to the treacherous maxim "It takes evil to fight evil."Thus, righteous indignation is made to flow in channels of wickedness, as if there is no weapon in the arsenal of God's creation potent enough to overcome the power of every imaginable evil. Such "entertainments" may be the most insidious kind of disinformation. And they may yet prove more destructively potent than the Nuremburg rallies, or the Hitlerjugend, as factors for producing virtually soulless, self-glorifying perpetrators of atrocity.But even in the educational institutions we more formally recognize as such, the leading lights of the elitist faction not only promote, they insist upon, an understanding of humanity (the God-denying version of the theory of evolution) that tendentiously abuses the rubric of science. Indeed, it suppresses the very idea of humanity as such (human nature), in order to discredit the moral and spiritual dimensions of the human condition. Yet these are the very aspects of humanity that inform the practical wisdom required to justify and sustain decent liberty.Why would an individual sworn to uphold, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States show such little concern respecting things that assault the practical basis for the form of government it establishes? There is no answer consistent with his oath. Instead, such nonchalance is solid evidence that Obama targets America'sas do all those who belittle the significance of issues that affect the moral judgment and character of the American people.Much like the terrorists who targeted the Towers in New York, which symbolized America's material commerce, these scornful elitists target the pillars of moral and spiritual commerce that uphold our political constitution. But when liberty's pillars fail, the smoke that rises from their crater will signify the fatal triumph of our stupefaction, courtesy of those, like Obama, who are working hard to make us© Alan KeyesFormer CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi has been released on bail after being charged with four counts of sexual assault.
In addition to the sexual assault charges, Ghomeshi is facing one count of “overcome resistance – choking.” According to Canada’s criminal code, that means he is alleged to have attempted to “render another person insensible, unconscious or incapable of resistance.”
The maximum punishment for the charge is life in prison.
At an afternoon court appearance, a judge ruled that Ghomeshi would be released on bail, set at $100,000. As part of his terms, he will have to surrender his passport and agree to stay in Ontario. He must also live with his mother and may not have contact with any of the alleged victims. Other details of the hearing are protected under a publication ban.
Ghomeshi exited the hearing to a chaotic crush of reporters. In a very brief statement, Ghomeshi’s lawyer Marie Henein said her client will be pleading not guilty.
“It is not my practice to litigate my cases in the media,” she said. “We will say whatever we have to say in a court of law. We will not be making any further media statements, nor will Mr. Ghomeshi be making any further media statements.”
His next court appearance will be on Jan. 8.
Toronto Police say they began their investigation on Oct. 31, looking ” into several allegations of sexual assault.” According to police, Ghomeshi surrendered himself to authorities on Wednesday morning.
He arrived at the downtown Toronto courthouse shortly after noon in the back of a police cruiser, his face turned away from members of the media.
Ghomeshi, 47, was fired from Q on CBC radio on Oct. 26 after the broadcaster saw “graphic evidence” of injuries to a woman, the Globe and Mail reported. In the wake of his departure, at least nine women have come forward with allegations that he physically or sexually assaulted them, including lawyer Reva Seth and Canadian actress Lucy DeCoutere.
DeCoutere released a short statement after Ghomeshi’s charges were announced, saying “The past month has seen a major shift in the conversation about violence against women. It has been an overwhelming and painful time for many people, including myself, but also very inspiring.
“I hope that victim’s voices continue to be heard and that this is the start of a change that is so desperately needed.”
At least three women are known to have taken their allegations to police.
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair declined to comment on the charges in a media scrum shortly before noon, saying the matter is now before the courts. CBC spokesperson Chuck Thompson told CBC News the broadcaster would not be commenting on the charges, but added the alleged victims do not include any former or current employees.
In a Facebook post published shortly after his firing, Ghomeshi said he’d done nothing wrong and was wrongly dismissed “because of what I do in my private life.” He characterized his sexual encounters as consensual and involving BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance and submission) practices. Ghomeshi’s social media accounts have since been deleted, but in his last Facebook post he said he intends “to meet these allegations directly.”
Ghomeshi also filed a $55 million lawsuit against the CBC after his firing, claiming defamation and breach of confidence. The suit has since been withdrawn and Ghomeshi will have to pay $18,000 to cover the broadcaster’s legal costs.(CNN) -- President Elbegdorj has walked in the steps of his country's history.
Born into a nomad family, he spent his young years on horseback as a herdsman. It was a life he loved with his parents and brothers. He could have stayed but change was sweeping across Mongolia.
After a stint in the army and university in Ukraine to study journalism he was swept up in his country's revolution over throwing decades of communist rule.
Now years later as President, the 48-year-old Elbegdorj is retracing his steps.
With our CNN crew he followed his heart to the mountains of western Mongolia and the memories of a boy raised a herdsman.
As we fly over the place of his birth the President points excitedly below. Nomads have come for miles around to greet him.
"Can you believe you came from here to President?" I ask. "No, I can't believe it. So many memories. I was like these boys just a herdsman boy riding horses," he says.
To the people here he's less a president than a nephew or a brother or a long remembered classmate. Here the President sleeps in a nomad's "ger" or tent.
He can enjoy the food of his childhood. He carves open the insides of a sheep to share with us. To President Elbegdorj this not a way of life, this is his country's soul.
"Many people call this primitive," he says, "but this is not primitive it is close to nature it is a good life."
But this is also a way of life increasingly under threat. Change is sweeping Mongolia. Big mining companies have struck mega-rich deals to tap the vast reserves of copper, gold and coal.
To many it's a blessing bringing great wealth and development; to others a curse. There are fears of corruption and exploitation. Warnings of the so-called "Dutch disease" where mining dominates the economy, forcing up the currency, choking off exports and stifling efforts to diversify the country.
Once the Prime Minister, now the President, Elbegdorj says his country needs to get it right to share the wealth of this land.
"There is a risk of corruption, of money falling into the hands of a few. We must make sure the money doesn't end up with those who have power who already have wealth," he says.
Watching the President's homecoming are people like Zoiloi. She is 70 years old and has lived through Soviet rule, the democracy revolution and now the so-called mining boom. She's heard the promise of great riches, but for now, she says, so many nomads are trapped in a cycle of poverty.
"Prices are going up if you have a paid job you can be ok perhaps," she says.
"For example the price of gasoline is rising, the price of sugar. That's why people without cash on hand like these herders are falling into poverty."
Sitting around her family ger, surrounded by three generations of her family she leads a song dedicated to the mothers who have born generations of nomads. It could just as easily be a song of defiance; a reminder that they will not easily give up the traditions of thousands of years.
President Elbegdorj tells me it is his duty to oversee changes, to make sure his people -- the nomads -- are not lost or that he doesn't lose that bit of himself either.The boss of Japan's largest advertising agency will step down following the suicide of a young worker who allegedly worked hundreds of hours in overtime.
Matsuri Takahashi, a worker at Dentsu, took her own life in December last year in what the Japanese government has determined was due to "karoshi" also known as "death by overwork", the UK Telegraph reports.
The 24-year-old left a note for her mother which reportedly begged the question: "Why do things have to be so hard?"
In a statement announcing his resignation, Dentsu president Tadashi Ishii said it was "extremely regrettable" the company failed to prevent overwork by a new recruit.
"In order to take full responsibility, I would like to resign as president at a board meeting in January," he said.
In light of her death, Dentsu and one of its executives could face prosecution amid claims the company forced Ms Takahashi to work longer hours which violated Japan's labour laws.
In the lead up to her death, the young worker reported wrote of her anguish on social media at being bullied in the workplace to work longer hours.
"It's 4 o'clock. My body is trembling… I just can't do this. I'm gonna die. I'm so tired," the Telegraph quotes one of the messages as saying.
Tragically, Ms Takahashi is not the first Japanese worker to take their own life due to being overworked. In 2000, Japan's high court determined that another 24-year-old worker had hanged himself because of "horrendous working conditions".
According to a white paper released by the Japanese government, 12 percent of Japanese workers put in more than 100 hours of overtime every month. The figure is based on the response of almost 20,000 workers.
Dentsu president Tadashi Ishii said it was "extremely regrettable" the company failed to prevent overwork by a new recruit. (AAP)Wisconsin's soybean crop is forecast to set a record high. (Photo: Emily Spartz/Argus Leader)
MADISON
Despite a reduction from the projections issued a month earlier, the October forecast predicts that Wisconsin's corn growers will harvest a record-high crop while also setting a record-high average yield per acre.
Based on crop conditions as of October 1, the Wisconsin field office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service forecast a corn yield of 548.7 million bushels, which was about 2 percent less than the September projection. That cutback was linked to the 100,000 acre reduction from a month earlier in planted acres and acres being harvested for grain — to 4.1 and 3.1 million, respectively.
The Oct. 1 report estimated an average corn grain yield of 177 bushels per acre, which would be 13 bushels more than in 2015 and up by 2 bushels from the September 1 forecast.
A record high corn crop of 15.057 billion bushels was forecast for the United States. This is based on an average yield of 173.4 bushels per acre from 86.636 million harvested acres. Those would be increases of 11 percent in the total crop and of 5 bushels per acre compared to 2015.
Soybeans setting record
Wisconsin's soybean crop is also forecast to set a record high of 101.4 million bushels, which would be an increase of 9.5 percent from 2015. The record crop would come from 1.95 million harvested acres — up by 80,000 from 2015.
This year's average yield is projected to be 52 bushels per acre. This would be 2.5 bushels more than in 2015 and 1.5 bushel above the standing record-high average yield per acre set in 2010.
The per-acre yield is the same as was forecast for crop conditions as of Sept. 1, but the latest update added 10,000 acres to the year's planting and harvest of soybeans in the state.
The latest projections, however, do not account for losses due to floods in the parts of the state and to harvest delays and possible pre-harvest losses due to frequent rains in October. Another update, current as of Nov. 1, will be released Nov. 9.
A record soybean crop was also forecast for the United States this year. The potential record crop of nearly 4.269 billion bushels would come from 83.047 million harvested acres with an average yield of 51.4 bushels per acre. Compared to 2015, those would be increases of 9 percent for the crop, 2 percent in harvested acres and 3.4 bushels in yield per acre.
Much more alfalfa hay
With the year's harvest virtually completed in Wisconsin, the Oct. 1 report indicated a 43 percent increase this year compared to 2015 in the production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay. The harvest of 4.81 million tons came from 1.3 acres (up by 100,000), while the average yield of 3.7 tons per acre was up by 0.9 ton from a year ago.
But the production of dry hay from other forage species continues to decline in Wisconsin. Although the number of harvested acres was up by 20,000 from 2015 to a total of 330,000 this year, the year's production was down by 26 percent.
This year's harvest of other dry hay was reported to be 528,000 tons. The average yield of 1.6 tons per acre was down by 0.7 ton from 2015.
Across the United States, the 2016 hay harvests posted modest increases compared to 2015. Unlike in Wisconsin, harvested acres of forage species other than alfalfa more than doubled the number for alfalfa.
The harvest of 78.756 million tons of dry hay from species other than alfalfa from 38.062 million acres was a production increase of 4.4 percent because of the addition of 1.4 million harvested acres. The nation's harvest of 62.817 million tons of alfalfa hay with an average yield of 3.48 tons from 18.065 million acres (up by nearly 300,000) was an increase of 6.5 percent from 2015.
Read or Share this story: https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/state/2016/10/17/state-record-crops-predicted-corn-soybeans/92231666/A recent review of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) monitoring samples taken from Granite Creek and Watson Lake has confirmed the presence of Dihydrogen Monoxide in all of the samples.
ADEQ reports confirm that recent heavy rains and storm runoff have undoubtedly contributed to the amount of Dihydrogen Monoxide in the Granite Creek watershed. Given Prescott’s topography, runoff from streets, industrial sites, golf courses and other nonpoint sources is bound to increase the amount of Dihydrogen Monoxide in the creeks and lakes in in the Prescott area.
Granite Creek and Watson Lake have a long history of problems with contamination and pollution. In a study by the Northern Arizona Council of Governments, Watson Lake was once identified as having, “the highest level of pollution of any lake in Arizona.” While efforts have been ongoing by ADEQ, the City of Prescott, Prescott Creeks and others to clean up Watson Lake and Granite Creek, both are still identified as “impaired” by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The ADEQ recently released Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) reports for both Watson Lake and Granite Creek. These showed high nitrogen, high pH, and low dissolved oxygen in Watson Lake, and elevated levels of E.colibacteria in Granite Creek. High nitrogen, high pH, and low dissolved oxygen result from storm water and nonpoint source pollution runoff, and they can cause algal blooms and fish kills. The presence of E.colibacteria reflects contamination with fecal material from man or other animals.
The EPA’s recreational water quality standard for E. coliis 235 Colony‐Forming Units (CFU) per 100 milliliters. According to the EPA, this could result in approximately eight incidences of gastrointestinal illness per 1,000 swimmers. However, the EPA currently does not set a TMDL for Dihydrogen Monoxide. The EPA defines a TMDL as, “a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards.”
This lack of a TMDL is concerning to some because of the potential toxicity of Dihydrogen Monoxide. According to the website DHMO.org, Dihydrogen Monoxide is a colorless and odorless chemical compound commonly used as an industrial solvent, as a spray-on fire suppressant and retardant, and in the production Styrofoam and a number of other products. Dihydrogen Monoxide has also been identified as major constituent of acid rain, and it can cause corrosion and oxidation of many metals.
Inhalation of Dihydrogen Monoxide can cause asphyxiation and death. Prolonged exposure to solid Dihydrogen Monoxide can produce severe tissue damage. Excess ingestion can result in frequent urination, confusion, and seizures. Because of its unpleasant effects Dihydrogen Monoxide was controversially used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as part of now banned “enhanced interrogation” techniques.
Do you wonder why the presence of Dihydrogen Monoxide in Granite Creek and Watson Lake has not previously been reported? Dihydrogen Monoxide historically has only been noted in reports released on April 1. Every other day of the year it is more likely to be identified by its more common name – water. Of course it is strongly encouraged that everyone join in Prescott Creeks’ Granite Creek Cleanup, Saturday April 18th where one man’s trash can subsequently be transformed into One Man’s Treasure.Charity Sunshine Tilleman-Dick, a 28-year-old American soprano, has performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and around the world. A rare disease, idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, demanded she have two double-lung transplants. Despite all odds she continues to sing. (Zoeann Murphy/The Washington Post)
Charity Sunshine Tilleman-Dick, a 28-year-old American soprano, has performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and around the world. A rare disease, idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, demanded she have two double-lung transplants. Despite all odds she continues to sing. (Zoeann Murphy/The Washington Post)
Growing up in a family of 11 children, Charity Tillemann-Dick accumulated what she calls “a lovely collection of scars”: pinched skin from the time one of her brothers accidentally twisted her right arm in a playground swing; a teenage shaving nick on her right shin; a pockmark, also on her right leg, from tripping in a pothole in Russia.
But the masterpiece of her collection is hidden from view: Splitting the chest of this 29-year-old opera singer is a long, narrow ridge beneath her breasts that marks not one but two double-lung transplants.
For an opera singer, lungs are a musical instrument — like a Steinway to a pianist or a Stradivarius to a violinist. They expand and contract, carefully expelling air to create beautiful arias and emotional duets. Singers spend years training their lungs. To lose them is to face losing one’s dream, and, of course, one’s life.
“I always loved the heroines in opera. They were these beautiful, strong women in impossible situations,” Tillemann-Dick says. “When I got sick, it felt like I knew these stories and now I was living one, music and all. The question,” she says, “was how to outsmart the tragedy.”
Today Tillemann-Dick continues to perform — better than ever, she says — thanks to the lungs of a middle-aged Honduran woman.
1 of 10 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Singing opera with someone else’s lungs View Photos Charity Tillemann-Dick, 29, continues to perform — better than ever, she says — thanks to the lungs of a middle-aged Honduran woman. In 2004, the opera singer had received a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, a rare, potentially fatal condition that affects the heart and lungs. Caption Charity Tillemann-Dick, 29, continues to perform — better than ever, she says — thanks to the lungs of a middle-aged Honduran woman. In 2004, the opera singer had received a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, a rare, potentially fatal condition that affects the heart and lungs. April 18, 2013 Charity Tillemann-Dick prepares a TEDMED talk at the Kennedy Center in Washington. The opera singer has had two double lung transplants, the most recent in 2012. Her new lungs came from a 48-year-old Honduran woman who had died of a stroke and was a registered organ donor. Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.
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Tillemann-Dick’s troubles stem from pulmonary hypertension, a rare, potentially fatal condition that affects the heart and lungs. She was 19 when she first noticed some classic symptoms of the disease: shortness of breath and fainting spells. But as a new college grad who had been offered a chance to study at the renowned Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, she wasn’t about to let a little trouble breathing stand in her way.
A politics major in college, the Denver native had assumed she would end up in government, following in the footsteps of her grandfather Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who represented California for nearly 30 years in the House of Representatives, and older brother Tomicah Tillemann, a former speechwriter for Hillary Clinton and now a senior adviser at the State Department.
But she’d been drawn to music and, in Budapest, she found her niche as a coloratura soprano — “one of those rare big voices that can hit really high notes in rapid succession,” says Tillemann-Dick, who had performed with the Colorado Children’s Choir and minored in music as an undergrad. Vocal coaches were eager to work with her and producers were eager to cast her. She dismissed the fainting spells as a byproduct of low blood pressure, and sang on.
It wasn’t until Tillemann-Dick returned to the United States in 2004 to visit family and have a routine physical that she found an explanation for the mysterious fainting: “Idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Stage 4.”
The diagnosis was gibberish to her.
Pulmonary hypertension, the doctor explained, is a type of high blood pressure. Tiny arteries in the lungs harden, restricting blood flow, which forces the heart’s right ventricle to work harder and harder, eventually exhausting it.
The condition has been linked to emphysema, AIDS, stimulant drugs such as cocaine and the diet drug fen-phen, which was pulled from the market in 1997. But “idiopathic” meant that, in Tillemann-Dick’s case, there was no known cause.
“Stage 4” meant her disease was quite advanced. The lower right chamber of Tillemann-Dick’s heart was 31 / 2 times larger than normal. The average life expectancy for people with advanced forms of the disease is two to five years. The American Lung Association estimates that one in 100,000 to 1 million people have idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. It is most common among women in their mid-30s.
Tillemann-Dick saw specialist after specialist, and all of them delivered bad news: She could never have children. She should never live in Denver because the Mile High City’s elevation would aggravate her condition. And she would never be an opera singer, which required too much lung power.
To that, Tillemann-Dick had only one reply: “Screw this. I’m going to keep singing.”
‘I’m going to keep singing’
Tillemann-Dick moved to Washington, where her grandparents and several siblings lived. She knew that a lung transplant was a possibility in the future, and turned to Reda Girgis, then the associate medical director of lung transplantation at Johns Hopkins Hospital, for her care.
Girgis prescribed Flolan, a liquid medication delivered 24 hours a day directly to the heart through a tube in her chest. Some people function for years on Flolan, giving Tillemann-Dick a chance at life without a transplant. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t a cure, but Flolan provided relief by relaxing the muscles and hardened arteries in her lungs.
Girgis also encouraged Tillemann-Dick not to give up her opera dream. “He understood the difference between being alive and living,” she says.
So Tillemann-Dick returned to Europe, resuming voice lessons and performing in several operas, taking on the role of Titania in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Gilda in “Rigoletto” and Violetta in “La Traviata.” All the while, she hid her condition by concealing the bulky Flolan pack, about the size of a purse, by strapping it to her upper thigh. “I would stuff it into my girdle before going onstage,” she says.
Her illness seemed to be in check. In early 2008, though, her grandfather passed away at age 80 and, weeks later, her father died as a result of a car crash.
Tillemann-Dick had been fighting pneumonia, but she flew to Washington for her grandfather’s funeral and to Colorado for her father’s. Within days of arriving in Denver, she began showing signs of “outright heart failure,” she says. The pneumonia, the altitude and the emotional distress took their toll.
“I was coming up on five years,” she says. “The disease was progressing as anticipated.”
‘Save my vocal cords’
Her meds now failing, Tillemann-Dick’s cardiac output — the amount of blood her heart could pump — dropped, leaving her exhausted and out of breath. Her legs were swelling as a result of her poor circulation, and she was suffering from intense nausea. And, of course, her lungs were too feeble to power her voice.
It was now clear, she said, that “keeping my own lungs just wasn’t an option anymore.”
In September 2009, just one day after being listed on the organ transplant registry, Tillemann-Dick flew from Washington to the Cleveland Clinic, where two lungs waited. Her one request as she |
: G, DE
Atlanta’s major deficiencies are along the offensive and defensive fronts. They need to replace Chris Chester, who is the weak link along a stout offensive front. On the defensive side of the ball, they need a dynamic pass rusher to complement Vic Beasley.
FA Update: The Falcons re-sign their important depth pieces (Schaub, Ishmael and Toilolo). They also beef up their run defense through the acquisition of Poe (NT).
Dan Feeney (G), Indiana
Previous Pick: Forest Lamp (G), Western Kentucky
The Falcons might have missed out on a stud in Lamp, but thankfully there’s a great consolation prize in Feeney available.
32. New Orleans Saints
Tre’Davious White (CB), LSU
Previous Pick: John Ross (WR), Washington
If the Saints can’t pry Butler from the Pats, they will need to upgrade the position via the draft. White is a really physical corner, who just happened to play up the road. He would be a solid addition and with a healthy Breaux, they might not be the worst secondary next year.
Round 2
33. Browns – Obi Melifonwu (S), UCONN
I don’t think the Browns mess around with their secondary this year. They need a deep coverage safety and they land someone with the size (6-4, 220) and versatility to play in the box as well. I’m seen Melifonwu going in some mock drafts in the late 20s, so if the Browns want him, they can’t wait until 52.
34. 49ers – Adoree Jackson (CB), USC
Previous pick: DeMarcus Walker (DE), FSU
The ‘9ers just released Brock this past month after domestic abuse allegations surfaced. Jackson falls because of his size (5-11), and might be suited in a slot role. He could still end up winning the an outside starting job and has the added bonus of being an explosive kick returner.
35. Jags – David Njoku (TE), Miami
Previous Pick: Antonio Garcia (OT), Troy
This draft is a referendum on Bortles’ future with the Jags. After two years of big FA and draft spending on D, they will make sure that Bortles has no excuses for being successful this season. Njoku is a fantastic receiver and decent blocker, which is a welcome sight after dealing with Thomas.
36. Bears – Deshaun Watson (QB), Clemson
Previous pick: Dan Feeney (G), Indiana
The Bears have been the one team that is consistently linked with Watson. While there is much uncertainty for many organizations surrounding Watson’s transition to the pro game, the Bears have been a strong advocate for him. Even though they sign Mike Glennon, he has a low ceiling and could be a cap casualty next year.
37. Rams – Corey Davis (WR), Western Michigan
Previous pick: Dede Westbrook (WR), OU
Davis (6-3, 210) is a big bodied receiver who would fill a huge void for the Rams, giving Goff a respectable target in the passing game. He will be knocked because of quality of competition in the MAC, but it is hard to deny his production. Davis was a four-year starter at WMU, who posted splits of 941, 1408, 1436 and 1500 yards per season.
38. Chargers – Kevin King (CB), Washington
Previous Pick: Malik McDowell (DT), Michigan State
Outside of Jason Verrett, who plays much bigger than his size (5-10), the Chargers don’t have much secondary depth. They can land a supplement in King that is 6-3, who demonstrated serious speed, quickness and lateral movement at the combine.
39. NY Jets – Takkarist McKinley (EDGE), UCLA
Previous Pick: Carl Lawson (EDGE), Auburn
The Jets need to be better at disrupting opposing quarterbacks. McKinley is best suited as a 3-4 EDGE rusher, a perfect fit for the blitzing scheme of Todd Bowles.
40. Panthers – Jordan Willis (DE), Kansas State
Previous Pick: Quincy Wilson (CB), Florida
The Super Bowl run of the Panthers was facilitated by the strength of the 4-man pass rush. They re-signed Charles Johnson to a 2-year deal, but one rusher isn’t enough in today’s NFL. Peppers and Addison are better suited to be rotation players; Willis would really anchor that line. Willis dominated the senior bowl with multiple sacks and a forced fumble.
41. Bengals –Jarrad Davis (OLB), Florida
Davis was a two-year starter at Florida, who has the size (6-2, 235) to play inside or outside linebacker in a 4-3 system. Davis is an instinctual run-defender, who can tackle well and finish plays. In the passing game, he has demonstrated the ability to play short and medium zone coverages.
42. Saints – Brad Kaaya (QB), Miami
Previous Pick: T.J. Watt (EDGE), Wiscy
The one name I keep hearing linked to the Saints is Brad Kaaya. Drafting a replacement for Brees would allow him to develop for several years before starting (e.g. Aaron Rodgers). While the early second round might be too rich for most teams, the Saints have a bevy of picks this year.
43. Eagles – Alvin Kamara (RB), Tennessee
Alvin Kamara is the perfect fit for the Eagles offense, drawing comparisons to Jamal Charles in his playstyle. He is a great runner (5.8 YPC) and receiver (40-392) who also has experience being utilized as a slot receiver. Kamara performed extremely well throughout his college career, but was limited in upside because of the timeshare with Jalen Hurd.
44. Bills – Chidobe Awuzie (CB), Colorado
Previous Pick: Teez Tabor (CB), Florida
The Bills are losing 2 of their 3 corners this offseason, making this a priority draft need. Awuzie had a productive college career as a 4-year starter, leading the team in tackles three of the past four seasons.
45. Cardinals – Deshone Kizer (QB), Notre Dame
Previous Pick: JuJu Smith-Schuster
After the garbage fire at QB last year, I don’t think they play any games early in the draft. Kizer is a big, strong QB with many similar qualities to Ben Roethlisberger (who was taken 11 overall), whom Arians developed very nicely. Palmer may start the 2017 season, but he may or may not finish it. The comments that Arians made about Kizer’s development makes me think that he would relish having that challenge.
46. Colts – Quincy Wilson (CB), Florida
Previous Pick: Adoree Jackson (CB), USC
The Colts need to do something to address the cornerback position. Year after year, it seems like the secondary keeps taking a step backwards. This offseason the Colts prioritized pass rushers, but Vontae Davis still lacks a dependable running mate. Wilson is a physical corner who has prototypical size (6-1, 210) to cover top wideouts. As a two-year starter, he amassed 81 tackles (4.5 for loss), 6 interceptions and 14 pass deflections.
47. Ravens – Chris Wormley (DT/DE), Michigan
Previous pick: Tre’Davious White (CB), LSU
The Ravens stay on the defensive side of the ball, replacing Guy and/or Jernigan with Chris Wormley. Wormley is a 300-pound monster, who has experience playing DT and DE for the Wolverines. He has great lateral quickness, especially considering his size, and can get off blocks with ease.
48. Vikings – Zay Jones (WR), East Carolina
This guy made some money at the senior bowl. Not even in the conversation prior to the senior bowl, he caught everything thrown his way during that game. It didn’t matter who was at the helm at QB or who was defending him, he routinely beat coverages and made contested catches.
49. ‘Skins – Joe Mixon (RB), Oklahoma
Previous Pick: Ethan Pocic (C), LSU
Mixon is the most controversial selection of this draft. In terms of pure talent, he is a first round pick, probably sandwiched between Cook and McCaffrey. However, whoever drafts him will have to deal with the baggage associated with the domestic abuse video. The Skins are no stranger to controversy and Robert Kelly is not the future at the position.
50. Bucs – Budda Baker (FS), Washington
Previous pick: Ahkello Witherspoon (CB), Colorado
The secondary of the Bucs could use an upgrade at FS. Baker would be an excellent pickup in the middle of the frame.
51. Broncos – Evan Engram (TE), Ole Miss
Previous pick: Chris Wormley (DT), Mich
The Broncos haven’t had a top receiving talent at TE since Shannon Sharpe. Whichever young QB ends up winning the job would be blessed with a quality target who has been drawing comparison to Jordan Reed.
52. Browns – Sidney Jones (CB), Washington
The Browns should strongly consider taking another cornerback with this pick. An interesting development was that Sidney Jones tore his ACL during Washington’s pro day. This has major implications on the draft, as he will not be joining the team for the 2017-2018 season. Before all the Browns fans go all Modell on me about taking a hurt prospect, this pick is totally contingent on there being no structural damage to the knee or foreseen future problems. If he gets a clean bill of health, aside from the torn ACL, the Browns will take a long-term strategic approach with him. They aren’t planning on competing until the 2018-19 season at the earliest, so there would be no rush for his rehab.
Sidney Jones is an extremely underrated prospect from the Pac-12, who doesn’t get much love. The unassuming Jones has been solid the past two seasons, putting up respectable numbers in interceptions (2), pass deflections (6) and tackles (39). While other cornerbacks may have better numbers, his size (6-0, 190) and coverage ability should not go overlooked.
53. Lions – Fabian Moreau (CB), UCLA
Previous pick: D’Onta Foreman (RB), Texas
The Lions need to give Slay a hand in the secondary.
54. Dolphins – Teez Tabor (CB), Florida
Previous pick: Tanoh Kpassagnon (EDGE), ‘Nova
The Dolphins secondary is nothing to write home about. Teez Tabor would be a first round pick if it wasn’t for multiple suspensions during his time at Florida. The Dolphins haven’t shied away from taking high upside players with questionable character (Pouncey, Suh).
55. Giants – Raekwon McMillon (LB), OSU
The Giants have some major deficiencies in the linebacker core, which McMillon would upgrade. McMillon has proven his versatility in coverages and against the run.
56. Raiders – D’Onta Foreman (RB), Texas
Previous pick: Jarron Jones (DT), Notre Dame
I’m going to assume that Marshawn isn’t going to be joining the Raiders this season. There was a lot of chatter, but until it is official, the Raiders don’t have a running back on the roster. Foreman is a downhill force, as he has power RB size (6-0, 235) who rushed for over 2000 yards as a Junior last year.
57. Ravens (via Texans) – JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR), USC
The trade with the Texans is the gift that keeps on giving. After addressing the defense, the Ravens add a big bodied receiver. JuJu started off the season slow, in particular because of the horrible quarterback play of Max Browne. Once switching to Sam Darnold, he exploded onto the scene, making contested catches and turning short yardage plays into big gains.
58. Seahawks – Ethan Pocic (C), LSU
Previous Pick: Eddie Vanderdoes (DT), UCLA
The Seahawks double down on offensive lineman.
59. Chiefs – Tim Williams (EDGE), ‘Bama
Previous Pick: Deshaun Watson (QB), Clemson
The Chiefs always land a troubled prospect that Andy Reid is able to redeem. They revitalized Marcus Peters and turned him into a #1 CB after his stock slid. Tim Williams is an amazing pass rusher, but has a fair share of baggage. He had admitted to failing multiple drug tests as well as being charged with weapons possession this past year. He’s a huge risk, but he could also be Hali’s replacement.
60. Cowboys – Carl Lawson (EDGE), Auburn
Previous Pick: Tanoh Kpassagnon (DE), ‘Nova
The Cowboys need to address the defensive line, in particular the defensive end position. They have drafted and signed a fair share of talented pass rushers that can’t make it onto the field because of suspension problems. There are still plenty of question marks surrounding his abilities against the run, but there is little doubt he can rush the passer. Lawson elevated his stock during the combine weekend, showing serious lateral quickness and burst.
61. Packers – Ahkello Witherspoon (CB), Colorado
Previous Pick: Pat Elffein (C/G), OSU
The Packers reload their pass rush in the first round before addressing the most dire need in the second. Witherspoon is a tall corner (6-3) who posted good combine numbers, playing much faster than expected. This past season he was matched up against a much smaller and faster John Ross and performed extremely well in coverage.
62. Steelers – Davis Webb (QB), Cal
Previous Pick: Cameron Sutton (CB), Tenn
I’m reading the tea leaves a bit here. Ben threw a tantrum and threatened to retire after losing in the AFC championship. He has also been injury-prone throughout his career and turned 35 this offseason. Laundry Jones hasn’t filled in very well in his absence. Davis Webb is the only remaining QB that has met privately with the Steelers. I don’t think they let him slip past them here.
63. Falcons – DeMarcus Walker (EDGE), Florida State
The Falcons get a big EDGE pass rushing and run stuffing force, similar to Michael Bennett. Walker is a physical specimen (6’4, 280) who has played both DT and DE at Florida State. He has the athleticism and strength to play any position on the defensive line, utilizing a wicked spin move. He isn’t a pure pass rusher either, as he has proven he can track the run and make tackles in space.
64. Panthers – Curtis Samuel (WR), Ohio State
With Ginn gone, the Panthers need to replace his speed and athleticism. Curtis Samuel is a dynamic playmaker who can be used in the slot, outside or in the backfield.
Round 3
65. Panthers (via Browns) – Desmond King (S), Iowa
The Panthers stay with the secondary, upgrading the deep safety position with a falling stud. In a division with Mike Evans, Julio Jones and Michael Thomas, it is imperative to have a quality centerfielder in the backend of the defense.
66. 49ers – Chris Godwin (WR), PSU
The 49ers are really shallow at the WR position after losing Torrey Smith this offseason. Godwin has been trending upward after a really solid combine.
67. Bears – Cordrea Tankersley (CB), Clemson
The Bears are in extreme need of cornerback depth. Fuller hasn’t realized his full potential and has no complement. Tankersley has played in multiple CFB playoff games, matching up against WR1 and doing a respectable job shutting them down.
68. Jags – Antonio Garcia (T/G)
Previous Pick: Garrett Everett (TE), South Alabama
The Jags offensive line has been a total mess the past few seasons. After adding Beachum and drafting Joeckel, they were still in disarray. Beachum is now gone, which means that Joeckel is moving back to LT. Garcia is a tackle/guard prospect that could fill either void along the line.
69. Rams – Ryan Anderson (EDGE), Alabama
Previous Pick: Tim Williams (EDGE), Bama
The Rams upgrade their pass rush with a quality edge setter.
70. Jets – Dede Westbrook (WR), Oklahoma
Westbrook, a Heisman Trophy finalist, might be slightly undersized for today’s NFL at 6-0, but he is a crisp route runner who can get yards after the catch. With the release of B-Marshall earlier this offseason, this would be a prudent move.
71. Chargers – Dion Dawkins (G/T), Temple
Previous pick: Taylor Moton (G/T), Western Michigan
The Chargers had the 31st ranked offensive line last year, according to PFF. Regardless if Dawkins is a better fit at guard or tackle, it would be a substantial upgrade.
72. Patriots – Marcus Williams (S), Utah
The Pats secondary was one of the best in the entire league, rating 3rd (according to PFF). However, Patrick Chung took a major step backwards, rating 81st out of 91 safeties this past year. With Devin McCourty handling run-defense duties, Williams would provide the Pats with a true centerfielder. The analytics guys love Williams, who has the speed and quickness to fill the deep safety role.
73. Bengals – Cooper Kupp (WR), Eastern Washington
Outside of Green and Eifert, the Bengals lack any sort of playmakers on offense. Kupp had a great senior bowl and backed it up with an average combine.
74. Ravens – Carroll Phillips (EDGE), Illinois
The Ravens already landed Watt in the first round, but they don’t stop here. Dumervil was a cap casualty this offseason and Suggs (who will be 35 this season) might be next on the chopping block. They have no depth at pass rusher, so they use the pick they acquired from Philly to fix this problem.
75. Bills – Gerald Everett (TE), South Alabama
Previous Pick: Budda Baker (S), Wash
The Bills need to draft some receiving weapons for their QBs. Since there are no good WRs here without overdrafting, they snag one of the best receiving TEs.
76. Saints – Anthony Walker, Jr (LB), Northwestern
Previous Pick: Rasul Douglas (CB), WVU
The Saints have little depth at linebacker, Walker Jr. would be a huge asset. He has demonstrated his ability to cover on short routes as well as being a stout run defender.
77. Cardinals – Jaleel Johnson (DE/DT), Iowa
Previous Pick: Howard Wilson (CB), Houston
The Cardinals have lost quite a few starters this offseason. They replace Campbell with Johnson, who has the skillset to shed blocks and apply pressure the quarterback. He would be an immediate upgrade to the run defense and make the pass rush even more potent.
78. Ravens – Howard Wilson (CB), Houston
The Ravens could use an upgrade at cornerback, but miss out on all the top-tier options. The draft advisory board recommended that he return to school for another year. Nonetheless, Wilson is more of a developmental option, but has all the physical tools to succeed in the NFL.
79. Vikings – Cameron Sutton (CB), Tenn
Previous Pick: Jordan Lewis (CB), Mich
Newman was re-signed, but turns 39 this year, and they lost their slot corner in Munnerlyn to the Panthers. Sutton is a physical press corner who will fit Zimmer’s defensive scheme well.
80. Colts – Dorian Johnson (G), Pitt
The Colts bolster the middle of the offensive line with a great value pick.
81. Redskins – Dawuane Smoot (EDGE), Illinois
Smoot is a pass rushing specialist who only had 5 sacks last year, but contributes in many other ways. His style of play makes the players around him better, such as Jihad Ward and Carroll Phillips.
82. Broncos – Nazair Jones (DT), UNC
The Broncos need to bolster the defensive interior. After losing Malik Jackson last offseason, they were gashed against the run.
83. Titans – Brandan Langley (CB), Lamar
Previous pick: Ryan Anderson (EDGE), Bama
They signed Logan, but could always use additional depth at the position.
84. Bucs – Julie’n Davenport (T), Bucknell
Davenport is an interesting prospect who has high upside, but got embarrassed at the Senior Bowl. He should at least compete for the starting RT position.
85. Lions – Kareem Hunt (RB), Toledo
Previous pick: Anthony Walker Jr. (LB), Northwestern
The Lions need to figure out the running back position as Abdullah can’t stay healthy. Hunt has been on the radar of the Lions since the senior bowl.
86. Vikings – Nico Siragusa (G), San Diego State
Previous Pick: Jordan Morgan (G), Kutztown
The Vikings addressed the departures of their starting tackles, but could use some help in the interior of the offensive line. Willie Beavers might not be a long-term option at guard, so drafting a challenger wouldn’t be out of the question here.
87. NY Giants – Carlos Watkins (DT), Clemson
The Giants lost Hankins in FA and replace him here.
88. Raiders – Adam Bisnowaty (T), Pitt
Previous Pick: Chris Godwin (WR), PSU
Donald Penn will be 34 at the start of the season, and I’m not totally sold on newly acquired Marshall Newhouse.
89. Texans – Taylor Moton (OT), Western Michigan
Previous Pick: Vincent Taylor (DT), OSU
The Texans spent their first two picks on acquiring the QB of the future, now they turn their attention to protecting him.
90. Seahawks – Caleb Brantley (DT), Florida
Previous Pick: Nico Siragusa (G), SDSU
The Seahawks only defensive liability is the interior of the defensive line. Brantley could have been a first round selection, but falls because of a recent domestic abuse allegation. The Seahawks are no strangers to rehabilitating the tarnished image of players in the past. If it works out once again, they might have a gem right here.
91. Chiefs – Nathan Peterman (QB), Pitt
Previous Pick: Chidobe Awuzie (CB), Colorado
The Chiefs draft an heir (or challenger) to Alex Smith.
92. Cowboys – Jake Butt (TE), Michigan
Previous pick: Dawuane Smoot (EDGE), Illinois
Witten is going to be turning 35 this season. With a young QB like Dak, having a safety net is bigly important. Jake Butt tore his ACL during the Orange Bowl, which means he may or may not be available for the season opener. This obviously hurts his draft stock; the Cowboys have already demonstrated in the past that they are willing to draft high-upside players who are injured.
93. Packers – Pat Elffein (C/G), OSU
Previous Pick: Marquel Lee (MLB), Wake Forest
After losing J.C. and Lang, the Packers need to restock the cupboard.
94. Steelers – Tyus Bowser (EDGE), Houston
The Steelers eventually get around to drafting a replacement for Harrison.
95. Falcons – Marcus Maye (FS), Florida
Previous pick: Marcus Maye (S), Florida
Ricardo Allen played well in the playoffs, but Maye might be a slight long-term upgrade. He seems like a natural fit for the Earl Thomas role on the defense.
96. Patriots – Steven Taylor (OLB), Houston
Previous Pick: Carroll Phillips (EDGE), Illinois
The Pats have relied extensively on castaways and free agent signings to bolster their defensive line the past few seasons. Taylor had a good senior bowl and combine and might have played himself into the first three rounds.
97. Dolphins – Justin Evans (S), A&M
The Dolphins need a complement to Rashad Jones. Evans is a perfect box safety who can also play well in coverage.
98. Browns (via Panthers) – Adam Shaheen (TE), Ashland
Previous pick: Julien Davenport (OT), Bucknell
Barnidge is over 30 and the Browns really seem to like this kid.
99. Eagles – Derek Rivers (EDGE), Youngstown State
Rivers made a name for himself when he ran a 4.61 at the combine, the fastest time among EDGE rushers. With the loss of Barwin, they make a low-risk move at replacing him here.
100. Titans – Daeshon Hall (EDGE) A&M
Previous Pick: Tyus Bowser (EDGE), Houston
The Titans are making luxury picks at this point in the draft, having addressed all their major needs.
101. Broncos – Isaiah Ford (WR), V-Tech
Previous pick: Cooper Kupp (WR), EWU
Denver doesn’t have much receiving depth behind Sanders and Thomas.
102. Seahawks – Marquel Lee (LB), Wake Forest
The Seahawks could use some depth at linebacker.
103. Saints – Samaje Perine (RB), Oklahoma
Ingram and the Saints have a real love/hate relationship.
104. Chiefs – Rasul Douglas (CB), WVU
Previous Pick: Nazair Jones (DT), UNC
The Chiefs need to replace Smith and supplement Peters. Douglas matched up against top receiving talent week-to-week in the BIG12, one of the most pass heavy conferences.
105. Steelers – Jourdan Lewis (CB), Michigan
The Steelers’ secondary improved over the course of the season, but they still need an insurance policy on it. Lewis was a highly touted physical prospect that would be perfect for their zone—blitzing scheme. He does have pending domestic violence allegations against him, which has dropped his value significantly.
106. Seahawks – Lorenzo Jerome (S), St. Francis
Some insurance after what happened last season.
107. Jets – Tyler Orlosky (C), WVU
With the release of Mangold, they need to consider a replacement here.
AdvertisementsAs the days get shorter and the temperature drops, it’s time to remove the last of your summer crops and to plant all your favorite cold-tolerant fall and winter vegetables. But before you break out the spading fork or rent a rototiller to turn your beds, listen to these wise words from Paul Kaiser, owner of Singing Frogs Farm in Sebastopol, CA: “Don’t disturb that soil!”
Although the prevailing wisdom is to till before planting new crops, Kaiser’s farm proves this practice is a waste of time, energy, and hard-earned dollars. His fields in Sonoma County are never turned or tilled, yet annually they produce six times the state average of harvest revenue per acre.
Luckily for the home gardener, Kaiser’s practices also work in backyards and raised beds. Here are his three simple rules for no-till gardening:
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Disturb Your Soil as Little as Possible
Keep those shovels, forks, and trowels in the garden shed! “You want to add biomass to the soil, but there’s no need to mix or till it in,” says Kaiser. Compost, manure, and rotting straw are all good things to add to your beds, but simply let them decompose on top of your beds and around your growing vegetables instead of digging them in. Not only will this hands-off approach prevent soil erosion, it also protects the microbiology living in the soil that promotes healthy plants and good root structure.
Kaiser also never pulls his vegetable roots from the ground. Instead, if a plant is ready to be harvested or has stopped producing, he cuts the stem at ground level and leaves the roots in the soil. This ensures that essential microorganisms living in that root structure stay in the soil and can transfer to new transplants and vegetables that are added to the bed.
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Grow a Diversity of Green Living Plants
There should never be a day where something isn’t growing in your vegetable beds. Photosynthesis feeds not only your plants, but also the soil, so ensuring something leafy is always growing promotes healthy soil. Empty beds are also susceptible to erosion and other problems. “Don’t wait two weeks between cutting plants down and planting something new,” says Kaiser. “If you wait, the soil’s going to dry out, lose nutrients, and have weeds growing in it.”
As soon as your eggplant or cucumber stops producing, cut it down and replace it with a cool-season vegetable. “Keep that cycle of cutting and transplanting going,” encourages Kaiser. He also recommends transplants over direct seeding—the time it takes for a seed to germinate leaves the soil exposed and ripe for an explosion of weeds. A diversity of plants is important too, as vegetables from different families uptake and give back different nutrients to the soil
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Keep Your Soil Covered and Protected
Although consistently growing plants and vegetables is the best way to follow this rule, mulches also do the trick. Straw or dead plant matter are good alternatives, but no matter what, don’t leave the soil bare over the winter.
In mild regions of the West, keep growing food through the winter, including lettuce, kale, and broccoli. And if you live in an area with snowfall and frigid temperatures, you can still follow the no-till method: “We have friends in Durango, CO,” says Kaiser. “As soon as their last crop is harvested or killed off by frost, they cut down the plants, pull any weeds, and leave the detritus on the beds under some breathable landscape fabric.” This keeps the soil protected and undisturbed through the winter. “Then once the snow’s mostly done the following spring, you remove the fabric and you’ve got perfect healthy soil that’s weed-free and ready for transplants.”
No matter where you live, the no-till method is worth following. It may seem like a lot of work to plant so intensively and frequently, but it sure beats the backbreaking work of turning beds.
For more information about the no-till method, good soil practices, and opportunities to hear Paul Kaiser speak, visit Singing Frogs Farm’s website.England are through to the final of the Under-17 World Cup after beating Brazil 3-1 in the semifinal in Kolkata, with Liverpool forward Rhian Brewster scoring his second consecutive hat trick.
England took the lead in the 11th minute, and Brewster was again on the scoresheet after netting three against United States in the quarterfinals. Goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao saved the initial effort, but only pushed the ball back out to the striker who made no mistake second time of asking.
Brazil applied pressure on the England defence for several minutes in a bid to get back level, and the goal duly came in the 21st minute. This time it was Wesley's turn to have two bites at goal, with England goalkeeper Curtis Anderson also unable to deal with the initial effort.
But England regained their composure and retook the lead six minutes before the interval, Brewster firing home from inside the six-yard box.
England celebrate after Rhian Brewster scored the opener. Tom Dulat - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
And Brewster made it back to back trebles for England when provided the simply task of sidefooting home from Emile Smith-Rowe's square pass in the 77th minute.
Brewster is now the competition's outright leading goal scorer with seven goals.
Both teams lined up with their familiar 4-2-3-1 formation that they have employed during most games of this World Cup, with Brazil bringing back the impressive Weverson from Sao Paulo at left-back to revert to their strongest starting XI.
England gave another start to Morgan Gibbs-White of Wolverhampton Wanderers, ahead of Manchester United's Angel Gomes, to play just behind Brewster.
Brazil were quicker off the blocks, and made their intentions clear with high pressing inside the first few minutes of the game. In fact, England were able to put together a short spell of possession for the first time only in the fourth minute, with their defence quickly transferring the ball from right to left, where Chelsea left-back Jonathan Panzo then looked to release his club teammate Callum Hudson-Odoi. Hudson-Odoi would fail to get past Brazilian right-back Wesley, but it was an option that showed England the way about the correct way to apply pressure on their opposition.
Part of Brazil's plan, a continuation of what had worked against Germany, was to get Wesley and Weverson on the left to join in attack when in possession, leaving the centre-backs and Victor Bobsin to deal with any counter-attacks if the ball fell to England. This allowed a couple of half-chances for their midfielders to take a shot at Curtis Anderson's goal, but it also left them vulnerable to the long ball when giving the ball away.
When it happened for the first time in the 10th minute, it appeared innocuous enough with the ball falling away to Hudson-Odoi on the left. However, this England team has an inherent understanding of the need to stay patient when on the ball, and that's how they were able to hold on to the ball despite pressure from the Brazilian defence, and manufacture a ball into space for Brewster to come through into. Brazao made the initial save, but the second ball fell straight to Brewster, and England led, somewhat against the run of play.
Brazil's tactical response was similar to the one they had employed in their quarterfinal against Germany, allowing their most impressive attacking player through this month, Paulinho of Vasco da Gama, to go from the left flank to a more central role, and Brenner switching flanks then with the withdrawn Lincoln. The Brazilian defenders were then routinely pumping forward and captain Vitao nearly found himself at the end of a cross from the left, but in an offside position in the 19th minute. Two minutes later, Wesley found himself inside the England box, and on the end of a failed attempt from Anderson to stop a powerful Paulinho shot.
Wesley celebrates after bringing Brazil on level terms. Jan Kruger - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
When Brazil equalised at that point, it appeared anything could still happen -- they had come back from 1-0 down against both Spain and Germany in previous matches in India, after all. England stayed true to their game plan, though, allowing Brazil to have all the possession they wanted, and keeping their wide channels closed with Hudson-Odoi and Phil Foden keeping Brazil pinned to the back. Off one such move, right-back Steven Sessegnon was able to create space just by the side of the goal and cut a ball back for Brewster to notch his second of the night, a goal that went a long way towards deflating the normally buoyant Brazil team.
In the second half, coach Steve Cooper's team showed they were not willing to sit back on a lead and allow Brazil to come back the way they did against both Spain and Germany. That wasn't the only lesson they had learnt from the Germany game; on Wednesday, England's players were quite happy to retaliate with any physical challenges thrown at them, conceding a couple of yellow cards in the process. It was worth the risk, though, as suspensions are wiped out at the end of the quarter-finals of this competition.
The first part of the second half was end-to-end, with Atletico Paranaense midfielder Marcos Antonio getting a shot in from long range that gave Anderson an early warning. England's strategy of not holding back on attack themselves was well-complemented by frequent changes of flanks between Foden and Hudson-Odoi, both of whom kept coming at the Brazilian defence in good numbers. Arsenal's Smith-Rowe was brought on to replace Gibbs-White, and took his place on the right wing, from where he created Brewster's third goal that knocked the stuffing out of any Brazilian resistance there may have been till that point.
Rhian Brewster scores his hat-trick goal against Brazil. Jan Kruger - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
What Cooper played to perfection were his substitutions, holding on to them to respond to what he saw from Brazil. He only made his first change once Brazil's Carlos Amadeu had taken out Brenner from the right flank, and that enabled Cooper to bring on Smith-Rowe and the industrious Nya Kirby in place of Foden.
England held firm in the face of some relentless but tired offensive moves from the Brazilians in the closing stages of the match, with Anderson pulling off some good saves once Amadeu had played all of his cards to take the game till the end. England could have scored more -- indeed Brewster could have scored his fourth late in the match.
That would have been a flattering scoreline, though. On the night, England were just the better team on the Salt Lake Stadium pitch. And the 3-1 in their favour was a just reflection of how the teams played.
England will play Spain in the final on Saturday, kickoff at 3.30 p.m. BST, 10.30 a.m. ET.As the year draws to a close, EFF is looking back at the major trends influencing digital rights in 2013 and discussing where we are in the fight for free expression, innovation, fair use, and privacy. Click here to read other blog posts in this series.
As the outcry against NSA spying and electronic surveillance has grown, the need to protect privacy through legislation has never been higher. With law enforcement itching to use aggressive new surveillance techniques from drones to facial recognition to fight crime, privacy is often discarded by the wayside as collateral damage. Ideally it would be Congress that would take the lead in passing privacy legislation, creating uniform standards that protect privacy across the country. And while there were a number of Congressional proposals, none went anywhere in 2013. So while Congress continues to drag its feet, state courts and legislatures have stepped up to protect their citizens' electronic privacy.
This summer, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled, in a case that we filed an amicus brief in, that passengers in a car have an expectation of privacy to be free from persistent GPS location monitoring. Montana and Maine passed legislation that required police to obtain a search warrant before tracking any electronic device. And Texas passed a bill that requires state law enforcement obtain a search warrant before accessing electronic communications like emails from a service provider.
As states placed an emphasis on protecting privacy, we stepped up our efforts to get involved at the state level. We filed numerous amicus briefs in state courts across the country on a whole host of privacy issues. We argued to the Supreme Courts of Rhode Island and Washington that your text messages stored on someone else's cell phone were protected by the Fourth Amendment. We urged courts in Connecticut and Massachusetts to follow New Jersey's lead, and require police obtain a search warrant before getting cell phone tower information. We explained to the Texas high court that unlike a pair of pants, police can't search an arrestee's cell phone without a warrant. And again before the Massachusetts high court, we explained why the Fifth Amendment prohibited a suspect from being forced to decrypt a computer. We got involved in state legislation too, sponsoring an email privacy bill in California that passed the legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown. We also opposed a Massachusetts bill that aimed to expand the state's |
epileptic seizures. This person was seizing three or four times a week, and the quality of life for both of us was gone. Medical doctors put the person on four different pharmaceutical medicines, one after the other, and none of them worked. The drugs all had horrible side effects, and the seizures continued.
Finally, the person went to Colorado and acquired what they call “medical marijuana.” In my opinion, there should be no separation between medical and recreational because the entire plant is medical. Anyway, getting back to the at-hand, the person—who seized again on the way to Colorado—started with three drops under the tongue three times a day, and the seizures stopped. Now it's legal in Minnesota, very limited, but the person qualified. One pill in the morning, one pill at night, and I can happily say that my quality of life and this person's quality of life have returned. The person, who has not had a seizure now for two and a half years, is completely—let me repeat—completely weaned off all pharmaceutical medicine. It's the marijuana and solely the marijuana that saved our lives.
When you were governor, you tried to legalize hemp. What happened?
I was an independent governor, I didn't belong to a [political] party, so I couldn't get anybody to carry the bill. Governors don't make laws, legislatures do. The governor can only veto it, sign it into law or let it go into law without signature. A governor can support something, but it always requires the legislature to make the law. I couldn't get a single Democrat or Republican to carry the damn bill. All they care about is their reelection and holding onto power, and they resist anything that jeopardizes that. They're spineless cowards.
When politicians said they wouldn't support the hemp bill, what were their stated reasons?
They didn't give reasons. They're just not going to put their political butts on the line. The mainstream soundbite media would write, "So-and-so is pro-drugs,” and their opponent would run horrible soundbite ads that say, "They want your kids doing drugs!" That's exactly what you'd get politically, so none of them had the courage to do it.
Also, the pharmaceutical industry does not want marijuana made legal. Like Deep Throat said in the movie All the President's Men, "Follow the money." They don't want it legal because people could grow it, and the government doesn't get a cut. I'll give an example: I grew up in the city center of Minneapolis, and we had a small little backyard, but my mom would carve up about a third of it to grow tomatoes. Every summer, we'd have fresh tomatoes grown in the inner-city right in our backyard. Well, you could do the same thing with cannabis. You could grow it in your backyard, four or five plants, and it would provide for your needs, but nobody would make money, would they? There'd be no tax on it, and you wouldn't have to buy pills from pharma.
Look at what pharma just did with those shots people need for bee stings or they could die. They raised the price 400 percent or whatever it was. Your health should not be a for-profit business, and that's unfortunately what it is for pharma. They don’t want marijuana legalized because they would fail to make money. I would rather have somebody smoke a joint for mental health than to take Prozac, personally.Intuitive
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LOS ANGELES – A feline stowaway discovered riding aboard a big rig in California's Riverside County turned out to belong to a Georgia family who has been missing him since the Fourth of July, officials said Friday.
The tabby, named Kitty Bitty, was apparently along for the long haul as a truck driver for Pepsi made the trip out west, according to John Welsh, a spokesman for the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
“We can only surmise he somehow ended up over at a Pepsi facility in the Georgia area, not too far I believe from where this owner lives, and somehow jumped on the back of a truck or on a pallet,” Welsh told KTLA. “Somewhere in that truck the cat was undetected for quite some time.”
It’s unclear for how long he was traveling cross country but, because he is so skinny, Welsh believes he was in the truck for at least a few days. He was also suffering from dehydration when he was found but was soon revived with veterinary care.
The feline is currently being housed at the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley. But Animal Services staff are pooling their own money so that he can be flown home to Georgia ahead of the Christmas holiday, Welsh said.
Animal Services officials were tipped off to the missing pet's whereabouts by the truck driver. Kitty Bitty's owners were then identified thanks to a tag he had certifying that he received his rabies vaccine.
His Georgia family had assumed the worst possible fate befell their pet and were ecstatic to learn he was alive and safe in California following his six-month adventure, Welsh said.
This isn't the first time a commuting cat has been discovered by Riverside County Animal Services officials, according to Welsh.
A South Carolina cat aboard a U-Haul van was previously turned over to authorities following a state border inspection in Blythe. That pet was also flown back east aboard a jet.
“We’re always pleased when we can get the cat back to the owner, even if it takes a cross-country flight to get the cat back home,” Welsh said.We’ve built this idea up that NXT is a breeding ground for future WWE stars, many of which paid their dues working the independent scene long before they came to developmental. Guys like Cesaro, Kevin Owens, Neville, and even the WWE Champions Seth Rollins all began polishing their craft on the indys. While NXT has been able to create some stars without any real prior experience, for example Bray Wyatt & Roman Regins, more often than not these guys come from a different background.
WWE occasionally likes to acknowledge that fact and instead bringing on former bodybuilders or cross fit athletes they look around the indy scene for talent.
We’ve seen them recently acquire guys like Owens, Hideo Itami (KENTA), Finn Balor (Prince Devitt), Samoa Joe, and Apollo Crews (Uhaa Nation). For the most part these guys have helped make NXT go from developmental system to WWE’s third brand. When the network finally took off some of these men helped NXT gain the popularity and recognition that no one expected to come from the developmental show.
Quickly these guys were poached for the main roster, while others fell victim to injury. If you take a look at the first NXT big event…NXT Arrival there are only three active wrestlers still in NXT; Tyler Breeze, Mojo Rawley, & Emma (she was eventually called up and but came back down). Granted many of the wrestlers are still with WWE…but the landscape in NXT is much different from then. Even since the last NXT event four wrestlers have been called up and those were four big names; Kevin Owens, Charlotte, Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks. Along with those call ups Sami Zayn & Hideo Itami have been sidelined with injury and only Samoa Joe has come in to replace them.
We still see some of them make appearances in NXT but with one foot out the door, you start to lose interest in what they are doing in NXT. You get to see them on Raw & Smackdown so why tune into NXT?
Sure I still tune in every week, but I’ve noticed that I’m slowly transitioning from needing to catch it when it first airs to being able to catch up on it sometime during the weekend. NXT use to be that must see WWE program almost more so then Raw at one point now it seems like its heading down a similar path of Smackdown.
With NXT being taken on the road and more big events like the upcoming Takeover in Brooklyn, WWE is going to have to re-up their roster and make NXT exciting and fresh again. While we have a few guys waiting in the wing Solomon Crowe (who doesn’t get nearly enough time), Tye Dillinger (Who’s perfect 10 gimmick could be the next Yes!), and the upcoming debut of Apollo Crews here are ten fresh faces that I think could fit within the NXT system and help the brand continue to be one of the best wrestling products out there.
Disclaimer: I’m not going to list guys like AJ Styles, Jay Lethal or the Young Bucks…we all get it. These guys are entertaining and fun to watch but I want to take a different look at this. Plenty of list have these guys on them and by now we all understand how great it would be to have them in NXT. An granted I do plan on naming some obvious choices during this list…I just don’t plan on naming the top guys from every company other than WWE. I would love to see plenty of different wrestlers in NXT, way more than just ten, but these are the ten guys and girls that I think would fit perfectly into what they are doing down there. Some might have a shot at the main roster one day, but that isn’t what this list is really about.
10. Adam Cole
This is going to be my most obvious choice…It’s hasn’t been much of a secret that Cole is on WWE’s radar and while I have no clue if he would sign there or not I think he would be a great “short term” fix for NXT’s needs.
Cole has the look, the talent, he is versatility in his ability to play heel or face and has the ability to deliver in the ring with a level of confidence that you just can’t teach. He reminds me a little of Randy Orton (who I think would be a great dream match…but that’s for a different article.)
Anyway….I think Cole would have a tough time staying on NXT’s roster but a solid six month run would help them build up their house shows, bring back/in the audience that they may have lost from the other departures, and help get rid of meaningless matches on TV.
I would also like to see Michael Bennett and Kyle O’Reilly in NXT but are they too obvious of choices?
9. Johnny Gargano
This might be the last obvious choice…Gargano is exactly what I picture for NXT. When he comes through that curtain you’re not going to see a bad match…it might not be the best match of the night but I’ll guarantee that it won’t be close to the worst. This kid has emerged from that Midwest wrestler you’ve watched on YouTube to being the show-stealing, social media wizard, that wrestling hipsters are claiming to have liked way before he was on WWE’s radar.
With the right push behind him Gargano could be NXT’s version of Daniel Bryan. I say that because I feel like Gargano could come in and deliver with just about anyone, much like Bryan. I also think he would have an easy time connecting with fans….once he finds his rhythm there.
Finn Balor vs Johnny Gargano for the NXT Title would be an indy fans dream and a NXT fans surprise. Samoa Joe might actually have someone to go with and upon his return Itami could put on some great mid-card matches with NXT’s swizz army knife.
8. Drew Gulak
Remember when C.J Parker was walking around with pick-it signs and boring us all with his lackluster hippie gimmick…well let’s take the concept behind that and put it behind Drew Gulak. Gulak once used the concept “Campaign for a Better Combat Zone”….which is close to what Parker was attempting and more like what Steve Corino did in ECW with his anti-hardcore gimmick.
“A Campaign for a Better NXT” where Gulak looks to rid NXT of former NFL rejects, cross fit athletes & body builders and bring back the prestige of pro-wrestling. NXT is missing those types of angles and storylines and this along with Gulak’s in ring talent, think Malenko with a little more zip behind him. Like Gargano before him Gulak can wrestle just about anyone, which is something NXT needs. With guys like Corbin and Dempsey on the roster they could use some more versatile pieces.
7. Sara Del Rey
I understand that she is already down there, but she is off camera what I’m suggesting is that she becomes a part of the show. It’s no secret that the NXT women’s division is going to take a huge hit with Charlotte, Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks making their way to the main roster. With NXT’s next crop of divas still pretty green, it would only make sense to bring in a veteran like Del Rey to help them along.
This isn’t a new concept for NXT as they’ve been using Rhyno for a few months now and had Brian Kendrick do a few matches. Del Rey already trains these girls, so who better to get in the ring with them and help transition over the new class. As far as signing new talent I’m sure at least three of the last four women from Tough Enough will be making their way back.
6. Kyle O’Reilly
I’d like to point out that this isn’t a top ten list…it just a list of ten wrestlers that I think should be in NXT…no particular order just how it flows out. With that being said I thought about it and O’Reilly being in NXT is worth being like every other list of indy wrestlers who belong in WWE/NXT.
With that being said I’m entering O’Reilly into this list with the thought that either one of two things will happen or have happened; 1. He ends up teaming/feuding with Adam Cole with a brutal blow-off match at a Takeover event. 2. Bobby Fish joins him and reDRagon actually make the NXT tag team division bearable.
Another reason why I pulled an audible and added O’Reilly…besides the fact I’m really into the MMA/Strong-style he bring. I’d really like to see O’Reilly & Itami go at it.
5. Rhett Titus
Alright I’m a homer…Titus is to me like the Celtics are to Bill Simmons. I can’t not cheer for the guy and it would be great to see him in NXT. Regardless of my allegiance to him, I really do see him fitting down there.
Just imagine the entire Full Sail crowd doing the Rhettski (If you don’t know what the Rhettski is think the People’s Elbow, but instead of the arm waving back and forth Titus mimics being on a jet ski before dropping a leg drop.) Titus vs Tyler Breeze would be the greatest prima donna match up in a long time.
Also if for some reason or another Kenny King lands down there you have two guys with chemistry who would lend a much-needed helping hand to that tag team division.
4. War Machine (Hanson & Raymond Rowe)
Not only do these guys have a different look then the rest of the NXT tag teams, but they also look like they could and would kick your ass for fun. When I look at these guys I think this is what The Ascension should have looked like…or least resembled. It’s no secret that the NXT tag division is lacking. Enzo and Big Cass are one foot out the door it seems and Blake & Murphy suck…that might literally be the worst tag team in the company. Behind them you have the Mojo Rawley & Zack Ryder, Vaudevillians, who are entertaining but the gimmick will eventually hit a stalemate, and The Mechanics who are good, but not enough to hold the division together.
That’s where these guys come into play. You can throw them a new tag team each week like you did The Ascension and you can get a solid year and a half out of them before you have to really worry about what to do next. Just keep feeding them teams and eventually they will get the call up where just like every other tag team they will be wasted, but at least during their NXT run they will have some fun.
3. Brian Cage
The guy was down in developmental before but that was FCW and he had a silly name. I’m sure his current deal with Lucha Underground would interfere in this dream scenario but I’m just going to act like it doesn’t matter. Cage would be one hell of an addition to NXT and would certainly please Kevin Dunn’s lustful eyes.
2. Curtis Axel
Yeah he is on the main roster, but so was Tyson Kidd and look what that did for him. Kidd’s career was rejuvenated while being now in NXT, so maybe it can do the same for Axel. The guy is fun to watch and really gives everything his all.
I say move him down there, toss the Axelmania gimmick in the trash with the European title and let’s give Axel something he can work with. Other suggestions like this would be Heath Slater, Fandango, Adam Rose, Cameron & Jack Swagger. All these guys could do some time down in NXT help refresh their characters or in Rose’s case toss it to the side and bring out something new like *cough*Leo Kruger*cough8. I would start with Axel and maybe work my way down, with a new fresh face every six months or so. If something works call them back up and bring the next one down. This would allow for NXT to always have an established name down there and it would help with those house shows when the big names are gone.
1.Cheeseburger
His raw talent and ability to perform in the ring is match by none. I can see it now they could have the Burger King guy walk him down to the ring like he was Floyd Mayweather….
I’m just kidding my last and final choice to help fill out the NXT roster is Moose. The guy is a beast and has picked up wrestling rather quickly. Aside from someone like Ronda Rousey or IK Enemkpali entering the ring Quinn Ojinnaka is the only outside talent I’m interested in.
He has the size that management seems to love, the guy is 6’5” and weighs 295 pounds in the wrestling world…who knows how close that really is but the fact is this guy seems like the perfect project to watch grow in NXT and that’s something we are currently missing. Everyone seems to be coming in already polish and ready for the display aisle and the whole point of NXT is to watch these men and women develop and we could do just that with Moose…who might need a name change.President Donald Trump is appointing an oil and gas industry lobbyist to help run the Interior Department — just as the agency is facing criticism from a federal watchdog over the ways it helps fossil fuel firms evade environmental rules.
Late last month, Trump nominated lawyer David Bernhardt to serve as Deputy Interior Secretary. Bernhardt would come to the role from his job as a partner at a major law firm that represents energy industry clients across the country. An International Business Times review of Bernhardt’s newly released financial disclosure forms shows he has personally represented Samson Resources, Cobalt International Energy and Westlands Water District — which have significant interests before the Interior Department that Bernhardt will now help run.
Read: Trump Conflicts Of Interest: Emails Expose EPA Chief Scott Pruitt's Ties To Oil And Gas Companies
As Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Bernhardt would preside over the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the federal agency responsible for overseeing oil and gas drilling on the 245 million acres the bureau administers. If confirmed, Bernhardt would become part of an Interior Department leadership looking to open more land to energy interests, some of which he once represented.
Already, the Trump administration has begun opening up federal lands to the kind of fossil fuel exploration that could benefit Bernhardt’s previous clients. In February, the BLM made its largest lease sale in four years, selling drilling rights on 278 parcels of public land for a total of $129.3 million. In March, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke ended a moratorium on coal-mining leases on federal land put in place by the Obama administration.
Zinke’s decision followed an executive order by President Trump calling on agencies to review regulations that “potentially burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources.”
“Unable To Provide Reasonable Assurance That It Is Meeting Its Environmental Responsibilities”
Only a few weeks after Bernhardt’s nomination, the government’s General Accountability Office issued a report chastising the Bureau of Land Management for its oversight of oil and gas drilling. The report said the agency has been failing to adequately document how it uses waivers to let oil and gas firms get around environmental rules and drill on federal lands.
“Because BLM does not consistently track exception request data or have a consistent process for considering requests and clearly documenting decisions, BLM may be unable to provide reasonable assurance that it is meeting its environmental responsibilities,” the GAO wrote in a report released last month.
The GAO investigation surveyed 42 BLM offices, and found fewer than half tracked data on exception requests. The GAO also found that BLM did not use data from site inspections to evaluate whether its permit process was protecting the environment.
The report came shortly after a Gallup poll showed that 53 percent of respondents opposed oil exploration on federal lands — up from 34 percent in 2012. The upward trend in opposition over the last five years occurs at the same time gas prices have dropped. As Gallup notes, in March 2012, the price of a gallon of gas was $3.91. By February 2017, gas had fallen to an average price of $2.42 a gallon.
“All Legislation Regarding The Leasing And Development Of Energy”
Bernhardt has worked for energy clients of lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck after leaving a high-ranking job in the George W. Bush administration’s Interior Department in 2009. While Bernhardt is no longer lobbying clients on behalf of his employer, the firm’s website still listed him as its Natural Resources Department chair as of Wednesday.
While Bernhardt is subject to a January executive order requiring all presidential appointees to pledge to recuse themselves from issues related to former clients for two years after taking office, appointees can receive waivers to that rule. Those waivers have been secret, which last week prompted the head of the Office of Government Ethics to request copies of all waivers be sent to his office by June 1.
Federal lobbying records show Bernhardt has repeatedly lobbied on behalf of Samson Resources Company on “issues regarding the development of energy on federal lands.” Samson Resources leases 287,000 acres of land from the BLM, according to records provided to IBT by the Bureau. Bernhardt’s public disclosure filings show he has provided legal services to Noble Energy, which is leasing 202,000 acres from the Bureau.
Bernhardt has also repeatedly lobbied on “all legislation regarding the leasing and development of energy on the Outer Continental Shelf” on behalf of Cobalt International Energy. Drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf is overseen by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which just last week ruled that four bids submitted by Cobalt for offshore tracts in the Gulf were “acceptable.”
While Bernhardt has provided legal services to other oil and gas industry clients, including the Independent Petroleum Association of America, much of his lobbying efforts have been on behalf of the Westlands Water District, one of the most profitable agricultural areas in the world. The water district has been involved with a long-standing dispute, which included a billion dollar lawsuit, with the Interior Department over costs of a federal water project and responsibility for the disposal of water polluted with selenium.A man hit by a Metro Transit bus while on his bike earlier this week died from his injuries Friday, friends and family members confirmed Saturday.
Michael Williams of Minneapolis was struck by a Route 19 bus near the intersection of Hwy. 55 and Morgan Avenue N. around 6 p.m. Monday.
The bus was headed east on Hwy. 55 toward downtown Minneapolis and slowed down as it approached a bus stop at the Morgan Avenue N. intersection, according to witness Trent Watkins, who was on the bus.
Williams, meanwhile, was biking south on Morgan Avenue N. toward the intersection to turn left.
No one got on the bus at the stop, so the driver accelerated to cross Morgan on a green light, Watkins said. Williams crossed the highway, cut in front of the bus and collided with its front right side.
Watkins said Williams was not wearing a helmet.
Metro Transit provided an accident report Saturday, which did not elaborate on the details of the collision.
Friends shared news of Williams’ death on social media. He turned 45 on Friday.
Metro Transit spokesman Howie Padilla had not been informed of Williams’ death, he said Saturday afternoon. Metro Transit police are investigating the collision.
The driver of the bus was temporarily pulled out of service, a standard procedure, Padilla said.
A GoFundMe account set up for Williams’ family had raised more than $9,000 as of 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Friends and family held an informal memorial for Williams at Powderhorn Park Saturday afternoon.Rated 4 out of 5 by davi99 from Good shoes A very good shoes which combine two shoes of prime knit and Japan at the same time. However, as the shoes is not totally black, it doesn't fit in the picture as much as Japan
Rated 5 out of 5 by Belgio666 from Nice n comfortable to wear shoes I bought this for my friend, he has no complaints bout the shoes. I bought 2 pairs which 1 is the trico for the male and 1 is the pink nmd r1 for his girlfriend. Footlockers sent it on time as it described. Recieved the package perfectly. Keep the services rock and very recommended to purchase in footlockers
Rated 5 out of 5 by sneaker___ from Excellent Excellent footwear,recommended, verry comfort
Rated 5 out of 5 by Crabby from Comfortable! Feels like walking on a pillow everywhere you go and looks great (better than the OG in my opinion)! Watch for sizing though, I had to get a 10.5 in these even though I get an 11 in the regular mesh NMDs.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Basic n I b b a from Paire géniale Je possède ces Nmd depuis plus de 8 mois et franchement elles sont super. Elles sont super confortables, la paire est très belle. Attention par contre à la taille, j’ai pris du 41 1/3 alors que je fais du 42.5.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Idhem944 from Super confortable Ces chaussures sont tops, on se sent vraiment bien dedans. Nous avons l'impression de marcher avec des chaussons très agréables. En plus de ça, elles font un beau pied. En revanche ces basket taillent petit, donc prennez une légère taille en dessous de la vôtre.
Rated 4 out of 5 by Ganesh from Great shoe The shoes are amazing and provides real comfort.However, I still feel its a little overpriced.Would have been better if the sole was black instead of white.Emily and Haley Ferguson are growing up — and moving out!
The 24-year-old twins, who found fame on Ben Higgins’ season of The Bachelor, recently relocated from Las Vegas to a new pad in Los Angeles. But they’re not exactly prepared for the realities of grown-up living. “We’re trying to be adults,” Haley says. And they readily admit, “Our mom used to do all of our laundry and cooking.”
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To help ease the transition, they called in former flame Higgins and his girlfriend Lauren Bushnell, who he proposed to on his season of the hit show, for reinforcements.
“The Twins are just moving out on their own, and this is their first house on their own,” Higgins tells PEOPLE in the video home tour.
RELATED: Bachelor Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell’s Colorado Home is the Definition of ‘Love Nest’
“This is the first time we’re going to be using the kitchen and the washer and dryer by ourselves,” Haley adds
RELATED VIDEO: Find Out What Word Makes ‘Bachelor’ Twins Haley & Emily Ferguson Cry Laughing!
Don’t expect The Twins: Happily Ever After? stars to be breaking out the cookbooks anytime soon, though.
“The only thing that’ll be used is the freezer to store our frozen pizzas, our chicken nuggets, frozen French fries,” Emily says of their kitchen.
RELATED: JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers Invite PEOPLE Inside Their New Dallas Home
When it came to the décor, Bushnell, along with Madison Modern Home, lent the ladies a hand. One standout is the boho-chic dining area where Bushnell says, “The twins will probably eat many meals that they picked up from a restaurant and brought here.”
Wall art capturing the sisters’ positive personality, a large framed photo of Higgins holding the classic Bachelor rose, and other touches of glam truly make the space feel like home. But that doesn’t mean they’re ready to dive into adulting quite yet.
“We should probably order out for our first meal,” Emily says.
Watch The Twins: Happily Every After? Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Freeform.Last week, federal prosecutors announced that former Georgia deputy Nikki Autry would be indicted on charges of making false statements to a judge in order to obtain a warrant to raid a home in Habersham County. During that raid, one deputy blindly deployed a flash grenade that landed in a playpen, critically injuring a toddler.
From CNN:
In May 2014, Nikki Autry and a team of special agents and informants from the local Narcotics Criminal Investigation and Suppression Team were “attempting undercover narcotics buys.” Autry presented an affidavit to a magistrate judge falsely swearing that a “true and reliable informant” had bought a small amount of methamphetamine at a residence. Based on the erroneous information she presented, which also included claims of “heavy traffic in and out of the residence,” the judge issued Autry a “no knock” search warrant. When a SWAT team executing that warrant found the front door blocked, one of the officers tossed a flash-bang grenade inside the residence. Once inside the home, the SWAT team realized a portable playpen had been blocking the door, and the flash-bang grenade had landed where a 19-month-old was sleeping, eventually exploding on the child’s pillow. The toddler spent weeks in a burn unit in a medically induced coma... The federal indictment concludes the raid should not have happened. “Without her false statements, there was no probable cause to search the premises for drugs or to make the arrests,” acting U.S. Attorney John Horn said in a release. “In this case,” he said, “the consequences of the unlawful search were tragic.” According to the indictment, Autry is charged with four counts of civil rights violations for “willfully depriving the occupants of the residence of their right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.” Autry is also charged with depriving the man suspected of selling drugs, Wanis Thonetheva, of “his right to be free from arrest without probable cause.”
Days after the raid, Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell cleared his deputies of any wrongdoing. Here’s what he said in May of last year:
Terrell said both the district attorney and Georgia Bureau of Investigation have said there was no wrongdoing on the SRT’s part. “I’ve talked to the D.A., I’ve talked to the GBI,” Terrell said. “I’ve given them the whole information and they say there’s nothing else we can do. There’s nothing to investigate, there’s nothing to look at. Given the information given, GBI’s SWAT team would have done the exact same thing – they’d have used the exact same scenario to enter the house.”
Here’s what he told ABC News at about the same time:
The sheriff said that the Special Response Team, SRT, did the best they could with the information they were given. A confidential informant was sent to the residence on Tuesday to make a buy for methamphetamine, Terrell said. At the time of the purchase, there were two Mercedes SUVs parked in the driveway, with a guard standing at the front door and the back door. The informant did not enter the home and made the alleged purchase in the doorway, the sheriff said. “It was really uncomfortable, and really intimidating. The informant made the purchase and left the residence,” Terrell said. “He didn’t see anything to indicate that there was a child in the house.” After the buy, the SRT came back with a no-knock warrant to arrest the suspected dealer.
According to federal prosecutors, none of these things were true. There either was no informant or Autry lied about what the informant said. There was no guard. There was no drug buy in the doorway. The GBI also denied at the time that it had approved the raid. The agency began investigating the case in June of last year but doesn’t appear to have issued a report.
In a sane world, Georgia officials would have learned from this case that violent, confrontational, forced-entry police raids are a terrible way to serve search warrants on people suspected of low-level drug crimes. In a sane world, we’d understand that because all parties to a drug transaction are consensual, there’s no direct victim to report the crime. Therefore, police must use informants, surveillance and undercover operations to get information. That makes the information rather unreliable. In a sane world, we’d understand that conducting volatile, nighttime raids based on dirty information is a good way to get people injured or killed, whether they’re drug dealers, drug users, cops or toddlers.
Instead, Terrell initially blamed the baby’s injuries on the suspected drug dealer, whom he called “no better than a domestic terrorist.” That was blame-shifting even if the suspect had been guilty. It was Terrell’s deputies who created the violence here, not the guy who allegedly sold a small amount of meth. Yet an assistant district attorney told CNN last year that he was considering charging the drug suspect for the injuries to the baby. And, of course, federal officials now say the guy never actually made the alleged drug sale in the first place. So Terrell’s deputies didn’t create violence as a disproportionate response to a consensual crime, they |
Hussein was twice denied entry to Deer Ridge pool property to watch her children swim because she refused to wear a swimsuit. The city changed its policy to allow for medical and religious exceptions.
Article
The ACLU of Southern California (2005) represented a Native American inmate who refused, for religious reasons, to cut his hair. Prison officials punished the inmate by revoking his visitation rights and extending his time in prison. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that the prison ban on long hair violated the prisoner's religious freedom and ordered the prisoner released immediately.
The ACLU (2005) filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court supporting a group of Ohio prisoners who were denied religious items and literature, as well as time to worship, in violation of federal law. The Supreme Court decided in favor of the prisoners, upholding the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA).
The ACLU of Southern California (2005) supported Jewish residents of Orange County after a special election was scheduled on the first day of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah. The ACLU called on the county to make accommodations for Jewish residents who wished to vote early in the election.
The ACLU of Virginia (2005) filed suit on behalf of Cynthia Simpson, a Wiccan woman whom county leaders refused to include in a list of religious leaders invited to give invocations at meetings of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. The Board's reason for refusing to add her to the list was that "Chesterfield's non-sectarian invocations are traditionally made to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition."
The ACLU of Louisiana (2005) successfully represented a Rastafarian mother and her fourth grade son before the Lafayette Parish School Board. The Board seized the child'sbooks and suspended him for having dreadlocks. The nine-year-old child was allowed to return to school.
2004
The ACLU of New Jersey (2004) appeared as a friend of the court to argue that a prosecutor violated the New Jersey Constitution by striking individuals from a jury pool after deciding that they were "demonstrative about their religion." One potential juror was a missionary; the other was wearing Muslim religious garb, including a skull cap. The ACLU-NJ also argued that permitting strikes based on jurors' display of their religion would often amount to discrimination against identifiable religious minorities.
The ACLU of Nebraska (2004) defended the Church of the Awesome God, a Presbyterian church, from forced eviction under the City of Lincoln's zoning laws. The ACLU of Nebraska also challenged city ordinances requiring religious organizations to meet safety standards not imposed on non-religious groups.
The ACLU of Pennsylvania (2004) prevailed in its arguments that the government had to allow Amish drivers to use highly reflective gray tape on their buggies instead of orange triangles, to which the drivers objected for religious reasons.
The ACLU of Virginia (2004) threatened to file suit against the Fredericksburg-Stafford Park Authority after the Park Authority enacted an unconstitutional policy prohibiting religious activity in the park and the Park Manager stopped a Cornerstone Baptist Church minister from conducting baptisms in the park. Under pressure from the ACLU, the Park Authority revoked the prohibition and allowed baptisms in the park.
The ACLU of Michigan (2004) wrote a letter on behalf of a student at Central Michigan University whose Hanukkah candles were seized from his dorm room by campus officials. Although the university allowed students to smoke in the same dorm, it claimed that the candles posed a fire hazard. After the letter was sent, the university changed its policy.
The ACLU of Washington (2004) reached a favorable settlement on behalf of Donald Ausderau, a Christian minister, who wanted to preach to the public and distribute leaflets on the sidewalks around a downtown bus station in Spokane, Washington.
With the help of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Greater Pittsburgh Chapter (2004), an Episcopal social services group was able to keep its program of feeding the homeless running. The County Health Department reversed its decision that meals served to homeless people in a church must be cooked on the premises, as opposed to in individual homes. Had the decision not been reversed, the ministry would have been forced to cease the program.
The ACLU of Nevada (2004) represented a Mormon high school student, Kim Jacobs, whom school authorities suspended and then attempted to expel for wearing t-shirts with religious messages.
The ACLU of Michigan (2004) represented Abby Moler, a student at Sterling Stevenson High School, whose yearbook entry, a Bible verse, was deleted because of its religious content. A settlement was reached under which the school placed a sticker with Moler's original entry in the yearbooks and agreed not to censor students' yearbook entries based on their religious or political viewpoints in the future.
The Indiana Civil Liberties Union (2004) filed suit on behalf of the Old Paths Baptist Church against the City of Scottsburg after the city repeatedly threatened to cite or arrest members who held demonstrations regarding various subjects dealing with their religious beliefs.
2003
The ACLU of Massachusetts (2003) intervened on behalf of a group of students at Westfield High School who were suspended for distributing candy canes and a religious message in school. The ACLU succeeded in having the suspensions revoked and filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a lawsuit brought on behalf of the students against the school district.
The ACLU of Rhode Island (2003) interceded on behalf of an interdenominational group of carolers who were told they could not sing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve to inmates at the women's prison in Cranston, Rhode Island.
The ACLU of Michigan (2003) defended the right of a pastor to erect a large sign on the lawn of the Wesley Foundation in Mt. Pleasant stating, "We Value All Life; End the Cycle of Violence." The city claimed that the church had violated a city sign ordinance, but after the ACLU's involvement, the city allowed the sign to stay up and stated that the ordinance would be reviewed.
The ACLU of Florida (2003) represented a Muslim homemaker whose driver's license was revoked after she declined on religious grounds to remove her veil for a driver's license photo. Noting that the state allowed others to obtain driver's permits without photographs, the ACLU argued that the photograph requirement imposed a needless burden on the woman's exercise of her religion with no benefit to public safety.
2002
The ACLU of Virginia (2002) and the late Rev. Jerry Falwell prevailed in a lawsuit arguing that a Virginia constitutional provision banning religious organizations from incorporating was unconstitutional.
The ACLU of Ohio (2002) filed a brief in support of a preacher who wanted to protest abortion at a parade, but was prohibited from doing so in an Akron suburb.
The Iowa Civil Liberties Union (2002) filed a friend-of-the court brief supporting a group of Christian students who sued Davenport Schools asserting their right to distribute religious literature during non-instructional time.
The ACLU of Nebraska (2002) filed a friend-of-the-court brief challenging a Nebraska Liquor Control Commission regulation that defined "church" in a manner that excluded all religious organizations that do not own property. The ACLU argued that the "definition of a church established by the Liquor Control Commission violated the rights of members of the House of Faith to the free exercise of their religion."
The ACLU of Massachusetts (2002) filed a brief supporting the right of the Church of the Good News to run ads criticizing the secularization of Christmas and promoting Christianity as the "one true religion." The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority had refused to allow the paid advertisements to be posted and refused to sell additional advertising space to the church.
The ACLU of Pennsylvania (2002) supported the members of Congregation Kol Ami in their fight to use a former Catholic convent as a synagogue. The ACLU of Pennsylvania argued that the Abington Township Board of Commissioners' opposition to the proposed use of the convent violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
2000 - 2001
The ACLU and its affiliates (2000-2011) have been instrumental supporters of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which gives religious organizations added protection in erecting religious buildings and enhances the religious freedom rights of prisoners and other institutionalized persons. The ACLU worked with a broad coalition of organizations to secure the law's passage in 2000. After the law was enacted, the ACLU (2005) defended its constitutionality in a friend-of-the-court brief before the United States Supreme Court and the ACLU of Virginia (2006) opposed a challenge to the law before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
ACLU Defense of Religious Practice and Expression
ACLU Defends RLUIPAFlinders University professor of paediatrics and child health Kevin Forsyth says New Zealand needs to do more to curb its reliance on overseas trained doctors.
A Waikato med school is needed to help break New Zealand's chronic dependence on foreign trained doctors, says a leading Australian academic.
New Zealand-born Flinders University Professor Kevin Forsyth said the country's reliance on overseas-trained doctors is causing alarm internationally and puts New Zealand in a moral predicament.
The proposed Waikato med school aims to reverse a shortage of doctors in rural and high health needs communities. The bid, a joint initiative by Waikato University and the Waikato District Health Board, is being considered by the Government.
SUPPLIED Waikato University professor of population health Ross Lawrenson.
Each year, New Zealand recruits 1100 foreign doctors to plug the gaps in its health workforce.
READ MORE:
* Prime Minister Bill English steps into Waikato med school debate
* Waikato wants a medical school: university and health board put request to Government
Forsyth, who is associate dean of Flinders' medical course, said New Zealand is contributing to an international brain drain which see doctors from developing countries lured overseas to work.
SUPPLIED New Zealander Nicola Rowe is studying toward a doctor of medicine at Flinders University in South Australia.
"New Zealand has the worst medical workforce in the world because it's got the highest number of overseas doctors practising per capita in the OECD," he said.
"New Zealand is top of the league table."
Forsyth, a professor of paediatrics and child health in Adelaide, works with the World Health Organisation in the area of global health workforce needs.
Internationally, there is deep concern about the practice of developed countries taking doctors from poorer nations.
"I was speaking with a professor of paediatrics in Sri Lanka about the problem of the global health brain drain and he broke down in tears," Forsyth said.
"You've got very poor people who are paying their taxes to support the training of these doctors so they can go back and work in these communities, but what's happening is these doctors are going overseas to work.
"New Zealand is saying thank you very much, we'll take these doctors, but we're not going to pay for their training, that's your country's burden.
"New Zealand is denying overseas populations of their health workforce so they can prop up their own. What's that? That's reverse aid."
Waikato University Professor of population health Ross Lawrenson said an OECD report from 2008 highlighted New Zealand's reliance on overseas doctors as an issue of concern.
Although a large number of foreign doctors working in the country are from the United Kingdom, Ireland and North America, New Zealand did import doctors from developing countries.
Moral arguments aside, it is better for New Zealanders to be treated by doctors who are familiar with the country's environment and culture, Lawrenson said.
"If these countries are training their doctors for their own environment, then they're being plonked into working with Kiwi patients, I don't think that's the best outcome for Kiwis, particularly our most vulnerable communities, who are Maori, our elderly, and our mental health patients. I think it's really important that doctors understand the environment they're living in."
New Zealand-born Nicola Rowe is studying medicine at Flinders University in South Australia and understands people's moral objection to New Zealand taking doctors from developing countries.
However, the flip side is New Zealand medical graduates often go overseas to further their training or careers.
"New Zealand is a relatively poor country, sitting in the bottom half of the OECD.
"Does Australia or the United States have a moral obligation to decline to accept us for training, although we are the brightest and best and want to train in the best environment?
"I understand the argument, but we wouldn't like it if other countries shut us out on a moral altruism basis, which is it would be better for us if they didn't let us in."
Forsyth said doctors who understand the communities they work in are better able to influence and improve the health choices of people.
"A lot of medicine isn't some fancy high-tech stuff, it's actually about relating to people. I think New Zealand does need a new model. It's certainly time to get away from two big centres training all the doctors through one paradigm."
* Aaron Leaman and Christel Yardley travelled to South Australia as part of a Fairfax NZ-funded trip to examine Flinders University's rural medical programme.Ted Cruz makes the Pentagon pinky-swear that Obama is not planning to invade Texas "We are assured it is a military training exercise," he said. "I have no reason to doubt those assurances."
Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz told Bloomberg Politics' David Weigel on Saturday that he understands why Texans are concerned that the 2-month-long joint military exercise known as Jade Helm 15 might signal the end of their state's sovereignty.
"My office has reached out to the Pentagon to inquire about this exercise," Cruz said. "We are assured it is a military training exercise. I have no reason to doubt those assurances, but I understand the reason for concern and uncertainty, because when the federal government has not demonstrated itself to be trustworthy in this administration, the natural consequence is that many citizens don't trust what it is saying."
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At a meeting in late March, residents of Bastrop told the Austin American-Statemen's Sean Collins Walsh that they feared that the military would implement martial law during the exercise, because, as Bob Wells said, "it's the same thing that happened in Nazi Germany -- you get the people used to the troops on the street, the appearance of uniformed troops and the militarization of the police."
"They're gathering intelligence," Wells continued. "That's what they’re doing. And they’re moving logistics in place for martial law. That's my feeling. Now, I could be wrong. I hope I am wrong. I hope I'm a 'conspiracy theorist.'"
Wells' hopes notwithstanding, conspiracy-mongers like Alex Jones are responsible for many of the concerns he enumerated. Just this morning, Jones posted a video entitled "Jade Helm 15 Is NOT A Martial Law Takeover," in which he said that it is "probably" not an excuse to impose martial law on Texas now, merely conditioning that will allow the Obama administration to do so more easily later.
He claimed to know this because he has anonymous sources within the United States military, and they can be trusted because "they know about the transformation, they know they're being trained for treasonous operations."
Watch the interview with Ted Cruz below via David Weigel.The State of Nevada just passed Assembly Bill No. 511 which, among other things, authorizes the Department of Transportation to develop rules and regulations governing the use of driverless cars, such as Google's concept car, on its roads.
As Stanford Professor Ryan Calo notes, this is a big step forward in ensuring that safe, driverless cars become a reality.
Specifically, the law provides that the Nevada Department of Transportation "shall adopt regulations authorizing the operation of autonomous vehicles on highways within the State of Nevada." The law charges the Nevada DOT with setting safety and performance standards and requires it to designate areas where driverless cars may be tested. (Note that this could take some serious time: Japan, for instance, has been promising standards for personal robots for years and has yet to release them.)
You can read the full text of the law here.
See Also: The VW That Goes 80 MPH Without A DriverBy By Anne Sewell Sep 7, 2013 in Technology Last week Elon Musk of SpaceX tweeted that he had invented a way to create rocket parts, with hand gestures and a laser printer, virtually out of thin air. He has now posted a video to show how - almost like it is in your favorite sci-fi movies. "Right now we interact with computers in a very unnatural, 2D way." "And we try to create these 3D objects using a variety of 2D tools. And it just doesn't feel natural - it doesn't feel normal, the way you should do things." He then goes on to demonstrate how he combines a string of amazing technologies — the Oculus Rift, Leap Motion 3D controllers, holograms - to invent a way to engineer a rocket engine without actually touching it. He says the system is "going to revolutionize design and manufacturing in the 21st century." Musk starts out with a demonstration using gesture control to zoom, rotate, and interact with a complicated CAD model of a rocket engine on a computer. Next, we see the model freed from the screen, and projected in 3D in the air. From then on, SpaceX designers use hand movements to spin, move, and interact with the hologram floating in front of them - almost a real-world manifestation of the futuristic interfaces we have seen in movies like "Iron Man" and "Minority Report." Musk explains that this way, engineers can see all sides of the part they are designing, instead of simply a two-dimensional model on a computer screen. We then get to see Musk as he goes fully into immersive virtual reality with the Oculus Rift. Now, as he explains, engineers can tinker with a model of the object, imagined and designed in three dimensions, that feels like it's real and right there in front of them. Finally, using a 3D laser printer that prints in metal, they can take this model out of virtual reality and print it in real-life. Elon Musk of SpaceX combines a string of amazing technologies - the Oculus Rift, Leap Motion 3D controllers, holograms - to invent a way to engineer a rocket engine without actually touching it. YouTube Elon Musk of SpaceX combines a string of amazing technologies - the Oculus Rift, Leap Motion 3D controllers, holograms - to invent a way to engineer a rocket engine without actually touching it. YouTube Musk explains in the video "Right now we interact with computers in a very unnatural, 2D way.""And we try to create these 3D objects using a variety of 2D tools. And it just doesn't feel natural - it doesn't feel normal, the way you should do things."He then goes on to demonstrate how he combines a string of amazing technologies — the Oculus Rift, Leap Motion 3D controllers, holograms - to invent a way to engineer a rocket engine without actually touching it. He says the system is "going to revolutionize design and manufacturing in the 21st century."Musk starts out with a demonstration using gesture control to zoom, rotate, and interact with a complicated CAD model of a rocket engine on a computer.Next, we see the model freed from the screen, and projected in 3D in the air.From then on, SpaceX designers use hand movements to spin, move, and interact with the hologram floating in front of them - almost a real-world manifestation of the futuristic interfaces we have seen in movies like "Iron Man" and "Minority Report."Musk explains that this way, engineers can see all sides of the part they are designing, instead of simply a two-dimensional model on a computer screen.We then get to see Musk as he goes fully into immersive virtual reality with the Oculus Rift.Now, as he explains, engineers can tinker with a model of the object, imagined and designed in three dimensions, that feels like it's real and right there in front of them.Finally, using a 3D laser printer that prints in metal, they can take this model out of virtual reality and print it in real-life. Science fiction is once again becoming science fact. It's no wonder that Musk was Iron Man director Jon Favreau's inspiration for his depiction of the superhero. More about Spacex, elon musk, 3d design, Rocket, Parts More news from Spacex elon musk 3d design Rocket PartsFox bosses Dana Walden and Gary Newman finally (and officially) confirmed they’re developing a Prison Break event series that will feature both Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller — despite the latter’s ultimate fate on the original show.
“I would describe it as a bit of a sequel, it picks up the characters several years after we left them in the last season of the show,” Fox Chairman and CEO Walden told reporters at the Television Critics Association’s semi-annual press tour. “The brothers will be back. Some of the iconic characters from that show will be back. It definitely will address some questions that were set up at the end of the series and for a new audience… It’ll start after where we left the Scofields in the final season.”
Now the big question remains what that means for Michael Scofield (Miller), who died in the direct-to-video follow-up The Final Break. Though fellow Fox Chairman and CEO Newman initially said writer and original series creator Paul Scheuring would ignore the events of The Final Break, Walden backtracked. “I don’t think he’s going to completely ignore what happened in that episode, but what he pitched to us was a very logical and believable explanation in the world of Prison Break for why are character’s alive and still moving around the world.”
“Paul was not a part of the final seasons of Prison Break,” Walden later added. “He had some other ideas about where these characters were headed, but it will connect to that episode. He’s not going to disregard it. You will get a satisfying answer to why these characters are still alive.”
Walden also added that both Fox and Scheuring are very cognizant of the strong fan reaction when the show brought Sarah Wayne Callies back to life after featuring her decapitated head in a box. “For Paul, this is an opportunity to tell a story about these characters that he created,” Walden said. “I would say to those fans that this is the pure vision of the creator of the show and it’s going to take a detour a little bit from where we left off, but it should feel very satisfying and eventized. I think that fans will be excited about seeing these characters back together again. I’m very excited about T-Bag [Robert Knepper].”
Whether the event series would feature an actual prison break, however, remains to be seen. Walden was hesitant to offer up spoilers, but noted, “It’s just the title,” she said.
The Prison Break event series is only in development stages, but Newman and Walden had every faith it would go straight to series once Scheuring finished mapping out the 10-episode arc. For their part, Miller and Purcell are currently teamed up once again on The Flash and its spin-off DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, which debuts midseason on The CW.Reporter from Russian REN TV channel was detained in Istanbul airport and could not be reached since the morning, while another journalist was prohibited to enter Turkey and was returned home, the channel said on Monday.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The broadcaster said that their correspondent Valentin Trushnin who was sent to prepare a report about the military coup attempt in Turkey was detained in an Istanbul airport, after which the TV channel's press service said that Trushnin managed to send a message to his editor, in which he wrote that he was searched and that his documents were taken away.
© REUTERS / Baz Ratner How Erdogan Could Respond to Foiled Military Coup in Turkey
The broadcaster added that Trushnin's colleague Mikhail Fomichev was prohibited from entering Turkey.
Trushnin and I "came together in Istanbul via Baku. However, when I passed through the passport control, it turned out that my name was on some blacklists. An employee of the border controls has called some people in civilian clothes, and they took me to some office," Fomichev was quoted by the broadcaster as saying.
According to the broadcaster, Fomichev was then informed that he was banned from entering Turkey, with no reasons for that decision being stated, and no deadlines for the ban being put forward. He was later sent to the return flight.
The broadcaster added that they appealed to the Russian Embassy in Turkey and that the Russian Foreign Ministry is now engaged in clarifying the location Trushnin.
Late on Friday, the Turkish authorities said that an attempted coup was taking place in the country. The coup attempt was suppressed by early Saturday, with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim stating that all coup supporters had been identified and would be apprehended as the country was returning to normal. Nearly 6,000 people have already been detained.
REN TV is one of the largest private federal TV channels in Russia.Google is implementing additional security measures to protect Chrome users from malicious browser extensions. Users will begin to see Safe Browsing malicious download warnings within the next week when attempting to download software that has been flagged as malicious, the search giant said in a recent blog post.
Those producing software with ill intent used to be able to take advantage of a setting in Chrome that allowed for silent extension installation by default. That feature, however, was disabled earlier this year starting with Chrome 25 which prompted malware makers to search for new installation methods.
Since then, attack methods have shifted to try and get around silent installation blockers by misusing Chrome’s central management settings which are typically used by organizations to configure instances of the browser. By doing this, installed extensions are enabled by default and can’t be uninstalled or disabled within Chrome. We are told that other variants include binaries that can directly manipulate Chrome preferences to enable silent installs and turn on extensions within these binaries.
Google said the new measures are designed to detect software that violates Chrome’s standard mechanisms for deploying extensions. The recent security measures are said to expand Google’s capabilities to detect and block malware that falls into this category.
Google points out that application developers should adhere to Chrome’s standard mechanisms for extension installation. That umbrella includes the Chrome Web Store, inline installation and other deployment options.You may remember a few months ago, there was a phenomenon where the internet was freaking out about an old 90s movie about some kids finding a genie (played by 90s comedy icon, Sinbad) called Shazaam!. It was your standard fare for kids' movies of the era - a popular comedian playing a bombastic, magical character and getting into assorted hijinks with some kids. You probably have some vague memories of it just due to my description. But there was only one problem: many people contested that the movie didn't actually exist.
How could this be? There were huge groups of people all over the internet who distinctly remember the film - outlets like Vox and Mashable contended it was simply 'The Mandela Effect', a phenomenon where groups of people believe something false due to the fact that it sounds very plausible in their head. Most of these sites pointed to the similar sounding 90s kids' comedy, Kazaam, starring Shaquille O'Neal - which was also about a kid discovering a wacky genie.
Hell, even Sinbad - who ostensibly starred in the film - seemingly had no recollection of it, and was actively shooting down proposed evidence that it existed:
Have you noticed no one my age has seen this so called Sinbad Genie movie, only you people who were kids in the 90's. The young mind! -- Sinbad (@sinbadbad) September 7, 2016
@hapotter solved the sinbad genie mystery. I hosted an afternoon of sinbad movies o 1994 (sinbad the sailor movies) pic.twitter.com/yCE65Q3aK5 -- Sinbad (@sinbadbad) October 3, 2016
And adding fuel to the fire was the fact that no one could seem to find hard evidence that the film actually existed - there were no clips online, no entries on IMDb or Wikipedia, and no actual data on what the film was or who else was involved beyond Sinbad.
But today, that all changed. We found it.
We found Shazaam!.
Yes, Shazaam! is real. One of our producers was exploring a long-abandoned Blockbuster Video store when they happened upon a dusty VHS tape. And that dusty VHS tape just happened to be titled...Shazaam.
After some wrangling to find a functioning VHS player, we popped it in and...it was right there in front of us. Actual proof that the internet was right this entire time. SHAZAAM! IS REAL! It seemed completely unbelievable, yet the evidence was staring us in the face. The footage we have is badly damaged, and it looks like someone tried to record over it, but this is definitely the legendary Shazaam.
Of course, there are some issues we're dealing with: most of the 93-minute film appears to have been taped over, the production company that made the film has since gone bankrupt so the legal rights are up in the air, and Sinbad is refusing to pay us the $5000 he owes us:
Let's make this genie movie interesting.... anyone who can find that movie and play the video I will pay $5000.. challenge thrown down -- Sinbad (@sinbadbad) January 5, 2017
However, our lawyers have reviewed the footage and given us the okay to release this mostly intact scene from early in the film as evidence to the world that, yes, Shazaam! is real. Your minds were not playing tricks on you through faux-memories and half-truths. It's all real.
Enjoy!Image copyright Facebook Image caption Mr Goldstone is a former journalist who runs a PR company
Rob Goldstone was little known to the world, despite having worked for years with big names in the music industry. Until now.
The British music publicist has taken centre stage after reports that he had arranged a meeting between Donald Trump Jr, son of the US president, and a Russian lawyer who allegedly promised damaging material about Hillary Clinton during last year's presidential campaign.
But who is he and what are his ties to the Trump family?
'Former tabloid journalist'
Mr Goldstone is a former British journalist who worked for daily newspapers and radio stations in London, his profile says, without mentioning where exactly he worked. Media reports describe him as a "tabloid journalist".
Born in Manchester, he now runs a public relations company, Oui 2 Entertainment, which has worked with the Miss Universe competition, once owned by President Trump.
Over the years, he worked closely with world-renowned names such as Michael Jackson, BB King, Richard Branson and EMI Music Publishing, the profile adds. In 1986, it says, he was chosen by Michael Jackson to accompany him exclusively on his Australian tour.
But, despite all of those big names, he was little known until the details emerged about his role in setting up last year's meeting.
The Trump ties
Mr Goldstone manages Russian pop star Emin Agalarov whose father, Aras, is a Moscow-based property developer who was Mr Trump's business partner in taking the Miss Universe competition to Moscow in 2013.
Aras Agalarov was also working to partner with Mr Trump in bringing Trump Tower to Russia, a project that never materialised, Forbes said, estimating that his fortune was worth about $1.9bn (£1.4bn).
In 2013, Mr Trump featured in a music video by Emin with that year's Miss Universe contestants - a video which has been watched almost 2m times on YouTube.
Image copyright EMIN OFFICIAL YOUTUBE
Mr Goldstone's posts on social media suggest he has spent several days in Russia on different trips in recent years, including in the months before last year's US presidential election.
Media outlets report that shortly after Mr Trump's win, he posted a picture on his Instagram account in which he wore a T-shirt with a big "Russia" name on it. The account was made private after the reports emerged.
He also demonstrated support for Mr Trump on several occasions, including on election night itself. When Mr Trump still needed 38 electoral college votes to win, he wrote on Facebook: "Final stretch."
The meeting
Mr Goldstone arranged a meeting between Donald Trump Jr and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya on 9 June 2016, two weeks after Mr Trump had secured the Republican nomination.
In an email exchange, revealed by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone said the Russian government supported Mr Trump's campaign and wanted to pass on "some official documents and information that would incriminate" rival candidate Hillary Clinton.
Ms Veselnitskaya has since denied ever working for the Russian government or holding damaging information about Mrs Clinton.
Mr Trump Jr has dismissed it as a "nonsense meeting" but it is thought to be the first confirmed private meeting between a Russian national and members of President Trump's inner circle, as US officials investigate alleged Russian meddling in the US election.
The hats
Image copyright Facebook
On a side note, ever since Mr Goldstone's name emerged as part of the alleged links between the Trump team and Russia, his pictures wearing different (and questionable) hats have also been in the spotlight.
He seems to be big fan of those (and of posting selfies wearing them on social media). According to some reports, one of the pictures showed him wearing a red baseball cap printed with "Make America Great Again" - Mr Trump's signature campaign phrase.I am hearing a lot of persons interested in open-source and giving back to the community. I think it can be an exciting experience and it can be positive in many different ways: first of all more contributors mean better open-source software being produced and that is great, but it also means that the persons involved can improve their skills and they can learn more about how successful projects get created.
So I wondered why many developers do not do the first step: what is stopping them to send the first patch or the first pull-request? I think that often they do not know where to start or they think that contributing to the big projects out there is intimidating, something to be left to an alien form of life, some breed of extra-good programmers totally separated by the common fellows writing code in the world we experience daily.
I think that hearing the stories of a few developers that have given major contributions to top level project could help to go over these misconceptions. So I asked a few questions to this dear friend of mine, Luca Barbato, who contributed among the others to Gentoo and VLC.
Let’s start from the beginning: when did you start programming?
I started dabbling stuff during high school, but I started doing something more consistent at the time I started university.
What was your first contribution to an open-source project?
I think either patching the ati-drivers to work with the 2.6 series or hacking cloop (a early kernel module for compressed loops) to use lzo instead of gzip.
What are the main projects you have been involved into?
Gentoo, MPlayer, Libav, VLC, cairo/pixman
How did you started being involved in Gentoo? Can you explain the roles you have covered?
Daniel Robbins invited me to join, I thought “why not?”
During the early times I took care of PowerPC and Altivec, then I focused on the toolchain due the fact it gcc and binutils tended to break software in funny ways, then multimedia since AltiVec was mainly used there. I had been part of the Council a few times. I also used to be a recruiter (if you want to join Gentoo feel free to contact me anyway, we love to have more people involved) and I’m involved with community relationship lately.
Note: Daniel Robbins is the creator of Gentoo, a Linux distribution.
Are there other less famous projects you have contributed to?
I have minor contributions in quite a bit of software due to the fact is that in Gentoo. We try our best to upstream our changes and I like to get back fixes to what I like to use.
What are your motivations to contribute to open-source?
Mainly because I can =)
Who helped you to start contributing? From who you have learnt the most?
Daniel Robbins surely had been one of the first asking me directly to help.
You learn from everybody so I can’t name a single person among all the great people I met.
How did you get to know Daniel Robbins? How did he helped you?
I was a Gentoo user, I happened to do stuff he deemed interesting and asked me to join.
He involved me in quite a number of interesting projects, some worked (e.g. Gentoo PowerPC), some (e.g. Gentoo Games) not so much.
Do your contributions to open-source help your professional life?
In some way it does, contrary to the assumption I’m just seldom paid to improve the projects I care about the most, but at the same time having them working helps me when I need them during the professional work.
How do you face disagreement on technical solutions?
I’m a fan of informed consensus, otherwise prototypes (as in “do, test and then tell me back”) work the best.
To contribute to OSS are more important the technical skills or the diplomatic/relation skills?
Both are needed at different time, opensource is not just software, you MUST get along with people.
Have you found different way to organize projects? What works best in your opinion? What works worst?
Usually the main problem is dealing with poisonous people, doesn’t matter if it is a 10-people project or a 300+-people project. You can have a dictator, you can have a council, you can have global consensus, poisonous people are what makes your community suffer a lot. Bonus point if the poisonous people get clueless fan giving him additional voices.
Did you ever sent a patch for the Linux kernel?
Not really, I’m not fond of that coding style so usually other people correct the small bugs I stumble upon before I decide to polish my fix so it is acceptable =)
Do you have any suggestions for people looking to get started contributing to open-source?
Pick something you use, scratch your own itch first, do not assume other people are infallible or heroes.
ME: I certainly agree with that, it is one of the best advices. However if you cannot find anything suitable at the end of this post I wrote a short list of projects that could use some help.
Can you tell us about your best and your worst moments with contribution to OSS?
The best moment is recurring and it is when some user thanks you since you improved his or her life.
The worst moment for me is when some rabid fan claims I’m evil because I’m contributing to Libav and even praises FFmpeg for something originally written in Libav in the same statement, happened more than once.
What are you working on right now and what plans do you have for the future?
Libav, plaid, bmdtools, commonmark. In the future I might play a little more with Rust.
Thanks Luca! I would be extremely happy if this short post could give to someone the last push they need to contribute to an existing open-source project or start their own: I think we could all use more, better, open-source software. So let’s write it.
One thing I admire in Luca is that |
aren’t important anyway, right?
The answer to that question is an emphatic no. However, the Golden Boys players are likely to be disappointed to have tasted defeat. The last time that happened was back in March.
Two goals from the impressive Joe Mason cancelled out Troy Deeney’s 30th minute equaliser in Wales.
But the final score isn’t ultimately that important. Gaining fitness and the chance for Quique Sanchez Flores to assess his squad is what these warm-up games are for.
Watford lined up in a very fluid 4-2-3-1 formation. Heurelho Gomes started in goal behind a back four of Allan Nyom, Sebastian Prodl, Craig Cathcart and Daniel Pudil. Valon Behrami and Ben Watson were the deeper midfielders with Etienne Capoue, Odion Ighalo and Jose Manuel Jurado interchanging positions behind lone striker Deeney.
Both sides started the contest inauspiciously. The ball was moved neatly around the pitch but neither defence was threatened.
That changed in the 19th minute. Patient build-up from the home side eventually saw the ball played out to Scott Malone. He moved forward and fired a 20-yard shot towards Gomes.
The Brazilian goalkeeper failed to push the ball clear and it was worked back into the penalty area for Joe Mason who nudged his shot into the near-post corner.
Cardiff were buoyed by the opening goal and pushed forward in search of a second. Bluebirds stalwart Peter Wittingham drilled a strike towards goal but it cleared Gomes’ crossbar.
For all of Watford’s possession in the opening half hour they hadn’t truly tested Simon Moore in the hosts’ goal. An Ighalo shot from distance which was comfortably saved their best effort.
Deeney then intervened. The Hornets captain told Cathcart to play a long pass forward the next time he had ball instead of maintaining possession. It worked.
The defender’s accurate 40-yard knock was collected by Deeney and he poked the ball past Moore and into the corner.
It was a goal that meant the contest was level at the interval. Inevitably, substitutions were made by Flores.
Three to be exact. Giedrius Arlauskis replaced Gomes, Jose Holebas came on for Pudil and Ikechi Anya was introduced for Capoue.
The changes almost had an immediate impact. Nyom broke down the right flank and delivered a near-post cross which was met by Anya.
The Scottish international glanced a header towards goal but the ball went narrowly over the crossbar.
It was the same result minutes later as this time Ighalo hooked a Nyom cross over the head of Moore and into the stands.
It was the Nigerian striker’s final contribution as he was replaced by Fernando Forestieri in the 64th minute.
The diminutive attacker’s first involvement was to win a corner for the visitors. It was delivered by Jurado and Bluebirds stopper Moore collided with Deeney and failed to collect.
After the ball was worked between several players it was eventually played to Watson whose low shot was parried clear by the Cardiff goalkeeper. The hosts were then able to clear the danger.
Deeney’s night was ended in the 74th minute as he was replaced by Matej Vydra, it meant Watford’s attack was short in stature and physical presence.
It perhaps explains why the Bluebirds ended the contest strongly. And they went back in front with ten minutes to play as Mason was slipped in on goal and fired past Arlauskis.
Watford offered little going forward in the final stages. New signing Steven Berghuis was introduced in the closing minutes in place of Jurado while Sean Murray was brought on for Behrami.
The Hornets created one chance to equalise. A cross was floated into the area for Forestieri but his attempted overhead kick bounced harmlessly wide.
Cardiff City: Moore, Peltier, Morrison, Connolly, Malone, Dikgacoi (O'Keefe 71), Whittingham, Ralls, Pilkington (Noone 71), Ameobi (Revell 64), Mason (Doyle 80).
Cardiff City substitutes: Wilson, Fabio, Harris, Ajayi.
Watford: Gomes (Arlauskis HT); Nyom, Cathcart, Prodl, Pudil (Holebas HT); Behrami (Murray 86), Watson, Capoue (Anya HT), Ighalo (Forestieri 64), Jurado (Berghuis 84); Deeney (Vydra 74).
Watford substitutes: Angella, Paredes, Hoban.Following FBI Director James Comey’s recommendation that Hillary Clinton not be charged for the mishandling of classified information, whistleblower Edward Snowden reacted with a simple yet thought-provoking tweet. Edward Snowden sought asylum in Russia after being charged with two counts of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and theft of government property for leaking classified information to the public about global surveillance programs run by the NSA. Hillary Clinton has called Snowden “extremely careless” when it came to the handling of classified information and has pressed for the whistleblower to be extradited back to the United States for trial. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Edward Snowden was watching closely as Hillary Clinton was deemed “careless with classified information” by the FBI but subsequently faced no charges.
Snowden took to his official Twitter account to comment on the FBI’s recommendations for Clinton to not be charged following the careless storage of classified information. In fact, it seems that Snowden had no words for the decision and instead decided to make his sentiments known with a single emoji.
The whistleblower posted a link to a Wall Street Journal article that featured James Comey’s statement that “no charges are appropriate” along with the “thinking face” emoji.
This isn’t the first time that Snowden has addressed the Hillary Clinton email scandal. Back in June, Snowden posted a tweet noting that you could be “exiled” if you break classification rules for “the public’s benefit” but pointed out that if you break those rules for “personal benefit” you get to be president.
Break classification rules for the public’s benefit, and you could be exiled. Do it for personal benefit, and you could be President. — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) June 1, 2016
The tweet was a jab at Hillary Clinton who was being investigated for the mishandling of classified material while also remaining the frontrunner in the Democrat presidential race. Though Clinton’s momentum seemed unchanged despite the FBI investigation, Snowden was exiled to Russia for fear of an unfair trial in the United States. Following the leaking of the classified information regarding the NSA surveillance programs, Snowden fled to Russia where he was granted asylum. Snowden has remained in Russia unable to leave as the FBI has charged him with violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and theft of government property for the leak.
Though Snowden has been charged, FBI Director James Comey has revealed that despite finding that classified material handling laws were violated, Clinton should not be charged as there was no “intent.”
Hillary Clinton has also spoken out about the charges against Snowden with the presidential candidate, noting that Snowden needs to come back to the United States to face the music as he “broke the laws of the United States,” according to the Guardian.
“He broke the laws of the United States. He could have been a whistleblower, he could have gotten all the protections of a whistleblower. He chose not to do that. He stole very important information that has fallen into the wrong hands so I think he should not be brought home without facing the music.”
RT notes that Clinton has blasted Snowden for being “careless” with confidential material and that he should be charged accordingly. However, with the FBI now noting that Clinton herself was “careless” with confidential material, it is unclear if Clinton’s stance on the Snowden case has changed.
What do you think about Edward Snowden’s response to the FBI’s decision not to recommend prosecution of Hillary Clinton for crimes related to the improper handling of classified information?
[Image by Juliet Linderman/AP Photo]Advertisement
California is in the midst of one of its most devastating droughts in history, so the state has been forced to draw from reservoir lakes at an unsustainable rate to supply thirsty households and parched farmers with life-giving water.
The result is a landscape transformed. Shocking before and after photos of California's Folsom Lake and Lake Oroville reveal the undeniably shriveling effects of three years of little to no rain up and down the Golden State's vital agricultural belt.
Bridges cross parched pits that where they once spanned blue lakes, boats and docks drift closer and closer into cramped channels where once there was wide open water and dams hold back nothing but air as the state's can do nothing but do what it can to preserve what's left and pray more will soon fall from the sky.
Before: Historic droughts have devastated waterways up and down parched California. Here, the Enterprise Bridge spans the Lake Oroville in Butte County, California in July 2011.
After: Here, the Enterprise Bridge spans the same reservoir, which has dwindled to a mere trickle in 2014 as California is forced to draw alarming amounts of water from its vanishing reservoirs
As California lawmakers moved a nearly $7.6 billion water bond to the November ballot, federal meteorologists said on Thursday that the state's ongoing drought has appeared to level off, though conditions remain 'extreme' in 80 percent of the state.
'Areas of dryness and drought remained unchanged,' according to the National Drought Mitigation Center, based at the University of Nebraska, despite epic storms that have intermittently lashed parts of both Northern and Southern California.
Torrential rains early this month triggered lethal mudslides and flash floods in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles, and thunderstorms both eased and complicated the work of firefighters battling wildfires this week in Northern California.
But those storms 'were pretty much a drop in the bucket,' said Richard Tinker, a drought expert with the federal government's Climate Prediction Center.
Nothing to hold back: Nearly 82 percent of California is experiencing 'extreme' drought while 58 percent is experiencing 'exceptional' drought--the most severe there is. Reservoirs like Folsom Lake in Folsom, California are now feeling the extreme squeeze of thirsty households and farms. At left, Folsom Dam holds back a reservoir brimming with water in July 2011, while the same dam holds little but air at right in 2014
Vanishing act: Bidwell Marina at Lake Oroville is seeing its boats and docks moving closer together as what was once open water shrinks down into increasingly tighter channels. (2011 at left, 2014 at right)
Long drought: Like Folsom Dam, Oroville Dam has very little water to hold back these days. Low water levels are visible behind the dam at Lake Oroville on August 19, 2014 in Oroville, California (right) as the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year
Nowhere to go: As the water in Lake Oroville continues to dwindle from the historic drought, boats at its marina are losing space to park atop the shrinking surface
'Any rain this time of year - while a bonus - doesn't really have much of an effect on the drought,' Tinker said.
Nearly 82 percent of the state is experiencing 'extreme' drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map, which is updated weekly by the center. Fifty-eight percent of the state, meanwhile, is withering under 'exceptional' drought, which is the most severe measure on the center's scale.
The figures, while sobering, indicated a pause in what had been a seemingly inexorable expansion of the drought across the nation's most populous state and most important agricultural producer. The percentage of the state gripped by the drought has been relatively unchanged for the past couple of weeks.
Back in 2011, the Enterprise Bridge spanned a brimming reservoir, but things have changed drastically since the lake's tributary, the Feather River, has slowed to a nearly nothing thanks to the 3-year drought
Now in 2014, the difference is stark. Lake Oroville is more of a canyon and all California can do is pray for rain and do what they can to conserve the little they have left
Tinker added that the state's major reservoirs in aggregate were at 59 percent of the historical average—low, but not as low as the 41 percent recorded during the 1976-77 drought.
Only a handful of smaller Central Coast dams, he said, had fallen below those 1977 levels, a situation that lawmakers are seeking to address with the water bond proposed for the upcoming ballot.
Made more urgent as the drought has strained California's water supply to crisis proportions, funds raised by selling bonds would shore up the state's water infrastructure, underwriting projects that include improved water storage, flood control, groundwater cleanup, drinking and wastewater treatment and investments to address climate change.
Verdant: The marina at Oroville Lake, here in 2011, is the picture of serenity. Recent serious storms in Northern and Southern California have helped give the state a very small reprieve during the 3-year drought, but the effects have been described as a 'drop in the bucket'
Barren: Much of what was once an engorged reservoir is now gone at Oroville. Shockingly, only a handful of Central Coast dams have fallen below the historically low 1977 levels
Days of plenty: Here, the Green Bridge passes over Lake Oroville near the Bidwell Marina in 2011. Notice the trees and shrubs that grow right against the man-made lake's edge
Days of drought: Fast forward to 2014 and even the massive pillars holding up the bridge can be completely seen at the lakes edge, where a wide swath of parched dirt spans between what's left of the water and the tree lineThere are a few options on the table for the Pistons starting lineup this coming season, so should Tobias Harris be in the starting lineup?
There are not many questions with the Pistons at this point as we enter the dead period of the NBA calendar. Other than an unexpected trade, we mainly are just waiting for the teams to start playing. However, given that the Pistons have lost their top two minutes players from the last two years their rotations are sure to look different, particularly the starting lineup. So I'm going to go through the options in the starting lineup first.
Disclaimer:
Reggie Jackson's health is by far the biggest question heading into the next year, and we cannot be sure if he will come back and be healthy or not. The Pistons organization has been pretty clear, however, that they believe he was just hurt last year and is now healthy. So that is what the assumption is with Reggie until we see otherwise. So just know that everything that is said about Jackson in this post comes with the asterisk *assuming Jackson is healthy.
Which Guys Are Locks?
Avery Bradley, Andre Drummond, and Jackson are locks for the starting lineup. The Pistons have pretty much confirmed it and it makes sense. Jackson and Drummond remain the primary cornerstones of the team (for better or worse) and Avery Bradley is clearly the best shooting guard on the roster and a great fit with Jackson and Drummond.
In the end, the two remaining starting spots are most likely to be taken by two of three guys: Tobias Harris, Stanley Johnson, or Jon Leuer. Today, we are looking at Tobias Harris.
Why Harris Should Start
The main argument for Tobias starting is that, regardless of questions of fit, he is just too good to bring off the bench. Tobias is at worst the third best player on the team, and you could argue he is the best player on the team. And as much as Stan Van Gundy can say that Tobias will get the same amount of minutes whether he starts or not, the reality is that it is easier to get more minutes to guys who start. For instance, last year Tobias came off the bench for 34 games and started 48, in games where he started he played four more minutes per game than when he came off the bench, and the Pistons should want one of their three best players on the floor as much as possible.
Beyond that, it isn't like his fit is poor. In fact, with Marcus Morris (miss you already Mook) gone to Boston, his fit is much better than last year. The main argument to bring him off the bench was to put the ball in his hands more, and it was often attributed to Reggie Jackson's tendency to dominate the ball. While there is some truth to the idea that Reggie and Tobias are not the cleanest fit given that they both are best with the ball in their hands, the roster changes make the pairing much more viable. Last year, KCP took on more ball handling duties in an attempt to expand his game, and Marcus Morris took a fairly steady diet of isolations and pick and rolls.
Last year Tobias took 13 shots per game, and so did Reggie Jackson, but Marcus was barely behind him at 12.7 and KCP was at 12.3. Bradley is likely to take as many or more shots as KCP did, but Bradley is a pure two guard and is not chasing fantasies of being a star. He can do some tertiary ball handing duties but will largely be off the ball, and whichever forward is next to Tobias would not be anywhere near as ball dominant as Morris was. Throw in that there are some overtures that the Pistons are going to mostly abandon Andre post ups, and there will be plenty of shots and/or ball handling opportunities available this year. Essentially, this year, the geometry works better for Tobias to not just be the most capable of three different guys trying to be secondary ball handlers, but instead be the secondary ball handler and the second option in the offense, potentially even being the number one scoring option.
Essentially, the offense could shift from an unclear hierarchy of ball handling last year to a much more clear cut one, where Jackson and Harris run pick and rolls with Andre as options 1a and 1b. If Tobias comes off the bench, then the Pistons could be faced with a potentially fatal lack of secondary creation beyond the Jackson/Drummond pick and roll dance. Jackson can carry a large load of the offense in that way, but if Tobias is on the bench, pretty much any time that initial few pick and rolls die out then it will simply become Reggie hero ball pretty regularly. Bradley can do some basic ball handling and creation, as can Stanley Johnson and, assuming it would be Leuer at the four, Leuer can do a little bit of creation via post up of smaller players, but none of those are overly good options. Certainly not the sort of options you want to be forced to use with regularity.
Lastly, is that of the three guys likely to be starting, Tobias is probably the best shooter from deep, and by no small margin. Last year, their lack of shooting killed their offense consistently, per Synergy Sports, the Pistons ball handlers actually scored better out of the pick and roll than the previous year (including Jackson believe it or not), however, they were one of the worst spot-up shooting teams in the NBA out of the pick and roll, a huge drop off from the previous year. And going with two guys who shot 30 percent or worse from three last year is probably not going to be a good answer to pick up the off ball shooting.
Why Harris Shouldn't Start
The main argument against him starting is fit with the starters, particularly Jackson. The Jackson/Drummond pick and roll is going to dominate the offense whenever those two share the floor, as well it should, and as such, everyone else on the floor is going to mostly be a complimentary player a lot of the time. Tobias Harris is not a great complimentary player, Tobias is not a great shooter from deep to provide spacing, he isn't a very good rebounder, especially when playing the four spot, and he is an outright bad passer, and even when accounting for his general lack of passing skills, he has never been a guy who regularly draws double teams to open up the offense for others and be a playmaker. On top of all this is that he is pretty lacking as a defender as well, even though he has made good strides on that end, most of his value remains in that his athleticism can result in the occasional impressive block.
Simply put, Tobias is most useful as a scorer and he doesn't do a lot to make others better. Beyond his own shortcomings in certain areas of the game, Tobias' strengths mean that he may be better suited coming off the bench. Beyond the Jackson/Drummond pick and roll, he is probably the best offensive option by a fair margin, and Jackson and Drummond compliment each other so well that they should be sharing the floor with each other as much as possible.
Beyond his own shortcomings in certain areas of the game, Tobias' strengths mean that he may be better suited coming off the bench. Beyond the Jackson/Drummond pick and roll, he is probably the best offensive option by a fair margin, and Jackson and Drummond compliment each other so well that they should be sharing the floor with each other as much as possible. As such, when those two are not on the floor, it is pretty much wide open for Tobias to be the center of the offense. Essentially, even if Tobias was a better complimentary player, his status in the team hierarchy of offensive abilities mean that his minutes should be staggered so that Tobias is on the floor every minute Jackson and Drummond are on the bench. It is probably easiest to do that sort of staggering if Tobias comes off the bench.
Lastly, regardless of reasons, Tobias was much better last year when he came off the bench. His true shooting percentage was 59.5 percent off the bench compared to 55 percent as a starter, and averaged more rebounds and overall points per game off the bench, not even per 36. So despite playing four fewer minutes per game off the bench, he still put up better numbers in the basic counting stats. So regardless of all the arguing I can do about his theoretical fit in the starting lineup, there is actual hard evidence from last year suggesting that he is much better coming off the bench.
The Verdict
I am definitely a big proponent of Tobias being in the starting lineup, based mostly on the fact that I think he is a lot better than any other options. The only reason that I really believe that it would be ok to bring him off the bench is if the guy in front of him is essentially an honorary starter who only plays backup minutes regardless, in the same vein as Amir Johnson for the Celtics last year. And I even think that his fit is pretty solid as long as the Pistons are smart about using him.
Another problem for me is the shooting problem. I don't have much faith in Leuer or Stanley getting to be as efficient shooters from outside as Tobias is, so even with Tobias' potential lack of fit, he will probably be a better one than the others. Obviously, though, I will talk about Leuer and Johnson in the next couple of posts.
What do you think? Should Tobias start or come off the bench? How clean can the fit be with Reggie Jackson?Nicodemo Coria-Gonzalez, a 26-year-old illegal alien from Mexico now in custody in Austin, Texas, is thought by detectives to be a violent serial sexual predator who since December had terrorized women in North and Northeast Austin. Previously deported five times, he could serve as Donald Trump's new poster boy for get-tough deportation policies and a massive border wall -- replacing San Francisco's Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, the undocumented Mexican immigrant facing murder charges for shooting 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle as she strolled with her father along a trendy pier. That crime inspired “Kate's Law.” Like Austin's Coria-Gonzalez, Lopez-Sanchez had a long rap sheet and had been deported five times.
One of Coria-Gonzalez's reported victims was a 68-year-old woman who walks with a cane. He had spotted her sitting at a bus stop and offered her a ride to the store. She was sexually assaulted.
Austin, the state's capital, is a trendy liberal enclave in a red state, as well as being a hi-tech mecca, college town, and veritable sanctuary city. It attracts many undocumented immigrants seeking work from employers who have no qualms about hiring them. Austin prohibits police from reporting illegal aliens to immigration authorities. The Travis County sheriff's office, on the other hand, cooperates with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and holds jailed suspects in the Austin area on “immigration detainers" made by ICE. That may change in the near future, however, because the popular Democratic candidate for Travis County sheriff, Constable Sally Hernandez, has pledged to follow the same policy as San Francisco and stop cooperating with federal immigration authorities. This would make Austin the first full-blown sanctuary city in Texas. “I just don't think you solve the criminal justice process by deporting them,” the liberal Democrat told the Texas Tribune. “We talk about being progressive. I believe we need to lead the way.”
ICE says Coria-Gonzalez was previously deported five times between 2012 and 2015. During those years, his rap sheet included three drunken driving arrests and tampering with a government record. After his arrest last month, ICE quickly filed an immigration detainer against him, thereby ensuring he remains in jail even if he makes his $890,000 bond.
Police believe Coria-Gonzalez may have assaulted at least 10 women and are asking victims to come forward. He presently faces two counts of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of aggravated sexual assault – all related to three attacks. One of his victims was stabbed several times. She had pulled out a knife when fighting off Coria-Gonzalez, but he turned it on her. She escaped with her life.
Police tracked down and arrested Coria-Gonzalez for allegedly kidnapping a prostitute and trying to set her on fire after dousing her with gasoline. He had offered to give her a ride to a gas station to buy cigarettes. She escaped unharmed. Detectives subsequently connected Coria-Gonzalez to other violent sexual assaults after identifying his car in the gas station's surveillance video. In all, he assaulted at least six women at a favorite location – a remote area he called his “garden," police said.
“We do know there are additional victims out there who have not come forward…We're not sure of how many,” Robert Thompson, a detective with the Austin Police Sex Crimes Unit, told local news channel KXAN. Noting that Coria-Gonzalez's crime spree had become increasingly violent, he said that “We believe probably about half (his victims) are prostitutes.” They ranged from their early 20s to late 60s.
Kate's Law,” which was derailed by Democratic lawmakers, would have mandated long prison sentences for illegal immigrants who return to the U.S. after being deported. Had the law been on the books, Kathryn Steinle may not have died – and Austin would have been spared from Coria-Gonzalez.
Coria-Gonzalez, to be sure, is hardly the first illegal alien from South of the Border to run afoul of the law, including for sexual assault – a crime that is widespread in Mexico's culture. Indeed, rape is a veritable courtship ritual in Mexico's backward hinterlands, home to Mexico's peasant culture from which most of Mexico's illegal immigrants come. And, no, Donald Trump didn't say that. That's according to a Pulitzer Prize-winning article in The Washington Post: “ In Mexico, an Unpunished Crime.”
It's hardly surprising, then, that 80 percent of woman and girls journeying illegally to the U.S. report having been raped while traveling through Mexico.
The number of criminal illegal aliens in America is not known; definitive statistics are hard to come by. But in her book “Adios, America: The Left's Plan to Turn Our Country into a Third World Hellhole,” conservative author and pundit Ann Coulter teased out some alarming figures, writing: “The available data suggest that the crime rate among immigrants is astronomical.” She explained that in 2006 “nearly a third of the 2 million prisoners in state and local facilities that year were foreign born. Piecing together state and federal reports, it appears that half the correctional population in California consists of illegal aliens.”
No doubt this reflects what ordinary Americans have been seeing up-close; or have long suspected when regularly seeing crime reports in their local media outlets. No wonder Donald Trump struck a nerve when asserting that more than a few of Mexico's illegal immigrants are criminals: drug dealers, gang bangers – and, yes, rapists.
Obviously, all that diversity that liberals tout as being good for us isn't all it's cracked up to be. Just ask Coria-Gonzalez's victims – and all those ordinary Americans that Hillary Clinton disparages as “deplorables.”Along with improved battery life and Google Now on Tap, Android Marshmallow will bring users another useful feature: the ability to translate text they come across in a range of apps.
Devices running Marshmallow who have Google’s Translate app installed will be able to translate text in 90 languages right within apps that support Android’s text selection behavior.
As shown in these demos, it’ll work on displayed text as well as anything you type in. You’ll be able to view the translation in a pop-up, change target language and have it read out loud.
For those apps that don’t use Android’s selection functionality, the company has detailed instructions on how to integrate translation options.
➤ In-app translations in Android Marshmallow [Android Developers Blog]
Read next: Shove for Chrome lets you forcibly open tabs in a friend's browserA Cedar Rapids dog started 2015 with a road trip to find its sick owner. She begins 2016 as the winner of a worldwide contest and will accept her trophy on national television Thursday night, with her owner by her side.
You remember Sissy. She's the 11-year old Miniature Schnauzer who ran some 20 blocks last February looking for owner Nancy Franck, who was recovering from surgery at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. After being let outside to go to the bathroom, Sissy decided to go look for mom. She's quite a tracker too. Surveillance video shows her entrance into Mercy:
Today, Mercy Hospital reported that Sissy was the winner in the "Most Amazing Journey" category following online voting. Sissy and Nancy accepted Sissy's award last week during the taping of the 'World Dog Awards' that air Thursday (1/14) night at 7 central on The CW. Her trophy? A golden fire hydrant. What more could a dog want?
Sissy Wins! Our very own Sissy the Schnauzer, who traveled 20 blocks to find her owner at Mercy and gained international attention nearly a year ago, was a winner at The World Dog Awards on The CW Channel! She was nominated in the “Most Amazing Journey” category. Online voting took place earlier this month. The winners were announced, and Sissy and owner Nancy took the stage to accept their award and even thank Mercy when the show was taped last week. Sissy received a gold fire hydrant trophy for her accomplishment. The show airs at 7 p.m. Central tomorrow.Thanks to Sissy's family for sending these photos from her trip and the show! Posted by Mercy Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, January 13, 2016
[via USA Today and Mercy Medical Center ]Well, here's my concept for Smite's T5 contest. When I had heard of the contest originally, I had wanted to make a skin for Amaterasu with the theme of gumiho/kitsune/huli jing. Since the mages won the vote, I decided to translate it into a skin for Isis. However, if it doesn't make it to the next phase, I'm definitely modifying the third form and shipping it by itself as a T4 Amaterasu skin.
Background: She starts out as a priestess, unknowingly being influenced by a fox spirit. Once she gets a taste for essence, her form begins changing, until she turns into a full nine tailed fox spirit.
Title: Fox Spirit Isis
OR Temptress Isis
Tier: T5
Theme: Gumiho/kitsune/huli jing
VGS: Sultry, playful, mischievous. Asian-ish accent like Amaterasu preferred. If not, unique voice preferred. (Unique, non Asian voice example: Sultry, playful, mischievous. Asian-ish accent like Amaterasu preferred. If not, unique voice preferred. (Unique, non Asian voice example: youtu.be/z65I_nA_4JU
Appearance: Hair changes to white over the forms. A yorishiro hangs in the air behind her. ( Hair changes to white over the forms. A yorishiro hangs in the air behind her. ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorishir… ) Her
Ability Effects and Animations:
Main Weapon: Monk staff/Khakkara + fan. She throws small fox fires for her autos. Though not drawn, the staff and fan are present on all forms. Monk staff/Khakkara + fan. She throws small fox fires for her autos. Though not drawn, the staff and fan are present on all forms.
Passive - Funeral Rites: Getting 5 stacks will cause her ears and tail(s) to glow slightly with a fiery golden aura. Getting 10 stacks can cause her to float instead of walk. Getting 5 stacks will cause her ears and tail(s) to glow slightly with a fiery golden aura. Getting 10 stacks can cause her to float instead of walk.
Wing Gust: She hovers, dancing and swinging her fan from side to side once for every gust, spinning herself around on the last gust. The animation should look playful. The gusts send sprays of cherry blossoms. She hovers, dancing and swinging her fan from side to side once for every gust, spinning herself around on the last gust. The animation should look playful. The gusts send sprays of cherry blossoms.
Spirit Ball: She throws out her "hoshi no tama" (star ball made of energy). Upon detonation, the star ball explodes into streaks of energy, which return back to her and reform. She throws out her "hoshi no tama" (star ball made of energy). Upon detonation, the star ball explodes into streaks of energy, which return back to her and reform.
Dispel Magic: No real ideas. Possibly just a burst of cherry blossoms at the location. No real ideas. Possibly just a burst of cherry blossoms at the location.
Circle of Protection: Her yorishiro expands to encircle the target area, and fox fires appear and swirl inside the circle, caught in a golden wind.
Her yorishiro expands to encircle the target area, and fox fires appear and swirl inside the circle, caught in a golden wind.
Enemies, allies, and minions all drop essence on their deaths if Isis is within range when they die. They appear as little blue or golden flames and must be picked up in order to progress. Essence does not start dropping until she witnesses her first enemy death.The essence values are different depending on the source (for example, each minion essence can count as 1, allies = 10, enemies = 20. When she reaches certain amounts of essence, she will progress to the next form. In her last form, the essence will stop spawning."Hoshi no Tama" (star ball made of energy) floats around with her, resting on her tail(s) in the later two forms.Something frombyWill add more when I get back.Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Symphony Fan Project Gets Help From Nintendo By William Usher Random Article Blend Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and aim to release it to the public and it catches the attention of Nintendo, but instead of shutting down the fan project with a cease and desist letter, Nintendo actually offers to help them.
I didn't think it was possible, but I guess there are some people working at mega-corporations who aren't douche bags. Though I think this is just a one-off case. Anyway, according to the
“Some of the top people at Nintendo have taken notice of the project and have become involved in an advisory capacity. This is the largest fan-project of its kind, and the first time that a lot of this material will be legally available to the public beyond the game that made it popular.
Nintendo wants to make sure our entire project is consistent with their brand identity. Joypad Records is currently working with Nintendo’s head of copyright to make sure that this release complies with their wishes, above and beyond what is required by law. However, most of the changes Nintendo has asked us to incorporate are cosmetic, and should not affect the audio quality or physical packaging of Twilight Symphony as originally advertised.
The new release date for the Twilight Symphony album is now December 25th. So those of you who order it can expect it just in time for Christmas. Nice timing there Twilight Symphony Team.
Now if only someone could convince Square Enix to stop douching it up when it comes to fan projects, maybe we'll finally get that Final Fantasy VII redo on a current-gen engine the way it was meant to be remastered, as well as a real Chrono Trigger 2, simply considering that the folks at Square don't seem to like doing things that could make them tons of money.
You can learn more about the Twilight Symphony project over at the Now here's a big twist in the typical copyright news agenda: A group of fans get together to make an orchestrated version ofand aim to release it to the public and it catches the attention of Nintendo, but instead of shutting down the fan project with a cease and desist letter, Nintendo actually offers to help them.I didn't think it was possible, but I guess there are some people working at mega-corporations who aren't douche bags. Though I think this is just a one-off case. Anyway, according to the Zelda Informer, they caught wind of the friendly intrusion thanks to a letter sent out from the Twilight Symphony Team letting fans know that the album would be delayed to make a few changes. Check it out below...The new release date for the Twilight Symphony album is now December 25th. So those of you who order it can expect it just in time for Christmas. Nice timing there Twilight Symphony Team.Now if only someone could convince Square Enix to stop douching it up when it comes to fan projects, maybe we'll finally get thatredo on a current-gen engine the way it was meant to be remastered, as well as a real, simply considering that the folks at Square don't seem to like doing things that could make them tons of money.You can learn more about the Twilight Symphony project over at the official website Blended From Around The Web Facebook
Back to topI love Duolingo, but my relationship with it is complex. I use it and I’ll keep using it… but at the end of the day, for me it has reached its limits of usefulness. There are a number of places that criticize the software (1, 2,), |
itively, they are not the blooming, buzzing confusion of life but rather simplified ensembles of elements, designed to be understood.” Both the real world and earlier movies we’ve seen teach us how to look at films: we look at movies and understand them through their norms.
Filmmakers employ an arsenal of narrative strategies to hook and keep your attention. In February a psychological researcher in Britain, Tim Smith, posted an experiment on Mr. Bordwell’s blog that illustrated how a filmmaker can focus your gaze. Using an eye-tracking technology to trace the movements of pupils (when they’re somewhat fixed or darting about), Dr. Smith was able to map what viewers looked at when they watched a somewhat static interlude from Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood” (2007).
“Viewers think they are free to look where they want,” Dr. Smith writes, “but, due to the subtle influence of the director and actors, where they want to look is also where the director wants them to look.”
Photo
What happens, though, if a director doesn’t direct your gaze in familiar ways, shuns classic compositions on the one hand or fast cuts and close-ups on the other, plays with or disrupts narrative norms? What happens to even those enthusiastic moviegoers who — much like that chess master who was able to re-create chess pieces from memory because he recognized familiar patterns — know how Hollywood movies work? Maybe some moviegoers who reject difficult films don’t, like the chess master who didn’t recognize random positions, have the necessary expertise and database patterns to understand (or stick with) these movies. When they watch them, they’re effectively (frustrated) beginners and don’t like that feeling.
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I e-mailed Mr. Bordwell to ask what he thought about the idea that at least part of the difficulty some viewers have with some films may be a matter of habits of cognition and visual perception. “Narrative is our ultimate top-down strategy in watching a movie,” he wrote back, “specifically, I think, classical narrative principles.”
The narrative keeps us watching, in other words. But,“when nothing is happening, or when the shot is distant or prolonged — we can’t so easily apply our narrative schemas,” he continued. “If you don’t have other schemas in your mental kit, your perception is just lost. As you suggest, the viewer has to retune her perception.
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“Once you do, if the filmmaker is skillful, all kinds of stuff open up. To me Bela Tarr movies have tremendous suspense! It’s like learning to enjoy brushwork in an abstract painting.”
Not everyone is open to abstract painting or Mr. Tarr’s long, beautiful films, but perhaps some of this resistance is fueled by cognitive habit rather than so-called taste. A friend who likes to show children avant-garde films at a cinematheque he helps run says that when he screens Bruce Baillie’s transporting short “All My Life” (1966), some of them stand up and sway along, some even clap. It’s a short film, just a three-minute pan of a flower-draped fence, and the children seem to bliss out on the images of the blooms and sky, and the purity of the Ella Fitzgerald song that gives the movie its title. (That is until another child mocks them.)
The children who love the film may not understand it, but they embrace it. And if their eyes remain open, in time they may not just dance to unfamiliar films, but also find pleasure in unlocking their meanings.Some 80% of Arabs living in Israel blame Jews for the Nakba, but 60% of them are resigned to Israel as a state with a Jewish majority, the Index of Arab-Jewish Relations for 2011, conducted by Prof. Sami Samuha of the University of Haifa shows.
The full results of the survey, which Samuha has run annually for the last 30 years, are due to be announced at a university conference on Thursday.
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Despite the fact that most of the respondents accepted Israel as a majority Jewish state, 63% of Arabs polled believe that it was not fair. Seventy-three percent of Arab respondents said they believe that the government treated Arabs as second-class citizens undeserving of equality.
Moreover, 68.3% of Arabs polled said they preferred to live in Israel than in other countries. Slightly more than half (56.5%) accepted Israel as a Hebrew-speaking state, and 58% accepted Shabbat as the day of rest.
Jews and Arabs: Will common sense prevail? (Photo: AP)
Asked whether the respondents preferred Israel as a land or as a national entity, Samuha said that the results were mixed: "On one hand there is a connection with the land and on the other hand there is the acknowledgement of convenience, freedom and stability in the State of Israel.
"In Israel there are a lot of benefits and a modern way of life, as well as economic and political stability. You can't compare the lives of Arabs in the Galilee to that of Arabs in Palestine, Lebanon, or Egypt. There is also the element that in Israel there is no concern of an Islamist takeover."
Samuha pointed to responses that showed that 71% of Israel Arabs felt that Israel was a good place to live, while 60% said they felt it was a home and a homeland.
Samuha said that the results of the survey over time show that intelligence and common sense prevail over extremist positions, and added that the long-term results showed pragmatism and acceptance alongside political polarization.
However, extremism was not absent from the survey. Nineteen percent of Israeli Arabs denied Israel's right to exists, as opposed to 11% who expressed a similar view in 2003. Fifty-seven percent of Israeli Arabs said that they would support a referendum that defined Israel as a "Jewish, democratic state that promised full civil rights to Arabs," compared to the 70.9% who said they would support such a referendum in 2006.
"Despite the chasm, there is agreement between the Jewish majority and the Arab majority about living together in the state of Israel, so there is still a base for a common society."
The survey comprised 1,400 respondents, half Jewish and half Arab. The survey results that indicated the best relations between Jews and Arabs were recorded in 1995, the year former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated.
Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and TwitterNatural History Museum/Mary Evans Picture Library
Half a century ago, the British–Kenyan palaeoanthropologist Louis Leakey and his colleagues made a controversial proposal: a collection of fossils from the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania belonged to a new species within our own genus1. The announcement of Homo habilis was a turning point in palaeoanthropology. It shifted the search for the first humans from Asia to Africa and began a controversy that endures to this day. Even with all the fossil evidence and analytical techniques from the past 50 years, a convincing hypothesis for the origin of Homo remains elusive.
In 1960, the twig of the tree of life that contains hominins — modern humans, their ancestors, and other forms more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees and bonobos — looked remarkably straightforward. At its base was Australopithecus, the apeman that palaeoanthropologists had been recovering in southern Africa since the 1920s. This, the thinking went, was replaced by the taller, larger-brained Homo erectus from Asia, which spread to Europe and evolved into Neanderthals, which evolved into Homo sapiens. But what lay between the australopiths and H. erectus, the first known human?
Betting on Africa
Until the 1960s, H. erectus had been found only in Asia. But when primitive stone-chopping tools were uncovered at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, Leakey became convinced that this is where he would find the earliest stone-tool makers, who he assumed would belong to our genus. Maybe, like the australopiths, our human ancestors also originated in Africa.
In 1931, Leakey began intensive prospecting and excavation at Olduvai Gorge, 33 years before he announced the new human species. Now tourists travel to Olduvai on paved roads in air-conditioned buses; in the 1930s in the rainy season, the journey from Nairobi could take weeks. The ravines at Olduvai offered unparalleled access to ancient strata, but fieldwork was no picnic in the park. Water was often scarce. Leakey and his team had to learn to share Olduvai with all of the wild animals that lived there, lions included.
Listen Bernard Wood discusses how the discovery of Homo habilis sparked a debate over the origin of modern humans You may need a more recent browser or to install the latest version of the Adobe Flash Plugin.
They found the first trace of the potential toolmaker, two hominin teeth, in 1955. But these were milk teeth, which are not as easy to link to taxa as permanent teeth. The team's persistence was rewarded in 1959, when archaeologist Mary Leakey, Louis's wife, recovered the cranium of a young adult. The specimen still boggles the mind because it is so strange: its small brain, large face, tiny canines and massive, thumbnail-sized chewing teeth were not at all like those of H. erectus. Its big molars earned it the nickname 'Nutcracker Man'.
Because Nutcracker Man was found in the same layers as the stone tools, the Leakeys assumed that it was the toolmaker, despite its odd appearance. But when Louis announced the discovery, he was not tempted to expand the definition of Homo. That would have eliminated any meaningful distinction between humans and australopiths. Instead he erected a new genus and species, Zinjanthropus boisei (now called Paranthropus boisei), to accommodate it (see 'Who was related to whom?').
Australopithecus: Sabena Jane Blackbird/Alamy; H. habilis: Human Origins Program/Smithsonian Institution; P. boisei: Natural History Museum/SPL; H. neanderthalensis: Javier Trueba/MSF/SPL
In 1960, Jonathan Leakey, Louis and Mary's eldest son, found the lower jaw and the top of the head of a juvenile hominin. Dubbed Johnny's Child, it very definitely did not belong to the same species as 'Zinj', and the Leakeys began to suspect that it was the real toolmaker.
Phillip Tobias, a palaeoanthropologist known for his work in South Africa, had already been recruited to analyse Zinj, so the Leakeys turned to him to analyse the juvenile cranium. John Napier, a specialist in hand anatomy (as well as sleight-of-hand magic tricks) was recruited to examine wrist and hand bones found with the skull.
An adult foot was excavated along with Johnny's Child, and three years later, a cranium with both the upper and lower jaw was uncovered, as was a very fragmented cranium with well-preserved teeth. Napier had already convinced himself that the juvenile hand bones were like those of modern humans. My PhD supervisor, Michael Day at the University of London had come to the same conclusion about the foot. And Tobias was certain that neither the long crowns of the chewing teeth in the lower jaw nor the large brain case could belong to the australopiths known from southern Africa.
Handy hypotheses
Thus, in a paper published in Nature in April 1964 (ref. 1), Louis, Tobias and Napier made the case for adding the 'handy man' to the genus Homo as H. habilis. They argued that the Olduvai fossils met three key criteria set out in an influential 1955 definition of Homo2: an upright posture, a bipedal gait and the dexterity to fashion primitive stone tools. The team had to relax a brain-size criterion to accommodate the smaller brain (around 600 cubic centimetres) of H. habilis.
The proposal was met with considerable scepticism. Some thought that the fossils were too similar to Australopithecus africanus to justify a new species. John Robinson, a leading authority on australopiths, suggested that H. habilis was a mix of earlier A. africanus and later H. erectus bones. Other researchers agreed that the species was new. Very few accepted that it was the earliest human.
Subsequent finds shaped the debate. A crushed cranium (dubbed Twiggy) from the lowest strata at Olduvai nixed Robinson's argument that H. habilis was a mix of an australopith and H. erectus. Another skeleton indicated that H. habilis had a stronger and relatively longer (or more ape-like) upper limb than did H. erectus and its ilk.
A handful of additional specimens from Ethiopia to South Africa have since been added to H. habilis; the biggest contribution to early Homo has come from Koobi Fora in Kenya. I have been involved with H. habilis for all but two of its 50 years, starting in 1966, when I analysed the ankle bone excavated alongside Johnny's Child. Far from being like that of modern humans, the bone is a much better match for an australopith. Other features of H. habilis have also turned out to be less like those of modern humans than Louis and his team suggested.
In the mid-1970s, Louis and Mary's second son, Richard, offered me the challenge of making sense of the early Homo skulls, crania and jaws from Koobi Fora. It was a lonely task involving 15 years poring over australopiths and H. erectus fossils in museums around the world. It was tempting to focus on the better-preserved specimens, but more often than not it was a skull fragment here or a broken tooth there that provided the key clues to making sense of the whole collection.
Variation in the Koobi Fora fossils was not so easily shoe-horned into a single species as those from Olduvai3. I concluded that there were two distinct types of face within early Homo4, and so in 1992, I suggested that a second early Homo species, Homo rudolfensis, should be recognized5. Two decades later, a team led by palaeontologist Meave Leakey (Richard's wife) confirmed6 the 'two-taxon' hypothesis I had proposed, using a face and two lower jaws found at Koobi Fora. But they — correctly, I believe — refuted my suggestion about which jaws went with which faces. As ever in palaeontology, new fossils test and refine old ideas.
Drawing the line
In 1999, British anthropologist Mark Collard and I looked7 afresh at the boundary between Homo and more-primitive hominins by focusing on features that hint at body size, posture, locomotion, diet and life history. For example, how long is the upper limb compared with the lower, or the forearm compared with the upper arm? Do molar teeth erupt early, as in apes, or form slowly and dawdle in the jaw, as in modern humans? All are attributes that help to reveal how an animal makes its living and allocates its energy.
Although H. habilis is generally larger than A. africanus, its teeth and jaws have the same proportions. What little evidence there is about its body shape, hands and feet suggest that H. habilis would be a much better climber than undisputed human ancestors. So, if H. habilis is added to Homo, the genus has an incoherent mishmash of features. Others disagree, but I think you have to cherry-pick the data8 to come to any other conclusion. My sense is that handy man should belong to its own genus, neither australopith nor human.
Beautifully preserved fossils from the Caucasus have now been added to the mix. Just last year, Georgian anthropologist David Lordkipanidze and his colleagues reported9 their analysis of five hominin crania recovered from Dmanisi, a spectacular site on a promontory between two rivers in southern Georgia. They concluded that the range of shapes among these skulls equals or exceeds the variation across H. habilis, H. rudolfensis and H. erectus, and on that basis proposed that all H. habilis-like fossils be reassigned to H. erectus, subsuming three species into one.
Even if you accept that their methods of data capture are sound — which I do not — I question their conclusions. Their method fails to distinguish between a distinctive and large-brained Neanderthal cranium and one of the small-brained Dmanisi skulls, specimens that are separated by close to two million years of evolutionary history. They also take the overall shape of the head to be the arbiter of early hominin taxonomy, yet what sets H. habilis and H. erectus apart are many finer details, such as the size and shape of the inner ear, features of the hands and feet, the strength of long bones and life history. It is equally plausible that the Dmanisi fossils sample a hominin taxon that exhibits a hitherto unknown combination of primitive (for example, a small brain) and derived morphology (for example, brow ridges).
The ongoing debate about the origins of our genus is part of H. habilis's legacy. In my view, the species is too unlike H. erectus to be its immediate ancestor, so a simple, linear model explaining this stage of human evolution is looking less and less likely. Our ancestors probably evolved in Africa, but the birthplace of our genus could be far from the Great Rift Valley, where most of the fossil evidence has been found. The Leakeys' iconic discoveries at Olduvai Gorge should remind us of how much we don't know, rather than how much we do.The Irides project represents Microsoft’s research into making VR better for the user by offering higher quality graphics and lower latency.
Neowin exclusively started talking about Irides a few days ago, when we described how this project is based on earlier work with Kahawai and Outatime, and how the technology could improve any head-mounted virtual reality display (HMD). But now, Microsoft Research has published a video showing the tech in action.
As you can see above: by employing Irides and off-loading heavy graphic computations to the cloud, an HMD could stay lighter, cooler, require less power and still show very high-quality footage. And by leveraging the low-latency capabilities of Irides, the overall experience of the user can be improved thanks to more responsiveness from the system as a whole.
As mentioned previously, it's unlikely that Microsoft is looking to build its own virtual reality headset, but technology such as Irides could no doubt show up in future versions of the HoloLens. On the flip side it could even be licensed out to other companies working on VR.
In either case it’s great to see Microsoft working on a project such as VR, which holds great potential for all.
Source: Microsoft Research | Thanks to @h0x0d and Eduardo Cuervo of MSRMichael Wesch and his cultural anthropology students at Kansas State University have made a video that brilliantly depicts the shameful quality of education at large academic institutions. The professor earned a Wired Rave Award, as well as other accolades, for his previous short documentaries.
As a graduate student, and recently a teaching assistant, I think that their assessment is spot on.
Set to haunting music, the short film points out many symptoms of a faulty educational system, but it does not overtly delineate the solutions.
As I have said before, one of the greatest shortcomings of higher education seems to be a lack of competent counseling services. In my limited experience, most academic advisers do little more than tell their students the requirements for graduation and offer them a checklist of classes to take. They should make some projections about the future job market, learn about the interests of each young scholar, and offer them tailored advice for how to best prepare themselves.
Without knowing where the world is headed or what it can offer them, it is no surprise that many students lack passion for the subjects they study.
The film labels chalkboards as obsolete educational tools that can’t possibly compete with distractions like facebook and email. Once again, I could not agree more. To capture the imaginations of modern students, teachers need to make use of concise, vivid, dynamic media — like this movie and the collaborative web project that created it.
A caption in the film reads: "I buy hundred dollar textbooks that I never open."
For young men and women that are accustomed to the instant gratification of the web, even the simple act of flipping through the the glossary of a textbook may be unthinkable. Venerable professors may view this as impatience and laziness, but that would be a superficial assessment. My generation has become acclimated to the efficiency and immediate feedback of the internet. Once you have shown a farmer a tractor, they will never want to plow a field by hand again.
It would be easy to blame all of the alarming facts and figures listed in the class project on the students themselves, but it is the responsibility of teachers to innovate and make their courses understandable and engaging. After all, that is what the kids and their parents are paying for.
I would love to read your comments about my commentary, but there is also an ongoing discussion about the film here. Link
See Also:Lawrence Lessig, professor at Harvard Law School, speaks during the 2014 WIRED Business Conference (BizCon) in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. The publishers of WIRED in partnership with MDC Partners gather a roster of today's thought leaders for discussions on disruptive business practices, ideas, and innovations. Photographer: Peter Foley/Bloomberg via Getty Images
WASHINGTON -- On May 1, Harvard professor Lawrence Lessig launched what he calls a "super PAC to end all super PACs." Lessig, one of a new breed of campaign finance reformers, wants to change the corrupted system by which politicians now raise money for their campaigns.
The irony is to get money out of politics, reformers must raise money of their own. On that measure, Lessig's new organization has gotten off to a super start.
The super PAC, named MayOne, relies on a two-tiered fundraising model to tap both a large pool of ordinary citizens and a smaller pool of deep-pocketed donors. Lessig announced that MayOne would crowd-source its fundraising: If $1 million was raised online by the end of May, the sum would be matched by those larger contributors. If MayOne missed its goal, all money would be returned to the donors.
To Lessig's surprise -- and despite the total meltdown of MayOne's servers and a complete absence of promotional spending -- the super PAC to end all super PACs reached its $1 million goal in half the allotted time.
"I don't understand it," Lessig told The Huffington Post. "I think it's incredibly hopeful for the idea that we can recruit a very large number of people into this cause."
How will MayOne seek to advance the cause? It has a plan, formulated with the help of Bill Burton, former head of the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action.
MayOne is trying to raise $12 million overall -- $6 million in crowd-sourced funds and $6 million in matching funds from pledged big donors -- to target five congressional races in the 2014 midterm elections. The races haven't been selected yet, but the super PAC's message will focus entirely on the malign influence of money in politics.
To what extent that message will track the reform arguments voiced by Lessig in his 2011 book, Republic Lost, or his various TED talks will be up to the consultants, like Burton, hired to determine what resonates best with Americans, based on public opinion polls and other collected data. In fact, a major goal of the super PAC's 2014 efforts is to collect information on what works and what doesn't for a larger campaign in 2016.
"The objective of the interventions [in the 2014 election] will be both to teach us something and to teach the public something," Lessig said. "So for us, we want cases that are hard cases, that really test our messaging, so that we could know what could possibly work. But for the public, we want cases where people were like, 'Wow, that really was a fight about the corrupting influence of money,' or whatever, and the person on the wrong side of that fight lost."
But before they could start convincing the public or teaching themselves, Lessig and his super PAC, which lacks paid staff, had to survive the collapse of its public platform.
Within days of launching the campaign, the servers powering the super PAC's website collapsed under the pressure of so many visitors. Since Lessig was not paying for any promotion, direct mail or telemarketing, the website was the lone point of entry to learn about and donate to the campaign.
Luckily for Lessig, programmers and coders in the Silicon Valley area had recently gotten together to provide volunteer services for campaign finance reform-oriented organizations. Team Democracy, founded by Sarah Bonk and Aaron Lifshin, had already held a "hackathon for democracy" to support another Lessig project, New Hampshire Rebellion, as well as the California Clean Money Campaign. When MayOne's servers crashed, Lessig contacted Lifshin for help.
"I was lucky enough to be in a position to just drop everything and sit in front of a computer for about 15 hours and coordinate volunteers, as random people came in and said, 'Hey, how can I help this? What can I do?'" Lifshin said.
The self-organizing team coordinated by Lifshin -- those whom Lessig calls the "first responder geeks" -- now provides the voluntary tech backbone for the super PAC.
"One of the important things here is to create the sense that people have got to pull together to do this," Lessig said. "It's not like we're hiring an agency. Fortunately, we've been successful in doing this."
The use of volunteers also helps Lessig limit overhead costs. He has promised those who give in the crowd-sourced fundraising phase that their money will be used solely to promote the reform message. Payments to pollsters or other consultants will be made from the cash contributed by the big-dollar donors.
With that quick first $1 million, Lessig may have shown that campaign finance reform can have an immediate appeal, but he still has to prove that a bipartisan movement can be built. He has long argued that only cross-party efforts can succeed on this issue.
Support for campaign finance reform among congressional Republicans, however, is currently near zero percent. Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) is the only GOP co-sponsor of public financing legislation in the House, while the retiring Rep. Tom Petri (R-Ohio) has introduced his own bill related to reform.
"We are eager in our efforts to make it so it can be cross-partisan in that sense," Lessig said.
The first group of MayOne's big-dollar donors -- those who pledged to match the first $1 million -- will likely be made public next week, and they may highlight the less polarizing nature of campaign finance reform outside Washington. Lessig said these donors come from across the ideological spectrum and from various professions.
To unlock the remaining donors and their $5 million in pledged funds, the super PAC will launch its next round of crowd-sourced fundraising at the end of May.
Lessig is well aware that initial enthusiasm can fade. He worries that super PAC fundraising in general will become normalized and ordinary people become marginalized if campaign finance reform does not happen soon.'Modern Family' dropped the F-Bomb tonight... but was that the only funny line of the night? Far from it! These were some of our favorites.
If you ask me, the controversy surrounding tonight’s Modern Family was much ado about nothing. Did the actress playing Lily even actually say the F-Word? Somehow I doubt it. Believe it or not, tonight was my first foray into the world of Modern Family. I wanted to see what all the fuss (both the normal “fuss” and the controversy “fuss”) was all about. I love a good auto-tune YouTube video (embedded for your viewing pleasure).
The show also had some really funny quotes. These were some of my favorites:
“Busy day at the Dunphy compound. We have a wedding tonight, and this afternoon Claire is debating Duane Bailey in the race for town council. And now, the Weekly Saver says that some voters find Claire quote ‘Angry and Unlikable.’ To those voters I say, ‘Wait ‘till she sees this.’” – Phil
“Well, I just don’t think it’s a big deal. I mean, just how many people read the Weekly …” – Claire
“Saver?” – Hailey
“… Saver anyway?” – Claire
“22,000 ish [gets a look from Claire]. My company adver … my company used to advertise with that newspaper.” – Phil
“And how am I ‘angry and unlikable?’” – Claire
“Can I take this one?” – Hailey
“I wouldn’t.” – Phil
“Do you know what this is?” – Mitch
“A box!” – Lily
“ … Containing?” – Mitch
“She doesn’t know ‘containing.’” — Cam
“Well that’s how she learns new words, by us using them.” – Mitch
“Or that’s how we lower her self-esteem, by bombarding her with confusing vocabulary.” – Cam
“What’s the box containing?” – Lily
“[On Lily’s light-up dress] You know what, if the bride wants to have a tacky wedding, she can have a tacky wedding. Lily will be the bright spot.” – Mitch
“Literally.” – Cam
“Heard it as soon as I said it.” – Mitch
“[Walking in the door] Stella? Where’s my good girl? … Gloria, is Stella up there?” – Jay
“No, but I am? Why don’t you say hello to your wife when you come home?” – Gloria
“Why don’t you greet me at the door wagging your tail?” – Jay
“Seriously? Manny you teach to swim by throwing him in the pool; but the dog gets swimming lessons.” – Gloria
“I’ve got to say. It was unpleasant, but effective.” — Manny
“She didn’t jump in the pool, she fell in the pool. Why suddenly would she jump in the pool, when she doesn’t know how to swim?” – Jay
“Why does she bark at the vacuum? [To Stella] It’s a thing. It’s never going to play with you.” – Gloria
“I have a bad side?” – Claire
“Yeah, the left.” – Hailey
“No, it’s the right.” – Phil
“Ah, Dad, it’s totally the left. I mean look at it.” – Hailey
“Sweetheart, why do you think I choose my side of the bed?” – Phil
“I cannot believe you left!” – Mitch
“I’m sorry! But you know I have two weakness: children cursing and old people rapping.” – Cam
“Mom, please don’t go viral.” – Hailey
“OK, I’ll add that to my list of things not to do: don’t touch my face, don’t roll my eyes, don’t point my fingers and definitely don’t go viral. Do any of you still believe in me?” – Claire
“Of course we do; we’re on your side.” – Phil
“The right side, not the left.” – Luke
“And I’m afraid that doggie suicide is all too real. It’s just the mainstream media doesn’t report on it because its not as sexy as feline AIDS.” – Duane Bailey
“OK, but first honey, we need to talk about something. It’s about that word you said this morning.” – Mitch
“What word?” – Lily
“You know, the one that starts with ‘F.’” – Mitch
“Flower?” – Lily
“No.” – Mitch
“Fruit?” – Lily
“No.” – Mitch
“If she doesn’t remember it, maybe we shouldn’t reminder her.” – Cam
“Oh, you mean [bleep!]” – Lily
“[giggles]” – Cam
“Cam, leave the room.” – Mitch
“What are we going to do, cancel?” – Mitch
“Yes. Maybe we just call and say, ‘We’re not going to any more weddings until the gays can get married.’” – Cam
“Oh, so now we’re political? We leave town on Gay Pride Weekend because we don’t like the traffic.” – Mitch
“I, like a lot of men in this town, enjoy making love to my wife. I mean with their wives … not me, them. Look, I should probably just sit down and say nothing, but it’s too late, I am standing, and I’m obviously talking, and now you’re looking at me, and I feel the need to keep going. First of all, no charges were filed. Everyone had a good laugh … about the situation, not about me, everything’s fine down there.” – Phil
“She’s on verbal lock-down. She’s been dropping a certain curse word all day. Yeah, so we’re just hoping the next one doesn’t happen during the wedding.” – Mitch
“If it does, it’ll be the second most embarrassing thing to happen to our family today.” – Phil
“Phil, you said it wasn’t that bad?” – Claire
“That was in the car … we’re in church now.” – Phil
Photo Credit: ABC/Peter ‘Hopper’ StoneI was absolutely floored when I learned what had happened. On Saturday night I was going through my emails, and I discovered that one of my supporters had sent me a message informing me that Ann Coulter had mentioned me in a tweet. I wondered if that could possibly be true, so I immediately went to Twitter to confirm it. It turns out that she had come across an article on Conservative Firing Line in which I had mentioned her, and along with retweeting that article she included the following message: “Michael Snyder For Congress!”
Michael Snyder for Congress! https://t.co/TZSv1Lp39h — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 8, 2017
Needless to say, the political establishment up here in Idaho is not going to like that one bit. I have been told over and over again that I am “too conservative” for Idaho, and the RINOs definitely do not want prominent conservatives on the national level getting behind me. Because there is no incumbent, this is a totally wide open race, but many of the “establishment Republicans” in this state would rather have a steaming pile of garbage win than see me take this seat.
They don’t like me because I am unconventional, I am a fighter, and I am not afraid to stand up to members of my own party. I am very open about the fact that if I win I plan to campaign against RINOs all over the nation, and so as you can imagine that is not making me a lot of friends among the establishment. That is why I need your help. The establishment money is not going to get behind me, so in order to win this must be a grassroots effort. If you would like to contribute to the campaign, you can do so here…
https://www.michaelsnyderforcongress.com/contribute.html
I think the fact that I am a fighter is why Ann Coulter likes me. For way too long we have put up with spineless Republicans that give the Democrats virtually everything that they want. If the Democrats are going to get everything their way no matter who is in power, what is the point of even having a Republican Party?
The more time goes by, the more I appreciate Ann Coulter. She fights relentlessly for the things that she believes in, and she never backs down. If every Republican member of Congress was just like her, we would not be in the giant mess than we are in today. I am so glad that she wants me to win this race, and if you would like to help make that a reality, we could really use your help this month…
https://www.michaelsnyderforcongress.com/contribute.html
At the end of this month is our first big FEC deadline. Conservative organizations around the country will be looking to see how much I raised compared to my opponents, and they will be making decisions on where to allocate resources based on those numbers.
If I don’t raise as much money as my opponents when the next report comes out, it is likely that I won’t get some big checks from conservative organizations that I otherwise could have gotten. So I can’t stress strongly enough how much I need to hear from each one of you. This is do or die time, and we have 21 days for a miracle to happen…
https://www.michaelsnyderforcongress.com/contribute.html
When I say that we need a “miracle”, I am not exaggerating. Even though so many other aspects of the campaign are going tremendously well, fundraising is not nearly at the level that it should be. And of course I take responsibility for that. Fundraising is new to me, and I have a lot to learn. Plus, I was raised to be very self-sufficient and independent, and it is not easy for me to ask for help.
So let me just be very, very honest with you. We desperately need financial help for this campaign. Even though everything else is going so incredibly well, a lack of financial support could absolutely cripple us. Every single dollar is so incredibly valuable at this stage, and I am praying for hundreds of people to contribute to the campaign after seeing this message…
https://www.michaelsnyderforcongress.com/contribute.html
In so many other ways this campaign is taking off spectacularly. But if we don’t get some fuel for our engines, we are going to come crashing back down to the ground. We know what we need to do in order to get our message out to every voter in this district, and if we can get that done we will win.
Since there is on incumbent in this race, it is a golden opportunity to send a true freedom-loving conservative to Congress. People always complain that we “don’t have anyone good to vote for”, but now that good candidates are stepping forward, it is absolutely imperative that we support them…
https |
. I need your help. I will be your president, too."Ivory is nearing 100 percent as Sunday's matchup with the Bears approaches.
The running back missed the first two games of the season with an undisclosed medical issue and has been working back toward full strength over the last few weeks. Coming off of a bye week, the Jaguars are encouraged by the progress Ivory has made. "He had a much better day today," coach Gus Bradley said Thursday."We'll be smart with him [Friday]. From where he was two days ago to today, much better, much better." The Jacksonville rushing attack has been among the least productive in the league thus far, and Ivory has amassed just 43 yards on 20 carries through two games against the Ravens and the Colts. Both he and co-starter T.J. Yeldon will look to get back on track in Chicago on Sunday.When journalist Joshua Foer covered the 2005 USA Memory Championship in Manhattan for Slate magazine, he didn’t expect to return a year later as one of the competitors. He was more than a bit skeptical during that first go-round when experts told him anyone could learn to memorize entire decks of playing cards or strings of numbers hundreds of digits long.
All it takes, they said, is training. And for those of us who consider it a great feat of recall when we remember what we had for breakfast or where we parked our cars, that’s really good news.
Foer’s memory-building –– and memorable –– odyssey is recounted in his book, Moonwalking with Einstein –– The Art and Science of Remembering Everything (Penguin, 2011). The UC Santa Barbara Library has chosen the book as this year’s selection for UCSB Reads.
An annual winter quarter event, UCSB Reads engages the campus and the Santa Barbara community in conversations about a key topic while reading the same book. UCSB Reads is presented by the UCSB Library, in partnership with the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor. A committee that included faculty and staff members, administrators and student representatives made this year’s selection.
Beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, Chancellor Henry Yang and his wife, Dilling, Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Lucas, university librarian Denise Stephens and Associated Students Internal Vice President Mayra Segovia will be on hand at the UCSB Library to distribute free copies of the book to registered UCSB students. Associated Students has, in part, funded the book distribution. Moonwalking with Einstein is also on sale at the UCSB Bookstore.
The Antioch University Library, the Luria Library at Santa Barbara City College and the Westmont College Library are partners in the program, and the book is a Santa Barbara Public Library System “Read” selection for this winter. Multiple copies will be available for loan, including audio, e-book, Spanish language and large-print versions.
The Santa Barbara Public Library also offers “Book Club in a Bag” kits, which include 10 copies of the book and a set of reader questions geared toward book club participants.
A variety of UCSB Reads events, including faculty panels, book discussions, film screenings, and exhibits, will take place throughout the quarter, both on campus and at local public libraries and partner sites. These will culminate in a free public talk by the author on March 4 in UCSB’s Campbell Hall.
For more information about UCSB Reads, contact Rebecca Metzger, assistant university librarian for outreach and academic collaboration, at 805.893.2674 or.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Click here for a complete list of upcoming UCSB Reads activities.I have to admit I'm high maintenance when it comes to my pets. I have been showing and training dogs for 23 years and run my own dog treat business. My golden LOVES to shred anything you give him so I gave my poor giftor and impossible list of likes/dislikes. Despite that, they not only looks paste my high maintenance and found the PERFECT gift for my dog!
This toy has Velcro opening so that you can put treats inside. It's made of an extremely durable nylon and well stitched. Blizzard LOVED flipping and tearing at the toy to get the treats inside. Even after the treats were long gone he was flipping and playing with it. This is one treat that we'll have around for a long time to come!
Seriously, thank you! Blizzard thanks you too!!!!
UPDATE!!!
Holy cow! I walked into work today and had a mystery package on my desk. I didn't remember buying anything so I wasn't sure what was in it and wasn't in a hurry to open it. (I had a ton of work calling my name). When I finally did open it the timing couldn't have been better. I bust out laughing! A Halloween costume for Blizzard! I couldn't wait to get home to try it on him.
When I did get home... Wrestling my 65lb Golden to get this thing on him was quite the feat! He kept trying to eat the costume and hated the hat! But damn if he wasn't absolutely adorable!Wasserman Schultz’s IT Aide Arrested Trying To Flee The Country
Luke Rosiak
Investigative Reporter
Florida GOP Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s right-hand information technology (IT) aide was arrested attempting to leave the country just a few hours after The Daily Caller News Foundation’s Investigative Group revealed that he is the target of an FBI investigation.
Imran Awan, a Pakistani-born IT aide, had access to all emails and files of dozens of members of Congress, as well as the password to the iPad that Wasserman Schultz used for Democratic National Committee business before she resigned as its head in July 2016. He was apprehended while attempting to flee the U.S., Fox News first reported.
Bill Miller, spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, told TheDCNF that Awan “was arraigned today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344. He pled not guilty and was released pursuant to a high-intensity supervision program. The conditions of release are that he receive a GPS monitor, he abide by a curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and that he not leave a 50-mile radius of his residence in Virginia. Awan was also ordered to turn over all of his passports.”
Soon after Imran began working for Wasserman Schultz in 2005, four of his relatives appeared on the payroll of other Democrats — many from Wasserman Schultz’s home state of Florida — at inflated salaries, but Democratic staffers said they were rarely seen at work. They collected $4 million in total.
House authorities told members in February that Awan and his relatives were suspects in a criminal investigation into theft and IT abuses, and they were banned from the Capitol network.
Wasserman Schultz refused to fire Awan, despite being the suspect in a hacking probe, and has blocked Capitol Police from searching a laptop they confiscated because it was tied to Awan.
TheDCNF reported Sunday night that the FBI had joined the investigation and seized smashed hard drives from Awan’s home.
His stepmother filed court documents accusing him of wiretapping and extorting her (see p. 23 of court documents in that case), but Democratic members of Congress, including Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, suggested that police had framed the Pakistani-born brothers out of Islamophobia.
Wasserman Schultz’s spokesman, David Damron, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2017/07/25/wasserman-schultzs-it-aide-arrested-trying-to-flee-the-country/
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
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commentsJonathan Gitlin
Jonathan Gitlin
Jonathan Gitlin
Jonathan Gitlin
Jonathan Gitlin
Jonathan Gitlin
Without a doubt, the most fun thing I've driven all year is also the cheapest. It's the Arcimoto SRK: a three-wheeled electric vehicle that remains the one thing I liked about CES 2016. Since then the Oregonian startup has been beavering away, refining the design of the $12,000 EV as it readies for production next year. The SRK made its way to DC recently, and that meant another chance to drive it—this time on some familiar city streets. Yet again, the experience blew me away.
It's a tandem trike, with each front wheel powered by its own 25kW (34hp) electric motor. But don't let the handlebars fool you; with seats, seatbelts, and a roof, even the bike-phobic like me are quite at home here. In fact, earlier versions of Arcimoto's platform actually used a steering wheel and pedals before evolving into the SRK, and it corners with almost no body roll. There's a 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack, good for about 70 miles (112km) of range, although a 20kWh pack will also be available. Depending on the state, you don't need a motorcyle license to drive it, but for those where that doesn't apply, you can take the test in the SRK.
Since I drove it last, the SRK has a new polycarbonate windshield that the team is trying out. It also features the production gearbox. "It's much quieter than before; there's a lot less latch, a lot less noise, and the gears are a lot better construction," explains Jesse Fittipaldi, Arcimoto's VP. My first impressions were formed in a cold Las Vegas parking lot, where traffic or passers-by weren't much of a concern. Out in the real world, traffic isn't an issue either. It's very nimble and more than quick enough—0-60mph in 7.5 seconds is plenty faster than a Nissan Leaf and almost as quick as a BMW i3. The Arcimoto's top speed of 85mph (137km/h) is more than enough.
But it's still a slightly surreal experience driving it on city streets, because the SRK is almost as attention-grabbing as a McLaren 570S. Pedestrians and other drivers frequently stopped to ask questions, and the trike was a big hit with the highschool crowd. The fact that it appeared to meet with so much acceptance from the general public gives me hope. The SRK reflects an affordable kind of electromobility for the coming years—and that's something we still see all too little of.
I've seen the future and it's electric
Drivers who would never consider a scooter (like me) for safety reasons could quite happily commute in an SRK, and the potential for using them as delivery vehicles is obvious. (I'd also pick one over a Smart Car2Go any day of the week.) You also don't have to think very hard to see them being a big hit in places where people drive a lot of dirty two-strokes, tuk tuks, or rickshaws. Arcimoto has been in discussions about licensing the platform abroad, but right now its main focus is securing the investment needed to put the SRK into production here in the US next year. To do that, the company is using a law passed in 2012—the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, which allows small businesses to make use of crowdfunding to issue shares.
The hope that Tesla was going to usher in a bold new era of electric vehicles is proving stubbornly slow to materialize. Five years on from the Model S' introduction, the only major OEM with a long-range battery EV on the market is Chevrolet. While the Bolt is a fantastic car, it doesn't appear to be capturing the public imagination.
Other OEMs have models in the pipeline; Porsche and Audi are both very keen to try and undo some diesel-flavored bad karma, and Jaguar has the I-Pace electric SUV in store, but all those are still more than a year away. Volvo looks like it's catching electric fever, with plans for five new battery EVs in the works; Mazda and Toyota are joining forces to develop new EVs; and both BMW and Mercedes-Benz have somewhat vague plans for new all-electric vehicles. None of those are on the road yet, either.
Meanwhile, Tesla has done more than just light a (slow-burning) fire under the traditional automakers. It has inspired plenty of new EV startups, to the point where I think Sniff Petrol might need to create an EV version of its rather funny boilerplate press release for new supercar makers. But for the good of a diverse ecosystem, I'd like it if some of these other EV startups make a proper go of it. I'm not too worried about the EV hypercars from outfits like Rimac or Nio; most of us will never encounter the hand-built low-volume vehicles they create. But an Arcimoto would be in reach for a much bigger audience, even before the IRS EV credit cuts its price by more than half.
Listing image by Jonathan GitlinBitWage Provides an IBAN Number for Everybody: Freelancers Worldwide Receive their Salary with Bitcoin
With BitWage you can receive your wage in bitcoin instead of fiat money. The startup from California aims to strengthen its presence in Europe. To do so, it opened a new office in Paris and implemented the option to give every customer their own IBAN number. CEO Jonathan Chester explains why and tells of two classes of customers using BitWage.
The basic concept of BitWage is pretty easy to explain; you want to get your salary or your fee in bitcoin instead of fiat money like the dollar or euro, but your boss or customer does not want to touch such a thing like bitcoin. What do you do now? You register at BitWage, get a bank number of the startup, write this bank number on your invoice, and when the boss or customer pays, BitWage gets the fiat money and gives you bitcoin.
“First we helped companies to pay workers in bitcoin,” BitWage CEO Jonathan Chester says, “but there have been a lot of issues around that. Basically, the companies have been afraid of the technology.” In late 2014 BitWage introduced the option to “allow workers to receive wages in bitcoin without the company to sign up.” And since then the startup is on a growth path. As of today, BitWage has around 11,000 customers globally and an impressive monthly growth rate of five to 20 percent.
Since as little as ten to 15 percent of the payment volume of BitWage serves the European markets, the startup is currently trying to gain a bigger foothold on the continent. After receiving a grant from the French government, BitWage recently opened up an office in Paris. Besides expansion of their presence, the company wants to win new customers with a new and special product; every customer can get his own IBAN number. This does not only optimize internal processes and makes payments faster, but also enables everyone in the world (except US citizens) to use an IBAN number without having a bank account in the SEPA zone.
The knowledge Jonathan gathered about his customers so far indicates that the newly-introduced option might be interesting for many. While the biggest channel for payment goes from companies of the US to people in Brazil, from Europe, most payments go again to Brazil, but also to Eastern Europe and Africa. Jonathan differentiates between two classes of channels.
Roughly 35 percent of the transaction volume of BitWage goes from companies in rich countries to people in rich countries:
“These are mostly investors, which are employed at companies. They use BitWage to regularly buy bitcoins because it is an easy and convenient option to invest parts or their income in bitcoin.”
However, the bulk of BitWage’s transaction flow, 65 percent, goes from companies in rich countries to people in low-income countries like in Southern America, Eastern Europe or Africa:
“Here it is less about investment but about payment. The customers here are mostly freelancers who did a job for a first-world company and want to get their payment quick and convenient. Many exchange the bitcoins they get in national currencies, but many also keep it, as bitcoins are often superior as a store of value.”
Brazil is a huge market for BitWage due to a “really bad banking system” which requires up to 14 days to process cross-border payments. In Europe, Jonathan sees a lot of interest of freelancers in Eastern Europe and Africa, more precisely from Nigeria, Morocco, Ukraine, Romania, and Poland. For those people, BitWage is especially useful, as they can now just write an IBAN number in their invoice and easily receive bitcoins.A new study by a University of Alberta researcher shows that children who stutter have less grey matter in key regions of the brain responsible for speech production than children who do not stutter.
The findings not only improve our understanding of how the brain is built for speech production and why people stutter, but also affirm the importance of seeking treatment early, using approaches such as those pioneered by the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the U of A, said Deryk Beal, ISTAR's executive director.
Previous research has used MRI scans to look at structural differences between the brains of adults who stutter and those who do not. The problem with that approach is the scans come years after the onset of stuttering, typically between the ages of two and five years, Beal said.
"You can never be quite sure whether the differences in brain structure or function you're looking at were the result of a lifetime of coping with a speech disorder or whether those brain differences were there from the beginning," explained Beal, a speech-language pathologist.
For his study, Beal scanned the brains of 28 children ranging from five to 12 years old. Half the children were diagnosed with stuttering; the other half served as a control.
Results showed that the inferior frontal gyrus region of the brain develops abnormally in children who stutter. This is important because that part of the brain is thought to control articulatory coding -- taking information our brain understands about language and sounds and coding it into speech movements.
"If you think about the characteristics of stuttering -- repetitions of the first sounds or syllables in a word, prolongation of sounds in a word -- it's easy to hypothesize that it's a speech-motor-control problem," explained Beal. "The type of stuttering treatment we deliver at ISTAR is delivered with this limitation of the speech system in mind, and we have good success in stuttering treatment."
Beal initiated the research at the University of Toronto and completed the work upon his arrival at the U of A. He sees the results as a first step toward testing to see how grey matter volumes are influenced by stuttering treatment and understanding motor-sequence learning differences between children who stutter and those who do not.
"The more we know about motor learning in these kids, the more we can adjust our treatment -- deliver it in a shorter period of time, deliver it more effectively."
The study was published in the September issue of the peer-reviewed journal Cortex and received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Clinical Fellowship and the Hospital for Sick Children's Clinician Scientist Training Program.Sobering news from a new study out of the University of Montréal: gay men who bottom for several partners over their lifetimes are at a higher risk of prostate cancer.
A comprehensive survey of more than 3,200 men -- half of whom had suffered prostate cancer between 2005 and 2009 -- lead epidemiologist Marie-Élise Parent and her team to the findings. Heterosexual men who sleep with more than 20 women in their lifetimes (not all at once) are 28 percent less likely than straight men who don't sleep with as many partners to develop the cancer. Parent suggests this is due to a regular release of ejaculate that may aid in prostate cancer prevention.
The fate of gay men who bottom, however, is in stark contrast to their straight peers, according to the study.
The researchers found that men who bottomed for more than 20 male partners in their lifetime more than doubled their risk for prostate cancer. Furthermore, their risk of developing a non-aggressive form of the disease increased by 500 percent.
Though Parent and her team aren't as clear on the mechanics of these findings, they speculate that bottoming traumatizes the prostate. A traumatized prostate releases more of a "prostate-specific antigen" a chemical that could point to cancer in the area.
Considering the report, regular screenings and tests for prostate cancer should be given extra thought by gay men who enjoy bottoming, the researchers emphasize.
As always, take any study that isn't peer reviewed with a grain of salt. But what do you make of the report from the University of Montréal, Instincters?
(Via)The most annoying ads of all time have been named and shamed by a new study.
The 10 worst offenders, as voted for by 1,600 UK consumers, range from hotel booking platforms to home heating companies.
Consumers are typically annoyed by three advertising fails: repetitive jingles, gender or nationality stereotyping, or a patronising tone, the research found.
Here’s the list of the UK’s most hated ads in reverse order:
The child-like animations and awkward rhyming couplets featured in this ad were a turn off for many viewers.
9. Boots – Here Come the Girls (2007)
Consumers found this Boots ad, featuring women fighting over reflective surfaces and hairspray as they prepare for the Christmas party, a little grating.
8. WeBuyAnyCar – Hard House Theme (2009)
The WeBuyAnyCar ads of old were very different to the James Corden-voiced ones used today. This 2009 "classic" features a repetitive jingle that is impossible to forget.
7. Hotels4u – Anything for You Cupcake (2013)
Hotels4u infuriated the residents of Birmingham with three adverts featuring a hen-pecked Brummy boyfriend and his "cupcake". The advert's sexist overtones also created national outrage.
6. Halifax – ISA ISA Baby (2010)
Halifax continued its fine tradition of musical embarrassments with this 2010 offering soundtracked by its own version of "Ice Ice Baby".
5. Comparethemarket.com – Compare the Meerkat (2009)
It seems not everyone loves Aleksandr and Oleg. But the campaign has been a huge success for Comparethemarket.com, which became the fourth most visited insurance website in the UK as a result.
4. Gladstone Brookes – PPI Compensation (2014)
The tone of this advert offended viewers, who branded it "patronising". Gladstone Brookes was also later pulled up by the advertising watchdog over some of the claims made in the ad.
3. Cillit Bang – Barry Scott (2007)
Cillit Bang used the fictional character of Barry Scott to advertise its cleaning product. However, many viewers felt that the repetitive catchphrase - "Bang! And the dirt is gone" - besmirched the brand.
2. Wonga – Puppets (2012)
Payday loan company Wonga courted controversy when it used puppets in this 2012 ad. Consumers accused the company of appealing to children.
1. Go Compare – “Go Compaaaaaare, Go Compaaaaaare!” (2009)
This 2009 effort featuring opera singer Gio Compario is the UK's most annoying ad, with 28pc of the votes. This ad has repeatedly ranked at the top of "annoying ads" polls.
Go Compare later used the consumer backlash to its advantage by gagging the pot-bellied tenor in subsequent ads.
Consumers have historically had a love/hate relationship with advertisements. When John Lewis unveiled its Christmas commercial last year, it was shared 202,953 times in its first 24 hours online, as people rushed to tell their friends about the adventures of Monty the Penguin.
But when an ad goes bad, it can cause lasting brand damage as consumer flock to social media to voice their displeasure. Some even boycott the companies and their products.
According to Dr Haiming Hang, associate professor of marketing at the University of Bath, using annoying jingles to create a memorable ad is a dangerous strategy.
“Advertisers assume brand awareness is the key to make consumers purchase,” he said. “However, recent research clearly suggests advertising makes a stronger emotional and behavioural impact when consumers are paying less conscious attention to them.”
Brands like John Lewis are increasingly using ads that tell a story to create emotional engagement. Pummelling consumers with a brand name over the course of 30 seconds has now - thankfully - fallen out of favour.
This is partly down to the rise of social media, which has allowed companies to measure the success of their advertising campaigns and tweak them according to the feedback they receive.
“If consumers are annoyed because they feel an ad is not representing them or is in poor taste then with the power of social media they can let the brand – and the world – know,” said the London College of Fashion's Dr Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas.
“However, even annoying ads and negative customer reaction can be flipped if brands are clever in how they respond to the criticism, and acknowledge possible errors of judgment; this approach is likely to bring consumers on board when they feel their views have listened to and validated.”
There is still a strong argument for creating an annoying ad, when it ensures that consumers will remember a new brand or product, she argued. Boots' "Here come the girls" offering reportedly generates a surge in sales of beauty products and gift sets.
“As humans, we receive an incredible amount of information to process," said Dr Radclyffe-Thomas. "Businesses make this process easier for us by building brands with values and associations – as well as repetitive, catchy and sometimes annoying adverts. In this way simply by getting our attention, these annoying ads may succeed.”
Beware. The end of the annoying ad is not yet nigh.
This research was undertaken by Toluna on behalf of The Car Buying Service, a rival to WeBuyAnyCar.com, which features in the list of offenders.
“The advertising landscape has changed a lot in recent years as consumers have become wiser to stereotypical marketing tactics,” said Nicholas Carnell, a director at the firm.
“In light of this, we wanted to find out what the ultimate ‘turn off’ was for today’s savvy customers. Judging by our findings, it seems that annoying jingles like the infamous one featured in WeBuyAnyCar’s 2009 advert are the biggest advert pet hate.”Dear pro-gun lawmakers (most Republicans and some Democrats):
Are you f*cking kidding me? We spend all our time fighting dumb tech regulations proposed by people like you, who are bought and paid for by entrenched interests who don’t want competition. You constantly use “safety” as the fig leaf for why all these regulations are necessary (I guess saying, “because the other guys wrote a big check to my campaign” doesn’t sound as good). And then you turn around and let people buy any kind of gun they want, anytime, because you believe it’s their inherent right to do so? Seriously?
Let’s be honest: There’s not a single activity any startup I’m aware of that engages in anything nearly as dangerous as selling someone a gun. That was true before Las Vegas. It’s true now.
There’s no reason to limit who can drive who in their car, or who can let who pay to sleep in their extra bedroom, or who can pick out a fantasy lineup online and place a bet on it, or who can and can’t work on a platform, or who can legally provide consumers with cosmetology services if you don’t think there’s any reason someone can’t just walk into a store and buy an assault rifle.
If you don’t believe in regulation and intrusion, great. Let freedom ring.
But then don’t tell me FanDuel can’t operate in your state because gaming is a sin, or that Eaze can’t deliver cannabis to consumers because you think all drugs are immoral, or that new forms of cryptocurrency can’t be bought and sold because you simply don’t understand it.
Don’t tell me that public safety, health and wellness, the proper role of government, morality and your conscience all factor in when it comes to regulating everyone else, but when you’re worried about a primary on the right, suddenly none of that matters when guns are involved.
Let’s be honest: There’s not a single activity any startup I’m aware of that engages in anything nearly as dangerous as selling someone a gun. That was true before Las Vegas. It’s true now.
So let’s make a deal: In every state, tech regulations should be judged against the most lenient gun law on the books. Giving someone the tool to commit mass murder is, by definition, the single biggest risk government can take. So if you’re comfortable with that, fine. But if so, there’s no reason whatsoever to impose onerous regulations on startups trying to offer new products and services.
So let’s make a deal: In every state, tech regulations should be judged against the most lenient gun law on the books.
If you think there should be some basic rules around buying guns, then let’s have some basic rules around regulating new startups. If you believe in actual regulation of gun sales, then we can at least have a reasonable conversation about the proper role of regulating each new type of technology, platform and idea.
But beware — if your argument really just comes back to protecting your campaign donors, as is usually the case with ride-sharing, homes-haring, worker classification rules, etc., we’re still going to very publicly call you out on your corrupt behavior.
The idea that we live in a society where politicians on one hand can vigorously defend someone’s right to conveniently access tools of mass murder and then want someone who does nails to apply for three different licenses is insane. Of course we’re becoming a violent and broken society. Of course we’re struggling to create new jobs and develop new industries when we let the companies who benefit from the status quo use campaign contributions as a way to stifle growth and innovation. Of course things are a total mess.
Look, I get it. I’ve run my share of campaigns. Worked in city government, state government and federal government. I’ve worked in the executive branch and in the legislature. I understand how it goes. You ran for office because you wanted to be somebody. You need attention, you need public validation and becoming a politician was your only way to get it. If you lose your job, you lose the attention and validation that comes with it. That’s like losing access to oxygen for you. So staying in the job comes ahead of all else, and that means not pissing off powerful interests like the NRA (sure, there are a few pols who are exceptions to the rule, but odds are you’re not one of them).
There’s no company — and certainly no startup trying to create new jobs — that should face less regulation than what it takes to purchase a gun in your state.
I don’t expect you to start putting the public welfare first. I don’t even expect you to do what’s right ahead of what’s expedient. But at least take a view and stick to it. If you want to carry the NRA’s water because you’re afraid they’ll take you out in a primary otherwise, then take those talking points they hand you about personal liberty and freedom and make that your governing philosophy. If you want to do the bidding of the casinos or hotel industry or organized labor or taxi medallion owners or the big banks and impose lots of regulations to keep startups and competition in check, fine. Do that — but at least extend it to instruments of murder while you’re at it.
Put your money where your mouth is. If you truly believe that government regulation amounts to a deprivation of individual rights and liberties, fine. I don’t agree in all cases, but I respect your right to believe it. But then act like it.
There’s no company — and certainly no startup trying to create new jobs — that should face less regulation than what it takes to purchase a gun in your state. So let’s make that the bar and either move regulation up or down the scale accordingly.
Pick a standard. Stick to it. We know you already struggle to live with yourself. It’s the least you can do.
Bradley Tusk is a venture capitalist, political strategist and writer. And he’s the founder and CEO of Tusk Holdings, which includes Tusk Ventures, Tusk Strategies, Kronos Archives, Ivory Gaming and Tusk Montgomery Philanthropies, which is working to bring mobile voting to U.S. elections. Tusk Ventures is the world's first venture capital fund to work with and invest solely in high-growth startups facing political and regulatory challenges. Tusk previous served as campaign manager for Michael Bloomberg, as deputy governor of Illinois, and as communications director for Sen. Charles Schumer. He writes a regular column for Inc. and The Observer, hosts a podcast called Firewall, and is working a book about his adventures in protecting disruptors from the bad guys. Reach him @BradleyTusk.NASHVILLE, TN – Sitting on a dock along the Cumberland River, Norman Lewis has only one thing on his mind ahead of Sunday's game six.
"It'd be a great shame to be wasted on a plate," the 24-year-old catfish told The Elbow. "If I had one wish as I lie here, struggling to breathe, it would be that my carcass is snuck into Bridgestone arena under a sweaty man's jersey, flung 20 metres over peoples' heads and onto the ice."
"There's no higher honour for a catfish in this city than to be thrown on the ice, with all of your guts spilling out in front of thousands of screaming fans."
It's a story that rings true to many widowed catfish around the state.
Mary Spencer, of Old Hickory Lake, said her husband of 19 years was the game one catfish that commentators described as "gross".
"We were all so proud of Marty," she said. "To get that shoutout on CBC was icing on the cake. Our neighbours from the Canadian side of Lake Superior caught it on PVR and sent us a copy."
As for Lewis, he's only focussing on the future.
"I hope that I'm able to give my 12,000 children something to be proud of as they all gather around the TV set on Sunday night. This is a story I want them telling their thousands of kids tens of years from now."
Like us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all the latest news.ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hundreds of US troops have landed at an air base south of Mosul, according to reports Saturday, as efforts get
underway for an offensive to liberate the city from the Islamic State
(ISIS).
The troops arrived at an airbase in the town of Qayyarah, which was recaptured from ISIS by the Iraqi army last month, according to a CNN report citing an unnamed US defense official.
“The American forces operating there will mainly provide logistics, supplies and support for the Iraqi offensive on Mosul. The move brings US personnel closer to the battle and ISIS' defensive lines,” the CNN report said.
It added that the facility, about 65 kilometers south of Mosul and strategically important because of its proximity to the ISIS stronghold in Iraq, is expected to be rebuilt to allow US and coalition aircraft to operate from there.
"When the (Iraqi Security Force) is ready to move on in their operations to get after Mosul, we'll be prepared to support that and the airfield will be ready," Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian told reporters Tuesday at the Pentagon.
"This is a partnered effort. This is something we're working from both the land component perspective with the Iraqis and clearly ensuring that, as we begin to put some of our airplanes in there (Qayyarah) in the future, that it's got the capabilities that we need," Harrigian added.
CNN quoted “several US officials” as saying that the assault on Mosul, the last major Iraqi city still in ISIS hands, could begin as early as
October.
The offensive on Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, will involve the Iraqi military, the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces and the US-backed coalition against ISIS.
The Iraqi Security Forces have been stationed in Qayyarah since its liberation in July. They took over the airbase a month earlier.
Meanwhile, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces advanced further into Nineveh Province last month, snatching back large chunks of territory from ISIS and leaping closer to Mosul.
“In some areas the Peshmerga are only seven kilometers away from Mosul, in some other areas 10 kilometers,” Peshmerga commander Sheikh Jaffar Mustafa told Rudaw last month. ”The Peshmerga are much closer to Mosul than the Iraqi army is,” he said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi remains confident that his forces can push ISIS from Mosul by the end of the year. He repeated this
promise earlier this month at the sixth TEDx Baghdad conference.
Abadi first made the pledge as 2015 came to a close – following the liberation of the city of Ramadi from the militants by the ISF. He also vowed he would still meet this deadline following the recapture of Fallujah from the militants in late June.
In late August, the head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Joseph Votel, said Iraq’s fight against ISIS is indeed gathering
momentum.
“It’s the (Iraqi) prime minister’s objective to have that done by the end of the year,” Votel told a news conference. “My assessment is that
we can meet … the prime minister’s objectives, if that’s what he chooses to do.”A 25-year-old man who was fatally stabbed in San Francisco's Tenderloin District on Saturday night has been identified, while the five suspects wanted in connection with his death remain at large.
Police responded at 8:24 p.m. Saturday to a report of a man stabbed at the intersection of O'Farrell and Larkin streets, San Francisco police Officer Albie Esparza said.
The stabbing victim, identified by the Medical Examiner's Office today as Isaac Cruz, was found lying on the sidewalk at the intersection with at least one stab wound to his chest, Esparza said.
Cruz was transported to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, Esparza said.
The San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office has been unable to confirm Cruz's city of residence.
According to a preliminary police investigation, Cruz had been engaged in a physical fight with five males, described only as men in their 20s, when one of them pulled out a knife and stabbed Cruz in his chest.
All five suspects fled the scene and have not yet been arrested, police said today.
Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to contact police anonymously at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip about it to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the start |
and relationships between American and South Sudanese officials frayed. Former Obama staffers say that the bulk of U.S. energy was devoted to preventing a return to war between Juba and Khartoum, and that little attention was paid to the dangers that lurked within South Sudan: the gaping internal divisions, dating back decades, that threatened to tear apart the new country’s two most important institutions, the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the army. By the time the horrific violence erupted in December 2013, the United States not only proved unable to push the country’s feuding leaders toward a peaceful compromise — it could not reach them for three full days.
Obama’s own Secretary of State hailed the Bush administration success, highlighting America’s pivotal role in South Sudan’s independence. The United States of America helped “midwife the birth of this new nation,” stated John Kerry.
Abandoning the country in its infancy has inevitably led to disastrous results. Savage gang rape and ethnic cleansing are now the new normal in South Sudan.
When ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced the formation of a caliphate in 2014, Obama casually strolled the grounds of the White House, brushing off the Islamist terror group as the “jayvee team.” By 2016, ISIS had colonized huge swaths of land in Iraq and Syria, sold thousands of women into sexual slavery, pushed dozens of gay men off of ten-story buildings, amputated the arms of falsely accused thieves, conducted or inspired terror attacks in the United States and Europe, reintroduced violent jihadism in key relatively secular cities of the Middle East, and recruited a new generation of young jihadists ready to give their lives for the cause of the caliphate.
When Obama eased restrictions on Cuba and reasserted a diplomatic relationship with the communist island nation, he refused to bring up the pressing issue of human rights, angering the ex-pat community in the United States.
As The Daily Wire reported, “In a sit-down with ABC News 'David Muir…when asked point blank if he would give [Raul] Castro the list [of political prisoners], Obama refused to respond directly, returning instead to his talking point about ending the embargo on the communist country.”
Like clockwork, the administration followed suit. A conveyer belt of White House officials, one after another, parroted the president, refusing to demand the release of Cuban political prisoners. Ben Rhodes, the former president’s deputy national security advisor, led the cavalry charge into the desperate depths of Obama oblivion. When pressed by a CNN reporter to comment on Castro’s intransigence, the deputy national security advisor provided an answer that only somebody with an MFA in Creative Writing could contrive:
I think the basic difference is the Cuban government’s rejection that they are not in prison for violating their laws and our belief that either their laws or practices again crack down on certain types of behavior that we believe should be allowed in every country. However there are still people we follow their cases, we raise their cases with the government, we share lists with the government and just as we raise concerns about short-term detention practices.
While Rhodes slightly recalibrated his response, from a callous and crude “they are in prison for various crimes and offenses against Cuban law” to a casual and convoluted “the basic difference is the Cuban government’s rejection that they are not in prison for violating their laws and our belief...certain types of behavior... should be allowed,” he still conceded that the administration had not been actively monitoring the human rights situation on the ground, namely the cases of political prisoners shipped off the Cuban detention centers.
Adding insult to injury, Obama chose to end the “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy that granted Cuban refugees and dissidents landing on U.S. soil the privilege of legal residency.
In a cynical play at diplomatic appeasement, Obama submitted to the Castro regime’s demands as part of his push to thaw relations with Cuba.
And finally, in the last month of his presidency, a gleeful Obama softened sanctions of terrorism-sponsor Sudan, turning a blind-eye to the brutality of the government in Khartoum.
It’s impossible to understate the chaos and depravity that President Obama presided over. Generations to come will look back at the Obama presidency with horror in an attempt to understand how the leader of the free world could have allowed this many human beings to suffer under his watch.A world language is spoken internationally and is learned and spoken by a large number of people as a second language. A world language is characterized not only by the total number of speakers (native and second language speakers), but also by its geographical distribution, as well as use in international organizations and diplomatic relations.[1][2] One of the most widely spoken and fastest spreading world languages today is English, which has over 980,000,000 first- and second-language users worldwide.[3]
Overview
Asian languages
Arabic
Arabic gained international prominence because of the medieval Islamic conquests and the subsequent Arabization of the Middle East and North Africa, and it is also a liturgical language amongst Muslim communities outside the Arab World.
Chinese
Standard Chinese is the direct replacement of Classical Chinese, which was a historical lingua franca in Far East Asia until the early 20th century, and today serves as a common language between speakers of other varieties of Chinese not only within China proper (between the Han Chinese and other unrelated ethnic groups), but in overseas Chinese communities. It is also widely taught as a second language internationally.
Indian languages
The major languages of the Indian subcontinent have numbers of speakers comparable to those of major world languages primarily due to the large population in the region rather than a supra-regional use of these languages, although Hindustani (including all Hindi dialects, and Urdu), Bengali and Tamil may fulfill the criteria in terms of supra-regional usage and international recognition.[citation needed] As an example, the native speaking population of Bengali vastly outnumber those who speak French as a first language, and it is one of the most spoken languages (ranking fifth[4] or sixth[5]) in the world with nearly 230 million total speakers, and is known for its long and rich literary tradition.
European languages
English
In addition to 370 million native speakers, English is estimated to have over 610 million second-language speakers,[3] including anywhere between 200 and 350 million learners/users in China alone,[6] at varying levels of study and proficiency, though this number is difficult to accurately assess.[7] English is also increasingly becoming the dominant language of scientific research and papers worldwide, having even outpaced national languages in Western European countries, including France, where a recent study showed that English has massively displaced French as the language of scientific research in "hard" as well as in applied sciences.[8]
French
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, French was the language of communication and diplomacy, and the favoured second language among the elite and the educated classes in Europe (including Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Ukraine) - as well as in many Middle East and North African countries such as Syria, Egypt, Ottoman Turkey and Iran. In addition, French enjoyed high status in some southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), and several South American ones like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. However, French has declined steadily since World War I, being gradually displaced by English - although in Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, French continues to be the favoured second language, as well as enjoying co-official status in Canada, Switzerland and Belgium. Moreover, French still remains one of the working languages of many international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO, European Union and NAFTA. French is the principal working language of the European Court of Justice. French is also internationally recognized to be of high linguistic prestige, still used in diplomacy and international commerce, as well as having a significant portion of second language speakers throughout the world.[9]
German
German served as a lingua franca in large portions of Europe for centuries, mainly the Holy Roman Empire and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It remains an important second language in much of Central and Eastern Europe, and in the international scientific community. It is the most widely spoken native language in the European Union as well as one of the three "procedural languages" of its institutions alongside English and French.[10] It is the second most commonly used language on websites worldwide after English.[11]
Russian
Russian is the largest native language in Europe, the most geographically widespread language in Eurasia,[12] one of the six official languages of the United Nations, one of two official languages aboard the International Space Station and the second most widespread language on the Internet after English.[13]
Russian was used in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, and its teaching was made compulsory in the Eastern Bloc countries. However, the use and teaching of Russian has declined sharply in both the former Eastern bloc and the near abroad since the break up of the Soviet Union and Russia’s deputy education minister was quoted as saying in December 2013 that the number of Russian speakers had fallen by 100 million since that date.[14][15][16] It is still widely spoken throughout the Caucasus, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and the Baltic states.
Spanish
Spanish is the world's second-most spoken native language, after Mandarin Chinese. Spanish was used in the Spanish Empire and today is in use in Spain, in Latin American countries (except Brazil, French Guyana, Suriname, Guiana, Haiti and other Caribbean islands), and is spoken in many parts of the United States, particularly in Florida and the states which border Mexico. Indeed, by 2013 Spanish was the most widely taught non-English language in American secondary schools and schools of higher education.[17] It is also an official language of the United Nations. As of December 2017 Spanish had the third largest number of internet users by language (after English and Chinese).[18]
History
Historical languages which had international significance as the lingua franca of a historical empire include Egyptian in Ancient Egypt; Sumerian, Akkadian and Aramaic in the various Mesopotamian civilizations and empires in the Ancient Near East; Ancient Greek in the Greek colonies in the form of various dialects, evolving to Koine Greek in the Hellenistic world, after the conquests of Alexander the Great and the Macedonian Empire, and subsequently in the eastern part of the Roman Empire and the territories of the Byzantine Empire; Latin in the Roman Empire and presently as the standard liturgical language for the Catholic faithful worldwide; Classical Chinese in East Asia during the Imperial era of Chinese history; Persian during the various succeeding Persian Empires, and once served as the second lingua franca of the Islamic World after Arabic;[19] Sanskrit during the ancient and medieval historical periods of various states in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, and like Latin an important liturgical language of the Vedic religions.
The Romance languages bear testimony to the role of Latin as the lingua franca of the Roman Empire; for example, Italian has always been important in the Mediterranean region, and nowadays it is the most-spoken language among members of the Roman catholic hierarchy and it is also used in music (especially Opera) and the fashion industry. Turkish was similarly important as the primary language of the Ottoman Empire. Koine Greek was the "world language" of the Hellenistic period, but its distribution is not reflected in the distribution of Modern Greek due to the linguistic impact of the Slavic, Arabic and Turkic expansions. The distribution of the Arabic and Turkic languages, in turn, are a legacy of the Caliphates and the Turkic Khaganate, respectively.
Just as all the living world languages owe their status to linguistic imperialism, the suggestion of a given language as a world language or "universal language" has strong political implications. Thus, Russian was declared the "world language of internationalism" in Soviet literature, which at the same time denounced French as the "language of fancy courtiers" and English as the "jargon of traders".[20] A number of international auxiliary languages have been introduced as prospective world languages, the most successful of them being Esperanto, but none were learned by as many people as the world languages were. Many natural languages have been proffered as candidates for a global lingua franca.[20]
Living world languages
Some sources[21][22] define a living world language as having the following properties:
Certain languages with greater than 100 million speakers, such as Japanese, are not listed. Japanese, although considered to be one of the most significant languages internationally, along with the listed world languages,[23] it is not considered a world language per se. Japan as a region is nearly homogeneous from ethnic, cultural and linguistic standpoints. Thus Japanese has little history as a lingua franca amongst communities who do not share a mother tongue or first language; their overseas communities are strongly tied to ethnicity. While international interest since the 1980s has prompted many major universities, secondary schools, and even primary schools worldwide to offer courses in the language, Japanese only exerts a regionally limited sphere of influence.[24]
Languages which are often considered world languages include:[1][25][26]
Other sources denote the following languages as world languages, whilst stricter sources list them as supra-regional languages:[2]
Other supra-regional languages
Other languages of supra-regional importance which fail some of the other criteria to be considered de facto world languages include:
See also
Notes
^α Ethnologue only lists "Standard German", thereby excluding Swiss German and numerous other varieties of German. Summing up Standard German as well as all undisputed German dialects/varieties (see ISO-list in infobox at German language) that are not listed under "Standard German" results in ca. 90 M native speakers. Furthermore, Ammon (2014)[44] points out that Ethnologue overestimates L2 speakers, thus underestimating L1 speakers, in Germany by 5M --> 95M L1 speakers.
ReferencesRecent attempts at campaign-directed cyber-attacks have raised red flags about just how vulnerable the upcoming U.S. election is to hackers.
With the FBI currently investigating alleged Russian efforts to undermine the Democratic Party through hacking attempts, how concerned should elections officials – and voters — be about the security of electronic voting procedures?
Vulnerabilities long before voting begins
One of the most obvious ways for a hacker to tamper with the election is to interfere with the way people actually cast their votes. The most vulnerable aspect of the voting process is the individual ballot, and the collection and tallying of those votes.
But in a digital world, far more is susceptible to tampering than the ballot itself. With digital tools integrated throughout the electoral process, from online voter registration, to information about when, where, and how to vote, to services for inquiries and complaints, potential weak spots show up long before anyone casts the first vote.
Gabriella Coleman, Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy at McGill University and author of the book Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many Faces of Anonymous, warned even poorly executed hacks can be successful. "There is a common hacker acronym FUD, which stands for fear, uncertainty, doubt. The idea is, if you seed enough doubt, it doesn't matter if the system has been hacked or not, because people won't trust the system."
Convenience versus concerns
Recent security breaches and attempted hacks have brought the ongoing debate over the security of electronic voting systems back to the forefront of public discourse, as U.S. officials weigh whether to designate elections as national critical infrastructure, a decision that would open up federal assistance to election officers around the country, according to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.
An electronic kiosk was used for voting in the U.K. as early as 2012. But does online voting make the election system more vulnerable to hacking. (Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty) In electronic systems, the potential for hacking is compounded, with opportunities for tampering from the manufacturing of the voting machines, to their ongoing maintenance, to the collection and counting of the actual votes.
"The vulnerabilities in these machines are astounding, well-established, and very frightening," Coleman said.
Just like a power grid, street light system, or the countless other networks that our cities run on, the distributed nature of the process presents increased opportunities for security breaches and interception.
Technology to influence voting
With the rise of new technologies there is potential for individuals, governments, terrorist groups or hackers to use internet-based tools strategically to leak sensitive documents, collect private information and influence voter opinion and sentiment.
A recent Bloomberg exposé featured a South American political hacker who engaged for a decade in what he calls "psychological operations." In the article he explains how he created software to manage and direct an army of fake Twitter accounts. He could change the names, profile pictures, and biographies of thousands of fake accounts to suit his particular needs at the time, using those virtual crowds to sway trends and public opinion.
"When I realized that people believe what the internet says more than reality, I discovered that I had the power to make people believe almost anything," says the profiled hacker. Andrés Sepúlveda.
So how likely is it, really?
It's easy to think that the electoral process is "too big to fail," but just look at recent examples of large entities that have been hacked. Ashley Madison was hacked, despite their promises that user accounts were secure. They were even selling an added layer of security, showing we can't always trust what is promised.
What we learned from the leaked Panama Papers, months later, is that even the biggest companies with the most at stake in keeping valuable personal information private, aren't necessarily looking after cyber security.
Hacks are often the result of vulnerabilities that can be exploited, and often, those vulnerabilities are a result of outdated software.
What next?
Bruce McConnell, former deputy undersecretary for cybersecurity for the Department of Homeland Security, recently recommended that the agency issue a security alert warning election officials of potential vulnerabilities in their voting systems and machines, advising them of the importance of a paper trail, and calling on the manufacturers of voting machines to publish the results of independent audits and tests.
U.S. elections are locally run, with thousands of different systems and varying degrees of security. But in this case, the bad news is also the good news. As Coleman explains, "In a closed election, a technical hack can make all the difference, hacking in would hack the whole system. In the U.S. voting is very decentralized, which means a hack to the system wouldn't hack the whole system, so it would be hard to massively undermine it. That said, because it has been a close race, one state might be enough."The importance of fact-checking for journalists
Why it's important to check facts
Journalism is about finding facts, interpreting their importance, and then sharing that information with the audience. That's all journalists do: find, verify, enrich and then disseminate information.
Why fact-checking matters
It sounds easy, doesn't it, observing what is going on, asking questions, uncovering facts and then telling the public what we have discovered.
But we are dealing with volatile raw material. Handled carelessly, the facts we uncover, research and present have the power to cause misunderstandings, damage and could, potentially, change the course of history.
That's why it's essential that we apply robust fact-checking to all our journalism. This is the process that distinguishes facts from rumour and gossip, spin from substance, and often reveals what some would prefer to keep hidden.
The following is a checklist that all journalists might want to follow if they are to play an effective role in informing the public debate.
1: Are you preventing thorough fact-checking?
The first obstacle to accurate fact-checking could be you. Do you have a vested interest in the topic, as opposed to a genuine journalistic interest?
Are you investigating the situation because you have a desired outcome in mind? Are you trying to make the facts fit a headline you have already prepared in your head?
If so, you may have compromised your objectivity which will make it difficult to produce a piece of journalism that is strictly factual.
Of course, there will always be causes close to your heart that matter to you as an individual, but you must not let this influence your work.
2: The two reliable sources rule
Most media organisations have a rule that all facts should be confirmed by two reliable sources.
Often the wires will be counted as one source. The journalist then has to find another source that is willing to go on record to verify the information.
Ideally, you should be able to attribute the information found to that named source. Sometimes, because of legal reasons, privacy issues or the likelihood of danger, it is not advisable to name sources. In such cases you need to be sure that your source is trustworthy.
You will need to be able to convince your editor that the source is legitimate and the information the source is sharing is correct.
3: Don't rely on the news wires, they could be wrong
Some media organisations simply copy and paste wires stories. That's fine; media organisations pay a lot of money for wires feeds. However, the wires will sometimes get it wrong and issue retractions.
You don't want to have to apologise to your audience for having blindly copied and pasted unverified information. If you do, you may have let your audience down and you will have reduced the standing of your media organisation, and yourself, in the minds of those who had previously turned to you for verified and reliable information.
4: Who can a journalist trust?
Well, the truth is, nobody. A journalist must never accept what they are told without scrutinising the information.
Journalists should take a sceptical view of every piece of information shared with them. They should not blindly trust contacts – even if those contacts have proved reliable in the past.
This could lead to a cosy relationship that results in you dropping your guard, compromising your standards and publishing or broadcasting incomplete or unreliable information.
5: Breaking news, attribution and qualification
There will be times when you break the two-sources rule.
There may be breaking news on the wires and, although you are unable to confirm the information, you have evidence that it has happened and want to get the news out quickly.
This will be a senior editorial call. In those cases you will add the words "according to the wires" or something similar. You also may want to qualify the information by saying "we have not yet been able to confirm the reports" or similar words.
There are other exceptions.
When I worked on my first newspaper we would do the daily calls to the police, fire and ambulance services. They would read the list of incidents that had taken place since the last call. We would then seek out witnesses, neighbours etc before publishing.
When I moved to local radio we had hourly news deadlines. We would call the emergency services from the newsroom and broadcast with attribution and qualification, such as ‘"police are reporting that", or "according to police."
However, for big stories we would always seek confirmation either by sending a reporter to the scene or calling victims or those affected.
6: Stakeholder influences and sources
A journalist is bombarded with facts and so-called facts. These come from a wide variety of sources; stakeholders, contacts, the journalist's own research and digging.
Whatever the source, whether it is a previously reliable contact, a trusted friend, or a figure in authority, the same rigour needs to be applied to all fact-checking.
Senior colleagues:
Did your editor or a senior editorial figure push this story? If so, why? What was their reason? Don't presume that a story is legitimate just because it has been handed down to you to follow up.
News releases:
Did the information come from a news release? If so, what is it that the publisher wants to promote or hide? Your job is to reflect all sides of the story.
Wires:
Why did the news agency pick up on that particular point? What's the reason for putting it out? Did they just regurgitate a press release? You need to uncover all relevant angles to the story.
General public:
Did you get this information directly from a contact? Are they reliable? Are you sure that you are not being used? Could you be too close to them? Have you worked with this contact before? Did you deal with them with integrity? Could they be expecting favours? If so, what did you do to lead them to believe that you could be manipulated?
Yourself:
Sometimes you, the journalist, can be the biggest obstacle to the delivery of reliable information. Be honest about your interests, weaknesses, favouritisms - you may think you are beyond reproach, but if you do have a vested interest it will show through to the audience.
Your job is to deliver facts to your audience so they can make informed choices. If you deliver lies or distorted facts, you are adding to the confusion rather than clarifying issues. That is not journalism. Accuracy in our fact-checking is at the heart of all we do.
Being manipulated and not realising it is the biggest danger to fact-checking
Image courtesy of machineproject and released under Creative CommonsIn the end, are guns what killed CNN’s “Piers Morgan Live”?
The show, hosted by anti-gun crusader Morgan, continues to struggle in the Nielsens. And this month, the start of the Michael Dunn loud-music murder trial in Florida has put the issue of gun control back in the forefront. February has also produced six of the show’s smallest 10 audiences since it bowed in January 2011.
Tuesday’s telecast, which included coverage of the uprisings in Kiev and an interview with Rudy Giuliani, drew the show’s second smallest audience to date in the key news demo of adults 25-54 (50,000). It also drew just 270,000 total viewers, according to Nielsen, the show’s ninth smallest gathering ever.
“Piers Morgan Live” has fallen below the 300,000-viewer mark on seven other occasions in February. And while the Winter Olympics on NBC may be to blame for some of the audience loss this month, “Piers Morgan” is drawing just a fraction of the audience attracted by competing shows on CNN and MSNBC.
Opposite “Piers Morgan” on Tuesday, “The Kelly File” on Fox News Channel drew 2.07 million viewers (including 354,000 adults 25-54) while MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” attracted 906,000 (including 227,000 in the demo).
Related Altice Aims to Carve Out Niche in Cable With Global-Themed i24News Coast Guard Lieutenant Targeted CNN, MSNBC Anchors and Democrats for Attacks
“Piers Morgan Live” isn’t CNN’s only problem in primetime, of course, as the entire lineup has struggled and CNN topper Jeff Zucker has promised that 2014 would be a year of “shake up.” On Tuesday from 8 to 11 p.m., the network averaged just 64,000 adults 25-54 — not far from its all-time low of 57,000 in May 2000.
Morgan has long been an outspoken critic of U.S. gun laws, but the drumbeat has grown louder in the two years since George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin. On his CNN show in December 2012, Morgan got into a heated exchange with gun-rights activist Larry Pratt, asking at one point: “You’re an unbelievably stupid man, aren’t you?”
There’s no way to quantify how much of a factor the discussion of gun control on “Piers Morgan Live” has contributed to its ratings (which were never all that great to begin with), but the show’s numbers have fallen more sharply since it became a frequent subject on the show.
Monday’s installment included discussion of the Dunn murder trial and Zimmerman’s assertion in a CNN interview with Chris Cuomo earlier that day that he was a victim.
HLN host Nancy Grace was among the guests, and she didn’t want to hear more gun-control talk from Morgan.
“Are you back on gun control again?” she asked. “If it weren’t for the British, we wouldn’t even have to have protections to carry guns. It was the British way back when they founded America. They were running through all of our homes trying to take our stuff. So we’re protected under the Constitution.
“So it’s not really right for a Brit to jump up and start talking to us about gun control.”
Morgan said he vehemently disagreed, but after a moment’s pause, he said: “Let’s not talk about gun control because Nancy’s made her statement and I was riposted.”
On Tuesday, an interview with Giuliani touched on several subjects but closed on the issue of guns, with Morgan bemoaning that “all the time now, in America, we’re hearing of this casual loss of life through guns. At what point does the gun itself not become a major issue?”
Wednesday’s hour, which featured Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Gayle King talking about the science of loneliness and its possible correlation to violence, grew to 345,000 viewers. The word “gun” wasn’t uttered once, according to a CNN transcript of the program.Today Secretary of Defense James Mattis addressed the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in Washington, DC. AUSA is a private association that is sort of the Army’s lobbying and public relations arm. (Full disclosure: I was a member for quite a few years and ran in the Army 10-Miler that always precedes the annual meeting. My best time was 60:03 and it ain’t bragging if you can do it.)
I’m including the entire speech below for a couple of reasons. First, I like Mattis and the Army will always be my first love. Having them both together was wonderful. If you want to see the mutual respect and affection there, just watch the introduction. Mattis served with the current Army leadership in combat, he commanded some of them in combat, and if you want to see how to handle an introduction to a speech you could do much worse than watching this.
For what follows, I’m relying on a much shorter clip:
The key theme Mattis focuses on is readiness and he uses T. R. Fehrenbach’s This Kind of War as a central focus. This Kind of War is about the US Army in Korea. It isn’t all in vogue with modern historians because of its lack of LBGTQ characters, it ignores intersectionality, it definitely isn’t woke, and it doesn’t see war as anything but what it is, which is the very dirty realization of Clausewitz’s dictum that war is merely political intercourse carried on by different means. Mattis uses this quote:
Inside the Army, Fehrenbach is most famous for his description of the cost of poor readiness in the parable that is the saga of the destruction of Task Force Smith, the first US Army unit to arrive in Korea after the North Korean invasion.
He followed this quote up by saying
We want to be so ready, and be very much aware that we fight the way we come, that everybody in the world wants to deal with SecState Tillerson and the Department of State and not with the Department of Defense and the United States Army.
(we will pause now for a short cigarette break.)
At the end there is a Q&A session and the last question is on Korea. You really need to watch the whole thing to get a flavor for what he’s saying.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Monday urged military leaders “to be ready” with military options for President Donald Trump to deal with North Korea should diplomacy fail — after Trump reprimanded his top brass last week for not providing him contingency plans quickly enough.
“Right now it is a diplomatically led, economic sanctions-buttressed effort to try to turn North Korea off this path,” Mattis said following a speech at the annual convention of the Association of the United States Army in Washington. “Now, what does the future hold? Neither you nor I can say, so there’s one thing the U.S. Army can do, and that is we have got to be ready to ensure that we have military options that our president can employ if needed.”
…
“How many times have you seen the UN Security Council vote unanimously, now twice if a row, to impose sanctions on North Korea?” he asked. “The international community has spoken, but that means the U.S. Army must stand ready.” During his speech Monday Mattis also referred to a history of early U.S. Army failures during the Korean War in the 1950s, T.R. Fehrenbach’s “This Kind of War.” The book is a cult classic in some parts of officer corps – and a cautionary tale about military action on the Korean peninsula. Fielding the question on how to avoid a new war in Korea, Mattis brought up the book again. “You know there’s a reason I recommended T.R. Fehrenbach’s book, that we all pull it out and read it one more time.”Sam Barlow has one of the most impressive CVs in gaming. By my reckoning, he only has six releases to his name but two of those games are comfortably inside my list of all-time favourites – the experimental interactive fiction of Aisle and the masterful Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. The latter might never come to PC but hopefully it’ll arrive in digital download form on the Wii U’s eShop sooner rather than later.
Barlow’s next game, Her Story, has elements of true crime, police procedural and confessional monologue. During a sprawling conversation last week, we discussed how it continues to play with interactive storytelling techniques, and how it has as much in common with Alan Bennett as True Detective.
When I came to transcribe the interview, which ran for nearly three hours, I realised that the first question I asked wasn’t answered until the end. In a nod to the game’s own fragmented monologue, I’ve rearranged Barlow’s replies under single word headings, which explain what the game is and how it works, by way of a story about therapy, family and falsehoods. The headings also conveniently break a long piece into digestible portions. Settle down with a beverage and read on.
Question
RPS: I’ll ask the really boring, easy question first – can you describe what Her Story is?
Barlow: That’s actually the hard question!
Murder
Barlow: At it’s core it’s a game about a single case, a murder, and what’s different about it is that rather than taking the direction that other crime and detective games take of having you embody the detective and wander around, doing lots of gamey stuff, with the trappings of a police procedural – I’ve gone off on an extreme and created something where you have a lot less of the gamey stuff. Almost to the point of having none of it. I’ve abstracted things but this, in theory, gives you a much greater sense of the feeling of being a detective and, for me, fires a lot of stuff off in the brain that you get from that kind of police procedural material.
If you think of where Gone Home took Bioshock, potentially just removing the shooty bits but keeping everything else. It became this thing that some people don’t think is a game, but it clearly is. Obviously the focus there is on the subject matter. This is similar. If you think of something like the Phoenix Wright games where you talk to subjects, study the facts of the crime and look for contradictions, Her Story is a little like that. But with PW, it’s a scripted thing with the kind of gaming mechanics that we’re familiar with, walking to locations and choosing dialogue options.
I’ve stripped a lot of that stuff back to focus on the core experience of listening to the testimony of this woman in several interviews and as a player, pulling all that together to try and get an understanding of what’s really going on.
Interface
Barlow: I guess it belongs to the genre that I call the Desktop Thriller. In the late eighties and early nineties there were a few games like this. The Fourth Protocol, The Thirteenth Floor, The Vera Cruz Affair. These oldschool games – the interface was literally you sat at your desk, with the interface being lots of paperwork or a book or computer interface.
There’s a fantastic game called Portal from 1986 that Activision did. You’re an astronaut and you land on Earth and everybody’s gone or dead, and you find an old computer terminal. And it’s all broken so you can’t use the crazy voice-activated holographic touch interface, you have to use an old keyboard. That’s the excuse for it being a CGA PC interface.
That entire game, you’re interacting with this old computer system, going through a database, speaking to an AI and discovering what happened on Earth.
Her Story is part of that genre. The whole thing takes place through a fake computer screen. You’re essentially sat at a crappy old mothballed computer in a police archive room, going through this database that contains footage of this crime from 1994.
When I first started it wasn’t necessarily as minimalist as it is now. I kind of had it in my head that it could have more overt gamey aspects. The more I worked on it, the more I moved away from that, but the core interaction you have at the moment is extremely simple, extremely minimal. But it does open up interesting experiences.
The way this database works is that all the footage that existed on these tapes was digitised and stuck on a database, and they’ve got each statement that the woman makes as a separate clip. The questions by the detective were stored elsewhere and are either lost or stored elsewhere, still locked down.
The computer has run through the videos and used a speech recognition algorithm to take down all of the statements that the woman has made as metadata in the search database. So you can type in anything to search through the statements – so if you type in ‘Apple’, you’ll get the statement where she says she made an apple pie, and the one where she says her laptop is made by Apple Computers. Any use of that word, no matter what the context might be.
In that sense, it’s extremely simple. You’re essentially googling her testimony. But what that means is that you get this interesting relationship whereby you’re using her words as the means to explore her words. It’s a combination of the old Ultima games with the conversation system where you’re typing in nouns or whatever, but that felt like talking to a robot.
RPS: You were always looking for new words that you could use. Looking for keywords that are threads to pull on.
Barlow: You might use very mundane words, or ones that have multiple possible meanings, to attempt a scattershot approach, guessing. Or you might use very specific words to follow up on something that’s mentioned, trying to work out where a particular story goes. If you use abstract words that deal with emotions, that might bring up several different threads.
Simulation
RPS: I love that kind of interface. Uplink does something similar, which I wrote about recently. It’s the most directly immersive form of first-person gaming in a way, because the character’s body is almost exactly positioned in the way that the player’s body is.
Barlow: That gets to a tension that I always feel when I’m doing stuff. When I first got into games, I wanted to make things like the traditional Looking Glass games, the first-person immersive sims. Those games were all about making you |
to him joining the Squad is the fact that we could see him attempting to call Waller’s bluff and force her to flip the kill switch. Well, that and the fact that Harley might fall for him while her Mr. J. is away, but we’re sure the Joker will be fine with it, right?
14 The Master
If Knowledge is power, then Doctor Who’s Master (or Missy) might be the most valuable prize on this list. Even if we assume that he doesn’t have access to a TARDIS and isn’t able to help ARGUS create one, his knowledge alone would make him an invaluable asset. Time travel itself isn’t too uncommon a thing in the DCU, but it’s mostly used as a plot device. There aren’t many characters who are focused solely on time travel; the Master’s knowledge of future events could prove useful. Even if we take things a step further and assume the Master, for whatever reason, has no knowledge of future events that could be useful to ARGUS, the technology and science of the Time Lords would still be an invaluable asset to Waller’s team. A single sonic (or laser) screwdriver would render all non-wooden security systems useless.
13 Agent 47
Utterly obedient, remorseless and deadly, genetically modified clones make for the perfect soldiers and assassins - at least until they turn on you, as Agent 47 did. The protagonist of the Hitman series of games is one of gaming’s most iconic and lethal assassins responsible for dozens of kills over the course of his career. Agent 47 was trained to be the perfect killer, before putting those perfected killing skills to use by killing the man who created him. It’s cool, though, because the guy totally had it coming.
Plenty of people on this list are capable of killing, but Agent 47 is unique in that he was trained not as a soldier, but as an assassin and infiltrator. Most of the time, Task Force X operates as, well, a squad, but there are times when sending in a single agent might be better than an entire team. It’s in those lone wolf scenarios that Agent 47 shines.
12 Jorg Ancrath
The entire premise of the Suicide Squad is that it’s made up of very bad people who can do a bit of good and Jorg Ancrath might very well the be the worst person on this list. As a child he saw his brother and mother murdered by his family’s political rivals and swore revenge by any means necessary. Some of those means include setting off a nuke, leading a band of murderous thieves, and accidental necromancy.
Like we said, the protagonist of the Broken Empire trilogy is not a nice man, but he’d be a great asset for Waller’s team. Jorg is a skilled fighter and has minor affinity for magic, but his real strength lies in his cunning. He’s shown to be skilled at manipulating others and despite his temper and ruthlessness, he’s able to win the respect and grudging admiration of many people.
11 The Terminator
Every team needs a reprogramed murder robot from the future and when it comes to time travelling murder robots you can’t beat the original TX-800. Incredibly strong, durable and armed capable of wielding variety of firearms, the TX-800 is the perfect weapon. In addition to being a perfect frontline soldier, the Tx-800’s ability to look human makes it useful for infiltration. Of course as anyone who saw Terminator 2 knows, despite its human appearance the TX-800 does a rather poor job of imitating human behavior so it would would work better as an assassin than a spy. Aside from it’s awesome destructive potential, the Terminator has a couple of other advantages due it’s robotic nature. For starters, it will never tire like human agents will and since it’s a machine there’s no danger of it going rogue. Of course, since it’s a machine it can also be reprogrammed, but it’s still probably a safer bet than relying on Harley Quinn.
10 Lisbeth Salander
When forming a covert black ops team, it’s important to make sure it’s well-balanced. I mean you can have the best fighters in the world, but if they can’t get past a locked door or access the data you send them after, then they’re kind of useless. Okay well not completely useless, but they’d be a lot more useful if they knew how to use a computer. That’s where Lisbeth Salander comes in. Made famous by the the Millennium trilogy and the 2011 movie The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Salander doesn’t have the raw power of some of the others on this list, but she’s a brilliant hacker and could serve as an Oracle type figure playing a similar role that to the Suicide Squad that Barbara Gordon did for the Bat-family. While ARGUS does have plenty of hackers and computer security experts at their disposal having Salander on the Squad would give them someone they could use in the field without risking their own agents.
9 Gru
The main character of Despicable Me is a bit of an odd choice on this list, but the man is a supervillain and in a lot of ways he’s the closest thing to a comic book villain that appears on this list, though admittedly he’s a bit closer to the silver age style than anything else. Plus he has access to a ton of weapons and inventions that would make him an interesting fit for the team. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t want to see Deadshot outfitted with weapons from Gru’s lab? Besides, it’s not like this would be the first time Gru has been forced to work for the “good guys” against his will.
As an added bonus, he could even bring his army of loyal, but incredibly incompetent followers. Though, honestly now that we think about it, we simply can’t get the image of a bunch of minions swarming ARGUS headquarters out of our head. The sheer frustration on Waller’s face at that thought is enough to make us put him - and his Minions - on this list.
8 Alex
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most influential novels of all time. The movie of the same name is considered a classic and one of director Stanley Kubrick's best films. The story follows Alex, a violent sociopath living in dystopian England. Without giving away too many details, Alex is a cunning, violent and very dangerous man. In the novel and film, the government attempts to use an experimental treatment to reform him, but we imagine Waller might have other ideas in mind.
Alex has no formal training or special powers, but his violent and cunning nature would make him an unpredictable and dangerous opponent. On the other hand, even with a kill switch on his person, there’s always the risk of Alex going off rogue. He wouldn’t get very far, but he could probably ruin a mission before they had time to take him out so that’s definitely something to consider.
7 Jacobim Mugatu
This is one of the more odd entries on this list, but, as we mentioned in the introduction, we’re trying to look at these characters as individuals and place less of a focus on the tone of the franchise that they originated in since we wanted to explore possibilities outside of comic books. That being said, the entire plot of Zoolander does kind of read like a comic from the silver age. We could totally see silver age Lex Luthor trying to brainwash someone into attempting to kill a business rival.
Despite the tone of the Zoolander films, Mugatu was competent enough to come up with the idea brainwashing a fashion model and turning them into an assassin. If nothing else that alone could make him a useful tool. Instead of sending him out into the field, simply use him to help brainwash more competent people into being assassins. This, of course, assumes Mugatu is being overseen by someone a bit more competent.
6 Deadly Viper Assassination Squad
We debated only picking a single member of this team, but eventually decided that it would be a disservice to the Kill Bill to only pick one so we decided to go with the whole team. The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad is already a perfect fit for the Suicide Squad. ARGUS wouldn’t even need to add any additional members or provide training. Even within the confines of the DCU, they are dangerous enough to hold their own against past incarnations of the Squad. Sure, they wouldn’t be much of a match for the Justice League, but despite Waller’s words in the recent trailer, no version of the Suicide Squad is going to stop Superman from doing anything. Working for ARGUS wouldn’t be too different from what the Vipers do on a daily basis anyway aside from a loss of freedom, but that is the entire point of the Suicide Squad.
5 Spike
William the Bloody, better known as Spike for his preferred method of execution, is one of the most dangerous vampires to appear in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While most vampires, at least those that are long-lived, tend to avoid Slayers, Spike has actually killed two of them. Not only did he kill kill them, he even sought them out himself. Despite his impressive strength and combat skills, there are couple of problems with Spike joining the Squad.
His temper and inability to follow orders won’t be a problem considering none of the Squad is there willingly, but there are other issues. As a vampire, he has a nasty habit of bursting into flame if he’s touched by sunlight so he’d be limited strictly to night missions. The far more annoying problem would be the fact that he can’t enter buildings without permission. The show normally implies that this weakness is only limited to homes, but they also specifically mention a loophole when Angel enters Sunnydale High so the rules aren’t entirely clear.
4 1. Walter White
Even though he’s more than capable of holding his own in a fight, Walter White is probably not going to be rushing headlong into gunfire. He’s smart enough that he’ll talk Killer Croc into doing that for him while he runs things from somewhere a bit safer. In fact, White probably wouldn’t be taking part in too many firefights, if he could avoid them, but he would be a good strategist for the team. The mission goals and a basic plan would probably be laid out by someone within ARGUS, but they would need someone to make plans and give orders when things go wrong and White could serve well in that role. It’s true he lacks military experience, but he’s shown himself to be intelligent and adaptable enough to forge his his own drug empire so with a bit of training he could be a useful tool for the Suicide Squad. Plus, we’re insanely curious to see what he could cook up if given access to ARGUS’s labs.
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124 Aug 2012
Diner en Blanc will be taking place next Thursday at a secret location and even though there has been a lot of positive buzz and general excitement, I am somewhat disturbed upon finding out that fellow blogger Daniel from DanielFoodDiary.com has been asked to modify remove his blog post in which he has suggested some local food (which are white, to suit the all-white theme of this event) to bring. Specifically, his suggestion of soybean pudding aka tau huay is deemed by Diner en Blanc organizers to be “not up to par” with the event’s upscale nature.
Whoa. Are they implying that tau huay is too low class to bring to and be eaten at Diner en Blanc?! There has got to be a misunderstanding and some serious miscommunication here.
What is tau huay?
It is soybean pudding. I dare say it is the Asian equivalent to panna cotta, but it is made from soy milk that has been curdled and processed to yield its gelatinous texture. Tau huay is eaten as a dessert, traditionally served warm with boiled peanuts and ginger simple syrup, or chilled like a pudding. Tau huay is a very modest dessert that has a long history in Chinese culture and back in the days, it was sold by food vendors traveling on foot or bicycle. In modern Singapore context today it is sold in many hawker centers. The most notable hawker stall vendor of late in Singapore who has popularized this well-loved dessert for the younger consumers is Lao Ban Dou Hua and it has been so well-received that one should expect a very long queue outside the stall just to buy a serving of this delicate, mildly sweet, protein-packed dessert.
I understand that the organizers of Diner en Blanc reserve the right in keeping the event classy, and due to its humble nature, tau huay might have been seen as an inappropriate food item to be present at the elegant mass picnic. But I personally feel that there is no logical justification to classify a food item as low class and therefore banning it from the event. Given that Singapore is the first Asian city to be hosting such a grand public party and the event itself is a mass gathering of people who celebrate food, I am of the opinion that all the more local food with heritage and cultural value should be regarded with respect and appreciation.
I am a lover of food and I don’t believe that anyone should impose a class system on what we consume. We eat food that we enjoy eating, regardless of how much it costs or our social status. No matter how wealthy we are and how much we can afford, take for example when we are sick and not feeling well, the food we Asians usually go for is a bowl of congee (simple rice soup made of rice grains and water simmered over low heat; incidentally also a white food item). We enjoy it because it is simple, meaningful, and it makes us feel better. There is nothing wrong with that and I don’t see how congee, again as an example, would be considered low class just because of its humble nature. Sure, you can dress it up with fancy fixings such as scallops or premium fish slices, whatever… And in the case of tau huay, it can be served in a pretty ramekin, crystal goblet or whatever. It is up to you and your preference, but my point is it would be wrong to classify it as low class. Or any class, really. To be able to sink our teeth into any food that we emotionally connect to, be it simple tau huay or fancy congee, as long as we enjoy and respect the food that we eat, this is a blessing not to be taken for granted. I can eat foie gras with a shiny silver fork in a swanky Michelin-starred restaurant or be gnawing on scraps of duck meat off a bone with my hands at some dingy nightmarket… Who are you, or anyone, to say that one food is of a higher or lower class than the other? They are all equally delicious to me and I enjoy eating them, so there. Ghetto-fabulous, baby. Don’t slam the food, please.
Back to Diner en Blanc. I think the organizers have already set the ground rules as to how food should be presented during the event, by stating that attendants should not be eating food off paper plates and such. That I understand, as there is a certain image of exclusivity and elegance that Diner en Blanc wishes to convey and I am all for it. This is not a nightmarket or street festival after all. Being a visual creative type and a branding professional, I 100% agree that presentation and desired event theme must always be cohesive and kept consistent as much as possible, yes. But it is unclear why certain food items are allowed or not allowed at Diner en Blanc, and the way some are class-ified as “low class” sounds condescending to me. Sadly, there hasn’t been any clarification from the organizers. The debate is no longer about food, but about whether the line of cultural respect has been crossed.
I have been informed that the latest development in this incident involving Daniel’s blog post is that the organizers have decided to uninvite all bloggers from the event. From what I heard, the Diner en Blanc organizers feel that there is little value in inviting bloggers because they do not regard social media influencers to be that influential anyway. Everyone on the social media invitation list, specifically bloggers, has been nixed. Except for me. (._.)”
Whaaaaaaaatttt??? Uhm, I… I…
Tsk, I have been singled out as the only blogger who can attend Diner en Blanc. AIYAH! Am I supposed to be happy and feel privileged that the organizers regard me/my blog as “high class” and I have somehow made the cut to attend the event while the rest of invited bloggers got dissed? Right from the very beginning, I am thankful for the invitation and still genuinely flattered by the organizers’ high regard towards me (they have very kindly publicised and linked my Pinterest board to this event on the Diner en Blanc Singapore Facebook page— merci bien; Diner en Blanc London has also been repinning my pins, hi guys and thank you!). I am excited about this event and for the opportunity to experience such a grand occasion in Singapore. However, in regards to the tau huay blog post incident, there is something about the way this matter is being handled as well as certain principles that do not sit quite right with me. Attending Diner en Blanc as a sole blogger, after knowing that others are no longer invited, puts me in an extremely awkward position. And even though I am generally a neutral person who minds her own business, I am compelled to put in my two cents regarding this matter and sorry, I must decline this invitation discrimination.
My blog bio reads:
An influencer on style and well-being of today’s modern woman, Moonberry faithfully journals on chic, glamorous, luxe yet unpretentious living with authenticity and substance. The Moonberry Blog, winner of the 2011 Singapore Blog Awards (Best Beauty Blog) is a candid lifestyle blog on art & design, fashion & style, food & travel, beauty & wellness, with a dash of sass coz ya know, once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker.
Uh huh, I love all the good things in life. The chic, the glam, the luxe. The bling-blangin’ baubbles, the trendy designer wares, the exotic vacations, the couture dresses, the penthouse apartment, etc. I have also had the good fortune to spend my formative adult years in a hip-and-happening metropolis called New York City — big city, bright lights — and acquired many valuable life experiences (read: not over the top certainly, but I’ve gotten by just fine and dandy for many, many years). People usually don’t understand what I mean when I say we should all strive to live authentically and this is what I mean: No matter what lifestyle you choose (which generally is a good comfortable one for most people; hey, who are we kidding here?), just remember to take a step back from time to time, be grounded and have some empathy towards those who may not have the same good fortune as you. I frown upon those who live pretentiously, and get so seduced by the glitz and glamour that they forget about the real world. The real world as in, beauty and happiness are not neccesarily defined by monetary currency or material acquisitions. Doesn’t matter whether you are born with a silver spoon or you’ve busted ass working your way up. Be humble, be kind, be generous as much as you can – especially the more well-off and comfortable you are in life.
So in summary:
1. I feel that this tau huay matter is attributed to a grave miscommunication and to a very large extent, a cultural misunderstanding, which can be resolved amicably and not tarnish the joyful intent of this event. Daniel is a Singaporean blogger who is passionate about food and he freely shares his gastronomical experiences with the public. I know that many readers find his blog to be a useful reference online on what and where to eat in Singapore. He has made a list of suggested white-colored local Singaporean food to bring to the event out of good intention (and to celebrate Singaporean food culture proudly), certainly it was not meant to “cheapen” the Diner en Blanc event.
2. It is a shame to exclude Daniel as well as other bloggers from Diner en Blanc Singapore because of a misunderstanding like this. Having lived both overseas and presently in Singapore, having a long history in (plus personal and professional interest towards) social media and online marketing, I can affirm that social media in Singapore is extremely different than how it is anywhere else in the world. It is not wise to undermine the broad reach and dismiss the influence of social media in this country. Many smart local marketers have long jumped on this bandwagon reaping social media’s benefits and advantages to give their marketing initiatives an edge in order to get one step ahead of their competitors.
With all that said, what are your thoughts on this incident?
Tau huay too low class for an upscale event such as Diner en Blanc = a cultural blasphemy?
Singapore bloggers are not to be taken seriously because they do not have adequate social media influence… agree or disagree?
Peace out,
MB.
Image source: Panna Cotta, Dou Hua.
PS: I know I don’t usually write such a long wordy post and readers of this blog are generally more accustomed (maybe even prefer) my posts with pretty photos and whatnot, but I do live by certain principles and people who know me well in real life aren’t strangers to me expression my opinions vocally. If you have taken the time to read every single word I’ve written in this post, thank you very much and I hope I haven’t scared anyone off. If I have, well…. too effin’ bad! Heh. Keep. It. Real.
UPDATE: I have been booted off the Diner en Blanc guestlist as well, so I am now also officially UNINVITED from the event. C’est la vie!OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Jun 12, 2017 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Triggers 10% Royalty on Product License Revenues In Addition to Existing Net Income Royalty
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 12, 2017) - CannaRoyalty Corp. (cse:CRZ)(cse:CRZ.CN)(cnsx:CRZ)(otcqx:CNNRF) ("CannaRoyalty" or the "Company") announced today the Company's investee Natural Ventures PR, LLC ("Natural Ventures") has launched CR Brands in Puerto Rico, one of the fastest growing medical cannabis markets in North America. This represents another example of CR Brands executing its previously announced strategy to expand through its distribution channels through North America, as discussed further below.
Under license from CannaRoyalty, Natural Ventures has begun the manufacture and distribution of CR Brands in Puerto Rico, starting with Soul Sugar Kitchen™ gourmet-edibles and GreenRock Botanicals™, premium vape pens.
Soul Sugar Kitchen has developed a line of award winning gourmet cannabis edibles include truffles, peanut butter cups, savory mixes and jellies. GreenRock Botanicals™, premium vape pens offer a high quality vaporizing experience servicing discerning cannabis patients, emphasizing ease of use, sleek hardware design, and consistent performance.
Natural Ventures is Puerto Rico's largest licensed cultivation, manufacturer and distributor with an impressive 100,000 square foot indoor cultivation facility. Natural Ventures is also one of only two companies in Puerto Rico that has received a manufacturer's license for its 30,000 sq ft full state of the art labs for processing, testing and distribution. Natural Ventures has full market distribution and is currently selling to every active dispensary in Puerto Rico.
In addition to a 10-year 2.5% financing royalty on Natural Ventures's net profits, CannaRoyalty also earns a further 10% licensing royalty on gross revenues generated from products licensed by Natural Ventures from CannaRoyalty for the Puerto Rican market.
"The launch of key products from CR Brands into the attractive Puerto Rican medical cannabis market is a strong demonstration of our CR Brands expansion strategy. It leads to product licensing revenues and assists our investee, Natural Ventures, expand its product offering in this high growth market which we also benefit from through our net income royalty," said Marc Lustig, CEO of CannaRoyalty.
"They just get it," said Edgar Montero, CEO of Natural Ventures. "We are thrilled about expanding our relationship with CannaRoyalty by launching a number of products from the CR Brands portfolio. Initial reaction from leading dispensaries has been very positive as both Puerto Rico and the Caribbean have not been exposed to such a breadth of quality products. Beyond the products, we are able to benefit from CannaRoyalty's professional branding, marketing and support, which we believe is best in class. We are confident that with CannaRoyalty now having an incentive on both top line success and net profits, this will further align our organizations to capitalize on the exceptional Puerto Rican medical cannabis market opportunity."
The U.S. island territory of Puerto Rico legalized medical cannabis for qualifying health conditions in 2015 and permits the use of medical cannabis derivatives only (e.g. capsules, extractions, lotions, patches, edibles, suppositories, flower and oils). Puerto Rico's population is estimated at 3.6 million and receives 2 million tourists annually.
CR Brands Expansion Strategy
As previously announced, CannaRoyalty has assembled a broad portfolio of wholly-owned and licensed cannabis brands under its CR Brands division. The launch of additional CR Brands products in Puerto Rico confirms the continued success of CR Brands in executing its strategy to develop, sell and market its brand portfolio in a number of established distribution channels throughout North America, and ultimately, on a global basis. A graphical representation of CR Brands' portfolio of owned and licensed brands, together with its distribution channels, is included.
In California, CannaRoyalty and leading distributor River recently completed a strategic transaction that contemplates preferred distribution of CR Brands products, including a $20 million purchase commitment. CR Brands' products have also been made available for future distribution under license in Canada by leading licensed producer Aphria (APH).
CannaRoyalty will continue seeking additional distribution channels by leveraging its existing relationships in other jurisdictions in North America and internationally.
About CannaRoyalty
CannaRoyalty is a fully integrated, active investor and operator in the legal cannabis sector. Our focus is building and supporting a diversified portfolio of growth-ready assets in high-value segments of the cannabis sector, including research, consumer brands, devices and intellectual property. Our management team combines a hands-on understanding of the cannabis industry with seasoned financial know-how, assembling a platform of holdings via royalty agreements, equity interests, secured convertible debt, licensing agreements and its own branded portfolio.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in CannaRoyalty's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements including the Company's expectations with respect to pursuing new opportunities and its future growth and other statements of fact.
Although CannaRoyalty has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; investing in target companies or projects which have limited or no operating history and are engaged in activities currently considered illegal under US Federal Laws; changes in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change.
There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. CannaRoyalty disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and CannaRoyalty does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.
To view the graphic associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20170611-CRBrands.jpg
CannaRoyalty Corp. Joanna Longo Investor Relations 1-844-556-5070 Jlongo@cannaroyalty.com www.cannaroyalty.com
© 2017 Nasdaq, Inc. All rights reserved.Iran and Russia — an Islamic dictatorship and a nationalist one, respectively — are strengthening their mutual relationship in Syria. They’re awkward allies in...
Iran and Russia — an Islamic dictatorship and a nationalist one, respectively — are strengthening their mutual relationship in Syria. They’re awkward allies in a country that has often copied and hybridized Iranian and Russian ideals.
“Senior Russian and Iranian diplomats, generals and strategists have held a string of high-level talks in Moscow in recent months to discuss [Syrian president Bashar] Assad’s defense and the Kremlin’s military buildup in Syria,” the Wall Street Journal reported.
Russia has since deployed advanced Su-30SM fighter jets, plus Su-24M and Su-25 ground attackers to Syria. That’s on top of unmanned aerial vehicles according to The Washington Post. Dozens of diplomats in Europe, North America and Asia are waiting for what will happen next.
Iran and Russia have diverse, sometimes competing goals in the country.
Iran wants to ensure that it can threaten Israel from the Israeli–Syrian border on the Golan Heights and resupply Hezbollah’s bases in the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon through the Lebanese-Syrian border. Russia wants to support one of its last friends in the Arab world after losing pro-Russian governments in Iraq and Libya.
However, both countries hope to limit what they see as American expansionism in the Middle East. “Ironically,” Pavel Baev and Jeremy Shapiro wrote at the Brookings Institution, “this strategy is nearly a mirror image of the equally flawed American plan for Syria.”
The Russian government has no strong attachment to Syrian President Bashar Assad, but it fears that a collapse of his besieged regime would create yet more violent chaos in the terrorism-infested region. And, based on the example of Iraq, Moscow also puts little stock in the idea that a U.S.-engineered solution that excluded Assad could create stability in Syria or defeat ISIS and other radical Islamist groups. […] American policy similarly holds that convincing Assad’s external supporters to abandon him requires changing the balance of power in the civil war sufficiently to make clear that the regime has no future. And so America and its partners have gradually increased their assistance to the Syrian opposition. But far from seeing the Assad regime as a “dead man walking,” the Russian and Iranian supporters of the regime have simply doubled down in an attempt to create their own facts on the ground.
Seventy-five American-trained Syrian rebels have entered Aleppo Governorate, causing American and Russian politicians to fear that a seeming proxy war could become an accidental but direct conflict. Iran, known for its more confrontational relationship with America in particular and the Western world in general, could threaten this balance of power.On Friday morning, we woke up to the horrible news that a gunman had opened fire during a midnight movie in a Colorado theatre. By mid-morning, a suspect had been named: James Holmes. A man.
He joins a dubious list: Jared Lee Loughner (Rep. Gabrielle Giffords), Major Midal Malik Hasan (Fort Hood), Seung-Hio Cho (Virginia Tech), and Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (Columbine). Male, all of them. In fact, almost all mass killers have been male.
Federal statistics tell us that about 90 percent of homicides are committed by men. And about 75 percent of homicide victims are men.
I want to be clear: most men are not killers, even though most killers are men. Killers are a very small percentage of the population.
Statistically, being male "increases the odds" that an individual could become a killer (or a victim, for that matter). I think some of our cultural expectations for boys and men contribute to this change in the odds. They're not the only things, but as the TV detectives say, they're an important part of the killer's profile.
We teach men to do, to act, to solve problems. It's not enough to identify the problem; a guy should do something about it.
We teach men to not ask for help. Men who need help -- whether it's an "obvious" problem or something that he should be able to handle by himself or even just help on a regular basis - are told to "man up." Coupled with our encouragement to act, this means that when a guy only has one solution, he's going to try it -- even if it's not a good solution.
We teach men they should not express their feelings. "Boys don't cry," we tell them. That doesn't prevent men from having these feelings; it just encourages them to minimize or ignore them. Because they're not supposed to ask for help, most guys don't have much experience working through their feelings. Although a guy might be able to cry on a woman's shoulder, he's probably crying in his beer with his male friends.
We teach men that violence is a viable solution to problems. That's the message behind expressions like "let's go outside and settle this like men." It's one of the messages that's transmitted in all those action movies: violence is an acceptable way to respond to a threat, even if your own violence isn't strictly legal. If you've seen the video Seung-Hio Cho recorded before he went on his rampage, he's posing like some of those movie characters.
On Friday afternoon, we know very little about James Holmes, the Colorado shooting suspect. But we do know a fair amount about those other boys and men who've been accused and convicted of these kinds of shootings.
In one way or another, they all felt like there was an ongoing problem that couldn't be solved. Maybe they didn't ask for help with their problems, or maybe they asked once or twice, but there was no help to be had. Initially, they were probably sad or hurt, the result of being picked on, ostracized, or abandoned by someone who was important to them. When the situation didn't change and those feelings didn't go away, and when other people stopped listening even though the guys were (still) sad, those feelings turned to resentment and then anger. Anger can be energizing, and anger often leads to violence. From there, it's a straightforward line to action, and that action can be quite violent.
In almost every case, the killer thought about what he'd do for weeks, if not months. Immediately prior to the shooting, the killer spends an hour or so getting ready: checking weapons, putting on protective gear, going to the site, making any last minute adjustments, etc. The shootings are rarely impulsive, spontaneous, never-thought-about-it-before decisions.Washington (CNN) It's not just Sen. Ted Cruz facing birther challenges. Despite Donald Trump's silence on the issue, Sen. Marco Rubio has his own legal challengers.
And, Cruz would suggest, Trump himself should be prepared to make his case in court.
A federal lawsuit challenging Cruz's eligibility to run for president was filed Thursday, based on the theory espoused by Trump that he may not be a natural-born citizen.
But Cruz is not alone -- his fellow Cuban-American presidential candidate and freshman senator is facing similar litigation.
The Cruz lawsuit, filed in Texas on Thursday by Newton Boris Schwartz Sr., raises legal uncertainty about whether Cruz qualifies for the constitutional requirement that a president be a "a natural-born citizen" because he was born in Canada.
Cruz was conferred American citizenship at birth because his mother is an American citizen, and legal experts have largely agreed that would qualify him for natural-born citizenship. The Texas Republican was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and also had Canadian citizenship until he renounced it in 2014.
Schwartz cites legal theorists, including Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe, who say although Cruz is generally accepted to be a natural-born citizen, no court has definitively ruled on the question.
The move follows weeks of attacks by the GOP front-runner on Cruz's status, which came to a head during Thursday's GOP debate. Trump told Cruz he was a liability as a candidate if he runs for president, because his eligibility will be tied up in lawsuits for years.
But though Trump isn't attacking him, Rubio is facing similar challenges, which Cruz obliquely referenced during the debate on Thursday, as well.
Both candidates have had their spot on the ballot in Illinois challenged after the recent primary filing deadline. The same man, William K. Graham, accused both of not being eligible natural-born citizens, according to a spokesman for the Illinois Board of Elections. Cruz was challenged on his place of birth, and Rubio on both of his parents not being U.S. citizens at the time he was born.
The challenges will likely be decided by February, the spokesman said, but there's no historical precedent that makes clear how it will be decided. Unlike President Barack Obama's challenge, which was about his place of birth, "this is a question of interpretation of the law, and as far as we know, it hasn't been decided yet."
A similar lawsuit was filed in Broward County, Florida, in December, challenging Cruz and Rubio on the same grounds.
Rubio's legal team responded to that challenge on Monday, as first reported by the Tampa Bay Times, saying it is "undisputed" that the Florida Republican was born in the U.S., making him a natural-born citizen.
Trump also spread many of the birther theories that hung over Obama when he ran for office, fueled by conspiracy theorists who did not believe that Obama was born in the U.S., as he was. Obama's mother was also a U.S. citizen at his birth, and no credible legal challenge to his eligibility ever progressed in the courts.
Legal experts believe the same will be true of the Cruz challenge.
Asked if Schwartz had standing -- the legal principle that requires an individual to have suffered some harm to bring a lawsuit -- American University law professor and CNN contributor Stephen Vladeck said "not even a little."
"Standing's only going to work if some state denies Cruz access to the ballot," Vladeck said, at which point Cruz himself could sue to have it resolved.
Vladeck also predicted the case would never reach the Supreme Court.
"It's the epitome of what they call a generalized grievance," he told CNN's "Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield."
Rubio's team also challenged the Florida suit on the grounds of standing. Cruz has not yet responded to the suit.
Rubio's team also noted the man bringing that lawsuit, Michael Voeltz, brought a lawsuit challenging Obama's natural-born citizenship on the same grounds, that both of Obama's parents weren't U.S. citizens. |
Arab and Muslim kills another Arab and Muslim, it is not news. But when an Israeli Jew in self defense kills an Arab Muslim, that becomes front-page news.”
During two days last week, more Syrians were killed than in the entire flare up between Israel and Hamas over the last two weeks. In total, more Arabs have died in the current Syrian civil war than in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict by nearly a factor of two.
Follow Jamie on TwitterEclipse
So I sit down and plug in at a set up after just waking up, and we both pick characters going in to a warm up match (or so I thought). I picked mewtwo to warm up because why not and then he just starts hitting me while I'm jumping around. I was like okayyy and let him kill me because who cares it's a warm up match RIGHT? I asked "why are you killing me?" he grinned at me and said "it's 1-0" I'm thinking "I'm gonna 2-0 him anyway whatever". I pick fox on the "second game" and body him pretty hard. Third game starts, I'm winning pretty easily and then the power goes out on the tv and my opponent loses a stock. I felt really bad for him so I started to look around for a TO or something and by the time I look back on the screen I already died to a shine spike. Now I'm down 2 stocks to one but I play it out anyway because I didn't think the match was going to count. After the match ends he says "GGs" and I said gg just cuz i didnt think it was going to count. I go to the T.O immediately after and tell him what had happened. He told me i shouldn't have played the matches out and that it was my fault. My opponent then lied to him telling him i agreed to the first matching being official when there was no agreement.
I flew across the world just to get DQd from my round 1 bracket match. DAS KOO
Reply · Report PostThe international scale of river difficulty is an American system used to rate the difficulty of navigating a stretch of river, or a single (sometimes whitewater) rapid.[1] The scale was created by the American Whitewater Association to evaluate rivers throughout the world, hence international in the title.[2] It should not be confused with the internationally used whitewater scale, which is published and adapted by a committee of the International Canoe Federation ICF.[3][4] The grade reflects the technical difficulty and skill level required associated with the section of river. The scale is of use to various water sports and activities, such as rafting, riverboarding, whitewater canoeing, stand up paddle surfing, and whitewater kayaking.[5]
Classification [ edit ]
There are six categories, each referred to as "Grade" or "Class" followed by a number. The scale is not linear, nor is it fixed. For instance, there can be difficult grade twos, easy grade threes, and so on. The grade of a river may (and usually does) change with the level of flow. Often a river or rapid will be given a numerical grade, and then a plus (+) or minus (-) to indicate if it is in the higher or lower end of the difficulty level. While a river section may be given an overall grading, it may contain sections above that grade, often noted as features, or conversely, it may contain sections of lower graded water as well. Details of portages may be given if these pose specific challenges. A summary of river classifications as presented by the American Whitewater Association:[1]
Class I:
Easy Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy. Class II:
Novice Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium-sized waves are easily avoided by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed. Rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are designated Class II+. Class III:
Intermediate Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. Scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated Class III- or Class III+ respectively. Class IV:
Advanced Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require "must make" moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting may be necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. For kayakers, a strong roll is highly recommended. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated Class IV- or Class IV+ respectively. Class V:
Expert Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to added risk. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Scouting is recommended but may be difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is often difficult even for experts. Proper equipment, extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential. Because of the large range of difficulty that exists beyond Class IV, Class V is an open-ended, multiple-level scale designated by class 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc. Each of these levels is an order of magnitude more difficult than the last. That is, going from Class 5.0 to Class 5.1 is a similar order of magnitude as increasing from Class IV to Class 5.0. Class VI:
Extreme and Exploratory Rapids Runs of this classification are rarely attempted and often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. After a Class VI rapid has been run many times, its rating may be changed to an appropriate Class 5.x rating.
Caution in application [ edit ]
Classifications can vary enormously, depending on the skill level and experience of the paddlers who rated the river. For example, at the 1999 International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education, an author of a paddling guide pointed out that there is too much variation in what is covered by the Class I designation, and proposed making further distinctions within the Class I flat water designations and Class I+ moving water designations, with the goal of providing better information for canoeists, instructors leading trips, and families with young children.[6]
The grade of a river or rapid is likely to change along with the level of the water. High water usually makes rapids more difficult and dangerous, although some rapids may be easier at high flows because features are covered or washed out. At spate/flood stage, even rapids which are usually easy can contain lethal and unpredictable hazards. Conversely, some rapids may be easier with lower water levels when dangerous hydraulics become easier to manage. Some rivers with high volumes of fast moving water may require little maneuvering, but will pose serious risk of injury or death in the event of a capsize.
See also [ edit ]For those of a similar name, see John Stonhouse (disambiguation)
John Thomson Stonehouse (28 July 1925 – 14 April 1988) was a British Labour and Co-operative Party politician and junior minister under Harold Wilson. Stonehouse is remembered for his unsuccessful attempt at faking his own death in 1974.
More than twenty years after his death, it was publicly revealed that he had been an agent for the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic military intelligence. In 1979, the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, and top cabinet members learned from a Czech defector that Stonehouse had been a paid Czech spy since 1962. He had provided secrets about government plans as well as technical information about aircraft, and received about £5,000. He was already in prison for fraud and the government decided there was insufficient evidence to bring to trial, so no announcement or prosecution was made.
Education and early career [ edit ]
Stonehouse was born in Southampton, had a trade unionist upbringing and joined the Labour Party at the age of sixteen. He was educated at Taunton's College, Southampton, and the London School of Economics. His mother, Rosina Stonehouse[1] (born Rosina M. Taylor)[2][3] was the sixth female mayor of Southampton[4] and a councillor on Southampton City Council. Stonehouse was in the RAF for two years from 1944 when he was conscripted.
An economist, he became involved in co-operative enterprise and was a manager of African co-operative societies in Uganda (1952–54). He served as a director (1956–62) and president (1962–64) of the London Co-operative Society.
Political career [ edit ]
Stonehouse was first elected as Labour Co-operative Member of Parliament (MP) for Wednesbury in a 1957 by-election, having contested Twickenham in 1950 and Burton in 1951.
In February 1959, Stonehouse travelled to Rhodesia on a fact-finding tour in which he condemned the white minority government of Southern Rhodesia. Speaking to the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress, he encouraged Blacks to stand up for their rights and said they had the support of the British Labour Party. He was promptly expelled from Rhodesia and kept from returning a year later.[5]
Stonehouse allegedly began spying for Czechoslovakia in 1962. He served as a junior minister of aviation, where he was involved in BOAC's order of Boeing 707 aircraft from the United States, against his own recommendation that they should buy a British aircraft, the Super VC10. This led to his making accusations against colleagues about the reasons for the decision. In March 1968, he negotiated an agreement providing a framework for the long-term development of technological co-operation between Britain and Czechoslovakia. It provided for the exchange of specialists and information, facilities for study and research in technology, and such other forms of industrial co-operation which might be agreed.[6]
While in the Colonial Office, Stonehouse's rise continued, and in 1967 he became Minister of State for Technology under Tony Benn and later Postmaster General until the position was abolished by the Post Office Act 1969.
As Minister of Posts and Telecommunications in 1970, he oversaw the controversial jamming of the offshore radio station Radio North Sea International. When Labour was defeated at the 1970 general election, he was not appointed to the Shadow Cabinet.
When the Wednesbury constituency was abolished in 1974, he stood for and was elected to the nearby Walsall North constituency. Appointed to the new government, Stonehouse oversaw the introduction of first and second-class stamps.
In 1969, Stonehouse was subjected to the assertion that he was a Czechoslovak secret service agent. He successfully defended himself,[7] but the allegation was substantiated in the official history of MI5, The Defence of the Realm (2009) by Cambridge historian Christopher Andrew.[8] In December 2010, it was revealed that then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had agreed in 1980 to cover up revelations that Stonehouse had been a Czech spy since the 1960s as there was insufficient evidence to bring him to trial.[9] Until Ray Mawby, briefly a member of a Conservative government, was exposed in June 2012,[10] Stonehouse was the only Cabinet Minister known to have been an agent for the former Eastern bloc.
Business interests [ edit ]
After 1970, Stonehouse set up various companies in an attempt to secure a regular income. By 1974, most of these were in financial trouble, and he had resorted to deceptive creative accounting. Aware that the Department of Trade and Industry was looking at his affairs, he decided that his best choice would be to flee. Secret British government documents, declassified in 2005, indicate that Stonehouse spent months rehearsing his new identity, that of Joseph Markham—the deceased husband of a constituent.[11]
Faking his own death [ edit ]
Stonehouse maintained the pretence of normality until he faked his death on 20 November 1974, leaving a pile of clothes on a beach in Miami. It appeared that he had gone swimming, and had been drowned or possibly killed by a shark. He was presumed dead, and obituaries were published despite the fact that no corpse had been found. In reality, he was en route to Australia, hoping to set up a new life with his mistress and secretary, Sheila Buckley.
Using false identities, Stonehouse set about transferring large sums of money between banks as a further means of covering his tracks. Under the name of Clive Mildoon, he deposited $21,500 in cash at the Bank of New Zealand. The teller who handled the money later spotted "Mildoon" at the Bank of New South Wales. Inquiries led the teller to learn that the money was in the name of Joe Markham and he informed the local police. Stonehouse spent a while in Copenhagen with Sheila Buckley, but later returned to Australia, unaware that he was now under surveillance. The police initially suspected him of being Lord Lucan, who had disappeared two weeks before Stonehouse; following the murder of his children's nanny, Sandra Rivett. Investigators noted that the suspect was reading British newspapers that also included stories attacking the "recently deceased" John Stonehouse. They contacted Scotland Yard, requesting pictures of both Lucan and Stonehouse. On his arrest, the police instructed him to pull down his trousers so they could be sure whether or not he was Lord Lucan, who had a six-inch scar on the inside of his right thigh.[12]
Arrest and aftermath [ edit ]
After Dark in 1987 At a party forin 1987
Stonehouse was arrested on 24 December 1974.[13] He applied for the position of Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds while still in Australia (one of the ways for an MP to resign), but decided not to sign the papers. Six months after he was arrested, he was deported to the UK; he had tried to obtain offers of asylum from Sweden or Mauritius. He was remanded in Brixton Prison until August 1975 when he was released and put on bail. He continued to serve as an MP. Although unhappy with the situation, the Labour Party did not expel him.
Stonehouse conducted his own defence on 21 charges of fraud, theft, forgery, conspiracy to defraud, causing a false police investigation and wasting police time. His trial lasted 68 days. On 14 July 1976, it was revealed in court that Stonehouse had an IQ of 140.[14] On 6 August 1976, he was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison for fraud.[15]
He agreed to resign as a Privy Counsellor on 17 August 1976,[16] becoming one of only three people to resign from the Privy Council in the 20th century. Stonehouse tendered his resignation from the House of Commons on 27 August 1976, making Labour a minority government.[17] A few days later, Stonehouse joined the English National Party. The subsequent by-election was won by Robin Hodgson, a Conservative. In October 1976, Stonehouse was declared bankrupt.
Stonehouse was imprisoned in HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs. On 30 June 1977, the House of Lords refused him appeal against five of the charges of which he was convicted. Whilst in prison, he complained that the prison workshop where he worked played pop music on the radio station. When his health deteriorated, he was moved to Blundeston Prison. On 14 August 1979, he was released early from prison because of good behaviour and because he had suffered three heart attacks; the first on 18 April 1977; he had a second one four days later and a massive heart attack on 13 August 1978. He underwent open heart surgery on 7 November 1978.[citation needed]
From January 1980, Stonehouse was a volunteer fundraiser for the East London-based charity, Community Links. He joined the SDP, which later amalgamated with the Liberal Party to become the Liberal Democrats. In June 1980, he was discharged from bankruptcy. Stonehouse wrote three novels, and made TV appearances and radio broadcasts during the rest of his life, mostly in connection with discussing his disappearance. In December 1986 he appeared on In The Psychiatrist's Chair with Anthony Clare. In September 1985, he started a small business which manufactured electronic and hotel safes called Guestguard. It existed up to his death.[18]
Personal life [ edit ]
Stonehouse married Barbara Joan Smith in 1948, and they had two daughters, Jane and Julia, and a son, Mathew. After their divorce in 1978, Stonehouse married his mistress, Sheila Elizabeth Buckley, in Hampshire on 31 January 1981. In December 1982 their son James William John was born.
Actual death [ edit ]
On 25 March 1988, Stonehouse abruptly collapsed on set during an edition of Central Live in Birmingham during the filming of a programme about missing people. He was given emergency medical treatment at the studio and an ambulance was called. He was kept in the city's general hospital overnight after tests. Just under three weeks later, he suffered a heart attack at his house at Dales Way, Totton, where he had moved six months earlier, having lived in London since his release from prison,[19] and died in hospital at 2.30 am on 14 April 1988. He was cremated in Bassett Green, Southampton on 22 April 1988.[20] In 1989, his fourth novel was published posthumously.
Bibliography [ edit ]
Prohibited Immigrant, The Bodley Head, 1960, ISBN 978-1-135-35474-9 – Stonehouse's account of his 1959 African tour, which culminated in his deportation from Southern Rhodesia.
– Stonehouse's account of his 1959 African tour, which culminated in his deportation from Southern Rhodesia. My Trial, Star, June 1976, ISBN 978-0-352-39749-2.
. Death of an Idealist, WH Allen, & Virgin Books, 1975-11-25, ISBN 0-491-01615-8.
. Ralph, Jonathan Cape, 1982, ISBN 0-224-02019-6.
. The Baring Fault, Calder Publications, 1986-05-15, ISBN 0-7145-4106-0.
. Oil on the Rift, Robert Hale, 1987-08-13, ISBN 978-0-7090-3056-0.
. Who Sold Australia?, UK: Robert Hale, 1989-03-30, ISBN 978-0-7090-3623-4.
References [ edit ]Physicists the world over were filled with invigoration as the Large Hadron Collider was being restarted on Sunday after a 2-year-long hiatus. Beams of protons began smoothly circulating in both directions through the machine.
“It’s fantastic to see it going so well after two years and such a major overhaul of the LHC,” Rolf Heuer, Europe CERN particle physics center director general said in a Sunday statement.
The two-year shutdown was caused by a major refit that almost doubled the collider’s power. As a result of this refit, the LHC is now able to smash particles together at nigh-light-speed so that physicists will be better capable of reaching into the unknown.
New modifications of the Hadron Collider include safer magnets and Quench protection, so that energy resulted in the collider’s activity can be dissipated in a controlled way. Yet of all modifications, the increased energy of proton beams inside the collider is certainly the most anticipated. These beams can now travel at 13 Trillion electron Volts as opposed to the 8 TeV’s the collider had been capable of before.
New technology also allows proton packet lag to be decreased from 50 nanoseconds to 25 nanoseconds so that the rate of collisions is efficiently increased. The ring of powerful magnets is being cooled down to absolute zero while their interconnections between them are now fully upgraded. Radiation resistant electronics are also being used while the interiors of the LHC’s vacuum tube are now covered with non-evaporating getter so that electron cloud buildups are no longer possible. Consequently, more energetic collisions will become a reality and physicists can look forward to increased odds of discovering new particles.
“The basic thing we’re looking for is to start producing some new heavy particles that we couldn’t produce last time,” Joe Lykken, Fermilab theoretical physicist explains, noting that cosmic rays found in outer space exceed the 13 TeV power that the LHC is currently capable of.
Several tasks are still on the agenda of engineers and physicists at the LHC before massive collisions will be able to be studied.
With these new improvements, the LHC may help scientists conquer new frontiers by observing super -symmetry, extra dimensions or even find evidence of dark matter. And while the collider is just getting started, additional upgrades are planned to further boost the machine’s capacity between now and 2035 (its scheduled retirement).
Image Source: Walls4joyMuni’s Central Subway project may be delayed by almost a year.
If the construction contractor, Tutor Perini, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency do not catch up with ongoing construction delays, the project is forecasted to open 10 months late, according to the project’s required monthly monitoring report released in late May, the most recent report available.
That report, known as a Project Management Oversight Committee report, wrote that the SFMTA and Tutor Perini need to reach an agreement over scheduling conflicts, or those forecasted delays may increase.
“If we don’t change anything of what we’ve done so far, we will be 10 months late in revenue service,” Central Subway Program Director John Funghi confirmed to the San Francisco Examiner.
The nearly $1.6 billion Central Subway project will see Chinatown net its first subway, connecting the neighborhood to BART and the Muni subway network downtown via Union Square. Construction began in 2012, according to the SFMTA.
Muni trains were first set to glide through the sleek new Central Subway to the sound of sleigh bells on Dec. 26, 2018, the day after Christmas. But the monitoring report, written by David Evans and Associates, Inc., which is required for large-scale construction projects by law, forecasts the Central Subway’s opening day as Nov. 14, 2019.
Funghi said he hopes the SFMTA and Tutor Perini can make up for lost time.
“Tutor has fallen behind in the completion of this contract,” Funghi said. “I think it’s going to be a difficult task to make up 10 months, but we’re trying.”
Part of that effort involves what Funghi called “targeted acceleration,” where the Central Subway project will use some of its “contingency funding” — a budgeted-for rainy day fund — to pay for extra man-hours to quicken the construction pace.
Tutor Perini did not respond to requests for comment.
Chinatown businesses’ hopes may rest on the SFMTA speeding up Central Subway construction, as local shops are already seeing a drop in business due to the large machines and loud work at Stockton and Washington streets, according to some neighborhood advocates.
“I think the impact is quite trying, is the way to put it,” said Phil Chin, head of the transportation advocacy group Chinatown TRIP.
Chin said neighborhood merchants are conducting meetings even now to discuss the continued impacts from Central Subway construction, though they may be heartened by more foot traffic when it is complete, giving San Francisco’s Chinese community better access to the neighborhood.
Gerald Cauthen, a retired engineer who worked on city projects for more than 35 years, said the delay, while worrisome, is not the worst seen of a transit project in the Bay Area.
“It used to be regarded as incredibly outrageous. But these days after the Bay Bridge debacle, everyone is sort of used to it,” he said, referring to the decades-long delay in construction of the eastern span of the Bay Bridge.
“But,” he added, “after a year’s delay [to the Central Subway project], someone ought to know why.”
The cause of the delays is a point of disagreement between Tutor Perini and the SFMTA, as the pair have had consecutive mediation meetings that will continue through July.
Though the SFMTA was not able to immediately grant access to documentation of the dispute, Funghi described the arguments of the two entities:
Tutor filed a claim asserting the SFMTA changed some Central Subway designs during a “submittal process” which in turn delayed Tutor’s ability to start the work, Funghi said, which they claim entitles Tutor to more than $1 million because SFMTA changed the design.
“The City’s position,” Funghi said, “is [Tutor] started the work late because Tutor submitted the paperwork late.”
Though the delays may spell bad news for Chinatown and Muni riders, the SFMTA does have some cause to celebrate, as the project is so far being completed within budget, and only dipping into its contingency funding (which is part of the budget) within expected norms, the report found.
But while the Central Subway project isn’t busting its purse strings, the ongoing dispute between Tutor Perini and the SFMTA is leading to ever-increasing delays, the monitoring report found.
“The ongoing month-by-month extension of the projected [Revenue Service Date] is detrimental to effective management of the project,” the report’s author wrote, “because the project team does not have achievable schedule targets to manage to.”
Cauthen said in the past, such rigid schedules have sometimes led to lawsuits on behalf of the contractor — which may ultimately balloon the project’s cost — due to “rigidly” forecasted schedules by city agencies.
But Funghi said should Tutor Perini sue The City, well, they’ve “forecasted” that expenditure too. That’s because the project has avoided many risk “events” that would require use of its contingency funding, which now sits at $76 million.
“Even if we realize all those ‘events,’” including a lawsuit, Funghi said, “we’re going to come in under surplus.”
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story featured a headline that mischaracterized the status of the transportation project. The headline has since been updated.
Click here or scroll down to commentIn Jonathan Franzen’s 2010 novel Freedom, Walter Berglund is a bit of a crank. He harangues people about overpopulation, SUVs, and carbon emissions. Franzen shares a few of his protagonist's vexations—outdoor cats, for example—but he’s far more wide ranging, decrying the pernicious influence of everything from e-books and smartphones to Broadway musical adaptations and New York Times critic Michiko Kakutani.
Twitter
Speaking at Tulane last night, Franzen inveighed against Twitter, calling it "the ultimate irresponsible medium." According to the writer Jami Attenberg, who blogged about the talk this morning, Franzen said, "Twitter stands for everything I oppose … it’s hard to cite facts or create an argument in 140 characters … it’s like if Kafka had decided to make a video semaphoring The Metamorphosis. Or it’s like writing a novel without the letter ‘P.’” In addition to Twitter and, in passing, semaphores, Franzen criticized American literature (“something goofy” about it since modernism came to an end) and Revolutionary Road (“dishonestly bleak”). Naturally, Twitter responded by mocking the author under the hashtag #jonathanfranzenhates.
"#jonathanfranzenhates cameras. Real pictures should be painted,” read one tweet. "#JonathanFranzenHates Raindrops on roses & whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles & warm woolen mittens. Also anything under 250k words." The posts are unlikely to convince Franzen of Twitter's seriousness, though it is true Franzen dislikes kittens—outdoor ones, anyway.
E-Books
Speaking at the Hay Festival, Franzen launched into a denunciation of electronic books. Paper books are a better technology, he said, because readers can spill water on them and they’ll still work, and they don’t become obsolete in 10 years. But as with most objects of Franzen’s ire, the real problem is much, much larger. Speaking about the ability to edit and delete digital text, Franzen said he’s afraid that "it’s going to be very hard to make the world work if there’s no permanence like that. That kind of radical contingency is not compatible with a system of justice or responsible self-government.”
Smartphones
Franzen’s problem is really with consumer technology in general, but in his Kenyon commencement speech in 2011, he singled out the smartphone. Smartphones, iPads, and other gadgets are so responsive to their user’s every whim, he argued, that they’re “great allies and enablers of narcissism.” Technology, abetted by social media, threatens to imprison everyone in a solipsistic bubble. “Our lives look a lot more interesting when they’re filtered through the sexy Facebook interface. We star in our own movies, we photograph ourselves incessantly, we click the mouse and a machine confirms our sense of mastery.” Ultimately, he argued, love, with all its risks, will be replaced with the safer "liking."
The Internet
The Internet isn’t just an enabler of narcissism and destroyer of love, it’s also killing the imagination. In The Guardian’s Ten Rules for Writing Fiction series, Franzen’s eighth rule was that “It’s doubtful that anyone with an internet connection at his workplace is writing good fiction.” Asked by Canada’s Globe and Mail to expand on his point, Franzen explained that what “the Internet brings is lots of vulgar data. It is the antithesis of the imagination. It leaves nothing to the imagination.”
Cats
Franzen hates a lot of things, but he does love birds. Which means he hates cats. Outdoor cats, at least. Walter, Franzen writes in Freedom, “had never liked cats. They seemed to him the sociopaths of the pet world, a species domesticated as an evil necessary for the control of rodents and subsequently fetishized the way unhappy countries fetishize their militaries.” Franzen takes a more moderate stance, but nevertheless acknowledges that Walter’s story, which culminates with his kidnapping a neighbor’s predatory cat, had an autobiographical inspiration. “Let’s say that I was peripherally involved with some conspirators,” he told The Baltimore Sun’s Mary Carole McCauley. “Never mind where. There was a problematic neighbor with a problematic cat. I like cats—indoors. Some, like this particular cat, are killing machines.”
Experimental Fiction
Franzen frequently bemoans what he sees as literature’s marginalization by television, film, and the Internet. But the culprit isn’t just television, film, and the Internet. It’s also literature itself—difficult, experimental literature. In The New Yorker, he criticized William Gaddis’s formal experimentation and championed more accessible novels, with strong narratives and relatable characters. In 2005, Ben Marcus fired back with an essay titled “Why Experimental Fiction Threatens to Destroy Publishing, Jonathan Franzen, and Life as We Know It.”
Schmaltzy Fiction
Franzen is just as critical of self-consciously tricky fiction as he is of “schmaltzy, one-dimensional” fiction. That was the term that set off his feud with Oprah in 2001, when she picked his novel The Corrections for her book club. He said she’d picked enough such books that “I cringe,” although he went on to say, “She’s really smart and she’s really fighting the good fight.”
Michiko Kakutani
New York Times critic Michiko Kakutani has said some unkind things about Franzen’s work, including that it’s “as though he actually reveled in being so disagreeable.” In 2008 she got proof of just how disagreeable Franzen could be, when the author called her “the stupidest person in New York City.” And it’s not just Kakutani: “The most upsetting thing nowadays is the feeling that there’s no one out there responding intelligently to the text.”
Insipid Broadway Musical Adaptations
In the introduction to his translation of Frank Wedekind’s play Spring Awakening, Franzen called the Broadway musical adaptation “insipid” and “instantly overpraised.” The play “became dishonest on the road to being that musical,” he explained to New York magazine. “The real way to any theatergoer’s heart is to tell some kind of truth about their experience, not flatter them with some kind of pleasant lie they’d like to tell themselves. It turns it into a kind of self-righteous Avril Sévigné.” New York later clarified that he meant Avril Lavigne.
Author Videos
The first half of Franzen’s promotional video for Freedom consists of one big qualification: he hates author videos. “This might be a good place for me to register my profound discomfort at having to make videos like this,” he says. “To me, the point of a novel is to take you to a still place. You can multitask with a lot of things, but you can’t really multitask reading a book.” Multitasking is another hobbyhorse of Franzen’s. In a review of Alice Munro’s Runaway, he speculated that the reason Munro isn’t more popular is that when “you’re reading Munro, you’re failing to multitask by absorbing civics lessons or historical data.”In the initial stages of the primary, we heard a lot about blacks versus women. This simpleton's analysis withered away when the media realized that the Democratic Party contains other groups too, like Hispanics and young people and seniors. So, in the media's unceasing desire to live in black and white, to create Apollonian-Dionysian dichotomies, to cut America up like the baby before King Solomon, a new Manichean understanding has now arisen: the people that vote for Obama and something called "the working class."
The former, well, that's pretty straight-forward: these are the Democrats, Independents, and cross-over Republicans who choose Obama in the primaries.
It is the second group, "the working class," that is of interest to me. It seems that in the United States, being working class is code for being ignorant.
Anytime the media wants to cast aspersions upon Obama, to diminish his chances to be elected, to give voice to smears against him, to suggest that he is a Muslim, or a black-nationalist, or a socialist, or a Eunuch, or some Chameleonesque mixture of all of those things, suddenly these concerns are put in the mouth of "the working class."
Take only the most recent example of this at the New York Daily News. According to the paper, the "ugly truth" as to why Hillary won't quit is because she has the difficult job of giving voice to the racists and the ignorant that slither around among "the working class." This tripe is not just limited to newspapers, though. When ABC was lambasted for conducting one of the worst debates in the history of American politics, its simple response was that those vacuous questions were the questions the "average" (read: working class) Americans wanted to hear. Yes, average people are vacuous and stupid, so we, being populist, must pander to them, in essence.
This group, the working class, according to the media, is white, rural, crass, uncouth, impressed by theatrics such as downing whiskey, or preferring coffee to OJ, cares about flag-pins, and judges the merits of its presidential candidates by their bowling scores, their attire, and metaphysical things such as "elitism."
I find this entire narrative particularly insulting because I am a low income Muslim. I am not rich. My parents aren't rich. Hell, my grandparents are low income, not in the US, but in the third world. All of my life, I have grown up hearing that all the evil Muslims, the ones that commit acts of terrorism, are poor, have poor parents, and have even poorer grandparents. For a majority of my life, the media and the pundits have sold me the story that of all the Muslims that go fanatical, I am among the most likely to end up going in that direction because of my background. Yet I hardly became a loon; neither did my brother; nor do hundreds of millions of poor Muslim kids all across the world. The reason that this smear against the Muslim working class exists, though, is because it is easy, and because people have been conditioned to turn "the workers" into the worst representation of them-selves.
Same thing today, in the US. Having grown up and gone to school with good, working class Americans in the South and Northwest and Philly -- many of whom are not white -- its pretty easy to see that bullshit sits just as badly with working class people as it does with Ivy leaguers. Yet, the media doesn't see it that way. It only sees an Enlightened America (read: wealthy) that knows why they are voting and for whom, and it sees Working Class America (read: poor) who are duped and idiotic. For whatever reason, the Versailles version of America has been given to Obama and Crappy America to Hillary.
Of course, Hillary is part of the problem, because she embraces this dichotomy and tries to use it to her advantage (taking photo-ops of herself doing shots in a bar, dissing economists, and so forth all while she withholds disclosing her 100 million dollar piggy bank). In her increasing desperation to remain in a race that she lost when it became apparent she didn't have a strategy beyond Super |
salary expectations and any questions you may have.
Job Description
Assistant Brewer
Duties:
Ensure that all vessels, equipment and facilities are kept clean and hygienic
Assist in all aspects of brewing process
Carry out any general housekeeping required in the brewery to ensure that it is safe and well organised
Assist with recording raw materials, production stage timings and quality checks when required
Manual operation of the production process and equipment
Handling of brewery waste streams and ensuring correct disposal and recycling
Assisting with stock taking and record keeping as directed
Assisting the retail and wholesale teams with any general enquiries regarding the brewery activities
Ensure that the day to day management of Health and Safety is in line with company policies
Ensure casks and kegs are serviced, checked and cleaned prior to packaging runs
Operation of packaging process and equipment
Carry out routine maintenance tasks as directed
Assist wholesale team with ullage procedure
Contribute ideas for new beers and improving processes
Attending beer festivals and meet the brewer events
Assisting with tours, brew schools and other in house events
Skills:
Safe lifting techniques
Good understanding of COSHH
Knowledge of the Craft Beer industry, welcome but not essential.
General knowledge of brewing science, welcome but not essential.
Risk Assessment
Record Keeping
Competencies:
Self Starter
Problem solver
Organisation
Prioritisation
Communication
Working under pressure
Relationships:
Direct Line Manager is the Brewer.
Please apply here with your CV, salary expectations and any questions you may have.Canadian lawmakers will be enacting new regulations allowing for the use and sale of hemp flowers, mainly for the purposes of CBD extraction. Growing industrial hemp has been legal in Canada with the exception of making use of the leaves and flower, which has high levels of cannabidiol. “Because only trace amounts of cannabidiol are found in hemp stalks and seeds, much of the value of Canada’s hemp crop currently goes in the trash.” The new regulations will boost the nation's already thriving hemp industry.
Jenn Larry of the Montreal-based consulting company CBD Strategy Group stated, “We’ve been growing hemp forever, and we’ve been throwing out the flowers forever, but now we can work with the whole plant. Right now, all eyes are on Canada when it comes to hemp.”
Canada grew approximately 120,000 acres of hemp in 2017 — which is about ten times more than the US grew during the same time period. Considering Canada’s impending legalization of marijuana next summer, this was a wise move to make. Some estimate the Canadian hemp market alone to be worth over $1 billion by 2023.President Donald Trump answers a question from the press about discussion of the tax bill, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
President Donald Trump answers a question from the press about discussion of the tax bill, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington. AP Photo - Jacquelyn Martin
THE Trump Organization in New York is reportedly worth one tenth of the value it previously claimed.
Donald Trump's family business had previously ranked near the top of Crain's New York Business' list of largest privately held companies.
But this year it has fallen from number three to number 40 after the President disclosed the organisation's revenue to federal regulators.
While the Trump Organization claimed $9.5bn (£7.2bn) in sales last year, Mr Trump's public filings suggest revenues of less than a tenth of that amount, between $600m (£450m) and $700m (£530m).
The Crain's reporter who covered the story suggested to WYNC that he felt he had been misled following the revelation.
"It was obviously important to Donald to have his company at the top of the list and I don't know why he felt that way but the numbers that he presented are just flagrantly untrue," Aaron Elstein said.
It comes after a YouGov poll revealed the President's signature hotel chain sat near the bottom of customer perception rankings.
Republicans were found to hold low positive opinions about Trump Hotels and Resorts, while independents and Democrats held negative views, with Democrats having the lowest perceptions.
Ethics experts have warned Mr Trump's global financial holdings could clash with his public duties.The 1931 Cadillac 355A was an improved version of its predecessor the 353. The 355 series Cadillac retained the same L head sidevalve V8 engine of 353cu in capacity producing 95bhp. In the interests of achieving minimal engine vibrations the V8 was mounted using the same five point mounting system as the larger V16 Cadillac engine. The gearbox was a three speed synchromesh unit. The cars were made in two door coupé and convertible styles, and in four door convertible, sedan, town car and limousine body styles. The 355 had a number of improvements over the 353 including an all metal floor pan, the battery and tool box area being moved to a location under the front seat. The radiator was mounted lower and a condensation tank was added to it.
The car we are featuring is up for auction on Bring A Trailer and you’ll find the auction page if you click here.
At time of writing the current bid was USD$10,000 and there were over six days left for the auction to run.
This 1931 Cadillac appears to be largely original other than having been painted some years ago. Most original parts are in place and the car has a set of Pilot Ray self steering driving lights which were most likely a factory fitted option. Pilot Ray self steering headlights having made their first appearance as factory fitted optional equipment with Packard and Cadillac as early as 1928 and certainly by 1930.
You’ll find an interesting page on the Pilot Ray driving lights if you click here.
The Pilot Ray self steering driving lights precede the similar lights that appeared on the Citroën DS21 and later by a three decades.
The Pilot Ray lights were intended to be used in conjunction with the car’s headlights. Typically when the driving lights were switched on the vehicle’s parking lights would be turned off to conserve the power coming from the generator. Thus used the driver would have the benefit of having the road ahead illuminated but also having lights shining in the direction into which he/she was turning.
A Cadillac 355A such as this one currently up for auction is a very attractive “project car” for someone looking for a thirties vintage luxury car. Fully restored the car could become quite valuable. To see an auction result from RM Sotherby’s of a similar but properly restored car in 2006 click here.
The interior of this Cadillac 355A roadster is quite complete and will look a lot better even with just a good detailing clean up. The added advantage is that the old upholstery and fittings can be used as patterns for the creation of a new interior.
All in all this 1931 Cadillac 355A Roadster has a lot of potential. It is likely to be a car that is worth investing time effort and money into.
Jon Branch is the founder and senior editor of Revivaler and has written a significant number of articles for various publications including official Buying Guides for eBay, classic car articles for Hagerty, magazine articles for both the Australian Shooters Journal and the Australian Shooter, and he’s a long time contributor to Silodrome. Jon has done radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews on various issues, and has traveled extensively, having lived in Britain, Australia, China and Hong Kong. His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. He has studied the Japanese sword arts and has a long history of involvement in the shooting sports, which has included authoring submissions to government on various firearms related issues and assisting in the design and establishment of shooting ranges.Prop. 8 proponents say Brown 'profoundly wrong'
Attorney General Jerry Brown talks to reporters in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger remains silent about whether he will sign or veto the state budget lawmakers approved early Tuesday, raising the possibility of a rare override veto in the legislature. The last time lawmakers mounted a successful override was 1979, when Brown was governor. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) less Attorney General Jerry Brown talks to reporters in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger remains silent about whether he will sign or veto the state budget lawmakers approved... more Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Prop. 8 proponents say Brown 'profoundly wrong' 1 / 1 Back to Gallery
State Attorney General Jerry Brown was "profoundly wrong" and "invented an entirely new theory" when he urged the California Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8's same-sex marriage ban on the basis that voters can't be allowed to overturn fundamental liberties, attorneys for the measure said Monday.
Brown's reasoning would confer upon the state Supreme Court power it has never had, attorneys Kenneth Starr and Andrew Pugno said in their response to the attorney general's December brief.
Brown "is inviting this court to declare a constitutional revolution," the attorneys argued in the 29-page response. "His extra-constitutional vision is one of unprecedented judicial hegemony, a sweeping power vested in the least-democratic branch that overrides the precious right of the people to determine how they will be governed."
Prop. 8, passed by voters 52 to 48 percent in November, was a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as being between one man and one woman. It was designed to overturn the state Supreme Court's decision in May that called marriage a constitutional right and opened the way for an estimated 18,000 same-sex marriages in California.
Prop. 8 was challenged by opponents of the marriage ban immediately after the election. But Brown, the state's top lawyer, raised the stakes when he took the unusual step of refusing to defend the voter-passed initiative in court and instead challenged it on his own constitutional grounds.
Because the court's May ruling equated a person's right to marry with the rights to liberty and privacy, it should be recognized as an inalienable right that voters can't generally overturn, Brown said in his brief.
It would be "tyranny of the majority" to allow such rights to be taken away by a simple majority vote, he said, arguing that such an action is "inconsistent with the guarantees of individual liberty in the state Constitution."
But Prop. 8 proponents said Monday that Brown was carving out law where none existed. They argued that if the attorney general's argument prevailed, it would be virtually impossible for voters to amend the state Constitution whenever the courts determined that inalienable rights were involved.
"The attorney general's theory would fundamentally alter the role of the California judiciary," said the attorneys for ProtectMarriage.com, the official proponents of Prop. 8.
"If the (initiative) process is done correctly, once the Constitution is changed, that's the document the judges work from," Pugno said in an interview. "This would put the court above the reach of the people when it came to amending the Constitution."
But Brown refused to back away from his stand, arguing that concerns about individual rights can and should trump the initiative process in most cases.
"People have a right to amend the Constitution," he said in an interview Monday. "But when it comes to dealing with basic liberties, they should have to demonstrate a compelling interest that it needs to be done for the good of the community."
In his brief, Brown did not challenge the validity of Prop. 8 itself, arguing against legal challenges by opponents who called the initiative a wide-ranging revision of the Constitution rather than a simple amendment. He did, however, support the validity of the 18,000 marriages that took place while same-sex weddings were legal in the state.
Prop. 8 supporters have asked the high court to void those marriages.
In a reply brief filed Monday, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera challenged the arguments made by Prop. 8 supporters, arguing that they want the court to issue "a blank check to discriminate - a judicial declaration of open season on disfavored minority groups."
Herrera's brief, filed on behalf of 15 local governments and seven married couples, is part of a flood of legal papers expected to be filed in the next few weeks as parties on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate rush to put their ideas in front of the state Supreme Court.
By Jan. 21, attorneys both for and against Prop. 8 will file their final briefs, which the court will consider before a hearing on the case, which could come as soon as March.Bharti Airtel has taken its war against Reliance Jio to the next step and filed a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) accusing the Mukesh Ambani-led firm of predatory pricing, and anti-competitive behaviour.
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According to a report in the Financial Express, the complaint was filed on February 2. It should be noted that Airtel, Idea Cellular have already gone to the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) alleging that TRAI is favouring newcomer Jio by allowing it to continue with its free data offer. Reliance Jio has extended the free data, voice calls, SMS offer till March 31 2017, from the earlier limit of December 31. Jio had also filed a complaint with CCI in November 2016, and the body has asked its director-general (investigation) to look into the matter, adds the report.
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The latest complaint by Airtel alleges, “No other telecommunication operator in the Indian market (or even across the world) is offering services free of cost or any free unlimited voice calling on the network of other operators, offering free voice calls cannot be said to meet the competition and fall under the exception. The same is predatory.”
Bharti Airtel has accused Jio of abusing its dominant position and argued there is “probability of further extension,” of the company’s free offer for services. Jio is operating independent of market forces and is abusing its dominance as an enterprise, Bharti has claimed. The free offer’s objective is the injuring rival telecom operators and creating a monopoly, adds the complaint.
Also read: Reliance Jio wants TRAI to ‘impose highest penalty’ on Airtel over ‘misleading’ ads
In December 2016, Airtel moved the telecom dispute tribunal TDSAT against TRAI allowing for Reliance Jio to continue free promotional offer beyond stipulated 90 days. In its 25-page petition, Airtel had asked the quasi-judicial body to direct TRAI to ensure that Jio does not provide its free voice and data plan beyond December 3.
It alleged violation of TRAI’s tariff orders has been continuing, causing “significant prejudice and day-to-day loss” to it and “affecting its network” as it has to bear asymmetric traffic due to the free call offer by Jio.
In January 2017, it was reported that Reliance Jio has asked telecom regulator TRAI to “impose highest penalty” on Airtel, accusing the latter of grossly exaggerating the value of data in a promotional offer, and giving misleading tariff ads.
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Jio alleged the advertisements issued by Airtel over the pre-paid and post-paid tariff packs of unlimited calls and free data are in “gross violation of extant telecommunication laws”. However in a statement, Airtel said, “We are not aware of any such complaint. All our tariff plans are fully compliant with the prevailing regulations.”
With agency inputsToday I randomly ran across a two year old comment I left on Katya’s Non-Profit Marketing Blog. Katya Andresen’s colleague Jono Smith had written a post arguing for nonprofit fundraisers to appeal to “the heart, not the head” when approaching donors.
Smith wrote: Feelings, not analytical thinking, drive donations. According to a new study (PDF link) conducted by Deborah Small, a Wharton marketing professor, and colleagues George Loewenstein & Paul Slovic, if organizations want to raise money for a charitable cause, it is far better to appeal to the heart than to the head. From Knowledge@Wharton One pitch for charity described the needs of Rokia, a young girl in Africa who is desperately poor and faces starvation. Another pitch talks about food shortages affecting more than three million children, many of whom are homeless. Which pitch is more effective? Not surprisingly, it’s the first. That people would want to give money to identifiable victims like Rokia rather than unnamed famine victims may not seem all that surprising. But Small and her colleagues, in a series of field experiments, delved deeper into the issue of sympathy and how it relates to charitable giving. The researchers found that if people are presented with a personal case of an identifiable victim along with statistical data about similar victims caught up in a larger pattern of illness, hunger or neglect, overall donations actually decline. In addition, they found that if people are told about the inconsistent levels of sympathy evoked by identifiable and statistical victims—the “identifiable victim effect,” in the words of the researchers—people reduce their giving to identifiable victims but do not increase their giving to statistical victims.
This study is also highlighted in the book I’m reading right now titled “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Some Die”. The book explains that when the analytical part of our brain is activated, even by unrelated math problems, our empathy/altruism declines. Essentially the authors argue that the analytical part of the brain is separate from the emotional part of the brain and when analytics are activated the intensity of our emotional reactions decline.
But this doesn’t mean that money is best raised by offering donors empty emotional calls to action! The authors of Made to Stick are focused on what makes ideas have an impact on people and stay with them (from urban legends to Jared the Subway Diet Guy to The Girl Effect Video). Their point is not that people are best manipulated by emotions, it is that humans are better at absorbing and preserving certain types of information better than others.
One of the best ways that humans process information is when it is presented in a story format. Good stories offer compelling evidence for their underlying truth. But not by bombarding the listener with statistics. Instead good stories use narrative to build a convincing case.
This idea is often summed up in the philanthropy world as “No Stories Without Numbers and No Numbers Without Stories” (I’ve said this myself in the past). But I think this is actually wrong. Numbers are not the key. In fact the evidence suggests numbers may be the wrong way to go in this case. I think instead it is No Stories Without Truth and No Truth Without Stories.
The reason the Rokia Study bothers some people is it seems to imply that we should just feed donors tear jerker stories to get them to open their wallet. Instead, I think the message is that when you are trying to convince someone of the importance of a philanthropic effort, you should figure out how to present the truthful core of your message in a story format. It is only authentic stories that hold real truths about the world that “stick” over time. These kinds of stories are like wonderful, filling meals compared to the artificially flavored “candy” of the tear jerker that is just meant to extract money from donors.Currently, we index more than 22 million Life Sciences research abstracts at SciCurve. With the help of natural language processing and data mining, we are able to provide you with helpful information. Today, we would like to show you how to determine the most investigated factors for prostate cancer development, using SciCurve map view. The map view takes the top 1000 articles for given topic and places them on the map, generating clusters of articles with semantically similar focus.
Lets start with query: “increases risk of” prostate cancer. We will get a map like this one:
The age and relevance of published articles is visualized as color and size of nods representing them. As you can see, the map contains a lot of topics regarding cancer therapy. Also the deprivation cluster is mainly focused on “androgen deprivation therapy”. You can find this when you open the link and hover over the bubble in the map like this:
This is somehow useful, but we can improve our query. We should exclude articles about therapy using query: “increases risk of” prostate cancer -therapy. We will get a map like this:
Asa result we can observe main factors considered to affect the development of prostate cancer (you can evaluate them further by hovering over papers and checking titles). Here is the list:
CAG repeat in androgen receptor
BRCA2 mutations
Vitamin D
Fatty acid
Selenium (not in the map but its dominant in one cluster; our technology is not perfect yet)
Several polymorphisms
Vasectomy
And of course, family history
Below the graph, we can view the table of newest and most relevant research papers published for given factors:
We believe, that tools for easy interpretation of scientific results could reduce the occurrence of uninformed opinions in public debate. Simplified, yet standardized, communication of relevant scientific knowledge to the world, is the core value of SciCurve.com. We are working on simplifying the search and the use of our tools. Our target is to bring global research closer to general public and relevant meta-data to professionals.
If you would like to engage in any kind of cooperation with SciCurve.com, please contact us at: support@scicurve.com
We value your support greatly.Flights are booked, and boards are shipped. As a projected 35-to-40-foot ocean swell moves toward South America, the ASP Big Wave World Tour (BWWT) has called a green alert for the Billabong Pico Alto, Peru. The event, which will be the first of the 2014/2015 season, is set to start Thursday, July 3, at 9:00am local time with a Dawn Patrol broadcast beginning at 8:45am PET. The Billabong Pico Alto will stream LIVE on this site.
"The system has intensified off of Antarctica with ideal conditions projected for Peru," said BWWT Commissioner Peter Mel. "After closely monitoring the data and charts of the past couple of days, we have determined that Peru will have the ideal elements necessary for this particular swell. We're excited. It's on."
ASP's inaugural BWWT season set to launch July 3. WSL
The 2014/2015 BWWT season is divided into seasonal holding periods in the Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere, with three possible events in each. Forecasters discovered a storm heading toward South America, and put BWWT competitions in both Chile and Peru on Yellow Alert. With the positive developments closer to Pico Alto over the last 24 hours, Mel put Chile back on standby, and gave the go-ahead for Peru.
"We have the best big wave surfers on the planet traveling to Peru from all over the world in anticipation of this swell and the event," Mel continued. "The last time we ran the event there was in 2012 and Carlos Burle, of Brazil, was victorious. The swell we have forming for Thursday's event will provide an incredible platform upon which these watermen will test their skills."
A team of experts tracks storm systems around the world, waiting for those that will produce waves 30 feet and up, to determine if a BWWT contest will run.
Carlos Burle (BRA) (left) defeated Frank Solomon (ZAF) for the 2011 Pico Alto title. WSL
Surfline, official forecaster for the 2014/2015 ASP BWWT season, is calling for the following conditions:
The largest swell of the year to date, and one of the more impressive swells of the last couple years, will slam South America over the next few days, with a peak in surf for Southern Peru and Pico Alto on Thursday, July 3rd.
Surfline projects powerful swell to hit Peru Thursday, July 3. WSL
There are several factors that will make this a special swell for Peru and the rest of South America: A large, slow-moving storm that took a favorable track toward Peru and Chile, producing satellite-confirmed wind of 40-55 knots over a wide fetch and seas in excess of 45 feet; strong high pressure on the storm's northwestern flank, which greatly aids the consistency of wind in the storm; and a previously excited sea state.
We will see a very long period, powerful swell produce face heights in the 25-40 foot range on the sets at Pico Alto on Thursday, with some larger bombs not out of the question, with the swell remaining strong all day. Furthermore, thanks to the size and track of the storm we should see lots of waves in the sets when they do show. Local wind will be most favorable in the morning when we expect to see light and variable to light southerly wind early, with building onshore wind from the south around 9-15 knots in the afternoon.
The 24-man field for the Billabong Pico Alto will be comprised of the ASP BWWT Top 12, lead by reigning world champion Grant 'Twiggy' Baker (ZAF), as well as six ASP wildcards and six local wildcards.
ASP BWWT Top 12:
1. Grant Baker (ZAF)
2. Ken Collins (USA)
3. Nic Lamb (USA)
4. Shawn Dollar (USA)
5. Kohl Christensen (HAW)
6. Alex Gray (USA)
7. Greg Long (USA)
8. Ryan Augenstein (USA)
9. Anthony Tashnick (USA)
10. Ramon Navarro (CHL)
11. Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
12. Tyler Fox (USA)
ASP BWWT Peru Wildcards:
1 Kelly Slater (USA)
2 Ben Wilkinson (AUS)
3 Makua Rothman (HAW)
4 Jamie Sterling (HAW)
5 Carlos Burle (BRA)
6 Gabriel Villaran (PER)
Local Peru Wildcards
1 Miguel Tudela
2 Rafael Velarde
3 Kodiak Semsch
4 Tamil Martino
5 Alejo Loret Del Mola
6 Renzo Zazzali
ASP will webcast the Billabong Pico Alto LIVE on Thursday.Candidate: Z.A.C.
Date: 29 March 23 CLE
OBSERVATION
Doors fling open as a green ball of slime whooshes past them and splats onto the floors of the Institute of War. For a moment, all is still. Then, the goo squeezes itself closer and tighter together. Within a few seconds, it has sprouted arms and legs. Its gelatinous feet press firmly against the marble floor; its torso bends and stretches into an upright position. The armsnow muscular and developed--swim through the blob up to the shoulder stubs. A head pops up from the slime, a neck shortly after. The figure reaches backwards, and then bends forwards to touch its feet. Rising up to its full height, the creation takes its first breath. Immediately, it is aware of the limestone and mold nestled in the cracks and corners of the hallway. It saunters over to the walls. They coldly cackle and creek in his presence. A wave of uncertainty washes over Zac. This place, although alien to him, feels so disapproving of his presence, yet familiar at the same time. Why?
Finally approaching the doors of the Reflection Chamber, Zac cant help but tremble in fear. He racks his brain for something, anything, that might comfort him, that might give him insight, but nothing particular comes to mind. Suddenly, the double doors open for him. It is time. He steps calmly into the darkness ahead.
REFLECTION
Before Zac could make sense of his surroundings, a light voice intruded his thoughts. Your memories
My memories?
Yes. What do you remember, creation of Zaun?
I I am the result of a breakthrough in science and technology. I am the product of genius minds, of devoted hearts.
Anything else?
The question, although plain, caught Zac off guard. Welluhno.
You dont remember anything from before?
From before when?
How fascinating Was there a hint of astonishment in the voices tone?
Wha
Shh. A robed hand shot out of the darkness. The index finger of it rested gently on Zacs forehead.
Zac opened his mouth to speak, but something told him not to. So he examined the shadowed face that was now in front of him, the cowl that wrapped its fine silk around the humans cranium. It was a summoner, he realized. And a male one at that.
The summoner allowed a crease of a smirk to spread across his thin lips. I see He removed his finger from the still bewildered Zac.
Was that it? Was that the test?
Another smile. Oh, no. Your test is merely beginning. He pauses, then continues, I didnt think it was possible. But I understand now. These memories of which I speak of They are still inside you.
Zac froze. A long silence passed between summoner and champion. A million fantasies and questions passed through his head; he didnt even notice the summoner had his back to him. We are going to explore these memories, right now.
Do I have a choice?
The summoner turned to face him. Electricity sparked from his hands. The last thing Zac heard as the figure plunged his palms into him was, Unfortunately for you, no. His vision quickly blotted out to white.
*****
The first thing Zac noticed as he came to was the uncomfortable feeling of restraint. His arms felt compressed and heavy. He realized with a start that his legs however, felt as light as a feather. Upon glancing down, he was terrified at the fact that he had no legs!
He gasped for air, but nothing happened. He tried to move away, but couldnt. It was then that he realized he was living someone elses memory. But whose was it?
The figure went up to some of the Leagues champions: Tryndamere, Twisted Fate, Ashe, and Chogath. Zac peered around in the memory, but he couldnt find Shyvana, or Vayne. He began to wonder. How long ago is this memory?
Tryndamere was pointing to the right now. The figure must have asked him a question. All of a sudden, Zac was tingling with excitement. He was going to see Jax! Jax, the most impressive champion of the League, because he was only allowed to use a lamp post for a real weapon! How admirable!
Zac blinked. Wait. Those weren't my thoughts. Before he could make sense of things, the scene shifted. It was dark now. Eerie fog clung to the bushes and ground all around Summoners Rift. The mind of the memory was content, after all, he really did meet Jax and get to talk to him. After a day of hanging out with the Leagues Champions, it was nice to sit under the stars of the living, breathing Rift.
Suddenly, there was a flash of blue. It was so fast Zac thought he had imagined it. Then he saw the red eyes peering out of the brush. Fear engulfed him as he watched a bloodthirsty wolf tear into the figure in the memory. Blood splattered everywhere; when Zac looked down he could see fountains of blood gushing to the ground.
Zac couldnt bear to watch the poor champion-to-be get slaughtered. Stop, he yelled out. Stop this! I cant watch anymore!
As if on command, the scene shifted. There was a memorial service for the fallen champion. Champions stood teary eyed. Another scene. A crazy scientist getting dragged away, screaming, I can fix him! I can bring him back to life! It doesnt have to be this way! Yet another memory passed by Zacs eyes. A shadowed figure, arms crossed, staring down at a cowering, quivering scientist. A menacing threat was obviously spoken, for the scientist nodded his head rapidly, then scampered off to his lab.
More visions. The scientist from before was ragged, his clothes torn and dirty. He slumped onto the lab station, burying his face in his arms. I-I cant do it In a fit of rage, he thrashed his arms to the side. Flasks shattered and test tubes crashed to the ground. The memory focused on one as it fell. It had, DNA SAMPLE. HANDLE WITH CARE written on it sloppily.
Hundreds more memories passed through his eyes, but Zac couldnt concentrate on any of them. At last, they all subsided, except for one, which rose above the rest. It was the scientist again. He had collapsed to the ground, although not in pain. He was laughing. Smiling. He brought a flask to his face, gleaming with satisfaction. Ive done it! Hahahaha! Yes Ive brought Urf back to life! But not as a wimpy fighter. No. He is superior! He is the Ultimate Weapon of destruction!
Zacs mind began to race. Something was terribly wrong. He willed the memory to bring him closer to the flask, to see what was inside it. There, to Zacs anguish, was green goo. It glowed and bounced around in the flask. It was him, inside that very flask! A solution, created from a dead champion and a withered scientist!
A terrible pain engulfed Zac. He could no longer tolerate the memories. He shut his eyes tightly, held his head in his hands, and willed the visions to stop.
After what seemed like an eternity, Zac opened his eyes to the Reflection Chamber, with the awe-struck Summoner gaping at him. So its true then. You are Urf.
Zac dropped his hands, which then curled into fists. He could hardly keep his composure. Im not Urf! I dont remember any of that! And I wouldnt have if it wasnt for you and your summoner mind tricks! His voice was shaky.
The summoner observed him, slunk around him. Delicately, he breathed the last words of the test to Zac. How does it feel, having your mind exposed before you?
Zac let the sadness of what he'd seen finally take over. He sunk to the ground, weeping. Im a monster A monster.Coming Soon
AJ and the Queen
RuPaul stars in this outrageous series as a down-on-her-luck drag queen traveling across America in a van with a tough-talking 11-year-old stowaway.
Yankee
A young man from Texas crosses the border into Mexico and becomes an infamous drug lord.
ReMastered: The Lion's Share
A journalist seeking the author of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" discovers the story of Solomon Linda and finds his family living in the slums of Soweto.
Love Alarm
A software developer creates an app that alerts users if anyone nearby harbors romantic feelings for them. Adapted from the popular web cartoon.
Dolly Parton's Heartstrings
The Ghost Bride
In 1890s Malacca, a young woman finds herself in the afterlife and becomes mired in a murder mystery connected to the deceased son of a wealthy family.
Daybreak
Navigating a post-apocalyptic world full of zombies and Mad Max-style gangs, a teenage outcast searches for his lost love in this humorous drama series.
No Good Nick
A family finds their lives turned upside down when a young, street-smart grifter shows up on their doorstep, claiming to be a distant relative.In the wake of this week’s historic vote to legalize marijuana in Colorado, the state’s three Democratic U.S. House members are drafting legislation aimed at easing the tension between the new state law and longstanding federal prohibition of the drug.
Congressional staffers told the Independent that Colorado Reps Diana DeGette (CD1), Ed Perlmutter (CD7) and Jared Polis (CD2) are working independently and together on bills that would exempt states where pot has been legalized from the Controlled Substances Act.
DeGette Chief of Staff Lisa Cohen told the Independent that proposals the representatives are working on would alter section 903 of the act to allow states to establish their own marijuana laws free from federal preemption.
Colorado’s Amendment 64 passed by a wide margin on Election Day. It legalizes adult use and possession here and would establish retail marijuana sales.
The state legalized medical marijuana years ago and the industry has boomed in recent years.
Rep Polis introduced a bill in 2011 that would have exempted the state from federal interference but that bill failed to pass.
News that the lawmakers were working now on exemption appeared this morning in a Denver Post editorial.
Washington state also legalized marijuana on Tuesday, and the spokespeople for Perlmutter and DeGette told the Independent the lawmakers expect to gain support for their proposal on the Hill by working with the Washington State delegation, congressional representatives from medical marijuana states, as well as a broader coalition of representatives who believe in greater states’ rights or who support easing federal marijuana laws.
They added that the Democratic lawmakers will also reach out to Colorado’s two Democratic senators and its four Republican congressmen.
“Ed feels it is important to align state and federal laws whenever possible and he has been working on this for weeks,” said Perlmutter Spokesperson Leslie Oliver. “When state and federal laws conflict on marijuana, Ed thinks states should get a waiver.
“There are a lot of people in Congress who think that states should be able to decide such things for themselves,” she said this morning by phone.
Oliver said a lot of the opposition to Amendment 64 was centered on the state-federal conflict and the difficulty of implementing a state law that conflicts with federal law.
“This [news] is outstanding,” said marijuana attorney and activist Rob Corry. “I am just ecstatic that our congressional delegation is taking the lead on this and getting on it right away.”
[ Image of Rep Diana DeGette courtesy of the Congresswoman’s House site.]Brisbane Lions Senior Coach Chris Fagan and new recruit Luke Hodge spoke to media for the first time together since Hodge was traded to the Club last month.
Hodge's desire to take up Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan's offer of continuing his career outweighed the romanticism of being a one-club player, where he had won four flags and established himself as a champion.
During Hodge's appearance with the media on Wednesday, he recognised that those close to him were caught surprised by his decision.
"I had so many family and friends turn up as well, and they abused me after I made the |
a statement. White rhinos are thought to be able to live up to 40 or 50 years. An autopsy is under way, but officials are certain poachers did not kill Suni, as the animal was monitored around the clock. (See "1,000+ Rhinos Poached in 2013: Highest in Modern History.")
The death of the rare creature, which had not fathered any offspring, leaves only six northern white rhinos left on Earth, including just one male of that subspecies. The southern white rhino, a related subspecies, is considered near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Born at the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic, Suni had been an emblem of hope: He was one of four of the world's eight remaining northern rhinos sent to the Kenyan conservancy in 2009 as part of a last-ditch effort to save the critically endangered subspecies.
So far, it hasn't worked. "It's a shame the subspecies got to that point—that's the worst-case scenario in trying to bring back a subspecies," said Matthew Lewis, senior program officer for African species conservation at WWF.
The northern white rhinoceros is a "victim of evolution," Lewis added—it was a remnant population cut off from the southern white rhinoceros by the Great Rift Valley and the dense forests of Central Africa.
Already isolated and occurring in low numbers, the northern subspecies got caught up in political turmoil in Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda, and its numbers quickly dwindled because of poaching and habitat loss. (Related: "Why African Rhinos Are Facing a Crisis.")
"Not Just Another Charismatic Animal"
With just one breeding male left, the outlook for the subspecies is grim. Stuart Pimm, a conservation ecologist at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, now considers the animal basically extinct.
That "we've lost [the subspecies] is a statement of just how bad off large animals are across Africa," said Pimm, who is also a contributor to National Geographic's News Watch blog. "It's a measure of the fact that rhinos are being massively poached and in trouble wherever they are."
From African lions to elephants, many of the continent's megafauna species are plummeting in number due to poaching and other human causes. (See a map of the international illegal trade in rhinos.)
"It also means we're losing this distinctive, important animal within the savanna ecosystem," he said.
Rhinoceroses are key to keeping grasslands healthy, as they eat—and keep in check—particular species of savanna plants.
"It's not just another charismatic animal—it's also a species that has a very clear ecological role, and we need to be very worried that we have lost that," Pimm said.
View Images Suni takes a walk in November 2010 at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where he moved in 2009 from his birthplace in the Czech Republic. Photograph by Barcroft Media, Getty Images
Rhino Lessons
The story of the northern white rhinoceros is "a fantastic lesson on what not to do, and how we need to avoid getting to this point with the other rhinos," Lewis noted.
The black rhinoceros, which has four subspecies, is doing relatively well, though widespread poaching for the animals' horns, which are used in Asian traditional medicine, continues to flourish, he said.
Conservationists are now focusing their efforts on ensuring the safety of these animals and reducing the demand for rhino horn in Asian countries such as Vietnam. (Read "Rhino Wars" in National Geographic magazine.)
But scientists aren't ready to give up on the northern white rhino entirely, he added.
For instance, if the last breeding male doesn't mate, scientists may be able to breed the northern white rhino females with the southern subspecies.
That would preserve some of the genes of the northern white rhino, even if the genes are mixed with those of their relative.
And the Ol Pejeta Conservancy is still on the case.
"We will continue to do what we can to work with the remaining three animals on Ol Pejeta," the reserve said in a statement, "in the hope that our efforts will one day result in the successful birth of a northern white rhino calf."Getty Images
The Lions and Patriots can work easily together, since Lions General Manager Bob Quinn used to work with Bill Belichick.
And now they’ve swapped a starter, a week ahead of the trade deadline.
In a deal that was broken by more ESPN reporters than people involved, the Lions sent linebacker Kyle Van Noy to New England. The compensation was not disclosed.
The former second-round pick from BYU in 2014 had finally moved into the starting lineup this year, starting all seven games.
The Patriots have a track record of taking other people’s misfits and making them contributors, which will give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.
The Patriots previously sent linebacker Jon Bostic to Detroit, and he’s on injured reserve with a foot injury (though he could return).FreeBSD 11.0
FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system which tends to get a lot of use on servers. FreeBSD has a well-earned reputation for stability and for making incremental updates rather than large, compatibility-breaking leaps. The latest release of FreeBSD is version 11.0. The new release features boot environments and support for guided installations on UFS and ZFS volumes. The project's updated system installer offers administrators a number of significant security features, including temporarily file clean-up, memory protections, PID randomization and hidden user processes.
FreeBSD 11.0 is available for several architectures, including ARM and both 32-bit and 64-bit x86 processors. In some cases we also have a choice of download sizes. For example, we can download CD-sized ISO files or larger ISO files that can be copied to a DVD or USB thumb drive. I decided to download the CD-sized (654MB) ISO for 64-bit x86 machines. I also downloaded the USB stick edition which was about 700MB in size.
Booting from the project's installation media brings up a text console where we are presented with a series of menus. The first menu gives us the choice of launching the project's system installer or dropping to a command line. FreeBSD's installer shows us a series of text menus and walks us through selecting our keyboard layout and setting a hostname. We are asked if we would like to enable optional system components like debugging information, documentation, third-party ports, system source code and 32-bit compatibility. I decided to start by installing documentation, ports and 32-bit libraries. Next we are brought to the partitioning section. We can choose to drop to a command line, manually divide up our disk with a series of menu screens or take one of two guided options. The installer supports guided UFS and ZFS configurations. UFS is FreeBSD's traditional file system which is relatively lightweight while ZFS offers more features such as file system snapshots, software RAID and disk mirroring. I took the guided ZFS option. I was then given the chance to set the size of my swap partition, set up RAID or mirrors and name my ZFS storage. The installer supports working with either MBR or GPT disk layouts.
The installer then copies the FreeBSD operating system to our hard disk and proceeds to walk us through additional configuration steps. We are asked to create a password for the root account, configure our network card and select our time zone from a list. We can also enable background services like network time synchronization, kernel dumps and the OpenSSH secure shell server. We can also enable security options such as hiding processes from other users, randomizing PIDs and disabling the mail service. We can then add additional user accounts to the system. The installer concludes by offering us a chance to go back and change our setting options or download the FreeBSD Handbook. With the install completed, we can reboot the computer to start using our new copy of FreeBSD 11.0.
I tried running FreeBSD 11.0 in two test environments, on a desktop computer and inside a VirtualBox virtual machine. FreeBSD worked fairly well as a VirtualBox guest. The system was quick to boot and ran smoothly. I did run into problems with my screen resolution which I will discuss later, but otherwise FreeBSD performed well in the virtual environment. The operating system did not work well with my desktop hardware. The installation media refused to boot at all when the desktop was in legacy BIOS mode. When I switched over to UEFI mode, the FreeBSD menu would show me a boot menu and then begin the boot process, but the operating system locked up while detecting hardware and failed to finish booting.
Booting the system begins by showing us the FreeBSD boot menu, which I will come back to later. The operating system then boots to a text console and presents us with a login prompt. We start off with a fairly minimal command line interface. We have access to the classic UNIX command line tools and manual pages. The system is quite light and fast, using around 100MB of memory when sitting at the command line. Later, when I had a desktop environment up and running, I found the operating system (with ZFS support and the Lumina desktop running) used about 430MB of RAM.
FreeBSD provides users with two methods of package management. The first, and probably most convenient for most users, is the pkg command line package manager. The pkg software manager offers a simple syntax for finding, installing, removing and upgrading applications. pkg has a syntax which is similar in style to APT on Debian and DNF on Fedora and works quickly. I found pkg worked well for me and I encountered no errors while using it. Alternatively, we can use FreeBSD's ports system to install third-party software. The ports collection provides recipes for installing and removing libraries and applications on FreeBSD. Since using ports means software is complied from its source code on our system, using ports takes a good deal more time than using pkg, but it also means we can customize out software a little and tweak options. FreeBSD has a robust collection of ports and package, with a little over 26,000 items available in the project's repositories.
FreeBSD keeps the core operating system logically separate from third-party packages. This means packages are generally located in different directories from the rest of the operating system and it means there are separate tools for upgrading and patching the operating system. To keep the core system up to date we use a tool called freebsd-update. I tried running the freebsd-update tool to check for new security updates, but ran into errors. Specifically, checking for updates would return the message, "Cannot identify running kernel". I also found the utility for checking the current version of the operating system, freebsd-version, would report it could not identify the running kernel. This seemed all the more strange because the uname command does correctly identify the running kernel.
One of the first things I wanted to do with FreeBSD was set up a desktop environment and a few applications. This required I install the Xorg packages and a preferred desktop. I decided to install Lumina, a fairly lightweight, Qt-based desktop. The Xorg software, Lumina and login manager (xdm) packages, when combined, made for a 960MB download. The FreeBSD Handbook has directions which explain which software needs to be installed and how to configure the services. I enabled the xdm display manager and made sure HAL and D-Bus were enabled as these are not set up for us automatically when the packages are installed. While I did get all the pieces in place, I ran into a few problems. For example, I could not sign into a desktop environment from the graphical login screen when the system booted and no error message was displayed. On the other hand, my user account was able to sign into the Lumina desktop environment by running startx from the command line.
FreeBSD 11.0 -- Running the Lumina desktop
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Once I got signed into the desktop environment and started added applications, I found my screen resolution was limited in the VirtualBox environment. The FreeBSD wiki has instructions for adding VirtualBox modules and improving display resolution. I tried the steps outlined in the wiki, but was unable to improve display resolution above 1024x768 pixels.
When I last experimented with FreeBSD 10.3, one of the features which held a lot of promise was boot environments. A boot environment uses file system snapshots to save the state of the operating system. We can then roll back the operating system to an earlier point in time. TrueOS and openSUSE both enable boot environments by default and it means if any package update or configuration change breaks the system, we can reboot to revert the change. FreeBSD 10.3 introduced boot environments and they worked while the system was running, but it was not possible to select alternative boot environments from the operating system's boot menu. This greatly reduced the effectiveness of boot environments as a rescue tool.
FreeBSD 11.0, when installed on a ZFS storage pool, should support boot environments, but I ran into a number of issues while trying to use them. The first thing the user needs to do is install the boot environment admin tool, beadm. Once beadm has been installed from the FreeBSD package repositories, we can try to create snapshots of our operating system. At first I was unable to get beadm to work. When attempting to create new snapshots beadm returned errors and reported there was no entropy file present.
A little poking around revealed that the /boot directory was just a symbolic link to a location which did not exist. I set up the missing /boot directory and was then able to create boot environments. However, then I ran into a few other problems. At start-up time, I was unable to select alternative boot environments from the boot menu as no snapshots were listed in the boot menu. Once the operating system was up and running, I was able to use beadm to set a specific snapshot to use the next time the system was restarted. Unfortunately, selecting any but the default boot environment would cause the system to fail to boot properly. FreeBSD could not connect to the network when booting alternative snapshots and failed to reach the login prompt. The only way I could find to restore the system to a working state was to boot in rescue mode and switch the active boot environment back to the default option.
Earlier I mentioned there was no /boot directory on my system when I started using it and this appeared to be related to a variety of other issues. The lack of /boot directory meant there was no /boot/loader.conf file, which meant early on I was unable to set certain system parameters, at least until I had manually created the /boot directory. I also ran into warnings when the system was starting that no entropy file was present and data could not be written to the /dev/random file, which I suspect meant my system was not safely generating random numbers. As I mentioned earlier, tools such as freebsd-update and freebsd-version were unable to detect my kernel version and I suspect this was related to the missing /boot directory. Though even after this directory had been created, these two programs still failed to work.
FreeBSD 11.0 -- Hiding other users' processes
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Conclusions
There were definitely some attractive features in FreeBSD 11.0. I especially enjoyed the changes to the system installer. The ability to set up UFS and ZFS through a series of guided steps was a welcome feature. I also really appreciate that the installer will allow us to enable certain security features like PID randomization and hiding the processes of other users. Linux distributions allow the administrator to set these options, but they often require digging through documentation and setting cryptic variables from the command line. FreeBSD makes enabling these features as straight forward as checking a box during the initial installation.
I also like how pkg has progressed. I think it has become faster in the past year or two and handled dependencies better than it did when the new package manager was introduced. In addition, FreeBSD's documentation is as good as ever, though I feel it has become more scattered. There were times I would find what I wanted in the Handbook, but other times I had to switch to the wiki or dig through a man page. The information is out there, but it can take some searching to find.
Other aspects of running FreeBSD were more disappointing. For example, I had hoped to find boot environments working and accessible from the boot menu. However, progress seems to have reversed in this area as switching boot environments prevented the system from loading. There were some other issues, for example I was unable to login from the graphical login screen, but I could access the Lumina desktop by signing into my account from the command line and launching an X session.
Hardware was a weak point in my experiment. FreeBSD did not work on my desktop machine at all in BIOS mode and failed to boot from installation media in UEFI mode. When running in a VirtualBox environment, the operating system did much better. FreeBSD was able to boot, play sound and run smoothly, but screen resolution was limited, even after VirtualBox modules had been installed and enabled.
Perhaps my biggest concern though while using FreeBSD 11.0 was that I could not update the base operating system, meaning it would be difficult to keep the system patched against security updates. Even once I had manually created a /boot directory to fix the boot environment creation issue, freebsd-update and freebsd-version continued to fail to detect the running kernel. This leaves the system vulnerable and means our best chance for keeping up with security updates is to manually install them from source code, not an ideal situation.
All in all, FreeBSD 11.0 does have some interesting new features, but it also has several bugs which make me want to hold off on using the operating system until a point release has been made available to fix the existing issues. * * * * * Hardware used in this review
My physical test equipment for this review was a desktop HP Pavilon p6 Series with the following specifications: Processor: Dual-core 2.8GHz AMD A4-3420 APU
Storage: 500GB Hitachi hard drive
Memory: 6GB of RAM
Networking: Realtek RTL8111 wired network card
Display: AMD Radeon HD 6410D video cardUpdate: Apparently, the numbers in the source, cited in the original article, represented only the online smartphone market in China for the month of April. Another statistic is available, which analyzes the offline market distribution for the same month and the figures there are markedly different.
Oppo is the leader in this respect with a market share of 13.3% of a total of 30.97M devices sold. Xiaomi, which is the undisputed champ in online sales, has a minor 2.9% piece of the offline pie. Apple has a more balanced presence in both markets (11.9% offline, 8.2% online) and gets 11.0% of the overall smartphone market.
Now, Oppo has fallen into the "others" category in the online statistic, so it's hard to say exactly what percentage of the total market the company occupies. However, if we logically assume that in the online market its share is lower than the 3.2% of the lowest ranking named company (Samsung), it won't be able to pass Apple for top spot. Next comes Huawei, with 9.5% total.
Original article follows:
Xiaomi is once again the leader of the Chinese smartphone market, which incidentally is also the biggest in the world. Not only that, but Xiaomi has managed to achieve a record-breaking 26% market share in April, according to research conducted by a local firm. This result was proudly shared on Weibo by Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun.
The second best selling brand in China is Honor with 15.7% of the market, though if we count it together with parent brand Huawei that jumps to 23.7%, so pretty close to the No.1. Coming in third is LeEco, which has climbed to 10.5% of the market in record time (considering its entry into the smartphone space happened just over a year ago).
Apple has 8.2% market share, Meizu gets 7%, 360 has 4.5%, while Samsung is only at 3.2% amazingly. That said, the Others category is pretty big at 17.1%.
While Xiaomi's achievement isn't one to be ignored, do keep in mind that these numbers are for only one month of phone sales, and things can look rather different when taking into account a whole quarter or the full year.
Source (in Chinese) | ViaThe American Pastors Network’s Sam Rohrer appeared on TheDove TV’s “Focus Today” program this morning, where he and host Perry Atkinson asserted that “the lack of respect” being shown toward President Trump is a sign of lawlessness that is a precursor to the rise of the Antichrist.
Atkinson said that there are forces in the culture and the media that are intentionally sowing disorder, lawlessness and chaos, which Rohrer said is proof that “the Battle of the Ages is unfolding before our very eyes.”
“Lawlessness is what the devil, Satan, is attempting to create,” Rohrer said, explaining that the “enemies of Christ”—by which he meant globalists, Islam, and the cultural “establishment”—are “all working together” because “they hate God, they hate the Constitution, they despise Jesus Christ, they want to destroy Israel and the United States and they are using chaos and division as their way of creating the circumstances … out of which will come the Antichrist.”
“These things that we’re seeing are preparatory for the emerging of the Antichrist,” he said. “We have to understand that what we are seeing has been foretold, it is exactly what the Bible is talking about will happen, is happening and we need to, as God’s people, be taking advantage of this time and pointing people to Jesus Christ, understanding the Battle of the Ages is unfolding before our very eyes.”Pool via Getty Images New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio reads to children in a pre-kindergarten class at P.S. 130 on February 25, 2014 in New York City.
When Bill de Blasio ran for New York City mayor in 2013, his plan to enact a universal preschool program for 4-year-olds was treated more like a lofty ideal than a workable promise. American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten suggested the goal was unrealistic, and called the proposal’s early iteration “non-serious.” Experts were skeptical that he could adequately overcome the obstacles to providing pre-K for so many children.
Four years later, de Blasio has successfully implemented a Pre-K for All program that serves about 70,000 kids. But as he gears up to run for his second term, he has ambitious plans to expand the early education services offered to city families. On Monday, de Blasio announced plans for 3-K for All, a program that could roll out free pre-K for all the city’s 3-year-olds by 2021.
It’s a plan that is undoubtedly ambitious for the largest city in the country, and its scope stands out even among other progressive states and municipalities with preschool programs. Yet, unlike when de Blasio first proposed universal pre-K on the campaign trail, this proposal is getting taken seriously, he says.
“When I first introduced pre-K, I can’t tell you how many people told me it was a pipe dream,” de Blasio told The Huffington Post on Tuesday. “The press was openly dismissive,” questioning where the money to pay for the plan would come from, and whether it could serve so many children so quickly, he said.
This time around, neither “political insiders” nor “everyday people” seem flippant about the plan, “even if it’s going to take a lot of work and time.”
.@NYCMayor introduces plan to offer high-quality, full day preschool to all 3 year olds by 2021! #3KforAll https://t.co/eXo3VUGMJ6 — Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) April 24, 2017
3-K for All will face obvious obstacles ― and it is rolling out at a slow, incremental pace compared to its Pre-K for All predecessor, which took two years. The city already struggled to find space for centers for 4-year-olds, and de Blasio predicts that it will have to “build early childhood centers from scratch” over the next few years. The state budget helped fund the first pre-K program, and the city will need significant funding commitments from the state and federal government to fully enact the new plan as well.
The mayor is optimistic that the city’s efforts on this front will inspire people in both red and blue areas to continue to fight for young children on the local level. There are few indications that Donald Trump’s administration will prioritize early childhood education, and even when Barack Obama was president and pushed the issue, Congress didn’t pass funding for a nationwide pre-K program. Democratic and Republican voters both express support for the issue, though.
“This is something happening to the grassroots and bubbling up all over the country,” said de Blasio. “What we do know is what happens locally, that’s the tangible reality. Local dynamics around the country add up to something.”
Pre-K for all has generally received successful marks, although it has not been without criticism. Preschool classrooms tend to be heavily segregated by race, similar to the city’s K-12 system.
But overall it has succeeded in its goals of giving parents greater early childhood education options. This is a luxury that de Blasio did not have when his kids were growing up, and he worried about whether his kids would get a spot at the competitive preschool center near them. He says the experienced helped spur him to champion this issue.ATLANTA -- Former WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw is in custody after being accused of shooting into a woman's car after using a bat to break its windows.
Atlanta police said Thursday the incident happened Tuesday after the Olympic gold medalist followed 29-year-old Jennifer Lacy to her car. Lacy plays for the Tulsa Shock.
No one was injured. Lacy identified the 35-year-old Holdsclaw, one of the biggest stars in women's college basketball history during her career at Tennessee, as an ex-girlfriend. They were teammates with the Atlanta Dream in 2009.
Holdsclaw was in custody Thursday night in Fulton County Jail. Her bond was set at $10,000 on one charge each of aggravated assault, second-degree criminal damage and reckless conduct.
A number for Holdsclaw listed in the police report went to voicemail, and it was unknown whether she had an attorney.
Lacy issued a statement through the Shock.
"I want to thank my family, friends, fans and Shock family for their concern during this difficult time," Lacy said. "I have never felt more love from my fans in supporting me."
In September, Holdsclaw returned to her alma mater to discuss her fight with clinical depression, which included a suicide attempt during her pro career.The information from the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) had been reported in the Swiss-German press.
The money-laundering probe concerns possible corruption "for which Viktor Yanukovych and his entourage could be involved," said the spokeswoman for the federal department in Bern.
The pro-Moscow ex-Ukrainian leader and his entourage, whose assets were frozen by the Swiss government two weeks ago, are already being investigated by the canton of Geneva.
Ukrainians, grappling with an economy on the brink of default, were shocked by the breathtaking opulence of Yanukovych's vast country estate which was flung open for all to see when he went into hiding and fled to Russia.
Swiss newspapers SonntagsZeitung and Le Matin Dimanche reported that boxes of Swiss luxury watches were found in the home.
Brands included Chopard, Cartier, Rolex and Franck Müller.
The boxes were empty but certificates of guarantee showed that some of the timepieces were bought in Switzerland, notably in the mountain resort town of Gstaad in the canton of Bern, according to the reports.
The canton of Geneva is reportedly looking into deposits made to a Credit Suisse account.Cyclical Sector and Defensive Sector
Have you ever noticed that as the economy fluctuates, some stocks react extremely, while a few others remain unaffected! Called as Cyclical Sector and Defensive Sector, knowledge about these stocks can help you plan your investment portfolio. Let us understand them in detail.
What is a business cycle?
Have you ever sat on a roller-coaster ride? You feel good while going up. As it comes down with faster speed, you experience panic and fear. The occurrence of ups and downs in an economy over a period of time is called as business cycle. This cycle causes similar reactions like the roller-coaster. As the economy grows, the employment level, production, sales, income grow as well. The opposite is true during an economy’s decline.
Decoding cyclical stocks
Stocks that are affected by a business cycle are termed as cyclical stocks. Thus, as the economy grows, their price increases. And as the economy slows down, their price falls.
Let us take an example of automobile companies. If the economy is booming, you have good savings. You would consider changing or buying car. So, the demand for cars will go up. The sales will increase. The profits will rise. The stock prices will also move up. On the other hand, during an economic slowdown, when your job security is low and you are not earning enough, buying a car is a luxury. So, the stock prices of automobile companies will fall. Such stocks are called cyclical stocks.
Investing in cyclical sectors is risky due to the significant ups and downs. Although they carry the risk of loss, you can earn hefty profits when their prices go up. The trick lies in timing the market smartly.
Decoding defensive stocks
Exact opposite of cyclical stocks are defensive stocks, also termed as non-cyclical stocks. They remain unaffected by a business cycle. It means, whether an economy expands or contracts, their prices remain the same.
For example – Salt. Would your salt consumption with economic gyrations? No. You can also take an example of all daily necessities like toothpaste, soaps, sugar, snacks, oil, etc. The demand for these items remains constant, irrespective of the economy. Hence, these companies remain unaffected.
Investing in defensive sector defends you from loss. Suitable for risk-averse investors, you may not earn high profits, but at least you are safe.
Cyclical Sector and Defensive Sector
The basic difference in both the sectors lies in necessity and luxury.
Cyclical sectors are electronic, automobile, real estate, premium clothing, airlines, hotels, travel, etc. Defensive sectors are FMCG like HUL, IT, utilities like electricity, healthcare, pharma, tobacco, etc.
Current scenario
Investors are more inclined towards cyclical sector due to uncertainty surrounding defensive sector. Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies are largely impacting the IT sector. Pharma sector is affected by the regulatory challenges. And FMCG brands are still recovering from the demonetization effect.
Post demonetisation, liquidity has increased in the Indian economy, thereby calling for interest rate cuts. Cheaper loans have had a positive impact on banking, automobile and real estate sectors. It has indirectly had a positive impact on cement and metal sectors. The overall economy of India is in the growth phase. Thus, cyclical sectors are likely to perform better.
The last word
Cyclical and defensive sectors are opposite. Hence, they are good for diversification. Add stocks of both these sectors to your kitty through www.sasonline.in. Remember to strike the right balance between risk and returns.Editor’s note: Send questions for future Mailbags to stewart.mandel@fox.com.
I usually like to lead off the Mailbag with a deep, thought-provoking, carefully constructed question. But sometimes it’s more fun to cut straight to the point.
Stewart, What are the top five underrated teams heading into the 2015 season?
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— James Philion, Ottawa, Ontario
I know a couple of FOX Sports Live personalities who will be fired up to see a Canadian kicking things off this week. You ask, I answer.
Virginia Tech. Podcast listeners already know how bullish I am on the Hokies. I believe Frank Beamer’s program will break out of its recent slump. Last year’s team went just 7-6 but did win road games against Ohio State (remember that one?) and Duke. Its offense was mostly abysmal, but quarterback Michael Brewer, entering his second year in the system, put up big numbers in his spring scrimmages. The backfield is deep and healthy. And the defense returns standouts like cornerback Kendall Fuller and defensive end Dadi Nicolas.
I could see this team winning 10-plus games.
Texas A&M. The Aggies, just 3-5 in SEC play last year, may take the biggest jump of anyone in the conference. Kevin Sumlin has recruited a ton of big-time players the past couple of years, most notably DE Myles Garrett and incoming WR Christian Kirk, but thus far he’s struggled to field a competitive D. That changes this year due both to more experience and the addition of accomplished coordinator John Chavis from LSU.
Notre Dame. Obviously anytime you include the Irish and "underrated" in the same sentence you’re setting yourself up for ridicule, but I believe Brian Kelly’s team is a legit playoff contender. They looked that way early last year before an injury-plagued defense imploded en route to 8-5. But now they return 19 starters and no longer have a quarterback controversy. Malik Zaire is the guy and should add to a promising rushing attack.
Arizona State. It’s tough to get too high on any one team in the loaded Pac-12 South, but the Sun Devils are my early pick to win it. As talented as Taylor Kelly was, QB Mike Bercovici was arguably more productive during his fill-in starts last year. The backfield is so strong that Todd Graham felt comfortable moving star D.J. Foster to receiver, and the defense brings back a wealth of experience.
Temple. No, the Owls aren’t on the level of the other teams on this list. But coach Matt Rhule already engineered an improvement from 2-10 to 6-6 last season while quietly producing a top-15 defense nationally. Most notably, they held explosive East Carolina to a season-low 10 points. Now, that same unit returns all 11 starters. Temple could well win the American.
Stewart, it’s been 16 years since Nebraska last won a conference title. Do you think Mike Riley wins one within four years, ending the drought before it hits two decades?
— Josh, Tampa
I’m as curious as the next guy to see how Riley does at Nebraska. He’s a good fit in a lot of ways, and not just because of his Nice Guy persona. He has a proven history of developing unheralded players into college standouts and often NFL players, and I believe Nebraska in 2015 needs someone like that more than a flashy recruiter. Location dictates the Huskers will always be reliant to some degree on diamonds in the rough. At the very least he should win more big games than Bo Pelini did and win a couple of division titles in that four-year span. As for something more, though …
Interestingly, if he’d entered the Big Ten three years ago, I’d have said yes, absolutely he’ll end that drought. That conference was ripe for the taking. But today? Even as an avowed Mike Riley fan, I have a hard time saying that knowing even if he gets the Huskers to Indianapolis (which I believe he will), he then will have to beat Urban Meyer, Mark Dantonio or Jim Harbaugh in a championship setting. (James Franklin could eventually join that list, but all we know of Franklin to this point is he’s an excellent recruiter.) An Oregon State fan might counter that Riley took it to Pete Carroll a couple of times at the high point of USC’s run, but those were midseason games. A championship game, where motivation is an unlikely factor, is a different story.
Stewart, TCU’s offense is returning so many starters (10) that I think we can expect the same sort of numbers on the scoreboard that we saw last year. But what impact will coordinator Dick Bumpas’ retirement have on the defense? Especially with the loss of Paul Dawson and Sam Carter?
— Katie Van Dyck, Washington, D.C.
If it were most programs, I’d certainly be concerned about a highly respected coordinator of 11 seasons stepping down. But TCU’s program is Gary Patterson’s program, and TCU’s defense is Gary Patterson’s defense. He’s arguably the most hands-on head coach in the country, particularly on that side of the ball. I was among a group of writers who talked with Patterson at last week’s Big 12 meetings, during which we learned both that he’s already watched the televised spring games of his opponents this season (watch out for Texas Tech, if his scouting report is to be believed) and that he watches college basketball to glean nuggets from the teams’ defensive schemes. Also, he’s still got co-DC Chad Glasgow, who’s been with him there for all but one season.
Having said all that, replacing not only standouts Dawson and Carter but middle linebacker and second-leading tackler Marcus Mallett is no small matter. TCU’s defense struggled at times during the season, most notably the second half of that 61-58 loss to Baylor, but was thoroughly dominant by end of the year. See the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss. The linebacking corps was a big part of that success but is now the biggest area of uncertainty coming out of spring. Obviously, in the offense-happy Big 12, inconsistency at any position on that side of the ball can be devastating, so TCU has a lot to figure out in August.
With the deflated balls "controversy" coming to a head in the NFL, do you know if there are similar PSI requirements in college football? I assume it’s different by conference, but I’m wondering who is responsible for the balls before and during the game, if the referees are testing the balls before the games, and if FSU’s Red Lightning and Oregon’s Flat Top Ball Boys are now more important than ever.
— Doug Wicinski, Natick, Massachusetts
There’s actually an entire section in the NCAA football rules book entitled, "The Ball," and it lays out standards and procedures that largely mirror those we’ve now heard about incessantly with the NFL. The home team provides the balls and must present them to the referee for testing 60 minutes before kickoff. They must be inflated to between 12.5-13.5 PSI and weigh 14-15 ounces. And "the referee or umpire shall determine the legality of each ball before it is put in play."
You may recall that USC got busted for deflating balls during Lane Kiffin’s last full season. The punishment, needless to say, was much less severe than that of the Patriots: a |
[T: Jsonable] :
trait Jsonable[T]{ def serialize(t: T): Json } object Jsonable{ implicit object StringJsonable extends Jsonable[String]{ def serialize(t: String) = Json.Str(t) } implicit object DoubleJsonable extends Jsonable[Double]{ def serialize(t: Double) = Json.Num(t) } implicit object IntJsonable extends Jsonable[Int]{ def serialize(t: Int) = Json.Num(t.toDouble) } implicit def SeqJsonable[T: Jsonable]: Jsonable[Seq[T]] = new Jsonable[Seq[T]]{ def serialize(t: Seq[T]) = { Json.List(t.map(implicitly[Jsonable[T]].serialize):_*) } } }
Now, we can convert any Seq into a Json, as long as it contains something that itself can be converted, such as an Int or String :
@ convertToJson(Seq(1, 2, 3)) res: Json = List(List(Num(1.0), Num(2.0), Num(3.0))) @ convertToJson(Seq("baz", "bar", "foo")) res: Json = List(List(Str("baz"), Str("bar"), Str("foo")))
But Seq s with non-convertable contents, like some java.io.File s, are rejected by the compiler:
@ convertToJson(Seq(new java.io.File("."), new java.io.File("/"))) cmd.sc:1: could not find implicit value for evidence parameter of type Jsonable[Seq[java.io.File]] val res = convertToJson(Seq(new java.io.File("."), new java.io.File("/"))) ^ Compilation Failed @
It even works for "deep" types, like if we pass in a Seq[Seq[Seq[Int]]], it resolves it and serializes it correctly:
@ convertToJson(Seq(Seq(Seq(1, 2, 3)))) res22: Json = List(List(List(List(List(List(Num(1.0), Num(2.0), Num(3.0)))))))
Whereas if we pass in a Seq[Seq[Seq[java.io.File]]], it fails to compile:
@ convertToJson(Seq(Seq(Seq(new java.io.File("."))))) cmd.sc:1: could not find implicit value for evidence parameter of type Jsonable[Seq[Seq[Seq[java.io.File]]]] val res = convertToJson(Seq(Seq(Seq(new java.io.File("."))))) ^ Compilation Failed @
What we have done is we have set up the implicits such that at compile time, it first look for something satisfying Jsonable[Seq[T]], and then finding our definition of SeqJsonable, it then tries to look for an implicit definition for Jsonable[T]. The compiler does this recursively, and hence is able to, at compile time, decide that Seq(Seq(Seq(1, 2, 3))) is fine but Seq(Seq(Seq(new java.io.File(".")))) is unacceptable.
Apart from better controlling what types are acceptable when serializing to JSON and rejected bad types at compile-time, and working recursively, using Derived Implicits has another advantage over a naive match statement on an Any value: you can let a user define implicits for their own types, e.g. if I decide I want to let java.io.File s be serialized to JSON as a string containing their fully qualified path, I can do so:
@ implicit object FileJsonable extends Jsonable[java.io.File]{ def serialize(t: java.io.File) = Json.Str(t.getAbsolutePath) } defined object FileJsonable @ convertToJson(Seq(Seq(Seq(new java.io.File("."))))) res: Json = List(List(List(List(List(List(Str("/Users/lihaoyi/test/.")))))))
This opens up your protocol for users of your library to plug into: rather than allowing just a fixed set of types, they can "register" their own types by defining their own implicits for whatever they want. This is similar to registering handlers for each type in a global dictionary somewhere, but using Derived Implicits the compiler is always able to ensure you never use a type nobody has registered a handler for. With a global dictionary of types, mistakes result in runtime errors.
Type-driving Implicits
One neat feature of implicits is that they do not just depend on types to be inferred, but they themselves can also affect the types a compiler infers as part of an expression. For example, consider the way that you can automatically "widen" numbers by assigning a number of a smaller type to one of a larger type:
@ val x: Byte = 123 x: Byte = 123 @ val y: Short = x y: Short = 123 @ val z: Long = y z: Long = 123L @ val a: Float = 1.23f a: Float = 1.23F @ val b: Double = a b: Double = 1.2300000190734863
This generally does what you want, but sometimes misbehaves. For example:
@ val bigLong = Long.MaxValue - 1 bigLong: Long = 9223372036854775806L @ val bigLong: Long = Long.MaxValue - 1 bigLong: Long = 9223372036854775806L @ val bigFloat: Float = bigLong bigFloat: Float = 9.223372E18F @ val bigLong2: Long = bigFloat.toLong bigLong2: Long = 9223372036854775807L @ bigLong == bigLong2 res40: Boolean = false
Here, we see that bigLong is being automatically widened to bigFloat, but when converting it back to bigLong2, we end up a different value. That's probably not what someone would expect from a simple "widening", which is meant to let you put a smaller value in a "wider" type but leave the value unchanged.
It turns out, you can define a function that does this widening manually:
@ { def widen[T, V](x: T)(implicit widener: Widener[T, V]): V = widener.widen(x) class Widener[T, V](val widen: T => V) object Widener{ implicit object FloatWiden extends Widener[Float, Double](_.toDouble) implicit object ByteWiden extends Widener[Byte, Short](_.toShort) implicit object ShortWiden extends Widener[Short, Int](_.toInt) implicit object IntWiden extends Widener[Int, Long](_.toLong) } } @ widen(1.23f: Float) res12: Double = 1.2300000190734863 @ val byte: Byte = 123 byte: Byte = 123 @ val smallValue: Byte = 123 smallValue: Byte = 123 @ val shortValue = widen(smallValue) shortValue: Short = 123 @ val intValue = widen(shortValue) intValue: Int = 123 @ val longValue = widen(intValue) longValue: Long = 123L
Here, you can see that every call to widen returns a different type; in fact, the returned types are entirely arbitrary, based on what implicit Widener objects we defined! In addition, trying to widen things that we didn't define Widener s for, such as Long or Double, fails to compile:
@ widen(longValue) cmd20.sc:1: could not find implicit value for parameter widener: $sess.cmd11.Widener[Long,V] val res20 = widen(longValue) ^ Compilation Failed @ widen(1.23: Double) cmd20.sc:1: could not find implicit value for parameter widener: $sess.cmd11.Widener[Double,V] val res20 = widen(1.23: Double) ^ Compilation Failed
Which is a nice property that ensures we don't have runtime errors from trying to widen the wrong type.
This isn't a totally complete implementation of widen : in particular, it can't widen things more than one step, e.g. from Byte to Long, and isn't applied implicitly like Scala's default number-widening behavior. Nevertheless, it demonstrates an important fact: that you can define implicits that don't just depend on the expected types, but also play an active role in deciding what type gets inferred by the compiler.
The same technique could be used to define a function that "generically" extends a Tuple into a larger Tuple:
@ { def extend[T, V, R](tuple: T, value: V)(implicit extender: Extender[T, V, R]): R = { extender.extend(tuple, value) } case class Extender[T, V, R](val extend: (T, V) => R) object Extender{ implicit def tuple2[T1, T2, V, R] = Extender[(T1, T2), V, (T1, T2, V)]{ case ((t1, t2), v) => (t1, t2, v) } implicit def tuple3[T1, T2, T3, V, R] = Extender[(T1, T2, T3), V, (T1, T2, T3, V)]{ case ((t1, t2, t3), v) => (t1, t2, t3, v) } implicit def tuple4[T1, T2, T3, T4, V, R] = Extender[(T1, T2, T3, T4), V, (T1, T2, T3, T4, V)]{ case ((t1, t2, t3, t4), v) => (t1, t2, t3, t4, v) } //... and so on until tuple21... } }
Just like in the widen example earlier, the return type of extend depends on what implicit Extender s you defined. As a result, although e.g. Tuple2 and Tuple3 have no direct relation to each other in the class hierarchy, we can now use extend on a Tuple2 and the compiler automatically figures out the result should be a Tuple3.
@ val t = (1, "lol") t: (Int, String) = (1, "lol") @ val bigger = extend(t, true) bigger: (Int, String, Boolean) = (1, "lol", true) @ val evenBigger = extend(bigger, List()) evenBigger: (Int, String, Boolean, List[Nothing]) = (1, "lol", true, List())
The takeaway from this section is that you can use the Type-driving Implicits pattern to control how a function's return type gets inferred, depending on what instances of an implicit parameter are in scope. This is a somewhat clever trick that you probably shouldn't use lightly: having the return type of a function depend on the argument types in completely arbitrary ways can easily be extremely confusing! Nevertheless, in the rare cases where you really want to do this (e.g. my FastParse library uses a Extender implicit similar to this one) this is how you do it.
That ends this quick overview of some of the more fundamental patterns around using implicit parameters in Scala. This is by no means exhaustive, as there are countless others not described here:
More advanced ones like the Aux Pattern from Shapeless. Shapeless in-general is full of clever things you can do with implicits, too many to even list here, let alone discuss.
Those using Implicit Conversions instead of Parameters, e.g. to implement implicit constructors (similar to those in C#) or extension methods.
Derived Implicits that work on case classes, versus just generic collections as those shown above. Shapeless provides these, and I perform a similar (though more primitive and far less principled) sort of derivation in my own uPickle and PPrint libraries.
Compiler/Macro-powered Implicit Contexts, such as implicit ClassTags or those in my SourceCode library, which let you on-demand access "additional" information from the compiler such as line numbers or file names that is not normally available to your program.
What are your own favorite implicit tricks and patterns that you use in your own code, or you've seen in someone else's? Let us know in the comments below!
About the Author: Haoyi is a software engineer, an early contributor to Scala.js, and the author of many open-source Scala tools such as the Ammonite REPL and FastParse.
If you've enjoyed this blog, or enjoyed using Haoyi's other open source libraries, please chip in (or get your Company to chip in!) via Patreon so he can continue his open-source work(CNN) -- Fifty-nine people sought medical attention after a fire in a tunnel by a Moscow metro station during the Wednesday morning rush hour, Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said.
Eleven of them were hospitalized, it said. Psychologists were sent to the scene to help those in need.
The underground alert near the Kremlin prompted the evacuation of about 4,500 commuters, the ministry said.
The blaze started when a power cable caught fire in a tunnel near Okhotny Ryad, on the metro's oldest Sokolnicheskaya line, the ministry said. It has been extinguished.
Moscow State University student Petr Sergeiivich, 18, was among passengers evacuated from the metro.
He smelled smoke while riding on a train, which was busy with all the seats taken. When it reached Okhotny Ryad station, police told the passengers to evacuate.
"We see a huge smoke in the metro, but there is no panic in the crowd," he said. "Everyone waited underground quite patiently."
The passengers followed instructions and were back above ground within a few minutes, he said.
Metro services on the Sokolnicheskaya line are now back to normal, the emergencies ministry said.
CNN's Alla Eshchenko contributed to this report.By By Alexander Baron Dec 11, 2012 in Crime When is a man guilty of rape? When he is accused by more than one alleged victim, according to one MP. Fortunately, the law sees things differently. As Whether or not he did, he decided that once with her was enough, a rejection that led to her accusing him of spiking her drink and then raping her. Last month, that lie cost her a two year sentence at Canterbury Crown Court for perverting the course of justice. At the other end of the country, the false allegations made by Jodie Simpson against her step-father were more odious and totally baffling. Either she had some deep seated grudge against the poor bloke for some unknown reason, or she has serious mental health issues, quite likely both. She was given The court was told that seventeen officers were involved and "264 hours wasted, along with 62 hours of support staff time at a cost of £17,000 to the West Yorkshire force". The money is not so important, but look at the time and hours wasted. How many genuine crimes could these detectives and others have been investigating and potentially solving if they hadn't been sent off on a wild goose chase? Interestingly, when the man who had been falsely accused was arrested, the police seized his computer, among other things. They seem to do this routinely now, often out of pure spite. Fortunately though in this case, the right person was brought to book, and hopefully will in similar cases that will undoubtedly happen in the future. These cases are cut and dried. When a rape - real or imagined - is reported fairly promptly, there is a high probability of its being resolved satisfactorily, with the caveat that the world would be a better place if there were no rapes and no false allegations of same. What though if an allegation dates back not a week, not a month, but fifty years? Such is the case of 67 year old Geoffrey Genge who was alleged to have raped one girl, attempted to rape another, and to have attempted to rape a third whom he is also said to have indecently assaulted, between 1957 and 1962. Unsurprisingly,when the case came before Judge Francis Gilbert QC earlier this year, he threw it out, Now though, the At the time these alleged offences occurred, Geoffrey Genge was between 12 and 16 years old. For a 12 year old boy to face a charge for any sort of sexual offence is extremely rare. Without some sort of corroboration, how in all fairness can any prosecution proceed after such a length of time? The fact that there were three allegations rather than one should make no difference; clearly the judge made the correct decision, though it remains to be seen if Mr Streeter did. It is widely believed that rape is a greatly under-reported crime; not everyone shares this view, especially the False Rape Society. As they point out, no one knows for certain how many genuine rapes are not reported. The flip side is rapes that are reported but never occurred, and the sad thing is that it doesn't take much of a search to unearth a mass of these.As that Shakespeare bloke might have said but didn't, a woman scorned is not to be trusted. There is also a well-known saying about not mixing business with pleasure, one that Mr Mouna should have heeded, because a quick bunk up with nanny Tina Greenland cost him his job and could have cost him a great deal more if the police had believed her lies. Fortunately this lady - if she may be called that - was even more stupid than mendacious, because after having sex with him she sent him a text saying "Had a lovely night… hope you don’t think I’m some kind of tart."Whether or not he did, he decided that once with her was enough, a rejection that led to her accusing him of spiking her drink and then raping her. Last month, that lie cost her a two year sentence at Canterbury Crown Court for perverting the course of justice.At the other end of the country, the false allegations made by Jodie Simpson against her step-father were more odious and totally baffling. Either she had some deep seated grudge against the poor bloke for some unknown reason, or she has serious mental health issues, quite likely both.She was given a 21 month sentence at Bradford Crown Court. Fortunately, the allegations she made against him were so outrageous - including participating in a gang rape of her - that her story soon fell apart.The court was told that seventeen officers were involved and "264 hours wasted, along with 62 hours of support staff time at a cost of £17,000 to the West Yorkshire force".The money is not so important, but look at the time and hours wasted. How many genuine crimes could these detectives and others have been investigating and potentially solving if they hadn't been sent off on a wild goose chase?Interestingly, when the man who had been falsely accused was arrested, the police seized his computer, among other things. They seem to do this routinely now, often out of pure spite. Fortunately though in this case, the right person was brought to book, and hopefully will in similar cases that will undoubtedly happen in the future.These cases are cut and dried. When a rape - real or imagined - is reported fairly promptly, there is a high probability of its being resolved satisfactorily, with the caveat that the world would be a better place if there were no rapes and no false allegations of same. What though if an allegation dates back not a week, not a month, but fifty years? Such is the case of 67 year old Geoffrey Genge who was alleged to have raped one girl, attempted to rape another, and to have attempted to rape a third whom he is also said to have indecently assaulted, between 1957 and 1962. Unsurprisingly,when the case came before Judge Francis Gilbert QC earlier this year, he threw it out, Now though, the MP Gary Streeter has named and shamed Mr Genge using Parliamentary privilege.At the time these alleged offences occurred, Geoffrey Genge was between 12 and 16 years old. For a 12 year old boy to face a charge for any sort of sexual offence is extremely rare. Without some sort of corroboration, how in all fairness can any prosecution proceed after such a length of time? The fact that there were three allegations rather than one should make no difference; clearly the judge made the correct decision, though it remains to be seen if Mr Streeter did. This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com More about tina greenland, false rape society, Jodie Simpson, gary streeter mp, Judge Francis Gilbert QC More news from tina greenland false rape society Jodie Simpson gary streeter mp Judge Francis Gilber...LOS ANGELES — Federal agents arrested 498 people from 42 countries in a four-day nationwide operation targeting cities that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement said give sanctuary to undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.
ICE officials said that the sweep, Operation Safe City, which concluded Wednesday, focused on “sanctuary jurisdictions” where the agency is denied access to jails to interview suspects and where its requests to take those arrested into custody are not honored.
The operation came amid an escalating conflict between these jurisdictions and the Trump administration, which has faced several legal challenges in its efforts to mandate cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The arrests this week were a stinging rebuke to sanctuary cities, several of which have passed ordinances or policies preventing full cooperation with ICE.
“Sanctuary jurisdictions that do not honor detainers or allow us access to jails and prisons are shielding criminal aliens from immigration enforcement and creating a magnet for illegal immigration,” Thomas D. Homan, the acting director of ICE, said in a statement. “As a result, ICE is forced to dedicate more resources to conduct at-large arrests in these communities.”AP Images
Maybe Phil Jackson is feeling a little bitter about not being one of three coaches to win Coach of the Year honors three times (a distinction that now belongs to Gregg Popovich, Pat Riley and Don Nelson).
Maybe he just can't pass up the opportunity to dredge up an old rivalry.
When discussing the possibility of Carmelo Anthony accepting a reduced salary, Jackson invoked Tim Duncan as a point of comparison. Then, almost parenthetically, he made clear that he doesn't consider the San Antonio Spurs a dynasty, according to Newsday's Al Iannazzone:
Tim Duncan making the salary he's making after being part of a dynasty—not a dynasty, I wouldn't call San Antonio a dynasty—a force, a great force. They haven't been able to win consecutive championships but they've always been there. San Antonio has had a wonderful run through Tim's tenure there as a player. He's agreed to take a salary cut so other players can play with him so they can be this good. And that's the beginning of team play.
Let the debate begin. Are the Spurs a dynasty or merely a "great force" (whatever that means)? The franchise is an intriguing case study precisely because it seems to problematize our definitions of a dynasty.
On the one hand, Jackson is certainly correct that San Antonio hasn't won consecutive titles. On the other hand, it's won four championships (all during the Tim Duncan era) and competed for a fifth in a classic NBA Finals a season ago.
The team's regular-season accomplishments are also remarkable, year in and year out. If you add up the playoff appearances and longevity, it's hard to argue the Spurs are something less than dynastic—even if they don't quite feel like a traditional dynasty either.
Regardless of Jackson's stake in the whole conversation, it's an interesting discussion to be had.
As for Jackson's part in it, well, he seems to have always had a little something against the Spurs. According to Project Spurs' Jeff Garcia:
[Jackson] has never been one to shy from taking verbal jabs at the San Antonio Spurs. Ever since he’s been in the league (and especially when he was with the Lakers during the Spurs-Laker rivalry) he has called the Spurs out for having a asterisk title in 1999, and even gone far to say the Spurs have a 'Brokeback Mountain' style of play.
If San Antonio wins a fifth title while Duncan's still around, it will become harder to deny it as a dynasty—even if it never wins back-to-back championships. The Spurs are setting out to accomplish just that after claiming the league's best regular-season record.
The Knicks, meanwhile, have a ways to go before being considered a playoff team, much less a dynasty. Wins or no wins, Jackson will be paid $12 million a season to remodel the organization from the ground up.
Jackson's Bulls and Lakers were both considered dynasties by any metric. Between the two teams, he claimed 11 titles.This story appears in ESPN The Magazine's Sept. 3 NFL preview issue. Subscribe today!
T
he greatest moment of Taylor Bennett's career is kept in a frame in his office. He is a young man in the photo, too young to be truly scared, and how can you be scared, really, when you have Calvin Johnson on the football field with you? In this picture, Bennett is a redshirt freshman quarterback for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Two hours before this photo was snapped, Bennett got off a bus and heard he was playing because the starting quarterback had viral meningitis. So here it is, his first play from scrimmage in a career that eventually leads him to law school.
Aesthetically speaking, it's one of the ugliest things Bennett has ever seen. A circus drill. He calls the wrong play, and half of his offensive line is doing one thing, half is doing something else, and then there's Johnson, a sophomore, curling near the sideline. Bennett throws a rope; Johnson catches it at a standstill, rockets past a swarm of white jerseys, carries the ball like a loaf of rye into the end zone. It's the third time in FBS history that a quarterback throws a touchdown on his first pass. It is art and poetry, a chiseled god pulling beauty out of a hot mess.
"People give me credit for the touchdown," Bennett says, "but I literally did nothing.
"He is like a bunch of Rembrandts. Every play, every game, he paints another picture."
Calvin Johnson has a rare combination of physical abilities. Leon Halip/Getty Images
A
t least once every Sunday, the NFL stops. Calvin Johnson does something, midair, in triple coverage or with his tiptoes glancing the chalk, that causes everyone to watch. He is so good, the Lions gave him a $132 million contract in the offseason, one of the richest in league history, and it was considered a no-brainer. He is so good, his teammate Nate Burleson calls him a cross between Usain Bolt and Hercules. Burleson will run a route sometimes, see the ball floating in the air toward Johnson and stop just to watch. He knows he needs to quit doing
that. He can't.
Johnson was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft behind JaMarcus Russell. It was the fourth time in five years the Lions used their top pick on a receiver. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
Logic tells him that people just aren't built this way. Johnson's hands are nearly twice as big as those of his receivers coach, Shawn Jefferson, who played 13 years in the NFL as, yes, a receiver. Johnson's wingspan is 6 feet, 10 inches, just an inch and a quarter shorter than Blake Griffin's. He wears size 16 cleats but moves like a size 8.
Then there are his legs. At the 2007 NFL combine, Johnson was advised not to run, but some random pundits started razzing him until Johnson said the heck with it. He borrowed a friend's shoes and blazed the 40 in 4.35 seconds. He was 6'5" and 239 pounds. "Understand," Jefferson says, "those guys come around once every 15 years."
The good people of Atlanta understand. When Johnson decided to forgo his senior year at Georgia Tech to enter the NFL draft, it left such a crater that a teammate drew up a diagram of the lives that were dramatically altered by his decision. That list, made in jest, was called the Calvin Theory. It mentioned roughly 20 people, including the coach who was eventually fired (Chan Gailey) and the quarterback who eventually transferred (Bennett).
In the NFL, Johnson has again altered notions of what can be done on the football field. He leaps as high as the NBA's elite and has the hand-eye coordination of a NASCAR driver. Of his 96 catches last season, his counterpart Burleson believes at least 10 were so outrageous that no other receiver in the NFL could have made them. It is human nature to stare at something different, and we can't take our eyes off of Calvin Johnson.
Yet even after 2011, his best season ever, when he helped take Detroit to the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade, there had been very little written about what drives a man with all of these gifts. He doesn't do many interviews, and the theory is that he is either very private or has little to say. Johnson has been called the Tim Duncan of the NFL, and he kind of likes that. It certainly makes it easy for the world to assume things come easily.
But in July, six months removed from his 1,681-yard season, the truth slides out. Johnson arrives in the lobby of the SLS, a posh hotel in Beverly Hills. He is in town doing a Nike commercial. He is alone. The ESPYS are the next night, and many of his pals, including Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, are in town and want him to come.
Johnson says no. Already this offseason he has taken a vacation to Mexico with his family, only to get up at 6 a.m. to run through the sand on the beach. This week in LA, he's run Runyon Canyon off Mulholland, a brutal trek, and worked out most days. Still, in his mind he is behind. He has to catch a red-eye back home to his trainer in Atlanta.
"I don't feel like sitting around doing nothing would benefit me," he says.
Maybe that's the curse of being nicknamed Megatron, after a frightening fictional robot. He cannot, on the field at least, be human.
They call him Megatron for a reason. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
A
n average man with an average build leans up against a chain-link fence on a Saturday morning in Tyrone, Ga., half an hour southwest of Atlanta. He is a freight-train conductor, and his shoulder aches. He'd like to say that he tore his rotator cuff in some macho or dramatic way, but the truth is he fell off a ladder at home while he was fixing a ceiling fan.
His name is Calvin Johnson Sr.
"He was blessed with size, talent and a certain level of dedication and luck," says Calvin Johnson Sr. of his son. Elizabeth Merrill/ESPN.com
Asked about genetics, Calvin Sr. laughs and sucks in his gut. "I don't know," he says. "I wasn't an athlete at all. I played sandlot around the house. I was struggling to get to be 100 pounds in high school. I mean, he was blessed. He was blessed with size, talent and a certain level of dedication and luck."
Everything Calvin is comes from his family. He gets his easygoing demeanor from his daddy, who refuses to retire despite his son's massive wealth. Money didn't change Calvin, he says. Why would it change him?
He gets just about everything else from his mom, the daughter of a reverend, the woman who is walking around with a bullhorn on this Saturday running her son's camp for local
high school wide receivers. Arica Johnson still works too. She has a Ph.D. and is a project manager with the Atlanta public schools, and in the very little free time left, she runs her son's foundation, which helps at-risk kids use football to avoid trouble. It was Arica who helped Johnson pick his agent -- but not without hours of research and meetings with the top three candidates -- and who helped negotiate his $132 million contract; she is the closest thing he has to a manager. She has taught him about everything from humility to temptation to fiscal responsibility.
No, Calvin Johnson will not fall off track, not under Arica's watch. Heavily recruited by Miami (Fla.), Georgia and Notre Dame, he picked Georgia Tech not because it was the best football program but because he wanted to be an engineer. There, he once got into a bit of trouble after a paintball incident. When Arica caught wind of it, she didn't just sit him down on the dorm-room couch for a lecture, she sat his accomplices down too. "She scared the s--- out of me," Bennett says. "She's a very quiet and elegant woman, but my gosh, you do not want to cross paths with her." Johnson, who says he was not allowed to come home with anything below a B, laughs and says, "She's a go-getter. She will push and she will push."
It's hard to argue with her success rate. The Johnsons have four kids. Their oldest daughter, Erica, is a doctor. Son Wali is in medical school. The youngest, Elan, is a sophomore in college, and then there's Calvin, multimillionaire, still pressed by his mom to finish up his course work and get his degree.
Calvin Sr. and Arica go to every game. When Calvin is about to make a big play, Arica knows it. She squeezes her husband's hand. Arica's favorite catch happened eight years ago, on Sept. 11 against Clemson, when Johnson, a freshman, reached up into the night and grabbed the winning touchdown. There were 11 seconds to go. Arica thought that was symbolic, on 9/11.
Back in Atlanta, stunned laughter was heard on the Yellow Jackets radio call after Johnson made the catch. Wes Durham, the play-by-play guy, said holy smokes.
"A legend is born in Calvin Johnson," he yelled.
Already this preseason, Johnson has made leaping grabs look easy. Doug Kapustin/MCT via Getty Images
T
o most receivers, going to Detroit in 2007 would have been like being summoned for jury duty. It wasn't a place to become successful. In the three drafts from 2003 to 2005, the Lions had used their top-10 pick on a receiver, and none could shake the franchise out of its doldrums. The Johnson pick immediately was panned. Detroit could've had Adrian Peterson or Patrick Willis, anybody but a receiver.
But Johnson wasn't a typical first-round receiver. He was more like any guy in college who plays more Xbox than a teenage dork and subsists on boxes of powdered mashed potatoes -- "incredibly non-divalike," as Jefferson puts it. At his first training camp, the coach says, "it wasn't, Hey, I don't want to take this, this is beneath me." Johnson told Jefferson he wanted to be known someday as the NFL's best receiver and seemed eager to learn what that required. "I'm just a worker," Johnson says.
Calvin Johnson makes it look easy. It's not. In his five years, the Lions have had six different starting quarterbacks. Patrik Giardino for ESPN The Magazine
Johnson's rookie season was respectable -- he caught 48 passes for 756 yards and four touchdowns despite injuries -- but wasn't nearly enough for a rabid fan base desperate for change. So after practice and all offseason, Johnson could be found alone, working on footwork drills to run more effective short routes for quarterback Jon Kitna.
But nothing went to plan. In 2008, Kitna was put on injured reserve in Week 7, and the Lions became the first team in NFL history to go 0-16. "You could tell he was miserable," Bennett says. "He doesn't want to go after the endorsement deals or drive fast cars. All he wants is to play football and win." When the Lions finally snapped their losing skid the next season in Week 3 against the Redskins, Johnson was so excited it showed in his normally short, unemotional texts. He broke out exclamation points and CAPS. After the Lions finished 2-14 that season, Johnson told the AP, "You can't get down and think things won't get better or they definitely won't."
That offseason, the Lions had the overall No. 1 pick and drafted Stafford, a big-armed quarterback with a reputation for going for the home run rather than taking what the defense gives. It sounded perfect for Johnson, but the two struggled more than anyone could tell.
"It takes some adjusting, to tell you the truth," Stafford says. "He's so big and so fast. My rookie year, I had trouble just figuring it out. Some spots I can put it, I've never been able to put it before and have the guy be able to go up and get it. And there were times he felt he was open and I didn't think he was open."
But they never argued, and Johnson never blamed the QB for not getting him the ball. Both wanted the same thing and have similar personalities that don't call for much talking. When they connect on a touchdown, they simply point and nod at each other.
One play from Week 4 at Dallas last season cemented their relationship and defined a franchise on the rise. The Lions were getting pounded. Early in the fourth quarter, first and 10 at the Cowboys' 23, Johnson was surrounded in triple coverage as Stafford chopped his feet with eons of time to throw. Johnson threw his arm into the air, but Stafford hesitated. "I'm trusting him," Stafford remembers, "but at the same time, I'm like, 'You'd better be right.' Because I saw what everybody else saw."
He let it fly anyway.
This was one of those balls no other receiver in the NFL likely could've caught. In fact, if any other Lions receiver had thrown his hand in the air, Jefferson probably would've blown a gasket. But with Johnson, whether a pass is in the dirt or into triple coverage, the Lions will take their chances. Johnson outjumped two defenders in the end zone, and the Lions stormed back for a 34-30 victory.
"That Dallas catch is unbelievable because of the mentality of it," Jefferson says. Earlier that week, Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan suggested that Johnson would be the third-best receiver on Dallas' roster. Johnson had barely spoken to anyone in the days leading up to the game. Pregame, he just nodded and stared straight ahead.
"The nerve of him surrounded by three people to say, 'Throw it up anyway. I'll get it,' " Jefferson says. "When he caught that, we knew it was going to be all right."
Calvin Johnson catches a touchdown pass against the Cowboys' Terence Newman on Oct. 2, 2011. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
A
bout the only person who is not transfixed by Calvin Johnson is Calvin Johnson. He sits alone in his penthouse on the last Saturday before the start of Lions training camp, and his TV is on full blast to the movie "Alien: Resurrection." The fact |
rather like tennis). At one stage, Azarenka faced off with McKeague. They kept their hands near their ears and then, on a trainer’s signal, reached down quickly to try to be the first to snatch a tennis ball off the floor.
“I think he’s scared to beat her,” said Dionne Sanders, Azarenka’s personal assistant.
McKeague did not rebut that, cracking a grin as they dueled even if Azarenka did not.News: Mortal Kombat: Kabal Has Been Revealed!
Posted by: Cinderkin Mar 18, 2011 | 8 comments
Tagged: kabal mortal-kombat news video
View all stories by Cinderkin
Gametrailers TV recently aired an episode in which they met with Ed Boon Creative Director for Mortal Kombat, and was treated with the reveal of Kabal from MK3. Check it out!
The video was taken from GTTV and put on youtube the quality isn't the greatest, but once you check it out you'll be able to follow the link below to watch it in full HD. Kabal is looking sweet and that fatality is just disgusting.
For the full episode of GTTV with an exclusive look at RAGE and the HD version of this video click here
Tell us what you think in the comments. Don't be a Jimmy!Jacob Funk Kirkegaard is a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the author of "The Accelerating Decline in America's High-Skilled Workforce: Implications for Immigration Policy" and co-author of "Transforming the European Economy."
Scandinavian countries are rightly proud of their comprehensive welfare states, which generally propel them, in a fiscally sustainable manner, toward the top of global human development, anti-corruption, happiness, inequality and other social progress rankings.
But their social models are not easy to replicate.
Much U.S. spending is hidden in the tax code, where it disproportionally benefits higher income groups.
In the early 20th century, Scandinavian states relied on their countries’ ethnic and cultural homogeneity to establish a government social safety net that drew from the income of the more affluent. The affluent did not resist because they were benefiting individuals quite similar to themselves.
Establishing the same redistributive system would be very difficult in today’s Scandinavia, where, on average, the foreign-born population is close to 13 percent, which is comparable to the United States. It is no surprise that in the historically far more heterogeneous United States, Scandinavian welfare state institutions have proven politically impossible to create.
Yet Scandinavian governments do not spend much more than the United States when you consider the hidden expenditures of the U.S. tax code.
By conventional measures, the U.S. ranks significantly below average among industrialized countries for public social spending. But when the many complex tax deductions that have accumulated over the years are added in, true American public spending on social issues eclipses Norway, and is no longer so far behind Denmark.
The big difference is the distribution of that spending. The U.S. tax code benefits those who understand it. That usually excludes those of lower income, who often don't earn or have enough money to qualify for many of the tax breaks that benefit those of higher incomes, like the mortgage interest deduction. Scandinavian welfare states, on the other hand, do not offer many tax breaks toward social purposes, but they achieve lower levels of inequality from overt social spending.
The debate in the United States about whether to “be more like Denmark or not” should therefore not focus on whether to substantially increase spending. Instead, the political battle should be about how, and to whose benefit, the United States allocates its current true volume of social spending — which is already at Scandinavian levels.
Join Opinion on Facebook and follow updates on twitter.com/roomfordebate.Hardison lost his eyelids, ears, nose, lips, and hair, while his neck and torso were also badly burned. He underwent more than 70 surgeries, but was unable to return to his normal life. Despite skin grafts from his legs, he had scar tissue that made it painful to talk or eat.
"I had no idea who I had until we put him in the ambulance and he pulled me down over his face and he said, 'Take care of Chrissi and the kids,' " fellow firefighter Bricky Cole told hospital officials last year. "That's when I knew who I had. It was a rotten damn day."
Patrick Hardison's face was burned while he was working as a volunteer firefighter in Senatobia, Mississippi, on September 5, 2001. Hardison, who was 27 years old at the time, was trying to locate a woman inside a burning home when the roof collapsed on him, melting his face mask. He escaped by jumping out a window, and his fellow firefighters worked to save his life — but the resulting damage was such that they couldn't recognize him.
A firefighter whose face was burned beyond recognition 14 years ago has received the "most extensive" face transplant in the world to date, according to an announcement on Monday by NYU Langone Medical Center, where doctors performed the surgery.
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A firefighter whose face was burned beyond recognition 14 years ago has received the "most extensive" face transplant in the world to date, according to an announcement on Monday by NYU Langone Medical Center, where doctors performed the surgery.
Patrick Hardison's face was burned while he was working as a volunteer firefighter in Senatobia, Mississippi, on September 5, 2001. Hardison, who was 27 years old at the time, was trying to locate a woman inside a burning home when the roof collapsed on him, melting his face mask. He escaped by jumping out a window, and his fellow firefighters worked to save his life — but the resulting damage was such that they couldn't recognize him.
Patrick Hardison before his face was severely burned. (Photo via NYU Langone Medical Center)
"I had no idea who I had until we put him in the ambulance and he pulled me down over his face and he said, 'Take care of Chrissi and the kids,' " fellow firefighter Bricky Cole told hospital officials last year. "That's when I knew who I had. It was a rotten damn day."
Hardison lost his eyelids, ears, nose, lips, and hair, while his neck and torso were also badly burned. He underwent more than 70 surgeries, but was unable to return to his normal life. Despite skin grafts from his legs, he had scar tissue that made it painful to talk or eat.
Related: Texas Man Just Got the World's First Skull Transplant
For 14 years, Hardison wore prosthetic ears, sunglasses and a baseball hat to go outside. His two youngest children have never known him without the scar tissue.
A fellow firefighter suggested that Hardison consider face transplant surgery in 2012, which is how Hardison was connected with Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, who was at the University of Maryland at the time before he eventually joined the NYU Langone Medical Center's Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez and Patrick Hardison. (Photo via NYU Langone Medical Center)
Hardison was told that if he pursued a facial transplant, he would have a 50/50 chance of survival. Rodriguez noted that one of his colleagues in France had attempted a similarly complex face transplant 10 years ago, but the patient died.
"It's not an operation for everyone," he said at a presentation Monday announcing the successful surgery. "It's for very courageous individuals."
In August 2014, Hardison was officially placed on a waiting list for a facial transplant. But finding a match was particularly challenging because the donor needed to have Hardison's blood type as well as similar coloring and facial bone structure. Moreover, not all donor families agree to this type of donation.
"Hopefully it will happen soon," Hardison told NYU Langone videographers before the surgery. "It's in God's hands. And when he's ready for it to happen, I know he's got an angel out there for me somewhere.… Hopefully that day comes, and I hope that family's strong because I cannot imagine losing somebody at a young age and then having to be asked to give what they're asking to give."
David Rodebaugh. (Photo via NYU Langone Medical Center)
It took more than a year to find the right donor. David Rodebaugh, 26, an artist and cyclist in Brooklyn, was declared brain dead following a bike accident over the summer. When his mother was asked about donating his face, she didn't hesitate to say yes, according to Helen Irving, CEO of LiveOnNY, which was formerly called the New York Organ Donor Network.
"Her son had always wanted to be a fireman," Irving said. She added that Rodenbaugh's heart, liver, bone, and eyes were also donated to patients in need of organ transplants.
The surgery, which concluded on August 15, took 26 hours and involved more than 100 doctors and nurses. Hardison is taking drugs to prevent his body's immune system from rejecting the new tissue, and though he'll take fewer of these drugs over time, he will be on them for the rest of his life.
Related: Here's Why the World's First Successful Penis Transplant Was Conducted in South Africa
Prior to the procedure, there had been nine other face transplants and a scalp transplant in the United States, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, which is under contract with the federal government to allocate organs for transplantation. The surgery was historic, according to the hospital, because it included the full scalp, ears, ear canals, boney structures, and eyelids. Although eyelids had been involved in previous transplants, this was the first time such a transplant was performed on someone who was not blind.
"His surgery sets new standards in facial transplantation and will serve as an amazing learning tool," Rodriguez said. "I am particularly encouraged with the success we have achieved in transplanting David's eyelids and blinking mechanisms to Patrick. This is a major milestone — one that could lead to preserving vision in future patients."
The medical costs were between $850,000 and $1 million, he added, including care prior to the operation and following the procedure. An NYU Langone Medical Center grant will cover these costs.
After 10 days, Hardison was finally allowed to look in the mirror. Soon after that, his family was allowed to visit. He now considers it "his face," Rodriguez said.
"We had an emotional exchange when we took him to Macy's to buy new clothes," Rodriguez said at a press conference on Monday. "No one stared."
"They have given me more than a new face," Hardison said in a statement. "They have given me a new life."
It's now been 93 days since the surgery, Rodriguez said, and Hardison's body has shown no signs of rejecting the transplanted face, which usually happens within 90 days of surgery. In January or February, he will undergo another procedure to refine the eyes and lips once the initial swelling has gone down.
Follow Sydney Lupkin on Twitter: @slupkinBuy Photo Rep. Dennis Richardson, R-Central Point, has made pay equity a central issue of his campaign but has yet to present a specific plan to fix the issue if he is elected. (Photo: Statesman Journal file)Buy Photo
Dennis Richardson, Republican candidate for governor, has yet to create a specific plan to eliminate the pay gap between men and women in the governor's office, in spite of having made it a central campaign issue during the past week.
His spokeswoman, Meredith Glacken, said Friday that it is a "goal" Richardson hopes to accomplish during his first four-year term.
He will work with his transition team to create a plan if he's elected, she said, but at the moment can't point to any specifics.
She and I chatted about the issue this week because some of my reporting inspired a movement within his campaign.
Richardson has put out an online ad and endorsed a series of protests around the state targeting Gov. John Kitzhaber for employing a staff where women are paid, on average, 79 percent of what men are paid.
The statistic he is relying on came from one of my previous columns and was included among many other facts about the pay gap in state government. It's based entirely on an average of women's salaries against an average of men's, and a few people are left out because the spreadsheet I used had them listed in other departments.
(Some of his policy advisors are actually paid by other agencies.)
All of this was included in my original reporting.
The ads suggest Kitzhaber doesn't pay women the same as men for equal work, but the truth of the matter is more complicated. Kitzhaber's office exhibits the exact phenomenon as the rest of state government: Women are overrepresented at the bottom of the pay scale and drag down the average salary for all women. The gap narrows the more specifically one looks at an individual position or job type.
There's nothing "wrong" in what Richardson is saying about Kitzhaber's office. That pay gap exists. However, closing it is much more complicated than it might sound. It can't be attributed to simply paying women less for the same work because the data doesn't actually support that as the reason for the gap at all.
MORE: A deeper look at women's pay | 6 facts about the gender pay gap in Oregon government
Take Ellen Rosenblum's Department of Justice, for example.
On its surface, it's remarkably inequitable. Women make about two-thirds what men do on average, overall.
However, if one looks narrowly, the gap vanishes. Women are the majority of managers, the majority of attorneys, and they make within 10 percent of what men do as paralegals or as attorneys, about 92 cents on the dollar, give or take, depending on the position.
How could both facts be true? Because so many paralegals and child support specialists are women. In fact, nearly all of them are. They outweigh the highly paid women who are attorneys (or the attorney general) in the overall average.
Kitzhaber's office is pretty similar: Policy advisors are paid close to the same, and so are administrative support staff. However, those lower paid support staff are overwhelmingly women, and the average is worse overall than for individual positions.
At first, Glacken told me Richardson planned to simply hire more men as support staff and more women as policy advisors.
There are a couple of issues with that.
First, there's no guarantee men will apply for those jobs and no guarantee the ones who do will be as qualified as the women. I'm sure they exist, but I've never met a man who made a career out of being an executive assistant. I have, however, met many brilliant women who have. They'd be hard to beat if you needed an executive assistant for the governor.
Second, the support staff doesn't usually change over entirely with a new administration. These are the people who keep the office running, not the people who keep partisan politics running. For all we know, Kitzhaber may well have a Republican woman keeping his schedule. If these staff members don't want to quit just because the administration changes, should Richardson replace some of them anyway to increase equity?
Glacken's response to these questions was simple.
"With an unemployment rate that's been above the national average for about as long as Kitzhaber's been Governor, I don't think it will be a challenge for Dennis to find some qualified entry level males to fill entry level positions," she said.
It sounds like Richardson isn't planning to fire any support staff but will be more conscious about gender as he fills vacated positions.
Given that every state agency seems to have the same problem, evenly split hiring may not be the total solution, in spite of how simple it sounds.
As for a policy plan, Glacken didn't present one. Instead, she offered this statement:
"As for a plan, Dennis isn't just all talk on this issue. It's something he's already shown leadership with on his campaign staff. A positive model for pay equality is something that he's passionate about implementing in the Governors office, and he's made it to goal to make that a reality by the end of his first term," she said.
"He will be working with his transition team to discuss the details of how to make that happen, and set an example that employers across the state can look to."
In the meantime, the State of Oregon and Kitzhaber are both working to figure it out too. It seems no one has a definitive answer for how to solve this problem.
hhoffman@statesmanjournal.com, (503) 399-6719 or follow at twitter.com/HannahKHoffman
Read or Share this story: http://stjr.nl/1ogbE3gA police officer can shoot a dog if it barks or moves when the officer enters a home, under a new federal court ruling issued this month.
The ruling comes after police in Battle Creek, Michigan, shot two pit bulls while searching a home for evidence of drugs in 2013.
The dogs’ owners, Mark and Cheryl Brown, filed a lawsuit against the Battle Creek Police Department and the city, claiming that killing the dogs amounted to the unlawful seizure of property in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
The district court sided with the police officers and the Browns filed an appeal with United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The lawsuit states that when officers arrived to conduct the search, Mark Brown told an officer he had a key to the front door and that his two dogs were in the residence. However, another officer testified that he didn’t hear about the comments before police broke down the door.
According to the lawsuit, Officer Christof Klein testified that when he entered the house, a large, brown pit bull jumped off the couch, aggressively barked at the officers and lunged at him.
Officer Klein stated that the first pit bull “had only moved a few inches” between the time when he entered the residence and when he shot her, but he considered the movement to be a “lunge.”
Another officer stated that “the amount of time between the door coming open and the shot was extremely small… maybe a second or less.”
Klien stated that after he fire the shot, the dog “moved away from the officers and towards the kitchen, then down the stairs and into the basement.” A smaller, white pit bull had also gone down into the basement.
“As the officers were descending the stairs to clear the basement, they noted that the first pit bull was at the bottom of the stairs,” the lawsuit states. “Klein testified that the first pit bull obstructed the path to the basement, and that he ‘did not feel [the officers] could safely clear the basement with those dogs down there.'”
“When the officers were halfway down the stairs, the first dog, who was at the bottom of the staircase, turned towards them and started barking again. From the staircase, Officer Klein fired two fatal rounds at the first pit bull,” the lawsuit states.
“Klein testified that after he shot and killed the first dog, he noticed the second dog standing about halfway across the basement. The second dog was not moving towards the officers when they discovered her in the basement, but rather she was ‘just standing there’… barking,” the lawsuit continues.
Klein fired two rounds at the second dog.
After being shot by Officer Klein, the second dog ran to the back corner of the basement. Then a second officer shot her because she was “moving” out of the corner and in his direction, the lawsuit states.
The wounded pit bull ran behind the furnace in the back corner of the basement. A third officer noted that “[there] was blood coming out of numerous holes in the dog, and... [he] didn’t want to see it suffer” so he shot her again, to “put her out of her misery.”
On Dec. 19, the appeals court issued a ruling stating that the officers acted reasonably in the case and the Browns’ constitutional rights were not violated.
“The seizures of the dogs in this case were reasonable given the specific circumstances surrounding the raid,” the court ruled.
“[It] was reasonable for the officers to force entry because they had information that [a known gang member] used the residence to distribute cocaine and heroin, and they did not know whether gang members would be in the residence armed and ready to fire at the officers,” the ruling states.
“[The] officers would not have used the keys Mark Brown offered to give them because the officers would not have had any idea whether those keys were the correct keys. Defendants’ counsel persuasively argued that Mark Brown could have given the officers the wrong set of keys, and the resulting delay could have given somebody in the house the opportunity to destroy the drugs or time to prepare to attack or shoot the officers as they entered the residence,” the ruling states.
Judge Eric Clay stated “a police officer’s use of deadly force against a dog while executing a search warrant to search a home for illegal drug activity is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment when… the dog poses an imminent threat to the officer’s safety.”
You can read the full court ruling here.Fox 19 video screenshot Polly Neace
A former bank teller based in Kentucky has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Bank after being fired for telling customers to "have a blessed day."
Polly Neace was fired after repeated warnings, and accusations of customer complaints. The bank also said that Neace talked to a customer about salvation. Neace maintains that no customers complained.
The former Walton branch employee had worked for the bank for over 20 years. She said that she started saying "have a blessed day" to all of her customers beginning in 2009.
"I don't think there's any better kind of day you can have than a blessed day," she told Fox News.
In 2011, she was told to stop wishing customers a blessed day and was issued a Code of Ethics violation.
"Effective immediately you will no longer discuss the subject of faith or religion with customers and co-workers alike," the notice read.
The reprimand also alleged that Neace asked a customer: "Did you take the Lord's name in vain?" and began talking to the customer about Jesus.
Months later she was written up again after a customer wished her a blessed day and she replied: "Thank you, God bless you too."
Soon after, Neace reportedly complained about a situation at the bank and then joked with her supervisor about going back to saying "have a blessed day" and getting fired. A day after that, Neace was fired by the bank.
Her attorney, Jeff Blankenship, said that U.S. Bank's actions were a violation of her First Amendment rights.
"The proof in the record has shown that Polly was discharged because she insisted upon the right to say 'have a blessed day,'" he told Fox News.
"After she was initially written up for doing so, she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
"She quit saying it. She quit telling people to 'have a blessed day,' but she complained several months later and said 'I might as well go back to telling people to have a blessed day.' The very next day she was terminated."
U.S. Bank said Neace's suit is meritless.
"At U.S. Bank, we hold our employees to high ethical standards when interacting with customers and co-workers, and take violations of these standards seriously," they said in a statement.
"While we cannot comment provide comment on pending litigation, we believe that this lawsuit is without merit and believe the facts presented in future legal proceedings will justify our actions."It is the all-female remake of a beloved 1980s franchise which has been slammed from the very beginning of production by disgruntled fans of the original.
Now Paul Feig's Ghostbusters reboot is finally here and is receiving some lackluster reviews from critics who are giving their verdict on the comedy starring Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones.
One of the not-so-glowing reviews came from The Hollywood Reporter with David Rooney writing: 'It's all busy-ness, noise and chaos, with zero thrills and very little sustainable comic buoyancy.'
'It's all busy-ness, noise and chaos': The Ghostbusters reboot, released this week, was met with mixed reviews from critics on Monday
He continued, 'those expecting a clever feminist spin or any other sharp 21st century twists will be disappointed, and the upgrade to new-generation VFX yields nothing remarkable.'
Despite the shiny new girl power factor, Peter Debruge from Variety felt that the movie was too samey.
'While both funnier and scarier than Ivan Reitman’s 1984 original, this otherwise over-familiar remake from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig doesn’t do nearly enough to innovate on what has come before.' he wrote.
Another critic felt that with the sheer amount of combined comedic talent on board, it should have been better.
'With a cast as daring and quick as this one, Ghostbusters is too mild and plays it too safe,' wrote Chris Nashawaty of Entertainment Weekly
'With a cast as daring and quick as this one, Ghostbusters is too mild and plays it too safe.' wrote Chris Nashawaty of Entertainment Weekly.
Amid the tepid reviews, however, most critics agreed that McKinnon shone, stealing every scene she was in.
Eric Kohn of Indiewire wrote: 'McKinnon provides another reminder that she’s one of the funniest people in America, and her quirky, gadget-obsessed steampunk character owns every moment she’s in frame (and, deserves a spin-off).'
A reviewer with Hitfix wrote: 'My favorite performance in the film is, easily, Kate McKinnon as Holtzmann. She’s absolutely exceptional here, and I feel like I only saw about half of what she did. Whether she’s the focus of a scene or lurking at the edge of the frame, she is constantly stealing scenes from almost everyone.'
'McKinnon provides another reminder that she’s one of the funniest people in America, and her quirky, gadget-obsessed steampunk character owns every moment she’s in frame' Indiewire reviewed
And the graphics certainly impressed, with Robbie Collin of theTelegraph writing: 'The ghosts themselves [are] gorgeous, CGI-embellished, neon-glowing wraiths with real presence and unexpected shriek-then-laugh shock value…'
A critic for The Wrap concurred, as they said: 'it’s all slickly rendered by the visual effects team.'
The film's first trailer became the most reviled in YouTube history, having amassed over 900,000 dislikes, while director Feig and his cast were bombarded with death threats and misogyny on social media.
'This garbage was made to make Feminazis happy,' one Twitter user complained in a broadside typical of the firestorm of abuse.
Feig, who also helmed Bridesmaids, was responsible for bringing on board McKinnon, McCarthy, Jones and Wiig for the new version of the 32-year-old all-male original movie.
'While both funnier and scarier than Ivan Reitman’s 1984 original, this otherwise over-familiar remake from Paul Feig doesn’t do nearly enough to innovate on what has come before.' wrote a Variety critic
All star line-up: The ladies gathered at the movie's premiere in Hollywood on Saturday. From left to right: Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon and Kristen Wiig
'I've been hit with some of the worst misogynistic stuff you've ever seen in your life over the last two years,' he told a recent producers' conference at Sony Pictures headquarters in southern California.
'The onslaught that came in was just so chilling.
'We are struggling every day to get the word out against that bias. We still get called in the press a 'chick flick' constantly,' Feig said.
'We're never referred to without the words 'all-female Ghostbusters,' which makes me crazy,' he added.
'It's an uphill battle that I can't believe in 2016 we're having to fight.'
The big night: Wiig looked stunning as she posed next to director Paul FeigWelcome to the fourth annual Kit Nerd Day!
That’s right, I’ve done three of these already, and so far I’ve successfully predicted literally zero of the kits. Of course, that isn’t necessarily the point. The point is for me to have fun and for you guys to get a gander of all the crazy ideas constantly going through my head.
For those new to the site: every year around the end of August I do a post with some ideas and thoughts about next season’s kits. So just to repeat, these are ideas for the 2018 season.
And, like always, let’s start with some disclaimers. First, I am not a professional. I don’t work for Detroit City FC or any of the major kit design companies. I’ve used all images without permission. Nothing I post represents an official direction of the front office or any one tangentially involved. Remember – the FO actively works to fuck with me and they’ve even told me.
Any potential sponsors/leagues, these are not endorsed by the FO, the NGS, or anyone else. I make them for fun.
So the first thing is thoughts on last year’s kits.
Fuck. Yeah.
I mean, that was a crazy season. Beat two professional European teams. A new record-sized crowd was there. We won the Midwest. We attracted attention from all over the world through our friends at Copa90US. Keyworth’s stands are nearly completely opened. The “Wolfpack” started as a meme and ended up as a rallying cry. I got to meet Peter Wilt, who’s setting up NISA, in the stands at the Key. So that was pretty awesome from just a soccer-nerd standpoint.
Oh.
And Lansing blew a 3-0 lead.
As for the kits: the hoops returned! We did actually get throwback kits (to the ’67 Cougars). We even made the long-desired, long-awaited switch to Adidas! That’s fucking awesome. These kits were way better quality than the Nike’s. Way better. They did come at a higher price tag for us, but damned were they fucking gorgeous.
Across the board they were fantastic. From the hooped rouge on rouge on rouge kits to the golden away days kits (which saw quite a bit of use at home) to the fantasticly simple charity kits to those drop-dead gorgeous Cougar throw-backs. There are three 2017 kits in the Kendall-Collins household. I feel that is too few, but it is what it is.
Adidas pretty much owns US soccer, namely through their agreement with MLS, which IIRC was just renewed. Nothing of their really struck me this year. Portland’s home kits are more reminiscent of their third kits from previous years, which is nice.
Atlanta’s kits are pretty good. I’m a fan of the black/red combo and the grey and red makes for an interesting away. Columbus got their yellows back. That’s good. New England has an interesting 50/50 kit, rare on this side of the pond.
I noticed a few “default” designs either leaked into MLS or out. Atlanta’s home kit. NE’s home. Columbus’s away. Houston’s away. Plus any solid color kits. Not a good or bad, just something I found interesting.
Okay, some thoughts about DCFC kits in general before I move forward with unveiling my designs.
According to Crain’s the deal with Adidas is a multi-year agreement. That means I can pretty easily open up the Adidas miTeam app and fiddle around. But instead of using their kit builder, I’ve chosen to instead create some designs based on what’s available in the kit creator. So these designs should be entirely possible for Detroit City to don for 2018.
Moreover I’ve learned about when they actually put in the orders, so… I know that I’m ahead of the curve here. Fingers crossed. Is this the year we get the Nick Kendall kits?!
We’ll see.
One last note:
Sponsor – Stroh’s
After the loss of Flagstar as a sponsor, I’ve had to switch it up. I’ve more or less fallen into the rut of using Stroh’s because damn it looks great on our kits. Now, I don’t actually think this will be a thing because I think the deal with Metro Chevy Dealers also has multiple years left on it, but I’ll be damned if I stick a bowtie on my designs.
The Home Kit – Wolf’s Bite
Starting from the top, my prediction for the 2018 home kit. Based off Adidas’ chevron design – the chest is broken up by a bloodied dagger like a wolf’s blooded maw. Put five or six of them together and you’ve got yourself a fearsome beast.
I’ve stuck with the darker shade of rouge for the main body, adding just the barest hint of a lighter shade for the accents on the side and on the edges. And at the very bottom, just above the hem, is the flag of Detroit.
The Away Kit – Upwards
Next up is the away kits, I want to continue the gold and white kits. I was extremely happy to see them make a return after too many seasons away. We’re the blood and treasure, rouge and gold allez allez, so let’s keep it going. Whether we end up in NISA, NASL, or remain in the NPSL it’s all coming up City.
This design is based on the same design that they use for the New England Revolution’s home kit and has since become a default design, only here the stripes go the whole way through. The rouge accents are far more visible on the gold and white, but remain consistent with the home kit.
The Charity Kit – Soccer’s Heel
Not everyone gets to be a good guy, someone has to play heel so some self-righteous prick can play face and tell himself that no matter his own faults, at least he doesn’t light off smoke, swear, and have too much fun in the stands.
Harking back to arguably one of the greatest teams of all time and certainly back to the single most beautiful Adidas kit ever the charity kits are a combination of black and rouge that begs, begs to be unleashed on the pitch.
Let the soccer moms tremble, everyone’s favorite team to hate is here.
There it is everyone, Kit Nerd Day 2018! What did you like? What do you hate? What do you want to see the Boys in Rouge don this year? Let me know either in the comments or on twitter.
I’ll keep posting extras on twitter as I usually do.
And as always; Lansing blew a 3-0 lead.
Cheers everyone!*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.*
This is fudge making on easy mode. Now, I’ve made plenty of fudge in my day. Most of my recipes call for candy thermometers, precise heating and cooling, and a lot of beating (as in, a lot of beating). Not this fudge. This fudge is easy. And it’s really, really good.
This is my one of my mom’s favorite fudge recipes, based on an old Cook’s Illustrated clipping. It’s creamy, dark and, well, downright fudge-y.
The original recipe explains that the tiny bit of baking soda does something to the fudge’s pH to help lighten it up.
Easy Dark Chocolate & Walnut Fudge: A note on ingredients
Be sure to use condensed milk�not evaporated milk.
Sweetened condensed milk is really syrupy. Basically, it’s whole milk that’s evaporated with sugar. It’s thick, sticky, and very sweet. (Evaporated milk is condensed milk that’s not sweetened.)
Sweetened condensed milk
For the chocolate, I used a mix of regular ole semi-sweet chocolate chips and unsweetened Baker’s chocolate.
Oh, and about the nuts. This was amazing with walnuts, but I’ll bet it would also be really good with chopped pecans, hazelnuts, or almonds as well.
For the vanilla, I used the homemade vanilla extract that I’ve had going for years. (Vanilla beans + good vodka = fabulous vanilla extract.)
My bottle of homemade vanilla extract, stuffed with vanilla beans
Easy Dark Chocolate & Walnut Fudge: The basic technique
Basically, you heat most of the ingredients together in an improvised double boiler (or a real one, if you have it) until they *just* melt. Stir in the nuts, then turn the fudge out into a pan to cool and set up.
It’s really that simple. Read on for step-by-step photo instructions.
Easy Dark Chocolate & Walnut Fudge
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1 14-0z. can condensed milk
1 Tbls. vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
spray oil
Makes about 2 1/2 lbs. of fudge in an 8-inch square pan
Easy Dark Chocolate & Walnut Fudge: Do a little prep
Spray an 8-inch x 8-inch glass pan lightly with oil. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Press it down gently so it sticks. Set the pan aside.
Next, start an improvised double boiler. Put about 2 inches of water in a pan on the stove over high heat to get it boiling.
Measure out your chocolate chips and put them in a large, heatproof bowl.
Chop up the unsweetened chocolate into small-ish pieces. (I like to use a serrated bread knife to do this.)
Toss that into the bowl with the chocolate chips.
Easy Dark Chocolate & Walnut Fudge: Make the fudge mixture
Add the baking soda and the salt.
Stir to coat the chocolate and evenly distribute the salt and baking soda. (You don’t want to end up with clumps of them in your finished fudge.)
Pour in the condensed milk.
Give the inside of the can a scrape with a spatula to get it all out.
Toss in the vanilla.
Stir the whole thing to combine.
Easy Dark Chocolate & Walnut Fudge: Melt the ingredients
By now, your water should be boiling.
Drop the heat to low. Set your mixing bowl on top of the pot of water.
The chocolate should start to melt immediately.
Stir constantly until the mixture *just* melts.
This will only take a few minutes.
When the chocolate has just melted and the mixture is fairly smooth, remove the bowl from the heat.
Stir a little more once it’s off the heat to ensure that all the chocolate has melted.
The mixture will be really thick and creamy, like this:
Easy Dark Chocolate & Walnut Fudge: Finish the fudge
Toss in the chopped nuts.
Stir to combine them well.
Pour the fudge out into your prepared pan.
Smooth it down with a spatula so the surface is fairly even.
Set it in a cool spot (or in the fridge) for a few hours until it firms up.
|
big idea" that has been a success.
Widespread closures
Torstar bought eight community publications, seven daily newspapers and two free dailies from Postmedia. They are:
Barrie Examiner
Niagara Falls Review
Northumberland Today
Orillia Packet & Times
Peterborough Examiner
St. Catharines Standard
Welland Tribune
Bradford Times
Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin
Fort Erie Times
Innisfil Examiner
Niagara Advance
Pelham News
Inport News (Port Colborne)
Thorold Niagara News
The Niagara Falls Review, the Peterborough Examiner, St. Catharines Standard and Welland Tribune will stay open.
Torstar also bought the free dailies 24Hours in Toronto and Vancouver, which will close.
In the same transaction, Torstar sold Metro in Winnipeg and Ottawa to Postmedia, and the following weekly community newspapers.
Brant News
Belleville News
Central Hastings News
Frontenac Gazette
Kingston Heritage
Kanata Kourier-Standard
Nepean/Barrhaven News
Orleans News
Ottawa East News
Ottawa South News
Ottawa West News
Stittsville News
West Carleton Review
Quinte West News
St. Lawrence News
Our London
St. Thomas/Elgin Weekly News
Exeter Times-Advocate
St. Marys Journal Argus
Stratford City Gazette
Norfolk News
Meaford Express
All but the Exeter papers are to close.
"What makes this particularly difficult is that it means we will say goodbye to many dedicated newspaper people," said Godfrey in the statement.
"However, the continuing costs of producing dozens of small community newspapers in these regions in the face of significantly declining advertising revenues means that most of these operations no longer have viable business models."
The transaction will allow Torstar to operate "more efficiently through increased geographic synergies," said president and CEO John Boynton.
"By acquiring publications within or adjacent to our primary areas and selling publications outside our primary areas we will be able to put a greater focus on regions where we believe we can be more effective in serving both customers and clients."
The Competition Bureau confirmed it will be reviewing the deal.
By law, the Competition Bureau must generally be given advance notice of any deal involving Canadian assets worth more than $88 million.
Because no cash changed hands in this case, the bureau wasn't informed — but that doesn't mean it's being bypassed, or that the deal doesn't require its approval.
"I can confirm that the Competition Bureau will be undertaking a review of the transaction," a spokesperson told CBC News in a statement.Serverless Meetup: A Deep Dive Into Serverless Challenges & Solutions Ted Carstensen
On Feb. 22nd, the SF Serverless community came together to share learnings and challenges associated with going serverless. Join them at the next Serverless meetup by signing up here. If you’re new to serverless, check out this quick Getting Started with Serverless video tutorial or the Docs.
Single-Page Apps & Going All In On Serverless Architecture, Jared Short
Having a single-page app driving APIs creates polished and user friendly apps. But what about SEO? Performance? Deep linking? In this talk Jared Short, Director of Innovation (& Awesomeness) at Trek10, explores some challenges and solutions when going all in on a serverless architecture for single-page apps.
Ops Tips From The Serverless Trenches, Adam Johnson
Whether it’s a single-page app, or a complex serverless architecture design, there are challenges for an Ops team when running infrastructure for serverless (yes you still need it). Adam Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO at IOPipe, highlights some of the challenges from an Ops team perspective including troubleshooting, the need for mapping frontend to backend requests to specific invocations, understanding serverless performance and more.
Preview of the Azure Functions Serverless Framework Plugin, Chris Anderson & Pragna Gopa
Members of the Azure Functions team made the trip to SF to demo the official Azure Functions Plugin for the Serverless Framework, and answer your questions. Chris Anderson, Program Manager, and Pragna Gopa, developer on Azure Functions, share and demo some of the latest updates and functionality within Azure Functions. They also showcase a new integration to facilitate event-driven compute with Functions.
Check out our events page for a full list of upcoming developer focused meetups in our San Francisco Clubhouse, and follow us on Twitter to get updates from our community."Aliases" redirects here. For other uses, see Alias (disambiguation)
A pseudonym () or alias () is a name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which can differ from their first or true name (orthonym).[1]
Pseudonyms include stage names and user names, ring names, pen names, nicknames, aliases, superhero or villain identities and code names, gamer identifications, and regnal names of emperors, popes, and other monarchs. Historically, they have often taken the form of anagrams, Graecisms, and Latinisations, although there are many other methods of choosing a pseudonym.[2]
Pseudonyms should not be confused with new names that replace old ones and become the individual's full-time name. Pseudonyms are "part-time" names, used only in certain contexts – to provide a more clear-cut separation between one's private and professional lives, to showcase or enhance a particular persona, or to hide an individual's real identity, as with writers' pen names, graffiti artists' tags, resistance fighters' or terrorists' noms de guerre, and computer hackers' handles. Actors, voice-over artists, musicians, and other performers sometimes use stage names, for example, to better channel a relevant energy, gain a greater sense of security and comfort via privacy, more easily avoid troublesome fans/"stalkers", or to mask their ethnic backgrounds.
In some cases, pseudonyms are adopted because they are part of a cultural or organisational tradition: for example devotional names used by members of some religious institutes, and "cadre names" used by Communist party leaders such as Trotsky and Lenin.
A pseudonym may also be used for personal reasons: for example, an individual may prefer to be called or known by a name that differs from their given or legal name, but is not ready to take the numerous steps to get their name legally changed; or an individual may simply feel that the context and content of an exchange offer no reason, legal or otherwise, to provide their given or legal name.
A collective name or collective pseudonym is one shared by two or more persons, for example the co-authors of a work, such as Carolyn Keene, Ellery Queen, Nicolas Bourbaki. or James S. A. Corey.
Etymology [ edit ]
The term is derived from the Greek ψευδώνυμον (pseudṓnymon), literally "false name", from ψεῦδος (pseûdos), "lie, falsehood"[3] and ὄνομα (ónoma), "name".[4]
Distinction from allonyms, ghost writers and pseudepigrapha [ edit ]
A pseudonym is distinct from an allonym, which is the (real) name of another person, assumed by the author of a work of art.[5] This may occur when someone is ghostwriting a book or play, or in parody, or when using a "front" name, such as by screenwriters blacklisted in Hollywood in the 1950s and 1960s. See also pseudepigraph, for falsely attributed authorship.
Usage [ edit ]
Legal name change [ edit ]
Sometimes people change their name in such a manner that the new name becomes permanent and is used by all who know the person. This is not an alias or pseudonym, but in fact a new name. In many countries, including common law countries, a name change can be ratified by a court and become a person's new legal name.
For example, in the 1960s, black civil rights campaigner Malcolm Little changed his surname to "X", to represent his unknown African ancestral name that had been lost when his ancestors were brought to North America as slaves. He then changed his name again to Malik El-Shabazz when he converted to Islam.[citation needed] Likewise some Jews adopted Hebrew family names upon immigrating to Israel, dropping surnames that had been in their families for generations. The politician David Ben-Gurion, for example, was born David Grün in Poland. He adopted his Hebrew name in 1910, when he published his first article in a Zionist journal in Jerusalem.[6] Many transgender people also choose to adopt a new name, typically around the time of their social transitioning, to resemble their desired gender better than their birth name.
Concealing identity [ edit ]
Business [ edit ]
Businesspersons of ethnic minorities in some parts of the world are sometimes advised by an employer to use a pseudonym that is common or acceptable in that area when conducting business, to overcome racial or religious bias.[7]
Criminal activity [ edit ]
Criminals may use aliases, fictitious business names, and dummy corporations (corporate shells) to hide their identity, or to impersonate other persons or entities in order to commit fraud. Aliases and fictitious business names used for dummy corporations may become so complex that, in the words of the Washington Post, "getting to the truth requires a walk down a bizarre labyrinth" and multiple government agencies may become involved to uncover the truth.[8]
Literature [ edit ]
A pen name, or "nom de plume" (French for "pen name"), is a pseudonym (sometimes a particular form of the real name) adopted by an author (or on the author's behalf by their publishers).
Some female authors used male pen names, in particular in the 19th century, when writing was a male-dominated profession. The Brontë family used pen names for their early work, so as not to reveal their gender (see below) and so that local residents would not know that the books related to people of the neighbourhood. The Brontës used their neighbours as inspiration for characters in many of their books. Anne Brontë published The Tenant of Wildfell Hall under the name Acton Bell. Charlotte Brontë published Shirley and Jane Eyre under the name Currer Bell. Emily Brontë published Wuthering Heights as Ellis Bell. A well-known example of the former is Mary Ann Evans, who wrote as George Eliot. Another example is Amandine Aurore Lucile Dupin, a 19th-century French writer who used the pen name George Sand.
In contrast, some twentieth and twenty first century male romance novelists have used female pen names.[9] A few examples of male authors using female pseudonyms include Brindle Chase, Peter O'Donnell (wrote as Madeline Brent) and Christopher Wood (wrote as Penny Sutton and Rosie Dixon).[9]
A pen name may be used if a writer's real name is likely to be confused with the name of another writer or notable individual, or if their real name is deemed to be unsuitable.
Authors who write both fiction and non-fiction, or in different genres, may use different pen names to avoid confusing their readers.
In some cases, an author may become better known by his pen name than his real name. One famous example of this is Samuel Clemens writing under the pen name Mark Twain. British mathematician Charles Dodgson, who wrote fantasy novels under the pen name Lewis Carroll and mathematical treatises under his own name, refused to open letters addressed to him as "Lewis Carroll".
Some authors, such as Harold Robbins, use several literary pseudonyms.[10]
Some pen names have been used for long periods, even decades, without the author's true identity being discovered, such as Elena Ferrante and Torsten Krol.
Some pen names are not strictly pseudonyms, as they are simply variants of the authors' actual names. The authors C. L. Moore and S. E. Hinton were female authors who used the initialised forms of their full names. C. L. Moore was Catherine Lucille Moore, who wrote in the 1930s male-dominated science fiction genre, and S. E. Hinton, (author of The Outsiders) is Susan Eloise Hinton. Star Trek writer D. C. Fontana (Dorothy Catherine) wrote using her abbreviated own name and also under the pen names Michael Richards and J. Michael Bingham. Author V.C. Andrews intended to publish under her given name of Virginia Andrews, but was told that, due to a production error, her first novel was being released under the name of "V.C. Andrews"; later she learned that her publisher had in fact done this deliberately. Joanne Kathleen Rowling[11] published the Harry Potter series under the shortened name J. K. Rowling. Rowling also published the Cormoran Strike series, a series of detective novels including The Cuckoo's Calling under the pseudonym "Robert Galbraith".
Winston Churchill wrote under the pen name Winston S. Churchill (from his full surname "Spencer-Churchill" which he did not otherwise use) in an attempt to avoid confusion with the American novelist of the same name. In this case, the attempt was not entirely successful – and the two are still sometimes confused by booksellers.[12][13]
A pen name may be used specifically to hide the identity of the author, as in the case of exposé books about espionage or crime, or explicit erotic fiction. Some prolific authors adopt a pseudonym to disguise the extent of their published output, e.g. Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman. Co-authors may choose to publish under a collective pseudonym, e.g., P. J. Tracy and Perri O'Shaughnessy. Frederic Dannay and Manfred Lee used the name Ellery Queen as both a pen name for their collaborative works and as the name of their main character.
A famous case in French literature was Romain Gary. Already a well-known and highly acclaimed writer, he started publishing books under the pen name Émile Ajar. He wanted to test whether his new books would be well received on their own merits and without the aid of his established reputation, and they were: Émile Ajar, like Romain Gary before him, was awarded the prestigious Prix Goncourt by a jury unaware that both were the same person. Similarly, Ronnie Barker submitted comedy material under the name of Gerald Wiley.
A collective pseudonym may represent an entire publishing house, or any contributor to a long-running series, especially with juvenile literature. Examples include Watty Piper, Victor Appleton, Erin Hunter, and Kamiru M. Xhan.
Another use of a pseudonym in literature is to present a story as being written by the fictional characters in the story. The series of novels known as A Series Of Unfortunate Events are written by Daniel Handler under the pen name of Lemony Snicket, a character in the series.
An anonymity pseudonym or multiple-use name is a name used by many different people to protect anonymity.[14] It is a strategy that has been adopted by many unconnected radical groups and by cultural groups, where the construct of personal identity has been criticised. This has led to the idea of the "open pop star".
Medicine [ edit ]
Pseudonyms and acronyms are often employed in medical research to protect subjects' identities through a process known as de-identification.
Military and paramilitary organizations [ edit ]
In Ancien Régime France, a nom de guerre ("war name") would be adopted by each new recruit (or assigned to them by the captain of their company) as they enlisted in the French army. These pseudonyms had an official character and were the predecessor of identification numbers: soldiers were identified by their first names, their family names, and their noms de guerre (e.g. Jean Amarault dit Lafidélité). These pseudonyms were usually related to the soldier's place of origin (e.g. Jean Deslandes dit Champigny, for a soldier coming from a town named Champigny), or to a particular physical or personal trait (e.g. Antoine Bonnet dit Prettaboire, for a soldier prêt à boire, ready to drink). In 1716, a nom de guerre was mandatory for every soldier; officers did not adopt noms de guerre as they considered them derogatory. In daily life, these aliases could replace the real family name.[15]
Noms de guerre were adopted for security reasons by members of the World War II French resistance and Polish resistance. Such pseudonyms are often adopted by military special forces soldiers, such as members of the SAS and other similar units, resistance fighters, terrorists, and guerrillas. This practice hides their identities and may protect their families from reprisals; it may also be a form of dissociation from domestic life. Some well-known men who adopted noms de guerre include Carlos, for Ilich Ramírez Sánchez; Willy Brandt, Chancellor of West Germany; and Subcomandante Marcos, the spokesman of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN).[citation needed] During Lehi's underground fight against the British in Mandatory Palestine, the organization's commander Yitzchak Shamir (later Prime Minister of Israel) adopted the nom de guerre "Michael", in honour of Ireland's Michael Collins.
Revolutionaries and resistance leaders, such as Lenin, Trotsky, Golda Meir, Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, and Josip Broz Tito, often adopted their noms de guerre as their proper names after the struggle. George Grivas, the Greek-Cypriot EOKA militant, adopted the nom de guerre Digenis (Διγενής). In the French Foreign Legion, recruits can adopt a pseudonym to break with their past lives. Mercenaries have long used "noms de guerre", even sometimes multiple identities depending on country, conflict and circumstance.[citation needed] Some of the most familiar noms de guerre today are the kunya used by Islamic mujahideen. These take the form of a teknonym, either literal or figurative.
Online activity [ edit ]
Individuals using a computer online may adopt or be required to use a form of pseudonym known as a "handle" (a term deriving from CB slang), "user name", "login name", "avatar", or, sometimes, "screen name", "gamertag" "IGN (In Game (Nick)Name)" or "nickname". On the Internet, pseudonymous remailers use cryptography that achieves persistent pseudonymity, so that two-way communication can be achieved, and reputations can be established, without linking physical identities to their respective pseudonyms. Aliasing is the use of multiple names for the same data location.
More sophisticated cryptographic systems, such as anonymous digital credentials, enable users to communicate pseudonymously (i.e., by identifying themselves by means of pseudonyms). In well-defined abuse cases, a designated authority may be able to revoke the pseudonyms and reveal the individuals' real identity.[citation needed]
Use of pseudonyms is common among professional eSports players, despite the fact that many professional games are played on LAN.[16]
Privacy [ edit ]
People seeking privacy often use pseudonyms to make appointments and reservations.[17] Those writing to advice columns in newspapers and magazines may use pseudonyms.[18] Steve Wozniak used a pseudonym when attending the University of California, Berkeley after cofounding Apple Computer because, he said, "I knew I wouldn't have time enough to be an A+ student."[19]
Stage names [ edit ]
When used by an actor, musician, radio disc jockey, model, or other performer or "show business" personality a pseudonym is called a stage name, or, occasionally, a professional name, or screen name.
Film, theatre, and related activities [ edit ]
Members of a marginalized ethnic or religious group have often adopted stage names, typically changing their surname or entire name to mask their original background.
Stage names are also used to create a more marketable name, as in the case of Creighton Tull Chaney, who adopted the pseudonym Lon Chaney, Jr., a reference to his famous father Lon Chaney, Sr.
Chris Curtis of Deep Purple fame was christened as Christopher Crummey. In this and similar cases a stage name is adopted simply to avoid an unfortunate pun.
Pseudonyms are also used to comply with the rules of performing arts guilds (Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Writers Guild of America, East (WGA), AFTRA, etc.), which do not allow performers to use an existing name, in order to avoid confusion. For example, these rules required film and television actor Michael Fox to add a middle initial and become Michael J. Fox, to avoid being confused with another actor named Michael Fox. This was also true of author and actress Fannie Flagg, who chose this pseudonym; her real name, Patricia Neal, being the name of another well-known actress; and British actor Stewart Granger, whose real name was James Stewart. The film-making team of Joel and Ethan Coen, for instance, share credit for editing under the alias Roderick Jaynes.[20] Another example is that actor Gary Morgan used his fictional name "Barnard Panansky" in the Kidsongs' I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing video while in Kidsongs: Very Silly Songs, his actual name appears in the credits.[citation needed]
Some stage names are used to conceal a person's identity, such as the pseudonym Alan Smithee, which was used by directors in the Directors Guild of America (DGA) to remove their name from a film they feel was edited or modified beyond their artistic satisfaction. In theatre, the pseudonyms George or Georgina Spelvin, and Walter Plinge are used to hide the identity of a performer, usually when he or she is "doubling" (playing more than one role in the same play).
David Agnew was a name used by the BBC to conceal the identity of a scriptwriter, such as for the Doctor Who serial City of Death, which had 3 writers, including Douglas Adams, who was at the time of writing the show's Script Editor.[21] In another Doctor Who serial, The Brain of Morbius, writer Terrance Dicks demanded the removal of his name from the credits saying it could go out under a "bland pseudonym".[citation needed][22] This ended up being the name Robin Bland.[22][23]
Music [ edit ]
Musicians and singers can use pseudonyms to allow artists to collaborate with artists on other labels while avoiding the need to gain permission from their own labels, such as the artist Jerry Samuels, who made songs under Napoleon XIV. Rock singer-guitarist George Harrison, for example, played guitar on Cream's song "Badge" using a pseudonym.[24] In classical music, some record companies issued recordings under a nom de disque in the 1950s and 1960s to avoid paying royalties. A number of popular budget LPs of piano music were released under the pseudonym Paul Procopolis.[citation needed] Another example is that Paul McCartney used his fictional name "Bernerd Webb" for Peter and Gordon's song Woman.[25]
Pseudonyms are also used as stage names in heavy metal bands, such as Tracii Guns in LA Guns, Axl Rose and Slash in Guns N' Roses, Mick Mars in Mötley Crüe, Dimebag Darrell in Pantera, or C.C. Deville in Poison. Some of these names have additional meanings, like that of Brian Hugh Warner, more commonly known as Marilyn Manson: Marilyn coming from Marilyn Monroe and Manson from convicted serial killer Charles Manson. Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach went under the name "Coby Dick" during the Infest era. He changed back to his birth name when lovehatetragedy was released.
David Johansen, frontman for the hard rock band New York Dolls, recorded and performed pop and lounge music under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The music video for Poindexter's debt single, Hot Hot Hot, opens with a monologue from Johansen where he notes his time with the New York Dolls and explains his desire to create more sophisticated music.
Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks, wrote original songs, arranged, and produced the records under his real name, but performed on them as David Seville. He also wrote songs using the name Skipper Adams. Danish pop pianist Bent Fabric, whose full name is Bent Fabricius-Bjerre, wrote his biggest instrumental hit "Alley Cat" under the name Frank Bjorn.
For a time, the musician Prince used an unpronounceable "Love Symbol" as a pseudonym ("Prince" is his actual first name rather than a stage name). He wrote the song "Sugar Walls" for Sheena Easton under the alias "Alexander Nevermind" and "Manic Monday" for The Bangles as "Christopher Tracy" (he also produced albums early in his career as "Jamie Starr").
Many Italian-American singers have used stage names as their birth names were difficult to pronounce, or considered too ethnic for American tastes. Singers changing their names included Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti), Connie Francis (born Concetta Franconero), Frankie Valli (born Francesco Castelluccio), Tony Bennett (born Anthony Benedetto), and Lady Gaga (born Stefani Germanotta)
In 2009, British rock band Feeder briefly changed their name to Renegades so they could play a whole show featuring a setlist in which 95 percent of the songs played were from their forthcoming new album of the same name, with none of their singles included. Frontman Grant Nicholas felt that if they played as Feeder, there would be an uproar that they did not play any of the singles, so used the pseudonym as a hint. A series of small shows were played in 2010, at 250- to 1,000-capacity venues with the plan not to say who the band really are and just announce the shows as if they were a new band.
In many cases, hip-hop and rap artist prefer to use pseudonyms that represents some variation of their name, personality, or interests. Prime examples include Iggy Azalea (her name comes from her dog name, Iggy, and her home street in Mullumbimby, Azalea street) Ol' Dirty Bastard (who was known under at least six aliases), Diddy (previously known at various times as Puffy, P. Diddy, and Puff Daddy), Ludacris, Flo Rida (his name is a tribute to his home state, Florida), LL Cool J, and Chingy. Black metal artists also adopt pseudonyms, usually symbolizing dark values, such as Nocturno Culto, Gaahl, Abbath, and Silenoz. In punk and hardcore punk, singers and band members often replace their real names with "tougher"-sounding stage names, such as Sid Vicious (real name John Simon Ritchie) of the late 1970s band Sex Pistols and "Rat" of the early 1980s band The Varukers and the 2000s re-formation of Discharge. Punk rock band The Ramones also had every member take the last name of Ramone.[citation needed]
Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., an American singer-songwriter used the stage name John Denver. The Australian country musician born Robert Lane changed his name to Tex Morton. Reginald Kenneth Dwight legally changed his name to Elton John in 1972.
See also [ edit ]
Notes [ edit ]
Sources [ edit ]"At the end of the day, everyone knows who the best player in the League is, and it's not me," McDavid told TSN at BioSteel Camp in Toronto.
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid may be the reigning NHL MVP and scoring champ, and have a contract that would make him the highest-paid player, but he said Tuesday don't call him the best player in the League.
The Hockey News ranked McDavid as the No. 1 player in the NHL in its annual preseason yearbook, with Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby ranked second.
[RELATED: #NHLTopPlayers: Top 20 Centers]
McDavid didn't say where he should be ranked, but intimated that Crosby, who was No. 1 the past nine years, should remain at the top.
"I don't agree with it, so for me it doesn't really mean too much," McDavid said. "I guess it's a nice honor … [but] I still [have] a lot to work towards."
McDavid, who was ranked No. 9 prior to last season, had 30 goals and 70 assists to lead the NHL with 100 points; Crosby scored 44 goals and 89 points to tie for second with Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks before winning the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy for a second straight season.
"[Sidney] finds a way to score different goals, score goals in tight, score goals in front on tips, quick shots, and that's something I kind of struggle with, so I mean I definitely would love to find a way to score more, and he knows how to do that better than anyone," McDavid said.
McDavid signed an eight-year, $100 million contract extension on July 5 that begins next season, and its $12.5 million average annual value would be the highest in the NHL.
Video: Connor McDavid takes the No. 1 spot
The 20-year-old helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2006, one of five Canada-based teams to do so one season after none did.
"It's good to see Canadian teams doing well, but ultimately it doesn't matter as long as the Oilers are doing well," McDavid said. "I don't care how any other Canadian team does, other than the Edmonton Oilers. The [Toronto Maple] Leafs can come in last place; it doesn't matter to me. All that matters is what the Oilers are doing."
One of those playoff teams were the Pacific Division rival Calgary Flames, who added goalie Mike Smith and defenseman Travis Hamonic this offseason.
"They made a lot of good moves and picked up some good players, [but] sometimes that doesn't always work," McDavid said. "It's not always the best roster that wins, it's the best team, and sometimes that maybe doesn't jell all that well. It's hard to argue with what they did, and I'm sure they'll be a good team this year, and we'll be looking forward to playing them."Photo
Just 16 and recently released from a naval academy, Kenji Ekuan witnessed Hiroshima’s devastation from the train taking him home. “Faced with that nothingness, I felt a great nostalgia for human culture,” he recalled from the offices of G. K. Design, the firm he co-founded in Tokyo in 1952. “I needed something to touch, to look at,” he added. “Right then I decided to be a maker of things.”
One of the most enduring objects in his 60-year design career — which includes the Akita bullet train and Yamaha motorbikes — is the Kikkoman soy-sauce dispenser. Introduced in 1961, it has been in continuous production ever since. Traditional in its grace yet modern in its materials, the bottle’s design drew on Ekuan’s experiences at war’s end. The atomic blast killed his younger sister, and his father, a Buddhist priest, died of radiation-related illness a year later, prompting Ekuan to train briefly as a Buddhist monk in Kyoto.
But he quickly left that training behind, fascinated by the G.I.’s he saw roaming Japan’s ruins. In their jeeps and immaculately pressed gabardine trousers, they were like a “moving exhibition,” extolling the virtues of American invention. Ekuan pored over the newspaper cartoon “Blondie” for clues on American consumer culture. He enrolled at the National University of Fine Arts and Music in Tokyo, urging fellow students to give shape to a contemporary “Japanese lifestyle.”
It took three years for Ekuan and his team to arrive at the dispenser’s transparent teardrop shape. More than 100 prototypes were tested in the making of its innovative, dripless spout (based on a teapot’s, but inverted). The design proved to be an ideal ambassador. With its imperial red cap and industrial materials (glass and plastic), it helped timeless Japanese design values — elegance, simplicity and supreme functionality — infiltrate kitchens around the world.
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More than 300 million dispensers have been sold, in more than 70 countries. In 2007, to mark its 50th year in the United States, Kikkoman issued a gold-capped version, and the company has also given souvenir bottles, bearing the image of Mickey Mouse, to groups of schoolchildren visiting the factory. But Ekuan’s original design persists.
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“For me it represents not the new Japan, but the real Japan,” he says. “The shape is so gentle. Of course, during the war, we were forced into acting differently. But for a long time, some 1,000 years, the history of the Japanese people was very gentle.”All those images of people working on their laptops while sitting on white sands, sipping colourful beverages sure gets my mind wandering. And am sure it gets you wondering too if this too good to be true? Are these people rich? Are these the workings of a trust fund? But have you thought that perhaps this kind of life is totally do-able, for you and for me? Say hello to the life of digital nomads.
I come from the belief that you make your life to be exactly what you want it to be. If you want to live a life on the road, then its totally possible, with a whole lot of planning, a consistent drive and authentic goal setting. Of course, it’s not easy in the least but anything worth having never is, and that’s another story, for another day.
So if your job doesn’t need you to be in an office and you want to explore different corners of the world, beyond the usual sightseeing, then digital nomadism just maybe the thing for you!
Who is a digital nomad?
The simplest way to put it is, that she is someone who has a location independent job and can work out of any corner of the world with a laptop and decent internet speeds. So one can be a nomad and yet have a well-paying job/jobs! No this does not necessarily mean a backpacker or a blogger. It’s just a person who makes a living while not having to be in one specific city/country for it.
How to choose a place to call home?
While choosing a city to be your base as a digital nomad for a few months or a longer period, you will need to have a few considerations that go beyond it being picturesque or a great cultural city to be in. A few pointers you could consider can be:
Visa: You don’t want to choose a city where getting a visa becomes a concern. Or if there are various levels of documentation which you may not pass through due to your current freelancer status. Some countries have stay limitations on tourist/ visitor visas. One needs to take all of that into consideration while choosing a city to work out of as visa runs are quite likely to be a monthly/ quarterly component of your schedule and budget.
Cost of living: Rents, groceries, transportation, eating out, beers, fitness, all these factors add up to your expense in your temporary home. Because it is a long-term stay and not a vacation, sustaining a comfortable life with enough left behind for socialising and saving is important.
Safety: As a solo female traveller, this is one of the key deciding factors while choosing a place. Also carrying around gear, living in the rented apartment needs to be a safe and secure experience for everyone, irrespective.
Wifi: A location may have the best sights, the best food and may score really well on the other factors, but if the wifi ain’t great, then that poses a problem for most digital nomads.
Community: Visiting a city for a few days/ weeks is different than actually staying in it. And if you start a remote stint in a city, it is great to have a community of other travellers who are also there for the same purpose. It gives one a sense of belonging also helps build a community around it.
Keeping these pointers in mind, here are:
Top 8 cities for a digital nomad in 2018
Chiang Mai, Thailand: Located in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is a lot different from it’s the cooler kitschy cousin, Bangkok. But again, it depends on what is cool for you. Built around a remainder of walls and moats, the old city is historical and is sprinkled with beautiful temples. The old city boasts of leafy boulevards and is mostly pedestrian. Cafes and bistros await you and to distress you can go for a Monk Chat session where you spend time in the company of monks of the many temples in the city. While in the city you can opt for plenty of experiences like leisurely massages, night markets, Muay Thai boxing matches, join cooking classes or head off for a 2 hour zip lining adventure in the outskirts, yes for real!
Rents are approximately $200-306 /Rs 13500-20000 for a furnished studio and a basic lunch with a beverage will cost you about $2 / Rs. 160. There are many cafes offering fast Wifi’s and the city has some best Co-Working spaces too like Punspace, Addicted to work and MANA all of which guarantee a great community for digital nomads to catch up with.
Berlin, Germany: Berlin is for the dreamers. The poets, the adventurers. The ones who want to weave beautiful stories and map it out in this edgy, colourful city with a burgeoning nomad-scape (if there is a word like that). It is at par with the major cities of the world like London, Barcelona, Paris but is slightly easier on the pocket and with more social and cultural splendour than the others. No wonder, apart from digital nomads, the city is home to artists, musicians, writers and the likes. With great underground talent, street art, nightlife, cultural explorations and a picturesque old city, this becomes is a top favourite with digital nomads everywhere. Graffiti art classes, bicycle rides, explorations of the remnants of the Berlin wall, dance classes, food invitations, this city has it all. And to that add a very tightly knit digital nomad community, which will make |
police special agent Rick Deckard (Ford) shocking to my country hippie sensibilities. But all of those shocks only made the final scene of replicant Roy Batty's (perfectly cast in Rutger Hauer) "natural" death all the more effective and moving. At the time, I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and ate up Hauer's (allegedly ad libbed) Tannhaeuser Gate/tears in the rain soliloquy.
It was in that moment that the mood of the film throughly soaked into me. I felt as though I were in it. It ended and I unceremoniously swam back out into the boisterous, drunken nightlife of downtown Nantucket, which didn't feel at all like Nantucket anymore. Fittingly, it had started to drizzle and a fog had crept up Broad Street from Straight Wharf -- Blade Runner's perpetual rain had descended upon Nantucket.
I made my way back to The Brotherhood. I stood outside the window right next to where Pammy and Linda performed and peered in. I don't know what song it was, but they were in the middle of some energetic, smilie-faced, folk number. As I stood in the chilly rain, now getting seriously wet, Pam sensed I was there and turned to me as she sang. Her face dropped as she saw the faraway look on mine. I faked a smile back. She smiled, satisfied, and turned back into the music. I was a universe away. I was peering into that antique-glass window from the future.
I didn't go into the restaurant that night, one of the rare occasions I didn't at least catch one set. I went upstairs to the "Ent Room" (Entertainer's Room) where we stayed and I cried. I cried a lot. Again, I'm not really sure why. It is one of my few "molting moments" (as Cocteau called them) where I can't tell you what gears got turned, what wires in my nervous system got spliced. But I had changed, and I cried for the loss of something. Humanity, perhaps. I knew, without knowing it, that post-humanity had just dawned on me. Long live the new flesh. I would quickly travel from this moment into cyberpunk sci-fi, industrial/electronic music, bOING bOING, Mondo 2000, Beyond Cyberpunk!, and Wired. I cried for the death of the country hippie. And like Batty, in that moment, I could feel the full weight of my life, the amazing adventures I'd already been on, full of "things you people wouldn't believe," and somehow, sense wondrous adventures to come, And like Batty, I was sad to think that all of this, all of this accumulation of experience and knowledge, all of my memories, would vanish when I died.
Pammy is gone, eight years now, by her own hand, and I think of that "scene" from our life together frequently, that frozen moment at the window. It has become a scene in Blade Runner itself. I can't think of one without the other. I hold these and other memories in a precious kind of stasis 'cause I know that "all those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain."Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has condemned the brutal murder of an Ahmadi man who was shot dead on June 4th in Pakistan’s northern city of Attock. 65-year-old Dr Hameed Ahmad was approaching is home in Islam Colony when by two unidentified attackers opened fire, killing him on the spot.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain released a statement the very next day and said
“In Pakistan extremists are specifically targeting those of different beliefs and faiths. The brutal killing of an Ahmadi man in the city of Attock is another example of rising intolerance, No matter how much we condemn this brutal act, it is not enough.“
Hussain went on to say:
“MQM believes in religious tolerance and interfaith harmony and wants to establish such a society where people of different beliefs and faiths have equal rights.”
Hussain also demanded that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif take immediate action by arresting and sentencing the killers of Ahmadi man Hameed Ahmad. He also offered his condolences and sympathies to the slain doctor’s family.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
Shock leaked report shows British troops are exhausted even before they reach the battlefields of Afghanistan.
The paper, written by a senior Army officer, also slams a shortage of vital equipment such as mine detectors. And a second report reveals a "catastrophic" collapse of communications systems.
It comes amid Tory cuts which are forcing the Army to axe 7,000 personnel and get rid of 40 per cent of its tanks and 35 per cent of its heavy artillery.
In the first of two "Post-Operational Reports" Signal Squadron Officer Captain Georgie Dunn, says troops starting a six-month tour in Afghanistan suffered because they did not get time to recover after gruelling training.
In a 30-page overview of their battle against the Taliban she wrote: "Many arrived already fatigued... Time should be afforded... in order that forces can arrive mentally and emotionally, as well as physically, fit for the rigours of the deployment."
She worries over "demands being placed on young, inexperienced soldiers" forced to face "much horror and tragedy".
She says the squadron did not have enough Vallon mine detectors - essential for finding Taliban roadside bombs which are the biggest killer of British soldiers. And while some troops got new helmets others had to make do with older, heavier versions,.
In the other report seen by the Sunday Mirror, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Fallows, Commanding Officer of 16 Signal Regiment, highlights the collapse of a communications system during his soldiers' six-month stint in Helmand.
He also says too much reliance on mobile phones around the Afghan capital Kabul had led to security breaches.
Colonel Fallows attacks higher ranks for being caught up with red tape and adds: "Too many appear reluctant to stick their neck out."
He also reveals how heavily the Army relies on TA troops. He writes: "Once again the contribution of theTerritorial Army has proven invaluable."
Colonel Sir Richard Kemp, ex-commander of British Forces in Afghanistan said: "When a commanding officer writes a post-deployment report every word needs to be looked at very carefully.
"Their comments are extremely important. If there is a shortage of Vallon mine detectors, that could cost our soldiers lives and limbs. This needs to be resolved immediately."
The MOD said: "It is routine for commanding officers to report at the end of a tour on what went well and what needs addressing."
OFFICERS' WORRIES
Soldiers given too little time to recover from gruelling training
Not enough mine-detectors to find Taliban bombs
'Catastrophic' collapse of communication systems
High-ranking officers bound up in red tape
'Young recruits are facing much horror & tragedy'FBI Informant Working on Russian Nuclear Bribery Scheme Was THREATENED by the Obama Administration
All Russian roads lead to Hillary Clinton and the corrupt Obama administration.
The FBI informant providing information on the Russian nuclear bribery scheme calls himself a patriot. He didn’t like corruption he was witnessing and when he decided to speak up, the Obama administration actually threatened him.
As reported earlier, prior to the Obama administration approving the very controversial deal in 2010 giving Russia 20% of America’s Uranium, the FBI had evidence that Russian nuclear industry officials were involved in bribery, kickbacks, extortion and money laundering in order to benefit Vladimir Putin, says a report by The Hill.
Who was right in the middle of it all? HILLARY CLINTON.
Nine shareholders in Uranium One just happened to provide more than $145 million in donations to the Clinton Foundation in the run-up to State Department approval.
The Clintons took the cash from Uranium One officials before the deal was approved by Hillary Clinton’s State Department. The Clintons hid the donations which is a clear violation of the Memorandum of Understanding Hillary Clinton signed with the Obama administration wherein she promised and agreed to publicly disclose all donations during her tenure as Secreatary of State. (Via Breitbart)
From today’s report we find out that the investigation was supervised by then-U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein, who is now President Trump’s Deputy Attorney General, and then-Assistant FBI Director Andrew McCabe, who is now the deputy FBI director under Trump.
Per John Solomon and Alison Spann of The Hill, federal agents used a confidential U.S. witness for years to uncover the corruption inside of the Russian nuclear industry:
Federal agents used a confidential U.S. witness working inside the Russian nuclear industry to gather extensive financial records, make secret recordings and intercept emails as early as 2009 that showed Moscow had compromised an American uranium trucking firm with bribes and kickbacks in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, FBI and court documents show. They also obtained an eyewitness account — backed by documents — indicating Russian nuclear officials had routed millions of dollars to the U.S. designed to benefit former President Bill Clinton’s charitable foundation during the time Secretary of State Hillary Clinton served on a government body that provided a favorable decision to Moscow, sources told The Hill.
Sara Carter of Circa News interviewed Victoria Toensing, a lawyer for the FBI informant.
The FBI informant was actually threatened by the Obama administration for speaking out about the corruption he witnessed while he was providing information.
Toensing said her client “is not only afraid of the Russian people, but he is afraid of the US government because of the threats the Obama administration made against him.”
Also, high-ranking Obama Admin officials KNEW that here was corruption in the Russian nuclear firm and apparently blocked that pertinent information from CFIUS.
CFIUS is an inter-agency committee who reviews transactions that leads to a change of control of a U.S. business to a foreign person or entity that may have an impact on the national security of the United States, Sara Carter explains.
My client was providing information for a couple years before this really got voted on by CFIUS, and here’s the rub. High-ranking law enforcement officials in the Obama Administration knew that there was corruption in this company and that information about the corruption in this Russian entity never made it to CFIUS, evidently, because CFIUS authorized the purchase in 2010.
How did these bribery schemes play out? How was money transferred to different entities?
According to Circa News, the money exchanges played out like a Hollywood movie:
The bribery schemes included delivering thousands of dollars in yellow envelopes, laundering tens of thousands of dollars in briefcases or wiring thousands of dollars through shell companies through the Seychelle Islands, Latvia, Cyprus and Switzerland to name a few. During the time of the FBI’s investigation which began in 2009, Tenex was able to expand its American foothold with $6 billion in new utility contracts, according to documents and news reports obtained by Circa.
Video of Toensing explaining why her FBI informant client came forward: “I did this as a patriot” God bless this patriot!
Read Sara Carter’s full report here.Tainted New Year Honours: Knighthood for Tory donor who made millions from credit crunch and CBE for jailed tycoon
Ex-convict Gerald Ronson and Conservative Party supporter Paul Ruddock both honoured
David Cameron accused of being 'out of touch' with decent British people
Government source says Prime Minister has no personal involvement in deciding who receives honours
Founder of online gambling company bet365 also appointed OBE
A disgraced property tycoon and a hedge fund trader who cashed in on the credit crunch are both in the New Year Honours list.
Ex-convict Gerald Ronson – the great survivor of the Guinness share-trading scandal – is made a CBE. And there is a knighthood for Tory donor Paul Ruddock, who has given more than £500,000 to party coffers since 2003.
His firm, Lansdowne Partners, made a staggering £100million from the financial crash by betting that the price of Northern Rock shares would fall and also made millions in a matter of days by predicting the likely slide of other banking shares.
Controversial: Ex-convict Gerald Ronson, pictured left with wife Gail, is appointed CBE while Tory donor Paul Ruddock, right, is to be knighted
The honours sparked a cross-party war of words, with Labour accusing David Cameron of cronyism, but Downing Street insisting that the Prime Minister had nothing to do with the decisions.
Michael Dugher, Labour's Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, said: 'David Cameron promised to clean up politics, but in office he has shown he is utterly out of touch with decent British people. He is giving a knighthood to Paul Ruddock, who made millions from the collapse of Northern Rock and has given over £500,000 to the Tories.
'This tells you everything you need to know about the Tories' priorities. When millions of families are struggling to get by, it's the Tories' friends in the City who get the rewards.'
A member of the Treasury Select Committee, John Mann, described the knighthood for Mr Ruddock as a 'disgrace'. The Labour MP for Bassetlaw said: 'The country is sick to death of bankers getting knighthoods from successive governments.
'It is extraordinary that when there are so many hard working people who have done a lot for this country, it is people who have caused us so many problems that are getting awarded. Small business owners who went under and people who lost their jobs when Northern Rock failed will be extremely angry.'
A Government source stressed that the Prime Minister has no personal involvement in deciding who receives honours and dismissed any suggestion of impropriety. The decision, said the source, was taken by an independent committee in recognition of Mr Ruddock's commitment to the arts.
Donating to a political party is not a bar to an honour but the independent committee is made aware of any donations.
Within Government there was anger at Labour's decision to try to make political capital out of the issue, not least because former Capita boss Rod Aldridge, who has given Labour £1million, is knighted in today's list.
Jailed: Gerald Ronson, left, during his time inside Ford Prison is the great survivor of the Guinness share-trading scandal
No decision to make: A Government source said that the Prime Minister has no personal involvement in deciding who receives honours
A Government source said: 'This criticism is pretty rich, coming from a Labour government that gave Fred Goodwin a knighthood – they should wind their necks in.'
Others from the business world whose honours might raise eyebrows include Denise Coates, founder and chief executive of the online gambling company bet365. She receives the CBE for services to the community and business.
The daughter of Stoke City FC owner Peter Coates, she has a £750million fortune and was this year ranked the eighth-richest woman in the Sunday Times Rich List.
Property tycoon and philanthropist Ronson, 72, who was jailed in 1990 for his part in the Guinness scam, has been honoured for services to charity. It is rare for a former prisoner to be bestowed with such an honour.
Indeed, one of his co-defendants, the late Jack Lyons, was stripped of his knighthood after they were convicted along with two other top City figures. Lyons, who was spared a 30-month term because of his poor health, was knighted by the 1973 Conservative government and had his title taken away by John Major.
Proud moment: Those people on the New Year Honours list will enjoy a day at Buckingham Palace
Ronson founded Heron Group – now Heron International Plc – when he was 17, brought self-service petrol stations to the UK in 1960s and was once the 14th-richest person in Britain and worth £548million.
In 1990 he was, with Lyons, Ernest Saunders and Anthony Parnes, convicted over Guinness's £2.7billion takeover of the Scottish drinks group Distillers.
The fraud had the effect of boosting the Guinness share price. As it rose, the group's offer to Distillers' shareholders increased in value, helping Guinness fend off a bid from rival Argyll and secure the deal.
Ronson was convicted of conspiring to create a false market, false accounting and one of theft. He was fined £5million and sentenced to a year, but freed after six months for good behaviour.
He has always protested his innocence, saying he did not knowingly act dishonestly.
A father of four, he is also the uncle of chart-topping musician Mark Ronson.
He has raised more than £100million for, and donated more than £30million to, charities such as the Community Security Trust, NSPCC, the Prince's Trust and Jewish Care.
Asked if Ronson's conviction had any influence over the decision to award him a CBE, a Cabinet Office spokesman said every nomination for an honour was considered on its own merits.
Other former prisoners to be honoured in the past include footballer Tony Adams, who was jailed for drink-driving in 1990 and made an MBE 14 years later. And Mick Jagger was knighted in 2002, 35 years after being jailed for possessing drugs. The sentence was reduced on appeal to a conditional discharge.
Paul Ruddock, 53, becomes a Knight Bachelor for services to the arts in today's honours list.
During the credit crunch in 2007 and 2008 the activities of'short sellers' enraged politicians who were trying to shore up plunging bank shares.
Many observers blamed the practice – based on traders selling stock, allowing the price to fall and then buying it back – for the bailout funded by taxpayers.
Short-sellers were accused of targeting Halifax owner HBOS in particular before it was rescued by Lloyds and then the taxpayer.
Mr Ruddock has given £551,598.42 to the Tories since 2003. He is one of the City's wealthiest men, with a fortune estimated at £280million.
Among his philanthropic work, he is chairman of the Victoria and Albert Museum, for which he has helped raise more than £120million.
And I dub thee, Sir Big Brother
Delighted: Peter Bazalgette, the man who brought Big Brother to UK screens, has been given a knighthood for services to broadcasting
Peter Bazalgette has the dubious distinction of being the man who brought Big Brother – the epitome of downmarket reality TV – to UK screens.
Despite what many will regard as a less than enriching contribution to British life, the media executive has been given a knighthood for services to broadcasting.
The 58-year-old was also credited with being instrumental in the rise of lifestyle and make-over shows, having been behind series such as Ground Force, Changing Rooms and Ready Steady Cook.
Yesterday Baz, as he is known within the TV industry, said the honour was a ‘delightful compliment’.
Bazalgette, great great grandson of civil engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette, oversaw the launch, and several series, of Big Brother for Endemol as well as shows such as Fame Academy, Restoration and Deal Or No Deal.
While he did not invent the format for Big Brother he was credited with playing a major part in making the show a success.
During his time at the company the reality series was involved in a number of controversies including showing a couple apparently having sex, albeit under the covers, on Teen Big Brother in 2003.
Five years ago, in the ‘celebrity’ version of the show, viewers were treated to the dubious privilege of seeing maverick MP George Galloway dressed in a cat costume and as a vampire, while more recent participants include Sally Bercow, wife of the Commons Speaker.
One critic has accused Bazalgette of doing more to ‘debase’ TV over the past decade than anyone else.
In recent years he has acted largely as a consultant to the TV industry and for digital media.
He has also written about the business of TV formats, with his book Billion Dollar Game published in 2005.
Bazalgette said he viewed the award as an acknowledgment of the work of independent TV production firms.
After graduating from Cambridge University, Bazalgette joined the BBC’s news trainee scheme, moving on to become a researcher for That’s Life and then a reporter for Man Alive. Moving behind the cameras, he produced the long-running series Food And Drink before setting up his own company Bazal, later to be absorbed into the Dutch TV giant Endemol.
He went on to become Endemol’s chief creative officer, leaving the company in 2007.
Bazalgette is president of the Royal Television Society, deputy chairman of English National Opera and the National Film and Television School, and has served on the board of Channel 4.
In January this year he was made a non-executive director to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for his ‘business acumen’ and ‘particular insight into a broad spectrum of media issues’.
Another successful TV executive, Paul Smith, the man behind Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, is made a CBE.Loading...
On Tuesday, the first direct flight packed with 250 asylum seekers from Syria and Africa landed at Luleå Airport. In total, 3,000 asylum seekers get to fly directly to Sweden, and almost all will receive a residence permit, the Migration Board guarantees.The direct transportation of asylum seekers to Sweden, is part of an European agreement on the redistribution of asylum seekers between EU countries.The asylum seekers, who are from from Syria and Eritrea, first arrived in Greece and Italy in 2015, and have since been held in refugee camps in Greece.The Swedish government has agreed to receive 3,000 of them, who will now fly directly to Sweden. According to the newspaper Samtiden, the cost of these asylum seekers is SEK 7,5 billion.- Most will get a residence permit. Between 90 and 100 percent. We do not accept people in this way who we have to send back, says Per-Erik Bjurholt from the Migration Board, to SVT However, this is just a drop in the ocean, as more than 300,000 cases of family reunifications are expected by 2019:The Swedish cultural suicide continues in full force:Comment below.Last week we rolled our new Mobile Nations Passport account system, which makes it easy for any member of Android Central to also participate across our other sites. With Passport, you have one account and to rule them all!
In honor of the successful roll out of Passport and thanks to our awesome friends at Gogo, we're celebrating with an amazing cross site contest. Each of our sites is running a contest giving away an Ultimate Prize Pack for their platform. And thanks to Passport, you can easily enter for a shot at winning each prize pack on each site.
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Register or Login using the links at the top right corner of this site (see where it says Passport Is Live)
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Click on over to CrackBerry, iMore, Windows Phone Central and webOS Nation (<-- on those links) to go straight to the respective contest post for that site. Simply login on each site -- which is painless thanks to Passport -- and leave a comment there, as you're doing here, and you'll be entered to win that prize pack.
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Our friends at Gogo -- the KINGS of Inflight Internet -- made it possible for us to run this Mobile Nations Contest. Gogo ROCKs. So be sure to click the button below and like them on Facebook. Your comment to this post is enough to be entered to win, but we'll love you, and Gogo will love you, if you like them (if the button doesn't work in your region, don't panic).
Beyond the Grand Prize, we have awesome runner up prizes as well. Keep reading for more info on the prizes and for the full contest details. Contest is open worldwide and ends at Noon PT on Monday, November 19th. Don't waste time... Enter now! Good Luck!Britain’s influence in Europe is suffering because of falling numbers of British diplomats being hired to work in Brussels – a trend which could prove impossible to fully reverse, the Government has conceded.
In a stark admission the Foreign Office said the problem had now become “acute” and was “set to get worse”. Since 2010 not a single British civil servant has successfully applied for a full-time job in Brussels.
As a result, the number of UK nationals on the staff of the European Commission has fallen by almost a quarter in the last seven years.
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The UK now supplies just 4.6 per cent of Commission staff, compared to its 12.5 per cent share of the EU’s population. In comparison, France has 13 per cent of the EU population and holds 9.7 per cent of Commission posts.
The picture is similar in the European Parliament, which has become increasingly powerful. The UK’s share of administrator-grade staff has fallen from 6.2 per cent to 5.8 per cent since 2010, while France’s has risen from 7.5 per cent to 8.6 per cent.
In its formal response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, which first raised the problem, the Foreign Office admitted that it needed to do much more to address the issue. It said it was unable to “parachute new staff into senior positions within the EU institutions” – i.e. the Commission, the Parliament and the General Secretariat of the EU Council – and success had to come through open recruitment.
However, British candidates have proved remarkably unsuccessful at getting through the rigorous testing process. Of all the British civil servants in the European Fast Stream, not a single candidate has completed the process and got a full-time job working for a European institution since 2010.
The Foreign Office said the “computer-based testing” required for success at what is known as the “concours” had been particularly challenging. “Member states cannot parachute new staff into senior positions within the EU institutions – the only way to increase the number of permanent UK staff is through success at the concours. There have been 30 European Fast Stream opportunities to take the concours since the programme restarted in 2010. From these opportunities, no candidate has completed the process and taken up a post.”
The Foreign Office said that under-representation was not a new phenomenon. “The UK (has) never met its ‘share’ of EU staff,” it wrote. “However the problem has become more acute, and is set to get worse before it gets better. It is difficult to envisage, given current trends and the lack of regular generalist concours, a situation in which the UK’s share of EU staff matches its proportion of the population.”
In its report, published in the summer, the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said there was a “generation gap” with senior UK officials in Europe retiring and not being replaced in the same numbers. They said the language requirements – applicants need to demonstrate a “good level” of French and German to be considered – were one of a number of obstacles to increasing British presence in the EU’s apparatus.
While the competition was understandably tough, the MPs said potential applicants often had a “lack of awareness” about what a career in the EU entailed and what was required.
A Foreign Office spokesman said it had already established a “Success in the EU” project to help UK civil servants apply more successfully for EU positions.
“We are proud that, as a result of these efforts, more Brits applied for the EU entrance exam in 2012 than ever before. More work needs to be done, however, to translate this increase in applications into more permanent posts and reverse the UK’s EU staffing deficit,” the spokesman said.
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Subscribe now.Men gesture as they welcome an aid convoy of Syrian Arab Red Crescent and UN driving through the rebel held besieged city of Douma towards the besieged town of Kafr Batna to deliver aid, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria February 23, 2016. Picture taken February 23, 2016. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh
GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations and partner aid organisations plan to deliver life-saving aid to 154,000 Syrians in besieged areas in the next five days, the U.N. Resident Coordinator in Damascus Yacoub El Hillo said in a statement on Sunday.
Pending approval from parties to the conflict, the U.N. is ready to deliver aid to about 1.7 million people in hard-to-reach areas in the first quarter of 2016, he said.
The U.N. estimates there are almost 500,000 people living under siege, out of a total 4.6 million who are hard to reach with aid, but it hopes that a cessation of hostilities that began on Friday night will bring an end to the 15 sieges.
“It is the best opportunity that the Syrian people have had over the last five years for lasting peace and stability,” El Hillo said.
“But we all know that without a meaningful political process and a political solution, both cessation of hostilities and entry of humanitarian assistance will not be enough to end the crisis in Syria.”
The U.N. hopes to deliver aid to Moadamiya on Monday, the “four towns” of Zabadani, Kufreya, Foua and Madaya on Wednesday, and Kafr Batna on Friday.
But the biggest single siege, of about 200,000 people in Deir al-Zor, is not affected by the cessation of hostilities because the besieging Islamic State forces are excluded from the agreement.
The U.N. attempted an air drop there last week but high winds meant all 21 tonnes of food went off target or went missing or their parachutes failed to open and they were destroyed.Richland County, S.C., Sheriff's Deputy Ben Fields was called in to Spring Valley High School to remove a student. A classmate filmed the deputy slamming the student to the ground and dragging her through the classroom. (Reginald Seabrooks/YouTube)
Federal authorities opened a civil rights investigation Tuesday into a South Carolina incident depicted in videos showing a police officer throwing a high school student across a classroom.
Numerous videos recorded inside of Richland County’s Spring Valley High quickly spread on social media Monday afternoon, sparking outrage amid an ongoing national debate on how law enforcement interacts with the communities they police.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the FBI in Columbia, S.C., and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina are conducting a civil rights probe into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the student.
“The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence in order to determine whether a federal law was violated,” a Justice spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.
The incident in a math classroom involved a white officer and a black female student, who was arrested for disturbing schools, according to the sheriff’s department.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, who requested the independent criminal probe, said at a Tuesday news conference he was “shocked and disturbed” by what the short video showed.
Officials also have uncovered another video, recorded from a different angle, showing the student resisting, “hitting the student resource officer with her fist and striking him,” Lott said. “What she does is not what I’m looking at; what I’m looking at is what our student resource officer did.”
Lott added: “She bears some responsibility. If she had not disturbed the school, disturbed the class, we would not be standing here today. It started with her, and ended with my deputy.”
The deputy involved, who the sheriff’s department identified as Ben Fields, has been suspended without pay. Results from the department’s internal investigation could come as early as Wednesday.
Fields, a school resource officer, did not return requests for comment Tuesday. An attorney representing Fields in a separate civil case declined to comment on his behalf.
The videos circulating publicly don’t depict the moments leading up to the officer grabbing the student, and school officials declined to provide details, citing the ongoing investigation.
Lott said a teacher repeatedly asked the student to put her phone away, and the student “became verbally disrespectful.” The teacher and an assistant principal both asked the student to leave the classroom before asking the deputy to become involved, Lott said.
One video clip shows Fields approaching the student and holding onto her, trying to yank her out of her chair and then putting her in a hold as the chair falls over. He then throws the student across the classroom floor and says, “put your hands behind your back.”
Richland Two School District is “deeply concerned” about the incident, district superintendent Debbie Hamm said in a statement Monday. “The District will not tolerate any actions that jeopardize the safety of our students,” she said.
The officer involved has been banned from school district property, a “permanent request,” the district’s Board of Trustees Chairman James Manning said at a separate Tuesday news conference.
“Yesterday’s incident was an outrageous exception” to the school district’s culture, Manning said. School district officials pledged to review the screening and training of school resource officers.
[ACLU files suit against sheriff who allegedly handcuffed disabled children at school]
Here's part of another video of the controversial takedown by an SRO @ Spring Valley H.S. #sctweets #breaking #wis10 pic.twitter.com/aHQRVgWYJy — Chad Mills (@ChadMillsWIS) October 26, 2015
WIS-TV also posted a longer version of the video that appears to have been taken from a different angle.
The one-and-a-half minute clip shows an officer asking a student seated at a desk to “just stand up” and ends with the student being thrown across the classroom.
“Are you going to come with me or am I going to make you? Come on,” the officer says. “I’m going to get you up.”
Fields won a 2007 civil suit brought against him alleging that he used excessive force when investigating a noise complaint.
A student filed another lawsuit against Fields, scheduled for trial in January. The student was expelled after being accused of belonging to a gang, and alleges Fields “unfairly and recklessly targets African-American students with allegations of gang membership and criminal gang activity.”
[Schools taking serious look at putting armed police in schools]
News of the federal inquiry into the Spring Valley High incident was welcomed by the Richland Two Black Parents Association.
“The unfortunate actions of this police officer has revealed what many African American parents have experienced in this district for a very long time,” reads a statement. “This is just another example of why we must have an independent assessment from various parties including the Department of Justice to examine policies and practices in the District.”
I'm so disgusted I can't even see straight. What if this was your child? https://t.co/9uR3CRTCv2 — Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) October 26, 2015
National organizations have called attention to the video as an example of police over-reach in schools.
“Instead of deescalating the situation, Deputy Ben Fields dehumanized and criminalized a black teenage girl,” said Judith Browne, co-director of Advancement Project, a civil rights group. “Current police culture has no place in our schools.”
The American Civil Liberties Union also condemned the actions depicted in the videos.
“There is no justification whatsoever for treating a child like this,” said Victoria Middleton, executive director of the ACLU of South Carolina. “Regardless of the reason for the officer’s actions, such egregious use of force — against young people who are sitting in their classrooms — is outrageous. School should be a place to learn and grow, not a place to be brutalized. We must take action to address the criminalization of children in South Carolina, especially at school.”
[This story, originally published Oct. 26, has been updated.]6 Pitfalls To Avoid When Picking Insurance On The Job
Enlarge this image Corbis Corbis
You don't get a pass this year on big health insurance decisions because you're not shopping in an Affordable Care Act marketplace. Employer medical plans — where most working-age folks get coverage — are changing too.
Rising costs, a looming tax on rich benefits packages and the idea that people should buy medical treatment the way they shop for cellphones have increased odds that workplace plans will be very different in 2015.
"If there's any year employees should pay attention to their annual enrollment material, this is probably the year," said Brian Marcotte, CEO of the National Business Group on Health, which represents large employers.
In other words, don't blow off the human resources seminars. Ask these questions.
1) Is my doctor still in the network?
Some employers are shifting to plans that look like the HMOs of the 1990s, with limited networks of physicians and hospitals. Provider affiliations change even when companies don't adopt a "narrow network."
Insurers publish directories, but the surest way to see if docs or hospitals take your plan is to call and ask.
2) Is my employer changing where I get labs and medications?
For expensive treatments — for diseases such as cancer or multiple sclerosis — some companies are hiring preferred vendors. Getting infusions or prescriptions outside this network could cost thousands extra, just as with doctors and hospitals.
3) How will my out-of-pocket costs go up?
It's probably not a question of if. Shifting medical expenses to workers benefits employers because it means they absorb less of a plan's overall cost increases. By lowering the value of the insurance, it also shields companies from the so-called Cadillac tax on high-end coverage that begins in 2018.
Having consumers pay more is also supposed to nudge them to buy thoughtfully — to consider whether procedures are necessary and to find good prices.
"It gets them more engaged in making decisions," said Dave Osterndorf, a benefits consultant with Towers Watson.
How well this will control total costs is very unclear.
Your company is probably raising deductibles — the amount you pay for care before your insurance kicks in. The average deductible for a single worker rose to $1,217 this year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. One large employer in three surveyed by Marcotte's group planned to offer |
those. The presence of Palmer, and his poise in crunch time, poses the biggest threat to the Seahawks. Neither Arizona nor Carolina are in the same league as the 49ers or even Packer teams of recent years.
8. Bobby Wagner is gaining steam
I thought Sunday was Bobby Wagner’s best game of the season. He was sudden and sure in his tackling, and was covering large chunks of the field. Wagner, for whatever reason, has not been his normal impactful self this year. His return to form could prove vital as the defense tries to stabilize their play heading into the postseason.
9. Garry Gilliam may be your starting left tackle next year
No disrespect to Russell Okung, who has arguably been the best Seahawks lineman this season, but the continuing development of Garry Gilliam at right tackle could provide John Schneider with some interesting options this offseason. He could choose to pay big bucks to Okung to maintain some continuity, and there would be little reason to argue with that choice. He could also find a less expensive right tackle to plug in and swing Gilliam over to left, which is where he played before this season started. Gilliam has shown clear improvement as the season has gone on, with a trajectory that is very promising. Schneider’s decision will be made, in part, by what the market demands for Okung and how that compares to right tackles on the market or in the draft.
10. The dream is still alive
The absolute best way for this season to end would be the Seahawks beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl in the 49ers home stadium. That seemed dodgy on the Seattle side for much of the year, and even a bit on the Patriots side due to injuries recently. Both combatants have regained their balance and footing and could be starting a lengthy acceleration toward a memorable collision in the new year.With just hours remaining before mid-year junior college transfers can sign a letter of intent, Texas A&M has landed a commitment from one of it's final remaining juco targets.
Butler (Kan.) Community College outside linebacker Tommy Sanders, the No. 33 player in the ESPN Junior College 100 and the top-rated linebacker, has given the Aggies his pledge, according to Butler assistant coach Keith Browning.
"Tommy will sign with Texas A&M per text message from him to me," Browning said.
Sanders, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound prospect, had offers from Baylor, Central Florida, Florida State, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Ohio State, South Carolina and South Florida in addition to the Aggies. He is the 34th commitment in the Aggies' 2013 class and the sixth linebacker.
In his 2012 season with Butler, Sanders recorded 70 tackles and led the team in both sacks (eight) and tackles for loss (20). He also picked off a pass and broke up 12 passes in his 12 games of action for the Grizzlies, who made it all the way to the Graphic Edge Bowl, the NJCAA's national title game.
Sanders will have two years of eligibility when he arrives at Texas A&M. He can sign a letter of intent with the Aggies on Wednesday. He is the ninth commitment in the Aggies' 2013 class who will enroll for the spring semester and the fourth junior-college commitment in the class.Gov. Jerry Brown met earlier this month with executives from one of the world’s biggest energy companies to discuss the possibilities of developing the first offshore wind project in California.
While on his way to the recent world climate conference in Germany, Brown huddled with Bjørn Otto Sverdrup, senior vice president for corporate sustainability for Statoil in Norway, according to the news website Axios.
While offshore wind farms are becoming a common sight in Europe, none have been built on the West Coast and only one has been completed in the U.S. — off the shores of Block Island in Rhode Island.
"It's great, all that wind blowing, if we can get it, if the price is right, if the technology is there, if we can get through appropriate analysis," Brown told Axios last week in Bonn, Germany. "I think it may have real potential, but there's lots of issues there."
Because the continental shelf plunges steeply off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington, it’s impractical to bolt turbines into the seabed. As a result, constructing floating wind turbines is considered necessary.
Earlier this year, Statoil opened the first floating wind farm in the world, off the coast of Scotland and estimated to power about 20,000 homes.
Based in Oslo, Statoil is 67 percent owned by the Norwegian government and has been aggressively moving into wind power generation. Last year, the company applied to the U.S. government for a lease of nearly 56 square miles at Morro Bay.
But Statoil is not the only competitor for the Morro Bay lease.
Seattle-based Trident Winds has hopes to build a floating array of about 100 wind turbines some 33 miles from the shore by 2025.
Wind energy analysts believe offshore facilities have huge potential.
It's estimated that nearly a terrawatt of electricity will be generated off the coast of California, 13 times more capacity than all the land-based wind farms across the country generate.
In May 2016, Brown called on the U.S. Department of the Interior to establish a state task force in coordination with Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to identify promising areas for wind energy off California’s coastline.
CAPTION Hundreds of San Diego hotel workers marched in downtown San Diego to pressure Marriott hotels to improve pay and working conditions for low wage workers. Hundreds of San Diego hotel workers marched in downtown San Diego to pressure Marriott hotels to improve pay and working conditions for low wage workers. CAPTION Hundreds of San Diego hotel workers marched in downtown San Diego to pressure Marriott hotels to improve pay and working conditions for low wage workers. Hundreds of San Diego hotel workers marched in downtown San Diego to pressure Marriott hotels to improve pay and working conditions for low wage workers. CAPTION The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a federal law that bars gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states, giving states the go-ahead to legalize betting on sports. The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a federal law that bars gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states, giving states the go-ahead to legalize betting on sports. CAPTION Viasat is a global communications company working to connect the unconnected throughout the world. As part of our mission, we're bringing low-cost, high-speed satellite internet to rural towns throughout Mexico. We believe that everyone, everywhere deserves the opportunity to add their voice to the global conversation. (Courtesy of Viasat) Viasat is a global communications company working to connect the unconnected throughout the world. As part of our mission, we're bringing low-cost, high-speed satellite internet to rural towns throughout Mexico. We believe that everyone, everywhere deserves the opportunity to add their voice to the global conversation. (Courtesy of Viasat) CAPTION San Diego has agreed to sell 16 lots in Nestor for $1 each, in the pursuit of affordable housing. The nonprofit San Diego Community Land Trust plans to build three and four-bedroom homes there for people with moderate incomes. That means a family of five with an income of up to $102,750. San Diego has agreed to sell 16 lots in Nestor for $1 each, in the pursuit of affordable housing. The nonprofit San Diego Community Land Trust plans to build three and four-bedroom homes there for people with moderate incomes. That means a family of five with an income of up to $102,750. CAPTION Toys R Us still sells about 20% of the toys bought in the U.S., according to an analyst at Jefferies LLC. Toys R Us still sells about 20% of the toys bought in the U.S., according to an analyst at Jefferies LLC.
rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski
ALSO
Wind energy in California: The good news and bad news
California tries to capture offshore wind energy
Wind turbines taller than the Empire State Building?UC Berkeley holds onto its title as the all-time top producer of Peace Corps volunteers since John F. Kennedy launched the program in 1961, as the 2016 college rankings were made public today.
Including the new crop, Berkeley has sent 3,615 of its graduates out into the world in Peace Corps programs. The campus ranked 13th nationally in this year’s rankings for the number of volunteers produced, 37.
Altogether, six UC campuses ranked in the top 25 nationally among all volunteer producers, sending a total of 219 alumni overseas during 2015. Joining Berkeley on the list were Santa Barbara, Davis, San Diego, UCLA and Santa Cruz ranked in the top 25 colleges.
More than 11,000 UC alumni have served in the Peace Corps since 1961.
This year, the University of Washington topped the list of volunteer producers nationally, with 72 alumni currently in the Peace Corps, followed by the University of Wisconsin with 69 and the University of Florida with 66.
An interactive map showing where Berkeley’s volunteers are serving can be viewed on the Peace Corps website.Immigrants take our jobs. They don’t pay taxes. They’re a drain on the economy. They make America less “… American.
You’ve probably heard all of these arguments, especially with the country recovering from a financial disaster. Indeed, they’ve been heard for a century or two, as successive waves of immigrants to this nation of immigrants have first been vilified, then grudgingly tolerated, and ultimately venerated for their contributions.
This time, too, there is ample evidence that immigrants are creating businesses and revitalizing the U.S. workforce. From 2006 to 2012, more than two-fifths of the start-up tech companies in Silicon Valley had at least one foreign-born founder, according to the Kauffman Foundation. A report by the Partnership for a New American Economy, which advocates for immigrants in the U.S. workforce, found that they accounted for 28 percent of all new small businesses in 2011.
Immigrants also hold a third of the internationally valid patents issued to U.S. residents, according to University of California (Davis) economist Giovanni Peri. In a 2012 article published by the Cato Institute, the libertarian (and pro-immigration) think tank, Peri concluded that immigrants boost economic productivity and don’t have a notable impact—either positive or negative—on net job growth for U.S.-born workers. One reason: Immigrants and native-born workers gravitate toward different jobs.
Immigration isn’t without its negative effects, especially on Americans who lack a high school diploma, according to George Borjas, a professor of economics and social policy at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. In a 2013 report published by the immigration-restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, Borjas calculated that immigrants might have depressed the wages of native-born high school dropouts by 6 percent between 1990 and 2010, mainly due to foreigners who’d arrived illegally.
But immigration, on the whole, bolsters the workforce and adds to the nation’s overall economic activity. Look at the impact on cities that attract the most foreign-born residents. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston are all major immigrant destinations and also economic powerhouses, accounting for roughly a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product. In New York, immigrants made up 44 percent of the city’s workforce in 2011; in and around Los Angeles, they accounted for a third of the economic output in 2007.
Immigrants tend to contribute more to the economy once they’ve learned English and become citizens. A few cities—notably, New York—have a long history of ushering immigrants into the mainstream society and economy. Other parts of the country have less experience with newcomers but are learning to adapt.
Take Nashville, for instance. As recently as 2009, immigrants living in the Tennessee capital had reason to worry. A conservative city council member proposed amending the municipality’s charter to require that all government business be conducted in English, allegedly to save money. This raised hackles. “Would the health department be allowed to speak Arabic to a patient?” or so The Tennessean, Nashville’s leading newspaper, wondered. “Could a city-contracted counselor offer services in Spanish?”
The voters apparently wondered, too, for they soundly defeated the English-only amendment, which had earned the enmity of businesses, religious organizations, and advocacy groups. “A significant moment in the city’s history when it comes to immigration,” recalls Nashville’s mayor, Karl Dean, a Democrat who had recently taken office. “Since that moment, the city really hasn’t looked back.”
The foreign-born population in the Nashville metropolitan area has more than doubled since 2000; immigrants accounted for three-fifths of the city’s population growth between 2000 and 2012, and now constitute an eighth of all Nashville residents. When President Obama delivered a speech on immigration last December, he did it in Nashville. The city famed as the nation’s country music capital now boasts the largest U.S. enclave of Kurds, along with increasing numbers of immigrants from Myanmar and Somalia.
They’ve been drawn to Nashville’s booming economy, which has ranked among the fastest-growing in the nation in recent years. But they’re not only benefiting from the local prosperity—they’re contributing to it. Immigrants are twice as likely as native-born Nashville residents to start their own small businesses, according to data compiled by the Partnership for a New American Economy. They also play an outsized role in important local industries, including construction, health care, and hotels.
Nashville has welcomed these immigrants with open arms, in ways that other municipalities around the country are trying to emulate. In the forefront is a nonprofit organization called Welcoming Tennessee, started in 2005 to highlight immigrants’ contributions and potential role in Nashville’s future. It put up billboards around Nashville—”Welcome the immigrant you once were,” and the like—in hopes of defanging the political debate. The current race to elect a new mayor next month has drawn questions at campaign forums indicative of the new political tone, about how candidates would handle a diverse school system and assure that city services are available to all immigrants, legal or otherwise.
The “welcoming” movement that started in Tennessee has evolved into “Welcoming America,” a national network of organizations that preach the economic upside of immigration and help people adjust to life in the United States. Since 2009, 57 cities and counties, from San Francisco and Philadelphia to Dodge City, Kansas, have taken “welcoming” pledges, meaning that the local governments committed themselves to a plan to help immigrants assimilate.
The private sector, too, has shown an interest in bringing immigrants into the mainstream of American life. Citigroup is promoting citizenship efforts in Maryland, while another big bank, BB&T, has been holding educational forums across the Southeast to explain a federal program that issues work permits to young undocumented immigrants. Retailers such as American Apparel go out of their way to help foreign-born employees learn English and apply for citizenship. Beyond motives of altruism lay considerations of the bottom line. Foreign-born residents now make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, a not-to-be-ignored share of the consumer market. The next generation is more lucrative still: One in four American residents younger than 18 has an immigrant parent.
Local governments, mindful of their pressing economic needs, have taken the lead. Many cities have created offices devoted to serving “new Americans” locally. Dayton, Ohio, has intensified its efforts to redevelop a neighborhood with a growing Turkish community. Nashville runs a program called MyCity Academy, which teaches leaders from immigrant communities about local government.
Not every community that dubs itself a “welcoming city” will be able to replicate Nashville’s success. But Cecilia Muñoz, the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, suggests some guidelines. Teaching immigrants how to speak English is “sort of foundational,” she says, “but it’s helpful if the conversation doesn’t stop there,” by also including how immigrants can thrive economically and gain access to health care. Muñoz endorses programs to connect ethnic leaders with local movers and shakers, to show the public that helping immigrants assimilate is “about all of us, as opposed to an ‘us and them’ kind of thing.”
The biggest obstacle to welcoming immigrants may be the usual one: a lack of resources. “Every area, you could probably be putting money into,” says Nashville Mayor Dean. Even so, he’s pleased that another potential obstacle—community opposition—has faded. “I’m sure there’s people who are concerned,” he says, “but they’re quiet about it.”
He adds, with more than a trace of civic pride: “I call it the happy moment here, how well the city has adjusted to being more diverse. “… It’s a good story, and you’ve got to be encouraged by it.”Click here for a direct download!
This episode the Dukes are joined by Robb Rouse from Blue Peg Pink Peg – the Dukes …
… Discuss recent plays of Voluspa, Seafall, Pharaoh’s Gulo Gulo, Quests of Valeria, Veggie Garden and Arboretum (5:38);
… Discuss the latest gaming news including Steve Jackson Games’ acquisition of Port Royal, Asmodee’s fiscal report and the Kickstarter for the Whote Box Game Design (34:51);
…Review Fantasy Flight Games’ Star Wars: Destiny (53:00);
… Look back at their review of El Grande in their Dukes’ Double-Take (1:31:22); and
… Discuss the role of relationships and family in board gaming (1:38:32).
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from Dukes of Dice http://ift.tt/2q6SsNAWWII American liberty ship
For other ships with the same name, see USS Montgomery
Visible masts of the wreck of Richard Montgomery History United States Name: Richard Montgomery Namesake: Richard Montgomery Builder: St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida Laid down: 15 March 1943 Launched: 15 June 1943 Acquired: 29 July 1943 Fate: Wrecked, 20 August 1944 General characteristics Type: Liberty ship Displacement: 14,245 long tons (14,474 t) Length: 422 ft 10 in (128.88 m) Beam: 57 ft 0 in (17.37 m) Draft: 27 ft 10 in (8.48 m) Depth of hold: 34 ft 10 in (10.62 m) Propulsion: Two oil-fired boilers, triple-expansion steam engine, single screw, 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) Speed: 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) Complement: 45
SS Richard Montgomery was an American Liberty ship built during World War II, one of the 2,710 used to carry cargo during the war. The ship was wrecked off the Nore sandbank in the Thames Estuary, near Sheerness, England in 1944, whilst carrying a cargo of munitions. Around 1,400 tonnes (1,500 short tons) of explosives remain on board,[1] which continue to be a hazard to the area.[2][3]
History [ edit ]
The ship was built by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company in its second year of operations, and was the seventh of the 82 such ships built by that yard. Laid down on 15 March 1943, she was launched on 15 June 1943, and completed on 29 July 1943,[4] given the official ship number 243756, and named after General Richard Montgomery, an Irish soldier who was killed during the American Revolution.
In August 1944, on what was to be her final voyage, the ship left Hog Island, Philadelphia, where she had been loaded with 6,127 tons of munitions.[citation needed]
She travelled from the Delaware River to the Thames Estuary, then anchored while awaiting the formation of a convoy to travel to Cherbourg, France, which had come under Allied control on 27 July 1944 during the Battle of Normandy.
When Richard Montgomery arrived off Southend, she came under the authority of the Thames naval control at HMS Leigh located at the end of Southend Pier. The Harbourmaster, responsible for all shipping movements in the estuary, ordered the ship to a berth off the north edge of Sheerness middle sands, an area designated as the Great Nore Anchorage.[5]
On 20 August 1944, she dragged anchor and ran aground on a sandbank around 250 metres from the Medway Approach Channel,[6] in a depth of 24 feet (7.3 m) of water. The general dry cargo liberty ship had an average draught of 28 ft (8.5 m), but Richard Montgomery was trimmed to a draught of 31 ft (9.4 m). As the tide went down, the ship broke her back on sand banks near the Isle of Sheppey about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from Sheerness and 5 miles (8 km) from Southend.[3]
A Rochester-based stevedore company was given the job of removing the cargo, which began on 23 August 1944, using the ship's own cargo handling equipment. By the next day, the ship's hull had cracked open, causing several cargo holds at the bow end to flood. The salvage operation continued until 25 September, when the ship was finally abandoned before all the cargo had been recovered. Subsequently, the vessel broke into two separate parts, roughly at the midsection.
During the enquiry following the shipwreck it was revealed that several ships moored nearby had noticed Richard Montgomery drifting towards the sandbank. They had attempted to signal an alert by sounding their sirens, but without avail because Captain Wilkie of Richard Montgomery was asleep. The ship's chief officer was unable to explain why he had not alerted the captain. A Board of Inquiry concluded that the anchorage the harbour master assigned had placed the ship in jeopardy, and returned the captain of the Richard Montgomery to full duty within a week.
Status and risk [ edit ]
Richard Montgomery, and locations of proposed airports: 1. Cliffe; 2. Grain (Thames Hub); 3. Foulness; 4. Off the Isle of Sheppey; 5. Shivering Sands ("Boris Island"). Map of the Thames Estuary with the exclusion zone around the wreck of, and locations of proposed airports: 1. Cliffe; 2. Grain (Thames Hub); 3. Foulness; 4. Off the Isle of Sheppey; 5. Shivering Sands ("Boris Island").
Richard Montgomery (masts visible to left) Warning buoy marking the wreck of the SS(masts visible to left)
According to a 2008 survey, the wreck is at a depth of 15 m (49 ft), on average, and leaning to starboard. At all states of the tide, her three masts are visible above the water.[7]
Because of the presence of the large quantity of unexploded ordnance, the ship is monitored by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and is clearly marked on the relevant Admiralty Charts. In 1973 she became the first wreck designated as dangerous under section 2 of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. There is an exclusion zone around her monitored visually and by radar.[8] The exclusion zone around the wreck is defined by the following co-ordinates:
Map this section's coordinates using: OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as: KML · GPX
According to a survey conducted in 2000 by the United Kingdom Maritime and Coastguard Agency,[1] the wreck still held munitions containing approximately 1,400 tonnes (1,500 short tons) of TNT high explosive.[1] These comprise the following items of ordnance:
286 × 2,000 lb (910 kg) high explosive bombs
4,439 × 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs of various types
1,925 × 500 lb (230 kg) bombs
2,815 fragmentation bombs and bomb clusters
Various explosive booster charges
Various smoke bombs, including white phosphorus bombs
Various pyrotechnic signals
An investigation by New Scientist magazine in 2004, based partly on government documents released in 2004, concluded that the cargo was still deadly, and could be detonated by a collision, an attack, or even shifting of the cargo in the tide. The deterioration of the bombs is so severe that they could explode spontaneously.[9] Documents declassified shortly before revealed that the wreck was not dealt with immediately after it happened, or in the intervening 60 years, due to the expense.[9]
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency nevertheless believe that the risk of a major explosion is remote.[10] The UK government's Receiver of Wreck commissioned a risk assessment in 1999, but this risk assessment has not been published.[9] The Maritime and Coastguard Agency convened with local and port authorities to discuss the report in 2001 and concluded that "doing nothing [was] not an option for much longer".
One of the reasons that the explosives have not been removed was the unfortunate outcome of a similar operation in July 1967 to neutralize the contents of Kielce, a ship of Polish origin, sunk in 1946 off Folkestone in the English Channel. During preliminary work, Kielce, which contained a comparable amount of ordnance, exploded with a force equivalent to an earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale, digging a 20-foot-deep (6 m) crater in the seabed and bringing "panic and chaos" to Folkestone, although there were no injuries.[1] Kielce was at least 3 or 4 miles (4.8 or 6.4 km) from land, sunk in deeper water than Richard Montgomery, and had "just a fraction" of the load of explosives.[11]
According to a BBC news report in 1970,[12] it was determined that if the wreck of Richard Montgomery exploded, it would throw a 1,000-foot-wide (300 m) column of water and debris nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 m) into the air and generate a wave 16 feet (5 m) high. Almost every window in Sheerness (pop. circa 20,000) would be broken and buildings would be damaged by the blast. However, news reports in May 2012 (including one by BBC Kent) stated that the wave could be about 4 feet (1 m) high, which although lower than previous estimates would be enough to cause flooding in some coastal settlements.[13][14]
When the condition of the munitions was originally assessed there was concern that copper azide, an extremely sensitive explosive, would be produced through reaction between lead azide and copper from fuze components (lead azide would react with water vapour, rather than liquid water, to form hydrazoic acid, which could react with copper in the detonating cap to form copper azide).
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said in 1998, "as the fuses will probably all have been flooded for many years and the sensitive compounds referred to are all soluble in water this is no longer considered to be a significant hazard".[15]
Critics of government assurances that the likelihood of a major explosion is remote argue that one of the fuses of the 2,600 fuzed-fragmentation devices could become partially flooded and undergo the reaction producing copper azide.[9] A knock, such as caused by the ship breaking up further, or a collision on the busy shipping lane, could cause the copper azide to explode and trigger an explosive chain reaction detonating the bulk of the munitions.
The wreck site has been surveyed regularly since 1965 to determine the stability of the structure, with a diver survey being completed in 2003.[16] High-resolution multi-beam sonar surveys in 2005 and September 2006 found that there had been no recent significant movement of the wreck.
Surveys undertaken in 2008 and 2009 by the MCA, and reported in September 2011, showed that the ship was continuing to deteriorate structurally, with accelerated deterioration in some areas and new cracks appearing in the bow section of the wreck.[17] The report states that "Whilst significant structural collapse does not appear to be imminent, surveys suggest that this prospect is getting closer."[18] The increasing calls for a new airport in the Thames estuary would mean a solution would have to be found for removing the wreck, or at least making it safe, should the airport be built.[19]
A May 2012 report into the condition of the wreck issued by the Department for Transport (DfT) found that, while there had been little change in 2009-2010, the future was uncertain due to the "dynamic nature" of the surrounding environment.[20] Mayor of London Boris Johnson said that engineers had found the wreck would not prevent construction of an airport, and the wreck area would have to be considered.[20] Julian Huppert, the co-chair of the Liberal Democrats committee on transport, disagreed, saying: "This report shows the ship's slow deterioration is continuing with the lethal cargo still on board", and "This must surely put an end to the bonkers idea of building an airport in the Thames estuary."[20] A 2013 Daily Telegraph article quoting local historian Colin Harvey, agreed the ship would have to be removed before any airport was built and printed a spectrogram showing the ship clearly broken into two pieces.[21] However, a DfT spokesperson said that the ship remained stable, and the likelihood of an explosion was remote; the matter of the ship was unrelated to the ongoing development of the aviation strategy.[20]
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Notes
Bibliography
Turner, F.R. (1995). Wreck of the USS Richard Montgomery. ISBN 0-9524303-6-3.
Hamer, Mick (21 August 2004). "The doomsday wreck". New Scientist : 36–39. ISSN 1032-1233. Z.
Anderson, Barrie. "Escapade 297". ISBN 978-0-7552-1093-0.
Coordinates:PHOTO BY ALLISON YOUNG Eliot Hartley, Jesse Kleinedler and Scott Emond of Under the Rose Brewing Co. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/undertherosebrewing Advertisement
For one of my first RN&R feature stories—way, way back in 2005—I wrote a piece called “Strange brew” profiling the three local microbreweries then in town: Nevada pioneers Great Basin Brewing Co., casino-bound brewpub Brew Brothers and hip upstarts Silver Peak.
“There is one great beacon of hope for those of us who value a unique regional identity: beer,” I wrote then with hyperbolic sincerity. “Nothing is more indicative of real community flavor than the local beers. Locally produced beer is the local water—the basic substance of life—handcrafted by local artisans into a potable art meant to elevate the palate and the spirit.”
Heady stuff—pun intended—and my apologies for the self quote, but I needed a definite moment in the past to point toward and say, “Look how far we’ve come.”
So, look how far we’ve come in eight years. Beer might not be the singular savior of Reno, but it is one of the few industries that has grown steadily in the last few years, while most others have struggled. Beer has become even more central to the cultural life of Reno—we’ve always been a town of drinkers, but now we’re a town of more discerning drinkers. Eight years ago, the average Reno beer drinker might have known the difference between a red ale and brown ale (one’s a little darker). Now, we wouldn’t think twice about |
increased to 39 percent by 1992.[36][37] Nearly half of U.S. voters resided in counties that voted for Bush or Kerry by 20 percentage points or more in 2004.[38] In 2008, 48 percent of U.S. voters lived in such counties, which increased further to 50 percent in 2012 and to 61 percent in 2016.[36][37]
Demographics Edit
Reaction Edit
United States Edit The "Democratic blue" and "Republican red" color scheme is now part of the lexicon of American journalism. Neither party national committee has officially accepted these color designations, though informal use by each party is becoming common. Both parties have since adopted logos that use their respective colors (a blue "D" for Democrats[41] and a white "GOP" with a red elephant for Republicans). National conventions for both major parties increasingly feature the parties' respective colors, from the colors emphasized on convention podiums to the color conventioneers can be seen wearing on the delegate floor. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also alluded the color scheme when it launched a national "Red to Blue Program" in 2006.[42] The scheme has found acceptance and implementation from the U.S. Federal Government as the Federal Election Commission report for the 2004 presidential election uses the red-Republican and blue-Democratic scheme for its electoral map.[43] International Edit The choice of colors in this divide may appear counter-intuitive to foreign observers, as in most countries, red is associated with socialist or social democratic parties, while blue is associated with conservative parties. For example, the major center-right conservative parties in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and France all use blue or its shades (whether officially or unofficially) whereas the major socialist or social democratic parties in each country are associated with red. If the U.S. followed such a pattern, blue would be used for the Republicans and red for the Democrats. However, the current U.S. scheme has become so ingrained in the American election system that foreign sources who cover U.S. elections, such as the BBC, Der Spiegel and El Mundo follow with the red-Republican, blue-Democratic scheme for U.S. elections.[44][45][46]
See also Edit
References EditComing Soon
Raising Dion
A single mom must hide her young son's superpowers to protect him from exploitation while investigating their origins and her husband's death.
Dolly Parton's Heartstrings
Behind Her Eyes
After Life
Struggling to come to terms with his wife's death, a writer for a newspaper adopts a gruff new persona in an effort to push away those trying to help.
The Panama Papers
The true story of two journalists whose work set off an international firestorm by revealing how easily the wealthy hid billions of dollars offshore.
Chopsticks
A gifted but insecure woman is in for a transformative experience when she enlists an enigmatic con to help recover her stolen car from a Mumbai thug.
15 August
Veteran Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit turns producer for this lighthearted snapshot of life in the chawls of Mumbai.
Formula 1: Drive to Survive
Drivers, managers and team owners live life in the fast lane -- both on and off the track -- during one cutthroat season of Formula 1 racing.7 years ago
Washington (CNN) - As the GOP presidential primary and caucus calendar nears its fourth month, a new survey indicates most Republicans would like to see Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul drop their bids for the nomination.
And a majority of Republicans questioned in a CNN/ORC International poll say their party's presidential nomination should be determined by the primaries and caucuses rather than at the GOP convention in Tampa, Florida in late August. But according to the survey, a majority of Republicans don't want Rick Santorum to end his campaign for the nomination.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
Six out of ten Republicans say that Gingrich should drop out of the race, with 39% saying that the former House speaker should not end his bid. And 61% say Paul should drop out, with 36% saying that the longtime congressman from Texas should continue to campaign for the White House.
Thirty-nine percent of Republicans say Santorum should end his bid, with nearly six in ten saying the former senator from Pennsylvania should not drop out of the race.
"Republican women are particularly supportive of Santorum continuing his bid for the White House," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "More than two-thirds of GOP the women interviewed said that they wanted Santorum to stay in the race, compared to only 51 percent of men."
The same question was also asked of GOP front-runner Mitt Romney, with more than three-quarters saying the former Massachusetts governor should continue his campaign.
According to the poll, which was released Tuesday, 36% of Republicans support Romney for the nomination and 26% back Santorum. It was a different story in February, when the two men were effectively tied in CNN's last national survey, with Santorum at 34% and Romney at 32%. In the new poll, Paul wins support from 17%, with Gingrich at 15%.
"Republicans recognize that Romney is the odds-on favorite to become the party's nominee. Seven in ten think he is almost certain or very likely to win. That perception may explain his rising support from the GOP rank and file," adds Holland.
The poll seems to dispel the notion that if Gingrich dropped out of the race, his supporters would mostly flock to Santorum, considered the other major conservative candidate in the race. A majority of Gingrich supporters questioned say that Romney rather than Santorum is their second choice.
"If you recalculate the GOP horse race using the Gingrich voters' second choice, Romney's lead over Santorum grows to fifteen percentage points, 45% for Romney and 30% for Santorum, compared to the ten-point margin Romney currently has in the four-man field," says Holland.
"Take Paul out of the picture and reallocate his supporters to their second choice and Romney's lead grows to 19 points over Santorum."
While Romney is the choice of more Republicans and has a commanding lead in delegates, the poll indicates his supporters are still lukewarm about him. A majority of Santorum voters say that they strongly support their candidate. But six in ten Romney voters say they don't strongly support Romney. And while Republicans view Romney as a strong leader who can defeat Obama in November and get the economy moving again, Santorum scores higher than Romney on likeability, honesty, compassion, values, and his stands on the issues.
According to CNN's latest delegate estimate, Romney has secured 569 delegates, and needs 575 more to reach the 1,144 needed to clinch the GOP nomination. That equals 47% of the remaining 1,213 delegates up for grabs. The odds get a bit higher for Santorum: According to the CNN estimate, he has 262 delegates, and would need to grab 882 delegates, or 73% of those remaining.
Gingrich has 136 delegates, meaning he would need to win 1,008, or 83% of the remaining delegates, to clinch the nomination. And Paul has 71 delegates according to the CNN estimate, meaning he would need to secure 1,073 delegates, or 88% of those still up for grabs, to become the Republican nominee.
The primary and caucus calendar comes a close in late June, and if no candidate has clinched the nomination, there's a chance it would come down to a contested convention in Tampa.
A majority of those questioned, 53%, say they the GOP nominee should be determined during the primaries, with 43% saying the nominee should be picked at the convention.
The CNN poll was conducted by ORC International Saturday and Sunday, with 1,014 adults nationwide, including 463 Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP, questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error for questions on the GOP nomination is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
- Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @PsteinhauserCNN
Also see:
Palin congratulates Santorum over 'bulls-' remark
Gingrich campaign charges $50 for photos
Paul: Don't count me out
Romney not worried about Sanoturm, labels Russia No. 1 'foe'Two unique, hop blends, one with gin botanicals.
Today, Stone Brewing announced two seasonal additions to its 2017 lineup of offerings with the brand new Stone Jindia Pale Ale, and the return of the much loved Stone Pataskala Red X IPA.
Making its debut as a Stone Imperial Seasonal, Stone Jindia Pale Ale is a double IPA, instilled with ginger, juniper berries, lemon peel and lime peel. The botanicals mix miraculously well with a double dose of the most delectable hops.
Steve Gonzalez, Stone’s Senior Manager of Small Batch Brewing & Innovation, jumped at the chance to create this beer as he had experience in his former job making gin blends. And he absolutely nailed it. The beer has the hop-forward component of a great IPA and also the complexity of aroma and flavors derived from gin botanicals.
“Our co-founder, Greg Koch, came up with the idea of an IPA with gin botanicals after we had done the Stone & Sierra Nevada NxS IPA, which had a portion of the beer aged in gin barrels,” said Jeremy Moynier, Senior Innovation Brewing Manager. “Along with hops, we added ginger, juniper berries, lemon peel and lime peel to create a truly unique beer.”
Returning for a second year, Stone Pataskala Red X IPA, is a red IPA brewed with a unique malt called Red X from Germany-based BESTMALZ. The beer features a backstory as vibrant as its hop bill. This specialty seasonal red IPA was first brewed in September 2015 as a fundraising beer to support music and arts education programs in Pataskala, Ohio, where co-founder Greg Koch grew up. People loved it, so it was added to the 2016 beer lineup and the name stuck. Rarely used in hoppy beers, the special German malt variety is typically reserved for German amber lagers, Irish red ales and other mildly-hopped beers. But that’s not the Stone way.
“We loved this beer and knew we had to bring it back this year,” said Moynier. “It’s a challenging beer to brew on the big scale with the amount of hops and Red X malt that we use. But I think when you taste it you will know it’s worth the effort! It has a beautiful balance of hops and malt and definitely makes you want to have more than one pint!”
Mosaic, Amarillo and Cascade hops provide this red IPA with an upfront fruity and piney aroma, transcending into stone fruit flavor and pleasingly lingering bitterness. Brewed with late hop additions and generously dry-hopped, the 7.3 % ABV beer is incredibly hop-forward, yet balanced by very unique cereal notes and biscuit undertones from the Red X malt. When all the ingredients are combined, this IPA showcases the signature qualities of classic hoppy Stone beers: citrusy, herbal, balanced just right.
Beginning today, both will be will be available in 12-ounce six-packs to retailers and on draft at restaurants and bars where Stone beer is sold.
Jindia Pale Ale Stats
Availability: Seasonal 12-ounce bottles in six-packs and draft, available now
Hop Varieties: Magnum, Cascade, Centennial
Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI and Puerto Rico
International Distribution: Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica
Find Beer: find.stonebrewing.com
Pataskala Red X IPA Stats
Availability: Seasonal 12-ounce bottles in six-packs and draft, available now
Hop Varieties: Amarillo, Cascade, Mosaic
National Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI and Puerto Rico
International Distribution: Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica
About Stone Brewing
Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, the groundbreaking San Diego-based Stone Brewing is the 10th largest craft brewer in the United States. Recognized as an industry leader, Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list 12 times, has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice, and was named the “Top Rated Brewer in California” by RateBeer Best in January 2017. The multifaceted company is the first American craft brewer to independently build, own and operate their own brewery in Europe (Berlin, Germany), and also opened a production brewery in Richmond, Virginia in 2016. Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone has earned a reputation for brewing outstanding, unique beers while maintaining an unwavering commitment to sustainability, business ethics, philanthropy and the art of brewing…and pledging never, ever, to sell out to the man.The following is one statement that you should get used to seeing: “The price of gold set another record today.” Today, spot gold reached a new all-time record of $1461.91 an ounce before settling back a little bit. Silver is also skyrocketing. At one point today silver hit $39.75 an ounce. It seems inevitable that at some point we are going to be talking about $50 silver. The price of oil is also continuing to relentlessly march upwards. At last check U.S. oil was at about $108 a barrel. All of this is great news for those that are investing in gold, silver and oil, but all of this is also really bad news for the U.S. economy. Why? Well, because when these commodities go up in price it is a sign that the U.S. dollar is dying and that our country is getting closer to economic collapse.
Traditionally, there has been an inverse correlation between the price of gold and the value of the U.S. dollar. Usually when the U.S. dollar goes down, the price of gold goes up.
One of the main reasons why gold has been so strong over the past year is because the U.S. dollar has been rapidly losing value.
So why is the U.S. dollar declining?
Most economists point to all of the quantitative easing that the Federal Reserve has been doing.
So exactly what is quantitative easing?
Well, it is basically like playing Monopoly with someone that reaches under the table and pulls out a bunch of extra money when they are almost broke.
The Federal Reserve has been creating huge amounts of money out of thin air and has been pumping it into the financial system. It is essentially cheating, and it is highly inflationary. The rest of the world has not been amused.
But quantitative easing is not the only issue.
The truth is that whenever the U.S. government goes into more debt, more money is created. The U.S. has been running trillion dollar deficits for several years now, and this has created a lot of new money.
This is another reason why it is so important to get the U.S. government debt situation under control. The Obama administration is projecting that the budget deficit for this fiscal year will be about 1.6 trillion dollars. This is highly inflationary and it will continue to destroy the value of the dollar.
In addition, the rest of the world is beginning to have serious doubts about the sustainability of U.S. government debt. They are starting to lose faith in the U.S. dollar and in U.S. Treasuries.
In fact, investors are losing faith in paper currencies all over the globe. The euro is on the verge of a massive crisis. On Tuesday, Moody’s downgraded Portuguese government debt for the second time in a month. Portugal needs a bailout, but they are far from alone. A half dozen European nations are experiencing a financial meltdown and the European debt crisis could spiral out of control at any moment.
Because of all of this financial instability, investors have been seeking some place safe to put their money.
For many investors, precious metals and commodities have been the answer.
In fact, silver has been doing even better than gold lately. On Wednesday, silver set a new 31-year high for the third day in a row.
People are even starting to talk about the possibility of $50 silver. Most analysts would have considered such talk complete nonsense a year ago.
But now nobody is laughing.
The price of oil is also soaring. Some of that is due to inflation, but not all of it. The truth is that when it comes to oil there are other factors at play.
Unfortunately, a high price for oil is far more damaging to the U.S. economy than a high price for gold is.
The U.S. economy has been designed to use massive amounts of cheap oil to transport massive quantities of goods over vast distances. When the price of oil goes to $100 or $150 a barrel, it fundamentally changes the dynamics of our economic system.
Nobody has ever been able to prove that the U.S. economy can successfully handle a price for oil over $100 for an extended period of time.
Do you remember what happened back in 2008? The price of oil hit a record high in June and then the entire financial system came unglued just a few months later.
The price of oil affects the price of almost everything else. Almost all forms of economic activity use energy. Almost all goods have to be transported a significant distance.
When the price of oil goes too high, some types of economic activity simply become unprofitable. If the price of oil stays this high from now on, there are many businesses across America that will be forced to close.
A high price for oil is also going to hit U.S. consumers really hard. According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States is now $3.70.
Many are convinced that the average price of gasoline is going to shatter the all-time record of $4.11 that was set back in July 2008.
So how much did a gallon of gas cost a year ago?
One year ago the average price of a gallon of gasoline was just $2.83.
Over the past 12 months the average price of gasoline has gone up about 30%.
So has your paycheck gone up by 30% over that time?
The truth is that wages have been very stagnant in the United States for a long, long time.
That means that U.S. household budgets are being increasingly stretched. People have to fill up their cars so that they can get to work or to school. Americans can cut back on pleasure driving to save money, but most of the driving that all of us do is to get to places that we have to be.
So if gas costs more that means that consumers are going to have less to spend other places. Consumer spending accounts for approximately 70 percent of the U.S. economy, so any slowdown in U.S. consumer spending would be extremely significant.
Already a substantial percentage of the American people are feeling quite stressed about gas prices.
According to a recent Associated Press-GfK poll, approximately two-thirds of the American people believe that rising gasoline prices will cause significant hardship for their families over the next six months.
We are heading for some really difficult economic times. As I wrote about recently, this economy has millions of Americans feeling depressed, but that is not the appropriate response.
Rather, once we understand how bad our economic problems are we should feel empowered because then we can start focusing on real solutions.
And somebody really needs to start focusing on solutions because panic is starting to abound. Many top corporate insiders are selling off stock like there is no tomorrow. The biggest bond fund in the world, PIMCO, has been getting rid of all of their U.S. Treasuries. When Wall Street big shots start freaking out you know that the hour is late.
It certainly doesn’t help that the Middle East is in a state of chaos and that the Japanese economy is falling apart as a result of the recent disasters.
In these uncertain times investors are seeking something safe. They are turning to real “global currencies” such as gold, silver and oil. Paper currencies are rapidly losing favor and rampant inflation is on the horizon.
So where do all of you think that gold, silver and oil are going? Feel free to leave a comment with your opinion below….We’re getting close to the Bitcoin hard fork and a resulting split of the network.
Bitcoin Gold (BTG) plans to split off the Bitcoin network at block 491407, which is expected to be mined in:
Current block number:
(updated once per minute)
Key change of the fork is the switch of the mining algorithm from Bitcoin’s current SHA256D to Equihash (an algorithm currently also used by ZCash / ZEC and a few other projects), with the goal of replacing SHA256D ASIC mining equipment with GPU “home mining”, an attempt to increase decentralization in mining and to “give ordinary users a chance to mine”. Besides the new mining algorithm, BTG will also change the address format, to ensure replay protection and to avoid confusion between transactions on the BTC legacy chain and the new BTG chain. A full overview of changes, participating team members, confirmed supporting services, and more can be found on the official website for BTG: https://btcgpu.org/Based on interviews with evangelical leaders, political strategists, and policymakers, this is an inside look at how the evangelical movement became a major backer of immigration reform, how it turned traditional political allegiances on their head, and what the future holds.
***
The West Wing wanted to have a faith leader introduce President Obama's major address on immigration reform at American University in June 2010. Democrats controlled the House and the Senate, but it was clear that this effort would require conservative constituencies to push recalcitrant Republicans -- especially in the Senate -- along. So when the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships was asked to recommend an evangelical to introduce the president, Bill Hybels was the clear choice (full disclosure: I served in the office at the time).
Hybels is the pastor of the 12,000-member Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago, and he's also one of the most respected voices in church leadership around the world, with a leadership-and-training network including thousands of churches worldwide. And, for moral and practical reasons, he and his wife Lynne have long been strong supporters of comprehensive reform.
Hybels explained to me that his interest in immigration reform was at first a result of the makeup of his congregation. In 2003, Willow Creek started a Spanish-language service to accommodate their congregants, and soon learned that as many as nine out of 10 participants were undocumented. "That led us on a journey where we searched the scripture and we asked, 'What does God say about immigrants and the strangers within our gates?'" Hybels said. He concluded that the immigration system was broken, and that existing laws were "not serving the purpose for which they had been established."
Hybels was convinced reform was necessary, and so when he received the call from the White House, he left his vacation early and made his way to American University. "I wanted to send the signal that there are tens of millions of serious and intelligent Christ-followers in this country who actually believe we need to forge a better way forward for those who are undocumented," Hybels explained.
Before the speech, Hybels met the president backstage briefly, and Obama thanked him for leaving his vacation early to make it to the event. Chuckling, Hybels recalled that he and Obama asked each other the same question at virtually the same time: "Are you serious about this?"
They both laughed. Hybels said, "I'm dead serious about it." Obama replied, "Great -- so am I." They then shared a brief moment of prayer, and Hybels walked up to the podium to introduce the president of the United States.
***
At a time when many believe the influence of faith is waning in American life, the White House's top second-term legislative priorities -- immigration reform, gun control, climate-change legislation, nuclear non-proliferation -- all depend on an active religious lobby. On immigration progressives and Democratic strategists embrace, to a striking degree, the central role evangelicals will have to play in any successful attempt at reform.Penetration testing: choosing the right (Linux) tool stack to fix your broken IT security
David Clinton Blocked Unblock Follow Following Nov 15, 2017
Got IT infrastructure? Do you know how secure it is? The answer will probably hurt, but this is the kind of bad news you’re better off getting sooner rather than later.
The only reasonably sure way to find out what’s going on with your servers is to apply a solid round of penetration testing. Your ultimate goal is to uncover any dangerous vulnerabilities so you can lock them down.
By “dangerous vulnerability” I mean obvious things like unprotected open ports and unpatched software. But I also mean the existence of freely available intelligence about your organization that’s probably just floating around the internet, waiting to be collected and turned against you.
Pen testing is made up of three very different parts, each with its own unique tools and protocols.
Passive information gathering, where testers scour the public internet looking for subtle hints or carelessly revealed private data that can be used against the organization.
, where testers scour the public internet looking for subtle hints or carelessly revealed private data that can be used against the organization. Active information gathering, where the organization’s networks and servers are scanned for potential vulnerabilities.
, where the organization’s networks and servers are scanned for potential vulnerabilities. Identifying exploits that could possibly be run against the organization’s infrastructure.
Let’s look at those one at a time.
Passive Information Gathering (OSINT)
Say your company has around 50 employees and a handful of outside contractors, each of whom is most likely active on both professional and personal social networks. And say you’ve got the usual range of corporate and product websites and social media accounts (like LinkedIn).
Now pause for a moment and try to imagine that you’re a hacker who’s searching for exploitable information about your company which he can use to launch an attack. Assuming he’ll stick exclusively to the public internet and not break any laws, how much do you think he’ll find?
Not too much? After all, no one is stupid enough to post passwords and account information to the internet, right?
Perhaps. But you won’t believe how easy it can be to use what is there to figure out all the passwords and administration information that hackers will need to get what they’re after. Don’t believe me? Do some passive information gathering yourself.
Among the fantastic/frightening information gathering tools available to help you (which also include Maltego and Shodan) there’s a great Linux-based open source package named Recon-ng — about which I created a video course on Pluralsight.
You start by providing Recon-ng with some information about your company and choosing the particular scans that interest you. All the hard work will then be done by tools they call modules. Each of the 90+ available modules is a script that reads data from the Recon-ng database and launches a scanning operation against some remote data resource.
Based on your choices, Recon-ng will intelligently comb through vast volumes of DNS, social media, and search engine results, plus information-rich position postings for new developers and hints to internal email addresses relating to your target. When it’s done, the software will prepare a report that’s guaranteed to scare the daylights out of you.Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Astro Teller explains the Google X approach to failure
In a few unremarkable looking, red brick buildings off the main Google campus in Mountain View, California, is Google X, its secret laboratory - but there is no sign to tell you that you've arrived.
"If we manage to succeed with even one of the projects we're working on here, we won't need a sign," Astro Teller explains. "If we don't, well, we don't deserve one."
Google X - or Google [x] as the internet search company would have it - is what it calls its "moonshot factory", where inventors and engineers are encouraged to collaborate on audacious ideas.
Mr Teller's futuristic glass business card gives his job title as "Captain of Moonshots".
He was born in Cambridge, England, and is the grandson of the theoretical physicist Edward Teller, who's known as the "father of the hydrogen bomb".
'Only mostly crazy'
So what on Earth is a moonshot and how do you captain one?
If you tell them that they've failed you because they didn't find a mountain, no matter how diligently they looked for or how cleverly they looked for it, those scouts will quit your company Astro Teller, Google X
I spent a morning with Mr Teller, expecting to learn about scientific breakthroughs and discuss cutting-edge technological advances. What was most fascinating though were his thoughts on how an organisation can foster revolutionary innovation and shoot for the moon.
The X in Google X means 10 - making a problem 10 times better, with a timeframe of about 10 years. So how does he pick a potential moonshot?
"Firstly, there has to be a problem that we can identify," says Mr Teller, "and sometimes that's harder than you would think."
He gets pitched lots of cool ideas, like a frictionless surface that can levitate objects. That didn't make the cut, he says, because "it's not a problem".
After identifying a problem, he says there has to be a science fiction-sounding product or service that, if it worked, would make that problem go away.
In case you think this is just a pie-in-the-sky palace of dreams, Mr Teller quickly adds a third feature of a Google X moonshot: "There has to be some reason to believe the science or technology underpinning that solution, that makes us think the idea is only mostly crazy."
As an example, he cites the problem of a million people dying on the roads each year. The science fiction solution it came up with was driverless cars that don't crash. Google has now clocked up hundreds of thousands of miles of testing that suggests this technology will work and could transform our world.
WHAT MAKES A MOONSHOT? It has to potentially solve a really big problem for the world - it has to help millions or billions of people
It has to be radical, science-fiction sounding technology (eg cars that drive themselves)
It has to show some progress that gives a glimmer of hope that the sci-fi-sounding solution might actually be possible
The way Mr Teller and Google X create this kind of progress sounds perverse.
You must reward people for failing, he says. If not, they won't take risks and make breakthroughs. If you don't reward failure, people will hang on to a doomed idea for fear of the consequences. That wastes time and saps an organisation's spirit.
Finding new transformational ideas is like sending out a team of scouts to explore uncharted terrain for new mountains to climb, he says.
"If you shame them when they come back, if you tell them that they've failed you because they didn't find a mountain, no matter how diligently they looked for or how cleverly they looked for it, those scouts will quit your company."
Freedom of movement
And Google managers need to keep their staff happy because, Mr Teller says, you don't need your manager's permission to leave a particular section if you believe they are behaving in an obnoxious manner.
"Not only will you leave but everyone will leave and that guy is going to find himself voted off the island by his own people," he adds
Image copyright AP Image caption Mr Teller says the first question is not "How can we make a tonne of money?"
Google X projects have many inspirations and many starting points. But Mr Teller says not one of them has started from the conventional business question: "How can we make a tonne of money?" That is, he explains, because these ideas are about huge, transformative, disruptive change, not the marginal, incremental change of a conventional business.
He says that if, like a conventional business, "you make things a little bit better for a lot of people, you'd better have a world class sales and marketing team and make sure that your solution is purchased, because it's only a little bit better.
"But if it's a lot better, the money's going to come and find you in a fair and elegant way."
This has been Google's approach since the beginning, he says.
"Things like search or translate, things like maps, have been in the public domain free to the users but often without advertising or any form of compensation - sometimes for many years - when Google didn't make money on it or even have a plan to make money on it and Google was just 'Let's make value for the users. We'll figure out how to make money later'."
No-one can argue that it hasn't done that.A new species of carnivorous crustacean has been identified, which roamed the seas 435 million years ago, grasping its prey with spiny limbs before devouring it. The fossil is described and details of its lifestyle are published in the open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology.
The fossils were discovered near Waukesha, Wisconsin, with the new species, Thylacares brandonesis, named after the Brandon Bridge Formation where it was found. It is the oldest known example of the Thylacocephala group -- shrimp-like creatures, mostly from the Jurassic period, known for their bulbous eyes and multiple limbs. The muscle structure and leg morphology of the new species suggests that it used its long, claw-like appendages to catch prey in a similar way to modern remipedes, blind crustaceans still found in salt water-filled caves.
Derek Briggs, Yale University, says: "This new research extends the range of this enigmatic group of fossil arthropods back to the Silurian, some 435 million years ago, and provides evidence that they belong among the crustaceans, the modern group that includes lobsters, shrimps and crabs."
Carolin Haug, LMU Munich, said: "T. brandonensis was probably an actively hunting predator, which caught the prey with its front claws and crushed it into smaller pieces with the protrusions nearer its mouthparts."
"This early, Silurian, example of Thylacocephala is in many ways much less extreme than the more recent Jurassic species. It still has normal-sized eyes in contrast to the very enlarged ones that came later, and shorter front claws in T. brandonensis compared to the extremely elongated ones in more recent Jurassic representatives."
The description of the new Silurian species was part of a wider investigation into this group of fossils, including several new Jurassic specimens. Modern imaging techniques allowed the scientists to visualise new features, such as the tiny details of the T. brandonensis muscle structure. Based on these images, they created 3D models of the new species, which help us to understand the creature's life habits.With the Hubble Space Telescope, if astronomers missed seeing something once in their data, they haven't missed it forever. Thanks to the wealth of information stored in the Hubble data archive, and given enough time to come up with more clever ways of scientific analysis, they can revisit existing observations and make new discoveries not caught initially.
Such is the case with four disks of planetary debris uncovered in images of young stars that astronomers retrieved from the Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST). A fifth disk image, which was an unpublished borderline detection by Hubble from 2007, was also recovered. These disks are telltale evidence for newly formed planets.
This is an astronomical forensics story of revisiting earlier data with new image processing techniques – and of some tenacious astronomers. Rémi Soummer, of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Md., led the team on an Indiana Jones hunt for hidden Hubble treasures.
The stars were initially targeted with Hubble's Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) based on unusual heat signatures obtained from NASA space-based telescopes, including IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) and the Spitzer Space Telescope. The previous data provided interesting clues that dusty disks might exist around these stars. Such disks might be seen in scattered light from small dust particles. But when Hubble first viewed the stars between 1999 and 2006, no visible-light disks were detected in the NICMOS pictures.
Recently, with improvements in image processing – including algorithms used for face-recognition software – Soummer and his team reanalyzed the archived images. This time, they could unequivocally see the debris disks, and they could even determine their shapes.
"These findings increase the number of debris disks seen in scattered light from 18 to 23. By significantly adding to the known population, and by showing the variety of shapes in these new disks, Hubble can help astronomers learn more about how planetary systems form and evolve," said Soummer.
The dust in the disks is hypothesized to be produced by collisions between small planetary bodies such as asteroids. The debris disks are composed of dust particles formed from these grinding collisions. The tiniest particles are constantly blown outward by radiation pressure from the star. This means they must be replenished continuously though more collisions. This game of bumper cars was common in the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. Earth's moon and the satellite system around Pluto are considered to be collisional byproducts.
"One star that is particularly interesting is HD 141943," said Christine Chen, debris disk expert and team member. "It is an exact twin of our Sun during the epoch of terrestrial planet formation in our own solar system." Hubble found that the star exhibits an asymmetrical, edge-on disk. This asymmetry could be evidence the disk is being gravitationally sculpted by the tug of one or more unseen planets.
The NICMOS instrument, which began taking data in 1997, was so cutting-edge that ground-based technology is only now beginning to match its power. Because Hubble has been in operation for 24 years, it provides a long baseline of high-quality archival observations. "Now, with such new technologies in image processing, we can go back to the archive and conduct research more precisely than previously possible with NICMOS data," said Dean Hines of STScI.
Once Soummer's team began to apply the |
unclear. In a statement announcing the decision, college president Sheila Bair said the move was “based on our continuing consultations with law enforcement.”
According to CBS Baltimore, Marberger has not been seen and his phone has not “sent any pings or signals” since Monday.The Fort Wayne Mad Ants will remain the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Despite a trend that has some NBA teams buying Developmental League teams and rebranding them with their own moniker, the Indiana Pacers have decided not do that with the Mad Ants, which it acquired this month.
While Fort Wayne and Allen County are important markets for the Pacers, the Mad Ants name simply has too much brand equity to scrap, said Pacers President Rick Fuson.
“People like the name Mad Ants and it’s an interesting name to say the least,” Fuson told IBJ. “We think it’s important to have the name Mad Ants attached to Fort Wayne. It has history there, and after all, it is a Fort Wayne team.”
When it was founded in 2007, the franchise held a name-the-team contest on its website in which fans could vote on one of the four finalists: Lightning, Fire, Coyotes, and Mad Ants. The winning name is a salute to the city’s namesake, Revolutionary War General “Mad” Anthony Wayne.
When the names were chosen during the month-long contest, Mad Ants “was clearly out front,” said Jeff Potter, who has been retained by the Pacers to be the team’s general manager.
The Mad Ants also have a colorful mascot, a sinister looking ant designed locally by Fort Wayne-based Excell Color Graphics, which fans have embraced.
It’s an important marketing decision for the Pacers to retain the Mad Ants name. Attaching its own moniker to the Fort Wayne team would have been a good way to promote the Pacers in an important market that is outside the 75-mile radius that defines where the Pacers are allowed to market under NBA rules.
There is a movement to loosen the league’s strict marketing regulations, but for now, Fort Wayne remains out of bounds for the Pacers.
Pacers officials do plan to have their team signage in the Mad Ants home venue—Allen County War Memorial Coliseum—and are working with the NBA on other ways they might be allowed to cross-promote with the D-League team.
“Allen County is a very important market for us in terms of ticket sales not just for the Pacers but for all of our events,” Fuson said.
Perhaps most importantly from a marketing standpoint, developing Pacers players will populate the Mad Ants roster from time to time and the Fort Wayne team will run the same type of offensive and defensive schemes as their parent club in Indianapolis.
“Fort Wayne will have their own coaching staff, but [Pacers president of basketball operations] Larry Bird and our coaches will be in constant contact with them,” Fuson said. “There’s going to be a lot of continuity.”
Just not with the name on the front of the jersey.It has stood tall for over 4,500 years, withstanding wars, freak weather events and even the occasional revolution. But on Friday Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza was confronted with what some feared would be its biggest threat yet: two crystals, a "ceremony of love" and several hundred "human angels" seeking to form a protective shield around the earth.
The tale of Giza's brush with new age spiritualism – which ended with the popular tourist attraction being partially closed off to visitors following newspaper reports of planned Masonic rituals inside the pyramid – has gripped Egypt for days, after reports surfaced that shadowy groups were planning events at the site to mark the palindromic moment when the clock ticked over to the 11th minute of the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th year of the new millennium.
What began as a single meditation ceremony planned by a Polish organisation – who claimed their activities would help save the earth from cosmic catastrophes – quickly mushroomed into something far larger, with outfits as diverse as the "Universal Kabbalah Network" and the "11.11.11 Gathering of Souls" announcing that they too would be converging on the last remaining ancient wonder of the world to hug, worship or simply climb inside the structure and be healed by the sacred power within.
Panicked by unconfirmed rumours in the local press that the activities would include Masonic rituals and the attempted placing of a Jewish Star of David atop the pyramid itself, the authorities moved this week to shut down access to the Great Pyramid altogether, blaming essential maintenance work for the move. The decision was taken after Egyptologists denounced the various ceremonies and a series of campaigns sprung up online to oppose them, including one spearheaded by an offshoot of the revolutionary April 6th movement, whose members vowed to hold a sit-in at the Giza complex and block access to new age revellers.
On Monday Egypt's ruling generals, whose reputations are also in need of healing following clashes with anti-junta activists on the streets, promised to investigate the organisations behind the events. "The [military] council and its members reject completely that kind of celebration in the land of Egypt, which is the cradle of monotheistic religions and should not be desecrated with satanic celebrations," announced the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces on its Facebook page.
Sure enough Egypt's antiquities authority sealed off the Great Pyramid, which serves as a tomb for the fourth dynasty pharaoh Khufu, claiming the closure was unrelated to the 11.11.11 parties.
"It has been a big cause now on Facebook and Twitter for many people to write about," said Ali al-Asfar, director of the Giza complex.
He confirmed that an Egyptian company had filed a request to hold a "hug the pyramid" event, in which 120 people would hold hands around the base of the structure, but insists official permission was denied. Antiquities head Mustafa Amin also dismissed the rumours, saying they were "completely lacking in truth". The pyramid is was set to reopen on Saturday.
Giza has long been a magnet for pyramidologists who argue the awe-inspiring scale of the ancient monuments and their remarkable geological accuracy indicate they were built by otherworldly forces.
In the 17th century Isaac Newton was among those who questioned whether the Great Pyramid was divinely-inspired, and a large number of mystical cults and proponents of extraterrestrial life forms have since made the pyramids part of their belief system.
But archaeologists have succeeded in answering most of the age-old questions about how the pyramids could have been constructed and proved that they were indeed the product of human endeavour, showing that their design stems from earlier versions of Egyptian tombs and uncovering both the quarries from where the stones were cut and hauled and the barracks in which labourers lived.At Dayton, I had a chance to ask Kenwood reps about the TS-990S. They did have a few details, but many (such as price) are still rather vague. I made notes on these:
This rig will weigh in at 57 or so pounds. This is probably due to the fact that it has an internal power supply.
The main receiver is completely down-conversion.
The sub receiver is the TS-590’s receiver. They even told me that if you read the TS-590S spec, it will be identical to that of the TS-990S sub receiver. As with the TS-590, the TS-990S sub receiver is mainly down-conversion.
It has three, 32Bit DSP processors
It has five roofing filters at: 300Hz, 500Hz, 2.7 6kHz and 15kHz which run at 8MHz. The sub-receiver runs at 11MHz.
Connections include:
Optical In/Out
DVI
and “Multiple” USB connections
The TS-990S will be 200 Watts
Shipping: They expect to ship in November 2012
Price: Between $5-10K US, but will not exceed $10K US. Two different Kenwood reps told me that Kenwood understands that there aren’t many hams in this economy who could spend in excess of $10K.
These specs were rattled off as if they’d been said a thousand times (and I bet they had by the time I got around to the booth).
Not a lot to go one, but I can vouch that these features and specifications came directly from Kenwood.Amazon has just announced an all-new Fire HD 10 Tablet. The new model is a significant update to the previous version thanks to its 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU that offers a 30% boost in performance over the previous generation. The new Fire HD 10 also bumps the screen up from 720p to 1080p and doubles the RAM to 2 GB. Also included, which is a first for any Amazon tablet, is hands-free Alexa capabilities that let you control the tablet and access all of Alexa’s features without having to press any buttons.
For Amazon’s new flagship tablet, they’ve thankfully made improvements nearly across the board, making it a potentially great media consumption device. Applications should launch quicker and run smoother with the new MediaTek quad-core CPU that splits its cores at 1.8 and 1.4 GHz. Amazon says this results in a 30% performance improvement over the 1.5 Ghz/1.2 GHz CPU in the previous model. A bump up from 1 GB of RAM to now including 2 GB of RAM will also go a long way to make using this tablet a smooth experience.
The new Fire HD 10 finally brings a full HD 1080p screen back to Amazon’s tablet line. With a resolution of 1920 x 1200 and a 224 ppi, the IPS display should provide a great experience viewing movies, TV shows, photos, and reading. The tablet comes with 32 GB of internal storage, but there is a 64 GB model available for $40 more. The extra internal storage is likely unnecessary for most because the tablet comes with a microSD card that can take up to a 256 GB card to expand the internal storage. Amazon Video, Netflix, and Showtime all offer downloading videos onto the microSD card for offline viewing.
The tablet hardware is rounded out with a pair of stereo speakers that are capable of immersive Dolby Atmos audio. There’s also dual-band 802.11ac WiFi support as well as a VGA front-facing camera for video calls and a 2MP rear-facing camera. All of this combines for a rated 10 hours of battery life.
On the software front, the big new feature is hands-free Alexa capabilities. Amazon added support for Alexa to their tablets by holding the home button last year, but now this new Fire HD 10 is the first model to allow talking to Alexa by just saying the voice assistant’s wake word, just like with an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot. This, of course, gives you access to all of Alexa’s various capabilities and skills, but it also gives you hands-free control of the tablet, much like the Echo Show’s screen. You can ask to start playing Amazon content or ask to launch apps, as well as control video playback (play, pause, rewind, and fast forward) all without needing to touch the tablet.
Amazon is also bringing the ability to view your home security cameras through Alexa on the new Fire HD 10, just like you can currently do on the Echo Show and will soon be able to do on the Fire TV. There’s also a new “For You” personalized page on the home screen that shows you what you’ve been watching/reading and makes it easy to continue or quickly find what’s next. It will also make personalized recommendations based on your viewing/reading preferences.
The all-new Fire HD 10 is available to pre-order now for $149.99 and will be released on October 11. That’s a significant drop in price from the previous model’s price of $229.99, which is impressive because they’ve made improvements nearly across the board.
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ShareTweetShare+1Every time we take a look at the United States attorney scandal, more evidence emerges that Alberto Gonzales politicized the Justice Department to the point where it sometimes seems like a branch of the Republican National Committee.
Yesterday, for example, Richard Thornburgh, a former Republican attorney general, told a Congressional hearing that his client, Dr. Cyril Wecht, a Democratic officeholder in Pennsylvania, was indicted on federal charges that should not be federal charges by a United States attorney who targeted Democrats.
At the same hearing, more evidence emerged that the prosecutions of Don Siegelman, the former Alabama governor, and Paul Minor, a prominent Mississippi Democrat, may have been political hits. And a University of Missouri professor testified that his statistical analysis showed that the Justice Department engaged in “political profiling.”
Dr. Wecht’s case has gotten little attention, but that may change. Mr. Thornburgh said prosecutors are using “unprecedented” legal theories to turn mostly “nickel and dime transgressions” into major federal felonies. He charged that while United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan went after Dr. Wecht and other Democrats, she ignored the offenses of Republican officials, including a congressman whose staff accused him of using government employees in his election campaign.
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Mr. Siegelman’s lawyer, Doug Jones, said the investigation of the former governor was very limited until it turned around “180 degrees” in late 2004, after Washington officials told local prosecutors “to go back and look at the case, review the case top to bottom.” That is consistent with the account of Dana Jill Simpson, a Republican lawyer who says she was on a phone call in which Republican operatives said Karl Rove was involved in the prosecution.E3 2016 has been poor of major announcements and fresh-looks, but This actually will be one of the best discoveries that came out of the games expo.
It looks line the guys at Neowin came across a working version of Hyperkin's Smart Boy - a gadget That can turn your smartphone into a fully Functioning Game Boy.
The device was originally tested as an April fools joke last year, but the Smart Boy received a wide variety of positive responses such that the company began development.
Now, that E3 has launched a working model of the most famous device, complete with a cartridge slot That Allows you to fire up your version of Pokemon Blue and play it on your phone's screen.
The gadget Appears to Have receive a small design change since the original at the announcement, and the same unit comes with button layout and different color scheme just like the original Nintendo's handheld console.
This Smart Boy was set to be Compatible with Android devices and iPhone s, but according to the last known report this device will only be compatible with android devices only.
Still, there's no sign of what will come in the future, and there will be definitely more details available soon, Neowin are preparing to release this unique toy in December 2016. For more gadgets and all different products visit Alibayzon gadget section.The FBI arrests a right-wing extremist in Minnesota for a planned domestic-terrorism attack:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Monday that it had arrested a Minnesota man for plotting a “localized terror attack.” A press release from the Minneapolis Division said that “special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with the Montevideo Police Department; the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Minnesota State Highway Patrol; the Bloomington Police Department; the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office (South Dakota); the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; and members of CEE-VI (Cooperative Enforcement Effort), executed a search warrant at 1204 Benson Avenue, Lot #8, in Montevideo, Minnesota. Several guns and explosive devices were discovered during the search of the residence” on Friday. Buford “Bucky” Rogers, 24, was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. An Associated Press report said that he had previously been convicted for felony burglary in 2011 and a misdemeanor charge of dangerous handling of a weapon in 2009.
It appears he came by his nuttiness the natural way -- via his family:
Throughout the interview with FOX 9 News, Jeff Rogers insisted he still doesn't know why his family is considered a threat. "We are peaceful people, okay? We're not out to blow up the world -- none of this crap," Jeff Rogers said. Investigators claim to have removed a computer, a military-style Romanian rifle and explosives from his shed -- specifically, Molotov cocktails and pipe bombs. Jeff Rogers said that isn't the case, describing the seized items as household chemicals. "That's a bunch of s---," he said. Police and Jeff Rogers both point out that Buford Rogers does not live at the home. Rather, he lives across town with his girlfriend and their new baby. Neighbors say they don't see him much, but residents told FOX 9 News the family is very dedicated to their Black Snake Militia, which some consider un-American. Jeff Rogers is not coy about the family's political leanings, displaying an upside down American Flag and signs suggesting the government wants to implant microchips inside citizens outside his home. "We are patriots. You guys are patriots," he said. "You see the country is going to s----." Yet, Buford Rogers' Facebook page suggests a sinister side to his politics. In publicly visible posts from 2011, he wrote, "We already started fighting. I'm sure you'll hear about it in a bad way." A website for the Minnesota Minutemen Militia, which says it is not anti-government, claims the Black Snake Militia is comprised of 73 members. The leader's profile shows a man who claims to be 29 years old wearing a ski mask and holding an assault rifle. His bio reads, "Im an american patriot willing to lay down my life so we may take our republic back…. [sic]"
Meanwhile, the media -- and Fox News especially -- yawn. Eric Boehlert observes:
You will likely not be surprised that none of Fox News' primetime hosts mentioned the Rogers arrest last night or the looming threat of right-wing extremist violence. That, despite the fact the shows have dedicated countless programming hours in recent weeks to ginning up fear and angst surrounding the terror attack in Boston on Patriot's Day. Prompted by the arrest of a Muslim suspect, Fox News has spent weeks demonizing Islam by assigning collective blame, as well as targeting Muslims who travel here to study. But yet another far-right, anti-government plot to possibly kill law enforcement officials? At Fox News, that's not a story that draws much concern, especially not from its primetime talkers.
Of course, none of this is particularly a surprise. Yes, there has been a significant upsurge in right-wing-extremist domestic terrorism in the past four years, and it has gone unreported in the mass media, who have instead focused exclusively on "Islamist" domestic terrorists (whose plots and acts are occurring at less than half the rate of RWEs).
Yes, we were recently witness to another domestic-terrorism incident by a right-wing extremist -- the ricin attacks on the Senate and White House -- and yet you would not be aware of it if judging from the media response (though it is true that the picture was muddled by the initial arrest of the wrong man).
And yes, there is at least a substantial possibility that the Newtown shootings will be revealed to be another domestic-terrorism incident by a right-wing extremist if those initial reports from CBS indicating that Adam Lanza was attempting to imitate Anders Breivik prove substantive, and if it emerges that Lanza adopted Breivik's ideology in the process.
Rest assured: If Adam Lanza were of a Muslim background and his "hero" an Al Qaeda terrorist, the media would not rest until they found the answer to that question. As it is, we'll have to wait until the investigation is complete and the results released to know. Which, frankly, is how it should be. But the difference in treatment is noteworthy.
There's a reason for this: Anytime the media report on right-wing extremist terrorism, they are descended upon by the flying monkeys of the wingnutosphere, who complain that calling them right-wing extremists is "an abuse of the term 'right wing'" (trust me on this: it's not). Witness what became of the DHS's section on right-wing extremists after the screaming hissy fit over a remarkably accurate and prescient law-enforcement bulletin.
It's creating a dangerously skewed picture, and a dangerously misinformed public. And when something really awful happens as it inevitably will, the media will all wring their hands and ask, "Why didn't we see this coming?"Full Disclosure mailing list archives
By Date By Thread Re: Netgear GS105Ev2 - Multiple Vulnerabilities From: Nick Boyce <nick.boyce () gmail com>
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2016 16:21:57 +0000
On 8 February 2016 at 21:23, I wrote: On 27 January 2016 at 15:56, Benedikt Westermann <benedikt.westermann () i-sec tuv com> wrote: # Multiple Vulnerabilities - Netgear GS105Ev2 [...] Firmware version: 1.3.0.3,1.4.0.2 [...] Status: unfixed The Netgear website [1] shows that a new version of the firmware was released 2 days after your FD post - version 1.4.0.6. The release notes [2] for the new version don't refer to these security issues in any way (instead they mention three fairly minor-sounding bugs fixed). Have you had a chance to test the new version yet, and if so can you say whether - despite Netgear's stated stance of WONTFIX - any of the security issues you report here are fixed by it? JFTR, on 10th.Feb Benedikt replied to me off-list as follows: thank you for the info. I just checked it, nothing changed. All exploits still work like charm on 1.4.0.6 :-( Thanks Benedikt. Now that end hosts have been thoroughly analysed by vendors and researchers alike, perhaps networking equipment is the new frontier (cf: operating systems vs applications). The dire state of the quality of the software embedded in comms hardware, for both home and business use, is emerging from the fog to become the elephant in the room. We seem to be caught between the rock of sheer incompetence and the hard place of possible government agency influence (Juniper...). I wonder whether Netgear will be next (after Asus) to be slapped by the US Federal Trade Commission for foisting badly conceived and implemented CPE products on hapless and unsuspecting consumers.... http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/02/23/asus_router_flaws_settlement/ Cheers, Nick Boyce _______________________________________________ Sent through the Full Disclosure mailing list https://nmap.org/mailman/listinfo/fulldisclosure Web Archives & RSS: http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/ By Date By Thread Current thread: Re: Netgear GS105Ev2 - Multiple Vulnerabilities Nick Boyce (Mar 04) <Possible follow-ups> Re: Netgear GS105Ev2 - Multiple Vulnerabilities Benedikt Westermann (Mar 09)
Nick Boyce (Mar 04)We learned earlier this month Pennsylvania Rep. Rick Saccone (R-obviously), who has a history of sponsoring and supporting unnecessary legislation to promote Christianity, planned to propose legislation to put the words “In God We Trust” in every public school — and possibly every classroom — in the state.
As Justin Vacula correctly pointed out then,
Public schools which ought to be secular — neutral in regards to religion — will be forced to prominently display religious messages if Saccone’s proposal is passed. Students will undoubtedly receive the message that belief in God — particularly the Christian god — is patriotic and the false message that the United States is a ‘Christian nation.’ … I wonder if Saccone would want public schools to talk about the secular history of the United States including founding fathers who believed in a deistic god — a ‘god of nature’ who designed the universe but was not active in human affairs. Saccone’s “traditional values” — whatever they might be — and conflation of patriotism with Christianity ignores the contributions of secular Americans who “made our country a nation like no other.”
Last week, House Bill 1728 passed through the House Education Committee on a 14-9 vote.
If you listen to the hearing for the bill in that particular committee, Saccone is grilled by the Democrats who know damn well this is just an attempt to push religion in the schools.
Here’s the committee’s Democratic Chair James Roebuck at the 8:20 mark commenting on how displaying a dollar bill with “In God We Trust” on it could theoretically fulfill the school’s obligations if it were to become law, so why bother at all?
I have some problems in understanding what we’re doing here. We’re saying this is an important thing to do, yet by what you just said, it seems like you could do it in a very minimal way and fulfill the requirements of the bill… I’m not saying whether I think the bill is a good idea or not, but if indeed if it is, as you’re saying, a good idea to do, I’m not certain how just putting it somewhere in a school building fulfills any sort of purpose.
Saccone responds that the display would have to be “prominent,” however a school defined it.
Rep. Mark Longietti, a fellow Christian, made a reference to how church and state ought to be kept separate at the 10:30 mark and how bills like this actually are counterproductive to spreading the Gospel — a backhanded, but strategic, way to tell Saccone this isn’t the best way to proselytize:
… I have an obligation as a Christian to evangelize. The Great Commission tells me to go and make disciples. But it doesn’t tell me to use the government to do that and I think the reason that my faith is that way is because that’s not very effective. It really doesn’t change hearts. What changes hearts is one somebody on a personal level shares their faith… we create the false impression that somehow we have done our duty in that we have accomplished what we, if we are Christian as I am, are called to do and, really, we’ve abrogated our duty.
Saccone responded to that by saying this wasn’t about pushing his faith at all. (Sure.) It was just about history. And saving the children from the Evil:
… [It’s] also a way of putting positive things like this — virtuous examples — in front of our children. God knows they need it. I mean you look at our children today, our society, it just seems to be spiraling downward and we need good examples to put in front of them. Here is a good example that’s been reaffirmed by our Supreme Court. It’s been upheld as long as we do it in historical sense. It’s fine to post this anywhere. And it’s a Pennsylvania story, something we can be proud of, and celebrate…
Rep. Mike Carroll made a financial case against the bill (18:47):
… I’m not sure how in the world the school districts would be able to endure, financially, the challenges that are sure to come with respect to implementing a policy like this.
Saccone’s response? It’s our motto. It’s not a violation of the law. It’s tradition. It’s a risk worth taking. It’s “good for our children.” (Though he never provides any evidence that putting up the motto in schools will improve students’ grades, lives, future success, etc.)
It goes on like this for a while: The Democrats are annoyingly polite while Saccone pretends this isn’t really about pushing faith on anyone. Even though he’s the same person who’s sponsored legislation for the “Year of the Bible” and “National Fast Day.”
It’s amazing that legislators are wasting their time debating a bill that has no business being passed in the first place.
When all was said and done, only one of the nine Democrats (Rep. James Clay) on the Education Committee voted for the bill. Only one Republican, Rep. Bernie O’Neill, voted against it.
So now the full House will vote on the bill. And Republicans have the numbers advantage…
For what it’s worth, the legislation suggests no punishment for schools that violate the bill. I would love to see administrators across the state — perhaps urged by some brave students — ignore the bill entirely. Instead of displaying the Godly message, put up messages that actually inspire students — of all religious beliefs. Let’s see how Saccone reacts when people give his unnecessary bill the respect it deserves.
(Thanks to Carl for the link)CALGARY — With the anniversary of the 2013 flood just around the corner, a rainfall warning is raising the anxiety level in a lot of southern Alberta communities.
On Monday, Environment Canada issued the warning for High River, Okotoks, Claresholm, Lethbridge, Taber, Milk River, Cypress Hills, Foremost, Kananaskis, Canmore, Cardston, Fort Macleod, Magrath, Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek and Waterton.
Forecasters are predicting as much as 160 millimetres could fall in the Pincher Creek and Cardston areas.
However, in 2013 it took an accumulation of 345 millimetres of rain to trigger the flooding that devastated High River.
Nevertheless, the Wallaceville area of High River is now under a flood watch, with officials saying a 1.2 metre rise is possible and the forecast flows could approach flood thresholds. On Tuesday, the flood watch was expanded to the Castle River, Oldman River, Belly River, Waterton Lake, Lee and Pincher Creeks and the Little Red Deer River.
“Be cautious of rising water levels,” the alert reads. “Take appropriate measures to avoid flood damage.”
High streamflow advisories have been issued for streams and rivers in the Bow, Oldman, Milk and South Saskatchewan River basins.
Meteorologist David Spence said the system will move fairly quickly to the east by Tuesday.
“If not sooner, some of the heaviest rain is going to be pulling away from the Foothills and towards Saskatchewan and most if not all of it, the heavy stuff at least will be south of Calgary,” he said.
However, Spence said Wednesday’s forecast could cause some concern in Calgary.
“It’s looking in excess of 20 millimetres of rain, so if we have the rain that we’re getting tonight (Monday) and tomorrow saturating the ground, and then the heavier rain getting in on Wednesday, that sets the stage for perhaps some minor flooding in Calgary,” Spence said.
A special ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday in Calgary to commemorate the 2013 flood, in which 80,000 Calgarians were forced to flee their homes and the entire community of High River was evacuated.The Ripple Effect is a seamlessly interconnected network of individuals, expert care and groups supporting men in the community of farming no matter which digital device they choose to use.
IT’S the side of farming that often goes unnoticed; the area we are still “too embarrassed to talk about”.
When Katrina was just 15-years-old, and her sister was 11, their “hardworking, outgoing and socially happy” dad took his own life on their farm in Barham, on the banks of the Murray River.
As a father and loving husband to their mother Debbie, Sandy Warne suffered years of depression while working as a farmer on his 800-acre avocado property.
“My grandparents brought the farm in the 70s, and then my dad took it on when they couldn’t run it any longer,” daughter Katrina, now 34, told news.com.au
“My dad loved the farm so much, and he wanted to be a farmer his whole life. While many farmers often don’t get off their property, dad was a huge community man, really involved in golf, tennis and squash. He was outgoing, happy and very social.”
While Sandy’s depression was “very well hidden from his friends and the local community”, his family was well aware of his spiralling condition — especially in the last six months of his life.
“Dad was just 42 years old when he died, and he kept what he was feeling very well hidden from those who weren’t family,” Katrina said.
“He was actually booked to go into hospital the day after he died, but I think the thought of doing that was just too hard for him.
“In the months before dad died, he lost a lot of weight. He was very stressed, because he and mum were considering selling the farm. It was meant to be sold a few days after he died because of financial reasons.
“Because of this reason, dad felt he was a failure. But according to mum, they were never in a position where they had to sell, I think dad just felt like the farm wasn’t going well enough, so he had to get rid of it.”
Katrina, who is now married and a mother to three young children, said her father’s dream to work the family farm with his brother’s played a big toll on his depression — because his fantasy never became a reality.
“He always wanted to run the farm with his family, his dad and brothers, but that didn’t happen and so that really affected dad. He couldn’t ever let go of that dream,” she said.
“In the later months, just before he took his life, my mum knew he was getting really bad. She and my uncle took the guns away from the house because he was potentially suicidal.
“We knew how sick he was, but the problem with mental health is that once they get to a certain point, it’s very hard to help them. For dad, going to the hospital the next day was just too hard.”
And that is one of the biggest problems Katrina, who is now involved with a Beyond Blue funded project called The Ripple Effect, says farmers face today.
“People, especially men, often try and hide a problem, and sometimes don’t even know how bad their mental state is until it’s too late,” she said.
“I’m very passionate about prevention, knowing what signs to look out for and what to do when you see them.
“People aren’t very good about asking if others are OK, but we really need to do it more, and be a little more paranoid about what is going on around us.”
While Katrina admits her father’s death didn’t have a huge affect on her life when it happened, she said his death impacted her more and more as she got older, because she had to explain the circumstances to new people.
“When dad died, mum explained things to me really well, and I felt I had an understanding with what had happened,” she said.
“When it happened, everyone at school knew what happened to my dad. But as I got older, no one knew the story, so I had to tell people. When I had kids, I found it even more difficult to talk about.
“With suicide no one wants to talk about it, you can almost feel embarrassed because you’re worried about another person’s reaction. My mum would never talk about it, and she still doesn’t.”
The most recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Mortality Report shows that 15-24 year old males in regional areas are 1.5—1.8 times more likely to end their life by suicide than their urban counterparts. The incidence is up to six times higher in very remote areas.
In response to the dairy industry crisis, farmers in Queensland held a minute’s silence for those lost to suicide in the industry while rallying outside the state’s Parliament House.
“This is an industry-wide problem and when we’re talking industry-wide we are talking about everybody in this country,” Robbie Radel, a dairy farmer from Biggenden, said in an interview with the ABC.
“And while we’re thinking about everybody in this country I would ask you to take your hats off, we’re going to have a minute’s silence to honour those brave dairy farmers who couldn’t make their way out of this; they couldn’t see their way clear.
“They’ve taken their lives; they’ve taken what they believed to be the only option.”
Earlier this month, farmers across the Victoria were blindsided after the nation’s two largest processors, Murray Goulburn and Fonterra, slashed the price it pays suppliers for milk solids.
It’s raised new concerns about mental health and depression among dairy farmers.
Former Farmer Wants a Wife contestant Matt Goyder knows first hand what living on the land, combined with depression can do to a person. The 26-year-old, who is now an ambassador for Lifeline, has been suffering from mental health issues “since the age of 11 or 12”.
When he was 24, and six years into his career as a farmer in rural Western Australia, the cattle pastoralist spent five months in rehab to overcome his demons, and deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I live, work and breathe next to the same people every day. It’s very hard to make friends, and it’s hard with relationships,” he told news.com.au
“You can’t speak to someone face-to-face about your feelings because you are so isolated. A lot of people don’t acknowledge there is a problem, because they think that being unhappy is normal.
“You get into a mentality that you don’t need friends, family or love, and you think the land and your working dog is enough. But everyone needs companionship.
“Going into rehabilitation at first was a terrifying experience, but I had reached a point where my favourite time of the day was bed, and my worst time was being awake.”
Mr Goyder, who now says he “is on top of the world”, blames the “alpha male mentality” as the reason for farming men in particular refusing to seek help for depression.
“No-one ever talks about their feelings on the land. Everyone has to hold this facade of being tough. Just grin and bare it,” he said.
“At the end of the day, everyone is human and we all have the right for love, sadness, passion and anger in life.
“There’s this culture in farming where men can’t express any of that, but they are actually really lonely. It’s such a slippery slope.
“These men dedicate their lives to a farm, so the idea that their work and their home can be snatched away because of debt... I can honestly see why people think there’s not another way out.”
The Ripple Effect, which will launch online next month, hopes to give a digital platform for farmers in rural communities who wish to express their experiences in an anonymous setting.
“The project is aimed particularly at men 30—64 years, however we don’t want to exclude any adult from participating in the project,” spokeswoman Alison Kennedy said.
“At any stage in their career, there’s a multitude of pressures on our farmers, such as drought, floods and debt. Suicide risk can’t be linked to |
cannot be reordered to conform with American ideas about democracy and civil society by deploying tens or hundreds of thousands of US troops in feckless “nation-building” missions. But it has yet to grasp the related lesson that Washington cannot defeat insurgencies, even terrorism-inclined ones, by remote control via airpower, whether by drones or AC-130 gunships. Indeed, as even Donald Rumsfeld conceded in the waning days of his tenure as George W. Bush’s defense secretary, blowing up low- and mid-level insurgent commanders may well create more terrorists than it kills.
The White House should draw the conclusion from the Kunduz massacre that there won’t be a military solution to Afghanistan’s civil war. After 14 years, despite relentless US military action and the peak presence of more than 100,000 US troops, the Taliban hasn’t gone away. Since 2001, the one inescapable conclusion has been that only a power-sharing arrangement among all of Afghanistan’s factions, including the Taliban, can provide even a hope of ending the war. To get there will require diplomacy at least as intensive and prolonged as the process that led to the historic agreement between Iran and the P5+1 world powers over Tehran’s nuclear-enrichment program.
In addition, Obama should resist calls from the military and congressional Republicans to reverse his decision to withdraw US troops by the end of next year. Gen. John Campbell, the US commander in Afghanistan—whose constantly shifting explanations for the Kunduz massacre have infuriated MSF—is asking the White House to keep thousands of additional troops in the country well into 2017. And on October 5, nearly two dozen GOP House members wrote an open letter to Obama “to express concerns about the dangers of a premature drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan.”
There have been promising signs this year that the Afghan government and the Taliban might be ready to talk peace, with the parties holding several recent meetings toward that end. Last spring, China demonstrated a willingness to involve itself in brokering a deal, which could be an important step because Pakistan, the Taliban’s chief sponsor, is an erstwhile ally of China’s. Iran, showing its own readiness to reintegrate into the global polity, could be an important partner in bringing Afghanistan’s warlords and tribal chieftains to a deal. For President Obama, whose instincts seem to favor diplomacy over war, there may be an opportunity to follow the groundbreaking accord with Iran with successful negotiations in Afghanistan, too.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated and expanded.Grand Hyatt of Kauaʻi Resort and Spa’s dining menus will soon feature freshly grown produce from their own hydroponics garden. The resort is partnering with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and Kauaʻi Community College to design, construct and operate a hydroponics garden unit on the grounds of the resort in Poʻipū.
“This fits into the global sustainability mission of food thoughtfully sourced, carefully served,” said Keith Butz, Hyatt’s general manager.
The Hyatt is also sponsoring two internships for Kauaʻi CC students. The students will gain valuable hands-on learning experiences in both construction and operation of a local innovative food producing method.
Their Tennis Court 3 will serve as a data gathering and training site during the preliminary phase of the project. The estimated cost for this phase is $300,000.
“What a sensible way to create local jobs in growing local food literally on-site in a very progressive way with the use of hydroponics,” said Eric Knutzen, Kauaʻi CC ’s executive director of Hoʻouluwehi: The Sustainable Living Institute of Kauaʻi.
Read the Kauaʻi Community College news release for the full story.
More on other sustainability efforts at Kauaʻi CCJacquelyn Martin/AP Photo
The annual college rankings by U.S. News & World Report are out today, and with their release will come a predictable round of excoriating assessments from journalists, college officials, and others. The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson has called this annual chorus a “national carpfest.” Consider mine an early voice in this year’s bray-a-thon.
But, honestly, what’s the point of all this ululating? We might as well rail against Cheetos, soft drinks, lotteries, or articles about the Kardashians. You can bash people over the head with information about how empty, useless, or bad-for-you some things are, yet lots of folks will still want to consume them. Each of us has some kind of tripe that sustains us. For many, it’s the U.S. News college rankings.
What’s so wrong with the U.S. News rankings? How bad can they be? With the top spots in their “national university” rankings going to places like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale, and the slots a couple hundred places down the list going to the likes of Pace University or the University of Nevada-Reno, one might figure: Yeah, that sort of fits with my sense of things. So what’s the trouble?
Almost from their inaugural appearance in 1983, the U.S. News rankings have been a popular and easy target for critics. If you want to delve more deeply into the ranking’s weaknesses, here is a small sample of the best criticisms over the past 15 years:Image: MIT/Course 2.009 Otterly adorable!
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In MIT’s course 2.009 (“Product Engineering Processes”), teams of undergrads have to come up with an idea for a product, figure out if it can be commercially successful, make a prototype, and then wrap everything up with a pitch presentation at the end. In 2013, one of the teams decided to make a therapy robot to help with anxiety and depression in dementia patients. It’s a cute little otter, and its name is Ollie.
Ollie (you can watch the pitch presentation here) was designed based on studies showing that animals can have a significant positive impact on people with dementia, which includes one out of every three seniors. Animal-assisted therapy can help reduce stress and agitation, minimize feelings of isolation, and give people something to touch, and be touched by.
Despite how helpful they can be, live animals obviously aren’t the right choice for all seniors. Robots, on the other hand, have the potential to provide the same benefits with accessibility to anyone who needs a companion. Paro is probably the most well known of these therapeutic robots; the robotic baby seal from Japan has been around since around 2004, and has been clinically shown to improve both quality of life and brain function.
Paro is great, except for one thing: it costs US $6,000, making it far too expensive for most people to afford. This is where Ollie comes in: the Ollie prototype cost just $500 to build, and the MIT students estimated that, with enough volume, the robot could be manufactured for under $100.
Ollie has sensors that can understand how users interact with it through touch, and respond in pleasant, soothing ways with sound and movement and purring. It’s about the size of a baby to engender an instinct for humans to care for it, with a large tummy just begging for snuggles. Ollie is an otter because humans know that otters are cute and familiar, but generally, we don’t know enough about otters for anything about Ollie to be obviously unnatural. This line of thinking, incidentally, is why Paro is a harp seal instead of a cat and Pleo is a dinosar instead of a dog.
Image: MIT/Course 2.009
Inside, Ollie is powered by a Raspberry Pi, along with a custom motor and sensor board and some clever silicone arms actuated by wires. From the begining Ollie was designed to be handled and loved, so it’s very durable: its fur coat can be removed for cleaning, and underneath is a waterproof covering in case of spills.
We have no idea what, if anything, happened to Ollie, but we’ve emailed members of the MIT team that invented him to see if they have plans to commercialize it, or perhaps license the design to a manufacturer. We’ll update this post if we hear back.
[ Ollie ]One of the challenges that face anyone creating bonsai is that they GROW not only above the soil but below, of course all trees need roots however sometimes the roots can cause problems such as oversize and out of scale to the tree, particularly with deciduous species.
I have been working this hawthorn raft over 26 years, it has been re-potted 5 times, it tends to sulk for 12 months after re-potting, but it settles down the following season.
At the end of 2015 I noticed that a major root was becoming too thick and changing the nature of the nebari of the tree. The other roots were in scale to the tree and were in sufficient number to sustain the tree if the thick root were to be removed.
I did not want to remove the root during re-potting of the tree as such an intervention combined with disturbance of the whole root mass may have set the tree back or even threatened the life of the tree.
At the end of the growing season I opted to remove the offending root whilst still in the pot, leaving the thinner roots emanating from the oversize root in place. These will be removed when total re-potting takes place in 18 months’ time.
A VERY sharp saw was used and the cut was shaped with a Dremel and ‘nibbler’ finally the wound was sealed and covered with soil to encourage new finer roots to emanate from the cut. In the last photos you can see that the BIG root had been previously severed and callused well with two major roots formed from the cut.Illustration by Mark Alan Stamaty
Sexual reproduction is a genetic crapshoot. Out of hundreds of eggs and millions of sperm, one joins one to produce a baby whose natural endowments could reflect the best traits of both parents—or the absolute worst. To procreate through intercourse is to take a wild roll of the DNA dice. And the stakes could hardly be higher. One stray allele could mean the difference between a healthy baby and one with a debilitating disorder.
What if science offered a way to stack the odds in favor of a healthy, gifted child? The idea is as thrilling as it is alarming. But how realistic is it? Last week, a widely shared story in the magazine Vice suggested it’s imminent and inevitable—just not in the hidebound United States.
The article, headlined “China Is Engineering Genius Babies,” reports that our superpower frenemies in the East have hatched a grand plan to breed a crop of hyperproductive smartypants. Here’s an excerpt:
“At BGI Shenzhen, scientists have collected DNA samples from 2,000 of the world’s smartest people and are sequencing their entire genomes in an attempt to identify the alleles which determine human intelligence. Apparently they’re not far from finding them, and when they do, embryo screening will allow parents to pick their brightest zygote and potentially bump up every generation’s intelligence by five to 15 IQ points. Within a couple of generations, competing with the Chinese on an intellectual level will be like challenging Lena Dunham to a getting-naked-on-TV contest.”
You might think that such a sensational report would be received skeptically by readers and dismissed or debunked by the mainstream press. Instead it went viral on Facebook and Reddit and earned top billing in BBC Future’s weekly “Best of the Web” roundup.
In fact, key parts of the story are true—and not just the parts about Lena Dunham doffing her clothes. But large swaths are naïve, misleading, or grossly overstated. And it’s worth sorting through them, because in the not-distant future, it’s conceivable that parents will face a critical choice when it comes to making babies. The choice will be between fertilizing embryos in a lab and analyzing their DNA to try to select and gestate the healthiest possible baby, or doing it the old-fashioned way and leaving the genetics to chance.
Let’s start with what’s not true. China is not “engineering” babies. Even if it were, Chinese scientists wouldn’t know how to genetically engineer a genius. And even if they did know how to genetically engineer a genius, the fact is that you can’t ensure genius, because genius depends on environment as well as genes.
What is true, though, is fascinating, exciting, and troubling. Scientists are already developing the capacity to screen human embryos for a wide variety of genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle-cell anemia. At Reprogenetics, a private laboratory in New Jersey, couples who carry a genetic disease can have their embryos checked for the mutation before implanting them in the woman’s uterus. The process is referred to as preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and the technology is advancing rapidly. Santiago Munné, the lab’s director, told me that within a year he expects to be able to offer embryo analyses that screen for more than 100 diseases at once, for a few thousand dollars.
Women are already using preimplantation analysis to select the gender of their embryos. And in the United States, they’re overwhelmingly choosing to have daughters.
The next leap will be to whole-genome sequencing of embryos. That opens the door to screening not just for sex or single-gene disorders but for more complex disorders like autism—or even, conceivably, qualities like physical attractiveness or intelligence. Munné considers this type of “positive selection” beyond the pale: “Selecting for embryos based on eye color, etc., means you are discarding the others based on traits, and that’s unethical.”
But not everyone shares his qualms. The premise of the Vice story is that the Chinese government is eager to identify the alleles, or genetic variations, that most closely correlate with high IQ scores, so that the country’s parents can select from a number of their own embryos on the basis of intelligence. That isn’t loading the genetic dice, exactly, because the parents can’t change their own genes. And it isn’t engineering, per se, because it doesn’t involve manipulating the genes of the offspring. (That may also be possible someday, but most experts believe it’s further off.) It’s more like rolling the dice 10 times and then getting to choose from among the resulting combinations.
That’s still a powerful prospect. As NYU evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller—a participant in the Chinese genome-sequencing study—tells Vice, “Even if it only boosts the average kid by five IQ points, that’s a huge difference in terms of economic productivity, the competitiveness of the country, how many patents they get, how their businesses are run, and how innovative their economy is.”
Where Vice goes astray is in the article’s blithe insinuation that this is all right around the corner. It’s true that BGI Shenzhen has embarked on a research project to find relationships between genes and IQ. But experts say the implication that a handful of specific genetic variations “determine human intelligence” is spurious, let alone the claim that “apparently they’re not far from finding them.” Intelligence, you see, isn’t just a matter of a few alleles here and there.
Hank Greely, director of Stanford’s Center for Law and the Biosciences, says preimplantation genetic screening could one day render procreation via sex obsolete, at least for those who can afford it. But that doesn’t mean it will result in a generation of geniuses. “I think it’s pretty clear that intelligence—if it even exists as an entity, which remains controversial among psychologists—involves a boatload of genes and genetic combinations, all of them substantially mediated through the environment. The chances that genetic selection is going to lead to really substantial increases in human intelligence in your lifetime are low.”
Munné agrees. “IQ is controlled by probably more than 1,000 genes, so there is no point even trying to control for that,” he says.
The problem is simple math, adds Lee Silver, a genetics expert and molecular biologist at Princeton. Even if you could pinpoint a handful of genes that were likely to result in a higher IQ, the chances of any given embryo containing the right combination are minuscule. “Add in the fact that nongenetic factors account for 40 to 50 percent of the variance of something like intelligence,” and the project is basically hopeless. The bottom line, he says: Preimplantation genetic testing is “unlikely to be useful as a method of positive selection. But it will have an expanding role in avoiding disease likelihood in children.”
In any case, there’s no evidence that BGI Shenzhen or the Chinese government is actually planning to try to use the study’s findings to implement some kind of genetic-selection program. Miller, the sole source cited in the Vice story, tells me he was basing that assumption on “my speculation based on the history of Chinese population policy” combined with “off-the-record discussions with a couple of people involved.” At this point, it’s just an academic study.
While Miller agrees that aspects of the Vice story may have been framed a little sensationally, he defends the idea that embryo selection could eventually lead to significant gains in intelligence. “The key point is that the [BGI Shenzhen] project is not just looking for a handful of genes to genetically manipulate,” he says. “They’re looking for the millions of genetic variations that contribute to intelligence and how they add up in aggregate. That’s what gives you the potential power to do the embryo selection.”
Even those who disagree with Miller about intelligence think it makes sense to start grappling with the ethical implications of preimplantation genetic screening today. Silver, for one, counts himself as an advocate of the procedure, at least in certain cases. “In my opinion, even a partially informed choice is always better than chance,” he says. “Those who reject this point of view often don’t think of the natural process as chance, but rather as God or Mother Nature doing her work. But as I said to Stephen Colbert on his show, ‘Mother Nature is a nasty bitch.’ ”
Yet the line between screening for disorders and selecting for traits can be blurry. If it’s OK to screen for Down syndrome, is it OK to screen for a genetic predisposition to alcoholism, depression, or obesity? Where do you draw the line between developmental disabilities and low IQ? Maybe it’s a good thing that the ability to build genius babies is a long way off. That should give us some time to decide what’s worse—a risky dice roll or a rigged game.
Read more from this series: Human enhancement is giving us superpowers once reserved for comic-book heroes; technology is expanding our minds; brain-computer interfaces let you move things with a thought; choose your own sixth sense; and steel yourself with a robotic exoskeleton.A painting on traditional screens featuring “Star Wars” characters was unveiled Monday at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto to mark the 400th anniversary of the birth of the Rimpa school of Japanese art, as well as to celebrate the Dec. 18 release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
The “Star Wars” version of the famous “Fujin Raijin-zu byobu” (“Wind God and Thunder God Screens”) by 17th-century artist Tawaraya Sotatsu will be exhibited at the temple from Dec. 8 to Dec. 15.
The painting was drawn by Taro Yamamoto, 41. It likens “Star Wars” character Rey to the Wind God and antagonist Kylo Ren to the Thunder God, both holding light sabers.
“It was difficult to bring out what is good about the characters,” Yamamoto said. “As an artist in the modern age, I hope this will help carry on the Rimpa school” in the future.As in the first demonstration of a ‘time cloak’15, the theoretical foundation for our cloak is space-time duality, the formal mathematical equivalence between paraxial diffraction and narrowband dispersion16,17. This correspondence permits the extension of concepts typically associated with spatial Fourier imaging into the time domain. For example, just as a traditional thin lens applies a quadratic phase in space, a temporal lens can be constructed that applies a quadratic phase profile in time. But although time lenses with extremely large chirp coefficients can be obtained through parametric nonlinear interactions18,19, such schemes are not easily implemented at gigahertz rates. Instead, electro-optic phase modulators prove a more suitable choice. Phase modulators, which are standard components in optical communications, offer wavelength transparency, high radio-frequency bandwidth, and simplicity of operation, because they require only a single radio-frequency input and are optically linear20.
Yet because phase modulators are typically driven with sinusoidal voltages, which are only approximately quadratic over a small temporal window, they suffer from severe temporal aberrations21. Such distortions are particularly harmful in implementing a temporal cloak, because a continuous-wave input necessarily extends well beyond the parabolic peaks of the sinusoid. Moreover, the original temporal cloak uses split time-lenses, which apply a discontinuous frequency chirp to the continuous-wave probe; after propagating through dispersive fibre, the spectral content of the waveform separates in time, leaving a gap with zero intensity15. This discontinuous chirp requires that the parabolic approximation remain valid all the way to the edges of the time lens—precisely where it breaks down completely for a sinusoid. Further, even if we generate a non-sinusoidal radio-frequency signal that more accurately approximates a parabola, replicating the chirp discontinuity still requires extremely high bandwidth at repetition rates suitable for telecommunications. (See the Supplementary Information for further discussion.) Under these restrictions, an alternative to the split time-lens is required for temporal cloaking in the gigahertz regime.
Interestingly, the desired transformation of continuous-wave light into clean, high-extinction pulses is closely related to the generation of optical frequency combs through electro-optic modulation. In this application, the goal is to convert a continuous-wave input into a broadband frequency comb with a smooth spectrum. One such method for flat comb generation exploits a temporal version of the Talbot effect. Observed in spatial optics as early as 1836, the Talbot phenomenon yields perfect regeneration of the optical field at discrete distances away from a periodic grating22. Through space-time duality, a temporal analogue arises23. Specifically, for an electric-field envelope periodic at the radio frequency ω rep, where ‘rep’ indicates repetition frequency, modulated by an optical carrier at frequency ω 0 and traversing a medium described by propagation constant β(ω) = β 0 + β 1 (ω − ω 0 ) + ½β 2 (ω − ω 0 )2, the waveform exactly reproduces itself at multiples of the Talbot distance L T = 4π/|β 2 |ω rep 2.
As a special case, when a continuous-wave input is sinusoidally phase-modulated at an amplitude of π/4, then propagated through the fractional Talbot distance L T /4, the output waveform consists of high-extinction, 50% duty-cycle pulses24,25,26,27. These pulses can be imaged effectively by a second application of sinusoidal phase, because at this point the optical energy lies primarily within a window where the quadratic phase of an ideal time lens is well approximated. Subsequent dispersion chosen to satisfy the temporal imaging condition compresses these pulses even further, thereby creating large temporal gaps, the hallmark of a cloak. And this compression is achieved with phase-only elements—which are reversible apart from linear insertion loss—so it can be undone with inverse dispersion and modulation, thus completing the temporal cloak. The spatial equivalent of this cloaking circuit is highlighted in Fig. 1, revealing the large cloaking window possible with the Talbot effect. We emphasize that no discontinuity in the chirp rate is required.
Figure 1: Spatial analogue of temporal cloaking circuit. a, Temporal ray diagram highlighting the spatial equivalent of the experimental set-up. Φ T = β 2 L T represents the Talbot dispersion for dispersion-compensating fibre with dispersion constant β 2. Owing to the diffractive nature of the Talbot effect, temporal ray optics is not strictly applicable, but we nonetheless include this ray diagram for visualization. b, Corresponding simulated intensity distribution. Wide cloaking windows of zero intensity appear at the temporal focus, nearing the duration of the repetition period, T rep. c, Temporal intensity slices at specific locations in the circuit (panels from left to right): first grating, negative lens array, event plane, positive lens array and final grating. Full size image Download PowerPoint slide
Figure 2a presents the full experimental arrangement. The first phase modulator applies a small phase modulation to the input, and a chirped fibre Bragg grating provides the required fractional Talbot dispersion. The second phase modulator widens the signal bandwidth, and optical fibre compresses the waveform in time. The spectro-temporal characteristics of the optical probe at the event plane are summarized in Fig. 2b and c; the broadband frequency comb is compressed smoothly to an autocorrelation full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 11.7 ps, corresponding to about 15% of the 78.7-ps repetition period. The following fibre, phase modulators, and chirped fibre Bragg grating simply undo the effects of their counterparts, leaving a continuous-wave output. The extra dispersive link after the final phase modulator ensures that the cloak can itself be hidden; that is, when the phase modulators are switched off, the applied event appears at the output unaltered, as if the cloak were absent completely. This requires that a net dispersion of around 0 ps nm−1 be experienced by the uncloaked event, which necessitates the additional dispersive link. On the other hand, when the cloak is operational, the output of the last phase modulator is essentially continuous-wave, so the extra dispersion has no impact. As another modification, we employ a 12.3-Gb s−1 photoreceiver for detection of the temporal output, presenting bandwidth filtering as a cloak enhancer. For relatively narrowband events, a spectral filter with properly chosen bandwidth can be used to remove residual high-frequency sidebands—resulting from cloak imperfections—while still passing the event itself intact. This principle, discussed in detail in the Supplementary Information, proves extremely useful in cloak operation. Under these conditions, the reconstructed waveform is as summarized in Fig. 2d and e. The cloak is able to reproduce the continuous-wave input: the final spectrum consists of one line, matching the input spectrum, and the temporal waveform is nearly flat, albeit with some parasitic modulation due to cloak imperfections.
Figure 2: Experimental set-up. a, Schematic of the complete cloaking circuit. CW, continuous-wave input laser; PM, phase modulator; CFBG, chirped fibre Bragg grating; SMF, single-mode fibre; DCF, dispersion-compensating fibre; IM, intensity modulator; AMP, erbium-doped fibre amplifier. b, Comb spectrum at the event plane, consisting of 16 spectral lines in the 10-dB bandwidth. c, Corresponding intensity autocorrelation, shown over one full temporal period. The FWHM is 11.7 ps. d, Spectrum at the output of the cloaking circuit, when no event is applied. e, Corresponding temporal output measured on a photodetector, compared to the case when all phase modulators are off. Full size image Download PowerPoint slide
Applying a sinusoid to the electro-optic intensity modulator in the event plane, we obtain the results of Fig. 3. We find that the cloak completely hides the presence of the perturbation, removing the spectral sidebands and turning the high-contrast temporal modulation into a nearly flat line. This periodic event enables measurement of a defining metric of cloak performance: the cloaking window. To quantify this aspect, we look at the photodetected signal’s relative root-mean-square fluctuation as the perturbation is shifted in time from the optimum cloaking point. For definiteness, the cloaking window is taken as the temporal offset at which this fractional modulation has increased to one-half the value in the uncloaked case; Fig. 3d furnishes the results of this measurement. A cloaking window of 46% is found, which represents a conservative estimate: the sinusoidal modulation is of significant duration itself, so the actual cloaked region is wider than that indicated simply by the temporal offset. Unlike the arrangement in ref. 15, which can be viewed as a cloak of temporally isolated events, the periodicity in ours cannot be ignored; in fact, it is precisely this periodicity which permits use of the Talbot effect. In this sense, it is profitable also to compare our temporal cloak to metamaterial cloaking arrays28. In a recent experiment29 using tapered gold-coated waveguides, about 20% of the total two-dimensional surface area was cloaked—a number similar to what is obtained here. Thus our cloak meets at the intersection of two recent metamaterial concepts: the temporal cloak and the cloaking array.
Figure 3: Cloaking of sinusoidal modulation. a, Output spectrum when the phase modulators are off and a sinusoid is applied to the intensity modulator. b, Spectrum when the cloak is on, demonstrating removal of the sidebands in a. (Spectra are normalized as in Fig. 2d.) c, Corresponding temporal output. When the cloak is turned on, the previously high-contrast modulation is reduced to a flat line, hiding this event from an observer. d, Measurement of the temporal cloaking window. The fractional modulation reaches one-half that in the uncloaked case at a detuning of 18 ps, for a total double-ended cloaking window of 36 ps, or 46% of the temporal period. Full size image Download PowerPoint slide
In addition to hiding a deterministic periodic signal, our cloak is also able to mask pseudorandom data. We use an inverted (dark) return-to-zero modulation format, which ensures that the optical transmission function returns to a maximum during each cycle, as required to provide temporal regions through which the compressed probe pulses can pass. Cloak performance for dark return-to-zero data is summarized in Fig. 4, for both pseudorandom and specific bit sequences. When the phase modulators are off, high-contrast voltage transitions are evident; when the cloak is turned on, these transitions reduce to a single flat line, and the data are effectively cloaked. This temporal cloak consequently succeeds in hiding communications at will, by simply turning four phase modulators on and off.
Figure 4: Cloaking of data. a, Temporal output when length 231 − 1 pseudorandom data are applied to the intensity modulator, measured on a sampling oscilloscope. The clear transitions between high and low data levels present when the cloak is off are completely removed when the phase modulators are on. b, Output for a particular sequence of ones and zeros. Although the binary data specified on the bottom of the plot are clearly detected when the cloak is off, the voltage swings indicative of bit transmission are suppressed to a nearly flat line when the cloak is on. Full size image Download PowerPoint slide
Moreover, future cloaks based on our arrangement have the potential for significant improvements, both in terms of operational bandwidth and the duration of the cloaked region. Two distinct bandwidths deserve consideration: that of the input probe, and that of the event to be cloaked. Concerning the probe, the cloak is fundamentally narrowband. The dispersion and phase modulation are selected precisely under the assumption of a continuous-wave optical input, and a broadband optical input is not guaranteed to develop into sharp pulses at the event plane. On the other hand, the bandwidth of the event could in principle be made much wider. Because of the filtering effect of the detection scheme (see Supplementary Information), the current cloak is admittedly limited to event bandwidths approximately twice the modulation frequency. However, this filtering is required only because of imperfections in the cloak itself, particularly the difficulty in exactly matching two phase modulators. With improved uniformity in the phase modulators, such filtering could be removed, permitting disturbances with much broader frequency content. In fact, the event could possess a bandwidth wider than that created by the phase modulation for probe compression, provided it lies within the passband of the optical components used. The disturbance must be temporally restricted to allow unity transmission over some fraction of the period, but no such restriction is imposed on its modulation bandwidth. Indeed, impulsive events with extremely large bandwidths are actually easier to cloak than the data examined here, because they fit easily within the cloaking window. Additionally, from an operational perspective, the data rate of 12.7 GHz could be easily increased to 40 GHz and higher with state-of-the-art LiNbO 3 modulators. Because the required values of optical dispersion depend on this choice of frequency, one can simply choose different dispersive links to convert our cloak at 12.7 GHz to any other convenient repetition frequency.
The 46% cloaking window is currently limited by phase modulator performance. The duration of the compressed probe beam (Fig. 2c) is inversely proportional to the optical bandwidth after the second phase modulator in our experiment (spectrum in Fig. 2b), which is in turn directly proportional to the phase modulator’s modulation index27. The modulation index itself is limited by the phase modulator’s maximum allowable radio-frequency input power, which prevents much shorter probe pulses and wider cloaking windows with the current arrangement. Yet by replacing the second and third phase modulators each with separate series of cascaded modulators, the net effective index can be increased even without improved technology. In fact, this principle has already been applied in pulse compression studies30, yielding pulses more than eight times shorter than what we obtain here. This implies that a fractional cloaking window of over 90% could be possible in our set-up, using three cascaded phase modulators instead of one. Closely approaching the limit of 100% would at present require too many phase modulators to be practical, but it nonetheless remains a possibility for the future; nothing inherently prevents it.In 2017, the Consumer Price Index has fallen from 2.1% in January to 1.4% in October, reaching a low of 1% in June.
With the TFSA limit at $5,500 for 2018, the total room available in 2018 for someone who has never contributed and has been eligible for the TFSA since its introduction in 2009 is $57,500.
Read: How to fix TFSA overcontributions
For clients who have withdrawn from TFSAs, their crystallized gains and losses from withdrawals are factored in to their TFSA room. Here’s the formula:
Unused TFSA contribution room to date + Total withdrawal made in this year + next year’s TFSA dollar limit = TFSA contribution room at the beginning of next year
TFSA limits will remain indexed to inflation for future years.
Tax bracket thresholds have also been confirmed. The federal 33% tax bracket will begin at $205,842 in 2018, up from $202,800 in 2017. On the low end, the basic personal amount for 2018 is $11,809, up from $11,635 in 2017.
Also read:"At the last minute they realized that optically it wasn’t playing very well in public for them, so they put out a statement that we didn’t have dinner because I was tired," Tillerson said. | AP Photo Tillerson rebuts 'fatigue' reports: South Korea 'never invited us for dinner'
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson denied reports in South Korean media outlets that he did not dine with the country's officials due to "fatigue" on a leg of his Asia trip, according to an interview published Saturday.
"They never invited us for dinner, then at the last minute they realized that optically it wasn’t playing very well in public for them, so they put out a statement that we didn’t have dinner because I was tired," Tillerson told Independent Journal Review's Erin McPike during a sit-down interview in which Tillerson also said he's "not a big media press access person."
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The State Department was criticized after it initially announced no reporters from U.S. outlets would be traveling with Tillerson on his trip to South Korea, Japan and China. It was later revealed that McPike would be traveling with Tillerson. But McPike was not considered a pool reporter and did not provide regular updates.
A report Friday in the Korea Herald said that Tillerson "shortened diplomatic consultations and public events in Seoul." The former Exxon Mobil executive also did not dine with Hwang Kyo-ahn, the South Korean acting president, and Yun Byung-se, the country’s foreign minister.
The Korea Herald cited Seoul officials saying that Tillerson opted not to dine with the officials as a result of "fatigue."
When asked whether the Seoul officials lied, Tillerson said "it was just their explanation."
The secretary of state went on to say that he did have dinner that night, but did not disclose with whom.
"The host country decides whether we are going to do things or not," Tillerson told McPike. "We didn’t decide that."
The Korea Herald noted that during Tillerson's visit to Japan, he spent several hours meeting with Japanese officials, which included dinner meetings. Tillerson also cited a transitional government in Seoul — following the recent impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye — as a reason for lesser contact with officials there.
Tillerson also said during the interview with McPike that he is "not a big media press access person."
"I’m not a big media press access person. I personally don’t need it," Tillerson told McPike. "I understand it’s important to get the message of what we’re doing out, but I also think there’s only a purpose in getting the message out when there’s something to be done."
Tillerson said that when the State Department is "ready to talk about what we’re trying to do, I will be available to talk to people."
"But doing daily availability, I don’t have this appetite or hunger to be that, have a lot of things, have a lot of quotes in the paper or be more visible with the media," Tillerson said. "I view that the relationship that I want to have with the media, is the media is very important to help me communicate not just to the American people, but to others in the world that are listening.
"And when I have something important and useful to say, I know where everybody is and I know how to go out there and say it."Suparn Pandey, the ScoopWhoop co-founder has now come into the sexual harassment controversy. According to the reports, a former female employee has filed a case against Suparn Pandey for allegedly misbehaving and sexually harassing at the workplace or in the name of work.
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The employee has also said that the issue was raised with another co-founder but she was only given an assurance, not action. However |
Q: Why does Hollywood care about student loans?
A: It doesn’t, but it does care about prosecuting students who trade movies online.
That explains why the Motion Picture Association of America might care about a press release issued last week praising, of all things, proposed legislation addressing higher education financing and access. The bill would require colleges to come up with ways to help movie studios and record labels prevent trading in copyrighted works.
The plan would require colleges to “develop a plan for offering alternatives to illegal downloading or peer-to-peer distribution of intellectual property as well as a plan to explore technology-based deterrents to prevent such illegal activity.”
It further would allow the secretary of education to offer grants to institutions “to develop, implement, operate, improve, and disseminate programs of prevention, education, and cost-effective technological solutions, to reduce and eliminate the illegal downloading and distribution of intellectual property.”
In the M.P.A.A. press release, Dan Glickman, the association’s chairman and chief executive, said, “Illegal downloading doesn’t just hurt the motion picture and music industries, but it can also be harmful to universities as it puts their systems at risk for security purposes, takes up bandwidth, and slows systems that are designed for research and other educational purposes.”
But that is not quite how universities see it. While they generally support a separate provision in the bill that would require them to disclose their policies on file-sharing and to inform students of what is and is not legal, they do not want to be in the position of having to block certain online activities by their students – even though they say they do not want their on-campus networks clogged by students’ illegally downloading copyrighted movies, television shows and music.
“You have the federal government requiring a nonprofit educational institution to develop plans to help a for-profit industry to earn more revenue from their students,” said Matt Owens, assistant director of federal relations at the Association of American Universities. “It makes no sense. That’s not what we’re in the business of doing.”
In a letter to George Miller, the California Democrat who is chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, top officials of four universities criticized the fact that the legislation is aimed at “colleges and universities — which industry leaders admit are responsible for only a small fraction of illegal file-sharing — but not other Internet service providers whose networks are associated with most of the problem.”
Then there is the problem of whether efforts to block illegal file-sharing might also block legitimate use, said Lawrence Lessig, a professor at Stanford Law School and the founding director of its Center for Internet and Society.
“The consequence of enforcement of these restrictions is to interfere with people’s legitimate rights to use those technologies,” Professor Lessig said.
Other provisions in the 700-plus pages of the bill, which is summarized here, involve the subjects you would expect, including grants for needy students and regulation of the student loan industry.
The committee is expected to vote on it as early as Wednesday.Let's say a young, Black, male 6th grader made it all the way from his local elementary school on the far west side of Detroit to one of those really awesome science fairs the White House started putting on. He had invented a doodad that helped his elderly grandma in a nursing home down south more easily take'selfies,' and share them with her family around the country. His school noticed, and the next thing you know, the kid's at the White House showing off this fascinating little invention.
Then, in 8th grade, because he had rock star teachers due in part to the administration's new teacher training standards,, he received stellar grades in algebra and geometry, bolstering his confidence that the tech field might really be for him.
After his 11th grade year, because of the President's My Brother’s Keeper program, this young man received a scholarship to attend a new science and technology summer camp. At the camp he connected with mentors at Facebook and Google, developing invaluable relationships and refining his burgeoning tech skills.
And because the administration had protected his Pell Grants, this kid—whose parents are by no means wealthy—could afford to head down south to Georgia Tech for college. He leveraged his earlier experience and knocked a Computer Science degree out of the park, graduating with high honors.
He decides that the major tech firms aren't for him: he can possibly do better financially, and do more good back in Detroit, by starting his own business, hiring some techie friends from his neighborhood, and bringing a new digital product to market. And he has just the idea: a radical new video service, the details of which he's smartly keeping under wraps.
There's just one problem: after months of design and testing—and a bit of angel funding from contacts he met along the way—the young man learns that to deliver his product to customers at fast speeds, and compete with the "big boys," the multi-billion dollar firms already in his field, he'll have to pay Comcast or Verizon an exorbitant fee. His video service uses a lot of bandwidth, and, years before, in 2014, The Federal Communications Commission began allowing cable companies to charge startups like his more for the bandwidth they use. The cable companies call it a "fast lane," but in reality it’s a barrier to entry that the kid's fledgling company just can't afford.
So it's off to an engineering job at big firm for this brilliant youngster, where he'll pour his ideas into an existing structure rather than creating something on his own—something that could have allowed his own family, and the community around him, to flourish.
That's what the debate over the FCC's proposed rules boils down to. Last week, the FCC announced that they would propose new rules to allow major companies like Netflix and Google to pay cable companies like Comcast and Verizon more for faster lanes of service to send video and other products to customers. By definition, that means that if you're a company that can't afford these "fast lanes," your service will be slower, less appealing to customers, and more likely to fail.
Over the last five years, the Obama administration has done a stellar job of investing in opportunity for our nation's young people, working at each stage of a child's development to ensure that kids have the ability to succeed and thrive. But—for at least the sizable segment of the next generation that desires to move into science, technology, engineering and math fields—these new FCC rules could waste a substantial portion of that investment, stifle innovation, and create a two-tiered opportunity structure with big companies on the top and future innovators left behind.
Let's hope the FCC doesn't continue down that dangerous road, and that Congress and the administration finds ways to preserve net neutrality. This debate is much bigger than the players on the field today—the cable companies and software firms and lobbyists spending millions on each side. It's about kids around the country who are putting the building blocks of their futures together right now; let's be sure to not get in their way.Now less than 25 days from her history making rendezvous with the Red Planet and the critical Mars Orbital Insertion (MOI) engine firing, India’s MOM is in good health!
The Mars Orbiter Mission, or MOM, counts as India’s first interplanetary voyager and the nation’s first manmade object to orbit the 4th rock from our Sun on September 24, 2014 – if all goes well.
MOM was designed and developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
“MOM and its payloads are in good health,” reports ISRO in a new update.
As of today, Aug. 31, MOM has traveled a total distance of over 622 million km in its heliocentric arc towards Mars, says ISRO. It is currently 199 million km away from Earth.
Altogether the probe has completed over 90% of the journey to Mars.
In the past week alone it has traveled over 20 million km and is over 10 million km further from Earth. It is now less than 9 million kilometers away from Mars
Round trip radio signals communicating with MOM now take some 21 minutes.
The 1,350 kilogram (2,980 pound) probe has been streaking through space for nearly ten months.
To remain healthy and accomplish her science mission ahead, the spacecraft must fire the 440 Newton liquid fueled main engine to brake into orbit around the Red Planet on September 24, 2014 – where she will study the atmosphere and sniff for signals of methane.
The do or die MOI burn on September 24, 2014 places MOM into an 377 km x 80,000 km elliptical orbit around Mars.
MOM was launched on Nov. 5, 2013 from India’s spaceport at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, atop the nations indigenous four stage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) which placed the probe into its initial Earth parking orbit.
MOM is streaking to Mars along with NASA’s MAVEN orbiter, which arrives a few days earlier on September 21, 2014.
Although MOM’s main objective is a demonstration of technological capabilities, she will also study the planet’s atmosphere and surface.
The probe is equipped with five indigenous instruments to conduct meaningful science – including a tri color imager (MCC) and a methane gas sniffer (MSM) to study the Red Planet’s atmosphere, morphology, mineralogy and surface features. Methane on Earth originates from both geological and biological sources – and could be a potential marker for the existence of Martian microbes.
Stay tuned here for Ken’s continuing MOM, MAVEN, Rosetta, Opportunity, Curiosity, Mars rover and more Earth and planetary science and human spaceflight news.
Ken KremerScientist, far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) Marchesini Luca Bellelli (Italy) presented at the international Symposium on results of research in the Arctic, according to which climate change in the Arctic region are 3-4 times faster than the average for the planet.
The results of the study of carbon dioxide emissions in the Arctic scientist presented at the IX international Symposium on carbon Balance, water and energy and climate in the boreal and Arctic regions with emphasis on Eastern Eurasia, Yakutsk, the meeting brought together more than 120 climate scientists, ecologists and biologists from 16 countries.
In his report, the scientist presented the results of work several years conducted together with Russian and European counterparts. Examining the data of monitoring of greenhouse gases from Greenland, Islands of the North Atlantic, North Russia and Siberia, he proved that the Arctic is one of the key regions, which depends on the carbon dioxide emissions on the planet.
Climate change in the Arctic region are very fast, 3-4 times faster than the average for the planet. Therefore, it is important to explore the natural and climatic features of the Arctic, in particular, permafrost, which contains enormous amounts of carbon that could potentially be emitted to the atmosphere in case of further melting of ice, — quotes the Italian University scientist.
According to him, the Symposium was announced that over the past 50 years the average air temperature in Yakutia has risen by 2.1 ± 0.6 degrees, but in some cases it has increased more than 3 degrees.
Luca Bellelli Marchesini since then has been working in the research laboratory of Far Eastern Climate Smart lab of the University, headed by world-renowned Italian scientist, Nobel prize winner Riccardo Valentini. According to the institution, scientists engaged in the development of modern environmental policy in Asia Pacific based on analysis of global climate change models and regional environmental monitoring.Tre Turner
Holy Cross 2016 running back Tre Turner committed to Arizona State Sunday night.
(Amos Morale III)
Holy Cross rising senior running back Tre Turner, who is also a standout outfielder for the Tigers baseball team, liked what he saw during his visit to Arizona State this weekend as the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder committed to the Sun Devils late Sunday night.
Turner was previously committed to Mississippi State but de-committed from the Bulldogs in January. He also held offers from Texas A&M, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Arizona, Arkansas, Tulane, Miami, Ole Miss and Missouri among others.
He is rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and ESPN and been clocked as low as 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
"I am very blessed to say that I have officially committed to Arizona State University to play football and baseball," Turner wrote in a post on Twitter. "Thanks to all the coaches who have offered me scholarships... I appreciate everything you guys have done for me throughout the process. I can't wait to meet and be a part of Sun Devil Nation."
Turner rushed for 858 yards and nine touchdowns for Holy Cross in 10 games last fall and also hit.438 this spring with 26 RBI and 33 runs. He was an All-District 9-5A selection in baseball and a NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune All-New Orleans Large Schools selection.
Turner is rated as the No. 32 prospect in Louisiana according to the NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune Nifty 50.
Check out his highlights here:There might not be a more intriguing group of quarterbacks in the NFL than the collection of signal callers the Eagles have on their roster.
From their presumed starter, Sam Bradford, all the way down to their fourth-stringer, some guy named Tim Tebow, the Eagles have plenty of question marks for each of their quarterbacks.
Most of those questions won't be answered until training camp, which won't start until the players report back to Philadelphia on Aug. 2.
The past month of offseason workouts, however, has given the Eagles a good look at their quarterback position.
Here is a report card for each:
Sam Bradford
Positives: Bradford was destined to shine during offseason workouts, as he is able to just sit in the pocket and throw the ball without any pressure. His arm is without question the best on the team. Bradford throws an accurate, tight spiral, and can throw it further than any Eagles' quarterback has been able to since Michael Vick. If given time, Bradford has the ability to make all of the throws in this offense.
Another positive for Bradford is that after a little over a month of football activities, he hasn't suffered a setback. Granted he was limited, but it seems that Bradford's rehab from the injured ACL that cost him all of last season is going smoothly, which is perhaps the biggest positive the quarterback could have asked for.
Negatives: It is easy to point to Bradford's health as a negative, but as mentioned above, he hasn't suffered any setbacks. One issue for Bradford will be adjusting his body, when healthy, to getting back in football shape. His lower body appears to be very weak, the result of spending so much time in the rehab room the past year.
One issue for Bradford on Thursday, the team's final practice was his decision making. Bradford threw the ball right to safety Walter Thurmond, who picked it off in the endzone. Even if Bradford is healthy, that throw showed that it is going to take some time for him to adjust to being back on the field.
Grade: B-
Mark Sanchez
Positives: Bradford might have the best arm on the team, but as of right now, Sanchez is the best quarterback. It is clear how much more comfortable Sanchez looks in the offense after spending a year in it. Last year at this time, Sanchez looked awful during mandatory minicamp. This year he is moving the offense up-and-down the field, hitting his receivers in stride on each throw. His arm also looks stronger, the result of being two years removed from his shoulder surgery.
Negatives: There hasn't been many negatives for Sanchez so far. He hasn't turned the ball over, at least not during the practices open to the media. Whether that keeps up during training camp, and during preseason games, could decide if he has a real chance at the starting job.
Grade: A
Matt Barkley
Positives: Barkley had a strong set of practices. He seems much more confident out on the practice field, and has thrown the ball down the field more than the other Eagles' quarterbacks have. Barkley has had some very nice throws in the corner of the endzone, and seems to be able to put more touch on the ball than the previous two seasons.
Negatives: Barkley is in a bit of a tough spot. If he continues to play really well into training camp, chances are the team will try to trade him, maximizing on any potential value he might have then as opposed to during the draft. If his performance drops during training camp, he very well might be released.
Grade: A
Tim Tebow
Positives: For Tebow, even being out on an NFL practice field is a positive, after spending two years trying to make his way back into the league. So far what has stood out about Tebow is his athleticism. It is true that nearly anyone would look athletic compared to the other three quarterbacks on the Eagles' roster, but when Tebow takes off an runs during team drills, it is clear how much he could bring to this offense.
Tebow's throwing motion also seems to be improved. He doesn't have the quickest release on the team, but it is quicker than the last time he played at the NovaCare when he was with the New England Patriots back in 2013. Tebow has also displayed a strong arm, and has had a few nice touchdown throws over the past few weeks.
Negatives: What really hurts Tebow is his inconsistency. On one play, he looks like a player that could win with Chip Kelly as his head coach. On the next, you have to wonder if he should be playing tight end. Perhaps it is rust, but Tebow makes more bad throws than the other three quarterbacks combined. Tebow is probably the leader in the clubhouse right now for the third-string quarterback job, just because of his intangibles. But to truly succeed if called upon, he has to become much more consistent.
Grade: C+
Eliot Shorr-Parks may be reached at eshorrpa@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @EliotShorrParks. Find NJ.com Sports on Facebook.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- There's no soup for you, but there could be some jail time for him.
Robert N. Bertrand, the chief financial officer of Soupman Inc., the Staten Island-based company which licenses the names and recipes of Al Yeganeh, the real-life "Soup Nazi" character from the classic "Seinfeld" TV series, was indicted Tuesday for alleged tax evasion, said authorities.
Bertrand, 62, a Connecticut resident, short-changed the government of nearly $600,000 in tax revenue, authorities said.
He was charged under a 20-count indictment with failure to pay Medicare, Social Security and federal income taxes, said Bridget M. Rohde, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James D. Robnett, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Division, New York Field Office.
Between 2010 and 2014, Bertrand paid Soupman workers on the side in unreported cash amounts and compensated certain employees with large, unreported stock awards, officials said.
Bertrand never reported that employee compensation to the IRS and didn't pay Medicare, Social Security and federal income taxes on the cash payments or the stock awards, said authorities.
Bertrand failed to do so despite an external auditor warning him in 2012 those payments should be reported to the IRS, officials said.
Soupman's unreported cash and stock compensation totaled more than $2.8 million, resulting in a loss of about $594,000 in tax revenue, said authorities.
"As alleged, the United States was fleeced out of more than half-a-million dollars through the defendant's corporate misdeeds," said Rohde in a statement. "Tax crimes like those alleged in the indictment hurt every American citizen."
Bertrand faces up to five years behind bars if ultimately convicted.
Authorities did not specify where in the borough Soupman Inc. was based. There previously was a Soupman franchise on Richmond Avenue in New Springville.
Bertrand was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn federal court. His lawyer's name was not immediately available.This post was taken directly from Chelsea Fagan’s Blog, unedited.
Okay, now it’s time for a rant because I’ve been off Tumblr for a while and haven’t really been keeping up with what’s going on these days. Excuse the language/anger, but this shit really boils my blood.
So I’ve noticed several posts come across my dash about how we need to stop “white girl shaming” and making fun of white women because they like things like Starbucks, pumpkins, and Pinterest. People are presenting it as though it’s a proxy for misogynists to make fun of all women and yet do it in an “acceptable way,” and acting as though it’s a really harmful thing to be doing to young white women on this website and we should all feel bad about it.
Now, I joke a lot about my white girl interests. Gawker even used me as their reference — twice — when talking about Pumpkin Spice Lattes. I will jokingly talk about how I am embracing or rejecting this “identity” and how I am proud in my white girldom. Now, these are jokes, because this whole fucking idea is a joke, and there is no actual cultural anything behind any of these bullshit Tumblr posts or articles. People are making a joke of the PSLs and the Pinterest because you know what the alternative stereotypes are for women who are not white? That they are welfare mothers, that they are illegal immigrants, that they are inherently sexual, and that they are undesirable parts of society. NO WHITE WOMAN HAS EVER LOST A JOB OVER LIKING FUCKING STARBUCKS. These “stereotype” posts are making fun of the fact that WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ACTUAL DAMAGING STEREOTYPE FOR BEING THE WHITE VERSION OF A WOMAN.
In fact, we are granted a lot of fucking privileges for being white women — arguably, we even hold them where a white MAN would not. We get to walk out of a store scott-free with shit we didn’t even realize that we stole because people code us as innocent, righteous, and incapable of malice. We get let off more easily for crimes, we get to be presumed honest, we are the image of womanhood that society is trained to PROTECT and ELEVATE.
I have gotten in so much shit with the bullshit fucking feminists on this website for referring to white women as the housecats of society, but that’s exactly what we are. So much of our oppression stems from condescension, infantilization, and overprotection. Now, is this ideal? No, it sucks. But would it be traded for all of the other horrible stereotypes that non-white women have to deal with? Absofuckinglutely.
And when I would talk about the bullshit gender studies textbooks that cherrypick statistics that mostly affect non-white and poor women and use them as an ideological sledgehammer to paint ALL WOMEN as universal victims and ALL MEN as universal perpetrators, people would come running to my inbox about how I was trying to smear or deny the feminist movement. I’m sorry, I would rather smear and deny the feminist movement all day if the alternative was having my head so far up my own ass that I believed a middle-class white female college student was IN ANY WAY worse off or more oppressed than a lower-class black guy. Hell, even a middle-class black guy. Hell, fucking FOREST WHITAKER can’t even go shopping without getting accused of stealing and he’s a fucking millionaire Oscar winner.
And the truth is that people wouldn’t even go so hard making fun of white women’s interests on this site if we weren’t SO FUCKING PRESSED to be the center of all fucking discussions about oppression at all fucking times, and pretended as though any of our statistics or rhetoric could be applied exclusively on a gendered line. Like get over yourselves, women can absolutely oppress men depending on who and where they are in society. You want to act like white women didn’t INTENTIONALLY use false rape claims against black men in America SINCE THE DAWN OF THIS COUNTRY??? Really???
Not everything is a fucking feminist issue, and if someone wants to make fun of Becky for liking pumpkin candles, have a fucking field day. Because it doesn’t affect any of us in the least, and it has no actual bearing on the world in any way whatsoever. But if we stop turning everything into a fucking oppression contest, then we might have to take responsibility for some of our own failures instead of blaming a society that is largely built to protect and bolster us, amirite? Like that chick who couldn’t get into Texas State or whatever and wanted to act like it was Al Sharpton’s fault even though she had grades that WEREN’T FUCKING GOOD ENOUGH TO GET IN THE SCHOOL.
I know that some of the feminists on this website have build their whole identity/self-worth/value around being The Biggest Victim, but get a fucking grip and recognize how good we have it in this world. Sometimes you are going to be slighted because you are a woman, but it will never be because you are a WHITE woman, and we just have to accept the fact that this is a slice of the Blame It On The Man Pie we do not get to take. UGH.Close
Baidu has unveiled a new all-electric self-driving car for testing in China, with the vehicle being a modified Chery EQ installed with the company's driverless technology.
The company, known as the Google of China, previously used a modified BMW 3 Series which had the Baidu AutoBrain software installed. The software is the core of the company's driverless technology, automating several components such as driving maps, detection, positioning, control and decisionmaking.
The BMW 3 Series self-driving vehicle was able to complete a route with a distance of 18.6 miles late last year. The car was able to perform several driving functions such as changing lanes, making u-turns and merging on and off the highway.
The modified Chery EQ will continue the development of the Baidu AutoBrain, with the vehicles designed for testing in China, according to Baidu spokesperson Leo Zou.
Baidu is looking to launch self-driving vehicles into China for a public shuttle service, with the company planning to have the cars ready for the purpose by 2018. The vehicles are also being planned to be released geographically, with the company now mapping routes for information such as how high the traffic lights are and where curbs are placed.
The modified Chery EQ that Baidu will be testing with its driverless technology resembles the self-driving car of Google, with its small and rounded cabin. However, the Chery EQ has more space in the cabin compared to Google's self-driving car.
The Chery EQ is much smaller compared to the BMW 3 Series that Baidu previously used though, and also much cheaper. Taking into account government incentives, the all-electric Chery EQ only costs the equivalent of around $9,000. However, self-driving car enthusiasts should not expect the Baidu AutoBrain-equipped version of the vehicle to land in the United States though, as if Baidu will be bringing its driverless technoogy to the country, it will likely be teaming up with a local car manufacturer.
Baidu teamed up with Ford earlier in the month to make an investment worth $150 million in Velodyne LiDAR, a Silicon Valley company that has been working on light, detection and ranging technology since 2005. The investmet was made to hasten the reduction of costs and the scaling of lidar sensors so that they would become more accessible to automobile manufacturers, for use in self-driving vehicles.
Velodyne LiDAR has already been able to reduce the cost of its lidar systems from over $80,000 to around $8,000, and the investment will greatly help in dragging that price down further.
ⓒ 2018 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.Apple CEO Tim Cook thinks it's only a matter of time before consumers come around to wanting the Apple Watch. Speaking with CNBC's Jim Cramer on Mad Money this evening, Cook compared public perception of his company's smartwatch to the original iPod and iPhone. The first iteration of each device drew heavy skepticism at first before being "viewed as an overnight success," as Cook put it.
"In a few years, we will look back and people will say, 'How could I have ever thought about not wearing this watch?'" he said. "Because it's doing so much for you. And then it will all of a sudden be an overnight success." Cook still very much believes in Apple's core vision of delivering products consumers didn't know they wanted. "We are going to give you things that you can’t live without," he added. "That you just don’t know you need today."
"We are going to give you things you can't live without."
Of course, while people had their doubts about the first iPhone, it was still largely seen as revolutionary to put a computer in your pocket. (People are still on the fence about the significance of the tablet, which is, at heart, a very large smartphone with less stellar sales performance.) So it's unclear whether Apple's overnight theory will hold true for the smartwatch.
Cook's comments, and his appearance on CNBC, are strategic moves to assuage investor fears. Apple is still generating enormous profits, but its most recent quarter marked the company's first year-over-year revenue decline in 13 years. Apple's stock took a heavy dive and has been sliding downward since. With iPhone sales slowing, the company's search for the next big and lucrative hardware product is fast becoming its most pressing problem. Whether the Apple Watch can fulfill that role largely depends on the eventual second-generation version, and how significant its improvements are.
It's worth noting that Apple Watch sales appear to be doing just fine. According to analyst estimates, Apple has sold around 12 million units in the device's first year on the market, outpacing the original iPhone two to one. That makes the Apple Watch a multi-billion dollar business, but Cook is leading a different Apple. The company is now the most valuable in the world, and any bumps in its business these days have more drastic effects. The Apple Watch may take off in a few years — and Cook may be proven right after all — but right now the lukewarm reception to the gadget has Apple on the defensive.
Verge Reviews: Apple WatchCity officials promised a doubling of security on the collapsed block of East 26th Street in Charles Village on Monday after two of its 19 evacuated homes were reported broken into.
One homeowner reported $250 worth of damage to a window frame after he noticed his second-story air conditioning unit had been forced into the home, according to a police report. Residents of another home reported missing nearly $1,200 in cash and other personal items — including shoes, jewelry and a laptop computer — after it was determined there had been a break-in there as well.
The homes were evacuated April 30, when a large retaining wall holding their street above parallel CSX Transportation railroad tracks collapsed amid heavy rains. Residents of the homes have been staying in hotels as crews work to stabilize the street.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said she was "outraged" by the break-ins and vowed to double police presence in the area.
"These families have already had to endure so much, and the idea that someone would choose to victimize one of them in this way is appalling," Rawlings-Blake said in a statement.
Homeowner James Zitzer, who could not be reached for comment, told police he believed someone had climbed to his second-story window and tried to enter the home sometime between Thursday and Monday but that nothing appeared to be missing from inside, according to the police report.
An officer observed a second-story window and the back door of the adjacent home were open, according to the report.
The officer determined the second home had been "possibly ransacked," and called the home's residents to the scene, where they identified the missing items, according to the police report.
The residents and homeowner, Harold Diehl, could not be reached for comment.
Police are investigating both as breaking-and-entering incidents.
In the days following the collapse, which construction crews are still working to repair, metal fencing was placed around the entire block to keep people out of the unstable area and the closed-off homes. Rawlings-Blake said at the time that she had "ordered the city police to continue to monitor the site and pay careful attention to the homes that cannot be occupied right now."
On Monday, Rawlings-Blake said that in addition to the increased police presence, a 24-hour CityWatch surveillance camera would be installed "to ensure more is done to protect these residents and their belongings as we work to get them moved back into their homes as quickly as possible."
Kelly Cross, president of the Old Goucher Community Association, which represents residents in the area, said the break-ins were one more "terrible" outcome of residents being forced from their homes.
"There are all sorts of things that happen when something like this occurs," Cross said, referring to residents being told they'll be out of their homes for several weeks.
"It's not a long enough period that you would go in and move all your stuff out," Cross said, "but just enough for it to be targeted."
krector@baltsun.com
twitter.com/rectorsunA Civil Service Commission hearing panel has upheld the firing of a Denver police officer accused of stomping on the back of a 16-year-old — finding Tuesday that he beat the boy, then lied about it.
Charles Porter had appealed his firing by former Safety Manager Al LaCabe, who concluded he was one of three gang-unit members who beat Juan Vasquez in a north Denver alley.
The three — Porter, Luis Rivera and Cameron Moerman — all denied beating the teen. Days after the incident, Rivera and Moerman told internal-affairs investigators that when Vasquez was on the ground in handcuffs, Porter jumped on his back.
A jury acquitted Porter, who was the only officer charged with a crime.
Porter appealed LaCabe’s decision, and the three-member panel heard his case in November.
In its decision, the panel upheld seven of the violations found by LaCabe but said the city didn’t prove five others.
“This decision is a victory for Denver citizens, who have an absolute right to expect their officers to accurately and honestly report improper conduct of their fellow officers,” said City Attorney Douglas Friednash.
Porter can appeal the decision to the commission or to District Court. In an e-mail, Porter’s lawyer, Nathan Chambers, said he had no comment.
Nick Rogers, president of Denver’s police union, said, “I accept their decision, and I respect the due process our officers receive.”
The hearing officers who contract with the commission to hear such cases found that the city’s lawyers showed Porter “was complicit with others in committing the act of assault.”
They also showed that Porter used excessive force and committed a deceptive act by omitting information regarding “the use of unlawful force against Juan Vasquez,” according to the 18-page decision.
Among other things, the city didn’t prove that Porter committed first-degree assault, according to the decision. The panel thought that Moerman and Rivera were not credible witnesses, that there was no proof Porter intended to cause bodily injury and that medical evidence as to the cause of the injuries was questionable.
The incident was among a spate of cases alleging brutality by Denver police officers that came to public attention over the past few years. During Porter’s hearing, LaCabe and retired Division Chief Daniel O’Hayre said the culture of the department is tolerant of excessive force but that few officers engage in it.
Vasquez couldn’t be reached for comment. His liver was lacerated and his kidneys damaged in the arrest, and the city eventually paid $885,000 to settle a lawsuit in the case.
Vasquez, who was wanted for vehicle theft and failing to report to a probation officer, was drinking with a friend on the night of April 18, 2008, when he saw a police car approaching and ran. The cops ran him down in an alley near 37th Avenue and Osage Street.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.comI can't vouch for how the Swiss national hockey team are viewed worldwide, but in Canada, they've developed the reputation of being a bit of a party pooper. Sure, Canada cheered on exuberantly last year when the Swiss U20 team knocked off the hated Russians in a thrilling overtime game, making Canada's path to the finals much easier. But that fact may have made things worse for Canada, who had an easy semifinal only to lose the final game on home ice to the Americans. Meanwhile, the Americans had a much tougher path to the final, knocking off Finland and Sweden, and may have been more prepared as a result. Then there's the Swiss men's team, which always gives the Canadian men's team a tough battle, beating them in the 2006 Olympics and forcing Canada to a shootout in Vancouver ten months ago.
But enough about how Canada views the Swiss, let's look at the country itself. Switzerland has been around as a hockey nation pretty much as long as Europe has had the sport, and during the holiday season, the mountain resort town of Davos hosts one of hockey's oldest traditions: the Spengler Cup invitational tournament. But for the longest time, hockey was never really a major part of the Swiss sporting culture. That's begun to change in the last generation or so, and you can see it by their results at the junior level. Switzerland has hung with the top group for all but one year since 1996. The year they were relegated was just recently (2008), when a surprising Kazakh team knocked them off and placed 8th. This has helped give credence to the notion that Switzerland is now a member of the 'Elite 8', and they usually alternate between 7th and 8th place in general.
Top Swiss players in recent years have taken to coming to North America to play major junior, as Switzerland has yet to develop a real strong junior league. The results of their national junior team are generally ignored by the public, whose attention is occupied by the popular Spengler Cup. But that doesn't mean that coverage doesn't exist for the World Juniors, and probably the best source of it for the country exists at the popular website HockeyFans.ch. While working the World Juniors last year in Saskatoon for Puck Daddy, I was seated next to the HockeyFans crew and was impressed by their multimedia coverage, which involved internet radio, web articles with great photos, interactive message boards, and a lot of interviews. Urs Berger was the voice for their radio webcasts (and did a great call of Nino Niederreiter's OT winner against Russia), and has been a hockey writer in Switzerland for decades. He was gracious enough to answer some questions about the team in advance of his crew's trip to Buffalo, which hopefully didn't encounter too many of the flight issues that have plagued international travel this holiday season. (Ed. note: I've adjusted some of the grammar, |
we all know too well, that is consciousness residing in the third dimension.
Unconditional Love is beyond the EGO and that is why aslong as there is a type of seperation or egoistical, self serving view involved in every kind of religion, even though those people believe they are the holiest of the holiest, they are at the same level of consciousness like any other being residing in the third dimension, all those believe systems have just a different appearance, serving the same purpose, to empower the ego and therefor a view and consciousness of being seperated from everything else.
The FOURTH DIMENSION is a state of consciousness, where people slowly begin to search for answers within themselfs, they have some sort of vague connection to the nearest and lowest spiritual levels of being, where genuine and loving beings reside, but also manipulating and negative beings.
All to often in this new paradigm, people will suddenly believe that there is only light from here on out, and every being has only the highest interest of the individual it is in contact with in mind.
It is a big jump from THIRD DIMENSION to FOURTH DIMENSION in consciousness and a whole new world opens up, the first step is kind of the conspiratorial arena, where simply every kind of believe or view in relation to the physical known world is being reconsidered and reevaluated.
If you can go beyond just the physical changes, you will enter into the realm of the spiritual and so called paranormal, beyond what is believed to be normal.
On this level you find an as great deception as on the conspiracy level, but it is much harder to be able to see through it, because everything appears to be as light and love, the negative and positive beings on these levels, may both look beautifull and can flood your bodys with wonderfull energys who make you feel great for the time being.
But the light of the negative beings is a synthetic one, aswell as their appereance is just an illusion, to cater to the belief system of the ones they want to manipulate.
The true and organic love and light dont need to cloud themselfs in shiny appeareances, although they do certainly look beautifull, it is like meeting a very good friend or being with a family member, your sister or your brother, you will feel unconditional love emanating from these beings and their messages.
Their messages will empower yourself, to search for your own truth and don`t even take their word at face value, they will inspire you to go within and see what feels right for you.
The negative beings will always mix some truth, that feels good to hear mainly for the ego, with false information and put themselfs as being superior over you, like they have to teach you everything and you just need to learn and accept without question.
It feels nice for the ego, but your soul will show you soon enough that you were being deceived, and that is ok, we are here to learn and I had to make this realization myself aswell, as many others.
If you put the ego out of the way, it just is experience nothing more, nothing less.
At some point when one has read so many channeled messages about all kind of things, all having similaritys but also very big differences in their message aswell in how they feel.
One will realize that while once those messages delivered an illusion of clarity, now they are more like overwhelming the person and making the ego rather insecure, because the mind cannot hold those vast amounts of information and feelings, especially when they are so different in their nature.
This is the point when one will decide to step into the FIFTH DIMENSION of consciousness, of course every being always resides in all those dimensions of consciousness, for some you need a third dimensional view, for some a fourth dimensional view and for some a fifth dimensional view.
But at this point your desire and goal is being set on reaching and residing in this FIFTH DIMENSION of consciousness more and more.
You will suddenly have not much interest in news of the outside world anymore, you don`t care about politics, economy or whatever is being thrown at the masses anymore.
You tune more inwards, and this becomes the only true reality for you, everything on the outside becomes illusionary and is just there for enhancing the experience of life, while having reached this peacefull inner state of being.
In the FOURTH DIMENSION you already had those inner feelings, of how things might turn out or what might happen, but you still searched heavily for outside confirmation.
Now you honor your own journey and simply trust yourself, you get a deep inner feeling of knowingness and peace, it is very organic and strong.
That is why all those synthetic realities and belief systems at this point really wont appeal to you anymore, you simply will leave them behind naturally.
This is the also the state of being, where true unconditional love is starting to be achieved, where you see everyone for who they truly are, an equal part of you, along their own journey.
It is a feeling of total oneness and no judgement, just pure love for every being, some people will be frightened by your level of vibration at this time and others will just look at you wondorously, because they can feel subconsiously what you radiate into the world.
This is also the level where you really start changing the world from the inside, like all those old traditions and true knowledge always told us, that we have to create peace within ourselves, to create peace on the outside.
Since the ego is really getting less and less prominent on this level, you will also simply have no fear anymore, fear is only part of the ego and the illusionary knowledge of the false identities and belief systems being placed upon yourself.
Once those identities and belief systems are gone, your soul takes over, and it knows exactly what it came here to do, and there will be no place for fear anymore, it simply vanishes.
You start living from the heart and reside more and more in the now moment, since your artificial identities are being dissolved, you loose your memory of the past, you know that there are still things that have happened and have shaped you the way you are, but there is no emotional connection anymore and you really need to focus strongly to access the past.
It becomes natural to live in the now moment and you don`t want anything more than that at this point, after all it is the only true state of being and existence, there`s nothing beyond the now moment.
You will simply feel a deep connection to everything and by now you have gone beyond the drama, your life unfolds easily and you just flow with it, many of your long time problems get solved, many wishes and desires are fullfilled, and some desires are also just not that important anymore, you get clarity about all things in life.
The earth is currently ascending into the FOURTH DENSITY, density in this case really meaning a new level of reality, a higher frequency, it is a change in the core of this matrix, not just in consciousness.
This change is being felt for some time now and affects the accelleration of evolution of consciousness and therfor it becomes easier and easier to enter those higher dimensions of consciousness which I talked about, because consciousness itself is accelerating and therefor able to accomplish much more in much less time, this is what is currently heavily happening all around the planet.
A change in the DENSITY level of earth is something very different and goes beyond the capability of the human mind.
You could say that the THIRD DENSITY is like an ice block, very stagnant and not really much changes in consciousnesses, aslong as your are residing in the THIRD DIMENSION, everything is supposed to stay the same, this ensures a stability and high level of control of the power structures.
Since the FOURTH DENSITY energys are changing the earth no matter what happens in the human drama or on the surface of these things, the human population is being affected by these changes, most only feel it subconsiously and some have a consious understanding aswell, but for all it is some type of feeling that they cant put into words.
The ice block is starting to melt, reality becomes more fluid, more like water, changes are happening all over the place, very fast and frequent.
This is what we are in right now, we are feeling the effects of FOURTH DENSITY more and more, the box in which we live in is melting.
But it is still water, it is at the same level as the ice block, it certainly is a different experience, but it is still the same perspective.
But at some point when the energys shaping the THIRD DENSITY into FOURTH DENSITY have reached critial threshold, the water will simply vaporize into thin air and diseappear from THIRD DENSITY.
But before this will happen the water has to boil, it is the highest level of chaos and when the water boils and this THIRD DENSITY reality starts to get really chaotic, nothing will be predictable anymore.
I think this is what our inner feeling tells us right now, that everything is much to quite and everyone is waiting for something big to happen.
Everybody interprets those things in his own way, according to their belief system but the inner feeling is pure and undistored and many people can feel it, the water is much to quiet, but behind the scenes it is really heating up.
Chaos is not always a bad thing, it is a prestate to a change into higher order and that is why this world needs to plunge into chaos in order to be recreated in a higher order, it is natural.
But all this human drama is just side effect of a much bigger cause, and the human drama itself has no influence on what will happen, it is our free will what we choose to do in those last days of THIRD DENSITY, but it won`t affect the outcome, because the outcome was already being decided before we entered our current bodies, and for earth even before she was created.
It goes beyond the human consciousness and that is why nobody has any idea on what will happen, the soul can give you feelings, because feelings are the type of higher dimensional communication, but the human mind can only speculate, that is why nobody has any answers, but each one of you can go within your hearts and know where your part is in this bigger picture and find the knowledge that everything is well and in divine order.
The only question that remains is if one is ready to ascend with earth into FOURTH DENSITY or if one likes the old state of being more, there is no judgement involved, some feel naturally attracted to information about higher state of beings, higher densitys and realities and others feel naturally attracted to the ways of this physical world, making a career and experiencing everything this materialistic world has to offer to their fullest.
In the end everyone is right on the path one has chosen before incarnating on this planet, and they simply play their role according to their script, there is no need to push anyone to belief anything, but simply to accept and honour everyones journey, this is unconditional love, which will in the end make you ascend with earth into FOURTH DENSITY.
THANK you for reading and much love to you all!
Quoting: Frederik 1439884
Frederik (OP)
User ID: 1439884
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06/23/2011 11:24 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth Good stuff. Links to more?
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 1438837
I have written it... I have written it...
Psemeni
User ID: 1353364
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06/24/2011 12:14 AM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth Good stuff. Links to more?
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 1438837
I have written it...
I have written it... Quoting: Frederik 1439884
Lovely. Good job...
A change in the DENSITY level of earth is something very different and goes beyond the capability of the human mind.
You could say that the THIRD DENSITY is like an ice block, very stagnant and not really much changes in consciousnesses, aslong as your are residing in the THIRD DIMENSION, everything is supposed to stay the same, this ensures a stability and high level of control of the power structures.
Since the FOURTH DENSITY energys are changing the earth no matter what happens in the human drama or on the surface of these things, the human population is being affected by these changes, most only feel it subconsiously and some have a consious understanding aswell, but for all it is some type of feeling that they cant put into words.
The ice block is starting to melt, reality becomes more fluid, more like water, changes are happening all over the place, very fast and frequent.
This is what we are in right now, we are feeling the effects of FOURTH DENSITY more and more, the box in which we live in is melting.
But it is still water, it is at the same level as the ice block, it certainly is a different experience, but it is still the same perspective.
But at some point when the energys shaping the THIRD DENSITY into FOURTH DENSITY have reached critial threshold, the water will simply vaporize into thin air and diseappear from THIRD DENSITY.
But before this will happen the water has to boil...
Quoting: Frederik 1439884
It's not boiling, yet, but it is indeed simmering...
"We just walked right through all the stones, all the bottles, and whatever they threw. We have won a major Victory."
[link to www.youtube.com] Post 7/11/10--"We just walked right through all the stones, all the bottles, and whatever they threw. We have won a major Victory." Lovely. Good job...It's not boiling, yet, but it is indeed simmering...
Metamike
User ID: 1441171
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06/24/2011 05:01 AM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth I think your descrioptions are very correct - you cannot write this stuff without having experienced it. I would like to add som destinctions that perhaps you will agree with - the passage from fourth to fifth and to sixth density awareness. You end up describing sixth density awareness which is the realm of higher self - your future you. This is the realm of uncoditional love because one first must learn the lessons of fifth density - the difference between boarders and responsibility.
Empathy - 4-D
Empathy with wisdom - 5-d
higher self - 6-d
5-D lessons deal with saying no to those that do not respect their responsibility for self, nor your responsibility for you - in the name of empathy/or service to self - confused "help" or energy sucking. The lesson is to let them learn their own lesson at their own pace.
This is when the comfort of detachment is to be discovered. The challenge is then to live ones life 100% in the focus of intelligence that is universal. That is a new phase. It feels good. I think your descrioptions are very correct - you cannot write this stuff without having experienced it. I would like to add som destinctions that perhaps you will agree with - the passage from fourth to fifth and to sixth density awareness. You end up describing sixth density awareness which is the realm of higher self - your future you. This is the realm of uncoditional love because one first must learn the lessons of fifth density - the difference between boarders and responsibility.Empathy - 4-DEmpathy with wisdom - 5-dhigher self - 6-d5-D lessons deal with saying no to those that do not respect their responsibility for self, nor your responsibility for you - in the name of empathy/or service to self - confused "help" or energy sucking. The lesson is to let them learn their own lesson at their own pace.This is when the comfort of detachment is to be discovered. The challenge is then to live ones life 100% in the focus of intelligence that is universal. That is a new phase. It feels good.
Anonymous Coward
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06/24/2011 05:41 AM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth lol.. thats much more detailed and nicer than the way i was explaining it to myself...
for me it was.. where is the "I AM"
is it in the meat (3rd density)
the "soul" (4th)
or.. "beyond" AKA "the Doctor (Who)" (5th)
lol.. I AM the doctor, my body is the Tardis, my soul is a companion.
its silly but it works for me..
but you make perfect sense..
i feel ive been in 4th density since i was a child.. and i seem to have gone down into 3rd along the way in dealing with other people... or rather, in order to deal with other people... when i was very young i was rejected quite a bit.. but then recently ive come back out again more and more.. and then i hit this little bump on the road and sort of tripped into 5th.. it was terrifying and amazing.. i cried my eyes out... it was fantastic... and now it only takes me a moment to go back.. i only wish i could figure out how to keep my "mind" there all the time... its beyond love.. beyond hate... everything is just so....... i have no words for it.
its doctor who.. lol.
Anonymous Coward
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06/24/2011 05:47 AM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth i feel sometimes like my "mind" is always in all places.. and the 3rd is arguing with the 4th and they are distracting from the 5th...
life seemed to make sense as a child.. and then it didnt... and now everything is so confused because what i thought of as "life" is just a silly dream and game... and its so hard to take it seriously at all.. but i dont seem to wake up from it.. i have to keep playing.. and so i get lost in it every so often..
its like riding a wave.. up and down through the densities..
i go down into worry and fear and desire and up through confusion and a sort of strange pride in love and then down into hate for some reason(usually because im driving and someone on a cell phone almost kills me) and then shoot up to 5th where i laugh at the idea of death because thats silly and that person on the cell phone isnt just another part of me then down to 4th and i wonder why am i making myself angry.. lol
or perhaps im just bi-polar or something?
im having a fun time regardless.
Frederik (OP)
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06/25/2011 12:53 PM
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I think you got those levels from the Law of One I guess?^^
I feel that I`m coming closer and closer to 6th density awareness and a few times I have already lived it aswell.
It feels amazing, not of this world, so much clarity, knowing and joy is available on that level.
I think the process of detachment is prepaving the way for the 6th density awareness, it is the bridge for the higher self to step fully into the game, because before that can happen all artificial identities and beliefs have to be dissolved or even forgotten.
When the "stars were aligned" and I made the decision to be just fully in the now moment, without any memory or knowledge of anything, even those concept that I consider to be of the highest truth... which was the most difficult to let go of.
When I allowed myself for this moment to forget it all, I was able to reach 6th density awareness and suddenly knew everything, each question had an immediate answer and all paradoxes were solved.
It indeed feels good to be there... I totally agree with you Metamike... :-)I think you got those levels from the Law of One I guess?^^I feel that I`m coming closer and closer to 6th density awareness and a few times I have already lived it aswell.It feels amazing, not of this world, so much clarity, knowing and joy is available on that level.I think the process of detachment is prepaving the way for the 6th density awareness, it is the bridge for the higher self to step fully into the game, because before that can happen all artificial identities and beliefs have to be dissolved or even forgotten.When the "stars were aligned" and I made the decision to be just fully in the now moment, without any memory or knowledge of anything, even those concept that I consider to be of the highest truth... which was the most difficult to let go of.When I allowed myself for this moment to forget it all, I was able to reach 6th density awareness and suddenly knew everything, each question had an immediate answer and all paradoxes were solved.It indeed feels good to be there...
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 32478216
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01/24/2015 11:06 AM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth i feel sometimes like my "mind" is always in all places.. and the 3rd is arguing with the 4th and they are distracting from the 5th...
life seemed to make sense as a child.. and then it didnt... and now everything is so confused because what i thought of as "life" is just a silly dream and game... and its so hard to take it seriously at all.. but i dont seem to wake up from it.. i have to keep playing.. and so i get lost in it every so often..
its like riding a wave.. up and down through the densities..
i go down into worry and fear and desire and up through confusion and a sort of strange pride in love and then down into hate for some reason(usually because im driving and someone on a cell phone almost kills me) and then shoot up to 5th where i laugh at the idea of death because thats silly and that person on the cell phone isnt just another part of me then down to 4th and i wonder why am i making myself angry.. lol
or perhaps im just bi-polar or something?
im having a fun time regardless.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 1440956
I can relate!
I can relate!
Anonymous Coward
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01/24/2015 11:11 AM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth THIS....
is why GLP is so important...the lowest percentage of the population who are looking for something more significant can find each other here...
Solar Guardian
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Malaysia
01/24/2015 11:24 AM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth People need to make a difference between Dimension and Density, it shouldn`t always be called just 3D, 4D, 5D etc...
Humanity and earth is living in the THIRD DENSITY.
The majority of the consciousness of the human beings living on earth are residing in the THIRD DIMENSION aswell.
It means that they are simply living and believing in the old world that every human being "knows" to be true and gets indoctrinated with.
They mainly get all their knowledge from the outside and trust experts that their egos and analytical minds approve of.
They have love for their fellow human beings, but only aslong as they believe in the same principles as they do, it is conditional love, like so many people on earth are still offering.
Unfortunately it is only a very small portion of what real unconditional love feels like. There is a big difference if you only feel love for a few human beings and your surroundings aslong as they please you, or if you really understand the greater journey of every being and love everyone for who they truly are, aswell as you will still be able to love them, even when they will behave or change in ways that your ego would never approve of.
Everything is being lead and chosen from an EGO point of view, it is simple that kind of existence which we all know too well, that is consciousness residing in the third dimension.
Unconditional Love is beyond the EGO and that is why aslong as there is a type of seperation or egoistical, self serving view involved in every kind of religion, even though those people believe they are the holiest of the holiest, they are at the same level of consciousness like any other being residing in the third dimension, all those believe systems have just a different appearance, serving the same purpose, to empower the ego and therefor a view and consciousness of being seperated from everything else.
The FOURTH DIMENSION is a state of consciousness, where people slowly begin to search for answers within themselfs, they have some sort of vague connection to the nearest and lowest spiritual levels of being, where genuine and loving beings reside, but also manipulating and negative beings.
All to often in this new paradigm, people will suddenly believe that there is only light from here on out, and every being has only the highest interest of the individual it is in contact with in mind.
It is a big jump from THIRD DIMENSION to FOURTH DIMENSION in consciousness and a whole new world opens up, the first step is kind of the conspiratorial arena, where simply every kind of believe or view in relation to the physical known world is being reconsidered and reevaluated.
If you can go beyond just the physical changes, you will enter into the realm of the spiritual and so called paranormal, beyond what is believed to be normal.
On this level you find an as great deception as on the conspiracy level, but it is much harder to be able to see through it, because everything appears to be as light and love, the negative and positive beings on these levels, may both look beautifull and can flood your bodys with wonderfull energys who make you feel great for the time being.
But the light of the negative beings is a synthetic one, aswell as their appereance is just an illusion, to cater to the belief system of the ones they want to manipulate.
The true and organic love and light dont need to cloud themselfs in shiny appeareances, although they do certainly look beautifull, it is like meeting a very good friend or being with a family member, your sister or your brother, you will feel unconditional love emanating from these beings and their messages.
Their messages will empower yourself, to search for your own truth and don`t even take their word at face value, they will inspire you to go within and see what feels right for you.
The negative beings will always mix some truth, that feels good to hear mainly for the ego, with false information and put themselfs as being superior over you, like they have to teach you everything and you just need to learn and accept without question.
It feels nice for the ego, but your soul will show you soon enough that you were being deceived, and that is ok, we are here to learn and I had to make this realization myself aswell, as many others.
If you put the ego out of the way, it just is experience nothing more, nothing less.
At some point when one has read so many channeled messages about all kind of things, all having similaritys but also very big differences in their message aswell in how they feel.
One will realize that while once those messages delivered an illusion of clarity, now they are more like overwhelming the person and making the ego rather insecure, because the mind cannot hold those vast amounts of information and feelings, especially when they are so different in their nature.
This is the point when one will decide to step into the FIFTH DIMENSION of consciousness, of course every being always resides in all those dimensions of consciousness, for some you need a third dimensional view, for some a fourth dimensional view and for some a fifth dimensional view.
But at this point your desire and goal is being set on reaching and residing in this FIFTH DIMENSION of consciousness more and more.
You will suddenly have not much interest in news of the outside world anymore, you don`t care about politics, economy or whatever is being thrown at the masses anymore.
You tune more inwards, and this becomes the only true reality for you, everything on the outside becomes illusionary and is just there for enhancing the experience of life, while having reached this peacefull inner state of being.
In the FOURTH DIMENSION you already had those inner feelings, of how things might turn out or what might happen, but you still searched heavily for outside confirmation.
Now you honor your own journey and simply trust yourself, you get a deep inner feeling of knowingness and peace, it is very organic and strong.
That is why all those synthetic realities and belief systems at this point really wont appeal to you anymore, you simply will leave them behind naturally.
This is the also the state of being, where true unconditional love is starting to be achieved, where you see everyone for who they truly are, an equal part of you, along their own journey.
It is a feeling of total oneness and no judgement, just pure love for every being, some people will be frightened by your level of vibration at this time and others will just look at you wondorously, because they can feel subconsiously what you radiate into the world.
This is also the level where you really start changing the world from the inside, like all those old traditions and true knowledge always told us, that we have to create peace within ourselves, to create peace on the outside.
Since the ego is really getting less and less prominent on this level, you will also simply have no fear anymore, fear is only part of the ego and the illusionary knowledge of the false identities and belief systems being placed upon yourself.
Once those identities and belief systems are gone, your soul takes over, and it knows exactly what it came here to do, and there will be no place for fear anymore, it simply vanishes.
You start living from the heart and reside more and more in the now moment, since your artificial identities are being dissolved, you loose your memory of the past, you know that there are still things that have happened and have shaped you the way you are, but there is no emotional connection anymore and you really need to focus strongly to access the past.
It becomes natural to live in the now moment and you don`t want anything more than that at this point, after all it is the only true state of being and existence, there`s nothing beyond the now moment.
You will simply feel a deep connection to everything and by now you have gone beyond the drama, your life unfolds easily and you just flow with it, many of your long time problems get solved, many wishes and desires are fullfilled, and some desires are also just not that important anymore, you get clarity about all things in life.
The earth is currently ascending into the FOURTH DENSITY, density in this case really meaning a new level of reality, a higher frequency, it is a change in the core of this matrix, not just in consciousness.
This change is being felt for some time now and affects the accelleration of evolution of consciousness and therfor it becomes easier and easier to enter those higher dimensions of consciousness which I talked about, because consciousness itself is accelerating and therefor able to accomplish much more in much less time, this is what is currently heavily happening all around the planet.
A change in the DENSITY level of earth is something very different and goes beyond the capability of the human mind.
You could say that the THIRD DENSITY is like an ice block, very stagnant and not really much changes in consciousnesses, aslong as your are residing in the THIRD DIMENSION, everything is supposed to stay the same, this ensures a stability and high level of control of the power structures.
Since the FOURTH DENSITY energys are changing the earth no matter what happens in the human drama or on the surface of these things, the human population is being affected by these changes, most only feel it subconsiously and some have a consious understanding aswell, but for all it is some type of feeling that they cant put into words.
The ice block is starting to melt, reality becomes more fluid, more like water, changes are happening all over the place, very fast and frequent.
This is what we are in right now, we are feeling the effects of FOURTH DENSITY more and more, the box in which we live in is melting.
But it is still water, it is at the same level as the ice block, it certainly is a different experience, but it is still the same perspective.
But at some point when the energys shaping the THIRD DENSITY into FOURTH DENSITY have reached critial threshold, the water will simply vaporize into thin air and diseappear from THIRD DENSITY.
But before this will happen the water has to boil, it is the highest level of chaos and when the water boils and this THIRD DENSITY reality starts to get really chaotic, nothing will be predictable anymore.
I think this is what our inner feeling tells us right now, that everything is much to quite and everyone is waiting for something big to happen.
Everybody interprets those things in his own way, according to their belief system but the inner feeling is pure and undistored and many people can feel it, the water is much to quiet, but behind the scenes it is really heating up.
Chaos is not always a bad thing, it is a prestate to a change into higher order and that is why this world needs to plunge into chaos in order to be recreated in a higher order, it is natural.
But all this human drama is just side effect of a much bigger cause, and the human drama itself has no influence on what will happen, it is our free will what we choose to do in those last days of THIRD DENSITY, but it won`t affect the outcome, because the outcome was already being decided before we entered our current bodies, and for earth even before she was created.
It goes beyond the human consciousness and that is why nobody has any idea on what will happen, the soul can give you feelings, because feelings are the type of higher dimensional communication, but the human mind can only speculate, that is why nobody has any answers, but each one of you can go within your hearts and know where your part is in this bigger picture and find the knowledge that everything is well and in divine order.
The only question that remains is if one is ready to ascend with earth into FOURTH DENSITY or if one likes the old state of being more, there is no judgement involved, some feel naturally attracted to information about higher state of beings, higher densitys and realities and others feel naturally attracted to the ways of this physical world, making a career and experiencing everything this materialistic world has to offer to their fullest.
In the end everyone is right on the path one has chosen before incarnating on this planet, and they simply play their role according to their script, there is no need to push anyone to belief anything, but simply to accept and honour everyones journey, this is unconditional love, which will in the end make you ascend with earth into FOURTH DENSITY.
THANK you for reading and much love to you all!
Quoting: Frederik 1439884
Thread: Contactee Tom T. Moore: Pleaidian ETs to make public contact in summer 2015 (July-August, according to his book), first in Russia
Thread: Large Gray Aliens Require Full Disclosure by 2015!! This has a 99% probability of happening before 2015 ends, or before 1st January 2016
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth Good stuff. Links to more?
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 1438837
I have written it...
I have written it... Quoting: Frederik 1439884
IN YOUR WRITTINGS...
YOU HIT ON SOME OF 'THE TRUTH'...
BUT...
IT IS MOSTLY YOUR TRUTH!!!
FAIL!!! IN YOUR WRITTINGS...YOU HIT ON SOME OF 'THE TRUTH'...BUT...IT IS MOSTLY YOUR TRUTH!!!FAIL!!!
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AS YOU STATED...
THIS IS 'THE TRUTH'!!!
BUT...
THEN YOU TRY TO USE LOGIC TO REASON WITH YOURSELF...
THIS IS SELF IMPOSED GODHEAD...
THIS LEADS TO DEATH...
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE...
STAND ON 'THE TRUTH'!!!
MORE ON THIS...
Thread: YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER!!! GOD IS LOVE!!!UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AS YOU STATED...THIS IS 'THE TRUTH'!!!BUT...THEN YOU TRY TO USE LOGIC TO REASON WITH YOURSELF...THIS IS SELF IMPOSED GODHEAD...THIS LEADS TO DEATH...IF YOU WANT TO LIVE...STAND ON 'THE TRUTH'!!!MORE ON THIS...
William
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01/24/2015 11:57 AM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: An Explanation of Dimensions of Consciousness, Density Levels of Reality and a View on what is happening on Earth an accurate view of density, and dimension...
the galaxies in this part of the universe, are games of experiential learning, brought in to existence by beings who have at one time participated in an experiential learning galaxy game, graduated, and have chosen to become involved in galaxy game formation, as another step in their progression...
the universe, and the true you, your higher self exists at a high rate of vibration... in order for the galaxy to exist in this environment, the vibration has to be slowed down... the process is two steps, 4th and 3rd density... it is the 4th density, that holds 3rd density together...
once the galaxy was formed, it became available for you, the true you, an immortal energy being, to participate in this game and gain valuable experiences...
in order for |
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David Maung / Bloomberg / Getty Images People from Mexico cheer and wave United States flags during a naturalization ceremony in San Diego, March 20, 2013.
The narrative of the American Dream is one of upward mobility, but there are some stories of mobility we prize above others.
Who is more successful: a Mexican-American whose parents immigrated to the U.S. with less than an elementary school education, and who now works as a dental hygienist? Or a Chinese-American whose parents immigrated to the U.S. and earned Ph.D. degrees, and who now works as a doctor?
(MORE: The ‘Tiger Mom’ Superiority Complex)
Amy Chua (AKA “Tiger Mom”) and her husband Jed Rubenfeld, author of the new book The Triple Package, claim it’s the latter. They argue that certain American groups (including Chinese, Jews, Cubans, and Nigerians) are more successful and have risen further than others because they share certain cultural traits. Chua and Rubenfeld bolster their argument by comparing these groups’ median household income, test scores, educational attainment, and occupational status to those of the rest of the country.
But what happens if you measure success not just by where people end up—the cars in their garages, the degrees on their walls—but by taking into account where they started? In a study of Chinese-, Vietnamese-, and Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles whose parents immigrated here, UCLA sociologist Min Zhou and I came to a conclusion that flies in the face of Chua and Rubenfeld, and might even surprise the rest of us: Mexicans are L.A.’s most successful immigrant group.
(MORE: Why the Tiger Mom’s New Book Makes You Nervous)
Like Chua and Rubenfeld, we found that the children of Chinese immigrants exhibit exceptional educational outcomes that exceed those of other groups, including native-born Anglos. In Los Angeles, 64 percent of Chinese immigrants’ children graduated from college, and of this group 22 percent also attained a graduate degree. By contrast, 46 percent of native-born Anglos in L.A. graduated from college, and of this group, just 14 percent attained graduate degrees. Moreover, none of the Chinese-Americans in the study dropped out of high school.
These figures are impressive but not surprising. Chinese immigrant parents are the most highly educated in our study. In Los Angeles, over 60 percent of Chinese immigrant fathers and over 40 percent of Chinese immigrant mothers have a bachelor’s degree or higher. In turn, their children benefit from their parents’ human and financial capital, giving them a boost in their quest to get ahead.
(MORE: There’s Nothing New About the New Racism)
This boost—which includes resources like after-school programs, SAT prep courses, and tutoring—isn’t limited to the middle class. The children of working-class Chinese parents employed in restaurants and factories benefit from capital and resources that are made widely available to other Chinese-Americans.
At what seems to be the other end of the spectrum, the children of Mexican immigrants had the lowest levels of educational attainment of any of the groups in our study. Only 86 percent graduated from high school—compared to 100 percent of Chinese-Americans and 96 percent of native-born Anglos—and only 17 percent of graduated from college. But their high school graduation rate was more than double that of their parents, only 40 percent of whom earned diplomas. And, the college graduation rate of Mexican immigrants’ children more than doubles that of their fathers (7 percent) and triples that of their mothers (5 percent).
The legal status of parents is key. On average, Mexican-American children whose parents are undocumented attain 11 years of education. Those whose parents migrated here legally or entered the country as undocumented migrants but later legalized their status attain 13 years of education on average. This two-year difference, which affected less than 8 percent of Mexican-Americans in our study, is critical in the U.S. education system: It divides high school graduates from high school drop-outs, making undocumented status alone a significant impediment to social mobility.
But even accounting for this additional obstacle for children of undocumented parents, there is no question that, when we measure success as progress from generation to generation, Mexican-Americans come out ahead.
A colleague of mine illustrated this point with a baseball analogy: Most Americans would be more impressed by someone who made it to second base starting from home plate than someone who ended up on third base, when their parents started on third base. But because we tend to focus strictly on outcomes when we talk about success and mobility, we fail to acknowledge that the third base runner didn’t have to run far at all.
This narrow view fuels existing stereotypes that Chua and Rubenfeld play into—that some groups strive harder, have higher expectations of success, and possess a unique set of cultural traits that propels them forward.
For at least a generation, Americans have been measuring the American Dream by the make of your car, the cost of your home, and the prestige of the college degree on your wall. But there’s a more elemental calculation: Whether you achieved more than the generation that came before you. Anyone who thinks the American Dream is about the end rewards is missing the point. It’s always been about the striving.
Jennifer Lee is professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine. She is author of Civility in the City, co-author of The Diversity Paradox, and co-editor of Asian American Youth. She wrote this for Zocalo Public Square.The interest rate is 4.99 percent as long as homeowners pay down the loan with a 30 percent federal tax credit they’ll receive for installing a solar system. If they keep the tax credit, the rate jumps to 10 percent after 18 months.
In the coming months, the environmentally minded can go to Mosaic's site and invest in portfolio of 20-year loans made to homeowners. (Each individual loan will be scrubbed of identifying information.) Mosaic is offering the loans through a partnership with solar installer RGS Energy.
The loans are administered by Mosaic, an Oakland, California, start-up that made its name by letting ordinary investors – that’s you and me – put money into commercial and non-profit solar projects that were once the exclusive domain of big banks and corporations like Google.
Welcome to the latest innovation in renewable energy: The crowdsourced solar loan.
Here's another reason to be nice to the neighbors: They might just give you a no-money-down, low-cost loan to put solar panels on your roof, and once you pay off that debt you’ll get essentially free electricity as long as you own your home.
"We think a solar loan if structured right can open up the market and make solar more affordable and accessible for more homeowners," Mosaic co-founder Billy Parish says.
That goes against the grain of solar financing. In recent years, leases have driven the explosion in residential solar installations as they let homeowners avoid the typical five-figure cost of buying a solar array. Instead, homeowners would pay a monthly fee to a solar installer like SolarCity or Sungevity that in most cases is less than what they’d fork over to their local utility for electricity. In California, for instance, leases account for two-thirds of residential solar installations.
But leases also are a product of the peculiar way the federal government subsidizes solar energy in the United States.
Individuals and businesses that install solar panels qualify for a 30 percent tax credit – known as the investment tax credit, or ITC. Since young solar companies like SolarCity have few taxes to offset, they instead transfer the credits to banks and corporations that put up funds to finance the installation of solar systems for homeowners. These so-called tax equity funds have financed billions of dollars in residential leases in recent years.
But with the ITC set to decline to 10 percent at the end of 2016, tax equity investors are expected to look for other places to put their money. In the meantime, rooftop solar has gone from being one of those nutty-crunchy California affectations to a mainstream phenomenon and a hedge against rising electricity prices.
That means homeowners are more comfortable taking out loans to pay for a solar system.
"Solar is no longer an emerging technology," says Jon Doochin, chief executive of Soligent, a California solar distributor that provides financing and other services to independent solar installers. "People say, ‘Solar I get it.'"
More important, banks get it. So these days companies like Soligent can offer loan financing at competitive rates – around 6 percent to 14 percent – to homeowners who previously would have had to tap their home equity lines or credit cards to pay for a solar system.
"The rates are dropping significantly because people have more confidence in the technology," says Doochin.
And there’s another reason homeowners may increasingly opt to own rather than rent: A study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that a solar system boosted a home’s resale price by $17,000.
This post originally appeared on The Atlantic. Disclosure: Mosaic co-founder Dan Rosen is The Atlantic's Rebecca J. Rosen's brother. She was not involved in the conception or execution of this story.Hello, summoners. After some miserable matches as DPS and nukers, I've gone back to what I was designed for: tanking. I understand that dealing massive damage strategically is an undertaking. It's not always easy, and tanking seems like a walk in the park in comparison to most. However, after playing so many damage-dealers as of late and relying on others to tank and initiate for me, I've done nothing but grimace at their results. Therefore, I've written a set of commandments that I think summarizes what a true tank must do for the team. This isn't law, and I'm sure people will find flaw with my guidelines. However, it is something to consider the next time you find yourself in queue as your cursor hovers over Amumu, Rammus, Shen, and the rest of their spell-surviving, blade-absorbing brethren.
TurboSpirit's Ten Commandments of True Tanking
First, you are first. You are the trigger on the gun that is a team-fight. Be the first one to enter the fray and almost always the last to leave, as the situation varies. As the trigger, be sure to know when to fire. Using your crowd control is a thing of timing. Sometimes it's best to enter the fray and save your coup de grâce to prevent their escape rather than start the battle (specifically applying to champions such as Galio, Amumu and Malphite, who have larger cooldowns on their crowd controls, and less to those such as Rammus, Alistar and Cho'Gath, whose crowd control moves' cooldowns are much more negligible).
Second, surviving is ultimately secondary to your cause. You are a meaningless, thankless carrier of warriors and blood-lusters.
Third, you have a mind and it is your greatest advantage. You must ignore the war cries of your teammates bellowing for you to Powerball or Shadow Dash into the fray while two of your teammates slay minions and five sets of enemy eyes are staring hungrily in your direction. Initiate when you have the upper hand.
Fourth, if you can't force the enemy to focus you, or can't immobilize someone, you are not a tank. You are a beefy ignorable oaf. Not dying and tanking aren’t the same thing unless the enemy is foolish enough to focus the high-health behemoths.
Fifth, if and when things go sour, you are entitled to keep your life. That is, only if a fellow teammate isn't also fleeing certain death. Swallow your cowardice and keep that carry alive.
Sixth, if that carry dies in vain trying to save you when you are trying to save them because they think they are a hero and they charge back into the jaws of the enemy monster, you warn them of their mistake. If, by some act of god, they do that twice, you are no longer obliged to save them in the future at the cost of your life. Feeders are ultimately just that: a living, breathing Happy Meal (extra gold is the toy).
Seventh, know the enemy. If you are Rammus and the enemy is bearing magic, cover your shell in magic resistance. If you're Galio and the enemy is a whirling tornado of blades and bullets, armor is the key. Your strikes will be weaker, but the invaluable crowd control you bring will be your contribution, assuming your teammates have the strength to get the job done. Knowing your enemy also means knowing their skills and summoner spells. An Ezrael devouring your team who happens to have Cleanse and Flash might not be the ideal target of your crowd control, despite your desire to help bury him. Pay attention to various escape mechanisms that would thwart you outright.
Eighth, kill when there is no other carry who can finish the job. Allow them the pleasure of the last hit, the gold to bring you to the golden shores of victory.
Ninth, sight wards and oracles are your burden to bear. You are typically less dependent on items, though there are exceptions. If your carries lack the wisdom to predict enemy locations, hold their hands and show them the way. If that isn’t enough, or your wallet won’t allow for more vision, inform your team.
Tenth, and most importantly, smile.
Your carries will sit around the fire and they will talk of the millions that are dead at their feet. They will take the first bite of the boar and the first gulp of the ale, and pat each others' backs. Few will acknowledge the sacrifice and bravery of the well-prepared, armor-clad, magic-proof shields that they cower behind on the battlefield.
It’s your job to look at the fallen enemy and smile. Tank on, sirs and madams, and know that victory is its own reward.
I hope you enjoyed the read. Tanking isn't always glorious. When you win, the carries will usually get the credit, and failing is usually your fault in the eyes of your allies (especially in solo queue - try to avoid that mess altogether). Follow these rules while using your best judgment on what items are the most dire for success.
In the immortal words of any friendly enemy summoner you may come across on the field of battle...
Good luck. Have fun.
Note: Be sure to shoot me a message on the forums or in-game if you ever want to play a game or two. Vent is preferred.
Various Recognitions:
- AWESOMO 5000, for being such a tankbro when I formerly mained carries and teaching me what synergy can do to an enemy team.
- Selraith, FurbyGrenade, CosmicHippo, Darkenspirit, Progducto, Imperion HXC, Zave and BoxmanFTW for being RL bros.
- iBum, Metacom, Lordofthebutts, Handsome Dan, Trinos, Savory Pork Pie, ABYAY, Coll of Riots, AbyssalOne, H-Unit, Gankenstein, barret50, and any other regular in my premades for making every game, win or loss, a blast to play.
- AstorSapolsky for his addition to rule 1For the pen company of this name, see uni-ball
The Mitsubishi Group (三菱グループ, Mitsubishi Gurūpu, also known as the Mitsubishi Group of Companies or Mitsubishi Companies, and informally as the Mitsubishi Keiretsu) is a group of autonomous Japanese multinational companies in a variety of industries.
It is historically descended from the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, a unified company which existed from 1870, founded by Iwasaki Yatarō, to 1947 and was disbanded during the occupation of Japan following World War II. The former constituents of the company continue to share the Mitsubishi brand and trademark. Although the group companies participate in limited business cooperation, most famously through monthly "Friday Conference" executive meetings, they are formally independent and are not under common control. The four main companies in the group are MUFG Bank (the largest bank in Japan), Mitsubishi Corporation (a general trading company), Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (both being diversified manufacturing companies).
History [ edit ]
The Mitsubishi company was established as a shipping firm by Yatarō Iwasaki (1834–1885) in 1870. In 1873, its name was changed to Mitsubishi Shokai. The name Mitsubishi (三菱) consists of two parts: "mitsu" meaning "three" and "hishi" (which becomes "bishi" under rendaku) meaning "water caltrop" (also called "water chestnut"), and hence "rhombus", which is reflected in the company's logo. It is also translated as "three diamonds".[1]
Mitsubishi was established in 1870, two years after the Meiji Restoration, with shipping as its core business. Its diversification was mostly into related fields. It entered into coal-mining to gain the coal needed for ships, bought a shipbuilding yard from the government to repair the ships it used, founded an iron mill to supply iron to the shipbuilding yard, started a marine insurance business to cater for its shipping business, and so forth. Later, the managerial resources and technological capabilities acquired through the operation of shipbuilding were utilized to expand the business further into the manufacture of aircraft and equipment. The experience of overseas shipping led the firm to enter into a trading business.[2]
In 1881, the company bought into coal mining by acquiring the Takashima Mine, followed by Hashima Island in 1890, using the production to fuel their extensive steamship fleet. They also diversified into shipbuilding, banking, insurance, warehousing, and trade. Later diversification carried the organization into such sectors as paper, steel, glass, electrical equipment, aircraft, oil, and real estate. As Mitsubishi built a broadly based conglomerate, it played a central role in the modernization of Japanese industry.[3]
In February 1921, the Mitsubishi Internal Combustion Engine Manufacturing Company in Nagoya invited British Sopwith Camel designer Herbert Smith, along with several other former Sopwith engineers to assist in creating an aircraft manufacturing division. After moving to Japan, they designed the Mitsubishi 1MT, Mitsubishi B1M, Mitsubishi 1MF, and Mitsubishi 2MR.
The merchant fleet entered into a period of diversification that would eventually result in the creation of three entities:
The firm's prime real estate holdings in the Marunouchi district of Tokyo, acquired in 1890, were spun off in 1937 to form Mitsubishi Estate, now one of the largest real estate development companies in Japan.[4]
World War II [ edit ]
Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighter
During the Second World War, Mitsubishi manufactured military aircraft under the direction of Dr. Jiro Horikoshi. The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a primary Japanese naval fighter in World War II. It was used by Imperial Japanese Navy pilots throughout the war, including in kamikaze attacks during the later stages. Allied pilots were astounded by its maneuverability, and it was very successful in combat until the Allies devised tactics to utilize their advantage in armor and diving speed.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
Mitsubishi made use of forced labor during this tenure. Laborers included allied POWs, as well as Chinese citizens. In the post-war period, lawsuits and demands for compensations were presented against the Mitsubishi Corporation, in particular by former Chinese workers. On July 24, 2015, the company agreed to formally apologize for this wartime labor, and compensated 3765 Chinese laborers who were conscripted to Mitsubishi Mining during the war.[14] On July 19, 2015, the company apologized for using American soldiers as slave laborers during World War II, making them the first major Japanese company to apologize for doing so.[15]
Mitsubishi was involved in the opium trade in China during this period.[16]
Post-war era [ edit ]
Mitsubishi was among a number of major Japanese companies targeted for dissolution during the occupation of Japan. It was broken up into a large number of smaller enterprises whose stock was offered to the public. For several years, these companies were banned from coordinating with each other and from using the Mitsubishi name and trademarks. These restrictions were lifted in 1952, as the Korean War generated a need for a stronger industrial base in Japan. Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which had themselves been broken up into many smaller entities, again coalesced by the mid-1950s.[17]
Mitsubishi companies participated in Japan's unprecedented economic growth of the 1950s and 1960s. For example, as Japan modernized its energy and materials industries, the Mitsubishi companies created Mitsubishi Petrochemical, Mitsubishi Atomic Power Industries, Mitsubishi Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and Mitsubishi Petroleum Development. The traditional Mitsubishi emphasis on technological development was in new ventures in such fields as space development, aviation, ocean development, data communications, computers, and semiconductors. Mitsubishi companies also were active in consumer goods and services.
In 1970, Mitsubishi companies established the Mitsubishi Foundation to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the founding of the first Mitsubishi company. The companies also individually maintain charitable foundations. Mitsubishi pavilions have been highlights of expositions in Japan since EXPO'70 in Osaka in the 1970s to 1980s.
Mitsubishi, along with other manufacturers, was affected by the Kobe Steel scandal in 2017, which - involved falsified data for products supplied to the aerospace, car and electric power industries.
Korean Compensation [ edit ]
On November 28, 2018, the South Korea Supreme Court ordered Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which serves as one of Mitsubishi's core companies, to pay 10 Koreans 150m won ($133,000; £104,000) in compensation for forced labor which it oversaw during the Japanese occupation of Korea.[18][19] 18 family members of other victims of the forced labour which Mitsubishi Heavy Industries oversaw and who sued sometime before 2008 will also be awarded compensation as well.[19] All 28 plaintiffs had previously filed a lawsuit in Japan, but had their lawsuit dismissed by the Supreme Court of Japan in 2008.[19]
Mitsubishi companies [ edit ]
Mitsubishi EDM/Laser office in North America
Business form [ edit ]
The Mitsubishi Group is made up of about 40 individual companies without a controlling parent company. Each of the Mitsubishi companies owns substantial (but usually not controlling) portions of the shares of the others.
Twenty-nine of the group companies participate in the Friday Conference (金曜会, Kinyō-kai), a luncheon meeting of their most senior executives held on the second Friday of each month. The group began its tradition of monthly executive meetings in 1952, and over time the meetings became a venue for coordinating policy between the group companies. However, by the 1990s, this practice was criticized (particularly by non-Japanese investors) as a possible violation of antitrust law. Since 1993, the Friday Conference has officially been held as a social function, and not for the purpose of discussing or coordinating business strategy. Despite this, the Friday Conference has been a venue for informal cooperation and coordination between the group companies, most notably in bailing out Mitsubishi Motors during the mid 2000s.[20]
In addition to the Friday Conference, the group companies' heads of general affairs hold a meeting on the third Monday of each month, and the group companies' legal and IP departments hold a trademark policy coordination meeting on the first Friday of each month.[20]
Core members [ edit ]
Three of the group companies are informally known as the "Three Great Houses" (御三家, go-san-ke) and hold a separate coordinating meeting prior to each Friday Conference:[20]
Ten other "major" group companies participate in the coordinating meeting on a rotating basis (with six of the ten companies participating in any given month):[20]
Other members [ edit ]
MSSC
Related organizations [ edit ]
Former members [ edit ]
Avex Group (divested from Mitsubishi in 2000)
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]Down, down, down the price of the Oculus Rift goes.
On the heels of a temporary $200 price cut, today Facebook’s Oculus has announced that the Rift and Touch will be receiving a permanent $100 price cut, bringing the bundled price of the virtual reality system down to $499 once the summer sale is over. The company has also announced that it will now be bundling the two products in a single package.
Consumers who see VR as too expensive will undoubtedly welcome the news, but to onlookers the move does leave questions about what exactly is happening over at the Facebook -owned virtual reality company.
The move seems to be one focused on moving units at a quicker pace, something that may be being prioritized more heavily as Facebook begins to align its core brand with Oculus through initiatives like its social VR app, Spaces, and takes the entire company under its organizational wing as it did when CEO and co-founder Brendan Iribe stepped down in December to be replaced by Hugo Barra, who took on the new role of VP of VR at Facebook.
This is the second significant price slash in four months for the company’s flagship product. As recently as February, Oculus was charging $599 for the Rift and $199 for the Touch controllers.
The problem for high-end VR headset companies like Facebook’s Oculus is that they can only do so much to keep the pricing low as would-be consumers are also burdened with the need to purchase expensive desktop PCs to power the headsets, which these days seem to run around $700+.
This is largely the appeal of standalone systems like the company’s yet-to-be-productized “Santa Cruz” prototype, which relies on integrated compute and tracking systems that allow users to freely roam without being tethered to an external PC or other hardware. Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that the company was working on a $200 all-in-one device that would operate similarly to Samsung’s Gear VR headset but would not rely on a smartphone to power it.
In June, Sony announced it had sold more than a million PlayStation VR units. Both Oculus and HTC have chosen not to release sales numbers for their headsets, though most analysts believe HTC’s $799 Vive is continuing to sell better than the Rift.
A large problem for Oculus was the loss of word-of-mouth momentum that followed their failure to release the motion-tracked Touch controllers at launch in March of 2016. While the Vive shipped in April of 2016 with motion controllers based on Valve’s SteamVR tracking technology, Oculus didn’t begin shipping its offering until just this past December, a delay that brought many to see HTC as virtual reality’s most premium option.
Despite the delay, Oculus has seen very positive reviews for Touch and a near 1:1 attachment rate. An Oculus executive reiterated to TechCrunch in an interview earlier this month that nearly every existing Rift user had purchased a set of Touch controllers. An Oculus spokesperson has confirmed to TechCrunch that Touch will still be available as a separate unit at its $99 price. It appears that Oculus will no longer be including an Xbox One controller in the bundle.
Two price cuts later, Oculus’s full setup is a whopping $300 cheaper than the Vive, which still stands at $799, and thanks to some software wizardry bringing down minimum PC requirements, it’s quite possible to get a full Rift VR setup (headset + PC) for less than $1,000; whether even that is low enough is the big question.Popular memory has been unkind to William Howard Taft, twenty-seventh President of the United States, who surely would have wished to be remembered for something nobler than his weight. At 300 pounds, he is the heaviest commander-in-chief on record. It's the rare biographical sketch that doesn't mention the giant bathtub — spacious enough to accommodate four average-sized men — specially built for him in the White House.
Baseball history has accorded him somewhat more dignity, for it was Taft, some 100 years ago, who launched the tradition of the Presidential first pitch on opening day. The occasion was a game between the Washington Senators and the Philadelphia Athletics on April 14, 1910 at Griffith Stadium. Apparently on the spur of the moment, umpire Billy Evans handed Taft the ball after the rival managers had been introduced and asked him to throw it over home plate. The President did so with delight. Nearly every chief executive since Taft (the sole exception being Jimmy Carter) has opened at least one baseball season during their tenure by tossing out the first ball.
Taft and the Seventh-Inning Stretch
Legend has it that Taft inspired another baseball tradition on that same day, quite by accident. As the face-off between the Senators and the Athletics wore on, the rotund, six-foot-two president reportedly grew more and more uncomfortable in his small wooden chair. By the middle of the seventh inning he could bear it no longer and stood up to stretch his aching legs — whereupon everyone else in the stadium, thinking the president was about to leave, rose to show their respect. A few minutes later Taft returned to his seat, the crowd followed suit, and the "seventh-inning stretch" was born.
A charming tale, but folklorists have a saying: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't.
Brother Jasper
Consider the story of Brother Jasper of Mary, F.S.C., the man credited with bringing baseball to Manhattan College in the late 1800s. Being the Prefect of Discipline as well as the coach of the team, it fell to Brother Jasper to supervise the student fans at every home game. On one very muggy day in 1882, during the seventh inning of play against the semi-pro Metropolitans, the Prefect saw his charges were becoming restless and called a time-out, instructing everyone in the bleachers to stand up and unwind. It worked so well he began calling for a seventh-inning rest period every game. The Manhattan College custom spread to the major leagues after the New York Giants were charmed by it at an exhibition game, and the rest is history.
Or not. As it turns out, baseball historians have located a manuscript dated 1869 — 13 years before Brother Jasper's inspired time-out — documenting what can only be described as a seventh-inning stretch. It's a letter written by Harry Wright of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first pro baseball team. In it, he makes the following observation about the fans' ballpark behavior: "The spectators all arise between halves of the seventh inning, extend their legs and arms and sometimes walk about. In so doing they enjoy the relief afforded by relaxation from a long posture upon hard benches."
Truth be known, we have no idea where and when the custom of the seventh-inning stretch began. Based on the evidence that exists, it's doubtful the phenomenon originated with William Howard Taft, or even Brother Jasper. We know it's at least as old as 1869, that it cropped up in various places afterward and that it eventually became a solid tradition. No record of the phrase "seventh-inning stretch" exists before 1920, by which time the practice was already at least 50 years old.
Where history cannot tell the whole story, folklore arises to fill in the gaps.
SourcesUC San Francisco scientists have discovered that muscle repair requires the action of two types of cells better known for causing inflammation and forming fat.
The finding in mice, published in the April 11 issue of Cell, showed that a well-known immune cell called the eosinophil [ee-oh-SIN-oh-fil] carries out the beneficial role in two ways – by clearing out cellular debris from damaged tissue and teaming up with a type of cell that can make fat to instead trigger muscle regrowth.
The study, led by Ajay Chawla, MD, PhD, an associate professor of medicine at the UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute, showed that after eosinophils move to the site of injury, they collaborate with a kind of progenitor cell – immature cells similar to stem cells – to drive the formation of new muscle fibers. The progenitors, called the fibro/adipogenic cells (FAP), do not spin off muscle cells directly.
“Without eosinophils you cannot regenerate muscle,” Chawla said.
FAP cells have been known for their role in making fat, which occurs as the body ages or experiences prolonged immobility. They also have been known to make cells that form connective tissue. But the UCSF study showed that FAP cells also team up with eosinophils to make injured muscles get stronger rather than fatter, at least in mice.
In a kind of cellular chain reaction, Chawla’s team found that when eosinophils at the site of muscle injury secrete a molecule called IL-4, FAP cells respond by expanding their numbers. And instead of becoming fat cells, they act on the true muscle stem cells to trigger the regrowth of muscle fibers.
“They wake up the cells in muscle that divide and form muscle fibers,” he said.
Eosinophils help fight bacteria and parasites, as do other immune cells, but eosinophils are more often thought of for their maladaptive roles in allergies and other inflammatory reactions. Eosinophils comprise only a few percent of immune cells.
Chawla’s team found that, even before active muscle repair, the chain reaction initiated by eosinophils performs another necessary task – taking out the garbage.
“Eosinophils, acting via FAPs, are needed for the rapid clearance of necrotic debris, a process that is necessary for timely and complete regeneration of tissues,” Chawla said.
Bigger and more abundant immune cells called macrophages – with large appetites and a propensity to gobble up debris in other destructive scenarios – had often, but erroneously, been credited with cleaning up messes within distressed muscle tissue.
“Bites from venomous animals, many toxicants, and parasitic worms all trigger somewhat similar immune responses that cause injury,” Chawla said. “We want to know if eosinophils and FAPs are universally employed in these situations as a way to get rid of debris without triggering severe reactions such as anaphylactic shock.”Infrastructure & Environment Buses, Yes Buses, Are 'the Hottest Trend in Transit' Technology, declining ridership and changing demographics have spurred cities across the country to redesign bus systems that are more convenient. It's no easy task.
A few years ago, as the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) was marking the 40th anniversary of its bus service in the Columbus area, a new employee came into the office of Curtis Stitt, the agency’s president and CEO. She brought him a copy of a 1974 annual report that she had stumbled upon while going through the archives. As Stitt looked over the decades-old document, one thing stuck out at him. “The system map from 1974 looked very much like the system map for 2014,” Stitt says. “Forty years later, the routes looked pretty much the same. The question it naturally raised was: Does this system still work? The answer was no.”
Since the 1970s, Columbus has grown by nearly 60 percent, to a population of 860,000. It is now the 14th largest city in the country. Its geographic area has grown by a third as well, and the suburbs have sprawled in every direction. Jobs have followed people away from downtown, and the nature of the jobs has also changed. With the growth of the service economy, more residents work on nights and weekends instead of 9 to 5.
That meant that the traditional hub-and-spoke arrangement of the city’s bus routes didn’t make sense anymore. If people needed to get across town, or go from one suburb to another, they didn’t want to have to go through downtown to do it, especially if that meant transferring from one infrequent bus route to another.
The Columbus transit agency spent four years and $9.4 million studying its bus network, gathering public feedback and designing alternative routes. All of that work came to a head this May, when COTA switched to a completely new system. It doubled the number of bus lines with frequent service (every 15 minutes or less), deploying many of them along major roads far from downtown. The new routes added or increased service to the airport, shopping malls, a casino and many other job centers. By COTA’s estimate, the number of jobs within a quarter mile (a five-minute walk) of a frequent bus line jumped from 155,000 to 265,000. The number of people who lived within a quarter mile of those lines increased from 116,000 to 219,000. Plus, the agency beefed up service on Saturdays and Sundays. And Columbus did all of it without an increase in funding.
The problems that beset the Columbus bus system before its relaunch are all too common among this country’s transit agencies. In most places, as in Columbus, they go unaddressed for decades. But just in the last few years, transit agencies in more than half a dozen major cities have totally revamped their bus routes to focus on frequent, reliable service to job centers and dense neighborhoods. As in Columbus, transit advocates hope the recent redesigns in Indianapolis; Jacksonville, Fla.; Omaha, Neb.; Portland, Ore.; and, most of all, Houston, will lead to major changes in how cities think of and offer bus service. But the same advocates acknowledge that there is nothing easy about making these changes, even if the need for them seems obvious.
The biggest reason for the sudden attention to bus networks is that bus ridership is dropping across the country, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of total transit trips. As recently as 1990, buses accounted for nearly two-thirds of all transit trips in the country. But in 2014, for the first time, bus rides made up less than half of all transit trips, |
Michigan believes this is unconstitutional because it allows officers to give breathalyzer tests without warrants to people who are not under arrest. If this happens to you, get free advice about your legal options by contacting the ACLU of Michigan at (313)961-4662 (aclu@aclumich.org) You can also get a MIP if you admit to drinking and you look like you've been drinking (slurred speech, poor coordination, etc). You can also get a MIP if you are a minor carrying an open or unopened container of alcohol. Even a seemingly empty container that only has alcohol residue in it counts. And, don't try to outsmart the cops by putting your vodka in a Sprite bottlethey know all the tricks.
Open intoxicants
If you are carrying an open container of alcohol on public property, then you can get ticketed. "Public property" means anything outside your property line. If, after a house party, you fall asleep on the yard with a beer in your hand, and your foot creeps out onto the sidewalk, then you can get an open intoxicant ticket. Cops have been known to lie in wait for these opportunities. Again, even a seemingly empty container that only has alcohol residue in it counts.
Urinating in publicImage copyright Getty Images Image caption The UK government wants to impose a minimum 50% turnout in strike ballots
The Scottish government has made an official request for Scotland to be excluded from the UK government's bill proposing curbs on trade union powers.
SNP minister Roseanna Cunningham told her party's conference that the plans would undermine industrial relations.
Her plea followed condemnation of the bill by Grahame Smith, the General Secretary of the Scottish TUC.
Mr Smith was the first leader of the Scottish Trade Unions Congress (STUC) to address an SNP conference.
The UK government wants to impose a minimum 50% turnout in strike ballots - with public sector strikes also requiring the backing of at least 40% of those eligible to vote.
Under current rules, strikes can be called if the majority of those taking part in a ballot vote in favour.
The Trade Union Bill, which would apply to unions in England, Wales and Scotland, will also:
Double the amount of notice unions have to give before a strike can be held - from seven to 14 days
Allow employers to use agency workers to replace striking staff
Introduce fines of up to £20,000 on unions for repeatedly failing to ensure picket supervisors wear an official armband
End the so-called check-off system for collecting union subs direct from a salary
Ms Cunningham told the delegates gathered in Aberdeen: "It is our view that all the measures within the bill in combination will affect employees' right to strike, change the relationship between unions and organisations negatively, and lead to greater confusion amongst employees.
"This directly impacts across Scottish business and especially our devolved public services in Scotland. I believe this is not a constructive platform upon which we can pursue our ambitions for Scottish workers."
She added that she had considered the proposals "very carefully" and believed the only solution was to "ask that Scotland is excluded from the entire bill".
ANALYSIS
By Philip Sim, BBC Scotland political reporter
Image copyright PA
There were rumblings about the trade union bill at the SNP conference even before Roseanna Cunningham spoke out this morning.
At a Scottish Police Federation fringe event, Michael Matheson MSP batted away questions about whether he would block the bill in Scotland if he could.
The justice secretary said it would be a matter for the SNP to decide on as a party, but with a resolution on the agenda which described the bill as an "ideological attack", the position was fairly clear from the outset.
This was underlined when Scottish Trades Union Congress secretary Grahame Smith was given a rapturous reception by delegates as he took to the stage to slam the bill.
As well as striking popular chords by railing against the Conservatives in Westminster, he used his speech to urge the huge crowd of activists to join up with trade unions.
This will be worrying for Labour, traditionally the party of the unions, which will need their support as it looks for a way to overcome the SNP's continuing dominance and win back Scottish voters at next May's Holyrood election.
Earlier, from the conference stage, Mr Smith said the bill raised "serious questions about the nature of democracy in the UK".
He added: "It [the bill] should be of concern not just to unions and their members, but to anyone concerned about democracy, human rights and civil liberties.
"The Tories claim that their proposals on ballot thresholds are about outlawing undemocratic strike action. This has nothing to do with democracy.
"I will not take lectures about democracy from a government elected on only 24% of those eligible to vote - and only 10% of those eligible to vote in Scotland - much less, of course, than the proposed thresholds that they wish to impose on strike ballots."
What else has been happening at the SNP conference?
Renewed call for a BBC 'Scottish six'
Who are the SNP's new members?
A tour of the SNP's conference venue
Brian Taylor: Some disquiet, but SNP still decidedly united
SNP conference: Passion and pragmatism
Salmond warns against UK military action in Syria
Finance minister John Swinney answers your questionsAn illustration picture shows a projection of binary code on a man holding a laptop computer, in an office in Warsaw June 24, 2013. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
By Dustin Volz
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives has subpoenaed the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for documents related to the hacking of the agency’s files that compromised sensitive information of roughly 22 million people, Representative Jason Chaffetz said on Wednesday.
Chaffetz, a Utah Republican who heads the House’s oversight panel, said that Office of Personnel Management acting director Beth Cobert was not cooperating with his committee’s investigation by failing to produce unredacted versions of network security guides that were stolen in the data breach.
“Ms. Cobert is not working in good faith with the committee,” Chaffetz said. “I will use all available remedies to obtain the information needed to conduct a thorough and meaningful investigation.”
An Office of Personnel Management spokesman, when asked about the subpoena, pointed to written testimony given by the agency last month stating it "has made every effort to work in good faith to respond to multiple congressional oversight requests, including document productions."
The files, which Chaffetz has requested for several months, were “outdated security documents” seized during the hack, according to June 2015 testimony by Donna Seymour, the agency’s chief information officer.
The Office of Personnel Management has provided partially redacted versions of those manuals, which it has said contained sensitive information about its information technology.
Chaffetz has expressed concern that the manuals could be used to launch another cyber attack.
The intrusion, which began in 2014 and was disclosed publicly last year, exposed the names, addresses, Social Security numbers and other sensitive information for current and former federal employees and contractors, as well as applicants for federal jobs and individuals listed on background check forms.
U.S. officials have privately blamed China for the hacking. Beijing has denied the allegations, and China's state news agency has said the breach was carried out by a criminal enterprise.
Cobert is scheduled on Thursday to testify before a Senate panel considering her nomination to a four-year term as Office of Personnel Management chief.CLOSE Turkish police used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to remove demonstrators from a city square in Istanbul, and attempted to dismantle the protesters' makeshift camp. (June 12) AP
A man carries fire extinguishers past a burning van during clashes at the Taksim Square in Istanbul. (Photo11: Vadim Ghirda, AP) Story Highlights Clashes in Istanbul's Taksim Square continued overnight
Protesters to meet with prime minister
Early morning storm blew down tents and soaked protesters
ISTANBUL — Police held their positions around Taksim Square on Wednesday, and protesters remained put as both sides awaited word on talks between the government and demonstrators to end Turkey's biggest anti-government protests in decades.
Protests spread across the country after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered police to clear a peaceful sit-in of Turks who object to plans to raze a popular downtown park for a shopping mall.
Protesters used the park episode to voice anger at what they say is the increasingly authoritarian tone of Erdogan's policies in what has become a test of his administration.
Erdogan met Wednesday with an 11-person delegation that includes students, academics and celebrities over his plan to erase most of the public space in Taksim Square to make way for commercial development.
His decision to exclude Taksim Platform – a civil society group of mostly academics that has opposed the controversial project since last year – to meet with celebrities has raised doubts that his office is serious about opening a dialogue to end violence that erupted Tuesday.
"This is just a PR operation," said Cengiz Aktar, a member of the platform and political scientist.
"They are desperate to find someone who will come out publicly and say their plan is a fantastic idea," Aktar said. "So far, that just hasn't happened."
Among the celebrities invited to the talks were a soap opera star, a pop singer and a musician.
Throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday, riot police firing water cannons and tear gas clashed with pockets of protesters throwing stones and setting off fireworks.
Erdogan denounced the street protests, accusing them of being driven by extremists and foreign interests. He promised a harsh response.
"We will not only terminate these incidents, we will be on these terrorists' back within a legal framework," Erdogan said Tuesday." No one will get away with what they did."
Thousands of protesters remained in the streets, vowing to defend the park, which is occupied by hundreds of tents as demonstrators keep a 24-hour vigil. Most demonstrators wore face masks to protect themselves from tear gas canisters being lobbed by police lines.
Many protesters were peaceful though some more-hard-core elements taunted police and hurled rocks and shot fireworks over barricades. Police retaliated with water cannons and tear gas.
Ozan Ozturgay, 29, of Istanbul complained that a few extremists were using violence that discredits the movement.
"Our first priority is the park, but the other groups make this like a terrorist situation," he said, his head and face covered with a motorcycle helmet and paper mask and sunglasses.
"The police are throwing tear gas at us," he said. "We are not terrorists, we don't have any weapons or anything else."
Yasemin Ersoy, 23, a Turkish American from Santa Clara, Calif., said a major problem is that Turkish mainstream media mostly highlight violence, leaving many uninformed about protesters' chief complaint: that the government does not tolerate dissenting views and is imposing its religiously conservative agenda on the whole of society.
"There's a huge separation between people who know what's going on and who don't know what's going on," she said moments before taking cover from a volley of gas canisters. "They have no idea. They think that people here are rioting and breaking buildings and being here for the hell of it, and they think the police are protecting us!"
Municipal crews worked Wednesday to paint over anti-government slogans, and heavy machinery has removed wooden and metal barricades protesters erected over the past week.
Ibrahim Kalin, chief adviser to the prime minister, appeared on CNN International to make the government's case that protesters had been infiltrated by violent extremists.
"The message is very clear. (Erdogan's) willing to have this dialogue with the peaceful protesters," Kalin told CNN international correspondent Christiane Amanpour. "Some of these people have been disrupting the public order.... When you say these are all peaceful protesters, we have to make this distinction."
President Abdullah Gul said the government could not stand more of the unrest that has disrupted daily life for nearly two weeks, but authorities will listen to protesters' grievances.
"I am hopeful that we will surmount this through democratic maturity," Gul said. "If they have objections, we need to hear them, enter into a dialogue. It is our duty to lend them an ear."
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/13BmKrGPresident-elect Donald Trump, flanked by his wife, Melania, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., gives a thumbs-up on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, after their meeting. (Photo: Molly Riley/AP)
The election of Donald Trump as president is a bitter pill to swallow for millions of Americans — and some are backing a quixotic campaign to reverse that outcome.
As of Friday afternoon, more than 2.4 million people had signed a petition to the U.S. Electoral College, urging its members to ignore their states’ votes and cast their ballots for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“Mr. Trump is unfit to serve. His scapegoating of so many Americans, and his impulsivity, bullying, lying, admitted history of sexual assault, and utter lack of experience make him a danger to the Republic,” wrote Elijah Berg, who launched the petition on Change.org.
Berg, of North Carolina, argued that the Electoral College can award the White House to either candidate and should use its own “most undemocratic” institution to ensure a “democratic result.”
Berg continued: “24 states bind electors. If electors vote against their party, they usually pay a fine. And people get mad. But they can vote however they want and there is no legal means to stop them in most states.”
Protesters against President-elect Donald Trump march peacefully through Oakland, Calif., on Nov. 9, 2016. (Photo: Noah Berger/Reuters) More
Another petition on Faithlessnow.com similarly calls for more than 160 Republican electors to set aside their votes in states that don’t have laws binding them to do so: Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. The petition has assembled a list of the relevant electors.
Clinton is the first presidential candidate since 2000 to win the popular vote while losing the White House. In that year, Al Gore lost the Electoral College to George W. Bush. While Americans were still waiting to see whether Gore or Bush had won Florida’s 25 electoral votes, Clinton, the first lady at the time, called for the college to be disbanded so that no one would ever have to doubt again whether his or her vote counted.
“We are a very different country than we were 200 years ago,” she said then. “I believe strongly that in a democracy, we should respect the will of the people and to me, that means it’s time to do away with the Electoral College and move to the popular election of our president.”
And in a deep twist of irony, Trump has also called for the Electoral College to be abandoned. On the eve of the 2012 election, between President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney, Trump called the Electoral College “a disaster for a democracy.”
The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012
After that election, in a tweet he has since deleted, Trump said, “The phoney [sic] electoral college made a laughing stock out of our nation. The loser one! [sic]” Trump tweeted this at a time when he thought Romney would win the popular vote, which ultimately was not the case.
The last time Gallup checked to see whether Americans would vote for a law to abolish the Electoral College was in 2013 — and 63 percent said they would.
So what is the Electoral College, exactly? American citizens did not in fact elect a president on Nov. 8; they chose electors. On Dec. 19, the 538 electors of the Electoral College will cast their ballots for a candidate and ultimately decide the next resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
The authors of the Constitution established this system for two reasons.
First, the founding fathers intended the Electoral College to serve as a buffer between the electorate and the presidency. They feared that a tyrant or someone incompetent would be able to manipulate the population and that better-informed, judicious electors could prevent this from happening. In other words, the Electoral College is supposed to act as a check on the citizenry, should it be hoodwinked by a demagogue.Anyone who has reached an opinion about independence, for or against, has dealt with one argument above all others.
You could call it the Too Poor Hypothesis. It goes something like this.
If three centuries of Union have left Scotland so enfeebled that it cannot dare risk recovering its statehood, what's so great about a shareholding in UK plc? If, on the other hand, those centuries of Union have been such a boon, why is there any "economic debate" over independence? We can't be prospering and too poor simultaneously.
Recognised or not, it's a problem for both sides. Unionists say either Scotland is an economic basket case dependent on Westminster, one that would collapse without the UK's support, or Scots have done terrifically well from the deal and would put all at risk by a wilful act of self-determination.
Nationalists, SNP Nationalists at any rate, meanwhile tell you Scotland is a rich country, one of the richest in the world. They want voters to understand there is nothing to fear from independence, things – as someone once said – can only get better. The risk is people will wonder why they should give up a good thing. If Scotland is rich, the Union must be working. All of this leaves the rows over the economy, present and future, looking a little odd. If the "positive case" for the Union holds up, economic factors are a side-issue. After three centuries of blessings, we can easily stand on our own feet. Correct?
If optimistic nationalism has it right, meanwhile, the economic facts should be self-evident and reassurance unnecessary. People living in a rich country shouldn't need to be told there is nothing to fear.
At the heart of everything is the historical question of Union, good or bad. Neither side seems able to come up with consistent answers. The SNP can't quite say the deal has been a catastrophe from which Scotland has somehow managed to emerge as a rich country. Unionists can't claim a miserably dependent backwater has enjoyed three centuries of glorious success. The upshot is a certain, shall we say, intellectual promiscuity.
Yesterday, the SNP fired off another salvo in what we should probably call Document Wars, the now regular exchange of analyses and arguments over self-determination. This one, "Scotland's Economy: the Case for Independence", is dedicated to a pair of propositions that are not held to be contradictory. First, the country has considerable economic strength; secondly, the economy is being hobbled by an inept Westminster.
In his foreword, Alex Salmond does not duck what he calls the "paradox". He writes: "Despite our significant array of human, financial and natural resources we are not as prosperous a country as we should be." The First Minister notes our long-term growth rate has lagged behind the UK; economic performance has trailed behind that of other countries of a similar size; and the gap between rich and poor has been widening.
Mr Salmond quotes his own Fiscal Commission Working Group of economists (not for the first time): "By international standards Scotland is a wealthy and productive country. There is no doubt Scotland has the potential to be a successful independent nation." That's good to know. What it fails to explain is how the country came to be "wealthy and productive" if the Union has been a disaster. Or is the SNP saying, in effect, that economic and political union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been successful, just not successful enough? As a purely economic case, that one sits on the disputable borders of history, where things grow misty.
Fog certainly seems to have settled over the No camp. The SNP's document makes six central points. It argues that Westminster's decision to cut capital spending – taken by the Coalition and Labour before it – was rank stupidity in the face of a downturn. Events and changes of heart in London have proved Mr Salmond right in that regard.
The paper adds that the failure by London governments to establish an oil fund was one of the bigger historical mistakes. The point is difficult to contest. There is no Scottish or British oil fund. Norway's problem, in contrast, lies in trying to work out how many hundreds of billions, possibly trillions, it will have to spare when oil runs out.
The paper also assails credit booms, debt orgies, rising income inequalities, the absurd imbalances that place London at the heart of economic activity, and the mad obsession with austerity at all costs. There should be plenty in that lot for a Unionist to address.
Instead, Alistair Darling, leading the Better Together campaign, complains the paper says too little about the future, only that "it's all Westminster's fault". Why the second of these tactics should be illegitimate is mysterious. Has Mr Darling decided the present Government is not at fault, directly, continuously, for the state of the British economy?
Westminster failed to establish the oil fund. Westminster – perhaps even a Labour Chancellor – cut capital spending, let banks, credit and inequality run wild, and adheres now to austerity despite a mountain of contrary evidence. None of this was made in Scotland. Westminster is blamed because – what's the simple way to put this? – Westminster deserves blame.
Mr Darling is on firmer ground with his complaint that the SNP has not laid out precise plans for the future, plans he can kick around. Perhaps Labour should put up a few plans of its own, then, so those determined to vote No can see what their decision is likely to achieve. Things have gone quiet on that front. Unionists continue to suggest devolution will be "improved" if independence is rejected, but fail to say how or when.
None of this, the SNP document or the predictable attacks from Better Together, is exactly to the point. All we know, despite the rhetoric, is that one side says Scotland would be better off without the Union and the other says things would be worse. Most of us had already grasped that part of the argument.
The First Minister is undoubtedly right when he insists Scotland is in better shape than some Unionists would have you believe. Mr Darling has a point – though he could articulate it more clearly – if he believes some Scottish problems are Scottish made. But that would lead us to the interesting topic of Labour dominance over Scottish affairs for decade after decade. I doubt the former Chancellor's party is in the mood for that particular conversation.
Speaking in Falkirk yesterday, Mr Salmond all but said Scotland has nothing to fear but fear itself. I happen to agree with that, broadly speaking. But since Mr Darling has mentioned the future, I would add something else to these ritualistic exchanges. What troubles me most is not the future of Scotland, but the future of a UK with Scotland still attached.
Now there's a real basket case heading pell mell towards another financial sector calamity. Better Off Out Of It feels like a slogan whose time has come. The demand would include the pound, if anyone's asking.Why I and other top players didn't enter Genesis Red & my Summer Schedule.
So some (admittedly short sighted and stupid) people are really upset that I didn't enter singles at Genesis Red, stating various absurd reasons so I thought that I'd explain a few reasons why I chose to focus on Doubles.
1. Armada didn't enter (main person I wanted to beat) & Ice dropped out to focus on Doubles. Their full reasons might be different but I think a lot of their reasons will be similar.
2. I didn't actually sign up for singles. The Genesis account DMd me a few days ago "Hey Leffen, were you still interested in attending Genesis Red?" and I answered "Yeah I think I'm going". That's it.
I have stated several times on stream that I was most likely going to focus on doubles since I haven't really played any since Royal Flush and Fuse Finals are coming up. Genesis crew signed me up for singles without asking (I was planning to reg later).
3. Practice: Entering a tournament is not the most efficient way to practice in the majority of cases. I know a lot of people simply do not understand this way of thinking, so I'll try to explain it.
Several hours of Friendlies where you can freely choose opponent, stop to test things out, can focus on learning over winning, stop when you want to, food breaks etc vs:
3-4 "hard" sets after starting tournament at 10am ending at 10PM (12 hours total)
4. Burnout/Rest. First of, Singles started for me and Ice at 10am, and we are staying in San Jose which is an hour+ away. I've been sleeping really badly for some reason the last couple of days and cutting it short again wasn't really a sound option long term, and short term it's really hard to practice and learn properly when you're sleep deprived.
Secondly, unlike some people who are taking a break after EVO (Armada is taking a 2month USA break iirc) I am going to a lot of tournaments after EVO.
After EVO there's the HyperX event right after, so I don't get back until the 20th (Thurs) and then I fly to GOML the 25th (Tues). I get back next Tues, have one week off, then go to Smashcon, fly back to Sweden, fly to Heir (UK), back to Sweden, fly to Shine same week, stay there until Red Bull's Gods n Gatekeepers, get back 5-6th September.
After that, I have bit off, but before end of September I'm going to Gametyrant Expo and then staying until The Big House. Oh and I am also hosting a tournament in Stockholm mid September.
So yeah, hopefully you see why entering Genesis Red isn't exactly viable, and if you still think its because "I only wanna compete in perfect conditions" or that I'm "scared to lose" then well, there's no saving you LUL.
I'm sorry for the people that understood but just wanted to see me play, and I'm sorry for pulling a Mango and fucked up the seeding, but then again, Genesis Red's seeding was already trash ;)
Reply · Report PostGerman dictator Adolf Hitler, right, and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini pass children giving the fascist salute in Munich, Germany, July 2, 1940. (AP)
Adolf Hitler is remembered as many things: a genocidal warmonger, a hateful ideologue, a failed art student. But the phrase "drug addict" is usually not high among the list of epithets.
A new documentary, to be aired this weekend by Britain's Channel 4, digs into the Führer's "hidden drug habit." Based on details in a 47-page American military dossier compiled during the war, Hitler was taking a cocktail of 74 different drugs, including a form of what is now commonly known as crystal meth. He also took "barbiturate tranquilizers, morphine, bulls' semen," according to reports.
The revelations aren't exactly new. Methamphetamines, which were pioneered in Germany at the end of the 19th century, were used by various armies during World War II as stimulants to aid fatigued soldiers. The drug was popularly consumed in Germany as Pervitin, a pill Hitler took among his various medications.
As a young soldier in the Wehrmacht, Heinrich Böll -- who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1972 -- wrote forlorn, bleak letters home. "Perhaps you could obtain some more Pervitin so that I can have a backup supply?" he requested in a 1940 letter, cited by German publication Der Spiegel.
Hitler was apparently prescribed these drugs by Theodor Morell, an unconventional doctor who examined Hitler daily beginning in 1936. The American dossier drew upon Morell's personal letters.
News of Hitler's meth consumption spawned yet another "Downfall" parody on YouTube:
The Nazi leader was supposedly injected with extracts from bull's testicles to boost his libido -- the Führer needed to cut a virile figure in public and, as reports suggest, keep up with Eva Braun, his much younger consort. Other medicines were aimed at combating a host of Hitler's maladies, ranging from stomach cramps to symptoms related to a potential bipolar disorder.
He was apparently under the influence of methamphetamine when he held his last meeting with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in July 1943 -- a reportedly tense, one-sided affair with Hitler lecturing his counterpart, whose hold on power was about to totally unravel.
The Daily Mail offers some more detail on the new revelations:
The dossier also debunks one of the most enduring legends about the Fuhrer – the claim that he lost a testicle when he was injured at the Battle of the Somme. Morale-boosting ditty ‘Hitler has only got one ball’ was popular during the Second World War and his admirer Unity Mitford suggested he ‘lacked something in the manly department’. But the American records, which feature in a Channel 4 documentary, show the dictator was not monorchid (the medical term for being born with one testicle). They also shoot down claims that Hitler was a predatory homosexual who massacred 150 supporters to hide his secret.
Hitler's own addictions shouldn't obscure the vast scale drugs like methamphetamine were consumed by both sides in World War II. Millions of tablets of various narcotics were issued as stimulants to soldiers. The nickname for Pervitin in Germany was Panzerschokolade, or "tank chocolate."
"Two tablets taken once eliminate the need to sleep for three to eight hours, and two doses of two tablets each are normally effective for 24 hours," advised the Nazi military command, in a communique released in 1942. The German invasions of Poland and France, says Der Spiegel, were driven by soldiers hooked on meth and copious amounts of alcohol.
The drug's ill effects were less known, including insomnia, hallucinations, erratic behavior and a dulling of brain functions over time. The trope of the "zombie" Nazi soldier is a popular one in science fiction -- and, as these reports all reveal, that may not just be because of the evils carried out by Hitler's murderous regime.Credit: Marvel Comics
Credit: Marvel Comics
Secret Empire #8 is expanding in page count and price according to a message to retailers by Marvel Comics. The issue, planned for release August 9, is growing from 40 pages to 48, with the price upped from $3.99 to $4.99.
In June, Marvel announced similar plans for the previously-solicited Secret Empire #6 - but while that issue was delayed one week, Secret Empire #8 currently remains on schedule for August 9.
Here is the updated solicitation.
Credit: Marvel Comics
SECRET EMPIRE #8 (of 10)
NICK SPENCER (W)
DANIEL ACUñA (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
Variant Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
Villain Variant Cover by DAN MORA
Hydra Hero Variant Cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO
Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Marvel vs. Capcom Variant Cover by TBA
UNITED WE STAND - against the SECRET EMPIRE!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99TAMPA — Butch Davis officially came aboard as the Bucs special assistant to the head coach.
His role, however, is not as clearly defined.
"Butch has been a close friend and mentor of mine going back to our time together at Miami. I am excited to have his extensive football background and knowledge on board," Bucs coach Greg Schiano said in a statement. "He has had success on every level, and I know he will be a huge asset, not only to me, but to the entire Buccaneers organization."
Davis, 60, went 24-35 in nearly four seasons with the Browns, resigning under pressure in 2004. He failed to duplicate the success he had as coach with the Miami Hurricanes, where Schiano was his defensive coordinator from 1999-2000.
After his only stint as an NFL coach was met with mixed results, Davis was named University of North Carolina coach in 2007. He was fired just before the start of the 2011 season when the football program was found to have committed multiple NCAA rules violations.
Because of his $2.7 million settlement with UNC, Davis cannot coach.
But he apparently will assist Schiano in a "wide range of football aspects."
In 30 years of coaching, Davis, has been a part of teams that have earned a 240-153-2 overall record, two Super Bowl championships, five playoff appearances, one NCAA national championship, 14 bowl game appearances, seven bowl game victories and 10 AP Top 25 finishes.
"This as a terrific opportunity to be a part of what Coach Schiano is building in Tampa Bay," Davis said in a statement. "It is an honor to be here to help Greg and the Buccaneers in any way I can."
CAP ROOM: Because the NFL collective bargaining agreement lets teams roll over remaining salary cap room into the next season, the Buccaneers have the second-most cap room space in the league with $60.496 million.
The 2011 cap was $120.375 million and the 2012 ceiling is expected to be roughly the same. The precise figure, based on league revenues, should be released in a week or two.
The Bucs have the second-most cap space in large part because they had $23.519 million of carryover cap money from 2011.
Pro Football Talk notes that under Article 13, Section 6(b)(v) of the CBA, "each team may carry over any remaining cap room from one year to the next by submitting written notice, signed by the owner of the team, to the league office no later than 14 days before the start of the next league year. The written notice must indicate the maximum amount of cap room that the team wishes to shift from one cap year to the next.''
The new league year begins March 13, which means notices must be submitted by Feb. 28. Currently, the Chiefs have $62.995 million after budgeting $24.014 million from the 2011 season.
Moss plans return
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Randy Moss once said, "I play when I want to play."
Six months after retiring, the veteran NFL wide receiver wants to play again.
Moss announced on a webchat on his 35th birthday that he's planning a comeback.
Agent Joel Segal wouldn't go into his client's available options.
"Randy and I have discussed it," Segal said of Moss coming out of retirement. "He still has his fire and he's looking forward to playing football. He's excited."
Moss posted on his Twitter page: "Now back to biz!! There's good an bad an u have to b ready for both! its in gods hand now."
Moss retired last August, compiling 14,858 receiving yards and 153 touchdowns in 13 seasons. He last played in 2010 with the Patriots, Vikings and Titans.
DRUG ARREST: Bears linebacker J.T. Thomas, 23, is facing a misdemeanor drug possession charge after West Virginia police said they caught him driving the wrong way on a one-way street and found marijuana in his car.
BENGALS: Former Jets assistant Mark Carrier was named defensive backs coach.
COWBOYS: Joe Baker, who spent the past three seasons as a Bucs defensive assistant, was named assistant secondary coach.
JAGUARS: Former Cardinals executive Mark Lamping was named team president. Lamping spent the past four years as president and CEO of MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
JETS: Karl Dunbar was named defensive line coach after he served in the same position for the Vikings the past six seasons.
PACKERS: Ben McAdoo was moved to quarterbacks coach and Jerry Fontenot to tight ends coach and Alex Van Pelt was named running backs coach.You are not logged in. Login or Signup
Ice can be dangerous
archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:44,
hahaha, I wish that had really happened
(, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:45, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:45,
hahahahaha
ha (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:45, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:45,
Hahaha! Fuck yes!
(, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:46, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:46,
Hahahaha!
Thas wunnerful! :D (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:54, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:54,
Hahaha!
Woo (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:55, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:55,
Heh
This is really well done! (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:56, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:56,
most splendid
(, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:58, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 19:58,
ha ha
very good, most unexpected (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 21:52, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 21:52,
wah
poor babmbi
& thmuperm (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 22:51, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 22:51,
Hahaha,
chomp! (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 23:23, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 23:23,
hahaha!
wonderful.
*click* (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 23:38, archived) (, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 23:38,
Yikes!
That was unexpected, but awesome. (, Sun 21 Jun 2009, 20:05, archived) (, Sun 21 Jun 2009, 20:05,
*wasn't actually expecting the rabbit to have been muff-diving at all*
*looks shift* (, Sun 21 Jun 2009, 23:15, archived) (, Sun 21 Jun 2009, 23:15,
Brillo pads
made my do an REELIFE lolz (, Mon |
across the UK. It's more roots, more funky, more soulful. We've spent months in our studio tweaking bass lines, sculpting beats and going back at it night after night until we found that magical hook, that emotional spark lights up our ears!
Here are the two singles we've released so far off the album to give you a taste of things to come...
Where your money goes...Advertisement Name Appeal : The Savannah Bananas Savannah baseball team goes Bananas Share Shares Copy Link Copy
SAVANNAH, GA. Fans First Entertainment is excited to announce that Savannah's new baseball team will be called the Savannah Bananas. The name was chosen over the two finalists, the Anchors and Ports and revealed in front of hundreds of fans at a Bananas Reveal Party Thursday night at Grayson Stadium."We are tremendously excited to welcome a new era of baseball to Grayson Stadium by introducing the new Banana brand to the Savannah community," said Owner Jesse Cole. "After nearly 1,000 suggestions, we felt that the name Bananas was one of the most unique names and unlike any other sports team name in the country. We feel Savannah is such a unique and special city, that the community deserves a unique brand that stands out."Local Savannah resident, Lynn Moses was selected as the winner of the Help Name the Team Contest as she suggested Bananas on the first night of the contest. She received Season Memberships and Banana Merchandise at the event.Savannah Bananas merchandise is available at Grayson Stadium Monday-Friday from 8:30-5:00PM and also online at www.TheSavannahBananas.com"Savannah Bananas fits our brand of making baseball fun for fans of all ages and our mission of Fans First, Entertain Always," said President Jared Orton. "In the years to come, we will be able to have a lot of fun with this brand and hope the community joins in and goes Bananas with us!"The Bananas logo was designed by Dan Simon from Studio Simon. The Louisville, based designer is one of the leaders in sports brand identity development and has teamed up with more than 100 professional, college and amateur sports teams.In November, Fans First Entertainment partnered with the Savannah Morning News to host a Help Name the Team contest. Nearly 1,000 suggestions were entered between the Savannah Morning News and the Savannah Baseball website. In early December the team narrowed it down to five names, the Savannah Anchors, Savannah Bananas, Savannah Party Animals, Savannah Ports and Savannah Seagulls.In the weeks leading up to the name reveal party, the team eliminated Party Animals and Seagulls.Opening Night at Grayson Stadium is set for June 2nd and limited tickets packages are available.In November, Fans First Entertainment introduced All You Can Eat Memberships for Season Tickets & Five Game Packages that include Chicken Sandwiches, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Dessert, Soda and Water for only $15 a ticket. For more information and to purchase memberships, fans can visit www.TheSavannahBananas.com or call 912-712-2482.Fans First Entertainment also owns and operates the Gastonia Grizzlies of the Coastal Plain League. The Grizzlies have led the league in attendance the past three seasons, been named Organization of the Year and recognized regionally and nationally for unique from promotions and their fan experience.The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 20 th season in 2016, the CPL features 16 teams playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL has had nearly 1,300 alumni drafted and 81 of those - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut; while another notable alum - Russell Wilson - won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Twitter @CPLBaseball.Details Published on Wednesday, 26 November 2014 17:58 Written by Patrick “The Cannon” Castell
I’ve been lifting weights since I was in middle school, and I started competing in strongman when I got to college. Five years and two national championships later, I can still openly admit I don’t have all the answers. I know, what a shocker. If you ask ed me years ago I would have said “I have no idea what the f*** I’m doing” and it would’ve been true. Thankfully, I had some really experienced and smart people around me.
I’ve come a long way, and learned more than I ever thought I would, and I look forward to all the learning I have ahead of me. I do feel like this is a great time to drop some knowledge bombs on all the newcomers to strongman, as the sport seems to be growing faster than ever. So let me save you some time, plenty of losses, and a boat-load of money on college degrees, and I’ll tell you the three biggest issues I see with most strongman competitors at contests.
#1 – The Game Is All About Consistency
Winning strongman competitions really is all about consistency. Thank god, or I wouldn’t have a win to my name. This is a rare occasion in sport where it pays to be pretty good at everything instead of being amazing at one or two things. This is especially true when you get to top level competitions in strongman. You can’t win a contest if you’re zeroing an event.
I know what you’re thinking; it’s not sexy. It’s not like having a world record deadlift or the best log press in your weight class. That’s hot and gets tons of recognition. Probably because it’s easier for most people to understand and relate to. So you’ve got an amazing deadlift, but it won’t bring home any trophies if the rest of your game sucks.
My first few contests, I would pretty much just count on my back and legs to get me through the competition. Deadlifts, squats, carries… no problem. But I also zeroed half the overhead events. The last time I didn’t win a contest at the 175 pound weight class, was all because I zeroed a circus dumbbell. Never letting that happen again.
So my advice, train the events you hate and suck at as your numb er one priority. Don’t wait to lose a contest to then get fired up about it. If you can’t be honest with yourself, ask a training partner and find out what you need to work on. Once you know, program it at the beginning of the week, at the beginning of the session, and train it often.
I’ve never said getting better was always fun, but winning is fun. If you’ve got the best (inset event name here) but can’t win a contest… cool story, bro. You’ll start winning shows when you don’t have holes in your game anymore.
#2 – I’m Using So-&-So’s Blah Blah Blah Method
Okay, maybe if you’re a complete beginner you’ll get away with this one so long as you stick to it. Let’s be real though, you want to compete and you want to win. So why are you doing someone else’s program? Oh, because it helped them break this record and helped them win that title. That’s cool; too bad you’re not them.
This goes back to fixing the holes in your game to be consistent. How do you expect to be the best version of yourself if you aren’t following a program that’s specifically designed for you? Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of good programs out there; minimalist, 5/3/1, cube, etc., and that’s fine, but it won’t benefit you as well as a specific program customized to your individual needs.
Alright, but I don’t know how to program a training cycle. I get it, it’s hard work. It’s taken me years of practice and lots of edits (they’re not mistakes just learning trials). Truth is, it’s easy to reach out in the community and have 100 different people offer you online personal programs; hell, I’ll do it. Only thing is you’ll have to sift through 97 hacks to get to three people competent enough to help. That’s solution number one, I guess.
Solution number two is a double-edged sword with me. I make a living off training people and writing programs, but I will say in the long run I think it’s best to do it yourself and start figuring it out. I honestly believe you’ll make mistakes, learn a lot more, and force yourself to ask a lot more questions if you do it this way, even if it’s not as practical. At the very least I can still answer questions. Every time I write a program I have a contact list of about five or six people I’ll call and bounce ideas off of.
Solution three is nothing you haven’t heard me say before. Invest in a BioForce HRV system. Let me start with clearing up a misconception. I’m not sponsored by them (or anyone else), and although I work for the company, my pay is in no way affected by its sales. I just believe in how it works. Because it’s science, dummy.
This solution is the middle ground of the other two. Using a monitoring tool like BioForce HRV can help you fine-tune a program, whether a generic program or custom one, to make sure you get the most out of your training cycle. Remember, everyone responds to stimulus differently; this just helps show you how you’re responding and how to make the adjustments necessary to get the most out of your training.
#3 – Master Your Craft
This one is so funny to me, because from my professional standpoint we have it so easy. Any other athlete that comes into the gym, I have to plan accordingly with their practice schedules, games, and private sessions with their technique coach. Strongman competitors, it’s all in the gym.
Maybe it’s because it’s all in the gym that it gets overlooked and quickly clumped together with the other strength exercises. If that’s the case let me open your mind on this one, strongman events are as much skill work as they are strength work for a competitor. BOOM! So why don’t you train it t hat way? All I hear about is how heavy it is.
Well, it helps to be strong, Patrick! Sure, I know that, I completely agree. I also know for a fact half the guys at Nationals this year were bigger and stronger than me. Oh wait, that’s because I’m just consistent and well-rounded, right?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe I got that much better because the process of becoming much more technically efficient is fast than the process of becoming stronger? Did you ever think about how much time it takes to recover from working on technique than it does from heavily loading your system?
None of what I just said should be mind-blowing, but from what I’ve seen all over the internet and every time I go to a contest, it must be. Practice your skills, train your technique, and look for ways to become more efficient.
I have been truly blessed by those around me in the Pacific Northwest to learn tricks and tips to make every movement better. If you’re not as fortunate as I am in the area you’re in, don’t be afraid to seek help. Again, just be cautious when going to the internet and the YouTube videos; there’s a lot of absolute garbage out there that’ll actually make you worse and in danger than make you better.
Just like training programs though, techniques are also varied from person to person and should be individualized. Thankfully, I am here to tell you that Zack McCarley and I have put together the highest quality video instructional series of all time! (For strongman event training anyway.) It encompasses the most common events, multiple technical variations, how to train and program them, along with over four hours of high production videos.
Bad news is we aren’t releasing it until January. Don’t worry, it’ll still be epic come New Year’s and I’ll come out with more detailed content before then. I hope this has helped address some of the glaring issues with your strongman game. Feel free to email me questions or topics at [email protected].
Patrick “The Cannon” Castelli is a 24-year-old two-time 175-pound Strongman National Champion, 149-pound DII college National wrestler, and a USPA State record holder in powerlifting. Currently, Patrick is a Strength and Conditioning Coach with a BS in Kinesiology specializing in Movement Studies and Sports Psychology.
Discuss This Article in Strength CentralAfrica is not only known for its rich wildlife safaris and a large diversity of ethnicities, cultures, and languages. It is also known for the adventure it offers which include mountain biking. Here are the best mountain biking destinations in Africa.
Garden Route, South Africa
Garden Route is home to grassy and geologically diverse vegetation surrounded by various lagoons, mountains, hills, and lakes scattered along the coast. It is a 300-kilometer stretch of the south-western coast of South Africa which extends from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to the Storms River in the Eastern Cape. Garden Route is among the mountain biking destinations in Africa. The trails are sandwiched between the mountains and the Indian Ocean, offering the riders a rare opportunity to explore the real African wildernesses.
Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Rising approximately 4,900 meters from its base and 5,895 meters above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. It is located in Northern Tanzania near the Tanzanian-Kenyan border. The mountain is part of the famous Kilimanjaro National Park and is a perfect destination for mountain bikers and hikers. The trail around Africa’s tallest mountain and the highest volcano is 230 miles long and involves 16000ft of climbing. The Kilimanjaro to Ngorongoro Crater biking challenge gives an opportunity to ride hundreds of kilometers across a real African savannah against the background of Africa’s tallest free-standing mountain. The trail passes through native villages where mountain bikers can get an opportunity to interact with the Maasai people.
Mpumalanga, South Africa
Mpumalanga is Johannesburg’s legendary biking region. It offers some of the finest mountain biking trails in Africa. Mountain bikers get an opportunity to test their strength and perseverance by ascending the steep Barberton on the Queen Rose trail, which increases in difficulty as you go up. The Misty Valley Mountain of Mpumalanga is perfect for those who are looking for a mixture of a grueling and luxurious biking expedition. The valley offers exotic ravines, steep crossings, bridges and single tracks for daring bikers.
Makgadikgadi Pan, Botswana
To add to the list of the mountain biking destinations in Africa is the Makgadikgadi Pan which situated in the middle of the dry savanna of north-eastern Botswana. The pan is a remnant of the formerly vast Lake Makgadikgadi, which dried up hundreds of years ago. During Botswana’s dry season, these muddy, flamingo-filled pans become a hard, crusty desert perfect for a rugged bike trip. The shorelines, which are elevated to 3100ft, offer the best trails for mountain bikers. It also consists of igneous rock islands, which contain several baobab trees and are protected as national monuments.
Nalut, Libya
Nalut is one of the most astonishing metropolitan cities of Libya and is located at the distance of 300 km in the northeast region of Libya. It is one of the most interesting Berber settlements of Nafusa Mountain. It is surrounded by the ruins of old villages and settlements, most of which have never been excavated before. Some famous spots in Nalut include several caves and castles, like those of Nalut Old Castle, Tseenan and Teltayeen; several natural springs, like those of Tala and Touneen; and, a number of ancient ruins and villages surrounding Nalut city.
Nalut is also one of the mountain biking destinations in Africa. Mountain biking in Nalut is world famous and it is often regarded as the mountain bike heaven. This place is factually covered with long idyllic tracks that are helpful for mountain hikers and bikers. The region is blessed with extensive trails, snaking around humongous sand hills that spread all the way to the horizon.
High Atlas Mountain, Morocco
High Atlas, also called the Grand Atlas Mountains is a mountain range in central Morocco in Northern Africa. The High Atlas rises in the west at the Atlantic Ocean and stretches in an eastern direction to the Moroccan-Algerian border. It is a perfect spot for mountain bikers, especially adrenaline junkies. It is definitely one the best mountain biking destinations in Africa. The ride through high passes and Berber villages is limited to advanced mountain bikers because of its challenging climbs and technical switchbacks.AMMAN/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Sunday unanimously condemned the killing of at least 108 people, including many children, in the Syrian town of Houla, a sign of mounting outrage at the massacre that the government and rebels blamed on each other.
Images of bloodied and lifeless young bodies, laid carefully side by side after the onslaught on Friday, triggered shock around the world and underlined the failure of a six-week-old U.N. ceasefire plan to stop the violence.
Western and Arab states opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad put the blame for the deaths squarely on the government. But Damascus rejected the charge.
“The Security Council condemned in the strongest possible terms the killings, confirmed by United Nations observers, of dozens of men, women and children and the wounding of hundreds more in the village of (Houla), near Homs, in attacks that involved a series of government artillery and tank shellings on a residential neighborhood,” the non-binding statement said.
“Such outrageous use of force against civilian population constitutes a violation of applicable international law and of the commitments of the Syrian Government under United Nations Security Council Resolutions,” the statement said.
The United Nations believes that at least 108 people were killed in Houla, U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said.
Russia, which along with China has vetoed two Security Council resolutions calling for tougher action against Damascus, said the “tragic” events in Syria deserve condemnation and called for a U.N. assessment of the violence there.
Russian Deputy U.N. Ambassador Alexander Pankin said the circumstances surrounding the massacre were “murky” and rejected the idea that the evidence clearly showed Damascus was guilty.
The head of the U.N. observer force, General Robert Mood, briefed the council by video link. Pankin said Mood “did not link directly the (army’s) shelling with numbers of deaths.”
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sent the council a letter that appeared to give ammunition to both sides.
He said the observers “viewed the bodies of the dead and confirmed from an examination of ordnance that artillery and tank shells were fired at a residential neighborhood.” The rebels do not have artillery and tanks.
But Ban also said U.N. monitors observed shotgun wounds on some of the bodies, which could indicate close-range attacks by rebels, as Pankin suggested, or could be the result of follow-up attacks by the army after it stopped shelling.
“While the detailed circumstances are unknown, we can confirm that there has been artillery and mortar shelling,” Ban said. “There have also been other forms of violence, including shootings at close range and severe physical abuse.”
Ban is expected to brief the Security Council on the situation in Syria on Wednesday.
RUSSIA OPPOSES SANCTIONS
British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant did not have any doubts about who was responsible for the events in Houla.
“It seems quite clear that the massacre in Houla was caused by heavy bombardment, by government artillery and tanks,” Lyall Grant said. After the council meeting he said it was time for the council to discuss “next steps” - a code word for sanctions.
“The fact is, it is an atrocity and it was perpetrated by the Syrian government,” Lyall Grant said.
Russia, however, rejects the idea of sanctioning its ally and has accused the United States and Europe of pursuing Libya-style regime change in Syria, where Assad has been trying to crush a 14-month-old insurgency that began peacefully but has become increasingly militarized.
Syria is home to the Russian navy’s only warm-water port outside of the former Soviet Union and is a major purchaser of Russian weapons.
Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari reiterated his government’s denial, saying the massacre was committed by “armed terrorist groups” - the Syrian government’s term for the rebels. He also dismissed the “tsunami of lies” of the British, French and German envoys, who blamed the government for the massacre.
“Women, children and old men were shot dead. This is not the hallmark of the heroic Syrian army,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdesi told reporters in Damascus.
The Houla massacre is among the worst carnage in the uprising against Assad, which has cost about 10,000 lives.
In his public comments, Mood has called the killings “a very tragical expression” of the situation in Syria, but refrained from apportioning blame.
“For myself, I have had patrols on the ground all the day yesterday afternoon and today we are gathering facts on the ground and then we will draw our own conclusions,” Mood told the BBC in a telephone interview on Sunday.
But Ban and Kofi Annan, the U.N. and Arab League envoy for Syria, accused the Syrian government of using artillery in populated areas.
A young protester demonstrates in Chicago May 27, 2012, in opposition to the Syrian regime. REUTERS/John Gress
“This appalling and brutal crime involving indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force is a flagrant violation of international law and of the commitments of the Syrian Government to cease the use of heavy weapons in population centers and violence in all its forms,” they said in a joint statement on Saturday.
Annan is planning to visit Damascus soon. Ja’afari suggested Annan could arrive as early as Monday.
Russia’s Pankin said that whoever caused the massacre wanted to disrupt Annan’s visit. “We don’t believe the Syrian government would be interested in spoiling the visit of (Annan)... by doing something like that.”
“CORPSES WERE PILED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER”
Opposition activists said Assad’s forces shelled Houla after a protest and then clashed with fighters from the Sunni Muslim-led insurgency.
Activists say Assad’s “shabbiha” militia, loyal to an establishment dominated by members of the minority Alawite sect, then hacked dozens of the victims to death, or shot them.
Maysara al-Hilawi said he saw the bodies of six children and their parents in a ransacked house in the town.
“The Abdelrazzak family house was the first one I entered. The children’s corpses were piled on top of each other, either with their throats cut or shot at close range,” Hilawi, an opposition activist, said by telephone from the area.
A video distributed by activists showed an injured woman, who said she had survived the massacre, blaming shabbiha militiamen for the carnage.
“They entered our homes... men wearing fatigues herding us like sheep in the room and started spraying bullets at us,” the woman said. “My father died and my brother, my mother’s only son. Seven sisters were killed,” the woman said lying next to another injured woman and near a baby with a chest wound.
The White House said it was horrified by credible reports of brutal attacks on women and children in Houla.
“These acts serve as a vile testament to an illegitimate regime that responds to peaceful political protest with unspeakable and inhuman brutality,” a White House spokesman said.
The Gulf Cooperation Council of Sunni-led monarchies accused Assad’s soldiers of using excessive force and urged the international community to “assume its responsibilities to halt the daily bloodshed in Syria.”
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton spoke of a “heinous act perpetrated by the Syrian regime against its own civilian population” in a statement on Sunday. U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay said in a statement that it could amount to crimes against humanity or other war crimes.
Slideshow (9 Images)
On Sunday, at least 30 people were killed when Syrian army tanks shelled residential neighborhoods in the city of Hama that have been serving as bases for rebel attacks against loyalist forces, opposition activists said. The reports could not be verified independently.
Although the ceasefire plan negotiated by Annan has failed to stop the violence, the United Nations is nearing full deployment of a 300-strong unarmed observer force meant to monitor a truce.
The plan calls for a truce, withdrawal of troops from cities and dialogue between government and opposition.
Syria calls the revolt a “terrorist” conspiracy run from abroad, a veiled reference to Sunni Muslim Gulf powers that want to see weapons provided to the insurgents.The arrival of the UK’s Psychoactive Substances Bill confirms that the war on drugs won’t be stopping anytime soon. Following the official clamour for legalisation of some soft drugs a few years ago, the Tories’ new, hastily drafted bill seeks to extend the reach of prohibition even further. While the new measures, cracking down on so-called psychoactive substances, were little more than an aside in last week’s Queen’s Speech, they represent some of the most authoritarian and overzealous restrictions on drug-use in recent memory.
The bill seeks to ban ‘any substance intended for human consumption that is capable of producing a psychoactive effect’. Coming in response to the burgeoning trade in ‘legal highs’ – synthetic riffs on old favourites like ecstasy and cannabis, sold as ‘plant fertiliser’ or ‘bath salts’ – the bill seeks to end the ‘game of cat and mouse’, as Home Office minister Mike Penning put it, whereby the surge in new products overwhelms parliament’s ability to legislate against drugs effectively. This bill marks a chilling shift in policy. Rather than prohibit the production and sale of particular drugs, any psychoactive substance, loosely defined as that which is ‘capable of producing a psychoactive effect in a person who consumes it’, will be illegal by default. The government is now the ultimate arbiter of what we are allowed to consume – and to what end. Shunning any reasoned discussion of what products should and should not be restricted, the government will simply ban anything that looks or smells like an illicit substance. So paranoid are the authorities over what we might choose to ingest when left to our own devices that they’ve decided it’s best just to ban the lot.
A case in point is laughing gas. Colourfully labelled ‘hippie crack’ by the tabloids, it is consumed harmlessly by hundreds of thousands of teenage revellers each year at festivals and house parties. But now even nitrous oxide is no laughing matter. As with all other psychoactive substances, its production, supply and sale have been made into criminal offences, carrying a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. The ludicrously loose definition of what is to be banned by this bill has led to some inevitable ribbing in the press. What about an illicit whiff of Pritt Stick? What about the psychoactive joy the scent of roses provokes? The steamroller approach of this policy has meant the government has even had to issue assurances that ‘food, alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, caffeine and medical products’ would be exempt from the proposed legislation.
For those of us who hold to the principle that what we choose to inhale, ingest or stuff up a favourite orifice is no business of the state, the arrival of this bill is a crushing blow. The fact that the dead, illiberal hand of prohibition is still with us, and that its reach is increasing, should enrage anyone who wants to live in something resembling a free society. Sadly, however, the response from the most visible opponents of the status quo has only demonstrated why the war on drugs continues to rumble on. Couched in the Tories’ cloying PR-honed messaging – the new measures set out to ‘protect hardworking citizens’ – the bill has inevitably been received by commentators and campaigners as a backslide into blinkered Tory authoritarianism. The Tories’ failure to ‘wak[e] up to the failure of the war on drugs’, wrote Ian Birrell in the Independent, reflected a ‘mind-bending stupidity’ that will further drive drug-production underground, putting more users and cartel-beset countries at risk. Meanwhile, former government drugs adviser David Nutt told the Guardian that the bill was a ‘sop to the right wing’ that was ‘not driven by anything about harm’.Note from Auntie Snail: I wouldn’t know anywhere near as much as I do about Asian skincare if not for the amazing community over at Reddit’s /r/AsianBeauty. Today, one of those amazing community members, /u/GiveMeABreak25, gives us the scoop on the new My Beauty Diary masks she’s uncovered for 2015!
It all started off as an innocent search for a sheet mask on a slow day at the office.
Since discovering Asian skin care products, I have found my biggest love to be sheet masks. I don’t know where they have been all my life, but now that I have found them, I will never let them go!
Customization is by far one of the greatest aspects of an Asian skin care routine. I typically have a dry, sensitive and…maturing skin type. I rarely have a breakout anymore. However, with the weather changing where I live, sometimes the heat, humidity and extra sweat can contribute to small blemishes for me.
So I knew I needed to stock up on sheet masks in general (Gasp! I am falling to a record low of 30 or so!) but first, I needed my trusty My Beauty Diary Apple Polyphenol Mask for the times when I feel a break out coming on. I logged onto Amazon and began my search. I noticed the box I chose said “New Edition,” which is not unusual for Asian skin care products. Unlike Western brands, Asian companies tend to reformulate or at least repackage their items yearly. Additionally, they manufacture different products for different markets. The boxes that go to US suppliers vary from those destined for other countries.
So off to Google I went to find out if this was a reformulation or just a repackaging. After all, it works so well for me, maybe I should find out what the new edition meant.
Cut to hours and days later and many, many open tabs. I had fallen this time, fallen so hard! I even thought, in all seriousness, “Maybe it’s time to learn another language.” What school had failed to inspire me in, skin care had me contemplating.
Google translate becomes a really handy tool when you only speak/read English. The ability to translate a page is a godsend. Suddenly I am watching videos I don’t understand, reaching for some kind of context and trying to interpret images. What I found stirred me so much, I had to call on the crazy snail lady to share my excitement–I know she too loves some My Beauty Diary masks!
MY BEAUTY DIARY HAS UPGRADED THEIR SHEET MASKS TO HYDROGELS, GUYS!!!
But before I came to that conclusion, I thought they were keeping the sheet masks and adding hydrogels. Who could blame me? One of the promo pages showed side-by-side “twins,” one wearing a sheet mask, one wearing a hydrogel. Plus, when you have translations to sort through like these, who can really be sure???
My Beauty Diary Found upgrade my beautiful natural key piece super facelift listed I felt people in Taiwan for the first time the beta test mask race with old twins dressing will know plus actual smoke mask every day. Pulls out 30,000 yuan Beautiful funds began to experiment
I still was not convinced that I understood what I was reading. After all, maybe the images of water droplets meant they added extra essence (which would be ridiculous, they are already dripping as is!). So, back to more translating.
Pole wire bare skin hydrogel membrane using Tencel fabric to create the ultimate squirt interleaved layer of ultra-thin water-bearing permeable and efficient structure of the essence, so that the skin effectively absorb the essence of the mask, carefully lift the skin moisturizing Hydra touch, not adding chemical adhesives and natural decomposition in the environment, eliminating the burden of skin-friendly sense of the Earth’s ecology
The ultimate squirt! Interleaved layer! Oh yes, MBD has hydrogels!!
This is such great news, as they are the leaders in sheet masks for me and for many others. They are generally inexpensive, usually low on fragrance, and pretty widely available. But I recently have learned to really like hydrogels as well, so this just combines two great things I love!
I went on a hunt for a buyer because I have not gotten comfortable with any buying services yet, found someone I hope I can trust, and placed a very small order of the Black Pearl variety. I would not recommend this for most people. Stick to a buying service and let crazy people like myself throw their cash at an unknown person in the cyber universe. Better yet, perhaps wait for them to be sold by the company you most trust.
Sadly, it appears some of the standard My Beauty Diary masks, like Royal Jelly and Sake Yeast, did not make the cut. Here’s hoping that changes.
I will be sure to report back to Auntie Snail when I receive my order, presumably with improved and bouncy skin!
~/u/GiveMeABreak25 is not yet a blogger. The sheet mask superhero calls herself “just a regular middle aged mom who works too much and loves to research things most would consider trivial.”Here’s an interesting fact to note amid the discussion of the loss of domestic manufacturing jobs to lower cost locations like China—aside from periodic dips during recessions, U.S. manufacturing output has actually been rising steadily over the last 30 years.
Manufacturing employment isn’t down because the U.S. doesn’t make anything anymore. It’s down because the U.S. manufacturing sector makes things much more efficiently. And one major reason for that is automation, or robots.
China’s economy is changing. It’s becoming more of an American, Western-style consumption economy because people are making more money.
As a recent CBRE report notes, China is undergoing a “robot revolution” of its own. A declining labor supply and rising wages have made the country less competitive as a manufacturing destination. And so the Chinese government is now following the path previously trod by other nations like the U.S.—investing in automation to improve manufacturing efficiency.
According to CBRE Research, Chinese manufacturers purchased 67,000 industrial robots in 2015, a number that is projected to more than double by 2018. Additionally, the Chinese government has announced a goal of raising the country’s robot-to-worker ratio to above 100 per 10,000 by the second quarter of 2020. That would almost triple the current ratio of 36 per 10,000, a figure that still lags far behind other countries in the region, such as Japan (315 per 10,000) and South Korea (478 per 10,000).
“China’s economy is changing,” says David Egan, Americas head of industrial and logistics research at CBRE and one of the study’s authors. “It’s becoming more of an American, Western-style consumption economy because people are making more money. And so the cost of labor is going up as well.”
“So the low-cost manufacturing, which is the first type of manufacturing that made its way to China, is getting priced out,” Egan adds. “The Chinese government, rather than lose those plants and give up that segment of manufacturing, is trying to find a solution to it. They want to lower their costs, and one of the ways they intend to lower their costs is by replacing people with robots.”
China’s investments in robotics, along with similar such investments globally, could have implications for U.S. manufacturing and commercial real estate, as well, Egan says. Specifically, advances in automation could open for business segments of the country that have previously been considered unattractive due a lack of labor and their distance from large economic centers.
So what robotics can do is take away that labor crunch, or at least alleviate it some degree, and it could open up new locations.
“One of the biggest problems [distributors and warehouse facilities] are having in the marketplace is finding sites and locations that have adequate labor to work inside of their buildings,” he says. “Unemployment is very low right now. Labor is scarce. It’s getting more expensive. It’s just getting more difficult to find people to work.”
“So what robotics can do is take away that labor crunch, or at least alleviate it some degree, and it could open up new locations,” he adds. “Think about an area in the middle of the country that has a lot of land. It’s cheap land, so you could build a building inexpensively, but you don’t have labor there to work inside the buildings. But if you don’t need as many people, now you can look at that site. A developer can build, a user can go there, both at a much lower cost, and they can run an operation in an area where it is currently not feasible.”
Advances in automated driving could have similar effects, Egan notes. “If we have automated trucks, then the amount of space the truck can cover in one day is much bigger. All distribution location decisions are based on, ‘How far can my stuff get in one day?’ And that’s really limited by the roads and by the amount of time truckers can spend on the roads. So, if you can spend more time on the road, you can go farther in one day, and now you can [work] in a different type of location.”
“From a U.S. point of view, this kind of automation and these kind of solutions really could revolutionize and change some of these distribution markets,” he says.
It’s a small world, after all. And getting smaller all the time.Image caption The alleged incident took place at a hotel in Croydon on 3 December
Notts County striker Lee Hughes has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman at a south London hotel.
The 35-year-old was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers called to the hotel in Purley Way, Croydon, on 3 December.
His team had been staying there prior to the FA Cup match against Sutton United the following day.
Mr Hughes, who has played for Notts County since 2009, was released on bail after his arrest in December.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he had been charged with one count of sexual assault and would appear at Croydon Magistrates' Court on 8 February.
In a statement, the League One club said: "Notts County can confirm that striker Lee Hughes has, on Monday, been charged in relation to an alleged incident in December of last year.
"The club will be making no further comment on this matter."Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
It’s the fifth inning and the |
see the need to fight the increase of hornbeam. “For a forest, change is natural, not stability,” says forest ecologist Bogdan Jaroszewicz, who directs the University of Warsaw’s Geobotanical Station here. The forest is large enough that no tree species will disappear. And restoration shouldn’t happen in stands that had a natural origin, because they have centuries-old trees and many dependent species.
There’s less harm in removing monoculture spruce plantations and replanting with oak and other broadleaf species, ecologists say. But they maintain that dead spruce should be left in place even in beetle-stricken plantations. A hands-off approach would lead to a community with trees of various ages, which can benefit other species; fences wouldn’t be needed, so bison could wander in and feed on grass. Research in the park also suggests that young oak and other seedlings will be protected from deer when they sprout in a tangle of dead spruce.
But most foresters hate to “waste” dead spruce trees by leaving them in the forest, and they are skeptical that natural regeneration will occur widely, particularly for oak. “We can only hope it will happen,” Brzeziecki says. “I don’t want to wait.”
Experience elsewhere offers little guidance. The concept of using logging to benefit forest biodiversity has been gaining currency in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. However, this is intended to diversify habitat types mostly within dense conifer plantations. Most scientists don’t think the same strategy is appropriate within the old-growth forest of Białowieża.
The conflict has reached Europe’s highest court. After the environment ministry tripled the logging quota in March 2016, eight nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) accused it of breaking EU nature protection laws by not assessing the potential ecological impact of the additional logging and not sparing trees more than a century old. The NGOs appealed to the European Commission, which took the case to the European Court this past July and asked for expedited proceedings because of the risk of “irreparable harm” to the ecosystem. Within a month, the court ordered a temporary halt to the logging while it evaluates the case.
Because the ban has an exemption for public safety, State Forests switched to cutting dead and dying trees near roads and trails, where it says they could fall and cause accidents. Last month, the court clamped down on that, too, saying that logging for public safety could only happen when strictly necessary. The ministry maintained in a statement that it had never violated EU regulations, and the logging continues, although more slowly and with chainsaws rather than harvesters. The hearing on the quota is scheduled for 12 December, and Agata Szafraniuk, a lawyer at the environmental nonprofit ClientEarth in Warsaw, expects a ruling next year.
version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"? 1. Male beetles bore into a tree, excavate a nupitial gallery, and attract females with pheromones. After a few weeks, adults may leave to create another brood. 3. Larvae feed on the sugary phloem, part of the vascular tissue. All the tunneling can kill a tree. 2. Each male mates with about four females. The females bore galleries for up to 80 eggs. Adult beetles detect weak trees and congregate. Young larva Eggs Young adult Mature larva Pupa 0.5 cm 4. Larvae pupate and emerge as adults, searching for a new tree to host the year's second generation. Georgia France Indonesia Yemen Madagascar Bolivia, Plurinational State of Serbia Taiwan, Province of China Mexico United Arab Emirates Belize Brazil Sierra Leone Italy Somalia Bangladesh Dominican Republic Guinea-Bissau Sweden Turkey Mozambique Japan New Zealand Cuba Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Portugal Mauritania Angola Germany Thailand Australia Papua New Guinea Croatia Greenland Denmark Myanmar Finland Solomon Islands Oman Panama Argentina United Kingdom Guinea Ireland Nigeria Tunisia Tanzania, United Republic of Saudi Arabia Viet Nam Russian Federation Haiti India China Canada Equatorial Guinea Azerbaijan Iran, Islamic Republic of Malaysia Philippines Montenegro Estonia Spain Gabon Cambodia Korea, Republic of Honduras Chile Netherlands Sri Lanka Greece Ecuador Norway Moldova, Republic of Lebanon Eritrea United States Kazakhstan French Southern Territories Swaziland Uzbekistan New Caledonia Kuwait Timor-Leste Bahamas Vanuatu Falkland Islands (Malvinas) South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Gambia Qatar Jamaica Cyprus Puerto Rico Palestine, State of Brunei Darussalam Trinidad and Tobago Cape Verde Luxembourg Comoros Mauritius Faroe Islands Sao Tome and Principe Virgin Islands, U.S. Curacao Sint Maarten (Dutch Part) Dominica Micronesia, Federated States of Bahrain Andorra Northern Mariana Islands Palau Seychelles Antigua and Barbuda Barbados Turks and Caicos Islands Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Lucia Grenada Malta Maldives Cayman Islands Saint Kitts and Nevis Montserrat Saint Barthelemy Saint Pierre and Miquelon Marshall Islands Aruba Liechtenstein Virgin Islands, British Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha Jersey Anguilla Saint Martin (French Part) Guernsey San Marino Bermuda Nauru Gibraltar Pitcairn Monaco Holy See (Vatican City State) Isle of Man Guam Singapore Source: A source name here John Smith / Science Beetlemania Outbreaks of spruce bark beetles ( Ips typographus ) begin when many trees are weak, often from drought. Stressed trees have less resin for defense against the tunneling insects, which fatally disrupt the flow of nutrients. K. SUTLIFF/ SCIENCE
In the meantime, the scientific battle continues. To shore up the evidence for their approach, State Forests and the Ministry of Environment began a massive experiment last year: State Forests will continue to log and restore habitats in 86% of the managed forest but leave the nature reserves and an additional 5610 hectares alone as a control. To measure baseline conditions, they launched the largest biological inventory of living species and dead wood ever conducted in the forest, involving 200 researchers and staff, and costing about €1.2 million per year.
Many scientists question the design of the study; they’re not convinced, for instance, that the control zones are representative of the forest as a whole. They’re also uncertain of the scientific credentials of the forestry workers and dubious about the objectivity of their leadership. “So far the inventory has been used as a mere propaganda tool,” says Andrzej Bobiec, a forest ecologist at the University of Rzeszów in Poland.
The staunchest critics also say that the science is only window dressing, that claims of restoration and public safety are a smokescreen, and that the logging is driven by financial motives. “This is like [George] Orwell’s Ministry of Truth,” says Tomasz Wesołowski, an ornithologist at Wrocław University in Poland. “It’s bullshit, not conservation.” The three forest districts of Białowieża sell timber, but still run a regular deficit. Last year, they received about $6 million in subsidies from the national State Forests. Konrad Tomaszewski, director-general of State Forests in Warsaw, has called accusations about a financial motive “a cynical and filthy lie.”
Heated scientific debates over the past few years have not led to consensus, and they never may, because the fight is ultimately about two different philosophies of conservation. Forestry scientists like Brzeziecki view Białowiez˙a as an exemplar of how to preserve a forest while producing timber. “We need such a model for all our forests in Poland,” he says. Many ecologists, on the other hand, recognize the benefit of making commercial forestry more nature-friendly but say Białowiez˙a should remain free from human interference, as a unique ecological observatory for Europe. “It’s the only place where we can see something that comes close to natural processes,” says Dries Kuijper, an ecologist at PAN’s Mammal Research Institute.
Ghazoul, the ETH Zurich forest ecologist, says what is even more exceptional than Białowiez˙a’s biodiversity is that much of the forest remains wild. “We have so few places left, at least in Europe, where humans have had a light touch for a long time,” Ghazoul says. “Wouldn’t it be amazing to preserve them as such?”Welcome to the SanctuaryRPG Wiki! Edit
This is a valuable resource that you as a player can reference for all parts of the game, including the Weapons,Armor,Stat System,Mobs, and many more helpful sections. Feel free to positively contribute to the community, and don't forget to subscribe to the subreddit! If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, e-mail the Developers at contact@blackshellmedia.com
Visit the Getting Started Section to learn more about the game. There are tutorials on every subject from Battling to Crafting.
Media is a place for players to show their creative spirit with other Wikia members.
Interested in seeing the developers behind the game or joining us? Visit Meet the team today to find out how you can get involved.
Would you like to make SanctuaryRPG even better? Visit Suggestions to submit your comments and be heard by the developers.
Our Subreddit is the heart of our growing community, visit and get involved!
Latest Version: Black Edition 2.2.2 (April 1, 2015)
If you are not on the latest version, you can visit our site on Reddit or our Homepage to download the newest patch to the game. 2.2.2 Changelog: MODIFIED Increased Butcher damage to bleeding players to 60% (up from 50%)
Butcher now deals 60% of MAX HP when Boss Bar is filled to BLEEDING
Decreased Butcher damage to non-bleeding players to 15% (down from 25%)
Butcher now deals 15% of MAX HP when Boss Bar is filled to non-BLEEDING FIXED Fixed Butcher special attack not displaying numbers
Fixed Butcher bug which reversed damage values To view previous changelogs, visit this link: http://steamcommunity.com/app/328760/announcementsBuffalo Zine Fair is coming back in November. That means that all of the city’s writers, illustrators, comix creators, photographers, printmakers, etc., will have a chance to participate in the event that celebrates self-publishing and hand-made D.I.Y culture.
Printed media is not dead. Let us rebel against library closings, newspaper downsizings, and e-readers by celebrating good old-fashioned physical handmade print media!
Adding to the excitement, Sugar City has teamed up Gutter Pop Comics to host the fair. They have just issued a release, in search of vendors:
Seeking vendors: Calling all writers, illustrators, comix creators, photographers, printmakers looking to sell, trade and share your work. In order to table, 75% of your tabling material must be printed materials. The cost for a half table is $5 and for a full table is $10. Full tables are approx 6′ long. Half tables are approx 3′ long. There are a variety of tables so some variation will happen. Zine makers ages 18 and under are welcome to table at Sugar City’s counter free of charge on a first-come first-served basis. Interested? Fill out this form. Submissions are due by October 9th at Midnight.
Sugar City and Gutter Pop Comics Presents:
Buffalo Zine Fair
Saturday November 12th, 2016 | 11AM-6PM
Sugar City 1239 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14213
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What is a zine?
“A zine (pronounced “zeen,” like “magazine”) is a self-published, small circulation, non-commercial booklet or magazine, usually produced by one person or a few individuals. Zines come in all shapes, sizes, topics, and formats. Most zines are photocopied, but they can
also be printed offset, like a magazine or newspaper. Zines range from handwritten and sloppy to cut-and-paste (text pasted on top of background images) to artsy with handmade touches to produced on a computer with a professional looking layout. Zines may incorporate screenprinting, linoleum cuts, and hand-stitched bindings. Most zines have print runs of a couple dozen to a few hundred copies.
In a zine, you might find typos, improper grammar, and brilliant or radical or just plain honest ideas that you don’t normally see in Time, Newsweek, or People. A zine can be about whatever subject its creator decides upon, or it may contain a variety of subjects and writing styles within the same issue. Zines can include personal essays, political discussions, fiction, craft or do-it-yourself advice, articles about music or movies, comics, poetry, reviews – anything under the sun, really. Zines are personal and idiosyncratic. The best thing about zines is this: There are no rules. “
-Description from Grand Rapids Zine FestThe Battle of Jalalabad Hills can be aptly summarized with this quote “It’s far better to live for two days like a lion, than two hundred years like a lamb”
A quote that proves the significance of courage and the futility of cowardice, this is quite apt for the valiant, who change the course of the history. Only wusses can say, this is impossible, for the valiant, as Napoleon said, ‘Impossible is a word in the dictionary of fools.’
In the times of 21st century, when under the garb of Gandhism, we have forgotten the true heroism of the Indian revolution, and intellectual terrorists like Sagarika Ghosh and Barkha Dutt trick us into believing that the idea of India never existed before British Rule, tales of reality need to be told to break these myths.
Everyone knows of the over hyped Dandi March, which inaugurated the Civil Disobedience Movement on Sunday, 6th April 1930. What few know, and is callously hidden from us, is a tale of unmatched heroism, which shook British rule from its very foundations. Breaking the myth that the British were invincible, a mere schoolmaster of 36 years, with his team of only sixty four revolutionaries, liberated his hometown from British rule, and kept it independent for a staggering week (The British could return only after 25th April 1930, when the link was restored).
The town was Chittagong (then Chottogram of Undivided India), and this forgotten hero was ‘Masterda’ Surya Kumar Sen. This is the tale of his battle with the British, which comprised an episode, which no British would ever share with his successors. The tale of Indian victory, at Jalalabad Hills, on 22nd April 1930, where a whole regiment of 22000 soldiers were defeated face down, by only 54 revolutionaries, most of whom were barely teenagers. Inspired by the famous Easter Uprising in Dublin, they scripted a victory unbelievable, and untold.
On the night of Friday, 18th April 1930, Surya Kumar Sen and his Indian Republican Army, Chittagong Division, attacked the British strongholds, and captured them, thus almost effectively paralyzing the British imperialism in Chittagong. A team led by Ananta Lal Singh & Ganesh Ghosh, along with Masterda, captured the Reserve Police Lines at Dampara. Their war cries were so intense and loud, that the 200 sepoys inside the police lines mistook them for a huge crowd, and even though they outnumbered the revolutionaries by one to ten, all ran away like cowards.
On the other hand, a team led by the senior most revolutionary of the Army, Ambika Chakrabarti, and woman revolutionary Pritilata Waddedar (a novelty at that time) snapped off the telegraph and telephone lines, thus cutting communication of Chittagong from the rest of India, and another team, led by young Jugantar member Lalmohan Sen, uprooted the Nangalkote Railway Line, effectively destroying chances of any source of help for the British forces.
A team, led by Chittagong College Students Union President, Lokenath Bal, who disguised himself as a British Major (courtesy his fair skin), and veteran revolutionary Nirmal Sen led the attack on Auxiliary Forces of India Armoury, where modern weapons, such as Lewis Sub Machine Gun, and.303 Bolt Action Rifles were stored. Although they captured the armoury, they failed to obtain the machine guns. Worse, there wasn’t enough ammunition for the.303 rifles, which rendered most of them useless.
A major failure was met at their final point of attack, the Pahartali European Club, where the British folk would normally retire. Since 18 April was the occasion of Good Friday, the British left early, and this jeopardized the revolutionaries’ well thought plan. Nevertheless, the Indian Republican Army had virtually, if not actually, liberated the whole of Chittagong. The British were so terrified, that all of them escaped Chittagong, and most of them took refuge in a ship moored some ten to twenty miles off the coast. District Magistrate H.R. Wilkinson, Police Chief DIG Farmer narrowly managed to escape, while Sergeant Major Farrell lost his life, after he over enthusiastically accosted the raiders.
Masterda and his fellow revolutionaries assembled at the Reserve Police Lines, and hoisted the Indian flag, declaring the formation of a provisional revolutionary government. However, as they burnt the empty Police Lines armory, one of the revolutionaries, Himangshu Sen, fell down as the first casualty. In spilling over the petrol, his clothes were soaked and instantly caught fire. He suffered fatal burns, and died the very night. The troubles for I.R.A. had just begun.
Chittagong, however was free for four days, from the British Raj. None could believe it, and yet, nothing was that true. The Britishers, nonplussed at such a humiliating defeat, decided to teach the revolutionaries a lesson. However, They were yet to learn the taste of their own medicine.
Four days had passed. Tuesday, 22nd April 1930, was nothing for the revolutionaries who had taken refuge at Jalalabad Hills. Most of them were starving, and yet, none cared about it. They only thought of getting back to the city, and reclaiming the town, along with their unfulfilled targets.
One of the younger brothers of Lokenath Bal, Probhash, who was assigned as the guard of their refuge, happened to see a train stopping by, at the foot of the hills. Strange, that a train would stop at no station in sight, until he saw some soldiers stepping out. He grew cold with fear, and informed Masterda and others about the arrival. The battle was imminent, everyone knew, but none thought it would come so soon.
The British forces were confident, and why not. They were well equipped with the Lewis submachine guns and over 22000 soldiers. However, the revolutionaries were far from discouraged. Led by Lokenath Bal, they began the attack at 3:00 p.m., attacking the bayonet chargers. The rapid musket fire killed most of the bayonet chargers. Another team was sent up, and they met the same fate.
However, all of a sudden, the revolutionaries experienced their worst nightmare, when they were attacked by machine gun fire. The ruthless firing pulled the heroes down, taking Harigopal Bal, younger brother of Lokenath, and nicknamed Tegra, as the first casualty. Others like Bidhu Bhattacharya, Nirmal Lala, Naresh Rai, Prabhash Bal etc. followed suit. Ambika Chakrabarti and young but experienced leader Binod Bihari Chaudhuri were gravely injured. Even so, the revolutionaries continued to fire rapidly. When the musket rifles began to heat up, they began to use their fallen comrades’ blood as lubricants. It felt macabre, but they had no choice.
General Lokenath, like a wounded tiger, exhorted his comrades, ‘Fire until the machine guns are completely silent!’ Rapid musket fire, rejuvenated, now attacked the machine guns. To the Britishers’ shock, the machine guns were defeated face down. Evening had begun descending the Jalalabad Hills, and the Britishers were compelled to take quick decisions. In night, they couldn’t trust the revolutionaries, they might attack by surprise. They were forced to accept one thing, and one thing alone. Defeat.
Yes, a well-equipped regiment was repulsed by merely 54 revolutionaries, with just musket rifles in hand. The casualties, on the government side, are never told till this day. Why would they? As Mel Gibson said in Braveheart, ‘History is written by those who have hanged heroes.’
The revolutionaries were more disappointed, rather than jubilant on their victory. They had lost some of their finest men. Lokenath had lost both his younger brothers to the British bullets. Surya Sen decided to continue the movement, although the activity would be guerilla based. Despite his personal grief, Lokenath Da assembled the army into a cordon, and gave the fallen a guard of honor. The hills trembled with the musket fire, and cries of ‘Inquilab Zindabad’
Although the movement was suppressed with Surya Sen’s arrest in 1933, and his sadistic execution on Friday, 12th January 1934 (You can’t call breaking all his teeth, limbs, joints, and plucking out his nails with a hammer civilized), the British couldn’t change their history of humiliation. Although few of them survived to tell the tale, yet the badass dudes of Chittagong fought an honorable battle to the last. As honored Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz said,
‘Jis dhaj se koi maqtal mein Gaya woh shaan salaamat rahti hain,
Ye jaan to aani jaani hai, is jaan ki koi baat nahin!’
(It’s the way a person dies, that is honored, What’s of life, it comes, and goes)
http://www.towardsfreedom.in/site/Surya_SenA researcher says the IZON camera contains a number of security holes that could make the home surveillance cameras vulnerable to hacking.
It’s another day, another face-palm moment for the home surveillance camera industry.
Just one month after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settled a complaint with the maker of SecurView, a line of poorly secured home surveillance cameras, a researcher at the firm Duo Security has found a slew of even more serious security holes in the IZON Camera – a popular product that is sold in Apple Stores and Best Buy, among others. A review by The Security Ledger found dozens of such systems accessible via the public Internet, in some cases allowing anyone to peer into the interiors of private residences and businesses.
Mark Stanislav, the Security Evangelist at the firm Duo Security, presented the details of a security audit of the IZON camera at a security conference in New York on Tuesday. Stanislav documented troubling security lapses including a wide-open configuration with exposed ports for accessing the device by Telnet and HTTP. IZON also used unencrypted communications and video streaming to and from the devices and an undocumented and hidden username and password for each camera’s Web backend that could allow a remote attacker to spy on the camera’s owner.
He presented his findings at the Rochester Security Summit in Rochester, New York on Tuesday. In an interview with The Security Ledger, Stanislav said that he discovered the problems with the IZON camera while performing a nmap scan of his home network in search of a recently deployed Raspberry Pi device over the Summer.
“I saw this device with TELNET Port 23 open on the network and a bunch of other weird ports,” he said. Being an information security professional, he decided to investigate and ended up identifying an IZON camera that was deployed in his living room as the culprit.
IZON is an iOS compatible device that’s manufactured by Stem Innovation LLC, a Salt Lake City, Utah company. The linux-based “smart” camera has the slick look and feel of Apple’s products and is sold in Apple Stores, as well as other retail outfits for around $130 per device. IZONs are powerful devices with integrated camera and microphone. They’re marketed for their easy integration with devices running Apple’s iOS operating system and for easy set-up and management. The cameras have motion detectors and other security features that allow them to issue alerts and capture short video segments which can be stored in the cloud for remote viewing.
Under the hood, however, Stanislav said the IZONs fall well short of the mark in protecting customers’ privacy. The lack of secure port configuration, including an exposed Telnet port, means that IZON devices that are not deployed behind a router could be visible and accessed directly from the Internet, with attackers having the option of uploading or downloading content directly from the device. A quick search using the hardware-focused search engine Shodan found 65 such devices online in July spread across a dozen countries, Stanislav said.
Stanislav analyzed the IZON mobile application running Version 1.0.5 of the company’s mobile application and Version 2.0.2 of the IZON device firmware. He found hardcoded and shared administrative (“root”) credentials buried in its application code. Those credentials would allow an attacker to log into any deployed IZON device as an administrator as a “superuser” and change the configuration of the camera, upload malicious code or disable the device, Stanislav told Security Ledger.
Analysis of the mobile application source code revealed a hard-coded “root” (or superuser) password that could be used to access and control the camera’s underlying operating system and software.
By abusing root access on the device, an attacker could also elevate the permissions of the user account to give that account administrative access to the device, he said. Finally, Stem does not secure video streamed from the cameras using RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol), meaning that anyone connected to the same network as the IZON camera could intercept video streams by carrying out a “man in the middle attack.”
An integrated web server that runs on the IZON device and is used to provide a graphical interface for the camera also poses a major privacy risk. The web server is configured with a hidden and easily guessed user account that allows anyone with access to the Internet or, in some cases, the wireless network the device is deployed on to log into the Web interface of the camera, view live video and audio collected by the device and view other configuration details, Stanislav reported.
Using the search engine Shodan.org, Stanislav compiled a list of scores of IP addresses of IZON cameras exposed on the Internet – some deployed behind simple DSL broadband connections. A review of that list by The Security Ledger revealed a handful of exposed Web interfaces that allow anyone with an Internet connection and knowledge of the default user name and password to take control of the camera: viewing a live video feed, making video recordings that can be automatically uploaded to YouTube or other cloud-based services, and even sounding audio alarms. In one case, the camera appeared to be deployed in a private residence in Kissimmee, Florida, where an elderly couple were seen caring for an infant. Others showed the interiors and exteriors of private residences – some occupied, others obviously vacant.
A search using the Shodan search engine turned up IZON home surveillance cameras that could be accessed from anywhere on the Internet, providing a view into private residences.
More concerning, the exposed cameras also expose longitude and latitude information that can be used to locate the devices.
In addition to weak device security, Stanislav found a number of serious problems with Stem’s implementation of video streaming and cloud-based management features for the IZON cameras. Specifically: Stem contracted with the firm IntelliVision, a provider of “Video Intelligence and Automated Monitoring solutions,” to manage video alerts captured by IZON devices. Stanislav said that Stem’s implementation of IntelliVision’s service is deeply flawed. The researcher said he discovered that videos captured by IZON “alerts” are lumped together, unencrypted, in a single virtual container on Amazon’s cloud. They can be accessed using simple HTTP without any authentication required to view a specific video, so long as the requestor knows the URL, including an MD5 hash value for the file he or she wishes to view.
“If you know the URL of one of these video clips, you can go to any computer and put the URL in and view that video,” he warned. Customers who use the iOS application to delete stored videos from Amazon’s cloud may also be disappointed: Stanislav’s research suggests that Stem does not actually groom videos marked for removal from their cloud storage service, Stanislav said. Furthermore, Stanislav found administrative credentials for Amazon’s S3 cloud service hard coded into the IZON mobile application, which suggests that Stem is using the same credentials for every customer account.
The issues raised by Stanislav are similar to those that prompted the FTC to file a complaint against TRENDnet, the maker of the SecurView home security cameras. The FTC alleged that TRENDNet sold “faulty software that left (the cameras) open to online viewing” by anyone who knew the device’s IP address.
Under the terms of a settlement with the Commission, announced in September, TRENDnet agreed to stop misrepresenting the “security, privacy, confidentiality, or integrity of the information that its cameras or other devices transmit,” as well as “the extent to which a consumer can control the security of information the cameras or other devices store, capture, access, or transmit.” The California-based company was also required to establish a comprehensive information security program to address security risks in its products and to obtain third-party assessments of its security programs every two years for the next 20 years.
Stanislav said that the FTC’s pursuit of TRENDNet should have been a red flag for other companies that make IP-enabled cameras and other sensors for the consumer market. “What the FTC took objection to was the collective amount of failures within the IP camera platform. It wasn’t one issue, but multiple issues that, collectively, caused a problem.”
Contacted by The Security Ledger, the FTC was not able to offer comment on the issues with the IZON cameras prior to publication.
Despite that, Stanislav said it has been “slow going” getting Stem Innovation to address the substance of his findings. He first contacted the company on September 6, with frequent e-mail exchanges to Stem’s support desk, CEO and CTO since.
Contacted by The Security Ledger, Stem Innovation CTO Matt McBeth said that the IZON firmware, server system and iOS applications tested by Stanislav have since been updated, and that the research contains “inaccurate and misleading information.” Stem did not provide specific information about any inaccuracies. But McBeth said that Stem Innovation take its customers’ privacy seriously. “We are committed to making IZON the very best IP camera system,” he wrote.
Spread the word!Steam sales are highly anticipated, with PC gamers longingly staring at their Steam wish list for days as they wait for a sale to start, hoping that the game they want will finally fall to a price within their budget. Though the general scope of Steam sales is known (the summer sale, the holiday sale) the exact starting date of each sale is often shrouded in mystery.
Back in November, the dates of the Steam autumn sale were leaked by indie developers. The rumored date range was November 21-27, which was mostly correct, though the sale actually ended on November 26. At the time, the developers also revealed Valve‘s plans to start the holiday sale on December 20. It seems that that date has now been confirmed.
Over at the Capcom blog, the publisher has put up a post that claims the Steam holiday sale will start tomorrow, on December 20. The post is mostly a reveal of the current deals Capcom is offering via the PlayStation Network, but a short preview of the Steam sale is also tacked on.
During the Steam holiday sale, Capcom will be offering Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Street Fighter X Tekken, Devil May Cry 3, and Devil May Cry 4 at a “huge chunk off.” Some Nyu Media titles will also be on sale. Nuy Media games are anime-influenced indie titles such as Cherry Tree High Comedy Club and Fairy Bloom Freesia.
(Image courtesy Valve)A CYCLIST who was critically injured when he collided with a trailer in Bundaberg yesterday has died overnight.
Police said the 61-year-old Bundaberg man was taken to Bundaberg hospital but later died.
Investigations into the crash are continuing.
The was left in a critical condition after colliding with a trailer being towed by a car in Bundaberg on Saturday morning.
Early information indicated the 61-year-old man was riding his bicycle along Barolin St about 8.40am when he tried to turn right into McCarthy St.
Police said the man’s bicycle collided with a trailer being towed by a car that was heading in the same direction.
The cyclist was taken to Bundaberg Hospital in a critical condition.
A witness – who asked not to be named – said he was driving down the road when the crash happened.
He said the cyclist tried to turn right and collided with the trailer.
“There were about eight people who stopped straight away,” he said.
“Some people stopped traffic while others tried to help the man.”
He said the impact left the cyclist with “substantial injuries”.Media Statement;
Kush Inc.
David Allen MD
Chief Medical Advisor.
1/17/16
Two pharmaceutical synthetic drugs aimed at blocking the function of the Endocannabinoid Signaling System (ECS) cause death, disease and dysfunction.
The recent clinical drug trial in France that ended in death highlights the importance of a previously unknown regulatory mechanism that controls all metabolism and physiology.
A new synthetic drug, Bia 10-2474, now joins another drug, Rimonabant, previously used in clinical trials to block portions of the ECS, both trials ending in disaster.
Scientists are now trying to block portions of this newly found control mechanism called the ECS. The recent clinical trial of a new drug (Bia 10-2474), produced by Bial, a company in France, resulted in severe complications and death. Many news reports mistakenly attributed this disaster to a drug “derived” or extracted from cannabis but this drug was actually a man made drug. This new synthetic drug inhibits the enzymes responsible for the natural destruction or metabolic degradation of cannabinoids in our body after they are no longer needed. Blocking these enzymes prevents the body’s natural ability to remove cannabinoids and causes their levels to increase. Theoretically, this enzyme blocker should help increase Endocannabinoid levels and relieve pain. The exact cause of this clinical trial’s failure is unknown, but the trial resulted in a patient expiring of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Previously, a similar disaster occurred when scientists made a drug, Rimonabant that was created to block CB-1 receptors in hopes of making a new class of diet drugs. Rimonabant underwent clinical trials in Europe that were stopped due to severe complications (Depression, Insomnia, Anorexia, Anxiety, Suicide, Homicide and, surprisingly, an increased rate of cancer!). Blocking the CB-1 receptors is what caused an increased rate of cancer, not the drug Rimonabant!
The ECS is a chemical control and communication system that is a master controller of all physiology and metabolic function. This complex system, engineered by our DNA, produces chemical messengers or Endocannabinoids and Protein Receptors (CB-1 and CB-2 Receptors) that function like antennae and receive signals from other cells. The ECS also consists of enzymes that are made to remove excess cannabinoids as a natural degradation process. When any link in the chain of these processes is disrupted, illness and imbalance of homeostasis occur.
The classification of cannabis as a schedule one substance, with no medical value, has the sole purpose of preventing free scientific study of this medical phenomenon. Only large corporations with profit motive and non-competitive government deals are currently allowed to study the ECS. Allowing free research of this ECS control system is essential to all humanity. End the prohibition of scientific study of Cannabis! Remember, blocking CB-1 receptors causes cancer!
David B. Allen M.D.
Cali215doc@gmail.comAmong the reasons people had to avoid first-generation electric vehicles, cost concerns topped the list. It was hard to find the value proposition of a $40,000 car that could only travel 75 miles. Five years after the Ford Focus Electric debuted, the jury is still deliberating on that point.
But times have changed. In 2017, the electrified Ford sells for less than $10,000 on the used market. The Focus Electric is not alone. Used models of the Nissan Leaf, Smart Fortwo Electric Drive and Fiat 500e start around $6,000. These prices speak for themselves, and the odometers inside the cars rarely read higher than 40,000 miles.
Of course, used electric car consumers have to consider more than cost and mileage. Besides the normal checks for accidents and cosmetic defects, shoppers need to evaluate:
Potential battery degradation
Fast-charging capabilities
Warranty terms
To help the cause for consumers and fleet owners, we put together a used EV buying guide that covers these concerns highlighting the best (and worst) deals on the market.
Electric Vehicle Market Overview
As 2017 plug-in models enter the market, the price of a long-range vehicle still exceeds that of a regular gas vehicle. The Chevrolet Bolt EV, the most practical of new models, starts at $37,495 before incentives. After counting incentives, the Bolt EV’s value increases, but can still be considered expensive compared to a standard compact or midsize car.
Lower-range models like Hyundai Ioniq Electric (124 miles) and the ‘17 Focus Electric (114 miles) start around $30,000. This price hardly strays from the mark where the Leaf sold over 100,000 units to U.S. consumers since 2011. With incentives and depreciation factored in, it’s difficult to consider a used EV a good deal unless it falls below $20,000.
Actually, some used electric cars now represent better deals than gas-powered counterparts. Wholesale prices in August 2016 showed a Fiat 500e (approx. $6,500) going for less than a regular 500 ($7,000). A 2013 Focus Electric ($6,500) also undercut its gas sibling ($8,000) by a sizable sum.
Here is a case-by-case look at recommended cars and others to avoid.
Recommended Used Electric Cars
Electric vehicles we recommended combine decent range, solid fuel economy and average or better reliability scores at a reasonable price.
Nissan Leaf
As the top-selling EV in the world, fleet managers and consumers will find more Nissan Leafs available on the second |
say, I'm an eternal optimist when it comes to the future of games. I'm also looking forward to break-through moments in tech, game mechanics and art that will come unpredictably from the minds of game-making geniuses around the world.
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Mark Skaggs is an award winning game developer and 17-year games industry veteran most recently known for creating the world-wide phenomenon FarmVille for Zynga. He previously worked at EA where he oversaw development of several Command & Conquer games. He is currently vice president of product development at Zynga.“I love the idea of playing with your expectations,” offers Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, unleashing a naughty grin.
We’re huddled together at a hotel suite in downtown Austin, Texas, where his latest film, the pitch-black noir Small Crimes, is making its premiere during SXSW. The handsome Dane is guzzling coffee out of a chalice-shaped water glass, swinging it to-and-fro with every wild gesticulation like a true Lannister (the room apparently ran out of clean coffee cups).
Evan Katz’s sophomore film features Coster-Waldau as Joe, an ex-cop fresh out of prison after a six-year bid for attempted murder. Joe, ever the colossal fuck-up, moves in with his parents (Jacki Weaver, Robert Forster) while dodging a dirty cop with a grudge, a DA out for revenge, and a cabal of ticked-off criminals. To make matters worse, his ex-wife and their two children want nothing to do with him, and he can’t seem to get out of his own way. Can a budding romance with a kindhearted nurse (Molly Parker) make him overcome being persona non grata?
The 46-year-old says it is not only his “most American role yet,” but one of the darkest—and this coming from a guy who’s spent the last six years playing a sister-sexing Kingslayer on the HBO megahit Game of Thrones.
The Daily Beast spoke with Coster-Waldau about his dark, violent new film and all things Thrones, including the meaning of that look his Jaime delivered to Cersei at the end of Season 6.
The great thing about Small Crimes is that it disrupts your expectations. Every time you think the movie is going to zig it zags.
It really does. In the beginning, you think it’s a movie you’ve seen before about a guy who’s done something horrible and wants to reconnect with his children, and now we’ll follow this guy as he goes on a redemption tour and at the very end there will be this beautiful moment where he runs towards his kids and they’ll go, “Daddy, we missed you.” I love that the movie says, Oh, that’s not going to happen.
There’s a scene early on in the film that really sells that point. A beautiful woman approaches him at a bar and you think they’re going to have sex or strike up some sort of romantic relationship, and it goes down very differently.
It would happen in a traditional film, which is horseshit! You see a movie and you accept that there’s a forty-something guy sitting at a bar drinking on his own, and some beautiful 22-year-old girl sidles up to him and just wants it. We’re supposed to accept that, because of course she wants to fuck the old guy, but that’s ridiculous. I like that the film preys on your expectations and just twists it.
You have, it seems, mastered the art of playing the narcissistic scoundrel.
We’re all selfish, to a certain degree. And it’s always going to catch up with you at some point. We are pretty laughable, as human beings. We are so full of ourselves all the time, and there’s something tragic about how we mess up things on a global level, on a personal level. We screw up all the time.
But have you thought about why you’re so good at playing these types of characters?
[Laughs] There’s definitely a part of me in there and I recognize parts of myself in Joe. But I think we are all ultimately selfish. “Being” is, by default, a very subjective experience. Your life is your life, and I have no idea what it’s like to be inside of your head. But I embrace it. I think it’s funny. There are no people that are just “good.” There are various degrees of trying to make good choices and making bad choices, and we’re all somewhere in the middle.
Is it difficult to occupy the headspace of such a dark, troubled character like Joe for weeks and weeks? Or does that sort of thing not get to you?
I don’t carry the character after-hours. October 3rd will be my 25th anniversary as a professional actor. I’ve done it a long time, and I love my job, and sometimes you’ll do it and it will inspire you and you’ll think about it for a while. I have worked with actors that seem to not be able to let go of their characters and in my head, to be honest, I think, “That is bullshit.” It’s just ridiculous. Because if that is true, then you are sick. But that’s just me being me.
We’ve gotta talk about Thrones. The political climate it’s being released into now is very different than when it debuted in 2011. All the backroom dealing and machinations seem, well, timelier than ever.
There seems to be so much more out in the open now. Right now you have a president who’s not afraid of communicating very directly, and talking about his thoughts, likes, and dislikes, which is very unusual. I love politics and the primaries were so entertaining. It was just a different level—you couldn’t make it up. Two years ago, you wouldn’t have believed this for a second. It reminds me of England with Brexit, where the day after they reported that the most Googled entries were, “What is Brexit?” “What does EU mean?” And I think there were more than a few people here who woke up the day after the election like, “What?” “Huh?!”
I have a theory about what’s going to happen to Jaime. I believe Jaime is going to fulfill the prophecy and kill Cersei—while defending Brienne.
[Grins] That’s a great theory.
The Jaime/Brienne relationship is so great, though. It might be the most mutually loving relationship on Thrones.
It’s built out of contempt, which has turned into real respect, and love—not that they would ever use that word. I think they feel very strongly for each other. I have no idea if they would ever be able to act on it, and I don’t think they would. It’s all been about Cersei his whole life.
One of my favorite moments from Season 6 was Jaime’s speech to Edmure Tully where he confessed his love for Cersei in an effort to manipulate him. It was a mic drop scene.
I loved that. I’ve been lucky enough over the years to have a couple of those, and you think, “Oh, this is a really nice meal.” That’s what I like about Jaime: he’s lost his arm and just his presence used to be enough to sway people, and he doesn’t have that anymore—but he’s still got his mind. He’s not like his sister and brother, but he’s been on the battlefield his whole life, and knows about people’s weaknesses and loving someone unconditionally—because he loves his sister unconditionally. Plus, there are no other suitors. Well, that’s not true… but he has to step up and take his father’s place. Wow, I was about to reveal something from Season 7 and thought, “What am I doing?”
Speaking of relationships on Thrones, the Jaime/Cersei bond is one of the most complicated in all of television. It’s one big mindfuck. How do you and Lena [Headey] manage it?
We were talking a lot this coming season. There was a lot of discussion and I was driving everyone crazy with all kinds of questions to where the writers must have been like, “Let’s kill him off now! This is getting to be too much.” But it is very complex, and the more you dig into it, the more complex it gets. We’re so deep into this story and getting into the endgame now so for all of us who have been on the whole journey, you really want to get it right. Every scene and every moment feels ridiculously important. Early on in Season 7 I just had to let it go because I was trying to understand way too much.
Jaime had such a rich arc last season, starting with the Cersei prophecy and ending with that look he gave to her as she’s being crowned. That look seemed to say, “I’ve created a monster.”
It did, didn’t it? Jaime’s addicted to something—almost institutionalized by a situation to where there is no other way. For Jaime, there is no other way. He’s been groomed since he was 15 that, whatever his life is, it starts and ends with Cersei. He has to accommodate her. He’s done that his whole life, and he’s reached a moment now where he suddenly has to address it. What’s interesting about that is people will read into it and there was no line—it’s just a look.”
The Game of Thrones Season 7 date announcement was sort of a disaster. Although I suppose it is a testament to the show’s popularity that there were hundreds of thousands of people tuning in online to watch a block of ice melting.
I spoke to Dan [Weiss] and David [Benioff] about that and they were like, “Oh god… That’s embarrassing.” Everyone was like, “What’s going to happen?” “What’s going to happen?!” “It’s melting!” “It crashed!” “Oh my god!” It’s like, just walk away… just walk away. It’s just a date! You know, I was actually thinking, “Is there going to be a backlash and people will think, ‘Fuck you guys for that!’” but that’s really happened with every time the show kills off a major character: Never again! Fuck you! I’m never going to watch this show! and, you know, they keep coming back.The fired newspaper columnist Kevin Myers has apologised “unconditionally” to the BBC broadcasters Claudia Winkleman and Vanessa Feltz for the contents of a weekend article that has been criticised as being anti-Semitic and misogynistic.
Speaking on 5 Live Daily on BBC radio on Wednesday morning, Myers said: “I retract. I apologise for it. There was no justification.”
In the course of the article, which was about the gender pay gap at the BBC, Myers wrote in reference to Winkleman and Feltz, who are both Jewish: “Jews are not generally noted for their insistence on selling their talent for the lowest possible price.”
“I have no career left. My reputation is in tatters,” Myers added on Wednesday. He claimed that in Ireland there is not the same awareness of anti-Semitism as elsewhere and that his comments were not meant as a criticism of the two broadcasters. “I am a great admirer of Jews. The Jewish Council of Ireland would not have come out in support of me if they thought I was anti-Semitic. I admire Jews because they make the most of what they are.”
He said he was now the subject of a “huge internet campaign” and the reason for speaking on the BBC was to explain the background to what he wrote. When preparing the article he had googled BBC broadcasters. Before that he had not known that the two women were Jewish.
He added that he admired the Jewish talent for making the most of their skills in intellectual and cultural endeavours. The Jewish tradition of honesty, reliability and integrity was why Jewish banks had survived.
His comments were intended as a compliment, not as an insult, but he understood why Vanessa Feltz “didn’t get it” – “It wasn’t her fault.”
Myers said that he was now subject to an “enormous amount of internet hatred” and that the Sunday Times gave him no opportunity to defend himself and fired him without notice.
He added that he now has “no career”, as his Sunday Times column was his main journalistic source of income.
“Lots of Irish people know me and sympathise with me. They know I’m not anti-Semitic. The comments were not about Jews and money. It was about maximising your potential.
“I am responsible. I offer no justification. My career is over. I bitterly regret it. I have a number of failings as a journalist – the throwaway aside. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and this time it didn’t. I would have hoped not to be taken too seriously. The problem is I’m a very poor judge of my own work.”
5 Live Daily’s presenter, Emma Barnett, told Myers that she too was Jewish. He said he had not been aware of that. “It is not an issue that you are Jewish.”
He said in his column he had been referring to the success of Jews “in so many areas of life”. When pushed about how he had not realised that his comments would cause upset, he said he had intended the comment as a compliment. “I have no career left, no reputation. You can add to the situation and make it worse if you wish.”
When asked about a previous article he had written about the Holocaust in the Irish Independent he said: “That headline was not written by me. I have written more about the Holocaust than anyone else in the last 30 years. The entire article was an attempt to show that no single word explains the atrocity of what happened to Jews across Europe at that time.”
A review by the Sunday Times in London of how the controversial article came to be published is expected to be completed later this week. Columns produced for the newspaper’s Ireland edition are read by editorial staff in Dublin, then sent to London for subediting – the checking of spelling and facts, and the addition of a headline – before being returned to Dublin to be read for potential legal problems before publication.
Mr Myers said on Tuesday he believed five or six people would have seen what he wrote before it was published. It appeared in the print version of the Ireland edition of the newspaper, which is not connected to The Irish Times, and was available also online internationally.University of Virginia students Aryn Frazier and Lauren Jackson are among the 32 American students named as 2017 Rhodes Scholars.
They are UVA’s 52nd and 53rd Rhodes Scholars. The scholarships provide all expenses for two or three years of study at the University of Oxford in England and may allow funding in some instances for four years.
Frazier, 20, of Laurel, Maryland, a fourth-year politics honors and African-American studies major, will pursue a master of philosophy degree in comparative politics. Jackson, 21, of Little Rock, Arkansas, a fourth-year social and political thought major, will pursue a master of philosophy degree in International Relations.
Frazier said she was very surprised when she heard the Rhodes announcement.
“I’m not sure how anyone could have spent 24 hours with so many wonderful candidates and have believed they were a ‘shoo-in’ for the scholarship,” she said. “I feel very blessed to have this opportunity and the feeling of being blessed — in my family, in my friends, in my various communities at UVA, in the favor I’ve been lucky enough to have been shown in this process and throughout my life — is the one that I felt and feel most strongly.”
Jackson said she got emotional when she heard her name called.
“I didn’t expect it,” Jackson said. “There were so many incredible finalists and I felt so thankful to get to know them in the almost four hours we waited while the committee deliberated. The announcement felt like crossing the finish line of a really long marathon.”
While at UVA, Frazier has concentrated on issues of race and justice.
“My thesis revolves broadly around how conceptions of justice and legality differ along racial lines,” Frazier said. “My broader interests revolve around how people come to form, and then act on, their political ideologies. I hope that in coming to understand these things, I will be better able to bridge the communication gap in politics and organizing.”
Jackson’s research focuses on the intersection of the news media and humanitarianism and how to raise awareness of suffering in conflict zones through media engagement.
“I have worked in both journalism and humanitarianism and I have identified significant gaps in efforts to accurately report on and raise awareness for human suffering in conflict zones,” Jackson said. “In a resource-scarce media environment, I want to understand how humanitarians working in conflict zones can facilitate better foreign correspondence to more accurately shape public opinion and international policy in the United States and the United Kingdom.”
Frazier, a Lawn resident, is a Thomas J. and Hillary D. Baltimore Jefferson Scholar and an Echols Scholar. She was the president and political action chair of Black Student Alliance; senior resident and resident advisor for Housing and Residence Life; and a moderator for Sustained Dialogue. She is a member of the Raven Society and a former member of the Black Voices Gospel Choir. She was a speaker at TEDx Charlottesville 2016.
Frazier wants to use her education and experience to communicate with people who have different views.
“Hopefully I will be able to use what I know on the campaign trail and in helping form campaign strategies,” Frazier said. “More broadly, I think — and, as this most recent presidential election has shown — that it is essential for people to really learn how to talk and relate to each other if we are to be a nation that works and will continue to work for everyone.”
Claudrena Harold, an associate professor of African-American and African Studies and History, described Frazier as a first-rate scholar with exemplary leadership skills.
“She has pursued a rigorous course of interdisciplinary study that has exposed her to pioneering research and scholarship in the fields of political theory, legal history, critical race theory and African-American Studies,” Harold said. “In my formal and informal encounters with Aryn over the past three years, I have been impressed with the singularity of her intellectual voice, her work ethic, her superb interpersonal skills and her deep commitment to social justice issues. My faith in her ability to excel within and beyond the classroom has been reinforced by her public service endeavors as a Jefferson Scholar, her fantastic work as the president of the Black Student Alliance and her activism on behalf of students and workers.”
Andrew Kahrl, an assistant professor in the Corcoran Department of History, described Frazier as exceptionally talented.
“She is a natural leader and a serious thinker who has earned the trust and respect of her peers,” Kahrl said. “Her dedication to social justice and to facilitating constructive dialogue among the student body and larger community is truly remarkable and should serve as a model for all of us.”
He said the future belongs to people such as Frazier, “who are committed to working to make a better, more just and inclusive world for all of us.”
Jackson hopes her Oxford experience will connect her to an intellectual community and to a country she otherwise would not have experienced.
“My degrees will expose me to practitioners working on issues I care about — the role of journalism in international relations, accurate representation of groups lacking access to basic human rights, reformation of international governance and challenges to state sovereignty in the 21st century,” she said. “In these years, I hope to slow my pace of living, at least slightly, and try to really immerse myself in the places I will be studying.”
Jackson has not had a slow pace at UVA, performing extensive research outside of her classwork. Jackson received several research grants, including a Harrison Undergraduate Research Award to study humanitarian data technologies at the United Nations; a Jefferson Public Citizen grant to study post-traumatic stress disorder in post-genocide Rwanda; and a Center for Global Health Scholarship to study beekeeping in Rwanda. She was also an intern at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs at the New York Secretariat; CNN; International Rescue Committee, Charlottesville Resettlement Office; and National Geographic.
While a student at UVA, Jackson was president of the Latter Day Saint Student Association; conference co-curator for TEDxUVA; an opinion and lifestyle columnist for the Cavalier Daily; creative director for V Magazine; marketing team designer for HackCville; an advertising and promotions marketing strategist for rADical, a HackCville-based, student-run entrepreneurship group; an anchor on student-run radio station WUVA; a Jefferson Public Service fellow; a participant in Books Behind Bars; and a member of Pi Beta Phi and the Raven Society. She is an R.E. Lee Wilson Jefferson Scholar, an Echols scholar, and received Elks National Foundation and United States Institute for Peace Essay scholarships.
Michael Joseph Smith, the Thomas C. Sorensen Professor and director of the Program in Political and Social Thought, was “delighted” with Jackson’s accomplishment.
“She is a young woman of prodigious intelligence and talent, possessed of entrepreneurial drive that she somehow combines with a striking graciousness that is well beyond her years,” Smith said. “She stands out as among the very best students whom I taught during the past 35 years. Her goal to pursue the study of the world’s response to humanitarian emergencies grows out of a demonstrated record of academic accomplishment and commitment to help others.”
Religious Studies Professor John Portmann taught Jackson in two upper-level seminars and supervised her independent study with the digital news team at CNN.
“Even on her very first day at UVA, I knew Lauren was special,” Portmann said “As a first-year student, she sat in my ‘In Defense of Sin’ seminar with many fourth-year students. On one side of her was Charlie Tyson, who won a Rhodes in 2014, and on the other, Russell Bogue, who won a Rhodes in 2016. She shined even in such competition. I am thrilled for Lauren, whose poise and easy elegance I will long remember.”
Kirsten H. Gelsdorf, senior lecturer and director of global humanitarian policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, said she felt “lucky” to have had an opportunity to mentor Jackson.
“Working with her and watching her motivation to gain leadership and scholarly experiences always reinforced how UVA has such incredible resources and learning opportunities available to students,” Gelsdorf said. “She is an exceptional individual and the Rhodes Scholarship is lucky to have her represent them.”
Jackson said she wants to continue working in journalism in London and research humanitarian projects at Oxford and she wants to work as a journalist after graduation before moving into the public policy arena.
“We’re in a really unique moment in history: the proliferation of digital technologies has the world more connected than ever before, and I am fascinated by the impact of these new technologies on international relations,” she said. “As the world is becoming more globalized, we’ve recently seen a retrenchment in isolationism. I want to understand why that is, and what it means for the liberal projects of open borders, free trade and weakened systems of sovereignty. I also really want to understand what it means for the world’s most vulnerable, who lack basic human rights protection yet have access to cellular networks.”NEW BRIGHTON, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a Pennsylvania bride fatally shot her niece in an argument that took place during a wedding party.
Police allege that 30-year-old Christina George-Harvan, of Conway, used her new husband's handgun to shoot 21-year-old Katelyn "Kaytee" Francis, of Fairmont, W.Va., on Thursday night. Francis was shot outside in a bar in New Brighton, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh.
Police say the trio argued inside the bar about who would drive. They say George-Harvan, who was married earlier in the day, shot her niece in the parking lot at about 10 p.m.
George-Harvan is being held in the county jail without bond. No attorney is listed in court papers.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1gY8fmjIt was a risky move for the St. Louis Rams to have vacated the 6th spot in the 2012 NFL draft and allow the Dallas Cowboys to select the top cornerback prospect, Morris Claiborne. As good as Claiborne might be, he couldn’t have helped the St. Louis Rams. They need much more than one player to help turn this franchise around, and they know it.
The Rams are the winners of only 15 games over the last three seasons. The result has been a single first-overall pick and two second-overall picks, including the second selection again in this year’s draft. Prior to the draft, the Rams’ management decided that one more top player wasn’t going to be enough to help turn this franchise around. When a team losses as much as they have over the past few years, their franchise has fundamental roster issues that need to be corrected. Bringing in one, or ever two, superstars is not going to change anything. The entire roster needs to get more competitive at virtually every position.
This analysis led them to make the high risk/high reward swap of the #2 overall pick (Robert Griffin III) to Washington for a massive haul. They picked up this year’s 6th and 39th overall picks and an additional first rounder in 2013 and 2014. When it came time to pick at #6 the Rams were happy to move down to the 14th spot and pick up an additional 2nd rounder this year. They later moved that 2nd rounder down even further and picked up an additional first rounder. The end result was ten picks in the 2012 draft, five of them coming in the first three rounds including a massive three 2nd-rounders. When you add this sizeable draft haul to their other recent top picks, the Rams could be starting 10 players drafted in the first two rounds this upcoming season. This is before factoring in the four first round picks the Rams will have in the next two seasons.
The highlight of the Rams draft is first round selection Michael Brokers, a massive Defensive Tackle from LSU, who will join two other first round defensive linemen, Chris Long and Robert Quinn. This gives the Rams a chance at having one of the league’s premier defensive lines a few years from now. At the top of the second round the Rams selected huge WR Brian Quick, who will team with last year’s 2nd rounder TE Lance Kendricks in rebuilding the talent around QB Sam Bradford. Corner Janoris Jenkins was drafted next and will play alongside free agent acquisition Cortland Finnegan who will give the Rams an upgrade at a sorely needed position. The Rams final second round selection was RB Isaiah Pead, the fastest back in the draft, who should complement All-Pro Steven Jackson nicely.
The success or failure of the trade to allow the Washington Redskins to acquire Robert Griffin III will not depend on the success of Griffin himself, but rather on the success of Sam Bradford. All of the talent they now have surrounding Bradford should give him the best chance to succeed.
If their gamble pays off as it appears it might, the Rams will have made off like bandits.
…and that is the last word.Keynote speech, Dr Michael Hill, President, League of the South, 28 June 2014:
ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN...
Congratulations, Leftists, you have won.
You have taken over the West and now your worldview is triumphant. Europe, America, and the other former lands of Christendom lie in your grasp. The Age of Enlightened Utopia has arrived.
So, congratulations, Leftists, you have won.
But what is it that you have won? You have made White gentiles, particularly Christians, afraid and ashamed to stand up for their God and thus for the civilization with which He blessed them. Quite a feat, really, considering there was a time when Christian men would actually fight for their patrimony and declare it good. But not these modern “men” — clergy included, sadly — who whimper and moan their mea culpas on cue about all the wrongs of which they have been charged by the Left: racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, etc., etc.
Now, thanks to your victory, these are no limits on what a man — or surely a woman – may be or become. Be trans-gendered and marry your pet! The bursting of the bonds of narrow Christian limitations is manifest in a thousand new human rights discovered every day in the unfettered Leftist imagination! And we silly traditionalists thought those Universal Human Rights were going to end with the civil rights movement to give the darker races equality.
You have told us that all men, and all cultures, are equal. Or at least men have been forced to say they believe that they are. Procrustes has nothing on you! And once a man convinces himself of the rightness and goodness —and the necessity — of Equality, he will then lay down everything he values on that altar. Even to the point of destroying the future for his children and grandchildren to prove how enlightened he is. Otherwise, he could lose his job and starve to death, along with his family.
In your quest for Equality, you victorious Leftists have made it manifest in the material world. It’s not good enough to keep it in slogans — “All men are created equal.” No, it must be brought down to the material world in the form of the franchise and swag... and sometimes even jobs (but really cushy ones from which the unqualified employee cannot be terminated).
And because you don’t believe in God or sin, you have convinced the rest of us that all evil is external to man himself and can be eradicated by the right sort of education and social programs. So we now have the modern, post-Christian education system in all its eloquent glory – Common Core, here we come!
Moreover, we have the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Caesar/God-on-the-Potomac and its counterpart in Brussels to give us our daily bread (and other “free” stuff). Never mind that they are financially bankrupt...
Speaking of all that prosperity that somehow just magically appeared (you didn’t do that yourself, as Obama reminded us) in all those White Christian countries, you have convinced the non-White, Third World that it deserves a share of it all. Hence, you have set a devouring Free Shit Army on a worldwide march, destination London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Stockholm, and all our hamlets, large and small, here in the New World. You have given husky legs to Jean Raspail’s dystopian novel, Camp of the Saints, of the 1970s, just as I once told my university students that you would!
You, O conquering Leftists, have Imagined! And in doing so you’ve not only imagined away Heaven... and Hell, but borders as well. We used to have those, and they denoted our nations’ political boundaries. To cross one without permission was an egregious violation that often led to death and war. But it also kept traditional men in their respective places, something you did not like. It gave us backward thinking Neanderthals something we could call “ours.”
So now that White countries are allowed no borders, we have become little more than extended-stay motels (run of course by Indians) for the world. As the mantra says: Africa for Africans, Asia for Asians, and White Countries for everyone! We have no place to call our own anymore, and if we dare claim we do we are quickly put back in our place by the usual epithet: racist, xenophobic Nazi whowantstokillsixmillionjews!
And we slink back to our diminished (and still diminishing) little corners.
Oh, I could go on but what’s the use. We know what you’ve done to undermine our civilization. We know the plan. But there remain a couple of questions. To be truthful, how are you going to explain to the teeming masses for whom you have presumably created this Brave New World that it’s really not their interests that motivate you, but merely your own? And you will have to explain this selfishness when your promised Utopia fails to live up to its billing as Savior of the Downtrodden.
And it is failing... and will eventually crash and burn.
But that was the plan all along, wasn’t it? It wasn’t to make a better world for the poor and disadvantaged. They are just your do-gooder foil, the mask to hide the monster. It was to satiate your misanthropic hunger, because just beneath that sanctimonious visage you are a hater of all that is truly human. Yours is the Cloward-Piven strategy on steroids for the whole world!
Wealth, power, and position is your game. And your end goal is the same as it was in the Garden so long ago: The Serpent wants to replace God and rule humanity.
You are the Serpent’s offspring, the children of the Father of Lies.
But you know you still have a prickly problem to face, right? Some of us will not recognize your “victory” as permanent. We will not go quietly into that night, to paraphrase one of our great poets. We will bitterly cling to our God and our guns. We will fight back, and you know it. In fact, you knew all along that we — White men and women of European descent, the inheritors of Christendom — were your only real nemesis on this earth.
And you knew from the start what that meant if you were to achieve complete victory: you would have to eliminate us. But you were not sure you could pull it off, were you? It also made you feel a little creepy and hypocritical, didn’t it? I mean, after all the whining and moaning you have done (and still do) about past examples of genocide, you really had to make us believe you were the perpetual victims, even as you sharpened your blades to eviscerate us.
Well, some of us are on to you and your plans. We will no longer play the game on your turf and by your rules. We will no longer succumb to White Guilt. We are throwing off your shackles. We are rising in Europe and in America. We are nationalists—French, English, Scottish, German, Danish, Swedish, and Southern, among others—and our lands and our civilizations belong to us.
Your universalism is doomed. And so are you.
So enjoy your little short-lived triumph before the breaking wave of nationalism washes you away.Podcasts that draw inspiration from the soft horror of ’90s television are swarming earbuds with creeping dread—and we love it.
Shows like The X Files and Twin Peaks helped to popularize the unsettling—where teases toward the paranormal, across lengthy story arcs, proved just as popular as outright horror. Flash-forward to today and we’re becoming overwhelmed with great podcasts drawing on this genre. Shows like Limetown and The Black Tapes have helped carve a new niche in the podcast market since their releases last year, and well-produced, spine-tingling stories have emerged as among our favorites.
Take a look at the iTunes charts lately—pods such as Lore, Myths and Legends, and The NoSleep Podcast are surging. And horror podcasting wherein mysteries are presented as deadpan, real-life accounts continue to shake us to the bone 78 years after Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds radio broadcast.
Archive 81, from Marc Sollinger and Daniel Powell, is the latest contender in an increasingly competitive field. While nearing the end of a short-but-sweet first season, the popularity of Archive 81 is growing.
The found-footage podcast follows the arrival of Dan (Powell), an archivist starting a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Dan’s ominous boss urges him to record every waking moment of his time while listening to unnerving, taped interviews carried out by Melody Pendras (voiced Amelia Kidd) with the occupants of an apartment block.
The use of analog media in this genre of podcasting serves as an homage to classic horror. Archive 81 isn’t the exception; The Black Tapes and Within the Wires—the latest offering from Night Vale Presents—all heavily rely on lost tapes to tell their stories. It’s romanticizing the past, sure, but there is something inherently spookier to the trope. Plus it’s charming to see a platform that runs on the proliferation of smartphones revisit these relics.
By the end of episode one we learn that Mark—the archivist’s friend—is sharing these recordings after Dan went missing several months ago, in the hopes of tracking him down. Basically we’re listening to a guy who went missing, who is listening to recordings of Melody in 1994, who at some points herself ends up listening to tapes made by residents of the apartments.
It all gets a little Inception-esque, and if you space out during podcasts you’re likely to get tripped by the rabbit holes.
While Melody’s taped interviews form the meatiest pieces of the podcast, it’s Powell’s portrayal as Dan that’s Archive 81‘s truest delight. He’s a likable, relatable character, and as a performer Powell avoids the too-common pitfall of sounding insincere when talking out loud to himself.
Fantastic writing, alongside a talented supporting cast, mean that Archive 81 is more than just a good idea—it’s one that sticks the landing because of its perfectionist curating. The creators of the show are also raising money on Patreon to help fund a second season, as well as other projects from their production company Dead Signals.
Archive 81 is available on its website, or wherever you download podcasts.Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com
Friday, February 27, 2009
Head of market analysis for Schneider Foreign Exchange Stephen Gallo told CNBC yesterday that the financial crisis will lead to the creation of a global central bank and a global single currency within 15 years, echoing the call of top globalists who have exploited the problems they created to push for a new world financial order.
Highlighting the significance of the introduction of the Euro, Gallo said that the single currency was “where we are headed globally on a monetary basis over the course of the next 10 to 15 years.”
Stating that one of the things that caused the financial crisis was an over expansion of the money supply on a global basis, Gallo said, “Over the course of the next couple of decades central banks are going to need to pay more attention to what’s going on with the global money supply rather than the money supply just in their own borders,” a necessity that, “might call into question the need for some kind of global central bank or a global central bank that’s united by central banks for bigger monetary areas underneath that global central bank.”
As we have highlighted before, the elite have exploited the problem that they created to push for increased centralization and regulation of the world economic system in the pursuit of a de-facto global financial dictatorship.
A |
100" (speak (java.util.Date. (long 100))) => "animal as of 100"
When the Animal function, speak, is called on a Date object the adapter is not used even though the Date satisfies the Dog protocol. This is because the Date class is already participating in the Animal protocol.
The adapt-protocol call is tricky to use during development because once an adapter is “installed” for a class subsequent calls to adapt-protocol do not affect the class. One work-around to this is to refine an adapter by using extend-protocol with a test class. Once the adapter is working properly then register it for use via adapt-protocol.UT Beat: Bill seeks to revive rivalry with Aggies
State Rep. Ryan Guillen filed a bill that would penalize UT or A&M for refusing to play their rival. State Rep. Ryan Guillen filed a bill that would penalize UT or A&M for refusing to play their rival. Photo: DEBORAH CANNON, AP Photo: DEBORAH CANNON, AP Image 1 of / 72 Caption Close UT Beat: Bill seeks to revive rivalry with Aggies 1 / 72 Back to Gallery
AUSTIN — The desire to see Texas and Texas A&M play each other in football again has reached the state's legislative branch.
Rep. Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City this week filed a bill that would require the Longhorns and Aggies to reinstate the football series that came to an indefinite end when A&M joined the Southeastern Conference last year. House Bill 778 calls for restrictions on athletic scholarships if one school refuses to play the other.
UT athletic director DeLoss Dodds has said numerous times the Aggies knew the series would come to a halt if they left the Big 12, but that he expects the schools to play again someday. For now, the Longhorns' non-conference schedules are full until 2018.
A&M president R. Bowen Loftin issued a statement Tuesday saying the Aggies “remain hopeful the game may continue one day.”
The Longhorns and Aggies have played 118 times, with UT holding a 76-37-5 edge, including a 27-25 victory in the last meeting in 2011 at College Station.
Longhorns exhale after breakthrough: The men's basketball team won its first conference game of the season Saturday after an 0-5 start, and assistant coach Rob Lanier said he thinks it will enable his players to avoid being so tight late in games.
Having blown several leads before, Lanier said, it was inevitable the players would worry about losing another one until they proved they could win.
“That was the elephant in the arena,” Lanier said.
mfinger@express-news.net
Twitter: @mikefingerFewer Filipinos are in favor of a move to revive the death penalty, although majority continues to support the Duterte administration’s push to rouse capital punishment from slumber.
The results of a recent Pulse Asia survey showed that between July last year and March this year, the number of Filipinos supporting the revival of the death penalty—pushed by proponents as a deterrent to crime — fell by 14 percentage points, from 81 percent to 67 percent.
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The survey was conducted from March 15 to 20 using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents nationwide, with a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.
It followed a push by Mr. Duterte’s allies in Congress to pass a new law to restore capital punishment.
The decline in the number of Filipinos supporting the death penalty restoration was detected in all areas and classes.
The biggest decline was in Luzon, by 21 points to 61 percent; and among Class D (poor) by 16 points to 66 percent.
The survey results also showed an increase in the number of those who disagreed with reviving the death penalty to 25 percent in March this year, from just 11 percent in July 2016.
Death penalty revival, however, continued to enjoy the support of majorities in all areas (61 percent to 74 percent) and socioeconomic classes (66 percent to 68 percent).
The survey also asked Filipinos supporting the revival of the death penalty to identify which crimes should be punishable by state execution. At least 97 percent said rape, 88 percent picked murder, and 71 percent wanted it for drug pushing.
On March 7, the House of Representatives, with a vote of 217 in favor, 54 against and one abstention, approved on final reading House Bill No. 4727, which would impose the death penalty for drug-related offenses, a campaign promise of Mr. Duterte.
The measure has been transmitted to the Senate where it is pending and expected to face tough opposition.
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Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs had turned mostly urban poor communities into bloody battlefields where drug suspects are found dead or get killed during police raids.
Malacañang said the survey results were just “a timely reminder that a progressive nation is premised on law and order.”
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Duterte administration continued to cling to the belief that reviving the death penalty was “an important component in building a trustworthy government that protects its citizens and youth from crime, especially the kind perpetrated by illegal drug traffickers and violators.” —WITH REPORTS FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH AND LEILA SALAVERRIA
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This is another interview question which can be linked to the Cycle Detection in Linked List question. In fact this is an extension of the Cycle Detection problem and requires an extra tweaking.
Here is a diagram explaining the the problem of finding the merge point of two linked lists
In the above diagram, the head of one linked list is node 1 and the head of another linked list is node 5. The merge point is node 4. We would like to write a program to find node 4 given both the heads.
Approach
There are multiple ways of solving it, here I list three of them:
Brute Force
Start from head one and store each node against there hash code in a hash map.
Start from head two and check if the hash code already exists in the map.
The first node for which the hash code exists is the merge point.
Ah! pretty simple. Brute force actually is pretty simple in this case. Provided you have an algorithm to generate fairly unique hash code as it happens in Java.
Here is a second approach if you are allowed to modify the node structure.
Alternate Solution (Modifying the node structure)
Solution 1
If you are allowed to add one more pointer to the node structure which is a previous pointer, you can successfully assign the previous values to all the nodes except the merge point. And so we know the merge point.
It involves just one traversal of each linked list. Running time would amount to O(M+N) where M and N are the number of nodes in the two linked lists. Space taken would be proportional to M+N. We need space for one pointer in each of the nodes.
Solution 2
Another one, if you are allowed to modify the node structure.
You can add a visited flag, initially all set to false.
Traverse through one linked list and mark the visited flag to true, if you visit a node.
Traverse through the other linked list now and if you encounter a visited flag as true, that’s the merge node.
A Smarter Solution
Traverse once through both the linked lists and find the longer one.
Connect the tail of the longer list to its head.
Now start from the head of the shorter linked list with two pointers as we did in the algorithm to find the cycle.
Find the point where both the pointers meet.
Reset one of the pointer to the head of the shorter linked list.
Now move both the pointers with the same speed (one step at a time).
The place where both the pointers meet is the merge point.
Ah! seems complicated isn’t it. But actually its simpler if presented with a visual aid. Here is the modified structure for the above scenario.
In the above case, the fast and the slow pointer starting from node 5 will always meet at 2 and thus the merge point would be node 4.
How do I know that?
This is a simple maths, if we apply our learning from the post which detects a cycle in the linked list. We know the following:
The fast and the slow pointer always meet at the same node from where they start.
The pointers will meet exactly when the slow pointer completes one circle/cycle.
Let us apply this learning here:
If there was no second linked list, we would have always started at node 4 and both the pointers would have always met at node 4.
Now extending this learning to the current scenario: Lets add just one node to the cycle as shown below:
Seeing the image 1 we understand that the blue pointer (Fast one ) moves to node 7 in one step and the green pointer (Slow one) takes two steps to move to node 7.
This precisely means that they will never meet at node 7 and it proves that, in a scenario without node 6, node 7 cannot possibly be the starting point for both the pointers.
Our job is to find the starting point in the cycle, which surely is not node 7. It means they started somewhere in the past which could be any node (4, 3, 2, 1, 9, 8).
Let us reverse the pointer direction after step 1 which is shown in the Image 2. The step two for the blue pointer takes it to node 3 (it moves two nodes at a time). The step 2 for the green pointer takes it to node 3 (it moves one node at a time).
Both the pointers meet at node 3. This means in a cycle only scenario the starting point was node 3 and every time both the pointers meet at the same node as per our discussion above.
Which concludes our discussion with a generalized result that, in a scenario where the pointers start from an external node and then cycle in a loop, the pointers will always meet at a length K in the reverse from the merge point, where K is the length of the list before the cycle starts.
Hence, our algorithm to find the merge point works seamlessly.
Source Code
int FindMergeNode(Node headA, Node headB) { Node tempA = headA; Node tempB = headB; int countA = 0; int countB = 0; // finding the longer linked list. while (tempA.next!= null) { tempA = tempA.next; countA++; } while (tempB.next!= null) { tempB = tempB.next; countB++; } Node temp1 = null; Node temp2 = null; Node temp = null; // connect the tail of the longer linked list to the head of the longer link list. if (countA > countB) { tempA.next = headA; temp1 = headB; temp2 = headB; temp = headB; } else { tempB.next = headB; temp1 = headA; temp2 = headA; temp = headA; } // start two pointers from the head of the shorter linked list to find where they meet in the cycle do { temp1 = temp1.next; temp2 = temp2.next.next; } while (temp1!= temp2); // reset one of the pointers to the head of the shorter linked list and move both the pointers one step at a time. while (temp!= temp1) { temp = temp.next; temp1 = temp1.next; } // return the new node where both the pointers meet now. return temp1.data; } 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 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 int FindMergeNode ( Node headA, Node headB ) { Node tempA = headA ; Node tempB = headB ; int countA = 0 ; int countB = 0 ; // finding the longer linked list. while ( tempA. next!= null ) { tempA = tempA. next ; countA ++ ; } while ( tempB. next!= null ) { tempB = tempB. next ; countB ++ ; } Node temp1 = null ; Node temp2 = null ; Node temp = null ; // connect the tail of the longer linked list to the head of the longer link list. if ( countA > countB ) { tempA. next = headA ; temp1 = headB ; temp2 = headB ; temp = headB ; } else { tempB. next = headB ; temp1 = headA ; temp2 = headA ; temp = headA ; } // start two pointers from the head of the shorter linked list to find where they meet in the cycle do { temp1 = temp1. next ; temp2 = temp2. next. next ; } while ( temp1!= temp2 ) ; // reset one of the pointers to the head of the shorter linked list and move both the pointers one step at a time. while ( temp!= temp1 ) { temp = temp. next ; temp1 = temp1. next ; } // return the new node where both the pointers meet now. return temp1. data ; }
Analysis
The running time is an aggregate of all the traversals on the linked lists. We can define it as O(N) where N is the length of the longer linked list.
Space is almost constant O(1), we just use couple of pointers.
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Like this: Like Loading...Venture west of Twin Peaks and you will discover something very curious and strange, even by San Francisco standards: entire neighborhoods full of detached homes with a yard on all four sides.
Urban planners say this defies land-use logic, given the demand to live in San Francisco and the limited space of our small peninsula.
But District 7, which stretches from Mount Sutro to the ocean, is a unique and essential tile in the mosaic of our diverse city. It’s designed for families. It attracts people who seek a less frenetic pace and don’t mind a little more fog.
My husband and I own one of those detached homes. We enjoy the quiet surroundings and extra space for gardening while still being able to travel through the West Portal Muni tunnel to work downtown and access more lively parts of San Francisco.
I understand the anxiety westside residents feel upon hearing plans for San Francisco to build itself out of a housing shortage. We fear losing our quality of life if charming single-family homes are replaced with boxy condo towers and our neighborhoods become overrun with people and traffic.
Yet I’ve met an increasing number of longtime westside residents who are open to a reasonable amount of new housing along their transit corridors — as long as it doesn’t creep into the neighborhoods and is priced for working and middle-income families and seniors.
At first glance, Frank Noto fits the demographic I’d expect to oppose new development: He’s a senior, has owned his home nearly 30 years and is the president of his westside neighborhood association.
But the issue became personal for Noto, 65, when his adult daughter had to move back home along with her two children, ages 7 and 9. Noto’s daughter manages special education programs for San Francisco’s public elementary schools and can’t afford to live here.
“All my neighbors know people whose children cannot find homes of their own,” Noto said. “Decades of downzoning and anti-housing politics got us where we are today.”
Howard Strassner was a neighborhood leader in the 1970s, when he helped write the zoning code that restricted new construction on West Portal Avenue to a single story of 26 feet. He regrets it, especially since three Muni lines serve the area.
“The height limit was silly,” said Strassner, who is now in his 70s and wishes West Portal offered elevator condos with Muni access so he can stay in the neighborhood he loves when he can no longer maintain a large home and navigate the stairs.
Strassner also said downsizing from his home would free it up for a young family who needs the extra bedrooms.
I imagine several stories of ownership housing above retail along westside Muni lines would benefit everyone living in the nearby neighborhoods.
First, the creation of more homeowners will give westsiders more allies to vote down the parcel taxes that City Hall uses as an ATM. The new residents would also create demand for better amenities in the commercial areas.
Currently, every westside business district has stretches of shuttered storefronts, punctuated by the occasional vape shop or massage parlor. I’d certainly like more quality options for shopping and dining.
I’ve talked to a number of westside seniors who say it’s possible to help solve San Francisco’s housing crisis while preserving — even improving — westside neighborhoods.
One of my favorite ideas is from 78-year-old Eugene Lew, a retired architect. He recently designed a five-story elevator building in which all 15 units are 1,400 square feet, have three bedrooms and a parking space. It’s perfect for keeping families in San Francisco and would fit nicely on a transit corridor — or a section of the unused Balboa Reservoir near Ocean Avenue.
“Five stories is a useful height,” Lew said. “You can house more people and keep a nice scale. At five stories, you can still whistle to your kid in the courtyard and call him to dinner.”
Talking to seniors like Noto, Strassner and Lew convinced me that we need to make sure the kids and grandkids of longtime residents will have a place to live when they start their own families.
The future of San Francisco depends on it.
Engardio is a member of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, representing the Westside. Email him at info@engardio.com
Click here or scroll down to commentby Sherilyn, Cherished Needle Creations in Project, quilting, Serger, sewing, Uncategorized Tags: baby blanket, baby quilts, family, free project, free serger project, quilt, serger, serger project, serger tip, sewing, sewing project, sewing tip
Last week we started a baby quilt by serger. I hope some of you are sewing this along with me and will send me pictures of your completed project.
Part 1 ended here:
Fabric Preparation for Borders
Cut the following from Border 1 fabric AND from batting:
2 – 2 ½” x 30”*
2 – 2 ½” x 38”*
*Cut borders 2” longer than length needed.
Let’s put these borders on, shall we?
The reason I suggested you cut your borders 2″ longer than the length needed is to give you a little wiggle room at each end. As we practice quilt-as-you-go by serger, I find that sometimes my fabric shifts at the beginning of my seam. I have gotten to where this rarely happens any more, but this extra length will help alleviate that, if you find it happens to you.
CUT BACKING STRIPS:
I just realized I forgot to tell you to cut your backing strips as well, so now go ahead and cut 4 backing strips to match your border 1 and batting strips. These backing strips might match the backing for the central square, but that is not necessary. This is a perfect opportunity to have a pretty pieced backing.
The order of the borders, based on the measurements I gave above, is to serge the top and bottom borders first, followed by the side borders.
For serger quilt-as-you-go, you will layer your fabric from the table up as follows, with top raw edges matching:
Backing strip: RIGHT side UP (green in picture)
Quilt sandwich: RIGHT side UP (pieced in picture)
Border fabric: WRONG side UP (orange in picture)
Batting: on top.
The raw edges are not aligned in this picture, but you want to align them.
Start your border strips about 1″ before the central square. Pin all layers together carefully.
*Pinning Recommendation: I use LONG quilting pins when I serge. I will often pin parallel to the edge, which keeps my pins out of my knife, but if I pin perpendicular to the edge I place my pins so they hang off the edge of the fabric about an inch. That way they are both easy to see and easy to remove. NEVER serge over a pin. I have only had to replace my knife once in 12 years, and that was after serging over 1 pin. That is all it takes.
**If you find your fabric edges slip and slide around despite pinning, use glue in the seam allowances to hold them together. I use glue stick or Elmer’s blue gel a lot, especially when serging. If the glue does not dry fast enough, iron the two fabric layers together as you glue and it will dry quickly.
Serger Setting for SERGING SEAMS:
4 Thread Overlock
Stitch Width: Widest Setting
Stitch Length: 3 mm
Serge the long seam trimming off an even amount.
Flip the border pieces out from the center and press on both sides. Press to flatten seam as much as possible, pulling on the fabric against the seam to be sure it was caught in the stitching everywhere.
Change serger stitch or cutting width to narrowest width and serge baste the long edge, without trimming, to hold the 3 layers (backing, batting, and border) together. * As you serge, continue to smooth the fabric out from the seam to be sure the raw edges meet and all layers are caught in the basting.
Return stitch or cutting width back to widest setting.
Repeat for opposite border.
You can cut off the 1″ of border that hangs off each end with a rotary cutter to square up the center, or cut it off when serging the side borders.
Arrange the fabrics the same way as explained above for the side borders, serge, press, and baste outer edge.
BORDER 2
Cut border 2 fabric, batting, and backing strips as follows:
2 – 4″ x 32″
2 – 4″ x 42″
Repeat the same procedure with the first borders. When you are finished your outer edge should be completely squared up, basted and ready for binding. If your quilt needs additional squaring up, it is fine to trim away some of the serger basting. If you trim away all of the stitching in an area, rebaste that section without trimming on the serger to hold the layers together.
BINDING Prep:
Coming up in the last installment of this series will be adding a straight grain binding with a faux serger piping.
1/2 yard binding fabric.
Cut 5 strips 2 1/2″ x WOF (Width of fabric).
Thread: at least 2 spools of 40 wt. polyester or rayon embroidery thread, or 1 spool of a 12 weight decorative thread like Sulky Blendables, Jean Stitch, or Pearl Crown Rayon.
Part 3 Binding here.
Until next time,
Sherilyn
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Cheddar Garlic ButterWith the tragic second Ebola case in Dallas, germs are emphatically in the news. Ebola is particularly prominent because it you get it, you’ll die horribly, after costing the taxpayers millions in Ebolacare. (The fact that you’re not hearing more jokes about Ebolacare and headlines calling the president “Barack Hussein Ebola” is because it would be racist. Suggestion: elect a president you’re allowed to to make fun of.)
You all know what germs are, but do you remember where you learned? I learned about germs many years ago, in both in school and at home. There was some kind of Golden Book of the History Of Medicine for children that I read, and it had the history of the Great Men of Medicine.
Hippocrates and Galen, in in ancient Greece, Vesalius who invented anatomy, in spite of medieval objections to dissecting human bodies, Morton and Liston who performed the first operations with ether, Van Leeuwenhoek, the Dutch inventor of the microscope who saw “little animals” crawling about on scrapings from his teeth, Pasteur, who invented microbiology—and Joseph Lister, who invented antiseptic surgery. (These all seem to be white men, so maybe that book isn’t used today).
The Germ Theory of disease is a basic fact of life to you—but it didn’t just happen, someone had to discover it. Occasionally you will hear that whites committed genocide against “Native Americans” by giving them diseases. But in 1492, and for many years after, whites didn’t know much more about germs than the Indians did.
Similarly, we now have immigrants from primitive countries who don’t know that germs exist—and who, when you tell them, don’t believe it.
This is not a new problem. In the middle of the 19th Century, ships bringing the Famine Irish brought cholera with them, because of the crowded ships and the squalor of the receiving slums in America. I wrote about this in 2001 for VDARE.com: I called the article The Camp of Saint Patrick.
A later 19th century immigrant, an Irish woman from County Tyrone named Mary Mallon (1869 – 1938) who worked as a cook, became famous for being a typhoid fever carrier. She was asymptomatic, so she was never sick, but 53 of the people she cooked for got sick, and three of them died. She was confined for a while by the New York public health authorities, released and given a job in a laundry, where she wouldn’t infect people. Apparently she didn’t believe she was infectious, so she started cooking again under a false name.
After that, she was locked up for the rest of her life. She’s known as “Typhoid Mary”.
Mary Beth Keane, author of Fever, a novel about Typhoid Mary, wrote a piece in Time magazine, The History of Quarantine Is the History of Discrimination, [October 6, 2014] retroactively excusing Mallon and condemning the New York Public health authorities, saying they should have “educated” her.
Well, they tried to educate her—but Mallon refused to believe them. And Keane says essentially the same thing about Ebola carrier Thomas Duncan, who lied his way on to the plane from Africa:
“But when one moves the camera back and takes in the culture out of which that lie was born, including but not limited to the widespread denial among West Africans that Ebola is a disease at all (as opposed to a curse), it becomes far more complicated.” [Emphasis added]
Right! This is premodern thinking. Apparently women born in County Tyrone in 1869 couldn’t comprehend the Germ Theory of Disease, and neither could a Liberian—or a lot of current immigrants from primitive countries.
Mary Mallon from County Tyrone was a lot more modern than a Somali Bantu immigrant, who, according to refugee advocates, have never operated a doorknob until they came to America.
A Somali hut—no doorknobs, and not very sanitary.
She was also more modern than an Indian from the Mexican state of Chiapas, who in spite 500 years of Spanish colonialism, still haven’t even learned Spanish, let alone English.
Recently, we’ve seen a lot of diseases coming in from Mexico and Central America with the “minors”
As Ann Coulterwrote recently on the new surge of child migrants
“The Washington Times reported on the Homeland Security Inspector General’s finding[PDF] that detention facilities for illegal border-crossers are teeming with diseases because the guests don’t know how to take medicine or use toilets.
We also get Hmong immigrants, from Vietnam and surrounding areas. The Hmong are, in effect, the wild Indians of Southeast Asia, known to Vietnam veterans as Montagnards, who fought, some of them, with crossbows in Vietnam, and get in trouble over hunting laws in America, leading to one mass murder
But Hmong medical beliefs are primitive, too—see The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures, about an epileptic Hmong child whose parents insisted she was possessed.
I don’t know if Mary Mallon would have believed that one. But for more on immigrant weird beliefs and the hospitals, seeAmerica’s Health Care System Is “Possessed”—By Mass Third-World Immigration.
Disease can come in on Mexican produce, without any immigrants at all, because of the lower standards of Mexican public health. TV Doctor Dean Edell wrote in a 1999 book that
One reason you are getting these stomach bugs is that increasing quantities of our food come from foreign countries, where agriculture and foodhandllng standards are different. Call it the revenge of the global economy.Eat, Drink, And Be Merry[Emphasis added]
See
Of course, many of America’s food handling chores are now being done by people from these same foreign countries, so it now affects the American food industry.
Third World immigrants not only don't understand the germ theory of disease, they may refuse to believe it even if we teach it to them.
This is something we reported on in 2007, after a listeriosis outbreak
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Immigrant Hispanic Women Regarding Consumption of High-Risk Foods Hispanic/Latino immigrants are at high risk for listeriosis, a disease that can cause severe pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, stillbirth, uterine infection, premature labor, and death in the newborn period. The goal of CDC’s Futura Mama program is to assess community attitudes and knowledge about unpasteurized milk products (a common vehicle for listeriosis) and use this information to develop culturally sensitive disease prevention strategies. Eight focus groups were conducted in a Hispanic/Latino immigrant community in Georgia. Most participants reported regular consumption of homemade cheese and thought that unpasteurized milk and milk products are healthier and tastier than store-bought products. None of the participants were aware of listeriosis, of other infections related to unpasteurized milk products, or of the association between infection and pregnancy complications. Women <32 years of age were more likely than those >32 years to accept the idea that health risks are associated with unpasteurized milk products. The study concluded that public health messages delivered through in-person formats (workshops and discussion groups) and mass media may be effective in reducing the risk of listeriosis in Hispanic/Latino communities.[Emphasis added] Centers for Disease Control, Immigrant and Border Infectious Disease Concerns for Women, November 2004
The Listeria germ is named after Sir Joseph Lister [1827 –1912] whom I read about in school. His pioneering work in sterile surgery was done between 1893 and 1897.
But word doesn’t seem to have reached rural Mexico, and now we have women in California making cheese literally in their bathtubs with no idea of what “insanitary” means. (See also Brenda Walker’s Mexico's Bathtub Cheese Spreads Tuberculosis in America.)
Tyler Cowen, the Open Borders economist, said on his blog Marginal Revolution that “Even a completed fence would not stop a virus…” [April 25, 2009]
In fact, diseases require vectors–the swine flu viruses were not hiking through the Sonoran Desert, wearing little tiny backpacks, carrying little tiny waterbottles, and singing Mexicanos, al grito de guerra in little tiny voices that you can't hear because they're only 200 nanometers tall.
The viruses come in with people—and an unguarded border that lets millions enter without inspection every year isn't helping.
What else isn’t helping is our refugee policy, which brings in people from premodern places like Liberia,
In a story about the cleanup of the apartment of Thomas Duncan, this sentence appears (hat tip, American Renaissance):
The four family members who are living there are among a handful who have been directed by the authorities to remain in isolation, following what officials said was a failure to comply with an order to stay home...[Delay In Dallas Ebola Cleanup As Workers Balk At Task, By Kevin Sack And Manny Fernandez, October 2, 2014]
Well, of course they failed to comply. They don’t know why it would be wrong.
But the real problem is that they’re in America at all—because America’s lawmakers have no more concept of “keeping out people from primitive societies” then the primitive societies do of germs. They believe that diversity in immigration is an unmixed good.
And that’s almost as superstitious as the belief that Ebola is caused by a curse.America's Most Smartest Model was an American reality television show that aired on VH1. The hosts were Ben Stein and Mary Alice Stephenson. The show attempted to find brains behind beauty in a series of challenges, and would grant the winner $100,000, a feature in an upcoming VO5 ad, and the title of America's Most Smartest Model.
The winner of the competition was 22 year-old VJ Logan from Grass Valley, California.
Contestants [ edit ]
Contestants
(ages stated are at start of filming)
Episodes [ edit ]
Balls, Cherries, Balloons, Tires [ edit ]
First aired October 7, 2007 (1.6M viewers)[2]
Sixteen budding models must convince academic Renaissance man Ben Stein and fashion industry guru Mary Alice Stephenson that they possess brains as well as beauty. But not everyone can spell success or walk and talk their way down a runway! Who will make the callback, and who will be sent packing?
Edge Challenge Winner: Daniel
Daniel Callback Challenge Winner: Brett
Brett Eliminated: Victoria, Gaston, Slavco, Jamie
Governor Of Presidents [ edit ]
The models must compete in a smarts-draining game show, where the prizes are clothes and props for a high-fashion photo shoot. The losers have to face the camera completely naked. Later, cultures clash and passions ignite as the models are forced to work in teams of two, and one is shown the door.
Edge Challenge Winners: Rachael Murphy, Pickel
Rachael Murphy, Pickel Callback Challenge Winners: Rachael Murphy, Pickel
Rachael Murphy, Pickel Bottom Four: Daniel, Jesse, Mandy Lynn, Erika
Daniel, Jesse, Mandy Lynn, Erika Eliminated: Erika
Balm and Gilad [ edit ]
Twelve models must eat and exercise to win their way to the next callback. Several models gang up on the loudmouth of the house. Will one of them eat crow or face being purged from the competition?
Special Guest Star: Gilad Janklowicz
Gilad Janklowicz Edge Challenge Winners: VJ, Pickel, Brett
VJ, Pickel, Brett Callback Challenge Winner: Brett
Brett Bottom Three: Rachel Myers, Jesse, Mandy Lynn
Rachel Myers, Jesse, Mandy Lynn Eliminated: Mandy Lynn
Night of The Hairy Grizilla Monster [ edit ]
Bill Nye the Science Guy helps the ten remaining models present a science fair. Can they succeed in electrifying the judges or will it blow up in their faces? Nerds may be smart, but can the models turn their pale, hairy teammates into tanned gods for the camera?
Special Guest Star: Bill Nye
Bill Nye Edge Challenge Winners: Daniel, Angela
Daniel, Angela Callback Challenge Winners: Andre, Rachael Murphy
Andre, Rachael Murphy Bottom Three: Rachel Myers, Lisa, Jesse
Rachel Myers, Lisa, Jesse Eliminated: Jesse
That's Not How I Like My Pork! [ edit ]
A field trip to a high school science classroom puts the body-conscious models' knowledge of anatomy to the test...literally. And when one model's underhanded tactics during a commercial shoot inflame everyone's tempers, someone gets left out in the cold.
Edge Challenge Winner: Daniel
Daniel Callback Challenge Winner: VJ
VJ Bottom Two: Rachel Myers, Lisa
Rachel Myers, Lisa Eliminated: Lisa
Are You Ready to Rhombus? [ edit ]
Eight models find themselves boxed into a geometric mess. Fashion designer Santino helps them design and model their own clothing. But tempers flare, alliances form and not everyone makes the cut.
Edge Challenge Winners: Pickel, Brett
Pickel, Brett Callback Challenge Winners: Pickel, Brett
Pickel, Brett Bottom Four: VJ, Rachael Murphy, Daniel, Rachel Myers
VJ, Rachael Murphy, Daniel, Rachel Myers Eliminated: Rachel Myers
Many Happy Returns? [ edit ]
A birthday bash becomes a disaster as the seven models discover they must network with LA's top fashion agents and fashionistas—after they've had one too many! One model has a melt down, but can the others keep their cool?
Edge Challenge Winner: VJ
VJ Callback Challenge Winner: Andre
Andre Bottom Three: Angela, Rachael, Daniel
Angela, Rachael, Daniel Eliminated: Daniel
Let's Play, Hide The Pick |
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Untested vaal pact tree
http://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgABAv4EBwSzBbUOSBGWFkAWbxa_Gjgc3B0UJP0mlScvKgsqOC0fLagwcTWSNj06QjpYOyg8BUGWQsNGcUbXSshLV0t4TLNQMFFHVUtVxlcpXfJh4mKsY0NmnmyMbqpvnnBScFZw1XGFdwd_xoKbguSDCYPbhX2HE4nTiq-MNo2_jmSPRpARkBuQVZMnlSCaE5o7m6GcpJ2qn9-iAKKjqW6smK6zsUKxkLQMtMW18rb6t9a-vMAawGbA48HzwuzQ9dQj2L3audtZ217b1N2o34TjauOE51TsOO988B_xs_Pq96b31_rS_gr_3g==
Experimental acuity tree I run now
http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgAAAv4EswW1DkgPqxEPEZYWQBZvFr8aOB0UJP0mlScvKgstqDBxNj06QjpYPAU8LUGHQZZCw0bXS1dLeEyzTP9QMFFHUzVVS1XGVyld8mHiYqxjQ2aeaHRo8myMb55wUnBWcNVxhXcHgpuDCYPbhX2HE4nTjDaNv45kj0aQG5BVlKCaE5o7m6GbtZyknaqf36IArJius69ssJKxQrGQtMW2-rc-t9bAGsBmwOPC7MM6xq7KStD11CPYTdi92mLaudtZ217b1N2o34TjauOE51TsOO988B_xs_Pq96b31_no-tL-Cv-T_94=
Good alternative acuity tree, doom cast and arcane potency can be replaced by more life. Very little requirements from the rings since we get so much resists from the tree
https://poebuilder.com/character/AAAAAgAAAv4EswW1DkgRDxGWFkAWvxo4JP0mlScvKgstqDBxNj06QjpYPAVBlkLDRtdLV0t4TLNQMFFHVUtVxlcpXfJh4mKsY0NmnmyMb55wUnBWcNVxhXcHgpuDCYPbhX2HE4nTjDaNv5AbkFWaE5o7nKSdqp_fogCsmK6zsJKxQrGQtMW31sAawGbA48Ls0PXUI9i92rnbWdte29TdqN-E44TnVOw473zwH_Gz8-r_k__elS4HHsHzoqN_xi0flSBKyG6qtfI1kpARiq-C5L68HNyTJ7QMRnGPRh0U-tL315uhtvr3po5kSVHw1fIdZJ3r9Y_6
Gear
Few things are mandatory for this build:
Since I rely on having 7 power charges and don't want to waste a socket for pcoc volls is the best choice
Not much to say here, by far the best crit helm in the game, it also gives nice attack speed
Good cold damage and cold leech
Probably the most important after volls, using vagan's dagger saves getting any accuracy on gear or tree
Extra 4% max res and some spell damage on shield, you can of course use a rare shield with more damage if you feel like you need it but this one will also give a boost reflect defence
for the rest of the items all you really need is as much life as possible and 2% mana leech:
Slight Update:
Those rings allow dropping clarity and running double purity instead
Few things are mandatory for this build:Since I rely on having 7 power charges and don't want to waste a socket for pcoc volls is the best choiceNot much to say here, by far the best crit helm in the game, it also gives nice attack speedGood cold damage and cold leechProbably the most important after volls, using vagan's dagger saves getting any accuracy on gear or treeExtra 4% max res and some spell damage on shield, you can of course use a rare shield with more damage if you feel like you need it but this one will also give a boost reflect defencefor the rest of the items all you really need is as much life as possible and 2% mana leech:Slight Update:Those rings allow dropping clarity and running double purity instead
Links
My mapping setup is
Molten strike + cast on crit + multistrike + Increased AoE + Ice nova + glacial cascade
Highest dps setup:
Molten strike + cast on crit + multistrike + Conc effect + Glacial cascade + flame surge/cold snap
5L setup:
Molten strike + cast on crit + multistrike + Ice nova + glacial cascade
Auras:
Herald of thunder + Herald of ice + purity of ice + purity of fire
Dps
I could use some help with calculations
With current setup I kill second phase palace dominus with extra life in 4s or slightly less
Avg dmp for spells:
13k flame surge
9k glacial cascade
Defence
Videos
sloppy death (forgot I didn't have acuity and tried to tank bosses... + another one to desync and no acuity again)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJqtcJXKwLI&feature=youtu.be
solo palace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrxxmlfHpYk&feature=youtu.be
Please post any questions and suggestions and I'll gladly answer. Also big thanks to Ozzzono for help with theorycrafting and Jobless_torment for recording the video Hello everyone, a few people asked me if I can write a build guide after seeing me run this build.Without going into too much detail, I wanted a build that can clear at a reasonable speed and be able to do single target damage. I also wanted to avoid cyclone and discharge since those cause huge amounts of desync in my case, that's how I came up with this.Edit:Using two eleron rings allows double purity and sustaining of the skill casting without problemsHere's my current passive tree, I'll be adding a lower level one shortlyPlease post any questions and suggestions and I'll gladly answer. Also big thanks to Ozzzono for help with theorycrafting and Jobless_torment for recording the video Last edited by skedra on May 20, 2015, 8:23:52 AMSchalke general manager Horst Heldt has confirmed that Arsenal lodged formal bids for Julian Draxler on more than one occasion, including in January.
Revealing that bids from the Gunners have been big, just not big enough, the Bundesliga outfit made clear that they were the ones who prevented the 20-year-old German international making the move to the Emirates.
“There was an official enquiry from Arsenal in winter but we decided not to release him,” Heldt told SPORT1.
“It was not the first time Arsenal had made a bid. It was a lot of money, but it wasn’t enough for us.”
Asked if there was any truth in reports of an offer from Bayern Munich, Heldt replied: “No, definitely not.”
Draxler is understood to have a £37 million buyout clause which kicks in again at the end of the season and the Gunners will likely reignite their interest in a player tipped to shine at the World Cup.Calling 2016 the "year of the outsider," former Vice President Dan Quayle told CNBC on Thursday that Donald Trump can beat Hillary Clinton.
"He knows how to win," Quayle, who's backing Trump, said in a "Squawk Box" interview. "He knocked off 16 Republican and a lot of them were really good, solid people and would have been good presidents."
Trump arrived at GOP headquarters in Washington on Thursday to meet with House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said last week he's "not ready" to support the businessman-turned-presumptive-GOP-presidential nominee. The two hope to open a dialogue aimed at unifying the Republican Party.
Quayle, vice president under George H.W. Bush, said he "not going to get into Paul Ryan's head," but believes the speaker was buying time with those comments because Texas Sen. Ted Cruz folded so quickly after Indiana.
"[Trump] is going to find out as he starts to go around Capitol Hill, folks in Congress, they need a lot of stroking. You got to be nice. He can be nice when people are nice to him," Quayle said.
Quayle said Trump, if elected president, will have to deal with Ryan.
"In business, you try to get a deal, it doesn't work out; guess what, you just go onto the next deal," Quayle said. "In this situation as you're president, if you don't get a deal, you go on to the next deal but you're dealing with the same people."
Quayle predicted Ryan will come around because "a great majority of his caucus will support Donald Trump, without qualification."
The obvious choices for Trump's running mate would be former GOP presidential rivals Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida or Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Quayle said.
"But the one I think would be a really good choice, not on too many people's lists is... Rob Portman," the Republican senator from Ohio, Quayle said. "Look at his background — congressman, trade representative, OMB director, U.S. senator — he's got it all."Dorian Yates Mini-Seminar | On Blood Tests, Steroids & More
Written by Team MD
19 October 2018
Dorian Yates Mini-Seminar
On Blood Tests, Steroids to Get Ripped, Free Weights vs. Machines
Get Blood Work Done If You Suspect Low Test Levels
Q: I am 27 years old and I think I have a testosterone deficiency. I went to my doctor and asked for some tests, but they are very expensive and I can’t afford them at this time. I have all the symptoms of low natural testosterone. Some time ago I took tribulus and D-aspartic acid. When I took them, I felt like another man, like I took my head and put it on another body. After that I had like a medium crash, felt bad for one week and then returned to my normal state. And honestly, I’m thinking about taking PEDs, more exactly testosterone. PLEASE, tell me what do you think about all this?
A: Unless you actually went and had a blood test, you can’t say for sure whether or not your testosterone levels are low. At your age, it’s rare; but that’s not to say it doesn’t happen. Self-diagnoses are sometimes accurate. If you felt the symptoms of low T and these were reversed with the use of those supplements, this does indicate that you very likely do have a deficiency. Typically, bringing a man’s test levels up from low to normal results in increased muscle mass and strength, as well as improved energy and a higher sex drive.
I should note for the reader’s sake that all tribulus products aren’t equally effective. Those with higher saponin levels of the plant are better, just as marijuana with higher THC levels has a very different effect as opposed to hemp, the same plant but lacking THC.
As for your question about self-administering testosterone, I can’t condone it as a legitimate means of replacement therapy only because you would need blood tests to confirm you have low T, and then follow-up blood work to be sure the amount you are taking is bringing your T levels to the proper range. You can “wing it” as many do, but if at all possible you’re better off doing this under the supervision of a doctor.
Steroids Don’t Get You Ripped
Q: What are the best steroids for cutting?
A: The idea that there are certain steroids for “bulking” and others best suited to “cutting” is a longstanding misconception. The fact is, all steroids are synthetic versions of the hormone testosterone. The various types do fall more to one end of the anabolic/androgenic ratio. The ones that are further on the androgenic end of the scale would include testosterone, Dianabol, and Anadrol. These give greater gains in muscle mass and strength, but they also have a higher conversion rate to estrogen. As such, they will cause greater water retention as well as side effects like acne, hair loss and gynecomastia in many individuals, unless other drugs to counter the estrogen are used in conjunction with them.
Steroids that are more toward the anabolic end of that scale include items like Anavar, Winstrol and Primobolan. They don’t tend to give the same gains as the previously mentioned steroids, but they won’t raise estrogen levels or cause extreme water retention. Because of this, gym lore decreed that these were the best drugs for “cutting.” The truth is, if you take those particular steroids and don’t eat a clean diet and add in cardio, you won’t be getting any leaner regardless. Steroids build muscle or at least maintain muscle when dieting to lose fat. They don’t get you ripped, sorry to say.
Free Weights vs. Machines
Q: Years ago Arthur, Jones used to prescribe all-machine workouts, using his Nautilus brand of course. Now we have so many other excellent makes and models of machines. Assuming that muscles only know resistance and can’t differentiate between weight on a barbell or dumbbell versus weight on a Hammer Strength or Cybex machine, do you think it’s possible for a bodybuilder to get the same results with his physique using all machines as if he used both machines and free weights? Why or why not?
A: First off, I think it’s worth noting that even though there are a much wider variety of machines today, I wouldn’t agree that they have advanced so much. In fact, some of the old Nautilus machines produced in the 1970s and early 1980s with the kidney-shaped cams are still among the best ever, as they provided even resistance throughout the entire range of motion. It’s also interesting to note that the original Hammer Strength machines, also considered some of the best machines ever produced, were designed by Arthur Jones’ son, Gary Jones. That being said, both machines and free weights have their pros and cons.
The best feature about free weights is that barbells and dumbbells allow you to move in your body’s own natural planes based on your own particular structure, the length of your limbs, and so on. You and I might not do our barbell curls the exact same way because we aren’t identical. Machines force you to follow one predetermined plane of motion, which may or may not be ideal for you. Another selling point of free weights is that they tend to overload the mid-range of most exercises, which usually gives better results than the resistance being evenly distributed over the entire range of motion as machines do. One advantage of machines is that techniques like forced reps and negatives are easier to perform safely.
I do believe it’s possible to build a great physique using all machines. Throughout my pro career, my leg workout was done entirely with machines: leg extensions, leg press, hack squats or squats on the Smith machine, leg curls and calf raises. My back workout was mostly done with machines and cables: Nautilus pullovers, Hammer pulldowns, barbell rows, seated cable rows and deadlifts. I simply felt some free-weight exercises were superior to the machine version, but I am pretty sure I could have been Mr. Olympia using all machines. Muscle growth is all about overloading the muscle with sufficient weight and intensity of effort, regardless of the tools you use to achieve that.
Shadow Warrior DVD
Check out my DVD, “Dorian Yates: Shadow Warrior”, it’s quite comprehensive. It features early photos and video footage of me, seminar and contest clips, as well as footage of me training Chris Cormier, Evan Centopani, Kai Greene and others. It’s available now and you can get yours at www.DorianYates.net. You can watch a trailer at www.theshadow-warrior.com.
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READ MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS IN THE TRAINING SECTIONBEIJING (AP) China's Defense Ministry is demanding that the U.S. Navy end surveillance missions off China's southern coast following a weekend confrontation between an American vessel and Chinese ships. In its first public comment on the issue, the ministry has repeated earlier Chinese statements that the unarmed U.S. ship was operating illegally inside China's exclusive economic zone. MORE: Bad parallels seen in Chinese naval clash Ministry spokesman Huang Xueping said in a statement faxed Thursday to reporters that, "The Chinese side's carrying out of routine enforcement and safeguarding measures within its exclusive economic zone was entirely appropriate and legal." Huang said: "We demand the United States respect our legal interests and security concerns, and take effective measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents." Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read moreThe Republican front-runner said if he became president he would “shake the rust off America’s foreign policy” and would rebuild the US military.
He said America’s military would be so strong that no-one would ever think of attacking the country again.
The major speech came a day after he scored a cleansweep of victories in five Northeastern US tates that moved him closer to capturing the Republican presidential nomination.
He explained that US military dominance “must be unquestioned by anybody and everybody.”
He added that “Islamic State’s days are numbered” as he vowed to defend Christianity in the Middle East.He continued: “We have done nothing to help the Christians in the Middle East. We should be ashamed of ourselves”We left Christians subject to intense persecution and even genocide.”
REUTERS Trump won all five states in yesterday’s primaries
In a surprise move for a Republican candidate, he said that America was “getting out of the nation building business and into creating stability in the world.”The bombastic politician also hit out at Obama’s policies, labelling his legacy as “weakness, confusion and disarray.”He said Obama had “helped bring the Muslim Brotherhood to power” in Egypt.Mr Trump also promised to make US allies bear more of the financial burden for their defence and pay their fair share.He said: “The countries we defend must pay for the cost of this defence.
REUTERS Trump delivered a withering critique of Barack Obama’s foreign policy
Trump said the legacy of the Obama reign would be “weakness, confusion and disarray”
“If not, the U.S. must be prepared to let these countries defend themselves. We have no choice.”The New York billionaire used a teleprompter for the speech as he begins to broaden his appeal to American voters following his often bombastic and off-the-cull style.
IG Trump said Obama has let China take advantage of the United States
Via: express.co.uk Mr Trump told the packed press conference that he would seek better relations with Russia and China.He said “an easing of tensions with Russia from a position of strength” is possible.He also spoke about Obama’s failures in foreign policy which have let China take advantage of the United States. Read More:
https://www.savemysweden.com/palestinian-deceiving-western-donor-countries/The Cincinnati Bengals have experimented with rookie tailback Giovani Bernard as a wide receiver in spring practices, but the coaching staff isn't ready to pigeonhole the second-round draft pick in the Darren Sproles passing-down specialist role.
As the first back selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, Bernard is more than just a sidekick to BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
Schein: A winning pair in Cincy? The Adam Schein still questions coach Marvin Lewis and QB Andy Dalton.
The Bengals have made the last two postseasons, butstill questions coach Marvin Lewis and QB Andy Dalton. More...
"Having evaluated (Bernard) and watched every game he played this year and had a chance to work him out, and having spent a lot of time with him," running backs coach Hue Jackson said, via the team's official website, "he has that skill set where I think he could play and be an every-down player."
We've heard similar sentiments from the Atlanta Falcons regarding diminutive back Jacquizz Rodgers, only to see him limited to a change-of-pace role. Even if a back is capable of handling all three downs, his optimal role might be considerably less.
If Bernard is as talented as his coaches believe, he will be the stronger half of a one-two punch with Green-Ellis. The Bengals will be thrilled if Bernard emerges as the James Brooks to Green-Ellis' Ickey Woods.
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.Andrea Stramaccioni: Backed to turn things around at Inter
The Nerazzurri dropped to seventh in the Serie A table following Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Cagliari - the Milan club's fourth loss in five league outings - with the last Champions League place now nine points away with six games remaining.
Two more key players joined a lengthy injury list on Monday, with midfielder Walter Gargano and defender Yuto Nagatomo both suffering leg injuries to leave Inter with a selection dilemma ahead of Wednesday night's Coppa Italia semi-final meeting with Roma.
But it is the serious personnel crisis - which has seen senior strikers Rodrigo Palacio and Diego Milito ruled out of several important fixtures - that convinces Moratti his 36-year-old coach has been working at a clear disadvantage for most of the season.
He told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "I can't do anything else but support Stramaccioni, based on all the difficulties we've had to deal with this season.
"We are going through a difficult and quite dramatic season. In terms of the injuries, I hope we can come up with a solution, but it will be difficult.
"But a little bit of invention and good luck could see us through."
Moratti has also invoked the anger of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) by suggesting match officials have regularly acted "without good faith" towards Inter, with other figures at the club publicly suggesting referees have favoured city rivals' AC Milan in their bid for a top-three finish.
The FIGC have summoned Moratti and his legal representatives to a disciplinary commission to examine his comments.
Meanwhile, Inter veteran Javier Zanetti says the priority now is to overcome Roma and reach the final of the Coppa Italia.
Zanetti told the club's official website: "We want to play well against Roma on Wednesday. There's no point talking about the match against Cagliari as we can't do anything about it. Now, we need to think about performing well on Wednesday.
"We'll try to prepare in the best possibly way for the match versus Roma and we hope to get a result that will see us into the final.
"At the end of the campaign, we'll look back and review everyone's performance. Then we'll begin to prepare for next season as we always do."Sweden has long been progressive on gender egalitarianism, and now its language is officially catching up. A gender-neutral pronoun, hen will join its binary counterparts han (he) and hon (she) in the new edition of Sweden’s official dictionary, helping Swedish speakers avoid the sort of linguistic gymnastics common in languages without a gender-neutral alternative.
Efficient in a variety of situations, hen, as AFP notes, can be used when you don’t know the gender identity of the person in question, when the person is transgender, when you don’t want to reveal a gender identity, or when gender identity simply seems irrelevant in context. It is one of 13,000 new words chosen by the Swedish Academy for inclusion in its updated dictionary, which will be made available on April 15. (Founded in 1786, the Swedish Academy is an independent cultural institution that works to uphold the “purity, vigor and majesty” of the Swedish language.)
Gender equality is, of course, a proud cultural tradition in Sweden, which currently ranks fourth on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, behind Iceland, Finland, and Norway. “Gender equality implies not only equal distribution between men and women in all domains of society,” the Swedish government proclaims on its website. ”It is also about the qualitative aspects, ensuring that the knowledge and experience of both men and women are used to promote progress in all aspects of society.”
Reuters/Bob Strong Swedish school children like these will grow up with an official gender-neutral pronoun.
Indeed, hen has been used in Sweden with varying success since its introduction in the 1960s. But the pronoun enjoyed a surge in popularity a few years ago, especially among early-childhood educators. “Sweden is really the pioneer,” Lann Hornscheidt, a professor of gender studies and linguistics at the Humboldt University’s Center for Transdisciplinary Gender Studies, told Newsweek last September. “No other country has made such an effort to break down gender barriers among children.”
While gender-neutral language already is prevalent in dozens of cultures around the world, Western society has been more reluctant to make official changes to the traditional masculine/feminine pronoun structure. According to Dennis Barons, a linguistics professor at the University of Illinois, more than 80 different English gender-neutral pronouns have been introduced since 1850; few, if any, have gained mainstream traction. (Instead, we commonly resort to stilted language or ungrammatical sentence construction.)
Perhaps Sweden’s high-profile codification of a more utilitarian concept will inspire other linguistically progressive nations to follow suit.
This article is part of Quartz Ideas, our home for bold arguments and big thinkers.Brocade on Monday said it will acquire Vyatta, a privately held company focused on network virtualization, with the aim of becoming a software defined networking leader.
Vyatta has network virtualization, software defined networking (SDN) and cloud computing platforms that Brocade will couple with its Ethernet fabric architecture. Brocade has been an early supporter of OpenFlow, a networking architecture.
Terms of the acquisition weren't disclosed, but Brocade said the Vyatta purchase was an all-cash deal.
SDNs have become a hot topic in the tech industry. SDNs have been around for a while, but the term took off when VMware bought Nicira. Since then, Oracle acquired Xsigo. Meanwhile, Cisco has also reiterated that it's a software-defined networking player and that it was there first. Citrix also partnered with Palo Alto Networks in an SDN inspired move.
In a nutshell, SDNs are used to run networks in a new way that abstracts hardware and allows it to be configured and managed from one place. The upshot to all of this is that networking gear will be virtualized just like servers were.
The promise of SDNs is that companies can reduce administrative costs (notably people) and create more agile networks. The catch is that Gartner estimates there is more than $40 billion of non-SDN compatible gear deployed. In other words, SDNs are more of a greenfield technology.
In a statement, Mike Klayko, CEO of Brocade, said the company is aiming to be an "innovation and thought leader in the software networking category."
Ken Cheng, vice president of Brocade's routing, application delivery and software networking group, said in an interview that the two companies have been partners well before the deal was announced. Cheng added that Brocade will announce more about platform and technology integration plans in 90 to 180 days.
Kelly Herrell, CEO of Vyatta, said the deal gives his company "a global partner who understands IT networking and has a product line our product line doesn't encroach on."
Cheng added the Vyatta purchase puts Brocade in a position to leapfrog Cisco and Juniper.
Vyatta's key asset is its networking operating system that focuses on routing, security and VPN services. Brocade will take that technology and integrate it with its virtualized data center applications.
For the IT buyer, the SDN rush is more about monitoring developments. Cheng said SDNs were a revolutionary, but would have an evolutionary adoption curve.Australia should consider whether immigration can continue at existing levels as part of a comprehensive population analysis aimed at determining how many people the country can support, the Federal Opposition says.
Concerns about infrastructure, housing and environmental sustainability should be considered when setting the number of people allowed to immigrate each year, Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said. ''Population policy is a legitimate debate we have to have and it should be free from any suggestion that it's related to race.''
Population policy was a void that needed to be filled, he said. ''It's getting to the point where we can't afford not to [have one]. We can't just keep going as is.''
Treasury modelling released last year forecast the population would increase more than half to 35 million by the middle of the century. The increase will come from migration, more women reaching child-bearing age and higher fertility rates.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd welcomed the modelling, saying he was in favour of a big Australia. But it prompted criticism from Labor backbencher Kelvin Thomson, who has questioned whether the country can support such a population.Leaders of Visegrad Group countries meeting in Warsaw on Thursday agreed to submit a joint proposal on reforms to the EU at an upcoming summit of the bloc.
The Visegrad Group – which groups the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – is to present its proposals at an informal EU summit in the Slovak capital Bratislava on 16 September.
The prime minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, said on Thursday that details of the proposals are to be worked out at meeting of the Visegrad Group in Poland in late August and early September.
Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło said British voters’ recent decision in a referendum to leave the EU was a "warning signal" that should trigger debate on reforming EU institutions.
Szydło said: "It's also an opportunity for change that will make the EU stronger, a global partner and finally a union that respects the decisions of sovereign states, national parliaments."
The EU in its current institutional form “does not meet the expectations of Europeans," she added at a joint press conference of Visegrad Group leaders.
She referred to Wednesday’s decision by the European Commission to overrule a protest by 11 EU member states, including Poland, against proposed equal pay rules for cross-border workers in the bloc.
"You can see that the European Commission is not fully drawing conclusions from what happened in the UK," she said.
Szydło also called for “further liberalization of the services and goods sector and creating optimal conditions for the competitiveness of European companies.”
Poland took over the rotating presidency of the Visegrad Group on 1 July. (pk)
Source: PAPAs the sun sets over the front line outside the Iraqi town of Makhmour, Sergeant Farsal Goran packs tobacco into a waterpipe. Behind him is the bare concrete building where he and his Kurdish comrades sleep in shifts. In front of him lie a wall of sandbags. Roughly a mile in the distance is a town held by ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria. Earlier in the day, his unit traded mortar fire with the ISIS fighters on the other side. Now the tension has eased. “It’s like a picnic,” one of them jokes. Goran prepares the shisha over a plastic table, then sits on the ground to smoke.
Makhmour is one major front in the battle between ISIS and the forces arrayed against it in northern Iraq. The town is roughly sixty miles south of Mosul. Once Iraq’s second largest city home to 2.5 million people, Mosul fell to ISIS during the group’s dramatic sweep across the border from Syria in June 2014. Today, Makhmour is a focal point of a much anticipated, but long-delayed operation to reclaim Mosul.
The Makhmour front is also a microcosm of the political stalemate that currently leaves the battle against ISIS stalled. Adjacent to the Kurdish units of the Kurdish Regional Government, nicknamed Peshmerga, the Iraqi national army is stationed. Also located in Makhmour is a base used by the U.S. military, which has quietly increased its forces in Iraq to more than 4,000, higher than any time since the U.S. withdrawal in 2011. It was in Makhmour that a U.S. Marine staff sergeant, Louis Cardin, 27, was killed in an ISIS attack on March 19.
While the Iraqi army, Kurds, U.S. military, and other forces are nominally allied against ISIS, no agreement exists among the various sides for how to conduct an operation to retake Mosul, or how to restore order, rebuild and govern in the aftermath. The gridlock means that a major Iraqi city, with an estimated 600,000 people still living inside, is trapped for the foreseeable future under ISIS rule.
Sgt. Farsal Goran looks at his cellphone as he sits with Majid Hamid, 32, while shisha is smoked at the front outside Makhmour, Iraq, May 8, 2016. Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIME
In Makhmour, the Kurds share the front with the Iraqi army. According to the commanders on the ground, the two forces coordinate daily, for example radioing each other when there are incoming mortars from the ISIS side. But the coordination does not go beyond this basic level.
“I don’t know what’s going on exactly. They don’t tell us,” says Colonel Abdulrahman Zebari, a commander leading Kurdish troops along the Makhmour front, referring to his colleagues in the Iraqi military. According to the commanders, if they are going to venture outside of what they regard as Kurdish territory, they need an order from the semi-autonomous Kurdish government. That, in turn, will take an agreement between the Kurdish leadership and the government in Baghdad.
“For now we’re not going to fight. We’re going to help the Iraqi army. These villages are not Kurdish villages,” Col. Zebari says. His forces will hold the line, he says, but they will not advance. “In the future I don’t know if we’re going to try to liberate them or not. We’re waiting for the order.”
The Iraqi military announced that it launched an operation to re-take Mosul on March 24, but for the moment the campaign has been limited to re-taking a handful of villages. In the meantime, ISIS fighters continue to launch attacks on Kurdish and Iraqi military forces, while the U.S.-led coalition continues its campaign of airstrikes on what it says are ISIS targets across Iraq and Syria. Iraqi and U.S. officials appear to be managing expectations. In an interview with CBS news in April, President Obama said, “My expectation is that by the end of the year, we will have created the conditions whereby Mosul will eventually fall.”
A quiet scene at a small Peshmerga outpost outside Makhmour, Iraq, May 8, 2016. Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIME
When ISIS seized Mosul in June 2014, the Iraqi army collapsed. Farsal Goran, the 29-year-old sergeant who is now deployed with the Kurds along the Makhmour front, had been a member of the Iraqi army when the fall came. He was deployed at Badoush Prison, near Mosul. As the jihadis approached, he and the rest of his unit abandoned the area. “Even the commanders ran away. There was no reason to stay,” he says. He fled to Kurdish lines at Mosul dam, he says, where Kurdish soldiers told him and other soldiers to remove their Iraqi army uniforms before proceeding to safety.
Goran’s Iraqi army unit included both Kurds as will as both Sunni and Shiite Muslim Arabs. He says his unit splintered along communal lines. Some of the Shiites joined the powerful Shiite militias. He and other Kurds joined the Kurdish forces. Some of the Sunnis, he says, stayed in Mosul and joined ISIS. He claims that some of them are still in contact with him, taunting him over Facebook. “They told me, Kurds are nothing without the Western forces. We’re coming to Kurdistan one day,” he says. His former comrades betrayal appear to have hardened him, and he now expresses ethnic bigotry. “The Arab doesn’t know how to think about the future,” he says. He inhales the shisha, exhales, and passes it on.
Contact us at editors@time.com.Asmir Begović ( Bosnian pronunciation: [âsmir bêːɡoʋitɕ]; born 20 June 1987) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club AFC Bournemouth and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, for which he is vice-captain.
Begović started his professional career with English club Portsmouth, signing for them in the summer of 2003 |
I don't think that way. I've been kind of humbled enough by my own neuroses along the way. I've experienced too much humiliation and depression and sadness to grab my cock and begin slapping people in the head with it. I have a great deal of empathy for what people go through. My brother died last year of a drug overdose, which was the shittiest thing that ever happened to me. People always get the wrong idea about me. There's this idea that I'm this sunny guy living in California making little pop videos and fucking beautiful women - my life isn't like that."
Not for the first time, it seems, everyone is wrong about McG.
• Terminator Salvation is out on FriDetroit Lions rookie punter Sam Martin has been named the NFC's special teams player of the week. He is the Lions' first punter in 20 years to win the award, dating to Jim Arnold in 1993. Martin boomed six punts an average 52.5 yards last weekend in a 27-20 win against the Washington Redskins. That includes rocketing one 72 yards into the end zone, the club's longest punt since Tom Skladany had a 74-yarder against Oakland in 1981. Detroit drew some fire for selecting the Appalachian State punter in the fifth round of April's draft, but the move has paid off. Martin's net average is 42.7 yards, sixth in the NFL. Last year, Lions punter Nick Harris' net average was 37.6 yards per attempt, which ranked 26th. His long was 58 yards.WASHINGTON/NEW YORKWASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that actions by former national security adviser Michael Flynn during the presidential transition were lawful, and that he had had to fire him because Flynn had lied to the FBI and the vice president.
The president's comment suggested he may have known Flynn lied to the FBI before he urged the FBI director not to investigate his former adviser, legal experts said. But they noted that it was unclear from the tweeted comment exactly what the president knew when.
Flynn is the first member of Trump's administration to plead guilty to a crime uncovered by special counsel Robert Mueller's wide-ranging investigation into Russian attempts to influence last year's U.S. presidential election and possible collusion by Trump aides.
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"I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies," Trump said on Twitter while he was in New York for a fundraising trip. "It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!"
Flynn, who on Friday pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia, is a former Defense Intelligence Agency director who was Trump’s national security adviser only for 24 days. He was forced to resign after he was found to have misled Vice President Mike Pence about his discussions with Russia's then-ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak.
"What has been shown is no collusion, no collusion," Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for the New York trip. "There’s been absolutely no collusion, so we’re very happy."
Establishing when Trump was told Flynn lied to the FBI agents could be key to determining if the president acted improperly.
According to a person familiar with the matter, during a conversation between White House counsel Don McGahn and then-acting attorney general Sally Yates in January, Yates told McGahn that Flynn had told FBI agents the same thing he had told Pence.
This was the same conversation reported earlier this year in which Yates told McGahn that Flynn had misled the vice president about his conversations with the Russian ambassador and that he might be compromised, the person said.
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However, Yates did not give McGahn the impression that the FBI was actively pursuing Flynn for lying, the source said. McGahn did not believe the FBI was investigating Flynn for lying because the bureau had not revoked his security clearance, the person said.
McGahn shared the information from Yates with the president, the person said.
A lawyer for McGahn did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Yates did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Legal experts said if Trump knew Flynn lied to the FBI and then pressured then-FBI director James Comey not to investigate him, that would be problematic.
If that were the case Trump's tweet "absolutely bolsters an obstruction of justice charge," said Jimmy Gurule, a former federal prosecutor and a law professor at Notre Dame University. "It is evidence of the crucial question of whether Trump acted with a corrupt intent."
In May, the president fired Comey, who later accused Trump of trying to hinder his investigation into the Russia allegations. Comey also said he believed Trump had asked him to drop the FBI's probe into Flynn.
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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a fundraising event in New York, U.S., December 2, 2017. Reuters/Yuri Gripas U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a fundraising event in New York, U.S., December 2, 2017. Reuters/Yuri Gripas U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, U.S., December 2, 2017. Reuters/Yuri Gripas U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before departing the White House for New York in Washington, U.S., December 2, 2017. Reuters/James Lawler Duggan U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., before his departure to New York, December 2, 2017. Reuters/Yuri Gripas FILE PHOTO: A combination photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L), on February 28, 2017, White House National Security Advisor Michael Flynn (C), February 13, 2017. Reuters/Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool, Carlos Barria/File Photo U.S. President Donald Trump departs the White House for New York in Washington, U.S., December 2, 2017. Reuters/James Lawler Duggan U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., before his departure to New York, December 2, 2017. Reuters/Yuri Gripas U.S. President Donald Trump departs the White House for New York in Washington, U.S., December 2, 2017. Reuters/James Lawler Duggan
Andrew Wright, a professor at Savannah Law School, said the tweet is open to interpretation and that Trump's lawyer would downplay its significance.
White House attorney Ty Cobb referred questions about the president's tweet to Trump's personal attorney, John Dowd, who described it as a “paraphrase" of a statement Cobb had made on Friday reacting to Flynn's guilty plea.
According to a person familiar with the matter, Dowd composed the tweet.
The tweet is "bizarre and helpful to Mueller and hurtful to the president," said Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor in Chicago now at the law firm Thompson Coburn. "It's one more piece of evidence that helps show the president's intent when he fired Comey."
As part of his plea on Friday, Flynn agreed to cooperate with the investigation.
The retired U.S. Army lieutenant general admitted in a Washington court that he lied to FBI investigators about his discussions last December with Kislyak.
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In what appeared to be moves undermining the policies of outgoing President Barack Obama, the pair discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia, and Flynn asked Kislyak to help delay a United Nations vote seen as damaging to Israel, according to prosecutors.
Flynn was also told by a "very senior member" of Trump's transition team to contact Russia and other foreign governments to try to influence them ahead of the U.N. vote, the prosecutors said.
Sources told Reuters the "very senior" transition official was Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor. Kushner's lawyer did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Separately, speaking at a defense conference in California on Saturday, Trump's current national security advisor H.R. McMaster said he saw no evidence that the indictment of Flynn, his immediate predecessor, was hurting U.S. national security.
“There’s tremendous confidence, I think there’s more confidence in the United States frankly. I think there’s a sense that we’re re-engaging in areas where we had largely disengaged,” he said.Captain America: Civil War is currently shooting in Germany before hitting a couple more international locations, and they're doing a bit of exterior work, which has exposed Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther to prying photographers. This picture popped up on Instagram showing Black Panther and The Winter Soldier climbing up on a roof:
I want to take a closer look at that costume:
It's not a great look at the costume, but it does confirm that the image handed out at Marvel's El Capitan presentation last year are the look they're going for. I like the ears, and the silver doodaddery looks nice and breaks up the figure well. It's another Marvel full-face mask, which allows the actor to spend less time in the costume (and which goes against previous conventional wisdom that you can't hide an actor's face the whole movie).
What's interesting is that T'Challa is seen here with Bucky Barnes, despite recent reports saying that they fight on opposite sides of the Civil War. Could this be before the sides are drawn? Or will we see characters switching sides as the story progresses?"It's a Big World Little Pig is simply a charming story that is beautifully illustrated by Tim Bowers. I loved the illustrations just as much as the story itself. I always found Kristi Yamaguchi's performances on ice to be amazing to watch, and I get that same warm feeling reading her novel. There's a strong message about overcoming fear that will benefit children too...It's definitely a book to add to your shelves." - Roundtable Reviews
"My 7 year old daughter wanted to read it as soon as she saw this book. The illustrations are fun in the bright colors that she loves; they make the reader smile right along with Poppy." - Jendi's Journal
"Here are my 6 year old niece's thoughts: It was good. I liked the book. I liked how she didn't get nervous and made friends. I liked that she got to see her parents. And they got to go all over Paris - and see the Eiffel Tower (that was very cool)." - Jennifer's Reviews
"Another sweet confection..." - Kirkus
"A delightful tale of perseverance. I shared this with my two daughters, 4 and 7, and they thoroughly enjoyed the story." - Linda Sawyer
"I read this book to my daughters the other night and ever since they have been asking me to read it over and over again. I have to say as a parent I have no problem with this as the messages contained within are ones that I want my daughters to learn and to live on a daily basis. This was a great book that I highly recommend!" - Dad of Divas
" Her new book is as expected equally adorable to her first book...Classy Mommy Approved!" - Classy Mommy
"This ranks as one of the best kids book I've read in a long time. There are just so many great messages in It's a Big World, Little Pig! I can definitely see Kristi channeling some of her own personal experiences into this book." - Lisa Reviews
"Sounds so cute! And the best part is that 100% of the proceeds from the book will benefit early childhood literacy programs supported by Kristi's "Always Dream" Foundation.
Very, very impressive." - Perezitos
"It seems like wherever Poppy goes though, she seems to inspire everyone!!" - OKC Mommy
"My mom is a librarian and used to focus on children's literature, so she's an expert on kids' books, and both she and my kids thought the book was great. I read through it myself and wholeheartedly agreed with them." - Growing My Kids
"The illustrations in the book are colorful and fun and the book has a hardback cover that will help withstand little hands. I'm sure it will become a favorite bedtime story for many children." - Mother 2 Mother
"Like the first book in the series, It's a Big World, Little Pig! is a beautifully illustrated book with an important message, and your children will love to read this one over and over again with Mom or Dad! Hitting bookstores on March 6th, 2012, It's a Big World, Little Pig! is a must-read this Spring!" - Tiny Green Mom
"I love that Yamaguchi not only teaches about courage and bravery in this book, but also teaches children that though they might not all look alike on the outside or even speak the same language, we can all communicate universally through kindness." - Our Growing Garden
"This is a great book with positive messages for children ages 4 and up. My nearly 8-year old really enjoyed it, too." - Ann I Am
"I think the message is very valuable about overcoming your fears and understanding that while people may have differences, you can make friends no matter the language. I think this book is great to help your preschooler and elementary school child with learning to read." - Dallas Single MomIf the financial services industry is banking on blockchain as the basis for new service innovation, it will be sorely disappointed. Blockchain's design principles are completely at odds with those of the industry, and the technology is fraught with flaws that could be catastrophic for financial institutions.
I’ll come on to why in a moment. Clearly, there is a lot of hype and momentum around blockchain. WANdisco sees this first hand: We’re increasingly being approached by banks that think this is the kind of thing we do (it isn’t). And why are they interested? Because senior directors and investors have heard the buzz and concluded that this is something they need—that if they don’t seize the opportunity, they’ll miss out. They’re wrong. Banks need blockchain like a hole in the head.
+ Also on Network World: Financial sector expands use of blockchain databases +
But why do they think they want it? The original blockchain was developed as the mechanism underpinning bitcoin—enabling transactions in a peer-to-peer network to be validated without the need to pass through central settlement systems. Seeing wider potential for this, those promoting blockchain are now positioning the platforms more broadly as distributed public ledgers of transaction. So, banks are starting to look at blockchain for managing real-time transactions.
[ Discover the Bossie Award winners: 2018’s best open source software for enterprise for software development, machine learning, cloud computing, and data storage and analytics. ]
A lack of trust is no basis for commerce
On paper, blockchain seems to have vast potential. But, in common with many other fintech fads, its current popularity owes more to speculation than genuine potential, and the chances of it realizing that apparent promise are slim.
That’s because the fundamental issues with blockchains aren’t going to go away. First, the whole proposition is built on distrust and on anonymity, shrouded in paranoia. And since blockchains are also highly hackable, disaster is frequently just round the corner. Last year, the DAO, a venture capital fund using a decentralized blockchain, lost more than $60 million worth of Ether digital currency—around a third of its value, when its code was breached. But such is the protection awarded to the parties involved in blockchain-based transactions; it’s impossible to trace the culprits and recover the lost amounts. It’s quite ludicrous.
There is a social engineering argument around blockchain that does not stack up either—that if someone has enough computer power to hack blockchain, they could make more by minting bitcoin than by wreaking havoc on users. This is based on a misguided assumption that criminals’ aim isn’t to bring down financial systems and cause chaos. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The regulated financial industry is founded on trust, not distrust, which relies on parties being known to each other. Unless some kind of shady dealing is going on, it makes no sense to push transactions underground. It’s certainly no way to manage risk.
A further major sticking point for a financial institution is throughput. Blockchain reconciliations typically happen in periodic batches, which is not good enough for real-time banking. To keep up with the speed of digital business, true values need to be reflected at all times.
So, again we have to come back to what banks are trying to do that makes them think they need blockchain. What is the use case in banking-as-usual? What is it solving?
Real-time reconciliation
Dig a little deeper, and what most institutions are really looking for is a robust, trust-based coordinated agreement mechanism for managing very high volumes of real-time transactions digitally across networks. Strategic goals might include making payments more immediate, easier to automate and cheaper to manage. Or it could be facilitating new innovation as the Internet of Things takes off, paving the way for all manner of new distributed transactions along a value chain.
All of which relies on reliability, speed and trust/transparency. Blockchain does not provide that—they weren't designed to.
If I’m a goods or service provider that needs to fulfill a purchase, I need to be sure of cash settlement before activating delivery, and that’s something blockchain will never be able to offer. You can’t see who you’re dealing with, and ledger reconciliations are unpredictable, depending on batch processes and computing queues. The technology was never meant to be used in this way.
So, our message to banks is forget blockchain. Unless the fundamental flaws are addressed, it is wrong for just about anything you might want to do. It’s a bubble you don’t want to invest in. Whatever your intentions, there’s a much more appropriate way to deliver them.
Related video:
This article is published as part of the IDG Contributor Network. Want to Join?The trials have generated a lot of interest especially because Ninox Robotics has been given special clearance by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for the flights in Queensland and New South Wales.
A high flying drone with infrared cameras could be the latest high-tech tool to deal with the very costly problem in Australia.
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Official estimates put the cost of feral pests like pigs, wild dogs, and rabbits at $1 billion each year in lost agricultural productivity.
The cost, calculated by the Invasive Animal Cooperative Research Centre, is a serious burden for landholders plus the Local, State, and Commonwealth Governments.
Now an Australian company, Ninox Robotics, is coming at the issue of pest control from another angle; the sky.
Managing Director, Marcus Ehrlich, said the company is trialling a suite of technology, using a military grade drone, across two states.
Mr Ehrlich said it is the first time anyone has been given this special clearance from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to do these types of trials.
"We've got beyond visual line of site, which allows us to go a long way from our launch point or ground control station," he said.
We've got the ability to fly above the 400-foot altitude ceiling, about 500 metres, which allows us to cover some serious ground. Marcus Ehrlich, Ninox Robotics
"We've got the ability to fly above the 400-foot altitude ceiling, about 500 metres, which allows us to cover some serious ground.
"We have the ability also to fly at night which is important with our thermal grade military camera."
Mr Ehrlich explained it is that infrared camera which lets them locate pest animals by stealth.
"It allows the heat signature of invasive pests to stand out enormously from the ground."
The drone itself has military grade capabilities and, as Mr Ehrlich described, is quite a big aircraft.
"It's three metres in width with its wing-span, it's 1.5 metres long and weighs about 10 kilograms."
The Ninox Managing Director adds that he cannot disclose the price of the drone as it is commercial in confidence, but suffice to say it is a lot.
"It's well into six figures," Mr Ehrlich said
He said the fact the technology they have allows the vision to be viewed live is very important.
"The drone itself passes the vision in real-time to the ground control station, where we can see it on computers and where we can give what's known as a mobile computer to farmers, which is a passive device where they can see what the drone is looking at in real time."
Share The grey dots on the screen are thermal images of some feral pigs gathered by the drone in a trial run near Moonie in Southern Queensland.
Drones are currently criss-crossing a mixed cropping and cattle property near a town called Moonie in Southern Queensland and there are further trials scheduled for New South Wales.
Near Moonie, feral pigs are an enormous problem, with local farmers already pooling funds together to pay for professional aerial shooters on almost a quarterly basis.
Warren Urquhart is part of one such group and said it is something they factor into their running costs.
"We get the chopper and do it cooperatively and share the cost and it has been working out about $600 to $800 (per landholder) each time, so we do that about four times a year."
Mr Urquhart is hosting the drone trial at his place 'Warrowa', south west of Moonie, and said if the drone trials are successful it will give them another option.
"Once the drone locates them (pests) you could send in a team, a ground team perhaps and try and locate them and get them there, or if you did happen to have the helicopter about you could send the helicopter in and clean them up that way."
So the question comes back to cost effectiveness, especially for landholders and while this is in the trial phase, Mr Ehrlich said he had some early indicative prices.
"We haven't got our costs down exactly, but we think we'll be relatively competitive with some of the other pest control measures that'll be out there," he said.
"We're looking at about $3,000 to $3,500 per sortie, which is a four-hour flight and roughly works out as a bit less than a grand ($1,000) per hour."
Mr Urqhart said it is something farmers in his area will be interested in looking at, particularly if they can continue their practice of sharing the cost amongst the district.
"You need scale to bring the price down per hectare, but I think we've got the answer to that," he said.
"Our group acts cooperatively and if we just average and share the cost it keeps it well down per hectare.
"Everything helps and the technology is improving all the time and that's just the nature of technology, how quickly things advance and when those opportunities come up you have to take on that technology and make it work for you, make it help you in your business."Ubisoft will reveal the third season of content for Rainbow Six Siege at the Pro League season three finals. This time round, the tournament will take place in Sao Paulo, on November 18-19.
Here are all the new Rainbow Six Siege operators.
In an announcement video posted earlier today, Ubisoft revealed that as well as a full announcement of Operation White Noise, the finals will also offer “a sneak peek of the third year of siege.”
If that’s anything like last year, it’ll offer a roadmap for the entirety of year three, announcing the nationalities of any new operators coming to the game. It’ll also give a rough idea of the timeframe for each new season, as well as mid-season reinforcements.
Operation White Noise is the fourth and final season of content for year two, and takes Rainbow Six Siege to South Korea, with two operators from the country’s 707th Special Mission Battalion. There’s also Zophia, the game’s second Polish operator, and a new map, Mok Myeok Tower.I recently traveled to Egypt and before departing was met with expressions of surprise from friends who thought the place too dangerous to visit. Images of the downed Metrojet plane in November surely informed their opinion. But a review of the U.S. State Department’s registry of American deaths abroad reveals that the horror of the Metrojet bombing obscures reality: It turns out Egyptian drivers are responsible for far more American fatalities than Egyptian terrorists.
Curious about this disconnect, I dug deeper into the registry. It features almost 13 years of data and comprises over 10,000 deaths from non-natural causes. The registry is updated every six months, and includes only those deaths reported to the State Department. All the same, it is an extraordinary record of where Americans go, and of the dire consequences faced by some of those who travel. What it also reveals the relative rarity of deaths abroad. On average, over the last 13 years, only 827 Americans died of unnatural causes while abroad each year. When you consider the significant number of Americans who travel abroad, more than 68 million Americans in 2014, nearly all returned home.
While there is always the danger of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, the most common causes of death to Americans in Egypt—based on the 69 Americans in the registry who died there over the past 13 years—are auto accidents (18 deaths) and bus accidents (11 deaths). Terrorist action (3 deaths) figures beneath drownings (6 deaths) and suicides (5 deaths). After observing the mayhem of Cairo’s traffic, the relative danger of auto accidents seemed obvious.
What is more startling and curious, when looking at American deaths around the world, is how prosaic the cause generally is. If you want to stay alive on vacation, the most important thing you can probably do is to buckle-up. As in Egypt, vehicle accidents kill the most Americans abroad overall. Out of 10,545 deaths abroad between October 2012 and June 2015, cars were responsible for 2,181 deaths, and vehicles, more generally (cars, motorcycles, buses, bicycles, etc.), were responsible for a total of 3,104 deaths or 29% of all deaths. If you include train accidents (43 deaths), air accidents (343 deaths), and maritime accidents (121 deaths) one third of American deaths abroad were due to a mode of transportation. To put this in perspective, the Institute for Highway Safety reports that there were 32,675 deaths in motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2014, while the State Department has records for only 159 auto accident fatalities in its most recent 12-month period. At home, motor accidents are the fourth leading cause of death, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control report (pdf here).
Foreign travel is exciting and illuminating; however, it is not without other risks. You should avoid places that are lawless and where drug wars are raging. And please be careful in the water; beaches are one of the biggest specific dangers to American travelers.
Most common causes of death (October 2002-June 2015)
Cause of Death Reported Number of American Deaths Abroad Traffic accidents 3,104 Homicide 2,000 Suicide 1,461 Drowning 1,320 “Other accidents” 1,294
Drowning
One under-appreciated cause of death abroad is drowning. The registry records 1,320 drownings, including many examples of multiple drownings. Costa Rica, perceived as a peaceful place that offers just the right amount of adrenaline, has had 101 American drownings since the registry first began in October 2002. Mexico has had the most, with 355 drownings. However, the number of American visitors to Mexico is the greatest of any country, with 25.9 million Americans visiting in 2014 (2014 was a year in which an unusually large number of Americans traveled abroad, providing a conservative perspective on the relative impact of any deaths). That same year, Costa Rica had only 937,000 visitors, a mere fraction of Mexico’s tourism numbers. On a per visitor basis, Costa Rica’s waters are more dangerous than Mexico’s. These drowning deaths highlight the fact that Costa Rica has no law requiring lifeguards on its beaches, and even those beaches with guards are often under-protected.
American deaths by drowning
Number of Drownings Reported American visitors in 2014* Mexico 355 25,900,000 Costa Rica 101 862,000 The Bahamas 83 1,108,000 Dominican Republic 47 2,700,000 Jamaica 46 1,385,000
*Data obtained from US Department of Commerce, National Travel and Tourism Office, July 2015
Suicide
Suicide is also under-recognized as a cause of death for Americans abroad. The Department of State has records of 1,461 suicides, which amounts to over 100 American suicides abroad per year. Mexico is the most common country for American suicides (250 since 2002), reflecting the frequency with which Americans visit. María Elena Medina Mora, head of Mexico’s National Psychiatric Institute, has linked the drug war to an increase in suicides, a rate which has tripled in the past 30 years according to the Mexican Ministry of Health. Has this cheapening and coarsening of life in Mexico rippled out to visitors, too? The registry indicates that Germany had 100 American suicides, but Thailand, with far few American visitors, has a comparatively shocking number: 87 suicides.
American suicides abroad
American Suicides Reported American visitors in 2014* Mexico 250 25,900,000 Germany 100 1,878,000 Thailand 87 339,000 Korea 71 523,000 Japan 59 800,000
*Data obtained from US Department of Commerce, National Travel and Tourism Office, July 2015
Switzerland, with its 22 suicides, is a special case as it highlights the emergence of suicide-travel. Of the Swiss suicides, 9 took place in the small town of Pfaffikon (population 11,390). Dignitas, a society that undertakes assisted-suicide, has a house in Pfaffikon where guests are interviewed on film immediately prior to being offered a lethal dose of Pentobarbital. (We cannot tell from the Department of State records if the Pfaffikon suicides were as a result of Dignitas.)
Most common places to die
The most recent 12-month period (July 2014 to June 2015) in the database confirms that Mexico remains the most popular place to visit, and the most common place for Americans to die (228). Thailand, however, emerged in second place with 35 U.S. deaths. Of those, however, 12 were due to suicide and 10 were specifically due to motorcycles. Of the 11 deaths in Switzerland during that period, all but one were attributed to suicide. Of the 31 deaths in Costa Rica, 17 were due to drowning. In the Philippines, there were 12 reported homicides of the 29 deaths, making murder the most common cause of death with vehicle accidents a close second with 10. The Dominican Republic had 28 deaths, of which 10 were due to drowning. These drownings included a horrifying multiple drowning where four family members (three of whom were American) died when a young pharmacist from Philadelphia, Kajal Patel, was caught in a current, and her new husband and two of his family members jumped in the waters off Punta Cana to save her.
Countries with most American deaths 2014-15Together We Stand (.gif)
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Are you coming to The Creek?
Pladim ventured out into the depths of space, to a region called "Wicked Creek". There, he met another group of furs, with similar interests in the space world, and was part of a larger coalition, TEST Alliance Please Ignore. Their mascot, Middle Management Dino, stood strong at the helm. I worked hard, joining in their fleets, defending out home, our moons, and our fellow people. I finally got a meeting with the head man himself, MMD. Together we made this picture, and I since edited it to be shown to all those I meet in the wide open space of Eve Online.
I am honored to be a part of TEST and it's members.
Fly safe out there o7
Modified by me (yes I know the sunglasses are wrong on pladim)
Art made by and © : Vailelir
MMD © TEST Alliance Please Ignore
Pladim © Me.
Edit: That thumbnail looks terrible before click ing, trying to fix.This is one ancient whale of a tale! An international team of scientists from the National Museums Scotland and the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh have completed a years-long project to excavate and assemble the most complete fossil of the world's largest prehistoric fish.
The specimen suggests that Leedsichthys problematicus grew to a full size of around 50 feet long, twice that of previous estimates, according to a written statement from the University of Glasgow.
The massive fish must have cast an impressive shadow as it swam through the seas about 165 million years ago. With a bony physique, Leedsichthys pioneered an important ecological niche: It was the first of the giant plankton-feeders, whose modern-day equivalents today include the behemoth whale shark.
Research team leader Dr. Jeff Liston of the National Museums of Scotland told The Huffington Post in an email that several significant conclusions can be drawn from the Leedsichthys discovery.
"Overall, this find indicates a likely significant change in the faunal composition of plankton in the Middle Jurassic seas, to suddenly allow an animal to be this successful, when previous vertebrate suspension-feeders did not exceed 55 centimeters in length," Liston said. "Also, the information that we are gaining about the honeycomb mesh structure that this animal had on its gill rakers, to help extraction of plankton from the water column, gives us some interesting mechanical comparisons with animals like the whale shark, basking shark and the manta ray."
Liston said the specimen's impressive length proves that the increase in size among land dinosaurs -- a phenomenon known as gigantism -- was occurring in a parallel process under the water.
Leedsichthys fossils had frustrated researchers ever since the very first fossil was found by British collector Alfred Leeds in 1889. Since then, bones of the ancient fish have been found from Germany to Chile, but their fragility made for a reconstruction and classification process so difficult that Liston said it inspired the "problematicus" part of the fish's name. It also meant measuring the big fish involved a lot of guesswork.
The most recent specimen, discovered in 2001 protruding from a cliff near Peterborough, England, represents the most complete example of Leedsichthys ever found, Liston noted. Nicknamed "Ariston" by scientists, the discovery included close to 2,400 bones and required 3,100 hours to excavate.
But the labor was worth it, Liston said, because this fossil can now be used to help fill in gaps in the greater fossil record.
"[Ariston acts] as a sort of Rosetta Stone and [ties] together the more fragmentary other specimens that had been excavated over a 115-year period," Liston told HuffPost. "Ariston was the missing piece that linked the other individuals together into a 'whole' that we could really use to look at Leedsichthys close up."
The team's results will be published in "Mesozoic Fishes 5: Global Diversity and Evolution -- Proceedings of the International Meeting," and presented at the 61st Symposium on Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy in the Royal Society of Edinburgh, National Museums Scotland on Friday.Announcing The 2017 Ultiworld Subscription Drive (And Why It’s Important)
Ultiworld is launching its first-ever membership drive. Subscribe today!
This week, Ultiworld is launching its first-ever membership drive. While historically we have covered our travel, equipment, editing, and other costs with video sales, Ultiworld needs more direct reader support in order to survive long-term as an independent journalism organization.
Your support is vital to us. Really. And our revamped subscriptions offer much more than a video subscription: you will get exclusive articles (like this one), a brand new members-only podcast (first episode with Tiina Booth coming out this week), the chance to vote on games and article ideas, the ability to turn off ads and improve your site experience, and more. You can learn more and sign up right here.
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Ultiworld is not unique in the web publishing ecosystem. More and more, publishers — from small ones like Ultiworld to very large ones like the New York Times — have realized they cannot rely on advertising dollars alone. And in order to serve their communities, direct financial support from readers is necessary. Your subscription directly supports our writing and journalism from college to club to youth.
To be clear, Ultiworld is going to continue to exist whether you subscribe or not. But financial realities mean that if we don’t hit our subscriber goals, we will scale back our coverage in 2017 and 2018 — possibly significantly. Our membership drive is especially focused on two areas. First, our bread-and-butter tournament coverage — including tournament previews, recaps, and livestreams – needs additional support to even be maintained, given the high costs of travel for our writers. Second, we’ve asked, for too long, for enormous sacrifice from our dedicated staff that works on the site on a daily basis. (I still haven’t taken a single paycheck.) If we can’t increase our revenue base, Ultiworld will become more of a side project for me and the other dedicated staff.
Of course, what we really want is more and deeper coverage of all aspects of the sport. We want to be able to pay reasonable compensation to the hard-working editorial staff instead of asking them to write or edit for a small stipend and their love of the sport. No one is getting rich off Ultiworld, but we are still looking to find a way to receive reasonable payment for the value of the content we provide.
We’re not asking for the moon, either. You can subscribe for as little as $3.99 a month. That’s less than the cost of a latte in New York City. Think about all the Ultiworld articles you’ve read and shared over the years, and all the extra tournaments that you’ve followed because of our coverage. Think about what it was like to follow ultimate before Ultiworld, and how big of a step backwards it would be if we did |
the perceived attempt to equate the suffering of Arab Jews with that of Palestinians and thus cancel out both accounts without individuals on either side receiving compensation.
"It all sort of comes out in the wash, they [Arab Jews] had a lot of property, they were pretty wealthy … it’s far too complicated, let’s just call it a day," says Ms. Buttu, summarizing her view of what the Israelis will say in negotiations.
In Israel, a group of Iraqi Jews issued a statement recently thanking Israel for recognizing them as refugees but taking issue with the new campaign. They wrote in part, “we will not agree with the option that compensation for our property be offset by compensation for the lost property of others (meaning, Palestinian refugees).”
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Zvi Gabai, a former Israeli ambassador whose family came to Israel from Iraq in 1951 with nothing, says the answer lies in a suggestion he attributes to President Bill Clinton: establishing an international fund to compensate Palestinian refugees as well as Jewish refugees.
“I think this would be the best way to solve the question,” he says. “To compensate both groups of refugees.”Warren E. Buffett took aim on Saturday at the “negative drumbeat” of this year’s presidential campaign, saying that the view that children today would not live as well as their parents was “dead wrong.”
In his annual letter to shareholders, the billionaire investor — who has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president — wrote that “the babies being born in America today are the luckiest crop in history.”
Employing his typical folksy humor and optimism, Mr. Buffett’s letter discussed such themes as income inequality, climate change, efficiency and prosperity, as well as investments like BNSF Railway and Kraft Heinz.
“For 240 years it’s been a terrible mistake to bet against America, and now is no time to start,” he wrote. “America’s golden goose of commerce and innovation will continue to lay more and larger eggs.”Cardo
One of Taylor Gang's in house producer, Cardo is most known for his vintage production style that resembles DJ Quik's OG style of music. Bouncy rhythms and classic synths are staples in his work.
Notable song: Wiz Khalifa – Brainstorm (prod. Cardo)
Sledgren
Another TGOD producer, Sledgren is most known for working with Khalifa, helping him build his own sound for about 10 years. His work on 'Kush & Orange Juice' catapulted him to producer fame.
Notable song: Chevy Woods – Homerun f. Wiz Khalifa (prod. Sledgren)
Young Chop
One of Chicago's most valuable producers, Young Chop has championed this new Chi-town sound while producing for Lil' Reese, Pusha-T, and most notably, Chief Keef.
Notable song: Pusha T – Blocka (prod. Young Chop)
Lex Luger
Although Lex isn't brand new to the game, his consistent productions have been featured on tracks for Rick Ross, Waka Flaka, Gucci Mane, Curren$y and many more.
Notable song: Curren$y – Choosin' (Feat. Wiz Khalifa & Rick Ross) (Prod. Lex Luger)
Beat Billionaire
The in house Maybach Music Group producer has done work his entire label and is known for his bass heavy, trunk rattler beats that are sure to get you 'turnt up’.
Notable song: Wale – Bag of Money f. Rick Ross, Meek Mill and T-Pain (prod. Beat Billionaire)
Big KRIT
In the new age of hip-hop, rappers are beginning to produce their own work. Mississippi's own Big KRIT is an icon of the rapper / producer theme as the majority of his mix tapes and full length albums have been self produced.
Notable song: Wiz Khalifa – Glass House f. Curren$y and Big K.R.I.T. (prod. Big K.R.I.T.)
Kid Cudi
New to the production game, Kid Cudi has proven himself relative by self producing his entire latest album, Indicud. Comparing it to his own version of Dr Dre's The Chronic 2001, Cudi plays many parts on the album from producer, to vocalist, to guest feature while his beats shine.
Notable song: Kid Cudi – Brothers f. King Chip and A$AP Rocky (prod. Kid Cudi)
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Mac Miller
Despite his huge rise to success, there are some serious Mac Miller haters out there, but with his production moniker, Larry Fisherman, Mac has been able to produce some extremely jazzy, organic works for the likes of Boldy James, Ab-Soul, Freddie Gibbs, and Smoke DZA.
Notable song: Ab-Soul – The End is Near f. Mac Miller (prod. Larry Fisherman)
Chuck Strangers
In house producer for the crew that Joey Bada$$ built, Pro Era, Chuck Strangers is known for his vintage NY style beats that the entire roster can spit over. With direct influences from 90's hip-hop, I'm looking forward to Joey Bada$$'s debut album solely for production from Chuck.
Notable song: Joey Bada$$ – Daily Routine (prod. Chuck Strangers)
Harry Fraud
Harry Fraud is one of the most buzz worthy artists on this list. His production discography has extended several pages from 2011-2012, and in 2013 he shows no signs of slowing down. First being brought to fame with his work on French Montana's 'Shot Caller', Harry has continued to work with titans such as Curren$y, Wiz Khalifa, Pusha-T, Mac Miller, and Danny Brown.
Notable song: Young Roddy – Payroll f. Curren$y (prod. Harry Fraud)
Clams Casino
A personal favorite on this list, is New Jersey's own Clams Casino. His ethereal sometimes 'trippy' beats have housed verses from Lil' B, A$AP Rocky, Mac Miller, and most recently MF Doom. His delicate and unique sampling of Imogen Heap, and other down-tempo vocalists, sets him apart from the rest.
Notable song: A$AP Rocky – LVL (prod. Clams Casino)
Araabmuzik
The self proclaimed 'King of the MPC” is Araabmuzik who's productions for a wide range of artists have made him a go-to producer in the hip hop community. Most known for his work with Diplomats members Cam'ron, Jim Jones, and even Vado — Araabmuzik has now extended himself into the “EDM” game with his trap styled productions.
Notable song: 50 Cent – Murder One f. Eminem (prod. Araabmuzik)
Key Wayne
One of Big Sean's close collaborators and producers has extended his reach recently by producing the massive his 'Amen' for Meek Mill and Drake. In addition to his major work with Big Sean, he's also produced for Tyga, Busta Rhymes, Young Jeezy, and Wale.
Notable song: Big Sean – 24K of Gold f. J. Cole and Raekwon (prod. Key Wayne)
THC
The cannabis titled production trio of THC have put together some of your favorite hits over the year, without much media exposure. Having worked mainly with the TDE crew, THC have produced for Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Dom Kennedy, and even Chris Brown.
Notable song: Kendrick Lamar – Cartoons & Cereal f. Gunplay (prod. THC)
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Digi+Phonics
Also in house TDE producers, Digi+Phonics are most known for their stellar work on Kendrick Lamar's “Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe”. Their organic production style is directly related to Cali hip-hop.
Notable song: Kendrick Lamar – Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe (prod. Digi + Phonics)
Boi-1da
Toronto's own Boi-1da has such an extensive catalog of productions, but is most known for his work with Drake on each of his albums. He also produced extensively for Eminem on his iconic return 'Recovery'. But besides Drake and Eminem, he has produced for everyone from Tinie Tempah to Nicole Scherzinger to The Game and DJ Khaled.
Notable song: Rick Ross – MMG Untouchable (prod. Boi-1da)
T-Minus
Another Toronto native is T-Minus most known for his work with OVO member Drake mainly on “I'm On One”, and his collaboration with label head, Lil' Wayne on “She Will”. His sound attracted Husltle Gang head honcho, T.I. who recruited him for several beats.
Notable song: Wale – Ambition f. Rick Ross & Meek Mill (prod. T-Minus)
Noah '40' Shebib
Without 40, there would be no Drake — and that comes from Aubrey's mouth himself. 40 is the other half of Drake's phenomenal success. Playing an entire back seat role in his rise to fame, 40 has produced the majority of Drake's album material, while also working on bigger collaborations for artists such as Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx.
Notable song: A$AP Rocky – F**kin Problems f. 2 Chainz, Drake & Kendrick Lamar (prod. Champagne Papi & 40)
Jahlil Beats
With one of the most recognizable intro tags, the Roc Nation in house producer Jahlil Beats is known for his high energy productions for rappers like Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross — pretty much anything that will get you 'turnt up'
Notable song: Big Sean – Burn f. Meek Mill (prod. Jahlil Beats)
Hit-Boy
Kanye West himself calls Hit-Boy the “next him,” because his production skills are equally matched with his skills as an MC. Now an in house producer for G.O.O.D. Music, Hit-Boy's debut mixtape “Hit-Story” showcased his wide range of skills.
Notable song: Wale – The Right One (prod. Hit-Boy)
Tyler, The Creator
Another rapper? Yup! Cali-bred and Odd Future head, Tyler, The Creator is one of the greatest young producers in the game right now. Crafting an entirely new lane of hip-hop for his team, Tyler even produced his entire debut album, which showcases down tempo, bass heavy tunes similar to a young Pharrell, who is a constant collaborator.
Notable song: Tyler, The Creator – IFHY f. Pharrell (prod. Tyler, The Creator)
DJ Mustard
Solely responsible for the 'ratchet' movement, you probably know DJ Mustard mainly for his work on Tyga's massive 2012 hit 'Rack City', but he's also worked with Young Jeezy on 'R.I.P.', and 2 Chainz on “I'm Different”. His simple yet high energy beats define ratchet' out in Cali.
Notable song: Young Jeezy – R.I.P. f. 2 Chainz (prod. DJ Mustard)
Mike Will Made It
In my opinion, Mike Will is 2013 version of Lex Luger with his extremely similar yet catchy productions. R&B sensation, Rihanna even recruited him for her recent his 'Pour It Up' which is tearing up the charts. The ATL producer is most known for 'Bandz A Make Her Dance', but also has done work for 2 Chainz, Young Jeezy, and contributed to the massive G.O.O.D. Music hit, 'Mercy'.
Notable song: Ace Hood – Bugatti f. Future and Rick Ross (prod. Mike Will Made It)
Hudson Mohawke
Yet another G.O.O.D. Music signee, the Scotland producer Hudson Mohawke comes from a more electronic basis in his production style. Known for his work with collaborator Lunice in their group, TNGHT, they have directly influenced the 'trap music' scene, and I can only imagine what he has in store for Kanye's upcoming album.
Notable song: John Legend and Teyana Taylor – Bliss (prod. Hudson Mohawke)
Chuck Inglish
1/2 of the Cool Kids, Chuck Inglish is one of the most prominent producers in the game. His work on Rick Ross's 'Party Heart' put him into the limelight as he continues to produce his own instrumental albums. But don't worry, Chuck has just begun producing his own rap songs yet again.
Notable song: Rick Ross – Party Heart f. Stalley and Buddy (prod. Chuck Inglish)
“The Commercial Court has been told that three websites being accessed by people in Ireland are involved in massive copyright infringement of movie and TV content on an enormous scale.
The allegation was made during an application from a number of film and TV content producers to have eight internet service providers (ISPs) block the three websites because they are allegedly facilitating internet piracy.
Mr Justice Brian McGovern admitted the case being taken by six members of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) onto the court's list following a brief hearing this morning.
The content producers that are seeking the blocking order are Warner Bros. Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Disney, Universal Studios and Sony/Columbia Pictures.
Senior counsel Jonathan Newman for the studios said the case involved thousands of pieces of content owned by the plaintiffs and added that it was a matter of real importance.
The three websites at the centre of the allegations are movie4k.to, primewire.ag and onwatchseries.to.
The MPA alleges that research carried out on its behalf last year found that during October Primewire received 1.26 million visits emanating from Ireland, Watchseries 1.9 million and Movie4k 200,000.
The court heard that none of the ISPs were objecting to the case being admitted to the court for a determination, although a number do want to make submissions about how it should be handled.
The six ISPs are Eircom trading as Eir, Sky Ireland, Vodafone Ireland, Virgin Media Ireland, Three Ireland, Digiweb, Imagine Telecommunications and Magnet Networks.
In 2013, a group of music companies successfully secured a similar court order compelling six ISPs to block access to a number of Pirate Bay websites, because they were facilitating illegal downloading.
During that case the court heard that 8% of Irish internet users or 200,000 people were using the websites each month, with serious negative consequences for the music, TV and film industries.
Eircom had already agreed to block the websites, so the order in that case applied to UPC, Vodafone, Digiweb, Imagine, Telefonica O2 Ireland, Hutchinson 3G Ltd.
Copyright laws in Ireland and in the EU allow the courts to put blocking orders in place in such circumstances where websites are facilitating the illegal downloading of protected material.
The current case will be back before the court on 28 February.Sean Osbourn, 24, enjoys a quiet life.
He bowls for fun when he’s not working for a local chemical company, and he has a very respectable average in his league.
But last week, Osbourn’s quiet life came to an abrupt end when something special happened at Copperfield Bowl.
“I never thought it was (possible),” Osbourn said. “I always see people who have done it, and I’m like, ‘How could they do that? How did that happen?’ And I found out for myself. It just happens.”
Last week, Sean Osbourn’s quiet life came to an abrupt end when something special happened at Copperfield Bowl.
The video of Osbourn becoming the first person from Texas to ever roll back-to-back-to-back 300 games has made him a social media darling. Only 29 people in history had ever done this before, and bowling goes back to 1900 or so.
“I never thought it would be me,” Osbourn said. “I never thought I could do it. I never thought I’d get two in the same set, let alone three of them. I was definitely shocked, but I’m starting to believe it a little more every day.”
And how about this: After one quick lesson about hand placement on the ball, Osbourn had me throwing one strike after another.
Thanks, Sean, and good luck with your newfound superstar status in the bowling world.The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is getting an expansion "that will almost double the amount of things you can do," developer Ed McMillen has announced.
"Once the holidays end, the Nicalis gang will be jumping back into the abyss and digging into the very large design doc I have ready for 'em," said McMillen on the game's official blog. "I have big plans for this expansion, I hope to add a very huge chunk of gameplay in the form of a new game mode that will almost double the amount of things you can do. I'm very proud of this new design."
"Aside from this new game mode the expansion will feature a ton more enemies, bosses, new areas, endings and a new playable character as well as a slew of new unique items to play with," he added.
McMillen is opening up the development process to the community by asking for suggestions for item effects on this Reddit thread. His favourite 10 of which will be implemented into the expansion.
He has a few general guidelines, however, such as "only suggest item effects" (i.e. not names/themes/visuals), "do not suggest redundant items" (i.e. weaker versions of already existing items), and "do not suggest overly complex items."
Upvote ideas you like and downvote the ones that break the guidelines. It will ultimately all come down to McMillen's faves, but feedback will likely help guide him to the cream of the crop.Vinod Khosla once proclaimed that machines will replace 80 percent of doctors, which prompted waves of backlash from the medical community.
Never one to shy away from controversy, the venture capitalist went a step further when I interviewed him last month for a podcast hosted by Silicon Valley biotechnology startup Color Genomics. "The role of the radiologist will be obsolete in five years," he said.
In Khosla's view, sophisticated algorithms are better than specialists at spotting potential problems in medical images, like x-rays and CT scans. "There's no reason a human should be doing it," he says, adding that computers can rapidly shift through thousands of scans to evaluate possible diagnoses and potential treatments, as well as ingest the latest medical research.
The podcast will go live on Monday.
A report from PwC found that about 4 in 10 U.S. jobs are susceptible being taken over by machines in the next 15 years. But doctors don't typically make the list of the occupations most under threat, given the importance of bedside manner, among other factors.
Khosla's comments come at a time when many of the leading technology companies are building new tools for the medical sector.
Technology companies, including Alphabet, have efforts underway to train machines to spot potential problems in medical scans. Verily, Alphabet's health and life sciences arm, recently teamed up with Nikon to develop machine learning tools to screen for diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, both causes of blindness in people with diabetes.
In 2015, Kaggle (later acquired by Google), hosted a competition for data scientists to develop a similar algorithm, with the winner having an "agreement rate" about 10 percent higher than a human specialist. What that means is that the algorithm and human were more likely to agree on a diagnosis than two human experts. IBM Watson is also developing tools to help physicians solve medical mysteries by shifting through millions of research papers in minutes.
Still, many of these efforts aim to augment doctors, and not replace them.
The goal for Kaggle's algorithm, for instance, was to help radiologists triage, so they can prioritize certain patients over others in giant piles of scans.
Radiologists say their jobs will only become more important in the coming years.
The specialty is a prime target for tech companies, as radiologists have used computer-assisted tools for years. "Our field is the Silicon Valley of medicine," says Garry Choy, a San Francisco-based radiologist, adding that computers would free up time for radiologists to "do what humans do best," rather than take their jobs. That includes more time with patients, and "higher order complex thinking," he added.
Others, like Simon Rascovsky, a radiologist and director of medical informatics at medical software startup Nucleus Health, have heard statements like this before, given all the hype around artificial intelligence. But he said that the radiology field still doesn't have "clinically proven deep learning based applications outside of pilots and marketing hype."The coming reorganization of the National Security Agency may be a smart move for the agency but it'll hurt America's long-term national security interests.
At a recent talk at the Washington think tank Atlantic Council, NSA director Adm. Michael Rogers said he wanted to better integrate the agency's Information Assurance Directorate – its defensive arm that protects US systems and information – and the Signals Intelligence Directorate – the offensive branch that carries out spying operations.
The reorganization is needed, he said, because with these two separate divisions "we created these two amazing cylinders of excellence and then we built walls of granite between them."
As a veteran of the NSA, I suspect this reorganization will be good for the agency. But it is unlikely to create an agency that is more open, more trusted, or more able to work with America's true cyber defenders in the private sector.
There are significant reasons to believe that what may help the NSA will be bad for the US – or actually anyone who uses the Internet.
The NSA's cyberdefense team, widely seen the best in the US government (and maybe the world), needs to work publicly, openly, and internationally. But if further integrated with NSA's spies, it will be forever compromised.
The Information Assurance Directorate is respected for its technical skills, but many critics and observers see it as tainted because of what Edward Snowden – a former NSA contractor who turned government leaker – revealed about the agency's signals division.
The clearest example of that tarnish is evidence that the NSA intentionally weakening a cryptographic standard, handicapping all of our security for a better chance to breach adversaries. That meant that the needs of the spies were prioritized over those meant to defend the rest of us. And that's something that will likely continue in the reorganized agency.
Who in Silicon Valley or Europe will be able to trust that kind of organization?
Even with a separate information division, many companies and privacy advocates were convinced the newly passed information sharing act was simply another vector for passing along data to NSA's digital spies. With the two parts of the agency more integrated, such concerns will be even harder to dismiss.
Likewise, if a multinational company calls NSA now for technical help, as Google and Sony have done in the past, can executives really assure their boardrooms that their corporate data won't end up in a spy's database?
Gen. Michael Hayden, one of Rogers's predecessors, specifically kept the Information Assurance Directorate separate, as he "needed an organization that was, and was seen to be, committed to defense."
The separation within the agency, from this perspective, isn't about creating stovepipes but building a firewall to protect our privacy and the information division's independence.
In fact, the technologists and cyberdefenders in Information Assurance have long needed to be integrated less with secretive the agency's spies, and more with other parts of the government and the private sector. A better option would have been splitting off Information Assurance as the core of a truly independent and robust cyber department or agency.
That option is now closed. Once the cards are shuffled into the deck, they will be all but impossible to separate.
Jason Healey is senior research scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. He began his career as a US Air Force signals intelligence officer in Alaska, NSA, and the Pentagon. Follow him on Twitter @Jason_Healey.Please enable Javascript to watch this video
Two people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash in the Glendora area on Wednesday morning, resulting in an hourslong closure of all westbound lanes on the 210 Freeway at the 57 Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Two westbound lanes were reopened as of 12:30 p.m., as was the entire eastbound side of the freeway, CHP Officer Monica Posada said. All lanes were reopened by about 2 p.m.
Emergency personnel responded to the crash site about 9:40 a.m., according to the Highway Patrol's incident log.
The one person was initially trapped in one of the three vehicles involved in the collision, said Supervisor Melanie Flores of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Sky5 video showed a patient on a gurney being loaded into a Fire Department helicopter that landed on the freeway. Posada confirmed one person was airlifted from the scene.
The cause of the crash was unknown.
Correction: The rescue helicopter was misidentified in an earlier version of this story. It has been corrected.Motherwell have two-goal advantage in playoff
Lee Erwin and Stephen McManus scored in first half
Lionel Ainsworth added a third after half-time
Darren McGregor pulled one back for Rangers
Second leg at Fir Park on Sunday
Motherwell grasped the initiative in the Scottish Premiership play-off by taking a confident and emphatic two-goal lead from the first-leg at Ibrox.
Lee Erwin scored through a deflection from Darren McGregor, before Stephen McManus headed in a second.
Lionel Ainsworth struck a third just after the interval as Motherwell raced forward on the counter attack, with Rangers in a state of deep anxiety.
Rangers fought back with McGregor heading a late consolation.
That leaves a little hope, but Motherwell are in control of the tie. The two meet again at Fir Park in Sunday's second leg, with Rangers facing the very real prospect of another year in the Scottish Championship.
The visitors relied on their flexibility. Scott McDonald dropped back into midfield whenever Rangers had the ball, so that visitors employed a 4-5-1 shape when chasing possession. Yet Rangers were initially buoyant, and made progress on the flanks with their two full-backs overlapping.
The sense was of the visitors living on the edge of their wits, and the Motherwell goalkeeper George Long had to push a Lee Wallace cross away from danger. Kenny Miller then turned away from Stephen Pearson, nutmegged Keith Lasley and curled a shot from 20 yards just wide.
A moment of resourcefulness completely altered the nature of the game. There looked to be no imminent danger when Erwin gathered the ball just to the right of the penalty area. The striker was full of intent, though, and shifted his feet and his body to evade a challenge, then hit a left-foot shot that deflected off McGregor on its way past goalkeeper Cammy Bell.
Motherwell fans were in dreamland as their side went 3-0 up at Ibrox, a ground they had not won at since 1997
The goal rattled the home side, whose poise drained, and Motherwell were carried forward on waves of zeal and confidence. They still needed Long, who was on reliable form, to block a Nicky Clark effort but it was the visitors' counter-attacks that became the game's defining feature, thanks to the pace of Ainsworth and Marvin Johnson.
One led to a free kick that Johnson delivered from the right and McManus glanced a header into the far corner.
The second goal left meant Motherwell could afford to sit off Rangers, strike on the counter and leave the home side under pressure to change the game.
Rangers had to hold their nerve, but they committed so many players forward at the beginning of the second half that when Andy Murdoch gifted possession to Pearson deep inside the Motherwell half, the break upfield saw a three v two in the visitors' favour. It ended with Ainsworth drilling a shot past Bell.
Ainsworth might have effectively finished the tie as a contest later in the half, but blasted over from close range. Motherwell were still comfortable, though, with McDonald and Pearson working hard and effectively in central midfield.
Long was also on hand when required, stopping a Haris Vuckic effort with one hand hand pushing a Kris Boyd header over from close range.
Rangers discarded any remaining caution, with Tom Walsh and Shane Ferguson coming off the bench to attack from wide. They slung crosses into the penalty area, and it was from a set-piece that the pressure eventually told, with McGregor heading powerfully into the net.
There were other close calls, with Vuckic pulling a shot just wide and McManus slicing the ball behind his own goal, but Motherwell carry a significant advantage into Sunday.
Rangers went into the game as favourites, with two wins and a draw in the previous rounds
Motherwell supporters lit flares early into the game
Lionel Ainsworth put Motherwell 3-0 ahead just after half-timeStory highlights New controversy erupts over the IRS targeting of conservative groups
A House committee seeking answers about lost emails at a hearing on Friday
Communications involving top level official Lois Lerner at center of latest flap
In just the past week, questions over the IRS targeting of the tea party and other groups have reached a new level of volume and, frankly, confusion.
This, after the tax agency revealed that it lost an unknown number of emails in the investigation due to hard drive crashes from years ago.
The most wanted of those missing emails belong to Lois Lerner, who ran the IRS division in charge of tax-exempt status and was the highest-ranking official to be directly connected to the political targeting.
Lerner has refused to testify about the controversy, invoking her constitutional right not to do so.
Friday, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen will face sharp questions about the missing emails and hard drive crashes in an appearance before the House Ways and Means Committee.
Here are some key things to know about the IRS controversy:
What do we know about the missing Lois Lerner emails?
An unknown number of her emails, dating between 2009 and mid-2011, are missing.
The IRS notified Congress last week that they were lost when her computer hard drive crashed in 2011.
We don't know exactly how many are missing because a) they are missing and b) the IRS has managed to retrieve 24,000 of the lost emails by searching through the accounts of dozens of other IRS employees who could have been included in those emails.
JUST WATCHED White House: Lerner emails lost in crash Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH White House: Lerner emails lost in crash 01:31
JUST WATCHED IRS loses Lois Lerner's email Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH IRS loses Lois Lerner's email 02:04
Overall, the IRS has turned over 750,000 pages of documents in the investigation, including 67,000 emails.
This investigation's been going on for a year. When did the IRS know about these missing emails?
It depends who you ask.
When CNN spoke with the IRS commissioner on Tuesday, John Koskinen said that agency investigators knew about the crashed Lerner hard drive in "late spring."
But the House Ways and Means Committee insists that on that same day, the IRS told them it knew about the problem in February.
It is not clear why the IRS waited to tell Congress.
Ah yes. Our first question too.
During this time period (2009-2011), the IRS capped how much material each employee could keep in an email account to about 1,800 emails. If the employee went above that capacity, the individual had to either delete emails or move them to their hard drive. All of them on Lerner's hard drive were lost when it crashed.
But, didn't the emails stay on a server or somewhere else in the system?
The IRS has said no. That during this time period, the only system-wide email storage were backup tapes erased every six months. Thus the only permanent storage of emails was on employees hard drives. The agency changed this policy in May 2013.
How do we know Lerner's hard drive really did crash?
The IRS has supplied CNN and others with emails between Lerner and the IT department during the time of the crash.
At the end of a chain of emails, on August 5, 2011, an employee wrote, "Unfortunately the news is not good. The sectors on the hard drive were bad which made your data unrecoverable."
Lerner replied, "I really do appreciate the effort. Sometimes stuff just happens."
What happened to the hard drive? Can the IRS double check for emails?
No. According to the Senate Finance Committee, the IRS told them that the hard drive has been "recycled" and is no longer accessible. It is not clear if the hard drive is still in the agency's possession.
What about the other missing emails? Did six other hard drives also crash?
The House Ways and Means Committee says that this past Monday, the IRS told them that the agency also lost emails belonging to six other IRS employees whose hard drives had also crashed.
One of those six employees was particularly important: Nikole Flax, who had worked as chief of staff to the former head of the IRS. Flax was known to be involved in discussions about the tea party targeting.
JUST WATCHED Lerner in contempt of congress Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Lerner in contempt of congress 01:07
JUST WATCHED House GOP vote to hold Lerner in contempt Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH House GOP vote to hold Lerner in contempt 00:35
JUST WATCHED GOP asks for criminal probe of Lerner Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH GOP asks for criminal probe of Lerner 00:45
The agency told CNN: "the IRS in recent days identified other instances where individuals had hard-drive issues. We are still assessing whether any of this data is permanently irretrievable, so it is premature to say that a significant amount of this data was lost as a result of these issues."
Why didn't the IRS tell everyone about the other missing emails?
That's not clear.
The IRS seemed to only tell one House committee, not other congressional groups, working on the issue.
This is a particularly harmful aspect of the controversy to the IRS because the same day that the House committee says it learned of the additional missing emails, the two top senators investigating the matter sat down with Koskinen.
And Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, says that neither Koskinen nor the staff with him mentioned the other missing emails.
Hatch sent a letter to Koskinen Thursday expressing intense frustration.
"Clearly someone was aware of this information when we met and chose not to disclose it to me," he wrote.
Hatch later took to the Senate floor and said he didn't feel he could trust information from the IRS any longer.
Back to all this email, isn't the IRS required to keep every communication? Did the IRS break the law?
This could be a significant question and point of debate at Friday's hearing.
Federal regulation generally requires agencies to retain items of official record. The IRS insists that its email policy met that regulation and that the determination of what was "official" (vs what was personal) was up to each employee.
Thus, the agency asked Lerner and each IRS employee to move any "official" email to their hard drive to be saved. Republicans have already indicated they are not satisfied with that answer.
Isn't it hypocritical that the agency requiring taxpayers to keep receipts for three years only kept emails for six months?
Lawmakers are raising that precise point. In response, the IRS says it simply does not have the funds for enough server space to keep every e-mail permanently. Koskinen estimates that would cost up to $10 million.
What is Congress doing about all this right now?
There are three committees looking into this. These efforts are led by Republicans with the exception of what has been a bipartisan investigation underway in the Senate Finance Committee.
* House Ways and Means Committee: is holding its hearing. Chairman Dave Camp, a Michigan Republican, has also asked the White House to turn over any emails between its offices and Lerner and requested that the Department of Justice launch an investigation and audit into the hard drive crash.
* House Oversight Committee: has issued a subpoena for Koskinen to appear at a hearing Monday, June 30. The IRS has not officially responded yet. Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa, a California Republican, led the effort for the House to hold Lerner in contempt of Congress for not testifying about the targeting controversy. The committee is now waiting for the Justice Department to determine how it will handle the contempt charge.
* Senate Finance Committee has put its bipartisan report on the IRS controversy on hold. It was nearly completed last week when the IRS told lawmakers about the Lerner hard drive crash. Hatch, the top Republican on the panel, has called for an independent investigation into how the IRS has handled congressional requests and the search for information about Lerner.About
THE WORLD IS YOUR CONSTRUCTION SITE. GRAB YOUR HARD HAT!
In BUILDANAUTS, you’re the foreman, the city planner, and the mayor of the town of your dreams. Plan your town, then bring it to life with the help of your construction crew. Build a town that your townsfolk, the Buildanites, will be proud to call home!
Want to help us spread the word? Try these sites to help share the Buildanauts Kickstarter!
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | STEAM GREENLIGHT | BUILDANAUTS.COM
Punk & Lizard
"Do you remember Bob the Builder and Sim City? Ever wanted to be Bob to build and manage your own city? Well I’ve got some awesome news for you."
GoNintendo
"Buildanauts has Wii U stretch goal"
Cliqist
"As opposed to the likes of Sim City, Buildanauts is very small in scope, which should keep it easy enough for many players to enjoy."
GameSpark (Japan)
"...the visual has become a very pretty atmosphere."
IndieGames.com
"It's hard to find games that parents and kids can play together..."
Update #3 Buildanauts: Kickstarter Dev Diary Video - Roads & Traffic (Pre-Alpha)
Update #2 New Press, Twitch and Momentum!
Update #1 Welcome! Timeline, Release Schedule, Live Stream and Platforms!
EXPLORE
Survey a vast open landscape just waiting for your construction crew. Jump in an excavator and dig the terrain, or run around with a shovel looking for resources.
DESIGN
Shape your structures by choosing paint colors, textures, details, and building material. Then, assign tasks to your skilled construction workers and watch them turn your vision into a reality!
BUILD
Build your town from the ground up just the way you want it! Use a fleet of heavy vehicles and a variety of construction tools to place city props, lay down roads, and much, much more.
MANAGE
Keep your resident Buildanites happy! Attract more townsfolk by keeping your town in top shape, but be careful: too much neglect and your Buildanites will move out!
Ever dreamed of putting on |
Of The House, President Pro Tem, Sec. Of State, Sec. Of The Treasury, Sec. Of Defense, And Attorney General Were All In That Hot-Air Balloon,' Says New President Sally Jewell
WASHINGTON—Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell was sworn in today as the 45th president of the United States, reciting the oath of office in a brief ceremony at the White House and expressing her continued disbelief that the president, vice president, House speaker, president pro tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, and attorney general were all in that hot-air balloon together.
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Speaking to citizens in a short inaugural address, Jewell, a 57-year-old Seattle businesswoman who was confirmed as Interior Secretary less than three weeks ago, acknowledged the challenges ahead for the nation and noted how “really quite strange” it was that Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Patrick Leahy, John Kerry, Jacob Lew, Chuck Hagel, and Eric Holder mutually agreed to take the day off and rent a hot-air balloon for the afternoon.
“It is with both humility and gratitude that I assume this office, while extending my deepest condolences to the families of Barack Obama and the seven government officials directly before me in the presidential line of succession, who, for reasons that still aren’t entirely clear, decided to drive together to a fairground outside Washington and take a two-hour hot-air balloon tour of the Virginia countryside,” Jewell said in her speech, delivered less than a day after the country’s top politicians reportedly agreed on a whim that a communal balloon ride would be “a lot of fun.” “I never expected to be in this position, especially not under circumstances in which our nation’s highest leaders died on the same day in an accident involving a hot-air balloon, which, for some reason, all eight of them willingly piled into even though it was clearly posted that the maximum occupancy was four. You have to admit, it’s very bizarre.”
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“I mean, how many hot-air balloon crashes are there a year?” she continued. “And how many of them involve even one person who is indispensable to the nation’s government, let alone nearly all of them? That is a little weird, right?”
Throughout her speech, the former REI executive repeatedly praised the strength of the American people, pledged to stand up for all citizens, and reiterated her astonishment that the eight top U.S. politicians, when advised by the aircraft’s pilot that they should split up and take more than one balloon, reportedly responded by casually shaking their heads and saying “Nah.”
According to Jewell, adding to her bewilderment was the fact that the men were neither barred from the outing nor even moderately discouraged by aides or Secret Service agents. Rather, reports indicate that members of the officials’ security details simply smiled and happily waved to the two highest officeholders of the executive branch, the two leading figures in Congress, and four top cabinet members as they crowded into the balloon’s basket and began to ascend.
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“What’s particularly odd is that these officials weren’t even ordered into the balloon by President Obama; it was Chuck Hagel’s idea, and everyone else readily went along with it of their own will,” said President Jewell in front of framed portraits of the deceased men. “And given that the president and vice president aren’t even allowed to fly in the same plane for safety reasons, it’s truly shocking that, instead of reconsidering their actions when John Kerry had a brief moment of trepidation before stepping aboard, they all just said, ‘It’s fine! You’re going to love it!’”
“And the next thing you know, there they are, rising to 500 feet in that cramped, bulging basket, smiling and laughing without a concern in the world,” Jewell added. “Looking at it now, it all seems incredibly foolhardy, if not almost entirely improbable.”
Those who attended Jewell’s inauguration said the ceremony was surprisingly upbeat considering the previous day’s tragic and admittedly peculiar incidents, which also included the deaths of Jewell’s first 14 picks for vice president, all of whom happened to die in 14 consecutive unrelated hot-air balloon accidents within the span of three hours. During the ceremony, Chief Justice John Roberts, who administered the presidential oath, noted the extraordinariness of the occasion. “Today is historic on two accounts, the first being that President Jewell is the first woman ever to preside in the Oval Office,” Roberts said. “But it’s also historic because of how she attained this office: by default after everyone in line for the presidency before her was curiously wiped out at the same time, and in the same obscure, antiquated mode of transportation no less.”
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“Also, by the way, all eight men had very important business to attend to that day, which they all inexplicably agreed to cancel in order to take a hot-air balloon ride together, despite none of them ever before expressing any interest whatsoever in ballooning as a hobby or an activity,” Roberts continued. “But that’s what happened. Apparently.”
In her closing remarks to the nation, President Jewell said she hoped Americans would take away several lessons from the day, the foremost being that under no circumstance should the United States’ highest-ranking government officials ever get into a hot-air balloon together again.
Jewell then thanked citizens and noted it was even more unusual that she had become president when, having been born in England, she was technically ineligible for office.Irish businesses will have to cough up for new data protection officers thanks to EU laws coming down the tracks, according to the Irish data protection commissioner.
Irish businesses will have to cough up for new data protection officers thanks to EU laws coming down the tracks, according to the Irish data protection commissioner.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Helen Dixon said that the General Data Protection Regulation will be a "wake up call" for Irish organisations which do not currently have such facilities in place.
Ms Dixon said that dozens of foreign-based tech companies had recently been in touch with her office over data compliance responsibilities after a potential move to Ireland.
The GDPR is one of a number of data and security issues to be discussed at Dublin InfoSec 2016 today. The RDS conference, which includes talks by Wikileaks journalist Sarah Harrison and cyber psychologist Mary Aiken, will focus on topics ranging from how to survive being hacked to ransomware attacks and responding to data breaches.
Breaches
The conference is being held as news of one of the world's biggest data breaches broke last night. Over 400 million email addresses and passwords from the adult-themed dating network 'Adult Friend Finder' were exposed, with tens of thousands of Irish email addresses said to be included in the breach.
Meanwhile, Ms Dixon said that it would be a matter of months before the Irish data regulator's office knows whether, or to what extent, Yahoo can be held accountable for its recent data breach that affected over 500 million email users.
"We're in daily contact and in constant activity," she said.
"That is the subject of significant activity for the office and is in fact a scenario that is changing day by day in terms of the information that we're gathering."
Last week, Yahoo filed a document with US authorities revealing that some staff knew of the data breach as far back as 2014. The company, which only admitted the massive breach in September of this year, has claimed that the meltdown was caused by state-sponsored hackers.
Irish IndependentMatthias is very talented and the detail work in his pieces is just amazing. I requested my favorite guilty pleasure character - Ramsay BOLTON! Matthias got back to me very quickly and gave me a few options for which style Ramsay I wanted. I chose the duel-wielding “bloody hunk” Ramsay (a term that will be with me forever thanks to Matthias). He sent the sketch for my approval and I had the final version at my door within a few days! To my utter surprise, he said he would throw in a mystery character. Secretly hoping it was Reek, I anxiously waited. Lo and behold, Ramsay’s favorite pet! I could not be happier with this entire process, and interacting with Matthias has been an absolute pleasure. He’s a true ASoIaF/GoT fan; if there’s a character you adore that he hasn’t sketched up yet, do not be shy! He can certainly deliver.Newly compiled figures reveal the scale of ongoing paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland, with 1,100 bombings and shootings over the last decade, almost 800 punishment attacks and nearly 4,000 cases of people being forced from their homes.
Punishment attacks are continuing at a high rate. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statistics show there were 279 paramilitary-style shootings and 508 paramilitary-style assaults.
Public housing authorities confirmed the scale of paramilitary intimidation. Threats and violence were used by paramilitaries to force people from their homes in 3,899 cases across Northern Ireland between April 2006 and March 2015. Many of the victims of this intimidation were targeted because of disputes with paramilitaries, or allegations of antisocial behaviour.
The figures were compiled by Detail Data from police, prison, courts and public transport records. Detail Data is a Big Lottery-funded project produced by Belfast investigative journalism outlet the Detail and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action.
From 2006 to 2015, republican and loyalist paramilitary groups were found to be responsible for 22 murders and hundreds of road and rail closures.
Organised crime
Police believe 33 of Northern Ireland’s 134 organised crime gangs have direct links to paramilitaries and that they make tens of millions of pounds each year from activities such as fuel laundering and drug dealing.
Data secured through Freedom of Information requests to Translink and the PSNI also show the prevalence of security alerts, particularly as a result of bomb warnings, and attacks which forced road closures and stopped rail travel.
From 2013 to 2015, there were 193 road closures, while between 2006 and 2015 there were 176 security alerts on rail lines, halting more than 4,000 train services.
The Northern Ireland Courts Service confirmed that from 2007 to 2015 there were just over 80 convictions secured under terrorism legislation, leading to 48 prison terms.
Paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland
Charges and convictions under anti-terrorism laws over the past 10 years mask true scope of activity
22
Murders
508
Punishment beatings and assaults
3,899
People forced from their home by paramilitaries
279
Shootings
33
Crime gangs with links to paramilitaries
4,000
Train services halted due to security alerts
80
Number of people convicted under anti-terrorism laws
Security services stress convictions are also secured for paramilitary-related activity under non-terrorism act legislation, while they are also disrupting attacks planned by paramilitaries.
For example, from 2006 to 2015, police seized 849 firearms and 495kg of explosives. Nearly 400 people were arrested and charged under section 41 of the Terrorism Act between 2006 and 2015, according to PSNI statistics.
Data distortions
Police Federation chairman Mark Lindsay said the full picture is obscured by how data is recorded.
“That is very much down to government recording methodology which states that a terrorist attack is one that is against a national security target,” he said.
“Our issue is that it doesn’t actually give you a true picture of where we are. I’m sure it would be captured somewhere but we are missing all the paramilitary attacks, all the incidents of terrorism that aren’t necessarily directed against police or military.”
Among the first barriers to evaluating the scale of the problem is confirming the size of the various illegal groups.
A question raised in the House of Lords in recent weeks by Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey asking about the numbers still involved in loyalist and republican paramilitary groups failed to secure an answer from government.
The PSNI told Detail Data it would not provide estimates.
Last month, PSNI assistant chief constable Will Kerr said dissident republican groups included hundreds of people.
Terrorist experience
Speaking after the death of prison officer Adrian Ismay who had suffered serious leg injuries when a bomb exploded under the van he was driving in Belfast, Asst Chief Constable Kerr said: “There are a few hundred active DRs [dissident republicans] who are involved in active dissident republican operations, but there would be a much smaller number, most of whom would have very significant terrorist experience, who are involved in directing terrorism and the leadership of these groups as well.”
While the dissident groups were dangerous, their activity was “not on the scale [or at] the pace of the past, and it won’t return to that”.
He likened the dissidents to “playground bullies in a school where everyone else has moved on”.
According to Rev Dr Gary Mason of Rethinking Conflict, an organisation that has worked closely with loyalist paramilitaries to deliver peaceful outcomes, loyalist paramilitary groups remain large.
“At the heart of loyalist groups, there would be a leadership of 30-40 people, then a membership of several thousand.”
Alan McBride of Belfast’s Wave Trauma Centre, whose wife Sharon was killed by the IRA in the 1993 Shankill bombing, said he sees the impact of ongoing activity every day.
“At least 50 per cent of our referrals today are in relation to ongoing intimidation.
“It is stuff that happened last week or the week before. In terms of this centre, we would have on average 30 to 35 new referrals a month,” said Mr McBride.Boxer Ricky Hatton says people suffering from depression should not "dwell on it - go and share it and speak to someone".
Boxer Ricky Hatton says people suffering from depression should not "dwell on it - go and share it and speak to someone".
The former two-weight world champion said he went through a period when he found seeing a psychiatrist every month beneficial to his mental health.
"I've still got him on speed dial," said Hatton. "If I do have a bad day I know I can pick the phone up, go and have an hour with him and the world is beautiful again."
"I'd like to think I’m not what you'd call soft. If I can admit I'm not scared to go about talking to someone, then we should all do that," he added.
If you're feeling in despair or suicidal, it could make all the difference to talk to someone about how you are feeling. You could talk to your GP/family doctor, or to someone who is trained to help? Medical professionals and counsellors are there to help you deal with the problems that you are experiencing.
Please try to speak to your GP, or talk to someone at the Samaritans, you can call or email the Samaritans at any time.
The Samaritans' contact details are:
The Samaritans
Telephone: 08457 90 90 90
Website: http://www.samaritans.org
Email: jo@samaritans.co.uk
This clip is originally from 5 live Afternoon Edition on Thursday 21st May 2015.For those of you who are waiting to upgrade to the next generation of processor the ivy bridge (desktop), the good news is that motherboards will go on sale in early April worldwide.
In fact, sources revealed that most have begun shipping orders to their distributors and are ready. They are mostly waiting for the green light.
As the board is backward compatible with existing LGA 1155 processors. You can use existing processor first on the new board.
The Z77 chipset supports 22nm Ivy Bridge processors, native support for the high-speed USB 3.0 interface and fast SSD caching with the Intel Smart Response Technology (SRT). The new Ivy bridge processors supports the new CPU core supports DX11 video and HDMI 3D Visual Interface for stereo content. With Lucid Virtu, it is able to tap the power of the embedded video for quicker compression and encoding of video.
So, will you be upgrading this April?
* When quoting our news please quote us as OCWorkbench in full and not OCW. Thanks.Soft drink giant Coca-Cola, in a partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, will help fund four Bow River water conservation projects.
The project, with $50,000 from Coke, will help replenish millions of litres of water in the Bow River Watershed, which more than one million people in Calgary rely on for drinking water.
The watershed, which is under stress due to drought because of rising temperatures, has seen a dramatic decrease in water quality and quantity.
The Bow River Basin covers four per cent of Alberta or about 25,000 square kilometres. (Courtesy of Nature Conservancy Canada )
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) announced the initiative today which will restore more than 80 million litres of water in the Bow River Watershed. According to the Alberta government, the average Canadian uses 125,000 litres of water per person per year.
Bob Demulder, regional vice-president for the Alberta Region of NCC says this isn't the first time the NCC has partnered with a corporation for conservation projects.
"We actually get corporate help fairly often but it's never directed to a goal that connects to a company's or corporate outcome. They're interested in water conservation. So are we," he said.
John O'Leary, of Coca-Cola Canada and Bob Demulder, Nature Conservancy of Canada Alberta region, have partnered for four Bow River conservation projects. (Jennifer Lee/CBC)
Demulder says the land trust is approached by other companies for a variety of reasons, but "this is the first time a corporation has come to us and said 'water conservation is important to us.' "
John Guarino, president Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada said the partnership is "moving us closer to our goal of being water neutral in Canada by 2020."
The four projects will focus on decreasing water runoff and restoring habitat. Work will begin immediately on replenishing vegetation growth to help stabilize banks and prevent soil erosion. Other projects include putting up fencing to help protect large areas of land and a water-retention berm at Big Hill Springs Provincial Park, near Cochrane.45 Pages Posted: 26 Aug 2014 Last revised: 1 Mar 2015
Date Written: August 24, 2014
Abstract
Economists often model national defense as a pure public good optimally provided by a benevolent and omnipotent "defense brain" to maximize social welfare. I critically consider five assumptions associated with this view: (1) that defense and security is a pure public good that must be provided by a national government, (2) that state-provided defense is always a "good" and never a "bad", (3) that the state can provide defense in the optimal quantity and quality, (4) that state expenditures on defense are neutral with respect to private economic activity, and (5) that state-provided defense activities are neutral with respect to domestic political institutions. I discuss an alternative framework — the "individualistic view"— for analyzing defense provision and suggest it is superior for understanding reality.[blockquote cite=”Neal Spackman” type=”center”]”What is the land on the site willing to give us if cooperate with it?” [/blockquote]
This is an interview with Neal Spackman. And while you probably haven’t heard of Neal the work that Neal is doing to regreen an area of the Saudi Arabian desert – it is monumental. The work that he is doing is every bit as great as the work that Geoff Lawton has done. And I mean that.
We are talking about regreening a portion of the desert that gets 3 inches of rain a year on average, but lately they aren’t even meeting the average. Greening the site by using true cost water accounting, meaning that they only use the equivalent of water that falls onto the site to establish the vegetation. With minimal rainfall, no pre-existing plant life and 100 plus degree summer temperatures, it is no easy task. Throw in the economic and social challenges of the village that he is working with and the task becomes even harder. But despite those challenges, progress is being made, and the sounds of crickets are now being heard. Life is coming back.
The upside potential here is huge. And as Neal says, “”There was some real risk, but in the end I didn’t think I was going to end off any worse than I was…. And the potential opportunity was exponentially greater than what I was doing at the time.”
[blockquote cite=”Neal Spackman” type=”center”]”The most satisfaction I have ever felt in my life is when I succeeded in getting a hard thing done.” [/blockquote]
Quotables:
“What is the land on the site willing to give us if we cooperate with it?”
“The most satisfaction I have ever felt in my life is when I succeeded in getting a hard thing done.”
“This is worth a shot, this is worth my time. To see if we can do it. To see if it can actually be done.”
“There was some real risk, but in the end I didn’t think I was going to end off any worse than I was…. And the potential opportunity was exponentially greater than what I was doing at the time.”
“You’ve got to be in the blue and the black and the brown or else it falls apart.”
“Listening is the most important thing. We tend to go in and we want to teach or we want to make these changes, but you can’t move someone from point A to point B unless you know where point A is.”
“People are starting to believe in it and they are starting to believe that they themselves can do it.”
Key Takeaways:
Building trust within a community. Living amongst them as they live.
Making a difference within a community – go to the elders and ask them to tell stories, and really listen.
In drylands it is hugely important to plant at the right time of year, in the right window.
Introduction to the Al Baydha Project
Reversing the Cycle of Desertification
Young Desert Swale Walkthrough
How forests attract rain: an examination of a new hypothesis.
by Douglas Sheil and Daniel Murdiyarso in BioScience (2009).
“A new hypothesis suggests that forest cover plays a much greater role in determining rainfall than previously recognized. It explains how forested regions generate large-scale flows in atmospheric water vapor. Under this hypothesis, high rainfall occurs in continental interiors such as the Amazon and Congo river basins only because of near-continuous forest cover from interior to coast. The underlying mechanism emphasizes the role of evaporation and condensation in generating atmospheric pressure differences, and accounts for several phenomena neglected by existing models. It suggests that even localized forest loss can sometimes flip a wet continent to arid conditions. If it survives scrutiny, this hypothesis will transform how we view forest loss, climate change, hydrology, and environmental services. It offers new lines of investigation in macroecology and landscape ecology, hydrology, forest restoration, and paleoclimates. It also provides a compelling new motivation for forest conservation.”
The Link:
http://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/forest_protection/FeatureArticles/HowForestsAttractRain.pdf
Neal’s Plant Guilds at the Albayda Project.
GRASSES: Chloris gayana Kunth
Distichlis spicata
Pennisetum divisum
lasiurus sindicus
stipagrostis drarii
Smilo Grass oryzopsis miliacea
Harding grass phalaris tuberosa
Canary Grass phalaris arundinacea
Hairy Beard Grass andropogon hirtus
Erhart’s Grass Erharta calycina
Tall Fescue festuca arundinacea
Broad Fescue Festuca elatior
Tall Wheat Grass Agropyrum elongatum Fruit Trees Mongongo: Schinziophyton rautanenii
Date Palm Phoenix dactylifera
Olive Olea europaea
Pomegranate Punica granatum–Roman
Fig Ficus carica
Guava Psidium
Mulberry Morus
Citrus glauca
Citrus medica
Jujube Ziziphus ziziphus & spinacristi
Carob Ceratonia siliqua
Tamarind Tamarindus indica
Drumstick Tree Moringa oleifera & Moringa Peregrina
Mango Mangifera indica
Loquat Eriobotrya japonica
Pitaya Hylocereus undatus
Columar Cacti Cereus peruvianus Vines/Climbers bitter melon: momordica charantia
Passion fruit: passiflora edulis
Grape: Vitis vinifera
luffa gourd: luffa aegyptica Legume Trees (excellent for coppicing, pollarding, firewood, timber, forage, mulch, and nitrogen fixing. I have marked those that are known to perform hydraulic redistribution as HR) prosopis juliflora (HR)
Prosopis Cineraria (HR)
Leucaena leucocephala
Sesbania Sesban
Parkensonia aculeata
Albizia Lebek
Casuarina spp (Note as of 2014–all but 3 of the initial 30 casuarinas we planted have died)
Acacia seyal
Acacia Senegal
Acacia Tortilis (HR) Clumping Plants Ginger Zingiber officinale
Turmeric Curcuma longa
Cardamom Elettaria Cardamomum Maton
hibiscus spp Ground Covers Portulaca
Coastal Pigface Carpobrotus virescens
Baby sun rose Aptenia cordifolia
Bay Biscayne creeping-oxeye Sphagneticola trilobata
Lippia Phyla canescen Herbs Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
Sage Salvia
Thyme Thymus vulgaris
Sweet Marjoram Origanum majorana
Oregano Origanum vulgare
Felty Germander Teucrium polium
Jamaica: hibiscus sabdarrifa
Tagart Bush: Maerua crassifolia Medicinals: Horseradish tree Moringa peregrina
Sanamaki (senna): cassia senna L. (perennial herbaceous in sandy soil)
Henna lawsonia intermis (perennial fragrant shrub)
Miswak salvadora persica (tree)
Neem Azadirachta indica (tree) Cash Crops: Mongongo–staple nut tree/oil tree
Mongongo–staple nut tree/oil tree Frankincense: boswellia sacra, boswellia seratta
Myrrh: commiphora myhrra, balsamodendron myrrha
Gum Arabic (?): acacia seyal, acacia senegal
Moringa: oil, compost tea, seeds
More information on Neal Spackman:
Two Visions Permaculture
The Al Baydha Project
The Al Baydha Project on YouTube
You can contact Neal via: neal@twovisionspermaculture.com.
Support Permaculture Voices
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[gap size=”300px”]Well that didn’t take long, did it? Just a few weeks after fledging, one of the 2017 cohort of satellite-tagged hen harriers has already ‘disappeared’, with its final signal emitted from a grouse moor on the 12th August, the opening day of the grouse-shooting season.
Hen harrier ‘Calluna‘ (photo RSPB Scotland)
RSPB Scotland press release:
SATELLITE-TAGGED HEN HARRIER DISAPPEARS ON DEESIDE GROUSE MOOR
RSPB Scotland has issued an appeal for information after a young hen harrier, fitted with a satellite tag as part of the charity’s EU-funded Hen Harrier LIFE project, disappeared on an Aberdeenshire grouse moor.
‘Calluna‘, a female harrier, was tagged this summer at a nest on the National Trust for Scotland’s Mar Lodge estate, near Braemar. Her transmitter’s data was being monitored by RSPB Scotland and showed that the bird fledged from the nest in July. She left the area in early August, with the data showing her gradually heading east over the Deeside moors. However, while the tag data showed it to be working perfectly, transmissions abruptly ended on 12th August, with no further data transmitted. Calluna’s last recorded position was on a grouse moor a few miles north of Ballater, in the Cairngorms National Park.
Hen harriers are one of the UK’s rarest raptors and the 2016 national survey results released earlier this year showed that even in Scotland, the species’ stronghold, these birds are struggling. The number of breeding pairs in Scotland now stands at 460, a fall of 27 per cent since 2004, with illegal killing in areas managed for driven grouse shooting identified as one of the main drivers of this decline.
David Frew, Operations Manager for the National Trust for Scotland at Mar Lodge Estate, said: “It is deeply saddening to learn that Calluna appears to have been lost, so soon after fledging from Mar Lodge Estate. Hen harriers were persecuted on Deeside for a great many years, and we had hoped that the first successful breeding attempt on Mar Lodge Estate in 2016 would signal the start of a recovery for these magnificent birds in the area.
Only one month after fledging, and having travelled only a relatively short distance, it appears that we will no longer be able to follow the progress of our 2017 chick. We hope however that the data her tag has provided will help to inform a wider understanding of the lives and threats faced by hen harriers.”
Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland said: “This bird joins the lengthening list of satellite-tagged birds of prey that have disappeared, in highly suspicious circumstances, almost exclusively in areas in areas intensively managed for grouse shooting. We are pleased that the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment has commissioned an independent group to look at how grouse moors can be managed sustainably and within the law. We look forward to a further announcement shortly on the membership of this group, and we are committed to assist the work of this enquiry in any way that we can.
The LIFE project team has fitted a significant number of tags to young hen harriers this year, with the very welcome help from landowners, including the National Trust for Scotland, who value these magnificent birds breeding on their property. The transmitters used in this project are incredibly reliable and the sudden halt in data being received from it, with no hint of a malfunction, is very concerning. We ask that if anyone has any information about the disappearance of this bird we urge them to contact Police Scotland as quickly as possible”.
ENDS
Here’s a map we’ve created showing the location of the National Trust for Scotland’s Mar Lodge Estate in the Cairngorms National Park, where Calluna hatched, and the town of Ballater, close to where she disappeared.
The RSPB Scotland press release doesn’t name the estate from where Calluna’s last position was recorded, it just says it was “on a grouse moor a few miles north of Ballater, in the Cairngorms National Park“.
Hmm, let’s have a closer look at that. Here’s a map showing the grouse moor area a few miles north of Ballater. According to estate boundary details that we sourced from Andy Wightman’s Who Owns Scotland website, Calluna’s last position could have been recorded on either an Invercauld Estate grouse moor or a Dinnet Estate grouse moor.
If you’re thinking that this part of the Cairngorms National Park looks familiar, you’d be right, we’ve blogged about it a few times before. There was the discovery of an illegally shot peregrine at the Pass of Ballater in 2011, the reported coordinated hunt and subsequent shooting of an adult hen harrier at Glen Gairn on the border of Invercauld and Dinnet Estates in 2013, and then there were the illegally-set traps that were found nr Geallaig Hill on Invercauld Estate in 2016. This area of Royal Deeside is quite the little raptor persecution hotspot, isn’t it?
The evidence just keeps mounting. Is anyone still wondering why the game-shooting industry is so keen to try and discredit the use of satellite tags on raptors?
We wonder what explanations, to avoid the bleedin’ obvious, they’ll come up with this time? Perhaps they’ll suggest Calluna was sucked in to a vortex created by Hurricane Harvey? Or maybe they’ll say she was hit by a North Korean test missile? They might tell us that Vladimir Putin must have hacked the satellite signals? All just as plausible as the usual tosh they trot out, such as how a fieldworker eating a sandwich at a tagging session causes eagles to die (here), or how non-existent wind farms are responsible for the disappearance of eight sat-tagged golden eagles (here), or how ‘activists’ have been killing sat-tagged raptors as part of a smear campaign against the grouse-shooting industry (here), or how a faulty saltwater switch on tags attached to Olive Ridley turtles on the Indian subcontinent means that all satellite tags are unreliable (here).
We’ll be updating this page throughout the day if and when statements are made by the following:
Response of Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham –
Response of Alexander Burnett MSP (Conservative, Aberdeen West) –
Response of Cairngorms National Park Authority – Grant Moir, Chief Exec of CNPA said: “A hen harrier has once again disappeared in the Cairngorms National Park, with a satellite tracker ceasing to transmit. The Park Authority is determined to stop these recurring disappearances. Earlier this week the CNPA met with Police Scotland to discuss how increased use of special constables can help to tackle wildlife crime in the Cairngorms National Park. We also continue to work on other solutions to these issues. The CNPA look forward to the establishment by Scottish Government of the independently-led group to look at the environmental impact of grouse moor management and will feed in to that review“.
Response of Scottish Land & Estates – David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land and Estates, said: “Estates in the area have welcomed a number of hen harriers to the area during August and only today one moor reported three harriers. Local land managers reject the inference that the loss of signal from this tag is connected to grouse moor management and are now offering every assistance in searching the area where the last transmission was recorded. They are dismayed that they were not informed earlier that the tag had stopped transmitting nearly three weeks ago, as this would have assisted the search“.
Response of Scottish Wildlife Trust – Susan Davies, director of conservation at the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) said: “It’s extremely disappointing to learn that yet another hen harrier has disappeared over a grouse moor. The most recent surveys show that hen harrier numbers are declining in most parts of Scotland and that illegal persecution is a factor in this decline. Anyone who has information on this bird’s disappearance should contact Police Scotland immediately.
The Trust has repeatedly called on the Scottish Government to be tougher on wildlife crime and introduce a system of licensing for grouse moor management to encourage sustainable practices. We welcome the recent announcement that a working group will be formed to look at the environmental impact of grouse moors and options for better regulation, and we stand ready to assist this group in any way possible“.
Response of Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association – A spokesman for The Scottish Gamekeepers Association said: “The SGA would urge anyone who saw the bird or knows anything about it to contact Police Scotland. This is the first we have heard of this. Obviously any news like this is very disappointing. The SGA condemns raptor persecution and if any of our members are convicted of a wildlife crime they are removed from our organisation. We have learned from those monitoring tags that birds can move some distance away from where they were last recorded so it is important that, if people know anything, they alert the Police immediately.”
Response of Scottish Moorland Group –
Response of Grampian Moorland Group –
Response of GWCT – Nothing, nada, zilch. But on Twitter they announced the availability of the new GWCT Xmas Cards. That’s nice.
Response of BASC –
Response of Countryside Alliance –
Response of Scottish Association for Country Sports – (from The Times) – Julia Stoddart, head of policy for the SACS, lamented the practice of killing hen harriers to protect grouse. “However, we would remind the RSPB that tag technology can fail for a number of reasons, and that raptors are susceptible to natural causes of death as well as to illegal persecution“, she said.
Other media coverage:
BBC news here
Scotsman here
Press & Journal here
UPDATE 2 September 2017: On cue, Scottish landowners’ rep throws false allegations at RSPB (see here).
UPDATE 4 September 2017: Political silence in response to missing hen harrier Calluna (see here).
UPDATE 5 September 2017: Scottish Land & Estates and their indefensible distortion of the truth (see here).
AdvertisementsPublished: Monday, September 26, 2016 @ 9:48 AM
— UPDATE @ 7:20 p.m. (Oct. 13):
A homeless registered sex offender pleaded not guilty today to kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl while she waited at her bus stop.
Randy Stanaford’s bond was set at $250,000 during his arraignment in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. He remains in the Montgomery County Jail.
Stanaford, 39, had a knife last month when he grabbed the girl on Edgar Avenue and raped her in a yard nearby. If conficted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison, prosecutors said.
UPDATE @ 2:40 p.m. (Oct. 7):
Randy Stanaford was indicted by a Montgomery County grand jury for kidnapping with a sexual motivation specification and rape with sexually violent predator specification.
He remains in Montgomery County Jail and will be arraigned Oct. 13.
UPDATE @ 1:47 p.m. (Oct. 4):
Randy Stanaford is accused of grabbing an 11-year-old girl at kn |
good. After all, there is the potential for billions of dollars in rewards for the discoverers of a new drug and, in the end, the public benefits. It sounds like a win-win.
Or is it? If one think about this a bit, a number of questions come up. First of all, $3 billion per year is terrific. Over 5 years, you have up to $15 billion! That’s about half of the entire NIH 2015 budget. But where will this money come from? Hopefully, not from budgets that now support research, especially when it has been a challenge to grow the NIH budget.
Second, why have a Prize Fund just for HIV/AIDS? There are a lot of drugs already available to treat HIV/AIDS and this disease is no longer the death sentence it once was. Why not create $3 billion funds for other diseases like breast cancer or Alzheimer’s? How about a Prize Fund for drug-resistant infections? Heart disease is still the biggest killer; why not a Prize Fund there as well? Once you open this concept for one disease, patient advocates will storm Washington lobbying for a Prize Fund for their causes and ALL will be worthy for such consideration. Do you fund them all? If yes, again, where will the money come from?
Third, deciding who qualifies for the prize will be difficult. The process from idea to product is complicated, takes at least a decade and involves hundreds of people. Often, the early fundamental work is done with NIH funding. This basic research, however, is amplified with applied research in the biopharmaceutical industry. In fact, patents are generally awarded to the scientist who actually first prepares or isolates the drug, not necessarily the person who did the early experiments. Should the prize be awarded to the patent holder? Should it go to the person who did the early biological work? Should the NIH get a piece of the prize? What about the person who figured out the way to synthesize the drug on a large scale--work crucial to getting the drug to patients? What about the scientists who designed the clinical trials? I can go on and on. The bottom line here is that innovation is required in every step of the way in getting a new medicine through FDA approval.
Fourth, who will be the decision makers in awarding the prize? Given the potential monetary reward, there will be many staking claim. Just look at the battle going on right now over ownership of the CRISPR technology, an exciting breakthrough in cancer treatment. It is easy to envision lawsuits over who gets awarded a prize for a new HIV/AIDS drug.
Fifth, one of the stated purposes of the Prize Fund is to “reward true innovation” and “eliminate the market incentive for copycat drugs.” This actually reveals a lack of understanding of drug R&D on the part of Sanders. In general, if there is an exciting new drug target that can be a major breakthrough in treating a disease, a number of companies will race to be first with a successful drug. What if you have spent a decade competing in an area and a competitor beats you by six months? Are you now ineligible for the Prize Fund even if your also-ran drug is equivalent to the first? This actually recently occurred in the hepatitis C field where Gilead was first to market with Sovaldi, with AbbVie and Merck following with their drugs. Under the Sanders scenario, presumably those involved with Sovaldi would divvy up the prize, but Merck and AbbVie would be out of luck–not just in losing out on the prize, but also because Sovaldi would immediately become generic, making their drugs essentially worthless.
But, Merck and AbbVie did not come up with “copycat drugs.” In fact, they have provided viable alternatives to Sovaldi, which is important because no drug is suitable for all patients. Furthermore, oftentimes the first drug approved isn’t the best. Pfizer's Lipitor was the fifth statin to the marketplace, yet it proved superior to the others. It is not unreasonable to expect a similar situation to play out with a new class of HIV/AIDS drugs. This could be fixed by awarding multiple $3 billion prizes, but that could get expensive.
Would the Sanders Prize Fund spur innovation for new HIV/AIDS drugs? Actually, it might have the opposite effect. A CEO could decide that investing precious R&D resources into an area where only one winner will be declared–a winner who might have to share the prize with others–wasn’t worth the risk. Beyond going through the normal rigors of R&D, you have to bank on the fact that you’ll be first. Plus, there would be no guarantee that the $3 billion wouldn’t be split 10 ways. In addition, there is no way that you’d invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a manufacturing plant to make the new drug for the thousands who would need it. Thus, it’s likely that most companies would DROP their HIV/AIDS R&D, making it even more difficult to find the next breakthrough.
Sanders has a noble vision of making drugs affordable for all. That’s a real problem. But this isn’t the solution.Mr. Beddard grows vegetables and melons on a total of some 2,500 acres in Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania collectively known as Lady Moon Farms. His produce is already certified as organic, and he employs his workers year-round, moving them around the three locations rather than simply to pick a crop. The farms are also certified for food safety practices and fair trade.
Image Credit Whole Foods Market
He is able to use those certifications to increase his “score” in the Whole Foods program, as well as other practices that he maintains as an organic farmer. But only one Lady Moon Farms earned the “best” designation. “We were a little weak on our use of renewable resources in Georgia and Florida,” Mr. Beddard said.
The program inspired a vigorous discussion at the annual meeting in March of growers for Red Tomato, a nonprofit marketing and distribution platform for small growers, according to John Lyman, one of its members. While the Red Tomato growers have an “eco-certification” program they follow, Mr. Lyman said Whole Foods’ requirements go beyond that into farmworker welfare, conservation, waste reduction and clean energy.
“For instance, they want to know about earthworms and how many I have in my soil,” said Mr. Lyman, whose family has grown apples, peaches, pears and various berries on their farm in Middlefield, Conn., since 1741. “I thought, How do I count every earthworm? It’s going to take a while.”
But he said he welcomed the opportunity to learn from other growers through the program and that it gives a grower like him, whose produce has earned a “good” rating to start, incentives to try out and adopt new practices.
Compared to the meat and seafood it sells, a greater percentage of Whole Foods’s fruits, flowers and vegetables are imported from overseas, where standards for pesticide use, soil amendments and other things are different, but foreign producers also will have to comply.
“If you pressed me to identify what I think is the component that’s going to make the biggest difference for people shopping in their stores, it’s the application of a pesticide policy universally to anyone shipping fresh produce or floral items, whether they’re coming from India or Mexico,” said Charles Benbrook, a professor at Washington State University who works on analytical systems for measuring food quality and safety and was among the experts who helped Whole Foods develop its program.The Abandoned Ruins In This Indiana City Will Blow You Away
Gary, Indiana has seen the both the highs and the lows of life throughout the city’s history.
The city was built in 1906 around the United States Steel Corporation’s Gary Works. The Steel Strike of 1919 brewed civil unrest in the city, which flared up into a full-fledged riot between the striking steel workers and strikebreakers that forced Governor James P. Goodrich to declare martial law.
Despite the early conflicts, the steel industry provided ample job opportunities and Gary’s population boomed…then busted. The fortunes and failures of the city are reflective of the steel industry; the rapid expansion of the early years was bolstered by the steel needs during WWII, but the declining demand and growth of international competition dragged Gary into a downward spiral.
In 2013, the Gary Department of Redevelopment reported that whopping one third of homes within city limits were empty or abandoned. Unlike other “abandoned” towns across the country, Gary is still alive with a population of over 80,000—a “modern ghost town” unlike any other.
City Methodist Church Flickr / Mike Boening Photography From the inside, you would think you were standing in an epic European cathedral, and even as nature slowly reclaims the structure, which was abandoned in 1975, the place still feels somewhat sacred. Flickr / Vail Marston Flickr / Joey Lax-Salinas Flickr / Michael Kappel This enormous gothic revival church was built in the 1920s and held a congregation of nearly 3,000 people. Flickr / Rachel The empty building survived surprisingly safe from vandals and many of the original stained glass windows remain untouched; however, an increasing number of trespassers has led the city to securely gate and patrol the property. Flickr / Nick Forslund The City of Gary does offer permits for photographers to poke around inside, and their pictures are both sad and stunning.
The tumultuous history was devastating for many Gary residents and the deserted buildings left behind are an inescapable reminder of the city’s former glory. These slowly decaying structures provide a melancholy snapshot of history, but we also see something hauntingly beautiful in their breakdown.
Have you explored any of these abandoned spots? Do you know of others we should check out? Tell us about it in the Comments section below!Description
TGC take payment at time of shipping (more info)
Product Description
The Order: 1886 introduces players to a unique vision of Victorian-Era London where Man uses advanced technology to battle a powerful and ancient foe. As Galahad, a member of an elite order of Knights, join a centuries-old war against a powerful threat that will determine the course of history forever in this intense third-person action-adventure shooter, available exclusively on the PS4 system.
GAME FEATURES
Where history and myth collide Assume the role of Galahad, one of the most experienced Knights of The Order, and enter a unique vision of Victorian-Era London that fuses real historical figures and events with new twists on familiar myths and legends.
Danger on all fronts Conflict rages in this 19th century London between enemies new and old. Rebels declare all-out war on The Order and the police state they represent, while mankinds true enemy, a powerful and ancient foe known as Half-breeds grows in strength and numbers in and around the city.
Advanced technology Wield cutting-edge weapons and gadgets like the Arc Gun, Thermite Rifle, and Monocular, as you struggle to maintain peace and order amidst the growing civil unrest and Half-breed threat against humankind.
Filmic vision The Order: 1886 transports players into the stunningly realistic and re-imagined Neo-Victorian London, replicating the nuances of actual motion picture cameras and lenses for a more immersive and believable presentation.
Seamless narrative experience Full performance capture for characters and scenes, combined with seamless transitions between action and story sequences, work together to bring the rich narrative, rife with conspiracy and intrigue, to life.The Holly Holm hype train is back in Albuquerque, N.M., Friday night, with the stakes perhaps higher than ever.
Holm will face Juliana Werner for the Legacy FC bantamweight title just weeks after her management team met with the UFC for the first time last month. According to UFC president Dana White, that meeting didn't go well, and he is no longer interested in her services. However, the general consensus is that the idea will be revisited after Friday night's fight, especially if Holm wins.
Holly Holm training camp journal video Holm reveals how she started boxing, her growth as a mixed martial artist, and what drives her.
Mike Winkeljohn, Holm's trainer of 16 years, said the plan was to have Cris Cyborg, another high-profile free agent, attend Friday night's fight, however, those plans changed following Cyborg's Muay Thai loss last week. He added that there have been preliminary talks to stage a Holm vs. Cyborg pay-per-view fight in the near future, should the UFC deal not come to fruition.
"Why do you think people tune in to boxing?" Winkeljohn said when asked if a Holm vs. Cyborg stand-alone pay-per-view could be successful. "Names. Not because Bob Arum or Don King was throwing a fight, it was all because [Mike] Tyson was fighting."
A source close to Cyborg's camp, for whatever it's worth, denied any talks of a pay-per-view fight against Holm.
Winkeljohn said it was his understanding that the UFC's initial offer was $15,000 to show and $15,000 to win. Team Holm was willing to accept that offer, however, they wanted a raise if she earned a title shot.
"We have no problem with fighting for the money they've offered us for the first couple of fights in the UFC," he said. "We just want good money to fight Ronda [Rousey] or whoever has the title at that point."
Winkeljohn said he expects Holm's manager Lenny Fresquez to engage in talks with the UFC after Friday night's fight with "a different spin."
"I think they don't want to hurt the other girls' feelings and let the world know that money has been negotiated in such a way," Winkeljohn said. "I don't blame them. They are who they are because they make all the right decisions. There are other things we can ask for. She's got such good marketability, I think she would be a good broadcaster. Hey, can you help us get to FOX to be a broadcaster? Can you help us do these things?
"There are other things we can do to make money. There are other sources for her other than a dumb little paycheck. So we might have to look at it that way."
Holm declined to discuss the UFC subject until this fight was over because she wanted to focus all her efforts on the Werner fight. A win tonight will improve the former boxing champion's MMA record to 7-0 and make her stock rise just a little more.This is the story of one man’s dream of owning a working laptop and one company’s never-ending quest to crush that dream.
Love at first sight
Our story begins at CES 2010, at a party hosted by a company called AMD. Now, AMD was celebrating, and for very good reason: they had just completed the launch of a phenomenal product called the Radeon HD 5000-series GPU. At this party, there was a laptop on display that was handling games like a boss. It was one of the latest games, too, and the graphics flowed smoothly even with the settings cranked up. I knew immediately that I had to have this laptop. I discovered that it was the ASUS G73JH, and it had been announced the day before at the ASUS press event. It was supposed to be available almost immediately, and would be everything I wanted in a laptop: powerful quad-core CPU, top-of-the-line mobile graphics, 8GB RAM, good quality 17.3″ display, dual 7200RPM hard drives and a Blu-ray drive. And so the search began. Web store after web store had no knowledge of the laptop, but I would not be deterred. After what felt like an eternity of searching, a small handful of web sites started selling this notebook. Those few sites were narrowed down to XoticPC.com because it had the best combination of price and customer support (their support community is quite good). The laptop was configured and ordered. The estimated ship date was mid-April due to an extreme level of demand. It was early February. The wait was excruciating, but in mid-April, my laptop arrived. Eagerly but carefully, the laptop and its components were extracted from the packaging. It really was everything I wanted in a laptop.
The reviewing process began in earnest.
Trouble in paradise
Right in the middle of testing, half of the screen went blank, and the other half turned all sorts of colors. The first RMA was set up and a two week turnaround was quoted. “No problem”, I thought. It’s still late-April, a review will still be relevant then, and Expo Icrontic was still months away. So my laptop was shipped to one of ASUS’s repair facilities, to be returned in about two weeks.
And the wait began.
Two weeks had passed and I had received no update or confirmation my laptop was on its way back, so I checked the ASUS customer support web site to see what was going on. The repair status was listed as “waiting”, with no other information. A call to ASUS produced a promise the laptop was being worked on and it would be ready…within two weeks. The representative said I should continue checking the web site for updates as this would give the most timely information.
Rinse, then repeat—weekly. During the course of this seemingly infinite loop, late June rolled around and with it, Expo Icrontic. Sadly, I still did not have my laptop back.
To really kick me in the balls, I received a phone call from ASUS the day I arrived to ICHQ for Expo. The good news was my laptop was shipping out and would arrive at my house…the day before I returned home. No, they couldn’t rush the laptop to me at ICHQ because that wasn’t the address they had for me and ASUS will only ship via FedEx 3-day. I could pay to upgrade to next day shipping but, as it turns out, that’s really expensive.
But wait, there’s more
The laptop was waiting for me when I got back home. I was pretty disappointed in the timing, but whatever. At least I had the laptop back and it was in working condition. I opened the box, plugged the laptop in, and turned it on. I was greeted with the normal splash screens and then…
click…click…click…
It was a sound I’m all too familiar with: the sound of a dead or rapidly dying hard drive. That’s probably just bad timing. So another call to Asus and a cross-shipment RMA for a new hard drive was set up. No big deal. The new drive arrived and the old one was swapped out and returned. With the problems now resolved I began testing again until…
Not again
Right in the middle of the first gaming test, I had an experience similar to that of the following video:
Now, this video does not do the noise justice. It’s not nearly loud, deep, and horrifying enough, but it should give you an idea of what was going on. Of course with something like that, the first thing I did was shut the laptop down as fast as possible. Once things calmed down, I turned the laptop on and resumed testing, thinking it might have been a really odd one-time glitch.
Not so. The game testing finished without issue, but things started going downhill right after that. About five minutes into testing video transcoding the noise returned and the fast shutdown was performed again. Testing clearly was going to be an issue until this problem was resolved. With this in mind I began poking around the internet to see if anyone else was experiencing the same problems. Apparently I was far from alone. Owners of just about every version of the G73JH were having the exact same issues, and then some. Several had sent their laptops in for repair only to experience the same insanely long repair times I had only weeks prior. Things were not looking good.
Unfortunately this all happened right in the middle of a rather busy period of frequent travel and overtime at work, so a new RMA wasn’t possible for several months. It was probably for the best though, because I started experiencing other issues that were commonly noted on various forums: the touchpad receives phantom input and/or stops working, extreme keyboard lag that can sometimes rearrange keystrokes, overheating due to improper application of thermal material, rubber feet coming off due to the overheating problem, and, of course, the aforementioned sound issues.
I would just have to deal with the laptop as it was for a while. There was just too much going on to risk another two months without a laptop, even if that meant abandoning its intended purpose—portable gaming and workstation tasks. Expo 2011 would again see me having to work around this miserable piece of equipment. No video editing…it’d all have to be done on a desktop. Just basic computing tasks that any bargain bin laptop could handle.
In October life settled down to the point that the laptop could be sent in for repairs. CES was far enough away that even a two month repair wouldn’t be an issue. One call to set up the RMA, and a quick trip to the local FedEx and the laptop was away to get all of its problems fixed.
Um, guys?
The day after the laptop arrived, its repair status was changed to “Waiting-[WF9]-Wait for customer confirmation – NTF”. NTF means “no trouble found”. The rest means the repair center is supposed to contact me via phone or e-mail for further information on the problems. Neither one happened, and despite repeated calls to customer service (the customer cannot call the repair center directly) and subsequent promises of returned calls “within 24 hours”, I was never contacted. The laptop, as far as I could tell, was just sitting there waiting for information to be magically passed along to the repair center.
After two weeks of calling customer service, I was able to speak with a supervisor who would elevate my case. Apparently “elevate” is code for “tell the repair center to ship the laptop now”, because within a couple hours of that phone call (another in which I was promised a call from the repair center) the status was changed to notify me the laptop was on its way back to me. No word on whether anything had been done. In my research, I had stumbled across a secret (at least not easily found) customer service escalation system… Perfect. I whipped up the following:
* Subject：RMA Problems
* Topic：1.Product Quality;2.Service Quality;
* Description：
I purchased the G73JH in April 2010 with an extended three year warranty. Since the day it arrived I’ve had nothing but problems. First the display died. It took eight weeks to get fixed. As soon as the laptop was returned, one of the hard drives died, causing a second RMA. The third RMA (USG11A4754) was requested on October 26 for the following:
-Since the day the laptop arrived, I have been unable to play games properly. Randomly during gaming the laptop will emit a very loud static/roaring sound. This is not the sound of fans nor does it appear to come from the speakers. It happens at the same amount of loudness regardless of volume settings.
– The touchpad does not function correctly. Despite making sure that nothing but one fingertip is in contact with the touchpad, the system acts as though many fingers are attempting to provide input.
– The keyboard misses keystrokes. I have to type very slowly as a workaround. This is unacceptable.
– Both the CPU and GPU overheat, causing shutdowns. I understand there was an issue with thermal paste being improperly applied and I believe that to be the issue in this case as well.
– Due to the overheating, the rubber feet on the laptop have come off. All of this was detailed on the RMA form included with the laptop. For this third RMA, my laptop arrived on October 31. On November 1 the repair status was changed to “Waiting-[WF9]-Wait for customer confirmation – NTF”. At no time during the repair process was I ever contacted to confirm anything. In fact, I called around November 3 to find out what information was needed. I was told someone would contact me regarding the repair. On November 10, having not been contacted, I called ASUS support. The representative promised me a call from the repair facility within 24-48 hours. This promised call never happened – three phone numbers were provided and none received any calls regarding the repair. On the morning of November 15 I called ASUS support again, and was told the case would be “elevated” because problems were not immediately found. I was promised a call from the repair facility that day. Again, the call never happened. Instead I received an automated e-mail that night stating my laptop was being shipped back to me. The laptop is scheduled to arrive on November 18, and based on the previous description of events I do not expect to find the problems resolved. This is my third ASUS laptop (also have a W2P and F3SV), and will likely be my final ASUS laptop based on the troubles I have had in getting repairs and poor customer service. I want my laptop fully repaired. It should not take multiple RMAs to do this. If the repair facility is unable to duplicate the problem, I expect them to contact me for further information. If I am promised a phone call within a specific time period, I expect that promise to be fulfilled.
It was jumping the gun a bit, but at this point I figured it would just be a preemptive strike. After all, the notes on my case indicate that nothing had been done and I had little to no confidence that anything would come of the service anyway.
A ray of hope
Surprisingly, within a day (November 17, to be exact) a response was waiting. The system put me in contact with Chris Ambrose, a Customer Care Specialist who (as I found out later) also owns a G73JH laptop and is very familiar with its internals. His response was somewhat promising:
Dear Mr. Mertes, I look forward to seeing the results. Email me back when you are done. Sincerely, Chris A
Asus Customer Care Specialist
So at least someone at ASUS was interested in the results. That was refreshing. I resolved to get back to Chris as quickly as possible.
Seriously, did you guys even test this?
The laptop arrived and I immediately unpacked it. The repair papers simply stated that new thermal paste had been applied. Windows booted up without an issue, but for some reason the touchpad wasn’t working. That’s usually a simple fix—there’s an Fn-combo to enable/disable the touchpad and I’d probably disabled it before sending the laptop in.
No dice. Some poking around revealed that Windows didn’t even see a pointing device connected, much less one that might have been turned off. Great start so far.
I grabbed a mouse and plugged in. That worked just fine, so I proceeded to test the remainder of the issues. As it turns out, everything else was fine. There were a couple of scenarios I knew would reliably cause problems before the laptop was sent in, but even those weren’t causing problems.
So with one problem remaining, on November 17 I composed the following message:
The laptop seems to be mostly working now. It is definitely running cooler since the thermal paste was re-applied. So far the laptop has been able to handle normal usage without an issue. The only problem that remains is the touchpad. When I sent the laptop in, the touchpad was behaving erratically. Now it doesn’t function at all (the touchpad and its buttons are completely dead). I have tried using the Fn keys to enable/disable the touchpad, but this has not worked and will need another RMA to be fixed. My only concern here is how long this will take. Each of my previous RMAs has taken well over a month to complete and return. I will need the laptop back in time for CES in Las Vegas in early January (I depart Jan 6, so Jan 5 at the latest would be needed). Do you think this would be a problem? Thanks
Nick
And with that, I pressed the Send button…
Gotcha
… and an error message popped up:
Can not input HTML tag
I was unceremoniously dumped back to the ASUS support login page. Thinking it was just a random error, I tried again. Same result. OK, third time is a charm. Nope. The Technical Inbox was having problems, and I couldn’t relay my message back to Chris.
Every day after that I’d try two or three times to send the message, but without success.
Finally
On December 21, I was finally able to get the message through. And, true to form, Chris replied back within a day:
Dear Mr. Mertes, Your new RMA is XXXXXXXX, and will be coming to me here at HQ. If it’s just a loose TP cable, which I suspect it is, the turnaround time should be very quick. If you want, you can have a local tech check for this before shipping. I can have it here for Tuesday/Wednesday, and possibly ship out same day.
Cool. The laptop was packed up and shipped off. Sure enough, the delivery was set for Wednesday. Sure enough, on Wednesday Chris called me. He informed me that the touchpad repair was badly botched and that the glue the tech had used was improperly applied (I don’t recall if glue was even supposed to be used), and the cables hadn’t been connected. He had cleaned up that mess, made sure the touchpad was working, and double-checked the previous overheating issues, and everything was looking good. The laptop would be sent off that evening and I would have it in hand by Friday. Sure enough, Friday evening FedEx delivered.
Once again, I unpacked the laptop and turned it on. Once the touchpad was configured the way I liked it, things behaved nicely. It looked like everything was in working order.
I clicked on my ASUS Technical Inbox shortcut to log in and tell Chris the good news…
Holy crap guys
…only to find out that about half the keys weren’t working. It wasn’t anything as simple as one side of the keyboard not working either. Nope. Random keys didn’t work.
I actually had to turn the laptop off and walk away at this point. There was an immense level of rage building and I was actually afraid I’d hulk smash the laptop.
The next morning (December 31) I returned to assess the situation. Twenty-eight keys didn’t work, and there was no logical grouping of those keys either.
The laptop was returned yesterday and I have to be honest…I had to wait until this morning to compose a reply. I am simply livid and disgusted. The touchpad mostly works now, though I had to turn off almost every feature and reboot for it to work as a basic touchpad. The keyboard, on the other hand, is not functioning properly. Below are a list of keys that simply do not work (listed according to keyboard rows): 458=
rti]
dfgk’
vb,
backspace
enter
both control buttons
left, right arrows
number pad keys: 4568*end This is going to require a fifth RMA. Unfortunately unless ASUS pays for overnight shipping to and from the repair facility I won’t be able to get it in for repairs until after CES—I depart Friday afternoon. I cannot express how thoroughly disgusted I am with this laptop. I am still waiting for day one of having a working laptop that was purchased April 14, 2010. I don’t believe a refund to be an unreasonable request at this point.
This brings the story to today. I haven’t received a reply yet, but that’s likely due to the holiday weekend.
It’s been twenty-one months and I am still without a fully working laptop, and CES is right around the corner. Fortunately thanks to some previous review parts I have a workaround, though it’s less than optimal. No in-flight work, and certainly nothing on the show floor.
Lesson learned
So to anyone still contemplating the purchase of an ASUS product, be it a motherboard, laptop, GPU, or some other thing…don’t. If, after reading this, you still decide to go with ASUS, good luck if something goes wrong. The RMA and customer support processes I have fought with for nearly two years are the same terrible processes for every other product the company produces. ASUS has proven at every step of the way that they don’t care once your money is in their hands.
Congratulations ASUS. You’ve figured out how to lose a customer.
UPDATE: Here’s a continuation, unbelievable as it is, to the saga.A survivor of the 7/7 London bombings was found dead hours after the Manchester Arena attack – amid fears he took his own life after being overwhelmed by the horror.
Tony Walter, 52, was discovered dead at his home after failing to turn up to work the day after suicide bomber Salman Abedi murdered 22 people and injured a further 116 at the Manchester Arena.
A friend has claimed he is the ‘23rd victim’ of the bombing and killed himself because he ‘didn’t want to live in a world where these terror attacks continue’.
Tony Walter, pictured, who survived the London 7/7 2005 terror attack, was found dead hours after the Manchester bombing with fears raised he took his own life 'after being overwhelmed by the horror'
Mr Walter was on the Edgware Road train that was bombed (pictured) and was just yards from the device when it detonated
Fifty-two people were killed and 700 injured in the attacks on three underground trains and one double-decker bus, pictured
Friends of Mr Walter said he did not turn up for work following the Manchester attack, pictured, and they fear it may have caused him to take his own life
On July 7, 2005, Mr Walter was yards from fanatic Mohammad Sidique Khan when he detonated a device on a Tube train after it left Edgware Road station.
Seven people, including Khan, died. Mr Walter was showered with shrapnel but survived.
Friends believe that the Manchester bombing, coupled with the Westminster attack in March when four people were killed by Khalid Masood, brought back traumatic memories for Mr Walter.
Staff at the London legal firm where he worked were told by a boss on Thursday morning that he had taken his own life.
A friend told the Sun: ‘Everyone is distraught by Tony taking his life. After the Westminster attack he really struggled.
‘He was off work for a few days saying he couldn’t cope with how it brought back the memories of 7/7.’
Mr Walter eventually turned to work but seemed ‘withdrawn’. When he didn’t appear at work following the Manchester Arena attack his colleagues began to get worried.
Manchester Arena: A friend has claimed Mr Walter killed himself because he ‘didn’t want to live in a world where these terror attacks continue’
Mr Walter was discovered dead at his home after failing to turn up to work the day after suicide bomber Salman Abedi murdered 22 people and injured a further 116 at the Manchester Arena
They feared the worse and contacted the police, who then discovered him dead at his home.
His friend added: ‘Everyone that knew Tony believes he is the 23rd victim of the Manchester Arena attack. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi is responsible for Tony taking his life as well as those he killed.’
Mr Walter’s sister-in-law Sheila Walter said the family are ‘devastated’ and described him as a ‘lovely man’.
He was found in his flat at 2.10pm on Wednesday — 40 hours after the Manchester bombing.
John Pritchard, his boss at Legal 500, told devastated colleagues of the suspected suicide on Thursday. He said the loss of Mr Walter, who had worked at the firm for 17 years, was felt ‘particularly hard’.
On July 7, 2005, Mr Walter was yards from fanatic Mohammad Sidique Khan when he detonated a device on a Tube train after it left Edgware Road station (pictured)
Scotland Yard said: ‘Police were called on Wednesday 24 May shortly after 14.10 hours to an address following a concern for the welfare of the occupant.
‘Officers forced entry to the property and found a 52-year-old man who was unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The man’s next of kin have been informed.
‘The death is not being treated as suspicious. The matter has been referred to the coroner.’
Mr Walter, from Tottenham, told a public inquiry into 7/7 that when Khan detonated the bomb it felt as if he was being ‘electrocuted from the feet up’.
The bomb was one of four detonated by terrorists across London in a co-ordinated attack that killed 52 and injured more than 700.The Gadsden Flag – the famous Revolutionary War Flag depicting a coiled snake, ready to strike and the words “DONT TREAD ON ME” below, can now be considered racist and the government might ban you from displaying it.
That’s because an extraordinarily delicate black employee of a company claimed a co-worker wearing a baseball cap with the flag on it amounted to racial harassment.
Now – the only connection between the Gadsden Flag and racism is that the creator of the flag – Christopher Gadsden – owned slaves. That’s it. The flag was first used during the Revolutionary War aboard ships assembled by the Continental Congress to counter British blockades.
There really is no other connection to racism, or slaves or the Confederacy. Some leftists insist the flag is still racist because conservative groups use it, but that’s amazingly idiotic.
So here’s an excerpt of the complaint heard by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, courtesy The Washington Post’s Volokh Conspiracy:
On January 8, 2014, Complainant filed a formal complaint in which he alleged that the Agency subjected him to discrimination on the basis of race (African American) and in reprisal for prior EEO activity when, starting in the fall of 2013, a coworker (C1) repeatedly wore a cap to work with an insignia of the Gadsden Flag, which depicts a coiled rattlesnake and the phrase “Don’t Tread on Me.” Complainant stated that he found the cap to be racially offensive to African Americans because the flag was designed by Christopher Gadsden, a “slave trader & owner of slaves.” Complainant also alleged that he complained about the cap to management; however, although management assured him C1 would be told not to wear the cap, C1 continued to come to work wearing the offensive cap. Additionally, Complainant alleged that on September 2, 2013, a coworker took a picture of him on the work room floor without his consent. In a decision dated January 29, 2014, the Agency dismissed Complainant’s complaint on the basis it failed to state a claim.... Complainant maintains that the Gadsden Flag is a “historical indicator of white resentment against blacks stemming largely from the Tea Party.” He notes that the Vice President of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters cited the Gadsden Flag as the equivalent of the Confederate Battle Flag when he successfully had it removed from a New Haven, Connecticut fire department flagpole. After a thorough review of the record, it is clear that the Gadsden Flag |
into allowing a rogue application to access their profile page, which then posts spam messages.
It also attempts to lure people into completing an online survey, for which the scammers are paid money.
The social network already offers a "like" button that allows people to rate other user's comments and posts.
Graham Cluley of security firm Sophos said it was the latest in a series of "survey scams" that included links to a video purporting to show an anaconda vomiting up a hippo.
"One thing we commonly see is that the message starts 'OMG, shocking video'," he said.
"And they appear to come from your Facebook friend, giving it a ringing endorsement."
Unknown apps
The dislike button scam prompts people to download an application with the message: "Download the official DISLIKE button now."
When users click on the link it prompts them to install a rogue application, which does not function as a dislike button.
Once a user has given it permission to access their profile, it updates the user's page with a link and a message: "I just got the dislike button, so now I can dislike all of your dumb posts lol!!!"
We always encourage people to not click on links that appear suspicious - even if posted from a friend Facebook spokesperson
"Many people are giving permission for completely unknown apps," Mr Cluley told BBC News.
The surveys appear to be from genuine companies, he said.
"As far as we can tell, they appear to be legitimate," he said. "It could be that the firms are not policing their affiliates properly."
The scam finally points users towards a Firefox add-on that installs a "dislike" button.
Mr Cluley said the add-on also appears to be legitimate.
Ron Sharpp, CEO of FaceMod, the maker of the add-on, told BBC News that his company was "in no way affiliated with the online scams".
He said the firm had been sent "several support e-mails" asking about the surveys.
"In response, we've taken efforts to remind our users that those are not official posts and warning users not to download any version of our add-on from an alternate source," he said.
In addition, the company has issued a warning via its Facebook page.
A spokesperson for Facebook said it also regularly warns users about rogue applications.
"We always encourage people to not click on links that appear suspicious - even if posted from a friend," a spokesperson said.
The site has a "very quick process in place" to make sure that links and rogue applications were taken down quickly, they added.
"They can report any posts to us. We can make sure that we take down any application or all of the links across Facebook."
But Mr Cluley said that although Facebook could respond quickly, it should police the development of rogue applications more closely.
"Anyone can write a Facebook app - these scams are constantly springing up," he said.Villagers slaughtered in Myanmar'massacre', reports of women and children among more than 100 dead
Updated
Sorry, this video has expired Video: Reports of villagers slaughtered in Myanmar massacre (ABC News)
There are reports scores of Muslim Rohingyas — including women and children — have been killed by Myanmar security forces and Buddhist vigilantes in a surge of ethnic violence.
Key points: Two sources report on mass killings in the village of Chut Pyin
Predictions up to hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas will now flee Myanmar
Communal tensions erupted when 12 police officers were killed last week
The ABC has received specific allegations from two separate sources about mass killings in the village of Chut Pyin, near Rathedaung township in western Myanmar.
"So far reports — I think quite credible — mention about 130 people including women and children killed," Chris Lewa, director of The Arakan Project which works with Rohingya communities, said.
"That happened on Sunday when suddenly security forces cordoned [off] the whole area, together with Rakhine villagers... it seems like this has been a major massacre in Rathedaung," Ms Lewa said.
Simmering communal tensions erupted last Friday when an insurgent group attacked police posts, killing 12 officers.
In figures released on Thursday, the Myanmar military said it has killed 370 insurgents across Rakhine State, in Myanmar's west, and confirmed the deaths of one more security force member, two government officials and 14 civilians.
But rights groups believe the civilian death toll to be much higher.
A video provided to the ABC by a human rights monitor purportedly shows Chut Pyin village burning and in another clip mounds of freshly dug earth — allegedly the graves of those killed.
"This is where the dead bodies from Chut Pyin village were buried … they buried 10-20 bodies, putting two to three bodies in each pit," an unidentified man on the video said.
The graves were allegedly dug on Sunday night in the village of Ah Htet Nan Yar, south of Chut Pyin, with more bodies burned by security forces.
"So far they have recorded about 135 names on [the village] death list," the man in the video clip said.
Access to the area is blocked to foreign media so the ABC cannot independently verify the video or the allegations.
The ABC has requested comment from the Myanmar Government.
Hopes for change dashed by militant attack
In Myanmar, hatred for Rohingyas runs deep and periodically boils over into violence.
Rohingyas are a Muslim minority in a majority Buddhist country.
The 1.1 million Rohingyas in Rakhine State are denied citizenship and live under apartheid-like conditions, despite many families living in Myanmar for generations.
About 120,000 Rohingyas live in camps for internally displaced persons, having fled previous violence, while a further 400,000 live in camps in neighbouring Bangladesh.
In October, some Rohingyas started to fight back, with a Saudi-funded insurgent group called Harakah al-Yaqin (Faith Movement) attacking police posts, killing nine officers.
The subsequent crackdown by security forces was brutal, with killings, gang rapes and arbitrary detention allegedly rife.
Last week, a Myanmar-mandated committee led by former UN chief Kofi Annan released a series of recommendations for improving the situation and for 36 hours there was a glimmer of hope.
But it did not last.
On Friday, the militants attacked again — now calling themselves the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) — this time hitting more than 25 police posts.
At least one Buddhist village was burned down by Rohingyas in subsequent days and 4,000 Buddhists have been evacuated from trouble spots.
In response, the security forces have sealed off the area, and there are allegations of large numbers of civilian deaths and dozens of Rohingya villages torched.
'Full blown initiative to eliminate Rohingyas'
Ms Lewa said the insurgent attacks play right into the hands of the military.
"It actually gives an opportunity for the authorities together with the Rakhine [vigilantes] to push out all the Rohingya out of northern Rakhine and so I think that's definitely ethnic cleansing," Ms Lewa said.
The United Nations said 38,000 Rohingyas had fled to Bangladesh since Friday, but Ms Lewa said that was just the beginning.
"I think we will see a massive exodus to Bangladesh — tens of thousands of people … perhaps hundreds of thousands of people that will end up in Bangladesh," she said.
In the past, some Rohingyas have tried to make it by boat to Australia to seek asylum.
Photographer and human rights monitor Saiful Huq Omi has followed this issue for more than a decade and said this latest round of violence appears to be unprecedented.
"Sometimes we have seen systematic rapes, torture, extortion and other tools have been used but this time it's a full-blown initiative to completely eliminate the Rohingyas out of their land," he said.
The Myanmar Government said it was conducting a justified military response to a terrorist threat but to many observers, the "clearance operation" has all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing, if not genocide.
Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, human, rights, myanmar, bangladesh, asia
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Here are some thoughts from Congressman Lamar Smith about the RESTORE Act:
"Democrats today failed to protect the American people by ignoring urgent requests from the intelligence community to update tools and modernize laws governing intelligence gathering," stated Ranking Member Smith. "The RESTORE Act undermines our national security and increases the risk of a future attack on our country. Democrats are playing politics by claiming that this bill'restores' checks and balances," continued Smith. "But politics should never come before national security. This bill restores nothing but a legal loophole for terrorists and spies. Today's vote comes at the expense of our national security. Contrary to Congress's intent when FISA was originally enacted, this bill requires the government obtain a court order to conduct surveillance of overseas targets," said Smith. "The implications of this requirement alone could be catastrophic. The RESTORE Act requires intelligence officials to obtain a court order to conduct surveillance on Osama Bin Laden, but does not require one to conduct surveillance on an illegal immigrant," Smith added. "The bill gives terrorists overseas more rights under the law, than individuals inside the U.S. That is simply absurd. This bill does nothing to protect America, nothing to preserve civil liberties and nothing to promote national security," concluded Smith. "So what does this bill do? It ignores 30 years of precedent in intelligence gathering and panders to special interests groups. Americans would be better served if lawmakers listened to their requests, rather than playing politics with the safety and security of our nation."
I included the extended quote because I don't want to be accused of cutting out some allegedly crucial point, so there it is in all its glory. Rep. Smith is a perfect example of mainstream Republican thinking these days. He shows why the party is in dire need of a philosophical makeover, extremely unpopular and seemingly prepared to go down the drain with their leader. Here are a few responses to the Congressman.
First of all, what special interest groups are being pandered to? The telecommunication companies quietly lobbying for amnesty are certainly being pandered to by Senator Jay Rockefeller and heaven knows who else. Has Congressman Smith received money from them, and if so wouldn't his position be considered pandering to a special interest? I don't want to get into the man's psychology but I wouldn't be surprised if he's projecting his own compromised character onto those opposing him. Moreover, what special interest is pushing against amnesty? Is someone going to profit from telecom amnesty? Those with pending lawsuits may ultimately profit, so I guess the Electronic Frontier Foundation may be in for a big payday. Of course a self-described "donor-funded nonprofit" probably isn't salivating over the huge sum this class action lawsuit could bring in. It would be a lot more probable if some large company like Google stood to profit from their distress. And actual evidence of special interest activism would be most persuasive of all. From all appearances the anti-amnesty people are motivated by Constitutional principle and a belief in the rule of law - they will see no personal profit from succeeding, which obviously can't be said on the other side.
As for the urgent requests from the intelligence community, there is precisely one loophole in the FISA law that needs to be closed: Foreign-to-foreign communications that go through U.S. infrastructure. The temporary lifting of that requirement expires in February and it needs to be made permanent. There are no other tools that need updating or laws that need modernizing. Under FISA the President can begin wiretapping any old time he likes. He doesn't need to get clearance from anyone first, he doesn't need to wait for anything to get approved, he can just jump right in with both feet. Of course, he also has to get a retroactive warrant within 72 hours from the famously compliant (and secret) FISA court. In President Bush's view any form of executive accountability is intolerable, so even setting the bar that low for him is unacceptable. But the fact is, the intelligence community is not in any way hamstrung by the legal requirements of FISA and it is dishonest to say otherwise.
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The real mind bender from the Congressman is that officials would need a court order to surveil Osama bin Laden. Let's assume Joe Spook at the NSA picks up a phone call from someone he thinks is the guy. Joe can start tapping immediately and get the warrant later. If the foreign-to-foreign loophole is closed he doesn't even need to do that. Either way we're listening. So what kind of scenario does this refer to? I suppose if John Lindh was in Pakistan talking to his parents in America then there would be a warrant required. If Mohammed Atta in Miami was calling Mullah Omar in Afghanistan then there may not be any warrant needed. That might satisfy the foreign-terrorists-but-not-individuals-here scenario. In no event is anyone forced to wait before acting and in any event his reasoning is extremely convoluted. That probably is not an accident - actual logic doesn't make the case too well.
Rep. Smith's dark warnings about undermining national security and increasing the risk of attack is simply the basest form of fearmongering. We don't seem to be responding as viscerally to that line of propaganda these days but it still has a crude effectiveness. Sooner or later the haze of fear will lift, and when it does we will have a sober assessment of the risks we face. We will look at how to reduce or thwart them without compromising essential liberties and what to do to prepare for the worst case. We will look back at this period as some kind of national fugue state and wonder at our panicked state of mind. We will also take a hard look at the contemporary leadership, and the judgment against those who enabled the President to act with such impunity will be harsh. Rep. Smith and his colleagues are declaring with their actions that they consider themselves Republican before American. Each day they continue to do so the verdict of history will weigh heavier against them.М.КОРОЛЕВА –Здравствуйте, это, действительно, программа «Особое мнение». Я – Марина Королева, и сегодня у нас в студии Андрей Макаревич, музыкант. Андрей Вадимович, здравствуйте!
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Привет!
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Я уже видела, что вас все спросили, как вы сами написали, каждый журналист задал вам вопрос: Зачем вы ездили на восток Украины и выступали там перед беженцами с востока Украины, но на территории Украины. Поэтому я не буду вас спрашивать, зачем вы туда поехали. Давайте я вас спрошу, что вы там увидели, потому что, прямо скажем, немногие там бывали. Мы составляем себе картину на основе телевизионной какой-то картинки, и хотелось бы услышать, что увидели вы.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Я увидел очень много разных вещей, притом, что пребывание мое было сильно сжато. Мы перемещались быстро, добираться было достаточно сложно и далеко. Я видел, с одной стороны, практически восстановленный город Славинск.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Вы его называете Славинск.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Его все жители называют Славинск, это у нас он в Славянск переименовали, чтобы он был больше похож на славянский мир. Вообще-то Славинск, по-украинскиСловя́нськ вообще-то. За три недели в городе почти не осталось следов войны, разве что кое-где разбитые мостовые, и граждане туда возвращаются, и там обстановка абсолютно спокойная.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – То есть он не выглядит как военный город?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Совсем. А окраины выглядят чудовищно, потому что там бои шли страшные. Там взорван мост, там взорван завод, там несколько домов расстреляно под корень.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Потому что говорили, что город был красивый, зеленый, симпатичный.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Он, слава богу, остался зеленым и красивым. И сейчас там спокойная атмосфера и туда возвращаются жители, что очень важно.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Вообще, людей там много – горожан, так, чтобы люди ходили по улицам или все-таки нет такого?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Гуляли по улицам, гуляли у фонтана. Дети катались на педальных автомобильчиках, то есть абсолютно на вид была такая идиллия, насколько удалось наблюдать 15 минут. Очень эффективно работают волонтеры – это люди самых разных профессий, разного возраста, которые…, у меня просто такое ощущение, что они любят свою страну, и они оставили свою работу, свой бизнес и все свои силы и умение тратят на то, чтобы следы этой войны как можно быстрее исчезли.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – То есть так, что ли идет такой активное восстановление, которое происходит прямо на глазах? Я не знаю, что – стройка, уборка города или как это?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Ну, вы представляете, после обстрела разгрести город. Это завалы, это баррикады какие-то, это какие-то блокпосты – вот этого уже нет ничего.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Вы давали концерт в Славянске или Славинске…
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Я давал концерт в Святогорске, это километров 20 от города, это монастырь необыкновенно красивый, старинный, четвертая святыня Украины. И вокруг монастыря есть пионерлагеря, какие-то дома отдыха. Тем не менее содержится около 20 тысяч беженцев из Донецка, Луганска. Вот там они содержатся хорошо, я не могу ничего говорить относительно других лагерей. Я боялся увидеть каких-то обездоленных, голодающих, лишенных воды людей. Нет, этого я не увидел, может быть, в других местах обстановка хуже. Ко мне, вообще, дети пришли на концерт.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Да, я была удивлена, что пели-то вы перед детьми на самом деле, хотя вроде бы детских песен в вашем репертуаре я как-то не припомню, например.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Вот это было так как-то решено, на самом деле все было на бегу, потому что я успел прилететь, приехать, спеть и уехать обратно.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – То есть там, в этом Святогорске, в этом монастыре – там именно дети.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – И дети и взрослые, тем не менее несколько лагерей, но все я объехать не мог, естественно. Я был в одном.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Это беженцы, которые говорят по-русски?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Они говорят по-русски.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Мы-то просто слышим о том, что множество беженцев, тысячи людей переходят границу в сторону России. Получается, что множество беженцев, которые…
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Вы знаете, нас в этом не разубеждают как бы. У меня тоже было ощущение такое, что бегут-то в основном к нам. К нам бегут, во-первых, те, у кого есть какие-то родственники в России. Во-вторых, те, у кого рыльце в пушку, которые бояться там оставаться после того, как города какие-то освобождаются от сепаратистов. Около 100 тысяч беженцев распределено по всей Украине. Они и в Киеве и в Харькове, и во Львове.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Это вам рассказывали там, да?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Да. И во Львове. Мне рассказывали волонтеры, которые этим занимаются практически, и, кстати, это не фантазия. Кстати, никто во Львове их не режет и не конфронтирует с ними там. Я не знаю количество беженцев в Россию. У нас передают цифру 2 миллиона, я подозреваю, что она сильно завышена.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – О двух миллионах никто вроде бы не говорил, но сотни тысяч назывались, да.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Очень может быть, очень может быть.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Вы успели там как-то с людьми поговорить в том же Славянске, или, может быть, в Святогорске.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Очень на бегу. Это было осложнено тем, как это ни банально звучит, что кидались обниматься, брать автографы, фотографироваться. За ними стояли следующие. Я не очень люблю это занятие, поэтому… Условий просто для нормального разговора не возникало. Вот с волонтерами я разговаривал больше…
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Да, но, тем не менее, рассказывали, что вас там сопровождали люди… Вообще, кто вас приглашал туда, если это не секрет, конечно?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Меня приглашали ребята из одного из волонтерских фондов. Их там несколько. Там есть фонд «Мир и порядок». Меня приглашали из фонда… я сейчас даже не вспомню его название. У меня где-то на сайте есть.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Ну, то есть это украинская сторона все-таки. То есть то, что здесь пишут наши слушатели, они пишут разное: как «Макаревич молодец», так и «Макаревич предатель». Все-таки надо сказать, что приглашала вас, действительно, украинская сторона.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Украинская сторона, которая в данном случае заботится о беженцах с этих военных территорий.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Вас это не смутило, приглашение?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Меня это не смутило, потому что беженцы – это везде беженцы: и в Африке и в России, и в Украине. Это люди одинаково несчастны и им надо помогать.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Вы знаете, у нас несколько дней назад была в эфире Доктор Лиза – ну, вы знаете, наверное, Елизавета Глинка.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Знаю, конечно.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Фонд «Справедливая помощь», и она как раз вывозила раненых тоже с востока Украины, раненых детей, и она у нас говорила в эфире, что ей принципиально не важно, кто прав, кто виноват в этой ситуации.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Абсолютно права.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Ну, допустим, она человек все-таки врачебной специальности – медикам положено. Но каждый из нас пытается понять, кто прав в этой ситуации, кто виноват.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Я считаю, что выяснять свое отношение к беженцам в зависимости от того, на какой территории они находятся – это подлость. Вот если они убежали к нам, то это «хорошие» беженцы, а если они от этой же войны из того же Донецка убежали в Харьков – это «плохие» беженцы. Ну, простите меня, тут я не могу даже это комментировать.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – То есть, вам, в принципе, все равно, перед какими беженцами выступать?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Беженцы-то одни и те же, независимо от того, где они находятся – вот, в чем дело.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Вы уверены в том, что это одни и те же люди?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Ну, конечно. Из одних и тех же мест. Они прошли через одно и то же, через одни и те же бомбежки.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – А как вы думаете, как они для себя на самом деле выбирают, в какую сторону бежать? Вот, действительно, люди оказываются в таком городе, который обстреливается?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Я думаю, в это ситуации каждый рассматривает свою личную карту жизни. У кого-то где-то родственник, у кого-то где-то друзья, а у кого-то они в Киеве, а у кого-то в Москве, у кого-то под Москвой – только это и определяет.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – То есть никакой идеологии, просто чисто бытовые вопросы.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Какая там идеология? Ну, конечно. Выживать надо, какая там идеология?
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Ну, хорошо. Вы-то себе как-то, тем не менее… обдумывали это? Стало ли для вас, после того, как вы туда съездили – ведь мы зачем-то едем, чтобы посмотреть своими глазами, в том числе – стало ли для вас яснее то, что там происходит?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Честно говоря, мне и так было достаточно ясно, что там происходит.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Да ну?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Не до конца, разумеется не до конца. Я разговаривал там с этими волонтерами, ребятами. Я понимаю, что сепаратистов они, конечно, ненавидят – это понятно. Фашистов они тоже ненавидят, своих украинских. Националистов они терпеть не могут. Все ребята, которые были волонтеры из Харьков – они все говорят по-русски, это русские, не украинцы.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – О, как интересно!
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Да. Президента нового они тоже не любят и доверия к нему не испытывают. За полдня разобраться в этом очень сложно. Но они очень хотят, чтобы война закончилась и страна зажила спокойно. В этом я их понимаю.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Но они-то со своей стороны тоже… Вот я представляю, вы едите с ними в машине, все равно, так или иначе обсуждаете. Они-то находят для себя каких-то виноватых, правых. За кого? Против кого? Причину-то они какую-то видят в том, что сейчас происходит на Украине.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Они, конечно, очень не любят российское руководство. Они все убеждены, что сепаратисты подзуживаются и подкармливаются исключительно российской техникой, российским вооружением и российской идеологией. Они, конечно, не могут простить Крыма. Я понимаю, что это просто плевок в лицо.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – То есть это для них очевидно. Если вы говорите, что они своих не любят, то точно так же не любят и Россию. Россию или – вот давайте уточним – российское руководство?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Вы знаете, я по себе не заметил негативного отношения.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – То есть то, что вы там пели по-русски, никого не смущало?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Никого.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – И никаких гонений на вас с вашим русским языком там не было?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Нет.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Ну, может, это потому, что вы такой VIP-гость?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Нет, не поэтому. Никаких там нет сейчас гонений на русский язык. Не до того там сейчас.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Вопрос только в том, что были ли они до этого?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Вот я тоже не уверен.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Фашистов вы там, как я понимаю, тоже не встретили и живых бандеровцев в глаза не видели?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Ни одного. Не видел. Нет, в природе они существуют, мне волонтер о них рассказывал. Они их ушлепками называют и очень не любят.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Ну, опять-таки, может быть, от вас их от вас как-то их специально прятали. Давайте несколько вопросов от наших слушателей. Во-первых, просто скажу, что у нас есть телефон, по которому можно с нами связаться. Телефон для sms: +7 (985) 970 45 45 и аккаунт vyzvon в Твиттере. Вот вас спрашивали тут: «А на востоке Украины вы сами решали, какие песни исполнять или вас просили спеть какие-то конкретные?» Заказы были?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Нет, ничего даже не просили. Мало того, я-то не предполагал, что целиком будет зал из детей состоять. Я, когда вышел, я думаю: «Елки палки! Может быть, что-то детское сразу вспомнить?»
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Стали судорожно искать.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Да. А потом подумал – да не надо, нет. Я выбрал песни, которые понятны в любом возрасте.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – И, что пели, кстати?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ –Я пел «Костер», я пел «Света на свете чуть больше, чем тьмы»…
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Как реагировали?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Фантастически!
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Учитывая то, что это были дети.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Да.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Хорошо. Давайте еще по вопросам. Здесь уже такие, не связанные с вашей поездкой, может быть, напрямую. А вот человек пытается понять: «Итоги последнего полугода: Донбасс разрушен, отношения России и Украины навсегда потеряны». Как вам кажется, мы навсегда потеряли Украину? По вашим ощущениям?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Ничего не бывает навсегда, но, к сожалению, пройдет много времени прежде, чем мы вернемся к прежнему градусу нормальных человеческих отношений.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – А, что для этого нужно сделать?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Я думаю, что теперь это вопрос времени, но прежде всего, нужно, чтобы прекратилась война.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Вот, насколько вам показалось сейчас реально: или мы на самом деле перешли какую-то границу, за которой ест точка невозврата или, скажем, это надолго?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Я всегда верю в лучшее. В данном случае я могу только верить, потому что всей полнотой информации я не обладаю. К тому же мы в таком неустойчивом виде сегодня находимся, что завтра может произойти все, что угодно. Еще один самолет упадет какой-нибудь, не дай бог… Поэтому сейчас гаданием заниматься непродуктивно.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Да, кстати, мы с вами же говорим, так или иначе, о гуманитарной ситуации. Вы же, наверное, слышали про всю эту последнюю историю, странную историю с гуманитарным конвоем, который уже несколько дней идет как призрак…
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Ну, вроде уже что-то сдвинулось, наконец, с места. Уже пошел в Луганск.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Да, они уже фактически на границе. Их будут проверять, и вроде бы показывают там полупустые грузовики, там, действительно, есть гуманитарных груз, там гречка, спальные мешки и так далее.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Неприятно, когда тебе не доверяют, но понятно, чем это недоверие вызвано. Когда президент страны говорит, что не было у нас военных в Крыму, а через две недели говорит: «Были у нас военные в Крыму». Как верить после этого?
М.КОРОЛЕВА – То есть здесь вы тоже могли бы предположить (и вы, в том числе), что и здесь тоже из этих грузовиков выпрыгнут, простите, какие-то…?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Я не знаю, а украинцы, уже дующие на воду, вполне могли предположить, конечно.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Как вам кажется сама постановка вопроса, когда, допустим, Россия принимает, так или иначе какое-то участие в том, что происходит на Украине, хотя и открещивается от этого, и потом она же сама направляет гуманитарную помощь. Это нормально, это так и нужно делать?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – В этом есть какой-то сюр, честно. Но, я считаю, что в любом случае гуманитарная помощь – это гуманитарная помощь, особенно там, где она, действительно, нужна. И это дело хорошее, и лучше, когда она есть, чем когда ее нет.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Кстати, насколько она там нужна. Как вам показалось, там есть какая-то серьезная нехватка?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Я думаю, что Доктор Лиза лучше меня знает. Она была в тех местах, куда я не доехал просто. Наверняка.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Тем не менее, вы были в этом городе Славинске, Святогорске.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – В Славинске восстановили воду, слава богу, восстановили поставку продуктов, а что творится в Луганске, Донецке – я себе представить не могу. Там, может быть, полная изоляция по каким-то аспектам.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Вот еще наш слушатель пишет: «У нас так принято: из груды фактов выбирают те, которые больше подходят к твоей точке зрения. По этому принципу вы, — то есть вы, Андрей, — правы. Но, если бы все делалось по закону, чем бы сейчас был Крым?», — спрашивает наш слушатель.
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Если бы все делалось по закону, на сегодняшний день Крым бы продолжал оставаться украинским.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – И это было бы хорошо, на ваш взгляд?
А.МАКАРЕВИЧ – Далеко не все в мире хорошо, но есть какие-то правила, о которых страны договорились. Если в какой-то момент, мы наплевав начнем делать то, что нам хочется, потому что мы вдруг решили, что это нехорошо, то кончится это плохо.
М.КОРОЛЕВА – Но, смотрите, это же нет ли мы решили. Ведь это же были жители К |
lot of flexibility in terms of some of my contacts and conservatives in terms of not making it totally offset,” he said. “Does it have to be fully offset? My personal response is no.”
So, it’s quite possible that Wall Street is overreacting to Trumpcare’s collapse. But then, you could say the same about investors’s months-long celebration of an incompetent demagogue’s election.David Mowat says tackling care crisis will require people to be as responsible for their parents as they are their children
People have just as much of a duty to look after their elderly parents as they do to care for their own children, a health minister has said.
David Mowat made the comments alongside an admission that the government had no “final answer” on how it was going to cope with the rising costs of social care.
Councils may cut social care provision due to underfunding, LGA says Read more
Speaking to the House of Commons’ select committee on communities and local government, the minister said that tackling the care crisis involved “interwoven issues” including the question of how society deals with the care of ageing parents.
“One of the things that has struck me is no one ever questions that we look after our children – that is obvious. No one says that is a caring responsibility, it is what we do,” he said.
“I think some of that logic and some of the way we think about that in terms the volume of numbers that we are seeing coming down the track will have to impinge on the way that we think about caring for our parents. Because it is a responsibility in terms of our life cycle which is similar.”
The comments come as the Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, claimed that the social care system was on the brink of collapse. The group is warning the chancellor, Philip Hammond, before the spring budget that failure to act urgently to plug the funding gap could leave councils open to legal challenges as they fail to fulfil their duties under the Care Act.
“The intentions and the spirit of the Care Act that aims to help people to live well and independently are in grave danger of falling apart and failing unless new funding is announced by government for adult social care,” said Cllr Izzi Seccombe, who chairs the LGA’s community wellbeing board.
She said social care was not just about getting people washed and dressed but aspiring to help people live the fullest of lives and with dignity.
Speaking to MPs on the committee, Mowat admitted that demand was rising and social care would inevitably require the UK to spend a higher proportion of its overall income on supporting elderly and disabled people.
“What we do know when we look at the GDP that we spend on care, we spend more than some countries like Germany that we would consider to be comparative and more than Canada,” he said.
But he admitted the total spend would inevitably rise, partly because of an ageing population and because of rapidly rising life expectancy among people with learning disabilities whose care was very expensive.
Mowat said there were “discussions with the Treasury all of the time” about how to cope with the demand.
Minister's social care ideas ignore the million childless over-65s | Kirsty Woodard Read more
“Over a period of time, the amount of money our society will spend on care will increase. You then get into what the options are and that is a wider question. There have been a lot of reviews. We are unusual in Europe in that we don’t have a social insurance system or long-term savings scheme,” he said.
The minister said personally he felt that such schemes could only help in the very long term and suggested there was a more pressing need to tackle the issue, including through societal changes.
Part of the answer was ensuring that people felt the responsibility to care for elderly mothers and fathers, said Mowat. He talked about the high levels of “informal caring” that already take place, saying six million people were taking on some form of care responsibility, including 200,000 children, alongside 1.6 million full-time carers.
“Part of the solution is properly bringing those informal carers into some kind of system,” he said, highlighting plans for a carers’ strategy that could help people get back into the workplace. “If people doing more than 10 hours of care a week, it is hard to get back into work.”A French comedian who locked himself in a cage for more than three days has managed to raise a staggering €200,000 (A$287,570) in support of shelter pets.
Video of Rémi Gaillard’s behind-bars antics at a Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone shelter was first streamed live to his Facebook page on November 14, French-English newspaper The Connexion reports.
The 87-hour stint inside a cage has since been repackaged into a YouTube video, posted today, which has already received more than 300,000 views.
The stunt was organised in partnership with pet charity the Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA) with the goal of either getting all 300 animals at the shelter adopted or raising €50,000 (A$71,871).
According to the video’s description, the ex-footballer turned YouTube comedian managed to not only raise €200,000 for the pound – his efforts also saw 200 resident animals adopted.
“I know what my doggy gave me and I want to give it back to all of them (the shelter pets) ‘cause I know how loyal and selfless they are,” Gaillard can be heard saying in the video.
At one point the Frenchman can be heard breaking down weeping, thanking viewers for their support.
READ MORE: Where's Remi? Infamous online prankster sneaks into official volleyball world championship photo
READ MORE: French prankster wins Olympic comedy gold
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2019Friday Q&A 2013-09-27: ARM64 and You
Ever since the iPhone 5S was announced a couple of weeks ago, the world of tech journalism has been filled with massive quantities of misinformation. Unfortunately, good information takes time, and the world of tech journalism is more about speed than accuracy. Today, as suggested by a variety of readers, I'm going to give the rundown of just what 64-bit ARM in the iPhone 5S means for you, in terms of performance, capabilities, and development.
"64-bit"
Let's start by talking about the general term "64-bit" and what it means. There's a lot of confusion around this term, and a lot of that is because there's no single agreed-upon definition of it. However, there is generally some consensus about it, even if it's not universal.
There are two parts of the CPU that "X-bit" usually refers to: the width of the integer registers, and the width of pointers. Thankfully, in most modern CPUs, these widths are the same. "64-bit" then typically means that the CPU has 64-bit integer registers and 64-bit pointers.
It's also important to point out the things that "64-bit" does not refer to, as there's a lot of confusion in this area as well. In particular, "64-bit" does not include:
Physical RAM address size. The number of bits used to actually talk to RAM (and therefore the amount of RAM the hardware can support) is decoupled from the question of CPU bitness. ARM CPUs have ranged from 26 bits to 40 bits, and this can be changed independently from the rest. Data bus size. The amount of data fetched from RAM or cache is likewise decoupled. Individual CPU instructions may request a certain amount of data, but the amount of data actually fetched can be independent, either by splitting the fetch into smaller parts, or fetching more than is necessary. The iPhone 5 already fetches data from memory in 64-bit chunks, and chunk sizes of up to 192 bits exist in the PC world. Anything related to floating-point. FPU register size and internal design is independent, and ARM CPUs have had 64-bit FPU registers since well before ARM64.
Generic Advantages and Disadvantages
If we compare otherwise-identical 32-bit and 64-bit CPUs, there isn't a whole lot of difference, which is a big part of the confusion around the significance of Apple's move to 64-bit ARM. The move is important, but largely because of specifics of the ARM processor and Apple's use of it.
Still, there are some differences. Perhaps the most obvious is that 64-bit integer registers make it more efficient to work with 64-bit integers. You can still work with 64-bit integers on a 32-bit processor, but it typically entails working with it in two 32-bit pieces, which means that arithmetic can take substantially longer. 64-bit CPUs can typically perform arithmetic on 64-bit quantities just as fast as on 32-bit quantities, so code that does heavy manipulation of 64-bit integers will run much faster.
Although 64-bit has no bearing on the amount of RAM that can be used by the CPU itself, it can make it much easier to use large amounts of RAM within a single program. A single program running on a 32-bit CPU only has 4GB of address space. Chunks of that address space are taken up by the operating system and standard libraries and such, typically leaving anywhere from 1-3GB available for use. If a 32-bit system has more than 4GB of RAM, taking advantage of all of it from a single program is tough. You have to resort to shenanigans like asking the operating system to map chunks of memory in and out of your process as you need them, or splitting your program into multiple processes.
This takes a lot of extra programming effort and can slow things down, so few programs actually do it. In practice, a 32-bit CPU limits individual programs to using 1-3GB of RAM each, and the advantage of having more RAM is the ability to run multiple such programs simultaneously, and the ability to cache more data from disk. This is still useful, but there are cases where the ability of a single program to use more RAM is needed.
The increased address space is also useful even on a system without that much RAM. Memory-mapped files are a handy construct, where the contents of a file are logically mapped into a process's memory space, even though physical RAM is not necessarily allocated for the entire file. On a 32-bit system, a program can't memory map large files (over, say, a few hundred megabytes) reliably. On a 64-bit system, the available address space is much larger, so there's no concern with running out.
The increased pointer size comes with a substantial downside: otherwise-identical programs will use more memory, perhaps a lot more, when running on a 64-bit CPU. Pointers have to be stored in memory as well, and each pointer takes twice the amount of memory. Pointers are really common in most programs, so that can make a substantial difference. Increased memory usage can put more pressure on caches, causing reduced performance.
In short: 64-bit can increase performance for certain types of code, and makes certain programming techniques, like memory mapped files, more viable. However, it can also decrease performance due to increased memory usage.
ARM64
The iPhone 5S's 64-bit CPU is not merely a regular ARM processor with wider registers. The 64-bit ARM architecture includes substantial changes from the 32-bit version.
First, a note on the name: the official name from ARM is "AArch64", but this is a silly name that pains me to type. Apple calls it ARM64, and that's what I will call it too.
ARM64 doubles the number of integer registers over 32-bit ARM. 32-bit ARM provides 16 integer registers, of which one is a dedicated program counter, two more are given over to a stack pointer and link register, and the other 13 are available for general use. With ARM64, there are 32 integer registers, with a dedicated zero register, link register, and frame pointer register. One further register is reserved for the platform, leaving 28 general purpose integer registers.
ARM64 also increases the number of floating-point registers available. The floating point registers on 32-bit ARM are a bit odd, so it's tough to compare. It has 32 32-bit floating point registers which can also be viewed as 16 overlapped 64-bit registers, and there are 16 additional independent 64-bit registers. The 32 total 64-bit registers registers can also be viewed as 16 overlapped 128-bit registers. ARM64 simplifies this to 32 128-bit registers, which can also be used for smaller data types, and there's no overlapping.
The register count can strongly influence performance. Memory is extremely slow compared to CPUs, and reading from and writing to memory takes a long time compared to how long it takes the CPU to process an instruction. CPUs try to hide this with layers of caches, but even the fastest layer of cache is slow compared to internal CPU registers. More registers means more data can be kept purely CPU-internal, reducing memory accesses and increasing performance.
Just how much of a difference this makes will depend on the specific code in question, as well as how good the compiler is at optimizing it to make the best use of available registers. When the Intel architecture moved from 32-bit to 64-bit, the number of registers was doubled from 8 to 16, and this made for a substantial performance improvement. ARM already had substantially more registers than the 32-bit Intel architecture, so the impact of additional registers is smaller, but it's a still helpful change.
ARM64 also brings some significant changes to the instruction set beyond the increased number of registers.
Most 32-bit ARM can be executed conditionally based on the state of a condition register at the time of execution. This allows compiling if statements and similar without requiring branching. Intended to increase performance, it must have been causing more trouble than it was worth, as ARM64 eliminates conditional execution.
ARM64's NEON SIMD unit provides full double-precision IEEE754 compliance, whereas the 32-bit version of NEON only supports single-precision, and leaves out some of the harder, more obscure bits of IEEE754.
ARM64 adds specialized instructions for AES encryption and SHA-1 and SHA-256 cryptographic hashes. Not important in general, but potentially a big win if you happen to be doing those things.
Overall, by far the most important changes are the greatly increased number of general-purpose registers, and support for full IEEE754-compliant double-precision arithmetic in NEON. These changes could allow for considerable performance increases in a lot of code.
32-bit Compatibility
It's important to note that the A7 includes a full 32-bit compatibility mode that allows running normal 32-bit ARM code without any changes and without emulation. This means that the iPhone 5S runs old iPhone apps with no problem and no performance impact compared to other hardware. 32-bit code does potentially run with somewhat reduced performance since it gets none of the advantages of ARM64.
Apple Runtime Changes
Apple takes advantage of architecture changes like this to make changes in their own libraries. Since they don't need to worry about maintaining binary compatibility across such a change, it's a good time to make changes that would otherwise break existing apps.
In Mac OS X 10.7, Apple introduced tagged pointers. Tagged pointers allow certain classes with small amounts of per-instance data to be stored entirely within the pointer. This can eliminate the need for memory allocations for many uses of classes like NSNumber, and can make for a good performance boost. Tagged pointers were only supported on 64-bit, partly due to binary compatibility concerns, but partly because 32-bit pointers don't leave a lot of room left over for actual data once the tag bits are accounted for. Presumably because of that, iOS never got tagged pointers. However, on ARM64, the Objective-C runtime includes tagged pointers, with all of the same benefits they've brought to the Mac.
Although pointers are 64 bits, not all of those bits are really used. Mac OS X on x86-64, for example, only uses 47 bits of a pointer. iOS on ARM64 uses even less, with only 33 bits of a pointer currently being used. As long as the extra bits are masked off before the pointer is used, they can be used to store other data. This leads to one of the most significant internal changes in the Objective-C runtime in the language's history.
Repurposed isa Pointer
Much of the information for this section comes from Greg Parker's article on the relevant changes. Check that out for information straight from the source.
First, a quick refresher: Objective-C objects are contiguous chunks of memory. The first pointer-sized piece of that memory is the isa. Traditionally, the isa is a pointer to the object`s class. For more information on how objects are laid out in memory, see my article on the Objective-C runtime.
Using an entire pointer-sized piece of memory for the isa pointer is a bit wasteful, especially on 64-bit CPUs which don't use all 64 bits of a pointer. ARM64 running iOS currently uses only 33 bits of a pointer, leaving 31 bits for other purposes. Class pointers are also aligned, meaning that a class pointer is guaranteed to be divisible by 8, which frees up another three bits, leaving 34 bits of the isa available for other uses. Apple's ARM64 runtime takes advantage of this for some great performance improvements.
Probably the most important performance improvement is an inline reference count. Nearly all Objective-C objects are reference counted (the exceptions being constant objects like NSString literals) and retain / release operations to modify the reference count happen extremely frequently. This is especially true with ARC, which emits even more retain / release calls than a typical human programmer. As such, high performance for retain and release is critical.
Traditionally, the reference count is not stored in the object itself. If the isa is the only field every object shares, then there's simply no room for any additional data. It would be possible to make it so that every object also contains a reference count field, but this would use up a great deal more memory. This is less important today, but it was a pretty big deal in the earlier days of Objective-C. Because of this, the retain count is stored in an external table.
Any time an object is retained, the runtime goes through this procedure:
Fetch a global retain count hash table. Lock the table to make the operation thread safe. Look up the retain count of the object in the table. Increment the count and store the new value back in the table. Release the table lock.
This is a bit slow! The hash table implementation used for tracking retain counts is fast, for a hash table, but even the best hash tables are slow compared to direct memory access.
On ARM64, 19 bits of the isa field go to holding the object's reference count inline. That means that the procedure for retaining an object simplifies to:
Perform an atomic increment of the correct portion of the isa field.
And that's it! This should be much, much faster.
There is a bit more to it than just that, because of some corner cases that need to be handled. The real code looks more like this:
The bottom bit of the isa indicates whether all this extra data is active for this class. If it's not active, then fall back to the old hash table approach. This allows for a compatibility mode for classes that fall outside the representable range, or programs that incorrectly assume the isa is a pure class pointer. If the object is currently deallocating, do nothing. Increment the retain count, but don't store it back into the isa just yet. If it overflowed (an unusual but real possibility with only 19 bits available) then fall back to a hash table. Perform an atomic store of the new isa value.
Most of this was necessary with the old approach as well, and it doesn't add too much overhead. The new approach should still be much, much faster.
There are several other performance improvements stuffed into the remaining free bits that make deallocating objects faster. There's potentially a lot of cleanup that needs to be done when an Objective-C object deallocates, and being able to skip unnecessary cleanup can increase performance. These are:
Whether the object ever had any associated objects, set with objc_setAssociatedObject. If not, then associated objects don't need to be cleaned up. Whether the object has a C++ destructor method, which is also used as the ARC automatic dealloc method. If not, then it doesn't need to be called. Whether the object has ever been referenced by a __weak variable. If it has, then any remaining __weak references need to be zeroed. If not, then this step can be skipped.
Previously, all of these flags were tracked per-class. If any instance of a class ever had an associated object set on it, for example, then every instance of that class would perform associated object cleanup when deallocating from that point on. Tracking them for each instance independently helps ensure that only the instances that really need it take the performance hit.
Adding it all together, it's a pretty big win. My casual benchmarking indicates that basic object creation and destruction takes about 380ns on a 5S running in 32-bit mode, while it's only about 200ns when running in 64-bit mode. If any instance of the class has ever had a weak reference and an associated object set, the 32-bit time rises to about 480ns, while the 64-bit time remains around 200ns for any instances that were not themselves the target.
In short, the improvements to Apple's runtime make it so that object allocation in 64-bit mode costs only 40-50% of what it does in 32-bit mode. If your app creates and destroys a lot of objects, that's a big deal.
Conclusion
The "64-bit" A7 is not just a marketing gimmic, but neither is it an amazing breakthrough that enables a new class of applications. The truth, as happens often, lies in between.
The simple fact of moving to 64-bit does little. It makes for slightly faster computations in some cases, somewhat higher memory usage for most programs, and makes certain programming techniques more viable. Overall, it's not hugely significant.
The ARM architecture changed a bunch of other things in its transition to 64-bit. An increased number of registers and a revised, streamlined instruction set make for a nice performance gain over 32-bit ARM.
Apple took advantage of the transition to make some changes of their own. The biggest change is an inline retain count, which eliminates the need to perform a costly hash table lookup for retain and release operations in the common case. Since those operations are so common in most Objective-C code, this is a big win. Per-object resource cleanup flags make object deallocation quite a bit faster in certain cases. All in all, the cost of creating and destroying an object is roughly cut in half. Tagged pointers also make for a nice performance win as well as reduced memory use.
ARM64 is a welcome addition to Apple's hardware. We all knew it would happen eventually, but few expected it this soon. It's here now, and it's great.
That's it for today. Check back next time for more adventures in the land of hardware and software. Friday Q&A is driven by reader suggestions, so if an idea pops into your head between now and then for a topic you'd like to see covered here, please send it in!
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Spam and off-topic posts will be deleted without notice. Culprits may be publicly humiliated at my sole discretion.By Dr. Mercola
When it comes to products with the potential to devastate the planet, Monsanto takes the cake.
This company has single-handedly created some of the most destructive products known to man, including polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs, and dioxin (Agent Orange). They are also the world leader in genetically modified (GM) seeds -- and if we don't take action soon, the entire planet could soon become contaminated with these toxic seeds, leading to the complete destruction of the natural food supply.
United States Chooses to Ignore the Precautionary Principle, Embrace Monsanto's GM Foods
Dr. Philip Bereano has spent the last three decades looking into genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in foods, crops, animals, and humans—both nationally, here in the United States, and internationally. His work led him to participate in the negotiation of two international treaties under the United Nations that dealt with issues relating to GMOs.
Dr. Mercola Recommends... Every "Like" Helps Support This Cause
In my interview with him earlier this year, he shared his perspective on the safety of GM foods -- or rather the lack thereof.
"First of all, we need to understand what we mean by the word safe. Actually, in terms of the academic literature, "safe" refers to "an acceptable level of risk." It doesn't refer to situations where there is no risk. Most of us drive in cars all the time and consider it to be safe even though we know that people are killed and injured in automobiles frequently. We have to understand that safe equals acceptable risk.
The problem with calling genetically engineered organisms safe is that there are no valid risk assessments being done on them. There is no research, really, being done into the health or environmental effects of a genetically engineered organism. Certainly no work that is published in the open peer-reviewed literature, or that isn't proprietary. Corporations promoting these things claim that they have done research, but you can't get any information on it because it's all claimed to be proprietary.
Under what is known now as the precautionary principle—which is what your grandparents used to teach you about "looking before you leap"—the only prudent course of action is to NOT proceed with something which has potential risks and only potential benefits until you know a little bit more about it."
The United States is one country, however, that has fully embraced GM foods on a regulatory level, and does not appear to have any intentions of following the precautionary principle. GM corn, soybeans, canola, and sugar beets have made their way into approximately 80 percent of current U.S. processed grocery store items, now that up to 90 percent of several U.S.grown crops are grown with genetically engineered seed.
So if you live in the United States, you have most certainly already been exposed to GM foods -- most likely a lot of them.
Meanwhile, GM seeds are banned in Hungary, as they are in several other European countries, such as Germany and Ireland. These countries have chosen NOT to allow their land to be used as a testing ground in a massive uncontrollable experiment, which is essentially what the introduction of GM crops is.
Not surprisingly, according to information from Wikileaks, there are also indications that the U.S. State Department has been active in defending Monsanto in other countries, particularly in response to the French documentary, "The World According to Monsanto," which condemned Monsanto's criminal behavior.
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Do You Know the Risks of GMOs?
GM foods are, from my perception, one of the most significant threats that we have against the very sustainability of the human race. Why? In a nutshell, these toxins are being linked to a growing repertoire of assaults against human health and the environment – and they are already migrating into fetal blood, which means future generations are now at risk.
Some GM crops, such as GM sugar beets and certain varieties of GM corn and soy, are engineered to withstand otherwise lethal doses of Monsanto's herbicide Roundup. Other GM crops, such as Bt corn, are designed to produce their own pesticide internally.
Earlier this year, Cry1Ab, a specific type of Bt toxin from GM crops, has for the first time been detected in human and fetal blood samples. It appears the toxin is quite prevalent, as upon testing 69 pregnant and non-pregnant women who were eating a typical Canadian diet (which included foods such as GM soy, corn and potatoes), researchers found Bt toxin in:
93 percent of blood samples of pregnant women
80 percent of fetal blood samples
69 percent of non-pregnant women blood samples
According to Jeffrey Smith:
"There's already plenty of evidence that the Bt-toxin produced in GM corn and cotton plants is toxic to humans and mammals and triggers immune system responses. The fact that it flows through our blood supply, and that is passes through the placenta into fetuses, may help explain the rise in many disorders in the US since Bt crop varieties were first introduced in 1996.
In government-sponsored research in Italy, mice fed Monsanto's Bt corn showed a wide range of immune responses. Their elevated IgE and IgG antibodies, for example, are typically associated with allergies and infections. The mice had an increase in cytokines, which are associated with "allergic and inflammatory responses."
As you may know, chronic inflammation is at the root of many increasingly common diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. Food allergies are also skyrocketing, as is infertility, which could also be a potential side effect of GM foods, based on results from animal studies. Monsanto insists that GM foods are no different from conventionally grown varieties, but the research does NOT support this claim. Here is just a sampling of the unsavory findings associated with GM foods:
Have You Heard of rBGH?
You may be aware that many corn and soy crops in the United States are GM, but it may surprise you to learn that a significant portion of U.S. milk is actually genetically engineered, again thanks to Monsanto. This milk, and the ice cream, cheese, and myriad of other dairy products made from it, contains genetically engineered bovine growth hormone, or rBGH.
U.S. milk producers treat their dairy cattle with rBGH because it boosts milk production. But this artificial growth hormone also increases udder infections in cows, leading to pus in the milk along with excessive use of antibiotics in the cows, which is triggering the creation of antibiotic-resistant superbugs and leaving residues of antibiotics in your dairy. Worse still, milk treated with rBGH also contains higher levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), a hormone linked to breast, prostate and colon cancers in humans.
Monsanto's Environmental Damage Continues
First came Agent Orange and PCBs, and now we have glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's nonselective broad-spectrum herbicide Roundup. Massive acreage of soybeans, cotton, and corn grown in the United States contain the GM Roundup Ready gene -- and all of these crops receive numerous applications of Roundup each and every year.
But Roundup is proving to be no match for Mother Nature. It's estimated that more than 130 types of weeds spanning 40 U.S. states are now herbicide-resistant, and the superweeds are showing no signs of stopping. In fact, it's getting progressively worse. Extremely hardy Roundup-resistant weeds are already boosting costs and cutting crop yields for U.S. farmers. And with world food stores already strained, diminished crop production is a serious problem.
According to an article in Scientific American:
"An estimated 11 million acres are infested with "super weeds," some of which grow several inches in a day and defy even multiple dousings of the world's top-selling herbicide, Roundup... The problem's gradual emergence has masked its growing menace.
Now, however, it is becoming too big to ignore.
... "I'm convinced that this is a big problem," said Dave Mortensen, professor of weed and applied plant ecology at Penn State University, who has been helping lobby members of Congress about the implications of weed resistance. "Most of the public doesn't know because the industry is calling the shots on how this should be spun," Mortensen said."
But the environmental impact doesn't end with the emergence of superweeds threatening our crops. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is also contaminating our soils and waterways, posing great risk to plant- and wildlife. A couple of years ago, a French court found Monsanto guilty of falsely advertising its herbicide as "biodegradable," "environmentally friendly" and claiming it "left the soil clean." The truth is that Roundup is anything BUT environmentally friendly. Monsanto's own tests showed that only two percent of the herbicide broke down after 28 days, which means it readily persists in the environment! This chemical is now showing up in air and rain samples across the United States.
Further, researchers have linked glyphosate to Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), a serious plant disease, in many fields around the world. Numerous studies have shown that glyphosate is contributing not only to the huge increase in SDS, but also to the outbreak of some 40 different plant and crop diseases! It weakens plants and promotes disease in a number of ways, including:
Acting as a chelator of vital nutrients, depriving plants of the nutrients necessary for healthy plant function
Destroying beneficial soil organisms that suppress disease-causing organisms and help plants absorb nutrients
Interfering with photosynthesis, reducing water use efficiency, shortening root systems and causing plants to release sugars, which changes soil pH
Stunting and weakening plant growth
The herbicide doesn't destroy plants directly; instead, it creates a unique "perfect storm" of conditions that activatesdisease-causing organisms in the soil, while at the same time wiping out plant defenses against those diseases. So the glyphosate not only weakens plants, it actually changes the makeup of the soil and boosts the number of disease-causing organisms, which is becoming a deadly recipe for crops around the globe.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finally looking into the damaging effects of glyphosate on humans and the environment and plans to make a decision regarding its future by 2015. At that time, Roundup could either continue to be used as it is now, be required to have some modifications to its use or be banned from use entirely in the United States.
Monsanto Forces Farmers to Buy New Seeds Every Year
One of Monsanto's biggest assaults to your food supply is what's known as terminator technology—which they hope to deploy soon. These are seeds that have been genetically modified to "self-destruct." In other words, the seeds (and the forthcoming crops) are sterile, which means farmers must buy them again each year.
The implications that terminator seeds could have on the world's food supply are disastrous: the traits from genetically engineered crops can get passed on to other crops. Once the terminator seeds are released into a region, the trait of seed sterility could be passed to other non-genetically-engineered crops, making most or all of the seeds in the region sterile.
If allowed to continue, every farmer in the world could come to rely on Monsanto for their seed supply!
As TakePart.com reported:
"By peddling suicide seeds, the biotechnology multinationals will lock the world's poorest farmers into a new form of genetic serfdom," says Emma Must of the World Development Movement. "Currently 80 percent of crops in developing countries are grown using farm-saved seed … Being unable to save seeds from sterile crops could mean the difference between surviving and going under.""
Monsanto's History of Deception and Drive for Power
There's a reason why Monsanto has sponsored attractions with Disney … they need to do all they can to maintain a positive corporate image. But even a cursory look beneath the surface reveals why Monsanto is top on my hit list of evil corporations.
How Can You Fight Back Against Monsanto's Corruption?
By boycotting all GM foods and instead supporting organic (and local) farmers who do not use Monsanto's GM seeds, you are using your wallet to make your opinions known. This means abstaining from virtually all processed food products (most are loaded with GM ingredients) and sticking to fresh, locally grown, organic foodstuffs instead.
There are currently eight genetically modified food crops on the market. In addition, GM alfalfa is now approved for use as animal feed.
✓ Soy ✓ Sugar from sugar beets ✓ Corn ✓ Hawaiian papaya ✓ Cottonseed (used in vegetable cooking oils) ✓ Some varieties of zucchini ✓ Canola (canola oil) ✓ Crookneck squash
Your Action Plan
The simplest way to avoid GM foods is to buy whole, certified organic foods. By definition, foods that are certified organic must never intentionally use GM organisms, produced without artificial pesticides and fertilizers and from an animal reared without the routine use of antibiotics, growth promoters or other drugs. Additionally, grass-fed beef will not have been fed GM corn feed.
You can also look for foods that are "non-GMO verified" by the Non-GMO Project.
Fortunately, we now have a practical plan to end this disaster. By educating the public about the risks of GM foods through a massive education campaign, and launching a ballot initiative in California for 2012, which will require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods and food ingredients, our plan is to generate a tipping point of consumer rejection to make GMOs a thing of the past. Several organizations, including Mercola.com, the Organic Consumers Association, the Institute for Responsible Technology, and even the Environmental Working Group (who produced the Dining in the Dark video above) are getting actively involved. But we do need your help.
Here's how you can get involved during this GM Awareness week:YOUNG men are arming themselves with illegal guns to fight petty disputes in a trend that is alarming police and has placed Sydney in the midst of another spike in public shootings.
The acting Police Commissioner, Nick Kaldas, has pleaded with young men to ''think about your family and loved ones and what this means'' after a spate of fatal and drive-by shootings already this year.
Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas. Credit:Jon Reid
Three men have been shot in Sydney since Sunday afternoon, including a 24-year-old father, Joshua George, who died from a single wound to the chest after a disagreement at a party the night before. He is the eighth man shot dead in five months.
''We are seeing guns used to settle the most trivial matters,'' Mr Kaldas told Fairfax Media. ''Small debts, arguments over women, domestic tensions, road rage and minor property disputes.In the wake of a collision that killed a mother and daughter in Scarborough last week, Toronto police recommend that pedestrians assess the risk they face when they want to cross a street at mid-block.
"We used to say, don't do it at all. But if you are going to do it, you have to make sure you can make it," Toronto Police Const. Clint Stibbe, of Traffic Services, told Metro Morning on Monday.
Out of 25 pedestrian deaths in Toronto so far this year, 13 of them occurred when pedestrians were crossing at mid-block according to Stibbe.
Last Wednesday, at 9:25 p.m., a woman, 33, and her daughter, 5, tried to cross Warden Avenue from west to east, north of Continental Place, which is near Ellesmere Road. The family had attended a nearby restaurant.
Windshield glass shattered when a mother and daughter were struck by a northbound vehicle on Warden Avenue in Scarborough. Both were flung into south |
as my secret santa, alone, made the experience a blast! He checked with me on my interests thoroughly so that he was able to find a compilation of gifts that fit my personally. In a sentence, I'm an outdoorsy, whiskey swigging, music loving man. With that in mind, my secret santa got me a great set of noise cancelling, high def headphones that are crystal clear in sound quality. He also got me a crate of bourbon glasses, a flask and snacks to accompany the bourbon. Lastly for my lawyer side he got me wax and a sealer so I can kick it medieval style. Could not ask for a better secret santa or better gifts. Thanks B. and thank you Reddit!So I attended the World Championships this year. It was great seeing all these high level robots. However, I had a problem with them, they drove too straight. They drove with too much precision. There was no sense of “YOLO”, the robots did not drive with enough swag.
So I decided to remedy this issue at the programming level, by creating SwagDrive. SwagDrive increases the robot’s level of swag by at least ten-fold. By using new and innovative algorithms (or rather “swagorithms”), SwagDrive decreases the robot’s consistency and accuracy so that when it drives on the playing field it looks a lot cooler.
It is similar to ArcadeDrive with some important modifications. If the change on an axis is not larger than the “swag barrier”, it will multiplied by the “swag multiplier” in order to “swag up” the driver’s inputs. If the input is larger then the “swag barrier” for that particular cycle, then the robot’s “swag level” increases by one. If the “swag level” becomes over 9000 the robot enters a moment of ultimate swag and rotates for one “swag period” (truly a YOLO move). Many of these values still need to be tuned and modified to achieve optimal swag.
You can find an example implementation written in Java by clicking here. While I have yet to test SwagDrive on a real robot, I can assure you that it will swag up your robot.
I look forward to your comments and hope that we can improve SwagDrive for future competitions.
(If you haven’t figured it out yet, this is a joke. You can find 1836’s robot code here by our main coder. I would strongly recommend not using the SwagDrive code on your robot, as you will likely lose control and possibly hurt the robot and the people around it.)One of the primary accomplishments of American civilization in the 20th century was the construction of a system of economic security that safeguards the dignity of Americans beyond their economically productive years. Social Security erected an old-age insurance infrastructure through which, from the 1930s onward, virtually all workers were given the opportunity - and in fact required - to steadily save significant amounts of money to guarantee the economic security of their families in retirement. As a country, we witnessed dramatic declines in the incidence of downward social mobility and poverty among older Americans. In 1983 these benefits were cut significantly - and those cuts are still being phased in today. Compounding these cuts to Social Security, employer pensions have been disappearing - replaced by 401(k)s, supplemented by IRAs. Yet taken together, such private accounts provide meaningful retirement income to only 3 in 10 workers. And Medicare premiums are rising as well. Overall, much of the progress made in the last century to address the challenge of retirement security has been reversed. Those nearing retirement today, but even more so younger Americans in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, should be very worried about the prospect of downward social mobility in retirement.Even though these past few months have been somewhat scary for popular torrent communities, with Demonoid getting busted and UKNova willfully taking itself out of the game to avoid a future legal issue, the most popular torrenting community, The Pirate Bay, is still holding strong. Except, at the time of this writing, it actually isn’t holding together too well. The Pirate Bay is down as of this post, but don’t fret, it’s not due to some legal issue.
Whenever The Pirate Bay goes down, torrenting enthusiasts pretty much freak out — partly because TPB is a fairly easy community in which to find what torrent one is looking for, but also because it’s the biggest target to get shutdown, and has experience various legal issues in the past. However, luckily for fans, the torrent site hasn’t hit any legal snag, and is simply down due to power failure. Word is that the The Pirate Bay has simply hit a power failure due to a problem with a power distribution unit, which couldn’t be more appropriately named in relation to a power failure.
So, never fear, torrenters, you’ll simply have to wait a bit, or try an alternative site, before you can download all that Sunday TV you missed last night.
(via TorrentFreak)
Relevant to your interestsWhat is Ankara’s strategic thinking about the battle for Mosul in Iraq, even as Turkey unleashes airstrikes on US-backed Kurds in Syria? One undeniable fact: Ankara feverishly wants to be in Mosul when the cards in Iraq are reshuffled.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, responding to Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi’s ultimatum that Turkish soldiers can’t enter Mosul, said Oct. 17, “How can you keep me out? I have a 350-kilometer [200-mile] border there. Those who have nothing to do with the place are entering Mosul. Why? Because Baghdad is supposed to have invited them. … We will be there for the operation and at the table.”
The next day, newspapers close to Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) government reported his words in banner headlines. Erdogan has thus made Mosul an important domestic political issue in Turkey.
The first crisis between Ankara and Baghdad erupted in December over Turkey’s decision to reinforce its presence at Bashiqa, Iraq, near Mosul. In my Dec. 7 column, I wrote that Ankara’s goal is to set up an autonomous Sunni power center at Mosul that will incorporate the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) under Massoud Barzani and the Turkmens.
The United States' position on the crisis between Ankara and Baghdad is clear-cut. Meanwhile, Ankara wants to replicate Operation Euphrates Shield that enabled it to return to the playing field in Syria, only this time, in Iraq as "Tigris Shield." But the situation is radically different. The coalition has decided that Mosul is to be liberated exclusively by anti-Islamic State (IS) forces under US leadership and Iraqi forces.
The US military wants to keep intact the ground force it has been able to patch together in more than a year and doesn’t want an Ankara-Baghdad crisis affecting it. Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said the matter of the Turkish army participating in the Mosul operation is an issue to be handled between Iraq and Turkey.
Looking at the battlefield deployment, the strategic goal of the Mosul operation appears to be to push IS eastward, where there is no coalition ground force, and to steer IS toward Syria on the Tal Afar-Sinjar axis. Of course, during this channeled movement IS convoys will be under heavy coalition air attacks.
To better understand Turkey’s position on Mosul, we need to look at Turkey’s military presence in Iraq. Since the early 2000s, Turkey has been keeping a tank battalion with two companies at the former Bamerni air base south of Metina. It also has a commando battalion at Kanimasi close to the border, two tank companies for force protection at Bashiqa, plus a commando battalion and six special forces teams tasked with training and equipping missions. Turkey also maintains special forces liaison offices in 10 cities of the KRG, notably at Erbil, Dahuk and Zakho. All these military assets cannot possibly join an operation against Mosul. At the moment, the Turkish army’s participation would be limited to four 155 mm howitzers with a 40-kilometer (25-mile) range based at Bashiqa.
What is the situation today?
The Bashiqa camp — which accommodates 500-600 Turkish soldiers, howitzers, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, tanks and other armored vehicles — is now at its highest alert level. Sources in Ankara contacted by Al-Monitor want the Bashiqa camp to play the key role in the assault against Mosul from the north. These sources noted that since the beginning of the Mosul operation, no one has asked to use any Turkish base for the air attacks, no Turkish air elements have been involved and there has been no artillery fire from Bashiqa. It is clear that Ankara is considerably annoyed by not even taking part in the air operations against Mosul. What Ankara wants most is active participation of the Ninevah Guards, which comprise about 3,000 Sunni Arab militias, Turkmens and Kurds under the leadership of Atheel al-Nujaifi, the former governor of Ninevah province.
Ankara, by having the Ninevah Guards, which it sees as a balancing force of the Mosul operation in the offensive from the north, wants Baghdad and Tehran to recognize Turkey’s role.
Ankara now thinks Turkish proposals are being taken into consideration. Sources say the participation of the Ninevah Guards and the Kurdish peshmerga in the grand Mosul offensive has been accepted. Half of the 3,000-strong Ninevah Guards will be involved in the thrust to the center of Mosul; the other half will be kept in reserve.
US interlocutors were also informed of a key Turkey reservation about the Mosul operation. Turkey rejects any participation of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), either as part of the peshmerga or with Yazidi Sinjar Resistance Units, which is linked to the PKK. Sources say they have been assured by the United States that the PKK will not be involved in the operation in any manner, whether under its own banner or under the cover of another organization.
The political knot of the operation is what kind of governance there will be in Mosul after the operation. Every power in the region has a different goal: Barzani's KRG wants to control north of Mosul; the PKK dreams of a canton at Sinjar; Nujaifi wants to recover his lost leadership of Mosul; and Shiite Arabs see control of Mosul as part of their regional power struggle that will enable them to dominate the city with US support.
Ankara’s red lines are summarized as: no mass refugee wave, no entry of Shiite militias into Mosul’s center or oppression of the people, and not allowing the PKK to sneak in under the banner of the Sinjar Resistance Units.
If Ankara believes these lines are crossed, it can turn to its plan B and have Barzani and the Sunni Arab tribes of Mosul declare, "The balance of power is changing. We therefore invite Turkey to Mosul," thus enabling Turkey to assume a larger role in the field, backed by the legitimacy of such an invitation. On Oct. 16, some Sunni Arab tribes that met in Erbil did issue a declaration inviting Turkey to Mosul, but this declaration went largely unnoticed.
Ankara feels its Operation Euphrates Shield is going well in northern Syria and has restored Turkey’s status as a major player there. So Turkey's plan C in Iraq is to copy-paste that operation into northern Mosul. If Turkey's plans A and B don’t work out, Ankara plans to set up a 10-kilometer buffer zone just like it has done in Syria.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Umit Yalin led a Turkish diplomatic delegation to Baghdad on Oct. 17 to discuss the status of Turkish forces at Bashiqa and the ongoing Mosul operation. Sources in Ankara said the real mission of the delegation was to explain in detail Ankara's plan C. Ankara wants Baghdad and Washington to understand that plan C is serious and feasible.
Will IS resist?
First, some basic facts: Over the past year, IS has been facing a shortage of financial resources, a dwindling number of foreign militant fighters, the loss of 40% of the territory it held in Iraq and 20% in Syria, diminishing local popular support and expansion of the anti-IS coalition, which is increasingly becoming a force on the ground.
What, therefore, are the options for IS under these deteriorating circumstances?
The first option is a phased, temporary withdrawal with the intention of returning. If IS still maintains its central planning capacity, it can leave the city center in phases without sustaining major losses by staging extreme measures against the coalition force — for example, by using chemical weapons and executing its prisoners en masse. The intention here will not be to entirely abandon Mosul, but to set the stage for a second assault against the city.
The second IS option would be to resist until the end, which means risking annihilation in a protracted urban war. This scenario could be triggered if Iraq's army enters the city with a show of force that turns the people against them. The Sunni Arabs remember how they had problems returning to Salahuddin and Anbar after IS was expelled because of arbitrary and oppressive actions by Shiite militias. Despite all soothing and reassuring messages from the Baghdad government, most Sunnis don’t believe them. Some irresponsible, bombastic comments by Shiite militia chieftains do not help.
Now we are seeing that IS is not as apocalyptic as we were led to believe. However, as an organized force, it can be expected to maintain its cohesion, resist with minimal losses and go underground in Mosul. If the clashes in Mosul assume a sectarian character, local residents who do not usually support IS may decide to support it against Shiite militias, thus strengthening the IS capacity to engage in long-term urban warfare.
To understand the seriousness of the situation, one has to look at military activities at Silopi, the Turkish town closest to Mosul. Turkey is currently deploying batteries of 155 mm howitzers there to cover a 40-kilometer target zone.
Now, if we start reading reports of Ankara shifting armored and mechanized brigades to Silopi, that will be a signal to us that Ankara has given up on plan B and is moving on to plan C, which provides for a buffer zone in Iraq — in other words, Operation Tigris Shield.This build will definitely defy your roaring expectations for a high end Desktop PC and will blow you away with its performance and looks.
The build starts with the Intel Core i7 4790K CPU on the Z97 platform. This hyper-threaded CPU will wreck any task put to it. Install games and updates in a cinch, and give you an amazing experience editing video and of course, doing anything on the Windows desktop.
The i7 is breathing with 8GBs of ultra fast DDR3, sitting at 1866 MHz. The black PCB of the modules contrasts well with the white heatspreader and is great looking and performing DDR3 for your build, another 8GBs wouldn't hurt, but is DEFINITELY not needed at all.
Your gaming PC wouldn't really excel at much gaming without the BEAST of a card called the EVGA GTX 980 Ti ACX 2.0+ SC+. The card has amazing horsepower for what it is and wow does it perform. The GM200 chipset is amazing at 4K with today's games. Never before has running games at 4K with a mainstream card been so easy with the 6GBs of GDDR5 of memory put together with the amazing 384-bit memory bus. That means running any game for the foreseeable future will be a piece of cake for this card.
The Samsung 850 EVO in this system will, of course, give you uber fast boot times and will make loading screens a myth. I don't know why there are people still even on mechanical storage for speed this cheap. 500GBs is a great amount of breathing room for any Windows installation and a small to medium sized steam library.
The NZXT watercooler is a great option for any high end build that needs watercooling temperatures, especially when you are overclocking. The copper water block even is RGB for the ultimate customization.
The 750W PSU is just fine for even adding another 980 Ti in the future and all the cables are blacked out with black sleeving and wiring, not to mention the S340 and any modular PSU means effortless cable management. This PSU will keep your components safe with it's 80+ Gold rating as well.
The main attraction of this build is the amazing motherboard. This is ASUS's Z97 Sabertooth Mark S. It is a beautiful motherboard, I adore its TUF branding which means it only has the best of the best components on the board. The first ASUS board to have a completely white PCB, ASUS is celebrating it by only manufacturing this motherboard for a limited time. (I hope I get my hands on one soon as well) The armour on the front and back helps with the boards rigidity and this motherboard will last you for a very long time.
The reason I named this build the, 'Tiger Spirit' is because the rear of the board's armour is adorned with two traditional Chinese characters that mean 'Tiger Spirit' this really caught my eye and I honestly think it's awesome.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my first build guide. Let me know if you build this white and black themed build and hit me up.BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Turkey has fired hundreds of senior military staff serving at NATO in Europe and the United States following July’s coup attempt, documents show, broadening a purge to include some of the armed forces’ best-trained officials.
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan arrives for the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, July 9, 2016. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
In a classified military dispatch seen by Reuters, 149 military envoys posted to the alliance’s headquarters and command centers in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Britain were ordered on Sept. 27 to return to Turkey within three days.
Most were dismissed from service on their arrival, arrested and imprisoned, according to a Turkish military official at NATO and two farewell letters sent by departing Turkish officials emailed to colleagues at NATO and seen by Reuters.
One of those letters wrote of a “witch-hunt” of senior air force commanders serving overseas.
In total, about 400 military envoys have been fired so far, the Turkish military official said. Two non-Turkish NATO staff familiar with the situation confirmed that Turkish personnel are being recalled but did not have more details.
Although the number of dismissals is a small fraction of the 100,000 judges, police, teachers and soldiers to be suspended or fired since the failed coup, the decision to target some of the most highly-trained staff in prestigious foreign posts underscores the depth of President Tayyip Erdogan’s purge.
Turkish officials say the scale of the crackdown, which has broad popular support at home, is justified by the gravity of events on July 15, when rogue soldiers commandeered tanks, fighter jets and helicopters, bombing parliament and government buildings in their attempt to seize power. More than 240 people, many of them civilians, were killed.
But the dismissals at NATO raise questions about Turkey’s strategy after the failed coup, as Erdogan seeks closer ties with the alliance’s Cold War foe Russia.
Turkey is a vital ally to the West in the war against Islamic State militants and in tackling Europe’s migrant crisis. It is also one of the main troop contributors to NATO’s training mission in Afghanistan.
Of the 50 military staff posted to the Turkish delegation at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, only nine remain, according to the Turkish official who spoke to Reuters. Turkish military representatives were not present in recent meetings. “Turkey is not at the table,” the official said.
Turkey’s ambassador to NATO, who runs a 30-strong diplomatic team at the alliance HQ, declined to comment.
A NATO official said that Turkey has notified the alliance about military personnel changes at NATO commands in Europe and in the United States, adding that the issue has been discussed at a senior level between NATO and Turkish officials.
“We are confident that Turkey will keep its commitment to the rule of law when bringing the perpetrators of the coup to justice,” the NATO official said.
A senior official in Ankara declined to go into details, saying only that Turkey had recalled some soldiers and diplomats after the coup attempt, some of whom had failed to return. “Turkey called back certain military personnel and diplomats working abroad after the coup,” the senior official said, adding that not all of those recalled were being punished.
“Those who do not return to Turkey or try to seek asylum abroad must be held to account. We expect our allies to back us on this, and not to support coup plotters if they were involved,” the official said.
“UNFORTUNATE FAREWELL”
Colleagues of those recalled and arrested suspect they are accused of being part of the military faction that seized bridges and roads and attacked Turkey’s parliament on July 15. However, they say no charges have been made and no explanation given. They deny any wrongdoing.
“We were at our desks abroad at the time of the attempted coup,” said the official, who has been called back to a meeting in Ankara this week and believes he is likely to be dismissed and arrested. “We had no reason to undermine the government.”
Some of those fired have not returned to Turkey for fear of prison sentences. They have had their passports revoked, bank accounts blocked and pension rights canceled. Spouses and relatives who are still in Turkey are banned by police from leaving the country and some are imprisoned, according to the two farewell letters seen by Reuters.
“They took everything from me, even my family,” said a U.S.-educated Turkish fighter pilot instructor, who was sent to NATO in Brussels for a three-year posting and was fired in August. The person has now requested asylum in Belgium.
“I have not been notified of any charges against me.”
A Turkish flag (R) flies among others flags of NATO members during the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, July 28, 2015. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
Erdogan and the government blame the network of Turkish Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, for masterminding the coup. They accuse his followers of infiltrating the military and state institutions over decades in a bid to seize power.
But dismissed NATO soldiers say they were targeted because of their Western outlook and education in Europe and the United States. They believe that puts them at odds with Erdogan’s vision of an Islamic Turkey inspired by the Ottoman empire, unable to fit in with what they see as Turkey’s pious masses and a president forging a nation that will not be dictated to by foreigners.
One dismissed staff member, Colonel Aziz Erdogan, wrote: “The common denominator of these victims is that all of them have a... Western educational background and secular mindset.” Erdogan, who is no relation of the president, made the comment in a letter entitled “Unfortunate Farewell” to colleagues at NATO headquarters in Brussels.Those of us down in the Canberra had started to suspect a while ago that NRL HQ didn’t give a rat’s arse about us.
However, it was the following line in Andrew Webster’s excellent piece on the Raiders’ 2016 renaissance that turned conspiracy into reality.
“It would be much easier if Canberra wasn’t in the competition. I’d [expletive] them off tomorrow if I could.”
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Webster attributed this statement to a “highly-placed official” at the NRL.
It beggars belief that people high up in the organisation could possibly have that view.
That a senior person in the NRL administration does not value having an NRL team in the middle of a region that features the rugby league towns of Canberra, Queanbeyan, Goulburn, Yass, Young, Crookwell, Moruya, Cooma, Batemans Bay and Bega is bizarre.
What exactly would be easier about [expletive]ing the Raiders off, Mr Unnamed-highly-placed-official?
Not having to deal with the tens of thousands of junior and senior rugby league players in the region that form a large chunk of the grass roots of the game? Not having the prospect of more players like Brett White, Bradley Clyde, Josh Dugan, Todd Payten, Joel Monaghan, Paul Vaughn, Michael Weyman, Ricky Stuart, Jack Wighton, Laurie Daley, Shannon Boyd, David Furner, Jarrod Croker, Brent Kite, Glen Lazarus or Brett Finch being produced?
Having a bye every round because you only had 15 teams? Not having to deal with those oiks from that cold, godforsaken place complaining that they were getting no concessions for developing juniors and that third party deals had created a drastically uneven playing field?
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Is that what you mean by easier? Because that just sounds like you are confusing easier for stupid and lazy.
Are you aware that is one of the main purposes of the NRL is in fact to grow the game, Mr Unnamed-highly-placed-official? Or did you miss that memo?
Would it just be ‘easier’ if the competition was only your preferred Sydney clubs – and of course the Broncos because, well, Rupert owns that particular licence to print money and he is big, mean and scary.
Basically, any side that can’t easily attract the third party sponsorships, that themselves have made the NRL such a lopsided competition, are hard because those sides expect you to help them out and stuff, and think about solutions and things.
That’s hard.
Why can’t they all just get their own Nick Politises? That would be easy.
Then the boys at NRL HQ could concentrate on confounding us on a weekly basis with their bunker rulings, supporting a game-day operations manager who doesn’t enforce the rules he was hired to uphold and amazing us by suspending players for brushing a referee but not for tripping or stomping.
A key reason that Mr Unnamed-highly-placed-official is so stupid is that in 1982 the NSWRL stole the greater Canberra region from Aussie Rules. In the 1950s Prime Minister Menzies forced the Government departments – until that point based in Melbourne – to relocate to Canberra. The staff brought with them their love for Aussie Rules and it became the dominant code in Canberra.
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However, in the early 1980s the NSWRL brought the Raiders in and not long after they were in a grand final. Not long after that they won the premiership. All of a sudden Canberra was considered a rugby league town. Something that just a decade earlier would have been a ridiculous proposition. What a coup for the NSWRL.
They were expanding and the game was bigger than ever.
The Raiders glory days ended with the help of the Super League war and some short-sighted and poor management and getting the powers that be at the NRL to provide any support to the Raiders has been a forlorn hope.
And now we have some unnamed highly placed official up at NRL HQ who thinks it would be desirable to abandon the rugby league occupation of South Eastern NSW and the ACT.
Because its ‘easier.’
Let me assure you that the AFL will most gladly take Canberra and district back. They are waiting to pounce. Last weekend a record AFL crowd of 14,974 turned up at Manuka Oval to watch Greater Western Sydney pound the Richmond Tigers into the turf.
The AFL is very interested in expansion. In fact, they are dedicated to it. GWS played their first game in 2012 and the AFL have poured money and resources into making them competitive. Even though it was hard. They’ve identified a market – albeit a traditional rugby league area – and they are doing what it takes to get their piece of it.
Just five seasons later GWS are sitting in second spot on the ladder at the business end of the season and the crowds are growing.
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GWS and the Swans would just love the ACT and surrounding region to revert to being the fertile Aussie Rules nursery it was pre the late 1980s. If the navel gazing luddites at NRL HQ have their way that’s exactly what will happen.
The AFL management isn’t concerned whether expansion and consolidation is hard. It is their job and they get on and do it. And they are leaving the NRL in the dust.
Let’s look at some cold, hard numbers that demonstrate just how much more successful an organisation the AFL is when compared to the NRL.
Firstly, let’s look at the relative populations of their traditional heartlands.
Rugby league state populations AFL state populations NSW 7,618,200 VIC 5,938,100 QLD 4,779,400 WA 2,591,600 ACT 390,800 SA 1,698,600 TAS 516,600 NT 244,600 Total 12,788,400 Total 10,989,500 % 53.75% % 46.25%
As you can see, the traditional rugby league states have close to two million more people. However, as the following figures show, the NRL has totally failed to take advantage of that:
AFL NRL Number of teams 18 16 Games per round 9 8 Teams in other codes heartland 4 1 Broadcast deal $value per year $418 Million $360 Million Number of games on free to air each week 4 3 Total 2015 attendance 6,886,266 2,495,633 Average match attendance 2015 33,428 14,944 Highest match attendance 2015 98,633 (Grand Final – MCG) 91,513 (State of Origin II – MCG)
So what do these figures tell us?
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1. The AFL is a bigger competition that offers broadcasters one extra game over the NRL each week.
2. The AFL has four teams based in the NRL’s heartlands while the NRL just has the Melbourne Storm.
3. The AFL provides an extra free-to-air match each week for the punters to be able to see their teams play (they also manage to distribute the free-to-air games equally among all 18 teams).
4. In 2015 over four million more people went to watch live AFL games than went to NRL games.
5. The average AFL crowd per game was nearly 20,000 more than the NRL.
6. The AFL’s biggest attended match eclipsed the NRL’s by 7,000 punters in 2015 – and the NRL’s most attended match was at the MCG.
7. The AFL’s broadcast deal is $58 million dollars a year larger than the NRLs. It is a good bet that amount would be significantly bigger if the top rating State of Origin matches were removed from the equation.
To sum up, the AFL is totally schooling the boys down at NRL HQ in how to run a professional, expansive sporting code.
At this rate the A-League will overtake the NRL as the second most supported code within a decade.
Here’s the most damning stat for the NRL: The AFL has as many teams in Brisbane as the National Rugby League does…
This gulf in management ability is brought home all the more by the fact that there are people at NRL HQ who would happily spurn the Canberra Raiders and their territory.
Because it’s too hard…
And if the Raiders are too hard you can bet that philosophy also applies to the other regional and remote teams in the Knights, the Cowboys and the Storm.
“Hang on!” I hear you say. “The Cowboys and the Storm are in the top four, what’s hard about that?”
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Well, the Raiders were in the top four when they had Laurie Daley and Ricky Stuart. And the Knights were also in the top four when they had Andrew Johns. Once those players went those teams stopped being easy and became hard.
NRL HQ doesn’t like hard. They like easy.
What happens to the Storm and the Cowboys when Cam Smith and Johnathan Thurston retire and their teams stop being easy?
And you’ve also got to question just what the NRL has found so hard about the Raiders. They’ve done nothing whatsoever to assist them. They’ve given no assistance for them to retain their juniors (so the Raiders changed focus to purchasing players). They’ve done nothing to get more Raiders games on Free to air so that the local people will get exposed to the side and that in turn will help build crowds. They’ve done nothing whatsoever. What exactly have they found so hard? Having to deal with those pesky Canberrans drawing attention to the NRL’s dereliction of duty?
Personally I want to see the game consolidated, developed and expanded and I’ve got no time or tolerance for anyone involved with the running of our game that thinks that all sounds a little too much like hard work.
In fact I’d happily [expletive] them off tomorrow if I could.What makes a lot of people uncomfortable about a phenomenon like Uber, when you get right down to it, is how it is owned. As in other mega-Internet companies, a small number of owners poised to take over a global industry—in this case, the taxi industry with ownership currently spread out among local drivers and operators. In response to Uber’s rise, there has been a flurry of proposals for driver-owned alternatives. But what if the real Uber-killer were owned by nobody?
Meet La'Zooz, a project that began in Israel but belongs to nowhere. Like Uber, Lyft or Sidecar, it’s an attempt to implement real-time ridesharing, but without the company. Using the same technology underlying the virtual currency Bitcoin—a distributed online ledger, or “blockchain”—the La’Zooz network would exist on the phones and computers of its community of users, rather than any central server. Rather than Bitcoin’s “proof of work” method of generating new tokens, which requires enormous computational power, La’Zooz generates new tokens—called “zooz”—with “proof of movement.” Basically, turn on your La’Zooz-enabled phone and drive. As you drive, you earn zooz tokens. Then, when you want a ride from someone else in the community, you can pay in zooz.
So far, La’Zooz is still a work in progress. Nobody has gotten a ride yet with it, though an Android app is available for those who want to start earning zooz by driving and bringing friends on to the network, for instance, by inviting them to download the app.
When I spoke with founders Matan Field and Shay Zluf, the ambition of functional ridesharing seemed like just an excuse for creating a truly decentralized, autonomous organization—an entity without owners, without central servers, a pure child of the Internet. But to make that happen, the ridesharing has to happen, too.
Nathan Schneider: Let’s begin by talking about where this all came from. How did La’Zooz get started, and how has it developed?
Shay Zluf: Sometimes things come to several people at around the same time. I became interested in real-time ridesharing when I was stuck in a traffic jam. And the same happened to Matan. I tried to make this idea a reality a few years ago, but back then people didn’t think it could happen. The evolution of social networks and the sharing economy has since changed people’s minds.
Matan Field: When we met each other and started talking with others, there was immediate positive feedback. It was completely clear that this was something that needed to happen. Initially we just talked about ridesharing, but from day one we knew that we weren’t just speaking about ridesharing. We would try to build a model of participation. Then we stepped into the Bitcoin space, and learned about decentralized organizations, and found out that the ideas we were abstractly thinking about had been born and raised on another side of the planet. Ridesharing was just the excuse. There’s a whole movement that’s going on—a movement for building the future of society, the future of organizations.
And is that where cryptocurrency comes in? Is that an essential part of making real-time ridesharing possible, or is it more of an add-on that you happen to be interested in?
MF: From the beginning, irrespective of the obstacle in ridesharing, we wanted to do things differently in terms of our own operations. But when we began to understand the difficulty of establishing enough of a critical mass of users to have a working system, we found that doing things differently could be a solution to that problem.
Making this a community project is not just a bonus or a nice thing—it’s what will overcome what caused others to fail. With blockchain technology, power is automatically distributed to the whole community. To raise a critical mass of participation, you can invent a token, then distribute that token to whoever contributes. They can be developers, founders, purchasers, or even early adopters. In that way there is an incentive for early participation. Then, as soon as the thing that you are trying to build is operational, there is a critical mass of participants ready to use that same token in the system. In our case, riders will share the cost of a drive with zooz tokens.
So this is how you’re financing the project right now? Is it being financed in some other way as well?
MF: At first we remunerated ourselves with zooz tokens according to a community decision. But since zooz didn’t have a market, we had to rely on our day-jobs and savings. We generated a market by selling some of our zooz tokens in a pre-sale three months ago, and there will be another presale as well. In the process, we are building a new model of full-scale decentralization, where any sort of contribution can be evaluated and price-tagged by the community in a decentralized manner.
How did the pre-sale work? How much was raised through it?
MF: We did a first pre-sale round about three to four months ago, and raised around $80,000; this round was mostly among family and friends, plus some other people who'd heard about us. Now we're opening a more official pre-sale round this week, still not fully public—not announced in general media, at least. But we are telling everyone who has ever contacted us about it, and we announced it at Bitcoinference 2015 last week. There is a web interface dedicated to the sale, which will open on Wednesday, January 28. It will stay open for one week, allowing purchases of zooz with bitcoin or wire transfer up to total of $200,000. These funds will be used to support development until the opening of the crowd sale sometime in the near future. The rate for this pre-sale is a 12 percent discount from the what we call the "zooz peg rate," which we expect to be the opening rate at the crowd sale.
How much adoption have you seen, and is it actually working? Is it possible to get a ride with zooz tokens?
SZ: The application that is out right now is for zooz mining. People are being rewarded with tokens when their phones send their location data and help to create the network. When the network reaches a certain critical mass, the ridesharing application will become operational. We learn a lot from our beta users—about 1,000 beta users. You can see their distribution around the world on our website.
In the context of |
read.
When accessibility is instituted as a company-wide practice, rather than merely observed by a few people within a team, it will inevitably be more successful. When everybody understands the importance of accessibility and their role in the project, we can make great websites.
Professional development
When you’re just starting to learn about accessibility, people in your organization will need to learn new skills and undertake training to do accessibility well.
Outside experts can often provide thorough training, with course material tailor-made to your organization. Teams can also develop their accessibility skills by learning the basics through web- and book-based research, and by attending relevant conferences and other events.
Both formal training and independent practice will cost time away from other work, but in return you’ll get rapid improvements in a team’s accessibility skills. New skills might mean initially slower site development and testing while people are still getting their heads around unfamiliar tools, techniques, and ways of thinking. Don’t be disheartened! It doesn’t take long for the regular practice of new skills to become second nature.
You might also need to hire in outside expertise to assist you in particular areas of accessibility—it’s worth considering the capabilities of your team during budgeting and decide whether additional training and help are needed. Especially when just starting out, many organizations hire consultants or new employees with accessibility expertise to help with research and testing.
When you’re trying to find the right expert for your organization’s needs, avoid just bashing “accessibility expert” into a search engine and hoping for good luck. Accessibility blogs and informational websites (see the Resources section) are probably the best place to start, as you can often find individuals and organizations who are great at teaching and communicating accessibility. The people who run accessibility websites often provide consultancy services, or will have recommendations for the best people they know.
Scoping the Project
At the beginning of a project, you’ll need to make many decisions that will have an impact on accessibility efforts and approaches, including:
What is the purpose of your product?
Who are the target audiences for your product? What are their needs, restrictions, and technology preferences?
What are the goals and tasks that your product enables the user to complete?
What is the experience your product should provide for each combination of user group and user goal?
How can accessibility be integrated during production?
Which target platforms, browsers, operating systems and assistive technologies should you test the product on?
If you have answers to these questions—possibly recorded more formally in an accessibility policy (which we’ll look at later in this chapter)—you’ll have something to refer to when making design decisions throughout the creation and maintenance of the product.
Keep in mind that rigid initial specifications and proposals can cause problems when a project involves research and iterative design. Being flexible during the creation of a product will allow you to make decisions based on new information, respond to any issues that arise during testing, and ensure that the launched product genuinely meets people’s needs.
If you’re hiring someone outside your organization to produce your site, you need to convey the importance of accessibility to the project. Whether you’re a project manager writing requirements, a creative agency writing a brief, or a freelance consultant scoping your intent, making accessibility a requirement will ensure there’s no ambiguity. Documenting your success criteria and sharing it with other people can help everyone understand your aims, both inside and outside your organization.
Budgeting
Accessibility isn’t a line item in an estimate or a budget—it’s an underlying practice that affects every aspect of a project.
Building an accessible site doesn’t necessarily cost more money or time than an inaccessible site, but some of the costs are different: it costs money to train your team or build alternative materials like transcripts or translations. It’s wise to consider all potential costs from the beginning and factor them into the product budget so they’re not a surprise or considered an “extra cost” when they could benefit a wide audience. You wouldn’t add a line item to make a site performant, so don’t do it for accessibility either.
If you’ve got a very small budget, rather than picking and choosing particular elements that leave some users out in favor of others, consider the least expensive options that enable the widest possible audience to access your site. For example, making a carousel that can be manipulated using only the keyboard will only benefit people using keyboard navigation. On the other hand, designing a simpler interface without a carousel will benefit everyone using the site.
Ultimately, the cost of accessibility depends on the size of the project, team, and whether you’re retrofitting an existing product or creating a new product. The more projects you work on, the better you’ll be able to estimate the impact and costs of accessibility.
Want to read more?
This excerpt from Accessibility for Everyone will help you get started. Order the full copy today, as well as other excellent titles from A Book Apart.
Recently by Laura Kalbag Me and My Big Fat Ego In a design project, there are usually areas where the client sees room for improvement—and that’s hard to take if your… Further reading about Accessibility More Resources for Accessible Animations Ready to learn more about creating accessible animations? Val Head shares new resources to help you get started. Developing Empathy Empathy sounds great in theory, but how can we actually practice it for our users? Susan Robertson shows how to get started.
About the Author Also from this author Accessibility for Everyone by Laura Kalbag You make the web more inclusive for everyone, everywhere, when you design with accessibility in mind. Let Laura Kalbag guide you through the accessibility landscape: understand disability and impairment challenges; get a handle on important laws and guidelines; and learn how to plan for, evaluate, and test accessible design. Leverage tools and techniques like clear copywriting, well-structured IA, meaningful HTML, and thoughtful design, to create a solid set of best practices. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro, get sure footing on the path to designing with accessibility. ➝ Buy now
Get our latest articles in your inbox. Sign up for email alerts.By Tricia Howley
MCT News Service
Is it possible we've discovered too many ways to "Go Green?" It's become so trendy, sometimes it seems only wealthy people can save the planet. I'm glad forward-thinking billionaires have promoted it, but now every business from corner store to mega-corporation is selling the concept.
Despite all appearances, however, you don't need to spend a lot of green to be green. In fact, good old-fashioned frugality was always ecofriendly. Take a look at these 30 basic things you can make yourself. These are simple recipes and formulas, and all of them will help save both the environment and your bank account.
1. Dishwasher soap.
Mix together 1 cup washing soda, 1 cup Borax, 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup citric acid. Store tightly covered in a jar. Use one tablespoon per load. Add a splash of vinegar to the rinse dispenser for best results.
2. Pancake syrup.
I love maple syrup but it's too expensive to let the kids use it every other day. Besides, I want something without the high fructose corn syrup. Combine 1 cup hot water, 2 cups sugar and 1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring. Bring to a boil and heat until thickened.
3. Lawn spray.
Mix 1 cup baby shampoo, 1 cup ammonia, 1 can of beer and 1/2 cup corn syrup in a 20-gallon hose-end sprayer. Top off with warm water and soak your grass with this lawn spray once a month. It'll be green and healthy.
4. Compost.
This one may seem obvious, and it is, but I think there are still many people out there who don't know that making compost is easy. Really, it's easy! To get started, check out CompostGuide.com or Plow & Hearth magazine.
5. Compost bin.
When I first tried composting, I was really put off by all the expensive composters I found online. The point of this exercise is to save money! Here's a great solution that won't break the bank: http://simplemom.net/how-to-make-a-compost-bin/.
6. Plant fertilizer.
If you're still completely put off by composting, it's OK. Rotting things can be scary. Have some leftover coffee grounds? Just throw them directly onto the dirt around your favorite plants. Grind egg shells and do the same. Pour leftover green tea on them. Kids have fish? Dump the old fish tank water. Every once in a while, take a pronged garden tool out there and scrape around to mix things up. Your plants will love you.
7. Weed killer.
Vinegar is a great weed killer. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and spray it on anything you can't get out by the roots. It's one of the few things that will work against such noxious weeds as Canadian Thistle. All vinegars are diluted, so try and buy the highest concentration you can find at the supermarket.
8. Laundry soap.
A basic recipe that costs $0.03 per load and uses washing soda, Borax and grated bar soap can be found at Crafting A Green World (http://craftingagreenworld.com/2011/01/30/how-to-make-your-own-eco-friendly-laundry-soap-for-three-cents-a-load/). There are variations on the basic formula for protecting sensitive skin and for stain removal.
9. Make dinner.
Cooking anything at home saves you gas and is cheaper and healthier. Cooking magazines and websites can help or hurt. Don't think you've got to serve the gourmet meal every night. Make things you like and look for recipes with few ingredients. If you have kids, get them involved. They'll eat better and complain less.
10. Glass cleaner.
This is a classic eco-friendly and frugal recipe. Mix 2 1/2 cups of water, 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol and 1 tablespoon white vinegar in a spray bottle. Use newspaper to wipe the windows. I know it seems counter-intuitive, but newsprint has no lint, which is why it works so well.
11. Furniture polish.
Combine the juice from 5 lemons with 1 cup of olive oil and pour into a spray bottle. Shake well before each use. Spray the polish on a clean cloth and wipe down your wood furniture to give it a shine.
12. Wrapping paper.
If you have a newspaper printing press near you, go down there and ask for a "remainder" roll of newsprint. There's usually a lot of paper still on it, since the machines can't operate properly once the roll gets below a certain diameter. Wrap gifts with this paper and get the kids to decorate with drawings. Or stamp it and add matching ribbon.
13. Fabric gift wrap.
Another beautiful gift-wrapping idea is to use old fabric scraps for "furoshiki" gift wrap. This video _ www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn6zdyCAwJs _ shows lots of ways to do it. One of the cutest versions is for wrapping books – one of my favorite gifts in can buy for less at Goodwill.
14. Art paints.
In a glass mixing bowl combine 3/4 cup flour, 1 tablespoon corn starch, 1/4 cup salt and a package of Kool-Aid (your choice of color). Stir until evenly mixed. Bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil and remove from heat. Pour 1 1/2 cups boiling water and then 2 tablespoons vinegar directly into dry mixture, and stir carefully until combined. Cover loosely and let mixture cool until it comes to room temperature. Use as finger paints, with paintbrushes, or with other creative materials that can be used to apply paint to paper.
15. Napkins.
This one is easy, cheap and very cool. The basic idea is to take old oxford dress shirts and cut them into squares. You could hem the edges but it's not necessary. Frayed edges look very stylish or you can finish the edges with pinking shears.
16. Glue.
Mix 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cups water (more or less) and 1 teaspoon of vinegar in a saucepan. Use a whisk if it starts to clump up. Heat the glue gently for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. Remove from the heat, let cool, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Glue lasts about two weeks.
17. Ant repellent.
Use cloves (whole or ground), bay leaves, cinnamon or black pepper as barriers to keep ants out. Keep in mind that different pests have different aversions, so you'll have to see what substance works best with the ones trying to sneak into your home.
18. Greeting cards.
Good old construction paper and magazines out of the recycling bin make cards that never fail to please. You can get clever and write a little rhyme to match your picture, or just find something pretty. Just flipping through the pictures will get you going creatively. Use your homemade glue as a binder. Out of ideas? Browse a store's card section than interpret in your own way.
19. Tortilla chips.
Use stale flour or corn tortillas to make this easy treat for your guests. Your house will smell great and they taste much better than store-bought. Cut the tortillas into triangles and toss with a tablespoon of oil. Sprinkle with salt and bake in a 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Dress the chips up by adding lime juice, cumin and chili powder. Or try a dessert version with cinnamon and sugar.
20. Nontoxic cleaning spray.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. The acetic acid in vinegar kills viruses, germs, bacteria and mold. It dissolves mineral deposits and stains found in sinks, toilets and tubs. This mixture can also be used as a cleaning solution in steam cleaners for carpets. For more alternative uses of vinegar, see our blog post "10 Ways To Use Vinegar": www.freeshipping.org/blog/10-ways-to-use-vinegar/.
21. Roach killer.
Baking soda and powdered sugar mixed in equal parts make a good roach killer. Just spread around the area where you see roaches and the little critters will soon disappear.
22. Curtains.
A lot of new homes have taller ceilings, but off-the-shelf curtain panels are still sold in 84-inch lengths. Rather than buying custom drapery, use tablecloths measuring anywhere from 60-by-104 inches to 60-by-130 inches. Some are thick enough to stand alone; Thinner fabrics may require a lining.
23. Play structures.
Forget buying plastic. Planes, cars, houses and puppet show theaters can all be made from cardboard boxes. It's a parent's chance to shine during the construction phase. Kids can then decorate with crayons or the homemade art paint. Add details (steering wheel, doorbell, puppets) using paperboard from a cereal box and stick them on with the homemade glue recipe from above.
24. Face moisturizer.
This makes a "hard lotion" bar. Melt 3/4 ounce beeswax and 4 ounces coconut oil in double boiler, microwave or crock pot. Pour into containers. Allow to cool completely before using. Both this and the next recipe are from MadeOn.com. For more homemade beauty-product recipes, check out our blog post "How To Make Your Own Organic Beauty Products": www.freeshipping.org/blog/how-to-make-your-own-organic-beauty-products/.
25. Body moisturizer and lip balm.
Combine equal amounts of beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler. Melt, stir well, and pour into molds. Ice cube trays and cupcake pans work great. For easy clean up, wipe out the bowl with a paper towel while it's still hot. Then wash with hot, soapy water. For easy removal of lotion molds, place the trays in your freezer for 30 minutes and they should pop right out.
26. Chocolate syrup.
I have found this year's homemade holiday gift! It will look great in glass bottles with a cool label and a ribbon. You'll find the full recipe at SmallNotebook.org.
27. Fly catcher.
Kids will enjoy waiting and watching for this one to work. Take a wine bottle and carefully drop in the bottom something sickly sweet, like mango peels or sugar water. The flies can fly in, but can't fly out.
28. Spider repellent.
Generally, I let spiders live in our house, but we have had more than one Black Widow in the garage and they're not so welcome. Mix 1 tablespoon lemon oil with 1 quart water in a spray bottle.
29. Shopping bag.
Take an old t-shirt and turn it inside-out. Sew the bottom closed and turn it right side out again. Get a pair of scissors. Cut off the arms (save for cleaning rags) and cut out the neck. You now have two handles and a very cool bag. Bonus style points for using a favorite band's concert T-shirt.
30. Mouthwash.
Bring 2 1/2 cups distilled water to a boil and add 1 teaspoon each of mint leaves, rosemary leaves and anise seeds. Turn off the heat and allow the herbs to steep for 20 minutes. Strain and store in a glass jar.
Follow Booth Features on Twitter: @BoothFeatures.Good things don’t end in ‘eum’, they end in ‘mania’… or ‘teria’. That’s according to Homer Simpson.
But there’s one man who’s determined to prove that Homer Simpson was talking bollocks, and it’s none other than Gerard van de Sanden, flipper fanatic, pinball evangelist extraordiaire and one of Pavlov Pinball’s favourite Dutchmen.
If his name sounds familiar it’s because he’s one of the guys behind the Matrix pinball machine and the Dutch Pinball Open, and he runs the Netherlands’ leading pinball rental business.
For the last few months he’s been working himself ragged on his latest pinball project: a museum devoted to the silver ball, based in the Low Countries. The Dutch Pinball Museum will be opening on the waterfront in the mega-port city of Rotterdam in August 2015.
So what’s it going to be like? A clue is in the museum’s tagline: A Journey Through Pinball History.
“I want a museum that has machines to play, but also educational stuff and, yes, things in glass cases,” Van de Sanden explains.
“I’ve called it the Dutch Pinball Museum and not something like the Dutch Pinball Experience because it’s not going to be a play hole for drunk men and coffee shop guys,” he adds.
He hopes locals, tourists, families, children – in fact everyone – will come in and get bitten by the pinball bug. And he aims to do this by sharing pinball’s history, culture and – most of all – stories.
“I want to take groups around the museum, show them a Twilight Zone, and tell them stories about it,” he says.
“There will be written cards by the exhibits explaining what they are – education is good. But there are so many stories to tell about pinball machines, and I want to tell them.
“Maybe I’ll do a tour once or twice a day for school groups, and tell them some of these fantastic stories.”
The museum is currently under construction and it’s a good size: 250 square metres (2,700 square feet), with enough room for about fifty machines as well as the exhibits in glass cases.
Admission pricing has not yet been finalised.
Aside from the standard fare of Twilight Zone, The Addams Family and Lord of The Rings type games, Van de Sanden has been busy buying rarer stuff: a Williams Ticket Tac Toe, a Recel Mr Doom, a flipperless Chicago Coin Majors from 1939, and Stern Orbitor 1 (one of only 881) are some of the latest additions.
The Matrix will also be on display, of course.
And in the glass cases he’s collecting all kinds of pinballabillia: Safe Cracker tokens in a black plaque, original Fun House drawings, prototype playfields and mechanisms from WoZ signed by Jersey Jack to name a few.
It’s the kind of stuff that’s fascinating to pinheads, and Van de Sanden is banking that when accompanied by the right stories and presented with his unique and infections mega-enthusiasm it will captivate normal people/civilians/the pin-ignorant as well.
Enthusiasm will get you only so far in life, but at a certain point the harsh economics of running a pinball venue that can pay for itself start to make themselves felt. The initial plan is to open at the weekends only, and Van de Sanden reckons he’ll need to attract 300 visitors a month to break even – which is a pretty big ask.
Revenue generation plans include the inevitable gift shop selling pinball related souvenirs (but not pinball parts), and snacks and drinks (but not alcohol.) Van de Sanden also wants to host corporate parties or events once a month, and hold unboxing parties for new machines.
(The Netherlands is home to The Big Lebowski’s Dutch Pinball and Timeshock!’s Silver Castle, so you’d have to think that the Dutch Pinball Museum would be a natural venue for both of them.)
Making the museum work financially won’t be easy, but if anyone can do it it’s Van de Sanden.
Why? Because the guy is a veritable one-man self-promotion and marketing dynamo. So far he has got the likes of Jersey Jack, Stern designer John Borg, Barenaked Ladies frontman Ed Robertson and even a former Dutch Deputy Prime Minister to make promotional videos for the museum.
And he’s cajoled everyone from local enthusiasts to games companies to donate glass case items and machines to supplement the one’s he’s paid for out of his own pocket.
But isn’t the notion of single-handedly establishing a pinball museum in the Netherlands all a bit much. After all, Van de Sanden already has his own painting business to run, not to mention his business on the side renting out pinball machines?
He is having none of that.
“My life is all about pinball, and if I can pass on just 10% of my enthusiasm for pinball to others then I’ll be doing my job,” he says. “I want everyone to like pinball, and I’m a guy who gets things done.”
Dutch Pinball MuseumAnd it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. [Isaiah 2:2–3]
Each year as we celebrate the twenty-fourth of July, I reflect on this scripture and marvel at the accomplishments of the Mormon pioneers who settled here in the tops of the mountains. I have a special respect and admiration for President Brigham Young as he led the colonization of the pioneers here in the West. As we meet tonight on the campus that bears his name, it seems appropriate to remind ourselves of some of the teachings, philosophy, and vision of this great leader.
Brigham Young first saw the light of day in a rough-hewn log cabin in Whitingham, Vermont, on 1 June 1801. His arrival swelled to nine the number of John and Abigail Howe Young’s children, divided unevenly with five girls and four boys. Shortly before Brigham Young was born, the family moved in the middle of winter from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to Vermont. So Brigham Young really had his beginning in Massachusetts, but was born in Vermont, not many miles from the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
In those days the people were surprisingly mobile. When they found farming not very productive in one place, they would migrate to another, almost on impulse. This had prompted the Young family to move from Massachusetts to Vermont to see if they could open up a greater farming potential. Survival under these conditions depended entirely on one’s industry and on the weather.
The farmer is usually more susceptible to the ideas of God than are those in most other occupations—mostly because farmers are so dependent on God, and especially as they witness the recurring miracle of life and growth in the planting, nurturing, and maturing of crops. So John Young had a religious upbringing,, as did his wife. By the time he left Whitingham in 1804, he was impelled to move west to find more fertile land and more congenial surroundings.
The next stop for the Young family was Sherbourne, New York, a rural village in the Cherry Valley. The Youngs stayed here for nine years, and in this place the family was increased by the birth of the tenth and eleventh children. However, it was diminished by the death of their second child, a fourteen-year-old daughter.
From Sherbourne they migrated to Cayuga County, New York, in 1813. This was the last home that the wife of John Young would occupy. Careworn after bearing eleven children in twenty-one years and mothering them under harsh conditions, she finally gave up her life for her family.
Brigham Young was only fourteen years of age at the time of his mother’s death. It was a difficult time, and he mourned her passing as any teenage child would at a time like that. The passing of his mother brought about many changes in the Young family. Marriages that occurred would have a tremendous impact on his life in future years. Rhoda, a sister, married John P. Green, and his brother John married Theodosia Kimball, a union that brought the family to the gospel of Jesus Christ. John Young, his father, later married Hannah Brown.
When Brigham was a robust sixteen-year-old, he was already learning the skills of a carpenter, joiner, painter, and glazier that gave him such a good foundation for the rest of his life. About this time there was an economic boom in the construction of the Erie Canal. Young Brigham left to work for a while in Auburn. There he applied his carpentry skills in the construction of a prison. Then he moved to Port Byron, a few miles north on the route of the Erie Canal, where he used his skill chiefly as a painter.
Here it was noticed that young Brigham was emerging into a powerful character. He was intelligent, energetic, and tough-minded, standing 5’10” tall and weighing 190 lbs. He was an imposing physical specimen with broad shoulders—a powerful man, his body developed over years of toil on his father’s farm. His hair had a reddish tint and framed a high forehead. His blue eyes looked out on a world with a steady gaze that, to some, had a definite quality of strength. He had a determined jaw. On seeing Brigham for the first time, one knew instinctively that he was a man not to be trifled with. Yet he had a tender side, almost a poetic quality about him that was evidence of the loving relationship he had had with his mother.
He searched for cultural development and loved the finer things of life. In Port Byron he joined a debating society, which helped him develop his skills as a speaker. Also during this period, Brigham’s first formal affiliation with a church occurred, and at twenty-two years of age he joined a church, following a pattern set by his parents and older brother. It was also about this time he began to court Miriam Works, who would soon become his bride. Miriam, like Brigham, traced her ancestry back to Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
Soon they were married, and Miriam gave birth to their first child, whom they named Elizabeth. When Elizabeth was four, Brigham and Miriam decided to move to Mendon, New York—a decision that had far-reaching consequences for their future lives. It was during this move to Mendon that Brigham came in contact with the Church. His conversion was really brought about by one of his brothers, who was an itinerant preacher. This brother had come in contact with Samuel H. Smith, who was carrying in his backpack several copies of the Book of Mormon. He was impressed with Samuel’s sincerity, but he could not exercise much zeal for the story about the coming forth of the book. He decided to purchase a copy out of curiosity and intended to spend some time finding flaws and exposing it. He studied and cataloged the book, looking for errors, but soon became convinced of its truthfulness.
His father, John Young, also read the book. Then Brigham’s sister Fanny, and then the Greens, the Kimballs—all had an opportunity to read it. This is a classic story of the Book of Mormon bringing to a family the light of the gospel. They soon came in contact with Solomon Chamberlin, another itinerant preacher who had been converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brigham’s brother, after meeting this man who believed that a man must have authority from Jesus Christ in order to baptize another into the true church, lost all of his enthusiasm for preaching and became completely converted to the message of the Book of Mormon.
Five elders showed up in Mendon and preached the gospel. Heber C. Kimball wrote:
As soon as I heard them, I was convinced that they taught the truth, and that I had only received a part of the ordinances in the church in which I belonged. I also saw and heard the gifts and spirits manifested by the elders.
Brigham Young himself also became thoroughly convinced of the message of these five elders. He said this five years after they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley;
When I saw a man without eloquence or talents for public speaking, who could only say, “I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of the Lord,” the Holy Ghost proceeded from that individual, illuminated my understanding, and light, glory, and immortality were before me. I was encircled by them, filled with them, and I knew for myself the testimony was true.
Brigham’s brother had a powerful influence on his conversion. This brother’s name was John.
Brigham Young (coming forth to the stand): No, no, no, it was not John! It was my brother Phineas. Let me tell his conversion story. In January of 1832, several months after these elders had visited Mendon, myself, Phineas, and Heber C. Kimball had thoroughly digested the spiritual fare we had received in abundance, and we decided to make a perilous midwinter trip to confirm our conclusions. We traveled through ice and snow, crossing rivers until we were almost discouraged; still, our faith was to learn more of the principles of Mormonism.
We remained with our new friend about a week, assimilating all they had to offer until we had such a conviction of the gospel of Jesus Christ that we wanted to learn more about the Prophet Joseph Smith and his ministry.
After my father, John Young, and my brothers, Phineas and Joseph, were baptized on 5 April 1832, they made the 120-mile trip to Mendon accompanied by one of the elders and their teacher, Eleazer Miller. There they found me waiting expectantly for the gospel. On April fourteenth, 1832, I was baptized into the Church by Elder Miller. It was a glorious celebration on this day of baptism. (Extracted from Brigham Young, Modern Moses, Prophet of God by Francis M. Gibbons [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1981], pp. 7–20.)
Elder Perry: Yours is a remarkable conversion story of how the Lord guides the footsteps of his servants and brings the leadership required to further his purposes here on earth. How often we see the powerful witness of the Book of Mormon in conversions with whole family units embracing the gospel of our Lord and Savior. President Young, thank you for sharing your conversion story with us. This is such a rare opportunity to have you with us this evening.
Would you allow us to take advantage of this situation by having you share with us some of the observations and instructions you would like to give these great young people who have gathered here tonight in this eighteen-stake fireside? Are there two or three special instructions you would like to leave with them?
Brigham Young: The messages I would give you now have not changed a great deal through the generations from the time I was here. The first lesson I would like to leave with you tonight is to be obedient to the will of God.
It is written that God knows all things and has all power. He has the rule and command of this earth, and is the Father of all the human beings that have lived, do live and will live upon it. If any of his children become heirs to all things, they in their turn can say, by-and-by, that they know all things, and they will be called Supreme, Almighty, King of kings, Lord of lords. All this and more that cannot enter into our hears to conceive is promised to the faithful, and are but so many stages in that ceaseless progression of eternal lives. This will not detract anything from the glory and might of our Heavenly Father. For he will still remain our Father, and we shall still be subject to him, and as we progress in glory and power, the more it enhances the glory and power of our Heavenly Father. This principle holds good in either state, whether mortal or immortal.
All that the Lord requires of us is a perfect submission in our hearts to his will. [DBY, p. 20]
Obedience is one of the plainest, most everyday and home principles that you ever thought or know anything about....
I cannot save you. I can tell you how to save yourselves, but you must do the will of God.
How shall we know what to do? By being obedient to every requirement of the Gospel....
Do you think that people will obey the truth because it is true, unless they love it? No, they will not. Truth is obeyed when it is loved. Strict obedience to the truth will alone enable people to dwell in the presence of the Almighty.
The Lord has sent forth his laws, commandments, and ordinances to the children of men, and requires them to be strictly obeyed, and we do not wish to transgress those laws, but to keep them. We do not wish to change his ordinances, but to observe them; we do not wish to break the everlasting covenant, but to keep that with our fathers, with Jesus, with our Father in Heaven, with holy angels, and to live according to them. [DBY, p. 220]
Great peace have they who love the law of the Lord and abide in his commandments.
If you with to receive and enjoy the favor of our Heavenly Father, do his will. [DBY, p. 223]
Elder Perry: Your first counsel then to these great young people would be to be obedient to the will of our Eternal Father, not for reasons of constraint or compulsion, but because it brings the only true joy to be found as we progress through mortality. There is great safety in staying as far away from being disobedient as possible. We should not try to devise ways to satisfy our appetites, to see how close we can come to the line that separates obedience from disobedience. We should decide here and now to stay as far away from even the so-called gray areas between the two and be completely obedient to the will of the Lord.
What would be your second instruction to these great young people, President Young?
Brigham Young: I am concerned with the trend I see in the social order in this great land in which we live. Suppose we had the power to take the poor and ignorant, the low and the degraded, all those who are trodden under foot by the great and powerful among earth’s inhabitants, and bring them together, purify them, fill them with knowledge and understanding, and make a nation of them worthy of admiration? What would you say to this? My greatest hope in my day was to transform these people into being ambitious and to be exemplary in their communities, where dedication, cooperation, unity, and pioneer-building were sacramental rituals.
As for the women—in my day I used to say that I wished for them more than relief from domestic labor. Certainly their utility extended beyond the need to sweep houses, wash dishes, make beds, and raise babies. After breakfast they might go to work making bonnets and hats and clothing. Even though I think manual labor for women is unfitting, let the professions be opened to them. They could stand behind business counters, study law or physics, or become good bookkeepers and be able to do their business in counting houses—and all of this to enlarge their sphere of usefulness for the benefit of society at large.
I encouraged the men in my day to use the sinew of their bodies in labor, to plow fields, to harvest, to organize. I wasn’t very fond of those frontier bone surgeons; I thought they generally did more harm than good. Lawyers were even a greater bane to me. I had very little use for them. They simply tried to make white black, and black white. To be sure, lawyers had their place, but I could not find it. Merchants to me in those day scored no higher. I never could, in the poorest day I ever saw in my life, descend to low as to stand behind a counter. Taking that class of man as a whole, I think that they are of extremely small caliber. The problem was several fold. Commercial profits drained Zion’s precious capital resources and often placed wealth at the disposal of enemies. Moreover, merchants were always seeking a chance to buy a widow’s cow for ten cents on the dollar rather than the real cash value. Then, after having made the purchase, they thanked the Lord that he had so blessed them.
The fundamental reason for my dislike for doctors, lawyers, and merchants in an ideal society in those days was that they were not producers of real wealth. I always believed that the labor of bone, sinew, nerve, and muscle was to be used to transform the natural resources into usable products—a contrast to those who live by their wits and only earn the scorn of mankind. Such a man never did a good thing to produce a morsel of bread. He never took pains to raise a goose, a duck, a lamb, or a sheep. No, he never did anything useful, but still he eats, drinks, wears, and lives in luxury. In the name of common sense, what use is such a man? My policy is to see that every man, woman, and child is busily employed, that there is no idle time for hatching mischief in the night or making plans to accomplish their own ruin. I do not believe in giving to the idler, for it is as wicked as anything else.
I recommend physical labor balanced with mental activity. Then you will enjoy health and vigor! My encouragement is to learn, learn, learn, and continue to learn, |
much harder for mining companies, real estate speculators, and dam builders to operate in these areas. Promoters of new projects would now have to do more than persuade individual Ministers; rather, they would have to seek the consent of local communities as well as the approval of scientific experts. The three cases I have highlighted all point to the short-sighted selfishness of politicians in Karnataka, this manifested in equal degree in all parties. The first two—a hunger for lucrative Ministries and the cynical appeasement of minorities—are a pan-Indian phenomenon. The last case is more singular, and hence more depressing. The Western Ghats are the source not only of mighty rivers, but also of great music, art, poetry, and literature. Some of the finest Kannada writers, such as K. V. Puttappa (Kuvempu), Kota Shivarama Karanth, U. R. Anantha Murty, and Purnachandra Tejaswi, were born and raised close to the Western Ghats. Their poems, plays, stories, and novels are suffused with descriptions of the landscape and of its residents (both human and animal). To expose the Ghats to intensive exploitation by commercial interests is to encourage not merely environmental destruction, but the destruction of the basis of much of modern Kannada culture and civilization. Alas, the events of July 2011 were entirely in character. I think no other state has, in recent years, witnessed a series of such incompetent and corrupt administrations. Whether led by Congress, BJP, or JD (S) Chief Ministers, the Government of Karnataka has, for the past three decades (at least), been largely indifferent, if not actively hostile, to considerations of economic development, social justice, environmental sustainability, or cultural creativity. The last State Government in Karnataka that was in any meaningful way concerned with the welfare of its citizens was the Janata Party Government of 1983 to 1989. It had a focused agenda—of political decentralization and rural development—and some very capable Ministers, none more so than the socialist from Mysore, Abdul Nazir Sab. Nazir Sab worked hard to bring piped water to the remotest areas of the state. Touring the villages of northern Karnataka in 1984-5, I learnt that the Rural Development Minister was known affectionately as ‘Neer Sab’ (‘Neer’ being water in Kannada). Nazir Sab’s commitment and courage inspired his colleagues to work harder and more sincerely than they might otherwise have done. However, in 1988 Nazir Sab was struck by cancer. It is said that when the Chief Minister visited him on his death-bed, Nazir Sab urged him to complete the peoples’ housing schemes he had initiated. Unfortunately, after the socialist stalwart’s death in October 1988, the Janata Government lost its bearings, and fell shortly afterwards. In view of the current contempt of Karnataka legislators for the ecology of the Western Ghats, it may also be worth recalling that the Janata Government of the 1980s showed a certain commitment to sustainable development. Through the 1980s, the State ’s Department of Environment produced an excellent annual survey, edited by the distinguished botanist Cecil J. Saldanha, and to which Karnataka’s top scientists and social scientists contributed. The Government’s schemes for rural development and environmental management were continually scrutinized by citizens’ groups, and by influential writer-activists such as Shivarama Karanth. Among the colleagues of Nazir Sab in the Janata Government of the 1980s were S. R. Bommai and H. D. Deve Gowda. Their sons are active and influential in Karnataka politics today. But it doubtful if they or their contemporaries know or care for ‘Neer’ Sab’s legacy. Across party lines, the legislators and Ministers of Karnataka now tend to privilege the interests of mining and real estate lobbies above the concerns of the ordinary citizens of the state. THE STATE OF MY STATE
Ramachandra Guha
(published in The Telegraph, 4th August 2012) Tags: corruption, environment, governance, Karnataka, Nazir SabImage caption In practice, most schools in the Gaza Strip are already segregated by the time children reach nine years old
Hamas, the Islamist militant group that governs the Gaza Strip, is to introduce a law banning mixed-sex schools for all children over the age of nine.
In practice, virtually all schools in the Palestinian territory are already segregated at that age.
The law appears largely to be aimed at asserting Hamas's Islamist credentials, says the BBC's Jon Donnison in Ramallah.
The vast majority of schools in Gaza are run by either Hamas or the UN.
All of those are already segregated after the age of nine, says our correspondent
There are a handful of private schools where boys and girls are taught together: In theory, the new law will mean that is no longer possible.
Our correspondent says it remains to be seen if Hamas will enforce the legislation.
In the past, Hamas has approved laws aimed at appealing to conservative elements in Gaza: Banning men from cutting women's hair or forbidding women from smoking water pipes are two examples. But in those cases the laws were never fully enforced.
The majority of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank accept segregated education as part of their culture, our correspondent says.
As such, the new law in Gaza will likely receive little opposition while at the same time allowing Hamas to dampen criticism from more conservative Islamists who believe the government is too moderate, our correspondent adds.
Israel, as well as the United States and the European Union, regard Hamas as a terrorist organisation.The garbage man that appears in the beginning of Toy Story 3 is in fact Sid Phillips from the first film. The shirt isn’t just an Easter egg but actually Sid and he is played by the same actor from the original movie.
Sid has also entered the monster world (supposedly as the character is not named) according to the Monsters Inc comic series where he utilizes the door technology to steal toys from around the world to save kids from a similar incident he had in Toy Story 1.
There is a room briefly seen through a door in the first Monsters Inc movie that has a poster Sid had in his room. The assistant in the scene states it was a 6-year old girl’s room. This easily could have been Sid’s younger sister considering she wasn’t afraid of the monster who may be lacking compared to her older brother…… but this is just speculation.
In conclusion, the fact Sid isn’t in a mental hospital after the toys and monsters is astounding.SAN FRANCISCO and TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kalytera Therapeutics, Inc. (TSX-V:KALY) and (OTCQB:KALTF) (the "Company" or "Kalytera") today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical study evaluating the use of cannabidiol ("CBD") in the prevention of graft versus host disease ("GVHD"). Kalytera also announced today that it has entered into an agreement with The Salzman Group of Israel, under which The Salzman Group will, among other things, accept common shares of Kalytera in payment for its services in connection with the Phase 2 study, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.
Initiation of Phase 2 Clinical Study in Prevention of Graft Versus Host Disease
The Phase 2 study is designed to assess the pharmacokinetic and safety profile of multiple doses of CBD for the prevention of GVHD. The study is expected to enroll 36 patients following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, and will take place at Beilinson Hospital, and one other major medical center in Israel. Results of the study are expected by Q3 2018.
The Company anticipates that, following completion of the Phase 2 study, it will initiate the Phase 3 study as quickly as possible.
“We are focused on advancing this program from its current Phase 2 status to Phase 3 status as quickly and efficiently as possible, and the initiation of this Phase 2 study is an important and essential step in that process,” said Robert Farrell, President and CEO of Kalytera.
The Principal Investigator of the study is Daniel Couriel, M.D., M.S., Director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at the University of Utah Health Sciences, School of Medicine.
Other experts in the field of GVHD who will advise the Company with regard to the study include Edmund Waller, M.D., PhD., Professor, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Medicine, and Pathology at Emory University School of Medicine, and Director, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunotherapy at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University; and Rafael Duarte, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Haematopoietic Transplant Programme at the Catalan Oncology Institute in Barcelona.
Agreement with The Salzman Group
Kalytera also announced today that it has entered into an agreement with The Salzman Group (the “Agreement”), under which The Salzman Group will provide clinical study management services in relation to the Phase 2 study, including chemistry, manufacturing and controls ("CMC") analytics, as well as stability studies, toxicology studies and drug-drug interaction studies, all of which will be required by the FDA to be completed prior to initiation of a Phase 3 pivotal study. The estimated cost of these services is expected to be approximately $1,240,000 over an 11-month period, and Salzman Group has agreed that it will accept payment in common shares of Kalytera for these services, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.
"We are pleased to establish this important funding and clinical studies management agreement with The Salzman Group,” said Robert Farrell, President and CEO of Kalytera. “The Salzman Group is an international pharmaceutical development firm with a strong track record and over two decades of comprehensive experience in drug development, including drug design, process scale-up, formulation, efficacy modeling and design and management of clinical studies. This agreement with The Salzman Group will enable Kalytera to advance our Phase 2 program in the prevention of GVHD, and position us to begin Phase 3 clinical testing during the second-half of next year.”
The Salzman Group will invoice Kalytera for this work in fixed amounts, on a monthly basis as specified in the Agreement, and Kalytera will have the option to make payments in either cash or common shares of the Company ("Common Shares"), in accordance with applicable securities laws and TSX Venture Exchange policies. If Kalytera chooses to pay any such invoice through the issuance of Common Shares, the number of shares of Common Shares that will be issued will be based on a ten percent (10%) discount from the closing price of Kalytera’s Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on the trading day prior to the day that Kalytera gives notice to the Salzman Group that it intends to pay the invoice in Common Shares. The Salzman Group will establish an irrevocable selling agreement with its broker to sell such shares on each of the three trading days following deposit of such shares in its brokerage account.
About Kalytera Therapeutics
Kalytera Therapeutics, Inc. ("Kalytera") is pioneering the development of a next generation of cannabinoid therapeutics. Through its proven leadership, drug development expertise, and intellectual property portfolio, Kalytera seeks to establish a leading position in the development of novel cannabinoid medicines for a range of important unmet medical needs, with an initial focus on graft versus host disease (“GVHD”).
Kalytera also intends to develop a new class of proprietary cannabidiol ("CBD") therapeutics. CBD is a versatile compound that has shown activity against a number of pharmacological targets. However, there are limitations associated with natural CBD, including its poor oral bioavailability. Kalytera will seek to develop innovative CBD formulations and prodrugs in an effort to overcome these limitations, and to target specific disease sites within the body. Kalytera intends to file composition of matter and method of use patents covering its novel inventions, with the goal of limiting future competition.
Cautionary Statements
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.
This press release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, that are not based on historical fact, including without limitation in respect of its product candidate pipeline, planned clinical trials, regulatory approval prospects, intellectual property objectives and other statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "will", "should", "expects", "continue", "estimate", "forecasts" and other similar expressions. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risk that future clinical studies may not proceed as expected or may produce unfavourable results and the risk that the TSX Venture Exchange may not approve the shares for services arrangement on the terms described or at all. Kalytera undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Although Kalytera believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking information in this press release are reasonable, such forward-looking information has been based on expectations, factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Kalytera's control. The forward-looking information contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date hereof. Kalytera disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact InformationPHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Alice Mills signed her lease in February, thinking she would have a nice place to stay for the next year, until she could make her way into a senior citizens' community.
Alice Mills thought this lease would let her live in her rental house for a year. Because of foreclosure, it won't.
The corner house she found in northeast Philadelphia was small, but it was enough for the 67-year-old great-great-grandmother who lives by herself.
Then in July, Mills got a rude surprise when she came home from a hospital stay to find a sheriff's notice on the door, saying the house had been foreclosed and she must call about being evicted.
Mills says her landlord told her not to worry because he would "take care of it," so she ignored other letters and notices that came to the apartment. Not until a sheriff's deputy showed up on November 13 did Mills take the eviction notices seriously. He told her she had to be out of the house the next day.
Mills is one of a growing number of renters who are being caught up in the nation's foreclosure crisis. According to RealtyTrac, a company that tracks foreclosures across the country, 1,785,596 foreclosures have been filed nationwide so far this year, a dramatic increase over a year ago. RealtyTrac say October foreclosures this year were up 94 percent over last October.
In most states, when a bank forecloses on a landlord, the tenant has no guarantee of being allowed to stay in the property. In addition, neither the bank nor the landlord has any legal obligation to inform the tenant of the foreclosure. Often, the renter first learns of the foreclosure when he or she is being told to vacate the property within a few days or weeks. Watch Mills' struggle to find a place to live »
'Open House' Gerri Willis looks at why renters are the unlikely victims of the nation's foreclosure crisis.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. ET see full schedule »
No one can say how many tenants are finding themselves in this situation, according to Judith Liben, an attorney with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. She has been studying this issue and says it's happening in both poor and middle-class neighborhoods.
"It's a significant problem all around the country, in cities, in suburbs and in fact in some rural areas," Liben says. Higher-end neighborhoods haven't been affected as much because they have not experienced foreclosure problems to the same extent as lower- and middle-class neighborhoods.
With such short notice, people living on a fixed income -- like Mills -- can have trouble finding new living arrangements, and the situation can be taxing financially. Besides the need to come up with a security deposit for a new rental house or apartment, tenants may never recoup their security deposit from the foreclosed landlord.
Don't Miss CNN/Money: Mortgage Meltdown 2007
Often people have continued to pay rent to a landlord even though that landlord no longer owns the dwelling.
Lenders sometimes offer an incentive to tenants called "cash for keys," in which they give the tenant money if they'll move out within a certain period of time, but Liben is skeptical.
"These offers are usually useless. They are just small change that doesn't help with the problem at all and doesn't help the renter who is forced quickly out into a market that they have to navigate at their own peril," says Liben.
A bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives in November may help renters in this situation. It would give tenants who must leave the property because of a foreclosure, and who have leases, up to six months to vacate after being told of the foreclosure. However, that bill would not become law until sometime next year at the earliest, if it becomes law at all.
Lenders are opposed to a law that would force them to become landlords. The Mortgage Bankers Association, an industry group, says in a statement to CNN that "it really is unfortunate that a renter, who is essentially blameless in the whole process, faces eviction if their landlord is foreclosed upon. However, forcing new requirements on lenders would be extremely burdensome as most lenders have neither the knowledge nor ability to be effective long-term landlords."
Even if a national law is passed, it won't come soon enough for Alice Mills. Working through a community housing organization, the Housing Association of Delaware Valley, Mills was given several more weeks to stay in the house. She now has until December 9 to leave, but so far has nowhere to go. She is distraught.
"I need a longer time to get a place, a decent place, a safe place," she says, wiping tears from her eyes. "I really need longer."
Unfortunately for her -- and many other renters across the nation -- time may be running out. E-mail to a friend
All About Real EstateST. PETERSBURG, FLA.—The debate over whether Major League Baseball should better protect its pitchers from head injuries will be reignited after Tuesday’s 6-4 Blue Jays win over the Tampa Bay Rays in which Toronto starter J.A. Happ was struck on the side of the head by a line drive and stretchered off the field. Tropicana Field fell deathly silent in the second inning after Rays centre fielder Desmond Jennings drove Happ’s pitch right back towards the mound, striking the left-hander on the left side of his head.
It was a sickening sound — the ball’s audible impact against Happ’s skull — and as scary a scene as one can witness on a baseball field. “It’s devastating,” said Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey. “I could barely watch it.... It paralyzes you a little bit because you certainly can empathize. You’ve been out there, that close to the hitter. That is the position on the field closest to the batter. When it sounds like two bats — when you hear the sound off the bat and it sounds like it hits another bat — it’s scary, it’s really scary. I just started praying on the spot. That’s all I knew to do.” While dangerous comebackers have always been part of the game, they appear to be growing more severe.
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Last September, Brandon McCarthy, then with the Oakland A’s, was struck in the head by a hard line drive, suffering a skull fracture, brain contusion and epidural hemorrhage. Though McCarthy left the field of his own accord, he later had to undergo emergency brain surgery. He has since made a full recovery and now pitches for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the wake of McCarthy’s injury, calls to mandate some kind of head protection for pitchers increased. This past off-season, MLB tested a series of padded caps, designed to provide protection with minimal discomfort to the pitcher. But the equipment remains only in the testing phase. Happ, 30, moved little after he was hit, crumpling to the ground and clutching his head. Blood was visible pooling in his left hand — with which he had grabbed his head — before he was attended to by trainers and paramedics. The ballpark fell so silent during the 11-minute injury delay that when Jays reliever Brad Lincoln began to warm up in the bullpen, the pop of his pitches hitting the catcher’s mitt echoed throughout the building, while players and fans alike held their collective breath.
Blue Jays players, from left, Brett Lawrie, J.P. Arencibia and Edwin Encarnacion watch as medical workers attend to pitcher J.A. Happ after the Toronto starter was hit in the head by a line drive in the second inning Tuesday night. ( SCOTT AUDETTE / REUTERS )
“You could hear a pin drop in that whole stadium,” said Ricky Romero. “It was a scary moment. Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.” Happ was eventually strapped to a stability board — gauze bandaged to the left side of his head — and lifted onto a stretcher. He appeared to be talking to paramedics, with his eyes open, as he was rolled off the field, offering a faint wave to the crowd with his right hand. He was taken to a local hospital for testing, but there was no immediate update on his condition.
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“I think the last indication was that he was alert and feeling better and had gone for a CT scan. That’s the last I heard,” Dickey said. Jennings advanced to third base on the play, which was scored a triple, as the Rays scored a pair of runs to take a 3-1 second-inning lead while Happ lay near motionless in front of the mound. According to Rule 5.10, an umpire may declare the play dead “when an accident incapacitates a player or an umpire.” The rule was not employed on the play by either home-plate umpire Marty Foster or crew chief Tim Welke. Though they looked stunned in the immediate aftermath of Happ’s injury — while the Rays added another run in the second — the Jays began to rally late in the game, eventually tying it in the eighth on back-to-back doubles by Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista. That set the stage for another come-from-behind victory on a ninth-inning home run, this time by the usually light-hitting Maicer Izturis, who took Rays right-hander Joel Peralta deep to right field for the game-winning blast. Coming a day after J.P. Arencibia’s own game-winning ninth-inning homer, the victory brought the Jays their first three-game winning streak of the season and snapped the Rays’ streak of 17 consecutive home series wins against Toronto, dating back to 2007. It should have been a time of celebration for the Jays, who have had little to celebrate this season. Instead, the mood was sombre in the visiting clubhouse. “It makes you sick to your stomach,” Romero said. “In all the years that I’ve been playing I’ve never seen something like that happen live.”Panic ensued in Castle Shotgun when a press release arrived quite unlike like the others. “I work for Alice & Smith, developers of The Black Watchmen Alternate Reality Game.” Alice! Our Alice? And Smith! But which Smith? An ARG? Suddenly, distrust filled the room. The tension was palpable. You could taste it in the tea.
Alice & Smith went on to present NITE Team 4 [official site], a hacking game set in the same universe as their ARG. It has a free public demo, but who could be trusted to report the truth? Who would be ready to betray their friends, in case the truth demanded it? Alice and both Smiths denied any involvement. Of course they would. That’s what guilty people do. After a heated discussion, they agreed to let an outsider investigate. That’s where I come in. Except someone stopped me in my tracks, just when I was starting to have some fun. We may never know the truth.
NITE Team 4 is still in alpha, but you can download its demo for Windows and Mac.
During its first levels, NITE Team 4 doesn’t stand out from many other hacking sims. It immediately reveals itself as a puzzle game dressed in real or realistic commands and terminology. You play as the agent of an NSA-like organization, with a simplified command interface, black and green color scheme, and most of the cliches of the romanticized hacker life.
This alternation between realism and accessibility is at times quite jarring: they want to use real codenames, but they can’t use them without explaining what they mean, so you’ll find a mission objective that will tell you to conduct a “target exploitation” and then add in brackets “TAREX.” Same goes for the mini-games, like the one pictured above: they stand-in for the parts of hacking which may actually be hard to both perform and represent. You need to literally traverse walls of “fire”, in a cyber-reinterpretation of Frogger, to “exploit the firewall”, and it’s really immersion-breaking if you care about this kind of thing.
Of course, the first levels of this kind of game will often be similar to one another, and it’s hard to tell if they will come together in interesting ways later on, when the missions can afford to be more complex. But what could make NITE Team 4 stand out from the competition are the missions in which you need to collaborate with agents on the field, helping them infiltrate building, retrieve data, sabotage targets or plant eavesdropping equipment.
Unfortunately, a bug prevented me from progressing past the third mission in the demo, so I didn’t get to play any of those, if they’re at all included. The game is still in alpha, so bugs are to be expected sometimes, but I know this bug was planted to prevent me from finding the truth. We may never know what really happened. We may never solve the ARG.
Look at them. Really look at their mugshots. What is Alice hiding behind her glasses? What is Graham hiding behind his beard? What is Adam so interested in, that we can’t see? They’re all suspects. We can’t trust any of them.AM - Friday, 15 February, 2008 08:00:00 Reporter: Samantha Hawley TONY EASTLEY: Australia’s federal politicians last received a pay rise double that of inflation in July last year, but under Kevin Rudd’s rules they won’t be getting another one until midway through 2009.
His move to freeze politicians’ salaries will no doubt go down well with voters, but it’s causing some angst among those directly affected. The Government says it’s setting a wage restraint example and it wants the corporate world to do likewise. We’ll hear more on that soon.
While the Opposition leader, Brendan Nelson, supports the move, others in the Coalition say it’s a stunt and if Kevin Rudd was serious about curbing inflation he should also freeze the wages of Commonwealth public servants.
Samantha Hawley reports.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Year in year out federal politicians face questioning about their pay. Normally they’re defending the latest pay rise. But last night as they filed out of Parliament House, the shoe was on the other foot.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: I have no doubt that the Australian people will think it’s a marvellous idea that we’re restricted from pay increases.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT 2: The pressures are real, and are very happy to put my shoulder to the wheel and do my bit in terms of showing some national leadership on this issue.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT 3: Yeah, I think it’s the right thing.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: The year long pay freeze announced by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd applies to all parliamentarians. It could even affect some state and territory politicians.
The Opposition leader, Brendan Nelson’s issued his support for the move, but others in his party aren’t so sure.
TONY ABBOTT: Well, I think it’s a bit of a popular stunt.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Opposition frontbencher, Tony Abbott.
TONY ABBOTT: For Kevin Rudd to suggest that we should have a pay freeze but no-one else I think is just a popular stunt.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: His colleague Joe Hockey agrees. He says if Kevin Rudd was serious he’d freeze the pay of a 100,000 Commonwealth public servants as well.
JOE HOCKEY: Obviously, if the Government is trying to set an example, it will extend the pay freeze beyond just the politicians to the people that actually do have an impact on economic management, and that’s the public service. But they won’t do that because this is all part of the stunt.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Most MPs and senators earn about $130,000 a year plus allowances. Government ministers earn more. Last year the independent Remuneration Tribunal granted them a pay rise of 6.8 per cent which was more than double inflation.
Ron McCallum, a professor in industrial law at the University of Sydney, says in many cases the wage rises are defendable.
RON MCCALLUM: We want to attract the best people into Parliament. We should ensure that they have appropriate wages for their status. I think one has to be careful about making these symbolic measures.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: The Prime Minister says the Government’s taking the lead at a time of high inflation. He’s urged big corporate companies to follow suit. But he’s told Lateline applying the same principle to the average wage is not under consideration.
KEVIN RUDD: I’m not talking about a wage freeze at all. What I’m seeking to articulate is we at the level of political leadership understand that we’ve got to lead by some example here, and I’d call upon our friends in the corporate community, and I’m no enemy of free enterprise, I’ve worked as a businessman myself and my wife runs a business.
It’s just that it’s important to exercise restraint in terms of their own salary asks in the year ahead.
TONY EASTLEY: The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, ending Samantha Hawley’s report.Iran nuclear deal: parliament backs outline of bill to allow plan to take effect
Iran’s parliament on Sunday approved an outline of a bill that would allow the government to implement the nuclear deal reached with world powers including the US in July, the official IRNA news agency said.
Iran nuclear deal: the key points Read more
Iran also tested a new precision-guided ballistic missile on Sunday, in defiance of a United Nations ban and signalling an apparent advance in attempts to improve the accuracy of its missile arsenal.
State television showed what appeared to be a successful launch of the new missile, named Emad, Iran’s first precision-guided weapon with the range to strike Israel.
The measure approved in parliament allows the Iranian government to withdraw from implementing the nuclear agreement if world powers do not lift sanctions, IRNA said. Final approval is expected later this week.
The deal would curb Iran’s nuclear programme in return for the lifting of international sanctions. Western nations have long suspected Iran of secretly pursuing nuclear arms, allegations denied by Tehran, which says its nuclear program is for purely peaceful purposes.
“The government should stop its voluntary co-operation in implementation of the deal if the other side fails to remain committed to lifting sanctions,” the Iranian bill says. It says the response should be the same if new sanctions are imposed or previous ones restored.
IRNA said 139 lawmakers out of 253 present on Sunday voted for the bill. The chamber has 290 seats.
The session was unusually tense, with hardliners repeatedly trying to prevent a vote. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said it is up to parliament to approve or reject the deal.
Lawmaker Ruhollah Hosseinian, an opponent of the deal, said parliament needed to discuss it in detail. Until now, it has only been reviewed by a parliamentary committee.
“Every [international] agreement must be approved and passed by the parliament. Otherwise, it won’t be legal,” Hosseinian said.
Hardliners hope to stall approval of the deal in order to weaken President Hassan Rouhani’s moderate administration, ahead of February’s parliamentary elections.
The UN security council prohibits foreign powers from assisting Iran in developing its ballistic missile programme in any way, a ban that will remain in place under the terms of the nuclear deal while other sanctions are lifted.
On Sunday, in a televised news conference, defence minister Hossein Dehghan said: “The Emad missile is able to strike targets with a high level of precision and completely destroy them … this greatly increases Iran’s strategic deterrence capability.”
The UN also prohibits Iran from undertaking any activity related to ballistic missiles that could deliver a nuclear warhead, which applies to the Emad. Iranian officials have pledged to ignore the ban.
“We don’t ask permission from anyone to strengthen our defence and missile capabilities,” Dehghan said. “Our leadership and armed forces are determined to increase our power and this is to promote peace and stability in the region. There is no intention of aggression or threats in this action.”
Iran is wary of a potential pre-emptive strike on its nuclear sites by Israel. In turn, Israel fears that the nuclear agreement may be insufficient to stop Tehran developing an atomic bomb.But the French and Germans aren’t so convinced…
As the government prepares to negotiate with Brussels, the attitude of the remaining EU nations to the UK’s demands will be vital to the success or failure of negotiations.
Theresa May’s shopping list is ambitious, and much hinges on whether our soon-to-be former European partners believe Britain is an important enough country and trading partner to indulge in the government’s requests.
New data from YouGov’s Eurotrack survey suggests that many Britons certainly believe this country is important enough. One third (33%) of Britons think that the EU needs the UK more than the UK needs it. With a further 28% of Brits saying that the EU and UK need each other equally, this means that more than six in ten people think that the EU needs the UK at least as much as the UK needs the EU.
This is important because it shows that a majority of Britons expect that the UK will negotiate the terms of Brexit with the EU as (at least) an equal partner, rather than from a position of weakness.
By comparison, just 17% of Brits think that the UK needs the EU more than the EU needs the UK. A further 8% think that neither the EU nor the UK need one another, whilst 14% don’t know.
Whilst Britons may feel optimistic about the government’s Brexit negotiation position, they might have cause to be concerned about the attitudes of people in EU member states towards the UK.
Members of the public in the EU’s two most important countries – Germany and France – are far less convinced of the strength of Britain’s negotiating position. In Germany 37% think that the UK needs the EU more, a level four times higher than the 9% of Germans who think the EU needs the UK more.
Likewise, in France, 25% of people think the EU has the stronger negotiating position, compared to just 12% who think the opposite is the case.
With about a quarter of people in both countries thinking that the EU and UK need each other equally, the results show that the French and German publics are much more likely to think that the UK at best has an equal negotiating position to the EU.
French and German people are also more likely to say that the EU and UK don’t need one another at all (21% and 14% respectively).
Elsewhere in Europe, Scandinavians have a higher opinion of the UK’s level of influence than the French and Germans. Nevertheless, they are still more likely to think that the UK needs the EU more than the EU needs the UK – with the exception of Norway (which is not a member of the European Union).
Photo: PA
See the full results hereYvette Nicole Brown
Shirley, Community fans are going to be disappointed with this news. But alas, it's true: Yvette Nicole Brown is departing the fan favorite comedy after five seasons.
Brown — who has played Shirley Bennett since the 2009 launch of Community — confirms to TV Guide Magazine that she has asked to be released from her contract for personal reasons. Sony Pictures TV and executive producers Dan Harmon and Chris McKenna have honored her request.
The actress says the change was necessary in order to take care of her ailing father. "My dad needs daily care and he needs me," Brown says. "The idea of being away 16 hours a day for five months, I couldn't do it. It was a difficult decision for me to make, but I had to choose my dad."
That means Brown won't be a part of the group that makes the transition from NBC to Yahoo! Screen for Season 6. "Yvette was an integral part of Community and is irreplaceable. We are sad to see her go and wish her the very best," Harmon and McKenna said in a joint statement.
Brown says Harmon "has been so wonderful about it all. He told me, 'Yvette, I'm praying for your dad.'" The actress also thanked Sony for allowing her to take a recurring role on CBS' midseason reboot of The Odd Couple.
That show is a multi-camera sitcom, which comes with a more flexible schedule than a single-camera half-hour like Community. "A multi-camera sitcom is a better fit for the life I have now," she says. "I can't say enough how much I respect Sony and Dan for how they handled this profound change in my life."
As for Shirley, it's unclear yet how her departure will be addressed. Brown leaves on solid terms and has left the door open for the possibility of making a guest appearance. "I am totally open to whatever Dan decides," she says. "I'm glad it won't be hard for them to explain where she is. She has three kids, a degree and a business. There are a lot of ways to explain her [departure]."
With the exit of Brown and Jonathan Banks (who's committed to AMC's Better Call Saul), the producers are now casting for two new characters. One is described as a woman who's brought in as a consultant to help shape up the school. The other is a retired salesman who comes to Greendale to reinvent himself.
Besides The Odd Couple, Brown will next be seen in a recurring role on USA Network's upcoming comedy Benched.
Cast members set to return for Season 6 include Joel McHale, Gillian |
. In that period only three times did the southeast Florida team boast higher attendance than the Tampa Bay-based one. This includes four seasons in Major League Soccer (1998-2001), where Tampa Bay led Miami in attendance three of the years, and nine seasons in the NASL (1975-1983) when Tampa Bay led Miami or Fort Lauderdale every single season.
Miami is more of a global branding opportunity than a soccer-crazed market. Major League Soccer has survived for years without a Miami team, and now is thriving despite the debacle taking place under the palm trees in southern Florida. But Tampa Bay’s stadium plans – a waterfront vista in St Petersburg probably represents something far more “Florida” than anything Miami can conjure up.
While the Tampa Bay market “failed” once before in MLS, that was a different time. A fear about cannibalization of the audience from Orlando which is nearby could be real, but the rivalry implications (Orlando City and the Tampa Bay Rowdies already have a robust rivalry fostered at the lower-division and US Open Cup level) probably offset those concerns. A “war on I-4” rivalry would be far bigger for MLS then an organic club like Orlando City battling a manufactured and largely plastic club like Beckham’s Miami entry promises to be.
Sacramento is also a surer bet than Miami would be. An adolescent metropolitan area trying to escape the shadows of larger and more glamorous in-state locales, Sacramento has a healthy combination of Orlando, Columbus and Portland in it. Most logical and objective people would look at these elements that present in California’s capital city and opt for it in a heartbeat over Miami.
Indifference and fragmentation make the Miami/Fort Lauderdale market a difficult one to ever make American club soccer work as effectively as possible. The time has come for MLS and David Beckham to move beyond this unwilling and unwanting market.Dude, you're like my shadow.
Dude, you're like my shadow.
Jeb! unveiled his tax proposal Wednesday and, for a millisecond, it looked like he might "close loopholes" and "raise taxes" (gulp) on rich people (gasp).
Conservative anti-tax activists were worried by his suggestion that “carried interest” — the profits that fund managers get from investing other people’s money — should be taxed at a higher rate, like ordinary income. “No Republican should be for higher taxes on capital gains,” said Ryan Ellis, tax policy director at Americans for Tax Reform.
The effect of Mr. Bush’s proposals on the wealthy would be muted by his proposal to cut the number of individual tax brackets from seven to three, taxing income at 28 percent, 25 percent and 10 percent. Currently, the top marginal income tax rate is 39.6 percent. His proposals would double the standard tax deduction that most filers take, end what Republicans call the “death tax” on estates of the deceased and seek to make marriage more beneficial for tax purposes.
It is projected to grow federal budget deficits in the same manner as the tax policies of the last Republican president, Bush’s brother, George W. Bush. [...] By Bush’s advisers’ estimates, it would add between $1.2 trillion and $3.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, depending on how much additional economic activity is spurred by the plan.
Just relax. Breathe. It's all an election-year illusion. Jeb! found plenty of ways to negate all that stuff that could have led to increased revenues for the federal government.Phew. As suspected, it's all just another bad lesson in supply-side economics, where more money in the pockets (especially) of rich people is supposed to "grow" the economy. But the Washington Post reports that the lost revenue really means this:OK, now that's more like it. Anyone want a reminder of what happened under W's tax policies and wars?Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas. Jack Taylor / Getty LONDON — I meet Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas inside Portcullis House, a sort of vast Parliamentary greenhouse in which MPs and their aides drink coffee, chat and brief journalists.
In the daytime, it is bright and airy but by late afternoon in the winter the lack of artificial lighting means it is shrouded in semi-darkness. I grab Lucas as she searches for me in the gloom.
Lucas is friendly and immediately engaging. Unusually for a prominent politician, she is not accompanied by any aides or minders. We sit down and begin what turns into a long and expansive conversation covering everything from progressive alliances, to homeopathy, to her disappointment in Jeremy Corbyn.
We begin by talking about her upbringing in a reserved middle-class family in Worcestershire.
"My family were small-c conservatives," she tells me.
"But the miners' strike and the Falklands were things that kind of came crashing into an upbringing that had been pretty conservative and raised a lot of questions about how does the Daily Mail, which was the staple newspaper in the house, how does it really make sense given what I could see was happening in the world."
When Lucas got her hands on Jonathan Porritt's book "Seeing Green" it changed everything.
"Essentially, what it did was put forward an approach which made the links between the same kinds of world view that means that men have patriarchal rule over women and that the environment is being exploited and that nuclear weapons are seen to be a realistic and reasonable way of sorting out global conflict.
"So, what I found in that book was a sense of the connections between all the different issues which I had been concerned with but had not recognised the links between them until that point."
Direct action
Lucas became involved in a number of environmental and women's groups and even took part in illegal "direct action" during protests. One such action was the "Snowball campaign" in which protestors, including Lucas, cut the wire fencing at military bases in protest against nuclear weapons. It is a practice she has continued to adopt, including in 2013, when she was arrested alongside her son, for their part in a protest against fracking in Balcombe.
"I accept that as an elected politician I have a number of other tools that I can use to bring about change but I would also say that the Green party remains committed to appropriate non-violent direct action and I think it is a tool in some cases that is legitimate," she insists.
It is not a view that her Daily Mail-reading parents share, however.
"I think that they thought it was something I would quickly grow out of and were slightly embarrassed about. But I think that once I was elected that gave it a level of respectability that has since fortunately helped.
"But when my father got a phone call at the rotary club saying I have just been arrested at Balcombe then that didn't go down very well."
When my father got a phone call at the rotary club saying I have just been arrested at Balcombe then that didn't go down very well."
Lucas quickly rose to become a star of the green movement, before being elected as Green party leader and their first MP, winning the seat of Brighton Pavilion. At the time many commentators suggested that the Greens were a major threat to the then Miliband-led Labour party. However, Lucas was concerned about losing her seat, then held by just over a thousand votes, and stood aside to embed herself in her constituency.
Lucas has managed to increase her majority, but the rest of her party have failed to do as well. Her replacement as leader, Natalie Bennett, failed to achieve the same level of success as Lucas and the party has gradually slipped both in the polls and the national conversation. The election of Jeremy Corbyn, who shares many of the same views as the Greens, to the Labour leadership, is widely seen to have squeezed their electoral appeal as well as claiming their members.
The Corbyn-squeeze
Mary Turner / Getty Lucas admits that Corbyn has had an effect on the Greens.
"When he was first elected there were some Greens who joined Labour, that's no secret," she says.
"But our membership has stabilised and actually they're coming back now because they've been disappointed that Labour as a whole hasn't lived up to the kind of vision and leadership that Jeremy was setting out."
Disappointment is a word that crops up again and again as we discuss Corbyn.
Lucas has worked closely with the Labour leader over the years. The two were Chair and Vice-chair of the parliamentary group of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and she says she still has "a lot of respect for him" — but suggests he has been taken over by his own party machine.
"Unfortunately the position with Labour right now is we don't know what their position is. Jeremy was pushed really hard on the Marr programme [last week] about Copeland and his position on nuclear. I understand the dilemma that he faces but it is desperately disappointing that you get somebody with those views in a position of influence and he is unable to bring the rest of his party with him."
She suggests that Corbyn's "heart isn't really in" the party's position on Brexit either.
"I think on Brexit overall Labour has been deeply disappointing. I think giving the government the green light on triggering Article 50, saying they would not under any circumstance vote against Article 50, handed away far too much to the Conservatives and any sort of leverage they had on that was gone.
"On freedom of movement it was incredibly disappointing to see Jeremy dealing with the pressure he was undoubtedly under which meant that he made three U-turns in one day because actually, you could tell that his heart just wasn't in talking about controls on freedom of movement.
You could tell that [Jeremy's] heart just wasn't in talking abut controls on freedom of movement
"But that was the position he has been forced to take within his party."
Lucas and the Greens take an unashamedly pro-immigration position. However, it is telling that even Lucas is keen to talk about dealing with voter concerns about the issue.
"It is more important than ever that there is a Green party out there which is unequivocal about saying that we will stand up for the principle of freedom of movement. We believe not only that it is good for the economy but it is good for the society, it is good for our communities.
"But that doesn't mean to say there aren't ways that we can try to reduce the impact of sudden movements of people in certain areas."
I ask what she means by this.
"If you start off from the position that immigrants actually bring more economic value than they take out then let's make sure that value is concentrated in the areas where they're moving. So all I'm saying is let's put in some of the resources that those migrants — I hate the word migrants — those EU nationals, are bringing in with them."
Doesn't this sound an awful lot like Labour's migrant impact fund?
"I think that phrase is an unhelpful one because it immediately frames migration as a problem. But yes that's the basic idea."
She tells me that, unlike Labour, the Greens do not believe there will be "masses of opportunities from Brexit." Instead, she thinks it will be a "disaster for the environment, for universities, and for business."
For these reasons, she says the chances of her voting to trigger Article 50 in March are "very low."
"We are saying that if the kind of Brexit on offer looks as if it is going to be deeply damaging to the country, to my constituency and to the principles the Green party has always stood on then I don't see how in good conscience we can support that."
Are the Greens anti-science?
I don't see how in good conscience we can support [triggering Article 50]"
One allegation often levelled at the Greens is that they are anti-science. Their positions on issues like genetically modified crops have led to them being labelled as Luddites, while Lucas herself has been criticised for signing a parliamentary motion supporting homeopathy. I ask if her position has changed since.
"I think that EDM [a parliamentary motion Lucas signed on the issue] has been widely misconstrued," she insists.
"That EDM wasn't saying bring about homeopathy tomorrow. It was saying let's apply an evidence base to homoeopathy as we do to other medicines so I think the Green party remains pretty open."
Widespread evidence that homoeopathy does not work, or at least is only as effective as a placebo, does not seem to have convinced either Lucas or the Greens.
"We want to see a stronger evidence base," she insists. "Many people in homeopathic professions would say that the way the evidence is being used is not fair. It is not measuring like with like.
"It is not a major part of our policy," she adds, perhaps in anticipation of the criticism.
I ask if she's ever used it herself. She pauses.
"Yes I have."
Did it work?
"I can't really tell you whether it worked or not because who knows what would have happened. There wasn't a counter-factual to it."
We go on to talk about climate change, for which the evidence is overwhelming. She says she is concerned that Donald Trump will reverse much of the progress made by former-President Obama.
"Trump is surrounding himself with so many climate sceptics and when he himself says he thinks climate change is a Chinese hoax then there are real concerns."
Christopher Furlong / Getty She says she fears Theresa May will also sacrifice environmental protections in order to get a trade deal with the new US president.
"I don't think there's going to be any appetite in the Trump administration to build in any kind of environmental protections into a trade deal. And if our government are so gung-ho about getting a quick US trade deal to demonstrate their post-Brexit success then the environment will certainly be a loser in that process."
Lucas is an articulate speaker, fiercely intelligent and clearly highly principled. Yet it's hard to see how she and her party fit into this new world of populist politics as typified by Trump and Bernie Sanders in the US. She disagrees.
"In a way, there are opportunities here for the Greens because what we're seeing is a massive disillusionment with politics as usual and with politicians' who are out of touch with their constituents. I think the Greens do politics differently and so there is an opportunity for us to cut through," she insists.
"To the extent that Bernie Sanders was about building a movement of people where challenging things that up until then were unchallengeable, then absolutely we want to be seen in that mould."
Progressive alliances
Carl Court / Getty Yet the polls, some of which out her party as low as 2%, are not encouraging. Whether it is the Corbyn-squeeze, or the rise of right-wing populism, the Greens are currently struggling to find a route into the national conversation. For Lucas, the key to both her party's revival and the success of progressive parties in general, must come from forging progressive alliances.
The party already trialled this in the recent Richmond by-election where they stood aside and helped the Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney defeat Zac Goldsmith. However, in Copeland, where Labour face a tough battle to hold onto the seat against the Conservatives, the Greens have decided not to step aside. I ask her why not.
"There was a consideration but that consideration wouldn't have taken as long as it might have done given that the candidate Labour are going to field [Gillian Troughton] is pro-nuclear and that was a big problem. And I imagine if there had been any idea of a candidate being anti-nuclear and pro-electoral reform then there might have been more scope for discussions."
But surely parties cannot agree on everything in a progressive alliance? Where do you draw the line?
"Well it will be different in different constituencies and that is appropriate because what a progressive alliance is not and what it should not be is some sort of backroom deal between parties which is then presented. Ideally you get local communities involved."
Last year Lucas took part in a fringe event at the Labour party conference about electoral reform. She says it was "standing room only" event and suggests she has had a number of conversations with Labour MPs "both on and off the record" about forging an alliance between the two parties on the issue.
"I think there is an appetite that goes well beyond their public position on this," she insists.
She picks out Jonathan Reynolds on electoral reform and Clive Lewis on progressive alliances, as two figures she believes the party can do business with.
"Clive Lewis has been very outspoken and very brave frankly in his support for a progressive alliance," she says.
However, it is an idea that has met resistance from Corbyn himself. I ask her why she thinks this is.
"I think unfortunately working with others can sometimes be perceived as a form of weakness and obviously he is under a lot of pressure now to demonstrate that his leadership alone can lead Labour to a victory at the next election. But I think probably even he, in his private moments, would reflect that it is going to be immensely difficult on their own [to win] and I think more and more people around him are coming to that same conclusion."It's well established that Tim Sweeney, co-founder of Epic Games and co-creator of the Unreal Engine, is not a fan of where Microsoft is headed with Windows 10. He's criticised the Universal Windows Platform twice this year, claiming that it's an attempt by Microsoft to monopolise what has traditionally been a happily open platform.
Now, in an interview with Edge Magazine, Sweeney has become even more direct in his criticisms, claiming that future updates to Windows 10 could serve to erode the usefulness of third-party applications and storefronts like Steam.
"There are two programming interfaces for Windows and every app has to choose one of them," he said. "Every Steam app – every PC game for the past few decades – has used Win32. It’s been both responsible for the vibrant software market we have now, but also for malware. Any program can be a virus. Universal Windows Platform is seen as an antidote to that. It’s sandboxed – much more locked down."
"The risk here is that, if Microsoft convinces everybody to use UWP, then they phase out Win32 apps. If they can succeed in doing that then it’s a small leap to forcing all apps and games to be distributed through the Windows Store. Once we reach that point, the PC has become a closed platform. It won’t be that one day they flip a switch that will break your Steam library – what they’re trying to do is a series of sneaky manoeuvres. They make it more and more inconvenient to use the old apps, and, simultaneously, they try to become the only source for the new ones."
While that could technically be true, how could Microsoft ever hope to bring down something as gargantuan as Steam, either intentionally or inadvertently? Sweeney believes they have a plan for that.
"Slowly, over the next five years, they will force-patch Windows 10 to make Steam progressively worse and more broken. They’ll never completely break it, but will continue to break it until, in five years, people are so fed up that Steam is buggy that the Windows Store seems like an ideal alternative. That’s exactly what they did to their previous competitors in other areas. Now they’re doing it to Steam. It’s only just starting to become visible. Microsoft might not be competent enough to succeed with their plan, but they’re certainly trying."
Sweeney has previously said that the PC has remained at the vanguard of graphics innovation because it's an open platform. Microsoft's supposed attempts to turn Windows into a closed platform risks neutering new breakthroughs such as VR before they've had a chance to flourish.The first drug developed at the BC Cancer Agency to reach human clinical trials is derived from a Papua New Guinea marine sponge.
It’s taken about 20 years of experimentation, but as of today, oncologists in cities around North America, including Vancouver, will start recruiting men with advanced prostate cancer for the trial using the study drug referred to as EPI-506.
Marine sponges contain numerous chemical defences so they have been a rich source for drug development during the past few decades. There are already a number of chemotherapy and other pharmaceuticals developed from sponges or their synthetic versions.
Dr. Malcolm Moore, president of the BCCA, said the drug discovered in Vancouver is completely unique from anything previously created.
He hailed the BCCA milestone as a one-in-1,000 event since only one out of 1,000 promising drug candidates tested in animals ever make it to this stage of human trials.
About 3,700 men in B.C. will get prostate cancer this year and a third of them will go on to develop metastatic disease involving the spread of cancer, usually to the bones. Relapses occur when cancer becomes resistant to what is called androgen ablation; that is, surgery and/or drug treatment meant to stop production of male hormones (testosterone) that fuel the growth of tumours.
In an emotional speech at the announcement of the trials Wednesday, Marianne Sadar, who has worked tirelessly on the research for nearly two decades, praised her collaborator, University of B.C. chemistry professor Raymond Andersen, for helping her identify anti-tumour properties in the Geodia lindgreni sponge to then isolate, reproduce and synthesize into a drug.
Her study published in the journal Cancer Cell in 2010 showed that in laboratory mice, the drug (then called EPI-001) shrank prostate tumours without any apparent toxic effects.
Sadar also heaped praise on a group of golfers who, for 15 years, have organized the annual charity Country Meadows Golf Classic tournament, directing all the proceeds to Sadar’s research laboratory. Sadar said the Richmond golfers “trusted me when I was an unknown entity.” Their efforts brought in up to $100,000 a year for her research. A group of the men attended the press conference at the BC Cancer Research Centre, many of them wearing their golf blazers.
The research by Sadar’s lab has also been funded by donations ($2.6 million) to the BC Cancer Foundation as well as grants from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the U.S. Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Andersen has received grants from the Canadian Cancer Society.
Dr. Kim Chi, an oncologist at the BCCA who is a co-principal investigator for the North American trial, said in the past five years, there have been a handful of new drugs approved that buy men with metastatic prostate cancer more time, but not a cure.
“If this one works,” he said, referring to EPI-506, “it could be a billion-dollar drug.”
Sadar called it a “first-in-class” drug because of its unique features and actions.Oct. 27, 2016
Dear Airbnb:
A few weeks ago, I just experienced the worst Airbnb stay in my life. In just a span of three days and two nights, I have been humiliated, discriminated and talked down upon as a Filipino. I think I might have experienced racism too. Here’s my story.
On October 7, my friend reserved a room in downtown Copenhagen under Pia*. Diana and I decided to spend our weekend in Copenhagen to enjoy the “happiest country in the world.” She is a Canadian-Filipino traveling around Europe. I, on the other hand, am a student studying Journalism at Aarhus University in Denmark.
Stepping into her house felt like entering a great grandaunt’s place: everything is tidy and proper. There were fresh flowers in the vases, the linens were perfectly folded, and there were two pieces of chocolate to welcome us from our long travel. Diana showed me around the house and introduced me to Pia. She was nice but from the beginning, she made a clear boundary between us and her. Diana briefed me with Pia’s rules: no entry in the kitchen at 10 p.m., use of designated lamps to open at the hallway, color-coded towels and cleaning materials to use at the toilet. She also warned us about a very expensive vase sitting in our room. Apparently, we also needed to clean and dry the bathroom every after shower. “She doesn’t like water droplets in the shower handle,” my friend said. I found it too strict and specific but I understood—we were sharing a house with her anyway.
That night, I made a cup of coffee and heated up a leftover burger in her kitchen. She gave me a tray because she didn’t want any crumbs falling off the floor. We were chatting at the common living area when she asked us to leave after 30 minutes because she and her friend wanted to play music.
That night we understood that she was a serious, strict person, and that we have to be careful not to cross her. We tiptoed at night, talked in hushed voices, and made sure we didn’t create too much noise.
The next day, I was hoping to have a chitchat with the lady—after all, we have something common to talk about as I am living in Aarhus for a year. Here’s a non-verbatim dialog:
Pia: How are you able to fund yourself here as a student? It must be expensive to study abroad. When I was a student, I had to work many jobs.
Me: I got a scholarship from the EU.
Pia: Oh…you got lucky.
Me: I wouldn’t say it’s just luck ‘cause only a few got the scholarship.
Pia: Then maybe you’re good or you’re lucky.
Me: Maybe I’m both.
I observed that she had a condescending voice all throughout the conversation as if she could not believe my story. She had a pre-conceived notion that I’m here in Denmark as a stroke of luck.
That same morning she scolded me for not drying the toilet’s floor. She called me out from the bathroom, saying she couldn’t believe that I would leave the toilet like that. In my defense, I tried to dry the floor with the rug available in the toilet but the rug was already wet when I used it and I could only do so much. I apologized and went to the toilet again to dry it. I asked for a new rug but she said “You are not squeezing the rug hard enough.” I knew she was upset so I tried not to talk back. I felt like a child being scolded, but I went back to the toilet and literally waited until the wind dried the floor. It took roughly five minutes of standing in the toilet, making sure it’s dry before she inspected it again.
The next day during our walking tour, I came back to the house because I forgot to bring my ID. As soon as I got home, she confronted me saying “I don’t like the way you are treating my house. You are disrespecting me, and you are disrespecting my house.”
I was shocked because I didn’t know that the (slightly wet) toilet floor early that morning had upset her this much. Apparently, she had more things to say against me. Here’s a list of the absurd things she pinned on me. I tried to make it as verbatim as possible.
1. “You are overusing my generosity. You used three towels when I think two is enough. I give and give and you are taking more and more.” (I arrived in the house with two towels hung up on the hooks of the toilet. I got one clean towel from the rack because I thought the two towels hanging on the hook were already used by somebody. It’s only logical to use one that’s folded in the rack anyway. I told her my friend and I technically just used two, but she insisted she was obliged to wash all three towels.)
2. “You hung your wet towel on my 200-year old chair. Do you know the paint can chip off from the chair if you do that? Do you usually do this in other people’s house?” (I was so dumbfounded by this accusation I couldn’t speak. How can you answer to something like that? First, I’ve known many people who put their towels on the chairs to dry. Second, I couldn’t use the hook at the toilet because it’s already occupied. Third, why would you put a 200-year old chair in a guest room if you want to preserve it? I didn’t tell her any of this. I just said I’m sorry and it won’t happen again.)
3. “You used the toilet three times this morning. I couldn’t even enter my toilet in my own house!” (I never knew anyone who counted the number of times people peed in the toilet. I told her “I’m sorry I had to pee.” She answered “It’s not even about that, it’s about sensibility!”)
4. “Do you even clean in your own home? How old are you? Do you have brothers and sisters?” (She tried to judge my actions by questioning me. This, I believe, is a privacy breach in the most disrespectful way.)
In all her accusations, I tried to be as calm as possible. I apologized repeatedly for the shortcomings, yet she consistently scolded me and reminded me that we were paying too little to use her “lovely house.” I wanted to defend myself and walk out of the room but the consequences were too high. First I didn’t want her to think that Filipinos solve problems like these by storming out. Second, we did not have a place to stay the night. Third, I was in her territory and I was scared for my safety.
In any case, I believe that Pia had stepped out the line. She had entered the room and arranged our things without our consent. She had verbally and emotionally harassed me as a guest. After scolding me for an entire 30 minutes, and later teaching me how to “properly” clean the toilet, I went back to my friends feeling heavy and traumatized. I missed my walking tour and spent the day feeling afraid to go home. Diana and I went back to the house as late as we could so we wouldn’t have to deal with her. We also agreed to leave early in the morning to minimize any opportunity to talk.
The weird thing about all of this is that Pia changes the manner of speaking with my Canadian friend. She speaks to me like I’m an idiot, unable to comprehend the rules of the house, and follow them accordingly. While she believed I crossed her personal boundaries by using the toilet thrice in the morning, I believe my rights have been abused. I have never felt so little in my life. This is the first time I’ve experienced anything like this in my over six years of journalistic career and dealing with people of all ages, status, nationality, and gender.
“You know, that’s racism in a way,” my friend said. Frankly, I am not sure if that could be classified as racism. The only thing I know for certain is that I am unwelcome in her Danish house. The way she spoke to me; the way she reacted when I said I’m a Filipino student enjoying the country’s educational system for free; and the way she nitpicked on every little movement I do—if you couldn’t call it racism, then just call it for what is: disrespect.
I am writing to officially file this complaint against her. I am requesting for her accreditation be revoked as an Airbnb host. I believe no guest, or any person for that matter, should feel the same way as I did.
Respectfully,
Hon Sophia Balod
*Note from the author: This is an actual letter sent to Airbnb with minor edits. Full name of the host withheld as case is currently being processed by Airbnb’s customer service. My friend, Diana, also wrote a review of our stay in her place. The author encourages anyone who has experienced potentially racist and discriminatory behavior to speak up and report these incidents.
[Entry 179, The SubSelfie Blog]
About the Author:
Hon Sophia Balod is a storyteller. She was previously a News Producer of special reports and features for GMA Network and Reuters. She is a media fellow of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and recipient of 2016 Gawad Agong and Sarihay Media Awards for Excellence in News Reporting on the plight of indigenous people and environmental issues. She is now studying Media and Politics in Aarhus University, Denmark under the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program. Journalism 2010, UP Diliman. Read more of her articles here.
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Introduction to Ethical Hacking, Penetration Testing and Countermeasures
This is the video of the presentation titled "" given by Terry Cutler at Novell Brainshare.Terry Cutler is a Certified Ethical Hacker, Master CNE, Certified Linux Professional and an internationally known Author, Trainer, Speaker, and professional security consultant with Novell Canada. He is an expert in the fields of Novell Technologies, Penetration Testing, and Internet Safety for Children. He specializes in the anticipation, recognition, and prevention of security breaches. He consults with several of the largest agencies in Canada on how to implement our products and reduce risk. He is working on adding Computer Hacking and Forensic Investigator (CHFI) and CISSP to his list of certifications, with a goal to contribute security solutions. During his Ethical Hacker training, Terry got the distinct privilege to train with the C.I.A, F.B.I, Navy Seals and Lockheed Martin.You can visit Terry's website for more videos and presentations.The fight over Obamacare and the government shutdown has inspired a lot of blame-throwing in Washington, and on the Senate floor today, Democrat Chuck Schumer called out Fox News specifically as one of many right-wing outlets he accused of grossly misleading the public on the Affordable Care Act.
In comments flagged by POLITICO’s Dylan Byers, Schumer said “talk radio and some of the networks [like] Fox News” have been repeating the same untrue talking points about the health care law, including the talking point that members of Congress are exempt from Obamacare. Schumer said that’s simply not true.
He then suggested the anger and resentment might have something to do with how the right has done electorally recently.
“The hard right is so angry at Obamacare and, frankly, at President Obama and the fact that he just trounced them in 2012 on an election that was run on their issues, that––they are so angry and white-hot that their rhetoric just becomes totally detached from reality and totally detached from the truth.”
Schumer also credited MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow for features she’s done this week showing House Republicans wanted a shutdown all along.
Watch the video below, via C-SPAN2:
[h/t POLITICO]
[photo via screengrab]
— —
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On October 27, 1995, tens of thousands of Canadians marched in Montreal against Quebec independence. Held three days before the referendum, the Unity Rally gave the final push of support for the “non” campaign. Mark Leiren-Young wrote this account of his experience at the event shortly after non won.
“All those Canadians (who went to the rallies) can look at their children and say to them the next time the Canadian flag flies, they own a piece of it. They made a difference.”
—Jean Charest, leader of the Progressive Conservatives
Even before the bilingual boarding announcement for my flight to the Unity Rally I was reminded that Canada is indeed a distinct society. To my left, a greying, grey male businessman with a French-Canadian accent was debating constitutional reform with an elderly Anglo couple. The Anglo man was a first-generation Canadian, his wife was tenth generation, and they were agreeing with their new acquaintance that even if Quebec votes to remain in Canada, the country will need to change. To my right, a couple of Anglo males in their mid-thirties were discussing the merits of René Lévesque’s approach to sovereignty.
If this isn’t distinct, what is? Where else in the world do people without political science degrees or dull government jobs willingly debate the merits of asymmetrical federalism?
Looking around the departure lounge at Vancouver International Airport I started playing spot the patriot. How many of us were heading out to Quebec in a quixotic attempt to show the people of that province that despite what they may have heard, we really care about what they decide?
As I got in line to board the plane to Toronto, from which I would transfer to a flight to Montreal, I discovered Vancouver Playhouse general manager Chris Wooten right behind me. “Why are you going to Toronto? ” I asked.
“To say no,” said Wooten, who was bringing his son and daughter along to do the same.
As we discussed our spur-of-the-moment, completely illogical decision to fly to Montreal, a middle-aged woman near us piped up “that sounds familiar.”
“So you’re going too? ” I asked.
“Absolutely,” she replied with more than a hint of pride in her voice.
Once on board I asked the woman seated beside me, Catherine McLellan, if she was off to Toronto or Montreal. “Montreal,” she replied, “to say no.” The woman in front of us turned around to announce that she too was off to the rally. The businessman behind us interrupted to ask how much was the special fare. I told him $199.50 plus tax and he declared it was “a great deal.”
The trans-Canada quest to Montreal was sparked by fisheries minister Brian Tobin, who suggested that people from “the rest of Canada” should attend a “non” rally to show that they care about the people of Quebec. It was a lovely idea if you lived in New Brunswick or Ontario, but what turned the rally into an unprecedented display of Canadian patriotism was the decision by Canadian Airlines to cut the cost of their flights to Quebec to enable people from across the country to attend. The move prompted Air Canada to follow suit, matching the fare of $99.50 for anyone within 800 kilometres and $199.50 for everyone else.
McClellan told me she was born and raised in Montreal. She was fluently bilingual, had left the city three years earlier, and said it broke her heart that she was not allowed to vote—but at least the rally would give her the chance to do something. “I had to go,” she said in the same determined tones I would hear dozens of times over the next thirty-six hours. Before leaving Vancouver, she bought a BC provincial flag so people would know how far she’d travelled.
I felt queasy about the idea of carrying a flag—being that blatantly patriotic seemed un-Canadian to me. In order to show where I was from I’d decided to wear my Vancouver Canucks jersey. McLellan thought this was a great idea. “Most Quebecker won’t recognize a BC flag—but they all know the Canucks.”
The woman in front of us was a bilingual Franco-Ontarian woman in her thirties who lives in Vancouver. She and her husband had been discussing what a lovely idea the rally was, but how they couldn’t really afford to attend it—when Bloc Québécois leader Lucien Bouchard came on TV and snidely dismissed the people coming out for the rally as the citizens of “English Canada.” A moment later they had agreed that when |
to find people involved with the video. The police charges are not related to his visit that day. Detectives obtained the video from a deleted hard drive in a laptop seized June 13 by police in the massive Project Traveller guns and gangs raids. The Star was told in early August by a source that police had retrieved two videos, but the police document states that the deleted files were not recovered until Oct. 29. Lisi was arrested on the extortion charge two days later, and the police document states he was arrested “in relation to his efforts to recover the video recording of the Mayor consuming narcotics.” Media lawyers, including Star lawyer Ryder Gilliland, are arguing for the release of more of a police search warrant relating to Project Brazen. Kevin Donovan can be reached at (416) 312-3503 or kdonovan@thestar.caCHICAGO — The Illinois governors race is on pace to be the most expensive statewide election in U.S. history, a spending bonanza expected to cost more than a quarter-billion dollars next year.
Some Illinois and Washington party officials think the contest might run well in excess of $300 million, blowing away the current record-holder for statewide office — the $280 million California governors race between former eBay executive Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown in 2010.
Story Continued Below
Consider this: The various campaigns on both sides have already raised upward of $90 million — and the general election is still 16 months away.
The unprecedented spending could have an effect that reaches well beyond the Illinois border. Organized labor views a win by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner as an existential threat and considers the contest a harbinger of whether unions can continue to thrive in Illinois or will lose membership and power, as in neighboring Wisconsin.
Also at stake is control of redistricting in the fifth-most-populous state in the nation. Republicans currently hold just seven of the state’s 18 congressional seats. Without the governorship, Republicans will be hard-pressed to hold their ground or narrow the deficit.
A number of forces are driving the eye-popping price tag, beginning with the candidates. There are two self-funders — one, Democrat J.B. Pritzker, is among the wealthiest individuals in the world, and the other, multimillionaire Gov. Rauner, is predominantly funding his own campaign. The governor also has backing from billionaire Ken Griffin, who also ranks among the world’s richest individuals.
So far, the bulk of the funds raised have originated from Rauner, who placed a marker with a $50 million personal contribution last December. Griffin, a top Rauner ally who is among an elite group of donors who met with President Donald Trump and members of his administration, heaped on another $20 million — the single largest individual donation in Illinois history.
Yet it’s the entry of Pritzker, heir to the Hyatt Hotels Corp. fortune, that’s amped up expectations of a free-spending, money-burning race. Within weeks of launching his bid in April, Pritzker was up on the air with TV ads. Rauner had aired ads before that. Those involved in the gubernatorial battle describe the spending as an arms race, pitting two free-spending billionaires willing to invest whatever it takes.
“I’ve never in my career started a race with an opponent sitting on $70 million at the outset,” said Pritzker campaign manager Anne Caprara, who served as executive director of Priorities USA, the pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC. “That is new, I will say.”
Republicans are just as blown away by the potential price tag.
“In my 25 years of doing this professionally, I haven't seen the kind of war chest of this size as early and as massively as we’re seeing in Illinois,” said Phil Musser, a former Republican Governors Association executive director, who described the level of expected Illinois spending as historic.
The $250 million to $300 million figure includes expected spending from candidates, super PACS and outside groups.
It does not include the additional millions that will be spent on down-ballot races. Last November, Illinois legislative races were the theater for the bitter political war between Rauner and powerful Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan, with spending on state House and state Senate seats coming in at a whopping $130 million.
The big spending has already begun. Both candidates are currently airing commercials promoting themselves and outlining what they would deliver for the troubled state — a stunning step at such an early point in the campaign cycle.
Several people close to Rauner said he is willing to spend as much as $150 million to $200 million from his personal fortune, and that he is determined not to let Pritzker outspend him.
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The Republican governor, facing the hurdle of running for reelection in a liberal state, is planning on a massive air campaign presenting himself as a nonpartisan figure who can fix the state’s problems — while also assailing Pritzker as a pawn of Madigan, the longtime state House speaker.
“There's no doubt that Mike Madigan and his handpicked candidate for governor want to spend unprecedented amounts of money in an effort to protect the status quo and their power, but we are very confident our campaign will have the resources needed to win and put Illinois on a new path," said Kirsten Kukowski, a Rauner campaign spokeswoman.
To some Republicans, the only way to defeat Democrats in this solidly blue state is to outspend them.
“We can’t compete unless we have superior firepower there,” said Brad Todd, a GOP strategist and veteran of gubernatorial races.
Whatever the governor spends, they say, it will far eclipse the $68 million his campaign spent — a figure that includes $28 million of his own money — to win the seat in 2014. In that election, Rauner hired a staff of more than 400 people — an unheard-of number for a governors race and one that could be dwarfed this time around.
Those surrounding Pritzker were unwilling to estimate what the billionaire would spend on the contest, should he survive the Democratic primary, except to say he would do what it takes to win.
“Bruce Rauner and special interest groups have spent over $100 million to get him elected and for him to stay in power, but all Illinois has gotten in return is a 736-day budget crisis, instability and cuts in services,” Caprara said. “The damage is done. He’s a failed governor, and as Democrats we’ve got to fight back — against Rauner and Trump — and our campaign is committed to ensuring Rauner is no longer in office next November.”
Businessman Chris Kennedy, a son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, carries automatic name recognition into the high-stakes race. | AP Photo
Well aware of Rauner’s nearly unlimited resources, the AFL-CIO took the extraordinary step of formally endorsing Pritzker in the Democratic primary some 10 months before the March 2018 primary election.
Pritzker poured $14 million into his account within weeks of entering the race. At least part of that money has gone toward taking an early role in building up organizing infrastructure. Despite the state’s blue tint, Illinois Democrats haven’t maintained a coordinated party apparatus. Pritzker’s campaign has already taken on that role in some instances, engaging in legislative fights and funding robocalls against targeted members as Democrats attempted to advance a budget compromise.
But Pritzker must still get through a crowded primary, one that includes a prominent Democratic name — businessman Chris Kennedy, a son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, who has automatic name recognition.
For his part, since winning the governor’s mansion, Rauner has pumped money into the state Republican Party, nearly single-handedly propping up its finances. That has meant investments in everything from personnel and data mining to digital and on-air advertising.
Following the ’14 election, Rauner took the unique step of keeping his data and field programs going — an effort that is expected to intensify in the months to come. The 2018 campaign will be a taller order for Rauner, who will have to reshape his messaging after coming up empty on his promises to shake up the political establishment and bring major change to state government.
“Everything will be advertised. Billboards, the internet. People will be sick of it,” said Curt Anderson, who helped to run Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s race in 2010, when over $150 million was spent — an amount that is sure to be dwarfed in Illinois.
With so much money to spend, Anderson said that he expects both sides to experiment in new and innovative ways.
Even so, one big question remains: How will the candidates be able to spend such a mammoth amount of money in a midsize state? While Illinois has eight media markets, only one of them — Chicago — is viewed as truly expensive. The expectation is that both candidates will be clogging the TV and radio airwaves, and also investing heavily on Pandora and other mobile platforms.
Both sides are also expected to roll out massive ground campaigns — so large that some party officials joke that there will be canvassers on every block more than a year out from the election.
Rikeesha Phelon, a Democratic strategist, said that for progressives, there’s some “queasiness” about that level of spending in Illinois, but she called it a “fiscal reality.”
“One thing that would make progressives feel a little bit better about that level of money being spent is if it’s spent on infrastructure that's sustainable for the party moving forward,” Phelon said. “If you're going to spend that much money, build something that's going to outlast the candidate.”
That would include, she said, investments in candidate training, updating voter rolls and possibly even building up the left’s version of the Illinois Policy Institute, an influential conservative think tank that has become a fixture in Springfield. Rauner has long aligned with the institute, having given it at least $500,000, and on Monday he hired its president as his new chief of staff.
“Think about the role the Illinois Policy Institute has played, keeping members accountable — helping push candidates to the right, being a media source and player in that space,” Phelon said. “Democrats don't have anything quite like that.”
One thing is clear, Anderson said: it would be a mistake to begin airing slash-and-burn commercials anytime soon — a step, he said, that would badly turn off voters.
“You’ve got to run positive ads, because people will not tolerate a year of negative ads,” he said.
For consultants of both parties, the race is expected to be a boon — with so much money to be had, some have begun to joke about trying to do whatever it takes to get in on the action.
Given Illinois’ ongoing financial crisis, the irony is inescapable. Unprecedented gridlock between the state’s General Assembly and Rauner paralyzed funding to core areas, leading to devastating cuts to social services, higher education and more. While the state finally agreed to a budget for the first time in two years, Illinois is still perilously close to seeing its bonds downgraded to “junk” status largely because of its staggering pension liability — topping $200 billion.
“In Illinois, we have the perfect storm,” said Sarah Brune, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. “I think it is a critical point in Illinois government; there are a lot of people in this state who feel negatively impacted by what has happened in the last few years.”I’m sorry Argentina. I taught you incorrectly. When I served my mission in Rosario, Argentina 94-96 I misled the people I taught. I feel terrible because I fell in love with the people there. I was treated with kindness and respect. They welcomed me into their homes, we ate together, sung together, prayed together and cried together. I am forever changed because of the love they showed me.
When I was a young missionary I wanted to improve the discussions or “charlas” as we called them. We were provided a flip chart that had illustrations so that the investigator could better understand. I’m sure it was hard enough to understand with our American accents. In the flip chart, there weren’t many images to relate to during the teachings. Especially in the first charla. So I took the liberty to add more. My resource was old Liahona and Ensign magazines that every missionary apartment had. I began my search with scissors and a glue stick in hand. I found some great ones and the investigators, I felt were getting a better idea of what was being taught.
So instead of just this image:
I also included this:
See how much better the story is told with these images? You get Joseph studying… and then God the Father and Jesus appeared while I recited “Vi una columna de luz, mas brillante que el sol…”.
There were no images that explained the Book of Mormon in the flip charts so I went to the Church’s publications to find a picture of how the translation happened. This is where I totally went wrong. I searched for images of the Urim and Thummim, but I couldn’t find any. I remembered one from my youth, but I couldn’t find it any of the hundreds of magazines that were stacked in my apartment. I did, however, find a ton of Joseph with him studying/reading the plates with either him writing or a scribe writing.
I settled for these images:
During the lesson, I would explain how Joseph Smith used the Urim and Thummim. I also included pictures of Lehi and family on the boat, Mormon editing the scrolls/plates and Jesus appearing to the Nephites. My flip charts gave my investigators a better, more complete picture of the Book of Mormon story.
But little did I know of my errors. Even teaching the Urim and Thummim was incorrect. Sure he used those for the first 116 pages that were later lost and never published, but what the Book of Mormon is today was dictated while Joseph put his head in a hat and looked at a stone. While he used this technique the plates were sometimes not even in the same room or house. Why were the plates then needed? I mean look at Nephi who killed for a set of plates for crying out loud!
I wasn’t trying to deceive or to take advantage of people, I was just teaching what I was taught. I went to all four years of seminary and had really good attendance. I even won the scripture chase battles. I also took a year of the Book of Mormon at Ricks College before I left to Argentina. I can not remember any time where Joseph looking into a hat at a brown stone was taught, ever. Why would I dig any deeper when I trusted the narrative that was found everywhere I looked when I studied? Maybe I could have studied more. Maybe if I dropped by temple square and see what was at the visitors center, I could find a more accurate portrayal.
So maybe the people I taught will now see the image of the seer stone that the Church released this week and maybe they will be upset with me for teaching them incorrectly. I was a part of this cover-up of sorts. And for that I truly apologize. I deeply love you and care for you, and I am so, so sorry I misled you. If I would have known, I would have taught you correctly. Please accept my most sincere apology.
PS
I’m still waiting for that image from the church with Joseph looking into a hat, only then will my flip chart be complete.Colorado defensive coordinator Kent Baer was hired by UNLV to serve in the same capacity. (Courtesy Colorado Athletics)
To find its new defensive coordinator, UNLV first-year football coach Tony Sanchez reached out to a coordinator coaching at a Pac-12 Conference school.
Sanchez found one in Colorado’s Kent Baer, who was hired Monday. Baer, who has an extensive background as a defensive coordinator, also will oversee the linebackers.
He will bring Andy LaRussa from Colorado, who will be the Rebels’ safeties coach and special teams coordinator. LaRussa has experience at UNLV, having served as a graduate assistant from 2005 to 2008.
The new hires complete Sanchez’s staff.
“I’m excited about this staff because of the years of experience and also the success that they’ve had in their careers,” Sanchez said in a statement. “Bringing this group of gentlemen in not only gives us excellent football coaches but also great mentors to our kids and people who will represent this University in a positive way. I couldn’t be more excited about the staff and their commitment to my vision and the vision of UNLV and where we’re moving. They are going to help us build UNLV Football into a winning program.”
Baer was under contract with the Buffaloes through the 2015 season. He signed a three-year deal in May 2013, a contract that paid him more than $450,000 annually, according to the Boulder (Colo.) Daily Camera.
Under Colorado state law, a school can offer only six multiyear contracts, and Baer had one of them. According to the Daily Camera, Baer’s buyout for leaving this year is $200,000 he would owe Colorado. Whether he would pick up the tab or UNLV would handle the payment could be negotiated, if it wasn’t already.
Money was a big topic when Sanchez was hired nearly two weeks ago. UNLV hasn’t released details of the assistants’ contracts or said whether outside money was needed to pay the veteran staff. Last week, Sanchez said he took less money in salary — $500,000 annually over four years — to help pay for his staff.
It’s a staff with a set of impressive resumes.
Baer, 63, has been a defensive coordinator not only at Colorado the past two seasons, but also at San Jose State (2010-2012), Washington (2005-2007), Notre Dame (2002-2004), Stanford (1999-2001), Arizona State (1992-1994), California (1987-1991), Idaho (1986) and Utah State (1983-1985).
Colorado, which is undergoing a rebuilding effort, gave up averages of 39.0 points and 461.0 yards per game this season. The Buffaloes allowed 38.3 and 468.0 averages in 2013, but they improved in 12 statistical areas.
LaRussa, 34, was at Colorado the past two seasons as its defensive ends coach. He previously coached cornerbacks and worked with special teams at San Jose State in 2011 and 2012 and at Northern Arizona in 2009 and 2010.
Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.MANILA - The founder of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) bared some specifics on the proposal to place the country under a federal system of government.
PDP-Laban is the political party of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte, who is also strongly pushing for a federal system of government.
Duterte requested PDP-Laban to initiate discussions on federalism. The party has called for a two-day conference starting Monday to debate on the matter.
There is no party stand yet about federalism.
In the conference in Manila, PDP-Laban founder and former Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel shared some elements of the proposal including the creation of 11 Federal States, 81 Senators, electing President and Vice President in tandem, and adding territories in Sabah as part of the Federal Republic.
Pimentel said the change is necessary to allow government resources to be distributed equitably to each province in the country.
The former senator said most of the powers of government are in the hands of the central government in Manila and very few powers shared with local governments.
"It is a system of sharing power between national government and the local government. There will be one Federal Republic of the Philippines, but there will be several federal states," he said.
Under the proposal, the country will be divided into four Federal States in Luzon, four in Visayas, and three in Mindanao.
Luzon will be divided into Federal State of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Bicol.
Metro Manila will become the Capital of the Federal Republic, and will not be part of any Federal State under the proposal.
Pimentel likened it to Washington DC in the United States.
In Visayas, the Federal States will be composed of Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, and MINPAROM, which is currently Region 4-B.
In Mindanao, the division will be the Federal States of Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, and Bangsamoro.
Pimentel said that under federalism, more powers will be granted to federal states and decision-making about developments applicable to the Federal State will be left at the hands of the state leaders.
Over-centralization of power and resources in the present system inhibits the development in most areas," he said.
"Kung mag pederalismo, hindi na hihingi nang permiso sa Maynila para maimbitahan ang mga negosyo na papasok. Halimbawa, bibigyan namin kayo ng incentive. Magkano ang tax na gusto nyo ibigay that will be under the federal set up? When businesses are able to come, you increase potential of your area to hire," Pimentel said.
"Halimbawa magtatayo ng maliit na tulay. Hihingi pa ako ng permiso. Nung nasa Cagayan De Oro ako, nung time pa ni Marcos, yung sweldo ng aking mga empleyado hihingin ko pa sa Maynila. Eh kalaban ko si Marcos. Iniipit nila ako," he noted.
Pimentel, however, emphasized the importance of a strong Commission on Audit under the supervision of the national government.
"Importante accountability mananatili sa kamay ng national government. Kahit baguhin natin ang sistema, ang COA mananatili sa national jurisdiction at mayroon representative sa mga federal state mismo to make sure hindi nanakawin ang pera ng bayan," he said.
The former senator said policies of federal states will be determined by the members of the legislature in each of the respective 11 states subject to the Constitution and other national legislatures.
Pimentel clarified that his proposed federal system is still presidential in form, meaning, there will still be a President, Vice President, senators and congressmen, contrary to other federal system that employs a parliamentary form of government.
But for President and Vice President, Pimentel's proposal is for both to be elected in tandem like in the US, unlike the present system where they are voted separately.
"They will still be elected throughout the nation, the president and vice president will be elected as one under our proposal," he said.
Senators will also be elected but with major changes under the proposed system.
Pimentel said senators will no longer be elected nationwide. Six aspiring senators will run in each state, that would mean a total of 66 senators for the 11 federal states.
Metro Manila will also have 6 senators, and 9 more to represent overseas Filipinos. In all, there will be 81 senators under the federal system compared to just 24 currently.
Pimentel cited as an example the recent election that calls for a need to change the senatorial system.
"Lahat taga Luzon, 9 out of 12. But the number of voters in Visayas and Mindanao, mas marami pa tayo kaysa Luzon. Yet sa election sila parati dominant majority," he said.
Frank Drilon, Manny Pacquiao, and Miguel Zubiri are the only three winning senators that are not from Luzon.
Pimentel also explained the need to increase the number of senators.
"Yung 24 senators, batay iyan sa Saligang Batas noon pang panahon ni (President) Manuel Quezon. Ang mga tao sa Pilipinas noon 16 million lang. Ngayon we are 104 million," he said.
He cited, among others, United Kingdom as an example with 618 parliamentary members but with only 60.9 million population, France with 64 million population but with 331 senators, Italy with 52 million population but with 315 senators, and Spain with 40 million but with 264 senators.
Congressmen will still be elected by district, as well as mayors and Vice Mayors in their respective towns, he said.
The Federal State will be headed by an elected Governor and Vice Governor.
Pimentel said delivery of justice will also be swifter under the federal system since power that was once only for the national government will now be delegated to the state.
"Sa ngayon, kung merong magnanakaw na Regional Director hindi ko pwede sipain nang hindi humihingi ng permiso sa Maynila but in federal state you can move. Therefore, power will be in the hands of people," he said.
He said the Supreme Court will remain in the federal form of government but the Court of Appeals will be distributed to the 11 Federal States.
Pimentel said there will only be one flag for the Federal Republic of the Philippines. There will also be one Armed Forces and Philippine National Police, one Central Bank and one monetary system, one foreign policy and one public education system.
States will be given enough power to improve the kind of education that fits their environment.
Also part of the proposal is to include territories in Sabah as part of the Federal Republic.
Pimentel said there are is proof that Sabah belongs to the Philippines. "May mga dokumento ito, dyan makikita na ang claim ng Malaysia is not over title or ownership, they are just lessee. Ngayon, nakabinbin itong kaso ito. Kailangan mai-file sa United Nations," he said.eSports is one of the hottest topics in the games industry at the moment, so I wanted to share our recent experiment in fusing MMORPG gameplay with eSports competition. With over 50,000 peak concurrent viewers, a top ranking on Twitch and the player community energized, last weekend's RuneScape eSports tournament was more successful than we could have imagined, but was not without its challenges and surprises. In this article I'll outline what we attempted and what we learned, and hopefully make the case that there's a whole new avenue for eSports to explore with MMOs.
A bit of background: Jagex is best known for our flagship game RuneScape. As one of the original F2P and MMO game studios, we're obsessed by games as a service: by community, by data, and by creative content and events. But we also try to do things a bit differently and are always trying out new ideas. Right now, we're flush from the best performing year in the company's history, and in RuneScape's 15th birthday year are growing our community and growing the brand by adding new games to the RuneScape family.
We don't just pride ourselves on running great game services, we strive to surprise our players by trying new types of content and events. Our player community means the world to us so we love finding ways to connect the virtual with the real world, such as running mass-participation quiz shows, 24hr charity marathons, and epic fan conventions. Our latest idea was to find a way to mash up MMORPG gameplay with intense eSports competition.
So far major eSports events have revolved around match-based games, where everyone starts afresh at the beginning of a session, individuals or small teams battle for victory, and the matches usually last between 15 minutes and an hour. Even where MMORPGs have featured in eSports competitions it has been limited to their match-based PvP modes. This is simple, pure, focused. It's also easy to administer and structure into tournaments. So it's no wonder this is really the only form of eSports around.
But does that have to be the case? Maybe adding some "MMO" to the mix could be really interesting... MMORPGs in particular give an immense depth and freedom; the vast choice in how to level up a hero, huge variety in gear and abilities, expansive worlds and market economies. Could these qualities be applied to competitive eSports play? Would more time building up heroes give spectators greater emotional investment? Would the vast variety of content mean less predictability and more drama? Would a virtual economy add another dimension to competitive play? Would it be exciting to watch large clans battle across a whole world (and not just an arena)? We hoped that, if done right, many of these questions could be answered with a "yes!"
'Old School RuneScape', which is the retro version based on the classic 2007 era game, has a big PvP community and the dev team were keen to offer players a new competitive experience. They needed to find a way to distill these MMORPG qualities down and merge them into a competitive structure, and settled on using the 'Deadman Mode' of Old School RuneScape. Deadman Mode is an alternative ruleset which is like Old School RuneScape on steroids - PvP anywhere, massively accelerated progression rates but big death penalties, and if you kill someone you get to not just loot their corpse but raid their bank. As a high-stakes, high-intensity mutation of a normally laid back MMORPG, it was an ideal starting point.
(If you'd like to find out more about how Old School RuneScape came into being, check out the post from my colleague Mat Kemp)
Our Objectives
The team identified several important objectives to guide the design of the competition:
Make it big - Allow mass participation so it would feel like an MMO experience. To achieve this the competition had a qualifier for entry: the top 2000 ranked players in Deadman Mode would be invited into the tournament. This meant all players had a chance to participate, and meant that the competition itself would still be at a massive scale. Those 2000 players would start from scratch on a new tournament server, which would run for 5 days, with massively boosted progression rates, so participants could build up their heroes sufficiently within that time. It would be like an MMORPG on fast-forward!
Make it exciting - Have a nail-biting finale that results in a single winner. The challenge here was to channel a sprawling MMO experience with thousands of players into a showdown. This was achieved by making the final hour of the tournament into a last-man-standing battle. Respawns would be turned off so that if a hero died they stayed dead. A deadly fog would encircle the game world and shrink inwards over the final hour, pushing players together, decreasing their health if caught inside, acting as a further catalyst to whittle down the remaining participants.
Make it meaningful - Give players a reason to take it seriously and invest their time into a limited-time event. We agreed a $10,000 winner-takes-all prize. At this level it was big enough to be meaningful to individual players, but not too much that we were betting the farm on an experimental event.
Make it real - Tie into a real life event so fans could attend in person and shoutcasters could draw from their energy. Jagex teamed up with Multiplay, masters at running big consumer game events, to give the tournament real life presence. The competition finale would be hosted at Multiplay's Insomnia57, a massive gaming festival set within one of England's biggest venues - the Birmingham NEC. The RuneScape tournament would feature on the eSports stage and livestream channel, with a huge audience and live commentary.
So that's what we put together, here is what we learned:
What went well
Last Man Standing - This was the core concept which crystallized how the competition would work. It was an easy concept for players to grasp and make the MMORPG/eSports hybrid understandable.
Accelerated MMORPG - For the most part the MMO influences really did create a different but still compelling type of competitive drama. By having competitive play at such an expansive scale we saw clan warfare, conflict over trade and resources, uneasy alliances being formed and broken, teams of players working together not just at a tactical level but with more strategic purpose. And fans got to follow a longer journey as their favourite players built up their heroes in the preceding week.
Participation - Allowing so many players to actually get involved in the competition themselves, and offering a significant cash prize, made the event more relevant and meaningful. While the elite players tended to be the ones that survived deep into the finale, many more got a taste of the high-stakes drama of the competition. Allowing all players the chance at qualifying for the tournament spurred lapsed players to return to have a go.
Excitement - The event was successful in catching the imagination of the player community. Many took part but even more watched it on Twitch, where the shoutcasters did a great job in narrating the unfolding drama. The spectacle and enthusiasm rippled outward to the wider Twitch audience, resulting in record viewer counts for RuneScape, and a boost in content creation both in streaming and video making, which grew the awareness for the event and the game.
Continuation - As the finale came to a close, the next 3-month competitive season immediately kicked off, allowing players to channel their excitement straight into the next season. This also was a prompt for new players, whose curiosity had drawn them to the tournament broadcasts, to get involved on a level playing field when everyone was starting from scratch.
What didn't go so well
Spoilers - In standard match-based competitive games a 30 second to 1 minute broadcast delay is more than long enough - the compact nature of the arenas and fast moving action means there's almost never a competitive advantage in knowing what your opponents were doing 30 seconds or a minute ago. In an MMORPG context, with an expansive world, and tactics like ambushing or hiding, such a delay was not enough and the official broadcast occasionally gave away important information to other participants. In future we will use a much longer delay and be more tactful about what is covered in the livestream broadcast.
Cautious competitors - With so many competitors taking part, some players expected others to do the killing and take the risk while they hung back and built up strength for the final minutes of the competition. The 'deadly fog' feature which was intended to counter this wasn't effective enough, and in the end some players preferred trying to out-last the damage-dealing fog rather than risk running into rival participants. In the future we will redesign the finale mechanics to ensure more confrontation between players.
Verification delays - With so many participants it wasn't possible for everyone to be checked for rule breaking in real time. There were automated checks for compliance but we still needed to check the server logs to verify the actions of the final few participants who were battling it out in the last minutes of the competition. This meant there was a delay in announcing the winner. In the future we will add more automated checking and look for ways we can confidently announce the winner the moment the competition finishes.
Overall it was an exhilarating experience for Jagex. We tried something new, it was more successful than we could have hoped, we learned a lot that to make it even better next time. I think it also goes some way to showing eSports still has a lot of room for innovation, and that MMORPG gameplay can add new dimensions to competitive play. I'm very proud of the Old School RuneScape team for putting together the event, grateful to our partners Multiplay and Twitch, and of course to our community who came out in force to both compete and give their support.Family struggles to cope after day-care fire Source: Worker shopped, left kids before fire
A law enforcement official says investigators are trying to determine whether another adult was caring for children in home day care
Kendyll Stradford, 20 months old, was one of three children who died after the day-care fire. Kendyll Stradford, 20 months old, was one of three children who died after the day-care fire. Photo: Family Photo Photo: Family Photo Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Family struggles to cope after day-care fire 1 / 3 Back to Gallery
The operator of a home-based day care that caught fire on Thursday, leaving three toddlers dead and four others hurt, went shopping at a nearby store and returned to the west Houston child care center she runs possibly minutes before or just as the blaze erupted, said a law enforcement source familiar with the case.
Jessica Rene Tata, 22, the operator of Jackie's Child Care at 2810 Crest Park Lane, has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
Investigators are still trying to determine whether she left another adult in charge of the seven toddlers inside the day care while she went shopping, said the source, who asked not to be identified.
It was not immediately known how long Tata's alleged shopping trip lasted.
"There's no question she went shopping," the source said Friday. "They're trying to determine exactly when she returned, although it was a very close proximity (in time) to the fire."
Tata's brother vigorously disputed claims that his sister went shopping, saying she was at the home the entire time leading up to the fire in the day care's kitchen at 1:35 p.m. Thursday.
"That's crap," said Ron Tata on Friday. "She was there the whole time. I'm 100 percent positive for sure. She was cooking and she went and put a baby down, changing a diaper, came out, the food was burning — she tried to put it out.
"The fire spread — it was a grease fire," the 26-year-old brother said. "She called the ambulance. Her neighbors were outside, and she's pulling kids out, asking people for help, neighbors stood by and just watched. She went in for the third kid, she passed out and the firefighters went in there and rescued her."
Jessica Tata did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Calls to her cellular phone went unanswered.
She suffered smoke inhalation, cuts and bruises when she pulled two children from the house, her brother said. She was released Friday from Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital, he said.
Community shocked
The fire stunned Houston with the scope and depth of its horrific consequences — three dead toddlers, including a 3-year-old boy and two small girls — and four other toddlers injured, some severely.
The dead children were identified as Elizabeth Kajoh, 19 months old, of Cypress; Kendyll Stradford, 20 months old, of Katy; and Shomari Dickerson, 3.
Kajoh died at 2:39 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, while Stradford died at 3:23 p.m. at West Houston Medical Center. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences would not release how or where Dickerson died. No contact information was available.
Two of the surviving children are in critical condition at Shriners Hospital For Children in Galveston. They suffered burns on about one-third of their bodies, but doctors were more concerned about the effects of the deadly smoke the children inhaled.
Information on the other two surviving children was not available Friday.
The |
an injunction on Tuesday.
According to Gothamist, the lawsuit reads:
“Plaintiffs are in imminent harm of losing their right to vote. They have beseeched the various Boards of Elections without result. Nothing can save their right to vote save an order from this Court.” The case is called Campanello et al v. New York State Board of Elections et al. The official link to the case is here.
To read more about the case, you will want to view the following files:
Verified Complaint
Affidavit of Emergency
Order to Show Cause for Preliminary Injunction, Temporary Restraining Order, and Declaratory Judgement
Attachments Part 1
Attachments Part 2
Attachments Part 3
Attachments Part 4
You can also read more about Election Justice USA’s lawsuit in the story below:
3. Hundreds of Thousands of New York Voters Couldn’t Cast a Ballot in the Primary
Hundreds of thousands of residents in New York lost their constitutional right to vote in the primary for reasons that aren’t fully understood. In Brooklyn alone, 126,000 Democratic voters were removed from the rolls and it’s not clear how many of those were removed incorrectly, SILive reported. Michael Ryan, executive director of the Board of Elections, said the agency was behind in maintaining its voter records and removed all ineligible voters are once. It’s possible, he said, that letters verifying voters’ addresses didn’t go out at all and those voters were simply removed from the rolls. Republican Diane Haslett-Rudiano, the chief clerk in Brooklyn, was suspended without pay pending an internal investigation of how the 126,000 voters were purged in Brooklyn.
But there were even more problems beyond just those among the 126,000 purged in Brooklyn. Many more, throughout the state, arrived to vote in the primary only to be told that they weren’t registered or they were affiliated with the wrong party. Many voters who checked their registration prior to the election day discovered the error, and not all of them were able to get the error fixed.
It’s still not known what is causing such widespread errors in voter registration, problems which are also being reported in many other states.
You can read more about the voters’ issues and stories below:
4. The Election Results Will Likely Be Certified in Early May
According to Jordan Chariton of The Young Turks, it may not be officially known when New York election results are scheduled to be certified, but his sources tell him that the date is May 5. He shares more information in the Facebook video above.
It’s not known exactly how many provisional and affidavit ballots were cast in New York state, nor how many people were turned away from voting altogether. Election Justice USA is seeking to get those exact numbers when counties audit their votes:
5. Delegate Counts Could Change, Allowing Sanders to Pick Up More, Depending on the Results of These Lawsuits
With the huge number of voters who had problems or weren’t able to vote at all in New York, an overarching decision that allows their votes to be counted or declares the primary unconstitutional could certainly change the delegate count, depending on what type of remedy is chosen.
In New York City, as many as 121,056 provisional and affidavit ballots were cast, according to SI Live. That includes 40,000 provisional ballots in Brooklyn, according to Inquistir. But these numbers don’t even include the people who didn’t vote at all because they were told they weren’t registered and were turned away from the polls without filling out a provisional ballot.
The Inquisitr recently reported that Michael Ryan, executive director of the Board of Elections, promised every eligible provisional ballot in New York City will be counted. The problem is with the word “eligible.” That doesn’t mean that literally every provisional ballot will be counted, which is what Election Justice USA is pushing for.
Supposing that every provisional ballot does eventually get counted, this could change the delegate count quite a bit. Here’s an example.
In the primary, Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders 58 percent to 42 percent, according to The New York Times. She had 1,054,038 votes in the state to Sanders’ 763,469 votes, giving her 139 delegates to Sanders’ 108. Since delegates are awarded proportionally in the Democratic primary, a change in vote numbers could certainly make a difference in the delegate count.
For example, in New York City, Clinton had 586,017 votes to Sanders’ 338,313, with a total of 924,330 votes cast, giving her 63.4 percent over Sanders’ 36.6 percent, according to the New York Times. If all the 121,056 provisional ballots in New York City went to Sanders and were counted, that would change the count to 586,017 votes for Clinton and 459,369 votes for Sanders. This would give Clinton a New York City lead of 56 percent versus Sanders’ 44 percent. She would still lead, but by less.
If all the provisional ballots throughout the state of New York were counted, Clinton would likely still win. But because delegates are awarded proportionally, she might win by a smaller margin, which would mean that some delegates would flip to Sanders.
At this point, we’re not sure how many provisional ballots will be counted and from which cities. Election Justice USA wants them all counted. Depending on the results of these lawsuits, some flipped delegates aren’t outside the realm of possibilities.Under the financing deal agreed on Wednesday, the European Commission will double its initial share of the fund to 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) while the EU 28 member states pay the remaining 2 billion euros. Germany will contribute the largest sum with 427.5 million euros coming from Berlin, followed by the UK, France and Italy, which will each provide 224.9 million euros.
"The money we are putting on the table will directly benefit Syrian refugees in Turkey, helping to improve their access to education and healthcare in particular," said EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans.
The Brussels deal came as Europe continues to grapple with the huge number of migrants who arrived on the continent in 2015. Many of the 1 million asylum seekers who arrived last year crossed through Turkey to reach Greece by boat, after fleeing the conflict in Syria.
Delayed negotiations
The EU initially promised to provide Turkey with financial aid to cope with the Syrian asylum seekers in November. Negotiations were stalled, however, by disputes over who should foot the bill.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was particularly vocal during negotiations
Italy was at the forefront of the haggling, previously questioning how much of the aid should come from the EU budget and how much control the bloc will have over how Ankara spends the funds.
Following talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, however, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Monday that his country would "give our contribution to solve the issue posed by Turkey."
As part of the deal, Turkey is expected to help the EU by curbing the number migrants arriving in Europe.
EU - leading contributor
Wednesday's decision came just a day ahead of an international donors' conference for Syrians, due to take place in London. In addition to the funds for Turkey, the EU hopes also to be a leading contributor to relief efforts for Lebanon and Jordan, which are both accommodating a large number of Syrian refugees.
"It is an important concern for the commission to do everything so that the refugees can live as close to possible to their countries of origin," EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told EU lawmakers earlier on Wednesday.
ksb/sms (Reuters, AFP, dpa)Hillary Clinton’s top aide, Huma Abedin, serves as vice chair of Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Huma, who has been described by Politico as Clinton’s “shadow,” is one of Clinton’s longest-serving aides. The 40-year-old worked her way up from a White House intern to Clinton’s right-hand woman.
Questions have recently been raised over Huma’s role with the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs. Huma reportedly worked for the radical Muslim journal overseen by her mother, Saleha Mahmood Abedin, for 12 years. Here’s more information on Saleha and Huma’s ties to the journal.
1. Saleha Is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs
The Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs appears to have strong ties to the Abedin family as Huma’s mother, sister and brother were all listed as editors for the publication.
Saleha Mahmood Abedin remains editor-in-chief of the publication, according to the New York Post.
The Post reports that Huma worked as an assistant editor for the journal for a dozen years. According to the article, Huma’s name was on the masthead of the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs from 1996 to 2008, which includes a span of time while she worked for Hillary Clinton.
However, Clinton spokesman Nick Merill told the Post that Huma did not hold en editing position at the journal.
“My understanding is that her name was simply listed on the masthead in that period,” he said, according to the Post. “She did not play a role in editing at the publication.”
2. According to the New York Post, Saleha Blamed the U.S. for the 9/11 Attacks
According to the Post, Huma was working for the journal in 2002 when her mother, Saleha Mahmood Abedin, published an article which blamed America for bringing the 9/11 terror attacks on itself.
The Post published an excerpt from the piece:
The spiral of violence having continued unabated worldwide, and widely seen to be allowed to continue, was building up intense anger and hostility within the pressure cooker that was kept on a vigorous flame while the lid was weighted down with various kinds of injustices and sanctions... It was a time bomb that had to explode and explode it did on September 11, changing in its wake the life and times of the very community and the people it aimed to serve.
3. The Journal Published Articles That Seem to Contradict Women’s Rights Issues
The New York Post points out that several articles published in the Saudi-based journal appear to contradict Clinton’s stance on women’s rights issues.
Clinton delivered her famous ‘Women’s rights are human rights’ speech at a UN women’s conference in Beijing in 1995, where Saleha was in attendance as the Muslim World League’s delegate. In 1996, an article published in the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs entitled ‘Women’s Rights are Islamic Rights,’ appears to oppose Clinton’s speech. The article stated Clinton distributed a “very aggressive and radically feminist” agenda. Saleha wrote that the “empowerment” of women was not helping relations between men and women.
The Post published this excerpt from the journal:
By placing women in the ‘care and protection’ of men and by making women responsible for those under her charge. Islamic values generate a sense of compassion in human and family relations. Among all systems of belief, Islam goes the farthest in restoring equality across gender. Acknowledging the very central role women play in procreation, child-raising and homemaking, Islam places the economic responsibility of supporting the family primarily on the male members.
Huma recently told Vogue that as she was growing up, her mother “was traveling around the world to these international women’s conferences, talking about women’s empowerment, and it was normal.”
4. Saleha Was Born in Pakistan
Huma was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1976. When Huma was two, she relocated from Michigan to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with her family. Her father and mother were Indian Muslim and Pakistani academics, respectively. Huma lived in Saudi Arabia with her family for 16 years.
Her late father, Syed Zainul Abedin, was Indian. In the early 1970s, he was affiliated with the Muslim Students Association at Western Michigan University. Her mother, Saleha Mahmood Abedin, was born in Pakistan. Saleha received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1977.
Huma attended a British girls’ school before returning to the United States for college. According to Newsweek, her late father, Syed, helped start the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs with a mission “devoted to the Muslim diaspora in non-Muslim lands.”
5. Her Daughter, Huma Began Her Political Career as a White House Intern
Huma returned to the U.S. at 18 years old to study at George Washington University. She began working in the East Wing of the White House as an intern to the First Lady in 1996. Coincidentally, this was the same year that Monica Lewinsky began her duties as an intern in the West Wing.
When Clinton ran for the Senate in 2000, older White House aides moved on, and Huma moved up. She has spent the majority of the past two decades alongside Clinton.
Michael Feldman, a former adviser to Al Gore who has known Abedin for years told Politico:
At this point, Huma’s role is so important that they are now baking that into the process of the campaign. She provides the judgment, perspective and institutional memory that literally can’t be replicated. When you have someone who can be a surrogate not just externally, but internally, that saves a lot of time. It becomes a glue that holds things together.
Abedin recently explained to Vogue how her relationship with Clinton has evolved throughout the years.
“The nature of our relationship has changed,” Abedin said. “Over the years, we’ve shared stories about our lives, we’ve shared more meals than I can count, we’ve celebrated together, we’ve mourned together.”I’m about to commit fandom suicide here, but I suppose if you’re gonna go… death by Browncoat isn’t too bad?
Look, Firefly is great. I would never dispute that—in fact, I consider myself a fan of the show overall. But it’s not The Best, and I’m still really confused about how it is constantly touted as such. Incredibly confused. And I can’t help but think that shimmery gossamer cloaking it has so much to do with it’s early death.
Here’s the deal: whenever I see a top ten list of practically anything concerning sci-fi television on the internet, if Firefly is not mentioned somewhere, there are lots of angry people insisting at its inclusion. Because the show has touched a lot of people and features some really fun, excellent talent, and because we just love Joss Whedon’s quippy dialogue and no one can tell us we’re wrong. But can we talk about the show as an entity critically? Just for a moment? I keep wanting to, but most people are not so keen to have this conversation with me.
Part the first—No matter how you slice it, this show has 14 episodes and a movie.
Yeah, there are some comics, but in the medium it was intended, it’s about a season’s worth of material these days. More importantly, it’s not a complete story; it was intended to be a television show that ran for years, the same way Buffy and Angel did. So the show is a lot of fun, yes, and the opening episodes showed loads of potential. But when someone tells me it’s one of their favorite television shows in the whole world, my brain immediately goes: That would be like if I handed you the first three chapters of The Sound and the Fury and told you it was one of my favorite ever books. What would I be asking you to enjoy? To consider?
There is plenty of fiction out there that never really “ends” in a proper sense of the word. Buffy will be the Slayer until she is dead, and that means that she gets to have many adventures that fans will never be privy to. But the show still had a finale. A place to pause, where an arc of her main journey was complete and everyone could feel free to walk away. Firefly doesn’t have that. If your final experience in the universe is Serenity, it effectively ends with a call to action—which is the exact opposite of an ending.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that there is any problem with calling Firefly your favorite television show. But I do take issue with then insisting that the show be held up as one of the great staples everyone else should marvel at and adore. Because this has to do with my next problem…
Part the Second—The show’s premature demise casts it in a fine glow that comes from a lack of maturation.
Endings can kill things, especially where series are concerned. How many people love to rip on the epilogue of Harry Potter? How terribly has Battlestar Galactica fared in the genre zeitgeist for its abysmal final episodes? How many people still wish that island in Lost had been a metaphor for purgatory, like they’d guessed all along? The pressure to stick the landing in fiction is higher than ever, and it’s worse in television because when you take a bow is usually not up to you; studios can choose not to renew a show for countless reasons, and it’s rare to get enough time to wrap up.
But ending a season ahead of where you expected is not the same as being halted on your first lap through the pool. That is what happened to Firefly—it had barely cleared the gate before it was cut off. That the characters managed to resonate so quickly and steal the hearts of fans is a testament to the writing and the cast, but even so, Firefly garners the praise it does for another important reason: it’s just a great big basket of potential that will remain untapped.
You love the show, yes, but what hurts are all those episodes you missed. We’re stuck forever wondering what Firefly was going to become, where those characters were going, what they would accomplish together, who they would admit into their ragtag thieving band, who else they would lose along the way. And because the show had such a promising start, the tragedy is more keen. Firefly only had thirteen episodes when it was cancelled, but the dysfunctional family dynamic of Serenity’s crew made us feel at home with them. They were folks that fans wanted to grow with, specifically because they spoke to how downtrodden many of us feel in that desire to live the kind of lives we’re wishing for. There’s a little bit of Robin Hood there, a little bit of frontier magic, a little bit of ‘screw the man, fight the power!’
This ignores, of course, the fact that the longer the series went on, the more it would have occasionally disappointed. Most long-running shows have seasons or spates of episodes that we find groan-worthy. Most shows handle a topic, a character, a progression in a way that grates fans and causes strife among the diehard and dedicated. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with this—television is a complex medium that is ever-changing, and hitting rough patches in creative projects is basically par for the course. But it is a sure part of the reason why Firefly exists on a gilded pedestal; we never had a chance to grow tired of it. We didn’t have enough hours logged to get irritated and confused, to mull over plotholes and missed opportunities. We never got to find out if there was some way to take the sky back, and what that would do to the ’verse.
We were just left with a Serenity ship-shaped hole and a mountain of what-ifs. Which brings me to…
Part the Third—Not all the what-ifs were good ones.
Firefly was wonderfully unique in many aspects and a heck of a lot of fun. The show presented a different outline for the future than most science fiction television; a place that was not a shining bastion of humanity’s achievements, but rather where our problems remained just the same. No fun aliens for distraction, no great missions to far reaches of the universe, no science-y science. Though an oversimplification, it was basically cowboys in space.
More specifically, it’s… southern restoration in space?
The initial inspiration for Firefly was Joss Whedon reading a book about the Civil War, and considering what it must have been like for the side who lost. That’s what Mal Reynolds embodies, the Confederate soldier who has to surrender to the powers that have beaten him, his friends, his loved ones. Who has to rebuild his world now that his way of life is no longer supported by the government in charge (except the Browncoats don’t seem to be for slavery for obvious, not okay reasons). That gets combined with a frontier narrative as Mal and his crew attempt to eke out lives for themselves, further and further away from the Alliance’s watchful eye.
The frontier part of Firefly’s tale seems like it should be the easiest sell because it’s a timely hot button for western and American fiction in particular; we “ran out” of frontier, which had in turn been the foundation for so many stories. And now with the space program mostly canned and a general lack of new country to explore, it’s harder to find that ever. So let’s do it on new planets! Ones that we terraformed, so we’re not displacing native populations in our search for new horizons! This is the right way to do this, yes?
Well… sure. In some ways, Mal’s tale is incredibly topical for a current audience. His journey is bound up in the realization that the sky is getting cluttered, there’s very little road left on the grand proverbial highway. People with wanderlust, who want to explore, who belong in the wind, are getting policed more and more with every foothold the Alliance gains. The same could be said for many of us. Manifest Destiny seems so quaint these days.
So what’s the problem? Perhaps the fact that Whedon decided that the final worldly superpowers of Earth-that-was were going to be America and China… and then gave us a ’verse full of those cues and not one main Asian cast member. As a result, most of the Chinese flourishes in the show are just that—flourishes. A Chinese curse word! Markets populated by Asian characters we never see anyone interact with! An oiran-like system that is full of predominantly white women! (By the way, oirans are Japanese, but that doesn’t seem to be an important designation that is ever made on screen. Even though China and Japan are two very different countries and cultures.)
The companion side of culture was always going to be a problem any way you cut it, but specifically using the underpinnings of a faux-geisha system is just… awkward? I want to believe that it would have been handled better and better down the line, but nothing that I saw or heard about Inara’s guild led me to believe that. Firefly was in a position to make some scathing commentary about the “frail, demure, obedient” stereotypes constantly leveled at Asian women, if only we’d seen one as a companion who blew those adjectives out of the water. And that would have been difficult ground to tread, yes—but it’s the least that should have been done in a show that spent so much time using the trappings of Chinese and Asian cultures.
This is all without mentioning the fact that even though the Companion Guild is government sanctioned and has self-protections woven throughout, the system is aggravatingly same-same for something that is set centuries in the future. Sure, Mal claims that he respects Inara even if he doesn’t respect her profession. But that’s pretty much having it both ways. “No, I respect you as a person, totally! I just think the way you chose to live your life is completely bonkers and will never be okay with it!” Fine from a distance to feel that way, I guess—pretty awful for someone living under your roof. (Also, Inara was supposed to be dying from a terminal illness, according to Whedon. Because the easiest way to deal with the fact that Mal can’t get over her job is to rip her away from them all?)
Add to that another example of the glorification of cowboy culture—something that really doesn’t deserve much glorification and certainly doesn’t require more of it—and the show falls on pretty uneven terms in its representation. In many ways, Malcolm Reynolds is an update of the Lone Ranger myth; a man who decides to make his own word of law where there is none, who protects the helpless on the edge of the wilds with help from his friends, all while the actual powers that be ignore the suffering of common folk. Is that really a myth that needed a retrofit? We all want to believe in big damn heroes like that, but they often fall short when they continually allow their personal brand of justice to dictate the day. Would Firefly have addressed that roundly? Would Serenity’s crew have made moral mistakes that they couldn’t shoot their way out of? One hopes the answer would have been yes, but yet again, we will never find out.
And I do understand that we can’t choose the things that inspire us. They either hit us where we live or they don’t. Firefly did that for a lot of people. It has spawned charities and friendships and one of the most dedicated fan bases that sci-fi has ever seen. For what it is, that’s incredible. But I do think that some distance is needed. It’s great to love Firefly—but in terms of its place amongst SF royalty, it’s more honest to say that we all love Firefly’s potential. That we love what we believed it would achieve, that we wanted to make a home out there.
So contrary to popular dogma, I’d argue that burning brightly and snuffing out quick isn’t really the best way to go—even if it has kept Firefly fandom together for over a decade. All it leaves behind are more questions and lots of cute quotes. I’d rather have watched the show stumble and occasionally fall. I’d have rather watched it try to charm its way out of gaping plotholes and infuriating season finales. As is, I loved it lots… but I can’t call it “the best” anything without knowing what it was trying to achieve.
Emily Asher-Perrin really does love Firefly a lot. You can bug her on Twitter and read more of her work here and elsewhere.‘A Bride’s Story’ Manga Gets Japanese Promo Video Push
Chris Beveridge Posted by
Something that I wish more US publishers would pick up on doing in order to, you know, promote and talk about their works more in a way that could spread to more than the usual outlets, Japanese publisher Enterbrain is celebrating the release of the fourth volume of the highly regarded A Bride’s Story this week by putting out a three minute video showing off the work. The series, by Victorian Romance Emma creator Kaoru Mori, started back in 2008 and is making slow but steady progress as one might expect. The series has been picked up for a US release with Yen Press starting it off this time last year and has just released the third volume (Review), all of which have gotten fantastic treatment in hardcover form.
Plot Concept: At the age of twenty, Amir is sent to a neighboring town to be wed. Her surprise at learning her new husband, Karluk, is eight years younger than she is is quickly replaced by a deep affection for the boy and his family. Though she hails from just beyond the mountains, Amir’s clan has very different customs, foods, and clothes from what Karluk is used to. As the two of them learn more about each other through their day-to-day lives, the bond of respect and love grows stronger.
Chris has been writing about anime, manga, movies and comics for well on twenty years now. He began AnimeOnDVD.com back in 1998 and has covered nearly every anime release that’s come out in the US ever since. He likes to write a lot, as you can see. Chris Beveridge – who has written 55657 posts on The Fandom Post. Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • Pinterest
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[Source: ANNIn addition to being required to pray three times daily (normally five, but exceptions are made when traveling), Allah also requires Muslims to begin other prayers, or duas, to keep them safe as soon as they leave their cities or towns and begin their travels. Whether before or during their travels—and whether by airplane, car, boat or other transportation—Muslims ask Allah to protect them on their journeys and get them back home safely to their families.
Invocation for Traveling
Allaahu 'Akbar, Allaahu 'Akbar, Allaahu 'Akbar, Subhaanal-lathee sakhkhara lanaa haathaa wa maa kunnaa lahu muqrineen. Wa 'innaa 'ilaa Rabbinaa lamunqaliboon. Allaahumma 'innaa nas'aluka fee safarinaa haathal-birrawattaqwaa, waminal-'amalimaa tardhaa, Allaahumma hawwin 'alaynaa safaranaa haathaa watwi 'annaa bu'dahu, Allaahumma 'Antas-saahibu fis-safari, walkhaleefatu fil-'ahli, Allaahumma 'innee 'a'oothu bika min wa'thaa'is-safari, wa ka'aabanl-mandhari, wa soo'il-munqalabi fil-maaliwal'ahli.
Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us though we could never have had it by our efforts. Surely, unto our Lord we are returning. O Allah, we ask You on this our journey for goodness and piety, and for works that are pleasing to You. O Allah, lighten this journey for us and make its distance easy for us. O Allah, You are our Companion on the road and the One in Whose care we leave our family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from this journey's hardships, and from the wicked sights in store and from finding our family and property in misfortune upon returning.
Prayer for the Trip
Bismi-Allahi wa al-hamdu li-Allahi. Subhana-alladhi sakh-khara la-na hadha wa ma kunna la-hu muqrinin. Wa inna ila Rabbi-na la munqalibun.
In the name of Allah, and Praise be to Allah. Glory unto Him Who created this transportation, for us, though we were unable to create it on our own. And unto our Lord we shall return.
The Departure Prayer
lla ihlmh ila allmha waḥdahs lba sh ryka lh llhn almlk wlh alnḥ mld whww ʿl a kll shyw’r qd yrsh aybṭwnn twamb wnḍ ʿabnd wnr sajadrwny lḥr bmnaa ḥramdwn ṣndqa allahl wʿkhdyhr whndhṣhr ʿbdh w hzm alaahḥlzhab wnḥʿdwh bk mn shrha wshr ahlha wshr ma fyha
There is none worthy of worship besides Allah who has no partner. His is the Kingdom and to him is all praise, for He has created everything. We are those returning, repenting and obedient to Allah, performing Sajda, praising Allah, Allah has made truth (fulfilled) His promise and aided His servant and defeated the enemy armies Alone.
Prayer for Reaching the Destination
Allhm rb alsmawat alsbʿ wma aẓlln wrb alarḍyn alsbʿ wma aqlln wrb alshyaṭyn wma aḍlln wrb alryaḥ wma dhryn fina nsalk khyr hdhh alqrya wkhyr ahlha wnʿwdh bk mn shrha wshr ahlha wshr ma fyha.
O Allah, You are the Lord of the seven skies and all the things that are under these skies and the seven planets and whatever is over these and of Satan who misled and all those misled by him and for the wind and all that it blows. Thus we seek the good of this town and the good of its members (people) and seek refuge from its evil and the evil of its members, and from the evils of whatever is in it.
Prayer to Reach Home Safely
Alw bham a wbaa llrbhanwa tdwhb ab lsha yyghaadr ʿllnyana ḥw bwal h alnḥ mld whww ʿl a kll shyw’r qd yrsh aybṭwnn twamb wnḍ ʿabnd wnr sajadrwny lḥr bmnaa ḥramdwn ṣndqa allahl wʿkhdyhr whndhṣhr ʿbdh w hzm alaahḥlzhab wnḥʿdwh bk mn shrha wshr ahlha wshr ma fyha.
I have come back, I have come back, I seek forgiveness from Allah with such a repentance that leaves me with no sin.
Prayer Upon Returning Home
Aa'iboona, taa'iboona, 'aabidoona, Lirabbinaa haamidoon.The man tapped to be the next secretary of energy, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu, recently compared the danger of climate change to a problem with electrical wiring in a house.
Suppose, he said, you had a small electrical fire at home and a structural engineer told you there was a 50 percent chance your house would burn down in the next few years unless you spent $20,000 to fix faulty wiring.
"You can either continue to shop for additional evaluations until you find the one engineer in 1,000 who is willing to give you the answer you want -- 'your family is not in danger' -- or you can change the wiring," Chu said in a presentation in September.
Because of the danger of climate change, he said, the United States and other countries also need to make some urgent repairs. He said governments need to "act quickly" to implement fiscal and regulatory policies to stimulate the deployment of technologies that boost energy efficiency and "minimize" carbon emissions.
Chu's views on climate change would be among the most forceful ever held by a cabinet member. In an interview with The Post last year, he said that the cost of electricity was "anomalously low" in the United States, that a cap-and-trade approach to limiting greenhouse gases "is an absolutely non-partisan issue," and that scientists had come to "realize that the climate is much more sensitive than we thought."
He said people who said they were uncertain whether climate change is being caused by humans were "reminiscent of the dialogue in the 1950s and '60s on tobacco." (At that time, many argued that there was insufficient evidence linking smoking to cancer.)
He put aside the atomic and molecular biophysics research he had been doing as a Stanford University professor to become head of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 2004 and steer it toward projects aimed at slashing the country's emissions of greenhouse gases that hasten climate change. He created the Helios Project, a center that seeks to use solar energy to generate chemical fuel at a low cost.
The laboratory's scientists, including 11 Nobel laureates, have altered yeast and bacteria into organisms that produce gasoline and diesel, improved techniques for converting switchgrass into the sugars needed to produce transportation fuel, and used nanotechnology to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic cells used in solar panels, among other projects.
Chu said in remarks prepared for a recent meeting in Washington that while private companies such as DuPont and Duke Energy were investing in new technology, "most companies are reluctant to invest in research into transformational technologies that may not see commercialization for 10 years, even though such technologies could dramatically change the entire energy landscape."
Chu worked from 1978 to 1987 at AT&T Bell Laboratories, where he did the work that led to his Nobel Prize in 1997. Other scientists at Bell Labs have made scientific breakthroughs leading to advances such as the invention of the transistor, Chu said. But, he added, "the great industrial research institutes such as Bell Labs are now mere shadows of their former glory." (Alcatel-Lucent, the current owner of Bell Labs, said earlier this year that it was cutting back basic science, material physics and semiconductor research.)
Chu, who declined to comment yesterday for this story, said that meant government support for research at universities and the national labs was "our only hope to supply the science required to create transformative energy solutions."
Chu's belief that technology and innovation can help solve energy and climate problems appeals to both environmentalists and to many people in the energy industry, though many environmentalists stress that current technology can go a long way toward slashing energy use.
"His experience seems to dovetail perfectly with the President-elect's commitment to bringing new energy technology to market in a timely fashion," said Scott Segal, a Bracewell and Giuliani partner and director of the coal and power industry-backed Electric Reliability Coordinating Council. "An understanding of the art of the possible in energy technology will be critical to the development of a cost-effective climate change policy."
"He is one of the few guys I know in academia who also has a practical and commercial side," said Terry Tamminen, an energy and environment expert and former chief policy adviser to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). "He recognized that he could do so much more with knowledge other than teach classes."
Chu's nomination, expected to be announced next week, would require Senate confirmation.
The Energy Department is an odd beast. Thirty-six percent of its $25 billion budget is related to national security, dealing with nuclear materials from such devices as decommissioned nuclear weapons and naval reactors. Another 25 percent of its budget goes to environmental management and civilian nuclear waste management.
Another sizable chunk goes to the national laboratories, usually difficult for the central office to manage. In addition to Lawrence Berkeley, they include Oak Ridge, Lawrence Livermore, Sandia, Savannah River, Los Alamos, Argonne, Brookhaven and National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
"He's run one of these labs. He gets it," said a Democratic source familiar with the Obama transition team's thinking.
The department could become more central to practical energy issues because of President-elect Barack Obama's interest in promoting renewable energy and carbon capture and storage for coal-fired plants. A program to promote electric cars through infrastructure spending could involve the Energy Department. The department also sets appliance standards and other energy efficiency goals.
The son of highly educated Chinese immigrants, Chu was born in St. Louis in 1948. His father studied chemical engineering at MIT, and his mother studied economics there. Chu describes himself as the "academic black sheep" in a family full of graduate degrees and Ivy League graduates. He went |
this digital 505. Don't buy this old crap." And I said, "No. Give me the big one please."Yeah, there are two over here: the Minimoog and the MS-20. I haven't touched them for a year, maybe. At the moment I'm back into using samples as sounds and not so much into synthesis. So they're just under a cover in there waiting to get used someday.Anywhere. Sometimes I steal kicks from stuff I master. On my next upcoming release I sampled an organ from a YouTube video. Like super crap quality, but yeah, the internet is a good source for samples as well.It does. But this was sort of a problem, I remember, because I couldn't get the mix right at all. But I know what you mean—you don't want that crispy clear sound.Well, first it is as you just said: the quality. There's lots of noise, or saturation, you know what I mean? It's sleazy or dirty.I think [the Akai] is a 12-bit sampler, but there is some kind of weird thing going on in the conversion. Yes, they sound quite gritty, but the Ensoniq sampler's even more gritty. All this American stuff sounds super raw and nasty, and the Ensoniq is one of my favorites. Of course you have the [E-mu] SP-12 for drums, which is famous for sounding dirty, but the Ensoniq comes pretty close.Using synths? No not at all. Maybe it's not only the sound itself, it's also the way you play samples. For example, I sometimes also sample a bass from a synthesizer. I could of course play that bass over MIDI, but if I just sample one key and play it from a sampler it sounds a bit cheap or amateur. I don't know how to explain, but call it ghetto or cheap, you know? That's what I like about it. You hear the sounds getting weird, and maybe you'll even hear plops or clicks of the starting points. That's what I like about sampling the most. It's the sound and the way it comes out of the speakers when you use samples.No. I love that new stuff as well. I get the sound from the analogue equipment, and then I put it in the computer and go crazy there. So it's pretty much a digital thing as well.Yeah, it definitely is. There's many disadvantages. Like, a lot. But also advantages—for example, the recall of your project. You get bored of working on something, so you go to some other project, and two weeks later you get it back exactly the way you stopped. On a mix board you have to finish it now or it's gone.For example, automation. You can make it exactly the way you want it, and when you're working alone or even when you're working with two guys, you just don't have enough hands to make it happen the way you want to hear it, you know. So automation is one of my favorite things. Plug-in wise, I use a lot for mastering, of course. For the music itself, I'm trying to use these things less and less.One of the biggest disadvantages of a computer, for me, is that I get lost in the possibilities. It's just limitless, you know, and I really have to limit myself to not use, like, a million plug-ins on just a hi-hat or something.Exactly. Yeah, it's getting more and more difficult to finish something, because you can go forever. Like I said, on a mix board back in the day you had a DAT machine and your hands on some nobs. You recorded it five times and then that was it, you know? Now you can go forever. Yeah, it must be the usual story.Sort of by accident. It probably was because I was friends with people who were all making music, and I think I was the first one with a big, heavy Macintosh computer with plug-ins. It started with, "Can you make it a little bit louder or level it," and then it was, "Can you make it bigger, or fatter, or more dull." I remember a lot of guys, for example I-f, who was super cynical about computers and music—when we were editing a mix CD for him, he was amazed by the possibilities.Most of it is digital, yeah.For me it's the same thing: the recall option. Sometimes I'm working on three tracks, and I can't get them right. I'm working on it for a day or maybe two, and I get sick of it and have to quit. I have to do something else. I get back to it next week or something, or the day after. Your ears get fatigued pretty soon when working with sound—you think you're onto something, and the next morning it's like, damn, this is crap. So it's the recall option, probably. And as well, you can be super precise, for example with EQing. I don't have the super detailed hardware EQs. As a matter of fact, the only hardware I'm using for mastering regularly is an old [SSL] bus compressor. I use it just a little bit, not too heavy because it's a pretty slamming machine, you know? You can go real far with it.But I don't have these surgical EQs where you can filter one tiny band out of the spectrum or something. That's why I love the plug-ins.Yeah. I'm still learning every day, I think. Well, that goes for everybody probably. When you hear the stuff you did ten years ago, you're like, "Oh my god, what a mess." So it's just learning every day and that's probably what keeps it interesting.I'm not cutting the lacquers, no. That's still a point of confusion, because yeah, what is mastering? Is it called pre-mastering, like maximizing the sound? I still don't know. Sometimes [clients] ask, "What's the price for making the lacquers?" and I have to tell them, "No, I don't do that, I just try to make it sound as good as possible and that's it, man."I have a 909, and I'm just reconnecting the S950. I have the EPS, the 950, the 909 and the computer. That's it. So it's a couple of samplers and a drum machine. The Sherman Filterbank I use sometimes, and the Yamaha DX27. The Jupiters and other sequential stuff—I'm not really touching them at all at the moment.Yeah, always. But there's so much stuff I'd like to have. I have been wanting the Empirical Labs Distressors for years. They're super cool drum compressors. But I never bought them. It must be some sort of disease or something. As I told you, I don't use synthesis that much at the moment, but when I see stuff on the internet for sale, it's like, "I want this, man!" I would love to have an ARP 2600 for example. I don't have any modular stuff. The MS-20 is semi-modular, so the ARP would be a cool semi-modular machine to have. It changes. I can't even remember what I was planning to buy last week. I was thinking I want to change my live setup, like go back to how I started with hardware.My first live sets were maybe from 1996. I was doing a project with a friend of mine called Elements Of Grief. It was a bit more abstract, sort of Autechre-ish type of music, and we didn't play that many times, lets say ten times, then we quit. But we brought loads of stuff—MPCs, synthesizers, mixing boards, effects. Then around the time I quit doing that project I hooked up with I-f for Viewlexx, and I released some stuff there and got involved in his Parallax Corporation project. That is '99 or 2000, 2001, I don't know. And with that project we played quite a lot on the same thing. After a while all this shit breaks down while travelling. 808's fucked up, broken keys, everything. I remember seeing the EPS fall off the—how do you call that thing where the luggage goes into the airplane? It wasn't mine, it was a friends', and bang! I saw it fall off.Yeah, well this is just one of those moments. I remember opening my flight case from my Nord Modular in Brazil and the whole middle octave of keys was standing straight upward, and it was in a flight case. Yeah, bit-by-bit that changed to a smaller setup. Back then we travelled with three guys. When you start playing gigs on your own, you have to carry stuff, you know—it got smaller and smaller. And of course Ableton changed a lot.Yeah.Yeah.Well basically since Ableton, when you have your set running, it's just there. The only thing that changes is, for example, when I made a new track during the week and I want to play it, so I just add it and get rid of some other stuff, you know? So it's just a process of adding stuff over time, and for me I just split up all my tracks in three parts, like drums, mids and synths/subs/basses. The only thing I have to do when I've made a new track is render these three things apart and add it to my existing set. It's a bit different than with the hardware. That was really making decisions and saying, "OK, I don't have any more memory in my MPC, so just forget about the string part, or fuck the filtered bassline."Not that old setup, but there seems to be a trend amongst promoters that they want more gear on stage instead of a laptop and some other stuff. I can understand that to a certain degree. But I mean, I've had people asking me for gigs and asking me to give them a gear list that I was bringing. I just gave them my gear list, like a small modular, a laptop, a sound card and a controller, and they were like, "Yeah, that's not cool. You have to bring this or that." I'm like, "What the fuck? Just stick to your own game and let me decide what I'm gonna bring," you know? I can't bring my Jupiter on an airplane. Sometimes people expect that. The funny thing is, I'm actually doing way more than I used to do five years ago. I have this—well everybody has this thing, but I have this, what's the name? APC-40?And I have all my clips in Ableton, so that I can go any way I want, you know? But yeah, they just see two or three machines on stage and they're like, "Yeah, we want to see more stuff."Yeah. Speedy J used to do that. But that's not the thing. There are gigs where you're on a stage, people can see what you're doing, you have enough space. But there's also a lot of gigs and you enter the place, you come into the DJ booth and you see like 50 centimeters of space left for your live setup and you're like, "How the fuck am I supposed to set up my gear?" And then there is this, like, cover in front of you, so people can't see what you're doing anyway. And for the last ten years I've heard people coming to me after the gig and they're telling me, "Yeah, you played a good DJ set." So what's the point? I mean, people don't even know what you're doing. As long as they hear music and they like the music, then it's good. That's how I see it. Promoters want guys with lots of gear on stage, and I sort of understand, but I don't know.Yeah. That's the whole digital discussion again. I mean, the way I see it, my laptop is just the same as an MPC, only it has a bigger display. It's the same zeros and ones, the same chips in there. It's the same thing. But to finish this story, I think I'm going to try to buy some small sampler that I can put in my bag. Not one of these big-ass ones, because I can't bring it. I would love to bring my 909, but I only have one. If I had two I would bring one to check in.Well there's this big fuss about the new Korgs. What's their name? Vol…They're, like, super small. Maybe even two would fit my gear bag.I had to.I was super stuck with making music. I'm a difficult guy anyway concerning that. Maybe some four or five years ago I'd just had enough of the stuff I was doing back then. I don't want to be too black and white, but back then it was a bit more Italo disco, and I got bored of it. There were also other things going on at that time, like I got tinnitus, I got super depressed. I just needed a break from everything. I wanted to make a fresh start or something, so I decided to go more into a club or house/techno direction—a bit more the banging stuff and forget the melodic disco-y, over-hyped Italo blah.I always loved house, but I never considered myself a house guy or something. I knew it, I loved it, but I never was like them. So OK, I start making slightly different music for my feeling, but I'm also super insecure about that, so I was still sort of stuck. I didn't like what I was doing, so working with other people sort of helps me to—when you're stuck, the other guy takes over, or he's like, "This sucks" or "This is good." You know the deal. That's collaboration.Yeah, that goes both ways, and it's super cool. Especially Gerd, who of course is a veteran and a super talented guy. I really admire him for what he has done and what he's doing now. Also Serge. Serge is not so good on the technical part, but without him things would end up differently.Yeah, exactly. We can do one track at my place, finish it at Gerd's place, or the other way around. Or we just finish it here. We did a remix, and I think Gerd wanted to do it in my place for some reason, but I said "No, let's go there." I just wanted to hear it loud, not even for the volume. It's fresh for me to work with other equipment, other sounds. So yeah, we just swapped places.Yeah, that's pretty cool. I used to have my studio next to Clone Distribution, but when my girl left this place I put all my equipment back here. Gerd is still there, and that's a five-minute walk, so I could even bring the Minimoog to his place or something.I don't have a living room because what is living, you know? My living room is filled with synths.So-called angry crowd.
Last night, congressional Republicans came home to rooms full of angry people. At town halls across the country, conservative lawmakers were protested, heckled, and shouted at. A few unfortunate souls were even asked to explain — in detail — the GOP plan for replacing the Affordable Care Act.
But Republicans aren’t worried. They’re onto liberals’ cute little game. They’ve realized that these so-called “protests” are, in truth, tactical demonstrations — planned, in advance — by people who want to bring about political change.
The so-called angry crowds in home districts of some Republicans are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists. Sad! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2017
At first blush, this tweet may seem like another eccentric outburst from our tweeter-in-chief. Why would anyone think that protests are illegitimate simply because they’re planned?
“The so-called March on Washington was actually, in numerous cases, planned out by civil-rights activists.”
And yet, this seems to be a genuine Republican talking point. Two days before Trump’s tweet, Texas senator John Cornyn shared a New York Post article that also tries to discredit the protests by claiming that they are strategically organized.
Obama-linked activists have a 'training manual' for protesting Trump https://t.co/ozZNffzWbN via @nypost — JohnCornyn (@JohnCornyn) February 19, 2017
To be fair, “the protests are planned” is a considerably more honest line of attack than the “paid protesters” claim that preceded it. (Presumably, someone realized that if George Soros really were paying every anti-Trump protester, the liberal billionaire would be responsible for more job creation than the president).
And if you squint real hard at Paul Sperry’s Post column, you can see the makings of a point:
Organizing for Action, a group founded by former President Barack Obama and featured prominently on his new post-presidency website, is distributing a training manual to anti-Trump activists that advises them to bully GOP lawmakers into backing off support for repealing ObamaCare, curbing immigration from high-risk Islamic nations and building a border wall.
The manual, published with OFA partner “Indivisible,” advises protesters to go into halls quietly so as not to raise alarms, and “grab seats at the front of the room but do not all sit together.” Rather, spread out in pairs to make it seem like the whole room opposes the Republican host’s positions. “This will help reinforce the impression of broad consensus.” It also urges them to ask “hostile” questions …“Even the safest [Republican] will be deeply alarmed by signs of organized opposition,” the document states, “because these actions create the impression that they’re not connected to their district and not listening to their constituents.”
So, liberal activists are conscious of optics and, when possible, try to engineer an impression of widespread opposition via such nefarious tactics as “not all sitting together.”
It’s legitimate for conservative commentators and politicians to highlight these tactics. And, for many Republican House members, it’s probably true that town hall protests give a false impression of the scale of dissent in their red districts.
But there’s still a certain comedy to these complaints. The “training manual” Sperry stumbled upon was drafted by Indivisible – an organization that is not formally affiliated with Barack Obama or OFA – and has been proudly shared by Democrats and liberal activists over social media for months. The central charge of Sperry’s op-ed is that Organizing for Action is, in truth, an Obama-aligned front-group whose true purpose is … organizing for action.
Of course, the audiences at these town halls aren’t perfect representations of district-wide public opinion. And of course, professional political organizers are trying to channel liberal outrage in productive directions. This is how politics is practiced on both sides of the aisle. Earlier this month, the tea-party-aligned outside group FreedomWorks announced that it will be organizing rallies and town hall counter-protests in support of Obamacare repeal.
OFA’s “training manual” isn’t what’s unusual here. What’s unusual is the number of people eager to study it.
Activists do try to create an exaggerated impression of public support for their goals. But the more people they organize, the less hyperbolic that impression becomes.In case u missed it, James Alefantis, owner of Comet Ping Pong, center of 'Pizzagate' controversy, emphatically stated for the record yesterday on the Kojo Mnambi radio show that Comet Ping Pong DOES NOT HAVE A BASEMENT. https://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2016-11-30/pizza-propaganda-the-local-fallout-from-fake-news
Now, this is problematic because it contradicts the available evidence we currently have. Including James Alefantis himself talking about canning 10 tons of tomatoes at Comet and storing them in said basement. Which can be found here in this Metro Weekly article. http://www.metroweekly.com/2015/04/from-scratch-james-alefantis/ http://archive.is/03Lhm
In addition to his own words previously confirming the existence of a basement, we also have this book, Boutique Restaurants, which documents the interior of Comet Ping Pong. The only available images are too low of a resolution to make out the description of the basement looking image. However, the space depicted is able to be assumed to be a basement area of the building. (Cant find the direct link to the book image right now but i have the image here) https://i.imgsafe.org/0a8a899ef3.jpg
Another puzzling piece of information is the listing of Comet, 5037 Connecticut Ave. on Propertyshark, has the number of stories of the building listed as '2'. Whether this could just be an indication of the height of the building, or number of actual floors is inconclusive.
http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/Property/11881126/5037-Connecticut-Ave-NW-Washington-DC-20008/ http://archive.is/9gzzh
Here is a second property information site (provided by a commenter here on this article) that also has 5037 Connecticut listed as a 2 story building.
https://i.sli.mg/HqeyxT.png
Other supporting evidence that lends a high probability of a chamber below Comet Ping Pong, is a confirmed basement level in a neighboring business, Politics and Prose (which is in the same building as Comet Ping Pong) Across the street there is Joe's Basement Bar, so we know buildings in the immediate vicinity have basements.
Images from James Alefantis' Instagram account show what appears to be construction work being conducted inside a basement area. https://i.imgsafe.org/0aab857046.jpg https://i.imgsafe.org/0aac970f94.jpg
Fox News biggest argument in favor of "debunking Pizzagate" was the statement of fact that "Comet Ping Pong does not have a basement"
I'll leave it to the reader, and the greater community to interpret the implications of these findings published above.THAT is what they will be doing in Raleigh Thursday. As the “honorables” stagger back into town for their litigation-inspired special session, the good folks at Grass Roots NC will be waiting for them:
LET’S REMIND OUR REPUBLICANS WHO
PUT THEM IN OFFICE.
Remember in the last election how the Republican candidates couldn’t get enough love from pro-second amendment North Carolinians? Remember how they promised to be the stalwart guardians of your gun rights?
As expected, they have forgotten who “brung ’em to the dance.” We know this because House Bill 746 is stuck in the Senate — the result of petty quibbling and inactivity. Politicians are always at risk of becoming complacent (especially when their party holds a supermajority in both the house and the senate), and they sometimes need to be reminded of who they work for.
Worse yet: we know that Michael Bloomberg’s out-of-state money has been hard at work in North Carolina, with a few well-paid operatives whispering fear and doubt into the ears of our elected leaders. This isn’t a new game for them, since they prognosticate doom about every pro-Second Amendment measure that comes up … and when these pro-gun bills are passed into law, their fears of doom are proven to be completely unfounded. Still, we want to make sure that responsible, law-abiding gun owners are being seen and heard by their elected leaders. Let’s remind them that rich New Yorkers and a few paid minions don’t speak for us in our state legislature.
The General Assembly returns for a special session on Thursday August 3, and we’ve planned a gun rights rally for the mall area between the Legislature and the Legislative Office Building. Most importantly: we need YOU there to join the chorus of North Carolina’s law-abiding, responsible gun owners. Together, we can encourage our leaders to move House Bill 746 in this special session.
The demonstration will take place on Thursday August 3 at 11:00 AM. This will be a safe, fun, family-oriented event where we will introduce a new figure to North Carolina’s political scene: Squish the Magic RINO!
Immediate Action Required?
RSVP on the GRNC website and let us know that you can attend the rally (https://www.grnc.org/august-3-demonstration).University of Arizona researchers led a team that has discovered that venom of spiders in the genus Loxosceles, which contains about 100 spider species including the brown recluse, produces a different chemical product in the human body than scientists believed.
The finding has implications for understanding how these spider bites affect humans and for the development of possible treatments for the bites.
One of few common spiders whose bites can have a seriously harmful effect on humans, the brown recluse has venom that contains a rare protein that can cause a blackened lesion at the site of a bite, or a much less common, but more dangerous, systemic reaction in humans.
"This is not a protein that is usually found in the venom of poisonous animals," said Matthew Cordes, an associate professor in the UA's department of chemistry and biochemistry and member of the UA BIO5 Institute who led the study, published today in the journal PLOS ONE.
The protein, once injected into a bite wound, attacks phospholipid molecules that are the major component of cell membranes. The protein acts to cleave off the head portion of the lipids, leaving behind, scientists long have assumed, a simple, linear, headless lipid molecule.
The research team has discovered that in the test tube, the venom protein causes lipids to bend into a ring structure upon the loss of the head portion, generating a cyclical chemical product that is very different than the linear molecule it was assumed to produce.
"The very first step of this whole process that leads to skin and tissue damage or systemic effects is not what we all thought it was," Cordes said.
The lipid knocks off its own head by making a ring within itself, prompted by the protein from the spider venom, Cordes explained. "Part of the outcome of the reaction, the release of the head group, is the same. So initially scientists believed that this was all that was happening, then that became established in the literature."
The research team includes Cordes; Vahe Bandarian, an associate professor also in the UA's department of chemistry and biochemistry; and Greta Binford, an associate professor of biology at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore. who, completed her doctorate and a postdoc at the UA.
Cordes, Bandarian and Daniel Lajoie, a PhD candidate in Cordes's lab, tested venom from three species of brown recluse spiders from North and South America. Binford, an arachnologist who has traveled the world in search of the eight-legged creatures, collected the spiders, isolated their DNA and milked their venom, which was then frozen and shipped to the UA labs for analysis.
"We didn't find what we thought we were going to find," Cordes added. "We found something more interesting."
The cyclical shape of the headless molecule means that it has different chemical properties than the linear headless lipid believed to be generated by the protein, Cordes explained. The biological effects of either molecule in human membranes or insects aren't completely known, he said, but they are likely to be very different.
"We think it's something about that ring product generated by this protein that activates the immune system," Binford said.
"The properties of this cyclic molecule aren't well-known yet, but knowing that it's being produced by toxins in venoms might heighten interest," Cordes said. "Knowing how the protein is actually working and making this cyclic molecule could also lead to better insights on how to inhibit that protein."
For those who do have a reaction to the venom, the most common response is inflammation that after one to two days can develop into a dark lesion surrounding the bite site. The blackening, or necrosis, of the skin is dead skin cells, evidence of the immune system's efforts to prevent spread of the toxin by preventing blood flow to the affected area.
"Our bodies are basically committing tissue suicide," Binford said. "That can be very minor to pretty major, like losing a big chunk of skin. The only treatment in that case is usually to have a skin graft done by a plastic surgeon."
About once every five years, Binford said, someone develops a serious systemic reaction to a brown recluse bite, which can be fatal.
"If it goes systemic, then it can cause destruction of blood cells and various other effects that can in extreme cases lead to death by kidney failure or renal failure," Cordes said.
However, it is believed that the vast majority of brown recluse bites are so minor that they go unnoticed by those who were bitten.
It's not known what determines the type or severity of reaction a person is likely to get when bitten by a brown recluse, Cordes said, "but what is known is that this protein is the main cause of it."
"I think if we know how the toxin works, it opens a new door to understanding how the syndrome is initiated as well as the possibility of blocking that process."
"The discovery of this product may be crucial in understanding what exactly is going on in the human reaction," Binford said.
For the spider biologists and chemists, the work has just begun.
"These spiders have been around with this toxin for over 120 million years," Binford said. "I want to understand the full set of variation present in a single spider and across the entire genus and the activity of this compound."
"People think about the brown recluse with fear," she added. "When I think about a brown recluse or any other spider, I think about how a single spider can have 1,000 chemicals in its venom and there are about 44,000 species, so tens of millions of unique compounds in spider venom that we're in the process of discovering. We have a lot to learn about how these venom toxins work and potential for understanding new chemistry and developing new drugs or treatments."
Understanding how brown recluse venom produces harmful effects in humans is particularly relevant in Arizona, a hotbed for these spiders, Cordes said: "There are more variant species of Loxosceles here than anywhere else in the United States."
The UA-led study of brown recluse venom was supported initially by a pilot project award from the UA BIO5 Institute. Binford's venom collections were supported by a National Science Foundation Career Award.Last week, the Sierra Club left San Francisco, its home since its founding 124 years ago. Like so many individuals and institutions, it was pushed out by high rent.
The Club, the US’s largest grassroots environmental organization, will be fine in its new home across the bay in Oakland; it’s San Francisco I worry about.
Contemporary gentrification is an often violent process by which a complex and diverse urban environment becomes more homogeneous and exclusionary. It does to neighborhoods and cities what climate change is doing to the earth: driving out fragile and deeply rooted species, and pushing the poor past the brink.
Think of climate change as a globalized form of gentrification, reducing complex environments, uprooting species and cultures, punishing the poor and rewarding the rich – or at least leaving them out of the purges. After all, the reason why climate change continues unabated long after most of the world has acknowledged its seriousness is that it’s profitable for some, notably fossil fuel companies, and not threatening enough to the people in power. You can buy your way out of a lot of trouble, if watching the suffering and annihilation of others doesn’t trouble you.
Death by gentrification: the killing that shamed San Francisco | Rebecca Solnit Read more
Thanks to climate change, there is already immense suffering and loss, of places, species, crops, homes. The poor are often the people deeply rooted in place, whether they’re fisherfolk in the Mekong Delta (due to go underwater from rising seas) or farmers in desertifying Africa or India, where a horrific heatwave and drought killed at least 300 last month and left 330 million without enough water. The rich can always move on if their beachfront home floods or the weather in the Azores or Miami becomes unbearable, as it did last month in Cambodia during “the most intense heatwave ever observed in south-east Asia”, where the temperature reached 108.7F (42.6C) for the first time ever recorded.
Climate change produces famine, but the elite won’t starve. Billionaire investment leader Warren Buffett wrote to his flock at Berkshire Hathaway that “as a homeowner in a low-lying area, you may wish to consider moving. But when you are thinking only as a shareholder of a major insurer, climate change should not be on your list of worries.”
This is what I thought about when I heard that the Sierra Club left San Francisco last week. I’m sure you’ve heard that the boom in Silicon Valley has brought in hordes of well-paid tech workers, creating wildly escalating housing costs and scarcity and pushing out many longtime residents. Silicon Valley’s well-paid workforce is disproportionately white, male and young. Schoolteachers, nurses, mechanics and other vital workers are being pushed out of an increasingly homogeneous central Bay Area, and homelessness is an escalating crisis.
Similar gentrification crises afflict cities around the world. For me, this matters because cities have been our brains trusts, our radical thinktanks, our revolutionary incubators. What will they be when no one can afford them unless they’re born rich or fall in line with the industries that provide sky-high salaries?
“It’s sad to be leaving a place that’s been so important to the Sierra Club for such a long time,” Michael Brune, the Sierra Club’s executive director since 2010, told me. “The revolutionary spirit, people who lead lives that are wild and free: some of that seems to be leaving. It would’ve cost us between half and three quarters of a million [dollars] more to stay. There’s no way to justify spending that when we have a planet to save.”
The club was founded with a mission to foster mountaineering expeditions and protect the Sierra Nevada mountains but morphed into a ferocious combatant over environmental issues around the country. Environmentalism itself has changed colossally in the past century, from putting fences around the nicest places to recognizing that you have to defend the whole system. Which the club does with vigor, playing a role at the Paris climate conference last December and at the protests surrounding it.
The Paris conference made clear what the conflict over climate change is really about. The poor nations, from the Philippines to Bolivia to Bangladesh, are fighting to protect life, for human beings and for the ecosystems they depend upon. Many in the wealthy countries are fighting to protect wealth, for the fossil fuel companies, investors and elites. Distilled down, the message from the global north is often something like, “it’s you or our bottom line, and sorry, it’s not you”.
Climate change will cost us all in the end, or at least will cost ordinary people in the wealthy countries. Trillions of dollars will be lost, but the burden will be borne – as with wars and other avoidable wastes – by ordinary people, the same people who will gain jobs and other benefits from a swift departure from fossil fuel.
My city is now an unbearable place. Most people who aren’t wealthy feel they have no future here, and those of us who are securely housed dread staying in place as the people we love get pushed out around us. The racial injustice that has included police murders of young men of color, most recently an indigenous man who had become homeless in 2012. It also includes widespread evictions, the loss of cultural institutions, and a sense of being pushed out, devalued, criminalized and threatened. A place long considered a utopia of sorts has become a textbook dystopia.
The week the Sierra Club left San Francisco, five people entered the second week of a hunger strike outside a police station to protest against killings they linked to racism and gentrification. The police station was on Valencia Street in the Mission district, on the same block where upscale men could get a $50 shave, across the street from where you could still get a $3 taco at El Toro, the old taqueria owned by the same people who own Pancho Villa. That week, a 25-year-old who had just moved to the city wrote in USA Today about all the apps you could use to get everything delivered by faceless minions and never have to go out and meet the neighbors, which was OK because you could also organize to meet like-minded people online. She wrote, “I had burritos delivered from Pancho Villa twice before I ever stepped in the well-known staple in my Mexican-infused neighborhood.”
The week the Sierra Club left the city where it had been founded and based for 124 years, the progressives on San Francisco’s board of supervisors proposed to fine unregistered Airbnb listings, noting that 6,000 former residences had been converted to illegal hotels, contributing to the city’s shrinking housing stock. That means that long-term residents, with histories, networks of relationships and commitments, are being replaced by transients who will never plant roots, know the neighbors or serve the community.
That week, the CEO of the Silicon Valley firm Invoca posted on Facebook to describe how he would punish the poor Latinos selling produce in his upscale neighborhood, “If that was my house, I would go out there and make their life miserable. I would do whatever it took to make them leave.” A lot of people were already miserable in this region afflicted by the runaway gentrification of a city in the grip of a boom.
The climate justice movement is a movement to keep the whole Earth for all of us. It’s a movement to recognize that we depend on the health of the non-human world, and that we are all in this together. The Sierra Club’s departure from San Francisco reminds us that loss of diversity impoverishes environments, and that what we too often call wealth enriches a few but impoverishes many when it drives out species, communities, cultural continuities, idealism and altruism.Last week we broke the news that Bandwidth.com was launching a disruptive mobile carrier called Republic Wireless. The service will use special handsets that take advantage of Wifi networks whenever possible, and will fallback to a ‘normal’ cellular connection whenever Wifi isn’t available. A report from GigaOM pegs the price at a mere $19 per month — with unlimited text, data, and voice.
That’s massive savings compared to the standard contracts offered by Verizon, AT&T, et al. But there’s a catch: to use Republic Wireless, you need to buy a new handset (the devices are Android-based, but they use a special combination of hardware and software that can’t be ported to other devices, at least not yet). Thankfully those handsets are going to be relatively inexpensive.
Numerous tipsters have written in to say they’ve just received the following email from Republic Wireless — and we’ve just confirmed with the company — that the handsets will |
undoing the equality that her group has worked for, Dansky said.
Her group has set up a GoFundMe account to fund the lawsuit. As of Friday, it had raised more than $10,000 of its $75,000 goal.PLEASANTON, Calif. -- A con artist who escaped federal prison a week ago flew back in a hijacked helicopter Wednesday, plucked his bank robber girlfriend from a recreation yard and swept away before startled guards could prevent it, authorities said.
A fellow inmate described the escape as a "death-defying feat."
"They were boyfriend and girlfriend in prison," Deputy U.S. Marshal Dick Bippus said. "It sounds like something out of a TV series."
The helicopter swept over a wire fence at midmorning at the low-security Federal Correctional Institution in Pleasanton, hovered a few feet off the ground while the woman inmate climbed aboard, then roared away, witnesses said.
Prison guards fired no shots at the helicopter because prison policy prohibits it, officials said.
Bippus identified the woman as Samantha Dorinda Lopez, 37, serving 50 years for bank robbery and kidnapping in Alabama and Georgia. He said the man who staged her escape is Ronald J. McIntosh, 42, who vanished Oct. 28 when he was given a bus ticket to transfer from Pleasanton to another minimum-security prison in Southern California.
Lopez and McIntosh "worked together here in this facility doing clerical functions in our business office," Warden Rob Roberts said. He said they often were seen walking together on the grounds of the prison, a campus-like facility housing 700 men and women 40 miles southeast of San Francisco.
The helicopter was rented by McIntosh from Aris Helicopter Ltd. in nearby San Jose for aerial survey work.
Once in the air he pulled a gun and forced pilot Peter Szabo to land on a mountain peak behind the community of Danville, about 15 miles northwest of the prison.
Szabo was forced to take his shoes off and was abandoned on the peak, while the hijacker flew away. The pilot walked into the Danville police station shoeless but otherwise unharmed.
McIntosh has a FAA license to fly a helicopter.Growing Number of Prosecutions for Videotaping the Police Prosecutions Draw Attention to Influence of Witness Videos
That Anthony Graber broke the law in early March is indisputable. He raced his Honda motorcycle down Interstate 95 in Maryland at 80 mph, popping a wheelie, roaring past cars and swerving across traffic lanes.
But it wasn't his daredevil stunt that has the 25-year-old staff sergeant for the Maryland Air National Guard facing the possibility of 16 years in prison. For that, he was issued a speeding ticket. It was the video that Graber posted on YouTube one week later -- taken with his helmet camera -- of a plainclothes state trooper cutting him off and drawing a gun during the traffic stop near Baltimore.
In early April, state police officers raided Graber's parents' home in Abingdon, Md. They confiscated his camera, computers and external hard drives. Graber was indicted for allegedly violating state wiretap laws by recording the trooper without his consent.
Arrests such as Graber's are becoming more common along with the proliferation of portable video cameras and cell-phone recorders. Videos of alleged police misconduct have become hot items on the Internet. YouTube still features Graber's encounter along with numerous other witness videos. "The message is clearly, 'Don't criticize the police,'" said David Rocah, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland who is part of Graber's defense team. "With these charges, anyone who would even think to record the police is now justifiably in fear that they will also be criminally charged."
Carlos Miller, a Miami journalist who runs the blog "Photography Is Not a Crime," said he has documented about 10 arrests since he started keeping track in 2007. Miller himself has been arrested twice for photographing the police. He won one case on appeal, he said, while the other was thrown out after the officer twice failed to appear in court.
"They're just regular citizens with a cell-phone camera who happen to come upon a situation," Miller said. "If cops are doing their jobs, they shouldn't worry."
The ACLU of Florida filed a First Amendment lawsuit last month on behalf of a model who was arrested February 2009 in Boynton Beach. Fla. Her crime: videotaping an encounter between police officers and her teenage son at a movie theater. Prosecutors refused to file charges against Sharron Tasha Ford and her son.
Videotaping as a Tool for Citizens
"The police have cameras in their cars. I watch cops on TV," Ford said. "I'm very hurt by what happened. A lot of people are being abused by police in the same way."
Ford's lawyer, James Green, called videotaping "probably the most effective way to protect citizens against police officers who exaggerate or lie."
"Judges and juries want to believe law enforcement," he said. "They want to believe police officers and unless you have credible evidence to contradict police officers, it's often very difficult to get judges or juries to believe the word of a citizen over a police officer."
In Palm Beach County, Fla., Greenacres resident Peter Ballance, 63, who has Asperger's syndrome and has to record conversations to help his memory, settled a civil lawsuit for $100,000 last year. In August 2005, police officers tackled and arrested Ballance for refusing to turn off his tape recorder.
"You know what," said the officer, according to court documents, "I still don't want that recording device on."
"Well, it's on," Ballance replied.
"It is a third-degree felony," the cop said. "If you want to push it, you can go to jail for it."
"Well, I'm pushing it now," Ballance said.
Ballance snapped pictures of the officers. One of the cops delivered a blindside tackle. Ballance had to be treated for injuries and cardiac symptoms at a hospital on the way to the county jail. At the hospital, officers refused to let Ballance use his recorders to communicate with doctors, court papers said.
In Portsmouth, N.H., earlier this month, Adam Whitman, 20, and his brother were charged with wiretapping, a felony in the state for videotaping police on the Fourth of July when they were called to a party and ended up arresting 20 people, many for underage drinking.
A police spokesman told ABCNews.com that the wiretapping charges were being dropped.
Witness Videos on the Rise
Across the country, arrests such as these highlight the growing role of witness video in law enforcement. A dozen states require all parties to consent before a recording is made if there is a "reasonable expectation of privacy." Virginia and New York require one-party consent. Only in Massachusetts and Illinois is it illegal for people to make an audio recording of people without their consent.
"The argument is, 'Well, can a police officer beside the highway have a private conversation with somebody that they pull over?'" said Joseph Cassilly, the Harford County prosecutor handling Graber's case.
Cassilly added, "Suppose a police officer pulled you over and he wanted to have a talk with you. 'Sir, I smell alcohol on your breath. Can you talk to me about how much you've had to drink? Would you want somebody else to stop by and record that and put it on the Internet?"
Rocah of the ACLU disagreed. "It's not that recording any conversation is illegal without consent. It's that recording a private conversation is illegal without consent," he said. "So then the question is, 'Are the words of a police officer spoken on duty, in uniform, in public a 'private conversation.' And every court that has ever considered that question has said that they are not."
Rocah said actual wiretapping prosecutions, though rare, are happening more frequently. But intimidation with the threat of arrest for taping the police is much more common.
"Prosecution is only the most extreme end of a continuum of police and official intimidation and there's a lot of intimidation that goes on and has been going on short of prosecution," he said. "It's far more frequent for an officer to just say, 'You can't record or give me your camera or give me your cell phone and if you don't I'm going to arrest you. Very few people want to test the veracity of that threat and so comply. It's much more difficult to document, much more prevalent and equally improper."
New Video, Old Debate
In many jurisdictions, the police themselves record encounters with the public with dashboard cameras in their cars.
"Police and governmental recording of citizens is becoming more pervasive and to say that government can record you but you can't record, it speaks volumes about the mentality of people in government," Rocah said. "It's supposed to be the other way around: They work for us; we don't work for them."
Graber's YouTube video, meanwhile, has helped renew the old debate about whether government has a right to keep residents from recording the police. There is even an "I support Anthony Graber and his right to freedom of expression" Facebook page with close to 600 friends.
"Suffice it to say that our client is terrified at the prospect of these criminal charges," Rocah said.Federal authorities say Josh Waldrop wanted a young girl whom he could groom to be his wife. He’s charged with attempted manufacture of child pornography and attempted enticement. (Photo: Facebook)
A Genesee County man is facing federal charges after authorities say he tried to seek a young girl for sex — and then asked for someone even younger.
FBI officials recently initiated a juvenile sex trafficking probe against Josh Michael Waldrop after communicating with an undercover Flint Area Narcotics Group officer for months, according to a criminal complaint filed this week in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
The officer started texting with Waldrop in July, when the 24-year-old identified himself as “Craig” and offered to spend $100 a month on a girl between 7 and 10 years old “so that he could have continued access to her for the purpose of sex, and so that she would be his wife and bear his children when she gets older,” an agent wrote.
When the undercover officer said he learned Waldrop was requesting “younger girls,” the man asked for pictures to choose from and mentioned wanting to “impregnate a virgin girl,” the filing said.
The exchange ended when Waldrop repeatedly demanded photos of an 8-year-old girl he believed was with the officer, according to the complaint.
They didn’t correspond again until Oct. 11, when Waldrop again sought a picture. Shown one of a youngster identified as 10, he called her “wifey material,” requested nude images and asked if she could spend the night, investigators said.
The officer attempted to arrange a meeting with Waldrop at a hotel in Burton, near Flint, but he kept seeking a naked picture and refused to come to the door.
After an FBI special agent learned Waldrop had been staying at the hotel since May, a search warrant was executed Thursday.
During an interview, Waldrop said he had messaged the undercover officer and “just wants a wife who is clean and pure whom he can settle down with, unlike the prostitutes he looks for on Backpage.com,” officials wrote.
Waldrop also told them relatives had accused him of inappropriate contact with his younger nieces but denied their claims and “agreed that he needs help for his sexual desires.”
Authorities also learned Burton police questioned Waldrop in early 2013 after a complaint he had possibly propositioned the 7-year-old daughter of his brother’s girlfriend. He said the girl asked him about sex. Others had made similar accusations in the past, the FBI reported.
He appeared before Magistrate Judge Patricia Morris on two charges: attempted manufacture of child pornography and attempted enticement.
Waldrop was ordered temporarily detained and faces a detention hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday in Flint.
The attorney representing him did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.
Read or Share this story: http://detne.ws/2jy5l54Riding a wave of national unrest, a social media call by two south Sacramento teenagers and their Facebook friend drew at least 300 people to downtown Sacramento on Monday to protest police brutality.
Activists met at Crocker Park at Third and O streets, where many painted their hands red to “symbolize all the blood that has been shed,” said 18-year-old organizer Brianna Cormier. They headed to the state Capitol, walking silently to the Capitol steps.
The event came during a period of upheaval over the sniper shooting of five police officers in Dallas and the killings of two African American men by law enforcement last week. Those deaths have sparked protests across the country and in Europe. Many are under the banner of Black Lives Matter, but others, like Monday’s, are seemingly organic uprisings.
Locally, at least five protests have occurred in the last week, including daily since Thursday. Others are planned, such as a “takeover” of Tuesday morning’s Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meeting and a call for 200 black men to attend the Sacramento City Council meeting later in the day.
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At the Monday march, which wasn’t affiliated with the local Black Lives Matter group, Cormier said she asked participants to walk in silence because “there’s nothing we can say that hasn’t already been said.”
Many in attendance said they had not been politically active before the rally, but felt compelled to act by recent events.
“I’ve never done this before in my life,” said Ronald Stevens, 48, an Elk Grove chef. “After (I) saw the killings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge, it was just too much.”
Larricka Harrison, an 18-year-old USC student from Natomas, said that coverage of other protests in “different neighborhoods, different cities and different states,” inspired her to attend, though she has only been at one other rally on her college campus.
“Right now, media attention is on Black Lives Matter,” said her friend, 19-year-old Oluchi Okwu. Okwu said she wanted to help the movement “make the most of the moment.”
Others said that joining the rally was a way to express emotion.
Ebony Foy said she came because she didn’t know what else was left to do.
“I’m a mother of two who is afraid for her two little boys,” said Foy, who is African American. “The red on my hands means stop.”
The Sacramento Police Department and California Highway Patrol had a large presence Monday, including CHP officers on the roof of the Capitol. Sacramento police Lt. Jason Bassett told the crowd at Crocker Park that officers would accompany them through downtown Sacramento to ensure they arrived safely.
“What I am in support of is innocent until proven guilty and justice for everybody, as I think all police officers are,” Bassett said. “There has to be change in our country; we just need dialogue. Two sides talking to each other.”
Toward the end of the protest on the Capitol’s west steps, demonstrators gave police and CHP officers a round of applause.
Organizers from activist groups throughout Sacramento said it was not just Monday’s rally that has drawn new protesters. They’ve seen greater numbers since a North Natomas preacher gained national media attention for speaking in favor of the massacre of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., last month.
More than 500 protesters turned out at his Natomas church the following Sunday. But the shootings in recent days may have been a tipping point for many, said Black Lives Matter activist Donielle Prince.
“The turnout is … clearly impacted by the events this week,” she said. “There were a lot of new people.”
Her group held a protest on Saturday outside the headquarters of Sheriff Scott Jones’ congressional campaign office to demand release of video and other information related to the shooting death of Carmichael resident Adrienne Jamarr Ludd by sheriff’s deputies in October. She said Black Lives Matter has received hundreds of emails asking how to join, and a meeting scheduled for next Saturday has drawn interest from nearly 1,000 people.
“It’s just overwhelming,” Prince said. “People are feeling like they want to get involved.”
That was the case for Monday’s event. The three women who planned the event had little or no previous experience with political activism.
“This was my first time physically organizing a protest,” said Cormier, a recent graduate of Valley High School who said the shooting of Alton Sterling by police in Baton Rouge, La., pushed her to act.
“I’m woken,” she said. “As long as I am awake, I will help Sacramento be woke.”
She connected with another student, Jamejha Hall after Hall posted on Facebook. The two connected with another of Hall’s social media contacts and picked a location for the rally and started the hashtag #standing4blacklives.
By Monday afternoon, 1,300 people had expressed interest in attending.
“I was like, whoa! They listened to us,” Cormier said. “That was more than I could have imagined.”
Emily King, Stephen Magagnini and Sam Stanton contributed to this report.As before, the theme of the BitcoinFocus event was to remain accessible to all. A big thank you to the sponsors at @ TechHub, @ coindesk and @ diacle_ for allowing to keep these events free to attend and to keep the food and drink flowing. Also, a big thank you to Paul @ bitcoinfocus for a fantastic organisation.
First up, we had Bitcoin Bootcamp, presented by Hakim Mamoni, the founder of Dealco.in. Hakim presented a layman’s account of the inner workings of the Bitcoin protocol and also discussed some of the many possible features and use-cases that it has the capacity to support in the years ahead. The presentation was followed by Q&A.
Next we had Bitcoin Mining – Bedroom to a Bank Account, presented by @ EdwardHarpham. Edd gave an overview to Bitcoin mining, what it is, and what it isn’t. He described some basic differences between the older ways of mining Bitcoin vs the new dedicated technology and how you can still profit from bedroom mining. There was even a guide on how to build your own miner and what sites you need to get started turning electricity into cash. The presentation was followed by Q&A.
The third presentation was Bitcoin in Context, a Brief Cultural History of Money. Presented by Lui Smyth, an Anthropology Researcher at UCL. Lui examined different ways of understanding money, drawing examples from history and anthropology. From gift economies through to gold, paper, plastic, and digital, he explored the relationship between money systems and political power. The presentation was followed by Q&A.
All three presentations will be published in the playlist below, I hope you enjoy.
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Donate Bitcoin to IamSatoshi at:Chinese pottery fragments discovered at the Kollam Port dig site. [Photo: ccrnews] Recently, a Chinese team with the Palace Museum and an Indian team with Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), jointly working at the Kollam Port Site in India, discovered ancient Chinese porcelain and coins, reported the Paper, a news outlet from Shanghai. Kollam Port, located in Southwest India, is the second largest port in Karela, next to Cochin Port. Since February, 2014, a vast amount of ancient relics of many kinds have been discovered in the area, drawing much attention, especially from KCHR. So far, over 10,000 ancient pottery fragments and over 1,000 ancient metallic objects have been discovered at the Kollam dig site, including locally produced Indian red-sand-pottery, stained glass from the Mediterranean, copper coins and peacock blue pottery from Islamic areas, and Chinese pottery and coins. A peacock blue pottery vase discovered in Fujian Province, China in 1965. [Photo: ccrnews] The Chinese pottery that's been found has been identified as coming from several different provinces, including Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Fujian, and ranging from the 8th century to the 14th century. Based on research by Indian historians and the "History of the Song Dynasty" (the official history of ancient China's Song Dynasty), Kollam Port was built during the Chola Dynasty of ancient India in the mid-9th century. All of the historical findings at Kollam Port are significant to the studies of relations between ancient China and ancient India. "Kaiyuan Tongbao" coins (one the official currencies of ancient China's Tang Dynasty) found at the Kollam Port dig site. [Photo: ccrnews] The Palace Museum of China and KCHR of India have been conducting collaborative projects since 2013. In October, 2016, KCHR was invited to the Palace Museum in Beijing and Jingdezhen, known as the "Porcelain Capital" in Jiangxi Province, for field expeditions and training, with academic and communicative purposes. For 2017, a new joint team will be formed by KCHR, University of Kerela and The Palace Museum of China, to further explore Kollam Port Site.Countless times over the past three months, Kobe Bryant struggled against the question that trailed him like a shadow:
"What are you working on?"
To outsiders, he had no easy answer, nothing that the Los Angeles Lakers icon felt that satisfied what he and 15 others had dedicated so many hours toward in his Newport Beach office. But the queries never ceased, as many wondered how an NBA star-turned-civilian was spending his first non-Lakers season in two decades. More specifically, people wondered what inroads he'd made in the storytelling realm, the one that he said throughout his final season would occupy an obsession that once belonged solely to basketball.
But from late December through Saturday, what could Bryant say, exactly? That he was spearheading a project that kept ballooning in size and scope -- and that it involved a puppet and an elaborate cardboard city that spanned a conference room, as well as a stop-motion train animation inspired, in part, by a 1920s German director, featuring a song inspired by a 1972 Bruce Lee movie, followed by an NBA montage narrated by Paige O'Hara, the voice of Belle from "Beauty and the Beast"?
He could've made passing references to "Fantasia" and "Sesame Street," both inspirations, or mentioned going over dialogue with his two young daughters. He could've explained that the Los Angeles Children's Chorus sang in the opening sequence, or how and why he picked the colors in each scene, for they all represented different emotions to convey -- green meant learning and growth; red was passion and aggression; purple was curiosity.
Kobe Bryant on building Canvas City: "The world-building part came pretty quickly, once the idea set in." Kevin Winter/Getty Images
The project would amount to the public's first true glimpse of the ambitious storytelling to which Bryant aspires in his NBA afterlife, and as it kept venturing further beyond what he considered the sports genre's rigid editorial confines, boiling its essence into layman's terms became a chore.
Here he was bringing to life an idea that he had carried for three years, the concept of a personal cage filled with everything that drives anyone, good and bad -- light and dark muses, as he calls them. Yes, it was better for someone to see a glimpse of everything being developed in person, which is what Bryant relayed to Kevin Wildes, ESPN's vice president of original content, a few weeks before Sunday, when Bryant unveiled the finished product, a 10-minute video presentation titled "Canvas City: Musecage," which aired during ABC's "NBA Countdown" pregame show.
The piece was the second of six that Bryant agreed to direct, write and create for ESPN as part of his "Canvas" series, with each focused on an on-court topic. The first, titled "Guarding the Greats," aired on Christmas Day and ran for 5 minutes and 45 seconds. But in the days and weeks that followed, Bryant quickly became certain that his next piece would require nearly twice that length, a bold request for a 30-minute show.
"The key is to see the potential," Bryant said by phone Saturday, just after applying the video's final touches. "When I go into ESPN and say, 'Well, it's a puppet and so forth,' they kind of look at you like, 'What?' So when I went in and said, 'I want 10 minutes,' They were like, 'Hold on now. That's kind of crazy.' I said, 'Listen, I have to have these 10 minutes. Trust me.'"
Ultimately, Bryant convinced the New York City-based Wildes to visit his office in Newport Beach. "If you could come down here and see it, then you can be in the room and see us building it, and you can feel the spirit of it," Bryant said. There, Wildes saw the world a single member of Bryant's team built -- dozens of colorful cardboard structures, each expertly detailed and intersected by streets and working trains, a setup that stretched across a room.
"The first thing I thought of was 'Sesame Street,' 'Canvas Street,'" Bryant says. "So I wrote a jingle for 'Canvas Street.' And I was like, 'Whoa, no -- street?' It can be bigger: 'Canvas City.' We can have different parts of the world -- the downtown portion represents something, this represents something. Then once that came to me, then it became very easy for me to start populating the world and the rules of it. The world-building part came pretty quickly once the idea set in."
"It wasn't even a thought that this was risk-taking or anything like that. We just let the art lead us and where it goes, it goes."
By that point, Bryant's video was still in draft form, but he showed Wildes segments of the animation they had created and passionately explained his vision for the finished product. Just as Bryant devoted himself to the details within the game and never feared taking big shots, so too did those same sentiments echo across this project. But what others might see as bold or fearless, he says he just considers necessary.
"It just makes sense to us," Bryant says, referencing the group that he also worked with on his 2015 documentary, "Muse." "If you talk to us, everybody that worked on it, it's like, 'Well, why wouldn't we?' You have an idea and then you go with it and then, [it's like], 'Oh, we think we can make it better.' And you just create. So it wasn't even a thought that this was risk-taking or anything like that. We just let the art lead us, and where it goes, it goes."
Says Wildes, "The guy looks at the game totally differently than everybody else, and this is representative of that, and we want to be supportive of that process. It feels like the tip of the iceberg of something big. This is a world that he's creating. It's an inspiring project that has a strong point of view. It's unlike anything that we've seen in the basketball space."
And Bryant says he's certainly appreciative of Wildes' support. "To his credit, he took a leap of faith," Bryant says. "If you're sitting there and you're saying, 'OK, Kobe Bryant is writing and directing something.' It's kind of like 'wink wink.' But everybody -- the folks at ESPN, ABC -- took a leap of faith, and we just tried to make sure we didn't let them or anybody else down."
The video culminates with a beneath-the-surface breakdown of MVP candidates James Harden and Russell Westbrook, who face off Sunday, but Bryant sought to do much more than explain how those two point guards attack, say, a pick-and-roll. Expanding the conversation beyond basketball became a focal point, especially with teaching lessons through sport to a younger audience.
"Sometimes it gets a little redundant to be the one always telling your kids, 'This is what you do; this is how you shoot; this is how should think about this or that,'" Bryant says. "So I said it would be awesome just to create a show. If I had a show that my kids could watch and learn how to better their best, what would that show entail? It would entail songs. It would entail animation, puppetry, comedy and a lot of visual representations of things they should be learning."
Bryant bounced certain ideas off his own daughters, especially dialogue, and while there were certain lines that he wanted to cut, they convinced him otherwise. "This is really my first introduction to the world of actually writing dialogue," he says, "and so the best way to do that is to kind of go through that with your kids and see what catches and what doesn't."
For as foreign as the dialogue and other aspects may have been to Bryant, he says they weren't as taxing as the Harden-Russell segment.
"It was the hardest thing to write because I have to communicate these very high-level schemes in a way that's very easily digestible," Bryant says, "but also visually stimulating and then have to write it in a way where I can connect James and Russell, because I wanted to touch on both of them and not just an MVP conversation, but actually how are they going about doing these things.
"And then look sequentially at why they give teams headaches. So looking at it beat by beat, this leads to this, [then] leads to that, [then] to that. That's why they give teams so many headaches, because they can hit those four actions."
The video's puppet -- named "Little Mamba" -- pays tribute to the "Sesame Street" formula that Bryant believes is timeless, and composer Paul Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is featured in part because Bryant loved its role in Disney's 1940 animated concert film "Fantasia." The train sequence is an homage to German-born Lotte Reiniger, a pioneer of silhouette animation, and the Western song playing in the background is a nod to "Fists of Fury," starring Bruce Lee.
"These are things that I grew up listening to and watching and digesting," Bryant says, "so it's only right that I regurgitate them through my art."
But, of course, many of the elements also draw from Bryant's career. The train, for instance, trudges up a mountain toward a trophy, despite facing fear, failure and injury -- all obstacles that stood before Bryant at various points during his time with the Lakers.
Famously, Bryant channeled his rage and unleashed it against opponents. The signature characteristic of his "Black Mamba" persona, and lyrics in the video reflect that same ideal:
This is the face of a man with a dark musecage
Darkness is the light in his eyes he runs with rage
There's nothing you can do
There's nothing you can say
Hatred is the love in his heart he plays with hate
Run watch him run
Watch him run watch him run
This is the face of a man with a dark musecage
Darkness is the light in his eyes he runs with rage
Everything you do
Everything you say
He will simply use as fuel to power his game
He will simply use as fuel to power his game
"I landed on the fact that a lot of times these dark musings, these things that happen in people's lives, you either bury them deep within you, try to ignore them, or you let them overwhelm you and deter you from living the life that you dream of, that you hope to have," Bryant said. "I saw that as being the most important thing. Instead of having those two options, there's a third -- that's using those as fuel, using those as things to motivate you. And if you look around, with all the people that have created great things, those great things all came from dark places, generally, whether it be Michael Jordan, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Oprah -- all these experiences come from dark places that they then used those dark experiences to create light."
Given the varying elements, atypical length and avant-garde flair, Bryant acknowledges that the reception could likewise vary, but he has a specific overarching goal in terms of reaction. He wants parents to see it, then call on their children to watch it, too, and for everyone to bond over universal lessons.
"If we can inspire every child, every child athlete in the world, and then inspire grownup athletes to find every kid within themselves all over again, then we're good," Bryant says.
If Bryant raised the stakes from his first video to the second, it only follows that he'll continue to do so from here. "We want to build a series out of it," he says. "We want to build things that continue to teach kids how to better their best."
And this fictional world that he built is, he says, is a foundation.
"In that world there, we have a movie theater called the Imaginarium," he begins. "Inside the Imaginarium is where you have all these magical basketball breakdowns that take place for kids to come in and watch and observe and learn from. It's been thought out to enable us to pivot and do short-form content, really long content, novels, films, whatever. The runway is there."
After a long week filled with late nights to polish the video, and less than 24 hours before it finally aired, Bryant described his emotions not as nervous or anxious but simply excited.
"I've already started writing the next one," he said. Bryant isn't ready to reveal any details just yet. "I've got a really good feeling," he says. "I think it's going to be really, really good."Overview (4)
Mini Bio (1)
Jackie Coogan was born into a family of vaudevillians where his father was a dancer and his mother had been a child star. On the stage by four, Jackie was touring at the age of five with his family in Los Angeles, California.
While performing on the stage, he was spotted by Charles Chaplin, who then and there planned a movie in which he and Jackie would star. To test Jackie, Chaplin first gave him a small part in A Day's Pleasure (1919), which proved that he had a screen presence. The movie that Chaplin planned that day was The Kid (1921), where the Tramp would raise Jackie and then lose him. The movie was very successful and Jackie would play a child in a number of movies and tour with his father on the stage.
By 1923, when he made Daddy (1923), he was one of the highest paid stars in Hollywood. He would leave First National for MGM where they put him into Long Live the King (1923). By 1927, at the age of 13, Coogan had grown up on the screen and his career was starting to go through a downturn. His popular film career would end with the classic tales of Tom Sawyer (1930) and Huckleberry Finn (1931).
In 1935, his father died and his mother married Arthur Bernstein, who was his business manager. When he wanted the money that he made as a child star in the 1920s, his mother and stepfather refused his request and Jackie filed suit for the approximately $4 million that he had made. Under California law at the time, he had no rights to the money he made as a child, and he was awarded only $126,000 in 1939. Because of the public uproar, the California Legislature passed the Child Actors Bill, also known as the Coogan Act, which would set up a trust fund for any child actor and protect his earnings.
In 1937, Jackie married Betty Grable and the marriage lasted for three years. During World War II, he would serve in the army and return to Hollywood after the war. Unable to restart his career, he worked in B-movies, mostly in bit parts and usually playing the heavy. It was in the 1950s that he started appearing on television and he acted in as many shows as he could. By the 1960s, he would be in two completely different television series, but both were comedies. The first one was McKeever and the Colonel (1962), where he played Sgt. Barnes in a military school from 1962 to 1963. The second series was the classic The Addams Family (1964), where he played Uncle Fester opposite Gomez and Morticia from 1964 to 1966. After that, he would continue making appearances on a number of television shows and a handful of movies. He died of a heart attack in 1984.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com>
Spouse (4)
Trivia (28)
Son of Jack Coogan Sr. and Lillian Coogan, vaudeville performers who put him on stage as part of their act when he was just 16 months old.
Older brother of Robert Coogan
Grandfather of actor Keith Coogan
In 1935, at age 21, he had the traumatic experience of losing his father, Jack Coogan Sr., and his best friend, actor Junior Durkin, when both were killed in an auto accident in the California mountains. Durkin died almost instantly at the scene, and Coogan Sr., who had been driving, a few hours later at a local hospital. Jackie, though badly injured, was the sole survivor of the accident. He would later call it the single saddest day of his life.
Although he eventually reconciled with his mother and stepfather after the lawsuit over his earnings, things were never the same, and his advice to future child stars was "stay away from mothers."
Always considered his proudest moment his 1972 reunion with Charles Chaplin. After two decades of exile from the United States, Chaplin returned in March of that year to receive the Handel Medallion in New York City and a special lifetime achievement Oscar in Hollywood. Coogan was one of several people on hand to greet Chaplin when he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport. After greeting the other members of the party with perfunctory handshakes, Chaplin, immediately recognized Coogan (whom he hadn't seen in decades), warmly embraced him, saying, "You know, I think I would rather see you than anybody else." Chaplin later told Coogan's wife, "You must never forget that your husband is a genius.".
When he was cast as Uncle Fester on The Addams Family (1964), Coogan was 50 years old and nearly broke. After the series ended in 1966, he never lacked work again, with numerous television and film appearances.
His contract with Metro earned him $1 million per year. After money problems with his parents, he helped to organize and get passed in law the Coogan Bill, which protected child actors from such abuse in the future.
Biography |
Suffolk cannot be labeled a central bank, due to its "lack of quantitative control" over the money supply, but this is not correct.[4] The system most certainly did have control over the money supply; else it would have been entirely ineffective. Unlike the modern central banks, though, the Suffolk system was specifically designed to restrict excess circulation of paper bank notes.[5] The directors would frequently threaten any member bank with redemption of their paper notes for the promised gold if they believed that bank to be inflating beyond the bounds of safety. They were aware of an important economic truth — it is the quality rather than the quantity of money that matters.
Contemporaries pointed to the greatest contribution the system made to the people of New England: because it forced all members to maintain a "high ratio of specie to net demand liabilities" the New England banks avoided the carnage experienced elsewhere in the banking industry during the Panic of 1837. The Bank Commission of Maine would later claim that, "The Suffolk System … has proved to be a great safeguard of the public."[6]
By 1858 Suffolk was clearing over $400 million worth of notes per year (ten times the entire money supply of New England[7]) and paying out a higher dividend (and enjoying a higher stock price) than any of her peers.[8] Naturally, this meant things were soon to come to an inglorious end. Upon the entry of a competitor (the Bank of Mutual Redemption) into a market Suffolk had previously held all to itself, the Suffolk Bank grabbed its ball and walked off the field in a huff. It was not forced out of business; it simply quit the note-clearing business.
In a research piece published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in 2000, the authors ended with the question, "Is there a need for a government-sponsored central bank?"[9] Considering the fact the Suffolk system "grew up without any act of the legislature" we have our answer: "not at all."[10]
[bio] See [AuthorName]'s [AuthorArchive]. Comment on the blog. You can subscribe to future articles by [AuthorName] via this [RSSfeed].In recent years, the Dept. of Transportation has been cracking down on airlines, especially discount carriers, for advertising airfares that don’t actually represent what consumers will end up paying. With the latest round of rule changes having just kicked in, low-budget airline Spirit is fighting back, telling its customers that this is all about the government trying to hide higher taxes in airfares.
In an e-mail sent out to customers (see screengrab at bottom of story), Spirit writes:
New government regulations require us to HIDE taxes in your fares. This is not consumer-friendly or in your best interest. It’s wrong and you shouldn’t stand for it. Starting January 24, 2012, fares are distorted. Why?
Thanks to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s latest fare rules, Spirit must now HIDE the government’s taxes and fees in your fares. If the government can hide taxes in your airfares, then they can carry out their hidden agenda and quietly increase their taxes. (Yes, such talks are already underway.) And if they can do it to the airline industry, what’s next?
As the transparency leader and most consumer-friendly airline, Spirit DOES NOT support this new USDOT mandate. We believe the better form of transparency is to break out costs so customers know exactly what they’re buying.
Some might take issue with Spirit’s classification of itself as the “most consumer-friendly airline,” considering it was the carrier that introduced fees for carry-ons (which they called a “consumer benefit”), think you should have to pay to speak to a human being, and believe you should be charged $5 to have your boarding pass printed at the airport.
Most recently, Spirit was fined $50,000 by the DOT over Tweets touting $9 flights that didn’t exactly cost $9.
Thanks to Jeff for the tip!HONG KONG (Reuters) - Teenagers who spend excessive amounts of time on the Internet are one and a half times more likely to develop depression than moderate web users, a study in China has found.
Researcher Lawrence Lam described some of the signs of excessive use spending at least five to more than 10 hours a day on the web, agitation when the teens is not in front of the computer and loss of interest in social interaction.
“Some spend more than 10 hours a day, they are really problematic users and they show signs and symptoms of addictive behavior... browsing the Internet, playing games,” said Lam, co-author of the paper which was published on Tuesday in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
“They can’t get their minds off the Internet, they feel agitated if they don’t get back on after a short period of being away,” the psychologist at Sydney’s University of Notre Dame’s School of Medicine said in a telephone interview.
“They don’t want to see friends, don’t want to join family gatherings, don’t want to spend time with parents or siblings.”
The study involved 1,041 teenagers aged between 13 and 18 years in China’s southern Guangzhou city who were free of depression at the start of the investigation.
Nine months later, 84 of them were assessed as suffering from depression and those who were on the Internet excessively were one-and-a-half times more vulnerable than moderate users.
“Results suggested that young people who are initially free of mental health problems but use the Internet pathologically could develop depression as a consequence,” wrote Lam, who co-authored the paper with Zi-wen Peng at the Sun Yat-Sen University’s School of Public Health in Guangzhou.
The depression might be a result of lack of sleep and stress from competitive online games, he explained.
“People who spend so much time on the Internet will lose sleep and it is a very well established fact that the less one sleeps, the higher the chances of depression,” Lam said.
Lam said this was the first study looking into pathological use of the Internet as a possible cause for depression.
A previous study pointed to depression as a possible causal factor for Internet addiction, while several other studies showed a link between the two without clearly pointing which was the cause and which one the result.
Lam called for schools to screen students for Internet addiction, so they may receive counseling and treatment.Get the latest from TODAY Sign up for our newsletter
April 21, 2016, 12:28 PM GMT / Updated April 21, 2016, 2:30 PM GMT / Source: TODAY By Eun Kyung Kim
GOP front-runner Donald Trump — with his family at this side — paid a visit Thursday morning to the TODAY Plaza to answer voters' questions in a live town hall.
After his wife, Melania, and adult children spoke on behalf of the candidate, Trump answered questions submitted by people in the crowd and through social media.
Here are some of the highlights:
Q: Tell us your views of LGBT and how you plan to be inclusive. Please speak about the North Carolina bathroom law.
A: "North Carolina did something that was very strong and they’re paying a big price and there's a lot of problems," said Trump, who would have left things as they were. "There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate, there has been so little trouble."
He said that instead, the new law has brought tremendous economic "strife" for the state, including various boycotts by entertainers and major businesses. "Leave it the way it is."
Q: Regarding news that Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill: Was the move an act of political correctness or a long-overdue gesture?
A: Trump hailed Jackson as a president with a “great history of tremendous success” and said he would rather leave Jackson on the bill. ”I think it’s pure political correctness. Been on the bill for many, many years and really represented somebody that was very important to this country,” he said. He suggested putting Tubman on the $2 bill or creating a new one altogether. “I would love to see another denomination, and that could take place, I think it would be more appropriate.”
Q: Would you want to change the Republican platform so that exceptions would be made on abortions in the case of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother?
A: “Absolutely, for the three exceptions, I would,” he said. Trump was then pressed further and asked if he would make an exception to protect the “health” of the mother. “I would leave it for the life of the mother, but I would absolutely have the three exceptions.”
Q: Do you believe in raising taxes on the wealthy?
A: "I do, I do, including myself. I do."
Q: Your wife, Melania, has suggested you act presidential. Can you tell us some of the things you’ve done to behave that way?
A: Trump admitted he’s had to “hit back very hard” at his opponents, particularly when there were more than a dozen of them in the Republican race. He insisted he had no choice.
RELATED: Melania Trump reveals the 1 habit she wishes Donald would give up
“I think if I didn’t, if I acted very presidential, I wouldn’t be sitting up here today, somebody else might be. It wouldn’t be me,” he said. But he promised to show more of his diplomatic side, particularly now that the race is down to three candidates, two of whom he predicted will be eliminated "very soon."
"At the right time, I will be so presidential, you will be so bored. You will say, 'Can he have a little bit more energy?' But I know when to be presidential."
On Wednesday, Trump campaigned in Maryland, ahead of the state's primary next Tuesday. Trump scored a campaign boost earlier this week when he easily won the Republican primary held in his home state of New York. He won with a higher percentage than in any other state, a victory that provided a crucial momentum shift after losing a major race in Wisconsin to rival Ted Cruz.
New York gave Trump a boost in convention delegates, but whether he could win the nomination outright before the summer remains uncertain.
Donald Trump at TODAY's Town Hall meeting, April 21st 2016 Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
Despite winning numerous state primaries and caucuses, polls continue to show Trump as the single most unpopular Republican candidate.The New England Patriots might have spent Wednesday extracting information from former Indianapolis Colts running back Dion Lewis.
The Patriots worked out Lewis on Wednesday, a source familiar with the situation told NESN.com. The tryout first was reported by ProFootballTalk.
Lewis signed with the Colts on Sept. 9 and was released Sept. 16. The Patriots play the Colts on Sunday night.
Lewis was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft out of Pittsburgh. He has 36 career carries for 171 yards with two touchdowns and three receptions for 21 yards.
Lewis spent the 2013 season with the Cleveland Browns after being traded by the Eagles for linebacker Emmanuel Acho.
The 5-foot-8, 195-pound running back ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at his Pittsburgh pro day in 2011. He ran a 6.90-second three-cone drill and 4.18-second short shuttle at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Photo via Ron Schwane/USA TODAY Sports ImagesOBJECTIVE:
We sought to determine the relationship of greater adherence to Mediterranean diet (MeD) and likelihood of incident cognitive impairment (ICI) and evaluate the interaction of race and vascular risk factors.
METHODS:
A prospective, population-based, cohort of individuals enrolled in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study 2003-2007, excluding participants with history of stroke, impaired cognitive status at baseline, and missing data on Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ), was evaluated. Adherence to a MeD (scored as 0-9) was computed from FFQ. Cognitive status was evaluated at baseline and annually during a mean follow-up period of 4.0 ± 1.5 years using Six-item-Screener.
RESULTS:
ICI was identified in 1,248 (7%) out of 17,478 individuals fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Higher adherence to MeD was associated with lower likelihood of ICI before (odds ratio [lsqb]OR[rsqb] 0.89; 95% confidence interval [lsqb]CI[rsqb] 0.79-1.00) and after adjustment for potential confounders (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.76-1.00) including demographic characteristics, environmental factors, vascular risk factors, depressive symptoms, and self-reported health status. There was no interaction between race (p = 0.2928) and association of adherence to MeD with cognitive status. However, we identified a strong interaction of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.0134) on the relationship of adherence to MeD with ICI; high adherence to MeD was associated with a lower likelihood of ICI in nondiabetic participants (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.70-0.94; p = 0.0066) but not in diabetic individuals (OR 1.27; 95% CI 0.95-1.71; p = 0.1063).
CONCLUSIONS:
Higher adherence to MeD was associated with a lower likelihood of ICI independent of potential confounders. This association was moderated by presence of diabetes mellitus.In the first installment of this series, I introduced readers to Jeffrey Lang, a convicted felony embezzler who's currently sitting in jail without bail facing fraud and forgery charges in Sacramento County. I also introduced, anonymously, the two women who have brought the charges against Lang. They belong to a group of six women, all of whom allege they entered an intimate relationship with Lang, only to be swindled to the collective tune of tens of thousands of dollars.
The subject of this installment requires no anonymity. Bruce McFarland knows firsthand the kind of financial damage Lang can do. In 2007, Lang and a co-worker reached into the financial heart of McFarland's Humboldt County advertising agency and proceeded to bleed it to death. By the time McFarland caught on to them, it was too late.
In 2012, Lang pleaded guilty to embezzling $160,000 from McFarland's now-defunct advertising agency and was sentenced to 180 days in jail and five years probation. Lang was later ordered to pay McFarland $160,000 in restitution. Lang reportedly served just 50 days behind bars, and according to McFarland, has only paid slightly more than $1,000 in restitution to date.
McFarland's not happy about Lang's punishment or the paltry restitution so far, but that's not the main reason he called me after the first installment of this series was published last week.
He was worried that readers might think that Lang is “just some gigolo who goes on dating sites and scams women. He's not just schmoozing money. He's way smarter than that.”
McFarland spent two decades growing his Humboldt County advertising agency, which designed and placed advertisements in local media for its clients. He hired Lang as a sales rep in 2001. Everything was humming along smoothly until March, 2007, when McFarland's bank called and informed him the company credit card was maxed out at $70,000 and the payment was past due.
That was news to McFarland, since he was the only person authorized to use the card and he always made sure to zero out the balance every month. His credit card company's policy was to not send a bill when the balance was zeroed out, and he'd received no bills at the office indicating otherwise.The next day, he confronted his office manager, Marcie Wright, with the discrepancy. When her jaw dropped, McFarland sensed she was guilty and was ready to go to the police when Lang stepped in with a seemingly preposterous offer.
Lang offered to buy the company from McFarland for the amount of the outstanding credit debt, which totaled $160,000, in exchange for McFarland not going to the police.
From that moment on, McFarland began to suspect Lang and Wright were in cahoots, and he turned out to be right. He discovered that in addition to the credit card debt, Lang and Wright had been forging his name on company checks. In Lang's case, it turned out to be 120 checks totaling $135,000. Wright, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor embezzlement charges in 2012, forged 32 checks totaling $23,000.
“If you knew you'd been caught running up $160,000 in credit card debt, wouldn't you stop forging checks?” asked McFarland, who says he's the kind of guy who always returns change to the cashier when the mistake is in his favor, even if the cashier tries to refuse it.
“But No! They continued forging checks at a higher pace!”
As McFarland continued investigating the “spider-web of electronic payments” coursing through his company's accounts, he began to encounter resistance from the bank and law enforcement. The bank seemed more interested in how it was going to get paid, not Lang's shady activities. The local district attorney's office seemed at first reluctant to prosecute a case with such complex financial shenanigans.
Estimating that Lang and Wright may have grifted him for up to a half-million dollars, which he stood little chance of recovering, McFarland accepted Lang's dubious offer to buy his company for $160,000, the amount of the credit card debt. In October, 2007 McFarland stepped away from the company and Lang took control.
The idea was that Lang and Wright would continue the business under a new name and pay McFarland the $160,000 within six months. But McFarland says the money Lang claimed to be raising from family members never materialized, and by December, McFarland's former advertising agency was evicted from the building that had housed it for 25 years.
“I thought if he can come up with money—the credit card debt was more than the value of our house,” said McFarland, now 63. Back then, his son was just getting ready to go to college and he and his wife were just beginning to contemplate retirement. The possibility they might lose it all was very real.
“My accountant was stunned because he realized he'd been lied to,” McFarland said. “He'd been shown a false set of books somehow. Once it all hit the fan, it fell apart like a house of cards.”
The ad agency collapsed and after six months went by without payment from Lang, McFarland filed charges against Lang and Wright with the Humboldt County District Attorney's office in May, 2008.
In July, Eureka Police Department detective Ron Prose was assigned the case. McFarland claims Prose was dubious at first, because the story was so incredible, but is now a “true believer” when it comes to Lang's criminality. Having spoken to Prose about the case several times, including last week, I can attest to that fact.
McFarland, Prose and the district attorney put together a solid case against Lang and Wright, the forged checks offering particularly devastating evidence, and the co-conspirators were looking at potential prison sentences.
But behind the scenes, a sea change was taking place in California's criminal justice system. The state Legislature passed AB 109 prison realignment in 2011 in order to decrease the state's unconstitutionally overcrowded prisons. Under the new rules, Lang and Wright were classified as non-violent, non-serious, non-sexual offenders eligible for shorter sentences in the county jail instead of longer sentences in the state prison.
“When I first started working with the DA's office in 2008, anything over $100,000 meant they were going to prison,” McFarland said. Counting the forged checks, credit card fraud and other illegal electronic transactions, the total amount embezzled from the company was $380,000 according to Prose; McFarland thinks it was significantly more than that, because the statute of limitations for such financial crimes only goes back one year.
At any rate, during the plea-bargaining process, the charges against Lang and Wright were whittled down to mainly just the check forgeries in exchange for guilty pleas. McFarland remains upset that Wright was allowed to plea to lesser misdemeanor charges and not the same felony charges as Lang, since she had provided him with access to the company's accounts.
“Without her, he wouldn't have gotten one penny,” McFarland said.
Lang pleaded guilty to embezzlement and after friends and family members offered testimony to his uprightness and trustworthiness, he was sentenced to 180 days in the county jail in April, 2012, nearly four years after McFarland first filed charges.
According to Prose, Lang served just 50 days behind bars before being placed in the work-release program.
“50 days in jail for half-a- million dollars is a good deal!” McFarland said. “That's not a punishment. It's not a discouragement or deterrent. As long as he never amounts to anything, he's got nothing to lose. The only thing they have to lose that you can take away is their freedom.”
In April, 2013, Lang was ordered to pay McFarland $160,000 in restitution—the amount of the 120 forged company checks plus several other forgeries committed as the company was going down in financial flames in 2007.
Not long after that court order was issued, I encountered Lang in Sacramento, where he approached me to edit a magazine project, as mentioned in the first installment of this series.
McFarland learned about the project through the grapevine and suffered mixed emotions. On the one hand, he hadn't been able to rebuild his business, which Lang helped destroy, so why should Lang even be allowed to own and operate a magazine? On the other hand, if the magazine turned out to be successful, Lang might actually pay him back.
The magazine wasn't successful and McFarland's still waiting to be paid back. The honest-to-a-fault business owner paid down his former company's $160,000 credit card debt himself, receiving only a limited discount from the bank. He has no regrets about prosecuting Lang, even if he's not happy with the results.
“This person is not a high school drop-out from a broken home. He has work experience, he's a college graduate. He has advantages many people don't, yet he made a conscious decision to hurt people,” McFarland said.
I could almost hear him shaking his head over the telephone.
“You've got to make the consequences serious or he'll walk.”
Being in the promotions business most of his adult career, McFarland says he toyed with the idea of mounting a political campaign, “Sensible Sentences,” to protest the change wrought by AB 109, Prop 47 and other criminal justice reforms in California. His family convinced him to drop the idea.
“Court cases drag on for years, I caught them at this in 2007,” he said. “I'm just seeing pennies on the dollar.”
He's spent the better part of a decade watching Jeffrey Lang escape the consequences of what most people, if not the state's criminal justice system, would consider a serious crime.
He has two pieces of advice for anyone seeking to hold Lang legally accountable for his actions. First, if you believe you've been grifted by Lang and are contemplating filing a civil suit in small claims court, do so immediately, while Lang remains incarcerated at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Sacramento County awaiting trial and he can easily be served a legal summons.
Second, those pursuing criminal charges against Lang should immediately file a “victim's right
of notification” with their respective district attorneys. According to the state Department of Justice:
“[A] victim has the right to reasonable notice of all public proceedings, including delinquency proceedings, upon request, at which the defendant and the prosecutor are entitled to be present and of all parole or other post-conviction release proceedings, and to be present at all such proceedings.”
Such proceedings include Lang's next hearing, which I'll be attending at Sacramento County Superior Court on Mon., Feb. 6. It may be in progress as you're reading this.
In the next installment, I'll write about the hearing and meeting Jeff Lang's latest alleged victims in person.President-elect Donald Trump at Carrier Corp. in Indianapolis on Dec. 1. (Darron Cummings/AP)
Moshe Marvit is a labor and employment lawyer and a fellow at the Century Foundation. He is the co-author of “Why Labor Organizing Should be a Civil Right.”
Donald Trump hung his winning presidential campaign on the idea that he alone could bring back American jobs. He won industrial Midwestern states that had voted Democratic for years in large part by pledging to restore the glory days for workers there. After the election, he even made a big show of pushing two companies to cancel plans to close U.S. factories and open new ones in Mexico.
But now that he’s preparing to take office, it’s becoming clear Trump has no idea how to keep his promises. Presidents can’t save every job, but the federal government does have the power to stand up for workers. So far, though, Trump looks like he’s more interested in attacking labor unions than he is in helping the workers they represent.
[Union leader: “Trump lied his a– off” about the Carrier deal]
Wednesday night, Trump sent out several tweets attacking an Indiana union, the United Steelworkers Local 1999, and its president, Chuck Jones. The tweets appeared to be a response to Jones’s accusations that Trump’s original announcement that he had saved 1,100 jobs at the Carrier plant in Indiana from moving to Mexico were heavily inflated. It now appears that only 730 of the production jobs would stay in Indiana, and Jones accused Trump of pulling “a dog and pony show on the numbers.”
Based on these tweets, and many of the statements he has made about companies abandoning traditional high-paying union jobs, Trump might benefit from learning from recent history about what he can do as president to help workers.
In late 2009, Boeing decided to build its 787 Dreamliner factory in South Carolina instead of Washington state because of the militancy of union Boeing workers in Washington state. In April 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint alleging that Boeing had violated workers’ rights by retaliating against them (by building in South Carolina instead of Washington state) for engaging in union activity.
[Carrier just showed corporations how to beat Donald Trump]
In response, the Republican Party went wild. Congress held hearings. South Carolina Republicans, in particular, pushed back: Then-Sen. Jim DeMint announced from the Senate floor that the administration was “acting like thugs that you might see in a Third World country trying to bully and intimidate employers.” Sen. Lindsey O. Graham threatened to defund the NLRB’s Boeing complaint; then-Rep. Tim Scott introduced the Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act, which sought to strip the NLRB of many of its powers to reinstate workers who have had their labor rights violated. Presidential hopefuls Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich proclaimed in a debate that the NLRB should be destroyed or defunded as a result of the Boeing complaint.
While the political threats against the NLRB ramped up, Boeing and the Machinists entered into secret negotiations. Eventually they settled the case to both parties’ satisfaction, but it is not clear that such a settlement would have been possible in the absence of the NLRB’s actions.
Soon after the much-publicized Boeing case, General Electric (GE) tried something similar, but was far more successful because the NLRB did not act. GE has long had a factory in Erie, Pa., that produces locomotives and motorized wheel sets for off-highway vehicles. These jobs are the sort of high-paying manufacturing union jobs in the Rust Belt that people long for. However, starting in 2010, and continuing to today, GE began transferring many of these jobs to a new Fort Worth facility, which is nonunion, lower paid and less efficient.
The union representing the workers, United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America, filed a charge with the NLRB that argued that GE’s actions violated labor law. Unfortunately, the NLRB declined to act, and many of these jobs that support the struggling city of Erie have been lost.
Trump visited Erie in August, and he made promises to bring GE jobs back. And Trump won Erie, which has traditionally voted Democratic, and which President Obama carried by 16 points in 2012. I suspect that these workers in Erie, as well as those throughout the Rust Belt and Midwest, expect Trump to keep his promises and save their jobs.
But his campaign against Jones calls that commitment into question.
[Trump’s Carrier deal is the opposite of conservatism]
If Trump has any interest in keeping his promises to American workers, here’s what he can do. The “runaway shop,” where companies transfer work to nonunion facilities to save on labor costs, has largely been tolerated under American labor law. But the president-elect can show that he cares deeply about this issue by appointing NLRB members and a general counsel who believe labor law can effectively be used as a deterrent for such corporate decisions. Every union worker I’ve ever talked to who is facing the loss of their job because of the company’s decision to move to save on labor costs has connected the dots: They are being punished for exercising their rights to organize a union and secure a strong contract. The National Labor Relations Act protects workers in their rights to organize a union and bargain collectively, and if a company makes its decision to transfer work to save money on better paying union jobs, then the NLRB should investigate and issue a complaint. And it should not matter if those companies are moving to another state — usually southern right-to-work states — or to another country, because the effect is still to replace well-paying jobs for low-paying jobs.
There is a limit to what one man, even the president, can do by only picking up the telephone and trying to make a deal. Trump can’t make every deal a Carrier deal. (Indeed, the more we learn about the true numbers behind Carrier, the more we learn that even Carrier was not the Carrier deal the workers were promised.) But there is a lot that a president can do to empower the NLRB to act on behalf of workers and protect them from their companies moving south or south of the border for a lower earning, nonunion, workforce. Trump will have to learn that if he wants to help workers, it won’t be through Twitter or sweetheart deals, but through his powers to appoint and give public direction to executive agencies.
[The numbers Trump gave on the Carrier deal are misleading]The leading Washington-based government watchdog reported today that when former first lady Hillary R. Clinton left her post as secretary of state, President Barack Obama’s administration restricted access to her records and permitted her to take boxes of documents out of the building with her.
“We already know the Obama State Department let Hillary Clinton steal and then delete her government emails, which included classified information,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
“These new records show that was only part of the scandal,” he said.
“These new documents show the Obama State Department had a deal with Hillary Clinton to hide her calls logs and schedules, which would be contrary to FOIA and other laws,” he said. “When are the American people going to get an honest investigation of the Clinton crimes?”
Trending: Conservative Journalist Jacob Engels Suspended On Twitter For Calling Out Radical Islam
Clinton and her deputy chief of staff Huma Abedin hauled out of Foggy Bottom with electronic and physical records with the full approval of the government after they filed paperwork claiming the materials were personal and unclassified and not subject to archival regulations–including Abedin personally taking away five boxes labeled “Muslim Engagement Documents,” the watchdog said.
Also removed from the State Department by Clinton were records stretching from 1993 to 2008, the period when she was the first lady and then a senator, as well as documents relating to gifts Clinton received as the nation’s top diplomat. Gifts received by federal employees are heavily regulated.
Judicial Watch said huge swaths records, which included files of Clinton’s calls and schedules, have been exempted from Freedom of Information requests, as revealed the watchdog’s request for all DS-1904, the department’s Authorization for the Removal of Personal Papers and Non-Record Materials form, submitted for Clinton, Abedin, as well as Cheryl Mills, Clinton’s State Department chief of staff and Jacob Sullivan, Clinton’s senior national security aide.
Mills, Abedin and Sullivan are the former first lady’s enduring troika of confidantes, who have helped her integrate her professional and personal ventures, like the Clinton Foundation, and her transitions from her Senate seat representing New York, her 2008 campaign for president, her four-year tenure at the State Department, her 2016 campaign for president and now her return to private life for the first time, since the 1970’s before her husband William J. Clinton began his political career.
The DS-1904’s were signed and approved by Clarence N. Finney Jr., who was then the director of correspondence and records for the State Department.
Judicial Watch said the records Clinton and her team removed from the State Department included:
Electronic copy of “daily files” – which are word versions of public documents and non-records: speeches/press statements/photos from the website, a non-record copy of the schedule, a non record copy of the call log, press clips, and agenda of daily activities Electronic copy of a log of calls the Secretary made since 2004, it is a non-record, since her official calls are logged elsewhere (official schedule and official call log) Electronic copy of the Secretary’s “call grid” which is a running list of calls she wants to make (both personal and official) 16 boxes: Personal Schedules (1993 thru 2008-prior to the Secretary’s tenure at the Department of State. 29 boxes: Miscellaneous Public Schedules during her tenure as FLOTUS and Senator-prior to the Secretary’s tenure at the Department of State 1 box: Personal Reimbursable receipts (6/25/2009 thru 1/14/2013) 1 box: Personal Photos 1 box: Personal schedule (2009-2013)CHN's Super Early Top 10 For 2017-18
by Joe Meloni/Senior Writer (@JoeMeloni)
It was just a couple weeks ago that Denver capped the 2016-17 season with a 3-2 win over Minnesota-Duluth to claim an eighth national championship. The Pioneers were every bit the best team in the country, emerging quickly as a national favorite and going to wire to wire to claim the highest honor.
There's no reason not to look ahead to next season, though. Already, we've seen a number of coaching changes and early departures that altered many of the expectations for the 2017-18 season, which is set to begin in Duluth, Minn., on Oct. 6.
We've seen players who starred in the NCAA tournament play in the NHL playoffs already, while others merely took the first step to promising professional careers. Plenty more will happen and we'll update our list as it does.
Some of the players on teams in our top 10 need may sign professional contracts. More coaches may come and go even still. However, there are some pretty clear favorites emerging for next season, so why not take a look?
1. Denver
A few weeks after winning a national championship, turns out the Pioneers may return more of their national championship squad than expected. Losing Will Butcher and an important assortment of depth forwards won't be easy for DU. However, Troy Terry (22-23—45), Henrik Borgstrom (22-21—43) and Dylan Gambrell (13-29—42) all look likely to return. Goaltender Tanner Jaillet is expected to be back for his senior year as well.
The recovery of Tariq Hammond from a dislocated ankle suffered in the national champion will be important for DU in the early season. The Pioneers also welcome in a typically strong freshman class, highlighted by defensemen Ian Mitchell and Griffin Mendel.
However, the most important bit of personnel news for the Pioneers, though, will be the fate of Jim Montgomery. The head coach entering his fifth season as the leader at DU has interviewed for the vacant Florida Panthers job. Should he leave, it's likely some of his blue-chip players will follow.
2. Notre Dame
The last time we saw Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish were being run off the ice by Denver in a national semifinal. UND lost, 6-1, and it seemed like they were going to do some more losing in the offseason. Anders Bjork and Cal Petersen seemed certain to forgo their senior seasons for professional contracts. They may still leave, however, it seems increasingly likely both will return.
If they do, Notre Dame, which loses almost nothing else from last year's team, will have everything it needs to compete for championships. In its first year in the Big Ten, the Fighting Irish should be favorites to win that league's championship and compete for even more. A talented recruiting class will arrive in South Bend next fall to add to the already deep team.
Should either Petersen or Bjork leave, expectations will change. For now, the Fighting Irish look like a serious contender.
Notably, our No. 1 and No. 2 teams here open the season against each other in October, helping start the season with a bang.
3. Providence
The Friars were already graduating three defensemen before Jake Walman opted to leave before his senior season. The move was expected, however, and PC is in good shape to absorb the loss and keep moving. PC brings back three of its top four scorers and nine players who had at least 12 points in 2016-17. Replacing the four defensemen who either graduated or left early will likely come with some growing pains. But nothing more than any other team will face.
The emergence of Hayden Hawkey in the second half of last season should go a long way to help PC. Hawkey was hardly dominant in his first season as PC's No. 1. He improved as year went over, however, posting a.913 for the season and a.920 in the season's second half. During the latter stage, PC was 15-6-2 to recover from a difficult start to the year. With so much offense coming back, a reliable goaltender and a strong freshman class, PC could in line for a title run.
4. Boston University
There were always going to be early departures for the Terriers this spring. The only problem was a few more trophies were supposed to come first. BU and its absurdly-talented roster managed only a share of a Hockey East regular-season title, losing on the Beanpot, Hockey East tournament and falling to |
and why, occasionally, their stressed mums living on the edge felt the need to strike them instead of calming them down with whispered promises and incantations.
Like the Named Persons Bill and the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act, the ban on smacking targets mainly poor and disadvantaged people. In the absence of anything since the dawn of devolution that has reduced health inequality and high mortality rates in disadvantaged communities the SNP has opted for the easy option. Instead of creating anything genuinely radical and life-enhancing for the vast majority of Scotland’s poor it has resorted to criminalising them.
Has teacher seen anything unusual in wee Wullie’s behaviour patterns recently? If so, assume the worst and contact the designated Named Person;no parental consent required. Officer, if you’ve observed any young football fans singing songs from Ireland’s history, kettle them, intimidate them, raid them at dawn and lock them up; we can look for the gangsters and the murderers another day.
Perhaps the SNP will issue the number for a helpline where anonymously you can report the next-door neighbours for smacking their poor children. The SNP seems bent on turning Scotland into a fantasy state; a holiday island for middle-class dilettantes where they can indulge their cultural fads and fetishes about how the working classes ought to behave.
They would need a sat-nav to find Shettleston or Possilpark and, if they did, they’d want to build a wall to protect the rest of us from all that smacking, all those unpleasant songs and all that swearing and anti-social behaviour. The SNP Government genuinely does not have a Scooby about the lives of real people. When Scotland gains its independence I hope it will disappear shortly thereafter.Three-and-a-half years after the debut of Siri, virtual assistants haven’t yet become a user interface element on par with, say, the mouse cursor — but that’s not through any lack of trying.
According to a new study carried out for Venture Beat, Siri not only defeats Microsoft rival Cortana and Google’s Google Now automated assistants in understanding English; it absolutely slays them when it comes to other languages.
¡Viva Siri!
As Venture Beat’s Sophie Salonga explains, to test the multilingual abilities of all three virtual assistants, the team posed 18 questions in English, Italian, French, German and Mandarin.
“We gave each question a possible score of 1.0, 0.5 and 0.0. Answers that scored a 1.0 gave our testers a quick and easy correct response. 0.5 answers weren’t quite as straightforward and came back with a list of search results, where somewhere within the clutter, we found the correct answer. 0.0 responses did not understand our questions, gave irrelevant search results, or by their own admission, stated that they could not complete the task.”
In a close-fought battle, Siri scored top in English, with a score of 14.5/18, followed by 11.5 for Google Now and 12.5 for Cortana.
It’s a strong defense against accusations that Apple has lost its edge when it comes to Siri.
It was the other languages where Siri really left her mark, however. In Italian, Siri scored an identical 14.5/18, while Google Now sank to 8.5 and Cortana landed with just 6/18. French and German results were reportedly similar to Italian — although Siri got marginally worse, while her two rivals got better — although not enough overtake Siri. Finally, in Mandarin, Siri scored a dazzling 13.5/18, while Google Now crashed and burned with 1.5 and Cortana struggled to a 5.
As the study concludes:
“Siri won this battle, Cortana was voted ‘most likely to go to web search’ and Google Now needs to go back to college and pick up a few Mandarin classes.”
While there is certainly an element of luck involved with the test, based on which questions happened to be asked, it’s also a strong defense on Siri’s part against accusations that Apple has lost its edge when it comes to virtual assistants.
Siri’s multilingual abilities are also particularly good at a time when Apple is pushing into new markets like China. With 955 million speakers worldwide (roughly three times the number of English speakers), Mandarin is by far the world’s most-spoken language. Tim Cook has talked about how China will become Apple’s primary market in the near future, and there’s no doubt that Siri can be a powerful tool in helping with adoption.
As Apple continues to grow in developing markets with lower rates of literacy, I can see virtual assistants which allow people to speak with their smartphones having a level of use they don’t in the U.S., where they essentially offer a substitute for text-based queries.
Apple’s growing its Siri team all the time, and while this test shows there’s still a way to go (using virtual assistants to check the stock market was something all three companies struggled with), this is definitely a net positive for Cupertino’s automated PA.
Source: Venture Beat
Via: iMore(CNN) As recently as June, Baylor University's football coaching staff seemed hopeful that defensive end Sam Ukwuachu would finally be taking the field for the Bears.
He would add depth to the defense for a team trying to reach the College Football Playoff after narrowly missing last year.
Instead, Ukwuachu was sentenced to six months behind bars and 10 years probation, according to CNN affiliates KTWK and KETK, for sexually assaulting a fellow Baylor student in 2013.
Much of this case remained a mystery until this month. In fact, the media and public had no idea this football player in a major program was even in trouble with the law.
It seemed that few knew he was in any legal trouble until an article earlier this month in the Waco (Texas) Tribune-Herald.
Sexual assault case initially stalled
Until the facts came out at trial this week, no public details were made available of what happened on homecoming night in October 2013. The woman, then a soccer player for Baylor, testified that she met Ukwuachu through the Baylor athletic tutoring program, the Waco paper reported. According to Texas Monthly, the woman testified that after agreeing to get something to eat or go to another party, he instead drove her to his apartment. She testified that the sexual assault took place in the bedroom.
Waco police interviewed the woman and filed a report but suspended the case. No arrest was made. CNN has reached out to Waco police but has not yet heard back. Baylor Associate Dean Bethany McCraw testified that "there was not enough evidence to move forward" in the school's investigation, according to the Waco paper.
The case was forwarded to the district attorney's office in March 2014. In June 2014, prosecutors received an indictment.
Before the trial, Ukwuachu's attorney Jonathan Sibley told the Waco Tribune-Herald that his client and the woman had a prior relationship and that the encounter was consensual.
"We are looking forward to the trial," Sibley told the newspaper. "Sam passed a polygraph exam, he's been cleared by Baylor and has graduated and is 100 percent innocent of these charges against him. He has done everything a man can do to clear his name, and he is looking forward to the trial so he can finally do that."
Previous red flag?
Before transferring to Baylor, Ukwuachu was named a freshman All-American when he was at Boise State University in 2012. That season, he had played in all 13 games for the Broncos, starting 12 of them. He sat out as a true freshman in 2011 and was redshirted.
In May 2013, Boise State announced that Ukwuachu was dismissed from the team for violating unspecified rules. No other details were made available.
According to records cited by the Waco paper, when Ukwuachu was at Boise State, he allegedly attacked his girlfriend while drinking and using drugs. The newspaper said records show that Ukwuachu broke a window and cut his arm, which led to a Boise police investigation. It's unclear if this incident led to Ukwuachu's dismissal from Boise State. CNN has reached out to the university but has not yet heard back.
At the trial this week, that former girlfriend in Idaho told the jury that Ukwuachu punched her in the head several times and choked her, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported. Ukwuachu denied the allegations.
The following month after he left Boise State, Ukwuachu told the Waco paper that he was transferring to Baylor. He declined to discuss his dismissal from Boise State.
"It was a personal issue that I don't want to go in depth with," Ukwuachu told the newspaper at the time. "But it wasn't a big issue. A minor problem occurred and the coaches decided I needed to get a fresh start with somebody else."
Baylor coach expected Ukwuachu to be back
Ukwuachu would have had two years of eligibility remaining had he played for Baylor. However, he never played a down for the Bears.
In 2014, he was suspended from the team, but reasons weren't given as to why, according to the Dallas Morning News. However, recently there were expectations from Baylor that Ukwuachu might take the field for the Bears for the 2015 season.
This is even despite his indictment in June 2014. The player's attorney, Sibley, told the Waco paper that Baylor would not let Ukwuachu play in 2014 once he was indicted but that he should be allowed to play if he were acquitted.
"Ukwuachu is a guy we're expecting to be back," Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Bennett said in June, a year after the indictment, according to the Dallas paper. "We expect him to be eligible in July. That gives us probably five or six guys we can play at end."
But all of that changed. Ukwuachu eventually was dismissed from the Baylor football team for violating unspecified rules, CNN affiliate KWTX-TV in Waco reported. Ukwuachu graduated from Baylor in May and was taking graduate courses before the trial. He still had a year of eligibility to play football after graduation, according to NCAA rules.
Report: Judge found Baylor investigation insufficient
According to Texas Monthly, Assistant District Attorney Hilary LaBorde told 54th District Judge Matt Johnson that Baylor's investigation consisted of interviewing Ukwuachu, his accuser and one friend of each. The article also said that LaBorde said that the school never saw the rape kit collected by the sexual assault nurse examiner. Texas Monthly reported that the judge sustained a motion from the prosecution that restricted the defense from referring to the Baylor investigation during trial because it was so insufficient.
The Waco Tribune-Herald reported that McCraw, the Baylor associate dean, testified that she did not review the nurse's report or review Boise State disciplinary records before making her determination in the investigation.
Following Ukwuachu's conviction, Baylor released a statement that "acts of sexual violence contradict every value Baylor University upholds as a caring Christian community." The school outlined steps taken there, such as staffing a Title IX office with two full-time investigators and supporting sexual assault survivors.
Baylor followed up Friday by stating that, after a meeting that afternoon, President and Chancellor Ken Starr ordered "a comprehensive internal inquiry into the circumstances associated with this case and the conduct of the offices involved." That review will be led by Jeremy Counseller, a law professor and former prosecutor.
"After analysis of his report, President Starr will determine what additional action may be necessary," the Waco school said.
Second chances not uncommon
Baylor head coach Art Briles said Friday that he was not aware of Ukwuachu's past. However, Texas Monthly obtained court documents saying that Boise State and Baylor had some communication regarding Ukwuachu. The documents also said that Boise State officials expressed reticence about supporting Ukwuachu's efforts to play again, the magazine said.
According to the Waco paper, after the news of Ukwuachu's charges finally came to light more than a year later, Briles told reporters, "I like the way we've handled it as a university, an athletic department and a football program."
Chris Petersen -- now the head coach at the University of Washington -- was Boise State's head football coach when Ukwuachu was a member of the Broncos. In a statement Friday, he said he had reached out to Briles about Ukwuachu transferring.
"After Sam Ukwuachu was dismissed from the Boise State football program and expressed an interest in transferring to Baylor, I initiated a call with coach Art Briles," Petersen said in the statement. "In that conversation, I thoroughly apprised Coach Briles of the circumstances surrounding Sam's disciplinary record and dismissal."
This case isn't the first example of a university bringing on a college football player with a checkered past. Recently, University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban took a chance on Jonathan Taylor, who had domestic violence issues when he was at the University of Georgia.
"As I noted in my comments when the decision was made to allow Jonathan Taylor to attend the University on a football scholarship, I believe in second chances," Alabama Director of Athletics Bill Battle said in a statement in March when Taylor was dismissed.
"I still do. However, being successful in that second chance requires responsibility and accountability. In Jonathan's situation, the University and the Department of Athletics set forth very clear standards of accountability and expectations of conduct. Jonathan was afforded a chance to successfully overcome the difficulties that resulted in his departure from the University of Georgia. Unfortunately, it appears that he was unable to do so, in spite of extensive efforts to assist him."LUCKNOW: The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh (UP) has stepped up its effort to woo Muslims with an eye on 2014 Lok Sabha elections. While chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has launched vote-catching `humari beti, uska kal' scheme for class 10th pass Muslim girls at a function in minority dominated Rampur district, his father and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav announced in Lucknow that he will mount pressure on the Centre for introducing quota for the Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions as recommended by the reports of the Sachar Committee and the Rangnath Commission.Brainchild of SP's Muslim face and cabinet minister Azam Khan, under the humari beti, uska kal, the government will give Rs 30,000 to a class 10th pass Muslim girl for her future studies or marriage. The venue, Maulana Jauhar University set up by Khan for imparting modern education to Muslims, was carefully for the launch of the scheme. Over 10,000 girls attended the function in Rampur where cheques were distributed by Akhilesh. These girls belonged to five districts under Moradabad division having substantial Muslim population -- - Bijnore (42%), Amroha (39%), Moradabad (46%), Rampur (49%) and Sambhal (30%).Though Muslims are 19% of the population of the state, in west UP districts their population is over 30%. In assembly elections held in earlier this year, Muslims voted overweeningly for the SP, bringing it to power with absolute majority. Of the 140 Muslim dominated assembly seats, the SP won 72, BSP 27, BJP 25 and Congress 11. In west UP, of 126 assembly seats, the SP won 62, nearly 50%. Muslims also play crucial role in 25 Lok Sabh constituencies out of total 80 in UP. In 2009, the SP lost in Muslim dominated areas because the community got angry after he shook hands with former BJP leader Kalyan Singh responsible for Babri mosque demolition. However, before 2012 assembly elections, Mulayam won Muslims back by snapping ties with Kalyan tendering an apology to the community.As a result, in 2012 assembly elections, the SP not only won in Muslim dominated seats but maximum number of Muslim MLAs also belong to it. As many as 43 Muslim candidates fielded by SP won followed by BSP (16) and Congress (4). In 2009, the Congress managed to grab a major share of Muslims votes, which helped its tally to reach 22 from nine in 2004.The SP does not want to take any chances for 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Muslims generally votes tactically in favour of the party which can defeat BJP. Fearing that the Congress may again walk away with the substantial Muslim vote share in 2014 by projecting that it is the only party which can stop the BJP at the national level, Mulayam, while addressing a Muslim gathering on Monday in Lucknow, claimed that in next elections both the BJP and the Congress will lose and Third Front will come to power. Mulayam, who has prime ministerial ambitions, also said that the SP will play a crucial role in formation of the Third Front.Dave Zirin. (Photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia)In this wide-ranging interview, Dave Zirin, sports editor at The Nation and author of Game Over: How Politics Has Turned the Sports World Upside Down discusses violence, mental health, jock culture, rape culture and hero worship in sports, its economics and its real heroes.
“Sports has become such a big business that the line between journalism and being a broadcast partner for all intents and purposes has been obliterated.” – Sportswriter and Author Dave Zirin on Rag Radio
Dave Zirin, sports editor at The Nation and author of Game Over: How Politics Has Turned the Sports World Upside Down, writes from that lively and socially significant intersection where sports meets politics.
Zirin, who has been called “the best sportswriter in the United States,” by noted sports journalist Robert Lipsyte, spoke on the politics of sports at the Belo Center for New Media on the University of Texas campus in Austin on Monday, April 1, 2013, at an event sponsored by the Texas Program in Sports and Media, and he also appeared on the syndicated Austin-based Rag Radio.
In an hour-long interview, Dave Zirin told the Rag Radio audience that the nature of sports journalism has changed dramatically in recent years. “Unfortunately,” he said, “sports has become such a big business that the line between journalism and being a broadcast partner for all intents and purposes has been obliterated.”
“I don’t think Hunter S. Thompson (who started out as a sportswriter) could have imagined a situation where the best journalists would work for places like the NBA.com, NFL.com, MLB.com.”
Sports journalists need to be watchdogs, he said, because professional sports organizations represent “very powerful multi-billion dollar interests with tentacles in every aspect of our society.”
According to Ben Carrington, a cultural sociologist at the University of Texas who introduced Zirin at the event on the UT campus, Dave Zirin’s influence on mainstream sports reporting has become so extensive that “he’s actually changed the sports landscape.” And UT journalism professor Mary Bock told us that Zirin has not only shown “how money has changed the game,” but that he has emphasized the role of human relationships in contemporary sports with his “observations about gender, class, and race.”
Zirin, who regularly writes about the politics of sports for The Nation and hosts Edge of Sports Radio on Sirius XM, was described by The Washington Post as “the conscience of American sports writing.” (“They didn’t mean it as a compliment,” Zirin suggests with a chuckle.) And the UTNE Reader, which included him in it’s grouping of “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World,” called Dave Zirin “the thinking fan’s sportswriter, using our various fields of battle as a sociological lens.”
Journalist and author Ron Jacobs called Zirin “the man who politicized the sports pages,” writing at The Rag Blog that “Dave Zirin takes on those people and institutions that have crippled sports in the name of profit and power while championing those athletes and others who have used their name and position to make sports a force for change.”
And New York Magazine’s Will Leitch observed that “Dave Zirin, as the years go by, sounds less and less like a politically slanted leftist rabble-rouser and more like the only sumbitch who understands what the hell’s going on.”
Sports and the economic crisis of 2008
In discussing his new book, Game Over: How Politics Has Turned the Sports World Upside Down, on Rag Radio, Zirin acknowledged that “politics have always been a part of sports,” but said that the world of professional sports changed dramatically after the economic crisis of 2008. The owners started “freaking out about the loss of public subsidies, which they had gotten used to over the last 20 years.” So, according to Zirin, they started “trying to figure out a way to restore profitability.”
And, as a result, “we almost lost the whole hockey season this year, we lost part of the NBA season last year, we almost lost the NFL season last year and the first quarter of the NFL season this year. And there were scabs – so-called ‘replacement referees’ who made the game unsafe – and sometimes unwatchable.”
According to Zirin, the folks who run professional sports have shared a “unified corporate strategy to lock out labor,” adding, “There’s one law firm now – Proskauer Rose – that’s representing all four of the major sports leagues.”
“When owners lock out players,” he pointed out, “they’re also locking out everybody that works in the parking lot, who works in the stadium, all the waiters and waitresses picking up an extra shift at the restaurants. And when you think that it’s our billions of dollars that go into building these stadiums, they’re not just locking out the players. They’re locking out all of us.”
When people ask Dave Zirin who his favorite sports owners are, “I always say, the Green Bay Packers. They’re the best 200,000 owners in sports. That’s a fan-owned team. And the difference is profound in terms of the relationship between the team and the community; it’s the difference between a nonprofit that puts money back into the community and a sponge that sucks money and resources out of the community.”
Football as war zone
About violence in professional football, Zirin told the Rag Radio audience that “trying to curb head injuries in the NFL is basically like trying to make a safe cigarette.” “It’s such a dangerous, violent game that your next play can always be your last.”
But Zirin believes there are things that the owners could do, “like maybe having certified medical concussion experts on every single sideline in the NFL.” “One player said to me, ‘You’ll know the NFL is serious when they propose reforms that actually cost them money.’ ” And he believes that “players should have the most extreme possible union protections, given how dangerous the work actually is.”
“What makes football different from every other sport, including so-called ‘violent’ sports like hockey,” Zirin says, “is that one could imagine a thrilling game of hockey without the checks, without the fights, without the violence. You can’t really separate football from the violence.”
According to Zirin, “The very word ‘sissy,’ which is of course a derogatory word meaning that somebody might be gay, was popularized by Teddy Roosevelt to describe young men of privilege who would not play football. The roots of it are in ideas about war and conquest.” He added, “The first football games were on the Ivy League campuses of this country, as a way to prepare the young men to ‘toughen up.’ ”
Dave Zirin is also very critical of the hypocritical way major league baseball has handled the steroids issue. “It was either a situation of malign neglect or malignant intent,” he says. With “owners happily looking the other way to make sure that the homeruns would keep getting hit, the fans would keep coming to the park and the game would keep growing.”
And he faults the baseball writers who are keeping deserving players like former Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell – “anybody who has a whiff of rumor about them” – out of the Hall of Fame. “It is guilt by association, guilt by rumor and guilt by innuendo,” he said, and smacks of Joe McCarthy.
The special courage of Royce White
Zirin discussed the story of Houston Rockets rookie Royce White who suffers from a severe anxiety disorder and has been “battling with the Rockets over how they would deal with his mental health.” As Zirin wrote in February, “For months, the 21-year-old has been sitting out the season in protest: a rebel with a cause.” White “has made it clear amidst an avalanche of criticism that his mental health is more important than his contract or career,” Zirin wrote, and he “has become a crusader for change, calling out the NBA for disregarding mental illness and treating him like a ‘commodity.’ “
Zirin said on Rag Radio that Royce White “has developed quite the radical consciousness. Just by standing up and just by the abuse he’s taken” as a result of his stance. In an interview with ESPN, White even made the claim “that the majority of players in the NBA are mentally ill,” but that they self-medicate with alcohol and drugs.
In fact, as Royce White sees it, one reason that mental illness is so widespread in American society “is that 2 percent of the population controls all the money. And that 98 percent of the population’s stressed out of their minds just trying to get by.”
“This is pretty intense,” Zirin suggests, “for a 21-year-old.”
“Mental health issues are nearly taboo to talk about in the world of sports,” Zirin says. It’s only “in recent years that players have begun to come out of this particular closet.”
Sexism, homophobia and rape culture
Zirin says that more women are actively involved in sports today than ever before, but that there’s “less and less visibility. There’s less coverage of women’s sports now then there was 10 years ago. And less coverage 10 years ago than there was 20 years ago.”
He talks about a major study out of the Tucker Center at the University of Minnesota that asked the question, “Does sex – and I think we can more appropriately say, sexism – sell women’s sports? Are people more likely to watch women’s sports when women athletes dress up in certain ways?”
“They did this massive research project on this issue, interviewing tens of thousands of people, and what they came up with was that sexism actually hurts women’s sports. It makes people less likely to consume women’s sports.”
Zirin points out that “the male locker room” has always been “kind of a hamlet of homophobia.” But he thinks that’s changing. Zirin says that the LGBT movement has had a major impact on the sports world, and he believes that there are gay athletes in pro sports who are on the verge of coming out publicly.
In an article about the recent rape trial involving football players at Steubenville High School in Ohio, Zirin points to what he calls “the bond between jock culture and rape culture.”
He tells the Rag Radio audience: “I think that there is a connection. I think that men’s sports, with its combination of hero worship, of an emphasis on team and of men looking out for each other, and oftentimes looking at women as the spoils of being an athlete, can create a culture where women are seen as objects and where women can be seen as something to be taken.”
According to Zirin, “When you have a town like Steubenville, which is a town of 18,000 people yet the stadium holds 10,000, when you have a school that’s been refurbished... and everybody walks around and says, ‘that’s because of Big Red football that we got this money,’ and these kids walk around and adults kiss their butts, I think that’s a recipe for disaster.”
The problem, he says, is hero worship. And, as with the scandal at Penn State, “When a football team becomes the emotional, the economic, the cultural and the social center of a community, the priorities spin out of whack dramatically.”
The worst thing about Stuebenville, Zirin said, was that “there were 50 people who saw what was happening – boys and girls – and they all chose to do nothing.” But, he believes, “with the active intervention of coaches, of adults, that you can actually affect and change rape culture.”
When asked if college athletes should be paid, his response was, “Absolutely! Not even a question. They’re unpaid campus employees at this point. And if people say, ‘where’s the money going to come from?,’ just look at how much a typical head coach makes. Look how much (University of Texas football coach) Mack Brown makes ($5,266,667 as of February 2012). And look how much his assistant coaches make.”
(Speaking at the University of Texas, Zirin suggested that head coaches be paid the same salaries as tenured professors and assistant coaches the same as adjunct professors.)
“We’re at a point where the center will not hold” in college sports, he told Rag Radio listeners. “Because there’s no moral authority on the side of the NCAA. And the players get it, but they’re scared to do anything because their scholarships are renewed on an annual basis.”
Can the gladiator change Rome?
There are a lot of positive things happening in sports today, Zirin says, and many courageous athletes. “I love the fact that LeBron James and the Miami Heat actually took a stand when Trayvon Martin was murdered by Robert Zimmerman, the self-appointed neighborhood watch leader. They all posed with their hoods on.”
And “the actions of the Phoenix Suns a couple years back... in protest of the horrific immigration laws in the state of Arizona, wearing jerseys that said Los Suns.” And, “I think we have to look globally,” he said. “There are a lot of players in European soccer in particular who are starting to stand up and be heard.”
In the ’60s, Zirin acknowledges, there were a number of highly visible activist athletes, like Billie Jean King, John Carlos, Arthur Ashe and Muhammed Ali. But, he suggests, “the only reason we remember Muhammed Ali is because the 1960s were happening outside the boxing ring. And without that context of social struggle, you’re not going to have the athletes who can rise up and meet the moment.”
One athlete Zirin especially admires is Houston Texans Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster, who is “incredibly literate and erudite.” Zirin begins his latest book with a quote from Foster: “I heard Jim Brown once say the gladiator can’t change Rome. I love Jim Brown. But I disagree. I’ll die trying, my brother.”
Dave Zirin, who is The Nation’s first sports writer in its 150 years of existence, is also a columnist for SLAM Magazine and The Progressive and his articles frequently appear at The Rag Blog. He is a regular guest on MSNBC, CNN, ESPN, Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now!, NPR’s All Things Considered, and many other major media outlets. His earlier books include the NAACP Image Award-nominated The John Carlos Story, Bad Sports: How Owners are Ruining the Games We Love, and A People’s History of Sports in the United States, part of Howard Zinn’s “People’s History” Series.
Rag Radio is a syndicated radio program produced at the studios of KOOP 91.7-FM, an all-volunteer cooperatively-owned and -operated community radio station in Austin, Texas. The show, which features in-depth interviews about progressive politics and alternative culture, is produced in coordination with The Rag Blog and the New Journalism Project, a Texas nonprofit corporation promoting independent activist media.BlackBerry has no problem in releasing Android-powered phones because the Canadian smartphone pioneer has the best partners in the industry. It has TCL to thank, as well as, BB Merah Putih, and Optiemus. BlackBerry has outsourced manufacturing to these companies so it can focus more on development, software, mobile security, and customer support. This week, BlackBerry has got a new partner in BLU Products as the two signed a patent licensing deal.
Well, it’s not exactly an official partnership as BlackBerry previously filed a couple of lawsuits against BLU last year. This deal finally ends the patent issue that would bring revenue to BlackBerry from its numerous technology patents. There is no mention though of the financial terms of that agreement but we are guessing we’re talking a lot of money here.
BLU Products paid BlackBerry an undisclosed amount. We’re not sure if the amount is already included in earnings of the company for the quarter. If yes, definitely BlackBerry’s revenue will receive a boost. Licensing deals are usually done before a new product is launched but sometimes, it happens when a lawsuit is filed against one company by another. Aside from BLU, BlackBerry is also going after Nokia and Avaya.
VIA: ReutersIn our last update, we announced the start of shipping. It's been a while, and things have been a bit quiet, so let's dive straight in.
What Happened?
“No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy” – General Helmuth von Moltke the Elder
After all of the tests we ran on the TikoWall this spring, we felt certain we had a reliable printer. We had thoroughly tested each system and component for a variety of use conditions, user inputs, and outright longevity. We were confident that we had a winner, and so we initiated production. We told the world that Tiko was ready. But little did we know what could still go wrong.
We shipped two batches of 100 printers, ran into issues, and in total went two months without a formal update. It’s been a trip, so let’s get you up to speed.
How It Started
The logical place to start is by asking “Why did we ship those first 100 Tikos?” To answer that, let’s first look at the situation we were in. We had just completed the testing of the TikoWall, which had flushed out a plethora of bugs and was working quite well. The components were finalized, manufactured, and ready for assembly. The founders were in China and set up a Tiko-run operation including staff and facility, and built 100 printers. As part of QC, every one of them ran a successful print before packaging and shipping. What could go wrong, right?
Well, we’re no dummies. We’ve learned first hand just how many things could go wrong. We would have rather shipped those first 100 units to HQ, tested them, and then continued production.
So, Why Didn’t We?
Well, around the same time, a vocal minority began to suggest that Tiko was vaporware. Words like fraud and lies were starting to appear. Some even went so far as to claim the entire TikoWall was a computer rendering. Sure, these people were fools and represented a tiny minority – most backers believed in us, cheered us on, and told us to take our time and get it right – but another thing we’ve learned this past year is that one rotten apple can spoil the barrel, jeopardizing the whole project for everyone.
So, having 100 printers in hand, all of which could successfully print, we had a tough choice to make: Ship the first 100 printers to HQ and test them before shipping to backers (a process that could easily take two months) and risk the allegations getting out of hand -OR- shoot these rumors down once and for all, and ship the first-run printers at the risk of an unknown flaw publicly popping up. We made our decision. Here’s what happened next:
The First One Hundred
Being a first-run batch, we expected a minor bug or two, but nothing like what actually happened. Here’s what we found:
Note: This data was obtained from our customer support tickets. The actual numbers may be higher.
As you can see, a quarter of the printers had a problem – not a good way to start! Luckily, many were easy to address and were solved quickly after the first batch shipped. Here they are in more detail:
Damaged in Transit (14%) – Many printers arrived with broken filament trays and/or completely separated print chambers. Some also had gear racks coming off the rails. All of these had one common cause: poor quality adhesive. The adhesive we used was similar, but not identical to the one we used in drop testing. As it turns out, it was not equivalent.
Solution: We imported and used the adhesive used during drop testing at HQ.
Liquefier Jamming – More on that later.
Power Jack Solder (2%) – Due to a number of design considerations, the only feasible way to power the electronics is through a wire soldered to a power jack located at the bottom-rear of the chassis. Unfortunately, this relies heavily on the skill of the person soldering the wire to the jack. It turned out the connection for the first 100 was inadequate, and the solder broke on a number of printers.
Solution: We lengthened the power wire, and reinforced the connection to make it more robust.
Bowden Tube Flare Popping (2%) – In Update #18 we mentioned this was an issue that was solved, and it generally was, but the flare was still by far the weakest link, holding back the rest of the system.
Solution: We redesigned the twist-lock fitting and extruder block to instead use the highly-reliable retaining ring system commonly found in push-fittings and already in use in Tiko’s liquefier heatsink.
Punctured Bowden Tube (1%) – The material used to make bowden tubes (PTFE) is relatively soft, whereas PLA and other common printing materials can be quite hard. Sometimes, when cutting/breaking filament, the remaining tip can be quite sharp. If this sharp tip is inserted into the extruder, it can dig into (and even puncture) the Bowden tube.
Solution: We stiffened the spring at the twist lock to straighten the path of the filament in the tube. We also added a warning in the WIT to remind users to check their filament is not sharp, as punctures are still possible if sharp-tipped filament is inserted.
The Second Hundred
After receiving feedback from the first 100, we moved quickly and implemented solutions to the issues that came up. In less than two weeks, we already had a second batch that we were more confident in, and felt could be a precursor to continuing production. Here’s how it went.
Note: This data was obtained from our customer support tickets. The actual numbers may be higher.
A failure rate of 14% is still quite high, but it was impressive just how much of a difference a couple of weeks could make. This time around there were just a couple of bugs remaining.
Liquefier Jamming (8%) – More on this later.
Damaged in Transit (6%) – After finding out just how bad the first adhesive was, we tried the already tested solution – an expanding vinyl-based glue. Unfortunately, due to the higher humidity |
is essential for both OD plasticity and modification of excitatory synaptic transmission (11⇓–13), we set out to determine whether availability of Arc limits or changes the qualities of plasticity in adults and whether up-regulating Arc levels in adult animals can restore juvenile synaptic plasticity.
Results Augmentation of Arc Expression in Adult Mouse Visual Cortex Extends the Critical Period of Juvenile OD Plasticity. In young mice [≤ postnatal day (P) 40], the main consequence of short (3–4 d) MD is the robust loss of cortical responsiveness to stimulation of the deprived eye. A compensatory potentiation of responses to the nondeprived eye may also occur, and is typically observed with longer periods of MD (5–7 d) (14). Importantly, although open-eye potentiation after long-duration MD is common in adult rodents, deprived-eye depression typically is only observed during the juvenile critical period in animals housed under standard laboratory conditions (15, 16). We predicted that augmenting Arc levels would prolong juvenile plasticity, as defined by closed-eye depression, past the conventional critical period in mouse visual cortex. To test this hypothesis, we used a transgenic (Tg) mouse line that expresses an additional allele of Arc tagged with mCherry that is driven by the activity-dependent Arc promoter in a similar manner to the previously characterized Arc-GFP Tg mouse line (17, 18) (Fig. S1). Fig. S1. Characterization of Arc-Tg mouse line. (A, Left) Arc-mCherry transgene mirrors endogenous Arc expression. In the hippocampus, basal expression of Arc-mCherry is low in both area CA1 and the dentate gyrus (DG). (Insets) Magnified CA1 and DG. (A, Right) Following electroconvulsive shock (ECS), levels of Arc-mCherry expression are dramatically increased in CA1 and DG, consistent with previous findings of ECS-induced induction of endogenous Arc. (Scale bar: 500 μm.) (B) Arc-mCherry transgene in the primary visual cortex reliably reports visual experience. (Left) P30 mouse dark-housed for 24 h (visual deprivation) has low levels of Arc-mCherry expression in all layers of visual cortex. (Right) P30 mouse dark-housed and then exposed to light for 2 h before euthanasia has increased levels of Arc-mCherry expression in the input layers of the visual cortex (layers II/III, IV, and VI). (C) Visually driven Arc-mCherry (mCh) expression is specific to visual areas and recapitulates endogenous (endo) Arc expression. Dark-housed mice (Light −) had little Arc-mCherry and endogenous Arc expression in visual cortex (Vis. Ctx) compared with light-exposed mice (Light +), as assessed by antibodies against mCherry (Anti-DsRed pAb) and Arc. This effect of light exposure was specific to the visual system, as both basal and light-induced Arc-mCherry and native Arc expression was equally low in the cerebellum (Clb). We compared the qualities of OD plasticity after short (3–4 d) MD in Arc-Tg mice and wild-type (WT) littermate controls at P30 (juvenile) and P180 (adult) using chronic recordings of visually evoked potentials (VEPs) from binocular visual cortex contralateral (contra) to the deprived eye (Fig. 1A) as previously described (11). There was no significant difference between P30 WT and Arc-Tg VEPs before MD, and following MD, both WT and Arc-Tg P30 mice exhibited a significant decrease in contra (closed-eye) VEP amplitudes (WT: n = 7, baseline = 251 ± 28 μV, post-MD = 166 ± 12 μV, P = 0.03; Arc-Tg: n = 10, baseline = 227 ± 21 μV, post-MD = 159 ± 22 μV, P = 0.01 by paired t test; Fig. 1B). As expected, adult P180 WT mice did not exhibit depression of contra VEP amplitude after MD, reflecting the loss of juvenile plasticity. In sharp contrast, P180 Arc-Tg mice still exhibited a significant decrease in contra VEPs (WT: n = 7, baseline = 184 ± 19 μV, post-MD = 183 ± 20 μV, P = 0.9; Arc-Tg: n = 6, baseline = 208 ± 26 μV, post-MD = 136 ± 20 μV, P = 0.02 by paired t test; Fig. 1C), comparable to the decrease observed in WT juveniles. There was a significant treatment by genotype interaction, indicating that OD plasticity differs in Arc-Tg mice compared with WT mice (P = 0.0092, repeated measures ANOVA). Fig. 1. Arc-Tg mice exhibit juvenile-like OD plasticity well past the conventional critical period. (A) Schematic of recording site for VEPs in layer IV of binocular visual cortex. (B) At P30, both WT and Arc-Tg mice show a significant decrease in contra (closed-eye) VEP amplitude following MD (WT: n = 7, *P = 0.03; Arc-Tg: n = 10, *P = 0.01). Additionally, Arc-Tg mice exhibited a small but significant increase in ipsi (open-eye) VEPs (Arc-Tg: *P = 0.008). There is no significant difference between WT and Arc-Tg animals before or after MD. (C) At P180, only Arc-Tg mice exhibit a significant decrease in contra VEPs (Arc-Tg: n = 6, *P = 0.02). (D) Plot of the fractional change in ipsi (x axis) and contra (y axis) eye VEPs following MD (same data as in B and C). At P30, there is no significant difference between WT and Arc-Tg mice. However, at P180, there is a significant difference between the fractional change of WT and Arc-Tg mice following MD (P = 0.03). Data are represented as mean ± SEM. Because the chronic VEP method enables measurements of response strength in the same mouse before and after MD, we can also analyze the qualities of the OD shift by plotting the fractional changes in response magnitude to stimulation of the deprived contra eye and the nondeprived ipsilateral (ipsi) eye (19, 20). This analysis confirms that at P30, both WT and Arc-Tg mice exhibit robust and comparable levels of contra eye depression and a variable potentiation of the nondeprived ipsi eye [Fig. 1D, squares; WT: contra depression = 0.7 ± 0.1, ipsi potentiation = 1.4 ± 0.2; Arc-Tg: contra depression = 0.7 ± 0.1, ipsi potentiation = 1.3 ± 0.1; P = 0.9, multivariate ANOVA (MANOVA)]. There was, however, a significant difference in the qualities of OD plasticity in WT and Arc-Tg adult mice (Fig. 1D, circles). In WT mice, the OD shift was accounted for entirely by ipsi eye potentiation (Fig. 1D, open circles), whereas the shift in Arc-Tg mice (Fig. 1D, filled circles) was solely due to contra eye depression (WT: contra depression = 1.0 ± 0.01, ipsi potentiation = 1.3 ± 0.1; Arc-Tg: contra depression = 0.7 ± 0.1, ipsi potentiation = 0.9 ± 0.2; P = 0.03, MANOVA; Fig. 1D). These data show that augmenting Arc levels in adult mice prolongs juvenile-like OD plasticity, as evidenced by deprivation-induced synaptic depression well past the conventional critical period in mice. Activity-Dependent Arc Protein Expression Is High During the Critical Period and Low in Adulthood. We reasoned that if availability of Arc influences the qualities of OD plasticity, Arc expression might decline as the animal ages. In mouse visual cortex, Arc is first detected after eye-opening (∼P14) and expression steadily increases until ∼P30, corresponding to the age of peak sensitivity to MD (21). To determine whether Arc levels decline with age, WT or Arc-Tg mice were killed at P30 or P180. Basal Arc expression in visual cortex is highly variable under standard housing conditions (21); therefore, we housed mice in the dark for 24 h and then either killed them immediately (“dark” condition) or exposed them to light for 2 h (“light” condition) before euthanasia (n = 6 per group) (22). The brain was fixed and sectioned at 30 μm on a cryostat, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for Arc protein using a custom-made Arc antibody (Fig. S2) on sections of brain containing primary visual cortex. The integrated density of Arc-expressing cells in layer IV of visual cortex, where VEPs and LTD were recorded, was measured with the experimenter blinded to genotype and age (Fig. 2A). A three-way ANOVA comparing genotype (WT or Arc-Tg), age (P30 or P180), and condition (dark or light) revealed a main effect of genotype (P < 0.0001), age (P = 0.02), and condition (P < 0.0001), as well as a genotype × condition interaction (P = 0.02). Post hoc Student’s t tests showed that in P30 mice, light significantly induced Arc expression in both WT and Arc-Tg mice (WT: light > dark; light: 4.5 ± 1.3, dark: 1 ± 0.6, P = 0.02; Arc-Tg: light > dark; light: 8.2 ± 1, dark: 2.7 ± 2.7, P = 0.002). However, Arc-Tg mice expressed significantly more Arc after light exposure than WT mice (P = 0.008). At P180, WT mice no longer exhibited detectable Arc expression, even after light exposure. Arc-Tg mice, on the other hand, exhibited significant Arc expression after light exposure (light: 7.1 ± 0.8, dark: 1.8 ± 1.2; P = 0.001). Furthermore, levels of light-induced Arc in P180 Arc-Tg mice were not significantly different from P30 Arc-Tg mice (P > 0.05), suggesting that activity-dependent expression of Arc in Arc-Tg mice does not decline with age. These data show that activity-dependent Arc protein expression significantly declines with age in WT but not Arc-Tg mice. This loss of endogenous Arc protein over age correlates with the decline of deprived-eye depression following MD. Fig. 2. Activity-dependent Arc protein, but not mRNA expression, declines with age in WT mouse visual cortex, but not in Arc-Tg mice. (A) IHC for Arc expression in layers I–IV of visual cortex after 24 h of being housed in the dark or 24 h of dark housing followed by 2 h of light exposure. Layer IV Arc expression is quantified in the graphs (n = 6 per group). Light increased Arc expression in both WT and Arc-Tg mice at P30 (WT: *P = 0.02, Arc-Tg: *P = 0.002), but Arc levels were higher in Arc-Tg mice (#P = 0.008). At P180, WT mice did not express Arc after light exposure, while Arc-Tg mice exhibited the same light-induced increase in Arc observed at P30 (*P = 0.001). (Scale bar: 100 μm.) (B) WT and Arc-Tg mice were dark-housed for 24 h and then either killed in the dark (dark condition) or exposed to light for 2 h before euthanasia (light condition). qRT-PCR was run on dissected visual cortex to quantify Arc mRNA expression. All values were first normalized to GAPDH to control for total RNA levels. Light-induced Arc mRNA expression was higher in Arc-Tg mice than WT mice at both P30 and P180 (P30: *P < 0.0001, P180: *P < 0.0001). However, light-induced mRNA expression did not decrease with age in WT mice. Plotted data are normalized to P30 WT dark (n = 5 for WT light, n = 4 for Arc-Tg light, and n = 3 for all dark groups). Data are represented as mean ± SEM. Fig. S2. Validation of custom Arc antibody. (A) Side-by-side comparison of custom Arc antibody and commercially available Arc antibody (catalog no.156-003; Synaptic Systems). Custom and commercial Arc antibodies show comparable levels of staining in WT P30 mouse visual cortex (Upper Left and Center) and comparable levels of background in Arc KO P30 mouse visual cortex (Lower Left and Center). (Upper Right) WT tissue not stained with a primary antibody for comparison. (B) Western blot of visual cortex lysates from a P30 WT and Arc KO mouse stained with the custom Arc antibody. Arc is detected in WT, but not Arc KO, lysate. Arc transcription and translation are exquisitely regulated in the brain and are finely tuned to experience and neuronal activity (12). Of particular interest, transcription and translation of Arc can be independently regulated by activity (23). We therefore sought to determine whether endogenous activity-dependent Arc mRNA expression also declines with age. Mice underwent dark and light exposure as described above (n = 3–5 per group). The visual cortex was dissected and qRT-PCR, the most sensitive and quantitative method of RNA detection, was performed on lysates (Fig. 2B). A three-way ANOVA revealed a main effect of genotype (P = 0.002) and condition (P = 0.0002), but not age. Post hoc t tests showed that light-induced Arc mRNA expression was higher in Arc-Tg than WT mice (P30 WT: 2.9 ± 0.9, P30 Arc-Tg: 9.8 ± 1.6, P < 0.0001; P180 WT: 3.3 ± 0.7, P180 Arc-Tg: 16.7 ± 1.1, P < 0.0001). Interestingly, however, levels of activity-induced Arc mRNA expression did not differ with age in either genotype (P > 0.05). Although we cannot rule out the possibility that analysis of layer IV alone would reveal an age effect, we note that Arc protein cannot be detected in any layer of V1 in adult WT mice. These data suggest that availability of endogenous Arc mRNA alone cannot fully explain the differences in Arc protein expression across the lifespan of WT mice and point to the possibility of a decrease in either activity-dependent translation or stability of endogenous Arc protein in adult visual cortex. Nevertheless, the increased expression of Arc mRNA in the active visual cortex of Arc-Tg mice is paralleled by a proportional increase in protein. Augmenting Arc Expression Restores LTD in Adult Visual Cortex. Deprived-eye depression occurs via mechanisms shared with LTD (3), which also diminishes with age (24). In addition to the profound deficit in OD plasticity (11), juvenile (P20–25) Arc knockout (KO) mice exhibit impaired layer IV LTD in visual cortex, induced in slices with low-frequency stimulation (LFS) of the white matter, compared with WT mice, which showed robust LFS LTD (WT: n = 7 slices from four mice, 67.5 ± 5.7%; Arc KO: n = 7 slices from five mice, 90.6 ± 4.6%; P < 0.001, t test; Fig. 3A). We therefore hypothesized that the persistence of juvenile OD plasticity in adult Arc-Tg mice was accompanied (and perhaps accounted for) by continued expression of juvenile-like LTD. To ensure expression of Arc protein in the slices, mice were exposed briefly (30 min) to an enriched environment before euthanasia as described previously (23). We first measured LTD in juvenile mice when both WT and Arc-Tg animals show comparable OD plasticity, characterized by robust deprived-eye depression after MD. Over the age range examined, between P26 and P41, LTD in WT and Arc-Tg mice was also comparable (WT: n = 9 slices from seven mice, 75.4 ± 11.6%; Arc-Tg: n = 7 slices from six mice, 81.3 ± 7.1%; P > 0.5, t test; Fig. 3B). Subgroup analysis of this juvenile cohort revealed no difference in LTD in animals of either genotype at P26–33 or P34–41 (Fig. 3B, circles and inverted triangles, respectively). However, in adult mice (P180–200), we observed significant LTD in Arc-Tg slices but not in WT littermate slices (WT: n = 11 slices from six mice, 102.8% ± 8.7; Arc-Tg: n = 12 slices from six mice, 74.5 ± 7.9%; Fig. 3C). The difference between genotypes was significant (P = 0.04, t test). Thus, augmented expression of Arc in adult visual cortex restores or maintains two features of juvenile plasticity: LTD in vitro (Fig. 3C) and deprived-eye depression following MD in vivo (Fig. 1C). Fig. 3. Arc and protein translation are required for LTD in layer IV of visual cortex. (A) LFS (900 stimuli at 1 Hz) induces robust LTD in juvenile (P20–25) WT, but not Arc-KO, slices (average of last 5 min of recordings normalized to the baseline; WT: n = 4 mice, KO: n = 5; *P < 0.001). (B) LFS induces LTD to the same degree in young (P26–41) WT and Arc-Tg slices (WT: n = 7, Arc-Tg: n = 6; P > 0.5). The LTD amplitudes of field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) of the youngest animals in this group (P26–33, circles) and the older animals (P34–41, inverted triangles) do not show any significant difference (P > 0.5, t test), and were therefore combined. (C) LFS induces robust LTD in adult (P180–200) Arc-Tg slices, but not WT slices (WT: n = 11, Arc-Tg: n = 6; *P = 0.04). (D) LFS induced LTD in juvenile (P25–30) visual cortex previously infused with saline, but not in visual cortex infused with CHX (saline: n = 5, CHX: n = 5; *P = 0.02). Data are represented as mean ± SEM. Inhibition of Protein Synthesis in Vivo Impairs LTD in Juvenile Visual Cortex. The apparent requirement of Arc translation for deprived-eye depression may offer a partial explanation for why juvenile OD plasticity following brief MD is impaired when the visual cortex is infused locally with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) (25). If this explanation is correct, and the mechanisms of LTD are used for deprived-eye depression following MD, we would also expect to observe reduced LTD ex vivo following microinfusion of CHX into visual cortex. To test this prediction, WT visual cortex was infused in vivo via an osmotic minipump with CHX for 4 d as described (25), and slices were then prepared to conduct LTD experiments. Similar to our observations in the Arc KO visual cortex, there was no LTD in juvenile visual cortex after chronic inhibition of protein synthesis (saline: n = 5 slices from five mice, 72.4 ± 8.6%; CHX: n = 7 slices from five mice, 96.2 ± 5.9%; P = 0.02, t test; Fig. 3D). Together, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that translation of Arc gates the mechanism of deprivation-induced synaptic depression in visual cortex. Acute Expression of Arc in Adult Mouse Visual Cortex Is Sufficient to Reopen the Critical Period of Juvenile OD Plasticity. Augmenting the availability of Arc protein throughout development and into adulthood prolongs the critical period for juvenile OD plasticity (Fig. 1). However, this does not address whether restoring Arc protein expression is sufficient to reopen the critical period of OD plasticity once it has closed. To determine whether acutely increasing Arc protein in adult visual cortex is sufficient to restore juvenile-like plasticity, we expressed Arc using a lentivirus injected into visual cortex of P180 WT mice, which robustly increased Arc levels (Fig. 4A and Fig. S3). Lentivirus containing GFP-Arc or GFP was injected into layer IV of visual cortex, and baseline VEP recordings were conducted 1 wk after virus injection. Unlike the case in Arc-Tg mice, viral Arc overexpression is constitutively driven and not activity-dependent. Based on previous studies (26, 27), we predicted that VEP amplitude might be depressed by constitutive Arc expression since the VEP is mainly a synaptic population response that correlates with surface AMPA receptor expression (11). Indeed, a significant decrease in overall binocular VEP amplitude was observed compared with GFP-injected mice (GFP-injected mice: 197 ± 30 μV, GFP-Arc–injected mice: 75 ± 21 μV; P = 0.005; Fig. 4B). No deprived-eye depression was observed in GFP-injected mice following short (3–4 d) MD (GFP: normalized to baseline contra values: n = 11; contra baseline = 1 ± 0.2, post-MD = 0.9 ± 0.2; P = 0.4, paired t test; Fig. 4C). However, despite a reduction in baseline VEP magnitude, contra VEP responses were further reduced after MD in GFP-Arc–injected mice (GFP-Arc: normalized to baseline contra values: n = 5, contra baseline = 1 ± 0.2, post-MD = 0.6 ± 0.2; P = 0.02; Fig. 4D). Further, when comparing the fractional change in contra eye and ipsi eye visual responses following MD, there was a significant difference between GFP- vs. GFP-Arc–injected mice (GFP: contra depression = 0.9 ± 0.1, ipsi potentiation = 1.4 ± 0.1; GFP-Arc: contra depression = 0.5 ± 0.1, ipsi potentiation = 1.0 ± 0.1; P = 0.01, MANOVA; Fig. 4E). Critically, the fractional OD shift in the P180 GFP-injected mice was the same as in noninjected WT P180 mice (P = 0.3, MANOVA), indicating virus injection had no effect on cortical responses or OD plasticity. Additionally, the fractional OD shift in P180 WT mice injected with GFP-Arc did not significantly differ from age-matched Arc-Tg mice, indicating that acute viral expression of Arc can restore OD plasticity to a degree similar to that achieved by Tg augmentation of Arc throughout life (P = 0.6, MANOVA; Fig. 4E). Intriguingly, not only was contra eye depression observed in Arc-Tg and GFP-Arc–injected mice but a lack of ipsi eye potentiation was also observed, further suggesting that Arc protein levels control the qualitative aspects of OD plasticity. Fig. 4. Acute Arc expression in adult mouse visual cortex is sufficient to restore juvenile OD plasticity. P180 WT mice were injected unilaterally in the visual cortex with lentivirus expressing either GFP alone or GFP-Arc. (A) Representative image of virally driven GFP expression in binocular visual cortex and time line of the experiment. The white dashed lines demarcate the cortical layers, as well as the position of the tip of the recording electrode. (B) GFP- and GFP-Arc–injected P180 mice were visually stimulated before MD with both eyes open to record binocular baseline VEPs. GFP-Arc–injected mice had significantly smaller VEPs than GFP-injected mice (GFP: n = 11, GFP-Arc: n = 5; *P = 0.005). Traces represent average VEPs for GFP- and GFP-Arc–injected mice. (C) Data were normalized to baseline contra values. There was no significant change in contra VEP amplitudes following MD in GFP-injected animals (P > 0.05); however, there was a significant ipsi increase (*P = 0.003). (D) Data were normalized to baseline contra values. GFP-Arc–injected mice exhibited significant contra depression following MD (*P = 0.016) and no change in ipsi responses. Averaged VEP traces are presented above the graphs. (E) Plot of the fractional change in ipsi (x axis) and contra (y axis) eye VEPs following MD (same data as in C and D, noninjected WT and Arc-Tg data are from Fig. 1B). There is a significant difference between the fractional change in visual responses between GFP- and GFP-Arc–injected mice (P < 0.01). GFP-injected mice exhibit the same lack of change as noninjected P180 WT mice (P = 0.3), while GFP-Arc–injected mice exhibit the same degree of change as noninjected P180 Arc-Tg mice (P = 0.6). Data are represented as mean ± SEM. Fig. S3. GFP-Arc lentivirus increases Arc expression in P180 WT visual cortex. P180 WT mice were injected unilaterally in the visual cortex with lentivirus expressing either GFP alone or GFP-Arc. (A) Representative images from visual cortex of a mouse injected with GFP lentivirus (Upper) and a mouse injected with GFP-Arc lentivirus (Lower). (Left and Middle) GFP expression from GFP and GFP-Arc lentiviruses (no antibody staining) is shown. (Right) IHC for Arc expression is shown. (B) Quantification of Arc expression from GFP- and GFP-Arc–injected mice (four GFP-injected, four GFP-Arc–injected). When images were set to a threshold determined by the maximum Arc expression in GFP-Arc–injected mice, there was no detectable Arc expression in layer IV of GFP-injected mice above background staining, as seen in noninjected P180 WT (Fig. 2). However, there was a significant increase in Arc expression in GFP-Arc–injected mice (P = 0.02, Student t test). Data are normalized (norm.) to GFP and displayed as mean ± SEM. These data show that acutely increasing Arc protein expression in visual cortex is sufficient to restore juvenile OD plasticity in adult visual cortex, suggesting the increased availability of Arc protein is sufficient to allow deprivation-induced synaptic depression in adult visual cortex.
Discussion Here, we show that acute or chronic up-regulation of Arc protein in adult mice renders visual cortical synapses sensitive to deprived-eye depression following MD, recapitulating juvenile critical period OD plasticity. In agreement with the prevailing hypothesis that LTD mechanisms mediate deprived-eye depression (3), overexpression of Arc also prolongs juvenile-like LTD in adult visual cortex. Conversely, elimination of Arc expression or inhibition of mRNA translation in juvenile visual cortex prevents deprived-eye depression after MD in vivo (11, 25) and LTD ex vivo. Together, these data indicate that availability of Arc is critical for the expression of juvenile plasticity in visual cortex. Considering the key role for Arc in determining the qualities of OD plasticity in visual cortex of juvenile animals, we predicted that the loss of deprived-eye depression after MD in adult visual cortex correlates with a lack of activity-dependent Arc expression. Indeed, we found that endogenous Arc protein expression in the active visual cortex declines with age, coincident with the loss of juvenile plasticity. Surprisingly, however, we found that activity-dependent Arc mRNA expression is comparable in juvenile (∼P30) and adult (∼P180) WT mouse visual cortex. This finding implies that the normal decline in Arc protein expression in active visual cortex results from a decrease in experience-dependent Arc translation, which can occur via mechanisms that are distinct from those regulating activity-dependent transcription (12, 23). The lack of decline in activity-dependent Arc expression in Arc-Tg mice could be due to the increase in Arc mRNA levels. Alternatively or in addition, the extra Arc allele in the Arc-Tg line does not contain an intron in the 3′ UTR region, which may result in an increase in mRNA stability in dendrites due to a lack of nonsense-mediated decay (28), and would thus potentially have a longer half-life than endogenous Arc mRNA. Restoration of juvenile plasticity in adult mice injected with GFP-Arc suggests that the presence of Arc protein in visual cortex is sufficient for juvenile OD plasticity. Deprived-eye depression after MD is believed to occur via mechanisms revealed by the study of LTD in layer IV. LTD in this layer is triggered by NMDA receptor activation and expressed by internalization of AMPA receptors (29). Although NMDA receptor-dependent LTD is not affected by acute (in vitro) inhibition of protein synthesis (30), we discovered that chronic inhibition of protein synthesis by in vivo microinfusion of CHX, which has been shown to prevent deprived-eye depression (25), impairs layer IV LTD ex vivo. These findings are reminiscent of the recent observation that chronic, but not acute, inhibition of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) can disrupt both deprived-eye depression after MD and LTD in layer IV (19). Activity-dependent synthesis of Arc protein occurs downstream of mGluR5 activation (12, 23). Thus, a simple explanation for this constellation of findings is that NMDA receptor-dependent LTD and deprived-eye depression require Arc protein as a necessary cofactor, and are inhibited by chronic block of either mGluR5 or protein synthesis. Decreased availability of Arc, and a consequent down-regulation of the mechanisms of LTD, also offers a simple molecular explanation for the age-dependent loss of synaptic sensitivity to visual deprivation. Inhibition develops later than excitatory transmission in the cortex, and it has been suggested that the consequent decrease in the ratio of excitation to inhibition brings the critical period for juvenile plasticity to a close (10). We propose that decreasing the excitability of the visual cortex ultimately affects OD plasticity by preventing the activity-dependent expression of key activity-regulated plasticity proteins at the synapse that are important mediators of excitatory synaptic modification, such as Arc (Fig. S4). Indeed, in addition to manipulations of inhibition, OD plasticity can be restored in adult rodents exposed to an enriched visual environment (6, 7), treated chronically with fluoxetine (8), or genetically engineered to express constitutively active CREB (31), manipulations that also increase Arc protein levels (32). The precise regulation of Arc expression during development therefore provides a potential mechanistic link between the maturation of inhibition and changes in the qualities of excitatory synaptic modification over the lifespan. Fig. S4. Model of Arc’s role in controlling the “juvenile” quality of OD plasticity. Various genetic, environmental, and pharmacological manipulations have been shown to promote juvenile-like plasticity in adult visual cortex. It has been proposed that these manipulations cause a general increase in the ratio of excitation (E) to inhibition (I). Here, we propose that the increase in E/I restores juvenile plasticity specifically by allowing the induction of activity-regulated genes such as Arc. Increased Arc expression promotes activity-dependent synaptic depression that underlies juvenile OD plasticity. *Significantly lower than contralateral eye at baseline.
Materials and Methods Animals. Tg mouse lines harboring the Arc-promoter mCherry-Arc transgene (mCherry-Arc/Arc) were generated as previously described (18). Further details can be found in SI Materials and Methods. Requests for mice should be directly addressed to H.B. or H.O. Arc KO mice were obtained from Kuan Wang, NIH, Bethesda, and were previously described (22). Both male and female mice were used, and the experimenter was blinded to genotype in all experiments. Male C57BL/6 mice (Charles River Laboratories) at the age of P22–25 were used for the Alzet pump implantation experiments. Male C57BL/6 mice (The Jackson Laboratory) at the age of P180 were used for lentiviral VEP experiments. All procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Utah, and The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, in conjunction with NIH guidelines. Virus Production/Injection. Virus production. Kimberly Huber, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, generously donated FUGW lentiviral plasmids for ubiquitin (Ubq)-GFP and Ubq-GFP-Arc. Injections were carried out as previously described (33). VEP recordings, slice electrophysiology, and IHC. VEP recordings, slice electrophysiology, and IHC were carried out as previously described (11, 19). Detailed methods on IHC, qRT-PCR, VEP recordings, and slice electrophysiology can be found in SI Materials and Methods. Statistics. ANOVA/MANOVA tests and post hoc Student’s t tests were performed using JMP Pro software (v12; SAS Institute). For slice electrophysiology experiments, post hoc paired t tests were performed to determine the significance of changes before and after LFS and unpaired t tests were performed to test the differences between groups after LFS.
SI Materials and Methods Animals. Plasmid construction of pGL4.11-Arc7000-mCherry-Arc-UTRs was described previously (18). The plasmid was linearized and purified after removal of vector sequences. Tg mouse lines harboring the Arc promoter mCherry-Arc transgene (Arc-mCherry/Arc) were generated by microinjection of the purified DNA fragment into the pronucleus of fertilized C57BL/6 mouse eggs. Genomic integration of the transgene and reporter expression were analyzed by PCR, Southern blotting, Western blotting, and histological assays. Among several lines that showed activity-dependent expression of mCherry-Arc, one line that exhibited high reporter expression in the neocortex was selected and used for this study. Genotypes were identified by PCR with the following specific primers: arcpromoter3 (5′-GAGCCTGCCACACTCGCTAA-3′) and mcherry-tg3-2 (5′-TCAAGTAGTCGGGGATGTCG-3′). Requests for mice should be addressed directly to H.B. or H.O. Arc KO mice were obtained from Kuan Wang, NIH, Bethesda, and were previously described (22). Male C57BL/6 mice and female mCherry-Arc-Tg mice were bred together, yielding WT and Arc-Tg hemizygous (one allele of the transgene) littermates. Heterozygous Arc KO mice were bred together to yield WT and KO offspring. Both male and female mice were used, and the experimenter was blinded to genotype in all experiments. Male C57BL/6 mice (Charles River Laboratories) at the age of P22–25 were used for the Alzet pump implantation experiments. Male C57BL/6 mice (The Jackson Laboratory) at the age of P180 were used for lentiviral VEP experiments. All procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Utah, and The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, in conjunction with NIH guidelines. IHC. WT and Arc-Tg mice at P30 and P180 were dark-housed for 24 h and either killed in the dark (“dark” condition) or exposed to light for 2 h and then killed (“light” condition). Brains were dissected out and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 24 h, and then cryoprotected in 30% sucrose. Brains were sectioned on a cryostat at 30 μm and stored in cryoprotectant at −20 °C until needed. Sections containing visual cortex were blocked in 2% fish gelatin (Sigma–Aldrich)/5% normal donkey serum (Jackson ImmunoResearch)/0.1% Triton X-100 (Amresco) for 2 h, stained for Arc (custom-made antibody; ProteinTech) overnight at room temperature, and washed three times for 10 min each time in 1× PBS plus 2% fish gelatin. Slides were then incubated in secondary antibody (donkey anti-rabbit Alexa Fluor 488; Jackson ImmunoResearch) for 4 h and washed three times for 10 min each time in 1× PBS before being mounted on slides and coverslipped in Fluoromount mounting media (Sigma–Aldrich). A 10-section (1,272 × 1,272-μm) z-stack (each plane 2 μm apart) of binocular V1 for each mouse was acquired using a 10× objective on a confocal microscope (FV1000; Olympus). Sections used from each mouse had the same coordinates relative to bregma (−3.39 mm) to control for location of binocular V1 and cortical thickness. A maximum intensity projection of the z-stack was created in ImageJ (NIH). Every maximum intensity projection image was thresholded to the same level, and the integrated density of Arc-positive cells in layer IV was measured. Layer IV was determined by measuring 250 μm down from the dorsal cortical surface and then applying a 200-μm-tall × 900-μm-wide region of interest to measure the integrated density of only layer IV neurons. qRT-PCR. P30 and P180 WT and Arc-Tg mice were dark-housed for 24 h and then |
, choosing the Vols over Oklahoma and offers from more than 20 other schools.
The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Martinez gave Tennessee its 10th known commitment for the 2018 class and its second from a quarterback, joining three-star quarterback Michael Penix of Tampa, Fla.
“Ultimately, it kind of came down to relationships and where I felt I was going to be able to make the most impact and kind of connect with the coaches and the people there, and where my dad and I and my family felt the most comfortable going and playing football, getting the best that college football has to offer. And I really feel Tennessee has that,” said Martinez, who’s ranked the nation’s No. 170 overall prospect and No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in the 247Sports Composite for the 2018 class.
“With the academics and the athletic opportunities, I just thought it was the right place for me.”
Martinez said Oklahoma, which extended an offer to him just 10 days ago, “was the biggest threat” to the Vols after he officially reopened his recruitment on April 25.
But he said he decided by last week that Tennessee “can offer me everything that I could ever want” and that “the opportunity to play quarterback in the SEC for the University of Tennessee is kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and one I can’t pass up.”
“Being given the opportunity to kind of lead a team to a national championship, being able to compete for SEC championships, national championships is ultimately what I want to do,” Martinez said. “And I feel like Tennessee gives me the greatest option to really do that while being able to set myself up for success if football doesn’t work out. I feel like a place like Tennessee can really enable me to do that and make the right connections in that way.
“Every game’s televised. My parents can still watch me. It’s a great atmosphere and, really, the fans, I feel like, are unlike anything else, and that’s always something I’ve wanted to be a part of. I wanted to be a part of the best college football has to offer, and I really feel like the combination of what Tennessee has is able to offer me that.”
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He admitted he had to get past “some hurdles, as far as the distance and possibly changes that could happen,” but he’s already looking forward to being “kind of the face” of the Vols’ 2018 recruiting class.
“When I sat down with my dad and really, also, with my high school coach, we put a little list of pros and cons together and (could) just see that the pros for Tennessee are pretty much limitless for me,” said Martinez, who also holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oregon, Miami, Arizona State, Fresno State, Utah and West Virginia, among others.
“Sometimes, when going for high reward, you kind of have high risk, as well, that’s involved. I feel like Tennessee can offer me everything that I could ever want. As long as I work hard and do the right things and go about it the right way, I think I can achieve it.
“Really, it’s kind of more of a no-brainer.”
Martinez said he informed Tennessee coach Butch Jones and quarterbacks coach Mike Canales of his decision on Saturday.
“They were very excited and looking forward to having me be a part of the recruiting class and kind of the face and really lead and be able to recruit moving forward and kind of do some special things,” Martinez said.
He said he’s keeping a close eye on Tennessee’s ongoing quarterback battle between junior Quinten Dormady and redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano, and he admitted Guarantano winning the job “would definitely not be ideal” for him. But Martinez said he’s comfortable with his decision regardless of how the competition turns out.
“We’ll see how things play out,” he said, “but I’m fairly confident in my chances and my abilities to make an impact once I get there.”
As a junior, Martinez threw for 2,562 yards, 25 touchdowns and four interceptions while also rushing for 1,462 yards and 14 touchdowns. He said he’s “definitely intrigued” by Tennessee’s offense, and he believes “it’s very flexible” and can adapt “to the way I play the game.”
“They like to use kind of NFL complexity, putting a lot of things on the quarterback, which is kind of what I want,” he said. “They’re going to go under center. They’re going to go in shotgun. They’re going to do a little bit of everything and give me a nice tool belt and a nice array of skills in that way. … I can run the ball a little bit. I can throw really well.”
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Martinez, who already is hoping to return to Tennessee the weekend of June 17 for its “Orange Carpet Day,” said he’s now focused on working to graduate early and enrolling at Tennessee in January.
He doesn’t expect to visit any other schools in the coming months.
“I really plan on shutting things down,” Martinez said. “The recruiting process has been great to me, obviously, and has given me many opportunities. But I feel like I really want to focus on my future team and building that class, contributing to that class and just wanting to improve on my game and not have to worry about coaches or this and that.
“I just want to focus on the University of Tennessee and doing what I have to do to obviously get to that SEC championship and national championship years down the road.”Black-and-white photos have their own charm but they often make us wonder the alternative – would the people or objects captured look different in colour?
Artist Marina Amaral decided to give history an entirely new perspective when she started infusing colour into pictures captured in monochrome. Putting Photoshop to some good use, Marina reproduced many iconic pictures by bringing them to life in a celebration of colours, preserving their innate authenticity all the while.
Marina shared the photographs on Reddit and the response has been overwhelming. While responding to a Redditor’s positive feedback, Marina wrote:
“I do a lot of research and I try to respect all the historical details. There’s no way for me to know for sure what’s the hat color because it’s not part of the military uniform, so I chose it using my educated guess – I wanted to use a color that stands out in comparison with the blue of their uniforms, then red seemed to be a nice color.”Jiwati taluka (or sub-district) in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district is often called the “punishment block" in government echelons. Almost on the Andhra border, it takes two hours to reach the thickly forested area from district headquarters. Unlike in the surrounding talukas, where Marathi is spoken, the Telugu and local variant of the language resident tribes speak here poses a barrier to an outsider. And not to mention that phone networks reach only select “hello points"—elevated areas in villages that have limited connectivity (only 2G here, no fancy high-speed data connections).
In this remote, inhospitable setting, a mammoth task is under way—a survey to gather data in villages on every single individual. The objective: setting up a real-time data system that can help the authorities and communities plan at the local level according to their specific needs.
***
It's January and field managers Gopal Singh and Sandeep Sukhdeve, along with 300 volunteers, are pulling out all the stops in their quest to data-map Chandrapur. Gopal, who is camping in Chandrapur for the task, has his day cut out—he leaves his temporary digs in the district headquarters at 7am in the cold mornings to reach the taluka interiors two hours later, distribute tablet computers and get the data survey started in the 83 villages by 10am.
To make sure respondents understand the questions, he carries out periodic spot checks in a few gram panchayats. He also does back checks on collected data to correct mistakes made by the field staff, many of whom might have never used smartphones or tablets before.
After a long day of data collection, he gathers up the tablets and traverses through the secluded jungles, reaching Chandrapur by 11pm. Given the limited bandwidth in the field, Gopal painstakingly verifies and syncs data in the long January nights. That’s the rigmarole of most volunteers specially trained for the task: collect data during the day and travel to the nearest town at night to upload the data collected.
Jiwati is one of the three talukas of the district being surveyed for the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, a rural development programme the central government launched in 2014. The programme mandates that MPs identify and develop model villages in their constituencies, not just by improving the physical infrastructure, but also by pushing for complete socioeconomic development.
When the Tata Trusts, which work with other trusts on community development, offered to support MPs and MLAs in this regard, Maharashtra's minister for forest, finance and planning, Sudhir Mungantiwar, asked them to develop a holistic development plans for his home district—Chandrapur.
Mungantiwar, the “Bhau" (older brother) of Vidarbha had been rooting for the region’s development over the last few years. But there was only so much that could be done when planning with paper-based surveys, registers and files. It was clear that things had to be done differently. “If we have to turn a village into a model village, I feel data lies at the core of this exercise," he says in a video interview SocialCops filmed while the project was being carried out, “Without data... our transformation efforts would be incomplete and directionless."
Solutions for a country as diverse and complex as India, where even parts of a district may be starkly different from each other, can be baffling, says Prabhat Pani, head of partnerships and technology at the Tata Trusts. “That is why geography- and citizen-focused microplanning is the way to go," he adds, “to capture village-level nuances that centralized datasets lack."
The Tata Trusts partnered with data intelligence company SocialCops to completely rethink district planning. Their brief was formidable: create a comprehensive data-based microplan for each of the 290 villages across three talukas of Chandrapur—Pombhurna, Mul and Jiwati.
Development like online search?
“Traditionally, planning for development has always happened top down," says Prukalpa Sankar, co-founder of SocialCops. “So, we thought of collecting data for solutions that targeted development the same way the online world does—you search for a Goa holiday package and sure enough, (ads for Goa vacations) appear every time you open the browser."
"With data mapping, is it possible to similarly target people and personalize the solutions for each of their needs, be it for education, health, sanitation, or livelihood?" she says.
The needs of every household, every individual, needed to be mapped to the resources, helping bridge the gap between welfare outlays and beneficiaries. That could happen only with unique targeted development plans of the most granular kind. The SocialCops data intelligence platform helped identify 80 development indicators across five broad categories—economic development, education, health, aanganwadi and welfare schemes outreach—to create village profiles and develop village development plans.
There was, however, a small problem. Microplanning at this level of granularity generally takes anywhere between six and nine months. Chandrapur’s had to be completed in 90 days flat.
It wasn’t going to be easy.
For one, Chandrapur is a study in contrasts. In addition to a handful of cement plants, the district hosts the state’s largest thermal power plant, the largest paper manufacturer and exporter (Ballarpur Industries) and also a manufacturing facility of the country’s largest steel producer, Steel Authority of India Ltd. The city has such an abundance of coal mines that some call it Black Gold City.
Thanks to an abundance of coal mines and coal-based power plants, Chandrapur is called the Black Gold city.
At the same time, it is home to over 2 million people who mostly live in dismal conditions, relegating Chandrapur to the list of India’s 250 most backward districts. The district as a whole mirrors what ails Jiwati—half the houses are kutcha, grid connectivity in areas is as low as 31% and computer literacy no higher than 5%. More than a fifth of the population comprises Scheduled Castes—the highest in the state—and about 10% of households use LPG for cooking. The district is in dire need of development initiatives.
Mul is a mixture of rural-urban pockets, Pombhurna had both rural and tribal population, and Jiwati is 90% tribal. Across most key parameters, the three blocks showed hugely varying development needs. A one-size-fits-all plan would have been utterly meaningless.
Microplanning can be tough even under the best conditions. Gathering granular information is cumbersome and time-consuming. By the time the data is up for analysis, most of it is obsolete. Tata Trusts senior programme manager Paresh J. Manohar estimates that almost 40% of the data dies by the time a nine-month project, like Chandrapur, concludes.
Data works as efficiently as it is gathered
Speed and agility was of the essence. To collect huge volumes of data in a short time, it was vital to get the questionnaire right. The questions had to be framed carefully, in logical sequence and in the local language. Through piloting in the field, data scientists created customized surveys for different villages and demographic conditions, all on an Android app—the perfect data collection tool. “We learned that the same dialect of Marathi can change from taluka to taluka. So we had to change questions to ensure that people understood what was being asked," says a field volunteer.
Training was organized locally in Marathi to orient volunteers in different aspects of data collection.
None of this would be possible unless both the surveyors and those being surveyed understood the importance of the entire exercise. So, the people were first made aware of what microplanning was and how it would benefit them. Next, it was explained these plans would work only as well as the data they collect. About 300 volunteers—100 per taluka—were rigorously trained in mobile data collection for a week. Imagine educating people from scratch about a tablet – how to operate it, what would it mean to press a button, how to open an app and fill a question, how to ensure the response is registered.
Volunteers of Chandrapur project implementation partners, Sparsh and Sankalp, being trained for mobile data collection.
Volunteers of Chandrapur project implementation NGO partners, Sparsh and Sankalp, being trained for mobile data collection.
And the volunteers delivered, surveying 160,000 people and collecting 6.9 million data points.
At the same time the data was being gathered, algorithms were used to verify and flag inaccurate responses in real time and re-collect that data, significantly improving the quality of the information.
The final data from the baseline survey was then structured and analysed to create village development plans, listing everything that needs to happen to transform each village into a model village. And at last, a dashboard was built based on the data so that government officials could access it at any time in an easy-to-understand snapshot.
Creating granular to-do plans
At the end of the three months, a composite database was in place for all the villages. In Jiwati’s Patan village, for example, government officials could find out with just a click that of the 250 households, 133 needed ration cards, 127 had no grid connectivity, an overwhelming 204 had no LPG connection, all save one had no access to processed tap water, 185 needed toilets, and so on.
The village development plans listed out in detail what should be on their agenda, even at an individual level and mapped each task to the relevant government department. For instance, only 12 youths in the 18-35 age group were categorized as "skilled" in Patan; 381 needed to be trained under the rural development ministry’s skilling initiative for rural youth, the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana.
Or consider social security parameters. The dashboard showed that among those in the 18-70 age group eligible for the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (a subsidized insurance scheme), only 90 out of a total of 631 people were covered. The village also drew a blank on health insurance—none of the 174 eligible people (classified as below the poverty line) were covered under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana.
Almost a year later, the results are strikingly visible.
A sub-divisional officer in Mul is using the dashboard to find villages where she should conduct Aadhaar camps. She hovers over the red dots in the map to zero in on areas with the lowest use.
The block development officer in Mul wants to track how his block is faring on the Open Defecation Free parameter. The snapshot shows what percentage of households don’t have toilets; he clicks again to find out which villages in particular are lagging behind.
The electricity department can now find out exactly which households are still not connected to the grid. And being the only such database on LPG use in the country, the ministry of petroleum now knows which households to target for providing cooking gas connections.
That’s not all. The district collector, Ashutosh Salil, will now be able to rely on the data dashboard to cross-check in real time what officials claim needs to be done, and also to appraise villagers’ development priorities during his field visits. “Earlier if I had to budget Rs100 for 10 sub-districts, I would distribute them equally," he says. “That can’t be correct allocation if a block has been covered before and does not need more resources."
The villages have been sent their plans to be incorporated into their next annual development plans. One out of every three suggestions is a part of the Mul block’s 2016-17 development plan. Based on these plans, minister Mungantiwar has adopted 18 villages, all of which are to be converted into model villages.
Amberrazi, Loldoh, Malguda and 287 others in Chandrapur are no longer just dots on the map.
Aarti Gupta is a Delhi-based business writer and editor, and also a consultant with SocialCops.
Photographs courtesy SocialCops.
Comments are welcome at feedback@livemint.comThe drama over Ethan Couch, the Texas teen whose drunken driving accident killed several people parked in a disabled SUV by the side of the road, began when the Herd found out that he had used an "affluenza" defense in court. His attorneys argued that his parents had induced in him a sense of irresponsibility through wealth.
The big media and talking heads have turned this story into a revenge narrative of anti-affluence bigotry, but underneath the many layers, some interesting material emerges. Ethan Couch had a troubled upbringing because his parents were individualists. Like Baby Boomers tend to be (his father was born in 1965 and his mother 1967) they were individualists, or people for whom there was no higher obligation than the self, and their jobs/shopping, of course.
When Fred and Tonya Couch divorced in 2006, the court ordered psychological evaluations of both parents and Ethan, their only child.
You can tell a news story will be non-stop lugubrious when it launches into such a narrative. It no longer squares with the Narrative, which started back in 1789 when illiterate French peasants decided that their problem was not their own incompetence, but that their leaders had not saved them from themselves. That Narrative continues today because most people are still incompetent, and still want someone to blame for their own dysfunction. Ethan's parents blamed each other. This is a symptom of the classic case of narcissism that currently blights the West, brought on by the legalized individualism of 1789.
He said that his wife, now 48, was addicted to Vicodin and had given the painkiller to their son about five times. She also kept his bed in her room and considered him to be her "protector." Tonya Couch said the marriage ended because her husband had been verbally and physically abusive. She said there was daily name-calling, that he often grabbed her by the hair and that he once "threw her into a fireplace." Ethan Couch said his parents had always "yelled at each other a lot," and he wished that they "wouldn't put him in the middle."
They put him in the middle. Every Generation X kid can identify with this situation: your parents are both selfish, narcissistic and withdrawn because of their individualism; to them, others exist for the pleasure of the parent. That includes spouses and children. As a result, they cannot achieve anything resembling love and instead live through a series of dependency relationships.
The social worker for Ethan Couch wrote that his parents had "adultified" Ethan by forcing him to become involved in adult issues and decisions. This is also typical of Baby Boomers: instead of raising children, they controlled them, and the biggest method of that control was to, instead of offering parental advice, ask their children what they wanted. How does a child answer the question "If me and your Mom split, and I hate her, where do you want to live?" -- the answer is that he probably wants to fucking die.
Ethan Couch undoubtedly became a horror. His parents made this horror, but what made the parents? Individualism, the consequence of The Enlightenment.™ When you tell people that they are responsible to themselves alone, and that social order builds around that fundamentally divisive idea, they stop caring about the consequences of their acts. They become non-accountable and irresponsible, and if given money, they are even more abusive.
This makes the real "affluenza" story not so much about the affluence, but the psychological dysfunction that has become "normal" in the West since liberalism fully took over in 1968. Narcissistic parents make desperate, suicidal and drugged zombies out of their children. While all the morons are busy hating the rich, the real story here is how much we hate ourselves.Last week the Task Force on Re-imagining the Episcopal Church released a report ahead of next year’s General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City. The 73-page report proposes significant structural changes and — in some places — glimmers of candor can be seen, such as acknowledgement that “…many of our parishes are no longer financially self-sufficient and cannot afford full-time stipended clergy.”
As Episcopal Church officials struggle with how to re-organize an unwieldy bureaucracy and legislative body formed for a much larger church, more bad news is dripping out.
The denomination’s Office of Research has compiled the self-reported statistical tables for provinces and dioceses for the last reporting year (2013). In October IRD reported on overall declines in attendance and membership in the Episcopal Church, but the updated statistical tables provide much more detailed information on baptisms, marriages, confirmations and parish closures. (2012 statistical tables can be found here as a basis of comparison)
The report reveals that in U.S. dioceses, baptisms are down five percent from 27,140 in 2012 to 25,822 in 2013. Similarly, marriages are down four percent from 10,366 to 9,933 (the denomination has seen a 40 percent decline in children baptized since 2003 and a 46 percent decline in marriages over the same period). The losses are not evenly distributed, with some dioceses performing worse than others: in the Diocese of Northern Michigan, where an ordained Buddhist was elected (and later failed to gain consent from other dioceses) to be bishop in 2009, zero children were confirmed in 2013.
Episcopal “renewing” dioceses in San Joaquin and Fort Worth are also continuing to struggle: Fort Worth closed five parishes in 2013 (from 22 to 17), with San Joaquin closing two (21 to 19). Pittsburgh added one new parish (36 to 37). Other diocese closing parishes include Maryland (4) and Massachusetts (3), with most of the dioceses in Northeastern Province 1 seeing the closure of at least one parish.
Despite continuing to claim over 70 parishes and 28,000 members following the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina (DioSC) and the vast majority of its parishes ending their affiliation with the Episcopal Church, the renewing Episcopal Church in South Carolina (ECSC) has posted updated information on baptisms and weddings, showing a drop from 388 children’s baptisms in 2012 to only 135 in 2013. South Carolina reported 170 children and 143 adults confirmed in 2012, dropping to 54 children and 37 adults in 2013.
A new “fast facts” summary sheet reveals that over 45 percent of Episcopal parishes have either no priest (12.3 percent) or only a part time or unpaid priest (33.2 percent). Just over a third of Episcopal parishes have one full-time priest (34.9 percent) while less than 20 percent have multiple priests (19.7 percent). Median Average Sunday Worship Attendance has dropped from 64 persons in 2012 to 61 persons in 2013.
Forty percent of parishes have reported membership declines of 10 percent or greater during the past 10 years, while 52 percent report a decline of 10 percent or greater in attendance over the same period.
Episcopalians do have one possible bright spot from last year to report: the average pledge rose from $2,491 to $2,553, and total “plate and pledge” income rose from $1,303,458,185 to $1,313,395,473, an increase of 0.8 percent. Unfortunately, this failed to keep pace with the 1.5 percent inflation rate between 2012 and 2013.
The total investments held by Episcopal congregations also rose from $3,920,736,285 to $4,317,158,557 in 2013, reflecting improvements in financial markets.Colorado has made new strides in marijuana legalization, passing a law that allows consumers to publicly use marijuana in any business that permits it. It’s one of many wins marijuana advocates saw Election Day, such as California and Massachusetts voting in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana use.
Colorado legalized recreational marijuana use back in 2014 for the 21 and older crowd, but as the Denver Post noted, there’s limited places people can use marijuana. Tourists, or even Denver residents, can’t use weed unless they’re in a licensed cannabis club. Tourists would have to find a pro-marijuana hotel or a marijuana friendly Air BnB, while Denver residents who aren’t property owners can’t use marijuana indoors unless they have permission from the homeowner.
Initiative 300, which passed with 53.3 percent support, is the law allowing for a four-year pilot program that would allow businesses, including but not limited to, bars and restaurants to apply for permits to have indoor or outdoor marijuana consumption areas. The bring-your-own-marijuana areas would be be limited to those to 21 and over and would be restricted to edibles or vaping if indoors. Outdoor marijuana consumption areas would have to comply with other restrictions. For example “[the area] cannot be visible from a public right-of-way or a place where children congregate.” More importantly, businesses applying for either temporary or annual permits must get approval from a neighborhood organization or a local business district.
POST CONTINUES BELOW
Not everyone is happy about the new state of affairs. Smart Colorado co-founder and Protect Denver’s Atmosphere campaign manager Rachel O’Bryan wrote in a Denver Post op-ed, “By opening the door to marijuana use in any Denver restaurant, bar or other business, Initiative 300 will lead to an increase in drugged driving, threatening everyone on the roads.” Colorado has been releasing PSAs advising against driving while high, citing statistics that drugged driving has increased since recreational marijuana use became legal.HAMTRAMCK, MI-- Detroit City FC played their first game of 2017 at Keyworth Stadium Saturday evening. Over 4,000 fans came out to watch the preseason friendly against Dayton Dynamo. The National Premier Soccer League teams tied 2-2.
Detroit City FC's full 2017 NPLS schedule with matches in bold played at Keyworth Stadium: Saturday April 15 @ Saginaw Valley State University* 3:30 PM Sunday April 30 @ Lawrence Tech University* 1:00 PM
Saturday May 6 Dayton Dynamo* 7:30 PM Friday May 12 Milwaukee Torrent 7:30 PM
Sunday May 14 @ Michigan Stars FC 4:00 PM Sunday May 21 @ AFC Ann Arbor 1:00 PM
Saturday May 27 Glentoran FC*** 7:30 PM Friday June 2 Grand Rapids FC 7:30 PM
Sunday June 4 @ FC Indiana 2:00 PM
Wednesday June 7 vs Columbus Crew College Program* 7:30 PM
Sunday June 11 @ Kalamazoo FC 6:05 PM Saturday June 17 @ Grand Rapids FC 7:30 PM
Friday June 23 Kalamazoo FC 7:30 PM
Sunday June 25 @ Milwaukee Torrent 3:00 PM
Tuesday June 27 FC Indiana 7:30 PM Friday June 30 Michigan Stars FC 7:30 PM Friday July 7 AFC Ann Arbor 7:30 PM
Sunday July 9 @ Lansing United 2:00 PM
Friday July 14 Lansing United 7:30 PM Wednesday August 2 Windsor TFC* 7:30 PM
* denotes friendly match ** not included with City Card season ticketMy entry for:'s latest contest. I hope you like it ^^Dialog:"Ahhh!"There! There it was again. The short, yet unambiguous cry of a woman reached Starlight's ear. Whenshe awakened for the first time by hearing this a sound, she had been certain that it had merely beenthe result of a turbulent dream. The second time she already had slight doubts. But now that sheawakened for the third time from her nightly slumber, she was 100% sure that her imaginationwasn’t fooling her.Carefully she stepped out of her warm, soft bed. A cold chill ran through Starlight as her warm, nakedfeet touched the cold crystal floor of the castle. In the palm of her hand, she lit a small fire, just to getlost once again in the already labyrinth-like building. On tiptoes she crept to her room door, whichslowly opened with a quiet creak. As she entered the corridor, she heard some indefinite soundsfrom the west wing of the castle."Waaaaaaaahhh!"Starlight cowered behind a crystal pillar. The strength of Starlight's breath doubled and her heart wasbeating even faster now. She pressed her hand onto her mouth, where the small flame had spent herlight a few seconds ago. Her eyes were as small as those of a cat and staring at the opposite wall,while she could feel blood rushing through her ears. Like a frightened foal she persisted, praying toCelestia, her legs may not give in now, a few minutes behind the pillar. When she finally felt like themaster of her body again, she carefully ventured out of her hiding-place.Gradually she turned towards the direction from which the shrill noises came.On tiptoes, she ran across the cold corridor. When she could make out even stranger noises, shestopped.It sounded in her left ear.It sounded in her right ear.Maybe these were Starlight’s inner devil and angel talking to her? Trying to talk to her? Either wayshe wasn’t listening.Carefully she caught a quick glance over right shoulder. But there was no one there. Even on her rightshe could see no one.Starlight closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Carefully, she pressed the door latch of the door,which separated her from the strange voice. Starlight's thoughts fell over. Her head was filled withprobability calculations, spells, strategies for a possible fight. Slowly she peered into the room –"TRIXIIIIIIIIIE!!!!!!!!""Waaaaaaaaaahhhhh!" Shouted the white-haired woman. The next moment she turned around.Trixie's eyes were filled with panic, but once she recolonized Starlight she jumped from her mattress,which she had erected in front of the big television in one of Twillight's living rooms.“Did you have to scare me like this?? I was just at the most exciting –“Starlight interrupted her girlfriend’s outburst abruptly as she pressed her lips against the angrymage’s lips. Trixie was completely frozen in her movement, probably not understanding what wasgoing on.A short time later Starlight broke from the surprise kiss, but still remained a few inches from Trixie'sconfused face."Don’t you dare, to put me in such a fright again."Immediately afterwards she sat down beside her.“Now, what are we watching?”MLP:FiM copyright HasbroThis can be either an Real Time Tactics or First Person Shooter style game
You will have to deal with managing panic amongst victims, and also maintain some ethical standards along the way.
As the coordinator, you may encounter official decisions. For example, you may have to shoot a person to stop a crowd from stampeding and flooding the escape raft.
At the end of the scenario, your score will be tallied up. Depending on your performance rank, the debriefing report and newspaper clipping will display different text. E.g. You may be jailed for shooting too many survivors, even if you saved many others.
It will involve these scenario
Orderly evacuation of a cruise ship:
1. Easy mode: Escape drill training. Enough boat. Rescue ship right nearby.
2. Medium mode: Ship sinking, but slowly. Rescue ships arriving soon enough.
3. Hard mode: Ship sinking fast, panicking passengers. Rescue arriving late.
4. Hardcore mode: Ship sinking fast, some panicking passengers have guns. Possible mutiny amongst staffs who don't care about duty to other survivors. Rescue ships might not arrive at all.
Evacuation of victims during a genocide: etc...
Evacuation of a hospital during a zombie invasion: etc...
Evacuation of cute fluffy baby penguins from an invasion of fur seals: etc...By Paul Tomkins.
Expecting to win a 12th game in a row is perhaps the new definition of insanity. We had to wake up sooner or later, eh? Still, it’s quite nice to wake up and find ourselves still top of the table. Man City may now be favourites, but they have to win their game in hand, and that’s not a foregone conclusion in a season of twists and turns.
It’s fair to say that Chelsea had every right to play the way they did; although Jose Mourinho presumably can’t accuse anyone else of playing like it’s the 19th century or parking the bus.
Everyone has a right to play the way they want, as long as it’s within the rules; and if it isn’t, it’s up to the referee to pull them into line. Liverpool didn’t look like scoring even with 15 minutes of added time, although how only four got added was a mystery; ironically, the visitors’ goals came only after the full 45 minutes of each stop-start half had passed. Chelsea tried every trick in the book, to time-waste their way to victory, and they got away with it. Liverpool didn’t keep their composure when it mattered.
As I hinted at last week, after the Norwich victory Liverpool found themselves in much the same position as West Ham 29 minutes into the 2006 FA Cup Final; a situation they had no right to expect to be in when the competition began months earlier. West Ham were great that day, until it was theirs to lose. Then they started to think “shit, this is ours!”.
A game feels “won” at 2-0 up, just as a title feels won when five points clear, even if a rival has a game in hand. That’s when a team, like an autoimmune disease, attacks itself. Pressure causes nerves, and nerves cause mistakes. That’s why Jose Mourinho talks of his team as if they’re a bunch of Sunday League kids, as he tries to distract from the monumental transfer fees and enormous wage bill.
Liverpool fans had no right to expect to be title favourites with three games to go. A few months ago my hunch was that the Reds, to stand a chance of the title, had to hit the front as late as possible. So when they hit the front several weeks back, it felt too early; the mind starts playing tricks, the legs get heavy, as pressure affects the body. But then, at the same time, that cushion looked rather handy. For me, the problem was always going to be the time in between games.
There’s no doubt that Chelsea defended brilliantly, albeit against a panicky Liverpool. Perhaps the greatest damage done by Steven Gerrard’s slip was not the goal that resulted, but his eight long-range shots in the next 45 minutes. He’s been a brilliant leader this season, but at times he tries too hard; not a bad fault to have – better than not being arsed – and it’s taken him to some great heights in the past, to make him a bona fide club legend. But gone are the days when he scored frequently from long range; these days, 12 yards is about right. The game is full of players atoning for errors or own goals with a strike at the other end, but we forget the thousands of times when they don’t rescue the day.
Gerrard was drawn into being Superman, when his success this season has been freeing up others; although in fairness, Suarez was also trying too hard, as was Coutinho, with all three of them forcing the issue when some calmness was required. Still, it seems churlish to single them out after their efforts got Liverpool into this position to start with. Any criticism comes with the caveat that they’re massively in credit this campaign.
There’s also little doubt that Jose Mourinho will be remembered as a great manager. But he won’t be remembered fondly as a great manager. He’ll be remembered as a capricious, creepy, eye-poking narcissist who won a lot of football matches. Pep Guardiola will be remembered fondly, as will Arsene Wenger, Johan Cruyff, Bob Paisley and (outside of Liverpool) Alex Ferguson, amongst many others.
Ultimately, Mourinho isn’t quite good enough to win hearts and minds – just football matches. He’s brilliant at taking expensive squads and defending in numbers |
to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken," Mr Tillerson told ABC's "This Week”, without mentioning North Korea by name.
A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman warned: "We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions."
He called Washington's decision "reckless" and said the regime was "ready to react to any mode of war" should the US take military action. North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper wrote in an editorial that: 'Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the US invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the US mainland'.
Beijing fears any potential conflict in the region would result in pro-US troops on its border, and also cause a huge refugee crisis in it’s north-east.
Some South Korean newspapers reported that Beijing had moved 150,000 troops to its border with North Korea for “unforeseen contingencies”.
But a foreign ministry spokeswoman said she was not aware of the reported troop movements, and Kim Hong-Kyun, South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy said there was no mention of any military option in his talks with the Chinese on Monday.0 SHARES Facebook Twitter Google Whatsapp Pinterest Print Mail Flipboard
Last night on CNN, Liz Cheney revealed that her father former vice president Dick Cheney is speaking out in defense of torture right now because he is afraid of being prosecuted for war crimes. Apparently, the person that Cheney is most interested in protecting is himself.
Here is the video courtesy of Think Progress:
Cheney said, “I don’t think he planned to be doing this, you know, when they left office in January. But I think, as it became clear that President Obama was not only going to be stopping some of these policies, that he was going to be doing things like releasing the — the techniques themselves, so that the terrorists could now train to them, that he was suggesting that perhaps we would even be prosecuting former members of the Bush administration.”
I don’t think anybody should be surprised that a man who is motivated by, and motivates others, with fear is frightened of prosecution. Cheney is on the attack, not out some desire to protect the nation, he is trying to save his own legacy, and keep his butt out of prison. Guys with heart conditions don’t do well in the old pokey. Every once in a while a little bit of truth manages to sneak through, the GOP argument in favor of torture.
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:Game-a-Tron 4000 Game Engine The Game-a-Tron 4000 is a game engine that uses the Azure Bot Service and Bot Builder SDK frameworks for creating adventure games. The Azure Bot Service allows developers to build, …Read more
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HSynth Morse Code Music Maker HSynth is a Google Chrome experiment that allows users to create music using Morse code. There are two modes in this music maker. The first is Create, wherein the player …Read more
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Hello Emmett Gboard Morse Game Hello Emmett is a Google Chrome experiment game that is made for the Gboard Morse keyboard. The goal is to help your character reach the end of the puzzle by using Morse …Read more
UI Blocks for Phaser 3 UI Blocks is a Phaser 3 component that works as a better alternative to containers. A developer created this blog post that explains the block’s advantages over other groups and …Read more
PIC Terrain Creator The PIC Terrian Creator is an effective tool for creating visual landscapes of your games. It is available in two options – the Athena Terrain and Danae Environment. The first …Read more
Phaser 3 Tutorial: Creating Big Tilemaps A HTML5 game developer shared his expert insights on managing big tilemaps using Phaser 3. As mentioned in the tutorial, compartmentalization is key to manage such a grand game design. …Read more
Sound Canvas Drawing Tool – Google Experiment Sound Canvas is a Google Experiment that converts drawings into sound. If you draw a line that slopes upwards, it will create a rising sound. This tool was created using …Read more
Tiled Physics Phaser 3 Plugin Tiled Physics is a Phaser 3 plugin that helps game developers move around bodies in a tiled map setting. This physics component helps you set up the inertia, force, and …Read more
Word Synth – Create Music Through Words Word Synth is a Google Experiment wherein you can turn words into melodies. This was created using the Google Cloud Text-to-Speech API that can synthesize speech. The API is also …Read more
The Forest – Map Simulation The Forest is a simulation game that demonstrates the use of algorithms to generate a vast terrain. This technique eliminates the need to download a vast amount of data. The …Read more
Using Bezier Curves to Tween Object Movement Bezier curves are commonly used for two-dimensional graphics. A tutorial from a veteran HTML game developer gives us basic pointers on how to use this type of curve for tweening …Read more
Pixel Art Pack for Platformer Game If you are creating a retro RPG or platformer with a fun and energetic vibe, try the Sunnyland Woods Pixel Art Pack. This asset pack focuses more on natural sceneries …Read morePortrait, oil on canvas of Gottfried Reiche (1667–1734) by Elias Gottlob Haussmann (1695–1774)
Abblasen is a trumpet fanfare attributed to Gottfried Reiche. In Haussmann's famous portrait of Reiche, he is seen holding a scrap of paper with two lines of melody written on it. Abblassen is a reconstruction of what appears to be on the manuscript in Haussmann's painting. There is no way of knowing if Reiche wrote the melody that appears in the painting, or indeed, to confirm that the version of Abblassen that is played today is an accurate transcription of the manuscript.
The piece is usually performed in the key of D, and it spans two octaves of the trumpet's range. A vinyl recording of a version by Don Smithers, played on an eight-foot baroque trumpet, was used as the theme song to the long-running CBS News Sunday Morning for almost 20 years until CBS opted to switch out the vinyl recording with a clearer digital recording performed by Doc Severinsen on a piccolo trumpet. Severinsen's version, which was noticeably not in the Baroque style, was later replaced by a recording by Wynton Marsalis.[1] Reiche composed 122 pieces entitled Abblasen-Stücken, but only one survived to the modern day.[2]Mad Catz has signed a deal to re-release Rock Band 3 for the 2011 holiday season.
Rock Band 3 bombed pretty badly when it came out last year, badly enough that Harmonix parent company Viacom put the studio up for sale and ended up taking 50 bucks for it. But that's not stopping Mad Catz from trying again this year with a re-release of the game, this time bundled with its own Rock Band 3 peripherals, including a wireless Fender Mustang Pro guitar controller that will help players learn to play real guitar and bass parts from the Rock Band set list.
"Rock Band is the ultimate interactive experience for any music fan," said Mad Catz CEO Darren Richardson, "whether they're looking for a great party game to share with friends, playing through Rock Band's 3000 plus song library, or seeking out a fun way to learn guitar, drum or keyboard skills using Rock Band 3's PRO Mode."
Rock Band 3 didn't tank because it's a bad game [it owns a 93 rating on Metacritic] but because the music game market is saturated and for most gamers, it simply didn't bring enough to the table to warrant yet another expensive, multi-peripheral purchase. How Mad Catz plans to get around that is a mystery; consecutive holiday seasons isn't much of a cool-down period for a franchise the public is obviously sick of. Price could go a long way toward increasing the appeal, but Mad Catz did not indicate what the re-released edition will sell for.Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
I like Eddie Wineland. Watching him fight is a study in style and grace in MMA as he glides and bounces around the cage. Too many fighters are happy to simply wade in and lock horns.
At UFC 165 Eddie Wineland will meet Renan Barao for the interim (but in reality the actual) Bantamweight title in a match which is being largely overlooked because of the Jones vs Gustafsson main event.
Today we will take a brief look at Wineland's tendencies and skills.
The first thing to note is that Wineland loves to move. Normally the taller of the two combatants at bantamweight, he will stay on the outside and look for long punches when he can bait an opponent to step in to meet him.
With Wineland and Gustafsson fighting in one night this weekend we could well be set to see a thoroughly worn out octagon mat by the end of the night. Wineland, as with any other movement-based fighter (e.g. Frankie Edgar, Alexander Gustafsson, Dominick Cruz) can be a little stifled by low kicks as he either ends up taking them while in no position to brace, or has to pick up his lead leg to deal with them.
Wineland's last two opponents, Scott Jorgensen and Brad Pickett have hardly been the kind of fighters to take advantage of that, but it showed up briefly in the Pickett bout as Pickett buckled Wineland's stance with a couple of kicks.
W. C. Heinz described Sugar Ray Robinson as a master of firm prose, reluctant to waste a word. He contrasted this with Willie Pep who was more "a poet, often implying, with his feints and with his footwork, more than he said." Obviously Eddie Wineland is nowhere near Willie Pep or Ray Robinson but I enjoyed this contrast of styles and the different methods used to get the job done.
Renan Barao is not dissimilar to that description of Robinson. When he wants to kick he kicks. When he wants to jab he jabs. He is fast, and has tight, crisp technique, but he makes nowhere near the effort to lie to his opponent that Wineland does.
Wineland is more in line with that description of Willie Pep's methodology. He is one of the few fighters who uses feints effectively because he is one of the few fighters who doesn't feint once and wait to see if it works. Wineland's feints are constant and embedded into his bouncing and his rhythm. He will feint with his shoulders, with his hands and with his feet.
Wineland doesn't change his game around whether they are working or not, they just serve as an extra layer to make life a good deal more complex for his opponent.
In his most recent bout, against Brad Pickett, Eddie Wineland also displayed a neat trick from the repetoire of the great Archie Moore. If you have followed my articles for a while you will know how highly I, and most others in the boxing community, regard "The Old Mongoose." The strategy which Wineland imitated (though he probably came to it through his own experimentation of course) was Archie Moore's famed "left cross."
In an interview with Sports Illustrated before his challenge for Rocky Marciano's title, "Ageless Archie" remarked:
The left cross, it's a different punch. Not many of them throw it. They don't know it exists. Anybody tell you they no such thing as a left cross, you tell them they're a liar. Why isn't there such a thing as a left cross? There's a right cross, and you got two hands. Anything you do with your right hand you can do with your left hand.
By squaring the hips, one can throw a left straight with a full hip twist as one would throw a right straight. This is the technique which Wineland used time and time again against Pickett. Squaring his hips to fake a right, Wineland would shoot his left straight through Pickett's head when Pickett came to close in on him.
Against Scott Jorgensen, Wineland showed no need to wind up on his jab. Each time Scotty came at him, Wineland jacked the smaller man's head back with a stiff jab straight out of his stance, normally slipping the incoming strike at the same time. Slipping the jab and landing one's own is boxing 101.
Wineland is also excellent at convincing his opponent to close in on him before nailing them with a hard right straight. It is doubtlessly his money punch. Brad Pickett ate right after right as he chased Wineland. It really was the story of that fight.
If I had to pick a flaw in Wineland from that bout I would say that he suffers from the same fault which I pointed out in Gilbert Melendez to a friend a while back—he doesn't "close the door". Because Melendez and Wineland both consider their right hand a fight finisher (and evidence very much suggests they both can be) they both consequently consider it a combination finisher, which it rarely should be.
Both men will throw a flurry of punches culminating with a right hand, then just drop it and slowly move back into stance, wide open to counters.
Regular readers will be used to me saying this by now but the defensive genius of men like Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and Roberto Duran was made much easier for them because they put themselves in a position where they rarely had to react.
Reacting is tiring and requires a fighter to be on a hair trigger all fight. If you throw a punch and immediately take what Mike Tyson's team called "defensive moves" afterward, you massively reduce your chances of being hit with a counter and remove the need to react to one. Just watch Mayweather versus Juan Manuel Marquez—after every good combination he is either behind his lead shoulder or ducking out of the way.
Of course it doesn't matter nearly so much when you are out of range or your opponent is moving away, but Melendez and Wineland regularly finish with their right hand within punching range.
If you finish a combination with a right hand—in most instances a mid-range punch—you are still in punching range, you are not behind your lead shoulder or moving out to the side, and your head is waiting on a platter. Eddie Wineland outclassed Brad Pickett so thoroughly for the most part that it was very noticeable when Eddie threw a right hand, stood still and got hit with a left hook which never should have troubled him.
Will Eddie Wineland beat Renan Barao at the weekend? I have no idea. I'm not even sure that he has done all that much to warrant a title shot, but too few fans are familiar with Wineland or appreciate that brilliance which he routinely shows in the cage.
Watch the fight and appreciate two very different, technical and clever strikers going at it.
Pick up Jack's eBooks Advanced Striking and Elementary Striking from his blog, Fights Gone By.
Jack can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.Around the webring, the conversation gets lively. Suzanne Tenner/Showtime
On Sunday night’s episode of Twin Peaks, David Lynch took viewers deeper into the mysteries of the death of Major Garland Briggs and the murder of South Dakota librarian Ruth Davenport. He also took attentive viewers deeper into the mysteries of 1997-era web design. The subject arises in a crucial scene in which Matthew Lillard’s character William Hastings—suspected of killing Davenport—is interrogated by Chrysta Bell’s FBI agent Tammy Preston. “Are you the author of an online journal or blog entitled the Search for the Zone?” she asks him. It turns out that in both Twin Peaks’ dimension and our own, the answer to that question is an emphatic yes. Hastings’ website is online at thesearchforthezone.com, and it’s everything Twin Peaks fanatics could hope for, short of a home visit from those delightful woodsmen.
Hastings’ blog is as much of a return to the 1990s as the show’s revival: The web counter (remember those?) at the top of the page proclaims that the site was created on June 1, 1997, and the design hasn’t changed a bit since then. There are some deep cuts from the early web: Hasting’s site was a Yahoo! Pick of the Week and won a Webwalkers What-A-Site Award. Is there a guest book? Oh, you bet there’s a guest book. Like most sites of its era, staring at the graphic design will make your eyes bleed like you just sailed face-first into a nuclear mushroom cloud. I mean:
Ouch. William Hastings/Rhino Records
This being a Twin Peaks site, however, William Hastings’ blog also comes with a mystery or two of its own. Who is “Heinrich Viegel,” who Hastings says occasionally contributes to the site? Are there messages hidden in the audio files of “electrical interference” Hastings has posted? Are the coordinates hidden at the bottom of the page (44°30’44.8”N 103°49’14.6”W) the same ones Davenport gave Briggs before she was killed? What’s at that location, if anything? (It’s in the same general area of South Dakota as the show’s fictional town of Buckhorn, but at tenths of a second, it’s much more precise than it needs to be.) Why does clicking on the coordinates yield staticky images of the convenience store from the show? What’s going on with the 12 minutes of Twin Peaks soundtrack radio noise over what looks like footage of CRT TVs powering off that appears when you click the link for more of Hastings’ blog entries? Why does Bill Hasting’s “DONATE NOW” banner take you to a page where you can buy the soundtracks to the show from Rhino Records? What really went on between Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys, and who really pulled the trigger on JFK? This seems like a case worthy of Special Agent Dale Cooper—or a legion of his nonunion Reddit equivalents, currently hot on the trail.I only started following Lala Kent on Instagram yesterday, and boy, what a payoff. In the past 24 hours, she’s already given me enough fodder for not one, but two articles. First, there was the thirsty post of the bouquet that she captioned “Thank you R.E. [heart emoji]”. We all obviously took R.E. to mean Randall Emmett, Lala’s rumored married boyfriend since last season. Well now, Lala’s back with another Instagram story, and I’ve got to tell you, this has really changed my opinion. At first I thought Lala was out here, playing up her illicit relationship for publicity. Now I think she’s completely fabricating this relationship that does not actually exist for publicity. Take a look at this picture and you’ll see why.
Let’s cover the obvious first. NOBODY TALKS LIKE THIS. Nobody writes like this; nobody talks like this; this is not a letter that any person would naturally compose. “You’re my angel and warrior”? “I am blessed to have you as my partner and lover”?? “LOVE, YOUR MAN AND BOY TOY”??? Come the fuck on. Nobody, especially not a man who’s trying to hide his affair from his wife and kids, would willingly write this. You know what it does sound like, though? Exactly what a woman who’s writing a fake love letter to herself would say, or what a man would say under duress with a pen taped to his hand and a gun to his head. Honestly, either scenario is equally plausible at this given point.
I also thought, upon first glance, that the handwriting was a little suspicious. One, it’s pretty neat—a little too neat, perhaps? Is that sexist, though? IDK. Two, and most importantly, take a fucking look at the first supposed love letter from her supposed lover.
TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SETS OF HANDWRITING. You don’t exactly need a degree to discern that. And then reconsider the two messages. “I love you, I’m so proud of you” vs. “I am blessed to have you as my partner and lover”… the same person didn’t write those. In scientific terms, there is just no fucking way. Wildly different handwriting, wildly different messages—it doesn’t add up. We’re talking two different unsubs people. And at this point, I doubt this supposed “R.E.” wrote either card. I feel like Lala completely just made this whole relationship up to stay relevant and is sending herself flowers just to post about them. Which is pretty sad. I saw a girl do that once with a wedding ring in an episode of Catfish—that’s the level she’s on right now. She is no better than people who pretend to be complete strangers on the internet to trick other people into relationships with them. Just think about that for a sec. That is pretty fucking low. Somebody call Nev and Max—we’ve caught a live one.
Now this is the last I want to hear about Lala’s fictional married boyfriend. If you need me, I’ll be tailoring my resume to apply for a position at CSI.Despite Claims Title II Will Kill Investment, Comcast Launches Major New 2 Gigabit Deployment
from the watch-what-we-do,-not-what-we-say dept
"To attempt to impose a full-blown Title II regime now, when the classification of cable broadband has always been as an information service, would reverse nearly a decade of precedent, including findings by the Supreme Court that this classification was proper. This would be a radical reversal that would harm investment and innovation, as today's immediate stock market reaction demonstrates."
"We’ll first offer this service in Atlanta and roll it out in additional cities soon with the goal to have it available across the country and available to about 18 million homes by the end of the year. Gigabit Pro is a professional-grade residential fiber-to-the-home solution that leverages our fiber network to deliver 2 Gbps upload and download speeds...
Gigabit Pro isn’t the only way we plan to bring gigabit speeds to customers’ homes. We are currently testing DOCSIS 3.1, a scalable, national, next generation 1 Gbps technology solution. We hope to begin rolling out DOCSIS 3.1 in early 2016, and when fully deployed, it will mean almost every customer in our footprint will be able to receive gigabit speeds over our existing network (a combination of both fiber and coax)."
While broadband ISPs have repeatedly claimed that being reclassified as common carriers under Title II will crush sector innovation, investment, and destroy the Internet as we know it -- they simultaneously continue to do a bang up job highlighting how these claims are complete and utter nonsense. For example, while Verizon was busy proclaiming that Title II would ruin, well, everything, it's been using Title II to reap massive tax benefits. Similarly, despite the fact wireless voice has been classified under Title II for years, that didn't stop the industry from investing massive amounts during that period or spending record amounts at the FCC's latest spectrum auction.Comcast has similarly proclaimed that if the FCC moved toward Title II it would have a devastating impact on network investment. In fact Comcast's top lobbyist David Cohen had this to say the day the FCC voted to approve Title II rules:Of course on the day in question telecom stocks actually rallied, suggesting Wall Street wasn't all that worried about the FCC's new rules. Meanwhile, this sudden freeze in investment is nowhere to be found on the news this week that Comcast is going to deploy symmetrical 2 gigabit per second service to an estimated 18 million homes. From the Comcast blog post Before people getexcited, remember that Comcast is trying to get its acquisition of Time Warner Cable approved, and as such is probably willing to make any number of promises it may or may not keep. ISPs also often like to conflate homes "passed" with fiber with homes served, so we'll have to see if Comcast actually gets anywhere near that 18 million mark. It's also worth noting that the company's current top-shelf tier of 505 Mbps runs users $400 a month, has a $1000 early termination fee, a $250 installation fee, and a $250 administrative fee. As such, if pricing for the new tier is similar Comcast knows most users won't take the option, with the possible exception of markets where Google Fiber creates downward pricing pressure.Still, which is it? Does classifying ISPs as common carriers under Title II create telecommunications Armageddon, or do things generally just proceed as normal, the only exception being an FCC equipped to police the most egregious examples anti-competitive behavior? Because increasingly, all signs are pointing to the latter.
Filed Under: 2 gigabit, competition, docsis 3.1, fcc, fiber, gigabit, net neutrality, title ii
Companies: comcastIsrael plans to demolish 88 homes in Silwan, a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem, to make way for a new archaeological park, adding new fuel the slow-burning dispute over Jerusalem.
A variety of neighborhood activists, Muslim leaders in Jerusalem, and even figures from the Palestinian Authority (PA) held a press conference Wednesday, saying that Israel was trying to minimize the Arab presence in this city claimed by both Palestinians and Jews as their capital. They say such a move amounts to ethnic cleansing.
"They have made a decision to clear out 88 houses, and with about three families living in each of these houses, we're looking at the eviction of about 1,500 people. But people in Silwan are clinging to their land and will not leave, despite the eviction orders," says Adnan Husseini, who is PA President Mahmoud Abbas's adviser on Jerusalem Affairs.
Israel's Jerusalem municipality, which has been mulling over this plan for four years, says that the homes were built without permits in an area not designated for residential use.
Though it remains unclear how quickly the municipality plans to proceed, the fact that their housing inspectors – escorted by border police – entered Silwan Sunday, surveying houses and photographing them, was enough evidence for locals that Israel is serious.
The new struggle over Silwan – and in particular a part of it called al-Bustan, or the Garden – comes at time so many other aspects of the conflict are in flux. Israel has yet to form a government following Feb. 10 elections, but a right-wing one, led by Likud leader Benajmin Netanyhau, is expected soon. Internal Palestinian politics are still in disarray, but Fatah and Hamas started reconciliation talks in Cairo Wednesday and Israel and Hamas are still far from a cease-fire deal.
It is as part of this backdrop, says analyst Mahdi Abdul Hadi, that Israel's move in Jerusalem is seen by Palestinians. "After Gaza, they realize they have the power to do whatever they want, and we won't be able to stop it, except for making statements and complaints," says Mr. Abdul Hadi, the head of the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs (PASSIA.)
Silwan is considered an especially sensitive area because it lies just outside the Old City and is the Arab neighborhood closest to the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam. It has already been a contested site, as Israeli ultranationalist groups have moved Jewish settlers into the area in recent years.
Whether or not to raze what is now a residential area and turn it into a tourist site may be one of the first big political tests for Nir Barkat, who was elected mayor last November.
Mr. Barkat issued a statement Tuesday saying that no "new plans" were under way. Indeed, plans to clear out the houses to make way for an archaeological park were raised four years ago, but amid international criticism the last Jerusalem mayor shelved the plans and invited the residents to come up with their own plan for the future of the neighborhood. It was rejected last week by a city committee.
"Illegal construction is illegal construction, no matter where it is," Barkat said in the statement released by his office, declining to take direct calls from the media.
Barkat called the neighborhood Emek HaMelech, Hebrew for "Valley of the King." There is already an Israeli-run City of David site in Silwan, which houses both an archaeological center and settlers. The Jewish settlers say they are living on the land that was King David's Jerusalem of 3,000 years ago.
"The area of Emek HaMelech is one of the most important areas with regards to the history of Jerusalem, with holy sites important to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. Because of its significant important to more than 3 billion people of faith around the world, it is also a tourist destination."
The issue began to surface again two weeks ago, when Yakir Segev, head of East Jerusalem affairs for the Jerusalem municipality, called a meeting of the owners of the Silwan houses in question. About 100 people came, says resident Fakhri Abu Diab, one among them. They were told they had a choice: Either you agree to leave in return for a house elsewhere, or face eviction by force.
"People got very upset by what they heard," says Mr. Abu Diab. "Our house has been our house since my grandfather's day, and my children were born there. You cannot replace that."
Khalil Tufakji, the leading cartographer of Palestinian Jerusalemite neighborhoods, says the planned move is part of an overall Israel concern to stop a losing demographic battle in Jerusalem. "Nir Barkat said in his election campaign for mayor, and said now, that the conflict for Jerusalem will be a demographic one."
Mr. Segev, of the Jerusalem municipality, says the issue was being blown out of proportion for political purposes, and that there was no unified plan to demolish the homes in the immediate future.
The demolition orders had indeed been issued by the municipality, he says, but each case would go to court and would be decided individually. "Destroying these 88 houses is not going to tilt the geographic balance," Segev says. "The Jordanians and even the Turks before them marked this place as a green area. It's not like the Israelis came and said so."HUNTINGTON BEACH – A shirtless Jurgen Ankenbrand sits in the front seat of his beat-up car, chugging from a half-gallon container of supercharged fruit juice.
He’s taking a break from a 65-mile run to celebrate his 65th birthday, running laps around Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.
“I don’t know whose crazy idea this was,” says Ankenbrand, a retired food service manager. “But, whoever it is, that person should be shot.”
He’s referring, of course, to himself.
That was Jan. 21, 2006.
And, though he didn’t know it at the time, getting shot isn’t far from how his story would end.
•••
Ankenbrand wasn’t always a globe-trotting runner.
In 1987, at age 47, he accepted a dare to run the Long Beach Marathon. His athletic passion to that point was tennis, not running.
Ankenbrand finished the marathon in a respectable 4:05, and a lifestyle was born.
Like many long-distance runners, Ankenbrand took to the sport for reasons other than competition – to meet new people, see new places, fun.
He became an “ultrarunner,” a person who runs races longer than traditional marathons, which are 26.2 miles. Typically, “ultramarathons” are 50k (31 miles), 50 miles and 100 miles. Most are run on dirt trails in mountains and deserts.
Ankenbrand’s running took him all over the world, to places like Mt. Everest, Antarctica, the Sahara Desert, Borneo, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa and Cuba.
When he took early retirement in 2003 from a job as a food service manager, his globe-trotting increased.
Ankenbrand, who divorced in his late 40s, lived modestly, renting a room in a townhome and driving an aging Ford Probe. He filled his trunk with his necessities – running clothes and beach supplies.
His income included $1,150 monthly Social Security checks and part-time work as a mystery shopper.
Ankenbrand also earned money as a freelance photographer and writer, chronicling his global adventures, including a 3,200-mile footrace across Europe, from Lisbon to Moscow.
•••
Ten days after he celebrated his 65th birthday with 65 laps around Mile Square Park, Ankenbrand was on his bicycle, in Huntington Beach, cruising home after a day near the water.
A car hit Ankenbrand from behind.
Unconscious and in the intensive care unit for three days, he awoke to serious injuries: a bruised brain and a damaged spinal cord that affected several nerves that regulate speech, walking, upper-body strength and swallowing.
He spent six weeks in the hospital, and underwent therapy to improve his speech and balance.
Two months after the crash, Ankenbrand said this:
“Fate had a huge and unexpected surprise in store for me – perhaps to bring me back to earth.”
After the accident, Ankenbrand never was 100 percent.
But he still enjoyed his simple life. The German-born Ankenbrand, who called himself “Ultra Kraut,” still ran a couple times a week at the beach. And he still dreamed of his next big adventures.
He never remarried, though he joined a group for singles at his church.
Monica, his daughter, remained the love of his life.
When he was hit in 2006, Ankenbrand said Monica, then living in New York, stayed with him 12 hours a day, every day, for the first two weeks.
“This was the first time in my life that I understood the real value of family and how important loyalty is, regardless of circumstances,” Ankenbrand said.
These days, Monica, 35, is living in Los Angeles, and recently was closer to the father who shamelessly adored and bragged about his daughter.
“She makes double the money I ever made in my best job,” he said in January 2006.
•••
On Dec. 22, 2010, fate had another surprise for Ankenbrand.
Closing in on his 70th birthday, he was on his bicycle at about 5:40 p.m., exiting Villa Pacific Drive onto Brookhurst Street in Huntington Beach.
According to a preliminary investigation, Ankenbrand was moving in tandem along the driver side of a Toyota 4Runner as it was turning left to go north on Brookhurst.
The 4Runner struck and knocked Ankenbrand to the pavement.
The driver kept going, police say.
A Honda Odyssey traveling south on Brookhurst Street then struck Ankenbrand a second time.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation.
“This is still a hit and run,” said Huntington Beach police Lt. Russell Reinhart. “The suspect is still unknown.”
On Jan. 5, someone put a “Ghost Bike” at the intersection where Ankenbrand died. The bike is painted white, to honor Ankenbrand and to remind motorists a cyclist was killed at that spot.
•••
Jurgen Ankenbrand lived in Orange County for more than 30 years.
In addition to Monica Ankenbrand, an associate client director at ACNielsen Co., he is survived by a granddaughter, Rhys Ankenbrand Breeden.
Memorial services were private.
At his request, Ankenbrand’s cremated remains were scattered at sea.
“I enjoy life,” Ankenbrand once said. “I don’t want to be one of those people who says, “I wish I would have done this or done that.”
His motto, he said, was this: “Do the most with the least effort.”
Contact the writer: 714-704-3764 or ghardesty@ocregister.comSea Shepherd Global has documented the grisly annual hunt and slaughter of pilot whales and dolphins in the Danish Faroe Islands.
As part of its ongoing Operation Bloody Fjords campaign, the ocean conservation group sent a crew of volunteers posing as tourists to six different Faroese towns covering 19 designated whaling bays with the aim of "[exposing] the continued barbaric killing of dolphins and pilot whales," campaign leader and Sea Shepherd UK Director Robert Read said.
Over the course of ten weeks from this July to early September, the volunteers documented nine separate grindadráp events (what these yearly hunts are called in Faroese). According to the group, 198 Atlantic white-sided dolphins and 436 pilot whales were killed.
The Faroese whaling tradition, also known as a grind, has a recorded history since 1584. During a grind, island authorities allow a flotilla of boats to drive dolphins and whales into a shallow bay. The animals are then killed with a whaling knife that severs their spinal cord.
Sea Shepherd Global
"We witnessed the whole process from the driving in of the 50 or so pilot whales through the slaughter, the butchering and the distribution of the meat and blubber," said one volunteer in a statement provided to EcoWatch about the the Aug. 29 grindadráp in the village of Hvannasund.
"As the pilot whales were driven to the shoreline by the small boats the intensity of the thrashing bodies grew. Hooks were sunk into the blowholes and the whales were dragged onto the shore in a sadistic game of 'Tug of War.' We witnessed whales seemingly bashing their heads against the stones in a frenzy."
Another witness at a July 25 dolphin hunt in the village of Sydrugota remarked about the crowds and children casually gathering at such a bloody scene.
"As we drove into Sydrugota we knew we were in the right place as the water was blood red, we |
, hit enter, and new URL gets automatically loaded on each device. Remote preview works on platforms like Android, Blackberry, iOS, Maemo, Meego, Symbian, Windows Phone and WebOS.
Remote Preview is a tiny JavaScript based tool that allows you to preview any URL on large number of mobile devices simultaneously.
Remote Preview works by making an ajax call every 1100ms to check if the url in the ‘url’ file is changed. If it is, the script will then change the src attribute of the iframe and load a new page into it. If there’s no changes, the script will just keep polling the url file until something changes. Remote Preview allows very fast previewing of different URL’s to check for possible layout problems, which can then be debugged using various other tools depending on the platform where they occur.
There are some issues and limitations with the way it’s being done, but as there currently is no other tool which allows you to preview web pages on all these platforms, I think this can be a handy addition to any test lab’s toolset.
Basic usage
Copy and paste all files to a public Dropbox folder/server/localhost, edit ‘url’ file and wait for devices to refresh. That’s all! You might also want to bookmark Remote Preview to your device’s home screen for fast & easy application like access later on (bonus: If you moved all files to a server or localhost, you can control the devices via web browser by pointing your browser to the directory named ‘control’).
Browser support
Current version is tested to be working on at least:
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ShareIf I make the Mahabharata, I'll probably make it in Hollywood so that I don't have a dearth in skill. It's going to be an epic movie and there will be no compromise on the acting. So here goes.You might be knowing him as Gandalf the Grey. Bheeshma is one of the most fiercest warriors on the field and plain intimidating. Normal mortals shit bricks on just seeing the great warrior. Ian Mckellen would gel in just perfect.Drona has badass written all over him. And who better to play badass than the most badass mortal among us all, Clint Eastwood. And I would die to see Clint Eastwood sporting a white beard. That would be epic.Ok. I have 2 reasons here. One, Krishna is written about in scripts as a dark-skinned person and I would want to do justice to that. And second, the obvious reason, they're both Gods.The eldest Pandava (no spoilers! ;)). The most righteous and truthful person to have ever lived on this earth. The person to whom the Pandavas look to for advice. And if I had the power to bring back people from the dead, I would surely casthere.You might not have heard of this guy but you will definitely recognise him. Khal Drogo from the Game of Thrones series has a striking resemblance to the Mahabharata character physically and I'm pretty sure this guy will do an awesome job is wreaking havoc, Bheem style.He's Batman. Case closed. Plus the Bhagwad Gita would be between Bale and Morgan Freeman. How epic would that be.Nakula is supposed to be the good looking one and we can agree on Ryan Gosling for this role. No major requirements are there for these two as they are relatively silent throughout the epic.Evil personified. His eyes bring out the treachery in his mind. Mark Strong was born for this role.The anti-hero. The bad luck Brian of Mahabharata. I somehow relate this to Brad Pitt, maybe because of his role in Troy. The only catch being he should look elder than Yudishtira. Enter hair and make up! :)For Dusshasana, I was looking for plain evil. Knepper as Dusshasana was kick ass. The perfect evil face. And for people who can't connect the face to someone in their memory, Tea Bag from Prison Break. Good choice na?On popular vote, Robert Knepper can be cast foralso. He's an awesome choice for both. :)Ok, I'm not that specific on this one. I just thought of who would look good in a saree and I wasn't disappointed. Actually, a Bollywood actress wouldn't be a bad idea for this but for the time being, we'll adjust with Jolie. :PI've covered the main characters here. The other characters, although equally important, will be of lesser impact to the awesomeness of the movie.P.S - I googled the images with the keywords'with beard'just to get a feel of the whole thing. :)My sincerest apologies for not including this man. Looking at it now,andlooks perfect. Shakuni needs to look frail and limp around. If Knepper could bring in his T-Bag performance, it'll be awesome. Waltz although will have to pump some iron. :)Perfect, perfect, perfect. An incredible knowledgable character and the perfect actor. Plus, Christopher Nolan is going to direct this so Caine is a must. Thank you. :)Ok, the reason behind this thought process is that Bheeshma should be able to give heavy gyaan when he's lying on the bed of arrows.did that whole mentor role perfectly in Batman Begins. And if I don't cast Neeson, I'm pretty sure he'll find me, and kill me. :)Thanks to all who gave these recommendations through the comments. This is all I've been discussing with people I've met for the past few days now. :)Growing up, did you have a BFF? Someone with whom you shared all your secrets with and could count on to be there no matter what?
I still count some of my best friends that I met in grade school and high school among my closest friends today. And while many of us consider this forging of a super-tight friendship in our youth to be a rite of passage, some schools are now banning the concept of “best friend.” Instead, they want students to focus on bonding with all of their classmates, so that no one feels left out or excluded.
Flickr | Nisha A
The trend of banning best friends has been growing in recent years, with schools in both the United States and throughout Europe adopting the controversial policy. The idea is once again receiving widespread attention because it was recently reported that Thomas’s Battersea, the school where Prince George recently started kindergarten, enforces a “no best friends” rule. We’re sure that the little royal will have no trouble making lots of friends, if not a designated bestie.
George this morning A post shared by Prince George of Cambridge 💜 (@princegeorgepictures) on Sep 7, 2017 at 2:25pm PDT
So what do the experts have to say about the idea of no best friends? Some professionals who work with children see the logic behind the concept.
“I don’t think it’s particularly healthy for a child to rely on one friend,” Jay Jacobs, the director of Timber Lake Camp, a co-ed sleep-away camp in Phoenicia, New York, told the New York Times. “If something goes awry, it can be devastating. It also limits a child’s ability to explore other options in the world.”
Getty Images | Scott Barbour
Others argue that having that one, true-blue friend in childhood is essential for healthy mental and emotional development in adulthood. In a paper published in the journal “Childhood Development,” researchers found that subjects who had higher-quality close friendships as a teen tended to have lower social anxiety, an increased sense of self-worth and fewer symptoms of depression by age 25.
“We weren’t surprised that better adolescent close friendships turned out to be important, but we were surprised by just how important they turned out to be into adulthood,” lead study author Rachel Narr, a doctoral student in psychology at the University of Virginia, told New York Magazine.
Flickr | Rishu83
In fact, another study showed that people who searched for fewer, yet closer friendships were happier than those considered themselves popular. Psychologist Tim Kasser discovered that those who wanted popularity over close relationships tended were less healthy, and often more depressed. However, people who found a best friend experienced the opposite effect.
Flickr | StuSeeger
Many people are confused and upset at the possibility of this policy against best friends.The ringgit is likely to hover around the 4.45 level against the US dollar next week with external factors continuing to influence the local unit's movement, a dealer said.
Affin Hwang Investment Bank vice-president/head of retail research Nazri Khan Adam Khan said the ringgit and other currencies would receive a boost with recovering oil prices.
"We believe the ringgit will eventually stabilise and strengthen considering Malaysia's strong fundamentals, coupled with improving commodity prices such as rubber and palm oil," he told Bernama.
He, however, said most people were looking ahead to the US Federal Reserve meeting, for the next big move in the foreign exchange market, in anticipation of a further interest rate hike.
For the week just ended, the ringgit was traded at 4.4710/4740 against the greenback last Friday compared with 4.4845/4875 but ended mostly lower against other major currencies.
The ringgit fell against the Singapore dollar to 3.1176/1213 from 3.1043/1085 last Friday and slid to 3.8550/8586 versus the yen from 3.8375/8411 last week.
Against the British pound, it declined to 5.5373/5428 from 5.5213/5259 previously but appreciated to 4.7388/7438 against the euro from 4.7482/7523 last Friday.
Short-term rates are likely to be steady next week with Bank Negara Malaysia expected to offer tenders to absorb excess funds from the system.
For the week just ended, the overnight rate was quoted at 2.96 percent while the one-, two- and three-week rates were at 3.02 percent, 3.07 and 3.11 percent, respectively.
The central bank intervened on a daily basis to mop up surplus liquidity by conducting conventional money market, repo and range maturity auction money market tenders.
It also conducted Qard Islamic range maturity auction tenders and Qard tenders.
The total liquidity surplus for the week just ended was lower at RM26.14 billion in conventional operations against RM31.67 billion last Friday.
Islamic funds decreased to RM7.74 billion from RM11.00 billion previously.
The benchmark three-month interbank rate stood at 3.42 percent.
- BernamaShares
I will now put my personal feelings on Hulk Hogan aside to commemorate this occasion.
21 years ago today, Hulk Hogan shocked the world and joined Scott Hall and Kevin Nash as the third man at Bash At The Beach 1996 to form the New World Order. In the process, he finessed another long run at the pinnacle of the business while being the greatest heel of the 1990’s, and dominated WCW with a group that was influential, suffocating, and downright cool at times.
On the initial turn, Hogan cut the classic promo where he told the fans to stick it, and told Eric Bischoff that “Without Hulk Hogan, you would still be selling meat from a truck in Minneapolis!” It was possibly the funniest single diss ever. He was unleashed without restriction, not that he had much anyway because let’s face it, it was Hulk “Creative Control” Hogan who gave us such gems as The Butcher headlining Starrcade ‘94, The Alliance To End Hulkamania 8 on 2 match at Uncensored ‘96, and all that Dungeon Of Doom foolishness.
Fans filled the ring with trash, as the future of pro wrestling was shown to them in sudden fashion. There was also a dude in an ECW shirt going crazy with joy in the first few rows. Gone was the old WCW, and it was replaced with something darker, and something more realistic. The first 9 months of the N.W.O were absolutely magical from a story standpoint. They moved as a unit, then swelled to an oversized unit, stole the championships and became the story of the promotion.
It was more than a faction, it felt like a gang. Hall and Nash gave Hogan some of their cool, while lifting the WCW Tag Titles to World Title prestige. How I saw it was, after Hogan did the initial shock, he was kind of just the name to draw the attention. Hall and Nash had the juice week to week and were the men to see. If I hated Hulk Hogan, which I did, with the way he stank up main events and cheated to keep the belt and never wrestled on Nitro*, I was fascinated by The Outsiders.
I was a WWF kid. I’m originally from Springfield, Massachusetts, square in the territory of 90’s WWF. They would run the Springfield Civic Center, and my dad who was a cop would just walk us in the building the back way without tickets.** My earliest memories are the buildup to WrestleMania 12, and in that time every weekend my grandmother would rent me video tapes of events back to SummerSlam ‘88 to piece together everything I had missed out on. I was so angry that Diesel and Razor Ramon were gone, and didn’t understand all this Hall and Nash stuff at all. I figured they were going to WCW to show that the WWF was the best. Oh they were going to do that, but not in a way my 7 year old mind thought they would.
By now, we all know how things played out with the group. The sustained excellence turned into repetitiveness, which turned into a split later and it just became wrestling. However, during that initial run it was more than wrestling. You almost had to start the sport over and disregard everything you had seen prior to it in retrospect, and at the time even as a kid I knew this would be the most stacked group I would ever see.
If I could compare the N.W.O to a movie, it would have to be Casino. One of the best lines in the movie was, “Between, Nicky, Ginger, me and my license…we managed to f**k it all up.” Which came from Sam Rothstein, and the N.W.O was the same way. They got all the money, all the power over booking, they even had the boss of the company in their pockets, and in the end the egos and lack of evolution made them fuck it all up.
Last Lariat
The N.W.O lasted much longer than it was supposed to. It should have disbanded at Starrcade in 1997, and WCW should have taken a new beginning and integrated guys like Bret Hart, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Booker T, DDP and Goldberg to the prime positions as soon as 1998 began so they could avoid the issues they ran into that would foreshadow their critical collapse in 1999; which came before the business collapse in 2000.
But I’ll always remember how the N.W.O made me feel as a kid. It wasn’t wrasslin, and at that age I barely knew what “wrasslin” was supposed to feel like. Eric Bischoff found a winning idea and rode it a tad too long. However I can’t blame him, because look at us; we’re still talking about and will remember The N.W.O……
4 Life.
Rich Latta is a Senior Contributor to SocialSuplex.com and Host of the One Nation Radio Wrestling Podcast. Send him a tweet @RichLatta32 or drop a comment on below.
Footnotes
*Bruh I hated Hogan then.
** My Dad was finessing his status as a cop to just walk me in to see Wrestling. I hope I parent that well.A recent rumor has sparked waves of fear and outrage throughout the Linux community. The word is that Microsoft is in secret negotiations to purchase Canonical, the Ubuntu company.
With Ubuntu and its derivatives installed on millions of home computers and Web servers, the takeover would be disruptive to say the least. After all, in a world where most people think that Windows is "just how computers work", not using Microsoft products is a deliberate choice. If Microsoft bought Canonical, millions of users would have to jump ship or accept life under the Microsoft banner.
Of course, Canonical is no stranger to controversy. It has been involved in very public licensing disputes with the Free Software Foundation. Its decision to include Amazon ads in Ubuntu's menu system was seen as a crass attempt to cash in on users. And, there have been concerns over the company's treatment of private data, with users' search information transmitted to its corporate servers.
But when all is said and done, few would deny that Canonical is a valuable member of the Linux community. Its hundreds of developers contribute to the Linux kernel, the Debian project and its own open-source projects, which are available to the entire community.
The same sentiment does not hold true for Microsoft, even though it is now one of the largest corporate contributors to the Linux kernel. Of course, most of those contributions are driven by the company's own requirements.
So, is there any truth to these mysterious murmurings?
To begin with, where do they come from? The "news" comes from a single tech blog, which in turn credits two undisclosed "sources within the community". Following the original publication, some readers demanded clarification. After all, if we don't know who these sources are, how can we tell if their information is valid?
The author of the article refused to give up his sources but contacted Microsoft and Canonical for an official statement on the rumor. Within a few hours, Microsoft declined to comment, and "an employee" of Canonical (actually the CEO) categorically denied the rumor.
Now, of course, it is possible that this is just a smoke screen, and that neither side is going to make an announcement until the deal is finalized, but it seems highly unlikely, especially given the nature of Canonical.
Canonical was founded with the goal of bringing Linux to the desktop. In particular, it aims to break the Microsoft monopoly in that space. This spirit is encapsulated in bug report #1 (https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1), which calls Microsoft's market share a bug (Microsoft has said worse things about Linux, by the way).
In addition, Canonical is not a profitable company. It appears to be making a huge financial loss each year (more than $10 million according to its UK tax filings). The majority of its software is open source, so there's little potential for developing an income stream from selling licenses for those products. And Canonical has around 600 employees--from a purely financial view, that's a sizable liability.
All of these reasons are why Canonical has had a hard time attracting investors, and why an IPO is unlikely to succeed until the company starts making real profits.
Some readers have said that Microsoft may be interested in acquiring Canonical's estimated 40 million desktop Ubuntu users. Again, this seems unlikely--most of those people have strong feelings about Microsoft, and they aren't good feelings.
Then there is the Web hosting market. With most of the world's Web sites running on Linux servers and most of those servers running on Ubuntu, it's definitely a large market sector.
But the problem here is that it's pretty simple for Web hosts to switch to another Linux distro without breaking Web sites (although there will be a few exceptions). After all, Ubuntu isn't the only operating system to support Apache, PHP and MySQL.
Of course, the migration would be painful, but it could be done. And, all Microsoft would have achieved is converting millions of silent haters into a violently angry mob--which just happens to have the attention of most of the Web users on the Internet.
What about Ubuntu Phone? Currently, the platform is still young, but it seems unlikely that it stands much chance of toppling Apple or Android. What's more, Microsoft makes more money from Android today than it does from Windows. It gets an average of $15 in license fees for each Android device sold, thanks to its portfolio of software patents. So if Ubuntu Phone should somehow become a runaway success, it would be very bad news for Microsoft.
Given all these negatives, why would Microsoft even entertain the notion of buying Canonical?
When taken at face value, Microsoft appears to have become a Linux-friendly company in the last few years. Its Azure cloud computing platform offers support for Linux VMS and other FOSS projects. In fact, 20% of Microsoft's Azure cloud customers are running Linux instances on their infrastructure right now. And, their CEO has even claimed that "Microsoft loves Linux!"
It wasn't always this way. Back in 2001, the company made no secret of its intention to stamp out Linux. Steve Ballmer famously called the OS a cancer. Since then, the company has unleashed attacks on many fronts, using the courts and media disinformation to shut down the competition. It didn't work.
Today, Microsoft needs to embrace Linux or pay the penalty. Although desktop Linux continues to struggle to reach a wide audience, it's a different story in the cloud computing world. Here, Linux dominates. Microsoft's cloud services are its fastest growing revenue stream, so making a stand against Linux now would be disastrous.
Azure is currently the only large cloud offering running on a non-Linux base. In other words, the majority of the infrastructure is on Windows machines. AWS, Google Compute and OpenStack are all based on Linux. And with the rise of Docker, the demand for Linux-based cloud services is set to grow.
Microsoft has collaborated with Canonical several times in the past. Recently, Canonical worked with Microsoft to enable automated OpenStack provisioning on Microsoft's Open Compute servers. So Canonical's expertise already has proven valuable to Microsoft's cloud computing services.
Canonical is not a profitable company, but it does have profitable divisions. The most profitable division is its cloud computing service. It offers paid technical (and legal) support covering the Canonical flavor of OpenStack, and Ubuntu OpenStack powers around 55% of all OpenStack installations, so that's a big market.
Canonical's BootStack service is a complete hosting solution for organizations who want their own OpenStack cloud platform without the expense of running their own data center. Canonical charges a flat fee of $15 per server per day (or $450 per server per month). This service includes technical support, so it's a very cheap option, and it makes scaling simple.
Its Landscape product is a profit-maker too. It's used to manage enterprise-level Ubuntu networks, including cloud computing platforms.
If Canonical were to drop its desktop and phone products and focus on these lucrative divisions, it could become profitable overnight. What's more, its expertise and infrastructure could allow Microsoft to expand its Azure service to cover Linux and OpenStack fully.
So Microsoft could convert Canonical into a very profitable acquisition by eliminating the unprofitable parts of the company. In fact, it could become the dominant player in the cloud space, and secure the company's future.
It's still very unlikely that Canonical would sell out to Microsoft given the company's founding principles. Canonical is essentially a personal project of an eccentric millionaire, who has made a big point of publicly standing against Microsoft's PC monopoly. Selling Canonical to Microsoft would destroy his reputation forever in the Linux community.
Of course, everyone likes money, especially millionaires, and Microsoft has enough money to make anyone think twice. If Mark Shuttleworth sold Canonical, he might be able to afford more space vacations, but it's unlikely the Linux community would let him return to Earth.Jori Lehtera hasn’t won the Powerball yet, but he’s achieved the honor in the NHL. He plays along side Vladimir Tarasenko, revered goal scorer and Russian superstar who doesn’t need a beard to be cool. One would think that playing on a line with a superstar would boost someone’s numbers. Lehtera is the exception. To quote Art Lippo, Jori is benefiting from the wonderful Tarasenko scholarship.
He’s a 28 year old player who skates like a 42 year old has-been. When he came into the league in 2014, Lehtera started off hotter than a Swedish meat pie. The man garnered 25 points in 37 game in the appetizer round of the 2014-15 season. From January 1st, 2015 to today, Lehtera has produced 60 points in 136 games. He’s accomplished this stat line while playing with Tarasenko, a player that teams have to throw two guys on to stop upon passage into the offensive zone.
Wait a minute, the Lehtera faithful say. He can win face-off’s. Like hell he can. Perhaps he did this in the KHL before he came overseas. In his three years of NHL time, Lehtera’s face-off win percentages read like such:
2014-15: 51.2 percent
2015-16: 50.1 percent
2016-17: 53.6 percent
The 2015-16 total finished behind David Backes and Paul Stastny. Lehtera barely wins half of his face-offs. The leader in the NHL, Antoine Vermette of Anaheim, collected 66 percent of his dot battles. That’s pretty good. 52 percent isn’t bad or anything to write home to mom about. Please, cut this out.
Lehtera doesn’t deserve to play with Tarasenko. He should play with aspiring young players like Dmitrj Jaskin(owner of ZERO goals in 21 games this year) and Ty Rattie or the ghost of Nail Yakupov. It isn’t like he can make those young cats better. It’s just that’s where he belongs. You can’t bench 4.7 million dollars in the press box, so Lehtera has to play somewhere.
If you want to score more goals, make better lines. Now that the Blues have temporarily turned off their illogical penalty drawing vibe, Tarasenko is getting more time ice. The past two games he’s played 20 minutes plus. Now, Ken Hitchcock needs to pair him with a better center. Hopefully, that center is Alex Steen. I don’t care if Steen is hurt or not. He’s more promising than Lehtera.
If you asked me why Doug Armstrong felt the need to give Lehtera a three year extension before he completed his first contract, I’d need a minute and a whiskey to answer properly. That’s like asking why a pitcher takes seventeen minute in between pitches or why a hockey player eats a certain kind of sandwich in between games. It’s just what they do. He extended Jay Bouwmeester before he had to. Same with Patrik Berglund. All that money and for what. Lehtera’s contract is the biggest head scratcher.
Lehtera will turn 29 years old on December 23rd. Expecting him to get better isn’t a pipe dream, but it’s also a distant hope. He’s played top line minutes and produced 7 points in 19 games this season. He’s overpaid, overrated, and all together mediocre.
If you try to convince me Lehtera is worth the money or Tarasenko line minutes, I’ll hand you a quart of bleach.
I need more bourbon after writing this.MNZ Token Sale Start Date Change:
Monaize Blocked Unblock Follow Following Oct 2, 2017
Friday 10th November @12 pm GMT
As many of you know, we will be the first organisation in the world to conduct a completely decentralised ICO. For this reason, all eyes will be on us. We must live up to expectations and prove that we are able to innovate in a way that constantly gives us the upper hand.
Along with our partners at Komodo Platform, we have decided to push the official date of the token sale to Friday 10th November. The extra time will allow the Komodo team to properly test the Monaize dICO app as they wish to run various stress tests that take time to perform and debug.
It also allows time for Monaize support staff to get properly familiarised with BarterDEX, atomic swaps, and the SPV wallet.
In the 2 weeks since we officially announced the MNZ token sale, we have already gathered a large following of supporters. This has allowed us to recruit MNZ enthusiasts into the team to help with the running and marketing of the ICO.
In the coming weeks, we will use the resources at our disposal to get the message out to a much wider audience through paid media, compelling content and an enormous amount of social media activity, giving the MNZ token sale every chance of success!
We thank our loyal supporters for their understanding.DURHAM, N.C. - Duke has filled the hole in its men's basketball schedule.
Officials said Tuesday that the Blue Devils will play host to Marist on Nov. 11 and Grand Canyon the following night as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off.
Duke was scheduled to play Albany on Nov. 12 but officials from the State University of New York system that includes the school said that game wouldn't be played because of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order barring publicly funded, non-essential travel to North Carolina. That came in response to a North Carolina law that opponents say can allow discrimination against LGBT people.
The Grand Canyon game was pushed back one day and Marist replaced Albany. As a private school, Marist is not subject to Cuomo's travel ban.Three-quarters of Germans believe refugees should stay in the first safe country they reach while four-fifths think the nation should re-instate border controls, in a strong rejection of Chancellor Merkel’s open-door policy on immigration.
A new opinion poll has revealed the state of German opinion over the migrant crisis, which is very distinctive in some regards but quite conflicted in others. While respondents responded well to the suggestion of border controls, two-thirds still agreed with the statement ‘Germany is a Nation of Migration’, suggesting many were still happy to take refugees – but only genuine ones.
This hardening attitude towards migrants from Syria may have been shaped by revelations by top German police officers that since Merkel’s open-arms welcome to Syrians, every refugee coming to the country was claiming to be one – even if they were clearly not of Syrian heritage, as reported by Breitbart London.
The research, conducted by the German Initiative Markt-und Sozialforschung found strong regional differentiation in the results, with people in former East Germany being significantly less likely to describe the demographic change wrought by an influx of refugees “welcome”. In the west of the nation, 51 per cent agreed with the notion, and women were even more likely to welcome the change, at 54 per cent.
In all parts of Germany people were opposed to allowing the arrival of migrants unregistered from Hungary by way of Austria, but again there were regional variations. Those in the East were most opposed (69 per cent), while in the southern states where the majority of refugees actually arrive was as low as 55 per cent, still a majority against the arrivals.
The east German state of Saxony is the key area for resistance to federal refugee policy, with state capital Dresden home to the anti-migration and Islamisation movement PEGIDA.
On the most fundamental matters of mass migration, however, the figures were significantly more clear. A significant 90 per cent of Germans believe there should be a limit on the number of ‘refugees’ the nation should take a year, in contrast to present government policy which has seen the estimated number of arrivals shoot up from 300,000 to 1.5 million in just five months, which scant efforts to stem the flow.
This latest poll comes hot on the heels of another piece of research released last week, which revealed the majority of Germans were now “scared” by refugees.
Strangely, despite being at odds with the positon of their own government, the actions of Chancellor Merkel have hardly affected her popularity ratings. Although a new poll last month found the German leader to be at her lowest ebb this year, as reported by Breitbart London, she has hardly taken a beating, finding herself only three points down and still at 49 per cent. The figure still puts her well ahead of any other figure in German politics.
Despite the split emerging between the two parties supporting Merkel’s government, the ideologically similar Christian Democratic and Christian Socialist Unions, they remain the most popular in the nation, trailing the Social Democrats by 15-points.LOUDON, N.H. — The president of sponsor 5-Hour Energy would not commit to staying with Michael Waltrip Racing Sunday but seemed more upset with NASCAR than the race team he sponsors.
Scott Henderson said he would wait until the end of the season to decide whether his company will continue to sponsor MWR’s Clint Bowyer.
MORE: Kenseth wins again | N.H. race results | Penske: We didn't cheat
Bowyer’s spin with seven laps remaining in the Sept. 7 race at Richmond International Raceway set off a chain of events that led to MWR being penalized for manipulating the finish to try to get MWR driver Martin Truex Jr. into the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
NASCAR docked Bowyer and Truex 50 points each and Truex was knocked out of the Chase. His sponsor NAPA announced Thursday that it was dropping its sponsorship at the end of the year.
“We'll see how the year plays out,” Henderson said Sunday just before the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Henderson then had one other comment — directed toward NASCAR Chairman Brian France, who added Jeff Gordon as a 13th driver in the Chase last week, declaring that he had the authority to add a driver to what was supposed to be a 12-driver field.
“I've got one thing I've got to say,” Henderson said. “There's been a lot of talk about integrity. When the guy who is in charge can say, 'I can do whatever I want, I'm going to do it and I just did it,' I wonder about integrity. I've got to make sure we can win in this sport."The two policemen and 3 unidentified men are tagged in the robbery-slay of a Chinese businessman and a security guard, as well as the shooting of 3 Chinese nationals in Bacolod City on Christmas night, December 25
Published 8:57 PM, January 19, 2017
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – With the Philippine National Police (PNP) reeling from controversy surrounding cops who are said to have kidnapped and killed a South Korean in Metro Manila, it appears another incident has other policemen implicated in robbery and murder.
The policemen – Police Officer 1 (PO1) Jason Sumalangcay of Barangay Granada and Police Officer 2 (PO2) Marlon Famucol of Barangay Alijis – as well as 3 other John Does were charged with murder, frustrated murder, and robbery with homicide.
The policemen and the unidentified men were tagged in the robbery-slay of a Chinese businessman and a security guard and the shooting of three Chinese nationals here on Christmas night, December 25.
Sumalangcay was formerly assigned to the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and is out on bail for possession of illegal firearms. Famucol, meanwhile, was previously assigned to the BCPO and is now in the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The case was filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, January 17.
Six witnesses have identified the two policemen at the scene, said Senior Inspector Eugene Tolentino, head of Bacolod Police Station 1.
Tolentino said Sumalangcay was identified as the gunman while Famucol served as the lookout.
Sumalangcay and Famucol, in a radio interview, vehemently denied the allegations.
Wu Changle, 26, of Fujian, China and security guard Jilbert Mayang of Hinoba-an town, Negros Occidental were shot dead after a lone robber opened fire at JDS Mindoro Enterprises Corp. at Locsin-Luzuriaga Street in Barangay 13 on December 25.
The unidentified assailant escaped with about P1 million: the store's earnings for 3 days.
The incident also wounded three other Chinese nationals identified as Huang Yuanlong, 31; Huang Weiqiang, 23; and Zhang Xiaodong, 24, all from Fujian, China. – Rappler.comCINCINNATI -- Archbishop Moeller High School and Robert A. Taft IT High School didn't play their scheduled season opener on Friday night.
The game was postponed, Moeller's spokeswoman said, over concerns of a Black Lives Matter rally planned for the same night at Cincinnati Police's District 1 headquarters.
"Archbishop Moeller will always put the safety of our students and their families first," said Teresa Meyer, director of communication for Moeller. "Both parties (Moeller and Taft) agreed that postponing the game would be in best interest."
But Taft's Athletic Director Don Newberry said the decision not to play was made entirely by Moeller.
"We got the call from Moeller on Thanksgiving night, so there wasn't much notice. We had kids and parents who were out of town for the holiday that were on their way back in just to play in the game," Newberry said. "Our kids were ready to play. And I assume that the Moeller kids were ready to play, too."
Newberry called the cancelation "unfortunate," as the CPS school had spent vacation days preparing for the game, cleaning the school and stocking concessions.
"We only schedule certain games that we know will generate enough revenue for us. Financially, many of our programs are hard off," he said. "We were hoping, with the Moeller game, that a lot of good things would happen with the gate revenue. Obviously, it didn't."
Meyer said the decision was made after Moeller "conferred with Cincinnati Police Department and were told a potentially large gathering could take place at the District 1 headquarters" and, with that, "we chose to postpone the game."
Earlier this school year, gun violence in Cincinnati's West End led to a high school football game being moved from Taft to Woodward High School. Taft successfully hosted their senior night football game the following night.
Friday's protest remained peaceful. Two people were cited when they stepped off the sidewalk, police said, but the protest itself caused no uproar.
"Everybody has a right to protest, and we want to protect their rights as well as the general public," police spokesman Lt. Steve Saunders said on Friday prior to the protest.
Some WCPO viewers and readers said they showed up at the game on Friday |
)?
As it turns out, not that badly.
Montreal can’t quite stack up against the top-end power of Auston Matthews and Nikita Kucherov, but four-line depth sees the Habs’ forwards thoroughly outclass Tampa Bay’s bottom six and remain competitive against a Toronto team that prefers Matt Martin to Kasperi Kapanen. Even a full season of Steven Stamkos only brings the Lightning to parity with the revamped Glorieux.
Any conversation about the Canadiens invariably turns to Carey Price and Shea Weber, painting the image of a team that must win 1-0 if they are to win at all. However, the Canadiens are clearly not devoid of firepower upfront, and while not necessarily the reincarnation of the 1984 Edmonton Oilers, certainly have enough offence to place themselves as a Stanley Cup contender.
To close, remember this: last season Toronto outscored the Habs by 25 goals en route to finishing eight points behind the Canadiens in their division. Montreal would not complain about a repeat performance.Lining up fourth, Verstappen slumped dramatically at the start, impeded further when Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg came together as they tried to avoid his Red Bull.
He ended the opening lap in eighth place and went on to finish the race in sixth.
"Before the start the team already said the start wouldn’t be ideal because the clutch wasn’t working properly," Verstappen said after the race.
"Last night they discovered that the clutch wouldn’t bite well, but they weren’t allowed to change anything by the FIA because it wasn’t a structural problem and I was able to race with it.
"I dropped the clutch and just had a lot of wheelspin and then there’s nothing you can do. That’s the worst thing that can happen, apart from going into anti-stall. I knew it was going to be a difficult start, but I didn’t expect it to be that bad.
"Then I had Nico in front of me, so I had to brake and lose even more momentum. It was maybe not as bad as in Monza, but still very bad. At least at Monza it’s easier to overtake. Here it is pretty much game over.
"I have no clue [how I didn’t hit Nico]. I was lucky not to get hit but it was all due to the bad start. He should have been behind us.
Team boss Christian Horner confirmed the team was indeed aware of a clutch issue beforehand, although said the FIA did allow Red Bull to inspect it in parc ferme.
"We had a clutch issue yesterday and we got permission to take it out to inspect it," Horner said.
"We couldn’t find anything specifically wrong so it went back onto the car today. But it had a very abrupt release, picked up a lot of wheelspin and that, combined with Hulkenberg coming at an angle, he [Verstappen] lost so much momentum down to turn one, it lost him quite a few places.
"Running in the dirty air, pushing hard to try to pass, burned up the tyres pretty quick in the first two stints. Then his race got stronger and stronger in the second half."
"Very bitter" feeling
For Verstappen, Singapore was the third grand prix in a row to be compromised by a poor start, after a collision brought on by him dropping behind the Ferraris at Spa and a very slow getaway at Monza.
"We need to focus on getting the start under control," Verstappen said.
"Now it’s been three times in a row. It’s very disappointing.
"I’m going to sleep well tonight and then prepare for the next race. We will definitely have to talk about this, because this can’t happen three times in a row. We could have been fighting for the podium here, so it’s very bitter, of course."
Verstappen conceded, also, that his season has taken a turn for the worse since four-week break between Hockenheim and Spa.
"After the summer break there’s always been something. It started so well in Barcelona and I got into a nice flow.
"After the break it seems like things changed, it’s very weird. Bad luck can happen. Now we’ll have to make sure things go our way again."Just 4 days after iOS 4.3.2 was released, redsn0w has been updated. It was initially said that iOS 4.3.2 fixed @i0n1c‘s untether exploit, but was later said that it did not patch his vulnerability. Today, redsn0w was updated to 0.9.6RC14 for both Mac OS X and Windows. Stefan Esser (aka @i0n1c) needed to slightly update his untether exploit. No, this update doesn’t support the iPad 2. More information and download links after the break!
Below is a list of supported devices:
iPhone 3GS (old + new bootrom)
iPhone 4 (GSM)
iPod Touch 3G (non-8GB model)
iPod Touch 4G
iPad 1G
Download: Mac OS X | Windows
You’ll need a copy of the iOS 4.3.2 IPSW file, which can be downloaded here: http://www.felixbruns.de/iPod/firmware/
Happy jailbreaking!
Feel free to follow Brian on Twitter.Virtual reality is a new technology that simulates a three-dimensional virtual world on a computer and enables the generation of visual, audio, and haptic feedback for the full immersion of users. Users can interact with and observe objects in three-dimensional visual space without limitation. At present, virtual reality training has been widely used in rehabilitation therapy for balance dysfunction. This paper summarizes related articles and other articles suggesting that virtual reality training can improve balance dysfunction in patients after neurological diseases. When patients perform virtual reality training, the prefrontal, parietal cortical areas and other motor cortical networks are activated. These activations may be involved in the reconstruction of neurons in the cerebral cortex. Growing evidence from clinical studies reveals that virtual reality training improves the neurological function of patients with spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and other neurological impairments. These findings suggest that virtual reality training can activate the cerebral cortex and improve the spatial orientation capacity of patients, thus facilitating the cortex to control balance and increase motion function.When the Green Bay Packers released former first round draft choice Derek Sherrod on Monday, concern developed about the depth on the team's offensive line.
J.C. Tretter was activated from short-term injured reserve to take Sherrod's place on the roster, and perhaps suprisingly was listed as the team's backup left tackle on the Packers' newly released depth chart on Tuesday, albeit one that's merely for media purposes and not official.
Prior to coming off injured reserve, Tretter had only played center in a Packers uniform. He was the starting center in the Packers' first three preseason games in 2014, playing 86 snaps, before suffering a fracture in his knee.
Fifth round draft choice Corey Linsley has ably handled the center position in Tretter's stead and doesn't figure to be displaced in the starting lineup, although Tretter is also listed as the team's backup center.
Tretter does have experience at left tackle, having played the position his final two seasons of college at Cornell.
At 6-4 and 307 lbs., Tretter is slightly undersized compared to the average NFL tackle.
The Packers' backup at right tackle on the new depth chart has also changed with T.J. Lang listed behind Bryan Bulaga.
Lang played right tackle earlier in his career before settling in as a regular at guard.
Garth Gerhart is also listed as the backup at top backup at left guard after previously being listed as the No. 2 center earlier in the season.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - From Pataskala, Ohio, to Conroe, Texas, local government leaders worry that if Republican tax-overhaul plans moving through the U.S. Congress become law, it will be harder for them to pave streets, put out fires, fight crime and pay teachers.
House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) looks on during a news conference announcing the passage of the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein
A tax plan approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday would sharply curtail a federal deduction that millions of Americans can now claim for tax payments to state, county, city and town governments.
Ending that deduction, the local leaders say, could make their taxpayers, especially in high-tax communities, less likely to support future local tax increases or even tolerate local taxes at present levels.
The proposed repeal of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction is part of an “assault on local governments” by Republicans in Washington, said Elizabeth Kautz, the Republican mayor of Burnsville, Minnesota, near Minneapolis.
“My hope is that we look at being thoughtful about what we’re doing and not ram something through just to get something done before the year is out,” Kautz said of the plan being rushed through Congress by her own party.
In the United States, local governments run schools, operate police and fire departments and maintain streets, parks and libraries, among other essential services. The federal government’s role at that level is limited.
Cities, towns, counties and states collect their own property, sales and income taxes. Under existing law, payments of those taxes can be deducted, or subtracted from federal taxable income, lowering the amount of federal tax due.
The House tax bill just approved would eliminate the deduction for individuals and families of state and local income and sales tax, while capping property tax deductions at $10,000.
A bill being debated in the Senate, with Republican President Donald Trump’s support, would kill the SALT deduction entirely for individuals and families, although businesses would keep it. The fate of that bill is uncertain.
Ending the SALT tax break is part of a package of changes to deductions that would help Republicans raise more than $1.2 trillion in new federal tax revenues over 10 years.
That increase would help offset the $1.4 trillion in revenue that would be lost from cutting the corporate tax rate, another part of both the Senate and House plans.
POLICE CONCERNS
Chuck Canterbury, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents 325,000 law enforcement officers nationwide, wrote a letter to congressional leaders on Tuesday.
“The FOP is very concerned that the partial or total elimination of SALT deductions will endanger the ability of our state and local government to fund these (law enforcement) agencies,” said the letter, distributed to reporters.
Emily Brock, a director at the Government Finance Officers Association, said if SALT deductions were killed by Congress, voters could revolt. “Can you blame an individual taxpayer?” she asked. “They try to minimize their individual tax liability.”
Those who want to curb the century-old SALT deduction argue it only motivates local governments to seek more tax increases and spend more money. “Maintaining the deduction encourages government overspending and taxation,” argues the American Legislative Exchange Council, a nonprofit group of conservative state legislators and private activists.
Various other groups are fighting on Capitol Hill to defend the SALT deduction, such as the National Association of Realtors and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
BRADY’S DISTRICT
Steve Williams, chief financial officer for Conroe, Texas, said its rapid growth demanded new fire stations, schools, roads and public safety services.
Conroe is near Houston and in the congressional district of Republican Representative Kevin Brady, chairman of the House tax committee and a champion of restricting the SALT deduction.
“Tax reform comes with picking winners and losers and I think in the final analysis, the people in (congressional) District 8 will be losers,” Williams said.
Conroe is part of Montgomery County, which voted 75 percent to 22.5 percent for Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
In Pataskala, Ohio, near the state capital, Columbus, city finance director Jamie Nicholson said the local police department needed a new station. It now works out of an early 1900s building with no holding cell for suspects who are under arrest. “They get handcuffed to a chair,” he said.
Given the past difficulty Pataskala has had convincing taxpayers to approve new taxes, he said, eliminating or paring back the SALT deduction might trigger demands for chopping local taxes and blow a huge hole in his budget.
Greg Cox, a Republican member of the San Diego County, California, Board of Supervisors, echoed similar concerns about the impact on his community.
He said the Republican plan was unfair partly because it let businesses keep the SALT deduction, while taking it away from individuals and families.Brentford finished their second successive season in the Championship in a respectable ninth place.
The stand-out performer throughout the season was Alan Judge with the Irishman winning his first international cap as a reward for his performances.
Harlee Dean, David Button, Jake Bidwell, Ryan Woods and Sergi Canos played consistently well through the season. Others had their seasons interrupted by injury, fatigue or loss of form.
GetWestLondon has gone through the Brentford squad through the season and reflected on each players' performances.
Ratings are only given to players who have played more than 12 appearances in the league, which is the number referred to for each player, for the club. Players only feature on the list if they appeared in a league game.
Maxime Colin (21 appearances, 0 goals)
It has been a stop start season for the popular Frenchman due to injury and the club are hoping he can shake off these problems over the summer.
When he has played, Colin has impressed after the sale of Moses Odubajo and has made the right back position his own.
He knows that if his form slips that Josh Clarke, if he stays, or Nico Yennaris can fill in for him there. 7/10
Jake Bidwell (45 appearances, 3 goals)
The left back is not an in your face player such as Alan McCormack but he has a quiet authority on his team mates.
For all the problems and success stories from other players, Bidwell has just efficiently got on with his job.
The skipper deserves credit for fronting up at difficult times; doing the pre-match media after pitch-gate, Marinus Dijkhuizen's sacking and after a string of bad results.
He's also added goals and assists to his game, finding the net three times this season, while keeping his standards high. 8/10
Lewis Macleod (1 appearance, 0 goals)
Sadly for the midfielder, Macleod has seen less than 10 minutes of action in a Brentford shirt after a spate of injuries. N/A
Harlee Dean (42 appearances, 0 goals)
The defender has been a rock at the back for Brentford and has formed an excellent partnership with Yoann Barbet.
He has become more consistent as a defender over the course of the campaign and, when the team need him, he steps up.
Dean richly deserved to extend his time at Brentford and, if he can add goals to his game, he will become an even better player. 7.5/10
Sam Saunders (25 appearances, 3 goals)
The midfielder has proved plenty of people wrong this season, especially with his performances at the back end of the campaign.
After two injury hit years, Saunders has come into the team and given them a different dimension.
His experience and nous has helped the squad and he will have a part to play next season. 7/10
Marco Djuricin (22 appearances, 4 goals)
The Austrian striker was looking sharp until his ankle injury at Blackburn in November and he scored the winning goal at QPR.
However, he never found that spark again after he returned from the lay-off and, even though he was available, Dean Smith elected to play Alan Judge as the frontman at QPR.
Brentford have confirmed they won't make his loan deal permanent so Djuricin returns to Red Bull Salzburg. 6/10
Scott Hogan (7 appearances, 7 goals)
The striker has made a fantastic return from two anterior cruciate ligament injuries and bagged his seven goals in 163 minutes.
Were he to maintain his average of scoring every 23 minutes, Hogan would notch well over 100 goals next season.
The striker has made an impressive return from injury and would score 9/10 for the final phase of the season. But, as per the rules laid out at the top, he doesn't reach the required amount. N/A
Josh McEachran (14 appearances, 0 goals)
It has been a frustrating season for the club's most recognised signing as he suffered a broken foot, first in pre-season and the second in March.
He's shown flashes of brilliance over the course of the campaign and everyone will be hoping for an uninterrupted campaign in 2016/17. 6/10
Philipp Hofmann (21 appearances, 4 goals)
It is worth noting that of those 21 appearances, 16 of them came from the substitutes' bench.
The German has had a frustrating season and he hasn't appeared to fit into how Brentford like to play.
The striker is a likeable character but question marks remain about his suitability for the role Dean Smith wants for a striker. 6/10
Alan McCormack (27 appearances, 0 goals)
The hard man of the Brentford squad earned a new deal for next season and has performed well at both right back and centre midfield.
You know exactly what you're going to get from the Irishman and that is 100 per cent commitment with a will to win that drives others on around him. 7/10
Ryan Woods (41 appearances, 2 goals)
The midfielder has made the step up from League Two to the Championship and has impressed in his time at the club.
A mistake in his first game at Leeds didn't distract him and he made the right adjustments to become one of the first names on the Brentford team sheet. 7.5/10
Konstantin Kerschbaumer (30 appearances)
Struggled to adapt to the pace and intensity of the Championship at the start of the campaign and looked, at times, as if he was lost. It is worth pointing out that he was seen as a signing to develop and only injuries forced his prolonged inclusion.
He worked hard on his game behind the scenes and started to show his true capabilities at the back end of the season.
If he can continue at that rate of improvement, then he will be a key player for the Bees next season. 7/10
Alan Judge (38 appearances, 14 goals)
Fate dealt the Irishman the cruellest of blows as he suffered a double leg fracture at Ipswich after a horrific Luke Hyam challenge.
Before that, Judge had been, by far, Brentford's best player and he duly picked up both player of the season awards from his team-mates and supporters.
The midfielder can still get better and everyone connected with the club wishes him a speedy recovery. 9/10
John Swift (27 appearances, 7 goals)
When the Chelsea loanee was at his best, he looked very impressive but, when he was at his worst, he was anonymous.
His overall return, despite playing out of his preferred central position, is a decent haul but he will need to add consistency to his game. 7/10
Lasse Vibe (41 appearances, 14 goals)
The Denmark international mirrored Brentford's season in some sense. When they were picking up points and winning, Vibe was playing well and vice versa.
There is a feeling that the striker will benefit from having a holiday during the off-season after playing for the best part of 18 months. 7.5/10
Jack O'Connell (16 appearances, 0 goals)
It is also worth noting that seven of these appearances were off the bench.
The defender has had a frustrating season at Brentford with chances limited. He has done well when called upon and scored against Fulham in the 2-2 draw.
He must continue to improve in order to put pressure onto Harlee Dean and Yoann Barbet. 6.5/10
Jota (5 appearances, 0 goals)
Injury and personal problems meant Brentford were unable to see the silky skilled Spaniard in action enough. N/A
Akaki Gogia (13 appearances, 0 goals)
Eight of those appearances came as a substitute as the German adapted to English football.
Gogia started the season under Marinus Dijkhuizen but has found chances limited due to injury and form since then. 5/10
David Button
The only player to play in every minute of the league campaign.
The goalkeeper has been his dependable self and mistakes have been rare – the one against Middlesbrough spoilt a decent performance from him.
His kicking has, at times, been suspect but with Brentford being a relatively small side, it is excusable.
His regular performances are of a good standard and his best performances are outstanding.
Button is worthy of taking the silver medal to Judge's gold. 8.5/10
Nico Yennaris (31 appearances 2 goals)
Brentford's most improved player turned his reputation at the club around amongst the fanbase.
Yennaris was seen as a jack of all trades, master of none going into the season but has established himself as a dependable right back and an excellent midfielder.
Now he has proven himself, Yennaris' next challenge is to repeat his form next season. 7.5/10
Yoann Barbet (18 appearances, 1 goal)
(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Since James Tarkowski's strike action and subsequent departure, Barbet has stepped into his shoes.
The highest compliment that I can pay him is that the Burnley man has not been missed since walking out on the club.
Barbet has become known for making excellent recovery slide tackles. Next season, he needs to ensure they're just slide tackles. 7.5/10
Jermaine Udumaga (3 appearances, 0 goals)
Not enough time to earn a rating. N/A
Josh Clarke (10 appearances)
The right back has proven himself capable of performing at Championship level in his first few appearances, with the club offering him a new deal for next season. N/A
Tom Field (1 appearance, 0 goals)
After an impressive debut against Fulham, Field will be putting pressure on Jake Bidwell for the left back spot next season. N/A
Sergi Canos (38 appearances, 7 goals)
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The popular Spaniard made 20 of those appearances coming off the bench. His attitude and commitment to the cause impressed everyone at Griffin Park and he has a big career ahead of him.
He dazzled defences with his skills and scored the goal of the season at Reading.
Canos needs to improve his stamina over the course of next season so he can impact a game for longer, not just as a substitute.
That said, for a player to have the impact he has had at the age of just 19 is impressive and hard to find. 8/10
Andre Gray (2 games, 2 goals)
Departed for Burnley in August but looked in excellent form before his move. N/A
Toumani Diagouraga (27 appearances, 0 goals)
The respect Brentford have for the Frenchman was shown when he came on the pitch as a Leeds player the day after his move to Elland Road was confirmed.
During his time at Griffin Park, he never let the side down and conducted his move in a professional manner. 7/10
Leandro Rodriguez (2 games, 0 goals)
Not enough time to make an impact. N/A
James Tarkowski (23 appearances, 1 goal)
His form at the start of the season was below his usual standards, although he improved under Lee Carsley and Dean Smith.
Tarkowski destroyed his reputation at Griffin Park after he refused to face Burnley, in order to force through a transfer so he could be closer to his family.
His performances on the pitch merited 7/10 but the way he left the club was unprofessional and, if a side he plays for is set to face Brentford, he will face a difficult return to Griffin Park.Introduction
I've been doing a small Haskell project for the Uni and got really interested in this language and the Functional paradigm in general.
I suddenly felt like porting some of this cool functionality to Javascript.
Currying
I started by allowing functions to be curried. Here's a demo showing the script I made.
This is quite a fun way of making functions that derive from other functions.
Haskell functions
I then felt like porting Haskell's functions. Seemed doable considering Javascript has Higher Order Functions and we now can curry them.
I ported many Prelude's methods as well as Char methods.
Special features
Apart from currying, these functions can also work on strings, the same way as they do for lists (arrays). You don't need to worry about splitting(before) or joining(after). I added this because that's how Haskell's functions work.
These functions also work on maps/object/associative arrays. This might not be true for some functions where this was too complicated. This was the best adaptation of Haskell's Tuples that I could think of. A couple of functions like fst and snd don't have a concrete application for now.
In case I didn't make myself clear on this one, all the functions I made can be automatically curried. They're all contained in one namespace, that is, window.hs. I added a method called: hs.global() that will import all the functions to the global namespace. The magic currying function is available as hs.curry.
Operators
Haskell's operators are regular functions. I did imitate this adding most operators as methods. The only problem is that to reference them, you need to use something like hs['+'] instead of hs.+ as one would like.
To defeat this, I made hs a function, it provides a small shortcut for these cases. As an example: hs['+'](1,2) == hs('+',1,2).
I think the second option does look better. These functions can also be curried. hs._ will work the same as hs, but inverting the (2) arguments.
I added the dot operator for function composition, it's quite a powerful function.
That's it, the script is licensed under BSD, check the demo and play with it!
Links
DownloadsGeorge W. Bush looms small in memory. The Presidency fit him like grownup clothes on a toddler. He made, or haplessly fronted for, some execrable decisions, but hating him took conscious effort. The aircraft-carrier landing was kind of cute, if you squinted your conscience. “Heckuva job, Brownie” was guileless to a festering fault. We were led for eight years by a man whose mission in life was to be liked.
The mission has resurfaced. After long silence, Bush pops up with radiantly sane but somehow shaky remarks on current politics. How much of his criticism of Donald Trump is statesmanship and how much is fraternal pique at the lout who humiliated Jeb? Whatever the motive, there’s a familiar thinness, a gossamer quality, to Bush’s putative reasoning. As usual, if you try to lean on his position, about anything, you’ll fall down.
Which brings us to a surprisingly likable while starkly disturbing new book, “Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors.” Reproduced here are individual portraits and a group mural that Bush painted, from photographs, of ninety-eight* physically and/or mentally wounded Armed Forces veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
The quality of the art is astonishingly high for someone who—because he “felt antsy” in retirement, he writes, after “I had been an art-agnostic all my life”—took up painting from a standing stop, four years ago, at the age of sixty-six. Bush’s eye and hand have improved drastically since hacked images of a couple of clumsy, apparently nude self-portraits in a bathroom surfaced, in 2013. (He made those, he said, to shock his painting tutor—the first of three plainly crackerjack ones whom he acknowledges in the book.) Bush now commands a style, generic but efficient, of thick, summary brushwork that aims to capture expression as well as physiognomy. There’s a remoteness in the use of photographs. The subjects aren’t present to the artist. They’re elsewhere. But they look honestly observed and persuasively alive.
President Bush sent these men and women into harm’s way, and they came back harmed—often minus limbs from I.E.D. and mine explosions—and, in all cases, traumatized to some degree. Ex-President Bush met them in the course of running a charity, the George W. Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative, which he set up to honor and aid veterans.
Bush’s portraits are accompanied in the book by upbeat tales of recovery. A leitmotif of the stories is the apparently terrific therapeutic value of joining Bush in his hobbies of mountain biking and golf. But the book’s tone isn’t self-congratulatory. It’s self-comforting, rather, in its exercise of Bush’s never-doubted sincerity and humility—virtues that were maddeningly futile when he governed, and that now shine brighter, in contrast with Trump, than may be merited.
Having obliviously made murderous errors, Bush now obliviously atones for them. What do you do with someone like that?
*An earlier version of this piece misstated the number of photographs on which Bush based his latest book of paintings.Opening with only slightly over half of its predecessor, Ted 2 was a pretty big disappointment this weekend with just $32M. That’s way off from Ted‘s $54M haul back in June 2012. So what caused this poor opening? Well, it’s sort of complicated. For one, it didn’t really seem like a necessary sequel or something that really changed the story or moved it in any way. Obviously, that method didn’t work given how this was far below even the lowest expectations this weekend.
If Ted 2 holds well, it could potentially get to a total of $100M. Still, that would be less than half of the predecessor and is therefore a very poor result.
Also opening this weekend was low budget dog-PTSD adventure drama comedy (obviously an already very crowded genre) Max, taking in a decent $12M. Considering how crowded the market is right now, that’s actually a pretty decent start among dog movies. It has an A cinemascore, meaning it could probably make over $40M by the end of its run.
Continuing to demolish in third place despite many other appealing options, Jurassic World passed $500M after three weekends with another $54M. That’s an excellent result, and shows how word of mouth is still strong. At this point it’s guaranteed that it will pass $600M, but if it does well enough, could it even have a shot at $700M? Results like this make future prospects for Star Wars: The Force Awakens all the more exciting. $700M would actually be enough to top the awe judged gross of the original Jurassic Park, which no one could have seen coming a few months ago.
Doing solid business in its second weekend was Pixars Inside Out, which took in a solid $52M after a very strong $90M last weekend. That brings its total to $184M. Unless it gets absolutely crushed by Minions in a few weeks, it should be able to get to around $300-$350M by the end of its run.
Note: Because of the holiday weekend, the forecast will be posted this Tuesday followed by an update of Saturday, and then a regular weekend report.
AdvertisementsSinger Cher’s transgender son Chaz has spoken of how he wants to offer help to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s 4-year-old daughter Shiloh. It was recently revealed that Shiloh Jolie-Pitt is something of a tomboy.
The offer from 42-year-old Chaz, who has transitioned from female to male, comes after Brad and Angelina said that their daughter likes to wear boys’ clothes and prefers 'boys' toys to 'girls' ones. “She wants to be a boy,” Angelina recently told Vanity Fair magazine. “So we had to cut her hair. She likes to wear boys’ everything, she thinks she’s one of her brothers.”
“I would love to talk to Brad and Angelina at some point,” Chaz told E! News. “To at least let them know we have this resource for them if they ever need it.”
Chaz volunteers for support groups that help children with gender identity issues and is about to release a book, Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man.
Read more…Proponents of a Tennessee bill that would ban schools from teaching about homosexuality are discouraging families from watching “Modern Family,” a popular sitcom about a gay couple.
The “Don’t Say Gay Bill,” proposed by Republican Sen. Stacey Campfield, would limit all sexual education except “natural human reproduction science” before the ninth grade, according to The Associated Press.
The bill was approved by a House subcommittee on Wednesday, but before the vote, Chairman Joey Hensley warned the panel of the evils of ABC series "Modern Family," and said that it isn't "appropriate" for children to watch.
"It was unwarranted and kind of an outburst," said 21-year-old Eric Patton, who attended the meeting, of Hensley's comments.
A Nashville preacher took a different stance, explaining that the show is an example of how students will already be faced with homosexuality, and that schools should be ready to answer their questions.
The hit series revolves around a group of modern families, one being a gay couple who recently adopted a Vietnamese daughter.
Despite nationwide criticism the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” has garnered, it’s now on its way to be considered by the full House.
Supporters say the proposed legislation will give parents better control over how and when their children learn about homosexuality.
“The basic right as an American is my right to life, my right to liberty, and my right to the pursuit of happiness,” said Democratic state Rep. John DeBerry, according to the Tennessean.
“Within that includes being able to run my home, raise my children as I see fit and indoctrinate them as I see fit,” he said.
DeBerry was the only democrat who voted for the measure.
Opponents argue that the legislation will stigmatize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.
“This is such a shame that we have a Legislature that doesn’t care about us,” said 21-year-old Eric Patton, who attended the meeting, according to The Associated Press.
“When we have more kids committing suicide because of this bill, the blood will be on their hands.”
rmurray@nydailynews.com
Sign up for BREAKING NEWS Emails privacy policy Thanks for subscribing!Freed from facts, Abbott goes ballooning
Updated
The Opposition Leader's discomfiture in the face of certain large repositories of expertise is a matter of record.
He disapproves of climate scientists, of Australian economists on the whole, and he has no time at all for the work of Treasury officials, which should make things fairly interesting should the public distaste for Julia Gillard bear its probable fruit two years hence, and install Mr Abbott as their lord and master. Awkward.
After several months spent demanding details of the Government's carbon tax, Mr Abbott has not let the details themselves break his stride for a nanosecond. Treasury can predict until it's blue in the face that the cost of living will rise by a modest 0.7 per cent; Mr Abbott doesn't believe it, and campaigns accordingly.
In one sense, he's living the dream. A political campaign that is 100 per cent rhetoric is - to any politician - as a milkshake that is 100 per cent Milo would be to any child. And after all, as Reagan famously told the Republicans in 1988: "Facts are stupid things".
Once you've severed the guy ropes of obeisance to empirical evidence, many happy hours of ballooning lie ahead. Mr Abbott's liberation from such constraints allows him to lead a free-market party while advocating a carbon reduction scheme that is interventionist to its core. Or to deplore, for instance, a goal of reducing Australian emissions by 5 per cent over the next nine years as "crazy", while simultaneously holding that goal as sworn Coalition policy. Last week, when the Leader of the Opposition assured a group of Victorian voters that carbon dioxide was a tricky gas on account of being "weightless", it seemed for a glorious moment as if he was hedging his bets even on the work of Newton.
But Mr Abbott's one-man battle against demonstrable logic has entered a new and compelling phase.
After a long period of ignoring expert opinion where it does not mesh with his own, the Opposition Leader has taken the ambitious next step, and spent this week ignoring himself.
First, he claimed that he had never supported a carbon tax or emissions trading scheme, a proposition for which the contradicting evidence is so plentiful that it seems insulting to list it, although Crikey's Bernard Keane summarised the material recently, formatted entertainingly as a long argument between the Opposition Leader and himself.
Then, he claimed - while in Victoria - that the Coalition's national emissions reductions could be accomplished without touching a hair on the head of any brown coal-fired power stations. This is precisely at odds with his own policy's promise to shutdown at least one brown coal station, and to pay generators to move to gas.
In fairness, no-one can claim that Mr Abbott didn't warn us about this. Twelve years ago, during the republic referendum campaign, he did point out rather forcefully that politicians weren't to be trusted. In the first of two memorable interviews with Kerry O'Brien last year, he warned voters not to believe anything he said unless he put it in writing. In the second, he warned especially that he shouldn't be asked anything much about the internet, seeing as he knew diddly-squat about all that stuff (he is a papyrus-to-the-node kind of guy).
This is why Mr Abbott is a very, very effective Opposition Leader. He pursues his opponent all day, and sleeps soundly at night unhaunted by the ghosts of his own inconsistency. Rather blackly, Mr Abbott's central case against Julia Gillard is that you can't believe a word she says.
Malcolm Turnbull, a man whose own consistency on the topic of carbon pricing borders on the unfashionable, is in trouble today for his speech last night suggesting that people listen to the experts on climate change.
Mr Abbott, when interviewed in 2009 by Tony Jones about his thoughts on climate change, confessed to have read none of the IPCC report and just a bit of the sceptic Ian Plimer's book before |
using any in our codebase. TSLint helps enforce this with the “no-any” rule, which we’ve enabled. But this isn’t enough because TypeScript is happy to allow you to leave off type annotations which result in an “any” type unless direct inferencing can be done:
Even though we’re adding a number to arg, TypeScript can’t definitely say what type arg is, so it’s still typed as any. To prevent this spreading of any, we’ve enabled all of the “typedef” rules in TSLint, with one exception: we allow direct inferencing of types as in the case above for x.
Petar’s starter kit is a good example if you’d like to copy our tslint.json.
In addition to the standard TSLint rules, we’ve written several additional rules. Many of these are similar to the level of enforcement you might see in StyleCop. What we’ve learned is that it’s much easier to write a rule than to make the same comment 50 times in code reviews!
camelCaseMethodName: enforces consistent method names
noEmptyLineAfterOpeningBrace: aka the Øystein Space Rule
openingBraceProcededBySpace
preferConst
singleLineComment: comments above code, not to the right
typedefRelaxed: a fork of typedef that allows for non-null initialization without a type annotation.
Let us know if these are useful and we’ll see about creating PRs to TSLint. We also have a wish list that has ~15 more ideas…we need more time!
We also use the AirBNB style guide when TSLint isn’t prescriptive enough.
React and TypeScript
React and JSX are first-class citizens to TypeScript. When we first did our hackathon React prototype ~18months ago a big concern was the lack of TypeScript support for React. We were very concerned about using runtime checks (a.k.a proptypes) since those errors are surfaced much later during the development cycle than static typing. And sometimes those errors can still sneak through to production!
James Brantly’s talk at React Conf 2015 gave us hope about TypeScript integration. François de Campredon did a fantastic job proving value with his TypeScript fork that included JSX support. And Ryan Cavanaugh has been super great about getting JSX shipped as part of TypeScript.
VSCode helping me out
We’ve been using JSX + TypeScript since it first landed in a nightly build. It’s been a great solution and Ryan and the team have been very responsive about keeping up with React. For example, functional react components landed in TypeScript within two months of being shipped by the React team…and those two months included Thanksgiving and Christmas!
TypeScript and Flux
We’re going to write more about our Flux pattern and how we approach it shortly, but I wanted to drop a few notes about how TypeScript has enabled our Flux pattern. Our basic desire is that everything should be typed correctly, which means we avoid this common Flux example that you’ll find:
Typical redux reducer
The problem with this example is that actions and state are completely untyped. It would be trivial for a developer to accidentally misspell “completed” and ship a bug to production. TypeScript allows us to have compile time safety against this kind of bug. Here’s an example of how our actions are defined:
A Typical Delve Action
Let’s break this down into smaller pieces:
All actions implement the IAction interface. Actions can expose public members like a normal JavaScript object. The IAction interface demands a toLogEntry method. This ensures that we have great telemetry associated with all of our actions. We’ll talk more about our telemetry in a future article.
Now our stores can consume an action in a completely type safe way:
Full type safety through our Flux stack ensures that when someone changes an action they can immediately know about all of the consumers and where additional changes need to be made. And because it’s done at compile time, we’re assured that we don’t have silly mistakes. We believe that this is a much safer and more productive environment than the default untyped action pattern that you’ll typically find.
Delve ❤ TypeScript
I hope you’ve enjoyed a whirlwind tour of how we use TypeScript. To quickly conclude: we use TypeScript not because we’re part of Microsoft, but because we find tremendous value by improving our productivity and keeping our quality high which together allow us to move much faster. I sincerely hope that you’ll give TypeScript a deeper look and integrate it into your engineering process!
-AlexADVERTISEMENT
If the Transportation Security Authority was breathing a sigh of relief that the furor over its controversial pat-downs had died down, it ought to think again. New Jersey-based TSA workers recently admitted to shaking down passengers for as much as $30,000 — then bribing their supervisor to look the other way — spurring a new backlash against the government agency. Truly, the TSA and controversy seem to just go hand and hand. Here, the four biggest scandals of recent years:
1. Leaking security details online
Bungling TSA officials posted a confidential guide to airport passenger screening on the internet in December 2009. The 93-page manual contained easy-to-copy examples of I.D. badges for CIA officials and air marshals. This, plus inadvertent tips on how to "falsify documents," is the sort of info that makes life easier for "would-be terrorists," said Ann McFeatters at The Nashua Telegraph. No wonder the TSA is "one of those agencies we love to hate."
2. Pranking passengers with white powder
Everyone knows it's forbidden for passengers to joke with TSA officials about the "bomb" they've hidden in their luggage, but apparently the TSA doesn't hold itself to those rules. A memo revealed by The Smoking Gun last November revealed that a TSA screening officer told a passenger that a suspicious vial of white powder had been found in his luggage. The passenger didn't think much of the "joke," and the TSA officer was later fired.
3. Cheating on bomb detection tests
The TSA uses undercover operatives to test its airport screening staff, but back in 2006, a TSA administrator alerted certain workers that such supposedly confidential tests were under way, supplying (via email) descriptions of the undercover agents. The man who leaked the information was eventually removed from his position. The TSA said the email was sent out of concern that terrorists were posing as transportation officials, says Becky Akers at LewRockwell.com. "Yep. That's our concern too."
4. Lying about secretly collecting passenger data
Back in 2005, the Department of Homeland Security revealed that the TSA had secretly obtained millions of passenger records from various air carriers, including JetBlue, to test a passenger tracking database. It handed out this data, which included incomes, occupations, number of children and Social Security numbers, to contractors — and worse yet, lied to the public and to Congress about it. The saga showed "just how underhanded, untrustworthy, and generally incompetent" the TSA is, said Jon Stokes at Ars Technica.Vast extent of the fortifications surprises archaeologists who used new technology and the knowledge of local historians
The full extent of the networks of trenches and defensive fortifications built in England during the first world war has been revealed in the first major survey of its kind.
Detailing how resources were concentrated along England’s eastern and southern coasts – where the main thrust by an invading German army was expected to come – the study draws on existing periodicals and local history as well as LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) data gleaned from the use of lasers by the Environment Agency to plot the bumps and dips of British topography.
“We are all very aware of the defence of Britain in the second world war, but people don’t tend to think that the same threat was there during the first world war,” said Martin Brown, an archaeologist who led the research for government body Historic England.
“Every now and again you will find zigzags and deeps and hollows running across fields, for example,” added Brown, who is principal archaeologist at WYG, an environmental planning consultancy.
“There are parts of the country where you find them by falling down them, because they may be buried under some scrub, and you would not make much of them if you didn’t realise what they were.
“In places like Kent and elsewhere, they have been erased not just physically from the terrain but also, in a way, from the memory.”
In addition to established gun batteries around the coast, the survey counts 26 defended ports and naval bases with permanent fortifications, such as Newhaven Fort in East Sussex, Fort Paull in East Yorkshire and Shoeburyness in Essex. The strategic importance of the Humber estuary, with its proximity to the North Sea and potential vulnerability, as demonstrated by the German naval raids on the north-east coast in 1914, was recognised by the construction of batteries at Spurn and Kilnsea in East Yorkshire.
Supporting ports and bases, other parts of the home defence network included trenches identified north of Browndown camp, a Hampshire coastal fort. As the study notes – referring to its continuing use by the army for amphibious assault training – the beach there is “gently shelving shingle and perfect for landings, as demonstrated by continued 21st century exercises”.
Defences from the 1914-18 war at that spot were reused in the 1940s, as was Little London in Norfolk, where a pillbox and entrenchments form part of a stop line.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest An excavated dugout at Larkhill. Photograph: © WYG/Wessex Archaeology
Other first world war lines included the Maidstone-Swale line in Kent and the London defence ring across Essex, Kent and Surrey.
More extensive trench networks in Kent joined existing defences around Chatham and connected them to so-called mobilisation centres along a line from Halling to Knockholt. These centres formed the basis of the London defence scheme, which had its origins in the 19th century. The strategy depended on a chain of 13 fortified centres acting as strong points on the North Downs, between Farningham in Kent and Guildford in Surrey, and from Epping to Basildon in Essex.
The major revelation from the survey has been the sheer extent of the network, according to Brown, who said that new finds had been discovered on sites suck as Cannock Chase in the West Midlands and Larkhill in Wiltshire.
The existence of an anti-invasion network on this scale is unlikely to have surprised many Britons in the years leading up to the first world war, however. An entire genre of fiction – sometimes referred to as “invasion literature” – was already being compiled. The earliest example is The Battle of Dorking, a fictional account of a Germanic (albeit Prussian) invasion of Britain, but later examples include Erskine Childers’s 1903 novel The Riddle of the Sands and John Buchan’s The Thirty-Nine Steps, published in 1915 but written just prior to the outbreak of the war.
“The threat in the second world war was much more significant and plausible because the European toe-hold was lost, for example, and there was a lot more building in the face of an imminent threat, which obscures what happened in 1914,” Brown said.
“But we can fail to appreciate the threat as people in 1914 saw it. There’s a sort of comedy element today when we might think of Zeppelin raids for example, but my grandmother and great-grandmother were in Hull when it was bombed and they were genuinely terrified.”
The study, First World War Fieldworks in England, forms part of Historic England’s contribution to the national Centenary Partnership programme about the conflict. It is being published this weekend to promote protection through discovery and the identification of the most significant remains, as well as helping towards local listing and the protection of previously unrecognised remains.THE opening of a third bottle of wine is always the point at which everything goes horribly wrong, research has found.
Extensive studies have found that while one bottle is not enough and it seems a shame to stop at two, three is definitely too many.
Dr Helen Archer said: “We have definitively linked the choice to open a third bottle of wine with hangovers, vomiting, texting the really bad ex and the telling of home truths to formerly close friends.
“By uncorking that third bottle, even if it is a sunny evening and everyone is having a wonderful time, we uncork a nightmare of jealousy, recrimination, execrable singing and ultimately complete societal breakdown.
“Unfortunately we have discovered that the key effect of the second bottle is to cause drinkers to crave a third one, so there’s no solution just yet.”It’s been more than four years since David Cameron famously claimed his would be the ‘greenest government ever’ when the Conservative party came to power in 2010.
But his path to green greatness has not been an easy one; our air is illegally polluted, our renewable industry smarting from hit after hit and our government littered with climate change sceptics.
This year alone year alone has been filled with multiple public protests, threats ranging from malaria to mass immigration and missed job growth and economy recovery opportunities due to reluctance to invest in renewable energy.
But let’s break it down and take a look back at the year that was:
Q1: Flood Defenses and Climate Change Warnings
Well, it’s hardly like 2014 kicked off to a great start; just a few weeks into January a newspaper investigation discovered the government had slashed its spend on preparing the UK for adverse climate change effects by almost a half.
Under the then Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, government spending dropped from £29.1m in 2012-13 to £17.2m in 2013-14.
The timing couldn't have been worse; the nation was in the midst of the wettest winter on record and 5,800 homes and businesses were damaged by flooding as a result of the extreme weather.
The move was, unsurprisingly, widely condemned by critics; not least of all by the Committee on Climate Change who threatened the cuts could lead to an extra £3 billion in avoidable future flood damages.
By March warnings of potential threats to the UK as a result of climate change were coming in thick and fast.
Firstly the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned the UK would soon be hit by a wave of mass immigration as millions of climate change refugees were made homeless by extreme weather, food shortages and consequential war, disease and famine.
Then came a report from consultancy firm PWC which showed food prices in Britain looked set to rise dramatically in the next few years as extreme weather in other countries damaged crops and the other food imports we rely on.
We only have to look a few years back to see the actualisation of the above warning, when the heat waves of 2010 damaged crops in Eastern Europe causing food prices in the UK to rise by 5%.
Despite the above evidence, the government took eight months to recognise and respond to the pressing need for the UK to not just reduce its own carbon footprint, but to also help developing countries battle climate change.
Q2: Renewable Energy, Flash Flooding Risk, Fracking and China
April brought with it more bad news as Oxford University announced that man-made climate change would lead to many more extreme flooding events in the UK.
Previously the UK had only seen flooding like winter 2013’s every 100 years, but the study suggested similar events would occur in the South of England every eight years as a direct result of climate change.
The Met Office then issued a warning that climate change was also likely to cause more flash flooding in the UK as heavy rainfall reacted with the arid land caused by drier than average summers.
Though it wasn’t all bad news; April also brought with it some progress as the UK government finally agreed to back eight major renewable energy projects.
The three biomass plants and five windfarms planned came with a promise of 8,500 jobs and the ability to power millions of homes in the UK with clean energy.
Fast forward to June and the government's top science adviser and UK chief scientist Sir Mark Walport pleased environmentalists by calling for urgent debate on climate change mitigation.
He requested a stop to debates on whether or not climate change exists and the relating energy and resources instead to be used for creating policies on how best tackle it.
He made clear his belief that ‘climate change is happening and humans are significant contributors’ and said there needed to be more roles for scientists and engineers to research and establish the pros and cons of new energy sources and technologies designed to combat climate change.
He also backed fracking, which he said was safe and environmentally sound when done properly.
June was also the month that China’s head of government visited the UK and a joint statement was released from both nations agreeing on the urgency and importance of action against climate change and the need for renewable energy.
However, it was noted that while China was putting a cap on its coal use, the UK government was refusing to regulate the UK’s ageing coal plants and was still not doing enough to encourage greater renewable energy production and use in the UK.
Q3: Celebrity Protest, UN Summit and Tory Climate Change Deniers
But still it seemed the government was not doing enough and in September 40,000 people including Vivienne Westwood, Emma Thompson and Peter Gabriel, took to the streets demanding greater action against climate change.
Unperturbed, David Cameron announced that he believed he had kept his pledge to run the UK’s greenest government yet when speaking at the UN summit on climate change.
At the meeting of world leaders in New York on September 23rd he said: “Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing our world. And it is not just a threat to the environment. It is also a threat to our national security, to global security, to poverty eradication and to economic prosperity.”
He said his party had doubled the UK’s renewable energy capacity in the last four years, created the world’s first green bank and the UK was well on its way to cutting carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.
But it seems his words may have rung a little hollow; his speech came days after a poll revealed nearly three quarters of Conservative MPs didn’t believe climate change was caused by human activity, with 18% of Tory MPs admitting they thought the notion of man-made climate change was ‘environmentalist propaganda’.
Q4: Global Approach, Targets Failure and Return of Green Deal
It took until almost the end of the year for the government to assert some authority and not only agree to spend £600m on helping poor countries tackle climate but to also quash the critics who questioned it.
After a year filled with scientifically backed reports on the negative effects climate change in other countries could have on the UK, Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey was correct in saying in November: "People recognise that we live in a global economy where when something happens in another part of the world it can impact on our lives here. The idea we should be isolationist Little Englanders is absolute nonsense. "
However, this one spot of good government action could not prevent more bad news emerging; a report issued by London’s Imperial College in November showed the UK would fail to meet its carbon emissions target set for 2030 unless significant policy changes were made.
There was also a warning from the UK’s Royal Society in December who found future heat waves caused by global climate change would have catastrophic results on the UK’s elderly population, who are less able to look after themselves in extreme conditions.
All this was followed by a scathing letter written by Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband who slammed chancellor George Osborne’s failure to mention climate change or carbon emission targets in the Autumn Statement and accused David Cameron of making a ‘long retreat from the principles in which he once claimed to believe [in]’.
However, it is possible the year may end on a high (of sorts) with the reintroduction of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. The financial package, aimed at helping residents improve the energy efficiency of their homes, was closed a few weeks after launching earlier on in the year due to a lack of preparation.
But now it is back, and as of December 10, householders can apply for free cash to pay for home improvements such as solid wall insulation and double glazing to help them reduce their energy use and carbon production.
Round Up: Mixed Bag
2014 has certainly been a mixed bag, key politicians were certainly keen to be quoted saying they thought climate change was an important topic to be addressed, but while there was some progress made in 2014 there was certainly much more that could have been done.
With a hotly contested election due in May next year who knows what 2015 will bring.
Image Credit: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4
By Lima CurtisCLOSE A rising number of Iowa children have been victims of homicide the past three years — from abuse, shootings and unsupervised accidents. At least 20 Iowa children died last year, including 11 from suspected abuse, Wochit
Cheyanne Harris, left, and Zachary Koehn were charged Oct. 25,2017, with murder connection with the death of their 4-month-old son, whose maggot-infested body was found Aug. 30 in a baby swing in the family's apartment. (Photo11: Chickasaw County (Iowa) Sheriff's Office)
NEW HAMPTON, Iowa — A northern Iowa couple has been charged with murder in connection with the death of their 4-month-old son, whose body was found covered in maggots in a baby swing at the family's home.
Cheyanne Renae Harris, 20, and Zachary Paul Koehn, 28, were arrested Wednesday on charges of first-degree murder and child endangerment.
Their son, Sterling Daniel Koehn, was found dead Aug. 30 after Koehn called 911 requesting an ambulance to the couple's Alta Vista, Iowa, apartment, court records show. Alta Vista is about 125 miles northeast of Des Moines.
When Chickasaw County sheriff's deputies and medics arrived, they found the dead boy sitting in a powered swing in a bedroom separate from where Koehn, Harris and their older child slept, according to criminal complaints filed in court against the couple.
► Oct. 17: Mother worried about deportation drowns infant, 5-year-old, police say
► Oct. 16: Child dies after 325-pound adult sat on her as punishment
An autopsy of the baby's body revealed "maggots in various stages of development in his clothing and on his skin," court records show.
A forensic entomologist studied the maggots to determine that Sterling had not been removed from the baby swing for more than a week, and he had not had a diaper change or bath in that time, court records show.
Iowa's state medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, and the cause of death was failure to provide critical care.
► Aug. 22: Iowa couple gets $3.25M after adopted son killed by birth father
► April 25: Father livestreams killing of infant daughter on Facebook Live
"The facts of this case go far beyond neglect and show circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life," Deputy Reed Palo of the Chickasaw County Sheriff's Office wrote in the criminal complaints.
When deputies first arrived to the couple's apartment, Koehn reportedly told them that his girlfriend, Harris, had fed Sterling that morning "and he was fine." Koehn said Harris checked on the baby a couple of hours later, and he had died, according to the complaints.
► July 21: Man says he killed stepdaughter because 'it wasn't dinner time'
► June 2016: Mom breastfed baby, then left her to die on beach
The story was not consistent with autopsy findings and other investigation, court records show.
Harris and Koehn were jailed in Chickasaw County. Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2.
Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow Charly Haley on Twitter: @charlyhaley
Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2hdlsktA letter from former Bulls center Joakim Noah, shared with the Chicago Tribune on Thursday by his agency, BDA Sports.
Thank you, Chicago!!
I moved here nine years ago and quickly got an understanding of what the city was about. Hard work. No nonsense. Grind. Loyalty. Passion. I wanted to represent those qualities every time I stepped onto the court and competed for the Bulls.
Thank you to every teammate I battled with. We won and we lost, but I have love and respect for every single one of you. One day this basketball journey will be over and all we will have are memories. The best times in my life took place on the United Center floor. You are all my brothers.
The relationships I made in Chicago go far beyond basketball, and to me that is just as big as winning the championship. I wish the people in Chicago nothing but the best and I hope we can all continue to be united in bringing some peace to the city. The work to bring people together and build positivity throughout the neighborhood will continue through my foundation and many other great foundations throughout the city that my family and I will stay involved with.
I will continue to do my best to help this city. Chicago is home for the rest of my life, and my dream is still to help make the city a safer place for kids to grow up in.
My journey now brings me home to New York and the team I grew up rooting for as a kid. But nothing has mattered more to me over the past nine years than the city of Chicago, the Chicago Bulls and all of the passionate Bulls fans. There are way too many people to thank individually, but I want to give special thanks to the Reinsdorf family for making me a part of the Chicago Bulls family and everything that that represents.
One love,
Joakim Noah :)On 18 February, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pinstripe monogrammed suit went on auction in Surat to raise additional funds for the Union government’s “Namami Gange" mission of cleaning the Ganga river, the father and son duo of Emmanuel Theophilus and Zanskar Theophilus Singh stood at the mouth of the river in West Bengal’s Sagar Island.
This was the end point of their long journey down riverine systems from Banbasa in hilly Uttarakhand to the Ganga’s distributary, the Hooghly river’s confluence at the Bay of Bengal. Theo and Zanskar, as they like to be identified, covered a distance of around 2,500km in 87 days in a kayak. For only a day, when faced with the new moon’s tidal upsurge near Sagar Island, did they use a motorized boat.
When they finally came off the boat at the fishing village of Namkhana, near Sagar Island, their tired expressions, unkempt beards and sun-burnt faces reflected the gruelling nature of their expedition, evocatively called Nadisutra, after the sutradhar (person holding the thread of the narrative) in Indian classical and folk theatre forms.
“The journey is yet to sink in," says 23-year-old Zanskar. Behind him, his mother Malika Virdi, who had joined them on the post-Kolkata leg of the journey, hugs his father. Parting compliments are exchanged with the boatmen who guided them on the last day. In many ways, it is a reunion through exploration and escapade for this family from Munsiyari, Uttarakhand.
Emmanuel Theophilus (right), his wife Malika Virdi, and their son Zanskar Theophilus Singh, at Sagar Island in West Bengal. Photo: Indranil Bhoumik/Mint
Interestingly, this is not Theo’s first river project. In 2011, he received a fellowship to research the modern ecological history of the Kali river, which originates in Uttarakhand, from the Bengaluru-based New India Foundation, which supports scholars and researchers. The book that is expected to emerge from his work is also likely to link the Kali river with his latest riverine expedition—a link that anyway exists naturally. The Kali flows as the Mahakali in Nepal, which is part of the Ganga’s oldest and largest tributary system. For Theo, a matter of concern is the break within this continuum of water right till the confluence at the Bay of Bengal.
“Thousands of crore of rupees have been spent on successive clean Ganga missions. All of this money has gone somewhere but it’s not quite apparent where. See, you don’t need to throw money at the Ganga to clean it," says Theo.
On the last day of the Surat auction, coinciding with their return to Kolkata, the Prime Minister’s suit was auctioned for ₹ 4.31 crore, the amount likely to be added to the ₹ 2,037 crore allocated for the clean Ganga campaign in the 2014-15 Union budget.
The pollution was more near urban settlements like Ayodhya. Photograph courtesy Emmanuel Theophilus
“What the government needs to do is to let the Ganga flow by removing dams and diversions, at least the major ones. When there is enough volume of flowing water, the river automatically flushes away the pollution," says Theo, a former employee of the National Dairy Development Board, its offshoot National Tree Growers’ Cooperative Federation and then with the Foundation for Ecological Security, a not-for-profit working towards the restoration and conservation of land and water resources.
While the decommissioning of ecologically damaging and under-productive dams and barrages as well as recycling of municipal waste by turning it into drinking water are already established practices in the West, here, “we continue to take out the water of the Ganga for our use and return it to the river as effluent," says Theo.
The duo preferred to camp on small islands and cook their meals.
On one occasion, Theo inadvertently toppled the kayak, and both father and son, along with their supplies and electrical equipment, had an unwanted drench. But their choice of a slow-moving mode of transport, which barely skimmed the water’s surface, also allowed them views and experiences which also speak generously of the bounty of healthy river systems.
On multiple occasions, they found crocodiles basking on the banks, jackals singing on moonlit nights, a family of otters sprinting past. Nilgai and wild boar kept them company on an island, clams drew doodles on the sand for their eyes only. They counted 34 varieties of fish caught by village fishermen, and met one who parted with a portion of his catch without asking for money. They encountered dolphins that swam alongside fishing boats on moonless nights and yet another which bumped into the base of their kayak and then splashed them and their camera with a swish of its tail fin. “I cannot describe the beauty of the moment when a dolphin took a huge leap in a perfect arc. It turned into a silhouette against the beautiful setting sun," recalls Zanskar.
A map showing the Nadisutra route.
What was initially estimated to be a 45-day journey finally turned out to be 87 days long, including a couple of stopovers. The duo hadn’t factored in the low volume of water on the way—the choking of what were earlier perennial waterways—because of a network of barrages and diversions and the sand heads they encountered. It brings our discussion to the “flow" of rivers and the Narendra Modi government’s renewed initiative towards the inter-linking of India’s rivers.
At its core, the National River Linking Project (NRLP) “envisages the inter-basin transfer of water from surplus to deficit basins/areas", according to the government’s Press Information Bureau website. In simple terms, the “surplus" water of rivers in flood-prone areas will be diverted to drought-prone, water-scarce parts of the country through an interlinked network of canals and reservoirs. The project’s agenda of providing water equity across the country will be facilitated through 14 links under the Himalayan Component and 16 links under the Peninsular Rivers Component: a total of 30 river links which will fall under the NRLP.
Zanskar holding a baby turtle, reflecting the biodiversity of Sharda river.
The river interlinking project, under which work for a link between the Ken and Betwa rivers involving the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh has already been initiated, has been criticized by hydrologists and river experts who are concerned about its human, ecological and environmental fallout. Experts warn of the adverse effect the NRLP will have on the monsoon.
“With the river interlinking project what we’ll see is the killing of an existing utility like a flowing river which has been providing social, ecological and economic services since time immemorial. Already one finds the bigger rivers to be in bad shape," says Himanshu Thakkar, an IIT-Bombay alumnus who is the coordinator of the New Delhi-based South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, an organization working on issues relating to rivers and communities in India. “The new government is diluting environmental laws, so much so that one does not even need environmental clearances or public consultation for the construction of a hydropower project under 25 MW capacity. Increasingly, we see that the government is not only indifferent about the value of rivers but also uncaring of the social cost," he adds.
Kolkata-based river scientist Kalyan Rudra, who is known for his exhaustive study of the Ganga river basin, wants the government to maintain a balance between modern science and traditional systems, which are both people-centric and eco-friendly. “Currently, there is a crusade against nature," Rudra says. “The government plans to build 16 barrages in the river between Haldia and Allahabad, which essentially means creating 16 stagnant pools of water and interruptions in the Ganga’s free flow. Such development will immediately cease the ecological services of the river."
When a river is dying, says Rudra, the first to disappear will be its biodiversity. “Losing biodiversity might seem like a small component within development plans but it reflects the health of a river," he warns.
A prized catch at a fish market in Faizabad.
“In aquatic systems, the volume of water is habitat. With the volume being very low in our rivers, the assemblage of aquatic life is seriously affected too," says Theo. “Most of the fishermen we spoke to had the same complaint: “paani kam ho gaya hai, machhli kam ho gaya hai.’" Less water; fewer fish.
In his book, Land Of The Seven Rivers: A Brief History Of India’s Geography, which traces India’s history through changes in its geography, author Sanjeev Sanyal dwells on the drying up of the Saraswati river, possibly during the Vedic era, and “a major event in the evolution of India’s civilization".
Fed by both the Sutlej and the Yamuna, the Saraswati, much like the Ganga, was once invoked as the mother of all rivers. Its misfortune started when it first lost the Yamuna source, and was compounded by the loss of the Sutlej, both to natural causes. “Without a perennial water source, the Saraswati must have become a rain-fed seasonal river. Even this became untenable as the climate became drier. Eventually, the river broke up into a series of lakes and then completely dried up," Sanyal writes. The disappearance of the Saraswati, many think, could also have played a defining role in the end of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Even as the description of the death of one river reads ominously close to a future foretold by experts of India’s rivers, Virdi, the third vital component of the Nadisutra expedition, remains hopeful. “If people are the problem, they are also part of the solution," she says.
Virdi, also 56, moved with Theo from New Delhi to Munsiyari in 1992 to be a subsistence farmer producing the food they eat, work with the local community as a sarpanch of the village, join a women’s collective and start an environment-sensitive home-stay enterprise in the Kumaon area overlooked by the Panchchuli peaks. Virdi also talks about “proposals for setting up dams and hydroelectric power projects in their valley and on the Gori river and its tributaries" over the past few years—as many as 30 projects over a length of 100km.
She draws her sustenance from the fact that a popular protest movement in 2010 could stall the Rupsia Bhagar Khasia Bara hydel power project by the National Thermal Power Corp. Or from her own experience of having trekked the Trans Himalayas from Arunachal Pradesh to Karakoram in Pakistan with two other women in 1997—an experience that told her that in the higher reaches of the world, nature is yet unblemished by human greed.
When the family stepped off the boat in the late evening at Namkhana after reaching their final destination, Sagar Island, there was an element of optimism. At the point where the Ganga meets the sea, the new moon tide made the waters choppy, and the tidal difference in water level was over 6.2m. Had it gone up a little higher, their country boat would have been imperilled, Theo says.
At Sagar Island, also locally known as Gangasagar, small crabs had turned the beach red with their presence. In the twilight hour, the family went for a swim in the Bay of Bengal; delighting too in the glowing phosphorescence carried by the waves before the high tide rushed in.Speed Perf6manc3 just found the limits of the Ford Focus ST engine block. They’ve been chasing the goal of reaching 1,000 wheel horsepower; although they knew the stock cylinder block wouldn’t be able to handle that kind of power, they decided to find the limits anyway. Nishan Gharibian from Speed Per6manc3 shared the details with us regarding what they discovered.
When Are Beefier Internals Required?
The Focus ST makes around 250 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque in its stock configuration. With a larger turbo and some bolt-on performance items, 360 whp can be reached easily, but as you push the limits upgraded internals are needed.
“Upgrading the internals is typically a necessity once you get up to 450 wheel horsepower. Even at 450 however, the engine is still at risk of failure, but with proper tuning and good fuel and parts it can last a while,” says Nishan.
The 770WHP Build Sheet
Of course, we want to know how they were able to squeeze so much power out of a stock-block Focus ST. After all, reliably getting that much power out of a little 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine isn’t exactly easy.
“The cylinder head is an EcoBoost 2.3-liter head. It has our Stage 3 camshafts, valve springs, stock intake valves and 2mm-larger exhaust valves as well as our in-house head port and polishing,” says Nishan.
Those Stage 3 cams aren’t available for production just yet, |
geran in Killaloe was purchased at a cost of almost €500,000 in 1998, but it has remained largely unoccupied since.
The property, set on two acres is a four-storey mezzanine offering views of Lough Derg, and was bought by a philanthropic fund.
It is now estimated to be worth €1.5 million but it is not occupied and, along with the second presidential property at Garraun on the Clare side of the UL campus, is costing €109,654.55 in maintenance and continued renovations to date.
The Kilalloe property was bought during the time of the university’s second president, Prof Roger Downer, who handed it over on his retirement. The house was leased in May 2009 for 18 months but has since been vacant.
Meanwhile. the second property on the Castletroy campus cost €2.2 million to build is now home to the current UL president, Dr Des Fitzgerald and is regularly used for entertaining donors or visiting academics.
Limerick Fianna Fáil Deputy Willie O’Dea said that the university should sell or lease the property at Ballycuggeran “to get the best possible use out of it and ease the burden on the taxpayer”.
In a statement issued to the Limerick Post, a spokeswoman for the university said that the former UL President’s Residence at Ballycuggeran, Killaloe, was on the market initially but, given the downturn in the property market, it was removed from sale.
“The on-campus current President’s Residence was built as a result of a philanthropic donation to the University that was gifted specifically to fund the establishment of an on-campus residence.
“The future for the former President’s residence in Killaloe will be considered in due course by the new UL President,” the statement concluded.
You can read similar stories in the Limerick Post News section.(Foto: Shutterstock)
O Google já sabe muita coisa sobre como nós realizamos consultas na internet ou utilizamos ferramentas como Gmail e Google Agenda para nos programar, pesquisar e planejar. Com os dados que colhe, realiza experimentos regulares ou testes no Vale do Silício para entender como tornar suas ferramentas - e consequentemente anúncios - cada vez mais eficazes. É em meio a esse movimento que o Google adquiriu a startup Timeful. Com a aquisição, a empresa quer dar um novo passo: utilizar uma equipe jovem e de empreendedores para te ajudar a planejar melhor o tempo, segundo a Forbes. Em outras palavras: o Google quer nos ajudar a parar de perder tempo procrastinando.
Para isso, o Google quer aplicar a tecnologia desenvolvida pela Timeful em produtos próprios como o Inbox, Google Agenda, entre outros, segundo afirmou em seu blog o diretor de desenvolvimento do produtos, Alex Gawley. O Google não revelou quanto pagou para adquirir a startup, que foi fundada há pouco mais de um ano por um trio de acadêmicos.
Timeful
O professor de ciência da computação de Stanford Yoav Shoham, o cientista comportamental da Universidade de Duke, Dan Ariely e o cientista de dados Jacob Bank fundaram a Timeful em março de 2014 após realizarem pesquisas acadêmicas sobre o problema que quase todas as pessoas enfrentam: a má gestão do tempo, ou a procrastinação.
+ Faça o tempo trabalhar para você
Enquanto Ariely recorreu a experiências do mundo real para medir a ineficiência de como as pessoas usam seu tempo, Shoham focou em estudar como o tempo poderia ser melhor representado em um computador e Bank buscou entender como uma máquina poderia ajudar as pessoas a tomarem decisões melhores.
Segundo a Forbes, na pesquisa eles descobriram em sua que cerca de 80% das pessoas utilizam as primeiras horas de um dia de trabalho checando emails e Facebook. O problema é que são essas horas, estatisticamente falando, as que eles poderiam ser mais produtivos.
O aplicativo que o trio desenvolveu mede inicialmente os horários e compromissos já estabelecidos na rotina dos usuários. Depois, passa a enviar notificações sugerindo quais atividades você pode priorizar e como organizar melhor o restante. Por exemplo: se o usuário declarou, em algum momento ou mensagem, sua intenção de ir à academia três vezes por semana, o app vai oferece sugestões e lembretes para agendas as sessões durante o tempo livre.
Uma vez desenvolvido o funcionamento incial, os fundadores do Timeful também buscaram aplicar um olhar científico. Eles continuaram a pesquisar mais sobre como os humanos gerenciam seu tempo, através do rastreamento e análise de dados em usuários ao vivo do app.
+ Quer ser mais produtivo? 10 dicas para acabar com a procrastinação
"Nós saímos de etapa inicial das pesquisas acadêmicas para testar algo bem específico sobre como as pessoas usam cada minuto de seus dias", disse Ariely em entrevista no ano passado. "Como elas usam sua agenda, o que cada horário representa ou não para elas. Todos os testes vão levando a mudanças no aplicativo. A maneira como pensamos também é dinâmica. O app vai sendo construído com experimentação", afirmou.
Esta abordagem dinâmica e orientada a dados para a construção de software se encaixa fortemente com o funcionamento do Google. Na última década, por exemplo, a empresa de Moutain View se baseou em uma forte experimentação para desenvolver seus produtos - testando os famosos 41 tons de azul para ver qual tipo de cor do hiperlik atraíria mais cliques. Agora, é a vez de o Google testar o software desenvolvido pelo trio e tentar controlar até o seu tempo.Ukrainian journalist: The situation in Avdiivka is becoming more tense Tuesday, April 19, 2016 11:18:00 AM
In his interview to the Ukrainian Hromadske Radio, Journalist Roman Bochkala, who spent a significant amount of time with the Ukrainian armed forces near Avdiivka, described the situation on the front line.
He noted that the situation in Avdiivka is becoming more tense. "They [the separatists] are doing everything they can to take the territory back. They are absolutely reckless at sending their soldiers at our positions and this leads to numerous losses on their side. Hundreds of them have been killed during this short period. They are trying to surround the area. Although there is no danger of encirclement at the moment." he noted
Bochkala said that the area has a symbolic significance for the separatist. "This is the point from where they started taking control of Donetsk 2 years ago. This is here that Zakharchenko [the head of the so-called Donetsk Republic] declared that they will never surrender this piece of land [Yasynuvata junction]. And now the Ukrainian soldiers are right beside, and this junction is within their firing range. And there is also a question of morale among the residents of the separatist republics. Everything there [in the separatist republic] is built on fear. And if people who live there start seeing that they [the separatists] are weak, they will lose credibility among the population. That is why they cannot withdraw from there and completely lose control over the territory" the journalist stated.
He said that there is no strategic value in holding the territory; the value is mostly symbolic. In this sense it is similar to the fight for the Donetsk Airport*.
The journalist said that OSCE stopped visiting the area. According to him OSCE monitors said that it's just too dangerous. “So it's been a while since we have seen them there [ at Avdiivka industrial zone]. So the Ukrainian soldiers try to record all the ceasefire violations themselves. But this is probably of no use" Bochkala stated.
*The Donetsk Airport is where the heaviest fighting took place last year between Ukrainian forces and the pro-Russian separatists
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Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.On Monday night, Gail Mancuso took home the Emmy for “Outstanding Direction for a Comedy Series” for her work the Modern Family season five episode “Las Vegas.” This was Mancuso’s second win in a row and the show’s fourth win in a row in this category. This year, Mancuso beat out Comedy Film School favorites Louis C.K. and Lena Dunham as well as seasoned film directors Jodie Foster (for Orange is the New Black) and Mike Judge (for Silicon Valley). Looking even further back, the last time a network show director, in which directing is historically more like house-painting than Picasso, lost to a cable director is in 2004, when Curb Your Enthusiasm took home the prize for HBO (however I will not besmirch the Emmy voters’ 2004 selection of Barry Sonnenfeld’s Pushing Daisies pilot for ABC, which is one of the most visually inventive and exciting pieces of television I have ever seen). This all begs the question of what are Emmy voters looking for in comedy directing, and why, year after year, as television directing gets more and more interesting and “filmic”, are the voters rewarding merely proficient directing over shows with more artful or at least with the most directing?
For the award, directors can submit one episode of the show for which they hope to be nominated. This means that a show can be nominated multiple times within the category for multiple directors. This is done to encourage voters to consider the directing work done only within the submitted material and to ignore their affinity for the show as a whole beyond the submitted material. There is no specific criteria for outstanding directing so the voting body is left to interpret that for themselves. The director branch of the Television Academy nominate eligible directors for the award and then a more select judging panel of not only directors selects the winner within the nominations. As is true with all popular award shows, the process is discreet and not particularly transparent. However, the process is the process and Modern Family has thus without a doubt established itself as a comedy directing titan, so let’s take a close look at the four episodes that comprise the nearly unprecedented (only M*A*S*H* from 1974-77 shares this distinction) Emmy four-peat.
Starting with the 2011 winner, season two’s “Halloween,” it becomes immediately clear that the key to directing Modern Family is setting up a traditional ABC story sitcom look, but with enough wide shots for a cast that is full of particularly adept physical comedians to shine. Michael Spiller (who has a background in independent film has Hal Hartley’s cinematographer) was the Emmy-winning director for this episode, and he does have a good eye for framing the physical bits, particularly with Phil. The key to this episode is setting up the layout of the spaces – the Dunphy haunted house and Mitchell’s office – so that the big final gags, the haunted house failing and Mitchell scaling his office building in the Spiderman costume, pay off correctly. As I expected, this is utilitarian, capable directing that at worst does not get in the way and at best enhances the performances significantly. Given that it was up against two other episodes of the show and two other network sitcoms for the Emmy, I can support this choice.
Season three’s Emmy-winning episode “Baby On Board” has tougher competition ahead of it including an early Dunham-directed episode of Girls and one of Louie’s most impressive episodes, “Ducking” directed by CK. In “Baby On Board”, directed by the show’s creator Steve Levitan, the show goes deeper into the realm of fantasy than usual with an A-story centered around Cam and Mitchell’s adoption mirroring the plot of Cam’s favorite telenovela. In a climactic scene, the show breaks into soap opera style filmmaking complete with dramatic close ups and zooms. It is one of the only times I have ever seen the show tell its joke with its camera and it is an interesting and eye-catching choice in an otherwise traditional episode and series as a whole. I can’t possibly understand how Emmy voters could see an episode like “Duckling”, which is a massive directorial accomplishment in both joke-telling and storytelling, and vote for this instead.
Season four’s “Arrested” is the first of Gail Mancuso’s back-to-back wins. The episode opens on a well-constructed gag in which three matching wide shots reveal the three couples reacting to a middle of the night phone call. The payoff relies on the scenes matching and building in pace and performance for a traditional three-peat joke. Mancuso crafts this well and gets the most out of the material, but the rest of the episode is much more traditional sitcom style – there is nothing that stands out and a C plot with Jay, Manny, and Lily feel particularly like it is going through the motions. I probably would have given this statue to Lena Dunham who was nominated for Girls episode “On All Fours”, or the one where Marnie sings, a darkly funny episode with a large scale party scene that Dunham pulls off with her usual success.
Which brings us back to Monday night, where Gail Mancuso took home a repeat win for “Las Vegas”, which is without a doubt the best episode of Modern Family I have ever seen. The show completely abandons its comfort zone, leaving the houses and the kids for an adults-only trip to Las Vegas, which allows for things to be shaken up a bit. The pace of the first two acts are simple and quick. We meet a parade of guests stars (Stephen Merchant, Fred Armisen, and Patton Oswalt) and basically avoid the show’s typically boring cutaway bits. The payoff comes in a big way in the final act, which takes place in the three connecting hotel suites. What Mancuso manages to pull off here is reminiscent of the Marx Brothers’ door scene in The Cocoanuts in its complexity and choreography. The camera work is kinetic and jokes payoff in unexpected ways as the many doors of the suites open to constant surprises. Despite the tiredness of awarding the same show four years in a row, in this case the Emmys awarded a deserving episode of television.
While Modern Family is not, and does not try to be, the most visually complex comedy on TV, what I found in this rewatch is that the show’s reliance on physical comedy does give its episode directors opportunities to go after some fun and interesting style choices. It’s clear that the Emmys are perhaps rewarding consistency and popularity but they are also rewarding a show that is a strong framework for jokes and a stable of directors who capably and reliably raise the level of the writing and performances. It’s a shame to see directors like Dunham and CK, who direct (and are allowed by their networks to direct) with artful intention and specific visual style, but I will concede that Emmy voters could certainly do worse than award Modern Family as well.
Brad Becker-Parton is a film person living in Brooklyn. Follow him on Twitter; you’ll regret it during Knicks games.Someone asked me the other day how policy-makers could quickly respond to the housing affordability crisis in Metro Vancouver. My reply was my typical reminder that there is no silver bullet. But after I paused to think for a few seconds, I said the solution to our housing crisis is to enable every owner of a single-family home in Metro Vancouver to become a developer.
I went on to explain that the proper response to unaffordable housing is more housing supply and the best way to increase housing supply is to make more efficient use of land that is already developed for housing. The magic to doing that is doing it quickly, doing it across the region and doing it efficiently.
Most of the new housing supply that has been built in the last two decades has been multi-family housing, either low-rise and highrise condominium apartments or condominium townhouses, built on land that was converted from industrial or commercial uses or on "greenfield" sites - land that was either once farmland or rural vacant land. Relatively few new single-family homes have been added to existing single-family neighbourhoods.
Metro Vancouver will need to supply about 500,000 new homes over the next 15 to 20 years to accommodate population growth. Imagine if the land where Metro Vancouver's 300,000 or so single-family homes could be used more efficiently to deliver additional new dwellings. We could accommodate a big portion of that housing supply without big development projects and without developers.
Any new housing built as part of the redevelopment of single-family lots would also be ground-oriented housing as opposed to highrises, which makes that housing a lot friendlier to families.
Individual small redevelopment projects should also require less processing of approvals, meaning that the new housing could be supplied faster to meet market demand.
Here is how it could work.
Every Metro Vancouver municipality could change its single-family zoning regulations to permit more than one dwelling per lot. Vancouver and other municipalities already allow multiple dwellings in their single-family zones. In Vancouver, for example, almost every single-family zone allows a primary residence, a secondary suite in the primary residence and a laneway house. I propose that every single-family lot in Metro Vancouver over 5,000 square feet be permitted to have four dwellings and every single-family lot under 5,000 square feet be permitted to have three dwellings. I propose that these be outright uses, rather than conditional uses.
These additional dwellings should be allowed to be configured and designed in any form. Why does a laneway house have to be in a separate building? If one building can accommodate three or four dwellings, then that should be allowed. Performance-based criteria should be set to regulate the design. Rather than setting prescriptive rules about height, density, set backs, building form, etc., municipalities could set performance standards that deal with issues like shadowing, overlooking adjacent properties, privacy, access, tree retention, building shape, etc.
To streamline the approval process for this kind of redevelopment - remember, we would not be dealing with developers, but homeowners redeveloping themselves - design reviews could be done by the applicant's own certified professionals, rather than by planners at city hall. Architects are certified professionals and design experts who are obligated to uphold industry standards and comply with regulations. They could be the ones to judge whether the design meets the performance requirements. This would significantly reduce costs to government and speed up getting new housing supply to the market.Today Pope Francis gave a speech in Nairobi, Kenya on his first trip to Africa. He thanked Kenya for a kind welcome and talked of the terrorism the country has face and continues to face. He said “the enemies of peace must be curbed by all.”
He called for interreligious dialogue to end the violence in Kenya between the Muslims and the Christians.
“To be honest, this relationship is challenging; it makes demands of us. Yet ecumenical and interreligious dialogue is not a luxury. It is not something extra or optional, but essential, something which our world, wounded by conflict and division, increasingly needs,” Pope Francis said.
Earlier last month Africa Times reporter Robert Wanjala wrote of initiatives in Kenya focusing on bringing the Christian and Muslim populations together to fight extremism in the country. Leaders from both faith communities stood in solidarity to show their support and determination to end violence.
During the events today, two faith leaders, Archbishop Wabukala, an Anglican Bishop and Prof Abdulghafur El-Busaidy, the national chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims spoke. Wabukala encouraged Christians around Africa to influence society in a positive and constructive way. El-Busaidy said “As religious leaders, we have a duty to promote justice, rightfulness, love, truthfulness, faithfulness and hopefulness.”
It seems that with the visit by the Pope, dialogue is continuing and the idea is spreading that communities should come together to better themselves rather than be split apart by the actions of extremists.How much should you tip on a pizza being delivered to your doorstep? How about if you have 3 pizzas delivered at the same time?
Larry Fox, a 20 year old designer and developer (do they really exist that young?) has started a blog account on tumbler called; “≤15%: a bunch of shitty tips”
Why you wonder? To humiliate terrible tippers like you.
gothamist: Larry Fox, a 20 year old designer and developer, has a side job making deliveries for Brooklyn restaurants. He’s not satisfied with some of the gratuities he’s received, so he’s created the website 15 Percent to shame those who have screwed him and others out of their rightful remuneration. And he’s posting the names and addresses of the allegedly lousy tippers, too.
Will Larry’s site now become the must go to place for potential future employers, boyfriend/girlfriends looking to see if you’re really the great guy/gal you say youare? Or it just a vanity exercise on behalf of some young man looking to extort Brooklynites?
One entry on the site, submitted by a delivery person named “Sam Paul,” reads, “No tip [address redacted] last night, in middle of third monsoon of evening. elevator opens, i drip on floor, he laughs at me. i say 20 dollars, he says here’s 20 dollars.” Another goes a little something like, “[Name redacted] at [address redacted] tipped me one dollar to bring him a sandwich during a hail/rain/thunder storm….I hate you [redacted!]”
Well you have to admit- a dollar tip in a hailstorm is pretty bleak- but then again – what was Larry looking for on a $7 sandwich? A $4 tip (thunderstorms aside)?
Then there’s the other question- when the service says free delivery is that just a bold faced lie cause in reality there’s the glum look of some guy like Larry waiting to receive you when you open the door and pray on the fact that everyone deserves a handout – cause that’s what you get trained to do in a service economy and you look like a starving refuge.
He describes his Tumblr site, which launched a few days ago, as “a blog documenting people, and companies who have never seemed to work in the service industry, or don’t think to tip at least 15% on deliveries, and instead opt for 2 dollars on everything. This is for all the people who have been handed $80 on a $78 order and told ‘keep the change.’
So no matter if the same energy was expended delivering a package that cost $18 or $78 should delivery guys be expecting a tip of at least 15% on all items delivered- or have they confused delivery for fine food waiting?
Either way, Larry- I’ve got an ironed dollar bill in my pocket, but if you smile, make me feel like a million dollars, whisper sweet honey coated oxymorons(cause we really both know free delivery is free as long as you can afford it) then I might just take out the other ironed dollar bill in my pocket- rain storms notwithstanding…This is a another two-for-one column. We’ll give you our daily breakdown of the horse-race polls and economic data that came out on Monday. Then, we’ll take a quick look at overnight polls that took the temperature of Mitt Romney’s new running mate, Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin.
Monday’s Horse Race
In Missouri, a new SurveyUSA poll put Mr. Romney just one point ahead of President Obama, with 45 percent of the vote to 44 percent.
This is a fairly poor number for Mr. Romney — who had led in our Missouri forecast by six percentage points previously — but not quite as bad as it looks. This is SurveyUSA’s first poll of Missouri so far this cycle, but its polls in other states have been a bit Democratic-leaning relative to the consensus. Perhaps more important, Missouri is no longer a state that plays a critical role in the electoral math. Mr. Romney could lose it. (His chances of doing so rose to 18 percent from 15 percent on the new survey.) But he had a reasonably big cushion there from previous polling, and the state will probably only flip to Mr. Obama in the event that he is winning the Electoral College decisively.
The only potential worry for Mr. Romney is that about half of the interviews in the SurveyUSA poll were conducted after his selection of Mr. Ryan — but since there are no trendlines for comparison, I don’t think we can read too much into that.
Mr. Romney got a better number in a national poll by George Washington University for Politico, which put him one point behind Mr. Obama in the national race. But just as I’m not sure the Missouri poll is that big a deal for Mr. Obama, I don’t know that this one is something for Mr. Romney to get too excited about. If you bought into the notion that Mr. Obama was seven or eight points ahead in the national race, as a few polls indicated last week, then this should give you a reality check. However, our model’s calculations suggested there was ample reason to be skeptical of those polls, and Mr. Obama’s lead over Mr. Romney is likely in the neighborhood of two to three points instead. As compared to that baseline, this is an O.K. poll for Mr. Romney, but not a great one.
Finally, a new poll of New Hampshire, from the University of New Hampshire on behalf of WMUR-TV, an ABC affiliate, gave Mr. Obama a three-point lead there. That’s a tick down from their prior poll of the state, when he was up by four points instead. On the other hand, New Hampshire hadn’t been polled in some time, and this poll is suggestive that Mr. Obama still holds the lead there. Overall, the survey was very consistent with the forecast that the model was already making in New Hampshire; Mr. Obama’s chances of winning the state were roughly unchanged, declining to 72 percent from 73 percent.
A Lull in the Economic News
With all the focus on Mr. Ryan, has everyone forgotten about the economy? We haven’t talked much about it much lately, in part because not one of the reports that our forecast uses to measure the economy had been updated recently — except for the stock market, which has been uncharacteristically steady. (The VIX index, which measures the expected volatility in the stock market, is close to a five-year low.)
But on Monday, The Wall Street Journal came out with its new panel survey of economic forecasts; we use the panel’s gross domestic product projections as part of our economic index. Those G.D.P. forecasts were lowered by about two-tenths of a percentage point in forward-looking economic quarters and now project growth of about 2 percent for the next six to nine months, about what it has been in the recent past.
Still, the overall polling and economic picture is basically unchanged. Mr. Obama’s chances of winning the Electoral College were 71.4 percent in Monday’s forecast, as compared with 71.6 percent on Saturday.
Ryan’s Early Reviews
Only a smattering of the horse-race data was conducted after Mr. Romney’s announcement of his vice-presidential pick. The SurveyUSA poll of Missouri was one partial exception, but as I mentioned, I don’t know that too much should be inferred from it. The national tracking polls also had some of their interviews conducted after the vice-presidential announcement, but they haven’t moved much. The race remained tied in the Gallup poll, and Mr. Romney’s lead increased to three points from two in the Rasmussen Reports tracker.
However, a few polls were released that were dedicated to Mr. Ryan specifically, and they offered mediocre numbers for the Republican ticket.
An ABC News/Washington Post poll, conducted after Mr. Romney’s announcement, found that 38 percent of Americans had a favorable view of Mr. Ryan, and 33 percent had an unfavorable one.
The good news for Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan is that those numbers were improved from polling that ABC News conducted just before the announcement, when 23 percent of adults had a favorable impression of Mr. Ryan and 33 percent an unfavorable one.
But that is countered by two pieces of bad news. First, Mr. Ryan’s numbers are middling to poor by the standard of other recent vice-presidential selections. And second, the period immediately after a vice-presidential announcement has often been a high-water mark for the new candidate. More often than not, the candidate’s unfavorable numbers increase more than his or her favorables from that point forward.
In the table below, I’ve provided average favorability ratings for recent vice-presidential selections, as compiled from the Web site PollingReport.com.
There are three sets of numbers in the chart. The left-hand columns show the candidate’s numbers before the vice-presidential announcement, based on an average of polls conducted at an earlier point during that election year. Unfortunately, we could only find data on pre-announcement polling for two candidates, Joe Biden in 2008 and John Edwards in 2004.
The middle columns reflect an average of surveys in the two weeks immediately after the running-mate announcement. Finally, the right-hand columns show an average of polls from October and November, just before the election.
The five candidates in the table — we don’t list numbers for Dick Cheney in 2004 since he was already a known commodity to voters — averaged a 45 percent favorable rating and a 19 percent unfavorable rating in the post-announcement period. Mr. Ryan’s numbers from the ABC News poll are not so good as compared to these: his favorable ratings are lower than any of the other five candidates, while his unfavorable numbers are higher.
By October and November, these candidates’ numbers had declined somewhat on balance. Their favorability rating increased just slightly, to 46 percent from 45 percent. But their unfavorables rose more, to 27 percent from 19 percent.
If, hypothetically, the change in Mr. Ryan’s numbers matched the historical pattern, that would give him a 40 percent favorable rating but a 41 percent unfavorable rating by Election Day. That would make his numbers similar to Sarah Palin’s numbers in late 2008. (Ms. Palin is sometimes remembered as having substantially negative favorability ratings in 2008, but they were actually close to break-even; her numbers did not consistently turn negative until after the election.)
But what about the improvement that the ABC News poll showed for Mr. Ryan? From what I can tell, this also seems to be a common feature of the immediate post-announcement period. Although we have only two data points for comparison, both Mr. Biden in 2008 and Mr. Edwards in 2004 also polled much better immediately after their rollout than they had earlier in those years.
In other words, the numbers during a candidate’s rollout seem to be better than those either before or after his or her honeymoon period.
I also looked up favorability numbers for vice-presidential candidates dating back to 1980 from the CBS News polling database. (Many CBS News polls were conducted in conjunction with The New York Times.) A word of caution: The favorability polls conducted by CBS News and The New York Times are a little bit different than those of other polling firms. The difference is that CBS News and The New York Times actively encourage respondents to say that they have an undecided view of a candidate, or don’t know enough about the candidate to have formulated an opinion. This tends to make both a candidate’s favorable and unfavorable ratings lower than in polls conducted by other news organizations. I personally like this approach — some other polling firms are asking voters for their opinions of candidates they know next to nothing about — but it does mean that the CBS News polls cannot always be compared directly to those of other polling firms.
Based on the CBS News methodology, candidates averaged a 29 percent favorable rating and an 11 percent unfavorable rating in the first poll conducted after they were announced as the vice-presidential candidate. The weakest numbers belonged to Dan Quayle in 1988, who started out with a 24 percent favorable rating against an unfavorable mark of 18 percent.
By the final CBS News/New York Times poll conducted just before the election, the candidates’ favorable ratings had risen to 37 percent on average. But their unfavorable ratings had risen more, to an average of 25 percent.
So we’re getting the same story as from the broader average of surveys: after an initial burst of enthusiasm for the candidate, more of the voters who begin to weigh in on him or her do so with negative views.
A USA Today/Gallup survey posed a slightly different question to voters, asking them what they thought of Mr. Romney’s choice of Mr. Ryan, rather than about Mr. Ryan directly. In that poll, 39 percent of voters rated the choice as “excellent” or “pretty good,” while 42 percent called it “fair” or “poor.”
These are underwhelming numbers by the standards of this particular question, which Gallup has asked periodically since 1988. The scores for Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan are a bit worse than those for John McCain and Mrs. Palin in 2008, and just slightly better than those for George H.W. Bush and Mr. Quayle in 1988 — two of the more poorly regarded vice-presidential choices of recent years.
Still, voter preferences on Mr. Ryan are not all that firm yet. Historically, the correlation between a candidate’s initial ratings and those he or she eventually winds up with has only been moderate. Mr. Edwards started out with quite strong favorability ratings when he was announced in 2004, for instance, but they were mediocre by Election Day. Hardly anyone initially had a view of Lloyd Bentsen in 1988, but he wound up being a reasonably well-regarded vice-presidential choice. The battle to define Mr. Ryan has only just begun.
Personally, however, I think the smart money is on Mr. Ryan’s polling remaining mediocre throughout this election cycle. He articulates his ideas well, but with a somewhat intellectual timbre that might appeal more to high-information voters than those who are less invested in politics and are more likely to be undecided in the race. And he has inherently something of a tough sell, since his policy preferences are reasonably far removed from those of the median voter. Mr. Ryan is also on the young side for a vice-presidential choice, and lacks foreign policy experience, so he may have more work to do than the average candidate in demonstrating his credentials.
Instead, this was a strategic choice by Mr. Romney: an effort to reorient the election toward battle of ideas rather than a personality contest. This was not a pick designed to win over focus groups.
It may be a smart strategy for Mr. Romney or a poor one. My reaction to it has become more tepid as I have read accounts of how the choice was made. The pick of Mr. Ryan seems to have been more a “gut-feel” decision than a data-driven one, and I think the evidence suggests that such a process is more likely to lead to mistakes under conditions of substantial uncertainty.
But whether it turns out well or poorly, we should not expect Mr. Ryan to accomplish something that the choice wasn’t designed for, any more than a team that drafts a speedy, slap-hitting center fielder should expect him to miraculously start hitting home runs. If Mr. Romney wanted the candidate with the maximal favorability rating 48 hours after his rollout, he could have gone in another direction with his pick.A Mi’kmaq senator says Cape Breton could follow the lead of a First Nation that transformed itself economically through self-sufficiency, and discuss separating from Nova Scotia.
Sen. Daniel Christmas said the Nova Scotia island is “dying” and he predicts depopulation and high unemployment rates will continue unless drastic action is taken.
Christmas said Cape Breton should start discussing its independence and could borrow from the self-reliant economic model he helped craft for Membertou First Nation two decades ago.
Membertou is just outside Sydney, Cape Breton’s largest community, and has become one of the most prosperous Indigenous communities in the country.
READ MORE: Cape Breton family’s Kijiji ad seeks home care assistant, offers rural lifestyle, gets huge response
“The question I wanted to ask is, would Cape Breton be better off as the 11th province of Canada, not only for Cape Breton, but also for Nova Scotia and Canada?” Christmas said in a phone interview from Ottawa on Tuesday.
“When I think of Cape Breton as a whole, I think of my own community some 20 years ago. We started relying on ourselves. We wanted to (change) the status quo, and it was dramatic and a lot of hard work … but I’ve been thinking Cape Breton needs to do the same thing.”
Christmas – named to the Senate last fall by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – first made the proposal last Thursday during the inaugural Father Greg MacLeod lecture at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre.
He conceded the proposal is a complex one, and examining it will take some time – but said the purpose of his speech was merely to inspire the discussion.
WATCH: Youth mental health expert unveils findings after spate of suicides in Cape Breton
Christmas cited bleak statistics, including that Cape Breton’s population has declined by nearly 30,000 since 1991. About 132,000 people lived on the island in 2016.
“What I was trying to do was to inspire people to think different,” said Christmas.
“Maybe if we took care of ourselves – if we relied on just ourselves – perhaps these numbers can turn around.”
Christmas was instrumental in the development of Membertou, which during the late 1990s was on the brink of bankruptcy and grappling with a 95-per-cent unemployment rate.
He and other leaders revamped the First Nation, now a thriving community of roughly 1,400 people with its own schools, daycares, convention centre, market and ice rink.
In 1995, Membertou had 37 employees and a $4-million budget with a $1-million deficit, the band’s website said. Its workforce has grown to about 550 during peak seasons and its operating budget is around $112 million, it said.
In his lecture, Christmas said that while Membertou is succeeding, the rest of the island languishes.
“The hard and fundamentally tragic reality is that Cape Breton is dying,” Christmas said in a written copy of his speech provided to The Canadian Press. “We are slowly bleeding to death.”
READ MORE: Cape Breton police investigating after smoke canister set off inside Walmart
Christmas asked: “Is it now time for us to take full political responsibility for ourselves as an island, and take complete charge of our own future? Is it time to think about Cape Breton Island, once again, becoming its own political body or its own province within Canada?”
Cape Breton has been independent in the past, including |
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Honda Integra Type-R general characteristics First registration (year/month) 1996 / N/A Grade Type-R Engine type B18C Transmission Manual Fuel Petrol Capacity 4 passengers Color WHITE Chassis No: E-DC2-1 Manufacture date (year/month) 1996/N/A Type E-DC2 Dispalcement 1800 cc Turbo No Drive 2WD Steering Wheel Right Mileage 99000 km / 61516 miles Vehicle Type coupe Condition And Damage of Honda Integra JP Rating N/A Driving Condition drivable Damage used Repaired no Condition used Engine Start start Interior Condition B Location, Registration and Inspection of Honda Integra Location: Nagoya, De-Registration Certificate available, Syaken Inspection N/A Options of Honda Integra Type-R CD, Power Windows, Power Steering, Cassette/Radio Honda Integra Air Bags Driver N/A Side Passenger N/A Seat Driver N/A Pillar N/A Passenger N/A Roof N/A Seat Passenger N/A HISTORY OF CAR
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Why japanese used cars? Show me all used cars on stock today Buying used cars from JapanNovember 14, 2015
On Friday the 13th, Paris, the City of Light, was plunged into darkness and fear.
At least eight young jihadists, allegedly from the so-called Islamic State group, attacked the national sports stadium, where President Francois Hollande was attending a soccer match with Germany’s foreign minister. They also attacked outdoor cafes, a pizzeria and a rock club.
As of this writing, 127 civilians were killed and dozens wounded. All of the attackers are believed to have died. For the second time this year, Paris is terror-struck and shaken to its foundation. Pope Francis aptly described the attacks as “homicidal madness.”
What was Islamic State’s objective in attacking all these improbable soft targets? Madness is not a sufficient motive. Clearly, Islamic State’s 20-somethings were bombing and shooting up targets that youngsters frequented, like a pizzeria or Friday night heavy metal concert. Their objective: to kill as many people as possible in a pure revenge attack.
Islamic State (IS), a collection of young hooligans, misguided idealists, and bitter riff-raff, have warned the West, “we will make you feel what we have felt.” They adopted this slogan from the Chechen independence fighters who resorted to attacks on Russian civilians after Russian forces killed an estimated 100,000 of their people in the 1990’s.
Now, it’s Europe’s turn to feel some of the horrors of the wars in the Mideast.
France is a prime target because of its extensive and deepening military interventions in the Muslim world. Some 10,000 French soldiers or airmen and large numbers of intelligence operatives are involved in Syria, Iraq, the Gulf, Libya, Chad, Mali and Ivory Coast. France props up the authoritarian rulers of Algeria and Morocco
France is playing a central role in its former colonies, Syria and Lebanon. Paris appears to have long-range plans for expanding its influence in the Levant, including installing regimes attuned to French policies.
French warplanes are bombing Syria and this writer believes French special forces have been in combat in Syria, as they were in Libya when the western powers combined to overthrow the Khadaffi government.
In short, France has made many enemies for itself across the Mideast. It appears only a matter of time before France’s partners in Mideast intervention, the United States and Britain, become new targets of jihadist violence.
As the Bible says, “nothing new under the sun.” What the 20-something jihadists of IS are doing is trying to replicate the terror caused by the fabled, 12th century AD Sheik al-Jebel. Operating from his aerie of Alamut, high in Syria’s mountains, the sheik dispatched teams of hashish-crazed assassins with poisoned daggers to intimidate all of the Mideast’s rulers, Muslim and Crusaders alike.
The murderous Ismaili cult quickly came to be known as “hashishin,” or “assassins,” the origin of our term. The assassins terrorized the entire Mideast, shaking down its rulers for great amounts of gold. One never knew when or where they would strike. Their first warnings were often pinned to the pillows of intended targets as happened to the famed Saladin. The assassin teams would strike with poisoned daggers, then die under torture laughing and calling out to god.
Finally, the great Egyptian Mameluke sultan Baibars and the invading Mongols put paid to the assassins. The survivors fled east and today peacefully live in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley under the Agha Khan.
The modern reincarnation of the assassins struck Paris on Friday night. Alarmingly, one or more may have entered Europe as a Syrian refugee. Rightists in Europe are already calling for internment camps for Muslims, though they had nothing whatsoever to do with IS’s teenage lunatics. In fact, IS has put Muslims everywhere in peril as well as besmirching the name of Islam. Europe may seize the Paris attacks as an excuse to bar any further refugees.
30
copyright Eric S. Margolis 2015
This post is in: France, ISISHe befriended their dean, Allen Ginsberg, to whom, in the puckish spirit of the times, he had written a letter on toilet paper reading, “Are you for real?” (“I’m for real, but I’m tired of being Allen Ginsberg,” came the reply, on what, its recipient would note with amusement, was “a better piece of toilet paper.”)
In 1958 LeRoi Jones married a colleague, Hettie Cohen. Together they founded a literary magazine, Yugen, which published his work and that of Mr. Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and Jack Kerouac. With the poet Diane di Prima, he established and edited another literary magazine, The Floating Bear.
He also started a small publishing company, Totem Press, which in 1961 issued his first collection of verse, “Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note.” In the volume’s title poem, he wrote:
Nobody sings anymore.
And then last night, I tiptoed up
To my daughter’s room and heard her
Talking to someone, and when I opened
The door, there was no one there...
Only she on her knees, peeking into
Her own clasped hands.
His early poems were praised for their lyricism and for the immediacy of their language — throughout his career, he said, he wrote as much for the ear as for the eye.
Mr. Jones considered himself a largely apolitical writer at first: Like that of many Beats, his poetry was concerned more with introspection. But he was radicalized by traveling to Cuba in 1960, the year after Fidel Castro came to power, to attend an international conference featuring writers from an array of third world countries.
As a result, he later said, he came to believe that art and politics should be indissolubly linked.
His political awakening was soon manifest in his work. His first major book, “Blues People,” published in 1963, placed black music, from blues to free jazz, in a wider sociohistorical context.Bayern Munch winger Arjen Robben hopes he can strike up a partnership with Wolfsburg's in-form Bas Dost for Netherlands.
Robben and Dost have both set their sights on this season's Bundesliga top-scorer prize -- the Torjagerkanone -- with the former having scored 16 goals and the latter hitting 11.
Dost's nine goals in his last five games have brought him to the attention of Netherlands coach Guus Hiddink, with the striker saying earlier this week that an international call-up would be "a dream."
"I am delighted that he's on a roll," Robben told Sky. "He deserves it, and he is a good lad. Maybe we can soon score goals together in the national team."
Bas Dos has scored nine goals in his last five games for Wolfsburg.
Hiddink could choose to call up Dost for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Turkey on March 28. The Wolfsburg attacker has previously only made a preliminary 32-man squad under Louis van Gaal ahead of a match against Belgium in August 2012.
Robben, meanwhile, also praised his Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, saying that the Spaniard is still helping him improve as a player despite being 31 years old.
"Normally, you'd think that things start going downhill once you are 30," Robben said. "But I have the feeling that I am still learning. Pep Guardiola made me better once again."by Martin and Marcia
The Pierce letter, loaned to me by a collector of postal history, stimulated my curiosity. The collector handed me the letter and told me what he knew. I’m embarrassed to admit, my knowledge of Reconstruction was almost non-existent. His was more extensive, but he knew nothing of the people in the letter except what he was able to surmise. The collector figured they were carpetbaggers from the north who were getting their just desserts. While he admired Lizzie’s spunk (Burn away! I’ll dance on the ashes…), he thought that it was a delicious irony that while she got the candidate she wanted – Hayes – Reconstruction was ended anyway. He told me of the compromise of 1877 and the role that Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar played – and that he was from Mississippi. At the time, neither he nor I could make any connection between the Pierce’s and L.Q.C. Lamar. So, I decided to focus my efforts on Pierce.
I wondered who was “Mr. Pierce,” and what happened to him and Lizzie after the election? There had to be a way to find out.
The first step I took was to see if I could find anything about the newspaper fires in Oxford that Lizzie wrote about. This was a dead end. It seemed that the non-Republican papers didn’t find it newsworthy! (In 1981 the collector had called Oxford to see if there were any records of the Pierces. He was told that they didn’t keep records of “those people.”)
I went back to the letter. I read where Lizzie said that Mr. Pierce was in Washington testifying. She wrote the letter in January of 1877. I wondered if perhaps there would be a record of Pierce in the Congressional Record. I was pleased to discover that Google has scanned it in. However, searching for the name Pierce in 1877 didn’t turn anything up. I reread the letter again and noted that Lizzie alluded to Mr. Pierce as being part of “the Party”. I wondered if maybe there was some other kind of record, perhaps of the Republican party, and broadened my search. There in the Google results was a reference to a J.H. Pierce in something called “House documents, otherwise publ. as Executive documents: 13th congress.” This looked promising, upon inspection the second result was pretty definitive:
This had to be Mr. Pierce! The letter to Alphonso Taft reported exactly what Lizzie had written in her letter. Lizzie had referred to “Mr. Pierce” going to Memphis to get information about the election. Both letters also refer to the plot to do him bodily harm. Pierce was a United States Marshall in charge of law enforcement in the Mississippi district. (No wonder Lizzie said he could take care of himself.)
I kept digging to find out what might have become of J.H. Pierce and hoping to find a first name. Now, armed with more information than a last name, I was able to search for U.S. Marshal J.H. Pierce.
As it turned out, there were quite a few references. Mr. Pierce popped up in a book about Mississippi history, The Historical Roots of Yoknapatawpha by Don Harrison Doyle. There really was a connection between Pierce and Lamar! The book recounts a memorable exchange between U.S. Marshal James H. Pierce and L.Q.C Lamar during the 1871 Oxford Klan trial in which Lamar was the defense attorney.
The Oxford Klan Trial Republican victory and political denomination only heightened the tension and violence in Lafayette County and across Mississippi. Northern Mississippi became notorious for white terrorism, which had become so pervasive that it seemed beyond the power of state law enforcement to quell. Congress passed the Klu Klux Klan Act in 1871 making violations of civil rights a federal crime. Gideon Wiley Wells, United States District Attorney for northern Mississippi, set out to vigorously prosecute and convict whites under the powers of the new act. The first case to be brought to trial under the new act opened in Oxford in June 1871, with L.Q.C. Lamar, former champion of secession, serving as lawyer for the defense of the accused Klansmen. The Klan trial was under way in the U.S. Federal district court’s temporary quarters in Oxford when Lamar caused a terrific stir in the courtroom one afternoon. He stood and claimed that a man in the courtroom had been stalking and threatening him. Judge Robert Hill ordered Lamar to sit down and be silent, but Lamar continued to speak and when a court deputy came toward him, Lamar picked up a chair and threatened to hit the deputy. Judge Hill grabbed the chair, and when U.S. Marshal James Pierce approached Lamar to calm him down, Lamar struck Pierce in the face, giving him “a pretty hard lick with his fist.” The blow knocked Pierce down and fractured his cheekbone. Lamar defied the court to arrest and imprison him. People in the courtroom, including a crowd of University of Mississippi students, began to applaud Lamar. One report said the Klansmen on trial stood and cheered, stamped their feet, and let out rebel yells in uproarious approval of Lamar’s defiance. District Attorney Wells ordered one of the disorderly students arrested, but the student “did not move” and appeared as though “he intended to fight… nobody attempted to arrest him.” U. S. soldiers guarding the prisoners drew their guns. Someone went to call more soldiers. One raised his rifle, and one observer said he “thought [the soldier] probably would shoot … Everybody got still.”
As this was the first and most significant application of the new act, Congress got a full report and a transcript of the trial. The picture of three Klansmen is included in the committee’s report.
In the transcript, several conflicting versions of this event are given. ( It makes interesting reading – click on the text above for more information.) And lo and behold – the same Lamar that gave Mr. Pierce “a pretty hard lick” was involved in the compromise that resulted in Hayes becoming president. Ironically, Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, was also a resident of Oxford, Mississippi.
Mississippi History Now has this to say about L.Q.C. Lamar’s role in the compromise:
Lamar’s talent for reconciliation and compromise played a pivotal role in the controversial presidential election of 1876. The Democrat, Samuel Tilden, lost to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes despite having more popular votes and seemingly more votes in the Electoral College. Mississippi voted overwhelmingly for the Democrat Tilden. To resolve the dispute, Congressman Lamar, who would soon be Senator Lamar, helped set up a nonpartisan Election Commission, which chose Hayes as president. Behind the scenes, Lamar was very involved in the bargaining and won many concessions for the South in exchange for supporting the Commission’s conclusions. Many Southerners were outraged that the election had in their eyes been stolen from the Democrat Tilden. They were more outraged that Lamar was involved in the deal. He faced a storm of opposition because most voters in Mississippi thought that a Hayes election would mean four more years of hardship and reconstruction. In hindsight, Lamar’s negotiating helped bring an end to Reconstruction under President Hayes’ administration.
This was of course, after he punched our very own Mr. Pierce in the face! (He didn’t seem inclined to compromise then.) In Doyle’s book we also find that Marshal Pierce was more than a U.S. Marshal and part owner of an Oxford newspaper (as Lizzie alludes to in her letter).
In 1872, Republican leader James Pierce led a group of some 400 black voters, four abreast, down North Street about noon, going toward the courthouse polls. On the square, a group of Democrats lined up a cannon, pretended to load it with cut up chain, and fired into the crowd of Republicans. Though it was actually, a blank charge, it had the desired effect of frightening the black voters into a hasty retreat. 88
This is probably the same canon that Lizzie described in her letter as having blown up.
Marshal Pierce was still hoping for a “fair election” in September of 1876 — If he got some troops to help him enforce it.
Attorney-General Alphonso Taft was the father of William Howard Taft, the 27th president of the United States. Pierce’s request was evidently denied.
The last thing that I found was a reference1 to a series of letters pertaining to the resignation of Mr. Pierce which he exchanged with Attorney General Charles Devens in the summer of 1877. Most of my questions were thus answered except the last one, what happened to Lizzie and James H. Pierce after the election. We can assume his resignation was due to the political changes taking place in Washington. It is also probably reasonable to assume that the Pierces returned to New York and a more hospitable environment.
Perhaps some reader will take up the search.
1Letters Received by the Attorney General, 1871–1884
88The reference in the book notes that this is not substantiated because Republican newspapers in town were burned down!Despite their reputation as being expensive, Apple's Mac computers are saving partner IBM a boatload of money -- hundreds of dollars per Mac. The reason? Fewer service calls, IBM says.
IBM may have been the stalwart of personal computing for decades, but its employees love the Mac. After letting its workforce choose between a PC or a Mac starting in 2014, many chose the Mac. Now, with nearly 90,000 Macs in use, IBM says it’s actually saving money.
How so, with Macs priced at a premium to their Windows counterparts? It comes in savings over time, Fletcher Previn, IBM vice president of workplace as a service, told attendees at the Jamf User Conference on Wednesday in Minneapolis.
Previn says the savings even come as IBM is getting the best pricing it ever has from Microsoft. Over their usable life, Macs in the company’s deployment require less technical support or repair. Windows PCs were on average driving twice the amount of support calls, but at three times the cost, he commented.
Related: IBM and Apple launch Watson element for educators
In dollars, this amounts to anywhere between a $273 to $543 savings per unit over their projected four-year lifespan. The success has even prompted IBM to purchase even more Macs, and by the end of 2016 it expects to have over 100,000 Macs in service, Previn noted. Furthermore, all these Macs are only being supported by seven administrators.
Also notable was a marked increase in employee engagement in their jobs, improving workplace efficiency and thus making IBM more money. “The shortest distance to engaging employees is by what’s in their hand or what’s on their desk,” he said. “Every Mac we buy is in fact continuing to make and save IBM money.”
For a company like Apple a big corporate get like IBM is a rather significant victory. While Macs are certainly becoming more commonplace among consumers, business generally has preferred the Windows PC. That seems to be changing, and the two-year-old deal with IBM is one of the Cupertino, California, company’s bigger moves into the corporate world.When I am off by a mile in my valuations I try hard to look for a reason. An anomoly. A misrepresentation in the sale price.
So I went to it yesterday when it was reported that Leslie Alexander was selling the Houston Rockets to Tilman Fertitta for a record-breaking $2.2 billion, 33% more than we valued the team in January. Not a source was spared.
Moreover, how could Fertitta close the deal without an end-run of the NBA's $250 million debt limit?
Turns out the true enterprise value is indeed $2.2 billion: $1.75 billion cash; $175 million of assumed debt; $275 million in seller financing (a personal note from Alexander), according to sources familiar with the deal. The personal loan from Alexander does not count as team debt.
Alas, my valuation was off by one-third.
The broader picture here is that big-market teams like the Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers will sell for around eight times projected revenue, while smaller market teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlatna Hawks will sell for about five times comparable revenue.
Here's my interview on CNBC about the proposed sale, which still must be approved by the NBA:
Billion dollar buy: Tilman Fertitta buys Houston Rockets from CNBC.
Yesterday, as news broke on the sale of the Rockets, the stock market fell almost 1%. But shares of Madison Square Garden, which owns New York's Knicks and Rangers, rose 7%.
This is good news for the Brooklyn Nets, likely to be the next NBA team sold. The Nets recently got approval from an NBA committee to separate the team from the arena operating company, giving owner Mikhail Prokhorov the ability to sell the Nets and operating rights to the Barclays Center together or sell just the team.
As for me, it's back to the drawing board.A State Department spokeswoman dodged questions Monday about whether the discussion of Shahram Amiri, an Iranian scientist who was executed by the Iranian government for working with the U.S., in a pair of Hillary Clinton's private emails may have played a role in his recent fate.
"We're not going to comment on what may have led to this event," said Elizabeth Trudeau, a State Department spokeswoman.
"I couldn't speak to Iranian judicial procedures related to this specific case," Trudeau said. "We've made our concerns known writ large around Iranian due process."
She noted the State Department had been "very public about this case when [Amiri] chose to return to Iran," pointing to a press conference Clinton gave in July 2010.
In those remarks, Clinton compared Amiri's ability to leave the U.S. on "his own free will" with Iran's decision "to hold three young Americans against their will." She did not reference the scientist's work with the U.S. government.
But emails made public in August show State Department aides referring to Amiri as "our friend." An Iranian official was quoted attributing Amiri's execution to his collusion with the "Great Satan," America.I'm sure that Princess Cadance's magic is absolutely wonderful to the show's target audience.But I'm an old curmudgeon, so when I saw that she cantwo ponies fall in love, I called "brainwashing!" Then again, this is Equestria; where disagreeing too much causes winter spirits to descend and freeze everybody. Kinda puts things in perspective.Truth be told, I wanted to make a Men in Black joke in honor of the new movie (which I have not yet seen). This is the end result.I'm still no good with weather, so the clouds come provided by and The Unicorn magic tutorial was generously provided by And mustn't forget, whose Canterlot Castle set part of the background.UPDATE: Now featured on Equestria Daily! Once again I owe a lot of thanks to those who have or will favorite this piece and taken the time to comment. I've been watching the activity level shoot up in less than ten minutes, and again I am floored by Bronydom's connectivity.And I appreciate hearing everyone's thoughts on Cadance and her magic. I have nothing against the character, but it is interesting to hear the differing views.Putin Says All Encryption Must Be Backdoored In Two Weeks
from the make-it-snappy dept
After signing controversial anti-terrorist legislation earlier today, President Putin ordered the Federal Security Service (the FSB, the post-Soviet successor to the KGB) to produce encryption keys to decrypt all data on the Internet. According to the executive order, the FSB has two weeks to do it. Responsibility for carrying out Putin's instructions falls on Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the FSB.
A few weeks ago, we wrote about the push by the Russian Duma to pass a massive new surveillance bill that would mandate backdoors to encryption as well as massive data retention requirements for service providers, including saying that they need to store recordings of phone calls. As you may have heard, earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the bill into law. And apparently to prove that he's serious about all of this, Putin has also signed an executive order telling the FSB (the modern version of the KGB) to make sure it gets encryption keys to unlock everything within the next two weeks As the article notes, there's a lot of uncertainty here, because in many cases, when things are encrypted locally or where there are private keys, there isn't any way for service providers to turn over any keys.What happens next is a little unclear. But it seems likely that the Russian government will use this to attack certain encrypted communications services, and potentially block and/or fine them for failing to comply with the new law. There has been a lot of talk about how Ed Snowden has been speaking out against this law, as he should. Considering that he uses a number of different encryption systems to communicate with the world, this law puts him very directly in danger. But it also puts lots of other people at risk as well. As we've been pointing out for a while, encryption does much more to protect everyday citizens than it does to hide the communications of "terrorists." Undermining that puts a lot more people at risk of people hacking into their stuff than being a victim of a terrorist attack.
Filed Under: backdoors, data retention, ed snowden, encryption, fsb, mass surveillance, russia, surveillance, vladimir putinJohn Terry has admitted Chelsea's players are culpable for the team's toils this season and need to "hold their hands up" over André Villas-Boas's sacking as the club's manager only eight months into a three-year contract.
The captain is in contention to feature in Saturday's visit of Stoke City having returned a month ahead of schedule from exploratory surgery on his knee, and was an unused substitute as the interim first-team coach, Roberto Di Matteo, oversaw Tuesday's FA Cup fifth-round replay victory at Birmingham City.
While some senior players had become disgruntled under Villas-Boas, Terry was broadly supportive of the manager, who had consistently backed the defender after he was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence following an altercation with Anton Ferdinand at QPR in October.
A sequence of three wins in 12 Premier League matches, culminating in last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, has seen Chelsea drop out of the top four and prompted Roman Abramovich, much to his own frustration, to sack Villas-Boas in person during a visit to the training ground on Sunday. "It's sad for André because, unfortunately, it falls on his head when I think the players will hold their hands up and say clearly: 'We've not been good enough and we have all made mistakes together,'" Terry said.
"We came to Birmingham and dug deep for him, and for Robbie [Di Matteo] taking charge and for Eddie [Newton] coming in as well [on to the coaching staff]. It's nice to have familiar faces around who know the club. We have done enough talking among ourselves for the last three or four months, and Robbie came in and said those exact same things as well, we have to show commitment for the shirt. He has played here, the same as Eddie, and we have to fight for the shirt and that has been the message to the lads for this game."
Di Matteo is expected to take charge of the first team until the end of the season, when a long-term successor for Villas-Boas will be appointed. Chelsea's hierarchy is deliberating over potential candidates.
Rafael Benítez is unlikely to be considered, particularly given the negative reaction by the club's supporters at St Andrew's to the Spaniard's interest in the position, though José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola – potentially optimistic targets – will be sounded out. The need to qualify for the Champions League next season remains paramount and has been prioritised within the club, not least by Di Matteo in terms of team selection.
Terry will hope to prove his fitness against Stoke before next week's second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Napoli, which Chelsea trail 3-1 from the first game at the Stadio San Paolo. The captain has not played since the fourth-round FA Cup victory at QPR in late January. "Once I had the operation, I was literally jogging about after two days, which was incredible," he added. "I said to the physios, the way things were here, I just wanted to push myself and be involved and try to get back as quickly as possible.
"I've done that, worked really hard in the gym, been on triple sessions going back late in the evening on my own as well – which has been tough. The target for myself was always to get back and hopefully be back for the Stoke game, so this is a massive boost for me."Share Pin 60 Shares
By David Pendered
Pedestrians and bicyclists heading to and from the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail near Ponce City Market are to have their pathway illuminated by a lighting project the Atlanta City Council is slated to approve Tuesday.
The project is part of the ongoing effort to retool Ponce de Leon Avenue into a Complete Street, one where walkers and cyclists have more equal footing with motorized vehicles.
The lead sponsor of the legislation is Councilmember Keisha Lance Bottoms, who serves a district in southwest Atlanta and who has announced plans to run for mayor. The second sponsor is Councilmember Kwanza Hall, who represents the area.
Plans call for the Georgia Department of Transportation to use federal funds to purchase and install the lighting system. Atlanta is to be responsible for paying for the energy to illuminate the lights and to maintain and operate the system. Terms call for a 50-year agreement.
The bicycle/pedestrian facility lighting project is to flank Ponce de Leon Avenue. The boundaries are the intersection with Boulevard/Monroe drives, and the stretch of Freedom Parkway that deadends into Ponce de Leon Avenue, according to legislation pending before the council.
The entire project stretches about 3,000 feet, based on GDOT’s maps. The Eastside Trail is located in about the middle of the project.
The pending legislation is slated to be approved without discussion. It’s included in a package of legislation that is eligible for approval by a single vote because it received unanimous approval by members of a council committee, in this case, the council’s Transportation Committee.
The city’s legislation does not outline what sort of illumination system is to be installed. The legislation does not address if the lighting is to be pointed toward the ground, to reduce light pollution. Nor does the legislation indicate if the lighting is to be brighter in nature, more intended to increase a sense of security by reducing hiding places for those who may lay in wait to assault passersby.
The legislation does not outline anticipated costs to power, maintain and operate the lighting system. Those costs were marked as “not applicable” in the pending legislation.
Those details likely are to be outline in whatever request for proposals the city chooses to release, probably later this year.
That said, the concept of the illumination system stemmed from a grant provided by the Atlanta Regional Commission, according to the legislation. The ARC provided a Livable Centers Initiative grant that the BeltLine is using to design pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Information about uses and results of the actual grant was not immediately available on New Year’s Day on the ARC’s LCI website.
According to the latest report on the project by the BeltLine, dated four years ago, in February 2013, details of the project along Ponce de Leon Avenue include:
“Project Scope: The proposed road section (to be partially implemented as part of milling project) includes:
Four vehicular travel lanes;
One two-way left turn lane;
Sidewalks that are ADA compliant and minor pedestrian obstruction from above ground utility poles;
Enhanced bus shelters within the project limits;
Planting strip within the project limits and installation of lighting as necessary;
Buffered bicycle lanes, vertical connections to the Atlanta BeltLine, and limited sidewalk improvements and resetting of curbs as necessary (currently anticipated under the Atlanta BeltLine Ponce Overpass).Share
The story goes that no two fingerprints are exactly alike, which makes them an excellent method for authentication. However, as researchers at New York University and Michigan State University have recently found, they’re hardly foolproof.
The team has developed a set of fake fingerprints that are digital composites of common features found in many people’s fingerprints. Through computer simulations, they were able to achieve matches 65 percent of the time, though they estimate the scheme would be less successful in real life, on an actual phone.
Nasir Memon, a computer science and engineering professor at New York University, explained the value of the study to The New York Times. Modern smartphones, tablets, and other computing devices that utilize biometric authentication typically only take a snapshots of sections of a user’s finger, to compose a model of one fingerprint. But the chances of faking your way into someone else’s phone are much higher if there are multiple fingerprints recorded on that device.
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’ve seen many shows stream on around 12 services in one season; even a very niche project like Flip Flappers streamed on 18 different services last season, while a bigger deal like Yuri!!! On ICE was available on 21 streaming services in Japan alone. The biggest company that’s influenced this trend over the past year was Abema TV. It’s a free service that works similar to a TV channel with a few commercials during playback. We’re seeing a lot of new series stream weekly on it (or with marathons to catch people up). Some reports from certain producers (like at Pony Canyon and Warner Brothers) have the financials from streaming catching up to home video sales, but it’s not reached that level of revenue yet across the board. Despite that, Aniplex launched their own Viewcast streaming service that allows consumers to stream titles while on the go for titles they’ve bought the home video release of, like Kizumonogatari or The Anthem of the Heart; not only watch the titles themselves, but also have digital access to the extras such as production materials in digital form. This is another sector to watch in the future as consumers and businesses begin to focus on streams rather than rentals and eventually home video sales.
Mobile applications
One avenue that has had a lot of work carried out is mobile apps. In addition to things like Aniplex’s Koyomimonogatari (calendar story/Koyomi story) app and now Sword Art Online app, we’re seeing mobile developers on many committees now like i0plus, who served on Girlish Number’s, Izetta’s and Tawawa on Monday’s committee just this past season. This comes off a huge audience from Love Live using their game app. While I can’t speak to the financials of this as they’re not revealed, it’s definitely an area to watch for in the years to come.
Home Video Releases
Finally, I’ll address the home video situation. While the numbers that are published weekly by Oricon are simply estimates of what was sold that week, it’s important to look at them as a trend. Unfortunately, that trend isn’t doing so well and it reflected in the fiscal 2015 numbers. 2016 was even worse outside of some very popular series. A lot of the titles that sold were bought primarily by women, and as a result, we’ve seen many more titles that were made with that audience in mind – though of course, intended demographics are always a relative concept, and all companies would like everyone to buy their product. Similarly, many publishers have started to move to a model of fewer volumes and more episodes per volume. Aniplex, Kadokawa Shoten, Media Factory, and Bandai Visual have released titles with anywhere from 4-6 episodes on a volume in 2-3 volume releases instead of 6 volumes with 2 episodes apiece on them. The prices are equivalent per episode for both, but it’s fewer releases for the consumer. It’s not as if physical latenight anime releases are getting cheaper (contrary to western opinion, this has already been attempted to unsatisfactory results) but the delivery might change. This method is something to keep an eye on next year. Will it continue or will they go back to singles for everything again?
While disc sales are not the end-all-be-all that some people think, they do contribute a lot of revenue to a project. This decrease in the revenue from this source is not a good sign. The market is shifting, so we’ll have to see what other avenues pick up the slack. More movies? More focus on streaming? More focus on international rights? More merch? Only time will tell.
Increasing Number of TV Anime
One consequence of this shifting market away from home video releases as the main source of income for late night shows has been in the sheer number of productions pushed out this year. We’ve seen many more productions fall behind this year compared to normal due to rushed scheduling by producers leading to subpar broadcast products. The obvious recently examples are Actas’s productions and Brave Witches, all of which have had episodes delayed due to how far behind schedule they got. Obviously, this isn’t healthy for the market and I expect we’ll see a contraction in the number of productions either next year or the year after as it shifts to regain some stability (perhaps with films since they’re shorter to produce). Otherwise, we’ll see a lot more stressed production managers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we’ve seen the continuation of market shifts in 2016 from last year. It’s an exciting time to watch how the finances of each production have shifted in response to things like declining home video sales/rental sales and towards streaming. Looking at the committees this year, I continued to see a lot of diversity in production financing (meaning a lot of companies on various shows like Flip Flappers and Yuri!!! On ICE), which is minimizes damage. Splitting the risk of a show over multiple companies means that a loss wouldn’t affect one as badly as it would with a smaller committee. Will we see that next year? Again, we’ll have to wait and see. Overall, things are still looking good for the future of anime. The companies involved in financing productions are finding ways to earn their money back, and more shows do indicate a lot of support somewhere. While there are some worrying points (are we past the amount that can be done at the same time?), I’m much more hopeful after seeing the rise of international rights money this year compared to last year.
Have a safe and Happy New Year to you all!
Sources:
Support us on Patreon so that we can keep producing all this content and fullfill our next goals, as well as affording all server expenses. Thanks!A Republican-dominated Senate with McConnell as majority leader could spell serious trouble for reproductive rights.
Sen. McConnell delivering his victory speech after the 2014 midterm election in Kansas.
C-SPAN
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is projected to hold his seat in Kentucky, handily defeating upstart Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.
In a surprising result given the closeness of the race leading up to Election Day, major networks and the Associated Press called the race for McConnell just minutes after the final polls in western Kentucky closed.
McConnell, the current minority leader, is likely to move up to the majority leader position if Republicans gain enough seats on Tuesday to take over the U.S. Senate.
A Republican-controlled Senate with McConnell as majority leader could spell serious trouble for reproductive rights.
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McConnell has been vocal in his support for a national 20-week abortion ban, which he is likely to try to bring to the floor for a vote.
Democrats would probably filibuster such a bill, and President Obama would almost certainly veto it. But McConnell could bring it up multiple times to try to draw media attention and move the needle on public opinion, or he could even insert it into a must-pass, simple-majority budget bill.
“If you look at the Republican record in the House, we can expect that Senate Republicans will try to throw poison pills of all kinds into appropriations bills,” a senior Democratic leadership aide told Rewire last week. “If they take this course, they’d be setting up the possibility of yet another Republican government shutdown.”
Grimes ran a fierce campaign against McConnell that was close in the polls until the end. After initially giving up on Grimes, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) saw the polls swinging back in her favor and decided to go back on the air with ads supporting her.
Many observers thought Grimes had a chance to pull off the biggest upset in recent political memory by unseating the long-serving party leader just as Republicans seemed poised to take control of the Senate.Gov. Larry Hogan swiftly vetoed a transportation scoring bill he labeled “the worst kind of policy” Friday morning, ensuring a veto override fight in the legislature.
Moments after the bill arrived on his desk, Hogan issued a prepared, three-page veto letter that said the bill “miserably fails” his “simple test” of whether a new law makes it easier for families and small businesses to stay in, or move to, Maryland.
Calling the legislation “regrettable,” Hogan wrote that the bill “has the potential to once again put Maryland roads and highways on a path of neglect and underinvestment. I would be defaulting on my vow to Marylanders if I did not make every effort to resist passage of this bill.”
Democrats leading the General Assembly put the transportation scoring bill on a fast track, presenting it to Hogan Friday morning so that they would be assured enough time to override his veto before the annual 90-day legislative session ends April 11.
The bill would require the state's transportation department to create a ranking system for the its $15.7 billion in planned construction projects. It would establish nine goals the government must use to rate each project, but allow the administration to determine how to weight the criteria.
The administration would not be required to select the top-ranked projects, but it would be required to offer a public explanation when it does not.
Democrats, who hold super-majorities in the House of Delegates and state Senate, say the bill is about transparency.
Hogan and the Republicans in the legislature see the bill, and a few others nearing passage, as a power grab to strip decision-making from the governor's office.
“In the context of numerous bills considered this session to erode the long-established powers of Maryland's Executive Branch, House Bill 2013 infringes upon the Maryland Department of Transportation authority for identifying priorities in local jurisdictions throughout the State,” Hogan wrote.
“Put simply, this bill is just bad public policy.”
The governor said the bill's language is vague and would require the administration to equally weigh safety concerns with whether a project increases access to mass transit.
“I don’t buy that,” said Sen. Ed DeGrange, the bill’s Senate sponsor and chairman of that chamber’s transportation subcommittee. “It’s up to the department to set the weighting factors.”
On page 14, the bill says it the Maryland Department of Transportation shall “develop the weighting metrics for each goal and measure established.”
In his letter, Hogan said the legislation was developed “without meaningful input” from the Department of Transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn testified at hearings about the bill, but the governor wrote that it “was constructed in a secretive and haphazard manner with enormous input from political pressure groups but with no real thought.”
He also was critical of a part of the bill that requires the scoring system to take into account how many people would be affected by a transportation project. The governor said it would unfairly direct most of the state's money toward projects in Montgomery County, one of the state’s most populous jurisdictions.
The governor also said the public ranking system creates an incentive for jurisdictions to ask for every project they want, not just their top priorities.
Baltimore Sun reporter Michael Dresser contributed to this article.
ecox@baltsun.com
twitter.com/ErinatTheSunWhy do we procrastinate and how to stop procrastinating
By Somali K Chakrabarti
Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill. ~ Christopher Parker
Procrastination is too familiar a tendency that we all give in to at some point or the other. If you think of those several occasions when you waited till the last moment to do your work, it won’t take much for you to realize that procrastination is more of a behavioral problem than a time management issue. There would be instances when:
You managed to complete your assignment just at the nick of time.
You were so lost in surfing the net that you ended up doing a report past its deadline.
You did not pay up the bill till the last moment and then paid the fine for it.
You did not leave on time and turned up 15 minutes late for the urgent meeting.
Mostly you would be aware of what you should be doing and when, and yet you simply can’t get yourself to do certain tasks. As you postpone your work and leave it for the last second, many things that were not so pressing before, suddenly become urgent and call for your attention.
Why do people procrastinate?
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Understanding the science of procrastination may help you to devise your own mechanism for fighting with procrastination.
The emotional reaction of our brain usually precedes reasoning. When our brain perceives a pleasant experience, it produces a hormone called dopamine; similarly the moment it senses anxiety and stress, the hormone noradrenaline is secreted in response to stress.
The secretion of these hormones in the brain sets out an emotional response in a much shorter time than it takes the brain to think with logic and reason. This quick play of chemicals in the brain results in you putting off things that your brain does not perceive as immediately rewarding.
You may find a task so uninteresting or insipid that the mere thought of doing the task puts you off. Your brain does not perceive any immediate rewards associated with the work and it quickly devises a mechanism to escape from the mundane job.
You feel that you deserve to have some fun before you get started on the job. You overestimate your efficiency and the amount of time left to perform the task, while underestimating the time needed to complete the task. You assure yourself that you’ll be able to work more efficiently with the deadline approaching fast.
Alternately it may so happen that when you are required to do something out of your comfort zone, you get overwhelmed by the complexity or the ambiguity of the task, and so you delay it in favour of other simpler tasks, hoping to get someone to help you to do the task.
If the brain perceives the task as a noradrenaline -producing experience rather than a dopamine producing experience, it devises its escape mechanism to avoid the anxiety caused due to the possibility of an unpleasant negative outcome. You end up telling yourself that you’ll do a job tomorrow, with a clear mind, when you feel more settled or rested.
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How to stop procrastinating?
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Whatever be the reason, our brain always finds ways to rationalize our tendency to procrastinate; but what is important is to get over it. Training your brain to see the task in hand as a dopamine-producing experience rather than a noradrenaline -producing experience will increase your willingness to do the task. Here are a few ways to go on about it:
Break down work into small, specific, concrete tasks
Thinking of a task as a complex task makes you psychologically distant from the task and reduces your willingness to do it. However, breaking the task down into smaller, specific parts in a logical order makes it easier for the brain to comprehend the task. This prevents triggering of the quick negative emotional response and gives the logical brain a chance to think through the task.
Prioritize your tasks and get started
Identify the tasks that are urgent as well as important and just get started on them. If you wait for the right moment to get motivated for starting a work (especially if the work is undesirable), the more you delay starting, the more difficult you may find to get into the right frame of mind. On the other hand, getting started is a better option as the feeling of completion will trigger more positive thinking than leaving it undone. You can improvise on the work as you progress.
Reward yourself
A positive reinforcement or reward for getting things done is considered to be a more effective way to reduce procrastination than a punishment for getting it done late. Meaningful rewards trigger dopamine in the brain. If you have trouble motivating yourself to do a job, consider rewarding yourself with something that you enjoy for every task you complete.
Adhere to deadlines (external deadlines are more effective)
Studies indicate that external deadlines are more effective when they are evenly spaced than setting a deadline that is set at the end of the task. People sometimes set self imposed deadlines to overcome their habit of procrastination. Self imposed deadlines improve performance but are not as much as evenly spaced externally imposed deadlines. Those who work in a self directed manner may be particularly prone to procrastination.
Knowing that the emotional response of the brain may be the reason behind procrastinating, may help you to motivate yourself, train your brain and be creative in overcoming your tendency to procrastinate.
What are the ways you adopt to overcome procrastination?
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References:
Dan Ariely, Klaus Wertenbrauch, Procrastination, Deadlines and Performance, Massachusets Institute of Technology and INSEAD, Fontainbleau France, Psychological Science.
Ferrari, J. R. (2010). Still Procrastinating? The No Regrets Guide to Getting It Done. (Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley).
Eric Jaffe, Why Wait? The Science Behind Procrastination, Observer, Association for Psychological Science
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By: Life11BlogAdmin No biography available at this timeAfter less than three months in office, US President Donald Trump has abruptly shifted his stance on an array of foreign policy issues from the US relationship with Russia and China to the value of the NATO alliance.
Mr Trump, who ran for the White House on a pledge to shake up the status quo in Washington, repeatedly lashed out at China during the campaign, accusing Beijing of being a "grand champion" of currency manipulation.
Candidate Trump also dismissed the NATO military alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia.
But at a White House news conference and in a newspaper interview yesterday, he offered starkly different views on those issues, saying his relationship with Moscow was souring while ties with Beijing were improving.
He also lavished praise on NATO, saying it was adapting to changing global threats.
"I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Mr Trump said as he stood at a news conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in the White House East Room yesterday.
The reversals on Russia and NATO could reassure US allies in Europe who were rattled by Mr Trump's overtures towards Moscow during the campaign.
But the president's talk of "bonding" with Chinese President Xi Jinping could sow confusion in Asia, where US allies are fearful of a rising China.
Mr Trump's apparent shifts towards a more conventional foreign policy came amid infighting within his administration that has lately seen a decline in the influence of political operatives, mainly his chief strategist, Steve Bannon.
Six months ago, candidate Trump suggested he was eager for an alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"If he says great things about me, I'm going to say great things about him," Mr Trump said last September.
Yesterday, however, Mr Trump said he had growing concerns about Russia's support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia," said Mr Trump, who ordered the firing of US cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield last week to punish Mr Assad for suspected use of poison gas in Syria's civil war.
While criticising Russia, Mr Trump said he and Mr Xi had bonded during the Chinese president's visit to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they dined together with their wives and held talks.
Ahead of that visit, Mr Trump had predicted "difficult" discussions on trade.
The improving ties with Beijing were underscored when Mr Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview yesterday that he would not declare China a currency manipulator as he had pledged to do on his first day in office.
Mr Trump, a former real estate developer, took office in January as a government novice whose foreign policy mantra was a vow to keep the US safe and build up the US military.
Christine Wormuth, former undersecretary of defence in the Obama administration, said Mr Trump had a steep learning curve on foreign policy when he came into office but that it was beginning to even out.
He is starting to have a more nuanced and deeper understanding of a lot of issues, said Ms Wormuth, now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The evolving Trump foreign policy appears to reflect less of the influence of his campaign team and more the views of Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser HR McMaster, all of whom are deeply sceptical of Russia.
Mr Trump's former national security adviser, retired General Michael Flynn, was forced to resign on 13 February for contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States before Mr Trump took office.
The new tone on foreign policy comes as Mr Trump has been trying to settle the intrigue inside the White House, where Mr Bannon, former chief of the conservative Breitbart News organisation, has been at odds with the more mainstream Jared Kushner, the senior White House adviser who is Mr Trump's son-in-law.
In an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Mr Trump offered only lukewarm support for Mr Bannon.
"I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late", Mr Trump said.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump's son Eric said he is very hopeful his father will visit the Trump golf course at Doonbeg in Co Clare as President over the next four years.
Speaking to Clare FM on his visit to Doonbeg, Eric Trump said he would love to have his father visit the international resort and see what he and his brother Donald Jr have accomplished with the business.How we understand the nature of racial, gender and other oppressions shapes whether and how we challenge them. At the heart of the theory of identity politics, which has dominated US social movements for decades, lies the notion that only those experiencing a particular form of oppression can define or fight it. By extension, all those not facing a form of oppression are conceived as having a stake in the maintenance of others' oppression. This theory—in its various guises—has profound implications on whether and how oppressed groups unite to challenge oppression and whether oppressed people organize independently of any class basis. This talk will explore both the history and theory of identity politics and the alternative approach of Marxists for whom class is lived through race and gender.During the Night, while enduring God’s torturous absence, we come to realize, perhaps in a moment of calm, a moment of peace, a moment when the mind finds ease and separates itself from the anxieties of the world, that there is, swallowing the darkness already endured, a terrifying silence. Him who loves you is silent. Where is God’s voice? Who do your prayers ascend to? One begins to feel that the Host is no more than bread, or the crucifix is no more than bronze on wood. The sacred begins to devolve, the mystical dimension of the world becomes flat, empty, cold, and senseless. What comes with this silence is occasionally a spiritual atheism. Spiritual in the sense that it’s not intellectual. God exists, but His voice seems non-existent, his love seems to have faded. The silence is all that’s left–nothing but the echoes of our own pleads, the cries in the dark that nobody hears.
However, this silence shouldn’t be seen as abandonment, as God casting His child aside. Rather, this silence is the love of God, his yearning to bring us closer to Him. Lovers don’t shout to each other, they whisper softly to each other. A man whispers to his beloved and she, in turn, draws closer to him, her ear to his mouth:”I love you,” he says. And perhaps it’s the same with God. Perhaps he is our lover and we are his beloved. Perhaps in the silence he’s really saying to us, “Draw closer. Come to me. Be with me.” Yet, the only way to hear the gentle whispers of a lover is to be silent ourselves, to make dead the world so His words might live. Mother Teresa gives us five silences so that we may hear God: silence of the eyes, silence of the ears, silence of the mouth, silence of the mind, and silence of the heart. We are to only seek the beauty and goodness of God and close our eyes to others’ faults; we are to listen to God and the cry of the needy, closing our ears to the whispers of gossip and temptation; we are to praise God alone and refrain from lying, from using speech to harm; we are to open our minds to the truth of God, to the truth of Christ, and to avoid rash judgement and falsehood; we are to love God alone and avoid selfishness, jealousy, and envy.
It is by listening to God alone, by making God the center of our attention, that the world around us fades, that the veil of anguish, anxiety, and misery drops, revealing all our toils to be a facade covering up Him, a loving God. To hear God in the “silence” we must ourselves be silent. No man has known God more through silence than Christ himself. In the face of His Passion he remained silent. Before the council he “kept silent and did not answer” (Mk 14:61). And when Herod asked many questions of Jesus he “gave him no answers” (Lk 23:9). Additionally, Christ’s silence in the face of Pilate caused Pilate to be “amazed” (Mk 15:5). Christ, one with the will of God, realizing His cup to drink, His cross to bear, became silent, so that, through the agony, he could hear His Father. And no greater place can we see Christ’s silence than in Adoration where Christ himself sits there soundless and we, likewise, sit there silent, without word, seeing God as God, Christ as flesh, Lord as lover. Let us be, as Pilate was, “Amazed.” Let us be silent. Let us hear God.
In silence and quiet the devout soul advances in virtue and learns the hidden truths of Scripture. There she finds a flood of tears with which to bathe and cleanse herself nightly, that she may become the more intimate with her Creator the farther she withdraws from all the tumult of the world.
– Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Book I Chapter XX
AdvertisementsOn April 22, it was reported that Michael "I Make Things Go Boom" Bay, apologized to a reporter from The Miami Herald for the third act of his 1998 smash, 'Armageddon.'
According to the paper, Bay said:
I will apologize for Armageddon, because we had to do the whole movie in 16 weeks. It was a massive undertaking. That was not fair to the movie. I would redo the entire third act if I could."
According to Bay, he was misquoted by the overzealous reporter, saying he didn't apologize for nothin'!
But even if Bay didn't officially apologize, plenty of other filmmakers and actors have said they were sorry for unleashing dreck upon the moviegoing masses. Here are a few examples of people apologizing for their cinematic turkeys.Bigfoot sighting has been reported by a police officer in McDade Park in Lackawanna County Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Bigfoot sighting took place this past week and the witness was also able to get Bigfoot photo using a cell phone. The officer said he was on patrol in Scranton, PA heading toward McDade Park when he noticed a dark object that was leaning over the edge of the roadway. He was able to pass very close to the subject and was shocked to see a large hairy section including a big hairy wrist and an extremely muscular leg as the creature turned.
The officer was able to quickly snap a photo of the possible Bigfoot in Pennsylvania as he stopped and turned to see exactly what i was. It is a really detailed account and sighting of Bigfoot and is perhaps one of the more interesting of the year. Here is a the actual account as told by the officer himself of his Bigfoot Sightings 2015. The photo above is the actual Bigfoot picture that was taken by the officer of what some believe is the elusive cryptid. Could this possibly be another piece of Bigfoot evidence?
My name is Scranton Police Officer Xxxxx Xxxxx and I am an eight year veteran, so please keep my name out. A few days ago I was driving in patrol toward McDade Park in Scranton PA. It was late at night I was just checking the park making sure all was ok and I just noticed a very dark object leaning over the edge of the road near the pool as I drove pass. I passed extremely close to the object-close enough for me to feel shocked to see a large hairy section of well muscled leg and a big hairy wrist and hand as the creature turned I screamed and grabbed my cell to snap a pic and my gun. I slammed on the brakes and I was ready to shoot I’m combat trained, I have a weapon, I just had to see what the hell it was!I wanted to see the entire thing for myself – but what can I say. Whatever it was for me either was a monkey a huge one or a bigfoot I am not going public with this because it would cost me my job.There is something in that park I heard stories of something roaming the park late at night.In a recent Facebook post, New Hampshire state representative Josh Moore said that if a law to ban topless female nudity fails, men should be able to squeeze exposed nipples in public.
Moore was responding to a post by a Democrat colleague who opposes the bill, when the two got into a squabble, prompting Moore to make the comments.
Currently in New Hampshire, it is legal for both men and women to expose their nipples in public, but a state bill would make it a misdemeanor for women to expose their nipples, even for breastfeeding. The bill is backed solely by Republican men.
State representative Amanda Bouldin went to Facebook to voice her issues with the bill and its Republican support. Bouldin found irony int the fact that Republicans claim to believe in freedom and small government, but are now attempting to ban the female breast.
Representative Moore chimed in on Bouldin’s brief post with a typo-riddled comment, presented below unaltered:
Who doesn’t support a mothers right to feed? Don’t give me the liberal talking points Amanda. If it’s a woman’s natural inclination to pull her nipple out in public and you support that, than you should have no problem with a mans inclnantion to stare at it and grab it. After all, it’s ALL relative and natural, right?
Although Moore deleted the comment shortly after it was posted, many Facebook users grabbed a screenshot.
Unfortunately, more Republicans harassed Bouldin on Facebook, even sinking to throwing personal insults. Another Republican, state representative Al Baldasaro, made an unprovoked insult about Bouldin’s body. Again, the grammar is atrocious:
Baldasaro and Moore both went on to comment again on Bouldin’s post, fearing that the state would turn into a “topless bar” and corrupt the minds of children. However, exposing the female nipple is currently legal in New Hampshire and there are no reports of the state descending into chaos.
Bouldin did not comment on her colleague’s strange comments or personal attacks, but stayed focused on the bill at hand when speaking to Slate. Bouldin said that she believes that the demonization of the female nipple is pure sexism, as the male nipple is equally sexual.
“We shouldn’t be introducing new legislation that only applies to women,” she said. “If we had any laws that started with the sentence ‘women should not,’ they should have been repealed by now.”
Featured image: Josh Moore via lorilynngreene.comIn their drive to extract full compensation from the Argentine government, a hard-nosed bunch of distressed debt investors have gone to impressive lengths. They’ve pursued the country’s assets around the globe, attempting to seize the presidential plane and menacing the Argentine booth at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Now they have a big and bizarre fish on the hook: an Argentine naval vessel. NML Capital, a subsidiary of U.S. billionaire Paul Singer’s Elliott Capital, this week won an injunction in Ghanaian superior court to hold the ARA Libertad in the port city of Tema, on the outskirts of the African nation’s capital.
UPDATE: Argentine weekly Perfil reported on Friday that the Argentine state filed a motion before the Supreme Court of Ghana in order to annul the injunction won by NML. Ace Ankomah, lawyer for NML in Ghana, indicated the court scheduled a hearing on the matter for Tuesday October 9 before the commercial division of the high court where the first legal proceeding had started. Ankomah added that if Argentina pays a bond, the boat is free to go.
The 103-meter-long sailing ship, which is used as a training vessel for naval cadets, had left Buenos Aires on June 2 and was carrying a reported total crew of 220, including 69 members of the Argentine Navy and 110 students. New York judge Thomas Griesa awarded NML $1.6 billion from Argentina in a lawsuit that the fund filed after it opted not to accept two separate restructuring offers in 2005 and 2010 on the $100 billion in debt that the country defaulted on a decade ago.
The vessel has not been seized, as some media reported, but rather detained, with its crew on board and following their daily routine, the Argentine Navy confirmed to Forbes. ("They've been treated very well by the locals," a naval spokesman said.) Ghana’s courts will now have to decide whether previous rulings in the U.S. and the U.K. are sufficient to move ahead with NML’s case against Argentina. The West African nation ranks 52nd in the CFS’ rule of law index, well above major emerging nations like Brazil, Mexico, and China, and even above so-called advanced countries like Spain, Portugal, and Brazil.
The case is but the latest attempt in a tenacious campaign by the debt holders to seize Argentine assets abroad. In a statement, the Argentine foreign ministry said that “vulture funds had crossed a new limit in their attacks” toward the country, qualifying the latest move as “a trick by the unscrupulous financiers.” The ministry also said that attempting to seize the vessel is a violation of the Vienna Convention’s clause on diplomatic immunity, and called it an attempt at extortion.
Elliott Capital and other holdout bondholders have been tracking Argentine assets, financial and physical, closely, sources said. Back in 2007, a group of bondholders discovered that the Tango 01, Argentina’s presidential airplane, would be in the U.S. for scheduled maintenance and pilot training. They moved to get a court to keep the plane grounded after it landed and to seize fuel money the pilots were expected to bring in cash. The government of the late Nestor Kirchner was warned of the move, though, and cancelled the trip. It then countersued in the U.S. getting California judge William Alsup to declare the presidential Boeing 757/200 was immune from seizure.
It’s not only vehicles they were after. In 2009, Argentina was preparing a stand at the world’s largest book trade convention, the Frankfurt Book Fair. Rumors that assets could be seized forced Argentine to register its stand under a private individual rather than the state, and a showcase of works of art requested by German curators was withheld given concerns they would be seized. A year later, a Tango 01 trip to Germany was cancelled just as Buenos Aires was warned it would be seized.
Holdout bondholders have also gone after the assets of prominent Argentine politicians, including Nestor Kirchner, his wife and current president Cristina Kirchner, and 136 members of her administration, including most of the cabinet. In 2010, Singer’s Elliott got Judge Griesa, who consistently rules against Argentina, to ask Bank of America to disclose all information related to their personal accounts. Elliott has even gone after Argentina’s foreign exchange reserves, coming close to seizing $105 million held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
While most of their attempts to grab Argentine assets have failed in court, Elliott and other distressed debt investors have recorded some victories. Having bought the debt originally for pennies on the dollar, their strategy is to pursue aggressive means to recover a greater amount.
This year, Elliott subsidiary NML and EM (owned by former billionaire Kenneth Dart) got a judge to award them assets of Argentina’s Banco Hipotecario worth approximately $23 million.
Argentina has been cast out of international debt markets since its default in 2001-2002, after its economy imploded. Years of following IMF policies and a hard peg to the dollar caused the meltdown, as Argentina saw its currency devalue 400% and its economy plunge. As it emerged from those depths, it restructured its debt, first in 2005, and then in 2010, with approximately 93% of bondholders accepting the harsh new terms. Between holdout bondholders and the Paris Club of rich nations, somewhere between 7% and 8% of the original amount remains outstanding.
The country has vowed to fight those remaining bondholders. They accused NML of using the Cayman Islands to avoid legal and tax issues (“a [tax haven] that has been denounced by the G20 and the UN”). “It is President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s decision not to cede to the extorsive international and domestic attempts pursued by these vulture funds,” charged the foreign ministry. Given Argentina's recent track record, it doesn't seem like they'll budge.ROSTRAVER, Pa. (AP) — Police are searching for three men who forced their way into a 91-year-old woman’s Pennsylvania home, tied her up, and threatened her pet poodle with a knife before stealing jewelry and cash.
Rostraver police say the incident happened about 8 a.m. Tuesday when the woman answered her door only to have the men forcibly enter.
The woman suffered a fractured vertebra in her neck as she was roughly knocked to the ground before she was bound in her bedroom while the thieves tried to open a safe.
When the woman first refused to tell the men where the keys to the safe were, they threatened her dog with a knife.
Police say the woman called 911 after struggling for 20 minutes to free herself.
(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Must Read Today’s Top Talkers:The story of how data became big starts many years before the current buzz around big data. Already seventy years ago we encounter the first attempts to quantify the growth rate in the volume of data or what has popularly been known as the “information explosion” (a term first used in 1941, according to the Oxford English Dictionary). The following are the major milestones in the history of sizing data volumes plus other “firsts” in the evolution of the idea of “big data” and observations pertaining to data or information explosion.
Last Update: December 21, 2013
1944 Fremont Rider, Wesleyan University Librarian, publishes The Scholar and the Future of the Research Library. He estimates that American university libraries were doubling in size every sixteen years. Given this growth rate, Rider speculates that the Yale Library in 2040 will have “approximately 200,000,000 volumes, which will occupy over 6,000 miles of shelves… [requiring] a cataloging staff of over six thousand persons.”
1961 Derek Price publishes Science Since Babylon, in which he charts the growth of scientific knowledge by looking at the growth in the number of scientific journals and papers. He concludes that the number of new journals has grown exponentially rather than linearly, doubling |
engineering. At Brown, Paine joined Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. In World War II, he served as a submarine officer in the Pacific and in the subsequent Japanese occupation. He qualified as a Navy deep-sea diver and was awarded the Commendation Medal and Submarine Combat Insignia with stars. From 1946-49, Paine attended Stanford University, receiving an M.S. degree in 1947 and Ph.D. degree in 1949 in physical metallurgy.[2] During his career, Paine received honorary doctor of science degrees from Brown, Clarkson College of Technology, Nebraska Wesleyan University, the University of New Brunswick, Oklahoma City University, and an honorary doctor of engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Career [ edit ]
Research scientist [ edit ]
Stanford University [ edit ]
Paine began his career as a research associate at Stanford University from 1947 to 1949, where he made basic studies of high-temperature alloys and liquid metals in support of naval nuclear reactor programs.
General Electric [ edit ]
Paine joined the General Electric Research Laboratory in Schenectady, New York, in 1949 as a research associate, where he started research programs on magnetic and composite materials. In 1951, Paine transferred to the Meter and Instrument Department of G.E. in Lynn, Massachusetts, as the manager of materials development, and later as a laboratory manager. Under Dr. Paine's management, this lab received the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Industrial Science in 1956 from the American Association for the Advancement of Science for its work in fine-particle magnet development. From 1958 through 1962, Dr. Paine was a research associate and manager of Engineering Applications at the Research and Development Center of the General Electric Company in Schenectady, N.Y., From 1963 to 1968, Paine was manager of TEMPO, the Center for Advanced Studies of General Electric located in Santa Barbara, California.
NASA Administrator [ edit ]
Dr. Paine was appointed Deputy Administrator of NASA on January 31, 1968. Upon the retirement of James E. Webb on October 8, 1968, he was named Acting Administrator of NASA. He was nominated as NASA's third Administrator on March 5, 1969, and confirmed by the Senate on March 20, 1969.[3]
Dr. Paine was recruited to succeed Mr. Webb by President Lyndon Johnson. He was tasked with the responsibility of getting the Apollo program back on track in the wake of the Apollo 1 disaster, and fulfilling President Kennedy's goal "before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."
During his administration at NASA, the first seven Apollo manned missions were flown, highlighted by the first ever manned lunar landing by Apollo 11. In all, 20 astronauts orbited Earth, 14 traveled to the Moon, and twelve walked upon its surface. Many automated scientific and applications spacecraft were also flown in U.S. and cooperative international programs.
Paine was also deeply involved in preparing plans for the post-Apollo era at NASA. Along with George Mueller and others, Paine developed an ambitious plan calling for the establishment of a lunar base and a massive space station in Earth orbit before the end of the 1970s, culminating in a manned mission to Mars as early as 1981. President Richard Nixon rejected these plans, however.
Apollo 11 Goodwill Messages [ edit ]
Paine was instrumental in acquiring the sentiments of world leaders that became the Apollo 11 Goodwill Messages which rest on the lunar surface today. He personally corresponded with the heads of what became seventy-three participating nations, and coordinated the efforts to enshrine their messages on a tiny silicon disc manufactured by the Sprague Electric Company of North Adams, Massachusetts. Paine's name is also etched onto the disc.
Paine proposed the idea of the messages to the State Department's Under Secretary for Political Affairs U. Alexis Johnson. A high level committee determined that a plaque declaring that "We Came in Peace for all Mankind" and the planting of a U.S. flag on the Moon were to be part of the ceremonial activities for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface.
General Electric [ edit ]
Paine resigned from NASA September 15, 1970, to return to the General Electric Co. in New York City as Vice President and Group Executive, Power Generation Group, (worldwide ship propulsion, nuclear power and steam and gas turbine generators), and later became Senior Vice President for Science and Technology (oversight of GE's research and development).
Northrop corporation [ edit ]
Paine left GE in 1976 to become the President and Chief Operating Officer of Northrop Corporation, where he also served as a Director. Paine retired as President of Northrop in 1982.
National Commission on Space [ edit ]
On October 12, 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued Executive Order 12490 that commissioned a panel of experts to investigate and evaluate the future of the national space program. President Ronald Reagan appointed Dr. Paine to be the chairman of this investigation. Rather than naming the commission after himself, as is customary, he chose instead to name it The National Commission on Space. Members of the 15-member commission included Dr. Luis Alvarez (a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics), Neil Armstrong (NASA astronaut and the first man on the Moon), Dr. Gerard K. O'Neill (American physicist and space activist), Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan (Space Shuttle astronaut and first American woman to walk in space), Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick (political scientist and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations) and Brigadier General Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager (rocket plane pilot and first man to break the sound barrier).
Since leaving NASA fifteen years earlier, Dr. Paine had been a vocal spokesman for an expansive future of Space exploration. The National Commission on Space took most of a year to prepare its report, conducting public hearings throughout the United States. The Commission report, Pioneering the Space Frontier, was published in May 1986. It espoused "a pioneering mission for 21st-century America... to lead the exploration and development of the space frontier, advancing science, technology, and enterprise, and building institutions and systems that make accessible vast new resources and support human settlements beyond Earth orbit, from the highlands of the Moon to the plains of Mars." The report also contained a "Declaration for Space" that included a rationale for exploring and settling the solar system and outlined a long-range space program for the United States. [4][5]
Thomas O. Paine Associates [ edit ]
In 1982, Paine established Thomas Paine Associates - High Technology Enterprises (TPA) in Westwood, CA, and relocated it in Santa Monica, CA, in 1986. TPA also housed Paine’s 3400-volume Submarine Warfare Library, which was later donated to the Nimitz Library, U.S. Naval Academy.
Corporate directorships [ edit ]
Dr. Paine served as a director for many corporations, including the RCA, NBC, Eastern Air Lines, Nike, Arthur D. Little, Inc., Orbital Sciences, and Quotron Systems (a division of the Citicorp company). Paine also served as a Director of the Planetary Society, the National Space Institute, the International Academy of Astronautics, and the Pacific Forum CSIS Honolulu Hawaii. The Planetary Society honored his commitment to Mars by establishing The Thomas O. Paine Award for the Advancement of Human Exploration of Mars.
University trustee [ edit ]
Paine also served as a Trustee of Occidental College and Brown University and was a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Personal life [ edit ]
Paine was married to Barbara Helen Taunton Pearse of Perth, Australia. They had four children: Marguerite Ada, George Thomas, Judith Janet, and Frank Taunton.
Paine died of cancer at his home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California in May 1992.
In 1972, Paine donated his papers to the Library of Congress where they are currently open and available in the Manuscript Division. Although there is one container of classified material, the other 183 are open and available to all researchers.
In media [ edit ]
In the 1966 BBC TV PANORAMA documentary California 2000, Paine is interviewed and offers predictions on how technology will impact society.
In the 1996 TV movie Apollo 11 Paine was played by Carmen Argenziano. In the 1998 TV miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, he was played by Sam Anderson.Joke Song Subunit There's literally no reason this song should be swapped in and out of the LLSIF b-side EX roster. μ's, Rin center I get it, you're excited to see me, but there's no need to pass out. μ's, Honoka center A divine intervention occured after she put on the skirt. Rin Hoshizora solo...Is she talking about the city or something else?? μ's, Kotori center Should've stuck with the KISS outfits. μ's, Nozomi center A step above Wonderful Rush EX, about 50 steps below Otome Shiki EX. lilywhite Honoka, you lying prick. μ's, Honoka center Turns out Printemps weren't the first subgroup to go psycho on us. lilywhite I get the motif, but were the tails REALLY necessary? BiBi Sounds as if they reused the obscure instrument from Spicaterrible... lilywhite (bursts through a wall) ALL MY WORRIES BYE BYE Season 2 BD exclusive solo I feel bad for them, all that practice made them sore. μ's, Honoka center Hit me baby one more time. μ's, Kotori center Don't you just hate it when you transform into a toddler for 10 minutes? μ's, Maki center... BiBi Wait, so who was looking at who now? Season 2 BD exclusive duo You don't have enough balls. lilywhite Wow, the new style of jitsu looks great! BiBi Why does this discotheque smell? μ's, Nico center I don't think she wants to go. Do. I love yes do, Honoka, Umi, Kotori
Joke Song Subunit I agree with Hanayo, no is exactly how I feel about this song. Season 1 BD exclusive duo Is it foreshadowing or laziness? Find out more in S2ep12. μ's, Honoka center Redundancy killed the idols. μ's, Eli center What a crybaby. Season 1 BD exclusive solo Darmanitan, go!...Why is it in zen mode? BiBi They musta run out of space on their looseleaf. Printemps Pretty sure Ian is not my acquaintance. Printemps Hippies? In MY idol anime? It's more likely than you'd think. μ's, Hanayo center Why is Kayochin in this ****, nya? Pre-anime solo CD Do not talk to my zoo, ho. μ's, Honoka center SPOILER ALERT: they die Honoka, Umi, Kotori The end of the beginning. μ's, Honoka center Didn't you two already confirm this in your pre-anime duo album?? Season 2 BD exclusive duo Idols can't do math... μ's, Honoka center Mental distress! (notes come flying) Season 1 BD exclusive duo ZURUI Pre-anime duo single Please don't stop her dancing. Season 2 insert song I WANT TO GET OFF KOTORI MINAMI'S WILD RIDE Printemps Please don't give my art hate, I am sensitive ;n; Pre-anime trio single You should really reconsider your internet privacy settings, buddy. Season 1 insert songThis article is from the archive of our partner.
A week from today will mark the one-year anniversary of the oil rig explosion of Deepwater Horizon that triggered the largest marine oil spill in history. For three months, rust-colored sludge gushed into the Gulf of Mexico, and by the time BP managed to stop the leak, at least 4.9 million barrels of crude oil had coated the ocean floor for miles around the oil rig and the slick spanned hundreds of miles across the ocean's surface. Environmental experts estimated that the damage to coastal ecosystems and marine wildlife would be nothing short of catastrophic. But if you listen to BP and the Obama administration, it's all fixed now.
Not true, say several British papers who are reporting that the progress in the Gulf is far from a full recovery. Citing the University of Georgia researcher Samantha Joye, The Guardian explores how claims from the White House that all oil had been cleaned up as early as December conflict directly with independent scientists' recent findings: blankets of oil coating the ocean floor as far as ten miles from the site of the leak. Meanwhile, most parties involved are trying to put the oil spill behind them. BP is almost finished reimbursing the victims—though they've only paid $3.6 billion out of the allotted $20 billion—and the company's clean up efforts are winding down. The @BP_America Twitter feed is ripe with encouraging news from calls to vacation on the now spic-and-span Florida coast to links citing a dramatic recovery in Louisiana. While the government's official stance stops short of claiming a full recovery, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) disputes Joye's claims that oil lurked in the Gulf's depths. Joye, who will soon publish a paper with her findings, says the symptoms of continuing problems are just too bold to ignore:
So how could the disaster possibly be over, asks Joye. "You talk to people who live around the Gulf of Mexico, who live on the coast, who have family members who work on oil rigs. It's not OK down there. The system is not fine. Things are not normal. There are a lot of very strange things going on – the turtles washing up on beaches, dolphins washing up on beaches, the crabs. It is just bizarre. How can that just be random consequence?" More than 150 dolphins, half of them infants, have washed up since the start of 2011. At least eight were smeared with crude oil that has been traced to BP's well, NOAA said, and 87 sea turtles – all endangered – have been found dead since mid-March.
The Daily Mail's report is no less damning. Anticipating an aggressive assault from environmental authorities at an annual meeting tomorrow, BP has employed a 2,000-strong task force to defend the company from critics, reports the paper. Corroborating Joye's claims, many of those critics believe that BP's use of toxic dispersant Corexit simply sent the oil to the ocean floor, and coastal communities can expect a new coating of oil on their beaches any time a storm stirs it up. The BBC released a video today of one of those community members, a family of oystermen whose business was destroyed by the oil spill.Article written by: Mike Ashley
Mike Ashley Theme: Visions of the future
Visions of the future Published: 15 May 2014
Mike Ashley explores how the technological changes initiated by the Industrial Revolution inspired 19th-century writers.
The Industrial Revolution had kick-started the demand for bigger and better technology, and this in turn encouraged writers to imagine what form future technology or scientific progress might take.
The Modern Prometheus In January 1802, the chemist Humphry Davy, still only 23 years old, began a series of lectures that inspired a generation to marvel at the potential of science. He argued that science will enable man to shape his future. ‘It has bestowed upon him powers which may almost be called creative,’ he said, ‘which have enabled him to modify and change the beings surrounding him and by his experiments to interrogate nature with power, not simply as a scholar... but rather as a master’. Amongst those inspired by this and later lectures were the poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Percy Bysshe Shelley and the philosopher William Godwin. In 1812 Godwin took his 14-year old daughter, Mary, to hear Davy lecture at the Royal Institution. So when the young Mary Godwin eloped with Percy Shelley to Switzerland in 1814, here were two kindred spirits fascinated with the prospect of science. Their discussions on the subject, along with Lord Byron and his physician John Polidori, led to each challenging the other to write a ghost story. Out of this grew Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, published in 1818 and regarded as the first genuine work of science fiction. The character of Victor Frankenstein drew upon several of the great philosophers and scientists of the day but there’s no doubt that Humphrey Davy is part of that essence. Mary and Percy also knew of the experiments conducted by Giovanni Aldini to try and reanimate a corpse by applying electricity to nerves and muscles. Mary wondered what would happen if electricity brought a dead creature back to life. Would it have a soul? A memory? Imagination, instinct? In short, would it be human?
Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus, 1831 The frontispiece illustrating the monster from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, published in 1831. View images from this item (7)
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Galvani, The Effects of Artificial Electricity on Muscular Motion Illustration showing Galvani's experiments animating dead animals with electrical currents. View images from this item (5)
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The March of Intellect Writing to The Times in May 1824, the industrialist and philanthropist Robert Owen remarked that in recent years ‘the human mind has made the most rapid and extensive strides in the knowledge of human nature, and in general knowledge’. He called this ‘the march of intellect’ and believed it had reached a pace that could not be stopped. Building upon this, Henry Brougham established the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge in 1826, with the purpose of enabling the education of the masses. The phrase ‘the March of Intellect’ became a rallying cry for social and technological progress, its importance being to give all classes the opportunity to better themselves. To others, though, it was seen as giving hope where in fact there was no opportunity and of raising people above their station. Would the March of Intellect benefit society or stagnate it? Amongst those uncertain of its benefits was cartoonist William Heath who, in 1828, under the pen name Paul Pry, produced a series of posters called the March of Intellect. Even though Heath was satirising the movement, his posters include some wonderful future ideas for transport, including a steam horse and a steam coach, a vacuum tube, a bridge to Cape Town, and various forms of flight, including a flying postman.
March of Intellect The thirst for knowledge and scientific research in the wake of the Industrial Revolution brought concerns over where all this change would lead. William Heath’s March of Intellect (c.1828), satirised the inventions, architecture and modes of transport of the future. View images from this item (1)
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March of Intellect William Heath prints March of Intellect satirised the future of technology (c. 1828). View images from this item (1)
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The March of Progress The future poet laureate, Alfred Lord Tennyson was a supporter of the March of Intellect, or March of Mind as he preferred. In his poem ‘Locksley Hall’ (written 1835) he has a soldier reflect upon his childhood home and recall childhood as some kind of idyll, but knowing that the times are changing, he imagines a future where the heavens are filled with commerce and there is a Federation of the World. The March of the Imagination, though, was happening in France rather than Great Britain, and particularly in the minds of two visionaries, Jules Verne and Albert Robida. Although many believe that Verne foresaw the submarine and helicopter, he did neither. He was good at extrapolating from existing inventions and showing their potential as he did with the submarine in Vingt mille lieues sous les mers (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, 1870) and the propeller-driven airship in Robur le conquérant (Robur the Conqueror, 1886). His prediction on reaching the Moon was way out when he has his adventurers fired in a capsule from a massive gun in De la terre à la lune (From the Earth to the Moon, 1865), but when they return in Autour de la lune (Round the Moon, 1869) his method of recovering the capsule was almost identical to that of the Apollo capsule in 1970. Verne also built upon the writings of the American dime novelists, notably the Frank Reade series which had started with The Steam Man of the Plains (1876). The original author, Harry Enton, and his successors, notably Luis Senarens (all writing pseudonymously as ‘Noname’) had Frank Reade and his son invent a huge number of steam-powered (and later electric) machines. Verne bettered them with a steam elephant in La maison a vapeur (The Steam House, 1880). Little wonder that Verne is seen as the godfather of ‘steampunk’.
Science fiction novel, The Steam House, Part I: The Demon of Cawnpore Jules Verne’s novel The Steam House (1881) involves a journey through India in a train drawn by a mechanical elephant powered by steam. View images from this item (1)
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Albert Robida exploited electricity rather than steam. In a series of heavily illustrated books, especially La vingtième siècle (The Twentieth Century, 1882), he looked at everyday life in the mid-20th century, depicting such things as the ‘teléphonoscope’ (an interactive television), aerocabs, food factories, submarine homes, and homes with piped food. Women are fully liberated. A new continent has been created because of overpopulation. Russia has vanished following a revolution, and the United States is divided between Germany and China. There’s much more. Robida, not Verne, was the true visionary of his day.
Science fiction novel La Vie électrique An illustration from La vingtième siècle (The Twentieth Century, 1882), a book that looked at everyday life in the mid-20th century, depicting such things as the ‘teléphonoscope’ (an interactive television), aerocabs, food factories, submarine homes, and homes with piped food. View images from this item (2)
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Natural selection Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859) triggered a variety of debates, not just about whether mankind was ‘descended from the apes’, but about the process of natural selection and what that meant for the future of humanity. Darwin’s second cousin Francis Galton looked at how targeted selection might improve the human race, so that desirable traits are encouraged and less desirable ones removed. He called this eugenics in 1883. It rapidly entered fiction. In ‘A Child of the Phalanstery’ (1884) Grant Allen has a future society where deformed children are killed at birth. In his essay A Visit to Topos (1897), Australian poet William Little envisaged a so-called utopia where only the fit and healthy are allowed children, while alcoholics and the diseased are denied the right to marry. American educator Edward Payson Jackson, writing anonymously, took eugenics to its logical extreme and showed the creation of a superman via hereditary selection in A Demigod (1886). In Erewhon (1872), Samuel Butler proposed the remarkably modern idea that machines might evolve faster than humans and would become dominant, a concept that has resurfaced in recent years in terms of the technological singularity. H G Wells considered natural selection in terms of social Darwinism in The Time Machine (1895) and forecast human evolution taking two distinct routes. The division is generated by the oppressed workers who are driven underground but over 800,000 years evolve into the dominant Morlocks, while the capitalists become the effete but helpless Eloi.
The Edison effect The Victorian age is renowned for the wealth of inventions that helped create the modern era such as the telephone, the typewriter, the bicycle, the electric light, the motor-car, moving pictures, the gramophone and the wireless. The inventor who most captured the public imagination was the American Thomas Edison, who became known as the ‘Wizard of Menlo Park’, after his factory in New Jersey. He registered over a thousand patents after his first in 1869 and became the image of the ingenious solo inventor who was single-handedly changing the world. This in turn inspired many writers. Magazines became filled with examples of lone, often eccentric inventors coming up with new, often useless, ideas. For instance amongst the inventions in Van Wagener’s Ways (1898) by W L Alden is a way to make cats fly so they can catch birds more easily, or the perfect balloon which however doesn’t descend. One of the more ingenious inventions was tantamount to the first cyborg in ‘The Ablest Man in the World’ (1879) by Edward Page Mitchell (1852-1927) where an inventor adapts the famous analytical engine invented by Charles Babbage to fit inside a man’s head and creates a genius. In 1890 the first convicted murderer was executed by the electric chair. In ‘The Los Amigos Fiasco’ (1892) Arthur Conan Doyle improved the electric chair rather too much so that the victim is supercharged with electricity and seems to have become immortal. H G Wells created a number of lone inventors: Griffin who masters invisibility in The Invisible Man (1897), Cavor who discovers an antigravity material in First Men in the Moon (1901), the unnamed inventor in The Time Machine (1895) and most sinister of all Dr Moreau who is experimenting with turning animals into humans in The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896).
Amongst the many attempts at depicting future technology was a series of eight illustrations by Fred T Jane called ‘Guesses at Futurity’ (1894–95) showing city and family life in the year 2000. It includes heating from the sun, improved street lighting, chemical food, television and even gold-mining on the Moon. Edison would himself become a character in fiction, starting with L’Ève future (The Future Eve, 1886) by Villiers de L’Isle Adam, where he creates an electrically powered human duplicate, or android. The word ‘robot’ did not enter the English language until 1923 and all earlier examples are called either androids or automata. One of the more amusing appears in ‘A Wife Manufactured to Order’ (1895) by Alice W Fuller where a husband believes an automaton wife would be better than a human one but soon tires of her perfection.
'Guesses at Futurity' from the Pall Mall Gazette Article from the Pall Mall Gazette, predicting how streets will be lit in the year 2000. View images from this item (2)
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Written by Mike Ashley
Mike Ashley is a freelance writer and researcher with a special interest in the history of science fiction, crime fiction and fantastic literature. He has amassed a library of over 30,000 books and magazines including British popular fiction magazines of the years 1890-1940 which formed the basis for his book The Age of the Storytellers. He has completed four volumes in his planned five-volume Story of the Science-Fiction Magazines and his most recent publication, Adventures in the Strand, covers the relationship between Arthur Conan Doyle and The Strand Magazine.I'm a white girl who recently went to India for a few weeks, after dreaming about it for literally YEARS. Everyone I came across in India told me they were really happy to see me wearing Indian clothes, jewelry and YES also sometimes a bindi. What is so wrong about it, when even every single Indian person i talked to, thought i was very respectful for adapting their culture? I'm serious about that question. Because when I wore a bindi in India I wasn't disrespectful. It was the other way round.
How many Indian people did you talk to because there’s about 1.2 billion of us? Did you talk to all of us? Or just your little group?
Also, I rather not answer your question. It’s pure bullshit and you’re just like every other white snowflake who think they they found some type of loophole but really, you’re just making a joke out of yourself.
And don’t even tell me that you weren’t being disrespectful. You, as a white woman, do not get to decide if it was disrespectful or not so be quiet.
Also you probably didn’t know this but India has a problem with kissing white ass and excluding their own people. Go figure.
-AnusuyaScore one for the “off with his head” crowd. After donating $1,500 to the Yes on 8 Campaign, Film Independent’s Richard Raddon has stepped down as director of the L.A. Film Festival.
Raddon had previously tendered his resignation and the board unanimously refused to accept it, but that bit of political theatre failed to mollify the gay community and the threat of a massive gay boycott turned out to be enough to pressure Raddon to resign for real this time.
We told you yesterday how A-List gay Hollywood was divided on the issue, with older directors like Bill Condon arguing that those who donated to Prop. 8 saw it “not as a civil rights issue but a religious one. That is their right. And it is not, in and of itself, proof of bigotry” and younger, indie filmmakers like Gregg Araki countering:
“The bottom line is if he contributed money to a hateful campaign against black people, or against Jewish people, or any other minority group, there would be much less excusing of him. The terrible irony is that he runs a film festival that is intended to promote tolerance and equality.”
While conservatives will undoubtedly argue that the threat of boycott’s (they’ll probably term it something like “angry gay mob forces director from post”) will have a chilling effect on those who would speak up with their voices or wallets against marriage equality, our rejoinder is, “Yes, that’s the point.”
People have a right to speak up and say what they want or donate to a cause, but with that right comes the responsibility to live up to the consequences of their actions. If publicly donating to a cause that stripped the civil rights of many of the people you work with and for makes those people not want to support you or the organization you run, that choice was yours, not theirs. It was Raddon, not the gay community, that put the L.A. Film Festival at risk of a boycott and so, today’s resignation was his decision and nobody else’s.The Fishbowl Effect
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An ancient character I've had since god knows how long- way before I made Sendow for sure
Maybe he's a secondary sona, I don't know. Felt like the time to draw him though since I never have before
I'll work on a ref eventually, after the one I'm currently working on is done. I have a lot of characters in my head haha
Commissions are still on the way. I'll make a formal post about it soon but just figured I'd tell you guys I'm opening in about two weeks it looks like
Hope you dig the art, catch you cool cats later :)PLANS being prepared by Network Rail will see the eventual end of the Imperial mile, chain and yard on the National Rail network, as a metric switchover takes effect during the next couple of decades.
The move will be triggered by the progressive installation of the European Rail Traffic Management System on selected routes between now and the 2030s.
The decision has been taken by the industry’s Technical Standards Leadership Group, Railnews has been told.
Although it will be necessary to permit the spread of metric-only ERTMS, the change will bring speeds and also locations, as presently indicated by mileposts, into line with the measurements already used on the rest of the railway.
Metres, kilos and litres have been standard for some time in such areas as civil engineering and rolling stock construction and maintenance, while the current Rule Book uses metric measurements as the primary units for distances, although speeds are still shown in mph.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch also uses metric units by default, and translates the remaining Imperial terms where necessary.
The Rail Safety and Standards Board will now be assessing the implications of a further revision of the Rule Book and other documents to complete the changeover. At this early stage there are no firm costs or detailed timetable.
The traditional mileposts are expected to be replaced over time by new location markers at intervals of 500m or 1km. However, lineside speed restriction signs will become unnecessary in ERTMS areas, where information is given to the driver by screens in the cab instead.
Network Rail does have a derogation under the interoperability rules to show mph on cab screens as well, but a spokesman told Railnews that this option is ‘unlikely to be exercised’.
Some fully metric railways are already operated in parts of Britain. Apart from HS1, some London Underground lines and the ERTMS test area west of Shrewsbury, the country’s two segregated light railways in London and Newcastle have always been metric, while the speeds of modern trams are also measured in km/h.Kristin Beck speaks at the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 2014. AP Photo/FBI A retired Navy SEAL Team 6 hero who is transgender had a message for President Donald Trump after he announced the US military would bar transgender people from serving.
"Let's meet face to face and you tell me I'm not worthy," Kristin Beck, a 20-year veteran of the Navy SEALs, told Business Insider on Wednesday. "Transgender doesn't matter. Do your service."
Beck said Trump's abrupt change in policy could negatively affect many currently or wanting to serve in the military. The RAND Corporation estimated in 2016 that there were between 1,320 and 6,630 transgender people serving. Many of them just want to serve their country like everyone else, Beck said.
"Being transgender doesn't affect anyone else," Beck said. "We are liberty's light. If you can't defend that for everyone that's an American citizen, that's not right."
Beck is not just your average service member. She served for 20 years in the Navy with SEAL Teams 1, 5, and, eventually, the elite 6. She deployed 13 times over two decades, including stints in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. She received the Bronze Star award for valor and the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat.
"I was defending individual liberty," she said. "I defended for Republicans. I defended for Democrats. I defended for everyone."
In a series of tweets, Trump said the decision was based on the costs of medical services that transgender service members could use. But "the money is negligible," Beck said. "You're talking about.000001% of the military budget.
"They care more about the airplane or the tank than they care about people," Beck said. "They don't care about people. They don't care about human beings."
When asked about potential problems with unit cohesion or war fighting, Beck said those were not issues that would arise from transgender service members, but from leadership.
"A very professional unit with great leadership wouldn't have a problem," Beck said. "I can have a Muslim serving right beside Jerry Falwell, and we're not going to have a problem. It's a leadership issue, not a transgender issue."U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last November. The Chinese president made a symbolic visit to an area between China and North Korea this week. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
SEOUL, July 17 (UPI) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a symbolic visit to a neglected area of the China-North Korea border on Thursday in a move that analysts see as a signal to Pyongyang.
The visit to northeast China's Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture was the first by a Chinese head of state in eight years. The prefecture's ethnic Korean population has some family ties to North Koreans across the border, but economic development has been slow due to its isolated geography, South Korean newspaper Maeil Business reported.
After landing in Yanbian's main airport on Chinese "Air Force One," Xi visited a museum to learn about ethnic Korean culture in China and watched senior citizens dance to the lyrics of "The Red Sun Shines the Frontier," a popular Chinese communist song.
"I always listened to this song several decades ago, when I was a village secretary," Xi said, according to Xinhua.
Xi's unusual visit to an area that has registered economic growth far below China's national average could be a sign the Chinese president is looking to resume friendlier bilateral relations with North Korea, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
Xi has not met once with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un since assuming office in 2013, but already has met twice with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.
Yanbian, located in China's northeast Jilin province, could play a key role in Xi's plan to develop the hinterland that involves participation from North Korea, Russia and China.
RELATED South Korean lawyers call for investigation into spy agency
The Tumen River Delta International Tourism Area is under development with North Korea, Russia and China involved in its construction. But these and other projects have stalled, due to lack of reform inside North Korea.
During his Wednesday visit, Xi visited the office of Zhongche, a recently merged railway company that could be an integral part of his "Silk Road Initiative" to improve China's land-based links to Europe and Asian neighbors.
Analysts in South Korea said Friday Xi's move may be to appease a borderland population that has grown increasingly worried after desperate and hungry North Koreans, some in military uniform, have either killed or attacked Chinese nationals since last September.The fire started late on Sunday evening before quickly spreading, burning almost 100 acres of forest. The blaze – which started on the border of the Sahintepe and Mevkiinde districts – is said to be quickly spreading towards the NATO base and a number of populated areas due to strong winds in the region.
NC The massive fire was creeping up on the NATO base in Turkey
Fire |
child will have his superior but then to turn around and pass off the child as their current long-term mates’ genetic offspring (cuckoldry).
All women have a vested reproductive interest to marry a man who is as desirable and attractive (physically and otherwise) as possible, but the more desirable and attractive the husband is, the greater the chances that other women would want him as well and thus the greater the chances that he would be unfaithful. There is a surefire way to guarantee that their husband will never cheat on them, and that is to marry the biggest loser that they can find so that nobody else would want him. But obviously no woman would want to do that.
There is an additional complication in the matter. Humans are naturally polygynous; humans have been mildly polygynous throughout evolutionary history. So it is natural for resourceful men of high status to mate with multiple women simultaneously. (But recall the dangers of naturalistic fallacy. Natural means neither good nor desirable. It just means is; it does not mean ought.) So polygyny – of one man to more than one woman – is a deeply embedded part of male and female human nature. Men have always had multiple wives, and women have always been married to men who have had other wives.
It is true that, even under polygyny, many men still only have one wife while other men remain completely mateless. But we are disproportionately descended from polygynous men, because polygynous men invariably have more children than monogamous men. So most of us are descended from polygynous men (and, disproportionately, from highly successful polygynous men with a large number of wives), only a few of us are descended from monogamous men, and none of us are descended from mateless men. So polygyny remains a significant part of human nature.
Such is the dilemma faced by women, especially highly desirable women who are more likely to marry highly desirable men. The more desirable the woman is, the more desirable her husband is likely to be, and the more likely he is to cheat on her. The more likely her husband is to remain sexually faithful to her, the less desirable he is (and the greater the probability that perhaps she could have done much better than him).This kind of thing frequently happens in the U.S. as well. The Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wants and needs hate crimes against Muslims, because they’re the currency they use to buy power and influence in our victimhood-oriented society, and to deflect attention away from jihad terror and onto Muslims as putative victims. Hamas-linked CAIR, designated a terror organization by the United Arab Emirates, and other Muslims have on many occasions not hesitated to stoop even to fabricating “hate crimes,” including attacks on mosques. Most notably, in February, a New Jersey Muslim was found guilty of murder that he tried to portray as an “Islamophobic” attack, and in 2014 in California, a Muslim was found guilty of killing his wife, after first blaming her murder on “Islamophobia.”
“Muslim woman fined after LYING about being attacked for wearing hijab,” by Selina Sykes, Express, January 8, 2016:
A Muslim woman has been fined for lying to police about being attacked for wearing a hijab[.]
The 18-year-old student, known only as Miss Choudhury, said she was violently shoved from behind and punched in the face by a man in Birmingham city centre 10 days after the atrocities in the French capital on November 13.
The teenager told detectives she thought she was targeted on November 23 because she was wearing Islamic headwear.
But police, who treated it as a hate crime, found no evidence of the attack after spending hours trawling through CCTV footage in and around New Street where the assault allegedly took place.
The woman was given a £90 fine for wasting police time after officers even accompanied her to the scene to retrace her steps.
Miss Choudhury said she was too scared to walk alone after the made-up attack and claimed Muslims were being targeted after the atrocities in the French capital.
She said: “I feel shocked and really scared that someone could attack you for no reason.
“I don’t feel safe at all now.
“I was walking to the train station to meet some friends when someone shoved me from behind.
“When I turned around he punched me in the face and then just went off.”
She added: ”I was really upset afterwards.
“I can only think it was because he saw my hijab as he didn’t take my bag or anything.”
Speaking of the Paris attacks, Miss Choudhury said: “It’s made life harder for innocent Muslims.
“We don’t want people to be killed, that’s not our religion. Our religion is all about peace.
“My parents are so scared that they’re telling me to take my hijab off.”…By BARRY WILNER, AP Pro Football Writer
PHOENIX (AP) — Barring an unforeseen obstacle, the Oakland Raiders seem certain to get approval Monday to relocate to Las Vegas.
Several team owners have said this week they don't envision a scenario where Raiders owner Mark Davis doesn't get the required 24 votes to move the team.
Chargers owner Dean Spanos, whose team went from San Diego to Los Angeles in January, said late Sunday he "expects" the vote to go the Raiders' way, and that he "would vote for it."
One owner, speaking anonymously because he is not authorized to speak for the NFL, told The Associated Press: "Not only have no hurdles been made clear to us, but there isn't any opposition to it."
Added another, also speaking anonymously for the same reasons: "It's going to happen and the sooner we do it, the better it is for the league and for the Raiders."
Yes, the NFL is about to have a third franchise move in just over a year. The Rams played last season in Los Angeles after switching from St. Louis. Earlier this year, the Chargers moved from San Diego to L.A., although they will play in a soccer stadium until the $2.6 billion facility they will share with the Rams is ready in 2019. The Rams are playing in the Los Angeles Coliseum until then.
Now, the Raiders are set to become the second pro franchise in Las Vegas, following the NHL's Golden Knights, who begin play in the fall in an already-built arena. The Raiders could spend the next two or even three seasons in the Bay Area before their stadium — whose estimated cost has recently dropped from $1.9 billion to $1.7 billion — is ready.
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and a group trying to keep the team in Oakland, made a last-ditch presentation to the NFL last week. But that letter was "filled with uncertainty," according to Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The Raiders' move became more certain earlier this month when Bank of America stepped up with a $650 million loan to Davis. That replaced the same amount the Raiders lost when the league balked at having casino owner Sheldon Adelson involved and he was dropped from the team's plans.
Leaving the Bay Area is not something new with the Raiders, who played in Los Angeles from 1982-94 before heading back to Oakland. Davis was passed over last year in an attempt to move to a stadium in the LA area that would have been jointly financed with the Chargers. Instead, the owners approved the Rams' relocation and gave the Chargers an option to join them, which they exercised this winter.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft said "I hope so," when asked if he thinks the relocation will be approved. Getting that vote on the Raiders out of the way early is a smart move because there are many other issues they will consider this week. Among those:
—Shortening regular-season overtimes from 15 minutes to 10.
—Allowing referees to use tablets to review plays rather than "go under the hood," with final decisions being made by Dean Blandino and his officiating staff in New York, with consultation with the ref.
—Prohibiting "leapers" who try to block field goals and extra points.
—Amending the coaches' challenge system, either by allowing a third challenge if a team is successful on one of its first two tries; now, it must be successful on both challenges to get a third.
—Entirely eliminating the three challenges per team.
—Permitting a coach to challenge any officials' decision except on scoring plays or turnovers.
—Adding protection for a defenseless player to a receiver running a route.
—Eliminating the summer cutdown to 75 players, leading to just one cut day at the end of the preseason.
—Allowing teams to opt out of using the "color rush" jerseys in Thursday night games.
—Letting clubs negotiate with a potential hire for head coach even when that coach's team is still playing in the postseason.
—Permitting a team to hire another team's employee during the season as long as the employer consents.
___
For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFLA 25-year-old who claimed he and two friends had travelled from Ayia Napa to Syria on a fishing boat by mistake has admitted they made the story up.
Lewis Ellis, who set up his own vlogging page on YouTube four months ago, told friends on his Facebook page that it was all a hoax.
The club rep turned prankster said: "Hahaha what a prank."
And when asked if they had actually got on the wrong boat, he replied: "Naaa we just made it up for fun."
The story has been covered extensively online with news articles appearing first in the LAD Bible, then the Mirror, the Daily Mail, the Star, the Express and even on an Australian website.
It appears to have been picked up after images were posted on Snapchat.
Lewis Ellis appears in the photos with fellow club reps Alex McCormick, 19, from Essex, and 23-year-old James Wallman from Hertfordshire.
Lewis, Alex and James claimed they'd gone out clubbing and instead of going to bed, had waited up to go on a dolphin watching trip at nine o'clock in the morning.
But instead of getting on that ship, they said they had mistakenly blagged their way onto a fishing boat which then took them to the port of Tartus in Syria - 50 miles from Cyprus.
They said they were then taken into a Russian military base before returning to Aiya Napa.
Speaking on the phone from Ayia Napa, Alex said he'd come up with the story after a night in with the other two and put it on his Facebook page hoping someone would get in touch.
"I made the entire story up," he admits. "I was just typing it out as I was going along because the LAD Bible contacted me.
"We thought, 'What shall we do?' And then we said 'Let's just do it and see if it does take off.'"
Alex says the hoax does have a serious point though but that it wasn't specifically about Syria.
"For us it was a little bit more political," he says. "People are more indulged in this than they are with real problems in the world.
"It was interesting to see how all that would pan out. But I wasn't doing it purposefully to point out the problems in Syria. It was more ironic.
"We used Syria as a tool to get people riled up in a different way. It's about world affairs in general and it's particularly about the younger generation.
"They're more interested in the story than taking an interest in politics and seeing what's actually going on.
"Every aspect of their lives and future is going to be determined by politics and they would rather read about three lads that supposedly went to Syria and got captured by some Russians than they would determining their own fate."
Earlier this year Lewis Ellis was filmed jumping into the pool in the Trafford Centre's food hall.
He actually works in marketing but is in Ayia Napa as a club rep this summer.
He also has a master's degree in marketing from the University of Chester.
Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeatNASL Grand Finals - Preview Text by TeamLiquid ESPORTS Graphics by Meko
Table of Contents
Check out the the NASL Grand Finals on
Full Circle
Introduction
Ret vs Puzzle
Quarter-final Match One
HuK vs Alicia
Quarter-final Match Two
PuMa vs MC
Quarter-final Match Three
Stephano vs HerO
Quarter-final Match Four
Check out the the NASL Grand Finals on Liquipedia IntroductionQuarter-final Match OneQuarter-final Match TwoQuarter-final Match ThreeQuarter-final Match Four Full Circle
Introduction by JimLloyd
My first piece of writing published by TeamLiquid was some bullet points I wrote about NASL Season One, and I continued to cover the League throughout its first two seasons. I feel a connection to the NASL; it’s part of my personal eSports journey. I think Gretorp might be my spirit animal.
Through its three seasons, the NASL has provided us with a fantastic meta-narrative that exists outside of the actual games. What began with announcements of announcements and hype-for-hype quickly turned into technical problems and complaints about casting. The Season One finals looked like they could provide a great show, but they were undone by technical issues (that soundboard!) and were quickly overshadowed by (i) the fiasco of PuMa’s recruitment into the Evil Empire, and (ii) the even bigger fiasco involving the Korean pro teams. Which, of course, lead to production delays with Season Two and even more problems. But the Season Two finals showed some promise (music intros!) and provided some great Starcraft, culminating in a great HerO vs PuMa finals.
Having learned much about setting expectations and meeting them, NASL started Season Three by hiring one of the most in-demand casting duos in the business in Bitterdam and tightened up their broadcast. They started making
What started out looking like the amateurish production of a bunch of buddies sitting around coming up with ideas has turned into an league that identified problems they had, figured out
All in all, it looks like it's paid off. At the distinct risk of fatally over-hyping or jinxing the the League, I must note that I think I once saw a positive thread about the NASL on Reddit. Now it’s come down to an eight-man LAN event with a pretty fantastic lineup that presents some interesting storylines.
We don't know what the future holds for the NASL. Will there be a Season Four? Will they have as much money if they continue, and if not, will that affect the production? Has the NASL used up all of its initial goodwill through the minor disasters of Seasons One and Two? Even if you're not a fan of the NASL, even if you've sworn them off after the problems of earlier seasons, it's heartening to see people trying stuff, learning from mistakes, and working hard to make things better. I'm not going to say that the NASL is owed anything, that they deserve your viewership, or that -- God forbid -- people ought to watch because of "eSports." But I'm going to be watching it, not because of a moral imperative or out of a sense of loyalty to my hobby, but because I think after everything they've gone through, they're going to put on a great show.
Well, let's meet the players then. My first piece of writing published by TeamLiquid was some bullet points I wrote about NASL Season One, and I continued to cover the League throughout its first two seasons. I feel a connection to the NASL; it’s part of my personal eSports journey. I think Gretorp might be my spirit animal.Through its three seasons, the NASL has provided us with a fantastic meta-narrative that exists outside of the actual games. What began with announcements of announcements and hype-for-hype quickly turned into technical problems and complaints about casting. The Season One finals looked like they could provide a great show, but they were undone by technical issues (that soundboard!) and were quickly overshadowed by (i) the fiasco of PuMa’s recruitment into the Evil Empire, and (ii) the even bigger fiasco involving the Korean pro teams. Which, of course, lead to production delays with Season Two and even more problems. But the Season Two finals showed some promise (music intros!) and provided some great Starcraft, culminating in a great HerO vs PuMa finals.Having learned much about setting expectations and meeting them, NASL started Season Three by hiring one of the most in-demand casting duos in the business in Bitterdam and tightened up their broadcast. They started making adorably goofy fan service videos and ably played off their casters’ chemistry with on-the-fly production. They released all their VODs on YouTube in HD, and they moved their offline finals to Canada, to be the first premier LAN event in that country.What started out looking like the amateurish production of a bunch of buddies sitting around coming up with ideas has turned into an league that identified problems they had, figured out what they needed to fix them, and for the most part succeeded. In short: they showed the traits of a successful organization.All in all, it looks like it's paid off. At the distinct risk of fatally over-hyping or jinxing the the League, I must note that I think I once saw athread about the NASL on Reddit. Now it’s come down to an eight-man LAN event with a pretty fantastic lineup that presents some interesting storylines.We don't know what the future holds for the NASL. Will there be a Season Four? Will they have as much money if they continue, and if not, will that affect the production? Has the NASL used up all of its initial goodwill through the minor disasters of Seasons One and Two? Even if you're not a fan of the NASL, even if you've sworn them off after the problems of earlier seasons, it's heartening to see people trying stuff, learning from mistakes, and working hard to make things better. I'm not going to say that the NASL isanything, that theyyour viewership, or that -- God forbid -- people ought to watch because of "eSports." But I'm going to be watching it, not because of a moral imperative or out of a sense of loyalty to my hobby, but because I think after everything they've gone through, they're going to put on a great show.Well, let's meet the players then.
Liquid`Ret vs SlayerS_Puzzle by NrGmonk
The most macro PvZ you’re likely to see in a while
Though he hasn't seen much recent success in the GSL, Puzzle has become SlayerS' new hero by carrying them through the chaotic arena known as the GSTL. Unlike GSL, GSTL is less about preparation and more about raw skill and solid play, two qualities Puzzle possesses in spades. Puzzle comes from a newer breed of Protoss players who tend towards passive macro games rather than the older 2-base all-in style we used to see all the time in PvZ. Among his brethren are the likes of Creator, Seed,, and – definitely not bad company to be associated with.
At the heart of Puzzle's macro play is his bread and butter immortal expand build, which aims to get a safe third base against any type of roach aggression that is so common in today’s metagame. From the GSL to the NASL, this build actually has a 100% win rate in broadcast matches, so definitely look for it to come up at least once in this series.
However, even though Puzzle is fundamentally a macro player, he knows that it's still good to throw in a two base all-in once in awhile. For example, after Puzzle stomped on NSH's with macro play in the GSTL, he decided to pull a fast one and pummeled him with aggressive all-ins when they next met up in Code A. Though Puzzle is the quintessential macro player, don't be surprised if a few all-ins show up in this series. He is playing Protoss versus Zerg, after all.
His opponent, Ret, is known to the foreigner scene as the king of drones, or as likes to call him, the “father of drones.” As everyone knows, if you want to look for very solid, very standard Zerg play, then you have nowhere further to look but Ret.
Ret isn't like who often experiments with complicated combinations of banelings, hydras, overlords and ultralisks. Nor is he similar to, who won’t hesitate to use the retro-hipster combination of lings and banelings. No, with Ret, you always know what you’re going to get. First off, he will almost never cheese you unless he’s forced into that position. That contrasts strongly with players like and who use an errant baneling bust or 6-pool now and then to supplement their macro play, or players like and who are utterly unpredictable. Ret is the boy scout of Zerg, and always opens standard 3 base Zerg so he can start mass producing those drones posthaste. Although this is a solid way to play the game, Ret’s predictability sometimes gets taken advantage of when opponents skimp on scouting in favor of more economy.
After the opening stages of the game, Ret will always attempt to deal with two base pressure or all-ins with roaches; none of that fancy baneling, infestor-ling, or hydralisk crap. And if he survives the mid game, he will do one of two things: light roach-based pressure (though none of that balls to the wall Stephano-style roaches) into infestor broodlord, or just straight up ling/infestor turtle into 15 minute broodlords. By the time broodlords come out, most opponents will have usually sucumed to Ret’s macro advantage provided by his abundant supply of drone children.
Alright, that’s cool and all, but if Ret is so “solid”, then why doesn’t he win every tourney and why does he sometimes actually lose to Protoss? To answer that, let’s take a look at his notable ZvP losses in the past few months. At the Dreamhack Stockholm tournament three months ago, Ret was in a dominating position versus Genius, but didn't know spine his fourth base heavily and lost as a result. In late May, at the Red Bull Battlegrounds, Ret just seemed to lack the knowledge and experience needed to hold the dreaded immortal/sentry all-in against Parting. And although Ret played amazingly versus Squirtle and brought it down to the wire at the Battlegrounds, he made small, but key mistakes in the late game, causing him to lose from an advantageous position. At Dreamhack Summer, Ret neglected to spine and spore his bases against his teammate, Hero, a player usually known for his warp prism harass. And most recently, against MC at HSC V, well to be honest, he just got outplayed by the best PvZ player in the world.
Ret, the Supervillain
"Well it's kind of interesting because there was a time I felt really good about ZvP and then the immortal all-in completely threw me off. I struggled for a while to get the timings down and now I feel like I can finally deal with it. I'm still learning a lot of ZvP every tournament I play but I feel pretty good about playing anyone except some of the very best Korean Protosses in the game. In that regard I'm really happy I get to test myself against Puzzle and the next two weeks will be dedicated to improving my ZvP and (hopefully) getting it ready for a top Korean."
In every tournament Ret has entered in the past few months, he has been thrown off by just one or two key holes in his play. He then patches these holes afterwards only to find a new hole the very next tournament. Like the character,
Yes, Ret does struggle against top Korean Protosses, as the only times he's been truly outplayed are against the likes of MC, Squirtle, and Hero. Unfortunately for him though, Puzzle has proven, through both GSTL and his generally solid play, that he does belong to that group, the top echelon of Korean Protosses. Trophies aren't everything; it's just something you can see in his play. One day, Ret might finally complete his adaptation and overcome his weakness to top Korean Protosses and slay those Starcraft supermen. But as things stand now, I'm afraid tomorrow won't be that day.
Prediction: Puzzle 3 – 2 Ret
Though he hasn't seen much recent success in the GSL,has become SlayerS' new hero by carrying them through the chaotic arena known as the GSTL. Unlike GSL, GSTL is less about preparation and more about raw skill and solid play, two qualities Puzzle possesses in spades. Puzzle comes from a newer breed of Protoss players who tend towards passive macro games rather than the older 2-base all-in style we used to see all the time in PvZ. Among his brethren are the likes of YongHwa, and HerO – definitely not bad company to be associated with.At the heart of Puzzle's macro play is his bread and butter immortal expand build, which aims to get a safe third base against any type of roach aggression that is so common in today’s metagame. From the GSL to the NASL, this build actually has a 100% win rate in broadcast matches, so definitely look for it to come up at least once in this series.However, even though Puzzle is fundamentally a macro player, he knows that it's still good to throw in a two base all-in once in awhile. For example, after Puzzle stomped on NSH's Seal with macro play in the GSTL, he decided to pull a fast one and pummeled him with aggressive all-ins when they next met up in Code A. Though Puzzle is the quintessential macro player, don't be surprised if a few all-ins show up in this series. Heplaying Protoss versus Zerg, after all.His opponent,, is known to the foreigner scene as the king of drones, or as MC likes to call him, the “father of drones.” As everyone knows, if you want to look for very solid, very standard Zerg play, then you have nowhere further to look but Ret.Ret isn't like Symbol who often experiments with complicated combinations of banelings, hydras, overlords and ultralisks. Nor is he similar to DIMAGA, who won’t hesitate to use the retro-hipster combination of lings and banelings. No, with Ret, you always know what you’re going to get. First off, he will almostcheese you unless he’s forced into that position. That contrasts strongly with players like Stephano and DRG who use an errant baneling bust or 6-pool now and then to supplement their macro play, or players like NesTea and Leenock who are utterly unpredictable. Ret is the boy scout of Zerg, and always opens standard 3 base Zerg so he can start mass producing those drones posthaste. Although this is a solid way to play the game, Ret’s predictability sometimes gets taken advantage of when opponents skimp on scouting in favor of more economy.After the opening stages of the game, Ret will always attempt to deal with two base pressure or all-ins with roaches; none of that fancy baneling, infestor-ling, or hydralisk crap. And if he survives the mid game, he will do one of two things: light roach-based pressure (though none of that balls to the wall Stephano-style roaches) into infestor broodlord, or just straight up ling/infestor turtle into 15 minute broodlords. By the time broodlords come out, most opponents will have usually sucumed to Ret’s macro advantage provided by his abundant supply of drone children.Alright, that’s cool and all, but if Ret is so “solid”, then why doesn’t he win every tourney and why does he sometimes actually lose to Protoss? To answer that, let’s take a look at his notable ZvP losses in the past few months. At the Dreamhack Stockholm tournament three months ago, Ret was in a dominating position versus Genius, but didn't know spine his fourth base heavily and lost as a result. In late May, at the Red Bull Battlegrounds, Ret just seemed to lack the knowledge and experience needed to hold the dreaded immortal/sentry all-in against Parting. And although Ret played amazingly versus Squirtle and brought it down to the wire at the Battlegrounds, he made small, but key mistakes in the late game, causing him to lose from an advantageous position. At Dreamhack Summer, Ret neglected to spine and spore his bases against his teammate, Hero, a player usually known for his warp prism harass. And most recently, against MC at HSC V, well to be honest, he just got outplayed by the best PvZ player in the world.In every tournament Ret has entered in the past few months, he has been thrown off by just one or two key holes in his play. He then patches these holes afterwards only to find a new hole the very next tournament. Like the character, Doomsday, from the Superman mythos, Ret seems to have the power of reactive adaptation. If Ret dies to something in one tournament, he will be immune to it in the next. If we take this ability to its logical conclusion, then one day Ret will be invincible (Doomsday is famous as the villain who finally 'killed' Superman).Yes, Ret does struggle against top Korean Protosses, as the only times he's been truly outplayed are against the likes of MC, Squirtle, and Hero. Unfortunately for him though, Puzzle has proven, through both GSTL and his generally solid play, that he does belong to that group, the top echelon of Korean Protosses. Trophies aren't everything; it's just something you can see in his play. One day, Ret might finally complete his adaptation and overcome his weakness to top Korean Protosses and slay those Starcraft supermen. But as things stand now, I'm afraid tomorrow won't be that day.– 2 Ret
EG.HuK vs SlayerS_Alicia by tree.hugger
This match-up lacks the sexiness of the other quarterfinals, but it has a sort of ugly duckling appeal. Here we find two players who've seemed to be headed in completely opposite directions recently, but their rapid movement—whether up or down—begs the question; is it real? Oh, and then there's the not so simple matter about whether the players will even show up to the series on time. No promises that we'll see those questions answered on Saturday, (well, fine, we're pretty sure they'll both be there eventually) but it presents an interesting backdrop to what should otherwise be an orthodox PvP between two players floating in the grey zone between Code A and Code B.
SlayerS_Alicia is one of the most surprising players to make a comeback in recent months. Once known exclusively for making a certain GSL commentator swoon by going three gate void ray in every single PvT, Alicia is busy turning the Artosis curse on its head (actually, with taking second at HSC and qualifying for TSL, could the Artosis curse be going awa — oh right, ) over a year later. Is he the real deal though? Or is he riding a silly amount of luck
Perhaps that's a leading question.
Then there's HuK, who was bumped out of Dreamhack Summer in the groups—some would say unfairly—and has repeatedly failed to qualify, or even reach the Ro32 in week after week of TLOpens. His qualification for the NASL finals is no less unconvincing than Alicia's. Winning his group, HuK was the beneficiary of three walkovers; from Sen,, and. Now, some excuses can be made. HuK would've been favored against all three of his NASL walkover opponents, he did play well at Dreamhack, and his TLOpen losses, upon examination, are mostly in Bo1s against tricky strategies. But the fact remains that HuK isn't nearly as untouchable as he used to be. Once up there with as the obvious best foreigner, HuK has faded as players like and have gone to more events and put up better results. For maybe the first time in his career, it feels like HuK is underexposed.
There's a third player in this series. His handle is JetLagfOu. Both HuK and Alicia are coming to the NASL Finals on the day of the tournament, on the same plane. [Disclaimer: NASL didn't cause the issue and has by all accounts done a heroic job in piecing this mess together.] Due to scheduling and booking mistakes, the Korean contingent has been heavily delayed. After spending an eternity in airport limbo, they will indeed be making it to the tournament, but mere hours before their scheduled play time. How that will affect either player's abilities is yet to be seen, but it seems reasonable to at least assume; it won't help. Here's a guess. PvP, which is, at its finest, a battle of wits, will become a battle of who has their wits about them. Slow hands aren't easily fixable, but a slow brain will be fatal in this series. The player who can best preserve a positive mindset on the plane, who can sleep as comfortably and long as possible, and who can get pumped up when the crowd cheers and they walk down the red carpet: that's your winner.
So HuK and Alicia have had a hard time attracting attention over their rivals recently. For Alicia, his poor play in the past has diminished his recent notable accomplishments. For HuK, his recent lack of results hasn't measured up to his prior form. But both Protoss players have one significant thing going for them this weekend. They're here. Their popular rivals are not. And so this PvP represents a golden opportunity for both gentlemen to reclaim a position on the podium as one of the world's top Protoss players. But then factor in the stresses of simply getting to the event, and things become even more chaotic and interesting. Which player can better overcome fatigue and prove themselves among the elite Protoss? Can either of them recover enough to push even farther into the tournament?
Many questions, no easy answers. A prediction you say? Get your dice ready. Both Alicia and HuK can play PvP at the highest level; no obvious favorite there. HuK is the more experienced international traveler, but we've seen what too much travel has done for him in the past. Alicia is less experienced; how will he deal with the airline snafus? Perhaps one player will sabotage the other as they sleep? Ultimately, there are way too many uncertain variables to prognosticate with any confidence. So we'll call it for home field advantage. When HuK walks out and the home country crowd cheers his name; that'll give him the slight edge he needs to focus and take the series home.
Prediction: HuK 3 – 2 Alicia
This match-up lacks the sexiness of the other quarterfinals, but it has a sort of ugly duckling appeal. Here we find two players who've seemed to be headed in completely opposite directions recently, but their rapid movement—whether up or down—begs the question; is it real? Oh, and then there's the not so simple matter about whether the players will even show up to the series on time. No promises that we'll see those questions answered on Saturday, (well, fine, we're pretty sure they'll both be there eventually) but it presents an interesting backdrop to what should otherwise be an orthodox PvP between two players floating in the grey zone between Code A and Code B.is one of the most surprising players to make a comeback in recent months. Once known exclusively for making a certain GSL commentator swoon by going three gate void ray in every single PvT, Alicia is busy turning the Artosis curse on its head (actually, with YongHwa taking second at HSC and MajOr qualifying for TSL, could the Artosis curse be going awa — oh right, Clide ) over a year later. Is he the real deal though? Or is he riding a silly amount of luck that saw him qualify with narrow PvP victories over foreigners and a close call against a bad TvP teammate, then getting placed in the weakest group?Perhaps that's a leading question.Then there's, who was bumped out of Dreamhack Summer in the groups—some would say unfairly—and has repeatedly failed to qualify, or even reach the Ro32 in week after week of TLOpens. His qualification for the NASL finals is no less unconvincing than Alicia's. Winning his group, HuK was the beneficiary of three walkovers; from TLO, and MaNa. Now, some excuses can be made. HuK would've been favored against all three of his NASL walkover opponents, he did play well at Dreamhack, and his TLOpen losses, upon examination, are mostly in Bo1s against tricky strategies. But the fact remains that HuK isn't nearly as untouchable as he used to be. Once up there with Stephano as the obvious best foreigner, HuK has faded as players like SaSe and NaNiwa have gone to more events and put up better results. For maybe the first time in his career, it feels like HuK is underexposed.There's a third player in this series. His handle is JetLagfOu. Both HuK and Alicia are coming to the NASL Finalson the same plane. [Disclaimer: NASL didn't cause the issue and has by all accounts done a heroic job in piecing this mess together.] Due to scheduling and booking mistakes, the Korean contingent has been heavily delayed. After spending an eternity in airport limbo, they will indeed be making it to the tournament, but mere hours before their scheduled play time. How that will affect either player's abilities is yet to be seen, but it seems reasonable to at least assume; it won't help. Here's a guess. PvP, which is, at its finest, a battle of wits, will become a battle of who has their wits about them. Slow hands aren't easily fixable, but a slow brain will be fatal in this series. The player who can best preserve a positive mindset on the plane, who can sleep as comfortably and long as possible, and who can get pumped up when the crowd cheers and they walk down the red carpet: that's your winner.So HuK and Alicia have had a hard time attracting attention over their rivals recently. For Alicia, his poor play in the past has diminished his recent notable accomplishments. For HuK, his recent lack of results hasn't measured up to his prior form. But both Protoss players have one significant thing going for them this weekend. They're here. Their popular rivals are not. And so this PvP represents a golden opportunity for both gentlemen to reclaim a position on the podium as one of the world's top Protoss |
them. 33 in April, he hit.260/.328/.394 over the last three years and plays average defense. The Halos chose not to risk the one-year, $15.8MM qualifying offer to Freese. That’s a big plus for his free agency and probably makes a third year possible. He could return to the Angels, while the White Sox and Indians also make sense.
32. Gerardo Parra – Nationals. Three years, $27MM. Parra was a hot commodity on the July trade market after hitting well beyond his norm for 100 games with the Brewers. The Orioles acquired him, and he tanked in the remaining 55 games. Still, Parra doesn’t turn 29 until May, he plays all three outfield positions, and he’s not eligible for a qualifying offer. Parra’s struggles against left-handed pitching prevent him from being a regular, but he’ll be a popular free agent as something between a regular and a fourth outfielder. There’s a Mike Rizzo connection since Parra came up with the D’Backs, while the White Sox, Mets, and Padres could also work.
33. Darren O’Day – Red Sox. Three years, $22.5MM. O’Day may be the best reliever on the free agent market. The sidearmer compiled a 1.92 ERA in 263 innings over four seasons with the Orioles. He has at times struggled with walks and home runs against left-handed hitters, but he doesn’t have to be used as a righty specialist. Though he recently turned 33, a three-year deal is in order. If the Orioles elect not to pay the price, the Red Sox, Tigers, Braves, Diamondbacks, and Mets are just a few potential suitors.
34. Joakim Soria – Tigers. Three years, $18MM. Soria, the former dominant Royals closer, is fully back to form after April 2012 Tommy John surgery. He became the Tigers’ closer after Joe Nathan went down with an elbow injury, and was traded to the Pirates in July. A healthy three-year deal is in order for Soria, who turns 32 in May. His market will be similar to that of O’Day, perhaps with a boost for some teams due to his closing experience.
35. Austin Jackson – Rockies. One year, $12MM. Jackson looked like a potential star after a breakout 2012 season with the Tigers. However, his offense declined and he was traded to the Mariners at the 2014 trade deadline. Seattle sent him to the Cubs this year at the August deadline. Jackson doesn’t turn 29 until February, and he plays a capable center field. There’s a good chance he can still pass as a two-win center fielder. A Boras client, Jackson could attempt to maximize his earnings now on multiyear deal, or rebuild value on a one-year pact. A return to the Cubs makes sense, while the Rockies, Marlins, Nationals, Rangers, Braves, Reds, White Sox, and Indians could also be fits.
36. Tyler Clippard – Braves. Three years, $18MM. Clippard’s strikeout and walk rates moved in the wrong direction this year, but he still compiled a 2.92 ERA in 71 innings for the Athletics and Mets. He’s a two-time All-Star who has succeeded in a setup and occasional closer role since 2009. His history of success should be enough for a three-year deal.
37. Asdrubal Cabrera – White Sox. Two years, $18MM. The Rays signed Cabrera to a one-year, $7.5MM deal in January. His longstanding record as a below-average defensive shortstop held true, but he showed some pop with 15 home runs and overall was a net positive. Some teams might prefer him at second base, where he played for the Nationals last year. The Padres or White Sox could plug him in as a stopgap at either position.
38. Mat Latos – Pirates. One year, $12MM. A few years ago, Latos seemed in line for a monster free agent deal upon hitting the market at age 28. Then bone spurs in his elbow late in 2013 led to surgery, followed by knee surgery prior to 2014 spring training, and then a flexor mass strain in his elbow. His 2014 season debut was pushed to mid-June. He had a stem cell elbow procedure in November 2014, and then the Reds traded him to the Marlins. He battled minor injuries but showed promise in his 16 starts with the Marlins this year and then joined the Dodgers via trade. Latos struggled in six outings for the Dodgers and earned his release, hooking on with the Angels in late September to make a few relief appearances. Latos will probably go for a one-year deal to rebuild value, and the Pirates have a knack for getting pitchers back on track. As one of only a couple of interesting one-year deal arms, Latos should be popular.
39. Doug Fister – Astros. One year, $10MM. Fister is the other popular one-year deal target, as he served as a dependable starting pitcher until this year. With his strikeout and groundball rates declining, and his fastball down to around 86 miles per hour, he doesn’t have the upside of Latos.
40. Mike Pelfrey – Royals. Two years, $15MM. Pelfrey isn’t the most exciting free agent starter, but the righty did make 30 starts for the Twins this year with the game’s eighth best home run prevention rate. Teams like the Royals, Tigers, and Phillies could entertain him for the back end of the rotation.
41. Antonio Bastardo – Mariners. Three years, $15MM. Bastardo profiles as the best lefty reliever on the free agent market after a 2.98 ERA in 57 1/3 innings for the Pirates. The 30-year-old does have control problems, however. The Mariners, Twins, and Cardinals are a few potential matches.
42. Ryan Madson – Twins. Three years, $15MM. Madson, 35, signed a minor league deal with the Royals in January. He hadn’t pitched in the Majors since 2011. With a 2.13 ERA and strong peripherals in 63 1/3 big league innings, Madson proved he’s all the way back as a top setup option. Suitors will prefer a two-year deal due to Madson’s age and history, but a third year might win the bid.
43. Steve Pearce – Rangers. Two years, $14MM. Pearce smashed 21 home runs in 383 plate appearances for the Orioles in 2014, but couldn’t replicate his success in his contract year. He could fill a lefty-mashing left field/first base role for the Rangers.
44. Shawn Kelley – Diamondbacks. Two years, $12MM. Kelley has a shot at a three-year deal, after he posted a 2.45 ERA, 11.1 K/9, and 2.6 BB/9 in 51 1/3 innings for the Padres this year. He’ll be appealing to a long list of teams seeking to augment the bullpen.
45. John Jaso – Orioles. Two years, $12MM. Jaso spent most of the season as the Rays’ designated hitter, and figures to remain in the American League. A wrist injury knocked him out for three months this year. The 32-year-old hit.278/.368/.439 against right-handed pitching over the last three years, but generally shouldn’t face lefties.
46. Chris B. Young – Yankees. Two years, $12MM. Young is a lefty-masher who can play all three outfield positions. If the Yankees don’t bring him back, the Rangers could be a fit.
47. Tony Sipp – Astros. Three years, $12MM. Sipp, one of the top lefty relievers on the market, revived his career by joining the Astros in 2014. He seems inclined to stay in Houston, though he may be popular enough to net a three-year offer.
48. Justin Morneau – Orioles. One year, $8MM. After winning a batting title with the Rockies last year, Morneau played in just 49 games in 2015 due to a strained neck and concussion symptoms. A move back to the American League makes sense.
49. Alexei Ramirez – Padres. One year, $7.5MM. Ramirez’s $10MM option was a borderline call for the White Sox, but they ultimately chose the $1MM buyout. The 34-year-old struggled mightily in the season’s first three months, but hit a respectable.282/.329/.426 in the second half. His defense might be a little below average at this point, but teams seeking a shortstop can’t be too picky.
50. Rich Hill – Phillies. One year, $5MM. Hill, 36 in March, rose from the ashes to twirl four brilliant starts for the Red Sox in September and October. He’s a southpaw with a huge curveball and career-long control issues. His last run of success as a starter came in 2007, but I like using the last spot on this list for a wild card.
Honorable mentions: Mark Buehrle, Bartolo Colon, Nori Aoki, Rajai Davis, Alejandro De Aza, Jimmy Rollins, Mike Napoli, Marlon Byrd, Chase Utley, David Murphy, Tim Lincecum, Mark Lowe, Alex Rios, Chris Young
Cuban righty Yaisel Sierra has been left off the top 50 list since the timing of his free agency remains an unknown.Lanes reopen on Pensacola Street after months of emergency repairs Copyright by KHON - All rights reserved Video
Lanes are back open along Pensacola Street Monday after months of emergency work.
Drivers have constantly dealt with busy roadways in the heart of Kakaako, but they'll notice a lot less cones and safety barriers.
Nearby restaurants and retailers are breathing a sigh of relief. Many say business has plummeted since the work began in April.
"The last day of the parking I believe was this past Saturday, and we actually didn't get word of that either. They just cleared the barricade and they were just gone. Hopefully we'll get the business going again. I'm sure not too many people know about the opening of the Pensacola Street again, so hopefully we'll get more customers," said Hiroaki Iguchi of Menya Musashi Ramen. "I really want to thank our customers that came when the parking was closed. They had to park somewhere else and walk over, but our customers, we're really fortunate to have such great customers here."
City officials say the emergency work was necessary after nearly 50-year-old underground storm water drains were found in danger of collapsing. Crews had to install hundreds of jacks underneath the road to stabilize it.
According to Robert Kroning, director of the city Department of Design and Construction:
"The Pensacola emergency repairs project is nearly complete. As of Friday, cleaning and shoring work was finished and all traffic lanes were re-opened. All signage for lane closures and weight restrictions were removed late Friday. The contractor is still restricting 10 to 12 parking stalls along Waimanu Street for additional cleanup. The remaining cleanup does not require lane closures, and should be completed sometime next week. The work involved the cleaning of 734 linear feet of culvert and the installation of 1,038 jacks."
Despite all the headaches, this is still just a temporary fix. The city says a future project will be planned for a more permanent solution.Once upon a time, the Oculus Rift headset was a prototype with a blurry screen bound with gaffer’s tape. But 9,522 people saw the device’s potential, donating $2.4 million through Kickstarter to get early versions built and shipped to game developers. They wanted to see Oculus build "the future of virtual reality." They didn’t expect it to get bought by Facebook.
"I cannot put into words how betrayed I feel by this," backer Sergey Chubukov writes on the Oculus Kickstarter comment page. "I feel cheated. I backed a vision of what I wanted gaming to be in the future. Now all I want is my money back," writes Grant Wilkinson. "I'm disappointed. You had the potential to become bigger than Facebook on your own," says John Susek.
"I cannot put into words how betrayed I feel by this."
Unlike many Kickstarter projects, Oculus actually delivered on its promise to ship early versions of the hardware to people who donated. But its grand rhetoric gave backers the impression that they were buying into the virtual reality revolution and would be along for the full ride. Not all the reactions were negative; some are optimistic that Facebook will give Oculus the resources it needs to make virtual reality robust and widespread. But most seem to feel that it would have been better to see Oculus grow up on its own — and if it couldn’t, it would have been better to see it bought by a company with a proven track record on gaming, hardware, privacy, or taking care of its acquisitions.
"What made Oculus so great was that it was a DIY project by a kid in his garage that was so good that it gave John Carmack pause," says Jordan Orelli, a developer who lives in New York, referring to the creator of Doom who first enthused about the Rift and even quit his day job to focus on it full-time.
"What has Facebook done for gaming? Nothing," Orelli says. "If it was Valve that had bought Oculus, I would have peed my pants uncontrollably. Apple, Google, Sony, Nintendo, fuck, even Microsoft would have all been better than Facebook."
It also doesn’t help that Facebook has turned into a service people generally distrust but also feel like they can’t quit. By doing what many backers see as a bait-and-switch in order to align itself with a company many people see as untrustworthy, Oculus may have done serious damage to its reputation.
Minecraft founder Markus Persson, an early Oculus backer, was especially shaken. "I did not chip in ten grand to seed a first investment round to build value for a Facebook acquisition," he wrote in a blog post last night. "I will not work with Facebook. Their motives are too unclear and shifting, and they haven't historically been a stable platform."
Oculus and Facebook announced the acquisition with a press release and a call with journalists. Oculus emailed its press release to backers and posted a contrite blog post seemingly as an afterthought. But after the blowback, founder Palmer Luckey jumped on Reddit to do damage control.
"I won't change, and any change at Oculus will be for the better."
Oculus will operate independently of Facebook, he promised, and users will never have to sign in using Facebook to play Oculus games. "I am sorry that you are disappointed. To be honest, if I were you, I would probably have a similar initial impression!" he writes.
"I won't change, and any change at Oculus will be for the better," he continues. "We have even more freedom than we had under our investment partners because Facebook is making a long-term play on the success of VR, not short-term returns. A lot of people are upset, and I get that. If you feel the same way a year from now, I would be very surprised."
Oculus can now afford to make custom hardware instead of relying on the scraps from the mobile phone industry, hire anyone it wants, and make large investments in content, he says, adding "this is about the best possible outcome for the future of virtual reality, not my wallet."
And in another comment, again: "We promise we won't change."
It’s out of backers’ hands
In the end, it’s a story that’s been told many times. A small, beloved startup gets bought by a larger company with stronger profit motives; fans bemoan the founders for being sellouts and fret that the product will lose its heart. This time, fans were financially invested as well as emotionally invested. Being mostly independent game developers, they were also building the first layer of Oculus’s business. But the story is not much different, and the ending will be the same. Facebook will change Oculus, for better or for worse. It’s out of backers’ hands.
João Branchier, a 16-year-old high school student in Brazil, saved for "quite a while" so he could spend $350 on an Oculus developer kit. "I ordered my Oculus literally days ago, but now knowing that Facebook bought it I don't know how I feel about it," he tells The Verge. "I understand that Facebook... will supply Oculus with unlimited money for development and we will probably get a better product, but I fear they may try and make it just another product to get revenue and forget about all the indie essence of this project, initially funded by the community."WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee will begin to mark up three immigration bills tomorrow that would have significant, negative implications for immigrant communities and the rule of law. The bills are the Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act (H.R. 2431), the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Authorization Act of 2017 (H.R. 2406), and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Authorization Act (H.R. 2407).
Ronald Newman, American Civil Liberties Union policy counsel, issued the following statement:
“If enacted, the bills would raise a host of constitutional concerns, undermining public safety and harming immigrants and U.S. citizens alike. They would also lead to significant, unnecessary federal spending and erode U.S. values and norms. They would provide rocket fuel for President Trump’s mass deportation agenda.
“It’s extremely disappointing that President Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda is being given airtime in Congress. Since our nation’s inception, immigrants have been at the very heart of our identity. The ACLU urges Congress to reject these misguided bills and work on enacting policies that are inclusive, and uphold our constitutional norms and values.”
The bills would expand mandatory detention and detention without bond hearings in ways that have previously drawn scrutiny from the courts, ignoring the fact that many immigrants present no public safety risk and have long-standing ties to local communities. In pushing states and localities to adopt their own civil and criminal immigration laws and to enforce federal laws, these bills would lead to a patchwork of immigration rules and set the stage for racial profiling and unfair treatment of immigrants and citizens.
The bills would further limit access to court for immigrant populations, dismissing due process norms. They would also usher in odd, blanket requirements for immigration agents to be issued assault rifles, militarizing U.S. communities. Other controversial elements include the permanent establishment of a ‘VOICE’ office purportedly meant to serve crime victims, yet clearly designed to stir animus towards immigrants, and an E-Verify system for checking work authorization that is ineffective and error-prone.FBI Account of 'Terror Plot' Suggests Sting
By Gareth Porter
October 14, 2011 " Information Clearing House " -- WASHINGTON - While the Barack Obama administration vows to hold the Iranian government "accountable" for the alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington, the legal document describing evidence in the case provides multiple indications that it was mainly the result of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sting operation.
Although the document, called an amended criminal complaint, implicates Iranian-American Mansour Arabsiar and his cousin Ali Gholam Shakuri, an officer in the Iranian Qods force, in a plan to assassinate Saudi Arabian ambassador Adel al-Jubeir, it also suggests that the idea "originated with and was strongly pushed by an undercover DEA [Department of Drug Enforcement] informant, at the direction of the FBI".
On May 24, when Arabsiar first met with the DEA informant he thought was part of a Mexican drug cartel, it was not to hire a hit squad to kill the ambassador. Rather, there is reason to believe that the main purpose was to arrange a deal to sell large amounts of opium from Afghanistan.
In the complaint, the closest to a semblance of evidence that Arabsiar sought help during that first meeting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador is the allegation, attributed to the DEA informant, that Arabsiar said he was "interested in, among other things, attacking an embassy of Saudi Arabia".
Among the "other things" was almost certainly a deal on heroin controlled by officers in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Three Bloomberg reporters, citing a "federal law enforcement official", wrote that Arabsiar told the DEA informant he represented Iranians who "controlled drug smuggling and could provide tons of opium".
Because of opium entering Iran from Afghanistan, Iranian authorities hold 85% of the world's opium seizures, according to Iran's Fars News Agency. Iranian security personnel, including those in the IRGC and its Qods force, then have the opportunity to sell the opium to traffickers in the Middle East, Europe and now Mexico.
Mexican drug cartels have begun connecting with Middle Eastern drug traffickers, in many cases stationing operatives in Middle East locations to facilitate heroin production and sales, according to a report last January in Border Beat, an online news service run by University of Arizona journalism students.
But the FBI account of the contacts between Arabsiar and the DEA informant does not reference any discussions of drugs.
The criminal complaint refers to an unspecified number of meetings between Arabsiar and the DEA informant in late June and the first two weeks of July. What transpired in those meetings remains the central mystery surrounding the case.
The official account of the investigation cites the testimony of the informant (referred to in the document as "CS-1") in stating, "Over the course of a series of meetings, Arabsiar explained to CS-1 that his associates in Iran had discussed a number of violent missions for CS-1 and CIS-1's purported criminal associates to perform."
The account claims that the mission discussed included murdering the ambassador. But no specific statement proposing or agreeing to the act is attributed to Arabsiar. "Prior to the July 14 meeting, CS-1 had reported that he and Arabsiar had discussed the possibility of attacks on a number of other targets," the account states.
The targets are described as involving "foreign government facilities associated with Saudi Arabia and with another country located either in or outside the United States", without mentioning any discussion of the Saudi ambassador.
Both that language and the absence of any statement attributed to Arabsiar imply that the Iranian-American said nothing about assassinating the Saudi ambassador except in response to suggestions by the informant, who was already part of an FBI undercover operation.
The DEA informant, as the FBI account acknowledges in a footnote, had previously been charged with a narcotics offence by a state in the US and had been cooperating in narcotics investigations - apparently posing as a drug cartel operative - in return for dropping the charges. The document is notably silent on whether the conversation was recorded.
A former FBI official familiar with procedures in such cases, who spoke to Inter Press Service (IPS) anonymously, said the FBI would normally have recorded all such conversations touching on the possibility of terrorism.
The absence of quotes from any of those meetings suggests that they do not support the case being made by the FBI and the Obama administration.
The account is quite explicit, on the other hand, that the July 14 and July 17 meetings were recorded at FBI direction. Statements quoted from those transcripts show the DEA informant trying to induce Arabsiar to indicate agreement to assassinating the Saudi ambassador.
The informant is quoted as saying he would need "at least four guys" and would "take the one point five for the Saudi Arabia". He declared that he "go ahead and work on the Saudi Arabia, get all the information we can".
At one point the informant says, "You just want the, the main guy." And at the end of the meeting, he declares, "[W]e're gonna start doing the guy."
The fact that not a single quote from Arabsiar shows that he agreed to assassinating the ambassador, much less proposed it, suggests that he was either non-committal or linking the issue to something else, such as the prospect of a major drug deal with the cartel.
Arabsiar's quotes from a September 2 phone conversation referring to the cartel as "having the number for the safe" and "once you open the door that's it" could refer to a drug transaction that had been discussed, while the FBI account suggest those quotes refer to the assassination and "other projects" with the Iranian group.
At the July 17 meeting, the DEA informant presented a plan to blow up a restaurant to kill the ambassador, with the possible deaths of 100-150 people, eliciting a lack of concern on the part of Arabsiar about such deaths.
During a visit to Iran in August, Arabsiar wired two equal payments totaling $100,000 to a bank account in New York. But he was still under the impression that he was about to cash in on a deal with the cartel.
The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Arabsiar had told an Iranian-American friend from Corpus Christie, Texas, "I'm going to make good money."
There is also circumstantial evidence that Arabsiar may have even been brought into the sting operation to help further implicate his cousin Gholam Shakuri in the terrorist plot.
Arabsiar met with his cousin Shakuri in late September and told him that the cartel was demanding that he, Arabsiar, go to Mexico personally to guarantee payment. That demand from the DEA was an obvious device by the FBI to get Shakuri and his associates in Tehran to demonstrate their commitment to the assassination.
The FBI account indicates that Shakuri told Arabsiar that he was responsible for himself if he went to Mexico. That statement would have been a warning sign for Arabsiar, if he still believed he was dealing with one of the most murderous drug cartels in Mexico, that he would be risking his own life for a group that was no longer taking responsibility for him.
Yet Arabsiar flew to Mexico as if unconcerned about that risk.
After his arrest on September 29, Arabsiar waived the right to a lawyer and proceeded to provide a complete confession. A few days later, he placed a phone call to Shakuri which was recorded "at the direction of federal enforcement agents", according to the FBI.
Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist specializing in US national security policy. The paperback edition of his latest book, Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam, was published in 2006.
(Inter Press Service) Scroll down to add your comments Sign up for our FREE Email Newsletter For Email Marketing you can trust Support Information Clearing House Monthly Subscription To Information Clearing House Option 1 : $5.00USD - monthly Option 2 : $10.00USD - monthly Option 3 : $15.00USD - monthly Option 4 : $20.00USD - monthly Option 5 : $35.00USD - monthly Option 6 : $50.00USD - monthly Option 7 : $100.00USD - monthly Search Information Clearing HouseLast month I wrote about infidelity and the Ashley Madison leak, and this week, the hackers followed through on the threat of exposing confidential files in a massive dump on the dark web.
In my piece, I discussed how social media has been somewhat dismissive of the hack and have an air of “well, they deserve to be exposed” attitude. I expressed my belief that although the cheater may be getting their comeuppance, the family and children of those people certainly do not deserve to be so exposed.
Imagine my surprise when I opened my news feed this week and saw that one of the first high profile names exposed was Josh Duggar. He and his young wife, Anna, have 4 children together, the youngest just one month old yesterday. They do not deserve this, and now have to find a way past this for the rest of their lives. On top of the child molestation controversy, I don’t know how much more the poor woman should have to take. It would likely be very challenging for her to leave him if she wanted to, since she has no higher education or job experience, and is part of a very strict religious belief system that strongly discourages divorce.
The Duggar’s are devout Independent Baptists who emphasize purity, modesty and unquestioning faith in God, right down to their famous lack of belief in birth control. The way they practice their faith is quite close to what is called “Quiverfull” teachings, which, among other teachings mentioned above, also promote a male-centric, hierarchal social system. Women’s subservient roles are emphasized. Although the Duggars have not officially commented on being adherents to the teachings of the Quiverfull way, their practices certainly mirror them. They are Fundamentalist Christians, and adherents to the idea of the divinity of the bible, that it is perfect in its present form, divinely inspired and as such, they interpret it literally without historical, social, or economic nuance.
I happen to know what that is like, since I was part of a Christian Fundamentalist cult in my early 20’s here in Alberta, Canada that believed almost the exact same things.
I wrote the above sentence and had to walk away from this piece for three days. This is really hard to write.
I was in my early 20’s and had started attending College. All my previous friends had faded away once I started school, so I was spending a lot of time alone in that twilight between the teen years and young adult as I searched for a new space and new pals. One of the girls I worked with at the Gap went to the same college, and I was drawn to her immediately: a natural redhead, calm, sweet, earth mother type, and “old soul” if you will. I started going to her church, and came to be baptized in a pool at one of the member’s apartment buildings. So began the longest period of my life denying who I am.
I moved into a house with 3 other girls going to school, one of them the redhead I mentioned. Let’s call her Sarah.
The structure of the church was very rigid. Women were not alone with men. All members were in social circles that pertained to where they were in their life: College and University, young marrieds, singles, and older marrieds. All members had what was called a “Discipler” (which I just had to add to Word’s dictionary), someone who was farther along in their faith than you. You were expected to pray with your household at least once a day: some mornings we were up at 5 am to accommodate everyone, and your prayers would be critiqued by other members frequently. Sometimes the only way to approval was to cry or confess something aggregious. You would have prayer and study sessions with your Discipler, and they would instruct you on the faith. Bible study was heavily encouraged, and being very literal about the bible, I would some months spend the whole month looking through the bible and studying one word as it was used through the whole book.
Dating was strictly policed. You could only ask someone out if you had the approval of the Pastor and his wife. Those dates were termed “friendship dates”, and were always in groups of 4. Only side hugs were allowed. Quite often I would hear of people getting “discipled” if they were reluctant to accept someone’s invitation, especially if the Pastor approved the match. I know of three couples that end up married and divorced later because of being coerced to marry people that were not suited for them. All left the church to divorce them.
You got told who you felt a lot. “You’re being prideful”, “You’re being ungrateful”, “You’re being resistant and angry”, “You need to surrender”. The remaining friends I had started fading away, I was encouraged not to associate with people outside of the church except to recruit others. “You are of the world, Carrie,” they would tell me, “but since you are saved you are not part of it. Don’t open yourself to temptation!” I started bringing my bible to work to study. I became more isolated from life outside the church. In addition to Sundays spent at church, we would have church on Thursdays, a discipling session another night, and “dates” once a week. It was total immersion. I was going to school full time, holding down three jobs, teaching Sunday school…the ends started to fray. I got discipled frequently for not submitting to the men of the church, for questioning and not accepting their lead, and for not submitting to my discipler.
One day, as my discipler was dropping me off, I was explaining a situation where I had been blamed for something I had not said or done. I will never forget what my discipler told me. (She was my third one).
“Carrie, I was once discipled for something I did not do. But my discipler told me, and I believe this too, that God must have known I needed to be discipled, and so we just need to submit and trust, even if it’s something we did not do.”
This incident became a splinter in my brain. My common sense and sense of self were both screaming and ripping their fingernails apart on the door that I had shut them behind deep in my psyche. I stopped sleeping well. I started losing weight. I developed IBS, and could only really stomach soups. I dropped to 105 pounds from 140. I was exhausted all the time, would often leave classes to sleep wherever I could curl up and find a spot. I was told I needed to pray harder, submit more, trust more, volunteer more, pray for more strength, Carrie, this is happening because you are resisting, Carrie….
Then one Saturday night, at the hotel that I worked at (one of three jobs I had at the time), a really cute and really nice server that I knew in one of the restaurants invited me out for a drink with friends. I accepted his invitation, knowing it was “wrong”. We all had a great time, got amazingly drunk, and I woke up in bed with this man. He was a perfect gentlemen, and nothing untoward happened, but I was immediately struck with guilt and a hangover the size of the Gutenberg Bible. I crawled to the phone and realized that not only had a missed church, I had missed a “date” I was supposed to be on with Sarah. I called my discipler and she told me to come to her house immediately. I was told to pray with her, confess all my sins and tell all that had happened, in detail. I was near hysterical with the grief of my wrongdoing. I was told by the Pastors wife and my discipler that I obviously had a problem with alcohol, and that I should abstain from having any ever again. They also felt that I should leave my job. At this point, there was not a day that went by where I didn’t cry over the conflict I felt between my faith and my sense of right and wrong.
There were many other small incidents and attempts at suppression, but my rebellion culminated in the acquiring of a tattoo of a dragon on my hip. The Pastor’s wife referred to the Old Testament where it says that one should not permanently mark the body God gave us. My immediate response was, “Wow, cool, so are those earrings clip ons?” I walked away. Tears were cried over me, prayers circles held as word spread that I was “falling away”. An emergency intervention happened at the College where the Pastor’s wife met me to try and change my path. “Don’t you know that you will go to hell”, she pleaded. “You are angry” she told me, “you are prideful.”
“STOP TELLING ME HOW I FEEL!” I screamed in the coffee shop. “YOU DON”T LIVE IN SKIN! I’M DONE!”
After 2 and a half years of pain, doubt, and poor health, I was done. I never saw that woman again.
When you spend so much time trying to be what a fundamentalist religion believes you should be, you deny who you truly are. Sure, who you truly are is awesome…but sometimes it’s not. Sometimes that faith hides things that need to be brought to light and need to be dealt with in a secular way. I firmly believe that in today’s day and age, where there is so much information available at our fingertips on how to be a good human being, with morals and integrity, drawn from all walks of life all over the world, that Fundamentalism needs to die. There is no place for it in our world anymore. It does more harm than good. It places blinders on our society, another impermeable layer we have to try and penetrate to try and see the truth of who we are, not what fundamentalism wants us to be. SOME THINGS CANNOT BE PRAYED AWAY.
One might think that I am completely and rabidly against religion based on my experience, but that’s not the case. I think faith can be a wonderful thing, and can create beautiful things. I wept when I saw Notre Dame. The Sistine Chapel left me humble and grateful for my life and the opportunity to behold its splendor. I wept then too. Faith can create things of indescribable beauty and inspiration, of wonder and glory.
But where I draw the line is where we give all our control over who we are up to a higher power, to usurping our intelligence and own adherence to who and what we are to placate a stringent interpretation of a book. It’s an abrogation of responsibility in its lowest and highest form, and it’s a relic of a less informed society.
I moved out of the house I was sharing with three other girls from the church and back in with my mother temporarily. She took me to the Doctor, and interesting thing: I had carbon monoxide poisoning. The furnace in the rental house was leaking noxious carbon monoxide. Within 6 months, my weight came back up. My grades improved. I made new friends. And I met the love of my life, my husband.
My church helped me deny the existence of a carbon monoxide leak that could’ve killed me and two other girls. Josh Duggar’s helped him deny that he is a sick individual that molests kids, and is a serial cheater.
Christian Fundamentalism needs to be banished from our society.Small airplane crashes in Palmer Lake
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. - The National Transportation Safety Board says two people were killed when a small airplane crashed on the southeast side of Palmer Lake Wednesday morning.
"The plane is a complete loss due to the fire. We are unable to identify a tail number and or whether or not there were any victims," said Sgt. Mitchell with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
The plane went down south of the railroad tracks that run through the northwestern El Paso County town.
The plane burst into flames after the crash. The fire spread into nearby grass, but firefighters were able to contain it. The fire burned less than a quarter of an acre.
"The Palmer Lake Fire Department did an excellent job getting to the scene quickly and extinguishing the fire before it became a threat to any civilians," said Mitchell.
The FAA and |
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Using mice and human airway tissue from asthmatic and non-asthmatic people, the team was able to prove that the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is the cause of the condition. In asthma patients, the CaSR is overactive, and causes the airways to become inflamed and narrow. When this happens, the tell-tale symptoms of asthma occur: coughing, wheezing, the feeling of a tight chest and loss of breath.
After uncovering the cells that are triggering the problem, researchers also realized that drugs already exist that can deactivate these cells and put a stop to all the symptoms. Calcilytics, a calcium receptor antagonist used to treat bone deficiency, could be the answer to asthmatics' prayers everywhere.
"If we can prove that calcilytics are safe when administered directly to the lung in people, then in five years we could be in a position to treat patients and potentially stop asthma from happening in the first place," said Professor Daniela Riccardi, lead investigator of the study.
Asthma affects about 25 million people in the U.S. alone, and 5% of those who suffer from asthma do not respond to current treatments for the chronic lung disease. If this continued research proves successful, this could be the best news for asthma sufferers yet.
[Via The Telegraph]When he turned 50, Keith Arian knew it was time to do what everyone his senior has had to do.
He said, “I had my first colonoscopy when I was 50 and that found a cancerous polyp.”
That polyp, or clump of irregular cells, was removed, but 14 years later his cancer returned with a vengeance.
“They found a tumor in my rectum,” he said. “All of a sudden that kind of brings reality right into your face and it was, it was very scary, it was terrifying, there were a lot of tears.”
His story is just one of many. The American Cancer Society estimated that nearly 140,000 people will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year alone.
Dr. Feza Remzi, a colorectal surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, said it’s a major health concern in our country right now.
“It’s a very significant problem. It’s the second cause of cancer related death in our country in men and women.”
Colon cancer is actually one of the most preventable of all cancers. Unfortunately; many catch it when it's too late. Doctors tell me that's because patients aren't getting the proper screening at the right time.
“Screening is everything,” said Remzi. “It’s plain and simple. It’s very unfortunate that you lose a golden opportunity like that.”
Arian said, “I think it’s probably the prep is what scares people.”
Remzi said people need to be aware of their family history and pay attention to signs of irregularity, especially African-American men.
“Most of the patients that get this disease ethnicity wise are African-American, but also the highest mortality rate within the groups is also African-American.”
After a series of treatment and surgery, Keith says he’s glad he didn’t let the fear of the process stop him from being informed about his health.
“For that one day of inconvenience or not feeling the way I necessarily want to feel, it saved my life and it certainly was worth it.”
With March being colon cancer awareness month, he also said he’ll continue to spread the word in hopes to help save another’s life.
“At work, I’m a general contractor so a worker, customer says, ‘oh yeah, I just turned 50’ I said, you better go get a colonoscopy. And they said oh yeah, ya know, I don’t want to, and I said, it saved my life.”
While his health is improving, he still has a ways to go, including another surgery scheduled for next month.One of the main narratives of the Golden State Warriors all season has been the entire teams willingness to take a step back or a role change for the betterment of the team. It started before the first game of the season when rookie head coach Steve Kerr went to veteran All-Stars Andre Iguodala and David Lee and told them the one thing no player wants to hear. You’re benched.
I’m sure Steve didn’t deliver it that harshly, in fact he said during his media availability after game 4 that the conversations with the players came over a stretch of different practices. At the end of the day, Lee and Iguodala took the role in stride, sat the bench and the team success followed. The youth movement in the starting lineup work for Golden State all season and the veterans in Lee, Iguodala, Leandro Barbosa and Shaun Livingston coming off the bench proved to be pivotal in their success.
The Warriors were then faced with a dilemma, down 2-1 in the second round against a gritty and tough Memphis Grizzlies team, they had to make another change. They moved Andrew Bogut away from the basket and allowed him to defend Tony Allen on the perimeter, an idea sparked by assistant coach Ron Adams. Allen isn’t an offensive threat in the slightest so that allowed Bogut to leave Allen when necessary to invade the paint and defend anything at the rim. Bogut was essentially a 7 foot Australian safety and this move was huge for the Dubs achieving a series victory.
They also made a change in the Western Conference Finals, moving Klay Thompson off James Harden which allowed Klay to have more energy in order to create on the offensive end. They instead rotated their defense towards Harden, allowing Klay to not have to defend him for a majority of the game. That move also proved to be pivotal in the Warriors success going into the NBA Finals.
As the Warriors faced another 2-1 deficit in the playoffs against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that has adopted a gritty persona, they elected to make another change. They took out a 65 game regular season starter and changed the look of the starting lineup completely, based off a suggestion from a staff member. They moved the 7-foot Andrew Bogut out of the starting lineup in favor of Andre Iguodala, who didn’t start one game all season. Draymond Green ended up being the starting center at 6’7″ against a 7’2″ Timofey Mozgov for the Cavaliers.
It ended up working. The Warriors lost the inside rebounding battle but they got a crucial win to tie the series up a 2 games a piece. Bogut only played 3 minutes in the big Warriors win. It appears he knows the writing might be on the wall for his playing time in the NBA Finals but he is accepting of it, as long as they win.
Following from Rusty Simmons of SFGate.com.
“Look, we’re not in a position to sit here and pout over things. We’re all professionals,” said Bogut, who mentioned Iguodala’s preseason acceptance of coming off the bench for the first time and David Lee’s professionalism in dealing with losing his rotation spot. “I’m not bitter about it, at all. We got the win, and hopefully, we’ll get a ring doing it.”
Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News, who also happened to be the reporter that Steve Kerr initially lied to about the lineup changed before game 4, filled us in on Bogut’s comments to the media after today’s practice. The consummate professional took his new role in stride, as long as the team achieves success.
Bogut being able to take this as well as he appears to be just shows how much Steve Kerr has these guys sold in on the idea of it being a team concept. Bogut has viewed everyone else do different things with their game all season to make the team better and now it’s his turn. Unfortunately for him being the competitor he is, it has to be on the big stage of the NBA Finals. I’m sure Kerr won’t completely keep him out of games because his size is undeniable and he’s a terrific rim protector and his selection as a member of the NBA’s All-Defensive second team shows that. It’s just not Bougt’s time to shine right now.
One thing is for certain, Timofey Mozgov doesn’t like defending it one bit. Following from Diamond Leung of Bay Area News Group.Formant Frequencies These formant frequencies in Hertz for orchestral instruments are suggested by Backus, Ch 6, Table I. Instrument Formant I Formant II Flute 800... Oboe 1400 3000 English Horn 930 2300 Clarinet 1500-1700 3700-4300 Bassoon 440-500 1220-1280 Trumpet 1200- 1400 2500 Trombone 600-800... Tuba 200-400... French Horn 400-500... A formant is a favored frequency range of a musical instrument, demonstrated by a peak in the harmonic spectrum of the sound of the instrument. This favored frequency may stay essentially the same even if the fundamental is continually changing. The relative stability of the favored frequency with changing fundamental pitch may be associated with some sort of resonance. But as Wolfe has pointed out, the resultant favored frequency is not in general equal to a specific resonant frequency of the structure, though resonances are part of the determining causes. Since the confluence of several factors may influence the actual peaks of the harmonic spectrum, perhaps the best use of the word formant is just as a term to reference the observed peaks. The concept of formants is particularly important in understanding speech, since the vocal formants provide much of the distinction between sustained vowel sounds. Formants also occur with musical instruments, and are of particular note with woodwinds. For example, the bassoon shows formant behavior over much of its playing range. Musical Acoustics Applications Composition of the orchestraCommunity Roundup #7
Hello everyone and welcome to the Community Roundup #7! The Brawlhalla Championship Series has come to a close, Clunse is continuing to make cute fanart, the GIFs of amazing plays continue to roll in and the roundup continues! Remember that if you’ve seen awesome fan art, videos, or found your new favorite streamer, let us know on Twitter!
Community Art
BCS Highlights – Brawlhalla Championship Series Finals
Last week on April 30th, 16 of the best Brawlhalla players squared off in a 1v1 battle for $750 and all the glory. If you missed the action you can watch the entire tournament video, or re-live the greatest moments of the tournament below.
Videos and GIFs
Patch with Snackxs goes over all of the changes from patch 2.13.1
Episode 2 of Brawlhalla Weekly!
Barraza proves that he can handle a 2v1 just fine.
This 2v2 combo from /u/CakeMask shows some creative coordination between Scarlet and Lord Vraxx
/u/clubclube shows what can happen when Azoth reads. A lot.
[BOO] eggsoup shows us one of his more embarrassing moments from…ever.
/u/MikeTheSwipe shows off some incredibly aggressive Hattori play.
Streamers You Should Watch
JimBenOfficial – When he’s not doing battle defending the ancients, he can often be found playing Brawlhalla. While he doesn’t stream Brawlhalla as consistently as some of the other streamers we’ve highlighted, his awesome attitude and high levels of fun he has while playing are great to watch. He’s a diamond level player and can be found playing both 1v1 and 2v2, with a smile.
Thanks everyone for checking out the seventh Community Roundup. If you’ve seen some great Brawlhalla things out there let us know! Send us a Tweet or let the community know on reddit.com/r/brawlhalla.Paddington Bear Turns 50 (Photos)
Google showed their respects toby incorporating his photo into their homepage logo today on the 50th anniversary of his arrival on the literary scene. The lovable fictional character in children's literature is a polite immigrant bear who came from Darkest Peru with his old brush hat and battered suitcase.
Paddington books have been translated into 30 languages and have sold 30 million copies worldwide. Michael Bond's first book A Bear Called Paddington was published by William Collins & Sons (now Harper Collins) on October 13, 1958. The illustrator was Peggy Fortnum.
Paddington, who loves cocoa and marmalade sandwiches and has an endless capacity to find trouble, but does "try so hard to get things right". He normally addresses people as Mr., Mrs., or Miss and very rarely uses first names. His normal menagerie of friends include Mr. Brown, Mrs. Brown, Jonathan and Judy, Mrs. Bird, Mr. Gruber, Mr. Curry and Aunt Lucy.
Happy 50th Paddington Bear!Falls Council OKs downtown transformation
3/30/2017 - West Side Leader
By Emily Chesnic
Shown is what the area near the amphitheater in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls near Broad Boulevard will look like after Front Street is opened to vehicular traffic.
CUYAHOGA FALLS — The City of Cuyahoga Falls officially is opening up its downtown to new possibilities.
Construction will begin April 3 on a Front Street transformation project unanimously approved by Council at the March 27 regular meeting.
The $10 million project will make the existing pedestrian mall accessible to vehicular traffic in about nine months and is expected to spur significant economic development in the downtown area, creating numerous new jobs in the community.
Councilman Jeff Iula (R-at large) said the project, financed by the city through a general obligation bond, is one of the largest projects to be approved by Council in recent years.
“I hope it is the most successful of all,” he said. “I am really looking forward to this.”
Project plans show Front Street and adjacent streets being converted to two-way traffic roads. Front Street would feature lighting, seating and pedestrian walkways lined with brick pavers and offer parallel parking spots. Several of the historic downtown buildings will be restored to their original appearance as part of the project.
The design-build project is being spearheaded by H.R. Gray, of Akron, with several components of the work being managed by Hammontree & Associates, of North Canton.
“I want to thank Council, the administration and public,” Mayor Don Walters said at the regular meeting. “It has been a long process, and I want the public to stay involved.”
According to city information, Front Street was closed to traffic about 40 years ago, but this decision left the city with an underutilized riverfront today. Following the completion of several studies on the downtown area, the mayor said the redevelopment of Front Street is essential to the revitalization of downtown and would capitalize on the prime riverfront location, offering 215,000 square feet of space for retail, restaurants and more.
According to city information on the project, about 85,000 cars traveling on state Route 8 currently pass by the existing pedestrian mall and about 10,000 vehicles are expected to use Front Street on a daily basis once it is opened to vehicular traffic.
In January, city leaders visited revitalized downtown areas in Oak Park, Illinois, and South Bend and Valparaiso, Indiana, and learned from their community leaders how they made their downtown areas thrive again.
City officials have said Falls residents can expect to see new shopping, dining, entertainment and living options available downtown.
Currently, plans are in place to renovate the former Falls Theater into a mixed-use space, offering apartments, a restaurant and retail space. In addition, a boutique hotel also is in the works for downtown near the intersection of Portage Trail and Front Street.
While Front Street and adjacent streets will be converted to two-way traffic roads, the project also includes new lighting, seating, pedestrian walkways lined with brick pavers and parallel parking spots. Shown is an area where a boutique hotel is planned near the intersection of Portage Trail. Renderings courtesy of the City of Cuyahoga Falls
In conjunction with opening Front Street, Council approved Feb. 21 a project to rehabilitate the city’s three parking decks in the downtown area at a cost of about $3.75 million.
Walters said there are existing businesses along Front Street the city would like to see thrive and do well during the construction phase. These businesses will remain open to customers during the project, which would be complete, including landscaping, by the spring of 2018.
The mayor wants to have the community actively involved in the project. Walters said he plans to offer “hard hat tours” so the public can view the work as it progresses.
Council President Mary Ellen Pyke (R-Ward 2) asked, on behalf of community members who approached her, what would become of the engraved bricks around the existing spray fountain. Drawings of the project show a new spray fountain would be located likely right near the current one.
Walters said the existing bricks would either be reused or replicated and new bricks would be for sale for engraving.
The mayor welcomes all questions on the project and encourages anyone with a concern regarding the revitalization of downtown to contact his office.
Councilman Victor Pallotta (R-Ward 3) was excused from voting on the Front Street plan. He said he had a “vested interest” in the project.
Also at the regular meeting, Council approved with a 6-5 vote plans for a residential property at the corner of Hunter Parkway and East Bath Road. Voting against it were Council members Vincent Rubino (D-Ward 1), Michael Brillhart (D-Ward 5), Paul Colavecchio (D-at large), Carol Klinger (R-at large) and Iula. Several Council members and area residents expressed concerns, primarily regarding increased traffic and parking issues, earlier this month concerning the project, which would subdivide 333 E. Bath Road into six lots for single-family attached homes.
Council also accepted the site plan for the reconstruction of the football stadium complex at Walsh Jesuit High School at 4550 Wyoga Lake Road.
In addition, Council authorized Walters to enter into a Pipeline Initiative Grant Agreement for up to $12,000 with the Ohio History Connection and to appropriate and authorize the payment of the grant funds.
Council also introduced the following new legislation:
an ordinance accepting the site plan for the construction of a 62-unit senior apartment complex at 320 Pleasant Meadow Boulevard;
an ordinance accepting the site plan for the construction of a 28,437-square-foot warehouse and parking lot expansion at 89 Cuyahoga Falls Industrial Parkway;
an ordinance authorizing Walters to enter into a contract to purchase property in connection with the Dickerson Run Nature Preserve Project; and
an ordinance authorizing the Parks and Recreation Board to apply for and accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the construction of a tennis court at Kennedy Park.
In other meeting news, Council was presented with a summary of the work of the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department in 2016.
Chief Jack Davis highlighted parts of the summary to Council. Last year, he said the city saw a 5 percent decrease in major crimes and a 15 percent reduction in burglaries. He credits the decreases to active detectives and patrol officers, as well as an increase in citizen involvement.
Davis said 10,693 traffic stops were made in the city in 2016.
Looking to the future, the chief said the department will continue to work to get a handle on opiates and synthetic drugs in the community.
Davis thanked Council for its continued support.
He said the complete department summary will be available for view on the city’s website at www.cityofcf.com.
Council also heard a brief update on the city’s finances from Finance Director Bryan Hoffman. He told Council through February, the General Fund and expenses are in line with what was budgeted for the year. He explained municipal income tax collections are lower than anticipated so far, but it is not an area of concern at this time.
A brief executive session with no immediate action taken was held at the meeting regarding legal matters.
Council will hold committee meetings April 3 and a regular meeting April 10, both at 6:30 p.m. at The Natatorium, located at 2345 Fourth St.BY JUSTIN RAY
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WORLDWIDE STOREAbba Zubair, M.D., Ph.D, believes that cells grown in the International Space Station (ISS) could help patients recover from a stroke, and that it may even be possible to generate human tissues and organs in space. He just needs a chance to demonstrate the possibility.
He now has it. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), a nonprofit organization that promotes research aboard the ISS, has awarded Dr. Zubair a $300,000 grant to send human stem cells into space to see if they grow more rapidly than stem cells grown on Earth.
Dr. Zubair, medical and scientific director of the Cell Therapy Laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Florida, says the experiment will be the first one Mayo Clinic has conducted in space and the first to use these human stem cells, which are found in bone marrow.
"On Earth, we face many challenges in trying to grow enough stem cells to treat patients," he says. "It now takes a month to generate enough cells for a few patients. A clinical-grade laboratory in space could provide the answer we all have been seeking for regenerative medicine."
He specifically wants to expand the population of stem cells that will induce regeneration of neurons and blood vessels in patients who have suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, the kind of stroke which is caused by blood clot. Dr. Zubair already grows such cells in his Mayo Clinic laboratory using a large tissue culture and several incubators -- but only at a snail's pace.
Experiments on Earth using microgravity have shown that stem cells -- the master cells that produce all organ and tissue cell types -- will grow faster, compared to conventionally grown cells.
"If you have a ready supply of these cells, you can treat almost any condition, and can theoretically regenerate entire organs using a scaffold," Dr. Zubair says. "Additionally, they don't need to come from individual patients -- anyone can use them without rejection."
Dr. Zubair is working with engineers at the University of Colorado who are building the specialized cell bioreactor that will be taken to the ISS within a year for the experiment.
"I don't really think growing cells in space for clinical use on Earth is science fiction," he says. "Commercial flights to the ISS will start soon, and the cost of traveling there is coming down. We just need to show what can be achieved in space, and this award from CASIS helps us do that."Photos by Colin Kerrigan
**If you flipped your television to any news program yesterday, you probably witnessed a strange and uniquely American phenomenon: stone-faced television reporters interviewing random people about how long they'd waited in line at big-box chain stores that morning, analyzing the Black Friday shopping landscape with a graveness usually reserved for Middle East conflicts. At Philadelphia's Union Transfer last night, Sufjan Stevens kicked off his Surfjohn Stevens Christmas Sing-A-Long: Seasonal Affective Disorder Yuletide Disaster Pageant on Ice tour, presenting a very different-- but equally excessive, premature, and bizarre-- type of holiday circus.
Given the name of the tour, along with Sufjan's eccentric and well-documented yuletide fanaticism, an odd array of bells and whistles are to be expected at these shows. The singer's ski hat and tinsel-rope accessories were relatively tame in comparison to the costumes of his six band mates, who donned full Santa getups, angel halos, face paint, and giant protruding unicorn horns. Huge strands of Christmas lights were strung across the ceiling of the Cathedral-like venue, and audience members were given lyric booklets to sing along with at the beginning of the performance.
That's because most of the show was, in fact, a sing-along in traditional caroling fashion-- with an improv-theater twist. Every few minutes someone spun a giant pie-wheel scrawled with the names of various beloved holiday songs-- "Wheel. Of. Christmas!"-- at which point Sufjan would order the crowd to turn to a specific page in the booklet and begin singing. He led everyone through slightly off-kilter versions of "Jingle Bells", "Oh Holy Night", Auld Lang Syne", and more, occasionally taking a breather to perform Sufjan Stevens holiday originals like "Sister Winter" or "Mr. Frosty Man".
For the Scrooges among us, the entire charade would be completely insufferable were Sufjan not so aware of the show's ramshackle, "Portlandia"-skit absurdity, a la the slew of madcap Xmas videos he let loose online last week. "I feel like I'm on drugs, but I'm so sober right now," he told the crowd, laughing, before launching into "Auld Lang Syne". Later he said: "I feel like I'm on 'Saturday Night Live' or something-- this is really weird," and asked if the band would do a "serious song" (something he'd request several times throughout the evening). But after each "serious" song he'd be equally exasperated and beg to go back to the sing-along format.
"This is a live workshop," he said at one point, playfully acknowledging the unrehearsed, occasionally fumbly nature of the show. At about 9:30, he checked his watch and began to tell the crowd that it had been "the longest hour of my..." before trailing off and explaining: "I feel like I've run out of Christmas energy and it's only the first night." It was nice to hear that Sufjan could be so deliriously exhausted by his own obsession with Christmas, that the rest of us aren't just a bunch of Grinches. His remedy for holiday fatigue? "Time for another sing-along," he yelled, delighted again. "Wheel! Of! Christmas!"Wikileaks is publishing internal memos of the Stratfor security analysis firm. A few tidbits have emerged in these very early days, to wit:
1. Up to 12 Pakistani active-duty and retired officers from the Inter-Services Intelligence agency knew that Usama Bin Laden was in Abbottabad and were in regular contact with him. The Pakistani chief of staff is denying the report.
2. Dow Chemicals hired Stratfor to spy on activists in Agra who continue to protest over the Bhopal environmental disaster that blinded many workers and destroyed their health. I.e., Stratfor was not just doing analysis but was involved in private intelligence operations against civil society groups that had a right to protest.
3. Stratfor Vice President Fred Burton, a former State Department official involved in counter-terrorism, lamented that in the old days the US would simply have assassinated Venezuelan leftist leader Hugo Chavez and Bolivian leftist leader Evo Morales. The internal emails also suggest that Stratfor had placed a female asset in Venezuela, who was having sex with an officer and pumping him for information. The officer was said also to be “working with Israel.” Chavez is known for his criticism of Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.
4. Russia sold weapons to Iran but turned around and gave their security codes to Israel.
5. The fifth revelation is that often Stratfor analysts did not know what they were talking about and had an extreme rightwing bias. For instance, this memo on the revolution in Egypt attempts to argue that the officer corps was behind the revolution against Hosni Mubarak and that the masses were insufficiently mobilized to account for it. It is alleged that only 750,000 people came out in Tahrir Square, a small number for a country of 82 million. But in fact that was only in Tahrir. People demonstrated elsewhere in Cairo. And they were in the streets in Alexandria, Suez, Asyut and other cities. Even small towns saw burnings of police stations and HQs of the National Democratic Party. This memo makes a grassroots revolution that shook Egypt from Alexandria to Aswan into an officers’ putsch. While the officers tacked with the wind and did end up siding with the demonstrators against Mubarak, they were clearly playing political catch-up. It was revolutionary groups like April 6 that made the revolution in the cities, and the Muslim Brotherhood in the rural areas. The memo is frankly obtuse and if this is what Booz Allen was paying $20,000 a year for, they should demand their money back.
This fifth point, about the one percent interpreting the world for the one percent as being about the one percent, is a dire problem in our information system, since the one percent has the resources and can try to overwhelm reasoned analysis that recognizes the agency of the people. Ultimately, the political struggle here is an epistemological one (epistemology being the study of how we know what we know).“There’s no evidence that shows that multiplicity exists.”
Folks always drop this as if it’s a perfectly rational and self-evident claim but it always gets me frustrated as hell. What are you expecting? I’m words on a screen to you all. What evidence is there to convince you that these words are coming from Person A rather than Person B? Even not online, you could always argue that I’m acting/faking.
If anybody knows of a convincing piece of evidence I could present, go right on ahead! I’d love to hear it!
I know the burden of proof is on me (for audaciously claiming that I exist), but from my position, it’s either ask for a little bit of credulity, or just not exist to other people.
- ThomasIndian soldiers crossed Line of Control or LOC for a surgical strike on Pakistani terrorists (File)
Highlights India targets terror launch pads across Line of Control Operations were filmed; scores of terrorists killed: army sources Pak denies strikes took place, India to decide if to release footage
The surgical strikes in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir that were carried out by India last night were recorded on cameras; the government will decide whether and when to release the footage, including some obtained through drones, said top sources. At midnight, India moved troops across the Line of Control to target seven different launch pads where terrorists had been placed to infiltrate India and carry out attacks within Kashmir as well as other major metros, said the army today Pakistan was caught totally by surprise, said sources, crucial to "achieving full impact." A huge number of terrorists were killed - each "launch pad" that was attacked held at least 10 terrorists and an equal number of guides and other assistants.The government had recognised "mass anger" among people after the terror attack at an army base in Uri earlier this month, said ministers who were present this morning at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's review of security. They added that recent moves by India to isolate Pakistan by "tinkering with its Most Favoured Nation trading status or recalling envoys was no longer enough to address the levels of anger."Indian soldiers went at least two kilometres across the Line of Control to different parts or sectors, said ministers. "Our forces have gone deep in and come back before sunrise," they said, adding that Pakistan's denial of the strikes is expected.The strikes, which included para commandos, are India's first direct military response to the attack in Uri which left 18 soldiers dead. Four terrorists from Pakistan attacked the base on September 18 with AK-47s and grenades.Explaining the action, sources said that "Prime Minister Modi tried peace for two years, (but) Nawaz Sharif has decided to toe his army's line." Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj also told the United Nations General Assembly on Monday that PM Modi's outreach to Mr Sharif, which included inviting him to the Prime Minister's swearing-in and a surprise visit to wish the Pakistani premier for his birthday in December, has met with a series of terror attacks. The PM had warned that the Uri assault would be avenged and that the army would take action at an appropriate time. In recent days, as his government moved to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and to pressure it by rethinking crucial water-sharing and trade agreements, the PM was urged by some within his own party as well as opposition leaders to take strong action against Islamabad to prove terrorist attacks in India will not be tolerated.“There is another side,” Trump said off-the-cuff at a Tuesday press conference that was supposed to be about infrastructure. “There was a group on this side, you can call them the left, that came violently attacking the other group. So you can say what you want, but that’s the way it is.”
On Tuesday, Trump defended the white supremacists whose march on Charlottesville, Virginia, last weekend turned deadly violent, one day after condemning them (reading from a prepared statement).
“I am disappointed that President Trump has chosen to hold a campaign rally as our nation is still healing from the tragic events in Charlottesville,” Stanton said in a statement released on Twitter. “If President Trump is coming to Phoenix to announce a pardon for Sheriff Joe Arpaio, then it will be clear that his true intent is to enflame emotions and further divide our nation.”
The president announced the Phoenix rally on Wednesday evening, and Mayor Greg Stanton, a Democrat, promptly asked the president to postpone the visit.
A prominent Phoenix resident isn’t happy about President Trump’s plans to hold a rally in Arizona’s capitol next week: the mayor, who asked Trump not to come.
Read more
A prominent Phoenix resident isn’t happy about President Trump’s plans to hold a rally in Arizona’s capitol next week: the mayor, who asked Trump not to come.
The president announced the Phoenix rally on Wednesday evening, and Mayor Greg Stanton, a Democrat, promptly asked the president to postpone the visit.
“I am disappointed that President Trump has chosen to hold a campaign rally as our nation is still healing from the tragic events in Charlottesville,” Stanton said in a statement released on Twitter. “If President Trump is coming to Phoenix to announce a pardon for Sheriff Joe Arpaio, then it will be clear that his true intent is to enflame emotions and further divide our nation.”
On Tuesday, Trump defended the white supremacists whose march on Charlottesville, Virginia, last weekend turned deadly violent, one day after condemning them (reading from a prepared statement).
“There is another side,” Trump said off-the-cuff at a Tuesday press conference that was supposed to be about infrastructure. “There was a group on this side, you can call them the left, that came violently attacking the other group. So you can say what you want, but that’s the way it is.”
Arpaio, 84, is a notorious former Arizona law-enforcement official who was found guilty late last month of criminal contempt charges linked to his controversial “immigration sweeps” in Maricopa County. The man who once called himself “America’s toughest sheriff” and held inmates in a sweltering outdoor “tent city” could face six months behind bars. Though Trump’s intentions for the Arizona visit haven’t been explained, Arpaio was a prominent Trump campaign surrogate — and Trump has already said he is “seriously considering” a pardon for Arpaio.
Although Trump is only seven months into his presidency, he’s already held numerous campaign-style events to rally his supporters. He has upcoming events scheduled in Michigan and Washington, D.C.
Trump has yet to respond to Mayor Stanton’s request, but we’re watching his Twitter: Everyone knows the president isn’t afraid to fire it up to attack those who oppose him.Gizmo! (1977) is an irresistible collection of newsreel footage chronicling the inventive spirit in America. We are treated |
Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Graham Parker, the Tom Robinson Band, Sham 69, the Clash, and Pete Townsend of the Who, among others. Further, though RAR audiences are primarily young white men, some Blacks do attend because reggae bands like Steel Pulse are actively involved. Steel Pulse even wrote a song entitled “Rock Against Racism,” as well as the powerfully defiant ”Ku Klux Klan.”[47]
Rock Against Racism has a broad basis of unity, which emphasizes the fact that the “Nazis are No Fun,” and would take away the music and entertainment the audiences enjoy. Thus, the emphasis of the musicians is more in support of human rights and in stopping the fascists than in recognizing the nature of capitalism and posing any socialist alternative. Many in the audience attend to listen to good music, rather than out of any political commitment; but in the process such listeners are exposed to a great deal of progressive politics.
An important aspect of RAR’s involvement is their attempts to struggle with the bands and the audiences, especially in the pages of RAR’s newspaper, Temporary Hoarding. In interviews the musicians are often drawn out on political questions, with the interviewer struggling with them on questions of sexism and lack of commitment to more than a vague support of “freedom of speech.”
The struggle with audience prejudice is exemplified by Jimmy Pursey of Sham 69, a band that developed out of the Skinhead subculture, a tradition to which many followers of the National Front were attracted. When Sham 69 found that followers of the National Front were attracted to some of its concerts, Pursey openly struggled with the audiences over their racist chants between songs, and threatened to halt the music and leave if the chants were not stopped.
In an early issue of Temporary Hoarding, a frequent RAR musician discussed an important issue that concerns more than just punk rockers, and in fact has affected most musicians. “The worst thing for musicians is the isolation from what’s going on around you. That’s one of the functions of management, they make sure you don’t speak to other artists or people. It’s in their interests to do so. It’s killed a lot of artists but it’s not inevitable... not if there’s something like RAR.”[48]
The success in the United Kingdom of RAR has meant that interest around the world has developed into the formation of RAR groups in eight other nations: Belgium, Canada, France, Holland, Norway, Sweden, the USA and West Germany. Though the international links are reported to be very sporadic, limited RAR activity also is reported in Japan, Greece, Yugoslavia, Poland and South Africa. US RAR concerts in 1979 included New York, Chicago and California; and there are two US RAR papers, the Yippies’ Overthrow in New York and Mary Malice’s San Francisco t’Ital Wave Times.[49]
But RAR’s US presence is not widely felt nationally. Further, the main problem in the US is that RAR appears to be totally isolated from the left, and is the product of the vestiges of the counter-cultural movement such as the Yippies, rather than as in Britain where RAR is organic to a mass revolutionary cultural movement.
Inspite of British RAR’s progressive approach and wide success, it too is not without contradictions. Some groups appear to have performed at RAR concerts primarily for the sake of exposure. And the blatant sexism of the Fabulous Poodles, even in the face of repeated calls from the audience to cease, drew angry protest letters to Temporary Hoarding. In fact, the prevalence of sexism in punk and new wave has led to the formation of Rock Against Sexism, which has begun to receive strong support from some all male bands such as the Gang of Four.
A disappointing aspect of RAR that has nothing to do with the organization itself, is the demise of some excellent bands that originally supported it, notably the Tom Robinson Band and X-Ray Spex. Tom Robinson, a militant gay activist whose band showed equal abilitiesWhile college football shouldn’t follow the NFL’s lead on every issue, the professionals who pay their players over the table did embrace an intriguing idea earlier this month. It sounded odd at first, but the more time it has had to marinate, the better this plan sounds. In fact, it sounds so interesting that maybe college coaches and administrators should stop arguing about satellite camps and cost of attendance stipends and discuss an issue that will affect the game on the field.
The NFL has taken steps to liven up its most boring play, and college football should do the same. Last week NFL owners voted 30-2 in favor of a one-year trial in which Point After Touchdown tries will be snapped from the 15-yard line. The two-point conversion line of scrimmage will remain at the two-yard line, thereby incentivizing the riskier but far more interesting play. By taking a humdrum play and injecting some uncertainty into it, the league can jazz up the post-touchdown, pre-commercial-kickoff-commercial sequence and make America’s most popular game more fun. College football should not attempt to emulate the NFL in every way. That league can keep its narrow, offense-homogenizing hashmarks. But just this once the college game should investigate making a similar change.
Moving the PAT line from the three-yard line to the 15—where it would set up a 32-yard kick instead of a 20-yarder—would make every touchdown in college football an adventure. Why? College kickers, man.
With New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick leading the charge, the NFL changed a play that had become virtually automatic. In the past three years, NFL teams had missed 18 PATs on 3,709 tries. That’s a 99.5% success rate. The success rate isn’t as high in college. Over the past 10 seasons, college teams have converted 96.2% of their PAT tries. Still, it’s too high to be interesting. For good teams, PATs are close enough to automatic that iconic Tennessee play-by-play man John Ward’s signature call should be updated to Give … Him … Seven.
It doesn’t have to be that way, though. College football could incentivize the two-point conversion the same way the NFL has. The only thing stopping it is tradition and a reflexive nature to want things to be exactly the way they were during one’s formative years. But take it from someone who spent part of his formative years listening to the Quad City DJs’ debut album on repeat: Not everything is a work of genius just because it was the prevailing idea when you were 17. The age of the gimme PAT has come and gone. It’s time to embrace a little chaos.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, the chair of the new NCAA Football Oversight Committee, said the PAT idea has not come up in his group’s earliest meetings. But Bowlsby concedes watching the NFL’s 2015 experiment may spark discussion. He just isn’t sure how that discussion would go. “Some of the pro guys, they’re not happy if they don’t drill it through the middle two feet of the center of the goalpost,” he said with a laugh. “In college, some of those PATs barely make it through.”
But the kickers do make it enough to make things boring. So, the leaders of the game should choose to make things interesting.
• STAPLES: Everett Golson shows value of NCAA's graduate transfer rule
Over the past 10 seasons, the success rate for college football field goal attempts between 30-39 yards is 73.6%. The 32-yarder probably trends a little higher, but remember, this is a self-selecting sample. If a team’s kicker stinks, it likely is not attempting field goals in that range. Last year, only nine teams made fewer than half their attempts from that distance because coaches aren’t going to call for a kick they don’t think their guy can make. (National champ Ohio State was the only team in the FBS that attempted zero kicks from that distance. But the Buckeyes did attempt 10 in the 40-49 range.) Still, using that number, let’s assume a team going for a PAT from the 15-yard line can expect to score.736 points per attempt.
At that point, the two-point conversion becomes a better statistical play. In the past 10 seasons, FBS teams have converted 40.6% of their two-point attempts. That means coaches can expect to score.812 points per two-point conversion attempt. The numbers are close enough that a coach could make informed decisions based on the quality of his kicker. For example, Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher would take one look at Roberto Aguayo and choose to take the sure point every time. Ohio State’s Urban Meyer felt the back end of the red zone was four-down territory last season, and in a similar situation (average kicking, great offensive line, great quarterback play) he likely would choose to go for two.
I asked Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze how he would handle such a situation. He answered the way I suspect every coach would. “Depends on how good my kicker is,” Freeze wrote in a text message. In other words, the most predictable play in football would become decidedly unpredictable. That would be fun, and isn’t that the entire point of this enterprise?
Georgia’s Mark Richt, the only coach on the Football Oversight Committee, knows one group that would be thrilled if this rule were put into place in college. “If I was a kicker, I’d be excited about it,” Richt said. “There would be a lot more kickers on scholarship out of high school.” In fact, the premium placed on quality kicking could change how coaches do scholarship math. Currently, coaches tend to keep one placekicker and one punter on scholarship and fill out their depth with walk-ons. That might not be the norm if the PAT were tougher to make. But that assumes the kick would be the obvious choice. Richt said a year with the alternate distance may radically reshape coaching philosophy. “Sometimes you think it through and it all makes sense,” he said. “Then you start living it out, and you say, ‘You know what? Maybe we should go for two every time.’ I don’t know what would happen.”
One thing is certain: Excitement would happen. The trick in this case would be to get the decision-makers in charge of the sport to remember that they are in the entertainment business. They talk a big game about being molders of men, and while plenty of man-molding does go on, big-time college football programs generate much of their income now by being cable television programmers—or at least cable television programming partners. Plus, the financial incentive to keep the crowd interested isn’t exactly new. Long before the first conference commissioner worried about monthly subscriber fees, athletic directors were trying to put (and keep) butts in the seats.
So, why not make the game more exciting with a simple rule tweak that wouldn’t harm anything except possibly viewers with weak hearts? In the NFL, there is a legitimate safety concern because linemen barely tried on PAT attempts. Now, teams will attempt to block PATs, and players will be subjected to more collisions on the two-point attempt. But in college, teams already regularly try to block the PAT (because college kickers), so linemen face the same collisions on a PAT attempt that they would on a two-point conversion attempt. The only difference is that these collisions could result in more momentum swings and more fun.
“It would make coaches crazy,” Bowlsby said.
All the more reason to do it.
A random ranking
In the First-and-10 section, I have an item that involves The Price Is Right. Here are the show's top five pricing games.
1. Plinko. No other game stood a chance.
2. Cliff Hangers. Yodel along, everybody!
3. Golden Road. Especially when a Porsche is at the end...
4. Dice Game. Watch Lena escort a Ford Escort home.
5. Punch a Bunch. Contestants win the right to put their fist through a board and pull out a slip of paper that corresponds to a quantity of straight cash.
[pagebreak]
Tony Gutierrez/AP
First-and-10
1. Bowlsby was well aware of the comments Wisconsin athletic director—and College Football Playoff selection committee member—Barry Alvarez made last week about the final selection committee rankings. Bowlsby believes that his revelation probably erased any lingering doubt among Big 12 coaches and ADs about whether they chose correctly earlier this month when they established tiebreaker rules to declare a single champion in football.
“… if you don't have a conference champion, obviously that doesn't bode well for you,” Alvarez told CBSSports.com at the Big Ten’s spring meetings. You have to have a conference champion. If you’re not a conference champion, that hurts you in the evaluation, much like strength of schedule.” Last year the Big 12 declared Baylor and TCU co-champions after each finished 8-1 in league play. The Bears and Horned Frogs finished just outside the playoff at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
Bowlsby said that while changing the rules to declare one champion may have seemed like a no-brainer from the outside, there was initial consternation within the league. (After all, coaches and ADs have contractual bonuses tied to league titles, and more champs means more bonuses.) “There was real mixed emotion among our football coaches and ADs about that,” Bowlsby said. “I think they knew we had to take that step because we didn’t want to be different in two ways. … We felt all along that was the right thing to do even though we had to swallow hard to do it.”
The 10-team Big 12 still lacks a title game—the other difference—but it can’t do anything about that until the NCAA deregulates the games. The current rule requires a format with at least 12 teams split into two divisions, but FBS administrators are expected to scrap it based on a request from the Big 12 and the ACC. “We still think we may have a short stick in our hand relative to the 12 data points relative to 13,” Bowlsby said, “but we’ll deal with that as we have the opportunity.”
Bowlsby is using the royal “we” there, but his constituents don’t necessarily agree on the “short stick” philosophy. The Big 12 was the only conference that entered Championship Saturday with a chance to get two teams into the playoff. That it got shut out might have stemmed from the absence of a title game, or it might have stemmed from garden-variety bad luck. It will likely take a few more years before we can figure out which was the case. “One year doesn’t make a trend,” Bowlsby said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
2. One of those teams that got left at the doorstep of the playoff is getting a new quarterback. Former Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill, to whom we tried to hand the Heisman Trophy after one game against what turned out to be a porous South Carolina defense, is headed to TCU. Hill won the starting job coming out of fall camp, but he was suspended for two games in November and lost his place atop the depth chart to Kyle Allen. Hill, the son of former MLB pitcher Ken Hill, must sit out this year and will have two seasons to play in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs are set at quarterback this season. After a breakout year in 2014, senior Trevone Boykin is a preseason Heisman favorite, and the numbers explain why.
• ELLIS: Trevone Boykin leads Heisman Watch after 2015 spring practice
As Hill moves from the SEC to the Big 12, another player is moving in the opposite direction. Former Oklahoma tailback Keith Ford is headed to Texas A&M. Ford, who grew up in the Houston suburb of Cypress, Texas, averaged 5.9 yards a carry for the Sooners in 2014. He will become the second Oklahoma running back in three years to transfer to the Aggies. Brandon Williams made the Norman-to-College Station move in ’12.
3. By the time Hill becomes eligible to play for TCU, he won’t have to worry about Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman, whose final year of eligibility will come in 2015. This is probably for the best. Why yes, those are 70-pound dumbbells in the hands of the 6’9”, 280-pound Oakman as he attempts a 40-inch box jump.
4. Syracuse officials made an excellent decision last week to un-retire the No. 44 and award it to a deserving player in very special cases. Former Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb criticized the move, but the iconic number will do more good for the program being worn in games than it will hanging on a wall.
If No. 44 were associated with only one player, leaving it retired might make sense. But three of the most important players in the program’s history—Ernie Davis, Jim Brown and Floyd Little—all wore it. Imagine the pride a team captain might take in donning that number now. Imagine how much easier it’ll be for Orange coaches to help their players appreciate the history of the program if they know they’re striving to wear No. 44. Michigan does an excellent job of using its iconic jersey numbers to help current players and students understand the program’s history. It’s good to see another school doing the same with one of the all-time great college jerseys.
5. Do not play “Sweet Home Alabama” near a Tennessee practice. Butch Jones—or one of his many minions—will find you.
6. Some of college football’s loveliest locks have left their original owner for a good cause. Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard cut his flowing blond mane last week and donated the hair to Wigs for Kids, which provides wigs for children undergoing cancer treatments.
Three years later and it was finally long enough to give to Wigs For Kids! Gonna miss the flow but glad I could help out a good cause! #noflow #cancersucks #gohawks A photo posted by C.J. Beathard (@ceejaybeat_hard) on May 21, 2015 at 8:28pm PDT
7. Minnesota State-Mankato defensive lineman Jeffrey Raymond used the jersey number of former teammate Isaac Kolstad—who sustained severe injuries in a fight last year and is finally back walking and talking again—to make his guess during the Showcase Showdown segment of an episode of The Price Is Right that was taped during Raymond’s spring break and aired this month.
Raymond and some teammates attended the taping, and Raymond was selected to participate. After getting on stage, he won a home theater set-up by playing the Range Game. Then he won the spinning wheel and advanced to the Showcase Showdown, where he used Kolstad’s number to help win a trip to Paris.
This college student has the chance to win the ultimate home theatre setup! http://t.co/qIjG0FpBl1 #PriceIsRight — The Price Is Right (@PriceIsRight) May 20, 2015
8. Class of 2017 defensive back Marco Wilson of American Heritage High in Plantation, Fla., went viral with this catch last week. Wilson, the younger brother of Florida safety Quincy Wilson, was already well known among the college coaches who recruit South Florida. Now you know why.
9. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh met last week with a group of students who were offended that he was offended that the school’s Center For Campus Involvement responded to protests by cancelling a showing of American Sniper in April. The cancellation prompted Harbaugh to tweet that he would show the movie to his team, and the cycle of getting offended began anew.
Now let’s all read this from The Onion.
10. Remember, kids, Urban Meyer is always watching …
What's eating Andy?
Pro tip: Before leaving for a five-hour drive, first check your pockets. You may have your wife's keys in there. She may need them to get home. You may get an hour down the road before realizing said keys are in your pocket and not in her purse. Congratulations, your five-hour drive is now a seven-hour drive.
What's Andy eating?
Pork ribs, pineapple, almonds and raisins. That looks like a shopping list, not a stew recipe. But at Rosie’s in New York City’s East Village neighborhood, those ingredients share the same bowl. Others may disagree, but sometimes seemingly disparate ingredients mingle to create magic. Fat from the ribs gives the guiso de puerco some heft—thankfully, Rosie’s doesn't insult customers by calling this a “broth bowl”—while the fruit flavors lift it out of heavy, rib-sticking territory. It tastes like a stew people would eat in a place where it’s hot all the time. Like Mexico.
As someone who lives in a place where it stays hot most of the time, a soup or stew that can be served through a yearlong summer is a godsend. I would fill a pool with the stock from this dish and dive in*. We don’t have to steel ourselves against the cold in Florida, but we also enjoy stew like everyone else. Rosie’s likely won’t sell much guiso de puerco in the winter, but come summer, when the warm breeze wafts through the place’s wide-open layout, it should fly out of the kitchen.
*But first, I would eat some of Rosie’s Tacos Al Pastor. Order twice as many of these and zero of the Carne Asada, which aren’t worth your taste buds’ time. Also, follow your swim through the guiso de puerco with chile chocolate ice cream.
Andy Staples
Another night in New York brought another unexpected combination of ingredients. At Paulie Gee’s, a wood-oven pizza joint in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood, the most popular pie is the Hellboy. Like many of the spicy pies at most of the wood-oven places in the city, the heat comes from Sopressata. Unlike the other places, additional heat comes from honey. Yes, honey.
Paulie Gee’s drizzles Mike’s Hot Honey on each pie. This combination of extreme sweetness and spice shouldn’t work, but it does. While the crust doesn’t quite match the crust at Motorino in Greenwich Village or Antico in Atlanta, the heat of the meat and the chiles in the honey mix with the honey’s natural sweetness to create a wave of contrasting flavors that leaves everyone at the table craving more. Which is why when three of us polished off a Hellboy and two other pies (the Hometown Brisket and the Greenpointer with prosciutto) that didn’t hold a candle to the Hellboy, we ordered another Hellboy. We should have just ordered four Hellboys from the start.ABOUT Save The Bombers!
Welcome To The SFB
Our group believes in encouraging teamwork which is something that war thunder needs, a fair fun expierance for bomber pilots, overall a more enjoyable game.
Somethings we will encourage gaijin to do:
-More durable bombers, able to hold their own, but not like some kind of tank.
-Better gunner accuracy, gunners won't be like lazers, but will be a serious threat to any fighter that doesn't attack a bombers weakspots or use tactics.
-Higher rewards for killing ground targets and bombing bases
-Planes like the wellington will have their historical geodosic airframe capabilities
-Low battle rating for bombers, particualy the lancasters and wellingtons
-Bombers will be able to sponge up some decent amount of damage and stay in the air
-Higher bomber spawns
-If gaijin refuses all or most of the above, AI bomber formations will be added into ground strike and all rb and sb matches to fly with, increasing protection. Historicaly accurate, but fighters will still often go for the players themselves. However alot of gunners in basicaly all diecions can be deadly and requires good teamwork and skill.
Any other suggestions, please we willing to make a discussion!
How will we achieve this?
We will go on the forums, make threads explain how badly gaijin are treating us, how things need to change and really get the message accros. Strength in numbers! We will also if possible use Squire as a reprensentative. Squire is a great person, and we believe his wellingtons and lancasters should be given a chance. Help save bill today! #SaveTheWellingtons!
So you want to make bombers like flying tanks?
Of course not. I myself and many others have to admit planes like the b-17 did need nerfing at the time, but gaijin over nerfed them to satisfied no skilled players. We want them to take a decent beating, but they will not take hilariously ridicoulous amount of damage.
Im a fighter jockey, and i think we should be able to kill bombers how they historicaly were. Well, irl trut is, they didn't take many hits. Thats why they generaly stayed in formations and had escorts. Unfortunatly we don't have that in war thunder, and if we can't have it like that then we have to have it the balanced way.
A few rules:
-Do not over react to somebody how you don't agree with
-Don't whine without any sources or explanation
-Don't be agressive, but you can still get the point accros.The Bavarian Farmers Association (BBV) is calling foul on new rules proposed by the European Union Commission to ban cow dung from hillsides with a gradient more than 15 percent. The goal is to avoid water pollution by stopping nitrates from leeching into ground waters.
"We demand that Germany stops this ban," said Upper Bavaria BBV president Anton Kreitmair at Wednesday's protest. "Slurry and dung are not pollutants, but valuable fertilizers."
The protest had no placards or slogans - just Doris the cow, wearing a plastic sheet tied around her rear end by farmer Johann Huber.
"We have no regular Pampers, the stores don't sell any big enough," Huber joked as he set about his task.
Doris and her colleagues graze almost exclusively on areas that would be forbidden under the EU rules in the town of Gmund, on hills above the Tegernsee.
The new regulations would essentially restrict cows to grazing in the valleys of Bavaria's alpine farms.
"In Bavaria alone, more than half of vineyards would no longer be able to fertilize with cow dung and 10 percent of the fields and meadows would no longer farmed," said Kreitmair, explaining it wouldn't just be farms like Huber's affected.
Huber says his family farm, which has been in busines since 1590, is already being subsidized by tourism - they have nine beds to boost income on the farm.
"Mountain farmers have a major role in ensuring that the alps are one of the most sought-after travel destinations. Federal and state politicians need to ensure that the conditions continue to allow farmers to meet their many social duties," Kreitmair added.
Doris's show, however, had little impact locally.
Steffen Schulz, spokesman for the EU Commission in Munich, said that many German waterways are already over the acceptable limit of nitrate contamination through over fertilization.
Huber said that if the EU Comission's rules were to pass, he wouldn't be diapering his cows before they go out to graze.Russian hackers are ramping up their offensive on US voting databases ahead of the presidential election, with nearly half of all states reporting attacks.
More than 20 state election boards have reported incidents, according to NBC News sources. Four of those systems have successfully been breached, sources told ABC News. Multiple sources in law enforcement have confirmed the situation to other media outlets as well.
The FBI has verified attempted hacks of voter registration sites in more than a dozen states according to two law enforcement officials speaking to CNN. It reported that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson also said 18 states have requested cyber-assistance from his department for voting systems.
"There have been a variety of scanning activities which is a preamble for potential intrusion activities as well as some attempted intrusions at voter database registrations beyond those we knew about in July and August,” FBI Director James Comey said at a House Judiciary Committee hearing this week. “We are urging the states just to make sure that their deadbolts are thrown and their locks are on and to get the best information they can from DHS just to make sure their systems are secure. Because there's no doubt that some bad actors have been poking around."
The FBI sent a warning to states in June, following two successful intrusions into voter registration databases in Illinois and Arizona.
The hacks have been aimed at voter registration databases, which contain potentially lucrative personal information on citizens that could be sold on the Dark Web. US officials have downplayed the hacks’ potential to sway an election, reiterating that the actual voting systems that will be used to cast ballots in November are not connected to the internet and are decentralized, meaning that a coordinated hacking effort would be nearly impossible. But the relentless attacks could be aimed at sowing the seeds of distrust in the system ahead of the election.
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and California Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking members on the Senate and House Intelligence Committees, respectively, released a joint statement blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government for attempting to influence the process.
"Based on briefings we have received, we have concluded that the Russian intelligence agencies are making a serious and concerted effort to influence the US election," they wrote.
Asked this summer why Russia might be trying to undermine the US political process, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Russian President Vladimir Putin is "paranoid" about the potential for revolutions in Russia, "and of course they see a US conspiracy behind every bush, and ascribe far more impact than we’re actually guilty of."
The news comes just days after FBI asked to examine the cell phones of a small number Democratic Party staffers for evidence of hacking. Sources told CNN that law enforcement is looking for malware, and are assessing whether targeting staffers is part of the original breach of Democratic National Committee emails or something new.
"Our struggle with the Russian hackers that we announced in June is ongoing—as we knew it would be—and we are choosing not to provide general updates unless personal data or other sensitive information has been accessed or stolen," interim DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile told CNN.
For months, the FBI has been investigating what appear to be coordinated cyberattacks on Democratic organizations—the most damaging so far being the hack of the Democratic National Committee, which presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton argued was carried out in order to provide leverage to the campaign of GOP rival Donald Trump.
Photo © SlashaGETTY Kerry McCarthy spends Christmas trying to avoid 'dead meat'
Labour's Kerry McCarthy, who as shadow environment secretary is supposed to represent the food and farming industries, ranted about having to get "up close and personal with bits of dead animals" and complained she had to spend her Christmas meal making sure meat-eaters weren't using her serving utensils. In a post on her blog, McCarthy revealed she dreads the festive season as it is impossible to avoid coming into contact with meat - oh and she also hates mince pies, even vegan ones, and doesn't drink alcohol.
GETTY Kerry McCarthy dreads Christmas
She said her friends, who are "normally nice and interesting and funny" suddenly start sharing pictures via social media of "stuffing turkeys, smothering potatoes in beef fat and boiling ham in Coke" as soon as the festive season kicks in. She wrote the blog after spending a previous Christmas Day with her meat-eating friends and described "fussing over them to make sure they’re not using the same serving utensils for the vegetables and the meat", making sure no one poured meat gravy on her vegan feast and trying to clear away and wash up without touching any leftover bits of turkey or other "dead animals".
Perhaps next year I’ll just turn up in time to see them vegging out in front of Dr Who Kerry McCarthy, who shadow environment secretary
In the blog entitled A Vegan at Christmas, which she wrote in 2010, five years after becoming MP for Bristol East, she said: "To be honest I got rather sick of it. And for the first time I felt, I don’t really want to do this again. "Yes, Christmas should be about spending time with family, but perhaps next year I’ll just turn up in time to see them vegging out in front of Dr Who and EastEnders."
GETTY Kerry McCarthy criticised Americans for eating turkey at Thanksgiving
To make matters even worse, she hates another traditional festive food - mince pies - and does not drink. The 50-year-old wrote another blog about the trials and tribulations of being invited to a neighbour's house for mulled wine and mince pies. She wrote: "Do you say yes but explain you’re vegan and send them off in a last minute panic trying to find vegan mince pies? "And no point asking me where you’d get them as I don’t like them anyway." She admitted making an excuse not to go, adding that being vegan does "limit your ability to socialise".
GETTY Jeremy Corbyn's vegan shadow environment secretary hates Christmas
Some commenters on the blog reassured her it was fine to bring her own drinks and snacks. But one person joked: "They’re only inviting you over because you’re an MP. No one wants to spend Christmas with a sober vegan." The MP, who has been vegan for two decades and was a vegetarian for 10 years before that, cites her favourite Christmas feast as a "traditional Christmas curry"."Petraeus" redirects here. For other uses, see Petraeus (disambiguation)
David Howell Petraeus AO (; born November 7, 1952) is a retired United States Army general and public official. He served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from September 6, 2011,[4] until his resignation on November 9, 2012.[5] Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus served 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander, U.S. Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A) from July 4, 2010, to July 18, 2011. His other four-star assignments include serving as the 10th Commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) from October 13, 2008, to June 30, 2010, and as Commanding General, Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I) from February 10, 2007, to September 16, 2008.[6] As commander of MNF-I, Petraeus oversaw all coalition forces in Iraq.[7][8]
Petraeus has a B.S. degree from the United States Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1974 as a distinguished cadet (top 5% of his class). In his class were three other future four-star generals, Martin Dempsey, Walter L. Sharp and Keith B. Alexander. He was the General George C. Marshall Award winner as the top graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College class of 1983.[9] He subsequently earned an M.P.A. in 1985 and a Ph.D. degree in international relations in 1987 from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He later served as Assistant Professor of International Relations at the United States Military Academy and also completed a fellowship at Georgetown University.[10]
Petraeus has repeatedly stated that he has no plans to run for elected political office.[11][12][13][14] On June 23, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Petraeus to succeed General Stanley McChrystal as commanding general of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, technically a step down from his position as Commander of United States Central Command, which oversees the military efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and Egypt.[15][16][17]
On June 30, 2011, Petraeus was unanimously confirmed as the Director of the CIA by the U.S. Senate 94–0.[18] Petraeus relinquished command of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan on July 18, 2011, and retired from the U.S. Army on August 31, 2011.[19] On November 9, 2012, he resigned from his position as Director of the CIA, citing his extramarital affair, which was reportedly discovered in the course of an FBI investigation.[20] In January 2015, officials reported the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors had recommended bringing felony charges against Petraeus for allegedly providing classified information to his biographer, Paula Broadwell (with whom he was having an affair), while serving as Director of the CIA.[21] Eventually, Petraeus pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified information.[22]
Early life and family [ edit ]
Petraeus was born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, the son of Miriam Sweet (née Howell; 1912–1991),[23] a librarian, and Sixtus Petraeus (1915–2008),[24] a Dutch[25] sea captain from Franeker, Netherlands.[26] His mother was American, a resident of Brooklyn, New York.[27] His father had sailed to the United States from the Netherlands at the start of World War II.[28] They met at the Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey and married. Sixtus Petraeus commanded a Liberty ship for the US for the duration of World War II.[27] The family moved after the war, settling in Cornwall-on-Hudson, where David Petraeus grew up and graduated from Cornwall Central High School in 1970.
With his son Stephen, Afghanistan, 2010
Petraeus went on to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Petraeus was on the intercollegiate soccer and ski teams, was a cadet captain on the brigade staff, and was a "distinguished cadet" academically, graduating in the top 5% of the Class of 1974 (ranked 40th overall). In the class yearbook, Petraeus was remembered as "always going for it in sports, academics, leadership, and even his social life".[29]
While a cadet, Petraeus started dating the daughter of Army General William A. Knowlton (the West Point superintendent at the time), Hollister "Holly" Knowlton (born c. 1953).[30] Two months after Petraeus graduated, they married.[3][31] Holly, who is multi-lingual, was a National Merit Scholar in high school, and graduated summa cum laude from Dickinson College. They have a daughter and son, Anne and Stephen. Petraeus administered the oath of office at his son's 2009 commissioning into the Army after his son's graduation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[32][33] His son went on to serve as an officer in Afghanistan as a |
of the Son in relation to both the Father and the Spirit.[240]
A similar anti-Arian emphasis also strongly influenced the development of the liturgy in the East, for example, in promoting prayer to "Christ Our God", an expression which also came to find a place in the West,[242][243] where, largely as a result of "the Church's reaction to Teutonic Arianism", "'Christ our God'... gradually assumes precedence over 'Christ our brother'".[244] In this case, a common adversary, namely Arianism, had profound, far-reaching effects, in the orthodox reaction in both East and West.[relevant? – discuss]
Church politics, authority conflicts, ethnic hostility, linguistic misunderstanding, personal rivalry, forced conversions, large scale wars, political intrigue, unfilled promises and secular motives all combined in various ways to divide East and West.
The doctrine expressed by the phrase in Latin (in which the word "procedit" that is linked with "Filioque" does not have exactly the same meaning and overtones as the word used in Greek) is definitively upheld by the Western Church, having been dogmatically declared by Leo I,[50] and upheld by councils at Lyon and Florence that the Western Church recognizes as ecumenical, by the unanimous witness of the Latin Church Fathers (as Maximus the Confessor acknowledged) and even by Popes who, like Leo III, opposed insertion of the word into the Creed.
That the doctrine is heretical is something that not all Orthodox now insist on. According to Ware, many Orthodox (whatever may be the doctrine and practice of the Eastern Orthodox Church itself) hold that, in broad outline, to say the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son amounts to the same thing as to say that the Spirit proceeds from the Father through the Son, a view accepted also by the Greeks who signed the act of union at the Council of Florence. For others, such as Bolotov and his disciples, the Filioque can be considered a Western theologoumenon, a theological opinion of Church Fathers that falls short of being a dogma. Bulgakov also stated: "There is no dogma of the relation of the Holy Spirit to the Son and therefore particular opinions on this subject are not heresies but merely dogmatic hypotheses, which have been transformed into heresies by the schismatic spirit that has established itself in the Church and that eagerly exploits all sorts of liturgical and even cultural differences."
See also [ edit ]
Notes [ edit ]
^ ἄκτιστον, ἐκ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον καὶ ἐκ τοῦ υἰοῦ λαμβανόμενον ("uncreated, who proceeds from the Father and is received from the Son").[23] The longer form of the creed of Epiphanius (374) included the doctrine:("uncreated, who proceeds from the Father and is received from the Son"). ^ prosōpon, hypostasis, and substantia – contributes to "estrangement on the level of thought and mutual understanding." Congar (1959, pp. 30–31) points out that provincialism – about theological terms which shape ideas in source languages but do not map to exact terms in target languages, including:, and– contributes to "estrangement on the level of thought and mutual understanding." ^ Ephesus I canon 7 was translated into English in the late 19th century in Percival (1900, pp. 231–234) and translated in the late 20th century in Tanner (1990, pp. 65–66 ^ Indications of "filioque language can also be found in certain early Syriac sources," according to Plested (2011) ^ [69] None of the creeds from the different stages in the Church's life can be considered superseded or irrelevant. ^ An additional profession of faith in the acts of Toledo III, The Profession of Faith of King Reccaredus, included the doctrine but not the term: "Spiritus aeque Sanctus confitendus a nobis et praedicandus est a Patre et Filio procedere et cum Patre et Filio unius esse substantiae." ^ "The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding". In the original Latin: "Spiritus Sanctus a Patre et Filio: non factus, nec creatus, nec genitus, sed procedens". ^ While Reccared I converted to Catholicism, his successor Liuva II reverted to Arianism. ^ Filioque to Cyril of Alexandria by "quotations grouped in anthologies" without analysis or context. The reason Cyril asserted a dependence was "the continuity between economy and theology" in his analysis of the relationship between the Son and the Holy Spirit. Cyril's reasons "correspond to different mechanisms" within the Trinity "which break up the simplistic opposition between the Latin schema of the triangle and the Greek model of the straight line." Boulnois thinks it is "impossible to classify Cyril unilaterally by applying [ ] a later conflict which, [ ] is largely alien to him." Boulnois (2003, pp. 106–107) notes that some ascribe an opinion about theto Cyril of Alexandria by "quotations grouped in anthologies" without analysis or context. The reason Cyril asserted a dependence was "the continuity between economy and theology" in his analysis of the relationship between the Son and the Holy Spirit. Cyril's reasons "correspond to different mechanisms" within the Trinity "which break up the simplistic opposition between the Latin schema of the triangle and the Greek model of the straight line." Boulnois thinks it is "impossible to classify Cyril unilaterally by applying [ ] a later conflict which, [ ] is largely alien to him." ^ Charlemagne's legates claimed that Tarasius, at his installation, did not follow the Nicene faith and profess that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, but confessed rather his procession from the Father through the Son (Mansi 13.760). The Pope strongly rejected Charlemagne's protest, showing at length that Tarasius and the Council, on this and other points, maintained the faith of the Fathers (ibid. 759–810). ^ Following this exchange of letters with the pope, Charlemagne commissioned the Libri Carolini (791–793) to challenge the positions both of the iconoclast council of 754 and of the Council of Nicaea of 787 on the veneration of icons. Again because of poor translations, the Carolingians misunderstood the actual decision of the latter Council. ^ "Leo III defended the Filioque outside the Creed. ^ Similarly Moltmann observes that "the filioque was never directed against the'monarchy' of the Father" and that the principle of the "monarchy" has "never been contested by the theologians of the Western Church". If these statements can be accepted by the Western theologians today in their full import of doing justice to the principle of the Father's "monarchy", which is so important to Eastern triadology, then the theological fears of Easterners about the filioque would seem to be fully relieved. Consequently, Eastern theologians could accept virtually any of the Memorandum's alternate formulae in the place of the filioque on the basis of the above positive evaluation of the filioque which is in harmony with Maximos the Confessor's interpretation of it. As Zizioulas incisively concludes: The "golden rule" must be Maximos the Confessor's explanation concerning Western pneumatology: by professing the filioque our Western brethren do not wish to introduce another αἴτον in God's being except the Father, and a mediating role of the Son in the origination of the Spirit is not to be limited to the divine Economy, but relates also to the divine οὐσία. ^ Pomazansky wrote that "Maximus the Confessor... justified [the Westerners] by saying that by the words 'from the Son' [the Westerners] intended to indicate that the Holy Spirit is given to creatures through the Son, that He is manifested, that He is sent — but not that the Holy Spirit has His existence from Him." ^ [ further explanation needed ] of the Second Ecumenical Council, St. Gregory is presented as the recording clerk of the Synod, "and, as is believed, was the one who gave the final form to the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed and formulated the article about the Holy Spirit: 'And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life; Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets'".[178] In iconsof the Second Ecumenical Council, St. Gregory is presented as the recording clerk of the Synod, "and, as is believed, was the one who gave the final form to the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed and formulated the article about the Holy Spirit: 'And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life; Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets". ^ Filioque, of introducing two Gods, precisely because they believed that the Filioque implied two causes – not simply two sources or principles – in the Holy Trinity. The Greek deitas or divinitas). In the Byzantine period, the Orthodox side accused the Latin-speaking Christians, who supported the, of introducing two Gods, precisely because they believed that theimplied two causes – not simply two sources or principles – in the Holy Trinity. The Greek Patristic tradition, at least since the Cappadocian Fathers identified God with the person of the Father, whereas St. Augustine seems to identify him with the one divine substance (theor). ^ Photius states in section 32 "And Again, if the Spirit proceeds from the Father, and the Son likewise is begotten of the Father, then it is in precisely this fact that the Father's personal property is discerned. But if the Son is begotten and the Spirit proceed from the Son (as this delirium of theirs would have it) then the Spirit of the Father is distinguished by more personal properties than the Son of the Father: on the one hand as proceeding from the equality of the Son and the Spirit, the Spirit is further differentiMost parents who visit furniture stores with small children spend time keeping the little ones from jumping on beds or spreading out on couches.
But Houstonian Jim McIngvale is welcoming the bouncing and the spreading at his Gallery Furniture stores in Houston, Texas where he has opened up his stores as shelters for people displaced by tropical storm Harvey.
McIngvale, whose Twitter handle is “Matress Mac,” opened up two stores as shelters and people can also bring their pets.
Mattress Mack is opening both @GFToday locations as shelters for people, AND it's pet-friendly. #Harvey — MIX 96.5 (@Mix965Houston) August 27, 2017
“Mattress Mack is opening both @GFToday locations as shelters for people, AND it’s pet-friendly,” McIngvale tweeted on Sunday, using the hashtag #Harvey
Our GF N FWRY & GF Grand PKWY stores are open for those in need. If you can safely join us, we invite you for shelter and food. God Bless. pic.twitter.com/IHHgjKmjMY — MattressMack (@MattressMack) August 28, 2017
“Our GF N FWRY & GF Grand PKWY stores are open for those in need. If you can safely join us, we invite you for shelter and food. God Bless,” McIngvale tweeted on Sunday.
“Mattress Mack” included photos of kids on beds and adults mingling around the furniture displays in this tweets.
McIngvale’s banner photo on Twitter says: “If it is to be, it’s up to me.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that some 30,000 people have been displaced by the storm, which has dumped an estimated 30 inches on the Houston area since Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.Homeowners in Lucasville, N.S., see a hearing by a provincial agency on Wednesday as one of their last chances to deal with ongoing concerns about a local horse farm.
In 2002, Memento Farm set up an equestrian operation, also known as Goldring Stables, with about 35 horses.
The 4.2-hectare property is zoned mixed use, which means agriculture is permitted but a commercial business is not.
That didn't come to light until 2014 when the property owners, Cathy and Clayton Goldring, wanted to expand one of their buildings.
Long list of grievances from neighbours
To remedy the situation, HRM planners suggested a development agreement. A public information meeting was held in 2015.
That's when people living close to to Memento Farm aired a long list of grievances, including:
Offensive odours and runoff from manure piles.
The condition of the private road and dust created by traffic.
Rodent problems.
Noise from equestrian competitions.
"We need some manure management here," said Iris Drummond, chair of the Lucasville Community Association, who's lived in the area for 40 years. The horse farm is located behind her property.
"You just can't spread manure on rocky, swampy ground."
Iris Drummond has lived on the Lucasville Road for 40 years. The horse farm is located behind her property. (CBC)
The minutes of the public information meeting show that Clayton Goldring explained he was unaware of any issues because he had never personally received any complaints.
In fact, Goldring told CBC News he did make changes to his manure-handling practices after that meeting — which satisfied inspectors from both the agriculture and environment departments.
"They recommended a couple of changes which I have done," said Goldring. "I have letters saying there are no problems and the file is closed."
But the Goldrings decided to pull out of the development agreement process and opted instead to eliminate any commercial aspects, such as riding lessons or equestrian events, and remain solely an agricultural operation.
Memento Farm, also known as Goldring Stables, has about 35 horses. (CBC)
That puts them in compliance with the land use bylaw, but it also means less municipal oversight when it comes to complaints.
That's in contrast to another horse operation in the community along the Lucasville Road called Restless Pines. Its development agreement was approved by the North West Community Council on April 20.
The agreement permits commercial aspects including riding lessons and equestrian events. But it also limits the number of horses on the property, outlines how often the manure has to be removed and establishes hours of operation.
Site visit, hearing to be held
Lucasville residents have now turned to the Farm Practices Review Board with new complaints about Memento Farm.
The agency was set up to prevent nuisance complaints about farm operations being taken to court, and it has the power to modify or stop a farm practice.
Board members will conduct site visits Wednesday morning and hold a hearing in the afternoon in Fall River.
"I hope the board will at least deal with the manure issue," Drummond said.
"And get the road fixed so people who live along it can enjoy their properties again. They can't do it now because of the dust."
Iris Drummond, right, speaks with the CBC's Pam Berman about a horse farm located behind her property. (CBC)
Goldring insists there are other barns in the Lucasville area which are not following provincial manure-handling guidelines, and not being reviewed.
The councillor for the area, Lisa Blackburn, confirmed she has received about seven complaints about Memento Farm, but has never smelled any offensive odours herself.
She agrees the private road is in poor condition and said the Goldrings would like the municipality to take it over. Blackburn has been called as a witness at the Wednesday hearing.
'You're left without a voice'
Drummond is critical of the city for allowing recreational horse farms so close to residential areas in the first place, especially with the lack of rules and regulations governing their operation.
"They shouldn't be passing the buck to the provincial government," she said.
"You're left without a voice and HRM has disrespected our community."The Islamic Jihad and Peace with Jews Translations of this item: German On the face of it, the anti-normalization campaign appears driven by political motivations. However, it turns out that there is also a powerful Islamic angle to this campaign of hate, which is aimed at delegitimizing Israel and demonizing Jews.
The Palestinian anti-normalization "enforcers" do their utmost to conceal the Islamic aspect of their campaign. They are not eager for the world to know that Islam supplies much of the ideology and justification for their anti-Israel activities.
Fatwas (Islamic religious decrees) and statements issued by leading Muslim scholars and clerics have long warned Muslims against normalization with the "Zionist entity." Such normalization, they have made it clear, is considered an "unforgivable crime." The authors of these hate messages are not opposed to normalization with Israel because of settlements or house demolitions, but rather because they believe Jews have no rights at all to any of the land.
In 1989, more than 60 eminent Muslim scholars from 18 countries ruled that it was forbidden for Muslims to give up any part of Palestine.
The vicious campaigns to boycott Israel and Jews, while political in dress, are in fact deeply rooted in Islamic ideology.
These campaigns are patently not a legitimate protest. They are not even part of an effort to boycott Israeli products or politicians and academics. The real goal of the campaigns is revealed in the words of the Muslim leaders: that Jews have no rights whatsoever to the land, and must be targeted through jihad as infidels and enemies of all Muslims and Arabs
Settlements, checkpoints and fences are irrelevant; Muslim scholars want Jews off what they define as sacred Muslim land. Supporters of BDS and the anti-normalization movement would do well to consider this fact. Failing to do so is tantamount to aiding and abetting Muslims to destroy Israel, and kill as many Jews as possible in the process. Muslim scholars have feverishly citing chapter and verse from the Quran and the hadith, the words of the Prophet Mohammed, in their efforts to encourage Arabs and Muslims to avoid normalization with Jews. The Quran and hadith have also been leveraged to promote boycotts against Israel and Jews -- thereby refuting claims by anti-Israel activists that their campaigns are just about politics. Palestinians have long maintained that their campaign to ban normalization with Israel is mainly directed against the Israeli "occupation" of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. The Palestinian anti-normalization movement, which continues to target Israeli and Palestinian peace activists who hold -- horrors! -- public meetings, has in recent years gained momentum, largely thanks to the ongoing anti-Israel campaign of incitement and indoctrination in the Palestinian media and mosques. In recent years, Palestinian anti-normalization activists have managed to foil several meetings between Israelis and Palestinians, under the pretext that such encounters cause damage to the Palestinians. The activists justify their disruption by citing what they see as Israeli practices against Palestinians, and violently object to any meetings with Israelis, including those who wholeheartedly support the Palestinians and oppose the policies of the Israeli government. The most recent incident occurred at the Ambassador Hotel in East Jerusalem, where Israeli and Palestinian activists gathered to talk about peace and coexistence. Shortly after the meeting began, a number of anti-normalization activists stormed the conference hall to protest the meeting. "Meeting with Zionists is an act of treason," one of the protesters shouted. "There are no solutions. Palestinian must be freed, from the (Jordan) River to the (Mediterranean) Sea. Shame on you!" The protesters claimed that they were opposed to the meeting because Israel was "demolishing Arab houses and killing Palestinians." Palestinian "anti-normalization" activists disrupt an unofficial Israeli-Palestinian peace conference Jerusalem's Ambassador Hotel, in 2104. Hind Khoury, a Christian woman who has previously served as Palestinian Authority ambassador to France, received the brunt of their anger. Khoury's attempts to persuade the protesters that the meeting was not about normalization, but about achieving a just and comprehensive peace, fell on deaf ears. Ironically, it was the intervention of the Israeli Police that allowed Israeli and Palestinian activists to proceed with their conference. Such scenes have become commonplace at the East Jerusalem hotel, a preferred site for unofficial peace conferences organized by Israelis and Palestinians. Anti-normalization activists raid the conference hall several times a year in their attempts to disrupt such gatherings. The anti-normalization activists have also been vocal in Ramallah and other Palestinian cities. The Palestinian newspaper Al Quds, which recently published an interview with Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, has also come under attack. For these Palestinians, conducting an interview with an Israeli government official is engaging in "media normalization." "The newspaper must apologize to the Palestinians," the protesters demanded. On the face of it, the anti-normalization campaign appears driven by political motivations. However, it turns out that there is also a powerful Islamic angle to this campaign of hate, which is aimed at delegitimizing Israel and demonizing Jews. The Palestinian anti-normalization "enforcers" do their utmost to conceal the Islamic aspect of their campaign. They are not eager for the world to know that Islam supplies much of the ideology and justification for their anti-Israel activities. Fatwas (Islamic religious decrees) and statements issued by leading Muslim scholars and clerics have long warned Muslims against normalization with the "Zionist entity." Such normalization, they have made it clear, is considered an "unforgivable crime." The authors of these hate messages are not opposed to normalization with Israel because of settlements or house demolitions, but rather because they believe Jews have no rights at all to any of the land. "Normalization with the Zionist enemy means turning the presence of Jews in Palestine to something normal," explained one scholar, Adnan Adwan. "Normalization means accepting the right of the Zionist entity to Arab lands and Palestine." In response to an inquiry from Palestinians about the perspective of Islam regarding peace and normalization with Jews, a group of leading Muslim scholars issued a fatwa stating that this was completely haram (forbidden). They even went farther by ruling that any form of peace with Jews was also haram, despite the fact that Prophet Mohammed signed a treaty, known as the Constitution of Medina, with Jews and other non-Muslims shortly after his arrival at Medina from Mecca in 622 CE. In their fatwa, the Muslim scholars wrote: "It is true that Prophet Mohammed signed a treaty with the infidels, including the Quraysh tribe and the Jews, but he did not make concessions that are contrary to Islam." They pointed out that Prophet Mohammed did not strike the deal with the infidels in order to allow them to stay in their homes permanently. Nor did the prophet promise to abandon jihad (holy war) as a result of this treaty, they added in their fatwa. "There is no evidence whatsoever that the Prophet or any of his successors had made peace with infidels controlling Islamic lands," the fatwa clarified. To support their argument, the scholars quote verses from the Quran which -- they maintain -- prohibit Muslims from making peace or ever placing their confidence in Jews. One verse which they claim refers to Jews is taken from Surah Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War): "And if they intend to deceive you, then verily, Allah is All-Sufficient for you. He it is Who has supported you with His Help and with the believers." (62) According to the fatwa, this verse from the Quran refers specifically to Jews. The scholars continue with another verse from the same Surah Al-Anfal to explain why Muslims must continue to fight against Jews: "O Prophet (Mohammed)! Urge the believers to fight. If there are twenty steadfast persons amongst you, they will overcome a two hundred, and if there be a hundred steadfast persons they will overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are people who do not understand." (65) Yet a further verse from the Quran is then cited to substantiate their ideology of war against the Jews -- verse 7 from Surah At-Taubah (The Repentance): "How can there be a covenant with Allah and with His Messenger for the Mushrikin (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) expect those with whom you made a covenant near Al-Masjid al-Haram (at Makkah)? So long, as they are true to you, stand you true to them. Verily, Allah loves Al-Muttaqun (the pious)." According to the fatwa, the "treacherous" Jews have since failed to "repent" (presumably, convert to Islam) and that is why it is forbidden to make peace with them. The Muslim scholars also point to several fatwas prohibiting peace and normalization with Jews issued in the past century. The ban dates back to 1935, when a group of Muslim scholars and clerics ruled during a conference in Jerusalem that it was forbidden for Muslims to sell Arab-owned lands to Jews. A year later, scholars from Egypt's Al-Azhar University, one of the first Islamic universities in the Arab world, ruled that it was the duty of all Muslims to engage in jihad "to salvage Palestine." In 1989, more than 60 eminent Muslim scholars from 18 countries ruled that it was forbidden for Muslims to give up any part of Palestine. Other Muslim scholars have referred to another verse in the Quran to justify banning normalization with Jews. In Surah Al-Mumtahinah (The Woman to be examined), verse 1 states: "O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies as friends, showing affection towards them, while they have disbelieved in what has come to you of the truth." They also quote the following hadith (a saying attributed to Prophet Mohammed) to support their claim against making peace with Jews: "Those who side with the unjust to assist them in their injustice, while knowing that they are unjust, walk out of Islam." The vicious campaigns to boycott Israel and Jews, while political in dress, are in fact deeply rooted in Islamic ideology. The anti-normalization activists and those promoting boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel perceive Jews as the enemies of Allah and Prophet Mohammed. These campaigns are patently not a legitimate protest. They are not even part of an effort to boycott Israeli products or politicians and academics. The real goal of the campaigns is revealed in the words of the Muslim leaders: that Jews have no rights whatsoever to the land, and must be targeted through jihad as infidels and enemies of all Muslims and Arabs. Muslim scholars have left no room for doubt about their view of the true nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Settlements and checkpoints and fences are irrelevant; Muslim scholars want Jews off what they define as sacred Muslim land. BDS and anti-normalization movement supporters might do well to consider this fact. Failing to do so is tantamount to aiding and abetting Muslims to destroy Israel, and kill as many Jews as possible in the process. Bassam Tawil is a scholar based in the Middle East. © 2019 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute. Recent Articles by Bassam Tawil Palestinians: "No Place for the Zionist Entity in Palestine", 2019-02-26
Hamas, Islamic Jihad War Crimes Against Children and Women, 2019-02-12
The Palestinians: Who Really Cares?, 2019-02-01
The Palestinian Jihad Against Peace, 2019-01-28
Palestinians' Anti-Semitic Stereotyping of Jews, 2019-01-19 receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free gatestone institute mailing list en 14 Reader Comments Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply-> Reply->Celtic win to set up final with Dundee United
Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons with first-half goals
First Old Firm meeting since April 2012
Celtic eased to victory over Rangers at Hampden to set up a League Cup final with Dundee United.
In the first match between the sides since April 2012, Leigh Griffiths nodded the Premiership leaders in front on 10 minutes, with Kris Commons adding a powerful strike from 20 yards.
Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Johansen went close in a one-sided first half.
Rangers were more determined in a dreary second half but failed to register a single shot on target.
Old habits die hard. It may have been almost three years since the teams last met, but the routines of the Old Firm immediately fell back into place: the noise, the colour, the taunting, even songs and offensive terms that ought to have been left in the past.
All that was missing was a true sense of tension. Celtic scored early, when Griffiths slipped between two Rangers defenders to meet Johansen's cross with a solid header past Steve Simonsen from close range.
The striker's play was artful and deft, and it delivered a resounding blow to Rangers.
Rangers caretaker manager Kenny McDowall's game plan was clear enough: the defence sat deep and the five-man midfield dropped off as Celtic carries the ball forward.
Containment was their hope. Celtic were more adventurous, although they never lost a grip on their composure or self-assurance.
At one stage, Mikael Lustig's hungry stride ate up the ground as he left Lee Wallace, normally so dynamic a figure, in his wake. It was a reflection, it seemed, on the greater intensity of Celtic's play. Even when Rangers were dutiful, Celtic could still benefit.
Celtic manager Ronny Deila enjoyed victory in his first meeting with Rangers
Fraser Aird broke up one attack only to pass the ball short, leading to Anthony Stokes shooting over. Minutes later, Nicky Law slid to clear the ball from danger, but it rolled straight to Commons, who lashed his effort into the top corner.
"Always look on the bright side of life," the Celtic fans sang. The opposition supporters were momentarily silenced, and might have been lost to wondering how many goals their side might concede.
There should have been a third, certainly, when Van Dijk clumsily headed a corner over from inside the six yard box. Then only Simonsen's flailing leg prevented Johansen from slipping the ball past him.
Rangers, whose players were wearing black armbands in memory of long-time Ibrox steward Davie Byers, lacked any cutting edge; even set-pieces were poorly delivered. There was more energy and threat from them in the second half, with McDowall having replaced Aird with Jon Daly.
Even so, it took a sliding Darren McGregor challenge to block Commons from shooting from close range. Griffiths then curled a free-kick just wide.
For all that Rangers remained lively, Celtic were comfortable; goalkeeper Craig Gordon only has to watch a Lee Wallace chip drift over. It was, ultimately, the closest that the Ibrox side came.
There was still time for a couple of inevitable flare-ups, with players from both sides becoming embroiled in spats. They amounted to little, though. This was an Old Firm game in all but significant competitive tension.
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths was booked for his goal celebrations
Kris Commons (left) celebrates making it 2-0 to Celtic after half an hour
Rangers put up a more determined fight in the second halfPatriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is such a beloved player not just because he dominates football games in a way unmatched by anyone else who has ever played the position — though that is certainly a big part of it — but also because he has such an unabashed damn good time doing it.
No, Gronk does not seem like a complicated dude, and he finds such joy living in the moment so much that there isn’t time — or presumably even a need — for introspection.
He’s too busy throwing opposing defensive backs out of the club and making ridiculous one-handed catches to spend much time pondering his place in the football universe, you know?
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Except sometimes he has done just that. As revealed in an interview with ESPN’s Lindsay Czarniak that will be posted in full on ESPN.com tomorrow and featured in the December 12 edition of ESPN The Magazine, Gronk opened up about several topics, including his fears about his football future after his devastating knee injury last season and how his relationship with Tom Brady has evolved since his rookie season.
Gronkowski confirmed that the low point of his career was probably what we would suspect: the hours and days after he suffered a torn MCL and ACL in his right knee after a vicious low hit by the Browns’ T.J. Ward last December 8.
“When I went down with the knee, I didn’t know what to expect. That night, I was thinking all these crazy thoughts in my head. ‘What’s going on? Why is this happening? I just got back.’
“[I was wondering whether] I was ever going to be able to play football again? What’s going on with my career? I was just thinking things like that. You’ve got tears going down your eyes. You’ve got your trainers right there and my parents right there. I was just thinking, ‘Is this it?’I didn’t know what a knee injury was. I’d never felt pain like that.”
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Gronkowski said he doesn’t remember the aftermath with complete clarity because he also suffered a concussion on the play. But he does remember being overwhelmed with emotion as he waited for the diagnosis.
“I remember I was on the X-ray machine after they carried me off the field on the cart,” he said. “I mean, I kind of had a concussion too, so I really don’t remember. But I was actually bawling out on the machine when I was getting X-rays on my knee. And I was holding on to my trainer’s hand and my dad was right there and I was just bawling like, ‘Is this it? Am I done?’ I barely remember any of it. I just remember those little stages of it, because of the concussion.”
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Gronkowski also provided insight on his relationship with Brady. While it may have seemed to outside observers that Gronkowski grasped the offense and clicked with Brady early in his rookie season, it turns out the demanding quarterback was tough on him in the beginning.
“We have a great relationship,” Gronkowski said. “We goof around in the locker room. Out on the field, we have great chemistry and a great connection. We’re good friends for sure, and we feel like we’re way different now than where we were my rookie year.
“He always used to yell at me and get on my case. I was like, ‘Man, this dude, why is he coming at me like that?’ He would always be making sure my routes were on point, yelling at me to be where I’ve gotta be. Then he came up to me one day and he was like, ‘Yo, Rob, you know I love you. I just see a lot of potential in you. I’m just trying to get on the same page. I want your max performance out there.’ And when he said that, it all clicked. I was like, ‘Oh, now I know why he’s being like that.’ That actually made me more motivated. I’ve gotta get on the right step. If Tom Brady believes I can do it, then I believe. It was meaningful when he said, ‘I love you and I see so much potential in you.’
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Did Gronkowski share that conversation with anyone close to him after that happened?
“Nah, not really,” he told Czarniak with a laugh. “I always told my friends that he was always mean to me.”The central question in the Benghazi scandal is quite simple: what did President Barack Obama do?
Other issues, such as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s failure to provide adequate security to U.S. diplomats, and the administration’s lie about an anti-Islam video, are important.
Yet the fundamental problem remains the fact that the president did not order a rescue–and did not, apparently, take any interest as the fight went on.
The left apparently believes otherwise–that President Obama was engaged throughout the evening of September 11, 2012 and issued specific orders to Special Operations forces to intervene.
One article that has been making the rounds in left-leaning foreign policy circles is a guest post at Thomas E. Ricks’s “The Best Defense” blog at Foreign Policy, written by Georgetown graduate student and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Billy Birdzell.
Birdzell argues that the Special Operations whistleblower interviewed by Fox News on May 2 was incorrect to suggest that an immediate intervention would have saved lives.
(Birdzell is less polite: he calls the whistleblower a “clown” and suggests he might have hoped to land at the Benghazi Zoo, which “would have provided good cover, as well as entertainment, in case someone saw 40 people parachuting into the middle of the city.”)
Even if Special Operations forces had left ten minutes after President Obama met with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey at the White House, Birdzell argues, it is unlikely that they would have arrived in time to repel the second attack, or that they would have been able to locate and destroy the enemy mortars that ultimately claimed the second two American lives lost.
That may be true. It is also irrelevant, because no one knew at the time how long the attacks would last, or how many of them there would be. And there were still survivors, some of them wounded, to protect and remove from the area as quickly as possible.
Birdzell makes another, more interesting, claim–that the president specifically “gave the launch order at 0239” [8:39 p.m EDT] to send Special Operations into Benghazi.
He cites the Pentagon’s own timeline of events, posted by CNN in November, which reports:
2:39 a.m. to 2:53 a.m. [Benghazi time] — The National Military Command Center gives formal authorization for the deployment of the two special operations force teams from Croatia and the United States.
Note that the Pentagon cites the National Military Command Center (NMCC), not President Obama, as the source of the orders.
The NMCC serves the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs. Typically, if the President were to give an order, it would likely go through the NMCC.
The problem for Birdzell–and Obama–is that we know President Obama gave no such orders–neither to Secretary Panetta nor to General Dempsey. They testified before |
and Savage (1952). This line of thought, which Starmer takes issue with, proceeds from the assumption that bona fide principles of rationality would be evident as such to most subjects and that decision makers will accordingly behave in line with them.
6. Further Reading
While the philosophical literature on the topic remains rather sparse, there is no shortage of first-rate summaries in the economics and psychology literatures. For thorough presentations of the technical results referred to in Section 1, see Fishburn (1970: Ch. 14) or the slightly less detailed Kreps (1988: Ch. 9). Ch. 3 of Joyce (1999) is also helpful here. Regarding the literature on Independence specifically, discussed in Section 2, see Machina (1987), Starmer (2000) and Weber & Camerer (1987). Regarding the issue of probabilistic belief specifically, discussed in Section 3, see Camerer & Weber (1992), Etner et al. (2012), Gilboa & Marinacci (2013), Machina & Siniscalchi (2014), and Trautmann & van de Kuilen (2015).A number of broader surveys cover both the above issues, and some. These include most notably Camerer (1995) and the excellent Sugden (2004). Finally, for a clear and detailed historical account of the development of the experimental literature on decision-making, see Heukelom (2014).2014 has yielded a beautiful bumper crop of terrible political candidates, and the apple of our eye right now is Jordan D. Haskins, the only Republican candidate running for Congress in Michigan’s 95th State House District.
Haskins, you see, has a checkered past: he’s a parolee with “stints in prison systems in two states,” according to the Saginaw News. While most of his felonies include larceny, auto theft, and breaking and entering, two of his charges — misdemeanor charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and malicious destruction of property — occurred when he broke into a state property, pulled spark plugs and wires out of police cars, and then…masturbated:
According to that incident report, Haskins again said that he damaged county vehicles by pulling spark plug wires to “masturbate while cranking the engine.” Deputies said he told them the act is a sexual fetish he learned about online. Haskins told The Saginaw News that he has difficulty explaining what drove him to again and again repeat that behavior. “I was in a messed-up state of mind mentally and emotionally when I did what I did,” he said. “That’s the only way I can even explain it.”
He also liked to masturbate in police cruisers and vehicles, in stolen trucks, and in a city mosquito control car. It is unclear whether he would masturbate on a boat, with a goat, here or there, or anywhere.
Looking back, Haskins said that he was in “a whole phase of my life where I was young and stupid,” and that he’d faced some problems at home. Now, however, he’s ready to clean up his messy past. “I feel that, yes, I’ve made mistakes in my past. But I’m working to correct those things and to try at least to put in my small part and help others in my community and try to make things right. I hope the citizens of the city and the 95th District will give me that chance.”
The state’s Republican Party has neither condemned nor offered their endorsement of the candidate.
[h/t Gawker]
[Image via Jordan Haskins for State Representative/Facebook]
—
>> Follow Tina Nguyen (@Tina_Nguyen) on Twitter
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.comLater this afternoon, Alabama will hold its annual press conference regarding juniors’ NFL decisions at 2 p.m. CT. This comes two days after the players that received feedback from the NFL Draft Advisory Board sat down with head coach Nick Saban and their families to discuss their respective decisions to either return to school or leave for the league.
Howard caught five passes for 208 yards and two scores vs. Clemson.
As of now, four players’ decisions have been revealed. A trio of defenders in Tim Williams, Eddie Jackson and Ryan Anderson has chosen to forego the NFL Draft and return for their senior seasons, while Derrick Henry will reportedly enter his name into the 2016 draft.
We will know everyone’s choice later this evening, but before that takes place in Tuscaloosa, one draft expert, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., has already evaluated some of the Crimson Tide juniors and their stock at the next level.
Kiper Jr. placed four Alabama players in the first round of his Mock Draft 1.0 (Reggie Ragland to the Chicago Bears at No. 11, A'Shawn Robinson to the New Orleans Saints at No. 12, Jarran Reed to the Detroit Lions at No. 16 and Jonathan Allen to the Buffalo Bills at No. 19) and provided some insight into his thinking via a conference call Thursday afternoon.
For Allen, who paced the Crimson Tide with 12 sacks this season, his pass-rushing ability has stood out to scouts and evaluators when watching his 15 games’ worth of film from his defensive end position. He has not, however, announced he will enter the upcoming draft.
“Jonathan Allen is an outstanding pass rusher,” Kiper Jr. said. “He’s 280-285 pounds, he can stop the run, underrated player all the way through his career. It was always A'Shawn Robinson, and then it became Jarran Reed and there was Allen showing up big in key moments of just about every game.”
But Kiper Jr. wasn’t as complimentary of Alabama’s second Heisman Trophy winner. Despite 2,219 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns this year, the draft expert doesn’t see Henry as a first-day pick in the first 31 selections.
“Henry doesn’t have enough wiggle and change of direction to attract maybe first-round, maybe even second-round interest,” Kiper Jr. said. “He’s a build-up-speed guy, he’s not that initial-quickness-through-the-hole type of player that you need for the NFL, so I would take Henry for third round, maybe second.”
The third junior Kiper Jr. provided a prognosis for was tight end O.J. Howard, who also has yet to announce his intentions. The 6-foot-6 target produced a career-high 208 receiving yards and two touchdowns on five receptions in the national championship game Monday in Glendale, Ariz., and quieted the critics that said he could not be a receiving threat.
“O.J. Howard’s an intriguing guy because you expected so much, and Nick said ‘Hey, we didn’t do a good enough job of getting him the ball,’ and they did it the final two games,” Kiper Jr. said. “You saw the difference maker he could be against Clemson.”
With his season-ending, breakout performance, Howard vaulted himself up draft boards into the No. 2 tight end position, trailing only Arkansas’ Hunter Henry, who was involved on the miracle play against Ole Miss that helped send Alabama to the SEC Championship Game.
“With Howard having that strong workout you would expect with a kid with his size, his physicality and the way he finished, you remember what you saw last,” Kiper Jr. said. “You saw a chance to be a heck of a weapon in the NFL. I would think he could be a second rounder who could be the No. 2 tight end off the board, if not maybe the first tight end off the board.”
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Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging system or on Twitter at @Charlie_Potter.Korean sweet potatoes are one of the Korean vegetables that I want you to try whether you like normal sweet potatoes or not. They are naturally very sweet, have a nice texture, and are healthy. Among Korean sweet potatoes, there are 2 main kinds. One is a water sweet potato called MulGoGuMa in Korean. It’s soft and mushy texture is pretty similar to the normal sweet potatoes that you find in America. It is just a lot sweeter and has good sweet potato flavor in it. The other type is chestnut sweet potato called BamGoGuMa in Korean. This one is also very sweet and has good sweet potato flavor. The only difference is that it’s texture is firm and not mushy like mulgoguma. It’s texture is a little similar to chestnuts, so it must have gotten the name because of that. Anyway, both kinds are good to try, but I especially love bamgoguma and that is the one we will use for today’s recipe. Instead of making the same old cheese sticks, make this upgraded version of it with tasty Korean sweet potato paste.
Yield: 12 Pieces
[Read more…]Posted on by Chris Brennan ---
Episode 84 features an interview with Richard Tarnas about his book Cosmos and Psyche.
This landmark book was released a decade ago, in 2006, and the purpose of this episode is to give an overview of the book, talk a bit about what went into writing it, as well as discuss some developments that have taken place in the past ten years since it came out.
In particular we talk about the specific approach to astrology that has developed around the foundation that Tarnas laid with the publication of Cosmos and Psyche, which is called archetypal astrology.
You can find out more information about Richard’s work at CosmosAndPsyche.com.
Below you will find an extended set of show notes, which provides a synopsis of some of the points that we talked about, followed by links to download or stream the audio recording of this episode at the bottom of the page.
Giveaway Prizes for July
The podcast is sponsored this month by two astrology software companies, and we will be giving away free copies of their programs to patrons of the show at the end of the month.
The giveaway prizes include a free one year subscription to the new online astrology program for archetypal astrology called Archetypal Explorer, as well as a copy of another popular astrology software program called Solar Fire.
For more details about these programs or information about how to enter the drawing please see the giveaway description page for July.
Show Notes
Most of what follows is the outline that I prepared prior to the interview, largely while re-reading Cosmos and Psyche and taking some notes in order to summarize certain points or provide a synopsis. I’m going to include most of it below even though we weren’t able to touch on every point since it might be useful for listeners who like having a written summary to go along with the audio discussion.
We ran into some issues with time, so we didn’t necessarily get to every point listed in the outline. We touched on most of the points listed below in roughly chronological order.
Richard’s background, training, and early career Studying classics under the Jesuits. Then studying western intellectual and cultural history and depth psychology at Harvard. Working at Esalen Institute in the 1970s Initially skeptical or dismissive of astrology. Views on astrology changed while at Esalen. Turning point March 1976. Finding that people’s psychological states corresponded to their transits. Beginning to study birth charts and biographies and exploring astrology.
Published The Passion of the Western Mind in 1991. Took 10 years to write. Focuses on major shifts in the worldview of western civilization since ancient times. Was well-received. Became standard text in university courses. Started as a few into chapters in Cosmos and Psyche. Intention was to lay the foundation for Cosmos and Psyche.
Release of Cosmos and Psyche in 2006. Released in early 2006. Based on 30 years of research, which started c. 1976. From an external standpoint, the premise of the book was essentially: what if a prominent contemporary western intellectual wrote a book in which he tried to make the case for astrology, and explain what it is in a modern context while demonstrating how it works. It wasn’t necessarily written for the astrological community, but instead it was written in order to convince intellectuals and academics that there is something to astrology. The subversive nature of it in some sense, as a followup to Passion. Scandalous for a university professor to come out with a book that is supportive of astrology, “the gold standard of superstition.” Basically a brilliant book on modern astrology, and if any book was ever going to be successful in attempting to make a case for it, then this is it.
Themes in Cosmos and Psyche The Copernican revolution as an analogy for astrology today. Imagine you made an epochal discovery that would be rejected out of hand by all the major intellectual and cultural authorities of your time. “The new theory conflicted not only with common sense, and not only with literal interpretations of certain passages of the Bible, but with the most cogent and long-established principles of physics and cosmology.” p. 8 The disenchanted world view as a source of problems in the world. Roughly, viewing humanity as a random speck of mold living on a rock in an infinite lifeless void. The idea of the human psyche being embedded in a world soul/psyche (anima mundi) as part of an explanatory rationale for astro. and solution to disenchantment The cosmos as ensouled. One of the most controversial points about astrology is that it “posits an intrinsically meaning-permeated cosmos” Cosmos not random and meaningless. Subtle orderedness. The adaptation of Jung’s theory of synchronicity as an explanatory mechanism or principle for astrology. Expanding it so that it is not restricted to occasional or spontaneous events, but instead can be a regularly occurring phenomenon. Later specifies that it is a constant correspondence. Presents a lot of cultural and philosophical comparisons or parallels due to familiarity with many different intellectual traditions. Comparing different conceptualizations of archetype in Plato, Aristotle, Jung, etc. Likening Neptune to mystical Christ, all-compassionate Bhudda, Atman-Brahan union, etc. The study of personal natal placements and transit cycles. Uranus cycle, Saturn cycle, etc. The study of larger historical epochs and cultural shifts through planetary cycles. Outer planet conjunctions and oppositions especially. 15°–20° orb. Uranus-Pluto cycle. Saturn-Pluto, etc.
New approach called archetypal astrology. What is archetypal astrology? It is essentially the approach to astrology Tarnas developed after studying the astrological tradition and then refined it to include the techniques and conceptualizations that seemed to make the most sense, or were seen as more reliable or plausible. Not unlike Kepler’s refining. A more well-articulated and theoretically consistent approach to modern astrology, which has an integrated technical and philosophical structure. Defining the use of the term “archetype” and “archetypal” in this context. Autonomous patterns of meaning. “…a universal principle or force that affects—impels, structures, permeates—the human psyche and the world of human experience on many levels.” p. 84 Multidimensional and multivalent. Astrology is not concretely predictive, but archetypally predictive. Focus is not on predicting specific concrete outcomes, but discerning archetypal dynamics that unfold over time. Astrological archetypes capable of manifesting as internal or external events. Tendency to focus on psychological states. Expresses the importance of not limiting them to internal states though Dynamic potentialities and essences of meaning. Cites Jung in formulating the point that by their very nature archetypes cannot be fully articulated or defined. Fate and Free-Will Archetypes are participatory, and co-creative. Takes the multivalent nature of planetary archetypes as leaving room for free-will. Primary technical focus on the planetary correspondences between specific archetypal principles, and the importance of major aspectual alignments between planets. 1) Natal chart 2) Transits 3) World transits Statistics as methodologically inadequate for dealing with astrological archetypes. Astrological research is more qualitative than quantitative. It is essentially the end result of the evolution of certain forms of modern astrology
Post-Cosmos and Psyche Book is still on the shelves of many bookstores In the philosophy section usually rather than the astrology section. I’ve run into many younger people who were first exposed to astrology through it.
Teaching at California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness program Curriculum that partially touches on astrology, among other things.
Archai: The Journal of Archetypal Cosmology www.archai.org First issue published in 2009. New generation going on to explore and expand the archetypal astrology approach. The latest issue of Archai Journal just came out, newly helmed by Grant Maxwell and Becca Tarnas. Issue 5 (2016): Saturn and the Theoretical Foundations of an Emerging Discipline Archai website also has a pretty amazing glossary for archetypal astrology.
Miscellaneous Questions One podcast listener asked whether the zodiac plays any role in archetypal astrology. Answer was that it is not completely rejected, but plays a reduced role compared to aspects in this approach. To what extent does the thesis of your book Prometheus the Awakener (1995) contradict the contemporary premise that is often used to derive new astrological meanings from the names of newly discovered celestial bodies? Do you have any reservations about how this approach is being applied to new (dwarf) planets? Another podcast listener asks/suggests an audio book version of Cosmos.
Plans for the future. Working on two new books. Recently filmed a documentary: Changing of the Gods. 2018 release.
Closing remarks People can find out more information at CosmosAndPsyche.com.
Transcript
A full transcript of this episode is available here: Episode 84 transcript
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EmailA Border Patrol agent looks for signs along a trail while on patrol near the Texas-Mexico border. (Eric Gay/AP)
Even as evidence mounts that illegal immigration flows have fallen to their lowest level in years, the union that represents border patrol officers is saying the government could be doing much better at stopping people who still try to cross the U.S. southwest border.
In a series of recent interviews, union officials described a difficult, often perilous job in which they are struggling at times to keep up with migrants seeking to outwit the government’s heightened security measures. They said morale among agents has plunged, partly because of the executive actions shielding millions of illegal immigrants from deportation that President Obama announced last year.
“We know there is a lot of traffic still getting through the border,” said Shawn Moran, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents more than 16,000 agents. Moran, a 17-year agent based in San Diego, and other union officials criticized U.S. Customs and Border Protection — which includes the border patrol — as inefficient and top-heavy with supervisors.
R. Gil Kerlikowske, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, praised the dedication of border patrol agents and said “in many ways, I get their issues and frustrations.” But after the Department of Homeland Security’s more than decade-long crackdown on southwest border security, he said, the agents have plenty of staff and technology to do their jobs.
“If some of these folks are so unhappy, they really need to reassess what they do and where they are,” Kerlikowske said. Customs and border protection is part of DHS.
The debate comes as a number of indicators show that immigration flows are falling, especially from Mexico. Researchers say far fewer Mexicans are planning to cross the border than in years past, and the overall U.S. illegal immigrant population — which more than tripled, to 12.2 million, between 1990 and 2007 — has dropped by about 1 million, according to demographers at the Pew Research Center.
[Fewer immigrants are entering the U.S. illegally, and that’s changed the border security debate]
Homeland security officials point to measures they have taken since the George W. Bush administration, including more than doubling the border patrol’s size and spending billions on new technology, as driving the trends. “Put simply, it’s now much harder to cross our border and evade capture than it used to be — and people know that,” said DHS secretary Jeh Johnson said in an October speech. He has repeatedly spoken publicly about the importance of border security.
Some experts agree, while others instead point to changes in Latin America, such as the improving Mexican economy. Border security is critical to the debate over immigration reform in Washington, with congressional Republicans saying the southwest frontier must be more secure before they will consider legalizing illegal immigrants already in the United States.
Among the key indicators cited by DHS is the rapid decline in apprehensions at the border. Since 2000, when more than 1.6 million border crossers were stopped, those numbers have plunged to around 400,000 per year, and they are down 28 percent in the first part of fiscal 2015 compared with last year.
But union officials say those figures don’t mean much because they don’t chart people who successfully make it into the United States.”This notion that DHS is saying the border is more secure than ever — they don’t have any evidence of that,” said Brandon Judd, the union’s president and a 17-year agent based in Maine.“It’s just smoke and mirrors.”
Chris Cabrera, a 13-year agent based in Texas and a union official, said Obama’s executive actions have sent mixed messages to the agents in the field. Those actions have faced resistance in the courts, including the decision Tuesday by a federal appeals court to keep one of the president’s signature immigration efforts from moving ahead.
“Border crossings are usually tied with perceived amnesty,” Cabrera said. “If people believe they will get some type of relief or a free ride, the floodgates open.”
Kerlikowske suggested that his agents focus on law enforcement, rather than politics. “You don’t get to control certain things’’ he said. “I’m not the judge, jury and executioner and commissioner, and certainly at their level in the border patrol, they’re not either.”Get the biggest FC Barcelona 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
Everton have been told to forget about keeping hold of on-loan Spanish whizz-kid Gerard Deulofeu.
Goodison boss Roberto Martinez wants to keep the Barcelona star next season.
But Nou Camp team-mate Javier Mascherano reckons the 19-year-old winger is destined for greater things, the Sunday People reports.
“Gerard is a player with a lot of quality,” said former Liverpool star Mascherano.
“I think Barcelona are already thinking about bringing him back to the Nou Camp.
"I don’t know for certain if it will be for next season, but he is an important player for the future of Barcelona.
“Playing at Everton has been good for his development.”Winnipeg's Fall Curbside Giveaway Weekend is just around the corner: September 6 and 7, 2014
Released: 9:22 a.m.
Winnipeg, MB - Are you doing some pre-fall cleaning and have some items in good condition that you’ll never use again? Residents are invited to take advantage of this year’s fall giveaway weekend on September 6 and 7, 2014. This is a great opportunity to find a new owner for those clean and reusable unwanted items taking up space in your home or to browse the curbs for some great finds.
Tips if you are giving away items
Place unwanted household items at the curb on your front street.
Label each item with a FREE sticker or sign.
Store items out of sight that you don't want to give away.
Remove leftover items from the curb by dusk on Sunday.
Examples of giveaway items include:
Books, CDs and DVDs
Furniture, electronics and small appliances
Sports equipment and toys
Yard and gardening tools and equipment (e.g., lawn mowers, snow blowers, rakes, shovels)
Kitchen gadgets, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans
Unwanted gifts
Construction materials (e.g., nails, paint, wood)
Clothing
Please do not put out:
Items that could be unsafe
Items that could harbour bed bugs (e.g., mattresses, furniture, bedding)
Toilets (with a flush volume of 13 litres or more)
Tips if you are cruising the curbs looking for treasures
Take only the items at the curb marked "FREE."
Don't walk or drive on private lawns or gardens.
Don't discard any items on private property.
Obey the traffic laws at all times (e.g., don't block traffic, park illegally or block driveways with your vehicle).
Watch out for children.
For more information on the giveaway weekend, including what to do with leftover items:
visit winnipeg.ca.
contact our 311 Centre, open 24 hours every day, by phone at 311 or by email at 311@winnipeg.ca.
download the My Waste app at winnipeg.ca/mywaste.
For information on items that aren’t safe to give away (e.g., baby walkers, lawn darts) visit the Consumer Product Safety Bureau.WASHINGTON: In an intriguing and potentially significant declaration, the Chinese military declares: “Regardless of what corner of the earth, so long as it is blue there we will be on guard.”
The declaration comes in an impressive recruiting video for the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). “It’s beautifully done; really tugs at the heartstrings,” says Dean Cheng, the Heritage Foundation’s respected Chinese military expert. “It’s also a piece of public opinion warfare.” The video was produced by the PLA’s General Political Department, responsible for political loyalty, psychological warfare and all related human factors.
“Is the purpose of a (Chinese) blue water navy simply to secure the sea lanes? I think it is also to defend China,” Cheng says. Why is China, traditionally a land-focused power, looking to patrol the world’s oceans, traditionally something that Western trading nations like Britain and U.S. have done to secure their economic and political interests? “China’s economic gravity has moved to the coast. so you don’t have any sort of buffer between the Chinese and the rest of the world.”
The video includes current shots of the Senkaku Islands (called the Diaoyu by China) and bits of old combat footage from what looks like the 1950s, helping to give weight to the subtitle that declares: “No matter how much territory we have, we will not allow even one small part of our borders to be cut away.” (Cheng provided the translations.) This is clearly designed to both appeal to patriotic Chinese and to send a message to Japan and the many other Chinese neighbors that what the PRC claims as territory must be inviolate.
But the real target of the recruiting ad — like any recruiting ad– is those whom the PLAN wants to recruit. And that is the really interesting inside story here.
Cheng believes this is part of a long attempt by China to build a professional army, albeit one that still relies largely on conscripts. “What does that tell us? It tells us the Chinese are looking to support more technically oriented services,” he says, noting this has been a Chinese goal for the last 30 years.
The key to this is recruiting likely candidates for a career as a noncommissioned officer to provide the Chinese with the solid rock upon which the British, Australians and Americans have built their armies and navies, the NCO. The ad is also targeted at officer candidates who possess needed skills but who may not be thinking about a military career.
Cheng notes that the Chinese face a “fundamental problem” in building their professional conscript military. Their officers are all Communist Party members but their NCOs are not: “How does an NCO interact with an officer, when all officers are all members of the party and the NCOs aren’t.”
The video includes elements that would be right at home in an American recruiting video: a shot of a sailor at looking lovingly at a picture apparently drawn by a child. And Cheng says there is a “call to service” in the ad, which includes the declaration: “Here you can develop your talents.” And there are lots of images of high technology throughout the ad. Also, women are pictured.
There are the requisite compelling patriotic declarations: “A strong motherland must have a strong navy.” And right at the end, when sailors are pictured marching in lockstep, it says: “The Navy needs you. Together we shall accomplish the goal of the glorious revival.” That revival is a longstanding policy goal of Chinese President Xi Jinping: rebuilding a vibrant and powerful China.St. Matthews Mall in Kentucky became the scene of a massive brawl involving 2,000 people, forcing it to shut down and a big police presence to be set up around the perimeter. The chaos was apparently caused by a chain reaction, involving separate fights.
Police first began responding to reports of “disturbances” at 7pm ET on Saturday. But the officers assigned to the mall could not cope with the load.
According to the police, there was “a series of brawls” between people aged 13 to early 20s, which quickly grew to include up to 2,000 people, leaving “the entire mall” affected, NBC reports.
Still A LOT of police at Mall St Matthews after police say up to 2,000 teens were fighting inside and in parking lot pic.twitter.com/R7A9qbOuWL — William Joy (@WilliamWAVE3) December 27, 2015
"As they were responding to those disturbances, others were breaking out.... Disturbances started to feed on themselves,” police spokesman Dennis McDonald said. "They were just overwhelmed with the number of calls for service and reports of disorder."
The officers had to call for backup, and 50 more officers arrived from five different agencies.
What started as brawls quickly began to interfere with shop closures. By the time it was 8pm, shops had begun to close on police orders. But the brawls became so contagious they quickly turned into a melee: people were hanging onto steel grates, unwilling to let shopkeepers shut their businesses.
READ MORE: 9 killed in rival biker gang shootout in Texas
“This was a riot… it was crazy,” McDonald added. "I've been a police officer 33 years, and I haven't ever seen anything like this before… We always plan for worst-case scenario, but this exceeded that.”
Some stores ended up being used as safe havens for those that tried to escape the fighting.
There were also reports of gunshots ringing from inside, but they were not confirmed.
Police maintained a presence until 1am that morning, according to McDonald. "It took about an hour and a half, close to two hours, before things were calm. We’re all tired.”
Businesses in the surrounding area were also recommended to shut.
Surprisingly, for a brawl involving 2,000 people, there were only minor injuries. No arrests were made.
Authorities are still determining the cause of the chain reaction that started it all.
The mess was all but forgotten the following morning, and the mall opened at 11am as normal.Ben Carson. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President-elect Donald Trump tweeted on Tuesday he's "seriously considering" retired neurosurgeon and 2016 presidential candidate Ben Carson to be the secretary of housing and urban development in his administration.
Carson has repeatedly affirmed he is not looking to serve inside a Trump administration. He was previously rumored to be under consideration for secretary of education and secretary of health and human services.
"I am seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as the head of HUD," Trump wrote. "I've gotten to know him well — he's a greatly talented person who loves people!"
Carson will meet with Trump at Trump Tower on Tuesday, according to MSNBC.
The Hill reported last week that Armstrong Williams, Carson's business manager and close confidant, said Carson wouldn't join the administration and would instead be an unofficial adviser after reports surfaced that Carson rejected an offer to be HHS secretary.
"Dr. Carson was never offered a specific position, but everything was open to him," Williams told The Hill. "Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience; he's never run a federal agency. The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency."
Carson subsequently published a Facebook post disputing what Williams attributed as his reason for not seeking a position.
"My decision not to seek a cabinet position in the Trump administration has nothing to do with the complexity of the job as is being reported by some news outlets," he wrote. "I believe it is vitally important for the Trump administration to have many outspoken friends and advisers who are outside of the Washington bubble. It is vital to have independent voices of reason and reconciliation if our nation is to heal and regain its greatness. I will continue to work with the transition team and beyond as we build a dynamite executive branch of government."
In an interview with Business Insider just before the election, Carson said, "I don't want to be a part of the administration."
"Not that I have anything against it," he said. "Just that I think my voice will actually be more valuable outside the administration. There are so many issues that affect our country right now, and we can't lose sight of them. So winning the election is really just step one."
"I'll continue to write, continue to speak publicly, and work on helping to focus us as a nation on what's really important," he said.
In a Monday Facebook post, however, Carson seemed to signal a shift in his thinking, although he wrote "there is no reversal of my position in terms of working with the Trump administration."
"I have always made it clear that I preferred to work outside of the government as an advisor, but if called upon, I would serve inside of the government," Carson wrote. "I believe it is important to have voices that are outside of the administration combating media bias and the divisiveness that has infected our country."
Washington Post reporter Robert Costa tweeted shortly after Trump's tweet that Trump "has been relentless" in pushing Carson to reconsider his position from last week, when he said he was not interested in a Cabinet position.
Williams did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on Carson's stance.Frederic Vasseur says Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein is still in the running to stay at Sauber next year. Earlier, German Wehrlein seemed resigned to losing his seat with the Swiss team, as Sauber looks to accommodate a junior promoted by engine supplier Ferrari.
But it could be Marcus Ericsson who has to give way, despite the Swede's solid links to the Sauber team owners. But boss Vasseur told Auto Motor und Sport: "It would be a mistake to build a team around a driver just because he has a connection to the owners."
Ericsson has therefore been linked with a switch to Williams for 2018. Vasseur continued: "Rebuilding Sauber will require patience, while drivers normally want results in the next race. So if he wants to sit in a podium car next year, he will have a problem with Sauber. We will talk with the owners about what is best for Marcus and the team," said the Frenchman.
Asked if that means Wehrlein still has a chance of staying in 2018, Vasseur answered: "Of course he has a chance. Pascal knows our situation, and I know his skills because we worked together in the DTM. If you want to rebuild a team, you need not only fast drivers, but those who are willing to work with the team and push it in the right direction," he added.
As for at least one of the 2018 cockpits, Vasseur hinted that a Ferrari-linked driver like Charles Leclerc is likely. "We will discuss this with Ferrari in the coming days," he said. "For us, the engine choice had priority and we did not want to mix that with the driver question. It would have taken too much time. There is now the opportunity to do that in peace," added Vasseur. (GMM)You know, honestly, this is probably one of the least offensive thing I've heard on Rush Limbaugh in a while. Not that it isn't racist and offensive, but for crying out loud, the wealth of examples of offensive Rushbo soundbytes out there are so vast.
Nevertheless, when a constituent brought this segment to the attention of California State Senator Leland Yee, he agreed that Rush was going out of his way to be racist and called for a boycott of Limbaugh's advertisers.
Objecting to Stern's mocking of the Chinese language last week, California State Senator Leland Yee is launching a boycott of Rush Limbaugh's advertisers, and he's enlisting help from civil rights groups to gain traction. Yee was outraged over Limbaugh's January 19 program, where he mocked Chinese President Hu Jintao because his speech was not being translated. Yee was singled out by Limbaugh on his show as one of those people who were not happy with his comments. Yee tells the Contra Costa Times, "I think this is very damaging for children (to hear that) Rush Limbaugh thinks it's OK to make fun of another language or make fun of those individuals who may speak another language."
See, but for those brain-dead dittoheads, that's threatening Rush Limbaugh's First Amendment right to be offensive on a international, syndicated platform (you know that the Founding Fathers specifically included the EIB radio network in the Constitution, they did!), and thems just fightin' words. So Leland Yee, he was asking for death threats as far as they were concerned.
Mayoral candidate and state Sen. Leland Yee said racist death threats were faxed to his San Francisco and Sacramento offices today. They appear linked to his recent criticism of right-wing commentator Rush Limbaugh. The anonymous faxes, laced with racial epithets and misspellings, were addressed to "JoBama Rectum Sniffing Moron LEELAND LEE" and call Yee a "fish head," according to a copy provided by Yee's office. The faxes include a drawing of a U.S. flag-adorned pickup truck towing a noose that is looped around what appears to be a caricature head of President Barack Obama. The document says: "Without exceptions, Marxists are enemies of the United States Constitution! Death to all Marxists! Foreign and Domestic!" It also says: "Achtung! Fish Head Leeland Lee. Rush Limbaugh will kick your (insert racist and profane words here) and expose you for the fool you are."
Wow. Racist AND violent death threats? Based on loyalty to a conservative talk show host? I'm sure this happens on the other side too...It’s not |
it took me 20 years to find out how to write a song in 20 minutes."[6]
The song was originally composed in 3/4 time signature but was changed to 4/4 by Quincy Jones in his arrangement to give it a more "looser, swing" feel
He used his position as a piano accompanist and presenter at the Blue Angel cabaret venue to promote the song,[4] and it was soon introduced in cabaret performances by Felicia Sanders.[3]
Early recordings [ edit ]
Kaye Ballard circa late 1950s
Kaye Ballard made the song's first commercial recording,[citation needed] and Decca released it in April 1954.[7] A brief review published on 8 May 1954 in Billboard said that In Other Words was "...a love song sung with feeling by Miss Ballard."[8] This recording was released as the flipside of Lazy Afternoon, which Kaye Ballard was currently performing as star of the stage show The Golden Apple.[9]
Over the next few years, jazz and cabaret singers released cover versions of In Other Words on EP or LP record albums, including Chris Connor, Johnny Mathis, Portia Nelson, and Nancy Wilson.[citation needed] Eydie Gormé sang the song on her 1958 album Eydie In Love,[10] which reached #20 in the Cashbox Album Charts[11] and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Fly Me to the Moon [ edit ]
In 1960, Peggy Lee released the song on the album Pretty Eyes,[12] then made it more popular when she performed it in front of a large television audience on The Ed Sullivan Show.[3] As the song's popularity increased, it became better known as Fly Me to the Moon,[13] and in 1963 Peggy Lee convinced Bart Howard to make the name change official.[6] In the early 1960s, versions of the song were released under its new name by many well-known singers, including Nat King Cole, Julie London, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Paul Anka and Brenda Lee.[citation needed] Connie Francis released two non-English versions of the song in 1963: in Italian as Portami Con Te[14] and in Spanish as "Llévame a la Luna.[15]
Fly Me to the Moon Bossa Nova 1963 album by Joe Harnell 1963 album by Joe Harnell
In 1962, Joe Harnell arranged and recorded an instrumental version in a bossa nova style. It was released as a single in late 1962.[16][17] Harnell's version spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching No. 14 on February 23, 1963,[18] while reaching No. 4 on Billboard's Middle-Road Singles chart.[19][20] Harnell's version was ranked No. 89 on Billboard's end of year ranking "Top Records of 1963".[21]
Harnell's recording won him a Grammy Award at the 5th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Performance by an Orchestra – for Dancing.[22][23]
Harnell's version was included on his album Fly Me to the Moon and the Bossa Nova Pops[24] released in early 1963, which reached No. 3 stereo album on the Billboard Top LP's chart.[25]
Versions of the song were released by many other 1960s instrumental artists, including Roy Haynes, Al Hirt and Oscar Peterson.[citation needed]
Frank Sinatra included the song on his 1964 album It Might as Well Be Swing, accompanied by Count Basie.[26] The music for this album was arranged by Quincy Jones,[26][27] who had worked with Count Basie a year earlier on the album This Time by Basie, which also included a version of Fly Me to the Moon.[28] Will Friedwald commented that "Jones boosted the tempo and put it into an even four/four" for Basie's version, but "when Sinatra decided to address it with the Basie/Jones combination they recharged it into a straight swinger... [which]...all but explodes with energy".[5]
Other releases [ edit ]
Bart Howard estimated that by the time Frank Sinatra covered the song in 1964, more than 100 other versions had been recorded.[5] By 1995, it had been recorded more than 300 times.[9] One notable example is a remix of the song used as a main theme for Platinum Games's PS3 game Bayonetta, which is sung by Helena Noguerra. The Japanese animated series Neon Genesis Evangelion uses it for the closing music for each episode.[29]
NASA association [ edit ]
Frank Sinatra's 1964 recording of Fly Me to the Moon became closely associated with NASA's Apollo space program. A copy of the song was played on the Apollo 10 mission which orbited the Moon.[30] It became the first music heard on the Moon when played on a portable cassette player by Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin after he stepped onto the Moon.[31] The song’s association with Apollo 11 was reprised many years later when Diana Krall sang it at the mission's 40th anniversary commemoration ceremony.[32] She also sang a “slow and solemn version” in 2012 at the national memorial service for Apollo 11 mission commander Neil Armstrong.[33]There are supergroups, and then there are almost-too-good-to-be-true supergroups. Falling squarely in the latter camp is the currently un-named project that Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds is working on with Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Ben Weinman, former Mars Volta drummer Thomas Pridgen and ex-Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery. That's very good news for fans of forward-thinking rock music.
Since the members of the project live on opposite sides of the country, progress been a bit slow. "We tried to get together and do an album, but there's been no time," Hinds recently told Noisecreep. "We want to record crazy stuff and Ben is working on that, but it's been hard to get together."
Even though the project is officially nameless, Hinds wants to call it Giraffe Tongue "because they look sick." Yes, he's speaking about the actual tongue of a giraffe. We Googled an image of one and they are long, gray and, to borrow a phrase from Hinds, sick!
Hinds is also hard at work promoting his Fiend Without a Face and West End Motel projects, as well as recording a new Mastodon album. Mastodon released a few song titles from their forthcoming album, one of which is 'Blasteroid,' which we told Hinds sounds like either a medical condition or a celestial body. "It is a combination of both, wrapped up in a video game," Hinds joked.
Follow @Noisecreep on Twitter | Like Noisecreep on Facebook
Buy Fiend Without a Face & West End Motel albumsAdvertisement
At the AUVSI trade show last week, we spent most of our time wandering around looking for robots that weren't just slightly different flavors of quadrotors, or little airplanes with cameras on them. Things weren't as wacky and awesome as they have been in past years (possibly because the market is maturing a bit), but we still managed to dig up some very cool stuff. And one of the very coolest things was Lockheed Martin's Transformer TX, a DARPA project that'll result in an unmanned payload transport system that can deliver just about anything. Even a car, with you in it.
Originally, DARPA's Transformer program was going to be an actual flying car, like this:
It evolved from a helicopter-ish design into a vehicle with a pair of swiveling ducted fans, like this:
So that would have been fun, but Lockheed Martin Skunk Works had the clever idea of decoupling the car from the flying system entirely, and turning the VTOL bit on top into an autonomous robotic delivery system, like this:
The idea is that you can throw just about anything pod-sized underneath the UAV, including (potentially) a vehicle, as Lockheed's models show:
The best part is that Lockheed, along with partner Piasacki Aircraft, is actually going to build a flying Transformer TX. They're not going to do the car bit, at least not yet, but they'll put together a full-size version of the UAV along with one cargo pod and have it flying by 2015. The final test will involve a mock pod delivery mission; you might be thinking to yourself that you'd love to see a pod pick up mission, but Lockheed quite rightly points out that trying to engineer that level of precision would be a ridiculous amount of effort when odds are you'll just have a soldier there to hook it up anyway.
The production version of Transformer will boast a 250 mile range and a top speed of 200 knots. Thanks to the ducted fans, it'll be both safer and more efficient than a helicopter, and will be able to land in an area half the size that a helicopter with a similar payload would require. It's also small enough that you can stick it on a trailer a drive it down a single lane road, making transportation relatively easy.
Ultimately, Transformer will be autonomous enough that flying off with a manned vehicle underneath may actually happen. We may also see surveillance and strike packages, although at least initially, the focus will be on cargo. We'll be checking back in a year or two to see this thing get off the ground.
[ Lockheed Martin ]Dear Friend, Thank you for signing the petition to protect our democracy by ensuring that free speech rights are for people, not corporations. Twelve days ago, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling striking at the heart of our democracy. The Court disregarded more than a century of precedent and ruled that our Constitution prevents the American people from regulating corporate money in our elections and politics. That’s wrong and we don’t buy it. And twelve days ago, we stood up to fight back. Thousands of you joined us in our call for a constitutional amendment to defend our democracy and to restore the First Amendment to its intended purpose: to protect people, not corporations. And, today, Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland has introduced a constitutional amendment to overturn the Court’s ruling. Joined by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. of Michigan, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, the Edwards amendment will ensure that Congress and the states may prohibit corporations from spending their funds for political activity. CLICK HERE to watch this interview with Congresswoman Edwards discussing her constitutional amendment. And CLICK HERE to see our press release applauding her introduction of this amendment. The Framers of the Constitution intended the First Amendment to protect the rights of citizens, everyday people, not corporations. Corporations are not people. They are artificial entities created by the state with state-based advantages. In fact, the recent ruling will certainly drown out the voices of the very citizens the First Amendment was meant to protect. We as a nation have amended the United States Constitution before. Twenty-seven times. That history includes amendments in response to US Supreme Court rulings directly threatening the democratic process. The Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. FEC demands a similar constitutional amendment response. But to do this, we need to build a broad-based democracy movement. You can help make this happen. Ways to Get Involved Forward this email to at least 10 or more of your friends urging that they join us and sign the petition
Contact your Member of Congress in the House of Representatives and United States Senate, about the Edwards amendment.
Organize a local amendment committee.
Donate to support this campaign.
Follow Free Speech for People on Twitter and Facebook to receive the latest news on the campaign.
CLICK HERE to find out other ways to get involved. Together, we will reclaim our First Amendment and our democracy. Thank you. The Free Speech for People Campaign http://FreeSpeechforPeople.orgFriday, September 30, 2011 at 1:57PM
Hopefully a higher quality version of this (and the other) surfaces but a lot of this is pretty darn good for the time being. It's a shame there were so many people at this amazingly small for Radiohead show talking and being not sweet in general. Oh well, enjoy the set, can't wait to see what 2012 brings for these guys.
Thank you taper
01 Bloom
02 Little By Little
03 Staircase
04 Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
05 Feral (Live concert debut)
06 Subterranean Homesick Alien (First
performance since 2003)
07 All I Need
08 Everything In Its Right Place (with
"The One I Love" intro)
09 Lotus Flower
10 15 Step
11 Myxomatosis
12 Codex (Live concert debut)
13 The Daily Mail
14 Bodysnatchers
15 Reckoner
16 Give Up The Ghost
17 The National Anthem
18 Morning Mr Magpie
19 Crowd
20 Street Spirit (Fade Out)
21 Nude
DOWNLOAD - Radiohead - 2011-09-28 - Roseland Ballroom - New York, NYQ: When Will I Be Able To Order Glow Headphones?
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NFL players descend on Atlanta An estimated 25 players who train with Tom Shaw at the Disney Sports Complex in Orlando have arrived via bus in suburban Atlanta to train with the more than 30 players from the
Plans are still being formulated as to whether the groups will train together -- the
-- Steve Wyche An estimated 25 players who train with Tom Shaw at the Disney Sports Complex in Orlando have arrived via bus in suburban Atlanta to train with the more than 30 players from the Raiders on Wednesday and Thursday.Plans are still being formulated as to whether the groups will train together -- the Raiders are expected to go through seven-on-seven drills as a team. All players will lift weights and be put through positional training drills by Shaw's staff as well as coaches and trainers from Chip Smith's Competitive Edge Sports in Atlanta.
He's undoubtedly helped the Raiders improve on defense since he was acquired in a trade with the Patriots in 2009. It's his veteran influence, though, that's helped set the wayward organization toward a path of potential success.
No one will ever have more sway than owner Al Davis, who dictates everything Silver and Black. However, during this lockout, when Davis' reach can't touch the players, it's Seymour who wields respect and is using it to generate momentum so the team can build off its 8-8 record in 2010.
That was evident when 32 of Seymour's teammates -- most of them frontline starters and the top two draft picks -- showed up for a three-day minicamp in suburban Atlanta, near where Seymour lives. He footed the bill for accommodations, food and for the training staff that is putting the team through its paces.
A lot of players take part when someone else is paying. A lot probably also don't mind coming to the ATL, where it seems at least a third of all pro athletes reside, in large part because of the region offers several samplings of the lifestyle that young, well-paid athletes tend to enjoy.
Despite all that, most of his teammates paid their own way to get there.
Jason Campbell, Darren McFadden, Rolando McClain, Louis Murphy, Marcel Reece, Jacoby Ford, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Kyle Boller, Bruce Campbell and draft picks Stefan Wisniewski and Damarcus Van Dyke were among those who showed. Players arrived to the first day of unexpectedly challenging on-field workouts in a convoy of silver and black vehicles. Whether that was coincidental or planned, the symbolism set the tone.
Seymour was the focal point, throughout. Before being put through two hours of mostly positional drills by Competitive Edge Sports founder Chip Smith and his staff, they rallied around Seymour, who reminded players it was a non-contact session and that they were there to get better, not get hurt.
But the most poignant moment of the first day of workouts was provided by Seymour. Every position group -- no kickers or punters were there -- had at least three players except the defensive line (defensive tackle Tommy Kelly arrived well into the workout).
Seymour, 31 years old and 10 seasons in the league, got after it solo, with Smith putting him through some lung-expanding, quadriceps-punishing drills. As hard as his teammates were pushed -- McClain openly asked "What the (heck) have we gotten ourselves into?" -- they all saw Seymour going at it alone.
When I joked with McClain that he needed to call in a few more linebackers so he could take a break, he pointed at Seymour and without a word, made his point abundantly clear.
Follow Steve Wyche on Twitter @wyche89.Gordon Brown faced another fierce attack from a minister who quit government today as he prepared for a showdown with his own MPs.
Jane Kennedy said she was not re-appointed as an environment minister because she refused to give a pledge of loyalty to the Prime Minister.
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.
She said she told him in a "frank and honest" phone call this morning "I could not offer him the support he was asking for".
And she hit out at "smears" of colleagues by people associated with No 10. She added that if Mr Brown stayed on to the bitter end it would spell "the bitter end of the Labour Party".
Outside her constituency office in Liverpool, Ms Kennedy said: "He did not re-appoint me. My view was I was sacked. His view is that I resigned. In the end it was my choice to go."
Mr Brown's spokesman flatly denied the premier had asked her, or any other minister, for a loyalty pledge as another day of Whitehall drama unfolded.
Tonight Mr Brown was due to address a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party at the Commons, with Labour MPs reeling from disastrous European Parliament election results.
It was their worst electoral showing for nearly 100 years after finishing third in vote share behind the Tories and Ukip.
MPs were also dismayed that the far-right BNP gained two MEPs.
With all the results from 11 regions across the UK in, Labour had managed just 15.8 per cent of the popular vote to Ukip's 16.5 per cent.
The Tories topped the poll with 27.4 per cent of the popular vote, the Liberal Democrats finished fourth with 13.8 per cent.
Despite victories in the North West and Yorkshire, the BNP had a smaller share of the vote than the Greens, with 6.2 per cent to their 8.6 per cent.
Today's results are Labour's worst in a nationwide poll since the 1910 general election, when their leader was George Nicoll Barnes and their vote share was just 7 per cent.
Mr Brown completed an unremarkable reshuffle of ministers of state before attending tonight's meeting of Labour MPs.
Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman insisted: "I do actually think that Gordon Brown and the Government have got the best strategy for helping the economy through these difficult times, and I know people are blazing angry with us at the moment.
"They told us to our face but they want us to do better, they want us to sort out the economy and they want us to sort out what they regard as the aberration of expenses."
But former lord chancellor Lord Falconer - the most senior figure so far to break cover - repeated his call for a new leader to re-unify the party.
"I think unity will only come with a leader that the mainstream votes for," he said.
Birkenhead MP Frank Field repeated his calls for Mr Brown to go, saying: Labour cannot win with the present Prime Minister.
"I was one of the seven who would not support his coronation after Tony Blair was shoehorned out of Number 10. But even I didn't think a Brown administration would be as inept as this one."
There will be particular dismay that Labour's vote has fallen so far that it opened the door for the BNP to take seats in Yorkshire and the Humber and in the North West, where the party's leader Nick Griffin was elected.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham said it was "deeply uncomfortable" to see the BNP polling in such large numbers.
He said they had been the beneficiaries of an "anti-politics mood" which hit all the main parties in the wake of the MPs' expenses scandal.
"It is a sad moment in British politics," he said.
Speaking as he arrived at an international trade conference in London, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "I think what's interesting about these results is Labour voters have not switched en masse to the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats or other parties.
"In the main, what they seem to be doing is registering a protest by withholding their vote and staying at home.
"I can understand why they're doing this.
"They are furious about the MPs' expenses and allowances at Westminster and, frankly, they're furious, too, about what they see as disunity amongst Labour MPs at Westminster.
"It is simply not possible for people to say 'I resign today, but you should vote Labour tomorrow or the day after'."
The Tories topped the popular vote in Wales for the first time, and leader David Cameron headed to the principality to congratulate party workers.
Mr Cameron, speaking outside his home in west London, said: "I am very pleased with these results. Together with the local elections, I think they show an enormous gap opening up between Labour and Conservative - almost getting twice as many votes as Labour last night.
"Now what we need is obvious, the next election should be a general election, and just as Labour has lost the trust of the British people, I want the Conservative Party to work hard to win that trust.
"Just as Labour has failed, we have to work hard to show how we can succeed."
He added: "One of the reasons we want a general election is that the British public are angry that they are being locked out of passing judgment on this whole expenses scandal. The longer we put off an election, the greater that anger will be."
Ukip leader Nigel Farage brushed off suggestions that his own party's second place was a result of Labour's unpopularity rather than voter enthusiasm for Ukip.
Mr Farage told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "According to all the experts, this is the second fluke in a row that we have produced."
Senior Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes said his party had held its ground while there had been a "significant loss" for Labour.
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Subscribe now.WayForPay payment engine has launched cryptocurrency transactions option to let Ukrainian webstores accept bitcoin.
The country’s largest food delivery service Ekipazh partnered with WayForPay, adding a QR-code to their website to let customers pay in BTC.
Payments are automatically converted into the national currency (UAH). No additional fees are introduced, the transaction fee being same as for ordinary transactions (maximum 2,5%).
WayForPay is a payment platform offering solutions for business and enterprise.
Earlier, Ukrainian online store ALLO.UA partnered with the country's leading bank PrivatBank to let its customers pay in bitcoin. The largest Dutch food delivery chain Thuisbezorgd.nl also started accepting bitcoins last year.
Ukraine is considered by many to be the Eastern European bitcoin leader. While the Ukrainian Central Bank is not ruling out the possibility of integrating bitcoin digital currency into the country’s financial system, common citizens campaign to raise the number of cafes and restaurants where bitcoin is accepted.
Maria RudinaImage copyright Planet-C Image caption The feature is generated as Venus' lower atmosphere flows over mountainous topography
A giant wave in the atmosphere of Venus may be the biggest of its kind in the Solar System.
The feature, observed by a Japanese spacecraft, is thought to be generated in a broadly similar way to the surface ripples that form as water flows over rocks on a stream bed.
In this case, the wave is thought to form as the lower atmosphere flows over mountains on Venus' surface.
The findings are published in Nature Geoscience journal.
Just after entering orbit around Venus in 2015, the Akatsuki spacecraft observed a bow-shaped feature in the upper atmosphere over several days.
Curiously, the bright structure - which stretched for 10,000km - remained stationary at the altitude of Venus' cloud tops. This is difficult to reconcile with what we know about Venus' thick upper atmosphere, in which clouds streak by at 100 metres per second (m/s).
The clouds travel much faster than the slowly rotating planet below, where a Venusian day lasts longer than it takes for the planet to orbit the Sun.
Image copyright Akihiro Ikeshita Image caption Akatsuki was launched in May 2010 and arrived in Venus orbit in December 2015
Makoto Taguchi from Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Atsushi Yamazaki from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) and others show that the bright region was fixed over a mountainous region of the surface known as Aphrodite Terra. It was also found to be hotter than surrounding parts of the atmosphere.
The researchers propose that the phenomenon is the result of a gravity wave that is generated as the lower atmosphere passes over mountains and then propagates upwards through Venus' thick atmosphere. Gravity waves ensue when a fluid - such as a liquid, gas or plasma - is displaced from a position of equilibrium.
Dr Colin Wilson, a planetary scientist from the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study, explained: "If you have a stream and it's flowing over a rock, you get the gravity waves propagating upwards through the water. At the surface of the stream, you will see it as changes in height.
"What's happening here is slightly different, because we're seeing it in cloud top temperatures. But the air particles are moving up and down, very much as the water particles are moving up and down."
Venus: Earth's 'evil twin'
Image copyright NASA Image caption Venus' surface features as viewed by the Magellan spacecraft
Earth's closest planetary neighbour is the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon;
Venus is slightly smaller than Earth and has undergone runaway greenhouse warming; temperatures at the surface reach 467C - hot enough to melt lead. The hellish conditions have prompted some to tag Venus as our planet's "evil twin";
A dense atmosphere composed chiefly of carbon dioxide (CO2) generates a surface pressure 93 times greater than that at the surface of the Earth. This is equivalent to the pressure 1km beneath Earth's oceans;
The Soviet Union successfully landed several craft on Venus - some of which operated for more than an hour before they were destroyed by the extreme conditions;
Several spacecraft have also studied the planet from orbit, including Akatsuki, Venus Express and Nasa's Magellan mission.
Image copyright NASA Image caption Soviet probes such as Venera 13, which landed on 1 March 1982, returned images of Venus' surface
In their study, the researchers write: "The present study shows direct evidence of the existence of stationary gravity waves, and it further shows that such stationary gravity waves can have a very large scale - perhaps the greatest ever observed in the Solar System."
On this point Dr Wilson told BBC News: "I think we should give them that... it stretches almost from pole to pole, which is phenomenal in distance.
He added: "The thing is you can't have a feature like that on Jupiter because the planet's fast rotation means (the atmosphere) is broken up into belts. Venus' slow rotation lets you have a whole feature like this."
It has been unclear whether gravity waves generated by mountainous topography can travel upwards to the Venusian cloud tops. But the observations suggest that atmospheric dynamics may be more complex at depth than some scientists had supposed.
Dr Wilson was involved with the European Space Agency's Venus Express mission, which ended in December 2014. Toward the end of the mission, the spacecraft detected tantalising potential evidence for present-day volcanism on Earth's neighbour.
"[The Venus Express team] only saw that in one location on Venus. The fact that Akatsuki is there for another couple of years equipped with the right sort of cameras, they could detect more of these potential active volcanic events," Dr Wilson told BBC News.
Follow Paul on Twitter.New Jersey Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg has died at the age of 89. During his five terms in the Senate, Lautenberg was known for championing gun control, environmental regulations, public transportation, consumer protections, investigations of Wall Street malfeasance and curbs on smoking and alcohol consumption. He was the Senate’s last surviving veteran of World War II. In 2004, Lautenberg delivered a memorable speech blasting what he dubbed the “chicken hawks” in the George W. Bush administration, such as Vice President Dick Cheney, who led the way to war in Iraq, but who at the time were criticizing Democratic presidential candidate and Vietnam War veteran John Kerry.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg: “We know who the chicken hawks are. They talk tough on national defense and military issues and cast aspersion on others. When it was their turn to serve, where were they? A-W-O-L, that’s where they were.”
Lautenberg died Monday in Manhattan of complications from pneumonia. His death is likely to decrease the Democratic majority in the Senate since New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie will appoint his replacement.Image copyright Haroon and Amima from Inverted Rainbow
Sabeen Mahmud was a passionate supporter of free speech. She ran a space in a Karachi cafe for people to talk freely about politics, society and human rights - but six weeks ago, in the latest of a string of attacks on liberal activists in Pakistan, a gunman killed her as she drove home. Her mother, Mahenaz, who was next to her, talks about her remarkable daughter.
I hadn't visited the space for quite a while but that day I just wanted to be around her - it was just a feeling, "I have to go today, and I have to be around, just to show her my support."
This image keeps going round all the time in my head - these eyes looking, and this gun coming out. I said to Sabeen, "Just look, I mean these guys, what do they want?" I thought it was a mugging actually, I thought they wanted a handbag or phone, because that's pretty common in Karachi. But then I heard the gun shots, the glass shattered and Sabeen was gone and they disappeared.
I took two bullets. One bullet actually is one of the bullets that Sabeen took, because they fired at such close range - we were stationary because we were at a traffic signal which was red. There were people all around us, and this motorcycle rode up a bit too close for comfort at Sabeen's side and they fired from there and one of the bullets went through her, out and into my arm and out of my arm. That is one. She took five.
The other one, the police believe it came in and ricocheted somewhere in the car and it went into my back. I must have moved forward to look at her. I was saying to her, "Sabeen, can you hear me? Say something, we'll just get you to the hospital."
Image copyright AP Image caption Sabeen's sandals in the footwell of her car, surrounded by shattered glass
We did have a part-time driver who was sitting in the back, so then he moved to the front seat and he rushed us to the hospital which was close by.
They gave me some first aid and then I was told I was going to another hospital and they took Sabeen somewhere else. She had to be taken to the morgue actually and I was taken to another, bigger hospital.
Loads of people came, because almost instantly our TV channels had picked up the news, and whoever saw it was on social media telling someone else.
After she died, there was a huge outpouring of support on social media. I have no idea how many people came to the funeral but I was told there were more than 2,000 people. I don't know how many people I hugged that day.
I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the people who came. I still can't fathom it, because to me, she wasn't this public person, she was my family, she was part of me. She was my daughter, and who are all these people mourning her now? It's a bit awe-inspiring, it's overwhelming, I can't fathom it.
Image copyright Getty Images
I think I'll have to tell you a little about myself in order to understand my own child-rearing practices.
I was born in India, in Kolkata, and when I was five we moved to Dhaka which was then East Pakistan but which is now Bangladesh. I had quite a privileged childhood, we had lots of domestic help at home. I was raised by a nanny whom I really loved. She was Catholic, she would take me to church every Sunday because my parents would be asleep.
In Kolkata and in Dhaka we mixed with people from all different religions and everything was acceptable. So I raised Sabeen very much as a global citizen and I used to say to her, "Look, everybody's good, there's nobody who's not. Just because of a country they may belong to, or a race or a religion, it really doesn't matter. It's people who matter. No matter if somebody's poor or rich, we're all equal and we have to be respectful and mindful and count our blessings." She internalised all of those values - and she saw me live that life, it wasn't just rhetoric.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Demonstrators in several cities protested against Sabeen's killing
Her idea of fairness started when she was very little. In fact the headmistress of her kindergarten said Sabeen came to the office one day and complained, "The teachers are really unfair - why is it that only boys can play the big drum? Why can't girls also have a go at it?" When she went to senior school, it was, "Why is it that girls can't be in the cricket team? Why is it that we can only play softball?"
I pretty much believed that she should be left on her own and she should do whatever she wanted to do. She always did these very risky things that most normal parents would not allow their daughters to do, no matter how independent or old they might be - she was 40. But I always said, "Follow your heart, follow your dream, do what it is that you have to do, no one should get in the way of that."
I became a single mum after Sabeen had grown up, she was about 19 - she's the one who initiated my divorce, strange as it may sound. She came back from college in Lahore and said, "Look, if you're staying in this marriage for me, please don't do it." And then she went off and found out from lawyers what the process could be to have a separation, and took me to a legal aid person and we talked about it and then she got all the paperwork done and went to her dad and got him to sign.
She was a very unusual person.
Image copyright Mahmud family
What we hear now is "human rights activist" and "arts patron" and I think: No. She was not really an activist in that sense, it was just her huge sense of fairness and justice. If she felt something was wrong she couldn't sit still, she just had to raise her voice. So she didn't have just one cause. She would fight for any and everything - for individuals' rights.
In recent years lots of young people who were not able to express themselves would come to her because their parents didn't understand them, and she would counsel them. She would take off sometimes at three o'clock in the morning to sit with minority groups who were being oppressed, just to show her solidarity.
Over the last few years I said to her many times, "Sabeen, one of these days you're going to get a bullet in your back. But no worries, don't let that stop you from doing what you want, I will have to deal with whatever happens."
So that's what's happening right now - I'm having to deal with it.
Image copyright Mahenaz Mahmud
Mahenaz Mahmud spoke to Outlook on the BBC World Service. Listen to the interview on iPlayer
She had received some warnings and some threats. She knew that this event she was hosting [on the day she died] was a risky one - the event was called Unsilencing Balochistan. This is a place where activists have been missing for a long time and families have been obviously shattered - and it's not talked about.
There was supposed to be a talk at Lahore University of Management Sciences, which is quite progressive, and then they cancelled at the last minute. Somebody called her and asked her if they could have the event at her space and she agreed. Sabeen felt, "This has to be said, this is not right."
I'm grateful for |
Caucasus, Europe and the Middle East, "the United States has always put other [strategic] considerations ahead of human rights with Turkey — this is not new," he added.
Even so, Erdogan has made a key concession in recent days, withdrawing Turkey's veto over cooperation between Israel and NATO. US officials predict that diplomatic relations between the two countries, which have remained frozen since the Mavi Marmara crisis in 2010, will soon resume.
Indeed, many US diplomats claim that criticism over their Turkey policy is exaggerated. They point to Biden's tough messages on the lack of press freedom during his latest trip to Turkey.
Biden met with prominent Turkish journalists, including Al-Monitor columnist Kadri Gursel, who were fired under government pressure, saying, "If you do not have the ability to express your own opinion, to criticize policy, offer competing ideas without fear of intimidation or retribution, then your country is being robbed of opportunity."
In a recent interview with Obama for The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that the president didn't think much of Erdogan's leadership either, even though he met with the Turkish leader on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on March 31-April 1. "Early on, Obama saw Recep Tayyip Erdogan … as the sort of moderate Muslim leader who would bridge the divide between East and West — but Obama now considers him a failure and an authoritarian, one who refuses to use his enormous army to bring stability to Syria," Goldberg wrote.
Erdogan would likely retort that it is Obama who is refusing to use his enormous army to bring stability to Syria and instead is relying on local partners on the ground. And for as long as this policy remains, Washington will continue to rely on local partners such as Turkey and largely "ignore Erdogan’s power grab in order to secure Ankara’s support in the fight against IS," Tol concluded.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun regulating existing stationary sources of greenhouse gases (GHG) using its authority under the Clean Air Act (the Act). The regulatory process under the Act is long and involved even in the best of circumstances. The complexity and contentiousness of GHG regulation could draw out the process even further, raising the prospect that significant U.S. action might be delayed for years. This paper examines the economic implications of such a delay.
We analyze four policy scenarios using an economic model of the U.S. economy embedded within a broader model of the world economy. The first scenario imposes an economy-wide carbon tax that starts immediately at $15 and rises annually at 4 percent over inflation. The second two scenarios impose different (and generally higher) carbon tax trajectories that achieve the same cumulative emissions reduction as the first scenario over a period of 24 years, but that start after an eight year delay. All three of these policies use the carbon tax revenue to reduce the federal budget deficit. The fourth policy imposes the same carbon tax as the first scenario but uses the revenue to reduce the tax rate on capital income.
We find that by nearly every measure, the delayed policies produce worse economic outcomes than the more modest policy implemented now, while achieving no better environmental benefits. We find that all three scenarios in which carbon tax is used solely to reduce the federal budget deficit produce declines in U.S. GDP, investment, consumption, and employment compared to our baseline simulation. However, the declines are small compared to the annual growth of each of those variables: the policies slow growth slightly but do not cause absolute declines at the macroeconomic level. Of the two delay scenarios, the one that rises at a faster rate generally produces worse economic outcomes, including for GDP, GNP, investment, and employment. However, the delayed scenario that starts at a higher tax rate produces substantially higher spikes in purchase prices for energy goods and drops in energy sector output, particularly in the coal sector.
In contrast to the scenarios in which the carbon tax reduces the federal deficit, our fourth scenario shows that a carbon tax can actually strengthen macroeconomic conditions when its revenue is used to reduce current distortionary taxes. Overall, we find that: (1) delaying climate policy increases its cost when the revenue is used for deficit reduction; and (2) an immediate carbon tax could significantly strengthen the economy if it were used to reduce distortionary taxation.He is the most consequential countercultural figure to come out of UC Berkeley since the Free Speech Movement. And he just helped get Donald Trump elected.
SLIDESHOW Alex Marlow was Breitbart News’s first employee. (1 of 3) Alex Marlow, the editor-in-chief of Breitbart News and a UC Berkeley grad. (2 of 3) When They Go Low
A smattering of Breitbart News’s most infamous headlines. Says Marlow, “Trolling is a valid tool in the tool kit of Breitbart.” (3 of 3)
The ominous gray sky threatened hail, but from the concrete deck at the Lawrence Hall of Science in the Berkeley Hills, Alex Marlow, the editor-in-chief of Breitbart News, could see all the way to the luminous San Francisco skyline. The 31-year-old Marlow had come to the East Bay on a cold late-November day from his home in Washington, D.C., just off K Street, accompanying his wife, Christina, who was visiting medical schools in California. This two-day jaunt to his old Bay Area stomping grounds was as close to a vacation as Marlow would come in 2016. If he’d had more time, he’d have wanted to play a round of golf at the course in Tilden Park, where he used to dodge the wild turkeys while hacking with a 5-iron. But he and Christina had to be at the airport later that day, and it was already noon.
Earlier, as Marlow had driven his red rental car up Centennial Drive, past the Cal football stadium and the UC Botanical Garden, he’d talked in low-grade disbelief about how far he’d come in the eight short years since he’d graduated from UC Berkeley. “I kind of hung on for dear life,” he ruminated about the end of his college years and the beginning of his professional career. “There were a lot of lean years.”
This seemed a bit of an overstatement. Even before he graduated in 2008, majoring in political science with a minor in music, Marlow was already on his way, working part-time for conservative media impresario Andrew Breitbart as an associate editor at Breitbart News—the site’s first hire. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles to write and edit full-time; just four years later he was promoted to editor-in-chief. His rapid ascent did have its setbacks, the sudden death of his mentor and boss in 2012 the gravest among them. Then, last year, he briefly stumbled with the defection of several editors and writers after Breitbart News became embroiled in a spat with Donald Trump over campaign manager Corey Lewandowski’s grabbing of a female Breitbart reporter, an incident for which Lewandowski faced battery charges (later dropped).
But that was all in the past. Now, from our perch in the Berkeley Hills, he paused, as if to survey the entire liberal cosmopolis unfurled beneath his feet. “What a view,” he said, his eyes scanning from the leafy flats of Berkeley and Oakland to the hills and spires of San Francisco. “It’s just a gorgeous spot.”
Having recently assumed a position of almost unimaginable power in American journalism, Marlow could afford to smell the roses. Perhaps more than any other person working in media today, he has a direct line into the head of the 45th president of the United States. His most recent boss and constant adviser, Steve Bannon, stepped down as executive chairman of Breitbart in August to run Trump’s campaign and has been named senior counselor in the White House—one of the two or three closest advisers to the most powerful man on earth. Throughout the race to become president, and in the surreal and improvised weeks after the election, Trump tweeted links to Breitbart News more often than to any other source—more than to right-wing stalwarts like the Daily Caller, the Drudge Report, or even Fox News. When Marlow publishes a piece on his site, he can do so with a high degree of confidence that it will be noticed by America’s commander in chief, who shares with the site a nationalist, populist worldview, a provocateur’s love of a publicity stunt, and a military-grade understanding of how to weaponize a news story.
On the morning of Election Day, Marlow was in New York City, holding down his normal three-hour news program on SiriusXM Patriot Channel 125 from 6 to 9 a.m. eastern time. The show runs daily, and although Marlow trades hosting duties with other Breitbart employees, as well as former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, he was on the mic for three hours that morning at the SiriusXM recording studio in the old McGraw-Hill building in Midtown Manhattan.
Call-in guests included Trump himself, who dialed Marlow after late-night rallies in New Hampshire and Michigan. “Donald,” said the host, “you are closing your campaign in blue states!” “The cars—that industry was ripped out of Michigan, so much of it, and moved to Mexico and other places,” Trump answered. “People understand. We’re going to bring great unity to the country.”
At 10:08 a.m., Breitbart’s headline story read “Hyper-Accurate Election Model Still Predicts a Trump Victory.” At 1:02 p.m., the site picked up a story from pollster Frank Luntz arguing that Trump “may have a realistic chance of winning the state of Michigan.” At 4:09 p.m., it carried reports of Republicans in Philadelphia complaining of rigged polling places. Thirty-two minutes later, Eric Trump’s wife, Lara, told a Breitbart reporter, “There’s actually an odd sense of calm that I have.” One minute after 9 p.m., the site published a tweet from liberal economist Paul Krugman calling it a “terrifying night.” Then a long wait, broken at 1:38 a.m. by a post quoting a tweet from French far-right leader Marine Le Pen congratulating Trump on his victory and, as 3 a.m. turned to 4, by Trump’s victory speech.
Marlow ran the site all day from his laptop in “the fishbowl,” a large, glass-encased studio used for special events with seating for a small audience, until 3 a.m., when he returned to his room at the Park Lane Hotel, across from Central Park, and managed two hours of sleep before returning to the studio at 6 a.m. On the morning of November 9, he proclaimed a victory that he’d seen coming a year and a half before it happened. “You’re going to see incredible amounts of hot takes trying to make sense of the election in the coming weeks,” he said on his radio show a few hours before Hillary Clinton conceded. “They could have listened to Breitbart radio.”
What the pundits could have learned, if they had been listening, was not just about Trump’s crossover appeal to Obama voters in the Rust Belt, or about Clinton’s struggles to connect with these selfsame citizens, but about Marlow’s own instinctive understanding of our two rival nations—Blue and Red. He’s a radical nationalist, yes, but he’s also the product of an elite West Coast education, the son of a Jewish mother and a Catholic father, who likes his iced coffee from fancy third-wave cafés, who proposed to his girlfriend in the campus library at UC Berkeley, and who became an early adherent of the social-network-propelled new-media revolution right around the time Mark Zuckerberg was launching Facebook. Had they been paying attention, the experts might have gleaned that the head of the most important—and, some say, most insidious and dangerous—right-wing news site in a generation isn’t a them. He’s an us.
Marlow is wary about talking to the media. This is understandable, given that ever since the 2016 election cycle began and Trump started to live-tweet the site’s home page, the press has murdered Breitbart. New Yorker editor David Remnick summed up most liberals’ feelings about Breitbart a few weeks after the election, calling it “a Web site laced with racist poison and bogus ‘news.’” Conservative writer Ben Shapiro, who quit the site in March, called it “Trump Pravda.” NPR quoted its former spokesperson saying that charges of racism were “all completely valid and all true.” Mother Jones tied the site directly to the alt-right, a new name for the old-school racism favored by neo-Nazis, white supremacists, border militiamen, and Gamergaters—“childless single men who masturbate to anime,” as Republican strategist Rick Wilson put it.
And while Marlow denies any connection to the alt-right, it’s clear that the site does consistently, if not exclusively, traffic in racist, anti-Semitic, and misogynist speech. Two weeks after white supremacist Dylann Roof murdered nine African American congregants in South Carolina, hoping to start a race war, a Breitbart writer offered a piece titled “Hoist It High and Proud: The Confederate Flag Proclaims a Glorious Heritage.” The site called conservative pundit Bill Kristol a “renegade Jew” for endangering Israel by not supporting the virulently anti-Iran-deal Trump. It claimed that “There’s No Hiring Bias Against Women in Tech, They Just Suck at Interviews,” and that “Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy.”
Any appraisal of Breitbart News, and of the man who runs it, has to start by acknowledging that the site is, in many instances, bigoted, bullying, and vicious in its assessments of a diverse, multicultural America. But in spite of Marlow’s dislike and distrust of the left-leaning media establishment, he agreed to meet me at the Blue Bottle café just west of the UC Berkeley campus. In part, his willingness to talk to me on the record was because we share a past. Years before Marlow helped Donald Trump take the White House, he was taking shots at me, a college newspaper columnist at the Daily Californian in Berkeley who served up the kind of soft-boiled, mushy-headed, center-left political opinions that a young(er) Marlow couldn’t help lashing out against. I was one of his first sparring partners. He was my very first troll.
From my undergrad days, I remember Marlow as an underfed, unassuming writer type—glad to spit fire behind a keyboard, but nebbishy in person. And sure enough, a decade after I saw him last, he still cuts an unremarkable figure: a trim guy in his early 30s with unruly hair and the tired eyes of someone who hunches over computers all day. As we sat down to talk, strong black coffees in hand (his iced, mine hot), he asked solicitously about my wife, and I about his. He laughed at my jokes about getting too many radishes in my CSA box. We reminisced about old professors we knew, like the eminent political scientist A. James Gregor, a scholar of fascism. It was hard to see in Marlow’s affability the roots of something darker and more sinister. Try as I might, I couldn’t help it: I liked the guy.
Marlow grew up in Westside Village, about five miles from Brentwood, and was nine when that neighborhood’s national moment—the O.J. Simpson trial—came down. He calls his parents ex-hippies who converted late in life to conservatism—his father during the Reagan years, and his mother during Bill Clinton’s tumultuous administration. In a sort of upside-down nepotism, both parents now work for Breitbart News, his mother, Wynn, as a copy editor and his father, Robert J., as a sportswriter and editor of the site’s California vertical. “I found myself consulting them regularly on everything from their opinions on the biggest news stories of the day to edits on individual pieces,” Alex explained, “until it became clear that we should just hire them.”
When Alex was a kid, his parents turned the car radio dial away from music and toward the likes of Dennis Prager and Michael Savage (the latter a little too bombastic for Alex’s tastes) as they shuttled their only son to and from baseball practice. The Sage from South Central, Larry Elder, was Alex’s favorite, and between high school and college he interned for the radio host, who happens to be black. (“People never bring that up when they call me a racist,” he said.) The first political book he read was Elder’s The Ten Things You Can’t Say in America. (First Thing: “Blacks are more racist than whites.”)
Marlow’s parents enrolled him in the private Harvard-Westlake School in the Hollywood Hills, graduates of which include gay NBA pioneer Jason Collins, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bridget Fonda, Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jon Lovitz, Shirley Temple, former California governor Gray Davis, Richard Nixon’s chief of staff H.R. Haldeman, and the San Francisco Chronicle’s new progressive columnist David Talbot. (As they say on the Internet, ¯\_( ′′)_/¯.) Marlow ended up at Cal, in part hoping to walk on to the baseball team. But he was also drawn to Berkeley by the opportunity to descend into the belly of the liberal beast, and once there to give it a raging case of indigestion. He joined the Berkeley College Republicans as soon as he arrived in 2005, and started a blog and a podcast not long after.
In the spring of 2006, about a year after Marlow enrolled in Berkeley, I began writing a weekly politics column for the Daily Cal. For $15 a week and at 750 words a pop, I waxed presumptuously about the war in Iraq, the shame of Proposition 8, and the Dadaesque personalities taking part in Berkeley City Council elections. I often wrote my pieces hungover on Sunday mornings: Mistakes were made. I loved writing the column, but I harbored few illusions about its impact or about the size of my audience. My girlfriend at the time didn’t read it. Students in the lecture hall in Wheeler certainly didn’t read it. Even members of the Cal Berkeley Democrats, the club I ran for a year as a sophomore, didn’t read it. But there was one person who paid attention to what I wrote: Alex Marlow.
Off and on over the two years that I cranked out that column, I’d garner an online rebuttal—sometimes scathing, sometimes merely chastising—on Marlow’s personal blog, alexmarlow.blogspot.com. I began to look forward to the Monday afternoons after my column’s morning unveiling, when Marlow would put together a few sentences or paragraphs arguing the polar opposite of whatever I was saying. Sometimes he made good points. Sometimes he dismissed me snarkily as yet another smug, liberal, establishment Berzerkeleyite. I would do my best to fire back. At various points during our prolonged and, if I’m being honest, tremendously geeky political debates, I would run into Marlow on Sproul Plaza and we’d hash it out in person, as if our respective arguments over Medicare Part D or the troop surge in Baghdad—he supported the war then, a position he’s since tempered—might catch the notice of the president, or at least help us get into law school. When I brought up these halcyon days to Alex at the café, his eyes lit up. “There were very few people” like me, he said, about whom he could write unkindly and who then would “want to talk about it in an unemotional way.”
It’s true: I wasn’t offended by Marlow’s constant heckling. To the contrary, I was flattered by it. Did I ever dream that less than a decade later, my tormenter would be chumming it up with the actual president and feeding tens of millions of loyal readers the freshest of right-wing red meat? No, I did not. But then again, neither did Marlow.
Marlow's big career break (aside, of course, from his site’s biggest fan getting elected POTUS) came at a conference held by the Young America’s Foundation in 2007. Marlow attended in the place of the Berkeley College Republicans president, who was busy running a race to lead the California College Republicans that ended in a blowout loss. At the conference, Marlow scored an invite to a future gathering to be held in Santa Barbara the same year. There, on a roof deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean, he heard Andrew Breitbart give a speech, after which he introduced himself in the bar. “I said, ‘Hey, I’m from L.A., and I think you are right,’” he recalled to me. By the end of the night, Marlow had a job.
After graduation, he moved back to Los Angeles and went to work full-time from Breitbart’s basement. On his first full day as a Breitbart employee, he drove to his new boss’s house to find him asleep after an early-morning spot on Fox & Friends. After Breitbart woke up, he had Marlow spend the day buying an arcade game for his office and filling water guns for his kids. They hit it off instantly. “Andrew was the first middle-class media mogul,” Marlow told the Los Angeles Times in 2012, soon after the provocateur’s unexpected death from a heart attack at age 43.
The first of what Marlow calls Breitbart News’s “scalps” came quickly after his hiring. In 2009, the site acquired videos shot by conservative activists James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles showing staffers at the community advocacy group ACORN allegedly helping the duo set up an underage-prostitution business by giving them advice on tax and immigration law. Incensed by the video, Republicans in Congress eliminated ACORN’s federal funding, and the group later disbanded. In 2011, acting on a reader tip, Breitbart broke the story that New York congressman Anthony Weiner had sent a picture of his genitals to a 21-year-old college student on Twitter. The scandal drove him from office. (Marlow told me he still has pictures of Weiner that have not been released. “They are more aggressive,” he said.)
But for all the bare-knuckled brawling that his site engages in, Marlow and his allies claim that the editor-in-chief does have a moral center. In a company that runs on an attitude, as the Internet meme goes, that “honey badger don’t give a shit,” Marlow has carved out a reputation as one honey badger who might. In a story about internal strife at the site during the campaign, CNN Money quoted an anonymous former reporter as saying, “Alex was generally on the side of good in the fight against evil while I was there. He fought for restraint, honesty, and standards.”
This restraint was most seriously tested last March, when Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields resigned after Trump campaign manager Lewandowski grabbed her arm hard enough to leave a bruise. Police charged Lewandowski with battery, but the state attorney of Palm Beach County declined to prosecute. Leaked internal chat logs showed senior editor-at-large Joel Pollak, not Marlow, ordering Breitbart employees not to defend Fields. But even though he wasn’t tied directly to the controversy, the incident still strained Marlow’s relationships with both his staff and his allies inside the Trump campaign. When I asked Marlow about it, he fell abnormally silent. “Obviously, that wasn’t my favorite moment as editor of Breitbart,” he said, finally. Could it be that Marlow’s instincts were to defend Fields, but that Bannon, then still running Breitbart, overruled him? Marlow pivoted away from specifics of the incident by blaming the mainstream media for pushing an overblown narrative about it.
He also denied that Breitbart gets its marching orders from the alt-right, adding that he doesn’t know what Bannon meant when he was quoted in Mother Jones saying that Breitbart was the “platform” for the alt-right.
“Have you asked him what he meant?” I wondered.
“I haven’t had a chance,” Marlow said.
Even if it’s not accurate to slot Marlow in with outspoken racists like Richard Spencer or David Duke, there are moments when the editor’s contrarian puckishness curdles into something mean and stupid. In a speech before a Young America’s Foundation audience, he joked about “Benicio Del Taco” and spent several excruciating moments complaining about Scarlett Johansson’s “pouty face.” On his radio show, he asserted that “Planned Parenthood was founded by eugenicists who wanted to eliminate black babies.”
Regardless of their offensiveness, Marlow’s views now carry legitimate weight, in no small part because of their similarities to the new president’s own worldview. In Marlow’s telling, the election was a revolt of the masses, who thought that America needed a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful; who believe that the economy is rigged; that traditional parties don’t represent people like them; and that the mainstream media is more interested in making money than in telling the truth. That is not just a bunch of political slogans, argues Marlow. “That,” he told me, “is the thesis of Breitbart in a nutshell.”
As the Trump administration dawns, Marlow hopes to keep the president bounded in that nutshell, away from the ambitions of more mainstream conservatives, a few of whom Trump has appointed to senior positions in the White House. It’s part of an inside-outside game that all presidents engage in with their most fervent supporters. In November, marquee Breitbart columnist Milo Yiannopoulos warned, “Establishment Republicans have a clear future: tough primary elections against Trump-like opponents intent on draining the swamp.”
That dynamic has the tacit blessing of at least one White House official: Bannon, who told the Wall Street Journal that he expects Breitbart to criticize the Trump administration if it doesn’t “stay true to its vision,” adding, “If we don’t, I assume they will hammer us.”
Marlow is still feeling out how to swing his hammer—and at whom. After Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said that Clinton would not be prosecuted under a Trump administration, Breitbart ran a story screaming “Broken Promise.” The headline quickly disappeared—but as lines are beginning to be drawn within the administration between status quo keepers like financier Carl Icahn and former Goldman Sachs partner Steven Mnuchin on the one hand and bomb throwers like Peter Navarro and General Michael Flynn on the other, there’s little question about which side Marlow comes down on: the bomb throwers.
“He was a true believer,” says Andrew Quinio, one of two Berkeley College Republicans members who produced a podcast with Marlow at Berkeley. (Their “studio” was a basement study room in the Unit One dorm, inside which they placed a mic and laptop atop a piano.) They called it Cal Patriot Radio and attracted few listeners. Quinio himself couldn’t download it, because instead of an iPod he owned a Microsoft Zune.
Quinio remains proud of the ideas they voiced back then. Ethan Lutske, who also worked on Patriot Radio, does not. After graduation, he moved to the left politically, and is reluctant to talk about his foray into right-wing punditry. “It was confrontational,” he says of the podcast. “We were dicks.” That being said, Lutske doesn’t believe Marlow was trafficking in bigotry back then. “Was this an incubation of white nationalism and I didn’t realize it? I don’t think so.” However, Marlow was inarguably honing his later style, a down-to-earth, just-asking-the-question rhetorical approach that makes liberals like me want to set their hair on fire. His first successful trolling mission came in fall 2007, when conservative writer David Horowitz organized events on college campuses across the country dubbed Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week. Following his lead, Marlow and Quinio set up rallies, lectures, and film screenings around Berkeley. It didn’t go over well. When Marlow read statements from Islamic terrorists on Sproul Plaza—the mecca of the Free Speech Movement—counterprotesters from an off-campus Marxist group surrounded him to chant, “Racist, go home! Racist, go home!”
“This was a significant moment in learning the tactics of the left,” Marlow told me. “Branding me a racist was much easier than saying why I was wrong.” But it wasn’t just Marxists who disagreed with Marlow; his words and actions made Muslim students feel uneasy. “I had friends who wore hijabs who were afraid to walk down the street,” says Saira Hussain, then a member of the Muslim Student Association and now a civil rights attorney in San Francisco. “People could see what they were trying to do, painting 1.6 billion Muslims as terrorists or agreeing with terrorists.”
Coincidentally, Hussain, who now works for the Asian Law Caucus, testified in April 2016 in favor of sanctuary city laws before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. During hearings on the same subject a month later, a reporter from Breitbart News, Lee Stranahan, was ejected from the chambers during a speech by Supervisor John Avalos, who complained that the reporter was being disruptive by videotaping the proceedings (and who later called Stranahan a “white supremacist” on Twitter). Two days later, Breitbart ran a story defending its reporter and claiming he was “attacked” by Avalos. Then SF Weekly wrote a story defending Avalos. Back and forth it went, adding another layer of acid to the conflict.
This, of course, is how Breitbart News under Marlow’s leadership often fuels its controversies. It starts by finding a story that resonates with its core audience, usually by taking original reporting from another publication, rewriting it with a conservative spin, and topping it with a provocative headline. If the site is lucky, the story then draws an attack from someone on the left, maybe even someone who overplays his or her hand, the way the Berkeley Marxists or Avalos did. That gins up more outrage from Breitbart’s supporters, while left-wingers craft their own enraged posts, memes, and tweet-storms. Breitbart can then repackage that closed-circuit tempest into yet another story, now with a new martyred protagonist: Breitbart News.
It’s the same circular, self-aggrandizing strategy Marlow used for Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week. He’s been telling the story about the chanting Berkeley Marxists in speeches to conservative audiences for years now, often omitting mention of the much more highly attended counter-protest that students like Hussain organized under the banner of “Peace, Not Prejudice.” It’s an ingenious strategy—and there’s a word for it. “Trolling,” he told me, “is a valid tool in the tool kit of Breitbart.”
As the publication’s editor-in-chief, Marlow is the foreman of a veritable construction gang of trolls. Sometimes his staffers pick up stories from outsiders—like the O’Keefe and Giles videos. Often they figure out what types of narratives will resonate with their audience simply by listening to that audience—taking calls on the radio and reading Breitbart’s comment section. This mind meld with their readership has netted huge traffic: The site claims it had 37 million unique visitors in October, the most recent month for which data is available, numbers comparable to those of the Drudge Report or the Fox News website.
And most important among those 37 million sets of eyeballs are two that belong to the site’s most loyal reader (or at least most avid tweeter): Trump. A few weeks after the election, the president-elect sat down with a few dozen New York Times staffers, one of whom asked him about Breitbart News. “Yeah, well, Breitbart, first of all, is just a publication,” Trump said. “And, you know, they cover stories like you cover stories. Now, they are certainly a much more conservative paper, to put it mildly, than the New York Times. But Breitbart really is a news organization that’s become quite successful, and it’s got readers and it does cover subjects that are on the right, but it covers subjects on the left also. I mean it’s a pretty big, it’s a pretty big thing.”
And it all started, at least in some small part, because Alex Marlow didn’t think my Daily Cal columns were very good.
The hail was falling, and it was time for Marlow to catch his plane. In his rental car, we wound down the narrow streets in the Berkeley Hills toward the flats. Marlow talked about his site’s next steps: Breitbart already has two foreign bureaus, in England and Jerusalem, and Marlow is now hiring staffers for two more expansions, in Germany and France. The timing of these expansions is not accidental: In France, the populist leader of the National Front, Le Pen, is expected to finish strongly in the presidential elections in April. After Trump’s election, the National Front’s deputy leader tweeted his congratulations, saying, “their world is collapsing. Ours is building.” A German national election will also be held later this year, with rightist politicians surging in a country still reeling from the terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.
Marlow plans for Breitbart to be there when the right rises—and he hopes to be everywhere else, too. He’s tuned in to what the socialist magazine Jacobin called a “weirdly pagan resonance, being picked up around the world on some fascist subterranean frequency—the rumblings of a dark monitor stone, now come to life.”
It’s a submerged resonance that he hears, yes, but it’s not necessarily a fascist one. If you’re being generous and seek to locate Marlow in a political tradition a bit closer to home, you need only look to Berkeley. He’s every bit the culture-jammer, throw-your-body-on-the-gears, power-to-the-people agitator that ’60s free speech icon Mario Savio was. Even if the world he’s busy tearing down is the one that Savio and his comrades helped to build, you could argue that Berkeley had a large hand in building Alex Marlow as well.
As Marlow dropped me off at the Downtown Berkeley BART station, he made an observation that revealed a lot about how he thinks about this world and his role in it. As he bid me goodbye, he also bid goodbye to the city. It was partly a one-fingered salute, but partly a genuine reflection of what the Bay Area had taught him. “Dissent was patriotic when I went to Berkeley,” he said to me. “Dissent was the highest form of patriotism.”
Originally published in the February issue of San Francisco
Have feedback? Email us at letterssf@sanfranmag.com
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Follow Scott Lucas @ScottLucas86Image copyright Getty Images
Leicester City lifted the Premier League trophy in front of jubilant fans after a 3-1 win against Everton at their King Power Stadium home.
The team wrapped up the title on Monday after closest rivals Tottenham Hotspur slipped to a 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
But the party got into full swing as Claudio Ranieri's players lifted the trophy following their final home game of the season.
Opera star Andrea Bocelli sang before the game on a day of celebrations.
Image copyright PA Image caption Andrea Bocelli performed next to Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri before the match
Bocelli set the tone with pre-match renditions of Nessun Dorma and Time to Say Goodbye, honouring a recent promise to his countryman Ranieri.
The party baton was then handed over to the players, who brushed Everton aside with a goal from Andy King and two from Jamie Vardy before the visitors struck a late consolation.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Lifelong fan Steve Worthy won a competition to present the trophy
Lifelong Foxes' fan Steve Worthy, 39, of Wigston, had the honour of handing the trophy to captain Wes Morgan at the end of the game.
He won a competition organised by league sponsors Barclays and said he would dedicate the experience to his 97-year-old grandmother, Gladys Knight, who had to forfeit her season ticket this season due to ill health.
"When I hand the Premier League trophy to Wes Morgan I'll be thinking of my grandmother," Mr Worthy said before the game.
Image copyright PA Image caption Fans gathered outside the King Power Stadium ahead of the game
Image copyright PA Image caption Thousands of flags helped the party atmosphere inside the ground
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Leicester fans say it is the best day of their lives
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The job needs a steady hand
The 25kg trophy, topped by a golden crown, was decorated with blue ribbons for Leicester, and yellow ones to represent the royal house of Thailand, which is the country of club owners King Power.
It was engraved on Friday, in preparation for Saturday's presentation.
Image copyright Getty Images
Image copyright Getty Images
Image copyright AP Image caption There was disappointment for some, with tickets for the game sold out and on sale for up to £5,000
Demand for tickets to the final home game of the season was high, with reports of tickets appearing on websites for up to £5,000.
But thousands - inside and outside the stadium - were just happy to be part of what has been termed a "fairytale" by pundits all over the world.
Image copyright PA Image caption Everton fan Michael Cullen, also known as Speedo Mick, reminds Gary Lineker of his promise to present Match of the Day in his pants
Image copyright Nick Potts Image caption Leicester City fans raise aloft pictures of the Premier League trophy ahead of kick-off
Back in December, former England footballer and Leicester-born Gary Lineker joked he would present the Match of the Day "in just my undies" if Leicester City won the Premier League.
On Wednesday Leicester East MP Keith Vaz asked David Cameron if the pundit should keep his promise after the club's triumph.
The prime minister replied he "absolutely" agreed he should.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The match kicked off at 17:30 BST
It has been announced an open top bus parade will take place on Monday 16 May, ending up in Leicester's Victoria Park for further celebrations.
As one fan said: "It's something I didn't think I'd ever, ever see. Ever. Not in my lifetime and it's fantastic."
Image copyright PA Image caption The city centre was a sea of blue ahead of the game
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Leicester City's victory has been described as a "fairytale"Bank worker fired for Facebook post comparing her £7-an-hour wage to Lloyds boss's £4,000-an-hour salary
New chief set for £13.5million pay package this year
A bank worker got the sack after she criticised her boss's £4,000-an-hour salary on Facebook.
Stephanie Bon, 37, from Colchester, Essex, was working as a £7-an-hour HR assistant for Lloyds Banking Group when she heard about her new chief executive's mammoth salary.
Miss Bon went on Facebook and posted 'LBG's new CEO gets £4,000 an hour. I get £7. That's fair |
was described by the US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, as “good news”. The US Justice Department is considering charging Mr Assange with espionage offences after his website released classified US diplomatic files.
Right-wing politicians in the US are pressing for his prosecution and even execution.
The Swedish government is seeking to extradite Mr Assange over alleged sex offences involving two women. Sources stressed that no extradition request from Washington would be considered unless the US laid charges against Mr Assange, and that attempts to send him to America would take place only after legal proceedings were concluded in Sweden.
Mr Assange went voluntarily to a London police station, accompanied by solicitors, after an international warrant was issued. The court heard that the film director Ken Loach, the journalist John Pilger and Jemima Khan, the sister of the Tory MP Zac Goldsmith, were among those offering to stand bail to the sum of £180,000. But District Judge Howard Riddle remanded Mr Assange in custody, saying there was a risk he might try to flee.
Loach, who offered to contribute £20,000, explained that he did not know Mr Assange other than by reputation, but said: “I think the work he has done has been a public service. I think we are entitled to know the dealings of those that govern us.”
John Pilger, who also offered £20,000, said he knew Mr Assange as a journalist and personal friend and had a “very high regard for him”.
“I am aware of the offences and I am also aware of quite a lot of the detail around the offences,” he told the court.
“I am here today because the charges against him in Sweden are absurd and were judged as absurd by the chief prosecutor there when she threw the whole thing out until a senior political figure intervened.”
Ms Khan offered a further £20,000 “or more if need be”, although she said she did not know Mr Assange.
Gemma Lindfield, appearing for the Swedish authorities, said she opposed bail because there was a risk Mr Assange would fail to surrender — and also for his own protection.
Ms Lindfield said Mr Assange was wanted over four alleged sex offences. One charge is that he had unprotected sex with a woman, identified only as Miss A, when she insisted he use a condom. Another is that he had unprotected sex with another woman while she was asleep.
Judge Riddle said: “This case is not, on the face of it, about Wikileaks. It is an allegation in another European country of serious sexual offences alleged to have occurred on three separate occasions and involving two separate victims. These are extremely serious allegations. From that, it seems to me that if these allegations are true, then no one could argue the defendant should be granted bail.”
However, he added: “If they are false, he suffers a great injustice if he is remanded in custody. At this stage in these proceedings, the nature and strength of the allegations is not known.”
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I figured it was about time to share another one pot recipe! My last two forays into the one pot phenomenon were both pasta dishes, so this time I’m changing it up with this one pot tandoori quinoa. (Now with a recipe video!)
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My one pot pasta puttanesca actually started an interesting conversation with a reader about authenticity of recipes. Is one pot pasta an insult to the art of Italian cooking? Can we really call something ‘puttanesca’ if it doesn’t have anchovies in it, and we’ve added chickpeas, which are never used in the classic dish? I say ‘yes’! It gives people an idea of what to expect from the recipe, without having to read the ingredients list in detail. It’s obvious just from the title what the inspiration and flavor profile will be. And I try to be forthcoming and honest in my blog posts when I’m introducing a recipe that strays from being authentic (which is… most of them! Exhibit A: last week’s Brussels sprout banh mi).
Which leads me to my next comment. The tandoori-ness of this one pot tandoori quinoa is disputable. 🙂 The term ‘tandoori’ actually refers to the tandoor, which is a clay oven used in Southern Asian cooking. And this recipe quite obviously doesn’t use one of those! However, the flavors of the dish do take their inspiration from tandoori masala, which is a curry paste usually comprised of garam masala, cayenne pepper, garlic, ginger, and onion. Tandoori masala is often used to flavor things that are cooking in the tandoor.
If you like, this tandoori quinoa can stand alone as a meal. It’s got a whole (pseudo)grain, vegetables, beans, and satisfying full flavor. If I wanted to make it stretch farther I would probably serve it with a side of additional veggies like some sauteed greens.
It now occurs to me that I haven’t been posting nearly enough dessert recipes lately. So I got my butt in the kitchen this weekend and I will be sharing something for your sweet tooth very soon. NB: It’s really really hard to photograph chocolate things (and quinoa, for that matter…)
4.77 from 30 votes Print One Pot Tandoori Quinoa Flavorful and nutritious one pot tandoori quinoa, with everything cooked in one pan. Tandoori spices are accented with chickpeas, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 30 minutes Total Time 40 minutes Total Yield 4 servings Calories Per Serving 337 kcal Author Yup, it's Vegan Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil, or other plain oil
1 cup diced sweet potatoes (115 grams) (a small dice is best) (equals 1 small sweet potato or 1/2 of a large one)
1/2 red onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 jalapeno or 2 Indian green chiles seeded and minced
1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
2 tbsp garam masala (see notes)
(optional) 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 cup uncooked quinoa rinsed
1 and 1/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 and 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (equal to one 15 oz. can)
about 1 and 1/2 cups diced tomatoes (equal to one 14 oz. can)
1 tsp coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
salt and pepper to taste
fresh lime juice (lemon also works), for serving
chopped fresh cilantro for serving Instructions In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sweet potatoes and stir. Cook the sweet potatoes, stirring frequently, for about 6-8 minutes or until softened significantly. Add the onion and cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened. Add the garlic, chiles, and ginger, and cook for another minute until fragrant. Finally, stir in the garam masala and (optional) cayenne pepper and cook for 30 seconds. Add the quinoa, vegetable broth, chickpeas, tomatoes, and sugar, and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover, stirring occasionally. Cook until the quinoa and sweet potatoes are cooked through, about 20 minutes. If there seems to be too much liquid, simmer uncovered for a few minutes to evaporate the excess. If the liquid runs out before the quinoa is done, add more water or broth and continue simmering. Add salt, pepper, and additional garam masala and cayenne to taste. Serve with a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon juice and a generous sprinkle of chopped cilantro. Recipe Video Recipe Notes For variations, try using curry powder instead of or addition to the garam masala; or use different vegetables, adjusting the liquid and cooking time as needed. The quantity of sweet potatoes is flexible; I have doubled it with good results. I get a lot of questions about the correct amount of garam masala to use in this recipe and the answer is that it definitely depends on your personal taste and tolerance to spices. It can also depend on the brand and the mixture of various spices used by that brand. I personally do prepare this recipe with 2 tablespoons of garam masala, which was the originally-listed amount. Most readers have used 2 tablespoons and enjoyed it, but if you think less spice may be appropriate for you and your family, please start with 2-3 teaspoons and mix in additional garam masala if desired at the end of cooking. Nutrition Facts One Pot Tandoori Quinoa Amount Per Serving (1 fourth recipe) Calories 337 Calories from Fat 63 % Daily Value* Total Fat 7g 11% Saturated Fat 1g 5% Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Sodium 640mg 27% Potassium 314mg 9% Total Carbohydrates 56g 19% Dietary Fiber 9g 36% Sugars 7g Protein 12g 24% Vitamin A 100% Vitamin C 18% Calcium 9% Iron 28% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Inspired by One Pan Mexican Quinoa.
Enjoy this one pot tandoori quinoa? Try some of my other quinoa recipes:
One Pot Moroccan Quinoa with Red Lentils
Curry Quinoa Potato SaladTrevor “TmarTn” Martin and Thomas “ProSyndicate” Cassell, social media personalities and joint owners of the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gambling service CS:GO Lotto, have settled Federal Trade Commission charges that they deceptively endorsed the site without disclosing their respective stakes in it, according to the commission’s statement.
Stay current on the latest CS:GO updates.
The FTC’s order requires that Martin and Cassell “clearly and conspicuously” disclose any relationship they have to a product or service they are promoting. Their decision to settle does not require an admission of guilt, but they will be obliged to follow the commission’s orders.
“Consumers need to know when social media influencers are being paid or have any other material connection to the brands endorsed in their posts,” FTC Acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen says. “This action, the FTC’s first against individual influencers, should send a message that such connections must be clearly disclosed so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions.”
Controversy over CS:GO Lotto began in 2016, when various individuals alleged that Martin and Cassell had been deceptively creating YouTube videos promoting the site without disclosing their ownership of it. The FTC further alleges that the pair had paid thousands of dollars to other influencers to promote the site on many forms of social media without requiring they disclose the sponsorship. Related lawsuits also accused Valve of wrongdoing in failing to police gambling around their games.
Additionally, the FTC announced today that they’ve sent warning letters to 21 social media influencers following up on 90 “educational” letters sent in April of this year. The new set of warning letters cite specific social media posts that may not be in compliance with the commission’s guidelines.
Last year, the FTC also took an interest in Warner’s promotion of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, which again was surrounded by allegations of paid influencer promotion without adequate disclosures. With social services as an ever larger part of the media, concern over their misuse is likely only to grow.Bill Maher finally scores sit-down interview with President Obama
CLOSE President Barack Obama is telling voters at a Hillary Clinton rally that what and who you are doesn't change after you become president. (Nov. 4) AP
After months of begging waiting, Bill Maher finally got his wish: A one-on-one interview with President Obama.
The HBO Real Time with Bill Maher host, who had campaigned for months and launched an online petition to win the POTUS over, sat down for a nearly 40-minute taped interview with Obama that aired Friday night.
Maher and Obama talked about various issues during their White House chat at the Roosevelt Room, including healthcare, marijuana reform and — of course — the presidential election.
When asked how voters will sway on Election Day between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Obama cited voters “should be really clear" with their choice.
“Every single issue we’ve made progress on in the last eight years is going to be on the ballot in the form of this choice,” Obama told Maher. "Anybody who’s sitting on the sidelines right now, or deciding to engage in a protest vote, that’s a vote for Trump. And that would be badly damaging for this country and badly damaging for the world.”
Obama also expressed his concern regarding the partisanship of news outlets, saying the "Balkanization" of U.S. media leaves the public with "difficulty sorting out what's true and what's not."
“If you don’t have some common baseline of facts … it’s very hard to figure out how we move democracy forward,” Obama said. “If I watched Fox News, I wouldn’t vote for me either.”
The complete interview can be watched below:
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2f3FcaeImage copyright Reuters Image caption Rowling has never shied away from expressing her political views on social media
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has hit back at Twitter users who threatened to burn her books following her criticism of President Trump.
Rowling's recent Twitter feed has been filled with her retweets criticising the president's recent travel ban.
Some followers have taken umbrage with her stance, with several saying they have burned her books or plan to do so, and one suggesting she "should stay out of politics".
But the novelist has proved a match for her critics with her mocking responses.
Image copyright Twitter/JK Rowling Image caption Rowling has more than nine million followers on Twitter
One Twitter user said they would now "burn your books and movies, too".
Rowling hit back: "Well, the fumes from the DVDs might be toxic and I've still got your money, so by all means borrow my lighter."
Another said she had "just burned all their Harry Potter books after being a fan for 17 years".
Rowling's riposte? "Guess it's true what they say: you can lead a girl to books about the rise and fall of an autocrat, but you still can't make her think."
Image copyright Twitter/JK Rowling Image caption Rowling joked it was like going back to the 1990s, when her books were first published - and burned by a minority
Another Twitter user posted: "You're a grown ass woman whose entire career is based on stories about a nerd who turns people into frogs. Stay out of politics."
Rowling responded: "In - Free - Countries - Anyone - Can - Talk - About - Politics.
"Try sounding out the syllables aloud, or ask a fluent reader to help."
It isn't the first time people have burnt or threatened to burn JK Rowling's books.
In the late 1990s, not long after the first couple of Harry Potter books were published, some had concerns about the magic and supernatural references, which they believed went against Bible teachings.
A pile of Potter books was set alight in New Mexico in December 2001 by a religious group who claimed Harry was "the devil".
And a preacher in Maine in the US marked The Chamber of Secrets' release by holding a party in which he shredded copies of Potter books.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.A woman working at the Port of Elizabeth was struck and killed Friday afternoon by a piece of equipment that moves shipping containers, Port Authority police said.
The accident happened at 1:20 p.m. at the APM Terminal when the woman, who was a dock worker, was struck by the top loader while walking, said Joseph Pentangelo, a Port Authority police spokesman. She was later identified as Judy Jones, 49 of Newark, he said.
RELATED: Dock worker killed in Port Newark accident
Emergency Medical personal responded and pronounced her dead at the scene, he said.
It is not known how the accident happened and Port Authority police are investigating the cause, Pentagelo said.
This is a developing story. Check NJ.com for updates.
Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.Every carmaker puts its own interpretation on news, especially at Detroit Auto Show.
So it's reasonable for Tesla Motors to cast an NHTSA recall yesterday as an example of its ability to respond swiftly and effectively to update its Model S electric car to make the customer experience even better.
Jerome Guillen and Diarmuid O'Connell of Tesla Motors, press conference at 2014 Detroit Auto Show More
The NHTSA recall (number 14V006000), issued yesterday, applies to 2013 Model S cars "equipped for, and delivered with, certain NEMA 14-50 (240 volt) Universal Mobile Connector (UMC) adapters."
The safety concern is that while the Model S is recharging, the wall outlet, the charging cord, or the adapter itself could overheat--potentially causing fire or burns.
Tesla had told the NHTSA last fall that it knew of several cases of overheating, including a garage fire in Irvine, California, that resulted in significant damage.
The solution is an over-the-air update of the car's firmware; Tesla executives said most of the cars had already been updated.
DON'T MISS: 2015 Ford F-150: Full Details From Detroit Auto Show
Tesla vice president of business development Diarmuid O'Connell said after the company's press conference this morning that the company was also offering to ship an upgraded adaptor to its customers, as part of what he called a "best practices approach" to customer service and satisfaction.
O'Connell stressed that the adaptor upgrade was not part of the recall, but a voluntary additional offer by Tesla for customers who chose to take advantage of it.
He raised the question of whether "recall" was the proper term for a change that didn't require the car to be brought to a dealer, but that could be accomplished over the air.
"We're having discussions about the word'recall' for cars that aren't actually fixed," he said, but just updated through software.
As well as O'Connell, Tesla vice president of worldwide sales and service Jerome Guillen spoke at the company's press conference, saying Tesla had delivered 6,900 Model S cars in the fourth quarter, about 20 percent above its previous guidance.
This is Tesla's second NHTSA recall; the first came in June 2013, for modifications to rear-seat mounting brackets.
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Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.Updated: Determining the Off-Season Cap Space of the Maple Leafs
By CapFriendly Jul 8, 2017 at 2:26 pm, edited Jul 11, 2017 at 3:57 pm
Updated: The section "What about LTIR?" Has been updated on July 11, 2017
With the Toronto Maple Leafs 2017-18 salary cap hit projection currently at $78,929,167, the club is projected to exceed the cap by $3,929,167. This has lead to a significant amount of interest in the Leafs salary position, which we have received through the form of emails, Facebook messages, and tweets. The most common question being: do the Leafs have enough space to sign their restricted free agent (RFA) Connor Brown? (The second being how much cap space do the Leafs have when LTIR is incorporated [which is explained by our LTIR FAQ])
On the surface the answer to this question appears to be simple: as long as the Brown's cap hit is below $3,929,167, there is cap space. Unfortunately, as with most specifics in the NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA), it isn't that simple. During the off-season on CapFriendly, we position each teams roster to reflect what might occur on the opening day of the season. This projects what their cap space might be at the end of the season, and how much cap space the team would have on day 1 of the season. We do not display the teams off-season cap space, which has a separate method of calculation:
Off-Season Cap Space Calculation
It is well known that team's can exceed the salary cap by 10% during the off-season ($7.5M in 2017 for a total of $82.5M). What is less known, is how a team's off-season cap hit is calculated, which is explained in the CBA §50.5 (d) 1. (A).
In the Leafs case, the parameters break down as follows:
All 1-way contracts (including players who are likely to play in the minors) $69,037,500 (24) Performance Bonus Overages $5,370,000 Buyouts $2,083,333 (3) Retained Salary Transactions $1,200,000 (1) 2-way contracts calculated as the quotient of the total number of days the player spent at the NHL level in the previous season, and the total number of days in the previous season Auston Matthews $925,000 (180 days at the NHL level last season/180 total days in the 2016-17 season) Mitch Marner $894,167 (180/180) William Nylander $894,167 (180/180) Nikita Soshnikov $645,185 (160/180) Frederik Gauthier $235,018 (49/180) Kasperi Kapanen $67,148 (14/180) Garret Sparks $11,250 (3/180) Players who have received a qualifying offer, with the cost of the qualifying offer calculated in the same method as the 2-way contracts above Connor Brown $715,000 (180/180)
Sum: $82,078,298
Current Off-Season Cap Space: $421,602
What does this mean? It means that as of currently the Leafs only have $421,602 remaining in cap space to sign additional players.
Can the Leafs sign Brown?
If the Leafs were to sign Brown, his qualifying offer cap hit cost ($715,000) would be removed from the off-season cap hit calculation above. Therefore, based on the Leafs current off-season cap space of $421,602, he would have to agree to a contract with an annual average of $1,136,602 ($421,602 + $715,000) or lower
What options exist?
A couple of options exist:
The Leafs could trade a player to decrease their current salary cap hit. The trade would require a player with a cap hit listed in the "Off-Season Cap Space Calculation" section above. Trading a player on a 2-way contract who did not accrue any days in the NHL last season would not free up any cap space
The Leafs could wait until the first day of the season when players can be loaned to the minors to free up cap space
New: The Leafs can use LTIR as explained below
What about LTIR? (Updated)
As explained by James Mirtle, it has recently been revealed that LTIR can in fact be utilized in the off-season. Previously it was understood that this was not possible, and LTIR could only be used leading into the season on the final day of training camp. With this news, it is likely that Horton has already been placed on LTIR, allowing the Leafs to exceed the salary cap of $82.5M, and therefore they have enough space to sign RFA Connor Brown.
Why doesn't CapFriendly display off-season cap space?
We can assure you that off-season cap space is in our development plans, we hope to have those values displayed on the site for the 2018-19 off-seasonAMD's Ryzen 7 lower than expected performance in some applications seems to stem from a particular problem: memory. Before AMD's Ryzen chips were even out, reports pegged AMD as having confirmed that most of the tweaks and programming for the new architecture had been done in order to improve core performance to its max - at the expense of memory compatibility and performance. Apparently, and until AMD's entire Ryzen line-up is completed with the upcoming Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 3 processors, the company will be hard at work on improving Ryzen's cache handling and memory latency.Hardware.fr has done a pretty good job in exploring Ryzen's cache and memory subsystem deficiencies through the use of AIDA 64, in what would otherwise be an exceptional processor design. Namely, the fact that there seems to be some problem with Ryzen's L3 cache and memory subsystem implementation. Paired with the same memory configuration and at the same 3 GHz clocks, for instance, Ryzen's memory tests show memory latency results that are up to 30 ns higher (at 90 ns) than the average latency found on Intel's i7 6900K or even AMD's FX 8350 (both at around 60 ns).Update: The lack of information regarding the test system could have elicited some gray areas in the interpretation of the results. Hardware.fr tests, and below results, were obtained by setting the 8-core chips at 3 GHz, with SMT and HT deactivated. Memory for the Ryzen and Intel platforms was DDR4-2400 with 15-15-15-35 timings, and memory for the AMD FX platform was DDR3-1600 operating at 9-9-9-24 timings. Both memory configurations were set at 4x 4 GB, totaling 16 GB of memory.From some more testing results, we see that Intel's L1 cache is still leagues ahead from AMD's implementation; that AMD's L2 is overall faster than Intel's, though it does incur on a roughly 2 ns latency penalty; and that AMD's L3 memory is very much behind Intel's in all metrics but L3 cache copies, with latency being almost 3x greater than on Intel's 6900K.The problem is revealed through an increasing work size. In the case of the 6900K, which has a 32 KB L1 cache, performance is greatest until that workload size. Higher-sized workloads that don't fit on the L1 cache then "spill" towards the 6900K's 256 KB L2 cache; workloads higher than 256 KB and lower than 16 MB are then submitted to the 6900 K's 20 MB L3 cache, with any workloads larger than 16 MB then forcing the processor to access the main system memory, with increasing latency in access times until it reaches the RAM's ~70 ns access times.However, on AMD's Ryzen 1800X, latency times are a wholly different beast. Everything is fine in the L1 and L2 caches (32 KB and 512 KB, respectively). However, when moving towards the 1800X's 16 MB L3 cache, the behavior is completely different. Up to 4 MB cache utilization, we see an expected increase in latency; however, latency goes through the roof way before the chip's 16 MB of L3 cache is completely filled. This clearly derives from AMD's Ryzen modularity, with each CCX complex (made up of 4 cores and 8 MB L3 cache, besides all the other duplicated logic) being able to access only 8 MB of L3 cache at any point in time.The difference in access speeds between 4 MB and 8 MB workloads can be explained through AMD's own admission that Ryzen's core design incurs in different access times depending on which parts of the L3 cache are accessed by the CCX. The fact that this memory is "mostly exclusive" - which means that other information may be stored on it that's not of immediate use to the task at hand - can be responsible for some memory accesses on its own. Since the L3 cache is essentially a victim cache, meaning that it is filled with the information that isn't able to fit onto the chips' L1 or L2 cache levels, this would mean that each CCX can only access up to 8 MB of L3 cache if any given workload uses no more than 4 cores from a given CCX. However, even if we were to distribute workload in-between two different cores from each CCX, so as to be able to access the entirety of the 1800X's 16 MB cache... we'd still be somewhat constrained by the inter-CCX bandwidth achieved by AMD's Data Fabric interconnect... 22 GB/s, which is much lower than the L3 cache's 175 GB/s - and even lower than RAM bandwidth. That the Data Fabric interconnect also has to carry data from AMD's IO Hub PCIe lanes also potentially interferes with the (already meagre) available bandwidthAMD's Zen architecture is surely an interesting beast, and these kinds of results really go to show the amount of work, of give-and-take design that AMD had to go through in order to achieve a cost-effective, scalable, and at the same time performant architecture through its CCX modules. However, this kind of behavior may even go so far as to give us some answers with regards to Ryzen's lower than expected gaming performance, since games are well-known to be sensitive to a processor's cache performance profile.Donald Trump predicted Friday in New Hampshire that Hillary Clinton could face federal perjury charges over sworn testimony she gave to Congress.
If true, that would compound legal problems that already include a newly revitalized probe of her classified email scandal and a year-long investigation into what Trump called a 'pay-for-play' link between Clinton Foundation donors and actions she took as secretary of state.
'Hillary Clinton lied to Congress under oath when she said she turned over all of her work-related emails, and that she didn't send classified information on her illegal server,' Trump told a cheering crowd in a Boston bedroom community near the state border.
'Meaning she may now face major problems for perjury.'
Donald Trump said Friday in New Hampshire that Hillary Clinton could face perjury charges for lying to Congress about her behavior linked to a lengthy classified email scandal
Clinton and Trump are running neck-and-neck in the Granite State, with every electoral vote likely to count toward a razor-thin victory for one of the in Tuesday's election
In light of a trove of 650,000 emails recovered from a laptop belonging to Anthony Weiner, a top aide's estranged husband – including some that law enforcement sources say are linked to Clinton – Trump questioned Hillary's public claim that she had deleted only emails that were unconnected with the State Department.
'The 650,000 emails include brand new emails not previously seen by authorities,' he said. 'She said she gave them all in, right? She said, "gave them all in".'
'Well, when we saw 650,000 we figured, "I guess there has to be some surprises." Wait 'til you see what they find in those 650, too. It won't be pretty.'
Trump scolded his Democratic rival for running her electronic communications under a veil of secrecy during the four years she was America's top diplomat.
'What a mess. And all she had to do is follow the rules, and assume people are watching or listening,' he said, referring to omnipresent hackers.
He contended that Clinton created her own political peril 'over what should have been nothing.'
'She'll be under investigation for years,' he predicted.
Trump said in the New Hampshire town of Atkinson that Clinton 'will be under investigation for years,' and the country can't handle the 'constitutional crisis' that would result if she were president
Trump's fans were out in their finery on Friday, chanting 'Lock her up!' at the mention of Clinton's name
Trump laid out a scenario in which a congressional civil investigation concurrent with a criminal FBI investigation could put pressure on a Hillary Clinton White House that the U.S. Constitution wasn't designed to withstand.
'If she were to win, it would create an unprecedented constitutional crisis. What a mess!' he said.
'I mean, we went through it with him,' Trump fumed, referring to Bill Clinton, 'with the impeachment and the lies. Aren't we tired of this stuff?'
Trump's warmup speakers were also heavy on mocking the former president as they entertained an audience that the local fire marshal cut off at just under 900.
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith launched into an impression of a sex-obsessed Bill Clinton, drawling: 'You know, if she goes to jail, I'm gonna be free as a bird to do what I wanna do!'
And former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, whose son Chris is running for the office he once held, pushed the bounds of New England's normally understated rhetoric.
'Do you think that Bill was referring to Hillary when he said: "I did not have sex with that woman?"' he asked, drawing a mixture of laughter and shouts of surprise at the reference to Monica Lewinsky, the White House intern whose affair with Clinton nearly cost him the presidency.
Sununu pointed to Smith and joked: 'He put me up to it.'
Moments earlier the former governor upbraided a man who yelled 'Execute her!' while the rest of the audience was chanting 'Lock her up!' – an anti-Hillary chant that has become part of the standard Trump rally repertoire.
'There's a limit to what's acceptable,' Sununu told him.
Smith addressed the concerns of some 'Never Trump' Republicans, and urged them to 'get over it' and come home to the GOP.
He quoted a Willie Nelson lyric that reads: I find it easy to forgive you, but forgetting seems to take a long, long time.'Smartphones are often seen as a cause of sedentary time, not a solution to it. But new research suggests that playing the smartphone game Pokémon Go actually helps people get more exercise.
In the game, people actively explore their real-world surroundings to capture in-game creatures that they can use to battle other players. People who play it are more than twice as likely to meet their 10,000-steps goal for the day, according to the new study, presented recently at an American Heart Association meeting.
“Pokémon Go is probably one of the most popular mobile games in history,” says study author Hanzhang Xu, a graduate student at Duke University School of Nursing. “Unlike traditional mobile games, it requires the players to be active and travel around in the real world. It has great potential to promote physical activity.”
In the report, Xu and colleagues asked 167 iPhone users who had played Pokémon Go to send them screenshots of their daily steps that were recorded on an iPhone app for close to 50 days. On average, the people in the study walked about 5,600 steps a day before using the game, and their average daily steps increased to about 7,600 steps after playing the game. The men and women were also twice as likely to reach their goal of 10,000 daily steps if they were playing Pokémon Go. Even the people in the study with the lowest activity levels at the start of the game seemed to improve by walking nearly 3,000 more steps a day after playing the game.
Though smartphones have long been criticized as devices that cause people to be more isolated, Xu argues that Pokémon Go brings people together to battle their creatures. “It has the potential to work as social media and break the ice of isolation,” says Xu. “Games like Pokémon Go may provide an alternative way to encourage exercise.”
Contact us at editors@time.com.It's no surprise that Medicare has become a big campaign issue -- it is somewhat surprising that the Republicans are pushing it.
GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, running mate Paul Ryan, and other Republicans are stressing $716 billion in cuts to Medicare that are part of President Obama's health care plan.
That attack has forced Obama and company to play defense, even as they emphasize that Romney and Ryan want to turn Medicare into a voucher program that will cost seniors thousands of dollars a year.
The $716 billion in cuts are aimed not at Medicare recipients, but at health care providers, such as hospitals and medical device makers; they also target what the administration calls waste and inefficiency in Medicare.
"We made reforms that extended the life of the program," Obama said Saturday in New Hampshire, adding that his health care plan has reduced the costs of prescription drugs and provides preventive services like cancer screenings.
As for Republican idea of Medicare vouchers -- to be used in the private insurance market -- Obama cited studies estimating "that this could force seniors to pay as much as an extra $6,400 a year for their health care."
Meanwhile, speaking in Florida -- where the Medicare issue is particularly resonant -- Ryan told a group of senior citizens that Obama's plan "raids $716 billion from the Medicare program to pay for the Obama care program."
Ryan said the cuts are hurting nursing homes and Medicare Advantage insurance plans, and that "Medicare should not be used as a piggy bank for Obama care."
The Republican plan would not affect Americans who are already 55 or over, say Ryan, Romney and other Republicans. But changes must be made for future beneficiaries or the program will go insolvent, they say.
Speaking to a crowd that included his 78-year-old mother, Ryan said: "Mitt Romney and I will protect and strengthen Medicare so that the promises that were made that people organize their retirements around, like my mom, will be promises that are kept."
Obama aides quickly point out that Ryan included the $716 billion in Medicare reductions in his own budget, though Romney has not; the Republican candidate has vowed to repeal Obamacare in its entirety.
Republicans, who many analysts consider to be vulnerable on the Medicare issue, say they welcome the debate over the program's future. Said Ryan: "We want this debate, we need this debate, and we are going to win this debate."
Obama and aides are equally confident about the Medicare issue.
"My plan has extended the life of Medicare by nearly a decade," Obama said. "Their plan would shorten the life of Medicare and end Medicare as we know it, because they'd turn it into a voucher system."Good morning everypony!
Novel Idea here with something you have all been waiting for. I know I have. Now, I could tease and play with the information and drive you all crazy, but instead, I’ll just tell you what’s going on.
For those of you who attended Pacific PonyCon, you already got most of this information. For everypony else… it’s time for the good stuff.
We’ve got three major announcements today.
Gardens of Equestria is moving to an episodic content schedule. Instead of releasing the entire game at once, we’ll be releasing the game chapter-by-chapter, starting with “Gardens of Equestria – Prologue: The Watcher.” We are currently aiming to release “Prologue: The Watcher” at the beginning of February 2017. Today, you get to see the Opening Cinematic of Gardens of Equestria: This Coming Storm. This is the actual cinematic you’ll be seeing in-game when you play the Prologue.
So, let’s talk about what this all means, shall we?
Episodic Content!
Why epis |
3 as a result of an earlier session of sexual-intercourse between a man and woman. As a young man, something he would remain as until he was older, Bunkhead experimented with vegetarianism. This eventually developed into a full-blown heroin addiction. In 1988, Bunkhead walked into a Christian-run "Drop-In for Drop-Outs" centre where, with help from God and Jesus and a Holy Ghost, he kicked the habit. He was born again through the vagina of the Almighty.
End of Bunkhead
On March the 16th 1990, Bunkhead was found dead by his wife Fiona, a woman whom he had previously married. An empty jar of pills, a suicide note and a Bible were located within the vicinity of the body. An extract from that suicide note, translated into English from the original Hebrew text, was later released into the wild by the police law enforcement officers:
“Goodday. When Jesus fed the 5000, he did so without the use of a barbeque. He did not crack open a cold one to enjoy with his fish, he just drunk water, probably holy water. It is clear to me from reading scripture that I cannot possibly be living in Australia. And with this knowledge, I know there's even a risk that I could be flaming English!”
Reaction to Bunkhead's death
Creationist Dr Walt Brown spoke, “It's always sad when someone takes their own life, whether they existed or not. Evolutionists are blaming Creation Science for this man's death. If it were up to them, the world would be flooded with people and countries that don't exist.”
Australian Parliamentary reaction
In 1967, the Australian parliament passed a law that makes the denial of the existence of Australia illegal. So far only 560 people have been prosecuted for Australia Denial and 400 of them were probably one guy with a persecution complex. Australian MP Burt Ozbanger commented, “Because of legislation, Australia has the lowest percentage of Australia deniers in the whole world. Most people living here fully accept that Australia exists.”
“They're fucking wrong, though,” ChristianScience.net stated.
See alsoShare. All good things of this Earth flow into the city. All good things of this Earth flow into the city.
Playing through BioShock Infinite’s first story DLC, one thought immediately springs to mind: it feels damn good to be back in Rapture.
By returning to the underwater city in Burial at Sea Episode One, Irrational has created a new version of Rapture that perfectly recreates the feeling of BioShock’s original setting, but with notable updates that help Andrew Ryan’s failed utopia feel more alive than it ever has.
Burial at Sea begins with Elizabeth entering Booker’s office and requesting his help to locate a missing young girl, Sally. Girls are missing all over town, in fact, and Booker recognizes this one in particular. He says that surely she must be dead. Elizabeth disagrees.
Your first hour in Rapture is then spent hunting down clues to try to find Sally, and that entire search contains no combat whatsoever. Instead, you’re simply exploring a Rapture that’s alive and well, with people milling around and enjoying life in the city. There are a few notable landmarks (Little Wonders from BioShock’s Point Prometheus, for one) and you’ll hear passing references to spots like Arcadia and Apollo Square.
Exit Theatre Mode
One of the most fascinating things about this early section, though, is learning about how Rapture functioned before its fall. Enemies you fought in the original BioShock actually serve a purpose here; Houdini Splicers are teleporting waiters to give you faster service. A Big Daddy uses his drill to clear debris outside the city’s walls. This is a city that’s still thriving, and everyone there feels right at home.
Still, despite filling in some gaps in Rapture’s mythology (and the return of some familiar faces), Burial at Sea is still very much an extension of BioShock Infinite. This is the actual Rapture from BioShock 1 and the same Elizabeth you saw in BioShock Infinite -- “we don’t want people to feel like they’re playing some B-story,” Irrational told us -- and you’re still using the same mechanics you did in the core game.
In fitting with the shift from Columbia to Rapture, Vigors are once again called Plasmids, Salts are Eve and Silver Eagles are simply money. Voxophones have returned to being audio logs and Infinite’s Kinetoscopes are now Need-to-Know machines. You buy supplies from BioShock’s famous Circus of Values and El Ammo Bandito, plus upgrades are available at Gene Banks. The Sky-Hook also makes a return -- now known as the Air Grabber -- and later in Burial at Sea you ride Pneumo Tube rails as a replacement for Skylines. Everything has been renamed for a reason, though some explanations are more satisfying than others.
Burial at Sea introduces a few new weapons as well. The Tommy Gun is (unsurprisingly) a new machine gun, while the Radar Range is a concentrated laser that can chain between targets. Booker will also pick up a new Plasmid, Old Man Winter, which is interestingly based on a design by a fan and -- as you might have guessed -- allows you to shoot out ice, even creating new platforms out of water flowing from burst pipes.
Exit Theatre Mode
Once it begins in the second half, combat in Burial at Sea feels surprisingly different than fights in the core game. Like the original BioShock, you’re always battling to have enough resources. Unlike in Infinite’s campaign, Elizabeth rarely throws you supplies, and instead you’re scrounging for enough ammo and Eve to take down Splicers. Enemies are also significantly more aggressive than Infinite’s, and a playthrough on Hard had them constantly seeking me out rather than remaining stationary. Burial at Sea will also be playable in Infinite’s heightened 1999 Mode difficulty once it launches.
Following our demo, we spoke with creative director Ken Levine, animation director Shawn Robertson and Burial at Sea lead level designer Andres Gonzalez for more on what went into recreating Rapture and fine-tuning combat in Burial at Sea.
“We rebalanced everything to be more toward resource management and stealth,” Gonzalez told IGN, “which changes the way that the encounters play. It’s more player-initiated. You hear enemies off in the distance. Because these are BioShock Infinite systems, tweaked to create the experience of the original BioShock, it’s sort of a hybrid of the two. We had to create the environments to support that gameplay.”
“We substantially changed the awareness system from Infinite to this, so it felt more like BioShock 1,” Levine explained. “It took a fair amount of work. There were things about the AI that just worked so differently. We just bit the bullet and said, ‘if we want it to feel like BioShock 1 we’re going to have to make all these things happen.’ If it didn’t feel like Rapture, it would just feel like a coat of paint. We knew we didn’t want to do that.”
Exit Theatre Mode
“We had to go back and revisit BioShock 1 and determine what makes a Splicer,” Robertson added. “We spent so much time animating sane people that we had to revist it. What is the aspect about splicers that makes them empathetic, and the proper way to display that? On the environment side, too, there was a lot of, ‘alright, who has the office copy of BioShock 1?’”
“Bringing back the environmental hazards and a lot of the stuff that allowed you to interact with the environment that was present in the original game, but that didn’t really play a huge role in BioShock Infinite, was important to us as well,” Gonzalez noted. “Taking from both worlds and putting them together and creating a unique experience that drew from both of them in a way that players had never seen before. In creating the environments, the opportunities we had because we were doing this in the BioShock Infinite engine, we had to look at everything differently. We had to base it on the original one, but also just look at what we could do and how we could leverage all these things to their full potential.”
“The vending machines are a really good example,” Levine said. “We were at a point where nobody was using the vending machines [in Infinite]. We said, ‘why is that?’ It’s economics, right? You have tons of money, and if you have tons of money and tons of ammo, you have a problem. Money has to have meaning. You have to cut down the resources in the space. But to tune that and go through that cycle, that scale of Infinite was one of the things that got away from us. We really wanted to focus more on that in this one.”
Exit Theatre Mode
“Ultimately you have to serve the story that you’re trying to tell at the time,” Robertson concluded. “You can get into these little cute moments where it’s like, ‘whoa, let’s build this whole thing exactly how you saw it in BioShock 1,’ but then it becomes a distraction to what you’re trying to do."
Burial at Sea Episode One will launch for $14.99, or is included in BioShock Infinite’s Season Pass. Episode One doesn’t have a concrete release date yet, but Irrational promises it will arrive before the holidays this year. When it does release, Burial at Sea Episode One will mark the second DLC pack for BioShock Infinite, following the Clash in the Clouds combat DLC that came out in August. Later, we can also expect Episode Two, which will have you playing as Elizabeth for the first time.
BioShock Infinite is available on Amazon and its Season Pass can still be purchased for $19.99 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or PC. For much more on Infinite and its DLC, be sure to read our extensive interview about recreating Rapture, plus check out our wiki guide.
Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s news editor and resident BioShock nerd. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.Toronto FC have dipped into the European market once again, as the Reds have signed veteran French midfielder Benoit Cheyrou.
Cheyrou, 33, became a free agent last October after having his contract with Olympique Marseille terminated. Polish team Legia Warsaw was pursuing Cheyrou, but sources told Sportsnet that the Frenchman was in Toronto on Wednesday for final contract talks with the MLS club. Now that the deal with Cheyrou is completed, as first reported by Sportsnet, the Frenchman will join TFC when the team moves its pre-season training camp to Orlando on Sunday.
“Benoit’s vision and his ability to distribute the ball are two very distinct qualities that have made him such a successful player throughout his career both domestically in France and in European competition,” general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a news release.
“He has a wealth of experience and success and is another important piece that complements the ones we currently have in place. We are very excited to bring him to Toronto FC.”
On Tuesday, Toronto traded winger Dominic Oduro to the Montreal Impact for allocation money. Oduro earned $251,666 US last season, and with his salary now off the books and extra cap space, it allowed Toronto to go after a player such as Cheyrou who would command similar money.
SPORTSNET.CA’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by John Molinaro and James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE
A native of Suresnes, France, Cheyrou has spent his entire professional career in Ligue Un, the French first division. He cut his teeth at the youth academies of Racing Paris and Lille, before making his senior team debut with Lille in 1999.
He spent five years at Lille, and then made the move to Auxerre in 2004. He landed at Marseille in 2007 and spent six seasons with the club from the famous port city, winning one league title and two French League Cups. He didn’t play a single league game for Marseille this season before the termination of his contract.
“I’m very excited to sign for Toronto FC,” said Cheyrou in a statement. “I cannot wait to wear the jersey and join my new teammates.”
Cheyrou was named to the Ligue Un team of the year on three occasions, and has vast European experience, having played in the UEFA Cup and Europa League. He’s also made close to 40 appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
Also, Greg Vanney likely would have went up against Cheyrou when the current Toronto FC coach played for French club Bastia from 2002 to 2005.
Soccer runs in the Cheyrou family—Benoit’s older brother Bruno is a former France international who once played for Liverpool
This has been a very busy off-season for Toronto general manager Tim Bezbatchenko, who has added a number of European-based players in hopes of rejuvenating a TFC side that failed to qualify for the MLS playoffs in 2014 for an eighth straight year.
Earlier this week, the club signed France-born Polish international Damien Perquis, a central defender who recently cut ties with Spanish outfit Real Betis.
Also, Toronto signed Italian midfielder Sebastian Giovinco to a designated player contract, and swapped Jermain Defoe for American forward Jozy Altidore with English Premier League club Sunderland.
How does Cheyrou fit in at TFC? It’s an interesting question, considering the team’s depth in central midfield. If was going to be a starter, he would likely form a partnership with Michael Bradley in the centre of the park.Image copyright AFP Image caption In a letter, a group of mental health professionals said Mr Trump was incapable of serving as president
It seems an incredible question to ask of a man who ran a multi-billion-dollar business and vanquished seasoned political opponents on his way to highest office in the US. But experts are debating the mental health of the US president.
The discussion of Donald Trump's mental health has come to the fore following an open letter from dozens of professionals who say his "grave emotional instability" makes him unfit for the presidency.
The call seems to break a long-standing rule among experts of not diagnosing public people, and has been condemned by a leading psychiatrist, who described the "psychiatric name-calling" as an insult to the mentally ill.
What is it about?
Debate over Mr Trump's mental fitness is nothing new, and existed even before his election, last November.
But the majority of mental health professionals have refrained from making public statements, following a self-imposed principle known as the "Goldwater rule", adopted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1973.
It prohibits psychiatrists from giving diagnosis about someone they have not personally evaluated. It was instated after a magazine asked thousands of experts in 1964 whether Republican nominee Barry Goldwater was psychologically fit to be president.
The APA warned last year that breaking the rule in trying to analyse the candidates in the presidential election was "irresponsible, potentially stigmatising, and definitely unethical".
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Psychiatrists were warned against making assumptions about the mental health of the candidates
But now, some professionals have spoken out, including those who have signed a petition asking for Mr Trump's removal. It has now gathered more than 23,000 signatures.
Some have suggested that Mr Trump has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).
People with this condition often show some of the following characteristics, according to Psychology Today:
Grandiosity, a lack of empathy for other people and a need for admiration
They believe they are superior or may deserve special treatment
They seek excessive admiration and attention, and struggle with criticism or defeat
What is new?
In a letter to the New York Times, 35 mental health professionals warned that the "grave emotional instability" indicated in Mr Trump's speech and actions made him "incapable of serving safely as president".
They said experts had remained silent because of the Goldwater rule, but that it was time to speak out. "This silence has resulted in a failure to lend our expertise to worried journalists and members of Congress at this critical time. We fear that too much is at stake to be silent any longer."
Image copyright AP Image caption The letter says Mr Trump has demonstrated an inability to tolerate different views
The letter added: "Mr Trump's speech and actions demonstrate an inability to tolerate views different from his own, leading to rage reactions. His words and behaviour suggest a profound inability to empathise.
"Individuals with these traits distort reality to suit their psychological state, attacking facts and those who convey them (journalists, scientists)."
Earlier this week, Democratic Sen Al Franken said that "a few" of his Republican colleagues had expressed concern to him about Mr Trump's mental health. The concerns, he said, stemmed from questions about the president's truthfulness and the suspicion that Mr Trump "lies a lot".
Why the controversy?
Apart from the apparent break of the Goldwater rule, other professionals say the psychiatric diagnosis of Mr Trump is an insult to the mentally ill.
Also in a letter to the NYT, Dr Allen Frances, who helped write the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, one of the main key manuals used to classify mental disorders, said that "most amateur diagnosticians have mislabelled" Mr Trump with the diagnosis of "narcissistic personality disorder".
"He may be a world-class narcissist, but this doesn't make him mentally ill, because he does not suffer from the distress and impairment required to diagnose mental disorder."
He added: "Mr Trump causes severe distress rather than experiencing it and has been richly rewarded, rather than punished, for his grandiosity, self-absorption and lack of empathy.
"It is a stigmatising insult to the mentally ill (who are mostly well behaved and well meaning) to be lumped with Mr Trump (who is neither).
"Bad behaviour is rarely a sign of mental illness, and the mentally ill behave badly only rarely. Psychiatric name-calling is a misguided way of countering Mr Trump's attack on democracy."After deaths of two police officers, chief constable says feud between crime families threatens dozens of people
The gangland feud that killed two unarmed police officers and a father and son is threatening the lives of dozens of other men, women and children, the chief constable of Greater Manchester has warned.
Sir Peter Fahy spoke as parts of one of Britain's biggest cities were under the grip of 24-hour armed police patrols after the murder of constables Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, in the worst killings of police officers for five decades.
On Wednesday a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder the two PCs. Dale Cregan, 29, who was the subject of a five-week manhunt before handing himself in an hour after the killings, was still being questioned on Wednesday on suspicion of their murders and those of David and Mark Short.
Fahy revealed that dozens of people in and around Manchester have been issued with Osman warnings – detailing threats to their life – as a result of the vicious feud between two crime families which escalated dramatically on Tuesday with the murders of two of his officers in an apparent ambush.
Grenades of the kind used in the fatal attack on Hughes and Bone on the Hattersley estate in Mottram were still in the hands of criminals, the chief constable said, and there were growing fears about public safety.
"We are not confident that we have recovered all of the grenades and the threat is still there," he said. "I would want that to be the message.
"This has been a longstanding criminal feud between different outfits and the threat is very much there."
Fragments of the grenade used to kill the police officers were still at the crime scene – a house in Abbey Gardens on the Hattersley estate – on Wednesday. The firearm used in the fatal shootings has been recovered, Fahy said.
On Tuesday morning the two female police officers were sent to part of the estate, unarmed and without backup, to respond to a burglary report where they were killed in a gun and grenade attack.
Fahy defended the decision to put Cregan on police bail in June following his arrest on suspicion of the murder of Mark Short in May. Short was killed in Droylsden, east Manchester in the early hours of the morning by a masked gunman carrying a semi automatic pistol.
Cregan was questioned but released while inquiries continued. Two months later Short's father, David, 46, was murdered a mile away in a grenade and gun attack at his home.
His death sparked an unprecedented manhunt by Greater Manchester police, who named Cregan as a suspect. His picture was beamed onto screens at football matches, and officers carried out 50 armed raids – including on the Hattersley estate – in their failed hunt.
Police were patrolling the Droylsden and Clayton areas of east Manchester as flashes of violence continued on Wednesday, with gunshots fired in the area.
• This article was amended on 20 September 2012. The original sited Droylsden and Clayton in north, rather than east Manchester. This has been corrected.Startup Spotlight profiles emerging tech companies in the Pacific Northwest. Do you run a standout startup? Apply for Startup Spotlight.
The effect of technology on American factories has often been the subject of conversation — and national debate — over the past few decades. Advances in robotics, sensors, and 3D printing have dramatically transformed manufacturing, so much that some call this age a “New Industrial Revolution.”
Still, despite strides in factory technologies, some aspects of manufacturing remain antiquated. Seattle startup Variat hopes to change that. The company, which launched in January, provides statistical process control for factories as a cloud-based service.
The three-person team met in Iowa while working for John Deere. They found the existing tools for process control to be inefficient, complicated, and difficult to use.
“In January, we quit our jobs and moved from Indiana, Iowa, and North Carolina to Seattle,” said Variat CEO Andrew Crowell. “We’re fueled by our vision to bring the tools and experience that people now expect from software into the manufacturing industry.”
We caught up with Crowell for this installment of Startup Spotlight, a regular GeekWire feature.
Explain what you do so our parents can understand it: “Many manufacturers still record inspection data on paper. Variat replaces that paper with a ruggedized tablet and can drastically reduce scrap using statistical analysis.”
Inspiration hit us when: “We realized our previous employer had spent over a year implementing a popular real-time statistical process control system and the end was not in sight. Frustration grew as we searched for better solutions — nothing matched our vision for modern software-as-a-service for manufacturing.”
VC, Angel or Bootstrap: “Our initial investment from 9MileLabs allowed us to quit our jobs and pursue Variat full-time. Without 9Mile, we wouldn’t already have a manufacturer using Variat in production every day on two shifts. To join us in our next steps, we’re looking for experienced partners that contribute way more than just runway. It isn’t VC or Angel, it’s about the passion for what we’re doing.”
Our ‘secret sauce’ is: “A blend of cloud, analytics, and shop floor collaboration tools.”
The smartest move we’ve made so far: “Applying to 9Mile Labs. We’re engineers, so being around business-minded folks has been extremely instructive.”
The biggest mistake we’ve made so far: “Creating a Pizza Profile on dominos.com. Sure, it helps us save time, but at what cost?!”
Would you rather have Gates, Zuckerberg or Bezos in your corner: “Bezos. We’re on Amazon Web Services, so I bet he could hook us up with mad credits.”
Our favorite team-building activity is: “$2 margs at Amigos.”
The biggest thing we look for when hiring is: “Initiative. We don’t add people to the team just to implement the ideas we already have. We look for people that will contribute new ideas and have the initiative to explore them independently.”
What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to other entrepreneurs just starting out: “Surround yourself with people you enjoy and trust. Getting a startup off the ground is incredibly difficult and having people around that you can talk to openly is priceless therapy.”
Editor’s note: GeekWire is featuring companies participating in the 9Mile Labs incubator in the lead up to the Milestone9 Graduation Day and pitch event on May 14.BRUSSELS — The European Union is stepping up pressure on the United States to add more European countries to the list of those whose citizens can travel across the Atlantic without a visa, holding out the threat of requiring Americans to get visas for trips to Europe if Washington does not agree.
The European Commission is expected to consider on Tuesday whether to change the visa requirements for Americans if their government does not agree to include additional European Union member states — Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania — on the list of those entitled to visa-free travel.
In the case of Canada, the dispute concerns two of those countries, Romania and Bulgaria.
The escalating dispute comes at a time when Washington is especially concerned about security, in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in Europe and the presence of suspected terrorists in the flow of migrants to the Continent out of the Middle East. Should the commission decide to move toward imposing visa requirements, it could be a blow to trans-Atlantic relations just before a visit to Europe by President Obama and could complicate negotiations on other issues, including a proposed trade deal.
Right now, Americans and Canadians generally can travel to Europe for business and vacations without a visa. But the European Union is insisting that the United States abide by a timetable previously agreed upon among European authorities for adding the five European countries that are not already on the list of those allowed visa-free travel to the United States. The deadline for that change is next week, but no agreement had been reached Thursday evening.Paramore’s lead singer Hayley Williams on battling depression, hopelessness
“For the first time in my life, there wasn’t a pinhole of light at the end of the tunnel. I thought, I just wish everything would stop. Like, What’s the point? I don’t think I understood how dangerous hopelessness is. Everything hurts.” – Hayley Nichole Williams
This is how Hayley Nichole Williams describes her depression. The 28-year-old American singer and songwriter is the latest to join the ranks of celebrities opening up about their struggles with mental illness. The lead singer of Paramore revealed that she has been battling depression for the past several years. The singer talked about the times when she would just not want to get out of bed, watching old episodes of “The Office,” all day long. At times, her depression would get so bad that she would have thoughts of death and hopelessness. She finally sought help from a therapist.
In an interview with Fader, Williams disclosed how her struggles with mental health made her take a break from the band in 2015 when she felt that she had nothing left to share through her music and that she needed to find out something else that she was good at. Life took a turn when Taylor York, her songwriting partner, reached out to Williams with new song ideas. Williams soon found her way back to doing what she loved and was good at and discovered that it was her music that had helped her stay alive through her ordeal.
Born in Mississippi, Williams was a shy child who began singing in the church’s children choir. When things became unstable at home with her parents split and her mother’s volatile second marriage, Williams found refuge in music. She became independent at the age of 13 when she started writing poetry and performing with a local funk cover band. Because of being bullied at school, Williams soon began a homeschool tutorial. It was during this time that she found her way into the music industry.
Depression is real
A leading cause of disability worldwide, depression can affect people from all walks of life. It can result in a person experiencing psychic pain, poor performance at work, loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed, inability to connect with others, feelings of hopelessness and even suicidal ideation.
A clinical medical illness, depression is surrounded by stigma that often dissuades one from talking about it and seeking help. However, in the present celebrity-driven culture, one of the best ways to get rid of such stigma is when celebrities like Williams open up and talk about their problems giving a message that such topics are not taboo anymore and that anyone can be afflicted by mental disorders. Some of the other high-profile women celebrities who have shared their struggles with mental health include Adwoa Aboah, Britney Spears, Mel C and Chrissy Teigen.
Although money, fame and power cannot prevent this disease, celebrities can help call attention to it. Each time a high-profile individual shares his or her experience, they help reinforce the fact that depression is a real medical illness that needs professional help and that with proper treatment one can lead a productive and happy life.
There is hope
Depression can be effectively managed at a behavioral health treatment center with the help of professionals. A leading mental health treatment center for women at Chandler, Sovereign Health of Arizona provides comprehensive and tailor-made behavioral health and addiction treatment to women suffering from mental disorders in a safe, compassionate and supportive environment. Mental health treatment at Sovereign Health of Arizona encompasses a 360-degree approach and includes multiple levels of care.
For more information about our mental health treatment programs or to locate our state-of-the-art mental health retreats for women at Chandler, call our 24/7 helpline number. You can even chat online with our representatives for further assistance.Mayor Kasim Reed has signed the contract with CycleHop and its partners Social Bicycles, Center Forward and Iconologic to roll out the city’s bike share program. The program will launch with 500 bicycles and 50 rental stations throughout the city later this year.
“Over the past three years we have achieved several major milestones for citizens to enjoy bicycle riding along city streets, paths and trails,” said Mayor Reed. “With the signing of the contract today, we’re able to accomplish another major step forward to become a top U.S. city for bicycling.”
Atlanta’s bike share system will use the latest ‘Smart Bike’ system known as Social Bicycles (SoBi), which are equipped with an integrated GPS-enabled locking mechanism that gives riders the flexibility to return a bike at a hub location, or any public bike rack.
Users will be able to find and rent bikes through the Web, a mobile application, or using the interface on the bike. “Our bike share program will be a convenient transportation option that will connect with other modes of transportation,” said Deputy Commissioner, Terri Lee, Department of Planning and Community Development.
The bike share program is a private-public partnership, and the business model relies on corporate sponsorship. Business and property owners may participate and support the program through sponsorship, adopt-a-station, and the purchase of memberships.
“Over the next few months we will be working with our partners to identify potential bike rental station locations in the city’s core,” said Office of Planning Director, Charletta Wilson Jacks. “Our bike share program is yet another transportation option we can offer to residents and visitors who wish to get around the city with more safe, affordable, and convenient options.”
The public is invited to participate in the program by purchasing a membership and by riding once the system is launched. To learn more about the program, stay up to date on progress, or suggest locations for bike stations, visit atlantabicycleshare.com.Tony Abbott as Prime Minister of Australia, addressing the United Nations General Assembly in 2014.
Tony Abbott (born 4 November 1957) is an Australian politician who was the Prime Minister of Australia (18 September 2013 to 15 September 2015) and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia (2009 to 2015).
Quotes [ edit ]
University days [ edit ]
I think it would be folly to expect that women will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons. SRC (Students Representative Council) student paper, Sydney University, 1979. Quoted in ABC Four Corners, "The Authentic Mr Abbott" on abc.net.au, March 15, 2010.
First speech to Parliament [ edit ]
Tony Abbott was elected as the Member for Warringah in the Australian Parliament in 1994. The following quotes are from the First speech of Tony Abbott to Australian Parliament:
Australia's story -
I want to record my deep conviction that our Australian story should fill our hearts with pride and our eyes with tears. It is a story of the dispossessed and the outcast, redeemed through the innate goodness of humanity—a society challenged by nature, tested by war, enlarged by other cultures and blessed by such peace, prosperity and tolerance that we are now the envy of the earth. First speech of Tony Abbott to Australian Parliament, 1994.
Role of government -
I stand for active government, not big government. I stand for government which gets off people's backs, not government which opts out of the future because it cannot face hard decisions. I stand for government which backs Australia's families with real policies and not just platitudes. First speech of Tony Abbott to Australian Parliament, 1994.
Governments which live in fear of tomorrow's headline are incapable of any change. First speech of Tony Abbott to Australian Parliament, 1994.
Australians rightly object to higher taxes because they observe that most government spending disappears down a bottomless well. Government often seems like an evening out—it costs a fortune and in the morning there is little to show for all the expense. But it is my hunch that people would be less hostile to paying tax if they were more confident they were investing in lasting assets... First speech of Tony Abbott to Australian Parliament, 1994.
Influences on his public life -
Mr Speaker, standing before you in this chamber, which is heir to 700 years of parliamentary tradition, I feel like a very small boy in a very big school. To my parents and to my grandparents; to my sisters, who have made me what I am; to my wife, my mainstay; to my priceless friends; to my party, which has given me the privilege to serve, I give my heartfelt thanks. To the Jesuits who first encouraged an ideal of public service; to Bob Santamaria, who sparked my interest in politics; to several editors, who honed my way with words; to John Hewson, who introduced me to this place; and to John Howard, who has been the contemporary politician I admire most, I hope I can be true to the principles you taught. May God and the ghosts of great men give me strength. May those who have laboured greatly to build this nation fortify my resolve to make a worthy contribution in this House. First speech of Tony Abbott to Australian Parliament, 1994.
Minister in the Howard Government (1996-2007) [ edit ]
The Howard Government came to power in 1996. Abbott was a Parliamentary Secretary in the Howard Government from 1996-1998 and joined the Ministry in 1998. He then served in a variety of portfolios until the the defeat of the Howard Government in 2007.
Bad boss like a bad father -
If we’re honest, most of us would accept that a bad boss is a little bit like a bad father or a bad husband. Not withstanding all his or her faults, you find that he tends to do more good than harm. He might be a bad boss but at least he’s employing someone while he is in fact a boss. Quoted in "Tony Abbott under fire" on abc.net.au, July 22, 2002.
Abortion -
[Abortion is] the easy way out. Quoted in "Abortion rate a tragedy, says Abbott" on www.theage.com.au, March 17, 2004.
... an objectively grave matter has been reduced to a question of the mother’s convenience. Quoted in "Abortion rate a tragedy, says Abbott" on www.theage.com.au, March 17, 2004.
"I want to make it clear I do not judge or condemn any woman who has had an abortion. There would not be anyone under 50 in this country who has not come up close and personal against this issue. I accept that resolutions made in church often wilt under the hot breath of passion - I think I know that as well as any person in this chamber - but every abortion is a tragedy and up to 100,000 abortions a year is this generation's legacy of unutterable shame." Quoted in "Abortion a Badge of Liberation Says Abbott" on www.theage.com.au, Feb 16, 2006.
Cervical cancer -
I won't be rushing out to get my daughters vaccinated [for cervical cancer], maybe that's because I'm a cruel, callow, callous, heartless bastard but, look, I won't be Quoted in "I could be seen as 'cruel' on Gardasil: Abbott", Australian, November 9, 2006.
Cardinal George Pell -
Cardinal Pell is one of the greatest churchmen that Australia has seen. I am a very imperfect Catholic. Why shouldn't I go and seek counsel? Why shouldn't I go and trespass on the time occasionally of someone like Cardinal Pell? If you spent more time with Cardinal Pell, your life might be more interesting. Elaborating on a meeting with Cardinal Pell during an interview on Lateline on September 30, 2004. Quoted in https://www.crikey.com.au/2004/10/01/the-two-tonys-and-george-pell "The Two Tonys and George Pell", Crikey, October 1, 2004.
Bernie Banton -
Let's be upfront about this. I know Bernie is very sick, but just because a person is sick doesn't necessarily mean that he is pure of heart in all things Describing terminally-ill asbestos disease campaigner Bernie Banton Quoted in http://www.theage.com.au/news/federalelection2007news/abbott-adamant-over-banton-stunt/2007/10/31/1193618926085.html "Abbott Adamant Over Banton Stunt", The Age, October 31, 2007.
Nicola Roxon
That's bullshit. You're being deliberately unpleasant. I suppose you can't help yourself, can you? To then Shadow minister for Health Nicola Roxon after a debate before the Nation Press Gallery, subsequently quoted in http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/abbotts-day-from-hell/2007/10/31/1193618926551.html "Abbotts Day From Hell", Sydney Morning Herald, October 31, 2007
Shadow Minister (2007-2009) [ edit ]
Climate change policy -
I am, as you know, hugely unconvinced by the so-called settled science on climate change... and I think that the economics of an ETS are a bit dodgy... [but] whatever second thoughts people like me might be having, |
got stuck in the doorway and caught the entire home on fire.
Horne knew it was time to get out.
“My beard started singeing, my eyebrows. I said we got to make it out the back door.
Neighbors say they're working to help the family with what they need.
Stay with 10TV and refresh 10TV.com for updates on this story.This week on USA Network’s Graceland (Wednesday, 10/9c), Jakes doesn’t waste any time relaying the bad news that Paige has gone missing on his watch — and we’ve got your first look at Mike’s “hot” reaction.
VIDEO Exclusive Suits Sneak Peek: Louis Gives Donna the Greatest Gift of All
When last we tuned in, Paige and Jakes (played by Serinda Swan and Brandon Jay McLaren) were out to crack the Tinker Bells case — but police officers showed up to drag Jakes away (on restraining order violation charges) just as Paige made the impulsive call to take the place of the next (but now dead) girl to be dragged into the human trafficking ring. As such, no one was left to monitor her wire, meaning the baddies have a huge jump on the Feds.
RELATED Tom Ellis Talks of Irresistible Rush Role, Being Once‘s Robin Hood
Press play below to see how Mike (Aaron Tveit) reacts to the news of his colleague-slash-lover’s vanishing, and whether Briggs can calm him down.Seasoned Stanford men thirst for Pac-12 title challenge, NCAA bid
With one of the most experienced teams in the country, Stanford has big hopes to be the surprise team of the Pac-12 this season.
That means making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 and only the second time since 2008.
“Our desire to get to the tournament is greater than it’s ever been,” guard/forward Dorian Pickens said Thursday at Pac-12 media day. “It’s our senior year. We haven’t made the tournament since we’ve been here. That’s definitely a goal of ours. Not only do we want to make the tournament, we want to make a good run in it as well.”
The Cardinal were picked fifth in the conference media poll, getting a higher berth than normal because of All-Pac-12 forward Reid Travis and returning starters Pickens, Michael Humphrey and Robert Cartwright.
Stanford players have 493 total games under their belts, but second-year head coach Jerod Haase said, “In some ways, I feel like we’re the least experienced team because we have so many new faces as well.”
As a group, the Cardinal’s four incoming freshmen were ranked eighth in the country (and second in the Pac-12) by Scout, 12th (third) by Rivals and 14th (fourth) by 247Sports.
One man to keep an eye on is slender 6-foot-8 forward Kezie Okpala, whom Rivals labeled a five-star recruit and called “perhaps the most improved (high school) senior in America.” Another is point guard Daejon Davis, who decommitted from Washington after head coach Lorenzo Romar was fired.
The other freshmen are Oscar Da Silva, a German big man who was impressive at the Under-18 European Championships and Australian guard Isaac White.
“We’re going to rely on them to produce consistently … consistent effort and concentration,” Haase said.
Speaking of consistency, Stanford will need more out of junior guard Marcus Sheffield. He pumped in 35 points in last season’s Pac-12 opener against Arizona State but averaged just 5.7 in the other 30 games he played.
Haase is cooking up a more attacking offense and a more aggressive defense than what he called the “vanilla” iterations of last season.
For one thing, Travis is expected to drive more to the hoop and shoot more from the outside, Haase said. Travis is the Pac-12’s leading returning scorer (17.4 points per game) and rebounder (8.9).
Pickens, as well, will be driven more to supplement his fine outside shooting, and 7-foot junior Josh Sharma should be an intimidating shot blocker
“We have versatility on both ends of the floor,” Haase said.
Stanford opens against Cal Poly at home Nov. 10, and in key early games, hosts North Carolina on Nov. 20 at Maples and plays Kansas at Sacramento on Dec. 21. The Cardinal’s Pac-12 season begins against Cal at Maples on Dec. 30.
Tom FitzGerald is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tfitzgerald@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @tomgfitzgeraldNEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- President Obama's top antitrust official said Monday that the administration will aggressively crack down on antitrust violations, reversing a Bush-era policy that had weakened the government's ability to take on monopolies.
"As antitrust enforcers, we can no longer sit on the sidelines," said Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney, speaking Monday at the Center for American Progress in Washington.
As part of her remarks, Varney retracted a September 2008 report that amended Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Section 2 deemed it illegal to make any attempt at creating a monopoly but the amendment had loosened those rules.
"The report... raised too many hurdles to government antitrust enforcement," Varney said. "Withdrawing the report is a shift in philosophy and the clearest way to let everyone know that the Antitrust Division will be aggressively pursuing cases where monopolists try to use their dominance in the marketplace to stifle competition and harm consumers."
Though the report had followed more than a year of hearings conducted by the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission, the FTC never actually signed the document.
Changing landscape: The Bush administration brought historically few antitrust cases to trial. But Varney said those days are over.
She promised a return to "tried and true case law and Supreme Court precedent." For example, Varney said the United States could start seeing more cases like the 1998-2001 United States vs. Microsoft case in which the software giant was found to have forced out Internet browser competition like Netscape and Opera.
There's a good chance that the Justice Department's decision will not only lead to more antitrust complaints but also to a more receptive ear, said Joe Angland, partner in White & Case's antitrust practice.
"The administration signaled that, in certain areas, it will adopt stricter rules to deal with dominant firms," he said. "It will likely lead to more investigations of the firms' abilities to deal with competitors."
But Angland added that the decision does not herald a return to the "bad old days" of the 1950s and '60s, when the government aimed to take down corporations it deemed too large. He said the repeal of the report likely means a return to Clinton-era policies which he described as "stricter, but not anti-business."
Angland also believes that the Obama administration is not looking to target any specific companies or sectors. Instead, the shift will likely lead to more investigations of loyalty discounts and refusals to deal with competitors -- two areas in which the Supreme Court has not issued a ruling.
"The administration can't change Supreme Court decisions; they can only step in where there is not a ruling," said Angland.
Varney will be delivering the same speech Tuesday at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represents a broad spectrum of companies.
"The chamber is all for competition in the marketplace, but without knowing what the new standard is, without prescribed policies, it's tough to articulate whether the administration's plans are favorable or unfavorable position for businesses," said Sean Heather, executive director of global regulatory cooperation at the Chamber of Commerce. "Enforcement of policy needs to be grounded in sound economic analysis and hard evidence of harm to consumers," he added.
European shift: After Bush became president in 2001, many plaintiffs started opting to take antitrust cases to European courts.
Among the bigger cases, Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) was fined $1.2 billion by the European Commission in February 2008 after it was found to be pricing out rivals and refusing to comply with the court's previous antitrust decision.
Similarly, European Union antitrust regulators are expected to say Wednesday that Intel Corp. (INTC, Fortune 500) unfairly paid computer makers to delay or even cancel products that contained chips made by rival AMD (AMD, Fortune 500), according to reports.
Varney, a former FTC commissioner under the Clinton administration, said the U.S. Justice Department plans to closely align itself with the European Union to streamline antitrust regulation. "I don't think you'll get a better result from one jurisdiction than another," she said.
Angland said the Justice Department's new antitrust enforcement will slow the movement of cases to European courts, but not end it completely.
Too big to fail...really? Varney said a major failure of the previous administration was allowing corporations to grow to such an extent that they essentially did become too big to fail. That's because many had become so intertwined with other businesses within their industry that a failure would have posed a systemic risk to the entire sector.
"Too big to fail [is] a failure of antitrust," Varney said. "The recent developments in the marketplace should make it clear that we can no longer rely upon the marketplace alone to ensure that competition and consumers will be protected."
Varney suggested a "back-to-basics" approach to antitrust enforcement. "When companies compete, you get better programs at lower prices," she said.High school principal in Texas Panhandle town pleads guilty to sex with students
Jay Cantrell, a former principal and basketball coach at Paducah High School, was sentenced to four concurrent 15-year prison terms on Tuesday for sexually abusing multiple students, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported. less Jay Cantrell, a former principal and basketball coach at Paducah High School, was sentenced to four concurrent 15-year prison terms on Tuesday for sexually abusing multiple students, the Lubbock... more Image 1 of / 82 Caption Close High school principal in Texas Panhandle town pleads guilty to sex with students 1 / 82 Back to Gallery
A former principal and basketball coach at a high school in a small Texas Panhandle town pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexually abusing multiple students.
Jay Cantrell, principal and basketball coach at Paducah High School, was sentenced to four concurrent 15-year prison terms on Tuesday, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported.
RELATED: Affidavit: Central Texas high school teacher had sex with female student in classroom
Cantrell, who originally pleaded not guilty, entered a plea agreement May 21, according to the Avalanche-Journal. Under the agreement, Cantrell pleaded guilty to three counts of indecency with a child and one count of sexual assault of a child while the court dropped seven other counts of indecency with a child.
Texas Rangers arrested Cantrell in January 2014 after allegations surfaced that he ordered students younger than 17 to give him oral sex, expose their genitals to him and masturbate in front of him from June 1, 2012, to Feb. 4, 2013, the Avalanche-Journal reported.
Board members at the Paducah Independent School District unanimously voted to fire Cantrell on January 6, three days after his arrest, according to the Amarillo Globe-News.
Cantrell must serve at least half of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, the Avalanche-Journal reported. The 45-year-old will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
Paducah is about 110 miles northeast of Lubbock.
jfechter@mySA.com
Twitter: @JFreportsOver the past two weekends, I have been deeply invested in a single football match. The two teams played to a tie a week ago. They played each other again this weekend, in another epic game, and the proper team won. The two teams were Kerry and Mayo, and the game they played was called “football” — Gaelic football, to be specific, in a semifinal match in the annual All-Ireland championship.
I watched the first game a week ago Sunday, at a place called P.J. McIntyre’s in Cleveland. As a good son of north Kerry, and the grandson of a shepherd girl from the hills around Listowel, I cheer for the Kingdom every year. (Historically, Kerry has been the Dallas Cowboys of the circuit.) P.J.’s was a Mayo bar, but I found one group of people in the green-and-gold gathered in one corner of the joint, so I tucked myself in with them. We saw one of the most compelling games I have ever watched on television. Mayo played for the championship last season, and Kerry was said to be rebuilding with young talent, but Kerry played Mayo off their feet in the first half. Mayo was further hampered when right half-back Lee Keegan got sent off with a red card on a call so terrible that everybody in the bar booed, even the guys watching golf in the back. But, playing 14-on-15, Mayo stormed back to take what seemed to be an insurmountable lead, only to have Kerry rally late with a goal (three points) and a point (a kick through the uprights) to force the draw and a replay of the game this past Sunday.
Now, the final rounds of the All-Irelands are traditionally contested at Croke Park — Pairc an Chrocaigh, as the old language has it — the headquarters of Gaelic sport in Dublin. However, Kerry and Mayo had to play their rematch at a stadium in Limerick. It seemed that Pairc an Chrocaigh had already been booked for last Saturday.
Penn State was playing the University of Central Florida.
In American football.
So, off to Limerick went Kerry and Mayo, to play another tremendous game. (The Gaelic Athletic Association, in its wisdom, rescinded Keegan’s red card.) Kerry’s young legs had more left in them, and the Kingdom won the game in extra time. The end was enlivened by a burly Mayo supporter who ran amok on the pitch. Meanwhile, back in Dublin, the Nittany Lions beat the Knights, 26-24, on a 36-yard field goal by Sam Ficken that capped off a 55-yard Penn State drive just as the clock ran out. For his part, Ficken took off on a mad dash around the Croke Park pitch to avoid being buried in celebration by 300-pound linemen. Invade the pitch. Flee the pitch. It’s all football, one kind or another.
♦♦♦
Football is tangled at its roots. The telling I’ve always heard has it that what the rest of the world calls “football” begat rugby, which begat Gaelic football, a game that combines the running and tackling of rugby with the idea of a goal that comes from what the rest of the world knows as “football.” In America, some enterprising ruggers decided one day to throw the ball to each other, and thus was NFL RedZone born. Because of these obscure common origins, as far as I know, there is no other game that is played so many different ways that is nonetheless called the same thing. “Football” means Ronaldo in Lisbon, Peyton Manning in Denver, and James O’Donoghue in Killarney. All of them have different skills, and they play different games with the same name.
What each flavor has in common is spectacle. So many of the other sports seem to be relatively private and intimate. The various forms of “football” are bright and brash and, when they are played at their highest levels in the countries that love them, they blot out the sun on the sports landscape. It is this ability to create spectacle that accounts for the way the several kinds of “football” are able to engender similar forms of occasionally lunatic jingoism. There is a barely hidden element of violence to them. They all involve varying degrees of physical contact. They all involve, in one way or another, one human being knocking another one to the ground. There is a tacit understanding that all of them are a polite sublimation of the tendency of countries to make war on each other. This is not unusual in history. The early Jesuit missionaries to the New World noted that Native American tribes used three-day lacrosse games, which occasionally were contested with hundreds of players on either side, as barely disguised battles, played as a tribute to what they called “the Creator.” Mess with “football” and, as Ned Beatty says in Network, you are messing with the fundamental forces of nature and a vaguely religious concept of nationhood.
Right now, as all of its seasons at all levels are just beginning, American football is under unprecedented assault. Science is providing more and more evidence that the game is physically perilous to everyone who plays it. This forces a series of hard decisions on the participants and moral questions on the devotees. Is it ethical, or even humane, to be entertained for fun and (occasionally) profit by a sport that so inevitably destroys the people who play it? (Steve Almond’s recently released book, Against Football, poses these questions very directly.) There are only two possible approaches to these issues. You can answer them honestly, or you can duck them entirely. And the latter approach often involves cloaking yourself in the almost theological tribalism that American football shares with all the other varieties.
Think about the defenses of American football that rely on “tradition” as an argument opposing the moral case against the game. Think about how closely American football has attached itself to the U.S. military, from the in-game commercials to the now-customary flyovers of attack aircraft. Think about the 2011 Super Bowl, in which we had “God Bless America” and the National Anthem, a flyover, and a bizarre video that sought to link John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, Martin Luther King’s speech on the National Mall, and Ali’s KO of Liston in Lewiston, Maine. Think about the way football is positioned as some kind of essentially American journey. Patriotism may be the last refuge of scoundrels, but it’s also a handy hideout for huge corporate athletic enterprises that are facing existential questions about what they do to the athletes who engage in them.
But that may be enough to help American football to survive. We haven’t yet evolved beyond tribalism as human beings, or beyond jingoism as a nation. For good or ill, countries all over the world use something called “football” as a statement of their national identity. We like to think that we’re different, but we’re not. We’ve attached ourselves and our image of ourselves as a people to what we call football as securely as the folks in Lisbon or Killarney — or, for that matter, Melbourne — have to what they call football. It provides a sense of belonging, even more than do the other sports. Calling something “football” is a way of calling yourself a citizen.
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There is no telling what game we might be calling “football” 40 years from now. At the moment, American football is caught in several interlocking binds, but the spectacle remains the same. In fact, my bet is that the spectacle will get louder and more gaudy — and, alas, more suffused with tinpot nationalism — as the moral case against the game continues to develop. American football at its lowest levels is being undermined at the dinner table and on the field. In the public schools, it is being further eroded by its costs in an era of shrinking school budgets and public revenues. In the colleges, it is caught under the hammer of its costs — and the question of whether the physical costs to its participants are something a civilized country should take as business as usual is becoming more insistent, and none of the easy answers can be found anymore, buried as they are under an ever-growing avalanche of grotesque CAT scan images.
The game may be big enough to withstand its current travails. After all, the love of the spectacle isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and American football is still the sport best suited to gambling, so it has that. Maybe one day robots will play the game, or genetically engineered human beings, a Nike swoosh imprinted on their foreheads. (Marketing, after all, is not a recessive gene.) Maybe it will turn into Rollerball. In any case, I am not sanguine that the sport the rest of the world calls “football” ever will take over in this country. I am more open to the notion that, one day, if American football finds its inherent violence and inherent physical damage rendering itself extinct, something closer to Gaelic football may evolve from it, played by people without pads, with different fundamentals underlying different skills. Because there always will be something compelling about an encounter in which one human being knocks another human being down. Remember the myth of Hercules, and his battle with Antaeus, the son of Mother Earth. Hercules kept knocking down Antaeus, time and time again, but Antaeus drew strength from the earth, and every time he was knocked down, he rose again, stronger still.× Sober driver arrested for drunk driving when deputy crashes into her car
MILWAUKEE, WI (KTVI) – A woman in Wisconsin, who survived cancer when she was 3, went through years of treatment, and even had a metal rod inserted into spine to straighten her back after prolonged radiation is living with more trauma now.
She pursued a college degree and had a spotless driving record.
Then one night, a sheriff’s deputy rolled through a stop sign and slammed into her car.
Her neck was broken in four places. She was injured so badly she could not breathe into a breathalizer or perform a sobriety check. Blood tests later showed she was completely sober.
But another deputy arrested for her drunk driving.
Read the full story here: Sober driver arrested for OWI when deputy crashes into her carJared Kushner proposed setting up a secret, secure communications channel between the Kremlin and the Trump transition team, according to The Washington Post.
Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and a senior adviser, floated the idea during a meeting with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak at Trump Tower in early December, The Post reports, citing U.S. officials who were briefed on intelligence gathered from intercepted Russian communications. The meeting was also attended by Michael Flynn, who served as the White House national security adviser until he was forced to step down for failing to properly disclose contacts with Russian officials and discussions pertaining to sanctions.
Kislyak told his superiors Kushner proposed using Russian diplomatic facilities in the U.S., the officials briefed on the intelligence told The Washington Post. Kislyak was reportedly surprised at the suggestion. The use of Russian communications equipment he said Kushner proposed using carried security risks for both Russia and the Trump transition team.
U.S. officials stressed that the information on Kushner’s meetings is the result of intelligence collected from Russian officials, not surveillance of Kushner or any member of the Trump transition team. “Russia at times feeds false information into communication streams it suspects are monitored as a way of sowing misinformation and confusion among U.S. analysts,” The Washington Post acknowledged in its report Friday.
The meeting with Kislyak, which Kushner failed to disclose, was revealed in March. The Post was first alerted to the meeting and the possibility of a secret communications channel in mid-December by an anonymous letter.
The Washington Post reported Thursday that investigators are looking into several meetings between Kushner and foreign officials as part of a broader investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
“Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings,” Jamie Gorelick, one of Kushner’s attorneys told The Post. “He will do the same if he is contacted in connection with any other inquiry.”
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Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.Thus far, Hillary Clinton has undergone several cosmetic surgeries. Types of the Hillary Clinton plastic surgery that she has undergone include dermal filler injections, eyelid surgery, facelift, neck lift, chemical peel, Botox injections and laser skin resurfacing. Although the plastic surgery made Hillary Clinton look younger than 67 years old, she has become the subject of a lot of debate with many observers confused as to whether the procedure was worth it or not. The fact that Americans consider her a good politician has not eased the situation for Hillary.
Hillary looks younger for a person whose date of birth is October 26, 1947. She has none of the aging features that people her age should be displaying. The tightness and smoothness of Hillary Clinton’s face is one of the reasons that convinced a lot of doubters as to the fact that she went through plastic surgery. The flawless nature of her facial skin is a good proof to anybody who doubts that Clinton has undergone plastic surgery. More importantly, comparing Hillary Clinton’s features with those of her agemates indicates that she has gone an extra mile.
Signs That Hillary Clinton Received Plastic Surgery
Hillary Clinton’s face had begun developing wrinkles. This became evident when she worked as the Secretary of State under President Obama’s administration. The wrinkles have gone. The absence of wrinkles is attributable to the fact that the wife of former President Bill Clinton has truly gone through skin laser treatment. Comparing her recent photos with the past indicates that she might have undergone blepharoplasty surgery in addition to neck lift. This belief stems from the appearance of Hillary Clinton’s neck and eyes.
The wrinkles have all gone from the skin on Hillary Clinton’s face and neck. She has not said anything on the rumors regarding Hillary Clinton plastic surgery. Hillary’s face now looks refreshed after the surgical procedure. The procedure has rejuvenated Hillary Clinton’s appearance. Her forehead is free of wrinkles as well, thus leading to the conclusion that the wife of the former US President went through a Botox injection procedure to ensure the complete removal or disappearance of all unsightly features on her face.
Hillary Clinton’s Amazing Plastic Surgery Results
Unlike other celebrities and famous people who have not enjoyed pleasant results after going through plastic surgery, Hillary Clinton’s results are worth the hassle. Some of the celebrities with not-so-pleasant-reports to share regarding their plastic surgeries include Renee Zellweger, Dolly Parton, LaToya Jackson and Donatella Versace to mention but a few. The surgeon who performed Hillary Clinton plastic surgery did a commendable job thus providing the famous American politician with a fair chance of winning the 2016 presidential elections.
The aging process leaves the face with excessive amounts of skin. The main aim of facelift is to get rid of all the excessive facial skin. Facelift leaves the facial skin looking not only younger, but also fresher. The beauty of the rhytidectomy is that it has left Hillary Clinton’s face without any hint of having undergone any surgical procedure. Her face looks just as natural as it has ever been. For a 67-year old woman, the area around Hillary Clinton’s skin should have been full of sagging skin, just like the other women her age.
The Hillary Clinton Plastic Surgery has transformed her facial features to resemble that of a 40-year old woman. If she wins next year’s US presidential elections, Hillary Clinton will have to thank her cosmetic surgeon for a splendid job.On Wednesday, a federal judge authorized a summons requiring Coinbase, America’s largest Bitcoin service, to provide the IRS with the records of every user who traded on the site between 2014 and 2015. Covering the identities and transaction histories of millions of costumers, the request is believed to be the largest single attempt to identify tax evaders using virtual currency to date.
As a so-called “John Doe” summons, the document targets a particular group or class of taxpayers—rather than individuals—the agency has a “reasonable basis” to believe may have broken the law. According to The New York Times, the IRS argued that two cases of tax evasion involving Coinbase combined with Bitcoin’s “relatively high level of anonymity” serve as that basis.
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“There is no allegation in this suit that Coinbase has engaged in any wrongdoing in connection with its virtual currency exchange business,” said the Justice Department on Wednesday. “Rather, the IRS uses John Doe summonses to obtain information about possible violations of internal revenue laws by individuals whose identities are unknown.”
In a statement, Coinbase vowed to fight the summons, which the company’s head counsel has previously characterized as a “very, very broad” fishing expedition.
“We are aware of, and expected, the Court’s ex parte order today,” wrote a Coinbase spokesperson on Reddit. “We look forward to opposing the DOJ’s request in court after Coinbase is served with a subpoena.”
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In 2014, the IRS released a notice clarifying that virtual currencies like Bitcoin are property and subject to tax laws as such. Among other things, this means taxpayers are required to report profits made through trading them as taxable income.Samuel Hyde House is a building at 3726 East Madison Street in Seattle, Washington, United States listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[5] The building, built in 1909–1910 for liquor magnate Samuel Hyde, housed the residence of the Russia consul-general[2][3] from 1994–April 2018 when the US State Department evicted the consul-general[6] following the White House ordered closure of Russia's Seattle consulate office.[7]
The two-story brick house is fronted by a portico with Corinthian columns; there is a brick carriage house in back. It is believed that the grounds were laid out by the Olmsted Brothers. The Olmsteds played a prominent role in designing Seattle's system of parks and boulevards, and were responsible for landscaping the grounds of the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition on the campus of the University of Washington.[3]
References [ edit ]Milk Riders deliver breast milk to babies in need in the New York area. (Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
Since 1986, the Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club has given women who like to ride motorbikes their own place in a male-dominated culture.
What to do if you love your friend but hate their social media presence
Now, they’re using their shared passion to do some more good, delivering breast milk to babies in need.
‘An ad was placed in the Village Voice seeking women motorcyclists,’ Sirens’ president, Jen Baquial, told metro.co.uk, of how the club first started.
‘We are women motorcyclists first. Any woman, any bike.
‘Our membership of about 50 women is beautifully diverse in age, race, profession, sexual orientation, and personal style but we all share the love of motorcycling in common and that is what bonds our sisterhood.
(Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
‘Our mission is to present a strong, proud, and honorable image of women both in the motorcycling community and the community at large.’
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Earlier this year, Jen and the Sirens were approached by Julie Bouchet-Horwitz, the executive director of the New York Milk Bank (NYMB).
The NYMB is a dedicated facility in New York state that collects and pasteurises donated human breast milk.
(Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
This breast milk gets sent to babies in need – whether these are babies in hospitals, babies without parents, or babies whose mothers are unable to produce enough milk.
They’re an important organisation that does incredible work. But there’s one thing they really needed help with – actually getting the pasteurised breast milk to those who need it.
One day, Julie was sitting in traffic when she noticed some motorcyclists easily passing through the New York traffic.
(Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
That sparked an idea. Julie reached out to Jen, and together, they came up with the concept of Milk Riders – a team of Sirens motorcyclists that’d be able to help to deliver breast milk to any baby in the area.
Jen told us: ‘I invited a NYMB representative to speak at our meeting and after learning about the amazing work that the NYMB has been doing to get life saving breast milk to babies that need it, the club unanimously voted right then and there to officially be involved.’
(Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
And with that, the Milk Riders set out on their mission.
‘The logistics are still morphing a bit as the NYMB increases production and accessibility grows,’ Jen explains.
(Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
‘But basically, there are two trasportation scenarios that we, Sirens, are positioned to help handle.
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‘First, there are milk depots around the greater NYC area where screened donors are able to drop off their breast milk donations.
‘These depots freeze and store the milk until it is able to be transported to the NYMB in Hastings.
(Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
‘The other transportation need is bringing processed and pasteurized breast milk from the NYMB to NICU’s or even direct to homes if necessary.
‘I had setup a WhatsApp group for our volunteer Sirens so that if a delivery or depot pickup is needed, NYMB can message the group directly and one of us can “call it”.
(Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
‘In both transportation cases, the milk is packaged by the depot or the NYMB per regulatory guidelines and we pretty much strap it down to our motorcycles and zip away.
‘We are volunteering our time and machines. However, the NYMB does reimburse us for tolls and mileage.
‘All Sirens volunteers give proof of insurance and driver’s license before taking a run.’
(Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
It’s essentially Uber for donated breast milk, except with volunteers on motorbikes instead of fancy cars. And it’s doing a lot more good than just providing rides when the tube isn’t running.
The Sirens have delivered hundreds of ounces of breast milk since the Milk Riders scheme began, saving NYMB the money they would have spent on expensive couriers, and providing babies and mothers with the breast milk they so desperately need.
(Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
‘It seems only natural that human milk is the best food for babies, and we are just doing our small part to help get it to babies and mamas that need it,’ says Jen.
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‘We have been flooded with messages of love and support from the breastcommunity and mothers who had babies in NICU.
‘I had no idea how many people would be reached by our efforts. It is very humbling as we are only the middle women doing a small part to help the NYMB.’
(Picture: Justin Chauncey Photography)
The Sirens aren’t asking for any donations to the club, but if you’d like to help the Milk Riders to continue helping out babies that need feeding, you can donate directly to the NYMB through their website.
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MORE: This mum-of-two made a breastfeeding Barbie to educate kids on motherhood
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MORE: Couples living together in care homes share their love stories
MORE: Please stop telling women we’ll change our minds about not wanting children
Advertisement AdvertisementState Department spokesperson Marie Harf expressed her annoyance over the “tone” of AP reporter Matthew Lee’s question about the creation of the NATO rapid reaction force in Eastern Europe and accused him of “buying into the Russian propaganda”.
The back-and-forth between the Associated Press’s veteran journalist and Harf created sparks during Friday’s press briefing.
Lee asked the State Department’s spokeswoman if NATO’s latest decision to set up a rapid reaction force in Eastern Europe was related to events in Ukraine.
“And you don’t see that as in any way provocative?” he said.
“No, we don’t,” was Harf’s response.
The spokeswoman said the deployment of the spearhead force – approved by NATO members during a summit in Wales – comes in response to Russia’s “escalatory actions” in Ukraine and is “a defensive measure.”
At least 4,000 troops: NATO approves new E. Europe-based spearhead force
“It’s a high readiness joint task force able to deploy within a few days to challenges that arise. It will contribute to ensuring that NATO remains responsive to its alliance, capable of meeting its current challenges. Again, this is in response to escalatory action the Russians have taken. It’s a little disingenuous to say something that NATO is doing in response to Russia’s action is somehow escalatory, that NATO should just sit by while Russia sends arms, sends men, sends troops into Ukraine and say, “Oh, we’re not going to respond,” she said.
Lee noted that Ukraine is not a member of the North-Atlantic military bloc and asked if Russia had taken any “escalatory measures” against NATO members.
“So you’re setting up |
concerns. You can find more information at gemacademyaz.com.Funny thing about expectations: they can blind you both ways. After claims that Guild Wars 2 would shake up the stagnant genre of massively multiplayer online games, many were surprised, and a little disappointed, to find that it looked and played just like an MMO. But deflated expectations can be just as deceptive as the hype that led to them.
It's true that you can hardly call Guild Wars 2 an iconoclast. From its high-fantasy head to its role-playing toes, it's an unashamed genre piece, an MMO through and through, a giant engine designed to grind out experience points and loot beneath the tattoo of a hundred thousand hotkeys. But don't let its familiarity blind you to the fact that this engine has been re-engineered from first principles, and purrs sweeter than any has before.
In fact, Guild Wars 2 is by far the most important - and plain enjoyable - massively multiplayer game since 2004's World of Warcraft. At long last, it's the changing of the guard.
To understand what ArenaNet has achieved and how, it's more helpful to look at the details than the big picture. Let's start with one apparently small change to the MMO rulebook.
In most of these games, it's traditional that once you attack an enemy in the open world, it's tagged as "yours". Its experience points and loot belong to you alone, as does any quest progression associated with killing it. If you're playing in a party, these things are rationed between you. If you help to kill a monster that's already been tagged, you get nothing. Things are done this way because someone once decided that it was fair.
Guild Wars 2 is a visual tour de force, right down to the superb animation blending; you've never played an MMO where your character felt so rooted in the world before.
The end result of this policy is that adventurers meeting each other by chance on the monster-infested fields of some hostile landscape regard each other with suspicion and frustration. They're encouraged either to keep their distance or indulge in quick-draw contests to "steal kills" as they queue for spawns.
Here's how Guild Wars 2 handles tagging: you so much as land a single blow on a monster, you get full credit for killing it. Experience, loot, quest progression, the works. It doesn't make any difference if you're in a group or not. It doesn't matter if the monster was killed by two players or 20. It doesn't matter if you just hit auto-attack and took a sip of tea while someone you've never met did all the hard work. Everyone wins.
Is that fair? Did you earn it? Who cares? It's more fun - and just as importantly, it's more social. You're rewarded for helping others, because many hands make light work. And the result is that in Guild Wars 2's world of Tyria, those wary queues of self-interested souls don't exist. In their place are happy, noisy scrums of players, digital flash mobs coalescing and dispersing around dynamic events: an army of adventurers fighting together for the common good. Isn't this what massively multiplayer gaming is supposed to be like?
One small change; one giant, wonderful result. Next to the libertarian work ethic espoused by most of these games, Guild Wars 2 is practically a socialist utopia. The needs of the one and the many are aligned, and the awful tension between solo and group play that plagues most MMOs disappears in a puff of goodwill.
Alongside questing and dynamic events, there are Skill Point challenges (usually tough enemies) and pretty Vistas to uncover. Never has an MMO been so focused on exploring its spaces.
Perhaps it's because the first Guild Wars, with its private play-fields, was only a quasi-MMO that ArenaNet has now embraced open-world multiplayer gaming with an enthusiasm and commitment which none of its competitors can match. Everything flows from its determination to lift the barriers that prevent people playing together (although, in fact, there's not that much in the game that you can't achieve solo if you want or have to).
There's the way quests are organised, triggering and completing automatically depending on where you are, rather than who you happen to have spoken to. It keeps you out in the world, exploring and following the action, rather than jogging back and forth on a personal treadmill. When you fire up Guild Wars 2, it's your map you open first, not your quest log - and nothing better encapsulates how this game makes you feel more like an adventurer than an errand boy. (Besides, there is no quest log.)
There are the dynamic multiplayer events that take place according to see-sawing schedules as threats on the map regroup and are repelled. You'll have taken part in dozens of these before you realise that there's not much compelling you to do so (they don't count towards the tasty rewards you get for 100% completion of a zone). It's just fun, and feels natural, to join in.
Then there are the character classes. ArenaNet felt that the need to compose groups of players according to the "holy trinity" of tanking, healing and damage-dealing roles was too great an obstacle to playing together, so it removed it entirely. Whether you're a spell-casting Mesmer or tough, armoured Guardian, you can heal yourself and others and stand toe-to-toe with any enemy in the game. This is perhaps Guild Wars 2's bravest move, and it's what enables the free-flowing ease with which the game's community can co-operate (including taking the pain and wait times out of forming a group for one of the game's five-player dungeons).
It's the economy, stupid ArenaNet has evidently worked hard to ensure that Guild Wars 2's crafting and trading features keep pace with the unstinting flow of its action, but it hasn't quite managed it. It's all very easy to use - especially the neatly implemented auction house, which allows you to buy and sell instantly for trade prices. But it's too easy to let progress in your crafting skills lag well behind your character and equipment levels, while the split currencies - with much of the best gear available for 'karma' reward points - inevitably devalues the gold market. Meanwhile, the paid item store, offering a variety of boosters, utility and cosmetic items, seems overpriced when compared to the generous rewards that flow from everyday play.
The world map is a masterpiece - it scales and drags like Google Maps, offers essential utility as well as information on where to find fun, and has a gorgeous hand-painted look to boot.
Inevitably, there is a price to pay for all this harmony and ease, and it's a certain shallowness. The jack-of-all-trades classes all have great personality and are fun to play, but without that "holy trinity" there's little room for the deliciously interlocking designs and deep team dynamics of the traditional MMO, so brilliantly expressed by Blizzard in WOW. When tackling one of the dungeons you do still need to work as a team and concentrate, and the freedom (necessity, in fact) of movement in the more immediate combat is welcome compensation. But it's hard to imagine high-end dungeon-running in Guild Wars 2 achieving the same diamond-hard pressure.
This shallowness has a social dimension, too. It's so easy to play with others that you rarely need to communicate much to do it, and the chances of a friendship or a good laugh springing out of a random encounter are tiny. The generally mature and collaborative atmosphere makes up for this though, and the lack of snark in the chat channels is remarkable - it seems that ArenaNet's generous mood is catching.
It's when Guild Wars 2 attempts to go against its democratic principles that it really grates. The inclusion of a personalised "story" quest chain not unlike Star Wars: The Old Republic's (though more limited in scope and, thank God, less encumbered with exposition) does help you make sense of the game's fiction - but jars with its gameplay. The instanced solo missions are poorly balanced, take you out of the world, and introduce such foreign notions as checkpoints with a total lack of logic or grace. The quality of the writing and voice-acting varies a lot between the five races, too (as Quintin discovered).
The dungeons are few, but rewardingly tough and extremely well made (if a little imbalanced at the moment). Also, returning to them after an initial Story run reveals an all-new Exploration mode with alternative routes, enemies and bosses.
No such worries about the quality of the artwork. ArenaNet has chiselled out a consistently gorgeous and naturalistic setting on an epic scale, finding elegant twists on high-fantasy motifs, from the jagged steampunk war engines of the Charr cat-people to the wild, phosphorescent gardens that grow around the plantlike Sylvari. The capital cities, in particular, are a sight to behold. You're encouraged to explore and admire every inch of this staggering canvas by a breadcrumb trail of map discovery which even includes some light platforming challenges (incidentally, this must be the first MMO with jumping that doesn't suck).
It's a beautiful place, overflowing with hand-crafted detail, that will soak up dozens of hours of dreamy virtual sight-seeing with ease - it's hardly the generic, factory-made fantasy of, say, Rift or Kingdoms of Amalur. But for me, there's still something missing in Tyria. It's a little anodyne. It lacks the personality or ambiance, the wit or the grit that might make it feel less like a chocolate-box paradise and more like a home.
What a place to take a holiday, though. And you can treat it as just that, because ArenaNet isn't charging a subscription fee for Guild Wars 2 - so it feels more like a vacation than a vocation. You're free to dip in and out and out at your own pace, to wallow or splash. This impacts the game design as well as your bank balance, since Guild Wars 2 doesn't have to waste your time with makework or offer a vanishing-point approach to character advancement to justify its monthly stipend.
Fall in battle and you get a chance to rally back to your feet - either by defeating an enemy or being revived by another player. It adds a little extra tension but it can leave some fights stuck in a loop.
It's just less of a grind. Despite the level cap of 80, the character classes give up their goods fairly early on through the rapid and streamlined acquisition of new skills; the emphasis, instead, is on flexible customisation of a deck of just 10 skills to suit your mood or the situation. Bountiful loot and a refined item game take up the slack. Levelling is a steady saunter rather than an uphill slog, virtually every activity rewards you with experience, and your level adjusts downward to the zone you're in to ensure the content always poses an appropriate challenge (with equipment boosts persisting so you still get a chance to feel like the badass who's been around the block).
Player-versus-player is even more surprisingly grind-free. PVP in most MMOs is now structurally indistinguishable from Call of Duty - all team deathmatch and rank rewards. But in Guild Wars 2 you can choose between the utterly level playing field of the "structured" conquest game, with its pre-set loadouts of skills and equipment, or the ridiculously entertaining macro warfare of World vs. World. Both automatically raise your character's stats to maximum level.
World vs. World, which pits three servers against each other for control of a giant map, is a daring attempt to make a competitive mode that's genuinely about group effort rather than individual skill, and it offers tempting rewards not just to the solo player, but to the organised guild and the entire community. Not coincidentally, it's the most successful, enjoyable and popular large-scale PVP mode in an MMO for a very long time. (You can read more about it in Quintin's report.)
It's not the levelling, it's the taking part that counts. That's what makes Guild Wars 2 great. Almost every aspect of its design serves the individual player and whole community equally, and there's a breezy willingness to put the content ahead of the grind throughout. It's a little lightweight, perhaps; its fantasy world is more picturesque than truly enveloping, and its social and gameplay hooks offer instant gratification over ties that bind. But it's still the most coherent, seamless, social and fun MMO in a long time - and the only one that can call itself truly modern.Australia's allrounder James Faulkner believes instances of sledging will be inevitable in Thursday's high-stakes World Cup semi-final at the SCG, on a pitch that has already been the subject of enormous speculation and will continue to be all week.
The confrontation between Shane Watson and Pakistan's Wahab Riaz enlivened the tournament, even if the two combatants paid for their aggression and emotion with a pair of ICC fines. While India do not possess any bowler capable of matching Wahab for speed, Faulkner expected men on both sides to be replicating his attitude.
"I think there always is in the game, if there isn't you've got problems," Faulkner said. "It's the nature of the game, it's a semi-final, it's cut-throat. There's going to be words said and it's going to be a really tough contest. Neither team will be backing down."
Chances of Indian aggression being witnessed at the SCG have increased over the past month as MS Dhoni's team have found a fresh sense of purpose, direction and confidence over the course of a seven-match unbeaten run. Their form in this tournament is the exact opposite to what was glimpsed in the Tests and triangular series that preceded it - India had not won a match in three months down under before the Cup.
File photo - James Faulkner believes India and Australia will not hold back on aggression during the semi-final © Getty Images
"We have come up against them a hell of a lot over the last 12-18 months and they've spent a fair bit of time in the country," Faulkner said. "They've adapted well to the conditions. A lot of nerves were on show a couple of nights ago [in Adelaide] and I think that's good. Both teams are exposed and if you don't have nerves you've got issues."
Faulkner's press conference began with a question about whether or not the ICC's pitch overseer Andy Atkinson would need to be called in to ensure the surface was equitable. While the query went over the head of Faulkner, who rightly pointed out that he had not even seen the turf, it underlined curiosity about a pitch that has largely favoured spin over pace this season.
"A lot depends on the wicket," Faulkner said. "The last time we played here, the wicket was obviously very good against Sri Lanka. We made 360-odd, they made over 300. It was a great one-day wicket. If it's much like that, I'm expecting a lot of runs scored. If you look over the recent past, over there or here, you've seen a lot of runs.
"Against Sri Lanka, the wicket didn't really spin and it was quite easy to get hold of. I'm not too sure what make-up they'll go in with or what make-up we'll go in with. The wicket dictates a lot, so we'll wait and see what is come game day."
The hosts' subsequent inspection of the surface revealed the strip to be the same one used for South Africa's rapid quarter-final beating of Sri Lanka. It has been watered and brought back up again, and only the thinnest film of grass was evident on Monday afternoon. Clippings have been and will be rolled into the surface over the next few days, but it is difficult to see the pitch offering much in the way of moisture or assistance for pacemen.
Australia's best hope of seeing the sort of pitch they would prefer is likely to be rain, with showers forecast for Tuesday likely to keep the surface under the covers for some hours and prevent it from drying too much more. Either way, the Australians are ready for the likelihood of a crowd where Indian support will outweigh local fans.
"We were talking about it last night at dinner, the last game we played here it definitely felt like that," Faulkner said. "The passion the Indian fans show towards their cricket team is sensational, so we're definitely expecting that come match day."
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.I worked at a popular weight loss company for three years. I loved my job there. I LOVED my clients. I loved making a connection and sharing my knowledge. And I learned a lot about nutrition, about dieting and weight loss and what works and what doesn't. My job was to be a weight loss consultant, and I learned that job very well. I can design a 1,200 calorie meal plan, tell you which activities are most likely to make the number on the scale go down, and how many carbs are in a cup of rice. I can talk the diet game like it's my business... because it was. Volumize with vegetables. Don't go too long in between meals. Start with a bowl of broth-based soup. Are you drinking enough water? Did you exercise enough? Did you exercise too much? Let's look at your food journal.
This is not an anti-weight loss company post (although I could write that too). It's a letter to each and every woman that I unknowingly wronged. My heart is beating a little bit faster as I write this, and so I know this needs to be said. The words have been playing in my head for months. Sometimes it just takes time for me to get up the courage to say the right thing.
So here goes:
Dear Former Weight Loss Clients (you know who you are):
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry because I put you on a 1,200 calorie diet and told you that was healthy. I'm sorry because when you were running 5x a week, I encouraged you to switch from a 1,200 calorie diet to a 1,500 calorie diet, instead of telling you that you should be eating a hell of a lot more than that. I'm sorry because you were breastfeeding and there's no way eating those 1,700 calories a day could have been enough for both you and your baby. I'm sorry because you were gluten intolerant and so desperate to lose weight that you didn't put that on your intake form. But you mentioned it to me later, and I had no idea the damage you were doing to your body. I'm sorry because I think I should have known. I think I should have been educated better before I began to tell all of you what was right or wrong for your body.
I'm sorry because I made you feel like a failure and so you deliberately left a message after the center had closed, telling me you were quitting. I thought you were awesome and gorgeous, and I'm sorry because I never told you that. I'm sorry because you came in telling me you liked to eat organic and weren't sure about all the chemicals in the food, and I made up some BS about how it was a "stepping stone." I'm sorry because many of you had thyroid issues and the LAST thing you should have been doing was eating a gluten-filled, chemically-laden starvation diet. I'm sorry because by the time I stopped working there, I wouldn't touch that food, yet I still sold it to you.
I'm sorry because it's only years later that I realize just how unhealthy a 1,200 calorie diet was. I stayed on a 1,200-1,500 calorie diet for years, so I have the proof in myself. Thyroid issues, mood swings, depression, headaches... oh and gluten intolerance that seemed to "kick in" after about a month of eating the pre-packaged food. Was it a coincidence? Maybe.
I'm sorry because you had body dysmorphic disorder, and it was so painful to hear the things you said about yourself. You looked like a model, and all of my other clients were intimidated by you, asked me why you were there because clearly you didn't need to lose weight. And yet you would sit in my office and cry, appalled that a man might see you naked and be disturbed by the fat that didn't actually exist. I'm sorry because you should have been seeing a therapist, not a weight loss consultant.
I'm sorry because you were young and so beautiful and only there because your mother thought you needed to lose weight. And because there were too many of you like that. Girls who knew you were fine, but whose mothers pushed that belief out of you until you thought like she did. Until you thought there was something wrong with you. And the one time I confronted your mother, you simply got switched to a different consultant. I think I should have made more of a stink, but I didn't. I'm sorry because you were in high school and an athlete, and I pray that you weren't screwed up by that 1,500 calorie diet. Seriously, world? Seriously? A teenage girl walks in with no visible body fat and lots of muscle tone, tells you she's a runner and is happy with her weight... but her mother says she's fat and has to lose weight and so we help her do just that. As an individual, as women, as a company, hell, as a nation, we don't stand up for that girl? What is wrong with us? There ain't nothing right about that. Nothing.
I'm sorry because every time you ate something you "shouldn't" or ate more than you "should," I talked about "getting back on the bandwagon." I cringe now every time someone uses that phrase. When did the way we eat become a bandwagon? When did everyone stop eating and become professional dieters? I'm sorry because I get it now. If you're trying to starve your body by eating fewer calories than it needs, of course it's going to fight back. I used to tell you that then, when you wanted to eat less than 1,200 calories a day. The problem was, I thought 1,200 was enough. I thought that was plenty to support a healthy body. Why did I believe that for so long? I'm sorry because I wasn't trying to trick you or play games to get your money. I believed the lies we were fed as much as you did.
And it wasn't just the company feeding them to me. It was the doctors and registered dietitians on the medical advisory board. It was the media and magazines confirming what I was telling my clients. A palm-sized portion of lean chicken with half a sweet potato and a salad was PLENTY. No matter that you had "cravings" afterward. Cravings are a sign of underlying emotional issues. Yeah, sure they are. I'm a hypnotherapist with a past history of binge eating disorder. I KNOW cravings are a sign of underlying emotional issues. Except when they're not. Except when they're a sign that your body needs more food and you're ignoring it. Then they're a sign that your 1,200 calorie diet is horseshit. Then they're a sign that you've been played.
And that's mostly why I'm sorry. Because I've been played for years, and so have you, and inadvertently, I fed into the lies you've been told your whole life. The lies that say that being healthy means nothing unless you are also thin. The lies that say that you are never enough, that your body is not a beautiful work of art, but rather a piece of clay to be molded by society's norms until it becomes a certain type of sculpture. And even then, it is still a work in progress.
I owe you an apology, my former client and now friend, who I helped to lose too much weight. Who I watched gain the weight back, plus some. Because that's what happens when you put someone on a 1,200 calorie diet. But I didn't know. If you're reading this, then I want you to know that you have always been beautiful. And that all these fad diets are crap meant to screw with your metabolism so that you have to keep buying into them. I think now that I was a really good weight loss consultant. Because I did exactly what the company wanted (but would never dare say). I helped you lose weight and then gain it back, so that you thought we were the solution and you were the failure. You became a repeat client and we kept you in the game. I guess I did my job really well.
And now I wonder, did I do more harm than good? When I left, you all wrote me cards and sent me flowers. I still have those cards, the ones that tell me how much I helped you, how much I cared. But I'm friends with some of you on Facebook now, and I look at your photos and you look happy. And beautiful. And not because you lost weight since I saw you last. But because I see YOU now. You. Not a client sitting in my chair, asking for my assistance in becoming what society wants. But you, a smart and lovely woman, who really doesn't need some random company telling her there's something wrong with her.
So I'm sorry because when you walked in to get your meal plan, I should have told you that you were beautiful. I should have asked you how you FELT. Were you happy? Did you feel physically fit? Were you able to play with your kids? There were so many of you who never needed to lose a pound, and some of you who could have gained some. And maybe sometimes I told you that. But not enough. Not emphatically. Because it was my job to let you believe that making the scale go down was your top priority. And I did my job well.
I am sorry because many of you walked in healthy and walked out with disordered eating, disordered body image, and the feeling that you were a "failure." None of you ever failed. Ever. I failed you. The weight loss company failed you. Our society is failing you.
Just eat food. Eat real food, be active, and live your life. Forget all the diet and weight loss nonsense. It's really just that. Nonsense.
And I can't stop it. But I can stop my part in it. I won't play the weight loss game anymore. I won't do it to my body, and I won't help you do it to yours. That's it. End game.
This story appears in special Labor Day issue of our weekly iPad magazine, Huffington, in the iTunes App store, available Friday, August 30.
ALSO ON HUFFPOST:One of the new smartphone trends this year is going to be bigger screens. Well, that was true for previous years as well, but this time around handset makers are selling handsets that feature larger screens but smaller overall footprints.
LG, a company that’s been heading in that direction for a few years, was the first to introduce a brand new device that features a large display in a rather compact body. Unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Spain, the LG G6 features a “FullVision” screen that also introduces a new 18:9 screen ratio. But LG will not be the only company pursuing all-screen designs this year. The Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8 coming later this year are also expected to have large displays that occupy the most part of the phone’s front side.
A few days ago Samsung announced that the Galaxy S8 will be unveiled on March 29th, but we already know everything there is to know about the phone — in fact, we’ve all now seen the phone following a recent BGR exclusive. Now, thanks to a new trademark filing, we know what the phone’s large display will be called.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about the “Infinity Display” coming to new Samsung phones, but the documentation seems to confirm that Samsung will indeed use this new marketing term to describe big bezel-free smartphone displays. The trademark will mostly cover mobile devices, the USPTO listing reveals. But it may also be used on other Samsung products like TVs that might feature similar display characteristics.
We already know what to expect from the Galaxy S8’s screen design. Earlier this week, an official marketing render of the phone was leaked, and BGR showed you exclusive photos of a Galaxy S8 out in the wild. On top of that, accessory makers have displayed Galaxy S8 screen protectors at MWC that match the previous leaks.Ahmet Davutoglu, the former foreign minister, is Turkey’s prime minister. But Mr. Erdogan is the one on the phone with President Obama discussing Turkey’s role in combating the Islamic State while the White House has to remind American diplomats to also include Mr. Davutoglu in discussions between the two countries.
Turkey’s continued refusal to allow the United States to use its bases for airstrikes against the Islamic State’s forces in Syria and Iraq — and insistence that the coalition target the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria — has laid bare deep divisions between the two countries that have prompted analysts to question Turkey’s reliability as an ally, and some have even suggested that Turkey be expelled from NATO.
The relationship with Washington has long been uneasy. In 2003, Turkey denied the United States the use of its territory to invade Iraq. In 2010, the Turks infuriated Washington by voting against United Nations sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program, and by working with Brazil to broker a proposed deal with Iran.
Early in his career, as mayor of Istanbul, Mr. Erdogan was jailed for reciting an Islamic poem in public. In his early years as prime minister, with the Turkish military still safeguarding the country’s secular order, he kept in check his desire for a greater role for religion in public life, while pushing for membership in the European Union, a pursuit that is now stalled.
In more recent years, with the military having been neutered through a series of sensational trials, he has become a more overtly Islamist leader. In the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings, Turkey sought to play a greater role in shaping regional affairs, supporting Islamist movements, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, which was voted into power in Egypt, and then ousted, dealing a painful blow to Turkey’s ambitions.
Mr. Erdogan has partly consolidated his power by purging thousands of police officers, prosecutors and judges who he believed were behind the corruption probe. He accused those people of being followers of the Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania and who once was an important ally to Mr. Erdogan. His victory over Mr. Gulen in the power struggle that ensued has largely erased a moderate, Western-leaning Islamic voice from the Turkish governing elite, even as many experts say that Mr. Gulen’s followers had taken on an unhealthy influence in the police and judiciary.Officers seized a pistol and arrested five young teens after they robbed a man and a woman at gunpoint early Wednesday in a Capitol Hill park.
Several witnesses called 911 around 12:30 AM when they saw a group of teens assaulting a man and woman in Cal Anderson Park. One witness told police an armed teen had a gun pointed at him when approached the melee. The group of juveniles then fled the park before police and medics arrived.
The victims told officers they had been sitting in the park when the group of suspects approached them and offered to sell them drugs. When the victims rebuffed their offer, the juveniles punched and kicked them and pointed a gun at the victims before fleeing with the man’s cell phone.
Officers found the suspects near Pike St and Harvard Ave and took them into custody. Officers found a handgun on one teen, a BB gun on another and the victim’s stolen cell-phone on a third suspect. Two of the suspects are 13-years-old, the others are 14, 16, and 17.
Police booked all five teens into King County’s Youth Services Center on investigation of robbery, and also booked one of the 13-year-olds for unlawful possession of a firearm. Medics treated the victims for their injuries at the scene.The 2014 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival started yesterday and runs through May 18. We now have food photos and reviews for EVERY food item (and most of the drinks!) at the 11 amazing Outdoor Kitchens! See our Overall Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Food Booths Page for details!
Simply click on the links for each booth to see photos of the booth, the full menu, and every single food item!
And the festival isn’t resting on its laurels from last year. We were in Epcot for the better part of opening day, trying lots and lots of new things! We have lots to show you, so let’s get to it!
Urban Farm Eats is brand new to the festival this year. Featuring a bevy of farm fresh foods and sustainably farm-raised fish, we didn’t quite know what to expect.
The Ghost Pepper-dusted Tilapia with Crisp Winter Melon Slaw and Mint Oil featuring The Original Sauce Man’s Kick It Up Rub was a real winner, though! The fish was cooked to perfection, and the spicy ghost pepper lent a kick to the plate.
The Eggplant “Scallop” wasn’t our favorite dish of the day, though. Our serving was way too salty. And even though the eggplant was a miss, the spicy Romesco sauce on the side was great!
Huge kudos to the staff for using LAND-grown produce, though! Be sure to check out the Urban Farm Eats page for additional photos and reviews!
Intermissions Cafe, located at the Festival Center in Future World, will open at 10 a.m. throughout the festival. It features several light and fresh food options.
This year, they’re showcasing a fun TRYit! food item again for the kiddos — a Push Pop!
This year, the 1-bite treat features a traditional Caprese Salad mix — with Tomato, Mozzarella, and Balsamic Vinegar.
If there was one thing that we heard from plenty of you last year, it was the suggestion that Dole Whips served at the festival should be spiked with Coconut Rum. Well, guess what? Disney clearly agrees with you.
This year’s festival debuts not one, but TWO different grown up versions of the popular soft serve: order it topped with your choice of Myer’s Dark Rum or Parrot Bay Coconut Rum! Thank you, I think I will.
Two thumbs up, with one slightly more up for the Parrot Bay version! This is the Dole Whip perfection we’ve all been waiting for.
Disney is also adding another incredible entry to their waffle repertoire at this booth. Be sure to check out our Pineapple Promenade page for the skinny on the Sweet Potato Cinnamon Waffle served with a topping of — what else? — Dole Whip!
This quaint cottage, located in the UK Pavilion, is a celebration of that most civilized of rituals — afternoon tea.
There are some surprisingly delicious savory flavors here as well. The Pork and Apple Sausage Roll combined a savory minced filling with a tender pastry crust. The Piccalilli that accompanies the roll provides the perfect amount of zip, tang, and color to complement the rich dish.
Strawberries are in season in Florida! And if you’re looking for an interesting way to serve the bounty of available berries, take fresh inspiration from this delicious salad.
Field Greens with Plant City Strawberries, Toasted Almonds, and Farmstead Stilton has everything — sweet, tangy fresh flavor from the berries, and a rich bite from the generous sprinkle of Stilton. A light vinaigrette and crunchy almonds finish the salad perfectly.
The warm Fresh-Baked Lemon Scones were another of our favorites! Pop over to the Buttercup Cottage page for more details and pictures of the offerings at this charming spot.
Another standout on our Trip Around the World is the Fleur de Lys Outdoor Kitchen, situated in France.
We told you about the Confit de Canard in yesterday’s First Look post. And you definitely don’t want to miss out on that dish! I’m still shocked by how completely awesome and…luxurious this dish is. So. Good. (Head to the Fleur de Lys page for the pic.)
But if you can believe it, there are other, nearly equally incredible dishes to be had here. The Gnocchis Parisienne a la Provençal — Parisian-style Dumplings with Vegetables and Mushrooms — is one of the best vegetarian dishes I have ever tasted. Seriously. If they don’t put out a cookbook with these recipes, I may be forced to start a petition.
And when I didn’t think it could possibly get better, I bit into the Orange Blossom Macaron. Heaven. I mean it. Orange-y, Creamy Bliss.
Run, don’t walk, to get this dessert that is as beautiful as it is delicious.
The Morocco Pavilion has been front and center on our radar in 2014 with the opening of Spice Road Table. We love the exotic cuisine that you can find in this part of the World.
Taste of Marrakesh offers two new items this year. Our favorite during our first trip around the promenade is the Lamb Brewat Roll.
The sweet prune is a brilliant match for the strong flavor of the lamb. The meat itself is tender, and the wrapping provides a nice little crunch as you bite into the roll.
The Harissa Chicken Kebab is also new this year, and was good, but didn’t quite stand up to the Lamb.
Hanami in Epcot’s Japan Pavilion returns this year with some intriguing twists on traditional favorites, making this one of the most fun stops on the Flower and Garden Tour.
Frushi, one of the biggest hits of last year’s festival, returns for another round. If you’re interested in trying this fun take on fruit sushi at home, check out our recipe post here.
Hanami gets high marks for beautiful presentation. The Hanami Sushi Platter features balls of sticky rice topped with Scallop, Salmon, and Beef. The trio is served with a beautiful Shiso Violet Sauce.
It was also a lot of fun to watch the chef in the outdoor kitchen prepare the Temaki Hand Roll to order! The Crispy Chicken, as well as the other components of the dish, were warm.
Over at the Smokehouse, guests are clamoring for the new Piggylicious cupcake! We know because they were sold out when we first tried to get one!
This bacon/maple/pretzel/cupcake combo capitalizes on the bacon trend…and also cleverly sort of promotes the new Muppet movie… 😉
The smoked turkey “rib” here was essentially a mini turkey leg, so if you like that giant snack, you’ll also like the flavor here. Other favorites returned from last year and still make the cut at The Smokehouse.
Italy’s contribution this year is pretty understated, but still worth visiting.
Our favorite item here was |
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